Bitten by Love: Yasmine Galenorn

Showing posts with label Yasmine Galenorn. Show all posts

Thursday, April 21, 2016

5/5 Review: Darkness Raging: An Otherworld Novel by Yasmine Galenorn

We're the D'Artigo sisters: savvy half-human, half-Fae ex-operatives for the Otherworld Intelligence Agency. My sister Camille is a wicked-good witch. Delilah is a two-faced werecat and a Death Maiden. And me? I'm Menolly, a vampire married to a gorgeous werepuma. As the war in Otherworld arrives, Blood Wyne, Queen of the Vampires, summons me. Apparently, my position as Roman's consort entails more than I imagined...
As the Demon Lord Shadow Wing creates his own sinister version of the Keraastar Knights—the guardians of the spirit seals—to destroy the portals and free himself from the Sub Realms, his ally, the necromancer Telazhar, leads an assault from Otherworld into the streets of Seattle. And my sisters and I are caught dead center.

Then, on the eve of war, my wife, Nerissa, is captured. The enemy demands we surrender the rest of the spirit seals, or they are going to kill her. I will do anything to save her. Even if it means leading an army of vampires into the very depths of the Subterranean Realms...

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This is the 18th book in The Otherworld Series. I strongly recommend you read these books in order. So much is carried over from one book to the next and by reading them in order, you will see the characters grow and the how the new ones fit into the lives of these three sisters. This one stars Menolly, the vampire of the D'Artigo sisters. Menolly is so much more than a vampire, she is also half Fae and half human. The D'Artigo sisters are operatives for the Otherworld Intelligence Agency and are important to the war being waged against Shadow Wing

Being an operative for the Otherworld Intelligence Agency is hard enough without having to about having to keep your spouse safe. Menolly is finally settled in her marriage with Nerissa on track and going smoothly when the Vampire Queen, Blood Wyne decides that her son Roman needs an heir, a princess rather than a consort and if she can’t have Menolly without Nerissa then she’ll take both. The reclusive dragons have decided to enter the fray. Shadow Wing has a few more surprise in store for everyone in his maniacal madness.Then Nerissa is captured and the fight is own.

Just as with each book before this one, I was glued to the page, anticipating what would happen next, holding my breath during the tough battles and sobbing through some of the most emotional scenes I've encountered in quite some time. Yasmine Galenorn has a magical way with words and storytelling and quite frankly swept me away in this newest release in the Otherworld Series. My heart ached for all that Menolly discovers throughout this book, not just about others, but about herself. Truly brilliant and now my favorite in the series.

I highly recommend Darkness Raging- I actually recommend the entire series.

Thursday, December 10, 2015

5/5 Review: Autumn Thorns by Yasmine Galenorn

Fifteen years ago, I ran away from Whisper Hollow, Washington, a small town on Crescent Lake in the Olympic Peninsula. But truth is, if you were born here, you can never really leave. I’m Kerris Fellwater, and when I returned, I inherited my grandmother’s house—and her gift. As a spirit shaman, it’s my responsibility to drive the dead back to their graves, because around Whisper Hollow, people—and secrets—don’t always stay buried.

When I was little, I was told my mother ran off. But now it looks like she was murdered. With the help of my mysterious neighbor Bryan, we begin to unravel the mystery of her disappearance, and in doing so, unearth a dark force seeking to bury Whisper Hollow. Now I must work with the dead, rather than against them, because our enemy will do whatever she can to destroy the town, and she means to start with me.

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Fifteen years away, Kerris Fellwater is back in her hometown. She ran away after having a fight with her grandfather but now that her grandmother has passed it is up to her, as the spirit shaman, to take over after the family business. Her job is to make sure the dead remain dead. The power is inherited from mothers to daughters. Every shaman has two people to help her, one is a shapeshifter mate and another one is a lament singer.
Soon after getting back home, Kerris discovers that she grew up in a house full of secrets and now she is learning the truth about her mothers death, which she will now avenge.

Kerris is an absolutely fascinating character. She is so complex, being both tough, yet incredibly soft as well. In a lot of urban fantasies, the heroine's physical abilities are off the charts, and this sometimes can make the dangers against them just don't seem threatening at all. Kerri is one of those types. She definitely has a strong power set in the shaman area, but her physical abilities are much less, more along the lines of an ordinary person. So, when the Shape shifters, witches, and other assorted creature who live in this town go on attack, you feel the threat against her with heart pounding intensity. She and Bryan have explosive attraction and hot and sweaty sex. He has enough dominance in him to make you notice him from miles away. They are a perfect match.

This is a better-than-usual example of the popular sub-genre of urban fantasy involving a young heroine with supernatural powers/connections,werewolves and other supernatural creatures of varying nationalities Ms.Galenorn
s a seasoned fantasy author, and this shows in her worldbuilding, which is of higher quality than is usually found in this genre.It was very refreshing to be able to completely feel the fear that is intended with the danger.Who doesn't like murder, suspense, all mixed in with a good dose of humor?

Yasmine Galenorn is one of my favorite authors, and this book does not disappoint. It differs from her usual style in that it has a modern, rather than high fantasy, setting, but she does it very well. It took me a few chapters to stop feeling like I was reading Yasmine Galenorn channeling Patricia Briggs, but after that it was all her own. Also, this book is appropriate for younger audiences. As most of Galenorn's books are, this is character centered with a very satisfying plot. It leaves you wanting to know more of what happens to the characters; unfortunately, Galenorn tends to only write duologues (if that), and you're frequently left yearning to know more of the characters and worlds she's created. I highly suggest all of her series, and I am looking forward to book 2 in this series.

Saturday, December 5, 2015

5/5 Review:Flight from Death (Fly by Night Book 1) by Yasmine Galenorn

I’m Shimmer, a blue dragon shifter. Thanks to a mistake, I was exiled from the Dragon Reaches and sentenced to work for Alex Radcliffe, a vampire who owns the Fly by Night Magical Investigations Agency. Now, not only do I have to adapt to Earthside culture, but every time I turn around, somebody’s trying to kill us. And worse, Alex is as gorgeous as he is exasperating. But you know what they say: All’s fair in love and bounty hunting…

When an old friend of Alex contacts him about a haunting at the High Tide Bed & Breakfast in Port Townsend, Washington, we think we’re on a simple ghost hunt. But our investigation quickly transforms into a deadly fight as we uncover an eighty-year-old murder, a cursed house, and a dark force trapping the spirits within. To stop impending disaster we must break the curse and lay the angry spirits to rest

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Shimmer is a Blue Dragon Shifter who was exiled from her home after being shamed and caught stealing. Shimmer doesn't know who her parents are and in her world she has no status. She grew up in an orphanage for dragons like her. As part of her punishment she is sent to Earth without most of her powers for five years. Luckily she was sent to work for Alex Radcliffe who is the owner Fly by Night Magical Investigations Agency. In this first novel, Alex is contacted by an old friend, Patrick Strand, who has purchased a home in Port Townsend and has converted it into a B&B. However, he is unable to open for business because it appears to be haunted and something keeps creating havoc and destruction whenever he gets close to opening. Patrick has asked Alex to come to solve the problem.

Vampires, shifters, witches, dragons, Djinns, - you name it; this book as it all. But is it all necessary? Everything fits together well, the characters seem well formed, and the plot's intriguing. Yet something I can't put my finger on is stopping this good book from being great. It may be because it started off kind of slow for me.Dealing with things that would have broken a lesser person she's over come the odds, i.e. being abandoned and then turned out from her world. She was stronger than strong to stand up to and make the best of having to leave the only world she has ever known.

I think Galenorn has hit upon an awesome fantasy world, with some wonderful players straight. I'm glad she's started on this new series, I have to admit to being quite upset over the ending of her two paranormal mystery series. Her message on her website is wonderful - but I disagree with her that she doesn't do mysteries as well. Like this series, there is substance to the plot and the characters, as well as a lot of character growth and realistic thoughts and emotions. Not everything is as wholesome as apple pie, but her characters suck it up and deal with it like anyone in the real world would have to do. Shimmer is a perfect example. So, if you enjoy a little realism with a lot of fantasy, this is ideal for you.

Tuesday, July 1, 2014

Night's End Blog Tour by Yasmine Galenorn Release Day Blast

Welcome to the Release Day Celebration for the finale of Yasmine Galenorn's Indigo Court series!! NIGHT'S END releases TODAY, and will conclude our journey with Cicely, Grieve, Rhiannon, and the rest of their friends as they battle to end Myst and defeat her army of vampiric fae.

Eons ago, vampires tried to turn the dark Fae in order to harness their magic, only to create a demonic enemy more powerful than they could have imagined. Now, in a final push, Myst returns with a vengeance to bring the Golden Wood forever under the rule of the Indigo Court.

Newly crowned Fae Queens Cicely and Rhiannon have embraced their destinies and claimed their thrones. But Myst is rising once more, and now, at the helm of her armies, she begins her final assault on the Golden Wood. As Fae, vampires, and magic-born alike fall under the tide of blood, Cicely and her friends must discover a way to destroy the spidery queen before they—and their people—face total annihilation.

Check out the playlist and read the first chapter of NIGHT'S END here!

For a chance to win a prize basket including a KINDLE PAPERWHITE and other goodies from Yasmine Galenorn, follow the NIGHT'S END blog tour this week and enter at each tour stop!

Sunday, June 29^th

Post: The Qwillery

Review: Fang-Freakin-Tastic Reviews

Monday, June 30^th

Post: Books Make Me Happy

Review: Saints & Sinners Books

Tuesday, July 1^st