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Eternal Shadows
"I was a monster. And in that moment, leaning against Rhys's warm body, feeling his unnaturally cool breath against my face . . . I knew I would give in."
Vampires aren't supposed to be real, and Kassandra is not supposed to be one of them. But on the morning of her eighteenth birthday she wakes with fangs, a hunger for blood, and a body with abilities she can't control. Turned by the irritating, yet handsome, Rhys O'Shea, Kassandra struggles to balance her former human life with her new life as one of the undead.
With the world at war, the vampires have stepped in--but if the existence of the supernatural is exposed, then an entirely new battle will erupt. A battle for survival that will forever alter the future.
But the past may be just as dangerous. Kassandra can't stop the dreams of a young Irish girl in the medieval countryside, a girl who smiles when Rhys comes near, nor can she shake a looming sense of doom. The last time she felt this dark chill her mother died, and now Kassandra could be next.
Vampires aren't supposed to be real, and Kassandra is not supposed to be one of them. But on the morning of her eighteenth birthday she wakes with fangs, a hunger for blood, and a body with abilities she can't control. Turned by the irritating, yet handsome, Rhys O'Shea, Kassandra struggles to balance her former human life with her new life as one of the undead.
With the world at war, the vampires have stepped in--but if the existence of the supernatural is exposed, then an entirely new battle will erupt. A battle for survival that will forever alter the future.
But the past may be just as dangerous. Kassandra can't stop the dreams of a young Irish girl in the medieval countryside, a girl who smiles when Rhys comes near, nor can she shake a looming sense of doom. The last time she felt this dark chill her mother died, and now Kassandra could be next.
402 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 14, 2012
6 people are currently reading
348 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
April 29, 2012
If you are a fan of the Twilight Series by Stephanie Meyer or a fan of Buffy, etc., you will devour this book (no pun intended).
Kate's style is quirky, funny and cute. But don't let that deceive you, because there is enough violence and blood to keep you interested. Combine that with a war between vampires, reincarnation and two soul mates searching for their past and future, and you have a pretty nifty little vampire novel here, which (I feel) is perfect for young adults.
This kind of book is not normally my cup of tea (I normally prefer a grittier read), but it says a lot that the author kept me more than interested enough to finish in a decent amount of time. And, like I said, young adults will love this book.
The only issues I had were that I thought the "scope" of the book seemed a bit too confining in some ways. Also, I took issue with the amount of time it took for the primary character to be "trained up" or acclimated to her new situation; I also questioned some of the motivation of the main character at the getgo. I could explain all this in more detail, but I don't want to give anything away.
Other than that, Kate writes to her strengths and presents a pretty dominating read. Well worth the purchase.
Kate's style is quirky, funny and cute. But don't let that deceive you, because there is enough violence and blood to keep you interested. Combine that with a war between vampires, reincarnation and two soul mates searching for their past and future, and you have a pretty nifty little vampire novel here, which (I feel) is perfect for young adults.
This kind of book is not normally my cup of tea (I normally prefer a grittier read), but it says a lot that the author kept me more than interested enough to finish in a decent amount of time. And, like I said, young adults will love this book.
The only issues I had were that I thought the "scope" of the book seemed a bit too confining in some ways. Also, I took issue with the amount of time it took for the primary character to be "trained up" or acclimated to her new situation; I also questioned some of the motivation of the main character at the getgo. I could explain all this in more detail, but I don't want to give anything away.
Other than that, Kate writes to her strengths and presents a pretty dominating read. Well worth the purchase.
July 2, 2012
First, I would like to say that I am one of those people who are notoriously picky with the vampire genre. There's so little about them that hasn't been done already, and even less that isn't done cheesily. However, with Eternal Shadows we have a great example of what can happen when talent meets creativity.
Kate's debut YA novel is an entertaining romance that will definitely appeal to fans of Twilight, but with a strong enough heroine that you also won't be rolling your eyes every five minutes. The story centers around Kassandra Thomas, a girl on the verge of graduating high school when she is forced against her will to become a vampire. The reasons behind why she is chosen to be turned, and the reason why a certain vampire does the turning, are the main mystery that drives the plot. With that, we have the growing affections of Kassandra for this vampire--affections she is reluctant to acknowledge until the exciting past is revealed.
As for the setting, in Eternal Shadows we are introduced to a world of vampires who hide from humans, but are at war with one another in a version of our modern world where they pull the strings of history behind the scenes. Kassandra, though a fledgling vampire, becomes the target for a rebel vampire group intent on revealing their species to humanity. Her struggle to remain out of the antagonist's eye, her mysterious feelings for her vampire sire, and her odd premonitions about one particularly powerful and dangerous vampire come together at the end for a thrilling conclusion that satisfyingly ends this story, while also definitely keeping the door open for a sequel.
At its heart the book is primarily a romance, but in the chaste way vampire romance fans will recognize ala Stephenie Meyer. Think a lot of bated breaths, unspoken longing, and passionate feelings, but coming from a heroine who is definitely more headstrong and outspoken than a Bella Swan.
One or two reviewers have mentioned that they cannot understand the romance between Kassandra and Rhys, but I must add that the chemistry between the two, while slow to develop, hinges a lot on the final third of the book and will recquire a slight commitment on the reader's part to get full satisfaction out of the relationship/story.
In conclusion, this is an entertaining YA vampire romance that will have you eager to turn the pages to see what will happen next. I give Eternal Shadows five stars for creativity, good writing, and a plot that has left me wanting more out of what looks to be a very promising YA series.
Kate's debut YA novel is an entertaining romance that will definitely appeal to fans of Twilight, but with a strong enough heroine that you also won't be rolling your eyes every five minutes. The story centers around Kassandra Thomas, a girl on the verge of graduating high school when she is forced against her will to become a vampire. The reasons behind why she is chosen to be turned, and the reason why a certain vampire does the turning, are the main mystery that drives the plot. With that, we have the growing affections of Kassandra for this vampire--affections she is reluctant to acknowledge until the exciting past is revealed.
As for the setting, in Eternal Shadows we are introduced to a world of vampires who hide from humans, but are at war with one another in a version of our modern world where they pull the strings of history behind the scenes. Kassandra, though a fledgling vampire, becomes the target for a rebel vampire group intent on revealing their species to humanity. Her struggle to remain out of the antagonist's eye, her mysterious feelings for her vampire sire, and her odd premonitions about one particularly powerful and dangerous vampire come together at the end for a thrilling conclusion that satisfyingly ends this story, while also definitely keeping the door open for a sequel.
At its heart the book is primarily a romance, but in the chaste way vampire romance fans will recognize ala Stephenie Meyer. Think a lot of bated breaths, unspoken longing, and passionate feelings, but coming from a heroine who is definitely more headstrong and outspoken than a Bella Swan.
One or two reviewers have mentioned that they cannot understand the romance between Kassandra and Rhys, but I must add that the chemistry between the two, while slow to develop, hinges a lot on the final third of the book and will recquire a slight commitment on the reader's part to get full satisfaction out of the relationship/story.
In conclusion, this is an entertaining YA vampire romance that will have you eager to turn the pages to see what will happen next. I give Eternal Shadows five stars for creativity, good writing, and a plot that has left me wanting more out of what looks to be a very promising YA series.
June 3, 2012
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Dawn
I didn’t like Eternal Shadows at first. I began to enjoy it about half way through. Initially, I thought Kassandra (the main character) was one dimensional, just a whiny brat. And to be honest, it was annoying. I nearly gave up, but something compelled me to give it another go. I’m glad I stuck with it.
Kassandra began to redeem herself as I saw glimpses of a fighting spirit. She was always pushing back.
Kassandra questioned everything, wanting to learn. And she was willing to sacrifice herself for the people she loved.
Most of the secondary characters are fleshed out. Madge and Millie stand out, sisters who are polar opposites. I especially enjoyed Aurelia, who has been around a long time. She is just a bad ass vampire. I love that everyone can “feel” when an older vampire enters the room.
The idea of a blended family of vampires, each with their own position and responsibilities, was interesting. Each family member came from a different time in history, giving the reader a different perspective as they weigh in on decisions.
The chapters have very clever names. My favorite: “When In Rome”.
The only problem I had with the book is the relationship between Kassandra and Rhys. I could not understand what he saw in Kassandra and I still don’t. The question was brought up in the book but it wasn’t answered to my satisfaction.
That said, I loved the idea of separation through death and reincarnation. I also enjoyed the idea that vampires can’t be reincarnated, or can they?
I recommend Eternal Shadows as an interesting read.
http://openbooksociety.com/article/et...
I didn’t like Eternal Shadows at first. I began to enjoy it about half way through. Initially, I thought Kassandra (the main character) was one dimensional, just a whiny brat. And to be honest, it was annoying. I nearly gave up, but something compelled me to give it another go. I’m glad I stuck with it.
Kassandra began to redeem herself as I saw glimpses of a fighting spirit. She was always pushing back.
Kassandra questioned everything, wanting to learn. And she was willing to sacrifice herself for the people she loved.
Most of the secondary characters are fleshed out. Madge and Millie stand out, sisters who are polar opposites. I especially enjoyed Aurelia, who has been around a long time. She is just a bad ass vampire. I love that everyone can “feel” when an older vampire enters the room.
The idea of a blended family of vampires, each with their own position and responsibilities, was interesting. Each family member came from a different time in history, giving the reader a different perspective as they weigh in on decisions.
The chapters have very clever names. My favorite: “When In Rome”.
The only problem I had with the book is the relationship between Kassandra and Rhys. I could not understand what he saw in Kassandra and I still don’t. The question was brought up in the book but it wasn’t answered to my satisfaction.
That said, I loved the idea of separation through death and reincarnation. I also enjoyed the idea that vampires can’t be reincarnated, or can they?
I recommend Eternal Shadows as an interesting read.
http://openbooksociety.com/article/et...
July 10, 2012
In progress...
July 27, 2012
love the cover cant wait to read it..
October 9, 2014
Psychocat Reads Review of ETERNAL SHADOWS by Kate Martin
As an avid reader and book reviewer, one of the most dangerous things you can do is host a book party. It seems like a brilliant idea. Really it does. You'll gather up a bunch of authors and hopefully end up introducing their books to new readers. Sounds awesome, right? What you don't think about is that you're going to spend countless hours looking at a collection of gorgeous covers, reading author bios, and book blurbs, and deciding that OMG you must read all the books yourself! So, why am I saying this at the intro of the review of ETERNAL SHADOWS? Because I've been dying to read Kate Martin's books since the covers first showed up in my inbox for the party on July 25th.
The covers were wicked, the blurb was intriguing, and they went straight on my TBR list. Of course, there's always some trepidation with vampire books. Just what kind of vampires would these end up being? Would she make them her own or would they come off as replica of the many that came before? I guess this is where I stop rambling and get to the review so you can all find out.
The Characters: There are quite a few characters to contend with in ETERNAL SHADOWS. In some books this would pose a challenge, but Kate makes use of all of them. She also keeps the names distinct enough that it makes it easy enough to keep track of them. Despite the number, I had no issue remembering where they each fit. That being said, I'm only going to focus on a few.
Kassandra, the main character in this little tale, is about to turn 18 at the very beginning of the book. She's young, but as the daughter of a general she's pretty mature for her age. You quickly learn that she's not the prim and proper type. She'll stand her ground and often has a snarky comment or six to make. We'd be great friends. :)
Rhys, on the other hand, may only look 21, but in reality he's more like 500. He is the first of the vampires that we really meet, so he is the point where I started judging how this was going to pan out. Much to my relief, these vampires do require blood. Score one for Kate on that point. Another point earned for not making them sparkly things that seem about as threatening as a butterfly. Turns out Kate did a pretty awesome job of creating her own breed of vampires with their own set of perks and restrictions. In some ways they kind of remind me of the vamps from Moonlight (You know. That Alex O'Loughlin show that totally sucked me in before getting killed).
Anyway, back to Rhys. He's no saint, but he does manage to handle Kassandra pretty well. He is a fun, yet also clearly wounded, character. As with most of the characters in the book, there is more him than what you would expect. Kate also makes no secret that he's pretty yummy, so he gets a bonus point or two for being the hot vampire.
So that leaves us with everyone else. You meet a variety of humans and vampires throughout the book. Many of them are far from what you would expect when you first hear about them. Even the humans are given credit for not just being walking juice bars. In the end, I really enjoyed Kate's characters. She got me attached, so I'm glad there's already a second book to read (more on that tomorrow).
The Relationships: So, yeah. This is one of those relationships sections where to say much would mean to spoil things. Here's what I will say. The relationships are often complicated. There may be some romance lurking around, but Kate doesn't just throw Kassandra into that without having her build a web of other relationships that matter. I loved her approach to things because by the end, I felt connected to far more than just two characters.
Too Perfect or Perfectly Flawed: All admit, I figured out one piece of the puzzle relatively quickly and was worried that things my slip into the too perfect category. I was wrong. Well, I was right about the piece, but wrong about it becoming too perfect. In some ways the piece introduced extra complications. Score another point for Kate on surprising me with that one.
Jen's Final Rating: 4.5 STARS! At some point in the book, I remember having a moment where I was pretty sure this would be a 4 star book, but by the end I forget just what the reason for the missing star was. When you manage to make me forget the reason, you get half the star back because clearly the rest of the book was awesome. Really, ETERNAL SHADOWS is a book that will suck you in refuse to let go. The vampires were unique without losing their edginess in a ploy to make them stand out from other vampires. This one stays on my Must Read list, and Kate Martin is definitely staying on my Authors I Read list.
Psychocat's Final Rating: 5 CLAWS! Violence, intrigue, and revenge are right up her alley. I am a bit concerned that she's adopted Cade's training techniques. The house may never be safe again.
As an avid reader and book reviewer, one of the most dangerous things you can do is host a book party. It seems like a brilliant idea. Really it does. You'll gather up a bunch of authors and hopefully end up introducing their books to new readers. Sounds awesome, right? What you don't think about is that you're going to spend countless hours looking at a collection of gorgeous covers, reading author bios, and book blurbs, and deciding that OMG you must read all the books yourself! So, why am I saying this at the intro of the review of ETERNAL SHADOWS? Because I've been dying to read Kate Martin's books since the covers first showed up in my inbox for the party on July 25th.
The covers were wicked, the blurb was intriguing, and they went straight on my TBR list. Of course, there's always some trepidation with vampire books. Just what kind of vampires would these end up being? Would she make them her own or would they come off as replica of the many that came before? I guess this is where I stop rambling and get to the review so you can all find out.
The Characters: There are quite a few characters to contend with in ETERNAL SHADOWS. In some books this would pose a challenge, but Kate makes use of all of them. She also keeps the names distinct enough that it makes it easy enough to keep track of them. Despite the number, I had no issue remembering where they each fit. That being said, I'm only going to focus on a few.
Kassandra, the main character in this little tale, is about to turn 18 at the very beginning of the book. She's young, but as the daughter of a general she's pretty mature for her age. You quickly learn that she's not the prim and proper type. She'll stand her ground and often has a snarky comment or six to make. We'd be great friends. :)
Rhys, on the other hand, may only look 21, but in reality he's more like 500. He is the first of the vampires that we really meet, so he is the point where I started judging how this was going to pan out. Much to my relief, these vampires do require blood. Score one for Kate on that point. Another point earned for not making them sparkly things that seem about as threatening as a butterfly. Turns out Kate did a pretty awesome job of creating her own breed of vampires with their own set of perks and restrictions. In some ways they kind of remind me of the vamps from Moonlight (You know. That Alex O'Loughlin show that totally sucked me in before getting killed).
Anyway, back to Rhys. He's no saint, but he does manage to handle Kassandra pretty well. He is a fun, yet also clearly wounded, character. As with most of the characters in the book, there is more him than what you would expect. Kate also makes no secret that he's pretty yummy, so he gets a bonus point or two for being the hot vampire.
So that leaves us with everyone else. You meet a variety of humans and vampires throughout the book. Many of them are far from what you would expect when you first hear about them. Even the humans are given credit for not just being walking juice bars. In the end, I really enjoyed Kate's characters. She got me attached, so I'm glad there's already a second book to read (more on that tomorrow).
The Relationships: So, yeah. This is one of those relationships sections where to say much would mean to spoil things. Here's what I will say. The relationships are often complicated. There may be some romance lurking around, but Kate doesn't just throw Kassandra into that without having her build a web of other relationships that matter. I loved her approach to things because by the end, I felt connected to far more than just two characters.
Too Perfect or Perfectly Flawed: All admit, I figured out one piece of the puzzle relatively quickly and was worried that things my slip into the too perfect category. I was wrong. Well, I was right about the piece, but wrong about it becoming too perfect. In some ways the piece introduced extra complications. Score another point for Kate on surprising me with that one.
Jen's Final Rating: 4.5 STARS! At some point in the book, I remember having a moment where I was pretty sure this would be a 4 star book, but by the end I forget just what the reason for the missing star was. When you manage to make me forget the reason, you get half the star back because clearly the rest of the book was awesome. Really, ETERNAL SHADOWS is a book that will suck you in refuse to let go. The vampires were unique without losing their edginess in a ploy to make them stand out from other vampires. This one stays on my Must Read list, and Kate Martin is definitely staying on my Authors I Read list.
Psychocat's Final Rating: 5 CLAWS! Violence, intrigue, and revenge are right up her alley. I am a bit concerned that she's adopted Cade's training techniques. The house may never be safe again.
May 26, 2015
Different and Fresh
The amount of trauma Kassandra endures it's amazing she can function. She begins and ends as a target without any real reason as to why. Vampires exist and they're trying to end the atrocities that humans have catered to for too long. Kassandra's father, a general, is murdered and she is turned. Her anger and frustration at first is justified. At first, reading this, I would have expected a longer period of mourning and anger but after finishing the book, it all becomes clear. That's what makes a great read. The story is very well written and circles back to information a reader wants to understand. The characters are realistic, interesting, have depth and faults. Creative, different, and a pleasing read. Well done.
The amount of trauma Kassandra endures it's amazing she can function. She begins and ends as a target without any real reason as to why. Vampires exist and they're trying to end the atrocities that humans have catered to for too long. Kassandra's father, a general, is murdered and she is turned. Her anger and frustration at first is justified. At first, reading this, I would have expected a longer period of mourning and anger but after finishing the book, it all becomes clear. That's what makes a great read. The story is very well written and circles back to information a reader wants to understand. The characters are realistic, interesting, have depth and faults. Creative, different, and a pleasing read. Well done.
July 17, 2016
This is the first teen vampire book I've read. I know, I'm behind. But I'm glad I picked this one. Kassandra is outspoken and relatable, and she doesn't sit around waiting for things to happen to her. I liked that she kept in touch with her friends despite all the changes in her life. Along with good main characters, the side characters were interesting and I'd like to learn more about them. The love story was compelling and the plot interesting, leaving plenty of room to expand on that world. I will read the next book eventually, and I hope that the author keeps building on the world she's laid out!
May 26, 2015
True Rating: 3.5 Stars
Your typical vampire novel but without a depressed wimpy heroine.
Your typical vampire novel but without a depressed wimpy heroine.
Want to read
July 8, 2012Sounds really cool!!!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews