I haven't written in this blog for a while as the holiday season has been very busy, but I was excited to give this review of Endless Magic by Rachel Higginson. My favorite up and coming author, I have very high hopes for her. In previous reviews I've talked about the first three books of this series, Reckless Magic, Hopeless Magic, and Fearless Magic. Endless Magic is the last of the series. The first three books were written with such imagination and the characters have such charisma they automatically pull you into their world. Endless Magic builds on these existing characters and brings to life the beginning of the end.
The background of the Star-Crossed Series is about a girl named Eden who is an Immortal (a magical being). She has an ongoing battle with King Lucan to overthrow his tyrant rule, but she is currently his prisoner. Guarded in her former lover's room, Prince Kiran, she has given her powers to her twin brother Avalon in hopes Lucan will never be able to steal her magic. Eden feels a strong hatred for Kiran because just after he proposed to her, she found him in battle with her grandfather and allowed Lucan to kill him.
The story begins with Eden weak and angry in Kiran's room when she is summoned by Lucan. Being her stubborn self, Eden spits smart remarks at Lucan when he decides to show her the extent of his power and control over her. He takes a sword and plunges it into Lily's mother's chest. Lucan promises the same fate for all the prisoners if Eden doesn't get her magic back. Eden realizes how selfish her idea was and knows what she must do in order to save her people. Kiran, his cousin Sebastian, and his Titan bodyguard Talbott devise a plan to bring Eden to see her brother Avalon in order to regain her magic.
Throughout the story, Eden is constantly reminded by Kiran that she is his prisoner. She is sure Kiran hates her. Too bad part of saving the kingdom is pretending the two are happily in love because Lucan has already told the Kingdom of their engagement. This sets the mood for the book and the rest of the story lies heavily on Eden's decision on how to view Kiran. She finds herself pulled between the lingering feelings of love from the past for Kiran and the present feelings of love for Jericho. The main theme in this book is forgiveness. Eden finds it hard to forgive Kiran after all the hurt he has caused her and her family and continues to harden her heart after his apology. Eden must also decide if Kiran is a friend or foe and if he really does love her or is just pretending for the Kingdom. May first is the date of the wedding and as the date draws near Eden finds herself caught in a world of hate and anger but also love and joy.
Higginson reintroduces Amelia, Seraphina, Lily, and Eden's parents Justice and Delia in this book and surprises the reader with the roles they will play in the war. I can't really indulge too much about the book because all the events build upon each other. I do assure you that you will get caught up in a world of forbidden love, the issue of human rights, madness driven by love, tests of love and forgiveness, and the succulent world of magic. I recommend reading at least Fearless Magic, but you'll have to read all three previous books to really understand the extent of the problems in the book. This last book begins right where the last book leaves off. You can also read my other blogs about the books to get a quick catch-up.
Rachel Higginson really captivated me with this series and I am sad to see it finished. The characters are mesmerizing and really draw you in. My favorite was Kiran, the prince filled with mixed emotions and pain. A small spoiler is that you will get to go into Kiran's mind in this book and see what he's been up to all this time. All the other characters also engage you in an imaginative bond to imerse you into their world of magic. Although the book series has ended, the good news is that Rachel Higginson has a new series coming out in May!
Friday, February 17, 2012
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Fairytale (The Fairies of Rush) by Maggie Shayne
So this was a free book on Amazon that was recommended by the website. This is one of the few reviews where I would have to say I was not impressed. This book wasn't for me, but it had good reviews so others must find it good. First, I don't think it truly belongs in the Fantasy category. The basis of the book is about fairies, but really it's a romance (like steamy romance) novel. the book doesn't focus on the concept of the fairy world, but rather on the relationship, or I should say sexual relationship, of our two main characters. Second, the idea of a fairyland and fairies are more supporting characteristics of the book instead of the main characteristic and focus of the book. I personally don't recommend it, but those of you who like romance novel might enjoy it.
The basis of the book is about two fairies being brought to the mortal world because of war in the fairyland of Rush. Brigit and Brindin find themselves in the care of an orphanage, but Brindin gets adopted by a family controlled by the Dark Prince. Brigit, now unaware of being a fairy, finds herself in the care of a homeless man named Raze after the orphanage burns down and now she must commit crimes of forging expensive paintings in order to survive. The current scheme involves a painting belonging to a man named Adam. The only problem is upon meeting Adam, Brigit realizes she recognizes him from her dreams. Ben shares the recognition. They both are attracted to each other, but both are protecting their hearts from future heartache.
Adam was an adventurous child and found his way into the fairy kingdom of Rush. A fairy foretold his destiny as being the person to find her daughter after the war and to reunite her with her twin sister. He was warned not to fall in love with her for she will never be able to be with him. Adam's father was unamused by his imagination and beat him for it. As an adult, his wife has recently left him for his best friend. When Ben sees Brigit he knows his life is forever changed. Ben invites Brigit to be his live-in maid and she accepts for she needs to be near his painting in order to forge it. Raze is being held captive as an incentive for Brigit to follow through with the scheme. Brigit finds herself falling for Adam, even though she knows she must hurt him by stealing his real painting of Rush. She also finds herself believing she might actually be a fairy princess as Adam opens up to her about his childhood experience in Rush, but they both still believe it to be an unrealistic and ridiculous thought. Brigit struggles with herself and faces the moral obligations in order to save Raze. Will she follow through in order to save his life, even if it means hurting Adam, the one man she loves? Ben also struggles with his decisions as he must chose to help Brigit find her sister and risk losing her forever or to selfishly keep her by his side and not fulfill his destiny.
So I know what wasn't a great amount of information about the storyline, but it is basically sums it up. The storyline is really not what the book is about. The book is mainly about the sexual and emotional relationship between Adam and Brigit and how they try to fight against their desires for each other. This book is definitely an adult romance novel and if you like that style, then this is a great book for you. If you're like me looking for more imagination, then I would suggest you skip this book and find another.
The basis of the book is about two fairies being brought to the mortal world because of war in the fairyland of Rush. Brigit and Brindin find themselves in the care of an orphanage, but Brindin gets adopted by a family controlled by the Dark Prince. Brigit, now unaware of being a fairy, finds herself in the care of a homeless man named Raze after the orphanage burns down and now she must commit crimes of forging expensive paintings in order to survive. The current scheme involves a painting belonging to a man named Adam. The only problem is upon meeting Adam, Brigit realizes she recognizes him from her dreams. Ben shares the recognition. They both are attracted to each other, but both are protecting their hearts from future heartache.
Adam was an adventurous child and found his way into the fairy kingdom of Rush. A fairy foretold his destiny as being the person to find her daughter after the war and to reunite her with her twin sister. He was warned not to fall in love with her for she will never be able to be with him. Adam's father was unamused by his imagination and beat him for it. As an adult, his wife has recently left him for his best friend. When Ben sees Brigit he knows his life is forever changed. Ben invites Brigit to be his live-in maid and she accepts for she needs to be near his painting in order to forge it. Raze is being held captive as an incentive for Brigit to follow through with the scheme. Brigit finds herself falling for Adam, even though she knows she must hurt him by stealing his real painting of Rush. She also finds herself believing she might actually be a fairy princess as Adam opens up to her about his childhood experience in Rush, but they both still believe it to be an unrealistic and ridiculous thought. Brigit struggles with herself and faces the moral obligations in order to save Raze. Will she follow through in order to save his life, even if it means hurting Adam, the one man she loves? Ben also struggles with his decisions as he must chose to help Brigit find her sister and risk losing her forever or to selfishly keep her by his side and not fulfill his destiny.
So I know what wasn't a great amount of information about the storyline, but it is basically sums it up. The storyline is really not what the book is about. The book is mainly about the sexual and emotional relationship between Adam and Brigit and how they try to fight against their desires for each other. This book is definitely an adult romance novel and if you like that style, then this is a great book for you. If you're like me looking for more imagination, then I would suggest you skip this book and find another.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Fearless Magic (Star-crossed Series) by Rachel Higginson
The book has finally been released!!! Fearless Magic is the third book in the Star-crossed Series, with Reckless Magic and Hopeless Magic being the first two. This book came out this past weekend, and I was done reading it in about four hours. Rachel Higginson just keeps amazing me with how well her writing flows and how tied together each story is. If you enjoyed the first two books, this book is a definite must-read. I don't want to give too much of the book away because it has just been released, but here's a quick review of it.
From the last book, Hopeless Magic, we leave off with Eden left alone after the moarchy's attack on the Resistance. An unprepared Eden came too late to help rescue her family and friends, and Avalon has been captured by King Lucan. Kiran has also left Eden because of her unwillingness to join the monarchy, and she had decided her fate lies with becoming a member of the Resistance. Armory's last words to her was to find her parents, and this is where the book begins. Eden knows Silas, the shape-shifter from Manchu Pichu, is her only clue to where her parents are. Alone, she seeks him out and finds he will not help her. She is too evil now, with all her anger and desire for revenge brewing within her. Eden reminds him of the war that is to come and that he will have to decide which side he belongs to, and she convinces him to help her. She is to seek Gabriel, a priest near by.
Before she reaches Gabriel, she is interrupted by Talbot. He warns her there are many guards near by and that her necklace (given to her by Kiran) has a magical tracking device on it. She has the option of saving one of the Resistance members if she returns Avalon's magic. Eden refuses, but instead of handing her over, Talbot tells her to hurt him and gives her the key to release the prisoner near by. She obeys and soon finds herself running away with an old friend. Okay, so I can't really tell you who it is because it'll be a complete spoiler, but this person is a vital character.
They are able to escape and seek out Gabriel, who informs them he has seen her parents just three days ago. Upon great convincing from Eden, Gabriel also joins the Resistance. The dilemma is now whether to find Eden's parents or to continue on to seek out the other teams of the Resistance. Eden, now being the Resistance leader, decides it is more important to regroup the teams. With this as her goal, she and her two teammates carry onto strengthen their numbers and save Avalon in order to overthrow the monarchy. War is inevitable, and Eden is leading it.
Kiran is not forgotten in this book. It turns out he is very ill and near death, needing Eden's magic to save his life. He also has asked Seraphina to be engaged to him again, per Lucan's request. Eden is set on killing every member of the monarchy, including Kiran, but she still feels compassion for him. These are just a few of the decisions that Eden will have to face. Fearless Magic is filled with many great events that take you on an adventure through a world of heart-break and love. You must read the book to find out what our daring Eden will decide about her fate and that of the Resistance. Will Eden kill Kiran? Will she face battle with Lucan? Will she set Avalon free? Will she find her parents? How will she accomplish her goals? Will she find herself forever heart-broken, or will she find love again? Will Eden and Kiran rekindle their love and live happily ever after?
Fearless Magic is a heart-warming novel that I can truly say will capture your attention immediately. The wait was worth it and now we must wait again until January for the release of the fourth book, Endless Magic. A few last thoughts. One great thing I find about this series is that even though the characters have magic, they are extremely relatable. Eden's process of love and heartache, Kiran's unknowing selfishness, Jerricho's denied love, and Avalon's quest for a greater good are all real life emotions. Although the title of the series is Star-Crossed, this book is more than a love story. The theme of the book is also about the willingness to fight for what is right and equality for all.
I bought this book on Amazon for $3.99, a good price a great novel. I do have to warn you that there are grammatical errors in the e-version. Hopefully a new revised version will be available for a free upgrade
ENJOY!!!
From the last book, Hopeless Magic, we leave off with Eden left alone after the moarchy's attack on the Resistance. An unprepared Eden came too late to help rescue her family and friends, and Avalon has been captured by King Lucan. Kiran has also left Eden because of her unwillingness to join the monarchy, and she had decided her fate lies with becoming a member of the Resistance. Armory's last words to her was to find her parents, and this is where the book begins. Eden knows Silas, the shape-shifter from Manchu Pichu, is her only clue to where her parents are. Alone, she seeks him out and finds he will not help her. She is too evil now, with all her anger and desire for revenge brewing within her. Eden reminds him of the war that is to come and that he will have to decide which side he belongs to, and she convinces him to help her. She is to seek Gabriel, a priest near by.
Before she reaches Gabriel, she is interrupted by Talbot. He warns her there are many guards near by and that her necklace (given to her by Kiran) has a magical tracking device on it. She has the option of saving one of the Resistance members if she returns Avalon's magic. Eden refuses, but instead of handing her over, Talbot tells her to hurt him and gives her the key to release the prisoner near by. She obeys and soon finds herself running away with an old friend. Okay, so I can't really tell you who it is because it'll be a complete spoiler, but this person is a vital character.
They are able to escape and seek out Gabriel, who informs them he has seen her parents just three days ago. Upon great convincing from Eden, Gabriel also joins the Resistance. The dilemma is now whether to find Eden's parents or to continue on to seek out the other teams of the Resistance. Eden, now being the Resistance leader, decides it is more important to regroup the teams. With this as her goal, she and her two teammates carry onto strengthen their numbers and save Avalon in order to overthrow the monarchy. War is inevitable, and Eden is leading it.
Kiran is not forgotten in this book. It turns out he is very ill and near death, needing Eden's magic to save his life. He also has asked Seraphina to be engaged to him again, per Lucan's request. Eden is set on killing every member of the monarchy, including Kiran, but she still feels compassion for him. These are just a few of the decisions that Eden will have to face. Fearless Magic is filled with many great events that take you on an adventure through a world of heart-break and love. You must read the book to find out what our daring Eden will decide about her fate and that of the Resistance. Will Eden kill Kiran? Will she face battle with Lucan? Will she set Avalon free? Will she find her parents? How will she accomplish her goals? Will she find herself forever heart-broken, or will she find love again? Will Eden and Kiran rekindle their love and live happily ever after?
Fearless Magic is a heart-warming novel that I can truly say will capture your attention immediately. The wait was worth it and now we must wait again until January for the release of the fourth book, Endless Magic. A few last thoughts. One great thing I find about this series is that even though the characters have magic, they are extremely relatable. Eden's process of love and heartache, Kiran's unknowing selfishness, Jerricho's denied love, and Avalon's quest for a greater good are all real life emotions. Although the title of the series is Star-Crossed, this book is more than a love story. The theme of the book is also about the willingness to fight for what is right and equality for all.
I bought this book on Amazon for $3.99, a good price a great novel. I do have to warn you that there are grammatical errors in the e-version. Hopefully a new revised version will be available for a free upgrade
ENJOY!!!
Friday, October 21, 2011
Hopeless Magic (Star-Crossed Series) by Rachel Higginson
Book one of the series, Reckless Magic, left me yearning for more of the romance story between Eden Matthews and Kiran Kendrick. The book ends on a happy note with Eden and Kiran together, but now they must keep their relationship a secret. If Kiran's father were to find out what Eden's true identity is, it could mean the end of her life!
The previous book provided the history of Eden and Avalon's past as well as who their parents are. It also touches on the history of the Immortals and how the monarchy came into power. It is to much to explain and you will have to read Reckless Magic to find out the details. What we do find out though is Kiran's father has a vendetta against Eden's parents and if he were to find out Eden is their daughter, he would use her to lure her parents to him. Kiran is well aware of this fact and his plan is to convince his father she is just another ordinary girl. Armory decides to trust Kiran because Eden loves him, but Avalon disagrees. He, along with the Resistance, continually warn Eden that Kiran is using her and will turn on her once he has her powers and can dispose of her. This is an internal war for Eden, and she is caught amidst the confusion between her heart and mind.
Book two begins right where Reckless Magic left off. Eden and Avalon continue classes and Kiran pretends he doesn't know Eden. With Seraphina all over him, it's hard to tell him and Eden are secretly dating. Lily has decided to join the Resistance, but Eden cannot commit knowing her heart belongs to Kiran. Jericho is a new character introduced in the first book, a member of the Resistance. He and Lily are both living with Eden, and she is also attracted to him. Her heart is torn by this because even though she loves Kiran, Jericho seems like an easier relationship to be in. She also despises the fact that she must watch Kiran and Seraphina's interludes at school.
The real problem in the book arises when Eden is summoned by the King Lucan, Kiran's father, to do the Eternal Walk through the Cave of Forever Winds. During this process, an Immortal will meet their fears, but learn how to confront them. The problem is that the walk also reveals what type of magic the Immortal has by the color the wind turns into. So because King Lucan is watching Eden closely through the walk, he will learn her true identity and put her life in danger. In the end, Armory knows Eden must go through the walk in order to hinder Lucan's already growing suspicion of her. During her walk, Eden is attacked by the winds to the point where she is ready to meet her death. She accepts her fate but finds herself awake on the cave floor. Upon making contact with Avalon, Armory instructs her to use her magic to manipulate the color of the wind, which she gladly does so in order to confuse Lucan. The ability to manipulate the wind is explained by Armory in the book, but it's too complicated to explain here. As a side note, the author's ability to explain and provide descriptions for situations like this is what makes her a great author. She doesn't leave out any explanations and therefore, ties the whole book together.
Kiran and the Resistance feel great relief upon Eden's return. When it seems all will be normal again, there comes a bigger problem. King Lucan is visiting the school and Kiran. Armory knows the king well enough to sense danger is approaching, but he cannot figure out the motive behind the visit. While the Resistance is worried, Kiran sees it as an opportunity for his father to get to know Eden, for he has assumed his father already knows about their relationship. He hopes that his father will undo the betrothal to Seraphina and allow an engagement to Eden.
This book encompasses so many emotions and story lines that I must end my review at this part of the book. The story continues to include so many unforeseen events and your heart and mind will feel like it's been on an emotional roller coaster. In this book, Eden and Kiran's romance finds itself tested by the bonds of family and the trust they hold will forever be changed. I loved the first book of this series, and I found myself even more in love with the second book. Hopeless Magic is truly a must read and it will captivate your mind from the beginning. Will Kiran's father approve of Eden? Will they survive the test of trust? Will Eden join the Resistance? Will the King find out Eden's true identity? These are just a few of the questions this book will ask and answer.
I would also like to add a small update about the third book Fearless Magic. Higginson had previously announced it would be released in mid-October, but it has been postponed to November. It looks like it will be send for editing this weekend!!! I have enjoyed her first two books so much I hope the third books is as good. Also, previously, this was supposed to be a trilogy, but Higginson has announced a fourth book in the making due to be released in December.
I am also going to postpone any more book reviews until I have read Fearless Magic, just so I can keep this blog flowing well. I will be posting yummy cupcake recipes soon so be on the lookout for that!!!
The previous book provided the history of Eden and Avalon's past as well as who their parents are. It also touches on the history of the Immortals and how the monarchy came into power. It is to much to explain and you will have to read Reckless Magic to find out the details. What we do find out though is Kiran's father has a vendetta against Eden's parents and if he were to find out Eden is their daughter, he would use her to lure her parents to him. Kiran is well aware of this fact and his plan is to convince his father she is just another ordinary girl. Armory decides to trust Kiran because Eden loves him, but Avalon disagrees. He, along with the Resistance, continually warn Eden that Kiran is using her and will turn on her once he has her powers and can dispose of her. This is an internal war for Eden, and she is caught amidst the confusion between her heart and mind.
Book two begins right where Reckless Magic left off. Eden and Avalon continue classes and Kiran pretends he doesn't know Eden. With Seraphina all over him, it's hard to tell him and Eden are secretly dating. Lily has decided to join the Resistance, but Eden cannot commit knowing her heart belongs to Kiran. Jericho is a new character introduced in the first book, a member of the Resistance. He and Lily are both living with Eden, and she is also attracted to him. Her heart is torn by this because even though she loves Kiran, Jericho seems like an easier relationship to be in. She also despises the fact that she must watch Kiran and Seraphina's interludes at school.
The real problem in the book arises when Eden is summoned by the King Lucan, Kiran's father, to do the Eternal Walk through the Cave of Forever Winds. During this process, an Immortal will meet their fears, but learn how to confront them. The problem is that the walk also reveals what type of magic the Immortal has by the color the wind turns into. So because King Lucan is watching Eden closely through the walk, he will learn her true identity and put her life in danger. In the end, Armory knows Eden must go through the walk in order to hinder Lucan's already growing suspicion of her. During her walk, Eden is attacked by the winds to the point where she is ready to meet her death. She accepts her fate but finds herself awake on the cave floor. Upon making contact with Avalon, Armory instructs her to use her magic to manipulate the color of the wind, which she gladly does so in order to confuse Lucan. The ability to manipulate the wind is explained by Armory in the book, but it's too complicated to explain here. As a side note, the author's ability to explain and provide descriptions for situations like this is what makes her a great author. She doesn't leave out any explanations and therefore, ties the whole book together.
Kiran and the Resistance feel great relief upon Eden's return. When it seems all will be normal again, there comes a bigger problem. King Lucan is visiting the school and Kiran. Armory knows the king well enough to sense danger is approaching, but he cannot figure out the motive behind the visit. While the Resistance is worried, Kiran sees it as an opportunity for his father to get to know Eden, for he has assumed his father already knows about their relationship. He hopes that his father will undo the betrothal to Seraphina and allow an engagement to Eden.
This book encompasses so many emotions and story lines that I must end my review at this part of the book. The story continues to include so many unforeseen events and your heart and mind will feel like it's been on an emotional roller coaster. In this book, Eden and Kiran's romance finds itself tested by the bonds of family and the trust they hold will forever be changed. I loved the first book of this series, and I found myself even more in love with the second book. Hopeless Magic is truly a must read and it will captivate your mind from the beginning. Will Kiran's father approve of Eden? Will they survive the test of trust? Will Eden join the Resistance? Will the King find out Eden's true identity? These are just a few of the questions this book will ask and answer.
I would also like to add a small update about the third book Fearless Magic. Higginson had previously announced it would be released in mid-October, but it has been postponed to November. It looks like it will be send for editing this weekend!!! I have enjoyed her first two books so much I hope the third books is as good. Also, previously, this was supposed to be a trilogy, but Higginson has announced a fourth book in the making due to be released in December.
I am also going to postpone any more book reviews until I have read Fearless Magic, just so I can keep this blog flowing well. I will be posting yummy cupcake recipes soon so be on the lookout for that!!!
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Reckless Magic (Star-Crossed Series) by Rachel Higginson
I wanted to blog a review on this book because the third book is due to be released in a few weeks, and I know I'll want to blog about that book quickly after I've read it. Reckless Magic is the beginning of the Star-Crossed Series. I downloaded the book because it was free, and that was the only reason why. I was even a little hesitant to read it, but I am so glad I did. This book had me hanging onto every word, and I must admit I finished it in one sitting. The story line about the star-crossed lovers is used a lot, but what I love about this book is that it goes beyond that. There is a world opened to us in which magic, love, hate, war, compassion, and royalty are all combined to enthrall our minds with imagination and adventure into a world we long to be a part of. The romance is only a portion of the moral battle as Higginson also lunges the conflict of family or love, revenge or understanding, and responsibility to the mind or the heart. I can honestly say after reading the first two books of the series, my heart was aching along with that of the main characters, and I could feel their pain manifesting. That's how good the book was for me.
The book beings with a catchy introduction depicting a vision of a woman dropping off a set of twins to an unknown gentleman's house. "'That's not possible.' Twins did not exist in their culture, or at least they hadn't in thousands of years." Together, they devise a plan to separate them for they know the lives of the babies depend on it. The book then fast forwards to introduce our main character, Eden Matthews. She is 17 and is transferring to a new school, again. Eden has had many unfortunate events happen to her and that has caused her expulsion from many schools. She only hopes her bad luck won't follow her here. She lives with her aunt, a doctor, and has the notion that her parents are dead. Always, she has been an outcast and prefers it to stay that way.
On her first day of school, she has the misfortune, or fortune depending on how you look at it, to run into Kiran Kendrick and his sidekick Talbot. Kiran pokes fun at Eden instantly and Talbot just doesn't seem to acknowledge her. To make matters worse, her teachers dislike her, she's behind in every subject, and every student at the school looks like a supermodel. Thankfully, she makes one friend, Lily. It seems no matter where Eden goes, she runs into Kiran and Talbot, and she senses a surge of electrical wave whenever Kiran is near. This electrical surge is how all of her misfortunes started , so she desperately tries to suppress sit. After an unsuccessful attempt, she faints in her English class and she is mortified. The next day at school she continues to find herself yet again the subject of Kiran's teasing and this time she cannot suppress her surge. She shoots Kiran with an electricity, only to be sent to the Principal's office. Eden is sure she will be expelled again, but it seems no one noticed what happened. She is free to stay, for now.
Eden hopes to relax her mind with a blissful sleep and finds herself in a romantic dream with Kiran. He sweet talks her and she falls right into his arms allowing herself to enjoy every part of her dream. Their interlude is quickly interrupted by men in black and she wakes up dumbfounded of what just happened. Just her luck, the school is also going on a P.E. adventure called camping and she is forced to be stuck with all her classmates for the whole weekend. It also doesn't help that Kiran continues to tease her and all the other girls seem to hate her. Especially Seraphina, Kiran's girlfriend. After a nasty exchange of words between Eden and Seraphina, Eden and Lily retreat from the group only to find Kiran and Talbot asking them to go into the woods with them. Reluctantly, they follow but Eden soon senses trouble. They find themselves surrounded by the men in black from Eden's dream. She can feel her electrical surge increasing within her when she notices the men and Lily have turned into animals. Is this real? To further complicate the matter, Kiran and Talbot are moving at record speed and strength. When Eden feels the trouble her friends are in, her body responds by shooting electricity towards the men and she blacks out. Her teacher arrives to the commotion and Eden finds herself on her bed at home.
So what the heck is going on here? That's what Eden is wondering! Principal Saint arrives to her bedside and feels he has a lot of explaining to do. He informs her that what she saw was indeed true, and she herself is a witch. Furthermore, she, as well as her classmates, belong to a group called Immortals. She is only one of five types of Immortals, the others being Titans, Psychics, Shape-shifters, and Mediums. The school is a specialty school for magic and until now, they had not thought to enroll Eden there. Everyone but her has been using magic, not to mention they have all been able to read her mind. Eden is shocked, but she at least feels like she somewhat belongs now. She returns to school to find everyone staring and talking about her, and Lily is nowhere to be found. Kiran and Talbot keep their distance from her as Seraphina clings onto Kiran like her prized possession. Luckily a new friend arrives just in time!
With long black hair and tattoos, Avalon also doesn't fit in with the other Immortals at school. He quickly befriends Eden and she finds him very appealing. She feels a strong connection with him and together, they quickly find trouble. Eden is over the fact that Kiran is devoted to Seraphina, but fate always finds a way. One day at school, Avalon loudly whispers to Eden if she owns anything sexy. A jealous Kiran can only grimace at the question, but Eden decides that she is up for some fun, not to mention making Kiran jealous. Wearing the shortest and tightest black dress, they go into a secret nightclub. He leaves her side for a mere minute and who else shows up but Kiran. He barely gets a word in when Talbot and Principal Saint arrive to interrupt them. Eden is told she is not allowed at this place, and that she needs to stay away from Kiran. Poor Eden seems to always be getting in trouble with Kiran when all she tries to do is stay away from him. Kiran demands they allow him to walk her out as he ushers her into the hallway, presses her up against the wall, and engages her in a fully sensual kiss. He hesitantly walks away and Eden is left to wonder what just happened. She also realizes now she must walk home alone. She senses a group of large men coming after her and struggles to evade their grip. Too fast for her, they catch her and as she puts up a fight, she ends up draining their magic. Avalon quickly comes to her rescue.
Upon her awakening at home, more explanation is needed as to why she must stay away from Kiran and what happened after the night club. Along with being in the realm of Immortals, there is also a monarchy, and Kiran is the crowned prince. He is betrothed to Seraphina and was sent to school to get to know her better. The only problem is, he has no attraction to her and he is interested in Eden. On top of that, there is a feud between Eden's family and Kiran's family, so there is a slight chance they can ever be together. Just a note too, Eden finds out Avalon is actually her brother, and Principal Saint is her grandfather. The history of the family is long and explained well in the book. It is similar to Romeo and Juliet but with a magical twist. Eden also finds out Lily is in jail at the royal palace just because she is a shape shifter and they have been banned from the Immortal realm. Eden struggles to find a way to rescue her friend while dealing with Kiran in the process.
Eden continues to have dreams about Kiran and finds herself falling more in love with him. Although they are forbidden to be together, they find opportunities to sneak away and indulge in their love for each other. This new-found romance with the enemy finds Eden surrounded by moral dilemmas. Does she side with her family and join the Resistance that her brother leads? What must she do about her love for Kiran, who's situation is as gloomy as hers? What other facts will surface about the past that will dictate her fate? How will she save Lily, or will she fail in her attempt to do so? This book still has many more adventures to reveal that will take Eden all the way to Romania in efforts to find the answers to her questions.
I COMPLETELY recommend Reckless Magic. Honestly, I have only covered a mere portion of what happens in this blog. Higginson couldn't do more to capture our attention with her writing and her attention to detail makes us yearn for more of the storyline. I also would like to add, as a side note, that the book is no longer free but $0.99, still an amazing deal for this book. Also, if you don't have an e-reader, you can always download the Kindle App to read on your smart phone, tablet, or computer. As for now, it doesn't look like the books are in print form, but I wouldn't be surprised to see them soon. Read this novel and enjoy it as much as I have!!!
The book beings with a catchy introduction depicting a vision of a woman dropping off a set of twins to an unknown gentleman's house. "'That's not possible.' Twins did not exist in their culture, or at least they hadn't in thousands of years." Together, they devise a plan to separate them for they know the lives of the babies depend on it. The book then fast forwards to introduce our main character, Eden Matthews. She is 17 and is transferring to a new school, again. Eden has had many unfortunate events happen to her and that has caused her expulsion from many schools. She only hopes her bad luck won't follow her here. She lives with her aunt, a doctor, and has the notion that her parents are dead. Always, she has been an outcast and prefers it to stay that way.
On her first day of school, she has the misfortune, or fortune depending on how you look at it, to run into Kiran Kendrick and his sidekick Talbot. Kiran pokes fun at Eden instantly and Talbot just doesn't seem to acknowledge her. To make matters worse, her teachers dislike her, she's behind in every subject, and every student at the school looks like a supermodel. Thankfully, she makes one friend, Lily. It seems no matter where Eden goes, she runs into Kiran and Talbot, and she senses a surge of electrical wave whenever Kiran is near. This electrical surge is how all of her misfortunes started , so she desperately tries to suppress sit. After an unsuccessful attempt, she faints in her English class and she is mortified. The next day at school she continues to find herself yet again the subject of Kiran's teasing and this time she cannot suppress her surge. She shoots Kiran with an electricity, only to be sent to the Principal's office. Eden is sure she will be expelled again, but it seems no one noticed what happened. She is free to stay, for now.
Eden hopes to relax her mind with a blissful sleep and finds herself in a romantic dream with Kiran. He sweet talks her and she falls right into his arms allowing herself to enjoy every part of her dream. Their interlude is quickly interrupted by men in black and she wakes up dumbfounded of what just happened. Just her luck, the school is also going on a P.E. adventure called camping and she is forced to be stuck with all her classmates for the whole weekend. It also doesn't help that Kiran continues to tease her and all the other girls seem to hate her. Especially Seraphina, Kiran's girlfriend. After a nasty exchange of words between Eden and Seraphina, Eden and Lily retreat from the group only to find Kiran and Talbot asking them to go into the woods with them. Reluctantly, they follow but Eden soon senses trouble. They find themselves surrounded by the men in black from Eden's dream. She can feel her electrical surge increasing within her when she notices the men and Lily have turned into animals. Is this real? To further complicate the matter, Kiran and Talbot are moving at record speed and strength. When Eden feels the trouble her friends are in, her body responds by shooting electricity towards the men and she blacks out. Her teacher arrives to the commotion and Eden finds herself on her bed at home.
So what the heck is going on here? That's what Eden is wondering! Principal Saint arrives to her bedside and feels he has a lot of explaining to do. He informs her that what she saw was indeed true, and she herself is a witch. Furthermore, she, as well as her classmates, belong to a group called Immortals. She is only one of five types of Immortals, the others being Titans, Psychics, Shape-shifters, and Mediums. The school is a specialty school for magic and until now, they had not thought to enroll Eden there. Everyone but her has been using magic, not to mention they have all been able to read her mind. Eden is shocked, but she at least feels like she somewhat belongs now. She returns to school to find everyone staring and talking about her, and Lily is nowhere to be found. Kiran and Talbot keep their distance from her as Seraphina clings onto Kiran like her prized possession. Luckily a new friend arrives just in time!
With long black hair and tattoos, Avalon also doesn't fit in with the other Immortals at school. He quickly befriends Eden and she finds him very appealing. She feels a strong connection with him and together, they quickly find trouble. Eden is over the fact that Kiran is devoted to Seraphina, but fate always finds a way. One day at school, Avalon loudly whispers to Eden if she owns anything sexy. A jealous Kiran can only grimace at the question, but Eden decides that she is up for some fun, not to mention making Kiran jealous. Wearing the shortest and tightest black dress, they go into a secret nightclub. He leaves her side for a mere minute and who else shows up but Kiran. He barely gets a word in when Talbot and Principal Saint arrive to interrupt them. Eden is told she is not allowed at this place, and that she needs to stay away from Kiran. Poor Eden seems to always be getting in trouble with Kiran when all she tries to do is stay away from him. Kiran demands they allow him to walk her out as he ushers her into the hallway, presses her up against the wall, and engages her in a fully sensual kiss. He hesitantly walks away and Eden is left to wonder what just happened. She also realizes now she must walk home alone. She senses a group of large men coming after her and struggles to evade their grip. Too fast for her, they catch her and as she puts up a fight, she ends up draining their magic. Avalon quickly comes to her rescue.
Upon her awakening at home, more explanation is needed as to why she must stay away from Kiran and what happened after the night club. Along with being in the realm of Immortals, there is also a monarchy, and Kiran is the crowned prince. He is betrothed to Seraphina and was sent to school to get to know her better. The only problem is, he has no attraction to her and he is interested in Eden. On top of that, there is a feud between Eden's family and Kiran's family, so there is a slight chance they can ever be together. Just a note too, Eden finds out Avalon is actually her brother, and Principal Saint is her grandfather. The history of the family is long and explained well in the book. It is similar to Romeo and Juliet but with a magical twist. Eden also finds out Lily is in jail at the royal palace just because she is a shape shifter and they have been banned from the Immortal realm. Eden struggles to find a way to rescue her friend while dealing with Kiran in the process.
Eden continues to have dreams about Kiran and finds herself falling more in love with him. Although they are forbidden to be together, they find opportunities to sneak away and indulge in their love for each other. This new-found romance with the enemy finds Eden surrounded by moral dilemmas. Does she side with her family and join the Resistance that her brother leads? What must she do about her love for Kiran, who's situation is as gloomy as hers? What other facts will surface about the past that will dictate her fate? How will she save Lily, or will she fail in her attempt to do so? This book still has many more adventures to reveal that will take Eden all the way to Romania in efforts to find the answers to her questions.
I COMPLETELY recommend Reckless Magic. Honestly, I have only covered a mere portion of what happens in this blog. Higginson couldn't do more to capture our attention with her writing and her attention to detail makes us yearn for more of the storyline. I also would like to add, as a side note, that the book is no longer free but $0.99, still an amazing deal for this book. Also, if you don't have an e-reader, you can always download the Kindle App to read on your smart phone, tablet, or computer. As for now, it doesn't look like the books are in print form, but I wouldn't be surprised to see them soon. Read this novel and enjoy it as much as I have!!!
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
United Eden (The Eden Trilogy) by Nicole Williams
Finally, the last book of the Eden Series. I have to admit, I was assuming the second book would end bleak, but it surprised me with a happy ending. I started reading the book wondering what else could happen to our star-crossed lovers when so much has already happened, but of course we haven't even dealt with John Townsend yet!
This book begins with Charles finally persuading the council to allow Bryn to join the Hayward family in return for William's cooperation in fulfilling the prophecy as the chosen one. William and Bryn yearn to believe they will be allowed to marry, but there is a twist! While William is off saving the life of mortals, rumors spread that it is actually Patrick the council with betroth Bryn to. This type of writing style in which the author raises hope and then breaks it down again is a common theme in the books, and is what keeps the reader so engaged. Bryn tries to shrug the rumors off, but not entirely because she knows the council has always found loopholes in the past. Things only get worse when Patrick pulls Bryn aside to tell her he is actually in love with her, and assures her the betrothal will be to him and not William.
As the Betrothal Ball commences, everyone but William is walking on thin ice. When the announcement happens, Bryn is shocked when she hears she is betrothed to......???? Okay, here's where you have to read the book. This is just too good of a twist for me to give it away. Which Hayward son does Bryn end up with?
After the betrothal, Bryn must get ready for her union. She learns she is not allowed to see her betrothed until the ceremony, so Cora and Abigail take her on an immortal bachelorette party. Although sad, Bryn is enjoying the time with her soon to be sisters, and we find a cute chat about how the first "union" is perceived to be like. Bryn is terrified she will not perform well enough, and this emotion is purely common for everyone has, or will, feel this way.
Just as the girls wind down for dinner, John's men rudely interrupt and take Bryn while holding Abigail and Cora hostage. The sisters are sentenced to death, but Patrick (our prompt teleporter) quickly arrives to help the girls. The distraction allows Bryn to summon her powers and is on the verge of a killing rampage when she strikes a deal with Troy. If she cooperates and goes willingly, he is to leave the Hayward family alone. Striking a deal, Bryn soon finds herself alone in a dark box, only large enough to sit in.
To her surprise, Patrick teleports into her box and assures her everything will be alright. William is building a war against John's alliance, and they will soon be here to rescue her. Now...read more to see what happens next!
The war is basically the climax of the book, and here is where we see if William will fulfill the prophecy. Does Bryn get to marry William, or will she be with Patrick who has confessed his love for her? Will our characters find defeat in the end?
As the finale of the Eden Trilogy, I was both intrigued and disappointed at the last book. I was caught in the love triangle of William, Bryn, and Patrick and thrown off with the council's ever changing decisions. The romance in the novel is very fairy-tale based, and our love couple seems to over indulge in PDA. It shows their unrestrained love, but it can be a little much at time. The main problem I had with the book was the lack of information about the immortals, alliances, and the prophecy. It focuses so much on the romance that it fails to include a while realm of imagination. I don't think we ever find out if this war was the one prophesied, or if William really is the chosen one. We don't get any information on how William and Patrick find support for the war, or even where they came from. On behalf of the author's defense, I do understand the book is written from Bryn's perspective, so she wouldn't know that type of information.
Overall, I would recommend the Eden Trilogy by Nicole Williams. There are a light and easy read that will make your heart feel warm. We all need to believe in fairy-tale romance every now and then, and this book does just that. A fantasy romeo and Juliet with multiple twists and turns. It is also nice that the books are all under $4.00 with the first one being free!
Good quotes from the book:
"When you know who you want to be with, why would you wait to actually be with them?"
"It's not about the venue or the veil, it's about the vows you make to one another"
"Girls would call me codependent, guys would call him whipped, and that was alright--they just didn't understand. Codependent was a title I was happy to wear in exchange for the love of a good man."
This book begins with Charles finally persuading the council to allow Bryn to join the Hayward family in return for William's cooperation in fulfilling the prophecy as the chosen one. William and Bryn yearn to believe they will be allowed to marry, but there is a twist! While William is off saving the life of mortals, rumors spread that it is actually Patrick the council with betroth Bryn to. This type of writing style in which the author raises hope and then breaks it down again is a common theme in the books, and is what keeps the reader so engaged. Bryn tries to shrug the rumors off, but not entirely because she knows the council has always found loopholes in the past. Things only get worse when Patrick pulls Bryn aside to tell her he is actually in love with her, and assures her the betrothal will be to him and not William.
As the Betrothal Ball commences, everyone but William is walking on thin ice. When the announcement happens, Bryn is shocked when she hears she is betrothed to......???? Okay, here's where you have to read the book. This is just too good of a twist for me to give it away. Which Hayward son does Bryn end up with?
After the betrothal, Bryn must get ready for her union. She learns she is not allowed to see her betrothed until the ceremony, so Cora and Abigail take her on an immortal bachelorette party. Although sad, Bryn is enjoying the time with her soon to be sisters, and we find a cute chat about how the first "union" is perceived to be like. Bryn is terrified she will not perform well enough, and this emotion is purely common for everyone has, or will, feel this way.
Just as the girls wind down for dinner, John's men rudely interrupt and take Bryn while holding Abigail and Cora hostage. The sisters are sentenced to death, but Patrick (our prompt teleporter) quickly arrives to help the girls. The distraction allows Bryn to summon her powers and is on the verge of a killing rampage when she strikes a deal with Troy. If she cooperates and goes willingly, he is to leave the Hayward family alone. Striking a deal, Bryn soon finds herself alone in a dark box, only large enough to sit in.
To her surprise, Patrick teleports into her box and assures her everything will be alright. William is building a war against John's alliance, and they will soon be here to rescue her. Now...read more to see what happens next!
The war is basically the climax of the book, and here is where we see if William will fulfill the prophecy. Does Bryn get to marry William, or will she be with Patrick who has confessed his love for her? Will our characters find defeat in the end?
As the finale of the Eden Trilogy, I was both intrigued and disappointed at the last book. I was caught in the love triangle of William, Bryn, and Patrick and thrown off with the council's ever changing decisions. The romance in the novel is very fairy-tale based, and our love couple seems to over indulge in PDA. It shows their unrestrained love, but it can be a little much at time. The main problem I had with the book was the lack of information about the immortals, alliances, and the prophecy. It focuses so much on the romance that it fails to include a while realm of imagination. I don't think we ever find out if this war was the one prophesied, or if William really is the chosen one. We don't get any information on how William and Patrick find support for the war, or even where they came from. On behalf of the author's defense, I do understand the book is written from Bryn's perspective, so she wouldn't know that type of information.
Overall, I would recommend the Eden Trilogy by Nicole Williams. There are a light and easy read that will make your heart feel warm. We all need to believe in fairy-tale romance every now and then, and this book does just that. A fantasy romeo and Juliet with multiple twists and turns. It is also nice that the books are all under $4.00 with the first one being free!
Good quotes from the book:
"When you know who you want to be with, why would you wait to actually be with them?"
"It's not about the venue or the veil, it's about the vows you make to one another"
"Girls would call me codependent, guys would call him whipped, and that was alright--they just didn't understand. Codependent was a title I was happy to wear in exchange for the love of a good man."
Friday, October 14, 2011
Fallen Eden (The Eden Trilogy) by Nicole Williams
I decided to read book two of the Eden Trilogy because it follows the previous blog about Bryn Dawson and William Hayward, I know it seems quick to blog this already, but that's how fast I got through the book. This trilogy is an easy read and if you're an avid reader, can be read in one sitting (if you have the time of course). I'll try not to put too many spoilers from end of the last book in this blog, just enough to keep you updated.
For a start, I feel that in order to relieve confusion, I have to introduce some characters that I might talk about later. The star crossed lovers are Bryn Dawson, the main character and William Hayward, our prince charming so to speak. William's family includes Charles, Patrick, Nathanial and Abigail, and Joseph and Cora. Patrick, the younger brother, becomes a dominant character as he works with William in infiltrating the Inhibitors and saves Bryn quite a few times. Nathanial is William's older brother and married to Abigail. Joseph is a younger brother and married to Cora. Charles is William's father and a member of the Guardian council and is one of the reasons William and Bryn find trouble in their relationship. William's mother and sisters were killed during his mortal life, a sad but great story that is explained along with how William and his brothers became immortals. Then there is Paul, the football player that has met Bryn a handful of times, yet is in love with her, and the only mortal who knows she is alive still.
The book begins on a heartbreaking note. From the previous book, we know Bryn's immortal gift is a Taker, she takes the lives of immortals through mere touch. This is complete opposite of William's power of a Giver and Foreteller. William has asked his father to appeal to the council for a bethroval to Bryn, but his father refuses. The combination of their two powers together is too strong and will disrupt the balance of power the immortals have fought to sustain. Bryn was secretly present at their conversation, unbeknowest to William.
Since the union between Bryn and William was so quickly denied, Charles has left Bryn to live with Joseph and Cora on the Hayward land in Montana. She is given Patrick as a strength instructor in order to fulfull her training. William is fulfulling his immortal duties serving as a doctor in remote places, and the council has made sure to keep him away from Bryn as much as possible. The emotions felt and described by our lovers is one most people in long distance relationship can relate to. The yearning to be with the one you love, the spark and butterflies that erupt when you finally are together, and the impossible urge to keep yourself from losing self control...if you know what I mean.
The story really starts to mold into place when Charles rudely interrupts William and Bryn from their romantic and steamy date (Charles' power is the ability to locate any immortal). He reminds William of his duty and throws a book down. Bryn is confused at the present conversation and of course, begs Wililam to explain. The book is a Bible, sort of, for the immortals and it holds a prophecy. "The gift to give life Immortal will manifest, to save his great love. A love he will save only to fight to be with for an eternity, a fight he will lose. This lost love will serve as fuel to his fight, vanquishing his enemies in one final stand"...so basically it describes William. Upon hearing this, Bryn quickly realizes their situation as imppossible. The Council will never allow for this unity because William is their hope of salvation, the hope to end the war between the Guardians and Inhibitors. William continually tries to persuade Bryn to run away with him so they can be together, but she knows they will only be hunted down and killed, so she refuses. She forces herself to believe that one day, the Council will agree to their unity.
As it beings to seem the book has come to a standstill, we find an unexpected twist. During a training session, Bryn and Patrick are attacked by John's men. William and the rest of the Haywards sense this and quickly come to their rescue. This sends Bryn's adrenaline rushing and she suddenly feels a rush of energy in her body. She unleashes her powers of death, causing one of John's men to die and William to faint into a near death coma. Looks of horror emerge onto everyone's faces and she fears she is uncontrollable. No one will let Bryn near William for fear that she will kill him. Bryn realizes this fear herself and decides she will have to leave him, for his safety. While still in a coma, Bryn leaves William a letter stating she doesn't love him anymore and wishes to be out of his life. She even persuades Patrick this is the truth when he catches her leaving town.
The story becomes more bleak for our loving couple as the book continues. Through closing her eyes and pointing to a location on a map, Bryn chooses to move to Paris. William, believing Bryn's lies, leaves her to move away, although unknown to her, he still loves her and is keeping a close eye on her. While in Paris, Bryn finds herself lonely and resorts to a bar tending job at an American bar in order to pay her rent. Ironically, she runs into Paul, who's looking a little more frail than usual. Just as they begin to slowly reconnect, John's men appear to force an attack upon Bryn again. Bryn struggles to save Paul and finds herself saved by a man in a black mask; she can feel it is William. He quickly disappears and she is forced to hot wire a motorcycle to save Paul. The only option she has for shelter is the Hayward mansion in Germany that William had previously given her a key to. To make her situation worse, she's going to have to find an explanation to give to Paul as to what just happened.
Even more drama continues when Hector, a friend of the Haywards and a member of the Guardian Council, appears to let Bryn know she still has to finish her training. Since Patrick is the only person who can teleport, he will have to be her talent teacher. Unfortunately, Patrick is still disgusted with Bryn for breaking his brother's heart and he digs the knife deep when he informs her William has been betrothed to another girl. Bryn, although heart broken, understands and knows she must be happy for his future and for her inability to hurt him anymore. As if our poor Bryn hasn't already endured enough heartache, her situation complicates when Paul announces he is still in love with her. Not wanting to break his heart, and still wondering why Paul is in Paris, Bryn befriends him. The only problem is Bryn doesn't know William is closely watching near by and takes her friendship with Paul as the reason she broke up with him.
This is where I leave off. There are so many things left unanswered unless you read the book. Why is Paul really in Paris? Why did William agree to a betrothal to another? Will Bryn chose Paul's never ending love, or will she find a way back to William? This second book of the Eden Trilogy doesn't touch too much on the Inhibitors except for multiple attempts at Bryn's life. Hopefully the third book will answer questions as to what John Townsend has been up to. The book revolves around providing information on William and Bryn's relationship and why it is so hard for them to be together.
Good quotes from the book:
"As long as you want me, I'll always come back [...] no matter how long they try to keep us apart."
"There's always hope as long as you keep fighting. Never forget that Bryn."
"A good friend of mine once told me trying was the opposite of doing."
"Happily ever after wasn't a destination, it was a journey. And we were well on our way."
For a start, I feel that in order to relieve confusion, I have to introduce some characters that I might talk about later. The star crossed lovers are Bryn Dawson, the main character and William Hayward, our prince charming so to speak. William's family includes Charles, Patrick, Nathanial and Abigail, and Joseph and Cora. Patrick, the younger brother, becomes a dominant character as he works with William in infiltrating the Inhibitors and saves Bryn quite a few times. Nathanial is William's older brother and married to Abigail. Joseph is a younger brother and married to Cora. Charles is William's father and a member of the Guardian council and is one of the reasons William and Bryn find trouble in their relationship. William's mother and sisters were killed during his mortal life, a sad but great story that is explained along with how William and his brothers became immortals. Then there is Paul, the football player that has met Bryn a handful of times, yet is in love with her, and the only mortal who knows she is alive still.
The book begins on a heartbreaking note. From the previous book, we know Bryn's immortal gift is a Taker, she takes the lives of immortals through mere touch. This is complete opposite of William's power of a Giver and Foreteller. William has asked his father to appeal to the council for a bethroval to Bryn, but his father refuses. The combination of their two powers together is too strong and will disrupt the balance of power the immortals have fought to sustain. Bryn was secretly present at their conversation, unbeknowest to William.
Since the union between Bryn and William was so quickly denied, Charles has left Bryn to live with Joseph and Cora on the Hayward land in Montana. She is given Patrick as a strength instructor in order to fulfull her training. William is fulfulling his immortal duties serving as a doctor in remote places, and the council has made sure to keep him away from Bryn as much as possible. The emotions felt and described by our lovers is one most people in long distance relationship can relate to. The yearning to be with the one you love, the spark and butterflies that erupt when you finally are together, and the impossible urge to keep yourself from losing self control...if you know what I mean.
The story really starts to mold into place when Charles rudely interrupts William and Bryn from their romantic and steamy date (Charles' power is the ability to locate any immortal). He reminds William of his duty and throws a book down. Bryn is confused at the present conversation and of course, begs Wililam to explain. The book is a Bible, sort of, for the immortals and it holds a prophecy. "The gift to give life Immortal will manifest, to save his great love. A love he will save only to fight to be with for an eternity, a fight he will lose. This lost love will serve as fuel to his fight, vanquishing his enemies in one final stand"...so basically it describes William. Upon hearing this, Bryn quickly realizes their situation as imppossible. The Council will never allow for this unity because William is their hope of salvation, the hope to end the war between the Guardians and Inhibitors. William continually tries to persuade Bryn to run away with him so they can be together, but she knows they will only be hunted down and killed, so she refuses. She forces herself to believe that one day, the Council will agree to their unity.
As it beings to seem the book has come to a standstill, we find an unexpected twist. During a training session, Bryn and Patrick are attacked by John's men. William and the rest of the Haywards sense this and quickly come to their rescue. This sends Bryn's adrenaline rushing and she suddenly feels a rush of energy in her body. She unleashes her powers of death, causing one of John's men to die and William to faint into a near death coma. Looks of horror emerge onto everyone's faces and she fears she is uncontrollable. No one will let Bryn near William for fear that she will kill him. Bryn realizes this fear herself and decides she will have to leave him, for his safety. While still in a coma, Bryn leaves William a letter stating she doesn't love him anymore and wishes to be out of his life. She even persuades Patrick this is the truth when he catches her leaving town.
The story becomes more bleak for our loving couple as the book continues. Through closing her eyes and pointing to a location on a map, Bryn chooses to move to Paris. William, believing Bryn's lies, leaves her to move away, although unknown to her, he still loves her and is keeping a close eye on her. While in Paris, Bryn finds herself lonely and resorts to a bar tending job at an American bar in order to pay her rent. Ironically, she runs into Paul, who's looking a little more frail than usual. Just as they begin to slowly reconnect, John's men appear to force an attack upon Bryn again. Bryn struggles to save Paul and finds herself saved by a man in a black mask; she can feel it is William. He quickly disappears and she is forced to hot wire a motorcycle to save Paul. The only option she has for shelter is the Hayward mansion in Germany that William had previously given her a key to. To make her situation worse, she's going to have to find an explanation to give to Paul as to what just happened.
Even more drama continues when Hector, a friend of the Haywards and a member of the Guardian Council, appears to let Bryn know she still has to finish her training. Since Patrick is the only person who can teleport, he will have to be her talent teacher. Unfortunately, Patrick is still disgusted with Bryn for breaking his brother's heart and he digs the knife deep when he informs her William has been betrothed to another girl. Bryn, although heart broken, understands and knows she must be happy for his future and for her inability to hurt him anymore. As if our poor Bryn hasn't already endured enough heartache, her situation complicates when Paul announces he is still in love with her. Not wanting to break his heart, and still wondering why Paul is in Paris, Bryn befriends him. The only problem is Bryn doesn't know William is closely watching near by and takes her friendship with Paul as the reason she broke up with him.
This is where I leave off. There are so many things left unanswered unless you read the book. Why is Paul really in Paris? Why did William agree to a betrothal to another? Will Bryn chose Paul's never ending love, or will she find a way back to William? This second book of the Eden Trilogy doesn't touch too much on the Inhibitors except for multiple attempts at Bryn's life. Hopefully the third book will answer questions as to what John Townsend has been up to. The book revolves around providing information on William and Bryn's relationship and why it is so hard for them to be together.
Good quotes from the book:
"As long as you want me, I'll always come back [...] no matter how long they try to keep us apart."
"There's always hope as long as you keep fighting. Never forget that Bryn."
"A good friend of mine once told me trying was the opposite of doing."
"Happily ever after wasn't a destination, it was a journey. And we were well on our way."
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