What do you think?
Rate this book
Mortals & Myths #1
Icebound
The first book in an intense, thrilling and erotic, m/m urban fantasy series from an exciting new author in the genre!
It’s been ten years since Shane Conell sold his soul to the Ice King in order to save the life of the man he loves. Correction, loved.
After ten years, it’s growing difficult to remember love, and hate, and laughter – until a chance appears to get back the only thing his frozen heart still wants…
Drake Young is doing fine. Really. He’s got a good job, nice benefits, and the soulless husk of his old lover only comes by to torment him every so often. However, it only takes the appearance of a creature from the Etherworld wreaking havoc on the decidedly nonmagical city streets to drag him out of retirement, forcing him to team up with the one person he can’t bear even to look at!
Now, Drake and Shane must race against the clock to keep their city from being destroyed, even if it means working together. And no matter how difficult it is to catch the creature, it’s a hell of a lot more difficult to resist the urges that ten years haven’t managed to kill.
It’s been ten years since Shane Conell sold his soul to the Ice King in order to save the life of the man he loves. Correction, loved.
After ten years, it’s growing difficult to remember love, and hate, and laughter – until a chance appears to get back the only thing his frozen heart still wants…
Drake Young is doing fine. Really. He’s got a good job, nice benefits, and the soulless husk of his old lover only comes by to torment him every so often. However, it only takes the appearance of a creature from the Etherworld wreaking havoc on the decidedly nonmagical city streets to drag him out of retirement, forcing him to team up with the one person he can’t bear even to look at!
Now, Drake and Shane must race against the clock to keep their city from being destroyed, even if it means working together. And no matter how difficult it is to catch the creature, it’s a hell of a lot more difficult to resist the urges that ten years haven’t managed to kill.
156 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 25, 2014
3 people are currently reading
62 people want to read
About the author
Corinna Rogers
4 books2 followersI’ve always wanted to tell stories for a living. I’ve studied and lived and taught in California, New York, London, Japan, and now I live in North Carolina with the love of my life and too many cats. I can’t stand the idea that the only great story to be told in romance is will-they-or-won’t-they, when there’s a whole other world to explore through the looking glass once they do! Exploring the unseen side of relationships, exploring what makes characters special when they’re in awful situations, exploring how a book can grab you and refuse to let you go—those are the passions that drive my storytelling. I love world-building, I love language, and I love hearing people speak about something that makes them truly passionate. I love books that you can fall into like comfortable furniture, and trust them to take you for a ride through haunted woods. I want people to feel challenged and delighted rather than simply amused and distracted. I believe in the power of entertainment, and I hope to share some of the stories and characters that live in my mind. - See more at: http://www.harperimpulseromance.com/a...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
November 3, 2014
This was... weird. I didn't hate it, but it was so jumbled that the parts that I did like got lost in the mix.
For perspective readers, there are a few things you should know about this book. The story is written in the dreaded present tense, alternating third person. I tend to hate present tense, so that was an issue that I had right off the bat. Secondly, there is a lot of sex, and a lot of sex with multiple partners. There is more than one orgy-esk scene here. Also, though I wouldn't categorize this as BDSM, the sex is really rough. There is a ton of face-slapping and humiliation kink-style dirty talk (more on that later). There is also a non-con scene, for those that don't read that sort of content.
To start, I think there is a fundamental problem with world-building here. Most of the world-building was done in a rushed manner, and I could have used 50+ more pages of good explanations. The world of Icebound is sort of a magical, low fantasy/urban fantasy type, with mages and all sorts of fae, and an ice king that rules some part of that world (??). Honestly, it was pretty confusing, and it stood out to me as a weak aspect of the book.
I also didn't like how Drake was so mad at Shane for what he did in the beginning of the story. I don't want to spoil anything, but I think Drake should have cut Shane some major slack and tried to help him rather than hurt him.
Drake and Shane are also an established couple, more or less, with a falling out between them. A lot of the book is told in flashbacks, so we get to see the two men in happier times. I'm not sure how I felt about the flashbacks... maybe neutral. They were pleasant enough, but I'm not sure if the story needed them.
My favorite part of the book, BY FAR, was the dirty talk. I was not expecting Corinna Rogers to be so filthy! If you are a fan of "sloppy holes" and "slutty boys," you are in luck, my friends. However, I happen to love humiliation kink and it might be pushed a bit too far for some people.
All in all, this book had a ton of potential but it didn't quite work as either urban fantasy or a romance. I would, however, read something else by this author.
**Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
For perspective readers, there are a few things you should know about this book. The story is written in the dreaded present tense, alternating third person. I tend to hate present tense, so that was an issue that I had right off the bat. Secondly, there is a lot of sex, and a lot of sex with multiple partners. There is more than one orgy-esk scene here. Also, though I wouldn't categorize this as BDSM, the sex is really rough. There is a ton of face-slapping and humiliation kink-style dirty talk (more on that later). There is also a non-con scene, for those that don't read that sort of content.
To start, I think there is a fundamental problem with world-building here. Most of the world-building was done in a rushed manner, and I could have used 50+ more pages of good explanations. The world of Icebound is sort of a magical, low fantasy/urban fantasy type, with mages and all sorts of fae, and an ice king that rules some part of that world (??). Honestly, it was pretty confusing, and it stood out to me as a weak aspect of the book.
I also didn't like how Drake was so mad at Shane for what he did in the beginning of the story. I don't want to spoil anything, but I think Drake should have cut Shane some major slack and tried to help him rather than hurt him.
Drake and Shane are also an established couple, more or less, with a falling out between them. A lot of the book is told in flashbacks, so we get to see the two men in happier times. I'm not sure how I felt about the flashbacks... maybe neutral. They were pleasant enough, but I'm not sure if the story needed them.
My favorite part of the book, BY FAR, was the dirty talk. I was not expecting Corinna Rogers to be so filthy! If you are a fan of "sloppy holes" and "slutty boys," you are in luck, my friends. However, I happen to love humiliation kink and it might be pushed a bit too far for some people.
All in all, this book had a ton of potential but it didn't quite work as either urban fantasy or a romance. I would, however, read something else by this author.
**Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
October 6, 2014
The new Mortals & Myths series by Corinna Rogers should have been right up my alley. It is part of HarperImpulse’s Paranormal Romance line, though the blurb’s first line hints that the romance may be more of the erotic variety than hearts-and-flowers. I am a huge fan of Urban Fantasy so I was ready to love Icebound.
As far as the couple is concerned, I enjoyed how raw Shane and Drake were with each other. The emphasis is on the “urban” and the “erotic” where they are concerned. They didn’t fit into a traditional “romance” box which made their story interesting to read. They fought, they fucked, they clearly loved each other even though they currently hid behind hating each other. There was a lot of sex, and not only with each other. I was fine with most of that. The scenes weren’t particularly erotic to me, but I got the gist for why many of them were there: to showcase their inability to stay apart in spite of Shane being trapped without a soul in an emotional prison. Shane’s feelings were as cold as ice and he took every opportunity to use them against Drake. This was balanced with flashbacks of when they were young and falling in love, before Shane gave up his soul. I’m not a big fan of flashbacks but I think they were a good idea here. I didn't always like the placement or understand why that particular memory was highlighted, but I know they were necessary in order for the reader to connect with Shane as a person and root for Shane and Drake as a couple.
Unfortunately, while I could appreciate their struggle, I did not enjoy the book as a whole. If Icebound had been marketed as purely erotica then I wouldn’t expect much detail or world building and therefore would not consider the lack as part of the rating. I avoid stories with rape and don’t consider rape fantasy erotic, but I know there are some that do. Because there was no tag, and because it was arguably (I didn’t go back and count words to be sure) the longest and most detailed of the sex scenes, I was definitely put off. That it was there at all … I can see why. Any emotion Shane had left at this point was hanging on by a thread and this was to be the final showdown. But considering how dark most of the rest of the sex scenes are, detailing the rape scene instead of fading to black felt a little like going “all-in” with a losing poker hand, like hitting a nail with a sledgehammer.
As far as the world building, there wasn’t much. And the little there was, was confusing and contradictory. The easiest example to showcase in this limited space is a sex scene. Drake is standing while getting a blowjob from Shane, who is kneeling. How does Drake have Shane’s cock in his mouth, too? Impossible. We know things because the author tells us so, not because of any support on the page. Sentences run on, grouping many acts/events/time together. The pacing is almost like watching a tv show or movie on fast forward. Some detail is offered here and there, but much of that references things (events/mythology/terms) in such a matter-of-fact way that I wonder if the author thinks we should “know” these things already. I even searched to see if these characters were a spin-off of some other work. As far as I could tell, they weren’t.
I would not recommend Icebound to readers looking for urban fantasy or an obvious romance. However, readers who prefer a darker romance, and those who read for eroticism over an overall story arc, will probably enjoy this very much. It’s because of the dynamics between the two leading men that I believe there is hope for this series. I’m cautiously curious about book 2, as well as the next stage for Shane and Drake, but I’ll see how I feel when the time comes.
As far as the couple is concerned, I enjoyed how raw Shane and Drake were with each other. The emphasis is on the “urban” and the “erotic” where they are concerned. They didn’t fit into a traditional “romance” box which made their story interesting to read. They fought, they fucked, they clearly loved each other even though they currently hid behind hating each other. There was a lot of sex, and not only with each other. I was fine with most of that. The scenes weren’t particularly erotic to me, but I got the gist for why many of them were there: to showcase their inability to stay apart in spite of Shane being trapped without a soul in an emotional prison. Shane’s feelings were as cold as ice and he took every opportunity to use them against Drake. This was balanced with flashbacks of when they were young and falling in love, before Shane gave up his soul. I’m not a big fan of flashbacks but I think they were a good idea here. I didn't always like the placement or understand why that particular memory was highlighted, but I know they were necessary in order for the reader to connect with Shane as a person and root for Shane and Drake as a couple.
Unfortunately, while I could appreciate their struggle, I did not enjoy the book as a whole. If Icebound had been marketed as purely erotica then I wouldn’t expect much detail or world building and therefore would not consider the lack as part of the rating. I avoid stories with rape and don’t consider rape fantasy erotic, but I know there are some that do. Because there was no tag, and because it was arguably (I didn’t go back and count words to be sure) the longest and most detailed of the sex scenes, I was definitely put off. That it was there at all … I can see why. Any emotion Shane had left at this point was hanging on by a thread and this was to be the final showdown. But considering how dark most of the rest of the sex scenes are, detailing the rape scene instead of fading to black felt a little like going “all-in” with a losing poker hand, like hitting a nail with a sledgehammer.
As far as the world building, there wasn’t much. And the little there was, was confusing and contradictory. The easiest example to showcase in this limited space is a sex scene. Drake is standing while getting a blowjob from Shane, who is kneeling. How does Drake have Shane’s cock in his mouth, too? Impossible. We know things because the author tells us so, not because of any support on the page. Sentences run on, grouping many acts/events/time together. The pacing is almost like watching a tv show or movie on fast forward. Some detail is offered here and there, but much of that references things (events/mythology/terms) in such a matter-of-fact way that I wonder if the author thinks we should “know” these things already. I even searched to see if these characters were a spin-off of some other work. As far as I could tell, they weren’t.
I would not recommend Icebound to readers looking for urban fantasy or an obvious romance. However, readers who prefer a darker romance, and those who read for eroticism over an overall story arc, will probably enjoy this very much. It’s because of the dynamics between the two leading men that I believe there is hope for this series. I’m cautiously curious about book 2, as well as the next stage for Shane and Drake, but I’ll see how I feel when the time comes.
December 1, 2014
This reads like bad Supernatural Wincest fan-fic (and if you don’t know what that is, don’t go looking). The plot is thin, and the sex is constant, sometimes out-of-place and sometimes gratuitous. *****WARNING--SPOILERS BELOW--WARNING*****
From here on out, I will be using “frak” (ala Battlestar Galactica) instead of the word that it is an obvious replacement for. Here is the sum total of this book:
As it opens, Hero #1 (hereafter H1) is getting a blow job from someone who has spelled himself to look like Hero #2 (hereafter H2) at H1’s request because H1 just misses H2 soooo much. Note that H1 is Ice King’s Vassal, and the Ice King has taken his soul.
H1 goes out to fight big bad bug. H2 runs across big bad bug on his way home and pursues it to fight it. Short flashback to younger H1 and H2. H1 finds bug, knocks it out, and is preparing to kill it just as H2 shows up. H1 and H2 frak against a wall, while big bad bug wakes up and runs off. Nice job, guys.
H1 and H2 go to bar to see if anyone knows anything about big bad bug. Annoying chick casts horny spell and H1 and H2 have to frak to get it to stop. Seriously??
Short flashback to younger H1 and H2.
H1 and H2 go to church (H2 is Church Champion) to see if priest knows anything about big bad bug. H1 makes deal with Ice King to get his soul back he kills the big bad bug. Short flashback to younger H1 and H2. H2 gets cool dagger from priest. No leads on big bad bug.
Short flashback with fraking.
H1 and H2 go to Madame Jiri, a lizard-in-human-skin fortune-teller. Madame Reptile wants to procreate and apparently human DNA is compatible with lizard DNA (who knew, right?). H1 and H2 frak so that they can trade semen for a lead on the big bad bug. Yes, really. Semen. In exchange for news on the bug. Turns out big bad bug is at Ice King’s court. H1 knocks out H2 and runs home to the court alone.
H1 talks to Fire Queen on the way, offers her help. H1 rejects it, confronts Ice King. Ice King is a mite upset, strips H1’s power, and what follows is a long graphic non-consensual fraking scene (in other words: rape).
Short flashback to younger H1 and H2.
H2 wakes up, goes to the Ice King’s court, and fights his way in. H1 and H2 fight Ice King and kill him. H1 gets his soul back in the process. They go home and...you guessed it, frak (H1 apparently having no problem with this despite what JUST happened to him at the Ice King’s court).
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Ok, so not much in the way of a plot, and may too much sex, much of which is not romantic but just simply fraking. It didn’t even come across as erotic--more like porn. I was also put off by the two calling each other “baby”. It is a far too effeminate and trivializing nickname for a man.
I would shocked if this book did not start life as a fanfic somewhere that got pulled to publish. It just has that feel. This book only gets two stars (instead of one) because it was readable and entertaining, although in a bad train-wreck way.
From here on out, I will be using “frak” (ala Battlestar Galactica) instead of the word that it is an obvious replacement for. Here is the sum total of this book:
As it opens, Hero #1 (hereafter H1) is getting a blow job from someone who has spelled himself to look like Hero #2 (hereafter H2) at H1’s request because H1 just misses H2 soooo much. Note that H1 is Ice King’s Vassal, and the Ice King has taken his soul.
H1 goes out to fight big bad bug. H2 runs across big bad bug on his way home and pursues it to fight it. Short flashback to younger H1 and H2. H1 finds bug, knocks it out, and is preparing to kill it just as H2 shows up. H1 and H2 frak against a wall, while big bad bug wakes up and runs off. Nice job, guys.
H1 and H2 go to bar to see if anyone knows anything about big bad bug. Annoying chick casts horny spell and H1 and H2 have to frak to get it to stop. Seriously??
Short flashback to younger H1 and H2.
H1 and H2 go to church (H2 is Church Champion) to see if priest knows anything about big bad bug. H1 makes deal with Ice King to get his soul back he kills the big bad bug. Short flashback to younger H1 and H2. H2 gets cool dagger from priest. No leads on big bad bug.
Short flashback with fraking.
H1 and H2 go to Madame Jiri, a lizard-in-human-skin fortune-teller. Madame Reptile wants to procreate and apparently human DNA is compatible with lizard DNA (who knew, right?). H1 and H2 frak so that they can trade semen for a lead on the big bad bug. Yes, really. Semen. In exchange for news on the bug. Turns out big bad bug is at Ice King’s court. H1 knocks out H2 and runs home to the court alone.
H1 talks to Fire Queen on the way, offers her help. H1 rejects it, confronts Ice King. Ice King is a mite upset, strips H1’s power, and what follows is a long graphic non-consensual fraking scene (in other words: rape).
Short flashback to younger H1 and H2.
H2 wakes up, goes to the Ice King’s court, and fights his way in. H1 and H2 fight Ice King and kill him. H1 gets his soul back in the process. They go home and...you guessed it, frak (H1 apparently having no problem with this despite what JUST happened to him at the Ice King’s court).
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Ok, so not much in the way of a plot, and may too much sex, much of which is not romantic but just simply fraking. It didn’t even come across as erotic--more like porn. I was also put off by the two calling each other “baby”. It is a far too effeminate and trivializing nickname for a man.
I would shocked if this book did not start life as a fanfic somewhere that got pulled to publish. It just has that feel. This book only gets two stars (instead of one) because it was readable and entertaining, although in a bad train-wreck way.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 23, 2014
There is a romance arc in here, layered in the rough language, the rough interactions, and desperate situations. The level of violence makes the book unsuitable for most mm publishers, though the story flows.
We come in after boy has lost boy—Shane’s been soulless and hunting alone for a decade. He can’t stay away from Drake, though, and Drake dies a little inside every time they interact. Shane finds any number of ways to get under Drake’s skin, from the aggravating to the devastating, promising to apologize once he’s got his soul back—“it will mean something then.” Brought together by the one hunt Drake can’t pass by, they’re both tormented by what once was, and what they both hope will be again.
Set on a near-future Earth, magic and strange non-human creatures have come boiling into this plane so recently that Shane and Drake are first generation hunters. The culture hasn’t quite adapted to the new reality, although the Catholic Church does manage to put its hands on some interesting weapons. Where faith should be placed is a small undercurrent through the book. That souls exist and can be bartered is a given.
Time is a player here. The story is told in present tense, alternating third person, and there are flashbacks that reach farther and farther back in time to show us what these two are to each other, until we’re yanked into an unthinkable present. The story moves fast, with flashes of wit (Damn it, someone always turns into a fucking centaur...) and offers adventure, tortured hope, and danger until the final battle and after.
The author has a really vivid set-up and main characters, stakes of huge proportions, and a tale that pulls the reader along, which means the climactic scenes need to really pop. Unfortunately, what should have been a major impediment becomes a minor nuisance, and the author’s imagination gives out at the wrong moment, leaving us with a scene straight off the “don’t submit to us” lists at mm publishers. I skimmed it the first time through once I’d identified it, and came back after finishing the book to see if I’d missed anything of substance. I hadn’t, but things once seen cannot be unseen.
I would accept something even this revolting if it advanced the plot, but it doesn’t. It knocked me out of the story to the point of causing a DNF had I not been reading for review. The only typos in the book occur at the emotional climax—perhaps the proofers were as disturbed as I. What had been a 5 marble read lost the momentum. There are a few hints for a sequel, though this book is a complete story arc. I’m interested enough to read it.
Copy received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
We come in after boy has lost boy—Shane’s been soulless and hunting alone for a decade. He can’t stay away from Drake, though, and Drake dies a little inside every time they interact. Shane finds any number of ways to get under Drake’s skin, from the aggravating to the devastating, promising to apologize once he’s got his soul back—“it will mean something then.” Brought together by the one hunt Drake can’t pass by, they’re both tormented by what once was, and what they both hope will be again.
Set on a near-future Earth, magic and strange non-human creatures have come boiling into this plane so recently that Shane and Drake are first generation hunters. The culture hasn’t quite adapted to the new reality, although the Catholic Church does manage to put its hands on some interesting weapons. Where faith should be placed is a small undercurrent through the book. That souls exist and can be bartered is a given.
Time is a player here. The story is told in present tense, alternating third person, and there are flashbacks that reach farther and farther back in time to show us what these two are to each other, until we’re yanked into an unthinkable present. The story moves fast, with flashes of wit (Damn it, someone always turns into a fucking centaur...) and offers adventure, tortured hope, and danger until the final battle and after.
The author has a really vivid set-up and main characters, stakes of huge proportions, and a tale that pulls the reader along, which means the climactic scenes need to really pop. Unfortunately, what should have been a major impediment becomes a minor nuisance, and the author’s imagination gives out at the wrong moment, leaving us with a scene straight off the “don’t submit to us” lists at mm publishers. I skimmed it the first time through once I’d identified it, and came back after finishing the book to see if I’d missed anything of substance. I hadn’t, but things once seen cannot be unseen.
I would accept something even this revolting if it advanced the plot, but it doesn’t. It knocked me out of the story to the point of causing a DNF had I not been reading for review. The only typos in the book occur at the emotional climax—perhaps the proofers were as disturbed as I. What had been a 5 marble read lost the momentum. There are a few hints for a sequel, though this book is a complete story arc. I’m interested enough to read it.
Copy received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
November 17, 2014
More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/
I wish I could get into Icebound - it sounded intriguing and I'm always happy to get my hands on an urban fantasy or an M/M book. But this novella missed on nearly all points for me: wooden characters, wince worthy dialogue, swiss cheese worldbuilding, and a romance that left me completely unmoved.Story: in a world where the fae have suddenly returned, Shane is a mage and his partner, Drake, a warrior for the church. When Shane bargains his soul away to the Ice King to save the life of Drake, both find themselves on separate paths. But there is something unusual about Shane's magic - and he may not be as cold as the Ice King thinks. When they are forced to work together after 10 years apart, they may be more dangerous to each other than the soul stealer they hunt.
Novella's typically eschew worldbuilding in exchange for a more intense story. But in this case, I had a hard time understanding anything that was going on. We're given a lot of tell, very little show, and actions constantly contradict the words. E.g., we know that Shane isn't as cold as he should be from the loss of his soul (as we are told over and over), yet he gets over emotional about everything - angry, lustful, etc. So does he have less emotion or not? We can't tell from the dialogue/actions.
The dialogue and interaction of the two main characters were really cringeworthy. Guys using the term 'baby' when doing hard erotic sex really turns me off - as do the constant mood changes before, during, and after said sex. We're told the guys haven't had a relationship in 10 years and dislike each other - but then they are bantering like best buddies in 5 minutes. Then hard to each other. Then joking around again. I was getting whiplash.
About half way through I sort of understood what was happening. But by then, I was so uninterested in the characters and world that I went on autopilot for the rest of the book. There just wasn't anything to keep me engaged.
Honestly, the writing was very weak. I had expected much better going in. That said, I'd love to see more from Harper Collins in this type of genre.
Reviewed from an ARC.
September 24, 2014
My Review:
I'll admit, I had no idea what to expect from this book going into it. I will say though that it was so much more than that idea, whatever it was. LOL.
This is an extremely dark, difficult book to read. It's set in an urban fantasy world where magic and fae and dark beings threaten humanity. Shane is a mage who has sold his soul to the Ice King. There's very little humanity left in him, but what there is, is there because of his incredible love for Drake.
Drake and Shane have been lovers for 20 years. Their love story is revealed in little snippets of history throughout the book. It's painful to read and so heartbreaking because they've lost so much and they had such hard lives before finding one another in the first place. But Shane sold his soul to save Drake's life. Even at the end, he knows that was not the wrong choice to make...that's a powerful love, especially after the last ten years of pain.
But Shane under the Ice King's thumb is not a nice guy. He has no soul and he torments Drake. Even after 10 years, the two can't stay apart, but Shane is a purely evil version of himself. He has memories of his life before this, but with every day that passes, they get smaller and smaller and his humanity becomes less and less.
The two are thrown together in this book trying to bring down a Soul-Thief. Along the way things go really badly over and over. Watching them, the helplessness at them finding a way to be together is overwhelming. I wanted to just cry for them.
The book is brutal and not just emotionally. There's an extremely graphic sexual assault. I absolutely understand why it was in the book, but I would imagine that a lot of people are going to have an issue with it. Be warned...it's in there. My issue with it wasn't that it was there, it was that Shane didn't deal with it and no matter how dead he was inside, he was still there and experienced it. I have a feeling there will be more about that eventually.
This is just the first book in the series and it definitely set up for many more unanswered questions at the end. Shane is more powerful than any other mage...there's a reason for that and the title of the next book gave a HUGE hint about it. I have to admit, I am EXTREMELY excited to see where this series is going because I really did enjoy this first book...dark subject matter and all.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review.
I'll admit, I had no idea what to expect from this book going into it. I will say though that it was so much more than that idea, whatever it was. LOL.
This is an extremely dark, difficult book to read. It's set in an urban fantasy world where magic and fae and dark beings threaten humanity. Shane is a mage who has sold his soul to the Ice King. There's very little humanity left in him, but what there is, is there because of his incredible love for Drake.
Drake and Shane have been lovers for 20 years. Their love story is revealed in little snippets of history throughout the book. It's painful to read and so heartbreaking because they've lost so much and they had such hard lives before finding one another in the first place. But Shane sold his soul to save Drake's life. Even at the end, he knows that was not the wrong choice to make...that's a powerful love, especially after the last ten years of pain.
But Shane under the Ice King's thumb is not a nice guy. He has no soul and he torments Drake. Even after 10 years, the two can't stay apart, but Shane is a purely evil version of himself. He has memories of his life before this, but with every day that passes, they get smaller and smaller and his humanity becomes less and less.
The two are thrown together in this book trying to bring down a Soul-Thief. Along the way things go really badly over and over. Watching them, the helplessness at them finding a way to be together is overwhelming. I wanted to just cry for them.
The book is brutal and not just emotionally. There's an extremely graphic sexual assault. I absolutely understand why it was in the book, but I would imagine that a lot of people are going to have an issue with it. Be warned...it's in there. My issue with it wasn't that it was there, it was that Shane didn't deal with it and no matter how dead he was inside, he was still there and experienced it. I have a feeling there will be more about that eventually.
This is just the first book in the series and it definitely set up for many more unanswered questions at the end. Shane is more powerful than any other mage...there's a reason for that and the title of the next book gave a HUGE hint about it. I have to admit, I am EXTREMELY excited to see where this series is going because I really did enjoy this first book...dark subject matter and all.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review.
September 25, 2014
Icebound, Corinna Rogers
Review from jeannie zelos book reviews
A slightly curious book to begin with – I wasn’t really sure where Shane was, and then when I’d worked that out, I was confused at why Drake was so angry at him. Its what many others would have done, not least Drake I suspect, so why bear that grudge? Then the action heats up a bit – frozen heat!
There were parts I enjoyed, the flashbacks to their pasts for example, but sadly far more that I either didn't fully understand or simply didn’t like. The world they lived in, where humans and others were mixed wasn’t very well explained, and I didn’t understand exactly how the interactions worked. The role of the Church seemed incredibly hypocritical when we reached that part. I get that Shane had become very cold and unfeeling, since being bound to the Ice King, but that came over time, and it seemed as if Drake had rejected him right from the start when Shane made the decision to save him. Would someone in love really be that harsh? Then there’s the rape scene – too much – too long and too detailed. I really felt that wasn’t necessary.
I didn’t really feel the sense of danger here either – the creatures just seemed too odd, too weird to be dangerous somehow, and for all that it was set in a human world we saw few of them... I just didn’t see where the world was in danger as the description suggested? Maybe I just didn’t read it properly? Don’t know, by the time I was half way through I found it hard to concentrate, as the story just wasn’t working for me.
I wanted them to have a HEA somehow – they get a kind of HFN, and maybe in the next books they’ll get more. I just finished by feeling that TBH Shane was the better man, and Drake was judgemental and unkind. Still, that's me – that’s why this book didn’t work for me, but again I’m sure others will love it.
Stars: Two, it just didn’t work for me, didn’t make sense, and I didn’t get the real sense of tender romance that I love.
ARC supplied via Netgalley and publishers
Review from jeannie zelos book reviews
A slightly curious book to begin with – I wasn’t really sure where Shane was, and then when I’d worked that out, I was confused at why Drake was so angry at him. Its what many others would have done, not least Drake I suspect, so why bear that grudge? Then the action heats up a bit – frozen heat!
There were parts I enjoyed, the flashbacks to their pasts for example, but sadly far more that I either didn't fully understand or simply didn’t like. The world they lived in, where humans and others were mixed wasn’t very well explained, and I didn’t understand exactly how the interactions worked. The role of the Church seemed incredibly hypocritical when we reached that part. I get that Shane had become very cold and unfeeling, since being bound to the Ice King, but that came over time, and it seemed as if Drake had rejected him right from the start when Shane made the decision to save him. Would someone in love really be that harsh? Then there’s the rape scene – too much – too long and too detailed. I really felt that wasn’t necessary.
I didn’t really feel the sense of danger here either – the creatures just seemed too odd, too weird to be dangerous somehow, and for all that it was set in a human world we saw few of them... I just didn’t see where the world was in danger as the description suggested? Maybe I just didn’t read it properly? Don’t know, by the time I was half way through I found it hard to concentrate, as the story just wasn’t working for me.
I wanted them to have a HEA somehow – they get a kind of HFN, and maybe in the next books they’ll get more. I just finished by feeling that TBH Shane was the better man, and Drake was judgemental and unkind. Still, that's me – that’s why this book didn’t work for me, but again I’m sure others will love it.
Stars: Two, it just didn’t work for me, didn’t make sense, and I didn’t get the real sense of tender romance that I love.
ARC supplied via Netgalley and publishers
September 2, 2014
This brand new male male romance series from Corinna Rogers is set in a very dark world where magic and the creatures that go bump in the night has invaded the human world. I believe that the humans are aware of the other that exists around them. There was much that was unclear within this world. The humans living amongst the others are often one of my favorite types of paranormal worlds. I even prefer the dark. Icebound missed so many potentials for me. There were also a couple of things that left me wishing I had skipped the book all together.
I loved how Shane and Drake’s very long history was written in small disbursements throughout the book. They met and fell in love as teens. They made promises to each other that only lovers could make. It is one of those promises that was broken that has separated them. That broken promise was something that only someone truly in love could ever consider doing with the consequences be damned. Readers meet Shane and Drake as they are forced to work together to catch an evil creature all while they are struggling with the consequences of that broken promise.
I hated the rape scene. It was a very lengthy scene that was explained in detail. I realize that part of Shane’s deal with the Ice King left him a cold unfeeling bastard. Shane is not a kind man. He’s uncaring, aloof and filled to the brim with animosity. For the most part he simply does not have any emotions. Perhaps he does not care what was happening to him at that moment, but it was rape. Readers got far too many pages of it.
I do hope that the author picks up Drake and Shane’s tale with Flameborn. Icebound ends rather abruptly with several big unanswered questions. Some of the unanswered are things that Drake and Shane should have had questions about themselves. I would also like to know that Shane and Drake get to have the happily ever after that they deserve and not just the happy for now that they have been given.
I loved how Shane and Drake’s very long history was written in small disbursements throughout the book. They met and fell in love as teens. They made promises to each other that only lovers could make. It is one of those promises that was broken that has separated them. That broken promise was something that only someone truly in love could ever consider doing with the consequences be damned. Readers meet Shane and Drake as they are forced to work together to catch an evil creature all while they are struggling with the consequences of that broken promise.
I hated the rape scene. It was a very lengthy scene that was explained in detail. I realize that part of Shane’s deal with the Ice King left him a cold unfeeling bastard. Shane is not a kind man. He’s uncaring, aloof and filled to the brim with animosity. For the most part he simply does not have any emotions. Perhaps he does not care what was happening to him at that moment, but it was rape. Readers got far too many pages of it.
I do hope that the author picks up Drake and Shane’s tale with Flameborn. Icebound ends rather abruptly with several big unanswered questions. Some of the unanswered are things that Drake and Shane should have had questions about themselves. I would also like to know that Shane and Drake get to have the happily ever after that they deserve and not just the happy for now that they have been given.
September 16, 2014
This book is the first story totally devoted to a m/m romance that I have read. I like urban fantasy and don't mind well written erotica so I was happy to read and review.
I found the urban fantasy part of the story hard to imagine and understand. It was reminiscent of a fantasy computer game. Lots of action, creatures and horror but initially there wasn't enough description for me to visualise the world and become engaged in the story.
The story is graphically sexual and whilst I understand the need to show how committed Shane and Drake are to each other, I got that in the first few pages, the numerous sexual scenes appeared gratuitous.
The rape scene was too detailed and too long. I read for escapism as do many romance and erotica readers and no one would want to escape to that. It was included presumably to illustrate how devoid of human emotion Shane is at that point in the story. Shane's acceptance of his abuse at the outset made this point and the graphically detailed abuse was unnecessary.
Well written flashbacks make Icebound more understandable and interesting as the story progresses but not enough for me to read another book in the series.
I received a copy of this book from Harper Impulse via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Read
September 29, 2014I DNF'd this book. I tried very, very hard to enjoy it. While the concept of the story intrigued me, the language perturbed me. These two men are supposed to be lovers, even though one is an Angel guard and one is a Mage and the right had of the Ice King, they are portrayed as lovers, and yet Drake speaks to Shane like he is scum while he's screwing him. I can't abide that. I attempted to at least make it through the story, but at 33% there was some double penetration and neither of the penetraties are Drake, and he's standing right there watching.
Nice cover, nice premise, not so nice execution.
Sorry, I really tried.
Nice cover, nice premise, not so nice execution.
Sorry, I really tried.
September 24, 2014
"Icebound" is the first book in the "Mortals & Myths" series by new author Corinna Rogers and, as far as I can remember (hey, I've read A LOT of books in my lifetime so I've lost count and can't really recall every single one that I've had the pleasure of reading), the first urban fantasy M/M novel I've come across. Reading the synopsis, I immediately found myself curious as to how the story was going to play out. And you know what they say about curiosity... No, no. Not the one about the cat. Let's just say that curiosity is often a good thing because it leads you to discover new and wonderful things. And yes, you may quote me on that. ^.^
"No deals. No pacts, no treaties, no nothing that'll ever lock us in. Nothing we can't undo. Nothing that binds us to anyone other than each other."
Shane Conell and Drake Young have known each other since they were teenagers. They've loved and worked beside each other for so long but there are a few rules that they've come up with. Sometimes, though, we're forced to make choices that would mean sacrificing something you have for something far more important. And that's what happened when Shane broke one of their rules and agreed to give up his soul in order for Drake's life to be saved. That was nine years ago.
Shane is now the First Vassal to the Ice King but he hasn't been completely turned. He still has certain emotions, including the ones connected to Drake. When he hears of an opportunity for him to take back his soul from the Ice King, Shane knows immediately that this is something that he needs to do. In an ironic turn of events, it's Drake that stops him from accomplishing his task on the very first try but, after certain explanations are made, Shane and Drake decide to work together to go after the creature known as the Soul-Taker.
It's been far too long since Shane and Drake last worked together and Drake knows all too well that the Shane standing beside him is not the same Shane who once stood by him all those years ago. In Shane's desperation to get his soul back, he decides to ditch Drake but faces the wrath of the Ice King in a manner that was, well, rather difficult to read (but I still read through it all). The book ends with more questions that need answers but I wouldn't really call it a cliffhanger ending since that would have left me frustrated AND irritated, and well, I was neither. ^.^
This book had a lot of potential. The story was original and creative and the characters had background stories (hooray for flashbacks) that explained why they were the way they were in the present. What bothered me were the number of sex scenes. I'm all for M/M sex scenes but there were moments that I found myself wondering if all of the ones in the book were absolutely necessary. That scene in Chapter Nine was...painful...and if the purpose was to show that Shane felt nothing at all, it didn't really accomplish that since he obviously felt certain things while it was all happening. >.<
There were certain things that were left hanging, i.e. Shane's powers, the Fire Queen, the Soul-Taker, etc., but suffice it to say that my curiosity is once again piqued to the point that I will be awaiting the release of the second book just so I can feel thoroughly satisfied... Assuming, of course, that the second book will be about Shane and Drake, which it should be because, like I said, we need answers plus there story isn't over and done with yet. ^.^
"Icebound" showed promise and I wish that certain aspects of it had been further developed but for what it's worth, it was a good enough book that I read it in one sitting. It also made me want to read more about Shane and Drake and to learn what happens next for the two of them and whether Drake discovers what secrets Shane is keeping from him. Any book that makes me want to find out more about the characters and their story deserves four stars out of five. ♥
"No deals. No pacts, no treaties, no nothing that'll ever lock us in. Nothing we can't undo. Nothing that binds us to anyone other than each other."
Shane Conell and Drake Young have known each other since they were teenagers. They've loved and worked beside each other for so long but there are a few rules that they've come up with. Sometimes, though, we're forced to make choices that would mean sacrificing something you have for something far more important. And that's what happened when Shane broke one of their rules and agreed to give up his soul in order for Drake's life to be saved. That was nine years ago.
Shane is now the First Vassal to the Ice King but he hasn't been completely turned. He still has certain emotions, including the ones connected to Drake. When he hears of an opportunity for him to take back his soul from the Ice King, Shane knows immediately that this is something that he needs to do. In an ironic turn of events, it's Drake that stops him from accomplishing his task on the very first try but, after certain explanations are made, Shane and Drake decide to work together to go after the creature known as the Soul-Taker.
It's been far too long since Shane and Drake last worked together and Drake knows all too well that the Shane standing beside him is not the same Shane who once stood by him all those years ago. In Shane's desperation to get his soul back, he decides to ditch Drake but faces the wrath of the Ice King in a manner that was, well, rather difficult to read (but I still read through it all). The book ends with more questions that need answers but I wouldn't really call it a cliffhanger ending since that would have left me frustrated AND irritated, and well, I was neither. ^.^
This book had a lot of potential. The story was original and creative and the characters had background stories (hooray for flashbacks) that explained why they were the way they were in the present. What bothered me were the number of sex scenes. I'm all for M/M sex scenes but there were moments that I found myself wondering if all of the ones in the book were absolutely necessary. That scene in Chapter Nine was...painful...and if the purpose was to show that Shane felt nothing at all, it didn't really accomplish that since he obviously felt certain things while it was all happening. >.<
There were certain things that were left hanging, i.e. Shane's powers, the Fire Queen, the Soul-Taker, etc., but suffice it to say that my curiosity is once again piqued to the point that I will be awaiting the release of the second book just so I can feel thoroughly satisfied... Assuming, of course, that the second book will be about Shane and Drake, which it should be because, like I said, we need answers plus there story isn't over and done with yet. ^.^
"Icebound" showed promise and I wish that certain aspects of it had been further developed but for what it's worth, it was a good enough book that I read it in one sitting. It also made me want to read more about Shane and Drake and to learn what happens next for the two of them and whether Drake discovers what secrets Shane is keeping from him. Any book that makes me want to find out more about the characters and their story deserves four stars out of five. ♥
October 10, 2014
Shane is a powerful mage. Drake is his human lover. Ten years ago, Shane sold his soul to the Ice King to save Drake’s life and that was the end of their grand love affair. Without his soul and indebted into service of the Ice King, Shane has become an unconscionable killer and at complete odds with Drake, who is now the Champion of the Church and sworn protector of innocents. Shane’s love of Drake has turned to a burning obsession and Drake tries to stay away, knowing that Shane’s body is simply a shell of his former lover without soul or emotion or morality. When the two men find themselves hunting the same creature, it’s clear that the pull between them is still strong, leading to some intense, angrily passionate encounters and more misery for both, because unless something drastically changes, there is no future for these two star-crossed lovers.
This book is intense. I felt like I ran the complete gamut of emotion while reading this, from captivated to disgusted, from hopeful to disheartened, and I couldn’t put the damn thing down no matter what happened – and some bad, bad things happened. Shane is soulless and pretty much devoid of humanity, doing anything, anyone, just for kicks and to anger Drake, who he desires more than anything else, with the last of his dwindling emotions, knowing that while Drake may give into the flaring passion between the two briefly, he cannot and will not love Shane the way he is. And Drake feels plenty of self-recrimination for giving into the body of what used to be the man he loved, knowing it isn’t really him, but helpless in the face of his soulless soulmate. So heartbreaking.
I don’t usually like to give spoilers, but I feel there are a few things readers might like to know before going in. One is that Shane is a bit of a bastard and sleeps around without shame, sometimes right in front of Drake’s face. This is both mentioned and graphically illustrated. The second is a spoiler and a trigger warning. There is an extremely explicit, graphic, and detailed non-con scene. It involves multiple people of multiple genders and paranormal species. The good news is that since I read it, you don’t have to. The scene illustrates, brutally, the loss of what little humanity Shane has left, but you won’t miss much from glossing over it when it begins and picking up on the last page of the chapter.
As far as the plot goes, I was so lost in Shane and Drakes emotional story that I barely noticed it. While we get a clear resolution in Shane and Drake’s relationship by the end of the book, the rest of the plot is kind of just left dangling. Not even a cliffhanger really, the book just kind of… ends. I had no idea the book was coming to a close until I flipped the page and there were no more words. That was a little off-putting, I’ll admit, but forgivable since the next book in the series comes out in January 2015 (I can hold out a few months, I think).
All things considered, this book is an intense, emotional ride, but well worth it. If you like erotic urban fantasy and intense books that grab on and don’t let go, and you can handle the explicitness, I think you’ll like this.
*I received an ARC of this book to review. You can find this review and others like it at BookAndCoffeeAddict.com, along with recommendations for a fantastic cup of coffee.
This book is intense. I felt like I ran the complete gamut of emotion while reading this, from captivated to disgusted, from hopeful to disheartened, and I couldn’t put the damn thing down no matter what happened – and some bad, bad things happened. Shane is soulless and pretty much devoid of humanity, doing anything, anyone, just for kicks and to anger Drake, who he desires more than anything else, with the last of his dwindling emotions, knowing that while Drake may give into the flaring passion between the two briefly, he cannot and will not love Shane the way he is. And Drake feels plenty of self-recrimination for giving into the body of what used to be the man he loved, knowing it isn’t really him, but helpless in the face of his soulless soulmate. So heartbreaking.
I don’t usually like to give spoilers, but I feel there are a few things readers might like to know before going in. One is that Shane is a bit of a bastard and sleeps around without shame, sometimes right in front of Drake’s face. This is both mentioned and graphically illustrated. The second is a spoiler and a trigger warning. There is an extremely explicit, graphic, and detailed non-con scene. It involves multiple people of multiple genders and paranormal species. The good news is that since I read it, you don’t have to. The scene illustrates, brutally, the loss of what little humanity Shane has left, but you won’t miss much from glossing over it when it begins and picking up on the last page of the chapter.
As far as the plot goes, I was so lost in Shane and Drakes emotional story that I barely noticed it. While we get a clear resolution in Shane and Drake’s relationship by the end of the book, the rest of the plot is kind of just left dangling. Not even a cliffhanger really, the book just kind of… ends. I had no idea the book was coming to a close until I flipped the page and there were no more words. That was a little off-putting, I’ll admit, but forgivable since the next book in the series comes out in January 2015 (I can hold out a few months, I think).
All things considered, this book is an intense, emotional ride, but well worth it. If you like erotic urban fantasy and intense books that grab on and don’t let go, and you can handle the explicitness, I think you’ll like this.
*I received an ARC of this book to review. You can find this review and others like it at BookAndCoffeeAddict.com, along with recommendations for a fantastic cup of coffee.
October 6, 2014
2.5 stars rounded up to 3
Review copy from Netgalley
I'm not really sure what to make of this book. I wanted to like it more than I did. It's certainly not a romance in the traditional sense, as Drake and Shane have already been lovers in the past. There isn't that courtship dance you'd expect in a romance about them meeting and falling in love.
The book has some things I liked and some things I hated. Having sold his soul to save his lover, I felt more drawn to Shane than to Drake as the story went on. Despite being soul-less, Shane was still very much a sympathetic character. You understood why he'd sold his soul, he would have done anything to keep Drake safe. Drake on the other hand came across as judgemental and didn't seem to get why Shane had done that. Perhaps he didn't really know?
The world-building is intriguing, but I could have done with a bit more of an explanation of the creatures and the different realms. We get glimpses, enough to whet the appetite, but not enough to satisfy it. There are flashback scenes to various points in the past, which were jarring and took you out of the main story.
However, this book has one of my pet hates - it is written entirely in present tense. That might work well for shorter works but for a novel it was tough going and if I had known it was written in the present tense, I would never have even started reading it.
The other thing I hated was the gang rape scene near the end - it was overly graphic and horrific and as much as I felt for Shane, I did not want to read that scene. It also seemed in very poor taste, that a few hours after that rape, Drake and Shane then have sex. Really? Shane has just been viciously violated and Drake thinks sex between them would be a good idea? I know people may react to rape in different ways, but Drake didn't even say anything like, do you think this is a good idea after what happened to you? No, they just have sex anyway and what makes it even worse is that Drake says all these humiliating things like how hungry Shane is for cock etc. Not cool at all.
It left a sour taste in my mouth and I won't be reading any more in the series.
Review copy from Netgalley
I'm not really sure what to make of this book. I wanted to like it more than I did. It's certainly not a romance in the traditional sense, as Drake and Shane have already been lovers in the past. There isn't that courtship dance you'd expect in a romance about them meeting and falling in love.
The book has some things I liked and some things I hated. Having sold his soul to save his lover, I felt more drawn to Shane than to Drake as the story went on. Despite being soul-less, Shane was still very much a sympathetic character. You understood why he'd sold his soul, he would have done anything to keep Drake safe. Drake on the other hand came across as judgemental and didn't seem to get why Shane had done that. Perhaps he didn't really know?
The world-building is intriguing, but I could have done with a bit more of an explanation of the creatures and the different realms. We get glimpses, enough to whet the appetite, but not enough to satisfy it. There are flashback scenes to various points in the past, which were jarring and took you out of the main story.
However, this book has one of my pet hates - it is written entirely in present tense. That might work well for shorter works but for a novel it was tough going and if I had known it was written in the present tense, I would never have even started reading it.
The other thing I hated was the gang rape scene near the end - it was overly graphic and horrific and as much as I felt for Shane, I did not want to read that scene. It also seemed in very poor taste, that a few hours after that rape, Drake and Shane then have sex. Really? Shane has just been viciously violated and Drake thinks sex between them would be a good idea? I know people may react to rape in different ways, but Drake didn't even say anything like, do you think this is a good idea after what happened to you? No, they just have sex anyway and what makes it even worse is that Drake says all these humiliating things like how hungry Shane is for cock etc. Not cool at all.
It left a sour taste in my mouth and I won't be reading any more in the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 3, 2014
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.5 stars
The story jumps right into the action, and at first, I had a little trouble following along. But Rogers quickly gets us up to speed, both on the past relationship between Drake and Shane, as well as what is going on with them now. After trading his soul to the Ice King, Shane has become his number one Vassal. He works for the Ice King, basically hunting creatures for the bounty. Shane is mostly cold and closed off. He retains the tiniest bit of emotion, mostly pain, but for the most part he is no longer the man he once was. He feels no remorse or guilt for the bad things he does. But that connection to Drake is still strong. Deep down he remembers their love, still wants Drake despite himself. But a relationship between them is impossible as long as he remains soulless. I found Shane such a fascinating character. He is at once jaded and uncaring, while still so obviously in pain over the loss of Drake. He is incredibly powerful, one of the strongest mages around, but he can’t have the one thing he wants. I think Rogers does a great job portraying his character and show us the duality of the man he has become.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
4.5 stars
The story jumps right into the action, and at first, I had a little trouble following along. But Rogers quickly gets us up to speed, both on the past relationship between Drake and Shane, as well as what is going on with them now. After trading his soul to the Ice King, Shane has become his number one Vassal. He works for the Ice King, basically hunting creatures for the bounty. Shane is mostly cold and closed off. He retains the tiniest bit of emotion, mostly pain, but for the most part he is no longer the man he once was. He feels no remorse or guilt for the bad things he does. But that connection to Drake is still strong. Deep down he remembers their love, still wants Drake despite himself. But a relationship between them is impossible as long as he remains soulless. I found Shane such a fascinating character. He is at once jaded and uncaring, while still so obviously in pain over the loss of Drake. He is incredibly powerful, one of the strongest mages around, but he can’t have the one thing he wants. I think Rogers does a great job portraying his character and show us the duality of the man he has become.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
October 20, 2014
I received this book from NetGalley in return for a fair and honest review.
Where to begin with this one? Well, I'll start by saying I haven't included romance in the genres as it is more on the dark side than sweet and fluffy. This is gritty stuff where rough (consensual) sex is involved pretty much all of the time. There are no romantic meals with bunches of flowers. If you're looking for that then you've got the wrong book.
If you want a book that is hard hitting (quite literally at times) from a world completely different from your own, with its own set of rules and rulers, where nothing is as it seems but people try to carry on regardless then this might be the one for you.
FAIR WARNING - if you've read any of the other reviews, you will know that there is a rape scene in this that is fairly graphic in its description. Although I was not comfortable in reading this, I did feel that it played an integral part of the story as it demonstrated that all hope was lost, the war had been won and not by who we wanted.
This is a gripping tale, the start of a series, with characters you can identify with... even if you won't admit to it. Well written and fast-paced, this is a page turner from start to finish.
Where to begin with this one? Well, I'll start by saying I haven't included romance in the genres as it is more on the dark side than sweet and fluffy. This is gritty stuff where rough (consensual) sex is involved pretty much all of the time. There are no romantic meals with bunches of flowers. If you're looking for that then you've got the wrong book.
If you want a book that is hard hitting (quite literally at times) from a world completely different from your own, with its own set of rules and rulers, where nothing is as it seems but people try to carry on regardless then this might be the one for you.
FAIR WARNING - if you've read any of the other reviews, you will know that there is a rape scene in this that is fairly graphic in its description. Although I was not comfortable in reading this, I did feel that it played an integral part of the story as it demonstrated that all hope was lost, the war had been won and not by who we wanted.
This is a gripping tale, the start of a series, with characters you can identify with... even if you won't admit to it. Well written and fast-paced, this is a page turner from start to finish.
November 24, 2014
This book does have some scenes in it that had me scratching my head, mainly cause I was a bit confused as to what was going on and why they were there. But even though that was happening, I couldn’t seem to put the book down and I wanted to know what was going to happen next.
I would consider this a paranormal with a twist because it was so left field in all the paranormal books that I have read recently, that it caught me off guard and I loved that about it. I wasn’t really sure how I felt about the characters, Shane comes off as a massive stalker, and Drake was just overall confusing.
While I don’t usually like books that “go back in time” I thought that Ms. Rogers did a great job with those parts of the story. They blended well enough that it wasn’t a completely abrupt change of pace, but they were there for information needed.
I haven’t read anything by Ms. Rogers in the past, but I can tell you that there was just something about this book that has stayed with me and makes me want to read more in the future.
I would recommend this book to people who enjoy reading outside of the *normal* paranormal genre and want to read about some strange characters!
Reviewed by Crystal Marie for Crystal’s Many Reviewers
*Copy provided for review*
I would consider this a paranormal with a twist because it was so left field in all the paranormal books that I have read recently, that it caught me off guard and I loved that about it. I wasn’t really sure how I felt about the characters, Shane comes off as a massive stalker, and Drake was just overall confusing.
While I don’t usually like books that “go back in time” I thought that Ms. Rogers did a great job with those parts of the story. They blended well enough that it wasn’t a completely abrupt change of pace, but they were there for information needed.
I haven’t read anything by Ms. Rogers in the past, but I can tell you that there was just something about this book that has stayed with me and makes me want to read more in the future.
I would recommend this book to people who enjoy reading outside of the *normal* paranormal genre and want to read about some strange characters!
Reviewed by Crystal Marie for Crystal’s Many Reviewers
*Copy provided for review*
October 13, 2021
The nice looking cover and the intriguing blurb made me start reading this book with good expectations. Unfortunately, they didn’t last long . . . For the life of me, once I start a book I have to finish it, so I didn’t drop this one completely. Nevertheless, I had to re-start it three times before actually going through with it.
For a book mainly classified as urban fantasy, you would expect quite the world-building, but here it’s all just terribly confusing and misleading. The writing is very rushed, there are too many sex scenes—at times kind of inappropriate and unnecessary—and also dialogues that make the characters sound like they’re sort of out of context. So I’m afraid I really couldn’t get into it, and it’s a shame because I could see a certain potential that would have worked nicely with a proper development.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley for an honest review. This does not affect in any way my opinion of the book nor the content of my review—originally posted on Darkest Sins.
For a book mainly classified as urban fantasy, you would expect quite the world-building, but here it’s all just terribly confusing and misleading. The writing is very rushed, there are too many sex scenes—at times kind of inappropriate and unnecessary—and also dialogues that make the characters sound like they’re sort of out of context. So I’m afraid I really couldn’t get into it, and it’s a shame because I could see a certain potential that would have worked nicely with a proper development.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley for an honest review. This does not affect in any way my opinion of the book nor the content of my review—originally posted on Darkest Sins.
September 25, 2014
REVIEW: ICEBOUND by Corinna Rogers
A very earthy, highly sensual story involving two former lovers, ICEBOUND neatly blends urban fantasy with paranormal on a foundation derived from legends of the Fae. A decade ago, Shane sold his soul to the Ice King (whom I see as comparable to the Winter Queen of the Sidhe), for the sole purpose of preventing his love, Drake, from instead losing his soul. But now, magical trouble is stirring in the city, and soulless Shane must partner up with the former lover he loved enough to make the ultimate sacrifice.
ICEBOUND is Volume One of the new MORTALA AND MYTHS Series, and is rife with hotly explicit m/m encounters.
A very earthy, highly sensual story involving two former lovers, ICEBOUND neatly blends urban fantasy with paranormal on a foundation derived from legends of the Fae. A decade ago, Shane sold his soul to the Ice King (whom I see as comparable to the Winter Queen of the Sidhe), for the sole purpose of preventing his love, Drake, from instead losing his soul. But now, magical trouble is stirring in the city, and soulless Shane must partner up with the former lover he loved enough to make the ultimate sacrifice.
ICEBOUND is Volume One of the new MORTALA AND MYTHS Series, and is rife with hotly explicit m/m encounters.
Read
October 25, 2014Another DNF for me, though I gave up on this one a long time ago. The action was great. The plot was okay. I just couldn't get past the humiliating language. MM "romance"? Not exactly. There's too much hatred between main characters and it turned me off.
March 14, 2015
Reviewed by Brandilyn for Prism Book Alliance. I have sat on this review for a few days trying to figure out what to say about it. I enjoyed it, but I think there is room for improvement.
November 3, 2014
M/m romance. That gets dirty fast. Will be reading the second one.
December 20, 2014
Review to follow.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews