What do you think?
Rate this book
The Legends of Regia #1
Forbidden Forest
Born in shame. Cast from society. Shape Shifter/Elf hybrid, Forest must fight for any respect she can get. Targeted in her youth by a vampire noble who placed an illegal slave mark on her, she is forced to obey him, no matter what.
Slipping the grip of her master and abandoning the prejudice of Regia, her native world, Forest takes a job on Earth, guarding the portal, using her skills as a warrior to enforce Regia's laws. Now, called home for a black ops mission, Forest must put aside her own prejudice to transport the vampire prince, Syrus, through enemy territory in a time of war.
Prince Syrus, mage and master of the Blood Kata, wants Forest more than he's ever wanted anything. In spite of their mutual mistrust, their attraction cannot be denied. Through the danger of their mission, and the secrets they both keep, it doesn't matter what they feel. Forest is forbidden.
Slipping the grip of her master and abandoning the prejudice of Regia, her native world, Forest takes a job on Earth, guarding the portal, using her skills as a warrior to enforce Regia's laws. Now, called home for a black ops mission, Forest must put aside her own prejudice to transport the vampire prince, Syrus, through enemy territory in a time of war.
Prince Syrus, mage and master of the Blood Kata, wants Forest more than he's ever wanted anything. In spite of their mutual mistrust, their attraction cannot be denied. Through the danger of their mission, and the secrets they both keep, it doesn't matter what they feel. Forest is forbidden.
Nook
First published September 29, 2012
800 people are currently reading
6084 people want to read
About the author
Tenaya Jayne
17 books697 followersReading my bio, huh?
Real life sucks. I bet you feel like that sometimes, maybe even right now. That’s why I write fantasy. I need to escape depression, bitterness, bills, illness…I could go on, but you get it. In the pages of fiction, I can slay the dragons, triumph over the bad guys, be immortal, and never struggle with love handles. For a short time, I can let it all go, and be everything I can’t be in real life. Maybe you’re hurting right now. Maybe you’re in the waiting room of the hospital, or just stuck in traffic. I’ve brought a portal. Come with me…Let’s ditch this crappy popsicle stand and go somewhere great, where we can forget all this, at least for a while.
That’s why I write. I’m not an author, I’m an escape artist.
If you want to come play with me, visit www.tenayajayne.com
Real life sucks. I bet you feel like that sometimes, maybe even right now. That’s why I write fantasy. I need to escape depression, bitterness, bills, illness…I could go on, but you get it. In the pages of fiction, I can slay the dragons, triumph over the bad guys, be immortal, and never struggle with love handles. For a short time, I can let it all go, and be everything I can’t be in real life. Maybe you’re hurting right now. Maybe you’re in the waiting room of the hospital, or just stuck in traffic. I’ve brought a portal. Come with me…Let’s ditch this crappy popsicle stand and go somewhere great, where we can forget all this, at least for a while.
That’s why I write. I’m not an author, I’m an escape artist.
If you want to come play with me, visit www.tenayajayne.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 369 reviews
April 25, 2015
I am a HUGE fan of the Legends of Regia. It truly has the potential to be an amazing Epic Fantasy series, and I certainly hope that Tenaya Jayne continues working on it.
In the world of Regia, Earth is only accessible through portals guarded by elite operatives of Fortress. One such portal is located in Austin, Texas as is guarded by Forest, a half-breed Elf/Shifter Hybrid. She is a fantastically badass female character, and had me from the very start. Despite her well-known hatred of Vampires, she is drafted by Fortress for a Secret Mission - escort the Vampire Prince into Enemy Territory.
A ton of adventure, action, espionage, mystery, suspense, and romance... This book has it all. I can't say enough about how happy I am to have stumbled across it, and I recommend it highly.
This is definitely one of those books I wish more people knew about...
Oh, and by the way... This book is FREE on iTunes, so really there's no excuse not to pick it up, I promise you won't be disappointed.
UPDATE OCTOBER 5, 2013
So I finally downloaded Forest Fire, read the first few chapters and realized that in the Legends of Regia series, Tenaya Jayne has created a world so detailed and full of complex character relationships that I needed to re-read Forbidden Forest just to get my bearings. Its been two months and forty books since I read Forbidden Forest the first time, and I definitely needed a refresher. It wasn't much of a hardship to re-read this book, I do enjoy this world. :)
December 16, 2015
Wow! Where do I start, this book is probably the best book I have ever read, Yeah it was that good! Luckily I stumbled across this on goodreads, and when I read the description I thought, Ah, it sounds okay maybe I'll check it out, I am SO HAPPY THAT I DID!
This book revolves around a halfling named Forest and in her world of Regia she is considered the scum off Regia because she's a half Elf and half Shape-shifter. But really it gives her advantages that no other Supernatural being has because she has both Elf powers and Shape-shifter powers. But by a lucky chance and how skillful Forest is with Fighting and with her advantage with different powers she is granted a job within Fortress the law of Regia and she is to guard the portal between Earth and Regia. That is until she is offered a mission that will change her life.
When Forest was a child she was marked with an illegal Slave mark and a Lovers mark by a Vampire named Leith. And with them marks Leith is able to control her. But as time passes the control gets weaker and weaker to were Forest has gained some control over herself, but not much. But Forest will never belong to anyone other then Leith, she doesn't even belong to herself.
So Forest accepts the mission to take a Blind Vampire Prince named Syrus to see a wizard to restore his vision. But it's not that simple. There is war brewing within Regia, and the Werewolves are against the Vampire's and the route that Forest and Syrus must take is through the werewolf territory. So making it to the wizard is not that easy. We also have the desirable connection that Forest and Syrus can not deny. But how could Forest ever belong to Syrus when Forest doesn't even belong to herself. Forest is Forbidden!
Oh this book had me tingling inside, I was reading so fast I had to re-read some parts of it because I couldn't wait to see what was going to happen next. This book is a MUST READ for ANYONE who is into Paranormal, Young Adult and Romance books Should definitely LOVE this book!
This book revolves around a halfling named Forest and in her world of Regia she is considered the scum off Regia because she's a half Elf and half Shape-shifter. But really it gives her advantages that no other Supernatural being has because she has both Elf powers and Shape-shifter powers. But by a lucky chance and how skillful Forest is with Fighting and with her advantage with different powers she is granted a job within Fortress the law of Regia and she is to guard the portal between Earth and Regia. That is until she is offered a mission that will change her life.
When Forest was a child she was marked with an illegal Slave mark and a Lovers mark by a Vampire named Leith. And with them marks Leith is able to control her. But as time passes the control gets weaker and weaker to were Forest has gained some control over herself, but not much. But Forest will never belong to anyone other then Leith, she doesn't even belong to herself.
So Forest accepts the mission to take a Blind Vampire Prince named Syrus to see a wizard to restore his vision. But it's not that simple. There is war brewing within Regia, and the Werewolves are against the Vampire's and the route that Forest and Syrus must take is through the werewolf territory. So making it to the wizard is not that easy. We also have the desirable connection that Forest and Syrus can not deny. But how could Forest ever belong to Syrus when Forest doesn't even belong to herself. Forest is Forbidden!
Oh this book had me tingling inside, I was reading so fast I had to re-read some parts of it because I couldn't wait to see what was going to happen next. This book is a MUST READ for ANYONE who is into Paranormal, Young Adult and Romance books Should definitely LOVE this book!
June 12, 2014
3.5 stars
When I started this book I was like 'Okay sure, not bad, mmhmm' Lots of bickering between the two mains, but I thought it was cute. And then ALL OF A SUDDEN there was INSTALOVE .
It was so strange because at this point they've already been with each other for a while and there was no build up to it, Syrus literally went from dislike to being in love with her. I usually don't have a problem with instalove but the description for this one was a little on the creepy side -cringing-
That, however, was the only thing that really bothered me.
This would have been a lot better if there was more depth to it and I'm not talking about the back story or the world building because those were pretty solid. I'm talking about that something that holds your emotions and gets readers hooked, without it, a nicely written book can become categorized as 'okay' or an 'easy read'.
I thought they were both cute, especially Syrus, at times he was so adorable, like a little child. :3
I kept wondering how old these two were when they were doing silly things but I must have either missed the age or it wasn't mentioned in the book at all.
When I started this book I was like 'Okay sure, not bad, mmhmm' Lots of bickering between the two mains, but I thought it was cute. And then ALL OF A SUDDEN there was INSTALOVE .
It was so strange because at this point they've already been with each other for a while and there was no build up to it, Syrus literally went from dislike to being in love with her. I usually don't have a problem with instalove but the description for this one was a little on the creepy side -cringing-
That, however, was the only thing that really bothered me.
This would have been a lot better if there was more depth to it and I'm not talking about the back story or the world building because those were pretty solid. I'm talking about that something that holds your emotions and gets readers hooked, without it, a nicely written book can become categorized as 'okay' or an 'easy read'.
I thought they were both cute, especially Syrus, at times he was so adorable, like a little child. :3
I kept wondering how old these two were when they were doing silly things but I must have either missed the age or it wasn't mentioned in the book at all.
March 28, 2016
*bites back a curse-filled rant* Don't talk to me about this book. Ever.
September 19, 2013
Let me start off by saying that I got this ebook free for the nook so I knew to keep my expectations low. However, after reading the summary and then seeing all the good reviews here and on B&N, I started getting my hopes up. For no good reason. Because this was such a disappointment. The main character is in desperate need of some anger management. Seriously. She blows her top over the smallest things. I guess they don't have chill pills in Regia. I got just a little less than halfway in before I could handle no more. Which is a shame because the plot is actually quite interesting and fairly original. I just really couldn't deal with the characters (mainly the heroine but the others aren't all that much better).
September 11, 2013
Wow! Where do I start, this book is probably the best book I have ever read, Yeah it was that good! Luckily I stumbled across this on goodreads, and when I read the description I thought, Ah, it sounds okay maybe I'll check it out, I am SO HAPPY THAT I DID!
This book revolves around a halfling named Forest and in her world of Regia she is considered the scum off Regia because she's a half Elf and half Shape-shifter. But really it gives her advantages that no other Supernatural being has because she has both Elf powers and Shape-shifter powers. But by a lucky chance and how skillful Forest is with Fighting and with her advantage with different powers she is granted a job within Fortress the law of Regia and she is to guard the portal between Earth and Regia. That is until she is offered a mission that will change her life.
When Forest was a child she was marked with an illegal Slave mark and a Lovers mark by a Vampire named Leith. And with them marks Leith is able to control her. But as time passes the control gets weaker and weaker to were Forest has gained some control over herself, but not much. But Forest will never belong to anyone other then Leith, she doesn't even belong to herself.
So Forest excepts the mission to take a Blind Vampire Prince named Syrus to see a wizard to restore his vision. But it's not that simple. There is war brewing within Regia, and the Werewolves are against the Vampire's and the route that Forest and Syrus must take is through the werewolf territory. So making it to the wizard is not that easy. We also have that desirable connection that Forest and Syrus can not deny. But how could Forest ever belong to Syrus when Forest doesn't even belong to herself. Forest is Forbidden!
Oh this book had me tingling inside, I was reading so fast I had to re-read some parts of it because I couldn't wait to see what was going to happen next. This book is a MUST READ for ANYONE who is into Paranormal, Young Adult and Romance books Should definitely LOVE this book!
This book revolves around a halfling named Forest and in her world of Regia she is considered the scum off Regia because she's a half Elf and half Shape-shifter. But really it gives her advantages that no other Supernatural being has because she has both Elf powers and Shape-shifter powers. But by a lucky chance and how skillful Forest is with Fighting and with her advantage with different powers she is granted a job within Fortress the law of Regia and she is to guard the portal between Earth and Regia. That is until she is offered a mission that will change her life.
When Forest was a child she was marked with an illegal Slave mark and a Lovers mark by a Vampire named Leith. And with them marks Leith is able to control her. But as time passes the control gets weaker and weaker to were Forest has gained some control over herself, but not much. But Forest will never belong to anyone other then Leith, she doesn't even belong to herself.
So Forest excepts the mission to take a Blind Vampire Prince named Syrus to see a wizard to restore his vision. But it's not that simple. There is war brewing within Regia, and the Werewolves are against the Vampire's and the route that Forest and Syrus must take is through the werewolf territory. So making it to the wizard is not that easy. We also have that desirable connection that Forest and Syrus can not deny. But how could Forest ever belong to Syrus when Forest doesn't even belong to herself. Forest is Forbidden!
Oh this book had me tingling inside, I was reading so fast I had to re-read some parts of it because I couldn't wait to see what was going to happen next. This book is a MUST READ for ANYONE who is into Paranormal, Young Adult and Romance books Should definitely LOVE this book!
June 25, 2019
The version I bought on kindle is very poorly edited but the story is quite captivating if perhaps a bit predictable. Nevertheless, it was very enjoyable and I’m quite curious to know how will all the main characters fare in future books, so a 4 seems a good rating, let’s see how well the others will score.
April 13, 2020
Good fantasy with mages, werewolves, vampires and elves, and they are all bad. The h is half-ling, enslaved by evil OM, she's resourceful but her mad skills aren't enough to free the H from danger. He's an interesting character, an over indulged son of a king, he learns a lot from the h. I liked the fantasy but not sure I liked enough to continue. I found both of them potentially powerful but they were too easily taken. Too many teases, it didn't satisfy me.
January 30, 2013
Let me start by saying that I was surprised by how wonderful this book was. The back blurb doesn't do it justice! I am going to be spending several sad months waiting for Book 2 to come out :( I only wish I could give it more than 5 stars!
Forbidden Forest begins on Earth where Forest (Shape Shifter/Elf halfling) is guarding a portal from Regia making sure only those allowed pass thru. Fairly quickly we are introduced to the reason Forest loathes vampires - Leith, a vampire noble who placed a slave mark on her- forcing her to obey him. There isn't a ton of back story on Leith & Forest initially and I felt a tad bit lost. This was cleared up more over time, but I fumbled a little initially.
Once Forest was called back to her native world (Regia) for a mission, I fell deeply into the story. Forest is tasked with escorting the blind vampire prince , Syrus, to a wizard who can restore his sight. Despite her animosity towards all vampires, Forest finds herself pulled by a deep attraction to Syrus. Syrus is intrigued and frustrated that he cannot see her face and does not understand her anger towards his race. They must travel together , while each keeping their own secrets and try to get thru it all alive. With Ogres, Vampires, Shape Shifters, Elves and Werewolves all ready to start war, Regia is a hostile environment. Despite it all, Forest and Syrus seem to keep forgetting that they are in a war zone and are involved with only each other. I absolutely loved the bantering between the two of them! Forbidden Forest is definitely fast paced with some twists and turns to keep you hopping. Just when you think you know the ending, it's continued into book 2 (not out until Summer 2013 -- *crying*).
Tenaya did a wonderful job not only with developing great characters that you fall in love with, but with describing Regia in such a way that I could see it easily in my mind. I am more than a bit distraught that I have to wait MONTHS until I can find out what happens..
*Disclaimer- I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for a honest interview.
Forbidden Forest begins on Earth where Forest (Shape Shifter/Elf halfling) is guarding a portal from Regia making sure only those allowed pass thru. Fairly quickly we are introduced to the reason Forest loathes vampires - Leith, a vampire noble who placed a slave mark on her- forcing her to obey him. There isn't a ton of back story on Leith & Forest initially and I felt a tad bit lost. This was cleared up more over time, but I fumbled a little initially.
Once Forest was called back to her native world (Regia) for a mission, I fell deeply into the story. Forest is tasked with escorting the blind vampire prince , Syrus, to a wizard who can restore his sight. Despite her animosity towards all vampires, Forest finds herself pulled by a deep attraction to Syrus. Syrus is intrigued and frustrated that he cannot see her face and does not understand her anger towards his race. They must travel together , while each keeping their own secrets and try to get thru it all alive. With Ogres, Vampires, Shape Shifters, Elves and Werewolves all ready to start war, Regia is a hostile environment. Despite it all, Forest and Syrus seem to keep forgetting that they are in a war zone and are involved with only each other. I absolutely loved the bantering between the two of them! Forbidden Forest is definitely fast paced with some twists and turns to keep you hopping. Just when you think you know the ending, it's continued into book 2 (not out until Summer 2013 -- *crying*).
Tenaya did a wonderful job not only with developing great characters that you fall in love with, but with describing Regia in such a way that I could see it easily in my mind. I am more than a bit distraught that I have to wait MONTHS until I can find out what happens..
*Disclaimer- I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for a honest interview.
July 24, 2013
I've finished this series already so at this point, I have a hard time differentiating what I liked about the first vs second book.
I totally love these characters. Forest is super badass, but with a really nice balance of weaknesses that makes her very believable and complete. Same for Syrus. They're each intriguing individuals and together, they've got a great tension.
The plot and world building are also well done. World building fits its way in pretty seamlessly and I found the plot progression very believable within its context.
Great adventure.
Grr on the TBC style ending, but whatever.
Oh and, to me, the cover implies a higher level of trashiness than is found here. Because of the cover art, I was actually surprised at how good this book was. I totally thought I was taking a chance on it and that it'd probably suck. I only picked it up because the description sounded like it had real potential. So glad I did.
This one's going on my favorites shelf. Very high Re-read potential.
I totally love these characters. Forest is super badass, but with a really nice balance of weaknesses that makes her very believable and complete. Same for Syrus. They're each intriguing individuals and together, they've got a great tension.
The plot and world building are also well done. World building fits its way in pretty seamlessly and I found the plot progression very believable within its context.
Great adventure.
Grr on the TBC style ending, but whatever.
Oh and, to me, the cover implies a higher level of trashiness than is found here. Because of the cover art, I was actually surprised at how good this book was. I totally thought I was taking a chance on it and that it'd probably suck. I only picked it up because the description sounded like it had real potential. So glad I did.
This one's going on my favorites shelf. Very high Re-read potential.
July 14, 2018
*Van de auteur heb ik een gratis exemplaar mogen ontvangen in ruil voor mijn eerlijke mening.*
Forbidden Forest is een goed geschreven boek dat gaat over twee geweldige personages. Personages die al het nodige hebben meegemaakt, maar desondanks blijven stralen. Hun verhaal zit vol spanning en avontuur, maar wees gewaarschuwd. Haal het volgende boek vast in huis, want niet kunnen doorlezen na DIE cliffhanger is een marteling, vertel ik je, een MARTELING!
Ga voor een uitgebreidere recensie naar mijn website!
Forbidden Forest is een goed geschreven boek dat gaat over twee geweldige personages. Personages die al het nodige hebben meegemaakt, maar desondanks blijven stralen. Hun verhaal zit vol spanning en avontuur, maar wees gewaarschuwd. Haal het volgende boek vast in huis, want niet kunnen doorlezen na DIE cliffhanger is een marteling, vertel ik je, een MARTELING!
Ga voor een uitgebreidere recensie naar mijn website!
July 15, 2013
I absolutely loved this book. It was a cross between fantasy and paranormal romance. The heroine has a intense dislike for vampires. An evil vampire put a slave and love mark on her so she is eternally tied to him. She is an agent for a world police agency. Her new assignment is to transport a vampire prince to his destination. The vampire prince she is helping is the cousin of the evil vampire who enslaved her. He is also her life mate. So, this sets up a lot of drama between the two. The book ends in a cliffhanger. I would compare it to the Captured Series by Erica Stevens. It was that good. So, I can't wait to read the sequel.
January 22, 2019
2.5 stars, Dnf at 5%. When am I going to learn to read the samples before buying? I just really struggled to get into this. The prologue was weird. It was in second person and didn't seem to serve an actual purpose. The second person narration stopped in the first chapter, but the author couldn't seem to decide whether she wanted to use limited or omniscient narration, so it had a few odd inconsistencies. The narration had a sort of distance between it and the reader, so I couldn't really engage in the story. I think the problem was that this book was heavy on the telling instead of the showing. Also, there's a scene of self-inflicted cutting, so be wary if that triggers you.
August 23, 2022
Finished Reading July 28, 2013
2.75 stars
Fantasy
There were things I liked but I ended up disappointed.
NO SEXY TIMES. And boy did this need some good sex scenes.
Ends on a cliffhanger and is yet another series I will NOT be continuing.
Prch Amz July 21, 2013
2.75 stars
Fantasy
There were things I liked but I ended up disappointed.
NO SEXY TIMES. And boy did this need some good sex scenes.
Ends on a cliffhanger and is yet another series I will NOT be continuing.
Prch Amz July 21, 2013
May 7, 2018
May 2018
3 Stars - I liked it
Audiobook
When I first started this book, I was feeling pleasantly surprised. It was really pulling me in. As we were getting to know the characters I found I liked them and was interested to learn more. I could tell this was going to be a romance but I believed there would be a solid fantasy storyline along with it.
After a while, I became a little disappointed. There was too much focus on the couple and not enough on the overarching plot. The couple had a journey to take together and most of that time was them pushing back and forth on their feelings for each other. During this journey they did get to know each other but they were also keeping secrets as well. I was really annoyed by the h because she just wouldn't share what happened to her with the H even though he was someone who could possibly know how to help her. They'd kiss and she'd push him away. They'd talk some more, get mad at each other, kiss again, she'd push away again. And so it went.
At the beginning of the story I thought these two might encounter some major complications along the way, but that never really happened. There were a couple of situations but they resolved quickly and fairly easily. And then at last, toward the end, these two finally start getting their relationship figured out and then bam! Cliffy ending.
Overall, I mostly liked this but it was written in a very simplistic way. Not a lot of depth and development to the story or the characters or the relationship. There were things I really liked and things that annoyed me. As of right now, I don't think I'm going to continue the series because I don't feel that invested. But, I never say never.
Safety Details:
Cheating:
OW/OM:
Sexy Times:
Sex Detail:
Separation:
Push/Pull:
Sexual Past:
Triggers:
Profanity:
April 4, 2014
This was quite an interessting plot with many unique ideas. I truly liked it. The thought of werewolves, vampires, shape shifters and elves all living in another world under one ruler was new to me. I really liked it.
he journey of Syrus and Forest, although not always truly exciting, kept me reading wanting to know how it ends.
The idea of a vampire being able to take control over the person he bites/marks had me intrigued. It was refreshing to read about it from that point of view.
However, there were a few negative factors I want to point out.
First of all, Syrus was too inconsistent for me. He is supposed to be this proud warrior who mastered the highest level of Blood Katan. He also is a mage. He is completely blind but manages to follow Forest through woods he has never been to! But he talks like a hormonal teenager at times! When he should cut his hair he only whines. I was reminded of Jackie Chan in one of his movies where he was a guard to the emperor of CHina. There he had long hair and it was an honour, a sign of loyalty, rank and pride - cutting it off meant he could never go back. I wanted Syrus to stand up for that but he only whined about how others would make fun of him if he cut it off.
Also his language was too human for a vampire who supposedly knew next to nothing of earth. It didn't match.
Forest as well. I somehow felt there was too much left out of her history. So apparently she was the lowest of the low for being a Halfling - so far so good. But did she ever get treated badly because of it? (Forgetting Leith of course) felt like I just had to construct my own story about what happened. Her language also disappointed me at times. She did spend a lot of time on earth so it was more forgiveable but again, for someone who claims to be such a proud warrior her language and behaviour at times was just that of a whining teenager.
I also have to say that the ending of this book left me a little disappointed. First of all I felt that Syrus regaining his vision would have been necessary for him to reach the next level. I wanted him to become the fierce warrior again - though he did fight well while blind, I felt like the story needed it.
Also it was too abrupt an ending - Janye sometimes spent so much time writing about Forest's breath or her collection of earthly supplies but in the end within very few pages Forest is kidnapped, brought to Syrus' mother who knows what's going on and banished to earth - boom, finished. It left me underwhelmed after so much time building up the story.
As a sidenote; there were too many pop culture references. The angry birds game, the flash, fruit loops, the spider man backpack and worst of all the Team Jakob sweater - that really was a way to get me angry and annoyed.
he journey of Syrus and Forest, although not always truly exciting, kept me reading wanting to know how it ends.
The idea of a vampire being able to take control over the person he bites/marks had me intrigued. It was refreshing to read about it from that point of view.
However, there were a few negative factors I want to point out.
First of all, Syrus was too inconsistent for me. He is supposed to be this proud warrior who mastered the highest level of Blood Katan. He also is a mage. He is completely blind but manages to follow Forest through woods he has never been to! But he talks like a hormonal teenager at times! When he should cut his hair he only whines. I was reminded of Jackie Chan in one of his movies where he was a guard to the emperor of CHina. There he had long hair and it was an honour, a sign of loyalty, rank and pride - cutting it off meant he could never go back. I wanted Syrus to stand up for that but he only whined about how others would make fun of him if he cut it off.
Also his language was too human for a vampire who supposedly knew next to nothing of earth. It didn't match.
Forest as well. I somehow felt there was too much left out of her history. So apparently she was the lowest of the low for being a Halfling - so far so good. But did she ever get treated badly because of it? (Forgetting Leith of course) felt like I just had to construct my own story about what happened. Her language also disappointed me at times. She did spend a lot of time on earth so it was more forgiveable but again, for someone who claims to be such a proud warrior her language and behaviour at times was just that of a whining teenager.
I also have to say that the ending of this book left me a little disappointed. First of all I felt that Syrus regaining his vision would have been necessary for him to reach the next level. I wanted him to become the fierce warrior again - though he did fight well while blind, I felt like the story needed it.
Also it was too abrupt an ending - Janye sometimes spent so much time writing about Forest's breath or her collection of earthly supplies but in the end within very few pages Forest is kidnapped, brought to Syrus' mother who knows what's going on and banished to earth - boom, finished. It left me underwhelmed after so much time building up the story.
As a sidenote; there were too many pop culture references. The angry birds game, the flash, fruit loops, the spider man backpack and worst of all the Team Jakob sweater - that really was a way to get me angry and annoyed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 2, 2013
This book takes you on a journey of passion, pain and the quest for power. The story follows Forest, a Shape Shifter/Elf hybrid who is an outcast of society as mixing between factions (Vampires, Elves, Shape Shifters and Werewolves) is taboo. Forest works as a portal patroller keeping supernatural creatures that aren’t authorized to visit Earth out. She especially loves kicking out scum suckers, who she has a personal vendetta against after being marked by a vampire so he can have complete dominance and control over her.
Due to her special set of skills, Forest is assigned a secret mission to escort the presumed to be dead, Vampire Prince Syrus across Regia safely as the realm is on the verge of war. This odd duo of a volatile hybrid and charming ladies’ man make for an entertaining pair especially when they discover a strange attraction for each other. Their love is forbidden and as the journey progresses, the forbidden temptations and desires become undeniable.
Forest is a rough character and a loner around the edges, but is someone you can’t help but cheer on and wish happiness for. She reminded me of Lisbeth Salander in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Tenaya Jayne doesn’t go too in-depth with the intimate details of Forest’s devastating encounter with the vampire who marked her, but gives the reader enough information to figure out what caused her to be so guarded and damaged.
I found the book’s concept of mating fascinating. As a shifter only Forest’s destined mate can see her true appearance, no matter how she shifts. You fully bond with your mate upon making eye contact.
This is the third book I have read where the heroine’s love interest is blind. It makes Syrus more vulnerable in some aspects and more realistic in an unrealistic, fantasy world. I adore Syrus’ ability to smell her tears when she is crying and sense other things about Forest’s demeanor.
The scenes at Forest’s house were my favorite. My emotions were swirling – my stomach would clench in anticipation during the heated scenes and then I would catch myself laughing out loud at the comical banter between Syrus and Forest.
I found this book on Amazon for free and purchased it based on the memorizing cover and alluring synopsis. Forbidden Forest grabbed me and kept me wanting more. I will definitely be checking out the sequel, Forest Fire.
Due to her special set of skills, Forest is assigned a secret mission to escort the presumed to be dead, Vampire Prince Syrus across Regia safely as the realm is on the verge of war. This odd duo of a volatile hybrid and charming ladies’ man make for an entertaining pair especially when they discover a strange attraction for each other. Their love is forbidden and as the journey progresses, the forbidden temptations and desires become undeniable.
Forest is a rough character and a loner around the edges, but is someone you can’t help but cheer on and wish happiness for. She reminded me of Lisbeth Salander in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Tenaya Jayne doesn’t go too in-depth with the intimate details of Forest’s devastating encounter with the vampire who marked her, but gives the reader enough information to figure out what caused her to be so guarded and damaged.
I found the book’s concept of mating fascinating. As a shifter only Forest’s destined mate can see her true appearance, no matter how she shifts. You fully bond with your mate upon making eye contact.
This is the third book I have read where the heroine’s love interest is blind. It makes Syrus more vulnerable in some aspects and more realistic in an unrealistic, fantasy world. I adore Syrus’ ability to smell her tears when she is crying and sense other things about Forest’s demeanor.
The scenes at Forest’s house were my favorite. My emotions were swirling – my stomach would clench in anticipation during the heated scenes and then I would catch myself laughing out loud at the comical banter between Syrus and Forest.
I found this book on Amazon for free and purchased it based on the memorizing cover and alluring synopsis. Forbidden Forest grabbed me and kept me wanting more. I will definitely be checking out the sequel, Forest Fire.
August 31, 2018
Enjoyed the fantasy elements, disliked pretty much everything else.
March 18, 2016
This book was a cute YA paranormal romance.
I loved Forest and her witty gritty personality. She certainly kicks some butt and makes loving her a wee bit difficult.
Syrus is great. Attractive and calm and the antithesis of Forest's mean temper. I did have a hard time with his childlike wonder that surrounds him for most of the book - kinda contradictory. He is strong, attractive, cocky, a fierce warrior, and able to withstand Forest's "charm" but cereal makes him act like a 5 year old? Id rather that whole childishness be left out entirely.
This story did make absorbing the "fantastical" world pretty simple - there isn't much of a learning curve ad it was refreshing to have a heroine who already knows everything about the mythical world as opposed to a human thrust in the thick of it.
I did enjoy reading it - although it was pretty quick - and look forward to book two. Especially with how the book ends...
Book type: YA Paranormal Romance
Book rating: 3/5
Read time: 3 hours
For more reviews check out my blog: www.booksandchai.com
With love, parchment, and freshly mowed grass,
Kendall
I loved Forest and her witty gritty personality. She certainly kicks some butt and makes loving her a wee bit difficult.
Syrus is great. Attractive and calm and the antithesis of Forest's mean temper. I did have a hard time with his childlike wonder that surrounds him for most of the book - kinda contradictory. He is strong, attractive, cocky, a fierce warrior, and able to withstand Forest's "charm" but cereal makes him act like a 5 year old? Id rather that whole childishness be left out entirely.
This story did make absorbing the "fantastical" world pretty simple - there isn't much of a learning curve ad it was refreshing to have a heroine who already knows everything about the mythical world as opposed to a human thrust in the thick of it.
I did enjoy reading it - although it was pretty quick - and look forward to book two. Especially with how the book ends...
Book type: YA Paranormal Romance
Book rating: 3/5
Read time: 3 hours
For more reviews check out my blog: www.booksandchai.com
With love, parchment, and freshly mowed grass,
Kendall
April 2, 2018
Rating: 1 star (barely)
Unfortunately, not for me. I felt the story had potential but the execution was not quite right. The romance was very week and at points in the story I wasn't sure if Forest and Syrus were 12 or 20 years old. In my honest opinion I was little irritated before I started reading this book because I couldn't tell if it was YA or New Adult. Just so you know this is definitely YA, in my opinion this probably would have been a better story if the author would have just made the leap completely to NA since it seemed, to me at least, to be marketed that way to readers anyways. The descriptions (or lack there of) of some of the characters became frustrating and hindered my enjoyment of the story. We got absolutely bare minimum description of Forests's past and home life, and most of it came at the very last 70% of the book. I could almost get on board with the insta-love if I had a little more insight to what the mating bond entailed and how it worked, I felt the idea of it wasn't completely fleshed out. As stated previously I also had a problem of just the complete LACK of maturity in either of the Hero/Heroine. I also could not stand the jump in POV's in the middle of a paragraph. Sometimes I was unsure of who's point of view I was actually reading during the middle of a chapter, which is not a problem you want your readers to have. All in all, I probably will not continue this series, which is disappointing :(
November 3, 2020
Having never heard of this series, I have to say this book was incredibly fun, funny, sexy, adventurous, and enjoyable.
Forest, half elf/half shape shifter, is despised in Regia for her halfling status. To make matters worse, she is also the slave of a powerful vampire who abused her when she was young and tricked her into a horridly abusive affair in which she must now obey his every word. To keep clear of him and Regia, Forest works on Earth by protecting the portal between the two worlds and taking out anyone who dares breach it.
But Forest’s next job forces her to put aside her deep-hatred of vampires, as now she is responsible for guiding the long-thought dead vampire Prince Syrus from his castle to find the mage who stole his sight. And of course, Syrus, who is blind, must be snuck through dangerous shifter lands in the midst of a brewing civil war.
But Forest gets more than she bargains for when she feels an undeniable pull toward Syrus, and he toward her.
Now Forest is just the girl hero I’ve been looking for! She is a warrior first of all, and can really kick anyone’s butt, including the vampire who entrapped her. She also loves Earth and has a penchant for picking up earthly goods to trade back in Regia. She is strong - mentally, physically, and emotionally - yet feels deeply. Forest knows she must try to deny this attraction to Syrus simply because the slave mark on her makes it impossibly painful to be with anyone else.
I also loved Prince Syrus. Having hidden in his castle for the last five years healing from the attack that felled him, he is nearly giddy with excitement at taking this trip with Forest though it will be fraught with dangers. I loved how much he got addicted to earthly things such as movies, MP3 players, Slinkies, and s’mores. Even though a prince, he didn’t act holier than though but really, genuinely good toward Forest.
The repartee between Syrus and Forest was also wonderful. They had so many physical and verbal tussles that rung so true for couples!
Now, no spoilers. The good news is that there are seven books in this series, and all of them are ready and available for your - and my - reading pleasure.
Forest, half elf/half shape shifter, is despised in Regia for her halfling status. To make matters worse, she is also the slave of a powerful vampire who abused her when she was young and tricked her into a horridly abusive affair in which she must now obey his every word. To keep clear of him and Regia, Forest works on Earth by protecting the portal between the two worlds and taking out anyone who dares breach it.
But Forest’s next job forces her to put aside her deep-hatred of vampires, as now she is responsible for guiding the long-thought dead vampire Prince Syrus from his castle to find the mage who stole his sight. And of course, Syrus, who is blind, must be snuck through dangerous shifter lands in the midst of a brewing civil war.
But Forest gets more than she bargains for when she feels an undeniable pull toward Syrus, and he toward her.
Now Forest is just the girl hero I’ve been looking for! She is a warrior first of all, and can really kick anyone’s butt, including the vampire who entrapped her. She also loves Earth and has a penchant for picking up earthly goods to trade back in Regia. She is strong - mentally, physically, and emotionally - yet feels deeply. Forest knows she must try to deny this attraction to Syrus simply because the slave mark on her makes it impossibly painful to be with anyone else.
I also loved Prince Syrus. Having hidden in his castle for the last five years healing from the attack that felled him, he is nearly giddy with excitement at taking this trip with Forest though it will be fraught with dangers. I loved how much he got addicted to earthly things such as movies, MP3 players, Slinkies, and s’mores. Even though a prince, he didn’t act holier than though but really, genuinely good toward Forest.
The repartee between Syrus and Forest was also wonderful. They had so many physical and verbal tussles that rung so true for couples!
Now, no spoilers. The good news is that there are seven books in this series, and all of them are ready and available for your - and my - reading pleasure.
May 21, 2024
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5.
Type: 📱 e-book.
Genre: adult fantasy romance.
Challenge: Beat the Backlist 2024 Challenge 📚, these woods hold secrets prompt (14/52) 🌲.
Overall impression: this book brought me out of my reading slump. After reading 100s of fantasy books over the years, Forbidden Forest was FINALLY something new. The storyline was action-packed and adventure-focused, with a complementary romance storyline. It was well-written and highly engaging. I'm so excited to read book 2!
Best bits:
✅ Elf-shifter hybrid ❤️ Vampire Prince
✅ Fated mates
✅ Forbidden love
✅ Instant attraction
✅ Witty banter
✅ Adventure-driven storyline
✅ Action (swords, knives, guns)
✅ Diverse species + characters
✅ Disability representation (blindness)
✅ Main plot + competing sub-plots
✅ Multiple POV
✅ Part of a series
Worst bits:
❌ Ends on a cliffhanger
❌ Not quite happy for now (HFN)
Type: 📱 e-book.
Genre: adult fantasy romance.
Challenge: Beat the Backlist 2024 Challenge 📚, these woods hold secrets prompt (14/52) 🌲.
Overall impression: this book brought me out of my reading slump. After reading 100s of fantasy books over the years, Forbidden Forest was FINALLY something new. The storyline was action-packed and adventure-focused, with a complementary romance storyline. It was well-written and highly engaging. I'm so excited to read book 2!
Best bits:
✅ Elf-shifter hybrid ❤️ Vampire Prince
✅ Fated mates
✅ Forbidden love
✅ Instant attraction
✅ Witty banter
✅ Adventure-driven storyline
✅ Action (swords, knives, guns)
✅ Diverse species + characters
✅ Disability representation (blindness)
✅ Main plot + competing sub-plots
✅ Multiple POV
✅ Part of a series
Worst bits:
❌ Ends on a cliffhanger
❌ Not quite happy for now (HFN)
May 12, 2020
I really like how this series starts out. Forest is introduced as a spunky, quirky, competent badass, capable of looking after herself. Later, you get a peek into some if her inner turmoil, history and start thinking maybe she puts on a bit of a front... hmmm.... intriguing.
Syrus is a compelling character. You want to know how he came to be where he is, in the state he is in. His and Forest's rocky introduction is down-to-Earth relatable. Watching them go from reluctant acquaintances to friendship is a riot! Even after that, some of their reluctant relationship gets annoying and tedious, as well as a bit corny, but I've read far worse, so not too bad.
I like the scope of Regia. The themes are multilayered. There's a lot of room for story development and character growth.
I'm interested in giving the next book a try.
Syrus is a compelling character. You want to know how he came to be where he is, in the state he is in. His and Forest's rocky introduction is down-to-Earth relatable. Watching them go from reluctant acquaintances to friendship is a riot! Even after that, some of their reluctant relationship gets annoying and tedious, as well as a bit corny, but I've read far worse, so not too bad.
I like the scope of Regia. The themes are multilayered. There's a lot of room for story development and character growth.
I'm interested in giving the next book a try.
May 13, 2025
No Trigger Warning for SA
The writing style drew me in and made the story feel so compelling, but halfway through I realized they were just walking in the woods for 300 pages. I love all the one-liners but this book is a seriously muddy mess.
“Her intellect drew straight and harsh boundary lines, while instinct crept behind, blurring them.”
All of the SA surprised me, I wish there was a TW because I wouldn’t have read it. I always check front matter thoroughly. I hate it when authors use fantasy as an excuse to suck the souls out of women D:<
The writing style drew me in and made the story feel so compelling, but halfway through I realized they were just walking in the woods for 300 pages. I love all the one-liners but this book is a seriously muddy mess.
“Her intellect drew straight and harsh boundary lines, while instinct crept behind, blurring them.”
All of the SA surprised me, I wish there was a TW because I wouldn’t have read it. I always check front matter thoroughly. I hate it when authors use fantasy as an excuse to suck the souls out of women D:<
maybe
November 14, 2021Self note
No sex scenes.
No sex scenes.
November 11, 2019
Well, I really am intrigued by this world, though I do think the overall storytelling and plotting could be stronger. I'm going to continue onward and remain hopeful that this is one of those series that improves with each new book, because there are some things I like here.
I do kind of feel like this has the whole kitchen sink thrown in, which is both fun but also sometimes just overwhelming based on how many different characters, backgrounds, and rules for the world we are supposed to keep track of. I do appreciate the effort to just throw a bit of everything that fantasy and paranormal readers enjoy into one book, but sometimes it was just a bit too much, which made the world building feel weaker, instead of stronger.
I do kind of feel like this has the whole kitchen sink thrown in, which is both fun but also sometimes just overwhelming based on how many different characters, backgrounds, and rules for the world we are supposed to keep track of. I do appreciate the effort to just throw a bit of everything that fantasy and paranormal readers enjoy into one book, but sometimes it was just a bit too much, which made the world building feel weaker, instead of stronger.
October 23, 2012
Tenaya Jayne created a magnificent and enchanting world in her paranormal romance novel Forbidden Forest. The novel revolves around Forest, a Halfling (half-elf/half-shifter); an outcast of her home world Regia because of her mixed parentage. Forest has been living on Earth working as a traffic controller for the portal between Earth and Regia. Until she is called to Regia for a top security mission; she is to protect a blind vampire prince, Syrus, while they travel to see a wizard that is believed to be able to restore the prince’s sight. There are no other creatures Forest hates more than vampires. Now she must travel, and protect one, without killing him herself. Throughout the journey Forest learns that Syrus is her destined life mate, the one person (creature?) she is to spend the rest of her life with, the only one that can see her true form. But Forest has a secret, a secret that makes her want to run away from Syrus, even though it will cause her pain. Syrus wants nothing more than to be able to see Forest with his own eyes. He has never met anyone else as infuriating as her, at the same time he has never wanted anyone more. Of course there is more but you have to read it! (maniacal laughter)
What I love about this novel: I admire the way the main characters fought and overcame their “disadvantages”. Forest has worked to gain respect and rank in a society where people like her are considered basically worthless. Syrus has learned to not allow his sight impairment to cripple him. I think that the morale of the story is that, it doesn’t matter what disadvantage you have, you are strong enough to overcome it. All you have to do is work on it and not lose confidence in yourself, regardless of what people may or may not say.
I really like that Jayne took time to not only create good characters but their world as well. It is detailed, creative and enchanting. The chemistry between Forest and Syrus is palpable and you can’t help but be pulled into every scene. The bantering and fighting between them gives the novel an interesting and funny twist. Jayne did a great job creating the characters, each character is well defined, each with his/her own qualities and flaws. I loved that Forest is a warrior, unlike most “heroines” who are embarrassingly in need of protection; As well as Syrus, a badass vampire (and insanely gorgeous) with a kind heart. She jumps from character to character giving the reader more insight on the plot, adding more questions; therefore enticing the reader into continuing to read. This I liked because a novel that has you asking questions and wanting answers, is a novel worth reading.
What I didn’t like so much: Like I mentioned, she switches from one character to another. Sometimes the switch is so subtle that you have to backtrack in order to know whose point of view you’re reading from. This doesn’t happen often, but it does happen enough to be noticed. Also, although I love Syrus, and found his enthusiasm throughout the novel endearing, it was a little overwhelming at times. I was a little disappointed with the ending, but that’s because I wanted a happier ending. But it’s not an ending at all, so I guess that’s just me being greedy.
Overall: I really, really, REALLY enjoyed this novel. It is funny, romantic, sexy and a little sadistic (some of the characters eekk) but it all comes together beautifully. I recommend this novel, mainly to adults, 17+ maybe, because it has mature content. This is a “read twice or more” novel. Read it! You’ll fall in love with Forest and Syrus too. **Note: I was given this novel in exchange of an honest review.**
What I love about this novel: I admire the way the main characters fought and overcame their “disadvantages”. Forest has worked to gain respect and rank in a society where people like her are considered basically worthless. Syrus has learned to not allow his sight impairment to cripple him. I think that the morale of the story is that, it doesn’t matter what disadvantage you have, you are strong enough to overcome it. All you have to do is work on it and not lose confidence in yourself, regardless of what people may or may not say.
I really like that Jayne took time to not only create good characters but their world as well. It is detailed, creative and enchanting. The chemistry between Forest and Syrus is palpable and you can’t help but be pulled into every scene. The bantering and fighting between them gives the novel an interesting and funny twist. Jayne did a great job creating the characters, each character is well defined, each with his/her own qualities and flaws. I loved that Forest is a warrior, unlike most “heroines” who are embarrassingly in need of protection; As well as Syrus, a badass vampire (and insanely gorgeous) with a kind heart. She jumps from character to character giving the reader more insight on the plot, adding more questions; therefore enticing the reader into continuing to read. This I liked because a novel that has you asking questions and wanting answers, is a novel worth reading.
What I didn’t like so much: Like I mentioned, she switches from one character to another. Sometimes the switch is so subtle that you have to backtrack in order to know whose point of view you’re reading from. This doesn’t happen often, but it does happen enough to be noticed. Also, although I love Syrus, and found his enthusiasm throughout the novel endearing, it was a little overwhelming at times. I was a little disappointed with the ending, but that’s because I wanted a happier ending. But it’s not an ending at all, so I guess that’s just me being greedy.
Overall: I really, really, REALLY enjoyed this novel. It is funny, romantic, sexy and a little sadistic (some of the characters eekk) but it all comes together beautifully. I recommend this novel, mainly to adults, 17+ maybe, because it has mature content. This is a “read twice or more” novel. Read it! You’ll fall in love with Forest and Syrus too. **Note: I was given this novel in exchange of an honest review.**
May 3, 2015
Ok, for the record I'm writing this review while T'ed off because I've just had a bit of a shock to the system. Yep, it was the sudden and unexpected "The End" that I ran up against. The story doesn't frickin' end. Seriously, what good does half a story do me? Why do authors keep doing this? It pisses me off every single time.
So, looking past the lack of ending (I can do this, really), I thought that the story was pretty good. It was predominantly a love story, since the whole 'gotta get Syrus through the Wolf Forest' just seemed to be an excuse for the two of them to be thrown together. Very little actually happened in regard to the supposed dangers and many of the solutions felt miraculous since we were given so little of Forest's history ahead of time. (She knows her way around the living maze of a forrest because she grew up near there. Oh, ok, didn't know that. She is mysteriously protected because she befriended a ghost at some earlier time. Oh, that's nice for them. Can bluff her way out of Philippe's clutches because she's traded with him in the past. Great. etc)
So even though I thought some things went a little too smoothly for the pair I did enjoy their back and forwards banter. I like how fragile Syrus could seem at one moment and then badass the next. I like how strong Forest was supposed to be, even if she did little more than cry and fall apart in actuality.
To recap, I was pleased with the general story. There is obviously a lot more going on, with political intrigue on the horizon and the whole Leith situation yet to be resolved. But I had a hard time settling into the story for a few reasons. The rather abrupt switch from modern Austen to medieval Regia threw me for a loop. I then kept spinning since the language was undisputedly modern and there were a lot of modern earth wares popping up as smuggled items. (See here, we have to eat out Lucky Charms by torchlight and wear a sword with our Levis.) The history between Forest and Leith is just barely sketched out but immensely important. I needed to know more about it. And finally I just basically needed to get to know Forest more. It's not that her character is shallow or anything, but we're told that there is a lot more to her than we see and it would have been nice to get if those detailed. Then of course, on the other end of the book, after finally settling into the story it just up and ends on you.
So, looking past the lack of ending (I can do this, really), I thought that the story was pretty good. It was predominantly a love story, since the whole 'gotta get Syrus through the Wolf Forest' just seemed to be an excuse for the two of them to be thrown together. Very little actually happened in regard to the supposed dangers and many of the solutions felt miraculous since we were given so little of Forest's history ahead of time. (She knows her way around the living maze of a forrest because she grew up near there. Oh, ok, didn't know that. She is mysteriously protected because she befriended a ghost at some earlier time. Oh, that's nice for them. Can bluff her way out of Philippe's clutches because she's traded with him in the past. Great. etc)
So even though I thought some things went a little too smoothly for the pair I did enjoy their back and forwards banter. I like how fragile Syrus could seem at one moment and then badass the next. I like how strong Forest was supposed to be, even if she did little more than cry and fall apart in actuality.
To recap, I was pleased with the general story. There is obviously a lot more going on, with political intrigue on the horizon and the whole Leith situation yet to be resolved. But I had a hard time settling into the story for a few reasons. The rather abrupt switch from modern Austen to medieval Regia threw me for a loop. I then kept spinning since the language was undisputedly modern and there were a lot of modern earth wares popping up as smuggled items. (See here, we have to eat out Lucky Charms by torchlight and wear a sword with our Levis.) The history between Forest and Leith is just barely sketched out but immensely important. I needed to know more about it. And finally I just basically needed to get to know Forest more. It's not that her character is shallow or anything, but we're told that there is a lot more to her than we see and it would have been nice to get if those detailed. Then of course, on the other end of the book, after finally settling into the story it just up and ends on you.
December 11, 2012
3.5 stars
Did I enjoy this book: I ended up enjoying this book after I got past the first 75 pages or so. Then, I had to see how it ended. I read every free chance I had until I reached the end.
I found the beginning kind of slow. It is difficult for me to explain why I found the beginning hard to get through. I was glad to learn about the different classes, races, and cultures of the characters. We have shapeshifters, vampires, werewolves, elves, and halflings. The world building was amazing as well. Very descriptive. I could see everything in my mind's eye. But it was just slow to read. I wanted it to move a bit faster.
Also, the transitions between points of view was sometimes difficult to keep up with. The points of view shifted between Forest, Syrus, the king, Kitch, Phillippe, and a few tohers. I wanted the transitions to be a bit smoother and clearer. I caught on but it was rough sometimes.
The two main characters were very well written. Forest is a halfling who is looked down upon but who is also an excellent fighter. She is hard and tough yet broken and sad. She has amazing strength...she went along with escorting the vampire prince despite her absolute hatred of vampires. She did what she had to do. Forest is a complex character that was developed wonderfully. Syrus, the vampire prince, was arrogant but humbled. The fact that he was blinded helped him become less arrogant. Syrus, too, was a complex character but endearing.
These two characters together had wonderful chemistry. The way they interacted with each other had me laughing at times, sighing at times, getting frustrated at times. I just thoroughly enjoying their story. This is the point where I really got into the book and wanted to see how it ended. I was invested in Forest and Syrus.
Speaking of the ending...UGH! What a cliffhanger!!!! I will definitely be reading the next book in this series. I have to know what happens next!
Would I recommend it: I would recommend this book.
Will I read it again: I will not but I will read book 2, Forest Fire.
http://everyfreechancebookreviews.blo...
Did I enjoy this book: I ended up enjoying this book after I got past the first 75 pages or so. Then, I had to see how it ended. I read every free chance I had until I reached the end.
I found the beginning kind of slow. It is difficult for me to explain why I found the beginning hard to get through. I was glad to learn about the different classes, races, and cultures of the characters. We have shapeshifters, vampires, werewolves, elves, and halflings. The world building was amazing as well. Very descriptive. I could see everything in my mind's eye. But it was just slow to read. I wanted it to move a bit faster.
Also, the transitions between points of view was sometimes difficult to keep up with. The points of view shifted between Forest, Syrus, the king, Kitch, Phillippe, and a few tohers. I wanted the transitions to be a bit smoother and clearer. I caught on but it was rough sometimes.
The two main characters were very well written. Forest is a halfling who is looked down upon but who is also an excellent fighter. She is hard and tough yet broken and sad. She has amazing strength...she went along with escorting the vampire prince despite her absolute hatred of vampires. She did what she had to do. Forest is a complex character that was developed wonderfully. Syrus, the vampire prince, was arrogant but humbled. The fact that he was blinded helped him become less arrogant. Syrus, too, was a complex character but endearing.
These two characters together had wonderful chemistry. The way they interacted with each other had me laughing at times, sighing at times, getting frustrated at times. I just thoroughly enjoying their story. This is the point where I really got into the book and wanted to see how it ended. I was invested in Forest and Syrus.
Speaking of the ending...UGH! What a cliffhanger!!!! I will definitely be reading the next book in this series. I have to know what happens next!
Would I recommend it: I would recommend this book.
Will I read it again: I will not but I will read book 2, Forest Fire.
http://everyfreechancebookreviews.blo...
Displaying 1 - 30 of 369 reviews