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Ancient Legends #4
Dead And Beyond
Amber Reed is a dead girl walking.
Having just been turned by her gorgeous vampire boyfriend, eighteen-year-old Amber Reed is bestowed with the ability to see ghosts. Between trying to figure out how to control her bloodlust and solving the mysterious disappearance of a friend, Amber realizes someone wants to step into her shoes so badly, they’ll do anything to take her place.
When one secret after another pops up, the only person who believes her is her enemy, Devon. Amber can’t figure out if he’s here to help or save his own immortal race from losing the ancient war against the vampires. What she does know, however, is that she can’t resist his good looks just as much as she can’t help becoming someone else…
In a world of dark magic and ancient enemies, three powerful courts fight for supremacy, and Amber might just be the pawn in winning this war forever. But how’s a girl to survive when everyone wants her dead?
Having just been turned by her gorgeous vampire boyfriend, eighteen-year-old Amber Reed is bestowed with the ability to see ghosts. Between trying to figure out how to control her bloodlust and solving the mysterious disappearance of a friend, Amber realizes someone wants to step into her shoes so badly, they’ll do anything to take her place.
When one secret after another pops up, the only person who believes her is her enemy, Devon. Amber can’t figure out if he’s here to help or save his own immortal race from losing the ancient war against the vampires. What she does know, however, is that she can’t resist his good looks just as much as she can’t help becoming someone else…
In a world of dark magic and ancient enemies, three powerful courts fight for supremacy, and Amber might just be the pawn in winning this war forever. But how’s a girl to survive when everyone wants her dead?
292 pages, Paperback
First published February 25, 2012
74 people are currently reading
1501 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
April 30, 2012
Dead And Beyond (Ancient Legends #4) by Jayde Scott
First I have to admit this is the first book I’ve ever read by Jayde Scott, while I was reading Dead And Beyond I realized that I was reading a book that was part of a series. This did not deter me and Jayde Scott’s writing was great and I never really had a problem understanding what was going on. I still cannot believe I had not read any of her books. But I will be reading every book in this series. Jayde Scott is an amazing author and this series is great.
Dead And Beyond we meet Amber who is a vampire and a necromancer. Being new to this world she is still trying to figure everything out. Spending time with her true mate Aiden, she is happy and is very much in love. But recently Aiden has been distracted with his own duties and Amber is struggling with bloodlust and ghosts. Looking for answers she talks to an old friend about what has been going with her and also tries to find out about her missing friend Angel.
Amber and Aiden both keeping secrets from each other does cause some problem and Amber jumps to some conclusion which leads her to doubt his love for her.
Jayde Scott’s Dead and Beyond is fast paced, easy to read story and I really enjoyed it and cannot wait to read the rest of this series.
I would recommend this to everyone who loves the paranormal genre, only thing I would suggest is to start with Book One A Job From Hell.
*Disclosure of Material Connection: I am a member of Reading Addiction Blog Tours and a copy of this book was provided to me by the author. Although payment may have been received by Reading Addiction Blog Tours, no payment was received by me in exchange for this review. There was no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, publisher, publicist, or readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision’s 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning Use of Endorcements and Testimonials in Advertising*
First I have to admit this is the first book I’ve ever read by Jayde Scott, while I was reading Dead And Beyond I realized that I was reading a book that was part of a series. This did not deter me and Jayde Scott’s writing was great and I never really had a problem understanding what was going on. I still cannot believe I had not read any of her books. But I will be reading every book in this series. Jayde Scott is an amazing author and this series is great.
Dead And Beyond we meet Amber who is a vampire and a necromancer. Being new to this world she is still trying to figure everything out. Spending time with her true mate Aiden, she is happy and is very much in love. But recently Aiden has been distracted with his own duties and Amber is struggling with bloodlust and ghosts. Looking for answers she talks to an old friend about what has been going with her and also tries to find out about her missing friend Angel.
Amber and Aiden both keeping secrets from each other does cause some problem and Amber jumps to some conclusion which leads her to doubt his love for her.
Jayde Scott’s Dead and Beyond is fast paced, easy to read story and I really enjoyed it and cannot wait to read the rest of this series.
I would recommend this to everyone who loves the paranormal genre, only thing I would suggest is to start with Book One A Job From Hell.
*Disclosure of Material Connection: I am a member of Reading Addiction Blog Tours and a copy of this book was provided to me by the author. Although payment may have been received by Reading Addiction Blog Tours, no payment was received by me in exchange for this review. There was no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, publisher, publicist, or readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision’s 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning Use of Endorcements and Testimonials in Advertising*
April 11, 2012
This book was soooo good that it took me by surprise! It was a perfect mix of comedy, drama, action, teenage angst, and paranormal that I couldn't get enough of. Not to mention the fact that Jayde Scott always leaves you with a suspense filled cliffhanger at the end of every chapter leaving you not being able to put the book down!
To be honest I really didn't know what to expect when I picked this book up. First of all this is the 4th book in the series and I haven't read the previous books. Secondly I hadn't heard about this series or this author until I was asked to sign up for the blog tour and I am sooooo glad that I did! It was awesome in a light yet intense kind of way. Yes I know that's an oxymoron...just roll with it. *winks*
Amber is 18, she's also a vampire, and a necromancer. Not by choice though. She was happy to be your normal average human, that is, until her boyfriend Aiden's friend kills her and then her Aidens' brother turns her into a vampire...Yea not exactly the way you want to start your summer vacation huh? This book picks up as Amber is trying to stumble through her new life as a vampire necromancer. As if bloodlust isn't enough she also has these darn ghosts scarring the crap out of her, and it's not like she can turn to Aiden for help in that department because he isn't a necromancer and can't see the things that go bump in the night. He also doesn't suffer from the bloodlust anymore because of a spell.
One thing leads to another and the lies just keep piling up while Amber tries to help find Angel, a friend that was kidnapped. Will Amber be able to help find her friend or will the whole she has been digging herself into eventually swallow her up?
This was such a fun read. It had me laughing over and over again, while sitting on the edge of my seat at the same time. I love Amber and Aidens relationship. It wasn't all smooth and perfect. It had bumps in the road mostly because the town kept making it worse on each other like all teenagers do. I also loved how in the end they both learn the valuable lesson that not matter what lying to each other is the wrong thing to do. It was just so sweet.
Overall this is a book to revile Carrie Harris's Bad Taste In Boys and I enjoyed every minute of it!
To be honest I really didn't know what to expect when I picked this book up. First of all this is the 4th book in the series and I haven't read the previous books. Secondly I hadn't heard about this series or this author until I was asked to sign up for the blog tour and I am sooooo glad that I did! It was awesome in a light yet intense kind of way. Yes I know that's an oxymoron...just roll with it. *winks*
Amber is 18, she's also a vampire, and a necromancer. Not by choice though. She was happy to be your normal average human, that is, until her boyfriend Aiden's friend kills her and then her Aidens' brother turns her into a vampire...Yea not exactly the way you want to start your summer vacation huh? This book picks up as Amber is trying to stumble through her new life as a vampire necromancer. As if bloodlust isn't enough she also has these darn ghosts scarring the crap out of her, and it's not like she can turn to Aiden for help in that department because he isn't a necromancer and can't see the things that go bump in the night. He also doesn't suffer from the bloodlust anymore because of a spell.
One thing leads to another and the lies just keep piling up while Amber tries to help find Angel, a friend that was kidnapped. Will Amber be able to help find her friend or will the whole she has been digging herself into eventually swallow her up?
This was such a fun read. It had me laughing over and over again, while sitting on the edge of my seat at the same time. I love Amber and Aidens relationship. It wasn't all smooth and perfect. It had bumps in the road mostly because the town kept making it worse on each other like all teenagers do. I also loved how in the end they both learn the valuable lesson that not matter what lying to each other is the wrong thing to do. It was just so sweet.
Overall this is a book to revile Carrie Harris's Bad Taste In Boys and I enjoyed every minute of it!
April 29, 2012
Legend - ,wait for it, - Dary!
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I was going to write a review about the things that could have been better but..... Scratch That! it was awesome, *reviewer high five*
This book had everything needed for a fast paced, action packed, AMAZING story and also, one helll of a ride. The film follows Amber and her
journey to escape from a paranormal world after accidentally winning the first prize. She teams up with vampire archenemy Devon and plots a way out of her problems. This book is simply awesome!
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I was going to write a review about the things that could have been better but..... Scratch That! it was awesome, *reviewer high five*
This book had everything needed for a fast paced, action packed, AMAZING story and also, one helll of a ride. The film follows Amber and her
journey to escape from a paranormal world after accidentally winning the first prize. She teams up with vampire archenemy Devon and plots a way out of her problems. This book is simply awesome!
May 7, 2012
"Mystery surrounds Amber after winning a psychic ability she calls a curse. Throughout the book she attempts to make a place for herself in the paranormal world while also maintaining her individuality.
Her eyes are opened to a complicated world of danger and magic as she attempts to figure out her role in Aidan's world, who has no intention to let her go. Surviving in this world as a newly turned vampire is easier said than done, when strange things start to happen that aren't supposed to.
Like with the other books of the ancient legends series, I found there is so much happening in this story. Aidan's relationship with Amber was mysterious and at times fragile. And then there's also Devon who really seems to like Amber and offers his assistance."
While Dead And Beyond is not as funny as A Job From Hell, the descriptive, haunting atmosphere was beautifully done and made it a more exciting, fast paced read. The story in itself wraps up nicely, but also leaves room for exploration and sets an interesting foundation for books to come. Amber has grown as a person, but at heart she's still the same bubbly girl from London, which translates well in her humor. Devon as Aidan's love rival and a Shadow is still my favorite character and the one I root for, even though Amber's description of Aidan is delicious and made me swoon a few times. The mystery of Angel's disappearance and the place they're about to visit (no spoilers here) makes me curious about the next book in the series, which I eagerly await.
Her eyes are opened to a complicated world of danger and magic as she attempts to figure out her role in Aidan's world, who has no intention to let her go. Surviving in this world as a newly turned vampire is easier said than done, when strange things start to happen that aren't supposed to.
Like with the other books of the ancient legends series, I found there is so much happening in this story. Aidan's relationship with Amber was mysterious and at times fragile. And then there's also Devon who really seems to like Amber and offers his assistance."
While Dead And Beyond is not as funny as A Job From Hell, the descriptive, haunting atmosphere was beautifully done and made it a more exciting, fast paced read. The story in itself wraps up nicely, but also leaves room for exploration and sets an interesting foundation for books to come. Amber has grown as a person, but at heart she's still the same bubbly girl from London, which translates well in her humor. Devon as Aidan's love rival and a Shadow is still my favorite character and the one I root for, even though Amber's description of Aidan is delicious and made me swoon a few times. The mystery of Angel's disappearance and the place they're about to visit (no spoilers here) makes me curious about the next book in the series, which I eagerly await.
March 23, 2012
The fourth book in the Ancient Legends series, Bewitched leaves you wanting more of Amber, Aidan, Devon and the cast of characters created by Jayde Scott. Amber is still dealing with being turned into a vampire and also being able to talk to the dead. She is now having to deal with a bloodlust that she should not have after an ancient ritual performed by the Shadows. Amber is also dealing with trust issues with her bonded mate Aidan. I absolutely love reading this series, Jayde keeps it interesting and you never have to worry about not being interested in the plot. She did another wonderful job writing Bewitched and I can not wait until the next book is released so that I can find out what happens next.
May 25, 2012
Blog Tour Author Interview @ Some Like It Paranormal
To start off I should admit that when I signed up for the blog tour I didn't realize this was the fourth book in the series. The book just had an awesome cover and the summary sounded like something I would enjoy. Well my reading instincts are rather good because it turned out I had already read the first book in the series a year ago. I wanted to read the second and third book before this one but I didn't have time. The series is easy to pick up even skipping books and I was happy because this book continues with Amber and Aidan who I met in the first book. The two previous books were focused on other characters. I found it easy to follow along and catch back up. Even if you haven't read any of the previous books, this story stands on its own well. I was able to follow along with little confusion because I honestly couldn't remember much from the first book when I started.
Amber is Aidan's bonded mate and a newly turned vampire. She also just won a paranormal race that has granted her unwanted necromancy powers. Amber has to deal with a crazy ghost haunting her as well as a missing friend to track down, all while trying to hide the fact that she has blood lust from Aidan. When she was turned there was a spell that was performed that was supposed to prevent it but it seems to have malfunctioned. Amber is having visions of her missing friend and wants to help find her. Amber has quite a few different mysteries to solve but she hides most of these things from Aidan. Amber and Aidan are really sweet together. The way Amber describes Aidan really makes me swoon for him. Although I was a little annoyed with them as a couple through a few parts because they continued to keep secrets from each other which just caused a lot of unnecessary mistrust and confusion.
Even though I love Aidan I have to admit I also love Devon. I did remember him from the first book. He is a shadow and an enemy to vampires but I think he still cares for Amber. I always love a good underdog and he is a good friend to Amber. They have great chemistry together even if it will only be as friends. I also enjoyed seeing a little bit of Amber's brother Dallas who is the bonded mate of Lucifer's daughter Cassie. Their story unfolds in book 2 which I haven't read but I was still able to enjoy their relationship in this book. Cassie is one of those fun, brutally honest and snarky characters that you love to hate them. I also love to hate Aidan's brother Kieran. He is another hilarious character with a big womanizing ego and cheesy pickup lines. There was an awesome set of secondary characters especially since I'm one to usually only enjoy the main couple. With such a mix of unique paranormal aspects, supporting characters and cute love story, I was able to zoom through the book in one night. The book ties up a couple of the mysteries but a few things are not solved, so I'm curious to see what will happen in the next book.
"I'm Kieran. You must be a hell of a thief because you stole my heart from across the room,"
"You're gorgeous. Everyone else's beauty pales in comparison to yours."
"That's all you've got for me?" I drew a long breath and let it out slowly. "You know. I might be able to get more clues from Google."
To start off I should admit that when I signed up for the blog tour I didn't realize this was the fourth book in the series. The book just had an awesome cover and the summary sounded like something I would enjoy. Well my reading instincts are rather good because it turned out I had already read the first book in the series a year ago. I wanted to read the second and third book before this one but I didn't have time. The series is easy to pick up even skipping books and I was happy because this book continues with Amber and Aidan who I met in the first book. The two previous books were focused on other characters. I found it easy to follow along and catch back up. Even if you haven't read any of the previous books, this story stands on its own well. I was able to follow along with little confusion because I honestly couldn't remember much from the first book when I started.
Amber is Aidan's bonded mate and a newly turned vampire. She also just won a paranormal race that has granted her unwanted necromancy powers. Amber has to deal with a crazy ghost haunting her as well as a missing friend to track down, all while trying to hide the fact that she has blood lust from Aidan. When she was turned there was a spell that was performed that was supposed to prevent it but it seems to have malfunctioned. Amber is having visions of her missing friend and wants to help find her. Amber has quite a few different mysteries to solve but she hides most of these things from Aidan. Amber and Aidan are really sweet together. The way Amber describes Aidan really makes me swoon for him. Although I was a little annoyed with them as a couple through a few parts because they continued to keep secrets from each other which just caused a lot of unnecessary mistrust and confusion.
Even though I love Aidan I have to admit I also love Devon. I did remember him from the first book. He is a shadow and an enemy to vampires but I think he still cares for Amber. I always love a good underdog and he is a good friend to Amber. They have great chemistry together even if it will only be as friends. I also enjoyed seeing a little bit of Amber's brother Dallas who is the bonded mate of Lucifer's daughter Cassie. Their story unfolds in book 2 which I haven't read but I was still able to enjoy their relationship in this book. Cassie is one of those fun, brutally honest and snarky characters that you love to hate them. I also love to hate Aidan's brother Kieran. He is another hilarious character with a big womanizing ego and cheesy pickup lines. There was an awesome set of secondary characters especially since I'm one to usually only enjoy the main couple. With such a mix of unique paranormal aspects, supporting characters and cute love story, I was able to zoom through the book in one night. The book ties up a couple of the mysteries but a few things are not solved, so I'm curious to see what will happen in the next book.
"I'm Kieran. You must be a hell of a thief because you stole my heart from across the room,"
"You're gorgeous. Everyone else's beauty pales in comparison to yours."
"That's all you've got for me?" I drew a long breath and let it out slowly. "You know. I might be able to get more clues from Google."
April 1, 2012
See more book reviews on my blog :) http://sparetimebookblog.blogspot.com/
I read through the prologue and was of course interested right away. Then with chapter one I was like wait…It’s from AMBER’s point of view!!! It was like instant gratification! I have missed Amber and Aiden since A Job from Hell and was hoping we would be hearing more from them! I really wanted to know how she felt about being a vampire. I figured she was going to be pretty upset about it. We caught glimpses of Amber and Aiden throughout the other books in the series but, I have been waiting to get back to Amber and Aiden’s story. This book picks up not to long after Voodoo Kiss. Poor Amber is still learning how to deal with her necromancer abilities and it proves to be pretty hard on her. Hearing voices and seeing things that others don’t see is never a good thing. For anyone!
I was wondering throughout the whole book what could possibly be going on?!? In true Jayde Scott form she puts it together for you by the end. I felt kind of bad for Amber, I felt like she was left in the dark for a majority of the book by Aiden. And I really like Aiden so that was hard on me! I started to doubt Aiden a bit, the same as Amber. Especially when it came to Layla. I have a hard time with Aiden’s ex’s. There a tad on the crazy side.
I love the relationship between Aiden and Amber. It is so cute! I am glad to see that for once it can be true love without all the love triangles and questioning. What ghosts ask you to do does not count! I liked that Amber could see the bond too. Not sure why. I feel like they are going to be tested in the next book. Amber’s life appears to be in serious jeopardy…again. I am glad that the fifth book will be out in June! Because I am going to have a hard time waiting for it!
I read through the prologue and was of course interested right away. Then with chapter one I was like wait…It’s from AMBER’s point of view!!! It was like instant gratification! I have missed Amber and Aiden since A Job from Hell and was hoping we would be hearing more from them! I really wanted to know how she felt about being a vampire. I figured she was going to be pretty upset about it. We caught glimpses of Amber and Aiden throughout the other books in the series but, I have been waiting to get back to Amber and Aiden’s story. This book picks up not to long after Voodoo Kiss. Poor Amber is still learning how to deal with her necromancer abilities and it proves to be pretty hard on her. Hearing voices and seeing things that others don’t see is never a good thing. For anyone!
I was wondering throughout the whole book what could possibly be going on?!? In true Jayde Scott form she puts it together for you by the end. I felt kind of bad for Amber, I felt like she was left in the dark for a majority of the book by Aiden. And I really like Aiden so that was hard on me! I started to doubt Aiden a bit, the same as Amber. Especially when it came to Layla. I have a hard time with Aiden’s ex’s. There a tad on the crazy side.
I love the relationship between Aiden and Amber. It is so cute! I am glad to see that for once it can be true love without all the love triangles and questioning. What ghosts ask you to do does not count! I liked that Amber could see the bond too. Not sure why. I feel like they are going to be tested in the next book. Amber’s life appears to be in serious jeopardy…again. I am glad that the fifth book will be out in June! Because I am going to have a hard time waiting for it!
April 23, 2012
First off, that cover is just amazing! Second, I have never read any of Jayde Scott's books. I really wonder why. I can't believe that they have stayed off my radar this long. Now I have to go back and read the entire Ancient Legends series.
Dead and Beyond was so amazing, and it was a fun read. The characters were very interesting. Amber is well written. She may be a vampire but she still has the same worries of any girl. I liked that about her. She was trying to learn her new abilities and struggling a lot with her necromancer gift. As she began to step out on her own she really started to grow as a character.
There were several other characters that really caught my attention. Cass seems really entertaining. She's a straight to the point character and I love how she was in this book. Aidan seemed like a good guy, a little over protective but that's completely forgivable. I liked the parts with Devon. Like I said, I haven't read the previous books, but he seemed to really care about Amber a lot.
The plot in this book was so fun. Missing people, transporting through the different realms, and the love story between Amber and Aidan meant this was a fast paced book. I loved how Amber and Aidan's relationship grew in this book. I can't wait for the next book from Jayde Scott, and I will be going back to read the beginning of this series.
Dead and Beyond was so amazing, and it was a fun read. The characters were very interesting. Amber is well written. She may be a vampire but she still has the same worries of any girl. I liked that about her. She was trying to learn her new abilities and struggling a lot with her necromancer gift. As she began to step out on her own she really started to grow as a character.
There were several other characters that really caught my attention. Cass seems really entertaining. She's a straight to the point character and I love how she was in this book. Aidan seemed like a good guy, a little over protective but that's completely forgivable. I liked the parts with Devon. Like I said, I haven't read the previous books, but he seemed to really care about Amber a lot.
The plot in this book was so fun. Missing people, transporting through the different realms, and the love story between Amber and Aidan meant this was a fast paced book. I loved how Amber and Aidan's relationship grew in this book. I can't wait for the next book from Jayde Scott, and I will be going back to read the beginning of this series.
May 1, 2012
I am so glad I signed up to host a day on this book tour. It was a whim since I had never heard a word about the author or any of the previous books in the series. It was the beautiful cover of the book that drew me in. It didn't hurt that it's about vampires and I am a "sucker" (pun intended)for anything vampire.
I loved the relationship between Aiden and Amber, it is so sweet. I was relieved to see that there isn't a love triangle in this book. I can not express how tired I am getting of love triangles. I read this novel into the wee hours of the morning, I just could NOT put it down. It goes without saying that I must go back and get the other three novels in the series. Even though I had not read the other books in the series I was not confused in anyway thanks to the author's wonderful job of catching you up so you know what is going on.
With lots of suspense, some romance and a great set of characters this book would enjoyed by anyone who loves a good paranormal read. I really enjoyed it and I hope you will also.
I loved the relationship between Aiden and Amber, it is so sweet. I was relieved to see that there isn't a love triangle in this book. I can not express how tired I am getting of love triangles. I read this novel into the wee hours of the morning, I just could NOT put it down. It goes without saying that I must go back and get the other three novels in the series. Even though I had not read the other books in the series I was not confused in anyway thanks to the author's wonderful job of catching you up so you know what is going on.
With lots of suspense, some romance and a great set of characters this book would enjoyed by anyone who loves a good paranormal read. I really enjoyed it and I hope you will also.
March 27, 2012
Another in the series that was hard to put down! Jayde Scott is a wonderful writer and continues to prove herself over and over. Bewitched takes us back to the characters we first fell in love with, Amber and Aiden from A Job From Hell. I was glad that we revisited their storyline; although, I did miss getting to check in with so many of the other wonderful characters we have met througout the series (hopefully we will get to see them next time!). The book has a face paced storyline that kept me wanting to read more. The ending is such a cliffhanger that I cannot wait to read the next book in the series. Congratulations to Jayde Scott for such a great addition to her beloved series!
August 13, 2016
Fantastic paranormal mystery. I didn't see the ending coming and really hope there will be another book because I'm dying to find out more about the witches' town.
November 1, 2012
Review also on: http://chillinwithbooks.blogspot.hk/
Plot:
After my slight break from the series, I am reading on again. The fourth book in the Ancient Legends Series took us back to Amber, where she decided to plunge headfirst into a mystery that might threaten her life...
I must say I am not very satisfied with the book. It's still interesting, but I felt like everything that just kept happening. There was no twist at all, and basically no climax, there were mysteries but that was about it. However, I did find that the pages seep by without my knowing, and then the book ended. It wasn't a cliffhanger, but I felt the book really lacked climax. There was a big plot there, and would be stretched to the next book, and it was actually interesting. But the problem was that the reveal came too late, most, and when I say most I meant about 90%, of the book was spent spinning the mysteries for this plot, and that was it, no answers, and the book just ended. There was a vague paragraph about our protagonist processing what really happened and connected the dots, but she didn't elaborate and I didn't really want to think about it. Basically that means the book paved way for an interesting and exciting storyline but things stretched on for too long, and the whole book actually just felt like half the book, with all questions and no answers. That said, there were a few elements that I enjoyed in this book.
First, I liked the love triangle. I know most of you groaned just reading or seeing that word, but the love triangle in this book was actually quite good. I mean, both sides were nice and I couldn't decide which team I'm in, like what happened when I read The Nine Lives of Chloe King Trilogy (review here!). In my opinion, that was a successful love triangle. I mean, what was the point of a love triangle if everyone knew from the start who the protagonist would end up with anyway? But of course, the love triangle in this book wasn't one sided, and I liked it :)
Second, I love how smooth the plot went. Granted, there was only one POV(Amber) this time around, so there wouldn't be situations where readers confused from the switch of POVs and decided to take a break from the book (I did that!). The plot really kept moving and I just kept reading. But like I said from the beginning, the book lacked tension, drama and climax, even if it was able to lure me in and kept me reading, I wasn't really gushing about it. So actually this part was fifty-fifty. I liked that the plot went on without bumps, but I hated that there were no climax at all.
World-building:
It seemed that there were more paranormal creatures getting thrown into the mix this time. We had a werewolf, and a new demigod. These two characters didn't appear very often or hadn't appear until the very end of the book, so I really couldn't judge their powers and whether they made sense or not...
The story was set back to Scotland in Aidan's mansion again. And the infamous shed made an appearance too. What I didn't understand was where did all the people go. The last time I checked, Henry and the house-keeper (the former one, I can't remember her name) should still be living in the garden shed, working for Aidan and Claire were still living in the house. But this time neither of them showed up which left a really big plot hole here. And I must admit I was upset because I was really looking forward to read about Claire's story, and now she didn't have an appearance at all, just some name-drop and it was like she moved to another planet or something. No one talked about her, which definitely didn't make sense.
Characters:
So, like I said, Amber was back for this book, and so was Aidan and some other characters that took a back seat during the whole Cass-losing-her-soul-mate debacle. (They did appear in that 2 book, and played a part too, but not an important one.) There was really no way to talk about the new characters because first of all, their parts were really small in this book, like a random name-drop here and the story just went on and second, there was really no way to introduce them without spoiling. So I will just talk about Devon, the guy that seemed interested in Amber in the first book, and was a recurring character in book 2 and 3.
Devon was kind of like a two-sided guy. He could be really cold, like, no expression from his face or voice at all, or he could be quite cute, when he was flirting with Amber. I found that I have fallen in love with this character because his conversations with Amber were so funny, I didn't really have a LMHO moment, but it was good humored and I could feel that their flirting came rather natural, which spiked a hope in me despite Aidan being her bonded mate. I wouldn't tell you how that went but I think you will like Devon a lot more after you read this book ;)
Conclusions:
Blogger just started acting wonky when I finished the character part so I will be blunt and end this review. I have no desire to fight with blogger about the htmls in my blog.
I would give this book 3 stars. It was a pretty good read if you were already a fan of the series and love Amber right from the start, but I am pretty sure just this book along won't be able to attract many readers to keep on reading. Because, let's face it, this book lacked the climax that I so needed in my stories. Since it failed to impress me but still managed to keep me interested throughout the whole book, I would give it an average 3 stars. I would recommend this to readers of light YA paranormal, as in the storyline won't too heavy, good for readers that didn't like reading a book that got all depressed and grim and stuff. Happy reading!
Plot:
After my slight break from the series, I am reading on again. The fourth book in the Ancient Legends Series took us back to Amber, where she decided to plunge headfirst into a mystery that might threaten her life...
I must say I am not very satisfied with the book. It's still interesting, but I felt like everything that just kept happening. There was no twist at all, and basically no climax, there were mysteries but that was about it. However, I did find that the pages seep by without my knowing, and then the book ended. It wasn't a cliffhanger, but I felt the book really lacked climax. There was a big plot there, and would be stretched to the next book, and it was actually interesting. But the problem was that the reveal came too late, most, and when I say most I meant about 90%, of the book was spent spinning the mysteries for this plot, and that was it, no answers, and the book just ended. There was a vague paragraph about our protagonist processing what really happened and connected the dots, but she didn't elaborate and I didn't really want to think about it. Basically that means the book paved way for an interesting and exciting storyline but things stretched on for too long, and the whole book actually just felt like half the book, with all questions and no answers. That said, there were a few elements that I enjoyed in this book.
First, I liked the love triangle. I know most of you groaned just reading or seeing that word, but the love triangle in this book was actually quite good. I mean, both sides were nice and I couldn't decide which team I'm in, like what happened when I read The Nine Lives of Chloe King Trilogy (review here!). In my opinion, that was a successful love triangle. I mean, what was the point of a love triangle if everyone knew from the start who the protagonist would end up with anyway? But of course, the love triangle in this book wasn't one sided, and I liked it :)
Second, I love how smooth the plot went. Granted, there was only one POV(Amber) this time around, so there wouldn't be situations where readers confused from the switch of POVs and decided to take a break from the book (I did that!). The plot really kept moving and I just kept reading. But like I said from the beginning, the book lacked tension, drama and climax, even if it was able to lure me in and kept me reading, I wasn't really gushing about it. So actually this part was fifty-fifty. I liked that the plot went on without bumps, but I hated that there were no climax at all.
World-building:
It seemed that there were more paranormal creatures getting thrown into the mix this time. We had a werewolf, and a new demigod. These two characters didn't appear very often or hadn't appear until the very end of the book, so I really couldn't judge their powers and whether they made sense or not...
The story was set back to Scotland in Aidan's mansion again. And the infamous shed made an appearance too. What I didn't understand was where did all the people go. The last time I checked, Henry and the house-keeper (the former one, I can't remember her name) should still be living in the garden shed, working for Aidan and Claire were still living in the house. But this time neither of them showed up which left a really big plot hole here. And I must admit I was upset because I was really looking forward to read about Claire's story, and now she didn't have an appearance at all, just some name-drop and it was like she moved to another planet or something. No one talked about her, which definitely didn't make sense.
Characters:
So, like I said, Amber was back for this book, and so was Aidan and some other characters that took a back seat during the whole Cass-losing-her-soul-mate debacle. (They did appear in that 2 book, and played a part too, but not an important one.) There was really no way to talk about the new characters because first of all, their parts were really small in this book, like a random name-drop here and the story just went on and second, there was really no way to introduce them without spoiling. So I will just talk about Devon, the guy that seemed interested in Amber in the first book, and was a recurring character in book 2 and 3.
Devon was kind of like a two-sided guy. He could be really cold, like, no expression from his face or voice at all, or he could be quite cute, when he was flirting with Amber. I found that I have fallen in love with this character because his conversations with Amber were so funny, I didn't really have a LMHO moment, but it was good humored and I could feel that their flirting came rather natural, which spiked a hope in me despite Aidan being her bonded mate. I wouldn't tell you how that went but I think you will like Devon a lot more after you read this book ;)
Conclusions:
Blogger just started acting wonky when I finished the character part so I will be blunt and end this review. I have no desire to fight with blogger about the htmls in my blog.
I would give this book 3 stars. It was a pretty good read if you were already a fan of the series and love Amber right from the start, but I am pretty sure just this book along won't be able to attract many readers to keep on reading. Because, let's face it, this book lacked the climax that I so needed in my stories. Since it failed to impress me but still managed to keep me interested throughout the whole book, I would give it an average 3 stars. I would recommend this to readers of light YA paranormal, as in the storyline won't too heavy, good for readers that didn't like reading a book that got all depressed and grim and stuff. Happy reading!
May 8, 2012
REVIEW
I finished reading "Dead and Beyond" on May 3, 2012. I rate it four stars on a scale of one to five.
This is the fourth book in the series Ancient Legends, by Jayde Scott, and this was the one I read in first place. Lol! I never seem to start at number one, I'm a disaster! Nevertheless, I felt that I didn’t lack the background data, because the author keeps giving tips along the story, which is a point in her favor. I have also to stress out that it made me want to read the previous books, because the narratives - although they follow a timeline – tell us stories that exist by themselves and not solely dependent on the previous. Yes, one is the consequence of another, but if we fail to read a volume, we’ll still get the point. I hope to read the rest soon.
Another thing I liked was that the narrative doesn’t have big time jumps. I like ‘straight’ stories. I think Jayde and I are alike in what comes to that; I follow the same style when writing, which helped me to identify more with the author and this book.
As for the story itself, is a typical YA, romantic and with a lot of adventures and dramas. To break the "routine" there are the poltergeist phenomena, which is great to prevent the reader from saying "I've read this before." The news are always welcome.
I just wish I had known better what’s happening with Amber, as this was referred to the next volume. How about a clue?
CRÍTICA
Acabei de ler “Dead and Beyond” a 3 de maio de 2012. Dou-lhe quatro estrelas numa escala de um a cinco.
Este é o quarto livro da série Ancient Legends de Jayde Scott, e foi logo o primeiro que li. Lol! Parece que nunca começo pelo número um; sou um desastre! Apesar disso, não senti que me faltava de dados de background, pois a autora vai dando dicas ao longo da estória, o que é um ponto a seu favor. Tenho inclusive a salientar que fiquei com bastante vontade de ler os livros anteriores, pois as narrativas, embora sigam uma linha temporal, abordam estórias que existem por si e não dependem exclusivamente da anterior. Sim, uma é a consequência de outra, mas não é por falharmos um volume que vamos perder o fio à meada. Espero conseguir ler o resto em breve.
Outro ponto que me agradou foi o facto da narrativa não ter grandes saltos temporais. Gosto de estórias corridas. Acho que nisso eu e Jayde somos parecidas; sigo o mesmo estilo quando escrevo, o que ajudou a identificar-me ainda mais com a autora e este livro.
Quanto à estória em si, é uma típica YA, com um par romântico e muitas aventuras e dramas. A quebrar a “rotina” estão os fenómenos relacionados com poltergeist, o que é ótimo para não dizermos “já li isto antes”. As novidades são sempre bem vindas.
Apenas gostaria de ter percebido melhor o que se passa com a Amber, dado que tal foi remetido para o próximo volume. Que tal uma dica?
I finished reading "Dead and Beyond" on May 3, 2012. I rate it four stars on a scale of one to five.
This is the fourth book in the series Ancient Legends, by Jayde Scott, and this was the one I read in first place. Lol! I never seem to start at number one, I'm a disaster! Nevertheless, I felt that I didn’t lack the background data, because the author keeps giving tips along the story, which is a point in her favor. I have also to stress out that it made me want to read the previous books, because the narratives - although they follow a timeline – tell us stories that exist by themselves and not solely dependent on the previous. Yes, one is the consequence of another, but if we fail to read a volume, we’ll still get the point. I hope to read the rest soon.
Another thing I liked was that the narrative doesn’t have big time jumps. I like ‘straight’ stories. I think Jayde and I are alike in what comes to that; I follow the same style when writing, which helped me to identify more with the author and this book.
As for the story itself, is a typical YA, romantic and with a lot of adventures and dramas. To break the "routine" there are the poltergeist phenomena, which is great to prevent the reader from saying "I've read this before." The news are always welcome.
I just wish I had known better what’s happening with Amber, as this was referred to the next volume. How about a clue?
CRÍTICA
Acabei de ler “Dead and Beyond” a 3 de maio de 2012. Dou-lhe quatro estrelas numa escala de um a cinco.
Este é o quarto livro da série Ancient Legends de Jayde Scott, e foi logo o primeiro que li. Lol! Parece que nunca começo pelo número um; sou um desastre! Apesar disso, não senti que me faltava de dados de background, pois a autora vai dando dicas ao longo da estória, o que é um ponto a seu favor. Tenho inclusive a salientar que fiquei com bastante vontade de ler os livros anteriores, pois as narrativas, embora sigam uma linha temporal, abordam estórias que existem por si e não dependem exclusivamente da anterior. Sim, uma é a consequência de outra, mas não é por falharmos um volume que vamos perder o fio à meada. Espero conseguir ler o resto em breve.
Outro ponto que me agradou foi o facto da narrativa não ter grandes saltos temporais. Gosto de estórias corridas. Acho que nisso eu e Jayde somos parecidas; sigo o mesmo estilo quando escrevo, o que ajudou a identificar-me ainda mais com a autora e este livro.
Quanto à estória em si, é uma típica YA, com um par romântico e muitas aventuras e dramas. A quebrar a “rotina” estão os fenómenos relacionados com poltergeist, o que é ótimo para não dizermos “já li isto antes”. As novidades são sempre bem vindas.
Apenas gostaria de ter percebido melhor o que se passa com a Amber, dado que tal foi remetido para o próximo volume. Que tal uma dica?
May 11, 2012
GENRE: YA Urban Fantasy
THEME: Vampires, Werewolf, Magic, Supernatural
RECEIVED: Received for Review for Tour
BLOG: http://seeingnight.blogspot.com/
3.5 Stars
REVIEW:
First and foremost I have to clarify that I have not read the previous books in the series, I will say it’s my fault for not realizing this was in a series. Which I for one have never done before, but oddly enough I didn’t feel quite as lost as I thought I would. I seriously can’t believe I have missed out on this series by Jayde Scott and cant wait to go back and catch up on everything. Dead and Beyond is the fourth book in the Ancient Legends series.
Dead and Beyond follows Amber a newly turned vampire that has a very rare ability to see ghost. But she has a major problem and its bloodlust, she doesn’t understand why but something is wrong and her eyes changing colors doesn’t help her hide the fact. While trying to deal with that, she finds out one of her friends has gone missing and her boyfriend is hoping Amber can help him find her. Too bad for Amber, as she tries to uncover what’s going on she gets herself into more and more danger.
Amber is how I would picture a newly turned vampire to be. She’s trying to figure out how to live her new life. Unfortunately her boyfriend Aidan is becoming too busy to help explain things to her. I would probably get just as frustrated as she does; I was really hoping that she would get more help from Devon with her problems. They had great scenes together but I felt not enough. I also enjoyed her relationship with Cass, who cracked me up with her very outspoken personality.
The boys in the book are what every girl likes to read about. Aidan the tall dark and handsome vampire whom is devoted too and very much in love with Amber. But doesn’t realize he shouldn’t be keeping secrets from a very observant girlfriend. Then there is Devon, who I have grown a little soft spot for. There is something about this guy and his chemistry with Amber that I just love.
Overall I enjoyed Dead and Beyond, I was a bit confused at points that I know were discussed in the previous books but other than that I was able to figure out what was going on easily. My only issue was that since there are so many vampire stories out there, this one felt like is was missing that extra spark that makes it stand out more. Scott’s writing does pull you into the supernatural world she has created and her characters are very entertaining. This is a fast paced book full of mystery and romance, with lots of characters that everyone would enjoy. I very much recommend you start from the beginning of the series.
RECOMMENDATION:
This is a young adult novel that vampire fanatics will enjoy. Fans of Julie Kagawa’s The Immortal Rules and Brodi Ashton’s Everneath will enjoy Dead and Beyond by Jayde Scott.
THEME: Vampires, Werewolf, Magic, Supernatural
RECEIVED: Received for Review for Tour
BLOG: http://seeingnight.blogspot.com/
3.5 Stars
REVIEW:
First and foremost I have to clarify that I have not read the previous books in the series, I will say it’s my fault for not realizing this was in a series. Which I for one have never done before, but oddly enough I didn’t feel quite as lost as I thought I would. I seriously can’t believe I have missed out on this series by Jayde Scott and cant wait to go back and catch up on everything. Dead and Beyond is the fourth book in the Ancient Legends series.
Dead and Beyond follows Amber a newly turned vampire that has a very rare ability to see ghost. But she has a major problem and its bloodlust, she doesn’t understand why but something is wrong and her eyes changing colors doesn’t help her hide the fact. While trying to deal with that, she finds out one of her friends has gone missing and her boyfriend is hoping Amber can help him find her. Too bad for Amber, as she tries to uncover what’s going on she gets herself into more and more danger.
Amber is how I would picture a newly turned vampire to be. She’s trying to figure out how to live her new life. Unfortunately her boyfriend Aidan is becoming too busy to help explain things to her. I would probably get just as frustrated as she does; I was really hoping that she would get more help from Devon with her problems. They had great scenes together but I felt not enough. I also enjoyed her relationship with Cass, who cracked me up with her very outspoken personality.
The boys in the book are what every girl likes to read about. Aidan the tall dark and handsome vampire whom is devoted too and very much in love with Amber. But doesn’t realize he shouldn’t be keeping secrets from a very observant girlfriend. Then there is Devon, who I have grown a little soft spot for. There is something about this guy and his chemistry with Amber that I just love.
Overall I enjoyed Dead and Beyond, I was a bit confused at points that I know were discussed in the previous books but other than that I was able to figure out what was going on easily. My only issue was that since there are so many vampire stories out there, this one felt like is was missing that extra spark that makes it stand out more. Scott’s writing does pull you into the supernatural world she has created and her characters are very entertaining. This is a fast paced book full of mystery and romance, with lots of characters that everyone would enjoy. I very much recommend you start from the beginning of the series.
RECOMMENDATION:
This is a young adult novel that vampire fanatics will enjoy. Fans of Julie Kagawa’s The Immortal Rules and Brodi Ashton’s Everneath will enjoy Dead and Beyond by Jayde Scott.
March 15, 2012
When the kids went to bed, I stayed up until the wee hours of the morning reading this book. It made me cry, smile, giggle, and jump right out of my seat with the haunting and the bloodlust. I read it in about a week. The witty dialog and unique storyline held me mesmerized from the first page to the last. We are taken step-by-step into a paranormal world filled with ancient secrets and prophecies. The intriguing plot kept me guessing until the very end.
Amber settles into her new life as a vampire with her boyfriend, Aiden at her side. They've acquired an ancient spell that allows them to walk in the sunlight and most importantly...not need to feed on blood. But as much as Amber wishes she could live happily ever after, it's just not in the cards for her. Her life becomes a whirlwind, danger is everywhere, secrets are spilled, and the twists and turns will keep you turning the pages. And you won't believe the surprises in this book! They are some real shockers for this series! All I can say is "WOW!"
One of my most favorite things about the series is the characters: Flawed, yet, deeply human, likeable characters that you will fall in love with. They're crafted so brilliantly. And I feel like they're my best friends, and that I am right there with them experiencing their journey.
Jayde Scott does such an amazing job with this series. I can't wait to delve into more by this amazing author!! I'll be keeping my eye out for the next book in the Ancient Legend saga. What else can I say? I am hooked!
Amber settles into her new life as a vampire with her boyfriend, Aiden at her side. They've acquired an ancient spell that allows them to walk in the sunlight and most importantly...not need to feed on blood. But as much as Amber wishes she could live happily ever after, it's just not in the cards for her. Her life becomes a whirlwind, danger is everywhere, secrets are spilled, and the twists and turns will keep you turning the pages. And you won't believe the surprises in this book! They are some real shockers for this series! All I can say is "WOW!"
One of my most favorite things about the series is the characters: Flawed, yet, deeply human, likeable characters that you will fall in love with. They're crafted so brilliantly. And I feel like they're my best friends, and that I am right there with them experiencing their journey.
Jayde Scott does such an amazing job with this series. I can't wait to delve into more by this amazing author!! I'll be keeping my eye out for the next book in the Ancient Legend saga. What else can I say? I am hooked!
Want to read
February 24, 2012Sounds awesome to read, because I admit I'm into vampires..:) Thanks for this lovely giveaway.
August 10, 2018
Brilliant brilliant brilliant!
May 1, 2012
I wasn't sure if I was going to like this book when I first started reading. I'm not sure what I had expected & I think I may have mis-read the synopsis before I agreed to review it because it's a vampire story. I know. I don't do those. Ever. But once I got into the story, I found the writing & the characters to be very entertaining.
Amber, 18-year-old recently turned vampire & former housekeeper, is stuck in a large house in Scotland while her hunky 500-year-old vampire soulmate does his bounty hunting thing in other parts of the universe. She hasn't been particularly clued in to what vampires do or much of their history so she's a little out of her depth when she's alone. Enter the dangerous ex & the mysterious disappearance of a good friend, not to mention the strange, hardcore door to the basement guarding only a rusty pile of chains. Then there's the strange apparitions of blood, whispers, & a growing blood lust that shouldn't be possible for Amber. All of it makes for a pretty fast, fun read.
One of the things that always makes me wary of young human/old vampire pairings is the tendency for the author to forget the hundreds of years of experience & life that the vampire has had. They drag him down to the teenage level as far as maturity & intelligence goes. Or they don't make a good enough case for why someone who does possess a higher maturity level & intellect would be interested in a young human. Ms. Scott avoided this problem very nicely when she gave life to Amber Reed. Not only is the girl feisty, snarky, & alluring, she's also got an excellent head on her shoulders, great self-confidence, & the ability to relate to her centuries-old love on many different levels. She is believable in the role she plays & likeable at the same time.
I loved the mystery of this story. Not just in the plot but in the settings. We are treated to the beautiful & eery Scottish countryside as well as the dark & foreboding landscape of Hell. I was impressed with the fact that there was an abundance of ambience in the story which was presented in such a way as to not bog down the fast-paced story but somehow managed to just be there.
I wasn't fond of all of the reference to making out, sexual teasing, and the debate on whether or not to have sex. I felt that a lot of it was out of place within the context of the story & sort of left me with the feeling that this is not really positioned correctly in the YA genre. It's more of an urban fantasy with younger adult characters. That said however, Dead and Beyond is a very well-written book with relatable characters against a very moody, beautiful backdrop. I will probably, at some point, go back & read the first 3 books in this series to answer some of the questions I had.
Amber, 18-year-old recently turned vampire & former housekeeper, is stuck in a large house in Scotland while her hunky 500-year-old vampire soulmate does his bounty hunting thing in other parts of the universe. She hasn't been particularly clued in to what vampires do or much of their history so she's a little out of her depth when she's alone. Enter the dangerous ex & the mysterious disappearance of a good friend, not to mention the strange, hardcore door to the basement guarding only a rusty pile of chains. Then there's the strange apparitions of blood, whispers, & a growing blood lust that shouldn't be possible for Amber. All of it makes for a pretty fast, fun read.
One of the things that always makes me wary of young human/old vampire pairings is the tendency for the author to forget the hundreds of years of experience & life that the vampire has had. They drag him down to the teenage level as far as maturity & intelligence goes. Or they don't make a good enough case for why someone who does possess a higher maturity level & intellect would be interested in a young human. Ms. Scott avoided this problem very nicely when she gave life to Amber Reed. Not only is the girl feisty, snarky, & alluring, she's also got an excellent head on her shoulders, great self-confidence, & the ability to relate to her centuries-old love on many different levels. She is believable in the role she plays & likeable at the same time.
I loved the mystery of this story. Not just in the plot but in the settings. We are treated to the beautiful & eery Scottish countryside as well as the dark & foreboding landscape of Hell. I was impressed with the fact that there was an abundance of ambience in the story which was presented in such a way as to not bog down the fast-paced story but somehow managed to just be there.
I wasn't fond of all of the reference to making out, sexual teasing, and the debate on whether or not to have sex. I felt that a lot of it was out of place within the context of the story & sort of left me with the feeling that this is not really positioned correctly in the YA genre. It's more of an urban fantasy with younger adult characters. That said however, Dead and Beyond is a very well-written book with relatable characters against a very moody, beautiful backdrop. I will probably, at some point, go back & read the first 3 books in this series to answer some of the questions I had.
May 4, 2012
I have to start by thanking Cami from Reading Addiction Blog Tours and also Jayde Scott for offering up this review copy. It's really appreciated guys!
Let me begin with this - I try not to review a book if I haven't read the previous ones in the series but since this is a blog tour, I didn't have that choice. I'm going to refrain myself from having a strong opinion about this one because like I said, I haven't read the previous books and to be quite honest, I wasn't sure about all the characters or what was going on with them at first and it's my fault for not looking it up.
Dead and Beyond is the fourth book the Ancient Legends Series. I have to give the author points for her recap because although I couldn't get into the story completely, it was enough to keep me interested.
This is the story of Amber, a vampire newly turned by her super hot vampire boyfriend, Aidan.
Amber has some special abilities - she's a necromancer and can see dead people. There's a mystery element to the story that involves Amber having to find one of her friends who is missing and also a ghost that's haunting her. The plot's pretty standard for a paranormal story, nothing exceptional but still enjoyable.
I've read a book by Jayde Scott before, it was a little close to chick lit and I wasn't keen on the book's plot but I still knew right away that I could connect to Scott's writing style. The same thing goes for Dead and Beyond, Jayde Scott has a clear voice and a knack for creating likable characters. Amber's POV was amusing and pretty entertaining!
Aidan and Amber's romance takes on a cliche route at first, with all the secrets. I never get why most books have the boyfriend/girlfriend hiding things from each other when they're supposed to be deep in love. Well, at least Amber redeemed herself later and they were actually quite cute. Aidan might actually be someone I'd have a book crush on if I had read the series from the beginning. I'm just not really attached to any of the characters right now, though I'm not sure if it's because I don't know enough about their background or something else.
If you're a fan of the traditional vampire/paranormal stories, you would definitely enjoy this. Although I wasn't left with a lasting impression, that's probably only because I'm not emotionally invested in the characters. Don't get me wrong, this is an enjoyable read and there're definitely some ultra-romantic moments and quote worthy lines. Scott's writing is witty and engaging. If you're looking for a quick paranormal book/series that you can count on to 'like', this is one of those.
Let me begin with this - I try not to review a book if I haven't read the previous ones in the series but since this is a blog tour, I didn't have that choice. I'm going to refrain myself from having a strong opinion about this one because like I said, I haven't read the previous books and to be quite honest, I wasn't sure about all the characters or what was going on with them at first and it's my fault for not looking it up.
Dead and Beyond is the fourth book the Ancient Legends Series. I have to give the author points for her recap because although I couldn't get into the story completely, it was enough to keep me interested.
This is the story of Amber, a vampire newly turned by her super hot vampire boyfriend, Aidan.
Amber has some special abilities - she's a necromancer and can see dead people. There's a mystery element to the story that involves Amber having to find one of her friends who is missing and also a ghost that's haunting her. The plot's pretty standard for a paranormal story, nothing exceptional but still enjoyable.
I've read a book by Jayde Scott before, it was a little close to chick lit and I wasn't keen on the book's plot but I still knew right away that I could connect to Scott's writing style. The same thing goes for Dead and Beyond, Jayde Scott has a clear voice and a knack for creating likable characters. Amber's POV was amusing and pretty entertaining!
Aidan and Amber's romance takes on a cliche route at first, with all the secrets. I never get why most books have the boyfriend/girlfriend hiding things from each other when they're supposed to be deep in love. Well, at least Amber redeemed herself later and they were actually quite cute. Aidan might actually be someone I'd have a book crush on if I had read the series from the beginning. I'm just not really attached to any of the characters right now, though I'm not sure if it's because I don't know enough about their background or something else.
If you're a fan of the traditional vampire/paranormal stories, you would definitely enjoy this. Although I wasn't left with a lasting impression, that's probably only because I'm not emotionally invested in the characters. Don't get me wrong, this is an enjoyable read and there're definitely some ultra-romantic moments and quote worthy lines. Scott's writing is witty and engaging. If you're looking for a quick paranormal book/series that you can count on to 'like', this is one of those.
May 12, 2012
Read more of my reviews at Nick's Book Blog
First of all, I want everyone reading this to know that I had no idea that Dead and Beyond was the fourth book (yes fourth!!) in a series. If I had known, I honestly wouldn't have signed up for the blog tour, but I had absolutely no idea until I went to check out the summary some time before starting the book. So, please excuse this really really short review because I don't think it's fair for me to write a review for such a book.
Dead and Beyond tells the story of Amber, who has just been turned into a vampire by her boyfriend. She is only now learning to slowly cope with her intense blood lust and at the same time trying to figure out what happened to her friend.
The plot for Dead and Beyond was definitely very intriguing. Although vampires are somewhat overused creatures, I found myself really enjoying them in this book. The characters were all wonderfully crafted. Some of them were definitely cliched, but they were still very entertaining. They were all a very interesting mix of personalities.
The romance in the book was cute, but I don't think I liked the fact that they kept so much of secrets from each other.
Jayde Scott is an excellent writer, without any doubt. Her writing flows smoothly and she did a great job at keeping up the suspense throughout the book.
Overall, although I found myself confused in certain parts of the book, I thought it was really interesting. If you're the kind of person who's obsessed with vampires, then I definitely recommend this addition. However, start the series from the first book if you don't want to end up like me !
*Disclosure of Material Connection: I am a member of Reading Addiction Blog Tours and a copy of this book was provided to me by the author. Although payment may have been received by Reading Addiction Blog Tours, no payment was received by me in exchange for this review. There was no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, publisher, publicist, or readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision’s 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning Use of Endorcements and Testimonials in Advertising*
April 25, 2012
This review appeared here
My Overall Thoughts/Impressions: First off, I'd like to thank Cami Hensley from Reading Addiction Blog Tours for allowing me to be a part of this tour. Please see disclaimer at bottom of this post.
I haven't read the previous books in this series and so I found myself wondering about what happened before. However, Jayde Scott did an excellent job of catching readers up and telling them the important and relevant information that happened in the previous novels.
I enjoyed the characters immensely and loved the writing style. I can honestly say that this book exceeded my expectations and left me wanting to read more (both what happened before and what happens next).
This series is one that will captivate readers who love paranormal romance or books about vampires and other mystical creatures. Jayde Scott's writing style was nice.
However, although I enjoyed the novel, I felt like it lacked something to really stand out in my mind.
In Summary: An enjoyable read that kept me intrigued the whole time.
The Wrap-up: I think that fans of paranormal romance will love this tale. I for one am interested in reading the previous in the series. However, even though I enjoyed this novel, it lacked that wow factor to make it stand out with four stars. That could be because I haven't read the previous novels in the series though.
Love,
Danica Page
*Disclosure of Material Connection: I am a member of Reading Addiction Blog Tours and a copy of this book was provided to me by the author. Although payment may have been received by Reading Addiction Blog Tours, no payment was received by me in exchange for this review. There was no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, publisher, publicist, or readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision’s 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning Use of Endorcements and Testimonials in Advertising*
My Overall Thoughts/Impressions: First off, I'd like to thank Cami Hensley from Reading Addiction Blog Tours for allowing me to be a part of this tour. Please see disclaimer at bottom of this post.
I haven't read the previous books in this series and so I found myself wondering about what happened before. However, Jayde Scott did an excellent job of catching readers up and telling them the important and relevant information that happened in the previous novels.
I enjoyed the characters immensely and loved the writing style. I can honestly say that this book exceeded my expectations and left me wanting to read more (both what happened before and what happens next).
This series is one that will captivate readers who love paranormal romance or books about vampires and other mystical creatures. Jayde Scott's writing style was nice.
However, although I enjoyed the novel, I felt like it lacked something to really stand out in my mind.
In Summary: An enjoyable read that kept me intrigued the whole time.
The Wrap-up: I think that fans of paranormal romance will love this tale. I for one am interested in reading the previous in the series. However, even though I enjoyed this novel, it lacked that wow factor to make it stand out with four stars. That could be because I haven't read the previous novels in the series though.
Love,
Danica Page
*Disclosure of Material Connection: I am a member of Reading Addiction Blog Tours and a copy of this book was provided to me by the author. Although payment may have been received by Reading Addiction Blog Tours, no payment was received by me in exchange for this review. There was no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, publisher, publicist, or readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision’s 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning Use of Endorcements and Testimonials in Advertising*
April 28, 2015
Book Review- Dead and Beyond by Jayde Scott
Gael is planning his next move and Angel is a part of it. When she disappears her mate comes to Amber for help. Amber wants to help and tries but her world is getting complicated. She has started craving blood all of a sudden which scares her. Then she has this evil presence that is watching her and she is noticing she doesn’t feel right. Something is going on. She tries to tell Aidan but he isn’t listening. He is off working for Layla trying to find someone. He is so out of touch with his mate that he doesn’t realize her fears are real.
Amber decides she has to do what she needs to do. Aidan isn’t going to help her. She needs to plan for finding Angel and find out what is really going on.
The storyline in this book as in the others of this series is interesting. I like the direction the author is taking it. However I still can’t stand Amber. She isn’t getting any better as the series progresses. For someone who is new to the paranormal world, she is incredibly stubborn and insists on doing stupid things. Her impatience and impulsiveness will lead her into trouble every time.
I almost stopped reading this book because of her. I really want her to grow up. Her tantrums are childish and it drives me crazy. The only things saving this book is the storyline. However I do want to see what happens next. I give this book a 3 out of 5.
Gael is planning his next move and Angel is a part of it. When she disappears her mate comes to Amber for help. Amber wants to help and tries but her world is getting complicated. She has started craving blood all of a sudden which scares her. Then she has this evil presence that is watching her and she is noticing she doesn’t feel right. Something is going on. She tries to tell Aidan but he isn’t listening. He is off working for Layla trying to find someone. He is so out of touch with his mate that he doesn’t realize her fears are real.
Amber decides she has to do what she needs to do. Aidan isn’t going to help her. She needs to plan for finding Angel and find out what is really going on.
The storyline in this book as in the others of this series is interesting. I like the direction the author is taking it. However I still can’t stand Amber. She isn’t getting any better as the series progresses. For someone who is new to the paranormal world, she is incredibly stubborn and insists on doing stupid things. Her impatience and impulsiveness will lead her into trouble every time.
I almost stopped reading this book because of her. I really want her to grow up. Her tantrums are childish and it drives me crazy. The only things saving this book is the storyline. However I do want to see what happens next. I give this book a 3 out of 5.
December 9, 2018
Full Review posted at Book Lovin' Mamas
I have a fascination with vampires and other paranormal creatures which end up in this book too. I did find it a little confusing at times. I guess because I haven’t read the other books first, but Jayde did explain everything eventually on what happened as I stated before. I found myself re-reading specific pages so I could understand what happened to Amber and the previous characters. I would have a light bulb go off in my head after I re-read those pages. I do recommend this book to YA book lovers out there and paranormal addicts out there, like myself. I like diving into a world where there’s not only vampires but also other creatures, which I won’t spoil what, you’ll have to read the series. I will say this…I loved the ending. I look forward to knowing what happens to the characters next. I will have to read the first three books through first to get the full effect on what is going on. I give this book three full moons. Maybe, once I read the first three books and re-read this book, I’ll end up giving it more full moons later on. I definitely will be coming back to this book though. =)
I have a fascination with vampires and other paranormal creatures which end up in this book too. I did find it a little confusing at times. I guess because I haven’t read the other books first, but Jayde did explain everything eventually on what happened as I stated before. I found myself re-reading specific pages so I could understand what happened to Amber and the previous characters. I would have a light bulb go off in my head after I re-read those pages. I do recommend this book to YA book lovers out there and paranormal addicts out there, like myself. I like diving into a world where there’s not only vampires but also other creatures, which I won’t spoil what, you’ll have to read the series. I will say this…I loved the ending. I look forward to knowing what happens to the characters next. I will have to read the first three books through first to get the full effect on what is going on. I give this book three full moons. Maybe, once I read the first three books and re-read this book, I’ll end up giving it more full moons later on. I definitely will be coming back to this book though. =)
May 17, 2012
While this is book #4 in a series, it is much like Romance novels in the way that each story can be read as a stand alone. Do you feel like you missed a little bit somewhere? Yes, you always do, but you can definitely read this without having read the others. Jayde does a WONDERFUL job of explaining anything that relates to the past in detail. I for one am definitely going to be checking out the rest of the series now that I have read this one!
I think that Aiden and Amber had one of the absolute sweetest relationships. I am very excited to go back and see how this all developed! They really do have that kind of relationship that if you saw them in real life it would make you sick, but reading about it makes you swoon! ; )
I personally loved Devon in this story.
This series seems to focus on Bonded Mates. Aiden and Amber of course are a pair and then there are several other Bonded Pairs. All of them were very interesting and just added to the storyline!
This story had it all a great romance with suspense and a lot of paranormal characters! If you are a fan of any of these then I would say not just this book, but most likely this series is one you should definitely read!
I think that Aiden and Amber had one of the absolute sweetest relationships. I am very excited to go back and see how this all developed! They really do have that kind of relationship that if you saw them in real life it would make you sick, but reading about it makes you swoon! ; )
I personally loved Devon in this story.
This series seems to focus on Bonded Mates. Aiden and Amber of course are a pair and then there are several other Bonded Pairs. All of them were very interesting and just added to the storyline!
This story had it all a great romance with suspense and a lot of paranormal characters! If you are a fan of any of these then I would say not just this book, but most likely this series is one you should definitely read!
May 4, 2012
Dead and Beyond is a novel about a newly turned vampire named Amber. She is a necromancer, and is being contacted by the dead. Oh, plus she has started having visions too. Her bonded mate and boyfriend is Aidan who is handsome and loving. Then there is Devon, her friend, with whom she has undeniable chemistry. Throw in a few more lovable characters and voila! Fantastic!
The plot however, didn't do a whole lot for me. I found there was so much to focus on at once. Amber's sudden bloodlust, the Lore Court, Angel disappearing, the evil spirit that seems to be haunting her. If I was Amber, I wouldn't have wanted to get out of bed in the morning. Not to mention all the secrets and lying between her and Aidan.
The other thing that got me was the romance. I love it as much as the next girl in a novel, but in Dead and Beyond, it just seemed to much and too misplaced.
I wouldn't mind reading the other books in this series, to see how Amber ended up here (This is the fourth book, but can be read as a standalone). Plus the cover is gorgeous, so let it pull you in :)
The plot however, didn't do a whole lot for me. I found there was so much to focus on at once. Amber's sudden bloodlust, the Lore Court, Angel disappearing, the evil spirit that seems to be haunting her. If I was Amber, I wouldn't have wanted to get out of bed in the morning. Not to mention all the secrets and lying between her and Aidan.
The other thing that got me was the romance. I love it as much as the next girl in a novel, but in Dead and Beyond, it just seemed to much and too misplaced.
I wouldn't mind reading the other books in this series, to see how Amber ended up here (This is the fourth book, but can be read as a standalone). Plus the cover is gorgeous, so let it pull you in :)
May 24, 2012
Once again jayde scott blows me away with her world-building ability. When Amber realizes what a dangerous decision she has made, she wants so badly to remain as human as possible but her new instincts are screaming for her to kill. This is a fantastic story that has layers and depth. I love the internal struggles that Amber faces. She is basically a newbie vampire who has to learn how to live in a paranormal world consisting of reapers, shadows, werewolves and more. She's is a strong character with a strong will to survive. She has to face obstacle after obstacle knowing that she might still lose in the end. This book ranks high on my list. It's very exciting and the best written book in the series with the most drama.
May 9, 2012
Creepy good!
One of those books that you just can't put down and then when it's over....you're waiting for the next!
The characters are beyond interesting...Vampires...Lucifer's daughter...Shadows...Where can you go wrong?
The story progresses rather well. It's really nice to see how Amber and Aidan are still having the same issues as any new couple would. Although, they have have some major stuff to work out ...the ex-ghost, blood lust and a massive war...I think they'll be awesome!
I guess my biggest surprise was towards the end..you think you've got it pegged on who did what and such, but NOPE....You're so FLIPPING WRONG!
Great read for anyone who loves the supernatural!
One of those books that you just can't put down and then when it's over....you're waiting for the next!
The characters are beyond interesting...Vampires...Lucifer's daughter...Shadows...Where can you go wrong?
The story progresses rather well. It's really nice to see how Amber and Aidan are still having the same issues as any new couple would. Although, they have have some major stuff to work out ...the ex-ghost, blood lust and a massive war...I think they'll be awesome!
I guess my biggest surprise was towards the end..you think you've got it pegged on who did what and such, but NOPE....You're so FLIPPING WRONG!
Great read for anyone who loves the supernatural!
August 23, 2012
Amber and Aiden are back in the 4th, book of the Ancient legends series!
In this book Amber is strugling to get used to her new necromancer(being able to talk to and see dead people) powers, hiding her sudden bloodlust, thinking Aiden wants to get back with crazy dead girlfriend Rebecca, oh and one of her friends has gone missing.
This book was really good, its in Amber's point of view again. And I love Amber she is my favorite of all the female characters in the Ancient Legends series. She is very realistic, and actually acts like a teenage girl. She isn't super confident, she's sarcastic, and has something hilarious to say about everthing.
Cant wait to read Forever and Beyond ♥♥♥
In this book Amber is strugling to get used to her new necromancer(being able to talk to and see dead people) powers, hiding her sudden bloodlust, thinking Aiden wants to get back with crazy dead girlfriend Rebecca, oh and one of her friends has gone missing.
This book was really good, its in Amber's point of view again. And I love Amber she is my favorite of all the female characters in the Ancient Legends series. She is very realistic, and actually acts like a teenage girl. She isn't super confident, she's sarcastic, and has something hilarious to say about everthing.
Cant wait to read Forever and Beyond ♥♥♥
July 8, 2013
This book is my favorite out of the whole series so far :)
I love being in ambers head! Yes cass is awesome and Sophia was great but I just like amber better.
Sometimes I just want to flick her forehead and yell at her to trust her damn lover for once.
This one unlike the First book which was A job from hell. This one actually made me get jumpy at night and freak over small sounds and the shadows! I loved that about this book!!
I do love this series so far and can't wait to read the next one!
I love being in ambers head! Yes cass is awesome and Sophia was great but I just like amber better.
Sometimes I just want to flick her forehead and yell at her to trust her damn lover for once.
This one unlike the First book which was A job from hell. This one actually made me get jumpy at night and freak over small sounds and the shadows! I loved that about this book!!
I do love this series so far and can't wait to read the next one!
April 5, 2013
Amber's friend Angel goes missing. No one knows where she is. Amber feels guilty because she has blood cravings being a newly turned vampire and she can't remember what happened the night before. There are some clues that Amber could have killed Angel, so she tries to seek the truth about Angel's disappearance, even if this means accepting that she could be her killer.
I found this book to be the best in the ancient legends series. It was full of suspense. The last 3 books in the ancient legends books are my fav ones.
I found this book to be the best in the ancient legends series. It was full of suspense. The last 3 books in the ancient legends books are my fav ones.
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