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Seventeen-year old Macy Lockhart thought she had it all figured out.
As a Keeper in the ancient organization, the Order of the Moirae, she literally holds fate in her hands. She lives over and over in lives that end tragically; all to further the good of mankind as she does her part to control destiny.
But there’s one lesson that she hasn’t learned well enough. Nothing is ever what it seems.
Startling new revelations about her identity surface and Macy realizes that she’s more important than she ever imagined.
As she struggles to grasp her new reality, everyone she loves is threatened. Is she strong enough to save them all?
As a Keeper in the ancient organization, the Order of the Moirae, she literally holds fate in her hands. She lives over and over in lives that end tragically; all to further the good of mankind as she does her part to control destiny.
But there’s one lesson that she hasn’t learned well enough. Nothing is ever what it seems.
Startling new revelations about her identity surface and Macy realizes that she’s more important than she ever imagined.
As she struggles to grasp her new reality, everyone she loves is threatened. Is she strong enough to save them all?
230 pages, Paperback
First published June 20, 2011
29 people are currently reading
1305 people want to read
About the author
Courtney Cole
44 books4,546 followersCourtney Cole is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling novelist who loves to eat your emotions for breakfast.
She believes in the power of blonde hair dye and red lipstick, and that a well-timed smile can save the world.
Learn more about Courtney and her books at www.courtneycolecreates.com
Find her on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/#!/courtneyc...
She believes in the power of blonde hair dye and red lipstick, and that a well-timed smile can save the world.
Learn more about Courtney and her books at www.courtneycolecreates.com
Find her on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/#!/courtneyc...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
January 15, 2018
Wow! What an ending! I'm still feeling kind of speechless after finishing this second book in The Bloodstone Saga. Just when it seemed that all had turned out for the best -- BAM! I'll admit that I wasn't quite prepared for it. Those Fates and Keres were so manipulative. But, wait . . . I'm getting ahead of myself.
Book #2 in the Bloodstone Saga did not unfold in any way that I expected. Just when I thought that I had my head around what was driving the plot, everything would change. I enjoyed the way that Macy's/Harmonia's memories return to her gradually, and as I read I also felt as if the real story of what was going on slowly unfolded to me also. As I began to understand what was obviously going on I wanted to go back and reread the first book with this new understanding. I believe that some of the missing elements that confused me in the first book would suddenly take on much more meaning for me. It is fascinating how Cole is able to weave elements of Greek/Roman/Egyptian mythology into a well-written novel that keeps me on the edge of my seat and trying to figure out the mystery of who everyone is and what is motivating them. This book continued the excellent writing of the first book with great detailed descriptions of the characters and their emotions. Because of the different location for this book there wasn't as much need for the rich description that was present in Book#1 as Cole described ancient Egypt. But, it was still full of exactly the right amount of descriptive language to keep me engaged in the world created for this book.
If I have one complaint, it would be that this book was a little too short. I really wanted there to be more. It isn't that Cole's book was flawed for lack of details or poor plotting. Instead, it was so good that I was hungry for more. As I finished the book I just sat there for awhile and digested all that I had read. It seemed too soon to let this world go. And now I wait, and wait, and wait. I am ready to read the next segment in this great story, but I'll have to wait a few months until it is published. It'll be hard, but I'm just happy that I have had the opportunity to be introduced to this fun story. Maybe I'll pass the time waiting by re-reading the first two books again. I very much enjoyed this book!
Book #2 in the Bloodstone Saga did not unfold in any way that I expected. Just when I thought that I had my head around what was driving the plot, everything would change. I enjoyed the way that Macy's/Harmonia's memories return to her gradually, and as I read I also felt as if the real story of what was going on slowly unfolded to me also. As I began to understand what was obviously going on I wanted to go back and reread the first book with this new understanding. I believe that some of the missing elements that confused me in the first book would suddenly take on much more meaning for me. It is fascinating how Cole is able to weave elements of Greek/Roman/Egyptian mythology into a well-written novel that keeps me on the edge of my seat and trying to figure out the mystery of who everyone is and what is motivating them. This book continued the excellent writing of the first book with great detailed descriptions of the characters and their emotions. Because of the different location for this book there wasn't as much need for the rich description that was present in Book#1 as Cole described ancient Egypt. But, it was still full of exactly the right amount of descriptive language to keep me engaged in the world created for this book.
If I have one complaint, it would be that this book was a little too short. I really wanted there to be more. It isn't that Cole's book was flawed for lack of details or poor plotting. Instead, it was so good that I was hungry for more. As I finished the book I just sat there for awhile and digested all that I had read. It seemed too soon to let this world go. And now I wait, and wait, and wait. I am ready to read the next segment in this great story, but I'll have to wait a few months until it is published. It'll be hard, but I'm just happy that I have had the opportunity to be introduced to this fun story. Maybe I'll pass the time waiting by re-reading the first two books again. I very much enjoyed this book!
June 30, 2011
*WARNING* While I try not to "spoil" anything in my reviews, I may use character names and settings in this review that may spoil it for you. You have been warned ;).
Phenomenal! This second book in the Bloodstone series had me riveted from the Homecoming Dance to the Olympian celebration "cliffy" at the end. *insert hairy eyeball directed to Courtney here*
While I really liked "Every Last Kiss", the first book in the Bloodstone series, I couldn't help but feel like there was something pivotal missing- I felt like it was the segue into Macy's life and that there was more to come. Well, there was. In "Fated" Macy's life takes off and soars in all kinds of directions. Just as I found my heart beat returning to normal- Wham!- Cole hits us with another mighty, but brilliant twist.
In "Every Last Kiss" I wondered how the Fates, or Moirae fit into Egyptian lore, when I always equated the sisters to Greek mythology. Being fiction, I just went with it...I also had a passing thought during the reading how much Cleopatra reminded me of the Goddess, Aphrodite...but never did I suspect where "Fated" would take us. As soon as Macy discovered who Harmonia and Cadmus are, I couldn't stop reading "Fated" (pfft, my kids are old enough to fend for themselves for a day, really). I love reading about the Greek Gods and Goddesses in modern literature, and Cole doesn't disappoint with her take on the ancient Greeks and those wicked Fates. I encourage you to read "Fated", but if you haven't read "Every Last Kiss" I recommend reading that first... it really does set the stage for what comes in "Fated".
Phenomenal! This second book in the Bloodstone series had me riveted from the Homecoming Dance to the Olympian celebration "cliffy" at the end. *insert hairy eyeball directed to Courtney here*
While I really liked "Every Last Kiss", the first book in the Bloodstone series, I couldn't help but feel like there was something pivotal missing- I felt like it was the segue into Macy's life and that there was more to come. Well, there was. In "Fated" Macy's life takes off and soars in all kinds of directions. Just as I found my heart beat returning to normal- Wham!- Cole hits us with another mighty, but brilliant twist.
In "Every Last Kiss" I wondered how the Fates, or Moirae fit into Egyptian lore, when I always equated the sisters to Greek mythology. Being fiction, I just went with it...I also had a passing thought during the reading how much Cleopatra reminded me of the Goddess, Aphrodite...but never did I suspect where "Fated" would take us. As soon as Macy discovered who Harmonia and Cadmus are, I couldn't stop reading "Fated" (pfft, my kids are old enough to fend for themselves for a day, really). I love reading about the Greek Gods and Goddesses in modern literature, and Cole doesn't disappoint with her take on the ancient Greeks and those wicked Fates. I encourage you to read "Fated", but if you haven't read "Every Last Kiss" I recommend reading that first... it really does set the stage for what comes in "Fated".
September 14, 2011
Four stars: Fated,the sequel to Every Last Kiss is better than it's predecessor. An exciting new book that delves into Greek mythology. I recommend you pick this one up!
Our heroine Macy returns in Fated. This time things are different. Further encounters with the two mystifying priests, Annen and Ahmose, awaken more of her submerged memories. The mists of time wisp away and Macy discovers her true identity. She is Harmonia, a minor Greek goddess, daughter of two of Mt. Olympus' most famous gods. This startling revelation makes one thing perfectly clear, she has been duped into playing the role of a pawn in The Fates' great game of life. The realization of her tremendous powers helps her rise up to wrestle her destiny from the three Fates. No longer will she drift along on the river of time fulfilling her obligations according to the whims of the Fates. With her soulmate Gavin/Cadmus by her side she begins her quest to find her own path. Along the way she uncovers shocking and surprising new information about herself and all those she holds dear. She is prophesied to restore the world of Olympus but at what price? In doing so will she be forced to sacrifice all of her loved ones, including Camus her one great and true love?
What I Liked:
*The story far exceeded my expectations. This novel takes you on a journey to the Greek world of myth. The amount of research that Ms. Love has poured into this book is evident in the intricate characters and details. She skillfully brings back many Greek gods and goddesses both major and minor. Her rich descriptions provide a gateway for the reader to enter the mythological world. This is a fascinating, provocative adventure.
*Harmonia, I gained a new appreciation for this character. She transforms in this book. I was excited to see her battle the Fates. No longer does she succumb to lives filled with great pain, sadness and sacrifice, this time she is in control. What I admired the most, was her tremendous love for those she cherishes. She possesses a love so great and pure that she is willing to make the ultimate sacrifice to protect them from harm.
*Cadmus, as Harmonia's soul mate his affection for her is deep and unyielding. He is willing to slay dragons and anyone and anything that attempts to harm his love; his life. He is fierce, loyal, kind and handsome. He certainly can make the ladies swoon.
*I was relieved that this book answered so many of the questions that remained from the first book. It cleared it up the confusion surrounding the two mysterious priests and I finally learned their true intentions, as well as those of the Fates. This clarification definitely made the story much more enjoyable.
*Finally price point, this book is available for purchase at the time of this review on amazon.com for $2.99 (Kindle version) at this price you can't go wrong!
And the Not So Much:
*While Ms. Cole has an engaging writing style filled with beautiful imagery, at times it is repetitive. Certain phrases are repeated throughout the book. Each time someone grasps the bloodstone she goes through the same repertoire. This is distracting but it does not detract from the overall story.
*The book opens with Macy returning from her life as Charmaine and resuming her present day life. The author builds up a storyline involving Jade (Cleopatra) and you are led to believe the plot is going to follow her strange genetic abilities. Then the story alters and you are immersed into the Greek mythological world and the modern day story lines are thrown away. I am not sure what their purpose was but again this does not mar the overall story.
*Finally, each of the major players in this book have several different names and identities, due to numerous reincarnations. The author shifts back and forth with their names especially the Jade character. I would have preferred the establishment of one identity instead of reverting back to prior names.
Fated is a great addition in the Bloodstone saga. It is a complex well-researched novel. It is book about choosing your own path and destiny. It is also a story of great love and the lengths one will go to in order to protect those that are dearest to the heart. A beautiful story. I enjoyed this book and I am eagerly anticipating reading the next book in this series; With My Last Breath, published August 23rd 2011. All three of these books are available on Amazon.com for a terrific price. I highly recommend you get them today.
Favorite Quotations:
"The night was so dark, so velvety that I felt as if it was tangible, as if I could breathe it in, as well. I felt it clinging to my skin and caressing my body like unseen hands."
"Courage is not being fearless- it is created by overcoming your own fears."
"The dark night yawned far and wide; the blacks, blues and grays swirling together and appearing as some sort of an unnatural aurora borealis."
"Don't speak to me about destiny!" I said angrily. "For two thousand years, the Fates have manipulated me using that very same line. Destiny, fate. What are those things except for someone imposing their will on others?"
"Greatness often comes from unexpected places."
June 27, 2011
I have to admit I was surprised when Courtney Cole asked me to read an ARC of Fated. I loved her novel Princess, but hadn't exactly given Every Last Kiss (ELK) a glowing rating. She said she felt like I'd give her my honest opinion of the book, and being curious about what adventures lie ahead for Macy, I said, "Um....yes please." And my honest opinion is...I loved it.
Fated picks up with Macy Lockhart several months after the conclusion of ELK. As a Keeper in the Order of the Moirae, it is her destiny to live life after life making sure that each existence's tragic fate is fulfilled. Except that this time, her present life as Macy is different. This time instead of unknowingly playing her part in fate's design, she remembers parts of what she is, who she is and who she has been. The stakes are higher in Fated and intrigue, revelations, betrayal, danger and love, await Macy as she beings to discover her true identity, her true destiny and as she fights for all that she loves.
One of my biggest issues with ELK was Macy/Charmian's character. I had a hard time in ELK reconciling that Macy and Charmian were the same person. There was some kind of disconnect there for me. It felt like for the majority of the time they were two completely different people and Macy's character was largely absent for most of the story. I felt like the modern-day teenage perspective in ELK was just....missing, although I do understand the author's reasons for focusing more on the character as Charmian. However, in Fated, Cole does an excellent job of combining Macy and her past selves into one, dynamic character; a wonderful amalgam of all her lives. Courageous, fierce, loyal, determined, empathetic, considerate, friendly and wise; Macy is a character that you grow to love and that you're rooting for long after the last page has been turned. In fact, all of Cole's characters in this story are wonderfully developed, have unique dynamic lives and personalities and you really get the sense that she knows them inside and out.
One of the other things I love about this story is the romance. Even as Macy is fated to live over and over again, she is also fated to meet and fall in love with her soul mate again and again in every life. Their lives often end in tragedy and I just find it darkly romantic to love and lose your beloved in every lifetime. And for me as a reader, it makes me desperate to see them break this terrible cycle they are fated to repeat. Macy and her soul mate, Gavin are just so sweet and true together, and it makes you hope that someday they'll find their happily ever after.
As with ELK, Cole weaves her story within a legendary/mythical background and paints vivid images of Macy's world through her beautiful descriptions. This story largely involves the Greek pantheon and Cole really did an excellent job of preserving the spirit of the original Greek myths even as she created a mythology that's all her own. I'm not going to say much more, so that you, Dear Reader, may discover for yourselves all those little moments that make you gasp in shock, make you hold your breath, and make you sigh in contentment.
So overall, as previously stated, I loved Fated. It actually made me revise my original opinion of ELK as I considered the two stories as a whole. The things I had originally disliked about ELK, I began to see in Fated how they were a necessary foundation to understanding the complete story. The Bloodstone Saga just has such depth and scope in regard to the world, the characters and the underlying mythology and with it Cole has created a wonderful, romantic adventure that spans across the ages.
Fated picks up with Macy Lockhart several months after the conclusion of ELK. As a Keeper in the Order of the Moirae, it is her destiny to live life after life making sure that each existence's tragic fate is fulfilled. Except that this time, her present life as Macy is different. This time instead of unknowingly playing her part in fate's design, she remembers parts of what she is, who she is and who she has been. The stakes are higher in Fated and intrigue, revelations, betrayal, danger and love, await Macy as she beings to discover her true identity, her true destiny and as she fights for all that she loves.
One of my biggest issues with ELK was Macy/Charmian's character. I had a hard time in ELK reconciling that Macy and Charmian were the same person. There was some kind of disconnect there for me. It felt like for the majority of the time they were two completely different people and Macy's character was largely absent for most of the story. I felt like the modern-day teenage perspective in ELK was just....missing, although I do understand the author's reasons for focusing more on the character as Charmian. However, in Fated, Cole does an excellent job of combining Macy and her past selves into one, dynamic character; a wonderful amalgam of all her lives. Courageous, fierce, loyal, determined, empathetic, considerate, friendly and wise; Macy is a character that you grow to love and that you're rooting for long after the last page has been turned. In fact, all of Cole's characters in this story are wonderfully developed, have unique dynamic lives and personalities and you really get the sense that she knows them inside and out.
One of the other things I love about this story is the romance. Even as Macy is fated to live over and over again, she is also fated to meet and fall in love with her soul mate again and again in every life. Their lives often end in tragedy and I just find it darkly romantic to love and lose your beloved in every lifetime. And for me as a reader, it makes me desperate to see them break this terrible cycle they are fated to repeat. Macy and her soul mate, Gavin are just so sweet and true together, and it makes you hope that someday they'll find their happily ever after.
As with ELK, Cole weaves her story within a legendary/mythical background and paints vivid images of Macy's world through her beautiful descriptions. This story largely involves the Greek pantheon and Cole really did an excellent job of preserving the spirit of the original Greek myths even as she created a mythology that's all her own. I'm not going to say much more, so that you, Dear Reader, may discover for yourselves all those little moments that make you gasp in shock, make you hold your breath, and make you sigh in contentment.
So overall, as previously stated, I loved Fated. It actually made me revise my original opinion of ELK as I considered the two stories as a whole. The things I had originally disliked about ELK, I began to see in Fated how they were a necessary foundation to understanding the complete story. The Bloodstone Saga just has such depth and scope in regard to the world, the characters and the underlying mythology and with it Cole has created a wonderful, romantic adventure that spans across the ages.
July 11, 2011
*~Rating~* 3.5
~*Genre*~ Fantasy
*~*Review*~*
Fated is the second installment in the Bloodstone Saga. Seventeen year old Macy Lockhart has been through a lot over the course of her lifetimes. Yes, I said lifetimes and she’s not really seventeen. You see Macy is a Keeper of the Fate in an organization called the Order of the Moirae (Fate). It is her duty and responsibility to guide her charge, or Daedal through each stage of life, ensuring she makes the right decisions regardless of whether or not she agrees with the final outcome.
In Every Last Kiss, the first book in the series, her charge was Cleopatra and she was Charmian her handmaiden and best friend. Macy has a bird-like birthmark on her wrist that seems to burn when the Fates are angry with her after she appears to do something wrong. You could call it a bad decision compass, or just another way to keep Macy under the thumb of the Fate sisters.
It is now several months after Every Last Kiss and Macy has been reunited once again with her soul mate now known as Gavin Chase. She plays in a band known as Macy and the Grays which has been honored with playing at a Homecoming dance. But, things change quickly when without any warning at all from her guide; her new charge appears at the high school her band is playing at. She immediately recognizes that Jade is her Daedal, once known as Cleopatra. The only problem is that her memories which are also supposed to be there, are missing.
There are dire warnings from several different individuals who tell her not to trust anyone, including the Fates. It seems that Macy is the key to changing past misdeeds of the Fates, which brings her back to the time of Greek Mythology. It also appears that the Fates haven’t exactly been telling the entire truth about why Macy is supposed to stand by and guide her charges towards death.
Macy isn’t even her real name it’s actually Harmonia. That little fact is revealed in this installment as well as who her real parents are, and what actually happened to the Greek Gods, including her own parents, who have been under the Fates spell for thousands of years. What Macy finds out in this book, changes everything she was ever told about being a Keeper.
Cole brings Greek Mythology into her story this time around, especially Zeus, Olympus and the twelve Gods that used to live in Olympus. She spins a tale that keeps readers wondering just who is really on Harmonia’s side, and who is trying to stop her from fulfilling her prophecy.
This story is actually better than the first one in my humble opinion. There are some grammar and editing errors, but it was more intense and suspenseful, and of course, the ending leaves you freaked out and demanding that the next book come out immediately if not sooner. Oh yes, this author definitely enjoys her cliffhangers!
Author states that the next book shall be released in the Fall of 2011. I'll be waiting.
~*Genre*~ Fantasy
*~*Review*~*
Fated is the second installment in the Bloodstone Saga. Seventeen year old Macy Lockhart has been through a lot over the course of her lifetimes. Yes, I said lifetimes and she’s not really seventeen. You see Macy is a Keeper of the Fate in an organization called the Order of the Moirae (Fate). It is her duty and responsibility to guide her charge, or Daedal through each stage of life, ensuring she makes the right decisions regardless of whether or not she agrees with the final outcome.
In Every Last Kiss, the first book in the series, her charge was Cleopatra and she was Charmian her handmaiden and best friend. Macy has a bird-like birthmark on her wrist that seems to burn when the Fates are angry with her after she appears to do something wrong. You could call it a bad decision compass, or just another way to keep Macy under the thumb of the Fate sisters.
It is now several months after Every Last Kiss and Macy has been reunited once again with her soul mate now known as Gavin Chase. She plays in a band known as Macy and the Grays which has been honored with playing at a Homecoming dance. But, things change quickly when without any warning at all from her guide; her new charge appears at the high school her band is playing at. She immediately recognizes that Jade is her Daedal, once known as Cleopatra. The only problem is that her memories which are also supposed to be there, are missing.
There are dire warnings from several different individuals who tell her not to trust anyone, including the Fates. It seems that Macy is the key to changing past misdeeds of the Fates, which brings her back to the time of Greek Mythology. It also appears that the Fates haven’t exactly been telling the entire truth about why Macy is supposed to stand by and guide her charges towards death.
Macy isn’t even her real name it’s actually Harmonia. That little fact is revealed in this installment as well as who her real parents are, and what actually happened to the Greek Gods, including her own parents, who have been under the Fates spell for thousands of years. What Macy finds out in this book, changes everything she was ever told about being a Keeper.
Cole brings Greek Mythology into her story this time around, especially Zeus, Olympus and the twelve Gods that used to live in Olympus. She spins a tale that keeps readers wondering just who is really on Harmonia’s side, and who is trying to stop her from fulfilling her prophecy.
This story is actually better than the first one in my humble opinion. There are some grammar and editing errors, but it was more intense and suspenseful, and of course, the ending leaves you freaked out and demanding that the next book come out immediately if not sooner. Oh yes, this author definitely enjoys her cliffhangers!
Author states that the next book shall be released in the Fall of 2011. I'll be waiting.
July 8, 2011
I am always leery reading a sequel when I love the first book of a series so much. Will it hold up to the first? Will it take me deep into the book world, intoxicate me with it's story and leave me wanting more? So, while I was excited to see where Macy's adventures would take her next, I was cautiously optimistic at how the second book would unfold, wondering if I'd love it as much as I loved Every Last Kiss.
I certainly did! WOW. Fated takes off running from where Every Last Kiss ended, and barely leaves a moment for you to catch your breath. I'm still trying to recover from the shock of a well crafted cliff-hanger (so cruel!!) but despite the cruel cruel ending (ahem....how long am I gonna have to wait for book 3??? :)lol ) I'm still blissfully enchanted by yet another beautifully written tale.
I think if I were to compare the two, Fated gave me a bit more depth into the character of Macy... a bit more connectiveness to her 17yr old self and the decisions she'll be faced with down the road regarding her future. But on the level of excitement, suspense, mythology, fantasy, history and romance... they're so equally matched I can't decide which was better. I choose both :)
I absolutely LOVED that this second book takes us into the realm of Greek Gods and Godesses... my goodness this series delves into not just one of my long time interests, but two - first Egyptian history and mysticism, followed by Greek mythology? WOW! I'll admit during the last few chapters of Fated, I wondered a bit at how the 3rd book would be able to rank as high as the first two, but after the cliffhanger, I'm certain it will just continue along the same mesmerizing path as the first two.
Fated is, like it's prequel, crafted so masterfully with imagery so powerful and breathtaking that you can all but breathe in the air along side the characters. It also continues with the beautiful romantic relationship of Gavin/Cadmus and Macy/Harmonia, filling you with the warm fuzzies of love perfectly defined. Macy/Harmonia's true nature is compelling and gives you a greater understanding of her purpose in life. I won't give away any secrets or spoil any discovery for the reader, but suffice it to say, it is perfectly satifisfying to realise what she truly is.
Another wonderful, beautiful tale filled with love, friendship, mysticism and suspense. This is a fantastic series that I can't wait to see where it heads next. If you haven't already read Every Last Kiss, start there, and enjoy the journey, every step of the way.
I certainly did! WOW. Fated takes off running from where Every Last Kiss ended, and barely leaves a moment for you to catch your breath. I'm still trying to recover from the shock of a well crafted cliff-hanger (so cruel!!) but despite the cruel cruel ending (ahem....how long am I gonna have to wait for book 3??? :)lol ) I'm still blissfully enchanted by yet another beautifully written tale.
I think if I were to compare the two, Fated gave me a bit more depth into the character of Macy... a bit more connectiveness to her 17yr old self and the decisions she'll be faced with down the road regarding her future. But on the level of excitement, suspense, mythology, fantasy, history and romance... they're so equally matched I can't decide which was better. I choose both :)
I absolutely LOVED that this second book takes us into the realm of Greek Gods and Godesses... my goodness this series delves into not just one of my long time interests, but two - first Egyptian history and mysticism, followed by Greek mythology? WOW! I'll admit during the last few chapters of Fated, I wondered a bit at how the 3rd book would be able to rank as high as the first two, but after the cliffhanger, I'm certain it will just continue along the same mesmerizing path as the first two.
Fated is, like it's prequel, crafted so masterfully with imagery so powerful and breathtaking that you can all but breathe in the air along side the characters. It also continues with the beautiful romantic relationship of Gavin/Cadmus and Macy/Harmonia, filling you with the warm fuzzies of love perfectly defined. Macy/Harmonia's true nature is compelling and gives you a greater understanding of her purpose in life. I won't give away any secrets or spoil any discovery for the reader, but suffice it to say, it is perfectly satifisfying to realise what she truly is.
Another wonderful, beautiful tale filled with love, friendship, mysticism and suspense. This is a fantastic series that I can't wait to see where it heads next. If you haven't already read Every Last Kiss, start there, and enjoy the journey, every step of the way.
January 12, 2013
I have to admit I went into this book thinking it was going to be terrible. Didn't see how it could surpass the first book in the series. Second I didn't know how great the story would be going from Cleopatra to Zeus. Not to mention with all the 4 and 5 star reviews I was afraid I'd be disappointed. I could not of been more wrong about all of it.
The story starts off almost the same way as the other with Macy in Pasadena. However, this time all of her memories are still in tack. Generally the characters are the same just different names. Macy finds out that in another life she was also known as Harmonia and her boyfriend Hasani who turned into Gavin is now Cadmus. And their backgrounds turned out to be with Greek mythology. I won't go any further as to not spoil anything.
With such a drastic turn from the first one I was skeptical. But Courtney Cole pulled it off amazingly. I loved every bit of it and even liked it better than the first one. While reading it I was wondering why the author would choose to write the story in such a way. Why start out with Egypt and then go into Greek mythology? The author does go on to comment at the end that she did it that way so we could see how tormented the Fates had been to her character. And I must say I don't think I'd have it any other way really. In this one I got more of a sense that Macy/Charmian/Harmonia had grown up a lot. Her character felt more mature and seemed ready to accept her fate.
Not to mention I also got more of a sense of action and urgency that the first didn't have. Which I think it came out perfectly. Courtney Cole is a gifted and talented writer and I look very forward to many future books to come (no pressure).
The story starts off almost the same way as the other with Macy in Pasadena. However, this time all of her memories are still in tack. Generally the characters are the same just different names. Macy finds out that in another life she was also known as Harmonia and her boyfriend Hasani who turned into Gavin is now Cadmus. And their backgrounds turned out to be with Greek mythology. I won't go any further as to not spoil anything.
With such a drastic turn from the first one I was skeptical. But Courtney Cole pulled it off amazingly. I loved every bit of it and even liked it better than the first one. While reading it I was wondering why the author would choose to write the story in such a way. Why start out with Egypt and then go into Greek mythology? The author does go on to comment at the end that she did it that way so we could see how tormented the Fates had been to her character. And I must say I don't think I'd have it any other way really. In this one I got more of a sense that Macy/Charmian/Harmonia had grown up a lot. Her character felt more mature and seemed ready to accept her fate.
Not to mention I also got more of a sense of action and urgency that the first didn't have. Which I think it came out perfectly. Courtney Cole is a gifted and talented writer and I look very forward to many future books to come (no pressure).
June 20, 2011
First of all I want to say a massive THANK YOU!!! to the author, Courtney Cole who very kindly asked me if I wanted a review copy of Fated!
This is my third Courtney Cole book, and her writing has never disappointed me yet!
This is the second book in the Bloodstone Saga and it starts up pretty much where we left Macy after everything that happened in Every Last Kiss.
After everything that Macy went through in the first book you would think that she could finally sit back, relax and have a bit of a normal life now right? WRONG!! Fated has even more action and drama in it that Every Last Kiss did...infact I actually think I love this book more than I loved Every Last Kiss!
Fated follows Macy as she pieces together even more pieces of the jigsaw puzzle that is her life. She discovers the shocking truth about who she really is and what her real purpose is.
Along the way Macy comes face to face with Witches, Greek Gods and Flying Horses, really what more could you ask for in a book? Saying it like that it may seem that Courtney Cole has tried to cram too much into the one book, but believe me everything slots into place perfectly!
The book is full of twists and turns which left me literally speechless at parts. I just could not believe all this was happening to poor wee Macy! I was very close to tears at one point as well!
Overall a brilliantly written and thoroughly researched book. And I'm going to say it, it ends on a cliffhanger!! Courtney how can you do this to me? I literally cannot believe how Fated ended and I am DESPERATE for the next book now!
This is my third Courtney Cole book, and her writing has never disappointed me yet!
This is the second book in the Bloodstone Saga and it starts up pretty much where we left Macy after everything that happened in Every Last Kiss.
After everything that Macy went through in the first book you would think that she could finally sit back, relax and have a bit of a normal life now right? WRONG!! Fated has even more action and drama in it that Every Last Kiss did...infact I actually think I love this book more than I loved Every Last Kiss!
Fated follows Macy as she pieces together even more pieces of the jigsaw puzzle that is her life. She discovers the shocking truth about who she really is and what her real purpose is.
Along the way Macy comes face to face with Witches, Greek Gods and Flying Horses, really what more could you ask for in a book? Saying it like that it may seem that Courtney Cole has tried to cram too much into the one book, but believe me everything slots into place perfectly!
The book is full of twists and turns which left me literally speechless at parts. I just could not believe all this was happening to poor wee Macy! I was very close to tears at one point as well!
Overall a brilliantly written and thoroughly researched book. And I'm going to say it, it ends on a cliffhanger!! Courtney how can you do this to me? I literally cannot believe how Fated ended and I am DESPERATE for the next book now!
July 8, 2011
Fated is the second book in the Bloodstone Saga and is every bit as wonderful as the first book. Macy is back in Pasadena, living her current life and waiting for her new Daedal to come into her life again. From the moment Macy meets her, things begin to go very differently than ever before and she realizes something is very wrong. She quickly realizes that nothing is as it seems, including herself.
This book goes in a completely different direction than the first, and there are a lot of unexpected twists and turns that led to things I didn't expect at all. Once again, the author weaves actual mythology and legend and real people with the fictional and it is absolutely seamless. While the first explored ancient Egypt and its mythology, this book delves into Greek mythology. Her ability to maintain the integrity of the true mythology while also layering her own with it is amazing and makes for a very absorbing read. I highly recommend picking up this book, as wells as Every Last Kiss, and you won't be disappointed! The next book in the series comes out in the fall of this year and I can't wait for it!
This book goes in a completely different direction than the first, and there are a lot of unexpected twists and turns that led to things I didn't expect at all. Once again, the author weaves actual mythology and legend and real people with the fictional and it is absolutely seamless. While the first explored ancient Egypt and its mythology, this book delves into Greek mythology. Her ability to maintain the integrity of the true mythology while also layering her own with it is amazing and makes for a very absorbing read. I highly recommend picking up this book, as wells as Every Last Kiss, and you won't be disappointed! The next book in the series comes out in the fall of this year and I can't wait for it!
October 22, 2011
Yes! Yes! Yes! The second installment of this series is absolutely awesome! *huge grin* After I finished 'Every Last Kiss' I was terribly afraid that nothing could top it. Apparently I misjudged Courtney Cole's writing, because this book rocked me so hard! First of all, I am SO glad that we got to see so much love between Macy and Gavin (or is it Harmonia and Cadmus? *winks*) and it was just such a treat to watch their immortal love unfold even further. Sometimes all the romantic drama in young adult books can be painful to read, but these two lovebirds are just so constantly blissed out with each other. It's very refreshing and uplifting! I also love that we see a different mythological background in this story. As much as I love ancient Egypt, I love ancient Greece ten times more so this book was really fun to read on so many levels! In any case, this is a young adult series that should not be passed up! And let me just tell you, after reading the ending you will be DESPERATE to start reading the third book!
May 10, 2012
This book was very repetitive. It felt like she was constantly mentioning her/their previous lives as Cleopatra & crew (this does let up as the book goes on, but still continues). Seriously in the thousands of years you've been alive, that's the ONLY one you want to talk about? Well, she does talk about her and her companion's lives as Greek gods constantly too.
So, cons:
- repetitive; besides the aforementioned things, if I have to hear how beautiful Cadmus is one time...
- mention of God and Mother Mary; Christianity comes AFTER your time, and I find it hard to believe that your current teenage life overrides the other thousands of years you've been around
- characters not really realistic (that being said this book is about gods and being reborn), but every character is PERFECT. If you know anything about Greek Gods, is that they AREN'T perfect!
- plot too simple and straightforward. Even the twist(s) are resolved/figured out easily.
Pros:
- interesting concept
- really liked the cover
Glad I didn't buy this; sad I read this at all.
So, cons:
- repetitive; besides the aforementioned things, if I have to hear how beautiful Cadmus is one time...
- mention of God and Mother Mary; Christianity comes AFTER your time, and I find it hard to believe that your current teenage life overrides the other thousands of years you've been around
- characters not really realistic (that being said this book is about gods and being reborn), but every character is PERFECT. If you know anything about Greek Gods, is that they AREN'T perfect!
- plot too simple and straightforward. Even the twist(s) are resolved/figured out easily.
Pros:
- interesting concept
- really liked the cover
Glad I didn't buy this; sad I read this at all.
July 14, 2011
Fascinating!! Wonderful story! After Every Last Kiss I had to wonder how Cole could possibly top herself..but she did. Fated was amazing.. The twists and surprises kept me fully engrossed and anticipating each turn of the page! This book took me on a roller coaster ride of emotions. Love, hate, fear, anticipation, grief, happiness.. I could go on and on. Cole has a wonderful way of making you feel as if you know the characters yourself.. and you feel like such a part of the story. I cannot wait until the next book of this wonderful saga is released! Thank you so much Courtney Cole for putting a new twist to my imagination. I would say that this is a perfect YA series to read, but I believe it could appeal to young and old alike. Thank you again and I will be awaiting your next release!
July 28, 2011
Holy Moly! Courtney Cole wrote such an AMAZING start to this series with Every Last Kiss, it can be hard to continue to deliver this kind of literary awesomeness throughout the duration of the series. She delivered with Fated, all the way. I love how each book in the series I've gotten a little "history lesson" and the writing is, simply put, eloquent and masterful. Hoping the third one's on its way because the cliff hanger at the end of Fated left me wanting more . . . like yesterday!
September 30, 2011
Such a fast paced thrill ride, I say! Love this series, it is quickly becoming one of my favorites! I find myself up in the middle of the night reading, because I can't wait to find out what happens to all the characters. So Good!
June 25, 2011
Wow!! Such an Amazing Sequel, Can't wait for the next one!! Awesome Job Courtney!!
July 17, 2011
I love this series so much. I can't wait until the next one comes out. I have been finding so many fantastic authors lately and Courtney Cole is definitely a new favorite.
August 14, 2011
great book. cant wait for the next book
October 8, 2011
Wow!!! Wow!!! Wow!!!
July 9, 2011
This book was really good. I can't wait for the next.
January 14, 2019
Wow!
I think that is how I started my review for book one, but just becuase that is so doesn't make it any less true.
Cole has really outdone herself. This book was amazing.
When the pieces started to weave together I got chills that ran from the nape of my neck down my spine. I have always been fascinated with mythology and when Cole began to add more and more bits of it into this story line I found myself giddy with happiness.
Such a unique story line of the tales of ole, but with a modern voice. Everything was just so good.
The imagery Cole painted for the reader was so vivid and I could feel the love between Harmoina and Cadmus. The emotions of the characters were so strong and powerful. I was feeling them all right along with them.
I am so glad I took a chance on an unknown author (to me) and picked up this series.
I think that is how I started my review for book one, but just becuase that is so doesn't make it any less true.
Cole has really outdone herself. This book was amazing.
When the pieces started to weave together I got chills that ran from the nape of my neck down my spine. I have always been fascinated with mythology and when Cole began to add more and more bits of it into this story line I found myself giddy with happiness.
Such a unique story line of the tales of ole, but with a modern voice. Everything was just so good.
The imagery Cole painted for the reader was so vivid and I could feel the love between Harmoina and Cadmus. The emotions of the characters were so strong and powerful. I was feeling them all right along with them.
I am so glad I took a chance on an unknown author (to me) and picked up this series.
January 19, 2021
Leaving us with an ending like that one just got me stressed.
Obviously i want to know more.
I appreciate that there is no relationship triangle in this story, that always seems to bother me, i really like how harmonia and Cadmus are truly IT for each other.
HOWEVER, i do sometimes think it's a bit much, but maybe that's just because i've never personally been in a relationship where my every living breath/thought has to be about the other person.
I catch myself binge-reading this series.
No shame. This was definitely a great follow up to the first one.
Can't wait to read the next.
I do wonder if it's going to stick to the Olympus story-line or maybe we'll be in another life of theres?
Still loving the concept of being reincarnated into different lives.
Obviously i want to know more.
I appreciate that there is no relationship triangle in this story, that always seems to bother me, i really like how harmonia and Cadmus are truly IT for each other.
HOWEVER, i do sometimes think it's a bit much, but maybe that's just because i've never personally been in a relationship where my every living breath/thought has to be about the other person.
I catch myself binge-reading this series.
No shame. This was definitely a great follow up to the first one.
Can't wait to read the next.
I do wonder if it's going to stick to the Olympus story-line or maybe we'll be in another life of theres?
Still loving the concept of being reincarnated into different lives.
January 28, 2023
These books got me though and 8 hour job!
Always recommend a good mystery for a distraction.
Always recommend a good mystery for a distraction.
November 22, 2011
Reviewed by Megsly
*Warning: possible spoilers ahead.*
Fated by Courtney Cole is the second book in the Bloodstone Saga. It picks up a few months after book one ended, with Macy back in her present day life. She’s picked up right where she’d left off before she received the bloodstone and recalled her previous life as Charmian, only this time she knows who and what she is. And this time, she has found the soul of her soulmate, Hasani, in that of a boy named Gavin. Little does she know that she’s about to once again encounter her Daedal.
Jade, a quiet girl with a dark secret, isn’t like any other Daedal Macy has had before. Though she still retains many of her qualities that were remnant of Cleopatra, Jade has a darkness to her that Cleopatra never had and it makes Macy nervous. Later, she finds out that Jade is the result of DNA modifications, hence why she’s so valuable to the future of humanity. Her parents, who are scientists obviously, managed to twist her DNA prior to her conception (she calls herself a “petri dish baby”) and the results are that Jade has almost instantaneous healing when injured. Regardless of her oddities, Macy dives in headfirst to do her duty as a Keeper, and as time progresses she realizes that Jade’s history is in no way relevant to what is about to happen. The Keeper society, as Macy knows is, is about to change forever as one final memory is unlocked within her and she realizes who she was in the very beginning, before Keepers ever came to be.
Fated is huge on Greek Mythology, so let me just get that out of there and out of the way. I don’t want to speak anymore on the actual details of the plot of the book, because I don’t want to give anything away. I find that Fated is a brilliant sequel and that Every Last Kiss was merely the set up for the author to tell the story she really wanted to get out. The characters have evolved into independent, and powerful entities outside of their historical roles (once again, Fated places the authors characters into the roles of powerful historical figures we’re all familiar with…this time, I’m just not going to tell you WHO the historical figures are. You’ll just have to read it yourself!) And the plot is something that is truly inspiring. We saw in the first book how easily the author could meld history to fit her story, but in this book we see how wonderfully she can meld history and mythology into something personal, relatable, and beautiful…not to mention, surprisingly original! I’m on pins and needles waiting for the third installment of the Bloodstone Saga, and when it comes out this fall, you’d better believe I’ll be reading it immediately!
Below is my rating of Fated by Courtney Cole. These are reflective strictly of my opinion of the novels I’ve read and reviewed, and not necessarily reflective of the other staff members of MVF.
Plot – 10
Character Development – 9
Grammar and Punctuation – 9
Prose – 8.5
Paranormal Element – 9
Total Score: 9.1/10
(Total score is derived from the average of the 5 individual scores)
*Warning: possible spoilers ahead.*
Fated by Courtney Cole is the second book in the Bloodstone Saga. It picks up a few months after book one ended, with Macy back in her present day life. She’s picked up right where she’d left off before she received the bloodstone and recalled her previous life as Charmian, only this time she knows who and what she is. And this time, she has found the soul of her soulmate, Hasani, in that of a boy named Gavin. Little does she know that she’s about to once again encounter her Daedal.
Jade, a quiet girl with a dark secret, isn’t like any other Daedal Macy has had before. Though she still retains many of her qualities that were remnant of Cleopatra, Jade has a darkness to her that Cleopatra never had and it makes Macy nervous. Later, she finds out that Jade is the result of DNA modifications, hence why she’s so valuable to the future of humanity. Her parents, who are scientists obviously, managed to twist her DNA prior to her conception (she calls herself a “petri dish baby”) and the results are that Jade has almost instantaneous healing when injured. Regardless of her oddities, Macy dives in headfirst to do her duty as a Keeper, and as time progresses she realizes that Jade’s history is in no way relevant to what is about to happen. The Keeper society, as Macy knows is, is about to change forever as one final memory is unlocked within her and she realizes who she was in the very beginning, before Keepers ever came to be.
Fated is huge on Greek Mythology, so let me just get that out of there and out of the way. I don’t want to speak anymore on the actual details of the plot of the book, because I don’t want to give anything away. I find that Fated is a brilliant sequel and that Every Last Kiss was merely the set up for the author to tell the story she really wanted to get out. The characters have evolved into independent, and powerful entities outside of their historical roles (once again, Fated places the authors characters into the roles of powerful historical figures we’re all familiar with…this time, I’m just not going to tell you WHO the historical figures are. You’ll just have to read it yourself!) And the plot is something that is truly inspiring. We saw in the first book how easily the author could meld history to fit her story, but in this book we see how wonderfully she can meld history and mythology into something personal, relatable, and beautiful…not to mention, surprisingly original! I’m on pins and needles waiting for the third installment of the Bloodstone Saga, and when it comes out this fall, you’d better believe I’ll be reading it immediately!
Below is my rating of Fated by Courtney Cole. These are reflective strictly of my opinion of the novels I’ve read and reviewed, and not necessarily reflective of the other staff members of MVF.
Plot – 10
Character Development – 9
Grammar and Punctuation – 9
Prose – 8.5
Paranormal Element – 9
Total Score: 9.1/10
(Total score is derived from the average of the 5 individual scores)
September 10, 2011
After I finished Fated I struggled as to how to approach writing the review. For those of you who are familiar with the series, you know that the main character, Macy, has an immortal soul and is constantly reborn as a keeper; a protector. This time however, things go down a bit differently. The reader learns a great about Macy, her identity and her purpose and I really do not want to spoil things for you. So please forgive me if this review is a bit scatter brained and unclear at times, I am trying my best to tiptoe around and not give things away. I thought about not writing a review, but I really wanted to share with you all how much I enjoyed Fated.
So, like I said, Macy and the usual gang are back for round two. This time, instead of Ancient Egypt, they are wreaking havoc in Ancient Greece – sort of (cryptic, I know). like I said, I am going to keep plot points to a minimum, but I will say this: Fated was one shock after another. I must admit, when I was finished with it, I thought to myself, “there is no way Courtney Cole knew where she was going with that”. Then, as if she has some magical connection directly to my brain and coincidentally my nook, she explained her reasoning in the author’s notes. Now, don’t get me wrong, I loved all the twists, turns and “oh my god!” moments, that’s why I am sparing you in details.
There were a few problems I had with the book, one in particular with Macy’s demeanor. I have always liked Macy, I have from the first page of Every Last Kiss, but her emotional meltdowns are beginning to wear on me. She is an extremely emotional character and I began to get irritated with her overreacting about every little detail. Gavin’s incessant comforting began to take its toll on me as well. On that same note, there soul-mate love is a little much at times too. Please do not misunderstand, I love, love, LOVE Gavin and Macy. It is just that one of these days there over-sweetness is going to give me a toothache. It’s always My love this and my love that. Oh, and sweet. They are very fond of using sweet as an endearment as well. I would just really love to see them argue once or disagree or something. Like I said, I am completely in the Macy/Gavin camp, but I would like to see something else from them.
Truly though, those were my only issues with the book. I know this is an incredibly short review, but without mentioning the plot, my topics are kind of limited. Let me just say that if you are a fan of paranormal romances, fantasy stories, time travel books, adventure stories or just plain love stories, you are about 99.9% sure to enjoy Fated. If this is the first time you’ve heard of this series, that please go check out Every Last Kiss as it was AWESOME as well.
So, like I said, Macy and the usual gang are back for round two. This time, instead of Ancient Egypt, they are wreaking havoc in Ancient Greece – sort of (cryptic, I know). like I said, I am going to keep plot points to a minimum, but I will say this: Fated was one shock after another. I must admit, when I was finished with it, I thought to myself, “there is no way Courtney Cole knew where she was going with that”. Then, as if she has some magical connection directly to my brain and coincidentally my nook, she explained her reasoning in the author’s notes. Now, don’t get me wrong, I loved all the twists, turns and “oh my god!” moments, that’s why I am sparing you in details.
There were a few problems I had with the book, one in particular with Macy’s demeanor. I have always liked Macy, I have from the first page of Every Last Kiss, but her emotional meltdowns are beginning to wear on me. She is an extremely emotional character and I began to get irritated with her overreacting about every little detail. Gavin’s incessant comforting began to take its toll on me as well. On that same note, there soul-mate love is a little much at times too. Please do not misunderstand, I love, love, LOVE Gavin and Macy. It is just that one of these days there over-sweetness is going to give me a toothache. It’s always My love this and my love that. Oh, and sweet. They are very fond of using sweet as an endearment as well. I would just really love to see them argue once or disagree or something. Like I said, I am completely in the Macy/Gavin camp, but I would like to see something else from them.
Truly though, those were my only issues with the book. I know this is an incredibly short review, but without mentioning the plot, my topics are kind of limited. Let me just say that if you are a fan of paranormal romances, fantasy stories, time travel books, adventure stories or just plain love stories, you are about 99.9% sure to enjoy Fated. If this is the first time you’ve heard of this series, that please go check out Every Last Kiss as it was AWESOME as well.
April 16, 2012
Reviewed by Meg
Fated by Courtney Cole is the second book in the Bloodstone Saga. It picks up a few months after book one ended, with Macy back in her present day life. She’s picked up right where she’d left off before she received the bloodstone and recalled her previous life as Charmian, only this time she knows who and what she is. And this time, she has found the soul of her soulmate, Hasani, in that of a boy named Gavin. Little does she know that she’s about to once again encounter her Daedal.
Jade, a quiet girl with a dark secret, isn’t like any other Daedal Macy has had before. Though she still retains many of her qualities that were remnant of Cleopatra, Jade has a darkness to her that Cleopatra never had and it makes Macy nervous. Later, she finds out that Jade is the result of DNA modifications, hence why she’s so valuable to the future of humanity. Her parents, who are scientists obviously, managed to twist her DNA prior to her conception (she calls herself a “petri dish baby”) and the results are that Jade has almost instantaneous healing when injured. Regardless of her oddities, Macy dives in headfirst to do her duty as a Keeper, and as time progresses she realizes that Jade’s history is in no way relevant to what is about to happen. The Keeper society, as Macy knows is, is about to change forever as one final memory is unlocked within her and she realizes who she was in the very beginning, before Keepers ever came to be.
Fated is huge on Greek Mythology, so let me just get that out of there and out of the way. I don’t want to speak anymore on the actual details of the plot of the book, because I don’t want to give anything away. I find that Fated is a brilliant sequel and that Every Last Kiss was merely the set up for the author to tell the story she really wanted to get out. The characters have evolved into independent, and powerful entities outside of their historical roles (once again, Fated places the authors characters into the roles of powerful historical figures we’re all familiar with…this time, I’m just not going to tell you WHO the historical figures are. You’ll just have to read it yourself!) And the plot is something that is truly inspiring. We saw in the first book how easily the author could meld history to fit her story, but in this book we see how wonderfully she can meld history and mythology into something personal, relatable, and beautiful…not to mention, surprisingly original! I was on pins and needles waiting for the third installment of the Bloodstone Saga, and when it came out this past fall, you’d better believe that I read it immediately!
Fated by Courtney Cole is the second book in the Bloodstone Saga. It picks up a few months after book one ended, with Macy back in her present day life. She’s picked up right where she’d left off before she received the bloodstone and recalled her previous life as Charmian, only this time she knows who and what she is. And this time, she has found the soul of her soulmate, Hasani, in that of a boy named Gavin. Little does she know that she’s about to once again encounter her Daedal.
Jade, a quiet girl with a dark secret, isn’t like any other Daedal Macy has had before. Though she still retains many of her qualities that were remnant of Cleopatra, Jade has a darkness to her that Cleopatra never had and it makes Macy nervous. Later, she finds out that Jade is the result of DNA modifications, hence why she’s so valuable to the future of humanity. Her parents, who are scientists obviously, managed to twist her DNA prior to her conception (she calls herself a “petri dish baby”) and the results are that Jade has almost instantaneous healing when injured. Regardless of her oddities, Macy dives in headfirst to do her duty as a Keeper, and as time progresses she realizes that Jade’s history is in no way relevant to what is about to happen. The Keeper society, as Macy knows is, is about to change forever as one final memory is unlocked within her and she realizes who she was in the very beginning, before Keepers ever came to be.
Fated is huge on Greek Mythology, so let me just get that out of there and out of the way. I don’t want to speak anymore on the actual details of the plot of the book, because I don’t want to give anything away. I find that Fated is a brilliant sequel and that Every Last Kiss was merely the set up for the author to tell the story she really wanted to get out. The characters have evolved into independent, and powerful entities outside of their historical roles (once again, Fated places the authors characters into the roles of powerful historical figures we’re all familiar with…this time, I’m just not going to tell you WHO the historical figures are. You’ll just have to read it yourself!) And the plot is something that is truly inspiring. We saw in the first book how easily the author could meld history to fit her story, but in this book we see how wonderfully she can meld history and mythology into something personal, relatable, and beautiful…not to mention, surprisingly original! I was on pins and needles waiting for the third installment of the Bloodstone Saga, and when it came out this past fall, you’d better believe that I read it immediately!
April 12, 2012
Oh my. I so didn’t see this one coming. I read "Every Last Kiss" last year and it was nice. The concept was interesting, original even, but it didn’t draw me in. But boy, "Fated" did!
Macy works for as as Keeper for the ancient organisation of the Moirae, looking after her Deadal, someone who is destined to do great things, but is also destined to a life full of tragedy and pain. Two thousand years ago her Deadal was Cleopatra and Macy Charmian, her handmaiden and confidante. Now in present day Pasadena her Deadal is a young and extraordinary woman called Jade . It’s Macy’s job to protect her, but this time something is different. Things develop fast and Macy soon discovered that she isn’t who she thought the was, that the Moirae aren’t who they claim they are:
This story is amazingly complex. Looking back at "Every Last Kiss", I remember little things that, with the benefit of hindsight, hint at what’s really going on, but only in "Fated" the truth (though it may not be all of it; you never know) is finally revealed. To come up with such a brilliant and intricate plot requires a lot of research (I am not an expert on Greek mythology, but Courtney Cole has done a great job here and in my experience—although I only write fan fictions—it can be a challenge to incorporate these kinds of things into your story in a way that makes it sound, well, real) and lots and lots and LOTS of imagination. It’s also refreshingly original. I have read quite a lot books that focus on Greek mythology and while many of these were disappointing (like The Goddess Test), this one is not.
I really like Macy/ as a character. She is strong and contrary to many a heroine in contemporary YA fiction, she doesn’t need to be saved by the men in her life. She saves herself, over and over again, and that makes her a great person. She has doubts, yes—who hasn’t once in a while?—and a tendency to sacrifice her own well-being for others, which to be completely honest I am getting a little tired of reading in YA fiction, but and that’s why I don’t mind it here at all.
I can’t wait to read "With My Last Breath" and the conclusion "My Tattered Bonds" and after that the first book of The Moonstone Saga. Courtney Cole is definitely about to become one of my favourite authors.
Macy works for as as Keeper for the ancient organisation of the Moirae, looking after her Deadal, someone who is destined to do great things, but is also destined to a life full of tragedy and pain. Two thousand years ago her Deadal was Cleopatra and Macy Charmian, her handmaiden and confidante. Now in present day Pasadena her Deadal is a young and extraordinary woman called Jade . It’s Macy’s job to protect her, but this time something is different. Things develop fast and Macy soon discovered that she isn’t who she thought the was, that the Moirae aren’t who they claim they are:
This story is amazingly complex. Looking back at "Every Last Kiss", I remember little things that, with the benefit of hindsight, hint at what’s really going on, but only in "Fated" the truth (though it may not be all of it; you never know) is finally revealed. To come up with such a brilliant and intricate plot requires a lot of research (I am not an expert on Greek mythology, but Courtney Cole has done a great job here and in my experience—although I only write fan fictions—it can be a challenge to incorporate these kinds of things into your story in a way that makes it sound, well, real) and lots and lots and LOTS of imagination. It’s also refreshingly original. I have read quite a lot books that focus on Greek mythology and while many of these were disappointing (like The Goddess Test), this one is not.
I really like Macy/ as a character. She is strong and contrary to many a heroine in contemporary YA fiction, she doesn’t need to be saved by the men in her life. She saves herself, over and over again, and that makes her a great person. She has doubts, yes—who hasn’t once in a while?—and a tendency to sacrifice her own well-being for others, which to be completely honest I am getting a little tired of reading in YA fiction, but and that’s why I don’t mind it here at all.
I can’t wait to read "With My Last Breath" and the conclusion "My Tattered Bonds" and after that the first book of The Moonstone Saga. Courtney Cole is definitely about to become one of my favourite authors.
July 1, 2016
I'm not sure what happened really. It's starting to feel like a drag. I feel like being hit by everything all at once and it's so so fast paced, that it's becoming hard to keep up. God knows how much I hate that.
And then the cliffhanger at end? It felt like the author couldn't figure out how to progress the story and keep it interesting so she threw in this huge unexpected cliffhanger. We finally see Cadmus and Harmonia together in one book (as their old selves) but they never even get a chance to have a normal relationship. To you know, fight for their love together, or anything like that. And now I'm guessing it won't happen in the next one either, given the cliffhanger! If we don't even get time to connect with the characters and actually you know see them in the book, how in the world are we supposed to love them? *Sigh.*
Also I was really, really looking forward for the Greek Mythology part of it. It was admittedly better than any other aspect of this book. But still, somethings should not be changed. All the Gods have their personalities that need to be considered when writing stories about them. My biggest problem being Ares, being depicted as a caring God, who loves his children and Aphrodite (who might I add, is NOT his wife. He doesn't have any reason to love her, but no, for the sake of giving Harmonia a family, let's change the basic essence of one of the major Gods in the Greek Mythology!)
Why couldn't it be kept nice and simple like the first one? I enjoyed that one so much and so I had really high expectations for this one. I don't mid complicated plot lines, I like them in fact, if they are well written and intricately interconnected. But I also need it to be properly paced. Throwing everything in one single book; all the history, the problems and complications, the worry, tension and action, just feels overwhelming and makes it seem like a 'trying too hard' kind of book. Nothing was dealt with properly here, at all. Every time suspense or tension would built up, it would be cleared out in the next moment, without giving it the proper time or attention it deserves.
Despite all this, I will still continue to read the rest of the books, at least try them anyways, hoping they will become better. We'll just have to see how it goes.
And then the cliffhanger at end? It felt like the author couldn't figure out how to progress the story and keep it interesting so she threw in this huge unexpected cliffhanger. We finally see Cadmus and Harmonia together in one book (as their old selves) but they never even get a chance to have a normal relationship. To you know, fight for their love together, or anything like that. And now I'm guessing it won't happen in the next one either, given the cliffhanger! If we don't even get time to connect with the characters and actually you know see them in the book, how in the world are we supposed to love them? *Sigh.*
Also I was really, really looking forward for the Greek Mythology part of it. It was admittedly better than any other aspect of this book. But still, somethings should not be changed. All the Gods have their personalities that need to be considered when writing stories about them. My biggest problem being Ares, being depicted as a caring God, who loves his children and Aphrodite (who might I add, is NOT his wife. He doesn't have any reason to love her, but no, for the sake of giving Harmonia a family, let's change the basic essence of one of the major Gods in the Greek Mythology!)
Why couldn't it be kept nice and simple like the first one? I enjoyed that one so much and so I had really high expectations for this one. I don't mid complicated plot lines, I like them in fact, if they are well written and intricately interconnected. But I also need it to be properly paced. Throwing everything in one single book; all the history, the problems and complications, the worry, tension and action, just feels overwhelming and makes it seem like a 'trying too hard' kind of book. Nothing was dealt with properly here, at all. Every time suspense or tension would built up, it would be cleared out in the next moment, without giving it the proper time or attention it deserves.
Despite all this, I will still continue to read the rest of the books, at least try them anyways, hoping they will become better. We'll just have to see how it goes.
January 17, 2012
I loved Fated—I mean really loved it! The story picks up shortly after Every Last Kiss, and it is filled with action and romance. Courtney Cole continues to write some pretty steamy/swoon worthy scenes between Gavin and Macy—and I devour all of it.
I have been obsessed with Greek Mythology since I was in about third grade. I read mythology books for fun, watched hours of Xena and Hercules, researched Greek Mythology online, and made my sisters take Greek Mythology tests, so I think it’s fair to say that I know a lot about mythology. One of the things that impresses me the most about Courtney Cole’s Bloodstone Saga is that she incorporates obscure myths that I haven’t really heard of before. I love learning new things, and being exposed to a new facet of Greek Mythology is heaven to me. I also love the special twists that she adds in to make the mythology her own—particularly why we haven’t seen the Gods in so long.
Fated is a refreshing take on Greek Mythology. It takes us on an adventure and introduces us to more obscure myths, which is really phenomenal because some retellings have been a trillion times and are feeling a little stale (Hades and Persephone anyone?). Additionally, I would not change a single thing about Courtney Cole’s writing style. She sucks you into her story and does not let you go until the last page. I’m attached to the characters and I need to know what happens to them. The plot line is fascinating and I have to know where it is going—and the romance is both steamy and sweet. The Bloodstone Saga is quickly becoming one of my all-time favorite mythology books, and I can’t wait to read more.
I have been obsessed with Greek Mythology since I was in about third grade. I read mythology books for fun, watched hours of Xena and Hercules, researched Greek Mythology online, and made my sisters take Greek Mythology tests, so I think it’s fair to say that I know a lot about mythology. One of the things that impresses me the most about Courtney Cole’s Bloodstone Saga is that she incorporates obscure myths that I haven’t really heard of before. I love learning new things, and being exposed to a new facet of Greek Mythology is heaven to me. I also love the special twists that she adds in to make the mythology her own—particularly why we haven’t seen the Gods in so long.
Fated is a refreshing take on Greek Mythology. It takes us on an adventure and introduces us to more obscure myths, which is really phenomenal because some retellings have been a trillion times and are feeling a little stale (Hades and Persephone anyone?). Additionally, I would not change a single thing about Courtney Cole’s writing style. She sucks you into her story and does not let you go until the last page. I’m attached to the characters and I need to know what happens to them. The plot line is fascinating and I have to know where it is going—and the romance is both steamy and sweet. The Bloodstone Saga is quickly becoming one of my all-time favorite mythology books, and I can’t wait to read more.
November 25, 2013
(This review may contain spoilers).
So... I've always liked Greek mythology, but I don't always see it used well in popular culture. Norse mythology, either, for that matter - but since this book deals with Greek mythology...
It actually took me a while longer than I would have liked to read this book. That wasn't because I struggled reading it - it was more because I had a large amount of books to read when I came back from a weekend away and I've only just reached the end of those.
I found this book really easy to get back into. The storyline and characters contained within the book were interesting and the whole world was really well-written. The characters were well-rounded and came across as particularly human, with realistic strengths and weaknesses. When it comes to gods and goddesses, I think it's really hard not to make them all-powerful and I was really glad that there were no Mary Sue-like characters in this book.
It was good to see more characters from the myths in this book. I particularly liked how Ares was written. It was so refreshing not to see him portrayed as the bad guy. And I was surprised by who he was in the mortal world, but it did make sense.
This book ended on a cliffhanger, which is a bit frustrating - but since I have the next two books on my Kindle, not as frustrating as it could be. I will definitely be reading the next book in this series at some point soon. As well as the myriad of other books I have - both on my Kindle and in book form - to read.
So... I've always liked Greek mythology, but I don't always see it used well in popular culture. Norse mythology, either, for that matter - but since this book deals with Greek mythology...
It actually took me a while longer than I would have liked to read this book. That wasn't because I struggled reading it - it was more because I had a large amount of books to read when I came back from a weekend away and I've only just reached the end of those.
I found this book really easy to get back into. The storyline and characters contained within the book were interesting and the whole world was really well-written. The characters were well-rounded and came across as particularly human, with realistic strengths and weaknesses. When it comes to gods and goddesses, I think it's really hard not to make them all-powerful and I was really glad that there were no Mary Sue-like characters in this book.
It was good to see more characters from the myths in this book. I particularly liked how Ares was written. It was so refreshing not to see him portrayed as the bad guy. And I was surprised by who he was in the mortal world, but it did make sense.
This book ended on a cliffhanger, which is a bit frustrating - but since I have the next two books on my Kindle, not as frustrating as it could be. I will definitely be reading the next book in this series at some point soon. As well as the myriad of other books I have - both on my Kindle and in book form - to read.
August 18, 2011
So happy to have won this one through Goodreads! Looking forward to it :)
Woo hoo! It came today. Definitely on the soon-to-read list. Just added book 3 to my to-read list as well!
Just finished the book, and wow, what a cliff hanger! I totally was not expecting that, not at all!
I am always so weary of the second book in a series, trilogy, etc. because they always seem to drag somehow. Not so with Fated by Courtney Cole! Although plot-wise, it seemed a little slower than Every Last Kiss, the reader learns so much awesome, mind-blowing information about Macy/Harmonia's life that I didn't mind. I totally didn't see how Cole was going to connect ancient Egypt with the Greek gods, but she definitely delivers. This book is so fun to read--a wild ride for the imagination. Harmonia isn't tied down by the same limitations as she is as Macy and going along as she discovers her past is so exciting. I'm really looking forward to reading the next book. The whole idea of Gavin being her soulmate also makes more sense when you understand their past together. It's way more than a hello-nice to meet you-we're in love now type plots that seem to abound in YA novels today. I also love that Harmonia (formerly Macy) doesn't wait around to be rescued; in fact, it seems to be the other way around. :)
I recommend this for young adults (or adults that still read YA), especially fans of mythology, fantasy and romance (not the nasty kind, thank you for that, Mrs. Cole!).
Woo hoo! It came today. Definitely on the soon-to-read list. Just added book 3 to my to-read list as well!
Just finished the book, and wow, what a cliff hanger! I totally was not expecting that, not at all!
I am always so weary of the second book in a series, trilogy, etc. because they always seem to drag somehow. Not so with Fated by Courtney Cole! Although plot-wise, it seemed a little slower than Every Last Kiss, the reader learns so much awesome, mind-blowing information about Macy/Harmonia's life that I didn't mind. I totally didn't see how Cole was going to connect ancient Egypt with the Greek gods, but she definitely delivers. This book is so fun to read--a wild ride for the imagination. Harmonia isn't tied down by the same limitations as she is as Macy and going along as she discovers her past is so exciting. I'm really looking forward to reading the next book. The whole idea of Gavin being her soulmate also makes more sense when you understand their past together. It's way more than a hello-nice to meet you-we're in love now type plots that seem to abound in YA novels today. I also love that Harmonia (formerly Macy) doesn't wait around to be rescued; in fact, it seems to be the other way around. :)
I recommend this for young adults (or adults that still read YA), especially fans of mythology, fantasy and romance (not the nasty kind, thank you for that, Mrs. Cole!).
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