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Time #2
Killing Time
It wasn't that she feared death. She just despised losing. Genetically engineered warrior Sephti would go to any lengths to destroy the fae that made her their killing machine. Finally escaping servitude, she has meticulously planned revenge against her former masters, and time is running out. The last thing she needs is to be taken captive by a man who hates the fae as much as she does-and thinks she's one of them. Sephti learns her captor is Koda, an ancient Native American guardian determined to save his people from annihilation by the fae. Though he seems to loathe everything about Sephti, she can't help but notice his incredible strength and powerful sensual allure. As their distrust turns to desire, Sephti and Koda become allies. Their love will have to withstand their enemies' supernatural onslaught-and Sephti's planned suicide mission against the fae…125,000 words
341 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 22, 2011
2 people are currently reading
64 people want to read
About the author
Elisa Paige
4 books52 followersElisa Paige is a former newspaper reporter, editor, and freelance writer who’s always had a passion for urban fantasy. While in college, Elisa carried a double major, a minor, worked four internships, and served as a European exchange student (Winchester, England) – solid preparation for juggling family, work, daily life, and writing, writing, writing. Elisa is a self-avowed caffeine addict with no intentions of jumping off the Java Wagon. She lives in Texas with her daughter, Andalusian horses, four cats,and a Cu Sith wannabe named Daisy.
Under the pen name Elise Gaston Chand, she writes equestrian nonfiction.
Under the pen name Elise Gaston Chand, she writes equestrian nonfiction.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
August 11, 2011
First of all, let me put a disclaimer on this review- I sorted it in my 'plots i hate' shelf. I am sorry,but I had to! Even thou I love this author and I liked the book it seems I am overwhelmed with fae. Now we mix Fae and vampires? Dear lordy lord! It's the True blood series! No, really. Sometimes there is just to much 'fantasy' in a prn book.
Aside from this vampire/fae/whatever else is in the closet mix the author did it again!
Mrs.Paige is a favorite of mine. Really, she can do no wrong. I think I my have a girlie crush on her. I sure do have a crush on all her heroes! Yes, I know her heroines are alike. I know she was not the first to think of going with the Fae stream in paranormal books.Yes yes she seems to have flaws. But when I read her books she makes me see her wit and humor. She makes me see that a good writer can work with anything.
As to why buy/borrow/steal/read this book by any means?
The tale is sizzling. The humor is there but never really pokes you in the eyes. Same goes for the luuuuv scenes. It is all fair paced and you do not need to worry about having the urge to skip some pages.
But what makes it special?
Ohhh, the writing!
When it comes to this author the most enticing thing is the way she spins the story, the word flow.
It is not childish.
It has good syntax that never goes too far in the pretentious zone.
It is, all in all, very good and worth anybody's time.
I have established that the book itself is worth, but now I just have to be silly and say this:
Look at the cover! OMG! It is so pretty!
Elisa Paige's Time series books both have cute but simple front pages that would make me pick this book in the store or library if I saw it. And let us be real, we are all superficial that way. This is how I end up with bad books like Halo or Hush hush.
The cover of Killing Time reminds me of The Chigacoland vampires and really, can it get better then that? The reading material inside the Time books is as good as that in the Chloe Neill books. Come to think of it, Shepti reminds me of Mer when it comes to strength of character and fumblings with a new kind of life.
So, do not throw away,or kill (har,hra,am I funny or what?...guess not. I still seem to be on a too big hipe after reading this book)time and find yourself a copy!
Mine was provided by netGalley
Aside from this vampire/fae/whatever else is in the closet mix the author did it again!
Mrs.Paige is a favorite of mine. Really, she can do no wrong. I think I my have a girlie crush on her. I sure do have a crush on all her heroes! Yes, I know her heroines are alike. I know she was not the first to think of going with the Fae stream in paranormal books.Yes yes she seems to have flaws. But when I read her books she makes me see her wit and humor. She makes me see that a good writer can work with anything.
As to why buy/borrow/steal/read this book by any means?
The tale is sizzling. The humor is there but never really pokes you in the eyes. Same goes for the luuuuv scenes. It is all fair paced and you do not need to worry about having the urge to skip some pages.
But what makes it special?
Ohhh, the writing!
When it comes to this author the most enticing thing is the way she spins the story, the word flow.
It is not childish.
It has good syntax that never goes too far in the pretentious zone.
It is, all in all, very good and worth anybody's time.
I have established that the book itself is worth, but now I just have to be silly and say this:
Look at the cover! OMG! It is so pretty!
Elisa Paige's Time series books both have cute but simple front pages that would make me pick this book in the store or library if I saw it. And let us be real, we are all superficial that way. This is how I end up with bad books like Halo or Hush hush.
The cover of Killing Time reminds me of The Chigacoland vampires and really, can it get better then that? The reading material inside the Time books is as good as that in the Chloe Neill books. Come to think of it, Shepti reminds me of Mer when it comes to strength of character and fumblings with a new kind of life.
So, do not throw away,or kill (har,hra,am I funny or what?...guess not. I still seem to be on a too big hipe after reading this book)time and find yourself a copy!
Mine was provided by netGalley
August 27, 2011
One of My Favorite Reads This Year
She was created for one purpose. To kill. She has no name, just a designation. Her kind, bitterns, are genetically engineered clones that serve the fae lords as their keenest hunters and assassins. They are little more than animals and are treated as such. She has always been different, however, resistant to conditioning, rebellious, obstinate, and unbreakable. No matter how brutal her masters' torture, she defied restrictions. And she escaped.
Since she crossed over to the world of round ears, to the human realm, she has pursued one goal with frightening intensity. Find the immortals who shared a common enemy with her and ally with them. Get the information she needs. Kill the psychotic vampire allied with the Dark fae king, then, when the walls between planes fall on Samhain, return to the fae realm and release her beserker rage all over the king and whomever else has the misfortune of getting in her way. She will slaughter them all. She knows this. She will not survive. She knows this too.
With her first goal nearly in sight she is forced into a slight change of plans. The immortals she was tracking are battling rival vampires and fae beasts and to save them, she lets her berserker rage free. When she wakes up back at the building she'd been squatting in since arriving in Dallas, she comes nose to furious nose with an exquisitely carved and obviously disgusted Native American face.
That face belongs to Koda, ancient guardian, protector of his people, and friend of the immortals she was tracking. He loathes her, thinking her fae, as the fae have annihilated his race for centuries. Convincing him that she's not fae, that in fact she reviles them at least as much as he, is a herculean task. As it becomes clear that she's being targeted by her former fae masters, and the vampire she planned to execute suddenly ups the stakes on an impending war with humans and immortals alike, joining forces with Koda becomes the only viable strategic option.
Two magical beings with a common goal, beginning as enemies, becoming wary allies. They must battle against the forces of evil before the death count spirals out of control and the land is scoured by the ravages of war. Along the way they will discover a fiery need for each other that neither had anticipated and it will forge allies into friends, then lovers. He is Koda. She is bittern...and she calls herself Sephti. Together they are the best hope for mortal and immortal alike.
One hundred and ninety. That's the number of books I've read, including this one, since January 1st. Nine. That's the number of those books, including this one, that I've tagged as a favorite. It's definitely not a tag I give out generously. It's also the first time I've ever tagged a series book as a favorite when I haven't read the preceding book/books in the series. Those are the facts. Killing Time deserved it. That's my opinion.
I was a little bowled over by Paige's Killing Time. I wasn't expecting to be as impressed as I was, but despite not reading the first book in the series, Stealing Time (an oversight I can assure you I will be rectifying), just about every single one of my Happy Reader buttons got stroked, tickled, and pushed with delicious abandon.
Fantastic characters - especially Sephti, who I was completely in love with before the first chapter was done. A layered and imaginative plot that struck the perfect balance between the urban fantasy elements and paranormal romance elements. A rich and vibrant world and mythos brimming with originality. A narrative that brought all those aspects together, reached out and grabbed me by the throat and carried me along for the duration. Man, Paige is a hell of a storyteller.
The relationship between Sephti and Koda was so satisfying. Not only did they work well together as a couple, providing the romance lover in me with tons of heart-pounding moments of love, angst, and sexy sensuality, but Sephti was also a complete and three dimensional heroine in her own right, independent, deadly, and more than capable of not only pulling her own weight but rallying those around her to pull theirs too. I could easily imagine her as the center of her own urban fantasy series, and that satisfied the UF lover in me.
The bad guys were heinous and truly threatening, their impact on the world and the characters tragic, so the plot started strong and maintained its intensity throughout. There was conflict on all sides, and Paige kept me guessing on what dangers would pop up next, satisfying my need for pulse pounding entertainment that ratchets higher and higher as the story progresses. There was little in the way of story down time or moments when the pacing lagged - hell, there was hardly a moment for the characters to catch a breath before the next twist in the plot roared over them. I was captivated from cover to cover.
There were a few places in the narrative that I think would have been enhanced for me if I'd read the first book, some setup for the arc of the series plot, some secondary and ancillary characters with obvious backstory I wasn't familiar with, and previously established relationships that I had to guess at. Never once did I feel lost, however, or think I was missing an important aspect of the story because of it. This novel stands well on its own, but I'm still kicking my own ass for missing out on the start of it all. I can only imagine how much more entertaining I would have found this book had I read Stealing Time first.
Even without it, I loved this book. I loved Sephti. Koda remained a bit of an enigma, but I liked him very much. I loved their relationship and the conflict of the external threat. Yup, this book has a little bit of everything that most tickles me as a reader, and it joins the select list of books I've read this year that I've tagged as favorites. I can't wait for more.
Disclosure: An ARC of this book was provided to me by Carina Press via NetGalley. This rating, review, and all included thoughts and comments are my own.
~*~*~*~
Reviewed for One Good Book Deserves Another.
She was created for one purpose. To kill. She has no name, just a designation. Her kind, bitterns, are genetically engineered clones that serve the fae lords as their keenest hunters and assassins. They are little more than animals and are treated as such. She has always been different, however, resistant to conditioning, rebellious, obstinate, and unbreakable. No matter how brutal her masters' torture, she defied restrictions. And she escaped.
Since she crossed over to the world of round ears, to the human realm, she has pursued one goal with frightening intensity. Find the immortals who shared a common enemy with her and ally with them. Get the information she needs. Kill the psychotic vampire allied with the Dark fae king, then, when the walls between planes fall on Samhain, return to the fae realm and release her beserker rage all over the king and whomever else has the misfortune of getting in her way. She will slaughter them all. She knows this. She will not survive. She knows this too.
With her first goal nearly in sight she is forced into a slight change of plans. The immortals she was tracking are battling rival vampires and fae beasts and to save them, she lets her berserker rage free. When she wakes up back at the building she'd been squatting in since arriving in Dallas, she comes nose to furious nose with an exquisitely carved and obviously disgusted Native American face.
That face belongs to Koda, ancient guardian, protector of his people, and friend of the immortals she was tracking. He loathes her, thinking her fae, as the fae have annihilated his race for centuries. Convincing him that she's not fae, that in fact she reviles them at least as much as he, is a herculean task. As it becomes clear that she's being targeted by her former fae masters, and the vampire she planned to execute suddenly ups the stakes on an impending war with humans and immortals alike, joining forces with Koda becomes the only viable strategic option.
Two magical beings with a common goal, beginning as enemies, becoming wary allies. They must battle against the forces of evil before the death count spirals out of control and the land is scoured by the ravages of war. Along the way they will discover a fiery need for each other that neither had anticipated and it will forge allies into friends, then lovers. He is Koda. She is bittern...and she calls herself Sephti. Together they are the best hope for mortal and immortal alike.
One hundred and ninety. That's the number of books I've read, including this one, since January 1st. Nine. That's the number of those books, including this one, that I've tagged as a favorite. It's definitely not a tag I give out generously. It's also the first time I've ever tagged a series book as a favorite when I haven't read the preceding book/books in the series. Those are the facts. Killing Time deserved it. That's my opinion.
I was a little bowled over by Paige's Killing Time. I wasn't expecting to be as impressed as I was, but despite not reading the first book in the series, Stealing Time (an oversight I can assure you I will be rectifying), just about every single one of my Happy Reader buttons got stroked, tickled, and pushed with delicious abandon.
Fantastic characters - especially Sephti, who I was completely in love with before the first chapter was done. A layered and imaginative plot that struck the perfect balance between the urban fantasy elements and paranormal romance elements. A rich and vibrant world and mythos brimming with originality. A narrative that brought all those aspects together, reached out and grabbed me by the throat and carried me along for the duration. Man, Paige is a hell of a storyteller.
The relationship between Sephti and Koda was so satisfying. Not only did they work well together as a couple, providing the romance lover in me with tons of heart-pounding moments of love, angst, and sexy sensuality, but Sephti was also a complete and three dimensional heroine in her own right, independent, deadly, and more than capable of not only pulling her own weight but rallying those around her to pull theirs too. I could easily imagine her as the center of her own urban fantasy series, and that satisfied the UF lover in me.
The bad guys were heinous and truly threatening, their impact on the world and the characters tragic, so the plot started strong and maintained its intensity throughout. There was conflict on all sides, and Paige kept me guessing on what dangers would pop up next, satisfying my need for pulse pounding entertainment that ratchets higher and higher as the story progresses. There was little in the way of story down time or moments when the pacing lagged - hell, there was hardly a moment for the characters to catch a breath before the next twist in the plot roared over them. I was captivated from cover to cover.
There were a few places in the narrative that I think would have been enhanced for me if I'd read the first book, some setup for the arc of the series plot, some secondary and ancillary characters with obvious backstory I wasn't familiar with, and previously established relationships that I had to guess at. Never once did I feel lost, however, or think I was missing an important aspect of the story because of it. This novel stands well on its own, but I'm still kicking my own ass for missing out on the start of it all. I can only imagine how much more entertaining I would have found this book had I read Stealing Time first.
Even without it, I loved this book. I loved Sephti. Koda remained a bit of an enigma, but I liked him very much. I loved their relationship and the conflict of the external threat. Yup, this book has a little bit of everything that most tickles me as a reader, and it joins the select list of books I've read this year that I've tagged as favorites. I can't wait for more.
Disclosure: An ARC of this book was provided to me by Carina Press via NetGalley. This rating, review, and all included thoughts and comments are my own.
~*~*~*~
Reviewed for One Good Book Deserves Another.
September 5, 2011
I loved this book. It was fresh; It was poignant; It was action packed and sexy. And I'm so sad that it's over.
Sephti is bittern, a living weapon, genetically engineered by the Fae. Her kind was designed to kill, to follow orders. But somehow, Sephti is different. She is self-aware and she has only one goal: to defeat the Fae that created her.
To reach her objective, Sephti hopes to ally herself with a powerful vampire named James. But she is intercepted by Koda, a Native American... well, let's just call him "more-than-human." He views her with animosity and distrust, thinking at first that she is Fae. But in time, the two of them come to realize they share the same goals.
Slowly, they begin to acknowledge their attraction to one another. Working together, they forge a mutual respect, which eventually leads to much, much more. One of the things that was done so well in this book was the evolution of their relationship. It was lovely. Sephti thinks so little of herself, beyond her capabilities as a killer. But it's through Koda's eyes, she begins to see herself as more. For a being who doesn't know what love is, she manages to feel it... to show it... in a way that leaves no doubt in your mind. And Koda (**sigh**) --what a fantastic hero. He is loyal, sexy, stalwart and strong.
The love scenes are sexy, but not tawdry. But it's more about the journey of the relationship than the consummation. And as awesome as the romance is, the action is just as good... as Sephti and Koda fight the growing threat from a vampire who has exposed supernaturals to the world and the Fae army he's in league with. There is great word-building at play. I loved the background on the bittern and the Fae. It was all clear and easy to understand. I do not have a single complaint.
This is the second book in Elisa Paige's Time series. The events of Stealing Time are referenced and the main characters do appear, but this works just fine as a stand alone. I may go back and read the first book anyway. If I enjoy it half as much as I liked this one, it will be worth it. 5 stars.
*ARC Provided by NetGalley
Sephti is bittern, a living weapon, genetically engineered by the Fae. Her kind was designed to kill, to follow orders. But somehow, Sephti is different. She is self-aware and she has only one goal: to defeat the Fae that created her.
To reach her objective, Sephti hopes to ally herself with a powerful vampire named James. But she is intercepted by Koda, a Native American... well, let's just call him "more-than-human." He views her with animosity and distrust, thinking at first that she is Fae. But in time, the two of them come to realize they share the same goals.
Slowly, they begin to acknowledge their attraction to one another. Working together, they forge a mutual respect, which eventually leads to much, much more. One of the things that was done so well in this book was the evolution of their relationship. It was lovely. Sephti thinks so little of herself, beyond her capabilities as a killer. But it's through Koda's eyes, she begins to see herself as more. For a being who doesn't know what love is, she manages to feel it... to show it... in a way that leaves no doubt in your mind. And Koda (**sigh**) --what a fantastic hero. He is loyal, sexy, stalwart and strong.
The love scenes are sexy, but not tawdry. But it's more about the journey of the relationship than the consummation. And as awesome as the romance is, the action is just as good... as Sephti and Koda fight the growing threat from a vampire who has exposed supernaturals to the world and the Fae army he's in league with. There is great word-building at play. I loved the background on the bittern and the Fae. It was all clear and easy to understand. I do not have a single complaint.
This is the second book in Elisa Paige's Time series. The events of Stealing Time are referenced and the main characters do appear, but this works just fine as a stand alone. I may go back and read the first book anyway. If I enjoy it half as much as I liked this one, it will be worth it. 5 stars.
*ARC Provided by NetGalley
August 23, 2011
You can also read this review at Reflections on Reading Romance
Title: Killing Time (Time Series #2)
Author: Elisa Paige
Publisher: Carina Press
Formats: Ebook
Source: NetGalley
Publication Date: August 22, 2011
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
This paranormal romance/fantasy is a delightful find. I’d never read any of Elisa Paige’s work before, but I loved the heroine Sephti in Killing Time. The development of Sephti’s character over the course of the book and the amazing mix of mythologies really sold me on this book. It turns out that the novel is the second in a series, so as soon as I finished this one I rushed out to buy the first, Stealing Time, but I have to confess that in the craziness that is back to school, I have yet to read it. I’m definitely looking forward to it, though, because Killing Time is outstanding, and I highly recommend it.
Sephti is a bittern, a creature genetically engineered by the Fae to be an elite assassin. She escaped her fae lord/torturer three months ago when she hitched a ride onto the mortal plain. She’s spent her time learning to blend in with humans and searching for a way to kill the vampire Philippe, whose supporters are helping guard fae King Reiden. If she can get rid of Philippe, his guards will scatter and she can stage an assault against the king, hopefully earning her freedom.
During Sephti’s search for Philippe, she’s captured by Native American guardian Koda. In this world the fae are responsible for the wholesale slaughter and relocation of the Native Americans, so Sephti’s fae appearance initially prejudices Koda against her. However, he quickly realizes that Sephti is more than what she appears. As the two work together to defeat Philippe and secure freedom for Sephti, the fierce assassin must learn to count on others while Koda battles the bigotry of his people. Their growing respect for one another develops into a touching and sweet romance during tempestuous political and social change that could threaten Septhi’s newfound independence and love.
The highpoints of the book are definitely the heroine and the tender romance, but don’t get me wrong – the world building is amazing. Paige did an outstanding job incorporating several very different mythologies into one complex world without confusing the reader or making you wonder if the Abominable snowman was going to be the next to make an appearance. I say that because I’ve recently read a couple of books that did NOT do as stellar a job of introducing a new world to the reader, and quite frankly it was a relief to read this multifaceted novel. The various mythological beings are seamlessly incorporated into the action, and Paige has created a vivid world that will capture your imagination.
It is, however, the character of Sephti who will keep you reading, even with all the heart-pounding action. Sephti’s a genetic creation of the fae and suffered brutally at the hands of her fae master and trainers. The bittern are considered little more than animals, but Sephti is sentient, and despite her assassin training, her innocence and lack of self-worth make her a poignant character at times. She’s convinced that as a creation she lacks a soul, but her actions reveal otherwise. Unlike the other bittern, she has somehow learned to control her berserker rages and only attacks those threatening her instead of killing everyone around her. Her rebellion against her fae masters can only end in her death, but she’s willing to pay that price.
I’ve always preferred romances that develop slowly, and Paige deftly creates a tender and moving romance between the fae assassin and the Native American guardian Koda. While the two initially distrust each other, Koda comes to realize the truth about Septhi’s background and slowly begins to woo the insecure heroine, trying to convince her that she is worthy of living a full and happy life. One of the more touching scenes occurs when Koda takes Septhi to a luxury hotel, hoping that by giving her new experiences she’ll give up her suicide plans. He orders room service, and Septhi quickly picks up her steak with her hands, since in the bittern stables she had to fight others for her food. His reaction to her embarrassment over her actions is perfect, treating her with dignity rather than ridicule. I also like that he treats her as an equal, rather than setting up a Pygmalion type relationship between the two.
If I had to complain about anything, it would be related to the vampires in the text. I suspect that most of the internal struggle between the ancient vampires and Philippe is explained in the first book of the series. While you are able to understand and follow the action of the book (and there is a LOT of action) without having read Stealing Time, I’m wondering if some of the background about the vampires that I missed in this book was addressed in that one. For example, at one point Sephti is looking for the vampire Jack, whose mate Kate has gone feral. While we see Kate acting “feral,” I never fully understood exactly what was going on with her, and it felt as though I were missing something. Additionally, the vampires and Native Americans all communicate using a language Sephti doesn’t recognize but that sounds like a Native American language. The connection between all of the “good” characters wasn’t as clear to me as it could have been.
The truth is that this book was a breath of fresh air and a pleasure to read. Sephti was such an original character and the growing romance between the hero and heroine handled so deftly that I look forward to re-reading the book. I enjoyed the Native American take on the mythology, and the non-stop action definitely kept me turning the pages. Hopefully once the school year is underway I’ll be able to read the first book in the series, because this one was a real treat.
Title: Killing Time (Time Series #2)
Author: Elisa Paige
Publisher: Carina Press
Formats: Ebook
Source: NetGalley
Publication Date: August 22, 2011
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
This paranormal romance/fantasy is a delightful find. I’d never read any of Elisa Paige’s work before, but I loved the heroine Sephti in Killing Time. The development of Sephti’s character over the course of the book and the amazing mix of mythologies really sold me on this book. It turns out that the novel is the second in a series, so as soon as I finished this one I rushed out to buy the first, Stealing Time, but I have to confess that in the craziness that is back to school, I have yet to read it. I’m definitely looking forward to it, though, because Killing Time is outstanding, and I highly recommend it.
Sephti is a bittern, a creature genetically engineered by the Fae to be an elite assassin. She escaped her fae lord/torturer three months ago when she hitched a ride onto the mortal plain. She’s spent her time learning to blend in with humans and searching for a way to kill the vampire Philippe, whose supporters are helping guard fae King Reiden. If she can get rid of Philippe, his guards will scatter and she can stage an assault against the king, hopefully earning her freedom.
During Sephti’s search for Philippe, she’s captured by Native American guardian Koda. In this world the fae are responsible for the wholesale slaughter and relocation of the Native Americans, so Sephti’s fae appearance initially prejudices Koda against her. However, he quickly realizes that Sephti is more than what she appears. As the two work together to defeat Philippe and secure freedom for Sephti, the fierce assassin must learn to count on others while Koda battles the bigotry of his people. Their growing respect for one another develops into a touching and sweet romance during tempestuous political and social change that could threaten Septhi’s newfound independence and love.
The highpoints of the book are definitely the heroine and the tender romance, but don’t get me wrong – the world building is amazing. Paige did an outstanding job incorporating several very different mythologies into one complex world without confusing the reader or making you wonder if the Abominable snowman was going to be the next to make an appearance. I say that because I’ve recently read a couple of books that did NOT do as stellar a job of introducing a new world to the reader, and quite frankly it was a relief to read this multifaceted novel. The various mythological beings are seamlessly incorporated into the action, and Paige has created a vivid world that will capture your imagination.
It is, however, the character of Sephti who will keep you reading, even with all the heart-pounding action. Sephti’s a genetic creation of the fae and suffered brutally at the hands of her fae master and trainers. The bittern are considered little more than animals, but Sephti is sentient, and despite her assassin training, her innocence and lack of self-worth make her a poignant character at times. She’s convinced that as a creation she lacks a soul, but her actions reveal otherwise. Unlike the other bittern, she has somehow learned to control her berserker rages and only attacks those threatening her instead of killing everyone around her. Her rebellion against her fae masters can only end in her death, but she’s willing to pay that price.
I’ve always preferred romances that develop slowly, and Paige deftly creates a tender and moving romance between the fae assassin and the Native American guardian Koda. While the two initially distrust each other, Koda comes to realize the truth about Septhi’s background and slowly begins to woo the insecure heroine, trying to convince her that she is worthy of living a full and happy life. One of the more touching scenes occurs when Koda takes Septhi to a luxury hotel, hoping that by giving her new experiences she’ll give up her suicide plans. He orders room service, and Septhi quickly picks up her steak with her hands, since in the bittern stables she had to fight others for her food. His reaction to her embarrassment over her actions is perfect, treating her with dignity rather than ridicule. I also like that he treats her as an equal, rather than setting up a Pygmalion type relationship between the two.
If I had to complain about anything, it would be related to the vampires in the text. I suspect that most of the internal struggle between the ancient vampires and Philippe is explained in the first book of the series. While you are able to understand and follow the action of the book (and there is a LOT of action) without having read Stealing Time, I’m wondering if some of the background about the vampires that I missed in this book was addressed in that one. For example, at one point Sephti is looking for the vampire Jack, whose mate Kate has gone feral. While we see Kate acting “feral,” I never fully understood exactly what was going on with her, and it felt as though I were missing something. Additionally, the vampires and Native Americans all communicate using a language Sephti doesn’t recognize but that sounds like a Native American language. The connection between all of the “good” characters wasn’t as clear to me as it could have been.
The truth is that this book was a breath of fresh air and a pleasure to read. Sephti was such an original character and the growing romance between the hero and heroine handled so deftly that I look forward to re-reading the book. I enjoyed the Native American take on the mythology, and the non-stop action definitely kept me turning the pages. Hopefully once the school year is underway I’ll be able to read the first book in the series, because this one was a real treat.
August 6, 2011
*Rating* 4.0
*Genre* Paranormal Romance
*Review*
Elisa Paige’s Killing Time, is the sequel to Stealing Time in which a brewing conflict between supernaturals and humans is being cheered on by the Dark Fae Lord Cham Reiden. Reiden’s puppet is a vampire named Philippe de Lenclos who believes that vampires are the supreme beings on the planet, and humans are food and nothing more.
In Stealing Time, we were introduced to James Wesley and Evie Reed who James turned into a vampire in order to save her life after she was diagnosed with terminal cancer. James and Evie ended up gaining several allies along the way and Evie finds that she has new powers that she could only dream about. James and Evie ended up fighting for their very existence from Philippe and his minions who have broken the treaty between the Ancients and the Catholic Church which controls mercenary slayers.
This time around, Ms Paige shifts gears and introduces readers too two very different characters and stories altogether; Sephti and Koda.
Sephti is a genetically engineered assassin, or bittern, who was created to do the bidding of the Dark Fae lords. The Fae trained her, tortured her, and forced her into subjugation when she failed to win battles against her fellow bittern. She has since escaped the bondage that the Fae had kept around her neck since she was created. Now that she is free, she has vowed payback on not only Reiden, but his sadistic whipping boy Cian. But, ending Cian’s life will unleash the wild hunt on her and she can’t risk that happening until Reiden is dead. Sephti believes that is she can stop Phillippe, she will be able to find a way to defeat Reiden.
While trying to meet the vampires lead by James, she is captured by a Native American named Koda. Koda’s hatred of the fae is legendary because of what they’ve done to his people over the centuries. It causes immediate friction between the two of them which eventually cools down when they find themselves in the middle of Reiden’s war against humanity and fighting for the same goal; to stop Philippe.
Koda is a guardian who speaks many different languages and has been around since the Vikings made their way to the new world. He is also warrior who has the ability to cancel out dark energy like the sluagh, the fae nightmare that has been unleashed by Reiden in order to eliminate any threats against his domination of the planet.
This is a paranormal romance steeped with fiery romance, continued tension, and heated arguments between the two main characters that isn't over done to the point of being unbelievable. It leads to Koda realizing just how much he needs and cares about Sephti and an ultimate choice he must make in order to have her love.
Sephti is determined, fierce, and someone you don’t want to find yourself fighting against. She also has a weakness in that her fury wears down her energy level to the point where she is constantly eating sugary foods like jelly beans. Koda and Sephti’s dynamics rival that of James and Evie, as well as Paige’s other characters in Maelstrom and Shadowplay.
This story has a strong Native American feel to it as well. Part of the story takes place on Native American lands and includes Natives and Vampires fighting side by side along with Sephti, in order to fight against Reiden and his minions. It also mixes Fae mythology and the various kinds of fae who have become pawns in the war that Reiden has unleashed on the mortal realm.
If you've read Stealing Time, please don't expect a major continuation of James and Evie's story. Although I would have found it appealing to have had their story continue into Killing Time, this is Sephti and Koda's story. You can probably get away with reading this book as a standalone novel and still understand what is happening.
I am very thankful to Elisa Paige for sharing this book with me prior to it's release date. I also believe that you will find her other works like Shadowplay, Maelstrom, and Stealing Time to be worth your time to read. And, no, I was not offered any monetary gains to review this book for the author or publisher Carina Press, nor am I her publicist.
Expected publication: August 22nd 2011 by Carina Press
*Genre* Paranormal Romance
*Review*
Elisa Paige’s Killing Time, is the sequel to Stealing Time in which a brewing conflict between supernaturals and humans is being cheered on by the Dark Fae Lord Cham Reiden. Reiden’s puppet is a vampire named Philippe de Lenclos who believes that vampires are the supreme beings on the planet, and humans are food and nothing more.
In Stealing Time, we were introduced to James Wesley and Evie Reed who James turned into a vampire in order to save her life after she was diagnosed with terminal cancer. James and Evie ended up gaining several allies along the way and Evie finds that she has new powers that she could only dream about. James and Evie ended up fighting for their very existence from Philippe and his minions who have broken the treaty between the Ancients and the Catholic Church which controls mercenary slayers.
This time around, Ms Paige shifts gears and introduces readers too two very different characters and stories altogether; Sephti and Koda.
Sephti is a genetically engineered assassin, or bittern, who was created to do the bidding of the Dark Fae lords. The Fae trained her, tortured her, and forced her into subjugation when she failed to win battles against her fellow bittern. She has since escaped the bondage that the Fae had kept around her neck since she was created. Now that she is free, she has vowed payback on not only Reiden, but his sadistic whipping boy Cian. But, ending Cian’s life will unleash the wild hunt on her and she can’t risk that happening until Reiden is dead. Sephti believes that is she can stop Phillippe, she will be able to find a way to defeat Reiden.
While trying to meet the vampires lead by James, she is captured by a Native American named Koda. Koda’s hatred of the fae is legendary because of what they’ve done to his people over the centuries. It causes immediate friction between the two of them which eventually cools down when they find themselves in the middle of Reiden’s war against humanity and fighting for the same goal; to stop Philippe.
Koda is a guardian who speaks many different languages and has been around since the Vikings made their way to the new world. He is also warrior who has the ability to cancel out dark energy like the sluagh, the fae nightmare that has been unleashed by Reiden in order to eliminate any threats against his domination of the planet.
This is a paranormal romance steeped with fiery romance, continued tension, and heated arguments between the two main characters that isn't over done to the point of being unbelievable. It leads to Koda realizing just how much he needs and cares about Sephti and an ultimate choice he must make in order to have her love.
Sephti is determined, fierce, and someone you don’t want to find yourself fighting against. She also has a weakness in that her fury wears down her energy level to the point where she is constantly eating sugary foods like jelly beans. Koda and Sephti’s dynamics rival that of James and Evie, as well as Paige’s other characters in Maelstrom and Shadowplay.
This story has a strong Native American feel to it as well. Part of the story takes place on Native American lands and includes Natives and Vampires fighting side by side along with Sephti, in order to fight against Reiden and his minions. It also mixes Fae mythology and the various kinds of fae who have become pawns in the war that Reiden has unleashed on the mortal realm.
If you've read Stealing Time, please don't expect a major continuation of James and Evie's story. Although I would have found it appealing to have had their story continue into Killing Time, this is Sephti and Koda's story. You can probably get away with reading this book as a standalone novel and still understand what is happening.
I am very thankful to Elisa Paige for sharing this book with me prior to it's release date. I also believe that you will find her other works like Shadowplay, Maelstrom, and Stealing Time to be worth your time to read. And, no, I was not offered any monetary gains to review this book for the author or publisher Carina Press, nor am I her publicist.
Expected publication: August 22nd 2011 by Carina Press
August 31, 2011
Sephti has had a horrible life, if you can even call the atrocities she has had to deal with a life, rather she has just existed with only one purpose; to destroy the fae who made her into what she is. Unfortunately she falls into the hands of a man who has reason to hate the fae almost as much as she does. You would think they would make a good pair to team up against their enemies, but there is one problem. Koda thinks she is one of the fae and seems to hate her with a burning passion. Surprisingly Sephti feels another sort of passion towards him, one that she isn't sure how to deal with, especially when he seems to start to feel the same way. With a love that may just be doomed from the start, these two have a very rough road ahead as they are thrown into the middle of a war greater than this world has ever seen.
I really enjoyed the romance between Koda and Sephti. They are so very different from each other and to be honest it almost seems like a miracle that they would even have the chance to start an attraction considering his extreme but justified hatred of all things fae, and her similarities to them. I'm actually surprised he just didn't outright kill her from the start, but am so very glad that he didn't The progression in their relationship was slow and steady and the author did a fantastic job of moving things along slow enough to be realistic considering their beginning circumstances, yet also keeping things from getting too frustrating at a lack of progress. I love a book where you are invested enough to become frustrated with the characters, yet the gratification isn't too long off, and Killing Time really fits that bill.
I did have a slight issue with Killing Time. There was one whopper of a cliffhanger at the end of Stealing Time, with the main gang being under siege. I had expected this book to pick things up right where they left off, or at least give us a clear picture as to how things worked out. Don't get me wrong we get a general idea of the outcome of who survives, but not what actually happened. Also it seemed that more happened in the final battle that we didn't see in the first book but was introduced at the beginning of this one. So I was a little confused at first, but it didn't inhibit my attachment to the characters or the story once things got going. I guess I just would have preferred a slightly smoother transition for lack of a better word, but in the end it all worked out anyway, so as I said, this is only a minor complaint.
While Stealing Time was a blend of Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance, it leaned more towards the romance side of things, whereas Killing Time leans a little more towards Urban Fantasy. Of course there is plenty of attraction and romance between Koda and Sephti, but the steaminess was just a little less. However, the action and danger more than filled my attention that I didn't miss the extra steaminess of its predecessor. I'm really glad I got a chance to read Killing Time as I thoroughly enjoyed it. Elisa Paige is a fantastic writer that you will want to keep a watch out for. This was the fourth novel I have read of hers and I cannot wait to read many more (hopefully) in the future.
I really enjoyed the romance between Koda and Sephti. They are so very different from each other and to be honest it almost seems like a miracle that they would even have the chance to start an attraction considering his extreme but justified hatred of all things fae, and her similarities to them. I'm actually surprised he just didn't outright kill her from the start, but am so very glad that he didn't The progression in their relationship was slow and steady and the author did a fantastic job of moving things along slow enough to be realistic considering their beginning circumstances, yet also keeping things from getting too frustrating at a lack of progress. I love a book where you are invested enough to become frustrated with the characters, yet the gratification isn't too long off, and Killing Time really fits that bill.
I did have a slight issue with Killing Time. There was one whopper of a cliffhanger at the end of Stealing Time, with the main gang being under siege. I had expected this book to pick things up right where they left off, or at least give us a clear picture as to how things worked out. Don't get me wrong we get a general idea of the outcome of who survives, but not what actually happened. Also it seemed that more happened in the final battle that we didn't see in the first book but was introduced at the beginning of this one. So I was a little confused at first, but it didn't inhibit my attachment to the characters or the story once things got going. I guess I just would have preferred a slightly smoother transition for lack of a better word, but in the end it all worked out anyway, so as I said, this is only a minor complaint.
While Stealing Time was a blend of Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance, it leaned more towards the romance side of things, whereas Killing Time leans a little more towards Urban Fantasy. Of course there is plenty of attraction and romance between Koda and Sephti, but the steaminess was just a little less. However, the action and danger more than filled my attention that I didn't miss the extra steaminess of its predecessor. I'm really glad I got a chance to read Killing Time as I thoroughly enjoyed it. Elisa Paige is a fantastic writer that you will want to keep a watch out for. This was the fourth novel I have read of hers and I cannot wait to read many more (hopefully) in the future.
July 14, 2011
I LOVED THIS BOOK! I wasn't sure what to expect. I did like her previous books I purchased. I never expected to receive a ARC of this one. I had been eagerly anticipating the release so I could buy it. Back to my review.
Killing time pulled me in from the very first chapter. Ms. Paige did another outstanding job with her heroine, Sephti, also known as Nomad. Sephti has all the qualities I like in a strong woman, just like Mia in Shadowplay. There are many parallels in the way Sephti and Mia were raised. For me, I enjoyed this. The brutality of Sephti's childhood has my heart bleeding for her. The strength and independence Sephti demonstrates is admirable. I felt engaged and vested in Sephti's journey. The one caution I would advise Ms. Paige is to designing all her heroine in the same manner of traumatic brutal upbringing. Each of her heroines in the different books do have slightly different personalities. Still, their pattern is eerily close.
The dynamic between Koda and Sephti was amusingly frustrating. I really loved how clueless Sephti was in the human world. Her depth of character made me fall for her very quickly. Koda and his haughty manner made me want to kick his ass. I'm glad he finally comes around.
What I like about this story is that bad things happen. The good guys do not always win and live the next day to save us again. This pain causes me to enjoy the book more since I feel more. Killing Time takes place concurrent to the other books which is kind for me because it's like watching events from 4 different perspectives. I like this because the world Ms. Paige built is more elaborate and complete. What I like most is her characters are never perfect. Even when you think something is going to go right, it doesn't always go exactly as planned.
I enjoyed Ms. Paige's interpretation of the fae world. Her view of the vampire world has been lovely. In this book, we learn of the Native American mythology. I do not know much about Native American mythology but what Ms. Paige woven into her story gave me a huge respect for the culture. I loved this aspect of the story.
There is only one item that confused me. The last confrontation, how does that fit in the time line with Shadowplay? I almost have to map out a diagram to figure it out correctly. Still, I loved this book and I recommend it to everyone. All of my friends and strangers alike. There is romance, intrigue, love lost, battles won and lost.
Killing time pulled me in from the very first chapter. Ms. Paige did another outstanding job with her heroine, Sephti, also known as Nomad. Sephti has all the qualities I like in a strong woman, just like Mia in Shadowplay. There are many parallels in the way Sephti and Mia were raised. For me, I enjoyed this. The brutality of Sephti's childhood has my heart bleeding for her. The strength and independence Sephti demonstrates is admirable. I felt engaged and vested in Sephti's journey. The one caution I would advise Ms. Paige is to designing all her heroine in the same manner of traumatic brutal upbringing. Each of her heroines in the different books do have slightly different personalities. Still, their pattern is eerily close.
The dynamic between Koda and Sephti was amusingly frustrating. I really loved how clueless Sephti was in the human world. Her depth of character made me fall for her very quickly. Koda and his haughty manner made me want to kick his ass. I'm glad he finally comes around.
What I like about this story is that bad things happen. The good guys do not always win and live the next day to save us again. This pain causes me to enjoy the book more since I feel more. Killing Time takes place concurrent to the other books which is kind for me because it's like watching events from 4 different perspectives. I like this because the world Ms. Paige built is more elaborate and complete. What I like most is her characters are never perfect. Even when you think something is going to go right, it doesn't always go exactly as planned.
I enjoyed Ms. Paige's interpretation of the fae world. Her view of the vampire world has been lovely. In this book, we learn of the Native American mythology. I do not know much about Native American mythology but what Ms. Paige woven into her story gave me a huge respect for the culture. I loved this aspect of the story.
There is only one item that confused me. The last confrontation, how does that fit in the time line with Shadowplay? I almost have to map out a diagram to figure it out correctly. Still, I loved this book and I recommend it to everyone. All of my friends and strangers alike. There is romance, intrigue, love lost, battles won and lost.
August 15, 2011
Fast becoming one of my favourite series, the second book in the Time series by Elisa Paige was almost as good as the first. Feisty heroine with slightly shady background? Check. Gorgeous love interest? Check. Nefarious scheme to upset the natural balance of the world as we know it? Check. Not earth shatteringly original but still a definite must read. I am astonished that this isn't as well known as some other, IMO inferior, PNR.
There was a slight 'sameness' to this book with Ms Paige's other books that lost it that one star for me. However, as other reviewers have pointed out, this lady can write! Rich world building and sensitive character development make this another book that is a pleasure to read.
The romance develops realistically over a reasonable amount of time so that we really start to identify with the main characters. The action is, well, action packed, and there is plenty of it to keep the plot moving along at a good pace. Although I was a bit sad to not be spending more time with James and Evie, I soon grew to love the new characters and the overall story arc develops over the course of events, continuing on from Stealing Time.
If you haven't already started this series then I suggest you get yourself a copy of Stealing Time to see what all the fuss is about. If you've already read Stealing Time then no doubt you've pre-ordered Killing Time, I know I did! I don't often buy books when I have read the ARC for free, but this series is a definite exception.
There was a slight 'sameness' to this book with Ms Paige's other books that lost it that one star for me. However, as other reviewers have pointed out, this lady can write! Rich world building and sensitive character development make this another book that is a pleasure to read.
The romance develops realistically over a reasonable amount of time so that we really start to identify with the main characters. The action is, well, action packed, and there is plenty of it to keep the plot moving along at a good pace. Although I was a bit sad to not be spending more time with James and Evie, I soon grew to love the new characters and the overall story arc develops over the course of events, continuing on from Stealing Time.
If you haven't already started this series then I suggest you get yourself a copy of Stealing Time to see what all the fuss is about. If you've already read Stealing Time then no doubt you've pre-ordered Killing Time, I know I did! I don't often buy books when I have read the ARC for free, but this series is a definite exception.
January 1, 2012
In some ways I quite enjoyed this.
I really liked the storyline and the main characters of Sephti and Koda. Sephti was a total kick ass female and i love characters like this, rather than the weak hide behind your man ones. Koda wasn't quite as alpha male as I normally liked but there was definately something about him that I did like.
The storyline was very good and padded out really well....my only real gripe is that there were WAY too many characters and I could not keep up with them all and I ended up getting confused with a couple of them.
The end battle scene happened way too quickly as well...in fact I originally missed how they killed the bad guy and had to go back and read it again.
There was some good writing here and this included the good story and very likeable characters. I enjoyed this and I would read another from this author again.
I really liked the storyline and the main characters of Sephti and Koda. Sephti was a total kick ass female and i love characters like this, rather than the weak hide behind your man ones. Koda wasn't quite as alpha male as I normally liked but there was definately something about him that I did like.
The storyline was very good and padded out really well....my only real gripe is that there were WAY too many characters and I could not keep up with them all and I ended up getting confused with a couple of them.
The end battle scene happened way too quickly as well...in fact I originally missed how they killed the bad guy and had to go back and read it again.
There was some good writing here and this included the good story and very likeable characters. I enjoyed this and I would read another from this author again.
August 11, 2011
What an AMAZING thrill ride!! This book starts out action-packed and never lets up. I really enjoyed the concept of Nomad's existence, and am hoping to see more of her 'people' in future books. While there were a few areas that weren't fully fleshed out (WHY and HOW did Nomad develop so differently; if the other bitterns were truly lacking in full personalities, why did they have some rather emotional responses?) these minor flaws were completely overshadowed by the sheer wonder of combining Native American lore with the supernatural. So much to explore and enjoy!! I have already purchased the first book (Stealing Time) and will be buying future titles by this author. If you like your urban fantasy with a strong dose of dark action, this is a book to read!
August 28, 2011
Killing Time features Sephti, a genetically engineered fae warrior used by her creators as an engine of destruction. She has escaped her makers and is determined to destroy those use used and abused her. Her capture by Koda, an ancient Native American guardian who wants to protect his people from the fae, brings the two into an alliance against a common enemy. Elisa Paige has created a world where the supernatural are commonplace and filled it with interesting and well-developed characters. The action is fast paced and the story moves in a consistent direction. Killing Time is the second book in the series but functions well as a stand-alone.
January 7, 2012
Personalities, good plotting, and emotional engagement are important to me. Those were weak.
STORY BRIEF:
Sephti is a bittern, a creature created by the fae who goes into unconscious furies when she fights. Bitterns are kept in stables. Sephti was tortured by her keeper Cain. She escaped. Her goals are to kill the evil vampire Phillippe on earth and then return to the fae realm and kill Reiden the evil fae king. This will be a suicide mission which she accepts. While searching for Phillippe, Sephti meets Koda, a Native American guardian with magic powers. He puts binding spells on her to keep her from fleeing. He and his friends also want to kill Phillippe. Koda and Sephti start to fall in love.
REVIEWER’S OPINION:
This is a like a lot of other urban fantasy stories where the main focus is creating many different creatures with unusual magic and powers. Most of the conflicts in this book are battles and fighting among the creatures. Additional conflicts occur for Sephti when she becomes weak due to her need for sugar after battles. If she doesn’t get sugar she will go into a coma. She never carries enough sugar, so Koda is the one to save her after each battle by finding sugar for her. Why doesn’t she carry what she will need?
I compare this to another book I’m reading where I am worried and anxious about how the good guys are going to rescue some victims. What will the bad guys do? What will the good guys do? I don’t want to stop reading. I never felt that kind of urgency when reading this book. Maybe being in the heads of the bad guys would have helped. I might have liked seeing some conversations among the bad guys Reiden, Cain, and Phillippe. I wanted to know their motivations and plans. Most of the conflicts here are bad creatures showing up and the good guys having to fight them. The good guys get wounded or weak and then must heal. Most of the creativity is in what new magic or talent will be used.
I wanted to like this, but it didn’t pull me in. Sadly I wanted it to be over which is my definition for 2 stars. But I think there are many urban fantasy fans who will enjoy this.
I thought the first sex scene was interesting. Sephti a bittern must fight and attack during the sexual process. Koda suffered injuries until he was able to grab her in a bear hug with one arm holding both her arms still and both his legs holding her legs still.
THE SERIES:
Stealing Time was book #1. It was about two vampires James and Evie. Killing Time is book #2. It would be nice to read them in order, but it’s not a problem to read book #2 by itself. The evil vampire Phillippe is introduced in book #1, but not much is told at that time. He continues in the same role in book #2. James and Evie make a cameo appearance in book #2.
DATA:
Kindle count story length: 6550 (661 KB). Swearing language: strong. Sexual language: mild. Number of sex scenes: 2. Setting: current day various U.S. locations and Canada, plus the fae realm. Copyright: 2011. Genre: urban fantasy and paranormal romance.
STORY BRIEF:
Sephti is a bittern, a creature created by the fae who goes into unconscious furies when she fights. Bitterns are kept in stables. Sephti was tortured by her keeper Cain. She escaped. Her goals are to kill the evil vampire Phillippe on earth and then return to the fae realm and kill Reiden the evil fae king. This will be a suicide mission which she accepts. While searching for Phillippe, Sephti meets Koda, a Native American guardian with magic powers. He puts binding spells on her to keep her from fleeing. He and his friends also want to kill Phillippe. Koda and Sephti start to fall in love.
REVIEWER’S OPINION:
This is a like a lot of other urban fantasy stories where the main focus is creating many different creatures with unusual magic and powers. Most of the conflicts in this book are battles and fighting among the creatures. Additional conflicts occur for Sephti when she becomes weak due to her need for sugar after battles. If she doesn’t get sugar she will go into a coma. She never carries enough sugar, so Koda is the one to save her after each battle by finding sugar for her. Why doesn’t she carry what she will need?
I compare this to another book I’m reading where I am worried and anxious about how the good guys are going to rescue some victims. What will the bad guys do? What will the good guys do? I don’t want to stop reading. I never felt that kind of urgency when reading this book. Maybe being in the heads of the bad guys would have helped. I might have liked seeing some conversations among the bad guys Reiden, Cain, and Phillippe. I wanted to know their motivations and plans. Most of the conflicts here are bad creatures showing up and the good guys having to fight them. The good guys get wounded or weak and then must heal. Most of the creativity is in what new magic or talent will be used.
I wanted to like this, but it didn’t pull me in. Sadly I wanted it to be over which is my definition for 2 stars. But I think there are many urban fantasy fans who will enjoy this.
I thought the first sex scene was interesting. Sephti a bittern must fight and attack during the sexual process. Koda suffered injuries until he was able to grab her in a bear hug with one arm holding both her arms still and both his legs holding her legs still.
THE SERIES:
Stealing Time was book #1. It was about two vampires James and Evie. Killing Time is book #2. It would be nice to read them in order, but it’s not a problem to read book #2 by itself. The evil vampire Phillippe is introduced in book #1, but not much is told at that time. He continues in the same role in book #2. James and Evie make a cameo appearance in book #2.
DATA:
Kindle count story length: 6550 (661 KB). Swearing language: strong. Sexual language: mild. Number of sex scenes: 2. Setting: current day various U.S. locations and Canada, plus the fae realm. Copyright: 2011. Genre: urban fantasy and paranormal romance.
September 25, 2011
Killing Time is another stunning and highly original urban fantasy from Carina Press, one where Native American supernaturals run alongside the traditional European kind and the fae are the nastiest I’ve ever seen. They also genetically engineer assassins and keep them as slaves to do their dirty work for them.
The uniqueness of Killing Time is its incredibly diverse cast of supernatural creatures and in particular, the nature of the two main characters. Sephti comes from an engineered race of barbaric, rather animalistic creatures where fighting prowess gains you the greatest respect, winning is the top priority and submission in all things is the fate of the looser. She’s a tough cookie, but unlike the rest of her kind, has developed enough awareness to understand her situation and get out. Koda, the Native American guardian is the quintessential gentle giant - not actually gigantic, just a big bloke, but you get the idea. At first, he assumes that she’s as worthy of his hatred as the rest of her kind, but he soon discovers how different she is, and as the book progresses and love blossoms, she develops even more into a being with a heart and soul.
The path to a happy ending isn’t straightforward however. As well as having to avoid the fae master that wants to kill her, she has to fight prejudice from Koda’s people, and her own sense of worthlessness. He fights his own preconceptions about her and later in the story, his grief and the draw of his ancestors, and both end up the target of misguided supernatural slayers. Their love grows naturally in the course of their trials and eventually, Sephti discovers that she is indeed capable of love, something the fae know nothing about. Part of this process is Sephti proving, almost to the point of her death, to the Native American chief (and hence to herself) that she is capable of curbing her animal instincts and showing qualities more noble than those usually attributed to her people.
With so many factions and unclear allegiances between various supernatural creatures and humans, the plot was never predictable. I loved that the situation where a vampire declared himself on TV and slaughtered a television crew to prove it, resulted in the government turning to the Native American elders for help in handling all the unmasked supernaturals. The resulting chaos that ensued in the human world was as scary as it was believable.
Killing Time is as gritty as the genre expects with fierce battles and cruel masters, but the love is real and the characters shine. It’s a good long read and one you won’t want to put down. I give it 5 stars and recommend it to all lovers of Urban Fantasy, especially if you want something a bit different.
The uniqueness of Killing Time is its incredibly diverse cast of supernatural creatures and in particular, the nature of the two main characters. Sephti comes from an engineered race of barbaric, rather animalistic creatures where fighting prowess gains you the greatest respect, winning is the top priority and submission in all things is the fate of the looser. She’s a tough cookie, but unlike the rest of her kind, has developed enough awareness to understand her situation and get out. Koda, the Native American guardian is the quintessential gentle giant - not actually gigantic, just a big bloke, but you get the idea. At first, he assumes that she’s as worthy of his hatred as the rest of her kind, but he soon discovers how different she is, and as the book progresses and love blossoms, she develops even more into a being with a heart and soul.
The path to a happy ending isn’t straightforward however. As well as having to avoid the fae master that wants to kill her, she has to fight prejudice from Koda’s people, and her own sense of worthlessness. He fights his own preconceptions about her and later in the story, his grief and the draw of his ancestors, and both end up the target of misguided supernatural slayers. Their love grows naturally in the course of their trials and eventually, Sephti discovers that she is indeed capable of love, something the fae know nothing about. Part of this process is Sephti proving, almost to the point of her death, to the Native American chief (and hence to herself) that she is capable of curbing her animal instincts and showing qualities more noble than those usually attributed to her people.
With so many factions and unclear allegiances between various supernatural creatures and humans, the plot was never predictable. I loved that the situation where a vampire declared himself on TV and slaughtered a television crew to prove it, resulted in the government turning to the Native American elders for help in handling all the unmasked supernaturals. The resulting chaos that ensued in the human world was as scary as it was believable.
Killing Time is as gritty as the genre expects with fierce battles and cruel masters, but the love is real and the characters shine. It’s a good long read and one you won’t want to put down. I give it 5 stars and recommend it to all lovers of Urban Fantasy, especially if you want something a bit different.
August 2, 2011
www.obsessionwithbooks.blogspot.com
Killing Time was kindly provided to me by Netgalley for Carina Press
Sephti is a Bittern, a genetically engineered assassin created by the Fae to be their personal killing machine. She has never been the same as other Bittern’s, she is a genetic throwback and seeks out revenge on those who created and tortured her.
Finally escaping servitude and with a meticulous plan, Sephti has left her masters to seek out a vampire she believes could help her get to the fae king, Cham Reidon, but during one of her berserk rages – what she goes through when she is too worked up, she is taken captive by a man who despises the fae as much as she does, Koda.
Koda is an ancient Native American guardian whose goal is to protect his people from the Fae who threaten to cause them harm. Koda seemed to be the calm to Sephti’s storm; he was powerful enough to control her rage and caring enough to protect her despite what she was.
I was thoroughly engrossed in ‘Killing Time’, Ms Paige has written a real page turner that is filled with ongoing action, intrigue and a slow building but enjoyable romance. There is also history and mythology with the Native American’s which I found fascinating.
I loved Sephti as a character and really felt for her and what she had to endure at the hands of her lord master. She had strength and determination, the protection she felt towards Koda as well as his friends and her battle to right the wrongs being caused by the Fae was noble, she was fiercely independent and had never had anyone who she could rely on. Koda was sweet and caring for Sephti’s needs, although he doubted her initially he came to understand who she was and what she was fighting for. I liked the slow build-up to their romance; it was sweet and built on trust and respect.
It is a unique and complex world Ms Paige has created which I thoroughly enjoyed.
I didn’t realize ‘Killing Time’ was a sequel to ‘Stealing Time’ but it can certainly be read as a stand-alone novel, I didn’t feel I was missing out on any pertinent information.
Killing Time was kindly provided to me by Netgalley for Carina Press
Sephti is a Bittern, a genetically engineered assassin created by the Fae to be their personal killing machine. She has never been the same as other Bittern’s, she is a genetic throwback and seeks out revenge on those who created and tortured her.
Finally escaping servitude and with a meticulous plan, Sephti has left her masters to seek out a vampire she believes could help her get to the fae king, Cham Reidon, but during one of her berserk rages – what she goes through when she is too worked up, she is taken captive by a man who despises the fae as much as she does, Koda.
Koda is an ancient Native American guardian whose goal is to protect his people from the Fae who threaten to cause them harm. Koda seemed to be the calm to Sephti’s storm; he was powerful enough to control her rage and caring enough to protect her despite what she was.
I was thoroughly engrossed in ‘Killing Time’, Ms Paige has written a real page turner that is filled with ongoing action, intrigue and a slow building but enjoyable romance. There is also history and mythology with the Native American’s which I found fascinating.
I loved Sephti as a character and really felt for her and what she had to endure at the hands of her lord master. She had strength and determination, the protection she felt towards Koda as well as his friends and her battle to right the wrongs being caused by the Fae was noble, she was fiercely independent and had never had anyone who she could rely on. Koda was sweet and caring for Sephti’s needs, although he doubted her initially he came to understand who she was and what she was fighting for. I liked the slow build-up to their romance; it was sweet and built on trust and respect.
It is a unique and complex world Ms Paige has created which I thoroughly enjoyed.
I didn’t realize ‘Killing Time’ was a sequel to ‘Stealing Time’ but it can certainly be read as a stand-alone novel, I didn’t feel I was missing out on any pertinent information.
August 6, 2011
Killing Time is a really good book. The author manages to show the emotions of the characters in her book really well. She has a lot of imagination and her characters are totally different from the novels that I usually read.
Sephti is a assassin genetically engineered, she was created by the fae to be their killing machine. Sephti is a Bittern, she is different from the others and she manages to escape the servitude. She has planned revenge towards her former master. She started off by searching for Jack, a vampire, because he is the only one that really knows her master. While doing that, she has been captures by Koda. Koda is an ancient Native American guardian, he protects his people against the fae. He hates them with passion and can't really wrap is head around the fact that Sephti is not a fae.
I love how the author builds up the relationship between Sephti and Koda. At first their relationship was tentative and then it grew on trust.
Sephti is a assassin genetically engineered, she was created by the fae to be their killing machine. Sephti is a Bittern, she is different from the others and she manages to escape the servitude. She has planned revenge towards her former master. She started off by searching for Jack, a vampire, because he is the only one that really knows her master. While doing that, she has been captures by Koda. Koda is an ancient Native American guardian, he protects his people against the fae. He hates them with passion and can't really wrap is head around the fact that Sephti is not a fae.
I love how the author builds up the relationship between Sephti and Koda. At first their relationship was tentative and then it grew on trust.
August 26, 2011
EXCELLENT adventure, totally unlike what I usually enjoy. Vivid, engaging characters inside a most wonderfully vividly-realized world--WOW, can la Paige do this! I have read several of her other books and am simply gobsmacked by the quality, the reality, and the first-class characterizations in this one. ENJOY--Killing Time is first class, and the first in that series, STEALING TIME, is a trip, an adventure, and a lovely joy all by itself. Also, don't miss out on Paige's Bookstrand titles, such as Maelstrom and Shadowplay, which also are pure delights. Go git 'em, y'all.
December 21, 2011
O-M-G!! This book, heck, the whole damn series, is SO SO SO good! It took some time to really get into this book because of how and where the first book left off but... WOW! When a book can make you laugh and make you cry... Makes me wish I could give it 6-stars.
You must read both of these books... In order, or you'll be lost.
You must read both of these books... In order, or you'll be lost.
August 20, 2012
this was a good storie can't wait to try others by Elisa Paige.
September 2, 2011
Favorite Lines: “I saw their sharp, lethal interest long before I saw the hunting vampires.” (p. 150, egalley)
Stealing Time is book one in Elisa Paige’s The Time series. In Paige’s world, the dark fae have sided with evil vampires in an attempt to rule the world. I read book one and wasn’t thrilled with the cliff-hanger ending. Months later, I clearly remember Stealing Time. The story was told from a woman named Evie’s point of view. After the way it ended I expected book two to pick right up where it ended, and in a way it did, just not the way I expected it to. To say I was slightly disturbed is putting it mildly. The introduction of Killing Time is told by an unknown narrator who is watching the events that followed the cliff-hanger.
Book two, Killing Time, picks up where book one ended from an unknown narrator’s point of view. The narrator is watching events unfold. Events that I expected to be described in book two. First, I felt jipped. Why? Well, I’d assumed the story would pick up from the same POV (no I didn’t read the book’s blurb) so I was shocked. However, I got over it once I got to know the heroine, Sephti, a genetically engineered creature called a bittern.
I really liked Sephti. She is a strong, deadly woman determined to live on her own terms. The origins of her name, the brutal life she was forced to live and her intelligence worked together to create a great heroine. Sephti is different from others of her kind, but is determined to save her people from their lives of subservience to the dark fae. Bitterns are considered abominations and are used as living weapons. Their job is to destroy whoever their master tells them and to die.
In general, I’m a character reader. But I ran into a few problems while reading Killing Time that bothered me enough to affect my enjoyment of the story.
First let me say, I liked how Sephti spoke in broken English when she became nervous around her hero. I wish she’d have spoken like that more often because Sephti had only been on the human plane for three months. She spoke perfect English unless something (in regards to her hero) bothered her. It pulled me out of the story.
Another problem was the way story lines seemed to end. For example, Philippe had a huge role in book one and half of book two. A battle takes place, something happens and we don’t hear about him until the end when we are told he’s “out of the picture.” Another story line involving Sephti just seemed to disappear.
Throughout the story Sephti wants to save her people. That drive and ambition seemed to twiddle away by the end of the book and it just disappeared. I feel like there was no resolution. Like it was an out of sight, out of mind type deal. I hope it is cleared up in another story. Along with a definitive answer as to why Sephti is different from her people. We were exposed to other bitterns and it was continually pointed out how different she was from them, but other than talk about her evolving, there was no flat-out answer.
Overall, I enjoyed Killing Time. There were a few issues, but not enough to cause me to dislike the book. I loved watching the heroine learn how to interact and express her feelings, the sex is sizzling and the introduction to Native American folklore was entertaining.
I’m not sure if there will be another book published in the series. The author’s site doesn’t list any more information about the series.
Scooper Speaks
Stealing Time is book one in Elisa Paige’s The Time series. In Paige’s world, the dark fae have sided with evil vampires in an attempt to rule the world. I read book one and wasn’t thrilled with the cliff-hanger ending. Months later, I clearly remember Stealing Time. The story was told from a woman named Evie’s point of view. After the way it ended I expected book two to pick right up where it ended, and in a way it did, just not the way I expected it to. To say I was slightly disturbed is putting it mildly. The introduction of Killing Time is told by an unknown narrator who is watching the events that followed the cliff-hanger.
Book two, Killing Time, picks up where book one ended from an unknown narrator’s point of view. The narrator is watching events unfold. Events that I expected to be described in book two. First, I felt jipped. Why? Well, I’d assumed the story would pick up from the same POV (no I didn’t read the book’s blurb) so I was shocked. However, I got over it once I got to know the heroine, Sephti, a genetically engineered creature called a bittern.
I really liked Sephti. She is a strong, deadly woman determined to live on her own terms. The origins of her name, the brutal life she was forced to live and her intelligence worked together to create a great heroine. Sephti is different from others of her kind, but is determined to save her people from their lives of subservience to the dark fae. Bitterns are considered abominations and are used as living weapons. Their job is to destroy whoever their master tells them and to die.
In general, I’m a character reader. But I ran into a few problems while reading Killing Time that bothered me enough to affect my enjoyment of the story.
First let me say, I liked how Sephti spoke in broken English when she became nervous around her hero. I wish she’d have spoken like that more often because Sephti had only been on the human plane for three months. She spoke perfect English unless something (in regards to her hero) bothered her. It pulled me out of the story.
Another problem was the way story lines seemed to end. For example, Philippe had a huge role in book one and half of book two. A battle takes place, something happens and we don’t hear about him until the end when we are told he’s “out of the picture.” Another story line involving Sephti just seemed to disappear.
Throughout the story Sephti wants to save her people. That drive and ambition seemed to twiddle away by the end of the book and it just disappeared. I feel like there was no resolution. Like it was an out of sight, out of mind type deal. I hope it is cleared up in another story. Along with a definitive answer as to why Sephti is different from her people. We were exposed to other bitterns and it was continually pointed out how different she was from them, but other than talk about her evolving, there was no flat-out answer.
Overall, I enjoyed Killing Time. There were a few issues, but not enough to cause me to dislike the book. I loved watching the heroine learn how to interact and express her feelings, the sex is sizzling and the introduction to Native American folklore was entertaining.
I’m not sure if there will be another book published in the series. The author’s site doesn’t list any more information about the series.
Scooper Speaks
May 2, 2017
Welp - I really should stop reading books that are not the first in the series. Mediocre novel: the world building was tough to read and I did feel very disconnected to the characters and it was more of a skim then a read.
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