Dracian Legacy

Dracian #1

by Clara Stone

At seventeen, Ren Pernell knows the meaning of tragedy.

But then, a year after losing her parents, Axel Knight walks through the door and changes everything. Strange creatures start to appear, her best friend suddenly finds her irresistible, and an undeniable, unexplainable bond with Axel threatens to drive her insane. She knows he’s the key. There’s something he’s not sharing, and she’s determined to find out.

Demanding answers, she finally learns the everything she ever believed is an illusion. Caught in a centuries-old blood feud between races she never knew existed, Ren discovers her true destiny. She’s the chosen one, the Echo, preordained to end the bloodshed.

There’s just one catch–in order to save those she loves and a homeland she’s never seen, she’ll have to die.

With the clock running out, she’ll have to navigate a new world of betrayal, lies and deceit. If she can forgive, finding love even in the darkest places, she just might be able to escape the prophecy. But how much is she willing to sacrifice for a cause she didn’t know she was part of? And what will it take for her to be free?

Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Paranormal, Fantasy, Mythology, Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy

317 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 14, 2013

About the author

Greeting Readers!!!

Clara Stone writes YA/NA Contemporary Romance and Paranormal Romance stories and is a complete sucker for sweet, memorable kisses. She strongly believes that true love conquers EVERYTHING, along with a tub of Ice cream!

When she isn't reading or writing or dancing, much to the embarrassment of her husband and two kids, she's probably watching Supernatural and The Walking Dead. So, if she sounds like your cup of syrup to your pancakes (or waffles... no favorites here), then give her a "Follow" to any number of social media kingdoms she's built and stay updated of her upcoming releases, book sales, and book recommendations!

P.S. The said social media kingdom links are right below!

Email: Clara@AuthorClaraStone.com

Snail Mail:
P.O Box 2652
Eagle, ID 83616

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Reviews

[Tee loves Kyle Jacobson · Rating 5 out of 5]

HOLY MOTHER LOVER!!!!!!!!! I love love love cliffhangers because they make me go back and re-read the book so I can try and see if I can figure out what is going to happen. I have to thank Kay my bestest book friend for hipping me to this book. Lord when I started reading it I could not put it down. I even ordered take out for the kids because I did not want to cook. Right from page one I was hooked and so caught up with Ren and Axel that I felt like I was in the book and I did not want it to end.

There is action, suspense, and romance in this story that will knock you on your butt. Ren is just your ordinary girl living her life and minding her own business or so it first appears. We soon find out that Ren is prophesied to end the war between the Dracians and The Telalians. She does not know that though and when Axel comes to save her he explains everything to her. It is not simple because Ren does not believe him at first but Axel soon proves what he is saying is true. Then the unexpected happens and the Ren and Axel start to fall for each other. The more danger comes to Ren the harder Axel fights for her to keep her safe.

Axel has never opened his heart up to anyone but there is something about Ren that tugs at his heart and he has to have her. He has some competition which I love because Ren's best friend Dean secretly loves her and he wants to be with her. But Axel is having none of that and he is the one that will do anything to protect her. Things start to get rough for Ren when she is hunted down by humans who want to destroy her and Goarders who want her dead and the leader of the Telalians seeks her out to destroy her. He wants to make sure that prophecy stays dormant and never comes to fruition.

What will happen to Ren and Axel? Will Ren be captured? Will Axel leave Ren to fend for herself?

This is a must read! Go out and get it today!

[Sab · Rating 5 out of 5]

MOTHER OF ALL CLIFFHANGERS!!! You know how incredibly annoying it is that TODAY'S the release day and that means I (we all do) have to wait a long time before book two comes out and and.... how can I possibly read a new book after this?! All the questions and possibilities... GAAAH!!! Mind blowing!!! Review coming out, March 10th!!! (so many exclamation points)

------------------------

ACTUAL REVIEW. Posted on Sab The Book Eater

Before my review, allow me a moment of cheesiness...

Did you know, the first cover reveal I've done on this blog is for Dracian Legacy? Yup. Thinking about it now and writing this for my stop on the tour... wow. We've come a long way.

(awkward silence)

No, seriously! It's freaking cool how one day I was just doing a cover reveal and then Priya was like, "hey want to participate in the tour?" and I was all HELL YEAH and I read it and my mind went KABOOM! Mind. Blowingly. Awesome. (forgive this part right here, I'm really finding it hard to make a decent review without fan girling and this is me, fan girling)

Alright, I'll make this easy for ya'll. Here are 5 reasons why you should buy Dracian Legacy:

1. Story line. As far as paranormal stories go, this is definitely original. It had an interesting plot and there were twists and turns that just made everything all the more exciting. Things that I just had to highlight and note, "didn't see THAT coming." I admit, I was sort of taken aback at first when a huge chunk of the mystery of Dracians and Telalians were explained early on but then going into the story I realized it was a good move. It got all the technical explanations out of the way and it made it easier for me to understand the story better as it progressed.

I also like that Priya was able to create a new world and was able to build the story from that. I tend to be more picky with paranormal novels because some books can get a bit weird and the story line becomes hard to grasp. But that wasn't the case in Dracian Legacy. I liked that the story incorporated a lot of contemporary elements in it (i.e. names, setting) without drowning out the paranormal. It was the right mix of paranormal and contemporary so the story was pretty easy to get into. Did I just make sense? Boy, I sure do hope so.

2. Characters. This book has a set of well-rounded characters. I loved that the story was made whole by not just the main characters but even the minor ones. Everyone played an important part in the story and I think it was cool how Priya was able to connect all of them. It wasn't just the characters per se, it's the relationships they have and formed. I just loved reading about Ren's relationship with her brother. It's one of my favorite things about the book. It was so touching and genuine and it was refreshing having some other form of relationship be given equal importance. Aside from that, I loved how the characters thought/spoke. They were witty and hilarious; it definitely added more to my enjoyment because they felt more relatable.

(and this is the part where I gush over some of the characters. Teehee)

I love love love (love) Ren! It's not that often that I like the female protagonist more than the male lead because honestly? We all hate the girl that gets The Guy. Ha! Seriously though, I liked Ren. She has spunk and she's totally not annoying. She wasn't whiny and she was strong - well duh, she's the center of it all, of course she's strong! Anyway!

Axel. Girls, girls. He's a freaking general. How sexy is that? (When I typed the word 'general' my heart skipped a beat haha *coughs* okay sorry) Axel has got to be one of my favorite book boyfriends now. He's strong, powerful, gorgeous and... one heck of a romantic! He says a lot of things which, I admit, are a bit over the top sometimes but who cares! He's not even human! He's allowed to be cheesy and sweet like that!

Dean. A lot of the bloggers I know are pining over Dean and I can definitely see why. He's the totally swoon-worthy bestfriend the MC, for some bizarre reason, doesn't want. Everything about Dean just screams hot. Literally. You'll have to read it to find out *wink*

TYLER. Tyler isn't part of the main characters but he's MY book boyfriend and I want to give him a spot on my review. He's strong. And cute. And funny. And perfect. And MINE. Just so you know. I'm sure the other minor characters are equally dreamy, but this one's taken alright? ;-) (god I feel like a hipster for crushing on a character who's not even part of the main characters) Did I mention he's funny? He's funny.

3. Romance. It was sort of insta love between Ren and Axel but it worked, for some reason. It didn't feel forced. It was almost as if the universe meant for them to be together. Cheesy, I know. But whatever. There were plenty of tender moments between Ren and Axel and they were simply breathtaking! Yes, I used that word...because it's true. I loved their initial attraction and I loved it even more when their relationship blossomed. *sigh*

4. Action. And of course, action. I loved the fight scenes! The Dracians were all badass warriors. Everything was just so descriptive and the pacing was great! It really set the mood, you know? Plus, you can really get a feel of the magical elements of the story because of all the action. One thing though, and I know some reviewers complained about it too - most of the action happened towards the end of the book. While that is true, I still feel like it was enough to set the story for the second book. To me, all that took place in the story was a some kind of preparation for all the madness that'll take place in the next installment. So even if a lot of the action happened towards the end, it was still equally awesome.

5. Cliffhanger. MOTHER OF ALL CLIFFHANGERS. It wasn't a huge letdown, really. It was just... this disturbing little detail that Priya left at the very last page. I finished reading it the day it was released and all I could think of was, "I have to wait. I have to wait for a long time."

Overall, Dracian Legacy is a must read. Loved everything about it - the plot, the descriptions, the characters (even their names), the paranormal elements - except the cliffhanger but I can live with that. Heh. I just really freaking need the second book. I even stalk Priya on Twitter whenever she has updates because I AM HOOKED ON THIS SERIES! Any book that makes me care enough to find out what happens after the cliffhanger is definitely a great one. Go and buy your copy of Dracian Legacy, you won't regret it. ;)

***I received an Advanced Reading e-Copy of this book for review***
This review is based solely on my opinion.

[Nuzaifa · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

Character Interview-Dean & Axel stopped by Say It with Books-These two are THE bomb people.For real!

Sometimes you come across certain books that you read in one sitting because they are just that awesome?And then once you are done you feel so heart broken because now that all the awesome-ness is over you have to wait for another year for the sequel to experience another dose of that awesome-ness?Well,Dracian Legacy is one such book.

You know what I loved the MOST about Dracian Legacy?The Characters.The characters have been crafted in such way that each and every one one of them feels vital to the story.The story is told from Ren's POV and boy Oh boy isn't she one kickass protagonist!Her sarcasm and sense of humor made me have some serious giggling fits.She was not like certain unbearably whiny YA heroines-she was compassionate,loyal and brave despite being pushed head first into some seriously over-whelming situations.Her sense of humor was like an ever present sidekick!


“Ah hell, this was bad. Double-chocolate-chips-goes-to-my-hips kinda bad.”


And then we have Axel-a sweet,romantic and protective guy with an admirable sense of honor.He cares a lot about the people he loves.He's also a man with a mission-the mission being finding the prophesied one.


“You make everything about my existence worthwhile.”

Dean-Despite what certain people think,Dean is mine(anyone who'd like to dispute that can meet me for a duel).This guy is hilarious.Sweet.Cocky.And haaaawt!I double dare you to read Dracian Legacy and NOT love this dude.Honestly,he's soooo swoony!Under all that misguided egotistical attitude there's one sweeeeeeeeet guy.For Real. *sniff sniff*

“You look super cute when you get all worked up. If it weren't for that razor-sharp tongue of yours,I'd suck that cuteness right out of you.”

Joshua,Cassie,Pey,Landon,Tyler were great supporting characters too.
The story moved very smoothly and there were a couple of twists and turns that surprised me.The relationship between the characters was well developed,loved the easy banter!There were plenty of adrenaline-rush-moments thanks to the well written action scenes.

And the ending totally caught me off guard-I really wasn't expecting something of that sort!The cliffhanger wasn't that big but I still cannot wait to get my hands on the sequel(I think it'll be out in Feb 2014 Hopefully we'll be able to get our hands on it earlier).

If you haven't read this fantastic debut,please go do it NOW-You have no idea what you are missing out on!

[Cecilia Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful debut! I really enjoyed reading Dracian Legacy. Ren is a wonderful, character with a strong voice. It was great experiencing her world through her eyes.
As soon as Ren's parents die, life as she knows it changes. First she meets Axel, the new guy in school. Only he's more than 'the new über-sexy guy' he is one a mission, and his mission is Ren.
Soon, she is tossed into a world she wasn't aware existed, and she finds out she is more than a high school girl.
The action scenes in this story are pretty spectacular. There's romance, gorgeous boys, wonderful friendships.

Can't wait to read the second book in the series.

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had so much fun reading this book! And the characters made me feel all kind of happy inside.

AWWWW, MAAAN, guys. I need the next booooooooook!

I'll post a full review on the 16th-ish. Maybe the 15th. We shall see. ;)

Oh, and Dean? Um. Yeah. HE'S MINE. <3

~~~

You may or may not know this, but I've been seriously pumped about this book for a while now. Ever since November when I was sitting in English class--TOTALLY doing the work I was supposed to be doing--and I got an email from some random author asking if I'd like to participate in the cover reveal for some random book. I said yes, because I'm nice like that AND this book seemed kind of cool. I knew little to nothing about the book then, but it stil caught my eye. It seemed. So. Cool.

AND IT WAS.

Guys, this book was so much fun. And the characters make me smile so hard. And then the story, as I said it was fun to read. I liked how everything was kind of vague going into it, but then as I read more and more I started to understand and things started to click and I found out that this book is NOT about vampires--for some reason, I thought it was at first. Ha. (Nothing against vampires, I am merely making an observation.) Plus, I did some spazzing at some certain parts of this book. It was the good kind of spaz. The kind I LOVE when books make me do it.

Character Rundown:
Ren: Ren actually wasn't that bad. Which will probably surprise some people *cough*Perez*cough* because I always seem to NOT like the female MC, apparently. But Ren was cool. She was nice but not a pushover. Completely stubborn, but in a way that amused me to no end. (Rotten eggs! You'll get that when you read, I promise.)

Axel: He is such a sweetheart. There is almost always a sweetheart in every book I read, and Axel is most definitely it here. He's protective and makes my heart all kinds of happy. And he's a soldier, guys. A SOLDIER. Awww, snap. He cares so much for Ren and he's not perfect, but he's wonderful anyway.

Dean: THIS IS MY BOY. MINEMINEMINE. So, I know I just said Axel was the sweetest, and I'm not taking that back, but Dean...ahh, Dean made me laugh. If you know me AT ALL (especially in person) you'll know that laughing is what I DO. I laugh way more than I probably should, but I'm cool with it. Anyway, Dean is so funny. And even though he's not exactly a perfect gentleman, he has a kind heart. This mostly came through with Ren. Which I loved to see. All in all, I adore Dean and he just makes me completely happy. <3

Joshua: I'm only going to take a second here to say that Joshua? Yeah, he deserves some kind of award for being a fantastic big brother. Seriously.

Plot. This book made me flip out. On more than one occassion. I was just so caught off guard sometimes. The storyline of this book is not something that can be guessed, really. I tried, and more often than not, something else happened and I was left sitting here like "Whaaaa?"

Romance. Romance, sweetness, the feels of my heart, whatever you wish to call it, I'm going to talk about that for a second here. Okay? AXEL AND REN NEED TO BE TOGETHER. I love Dean, adore him, he's totally mine, but Ren and Axel are just incredibly sweet and goodness knows how I love sweet things. 'CAUSE I DO. Ren and her stubborness mixed with Axel and his adorableness (may also be called "sweetness," but I'm trying not to overuse the word) created the most amazing couple and I want more. I. Want. To. Read. More.

The ending. NDRIGBAIERGIARBGIPAEWHB!!!!!!!!!! I canNOT believe this happened and, um, hey. I need the next book. Like...heh, NOW. There is something that's kind of a cliffhanger, but not too bad. You're not going to die in suspense. BUT, you will want more and there isn't more yet so you'll be like how I was at the beginning of this section, NDRIGBAIERGIARBGIPAEWHB. We shall all live, though, and I loved the feels I got from this ending.

Overall, Priya has written a book that makes me so happy! I had fun while reading it, fell in love with the characters, and want more so flipping bad. MOREMOREMORE! Can't wait for Book 2!

Oh, and did I mention that Dean is MINE? 'Cause he is. ;)

You can find more from me on my blog: Just a Booklover

[Lourie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have a love hate relationship with “Dracian Legacy” so I am going to approach this review differently then my others.


Characters:
I love the big bold personalities of every character that appears in the book. While the main focus in on Ren and Axel there are a slew of supporting characters that make their way in to balance and deepen the narrative.
• Ren - is carefree and goes with the flow. She loves her brother and her friends fiercely. What I don’t like about her is that she is to trusting. This big mine field of information is dumped on her and she takes everything as truth from the start and questions very little.
• Axel - is a prince and warrior whose attention is undividedly bestowed upon Ren. He is a little corny in his romantic pronouncements but ultimately he is charming and endearing.
• Dean - has become a master of hiding his true feelings but takes his job seriously!
I love that there is no teen angst delivered. While there is mention of some hardships in Ren’s past it’s used to further the plot, not to dwell on for sympathy. Kanaparti delivered teen psyche expertly.

Plot:
The story is easy to follow and the plot moves along at a nice pace. I loved the moments of inner dialogue from Ren. Her inner thoughts were quite amusing and totally relatable. However what didn’t work for the story was the information dump. There was one chapter that explained everything about the Dracians and Telalians which came off a little clunky and then wasn’t built on later. I would have liked to see more action scenes since there were very few but what was offered was superbly done.

Insta Love:
Romance should be the eventual falling in love due to the building of a relationship, sweet tender moments and a mutual respect for each others attributes but “Dracian Legacy” offered insta love. So much of the book is centered on Ren and Axel’s attraction to one anther that it became overwhelming. It was like one huge make out session with them. There was way to much teen pawing even with the supporting characters. For those that either love or despise love triangle there is also a minor one offered to muddle up the works.

I will say that “Dracian Legacy” is a strong debut novel for Priya Kanaparti. While I listed many pro’s and con’s for this book I enjoyed reading it and am curious to see what the second book in the saga will bring especially after the slight cliff hanger was delivered.

[Christine Rains · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ren Pernell had just started getting over the death of her parents when her world is turned upside-down again when the mysterious Axel Knight enters her life. A gorgeous guy isn't the end of the world, but with everything else, it might be. Nightmares lunge out of the shadows and attack, shattering the illusion of her normal life. Ren is at the center of an ancient war and only she can stop it.

This is a fantastic debut YA paranormal romance novel by Priya Kanaparti. It takes us slowly out of the dramatic every day teen life with a few hints of something magical going on, and then we're thrust into the frightening thick of it with Ren. Ren hasn't fully recovered yet from her parents' deaths when her life is altered drastically. She doesn't realize the strength within herself and comes across as wishy-washy. But Axel sees it. He's not only hot, but a great guide to bring her into the world of the Dracians. He's a good complement to Ren.

I found the world building and mythology most fascinating. Priya has prepared a solid base for what is to come in the series. Her writing style is clean and captures a powerful YA voice. I wasn't fond of the love triangle or instant love aspects of the story, but the plot carries great promise for where the series is headed.

[Jodie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Shimmering Stars...

In that moment, I understood what love was. It was blind. It was deep. It was magical. Love protected, preserved, intensified, and was always steadfast. Cassie and Joshua were proof. It didn't matter the real value of the object, only the value of the person. ~ Ren on Love

I had so many mixed emotions & reactions while reading this book. I remember sending a text after getting a few chapters in saying 'Omg, this book is the bomb diggity! You have to check this out! It's laugh out loud hilarious :)'

"You bailing on life again, Pernell?"
"Go find someone else to annoy."
"And what? Miss a chance to infuriate you?" Dean smirked.
"You are--"
"Mere perfection." Dean interjected.
"You're full of--"
"Life." He wiggled his eyebrows, throwing himself on my bed putting his arm around my shoulder.~ Ren & Dean

So, I'll start there. In the beginning I was devouring the pages. I didn't want to set my kindle down for anything. When the prologue gives you goosies, you know it's going to be an intense read. Ren (full name Temperance Pernell & aka Killer to her brother Josh, and Nellie by her neighbour/bff Dean) is recovering from her parents brutal murder. It's been 18 months and she is finally learning to live again. She had no idea what the big bad world had in store for her, and neither did I, but boy, did I want to! She was going to have here eyes opened wide to Dracians, Telalians, Goarders and Proxys, family secrets she couldn't have imagined and a phrophecy that would blow her mind. Whoa momma. Hold on you your horses!!!

Before I knew it, I was more confused than a fish in a dry pond. ~ Ren

Something else that I absolutely loved - the friendship & the humor. Dean, Landon, Pey and Ren has been best friends since first grade. Awwwwwww, I love me friendships with unwavering loyalty and these 4 had it. In droves. I wanted to hang out at the cafe and bask in the wit and fun of the group. There was insults and comebacks flying thick and fast. And everyone knows I love me some banter!

"A cocky quarterback that's hopelessly in love with himself. We'll be lucky if you don't stop every two seconds to check yourself out."
"Hey, I can't help if I'm that irresistible." He shot me a flirty smile.
I looked to Pey, who ave me a for real? look, making me laugh.
Dean was not in love with himself. He was beyond stalker-obsessed.
"You're a man-whore, Dean. Man.Whore," Pey drawled.
Oh no, not this conversation again.
"I've got plenty of love and I don't object to sharing." Dean shrugged.

When we got to the love and sparks that's when I started having some difficulties. Now don't get me wrong I did quite enjoy the majority of this book, but I found some parts had me rolling my eyes at some of the lovey dovey stuff that was maybe even a bit too much for this romance lover, I tried remembering if that's how 17/18year olds really did speak like that when I was that age and actually gasped out loud when I realised I was actually Team Dean rather than Team Axel because I rather the banter than the swoon. I know wtf people. That is almost unheard of. I usually love me some sweetness, but I guess we do know, I always ALWAYS go for the lifetime of friendship, so it kinda sucks that we only got a few beautiful moments and kisses with Dean, and I have pretty much figured he doesn't have a chance.

"I'm overwhelmed by you. You've shown me all I can become. From the first time I saw you, my world has taken a different orbit. And when you glanced my way the very first time, I knew you would be mine. You're my saviour, my angel, my own personal demon." ~ Axel to Ren

"I'm lost to your touch, your magic. I think of you in every waking moment and dream of you when I'm asleep. I love you in so many ways it's hard to breathe. I love you above everything-heaven, earth, body, and soul." ~ Axel to Ren

The relationship Ren shared with her only family on the planet, her brother Josh (aka Muskles) has me tearing up time and time again. And at one point I was crying so much I was gasping for air. This author knows how to make her relationships meaningful.

"If they were here..." I choked, unable to finish the thought. "We'll always have each other right?"
"One way or another." He kissed my forehead. "I love you kiddo." ~ Ren & Josh

This book had me giggling at Ren's internal dialogue, the challenge junkie in her, and her mental slaps and facepalms. And I adored the descriptions of the rain, cave, gazebo and seeing the world through Ren's awe filled eyes. The music and movies in the pages was fab, and the action, although it it was not until much later in the book, when it hit, my heart was racing. I thought the telepathy was wicked and the protector thing made my heart sigh. I love me some Dean :) There was so much information throughout the book that I'm not sure I grasped it all, but I will tell you something for sure, there is plenty more I need answers to and I'm looking forward to continuing on with the series when the next instalment is released.

"The greatest success always follows epic failure. We've all failed, disappointing someone in our lives, but we rise above it because we learn from those mistakes..." ~ Axel to Ren

[Laura Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s been a year since Ren’s parents were murdered and she’s still grieving. Luckily, she has her big brother, Joshua, to lean on. Together, they struggle to find their way.

Life does go on though, and Ren is learning to deal with it. Her best friend Pey, along with her boyfriend Landon keep her distracted, when they can keep their hands off each other. And there’s always Dean, her friend from childhood. They shared everything, but lately he’s become stuck on himself since making the varsity football team. Now, he’s irritating and thinks he’s God’s gift to all women.

I have to confess, I usually fall for the bad boy. Especially when he looks as yummy as Dean does.

Hanging out with her gang at the local cafe, she can’t miss the new guy. She senses he’s different, special somehow. She squirms under his gaze.

His brown hair drooped over his eyes and his shirt hugged every ripple and contour of his body. I wondered how long it took God to create that sculpture.

She bumps into him later. I mean really bumps into him when he almost runs her over with his motorcycle.

She has little time to be angry as they are attacked by these things. He quickly dispatches them and gets her safely home. At least she now has his name. Axel.

The next day, at achool, she sees him again. He talks her into a ride on Dulcea, his bike, and takes her to a cave she’d never known was there. She gasps at the beauty of it. The flowers and trees, and the cascading waterfall make her feel like she’s entered another world.

There, Axel explains about who he is and what attacked them. Ren’s easy belief surprises him.

“God is bipolar,” I said.

“What?” His voice was low and surprised.

“I mean, how can he create something as astonishing as this and also create those things? Goarders, I think you said?” I shuddered, remembering the blood-red eyes, sharp teeth, and snake-like tongues.

It figures. She finally meets a guy she’d date, and it turns out he’s a Dracian, a magical being with special abilities. And his race is at war with another faction, hence the Goarders.

Now she’s caught up in their war and falling in love with Axel. She’s also dealing with the unsolved murder of her parents and a disturbing encounter with her mother’s ghost. That’s a lot for a seventeen year old to cope with.

Axel’s mission to retrieve the Echo turns into a mission to keep them alive. The enemy wants something he has and they will keep on coming until they get it. That thing is Ren, and Axel will stop at nothing to protect the girl he loves.

When I started reading Dracian Legacy I felt like I had stepped into the past. All the way back to highschool. It was fun listening to Ren and her gang as they bantered back and forth.

And the angst she feels when she’s anywhere near Axel makes me remember my first crush. I couldn’t think straight when he was around and the stupidest things would come out of my mouth. Ren’s awkwardness had me chuckling and sighing, remembering when.

Dracian Legacy may be a romance, but don’t forget the war between magical factions. And the Goarders, you don’t dare forget them. They are just waiting to rip you to shreds.

Once Ren gets dragged into their war, the book takes off and you’re along for a turbulent ride to the end.

I was surprised by how much I liked this story. It’s written for young adults and I didn’t expect to feel a real connection to the characters. I did though. Especiallly to Ren, Axel, and Dean. But I also connected with Joshua, Pey and Landon.

I guess I’m saying, I love a character driven book, and there were so many I enjoyed in this book.

If you like YA paranormal fantasies, with some romance to spice it up, I’d recommend you read Dracian Legacy. I’m curious to see how the characters mature and what they fall into next.

Dracian Legacy and Priya’s characters get Four Stars from me!

[CCAM&GZM · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was anxious when I started reading the book because I really wished to like it. To not let myself influenced by anyone or anything I did not read other reviews, opinions and comments. The result? I liked it and I liked it a lot. Now, of course everyone has their own tastes and each are seeking something in a book, but I'm sure many will love Dracian Legacy.

After a brief prologue that impresses you and opens a large door to any possibility, the characters are introduced and the action begins. Every character attracts you with something and was very easy for me to choose my favourites. We’ll find a love triangle too, but one in which the coordinates are changing and keeps your attention alert. Although I felt sorry for the rival, I think that was his fault also.

I can say that the author has managed to convey very well the characters emotions, especially the heroine’s feelings, subject to all possible pressures. Ren is a funny girl with a quick mind and that primarily is honest with herself and with us. I love her lines. They are for my taste and looks (keeping the proportions) with my own way of responding. I recognize that there are many who do not understand the true value of my replies (or do not understand them at all), but those who do are having a lot of fun.

She will deal amazingly with some news not quite ordinary. Rest assured, we all would do the same if it comes about someone like Axel, a guy "like a beautiful avenging angel", which certainly would confuse our heart and mind.

„A huge idiotic grin spread across my face. I hadn’t smiled like this in a long time. And he put it there.”

I would have liked it that the fantastic element, once placed (very quickly), to make its presence felt even more, but I cannot deny that until then I feasted with the interactions between the characters. Secrets, sudden appearances, unexplained feelings, jealousy hidden or not, temptations and regrets, plus a very caring big brother offer very pleasant moments. All of them are well entwined in general thread of action and make you to forget the danger that lurks in the shadows. But something always happens and everything will be the explanation or premise of what will follow. The action is well handle, sometimes it lets you foresee what is to come, but it will also bring surprises.

The idea is that when the fantastic arise, the problems occur - problems and other mysteries and do not think about puny problems, but a matter of life and death ones.

“Power is a beautiful thing. It helps mankind continue forward, but it can also destroy humankind. Power is virtuous. It’s swayed by the beholder, not the other way around.”

Well, here I’m a little upset on Priya, although I understand the need of her "choice". The ending brings pain, atonement, resignation, desire to succeed and the critical need to get answers to old and new questions.

„Love was meant to be experienced in the darkest of misery and through the lightest of happiness. It was both hope and despair. It wasn’t easy. But nothing worthy comes easy. If it were, it wouldn’t be eternal… immortal… indestructible… That much I knew.”

What can I say more (because I do not want to ruin your enjoyment of reading the book)? If you want a little (more) stinging replies, if you want a triangle where both candidates are deserving, great secondary characters that you feel attracted of and with their own importance, tenderness, but also adventure, mysteries and secrets unrevealed yet, an alert action with good battle scenes, and humor, then you must read the book.

Dracian Legacy is a good start for Priya. I want to congratulate her and wish her good luck and a lot of inspiration. I’m waiting for the second book.

[Jana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've got a love-hate relationship with this book. While some parts really did impress me considering this is a debut, some parts really did make me want to tear my hair out. And I like my hair, thank ya very much.


Let's talk about the plot first. I was so intrigued by the two magical races Dracians and the Telalians and I was expecting to read more about them but what we got was we had the mention at the beginning of the book, and there was no action or something whatsoever until the last few chapters. I want it to be more developed since I think the author can do so much with this. Though I admit the parts we have read, were really great.


With Ren, I was sorta expecting this kick-ass heroine who's smart and brave and blah blah blah but what we unforetunately got was this weak, whiny character who I sometimes got really annoyed with. I feel like the author wants and tries toooo hard to make her really kick-ass and a character who knows what she wants but it's just not working for me.


GUYS, HELP ME. There is insta-love in this book. Oh my gosh. The MC was telling us how she's fallen in love with him in just...WAIT FOR IT...20% of the book. Yes, I did check my Kindle. Like most people/bloggers/readers, that is my absolute hate. Hate hate hate. *clears throat*. Anyway, apart from that which made me hulk-like angry, I didn't mind the romance between Ren and Axel. Axel definitely says the right things and sometimes, he was very swoon-worthy and oh so romantic.


Another thing that really pissed me off. The love triangle. You guys know I'm not a big fan of love triangles and I have to be honest here. While I do love Axel and Dean, I got really tired of the love triangle. It's not the guys' fault. It's REN'S fault. This stupid girl just can't make up her mind and I just want to strangle her! Throughout the book she keeps leading both guys on and keeps going back and forth between them. Just choose one, and leave the other alone.


I think Dean is the saving grace for me. (Just to save confusion: I am totally Team Dean, but we can all guess who Ren's going to end up with just by reading the book summary). Every time he was on the page, I just want to hug this book! Some may say he's your typical bad boy but he's got so many hidden layers underneath that I just want to figure him out. I hope Priya does a POV for him. I'd so read it. :)


You know what? I loved the side characters way more than the main ones. Ren's brother Joshua was one I absolutely loved and his girlfriend/fiance was so sweet! I could read a book about them!


I loved Priya's writing style! It was so addicting and there were some very funny one-liners in there! About the pace of the book however, there were quite slow and didn't pick up until the roughly 3/4 of the book. A little tidbit: I started this and then put it down and didn't pick it up until 2 weeks since it was slow.


The ending kinda ruined this for me. Argh. I can't believe that! WHY?!? I really don't want to give too much away but I thought someone's death was utterly pointless. WHY OH WHY. And I want to say so much more about it but I'm gonna keep my mouth shut. For now. Fyi, I'm undecided whether I will read the sequel. Maybe. Just for Dean.



Overall, this was still worth a read, and even though there were definitely some things I had a problem with, I don't regret reading DRACIAN LEGACY. The author has a lot of potential!

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

www.the-book-diaries.blogspot.com

Where to begin? Ok, this book was awesome. I loved the story idea. It was so creative and original and refreshing to read about something new and exciting The Dracians. Priya has outdone herself with her first book. In no way does this book speak "new author". Priya writes with experience and it shows with her story of Dracian Legacy. Priya's characters are so loveable, and entertaining. The way she writes brings a realness about them, and its easy to become attacted to a character. My favorite thing about this book is the thoughts Ren has, she is hilarious. Everyone can relate to the things to what she is thinking. To describe Ren as a character would be loyal, courageous, self-sacrificing, and headstrong. Dean I believe is the most misunderstood character. He surprised me at every corner even with his stupid male ego. Axel is a mystery. Just when you think you've got him figured out, we find another secret. I think we will learn a lot more about him in Dracian Legacy #2.

"You look super cute when you get all worked up.

If it weren't for that razor-sharp tongue of yours,

I'd suck that cuteness right out of you." -Dean

In her book we meet Temperence, aka Ren, who is an ordinary teenage girl, so it seems. Having lost her parents a year ago, we see the rebuilding of Ren's life without them. Her brother, Joshua, is her guardian and to me is the example of the brother we all want or wished we had. Ren meets Alexander, aka Axel, while visiting her parents gravesite. That night is when Ren's world is knocked of its axis. Creatures called Goarders, aka bad monsters, attack Ren and Axel, leaving Axel to make a big decision, tell Ren about who he really is and his world called Dracia. From that day on, Axel is all Ren can think about, and realizes she has an intense pull for him. Dean, one of Ren's best friends and certified "asshat", sees Ren's attraction towards Axel and decides now is time to make a move. Thus creating our love triangle. Both guys pull feelings from Ren and has to choose. Just when Ren gets her man, revealtions come out. Ren is not what she thinks she is and neither are the people she loves and cares about most. Ren has to learn to protect herself from the evils of Dracia and now become the savior they all need her to be, oh and graduate high school as well. When the battle comes, Ren will have to survive ultimate love and loss and say goodbye to her old life.

[Tiffany Loves Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dracian Legacy is a paranormal romance about a girl caught in the middle of a war between two races of magical beings. It starts off well, is a page turner and was quick to capture my attention. Kanaparti does a great job with her debut novel and it truly has a lot of potential: as a novel and as a series.

The Good:

- This novel had so many components that made it an amazing read. It had amazing character development both for main characters and supporting characters as well.
- This novel also had the romance and steamy-ness in spades. The romance got to be a little cheesy in some scenes but it was all of the flower and hearts variety I love so much.
- The premise was intriguing and well presented.
- Great action scenes. Well she spoon feeds it to us- a little at a time under this battle royale at the end, which was amazing.
- Good storyline and with great pacing.

So, here is what I've been trying to nicely ease into. This book truly had the potential to be a 5 star novel but there seemed to be a few problems with it. *Note: I am aware of the fact that I got a very early version of the novel and not the final product readers will be getting.* My biggest issue with this novel is time. The flow of time was a bit disjointed. Sometimes one thing would lead to another without explanation. Characters would appear in wierd ways and go unintroduced, one scene leads to another without transition and things of the sort.

So the above complaint clearly took away from the novel for me. However, it's a book that is worth reading. It actually makes for a great pastime and I truly enjoyed the novel and will be picking up it's sequel. The story line is well-developed yet leaves enough intrigue that it will keep you guessing. Dracian Legacy is definitely a book I recommend.

*I received a free copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review.

Giveaway: For a chance to win a free copy of this novel and form your own opinions on it, enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway

To see more of my reviews be sure to visit my blog TiffanyLovesBooks

[Eli Hinze · Rating 4 out of 5]

To see reviews, excerpts and more, head over to my blog!

Actual rating: 3.5 out of 5


I originally read this book when it came out in 2013, and now that it’s been rereleased with a publisher I’ve gotten a chance to experience it again! There are definite improvements in this updated version, which serve to make the entire story more professional and enjoyable. I still had a few issues with it, but hey, that’s the way it is with most books.

The plot isn’t anything new, yet the execution doesn’t leave you feeling as if you’ve read it before.

I liked the spunk of the characters. Too often in YA books characters come off as flat, especially supporting characters. Not here! Even the minor characters had depth to them, whether they were there for two pages or two hundred.

The writing was well done, with the exception of two things. It was a bit cluttered, as in I feel it would’ve benefitted from cutting certain words and/or sentences. Also, I didn’t care for it when. The. Author. Would. Punctuate. Simple. Sentences. Like. This. I get that it’s for emphasis, but it rubbed me the wrong way. Still, it wasn���t too common.

I have to thank Kanaparti for not overdoing the angst. What with the main character having lost both of her parents, there were quite a few opportunities for the author to beat the audience over the head with sobbing and pity. Which gets old quickly. Nothing of the sort here!

Ren and Axel’s relationship progresses very naturally throughout the story as they fall into each other’s rhythm. No insta-love in this book! They were a bit obnoxiously cheesy with one another though, and not in a “squee-so-cute” way. More in the “ugh-please-god-stop” way. (That being said, some couples are actually like that. I think.)

The pacing was good. I felt a constant momentum throughout, pulling the reader through the book’s pages.

Overall, Dracian Legacy earns a solid 3.5 out of five.

[Tonja Drecker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book. The MC, Ren, has a bit of a bite to her personality, but is still loving and compassionate. The man who catches her eye is a hero as they should be: gorgeous, strong, ready to die for his heroine. But of course, he's not without competition - Ren's best friend, Dean, wouldn't mind winning her heart either, and he's not a bad catch himself.

Although the under-lying story centers around the unseen war between two magical races (with evil soldiers who always know how to pop up when the MCs least want them), this book mostly concentrates on the increasing sparks between Ren and Axel - sparks that made my toes tingle. The author, Priya Kanaparti, definitely has a talent for those building moments - her kissing scenes unforgettable.

The action scenes are well described hand-to-hand combats with all the thrill and detail a battle should have. Despite the powerful magic both sides possess, the usage of this is kept to a minimum - concentrating more on the physical end of things - swords, daggers and simply fists. I personally, would have liked to have seen a little more of the conflict between these two magical races, maybe gotten to known one or two of the evil characters a bit better. I also felt that the build up to Ren's involvement in the mystic war could have been focused on more, but then one or two of the romantic thrills might have fallen away - and that would be a disappointment too.

My facit? An enjoyable read for those nights you simply want to cuddle in your blanket with a warm cup of tea. It's a feel good kind of book, easy and smooth, which guarantees sweet dreams for the night.

[Rae · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review first appeared on my blog: What Happened to the Wallflower?

Cover- Overall, yes it's pretty. But it's been done a lot, that whole dramatic close-up of the MC. At least the eyes are important; that blue flicker really is a trait of only certain important people within the novel, so there's that. The text is laid out well, too, so that everything can be both seen and read easily by the reader.

I didn't go absolutely crazy, though, and honestly because the cover didn't grab my eye that's why I held out on buying it (because, yes, people actually do judge books by their covers).

★★★☆☆

Narrative- Dracian Legacy is told in the first person, from the POV of our main character, Ren. I would venture to say that Kanaparti did an absolutely fantastic job with most of the narrative. Ren's voice was captured extremely well and I feel like I was constantly assaulted by what was happening in her head . . . which is actually a good thing. It was a really smooth read; Kanaparti's style seems to be one that's easy to read and pay attention to, and even easy to get back into in the moments where I was interrupted or came back after a few hours.

The one downside: I don't like exclamation marks in narrative. At all. I apologize because I'm really biased, but yeah. These instances always came up when we were given a direct thought from the main character, and I feel like it took away from the effect. I don't need to feel like the character is screaming at me to get when she's excited; the words, themselves, convey that. So this was probably the biggest (albeit petty) downside.

★★★★☆

Plot- Last week I divided my thoughts into what worked and what didn't, and that helped loads, so I'm doing it again:

What Worked:
-I'm a sucker for romance (*coughs* done right), and Axel and Ren were totally swoon-worthy, so I loved their relationship
-The action. Oh my lord, the action was phenomenal, especially in the last half of the book ("the last half" -> keep an eye on that phrase, it'll pop up a lot). Ren's being basically hunted, and it's revealed that the majority of precautions that the Dracian's take in different situations is all for her. Understandable, and I'm so glad somebody finally realized that the super-important main character needs protection. Of course, that didn't stop Ren from breaking the rules (I'm thinking of Chicago, here), but that was totally human. I'd want to sneak out, too. And then the ending sequence was a fantastic battle in which Kanaparti did a really great job of showcasing multiple characters, not just Ren and Axel and Ren's brother, which I honestly thought was cool (and here I'm thinking Trinity). Once the paranormal part of the plot really got going, I was for the most part extremely sucked in (as in, I lied to my friends and told them I was writing when in reality I was reading).

What Didn't Work:
-The first half of the book, I almost put it down. Once Axel came into the picture, it was an overplayed love triangle between Ren, Axel, and Ren's friend, Dean. Ren and Dean's back-story was fantastic; I love that aspect of "I made a mistake and I want to fix it," especially now that Ren knows who she is. I just think that it was over-dramatized in areas, which made the first half of the book feel like a soap opera in novel form.
-I sort-of alluded to this in yesterday's post about plot flow: this book was a bit jarring in spots. When it came to the main plot points (ie, everything happening within the Dracian world) it was pretty smooth, although the Chicago scene I felt like could have been led into a little better (if you want to know what happened in Chicago, read the book *wink*). What got lost was what was happening in the human world. Suddenly there was a football game Ren went to (not actually in the story, but it was mentioned and I thought it was random), and then the Chicago trip (yes I'm back to Chicago). The first we hear of it is when Ren asks her brother if she can go to Chicago for "Pey's big day" (Peyton being Ren's best friend), and I had absolutely no clue what she was referring to. A little more detail would have been fantastic. So yeah, I think this one's actually more of a smaller pet-peeve than the first point, here, but it had to come up.

Okay, so truthfully it was the second half of the book that pulled me in and got me to continue reading. This is probably because I'm more of a paranormal fan than a romance; this book plays heavily on both. I'm a romantic at heart, but not when it's overplayed, so the first half of the book made me roll my eyes a little bit.

Overall, though, I thought about the book for a good few hours after I'd finished, and in a good way. I kept thinking about the action, and kept wondering oh my god what the freak is going to happen, like freaking eh. To put it simply, I had a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach, which always happens whenever I'm invested in a plotline.

Seriously, though. That ending.

★★★☆☆

Characters- There is one thing I would like to point out before going further and saying how much I actually did love the characters: teenagers are not that horny. Some of the couples were constantly going at it with their tongues down each others throats, and I wasn't exactly buying it. As I pointed out above, the first half of the book has a somewhat of a focus on romance (well, it felt like that to me), so it all kind of fit. And consider that this book comes with a tag of 16+, so I expected a bit more of that kind of angle.

But no. Just no.

Despite that, I want to say that these guys kind of stole my heart. The Dracian guys were hilarious, Peyton was truly what a best friend should be, Ren was realistic (which is especially good since I was trapped in her mind for 250 pages), and Axel was totally swoon-worthy (and reminded me of why I'll never have a boyfriend, because nobody can possibly live up to the expectations that he set the bar for). The brother, Joshua, seemed a bit bipolar at times, but I'm attributing that to being super protective (the ending totally made up for it, though; he's fantastic).

I mean, I could try to come up with a monster list of criticisms, but the bottom line is that I laughed when reading a lot of their dialogue with each other; in a good way. Ultimately, they were all teenagers, given tremendous responsibility but also able to just have fun once in awhile and lighten the situations. Put simply, I wish I was best friends with all of them.

★★★★☆

I definitely had my ups and downs with this book, and in some instances more downs then ups. While it played on more romance than I would have liked (and that love triangle that made me shudder), overall it was a pleasing read. I think the ending saved it. Like, my god. When's the second one coming out, anybody know?

Final Answer: 3.5 / 5

[Fab Fun & Tantalizing Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Shimmering Stars...

In that moment, I understood what love was. It was blind. It was deep. It was magical. Love protected, preserved, intensified, and was always steadfast. Cassie and Joshua were proof. It didn't matter the real value of the object, only the value of the person. ~ Ren on Love

I had so many mixed emotions & reactions while reading this book. I remember sending a text after getting a few chapters in saying 'Omg, this book is the bomb diggity! You have to check this out! It's laugh out loud hilarious :)'

"You bailing on life again, Pernell?"
"Go find someone else to annoy."
"And what? Miss a chance to infuriate you?" Dean smirked.
"You are--"
"Mere perfection." Dean interjected.
"You're full of--"
"Life." He wiggled his eyebrows, throwing himself on my bed putting his arm around my shoulder.~ Ren & Dean

So, I'll start there. In the beginning I was devouring the pages. I didn't want to set my kindle down for anything. When the prologue gives you goosies, you know it's going to be an intense read. Ren (full name Temperance Pernell & aka Killer to her brother Josh, and Nellie by her neighbour/bff Dean) is recovering from her parents brutal murder. It's been 18 months and she is finally learning to live again. She had no idea what the big bad world had in store for her, and neither did I, but boy, did I want to! She was going to have here eyes opened wide to Dracians, Telalians, Goarders and Proxys, family secrets she couldn't have imagined and a phrophecy that would blow her mind. Whoa momma. Hold on you your horses!!!

Before I knew it, I was more confused than a fish in a dry pond. ~ Ren

Something else that I absolutely loved - the friendship & the humor. Dean, Landon, Pey and Ren has been best friends since first grade. Awwwwwww, I love me friendships with unwavering loyalty and these 4 had it. In droves. I wanted to hang out at the cafe and bask in the wit and fun of the group. There was insults and comebacks flying thick and fast. And everyone knows I love me some banter!

"A cocky quarterback that's hopelessly in love with himself. We'll be lucky if you don't stop every two seconds to check yourself out."
"Hey, I can't help if I'm that irresistible." He shot me a flirty smile.
I looked to Pey, who ave me a for real? look, making me laugh.
Dean was not in love with himself. He was beyond stalker-obsessed.
"You're a man-whore, Dean. Man.Whore," Pey drawled.
Oh no, not this conversation again.
"I've got plenty of love and I don't object to sharing." Dean shrugged.

When we got to the love and sparks that's when I started having some difficulties. Now don't get me wrong I did quite enjoy the majority of this book, but I found some parts had me rolling my eyes at some of the lovey dovey stuff that was maybe even a bit too much for this romance lover, I tried remembering if that's how 17/18year olds really did speak like that when I was that age and actually gasped out loud when I realised I was actually Team Dean rather than Team Axel because I rather the banter than the swoon. I know wtf people. That is almost unheard of. I usually love me some sweetness, but I guess we do know, I always ALWAYS go for the lifetime of friendship, so it kinda sucks that we only got a few beautiful moments and kisses with Dean, and I have pretty much figured he doesn't have a chance.

"I'm overwhelmed by you. You've shown me all I can become. From the first time I saw you, my world has taken a different orbit. And when you glanced my way the very first time, I knew you would be mine. You're my saviour, my angel, my own personal demon." ~ Axel to Ren

"I'm lost to your touch, your magic. I think of you in every waking moment and dream of you when I'm asleep. I love you in so many ways it's hard to breathe. I love you above everything-heaven, earth, body, and soul." ~ Axel to Ren

The relationship Ren shared with her only family on the planet, her brother Josh (aka Muskles) has me tearing up time and time again. And at one point I was crying so much I was gasping for air. This author knows how to make her relationships meaningful.

"If they were here..." I choked, unable to finish the thought. "We'll always have each other right?"
"One way or another." He kissed my forehead. "I love you kiddo." ~ Ren & Josh

This book had me giggling at Ren's internal dialogue, the challenge junkie in her, and her mental slaps and facepalms. And I adored the descriptions of the rain, cave, gazebo and seeing the world through Ren's awe filled eyes. The music and movies in the pages was fab, and the action, although it it was not until much later in the book, when it hit, my heart was racing. I thought the telepathy was wicked and the protector thing made my heart sigh. I love me some Dean :) There was so much information throughout the book that I'm not sure I grasped it all, but I will tell you something for sure, there is plenty more I need answers to and I'm looking forward to continuing on with the series when the next instalment is released.

"The greatest success always follows epic failure. We've all failed, disappointing someone in our lives, but we rise above it because we learn from those mistakes..." ~ Axel to Ren

[Kayleigh {K-Books} · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dracian Legacy Review on K-Books

"I want us. I want to be your every breath, your every dream, be your everything."

Dracian Legacy was one of my 'can't wait for' book of 2013 and I am so grateful to the amazing Priya for sending me an ARC of this book. However I am very sad to say that this book just didn't mean my expectations. Don't get me wrong it is a very good story and there are certain parts of the book that I loved but unfortunately other parts just fell flat for me.

Ren's life has always been simple. She is living her normal life going to school and hanging out with her friends. Then Axel comes to town. The new guy he is mysterious and gorgeous and Ren just feels when he is around. Suddenly Ren is pulled into the supernatural world that she never knew existed but has always been a part of. Ren is prophesised to end the war between Dracian's and Telalians. But now Ren knows everything and her life is constantly in danger. Add that to being torn between Axel, the guy she loves and she has a special connection with and Dean, typical bad boy and best friend. Ren's life has just got a whole lot complicated and can everyone get out alive?

Dracian Legacy is an enjoyable book and I did enjoy reading it. I genuinely love the storyline. I mean read that blurb. You have everything you could possibly want, there's mystery and action and the supernatural and hot boys. Not only one hot boy but TWO! The best! I really loved the mythology of the supernatural races and think that that was done so well. Have no doubt that Priya's writing style is incredible. I think she did a fantastic job of letting us know little bits of the supernatural history and mythology as we went along which kept my attention and had me wondering more about them and continuing reading to find that out.

However, there were holes in the story for me. The biggest thing for me was the action... this war between the two supernatural races that's mentioned in the blurb... I was expecting action and for the first half of the book nothing really happened. It was heavily focussed on the romance which usually is fine for me but I just wanted something else to happen and I started to find myself getting a little bored in the first half of the book. The prophecy in the blurb isn't even mentioned until well after half-way and I just felt like the blurb ruined it a little bit for me as I felt bored in the first half because I knew she was supernatural but the first half of the book goes on as if she's not and I think the second half would have had more of the shock factor if it hadn't been in the blurb. Second thing, things happened in the book that just weren't expanded upon. One thing in particular is included on the cover so to me should be very important and it was mentioned once and then it seemed as if it had just been forgotten about.

I have some issues with characters too. Before I read this book I had read reviews that said that Ren was an awesome kick-ass character which made me so impatient to read the book... but I was disappointed. To me she wasn't strong or kick-ass... she tried to be... she tried so hard to be independent but for me it just didn't happen! She is one of my least favourite heroines. She just annoyed me so much. It wasn't in a 'she was pathetic or whiny' way it's that she is just so stupid! A lot of the scenes I was just so close to screaming at the book. I mean things happen that are just so damn obvious and she doesn't even bat an eyelash toward it. I was like are you seriously that stupid? To me Ren is an absolute idiot and people who know me know I have a major issue with idiocy. I can't stand stupid people! And I am sorry but Ren takes stupidity to a whole new level for me!

The thing that totally redeemed this book for me was the boys. After I got over the whole insta-love thing... yes guys there is insta-love, something I hate so much. BUT Axel made the insta-love thing easier because let's face it... I totally fell insta-love with him too. He is the nicest, sweetest guy ever and I was just constantly going AWWWWW. He is amazing... BUT my heart completely and utterly belongs to Dean. Ren's bad-boy best friend Dean is the cockiest guy you will ever meet but man I am head-over-heels in love with him. Dean redeemed the whole book for me and I am soooo Team Dean!

I'd really been looking forward to Dracian Legacy and don't get me wrong I did enjoy it but there was just too much that really annoyed me. I loved the storyline and the mythology of the supernatural races but there was just a lot there that were things that really annoy me in books so it fell a bit short and left me a bit disappointed. It just didn't live up to my expectations. I will still be reading the second one as I just need to know what happens and I need more Dean ;)

"I love you, in so many ways it's hard to breathe. I love you above everything - heaven, earth, body and soul."

[Kelly | xoxo, Kelly Nina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Original review at

"I felt more connected to my surroundings
right in this moment than I ever had before.
Perhaps it was because of our primal connection
or our ancestral retention of nature
in its purest form."
--Priya Kanaparti, Dracian Legacy


I have to get my thoughts about the cover out of the way first and foremost. I was lucky enough to be a part of the cover reveal a few weeks back and I just love it. The dress, the light, the dagger in the title. I just think it is so beautiful and clever. SO! About the book. I have to say I was surprised by this book. The description leads me to believe that this will take place solely in a fantasy world but much to my delightful surprise it is actually set in our world with the introduction of this paranormal/fantasy element of Dracians and Telalians.

As the description will also tell you there is a lot of emphasis on the romance. I have mixed feelings about this. There is the element of insta-love and also good amount of dialogue that was too cheesy for me. I usually like the characters to have to fight for their love a little bit and while there was conflict and mixed signals in the story, both characters seemed to go from 0 to 60 in the love department in about 2.5 seconds. Axel especially. While his lines were definitely swoonworthy, it seemed a little too much, too soon in the beginning. Ren's inner dialogue about how she did feel crazy for how much she did like him so quickly was appreciated but the element was still there. HOWEVER, if you can get over that (which I eventually did), HOT damn is their relationship steamy. Kanaparti can write a romance. The scenes between Axel (nickname for Alexander...hot) and Ren were electrifying. While I was reading I found myself thinking like Ren and going back and forth between YES, I love these two, keep kissing! And really? Didn't they just meet not too long ago? So this is just me being crazy though. My fangirl self was screaming for more but the level-headed human inside was trying to be rational. Axel is a definite candidate for a book boyfriend if you're looking for one.

The history of the Dracians and Telalians I loved. The entire magical aspect of the story I could not get enough of. I wanted to know more. More details, more history, more of how everything worked! I definitely did not get enough of this but the parts I did get were awesome! And don't worry! The author herself said we get much more of this in Book 2 :) The pacing was good. Lots of romance, a great amount of mystery to the plot that I had to keep reading in order to find out what was going on. I liked that for a fantasy-based novel, there were not 6 million characters to keep track of or 8 different sub-species within the framework. The outline of the magical beings world is outline quickly and very easy to understand which was such a relief as a reader.

Ren is also awesome. Her inner and outer dialogue are hilarious. She is very witty and self-deprecating a lot, which is always a plus in characters to me. Axel is...smokin'. He is loyal, brave, strong and kind. Read: Compassionate badass. Ador him. The supporting characters also have a lot of depth to them as well. What I initially believed to shallow peripheral characters turned out to have a lot of complexities and strong individual voices. Almost every character mentioned has a little bit of a background and story given to us. Loved this. Helps complete the whole circle of the story instead of just focusing on a few main characters. Dean completely surprised me in this way. That's all I'll say as to not ruin any plot points... :)

The themes of loyalty and love are plentiful in example. There is just something about working for a cause larger than your individual self. So heartwarming. These characters love each other, they have history, they protect each other. These aspects of the story were great.

We still have some unanswered questions from this first book that lead us nicely into wanting a second book. Still have a few reservations with the insta-love but the magical component of the story def made up for this. Will I be reading the next book? ABSOLUTELY! Can't wait to see where Ren and Axel's story takes us next :)

[Francine Soleil · Rating 4 out of 5]

originally posted here: http://alwayslostinbooks.wordpress.co...

I was quite misled by the provided synopsis for this book because it also gives hints for the sequels so I chose not to show it. If you want to read the synopsis; however, it’s on Goodreads. Click on the link above. I also wrote my own synopsis below.

Ren was raised up as a human and lived most of her life normally, until she comes of age and things start to change for her. Around a year after both her parent’s death, she meets Axel Knight, who has far too many secrets, to whom she has an inexplicable connection. Ren also feels drawn to her best friend, Dean, who kissed her four years ago and has acted like a jerk soon after. But guys are the least of her worries as she finds out that she’s not human. Ren discovers that she is the Echo, destined to end the war between the Dracians and Telalians. And there are pseudo-humans out to get her.

I found this book to be very intriguing and I just wanted to know everything. But I will be honest in saying that there were far too many questions and not enough answers. If you don’t like cliffhangers, you might want to wait until the other books are released. As for me, I was just left puzzled that I bothered Priya for answers. I didn’t get them though and now I have to wait for the rest of the books. I must say though that I did enjoy a lot of this book.

My favorite part about the book would definitely be meeting all those characters. I love how they are all unique and funny. Ren is one snarky protagonist who kept on making me laugh. Even at the face of death, you can trust her deliver a sarcastic line. I think the transition is really hard for her though because she only found out about who she is recently. She has some immature moments, but I love her mature side, especially when Axel told him about the burden he carried. I’d really love to know what Ren could be capable of as a Dracian and as the Echo. Axel Knight is one smooth guy who knows exactly what to say to melt Ren’s heart and also get him out of trouble. He’s also really good at evading questions, but at least he knows how to apologize. I really loved all the other guys as well, especially Ren’s overprotective brother, Joshua. The siblings are just adorable together with their playful banter yet caring spirits. Oh Joshua~ I also really love Tyler who seems to have no boundaries at being hilariously inappropriate. There are a lot of characters to love in this book, but I want to keep this short.

In the book, we only really get glimpses of Dracia, their homeland. From what I saw, I think that it’s a beautiful place that could leave one speechless. Maybe Ren will actually be able to visit it in the sequels. The book explains the history of the war between the Dracians and Telalians. It also showed the different abilities of different characters. I think Axel’s powers are the ones that were mostly displayed since he liked showing Ren. He can control air and anything around it. Other Dracians also have different abilities. I mostly like how Ren and Axel can communicate through their minds, not just with words but with pictures, emotions, etc. I think that would be something really nice to have with another person.

I love romance, but I think there was just hormones overload in this book. I guess if people like all the wanting, kissing, touching, making out, etc. then they’ll love it. It was just too much for me. I will admit that there were some moments that I liked, but I could do without others.

Also, I would just like to comment that I like the older cover better because I think it represents more on what the book is about. The face of the girl doesn’t really say much about the book. But that’s a personal preference.

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OVERALL, Dracian Legacy is intriguing, hilarious, and enjoyable. I loved the characters and the world that was built around the Dracian. I think there’s more to learn about these people and their homeland though. The synopsis was misleading to the point that the book felt a little incomplete. But I did really love a lot of this book that I wouldn’t even be needed to be persuaded to read the sequels. Just give them to me now! I would recommend this to people who like YA/NA Fantasy Paranormal books, but not to those who hate cliffhangers until the sequels are released.

[Dani Morales · Rating 5 out of 5]

A few months ago we got an email from Priya Kanaparti asking if we would be interested in reviewing her debut novel Dracian Legacy. At first we were skeptical not sure if this was our type of book but we both decided to take a chance. I’m really glad we did. Not only is Dracian Legacy an amazing book but Priya Kanaparti is one of the sweetest people I have had the pleasure of talking to. Its authors like her that makes reading books so enjoyable and worth the craziness that comes with being bloggers.

I love coming across new authors because they shock and amaze me. I would never know this is Priya’s first book. That’s how well it’s written, the words just flow like poetry and hold you captivated. I was hooked from page one with Temperance, Ren, and her brother Joshua. It reminds me of the relationship I have with my older brother. Then Ren’s friendship with Pey is EPIC but Dean and Landon provide some entertainment too. Basically Priya’s secondary characters are so well written they don’t feel like supporting roles. They feel like they are just as important as the main characters. On top of that the obvious love/hate relationship that Ren and Dean have is so intense you can’t help but wonder what’s really going on between them. As I dove further into the novel it had me completely lost by 4% on this passage alone…

“I never believed any of those sappy romantic movie when the hero’s first touch ignites a lightning revelation in the heroine. Well, that hadn’t changed.
Much.
Ah, hell, who was I kidding?
Wow”

This right here had me completely hook line and sinker. I knew right then that this was going to be one of the best books I’ve read. And it is. There’s so many reasons I can give you for why I love it but I don’t want to impose my opinions on you because ultimately it’s going to be your choice. But I can tell you what had me falling in love with this book.
Axel. Oh for the love that’s holy, Axel. Ren sees Axel for the first time in the diner but meets him at the cemetery where he basically saves her life. But of the things I love about Axel, other than his baby blues, is his sarcastic wit.

“You know, it’s customary to say your name when someone introduces himself.”

Can you blame her though Axel? Hell if I was Ren I would have been rendered speechless as well. Damn that boy is fine. This started a whole new level of attraction for Ren. I know what you’re thinking what about Dean? Well for the first time I have been completely torn in two about who I want the girl to be with. On one side there’s Dean. The boy Ren used to be best friends with, who had her first kiss with, who started to completely ignore her until recently but also has this unexplainable bond with….or can it be explained? Then there’s Axel. This gorgeous guy with baby blue eyes who saved her and made her have unexplainably intense feeling for right off the back….How does she choose?

“I want us. I want to be your every breath, your every dream, be your everything”-Axel

Hanging out with Axel she learns some important information about the things that came after her that night at the cemetery, things about who and what Axel is and this is when things really start getting interesting.
Is Ren a normal human like she’s been raised to believe or is she much more than that? Being brought into Axel’s world has opened her eyes and maybe something more. So what happens? Who is Ren really? What’s the secret everyone has been hiding from her including Joshua and Dean? Is the bond she has with Dean real and where does that leave her an Axel?
“Love was meant to be experienced in the darkest of misery and through the lightest of happiness. Both hope and despair. It wasn’t easy. But nothing worthy comes easy. If it were, it wouldn’t be eternal…immortal…indestructible…”

Trust me when I say this you are going to want to read this book and make sure you clear enough time out because you aren’t going to want to stop. The end had me saying OMG what the hell, *cries* , and then I need the next book like yesterday. Congratulations Priya Kanaparti for an awesome debut novel! You have definitely made a fan out of me and I cannot wait to see what else you come up with.

[a_tiffyfit · Rating 4 out of 5]

My review is written and waiting to publish to my blog. I'll share it here just as soon as I have gotten some sleep...I stayed up all night to enjoy reading about Ren & Axel! :)
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From my blog post...or at least it will be there tomorrow! lol :P

Aldkjfalkfl;aslfasdl;fjl;kdfj cliffhangers. I hate them, I love them, I hate them, I love them.

I really enjoyed this book. Sweet romance, witty banter, steamy kissing, good action scenes when you get them. Priya Kanaparti’s characters have depth, even in just a few lines of description, even the minor characters. They come across as REAL and multi-faceted as opposed to flat or forced. This makes the book more enjoyable and more believable. It keeps me in my happy little reader zone.

I know a lot of people will be pooh-poohing the love at first sight, quickly head over heels in love relationship that Axel and Ren have, but I didn’t. It was nice not to have a long, drawn out discovery of love phase. And it was nice to see someone (Axel) so respectful towards the girl he loves, showering her with words of affection.

I’m not really a fan of the love triangle in ANY book. I think unrequited love sucks, but I was okay with the triangle in this book because unlike others I’ve read, I wasn’t torn between the two choices. There is a CLEAR better choice here. I did not like Dean at all. I’m sure younger readers (you know, the target audience instead of me the 30 something) will do a Team Dean vs Team Axel bit. But here’s the thing: Dean treats Ren like crap. His emotional response to rejection is anger and violence, and yes it IS explained later why he would be so volatile, but really, girls, you want an Axel. You want the one that puts you above all others including himself. Dean’s responses, even after it’s explained about his role, make me nervous for the future books. Someone that jealous, when hurt, tends to make the wrong decision that will bite them in the ass later and hurt the one they supposedly love.

There is magic in this book and it was lovely. Not a shapeshifter or a vampire or fallen angel in sight. I do wish we had more than the basic lesson on Telalian and Dracian hierarchy, history, abilities, etc., but I liked how the author trickled the information to you. More realistic than a long lecture of information that we aren't going to retain and will have to flip back to read again. The conversations of the characters, inflection of voices (sneers, whispers, snide/snarky remarks), and vocabulary choice were nearly perfect for this age group – it shouts intelligent teenagers talking. There were a few instances where I stumbled because it seemed too lecture-y or stoic, but overall I felt it flowed nicely.

There was a bit of plot jumping without anything indicating that we WERE moving. A tad disjointed, but I was so enjoying Ren & Axel that I didn’t care. Ren does seem to take everything she’s told in stride, instead of freaking out. This seems a bit unrealistic to me, but I would be MORE annoyed with a teenage hissyfit where she goes from calm to raging. I accepted her acceptance because she is so pulled towards Axel, so drawn to him, and her gut says to trust him.

I’m trying hard to write this without giving away anything. I hate spoilers so I can’t really rant and rave about each little bit as much as I want to. Suffice to say that Ms Kanaparti kept me up way past my bed time (it’s 3:45am EST as I write this, saving to post later!) with a story that was intriguing, romantic, enjoyable, action-packed, and then she left us with a damned cliffhanger. :P

You can purchase this from amazon.com (kindle or paperback). Spend the $3 for your kindle. Enjoy Ren & Axel, learn about this other race of humans, and come join me while I wait for the second book to be written!

Edit: I tried to make that hyperlink work and to link the picture to the amazon page, but blogger is giving me grief. It could be me being sleep deprived. Sooooo copy and paste this: http://www.amazon.com/Dracian-Legacy-...

[Elisabeth Wheatley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dracian Legacy is a paranormal romance that's refreshingly lacking in vampires and any kind of shapeshifters, but rather has magical races, demons, and soulless zombie-like people who do the demons' bidding. There were a few points where I became confused, mainly in the beginning, as to who was who and what was what, but a very original and engaging story over all. Note: It was a bit steamy (I thought) in parts and there were some not-gory fight scenes (just so you know).

The plot:
The plot was fascinating, moving at a pace that kept me interested, but not especially fast. It didn't seem to have any foreseen direction to me, but like Jasper Fforde, I think Ms. Kanaparti pulled it off. There wasn't a whole lot of "down time" and my siblings will tell you that they had trouble prying me away from the story. I did think that Ren accepted it a wee bit too easily when Axel told her what he was. That would've been alright, since she was already more or less head over heels for him, I just wish that some attention had been called to the fact. The other problem I had was that Ren's feelings for Axel seem based on lust in the beginning. The first things that draw her to him are physical and I would've appreciated more emotional bonding.

The characters:
Temperance, or Ren, is special, she just doesn't know it yet. Prophesied as an infant to play a role in either the preservation or destruction of life on Earth, a lot is counting on her. I thought she was easy to sympathize with as a protagonist, but was still in possession of several humanizing faults.

I can't say I am all that fond of Ren's best friend, Pey. (I don't dislike her, I just don't like her. Make sense?) I thought she was a bit...how should I say it? Too eager to get Ren hooked up with somebody. Then again, I seem to think that about most best friend figures in contemporary settings so maybe it has something to do with me being as old-fashioned as a gramophone.

I loved Ren's big brother to bits! A former Navy SEAL, he withdrew from the military to raise Ren when their parents were murdered. I thought his protective and anti-boy mentality was absolutely adorable and he reminded me of my brothers, whom I also love to bits.

Now shall we talk about Axel? Our leather-clad love interest? He carries around a lot of baggage from seeing his mother killed in front of him as a child and has a near-obsession with slaying Telalians (think the demons) and Goarders (the demons' soulless servants) and is very good at it. Then he meets Ren and finds himself caring about something more than his job. I thought he was very sweet, loyal, and definitely came off as a piece of eye candy. My favorite thing about him is that he doesn't just jump in bed with Ren, even though he clearly wants to. He's a gentleman and I just think that's hot as heck (am I weird or what?). Oh, and he speaks Latin. *swoon*

We also have some nifty bad guys--a demon slut, a demon sadist, and another baddie who is a bit of a mystery at this point as is his apparently heartless father. They were all menacing and scary in their own ways and definitely kept a feeling of danger going through the story.

All in all, this was an enjoyable book. I look forward to the sequel and hope that you fans of PNR and urban fantasy will look into it. It has it's flaws, yet I think that most of the things I took issue with shouldn't impede anyone from snatching it up.

[Hannah (Hannah, Fully) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Original Review posted on Bookwyrming Thoughts

Formatting and pictures are lost due to copy and paste
Disclaimer: I received this copy from the author for free to review for the blog tour. This does not influence my review in any way

I might be called horrible for making you guys wait so long (er, since February 24...) for my thoughts to come out but... it's March 15. Thoughts about the book can now come out. ^_^

Have I mentioned I hate books that are full of gushy romances throughout the entire story? I probably have. Sometime earlier this month. But I'll leave that for you to ponder on what the title is. >:) Maybe you already know. But... Dracian Legacy is full of gushy romances. Oh wait, not gushy. Swoon-worthy. Along with a few others that makes it... supercalifragilisticexpialidocious-awesomous.

What can I say? I like romances (YA though) with a bit of other elements, especially action. Hence why I liked Divergent (at least the 1st of the trilogy) and many other YA books that are similar so much (with a few exceptions).

But what makes Dracian Legacy so... awesome in it's own way? It's unique, the main character (Ren) is completely believable with her thoughts and emotions, the writing style is just bleeping amazing, and the cover, is awesome. Talk about awesomous rolled into a bookrito. Apparently I didn't read it until around February, so you should probably hear about the hoopla that was going on in Twitterland. Let's just say I was in "good hands" with all the tweets popping here and there *holds up famous All-State motto*.

I pretty much finished it in about a week. Definitely less than my typical 3-4 weeks of reading a book. Which landed in the Top 3 Books I Finished Fastest In All Time. I think I've done enough babbling, right? Or am I seeing tiny invisible popcorn all over the blog? ;p

Anyhoo... does Tyler, by any chance to Iron Fey fans reading this or have read it, remind you of Puck? Not really, but his overall character throughout Dracian Legacy. I couldn't think of a better prankster/joker. Of course... Tyler can't exactly beat Puck. Anything worse than a Donkey Head exist yet in A Midsummer Night's Dream? Nope... not that I remember. But Shakespeare isn't there to change it. Puck still gains upper hand there. Sorry Tyler. :p

I personally thought the banters between Dean and Ren were cute. Apparently the best idea is in the epilogue (not my idea...). I also though Dimitri reminded me of a certain Russian dude in another series...

After the "torturous" last few chapters, (oh hey, cliffhangers are torturous. You literally have to wait for the sequel... not that I really mind...) I have a lot of predictions about a few of the characters already. What I'm scared of? I'll hit bull's eye dead on. Or close to it. Dx Should I list them? No way... just no way... I'll just leave the rest of you to ponder on what my possible predictions might be. x)

By the way... as I tweeted this out once, I rather say it again:

Yea... not for little kids. Don't say I didn't warn you... because I just did.

[Kisa Whipkey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dracian Legacy is the first in a YA paranormal romance trilogy. Steeped in mystery, action, and steamy love scenes, it follows Ren, a seventeen-year-old girl who’s anything but normal.

A year after losing her parents, she comes face to face with her destiny. She just wasn’t expecting it to be wrapped up in the attractive Axel Knight. But destiny isn’t the only thing riding Axel’s coattails. Strange things are happening: creatures who clearly aren’t human appear; Axel has abilities that can’t be explained and that, apparently, only she sees; and her best friend–Dean–suddenly finds her irresistible after treating her like dirt for the past four years. Confused, Ren struggles to understand, until finally, she stumbles on the truth:

Everything she’s ever believed about herself, her family, and her friends is a lie.

She’s not even human, belonging instead to a race she never knew existed–the Dracians. Now, caught in an age old war between the Dracians and their enemies, she’s forced to make a choice. Accept her destiny as the Echo, the one person who can put a stop to the bloodshed, or lose everyone and everything she cares about. Clearly, it’s not much of a choice. But what will she have to sacrifice to save those she loves?

Kanaparti has created an intriguing new world, meshing it seamlessly with our own. Her characters are complicated, real people, bringing a refreshing quality to the familiar love triangle. Neither male lead is 100% good, or 100% bad, and I actually had a hard time deciding which to root for. (Technically, I was solidly Team Axel after the first read-through, but by the end of Book 2–as yet unreleased–and the revisions to Book 1, I’d switched to Dean.) Ren is a feisty, strong female lead, quick with the snarky comeback and ready to fight for what she loves. Even the supporting cast is well-rounded, hinting at the potential for spin-off books in the future.

But the thing I enjoy most about Kanaparti’s work is her voice. There’s a happiness infused into it, a brightness, even in the heart-wrenching scenes (and trust me, there are quite a few that will have you aching for the characters), that I found to be a complete joy to read. The author’s self-proclaimed motto is “I strongly believe true love conquers all”. That quality definitely rings through, and I highly recommend this book. (And the ones to come. I’ve seen what happens next, and you definitely won’t want to miss it! ;) )


**Content Note: This is classed as a YA, but parents should be aware that the content, in my opinion, is appropriate for 16+ years. There’s nothing too explicit, but it does contain swearing, discussions about sex, and steamy make-out sessions that will leave adults looking for a cold shower.**

[S.M. Blooding · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this cover! I first saw this on one of her tours and I entered for a chance to win her book because the cover was so gorgeous. LOL! I know. Silly and shallow. I admit it. These things happen! Then when I won it, I was ECSTATIC!!! Priya was awesome in the email correspondence! Just fabulous. I felt like a million bucks. Okay. I felt like a hundred bucks on a McDonald’s budget, but that’s frelling fantastic for me! *laughing grin*

This book started out questionably. I was like, “Oooohhhh man! This could be bad! But I really like the author, and I want to really like this book!” Now, granted, I was reading the prologue and if you’ve read any of my reviews, you know I’m not generally fond of prologues.

Once I got to the first chapter though, I was able to really get into Ren’s character and I found her to be genuinely fun! I liked her voice, her dry sense of humor and I love-love-LOVED the fact that she wasn’t whiny. Was she an all knowing cynic? No. Thankfully, she’s still a young adult and she hasn’t reached that level yet. Her voice was fresh and came off the page very well!

Meeting Axel, I admit I did a bit of a *face palm*. I can’t help it. I AM a cynic. I don’t believe in electrical shock at first sight or…well, any of that really (yet I still read YA romance like an addict, which means that in my heart of stone cold hearts, I probably do, but don’t tell anyone. Okay? It’ll be our little secret). He came off as being just this side of a jerk. He was abrupt, but to be fair, he was killing paranormal bad guys while being hormonally distracted by our lovely (and geeky which was wonderful) heroine. So…I gotta give him some slack.

*grin* As the story progressed, the character arcs took off really well. Miss Priya did an excellent job in penning these two characters. I did sometimes get lost with all the secondary characters, especially when they were all talking. I’m not entirely sure why. Dialogue tags were all there where they needed to be. Let’s just blame the stress of the move, shall we? That sounds most excellent to me, too. I will say that it might have been nice to have each one have their own voice when they spoke. It’s just a suggestion though.

All the other structural elements were there as well, and were very strong! The plot was a lot of fun! AND THAT CLIFF HANGER! Goooooood GRIEF! Seriously! I can’t wait to read book 2! Job well done!!

[Antonia♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this book with all my heart! The story is original and well-written. Priya wrote the perfect YA book and I am pretty sure that the sequel will be better than this one. I already miss everybody!

Dracian Legacy is about Ren, a seventeen-year-old girl. After her parents died, she only had her brother, Joshua. I loved their brother-sister relationship. I wish I had a relative like Joshua, he was so suportive and kind. I am so sad for what had happened at the end of the book. Priya took me by surprise with her final decision.

Ren's life changed when she met Axel, a Dracian fighter. Axel was hot, good, dangerous and he had a helluva motorbike. Perfect combination, don't you think? Well, things weren't that easy. The two of them fell in love from the first moment, but at the beginning they were afraid to admit it. Sometimes Ren was insecure: Axel or Dean? You must be wondering who is Dean. He was Ren's best friend and he loved her. Dean wasn't normal neither. In fact, nobody was normal. Everbody had a hidden secret. But let's talk about Dean. He made me laugh so HARD! His jokes were amazing, besides the fact that he was smoking hot. He was a man whore *giggles*

The war between the Dracians and the Telalians was coming and Ren was prophesied to end it. She didn't know how important she was in that whole game. Ren had to take some important decisions and some of them weren*t that easy. Goarders and Proxy Succubies were just a little part from her enemies. It was time to react, to fight for their lives!

I loved all the characters. All of them! Axel was my favorite, although it was hard to choose between him and Dean. If you read this book, you will understand me. They were both smart and fucking sexy, so...
The second character I liked was Ren. She evolved in every chapter, she became stronger and I liked that at her. At the end of the book, she was fearless.

Overall, I highly recommend this book! It stole my heart, my mind and soul. Priya is an amazing author and I want to read more books written by her. She did a great job with her first novel. I like the way she described the kisses between Ren and Axel. It was so romantic and sexy! I really believe Dracian Legacy is a MUST READ! It left me speechless.

[Summer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m excited to share my thoughts on a new YA paranormal romance, Dracian Legacy. (*Minor spoilers below*)

Voice Pros: Priya nails YA voice with Ren’s thoughts, words and actions. Cons: There were some otherwise gorgeous and/or steamy scenes that were completely ruined (for me) by Ren’s inner monologues.

Main Character Pros: Ren feels like a real person. She makes good choices and some incredibly not-so-good choices, like ANY teenage girl would do. Cons: But holy smokes, this girl is constantly on the hormone highway. Almost anything makes her hot and bothered.

Plot Pros: Priya creates a unique world within our own, ancient races warring against each other, and Ren is key to it all. Cons: A lot of the overall plot is lost in a sea of never-ending love scenes. Ren makes out, or wants to make out, with someone in almost every chapter of the book. So when we get to the pinnacle love scene, for example, it wasn’t as impacting as it might have been otherwise.

Love Interests Pros: I’m a fan of love triangles. In YA, characters are often trying to figure out who they are and different love interests can feed different needs of a character. In Dracian Legacy, Priya gives us two swoon worthy hunks, both with secrets of their own, both appeal to Ren in a different way. Cons: The Ren/Axel relationship felt like insta-love. I wasn’t really convinced their feelings went beyond anything more than a lustful attraction. And Dean, though I hated him in the beginning, became more likeable, only to have Ren toy with him. BACK TO PROS: (Speaking of which, DID YOU KNOW that the paperback version of Dracian Legacy has additional scenes from alternate POVs? I will pay someone in gum to send me any of DEAN’S scenes. I want more DEAN.)

Other Pros: Fight Scenes are A-mazing, great action and easy to visualize.

Overall Dracian Legacy was a fun read and I can’t wait to see where the next book takes us!

**Content Note: This is classed as a YA, but parents should be aware that the content is appropriate for 16+ years. There’s nothing too explicit, but it does contain quite a bit of swearing, discussions about sex, and steamy make-out sessions.**

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I sat down to read this book, I had high hopes for this book, but at the end I had mixed feelings. I loved it and yet was disappointed at the same time.

1) The girl is way too nice and accepts the situation way too lightly. I mean seriously? Is this realistic? It's hard to accept this. If it was me, I'd freak out and stay away for a few days, then slowly trust him/them always suspecting if If I can trust this whole thing. When she does get suspicious or negative, it feels like it's over in five minutes then everything is forgotten.

2) It's a very slow read, not much action, even when there is action, it seems mild. There's no OOMPH behind it. It reads play by play, but something is missing. Can't put my finger on what is missing though. (Beautiful Creatures nailed it by the way for example)

3) I loved the idea of who she is and all of her family and friends. It was something different from other books which I liked! They're not the typical vampire, angel, werewolf, blah blah.

4) What got me intrigued the most is the "enemy".. I feel like there's a MAJOR story there. THAT is what I want to read and how they're connected yet against each other. I have so many questions, but the answers are just not in this first book. I sure hope the second book will have it.

The book was lovely written to be honest and there's a LOT of potential in this book. It's probably one of those series where the first book is slow, but then in the next following books picks up the pace. So I'm hoping that the second book does really pick up the pace and pulls you in even more.

I put this book as four stars because I really liked it, but it fell a bit short. I'm looking forward to the second book to see if it will gain a star or lose another one. Hope I can deliver the good news by then.

[Lourie · Rating 4 out of 5]

*** I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review ***

"Dracian Legacy" is a strong debut novel for Priya Kanaparti. Offering Romance, and an interesting Sci-fi reality to the world we live in.

There are many big bold characters to choose from in this introduction to the Dracians vs. Telalians saga. The main protagonist Ren is young yet fierce and loyal. She is living a life far from her destiny and has a hard time coming to grips with her true identity, but she has a very amusing inner voice that hits teen angst right on the head. In walks Axel who she is instantly uncontrollably attracted to and her world is flipped upside down. Axel is hansom, charismatic and ultimately corny in his pronouncements of romantic love to Ren. Dean has a warrior’s heart and is serious about his job. He has managed for years to suppress his feelings for Ren but now with a new contender on his turf they resurface. And that just mentions a few of the personalities that are beheld in this narrative.

The story is easy to follow and the plot moves along at a nice pace. The action scenes are written superbly but I for one would have liked to have more of them. The primary focus of this story is on the budding romance. I would recommend this book to a slightly older crowd of fifteen and up because there are some steamy make out sessions and a good amount of pawing going on between the characters.

Overall this is a fun read that demands your full attention and the major cliff hanger ending with keep it until book two hits the shelves.