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Brides of Prophecy #1
Wrenching Fate
She’s haunted by her past.
Akasha Hope trusts no one. Her parents were shot down by uniformed men, which forced Akash to spend most of her life on the run.
She’s so close to getting out on her own, making her own dreams come true when he shows up and disrupts everything.
Her new legal guardian.
His kindness makes suspicious, while his heart-stopping good looks arouse desires she’d kept suppressed.
He promises her a future...
Silas McNaught, Lord Vampire of Coeur d’Alene, has been searching for Akasha for centuries.
He’s perplexed to discover that the woman who has haunted his visions is anything but sweet and fragile. Her foul mouth and superhuman strength covers a tenderness he’s determined to reach.
While government agents pursue Akasha and vindictive vampires seek to destroy Silas, they discover the strength in their love.
Can they survive the double threat?
Akasha Hope trusts no one. Her parents were shot down by uniformed men, which forced Akash to spend most of her life on the run.
She’s so close to getting out on her own, making her own dreams come true when he shows up and disrupts everything.
Her new legal guardian.
His kindness makes suspicious, while his heart-stopping good looks arouse desires she’d kept suppressed.
He promises her a future...
Silas McNaught, Lord Vampire of Coeur d’Alene, has been searching for Akasha for centuries.
He’s perplexed to discover that the woman who has haunted his visions is anything but sweet and fragile. Her foul mouth and superhuman strength covers a tenderness he’s determined to reach.
While government agents pursue Akasha and vindictive vampires seek to destroy Silas, they discover the strength in their love.
Can they survive the double threat?
312 pages, Paperback
First published February 13, 2014
674 people are currently reading
1008 people want to read
About the author
Brooklyn Ann
44 books607 followersAuthor also writes as Brooklyn Ann Butler
Formerly an auto-mechanic, Brooklyn Ann thrives on writing romance, urban fantasy, and horror novels featuring unconventional heroines and heroes who adore them. Author of historical paranormal romance in her critically acclaimed “Scandals with Bite” series, urban fantasy in the cult favorite, “Brides of Prophecy” novels, rockstar romance in the award-winning, “Hearts of Metal” series, and horror in the “Final Couples” series, horror romances riffing on the 1970s and 1980s B horror movies that feature a Final Couple instead of a Final Girl.
She also writes horror under the pen name Brooklyn Ann Butler.
She lives in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho with her gamer son, rockstar/IT Guy boyfriend, three cats, a few project cars, an extensive book collection, and miscellaneous horror memorabilia.
She can be found online at https://brooklynannauthor.com as well as on Twitter, Facebook, Mastodon, and Instagram.
For exclusive updates, sneak peeks, and giveaways, sign up for Brooklyn Ann’s Newsletter at https://www.brooklynannauthor.com/new...
Formerly an auto-mechanic, Brooklyn Ann thrives on writing romance, urban fantasy, and horror novels featuring unconventional heroines and heroes who adore them. Author of historical paranormal romance in her critically acclaimed “Scandals with Bite” series, urban fantasy in the cult favorite, “Brides of Prophecy” novels, rockstar romance in the award-winning, “Hearts of Metal” series, and horror in the “Final Couples” series, horror romances riffing on the 1970s and 1980s B horror movies that feature a Final Couple instead of a Final Girl.
She also writes horror under the pen name Brooklyn Ann Butler.
She lives in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho with her gamer son, rockstar/IT Guy boyfriend, three cats, a few project cars, an extensive book collection, and miscellaneous horror memorabilia.
She can be found online at https://brooklynannauthor.com as well as on Twitter, Facebook, Mastodon, and Instagram.
For exclusive updates, sneak peeks, and giveaways, sign up for Brooklyn Ann’s Newsletter at https://www.brooklynannauthor.com/new...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
June 17, 2019
Superb
Excellent,excellent book with characters you just don’t forget. They’re intelligent, different, and very loyal.
The story definitely grabs you from the beginning and keeps your interest throughout. It’s certainly full of mystery shrouding the characters and the story line. Things move along at a nice fast pace, never giving you the chance to get board.
Not that anyone could possibly get bored with a story and characters like these. Definitely one of the best books I’ve read lately. An easy 5 stars.
Excellent,excellent book with characters you just don’t forget. They’re intelligent, different, and very loyal.
The story definitely grabs you from the beginning and keeps your interest throughout. It’s certainly full of mystery shrouding the characters and the story line. Things move along at a nice fast pace, never giving you the chance to get board.
Not that anyone could possibly get bored with a story and characters like these. Definitely one of the best books I’ve read lately. An easy 5 stars.
May 15, 2016
I'm very careful on series. I'm one of those who likes them but only if each book is a stand alone and features one couple at a time. Otherwise I get bored. This was a true jewel!
We first meet Akasha who is in a group home and coming upon her 18th birthday. However, she's really coming upon her 20th birthday. For her protection she lied about her age a few years back because of what happened to her. She had no one else and she has a unique gift. She comes to find out she has a new guardian...which she is pissed about. She has plans you know. Tragedies have touched her young life. She has major trust issues and is very suspicious of Silas. He's a gorgeous man. I was enchanted by him. He's old world regency vampire but in modern times. He's a gentleman. I about died when his Scottish accent comes out. I was thinking OHHH MYYY! :) I really liked both characters. Akasha being so standoffish and untrusting it frustrated Silas but after seeing her memories he understood her attitude. He's dreamt of her for years and has been looking for her. He believes shes his true love. So, he treats her with kid gloves trying to win her because she is very skittish. We learn Akasha is really sweet and has a big heart and a lot of love to give. Akasha cussed a lot and she was definitely rough around the edges which was strange because Silas is the opposite but they totally worked. It wasnt a fast romance...it was a slow teasing burn that made you want them to go ahead already. Talk about foreplay because the sexual tension was massive with these 2. I felt their love for each other and that was why I loved this so much. I wasnt sure what to think about Razvan...he seemed to be on the opposing team at first. Then it became clear he was on their side once he understood some things about Akasha and her friends. This is a very unique story Brooklyn Ann has written. Its done very well. Its not your typical vampire romance...not at all. There is magic and otherworldly aspects to it as well. I will definitely be continuing the series to see whats next for Razvan who happens to be in the next story and of course Akasha's bff Xochitl in the 3rd book. Its revealed a little about Xochitl and she is very different and can't wait to learn more. Give this a try...you wont be sorry!
We first meet Akasha who is in a group home and coming upon her 18th birthday. However, she's really coming upon her 20th birthday. For her protection she lied about her age a few years back because of what happened to her. She had no one else and she has a unique gift. She comes to find out she has a new guardian...which she is pissed about. She has plans you know. Tragedies have touched her young life. She has major trust issues and is very suspicious of Silas. He's a gorgeous man. I was enchanted by him. He's old world regency vampire but in modern times. He's a gentleman. I about died when his Scottish accent comes out. I was thinking OHHH MYYY! :) I really liked both characters. Akasha being so standoffish and untrusting it frustrated Silas but after seeing her memories he understood her attitude. He's dreamt of her for years and has been looking for her. He believes shes his true love. So, he treats her with kid gloves trying to win her because she is very skittish. We learn Akasha is really sweet and has a big heart and a lot of love to give. Akasha cussed a lot and she was definitely rough around the edges which was strange because Silas is the opposite but they totally worked. It wasnt a fast romance...it was a slow teasing burn that made you want them to go ahead already. Talk about foreplay because the sexual tension was massive with these 2. I felt their love for each other and that was why I loved this so much. I wasnt sure what to think about Razvan...he seemed to be on the opposing team at first. Then it became clear he was on their side once he understood some things about Akasha and her friends. This is a very unique story Brooklyn Ann has written. Its done very well. Its not your typical vampire romance...not at all. There is magic and otherworldly aspects to it as well. I will definitely be continuing the series to see whats next for Razvan who happens to be in the next story and of course Akasha's bff Xochitl in the 3rd book. Its revealed a little about Xochitl and she is very different and can't wait to learn more. Give this a try...you wont be sorry!
August 23, 2017
The writing itself isn't the problem. By the time I got 84% through the book, I just didn't care about what was happening anymore because of the way the Brooklyn Ann chose to portray race and then some. Narration like this:
'Middle-Eastern terrorists'?! Did this woman just carelessly and openly use a totally harmful stereotype?!
So when faced with an unfamiliar spelling and pronunciation in a name, Akasha's reaction is exactly that of a racist, ignorant white American.
The author's portrayal of the only Black characters (Aurora and her parents) is deeply disappointing. Not only does she portray Aurora as a weed-toking underachiever, this Black character often fades right into the background when it comes to descriptions and action. Not to mention that being Black is in no way the same as being gay and white like Beau, a genetic experiment like Akasha, or being born from a demon like Xochitl. So I fail to understand Aurora's bond with this group.
Because Black mothers are only ever "sassy" and have no other defining characteristics. Ann went right for a racist cliche.
White writers need to delete the word "ebony" from their vocabulary. Learn some preferably non-food or non-nature related nuance or leave my race alone.
Furthermore:
Silas' pitying of people is a disgusting characteristic. He became less and less sexy every time he looked at a female character with such pity. And writing it so male characters/people in positions of power control information or "know more" about womyn characters/marginalized characters is annoyingly sexist and generally oppressive. It's obnoxious and makes my stomach turn.
Was Akasha supposed to be thankful that Silas used his vampire powers in the middle of sex, at a vulnerable moment, to alter her mind without her permission? Akasha wasn't given the chance to see for herself whether she could overcome her nightmares, Silas decided for her. This rubbed me six different ways wrong.
Also... Can't imagine a little pasty girl named Akasha, sorry. Not sorry. Looks like Brooklyn Ann ripped the reference for this name from Queen of the Damned. Additionally, the group of friends (Akasha, Xochitl, Aurora, Sylvis, and Beau) came a little pretentious as a whole; I wasn't buying the Goonies/X-Men/friendship is magical routine as much as I could have.
Literally, as I read each of these lines, I lost interest in Ann's writing and the story itself. Which is the reason why I rated this book so low. It's a shame because I was really grateful to read a book that isn't pretentiously written in the first person. And at first it was interesting and unique to read all the auto shop talk that I wasn't familiar with being spouted by the heroine. Ultimately, unfortunately, Ann and her book failed to meet my desires or expectations.
"Her eyes flew open to witness what looked like Middle-Eastern terrorists attacking Milbury and the COAT."
'Middle-Eastern terrorists'?! Did this woman just carelessly and openly use a totally harmful stereotype?!
Eyes widening, she whispered, "Xochitl," drawing out the syllables of her friend's name slowly: "So-she". How you get that out of such a fucked up combination of letters, I'll never know.
So when faced with an unfamiliar spelling and pronunciation in a name, Akasha's reaction is exactly that of a racist, ignorant white American.
The author's portrayal of the only Black characters (Aurora and her parents) is deeply disappointing. Not only does she portray Aurora as a weed-toking underachiever, this Black character often fades right into the background when it comes to descriptions and action. Not to mention that being Black is in no way the same as being gay and white like Beau, a genetic experiment like Akasha, or being born from a demon like Xochitl. So I fail to understand Aurora's bond with this group.
A sassy voice cut in.
Because Black mothers are only ever "sassy" and have no other defining characteristics. Ann went right for a racist cliche.
Aurora's ebony eye widened.
White writers need to delete the word "ebony" from their vocabulary. Learn some preferably non-food or non-nature related nuance or leave my race alone.
Furthermore:
He was surprised to feel genuine pity for the creature.
The poor woman was dressed practically in rags.
It seemed he knew more about Xochitl than she did. Another twinge of pity pierced him.
Silas' pitying of people is a disgusting characteristic. He became less and less sexy every time he looked at a female character with such pity. And writing it so male characters/people in positions of power control information or "know more" about womyn characters/marginalized characters is annoyingly sexist and generally oppressive. It's obnoxious and makes my stomach turn.
Before it ended, Silas sent Akasha a silent command: No more nightmares.
Was Akasha supposed to be thankful that Silas used his vampire powers in the middle of sex, at a vulnerable moment, to alter her mind without her permission? Akasha wasn't given the chance to see for herself whether she could overcome her nightmares, Silas decided for her. This rubbed me six different ways wrong.
Also... Can't imagine a little pasty girl named Akasha, sorry. Not sorry. Looks like Brooklyn Ann ripped the reference for this name from Queen of the Damned. Additionally, the group of friends (Akasha, Xochitl, Aurora, Sylvis, and Beau) came a little pretentious as a whole; I wasn't buying the Goonies/X-Men/friendship is magical routine as much as I could have.
Literally, as I read each of these lines, I lost interest in Ann's writing and the story itself. Which is the reason why I rated this book so low. It's a shame because I was really grateful to read a book that isn't pretentiously written in the first person. And at first it was interesting and unique to read all the auto shop talk that I wasn't familiar with being spouted by the heroine. Ultimately, unfortunately, Ann and her book failed to meet my desires or expectations.
November 29, 2016
Akasha Hope isn't like normal 19-year-olds. Akasha has been on the run since she witnessed the brutal murder of her parents when she was a child. She knows not why they were killed, but she knows that if the men who killed her parents find her, then she will die as well. Akasha tried to live off the radar, but life on the streets is challenging for a young child, and eventually she becomes a ward of the state. However, there are no records for an Akasha Hope, so those in charge make their own assumptions, and do not believe her when she tells them her actual age, instead they inform her she is two years younger than she actually is! For now, she will go along with them. It wouldn't be forever, and she would soon put this sorry past behind her and forge a new life for herself. Unfortunately, the unthinkable happens, a stranger offers to become her guardian. Great! Just what she needs.
What Akasha didn't expect was her guardian to be quite so well...young, good-looking, mysterious yet kind. There must be something wrong with him? But despite her frantic searches in his magnificent house, she can find nothing that says this man is anything but what he says.
So the vampire thing he has going on comes as a bit of a surprise!!
Brooklyn Ann is a skilled storyteller, and I love the paranormal world that she has created. I have read books by this author before so I purposely dedicated an afternoon, in which I would have no interruptions, to read this book! I am so glad I did! Wrenching Fate was a heart-rending, action-packed, tender, brutal, very real in the telling, paranormal story about a vampire who has spent centuries searching for his soul mate, and a troubled young woman who just wants what any woman wants…to be love and accepted for who she is.
I took to Akasha immediately. She is such a strong woman, who has been through hell and yet, she has the most beautiful soul, that no matter what curveballs life throws at her, she somehow stays forever hopeful.
Likewise, Silas is so compassionate and so caring, not just for Akasha, but for her friends and for humanity as well. He is this powerful vampire, who is the most genuine man you could hope to meet.
Wrenching Fate isn't just another, girl falls in love with a vampire story. This is a wonderful story filled with intrigue, murder, cars and romance. It is certainly on my repeat to read list and I cannot wait to read the rest of the Brides of Prophecy Book series. A superb book.
I Highly Recommend.
What Akasha didn't expect was her guardian to be quite so well...young, good-looking, mysterious yet kind. There must be something wrong with him? But despite her frantic searches in his magnificent house, she can find nothing that says this man is anything but what he says.
So the vampire thing he has going on comes as a bit of a surprise!!
Brooklyn Ann is a skilled storyteller, and I love the paranormal world that she has created. I have read books by this author before so I purposely dedicated an afternoon, in which I would have no interruptions, to read this book! I am so glad I did! Wrenching Fate was a heart-rending, action-packed, tender, brutal, very real in the telling, paranormal story about a vampire who has spent centuries searching for his soul mate, and a troubled young woman who just wants what any woman wants…to be love and accepted for who she is.
I took to Akasha immediately. She is such a strong woman, who has been through hell and yet, she has the most beautiful soul, that no matter what curveballs life throws at her, she somehow stays forever hopeful.
Likewise, Silas is so compassionate and so caring, not just for Akasha, but for her friends and for humanity as well. He is this powerful vampire, who is the most genuine man you could hope to meet.
Wrenching Fate isn't just another, girl falls in love with a vampire story. This is a wonderful story filled with intrigue, murder, cars and romance. It is certainly on my repeat to read list and I cannot wait to read the rest of the Brides of Prophecy Book series. A superb book.
I Highly Recommend.
March 25, 2014
This is a paranormal urban fantasy. There is one book so far. I would recommend this to anyone whom loves magic, romance and suspense. This book is about Silas McNaught but is ends up being a lot about Akasha Hope and her life. But it flows nicely and you are not confused. I really appreciated Silas devotion to Akasha. Also the way he protected her from the beginning. Akasha is a firecracker, I loved how she shows no fear and takes no crap from anyone. She also hides her feelings well.
This story is about Lord Vampire Silas McNaught of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. He has been seeing Akasha Hope in his psychic visions for centuries. He never gave up hope he would eventually find her.
Silas finally finds Akasha and is taken back by the way she is upset that he interfered with her planned future. After spending a little time with her he realizes she is not this person he envisioned. She is loud, spunky, mechanic whom cusses like a sailor and is stronger than any normal human should be. And to top it off she is wanted by the government.
To make matter worse, Silas's vengeful ex lover, motivates the Vampire Elders to investigate Silas, hoping to ruin him, Akasha, and control her friends whom are the key to a visioned prophecy.
With the government lies and secrets. The vampires rules and regulations, Silas still reaches Akasha and shows her the meaning of trust and love.
favorite passages.
"She couldn't have been more surprised if the woman had stripped and danced naked around the room."
"I believe she may be my one true love."
"This moment slapped her in the face as the right time."
"It’s like a dark fairy tale."
"She hummed AC/DC's "Have A Drink On Me" and headed toward the parking lot."
"Milbury cringed like a kicked dog and a dark wet stain appeared on the front of his pants, trailing down one leg."
"Her childlike enthusiasm for like was just contagious enough to keep Akasha from having a nervous breakdown."
"I hate to be ungrateful, Mr McNaught, but I cant rest easy until I know your intentions towards my little girl. She's the only daughter I have."
This story is about Lord Vampire Silas McNaught of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. He has been seeing Akasha Hope in his psychic visions for centuries. He never gave up hope he would eventually find her.
Silas finally finds Akasha and is taken back by the way she is upset that he interfered with her planned future. After spending a little time with her he realizes she is not this person he envisioned. She is loud, spunky, mechanic whom cusses like a sailor and is stronger than any normal human should be. And to top it off she is wanted by the government.
To make matter worse, Silas's vengeful ex lover, motivates the Vampire Elders to investigate Silas, hoping to ruin him, Akasha, and control her friends whom are the key to a visioned prophecy.
With the government lies and secrets. The vampires rules and regulations, Silas still reaches Akasha and shows her the meaning of trust and love.
favorite passages.
"She couldn't have been more surprised if the woman had stripped and danced naked around the room."
"I believe she may be my one true love."
"This moment slapped her in the face as the right time."
"It’s like a dark fairy tale."
"She hummed AC/DC's "Have A Drink On Me" and headed toward the parking lot."
"Milbury cringed like a kicked dog and a dark wet stain appeared on the front of his pants, trailing down one leg."
"Her childlike enthusiasm for like was just contagious enough to keep Akasha from having a nervous breakdown."
"I hate to be ungrateful, Mr McNaught, but I cant rest easy until I know your intentions towards my little girl. She's the only daughter I have."
February 15, 2015
YAY, more vampires only this time instead of regency Brooklyn has brought them to modern times, it's a toss up whether or not I like them in the olden days or modern times but then I got to Silas's accent and decided it didn't matter as long as they had accents. Silas he may live in the modern times but he's still in the past with his manners and we don't see that a lot these days so I really enjoyed that, "he chuckled. "No, but as you are my charge, I think I will put your needs above those of my automobile." When he talks about his girl and her accomplishments and her dreams and goals there is so much pride and love that radiates off him, "McNaught shook his head. "I tried. She wouldn't let me. She wanted this one because it is her 'dream car', and she's always wanted to restore one from the ground up." Pride infused his voice. "And at least it keeps her from tinkering with mine so much." When the accent came out that did it I was head over heels for that man, "what are ye doon, holdin' hands with ma woman?" Silas demanded as he entered the garage." I can't wait for the next book in this series I have hopes for what two characters it'll be so I'm hoping the author did me proud.
November 22, 2021
I enjoyed this vampire novel! It had me on the edge of my seat much of the time, and was very engaging. I would recommend this to those who enjoy vampires, particularly due to the lore that I will talk about a bit later in this review. There are very dark themes in this novel that people should be aware of, especially the trauma relating to violation. That being said, it isn't for everyone, however I am able to handle such themes.
Akasha was an enjoyable protagonist, one with a clear goal in mind and a learned skill for motor vehicle repairs. This reflects very well in her character, and though I know nothing about cars, it was neat to see her passion on-page. I also see now why this novel is called "Wrenching Fate". I can't believe I didn't catch onto that until later into the book, though.
Silas was also a likeable character. The Scottish vampire was an interesting read, and actually, a few of his character dynamics were unusual and fascinating when compared to a lot of the vampire novels I typically read, which I will mention in my spoilers section. But all in all, the character was caring and I REALLY liked how he targeted truly terrible people to feed from or off. He even, toward the end, fed from a drug dealer and tried to send influence into his mind to get onto a better path, which I enjoyed seeing.
With that, I wanted to get down into the specifics!
**SPOILERS START!**
We start with Akasha mysteriously being in the adoption system even though she is nearly 20, but looks younger than that. She is adopted by Silas, who does not want to be seen as her father given she is an adult already, and he saw visions of her in a non-fatherly way. This dynamic really felt odd at first, but as their relationship developed, I realized it wasn't a bad play on a negative trope. Silas was never a father for her to begin with, and Akasha never saw him as one. He legally wasn't going to be her guardian for long, as the law swapped her to '18' soon, and she was not a child in need of a father. Her true age was above 18 anyway. She had plans to move on after being in the system, after all, until Silas interrupted them.
In reality, Max was her father-figure, someone who took her in and was all-around very pleasant. I especially liked how he was released from prison toward the end of the story with Silas's help. I could tell that he deeply cared for someone he saw, and really was, his daughter. Akasha learned her skills and passion from him, which was super sweet.
I liked the dynamic between Razvan and Silas. I actually thought Razvan was going to be an antagonist for the longest time! He sent so many mixed signals. I was very delighted to see that, in the end, he was a good protagonist and super helpful. Usually, we see the vampires that turned others, or 'masters' in some cases, as antagonists. It was really cool to see a dynamic where the turned and the vampire who turned ended up in a positive relationship.
Xochitl was an interesting character, I liked her spirit and especially her connection with cats. I also liked how she felt like a bard, with an enchanting voice. I am guessing the weird lumps moving beneath her skin are actually wings, given what we found out at the end. That no doubt will be a major solved mystery as the series progresses.
The world building with magic having been a part of Earth long ago was neat, and I wonder to myself it it could ever technically make a return. I found myself loving the vampire lore. I am someone who ADORES living vampires, and this lore has exactly that, so major props from me there. Undead vampires are classic and alright, but I am always excited to see others who make their vampires living ones. I also enjoy the fact that they do not need to kill when they feed, but can very well choose to do so (as we saw at the scene in the end.) I like the implication at the end that this will seep into high fantasy territory as well with world hopping. I am someone who very much enjoys multi-realms in fantasy. Finally, the memory-drinking when it comes to blood is super neat, and I liked seeing that explored. It's a useful way of passing information along as well.
That scientist Joe and his activities are super foreboding, and while he helped Akasha out, I can't help feel that he will be a future antagonist. The stealing of ovum without permission is super unethical, and that can only lead to trouble. Especially given it seems like he sees people like Akasha as test subjects. One glimmer of hope is that he understands there's emotion and people there, so I hope he remembers the products of his 'experiments' are people too.
Finally, this story touched upon the really heavy subject of r*pe. There was an actual psychological strategy here to cope with the PTSD from it that I learned from my psychologist, so was really happy to see it here. That being repeating what happened but in a positive scenario, where you have control. I recognized that strategy here, and the subject was handled delicately. I appreciated reading it. The scenes of passion were written well and I really enjoyed the emotion woven into them.
**SPOILERS END**
There were side characters I do wish had a bit more development, or were developed a tad last minute so I didn't get to see much of them. I assume this would be worked on later in the series, but it still would have been cool to see more of them here! There were some parts that dragged on a bit as well, but then again, they are important for character development, so it was understandable. That said, though I understand characters develop over a series, I do wish some not mentioned here by me got a bit more personality so reading on would spark more memory of 'oh yeah! I enjoyed them in the first book'.
All in all, as a vampire reader, I enjoyed the lore especially in this book and thought it was built well. The vampires were likeable, as were the non-vampire oddities in the book. There were no true cliche vampires, though Razvan liked to try and emulate that from time to time, which was amusing. As someone who enjoys action and world building, I thought both were done very well.
I do recommend this to those who enjoy a twist on vampires, a tantalizing story about vampires, and of course urban-fantasy lovers in general, though the focus was primarily on the paranormal. Wonderfully done, fang-tastic, and aye liked this tons!
Akasha was an enjoyable protagonist, one with a clear goal in mind and a learned skill for motor vehicle repairs. This reflects very well in her character, and though I know nothing about cars, it was neat to see her passion on-page. I also see now why this novel is called "Wrenching Fate". I can't believe I didn't catch onto that until later into the book, though.
Silas was also a likeable character. The Scottish vampire was an interesting read, and actually, a few of his character dynamics were unusual and fascinating when compared to a lot of the vampire novels I typically read, which I will mention in my spoilers section. But all in all, the character was caring and I REALLY liked how he targeted truly terrible people to feed from or off. He even, toward the end, fed from a drug dealer and tried to send influence into his mind to get onto a better path, which I enjoyed seeing.
With that, I wanted to get down into the specifics!
**SPOILERS START!**
We start with Akasha mysteriously being in the adoption system even though she is nearly 20, but looks younger than that. She is adopted by Silas, who does not want to be seen as her father given she is an adult already, and he saw visions of her in a non-fatherly way. This dynamic really felt odd at first, but as their relationship developed, I realized it wasn't a bad play on a negative trope. Silas was never a father for her to begin with, and Akasha never saw him as one. He legally wasn't going to be her guardian for long, as the law swapped her to '18' soon, and she was not a child in need of a father. Her true age was above 18 anyway. She had plans to move on after being in the system, after all, until Silas interrupted them.
In reality, Max was her father-figure, someone who took her in and was all-around very pleasant. I especially liked how he was released from prison toward the end of the story with Silas's help. I could tell that he deeply cared for someone he saw, and really was, his daughter. Akasha learned her skills and passion from him, which was super sweet.
I liked the dynamic between Razvan and Silas. I actually thought Razvan was going to be an antagonist for the longest time! He sent so many mixed signals. I was very delighted to see that, in the end, he was a good protagonist and super helpful. Usually, we see the vampires that turned others, or 'masters' in some cases, as antagonists. It was really cool to see a dynamic where the turned and the vampire who turned ended up in a positive relationship.
Xochitl was an interesting character, I liked her spirit and especially her connection with cats. I also liked how she felt like a bard, with an enchanting voice. I am guessing the weird lumps moving beneath her skin are actually wings, given what we found out at the end. That no doubt will be a major solved mystery as the series progresses.
The world building with magic having been a part of Earth long ago was neat, and I wonder to myself it it could ever technically make a return. I found myself loving the vampire lore. I am someone who ADORES living vampires, and this lore has exactly that, so major props from me there. Undead vampires are classic and alright, but I am always excited to see others who make their vampires living ones. I also enjoy the fact that they do not need to kill when they feed, but can very well choose to do so (as we saw at the scene in the end.) I like the implication at the end that this will seep into high fantasy territory as well with world hopping. I am someone who very much enjoys multi-realms in fantasy. Finally, the memory-drinking when it comes to blood is super neat, and I liked seeing that explored. It's a useful way of passing information along as well.
That scientist Joe and his activities are super foreboding, and while he helped Akasha out, I can't help feel that he will be a future antagonist. The stealing of ovum without permission is super unethical, and that can only lead to trouble. Especially given it seems like he sees people like Akasha as test subjects. One glimmer of hope is that he understands there's emotion and people there, so I hope he remembers the products of his 'experiments' are people too.
Finally, this story touched upon the really heavy subject of r*pe. There was an actual psychological strategy here to cope with the PTSD from it that I learned from my psychologist, so was really happy to see it here. That being repeating what happened but in a positive scenario, where you have control. I recognized that strategy here, and the subject was handled delicately. I appreciated reading it. The scenes of passion were written well and I really enjoyed the emotion woven into them.
**SPOILERS END**
There were side characters I do wish had a bit more development, or were developed a tad last minute so I didn't get to see much of them. I assume this would be worked on later in the series, but it still would have been cool to see more of them here! There were some parts that dragged on a bit as well, but then again, they are important for character development, so it was understandable. That said, though I understand characters develop over a series, I do wish some not mentioned here by me got a bit more personality so reading on would spark more memory of 'oh yeah! I enjoyed them in the first book'.
All in all, as a vampire reader, I enjoyed the lore especially in this book and thought it was built well. The vampires were likeable, as were the non-vampire oddities in the book. There were no true cliche vampires, though Razvan liked to try and emulate that from time to time, which was amusing. As someone who enjoys action and world building, I thought both were done very well.
I do recommend this to those who enjoy a twist on vampires, a tantalizing story about vampires, and of course urban-fantasy lovers in general, though the focus was primarily on the paranormal. Wonderfully done, fang-tastic, and aye liked this tons!
August 14, 2014
I have read a number of romances and never come across one where the woman retains her strength and dignity after the man enters the scene... Until now. I LOVED how Akasha fell for Nilas without losing her sense of self. She made no sacrifices of her character, nor did she make any excuses for her feelings and thoughts. She remained a strong, well-rounded character with a distinct positive arc. And, I love Brooklyn Ann for giving us that. Not only did she accurately portray a strong female lead, but she gave us a hero who is alpha without being an egomaniacal jerk. The defining characteristic that set Silas apart from all of those other heroes is the fact that he had a heart and kept it. He is most certainly an alpha, but he is not overbearing or demeaning. He respects Akasha while retaining his ability to crush an opponent with intimidation alone. I was beginning to lose my interest in the genre as a whole until I read this book. Now, I'm a fan of Brooklyn's for life.
October 15, 2014
When a child witnesses the murder of her parents by the men in black and the last words she hears from her mother is "RUN", that's just what she does. On the run from perverts and black ops and foster parents, Akasha winds up being raised by a beer drinking, chain smoking ex biker that runs a chop shop. Akasha has to run again when her mentor is busted by the cops. Back in a foster home, foul mouthed, chains smoker, beer guzzling, petite beauty Akasha winds up as the ward to a VERY wealthy finance manager. With the past tormenting her it's hard to trust anyone but her closest friends. But her new guardian does everything to please her...why? What is his reason for adopting a troubled teen? Why does he welcome her goth friends with open arms? And what does the future hold for her when her freedom is only 4 months away? Read this funny, quirky novel set in a house to die for, occupied by a man to pray for, and "Wrenching" a car that we all wish for!
September 29, 2015
I just love love love reading books by new authors to me. And with Brooklyn Ann I was definitely NOT disappointed!!!
I wasn't really sure what to expect with this book - but I was asked by a friend if I would read it and I said my usual YES YES YES. Upon starting the read, I discovered that not only was it about vampires (one of my favorite reads) but also a bit of a love story (another one of my favorite reads). I love how Brooklyn described the area where the story takes place and also the characters that were involved. Really made me feel like I was there watching as the story unfolded. I don't write spoilers - but I will say this: Once you start reading this book, you will find it hard to put down. (I think I was up until almost midnight reading - and YES - it is that good!!) And now I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series!!!
I was given a copy of this book for an honest review.
I wasn't really sure what to expect with this book - but I was asked by a friend if I would read it and I said my usual YES YES YES. Upon starting the read, I discovered that not only was it about vampires (one of my favorite reads) but also a bit of a love story (another one of my favorite reads). I love how Brooklyn described the area where the story takes place and also the characters that were involved. Really made me feel like I was there watching as the story unfolded. I don't write spoilers - but I will say this: Once you start reading this book, you will find it hard to put down. (I think I was up until almost midnight reading - and YES - it is that good!!) And now I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series!!!
I was given a copy of this book for an honest review.
April 13, 2016
I downloaded Wrenching Fate as a free novel from Amazon. While, for the most part, I enjoyed the plot, there were a few things I intensely disliked about the storyline. Excessive teen drinking, smoking, and pot use for seventeen-year-olds-- aided and abetted by the adult guardian. Adults don't make excuses for children in their care (such a rough life), to indulge in vices, they get them care or counseling. Kash is nineteen (pretending to be seventeen) - yet a five hundred year old vampire is the love interest? I get a lot of the sub-plots and intricacies, but there is so much emphasis on the vices, they overwhelm a terrific storyline and some excellent character development. My enjoyment overrode my distaste with the underage drinking/smoking, and it was good enough to ignore some incorrect word choices and spelling errors. I'm excited to read the next book, especially since I'm a Spokane native and love seeing references to familiar places.
February 19, 2014
I loved this book! I am new to the PNR genre because I always thought of romance novels as something my grandmother would read and ran away from them like the plague. Once I started reading it I couldn't put it down. I found myself totally submerged in the book and felt like I was right in it. I love it when I find myself doing that!!! The characters are not your typical love story types and that rocks! I always find myself liking or disliking characters but never relating to them much. Not the case with this one. I am a unconventional woman much like Akasha, rough around the edges and hard to stay away from. LOL i am totally hooked and can't wait to find out what happens in the next book.
October 28, 2015
Paranormal romance.
Wrenching Fate is the first book of the Brides of Prophecy series where we meet a young woman, Akasha, orphaned, with a traumatic past, and freakishly super strong. When an ancient vampire Silas, becomes her guardian believing her to be his true love doubts are met, secrets outed,demands are made, government experiments are exposed, elder vamps come forth and future prophesies highlighted. Well written, great leads and storyline, good characters for future books, hot lovin, a little bit different and definitely worth a shot.
Wrenching Fate is the first book of the Brides of Prophecy series where we meet a young woman, Akasha, orphaned, with a traumatic past, and freakishly super strong. When an ancient vampire Silas, becomes her guardian believing her to be his true love doubts are met, secrets outed,demands are made, government experiments are exposed, elder vamps come forth and future prophesies highlighted. Well written, great leads and storyline, good characters for future books, hot lovin, a little bit different and definitely worth a shot.
November 6, 2014
I wasn't sure what to expect when I first started reading this book, but it was really good. It had so much depth and I could really get into the book. I had a hard time putting it down. Akasha had been through so much at such a young age. Silas was a great hero and Razvan is so mysterious, but also supportive of Akasha and her friends. Their was so much detail in the book that you could feel yourself there. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series!
November 5, 2015
(Romance is graded on a curve.)
3.5 stars.
The same backstory as the Scandals with Bite series, but set in present time. This one's not only a Paranormal Romance, but also evolves into Urban Fantasy. I didn't enjoy it as much as the previous series; I think I'm missing the magic and just plain fun of Regency Romance. Or maybe it's that I expect writing quality to be better in this genre. Yet the story intrigued me enough to continue with the next installment.
3.5 stars.
The same backstory as the Scandals with Bite series, but set in present time. This one's not only a Paranormal Romance, but also evolves into Urban Fantasy. I didn't enjoy it as much as the previous series; I think I'm missing the magic and just plain fun of Regency Romance. Or maybe it's that I expect writing quality to be better in this genre. Yet the story intrigued me enough to continue with the next installment.
September 7, 2015
5 Stars
With an exciting plot and great characters this book will keep you turning pages. Plenty of exciting twists will have you needing to know what happens next.
With the return of the band 'Rage of Angels' from "Tesemini: Lake of Spirits (Brides of Prophecy Prequel) and several new characters. Ms. Brooklyn Ann has created one addictive series. I can not wait for the next book in this series.
With an exciting plot and great characters this book will keep you turning pages. Plenty of exciting twists will have you needing to know what happens next.
With the return of the band 'Rage of Angels' from "Tesemini: Lake of Spirits (Brides of Prophecy Prequel) and several new characters. Ms. Brooklyn Ann has created one addictive series. I can not wait for the next book in this series.
May 13, 2014
Received a copy of this book through Goodreads First Reads. Thank you!!
This was a great story. Very entertaining, writing style flowed and was easy to read, except some of the names were a little bit out there and hard to pronouce.
Looking forward to seeing where this series ends up and will gladly read the next ones.
This was a great story. Very entertaining, writing style flowed and was easy to read, except some of the names were a little bit out there and hard to pronouce.
Looking forward to seeing where this series ends up and will gladly read the next ones.
July 22, 2014
First book in Brides of Prophecy did not disappoint! First couple of chapters were a little slow but picked up and soon I could not put it down. Needs maybe a few more details to smooth out and polish up the story a little. All in all strong characters and new fascinating twists to the paranormal fantasy world. Cannot wait to start reading the next book. Highly recommend!
November 8, 2015
A new author for me and I absolute fell in love with her other series (historical paranormal) that I thought I'd give her other series a try and boy was I sucked in pretty quick.. this was different from the usual vampire story I've previously read. definitely had me on the edge of my seat a few times and laughing quite a bit at others.. I'm anxious to read the next one.
August 15, 2016
First book in a great series! Akasha is not your typical heroine which makes this book even better. I loved her sassiness and foul language. Silas and Akasha are great for each other tho it takes her a bit to realize because she has been hurt so much in the past. Great way to start this series of paranormal romance with some adventure and shenanigans.
November 7, 2015
I can't believe I missed this series, especially since I LOVED the Scandals with Bite books! Brooklyn Ann is a great writer and I love her style! I really loved this book, really, really enjoyed it! On to book 2 now!!!! Love this world Brooklyn has created, excited for more!
January 10, 2016
Vampires and More
Thoroughly enjoyed this story. Fascinating protagonists and supporting characters. Kickass Akasha and her friends are strong, empowered women. Leaves you with a taste for more.
Thoroughly enjoyed this story. Fascinating protagonists and supporting characters. Kickass Akasha and her friends are strong, empowered women. Leaves you with a taste for more.
October 31, 2016
I usually don't read these kind of books. Vampires, romance, ehhh. I'm more of a Lovecraft, Stephen King fan who likes scary, in-your-face, no-holds-barred horror tales. In the past I have read two of Anne Rice's novels, Interview and Lestat. This novel, Wrenching Fate, really takes me back to those novels.
Silas is a centuries-old vampire who adopts a young woman from a foster home. He has envisioned her for most of those centuries, waiting for her to be born into this world, and now that he has her, he falls in love with her just the way he did in his dreams so long ago. Her name is Akasha. She is your tom-boyish type, who loves to work on vehicles and takes no shet from anyone, not even Silas. After lavishing her with gifts and persistently showing her that someone can genuinely love her, unlike many who've come before, he gains her trust, and his unconditional kindness makes her fall for him.
But, the powers that be, both immortal and human, find out about their many secrets and quest to either study them or destroy them. Will the bond they have secured together be enough to thwart the imminent dangers from breaking them up? Will either of them survive at all? You'll have to read to find out. Oh, and there are some good love scenes too ;)
If you like Anne Rice, Twilight, or vampires and romance, and an engaging story just about two lonesome souls who come to fall for each other, this is for you. The writing is superb, the characters believable, the plot good, although the pacing a tad on the slow side. That being said, yes, I would definitely recommend this novel. And again, I come from a hard-core horror background, so me liking something like this is pretty rare.
Silas is a centuries-old vampire who adopts a young woman from a foster home. He has envisioned her for most of those centuries, waiting for her to be born into this world, and now that he has her, he falls in love with her just the way he did in his dreams so long ago. Her name is Akasha. She is your tom-boyish type, who loves to work on vehicles and takes no shet from anyone, not even Silas. After lavishing her with gifts and persistently showing her that someone can genuinely love her, unlike many who've come before, he gains her trust, and his unconditional kindness makes her fall for him.
But, the powers that be, both immortal and human, find out about their many secrets and quest to either study them or destroy them. Will the bond they have secured together be enough to thwart the imminent dangers from breaking them up? Will either of them survive at all? You'll have to read to find out. Oh, and there are some good love scenes too ;)
If you like Anne Rice, Twilight, or vampires and romance, and an engaging story just about two lonesome souls who come to fall for each other, this is for you. The writing is superb, the characters believable, the plot good, although the pacing a tad on the slow side. That being said, yes, I would definitely recommend this novel. And again, I come from a hard-core horror background, so me liking something like this is pretty rare.
dnf
December 17, 2020Interesting premise, and I honestly think I would really like this book...if only our heroine was older, like 24 or older, or still 19 but from a different time period. If she had been a 19 year old from say any time period pre-20th century then I'd be fine with the age difference because young women of that age were adults and were treated as such, but she's a 19 year old from the 21st century and it shows. She acts like the modern 19 year old kid that she is and I just can't help but be creeped out that a guy over 400 years old wants to sleep with her, especially when to me it does feel like he treats her in a somewhat fatherly way...
October 4, 2017
I was skeptical of the title at first, but once I started reading I was hooked! I couldn’t put it down all day! This paranormal romance/ vampire romance novel is one of the best I’ve read in a while! Though I’m disappointed it doesn’t continue, although another book in this series may have these characters in it. I will read it next. Great characters, interesting plot and very sexy! Not for under 18!
January 24, 2018
This is how you turn a wrench
Oh yes I shall continue with this series. I loved it. The MFC is fierce. Her beau is wonderful and I love how his accent comes out when he is in a high emotion state. Hopefully during my continued reading someone will find that damn Dr. Holmes and kill him this time around. Aww little Akasha's running around!!
Oh yes I shall continue with this series. I loved it. The MFC is fierce. Her beau is wonderful and I love how his accent comes out when he is in a high emotion state. Hopefully during my continued reading someone will find that damn Dr. Holmes and kill him this time around. Aww little Akasha's running around!!
July 29, 2016
Wonderful book - couldn't put it down - highly recommend it!
Want to read
November 18, 2015Free 11-17-15 (PNR Vampires)
http://www.amazon.com/Wrenching-Fate-...
http://www.amazon.com/Wrenching-Fate-...
September 8, 2019
Festooning feces with weirdness
The base character could have been good. Mercedes from Moon Called by Patricia Briggs. But the age of the character kept the story ya. The problem with ya is the independence earned in college and late 20s doesn't exist. Parental dilemmas and high school milestones are small drama. Then you add ancient prophecy, drinking problems, alien races, government experimentation, and paranormal romance to the already crappy ya underpinning and you get this mess. I don't like splitting a book up but if the revelation could have been moved to the second book in the series. With the note arriving after graduation and the epilogue taking place in the next book then it wouldn't have been like piling stuff on just for funzies. But as it is this book seems like it was written while the author was playing a game of "What if" or by committee with each person adding an element. Strip it back work on the main characters. Write about the two main characters and then move on to the next set.
For a series arch to work you introduce in the first book and maybe hint at the more than average nature of the arch's feature character. The second book is for the for telling future and intro of protagonist of the arch. Third is inciting incident of the arch. Fourth conflicts. Fifth climax. Sixth is for wrap up and intro to next arch. You can space them a la Sherrilyn Kenyon but you risk momentum that way.
The base character could have been good. Mercedes from Moon Called by Patricia Briggs. But the age of the character kept the story ya. The problem with ya is the independence earned in college and late 20s doesn't exist. Parental dilemmas and high school milestones are small drama. Then you add ancient prophecy, drinking problems, alien races, government experimentation, and paranormal romance to the already crappy ya underpinning and you get this mess. I don't like splitting a book up but if the revelation could have been moved to the second book in the series. With the note arriving after graduation and the epilogue taking place in the next book then it wouldn't have been like piling stuff on just for funzies. But as it is this book seems like it was written while the author was playing a game of "What if" or by committee with each person adding an element. Strip it back work on the main characters. Write about the two main characters and then move on to the next set.
For a series arch to work you introduce in the first book and maybe hint at the more than average nature of the arch's feature character. The second book is for the for telling future and intro of protagonist of the arch. Third is inciting incident of the arch. Fourth conflicts. Fifth climax. Sixth is for wrap up and intro to next arch. You can space them a la Sherrilyn Kenyon but you risk momentum that way.
April 11, 2020
Akasha is a ward of the state--some legal mix up, and she's listed 2 years younger than she really is, and can't seem to get a license, or something. Regardless a hot vampire becomes her legal guardian who has had visions of her for 500 years.... something(s) are after them, pasts are creeping out like... well. I can't even summarize this properly.
DNF 70%
Trigger warning: detailed flashback rape
Here's what I didn't like: Once Akasha discovered Silas was a vampire, things got boring REAL fast.
Too much summarization.
*Too much focus on Akasha's BFF as set for the next story (I'm assuming)
*The steamy scenes were boring, and then the occasion "crass" terms for anatomy felt out of nowhere compared to everything else.
*No proofreading was done. You could tell because it looked like the author decided to tighten a sentence, or a tag, but she hadn't removed what was there first. I.E "she what she said."
* The plots felt convoluted and didn't mesh well, even with characters from her past or sometimes feeling like two different books.
*It felt like there were too many POVs, and some of the POVs were loose and unwieldy--like they were told from a fly on the wall.
Here's what I liked: Akasha is a gearhead.
Overal, this read choppy, the flow was bad, and the pacing took a nosedive. This could use more work and a proofreader.
DNF 70%
Trigger warning: detailed flashback rape
Here's what I didn't like: Once Akasha discovered Silas was a vampire, things got boring REAL fast.
Too much summarization.
*Too much focus on Akasha's BFF as set for the next story (I'm assuming)
*The steamy scenes were boring, and then the occasion "crass" terms for anatomy felt out of nowhere compared to everything else.
*No proofreading was done. You could tell because it looked like the author decided to tighten a sentence, or a tag, but she hadn't removed what was there first. I.E "she what she said."
* The plots felt convoluted and didn't mesh well, even with characters from her past or sometimes feeling like two different books.
*It felt like there were too many POVs, and some of the POVs were loose and unwieldy--like they were told from a fly on the wall.
Here's what I liked: Akasha is a gearhead.
Overal, this read choppy, the flow was bad, and the pacing took a nosedive. This could use more work and a proofreader.
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