Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book
Rate this book
Isaac Mayfair is hiding a dark secret. And just when Adria Dawson thinks the worst of her life among the werewolf world is over, she learns the secret that can rip her and Isaac’s love apart. Adria must come to terms with what the truth means for her. What it means for her life and how much time she has left to live it. She must choose between two different fates, neither of which can offer life as a certainty.

As if Isaac’s betrayal isn’t enough, Adria learns that there are things out there older and more powerful than werewolves could ever be. An archaic entity known only to few as the Praverian, unlike anything Adria has ever known or heard of.

As Adria struggles with her own fateful dilemmas, she must also try to find out why the Praverian is so interested in her and do everything in her power to stay out of its way.

Due to MATURE YA content, this book is recommended for 17+.

348 pages, Paperback

First published July 19, 2012

110 people are currently reading
3965 people want to read

About the author

J.A. Redmerski

30 books13.2k followers
J.A. (Jessica) Redmerski is a New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, and #1 Amazon best-selling author. She is also an international bestseller and award winner. Jessica is a hybrid author who began self-publishing in 2012 and later signed several titles with a traditional publisher. Her works have been translated into over twenty languages and have been optioned for film and television.


Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
2,097 (40%)
4 stars
1,796 (34%)
3 stars
1,038 (19%)
2 stars
216 (4%)
1 star
66 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 279 reviews
Profile Image for Tee Loves Books.
950 reviews
September 18, 2012
Once again, I'm kicking myself for not introducing myself to Jessica Redmerski's amazing Darkwoods Trilogy series sooner! Mayfair Moon blew me away and got me completely hooked on these amazing characters, I couldn't wait to start the next book. And Kindred just went full-throttle and turned an amazing supernatural story into an even more suspense-filled, heart-stopping, seeeeeeexy tale that gave me the chills at every turn!

Adria takes center stage in this sequel in the Darkwoods Trilogy; her sanity in question, Kindred marks her maddening downward spiral as she comes to grips with what really happened to her the day she was captured by Viktor Vargas. There are too many strange things happening around her-seeing things that aren't really there, wounds healing that shouldn't be, a unexplained tie to the supernatural; the only explanation Adria can come up with is the one that she fears will push Isaac away forever. She's blood bound to Viktor, and her mind is becoming lost just as Aramei's is. But when Adria meets another supernatural being, one with a connection to her that she doesn't understand, she realizes everything isn't as it may seem. THe whole time she's been carrying guilt, blaming herself for the one thing that ultimately would make Isaac find her undesirable, he's been keeping his own secret. Isaac's love for Adria is so profound, and he made a decision that he knew was selfish. Adria goes from feeling immense guilt to feeling betrayed by the only man she's ever loved; but with her time growing thin, she has to make a decision that will change her life forever.

I must say, not since reading Amy Bartol's Premonition series have I had such delicious fun diving into a crazy supernatural world!! Redmerski once again creates a unique and captivating storyline, with twists and shocking revelations that leave you constantly guessing. Adria's failing mental state honestly had me feeling like I was going mad right along with her at times, questioning what was real and wondering how exactly things happened when they did. It was such a terrifying and dizzying trip, and you can't help but feel the dread and terror Adria does knowing that it could all be due to a bond she'll always have with a monster.

Redmerski drives home every emotion and tosses you into Adria's despair, and my heart just broke for her as she was worn down into a shell of her former self. And when Isaac's secret is revealed, I was both relieved and pissed that he'd kept it from her, but at the same time I could see he had reasons just like she did for hiding something. It was like they were doing this dance around each other for most of this book, never apart but never fully together because of their secrets, and Adria suffered alone because of it. None of that really mattered in the end, though, because honestly they were both just trying to protect each other. Buuuuut, the naughty girl in me was anxiously awaiting what brought on the "MATURE YA content" warning for Kindred, and my, my, my was it worth the wait!! Talk about a heated, passionate moment that leads to a life-altering decision! I was reading that whole scene wearing my sh*t-eating grin, wishing I could high-five Jessica Redmerski for giving the readers exactly what we've been waiting for!! Whew!!

The new supernatural beings introduced in Kindred are the Praverian, a mysterious group who feed off the weak and whose purpose of existence is cryptic. They are thrust into Adria's life whether she wants it or not, and the meaning behind it depends on where her fate leads. They are such an intriguing creation, and I was back and forth between being creeped out and mesmerized by them. I'm anxious to see how they will affect Adria's life and what it will mean for her and Isaac, but for now I absolutely love the way Kindred wrapped up and how well we're set up for the final book in the trilogy, The Ballad of Aramei!!!
Profile Image for Lainey.
261 reviews1,558 followers
August 26, 2016
I enjoyed this installment more than the first one, this was really solid and I liked the mythology behind the werewolves. This one was also just as fast for me to get through, the pacing works really well with the story and I finished this one in a day.
Profile Image for Devon Ashley.
Author 24 books986 followers
July 3, 2012

Sigh...I think Isaac Mayfair just kicked and clawed his way to the top of the Book Boyfriend list. Sorry boys...hope he didn't infect you along the way.

It's been seven months since Adria was kidnapped by Vargas, the leader of Isaac's enemy pack, since the night she almost died, since the night her uncle was permanently mauled, since her life was forever changed. She didn't know it then, but now suspects while she was unconscious, Vargas forced an unwanted Blood Bond on her. Her physical and mental health is waning, and fear of losing Isaac has kept her from admitting her suspicions openly. Her delusions become more apparent as Adria begins to frequently converse with Genna, who incendently, no one else can see. Her delusions drain her and time becomes lost to her. As her health begins to fade, Adria knows there's only one way to fix it, but it's entirely possible the process will take her life.

Whew! Kindred was quite the ride. It begins with a great bang - immediate action as Adria runs blindly through the forest, desperately trying to outrun a vicious werewolf, and the suspense that builds until the end will have you guessing her condition and ultimate plan of action. If you loved The Mayfair Moon, you're gonna be incredibly happy with Kindred. There are fresh (and somewhat creepy) new characters, werewolves from rival packs fighting to be alpha of the Mayfair's territory, an ancient group known as the Pravarians that like to the suck the energy right out of you, and an ending that will sate your hunger but still leave you craving for more!

Note: Kindred is New Adult Urban Fantasy and there is some sexual content. So if that offends you, steer clear. Those okay with it...it's so steamy you'll be fanning yourself cause Isaac's freakin hot!

description

ARC provided by author for honest review.
Profile Image for Elle jones.
30 reviews4 followers
July 24, 2012
This book was even better than the first in the series. It was so action packed, i couldnt put it down. Im glad I only have it in the kindle version because I wouldn't have been able to stop myself from slipping to the back to find out what was happening. Awesome read, fantastic book....Im a little sad there is only 1 more book to go - this series has a lot of potential
Profile Image for Rachmi .
929 reviews74 followers
January 6, 2013
The end of The Mayfair Moon left me want to read the sequel in a row. Actually, it kind of ruined my reading plan. In the other hand, I’m glad that I read it now, instead of last year when the book came out because I don’t have to wait for the sequel.

Kindred opens with Adria feeling guilty keeping secrets to Isaac. It’s kind of consumes her and with all that happen to her made her emotion at bay. The worst is she knows what it’s all about. Yet she can’t tell Isaac because their relationship depends on it.

This is a second book of The Darkwoods Trilogy, but the story and life of Adria & Isaac and people & werewolves around them is just begins. Redmerski took this book straight to the point she didn’t describe her characters and the story building anymore. It has already done in The Mayfair Moon. In one way it makes The Mayfair Moon just an introduction to The Praverian Chronicles, a tiny glimpse of it. And other way I feel this book going so fast with so much story that I have to learn. It make me headache but in a good way, if that possible because it keeps me wanted more of the story.

I think this book better than the prequel. In this book I can see that Redmerski wrote it as a trilogy not as a standalone book but then push the story into trilogy. The way she told stories and described it connected to the prequel. It is clear that she made each scene intertwined with others. When I read it I finally understand each scene in The Mayfair Moon. She wrote it with meaning, not just to fulfill the story and I can see the reason and the answer of it in this sequel. It also has more emotions than the first one. I can feel Adria’s guilty, sadness and confusion. Here for the example:

The tears pour from my eyes and I don’t try to stop them this time. I just let them flow, my body shuddering in a surrendering mess. I cry quietly in the night under the tree, my legs pulled up onto the swing seat, pressing against my chest with my arms wrapped around my knees. My bare feet are cold, but I didn’t care to put on shoes before I came out here and I don’t care to put any on now. I hear Isaac’s footsteps shuffling through the grass and sand behind me. “I’m sorry,” he says, “but that’s as long as I can leave you out here by yourself.” The swing shifts as he sits down beside me, pulling me into his lap. His closeness only makes me want to cry harder, but I don’t. He wraps his arms around me and kisses the edge of my chin. The sweetness of his breath lulls me. “I’ll wait for as long as you need before we talk about it, but I need to be here with you.”

Although I’ve already guess what Adria will become, Redmerski didn’t make it easy for me. There are surprises that I couldn’t predict while I read it. And to be honest I kind of curse her :D but then again I love her for make me feel that way because I love the feeling when I can’t guess where the story goes. So, The Ballad of Aramei here I come…..
Profile Image for Sylvia.
678 reviews118 followers
March 24, 2015
HOT DAMN!! This series is just freaking too amazing!! Hands down my favourite werewolf series ever!! I'm bloody blown away, yet again and how brilliant of a storyteller J.A. Redmerski is. I mean she really had be gripping to the edge of my seat the whole time wanting to desperately read more and hating when I read the last line. I'm desperate for the next book in the series and I can't wait to read it.

I loved The Mayfair Moon but I really am in love with Kindred. There was something more edgier, darker and haunting. Adria was plagued and riddled with guilt and so many emotions, I was hanging on her every thought and desperate, like her, to find answers about what's happening to her. Why she sees people no one else can and why she can sense Isaac so strongly. So intense and heartbreaking at times, which keeps me riveted and captivated.

Also, I found Kindred to be a lot more sexy and sensual RAWR RAWR RAWR!! Each word was carefully selected by Redmerski to drive you absolutely insane with heat and frenzy. What Isaac and Adria feel is so primal and raw it's ridiculously seductive and beastly. And I absolutely love that. I mean talk about hot and steamy. For all those who have read it already know what I'm referring too and for those who haven't, get ready to RAWR!! I did hehe.

But what is more remarkable to me is we get to glimpse into Isaac's mind and are teased with his POV for a few chapters and let me tell you that he is one sexy fudging beast of a wolf. I love this guy and it broke my heart to read how tortured he was over Adria. Seeing what he sees and him describing it to you is breathtaking, especially when he finally finds Adria in the field...OMG! Talk about having your heart shattered into tiny little pieces. I loved that scene and Redmerski is an absolute amazing writer in that each breaking of a bone stirs so much inside you and you feel every last drop of emotion and feeling. It's truly awe inspiring. I can't get enough of her books. I'm totally in love.

So, if you are looking for a new series to tackle, then look no further. It's a unique take on werewolves that will have you gasping for more and more is what you get.
Profile Image for Lauren the Book Slayer.
395 reviews67 followers
July 19, 2012
As I sit here at my desk, pondering how to adequately describe my feelings for Kindred, a quote from one of my favorite Vampire Diaries characters comes to mind. “I think the term you’re searching for is O.M.G.” – Elijah. Yup. That pretty much sums up my thoughts into a cute little package. Warning: This review contains copious amounts of gushing due to the high level of awesome that Kindred embodies. We’re talking characters that feel like real life friends and family. Action that has your adrenaline pumping. Danger that makes you cringe and want to cower. And MOST importantly, sizzling romance with super sexy scenes that cause stream-like drool to dribble down your chin. I may have enjoyed The Mayfair Moon when I read it back in December. But Kindred well… It’s in an entirely different league. My love for this trilogy has officially gone up a notch. You can consider me certifiably addicted.

One of the many reasons I loved The Mayfair Moon was because it’s synopsis told us upfront that we were dealing with werewolves. I feel like the majority of wolfy books out there either A. try to make the supe element a surprise and successfully succeed in leading our minds astray or B. try to make the supe element a surprise but fail miserably by leaving tell-tale and downright ridiculous hints that are easily solved. With M.M.’s supe secret out from the getgo, it forced Redmerski to come up with a set of equally (if not more so) “pillars” to help carry the book; which she pulled of superbly. I found M.M. incredibly strong with it’s deep and thought-provoking characters and it’s fresh take and modern twists on an oldie but goodie myth surrounding the loup garou.

Kindred was fast-paced, nail-biting, and finger-cramping (holding onto a Nook for 4-5 straight hours). It was an amazing novel and one hell of a sequel. The characters we grew to love were all featured and utilized. Kindred reminded me again how truly amazing Adria is. Between an alcoholic mother with an abusive boyfriend, a sister who’s basically joined the dark side, a werewolf boyfriend that struggles with his humanity near and during the full moon, and oh yah, a war looming on the horizon that promises both death and destruction, you’d think Adria would be hopping on the first bus to looneysville. Not to mention her latest cases of zoning out and time loss that keep happening accompanied by loss of appetite and fainting. However, none of that slows our girl Adria down. With the danger and drama both at an all time high in Kindred, like always, Adria chooses to face it full on without fear. Well, there’s definitely some fear but she doesn’t let it control her. Then there’s Issac *swoon* he’s as devilish-y charming, compassionate, and romantic as ever. Seriously. Where can I find my own Issac Mayfair?!! Minus the ties to a warring and sometimes savage species, he’s like the perfect boyfriend. So sweet, caring, and compassionate, always thinking of cute dates and romantic gifts. Once again *sigggh*. And the passion PHEW! One needs to take an ice-cold shower after reading scenes containing his err… bareness. Eheh.

Kindred was a fabulous read. 5 stakes! I loved it even more than it’s predecessor, The Mayfair Moon. Since book one introduced us to this world; book two goes right ahead and brings the story to the next level. We get a deeper and better understanding of the characters. We also get a ton of new info including what a “Praverian” is (the series is called the Praverian Chronicles) and how “they” will effect the story to come. If you haven’t read The Mayfair Moon I implore you to head on over to Amazon and purchase it. It’s a must read for lovers of slightly edgy and incredibly sexy paranormal romances. There is a lot of mature scenes and dialogue so I’d consider this book more in the realm of “new adult” vs. “young adult”. Although a good chunk of the characters are teens. OH! And if you have read The Mayfair Moon – get Kindred ASAP. You will not be disappointed.
Profile Image for Michelle.
82 reviews
January 7, 2013
I loved Kindred even more than I did The Mayfair Moon. There was so much going on all at once I was almost left breathless with its pace. Kindred was like taking a ride on one of those crazy rollercoasters that almost has you throwing up at the end, but you enjoyed every minute of it. It went so fast and furious that I finished it in one sitting. I could not put it down. I don't think there was any part I didn't like. What made it so much better was the alternate PoV's between Adria and Isaac. I always love a book where I get to see both MC minds open to me. It drags me in that much more. Even a few days later I am still thinking of Kindred and its characters.

Adria seems to have a more firm head on her shoulders, even with facing what she does. I found her reactions to stuff very believable and honest. Adria grew in Kindred from the warm girl she was in the first book. She takes on a more dominant role, or at least I found that she did. I like seeing her all at once independent and yet still relying on Isaac for emotional stability. I like that she is not blind to what the out come of their relationship could and most likely will be. Mind you, just because she knows doesn't mean she is not willing to take the chance anyway. I respect her for that. At least she is a girl who knows her own mind. Not many MC's out there that do. And of course she can be reasoned with. She is not totally stubborn to the point where you just want to slap her. Sure she can go toe to toe with Isaac but she knows when someone has a point. I am very grateful for that, or this book could of ended really badly. Adria, you rock.

Isaac is dealing with family, pack issues, along with several other things that we are kept in the dark about. I can say I was very shocked when I found out what some of it was. I do love that he never held certain things against Adria when he found out because he knew why she did it. Don't get me wrong, I think if I was him, I would not be as understanding. But with his insight on the issue he was not 100% blind sided by it. Isaac is a true Alpha, he takes care of his own, even if it means protecting them from things that will hurt them deeply. I can't say I agreed with the way he handled the situation but I do understand why he did what he did. I truly love Isaac's strength and I understand with great power come great responsibility, and I know that he would not cave under such pressure. Though I don't think even he is aware of what he is capable of. All Isaac needs is for Adria to give him the added strength and encouragement he needs when he starts to doubt himself. In other words, Isaac + Adria = Perfect!

Overall Kindred was well written and though its content is for a more mature audience I enjoyed every minute of it. I know a lot of authors out there, when it comes to a sequel, we are all let down. But I can assure you that this is not the case at all. J.A. Redmerski did an amazing job writing the second part and I am definitely waiting anxiously for the third installment. I don't think the author could of done a more perfect job with Kindred. It was a true rollercoaster of a ride.

Find more on my blog http://ravelinssanctuary.blogspot.ca/
301 reviews
November 11, 2012
Actual Rating: 4.5

Okay, my mind is seriously blown! This is probably my favorite YA series about werewolves. It is so addicting!!! I never want to pull away from it. I wouldn't call it perfect, but it is SO CLOSE to being so.

While The Mayfair Moon introduced the world the characters lived in, it seems to me that Kindred developed the characters and their relationships in the way that the former was lacking. I am so pleased with this fact. I finally felt connected to the characters and understood their feelings for each other. Their is no doubt in my mind that the characters are what makes the series extraordinary for me. I love all of them. Adria does get on my nerves sometimes, especially in this one, because she seems so dense. She doesn't realize things that are so obvious to me. But I forgave her in this one since she truly is a sweet character. She cares more for the welfare of others than of herself. But my favorite characters of this series are definitely Harry and Isaac. Harry is too perfect in all of his imperfect ways. I did not see that twist about him coming!! I still can't believe it! I'm just glad that he still acts the same. His relationship with Adria is one of my favorite aspects of this series. As for Isaac, I already loved him but I loved him even more this time around. Even though he made a fairly stupid mistake, he did it because of how much he loves Adria. Getting a glimpse inside of his mind with the POV change made me truly understand Isaac as a character. It was my favorite part of the book because it was written so wonderfully and it strengthened the relationship development. So although their love was an "insta"-love, I can tell just how true Adria and Isaac's feelings are for each other.

As for the plot of this installment, I would call it more of a filler. Usually I don't enjoy filler, but I enjoyed this one because of all of the developments I just talked about. There was a bit of a plot to it so it moved the story forward, but I can tell that the next one is going to be the one to look out for! Once you get to the second half of the story, things start to pick up. We're introduced to new creatures and we start to learn a little more about what's going on with these characters. But the truly amazing and totally captivating part of the story comes at the last quarter of the book! I can't believe all of these revelations!! The true plot of this series is finally being unleashed. All of the set up from the first two books is going to explode in the third one!! I am full of anticipation right now! I wish I didn't have to wait another week for the next one, but I know that it is going to be well worth the wait!!

I know, I know. That was probably the most vague paragraph I have ever written in regards to plot, but I can't say anything because of how spoilerific it would be if I did. Stuff just got serious guys. There is no turning back at this point. And I. CAN'T. WAIT!!!!!!!

So if you haven't read this series yet: WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?????
It truly is one of the best werewolf series I have ever read.
Profile Image for Paula Valerio.
33 reviews28 followers
July 21, 2012
The Mayfair Moon was awsome, but Kindred... was far beyond awsome!!

I loved Isaac and Adria in the first book, but in Kindred i love them much, much more.
They are so sweet together, their love connection was so strong and deeper, i was swept away in all of their emotions and their secrets and why they were kipping them from each other, it was heartbreaking, but i understood them. Like Adria says at some point " Fear. It's just another form of death."
Isaac was always so kind, so gentle, so much more open and Kindred has so much more background about him and his family, it was nice to see him finaly accept his distiny, and to see that his father loved him in his own weird way.
I loved to read in his point of view.
In the end when everything was clear between them, it was beautiful to see that all their choices and its consequences lead them to what they've been wanting... for so long.
We were introduced to new charecters, the Praverians, immortals and very powerful and dark beings(i loved them) and Harry, Adria's best friend had a surprisingly development and i'm so looking forward to reed what will happen between him and Daisy, Isaac's sister, and also the connection between Adria and Aramei.

This book was so awsome, Isaac and Adria are definitly among my favourite love stories!!
75 reviews6 followers
August 8, 2012
I gave the first book in the series only 3 stars, but this book definately deserved five. The first book set up the story and this book definately delivered. It almost felt like a different book, more mature. the characters had a lot more depth to them as did their relatinship to each other.
Adria is getting more involved in the supernatural world and so are her friends. She begins to have dizzy turns where she blacks out for periods of time. She thinks she knows the reason why and is determined to hide it from Isaac, while Isaac is determined to hide something from her.
Even the plot is so much more interesting than the last book. I cannot express how much I loved this author's writing. From the beginning of the book you are grabbed and thrown into Adria's world as she runs from something. Normally I hate intos like this and find them long winded. redmerski changed my mind... she did not let my attention wander.
Now I can't wait for the next installment! Under £2.00 on amazon right now... I think it's great when authors give us such a reasonable price for their books.
Profile Image for Juana "Darkness" Duran.
271 reviews24 followers
January 7, 2016
Adria is having what doctors would call panic attacks. But what is really going on with her is the affect of Isaac's blood. As the book goes on from the 1st book they find that there is a lot of regret, pain, doubts, and other emotions clouding their minds. And when the Prevarians are there to help if not rescue them from the bad influences around them then they think that everything is ok. But everything is far from being ok. Adria goes to the doctor to see if it's anything human. And then they find out that Genna Bishop is really a Pavarian. Things get testy between Adria and Isaac, when Isaac tells her its his blood as well as Victors inside her. But as soon as that little drama is over the real drama begins. Adria asks Isaac to do what she promised never to ask him to do. And then Adria leaves, and in that time Adria is gone he becomes Alpha of his pack. Will Adria ever come back to Isaac? Will all the mysteries around their little supernatural community be revealed?
Profile Image for Radiant.
1,179 reviews30 followers
July 23, 2012
Wow...I loved reading it ..enjoyed every minute.(Though i was on break from reading books :P)
It was filled with so much twists and turns,adventure and action..it was just AWESOME!
And i was shocked and surprised when some secrets are revealed.
So much has happened in this book it was difficult to keep tabs..and with so many revelations and new problems,new enemies,changes ..it just kept me on edge whole time.
J.A...i sooo much love it..great effort ;)
I can't wait for the next book and looking forward for Adria and Isaac the alpha more now.And how will they face the unknown enemy and the war brewing.
Sri.

P.S:I LOVE the cover..can't stop looking at it :)
Profile Image for Sara.
1,039 reviews18 followers
June 26, 2017
So I was thinking not quite a 5 star, but more than a 4--so 5 it is!

I enjoyed this book more than Mayfair Moon. There were lots of secrets kept from each other, a little mysteriousness, and some sexiness. A few new characters were brought in and more than one surprise came in the end that has me excited for the release of the next book. Isaac was still delicious, and I even liked Adria in this one (I think she bothered me in the last book). Great werewolf series that I highly recommend!
Profile Image for Derinda.
Author 7 books217 followers
July 22, 2012
Well HELLO J.A. Redmerski! This is brilliant! I really enjoyed this book. Totally different, than what I thought it would be. Man, man-wolf, wolf. Holy moly! Adoring Issac and his family, loving the Mayfair's. And what a tough bean Adria is. Who wouldn't love Harry. All the secrets and twist and turns. definitely in the love pile :) Now I am just waiting a war.
Profile Image for Dominus~.
1,245 reviews34 followers
August 7, 2018
3.50 stars

“Let me start over—If you were anyone else and you gave in to me sooner, it would be a complete turn-off and we wouldn’t be together to be having this conversation.”


That's just meh.

Book #2 of the Darkwoods Trilogy. I dunno how to feel about this.

It was exciting how everything happened- maybe the latter part of the story but there was just too much irritating stuff that also happened.

However he wants to believe that his father loves him, I’m not going to take that away from him.


You just can't be the judge of that. This irritated me so much, idk why.

Contrary to me not really liking this series, I will still actually read the next book cos I do want to know what will happen.

I am also aware that this review is not helpful at all.
Profile Image for Courtney Brown.
800 reviews17 followers
September 24, 2017
This series just gets better with more twists and turns that has me holding on to each word
Profile Image for  ♥ Rebecca ♥.
1,625 reviews470 followers
December 29, 2015
Wow, this book was so amazing and intense, my head is still spinning! It picks up 7 months after the events of The Mayfair Moon, and Adria and Isaac are a solid couple, doing regular couple things. But before that, there was a somewhat confusing prologue that begins to make sense over time.

Ever since Adria's kidnapping in The Mayfair Moon, she has felt different. Not only have her wounds healed abnormally fast, but she has been having dizzy and fainting spells, and she assumes the worst. She obsesses over figuring out what is wrong with her for most of the book. We are introduced to fascinating new paranormal creatures with a connection to Adria and her best friend Harry. They give her some insight into what is wrong with her, but the pieces still dont fit. It isnt until Isaac gives us a revelation at about 80% that everything falls into place and the last 20% of the book just blew me away! The revelation was not a revelation for me personally, but it was for Adira. I had guessed this was what was going on from pretty much the beginning. But I loved all the emotions that came with it since I knew it wouldnt come between Adria and Isaac. I would noramlly hate uncertainty, but there is nothing uncertain about Adria and Isaac. Nothing could come between them. Their relationship is intensified tenfold in this book, when it was already bordering on obsession. Ok, lets face it, it was a full-on obsession.

We have more of J.A. Redmerski's amazing writing in this book. I dont know how she channels werewolves to write those painfully captivating transformation scenes, but the one in chapter 28 outdid everything in Mayfair Moon! Maybe she is secretly a werewolf. J/K. ;) There was just so much emotion in the last few chapters that I am overwhelmed. It all started with chapter 24, which I have to warn you was surprisingly explicit for a YA. Likely the most explicit scene I have ever read in a YA. But it was absolutely perfect, and beautiful, and it was even raining and everything.



Unfortunately it was awkwardly cut short, as if they forget what they were doing and started having a conversation. It was weird, but moving on.

We got to know Harry even better in this book and I love him! Zia was another of my favourite characters in Mayfair Moon, but unfortunately she seemed like somewhat of a cookie cutter character in this book. I look forward to seeing how Harry's role will change in The Ballad of Aramei. There was one scene that got me particularly excited for it, where Adria says "a storm is coming", and it reminded me of Harry Potter. The last few shorter chapters were also amazing and beautiful, of Isaac taking care of Adria. It was reminiscent of the prologue, but now, the situation was reversed, and she couldnt hurt him.

"He never leaves my side.
And I know he never will."



Profile Image for Marsha.
3,053 reviews58 followers
July 24, 2012
(3.5 stars) Before I begin my review I must say that I truly love the covers for these books. They are beautifully forboding. "Mayfair Moon," the first book in The Darkwoods Trilogy left me breathless. It was chocked full of action, great characters and a plot to die for. I breathlessly awaited "Kindred," the second book in the series and when it was released, I really enjoyed it.

The story begins with Adria recalling a event three months prior where she is running through the fields in order to escape a werewolf. Just as she can no longer runs, she manages to accept her fate and reaches out to touch the were. She calls out to it reminding Isaac,her love and werewolf who she is. He acknowledges her and then runs off. This is the typical wonderful writing of J.A. Redmerski; grab the reader from page one and then hold their interest.

Adria and her friends are preparing the house for the homecoming of Uncle Carl from his hospitalization and convalescence after his major car accident. He is wheelchair bound and no one knows if he will ever be able to walk again. Everyone is on pins and needles attempting to avoid the giant elephant in the room but they manage not to emasculate him.

While Adria and Isaac go about their day, Adria becomes nauseous and dizzy. On the evening of Isaac's brother's farewell party, Adria blacks out. Isaac is concerned and she cannot seem to figure out what is wrong. To make matters worse, Adria begins having conversations with a girl named Genna who no one else can see. She is falling apart and fears she will end up crazed like Isaac's mother, Sibyl. Adria also discovers that other weres are vying for position as Alpha in their territory since Isaac's father is going back to Siberia.

Harry has invited his friends to his sister's beach house in Portland. While on the trip, Adria encounters a man who has the same unusual tattoos in his hands as Genna. She chases him down only to discover that he can read her mind and informs her that Genna has fed from her. He refuses to tell her what they are but tells her that they either have 'charges' they must look after whose lifespan is short or they feed from the emotional distress of others to maintain their looks and long lifespan. Once again, Adria blacks out. When Isaac finds her four long hours later, she is beginning to suspect that Viktor Vargas has blood bonded with her. She is concerned that if Isaac finds out, he will either leave her or watch over her crazed body like his father. I will not say more because I do not want to spoil the story for anyone.

The action in this story is non stop and once again the characters are marvelous. I was glad to see a cameo return of Adria's mother in the story but missed her sister, Alex. For me, at times there was a lack of fluidity in the dialogue/monologues and the plot seemed a little disjointed. I found I had to reread certain sections in order to get the gist of what was being said. While I enjoyed this book, I liked the first book better. I cannot wait to see how this all will end once the third and final book is released. I am sure it will be a zinger.
Profile Image for Inna.
127 reviews45 followers
July 20, 2012
Oh My God. This book was amazing, I don't even know where to start, I mean this book was just out of this world. I loved Mayfair Moon but this book is even better.
From the first chapter of this book up until the very last page I was holding my breath. There were just so many questions. As Adria struggles with the Blood Bond that was unwillingly performed on her, or so she thinks, I struggled with her. I mean I felt like I was the one losing my mind and it just had me completely hooked. I really think Adria made the list of my favorite heroines ever. She faced so much in her life but she is just so positive and she is so loyal even after all this time she still cares about her sister and her mom. Its just great. Which is why I struggled so much with was happening to her. I really cared about her in a way I felt like she was my friend telling me her story. It takes a great author and great writing skills to do that.
Isaac. I just loved him here. He cares about Adria so much and how he was so afraid of losing it was just breaking my heart through out the entire book. Now those of you stressing that the bad boy, total hottie Isaac has become soft can relax he is even badder and hotter in this installment. He has that playful banter to him but we get to see just how much he cares for Adria, it really was awesome.
Which brings me to the plot. I have no words and I mean none. It was nothing like what I expected. This hasn't happened in a while usually I can predict what might happen, well not here. I would say 99% pf what happened had me surprised. There is just so much getting revealed and so many twists and turns that I was sitting in my room reading and avoiding the text messages my friends were sending me. I was actually angry when someone would interrupt me from this book. ( My reaction kind of scared me.) This book is a fast paced, nail biting, hair pulling, kindle clutching, heart pounding ride and I loved every minute of it. In no part of this book was I bored or distracted every scene has something to it that kept you glued.
Although I'm kind of mad at myself now because I read this on the day it came out and will now have to wait for the next book which is the last. I think I'm going to be sad to see Adria and Isaac go, but also I wouldn't want them to face drama for ten books which is why I'm very happy this is a trilogy.
You can also check out this review and more on my blog http://thebookconfessions.blogspot.com/ and please do :)
Profile Image for Amy_Read to My Heart's Content.
307 reviews13 followers
January 24, 2013
http://readtomyhearts.blogspot.com/20...


My Thoughts:
Did you ever think you could pick up a book, read its words, these words that are so powerful, you can actually feel your heart breaking alongside the protagonists' and find it physically hard to breathe?

Well...I experienced this emotion firsthand with this book.

J.A. Redmerski is a powerful author with this amazing talent to see the flaws in human nature (or even the supernatural) and still find the beauty within.
First, with the characters. Adria, our female protagonist, is someone I can relate to on many levels. I know what it is like to hold on to that betrayal, the loss, and pain that you receive from a family member that you trusted with all your heart. Adria is very strong, considering what she has been through, and I find myself wondering if I could have been as strong as she was in some of her situations she had to face....
Ah, and then I find myself thinking about Issac Mayfair. What to say about him? Is he handsome, well of course, he is a werewolf, is he not? But with him it is more than just the beauty. He is a force to be reckoned with, indeed. He is so hard and yet where Adria is concerned, there is this fragility to him that makes you weep.
You put these two together and we find ourselves looking at something that is more than what it seems but also one of the most beloved couples I have read about too.

All of the characters in Kindred contribute to the story in different ways; some good and some definitely bad, but the Praverian are the most unique and intriguing in all. I don't want to give anything away (and trust me you will be shaking your head and gasping at a lot of it) but these certain beings are truly mind-blowing.
Even though this is an urban fantasy with creatures that don't exist, the underlying hope is so strong; even as I sit writing this review days after finishing Kindred, I still feel my tears trying to take over.
I think J. A. Redmerski wanted us to remember that even when everything seems lost, when everything seems worthless, always have hope. Just that small tiny breath of hope will show you the light at the end of the very dark and scary journey.
I absolutely loved Kindred with all my heart and soul! I proudly give it five hearts!
Profile Image for Libbie.
218 reviews13 followers
October 20, 2012
Always a good sign when I'm up until 1.30am on a work night to finish reading. There was no way I was putting it down until I finished. Of course, that only caused the primal scream of frustration when I remembered that book 3 isn't out yet. SIGH. I only have a few months to wait for the conclusion at least.

Overall, I'm really enjoying this series. It does have a few parallels to Twilight, yes, but with a more real-to-life bent. Adria *is* afraid of Isaac, even though she loves him. And she isn't obsessed with "becoming like him" since he's immortal. She's willing to take the time they have now and worry about aging later. The book also treats sex in a more realistic fashion - and as much as I appreciated Edward's wanting to embrace the customs of "his time," it always felt more like a convenient excuse from an author unwilling (for personal reasons) to write sex before marriage. I loved the "jumping off a cliff" metaphor - it was well employed. She used it just enough to get the feeling across, but didn't lace it into every scene they had together, or even every time they were passionate.

Just a few little quibbles though. For one, the two fight scenes. To me, the use of capslock was more jarring than effective and seemed to just jump out of nowhere. The emotion in these scenes is enough to convey the emphasis (and exclamation point would have probably done fine to put the punch in there.) Also, the sex scene. It was natural, it fit the intensity of the moment Adria confronts Isaac, but...I couldn't tell if their conversation took place after they'd finished...or during the act. The first would make sense, the second...not so much.

The end, seen partially through Isaac's eyes, was where I had to keep reading until I got to the end...and I nearly woke my husband up, cackling out a laugh, during Isacc's scene with Zia.

A very good job with a difficult middle book - the trilogy arc was set up well while still answering the questions raised in Mayfair Moon and not leaving the reader with absolutely NO answers. Its a fine balance and the author did a great job with it. I'm not all frustrated and in the dark about everything, but I'm still hungry for more in the conclusion.

*also posted to my blog
Profile Image for Nereid.
1,466 reviews21 followers
August 4, 2012
Adria has had a hard life dealing with domestic violence and alcoholism as well as trying to be a normal teenager. Then she moved to live with her Aunt and Uncle and got involved with Isaac Mayfair and the werewolves became part of her family. Her sister was turned and defected to the dark side and Adria knows that there is a war coming and Viktor is still out there somewhere. Through all the turmoil, Adria knows Isaac loves her and would do anything for her and she feels the same but they have both been keeping secrets from each other which have the power to change their destinies forever. Can they confess and make up or will these secrets tear them apart? A new girl in town, Gemma is a Praverian who is an ancient being who feeds on life force energy of humans and only Adria can see her. Strange things start to happen and Adria is losing time, fainting and she fears she knows the reason why but is reluctant to tell Isaac because she thinks he may reject her when he knows. All the favourites are back and I have always liked Daisy so it is good to visit with her again and Harry is the lovable best guy friend who is always there for Adria when she needs a shoulder to cry on. I like Adria as she is a strong character that despite everything she rolls with the punches and keeps getting back up and living her life. I am so over the whining females who take every opportunity to go on and on about their lack of choices instead of sucking it up and just dealing with it. Isaac is believable as her love interest and you become invested in wanting these two to end up together. Lots of twists and turns and this book really has you thinking you know the ending and then you are left guessing what will happen next. Looking forward to the next one and finding out who the traitor will be? I loved the idea of reading Isaac's POV at the end and how he saw and felt about experience of the change and his feelings towards Adria, great to get a guy's POV on things and it made him so much more appealing.
Profile Image for Sandra .
621 reviews26 followers
January 2, 2015
Just when I think it couldn't get any better, Kindred is an awesome sequel!

My Thoughts:

1. The Mayfair Moon basically sets up the events leading into Kindred. Kindred answered all the questions I had from The Mayfair Moon and asks a whole lot more.
2. I LOVE Isaac and Adria's relationship much, much more in this book. They are so sweet together and their love connection grows stronger and deeper. They both are keeping a secret from each other and it's heartbreaking to read how much they love one another to spare them from the pain of their secrets.
3.
4. We were introduced to new characters: the Praverians, immortals and dark beings. It was such a great plot twist to the storyline but in the end it was a lot to handle. It definitely gets very complicated in the last few chapters. I have no clue as to what is going to happen to the characters in book 3. It's all a mystery to me.
5. My only negative about Kindred (a very tiny one) is the fluidity and flow of the writing. At times the dialogue seems a little disjointed or awkward. I had to reread a couple of sentences to get the gist of what was being said.
6. Though there isn't much action in the storyline, the plot twists and suspense leave you hanging on the edge of your seat. There was never a dull moment.

Profile Image for Holly.
1,910 reviews128 followers
December 7, 2012
Welcome to College, where reading for fun takes a back seat to homework, especially when you're an English major. (And really, does that make any sense at all?)

On point. I remember reading The Mayfair Moon (twice) and really loving it. This one, I felt, wasn't quite as good. Part of that is because it took me like, 3 weeks to read. It's really hard for me to still feel connected to the characters after that much time has passed.

But it's not just how long it took me. First of all, I felt that there was a lot of kind of pointless action. There was no reason for things that happened in the first few chapters. In fact, I can barely remember what happened in the first 25% of the book. I mean, I can, but I can't. Yes, I realize that makes very little sense. It's almost Finals week.

It was also that I kind of hate this growing trend where supernatural books can't just seem to stick with one supernatural creature. I realize, the likelihood of only one supernatural creature existing is the paranormal world is near nil. But I almost roll my eyes every time a new breed of crazy is introduced.

I mean, the book is still a good one regardless of all this. There's a good amount of mystery and suspense that comes in and some crazy stuff that makes you want to keep reading. Oh, and some drama. Always fun in books, rarely so in real life.
Profile Image for Andrea Heltsley.
Author 15 books325 followers
July 21, 2012
I absolutely loved the first book in this series, Mayfair Moon. This is the sequel and it makes Mayfair Moon look dull. OMG I adored this book! I am still left in awe of what an awesome book Kindred was.

I love Adria and Isaac. Isaac is such a swoon worthy character and I am always rooting for him. I think Adria is such a human character. She tries to be strong, but fate sometimes has other plans. I felt for these two as the pages turned.

The action in this book was amazing. I couldn't figure out what was going to happen and I found myself completely immersed in the author's world. She did a great job making you feel like you were there.

I was really surprised when the author switched the point of view from Adrian to Isaac near the end. I have to admit that I usually hate when an author does that. This transition managed to shift seamlessly and gave you insight into Isaac.

All of the loose ends still remained at the end of the book, but they were tied up in such a way that sets you up for the final installment in the trilogy. There was a lot going on in this second book and I can't wait to see how everything pans out in the end.

I will be sitting on the edge of my seat waiting for the final book to come out. This book was extremely well written and I highly recommend it to upper YA paranormal fantasy/ werewolf fans. I give this read five glittery stars!
28 reviews
August 15, 2012
I feel like this series is the werewolf version of Twilight; a better written version, but of course that doesn't take much. After getting Mayfair Moon for free on Kindle, I decided to risk buying the second book in the series because there was just something about the series that I liked. Thankfully, it turned out to be worth it. I enjoyed this book for the most part. The plot was interesting and I enjoyed the introduction of a new race of supernatural creatures.

I did find several faults in the book that caused me to give it a lower rating. As much as I love cheesy romances, I found myself rolling my eyes several times at Isaac's behavior. I mean come on. Redmerski writes him to be essentially the perfect boyfriend; he always knows what to say, he is constantly doing the right this, and Adria has to force him to stop buying her things. Completely unrealistic. It is one of my pet peeves when YA novels portray these perfect relationships that can never happen in real life but that's a rant for another day.

Another fault I found was that I could see the plot twists a mile away. It may have been the heavy foreshadowing or maybe I'm just that good but it definitely detracted from the story when I could guess the ending less than halfway through the book.

All that said, I will probably buy the last book in the trilogy.
Profile Image for Aira.
330 reviews70 followers
January 21, 2014
This book was better than the first. It was more action packed and it had me on the edge of my seat while reading it. I was so keen on figuring out what was wrong with Adria and what was bugging Isaac.

There were a lot of Isaac and Adria moments, but they both have their own secrets so it’s hard for them to really be together by keeping major secrets from each other.

I love the twists! I never saw them coming. (Well except Isaac’s secret. I accidentally clicked on the page where he confesses and I read his secret. I hate when that happens!)

Adria is a likable heroine. She’s not whiny and she thinks things through before doing them. She’s also not a drama queen. Good thing she was only mad at Isaac for one chapter. The secrets and revelations surrounding this girl are insane and I wish her the best of luck in the third book.

Isaac has all these responsibilities that would make a weaker person crumble. He has to take care of his family, pack, and most importantly Adria. You could really feel his love for Adria. The choices that he made were all for her.

For some reason, I don't like Zia all that much. I know that a lot would disagree with me, but she just annoys the hell out of me.

I'm excited to start reading book 3!


MORE REVIEWS HERE!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 279 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.