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The Immortal Archives #1
Ordained
Normally, the school creates the hunters - not the monsters.
Abby Sorrensten likes to play rough. Ripping the horns off the foreheads of demons, manipulating lightning and setting things on fire with the flick of your wrist can give you a serious rush. So she probably wasn’t the best choice for the Order’s experimental training program. Thirteen years of isolation, lack of affection and a bruised and broken body from horrendous training sessions creates more than just an exceptional fighter, it creates an evil within - an evil responsible for several deaths the night she left.
Two hundred years later Abby resurfaces as the very thing the Order trained her to kill: a vampire. A mythical demon has set his sights on the school and only the ordained hunter has the powers to face it. Unbeknownst to the Order, Abby’s their precious ordained one and their only chance for survival. As much as she would love to leave them hanging, she’s not willing to risk the life of Emily, a fellow friend and hunter also fed up with the organization.
But for Abby, locking herself away in a fortress with angry descendants of those she killed causes suspicions and tensions to run high. Abby must learn the demon’s weaknesses for battle before the Order learns hers.
New Adult Urban Fantasy
Abby Sorrensten likes to play rough. Ripping the horns off the foreheads of demons, manipulating lightning and setting things on fire with the flick of your wrist can give you a serious rush. So she probably wasn’t the best choice for the Order’s experimental training program. Thirteen years of isolation, lack of affection and a bruised and broken body from horrendous training sessions creates more than just an exceptional fighter, it creates an evil within - an evil responsible for several deaths the night she left.
Two hundred years later Abby resurfaces as the very thing the Order trained her to kill: a vampire. A mythical demon has set his sights on the school and only the ordained hunter has the powers to face it. Unbeknownst to the Order, Abby’s their precious ordained one and their only chance for survival. As much as she would love to leave them hanging, she’s not willing to risk the life of Emily, a fellow friend and hunter also fed up with the organization.
But for Abby, locking herself away in a fortress with angry descendants of those she killed causes suspicions and tensions to run high. Abby must learn the demon’s weaknesses for battle before the Order learns hers.
New Adult Urban Fantasy
340 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 25, 2011
27 people are currently reading
2984 people want to read
About the author
Devon Ashley
24 books986 followersI'm a mom, a lover and a fighter, a coffee addict, a total smartass, wicked knitster, a Microbiologist, a baker of fine yummy treats, and someone who will fight you to the death for that last Twinkie bag of M&Ms during the zombie-apocalypse. Seriously, my addiction is that important to me. Oh, and I say seriously way too much. Seriously…
Ordained awarded 2011 Reader Views First Place for Best Fantasy
Favorite Silly Quote: Cedric didn't die. Carlisle found him and turned him into Edward.
Interesting Fact: I share my birthday - December 16th - with my favorite author, Jane Austen. And Theo James. That's right. Be jealous. :D
Ordained awarded 2011 Reader Views First Place for Best Fantasy
Favorite Silly Quote: Cedric didn't die. Carlisle found him and turned him into Edward.
Interesting Fact: I share my birthday - December 16th - with my favorite author, Jane Austen. And Theo James. That's right. Be jealous. :D
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March 18, 2025
Check out the Series Page
Who would I cast?
Check out my post explaining why.
Abby: Rachel McAdams
Noel: Skeet Ulrich
Emily: Emma Stone
Valerie: Evan Rachel Wood
Who would I cast?
Check out my post explaining why.
Abby: Rachel McAdams
Noel: Skeet Ulrich
Emily: Emma Stone
Valerie: Evan Rachel Wood
June 25, 2012
*3.5 Stars*
Ordained was an entertaining read, told in multiple POV's. Butt-kicking, Abby Sorrensten is one force you don't want to mess with. She is part good but has a side of evil. She must harness this power so it doesn't overtake her. Once she loses control, it's hard for Noel (Her husband) to bring her back from that dark place. Her parents were partly to blame for the way she was. Her dad seduced her mother. Her mom was a good witch and her dad was an evil warlock. His plan was to keep Abby for himself and raise her ecil. She would have the avility to perform magic for both white and black sides meant Abby could block spells from witches and warlocks. Her mother caught on and cast a protection spell to hide her and Abby. Eventually she was found and killed. That's when Abby was taken to the Order to be trained as all the other children. But what she faced was a torture that turned her into something entirely different.
This was such an interesting read. It has a unique twist on vampirism and wasn't based on that aspect, instead, based more on the upcoming battle between the ordained huntress and the evil Morphus. No hunter other than the one ordained can defeat Morphus.Morphus was raised by the Goddess fo Discord and will have no conscience over the lengths he will go to to destroy her. When he touches a person, he can absorb both your energy and your memories and he will use it against them. The hunters were trained to kill vampires, but the Order didn't train them to kill anything other such as demons. Who couldn't love a protagonist that intimidates even the head of the Order!? The characters were great. I loved the relationship between Noel and Abby. He's her rock and ancher. Emily really brought life to the story. I think she really pulled out the humanity in Abby, not just Noel. There was a sense of family between those three. Noel and Abby descended from the original line of pure vampires, not the mutated versions the hunters hunt. There are only a handful of them in the world.
"Nothing scares her more than when she takes on her father's attributes. Abby's one fear is herself"
There is so much to this story and I could totally ramble on and on. This is a unique blend of Magic, Mystery, Suspense, Mythology, Vampires, Prophecy, Action, Love and more.
We would like to thank the author for providing this story in exchange for an honest review.
Ordained was an entertaining read, told in multiple POV's. Butt-kicking, Abby Sorrensten is one force you don't want to mess with. She is part good but has a side of evil. She must harness this power so it doesn't overtake her. Once she loses control, it's hard for Noel (Her husband) to bring her back from that dark place. Her parents were partly to blame for the way she was. Her dad seduced her mother. Her mom was a good witch and her dad was an evil warlock. His plan was to keep Abby for himself and raise her ecil. She would have the avility to perform magic for both white and black sides meant Abby could block spells from witches and warlocks. Her mother caught on and cast a protection spell to hide her and Abby. Eventually she was found and killed. That's when Abby was taken to the Order to be trained as all the other children. But what she faced was a torture that turned her into something entirely different.
This was such an interesting read. It has a unique twist on vampirism and wasn't based on that aspect, instead, based more on the upcoming battle between the ordained huntress and the evil Morphus. No hunter other than the one ordained can defeat Morphus.Morphus was raised by the Goddess fo Discord and will have no conscience over the lengths he will go to to destroy her. When he touches a person, he can absorb both your energy and your memories and he will use it against them. The hunters were trained to kill vampires, but the Order didn't train them to kill anything other such as demons. Who couldn't love a protagonist that intimidates even the head of the Order!? The characters were great. I loved the relationship between Noel and Abby. He's her rock and ancher. Emily really brought life to the story. I think she really pulled out the humanity in Abby, not just Noel. There was a sense of family between those three. Noel and Abby descended from the original line of pure vampires, not the mutated versions the hunters hunt. There are only a handful of them in the world.
"Nothing scares her more than when she takes on her father's attributes. Abby's one fear is herself"
There is so much to this story and I could totally ramble on and on. This is a unique blend of Magic, Mystery, Suspense, Mythology, Vampires, Prophecy, Action, Love and more.
We would like to thank the author for providing this story in exchange for an honest review.
April 22, 2011
Ordained is book one in The Immortal Archives Series. The characters are entertaining and aggressive, and you ca't help but feel like you're right there with them.
May contain Spoilers.
The story follows Emily in the beginning, a born-hunter trained in an order focused on destroying vampires. They're trained from a young age and then set upon the world on their own to go out and kill the things that go bump in the night. Their training focus' on vampires but vampires aren't the only things out there. For years, hunters have fallen before a great Demon at the age of 25, none have shown the ability to kill the deadly beast until Abby.
Abby knows how to hold her own, fighting her way through demons, coontrolling the elements, and creating fires with just a thought. When she was taken to the Order she was put through a serious training program. Abby was treated like a soldier and nothing more. For thirteen years she was beaten and battered, bruised and isolated. They never showed her any affection and without contact from anyone it can really mess with someones head, especially when your already battling with a power within yourself. The night Abby left the Order was bloody, they pushed her to her limits and her anger tapped into a power burried deep within her core. Anger and pain triggered one of her abilities and she became lost in her self; killing those who hurt her.
Abby left the Order and stayed hidden for two hundred years. When she reappears the Order is in shock; she was assumed to have died when she turned 25, the same as all the hunters before her against the great Demon, but she survived. Now, the Order has asked for her help against a larger threat but little do they know that she is one of the things that goes bump in the night, Abby is a vampire and the one person to be able to save the Order and all the hunters at the school. She is the Ordained Huntress, a secret she has kept hidden from the Order and as much as she hates the Order she is not willing to put the lives of the Hunters and her friend Emily at risk.
Emily is the first hunter to live past her 25th birthday and Abby plans to keep her alive a lot longer. She along with her partner Noel are going to do what they can to protect her, but sometimes what you want to do and what actually happens are two completely different things. The truth about Abby and Noel is a secret they will do anything to protect and the people that can never find out are the ones they have to help. The order is a threat that they can't avoid and when they have to live under the eyes of the Order in order to protect them, their secrets get harder and harder to keep.
Ordained is an amazing read, full of action and mystery, the characters are fun and exciting and the story draws you in right from the start. Devon Ashley did an amazing job bringing the characters to life and bringing a fresh look to the darkside of things.
Melissa Silva
The Bookshelf
May contain Spoilers.
The story follows Emily in the beginning, a born-hunter trained in an order focused on destroying vampires. They're trained from a young age and then set upon the world on their own to go out and kill the things that go bump in the night. Their training focus' on vampires but vampires aren't the only things out there. For years, hunters have fallen before a great Demon at the age of 25, none have shown the ability to kill the deadly beast until Abby.
Abby knows how to hold her own, fighting her way through demons, coontrolling the elements, and creating fires with just a thought. When she was taken to the Order she was put through a serious training program. Abby was treated like a soldier and nothing more. For thirteen years she was beaten and battered, bruised and isolated. They never showed her any affection and without contact from anyone it can really mess with someones head, especially when your already battling with a power within yourself. The night Abby left the Order was bloody, they pushed her to her limits and her anger tapped into a power burried deep within her core. Anger and pain triggered one of her abilities and she became lost in her self; killing those who hurt her.
Abby left the Order and stayed hidden for two hundred years. When she reappears the Order is in shock; she was assumed to have died when she turned 25, the same as all the hunters before her against the great Demon, but she survived. Now, the Order has asked for her help against a larger threat but little do they know that she is one of the things that goes bump in the night, Abby is a vampire and the one person to be able to save the Order and all the hunters at the school. She is the Ordained Huntress, a secret she has kept hidden from the Order and as much as she hates the Order she is not willing to put the lives of the Hunters and her friend Emily at risk.
Emily is the first hunter to live past her 25th birthday and Abby plans to keep her alive a lot longer. She along with her partner Noel are going to do what they can to protect her, but sometimes what you want to do and what actually happens are two completely different things. The truth about Abby and Noel is a secret they will do anything to protect and the people that can never find out are the ones they have to help. The order is a threat that they can't avoid and when they have to live under the eyes of the Order in order to protect them, their secrets get harder and harder to keep.
Ordained is an amazing read, full of action and mystery, the characters are fun and exciting and the story draws you in right from the start. Devon Ashley did an amazing job bringing the characters to life and bringing a fresh look to the darkside of things.
Melissa Silva
The Bookshelf
February 4, 2014
It has been a while since a book has held my attention to the point where I simply have to keep reading. The writing style is clean and easy to follow. The fact that this story does not have a love theme was particularly pleasant for me. I would recommend this to any serious or casual reader of fantasy or paranormal books. For a first book, Ms. Ashley has produced an engaging and rewarding story. I look forward to future books from this author.
October 27, 2012
Vampire hunters, demons, special schools to train kids to become vampire hunters, and long kept secrets, good vs. evil-of course you have to REALLY know who the bad guys really are and who you can trust!
June 20, 2012
My rating: 3.5/5 stars
Blog tour giveaway running until July 7th, so make sure to stop by!
May contain some spoilers
Ordained is a book about vampires, but it really isn't your typical vampire story. Our main character is Abby, who is somewhat lunatic, if you wanna put it nicely. She definitely holds a grudge against the Order, but you can't really blame her, since the Order raised her to be a hunter in the most extreme ways. You could really call an experiment gone wrong.
Little do they know she's the one who holds the key to their fate.
As mentioned, Abby is our main character. She's really complexed and if it wasn't for her husband, she'd probably be on a killing spree in a blink of an eye. The Order raised her to hunt vampires, but after living over two hundred years, she doesn't stop there, but hunts also demons. And as you probably guessed, she's vampire herself. There's even more to her than that, but I don't want to spoil it for you. Let's just say her parents weren't exactly ordinary either.
Abby definitely is an interesting character, but she wasn't really my favorite.
Because my favorite is Emily! I actually thought at first Emily is the main character. I'm not sure why I made that assumption. Guess I just fell in love with her the second I met her. She has this fierce nature and she's stubborn and loyal and she's just so passionate. I suppose those are the qualities I appreciate in people.
I was warned this book wouldn't be one of those romance-filled books, but I couldn't help hoping that Emily would meet someone. Especially when Abby's married to Noel, it just seems unfair! Pretty twisted logic there, but what can you do!
Then there's the Order. They're training vampire hunters, but there's something so off about them! This book paints them as the bad guy, and I think that's pretty fair. And there was so many questions left open in the end. Especially the question.. there's only few hunters, why not train them properly and why not send them out in groups?!
I was quite surprised when I noticed the story was told from several point of views. I have to admit, it took me a while to really get into it. I was actually half way through the book until I finally got it.
Before that I felt kind of distant to the story and the characters, but then the action really started and I couldn't stop reading. And there really is a lot of action and that's probably why I had so much trouble to focus in the story. I usually prefer books concentrated on people's thoughts and emotions, and want to know every little detail behind their actions. But in the end I did manage to get lost in the story mainly because some of the secrets were revealed and there's even more action!
There's also some funny moments, and since I really appreciate a good laugh, I enjoyed the book even more.
So, whether you're an action lover or an emotion dweller (it definitely is a word!), you definitely should check this out!
Love,
Monaliz @ Mind Reading?
Blog tour giveaway running until July 7th, so make sure to stop by!
May contain some spoilers
Ordained is a book about vampires, but it really isn't your typical vampire story. Our main character is Abby, who is somewhat lunatic, if you wanna put it nicely. She definitely holds a grudge against the Order, but you can't really blame her, since the Order raised her to be a hunter in the most extreme ways. You could really call an experiment gone wrong.
Little do they know she's the one who holds the key to their fate.
As mentioned, Abby is our main character. She's really complexed and if it wasn't for her husband, she'd probably be on a killing spree in a blink of an eye. The Order raised her to hunt vampires, but after living over two hundred years, she doesn't stop there, but hunts also demons. And as you probably guessed, she's vampire herself. There's even more to her than that, but I don't want to spoil it for you. Let's just say her parents weren't exactly ordinary either.
Abby definitely is an interesting character, but she wasn't really my favorite.
Because my favorite is Emily! I actually thought at first Emily is the main character. I'm not sure why I made that assumption. Guess I just fell in love with her the second I met her. She has this fierce nature and she's stubborn and loyal and she's just so passionate. I suppose those are the qualities I appreciate in people.
I was warned this book wouldn't be one of those romance-filled books, but I couldn't help hoping that Emily would meet someone. Especially when Abby's married to Noel, it just seems unfair! Pretty twisted logic there, but what can you do!
Then there's the Order. They're training vampire hunters, but there's something so off about them! This book paints them as the bad guy, and I think that's pretty fair. And there was so many questions left open in the end. Especially the question.. there's only few hunters, why not train them properly and why not send them out in groups?!
I was quite surprised when I noticed the story was told from several point of views. I have to admit, it took me a while to really get into it. I was actually half way through the book until I finally got it.
Before that I felt kind of distant to the story and the characters, but then the action really started and I couldn't stop reading. And there really is a lot of action and that's probably why I had so much trouble to focus in the story. I usually prefer books concentrated on people's thoughts and emotions, and want to know every little detail behind their actions. But in the end I did manage to get lost in the story mainly because some of the secrets were revealed and there's even more action!
There's also some funny moments, and since I really appreciate a good laugh, I enjoyed the book even more.
So, whether you're an action lover or an emotion dweller (it definitely is a word!), you definitely should check this out!
Love,
Monaliz @ Mind Reading?
June 29, 2012
Rate 4.5
The Order trains hunters to kill vampires, but they are aware of a demon (Eraticus) that kills hunters for their auras on their 25th birthdays, as that is when their auras become the strongest. The only thing is, the Order never warned any of the hunters of their fate nor taught them how to defend themselves against anything other than vampires. So when Emily Davis survives the demon, they think that she's their only hope of fighting off another demon (Morphus) that is headed their way despite the fact that Emily doesn't carry the mark of the ordained huntress on her body.
Emily met Abby Sorrensten on her 25th birthday when she was fighting off Eraticus. Abby helped her, which is why she survived. Abby is a huntress who was turned into a vampire by her guardian, Noel. However, Noel and Abby are pure blood vampires, not the mutated versions that the Order trains hunters to kill. Still, the Order is not aware that Noel and Abby are vampires. Although they are fearful of having Abby around because of what happened when she was originally being trained as a huntress, the Order calls her and Noel in to help with the Morphus situation.
During Abby's time at the school, she basically had no family, and because of that, the Order figured they could push her farther than any of the other hunters. She was basically tortured for 13 years. Forced to fight while broken and bruised. I tell you, when I initially read this book -- I read it twice -- I had tears in my eyes while reading about what Nathaniel, her advisor, did to her when she was 6 years old. Of course, that continued throughout her years at the school.
I really, really enjoyed Ordained. It was well written, intense, exciting and I really liked the characters. There were some sarcastic, funny comments that I loved. I actually wished that there had been more of that but it was mainly used to lighten the mood from time to time. And although the book isn't a romance, there is a tad bit of romance in it between Noel and Abby which I liked. There were some heartbreaking moments too.
Besides Emily and Abby's friendship, I rather liked the friendship that developed between Abby and Valerie, another huntress at the school who is clairvoyant. Despite Abby not making friends easily, there is a sort of bond between them. They are alike in some ways.
The only issue that I had with the book was that on occasion I would go from one paragraph to the next and it would be a separate scenario. A different time or place or person's story with no obvious break. So the flow was off for me in those cases, but it didn't happen often. Otherwise, the story flowed well.
I'm really glad that I signed up to participate in this blog tour for Ordained because otherwise, I might not have gotten around to reading it as soon as I have. There is so much to learn about Abby Sorrensten throughout the book. Her past unravels little by little. And although there is no cliffhanger ending, it does end in a way that leaves you wondering about some things. So I'm really looking forward to reading the next book.
The Order trains hunters to kill vampires, but they are aware of a demon (Eraticus) that kills hunters for their auras on their 25th birthdays, as that is when their auras become the strongest. The only thing is, the Order never warned any of the hunters of their fate nor taught them how to defend themselves against anything other than vampires. So when Emily Davis survives the demon, they think that she's their only hope of fighting off another demon (Morphus) that is headed their way despite the fact that Emily doesn't carry the mark of the ordained huntress on her body.
Emily met Abby Sorrensten on her 25th birthday when she was fighting off Eraticus. Abby helped her, which is why she survived. Abby is a huntress who was turned into a vampire by her guardian, Noel. However, Noel and Abby are pure blood vampires, not the mutated versions that the Order trains hunters to kill. Still, the Order is not aware that Noel and Abby are vampires. Although they are fearful of having Abby around because of what happened when she was originally being trained as a huntress, the Order calls her and Noel in to help with the Morphus situation.
During Abby's time at the school, she basically had no family, and because of that, the Order figured they could push her farther than any of the other hunters. She was basically tortured for 13 years. Forced to fight while broken and bruised. I tell you, when I initially read this book -- I read it twice -- I had tears in my eyes while reading about what Nathaniel, her advisor, did to her when she was 6 years old. Of course, that continued throughout her years at the school.
I really, really enjoyed Ordained. It was well written, intense, exciting and I really liked the characters. There were some sarcastic, funny comments that I loved. I actually wished that there had been more of that but it was mainly used to lighten the mood from time to time. And although the book isn't a romance, there is a tad bit of romance in it between Noel and Abby which I liked. There were some heartbreaking moments too.
Besides Emily and Abby's friendship, I rather liked the friendship that developed between Abby and Valerie, another huntress at the school who is clairvoyant. Despite Abby not making friends easily, there is a sort of bond between them. They are alike in some ways.
The only issue that I had with the book was that on occasion I would go from one paragraph to the next and it would be a separate scenario. A different time or place or person's story with no obvious break. So the flow was off for me in those cases, but it didn't happen often. Otherwise, the story flowed well.
I'm really glad that I signed up to participate in this blog tour for Ordained because otherwise, I might not have gotten around to reading it as soon as I have. There is so much to learn about Abby Sorrensten throughout the book. Her past unravels little by little. And although there is no cliffhanger ending, it does end in a way that leaves you wondering about some things. So I'm really looking forward to reading the next book.
June 18, 2012
GENRE: Urban Fantasy
THEME: Vampire, Demons, Magic
RECEIVED: Received for review for Tour
BLOG: http://seeingnight.blogspot.com/
3.5/5
REVIEW:
I’m always looking for the next new twist when it comes to vampire stories. Ordained ads a touch of everything from myths, magic and demons that make it original and full of action.
Ordained follows, Abby Sorrensten, who is one tough girl and has been through a lot of hell growing up after loosing her mother tragically. Abby is raised to be a huntress but used as an experiment for the Order that pretty much breaks her and sets her over the edge and dangerous. Thus bringing out an evil that lies within her. Hundreds of years later an extremely deadly demon arises and Abby is the only one who can stop it, luckily she surprising is still alive.
Abby is one tough cookie; overall she is the only one who can stop the evil demon Morhpus. They are pretty much each other’s equal in strength and when Morhpus and Abby have their battle its one heck of a great scene. I really enjoyed her character, she can be beaten to a pulp and survive, but luckily she has Noel the only person who truly understand her by her side. At points of the story I sometimes felt Abby was too powerful, but her true weakness isn’t just herself having a dark side but the people she cares about, I felt that made her character more “human”. Abby also struggles with not remembering her past and I liked learning about what happened to her. In the end I loved her unique magical abilities, which was a nice touch away from the vampire element.
Emily at the beginning I thought would be the lead character but she becomes Abby’s true friend. She is a hunter as well and through the book learns about how Abby came to be and what she truly is. I enjoyed there somewhat of a sister bond and that the readers learn along with Emily the story of Abby and Noel. She has changes a lot through the book and I can’t wait to see what happens next with her character.
Noel is Abby’s husband and in a way just like her, together they have lived a very long life. They have seen the Order for what they really are and get stuck helping to stop the demon Morphus. I really liked his character; he equaled out Abby’s intense nature with his more calm and caring side. He is tough as well but no matter what wants to help and be by her side.
Overall my main issue was the amount of information that the reader gets. It’s a lot of history to learn about Abby, plus the addition of Emily who I felt had a second story next to Abby’s. For me it was a bit overwhelming at times and it took me a lot longer to connect to any of the characters. But nonetheless I loved the action, suspense, mythology and of course the vampire twist. Devon Ashley created a very exciting world; with an ending that was perfect and a great beginning for the next installment.
RECOMMENDATION:
This is a young adult novel with minor but intense violent action scenes. Fans of authors Megan Duncan of Savor and Angeline Kace of Descended by Blood will enjoy Devon Ashley’s Ordained.
THEME: Vampire, Demons, Magic
RECEIVED: Received for review for Tour
BLOG: http://seeingnight.blogspot.com/
3.5/5
REVIEW:
I’m always looking for the next new twist when it comes to vampire stories. Ordained ads a touch of everything from myths, magic and demons that make it original and full of action.
Ordained follows, Abby Sorrensten, who is one tough girl and has been through a lot of hell growing up after loosing her mother tragically. Abby is raised to be a huntress but used as an experiment for the Order that pretty much breaks her and sets her over the edge and dangerous. Thus bringing out an evil that lies within her. Hundreds of years later an extremely deadly demon arises and Abby is the only one who can stop it, luckily she surprising is still alive.
Abby is one tough cookie; overall she is the only one who can stop the evil demon Morhpus. They are pretty much each other’s equal in strength and when Morhpus and Abby have their battle its one heck of a great scene. I really enjoyed her character, she can be beaten to a pulp and survive, but luckily she has Noel the only person who truly understand her by her side. At points of the story I sometimes felt Abby was too powerful, but her true weakness isn’t just herself having a dark side but the people she cares about, I felt that made her character more “human”. Abby also struggles with not remembering her past and I liked learning about what happened to her. In the end I loved her unique magical abilities, which was a nice touch away from the vampire element.
Emily at the beginning I thought would be the lead character but she becomes Abby’s true friend. She is a hunter as well and through the book learns about how Abby came to be and what she truly is. I enjoyed there somewhat of a sister bond and that the readers learn along with Emily the story of Abby and Noel. She has changes a lot through the book and I can’t wait to see what happens next with her character.
Noel is Abby’s husband and in a way just like her, together they have lived a very long life. They have seen the Order for what they really are and get stuck helping to stop the demon Morphus. I really liked his character; he equaled out Abby’s intense nature with his more calm and caring side. He is tough as well but no matter what wants to help and be by her side.
Overall my main issue was the amount of information that the reader gets. It’s a lot of history to learn about Abby, plus the addition of Emily who I felt had a second story next to Abby’s. For me it was a bit overwhelming at times and it took me a lot longer to connect to any of the characters. But nonetheless I loved the action, suspense, mythology and of course the vampire twist. Devon Ashley created a very exciting world; with an ending that was perfect and a great beginning for the next installment.
RECOMMENDATION:
This is a young adult novel with minor but intense violent action scenes. Fans of authors Megan Duncan of Savor and Angeline Kace of Descended by Blood will enjoy Devon Ashley’s Ordained.
June 21, 2012
I got sucked in from the very beginning and my attention didn't waver at all throughout the entire book. In fact, it has me craving for more. Devon Ashley has made me a fan of hers all over again. I was lucky enough to get the chance to read Falling in Between for her earlier this year and I absolutely loved it. This book was more up my alley of what I like to read (vampires, demons...yeah my kind of reading) but it was equally good.
Her vampires are so different from anything I've read. Different generations of them and really, varying types. A pure vampire doesn't drink blood, doesn't have fangs, the sun doesn't effect them the same way and they're not evil (well I'm sure some are but most are not). The vampires that are like the ones you think of when you hear that word have evolved to be like this. It's kind of fascinating when you think about it.
Demons play a huge role in to this story and yet the Order (which is the organization that runs the vampire hunters) ignores the fact that they exist. They train all the boys and girls born with the hunter birthmark to kill vampires and only vampires. The biggest mistake the Order could possibly make for it is a very powerful demon that destroys all hunters as they turn 25. What kind of life is that if you are doomed to only a quarter of a century? Worse than that is the Order doesn't tell the hunters about their demise even though they know it'll come.
This book is told from many different points of views and I really enjoy books like that. It was a little hard to follow at first but only for a few chapters. I especially felt myself leaning toward Abby (a huntress who has been alive for well over 200 years), her mentor Noel (who is just...amazing) and Emily (the huntress who has nearly as much potential as Abby). Abby and Noel are married and have such a great, realistic relationship. They fight, they get angry with one another, keep things from each other but at the end of the day, they love each other so much that none of it matters. Emily and Abby have such a unique and fun friendship, especially toward the end of the book. Through Abby she's also formed a friendship with Noel and the three of them are just amazing.
If you love paranormal, you should definitely check out this book. I really don't know why I haven't sooner...and I know I will read the other books.
Review also posted at Step Into Fiction
Her vampires are so different from anything I've read. Different generations of them and really, varying types. A pure vampire doesn't drink blood, doesn't have fangs, the sun doesn't effect them the same way and they're not evil (well I'm sure some are but most are not). The vampires that are like the ones you think of when you hear that word have evolved to be like this. It's kind of fascinating when you think about it.
Demons play a huge role in to this story and yet the Order (which is the organization that runs the vampire hunters) ignores the fact that they exist. They train all the boys and girls born with the hunter birthmark to kill vampires and only vampires. The biggest mistake the Order could possibly make for it is a very powerful demon that destroys all hunters as they turn 25. What kind of life is that if you are doomed to only a quarter of a century? Worse than that is the Order doesn't tell the hunters about their demise even though they know it'll come.
This book is told from many different points of views and I really enjoy books like that. It was a little hard to follow at first but only for a few chapters. I especially felt myself leaning toward Abby (a huntress who has been alive for well over 200 years), her mentor Noel (who is just...amazing) and Emily (the huntress who has nearly as much potential as Abby). Abby and Noel are married and have such a great, realistic relationship. They fight, they get angry with one another, keep things from each other but at the end of the day, they love each other so much that none of it matters. Emily and Abby have such a unique and fun friendship, especially toward the end of the book. Through Abby she's also formed a friendship with Noel and the three of them are just amazing.
If you love paranormal, you should definitely check out this book. I really don't know why I haven't sooner...and I know I will read the other books.
Review also posted at Step Into Fiction
August 13, 2012
Ever since reading Harry Potter, I've been seriously fastidious over magic in books. For me, you either nail it in the head or miss it completely. You see, it's all fine and dandy when some witch brews a potion or makes a salve to induce clarity of mind or visions or whatever. But I actually cherish the whole experience of being told about clovers and lavender and eye of newt. Safe to say I would have rocked Snape's class, since I enjoy the imagery and process so much.
Devon Ashley gives the reader just that. Sachets of magic and burning incense to induce the proper kind of enchantment. An incredibly strong-willed heroine that doesn't back down from danger and that isn't defined by a lover or society is just icing on the cake. Abby is a mysterious hunter who returns to the manor where she was trained after a couple of centuries. Seemingly immortal, or at the very least very well preserved, she is called back to aid the institution that has left so many hunters down. Like Emily, a definitely 20-something hunter saved and trained by Abby from a monster the institution knows about and hides from its pupils. Or Valerie, a seer destined to remain captive in the manor to better aid and defend the Chancellor's interests. Then there's Noel, Abby's husband, equally mysterious and loyal to Abby til the end. A strong cast of characters with wonderful mythology and demonology to accompany it.
What I loved the most, though, was the thought put into vampirism in this book. There is actually a scientific explanation, things make sense, and NOBODY sparkles in the sun or is for some reason a century-old virgin. There are pure and mutated vampires (which I enjoyed immensely- there's always mutations in nature, why would folklore creatures be immune to them?), vampire hunters, demons, gods and goddesses, magic and clairvoyance. Top it off with an ass-kicking heroine, an action-packed plot with just enough romance in it (actually there's room for a bit more, but I'm not really complaining!) and a never-ending supply of complications, and presto, there's ORDAINED in all its snarky, sassy glory.
January 3, 2014
This was unlike other vampire books I've read before and I've read a lot. Yes there are the elements that are ever present in vampire stories i.e. stakes, holy water, the sun, etc. However there was also hints of Science throughout the book which piqued my interest even more. There were many things thrown together in this book, but I think they all worked well together. Not only is there scientific aspects, there is also the bigger picture that questions morality and aspirations of some kind of military perfection. What I found different in this book as opposed to other vampire books was how the author explained the origin of vampires; both pure and mutated. It's really quite interesting and a fresh perspective. And while I say how much I enjoyed reading this, it actually took me a little while before saying so.
The idea is a great one and the plot is carried out well. I didn't mind the different POV's as it gave me better insight into the characters. It was slow in the beginning for me because I didn't connect with the characters as quickly as I normally do when picking up unread books. I liked Abby, Emily, and Noel well enough, but it wasn't until I read Abby's backstory that I finally latched onto the characters. I loved Emily's attitude and Noel's ever comforting presence. And I greatly enjoyed Abby's multiple facets. She's so young, but so old at the same time. Strong, resilient, definitely doesn't take crap from people, and despite all this, she acknowledges her fear; her greatest weakness instead of denying it. She would make for a role model of sorts, just minus some things.
This was a great read for me and the ending was something of a shocker. It wasn't something I would have guessed at (maybe I could have? Who knows, I probably missed the foreshadowing). I definitely felt for the main characters towards the end and I'm glad the vision didn't exactly carry through to the very last detail. I'm looking forward to discovering what will become of Emily and how her, and the rest of the characters' stories unfold.
The idea is a great one and the plot is carried out well. I didn't mind the different POV's as it gave me better insight into the characters. It was slow in the beginning for me because I didn't connect with the characters as quickly as I normally do when picking up unread books. I liked Abby, Emily, and Noel well enough, but it wasn't until I read Abby's backstory that I finally latched onto the characters. I loved Emily's attitude and Noel's ever comforting presence. And I greatly enjoyed Abby's multiple facets. She's so young, but so old at the same time. Strong, resilient, definitely doesn't take crap from people, and despite all this, she acknowledges her fear; her greatest weakness instead of denying it. She would make for a role model of sorts, just minus some things.
This was a great read for me and the ending was something of a shocker. It wasn't something I would have guessed at (maybe I could have? Who knows, I probably missed the foreshadowing). I definitely felt for the main characters towards the end and I'm glad the vision didn't exactly carry through to the very last detail. I'm looking forward to discovering what will become of Emily and how her, and the rest of the characters' stories unfold.
July 12, 2012
Imagine your parents ask you to get in the car. "Where are we going?" you ask. "You'll see," they say. You drive for a long time, through a place that's unfamiliar but not entirely boring. The scenery includes some cliffs, forests, castles and interesting people to watch. "Where are we going?" you persist. "Be patient. You'll see," they reply. Days go by and you still haven't reached your destination and you're starting to despair. "We're going to see Grandma's grave, aren't we?" You remember that drive, how long it was, how little time you spent outside the car when you arrived at your destination, how depressing it was to think about your grandmother resting in a coffin beneath the ground, how disappointed you were to learn you had to get back in the vehicle and drive that distance all over again. "No, we're not going to Grandma's grave." Then you see it. It's just beginning to get dark, but over the hill in the distance you can see the glow of lights, and the top of a gigantic Ferris Wheel spins up and over the hill--each cart rising and falling again. You get to the top of the hill and a vast, wild theme park spreads out before you. And the best part? You don't have to drive back home. Ever. This is how Ordained was for me. I admit, the first 2/3 of the book were a little tough to get through. There were quite a few POV slips, and more than a few of your typical editorial errors, but that's not what got to me. It was just the lack of action. But I kept reading and I'm glad I did. Throughout the book I thought I would probably rate it a 3 if I was being generous, but after reading the ending I decided to give it 4 stars. I really enjoyed the story and the creativity involved. I loved the twists at the end and overall it was a fun, enjoyable read. Not to mention it would be the coolest vampire movie ever. Devon is a young, promising writer and I'm excited to read more of her work.
January 30, 2012
I was lucky enough to receive a copy of this via Goodreads giveaways, and I couldn't wait to sink my teeth into it! I really enjoyed this book, it has a wide spectrum of characters that will appeal to adult and YA fans alike.
The book jumps straight into action with a prelude that instantly grabs your attention. The action continues throughout the book, but there is also a good balance of character building too. I really enjoyed the the variety of characters in this book, I felt that they were well rounded and entertaining. I especially liked delving into Abby's past, as this helped the reader to understand her reactions and emotional defences, and made her seem more vulnerable and human.
It surprised me that the main characters were not teenagers in this book, and they were actually married. This made the book stand out for me, as it was refreshing to read about a relationship that has been successful for so long, and doesn't follow the trend of love angst teens caught up in a love triangle. This is by no means an adult only book though, as there are many secondary characters that are young and exciting, as the book is based at a collage.
The vampire mythology really stood out for me in this book. The author has explained the origins and method of transformation with a scientific edge, this was really unique and almost made me actually belive that becoming a vampire was possible! A very clever way of taking the age old legend of vampires, and making it completely your own.
Overall and excellent book. A well thought out plot with good pace, relatable and likable characters and an exciting final battle and cliff hanger... can't wait for the sequel.
The book jumps straight into action with a prelude that instantly grabs your attention. The action continues throughout the book, but there is also a good balance of character building too. I really enjoyed the the variety of characters in this book, I felt that they were well rounded and entertaining. I especially liked delving into Abby's past, as this helped the reader to understand her reactions and emotional defences, and made her seem more vulnerable and human.
It surprised me that the main characters were not teenagers in this book, and they were actually married. This made the book stand out for me, as it was refreshing to read about a relationship that has been successful for so long, and doesn't follow the trend of love angst teens caught up in a love triangle. This is by no means an adult only book though, as there are many secondary characters that are young and exciting, as the book is based at a collage.
The vampire mythology really stood out for me in this book. The author has explained the origins and method of transformation with a scientific edge, this was really unique and almost made me actually belive that becoming a vampire was possible! A very clever way of taking the age old legend of vampires, and making it completely your own.
Overall and excellent book. A well thought out plot with good pace, relatable and likable characters and an exciting final battle and cliff hanger... can't wait for the sequel.
January 14, 2013
*May Contain Spoilers*
I came across this on my kobo, not sure when I got it which can be a problem with so many sitting there, anyway I decided it was time to give it a try and at first I was sucked in and very curious about what was next. The concept so cool and engaging, Emily a young hunter destined to die at the hands of the demon Eraticus like the other hunters before her is saved by Noel and Abby who have their own strange ties to the Order, they enter the hunter compound to try and save everyone from the new threat Morphus, and that is when things got a little overloaded I mean Abby is a witch, Vampire and hunter destined to kill Morphus, then add in two clairvoyants and a crazy council as exciting as it seemed my head was spinning so when I was given the opportunity to participate in a read to review I put this one aside.....a few days later I started again and found myself plunging in and on the edge of my seat with excitement and a bit of mystery which was due in large part to the great way the different points of view were written, you got just enough information with small questions left over to keep me going.
I liked all the characters even with all their flaws it made them more human and relate able as they do unthinkable things like fighting demons and vampires. I liked how even in the face of constant danger they find a way to have "Normal" relationships.
The end was full of heartbreak, action and an epic battle that I thought about even after the book was over. The shocker at the end made me grateful I have book 2 already and when I can fit it in (LOL) I will read to see how they handle things and were they will go next.
I came across this on my kobo, not sure when I got it which can be a problem with so many sitting there, anyway I decided it was time to give it a try and at first I was sucked in and very curious about what was next. The concept so cool and engaging, Emily a young hunter destined to die at the hands of the demon Eraticus like the other hunters before her is saved by Noel and Abby who have their own strange ties to the Order, they enter the hunter compound to try and save everyone from the new threat Morphus, and that is when things got a little overloaded I mean Abby is a witch, Vampire and hunter destined to kill Morphus, then add in two clairvoyants and a crazy council as exciting as it seemed my head was spinning so when I was given the opportunity to participate in a read to review I put this one aside.....a few days later I started again and found myself plunging in and on the edge of my seat with excitement and a bit of mystery which was due in large part to the great way the different points of view were written, you got just enough information with small questions left over to keep me going.
I liked all the characters even with all their flaws it made them more human and relate able as they do unthinkable things like fighting demons and vampires. I liked how even in the face of constant danger they find a way to have "Normal" relationships.
The end was full of heartbreak, action and an epic battle that I thought about even after the book was over. The shocker at the end made me grateful I have book 2 already and when I can fit it in (LOL) I will read to see how they handle things and were they will go next.
June 18, 2012
The beginning of Ordained starts out with a bang that has you thirsting for more.
Ordained was a new twist on vampires and not to mention the vampire hunters (haven’t read about them at all). I’m not going to lie when I say I really hated the idea of the hunters living in their academy. To me, it was more like a prison without the bars. The story really started to get interesting when Noel and Abby arrived. That’s when we got to know the characters on a deeper level and find out exactly how Abby and Noel survived for two hundred years. There’s also a twist with Emily that I really wasn’t expecting. I was kind of thrown for a loop there. Okay, not really. But I did think I had it figured out and turns out I was completely wrong.
I think my favorite character was Valerie. She was so misunderstood and left out. She was like the white crayon in the box. It’s placed in a box with all these other colorful crayons yet it’s isolated because it’s usually never used. So Valerie is a white crayon. I wish I could think of something better to compare her to but it’s kind of late as I type this and my funny side is really not in its full effect right now.
Oh and Abby, yeah she does some major ass kicking in this book. When you find out everything that happened to her while she was undergoing her training, you can’t help but root for her to come out on top. And she does.
There’s also crazy-ass demons rearing their ugly heads in Ordained. I blame the Order for all the fallen hunters.
If you enjoyed Buffy the Vampire Slayer or Angel you’ll definitely love this series! 5 STARS
Ordained was a new twist on vampires and not to mention the vampire hunters (haven’t read about them at all). I’m not going to lie when I say I really hated the idea of the hunters living in their academy. To me, it was more like a prison without the bars. The story really started to get interesting when Noel and Abby arrived. That’s when we got to know the characters on a deeper level and find out exactly how Abby and Noel survived for two hundred years. There’s also a twist with Emily that I really wasn’t expecting. I was kind of thrown for a loop there. Okay, not really. But I did think I had it figured out and turns out I was completely wrong.
I think my favorite character was Valerie. She was so misunderstood and left out. She was like the white crayon in the box. It’s placed in a box with all these other colorful crayons yet it’s isolated because it’s usually never used. So Valerie is a white crayon. I wish I could think of something better to compare her to but it’s kind of late as I type this and my funny side is really not in its full effect right now.
Oh and Abby, yeah she does some major ass kicking in this book. When you find out everything that happened to her while she was undergoing her training, you can’t help but root for her to come out on top. And she does.
There’s also crazy-ass demons rearing their ugly heads in Ordained. I blame the Order for all the fallen hunters.
If you enjoyed Buffy the Vampire Slayer or Angel you’ll definitely love this series! 5 STARS
June 19, 2012
Abby grew up inside the Order, where she was abused on daily basis as part of her training. She was part of an experiment to try to make a stronger huntress. Little did they know that their experiment was about to back fire on them.
Two hundred years later Emily, a huntress, is sent out to kill Eraticus, however unbeknownst to her, she wasn't expected to survive. So when she returns to the Order, everyone is surprised to see she had survived.
When Emily reveals that she was saved by the huntress, Abby, the Order is shocked to hear she is still alive and has been this whole time. They are fearful of her past outburst and whether or not she could control herself.
The Order has no choice but to invite Abby and her husband/guardian to their home, for they fear that Morphus has or is about to waken and broke through the containment spell that was placed upon him years ago. It was foretold that Morphus could only be defeated by the Ordained Huntress. The Order doesn't know that Abby is the Ordained Huntress. So when Abby goes face to face with Morphus, her survival is not expected.
Ordained is action packed! I enjoyed reading this story, I felt it was different from your typical paranormal read. Abby was a fierce, strong, and at the same time a vulnerable character. I loved her. Devon Ashley did an awesome job with the characters in Ordained, they all had their own unique personalities and I felt as if I could relate to each one on some level, except for maybe the really evil ones. lol
Two hundred years later Emily, a huntress, is sent out to kill Eraticus, however unbeknownst to her, she wasn't expected to survive. So when she returns to the Order, everyone is surprised to see she had survived.
When Emily reveals that she was saved by the huntress, Abby, the Order is shocked to hear she is still alive and has been this whole time. They are fearful of her past outburst and whether or not she could control herself.
The Order has no choice but to invite Abby and her husband/guardian to their home, for they fear that Morphus has or is about to waken and broke through the containment spell that was placed upon him years ago. It was foretold that Morphus could only be defeated by the Ordained Huntress. The Order doesn't know that Abby is the Ordained Huntress. So when Abby goes face to face with Morphus, her survival is not expected.
Ordained is action packed! I enjoyed reading this story, I felt it was different from your typical paranormal read. Abby was a fierce, strong, and at the same time a vulnerable character. I loved her. Devon Ashley did an awesome job with the characters in Ordained, they all had their own unique personalities and I felt as if I could relate to each one on some level, except for maybe the really evil ones. lol
June 25, 2012
N MY BLOG with giveaway links http://disincentive-reviews.blogspot....
I really liked this book. The main reason is Abby of course. She is seriously a kick-butt heroine! Definitely a strong woman who has been through a lot, but still stays strong. She is also one of those well-developed in emotions and that’s the thing I care about mostly while reading a book. What else can I say about a girl who was trained to be a vampire hunter… And then turned into a vampire?
Talking about vampires, I finally wasn’t annoyed by them in a book. They don’t sparkle. There is no “forbidden romance”. There is no romance at all, main characters are already married. It makes the book focus on action for real, instead of making action just an excuse to put in some cute romance.
What I didn’t like is a slow paced action sometimes. It was like a rollercoaster for me – once it gone really slowly, but then it was a big boom and it went so fast I couldn’t find myself in it. However, this is a page turner for sure, because those slow paced moments didn’t matter so much when you could lose yourself in Devon’s amazing writing style.
This book isn’t cute. It’s pretty brutal, it tells you about the loss, abuse, death and sacrifice. Some serious topics but author managed to put them in an urban fantasy genre. I honestly don’t think I’m able to find something as good as Ordained in this genre anymore. This book is a great find!
I really liked this book. The main reason is Abby of course. She is seriously a kick-butt heroine! Definitely a strong woman who has been through a lot, but still stays strong. She is also one of those well-developed in emotions and that’s the thing I care about mostly while reading a book. What else can I say about a girl who was trained to be a vampire hunter… And then turned into a vampire?
Talking about vampires, I finally wasn’t annoyed by them in a book. They don’t sparkle. There is no “forbidden romance”. There is no romance at all, main characters are already married. It makes the book focus on action for real, instead of making action just an excuse to put in some cute romance.
What I didn’t like is a slow paced action sometimes. It was like a rollercoaster for me – once it gone really slowly, but then it was a big boom and it went so fast I couldn’t find myself in it. However, this is a page turner for sure, because those slow paced moments didn’t matter so much when you could lose yourself in Devon’s amazing writing style.
This book isn’t cute. It’s pretty brutal, it tells you about the loss, abuse, death and sacrifice. Some serious topics but author managed to put them in an urban fantasy genre. I honestly don’t think I’m able to find something as good as Ordained in this genre anymore. This book is a great find!
August 26, 2011
Ordained certainly keeps you on your toes! It is a very fast paced and exciting read. The whole time I was reading it, I found myself saying "wait, what just happened?" and "wow, I didn't see that coming." it's not so much twists and turns; it's more like an onion. New layers keep getting peeled back and new secrets are constantly being revealed. I loved that about the book! I was never bored, and I never caught my eyes skipping ahead a few lines. (I admit it, sometimes I do that during slow parts of books)
The interesting, or maybe strange, thing about this book was that there was no stand-out character for me. I really liked them all. I found Abby's inner conflict between her two "sides" to be fascinating, and all the other characters were interesting enough. But this wasn't a character driven book for me. It was much more storyline focused. And I loved that about Ordained.
Ordained took a TON of paranormal and supernatural elements and incorporated them all in a very unique way. I loved Devon Ashley's take on good vs. evil witches and magic. I think that was my favorite "layer" of the story. I can't wait to see how that is going to play out in the next book.
Overall, this is a good book and really great if you are looking for a unique take on the average vampire/demon book. I thoroughly enjoyed Ordained.
The interesting, or maybe strange, thing about this book was that there was no stand-out character for me. I really liked them all. I found Abby's inner conflict between her two "sides" to be fascinating, and all the other characters were interesting enough. But this wasn't a character driven book for me. It was much more storyline focused. And I loved that about Ordained.
Ordained took a TON of paranormal and supernatural elements and incorporated them all in a very unique way. I loved Devon Ashley's take on good vs. evil witches and magic. I think that was my favorite "layer" of the story. I can't wait to see how that is going to play out in the next book.
Overall, this is a good book and really great if you are looking for a unique take on the average vampire/demon book. I thoroughly enjoyed Ordained.
August 9, 2011
Abby rocks! Sarcastic, feisty, impatient, and a touch of evil make up this rough and tumble vampire. Abby’s rough background made it difficult for her to trust others, and she learned to look out for herself. Did I mention her awesome power? Abby can create fire by flicking her wrist and she knows how and when to use this power.
Abby was not the only character that had a voice in this book though. Devon Ashley let several different characters have their time in the spotlight and tell their experiences. They popped up at just the right time so I got a great sense of what they were thinking. Hands down, Abby was my favorite character though and most of the drama surrounded her.
The story surrounding the Order and their quest to take over is haunting. I was mesmerized by the history of the Order’s training program and what they did with Abby. It’s an intricate plot with layers of details that are nicely played out.
There is no shortage of fight scenes in Ordained. The trained warriors know their stuff and I really got into the fights. My favorite was when Abby got to fight a demon. Look out!
This is not your typical vampire story, and I am looking forward to the second book, Metamorphosis.
RATING
4 Liked
COVER COMMENTS
Sometimes simple is best. The basic black background is a nice way to showcase the red and gold cross. The striking red title really pops too.
Abby was not the only character that had a voice in this book though. Devon Ashley let several different characters have their time in the spotlight and tell their experiences. They popped up at just the right time so I got a great sense of what they were thinking. Hands down, Abby was my favorite character though and most of the drama surrounded her.
The story surrounding the Order and their quest to take over is haunting. I was mesmerized by the history of the Order’s training program and what they did with Abby. It’s an intricate plot with layers of details that are nicely played out.
There is no shortage of fight scenes in Ordained. The trained warriors know their stuff and I really got into the fights. My favorite was when Abby got to fight a demon. Look out!
This is not your typical vampire story, and I am looking forward to the second book, Metamorphosis.
RATING
4 Liked
COVER COMMENTS
Sometimes simple is best. The basic black background is a nice way to showcase the red and gold cross. The striking red title really pops too.
Read
July 3, 2012My first thoughts on the book... The prelude was intriguing and sucked me in from the beginning. I couldnt wait to find out what led up to the situation of Abby being abused and hurt like that. I enjoyed the twist that Devon took on vampires, how the original vampires could wear a cross and drink holy water and not be affected. I liked how it explained how they became that way. I know some readers dont enjoy to much back story because it can feel like an overload of information sometimes but I thought there was just enough info to not be confused with the story line. I will admit it seemed like at times there was just a little to many things with Abby not only was she the Ordained one but she was also a vampire and a huntress. At one point you think you know everything about her and then you find out more secrets. It's like she fell out of the supernatural tree and hit every branch on the way down. It could get a tad confusing just because she was so many things but all in all I enjoyed Abby's character. Her snarky and Bad Ass attitude just made her awesome! For the most part I enjoyed almost all of the characters in this book. I do wish that Emily was a little more developed but I still liked her. Devon did a great job at thinking outside the box with this one, I am looking forward to reading metamorphosis.
June 19, 2011
Abigail Sorrensten was the Order's experimental training program. Abby was treated differently from other hunters. She was beaten, bruised and isolated for 13 years. One night, Abby lost control, killed the people who hurt her and left the Order.
Emily Davis is the first huntress who live past her 25 birthday. The order trained the hunters to kill the vampire, but not trained them to kil the demon. So for years, hunters have died at the age of 25 because Eraticus, a great a demon. She met Abby for the first time at the night of her 25 birthday.
Two hundreds years later, when Abby and Noel, her husband, reappears, the Order is in shock because they think she's already dead a long time ago. Now, the Order need her help to face the Morphus. Only the ordained hunter can fight the Morphus and she is the ordained huntress. She have to find out the Morphus's weakness and try to keep her secret from the order.
Ordained is the first book of Immortal Archives.We can find hunter, vampire, witch and demon in this book. This book have strong characters and full of action. So many mystery in this book that make this book unpredictable. Overall, the book is great.
If you love to read Supernatural stories, you should read this.
I give Ordained 4 out of 5 stars.
Emily Davis is the first huntress who live past her 25 birthday. The order trained the hunters to kill the vampire, but not trained them to kil the demon. So for years, hunters have died at the age of 25 because Eraticus, a great a demon. She met Abby for the first time at the night of her 25 birthday.
Two hundreds years later, when Abby and Noel, her husband, reappears, the Order is in shock because they think she's already dead a long time ago. Now, the Order need her help to face the Morphus. Only the ordained hunter can fight the Morphus and she is the ordained huntress. She have to find out the Morphus's weakness and try to keep her secret from the order.
Ordained is the first book of Immortal Archives.We can find hunter, vampire, witch and demon in this book. This book have strong characters and full of action. So many mystery in this book that make this book unpredictable. Overall, the book is great.
If you love to read Supernatural stories, you should read this.
I give Ordained 4 out of 5 stars.
October 19, 2014
The story started smack down in the middle of everything. Okay, not really in the middle... middle but what I mean is that unlike other books I've read, Ordained didn't start from the beginning when it all began. Action right from the start with tantalizing backflashes to whet your appetite. It got a lot more interesting when Abby and Noel entered the scene.
What I liked about Abby is not despite how powerful she is there are many aspects of her life that made her imperfect and vulnerable and that is what makes her a very good character in my own opinion. She may look and sound cocky and act uber cool but behind it all you could see that she is struggling that despite being a hunter, a witch and a vampire she is still "human" enough that the readers would connect to her.
Full review at Whatever You Can Still Betray.
What I liked about Abby is not despite how powerful she is there are many aspects of her life that made her imperfect and vulnerable and that is what makes her a very good character in my own opinion. She may look and sound cocky and act uber cool but behind it all you could see that she is struggling that despite being a hunter, a witch and a vampire she is still "human" enough that the readers would connect to her.
Full review at Whatever You Can Still Betray.
August 1, 2011
The Order trains hunters to kill vampires, not demons. When Abby shows up after two hundred years, she sets everyone on edge with her brazen antics and fearless approach. Abby is the only person who can kill the demon after the Order. The one reason she stays at the training school is to protect her friend Emily, who had a run-in with a demon of her own. But is Abby strong enough to face the demon, or will he be the death of her?
Ordained is a new twist on vampires and demons, one which has non-stop action that will leave you wanting more. Devon Ashley has clean prose, which is easy to follow, and she’s able to establish great character relationships—a main key to staying engrossed. Don’t pass this one up!
Ordained is a new twist on vampires and demons, one which has non-stop action that will leave you wanting more. Devon Ashley has clean prose, which is easy to follow, and she’s able to establish great character relationships—a main key to staying engrossed. Don’t pass this one up!
January 7, 2013
I am astonished by this book. I'm serious. I had never read anything by this author, hell, I hadn't even heard of her or her books but I am so very happy to have read it! The writing is very straightforward and honest. The author manages to wrap the story in mystery while keeping things simple and easy for the reader to follow.
The main character is an enigma although you find from the beginning of the story about her abused childhood. The secondary characters are relatable and likeable. The enemies are hateful but also sad and pitiful. The story in itself is interesting but wouldn't have kept me so hooked in if the writing didn't complemented it so well. It's a very good début novel and I, personally, can't wait to continue this adventure.
The main character is an enigma although you find from the beginning of the story about her abused childhood. The secondary characters are relatable and likeable. The enemies are hateful but also sad and pitiful. The story in itself is interesting but wouldn't have kept me so hooked in if the writing didn't complemented it so well. It's a very good début novel and I, personally, can't wait to continue this adventure.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 22, 2011
Mind blowing action with such an original Storyline. How characters in this book was developed is well done. The plot had a little bit of everything in it, and really pulls at your emotions. Do not expect to put the book down once you open it. It is not going to happen. From the beginning it draws you in and the pace will keep a tight hold on you. Ending will leave you salivating for book 2.
Devon Ashley - Giveaway, Character Guest Post, and Review At Were Vamps ROmance:
http://werevampsromance.blogspot.com/...
Devon Ashley - Giveaway, Character Guest Post, and Review At Were Vamps ROmance:
http://werevampsromance.blogspot.com/...
June 29, 2012
I got sucked in from the very beginning and my attention didn't waver at all throughout the entire book. In fact, it has me craving for more. Devon Ashley has made me a fan of hers all over again. I was lucky enough to get the chance to read Falling in Between for her earlier this year and I absolutely loved it.
Review originally posted at Step Into Fiction
Review completed by: Jessica
Review originally posted at Step Into Fiction
Review completed by: Jessica
June 26, 2011
The beginning was a little confusing about just who the protagonist was, and the author had so much information that set the scene it really slowed the action. This did resolve as the book progressed. But I love this style of writing, very smooth and rich where you can visualize what is happening. I will read the next book in the series, great first book!
November 4, 2012
The novel was a bit confusing at the start simply because we have two heroines in this novel. I was like, "what is going on here?" Eventually I clued in and it was alright to read, in fact it almost got great. Albeit a bit confusing and wondering at certain times but all together I was pretty impressed.
July 23, 2011
It was a lot to keep up with but overall the book was good. It's not like any other book I have read. It was nice to get that change. I really enjoyed it!
More in depth review here: http://tristasiegel.blogspot.com/2011...
More in depth review here: http://tristasiegel.blogspot.com/2011...
July 18, 2011
Really enjoying this book. The story line is great and I am already excited to read the next in this series. Emily's character is great and I am excited to see how she develops in the next book.
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