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Thorns and Fangs #2
Uprooted
Recovering vampire Ben is discovering that life after death is hard work. It will take more than a reflection to impress his boyfriend Nate’s religious mother. And Nate’s twin brother, Ethan, openly resents Ben’s presence at the family farm. Nate is confident they can build a normal life together, but Ben’s not even sure he knows what normal is. He can’t face his reflection, let alone his past, while Nate refuses to divulge his family’s supernatural secret. Can they build a future on such shaky foundations? When a supernatural hunter is found dead on the family farm, Ethan becomes the main suspect in a murder investigation that puts Ben and Nate at odds. Nate wants to protect his family and stay silent about what he is, but Ben knows no one is safe until the demonic agent responsible for a string of murders is caught. Defying Nate to investigate alone, Ben can’t let the demon claim another victim. But as his investigation continues, he discovers links to a past he thought he’d buried—and a past Nate refuses to acknowledge. With a desperate killer on a deadline, Ben must face the literal demons in his past if he wants to have any chance of saving himself and Nate from a fate worse than death.
340 pages, Paperback
First published December 24, 2016
6 people are currently reading
104 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
February 23, 2017
This is an interesting addition, although technically it could be read as a standalone I really think you're better reading the books in order or could be confused. I could have done with a refresh before starting.
Ben's is a very methodical, analytical viewpoint which comes across a bit distanting at first, but suits the displacement he's feeling. Nate in comparison is a bright spark but as the story progresses both show vulnerbilities and grow. Liked that there's still a lot to work out as regards their relationship; where they're both coming from, what they've endure, it feels right that there'd be things to get sorted between them. Touching how well Ben sees Nate though, the connection is stong though tempered by Ben's need to find his place now. The last lines of the book made me grin.
New characters in the shape of Nate's twin and mother. Fascinating. I was unsure at times but ended up respecting the hell out of Ma, and hope there'll be a lot more of Ethan. I had an inkling of some of the mystery that surrounded them, but there's nothing I can say that wont spoil. Liked Sheriff Mcall and her deputy too. And that other person who it'd be spoilery to name!
Familiar characters like Aki, Gunn and Kenzie make a welcome appearance. Tickles me how Gunn such a distasteful character can be a joy to read. Could be fun seeing Aki fall for someone.
Not as smutty as the first book with the change of locale but the boys do get some action.
There's culture shock, trees, mysteries, magic, murder, investigating, exploring feelings...
Really enjoyed it. Curious where the next story will go, it's an interesting world full of things yet to discover.
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And the covers good too ;)
Ben's is a very methodical, analytical viewpoint which comes across a bit distanting at first, but suits the displacement he's feeling. Nate in comparison is a bright spark but as the story progresses both show vulnerbilities and grow. Liked that there's still a lot to work out as regards their relationship; where they're both coming from, what they've endure, it feels right that there'd be things to get sorted between them. Touching how well Ben sees Nate though, the connection is stong though tempered by Ben's need to find his place now. The last lines of the book made me grin.
New characters in the shape of Nate's twin and mother. Fascinating. I was unsure at times but ended up respecting the hell out of Ma, and hope there'll be a lot more of Ethan. I had an inkling of some of the mystery that surrounded them, but there's nothing I can say that wont spoil. Liked Sheriff Mcall and her deputy too. And that other person who it'd be spoilery to name!
Familiar characters like Aki, Gunn and Kenzie make a welcome appearance. Tickles me how Gunn such a distasteful character can be a joy to read. Could be fun seeing Aki fall for someone.
Not as smutty as the first book with the change of locale but the boys do get some action.
There's culture shock, trees, mysteries, magic, murder, investigating, exploring feelings...
Really enjoyed it. Curious where the next story will go, it's an interesting world full of things yet to discover.
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And the covers good too ;)
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December 26, 2016Uprooted is the second book in the Thorns and Fangs series, starting with Ben waking up in Nate's home of Little River and pushing their fragile trust in each other to its limits. I am really excited to be sharing this story with you. I'm ridiculously fond of the characters in this universe, and the journey they undertake (and I'm even more excited to be getting to work on the third book soon).
December 28, 2016
This is the second book in the last week or so that I've stayed up until 5:30 am reading and I haven't regretted it one bit, despite being so tired at work and to think I almost didn't read it, too, since my co-blogger Jaymie had requested it for herself, but she had too many books to review for today and tomorrow, so I told her I'd do it. When I started it, I was a bit confused, then I realized it was book 2 in a series. The name was familiar, so I went to GR to investigate and it turned out I'd reviewed the first book in the series, Thorns and Fangs. It had been so long since I read it and honestly, with so many books in between, I'd nearly forgotten about it. Anyway, Uprooted is book 2 in the series and it continues directly where Thorns and Fangs left off, so I strongly suggest reading them in order or you will be lost. You won't regret it, though. Both of them are outstanding reads!
Ben is feeling a bit lost now that he's back to being human after his encounter with the necromancer in the previous book. He is trying to adjust to being in the sunlight, to having to eat real food, and to his sort-of-kind-of relationship with Nate, on top of the cultural shock that living on Nate's farm with Nate's mother and his twin brother in the middle of nowhere represents. Finding a supernatural hunter dead on the farm will put even more strain between Nate and Ben, as Nate refuses to share with Ben the secrets his mother and Nate have been harboring regarding Ethan, Nate's twin brother. When the inhabitants of the little town Nate's farm is in start becoming suspicious of Ethan, Ben decides to investigate on his own, realizing there's more to this murder than what meets the eye and that it might connect with something that happened to Ben in his past, something he'd almost forgotten about. Will they manage to find out who's behind the hunter's death before it's too late?
So, in book 1 my favorite character was Nate, in Uprooted, my favorite is definitely Ben. I don't know if it's because it's told from his POV, so we get to see more of what makes Ben, well, Ben, or something else, but I loved him here. I could feel how difficult it was for him to try to fit in and find his own way after being a vampire. His uncertainty regarding his relationship with Nathan and not knowing if they might actually have a chance was heartbreaking. I liked Nate and I really liked how loyal he was with his family, despite wanting to slap him a couple of times for being so stubborn, especially regarding his ex. Grrrrr! Regardless, Ben and Nate had fantastic chemistry and there's no doubt in my mind that they belong together, even if it really feels like one step forward, two steps back sometimes.
I was very intrigued over Nate's family secret and Gillian St. Kevern managed to surprise me with what it was. I really liked Nate's Ma and while Ethan was a bit of an acquired taste, I ended up liking him a lot, too. And there was a scene when I just wanted to whoop and high five Ma soooooo much! Go Ma!
It was amazing to catch up with Gunn and Kenzie. Gunn is a regular ray of sunshine (not!) and his sarcasm and witty exchanges with Ben made me laugh out loud several times (which isn't too good when everyone else at home is already sleeping
Ben is feeling a bit lost now that he's back to being human after his encounter with the necromancer in the previous book. He is trying to adjust to being in the sunlight, to having to eat real food, and to his sort-of-kind-of relationship with Nate, on top of the cultural shock that living on Nate's farm with Nate's mother and his twin brother in the middle of nowhere represents. Finding a supernatural hunter dead on the farm will put even more strain between Nate and Ben, as Nate refuses to share with Ben the secrets his mother and Nate have been harboring regarding Ethan, Nate's twin brother. When the inhabitants of the little town Nate's farm is in start becoming suspicious of Ethan, Ben decides to investigate on his own, realizing there's more to this murder than what meets the eye and that it might connect with something that happened to Ben in his past, something he'd almost forgotten about. Will they manage to find out who's behind the hunter's death before it's too late?
So, in book 1 my favorite character was Nate, in Uprooted, my favorite is definitely Ben. I don't know if it's because it's told from his POV, so we get to see more of what makes Ben, well, Ben, or something else, but I loved him here. I could feel how difficult it was for him to try to fit in and find his own way after being a vampire. His uncertainty regarding his relationship with Nathan and not knowing if they might actually have a chance was heartbreaking. I liked Nate and I really liked how loyal he was with his family, despite wanting to slap him a couple of times for being so stubborn, especially regarding his ex. Grrrrr! Regardless, Ben and Nate had fantastic chemistry and there's no doubt in my mind that they belong together, even if it really feels like one step forward, two steps back sometimes.
I was very intrigued over Nate's family secret and Gillian St. Kevern managed to surprise me with what it was. I really liked Nate's Ma and while Ethan was a bit of an acquired taste, I ended up liking him a lot, too. And there was a scene when I just wanted to whoop and high five Ma soooooo much! Go Ma!
It was amazing to catch up with Gunn and Kenzie. Gunn is a regular ray of sunshine (not!) and his sarcasm and witty exchanges with Ben made me laugh out loud several times (which isn't too good when everyone else at home is already sleeping
February 14, 2018
This second book is better. So much mystery and who done it.
Really couldn't stop reading. Ben and Nate are both paranormal but
very different. Should say Nate is different. No classification for him.
That just makes this romance so much more fun.
These guys have some fun sex in barns and outdoors. They
get to know family. But not themselves. That's just one part of the story. The best parts are the whole paranormal world with so many interesting characters. There is good guys and bad. Some you don't see till the end. There be sad parts too. It is so well done that I read it in
one sitting. Luckily I also have the third book. Beware Gillian like to
leave you hanging.. A great an well done read. If you like MM Paranormal then this one you wll enjoy. Great covers as well.
(Given a copy for a honest review).
Really couldn't stop reading. Ben and Nate are both paranormal but
very different. Should say Nate is different. No classification for him.
That just makes this romance so much more fun.
These guys have some fun sex in barns and outdoors. They
get to know family. But not themselves. That's just one part of the story. The best parts are the whole paranormal world with so many interesting characters. There is good guys and bad. Some you don't see till the end. There be sad parts too. It is so well done that I read it in
one sitting. Luckily I also have the third book. Beware Gillian like to
leave you hanging.. A great an well done read. If you like MM Paranormal then this one you wll enjoy. Great covers as well.
(Given a copy for a honest review).
October 24, 2019
This book has an excellent mystery and several plot lines going that I had no clue where they would end up. This book moves away from the city and Nate away from his escort job. Ben is still trying to figure out what he is going to do with his new undead life. This book drags out some interesting backstories on both Ben and Nate that converge in the murder mystery involving a demon. I like how everything gets tangled up together in the book. The down side of this book is Nate and Ben spend alot of times fighting. Nate's attitude of not investigating things and hiding his family's problems were a little bit irratiating. Ben's indecision also annoyed me at times as well. Still I loved the plot and the world building in this book a great deal.
September 24, 2019
This book—and the series in general—is really hard for me to rate. The writing is excellent, the worldbuilding is great, I love the pace at which information about the characters and the world is discovered by the reader, and I really enjoy the depth of character not just for the protagonists, but all of the secondary ones as well.
The problem for me is the relationship between Ben and Nate. By the middle of a series wherein the relationship is a central plot thread, I really ought to be rooting for them and be anxiously anticipating the next challenges they'll face. But I'm not. Instead, I finished this book thinking Ben deserves better and wishing he'd find someone better for him than Nate.
Nate might help him suppress and control the vampire, but he doesn't seem to do much else. There isn't much chemistry between Nate and Ben and what does exist is overshadowed, for me, by Nate's desire to put everyone else in the world first and his eagerness to have sex with everybody else too.
They have one fight and he's already excited to get back to work as a prostitute and immediately returns to his ex. Then, he tells Ben all about how being with the ex was "everything he wanted." This isn't dealt with at all, but Ben gets to sacrifice himself for Nate and tell him he loves him. Nate presumably doesn't feel the same, as he breaks up with him again and heads on back to work.
Even without the infidelity, the on again off again nature of the relationship is frustrating. I don't expect or want insta-marriage, but it's been two books and they aren't actually working on a relationship. They have sex a lot and they waffle over how they shouldn't be together, interspersed with Nate having sex with strangers.
The whole thing would be less of an issue for me if the books weren't marketed as, in part, a paranormal romance. Without a sense of chemistry or that Nate prioritizes Ben in any respect, it doesn't feel like a romance. It feels like two people who just hook up a lot.
I'll be reading the last two books in the series, the writing is absolutely worth the read, but I'm still disappointed that this didn't turn out to be the romance I was expecting.
The problem for me is the relationship between Ben and Nate. By the middle of a series wherein the relationship is a central plot thread, I really ought to be rooting for them and be anxiously anticipating the next challenges they'll face. But I'm not. Instead, I finished this book thinking Ben deserves better and wishing he'd find someone better for him than Nate.
Nate might help him suppress and control the vampire, but he doesn't seem to do much else. There isn't much chemistry between Nate and Ben and what does exist is overshadowed, for me, by Nate's desire to put everyone else in the world first and his eagerness to have sex with everybody else too.
They have one fight and he's already excited to get back to work as a prostitute and immediately returns to his ex. Then, he tells Ben all about how being with the ex was "everything he wanted." This isn't dealt with at all, but Ben gets to sacrifice himself for Nate and tell him he loves him. Nate presumably doesn't feel the same, as he breaks up with him again and heads on back to work.
Even without the infidelity, the on again off again nature of the relationship is frustrating. I don't expect or want insta-marriage, but it's been two books and they aren't actually working on a relationship. They have sex a lot and they waffle over how they shouldn't be together, interspersed with Nate having sex with strangers.
The whole thing would be less of an issue for me if the books weren't marketed as, in part, a paranormal romance. Without a sense of chemistry or that Nate prioritizes Ben in any respect, it doesn't feel like a romance. It feels like two people who just hook up a lot.
I'll be reading the last two books in the series, the writing is absolutely worth the read, but I'm still disappointed that this didn't turn out to be the romance I was expecting.
January 13, 2017
A Joyfully Jay review.
5 stars
When I selected Uprooted for review, I did not know that it was the second book in a series, so I will say that reading Thorns and Fangs before Uprooted is essential. (As a side note, I did read Thorns and Fangs and it is amazing!)
Uprooted definitely has a different atmosphere to Thorns and Fangs. Although the story is told through an omniscient narrator, it is Ben’s thoughts and feelings which Gillian St. Kevern focuses on. This is relevant because Uprooted is very much Ben’s journey. Now back to being a human, he is trying to find his place in the world, without his sire’s influence. By being alongside Ben, the reader really appreciates his strength and tenacity, as well as the love he has to give. I think St. Kevern communicates Ben’s sense of emptiness when he is away from Nate so well that it is almost palpable and compounded by the memories and emotions that flood Ben about his own childhood. Ben’s introspection means that Uprooted has less (no, not none) of the eroticism that existed previously. Some readers may be disappointed by this, but I was not as I feel St. Kevern echoes Ben’s character and development perfectly in the way that she chooses to execute the story.
Uprooted does not have the heart-stopping moments of danger that were frequent in Thorns and Fangs (well, apart from the climax, which I’m still shocked by). The story is slower paced but no less addictive and I loved the way that St. Kevern introduces new characters like Ma, Ethan, and George, whilst keeping a link to old favorites like Aki, Kenzie, and Gunn. I think I was most impressed by the fact that Uprooted‘s plot is so different from Thorns and Fangs, when often sequels can be a carbon copy of the first book in a series.
Read Kirsty’s review in its entirety here.
5 stars
When I selected Uprooted for review, I did not know that it was the second book in a series, so I will say that reading Thorns and Fangs before Uprooted is essential. (As a side note, I did read Thorns and Fangs and it is amazing!)
Uprooted definitely has a different atmosphere to Thorns and Fangs. Although the story is told through an omniscient narrator, it is Ben’s thoughts and feelings which Gillian St. Kevern focuses on. This is relevant because Uprooted is very much Ben’s journey. Now back to being a human, he is trying to find his place in the world, without his sire’s influence. By being alongside Ben, the reader really appreciates his strength and tenacity, as well as the love he has to give. I think St. Kevern communicates Ben’s sense of emptiness when he is away from Nate so well that it is almost palpable and compounded by the memories and emotions that flood Ben about his own childhood. Ben’s introspection means that Uprooted has less (no, not none) of the eroticism that existed previously. Some readers may be disappointed by this, but I was not as I feel St. Kevern echoes Ben’s character and development perfectly in the way that she chooses to execute the story.
Uprooted does not have the heart-stopping moments of danger that were frequent in Thorns and Fangs (well, apart from the climax, which I’m still shocked by). The story is slower paced but no less addictive and I loved the way that St. Kevern introduces new characters like Ma, Ethan, and George, whilst keeping a link to old favorites like Aki, Kenzie, and Gunn. I think I was most impressed by the fact that Uprooted‘s plot is so different from Thorns and Fangs, when often sequels can be a carbon copy of the first book in a series.
Read Kirsty’s review in its entirety here.
August 12, 2017
3.5 Stars
Book #2 in the Thorns and Fangs series plants us far away from the big city and carnal corners to dive into our lead duo’s backstories a bit. We are privileged to their movements that led them to their fateful meeting in TaF as well as seeing how they work as a team on a compelling hot and cold case that spans decades. As opposed to Nate’s perspective from the first installment, this time we’re in Ben’s head.
First and foremost in this book is the Ethan Paradox. I love this character so much that I want him to be in every scene, but if he were, it would likely ruin him and everyone else. GSK puts just enough in to develop him as a character in his own right, but lets him leave the room when he wants to. Grumpy detective Gunn also gets some screentime which is always appreciated.
Kevern continues to have strong compelling plotlines and this time she weaves them in and out of past and present with a purposeful, omniscient hand. On the spicy scale, this is definitely toned down from the first one, so much easier to consume publicly.
The biggest problem for me is reading through Ben’s point of view. I was overwhelmed by his confusing thought process and sometimes it would actively detract from the storytelling by making me re-read paragraphs in order to find the train of thought that led to an unexpected conclusion. While I get that he’s got some twisted stuff in his history, it translated to some difficulties in the reading experience.
In the new supporting cast of characters are a great meshing for the most part, but for me I’m still pretty attached to the quirky old guard.
If you liked TaF or even if it was a bit too explicit for you, this is a great read for you as most of the undressing is figurative, but I think TaF is definitely required reading before hopping into Uprooted. If you’ve not read any of GSK yet, I’d personally nudge you over to the Deep Magic corner first.
Book #2 in the Thorns and Fangs series plants us far away from the big city and carnal corners to dive into our lead duo’s backstories a bit. We are privileged to their movements that led them to their fateful meeting in TaF as well as seeing how they work as a team on a compelling hot and cold case that spans decades. As opposed to Nate’s perspective from the first installment, this time we’re in Ben’s head.
First and foremost in this book is the Ethan Paradox. I love this character so much that I want him to be in every scene, but if he were, it would likely ruin him and everyone else. GSK puts just enough in to develop him as a character in his own right, but lets him leave the room when he wants to. Grumpy detective Gunn also gets some screentime which is always appreciated.
Kevern continues to have strong compelling plotlines and this time she weaves them in and out of past and present with a purposeful, omniscient hand. On the spicy scale, this is definitely toned down from the first one, so much easier to consume publicly.
The biggest problem for me is reading through Ben’s point of view. I was overwhelmed by his confusing thought process and sometimes it would actively detract from the storytelling by making me re-read paragraphs in order to find the train of thought that led to an unexpected conclusion. While I get that he’s got some twisted stuff in his history, it translated to some difficulties in the reading experience.
In the new supporting cast of characters are a great meshing for the most part, but for me I’m still pretty attached to the quirky old guard.
If you liked TaF or even if it was a bit too explicit for you, this is a great read for you as most of the undressing is figurative, but I think TaF is definitely required reading before hopping into Uprooted. If you’ve not read any of GSK yet, I’d personally nudge you over to the Deep Magic corner first.
January 8, 2018
An absolute wonder of a sequel to Thorns and Fangs. I always have a bit of nervous hesitation whenever I start the second book of a series. There's always a chance it'll ruin how much I enjoyed the first, or a chance that it will just end up being a vast disappointment and leave me feeling unsatisfied. This? This is fantastic. No longer simply about vampires and the undead, its a rich exploration into life after undeath, love in all its beautiful complications, and the strain that otherness can put on families. I picked this up and not even a nuclear apocalypse could have forced me to put it down before finishing it. Sleep be damned. This book was worth it.
May 9, 2017
I still enjoyed reading the book, especially the mystery, but this book was definitely less cool than the first book. We got Ben's PoV this time and he's a bit boring, unless he's in investigator mode. There's no show of magical power, and there were fewer interesting side characters. The romance kind of went back and forth, there's some graphic sex, and concluded in (somewhat) HFN.
July 8, 2018
I enjoyed the second book a lot more! I'm still completely baffled by the romance and I'm definitely still skipping all the sex scenes (yes, they still have zero chemistry) but the plot for this one was engaging, and I just really like Ethan. So, basically, do not read this book for the "love" story - it's a decent thriller though.
July 19, 2023
This is not only a wonderful sequel, but also one of the best books I've ever read!
It has everything: plot, consistency, morals, character development, twists, mysteries, angst, maturity, pacing, fluid writing, smut, foreboding, worldbuilding, background, ethics, culture clash, motives. The cherry on top? They are all flawlessly balanced.
It has everything: plot, consistency, morals, character development, twists, mysteries, angst, maturity, pacing, fluid writing, smut, foreboding, worldbuilding, background, ethics, culture clash, motives. The cherry on top? They are all flawlessly balanced.
September 23, 2018
Loved - review to come
June 12, 2017
Excellent second book, picking up after Thorns and Fangs, Ben is adjusting to life as a human as this story opens. Much of the book takes place in Nate’s hometown and much of the story revolves around mysterious deaths that have occured ten years apart for many decades.
When Nate and Ben figure out that there's a demon behind the deaths, the tragic truth that this is the same demon who claimed Ben’s mother years before makes it more than personal for Ben. But it’s the surprise involvement of Nate’s first boyfriend and the revelations surrounding Nate’s and Ethan’s origins that provide the most intricate twists to the story.
Lots of paranormal activity, including vampires, demons, hunters, agents, and of course, Department Seven headed by Ben’s worst nightmare, Gunn, a lemur, who hates Ben as much as Ben hates him.
The surprise twists and turns at the end of the story lead us into book three, which should be out in late 2017 or the first of the year in 2018. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for this group next.
When Nate and Ben figure out that there's a demon behind the deaths, the tragic truth that this is the same demon who claimed Ben’s mother years before makes it more than personal for Ben. But it’s the surprise involvement of Nate’s first boyfriend and the revelations surrounding Nate’s and Ethan’s origins that provide the most intricate twists to the story.
Lots of paranormal activity, including vampires, demons, hunters, agents, and of course, Department Seven headed by Ben’s worst nightmare, Gunn, a lemur, who hates Ben as much as Ben hates him.
The surprise twists and turns at the end of the story lead us into book three, which should be out in late 2017 or the first of the year in 2018. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for this group next.
March 4, 2017
A thoroughly enjoyable read!
December 25, 2016
Gripping Plot
Uprooted is the second book in the Thorns and Fangs series. While you can read Uprooted as a standalone as I did, I wouldn't recommend it. Uprooted is a continuation of the story featuring the main characters from Thorns and Fangs, Ben and Nate. Ben and Nate live in a world steeped in magic and face a number of supernatural elements: vampires, demons, witches, spells, etc. The first part of the book moved along fairly quickly, but I felt a little in the dark when references to characters and events from the first novel were mentioned. I was able to follow along, but I think I would have become immersed in the story faster had I known all the preceding circumstances for the couple. This is a paranormal fantasy, so I expected some world building, but it wasn't enough to completely hook me. I also struggled feeling the chemistry between Ben and Nate, as most of Uprooted things were tense between them. I'm guessing much of those components I felt lacking were established in the first book, so I tried not to let that sway my rating.
The writing itself was very good. The author does a great job describing emotions and the environments. Unfortunately, I felt like the characters lacked development. Given all the revelations that happened, I think I expected to feel those effects more in their reactions and interpersonal relationships. However, I did find both main characters compelling and liked how the secondary characters added to the plot without taking away the focus. The story and backstories the author wove together were extremely interesting, and I really enjoyed the mystery element. The pacing was steady, with a definite uptick around the halfway mark as secrets are revealed. I found myself eagerly reading at this point, and appreciated there were unexpected twists within the story and relationship. Although, the immediate conflicts were resolved, the book ends with the relationship in a questionable status, so I'm certain we can expect more from the series. I think if you are a fan of paranormal romance and looking for a new series, this is definitely worth checking out. I plan to watch for the third installment to see what else Gillian St. Kevern has in store for Nate and Ben.
Uprooted is the second book in the Thorns and Fangs series. While you can read Uprooted as a standalone as I did, I wouldn't recommend it. Uprooted is a continuation of the story featuring the main characters from Thorns and Fangs, Ben and Nate. Ben and Nate live in a world steeped in magic and face a number of supernatural elements: vampires, demons, witches, spells, etc. The first part of the book moved along fairly quickly, but I felt a little in the dark when references to characters and events from the first novel were mentioned. I was able to follow along, but I think I would have become immersed in the story faster had I known all the preceding circumstances for the couple. This is a paranormal fantasy, so I expected some world building, but it wasn't enough to completely hook me. I also struggled feeling the chemistry between Ben and Nate, as most of Uprooted things were tense between them. I'm guessing much of those components I felt lacking were established in the first book, so I tried not to let that sway my rating.
The writing itself was very good. The author does a great job describing emotions and the environments. Unfortunately, I felt like the characters lacked development. Given all the revelations that happened, I think I expected to feel those effects more in their reactions and interpersonal relationships. However, I did find both main characters compelling and liked how the secondary characters added to the plot without taking away the focus. The story and backstories the author wove together were extremely interesting, and I really enjoyed the mystery element. The pacing was steady, with a definite uptick around the halfway mark as secrets are revealed. I found myself eagerly reading at this point, and appreciated there were unexpected twists within the story and relationship. Although, the immediate conflicts were resolved, the book ends with the relationship in a questionable status, so I'm certain we can expect more from the series. I think if you are a fan of paranormal romance and looking for a new series, this is definitely worth checking out. I plan to watch for the third installment to see what else Gillian St. Kevern has in store for Nate and Ben.
December 31, 2017
It's New Year's Day and I started it with Gillian St. Kevern. I love her writing and this is a great story. It's the second book in a series and reads better if you read the first book but it's not absolutely necessary. Sex is low heat level, angst is medium, world is wonderful and the fantasy is beautiful. Ever read about a rent boy turning into a tree? Sort of? It's grand.
This book ends well, no cliffhanger at all but there's so much room for more books. Hint, hint - Ethan? But then there's Aki...so many wonderful men waiting for their own HEA.
This book ends well, no cliffhanger at all but there's so much room for more books. Hint, hint - Ethan? But then there's Aki...so many wonderful men waiting for their own HEA.
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October 14, 2017DNF
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