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Etherya's Earth #4
The Reluctant Savior
From USA Today bestselling author Rebecca Hefner
A complex heroine who doesn't believe in love must choose to save the realm... Evie, daughter of virtuous Princess Rina and malicious Deamon King Crimeous, is a woman torn in half. The first centuries of her life taught her fervent lessons about pain and suffering. For ages, she suppressed her mother's noble blood, crafting a reality where she was alone and drifting...until an ancient prophecy calls to her, possibly creating a purpose for her squalid existence.
Kenden has commanded the Slayer army for a thousand years. Strong, cunning and loyal, he longs for the day Crimeous is defeated and he can settle down to build a family. Focused on conquering the Dark Lord, he's stunned when Evie makes a brazen demand that must be fulfilled before she chooses to fight with them.
Although incensed by Evie's ultimatum, Kenden has never desired a woman more than the flame-haired vixen. Though she stirs his ire, he also has a deep well of compassion for the beauty who suffered so much trauma centuries ago. Together they train, and by night their connection grows, building toward the moment when they will battle her father. But, in the end, Evie has a choice and struggles to espouse righteousness over malevolence. For, when one's worst fears are exposed, the evil is so much easier to embrace...
A complex heroine who doesn't believe in love must choose to save the realm... Evie, daughter of virtuous Princess Rina and malicious Deamon King Crimeous, is a woman torn in half. The first centuries of her life taught her fervent lessons about pain and suffering. For ages, she suppressed her mother's noble blood, crafting a reality where she was alone and drifting...until an ancient prophecy calls to her, possibly creating a purpose for her squalid existence.
Kenden has commanded the Slayer army for a thousand years. Strong, cunning and loyal, he longs for the day Crimeous is defeated and he can settle down to build a family. Focused on conquering the Dark Lord, he's stunned when Evie makes a brazen demand that must be fulfilled before she chooses to fight with them.
Although incensed by Evie's ultimatum, Kenden has never desired a woman more than the flame-haired vixen. Though she stirs his ire, he also has a deep well of compassion for the beauty who suffered so much trauma centuries ago. Together they train, and by night their connection grows, building toward the moment when they will battle her father. But, in the end, Evie has a choice and struggles to espouse righteousness over malevolence. For, when one's worst fears are exposed, the evil is so much easier to embrace...
322 pages, Paperback
First published May 19, 2019
10 people are currently reading
256 people want to read
About the author
Rebecca Hefner
32 books1,236 followersUSA Today bestselling author Rebecca Hefner grew up in Western NC and now calls the Hudson River of NYC home. A huge Buffy and Star Wars fan, she loves an epic fantasy and a surprise twist (Luke, he IS your father).
Before becoming an author, Rebecca had a successful twelve-year medical device sales career. After launching her own indie publishing company, she is now a full-time author who loves writing strong, complex characters who find their HEAs.
Rebecca can usually be found making dorky and/or embarrassing posts on TikTok and Instagram. Please join her so you can laugh along with her!
You can find all of Rebecca's books here, along with content warnings: https://www.rebeccahefner.com/books
Before becoming an author, Rebecca had a successful twelve-year medical device sales career. After launching her own indie publishing company, she is now a full-time author who loves writing strong, complex characters who find their HEAs.
Rebecca can usually be found making dorky and/or embarrassing posts on TikTok and Instagram. Please join her so you can laugh along with her!
You can find all of Rebecca's books here, along with content warnings: https://www.rebeccahefner.com/books
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews
August 8, 2020
I adore this vampire/slayer series more with every book I read. In “The Reluctant Savior” we have Evie, Darkrip’s sister and daughter of the demon king. She’s lived through hell at the hands of her father with a brutal backstory she’s that much stronger for having survived. She and Kenden, commander of the Slayer army, have an intense enemies-to-lovers attraction that sizzles from their first dance. The only problem? He wants something serious. She only wants to play. So when she’s needed to help end the war, she strikes a little bargain, her help for Kenden in her bed for three nights. Needless to say, he’s furious (and intrigued.)
I loved watching the back and forth between these two as they court (at honorable Kenden’s insistence) prior to anything happening and the push and pull they struggle with the question of “Real or not real” makes for some juicy scenes. Evie has so many defenses up because of everything she endured in her past, and Kenden is just what she needs to heal. And of course, the steamy scenes were delicious! This is an ongoing series where old characters come back (I love scenes between Miranda and Evie, as well as training sessions between Darkrip and Evie—I knew he’d eventually turn out to be a softie) and we see how their lives turn out as the world building develops. There were also some side romances between several other characters as a bonus (I loved Nolan and Sadie’s story! One of my favorite vampire series and now I need to get my hands on book 5!!
Please excuse typos/name misspellings. Entered on screen reader.
I loved watching the back and forth between these two as they court (at honorable Kenden’s insistence) prior to anything happening and the push and pull they struggle with the question of “Real or not real” makes for some juicy scenes. Evie has so many defenses up because of everything she endured in her past, and Kenden is just what she needs to heal. And of course, the steamy scenes were delicious! This is an ongoing series where old characters come back (I love scenes between Miranda and Evie, as well as training sessions between Darkrip and Evie—I knew he’d eventually turn out to be a softie) and we see how their lives turn out as the world building develops. There were also some side romances between several other characters as a bonus (I loved Nolan and Sadie’s story! One of my favorite vampire series and now I need to get my hands on book 5!!
Please excuse typos/name misspellings. Entered on screen reader.
April 29, 2024
Thank you to Rebecca Hefner for allowing me to listen to a copy of this book. I really enjoyed my time, especially being able to see more of Evie. Although she's a major badass, she also has been through a lot. If you are reading this review and want to get into the series, definitely look up trigger warnings. However, Evie deserved her happy ending and everything that came with it. Kenden was also just such a strong male character, but Hefner didn't let him overshadow Evie at all. This definitely delved more into the plot than their relationship, but it was needed especially with Crimeous being a big part within the overarching plot. I can't wait to read more of this series soon.
July 3, 2023
THE RELUCTANT SAVIOR is Evie and Kenden's story and is the fourth book in the Etherya's Earth series. Evie is Darkrip and Miranda's sister and one who suffered her father's attention in ways a child never should. Due to this, she fled to the human world and thinks herself beyond redemption. She didn't count on the Slayers though. With both Kenden and Miranda convinced there is good inside her, what will she do?
Now, I took some time to warm up to Evie. Not because she was evil. Nope, I liked that about her. What I didn't like was that she seemed so... blah about the possibility of having good in her. Now, I do realise that with her 'upbringing' thinking of having good inside her would be difficult, but it was like she dismissed it without even considering it. And when she has Darkrip as a brother, even discounting Miranda, then surely, SURELY it was worth consideration.
Anyway, it's a good job she had Kenden as he put up with her mood swings and challenged her too. He is as placid and scheming as ever, so the perfect foil for Evie! He doesn't like it when Evie out-schemes him but then takes pleasure in the fact she has outwitted him. He also makes sure he gets his own way mixed in with Evie's, even when she doesn't like not having it all her own way.
Now, as with all Rebecca Hefner books, you also get some added extras. Some we know from before, some we met briefly, and some we've only seen one side to. So happy for Nolan and Sadie, and I really hope I see more of them. One thing though - TALK TO EACH OTHER!! LOL But we also have Aron and Moira, plus another two I won't talk about! You can read that for yourself.
This novel finishes one part of the story arc whilst giving you a glimpse into the next. And boy, is it a doozy! I can't wait to continue this series and find out what's going to happen next.
Another jewel in the crown of this series and absolutely recommended by me.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Mar 15, 2022
Now, I took some time to warm up to Evie. Not because she was evil. Nope, I liked that about her. What I didn't like was that she seemed so... blah about the possibility of having good in her. Now, I do realise that with her 'upbringing' thinking of having good inside her would be difficult, but it was like she dismissed it without even considering it. And when she has Darkrip as a brother, even discounting Miranda, then surely, SURELY it was worth consideration.
Anyway, it's a good job she had Kenden as he put up with her mood swings and challenged her too. He is as placid and scheming as ever, so the perfect foil for Evie! He doesn't like it when Evie out-schemes him but then takes pleasure in the fact she has outwitted him. He also makes sure he gets his own way mixed in with Evie's, even when she doesn't like not having it all her own way.
Now, as with all Rebecca Hefner books, you also get some added extras. Some we know from before, some we met briefly, and some we've only seen one side to. So happy for Nolan and Sadie, and I really hope I see more of them. One thing though - TALK TO EACH OTHER!! LOL But we also have Aron and Moira, plus another two I won't talk about! You can read that for yourself.
This novel finishes one part of the story arc whilst giving you a glimpse into the next. And boy, is it a doozy! I can't wait to continue this series and find out what's going to happen next.
Another jewel in the crown of this series and absolutely recommended by me.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Mar 15, 2022
July 28, 2022
Audiobook review:
The Reluctant Savior brings us Evie and Kenden’s story and I loved it just as much as the rest of this incredible series.
Evie was a fun person to get to know. She’s stubborn and hardheaded but inside she really just wants love and Kenden is determined to give it to her.
Hefner does a wonderful job bringing parts of this story to a close while starting another plot point that has me eager to dive into the next book as soon as possible!
Pebbled with other characters romantic stories like Nolan and Sadie (my favorites) this book was a great addition to the Etherya’s Earth series.
*I was given a free copy of this audiobook from BookFunnel and this is my honest, voluntary review.*
The Reluctant Savior brings us Evie and Kenden’s story and I loved it just as much as the rest of this incredible series.
Evie was a fun person to get to know. She’s stubborn and hardheaded but inside she really just wants love and Kenden is determined to give it to her.
Hefner does a wonderful job bringing parts of this story to a close while starting another plot point that has me eager to dive into the next book as soon as possible!
Pebbled with other characters romantic stories like Nolan and Sadie (my favorites) this book was a great addition to the Etherya’s Earth series.
*I was given a free copy of this audiobook from BookFunnel and this is my honest, voluntary review.*
August 5, 2020
Evie has never played well with others, half daemon and half Slayera (Sister to DarkRip and half sister to Miranda) she’s known nothing but pain and misery at the hands of her father. She’s learnt to look after herself, she takes what she wants and nothing stands in her way.....
Kenden has been a solider first as long as he can remember. And being the leader of the Slayera army has always been his goal.
His army is now a force to be reckoned with, especially now its part Slayer part vampire. Maybe now they can finally take down King of the Daemons Crimeous!
Book four had me on the edge of my seat!
We’ve known Kenden from book one, and I’ve always wondered if he’d get a story. I couldn’t see him with a character who wouldn’t give him a run for his money, and Evie does that, and really well. I didn’t want to see him with anyone who’s a pushover (again Evie is nothing like that) but I didn’t expect Evie, although there has been a fair amount of flirting between them.
Evie hasn’t been that forthcoming in the series, it was hard to get a grasp of her character, killing a former lover because he betrayed her, I could see (sort of) but she seemed like a character I was going to hate.
But as you get to know her you see how much she’s had to deal with.
For over eight hundred years she’s had Daemon blood run through her veins, being used as a punch bag and worse by her father has to leave emotional scars, and the damage has been done, she cares for no one but herself.
I did have to chuckle when Evie made her demands known (she’s not prepared to fight her father, she wants nothing to do with Etherya) it wasn’t what I expected and I loved how her mind worked.
The chemistry between Evie and Kenden is off the charts, he wants more than she is willing to give. Can Kenden get through those high walls of hers?
And when faced with her father, can Evie do what the rest of the family can’t, finally kill their enemy/father, and bring Justice to the woman that binds them together?
It’s great to catch up with previous characters and couples. A few twits that will keep you reading this till the early hours.
Oh side note, for all you readers who love Nolan and Sadie, you definitely need to read this one😉
Kenden has been a solider first as long as he can remember. And being the leader of the Slayera army has always been his goal.
His army is now a force to be reckoned with, especially now its part Slayer part vampire. Maybe now they can finally take down King of the Daemons Crimeous!
Book four had me on the edge of my seat!
We’ve known Kenden from book one, and I’ve always wondered if he’d get a story. I couldn’t see him with a character who wouldn’t give him a run for his money, and Evie does that, and really well. I didn’t want to see him with anyone who’s a pushover (again Evie is nothing like that) but I didn’t expect Evie, although there has been a fair amount of flirting between them.
Evie hasn’t been that forthcoming in the series, it was hard to get a grasp of her character, killing a former lover because he betrayed her, I could see (sort of) but she seemed like a character I was going to hate.
But as you get to know her you see how much she’s had to deal with.
For over eight hundred years she’s had Daemon blood run through her veins, being used as a punch bag and worse by her father has to leave emotional scars, and the damage has been done, she cares for no one but herself.
I did have to chuckle when Evie made her demands known (she’s not prepared to fight her father, she wants nothing to do with Etherya) it wasn’t what I expected and I loved how her mind worked.
The chemistry between Evie and Kenden is off the charts, he wants more than she is willing to give. Can Kenden get through those high walls of hers?
And when faced with her father, can Evie do what the rest of the family can’t, finally kill their enemy/father, and bring Justice to the woman that binds them together?
It’s great to catch up with previous characters and couples. A few twits that will keep you reading this till the early hours.
Oh side note, for all you readers who love Nolan and Sadie, you definitely need to read this one😉
February 23, 2020
I have to admit that I was a little nervous about this book, I mean the first three were fantastic, sexy, and totally got me hooked on romance, but, could she do it again?
The End of Hatred was chosen as my number one pick for 2019 on my blog www.meetawriterreadabook.com and Rebecca was interviewed by me a few months earlier so to admit that going into book four of the series the question entered my mind, could Rebecca do it again?
Pop Review
Action, adventure, romance, with a twinge of erotica, just when you feel its starting to get to sappy Rebecca goes and gets a techy warrior scenario scene going that would raise an eyebrow on Mr Spock and give an instant erection to any d&d geek alive then bringing out of them the sappy blood lust romance addict in any nerdiest of nerds launching them into full “nerdvana”.
🤓 uh..., huh?
This book excited me, I felt satisfaction during and after it ended, did I want more? You bet! The fact that there will be another installment of this series makes me weak in the knees, believe me that’s a good thing. The Reluctant Savior I feel is the second best book of this series, not taking anything away from the middle two but book four does it and Rebecca done it right. Evie proves to be as sexy and mysterious as she did in book one, her sexual appetite and blood lust go pretty much unchecked as she satisfies her desires and delivers you to the edge while laughing the whole way.
Great job Rebecca, I know I said this four books ago,but I’m saying it again, I’m a fan!
Johnny
www.meetawriterreadabook.com
✌️❤️
The End of Hatred was chosen as my number one pick for 2019 on my blog www.meetawriterreadabook.com and Rebecca was interviewed by me a few months earlier so to admit that going into book four of the series the question entered my mind, could Rebecca do it again?
Pop Review
Action, adventure, romance, with a twinge of erotica, just when you feel its starting to get to sappy Rebecca goes and gets a techy warrior scenario scene going that would raise an eyebrow on Mr Spock and give an instant erection to any d&d geek alive then bringing out of them the sappy blood lust romance addict in any nerdiest of nerds launching them into full “nerdvana”.
🤓 uh..., huh?
This book excited me, I felt satisfaction during and after it ended, did I want more? You bet! The fact that there will be another installment of this series makes me weak in the knees, believe me that’s a good thing. The Reluctant Savior I feel is the second best book of this series, not taking anything away from the middle two but book four does it and Rebecca done it right. Evie proves to be as sexy and mysterious as she did in book one, her sexual appetite and blood lust go pretty much unchecked as she satisfies her desires and delivers you to the edge while laughing the whole way.
Great job Rebecca, I know I said this four books ago,but I’m saying it again, I’m a fan!
Johnny
www.meetawriterreadabook.com
✌️❤️
November 5, 2020
The 4th book in this series focuses on Evie and Kenden. Evie is the sassy kickass daughter of Deamon Lord Crimeous and Slayera Queen Rina. Darkrip and Miranda's sister. She was tortured and raped by her father and his minions from the age of ten and never knew a fully functional loving mother, as Rina had already gone more than half mad at that time.
Kenden is the slayera commander with a savior complex who has the audacity to be attracted to her but refuse her advances. How dares he? Enters her requirement if they want he to fight for them: he has to spend three nights in her bed, wether he wants it or not. But he has a counter proposal...
This book is so raw! We follow Ken and Evie as they struggle to find a way to defeat the Deamon Lord as well as figure out what is going on between then.
Ken wants to love our antiheroin, but that is no easy feat for someone who believes is one of the most evil creatures alive, second only to her father, of course. Love is not in the cards for her and certainly not in her capability to reciprocate.
This story has a few lighter and breezy moments when our supporting friends Nolan and Sadie find their HEA, the same happening to Aron and Moira. Both couples have a few struggles, but love conquers all in the end. I loved that they got their HEA, at least as far as we know.
This has so far been my favorite book of the series and sets the bar even higher for the next one.
I received a free ARC copy of this book and this is my honest opinion
Kenden is the slayera commander with a savior complex who has the audacity to be attracted to her but refuse her advances. How dares he? Enters her requirement if they want he to fight for them: he has to spend three nights in her bed, wether he wants it or not. But he has a counter proposal...
This book is so raw! We follow Ken and Evie as they struggle to find a way to defeat the Deamon Lord as well as figure out what is going on between then.
Ken wants to love our antiheroin, but that is no easy feat for someone who believes is one of the most evil creatures alive, second only to her father, of course. Love is not in the cards for her and certainly not in her capability to reciprocate.
This story has a few lighter and breezy moments when our supporting friends Nolan and Sadie find their HEA, the same happening to Aron and Moira. Both couples have a few struggles, but love conquers all in the end. I loved that they got their HEA, at least as far as we know.
This has so far been my favorite book of the series and sets the bar even higher for the next one.
I received a free ARC copy of this book and this is my honest opinion
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 21, 2020
This series is so exciting!
The immortals want Evie to work with them to defeat her father, the evil daemon lord. She agrees, but only if they agree to her one condition. That condition involves Kenden, the one and only man she can't bend to her wishes.
Kenden gives in to the deal but he has his own counter deal.
Now Evie's "deal" is working against her. She is beginning to feel things she has never felt before. She is beginning to care about other people. But she fights it because she doesn't feel worthy.
The ultimate fight with Crimeous takes place in this book.
The ending leads us in another direction with new rivals appearing and possibly new family members.
I recieved a free copy and listened to this book in the audible format. This is my honest opinion and I recommend this series to everyone who loves paranormal books.
The immortals want Evie to work with them to defeat her father, the evil daemon lord. She agrees, but only if they agree to her one condition. That condition involves Kenden, the one and only man she can't bend to her wishes.
Kenden gives in to the deal but he has his own counter deal.
Now Evie's "deal" is working against her. She is beginning to feel things she has never felt before. She is beginning to care about other people. But she fights it because she doesn't feel worthy.
The ultimate fight with Crimeous takes place in this book.
The ending leads us in another direction with new rivals appearing and possibly new family members.
I recieved a free copy and listened to this book in the audible format. This is my honest opinion and I recommend this series to everyone who loves paranormal books.
May 16, 2020
I loved all 4 of these books! Every single one of them was amazing and so well written. I'm torn about which one is my favorite though. It's between 3 and 4. But the next book seems like it's going to be awesome!! And the narrator did another amazing job. With all the female characters I was a little surprised the author went with a male narrator. But he does such an amazing job. He is perfect for these books. I highly recommend!!! And I can't wait for more!!! 💕
July 2, 2023
Drama, post traumatic emotional damage and the big question, does love conquers all. Appearances by the Goddess. Etherya's world is never dull. Once again a great storyline with previous characters included as well as having Sadie and Nolan, Moira and Aaron's matings as a bonus by line. In a dramatic event we eventually get to know what happened with Crimeous.
I received an advanced review copy and leave this review voluntary Thank you BookSirens
I received an advanced review copy and leave this review voluntary Thank you BookSirens
June 11, 2024
God I loved this so much and really felt for Evie so much , she is the daughter of an evil dark lord and has so many self worth issues, thinks she isn’t good enough and she really thinks she will be cast aside by everyone once they have no use for her, my heart broke for her and I loved Kenden even more for building her self worth up.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 23, 2024
Evie struggles between being good or bad. This book is so well written that you can feel her struggles and tears as she tries to figure out what she really wants in life. Kenden is so loving and patient with her. It's great how she slowly works through her new feelings and comes to know which side she want to be on. There are other characters with their love stories and struggles that are just as sweet. I can't wait to start the next book!
August 5, 2019
Fourth and Favorite!!
Reluctant Savior is the 4th volume in Hefner’s Etherya’s Earth series and as soon as I picked it up I was riveted. Like her other books, RS is an inspiring story of love and loss, with a strong female protagonist (although Evie would definitely say she was an antagonist ;), lots of steamy sex scenes, and a well-rounded plot. However, although I typically favor the first book in any series, RS may be my favorite of the Etherya’s Earth books. I love that Hefner included the story of other couples finding love as well, especially since they were characters that I couldn’t help to route for in her other books. Also I loved Evie and her struggle with having a dark side. I mean who hasn’t imagined choking someone with their mind?! (Just me?! Lol) Evie and Kenden’s relationship is fiery, deep, and passionate, and I love his undying and stubborn dedication to her. Lastly, I think my very favorite part of the book is that it hints at more to come!! I would definitely love to see a lot more from Hefner in this series and others. Thanks for an excellent read!! :)
Reluctant Savior is the 4th volume in Hefner’s Etherya’s Earth series and as soon as I picked it up I was riveted. Like her other books, RS is an inspiring story of love and loss, with a strong female protagonist (although Evie would definitely say she was an antagonist ;), lots of steamy sex scenes, and a well-rounded plot. However, although I typically favor the first book in any series, RS may be my favorite of the Etherya’s Earth books. I love that Hefner included the story of other couples finding love as well, especially since they were characters that I couldn’t help to route for in her other books. Also I loved Evie and her struggle with having a dark side. I mean who hasn’t imagined choking someone with their mind?! (Just me?! Lol) Evie and Kenden’s relationship is fiery, deep, and passionate, and I love his undying and stubborn dedication to her. Lastly, I think my very favorite part of the book is that it hints at more to come!! I would definitely love to see a lot more from Hefner in this series and others. Thanks for an excellent read!! :)
January 5, 2021
Audiobook Review
Story: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Narration: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
This one is a good follow up to book 3 in the series which is best enjoyed in order.
I was overjoyed for Evie's story. Having read about her brother's story in the previous book, I was interested in seeing her story and am so glad that she got her own book.
Evie's personality is strong and shines through despite the hardships she has been through. Her back story was raw and gritty and I liked the woman she evolved into.
I loved the banter and hot chemistry between Evie and Kenden.
I absolutely adore the details the author puts into her books as it makes it all the more realistic and gripping.
The narration and audio delivery was perfect and enjoyable!
Story: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Narration: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
This one is a good follow up to book 3 in the series which is best enjoyed in order.
I was overjoyed for Evie's story. Having read about her brother's story in the previous book, I was interested in seeing her story and am so glad that she got her own book.
Evie's personality is strong and shines through despite the hardships she has been through. Her back story was raw and gritty and I liked the woman she evolved into.
I loved the banter and hot chemistry between Evie and Kenden.
I absolutely adore the details the author puts into her books as it makes it all the more realistic and gripping.
The narration and audio delivery was perfect and enjoyable!
February 11, 2024
This is book four of the Etherya’s earth series and tells the story of Evie, daughter of Rina and the Daemon King Crimeous, whose start to life was as a prisoner of her father, who started to torture and rape her form the age of ten, making her brother Darkrip watch, as he did this to her mother, who had been his prisoner for decades before her birth and eventually died decades later, gone mad from all the suffering. She spent her first centuries being her father’s puppet to use and abuse at will, and also shared around his Daemon soldiers as well. As her powers grew, she finally managed to escape his hold and fled to the human realm, never wanting to be part of the Immortal realm, but not actually knowing anything other than the Daemon caves. She was alone and that was how she liked it. She joined in with many armies over the centuries, learning to fight in wars that weren’t her own, but which allowed her to satisfy her evil side, with humans believing she was probably a witch because of some of her powers. When Kenden, the Slayer army commander, came looking for her, wanting her to come and kill her father as part of the prophecy that one of his children, born from Rina’s bloodline, would succeed in this. Both Miranda and Darkrip have tried and failed, so their only hope now is Evie, or one of their children. She wanted Kenden to pay for disturbing her world away from her father’s reach, but when she does come back, she attacks the Vampyres and Slayer compound with him, causing Miranda to lose her baby!
Later on, when Darkrip was sent to locate her and request her assistance to kill their evil father, she comes to the joint Vampyre and Slayer compound in disguise to see if they were worthy of her help. When she reveals her true self, Sathan and Miranda, as well as Darkrip and Arderin want to know if she will help them, but she is still undecided. She watches Kenden training his army, along with Latimus, the Vampyre commander, and tries to get Kenden to have sex with her, finding him attractive and feeling drawn to him. Because of how she was raised, she sees men as either people who are trying to hurt her, or ones she can get pleasure from, so long as she controls the situation! Kenden’s position had led to him giving up on all his previous relationships, which were all long term, never one night stands, as he could never fully commit to a woman, never knowing if he might die the next day. Kenden can’t wait until their battle with the Daemon hordes and Crimeous is over, so he can finally settle down with a woman and have a family of his own. He has already built his own home in preparation. When she makes it plain she wants him to have sex with her and that’s it, he refuses and explains he could never be with another unless he had feelings for her. Evie can read his mind and knows he wants her sexually, but he doesn’t allow himself to be pushed into beign with her. She had never had a man refuse her and it drives her mad! The only way she can force it, is to make an outlandish demand of her own, with all of the group wanting her to kill her father on their behalf.
Kenden is incensed by Evie’s ultimatum as if he doesn’t agree, they will have lost their only chance to stop Crimeous, full stop! He is deeply attracted to her and has been since he first saw her in Italy. He also knows some of her traumatic past and Darkrip take shim aside and tells him of some more of it, so he can better understand her reluctance to allow love or even feelings into their interactions. They come to an arrangement they are both happy to try, but it pushes both of them to their limits and is never an easy time as each tries to battle for control over what is happening. Evie believes herself to be far more evil than Darkrip, but doesn’t know that the goddess herself interacted with her as a baby, in the hope of allowing her some goodness and the ability to overcome her father’s evil pull. She begins to train with Darkrip to work magic to trap their father, so she can strike with the blade of pestilence, as well as with the combined armies, to allow them to begin to trust her. Another attack by her father, has him targeting the pregnant Arderin, much to Darkrip’s distress, and when Evie tries to intervene, he tries to convince her to come back to him and how powerful she could become, before targeting someone she is beginning to have feelings for! As she recovers after what happened. She is left to ponder her father’s words and wonder if she can truly do what the others want from her, including Kenden, when she feels she is not worthy of their friendship or love. Plans of attack have to be changed, but the Vampyre and Slayer army will still fight against Crimeous and his ever increasing Daemon army, in the hope of his death at long last and peace between all of the people. Hard choices for Evie as she comes across a sense of family and love for the first time and isn’t sure she can ever be part of it. She is unwilling to give up control over her own life, after how she was exposed to so much evil for centuries. Evil finds it far easier to follow her evil side and this will make her reject Kenden’s expectations of a future together and even possibly her role in killing her father. His words and the doubts in her own head, make following the path of evil far easier to embrace than the path of righteousness. But there is always a twist in every tale and love can often conquer even the most hardened heart! Loving seeing such a damaged woman allow herself to give a little and finding the consequences of that can be far more than expected. I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
Later on, when Darkrip was sent to locate her and request her assistance to kill their evil father, she comes to the joint Vampyre and Slayer compound in disguise to see if they were worthy of her help. When she reveals her true self, Sathan and Miranda, as well as Darkrip and Arderin want to know if she will help them, but she is still undecided. She watches Kenden training his army, along with Latimus, the Vampyre commander, and tries to get Kenden to have sex with her, finding him attractive and feeling drawn to him. Because of how she was raised, she sees men as either people who are trying to hurt her, or ones she can get pleasure from, so long as she controls the situation! Kenden’s position had led to him giving up on all his previous relationships, which were all long term, never one night stands, as he could never fully commit to a woman, never knowing if he might die the next day. Kenden can’t wait until their battle with the Daemon hordes and Crimeous is over, so he can finally settle down with a woman and have a family of his own. He has already built his own home in preparation. When she makes it plain she wants him to have sex with her and that’s it, he refuses and explains he could never be with another unless he had feelings for her. Evie can read his mind and knows he wants her sexually, but he doesn’t allow himself to be pushed into beign with her. She had never had a man refuse her and it drives her mad! The only way she can force it, is to make an outlandish demand of her own, with all of the group wanting her to kill her father on their behalf.
Kenden is incensed by Evie’s ultimatum as if he doesn’t agree, they will have lost their only chance to stop Crimeous, full stop! He is deeply attracted to her and has been since he first saw her in Italy. He also knows some of her traumatic past and Darkrip take shim aside and tells him of some more of it, so he can better understand her reluctance to allow love or even feelings into their interactions. They come to an arrangement they are both happy to try, but it pushes both of them to their limits and is never an easy time as each tries to battle for control over what is happening. Evie believes herself to be far more evil than Darkrip, but doesn’t know that the goddess herself interacted with her as a baby, in the hope of allowing her some goodness and the ability to overcome her father’s evil pull. She begins to train with Darkrip to work magic to trap their father, so she can strike with the blade of pestilence, as well as with the combined armies, to allow them to begin to trust her. Another attack by her father, has him targeting the pregnant Arderin, much to Darkrip’s distress, and when Evie tries to intervene, he tries to convince her to come back to him and how powerful she could become, before targeting someone she is beginning to have feelings for! As she recovers after what happened. She is left to ponder her father’s words and wonder if she can truly do what the others want from her, including Kenden, when she feels she is not worthy of their friendship or love. Plans of attack have to be changed, but the Vampyre and Slayer army will still fight against Crimeous and his ever increasing Daemon army, in the hope of his death at long last and peace between all of the people. Hard choices for Evie as she comes across a sense of family and love for the first time and isn’t sure she can ever be part of it. She is unwilling to give up control over her own life, after how she was exposed to so much evil for centuries. Evil finds it far easier to follow her evil side and this will make her reject Kenden’s expectations of a future together and even possibly her role in killing her father. His words and the doubts in her own head, make following the path of evil far easier to embrace than the path of righteousness. But there is always a twist in every tale and love can often conquer even the most hardened heart! Loving seeing such a damaged woman allow herself to give a little and finding the consequences of that can be far more than expected. I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
July 17, 2020
I looked forward to evie's book but it was sighs
February 28, 2025
The Reluctant Savior is a beautifully complex tale that delves into the internal and external battles faced by its heroine, Evie, as she navigates a world torn between light and darkness. Written with rich world-building and emotional depth, the story intertwines themes of identity, love, sacrifice, and the inherent duality of human nature.
Evie, the daughter of the virtuous Rina and the malevolent Demon Crimeous, is a character forged in pain. Her centuries-long existence has made her a woman hardened by trauma, unable to believe in love or trust anyone. With her father's shadow looming over her, and a prophecy that suggests her pivotal role in the fate of the realm, Evie is a reluctant hero who doesn’t believe in the nobility of sacrifice. She has spent centuries suppressing her mother's noble blood, living a life devoid of connection and emotion. Her coldness and apathy form a thick shell around her, preventing anyone from getting too close. This inner turmoil sets the stage for a compelling character arc as Evie is forced to confront her past and the choices that will shape the future of her world.
Enter Kenden, a seasoned warrior who has spent a thousand years leading the Slayer army in a tireless battle against the forces of darkness. Strong, strategic, and deeply loyal, Kenden is dedicated to the ultimate goal of defeating Crimeous and securing peace for the realm. But when Evie steps onto the scene with a defiant demand that threatens to alter their mission, Kenden’s steely resolve is tested. The chemistry between them is palpable—despite their differences, Kenden is drawn to Evie’s fierce independence and her vulnerability. The tension between them grows as they train together, and their interactions evolve from disdain to mutual respect, culminating in an undeniable connection.
The romance between Evie and Kenden is an emotionally charged one. It's not a tale of instant love, but rather one of slow-burn attraction that builds amidst their shared struggle. What makes their relationship so compelling is the complexity of their bond. Kenden sees past Evie's hardened exterior, recognizing the deep well of pain she carries, while Evie is forced to reckon with the possibility of love, trust, and what it means to truly fight for something beyond herself.
The story's pacing is excellently balanced. The first half builds tension as we learn about Evie’s traumatic past and Kenden’s unwavering commitment to his cause. The training sequences are dynamic, and the stakes grow higher as they prepare for the final battle against Evie’s father, Crimeous. But where the narrative truly shines is in its exploration of the emotional journey each character undergoes. The question of whether Evie will choose righteousness or embrace her father’s evil is gripping and forms the emotional core of the novel. The author handles Evie’s internal conflict with great care, depicting her struggle in a way that feels authentic and relatable. The world-building in The Reluctant Savior is immersive and rich. The realm in which the characters live is vividly painted, filled with magic, ancient prophecies, and political intrigue. The tension between good and evil is palpable, and the stakes are high—every decision Evie makes ripples through the world around her.
Overall, The Reluctant Savior is a fantastic read for anyone who enjoys dark fantasy with deep emotional layers, complex characters, and a slow-burn romance that’s as much about healing as it is about love. Evie is a heroine who challenges the tropes of traditional fantasy, offering a unique perspective on redemption, love, and the power of choice. If you enjoy stories where the battle for the soul is as intense as the battle for the realm, this book will not disappoint. I listened to the audiobook version of this book, and the narrator, Devon Wilcox, was absolutely fantastic.
Evie, the daughter of the virtuous Rina and the malevolent Demon Crimeous, is a character forged in pain. Her centuries-long existence has made her a woman hardened by trauma, unable to believe in love or trust anyone. With her father's shadow looming over her, and a prophecy that suggests her pivotal role in the fate of the realm, Evie is a reluctant hero who doesn’t believe in the nobility of sacrifice. She has spent centuries suppressing her mother's noble blood, living a life devoid of connection and emotion. Her coldness and apathy form a thick shell around her, preventing anyone from getting too close. This inner turmoil sets the stage for a compelling character arc as Evie is forced to confront her past and the choices that will shape the future of her world.
Enter Kenden, a seasoned warrior who has spent a thousand years leading the Slayer army in a tireless battle against the forces of darkness. Strong, strategic, and deeply loyal, Kenden is dedicated to the ultimate goal of defeating Crimeous and securing peace for the realm. But when Evie steps onto the scene with a defiant demand that threatens to alter their mission, Kenden’s steely resolve is tested. The chemistry between them is palpable—despite their differences, Kenden is drawn to Evie’s fierce independence and her vulnerability. The tension between them grows as they train together, and their interactions evolve from disdain to mutual respect, culminating in an undeniable connection.
The romance between Evie and Kenden is an emotionally charged one. It's not a tale of instant love, but rather one of slow-burn attraction that builds amidst their shared struggle. What makes their relationship so compelling is the complexity of their bond. Kenden sees past Evie's hardened exterior, recognizing the deep well of pain she carries, while Evie is forced to reckon with the possibility of love, trust, and what it means to truly fight for something beyond herself.
The story's pacing is excellently balanced. The first half builds tension as we learn about Evie’s traumatic past and Kenden’s unwavering commitment to his cause. The training sequences are dynamic, and the stakes grow higher as they prepare for the final battle against Evie’s father, Crimeous. But where the narrative truly shines is in its exploration of the emotional journey each character undergoes. The question of whether Evie will choose righteousness or embrace her father’s evil is gripping and forms the emotional core of the novel. The author handles Evie’s internal conflict with great care, depicting her struggle in a way that feels authentic and relatable. The world-building in The Reluctant Savior is immersive and rich. The realm in which the characters live is vividly painted, filled with magic, ancient prophecies, and political intrigue. The tension between good and evil is palpable, and the stakes are high—every decision Evie makes ripples through the world around her.
Overall, The Reluctant Savior is a fantastic read for anyone who enjoys dark fantasy with deep emotional layers, complex characters, and a slow-burn romance that’s as much about healing as it is about love. Evie is a heroine who challenges the tropes of traditional fantasy, offering a unique perspective on redemption, love, and the power of choice. If you enjoy stories where the battle for the soul is as intense as the battle for the realm, this book will not disappoint. I listened to the audiobook version of this book, and the narrator, Devon Wilcox, was absolutely fantastic.
June 17, 2023
Need to Mix Up the Tropes a Little!
Audiobook Review:
This is now the fourth novel I've listened to in this series. Books two, three, and four have a very similar central wound for one of the pair of each couple that keeps them apart or not believing that they can be together for most of the books. While the author has created fantastic characters with deep backstories so we can completely understand why they are the way they are, at this point, it feels like the author is treading the same ground with each couple and each book, even if the details vary. I hope future novellas and novels in the series have a bit more breadth with the internal struggles of the characters.
I wasn't wild about how the narrator voiced the heroine and also Etherya. (Frankly, except for Miranda and Lila, he does a terrible job with the female voices. The men’s voicings are great, though!) The heroine, to me, sounds like a whiny Valley girl. The heroine is actually a bada$$ warrior and stronger-than-strong woman who’s survived unbelievable trauma, so the voice doesn't quite go with how I perceive her character. We only hear a little from Etherya, starting in the very important first chapter, where she bemoans what she knows the heroine's life will be, knowing she doesn’t have the power to save her from it.
As with all the books in this series, we get the treat of seeing past and future couples as well as following minor secondary couples throughout their romances. I loved watching Darkrip’s (hero of book 3) continued transformation and his confidence in relying on the Slayer part of his biology, not the demon. He understands his sister, too, the heroine, and he's really pulling for her to understand that she's lovable and that Kindan, the hero, will stick with her and be the man that alters her life positively. I think my favorite romance in the book actually might be the continuing side romance for Sadie and Nolan, the two doctors in the Vampyre realm who can take care of their Slayer population as well as the Vampyres. As they aren't the primary couple, there are often huge gaps between when they get page time, and they certainly had a huge misunderstanding in this book—just talk about it!!—that I felt like I was reading through the rest of the book just to get through to see how it would go for them!
The book is explicitly steamy, and in my opinion, it goes too far at times. While I don't mind steamy romance (and actually like it when it is well done), dominance and power play are simply not remotely interesting to me, an absolute turnoff. While this book has been disappointing in places, the author has created a fascinating world with rich characters. I'm looking forward to my next listen.
TRIGGERS: discussion of an extensive history of physical and mental abuse of the heroine, including multiple sexu@l assaults and incest; power play; m@sochism; multiple mentions of torture and sexu@l assault of the heroine’s mother at the hands of her father.
2.5 stars
I received a promo code for this audiobook, but that did not affect my review.
Audiobook Review:
This is now the fourth novel I've listened to in this series. Books two, three, and four have a very similar central wound for one of the pair of each couple that keeps them apart or not believing that they can be together for most of the books. While the author has created fantastic characters with deep backstories so we can completely understand why they are the way they are, at this point, it feels like the author is treading the same ground with each couple and each book, even if the details vary. I hope future novellas and novels in the series have a bit more breadth with the internal struggles of the characters.
I wasn't wild about how the narrator voiced the heroine and also Etherya. (Frankly, except for Miranda and Lila, he does a terrible job with the female voices. The men’s voicings are great, though!) The heroine, to me, sounds like a whiny Valley girl. The heroine is actually a bada$$ warrior and stronger-than-strong woman who’s survived unbelievable trauma, so the voice doesn't quite go with how I perceive her character. We only hear a little from Etherya, starting in the very important first chapter, where she bemoans what she knows the heroine's life will be, knowing she doesn’t have the power to save her from it.
As with all the books in this series, we get the treat of seeing past and future couples as well as following minor secondary couples throughout their romances. I loved watching Darkrip’s (hero of book 3) continued transformation and his confidence in relying on the Slayer part of his biology, not the demon. He understands his sister, too, the heroine, and he's really pulling for her to understand that she's lovable and that Kindan, the hero, will stick with her and be the man that alters her life positively. I think my favorite romance in the book actually might be the continuing side romance for Sadie and Nolan, the two doctors in the Vampyre realm who can take care of their Slayer population as well as the Vampyres. As they aren't the primary couple, there are often huge gaps between when they get page time, and they certainly had a huge misunderstanding in this book—just talk about it!!—that I felt like I was reading through the rest of the book just to get through to see how it would go for them!
The book is explicitly steamy, and in my opinion, it goes too far at times. While I don't mind steamy romance (and actually like it when it is well done), dominance and power play are simply not remotely interesting to me, an absolute turnoff. While this book has been disappointing in places, the author has created a fascinating world with rich characters. I'm looking forward to my next listen.
TRIGGERS: discussion of an extensive history of physical and mental abuse of the heroine, including multiple sexu@l assaults and incest; power play; m@sochism; multiple mentions of torture and sexu@l assault of the heroine’s mother at the hands of her father.
2.5 stars
I received a promo code for this audiobook, but that did not affect my review.
July 17, 2019
The Reluctant Savior is the fourth book in author Rebecca Hefner’s Etherya’s Earth series. For those of us who have been following this series from the beginning, this is the book we’ve all been waiting for, to see if Crimeous can finally be defeated by Evie!
Evie is the daughter of the Dark Lord, Crimeous and Princess Rina of the Slayers. She is sister to Darkrip from the previous book and half-sister to Miranda from the first book.
Kenden is the cousin of Miranda from book one in the series. He’s been the Commander of the Slayer army for thousands of years.
Well, WOW, just WOW! When you’re four books into a series, you think that you have a pretty good idea of what to expect. But Ms. Hefner is full of surprises! This book was everything I hoped it would be and even more than I could have imagined.
Ken and Evie have been a couple I’ve been anxiously waiting to see get together since their first meeting in the very first book. Ken is just one of those heroes that you immediately fall in love with! He’s strong, sexy, sweet, caring, in summary, he’s absolutely perfect! I’ve loved his relationship with his cousin Miranda, and it’s obvious there is an attraction between him and Evie. Evie is just this amazing, strong, gorgeous, stubborn, and confident woman on the outside and completely broken on the inside. She’s a heroine that you just long to see finally find happiness. I loved watching her relationship develop between her siblings, and seeing her learn to trust and to care for Ken. Her story and the relationship between Kenden was an emotional one that takes the readers through a rollercoaster of emotions. She was such a fascinating, complicated woman and it was good to see her finally accept the love of those around her. I absolutely loved Ken and Evie’s epilogue, it was perfect for them and I hope to catch up with them in later books…
I absolutely loved this book and am struggling to let this series go. I know Ms. Hefner promised to come back to it at a later date, and I for one can’t wait! This has been a fascinating series full of wonderful characters and storylines that shows how truly talented this author is. As I said earlier, Ms. Hefner had a few surprises for us in this book! She didn’t just give us Ken and Evie’s love story and a fight to end all fights, she also gave us two other love stories of secondary characters, that I’m happy to see finally get their HEA’s. Plus a shocking didn’t see that coming cliffhanger, that just has to be read first hand. You definitely don’t want to miss that! ;-) I highly recommend this book and the entire series and can’t wait to return again to Etherya’s Earth! Well done Ms. Hefner & please don’t keep us waiting too long… :-)
Evie is the daughter of the Dark Lord, Crimeous and Princess Rina of the Slayers. She is sister to Darkrip from the previous book and half-sister to Miranda from the first book.
Kenden is the cousin of Miranda from book one in the series. He’s been the Commander of the Slayer army for thousands of years.
Well, WOW, just WOW! When you’re four books into a series, you think that you have a pretty good idea of what to expect. But Ms. Hefner is full of surprises! This book was everything I hoped it would be and even more than I could have imagined.
Ken and Evie have been a couple I’ve been anxiously waiting to see get together since their first meeting in the very first book. Ken is just one of those heroes that you immediately fall in love with! He’s strong, sexy, sweet, caring, in summary, he’s absolutely perfect! I’ve loved his relationship with his cousin Miranda, and it’s obvious there is an attraction between him and Evie. Evie is just this amazing, strong, gorgeous, stubborn, and confident woman on the outside and completely broken on the inside. She’s a heroine that you just long to see finally find happiness. I loved watching her relationship develop between her siblings, and seeing her learn to trust and to care for Ken. Her story and the relationship between Kenden was an emotional one that takes the readers through a rollercoaster of emotions. She was such a fascinating, complicated woman and it was good to see her finally accept the love of those around her. I absolutely loved Ken and Evie’s epilogue, it was perfect for them and I hope to catch up with them in later books…
I absolutely loved this book and am struggling to let this series go. I know Ms. Hefner promised to come back to it at a later date, and I for one can’t wait! This has been a fascinating series full of wonderful characters and storylines that shows how truly talented this author is. As I said earlier, Ms. Hefner had a few surprises for us in this book! She didn’t just give us Ken and Evie’s love story and a fight to end all fights, she also gave us two other love stories of secondary characters, that I’m happy to see finally get their HEA’s. Plus a shocking didn’t see that coming cliffhanger, that just has to be read first hand. You definitely don’t want to miss that! ;-) I highly recommend this book and the entire series and can’t wait to return again to Etherya’s Earth! Well done Ms. Hefner & please don’t keep us waiting too long… :-)
July 28, 2021
I knew I was gona love Evie!! This is book 4 in the Etherya’s Earth series by Rebecca Hefner and it keeps getting better and better with every book.
Each focuses on a couple going going through hell and back before getting their HEA and there is one in this. BUT not for just one couple but three which I absolutely loved.
The main pair are Evie and Kenden who we have met before and seen the mutual brewing attraction. Thing is Evie, daughter of the evil dark lord believe she is not good enough and too evil for kind Kenden. She feels everyone only wants her now since she is the key to killing her father once and for all and after she either fails or succeeds at the task they will throw her away. She has never had anyone care for her and they all do, but she is scared to let them in and get hurt. She is stubborn as hell but Kenden is determined to make her see her worth.
We then have the other couples Nolan and Sadie. The human doctor and his scarred assistant who are desperately in love with each other but again dont think they are good enough. Add in aristocrat Aron and Moira who was once married to his best friend into the mix and it’s a great tale of three couples in love but thinking they are not good enough. As much as I loved Kenden and Evie’s story my favourite was Aron and Moira. Theirs was the one that tugged at my heartstrings the most.
Wait until the end though guys. Perfect way to end and all our characters from all the books are in serious danger but telling you anything about that will spoil what left my mouth hanging open lol. It leaves you thirsty for more. Honestly I can’t wait to read the next instalment in this amazing series. Top marks 5/5. Huge thanks to Rebecca for gifting me this in return for a non biased review. I absolutely loved it!
Each focuses on a couple going going through hell and back before getting their HEA and there is one in this. BUT not for just one couple but three which I absolutely loved.
The main pair are Evie and Kenden who we have met before and seen the mutual brewing attraction. Thing is Evie, daughter of the evil dark lord believe she is not good enough and too evil for kind Kenden. She feels everyone only wants her now since she is the key to killing her father once and for all and after she either fails or succeeds at the task they will throw her away. She has never had anyone care for her and they all do, but she is scared to let them in and get hurt. She is stubborn as hell but Kenden is determined to make her see her worth.
We then have the other couples Nolan and Sadie. The human doctor and his scarred assistant who are desperately in love with each other but again dont think they are good enough. Add in aristocrat Aron and Moira who was once married to his best friend into the mix and it’s a great tale of three couples in love but thinking they are not good enough. As much as I loved Kenden and Evie’s story my favourite was Aron and Moira. Theirs was the one that tugged at my heartstrings the most.
Wait until the end though guys. Perfect way to end and all our characters from all the books are in serious danger but telling you anything about that will spoil what left my mouth hanging open lol. It leaves you thirsty for more. Honestly I can’t wait to read the next instalment in this amazing series. Top marks 5/5. Huge thanks to Rebecca for gifting me this in return for a non biased review. I absolutely loved it!
June 9, 2022
First off, the word “so” is misused and overused a bunch of times in this story, as it was in book 3. I’ve grown extremely tired of people misusing that word, it’s not a descriptive word and tells me nothing.
Romance-wise, I think this is the best one yet. I think each romance up until now is better than the last. They all have their own unique twist and to me, Kenden and Evie’s feels the most earned. Much like her brother, she spends the entire novel trying to convince her chosen mate she’s unrepentantly evil while ignoring her true feelings. I enjoyed the scenes of him trying to court her. It felt like they both had something to prove. They grew and learned to accept each other, flaws and all.
The weak point in this novel was the side character romances, I didn’t find them compelling or interesting. The novel felt like it ran on a little too long and I think it would have been better without them or if they were shorter. Additionally, there were some storybook/lore scenes that I did find interesting. Though I was a bit confused about what they were supposed to be context-wise. Maybe I missed some vital piece of context. I couldn’t tell if it was a parent reading to a child or a retelling of events that actually happened. They kinda came out of nowhere. When they did, I wasn’t sure where they left off at because I’d forgotten about them. I found myself wanting to edit the audiobook to make them all into a single, coherent story.
As always, the narration is excellent.
NOTE: This copy was provided to me free of charge as a digital review copy. The opinions stated in this review are mine and mine alone, I was not paid or requested to give this book a certain rating, suggestion, or approval.
Romance-wise, I think this is the best one yet. I think each romance up until now is better than the last. They all have their own unique twist and to me, Kenden and Evie’s feels the most earned. Much like her brother, she spends the entire novel trying to convince her chosen mate she’s unrepentantly evil while ignoring her true feelings. I enjoyed the scenes of him trying to court her. It felt like they both had something to prove. They grew and learned to accept each other, flaws and all.
The weak point in this novel was the side character romances, I didn’t find them compelling or interesting. The novel felt like it ran on a little too long and I think it would have been better without them or if they were shorter. Additionally, there were some storybook/lore scenes that I did find interesting. Though I was a bit confused about what they were supposed to be context-wise. Maybe I missed some vital piece of context. I couldn’t tell if it was a parent reading to a child or a retelling of events that actually happened. They kinda came out of nowhere. When they did, I wasn’t sure where they left off at because I’d forgotten about them. I found myself wanting to edit the audiobook to make them all into a single, coherent story.
As always, the narration is excellent.
NOTE: This copy was provided to me free of charge as a digital review copy. The opinions stated in this review are mine and mine alone, I was not paid or requested to give this book a certain rating, suggestion, or approval.
November 19, 2024
The Reluctant Savior continues the thrilling saga of Etherya's Earth, and it's a journey of redemption, self-discovery, and the complicated nature of love. Evie, torn between her dark Deamon heritage and her mother’s noble blood, is a heroine like no other. Her internal struggle is gripping, and her battle to find a purpose in the face of overwhelming trauma makes her character both relatable and fiercely strong.
Kenden, the seasoned leader of the Slayer army, is equally captivating. His unwavering loyalty and deep compassion toward Evie form the emotional backbone of their intense connection. Watching their bond evolve from tension to something far more complicated is utterly compelling, especially as Evie’s vulnerabilities and the stakes of their mission become ever clearer.
The chemistry between them is electric, with a slow-burn romance that pulses with desire, yet is tempered by the weight of their respective roles in the war against Crimeous. Evie’s journey to reconcile her past and her growing feelings for Kenden make for a highly emotional ride. The ultimate choice she faces is monumental—embracing love and righteousness, or succumbing to the evil that threatens to consume her.
Fans of reformed antiheroes, complex heroines, and emotional turmoil will find The Reluctant Savior a deeply satisfying read. Rebecca Hefner once again delivers an exciting, heartfelt, and action-packed addition to the Etherya’s Earth series, where every choice has lasting consequences, and love might be the key to saving the world.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Kenden, the seasoned leader of the Slayer army, is equally captivating. His unwavering loyalty and deep compassion toward Evie form the emotional backbone of their intense connection. Watching their bond evolve from tension to something far more complicated is utterly compelling, especially as Evie’s vulnerabilities and the stakes of their mission become ever clearer.
The chemistry between them is electric, with a slow-burn romance that pulses with desire, yet is tempered by the weight of their respective roles in the war against Crimeous. Evie’s journey to reconcile her past and her growing feelings for Kenden make for a highly emotional ride. The ultimate choice she faces is monumental—embracing love and righteousness, or succumbing to the evil that threatens to consume her.
Fans of reformed antiheroes, complex heroines, and emotional turmoil will find The Reluctant Savior a deeply satisfying read. Rebecca Hefner once again delivers an exciting, heartfelt, and action-packed addition to the Etherya’s Earth series, where every choice has lasting consequences, and love might be the key to saving the world.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 10, 2022
4.5 stars. Evie, the female lead, is half Deamon and all broken by the traumatic experiences of her childhood and the impact of her father’s evilness that she carries. She’s been living on Earth instead of the immortal realm because she appreciates the variety of experiences and because she feels safe and in control there.
Kenden, the male immortal lead, has been intrigued by and attracted to Evie ever since he met her. But he’s interested in so much more than the short term physical relationship that Evie offers.
And they still need to kill her father who is literally trying to take over the world…
This long story is multi POV, though mostly lead character POV, well written and edited, and a complex, fast paced, action romance. I enjoyed the clear integration of secondary characters. I enjoyed the character development and relationship development. I enjoyed Kenden’s principles and his willingness to hold to them in the face of Evie’s temptation. I empathised with Evie’s history and understood her reluctance to make certain decisions and choices. Whilst the romance ended in a HEA, there was an overarching plot cliffhanger that leads the reader to the next story, which is also intriguing and I’m happy to have the next one ready to go! Trigger warnings for this story are accurate - please bear that in mind if this is an issue for you.
I received a complimentary copy from the author and this is my voluntary honest review.
Kenden, the male immortal lead, has been intrigued by and attracted to Evie ever since he met her. But he’s interested in so much more than the short term physical relationship that Evie offers.
And they still need to kill her father who is literally trying to take over the world…
This long story is multi POV, though mostly lead character POV, well written and edited, and a complex, fast paced, action romance. I enjoyed the clear integration of secondary characters. I enjoyed the character development and relationship development. I enjoyed Kenden’s principles and his willingness to hold to them in the face of Evie’s temptation. I empathised with Evie’s history and understood her reluctance to make certain decisions and choices. Whilst the romance ended in a HEA, there was an overarching plot cliffhanger that leads the reader to the next story, which is also intriguing and I’m happy to have the next one ready to go! Trigger warnings for this story are accurate - please bear that in mind if this is an issue for you.
I received a complimentary copy from the author and this is my voluntary honest review.
June 2, 2019
Rebecca has delivered yet another 5-star book with everything that we've come to expect from her. An endearing, sexy-as-sin hero and a strong and stubborn heroine. This book started from Darkrip and Arderin's ceremony before the epilogue in The Darkness Within and is focussed on Kenden and Evie's love story as well as preparing to defeat the Dark Lord Crimeous once and for all.
Kenden was a sweetheart. He was smart, strong and his patience with Evie was immeasurable. Evie was witty, brash and obstinate. Kenden and Evie were the perfect match and I was rooting for them since the first time Kenden ventured into the human world to look for Evie. Darkrip and Evie's brother-sister bond was delightful.
The anticipation that has been building since the first book regarding the war to defeat Crimeous was well worth the wait. The battle was epic and the final moment left me speechless.
There were a couple of surprises as well in the book. We finally got to see the time what made Crimeous so evil and how his relationship with Etherya emerged. Then, there were Nolan and Sadie, their story was lovely, as were Aron and Moira. I do hope to see more of them in the upcoming books. The epilogue was the most surprising of all and it's going to make waiting for Heden's book tough but it will be worth the wait. With Rebecca's books, it's always worth the wait!
Kenden was a sweetheart. He was smart, strong and his patience with Evie was immeasurable. Evie was witty, brash and obstinate. Kenden and Evie were the perfect match and I was rooting for them since the first time Kenden ventured into the human world to look for Evie. Darkrip and Evie's brother-sister bond was delightful.
The anticipation that has been building since the first book regarding the war to defeat Crimeous was well worth the wait. The battle was epic and the final moment left me speechless.
There were a couple of surprises as well in the book. We finally got to see the time what made Crimeous so evil and how his relationship with Etherya emerged. Then, there were Nolan and Sadie, their story was lovely, as were Aron and Moira. I do hope to see more of them in the upcoming books. The epilogue was the most surprising of all and it's going to make waiting for Heden's book tough but it will be worth the wait. With Rebecca's books, it's always worth the wait!
July 21, 2024
4 - 4.5 Stars
The Reluctant Savior is the fourth book in the Etherya's Earth series by new-to-me author, Rebecca Hefner.
Etherya’s Earth is a romantasy series that will pull you in and keep you avidly reading the whole way through. I picked up the first book in the series not really expecting much- but soon found myself devouring ALL seven instalments as I became well and truly hooked.
Each book in the series follows its own particular ‘couple’- so they can be read as standalones, if you wanted. But, having said that, there are interconnected elements, a recurring cast of characters, and other relevant details that all combine to build a much bigger picture-making it worth your time to read the all the books.
With vampires, slayers, tension, agendas, action, adventure, politics, drama, danger, chemistry, sizzle, emotion, paranormal & supernatural elements, war, good vs evil, suspense, mystery, quests, superb world building, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, and much more- this series has a lot to offer.
The series consists of:
-The Dawn of Peace (Series Prequel)
-The End of Hatred (Book #1)
- The Elusive Sun (Book #2)
-The Darkness Within (Book #3)
-The Reluctant Savior (Book #4)
-The Impassioned Choice (Book #5)
-The Cryptic Prophecy (Book #6)
-The Diplomatic Heir (Book #7)
Happy Reading…
Thank you, Rebecca Hefner!
The Reluctant Savior is the fourth book in the Etherya's Earth series by new-to-me author, Rebecca Hefner.
Etherya’s Earth is a romantasy series that will pull you in and keep you avidly reading the whole way through. I picked up the first book in the series not really expecting much- but soon found myself devouring ALL seven instalments as I became well and truly hooked.
Each book in the series follows its own particular ‘couple’- so they can be read as standalones, if you wanted. But, having said that, there are interconnected elements, a recurring cast of characters, and other relevant details that all combine to build a much bigger picture-making it worth your time to read the all the books.
With vampires, slayers, tension, agendas, action, adventure, politics, drama, danger, chemistry, sizzle, emotion, paranormal & supernatural elements, war, good vs evil, suspense, mystery, quests, superb world building, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, and much more- this series has a lot to offer.
The series consists of:
-The Dawn of Peace (Series Prequel)
-The End of Hatred (Book #1)
- The Elusive Sun (Book #2)
-The Darkness Within (Book #3)
-The Reluctant Savior (Book #4)
-The Impassioned Choice (Book #5)
-The Cryptic Prophecy (Book #6)
-The Diplomatic Heir (Book #7)
Happy Reading…
Thank you, Rebecca Hefner!
January 7, 2022
I LOVE EVIE! Yes, she is "evil" but has some redeeming qualities! She was a product of evil, her father being Crimeous, but her mother was the pure slayer queen who was abducted by him! She did some bad things and spent time in the human world but was called to help them take down her evil father as she may be the key to the prophecy! She is a lust-filled woman and has the hots for Kendan, the slayer army leader, but he doesn't do casual and she insists that is ALL she does. She gives the council an ultimatum to "have" Ken or she won't agree to help kill her father. He makes some terms of his own but does end up agreeing, but he insists she is more than an evil temptress, no matter how many times she insists she is and will never change. The push between these two is palpable through the pages and he is determined to show her she is not only capable of love, but worthy of it as well. But when faced with deciding on joining her evil father and giving in to her dark side or joining Ken, the vampyres, and slayers, will she let her darkness take over? The spice was amazing as per usual, the tension was great, and I was so happy to see some side character relationships blossom as well! Love, love, love this series! Oh, and be ready to be SHOCKED a few times!
February 23, 2023
This long awaited story was teased before but I couldn't contain my excitement as I jumped in.
Evie is the daughter of the Evil Dark Lord, sharing a mother with Miranda and Darkrip. Her evil blood constantly calls to her which makes her an unpredictable character who is very much needed to fulfil the prophecy. Kenden the slayer commander is instantly bewitched by the flame haired woman but he requires emotion which she refuses to feel.
Her beginning means she has serious issues with feeling, trust, companionship and family. Can Kenden find a compromise for her cooperation?
This is an incredibly moving story in the book series as we discover the horror behind Evie's malevolence. Kenden is so compassionate and understanding with her that it soothes a shattered heart. Forcing her to feel will be a tearing down of all her walls and could destroy her good side completely. It is difficult not to feel for her even though she is conflicted. A precious mixture of love, patience, determination and personal growth which will trigger the need for tissues. Yet again, a talent that shines through like a lighthouse beam in the pitch dark.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Evie is the daughter of the Evil Dark Lord, sharing a mother with Miranda and Darkrip. Her evil blood constantly calls to her which makes her an unpredictable character who is very much needed to fulfil the prophecy. Kenden the slayer commander is instantly bewitched by the flame haired woman but he requires emotion which she refuses to feel.
Her beginning means she has serious issues with feeling, trust, companionship and family. Can Kenden find a compromise for her cooperation?
This is an incredibly moving story in the book series as we discover the horror behind Evie's malevolence. Kenden is so compassionate and understanding with her that it soothes a shattered heart. Forcing her to feel will be a tearing down of all her walls and could destroy her good side completely. It is difficult not to feel for her even though she is conflicted. A precious mixture of love, patience, determination and personal growth which will trigger the need for tissues. Yet again, a talent that shines through like a lighthouse beam in the pitch dark.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 29, 2024
This is the story of Evie and Kenden and their quest to slay the Dark Lord. As the daughter of Daemon King Crimeous and the beloved Princess Rina, Evie is conflicted with the good and evil that reside within her. She struggles in her desire to stand aloof and unaffected by the people around her while, at the same time, her heart is crying for a personal connection. No matter what, she's determined to be the one in charge who makes all the decisions. Evie doesn't believe in love but is drawn to the Commander of the Slayer Army, Kenden, and she makes him an offer that shocks and entices him. They are both committed to slaying the Dark Lord and Evie will train with his men as long as Kenden consents to having sex with her. Like the gentleman he is, he doesn't want it to be just sex because he wants to find someone with whom to settle down and have a family. There is a great showdown between good and evil and Evie shows herself to be a cunning, brilliant and victorious warrior. The narration of this audiobook was wonderfully done by Devon Wilcox. He has the perfect voice for the demons, slayers, vampires and the goddess who populate this series. His booming "voice of evil" is perfection!
December 12, 2023
Evie believes that no one could love her since she is full of evil. Told by her father over and over that she is worth nothing, Evie built walls around herself and has not let anyone ever get close to her until now. Evie is full of power and is everyone’s hope of getting rid of her father, Crimeous. Kendon is the commander of the Slayer army. He is kind, strong, and a force to be reckoned with! He sees something in Evie that will change his outlook.
As the relationship grows, Evie begins to have some sort of feelings for Kendon and she is very afraid of what could happen. Determined to return to the human world once they take down Crimeous, she tries everything she can to push Kendon away. Will Kendon allow Evie to leave once Crimeous is defeated or will he be able to talk her into staying and having a life with him.
Lots of twists and turns, a few sub stories are brewing between some of the other characters that have been introduced. I am looking forward to reading more in this series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
As the relationship grows, Evie begins to have some sort of feelings for Kendon and she is very afraid of what could happen. Determined to return to the human world once they take down Crimeous, she tries everything she can to push Kendon away. Will Kendon allow Evie to leave once Crimeous is defeated or will he be able to talk her into staying and having a life with him.
Lots of twists and turns, a few sub stories are brewing between some of the other characters that have been introduced. I am looking forward to reading more in this series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 20, 2021
Evie is indeed a reluctant savior. Angry at the world and doubting herself and her inner goodness, her hackles are raised when her family is trying to convince her she’s the only one who can save the races. She finally agrees to help under one condition. (Ummmm I’m no gonna tell you what it is). This book is full of personal growth for her as well as so many other characters. Several love stories are intertwined through this epic battle of good and evil saga. It’s a paranormal but in their own world story with some what feels like historical vibes. Some of the phrases just remind me of historical but a huge epic story and keeps getting better as it continues. The author makes you think all is well then drops the bomb on you! Narrator does good for most of it. There are a few voices that I may have giggled at but with a male narrator and so many female voices I think he does good. This would probably be better with dual narrators as it is such a large cast of characters.
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