Valens Remembered

The Valens of Legacy #1

by Sherrel Lee

As Larinda Nix Thomas buries her adoptive parents, who died in a deadly echo of the accident that took her birth parents, hidden documents reveal that she is being threatened by a sinister force and that she shouldn't trust even her closest allies.

Fate demands she accept her place among the Valens as a shapeshifter, a unicorn, which brings more changes to her life than she could have imagined and puts her on a collision course with her ultimate destiny. In this prequel to the Valens series myth is rewritten, fantasy and science fiction blend to create a chilling story of death, loss, and discovery

Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy, Short Stories, Shapeshifters, Young Adult Paranormal

241 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 4, 2013

About the author

Sherrel Lee lives in a land called Texas and is the wrangler of a fearsome Yorkiepoo named Rogue (Half Yorkie half Poodle weighing in at a hefty eight pounds). She is a mother and grandmother who encourages her family to live life on their own terms, and to laugh as often as they can. She is fascinated with the real and mystical worlds of Urban Fantasy and Romantic suspense chasing murderous villains through the pages of her books.

Reviews

[Sherry Fundin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Flipping through my reading list, I came across this gorgeous cover. Then, I saw I had the second book in The Valen Legacy by Sherrel Lee, and I had to read on. Valens Remembered is a prequel and it sure caught my attention. Short and not so sweet, I quickly got caught up in the intrigue. Why is everyone in the Nix family being bumped off?

Larinda Nix Thomas has lost two sets of parents. She only has memories of her adoptive parents, but that is only a temporary situation. You see, Larinda is special. She is a Valen. A unicorn shapeshifter, born to guard humankind. BUT…

A quick read of loss, sorrow, danger and intrigue. I am so happy that I have Valens Rise, Book II waiting to be read.

[Maghon Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

So this is the prequel of the series. It tells you how things began and it's Larinda's story. You will learn how she felt and what really happened to her, and why she was looking so hard for her sister. You also get to see some of the other characters that will play a major part in this series and get a feel for who they are and what they stand for. It's a great addition, and having read this story first, before reading the actual first book in the series, this made reading the first book a whole lot more understandable, from an emotional part. Now you don't have to read it, but it'll make you care for those in the story even more than if you would have read just the regular novels. It's got everything you could ask for, a background on them, and the world building, the relationships between them, action, mystery, death. Yeah that was the hard part for me, as I know what the author told me prior to reading and I am still hoping she finds a way to resurrect that certain someone. :) I also learned a little bit about the bad guys before the story started. :) It's cool how she did it, coming up with the plan for how the bad guys got their hands on things and began this whole scary thing. To be honest, I loved this story, even if it is a short one, and after reading the first novel, I'm so glad I read it. It's definitely a good thing she wrote it :) 5 PAWS, all kinds of paws cuz there's a ton of fun things in here! ;)

[Laura Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Larinda has lost not just two parents, but four. Her biological ones and now her adoptive ones.

As she comes to term with this, she’s also having to accept and become a part of the Valens. Shapeshifters. The mark she carries is a unicorn and her 18th birthday, the time of her first shift is approaching.

When she takes control of the family business, a security firm called Legacy Protective Services, she discovers some papers her parents had hidden away. Now she wonders if her parents deaths, maybe even both sets, were accidental. Her suspicions are well founded when someone or something tries to kill her.

This story is told from two points of view.

The second character is Jemma. She’s a product of the street, never having a real family to care for her. She’s used to living defensively, watching out for herself.

When she’s offered a chance at security, she’s hesitant, knowing a gift horse can be anything but.

Larinda and Jemma couldn’t be more different. One knew loving parents, the other was a street kid. One thing they did share was a mysterious past, lost in childhood.

The author does a great job of world building in this short novella. Not a lot of detail, would like more, and I suspect I’ll get all I need in the next book in this series.

There are shapeshifters galore, mysteries a plenty, and many characters to care about and some not so much. All the makings of an exciting series.

I received this book for my honest and unbiased review.

[Lucee Lovett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lucee Lovett's Review of Valens Remembered

Valens Remembered is a novella prequel which filled the gaps left by book 1, providing additional background and explanation to the first 1 Valens Rise. This book introduce you to the heroine’s sister. It delievered an interesting history as to Jemma’s family involvement in the Legacy. Which depict why Jemma’s destiny was designed to her as a birth right. As with the first book - this book is full of propelling action, presenting intrigue and treachery. I’m undecided as to which is the best order to reads these books. As I felt they was enough crossover between the two book not matter irrespective of the order. A good read, now on to book two.

I was given a copy of this book from the author and LoP in exchange for an honest review.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great story. It is a short prequel to Valens Rise where we get to meet Larinda, Jemma's sister, and follow her journey of coming into her destiny, the discovery of, and search for her sister. This is a well written short and a wonderful addition to the series. I would recommend, even though this is a prequel, reading this book after book one, Valens Rise, to really appreciate the story content to its fullest. Even though this is a short little read, it is full of action, treachery, and intrigue and worth taking the time to read. I got this book from Amazon.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given this book by LoP for an honest review.
This is a short novella. It is the prequel to Valens Rise. This novella fills in some of the background to help with the other stories in the series. This novella is filled with action, intrigue, treachery. After reading this I wanted to read the reset of the series to see where she is leading you and what is going to happen to the characters.
I would highly recommend this book.

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Larenda Nix is having a difficult time. She is burying her adoptive parts, coming to terms with memory loss/potential regaining of memory regarding her adoptive parents and their deaths, death threats, taking over her parents' company, and dealing with her own new shape-shifting abilities.

A richly detailed narrative helps with multiple plot development and focus. Action is prevalent through much of the story.

Characters are unique yet authentic and intriguing.

Overall, an intriguing read.

[Merissa (Archaeolibrarian) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is only a short story so don't expect it to take up more than half an hour or so of your time. However, in that time you will be swept into a story of murder, intrigue and siblings. I haven't read any of the other books in this series yet and apparently this short story makes more sense once you have read book 1, but still, this was an enjoyable read with some good world and character building. I look forward to reading more about the Valens.

[Joselyn Moreno · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was given a copy of the book by the author in exchange for a review

I was given this book in exchange for an honest review for LoP

It was interesting, lots of mystery and drama that will lead you to the first book

i couldn't put it away, now onto valens rise

[Mary Beth Gosnell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I truly enjoyed the story line but there were a few spelling or grammar mistakes.

[Frances Shellings · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprising

Starts and ends with death....Would have liked to see them reunited....Hoping for a twist and that the death was faked to save herself....Can't wait to see how Jemma develops because she's already a tough cookie from her childhood and adolescents...Keeping fingers crossed that it turns out happy

[Levia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two sisters who were separated as young children lead vastly different lives. There is a conspiracy that has killed the oldest's parents, both birth and adoptive, and seeks to eliminate her. The youngest is living on the street and trying to make a life for herself. It was very engaging and sad. Who can you trust when you know you have an enemy so close?

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mythical creatures

I liked the book, loved it I did not. I am not sure if I missed the first book, because I was over halfway through with this before I figured out what Valen's were and even finishing it I never understood why they were hunted.

[Laurie Hopkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting story

The ending left me without words and many questions. Who is the traitor, how will they find Jemma, who is after the family. Thankfully I can just read the next book.

[Sue · Rating 1 out of 5]

I think this could have been a really good story but it seems the writer was in a hurry and couldn't be bothered with it.

[Yvensong · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this is mislabeled as a Romance, but other than that, I enjoyed this short and quick read.