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Anima #1
Hidden Wings
Book One Kanji is the last royal Kuro swan, an ancient race who once served the demonic Sidhee. The Kuro were betrayed and given as slaves to the Dryma fairies. When a Dryma is born, his soul attaches to a tree, and to sustain their lives, the Dryma conscript the Kuro to protect their woods. In their servitude, the Kuro are languishing and dying off. Kanji is desperate to reunite his people with their stolen wings, but the task seems impossible. When Kanji discovers a plan to unite the Sidhee and the Dryma, he tricks the Sidhee prince and attends a masked ball in disguise. There he meets Prince Tristan, who is nothing like the other fairies. Kind and compassionate, Tristan has a plan to free the Dryma from their dependence on the trees—and their need of the Kuro’s protection. It could mean freedom for Kanji’s people, but it might also mean choosing between them and the life of the fairy who is—impossibly—his mate. When Tristan is wounded in battle and left for dead, his survival depends on the success of his experiments. Can Kanji dare to believe, or must he come to terms with the loss of his mate? A Bittersweet Dreams It's an unfortunate love doesn't always conquer all. Regardless of its strength, sometimes fate intervenes, tragedy strikes, or forces conspire against it. These stories of romance do not offer a traditional happy ending, but the strong and enduring love will still touch your heart and maybe move you to tears.
- GenresFantasyM M Romance
210 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 6, 2016
1 person is currently reading
43 people want to read
About the author
Ana Raine
54 books31 followersAna lives in Michigan where when it’s not snowy and wet, there are beautiful state parks and lakes to visit. When she was eighteen, she married her best friend and they live with their two cats, Mason and Misaki. Ana has celiac disease, but that hasn’t stopped her from learning how to cook and bake so she can eat tasty treats. Fudge, enchiladas, and anything involving yucca/cassava are her absolute favorite.
Ana has studied in Osaka, Japan where she learned about theater and drama. She would love to go back after she is sure her Japanese is efficient enough. Ana loves anything to do with foxes, especially Arctic foxes. One day, Ana will find a way to incorporate her love of foxes into a novel, but until then, she’ll stay focused on fairies, shape shifters, and mythology.
Feel free to stop by her blog for tasty recipes, freebies, and more.
Ana has studied in Osaka, Japan where she learned about theater and drama. She would love to go back after she is sure her Japanese is efficient enough. Ana loves anything to do with foxes, especially Arctic foxes. One day, Ana will find a way to incorporate her love of foxes into a novel, but until then, she’ll stay focused on fairies, shape shifters, and mythology.
Feel free to stop by her blog for tasty recipes, freebies, and more.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 8, 2016
Nooooo,WTH!! That ending was no way to end this awesome book! I want a sequel now, Kanji and Tristan need their happy ending!!
August 27, 2019
What a tangled web you have woven Kanji -
I devoured this in one sitting only to be left dangling on one heartbreaking cliff hanger.
This was such a fabulous twist to the usual fantasy/ paranormal universes. Raine did a marvelous job of crafting her characters.
I found each one endearing in some way, even the ones I disliked. The universe was vivid in its description easily transporting me into the pages. I could see the ramshackle homes, the forest, and the glistening waters that called to the heart of the swans. The author did limit us in this first book to just the castle and the surrounding area. I am excited to see if we get to go through the veil or not.
The swan shifters are enslaved to the Dryma courtesy of the Sidhe.
Kanji is trying to find a way to free his, people, they are slowly dying and he is running out of time as well as ideas. But he is just as powerless as they are or so he thought. A proposition is presented to him that will allow the return of his peoples' wings. The price - His freedom.
Can he trust the deal maker? Can he risk not taking the chance?
Christophe is the Dryma general and IMO a bit off his rocker.
He doesn't care that the swans are dying. He does, however, care what happens to Kanji. It seems he carries a fire for him and he intends to have him despite the fact the feelings not reciprocated.
He also has a few secrets of his own that could destroy the Swans completely.
Tristan *sigh* he just gives off the sweetest vibes.
The overall story is engaging. There is an ongoing storyline that runs in the background leading me to hope this series will have a few episodes.
I enjoyed the cast and would enjoy reading their individual stories.
This episode focuses on Kanji and his relationship with Tristan. These two were made for each other.
Each chapter was packed with mystery and suspense.
Keeping me engaged and on edge- It was a battle not to peek ahead - you know make sure everything was okay.
Some betrayals I didn't see coming- one of which was just plain selfish
Moving on to the next in series - The copy I read was comp.
I devoured this in one sitting only to be left dangling on one heartbreaking cliff hanger.
This was such a fabulous twist to the usual fantasy/ paranormal universes. Raine did a marvelous job of crafting her characters.
I found each one endearing in some way, even the ones I disliked. The universe was vivid in its description easily transporting me into the pages. I could see the ramshackle homes, the forest, and the glistening waters that called to the heart of the swans. The author did limit us in this first book to just the castle and the surrounding area. I am excited to see if we get to go through the veil or not.
The swan shifters are enslaved to the Dryma courtesy of the Sidhe.
Kanji is trying to find a way to free his, people, they are slowly dying and he is running out of time as well as ideas. But he is just as powerless as they are or so he thought. A proposition is presented to him that will allow the return of his peoples' wings. The price - His freedom.
Can he trust the deal maker? Can he risk not taking the chance?
Christophe is the Dryma general and IMO a bit off his rocker.
He doesn't care that the swans are dying. He does, however, care what happens to Kanji. It seems he carries a fire for him and he intends to have him despite the fact the feelings not reciprocated.
He also has a few secrets of his own that could destroy the Swans completely.
Tristan *sigh* he just gives off the sweetest vibes.
The overall story is engaging. There is an ongoing storyline that runs in the background leading me to hope this series will have a few episodes.
I enjoyed the cast and would enjoy reading their individual stories.
This episode focuses on Kanji and his relationship with Tristan. These two were made for each other.
Each chapter was packed with mystery and suspense.
Keeping me engaged and on edge- It was a battle not to peek ahead - you know make sure everything was okay.
Some betrayals I didn't see coming- one of which was just plain selfish
Moving on to the next in series - The copy I read was comp.
June 2, 2018
I like this story. There are some odd things in the book. If fairies don't get sick, what was the deal with interrupting the story with condom talk? Also, it was mentioned a few times that human medicine won't work on the Kuro, so I would not think that they got human diseases. My guess is that the author wanted to relay the message to practice safe sex. Thanks. Got it. Now let's get back to the fictional story with fictional characters where they have fictional sex now that they have talked about a fictional condom that they won't use anyway. It makes no sense. It especially doesn't make sense to be carrying a condom in your pocket while you are in the middle of a war. Nor does it make sense to actually only be carrying the condom just for the lubrication that's on it. I just ranted myself down to a 3. I had 4 marked because I liked the story, but the condom stuff was stupid.
January 15, 2016
A Joyfully Jay review.
2 stars
The blurb to Hidden Wings really intrigued me, so I was ready to dive into this book once I received it. Unfortunately the plot was so excessively and unnecessarily convoluted that I nearly walked away without finishing.
Let’s start with the positive though. I applaud the author for using swans as the focal point of this non-traditional shifter story. Oft time avians get lost amongst the more traditional werewolves, so a race of swans offered up a wonderfully elegant option for readers. Additionally Kanji and Tristan, though not particularly well-developed characters, do seem like a potentially strong couple. Both are striving to free their people from different forms of bondage and to save one another in the midst of it all. As a reader you have to admire their dedication and passion even when their actions don’t always make sense.
Read Sue’s review in its entirety here.
2 stars
The blurb to Hidden Wings really intrigued me, so I was ready to dive into this book once I received it. Unfortunately the plot was so excessively and unnecessarily convoluted that I nearly walked away without finishing.
Let’s start with the positive though. I applaud the author for using swans as the focal point of this non-traditional shifter story. Oft time avians get lost amongst the more traditional werewolves, so a race of swans offered up a wonderfully elegant option for readers. Additionally Kanji and Tristan, though not particularly well-developed characters, do seem like a potentially strong couple. Both are striving to free their people from different forms of bondage and to save one another in the midst of it all. As a reader you have to admire their dedication and passion even when their actions don’t always make sense.
Read Sue’s review in its entirety here.
January 27, 2016
Reviewed for Prism Book Alliance
I am on a bit of a fantasy kick at the moment. I blame Ana Raine as she started it. When you read a book that makes you want more just like it, that is a good thing. She did that.
For full review see Prism Book Alliance® http://www.prismbookalliance.com/?p=4...
January 8, 2016
Disappointed this book did not have a warning, like other Dreamspinner Press books, that this book does not have a Happily Ever After ending.
January 27, 2016
Not bad, but open-ended and there were just still so many questions remained
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews