Kacea Meade is your average high school senior: a bit of an outcast, a good student, and looking forward to graduation so she can move on from little Elm Valley, New York. Or so she thinks. Unbeknownst to her, Kacea has a dark destiny heavily entrenched in magick, creatures meant to dwell only in nightmares, and Ragnarok: the Norse apocalypse.
Jynxx Davison, Kacea's classmate and long-time crush, has his own unnatural calling that is brought to light through her awakening. With their relationship just starting to blossom, a cloud of tragedy hangs overhead, threatening all she holds dear and forcing her hand. To keep her family and friends safe from these eldritch beings with godlike powers, can Kacea leave everything she's ever known behind and trust in the word of a vampire?
R.A. Sears has a cinematic writing style, heavy on the eclectic and strange. A lover of words, she took classes like anatomy and physiology in college--along with criminalistics--to better her craft. Her interest in mythology shines through in her prose, as well as her background in urban fantasy and the paranormal. A protector of all furry creatures and a NY native, she now lives in Maryland with her black cat Nergal, and a dog rescued from Afghanistan who goes by the name Renegade. She shares her space and time with her loving, supportive husband and her two sons.
I have to admit, I was on the fence. It was a sharp pointy fence, too. The best way I can think of it is 'before' and 'after'. There is a significant event, a climax of sorts, about halfway through the book that is the pivotal moment. I really want to give a spoiler-free review, so I'm trying to not give away anything...
'Before' I. Loved. This. Adored. I was smitten and happy as a clam. Kacea is snarky and funky and a touch geeky. She was a rebellious teen that chose to blaze her own path; she was SO my kind of gal! I enjoyed hearing her thoughts and really it was almost like watching a movie or TV show in book form (in a good way). Like Friday Night Lights meets Supernatural or maybe even Being Human. There were awkward moments, it was almost cute. But then running amok through all that happiness, the 'Moment'.
*Sigh*
'After' I have to be honest here... I didn't 'get' it. There was this major reveal of sorts at the end (pretty much cliffhanger city- bring a parachute) and I just don't understand. I got lost somewhere along the way. The 'Moment' went so long unexplained, and I swear it seemed like body snatchers were involved. Like, the movie Inception. Is it a dream within a dream? This book warped my noodle but in a frustrating way. Looking at the reviews from other readers, they must have 'got' it. They had to. Maybe I'm just missing something.
Beyond Kacea, there are several other characters that are an absolute treat. While Jynxx does have the panty-dropping rocker next door skillz, Conner really intrigues me. I almost wondered if the romance was going to swing his was a few times. We seem to get a larger peek into Connor that I wish we saw in Jynxx. My mistrust of actions in the 'After' portion of the book made me question motivations and wonder. Additionally, there were so many side characters (of varying degrees of importance) that it was difficult at times to keep everything straight (well, 'pack' and especially 'clan' doesn't sound small, does it?)
This was a really, really hard book to rate. I had to weigh everything, and I think the tipping point was the vivid, unapologetic descriptions won me over. Chunks were flying, gore got in hair, leather sofas had to be wiped down... it was messy and real. I liked that; so much so, that it can overcome my frustration with 'missing' what the story is trying to tell me. Maybe I can ponder it out, maybe not; either way I am totally down with checking out more in this series. It is rather original, I have to give it props. I would recommend it... but if you read it and 'get' it- PLEASE clue me in!
I received a free eBook in exchange for an unbiased review as part of a Nevermore PR blog tour.
A big thank you to Nevermore PR for supplying me with a copy of this book, from the author, for an honest review.
When I first started reading I hadn’t really looked into the synopsis. I totally loved the carefreeness of Kacea, the edgy parents, and the open knowledge that even though life looks one way doesn’t make it such. The author gave perfect descriptions of all the characters and surroundings. While reading, you didn’t have to second guess what you were “seeing” or “hearing,” which was refreshing. From the normalcy of high school to the hardcore underground music scene to the extreme of having globs of everything gross exploding all around, R. A. Sears left the reader satisfied and possibly a bit queasy. That was ok with me though, a book that can do all that is a book well worth my time!
This take on werewolves and goddesses is quite unique. You get a more human side of it all compared to the tear em ups that have made their way onto the scene. You learn the person before you learn the supernatural side of them. You feel the curiosity, shock, realization, and the evolution of themselves along with them.
I have to give this book only a 4 star rating though. There were some inconsistencies of the story that had me rereading paragraphs to see what I had missed, to come up empty handed and the whole Kacea and Jynxx discovering who they really are and what they can do, at the same time, seemed a bit far-fetched. Plus, both were just way to calm for what was going on. There should have been some kind of holy hell breakdown before the ok, dealing with it part. Oh, and honestly, the parents whatever response to their daughters sexual experience was so not the norm.
Usually I’m not big on the whole chest thumping of males, but I truly enjoyed the tension within the pack and the fights that ensued. The whole smelling thing got a little old, but hey, they’re werewolves, and with that the whole smelling thing is part of them.
I would love to hear Conner’s story. There seems to be a lot to him that was left untold. I found him more interesting and entrancing than Jynxx. I don’t know if I was supposed to, but I did. I look forward to seeing where the author takes the story and the characters and eagerly wait to find out.
The story of the high school senior, Kacea unfolds on the pages of this book. At first her only goal is to make it through her final year and move out of her small town, but as we read on we discover there's more in store for her. So the book starts off with a typical teenage world, school, part-time job (loved the restaurant-castle-bar-medieval theme). She is drawn to a boy Jynxx, a strong silent type, and with him she discovers an ancient goddess resides inside her. Here the story takes on a whole unexpected turn. With Jynxx's awakening, Kacea's powers grow and so is the danger around her. But she is not faint at heart and takes her new responsibilities in stride. The book is well written and edited, the author's voice is active and the story moves on with a very good pace. Before I knew it, I flipped to the last page. And the ending left me yearning for more as the story continues through the series.
I could not put this down. I quickly fell in love with the main cast, two characters stole my heart completely, and at one point I was texting a friend going “THIS CHARACTER BETTER NOT DIE BECAUSE RAGE”. Lunacy is a fast paced read that is dense with world building and blazing imagery. I’m a visual person, and I really appreciate it when authors books are lush with description and images that can stand on their own.
Kacea just wants to finish high school and get on with her adult life. She’s smart, quirky and has a good group of friends that she can count on. She’s been crushing on Jynxx since middle school, and it seems that fate has brought them together. Their chemistry is off the charts, and melts the pages without being too explicit or hurried. Kacea is a strong female character, who knows what she wants and can stand on her own. Jynxx is a character that falls into the ‘tall dark and handsome with a tragic past’ but this is expanded and doesn’t fall into the trope territory.
I love the take on werewolves here, and the werewolf mythology that’s presented. Speaking of mythology, the subtitle of this book is The Ragnarok Legacy, so there’s Norse mythology intertwined with the world of the wolves, Kacea’s seemingly human world and with the addition of vampires it’s certainly jam packed with supernatural elements, but it doesn’t get cluttered. Everything works together and blends beautifully. I’m really interested in where this story goes as it ends on a cliff hanger (con #1). There is a novella that bridges between book one and book two. Book two isn’t out yet, so I’m going to wait somewhat patiently for it.
My only complaint about this book is the sheer amount of characters presented. It’s got a massive cast, both main and support and what I like to call mainsupport (those who are support, but have more of a storyline than the support cast normally do.) At times I had to stop and figure out who was who, making sure I had the right characters in the right place. I have a feeling that these characters will be important down the line, but it was kind of intimidating at times to have so many in the book.
I think this is a fantastic book. I like the mix of shifters with gods/goddesses, and even having a few vampires tossed in towards the end. The characters were good and strong, but as with many ya/teen/paranormal books, we have absent and neglectful parents, which I guess helps the stories flow better without parental interference, but it always kind of irks me. Personal preference I guess, and the story is still really well written. I think the characters all spoke a bit formal, or older than they actually are, but it didn't take away from the story at all. The crush for several years turned love was great, and their extra roles in the story make it that much better. Overall, I think this was a great story and I would recommend it to others.
Kacea a goth misfit is finding out how different her life really is. On her first day of school she realizes her crush Jynxx is interested in her. We then find out why their connection was so sudden, Jynxx is going to the the alpha wolf, and Kacea is the wolf goddess. Amazing story line and characters, with a major cliff hanger at the end! Can't wait for book 2!! WaAR
Just finished reading "Lunacy". The story was good. It had a well-thought out plot and storyline. The reader is taken from high school angst through moshing in the underground music scene into the world of the supernatural.
The characters were rich and very personable but there could have been more development with some of the relationships - Kacea is a sharp tongued, witty, teen who has a style that is all her own - funky and cool, an unusual mix of geek meets goth. She does things her own way. Jinxx is the handsome hottie from school who is the quiet loner that Kacea has been pining over for years. And he is definitely not what he seems. Their romance was rather quick but not insta-love. It did seemed to be consuming with a strong pull that just seemed to suddenly occur. The progression into intimacy the same day they kissed and became a couple was fast! But the periods of fickle behavior seen from Kacea, when I'm sure that Jinxx was far from thought, really broke it up nicely. I did appreciate the fact there wasn't any of the drama and instant swooning of a lot of YA romances. With their budding relationship comes the dawning of Jynxx's inner werewolf and Kacea's discovery of who she is and how she relates to his pack. There were side characters like Kacea's friends that I think could have added a great deal to this story, but they were lost in the shuffle. As for Jinxx's friends - they were an eclectic group. One minute high school kids, one minute hottie rockers, ending in fur. I really enjoyed Connor. He intrigues me. He was more interesting and deeper emotionally, and he had that "perfect" butt. I even wondered if Kacea might develop a romantic relationship with him as we seemed to see more of him (as a whole person, emotionally), than Jinxx. I wish I had seen the same content with Jinxx. All the extra characters, especially the supernatural ones and different angles they added, made it difficult to keep actions straight.
The progression of the story was at times difficult for me to follow. The flow was a little off but it was written so well, that I had no trouble figuring out where the twists took the story. It was very descriptive, from scene to characters. As a reader, I was able to "visualize and hear" exactly what was taking place. There were several inconsistencies that left me having to re-read parts of the story and some parts that were just way over the top. It was difficult to think that these teens (Kacea & Jinxx) were able remain so calm when their lives were completely in turmoil - no anger, no confusion, no breakdown... And Kacea's parents reaction to her intimacy with Jinxx was totally unrealistic to me.
But even with the inconsistencies and character flaws, this author has created a unique take on the paranormal. Involving werewolves, vamps, and intertwining them with Norse mythology. It's an edgy, tension filled romance with twists and turns, that in the end leaves you wanting to read more.
I was provided with a copy of Lunacy in exchange for an honest review. I do enjoy paranormal reads; yet, what makes this read better is the Mythology. The story begins with a girl named Kacea who is trying to make her way through high school with a major crush on a boy named Jynxx. Her parents are rich, her life is normal and she has a best friend who is a little odd just like her! What could possibly go wrong? Just when she finds out that Jynxx has feelings for her as well, everything starts going a little crazy and everyone is ranting about utter LUNACY! There are spouts about werewolves, vampires, gods and goddesses but where does Kacea fit in and who can she trust?
My favorite character is Connor and Gavin because they are by far, the most descriptive characters in this story. Connor seams very appreciative and respecting towards Kacea, but Gavin has a much bigger agenda planned for her. I am curious to find out more about Jameson as well since he caught my attention as a character of interest. My least favorite characters were surprisingly Kacea and Jynxx. It felt like their story was forced together in a rushed succession of emotion rather than a slow build-up. I was also a little uncomfortable with the way that everyone was so calm, instead of riled up by everything that they are hit with.
In my opinion, I would recommend this story to those who enjoy paranormal and mythology genres. I enjoyed reading this first installment, but found it rather difficult at times to understand what was going on due to the insanely quick pace. I generally like fast paced novels, but this one is a little too quick to be of significance and justification to certain aspects of the story. The actual scenes are very descriptive and easy to read. The characters are interesting; however, the story lacked full history between how all of them, humans and supernatural fit in to the point of the story. In order to effectively have an idea of what the purpose of the is, I felt like this story should have explained more about how everyone connects into the major issue brought forth by the mythological elements. Instead, I was confused. I am not sure if this concept was what the author was aiming for, but I would have to give it three stars because of these observances. The story is creative and I look forward to reading the second installment of the Ragnarok Legacy series in hopes of a little more understanding.
I received an e-copy from the author via Nevermore PR in exchange for an honest review. Thank You!
Genre: New Adult Paranormal Romance
Wow! Where to begin? This is a story like one I have never read before, a mixture of werewolves, Norse gods, vampires, magick, and high school. A story of coming of age, self discovery and first loves. . The author has a crisp and almost poetic writing style which I really adore.
The main characters of which there are a few, Kacea and Jynxx. I liked Kacea's carefree attitude throughout the book, Jynxx is a wonderful character with a soft side that I really enjoyed. I would definitely like to know more about him. The playful and sarcastic banter between the characters made it fun as the scenes played out.
The world starts on a light note and becomes darker the further you read, one major scene in the middle left me shaking my head thinking, "Huh? Where is the author going with this?" I wasn't sure if it was a dream, reality, or was just out of place. The ending left me hanging from a cliff and waiting for more though... Bring on #2.
"High school Surprises" Wow this book is amazing!. It stars off mild then gets very intense. The story line is incredible. The Characters are awesome. Kacea is in her senior year of high school. She is a pretty girl but a big klutz lol. On the first day in Gym class she is playing vollyball. When she dives for the ball and slams into the school hottie. Which knocks her to the GYM floor. Kacea is hurt when Jynxx ( the school hottie) sees this he rushes her to the nurse. While he waits with her while the nurse tends her they get to talking and Kacea mentions she works after school at a tavern called The Palace as a serving Wrench. Jynxx shows up at The palace with his band members. All the guys seem nice except A Red head who gets a little sexually rude with Kacea. When the guys go to leave Jynxx stays behind and Kacea drives him home. After she drops him off driving home a wolf dives across the road ahead of her. Then while home alone she hears wolves howling out side the house. This book has amazing Romance and suspense you will love it!. This is a must read book!.
*This Book Was Given To Me By The Author In Exchange For An Honest Review*
What starts off appearing to be another typical high school paranormal romance takes an interesting turn into Norse mythology providing an interesting mix of well known wolf and vampire lore combined with something new.
There is enough here that is familiar to people that I think a lot of older YA Paranormal fans would enjoy it but it adds a new element that will intrigue even someone who reads this genre all the time.
Obviously a part of a series the next installment will hopefully provide some answers to questions that I have and it will definitely be on my to read list.
A well deserved 4 out 5 stars from me!
V""V
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Kacea just wants to finish school. She has been crushing on Jynxx for a while and when he awakens she starts to see her own powers come into light, and she finds that she has a goddess inside of her! They are drawn together and they really do take the changes well, and they work together to figure everything out. I really enjoyed reading this book, and I cant wait to read more!!! It's well written and the author really does a good job of making everything seem as though it really could happen, and you are right there along for the journey! Go get you a copy and read it! ~Dowie
A good fast paced exhilarating well written read by a gifted author. The characters are convincing and certainly praise-worthy. I adored this story. It's a totally gratifying read from beginning to end. If you enjoy vampires and witches mixed with a touch of paranormal's the possibilities are illimitable and always fascinating. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
This book was really good! It was engaging and well written. The reason I only gave 4 stars is because most of the time I felt like things were not what teenagers would say. Looking forward to the next book in this series.
Very well written. Kept my interest throughout. Just enough unknown and implied to entice one to look forward to the next book. Quick read, which is good because I didn't want to put it down. Great job from a new author.