Damian's Oracle

War of Gods #1

by Lizzy Ford

As featured in USA Today in March 2012. BOOK ONE in the War of Gods series.

Inspired by Slavic mythology, Damian’s Oracle is the entree into the ongoing battle between good and evil over the fate of humanity. The White God, Damian, and his Guardians protect the world from the Black God and his monsters while rescuing Naturals – humans with extraordinary paranormal gifts – from the Black God, who would kill or convert them.

Caught in the middle is cool-headed Sofia, a Natural whose gift will tip the scales in the war. Sofia begins her transformation from human into oracle, the first in thousands of years. Damian rescues her from the Black God in time to complete a ceremony that will bind her to him for eternity. Sofia struggles with her new world and her role as an oracle and Damian’s mate while haunted by a mysterious man from Damian’s past who’s supposed to be dead. Unbeknownst to her, her link to the dead man may be all that saves Damian, his Guardians, and the fate of humanity.

While he wants nothing more than for the petite beauty to take her place at his side like the oracles of legend did his White God forefathers, Damian can’t quite rationalize having to win her over instead of command her. Further complicating his life is the sobering realization that there are spies in his organization who are helping the Black God take out his Guardians. Damian must help Sofia reach her potential fast, especially when a threat from his past returns.

Includes exclusive excerpt from "Damian's Assassin," Book II in the War of Gods series.

Editorial
Excerpt from review in USA Today, March 30, 2012:
"Damian's Oracle, the first novel in a series of four, effectively balances paranormal action with old-fashioned romance. While Sofia's emotional development and evolving supernatural powers seemed rushed at times, the cast of characters is entertaining and vivid, the story is engrossing, and the love shared between Damian and Sofia is authentic and timeless, an organic and precious factor in this supernatural saga. Damian's Oracle is a paranormal romance that is sure to entertain and thrill."

Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance, Paranormal Romance, Mythology, Urban Fantasy, Magic

274 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

I breathe stories. I dream them. If it were possible, I'd eat them, too. (I'm pretty sure they'd taste like cotton candy.) I can't escape them - they're everywhere! Which is why I write! I was born to bring the crazy worlds and people in my mind to life, and I love sharing them with as many people as I can.

I'm also the bestselling, award winning, internationally acclaimed author of over sixty titles and counting. I write speculative fiction in multiple subgenres of romance and fantasy, contemporary fiction, books for both teens and adults, and just about anything else I feel like writing. If I can imagine it, I can write it!

I live in the desert of southern Arizona with a pack of spoiled dogs and Tubbs, the Godfather cat who rules them all.


Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LizzyFordBooks
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/LizzyFord2010
Email: LizzyFord2010@gmail.com
Radish: LizzyFord
Wattpad: LizzyFord

Lizzy’s books include:

Lost Vegas – young adult post-apocalyptic
Aveline
Tiana
Arthur
Black Wolf

Spell Realm Series (coming summer 2017) – young adult fantasy
Water Spell (2017)
Dragon Spell (2018)
Moon Spell (2018)
Sword Spell (2019)

History Interrupted – time travel romance
West
East
North (2017)
South (2018)

Omega Beginnings Series
Alessandra
Mismatch
Phoibe
Lantos
Theodocia
Niko
Cleon
Herakles

Omega Series
Omega
Theta
Alpha (2017)

Theta Beginnings Miniseries (novelettes)
Silent Queen
Mercenary
Shadow Titan
People’s Champion

Non-Series – 2014 - 2017
Black Moon Draw (about a reader sucked into her book)
White Tree Sound (2017)
Highlander Enchanted
The Door
The Fall of Esme (2017)
Sons of War – contemporary military romance
Semper Mine
Soldier Mine
SEAL Mine (2017)

Super Villainess
It’s Not Easy Being Evil
It’s Not Easy Being Good

Starwalkers Serials (with Julia Crane) – new adult science fiction serial
Severed
Trapped
Exiled
Revealed
Escaped
Ascended
Starwalkers – complete (#1-6)

Heart of Fire – sexy dragon shifter
Charred Heart
Charred Tears
Charred Hope

Incubatti – Buffy meets 50 Shades
Zoey Rogue
Zoey Avenger

Rhyn Trilogy – new adult paranormal with demons
Katie’s Hellion
Katie’s Hope
Rhyn’s Redemption

Rhyn Eternal – Death finds love
Gabriel’s Hope
Deidre’s Death
Darkyn’s Mate
The Underworld
Twisted Fate
Twisted Karma (2017)

War of Gods – paranormal with gods, guardians and exceptional humans
Damian’s Oracle
Damian’s Assassin
Damian’s Immortal
The Grey God

Damian Eternal
Xander’s Chance
The Black God

Hidden Evil – paranormal with angels and four horsemen
Hear No
See No (TBD)
Speak No (TBD)

Unnamed Series
Unnatural (TBD)
Unmade (TBD)

Omega
Omega
Theta
Alpha (2017)

Anshan Saga – new adult science fiction romance
Kiera’s Moon
Kiera’s Sun

Santa’s Ninja Elves (short stories)
Natasha & Hunter

Non-series titles – 2011 - 2013
Star Kissed
A Demon’s Desire
The Warlord’s Secret
Maddy’s Oasis
Rebel Heart

Witchlings – young adult paranormal
Dark Summer
Autumn Storm
Winter Fire
Spring Rain

Broken Beauty Novellas – new adult dramatic fiction
Broken Beauty
Broken World

Voodoo Nights - young adult paranormal
Cursed

As SE Reign, erotica writer
101 Nights Box Set (Serials 1-7)

Reviews

[Nathalia · Rating 1 out of 5]

I honestly believe this book is better suited for young adult audiences that want a quick Urban Fantasy read. I got a free copy off of Amazon and decided to give it a try after reading some of the reviews, and besides a few typos here and there, it managed to hold my attention. What absolutely destroyed the book for me was how the author referenced Twilight within the first chapter. The cherry on top of the cake was how a god-like man (who has been around since the dawn of time I might add) says "BFF". This is a male character and I believe male characters should never reference their peers as "BFF's", ESPECIALLY if they're a God. This might not be enough for some to give up the book in its entirety, but I just can't read a book that seems like it's stuck in high school.

[J.L. Murray · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was torn by this book. As an indie writer myself, I understand how hard it is to make it on your own. And there was such a story in this book, but it was wedged underneath cliches, grammar errors, and constant talk of rippling biceps. But looking past that, I could see the core of the story shining through. If only Ford could write a little longer to buff up those edges, she could have a winner.

I didn't like all the exclamation points or head-hopping, but I'm going to stick with it. I think Lizzy Ford may pull through for me, and I bought the omnibus edition (with the first three books in the series), so I'll finish them up before I cast judgment on the whole series. I really think there's some fine writing here, and with a little work, Ford could really make this series shine.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was great to read. The story of the book is based on Slavic Mythology which is different so far to what else is out there. Sofia has some health problems and well she is suffering and doesn't understand what is happening to her. She comes in between the White God and the Black God there always needs to be a balance which in this story is not happening. I know that this is a big issue with some readers about typos and grammar but in all honesty I don't care as the content of the book matters and the content rocks. I liked that there were traitors in the book and well in some places it really was very funny. There are 3 very hot alpha males and they are Gods! We see and hear Damiens story first. He thinks that his brother is dead. The other two are Dusty and Jules. It all comes to a huge showdown to save humanity. The balance is kept by the watchers who coach their teams to do the right thing. I've already bought the other 3 books and have nearly finished the second one so I can't wait.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am having thoughts about this book. Many, many thoughts. The first one being that Lizzy Ford has some real talent. She's creating worlds (not just in this book but with all her stories I've read) that make me want to climb inside and wallow in them. They're dark and painful and yet there's this core of hope running through that speaks to me.

The second thought I'm having is that although I'm classifying this as a paranormal romance, it's fairly light on the romance. Sofia spends a lot of her time fantasizing about Damian but she's holding herself back from exploring a physical relationship with him as she adjusts to her new life as a bad ass oracle. Damian is a sexual being and he offers to act on those fantasies often but knowing that she's struggling to find herself amid the new life she's been thrust into he doesn't push. There's a fascinating push and pull between them as they try to find a balance with one another after Sofia's explosive introduction to his world.

There's a secondary tormented hero-type that I'm loving here, too. However, I don't want to go into too much detail about him so you can watch him unfold in bits and pieces and feel how damaged he is. Come to think of it, the entire supporting cast is well-rounded and strong. They alternately support the main characters and challenge them to make them stronger.

Damian's Oracle is a fast paced, sometimes tragic story that kept me reading well into the night. Lizzy Ford has created dynamic characters and an intriguing world that feels big enough to spawn several stories. It looks like I'm going to have to pick up book 2 to see how our heroes fare.

-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal

[Maryann · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took me a while to get used to how the story was written. I have no idea why, but I had to keep rereading to figure out what was happening, until maybe about the second chapter. I was probably distracted when reading.
The novel's basically about Sophi, a normal human living a normal life until her 28th birthday when she begins to transform into her new powers. She becomes an Oracle and tips the balance of the war between Dark and Light forces.
Damien is the God leading the forces of good, protecting humanity and all that stuff, even though he's far from an angel. He swears like a sailor and has a temper to boot. The same can be said for his brothers and guardian.
The bad guy, God of Evilness is obviously trying to take over the world blablabla and wreak havoc and end all humanity. His one key to succeed, the oracle!
Two, the mysterious slave of said bad guy, tortured and mistreated. His right of mind is damaged as well as his memory and his appearance. He turns out to be someone very important...who supposedly died ages ago.
Damien's ex-lover and former sister-in-law....she's basically a b...uh...witch.
I definitely loved the suspense, the romance and the action. A great read!
P.S not recommended for anyone under 18

[Chandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

Story Rating 3 Stars
Character Rating 3 Stars
Romance Rating 1 Stars
Heat Level 0 Stars
Overall Rating 2 Stars



Meh, I just didn't like this one. Maybe I was expecting too much because I loved 'Zoey Rogue'...but this was just blahhhhhhhhh



And to be honest...


So....two star review for you!

[Tia Bach · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally, a heroine with a special gift who shows strength and perseverance before coming into her own. Although I enjoyed the Twilight series, my biggest complaint was with Bella’s transformation in Breaking Dawn. It was too easy. Not so for Sofia, the main character in Lizzy Ford’s Damian’s Oracle, the first in the War of Gods series.

Sofia has to overcome a grueling physical transformation to embrace her destiny as the Oracle to the gods. We see her struggle and dig in her heels, determined to make it. Later when she has to face huge obstacles, we believe she has what it takes. The last Oracle to survive the transformation was weak and prone to the lures of the dark side.

Sofia enters a world with good and evil represented by original beings knows as the Black and White gods. She is immediately drawn to Damian, the clear leader of the White gods. But don’t expect an overly sweet and simple romance. Sofia and Damian need each other, but humanity needs them. A war is brewing between Damian and the Black god, Czerno, and Sofia’s powers as the Oracle are necessary for victory.

The last war between the gods almost destroyed mankind, so Damian and his brothers are prepared to go to whatever lengths necessary to avoid this. The author makes an interesting commentary on weakness and power, with gods no less susceptible than humans. The gods know that sometimes it takes extreme violence to protect humanity, and power isn’t achieved through unicorns and rainbows.

I was left with several questions, but I knew this was the first in a series. No gap felt too big, because the story moved forward at a thrilling pace and was far from predictable. The book can stand alone, but there are enough unanswered questions to create interest in reading future installments.

However, I did want more insight into Sofia’s relationship with Damian. Their more intimate moments together were the best parts of the story, yet the bond between the brothers was more clearly defined.

I’m looking forward to reading more in this series and to trying more novels written by Lizzy Ford. Her characters and story have depth, a bit of grit if you will. I hope future installments showcase Damian and Sofia’s relationship and explain more about the Grey God.

Rating: 4.5 stars

For more information on Lizzy Ford, please visit her Amazon Author page.

Note: I received this book free of charge as a member of the WoMen's Literary Cafe Review team. A positive review was not requested, and my opinion is my own.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn’t expecting much when I started reading this book but this book went way beyond my expectations and had me hooked before I knew what was happening. What a fabulous story. I was so intrigued with the whole plot and cast of characters. This book was like a delectable meal. The beginning was an appetizer that gets the reader ready for what’s to come. The middle is the mouth watering entre and the ending is the delicious dessert.

The writing just flows from page to page. Lizzie Ford has a style of writing that sucks the reader in before they know what hit them then they can’t stop. It is so enticing. The characters were intriguing. Each one I wanted to know more about. The story line of white gods, black gods, and gray gods and the age old battle of good vs. evil kept me involved in this delicious read. Lizzie created a paranormal world that is smack dab in the middle of the normal world.

I’m a sucker for a well written character. I liked Damian right away. There is so much to him and I feel that Lizzie just gave me a teaser as to what he is really all about. Being a fan of mythology I was excited to read a book that had an oracle. I like Sophia and the way she interacted with the new life she found herself in. Her reactions were exactly the way anyone in that situation would react. She came off a little timid at first but as the story cruised along she became so much more. I loved the character building and all the people who came on the pages to play.

This is a well written, character filled, action packed, fabulous read. Anyone who picks up this book will be in for a great reading experience. I liked it so much I already read book 2 and have been looking up what else Lizzie Ford has available. Give it a try. The Oracle says you won’t be disappointed.
*received a copy for an honest review

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. At first I found myself a little confused, but throughout the book everything fell into place and the confusion only lasted through the first chapter (just getting familiarized with everything). The characters in this book had me laughing out loud and smiling throughout the whole book, and this story had me hooked! (Read it in two days) It has a different storyline about Gods and wars, and is full of suspense and betrayal. This is a book I would recommend, it's fast paced, entertaining, funny, and action packed.

[Kendra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Please visit Reader's Edyn for full review including excerpts and dialogue highlights: http://bit.ly/yJ6yDS

Review:

So I successfully read my first Lizzy Ford book, and enjoyed it so much that I am currently reading book 2 in the War of Gods series, Damian’s Assassin. Review will be soon to follow. I have to admit that it took me a couple of chapters to get into the story. It wasn’t that I disliked the story. My problem was that there was so much information and so many characters introduced that it took me a bit to recognize who was who and what was going on. But I am glad that I assimilated the information because the story ended up being a truly good read.

I enjoyed Ms. Ford’s take on Gods, demigods, Naturals, vampires, and the other characters within her world. While some of her components to the supernatural world were similar to some stories, she also added quite a bit of her own creativity to her world to make it her own. I enjoyed my time spent with Damian and Sophia, as well as the characters surrounding them. Damian is entertaining because he is straight-forward with what he says and much of it comes off as snarky. As the White God for thousands of years, he has become quite cynical and often wonders why he bothers to save humanity any longer. Sophia is his polar opposite in all things; effectively completing the God and everything he never knew he was missing in his life. She initially has a hard time dealing with her new-found status as an Oracle, but eventually begins to adjust and becomes the pain-in-the ass Oracle that Damian and his men come to love and adore; despite the frustrations she ignites in them all.

My only complaint with this story are some editing errors. For example, small words are missing such as “a”, or “is”. In some places the wrong word is used such as “his” instead of “hers”, and one of the character’s names is misspelled once. The mistakes in comparison to the story in its entirety are pretty minimal. I just tend to pick up on these things and they irritate me. I end up going back and figuring out what the problem was because even reading fast, I know it didn’t make sense for some reason. Luckily, I was more intrigued with the story than I was irritated by the handful of errors.

Ironically, the lack of sexual detail did not bother me. Let’s face it. Sex sells and the large majority of the books I read have a good portion of the story dedicated to sexual encounters. Ms. Ford does a good job of explaining the attraction between the characters with just a touch of foreplay: dialogue and the absence of actual physical contact being a big component to the foreplay. And when the characters finally get down and dirty, we find them waking up the next morning, and end up filling in the blanks with our own minds. I can only imagine how a God must get it on … I do tend to want some detail when the characters engage each other sexually, but in this case, I found Ms. Ford had given just the right amount of detail without overwhelming the reader. The reader remains engaged in the story and the details focus on more important aspects of the story. Did I just say other parts of the story were more important than the sex? Oy! I can’t believe it myself. But … it all depends on the story and the author’s style For Damian’s Oracle, it works well.

I highly recommend a visit to the world of Ms. Ford and her Gods of War. You may read a few things that you have read before within paranormal romance, but I am confident that the differences and uniqueness of Ms. Ford’s style will draw you in for an entertaining read. *whispers* Plus, you can purchase the digital format for 99 cents on Kindle, Nook, and other formats. Check it out and let me know what you thought.

(Digital book purchased for personal library)

[David A. · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting story line with numerous nuances and characters, Damian’s Oracle by Lizzy Ford is not what one might call classic good vs. evil, even though that is its basic theme. In some ways it is much more than that, especially in terms of human impact.

The Good God, Damian vs. The Evil God, Czerno and their teams are at war for the fate of humanity. Czerno would be the evil tyrant who uses and abuses humanity for his pleasure, were it not for Damian’s endless efforts to stop him. The conflicts and their affects on Damian are highlighted by Sofia, Damian’s blood-bound Oracle, who brings a vulnerable human element to an otherwise otherworldly environment. Sofia’s ability to see the future and assist her companions through that skill is enhanced by her own fear of that very ability, and her reluctance to fully embrace it. When she finally does, and learns how to use it, she becomes a powerful and appealing character.

While I found the story to be entertaining, and a decent commentary on human foibles, made more profound by the fact that these human foibles were a strong part of the deities and the immortals in the story, I was somewhat disappointed by the constant use of profanity in dialogue and thoughts. While realistic among thugs and street gangs, perhaps, profanity tends to cheapen characters and make them less relatable for many readers. In some ways, although the human elements built into the deities gave them some real emotional depth, intellectually I expected better language from them.

The other issue that I had trouble with were the rapid changes in the story line that required me to reread passages to try to see what was actually happening. Many characters and many locales make for a somewhat chaotic story. I think a bit of time spent easing transitions and smoothing the story line would have improved this story dramatically.

Overall I would recommend this novel to readers who enjoy the unusual or cutting edge fiction that challenges one’s preconceived notions of how the world works. Dark sci-fi or fantasy readers would likely find it enjoyable, as would those who enjoy black comedy and religious satire.

[Vidya-Book Driven Life · Rating 3 out of 5]

Original review posted at Books Are Magic.

*** This book was provided by WLC for review purposes ***

Damian's Oracle was one of the books I enjoyed, but can't rate more. The story was vague in some places..I felt distracted from the book at those times.

A story about the war between the White God, Damian and the Black God, Czerno, where one human girl, Sofia, gets dragged into. Sofia has powers to read anyone's soul with a single touch - well, in short, Oracle. The Gods fight about who gets the girl, for the one who gets the Oracle becomes more powerful. Czerno kills Sofia, in order to bring her back as his slave. Damian, who in the mean time has grown to be affectionate towards the Oracle and saves Sofia by bringing her back from the dead, which means that Sofia is in debt to Damian for eternity. Now, Sofia has to live her new life as Oracle and adjust to its good and evil things, in addition to drinking Damian's blood instead of normal food to be alive.

The story was told in a way that kids will like, but not for mature readers. It feels like Gods are depending upon the human technology at some places and supernatural powers in other places. Trust me, when I say I am a huge believer of these fantasy things. But the vague references of vamps and Watchers, then back to computers and video games, is totally confusing. And I really wonder whether Gods use such language.

As I said, I enjoyed the overall plot of the novel, but the story telling was not up to the mark, which leads to the reason I can't rate more than this.

[Nancy Steinle gummel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Damian's Oracle was a very satisfying read. It started out ordinary enough and gradually built up to the supernatural element. Sofia was a normal everyday human, that happened to have headaches and a sensitivity to light. Doctors couldn't diagnose her symptoms. Then she meets the black God and runs into the arms of a Guardian who take her to meet the white God. Through a very tense and confusing time she begins to believe in herself and Damian falling in love with him along the way. This is a first book of a series. The book leaves you wanting more.

[Merissa (Archaeolibrarian) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful story, written with passion, pace and strength of character. This is a book with attitude and I loved it. The relationship between Damian and Sofia was very well-written and I loved the fact that she stood her ground and wasn't afraid to admit to her mistakes. The others in this book are all well rounded and I can't wait to read their stories too. Some gripping moments and some lol moments too. I would describe this book as funny with flair and would put it on a par with JR Ward and the boys of the Black Dagger Brotherhood and also Sherrilyn Kenyon and her Hunters.

[Hbeebti · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 This was great!! I am officially hooked! This was fast paced and so darn interesting. I loved the world building. FYI there is no sex for those of you who hope that there is. There is a moment of leading to it and then fade to the next morning. But you bet I will be reading this whole series!

[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sofia has no idea why she is having headaches and can't handle the sun. Upon meeting Damian she learns the truth. However, she is unsure how to deal with the truth or why she has feelings for Damian. The entire book is one that will have you going for the next one.

[AWB · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book. Maybe its because I just came off reading a book I HATED, but this was a surprise for me. I enjoyed the characters. I enjoyed the plot. Nothing was overly frustrating. It was just, well, entertaining. I will continue the series, in the hope it keeps going this way.

[SheReadsALot · Rating 4 out of 5]

An original twist to mythological/ paranormal/ romance.

[Jami Brumfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pretty awesome book one in a series. I enjoyed the story and the characters. If you enjoy paranormal romances mixed in with god mythologies you will like this story.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and really like Damian and all his Guardians.

[Monica · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting read. I wasnt sure what to expect but it sounded good. I cant help but adding a couple spoilers in here....only way to get my point across in my review. Sometimes it happens that way.

I enjoyed it and I know there are more books out there and I intend to read those as well because I am intrigued enough to continue. This isn't classic PNR but has some Urban Fantasy bits to it too. There's no sexy times which is a little disappointing. There's talk of it and he carries her off but no scenes which kinda disappointed me. Not because I NEED the love scenes but Damian and Sophia's "romance" if you can really call it that was mediocre and kinda non-existent beyond a few kisses. I really didnt feel much of it. Maybe a love scene would have brought it home for me and maybe not. That poor woman was just thrown into the whole thing and her life is changed forever. The guys never really gave her a chance to breath and they avoided telling her things. She didnt do well with it for awhile. You cant blame her. She cant eat food anymore so she's sitting there with everyone else eating food and she cant have it because it makes her sick. She has to see a lot of these horrible things because she's the Oracle and its hard for her so she does act out sometimes. To some that might be an unlikable trait and they might not love her character. I didnt love her but I didnt hate her. She got it done when it counted. She didnt let anyone walk all over her. She can't even physically touch anyone except Damian or she sees their future or other things...she cant even get a damn hug and you know those guards of her wanted to hug her. Damian was pretty closed off with her throughout the book. He didnt treat her that well considering she was his mate. Not that he was mean just absent a lot and cold sometimes and he got pissed at her when she was just doing what Oracles do. If she's his mate he needs to share things with her and he just didnt. It was hard to see them as mates. Its more of a obligation thing and attraction than anything else. I think Sophia did love him and she showed in in that little gift she got him. He didnt get her anything. Thats what I mean he was so closed off and I know he cared in his way but love? I'm having difficulty. All in all no I am not a huge fan of them....I hope the next book shows a little more of them. This is very different than the normal Gods you read about.

[Heather andrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where to start, how about with Damian who is cocky, and thinks really highly of himself. "Damian Bylun stared at the phone. It was a cold day in Hell when someone dared hang up on the White God, the defender of mankind, the Tamer of Evil. Or, in the words of his closest friends, the BS Master of the Universe." See I told you he was a cocky little shit! There were times I loved Damian, especially the scenes where we see the softer side of him with Sofia, other times I wanted to strangle him, and lastly He leaves me laughing my ass off, without meaning to. "I'm not going to eat you, so you can stop looking at me like that," he said with a bitter edge that was lost on her. She looked down near tears again. "That didn't come out quite right." I truly love how he explains Sofia to Jule and Dusty, "She's this sexy little thing with beautiful eyes. Lots of spunk and stubborn as an ox. Nice rack, killer legs. So sweet and innocent." Even though he is a God (literally, we shouldn't complement him his ego is already HUGE) he's seriously horny, but I actually got the feeling this quote shows how he's falling in love with her and cares about her. "I'll say it again: you're welcome in my bed, preferably naked though this is good enough for now, I guess." I was really overjoyed when we find out that Damian's brother is still alive. Some events made me cry, which I don't think Lizzy has ever done for me but I'm glad it finally happened.

[Alicia Huxtable · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable Enough

While I enjoyed this story, it didn't have the pull that I like to feel. I didn't find myself wondering about the characters when I want reading. The characters are great, the story was good but this Oracle felt the same as so many others

[jD · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book of a series you don't want to miss. The War of Gods series has a paranormal angle that is intriguing. The gods are beings as old as time and are here on Earth in an eternal battle that neither can win. The White God is Damian and the Black God is Czerno. One is the good guy trying to save humanity while the other is a nasty piece of work. You can guess which one by the color assignment. It's the only simple thing about this plot.

What I loved...the complexity of characters. It's a big cast of characters but each one stood out and became memorable. That's saying quite a bit for me. Sofia is the heroine. I had a love / hate relationship with her but I didn't see any way to improve her character and make it work. She needed to fight her new reality of going from human to Oracle. She just did it badly. Her TSTL (Too Stupid To Live) moves were important to moving the plot along so I forgave her while I grinded my teeth. Damien, the White God, was hot. He spoke his mind and didn't cower to love. He snapped Sofia to the grid of reality more than once as did many of the other leads. In a world primarily dominated by very alpha men, she managed to win them over so I give her props for that. Czerno was a blast. He was mean and the kind of nasty I like -- twisted but not too crazy. He also did a few stupid things that made me scratch my head but all-in-all, he is a respectable bad guy.

What I did not like at all -- the scenes and conversations were disjointed. Sometimes I didn't know what the hell just happened or what was being referenced. It's like the editor was blind and randomly removed sentences. The other thing that got on my nerves was the sexual tension between the heroine and hero. They bantered boldly but the deed was edited out of the book. Actually, I am assuming there was sex between the two. I could be wrong. I would have enjoyed the story more without the teasing but alas, it was not to be. I didn't understand the vamps that made up the Black God's soldiers. They were never explained as far as how they are made or if they can go out in daylight. Zip. Lastly, too much of the finer details were poorly explained about the magical capabilities of the Gods. I am not sure the writer realized what was on the cutting room floor or if critical details were left out on purpose. I am going to hope and trust more is clarified in the next book although I don't have a basis for the belief.

At 99 cents for e-boook format on Amazon, you can't go wrong here. Although there is no sex, there is quite a bit of creativity packed in this little book. BTW -- this is not a full novel but is very long for a novella. It's a great start to a series I am going to keep reading.

[Snarktastic Sonja · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this one in a series of paranormal romances that people seemed to have recommended to me . . . which is interesting - I don't really care for that much romance in my reading. But, the fact that I seemed to read so many back to back did not help me to love ANY of them and did cause enough eye rolling that I think I can actually now see out of the back of my head.

Interesting things in this one include the mythology. It isn't about shifters and vampires - though there is definite blood binding present which is too much blood for MY liking - it is about gods. It is based on Slavic mythology - it says so right in the description. But, I was never really sure what exactly *made* a god in this worldview. They were not immortal . . . they could definitely die . . . but they were long lived . . . There are also other terms . . . Guardians . . . Watchers (which certainly had bald heads and wore hats) (Sorry - too much Fringe in my past?) . . . Oracles . . . Blood Bound (which was never truely adequately differentiated from vampires for my understanding . . .) All these wonderful terms - but no real explanations. So, the wonderful *ideas* in the worldview were not sufficiently explained nor carried through.

I also had issues with the story itself. The PoVs jumped around entirely too quickly and too often. I rarely was able to settle in on one aspect before we jumped to another. Also, I found the actual stupidity . . . idiocy . . . absurdity . . .fatuosness . . . asininity . . . ineptitude (no, this is not enough terms) of the godlike characters that allows for the plot twist that causes the whole rest of the book to happen to be completely unbelievable and unlikely and implausible and inconceivable (well, actually someone DID conceive of it . . . sigh.) This, as you may have determined, completely colored my ability to appreciate any further fine points of the plot or the story itself.

Two little teensy weensy tiny points that I did enjoy here . . . there is definitely good versus evil . . . and there is no love triangle.

I would also like to point out that the cover is wrong (and probably unintentionally deceptive) . . . it should definitely be a naked male chest,

I would probably give this one 2.5 stars . . . it was free . . . it kept me reading (though I have no idea how or why?) so I will (because I am in a good mood) round it up to 3.

[Kenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually give it 4 and a half stars.

I dont want to give a review of the content because the summary of the story tells it all. Instead, I want to focus on the author herself. In a nut shell, I cant wait for the next book! I was wary because this was a free book but I looked at the other reviews and saw that just about every one that read it gave it 5 stars. I had to see what all the fuss was about. I am SO glad that I did! Lizzy ford, get a new editor because I think that you have a long future as a great writer!

I dug my way though the flowery prose at the beginning (accompanied by several eye rolls) and saw that there was an interesting story below. I also LOVE the fact that you can SEE Ford develop as a writer. As the book goes on, her growth is very noticeable until toward the end I didnt notice any problems at all (with the exception of a scene in the "great escape" where I was confused when it said that "someone" was shot and I had to go back and reread it to clarify.)

There are several continuity mistakes in the book and some typos but that can be attributed to poor editing and are easily overlooked when one takes a step back and looks at the big picture. and Lizzy, I like what I see. Ill be looking forward to your next book!

[Courtney Robichaux · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the characters the most! Lizzy Ford has an amazing way of making them all seem 3 dimensional. Even the minor characters like Linda are wonderfully written. The relationship between Damian, Dustin, and Jule is so great that they're like brothers. Sophia had her weak moments in the beginning but I would too if touching someone let me see all that they had done and how they would die. That's why many Oracles before her had gone crazy. She battles through it though and shows strength, bravery, loyalty, and love.

With a different take on the fight between good and evil, the storyline and plot are creative. Parts of the book move very quickly and had my heart racing. A few twists took me completely by surprise. The romance didn't seem forced or too graphic (thankfully) as is the trend right now. It's nice to know you don't need it to write an amazing series

I purchased the boxed set of all 4 books as it was on sale for $0.99 but I would have gladly paid full price for each one. I cannot wait to read more about these wonderful characters.

[MoonGlitter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was pleasently surprised when I sat down to read Damian's Oracle and I didn't want to put it down. I just love it when I read a book by a "new to me" author and I discover a hidden gem that I want to share with the world! Damian's Oracle is the first book the War of Gods trilogy and it is most definitely a hidden gem! :)
The characters are interesting and well developed! I just loved them all, through their many moods and quirks ;)
The plot was exciting, dramatic and fast paced. The romance was fun to read. This was a great book for those who want to read a romance where the sex isn't the main course. Although, I must say, the sexual tension was certainly there! It's hot and will make your heart flutter. I'm looking forward to reading the next installment in this trilogy, Damian's assassin! I highly recommend this book!

Reviewed for WearVampsRomance. http://werevampsromance.blogspot.com/

[Sofia Wren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I give Damian's Oracle 4 stars. I thought the world was complex enough to be interesting but well explained enough to understand. The character Sofia is smart, and perhaps a bit more moody than average, but she is undergoing drastic changes. Damian is super hot. I will admit one reason this is a four for me is because I am not afraid to admit I love a juicy sex scene! Won't find that here though there is a great deal of tension and build up that may satisfy others. The book is very suspenseful, things start rolling right away and you'll want to know what happens next. For what I believe is a self published ebook I also thought it was well edited and I only noticed three minor mistakes. I've opened up ebooks to find typos on the first page and I won't read any further, but this one is an easy read and very entertaining. The next one is on my wishlist :)

Part of the Women's Literary Cafe Review Team

[N. Kuhn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great read. Not one did I feel a lull or boredom. The story line flows so well. Sofia is a stronger woman than she thinks. Damian is just amazing sexy, and not as hardcore as he would like to think. The dynamic between these two gives us a phenomenal story. I hope the author plans to write more of these, I would love to see more of Sofia and Damian's story. Every character in this book was well developed and easy to like. This is definitely a refreshing paranormal plot that is not what you see in every other paranormal story. It's different and in a good way. I have to say, this was my first Lizzy Ford book, and I now see what the buzz about her is. This is just a really great story and I can't wait to read the rest of the series.