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League of Guardians #0.5
Wrong Side of Hell
With battle lines drawn and evil forces gathering in the shadows, the league of guardians is all that stands between chaos and the human realm...Logan Winters, an elite hellhound shifter, wants to forget his allegiance to the League and the pain he's suffered because of it. But when he's ordered to retrieve Kira Dove from purgatory and bring her back to life, he can't refuse. Not only will her death affect the balance between the realms, she's also linked to a past he can't forget.Kira Dove, a young woman murdered before her time, wanders the gray realm, alone and vulnerable. The one bright spot in her life is the memory of a mysterious protector who saved her once before. As she makes her way through this terrifying place, she can't help but wonder...will he come for her again?As Logan races to save her, he knows he faces a nearly impossible How can a hellhound survive in the one place he shouldn't ever be? The wrong side of hell...
176 pages, ebook
First published March 6, 2012
7 people are currently reading
701 people want to read
About the author
Juliana Stone
64 books1,294 followersJuliana Stone is also known as J.A. Stone.
USA Today bestselling author and 2015 RITA® winner JULIANA STONE fell in love with books in the fifth grade when her teacher introduced her to Tom Sawyer. A tomboy at heart, she splits her time between baseball, books, and music. When she’s not singing with her band, she’s thrilled to be writing young adult as well as adult contemporary romance—books that have garnered starred reviews from Publishers Weekly & Booklist—from somewhere in the wilds of Canada.
USA Today bestselling author and 2015 RITA® winner JULIANA STONE fell in love with books in the fifth grade when her teacher introduced her to Tom Sawyer. A tomboy at heart, she splits her time between baseball, books, and music. When she’s not singing with her band, she’s thrilled to be writing young adult as well as adult contemporary romance—books that have garnered starred reviews from Publishers Weekly & Booklist—from somewhere in the wilds of Canada.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
February 29, 2012
Take one sexy as sin alpha hellhound and one sassy woman in need of help, spin the tale together with a brilliantly funny author and what you get is a truly fantastic book.
And it was only 100 pages!!
This was my first Juliana Stone read and I was honestly blown away with her writing style. It was extremely easy to read, continuously exciting and quite simply a joy to read from start to finish.
It wasn’t frilly with butterflies and daisies and skipping in the sunshine, it was rough and gritty. Logan was masculine, 100% alpha and dominant to a lickable degree. He wasn’t the sort of guy who would say “Oh, drat. Look at that, a demon just ripped my arm off”....no, no, no, Logan was more like “You f*cking assh*le, you ripped off my f*cking arm. Prepare to die b*tch.”
I honestly loved it. I loved how manly Logan was, I loved that Kira had her own set of balls and I loved how they bickered. My first taste of Juliana Stone was definitely a good one.
There were only a few small reasons why it didn’t receive a full five stars and those reasons weren’t anything overly dramatic.
All in all, I loved this book, could have devoured another 100 more pages of it and can’t wait to read more from Juliana Stone.
ARC provided by Avon
And it was only 100 pages!!
This was my first Juliana Stone read and I was honestly blown away with her writing style. It was extremely easy to read, continuously exciting and quite simply a joy to read from start to finish.
It wasn’t frilly with butterflies and daisies and skipping in the sunshine, it was rough and gritty. Logan was masculine, 100% alpha and dominant to a lickable degree. He wasn’t the sort of guy who would say “Oh, drat. Look at that, a demon just ripped my arm off”....no, no, no, Logan was more like “You f*cking assh*le, you ripped off my f*cking arm. Prepare to die b*tch.”
I honestly loved it. I loved how manly Logan was, I loved that Kira had her own set of balls and I loved how they bickered. My first taste of Juliana Stone was definitely a good one.
There were only a few small reasons why it didn’t receive a full five stars and those reasons weren’t anything overly dramatic.
All in all, I loved this book, could have devoured another 100 more pages of it and can’t wait to read more from Juliana Stone.
ARC provided by Avon
March 2, 2012
I’ve been a fan of the fabulous Juliana Stone for a couple years now and have been eagerly anticipating this series since the first Jaguar book, His Darkest Hunger, when the tall, dark and sexy sorcerer Declan O’Hara first graced the pages. This isn’t his book, Wicked Road to Hell, but when Juliana asked me to read the prequel I jumped at the chance!
Wrong Side of Hell is a dark and edgy journey through purgatory with two souls that are destined for each other. But we don’t know that at first… Logan and Kira have a past that changed Kira’s life forever, and not for the better. Her story is heart breaking and will instantly endear you to her character. You would expect Kira to be beaten down by the hand life has dealt her but she still has some spunk in her, especially when she meets up with Logan. The dialogue between these two is not rainbows and unicorns; think more in the line of brass and steel - quite entertaining. Their characters jump from the pages and because of their past and the fact that nothing sexual happens between them until near the end of the story (but when it does *fans self*) the relationship between Logan and Kira is believable, which is one thing I have a hard time finding in novellas so was happy to see here. And the hellhound Logan is all that and a bag of potato chips! I'm talking alpha male X10 here! I’ve never read about a hellhound protagonist before and I have to say, there should be more of this yummy goodness out there!
Juliana Stone has a captivating voice to begin with but in Wrong Side of Hell there is a poetic essence to it which I loved. The plot moved at a fast clip and the action was a non-stop thrill ride that kept me on the edge of my seat waiting to see how the characters would get out of danger and who the villain was. It was a great introduction to the League of Guardians and has made me even more anxious to get my hands on Wicked Road to Hell. Oh, and yes, Declan and Ana make a cameo near the end and the little scene made my heart squeeze and say “What the hell?” at the same time. Is it April yet?!?! The story brought up a ton of questions for me by the end though and few of them were answered, I guess we will just have to wait until Wicked Road to Hell gets here and hope they are answered then! I have a feeling we will be seeing more of Kira and Logan though...
Wrong Side of Hell is a dark and edgy journey through purgatory with two souls that are destined for each other. But we don’t know that at first… Logan and Kira have a past that changed Kira’s life forever, and not for the better. Her story is heart breaking and will instantly endear you to her character. You would expect Kira to be beaten down by the hand life has dealt her but she still has some spunk in her, especially when she meets up with Logan. The dialogue between these two is not rainbows and unicorns; think more in the line of brass and steel - quite entertaining. Their characters jump from the pages and because of their past and the fact that nothing sexual happens between them until near the end of the story (but when it does *fans self*) the relationship between Logan and Kira is believable, which is one thing I have a hard time finding in novellas so was happy to see here. And the hellhound Logan is all that and a bag of potato chips! I'm talking alpha male X10 here! I’ve never read about a hellhound protagonist before and I have to say, there should be more of this yummy goodness out there!
Juliana Stone has a captivating voice to begin with but in Wrong Side of Hell there is a poetic essence to it which I loved. The plot moved at a fast clip and the action was a non-stop thrill ride that kept me on the edge of my seat waiting to see how the characters would get out of danger and who the villain was. It was a great introduction to the League of Guardians and has made me even more anxious to get my hands on Wicked Road to Hell. Oh, and yes, Declan and Ana make a cameo near the end and the little scene made my heart squeeze and say “What the hell?” at the same time. Is it April yet?!?! The story brought up a ton of questions for me by the end though and few of them were answered, I guess we will just have to wait until Wicked Road to Hell gets here and hope they are answered then! I have a feeling we will be seeing more of Kira and Logan though...
March 6, 2012
Wrong Side of Hell by Juliana Stone is a teaser novella for her new League of Guardians series. If you are one of the readers who is duly teased by this link between Stone's Jaguar Warrior series and this one, don't worry, you won't have a long wait. The first League book, Wicked Road to Hell, will be released on April 24.
I was definitely teased. This was a terrific introduction to a new series!
Logan Winters is one of the baddest of all "bad boys". He's a hellhound. His job on Earth is to pick up souls marked for damnation, and escort them to their proper place in Hell. If Logan is sent to get you, you've earned yourself a spot in District 3. This means you were a very, very wicked person during your life.
Nothing about contract signing or selling yourself to the Devil. That's not Logan's end of the business. He handles pickup and delivery. If there is someone handling "sales", we don't see that part of the process. And this doesn't seem like that kind of worldbuilding.
The person we do see is Askelon, except he'd rather be called "Bill". He cloaks himself in glamour to appear as a short, round middle-aged man, but "Bill" is really one of the most powerful beings in any of the dimensions. And "Bill" bats for the opposite team from Logan's. I don't mean sexually, I mean metaphysically.
Logan is a hellhound. Askelon is a being of the heavenly dimension. And one pretty high in the hierarchy at that. Seraphim generally are.
Askelon blackmails Logan into doing him a very, very big favor. Which doesn't sound all that angelic. He demands that Logan go into purgatory and rescue the soul of a young woman that Logan already returned once from death.
The first time Logan rescued Kira Dove, he spent millenia in The Pit for his crime. (Time passes differently in the infernal dimensions). And he did it because Askelon blackmailed him then, too. Also because the Seraphim convinced him it was the right thing to do.
The same thing is happening again. Neither heaven nor hell should be interfering in one human's life this much. The Seraphim is convinced that too many fates depend on this one young woman's survival, and not just human fates either.
Logan tries to convince himself that none of that matters to him. He owes the Seraphim, so he'll take care of what he has to. But he still remembers that girl, after all those centuries in The Pit.
The difference is, Kira Dove is a woman now. When Logan Winters saved her the first time, she believed in him. She continued to believe in him, and everything she saw when she died that first time and Logan brought her back.
Even though everyone said she was crazy. And committed her for it. Experimented on her. Abused her. She still believed in what she saw, who she saw.
Kira Dove was dead again, but all she knew for certain was that everything she remembered was true. And Logan came to rescue her. Again. But this time, she could fight beside him.
But would he let her?
Escape Rating B+: As an introduction to a new series, this story really whetted my appetite for the first full-length novel. This particular story, although it seems like it resolved to an HEA, also feels like it sets up the series as a whole. I think there are a lot of trials and tribulations ahead for Kira and Logan, even as the focus of the series moves to other members of the League.
Kira reminds me a little of Sarah Connor from Terminator 2, at the beginning when Sarah is in the State Hospital. She has that vibe of "I know I'm not crazy and I have to keep myself strong for the day I'll need to fight my way out", but with a hint of vulnerability that Sarah didn't have or need.
This is intended as a bridge story between Stone's Jaguar Shifters series and this new series, as Logan appeared as a side-character in the earlier series. But if there are details that I missed, they didn't hamper my overall enjoyment of the story.
I was definitely teased. This was a terrific introduction to a new series!
Logan Winters is one of the baddest of all "bad boys". He's a hellhound. His job on Earth is to pick up souls marked for damnation, and escort them to their proper place in Hell. If Logan is sent to get you, you've earned yourself a spot in District 3. This means you were a very, very wicked person during your life.
Nothing about contract signing or selling yourself to the Devil. That's not Logan's end of the business. He handles pickup and delivery. If there is someone handling "sales", we don't see that part of the process. And this doesn't seem like that kind of worldbuilding.
The person we do see is Askelon, except he'd rather be called "Bill". He cloaks himself in glamour to appear as a short, round middle-aged man, but "Bill" is really one of the most powerful beings in any of the dimensions. And "Bill" bats for the opposite team from Logan's. I don't mean sexually, I mean metaphysically.
Logan is a hellhound. Askelon is a being of the heavenly dimension. And one pretty high in the hierarchy at that. Seraphim generally are.
Askelon blackmails Logan into doing him a very, very big favor. Which doesn't sound all that angelic. He demands that Logan go into purgatory and rescue the soul of a young woman that Logan already returned once from death.
The first time Logan rescued Kira Dove, he spent millenia in The Pit for his crime. (Time passes differently in the infernal dimensions). And he did it because Askelon blackmailed him then, too. Also because the Seraphim convinced him it was the right thing to do.
The same thing is happening again. Neither heaven nor hell should be interfering in one human's life this much. The Seraphim is convinced that too many fates depend on this one young woman's survival, and not just human fates either.
Logan tries to convince himself that none of that matters to him. He owes the Seraphim, so he'll take care of what he has to. But he still remembers that girl, after all those centuries in The Pit.
The difference is, Kira Dove is a woman now. When Logan Winters saved her the first time, she believed in him. She continued to believe in him, and everything she saw when she died that first time and Logan brought her back.
Even though everyone said she was crazy. And committed her for it. Experimented on her. Abused her. She still believed in what she saw, who she saw.
Kira Dove was dead again, but all she knew for certain was that everything she remembered was true. And Logan came to rescue her. Again. But this time, she could fight beside him.
But would he let her?
Escape Rating B+: As an introduction to a new series, this story really whetted my appetite for the first full-length novel. This particular story, although it seems like it resolved to an HEA, also feels like it sets up the series as a whole. I think there are a lot of trials and tribulations ahead for Kira and Logan, even as the focus of the series moves to other members of the League.
Kira reminds me a little of Sarah Connor from Terminator 2, at the beginning when Sarah is in the State Hospital. She has that vibe of "I know I'm not crazy and I have to keep myself strong for the day I'll need to fight my way out", but with a hint of vulnerability that Sarah didn't have or need.
This is intended as a bridge story between Stone's Jaguar Shifters series and this new series, as Logan appeared as a side-character in the earlier series. But if there are details that I missed, they didn't hamper my overall enjoyment of the story.
March 9, 2012
read review on demonlover's
Bill the Seraphim has tasked Logan with retrieving a soul from Purgatory. Logan’s a Hellhound, and his kind are made for escorting souls to certain levels of the Otherworld. But Logan feels he’s done his duty, above and beyond, and wants nothing more than to enjoy his good Canadian whiskey. But Bill has other plans.
Kira is dead. Her body is in the morgue at the Institution she’s spent the last 15 years of her life in. And the catalyst for her insanity? Being escorted to Hell at age 10. Logan was sent in to take her to Hell, but nothing felt right about that mission. It seemed...off...
In saving 10 year old Kira, Logan was connected to her in more ways than as her guardian. He just didn’t know it. And Kira's no longer a ten year old child. She's a woman. He may have left her in the human world without looking back, but that didn’t mean he’d never thought about the child he’d saved, or the woman she'd become.
So, tracking her for the second time, he has no idea what he’s in for. Kira was such a strong character in the Gray Realm, that her heartbreaking reality was so hard to read. She was a broken ghost of a woman in reality, but a strong spirit in the Otherworld. Great contrast. It reminds me of just how well Ms. Stone writes, and shows amazing characterization.
This novella is primarily Logan finding Kira in the Gray Realm, and keeping her safe. I liked the fast paced action, and I loved the characters. I think it’s a bit hard to follow if you don’t know the “world” already, but I do think the author is talented enough to make it work. Oh, and I especially loved the cameo at the end of some familiar faces. Bill isn’t quite done meddling yet.
Bill the Seraphim has tasked Logan with retrieving a soul from Purgatory. Logan’s a Hellhound, and his kind are made for escorting souls to certain levels of the Otherworld. But Logan feels he’s done his duty, above and beyond, and wants nothing more than to enjoy his good Canadian whiskey. But Bill has other plans.
Kira is dead. Her body is in the morgue at the Institution she’s spent the last 15 years of her life in. And the catalyst for her insanity? Being escorted to Hell at age 10. Logan was sent in to take her to Hell, but nothing felt right about that mission. It seemed...off...
In saving 10 year old Kira, Logan was connected to her in more ways than as her guardian. He just didn’t know it. And Kira's no longer a ten year old child. She's a woman. He may have left her in the human world without looking back, but that didn’t mean he’d never thought about the child he’d saved, or the woman she'd become.
So, tracking her for the second time, he has no idea what he’s in for. Kira was such a strong character in the Gray Realm, that her heartbreaking reality was so hard to read. She was a broken ghost of a woman in reality, but a strong spirit in the Otherworld. Great contrast. It reminds me of just how well Ms. Stone writes, and shows amazing characterization.
This novella is primarily Logan finding Kira in the Gray Realm, and keeping her safe. I liked the fast paced action, and I loved the characters. I think it’s a bit hard to follow if you don’t know the “world” already, but I do think the author is talented enough to make it work. Oh, and I especially loved the cameo at the end of some familiar faces. Bill isn’t quite done meddling yet.
April 29, 2012
Review Courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales
Quick & Dirty: Wonderful novella about a hellhound and a love that he thought would be forbidden to him. Completely engaging, one of the best novella’s I have read.
Opening Sentence: For millennia the struggle between light and dark, between the upper and lower realms, has been policed by a secret group of warriors culled from every fabric of existence.
The Review:
Logan Winters is a hellhound shapeshifter. His job is to escort souls to hell. Fifteen years before, he rescued a ten-year-old girl from Hell under the orders of Bill, leader of the League of Guardians. Logan was caught and sentenced to the Pit, tortured for his crimes. Logan wants nothing to do with Bill, the League or even the little girl he saved. He just wants to be left alone and do his job, when Bill comes to him for another job. The girl he saved years ago has been killed again. Logan must bring her back from Purgatory to her body. Time is counting down. Kira must not die because she holds a bigger destiny in the war against good and evil.
Kira has wasted away in a mental institution for the last fifteen years. She saw too much in Hell and she has not been the same person since that time. The last thing she remembers is being beaten when she wakes up in Purgatory. She doesn’t realize where she is at first. She knows that events are flowing from her memories and that she is whole once more. She is not in the pale, scarred body she had at the institution.
Logan tracks her down in Purgatory. They spend their time running away from and battling strange beings that are trying to capture Kira. They have to find their way out and fast in order for Kira not to lose her human body.
I really wish I had read this novella before reading Wicked Road to Hell. I think I would have had an easier time with the beginning of novel that I struggled through. The League and Bill, the Seraphim, made much more sense to the overall storyline which was part of my problem with Wicked Road to Hell. There is even a cameo appearance from Ana and Declan at the end of this novella. I wonder if I wouldn’t have liked this novella as much as I did if I had read it first but I don’t think so. It is an excellent start that would have made me want to pick up the next book in the series. If you plan on reading Wicked Road to Hell, I would recommend reading Wrong Side of Hell if it is possible.
Logan was often rude to Kira while he was trying to save her life. Although it is not hard to imagine why, she was the cause of him being sentenced to basically fifteen hundred years in the Pit. He isn’t exactly happy with her. But when he starts to fall for her, he tries to hide it. There is no way they could have a life together. Logan is the only one who knows Kira really isn’t crazy.
Kira has always been fascinated with Logan since she was ten-years-old. At first she saw him as her savior but when she got older that changed. Kira is a damaged woman but that doesn’t stop her from wanting to live again.
The plot to Wrong Side of Hell is straightforward and it doesn’t stray away from the storyline. This novella is action packed and I couldn’t help but cheer for Logan and Kira. Usually novellas’ leave something out to keep it short but I didn’t feel slighted at all with this story. Wrong Side of Hell had a sweet ending and I can’t wait to see what else is in store for Logan and Kira.
Notable Scene:
“I don’t . . . Logan, where can we go?”
Her hand was on his chest, the only warmth to be found. He stared down at her for several seconds, watched as her eyes widened, filled with something else. Awareness?
“The only way we can outrun them is if I shift.” He waited for a heartbeat. “I know you’re scared of what I am, but you’ll have to trust that I won’t hurt you.”
Her hand slowly slipped away and he was surprised at the strong urge he felt to grab, to hold it against him and drink in her warmth and softness.
Logan back away, his gaze not leaving hers, and when he thought she was ready . . . when the noise from down the sewer grew louder . . . he called on the ancient magick of his people.
His human clothes slipped away, disappearing into the nothing as mist rolled over his body. Limbs elongated and cracked—painfully—but it was something he relished—the pain. It spoke of his power and of his heritage and of the beast that lived inside him. As his body size tripled and quadrupled, never once did his gaze falter.
Kira’s face was pale, her mouth pinched, but she didn’t move an inch as he stood before her, a hellhound. Her fear had tripled and how could it not? He was the size of large horse.
The League of Guardians Series:
0.5 Wrong Side of Hell
1. Wicked Road to Hell
2. King of the Damned
FTC Advisory: I purchased my own copy of Wrong Side of Hell. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
Quick & Dirty: Wonderful novella about a hellhound and a love that he thought would be forbidden to him. Completely engaging, one of the best novella’s I have read.
Opening Sentence: For millennia the struggle between light and dark, between the upper and lower realms, has been policed by a secret group of warriors culled from every fabric of existence.
The Review:
Logan Winters is a hellhound shapeshifter. His job is to escort souls to hell. Fifteen years before, he rescued a ten-year-old girl from Hell under the orders of Bill, leader of the League of Guardians. Logan was caught and sentenced to the Pit, tortured for his crimes. Logan wants nothing to do with Bill, the League or even the little girl he saved. He just wants to be left alone and do his job, when Bill comes to him for another job. The girl he saved years ago has been killed again. Logan must bring her back from Purgatory to her body. Time is counting down. Kira must not die because she holds a bigger destiny in the war against good and evil.
Kira has wasted away in a mental institution for the last fifteen years. She saw too much in Hell and she has not been the same person since that time. The last thing she remembers is being beaten when she wakes up in Purgatory. She doesn’t realize where she is at first. She knows that events are flowing from her memories and that she is whole once more. She is not in the pale, scarred body she had at the institution.
Logan tracks her down in Purgatory. They spend their time running away from and battling strange beings that are trying to capture Kira. They have to find their way out and fast in order for Kira not to lose her human body.
I really wish I had read this novella before reading Wicked Road to Hell. I think I would have had an easier time with the beginning of novel that I struggled through. The League and Bill, the Seraphim, made much more sense to the overall storyline which was part of my problem with Wicked Road to Hell. There is even a cameo appearance from Ana and Declan at the end of this novella. I wonder if I wouldn’t have liked this novella as much as I did if I had read it first but I don’t think so. It is an excellent start that would have made me want to pick up the next book in the series. If you plan on reading Wicked Road to Hell, I would recommend reading Wrong Side of Hell if it is possible.
Logan was often rude to Kira while he was trying to save her life. Although it is not hard to imagine why, she was the cause of him being sentenced to basically fifteen hundred years in the Pit. He isn’t exactly happy with her. But when he starts to fall for her, he tries to hide it. There is no way they could have a life together. Logan is the only one who knows Kira really isn’t crazy.
Kira has always been fascinated with Logan since she was ten-years-old. At first she saw him as her savior but when she got older that changed. Kira is a damaged woman but that doesn’t stop her from wanting to live again.
The plot to Wrong Side of Hell is straightforward and it doesn’t stray away from the storyline. This novella is action packed and I couldn’t help but cheer for Logan and Kira. Usually novellas’ leave something out to keep it short but I didn’t feel slighted at all with this story. Wrong Side of Hell had a sweet ending and I can’t wait to see what else is in store for Logan and Kira.
Notable Scene:
“I don’t . . . Logan, where can we go?”
Her hand was on his chest, the only warmth to be found. He stared down at her for several seconds, watched as her eyes widened, filled with something else. Awareness?
“The only way we can outrun them is if I shift.” He waited for a heartbeat. “I know you’re scared of what I am, but you’ll have to trust that I won’t hurt you.”
Her hand slowly slipped away and he was surprised at the strong urge he felt to grab, to hold it against him and drink in her warmth and softness.
Logan back away, his gaze not leaving hers, and when he thought she was ready . . . when the noise from down the sewer grew louder . . . he called on the ancient magick of his people.
His human clothes slipped away, disappearing into the nothing as mist rolled over his body. Limbs elongated and cracked—painfully—but it was something he relished—the pain. It spoke of his power and of his heritage and of the beast that lived inside him. As his body size tripled and quadrupled, never once did his gaze falter.
Kira’s face was pale, her mouth pinched, but she didn’t move an inch as he stood before her, a hellhound. Her fear had tripled and how could it not? He was the size of large horse.
The League of Guardians Series:
0.5 Wrong Side of Hell
1. Wicked Road to Hell
2. King of the Damned
FTC Advisory: I purchased my own copy of Wrong Side of Hell. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
March 3, 2012
"For millennia the struggle between light and dark, between the upper and lower realms, has been policed by a secret group of warriors culled from every fabric of existence. They are both otherworld and human, male and female. They are known to each other as the League of Guardians. Their pledge, to protect the line between dominions and make sure neither side grows too powerful. If they fall, so shall the earth, the heavens and hells. And there will be no more."
Logan Winters is a hellhound. His job was to retrieve and escort the souls of individuals who are beyond saving to hell so they can be sentenced. "His hunting capabilities were legendary, his sensory skills unparalleled." But everything changed after he agreed to be a member of the League of Guardians. He was asked to save a little girl from the depths of hell, and escort her back to the human realm. That was in defiance of his orders and led to him being sentenced to the Pit, one of the worst places in hell, fifteen years ago. Once again he's being asked to help the same girl, now a woman, to escape hell's clutches. Her fate could tip the balance of power in one direction. What Logan wasn't aware of was that Kira's fate and his were closely intertwined...
This is the prequel to the new A League of Guardians series. If the rest of the series is like this novella, then I think I may have a new series to add to my lists of favorites. I'm enjoying the world Julia Stone has created. A world where hell has several levels and purgatory (known as the gray realm) doesn't seem like all that pleasant of a place to be. A world of vampires, hellhounds, and other creatures that go bump in the night. A world where there is a constant battle between light and dark. A world where a group of guardians led by Askelon (aka Bill), attempt to keep everything in balance.
Kira is definitely a damsel in distress. She's suffered unbearable abuse which led to her death--something that shouldn't have happened. Through it all she somehow managed to keep her sanity, although upon meeting Logan in purgatory, a very strange and confusing place, she starts to wonder. While her sanity might still be intact, it will take her time to heal from what she's been through. While still vulnerable, she's a survivor.
Logan is still upset about his incarceration in the Pit. He came out of his confinement not wishing to do anything that could land him right back where he just was. Bill (aka Askelon), however, blackmails Logan into doing what he wants. Bill is the head of the League of Guardians and he knows who Logan's mother is. He'll milk that knowledge for all it's worth. Unfortunately, we don't know who she is and don't learn it by the end of the story.
As a couple, Kira and Logan seem good for each other. He's a definite alpha male complete with the "You're mine" option added. Romantically, the two sizzled. On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one scores a STEAM rating-- too hot for a fan, but you still have a handle on things. You should use extreme caution when reading a book with this rating in public. People may inquire as to why you looked flustered and flushed.
Favorite Quotes:
-"You pulling a Vader and crossing over to the dark side, Bill?"
-"We all have scars, Kira. Some are visible, but the most painful ones are hidden. Don't be embarrassed to show your weakness.You're alive and that kind of strength trumps the sh*t out of whatever this represents."
Overall, this one got 5 out of 5 roses. A nice combinations of action, suspense, drama, and romance. I just wish it would have been longer.
To view more of my reviews, please visit my blog at www.seducedbyabook.com I'd greatly appreciate it.
Logan Winters is a hellhound. His job was to retrieve and escort the souls of individuals who are beyond saving to hell so they can be sentenced. "His hunting capabilities were legendary, his sensory skills unparalleled." But everything changed after he agreed to be a member of the League of Guardians. He was asked to save a little girl from the depths of hell, and escort her back to the human realm. That was in defiance of his orders and led to him being sentenced to the Pit, one of the worst places in hell, fifteen years ago. Once again he's being asked to help the same girl, now a woman, to escape hell's clutches. Her fate could tip the balance of power in one direction. What Logan wasn't aware of was that Kira's fate and his were closely intertwined...
This is the prequel to the new A League of Guardians series. If the rest of the series is like this novella, then I think I may have a new series to add to my lists of favorites. I'm enjoying the world Julia Stone has created. A world where hell has several levels and purgatory (known as the gray realm) doesn't seem like all that pleasant of a place to be. A world of vampires, hellhounds, and other creatures that go bump in the night. A world where there is a constant battle between light and dark. A world where a group of guardians led by Askelon (aka Bill), attempt to keep everything in balance.
Kira is definitely a damsel in distress. She's suffered unbearable abuse which led to her death--something that shouldn't have happened. Through it all she somehow managed to keep her sanity, although upon meeting Logan in purgatory, a very strange and confusing place, she starts to wonder. While her sanity might still be intact, it will take her time to heal from what she's been through. While still vulnerable, she's a survivor.
Logan is still upset about his incarceration in the Pit. He came out of his confinement not wishing to do anything that could land him right back where he just was. Bill (aka Askelon), however, blackmails Logan into doing what he wants. Bill is the head of the League of Guardians and he knows who Logan's mother is. He'll milk that knowledge for all it's worth. Unfortunately, we don't know who she is and don't learn it by the end of the story.
As a couple, Kira and Logan seem good for each other. He's a definite alpha male complete with the "You're mine" option added. Romantically, the two sizzled. On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one scores a STEAM rating-- too hot for a fan, but you still have a handle on things. You should use extreme caution when reading a book with this rating in public. People may inquire as to why you looked flustered and flushed.
Favorite Quotes:
-"You pulling a Vader and crossing over to the dark side, Bill?"
-"We all have scars, Kira. Some are visible, but the most painful ones are hidden. Don't be embarrassed to show your weakness.You're alive and that kind of strength trumps the sh*t out of whatever this represents."
Overall, this one got 5 out of 5 roses. A nice combinations of action, suspense, drama, and romance. I just wish it would have been longer.
To view more of my reviews, please visit my blog at www.seducedbyabook.com I'd greatly appreciate it.
March 7, 2012
Review originally posted at Ramblings From This Chick
I'm not really sure what to think about this novella. While it kept my attention and I liked the characters, I found myself a little confused and not at all sure what was happening throughout the story. I'm not sure if it's because this is a novella and the author just didn't have enough time to flesh everything out, or if it was meant to be that way. Maybe we'll get more answers throughout the series? Either way, I did find this a quick and interesting read and I am curious to see how the rest of the series is going to play out.
Logan sure is one sexy beast, literally! He's a hellhound shifter and he has been sent on a mission to retrieve Kira from purgatory. Logan knows that he has to save Kira in order to keep the balance between the realms, but she's also linked to his past that he is trying to forget. The further along they get, the harder it is for Logan to act as if he doesn't care about Kira's well-being and the harder it is for him to not act upon his attraction.
Kira doesn't know where she is. She's woken up in a place that doesn't seem to be real and the sexiest man she's ever seen wants her to follow him to safety. What's going on? How can she be here? And where exactly is here? It was interesting watching Kira figure out everything. Even though she knows everything is unbelievable and hard to explain, she is still able to put her faith into Logan. She doesn't sit in the corner and weep, she acts quickly and does what she can to save both herself and Logan.
I really enjoyed meeting both Kira and Logan and seeing their relationship progress, but I will be honest and say I wanted more. I just felt like their relationship was a bit rushed and I didn't really feel anything between them except attraction. Hopefully we are able to see more of them in the rest of this series.
**ARC copy provided by Publisher**
I'm not really sure what to think about this novella. While it kept my attention and I liked the characters, I found myself a little confused and not at all sure what was happening throughout the story. I'm not sure if it's because this is a novella and the author just didn't have enough time to flesh everything out, or if it was meant to be that way. Maybe we'll get more answers throughout the series? Either way, I did find this a quick and interesting read and I am curious to see how the rest of the series is going to play out.
Logan sure is one sexy beast, literally! He's a hellhound shifter and he has been sent on a mission to retrieve Kira from purgatory. Logan knows that he has to save Kira in order to keep the balance between the realms, but she's also linked to his past that he is trying to forget. The further along they get, the harder it is for Logan to act as if he doesn't care about Kira's well-being and the harder it is for him to not act upon his attraction.
Kira doesn't know where she is. She's woken up in a place that doesn't seem to be real and the sexiest man she's ever seen wants her to follow him to safety. What's going on? How can she be here? And where exactly is here? It was interesting watching Kira figure out everything. Even though she knows everything is unbelievable and hard to explain, she is still able to put her faith into Logan. She doesn't sit in the corner and weep, she acts quickly and does what she can to save both herself and Logan.
I really enjoyed meeting both Kira and Logan and seeing their relationship progress, but I will be honest and say I wanted more. I just felt like their relationship was a bit rushed and I didn't really feel anything between them except attraction. Hopefully we are able to see more of them in the rest of this series.
**ARC copy provided by Publisher**
April 11, 2012
**3.5 stars**
This is the prequel for the League of Guardians series and is centered around Logan, a hellhound, and Kira, a human. Logan is sent to the "grey realm" to bring Kira's soul back to Earth after she was viciously killed. Logan and Kira have history with each other and while Logan knows some of the reasons for them meeting, Kira has been left in the dark and been labeled as "crazy" due to their encounter.
This book had a bit of a slow start for me and I think a lot of it was due just to being left in the dark with what was going on. It takes a while to get the story out and what happened with Logan and Kira. Logan has lived for a long time and he didn't realize the significance of his relationship with Kira. Of course, Kira had no clue other than she had met Logan before...and his beast.
However, I enjoyed both Kira and Logan. Logan starts out being quite the Alpha and a jerk but eventually he comes around. Kira is pretty lost at first and it was hard hearing about what all has happened to her. I loved how their relationship eventually came together and will be interesting to see what becomes of it and how it fits in with The League.
You definitely do not need to read Juliana Stone's related series, The Jaguar Warriors, to read this novella. While you do get to meet some of The League at the end of it, they do not play a large part. It was great having them come together though and I only wish there was more of them. Can't wait to read Declan's story in the next book, Wicked Road to Hell.
Favorite quote:
♥ About how their song had never sounded so sweet.
And of the man who held her.
Of how it felt as if he was the home she’d never had.
This is the prequel for the League of Guardians series and is centered around Logan, a hellhound, and Kira, a human. Logan is sent to the "grey realm" to bring Kira's soul back to Earth after she was viciously killed. Logan and Kira have history with each other and while Logan knows some of the reasons for them meeting, Kira has been left in the dark and been labeled as "crazy" due to their encounter.
This book had a bit of a slow start for me and I think a lot of it was due just to being left in the dark with what was going on. It takes a while to get the story out and what happened with Logan and Kira. Logan has lived for a long time and he didn't realize the significance of his relationship with Kira. Of course, Kira had no clue other than she had met Logan before...and his beast.
However, I enjoyed both Kira and Logan. Logan starts out being quite the Alpha and a jerk but eventually he comes around. Kira is pretty lost at first and it was hard hearing about what all has happened to her. I loved how their relationship eventually came together and will be interesting to see what becomes of it and how it fits in with The League.
You definitely do not need to read Juliana Stone's related series, The Jaguar Warriors, to read this novella. While you do get to meet some of The League at the end of it, they do not play a large part. It was great having them come together though and I only wish there was more of them. Can't wait to read Declan's story in the next book, Wicked Road to Hell.
Favorite quote:
♥ About how their song had never sounded so sweet.
And of the man who held her.
Of how it felt as if he was the home she’d never had.
October 4, 2012
A kick-ass start to Juliana Stone's new League of Guardians series.
Logan Winters is a hell hound, a delivery man who escorts souls to the different realms of Hell. Fifteen years ago he did a favor for Askelon ( aka Bill) by rescuing a ten year old girl from purgatory. As penance for his good deed Logan was sentenced to a lengthy stay in the Pit. Not exactly a vacation in paradise which explains Logan's bitterness. Now the same girl has been murdered again & Bill insists that Logan save her.
Kira Dove has spent the last fifteen years locked up in an insane asylum. No, she's not crazy. When Logan returned her Kira remembered everything that happened during her sojourn in Hell. Her family locked her away. She was beaten & tortured. Now a broken & damaged woman , Kira has been murdered a second time. Yet, through all those years of abuse she never lost faith that her savior would come for her.
I freakin' loved this story! Of course, I love all of Juliana's work. As usual her writing is flawless. The story line was exciting & edgy. Logan & Kira were both captivating characters.
Logan starts out as a bad boy.
(Kira) - " A real gentleman would turn away. "
His teeth flashed white as his smile widened, though his eyes remained hard as stone.
(Logan) - " Lady, there's nothing gentle about me, and as you know, I'm no man, either."
(Kira) - " No shit. "
During their flight through Hell he falls in love with his " Dove " . He will kill anyone who tries to hurt her
She was his. From the moment he'd tasted her soul , she'd belonged to him.
You gotta love that! Bring on the rest of this exciting series.
I received this ARC courtesy of the publisher in exchange for my honest review. Thanks to Edelweiss & Avon for allowing me to read this awesome story.
Logan Winters is a hell hound, a delivery man who escorts souls to the different realms of Hell. Fifteen years ago he did a favor for Askelon ( aka Bill) by rescuing a ten year old girl from purgatory. As penance for his good deed Logan was sentenced to a lengthy stay in the Pit. Not exactly a vacation in paradise which explains Logan's bitterness. Now the same girl has been murdered again & Bill insists that Logan save her.
Kira Dove has spent the last fifteen years locked up in an insane asylum. No, she's not crazy. When Logan returned her Kira remembered everything that happened during her sojourn in Hell. Her family locked her away. She was beaten & tortured. Now a broken & damaged woman , Kira has been murdered a second time. Yet, through all those years of abuse she never lost faith that her savior would come for her.
I freakin' loved this story! Of course, I love all of Juliana's work. As usual her writing is flawless. The story line was exciting & edgy. Logan & Kira were both captivating characters.
Logan starts out as a bad boy.
(Kira) - " A real gentleman would turn away. "
His teeth flashed white as his smile widened, though his eyes remained hard as stone.
(Logan) - " Lady, there's nothing gentle about me, and as you know, I'm no man, either."
(Kira) - " No shit. "
During their flight through Hell he falls in love with his " Dove " . He will kill anyone who tries to hurt her
She was his. From the moment he'd tasted her soul , she'd belonged to him.
You gotta love that! Bring on the rest of this exciting series.
I received this ARC courtesy of the publisher in exchange for my honest review. Thanks to Edelweiss & Avon for allowing me to read this awesome story.
March 7, 2012
I don't know how to review this novella. I honestly had a hard time following the plot. The novella is only 100 pages but it took more than a week for me to read. I kept putting the book down because I had no idea what was going on.
I have no idea what the premise is for this new series. I know that the novella is to set everything up for the first full length novel in the League of Guardians series but I don't think it did a very good job. I felt that this series is a spin-off of Stone's Jaguar Warriors series (where I've only read book 1) because at the end of the novella, characters from that series made an appearance which had me even more confused.
Kira has been hunted by demons since she was a child. Logan saved her back then and he is tasked with saving her again. Kira is now in an institution, dead and Logan has to retrieve her from purgatory before it's too late to save her soul.
While reading The Wrong Side of Hell, I could not figure out why Kira was being pursued. Why was she so important? I felt that a clear answer was never provided. If it was, I certainly missed it. When the novella ended, none of the questions that I had were answered. I hope that book 1 of the series is easier to follow and will provide the answers that I need.
D
I have no idea what the premise is for this new series. I know that the novella is to set everything up for the first full length novel in the League of Guardians series but I don't think it did a very good job. I felt that this series is a spin-off of Stone's Jaguar Warriors series (where I've only read book 1) because at the end of the novella, characters from that series made an appearance which had me even more confused.
Kira has been hunted by demons since she was a child. Logan saved her back then and he is tasked with saving her again. Kira is now in an institution, dead and Logan has to retrieve her from purgatory before it's too late to save her soul.
While reading The Wrong Side of Hell, I could not figure out why Kira was being pursued. Why was she so important? I felt that a clear answer was never provided. If it was, I certainly missed it. When the novella ended, none of the questions that I had were answered. I hope that book 1 of the series is easier to follow and will provide the answers that I need.
D
November 19, 2012
skipped a lot of this novella. really just wanted it to end.
June 5, 2018
novella, Hellhound her saved her once, saves her again from purgatory. Intriguing, I want to read more
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 18, 2017
Originally published at Dark Faerie Tales: http://darkfaerietales.com/review-wro...
Quick & Dirty: Wonderful novella about a hellhound and a love that he thought would be forbidden to him. Completely engaging, one of the best novella’s I have read.
The Review:
Logan Winters is a hellhound shapeshifter. His job is to escort souls to hell. Fifteen years before, he rescued a ten-year-old girl from Hell under the orders of Bill, leader of the League of Guardians. Logan was caught and sentenced to the Pit, tortured for his crimes. Logan wants nothing to do with Bill, the League or even the little girl he saved. He just wants to be left alone and do his job, when Bill comes to him for another job. The girl he saved years ago has been killed again. Logan must bring her back from Purgatory to her body. Time is counting down. Kira must not die because she holds a bigger destiny in the war against good and evil.
Kira has wasted away in a mental institution for the last fifteen years. She saw too much in Hell and she has not been the same person since that time. The last thing she remembers is being beaten when she wakes up in Purgatory. She doesn’t realize where she is at first. She knows that events are flowing from her memories and that she is whole once more. She is not in the pale, scarred body she had at the institution.
Logan tracks her down in Purgatory. They spend their time running away from and battling strange beings that are trying to capture Kira. They have to find their way out and fast in order for Kira not to lose her human body.
I really wish I had read this novella before reading Wicked Road to Hell. I think I would have had an easier time with the beginning of novel that I struggled through. The League and Bill, the Seraphim, made much more sense to the overall storyline which was part of my problem with Wicked Road to Hell. There is even a cameo appearance from Ana and Declan at the end of this novella. I wonder if I wouldn’t have liked this novella as much as I did if I had read it first but I don’t think so. It is an excellent start that would have made me want to pick up the next book in the series. If you plan on reading Wicked Road to Hell, I would recommend reading Wrong Side of Hell if it is possible.
Logan was often rude to Kira while he was trying to save her life. Although it is not hard to imagine why, she was the cause of him being sentenced to basically fifteen hundred years in the Pit. He isn’t exactly happy with her. But when he starts to fall for her, he tries to hide it. There is no way they could have a life together. Logan is the only one who knows Kira really isn’t crazy.
Kira has always been fascinated with Logan since she was ten-years-old. At first she saw him as her savior but when she got older that changed. Kira is a damaged woman but that doesn’t stop her from wanting to live again.
The plot to Wrong Side of Hell is straightforward and it doesn’t stray away from the storyline. This novella is action packed and I couldn’t help but cheer for Logan and Kira. Usually novellas’ leave something out to keep it short but I didn’t feel slighted at all with this story. Wrong Side of Hell had a sweet ending and I can’t wait to see what else is in store for Logan and Kira.
Quick & Dirty: Wonderful novella about a hellhound and a love that he thought would be forbidden to him. Completely engaging, one of the best novella’s I have read.
The Review:
Logan Winters is a hellhound shapeshifter. His job is to escort souls to hell. Fifteen years before, he rescued a ten-year-old girl from Hell under the orders of Bill, leader of the League of Guardians. Logan was caught and sentenced to the Pit, tortured for his crimes. Logan wants nothing to do with Bill, the League or even the little girl he saved. He just wants to be left alone and do his job, when Bill comes to him for another job. The girl he saved years ago has been killed again. Logan must bring her back from Purgatory to her body. Time is counting down. Kira must not die because she holds a bigger destiny in the war against good and evil.
Kira has wasted away in a mental institution for the last fifteen years. She saw too much in Hell and she has not been the same person since that time. The last thing she remembers is being beaten when she wakes up in Purgatory. She doesn’t realize where she is at first. She knows that events are flowing from her memories and that she is whole once more. She is not in the pale, scarred body she had at the institution.
Logan tracks her down in Purgatory. They spend their time running away from and battling strange beings that are trying to capture Kira. They have to find their way out and fast in order for Kira not to lose her human body.
I really wish I had read this novella before reading Wicked Road to Hell. I think I would have had an easier time with the beginning of novel that I struggled through. The League and Bill, the Seraphim, made much more sense to the overall storyline which was part of my problem with Wicked Road to Hell. There is even a cameo appearance from Ana and Declan at the end of this novella. I wonder if I wouldn’t have liked this novella as much as I did if I had read it first but I don’t think so. It is an excellent start that would have made me want to pick up the next book in the series. If you plan on reading Wicked Road to Hell, I would recommend reading Wrong Side of Hell if it is possible.
Logan was often rude to Kira while he was trying to save her life. Although it is not hard to imagine why, she was the cause of him being sentenced to basically fifteen hundred years in the Pit. He isn’t exactly happy with her. But when he starts to fall for her, he tries to hide it. There is no way they could have a life together. Logan is the only one who knows Kira really isn’t crazy.
Kira has always been fascinated with Logan since she was ten-years-old. At first she saw him as her savior but when she got older that changed. Kira is a damaged woman but that doesn’t stop her from wanting to live again.
The plot to Wrong Side of Hell is straightforward and it doesn’t stray away from the storyline. This novella is action packed and I couldn’t help but cheer for Logan and Kira. Usually novellas’ leave something out to keep it short but I didn’t feel slighted at all with this story. Wrong Side of Hell had a sweet ending and I can’t wait to see what else is in store for Logan and Kira.
January 8, 2013
Actual Rating is 2.5 stars
Don't get me wrong I LOOOOOOOOOVEEEEEEDDD Logan. As a character he was outstanding. He wasn't those out and out evil supernatural or goody two shoes characters we keep finding in stuff like
he's human-- OK human enough that he goes drinking in a dive bar--
But that's where the like ends and my disappointment in Ms Stone begins.
Second only to about a trillion other YA heroines in 2012 this Dove chick sucks balls big, gigantic, hairy balls at that and while I'm not hating on the molested chick I just can't get over some of the shit she does in this book... "Oh hey I know an evil demon lord is chasing us and he'll obliterate you then kill my soul but I just want one little kiss, I can't die not knowing how it feels" ...boo hoo bitch no-one cares about your never been kissed self.
Here's a tip for you Ms Stone next time get them through the portal then have them jump each other's bones on the other side when they realize they're both alive and safe maybe.
Then Bill or whoever gives away this hour long secret/prophesy/monster hybrid story that Logan broke to us in two lines
As if the freaky in this book wasn't bad enough. He's a flippin hellhound. As in dragged Dean Winchester (dreamy sigh) to Hell hellhound. Those things are in a league of their own scary and then you give it a freaked out annoying little girl as its mate? Somehow that pairing just doesn't work for me..
Overall for me this book scores on three main points: Logan's awesomeness, the imagery of the book (though kinda very cliched in some places) and the fact that Logan wasn't a vampire/werewo;f/angel/fallen angel like all the other pretty boys running around.
Don't get me wrong I LOOOOOOOOOVEEEEEEDDD Logan. As a character he was outstanding. He wasn't those out and out evil supernatural or goody two shoes characters we keep finding in stuff like
he's human-- OK human enough that he goes drinking in a dive bar--But that's where the like ends and my disappointment in Ms Stone begins.
Second only to about a trillion other YA heroines in 2012 this Dove chick sucks balls big, gigantic, hairy balls at that and while I'm not hating on the molested chick I just can't get over some of the shit she does in this book... "Oh hey I know an evil demon lord is chasing us and he'll obliterate you then kill my soul but I just want one little kiss, I can't die not knowing how it feels" ...boo hoo bitch no-one cares about your never been kissed self.
Here's a tip for you Ms Stone next time get them through the portal then have them jump each other's bones on the other side when they realize they're both alive and safe maybe.
Then Bill or whoever gives away this hour long secret/prophesy/monster hybrid story that Logan broke to us in two lines
Holding her felt like all kinds of right, and for the first time in hundreds of years Logan knew he was where he was supposed to be. He had no idea where this road was going to take him. Didn’t even care about Bill’s so-called prophecy. He tried not to think about the child that would figure into all of this. Kira’s child. His child.
As if the freaky in this book wasn't bad enough. He's a flippin hellhound. As in dragged Dean Winchester (dreamy sigh) to Hell hellhound. Those things are in a league of their own scary and then you give it a freaked out annoying little girl as its mate? Somehow that pairing just doesn't work for me..
Overall for me this book scores on three main points: Logan's awesomeness, the imagery of the book (though kinda very cliched in some places) and the fact that Logan wasn't a vampire/werewo;f/angel/fallen angel like all the other pretty boys running around.
October 5, 2012
As with Wicked Road to Hell I kept wondering if I’ve missed something by having not read the Jaguar books. I need to read that series to find out exactly who went Hell, why they went to Hell, and what ends were met by doing so. I fully intend to read the three Jaguar books before I read the next full length novel in the League of Guardians series.
Apparently Logan and Kira have already made one trip into Hell. She was a child at the time. Her memories of the event have left her family believing that she is crazy, thus they have placed her into a psychiatric institute where she meets her untimely demise and ends up back in Hell. Purgatory is the new rabbit hole she has found herself fallen down. Everything is wrong and nothing is as it seems except for the man she remembers from her childhood as a savior and the beastly hound that is never far behind him that she fears.
Logan and his caring protection over Kira were so easy to enjoy. He is alpha to the max. He has seen several different sides to Kira and he hates the shell that isolation has turned her into. Logan has to get her out of the gray realm though. Time moves differently in all the various realms and the clock is ticking on getting her back to her body. As with any trip into Hell nothing is easy and the forces that have put Kira into the position she is in to begin with make Logan’s job all the more difficult.
Kira and Logan are an easy pair to cheer for as they reach for their happily ever after. Kira has been through too much not to get one. Logan has been her savior in her dreams and her reality. Who could possibly make a better match for her? I’m looking forward to To Hell and Back which is another novella that features them!
Favorite quote Logan to Kira: “I’m going to do my damnedest to make
your ghosts disappear.”
Apparently Logan and Kira have already made one trip into Hell. She was a child at the time. Her memories of the event have left her family believing that she is crazy, thus they have placed her into a psychiatric institute where she meets her untimely demise and ends up back in Hell. Purgatory is the new rabbit hole she has found herself fallen down. Everything is wrong and nothing is as it seems except for the man she remembers from her childhood as a savior and the beastly hound that is never far behind him that she fears.
Logan and his caring protection over Kira were so easy to enjoy. He is alpha to the max. He has seen several different sides to Kira and he hates the shell that isolation has turned her into. Logan has to get her out of the gray realm though. Time moves differently in all the various realms and the clock is ticking on getting her back to her body. As with any trip into Hell nothing is easy and the forces that have put Kira into the position she is in to begin with make Logan’s job all the more difficult.
Kira and Logan are an easy pair to cheer for as they reach for their happily ever after. Kira has been through too much not to get one. Logan has been her savior in her dreams and her reality. Who could possibly make a better match for her? I’m looking forward to To Hell and Back which is another novella that features them!
Favorite quote Logan to Kira: “I’m going to do my damnedest to make
your ghosts disappear.”
November 2, 2012
Wrong Side of Hell ของจูเลียนา สโตน
เล่มนี้ถือเป็นเรื่องสั้นที่เปิดหนังสือชุดใหม่ที่มีชื่อว่า A League of Guardians ซึ่งเป็นองค์กรลับสุดยอดที่รวมเอาเผ่าพันธุ์ต่าง ๆ ไว้ด้วยกัน ทำหน้าที่รักษาสมดุลระหว่างโลกมนุษย์, นรก, และสวรรค์ เล่มนี้เป็นเล่มเปิดชุด แต่ก็ไม่ได้ให้รายละเอียดเกี่ยวกับองค์กรนี้ไว้ชัดเจนหรอกนะคะ ซึ่งนี่คือปัญหาที่เรารู้สึกได้อย่างชัดเจนในงานเขียนของจูเลียนา สโตน นั่นก็คือโลกที่เธอสร้างขึ้นมีโครงสร้างที่ล่องลอย ไม่มีหลักการที่คนอ่านจะยึดจับเป็นรูปธรรมได้ เหมือนอยากจะใส่อะไรเข้าไปก็ใส่
กระทั่งเรื่องนี้ซึ่งเป็นเรื่องสั้นก็มีความไม่ชัดเจนในแง่ของพล็อตอยู่ทั่วไปหมด เราอ่านไปจนจบเรื่องก็ยังไม่รู้ที่มาที่ไปของภารกิจที่พระเอกได้รับมอบหมาย ไม่รู้ความสำคัญของนางเอก ไม่รู้ด้วยซ้ำว่าเขียนเรื่องนี้ไปเพื่อสื่อความอะไรกันแน่
โลแกน วินเตอร์เป็นหมานรก (แปลแบบนี้ล่ะสำหรับ Hellhound) ผู้ซึ่งมีชาติกำเนิดลึกลับ แม่ของเขาเป็นใครสักคนที่จนจบเรื่องนี้ก็ยังไม่เฉลย โลแกนซึ่งเคยทำงานให้กับองค์กรลับที่รวมตัวกันเพื่อรักษาสมดุลของโลก ถูกเรียกตัวกลับไปทำงานอีกครั้ง คราวนี้เขาต้องกลับลงไปที่นรกอีกครั้ง ซึ่งนั่นไม่ใช่เรื่องยากสำหรับคนที่มีต้นกำเนิดที่นั่น เพื่อนำวิญญาณของคิรา โดฟกลับมาก่อนร่างของเธอจะเน่า
เมื่อสิบกว่าปีก่อน โลแกนก็ช่วยคิรามาแล้วครั้งนึง นั่นทำให้เขาถูกขับไล่ออกจากหน้าที่ในการนำดวงวิญญาณไปส่ง เช่นเดิมเขารู้เพียงแค่คิรามีความสำคัญต่อการอยู่รอดของโลก แต่ไม่มีใครบอกว่าคืออะไรกันแน่
พระเอกเดินทางไปนรกเพื่อพานางเอกกลับมา นี่เป็นสาระใหญ่ของพล็อตเล่มนี้ ซึ่งเรารู้มาว่า จะมีเรื่องสั้นอีกเล่ม (To Hell and Back) ที่จะเล่าเรื่องราวของโลแกนและคิราต่อ อย่างไรก็ตามการมีเล่มต่อไม่ใช่ข้ออ้างที่จะให้คนอ่านตาบอดคลำทางนะคะ เราอ่านเรื่องนี้แบบไม่รู้อะไรเลย แล้วก็จบแบบไม่รู้อะไรเลย ไม่รู้ว่าคิรามีความสำคัญมากขนาดจะต้องตายแล้วฟื้น (เพราะเธอถูกฆ่าตายไปแล้วในโลกมนุษย์ แต่ก็ฟื้นกลับมาซะงั้น ง่าย ๆ ไม่มีคำอธิบาย)
เป็นเรื่องที่อ่านจบไปแบบงงค่ะ รู้เรื่องพระนางนะคะ แต่พล็อตเรื่อง และโลกในเล่มช่างมัวเหลือเกิน
คะแนนที่ 53
เล่มนี้ถือเป็นเรื่องสั้นที่เปิดหนังสือชุดใหม่ที่มีชื่อว่า A League of Guardians ซึ่งเป็นองค์กรลับสุดยอดที่รวมเอาเผ่าพันธุ์ต่าง ๆ ไว้ด้วยกัน ทำหน้าที่รักษาสมดุลระหว่างโลกมนุษย์, นรก, และสวรรค์ เล่มนี้เป็นเล่มเปิดชุด แต่ก็ไม่ได้ให้รายละเอียดเกี่ยวกับองค์กรนี้ไว้ชัดเจนหรอกนะคะ ซึ่งนี่คือปัญหาที่เรารู้สึกได้อย่างชัดเจนในงานเขียนของจูเลียนา สโตน นั่นก็คือโลกที่เธอสร้างขึ้นมีโครงสร้างที่ล่องลอย ไม่มีหลักการที่คนอ่านจะยึดจับเป็นรูปธรรมได้ เหมือนอยากจะใส่อะไรเข้าไปก็ใส่
กระทั่งเรื่องนี้ซึ่งเป็นเรื่องสั้นก็มีความไม่ชัดเจนในแง่ของพล็อตอยู่ทั่วไปหมด เราอ่านไปจนจบเรื่องก็ยังไม่รู้ที่มาที่ไปของภารกิจที่พระเอกได้รับมอบหมาย ไม่รู้ความสำคัญของนางเอก ไม่รู้ด้วยซ้ำว่าเขียนเรื่องนี้ไปเพื่อสื่อความอะไรกันแน่
โลแกน วินเตอร์เป็นหมานรก (แปลแบบนี้ล่ะสำหรับ Hellhound) ผู้ซึ่งมีชาติกำเนิดลึกลับ แม่ของเขาเป็นใครสักคนที่จนจบเรื่องนี้ก็ยังไม่เฉลย โลแกนซึ่งเคยทำงานให้กับองค์กรลับที่รวมตัวกันเพื่อรักษาสมดุลของโลก ถูกเรียกตัวกลับไปทำงานอีกครั้ง คราวนี้เขาต้องกลับลงไปที่นรกอีกครั้ง ซึ่งนั่นไม่ใช่เรื่องยากสำหรับคนที่มีต้นกำเนิดที่นั่น เพื่อนำวิญญาณของคิรา โดฟกลับมาก่อนร่างของเธอจะเน่า
เมื่อสิบกว่าปีก่อน โลแกนก็ช่วยคิรามาแล้วครั้งนึง นั่นทำให้เขาถูกขับไล่ออกจากหน้าที่ในการนำดวงวิญญาณไปส่ง เช่นเดิมเขารู้เพียงแค่คิรามีความสำคัญต่อการอยู่รอดของโลก แต่ไม่มีใครบอกว่าคืออะไรกันแน่
พระเอกเดินทางไปนรกเพื่อพานางเอกกลับมา นี่เป็นสาระใหญ่ของพล็อตเล่มนี้ ซึ่งเรารู้มาว่า จะมีเรื่องสั้นอีกเล่ม (To Hell and Back) ที่จะเล่าเรื่องราวของโลแกนและคิราต่อ อย่างไรก็ตามการมีเล่มต่อไม่ใช่ข้ออ้างที่จะให้คนอ่านตาบอดคลำทางนะคะ เราอ่านเรื่องนี้แบบไม่รู้อะไรเลย แล้วก็จบแบบไม่รู้อะไรเลย ไม่รู้ว่าคิรามีความสำคัญมากขนาดจะต้องตายแล้วฟื้น (เพราะเธอถูกฆ่าตายไปแล้วในโลกมนุษย์ แต่ก็ฟื้นกลับมาซะงั้น ง่าย ๆ ไม่มีคำอธิบาย)
เป็นเรื่องที่อ่านจบไปแบบงงค่ะ รู้เรื่องพระนางนะคะ แต่พล็อตเรื่อง และโลกในเล่มช่างมัวเหลือเกิน
คะแนนที่ 53
May 16, 2012
3.5 Stars
15 years ago, Logan took a big risk by rescuing a 10 year-old girl from Hell. As a hellhound, it was always his job to bring souls to the realm, not from it. But at the request of the Seraphim Bill, he took the risk. And he was punished for it extensively.
Now Bill is back, drafting Logan to help the girl once again. Kira is a grown woman now, but someone has killed her and Bill wants Logan to rescue her soul from Purgatory. And he's not above a little blackmail to get the job done.
Kira has spent the past 15 years in a mental institution, enduring horrors of her own at the hands of an evil doctor. Purgatory is actually a relief from the life she has lead... until evil entities show up, trying to destroy her soul. Logan arrives at just the right time to save her and she recognizes him instantly from her childhood. The two must work together to escape Purgatory and get to safety.
It was hard for me to get into the story right away, mostly because I was distracted by the question of whether these character have more backstory in any of Stone's other books. It felt like they did. And once Logan stopped being an alpha asshat, I found myself much more invested. I wanted happiness for poor Kira, though I had some reservations about the ease in which she moves into a physical relationship after a history of sexual abuse.
This is listed as a prequel novella in the League of Guardians series, so hopefully, we'll see more of these two in the future books. (Fans of Stone's Jaguar books should be happy to know we get a little cameo from a few of her familiar characters at the end of the story... including Declan and Ana. --Not a lot, but just a little taste.) 3 1/2 stars.
*ARC Provided by Avon
15 years ago, Logan took a big risk by rescuing a 10 year-old girl from Hell. As a hellhound, it was always his job to bring souls to the realm, not from it. But at the request of the Seraphim Bill, he took the risk. And he was punished for it extensively.
Now Bill is back, drafting Logan to help the girl once again. Kira is a grown woman now, but someone has killed her and Bill wants Logan to rescue her soul from Purgatory. And he's not above a little blackmail to get the job done.
Kira has spent the past 15 years in a mental institution, enduring horrors of her own at the hands of an evil doctor. Purgatory is actually a relief from the life she has lead... until evil entities show up, trying to destroy her soul. Logan arrives at just the right time to save her and she recognizes him instantly from her childhood. The two must work together to escape Purgatory and get to safety.
It was hard for me to get into the story right away, mostly because I was distracted by the question of whether these character have more backstory in any of Stone's other books. It felt like they did. And once Logan stopped being an alpha asshat, I found myself much more invested. I wanted happiness for poor Kira, though I had some reservations about the ease in which she moves into a physical relationship after a history of sexual abuse.
This is listed as a prequel novella in the League of Guardians series, so hopefully, we'll see more of these two in the future books. (Fans of Stone's Jaguar books should be happy to know we get a little cameo from a few of her familiar characters at the end of the story... including Declan and Ana. --Not a lot, but just a little taste.) 3 1/2 stars.
*ARC Provided by Avon
February 21, 2013
This review was first posted at the Just A Reader review blog.
http://mellymeljustareader.blogspot.com/
Wrong Side of Hell is a novella featuring a hellhound shapeshifter named Logan and a human named Kira who find themselves trapped and hunted in Purgatory. It is the second time Kira has found herself dead – the first as a little girl who was rescued by her very own hero only to be considered mentally ill for talking about her experiences. She has been locked up in a mental hospital for years when the events in this story take place. Kira is apparently part of a prophecy vital to the future of the universe but what the prophecy says is never revealed. Logan is the hero who saved Kira’s soul when she was a child, though she doesn’t realize he is also the hellhound she is so terrified of, and for his efforts, he was tossed into “the Pit”, a level of hell, as punishment.
I liked Kira and Logan – they were both interesting characters who I wanted to read more about and who it was easy to root for. Bill was a complete enigma, which I suppose was the point. Mergerone was completely horrible and villainous. There are mysterious references to Logan’s mother but nothing is ever explained.
It sets up the series but leaves most of the details secret and a lot of unanswered questions at the end of the story. It definitely made me want to read the next book to get some of those answers!
http://mellymeljustareader.blogspot.com/
Wrong Side of Hell is a novella featuring a hellhound shapeshifter named Logan and a human named Kira who find themselves trapped and hunted in Purgatory. It is the second time Kira has found herself dead – the first as a little girl who was rescued by her very own hero only to be considered mentally ill for talking about her experiences. She has been locked up in a mental hospital for years when the events in this story take place. Kira is apparently part of a prophecy vital to the future of the universe but what the prophecy says is never revealed. Logan is the hero who saved Kira’s soul when she was a child, though she doesn’t realize he is also the hellhound she is so terrified of, and for his efforts, he was tossed into “the Pit”, a level of hell, as punishment.
I liked Kira and Logan – they were both interesting characters who I wanted to read more about and who it was easy to root for. Bill was a complete enigma, which I suppose was the point. Mergerone was completely horrible and villainous. There are mysterious references to Logan’s mother but nothing is ever explained.
It sets up the series but leaves most of the details secret and a lot of unanswered questions at the end of the story. It definitely made me want to read the next book to get some of those answers!
June 7, 2012
I had some issues with this mainly that in the Gray Realm where Logan repeatedly tells Kira she will die, forever if he doesn't get her out of there she refuses to listen because he's busy trying to save her life and not sitting down to explain everything. At one point she runs off on him only to be relieved when he shows up to save her. I'd say it was a TSTL move but she was already dead.
Also the question of Logan's mother is a horrible tease. And we never find out who she is.
The problem with this novella is really it had too much plot going on for the shorter format, which almost never happens - usually it's the opposite problem.
I was so sad for them when I saw Ana had to hide from Declan. Will read the next one, I'm looking forward to finally getting Ana and Declan's story in Wicked Road to Hell.
Also the question of Logan's mother is a horrible tease. And we never find out who she is.
The problem with this novella is really it had too much plot going on for the shorter format, which almost never happens - usually it's the opposite problem.
I was so sad for them when I saw Ana had to hide from Declan. Will read the next one, I'm looking forward to finally getting Ana and Declan's story in Wicked Road to Hell.
February 23, 2012
Juliana Stone has created her best work yet.
Mix together a story that is dark, gritty, and has the feel of a nightmare you can't escape with a romance brimming with steamy on-the-edge sensuality and you've got yourself a sexier than hell paranormal romance in WRONG SIDE OF HELL. I've been a fan of Juliana Stone through her Jaguar Warrior series but I have to say that she outdid herself with this novella. Novellas can be difficult to write because of the constraints of word count and the desire to include all the aspects needed to make it a good story. Well, Juliana did it and then some. She has created 100 pages of incredible storytelling that will keep you on the edge of your seat and unable to put it down.
I highly recommend this novella to anyone who appreciates awesome story-telling.
Mix together a story that is dark, gritty, and has the feel of a nightmare you can't escape with a romance brimming with steamy on-the-edge sensuality and you've got yourself a sexier than hell paranormal romance in WRONG SIDE OF HELL. I've been a fan of Juliana Stone through her Jaguar Warrior series but I have to say that she outdid herself with this novella. Novellas can be difficult to write because of the constraints of word count and the desire to include all the aspects needed to make it a good story. Well, Juliana did it and then some. She has created 100 pages of incredible storytelling that will keep you on the edge of your seat and unable to put it down.
I highly recommend this novella to anyone who appreciates awesome story-telling.
April 4, 2012
This was my first experience with a book by Juliana Stone and I was immediately hooked! She has given us well rounded, complex characters who draw us in with their emotions and thoughts. This being the first novella in the League of Guardians, can only mean the entire series will rock! Can you say 'Bestseller'?
I loved the fast-paced action and humanization of this story. Every page had me on the edge of my seat wanting more. I honestly could not choose a 'favorite' character, because even the villains were exciting! If this is what being on the Wrong Side of Hell would be like....I don't want to be right :)
If it weren't for so many Internet issues in the last month...this review would've been posted sooner. Anyone who likes their heroes conflicted and their heroines strong will adore this series! After you've read it, please stop by and let me know what you think :)
I loved the fast-paced action and humanization of this story. Every page had me on the edge of my seat wanting more. I honestly could not choose a 'favorite' character, because even the villains were exciting! If this is what being on the Wrong Side of Hell would be like....I don't want to be right :)
If it weren't for so many Internet issues in the last month...this review would've been posted sooner. Anyone who likes their heroes conflicted and their heroines strong will adore this series! After you've read it, please stop by and let me know what you think :)
April 4, 2012
While I enjoyed the majority of this short intro into Stone's League of Guardians, I'm thinking maybe it should have been published after book 1, Wicked Road to Hell, which is due out later this month. The storyline was a bit confusing maybe because the story was short and we had little to go on regarding the world building. I did, however, enjoy the basics and look forward to her new series.
Note to self: Maybe I should'a read her Jaguar Warriors series before starting the spin-off? Dunno.
Note to self: Maybe I should'a read her Jaguar Warriors series before starting the spin-off? Dunno.
August 23, 2013
A hellhound with a secret gets blackmailed into fetching a woman back from purgatory by a seraphim, the leader of a group of guardians. Incidentally this is the same girl that landed him in in the Pit for 1500 years the first time he rescued her, so naturally this is one job he would like to avoid... Especially since the girl is mentally broken already.
Only this time, the little girl has grown up to be a beautiful woman...
This is the prequel to a new series. Unfortunately we get no real resolution to the story, and I am sad to say, neither in the follow-up novella. Perhaps this story should not have been published until we could read the story in its entirety in a book of their own. Just a thought...
Only this time, the little girl has grown up to be a beautiful woman...
This is the prequel to a new series. Unfortunately we get no real resolution to the story, and I am sad to say, neither in the follow-up novella. Perhaps this story should not have been published until we could read the story in its entirety in a book of their own. Just a thought...
January 18, 2013
Complete lack of continuity - Logan is grumpy and pretending to be a hardass when Bill corners him in a bar and wants him to do a job for "the League" then you find out that Logan swore an oath to be one of the good guys ( but conveniently forgot). When Logan goes to retrieve Kira from purgatory they wander around for 100 effing boring pages while she fights with him as though she hasn't been in an institution all of her life; "Men always lie". She sasses him, and they lose the opportunity to leave, they're being hunt by gross things , and she wants to make out. This book had the bones and promise of a good book, but just didn't come through.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 27, 2012
This was my first intro into the League of Guardians and I was completely blow away. I didn't realize it was a novella at first when I got the e-copy and when it ended, I felt bewildered and lost! I wanted more!
You can read the description above of what the book was about but I was drawn in by Kira and figuring out with her where in the heck she was going!
LOVE love love the way Logan kept calling her Dove. I know it's her last name but... hello pet name!
I'm off to explore where I can get more of these books!
* ARC provided by Avon
You can read the description above of what the book was about but I was drawn in by Kira and figuring out with her where in the heck she was going!
LOVE love love the way Logan kept calling her Dove. I know it's her last name but... hello pet name!
I'm off to explore where I can get more of these books!
* ARC provided by Avon
March 19, 2012
I love me a bad boy! Especially one who is redeemed by his love (swoon). I will likely read more of the League of Guardians series, though this book did take me a bit to get into-- I am not familiar with the author's previous books so had no background for this particular story line (though I am familiar with paranormal romance genre in general). I liked the idea of shapeshifting hellhounds, that was intriguing. And I am looking forward to reading more about this couple; I do wish the book were longer.
June 5, 2012
Let me start by saying I don't like novellas. I like full stories, not abbrevated versions. I have heard a lot of good things about this series. So...I had to try it. Even the novella. And I'm so glad I did. I really liked how the author told her story and the world is different from the authors. The characters seemed a little shallow but then it's a novella and there can't be a lot time for depth, but it also didn't lack action. The next book came in the mail today. And I can't wait to start it. I have to know where this is going.
April 28, 2012
This was a wonderful introduction to this new series by Juliana Stone. Edgy, hot and packed with action, Stone takes us inside her world where the lines between reality and illusion are blurred. It's a great lead in to the first full-length installment of the A League of Guardians series. Though each book stands alone, I highly recommend you start with this novella. Why would you want to miss out on a single moment?
April 11, 2012
This is a great starter novella!
Logan Winters is a hell hound and must save Kira Dove who is a bit of a mystery. The book takes you through their journey with Logan trying to pull Kira out of hell and bring her back to the world of the living. It was just a teaser for her new League of Guardians series but if got me hooked. Lots of paranormal elements. But I warn you the end lets you hanging and dieing to know what happens!
Logan Winters is a hell hound and must save Kira Dove who is a bit of a mystery. The book takes you through their journey with Logan trying to pull Kira out of hell and bring her back to the world of the living. It was just a teaser for her new League of Guardians series but if got me hooked. Lots of paranormal elements. But I warn you the end lets you hanging and dieing to know what happens!
August 24, 2016
I have never read this author before and found this novella a perfect vehicle for an introduction. She is easy to read with good rhythm, descriptive skills and plotline progression. Her characters were believable and likeable and intriguing, easy to "bond" with. I enjoyed the love story between Logan and Kira, as well as the hints of the duel worlds they live in.
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