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Darkride Chronicles #2
Crossfire
It’s hard to move on when someone you love dies –especially if that someone is you. But that’s exactly what Cicely Watson is trying to do: move on, away from the sunlit life she knew and into her life as a vampire. It’s the only way to protect her friends, and her only hope of being with the guy she loves. Now that Ander can control the wolf inside him, Cicely is determined they will finally be together – even if their natural instincts tell them to tear each other apart.
But when Ander meets a new girl with a power he can’t resist, Cicely fears she saved his life only to lose his love. And what about her own feelings for Luke Marianez, the handsome vampire prince? She always claimed dark, brooding Luke simply wasn’t her type, but can she still deny the fire between them now that she’s his kind?
When the enemy captures someone she loves, Cicely is forced to choose. Can a heart that stopped beating start loving at last? Or will true love be caught in the crossfire?
But when Ander meets a new girl with a power he can’t resist, Cicely fears she saved his life only to lose his love. And what about her own feelings for Luke Marianez, the handsome vampire prince? She always claimed dark, brooding Luke simply wasn’t her type, but can she still deny the fire between them now that she’s his kind?
When the enemy captures someone she loves, Cicely is forced to choose. Can a heart that stopped beating start loving at last? Or will true love be caught in the crossfire?
Unknown Binding
First published January 14, 2013
6 people are currently reading
395 people want to read
About the author
Laura Bradley Rede
9 books160 followersLaura Bradley Rede grew up the oldest of nine kids in a small town in Maine. She now lives in a little hippie-punk neighborhood of Minneapolis with her wonderful partner, their three amazing children, one Great Dane, one dachshund, and four city chickens. She is a winner of the Writers of the Future Award for fantasy and science fiction and the author of the YA paranormal romance DARKRIDE, and its upcoming sequel CROSSFIRE, as well as many YA short stories. She often quotes Bela Lugosi, the original Dracula, who said “I have never met a vampire personally, but I don’t know what might happen tomorrow.”
After all, a girl can dream.
www.laurabradleyrede.com
www.darkridethenovel.com
After all, a girl can dream.
www.laurabradleyrede.com
www.darkridethenovel.com
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
January 18, 2013
"Nothing is certain, nothing is safe. Dying has taught me that. I have it in me to hurt you, you have it in you to hurt me. But we let it in anyways- the hurt, the light- and it makes us stronger. The curse is its own cure."
Crossfire starts where Darkride left off. Cicely,Ander, Luke, Emmie, DJ, and Five are on the run. They arrive to a 'safe place' and meet Naomi, a witch who Michael thought could help them. Cicely is trying to adjust to being a vampire. Ander is control of his wolf now that he's an alpha. Of course he still loves Cissa, but things between them have changed. Their relationship is complicated. Throw Naomi and Luke into the equation and its kind of a mess. Before they can figure things out, people from Naomi's town turn up dead. From vampire attacks. The group wonders if the vamps have found them, or if it could be one of their own causing the attacks. It's something unexpected. A small army there to follow Cicely. As their vampire queen. If things weren't complicated enough, one of their own betrays then and another is captured. They put everything on the line to get that person back...
"A person will sacrifice anything for true love."
The paranormal love triangle of Cicely, Ander and Luke is back in action! Ander and Luke are both so great in different ways... It's hard to choose who Cicely should be with, although . Ultimately, I was really happy with the ending of the book. I think things turned out the way they were meant to. Cicely was strong and fierce as always, and i was really happy to get more Emmie in this book- love her!!! This is a great read with tons of action and some romance. Kept me on edge most of the book wondering how it was all going to turn out. If you haven't read Darkride, pick it up then read this! A great series!
Crossfire starts where Darkride left off. Cicely,Ander, Luke, Emmie, DJ, and Five are on the run. They arrive to a 'safe place' and meet Naomi, a witch who Michael thought could help them. Cicely is trying to adjust to being a vampire. Ander is control of his wolf now that he's an alpha. Of course he still loves Cissa, but things between them have changed. Their relationship is complicated. Throw Naomi and Luke into the equation and its kind of a mess. Before they can figure things out, people from Naomi's town turn up dead. From vampire attacks. The group wonders if the vamps have found them, or if it could be one of their own causing the attacks. It's something unexpected. A small army there to follow Cicely. As their vampire queen. If things weren't complicated enough, one of their own betrays then and another is captured. They put everything on the line to get that person back...
"A person will sacrifice anything for true love."
The paranormal love triangle of Cicely, Ander and Luke is back in action! Ander and Luke are both so great in different ways... It's hard to choose who Cicely should be with, although . Ultimately, I was really happy with the ending of the book. I think things turned out the way they were meant to. Cicely was strong and fierce as always, and i was really happy to get more Emmie in this book- love her!!! This is a great read with tons of action and some romance. Kept me on edge most of the book wondering how it was all going to turn out. If you haven't read Darkride, pick it up then read this! A great series!
October 13, 2013
4.5 stars
Spoilers for Darkride
I was delighted to be asked by Laura to review Crossfire because I had previously read and loved the first book in the series, Darkride (you can read that review here. The characters go through so much in Darkride and I was anxious to see how things were faring for them.
Crossfire starts off where Darkride finishes, with a gang of three vampirs, two werewolves and one human/thrall on the run, heading away from the hunters and a group of ancient vampires. They are looking for a safe place, and have a name, left by Michael, to go to in case of emergency, but no idea as to who or what they are headed towards.
Cicely has only recently been turned into a vampire, an enluzante, literally undead. Unlike Luke, who is a living, breathing vampire, but is once again immortal now that the curse has been broken. And Ander, the guy/werewolf that she's been in love with for the past few years, and he with her, is finding that hard to deal with. While Cicely is struggling to handle dying, becoming a vampire and losing herself, she is also trying to deal with Anders feelings towards her. She thought that they would be together now that he can control his wolf, she did die for him after all, to save both him and Luke. Luke feels that Cicely should just be with him now, they are both the same, and he hates seeing her pine for Ander.
Whey they arrive at their destination, they meet Naomi Faire, a witch who can charm animals. She's able to help Ander with DJ, who's only a new wolf, as he goes through his first change at the full moon. Spending a lot of time together, Ander and Naomi start to become close and Cicely is feeling jealous and resentful. Luke and Emmie are also spending more time together, all being able to walk in the light while Cicely must remain in the dark. But when someone turns against them, and Emmie is captured, the action really begins.
As a main character, Cicely was always likeable and at the ending of Darkride, I felt really, really sorry for her. While they all suffered their own losses, Cicely's impacted on me most, and in this book too, I was hoping that she was going to find some happiness and her place in this new world.
This series has some fantastic characters. Emmie is a thrall, and is such a sweetheart, you can't help but love her. Ander, a hunter turned werewolf, then taken in by a vampire and his thrall, is strong and protective. Luke, a living vampire, and the other side of the love triangle, is 200 years old, and having been in torper (deathly sleep), for 100 years, is again learning modern ways and speech/saying with some humorous results. Naomi, is new to the series, and in the beginning, I didn't feel I was going to take to her, but she was so nice and kind hearted to everyone, it wasn't possible to dislike her. DJ and Five, two characters that didn't stand out as much as the rest, but play their part in making this awesome story.
This book is written from the POV of Cicely, Ander, Luke and Emmie and is extremely well done. Laura's writing style is enjoyable with no long winded descriptions but enough to let get a feel for it. A great second book in an awesome series.
Spoilers for Darkride
I was delighted to be asked by Laura to review Crossfire because I had previously read and loved the first book in the series, Darkride (you can read that review here. The characters go through so much in Darkride and I was anxious to see how things were faring for them.
Crossfire starts off where Darkride finishes, with a gang of three vampirs, two werewolves and one human/thrall on the run, heading away from the hunters and a group of ancient vampires. They are looking for a safe place, and have a name, left by Michael, to go to in case of emergency, but no idea as to who or what they are headed towards.
Cicely has only recently been turned into a vampire, an enluzante, literally undead. Unlike Luke, who is a living, breathing vampire, but is once again immortal now that the curse has been broken. And Ander, the guy/werewolf that she's been in love with for the past few years, and he with her, is finding that hard to deal with. While Cicely is struggling to handle dying, becoming a vampire and losing herself, she is also trying to deal with Anders feelings towards her. She thought that they would be together now that he can control his wolf, she did die for him after all, to save both him and Luke. Luke feels that Cicely should just be with him now, they are both the same, and he hates seeing her pine for Ander.
Whey they arrive at their destination, they meet Naomi Faire, a witch who can charm animals. She's able to help Ander with DJ, who's only a new wolf, as he goes through his first change at the full moon. Spending a lot of time together, Ander and Naomi start to become close and Cicely is feeling jealous and resentful. Luke and Emmie are also spending more time together, all being able to walk in the light while Cicely must remain in the dark. But when someone turns against them, and Emmie is captured, the action really begins.
As a main character, Cicely was always likeable and at the ending of Darkride, I felt really, really sorry for her. While they all suffered their own losses, Cicely's impacted on me most, and in this book too, I was hoping that she was going to find some happiness and her place in this new world.
This series has some fantastic characters. Emmie is a thrall, and is such a sweetheart, you can't help but love her. Ander, a hunter turned werewolf, then taken in by a vampire and his thrall, is strong and protective. Luke, a living vampire, and the other side of the love triangle, is 200 years old, and having been in torper (deathly sleep), for 100 years, is again learning modern ways and speech/saying with some humorous results. Naomi, is new to the series, and in the beginning, I didn't feel I was going to take to her, but she was so nice and kind hearted to everyone, it wasn't possible to dislike her. DJ and Five, two characters that didn't stand out as much as the rest, but play their part in making this awesome story.
This book is written from the POV of Cicely, Ander, Luke and Emmie and is extremely well done. Laura's writing style is enjoyable with no long winded descriptions but enough to let get a feel for it. A great second book in an awesome series.
March 24, 2013
CROSSFIRE is the sequel to DARKRIDE and begins shortly after the first book ends. We begin with six young people in a van—three vampires, two werewolves, and a human thrall—who are running from both vampires and Hunters who want to kill them. They are on their way to Brave Boat Harbor, Maine and Naomi Faire who might be able to help them.
I'll admit that i was a little confused at the beginning of the story. It has been a long time since I read DARKRIDE but when they arrived in Maine they had to explain themselves to Naomi which caught me up nicely on the events of the previous book. It was an infodump that was integrated well in this story.
The six are an interesting assortment of characters, each with their own unique agenda.
*Cicely is a new vampire—an enluzante—and has a number of things to get used to, i.e. no reflection in mirrors, horror of crosses, unable to enter a home without an invitation, and an inability to be in sunlight. She became a vampire to save the boy she loves, Ander, who is a werewolf and a former Hunter.
*Ander has gotten control of himself as a werewolf because he is now the alpha of his small pack. Before he became alpha he couldn't control his wolf and was always afraid that he would hurt Cicely.
*D.J., Ander's younger brother, is a Hunter who was made a werewolf because that would make him a better Hunter, He hates vampires and resents his brother who controls him and who loves a vampire.
*Five is another enluzante who had escaped from the Hunter compound previously. She is a psychic and quite a mysterious character.
*Luke is an immortal vampire under a curse. He wanted to make Cecily fall in love with him before he killed her in order to break the curse but fell in love with her instead, Now he and Ander are competing for her attention.
*Emmie is a human thrall who loves being a source of blood for vampires. She is the daughter of a vampire and a thrall. She is quite a character. She brings real world smarts, a sunny nature, and optimism to the group.
When they arrive in Maine, they discover that the Naomi Faire they have been sent to find is dead and her granddaughter of the same name, while a witch, doesn't have the powers they need. Naomi lets them stay to rest and heal. Naomi adds to the romantic triangles (quadrangles, pentagrams) that fill this story when she seems to be developing a special relationship with Ander since her main witchly talent is controlling animals.
The story was well-written, engaging, and exciting. The characters, especially Cecily, Ander, Luke, and Emmy, were people the reader could care about.
While the ending leaves most characters in a happy place, there are enough threads unwoven to provide room for further adventures. I enjoyed this story and think many young adults will too.
I'll admit that i was a little confused at the beginning of the story. It has been a long time since I read DARKRIDE but when they arrived in Maine they had to explain themselves to Naomi which caught me up nicely on the events of the previous book. It was an infodump that was integrated well in this story.
The six are an interesting assortment of characters, each with their own unique agenda.
*Cicely is a new vampire—an enluzante—and has a number of things to get used to, i.e. no reflection in mirrors, horror of crosses, unable to enter a home without an invitation, and an inability to be in sunlight. She became a vampire to save the boy she loves, Ander, who is a werewolf and a former Hunter.
*Ander has gotten control of himself as a werewolf because he is now the alpha of his small pack. Before he became alpha he couldn't control his wolf and was always afraid that he would hurt Cicely.
*D.J., Ander's younger brother, is a Hunter who was made a werewolf because that would make him a better Hunter, He hates vampires and resents his brother who controls him and who loves a vampire.
*Five is another enluzante who had escaped from the Hunter compound previously. She is a psychic and quite a mysterious character.
*Luke is an immortal vampire under a curse. He wanted to make Cecily fall in love with him before he killed her in order to break the curse but fell in love with her instead, Now he and Ander are competing for her attention.
*Emmie is a human thrall who loves being a source of blood for vampires. She is the daughter of a vampire and a thrall. She is quite a character. She brings real world smarts, a sunny nature, and optimism to the group.
When they arrive in Maine, they discover that the Naomi Faire they have been sent to find is dead and her granddaughter of the same name, while a witch, doesn't have the powers they need. Naomi lets them stay to rest and heal. Naomi adds to the romantic triangles (quadrangles, pentagrams) that fill this story when she seems to be developing a special relationship with Ander since her main witchly talent is controlling animals.
The story was well-written, engaging, and exciting. The characters, especially Cecily, Ander, Luke, and Emmy, were people the reader could care about.
While the ending leaves most characters in a happy place, there are enough threads unwoven to provide room for further adventures. I enjoyed this story and think many young adults will too.
November 5, 2013
Crossfire narrows down the world building of Darkride to community building within that world. Each unique character has something to contribute and they are in fact dependent on one another for survival no matter what their differences and rivalries. The love triangles expand and eventually split off into satisfying duos. There is some great humor, told with pitch perfect timing. New characters, such as an animal charming witch Naomi Faire and her talking Raven Grimm are introduced. I have a soft spot for animal characters. Especially those who are naughty and difficult to win over as Grimm.
I was especially charmed by the enluzantes, vampires who are brought back from the dead (as opposed to those who become vampires while alive). They are a bit like zombies with individual personalities and appearances. When Cicely discovers she is their new Queen, she is starts to see them in a new light. "They look like what they are: a bunch of young people who have suffered through dying and come back again whether they wanted to or not. Like I did. My fear is replaced by a sudden rush of compassion." Compassion is an all too rarely evoked feeling in paranormal fiction and Crossfire just glows with it.
There is no cliffhanger at the end of Crossfire which concerns me. I already miss this sweet, motley crew of young people, dead and alive! I hope to get to hang out with them again.
I was especially charmed by the enluzantes, vampires who are brought back from the dead (as opposed to those who become vampires while alive). They are a bit like zombies with individual personalities and appearances. When Cicely discovers she is their new Queen, she is starts to see them in a new light. "They look like what they are: a bunch of young people who have suffered through dying and come back again whether they wanted to or not. Like I did. My fear is replaced by a sudden rush of compassion." Compassion is an all too rarely evoked feeling in paranormal fiction and Crossfire just glows with it.
There is no cliffhanger at the end of Crossfire which concerns me. I already miss this sweet, motley crew of young people, dead and alive! I hope to get to hang out with them again.
January 27, 2013
My Review(my personal views and opinions pertaining to Crossfire):
I'm going to start off by saying Crossfire is AMAZING! I absolutely loved loved loved this novel!
It grabbed a hold of my psychi and held it captive, pulling me into the supernatural world. When a book can have that affect on me, where I'm not just reading the book, I feel like I'm actually living it, it's pretty darn awesome!
Crossfire is the continuation of the paranormal novel Darkride. It picks up right where we left the characters in Darkride, in Ander's van heading to Maine.
Each of the characters have well defined characteristics, which makes it easy to form a connection with them individually. I connected with most of the characters, being particularly fond of Cicely & Ander, but they were all fantastic in their own way.
Characteristics that I felt each of the characters embodied:
Cicely- strong willed, loving, and faithful, willing to stare in the face of danger in the name of love, never letting go or giving up
Ander- brave, considerate, and strong(physically & emotionally), willing to put his desires and life on the line to ensure the safety of the ones he loves
Luke- dapper and debonair, willing to go to great lengths for the women he loves
Emmie- caring, generous, and likable, willing to fight in someone else's war to save the lives of friends & strangers
Five- mysterious and vague, willing to help her friends discover their future, but not selflessly
D.J.- naive and moody, willing to do what ever it takes to be on top
Naomi- warm, loving and optimistic, willing to take big risk to find the love she lost
Naomi is a new character, one we didn't meet in Darkride. I have to admit, she annoyed me with her actions, but towards the end of the book my feelings began to shift, by the end she fully redeemed herself in my eyes. Although, I never could completely dislike her because she was extremely helpful and a safe haven for the other character, for that I had give her respect and appreciation.
I formed an attachment to Cicely anything or anyone who threatened her, rubbed me the wrong way. I wanted to defend and protect her, but Ander & Luke had it under control.
The one character that I wasn't able to connect with was D.J. Although I felt sorry for him in a sense, his behavior and actions(one in particular) were the reasons I really couldn't like kid.
Crossfire is beautifully written, full of passion and emotion. Laura Bradley Rede did a wonderful job tying all the loose ends together, making the story complete. I was so pleased with the ending, even as I read the acknowledgements at the end I felt emotional. It is obvious that Laura puts her heart and soul into her writing, as a reader you can feel it through the characters and storyline.
I am a fairly new reader of the paranormal/supernatural/fantasy genre. I now completely consider myself a fan. I never imagined that I would view a vampire bite as sensual, but that's exactly what I felt when Luke bit his love interests. Vampires and Werewolves are absolutely *Swoon-Worthy*! Ander & Luke fit that mold perfectly!
As I read through Darkride and Crossfire I began to perceive an alternate meaning from this story, it really came together for me at the end of the novel: That we as a people can come together, setting our differences aside, accepting, trusting, believing in, and loving each other and by doing so, together we can accomplish unimaginable feats.
Darkride & Crossfire(The Darkride Chronicles) are absolute must reads! I cannot say enough about how much I enjoyed these novels.
Favorite Quote:
"No one would blame you for guarding your heart, Ander. You've lost a lot of people in your young life, and you don't want to lose any more. And yes, if you love her, you may loser her, tomorrow or next week or eighty years from now. You will. But you will never really lose her because you let her in. You loved her. And we never really lose what we truly love." <3 ~Danny
"What doesn't kill you makes you stronger and wht does kill you makes you invincible." ~Five
I'm going to start off by saying Crossfire is AMAZING! I absolutely loved loved loved this novel!
It grabbed a hold of my psychi and held it captive, pulling me into the supernatural world. When a book can have that affect on me, where I'm not just reading the book, I feel like I'm actually living it, it's pretty darn awesome!
Crossfire is the continuation of the paranormal novel Darkride. It picks up right where we left the characters in Darkride, in Ander's van heading to Maine.
Each of the characters have well defined characteristics, which makes it easy to form a connection with them individually. I connected with most of the characters, being particularly fond of Cicely & Ander, but they were all fantastic in their own way.
Characteristics that I felt each of the characters embodied:
Cicely- strong willed, loving, and faithful, willing to stare in the face of danger in the name of love, never letting go or giving up
Ander- brave, considerate, and strong(physically & emotionally), willing to put his desires and life on the line to ensure the safety of the ones he loves
Luke- dapper and debonair, willing to go to great lengths for the women he loves
Emmie- caring, generous, and likable, willing to fight in someone else's war to save the lives of friends & strangers
Five- mysterious and vague, willing to help her friends discover their future, but not selflessly
D.J.- naive and moody, willing to do what ever it takes to be on top
Naomi- warm, loving and optimistic, willing to take big risk to find the love she lost
Naomi is a new character, one we didn't meet in Darkride. I have to admit, she annoyed me with her actions, but towards the end of the book my feelings began to shift, by the end she fully redeemed herself in my eyes. Although, I never could completely dislike her because she was extremely helpful and a safe haven for the other character, for that I had give her respect and appreciation.
I formed an attachment to Cicely anything or anyone who threatened her, rubbed me the wrong way. I wanted to defend and protect her, but Ander & Luke had it under control.
The one character that I wasn't able to connect with was D.J. Although I felt sorry for him in a sense, his behavior and actions(one in particular) were the reasons I really couldn't like kid.
Crossfire is beautifully written, full of passion and emotion. Laura Bradley Rede did a wonderful job tying all the loose ends together, making the story complete. I was so pleased with the ending, even as I read the acknowledgements at the end I felt emotional. It is obvious that Laura puts her heart and soul into her writing, as a reader you can feel it through the characters and storyline.
I am a fairly new reader of the paranormal/supernatural/fantasy genre. I now completely consider myself a fan. I never imagined that I would view a vampire bite as sensual, but that's exactly what I felt when Luke bit his love interests. Vampires and Werewolves are absolutely *Swoon-Worthy*! Ander & Luke fit that mold perfectly!
As I read through Darkride and Crossfire I began to perceive an alternate meaning from this story, it really came together for me at the end of the novel: That we as a people can come together, setting our differences aside, accepting, trusting, believing in, and loving each other and by doing so, together we can accomplish unimaginable feats.
Darkride & Crossfire(The Darkride Chronicles) are absolute must reads! I cannot say enough about how much I enjoyed these novels.
Favorite Quote:
"No one would blame you for guarding your heart, Ander. You've lost a lot of people in your young life, and you don't want to lose any more. And yes, if you love her, you may loser her, tomorrow or next week or eighty years from now. You will. But you will never really lose her because you let her in. You loved her. And we never really lose what we truly love." <3 ~Danny
"What doesn't kill you makes you stronger and wht does kill you makes you invincible." ~Five
January 21, 2013
*Do not read if you haven't read DARKRIDE yet, my review will contain spoilers for that book*
I just knew when I finished DARKRIDE nothing good is going to come out of Ander, Luke, and Cicely in a van...on a road trip together. Then add Emmie, Five, and D.J. and the odds were even worse. But thankfully the crew made it to their destination seeking an old friend from Michael's past; a friend that was only supposed to be used 'in case of emergency'. I think having killed the vampire queen and hunters on your tail...well that is a perfect example of an emergency. Don't you think?
The whole first half, maybe three-fourths of the book, I was absolutely hating on Ander. I don't know why I felt this way and I should have come to expect it. But even with knowing how head strong he was in DARKRIDE, I was hoping he would let down some of his walls. When in all actuality he had already began adding more in CROSSFIRE. I seriously wanted to slap him upside his wolfish head and try to knock some sense into him. And what is it about clueless guys in books? Ugh! Seriously was not caring for him much in this read. Well up until the end…then he came around.
But then there was Luke. Even when I was hating on Ander, I still didn't get that warm fuzzy feeling I had for him in DARKRIDE. I loved him yes, but didn't feel he was the one for Cicely. And maybe there was a reason for that? Hmmmm?? Moving on now. Cicely was a great character to read about as she was coming to terms with her new status as vampire...in the back of a van for goodness sakes! Then to be deposited in Maine at some unfamiliar location...dealing with everything vamps deal with. I am surprised the chick didn't lose it. But I still loved her none the less.
I am going to lay this out there...I loved CROSSFIRE way more than DARKRIDE. Not sure why that is but I think this one had more feeling and emotions embedded in to it. I also think, overall, it was the questions the whole storyline stirred up. ‘Does he love me? Do I have a right to care? Should I be with him instead? Who am I am anymore? Can I trust myself?’ And not just questions from Cicely…but Ander and Luke too. There was so much uncertainty among everyone that it kept the reader guessing the entire time.
Have a love for vampires, werewolves, and witches? Then this series is definitely for you. Fast paced and full of adventure you will never find a dull moment. Don’t forget to add in some romance and you have a book that will be hard to put down. Rede knows how to deliver a story anyone will love and her writing doesn't suck either. (That was a little vampire pun, but not sure I pulled it off.)So read CROSSFIRE today. And if you are one of those people that haven’t read DARKRIDE and didn’t yet continued to read my review even when I said not too….go get DARKRIDE today and you can thank me later.
I just knew when I finished DARKRIDE nothing good is going to come out of Ander, Luke, and Cicely in a van...on a road trip together. Then add Emmie, Five, and D.J. and the odds were even worse. But thankfully the crew made it to their destination seeking an old friend from Michael's past; a friend that was only supposed to be used 'in case of emergency'. I think having killed the vampire queen and hunters on your tail...well that is a perfect example of an emergency. Don't you think?
The whole first half, maybe three-fourths of the book, I was absolutely hating on Ander. I don't know why I felt this way and I should have come to expect it. But even with knowing how head strong he was in DARKRIDE, I was hoping he would let down some of his walls. When in all actuality he had already began adding more in CROSSFIRE. I seriously wanted to slap him upside his wolfish head and try to knock some sense into him. And what is it about clueless guys in books? Ugh! Seriously was not caring for him much in this read. Well up until the end…then he came around.
But then there was Luke. Even when I was hating on Ander, I still didn't get that warm fuzzy feeling I had for him in DARKRIDE. I loved him yes, but didn't feel he was the one for Cicely. And maybe there was a reason for that? Hmmmm?? Moving on now. Cicely was a great character to read about as she was coming to terms with her new status as vampire...in the back of a van for goodness sakes! Then to be deposited in Maine at some unfamiliar location...dealing with everything vamps deal with. I am surprised the chick didn't lose it. But I still loved her none the less.
I am going to lay this out there...I loved CROSSFIRE way more than DARKRIDE. Not sure why that is but I think this one had more feeling and emotions embedded in to it. I also think, overall, it was the questions the whole storyline stirred up. ‘Does he love me? Do I have a right to care? Should I be with him instead? Who am I am anymore? Can I trust myself?’ And not just questions from Cicely…but Ander and Luke too. There was so much uncertainty among everyone that it kept the reader guessing the entire time.
Have a love for vampires, werewolves, and witches? Then this series is definitely for you. Fast paced and full of adventure you will never find a dull moment. Don’t forget to add in some romance and you have a book that will be hard to put down. Rede knows how to deliver a story anyone will love and her writing doesn't suck either. (That was a little vampire pun, but not sure I pulled it off.)So read CROSSFIRE today. And if you are one of those people that haven’t read DARKRIDE and didn’t yet continued to read my review even when I said not too….go get DARKRIDE today and you can thank me later.
January 23, 2013
From my blog http://mysuperbookblog.wordpress.com/
Crossfire is the second book in the Darkride series and picks up right where book one left off.
Cicely is a new vampire, but she's different somehow. She may have lost her life, but she hasn't lost her soul. Other than being a vampire, she's the same girl she was before. This, of course, means she's still madly in love with Ander, a werewolf. Ander is also still in love with her and can control himself now, but unlike Cicely, he's unsure if it can actually work between the two of them given the situation. To make matters even more difficult, there's now Naomi, the witch. It's her doorstep the group lands on for help. She has this wonderful ability to charm animals and calm the werewolves. She and Ander are attracted to one another almost immediately.
Luke still hasn't given up on Cicely. He wants her to love him the way she loves Ander, but knows deep down that she never will. He has a choice to make. He can either continue to chase a girl who loves another and never fully heal from his broken heart or he can move on with Emmie. We met Emmie in the first book, but she has a much larger role in this one. Emmie is a thrall, sort of vampire food, and lives her life to please vampires. She appeared to be ditsy at first, but truthfully is a lot brighter than she was given credit for. She's wise, funny, loving, generous, strong, and would do anything for her friends or anyone else for that matter, without giving it a second thought. She was hands down, my favorite character in this book.
Throw in DJ, Ander's little brother/new werewolf/hunter and Five, a psychic and quite possibly the most unpleasant vampire ever, and things are certain to get exciting!
Unlike in the first book when I found myself pulling for Luke and Cicely, this book had me pulling for happy endings all around. This book had twists and turns I didn't expect at all. It had me curious and excited and anxious. With suspicious deaths and crazy families, it had a slight mystery to it that kept me turning the pages. Most importantly are the lessons learned. 1. No matter your differences, if you leave your prejudices aside, you can find great friends in unlikely places. 2. Fairy tales aren't always pretty and the big bad wolf isn't always the bad guy. Sometimes people are far more cruel. And 3. True love is worth it all.
Did I like the book? Yes
Did I love the book? Yes
Would I recommend the book? Yes
Overall Rating: Good
Favorite Quote: "But the easiest choice isn't always the right choice. In fact, in my life, they are almost never the same thing." Ander
Crossfire is the second book in the Darkride series and picks up right where book one left off.
Cicely is a new vampire, but she's different somehow. She may have lost her life, but she hasn't lost her soul. Other than being a vampire, she's the same girl she was before. This, of course, means she's still madly in love with Ander, a werewolf. Ander is also still in love with her and can control himself now, but unlike Cicely, he's unsure if it can actually work between the two of them given the situation. To make matters even more difficult, there's now Naomi, the witch. It's her doorstep the group lands on for help. She has this wonderful ability to charm animals and calm the werewolves. She and Ander are attracted to one another almost immediately.
Luke still hasn't given up on Cicely. He wants her to love him the way she loves Ander, but knows deep down that she never will. He has a choice to make. He can either continue to chase a girl who loves another and never fully heal from his broken heart or he can move on with Emmie. We met Emmie in the first book, but she has a much larger role in this one. Emmie is a thrall, sort of vampire food, and lives her life to please vampires. She appeared to be ditsy at first, but truthfully is a lot brighter than she was given credit for. She's wise, funny, loving, generous, strong, and would do anything for her friends or anyone else for that matter, without giving it a second thought. She was hands down, my favorite character in this book.
Throw in DJ, Ander's little brother/new werewolf/hunter and Five, a psychic and quite possibly the most unpleasant vampire ever, and things are certain to get exciting!
Unlike in the first book when I found myself pulling for Luke and Cicely, this book had me pulling for happy endings all around. This book had twists and turns I didn't expect at all. It had me curious and excited and anxious. With suspicious deaths and crazy families, it had a slight mystery to it that kept me turning the pages. Most importantly are the lessons learned. 1. No matter your differences, if you leave your prejudices aside, you can find great friends in unlikely places. 2. Fairy tales aren't always pretty and the big bad wolf isn't always the bad guy. Sometimes people are far more cruel. And 3. True love is worth it all.
Did I like the book? Yes
Did I love the book? Yes
Would I recommend the book? Yes
Overall Rating: Good
Favorite Quote: "But the easiest choice isn't always the right choice. In fact, in my life, they are almost never the same thing." Ander
January 20, 2013
Wow!! Where do I even begin for this review of Crossfire, the 2nd book in the Darkride Chronicles!! I have been absolutely obsessed with this series and so very invested in the characters and their individual stories. I loved that Crossfire delved into the individual story lines, but stayed true to the overall plot. I was unable to pry my eyes away from this book and was anxious in what in the world will happen next?????
The story continues where Darkride left off and we find Cicely, Ander, and Luke forging on in their fight against the vampire queen's loyal servants and the werewolves looking to avenge the death of their Alpha. I love how some of the low key characters from Darkride were included in Crossfire and were made to have very important roles! I was very happy to see everyone ultimately had a happy ending without the story being predictable and sappy. Yes, there were some characters that we hated to say good bye to, but sacrifices have to be made for good story lines. :) I found myself so deeply invested in each character and their own personal battle and hoping like crazy they each made it through the showdown of good vs. evil. Of course, the good were Cicely and the gang, and the evil was Ander's self righteous werewolf family. Ha!!
I can only hope that Laura Bradley Rede will bless us with a book 3 and let the journey for these characters continue!! I would love to see where the newly coupled characters' lives go with fast forwards into their futures. I was pleased that Emmie and Luke, Ander and Cicely, and possibly even Naomi found that true love can conquer all!! Great job once again Laura Bradley Rede!!!
The story continues where Darkride left off and we find Cicely, Ander, and Luke forging on in their fight against the vampire queen's loyal servants and the werewolves looking to avenge the death of their Alpha. I love how some of the low key characters from Darkride were included in Crossfire and were made to have very important roles! I was very happy to see everyone ultimately had a happy ending without the story being predictable and sappy. Yes, there were some characters that we hated to say good bye to, but sacrifices have to be made for good story lines. :) I found myself so deeply invested in each character and their own personal battle and hoping like crazy they each made it through the showdown of good vs. evil. Of course, the good were Cicely and the gang, and the evil was Ander's self righteous werewolf family. Ha!!
I can only hope that Laura Bradley Rede will bless us with a book 3 and let the journey for these characters continue!! I would love to see where the newly coupled characters' lives go with fast forwards into their futures. I was pleased that Emmie and Luke, Ander and Cicely, and possibly even Naomi found that true love can conquer all!! Great job once again Laura Bradley Rede!!!
January 21, 2013
The hardest thing for me when writing reviews is to keep it brief and not give away too much of the story as some books I can rave on for paragraphs and this is one of those books. I have always liked Cicely and her struggle with becoming a vampire was engaging and heartfelt at times as she tried to retain most of her humanity even though she now needed blood to survive. The love triangle plays itself out and at times Cicely is drawn to both men for different reasons yet her heart still yearns for Ander and what they had before.
It was such a roller coaster ride, some chapters I wanted to smack Ander on the head a few times till he came to his senses. My girlfriend is a vampire, I don't trust her now, Luke is my competition, blah blah blah, get over it already and make a choice. Luke was rock solid throughout this book, he impressed me with his quiet confidence and ability to do what was right for Cicely even if it meant he may lose her forever.
I loved Emmie, she was such a great character and reminded of those cheerleader types all perky and beautiful though her words sometimes had a snarky bite to them. She had a heart of gold and was loyal to a fault even when she was in dangerous territory she still came through for the group.
A fitting conclusion by the Author and all the loose threads are tied up pretty nicely in the end. I have really enjoyed reading her work and look forward to reading many more stories in the future. Maybe Naomi could have her own book about her life, now that would be worth reading.
It was such a roller coaster ride, some chapters I wanted to smack Ander on the head a few times till he came to his senses. My girlfriend is a vampire, I don't trust her now, Luke is my competition, blah blah blah, get over it already and make a choice. Luke was rock solid throughout this book, he impressed me with his quiet confidence and ability to do what was right for Cicely even if it meant he may lose her forever.
I loved Emmie, she was such a great character and reminded of those cheerleader types all perky and beautiful though her words sometimes had a snarky bite to them. She had a heart of gold and was loyal to a fault even when she was in dangerous territory she still came through for the group.
A fitting conclusion by the Author and all the loose threads are tied up pretty nicely in the end. I have really enjoyed reading her work and look forward to reading many more stories in the future. Maybe Naomi could have her own book about her life, now that would be worth reading.
March 10, 2013
Wow. I'm not sure I have the words. The ending was amazing - so much wisdom and emotion. No spoilers - I'll leave it at that. Actually this book kept me guessing all the way through. I'd think I knew what would happen next and I was always wrong. Reading it was a relief, like reconnecting with old friends. I'd missed the characters since finishing Darkride and hungered to bite into the next book (Ok bad pun but I couldn't resist).
It was also a more choppy experience on my end, which was my own fault. I gave in to temptation and started it on a Sunday, and I only had bits of time to read during the week. When book 3 comes out I'm going to try very hard to remember to start it on a Friday or Saturday so I can just read it straight through like I did with Darkride.
Other than Bram Stoker which I read years ago, I haven't read anything in this genre. So I'm a good measure of how well the author explains this world and how it works. I wonder sometimes what parts of the vocabulary and the lore are invented by her and how much are part of the genre in general but just new to me. But in any case, it all makes sense and I can follow things, so this is a great book to read even if you don't ever read monster tales.
If they were all this good I would start.
Way to go, Laura. VERY well done.
It was also a more choppy experience on my end, which was my own fault. I gave in to temptation and started it on a Sunday, and I only had bits of time to read during the week. When book 3 comes out I'm going to try very hard to remember to start it on a Friday or Saturday so I can just read it straight through like I did with Darkride.
Other than Bram Stoker which I read years ago, I haven't read anything in this genre. So I'm a good measure of how well the author explains this world and how it works. I wonder sometimes what parts of the vocabulary and the lore are invented by her and how much are part of the genre in general but just new to me. But in any case, it all makes sense and I can follow things, so this is a great book to read even if you don't ever read monster tales.
If they were all this good I would start.
Way to go, Laura. VERY well done.
January 19, 2013
I really enjoyed this book. I only read a small amount of paranormal books but I was gifted Darkride a while back and quickly ate it up. I was so sad when I got to the end and had to wait not-so-patiently for this book to come out. I have had it on my kindle just teasing me for 2 days. I was only able to take peeks until finaly being able to read it in one sitting tonight. (Thank you to my understanding husband who leaves me ALONE so I can read!) I like this book even more then the first one! The first 20% had me a little pissy because I wasn't sure if it was going to go where I wanted it to go. By 50% I knew I wasn't putting it down until I was finished, and when I hit the 73% mark I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see how this was going to play out. I wasn't dissapointed :) and you won't be either so quit reading this review and buy the dang book already.
Now I am hoping Naomi gets her own story!!
Now I am hoping Naomi gets her own story!!
January 3, 2014
Love these books! Crossfire was even better than Darkride and thats not always true with a sequel. And I honestly didn't know if I wanted to be on Team Cicely after that crazy ending in Darkride, but I came back (morbid curiosity?) and I'm glad I did. Cicely is just as likable and "human" as she was in Darkride. I really enjoy that the characters and plot twists are complicated and subtle and messy like real life is. Its not the predictable and superficial blah that you would expect from this genre (no offense this genre!). I can't tell if the story line/series is all wrapped up, but I hope there's more! Great characters, gripping story.
May 22, 2013
I was annoyed and then I loved it. then people were flirting and I was confused. then annoyed, yelling in my head at characters in this book. things like; what the hell, are you serious, for Pete's sake and I don't even know Pete. I figure if the book conjures that much angst out of me then it must be doing something right. The ending made me satisfied even though it didn't turn out how I had hoped or more precisely with whom I had hoped. overall I enjoyed this book.
June 10, 2014
Fantastically exciting, action-packed conclusion to this series! The writing is flawless, but more than that, the plot is fast-paced and exciting with twists and turns that you just don't see coming! Just an enjoyable read! Best paranormal I've read in a while.
Again, like the first book, the author throws in an occasional f-word (along with a couple of other swear words), and other than that it's clean.
But I'm sold on this author! She's got what it takes!
Again, like the first book, the author throws in an occasional f-word (along with a couple of other swear words), and other than that it's clean.
But I'm sold on this author! She's got what it takes!
April 5, 2013
Cute, sometimes corny YA supernatural romance revolving around a romance between a human girl turned vampire and werewolf. The characters are endearing and well developed. The plot is interesting and makes you want to stay up all night. I recommend the book to anyone who wants a light, brain-candy YA romance.
April 12, 2017
Mesmorizing
I chose five stars because I couldn't put it down. The characters were all well developed and I felt like I knew each of them. I was truly surprised at the out come of how how the couples aligned at the end. No spoiler alert here! But definitely read book one first.
I chose five stars because I couldn't put it down. The characters were all well developed and I felt like I knew each of them. I was truly surprised at the out come of how how the couples aligned at the end. No spoiler alert here! But definitely read book one first.
February 8, 2013
I am speechless. This series has found it's self a special place in my heart. Such incredible writing. You love the characters, you hate them, you want to hug them and scream at them all at the same time. I will be re-reading these amazing books for years to come.
April 3, 2013
I really enjoyed this read and as I am posting this I realize that I started with the second book.
I must get the first in the series and start again!
This is not a stand alone, I did feel lost to the back story but I really enjoyed it.
All my favorite Para's working and bonding together.
I must get the first in the series and start again!
This is not a stand alone, I did feel lost to the back story but I really enjoyed it.
All my favorite Para's working and bonding together.
July 31, 2013
First off I'd like to say I'm glad it is only a 2 book series. I loved how the characters played off each other and that none were afraid to show fear, hurt or rejection. I only wish I knew how the vampire princess worked out. It kinda left you to assume.
January 25, 2013
LOOOOOOOVED IT!! Finished about 2 minutes ago. Review to follow.
January 25, 2013
I really enjoyed Crossfire. I felt the pace was much faster. However, I really felt like slapping some sense into Ander sometimes. In the end it all came together nicely.
February 25, 2013
Ok, that was just fantastic!
September 28, 2013
tired up all loose ends.didn't leave any loose ends.liked it.
March 4, 2022
I really wish that this book series could continue and she will be crowned princess of vampires
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