Author: Christine Feehan |Website| Twitter| Facebook| Instagram
Publisher: Berkley
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Romance,
Series/Standalone: Book 29
Format: Hardcover
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Romance,
Series/Standalone: Book 29
Format: Hardcover
Cost: $13.99
Pages: 400
How I got it: Purchased
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound
Publication Date: September 3rd, 2019
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Synopsis:
****Review May Contain Spoilers*** Trigger Warnings: ***Book Contains discussion of sexual assault ***
This journey into the Carpathian world started when a Mage betrayed by her own decided to break ranks and warn the Carpathians of just how far the true deception goes, on her way to warn Mikhail the Prince she runs across another stealing a book that belonged to one of the Darkest Mages ever and she decides to follow him and the book because she can't allow it to fall into the hands of the Dark mages. While following the thief she is thought to have been to one to steal it and so Mikhail sends another after her to find it and I just. The story that unfolds?? I cried a few times in here when I realized the despair some of these warriors face while seeking their true lifemates. UGH just take all my money Christine, this is just one of my absolutely favorite series by her.
Julija was trying to find a way to help the other races fight back against her people's concentrated effort to eliminate them. While growing up she's exposed to those who would harm others for the fun and sport of it and she can't handle it. On that journey to recover from her own education, where she was required to hide just how talented she was to stay alive amongst her own clan; she befriended a Carpathian woman in captivity and they helped each other survive even if her captures never knew she was helping her.
I absolutely loved this story, I feel like if I talk too much I'll give it all away because I want to gush about it. This was a fantastic tale, filled with magic, mages and steamy hot love scenes, scheming wizards, loser vampires ( I call them losers cause they forever want to takeover the world like do us all a favor and stay in your corner) and a great love story. Christine has a tendency to write the stories in a way that's either overarching story heavy or romance heavy, this time she managed to balance it well and we got advancement of the bigger plot points while letting us learn about the two lifemates, and their battle to stay alive. I loved that we got a bit of a 'case' that needed to be handled here in this story and this helped to move the bigger plot along and gave us glimpses of future romances and warriors seeking their lifemates.
We learn about Julija and the life she lived within the Mage community and how she had to learn to dim herself to survive and then she thought she wouldn't survive betraying them ( and honestly she probably wouldn't have, not with all that was coming at her) and learning to see beyond her conditioning to see what a badass powerful witch she was. I loved her and Isai together because for the first time in a long time as a Carpathian he wasn't a 'tortured' soul and was willing to adapt to the world of his lifemate, and yet also didn't believe he was worth the light the lifemate would bring him. They were two people who needed a bit of love to make them see how wonderful they were for hanging on and fighting for the light despite everything that happened to them.
I loved the battles as it helped them each peel back a little bit more of who they were and embrace the magic a bit quicker. I'm glad we are finally seeing more of the world of the mages, as we had only caught glimpses before. There were times in reading that I kind of guessed where things would lead but I still found that I needed to read as fast as possible to see how it would be solved. I was addicted to it.
While I loved the story I will point out that Christine tends to make her heroes and heroines go through it ALL. Especially the women, my gawds these women truly go though some serious trauma. One of the things I didn't like was the way in which Julija's history was discussed, and not trying to be spoilery but those scenarios were rape an it was never called that, it wasn't even 'prettied up' as assault, it was called sex and just NO. I loved that Isai knew this and worked not to trigger her, but my gawd was she in denial about it. Maybe that was her way of dealing but truly I wish this wasn't the only way to show how strong the women are.
Despite that star dropping issues (it's why it's a four and not a five) I really loved this story, seeing the subplot of another warrior, knowing the options for one of the Brotherhood (from the monastery) I was hooked and can't wait until the next one (which will probably late next year Boooo!!!)
Publication Date: September 3rd, 2019
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Synopsis:
A mage and a warrior must see beyond their facades and embrace the bond that links their souls in this powerful Carpathian novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Christine Feehan.
At any other time, Julija Brennan would find solace in the quiet of the Sierra Mountains, but now the mage is in the race of her life. Having broken free from her controlling family, Julija's attempts to warn the Carpathians of the coming threat has failed and put a target on her back—and those who hunt her are close behind...
After centuries locked away in a monastery in the Carpathian Mountains, Isai Florea can't believe he's finally found his lifemate—the missing half of his soul. The second he sees Julija his world blazes with color. But despite their explosive connection Julija rebels against what she sees as Isai's intent to control her and rejects the bond that would prevent him from becoming a monster.
As their unfulfilled bond continues to call to them both, Julija and Isai aim to complete the task that brought them together. They are used to facing danger alone, but now the mage and the ancient warrior must learn how to rely on each other in order to stop a plot that threatens all Carpathians...
This journey into the Carpathian world started when a Mage betrayed by her own decided to break ranks and warn the Carpathians of just how far the true deception goes, on her way to warn Mikhail the Prince she runs across another stealing a book that belonged to one of the Darkest Mages ever and she decides to follow him and the book because she can't allow it to fall into the hands of the Dark mages. While following the thief she is thought to have been to one to steal it and so Mikhail sends another after her to find it and I just. The story that unfolds?? I cried a few times in here when I realized the despair some of these warriors face while seeking their true lifemates. UGH just take all my money Christine, this is just one of my absolutely favorite series by her.
Julija was trying to find a way to help the other races fight back against her people's concentrated effort to eliminate them. While growing up she's exposed to those who would harm others for the fun and sport of it and she can't handle it. On that journey to recover from her own education, where she was required to hide just how talented she was to stay alive amongst her own clan; she befriended a Carpathian woman in captivity and they helped each other survive even if her captures never knew she was helping her.
I absolutely loved this story, I feel like if I talk too much I'll give it all away because I want to gush about it. This was a fantastic tale, filled with magic, mages and steamy hot love scenes, scheming wizards, loser vampires ( I call them losers cause they forever want to takeover the world like do us all a favor and stay in your corner) and a great love story. Christine has a tendency to write the stories in a way that's either overarching story heavy or romance heavy, this time she managed to balance it well and we got advancement of the bigger plot points while letting us learn about the two lifemates, and their battle to stay alive. I loved that we got a bit of a 'case' that needed to be handled here in this story and this helped to move the bigger plot along and gave us glimpses of future romances and warriors seeking their lifemates.
We learn about Julija and the life she lived within the Mage community and how she had to learn to dim herself to survive and then she thought she wouldn't survive betraying them ( and honestly she probably wouldn't have, not with all that was coming at her) and learning to see beyond her conditioning to see what a badass powerful witch she was. I loved her and Isai together because for the first time in a long time as a Carpathian he wasn't a 'tortured' soul and was willing to adapt to the world of his lifemate, and yet also didn't believe he was worth the light the lifemate would bring him. They were two people who needed a bit of love to make them see how wonderful they were for hanging on and fighting for the light despite everything that happened to them.
I loved the battles as it helped them each peel back a little bit more of who they were and embrace the magic a bit quicker. I'm glad we are finally seeing more of the world of the mages, as we had only caught glimpses before. There were times in reading that I kind of guessed where things would lead but I still found that I needed to read as fast as possible to see how it would be solved. I was addicted to it.
While I loved the story I will point out that Christine tends to make her heroes and heroines go through it ALL. Especially the women, my gawds these women truly go though some serious trauma. One of the things I didn't like was the way in which Julija's history was discussed, and not trying to be spoilery but those scenarios were rape an it was never called that, it wasn't even 'prettied up' as assault, it was called sex and just NO. I loved that Isai knew this and worked not to trigger her, but my gawd was she in denial about it. Maybe that was her way of dealing but truly I wish this wasn't the only way to show how strong the women are.
Despite that star dropping issues (it's why it's a four and not a five) I really loved this story, seeing the subplot of another warrior, knowing the options for one of the Brotherhood (from the monastery) I was hooked and can't wait until the next one (which will probably late next year Boooo!!!)
★★★★☆
Happy Reading my loves,
