What do you think?
Rate this book
Order of the Blade #1
Darkness Awakened
"Rowe is a paranormal star!" ~J.R. Ward.New York Times bestselling author Stephanie Rowe rivets readers with her thrilling entry into the dangerous, sensual world of the immortal Calydon warrior, where lust rules, honor thrives, and death looms over all. No warrior is safe from his own darkness, or from the woman destined to love and destroy him.Quinn Masters will stop at nothing to rescue his rogue teammate. To save his blood brother and ensure his brand of justice triumphs, Quinn will break every rule of his kind and partner with the sensuous, courageous woman destined to be his ultimate destruction.Haunted by a brutal past, Illusionist Grace Matthews will risk everything to save her kidnapped sister, including putting her life in the sinfully capable hands of an immortal warrior whose ravaging kisses and intense passion propel her ruthlessly toward a fateful destiny she can't afford to believe in.The Calydons are a race of ancient immortals cursed with a dark side. Each Calydon is destined to meet his soul mate, to be so drawn to her that he is unable to resist bonding with her through the rituals of his race, but their destiny is to destroy each other and all they care about the moment their bond is complete."A fast-paced plot with strong characters, blazing sexual tension and sprinkled with witty banter, Darkness Awakened sucked me in and kept me hooked until the very last page." ~Literary Escapism"Rarely do I find a book that so captivates my attention, that makes me laugh out loud, and cry when things look bad. And the sex, wow! It took my breath away. The author keeps the tension high from page one. The pace kept me on the edge of my seat, and turning the pages. I did not want to put this book down... This one is a must read." ~D. Alexx Miller, Alexx Mom Cat's Gateway Book Blog
480 pages, Paperback
First published March 13, 2012
2081 people are currently reading
6611 people want to read
About the author
Stephanie Rowe
112 books1,537 followersHailed as a "paranormal star!" by J.R. Ward, Stephanie Rowe is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than forty-five novels. She is the 2018 RITA® winner for Best Paranormal Romance, as well as a five-time nominee for this prestigious award. For more on Stephanie and her books, visit her at www.stephaneierowe.com, or on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/StephanieRow....
A life-long reader, she began crafting stories at age ten, but didn't realize it was her dream until she was an adult.
Once the light dawned, she immediately left behind "work" as the world defines it and went to "work" as she defines it, which means getting up every morning with a smile in her heart so she can spend the day doing that which makes her spirit sing.
Stephanie believes in learning to listen to your heart in order to figure out what your dreams are, and then opening yourself to the inspiration that will direct you there. She believes we all deserve the right to enjoy life, and for the ride to be as easy as we want it to be, and that we all should accept nothing less than making our dreams come true.
Stephanie lives in New England, and spends every day doing her best to fill it with people, observations and activities that uplift her soul, which include writing, tennis, dancing, friends, and her amazing family.
A life-long reader, she began crafting stories at age ten, but didn't realize it was her dream until she was an adult.
Once the light dawned, she immediately left behind "work" as the world defines it and went to "work" as she defines it, which means getting up every morning with a smile in her heart so she can spend the day doing that which makes her spirit sing.
Stephanie believes in learning to listen to your heart in order to figure out what your dreams are, and then opening yourself to the inspiration that will direct you there. She believes we all deserve the right to enjoy life, and for the ride to be as easy as we want it to be, and that we all should accept nothing less than making our dreams come true.
Stephanie lives in New England, and spends every day doing her best to fill it with people, observations and activities that uplift her soul, which include writing, tennis, dancing, friends, and her amazing family.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 532 reviews
Read
November 8, 2021DNF
I can't star something I haven't read and I can't read something that doesn't capture me or even give me some indication that I should give it more of a chance.
At 6% (I know, very early!) I had to put my kindle down... it wasn't the storyline, it was the actually writing. For me it was like having a bland dinner without the seasoning, I could eat it but I'd be bored.
Not for me unfortunately.
I can't star something I haven't read and I can't read something that doesn't capture me or even give me some indication that I should give it more of a chance.
At 6% (I know, very early!) I had to put my kindle down... it wasn't the storyline, it was the actually writing. For me it was like having a bland dinner without the seasoning, I could eat it but I'd be bored.
Not for me unfortunately.
January 23, 2015
Please tell me women today do not succumb to such half-assed attempts of "romance". Heck, it may just be me, but even with pre-destined mate curses,"you can ride me all night long" after just meeting does not insta-love make. Not to mention the ever annoying continued reference of "woman" to the female protag by big macho male mate. There are better ways to have the male characters come across as alpha males than having them recite cheesy pick up lines and refer to his "love interest" as woman. Hear Me Roar....no thanks caveman, I'll pass on that ride.
I was initially intrigued by the seemingly different story line, but that quickly faded with the introduction of the "love"..can you call it love if all the man says is "I want to have sex with you because of a sheva curse", what am I talking about, of course I would fall in love with him, sex (even awkward sex)=love...no.
I was initially intrigued by the seemingly different story line, but that quickly faded with the introduction of the "love"..can you call it love if all the man says is "I want to have sex with you because of a sheva curse", what am I talking about, of course I would fall in love with him, sex (even awkward sex)=love...no.
March 11, 2012
This was my first Stephanie Rowe read and I was damn impressed. Stephanie is a very talented lady.
Darkness Awakened is the first story in the Order of the Blade: Primal Heat Trilogy and it is the perfect start to what I know will be a truly captivating series.
The Calydon warriors are a unique band of brothers. A great mix of strength, brutality, loyalty and uber sexiness and I was disappointed to read that this series was only going to be a Trilogy. I am salivating, eager to learn about all the warriors that Stephanie took the time to weave into the first story and I know three books won’t be enough to sate my hunger.
Darkness Awakened is the story of Quinn Masters, a Calydon Warrior set on protecting his race by destroying rogue teammates....until one of his blood brothers falls, then he will stop at nothing to save him.
Grace Matthews is an Illusionist, a woman shunned and hunted because of her powers and the kicker is - she doesn’t know how to control them.
When Grace’s sister goes missing and starts killing off Calydon Warriors, Grace has no other choice than to go to Quinn – a complete stranger – for help.
The part I loved most about this story was the immediate connection between the two. From miles away Quinn can smell the scent of his sheva the one woman he is destined to be with but also the one destined to destroy him. From their first moments together the heat is set to a slow simmer and doesn’t stop. They are drawn to each other, constantly desiring an intimacy that can never last due to the history of his race.
Everything about this world was fantastic, each twist and turn thoroughly thought out. From the tattooed weapons the Calydon’s have etched into their skin (that become real when needed), to the elements of Grace’s abilities, to the history of the people. It was a fresh approach to the paranormal genre, one that left me guessing with its unpredictability.
The only reason it didn’t make a full fledged 5 star rating was probably a side effect to my self diagnosed ADD. At times I felt the story was a little too in depth and my attention span started to wane. I like my stories sharp and snappy and although this definitely was, I also feel that there was a bit of information that could have been edited out.
All in all I would definitely recommend this to paranormal romance fans. It has all the aspects of a great story - Hot, hunky, alpha warriors, heart palpitating romance, continuous action and a set of side characters that are just as exciting and entertaining as the main protagonists.
****Additional note - I just received an email from the author 'you will be happy to know that the Order of the Blade is launching with the Primal Heat Trilogy, but there will be more books in the series afterwards, but each will be a standalone. The trilogy was just a special deal to launch the series!'
WOOT WOOT. Very happy to hear it!!****
Darkness Awakened is the first story in the Order of the Blade: Primal Heat Trilogy and it is the perfect start to what I know will be a truly captivating series.
The Calydon warriors are a unique band of brothers. A great mix of strength, brutality, loyalty and uber sexiness and I was disappointed to read that this series was only going to be a Trilogy. I am salivating, eager to learn about all the warriors that Stephanie took the time to weave into the first story and I know three books won’t be enough to sate my hunger.
Darkness Awakened is the story of Quinn Masters, a Calydon Warrior set on protecting his race by destroying rogue teammates....until one of his blood brothers falls, then he will stop at nothing to save him.
Grace Matthews is an Illusionist, a woman shunned and hunted because of her powers and the kicker is - she doesn’t know how to control them.
When Grace’s sister goes missing and starts killing off Calydon Warriors, Grace has no other choice than to go to Quinn – a complete stranger – for help.
The part I loved most about this story was the immediate connection between the two. From miles away Quinn can smell the scent of his sheva the one woman he is destined to be with but also the one destined to destroy him. From their first moments together the heat is set to a slow simmer and doesn’t stop. They are drawn to each other, constantly desiring an intimacy that can never last due to the history of his race.
Everything about this world was fantastic, each twist and turn thoroughly thought out. From the tattooed weapons the Calydon’s have etched into their skin (that become real when needed), to the elements of Grace’s abilities, to the history of the people. It was a fresh approach to the paranormal genre, one that left me guessing with its unpredictability.
The only reason it didn’t make a full fledged 5 star rating was probably a side effect to my self diagnosed ADD. At times I felt the story was a little too in depth and my attention span started to wane. I like my stories sharp and snappy and although this definitely was, I also feel that there was a bit of information that could have been edited out.
All in all I would definitely recommend this to paranormal romance fans. It has all the aspects of a great story - Hot, hunky, alpha warriors, heart palpitating romance, continuous action and a set of side characters that are just as exciting and entertaining as the main protagonists.
****Additional note - I just received an email from the author 'you will be happy to know that the Order of the Blade is launching with the Primal Heat Trilogy, but there will be more books in the series afterwards, but each will be a standalone. The trilogy was just a special deal to launch the series!'
WOOT WOOT. Very happy to hear it!!****
April 12, 2024
Interesante, entretenido, emocionante
Quien no esperaba que una sencilla lección a su grupo de novatos terminará en masacre. Mucho menos encontrar a su Shiva esperándolo en casa y salvandolo de una muerte segura. Ahora ellos junto con un perro grupo de guerreros deberán prevenir la liberación de la encarnación del mal, y todo esto son perderse en el vínculo que los atrae y puede destruirlos.
No esperaba mucho de este libro, pero debo decir que resultó una agradable sorpresa. Una universo diferente, un grupo de guerreros inmortales, parejas predeterminadas y una misión de rescate. Fue una lectura llena de acción, misterio y emoción, con demasiada tensión sexual para mí gusto.
En fin, es una serie que resulta entretenida y emocionante. Seguro que más adelante leo los siguientes libros.
Quien no esperaba que una sencilla lección a su grupo de novatos terminará en masacre. Mucho menos encontrar a su Shiva esperándolo en casa y salvandolo de una muerte segura. Ahora ellos junto con un perro grupo de guerreros deberán prevenir la liberación de la encarnación del mal, y todo esto son perderse en el vínculo que los atrae y puede destruirlos.
No esperaba mucho de este libro, pero debo decir que resultó una agradable sorpresa. Una universo diferente, un grupo de guerreros inmortales, parejas predeterminadas y una misión de rescate. Fue una lectura llena de acción, misterio y emoción, con demasiada tensión sexual para mí gusto.
En fin, es una serie que resulta entretenida y emocionante. Seguro que más adelante leo los siguientes libros.
September 29, 2013
Okay so here's the deal with this book. This is one of those books where I gave it one rating, but was battling to give it another... higher, lower, I haven't decided.
So the world that Rowe created is very unique. I like the fact that it's not vampires or werewolves or anything that I've read before. It's a new type of fantasy novel that's original and interesting.
Here's where I start having problems with it.
The main characters, Quinn and Grace, start off very strong. I mean Quinn is ruthless and molded to fit the warrior lifestyle he has lived for centuries. Grace is hurting, and has hard a hard life, yet she's still strong and independent and determined. Basically, these beginning descriptions of the characters lured me in, because God knows I need some strong characters.
And then they meet. And it ends.
Throughout the book they continue to have strong, determined characteristics, but it seems to come at random points. Because of some century-old curse, now they depend on each other. like, literally. They have to be together or else they get desperate, but then if they do, they die.
That made me recoil from the book a bit, but it was interesting enough that i kept reading. I would have liked it more if yes there is this curse, yes sometimes it takes over them. But these are characters that started off so strong, especially Quinn who has - hello! - lived with the rooted rules for centuries! But nothing, they accepted let it rule them so quickly. If this curse was so strong that it turned strong characters into mush, then I would have liked for the author to give something else to it for me to accept these characters turning into mush so suddenly.
Another thing, Quinn is described by Grace as basically a Greek God reincarnated, but I don't know why the way the author described his sex-appeal just never reached to me. i couldn't imagine his sexiness, nor could I gush about it. Don't ask me why, I just wasn't having it.
Other than that, I mean there were some stuff here and there that annoyed me - like the sex driven world, but not enough to base my criticism on. Actually, I lied. there was something about the ending I did't like, but I won't say it so no body gets the book ruined.
Honestly, some of the secondary character's stories were far more interesting to me than what we were following.
Unfortunately for me, I'm stubbornly curious. So I will read the second one - hence the two start rating - to find out how the problem is solved and the fate of my favorite secondary characters. Will I be annoyed as I'm reading it? Probably. But, oh well.
If you like the true-love, passion, lust and sexiness thing though, I'm sure you'll like it. I just wasn't sold.
And... that's all I could think of now t say.
So the world that Rowe created is very unique. I like the fact that it's not vampires or werewolves or anything that I've read before. It's a new type of fantasy novel that's original and interesting.
Here's where I start having problems with it.
The main characters, Quinn and Grace, start off very strong. I mean Quinn is ruthless and molded to fit the warrior lifestyle he has lived for centuries. Grace is hurting, and has hard a hard life, yet she's still strong and independent and determined. Basically, these beginning descriptions of the characters lured me in, because God knows I need some strong characters.
And then they meet. And it ends.
Throughout the book they continue to have strong, determined characteristics, but it seems to come at random points. Because of some century-old curse, now they depend on each other. like, literally. They have to be together or else they get desperate, but then if they do, they die.
That made me recoil from the book a bit, but it was interesting enough that i kept reading. I would have liked it more if yes there is this curse, yes sometimes it takes over them. But these are characters that started off so strong, especially Quinn who has - hello! - lived with the rooted rules for centuries! But nothing, they accepted let it rule them so quickly. If this curse was so strong that it turned strong characters into mush, then I would have liked for the author to give something else to it for me to accept these characters turning into mush so suddenly.
Another thing, Quinn is described by Grace as basically a Greek God reincarnated, but I don't know why the way the author described his sex-appeal just never reached to me. i couldn't imagine his sexiness, nor could I gush about it. Don't ask me why, I just wasn't having it.
Other than that, I mean there were some stuff here and there that annoyed me - like the sex driven world, but not enough to base my criticism on. Actually, I lied. there was something about the ending I did't like, but I won't say it so no body gets the book ruined.
Honestly, some of the secondary character's stories were far more interesting to me than what we were following.
Unfortunately for me, I'm stubbornly curious. So I will read the second one - hence the two start rating - to find out how the problem is solved and the fate of my favorite secondary characters. Will I be annoyed as I'm reading it? Probably. But, oh well.
If you like the true-love, passion, lust and sexiness thing though, I'm sure you'll like it. I just wasn't sold.
And... that's all I could think of now t say.
February 18, 2016
No No No
Rowe isn't a bad writer, but her world building is muddled. Let me lay it out in easy steps. There is a race called Calydon, which includes a guardian warrior class, Order of the Blade. When a Calydon finds his soulmate/sheva. Instead of everything being happy happy joy joy, disaster strikes as in the male goes insane, after a five step bonding. Therefore the Order of the Blade either preemptively kills the woman sheva or if the bonding is complete they kill the male. So Calydon's do reproduce but just not with their shevas. So we have a race of people who are doomed because of a love curse. So this opens up a lot of problems for me as the reader, especially since this killing for the good of the world has been going on for hundreds of years. WTH!! This Order of the Blade has been killing innocent woman to protect the world because the dude will go insane, so to prevent the insanity they kill the woman. Why not kill the dude! Why does the woman have to be the one killed. Because the males are so much more important. I call bullshit! I think I would have enjoyed this book, if the curse would have been something new and the hero in Quinn hadn't been merrily killing lovers up until he finds his sheva. But killing them with a heavy heart. Geez.
It is an interesting world Rowe has built, but the execution of her soulmate twist just left a bad taste in my mouth. The insane rogues could not have been imprisoned. The woman could not have been sequestered away from the males that go insane, if the bonding is complete? This going on for hundreds of years is the insane part.
Too many what ifs for me.
Rowe isn't a bad writer, but her world building is muddled. Let me lay it out in easy steps. There is a race called Calydon, which includes a guardian warrior class, Order of the Blade. When a Calydon finds his soulmate/sheva. Instead of everything being happy happy joy joy, disaster strikes as in the male goes insane, after a five step bonding. Therefore the Order of the Blade either preemptively kills the woman sheva or if the bonding is complete they kill the male. So Calydon's do reproduce but just not with their shevas. So we have a race of people who are doomed because of a love curse. So this opens up a lot of problems for me as the reader, especially since this killing for the good of the world has been going on for hundreds of years. WTH!! This Order of the Blade has been killing innocent woman to protect the world because the dude will go insane, so to prevent the insanity they kill the woman. Why not kill the dude! Why does the woman have to be the one killed. Because the males are so much more important. I call bullshit! I think I would have enjoyed this book, if the curse would have been something new and the hero in Quinn hadn't been merrily killing lovers up until he finds his sheva. But killing them with a heavy heart. Geez.
It is an interesting world Rowe has built, but the execution of her soulmate twist just left a bad taste in my mouth. The insane rogues could not have been imprisoned. The woman could not have been sequestered away from the males that go insane, if the bonding is complete? This going on for hundreds of years is the insane part.
Too many what ifs for me.
August 3, 2012
Excellent paranormal romance and I am looking forward to the next installment in the series! It is a different concept on finding a soul mate, these men think it is a bad thing to find their "Sheva", they fight developing a bond with their Sheva thinking it makes them turn "Rogue". There a five steps they have to do to complete the bond, so they fight doin them!
This is a unique concept and it is nice to have something original to read .
This is a unique concept and it is nice to have something original to read .
October 17, 2021
So I literally had just finished To Kiss a Demon and high off the win that story, I had to get my hands on another Stephanie Rowe book. I just
needed
more! And I got it. Meeting Quinn... and boy was he delicious... I can safely say that the streak is still hot!!
I began falling in love with The Order of the Blade in this book and I'm excited to fall more in the books to come. Quinn was a fierce immortal warrior who was tasked with taking out all threats to humanity — even his own kin. Grace was a woman who had the power of illusions, a power that scared her, but nothing scared her more than the destiny she faced with Quinn.
The suspenseful plot was enjoyable, if a bit drawn out, but I really liked getting to know all of the players. Friend or foe, the author didn't shirk her responsibility of giving us characters that had a ton of depth. Characters I want to get to know better.
I do wish that tension between Grace and Quinn wasn't so endless. I get that it was initially necessary to drive the story, but it went on for too long. For too long was Grace allowed to treat Quinn like dirt. For too long was Quinn doing the whole 'push-and-pull' with Grace. And for too long did it seem like their destiny didn't make sense.
However, I loved enough about this story to continue reading. I will be (hopefully) devouring the next book, Darkness Seduced, and the books to come. I need to know how the dead warriors were resurrected. Seriously, why did these men with potential to be great leading characters keep on dying?
So Gideon is next (and he's a hottie too) and he's supposed to be rescuing Lily, who was held prisoner for two years. I can't wait to see how that goes! I can only hope to get more glimpses of all of these amazing people (Elijah and Dante included) and enough to love to keep on pushing.
I began falling in love with The Order of the Blade in this book and I'm excited to fall more in the books to come. Quinn was a fierce immortal warrior who was tasked with taking out all threats to humanity — even his own kin. Grace was a woman who had the power of illusions, a power that scared her, but nothing scared her more than the destiny she faced with Quinn.
The suspenseful plot was enjoyable, if a bit drawn out, but I really liked getting to know all of the players. Friend or foe, the author didn't shirk her responsibility of giving us characters that had a ton of depth. Characters I want to get to know better.
I do wish that tension between Grace and Quinn wasn't so endless. I get that it was initially necessary to drive the story, but it went on for too long. For too long was Grace allowed to treat Quinn like dirt. For too long was Quinn doing the whole 'push-and-pull' with Grace. And for too long did it seem like their destiny didn't make sense.
However, I loved enough about this story to continue reading. I will be (hopefully) devouring the next book, Darkness Seduced, and the books to come. I need to know how the dead warriors were resurrected. Seriously, why did these men with potential to be great leading characters keep on dying?
So Gideon is next (and he's a hottie too) and he's supposed to be rescuing Lily, who was held prisoner for two years. I can't wait to see how that goes! I can only hope to get more glimpses of all of these amazing people (Elijah and Dante included) and enough to love to keep on pushing.
February 7, 2014
Wow, I'm totally impressed! Those who like BDB types of paranormal romance will absolutely love this. Quinn is just... God, have mercy! Alpha through and through, smart with just the right amount of humor. Maybe a little too emotional and mushy, but I didn't mind it a lot, it was kinda swoon-worthy. And Grace was pretty badass, not a weakling, thank God. The mythology is a little confusing, but original enough. Can't wait for Ana and Elijah's book!
December 7, 2017
This would have been much better had there been a prologue that explained some aspects of this world in which this story takes place. As it was, however, it was sort of silly. I spent a lot of time giggling (I know...who is this person?) since the story either made no sense, was OTT trying to be something interesting, or was just weird.
The fatalistic romance element was also a little off putting. How in the world could the h forget that the H's buddies were going to kill her for bonding with the H? Oh, I know. All she had to do was think about how hot he made her and then all those sane thoughts would go flying out the window. Honestly, the MCs were being pursued by an unknown enemy and the h would think about how hot and manly the H was. Ugh.
Update: I'm glad I finished this so I wouldn't be left wondering how the story ended. However, it was weird, not well developed, and too OTT with lust and such that I won't be back for more. I have a feeling the rest of this series will be more of the same, so this is where I'm checking out.
The fatalistic romance element was also a little off putting. How in the world could the h forget that the H's buddies were going to kill her for bonding with the H? Oh, I know. All she had to do was think about how hot he made her and then all those sane thoughts would go flying out the window. Honestly, the MCs were being pursued by an unknown enemy and the h would think about how hot and manly the H was. Ugh.
Update: I'm glad I finished this so I wouldn't be left wondering how the story ended. However, it was weird, not well developed, and too OTT with lust and such that I won't be back for more. I have a feeling the rest of this series will be more of the same, so this is where I'm checking out.
October 19, 2015
Ancient warriors. A band of brothers. They must protect the earth from those of their kind who go rogue. Each has a soulmate to complete him drive him stark raving mad. Wait. What? This series takes the standard idea of the genre –that a mate is something wonderful– and turns it completely on its ear. Here, a mate is something to be avoided at all costs. Because no mated couple has ever survived the curse of their kind.
Quinn is determined never to find his sheva, the other half of his soul. His work for the Order of the Blade is too important. But fate has other plans for him. Grace Matthews shows up on his doorstep, just as he is dealing with a major calamity. She is an Illusionist; she can craft illusions so real and horrifying, they can actually kill those around her. Her sister is missing and she knows the famed, powerful Quinn is the only one who can help find her.
Quinn is already on a hunt of his own, for his missing best friend Elijah. The other warrior has killed several young recruits. But it makes no sense. He knows Elijah is honorable. The search should be his only priority, but once he meets Grace, he can’t turn her away. He knows she is his sheva, but his logic can’t overrule his lust and emotions. The two end up pairing up to search for both missing parties and they quickly find their missions are one in the same.
I enjoyed the story. I like that Stephanie Rowe is doing something different with fated mates. The world-building is well done for the most part and easy to understand. (The only thing I wasn’t clear about was how much the human population knew about the supernatural.) Rowe does a good job establishing the members of the Order, giving them unique personalities and piquing my interest in getting to know them better.
The sexual tension is good between Quinn and Grace. These two are on fire for each other, but I like that it effects them equally and there is a balance of power between them in that sense. I like that Grace is just as strong and deadly as Quinn in her own way. And by the time these two developed their bond, I was rooting for them to beat their impossible odds.
The love does develop kind of fast, but I guess when you can see inside someone, it helps to get to know them better pretty quickly. I thought that the HEA was a little convenient, considering these two did something no one in the race has done for hundreds of years, because … they really wanted to break the curse? Because they were more determined than all the couples before them? Eh. I also felt like the villain was kind of one dimensional. I get why he was doing the things he did, but it was pretty superficial. I hope Rowe fleshes out the Big Bad arc a bit more in future books.
Overall, though, I liked it, especially for a first installment in a series. I am optimistic that as the series continues, some of my issues will be addressed. I’ll keep you posted.
Rating: B/B-
Quinn is determined never to find his sheva, the other half of his soul. His work for the Order of the Blade is too important. But fate has other plans for him. Grace Matthews shows up on his doorstep, just as he is dealing with a major calamity. She is an Illusionist; she can craft illusions so real and horrifying, they can actually kill those around her. Her sister is missing and she knows the famed, powerful Quinn is the only one who can help find her.
Quinn is already on a hunt of his own, for his missing best friend Elijah. The other warrior has killed several young recruits. But it makes no sense. He knows Elijah is honorable. The search should be his only priority, but once he meets Grace, he can’t turn her away. He knows she is his sheva, but his logic can’t overrule his lust and emotions. The two end up pairing up to search for both missing parties and they quickly find their missions are one in the same.
I enjoyed the story. I like that Stephanie Rowe is doing something different with fated mates. The world-building is well done for the most part and easy to understand. (The only thing I wasn’t clear about was how much the human population knew about the supernatural.) Rowe does a good job establishing the members of the Order, giving them unique personalities and piquing my interest in getting to know them better.
The sexual tension is good between Quinn and Grace. These two are on fire for each other, but I like that it effects them equally and there is a balance of power between them in that sense. I like that Grace is just as strong and deadly as Quinn in her own way. And by the time these two developed their bond, I was rooting for them to beat their impossible odds.
The love does develop kind of fast, but I guess when you can see inside someone, it helps to get to know them better pretty quickly. I thought that the HEA was a little convenient, considering these two did something no one in the race has done for hundreds of years, because … they really wanted to break the curse? Because they were more determined than all the couples before them? Eh. I also felt like the villain was kind of one dimensional. I get why he was doing the things he did, but it was pretty superficial. I hope Rowe fleshes out the Big Bad arc a bit more in future books.
Overall, though, I liked it, especially for a first installment in a series. I am optimistic that as the series continues, some of my issues will be addressed. I’ll keep you posted.
Rating: B/B-
April 20, 2014
This series has a similar feel as the Black Dagger Brotherhood. A group of immortal warriors who stand between innocents and the evil that hunts them. The twist to this series is that when a warrior meets his soulmate, she is destined to destroy him. Will Quinn and Grace be able to fight destiny, or will they fall victim to the curse?
May 28, 2016
DNF and won't come back....it wasn't for me
August 30, 2018
I really liked the premise of this and love the idea of the band of brothers. Parts of this got off to a slow start for me.
June 28, 2012
This book is a guilty pleasure - one you read late at night when the family is asleep, or if you're single, after work on the couch with a latte in your pajamas with some decadent cookies. This book is the first one in the series - it is adventurous, romantic, HOT, steamy and full of the type of sex that us girl's only dream about. The author got that part spot on - and everything else too by the way. This is definitely a book for the lady of the house, unless you like your battle scenes interrupted by romantic yet X-rated interludes. If you're that type of guy, then welcome on board. We are egalitarian thinkers after all.
THE PLOT: The Brothers of the Order of the Blade are Immortal Calydan warriors who have been around for centuries. These are tall, big, buff, handsome dudes with patterns on their arms that they earn through a dream battle in their teens, The patterns are all unique and correspond to weapons, which appear out of their arms like magic. Quinn, one of the Order, has just had a trauma in the woods by his house. Many were killed- their weapons stolen. He must find out what is going on. Heading back to his house stealthily, he sees a woman on the porch. Instantly, he is drawn to her. He steps out of the trees and walks straight up to the porch. She is drenched and shivering from cold, but beautiful, with luminous grey eyes. He tells her she might as well come in and dry off and warm up. When she does, she tells him a story that changes everything. She is Grace Masters- an illusionist. Her sister Ana has been kidnapped by evil people who are using Ana's illusions to kill Calydan warriors. Grace needs to rescue Ana, who used to do only wonderful illusions like bunnies and flowers and beautiful things. Now she must be terrified because her illusions are dark and scary. She wants Quinn's help because there are other Calydan's involved and she can't best them. This is when things get exciting - all Quinn can think of is Grace. He suspects the strongly magnetic attraction he feels means that she is his Sheva - his soulmate. For a Calydan that means death for one or both of them, but he will fight it with all of his will. He tells Grace that he will help her - and the book is about rescuing Ana. There is mind control, illusions of fire, collapsing tunnels, raining blood, best friend's killed, kidnapping, an evil plot to free the most evil Calydan, acceptance, intelligence retrieved, leaders killed, sons appearing, huge battles,a knife with a message, one bad guy down and so much more. This plot morphed from just saving Ana, to saving Ana plus saving the world. It has enough twists and turns turns that it would make a dervish dizzy. Excellent job Ms. Rowe!
CHARACTERIZATION : The characters in this book are complex and deep, not what you'd expect from paranormal romance on average, but there's nothing average about this book, or the one that comes after it. The word superb comes to mind. Quinn is not your standard musclehead. - without a brain. He has lived five centuries and it shows. He's intelligent, quick witted, anticipates enemy action based on experience and is well read. What more could a girl ask for? He's also charming, humorous and kind to his Sheva as well as thoroughly romantic. Can I have my fan, please? Is it getting stuffy in here? Then there's Grace, older sister to Ana, after their parents died when they were kids, Grace had to raise her and hide as well, because people shoot illusionists on sight. This made Grace tough but also vulnerable, all she ever wanted was to have her family back. She almost did, then it was gone, breaking her down further. Now she has Quinn and the Sheva bond, but that could go so wrong. She could die, or she could lose Quinn, which would mean no rescue for Ana and she could die too, leaving her alone and completely broken. I love these characters. They are fully fleshed out and unique. As real as a fictional character can be without stepping off the page. Ms. Rowe what an artist you are with your characters. Like a painter with many fine brushes and a palette full of colors, you fill in each detail independently. Using each unique color and brush in combination to create a character out of thin. Where once there was nothing, now a wonderful character stands in all it's glory with attributes, quirks, foibles, feelings and a full backstory that make it as human and three dimensional as possible.
THE PACING: This story doesn't grab you, it grips your whole body, like a tractor beam from a spaceship. It doesn't let you go until you're at the end - not for a coffee break, not to fix dinner, not even to use the restroom. So, be prepared ahead of time. Think of it like going on a long trip in the car. You always go to the restroom before you leave. Don't take too many liquids with you. Have something to snack on. Make sure you have a big block of time to finish your trip. Also make sure you'll have no interruptions, like dinner, the kids, the husband, the dog, or whatever. Now you can sit back and let the tractor beam pull you in. Hold on, it's one helluva ride you're going on. After the breathless ending, the tractor beam will bring you back home safely. A little shaken up and definitely breathless but safe. It's like a sexy E-ticket ride. The pacing is swift; never slowing, always moving at the speed of sound as you race through the pages. You may slow down for the romantic parts by choice, but that's always your option. Otherwise, you'll find the tractor beam will grip you, you'll be fully immersed in the story and then Poof! Just like that, you'll be on your way home. Great books have a way of doing that.
THE ENDING: You know there will be a final showdown between Grace and the Calydan warriors versus the Bad Guys and Ana. Both have illusions and both have Calydans but the Bad Guys are truly evil, which means that they will do the unthinkable and stop at nothing to win. I can say that the ending came as a surprise to me. The battle seesaws back and forth between the two sides. Will Grace and her Calydan's prevail? Will Ana be rescued or die in her attempt to get away? Will the Bad Guys kidnap Grace too? Will Quinn go rogue because the Bad Guys have Grace, so his brothers have to kill him? Find out the answers to all these questions and more. Read the book. The ending is classic.
THE UPSHOT : I would recommend this book to all ladies at or over the age of 18. And to you guys out there who like classic battles with smart warriors and intelligent plots - try this out. A few X-rated interludes won't kill you, you may even find you like them and want more. I promise I won't tell. The next book in the series is Darkness Seduced and it's just as good, if not better. So buy them and read them. You won't be sorry. Just make sure everyone is asleep, or not at home and remember to prepare before you open the cover and you are lost in the world of Stephanie Rowe. It's sheer pleasure to read a book like this. Ms. Rowe, a personal thank you for the experience that you've given me. I'm putting this review on my Blog ( http://www.mlbiblio.blogspot.com) along with the one on Darkness Seduced which I should finish soon. Again - thank you!
THE PLOT: The Brothers of the Order of the Blade are Immortal Calydan warriors who have been around for centuries. These are tall, big, buff, handsome dudes with patterns on their arms that they earn through a dream battle in their teens, The patterns are all unique and correspond to weapons, which appear out of their arms like magic. Quinn, one of the Order, has just had a trauma in the woods by his house. Many were killed- their weapons stolen. He must find out what is going on. Heading back to his house stealthily, he sees a woman on the porch. Instantly, he is drawn to her. He steps out of the trees and walks straight up to the porch. She is drenched and shivering from cold, but beautiful, with luminous grey eyes. He tells her she might as well come in and dry off and warm up. When she does, she tells him a story that changes everything. She is Grace Masters- an illusionist. Her sister Ana has been kidnapped by evil people who are using Ana's illusions to kill Calydan warriors. Grace needs to rescue Ana, who used to do only wonderful illusions like bunnies and flowers and beautiful things. Now she must be terrified because her illusions are dark and scary. She wants Quinn's help because there are other Calydan's involved and she can't best them. This is when things get exciting - all Quinn can think of is Grace. He suspects the strongly magnetic attraction he feels means that she is his Sheva - his soulmate. For a Calydan that means death for one or both of them, but he will fight it with all of his will. He tells Grace that he will help her - and the book is about rescuing Ana. There is mind control, illusions of fire, collapsing tunnels, raining blood, best friend's killed, kidnapping, an evil plot to free the most evil Calydan, acceptance, intelligence retrieved, leaders killed, sons appearing, huge battles,a knife with a message, one bad guy down and so much more. This plot morphed from just saving Ana, to saving Ana plus saving the world. It has enough twists and turns turns that it would make a dervish dizzy. Excellent job Ms. Rowe!
CHARACTERIZATION : The characters in this book are complex and deep, not what you'd expect from paranormal romance on average, but there's nothing average about this book, or the one that comes after it. The word superb comes to mind. Quinn is not your standard musclehead. - without a brain. He has lived five centuries and it shows. He's intelligent, quick witted, anticipates enemy action based on experience and is well read. What more could a girl ask for? He's also charming, humorous and kind to his Sheva as well as thoroughly romantic. Can I have my fan, please? Is it getting stuffy in here? Then there's Grace, older sister to Ana, after their parents died when they were kids, Grace had to raise her and hide as well, because people shoot illusionists on sight. This made Grace tough but also vulnerable, all she ever wanted was to have her family back. She almost did, then it was gone, breaking her down further. Now she has Quinn and the Sheva bond, but that could go so wrong. She could die, or she could lose Quinn, which would mean no rescue for Ana and she could die too, leaving her alone and completely broken. I love these characters. They are fully fleshed out and unique. As real as a fictional character can be without stepping off the page. Ms. Rowe what an artist you are with your characters. Like a painter with many fine brushes and a palette full of colors, you fill in each detail independently. Using each unique color and brush in combination to create a character out of thin. Where once there was nothing, now a wonderful character stands in all it's glory with attributes, quirks, foibles, feelings and a full backstory that make it as human and three dimensional as possible.
THE PACING: This story doesn't grab you, it grips your whole body, like a tractor beam from a spaceship. It doesn't let you go until you're at the end - not for a coffee break, not to fix dinner, not even to use the restroom. So, be prepared ahead of time. Think of it like going on a long trip in the car. You always go to the restroom before you leave. Don't take too many liquids with you. Have something to snack on. Make sure you have a big block of time to finish your trip. Also make sure you'll have no interruptions, like dinner, the kids, the husband, the dog, or whatever. Now you can sit back and let the tractor beam pull you in. Hold on, it's one helluva ride you're going on. After the breathless ending, the tractor beam will bring you back home safely. A little shaken up and definitely breathless but safe. It's like a sexy E-ticket ride. The pacing is swift; never slowing, always moving at the speed of sound as you race through the pages. You may slow down for the romantic parts by choice, but that's always your option. Otherwise, you'll find the tractor beam will grip you, you'll be fully immersed in the story and then Poof! Just like that, you'll be on your way home. Great books have a way of doing that.
THE ENDING: You know there will be a final showdown between Grace and the Calydan warriors versus the Bad Guys and Ana. Both have illusions and both have Calydans but the Bad Guys are truly evil, which means that they will do the unthinkable and stop at nothing to win. I can say that the ending came as a surprise to me. The battle seesaws back and forth between the two sides. Will Grace and her Calydan's prevail? Will Ana be rescued or die in her attempt to get away? Will the Bad Guys kidnap Grace too? Will Quinn go rogue because the Bad Guys have Grace, so his brothers have to kill him? Find out the answers to all these questions and more. Read the book. The ending is classic.
THE UPSHOT : I would recommend this book to all ladies at or over the age of 18. And to you guys out there who like classic battles with smart warriors and intelligent plots - try this out. A few X-rated interludes won't kill you, you may even find you like them and want more. I promise I won't tell. The next book in the series is Darkness Seduced and it's just as good, if not better. So buy them and read them. You won't be sorry. Just make sure everyone is asleep, or not at home and remember to prepare before you open the cover and you are lost in the world of Stephanie Rowe. It's sheer pleasure to read a book like this. Ms. Rowe, a personal thank you for the experience that you've given me. I'm putting this review on my Blog ( http://www.mlbiblio.blogspot.com) along with the one on Darkness Seduced which I should finish soon. Again - thank you!
did-not-finish
May 15, 2024I didn't enjoy the writing style, too repetitious, main couple doesn't seem to know to talk about anything other than sex talk and the attraction between them, and their banter was so irritating, I just couldn't take it anymore.
December 4, 2018
Quite enjoyed this book. Was quite a bit different to the usual ones I read. The characters and storyline were both written well with the right page for this book. Can't wait to see where it goes
May 23, 2016
Now THAT is how you write a book!
This is probably the best "by chance" book I've ever read.
I had mistakenly clicked on this when I was searching for another book with the very same name and got intrigued due to the blurb and let's face it...the really hot book cover. *whistle*
BEST.MISTAKE.EVER
OH.MY.GOD!
This is some absolute brilliant shit.
How it was even thought out just blew me away.
I loved everything about it!
It's books like these that give you such impossible expectations.
Expectations that you know will never be fulfilled but you JUST.CAN'T.HELP.YOURSELF
This was so dreamy. Sigh.
Now while reading this, I was gushing to my sister about how amazing it was and yet, I wasn't going to rate it the entire 5 stars because it was missing that one star something, now mind you this was about the time I had only like fifty or so pages left but if you notice I did in fact, give them 5 full Above and Beyond Swoon-worthy stars.
BECAUSE.
No.
I'm not going to tell you why I upgraded, read for yourselves and figure it out but just know,
my reason had me all misty eyed and on the verge of shedding "happy" tears :')
Cute, Sweet, Sassy, Sexy, Hot.
You name it, Darkness Awakened has got it.
This is probably the best "by chance" book I've ever read.
I had mistakenly clicked on this when I was searching for another book with the very same name and got intrigued due to the blurb and let's face it...the really hot book cover. *whistle*
BEST.MISTAKE.EVER
OH.MY.GOD!
This is some absolute brilliant shit.
How it was even thought out just blew me away.
I loved everything about it!
It's books like these that give you such impossible expectations.
Expectations that you know will never be fulfilled but you JUST.CAN'T.HELP.YOURSELF
This was so dreamy. Sigh.
Now while reading this, I was gushing to my sister about how amazing it was and yet, I wasn't going to rate it the entire 5 stars because it was missing that one star something, now mind you this was about the time I had only like fifty or so pages left but if you notice I did in fact, give them 5 full Above and Beyond Swoon-worthy stars.
BECAUSE.
No.
I'm not going to tell you why I upgraded, read for yourselves and figure it out but just know,
my reason had me all misty eyed and on the verge of shedding "happy" tears :')
Cute, Sweet, Sassy, Sexy, Hot.
You name it, Darkness Awakened has got it.
November 22, 2018
Order of the Blade book #1
A new series for me, so I have some catching up to do.
The Order is made up of Calydon Warriors, charged with protecting innocents. In this "world" there are Illusionists who are very powerful and could be working for good or evil. They are rarely liked by anyone.
Grace is an Illusionist who can't control her powers. They come whenever she is scared and are deadly. Grace's sister Ana has been kidnapped and is being forced to kill with her illusions. So Grace must ask a powerful Calydon to help her get her sister back.
Quinn is the one Grace goes to. Quinn is dealing with serious problems himself. Someone is murdering his Warriors. A short time after meeting Grace, Quinn realizes that she is his Sheva (Mate) . This will cause even more problems because when a Calydon fully bonds with his Sheva he goes rogue. To stop that happening either the warrior or the Sheva is killed. That is the way the Order has always worked.
This is a fast paced,action packed story. If it was on film the special effects would be incredible. Lots of big battles, and HOT Live scenes. I will definitely be reading the rest of the series.
A new series for me, so I have some catching up to do.
The Order is made up of Calydon Warriors, charged with protecting innocents. In this "world" there are Illusionists who are very powerful and could be working for good or evil. They are rarely liked by anyone.
Grace is an Illusionist who can't control her powers. They come whenever she is scared and are deadly. Grace's sister Ana has been kidnapped and is being forced to kill with her illusions. So Grace must ask a powerful Calydon to help her get her sister back.
Quinn is the one Grace goes to. Quinn is dealing with serious problems himself. Someone is murdering his Warriors. A short time after meeting Grace, Quinn realizes that she is his Sheva (Mate) . This will cause even more problems because when a Calydon fully bonds with his Sheva he goes rogue. To stop that happening either the warrior or the Sheva is killed. That is the way the Order has always worked.
This is a fast paced,action packed story. If it was on film the special effects would be incredible. Lots of big battles, and HOT Live scenes. I will definitely be reading the rest of the series.
February 27, 2016
Darkness Awakened by Stephanie Rowe
First book in the Order of the Blade series. Warriors fighting their doomed destiny of love.
A strong female heroine with issues of her own. She fights to find her sister, help others, and beat the evil. I was amused each time she fought, stabbed and then felt instantly guilty and apologized.
Th best was that I was engaged through the entire 450 pages (prefer 300ish) and even though there are unresolved issues because it's a series, it's a complete story. I'm anxious to read the next book to make sure ...Lily gets saved and another warrior gets his sheva.
Quinn Masters is the answer to saving Ana. At least that's what Grace Matthews is counting on. Between his warrior skills and her Illusionist magic that could cast false pictures into the world, they should be able to rescue her sister. They feel an instant connection and realize their own destiny may be doomed to end in death.
This book was free on iBooks and Kindle.
First book in the Order of the Blade series. Warriors fighting their doomed destiny of love.
A strong female heroine with issues of her own. She fights to find her sister, help others, and beat the evil. I was amused each time she fought, stabbed and then felt instantly guilty and apologized.
Th best was that I was engaged through the entire 450 pages (prefer 300ish) and even though there are unresolved issues because it's a series, it's a complete story. I'm anxious to read the next book to make sure ...Lily gets saved and another warrior gets his sheva.
Quinn Masters is the answer to saving Ana. At least that's what Grace Matthews is counting on. Between his warrior skills and her Illusionist magic that could cast false pictures into the world, they should be able to rescue her sister. They feel an instant connection and realize their own destiny may be doomed to end in death.
This book was free on iBooks and Kindle.
November 10, 2012
This was so damn good. I must say that I have read other books by this author and had a hard time for whatever reason. But this book blew me away. I mean I didn't want to stop reading it to make dinner or anything else. I don't recall reading a book where when you find your mate that is a bad thing. In fact it makes the warrior go rouge and into a killing rage that kills innocent people. Talk about messed up. The warriors decides that the female must die since there are so little of the warriors. OMG I just loved it. I wish that there was a paperback version to add to my book shelves. I cannot wait to read the next book about warrior Gideon and his Lily.
September 27, 2019
Quite a good story to start a saga. It has everything: an ancient legend, romance, action, humour and some suspense. It keeps you on edge, I have to say I had difficulties putting it down! I can't wait to find out more about the other members of the order and their stories, see if theirs are as good...
So far, Dean and me approve!
So far, Dean and me approve!
March 13, 2012
This one of the best books I've read this year. To say that I totally fell in lover with Quinn Masters and Grace Matthews would be a huge understatement. This book has strong characters on an exciting journey filled with fast past action, sexual tension and wonderful witty tongue-in-cheek dialogue. It's been awhile since a book has been able to keep me so captivated, I couldnt put it down!!
June 30, 2016
I think this has just become my new favourite series and I've only read the first one! Amazing story absolutely loved it, Quinn Masters is hot... The first book was even free on iBooks which was a bonus! Can't wait to read the next one literally about to start it now!
April 13, 2018
Darkness Awakened by Author Stephanie Rowe
I feel in love with this book and its characters Quinn & Grace, this Author definitely knows how to make my toes curl, in this SEXY Paranormal Romance....I tried hard to put down...glued to every page, can't wait to read more. *****5 STARS*****
I feel in love with this book and its characters Quinn & Grace, this Author definitely knows how to make my toes curl, in this SEXY Paranormal Romance....I tried hard to put down...glued to every page, can't wait to read more. *****5 STARS*****
August 25, 2022
Finished Reading September 16, 2013
2.75 Stars
Confused the Hell out of me.
Interesting but not enough to make me want to read more.
In fact, I think all the rules about mating/bonding & what the H did to others that did bond, gave me a headache and PMO.
Prch Amz September 13, 2013
2.75 Stars
Confused the Hell out of me.
Interesting but not enough to make me want to read more.
In fact, I think all the rules about mating/bonding & what the H did to others that did bond, gave me a headache and PMO.
Prch Amz September 13, 2013
March 24, 2012
I am not an easy sell on paranormals and was leery to read this. But holy moly this was a great read.
Stephanie Rowe has created a wonderful new series. Two thousand years ago Ezekiel and his twin brother Caleb lived with an abusive father. The King of the land was no better killing men and women just for the fun of it. Ezekiel fell in love with a girl who the King kidnapped. When Ezekiel couldn’t get to her at the King's castle it sent him over the edge. Ezekiel knew of a stream that would create mythical warriors. Ezekiel and Caleb drank from the steam and then went and defeated the King. But Evangeline died in Ezekiel arms. This caused Ezekiel to go mad and kill everyone in the kingdom including women and children. From this Ezekiel created a band of warriors called The Order that was to rid the world of evil. But Ezekiel in his madness became paranoid- began seeing evil in everything. Caleb decided his brother needed to be stopped and set out with his wife who he hoped would keep him from going rogue and 20 men to drink from the stream to create an army to defeat Ezekiel. Caleb and his army did defeat Ezekiel but at the expense of Caleb's wife. Caleb managed to imprison Ezekiel in a magical prison but he went crazy over the loss of his wife and his men had to kill him. Thus the legacy was born. The Calydon warriors’ purpose was the keep the world safe from evil and when needed to kill a Calydon warrior and/or his sheva (mate) when the Calydon warrior went rogue/mad after finding her.
Dante has been the leader of the Order for 700 years but with his death Quinn Masters is next in line. After a disastrous mission that left all of his young Calydon warriors in training dead and it looking like his best friend Elijah did it, Quinn knows he must figure out what is going on. After waking up from almost dying he heads to his cabin where Grace Matthews is waiting and he knows right away she is his sheva.
Grace Matthews is an illusionist. One who can call upon images to make those around her believe what she is projecting. Her sister is also one and has been kidnapped and Grace has come to Quinn for his help in finding her.
They both realize there is a connection between them but Grace refuses to believe that love can make a person go mad to a point of no return. All she wants is to get her sister back.
As the story progresses we find out how and why Dante and Elijah died and that the walls that are keeping Ezekiel in are crumbling and he seems to be controlling people on the outside. One of the men he is controlling is the one that took Grace's sister Ana. They also come across Dante's son Drew who they know they need to protect at all cost.
This was a great start to a new series. I am already all wrapped up in this world and can’t wait until Gideon and Lily's story which is next. I am hoping that Ana's story is the 3rd book.
Stephanie Rowe has created a wonderful new series. Two thousand years ago Ezekiel and his twin brother Caleb lived with an abusive father. The King of the land was no better killing men and women just for the fun of it. Ezekiel fell in love with a girl who the King kidnapped. When Ezekiel couldn’t get to her at the King's castle it sent him over the edge. Ezekiel knew of a stream that would create mythical warriors. Ezekiel and Caleb drank from the steam and then went and defeated the King. But Evangeline died in Ezekiel arms. This caused Ezekiel to go mad and kill everyone in the kingdom including women and children. From this Ezekiel created a band of warriors called The Order that was to rid the world of evil. But Ezekiel in his madness became paranoid- began seeing evil in everything. Caleb decided his brother needed to be stopped and set out with his wife who he hoped would keep him from going rogue and 20 men to drink from the stream to create an army to defeat Ezekiel. Caleb and his army did defeat Ezekiel but at the expense of Caleb's wife. Caleb managed to imprison Ezekiel in a magical prison but he went crazy over the loss of his wife and his men had to kill him. Thus the legacy was born. The Calydon warriors’ purpose was the keep the world safe from evil and when needed to kill a Calydon warrior and/or his sheva (mate) when the Calydon warrior went rogue/mad after finding her.
Dante has been the leader of the Order for 700 years but with his death Quinn Masters is next in line. After a disastrous mission that left all of his young Calydon warriors in training dead and it looking like his best friend Elijah did it, Quinn knows he must figure out what is going on. After waking up from almost dying he heads to his cabin where Grace Matthews is waiting and he knows right away she is his sheva.
Grace Matthews is an illusionist. One who can call upon images to make those around her believe what she is projecting. Her sister is also one and has been kidnapped and Grace has come to Quinn for his help in finding her.
They both realize there is a connection between them but Grace refuses to believe that love can make a person go mad to a point of no return. All she wants is to get her sister back.
As the story progresses we find out how and why Dante and Elijah died and that the walls that are keeping Ezekiel in are crumbling and he seems to be controlling people on the outside. One of the men he is controlling is the one that took Grace's sister Ana. They also come across Dante's son Drew who they know they need to protect at all cost.
This was a great start to a new series. I am already all wrapped up in this world and can’t wait until Gideon and Lily's story which is next. I am hoping that Ana's story is the 3rd book.
October 16, 2013
This feature is a RURAL fantasy. Ha! Coined a new subgenre right 'ere! It’s like an urban fantasy, but the setting is rural—so, yeah…
Anyhoo, Stephanie Rowe's DARKNESS AWAKENED is not a vamp tale. It’s not an angel tale, either. It is a romantic adventure with paranormal elements, however, and that caught my eye.
Here’s what happens:
Quinn Masters isn’t just a Calydon warrior—he’s a member of the Order of the Blade—an elite fighting unit charged with keeping the peace between Calydonians and hiding their existence from the human population. Order members are virtually immortal—Quinn is over 500 years old—but they are forbidden to take mates. See, for Order members, mating women is to invite madness. Never a good idea to have lunatic assassins on the loose, methinks. While on a training mission in the untamed Oregon forests, Quinn’s team of new recruits is slain by one of his own—Elijah, a trusted mentor and friend.
When he recovers from his injuries, Quinn discovers Grace Matthews waiting on his doorstep. Grace knows revealing her presence is tantamount to a death sentence—Illusionists like herself have been hunted to near extinction—but she needs Quinn’s help to rescue her sister Ava from a malevolent being—the same one who turned Elijah on his fellow Calydonians. Quinn doesn’t realize Grace’s Illusionist powers at first, but he certainly apprehends her feminine powers—the attraction between them has it’s own GPS signal for goodness sake!—so he’s anxious to send Grace on her merry way.
Of course, when Quinn’s home is attacked with them trapped inside, he and Grace become unlikely partners in order to escape. And, it turns out, Grace is able to track Ava’s Illusions so she has value in finding Elijah before he goes psycho yet again.
On the quest for Elijah and Ava, the attraction between Grace and Quinn blossoms. So much so that the Order is ready to terminate Grace to save Quinn from mating madness. Good thing she can conjure Illusions to protect herself!
The plot is active and the voice is playful. It’s not too hot and spicy, but it’s clearly got strong romantic elements. I loved the banter between Quinn and Grace. This is the first in a series and we get a good look at several Order members upon which the continuing plot rests.
Anyhoo, Stephanie Rowe's DARKNESS AWAKENED is not a vamp tale. It’s not an angel tale, either. It is a romantic adventure with paranormal elements, however, and that caught my eye.
Here’s what happens:
Quinn Masters isn’t just a Calydon warrior—he’s a member of the Order of the Blade—an elite fighting unit charged with keeping the peace between Calydonians and hiding their existence from the human population. Order members are virtually immortal—Quinn is over 500 years old—but they are forbidden to take mates. See, for Order members, mating women is to invite madness. Never a good idea to have lunatic assassins on the loose, methinks. While on a training mission in the untamed Oregon forests, Quinn’s team of new recruits is slain by one of his own—Elijah, a trusted mentor and friend.
When he recovers from his injuries, Quinn discovers Grace Matthews waiting on his doorstep. Grace knows revealing her presence is tantamount to a death sentence—Illusionists like herself have been hunted to near extinction—but she needs Quinn’s help to rescue her sister Ava from a malevolent being—the same one who turned Elijah on his fellow Calydonians. Quinn doesn’t realize Grace’s Illusionist powers at first, but he certainly apprehends her feminine powers—the attraction between them has it’s own GPS signal for goodness sake!—so he’s anxious to send Grace on her merry way.
Of course, when Quinn’s home is attacked with them trapped inside, he and Grace become unlikely partners in order to escape. And, it turns out, Grace is able to track Ava’s Illusions so she has value in finding Elijah before he goes psycho yet again.
On the quest for Elijah and Ava, the attraction between Grace and Quinn blossoms. So much so that the Order is ready to terminate Grace to save Quinn from mating madness. Good thing she can conjure Illusions to protect herself!
The plot is active and the voice is playful. It’s not too hot and spicy, but it’s clearly got strong romantic elements. I loved the banter between Quinn and Grace. This is the first in a series and we get a good look at several Order members upon which the continuing plot rests.
January 12, 2015
I always have issue with predestinated mates. It's just goes against my idea of free will. So maybe I was predisposed to be unable to tolerate the premise of the world.
I agree with other reviewers that characters began strong, so I was lured into reading further. They had a rich back story. However, I just couldn't get past a few aspects.
First, for me, Rowe shouldn't write intimate scenes. I found them tedious and completely up romantic. They neither enhanced my reading experience nor felt realistic.
Second, how the couple genuinely believes they can prevent the catastrophic insanity which always affects the mated male, is NEVER satisfactorily explained. If the difference between them and thousands of years of the rest of the race was even explored, I must have completely failed to understand the enormity of the difference. The only thing I could understand was she saved a group of guys, not just her mate. Is that it?!? I don't know, but because I feel no deep attachment, I find I don't much care.
Finally, I felt like I sat in a lecture explaining this similar yet different world. Rather than my nose burning with the ash of stale cigarettes and the vomit-inducing intoxicating stench of a poorly maintained distillery, as the characters walked into the bar. I watched it from the safety of my clean seat munching buttered popcorn and sipping an oversized drink. Rather than falling into a world and stumbling over its differences, some poorly-bathed know-it-all stood and made me feel less-than observant as they lectured me on the "everyone knows" specifics of the characters world.
I feel badly, because I had high hopes. Best of luck to the author. She has an audience, just not me.
I agree with other reviewers that characters began strong, so I was lured into reading further. They had a rich back story. However, I just couldn't get past a few aspects.
First, for me, Rowe shouldn't write intimate scenes. I found them tedious and completely up romantic. They neither enhanced my reading experience nor felt realistic.
Second, how the couple genuinely believes they can prevent the catastrophic insanity which always affects the mated male, is NEVER satisfactorily explained. If the difference between them and thousands of years of the rest of the race was even explored, I must have completely failed to understand the enormity of the difference. The only thing I could understand was she saved a group of guys, not just her mate. Is that it?!? I don't know, but because I feel no deep attachment, I find I don't much care.
Finally, I felt like I sat in a lecture explaining this similar yet different world. Rather than my nose burning with the ash of stale cigarettes and the vomit-inducing intoxicating stench of a poorly maintained distillery, as the characters walked into the bar. I watched it from the safety of my clean seat munching buttered popcorn and sipping an oversized drink. Rather than falling into a world and stumbling over its differences, some poorly-bathed know-it-all stood and made me feel less-than observant as they lectured me on the "everyone knows" specifics of the characters world.
I feel badly, because I had high hopes. Best of luck to the author. She has an audience, just not me.
September 10, 2013
Wow!! Great story. This book starts on a unique premise of an age old race hidden amongst humans known as Calydons. This race is policed by the Order, a small group of basically immortal warriors who enforce the very strict list of no-nos that Calydons must live by. The biggie is that if a Calydon male finds his Sheva (his soul mate)and bonds with her, then he or his Sheva (sometimes both) will be killed because legend states the the male will turn into a murderous, insane rogue once the bond is complete. Rough, huh?
Quinn is an Order enforcer, he killed his uncle and many friends along with their shevas as his duty dictated. His loyalty to the Order is unbreakable. He is cold, unemotional and will not be deterred in carrying out his duty. Or so he believes.
Grace is determined to enlist Quinn’s aid in finding her sister, Ana. She has no need of any emotional entanglements. She just wants her sister back. Fate has other ideas. A loner by nature, Grace is harboring a deadly secret that ensures she will always be alone.
Stephanie Rowe has definitely come into her own with this series. Darkness Awakened was a real page turner. The characters were wonderfully developed and interesting. The story was fast paced and held my complete interest from first sentence to last. The romantic thread was intense, hot and enhanced the overall story exponentially. I fell in love with all the Calydons of the Order and can not wait to dig in to their books. I recommend this book without reservations.
Quinn is an Order enforcer, he killed his uncle and many friends along with their shevas as his duty dictated. His loyalty to the Order is unbreakable. He is cold, unemotional and will not be deterred in carrying out his duty. Or so he believes.
Grace is determined to enlist Quinn’s aid in finding her sister, Ana. She has no need of any emotional entanglements. She just wants her sister back. Fate has other ideas. A loner by nature, Grace is harboring a deadly secret that ensures she will always be alone.
Stephanie Rowe has definitely come into her own with this series. Darkness Awakened was a real page turner. The characters were wonderfully developed and interesting. The story was fast paced and held my complete interest from first sentence to last. The romantic thread was intense, hot and enhanced the overall story exponentially. I fell in love with all the Calydons of the Order and can not wait to dig in to their books. I recommend this book without reservations.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 532 reviews