Crossfire

Omega Group #1

by Andrea Domanski

Birthdays suck!

For her eighteenth, Mirissa Colson receives a package from the mother who abandoned her over a decade ago. The family secret it reveals transforms her life from trying on prom dresses to battling an ancient race of demons. Thanks, Mom.

Her nineteenth brings forth an even more treacherous foe—one maniacal demi-god bent on ruling the world. So much for dating. Thankfully, the years of martial arts and sharpshooter training her ex-Navy SEAL dad put her through gives her the perfect skill-set to build upon.

When she’s called on to save the world—literally—Mirissa finds she has a lot more in her arsenal than just a mean roundhouse kick. Burgeoning powers she previously thought impossible, like controlling the elements and sensory expansion, give her some confidence. But when she is propelled into a world teeming with preternatural beings—all with powers of their own—she finds herself outmatched and outgunned.

CROSSFIRE is a coming of age tale that bridges the gap between the world we think we know, and the one that lies just beneath the surface.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Paranormal, Science Fiction Fantasy, Fiction, Magic, Ebooks

268 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 17, 2014

About the author

Born and raised near Toronto, Canada, Andrea Domanski moved south to get away from the cold as soon as she could—snow is not her friend. She now lives in Savannah, Georgia with her husband, Mark, their two incredible children, and their Golden Doodles.

After selling her very boring business in 2012, Andrea focused her energies on raising her children and finding a new career path that excited her. It wasn't long before she decided writing a novel—something she'd always wanted to do—would be her next big adventure. And she hasn’t looked back since!

Reviews

[Vroom · Rating 1 out of 5]

Okay concept. Terrible book. The biggest problem was the writing. "Mirissa chose a frilly blue dress with silver shoes and was busy getting ready for her musical debut when Steve went to the care to hide the roses he was going to give her later. He noticed a nondescript gray sedan parked on the corner with a lone occupant behind the wheel."

Heroine with pointlessly unique name. Check. Passive voice and overlong sentences. Check. People acting like plot points rather than actual characters. Check.

I treating this as a multi-book lesson on trusting Goodreads recs: You're probably better off if there are thousands of reviews on a book and there are tons of people who enjoy the book at say a three and four star level, with thoughtful feedback.

[Jim · Rating 2 out of 5]

Full review: https://girlswithguns.org/crossfire-b...

This is less a book than a hodge-podge of elements cobbled together from other sources. Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Wonder Woman are the most obvious influences, but you can also throw in some X Men and Greek mythology. Hell, the bad guy even uses the Force choke, as popularized by Mr. D. Vader. What’s missing is mostly originality. Though that’s not all.

[Coco.V]

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[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you took a bit of DNA from Wonder Woman, Xena, Elektra and Buffy, the result would be the Amazon warrior/Superhero Mirissa Colson. Domanski is starting off on the right foot with her first book, Crossfire. The book is well worth the read. It’s a journey fans of superheroes, action adventure and paranormal will appreciate.

The use of Greek and Amazon mythology mixed in with updated modern takes on paranormal and supernatural lore make for an appealing and interesting storyline. The addition of environmental technology and oil consumption with a malevolent character using that to control the world was creative.

The development of Mirissa from normal teenager excited about prom to badass chosen warrior was fast paced and enjoyable to read. I was pleased with the way Domanski wrote Mirissa’s father. His acceptance and support of his wife and daughter from the get go was refreshing. He was proud of the fact that the two most important women in his life were fearsome warriors and leaders.

Domanski introduces a mix of characters with different abilities on both sides of the show down between good and evil. We meet vampire type bad guys, werewolves, humans who can pass through solid matter, humans who can connect with animals, half-breed hydras and so many others. The assortment of characters with various abilities and backgrounds made the fight scenes more exciting without overwhelming the storyline. Domanski reveals enough to keep the reader engrossed while leaving some mystery to be revealed in future books, one of those mysteries being Greco, Mirissa’s handsome guardian who has his own story to tell and a connection with Mirissa that is hinted at being far more than just her chosen guardian.

This was one of those books that pulled me in quickly and had me staying up all night devouring every word. I had to read on. There were so many things I wanted, NEEDED to know. I wanted to know if Mirissa, Myrine and the rest of the crew were going to be able to take down the bad guys. I wanted to know more about Greco. I wanted to know just how powerful Mirissa was and what was that key about. I wanted Artemis to smack Ares across the room. Ares really deserves that!

I’m looking forward to the next books and for more kickass moments with Mirissa. She’s an Amazon warrior/Superhero who I wouldn’t mind gracing the pages of some comic books.

Copy provided for review.
Reviewed by Joy for Crystal's Many Reviewers
Andrea DomanskiCrossfire (Young Adult) Book #1

[Amie's Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

CROSSFIRE - Omega Group Book One

Author: Andrea Domanski

Type of Book: Audiobook - Unabridged

Narrator: Melissa Chatwood

Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Paranormal Fiction

Length: 5 hours, 29 minutes

Release Date: March 3, 2015

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐

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

I was not sure what to expect from this audiobook. The descriptive blurb intrigued me and I decided to give it a chance. I am glad I did. I enjoyed the mixture of genres that are included in this book.

This book combines paranormal fiction with science fiction and mystery all in a Young Adult friendly novel.

Mirissa Colson's mother left for work one morning, twelve years ago, and never returned.

Now, on Mirissa's eighteenth birthday, a package arrives from her mother. Mirissa is of course both intrigued and repelled. Does she really want anything from the woman who so callously left her husband and six year old daughter?

What Mirissa discovers is that she is not just an average teenager, in fact she is descended from an ancient line of Amazon women and it is her destiny to fight and defeat evil.

Mirissa's gift was an Amazon ring. Her mother sent it to her and now must learn what her powers are and exactly what the ring can do.

Of course, no story would be complete without the requisite bad guy. In CROSSFIRE the bad guy is an evil genius.

There are battles, teen angst, Amazon warriors, good versus evil elements and of course a budding romance. What more can readers want?

CROSSFIRE is a young adult novel. There are many elements to the story that listeners will enjoy. There is a bad guy who is set to take over the world and it is Mirissa's destiny to stop him.

Melissa Chatwood narrates this book with evident skill. There are a lot of characters in this book and it would have been easy for listeners to become confused, but Melissa navigates through the characters with ease. The listener is able to immerse herself in the story. I give the narration 5 out of 5 stars.

I rate this audiobook as 4 out of 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Born and raised near Toronto, Canada, Andrea Domanski moved south to get away from the snow and cold when she was 24 years old. She now lives in Savannah, Georgia with her husband, Mark, their two children, and their Golden Doodle.

After selling her business in 2012, Andrea focused her energies on raising her two children and finding a new career path that excited her. It wasn't long before she decided that writing a novel - something she'd always wanted to do - would be her next big adventure.

MY REVIEWS:

To read more of my reviews visit http://amiesbookreviews.wordpress.com

Follow me on Twitter @Amieroger

[Katrina Berry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased and honest review.

I have to admit this is not my usual go-to genre. I happened to see the book on a site, and in reading the book description, I just had to get my hands on it and see if it really was as good as it had sounded.

The book is amazing! The world that was created is so realistic and well-done; it’s hard to believe that it’s not actually our own here and now. The characters are strong, well-thought out and fully defined. Everything was so beautifully written. Once you pick up the book, you will find it hard to put down. You are almost compelled, as it were, to see how the plot will play out. I read the book in one sitting, in approximately an hour and a half.

The only downfall, for me, was at the very beginning of the book. There was some bouncing around with going back into time and the main character’s memories in order to bring us up to speed a bit on how she got to where she is now. It was a titter muddled and chaotic for me. It might just be me and the way my brain works, but I just didn’t like it. It didn’t feel right; it felt off to me. It was uncomfortable to read and I had to stop at various times to shift my thinking in order to get a better understanding of what had transpired. I think there is a much better and smoother way of the author accomplishing the same goal and getting their point across where there is not so much confusion on the reader’s behalf, not to mention that it would make for a way smoother introduction to the story. Once I got passed this though, it was smooth sailing, and I was pulled into the storyline until I had read the book to its completion.

With a perfect mixing of mythology, vampires, werewolves, half-breeds and humans to name just a few of the goodies you will encounter, together with various abilities, you have a paranormal, action adventure that rocks your socks. I look forward to the rest of the series.

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review of Crossfire by Andrea Domanski can also be found in Amiabooklover

I received a digital copy of this book from the author via Book Review Buzz in exchange for my honest and unbiased review. All are my own opinion and is not compensated by any individual, organization, or company. This might contain minor spoilers.


First off,

BAD-ASS BOOK COVER

I love the cover, it sends off an impression of vampires or anything about dark creatures and a bad-ass heroine. It’s like telling you that you should expect lots of action from the book.

BEAUTIFUL WRITING

I like how the author narrates the story. It’s never boring. It’s nicely-written. Her style is really engaging.

CREATIVE AND UNIQUE PLOT

I love the throw-in of various beings. I liked it how the story did not focus on one race of supernaturals, it is just too diverse to imagine, plenty of creatures to think about. This book is about female warriors, actually. It is kind of rare for a book like this nowadays to feature a story that is composed mostly of women. I mean, for the history of my reading stunt, I have really few to none encounters of books with women as the dominant holder of power. So it is kind of exciting and new.¬

But the fact that it features Amazons, I kind of feel that it lacks the sensibility of the womanhood dominance. Maybe the entrée of the other creatures obscure it, making the Amazons a little less perceptible.

NEAR-ENDING RUSHED

I think the author rushed the story near the ending. I didn’t like how it sounded a bit unnatural. I do not know if it is her style to excite her readers to read the next book or it is just how it supposed to happen. I did not favour the near ending event. I’m not up to it.

BUT, IT IS STILL A PLEASANT READ

I would definitely recommend it to readers who want to read new things. It is action-packed, I must say. I enjoyed it so I am sure YA readers will do, too.

[Hellvis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Crossfire is...alright. Not my cup of tea, unfortunately, although I suspect that it would appeal to those in the mid-to-late-teen age range.

Mirissa, the MC, is busy being a normal teenager, getting ready for Prom, giving her Dad minor heart attacks over her dress ideas, when she receives a mysterious parcel, and a letter from her Mum - who walked out on them both years before.

All of a sudden, our MC discovers she's descended from a long line of Amazon Warrior Women, and can do a kind of astral travel type thing to 'Tritonia' which is where the other Amazon girls hang out. She gets a personal trainer, and a magic ring (of course, she's already proficient in every single marshal art ever, so she's got a good head start).

At the beginning, there's a lot of jumping around from past to present, which I found to be quite disorientating, and while I can see why it was done this way, I think the execution could have been smoother, and the story made to flow better.

Also, Tritonia isn't a place. Never has been. It was a name by which Athena was occasionally referred to in mythology. Even though Athena, and her brother Ares have roles to play, the idea of a Tritonia doesn't sit well with me.

Of course, whenever anyone is seeking their destiny, there's always a bloomin' prophecy, and Crossfire is no different, with Mirissa being rumoured to be the only one who can defeat the Big Bad, who I did actually kind of like, even though he was a manipulative arse with a God complex. He represented a flawed character in the face of Mirissa's incredible perfection and awesomeness. She's like a really, really shiny version of Buffy, without the flaws or the wisecracks. She's TOO perfect.

My idea of a coming-of-age novel is to address the issues faced by that age group, and to see them grow as a person as they overcome the obstacles life places in their way, but unfortunately Crossfire didn't have that vibe.

2 out of 5

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very interesting and compelling read. I have of course heard of the legends of the fierce Amazons but I did not know too much about them. This book takes that legend and expands on it to make a fascinating world filled with Gods, Goddesses, shape shifters, magic, demons and of course deadly Amazon warrior women.

I loved this book because the main character was a strong young woman still maturing and coming into her powers. One of my favorite things about this book is the relationship between Mirissa and her father, Steve. Steve knew had to raise his daughter completely alone after the disappearance of his wife and instead of being upset he throws himself into it whole heartedly. He also uses his skills as a former Navy SEAL to make sure that she would always be able to protect herself.

All of the love and devotion Steve pours into his daughter prepares her for the adventure that starts the day she turns 18 and claims her birthright. I am anxiously awaiting the next book in this series so I can see how Mirissa and her abilities grow in a world that is becoming more and more dangerous.

[Tanya Rae ~ TaSTy WordGasms · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off let me say Young Adult is not usually my genre. I would say that Crossfire is a great book for a young adult as well as an older adult, I am in my 50's. I found the synopsis to be interesting enough that I felt I needed to read Crossfire. This was an ARC for an honest review. I loved the book so much that I had to preorder Rogue Book 2 in The Omega Group Series and fortunately I don't have to wait too long for it to come out. Rogue is due out November 15, 2014. I enjoyed Crossfire so much that I read it in less than a day. I believe there were 280 pages. Oh and as a sidenote I love that this series is set on Florida's east coast in Jacksonville, and NASA area. I am from Florida originally and it is always good to read a book set in my home state. I hope you buy this book and enjoy it as much as I did, enough to continue wanting to read more.

Mirissa finds that she has powers to help save the world and is learning to use them in this book. I won't go into detail because you can read the synopsis as well as I can.

[Yellagirlgc · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crossfire started with Marissa turning 18 & shopping for something special to wear with her dad. Her mother had abandoned her and her dad when she was young but she had a very loving relationship with her former military stay at home dad. She receives a birthday package that changes her life.
She learns she's an Amazon warrior & begins training to rid the world & protect humanity from demons. At a young age her parents put her in various martial arts classes but none of those classes prepared her for the training shes subjected to tolearn to kill demons & survive.
As a first in the Omega Group series this book was an easy read & the author did a great job. There are gods,goddesses, weres, Amazons & other supernaturals in this book. I enjoyed the journey with Marissa to learn her dedtiny & the role she played in keeping the world safe.
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can find more reviews Mademoisellesnow Blog

It’s been a while since I’ve read a really interesting young adult novel. This first book of the series has been worth the read. I loved the main character; there isn’t much strong female character around. Mirissa is a combination of Xena, Buffy and wonder woman. This is definitely a book that fans of the superheroes, action adventure and paranormal would greatly enjoy.

Domanski has created a wonderfully realistic world, which it was hard to believe that it wasn’t our world here. I loved the action sequences, the struggles that Mirissa faced as a teenager were very relatable but it was added with some really wonderfully done Greek Mythology that wrapped this first book in intrigue. After immersing myself into this book so a little while I found myself coming out of it a little lost. This is always a good sign of a really good book.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

While I don't usually go in for YA series, I must admit that this one was worth the read. The characters are well developed, and I was pleased that there was a kick ass, female heroine.
This is a fast paced read, and once you get started on it, it is hard to put down.
I am looking forward to introducing my teen daughter to the series and see if she enjoys it as much as I did.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished reading this and really enjoyed it. Very interesting characters and a great storyline. Spotted a couple spelling errors but they did not distract from the story. I loved the twist on the Amazon legend. I Iook forward to reading the next book in the series. Definitely goes in my read again collection.

[Kriselda Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book at no cost from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

"Crossfire" is the story of a young Amazonian warrior who lives among humans, fighting to protect them from the evils of the world, and, no, her name is NOT Diana Prince. In fact, aside from that brief description, this book has little in common with the adventures of Wonder Woman.

Our heroine here is Mirissa Coleson, a 19-year-old young woman who, until her 18th birthday was completely in the dark about her unusual heritage. While understandably shocked and a bit hesitant at first, Mirissa soon takes to her new reality - and the responsibilities it brings - with gusto.

"Crossfire" is a really fun book. Mirissa is a likeable hero. She's tough, smart and compassionate with enough vulnerability to avoid coming across as too perfect and invincible. Her companions are developed well enough that they stand out as individuals, making it easier to remember who's who without having to flip back through the pages for reminders. I especially appreciated the clarity with which the action scenes are written. Too often it's easy to lose track of what's happening in the various face-to-face skirmishes that take place in the overall battle, but I didn't find that problem here, making it more enjoyable than similar scenes in several other books.

The main story in the book is nicely wrapped up rather than left as a cliffhanger with enough threads left from various subplots to accommodate future tales.From what I've seen in the blurbs for some of the other books in the series, it appears that - in most cases - the books each focus on a different one of Mirissa's companions, which I think sounds rather interesting. I'm looking forward to getting a chance to know these other characters better.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to be honest .....I'm probably not the best person to review something not in one of my usual genres.....so I'll just say that why I did find it entertaining and I did love the ties between all the characters ....It would be better enjoyed by someone to whom this type of storyline appeals .I read it because it sounded like an interesting plot and I couldn't resist giving it a try.I do like to move out of my comfort reading zone occasionally.So I won't say my time was wasted perusing this novel ....I think I'm the wrong audience to appreciate it fully.

[Roger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crossfire (Omega Group #1) my first read from author Andrea Domanski. I got this book back in August of 2015 and somehow lost track of it & am just now getting around to reading it. My mistake. Well-written with intricately developed characters you can invest heavily in and the story-line with its intricate twists & surprises as the tension & suspense ratchets up throughout the book’s length. I'll be reading more from this author & in this series. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Reading this book was like watching a bad movie adaptation of a book you love. It has all the right moving parts but they’ve been put together wrong and major plot pieces have been left out altogether . The ideas in this book were cool - the Amazon descendants of Artemis locked in a battle of good vs evil with the descendants of Ares - but there was no character building, no depth, and it was overall rushed. I will not bother finishing this series.

[Teri G · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am truly in awe of this new series by Andrea Domanski. Full of suspense, action, paranormal entities, great characterization and a story line that is both absorbing and entertaining. I am so excited to get into the other books in this series. I loved it and highly recommend this book. Kudos to the author.

[Emma Rel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mirissa is a normal girl picking out her prom dress one minute, and the next is thrown into a whole new world of Amazons and Kakodaemons, interweaving Greek Mythology with a modern, preternatural world full of interesting characters. Mirissa is the ultimate heroine, full of strength, confidence with just a tinge of self-doubt, and the right amount of sass.

[Michelle VanDaley · Rating 4 out of 5]

My review is based on the Audiobook. Crossfire is a fast paced thrilling story that grabbed me on page one and held me until the end. The characters and world building are well developed and I became quickly invested. Melissa Chatwood did a good job as narrator with easy to understand and distinguishable characters. I look forward to more in this series and from this Author.

[Pamela · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book sounded a lot better than it was. Marissa turns 18, and reconnect with her mom. She is a member of the Amazon tribe.. It is a good versus evil paranormal book. It is also slow.. I stuck along for her training, and a few fights, but it just did not pull me in. I finally laid it down.

[John Nash · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not sure I can finish it. It's a good concept but too full of cliches and all over the place.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

a fun and inventive take on amazons, and a fast paced easy read... but maybe that was because I didn't want to put it down!

[Crystal Colburn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in a few hours! I couldn't put it down. I can't wait to read the next one. I'm not spoiling anything for anyone. Very good book

[Teri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Normally I don't like these types of books but I have to say Crossfire was well written and a very good story. I am now interested in what will happen next.

[Alex Latham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 08 complete.

[Stanley · Rating 3 out of 5]

good

I thought this was a good book, combining fantasy and some Greek mythology. It was relatively fast paced and intelligently written.

[Kristy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall good book to begin an intriguing series.

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a quick and action filled story of a teenager who suddenly discovers she is an Amazon, and not just an Amazon, but the one who is to save the world. It does have a bit of a comic book superhero feel to it as it has more action than character development. It is setting up a world within our own world including Greek gods and goddesses which is rather intriguing, so I´ll probably try another in this series to see where it goes.