Rook

by Cristyn West

Praise for Rook...
"Wow. Can you say page turner, roller coaster ride, and great characters three times fast? Rook grabs hold of you from the first scene in a torchlight cave and doesn't let go until the last word. Amazing."
Your Need To Read

"Any book that has angels, vampires, and giant attack lizard is okay with us! This book takes urban fantasy to a whole new level. Exciting yet with some truly heartfelt moments. We cannot recommend Rook enough! Can't wait for the next in the series."
ParaYourNormal


"Saving the world twice a week is a crappy job, but hey, somebody's got to do it." And yes, Rook would like to be quoted on that.
In a world where the earth is the DMZ between Heaven and Hell, Rook and his team try keep the forces of good and evil at bay. But like we said... try.

"While not a 'thriller' per se, Rook is the definition of thrilling. West really knows how to turn up the heat and keep you flipping through the pages so fast you fear they will ignite! Even if urban fantasy isn't your thing, READ ROOK. You won't regret it!"
ThrillersRockT

"West always writes smart, gripping mysteries (Plain Jane and All Hallow's Eve), but it was great to see her bring that same flare to her new Urban Fantasy, Rook. I just wanted to climb in the car with them, even though it was being chased by winged demons! Rook leaves your heart pounding, wanting more!"
Amber Scott
Author of "Fierce Dawn"

** If you were looking for Cristyn's other Bestselling Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance, it is under her "reverse pen name" Carolyn McCray and is titled "HeartsBlood."

**If you were looking for Cristyn #1 Bestselling Mystery/Thriller, it is titled "Plain Brunette Beware,' But be forewarned it is a Patterson-style mystery with a dash of Hannibal.

**If you were looking for Cristyn's bestselling Suspense/Mystery by it is titled "All Hallow's The One Night it's BAD to be Good." All the macabre of "Plain Jane," but with a religious twist.

**If you were looking for Carolyn's latest historical thriller, simply search under "Fated + McCray," but again, be forewarned. There is a paranormal romance element that sneaks up on you like an asp in the night...

**If you were looking for her "reverse" pen name Carolyn McCray's #1 Historical Thiller (Men's Adventure and War/Military), simply search under "30 Pieces of Silver," but be forewarned, it is extremely controversial!

** If you were looking for Carolyn's #1 YA Epic Fantasy, simple search for "7 Folds of Winter."

If you want to know more about Carolyn/Cristyn, join her newsletter, or request a SIGNED digital book cover, please check out www.carolynmccray.com

Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal, Horror, Demons, Urban Fantasy, Fiction, Mystery

157 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 8, 2011

About the author

I find catching serial killers (on paper of course), well... fun.

Do you really need to know anything more about me?

Ok, fine, I am also a veterinarian (for real, not just in my own head like the serial killer thing) and I find the thought of having a romance with a homo chiroptera pretty hot.

See? I told you, you didn't want to know anything else!

For the holidays I am giving away my Patterson-style thriller "Plain Jane" for FREE the only catch? You simply have to promise to give it away to 5 mystery-loving friends! And of course give an honest review here and on Smashwords: http://bit.ly/b60jVe

So head on over and grab your free copy... or 5 (I am even cool with you lying to co-workers and saying you bought it for them! #howcoolisthat!)

Thanks and enjoy

Reviews

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This free kindle book was better that I originally thought. It was fast pace, entertaining read. Loved Fanny and Rook's soft spot for her. Although the ending felt a little rushed to me, I will more than likely continue with the series just to see if the author picks up from the ending or sends the group on to a new adventure.

[TheThirdLie · Rating 1 out of 5]

An incoherent mess at best. There were so many ideas for the plot, setting, characters. Everything. None of them were fleshed out or, hell, even partially explained. This was probably one of the worst books I've ever read.

[Perry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually thought this was going to be a load of rubbish but ended up enjoying it. Found it to be more of a comedy than a horror.... Two characters I totally loved was the simply delightful Fanny & the awesome Beauty. It's short & sweet and well worth a read to put a smile on your face.

[Miriam J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast and entertaining read

Couldn't put it down... Gave it for stars because this is the second book by her that indicates a sequel and I cannot find them! Quit torturing us with amazing reads and then leave us hanging!

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fast paced & enjoyable characters. Seemed like it was planned as the start of a series so seems unfinished at the end, so I wish there were more.

[Vanessa Hansen]

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[Cam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm pretty certain that the previous reviewer read a completely different book than I did. Rook: Let's Avoid the Apocalypse, People is a dark comedy where the forces of heaven & hell decide once & for all to duke it out on our little mudball, collateral damage be damned. Terra inferma has been a demilitarized zone for a celestial cold war that has suddenly shifted into full blown armageddon with only the A(typical)-team between us mere mortals & oblivion. We're inundated with legions of heavenly & infernal creatures at every turn with increasingly dire circumstances for our anti-heroes & while that definitely provides interest & excitement it's really the interactions of the characters that make you keep on reading.

So while I'll give you some brief character descriptions below the character quotes are even better.

Rook: the snarky anti-hero who stays ahead of disaster by the skin of his teeth using his mainly his wits & a willingness to make ruthless choices. "Actually, yes it did. Right here," Rook said as he pointed to the pictograms above the seal. "Do not open. Hellgate. Bad, researchers, bad."
Beauty: the überconnected middlewoman who could deliver a snowdrop to the most molten circle of hell without scuffing her Gucci's. "Rook, my darling, my love, the father of my imaginary children, where are you going to go exactly?"
Tomahawk: a cantankerous retired infogeek that makes "The Rock" look like a tutu-wearing marshmallow...oh wait, I think that was Hulk Hogan. "Let's see? I could be killed, and my people become slaves to a demon-worshipping cult?"
Fanny: if Punky Brewster were a magic sensitive & as merrily cracked as the mad hatter. "I kind of liked the Hell-thingy. It had pretty colors....Can we do it again?"
Chad: the Vice President's nephew & coincidentally a walking hellgate...guess we know which VP to whom he's related. "[moan]...fire...[groan]...pain!"
Angela: can we say immaculate conception? "I'm never leaving home without Midol again."

Magic + mayhem + plenty of snark = Rook et al. Enjoy.

[Joe Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story about a brave, mid-fifties, unassuming women who wandered the roads of an agrarian society for twenty years dressed as a slight man and carrying an oak staff. She had left an abusive husband after a particularly severe beating. On her journey, she spent time with other enlightened women and learned the ways of herbs and folk medicine absorbing the ways of the natural world including prayers and incantations. She was heading towards a renown wise, old women in the north who had accumulated a life of wisdom in the uses of natural remedies and potions, hoping to study with her and learn of her knowledge before it was lost with her death. She passes through a small village and ends up showing the villagers how to use a tea made of willow bark to treat a women that had a high fever. The villagers begged her to spend some time with them and teach them some of the herbal remedies she knew as their village medicine women had died the previous winter without training any replacement. She settles for the first time in twenty years and befriends the villagers another first in many years. Her struggles to fit in and become a member of a society that held her in high esteem while anxious to complete her self assigned mission. The story features her development into a seer and benefactor for the village and also showcases her strength of character and physical ability when confronted by bullies and would be extortionists. A story of love, bravery, strength and growth in the world. Well developed characters and appropriate dialogue in a realistic environment not far removed from our current life.

[K.R. Bankston · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was alot of fun!! I loved Rook, the hero with his on/off personality. I loved his dry wit as wellas the soft spot he had for Fanny, the childlike seeker that was with them. She had the cute childlike innocence but she handles business when needed be. Tomahawk and Angela were very likeable, and their characters gave depth to the story, though Angela tended to grate my nerves a teeny bit. Beauty, now that was my girl!! Loved her character, loved her wit, humor, the realness of being who she was!! I will definitely try and keep up with the adventures of Rook and read more as the saga continues!!

[Christie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my favorite of the books. So many wonderful characters in this book. Rook, who is the so-called leader of a motley crew of peace keepers (if that is what you want to call them). You have my favorite, Beauty, the cross dressing handler. Tomahawk, who is pissed at Rook for getting him pulled back into the fight to protect the world. Fanny, the child in a woman's body. This is such a great story of how they all have something wonderful to bring to the fight. They are basically fighting the biblical God vs Satan war. I can't give you anymore hints than that...READ THIS BOOK! It's worth it!

[Kim Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a pretty good book and a fast, action packed read. I got this book in a boxed set so I am not sure what genre it is marked as but, I would think it a teen book. The characters were colorful but not well defined. The author could give us a little more depth on the characters but overall, a good teen book. There were demons, angels, vampires and other creatures but it wasn't a really gory book. I would recommend this book to my teenage niece to read.

[Sandra Gilbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

That was one really fun and amazing story. Anything that could go wrong, did. There was excitement, suspense, angels, demons and a fun and odd, but endearing cast of main characters.

I honestly can't wait for future tales featuring these guys.

Oh and if anyone asks, Fanny is by far my favorite, she is absolutely the best blend of naive, quirky, out right nuts and serious.

[Angie Gibson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and found its characters very engaging. I yearned for a bit more details about them but I am hoping the subsequent novels will provide that. The concept of Seekers, Casters, Arrangers, etc...is fantastic. The entire structure of the world the author built will keep me coming back for more!

[Joanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a quick and fun introduction to Rook and his team who apparently regularly save us from the apocalypse. I always enjoy a sci-fi action series and this one hits the mark. I'd like to see more of their adventures and am eager to learn more about the history of how the team came together. Can't wait for more installments!

[Wendy Thoms · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book some time ago, so I do not have direct quotes. I found this to be a wonderful read...the main 'protagonist' has a very John Constantine fell to him. I was hoping that the author would follow it up..Rook is so intriguing and such a 'grey' character, this could develop into a truly amazing series!! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE write another!!

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was included in the Got Thrills kindle bundle. Very campy, very much like a movie pitch to the SyFy channel but like a campy horror film(sometimes you just need an Evil Dead/Bruce Campbell fix, right?) a book like this is just what one needs. A fun read for a rainy afternoon.

[Cyndi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great start to a new series and a new twist on UF. Can't wait to see what happens next in this world Ms. West has created.

[AH]

Kindle free download 3/14/12

[Evie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good hope there's more coming!

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Action packed and fast paced...just love this.

[Bobby · Rating 2 out of 5]

Worthy effort and I'm sure has a fan base but a little over the top for me. But...I tried it and stuck with it.

[CATHERINE · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun and interesting! Well worth your reading time.

[Brad Theado · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my favorite by this author