Vengeance Borne

Sentry of Evil #1

by Amanda Bonilla

"Fans of dark urban fantasy have something new to look forward to...there is a gritty edge to this promising first installment that makes it a very compelling read." –Romantic Times Book Reviews “Amanda Bonilla knows how to keep you on the edge of your seat...she’s a must read.” –Amanda Carlson, author of the Jessica McClain urban fantasy series. Fated to Hunt… As the local hunter, and a ward of the Sentry, a secret organization dedicated to eradicating the forces of evil, Jacquelyn has been protecting the small town of McCall, Idaho for the past five years. The hours are horrible, the pay is nonexistent, she has to work with her jealous ex-boyfriend – and forget about quitting. She’s in for life. Destined to See… When a rugged drifter comes through town, Jacquelyn immediately knows what he is – an Empath who can read emotions and sense what others are thinking – even though it’s clear the handsome stranger has no idea what, or how powerful, he is… A Town in Peril… When people in McCall start turning up dead, viciously ripped to shreds as if by a wild animal, Jacquelyn knows better. Furies are loose in Idaho and hell-bent on exacting revenge. But against whom? And for what purpose? Jacquelyn has until the full moon to stop the Furies’ killing spree and save the people of McCall, figure out how to work with her ex – oh, and there’s a handsome stranger in town who’s in desperate need of some schooling…

Genres: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Fantasy, Romance, Fae, Paranormal Romance, Magic

380 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 29, 2013

About the author

Amanda Bonilla lives in rural Idaho with her husband and two kids. She’s a part-time pet wrangler, a full-time sun worshipper, and only goes out into the cold when coerced. When she’s not writing she’s either reading or talking about her favorite books.

Reviews

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Posted at Yummy Men & Kick Ass Chicks

Vengeance Borne is the first book in Amanda Bonilla’s shiny new
series, Sentry of Evil. This series revolves around Jax, a Hunter (one who kicks evil’s ass). You also have Finn, Micah and Trish who are Bearers (one who helps the Hunter do her job). And of course on top of that you have the creepy crazy evil beings that Amanda managed to conjure within her imagination.

Before I chat characters and story, let me explain Hunters and Bearers a bit better. Hunters are pretty straight forward. They are essentially demon and other evil doer hunters and killers. Bearers are a bit more complicated. They are a Hunter’s support. Bearers are empaths and can remove excess aggressive emotion from a Hunter. They can heal their Hunters too. And, they feel what went down at a scene and help the Hunter know what she is dealing with. The idea of a Bearer is very interesting.

Jax (Jacquelyn) is a solid character. It is mentioned a few times in the book that there is more to her than even she knows and you feel that as you are reading her.

Finn and Trish. The jury’s still out on how I feel about Finn. I suppose he’s not a bad guy since he’s Jax’s ex and she’s a pretty cool chick. He’s just in a bad place in this book. He and Jax just broke up and he still loves her. He wants her to understand that they are supposed to be together. So you see, he’s heartbroken! So he’s allowed to be a bit of an arse. Let’s just not focus on the whole ‘murders happening in town and there is a chance he’s responsible’ thing. Yeah…just don’t focus on that. As for Trish, she is like the wise old lady in tale. I liked her a lot and hope to see more of her and her wisdom in future installments (book two will be released sometime in 2014).

Micah. He is such a mess when we first meet him. Amanda did such a wonderful job writing him since not once do you feel like smacking him – which is saying something. What I mean by that is it would be very easy to write such a messed up character and have him not be relatable. But Amanda manages to find a nice balance with Micah. You feel sad for him and intrigued by him and you want him to figure things out and be happy. You may also sort of want to see him end up with Jax *grin*. Right now, that is the direction that I am leaning but that may be because I didn’t get the full ‘Finn experience’. I just know there is more to both Finn and Micah and I am looking forward to finding out what that is.

The story is very well written. Someone is murdering people in town. Well, murdering is not the right word for it – these people are being ripped apart. Literally. Amanda keeps us guessing for a long time in this book. She plants hints here and there and you wonder if they are to help us solve things or confuse us. She really did a good job writing the ‘who-done-it’ part of this book.

Amanda has a real talent for world building. We see it in her Shaede Assassin series and we see it in Vengeance Borne too. It’s a world that is quite different from ours but not so much so that we can’t relate to it or place ourselves in it. Also, her characters are quite strong and the story is gripping. Vengeance Borne is definitely worth reading.

4.5 stars

[Carmel (Rabid Reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed by: Rabid Reads

Any novel that opens with a Dean Winchester reference within the first one hundred pages is a surefire winner in my opinion so let me introduce you to Vengeance Borne, book one in Amanda Bonilla’s brand new Sentry of Evil series. As a long-time fan of her Shaede Assassin novels, I knew that I was in for intriguing world-building, scorching romance and complex characters; this story delivered that and more!

Bonilla’s supes reminded me a bit of Rachel Vincent’s “skilled” characters in her Unbound series; the emotional connection between Waerds and Bearers is somewhat similar to the latter’s blood bonds. I enjoyed unraveling the intricate web that links the Sentry’s soldiers to their healers. It certainly added an extra, albeit problematic, element to an already complicated love triangle! I don’t know what the future holds for Jacquelyn, Finn and Micah but its sure going to be fun finding out! My only complaint with the Sentry of Evil universe is that I wish more had been explained. I realize that Bonilla has the rest of this series to do that but that doesn’t stop me from still wanting more now!

The Furies are one of my favourite big bads in Urban Fantasy because their motto is pretty much kill everything in sight which means that Vengeance Borne and action-packed are practically synonymous. I always enjoy a good vendetta driven plot line because emotional killers are the most entertaining kind of psychopaths. Unfortunately, I figured out who the culprit was rather early on which made this novel’s ending somewhat predictable. I think this is one of the reasons behind my complaint about the world-building; I needed something to distract me from the obvious villain. The love triangle was a good start but it just wasn’t enough.

I enjoyed Jacquelyn’s character although she does seem a tad bitter about her lot in life. I’m going to hold off passing judgment for now until I learn more about the Sentry. I have a feeling that I’ll have a lot more sympathy for her once I understand the whole picture. Finn irritated me but I’m not certain whether it was because being an Empath has its own set of challenges or simply because he’s a douche. Micah is also a Bearer and I took an immediate liking to him. He’s broken, conflicted, brave and head-over-heels in love with a demon slayer. Poor boy. Things are definitely going to get a whole lot more interesting in the small town of McCall.

Vengeance Borne hits all the right notes with great writing and promising new mythology; welcome to the Sentry of Evil series!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally reviewed at The Book Nympho

Jax is a believable and likable character. Bonilla makes reference to Buffy Summers and Jax is a lot like Buffy but she’s not the only one of her kind. She’s a Waerd (Hunter) and with that job she has to be tough on the outside but she has a soft inside. She’s never really gotten over the death of her last partner, a Bearer. Bearers help Waerd’s with their emotional baggage from their hunting job. They bear the hunter’s emotions like grief and guilt so they can do their job. But like a lot of partnerships sometimes a romance can build.

And we all know that office romances can be a sticky situations. That’s where we find Jax; trying to get over her ex-boyfriend Finn. Jax and Finn have been partners for five years and their romance started almost the same time their working relationship did. The two are trying to learn to keep the personal away from their jobs but it’s not working. Finn won’t take no for an answer.

Then enters a Micha. A guy just passing through town. He meets Jax, the girl that was in his latest dream. Meeting Jax has turned Micha’s world upside down. He now knows that there are things that go bump in the night and he’s part of that world as a Bearer.

So are you with me? We have a girl that hunts evil much like Buffy where she has to hide what she is by day working in a coffee house (unlike Buffy) and she is surrounded by two hot guys that want to work with her and have the hots for her. Lucky girl.

BUT there’s the whole evil to fight and in this case it’s Furies. I really liked the mythology that Amanda Bonilla builds with the Furies, Waerd’s and Bearers. She also does a great job weaving the mystery about who in town is being used by the Furies. There was three possible suspects and about 80% of the time I was sure I knew who it was then Bonilla would muddy the waters with the other two making me second guess my theory.

I found Vengeane Borne to be a very entertaining read and a great start to the new Urban Fantasy series by Amanda Bonilla and I can’t wait to see what happens next with Jax.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book from cover to cover. Review to,come shortly!

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Jacquelyn is the newest kick-ass heroine on the urban fantasy block. She's a fierce hunter with magical know-how and a killer shot. She just happens to be a natural born killer. In the world of Vengeance Borne, there are hunters, or Waerds, and Bearers that team up to keep all the super natural baddies in check. Waerds handle the killing and banishing of unwanted creatures, while Bearers are basically empaths that can take on the emotional burden of their Waerds, as well as heal them when needed. All of the Waerds and Bearers are controlled by the mysterious Sentry. The main purpose of the Waerds and Bearers is to keep all the regular joes safe.

I can compare the setting of McCall, Idaho in Vengeance Borne to a mix of the dark setting of Kelly Meding's Dreg City series and Charlaine Harris' Southern Vampire Mysteries series. Quite a combo, right? McCall is one of those places with small town charm where everyone knows everyone else. There is an abundance of gossip and a cast of relate-able characters in McCall, which reminds me of Bon Temps. However, there is also a dark undercurrent of supernatural evil running through McCall, with a a group of Waerds and Bearers to keep everyone safe, reminding me of Dreg City. It's an awesome combination of darkness and charm, good and evil.

Jaquelyn, or Jax, works at the local coffee shop, Grind. That's her day job that she needs to support herself, because the Sentry sure as heck isn't paying her for her services. She has recently broken up with her boyfriend of five years, who doubles as her Bearer, Finn. Finn has a nasty habit of taking away all of Jax's emotions to the point that she's not sure if anything she feels is real. Finn is also super jealous and head-over-heels in love with her. He has a hard time accepting this break up and takes every opportunity he can to try to win Jax back.

Micah is a troubled young man, looking for a way to escape the feelings and visions that have been plaguing him for as long as he can remember. He has tried to numb himself with a cocktail of prescription drugs for too long. Micah, a gorgeous, Romanian man, leaves his home and just happens to stop for gas in McCall where he runs smack dab into Jax. He doesn't know why, but he is drawn to Jax, just as she is to him. We learn fairly quickly why Micah can't keep Jax off his mind.

Trish is a Bearer, but she is in charge of an entire group of Waerds and Bearers. She is an older woman, who serves as a friend and confidant to Jax, and later, Micah. She's like a general manager for the Sentry. She is smart and strong, and knows when to push Jax, and when to let her rest.

There is a list of side characters that we get to know in this book. From Pete, the awkward small-town loner who carries a torch for Jack-lyn, to Wes, Finn's best friend, to Libby and Evan, Jax's best friends, to Bree, the town gossip and bane of Jax's existence. Each character plays a part in this story and I loved the small town vibe I got from them. It made for a very colorful setting.

The big bad in this book are the Furies. The mythological vengeance creatures have their eyes set on leaving as much destruction as possible in McCall. They need a host to accomplish their goal, so the big mystery in this book focuses on the host. The Furies aren't just causing problems for McCall residents....they are killing them in a manner so viscious that it turns my stomach.

Amanda Bonilla writes a fast-paced, fun and action packed novel. I loved this book from cover to cover and am dying to read the second book in this series, Sentry of Evil. Bonilla gives us enough answers to questions in Vengeance Borne but leaves us with a lot more questions - such as what will happen between Micah-Jaquelyn-Finn, what is Trish's true role, what is the Sentry's true role, what will happen between Micha and a certain Dryad, what is the story of Jacquelyn's past, what will happen to Finn after this last assignment - really the list could go on and on.

This is an excellent start to a new urban fantasy series. I recommend this book to any dark urban fantasy lovers with a soft spot for kick ass, fierce and loyal heroines. Jax is a new face in the UF landscape and I can't wait to read about her adventures moving forward.

[Melliane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mon avis en Français

My English review

You all know that I love Amanda Bonilla right? No? So I’ll tell you, it’s a wonderful writer and I’m totally in love with her Shaede Assassin series. But you’ll tell me that it’s not this series here but we discover a new whole story. Yes, yes you heard right, a brand new series: Sentry of Evil. Then of course, the characters and the story are completely different but it was really great to discover another book of the author.

Jax is a young woman who works for Sentry. She is a killer who hunts at night to protect the population of McCall. But she is not alone in this adventure and she is accompanied by a bearer who is supposed to help her to carry her emotions when she needs it, find the tracks while sounding people or even healing her when she needs to be. But now, everything would be better if our young heroine had not broken up with her friend and colleague. She can not know if what she feels is hers or if Finn influences her to make her believe what he wants. To understand all this, she needs time away from him and yet it is complicated when the man is very jealous. But fate does not end there, and here comes in the city: Micah, the bearer who does not seem to know what he is and who is irresistibly drawn to Jax, and vice versa. They will also quickly have to team up together when a wave of terrible murders comes to town, leaving them full of questions. But in addition to this, we must not forget that Micah is a novice on this new life and he will have to learn what to do on the job.

I loved Jax. She tries to live while avoiding the easy solution continuously available to her. Of course she hurts and she blames herself for many facts, but she remains determined to control her emotions and not let someone else wear them. Emotions can define a person and she is determined to be what she really is even if it’s difficult sometimes. Yet it is not easy for Finn to accept that, as he wants to live with her, and never quit her, to the point that he tries to handle her feelings so she can understand his own. I must say it is a bit difficult to decide about this character. It is very interesting to discover his feelings and it breaks our heart when we see how difficult it is for him. He does not understand that Jax needs time, and so do him. But I confess that I am very curious to read more about him in the next book now that we know a bit of him throughout the story. And what about Micah? This character is also very interesting to discover and I confess that I can not wait to see him again. He does not hesitate to embark on a world he does not know, far more dangerous than what he has seen so far, all to help and save Jax. This is a lovely man and full of courage just waiting to share something with our heroine. I enjoyed him, it is quite difficult to create a character strong like him and at the same time who shows such sweetness and tenderness in his feelings and his behavior. But of course, it is the same for him, I’m very curious to learn more about him.

This novel introduces us many things. Several colorful characters, an intriguing world and a mysterious organization. Amanda Bonilla managed to win a new challenge in this great novel and I recommend it if you’re a fan of urban fantasy. It’s a nice discovery and I am more than curious to read more now.

[Iris Hunter (InstagramREADS) · Rating 5 out of 5]

WoW! I found Vengeane Borne to be a very entertaining read and a great start to the new Urban Fantasy series by Amanda Bonilla and I can’t wait to see what happens next with Jax. Cant wait for Sentry of Evil, #2. Again an amazing series by Amanda Bonilla. real recommendation to read if you like the high quality urban fantasy series.

[Tori · Rating 3 out of 5]

Originally posted at http://smexybooks.com/2013/09/review-...

Jacelylyn, barista by day and hunter by night, uses her unique skills to keep the human population safe along with her partner and ex boyfriend, Finn. When a series of horrific murders shock their small town, Jax discovers this is the work of the furies; a trio of mythical goddess who are driven by vengeance. Jax has no idea who summoned them or why, but she’ll need all the help she can get to stop them before they destroy the town and everyone in it.

Vengeance Borne is the first installment of Amanda Bonilla’s newest series-Sentry of Evil. A noir urban fantasy/paranormal romance that mixes various mythologies with the supernatural and puts it all to boil in a small town setting. Set in the small town of McCall, Idaho, this mystical convention spot sees more than its fair share of supernatural problems from goblins snacking on the innocent to banshees screaming, heralding the arrival of death. Heavily character driven, the steady pace with its multiple character introductions and arc background information makes this book a set up for the series.

Jacelylyn (Jax) is a Waerd (hunter) of the Sentry, a secret organization that hunts supernatural evil. Taken into service at a very early age, Jax was forced into this life and is none too happy about it. Currently assigned to McCall, she works as a barista of a local coffee shop as the Sentry doesn’t pay her for her nocturnal services. Her partner, Finn, also works for the Sentry as a Bearer. Bearers are empaths with healing skills and always partnered with Wareds. He is also her ex boyfriend. Jax recently broke it off with him because he used his gift of empathy to manipulate her emotions and she was no longer sure what she felt was her own feelings or due to him.

Jax is a character who I feel has a lot of potential and room for growth in the future. Unfortunately, a majority of what we see from her introduction consists of her emotional conundrums concerning Finn and her hatred of her life. A large majority is dealing with her anger and frustration. I found her to be immature at times, though once you learn pieces of her backstory, you can understand why. She has a lot of internal anger that is justified. Her breakup from Finn has left her with an avalanche of emotions bearing down on her that she has a hard time handling since Finn has been muting them for years. It all makes sense but it overwhelms the action in the story

Finn left me feeling ambivalent. His portrayal isn’t flattering and his constant attempts to manipulate Jax emotionally into taking him back had a rapey feel to them. Trish, the head Bearer of the area, embodies one of those of types of characters that I both love and hate in the supernatural genre. The ones who only tell you only what they feel you should know and constantly harp on how the good of many outweighs the needs of a few. She is personified as the ‘wise grandmother/guardian’ and I have a feeling her role in Jax becoming a Waerd will be prominent.

I enjoyed meeting Micah the most. Micah took a temporary leave of absence from his life to try and get a grip on his increasing visions. Heading out west in his RV, he stops in McCall for gas and finds himself abruptly inducted into a life he is completely unprepared for. His reactions are spot on for one who finds himself falling down the rabbit hole and I liked his attraction to Jax. It felt natural. I liked how indignant he is on her behalf for the way she’s been treated but he doesn’t allow her to walk all over him. He also doesn’t accept anything just because he is told too.

The main conflict was interesting and pretty straightforward, though weak in areas. I figured out early on who was the villain, so to speak, as Bonilla heavily foreshadows. The action of the book is extremely low key until the last quarter of the book. The first three quarters are filled with meet and greets of various characters, setting up the plot elements, and laying the groundwork for the arc. I thought too much time was spent on Jax’s emotional problems and it took away from the conflict. There were some areas where I found myself confused. Banshees herald death but they never alerted Jax when the Furies struck. Also, Jax doesn’t do much to find the Furies or the person who summoned them. I was also a little dismayed at the way obvious Finn is handled in order to make room for Miach in the story and Jax’s life.

The ending is swift and to the point. The main conflict wraps up neatly and we are left with some open end questions to take us into book two. I liked the premise of supernatural guardians “forced” into service and am very interested in learning more about the Sentry and their true motives. I do hope Jax settles and book two gives us a better balance between the characters and the plot.

Rating: C

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the first of a brand new series by Amanda Bonilla, readers meet a new, kickass, fun and feisty heroine in Jacquelyn aka Jax. Jax is a ward of the Sentry, which means she is a hunter of evil. She is in charge of protecting McCall, Idaho and so far, things have been OK apart from the fact that she must work with her overprotective, possessive ex-boyfriend, Finn.

Things get interesting once an Empath enters the small town and what makes it more intriguing is the fact that he has no idea what he is. Power of unbelievable heights emanates from Micah and it’s almost surprising to Jax to learn the extent to his powers. It’s far more than she could ever expect.

Meanwhile, bodies are turning up shredded beyond recognition. Years of being a ward of the Sentry tell Jax that it is the work of the Furies. However, now Jax must find out what it is that they want and how she will stop them.

Right when I started this book, I found that I liked Jax immediately. The girl has some style. As she kicks ass, she likes to play it up a little, taunting and just generally having a good time. It tells me that she is comfortable in her own skin and is knowledgeable about her world. She is smart, resourceful and she also knows how to turn down a guy without breaking his heart…too much.

Finn is Jax’s ex and I actually liked him at first. His presence allows the author to play with their dynamics a bit. Since they are broken up already when the book starts, I was a little curious to see why they ended things in the first place. As the story progresses, you get an idea of why. Finn is just a tad too overbearing and while he has Jax’s best interest in mind, he just doesn’t know when to stop. I liked him, but I can totally see why Jax wanted to ditch him.

Then there is Micah’s character. He was an interesting one. Bonilla does an expert job of portraying his confusion so much to the point that I felt his worry and frustration as well. Micah doesn’t feel like the heroes you see in a lot of UF. He doesn’t stride in all confident with a swagger or has this badass aura about him. The first few scenes from his POV paint him as vulnerable and confused. I liked this a lot because by the end of the first book, Micah’s character shows the most growth.

As you can expect in an Amanda Bonilla book, there is a lot of worldbuilding and different aspects and details that make this world so unique. This book will appeal to Urban Fantasy readers and even Paranormal Romance readers because I do believe Jax will have some good romantic avenues to explore as the series progresses.

Amanda Bonilla has a good ear for dialogue, pacing and characterization. It’s no wonder she is one of my go-to authors for Urban Fantasy. She is a natural born storyteller and VENGEANCE BORNE is satisfying on all levels.

*ARC provided by author

[Sarah Bromley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full disclosure: Amanda and I are critique partners, and I read an early draft of this novel. This review doesn't contain spoilers.

Amanda Bonilla knows what works in urban fantasy and then gives it an original twist. VENGEANCE BORNE is the first of the SENTRY OF EVIL series. Amanda's world building is dark, and her action is fast-paced. This series will appeal to both new urban fantasy readers and fans of Amanda's other series, the SHAEDE ASSASSIN novels.

[Marcela (BookaholicCat) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vengeance Borne is the first book in the new Sentry of Evil series by Amanda Bonilla.

Since she can remember Jacquelyn (Jax) has only known as life as a Waerd, she doesn’t remember her parents or where she came from, she only knows she was raised and trained to be a Waerd, a Hunter of supernatural creatures.
After a mission went wrong Jax was sanctioned and sent to the little town of McCall in Idaho as a penalty.
Jax has come to love McCall and almost all of its inhabitants. Her five years as the little town’s Waerd have been almost uneventful; the most action she had seen had been next to her assigned Bearer and ex-boyfriend, Finn.
Waerds and Bearers work along side; Bearers make Waerds jobs possible, they are not only empaths but they can also heal the Waerds, something that comes very handy when your jobs is to hunt, banish or kill the evil creatures that walk the night.

Things used to be good between Jax and Finn, until Jax realized Finn was using his empathic abilities on her more and more each day, it got to a point where Jax didn’t know if what she was feeling was real or it was what Finn wanted her to feel. Since she break up Finn has changed, he’s desperate to get her back and doing things he shouldn’t be doing.

From an early age Micah has suffered from visions and other strange phenomena. He has tried everything to stop what he thinks is a curse, but only on prescription pills he has found the peace and quiet he so longs for.
Wanting a change in his life, Micah sells everything he owns, buys an RV and starts to drive without a fixed course. When he stops to refuel in a little town he runs into a woman (Jax) that strangely he not only feels he knows her but he has also dreamed about. He can’t wait to know more about her and decides to stay couple of days in McCall.

Jax life is in a turmoil, she’s not only dealing with Finn and his obsessive behavior, she is also investigating some gruesome murders that are happening all around town, if that wasn’t enough a very strong Bearer has come to town, the only problem is that he (Micah) doesn’t know what he is. Feeling kind of responsible for Micah Jax asks her supervisor and mentor, Trish, for help. As a strong Bearer Trish is the best person to help and guide Micah, something that doesn’t sit well with Finn.

Since the moment I heard Amanda Bonilla was writing a new series I was eagerly waiting for the release of this, its first book. I’m happy to say that Mrs. Bonilla didn’t disappoint me, Vengeance Borne is everything I was expecting it to be and more.

In her Shaede Assassin series Mrs. Bonilla shows us she is a master at writing kick ass heroines and Vengeance Borne is not the exception.
Jax is everything you expect from an urban fantasy heroine and more; she is strong, smart, funny and loyal to those she cares about. She may not love her job most of the days, but she knows she has to do it, not for her, but to protect those that cannot protect themselves.
Being a Waerd is not an easy job; first, it’s a lifetime commitment with no way out, one in which she is always in danger of injury or worse, and if that wasn’t enough the long unremunerated hours are sure to take a toll on her, especially when she has to have a normal job to support herself.
Jax doesn’t know anything about her past or where she came from, she only knows the Sentry (Organization that controls the Waerds and Bearers) and her life as a Waerd. Mrs. Bonilla gives us some hints that there is more about Jax we don’t know. There is a story about her past that I’m dying to discover.
I really liked Micah, he’s not your normal hero, he’s dealing with some serious issues and has a long way to go now that he has discovered he’s a Bearer. He may not be perfect but it’s easy to see that he has a good heart and has the best intentions, sometimes that count more than actions. I know there is a bigger story about him too and I can’t wait to see what Mrs. Bonilla has planned for him.

There is an instant attraction between Micah and Jax, but that is usually expected from Waerds and Bearers. Jax just came out of a relationship and the last thing she wants is to jump in another man’s arms, but sometimes what you want and what life wants are completely different things.

I’m on the fence about Finn; he did some reprehensive things that made me dislike him, but at the same time I know that he did what he did because of love and love sometimes makes us do crazy things. He was desperate to get Jax back but sadly the way he went was disgraceful and completely wrong.

In Vengeance Borne Mrs. Bonilla gives us a creepy villain and gruesome murders scenes that are so vivid and realistic you are almost guarantee to have nightmares about.
Vengeance Borne is a fast paced book, with a strong world building, multilayer characters and a story with so many twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Vengeance Borne is a must read for urban fantasy lovers and one I can’t recommend enough.

I’m eagerly looking forward to 2014 to the release of next to book in the series. I can’t wait to see what Mrs. Bonilla has in store for Jax, Micah, Trish and the rest of the amazing cast.

[Shauni · Rating 3 out of 5]

Recently I picked up Vengeance Borne on Netgalley. I was in a flux and just looking for something to read. I was bored and anything would do. Fortunately Amanda Bonilla had Vengeance Borne listed because I scooped it up and fell in love! Vengeance Borne is book one in Ms Bonilla's Sentry of Evil series.. and what a dark and Delicious delight it has turned out to be.

Jacquelyn hunts things that go bump in the night. She is THE local hunter having been reassigned there after her first partner was killed. She isn't a hunter by choice, rather a ward of the Sentry who took her in (AAKA Kidnapped, IMHO) and raised to be a hunter "Waerd" and killer. In general she is ok with that but it seems that too much of her life was chosen for her. She was never given a choice, she wasn't allowed to live and be raised by a family and she isn't even allowed to experience her own emotions. Each hunter has a empath "Bearer" assigned to them, their partner. His/her job is to heal the hunter emotionally and physically. To stand at his/her side and offer back up. But never really put themselves at risk. Nope that's for the hunter to do. Working so close together with an empath, someone who actually feels your deepest emotions, can certainly lead to romance. Which is what has happened to Jacquelyn. But she's figured out that, that too is just another form of control and has broken it off with her empath.. except of course he isn't going for it.

Micah has felt things his entire life and he doesn't know why. His Romany mother calls it a gift.. *snort* Micah calls it a curse. His only salvation from the visions, dreams and feelings is to seriously medicate himself. Finally deciding that he needs to escape to some town in the middle of WY with almost no population he sells all of his things, buys a motor home and takes off. Along the way he ends up in McCall, ID where all sorts of freaky stuff is going on. Seems he is a Bearer and an awfully powerful one at that. And McCall, ID is not the sleepy little town he thought it was. There are goblins and banshees and all sorts of evil nasties running amuck. But a vision of Jacquelyn intrigues him and when he actually meets her.. yeah nothing is stopping him from getting to know her better.

Here's the thing, Jacqueline doesn't really trust the system.. and she certainly doesn't trusts most Bearers. And who would blame her, her ex, Finn, spends more time trying to get back into her pants than help her track down and find the nasties.. And he is jealous, possessive, over bearing and well self entitled. And he's supposed to be a good guy! This guy was a sleaze, I don't know that I was supposed to despise him to the extent that I did.. but there is one scene where he is trying to convince Jacquelyn to get back together with him (ok there were dozens) but this one, he uses his powers to take away her emotional resistance. Gives her a soft and gooey feeling.. this stank of rape to me. It bothered me but it also gave great credence to Jacquelyn's distrust of most things bearer.

Micah on the other hand.. now there's a bearer to fall for. When Jacquelyn explains that she doesn't really want to get into a relationship with another bearer, how things with bearers don't work out. He promptly responds, maybe it's not the bearer that's the problem, maybe it's the man.. you know like maybe she just hasn't met the right bearer.. it was quite swoonworthy..

All this emotional bombardment comes on the back of a furies attack. Three beings that seduce a human into allowing them to seak vengeance in order to get what he most desires (yeah, they lie). If the human is not captured in time, the furies take complete control and all sorts of evil can abound. So the team has mere days to get things stopped. So here Jacquelyn is working with a jealous ex partner, a complete newbie and their overseer.. up to her neck in what if's and who dunits.. Ms Bonilla does a wonderful job making us think we are sure we know who the bad guy is.. and then she changes our minds for us, over and over again. Sure when you find out you are all, yeah obvious.. BUT any number of characters could have been the bad guy and still it would have been the "obvious" choice. Well done!!

There was an awful lot going on in this book and Ms Bonilla takes her time building the world around them. So much so that originally it seemed like a slow read.. whatever you do, don't put the book down once you get started! It's well worth the time. Aside from the emotioanl crap, the demon and fury hunting.. there is the politics.. You have to wonder just what the Sentry is hiding and who Jacquelyn really is.. I know I have lots and lots of questions that if Ms Bonilla keeps to her plots and subplots and overall story arc, can last through many books. Can't wait to read more!!

Shauni

This review is based on the ARC of Vengeance Borne, provided by netgalley

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally reviewed for and posted at Vampire Book Club

Review source: copy provided by author in exchange for an honest review

Rating (out of 5): 4.5 stars

Born a Waerd, Jacquelyn has been hunting demons her entire life under the watchful eye of the Sentry. For every Waerd, there is a Bearer, someone who can sense the demons and take some of the emotional strain.

Jax’s Bearer of five years Finn has just become her ex-boyfriend. Awkward doesn’t even begin to cover it, particularly as he isn’t giving up easily. When an extraordinarily powerful, yet seemingly unrealized, new bearer rolls in town Jax quite doesn’t know what to make of him. Their chance encounter has sparked a connection and Micah’s power is off the charts, but he has no idea about the world he has just walked into.

When a spate of brutal murders rocks the town that Jax is charged with protecting, she has a hunch furies are behind it. Her less-than-productive working relationship with Finn means Jax will need to give Micah a Bearer-baptism-of-fire if she has any hopes of stopping the furies before they destroy her corner of the world.

The world created in Vengeance Borne is dark and immersive. I found the complex nature of the Waerd/Bearer dynamic particularly interesting. When your partner can feel and manipulate your emotions, relationships get real complicated, real fast. It took me a while to fully understand the exact nature of the Bearer abilities, but through Micah’s perspective we learn more as the story progresses. The background presence of the powerful Sentry organization becomes increasingly sinister and is something I’m looking forward to delving into in future books. Initially I thought I’d figured out who the mysterious character being controlled by the furies was, but twist after action packed twist had me questioning the motivation of just about everyone.

Years of hunting have honed Jax into an incredibly strong character. However, being in constant contact with Bearers means that she can never truly trust whether what she’s feeling is real or the depth of her emotions. Her break up with Finn has left her feeling more lost and disillusioned than ever. She struggles with the fact that being a Waerd is all she has known but resents that her life has been decided for her. Micah is horrified to learn that she was taken from her family as a baby and has been fighting ever since. That, even though she has supernatural strength and skills, she is made to feel almost disposable in comparison to the seemingly more valued Bearers.

Micah has struggled his entire life to suppress the gift that terrifies him, resorting to self-medicating. Once this world is unveiled to him though and he’s armed with a new understanding and guidance, he steps up—with few questions asked. We get to see the birth of a total badass in the making and watching him shake off his self imposed fog to become a force to be reckoned with was utterly fascinating. Jax may be schooling him when it comes to world of demon hunting but he challenges her to question her beliefs in the Sentry and open up to her emotions.

There is an almost instantaneous connection between Jax and Micah, one that both challenges and grounds them, but it doesn’t automatically fall into a romantic one. There are complications and obstacles that will have to be navigated for them to get anywhere near a relationship and I can’t wait to see just how that plays out (my guess – explosively). Couple that with immersive world building and bags of action, Vengeance Borne is a fantastic start to this new urban fantasy series. Can’t wait for book two!

Sexual content: Kissing

[Cyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

GENRE: Urban Fantasy
THEME: Supernatural, Romance
RECEIVED: Author
BLOG: http://seeingnight.blogspot.com/

REVIEW:
I’m already a big fan of Amanda Bonilla’s Shaede Assassins series and I couldn’t wait to read her latest Urban Fantasy. The Sentry of Evil series is one heck of a ride, with a tough as nails heroine, two powerful men who have her back and a small town that seems to have everything that goes bump in the night hanging around.

Vengeance Borne follows Jacquelyn a woman who was born a hunter, she works for a secret organization that hunts and kills evil. Now living in a small town some would think nothing crazy would happen but for Jacquelyn she knows better. Once the banshee screams come its time for her to hunt, along with her partner and bearer Finn. But when a new bearer comes to town that doesn’t know he has a gift and people start ending up murdered, it’s Jacquelyn’s job to find out what evil is out there.

Jacquelyn is a unique woman, born a killer and being a Waerd (hunter) is who she is to the core. After the loss of her old partner she was sent to her small town in Idaho where 5 years have passed and she finally feels settled. With her Bearer (empath/healer) Finn whom she cares for but are now recently separated, they fight the evil at night. What I liked about her character is that she is in no means perfect; she likes to jump into action without thinking about the consequence’s or danger. She also has a hard time keeping a job as she always has to run off because of her other “job” that is unknown to the towns people. I can’t imagine the stress that she goes through and sometimes wish she would just open up to Finn or Micah a bit more than she does. But she is stubborn and will do anything to get the job done.

Finn is a complicated guy who cares for Jacquelyn, he does come off as a bit overprotective but it comes with the job. He’s been fighting by her side for years and lovers for most of it. But since their break up he isn’t taking it too well and the poor guy is having a hard time because of his gift. As a bearer he is an empath and a healer, which means he can feel her emotion and also tries to take away her pain. Most of the book I loved him, pitied him or wanted to shake him out of his slump. But in the end I just think he’s a good guy who cares.

Micah is the new guy in town who is running away from himself. He has lived a hard life not knowing what he is and using medicine to take away the feelings. But he meets Jacquelyn who has answers to everything he was trying to get rid of. He discovers he has a gift and he’s darn powerful. Micah is an all around good guy, someone who wants to learn about what he is and also help Jacquelyn with whatever he can. I loved this guy, he was compassionate, understanding and helped people who were strangers.

Overall I loved this new series, the supernatural creatures were creepy and I can’t imagine what else is out there. I loved all the secrets, mystery behind Jacquelyn power and that this girl really kicks some butt. My only issue was that I figured out the villain way too quickly, though I don’t think it mattered since the readers can’t guess how it will end. There is so many great side characters, twist and turns, and of course romance. Bonilla’s writing is better than ever and she knows her Urban Fantasy, she will draw you in right at the first line.

RECOMMENDATION:
This is an adult novel with some creepy creatures that will go bump in the night. Fans of Chloe Neill’s Chicagoland Vampire series and Jennifer Estep’s Elemental Assassins series will love Vengeance Borne by Amanda Bonilla.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jaqueline is a Waerd, a hunter of supernatural creatures, assigned to a small town in Idaho. She works for the Sentry, a mysterious organization that finds, trains and oversees the Waerds. Jaqueline was told she was fated to be a Waerd and was taken from her family as an infant, placed in a Sentry facility and trained to kill monsters. She believes her only purpose in life is to be a tool of the Sentry.

Each Waerd has a Bearer, a powerful empath who fights alongside their Waerd and can absorb both their physical and emotional pain. Jaqueline's Bearer is Finn, her partner of five years and until very recently, her boyfriend. Finn is not taking the breakup well, but Jaqueline fears he's been using his empathy to manipulate her emotions and is determined  to be her own person.

Micah has been plagued with prophetic dreams his entire life, eventually resorting to prescription drugs to control his "gift." He's packed up his life and bought an RV to travel as far away from civilization as he can. When Micah stops for gas in a small Idaho town, he's immediately drawn to Jaqueline. She recognizes that he is a very powerful and "unrealized" Bearer and tries to help him, even though she's had enough of men invading her emotions.

When the town is invaded by furies, Micah gets thrown right in to the fight with Jaqueline, while she struggles with Finn's jealousy and possessive behavior. They have to find out who summoned the furies and banish them before they decimate the town. They get assistance from Trish, the Bearer in charge of Jaqueline's territory, and interference from Sentry higher-ups along the way.

The story was a little slow getting started for me, though that's not exactly unexpected in a brand new series. I liked Micah right away, but took a while to warm up to Jaqueline. I also knew who the villain was from the beginning, though I was almost convinced otherwise for a minute.

I'm most interested to learn more about the Sentry in the rest of the series. Trish implies that there's much more than what Jaqueline knows about it. She seems to understand the reason why the Waerds are sequestered as infants while the Bearers are allowed to live normal lives until they meet their Waerd. (The Waerds then train them to fight.) Despite that, it seems the Bearers are really in charge and they treat the Waerds as tools. Micah should play a big role in figuring all this out, as he trains with Jaqueline and as a Bearer. I think we're in for a big nature/nurture debate in the books to come.

And of course there's a love triangle to resolve as well. Waerds and Bearers are naturally drawn to each other, but Jaqueline questions her feelings when her job requires her to work with people who can control them. She struggles to define herself despite the Sentry's insistence in Fate. I'm looking forward to seeing how the relationship dynamic evolves and how the other characters influence her self-image.

This review was based on an ARC provided by the author as a contest prize.
 

[Marsha · Rating 4 out of 5]

After a long dry spell of not finding interesting new books, I am happy to state that "Vengeance Borne" is truly a book worth reading. Amanda Bonilla creates a wonderful world that is a mix of urban fantasy and suspense thriller. The characters are interesting, there is plenty of action and the plot will keep you guessing until the end.

Micah Marinescu is barely holding on to life. He feels others emotions and it is slowly killing him. His mother tries to convince him to embrace it; but, all he wants to do is drown himself in Ambien and other prescription drugs. He decides to sell everything he owns, buy a motor home and head out on the road to find peace and solitude. Little does he know he may very well be walking into his destiny.

Jacquelyn is a hunter who sole job is to track down paranormal creatures who reek havoc in the town of McCall and the surrounding area. Her emotional turmoil is soothed by her partner and Bearer, Finn. There is just one small problem. Jax broke up with Finn and he desperately tries to use his abilities to sway her back into his bed. Jax is having none of it. She wants to be free from his over protectiveness. Unfortunately, that is almost next to impossible since she needs his sharp killing skills to watch her back.

While stopping to fill up the motor home for gas, Micah and Jax meet. She immediately recognizes what he is, one of the most powerful and untrained Bearers she has ever felt. The question is how will she get him to understand and accept his gifts? With the help of Trish, an elderly woman who works for the counsel, they are able to bring Micah into their world; but, let's just say Finn's jealousy is far less accepting.

As vicious murders begin to occur in McCall, Micah, Jax and Trish are painfully aware there is a powerful paranormal threat threatening to tear their world apart. The problem is they must find out what human host, these creatures are using before it is too late. This book is my kind of read. It is almost like a paranormal detective novel full of twists and turns. I loved every minute of it and gobbled it down in one setting. If I had a complaint, it would be that at times I felt Jacquelyn's personality was a bit too hardcore and he gruffness irritated me more than once. However, it was not enough to diminish my enjoyment of the read. Do yourself a favor and pick up this book. It definitely is one to keep on your reading radar.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is the first in the Sentry of Evil series and it is definitely an amazing start. I love how Ms. Bonilla, an Idaho author takes the beautiful area near McCall and creates this alternate world that looks ordinary, yet there are evil beings that live among unaware humans, and only a few special people can protect humanity.

Jacquelyn (Jax) has an unassuming job in the day working at a coffee shop in McCall, yet at night she is a Demon slayer and fights evil along with Trish, Finn and a newcomer, Micah. Jax is a Waerd, someone who is not exactly human. Sentries find Waerds after they are born and raise them to be fighters using their gifts. For centuries, they have teamed up with Bearers using their talents because they complement each other. Finn, Micah and Trish are Bearers; they can read and take away emotions and are amazing healers.

Jax has been assigned to this territory for five years and both Trish and Finn have worked with her since. Micah recently came through the area and is an unrealized Bearer, he has been struggling with whom and what he is for many years and now that he has some answers he wants to stay.

As the four work through issues including jealousy and power struggles, a dangerous entity is being controlled by someone in town and there are people dying. They must work together to save the residents as well as save themselves as one of their own has been attacked.

I have read several books by Ms Bonilla and I have always enjoyed them. She has a wonderful voice and takes you into these intriguing worlds. The characters she creates are so interesting; I love Jax a woman who is strong yet vulnerable as she struggles with feelings for Finn.

Micah is the newcomer but I really liked him and look forward to seeing more of him and what can I say about Trish, she is great and seems to center all those around her. The main story in this book is resolved at the end however the overall story arc continues with the next book which I am looking forward to as Jax and her team continues the fight.

Copy from author for an honest review

[Melindeeloo · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars - I've always been curious about Bonilla's Shaede series, but it is much easier to start a brand shiny new series than to play catch up with an old one. I don't know about "Sentry of Evil" as a series title but I did enjoy Vengeance Borne.

The world of Vengeance Borne with guardians who fight against evil in pairs - one a warrior and one an empath - was an interesting one and the personal conflict of the pair being slightly dysfunctional now that the Waerde (warrior) has ended their more personal relationship when her Bearer(empath )doesn’t want to move on is pretty good too – especially since things are stirred up even more when an untrained Bearer comes to town. (Potential love triangle alert.) I liked the leading lady warrior, Jax, whose life is a challenge – barrista barely making the bills by day and paranormal hunter by night – and I liked the newbie Bearer, Mikah, who starts out sort of a mess at the beginning (he’s been medicating to handle his untrained powers) – the old partner/lover, Flinn, is a little harder to like since he’s sort of been using his powers in the wrong way with Jax for mixed reasons.

The big paranormal bad in the background made for some gruesome murders, and the identity of the human who is behind the presence of the Vengeance driven furies is only briefly in question, but still it was enough to give us a chance to see the leads in action and to get a feel for the world and the supporting cast and I really liked Mikah so I will be looking out for the next episode in this series.

[Joan{missing the vampire bunny slippers!} · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I'll make it 4 though because it was a first book and it left me wanting more.
Ok let's go straight to the point. Jax was a good character and I liked her resolve and sarcasm, but I wish there was more butt-kicking of the bad guys and that she wouldn't blame herself for everything that went wrong, but I guess that's why she has Micah... Now Micah after a while became an optimistic glass half full kind of guy which made me very happy since I'm not really one to root for self medicating and self destructive people. I liked the chemistry between the two and I was entirely satisfied with the way their relationship progressed. Unlike other book characters they didn't immediately forget everything and everyone else as soon as they led eyes on each other. They thought things through and even though sparks were flying all over the place they kept their head in the game (as much as possible) and they didn't make moon eyes at each other over the piling bodies. I like it when the characters don't immediately hook up, it gives you something to look forward to and it makes for good tension which is always a good thing.
I really liked Trish! :D the mafia grandma must have been a hell of an old lady! I loved how she bossed everyone around and put everyone in their place while being able to kick their butts at any given time. She was a badass. :D
Finn was just annoying for the most part but now I kinda feel sorry for him.
The plot was not exactly surprising, but if Jax gets more powered-up in the next book and Micah learns how to kick some butt as well I'll be happy.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jacquelyn is the local Waerd, or hunter of supernatural creatures in the small town of McCall, Idaho, working for a secret organization that basically controls her life. For the last five years she’s been teamed up with Finn, her Bearer, who is an empath and healer and unfortunately, her recent ex-boyfriend as well. Things are a bit tense when we’re first introduced to the pair and then along comes Micah, attempting to run away from what he thinks is a curse, but what is actually a powerful empathic ability. When he encounters Jax, he doesn’t understand what is going on, but knows he’s drawn to her and feels that she has answers that he desperately needs. The resulting story has plenty of kick butt action and lots of twists and turns as Jax tries to discover just who is on a killing spree in her little town, all while dealing with her jealous ex and the new, very attractive man in town. I liked Jax and Micah, as well as her mentor Trish, and I’d like to get to know them and all of the other characters better. My enjoyment of this story leaves me looking forward to more adventures set in this world.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

**MIGHT CONTAIN SPOILERS!!**

The first installment of a brand new series by Amanda Bonilla takes a lot to get used to. While it did seem like it dragged in the beginning (I wasn't too thrilled with the short POVs from Micah), it did pick up slightly as the story progressed. Granted it did seem a bit predictable with the villain, I will admit she had me second guessing at times. Which I really liked. I don't like predictable. Also, I love how she didn't automatically jump into a relationship with Jaquelyn (Jax) and Micah. She just broke up with her ex for crying out loud! LOL. So, thank you for that! Comparing the start of this series to her Shaede series would not only be unfair, it would be jumping to conclusions seeing as how there is only one book so far. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love her Shaede series. This one has room to grow and I love it because of that.

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Genre* Urban Fantasy
*Rating* 4.0

*My Thoughts*

See my full review here ---

http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...

Expected publication: September 3rd 2013 - Blog Stop September 27, 2013 via Gizmos Reviews

[✿~Danielle~✿ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jax

Read 31 August 2013

[Traci (Mad Hatter Reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to come

[Feminista · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

[Coco.V]

🎁 FREE on Amazon today (3/6/2021)! 🎁

[Dorine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Also posted at my blog, TBR Mountain Range.

A creative beginning to an imaginative new Urban Fantasy series, VENGEANCE BORNE combines demon hunting with an empathic healer, who together banish evil with strength and compassion.

One of my favorite types of paranormals are those that include empaths or healers, so imagine my delight when I realized that this Urban Fantasy novel contains both in one character. And not a female empathic healer, but a gorgeous Romany male who has gifts he's trying to deny. That's a welcome twist!

Having just broken up with her long-term boyfriend and demon-fighting partner, Jacquelyn is struggling with her place as Waerd of her territory in McCall, Idaho. Waerds are demon hunters who need a Bearer to watch their backs, aiding with their empathic and healing skills, which means that their relationship can sometimes entwine both body and soul.

Such was Jacquelyn's relationship with Finn, a Bearer as well as her ex-boyfriend, so working with him now is difficult since they broke up. She needs to keep her emotional walls up so that he doesn't tempt her back into a relationship. Finn has made Jacquelyn needy for that emotional relief he can give so easily, making her void of the self-preservation that she'll need to keep their personal relationship at bay. She no longer wishes to be sucked dry of emotion and made to feel something that's not true.

Being a wanderer by Romany heritage doesn't help Micah Marinescu's mother understand why he sells everything he owns to buy a motorhome and take off for an unknown future in Wyoming. His psychic gift has driven him to desperation after the drugs only give him a false sense of relief for brief periods. The "voices" Micah hears, plus the vivid dreams that are often predictions and the constant bombardment of emotions in a city full of anxiety leaves him with no ability to rest without drugs. He's hopeful that escaping to wide open spaces will finally give him the peaceful existence he craves, instead of relying on drugs and his inebriated silence to control his so-called "gift".

But fate intervenes when Micah ends up in a gas station in a small town in Idaho and finds the woman who was in trouble in his dreams of the night before. Micah has never met anyone like Jacquelyn and can't shake the feeling that he needs to stay in this town to find out more.

From the very first page, Jacquelyn portrays the strength needed to be a demon hunter, but even though she likes to think that she's tough, there's a soft side to her that begs to be recognized. The death of her previous Bearer partner, Ryan, six years ago haunts her and plagues her with guilt. Now that she has broken off her personal involvement with Finn, a Bearer who is her ex-lover and current partner in demon hunting, Jacquelyn struggles with allowing Finn to do his job while keeping a good distance between them personally.

When Micah meets Jacquelyn, sparks fly and neither is prepared for what's in store for them next. Micah, an unrealized Bearer, has come to town just in time, but will he be an asset or a hindrance? In a territory that should support just one Bearer, trouble is definitely on the horizon. When Furies, the worst of evil, are suspected to be the reason for recent killings, Micah may wish he'd left and taken his curiosity somewhere else.

The best part of VENGEANCE BORNE is its diverse characters. I felt immediately connected to Jacquelyn, even though she's a badass who seems to be focused on killing, because her fate hasn't ever been her choice and her sarcasm is often quite funny. She's hard because she has to be but there's a remnant of compassion left within her that keeps her balanced. Micah, on the other hand, is a complete surprise. He's very in tune with his sensitive side, yet has a strength that hasn't been tapped until now. He's passive and reserved, always watching and learning from others' emotions. His strength builds as the novel progresses and you can't help but laugh at how his easygoing nature ruffles Jacquelyn's aggressive one. The fact that he revels in agitating her by disobeying makes him even more entertaining.

I really like Micah. He's such a different type of hero that I find him refreshing. I think his thoughts of Jacqueline sum it up perfectly and prove not only the talent of author Amanda Bonilla, but the essence of her characters...

Quoted from VENGEANCE BORNE by Amanda Bonilla, Micah's thoughts... "This woman—this Waerd, hunter, or whatever the hell else they wanted to call her—was the frightened girl of his dreams, the tortured soul of his nightmares and the rock-solid companion of his reality." How can you not love phrases like that, not to mention the man who said them?

Amanda Bonilla has become one of my favorite authors because she always surprises me with some unexpected twist in her novels and her words are always engaging. The paranormal elements that Ms. Bonilla creates are always believable, sometimes frighteningly so, yet her novels are never void of compassion. As a romance reader first and fiction reader second, this compassion is what keeps me enthralled in a style of book that may not always be my cup of tea when written by someone else. Amanda Bonilla writes the best creepers, those sick villains with paranormal abilities which make them all the more twisted. And those little twists and turns that keep me guessing, they get me hooked and running back for more. The other part that's really fun about VENGEANCE BORNE is trying to guess who the villain is... I thought I knew, but there was enough doubt and reasonable mistrust directed at several suspects to make me second guess myself. That really kept me entertained.

Satisfy your Urban Fantasy appetite with VENGEANCE BORNE, A SENTRY OF EVIL NOVEL and book one in Amanda Bonilla's newest series. You'll be anxious for book two by the end, left wondering about the evil to come and what will happen to the relationships formed in book one. And, if you've never tried Urban Fantasy before, or have done so without success, try VENGEANCE BORNE for a new twist that may appeal to you.

Review Courtesy of Romance Junkies.

[Lo · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

[Melissa Hayden · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the mystery and unknown behind Waerds and Bearers, completely different. And the connection between the two. What the Bearer can do for Waerds, explains Jax's emotions so perfectly.

An Urban Fantasy read with a rich world.

***FULL REVIEW***
McCall seems to be thriving in paranormal activity lately, dampening her sleep time and calling Jacquelyn away from her night out with friends with a Banshee warning call. Off to secret job to hunt demons before the Banshee find the victim to claim. Jax tries to avoid hunting with her Bearer, and ex-boyfriend, Finn. Micah drives through town in his RV looking to stay away from people with his curse of feeling emotions and having terror visions of people getting hurt. But Micah is stalled in his passing as he sees the woman from his latest dream, the one who escaped the death he saw coming. Jax finds Micah, a rather strong unknown Bearer, and train him to help her with the murders that Finn is not picking anything supernatural on, but Micah is. The murders could get her pulled from this town she's come to love by the Sentry and even worse, bring death to those she loves dearly. The Banshee's not singing for the deaths, and that scares Jax. Finn's not seeing anything supernatural about them. Micah is fresh to the field and seems to be accepting the gift he was running from, but will Jax have him trained in time to save those of the town from Furies? And herself?

The first chapter was a hit! Brought me right in to the world Jacquelyn is in along with the action too.

Lots of this world blended with meeting everyone and the ways of Jacquelyn. Loved the creation of the world Jacquelyn is in, and the potential to come. I do want more of it.
The Sentry - Super secret supernatural business
The Bearer - Tracker and Magic gauge, and all they can do for their Waerd with emotional and physical bruises
The Waerd - An appointed protector of ghouls, demons, and their ilk - the hunter of them all when they attack

I get a feel that the world of The Sentry with the Bearers and Waerds is so much more. There is a heavier story behind all of the creation here, and I want it! I am taken with this creation and look forward to reading more and more as Jacquelyn, Micah, and Finn learn about it as well.

The characters are catching, along with their abilities and connection to each other and the world created. Micah has no idea what he is and what he is wandering into. But here in McCall, he starts to feel connected to his "gift" or curse as he calls it. He starts to feel better, and it's all thanks to Jacquelyn. It seems the Waerd and Bearer work together to keep each other grounded, in more ways than one. Jacquelyn has issues in her past she needs to work through, and Micah seems to be the one to help her through those. Finn is still in love with Jax and is struggling to get through their breakup.

We get a few different POVs here. Jacquelyn, Micah, and the man who has "the vengeance's" to his use (or is it the other way around, he to the vengeance's use?). This gives us the view from all angles. The hunter, the bearer, and the furies in attach. With Jacquelyn not having her queues there are attacks, the POV of the vengeance user is very important, and also adds suspect to your reading.

The fury view is so well done it makes me wonder who it is. I had one suspect from the beginning, then all the sudden I was up to two (possibly three) suspects! I had to keep reading to see who it was!

Only one little piece that stuck out to me. One sentence. Jacquelyn is a smart girl, but there is mention that she gets a vibe from someone and wishes Micah or Finn was with her to look at him. Then she seems to forget this thought. I know her emotions are numbed, which is some explanation along with all going on with the hunk of men (Micah and Finn) around her. She's slightly off her game, and this is the example to show it. She's on the hunt for Furies and knowing she needs to pay close attention, and she knows this. Knowing the Furies could be attached to anyone, even if she thinks this person may not be likely. Other than this one little mention, I truly enjoyed this book!

I love the mystery and unknown behind Waerds and Bearers, completely different. And the connection between the two. What the Bearer can do for Waerds, explains Jacquelyn's emotions so perfectly, especially when in hunter mode.

An Urban Fantasy read with a rich world. I want to know more and look forward to future books!

[Christen (GoldiloxReads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Vengeance Borne is the first is a brand new series by established author Amanda Bonilla. This is a good start to a new urban fantasy that combines the paranormal with mythology to be fast paced and entertaining. With a little more character and world development as the series continues, the Sentry of Evil series might certainly become a favorite for readers of the genre.

While firmly in the UF column, Vengeance Borne takes a tip from paranormal romance and splits the POV. We get the story from the perspective of the heroine, Jacquelyn, and the hero, Micah, which is unusual in urban fantasy. This was most helpful toward the book's beginning before the two had met and then as Micah was learning what he was. The pitfall to the split POV, for me at least, was that neither character got fully developed. I didn't feel like I really fully understood either Jacquelyn or Micah and therefore have to wait for them to develop more as the series continues.

Jacquelyn, or Jax, is stubborn, brash, and fiery as the local Hunter, called a Waerd, who takes care of any paranormal problems in the night. She is the character I most wanted to know more about because the other characters describe her as obstinate and hot-tempered constantly, but I wanted to get to know Jax more through her POV and make up my mind for myself. I look forward to learning more of her back story as Jax learns it in future books and discovering just who and what the Sentry is.

When the story begins, Jax's partner is Finn, who up until recently had been her boyfriend for several years until Jax ended the relationship. That relationship causes a lot of strife throughout the story and I wanted to knock Finn in the head more than once. I know from my experience with Bonilla's other UF series that she does not struggle with writing characters that make you want to commit character-murder. Finn just doesn't know when to stop and I must admit that I did not like him at all. There was a lot of tension and emotional strain between these two as Finn has trouble accepting his new found single status and makes some questionable decisions involving his gifts as a Bearer (more explanation of Bearers in a moment). I thought he really took things too far sometimes and I hope Jax doesn't pity him in the next book and start to fall for him again.

Enter Micah, the mysterious stranger new to town who is also a Bearer - one who doesn't know it yet. A Bearer is kind of an empath, but with several other talents that are tied to the empath abilities, like healing, pulling emotions from people, and pushing one's own emotions into someone. Through several encounters with Jax and the local Bearer-in-charge, Trish, Micah eventually learns how his gifts work and becomes a temporary part of the local hunting team, much to Finn's disapproval. To me, this whole beginning part just took too long to get going. I had read through roughly ten chapters before I really felt like the plot began moving forward. However, after that things were very quickly paced.

Jax and Micah have a budding chemistry that grows throughout the story, but don't expect too much romance in this first book. In true urban fantasy fashion, the romance here will stretch across several books. I think Jacquelyn and Micah had good chemistry, but I'm glad the author didn't rush the romance too quickly. The steps taken in this first book are realistic.

Bonilla combines typical paranormal monsters with some from the mythological world as Jax's prey and the 'big bad' for this first installment is the Furies, always a favorite of mine. We actually get an occasionally third POV from that of the person using the Furies and I always enjoy reading small inserts from the antagonist's POV so I liked this choice. Even though I guessed who this person was fairly early on, I still enjoyed how this main story line played out.

Overall, this is a pretty great beginning to the Sentry of Evil series. I was invested enough in the world and the characters, and curious enough about what happens next, to stamp this one with my definite approval. I look forward to reading what happens next for Jacquelyn, Micah, and Finn!

Recommended for fans of: urban fantasy, mythology, the Furies, temperamental main characters, and the Shaede Assassin series.

This review is based on an advance copy of the book provided by the author.

[Ni_kii · Rating 4 out of 5]

FTC : We were provided with this book by the author for a fair review. Bar occasional tweets, we have no relationship with the author and received no monetary compensation for it.

This book blindsided me. The set up was unlike anything I have ever read before and, even though I felt the pace was a little slow in places, I was engrossed from the start to end. I’m actually quite surprised; I hate love triangles!

Jacqueline is a bad ass hunter by night and a coffee woman by night. She was a bit like Buffy (if Buffy had ever had an actual job) and I loved the problems described with juggling two lives. When we first meet her, she has just broken up with her empath/guardian boyfriend. It felt like the relationship would be a conflict of interest from the start and the supernatural explanation for the attraction didn’t make me particularly want reconciliation either! Of course, this then tarnished my opinion of the budding relationship with Micah... wouldn’t it be exactly the same? Micah gained some points for recognising the line before he crossed it but I’m not sure I’m satisfied that he won’t cross in the future. He saw it as a line that Jacqueline had set and not one that is morally wrong.

I can’t judge the relationship between Micah and Jacqueline against the previous relationship because I never saw the latter. I don’t know that I can read insta-mate and judge this particular relationship as unhealthy; to be honest it is the same theme, but the problem for me was that both men could influence the actions and mood of Jacqueline as part of their gift. It felt manipulative and a little weird so I wasn’t sure I wanted them together at all. That aside, I couldn’t deny that I liked the amount of chemistry between them and enjoyed reading their budding relationship.

Most of the conflict was external (i.e. the bad guys etc) but I can see that the minor internal conflict within Jacqueline about her “gift” is going to be an arc that underpins the series. She doesn’t see herself as gifted, instead sees herself as a pre-destined murderer, no better than a weapon. This isn’t helped by the attitude of their bosses who constantly harp on about how “replaceable” hunters are. It would give anyone a complex and I can imagine that this will cause conflict with any future relationships we see. It should be interesting to see how this all pans out.

I enjoyed the world building of this book and that alone would make me buy the next in the series. The fact that I really did enjoy Jacqueline’s character is an added bonus and I am a huge fan of UF series with strong female heroines as the main character. The suspense plot was well played out too, with enough red herrings being thrown into the mix that I was unsure if I knew who the big bad was until a few minutes before their identity was released.

Overall, there is enough in this series debut to keep me reading more. With a strong heroine, an interesting world-building aspect and enough romantic tension to keep me hooked, it checked a whole host of boxes. It is yet to be seen if I can get over the way the relationships are built enough to want her to have a relationship with either of the male leads, but it’ll be interesting to see how it all unfolds. A solid 4 Stars.