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Ascension #1-3

The Ascension Series #1-3

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ABOUT SACRIFICED IN SHADOW
Lincoln Marshall is a small-town deputy with a very big problem. Six members of his church have been found dead, killed by a rogue werewolf. He’ll have to make a deal with the Devil to save victims that have gone missing—maybe literally. Elise Kavanagh, preternatural investigator and exorcist, is the expert when it comes to violent deaths at the jaws of evil. She’s also among the most powerful demons that Hell has spawned.

Elise jumps at Lincoln’s case, and it’s not just because of his down-home charm. Someone’s laid a trap for her in Northgate, and she wants to find out who. She’ll have to team up with Rylie Gresham, Alpha of the last surviving werewolf pack, to figure out who’s trying to blame the murders on werewolves. Only together can they stop the killings—and uncover the secrets buried in Northgate.

ABOUT OATHS OF BLOOD
Werewolves are immune to every illness and can heal any wound. It should be impossible for one to become possessed by a demon. But that’s exactly what Seth Wilder is facing: a werewolf gone insane from possession. He has no choice but to deliver her to the only exorcist in America, Elise Kavanagh, who also happens to be a powerful demon known as the Godslayer.

Elise is in hiding when Seth and Rylie Gresham, Alpha werewolf, arrive seeking her help. She agrees, but everything has its price. What they learn about the possessed werewolf changes everything—Hell and Earth, the pack, and the future of the entire world…

ABOUT RULED BY STEEL
Elise Kavanagh failed to prevent the Breaking, and now Hell is spilling onto Earth. She’s delved deep into the City of Dis in an attempt to stop the infernal armies–but even the legendary Godslayer is unprepared to face Dis’s fiercest demons, not to mention the responsibility of liberating the humans they’ve enslaved.

On Earth, rogue angel Nash Adamson is wing-deep in damage control after the Breaking, and his fellow angels don’t want to get involved. War is approaching the werewolf sanctuary. If Heaven won’t help them, he’ll have to turn to Hell for salvation.

Everything hinges on who can control the City of Dis. Elise and her allies have no choice but to rule by steel…

838 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 20, 2014

220 people are currently reading
470 people want to read

About the author

S.M. Reine

114 books2,006 followers
Hi everyone! My name is Sara, and I write urban fantasy and paranormal novels as SM Reine. I collect swords, cat hair, and typewriters (which I do use for writing!). It's a good day when those three things have nothing to do with each other.

If you would like to know the instant my next book is available, you should enlist in my Army of Evil! We have a wicked cool secret handshake, but you'll have to sign up to learn it. ;) Check it out -- http://smarturl.it/armyofevil

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5 stars
508 (56%)
4 stars
249 (27%)
3 stars
108 (11%)
2 stars
27 (2%)
1 star
9 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
2 reviews
March 29, 2015
Addicted

It's hard for me to find a single book truly like,I haven't stopped reading since picking up reformation of the Decent Series.
Profile Image for Dale.
19 reviews
August 2, 2015
Different . Yes, very.

Fast paced. Not boring. Different from any thing else I have read. Ready for next book ! You will not be disappointed.
Profile Image for Laura.
1,229 reviews11 followers
September 19, 2015
Nice Continuation

This three novel bundle of the Ascension series was a very nice continuation to the Descent Series. This new series pretty continues where Descent finished off. Elise and James continues to play a major role in the storyline. There are lots of new players that have been added to bring more variations to the storyline. Ms. Reine does an amazing job at providing plenty of action, mild romance, and a wide mix of paranormals including angels.
Profile Image for Ann.
1,047 reviews2 followers
July 9, 2017
After skipping quite a few books in the Descent Series I could still easily pick up Elise and James story in the Ascension series. Sometimes I wished I would have read the previous books but all in all it was easy to carry on. I wouldn't recommand to start here at all, at least read a bit of Seasons of the Moon and Descent so you know the baseline.
Anyway, I loved having Rylie wolfgirl and her pack back even though Rylie's concerns where getting a bit too much in the end. Why couldn't she just except that being a werewolf isn't all too bad? Unfortunately, we are spending quite a time in hell again and I just didn't get my head around the demon world.
Again, I skipped books 4 & 5 for financial reasons but I didn't want to miss the final two books in the story and I didn't regret it.
The story and universe created by S.M. Reine is rich and I admire how she kept such long threads of different characters and ways without tangling up things.

Why I didn't rate it 5 stars? I can't put my finger on it but something is not quite there. Maybe it's Elise character, maybe the sometimes too convenient kills and rebirths, I don't know...

4,5 of 5 stars
Profile Image for Linda.
1,377 reviews
November 21, 2019
Ok then

I'm not sure how to explain my thoughts on this series. I'm still not a fan of James. He is seriously a mess. And explain to me how Brianna is nearly comatose when she lost her kopis, but James barely staggered when he lost his? Regardless of how twisted his and Elise's bond is. And he is still playing her. Hard to like a guy when you know he is using her and that all of his "help" serves him. Honestly, I must be losing my damn mind reading this knowing there are no real likeable characters, even amongst the angels. The fact that you're rooting for a demon just seems wrong, because Elise isn't really meant to be someone you like. Most of the time. However, I will say kudos to the author cause you do keep pulling me into the story and I keep reading to see if Elise finally figures out what a douche her aspis is and frankly, not very redeemable.
Profile Image for Karen.
1,424 reviews2 followers
October 6, 2019
Ongoing serial

When I purchased this book set, I missed that it's a continuation of two earlier series. Reine does give enough backstory that I was able to make sense of most of it, though. I wonder if I might have enjoyed it more if...., but as it is, I never warmed to the characters, the religious aspects were convoluted, and the storyline was depressing. I did finish, but won't be continuing. It gets 3.5 stars.
Profile Image for Jim Kratzok.
1,070 reviews3 followers
January 13, 2021
There's a lot going on in this trilogy

Apparently there are other books involving these characters in earlier times which I haven't read yet. So I kept feeling that I was missing some background information. Despite that, the books were quite enjoyable. Some of the characters were harder to like than others and a bit 2 dimensional. But otherwise, this book was worth the time spent reading it.
279 reviews1 follower
February 19, 2025
Good book set

Books 1-3 of The Ascension Series introduces the reader to Elise and a whole cast of paranormal characters, and their fight against evil in a race to save humanity. Interesting characters and an action filled storyline grab the reader's attention from the start, and continues through the last paragraph.
525 reviews4 followers
August 3, 2025
What can I say about this boxset that hasn’t already been said. I absolutely adored it, Elise is one hell of a weapon that’s for sure. I am so going to continue the series as far as I can. This is one hell of a story writer, I enjoyed the Preternatural series as well. So on to book four. Very highly recommended.
23 reviews
February 6, 2019
Attention grabbing

This series has you hooked and keeps you guessing on what is going to happen. This contains characters who I loved in the beginning and started to hate as the story progresses.
256 reviews
April 20, 2020
Another winner, thrilling!

AM has done it again, and it just keeps getting better! Each book leaves you physically aching for the next one. I can't wait to dive into book 4!!!! I'll most likely be reading it when the sun rises tomorrow.
971 reviews2 followers
October 18, 2020
Excellent

Wow, what an excellent box set. Elise is brilliant as the demon 'father', and I love how she is developing empathy and other emotions once alien to her. Great work by a talented author.
1,070 reviews5 followers
February 21, 2021
So Far So Good

Good start to the series. I ranked and rated each book individually but this series would make the most sense to pick up after reading the Descent series which builds the world and gives more information about Elise and her origins.
10 reviews
February 28, 2019
Great read

Sara does a great job of keeping one interested in her series cannot wait to get into the next book.
Profile Image for Claire o donoghue.
3 reviews
September 30, 2021
I cannot get enough of Elise and James, the wolves and everyone else in these books. It's so easy to read and I cannot wait to start caged in bone!!!
28 reviews
April 10, 2024
Much like the Descent Series, I GOBBLED THIS SERIES UP.
Elise is the best, when ruling Hell, hunting, seducing, fighting...she's epic.
Profile Image for Gary O'Brien.
102 reviews26 followers
March 18, 2016
The Ascension Series, Books 1-3: Sacrificed in Shadow, Oaths of Blood, and Ruled by Steel
by
S.M. Reine
5 stars

Elise Kavanagh, preternatural investigator and exorcist, legendary demon hunter known as the Godslayer, and the most powerful demon to ever walk the Earth is back for some more kick-ass adventures.

She and her friends, the last werewolf pack on Earth, have the unenvious job of proving a murder was not committed by a werewolf while trying to find the real perpetrator and prove his guilt.

Then Elise, who, in addition to her other supernatural qualifications, is also the only exorcist left in America, must deal with a werewolf that has gone insane because of possession by a demon.

Also, having failed to prevent the Breaking, she and rogue angel Nash Adamson might have to make a deal with the Devil to stop Hell from overrunning Earth.

So Elise has her hands full, just as in the Descent Series. Some day she may get to rest.

Ms. Reine continues to write outstanding stories with unique viewpoints. These books are full of non-stop action just as the Descent Series was, even more so.

Enjoy these, they are outstanding.
891 reviews5 followers
September 28, 2015
.Ascension Series1-3

Worth the read. A multiple of characters to a very creative storyline. Not a easy read with a lot of combining plots to follow. Suggest to start with the first trilogy. Which S M Reine developed for the Elise the godslayer.
785 reviews
November 7, 2015
I have to get the next book now

I enjoyed this set immensely. It is so easy to identify with the characters and the plot keeps you reading long after you would put another book down.
Profile Image for Caroline Jenkins.
104 reviews4 followers
January 20, 2021
I love this world that Ms Reine has invented and all the characters in all her books. There's so much action happening right through the whole series, I was on the edge of my seat right up to the very last page
Profile Image for angie beth.
310 reviews1 follower
November 28, 2015
Great books

Great book great characters great story can't wait to read the rest of them this book has it all Angels and Demons you name it is got it twisted and turns
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews

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