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Descended
Thousands of miles from home, Isa sees a man who looks intensely familiar. After she thwarts an attempt on her life, she escapes down the mountain with the familiar man, Xander, and he explains about four ancient bloodlines, each with its own unique set of Cicero, Solomon, Sun Tzu, and Lilith. He belongs to a secret society devoted to observing and recording, but never interfering. Until now.
As Isa fights to survive, she grows close to Xander. She learns of her abilities passed down through blood and struggles to uncover the truths of her past. She decides she has to put a stop to the killing of the bloodlines and protect Xander from any further harm…even if it kills her. But will the truth of the killer's motivations and identity be too much to handle?
As Isa fights to survive, she grows close to Xander. She learns of her abilities passed down through blood and struggles to uncover the truths of her past. She decides she has to put a stop to the killing of the bloodlines and protect Xander from any further harm…even if it kills her. But will the truth of the killer's motivations and identity be too much to handle?
- GenresChristian Fiction
340 pages, Paperback
First published July 30, 2025
1 person is currently reading
106 people want to read
About the author
Melissa Koslin
5 books410 followersMelissa Koslin is a fourth-degree black belt in and certified instructor of Songahm Taekwondo. In her day job as a commercial property manager, she secretly notes personal quirks and funny situations, ready to tweak them into colorful additions for her books. She and Corey, her husband of twenty years, live in Jacksonville, Florida, where they do their best not to melt in the sun.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
July 26, 2025
A fast paced, European setting, mystery!
Another fascinating read by Melissa Koslin! Stick with me as I try to explain this. There's ancient bloodlines that each have a different proficiency in a skill such as persuasion, logic, etc. Our female main character, Isa, is from a bloodline but she doesn't know it. She is the personal assistant to a rude guy and keeps to herself. Then she runs into this handsome guy named Xander and starts to uncover the truth about her past and who she is. People try to kill her, kidnap her, or manipulate.
What I loved:
Her writing! She is detailed without being boring.
The characters! We got to see in both Isa and Xander's perspectives as well as a villain or two. Her character work is top quality in the way she takes her time to build the personality of each one and the actions line up with the motivations.
The setting! It was so fun to read about European countries, the language, and setting.
What would have brought it up to a 5 star:
The plot and pacing felt off at times. It felt like there was a lot of action that kept affecting the characters and there was not enough time for them to rest and process all that was happening. I don't mind that the storyline was unrealistic, but I would have liked to see more communication between Isa and Xander reflecting on what was happening rather than reacting to each new threat.
The romance felt rushed. Not a terrible amount, but I didn't feel like their connection was strong enough to warrant the love confessions they made at the point they did. I still really enjoyed their relationship and I could totally see why they were a good match. I just wanted more.
A side piece I'll mention is the faith content. I liked it! Both Isa and Xander were Christians and prayed for wisdom in situations.
I'd recommend this if you already like Melissa Koslin's writing style and are up for reading some vibes.
Tropes & Triggers: fated romance, ancient cult vibes, violence with blood and murder, only kissing, no language.
Releases July 30th, 2025
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Another fascinating read by Melissa Koslin! Stick with me as I try to explain this. There's ancient bloodlines that each have a different proficiency in a skill such as persuasion, logic, etc. Our female main character, Isa, is from a bloodline but she doesn't know it. She is the personal assistant to a rude guy and keeps to herself. Then she runs into this handsome guy named Xander and starts to uncover the truth about her past and who she is. People try to kill her, kidnap her, or manipulate.
What I loved:
Her writing! She is detailed without being boring.
The characters! We got to see in both Isa and Xander's perspectives as well as a villain or two. Her character work is top quality in the way she takes her time to build the personality of each one and the actions line up with the motivations.
The setting! It was so fun to read about European countries, the language, and setting.
What would have brought it up to a 5 star:
The plot and pacing felt off at times. It felt like there was a lot of action that kept affecting the characters and there was not enough time for them to rest and process all that was happening. I don't mind that the storyline was unrealistic, but I would have liked to see more communication between Isa and Xander reflecting on what was happening rather than reacting to each new threat.
The romance felt rushed. Not a terrible amount, but I didn't feel like their connection was strong enough to warrant the love confessions they made at the point they did. I still really enjoyed their relationship and I could totally see why they were a good match. I just wanted more.
A side piece I'll mention is the faith content. I liked it! Both Isa and Xander were Christians and prayed for wisdom in situations.
I'd recommend this if you already like Melissa Koslin's writing style and are up for reading some vibes.
Tropes & Triggers: fated romance, ancient cult vibes, violence with blood and murder, only kissing, no language.
Releases July 30th, 2025
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 3, 2025
What a unique concept and I thoroughly enjoyed it! An action adventure filled with romance and an interesting spin on the gifts God gives us. I loved the storyline and the characters. It left me wanting more, and I can totally see this being a series if the author wanted to write it! And if she did, I would read it.
*thank you to the author for a complimentary copy of this book, all thoughts are my own.
*thank you to the author for a complimentary copy of this book, all thoughts are my own.
December 26, 2025
Enjoyed this!
September 21, 2025
Isa, an assistant, is with her boss at resort in the Swiss Alps when things begin to go awry. She keeps seeing a man she knows she has seen back home in America and she wants to know why. She corners Xander to find out who he is and shortly thereafter people start trying to kill her.
This is such a unique book! I have never read one with a premise quite like this one. You have a Continental European setting, several secret groups, and two very unique characters. Isa and Xander are both interesting characters in several ways. Their fighting skills are beyond impressive, their situational awareness is over the top and they both seem to want to have God in their lives. There were a couple of things I wished I would have seen. Some of the plot lines could have been more fleshed out. There were situations I needed more information about, and the romance felt a bit too instalovey! Overall, it was a great book about an interesting idea. I would really like to see more books like it.
This book would not appeal to everyone! However, if you love what if stories or conspiracy theory stories about ancient things you might enjoy this one. If the slightly unbelievable is hard for you to swallow, then maybe skip this one!
#Descended
This is such a unique book! I have never read one with a premise quite like this one. You have a Continental European setting, several secret groups, and two very unique characters. Isa and Xander are both interesting characters in several ways. Their fighting skills are beyond impressive, their situational awareness is over the top and they both seem to want to have God in their lives. There were a couple of things I wished I would have seen. Some of the plot lines could have been more fleshed out. There were situations I needed more information about, and the romance felt a bit too instalovey! Overall, it was a great book about an interesting idea. I would really like to see more books like it.
This book would not appeal to everyone! However, if you love what if stories or conspiracy theory stories about ancient things you might enjoy this one. If the slightly unbelievable is hard for you to swallow, then maybe skip this one!
#Descended
July 30, 2025
I am so glad to have received a copy of this book in exchange for a review.
Melissa Koslin can't write a bad book. I absolutely love all her work and am always sucked into the stories she creates. Descended was a thrilling adventure. I absolutely loved reading about Isa and Xander. She gives so much depth and personality to all her characters it feels like you're in the story with them and not just reading about them. I can't wait to read her next one!
Melissa Koslin can't write a bad book. I absolutely love all her work and am always sucked into the stories she creates. Descended was a thrilling adventure. I absolutely loved reading about Isa and Xander. She gives so much depth and personality to all her characters it feels like you're in the story with them and not just reading about them. I can't wait to read her next one!
September 19, 2025
Descended by Melissa Koslin was a great read! The story drew me in right away with Isa’s character. I wanted to be Isa! She is witty and complex, and the way she handled someone trying to kill her because of her bloodline was amazing. And Xander was swoon worthy–he was a great hero even though he carried such hurt within. I really rooted for Isa and Xander’s romance. I’ll let you read the book to see what happened.
July 30, 2025
Descended by Melissa Koslin is a fantastic new book that quite honestly blew me away. The intricate plot, wonderful characters, and very complex situations made it one of my top favorites for 2025! I highly recommend Descended and all of Ms. Koslin's books!
I absolutely loved this new work by Ms. Koslin. The book was exceptionally well written, had excellent characters, wonderful themes, and from the first to last page brought an intriguing plot with new twists and turns that made it impossible to put down. I enjoyed the concepts explored in this book of specific genetic predispositions and "talents", making several individuals in a position to wield their powers for good or for evil. I always love the deep thought that Ms. Koslin puts into her works that make it so intriguing and incredible for her readers.
One major reason Ms. Koslin's writings are so captivating is the incredibly well-written characters. I find myself especially drawn to her characters because of their strong values and strengths, but also by their shortcomings and the way they overcome challenges. She gives her characters very difficult histories and current problems to struggle through, which makes their virtues and failings shine clearly. I honestly really love how strong, yet also feminine her main female characters are. They are fierce and strong, yet able to be soft and compassionate as well. The main male characters in Ms. Koslin's writings are probably some of my all-time favorite literary male characters. They are protective, strong, morally upright, and loyal men who build up others and respect the female characters as partners, not inferiors. They care about doing the right thing and not about the opinions of others. Overall, I genuinely appreciated every part of this book! I devoured it and cannot wait for another book from Ms. Koslin. I highly recommend Descended and sincerely hope that you read it and enjoy it as much as I have! Happy readings!
Disclaimer: The author graciously provided me with a copy of this book . All opinions are my own and part of an unbiased review.
I absolutely loved this new work by Ms. Koslin. The book was exceptionally well written, had excellent characters, wonderful themes, and from the first to last page brought an intriguing plot with new twists and turns that made it impossible to put down. I enjoyed the concepts explored in this book of specific genetic predispositions and "talents", making several individuals in a position to wield their powers for good or for evil. I always love the deep thought that Ms. Koslin puts into her works that make it so intriguing and incredible for her readers.
One major reason Ms. Koslin's writings are so captivating is the incredibly well-written characters. I find myself especially drawn to her characters because of their strong values and strengths, but also by their shortcomings and the way they overcome challenges. She gives her characters very difficult histories and current problems to struggle through, which makes their virtues and failings shine clearly. I honestly really love how strong, yet also feminine her main female characters are. They are fierce and strong, yet able to be soft and compassionate as well. The main male characters in Ms. Koslin's writings are probably some of my all-time favorite literary male characters. They are protective, strong, morally upright, and loyal men who build up others and respect the female characters as partners, not inferiors. They care about doing the right thing and not about the opinions of others. Overall, I genuinely appreciated every part of this book! I devoured it and cannot wait for another book from Ms. Koslin. I highly recommend Descended and sincerely hope that you read it and enjoy it as much as I have! Happy readings!
Disclaimer: The author graciously provided me with a copy of this book . All opinions are my own and part of an unbiased review.
November 1, 2025
This was a very good book. I was drawn into the story from the beginning. It had several twists and turns as the story unfolded. Trying to figure out who were the bad guys and their motives wasn’t an easy task.
September 1, 2025
This was amazing! I am so glad I read it before school started because I could not put it down!
July 22, 2025
Melissa Koslin does it again! How can I pick a favorite from all her amazing books?!! This book has joined the ranks of her other ones as a couldn't put down, must finish, nonstop action! I had so many questions at the beginning and it made me want to keep reading as I discovered the answers along with Isa. She is such a strong FMC with a fierce desire to protect others, especially Xander. What a ride. From Switzerland to Spain to eastern Europe to Italy, this book travels Europe as Isa fights to survive and keep Xander safe. I also enjoyed the unique twist the author put in the book with abilities passed down through bloodlines. I couldn't take a deep breathe until the last page when it all wrapped up.
Thank you, Melissa, for the opportunity to read it early. All opinions are my own.
Thank you, Melissa, for the opportunity to read it early. All opinions are my own.
August 6, 2025
I couldn’t stop reading and now that I’m done, I feel sad that it’s over – such a wonderful story! Truthfully, I wasn’t sure what to expect after reading the excerpt and not knowing what kind of genre it is. But since I really enjoyed other stories by this author, I decided to give it a try and she didn’t disappoint. I love her writing style! Enjoyed the story!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews