The Way You Break

Creatures of Scales & Savagery #1

by K.J. Jackson

There are some that want to exploit my powers. There are some that want me dead. Then there is one that just wants me.

A shadow world exists. One where gods that aren’t quite gods walk amongst us. One I didn’t know about when I woke up by a cold mountain river…soaked…freezing. With pain cracking my skull in two and no memory of who I was or what I was doing there. My only clue is the one man—one hulking, unearthly gorgeous man—sitting on a rock across from me with a scowl on his face and hatred simmering in his blue eyes. Aiden. A man I’m going to have to depend on if I don’t want to freeze to death.

Begrudgingly, Aiden takes me to his friend’s ranch where I can stay until I get my memory back. On the secluded mountain, mystery soon engulfs me—my new friends, Aiden included, are clearly holding back a host of secrets from me. Secrets that will make or break me. Then a tragic accident occurs and I find out I can miraculously flip back time. That I belong to a shadow world of brutal people with god-like powers that keep the world in balance—people like Aiden and my new friends.

With my new power, a target has been put on my back—both Aiden’s people and their heinous counterparts are determined to have my power, and they’ll do anything to get it. So Aiden has to train me—train me fast to defend myself or my new life will be over before it starts. Which is hard when we’ve been fiercely denying the fiery attraction between us. He’s desperate to protect me, and I’m desperate to remember exactly who and what I am, for if I don’t remember in time, the fate of the whole world will be in jeopardy.

Scroll up and click ‘buy now’ to start this epic fated mates fantasy romance today!

The Way You Break is a reimaging mashup of mythology and demigods in a fantasy romance with forbidden love, multiple POV, myths and legends, fated mates, amazing powers, morally-grey choices, twists, cliffhangers, spice, a kick-butt heroine and a tear-the-world-down-for-her hero. Plus, let’s not forget the delicious, sexy angst.

It contains mature language, graphic violence, and explicit content. This is book one of the Creatures of Scales and Savagery series and ends in a cliffhanger. Please read at your own discretion.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Ebooks, Romantasy, Fantasy Romance, Amazon, Paranormal Romance

343 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 17, 2023

Reviews

[Tammy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had potential but was a bit slow for a fantasy read. I enjoyed the characters and the storyline was interesting. Story did end on a cliffhanger. It would actually be 3.5 stars. Hopefully the next book will pick up the pace.

[Naomi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Took a little to get roped into this story but the premise kept me going. Once I got a few chapters in it was hard to put down. The sex screens were a bit flat, when Sky and Aiden first get together my washing machine signalled it was done and I didn’t hesitate deal with it. It wasn’t compelling enough to make me finish the scene or chapter before putting the book down. Major points in the story are just brushed aside without much explanation like the wall of photos why was sky upset at being included she just walks away then suddenly she is fine with it and we move to the next crisis. Something kept me reading. I’ve always been drawn to the Greek myths and gods I find the fascinating. And I enjoyed this book until the last few chapters. The cliffhanger in ending totally avoidable if they Charlotte and Traiten had talked to Aidan right after rescuing him. Heal him first sure but wait a month before telling what actually happened???? It’s just seemed so ridiculous. Sure they were looking for Sky and couldn’t find her but not telling immediately that Traiten was alive and Sky was faking it just made no sense at all! It’s a major plot hole that almost made me stop reading. Do I want to read the next one? Yes. I’m intrigued enough to see what happens and to maybe learn more about Sky’s life before falling in the river to keep reading. I gave it an extra star in the rating because I am intrigued and found the writing, even with the plot holes, compelling enough to want more. I would recommend this but don’t think to hard it’s an easy read and great for the budget as the first book is free on kobo.

[Ashley · Rating 2 out of 5]

intriguing premise, but errors and issues

2.5 ⭐️ with poor formatting (huge indents, spacing issues, changes in font colors); poor grammar; and poor dialogue.

But somehow … some way … I’m intrigued and I’m going to keep reading. The premise is original and in a sea of fairytale retelling a, Fae, shifters, and Greek myth retellings … the magic and world are refreshing. So I’m going to try next next book with the hope that the writing improves.

That said, I can’t really recommend this to anyone else with the severity of problems.

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! 5 stars!

Loved this book! Pulls you into the story right from the beginning and keeps you on the edge of your seat till the very end! Has everything in this book! Has magic, fated mates, spice, mystery, betrayal! Can't wait to continue this series!

[Kissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I had read the premise for this, I was excited to check out another mythological romance and see another author's take of a modern twist on familiar gods. Instead I was met with disappointment when we are informed our main characters are the great-great-whatevers of the classic Roman gods and goddesses. Other than their powers and brief mention on why the particular location was chosen, the God-aspect of the story was non-existent. If you replaced it with any other supernatural/paranormal identity (such as vampires), it wouldn't have caused that much of a change to the story. In some ways, I felt this book was combining vague Twilight vibes and Percy Jackson vibes together with the adult romance genre. Interesting possibility but didn't hit the mark. The main characters - Skye, Aiden, Triaten, Charlotte, and, yes, even the dog Rafe - were all quite fascinating with their found family dynamics and probably the highlight of the book. Though I probably would have liked more discussion on who they were related to god-wise. The Elders and Malefics kept being talked about like they were some big scary group to be afraid of but every time we saw them they came off as snooty adults at some fancy gentleman's club who don't do anything themselves or took off for whatever reason just as the action is building up, respectively. I was just annoyed by them rather than concerned on what they would do to the main characters. Aiden's focus on Skye's weight bugged the hell out of me; while I understood his initial concern about her health in the beginning, his constant need for her to "get meat on her bones" and demanding she eat got annoying. Also, Skye's frail imagery eventually felt like a cop-out as something that needed to be added in because it's what all the other popular romance books had. In the end, while this book wasn't exactly terrible, I just felt let down expecting more of an interaction with the Roman mythology (or even a creation of their own mythology) and the lackluster threat of the Elders and Malefics. As a result, I have no interest in continuing with the series.

[Madoka Kamimura Mason · Rating 4 out of 5]

K. J. Jackson introduces us to a new series. We meet Aiden waiting for Skye to wake up. We get to go along their adventure as we learn with Skye as she learns about a world filled with those with god-like powers using them for both good and evil. Skye is thrown into this world when she finds out some truths about herself and when both sides want something from her. Will Aiden be able to help Skye learn more about herself, or will Skye not be able to trust him or herself?

K. J. Jackson brings us into a world with those with god-like powers who are trying to keep balance in the world. We get to follow Skye, Aiden, as well as friends Charlotte and Triaten as they try to answer all the questions Skye has about what is going on with her as she tries to figure out this new world. When tragedy strikes, it affects Skye in a way that she may not be able to get back to where she was. We are left wondering at this cliffhanger. I look forward to reading more and following their story.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I would like to thank K. J. Jackson for this privilege.

[Avni · Rating 4 out of 5]

i enjoyed it! but not too much ig

complaints:
- it was too serious. they needed to be funny more.
- on a similar note, aiden and skye’s relationship didn’t have enough happiness in it, if that makes sense? like there wasn’t enough joyful moments or domestic bliss of literally any kind because they’d always be interrupted by smth bad. it makes it difficult to see the chemistry
- sometimes the characters didn’t talk like humans. they’d say something and it would feel super forced
- skye was way to selfless / hard on herself like she felt bad about staying in their home and being deadweight and whatnot. it was really annoying and made me want to punch her. she would’ve been more likable if she was a selfish bitch all the time tbh.
- did not like the ending. did not like characters very much honestly. didn’t like the magic lore.

basically i don’t think it’s the best book writing-wise, character-wise, and world-building-wise.

however, i only rate based on how entertaining and enjoyable a book is, so this is a 4.5 on my scale (honestly the star deduction is only because it’s set on a ranch and i don’t like ranches)

[Martha B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Will what they've found together be enough?

Although I read the original Flame Moon series by K.J. Jackson years ago, I must say the rewritten and expanded version is still totally engrossing.

Once they really get to know each other, it's obvious that Aiden and Skye are perfectly matched. But not everyone in The Way You Break is on their side, much less want them to be a couple. Then there are their friends, who are also very likable and strong personalities. Last but certainly not least is Rafe, Skye's dog. Definitely special and one of a kind.

As to the plot, well it is fast paced, full of tense moments, but also some humor. It's also steamy, steamy, steamy.

Content 411: This book does end in a cliffhanger, as noted in the warning on the seller's description page. Also, the content of this book is for mature readers who are not easily offended by vulgarities, violence and explicit sex.

Disclosure: I received a complementary ARC of this book from the author via BookFunnel. I am voluntarily submitting my honest review.

[Faith Davies · Rating 5 out of 5]

When the "good guys" aren't so good.

I loved the fresh take on good vs evil, with the Malefics on one side & the Gods on the other. Aiden has been used by the Elders in the most soul crushing way, forcing him to commit atrocities that haunt him endlessly. Skye bursts into his life & they find healing & joy in each other. When Skye is threatened, the Elders, the supposed arbiters of good, refuse any aid & the subsequent pain, misery & loss are a direct consequence of their inaction.

I found myself loathing the Elders; if they had acted with any compassion & honour Aiden & Skye would have had a very different outcome. I know that it had to happen that way, otherwise the story would have ended right there! It didn't lessen my contempt for them, though. I'm really looking forward to seeing how this develops. The characters are drawn with a warmth & empathetic touch that leaves you caring for their futures. I'm off to read the next book.

[Tara Heilman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. I did read the series before this re-write. I loved it then. But this, this was amazing. Ms. Jackson has managed to turn something great into something phenomenal. That being said, it is a must read. For this authors fans, for fantasy lovers and for PNR fans. The word building, the characters, the backstory, there wasn't a thing that could have made me put it down. Except for the fact that I didn't want it to end. Aiden, harsh around the edges, with such a big heart. Skye, lost and alone, but also willing to trust her new friends. Triaten, I'm pretty sure there is a lot more to him. Charolette, was a rock for them all. The battle of good and evil is done in a very unique way. Heads up readers, it does end on a cliffhanger. However, the next will be here soon and you will not want to miss it. Thank you, for a wonderful read.

[Kaytie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book.
I love the long time tight friendship between Aiden, Triaten, and Charlotte. It comes through in all the looks that are really full conversations and it's a fantastic picture of family you choose for yourself.
The world created by K.J. Jackson in this book is a fun modern twist on mythology and I truly wanted to absorb it all.
Sure there were a few slow points in the story and many places where I wanted more information or explanation but as I'm currently reading through the second book in the series I'm becoming more confident I will get my answers by the end of it all, 😀 and it's definitely worth reading through to find them.
I will say, don't start the first book without the second one available. My heart was breaking at the end and I definitely needed to jump right in the the next to heal it.

[Sharon Hendrix · Rating 5 out of 5]

So engrossing!

What a way to meet Skye! Half drowned, frozen, sitting on a log, being stared at by a man that looks very, very angry. He asks her questions, questions she can’t answer because she has no idea what the answers are! Not even her name!
What follows it the beginning of a story so far out of the norm, so unbelievable she thinks she has landed in with some very good looking crazy people. When she is finally convinced that what they have told her is true the fun really begins. Turns out Aiden has found the love of his life in Skye. And Skye feels the same about him.
Unfortunately there are forces at play that would see her either dead or manipulated into becoming an even greater evil.
I can’t wait to read more!

[Candace P. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not sure if I'm loving the characters in this book, but ugh! it ends on a cliffhanger... so I immediately started book 2

It is a cool concept about beings with abilities (super strong, telepathic, time manipulation, healing), the idea of good vs evil and how people work to protect the balance, sometimes the good doing questionable things. I am definitely interested in the overall story.

The FMC is overly dramatic about things, and the MMC and other characters don't communicate with her, which cause the FMC to become more dramatic.

I'm already about 50 pages into the 2nd, and the characters already seem like a little better than the first 🤞

[Marija P. · Rating 3 out of 5]

It started off slow and mysterious, with a refreshing take on magic but as I continued reading it, I found myself increasingly annoyed. Skye had the potential to be such a cool and layered character, yet I had a feeling she kept running from her problems. Okay, I get it, she was a blank canvas, didn't know anything about herself but still she runs when training gets tough, when she sees her photo on Aiden’s wall, when she learns secrets that were actually meant to protect her. The novel ended on a cliffhanger but I don't feel the pull to read the next book in the series. I think I'll take a short break and then revisit it.

[Patti Burton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really like the story and action and characters so far. Skye and Aiden are the main ones in this first book. Action packed only slightly stalled somewhere near 20% in but then it’s at a great pace throughout. Charlotte snd Triaten are also main characters. All four have “powers” in this world among the humans up on this mountain. Skye is captured during the rescue of Aiden by the malefics, the bad half of the people with powers. Cliffhanger here but ready to dive into next book. Easy read really and recommend to all who like this genre.

[Sammi · Rating 1 out of 5]

Skye, an extremely overused name, is hysterical 60% of the time and self depricating the rest. She does and thinks one thing then pages later is going against those things so what was even the point to start with?

Aiden is an animal abuser who can't control his rage or temper even a little bit. Being over 100 years old you'd think he would have matured at least a little from a teenage mentality.

This reminded me a lot of middle school / high school writing when you give your main character all the bad luck because you think it's cool but, really, it's just garbage writing.

[Book_Mom_Of_Three · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wow this one took me a long time to read, and honestly I started to skim through chapters. It was a good book but very slow and choppy IMO. I honestly did not feel the love was more told they loved each other.

The ended was phenomenal writing! Ugh I am not a sad person or someone who likes cliffhangers but man it was so realistic in the heartbreak 💔 I’ll pick up the next one just to see what sky does next.

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. Premise was fun but execution was weak. We didn’t really find out anything and there were a lot of lost opportunities in making the plot more fun with all these powers. Instead we just got to see Charlotte heal over and over again. The end of the book should have been the most exciting since it’s literally the only thing that happened but it DRAGGED! I don’t really have a desire to continue series.

[Sharon Rudolph · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book! I read the original series and loved it! I can tell that this new version is going to be amazing! The characters broke my heart, I wanted to cry because I know it will be a little time before they have their HOA. The characters and the storyline grabbed you from the very beginning, I couldn't put the book down!

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unexpected but so good.
This not a piece I expected from this writer but it is very good and so well written. The characters were so cool and took hold right from the start. The twists and turns in this fantasy were first rate too. I could not put this book done and cannot wait to read the next one. I did receive a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.

[Kimberly · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

The writing is good. There were times when I was bored and then I would get drawn back in. It definitely does not read as Gods or Greek mythology. Theres almost nothing that says "these characters are decendants of gods". Overall it just fell flat.

[ᗰ.ᑕ. ❄️ O͎L͎D͎E͎R͎ ͎&͎ ͎W͎I͎S͎E͎R͎ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read August 2023
2.5 stars

The blurb makes this book sound amazing, but it didn’t live up to that promise. The plot is interesting and has the potential for a great story. Sadly, the author's inferior writing skills held it back. What a bummer. ☹️

🚨 🅂🄿🄾🄸🄻🄴🅁 🄰🄻🄴🅁🅃 🚨

It's the usual good vs. evil plot, with god-like beings with various powers. The panthenites are good, while the malefics are evil. The Malefics bring chaos in the world, causing disasters and wars. The Panthenites strive to keep everything in balance.

After half-breeds nearly led to their extinction, the remaining pure Panthenites worked together to ensure more pure offspring. As a result, half-breeds are now unwanted and are mistreated.

Skye (25) is an "outlier." (Nomad is a more accurate word for her). She travels from place to place. She somehow found her way to a mountain in Colorado, where Aiden, Charlotte, and Triaten live.

At a bar, a guy tells her to go kayaking at a shop nearby. Even though she really hates the water, she up and does it. She falls into the water, hits her head, and loses her memories. Who is she and what is she doing there? And so the story begins...

❓ Why didn't the guy take her to the water? How is he able to hide what he is in town? How did he know she'd end up IN the water? (Skye had to go in the water to activate her ability).

Aiden (150+) is a panthenite who's stronger than Hercules, and can control the weather. He doesn't like Skye at first, and tries to avoid fate and his feelings. Then a flip is switched, and he gives in to his feelings and strong sexual desires. His wanting Skye starts off hot, but quickly loses steam. It happened so fast it was unbelievable and not felt.

𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗕𝗟𝗘𝗠𝗦 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗘 𝗙𝗥𝗢𝗠 -
● Skye's tendency to run, instead of acting like a mature adult. She runs when the training becomes too much for her. She runs when she sees her photo on Aiden's wall. She runs when she learns that Aiden & friends knew who she was and didn't tell her (they did it for a good reason). She runs at the very end b/c she doesn't feel anything, creating a 🙄 cliffhanger.
● Half-breed Mary, who's not so nice after all. She killed Skye's mom, Charlotte's baby, and tried to kill Skye.
● Malefics who want Skye. Panthenite elders, indifferent at best & ruthless at worst, gladly hand Skye over to them.

Unlike what the blurb says, there is no target on Skye's back. The Panthenite elders don't care about amazing Skye or her amazing ability.

Surprise, Skye is a - panthenite/malefic half-breed. Her unusual & powerful time-control ability has no impact on the story. She saves her dog―whoopee. 🙄

Near the end, the Malefics target Skye, and Aiden tries to protect her but gets captured. They want Skye in return for Aiden. Skye devises a plan, but it falls apart when she is taken away by helicopter. In her frustration, she blames Aiden, even though he had no idea what was happening. 😬 Aiden and his friends ask the elders for help to rescue Skye, but then the help they're given is left outside the cave where she's held, and they save her by themselves. (Why did they even ask for help in the first place? 🙄)

It all comes down to the writing: there's a lack of depth, limited character descriptions, and not enough details. The story feels underdeveloped, with some elements that don’t make sense due to poor explanations. The narrative is choppy and lacks a smooth flow, and has plot holes.

To Skye: “You don’t know who you are, what you’ve created, what you do for money, why you were on a train in the mountains, why you were traveling with a dog, where you were going. The list is endless."

Many questions about Skye are left unanswered. 🤷‍♀️

While it starts out interesting―with a few good scenes along the way―overall I was disappointed.
⬇ The characters don't seem like real people.
⬇ The story evoked little to no feelings.
⬇ There was no chemistry between Aiden & Skye―no passion or deep love.
⬇ The sex scenes are also poorly written.

🫣 𝗦𝗲𝘅 𝗦𝗰𝗲𝗻𝗲 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗽𝘁𝘀:
► He gripped my hips, pinning me to the tree as he filled me flawlessly. His cock savage, devouring a chasm in me I didn’t even know existed. Each thrust drew ragged screams from me when the void of him became too much on withdrawal.
► his thrusts shattered me into a million shards of light.
► My body pitched with waves still tearing through my core,
► Every contraction, every vibration of her blood pounding through her veins was magnified against my cock. That was all it took for my body to detonate, the fury of my release surging up into her splintering me straight through my core.

The multiple POVs (Aiden, Skye, Charlotte, Triaten) were a 👎. All of them sounded exactly the same, causing confusion while reading. Authors should stick to one or two POVs, unless they have the talent for it.

2.5 stars for having finished it. For liking some of it. For recognizing the unrealized potential. Sadly, I won't remember any of it for long.

🚫 I don't plan on reading the next book.

[Sue Rowland · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this mythological fantasy romance. The characters.. Aiden, Skye, Tristan, and Charlotte are interesting. It will be interesting to see what the next book reveals.

[(: · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 sometimes the pacing was slow but the true issue here is Aidan hitting the dog that one time and throwing something at him

[Jenny]

DNF at 28%. Wanted to like the premise but couldn’t get past the subpar writing and juvenile angst.

[Startled Green · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. DNF. Stopped at 60% after i found myself skimming to get through.

[Alana Rainey · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was incredibly boring and anticlimactic. 200 pages of the same boring stuff over and over. Don’t waste your time on this one.

[Monica · Rating 2 out of 5]

The writing was boring.

[Beautiful_Jade · Rating 2 out of 5]

I finished this by skimming a lot. I won't bother with the next book.

[Elaina Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Its ok

Betrayal, intrigue, and half truths. Skye lost her memories in the river. Her new friends found her sister, and her sister wanted nothing to do with her.