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The Aria Knight Chronicles #1
Sin Eater
Aria Knight has an unusual set of skills: she will hold back the hounds of Hell so that you can fly toward the Pearly Gates, and she will wipe your slate clean so you don't become karma's bitch...for a price.
A sin eater has to make a living in today's world somehow.
But when she's called in the dead of night to perform her rite for a recluse billionaire, she stumbles upon a murder scene, and the evidence points to her.
In an attempt to clear her name and uncover the true culprit, Aria is forced to team up with a private investigator who's possessed by three spirits and a handsome wizard who would rather see all sin eaters like Aria go extinct.
Aria knows her job is never easy, but now, it's become downright deadly.
A sin eater has to make a living in today's world somehow.
But when she's called in the dead of night to perform her rite for a recluse billionaire, she stumbles upon a murder scene, and the evidence points to her.
In an attempt to clear her name and uncover the true culprit, Aria is forced to team up with a private investigator who's possessed by three spirits and a handsome wizard who would rather see all sin eaters like Aria go extinct.
Aria knows her job is never easy, but now, it's become downright deadly.
ebook
Published July 17, 2017
37 people are currently reading
192 people want to read
About the author
Alesha Escobar
47 books264 followersAlesha Escobar writes action-packed paranormal fantasy with a dash of humor and romance mixed in. She’s the author of the bestselling Gray Tower Trilogy, a WW2 paranormal fantasy often described as “Agent Carter meets Hellboy.”
She is also the author of the Magic and Mayhem series, featuring Jack Crowley, a black sheep among wizards who’s called upon by a secret government organization to catch a supernatural thief who’s stolen three Names of God.
Her co-authored books include the Aria Knight Chronicles with USA Today bestselling author Samantha Goodno and the Immortal Brotherhood series with award-winning author H.M. Jones.
When she's not delving into fantastic worlds with her characters, Alesha enjoys coffee and chocolate, and spending time with her six children and her husband Luis, a storyboard artist for The Simpsons TV show.
To stay in touch and grab a free fantasy book to start reading, go to http://bit.ly/FMMReads
Alesha is also on Facebook @AuthorAleshaEscobar, so she would love to connect with you there as well!
She is also the author of the Magic and Mayhem series, featuring Jack Crowley, a black sheep among wizards who’s called upon by a secret government organization to catch a supernatural thief who’s stolen three Names of God.
Her co-authored books include the Aria Knight Chronicles with USA Today bestselling author Samantha Goodno and the Immortal Brotherhood series with award-winning author H.M. Jones.
When she's not delving into fantastic worlds with her characters, Alesha enjoys coffee and chocolate, and spending time with her six children and her husband Luis, a storyboard artist for The Simpsons TV show.
To stay in touch and grab a free fantasy book to start reading, go to http://bit.ly/FMMReads
Alesha is also on Facebook @AuthorAleshaEscobar, so she would love to connect with you there as well!
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
July 29, 2017
*3.5*
Lately I've been craving a good paranormal book so when Sin Eater, the first book in the Aria Knight Chronicles, landed on my radar, I immediately added it to my wish list. I was especially intrigued by the concept. A young woman who can eat people's sins when they die? Now that's crazy yet fascinating! As it turned out, Sin Eater was an exciting, fast paced, and incredibly addictive series opener- so incredibly addictive in fact that I easily devoured this book in one sitting.
Sin Eater begins the story of Aria Knight, part-time nanny/part-time sin eater. Aria is the first person to admit her life is kind of insane; however, the one thing she doesn't anticipate is for it to get any crazier then it already is. So when the call comes in to help out a recluse billionaire in his final moments on Earth, she agrees. She needs the money, and the person paying her offers her aide in finding her birth mother. Going to the billionaire’s house turns out to be a huge mistake, though, as Aria finds him dead. The lead suspect in the murder? Aria, of course. Teaming up with Jacob and Harry, two complete strangers who are also being targeted by the same person who set up Aria, three free vow to find the guy behind this.
Sin Eater is told in three POVs: Harry, a private investigator who is plagued by a curse, Jacob, a wizard who serves as the mayor’s chief of staff, and Aria, the resident sin eater of their small town.
The three POVs flowed seamlessly. The authors did a fantastic job of making each POV sound not only unique but also important to the overall tale. While I didn’t feel like I truly connected with any of the characters beyond a superficial level, I still liked reading about them, if that makes sense. Each brought their own crazy story to the table – be it Aria’s sin eating, Harry’s curse that lead him to have three deceased voices in his head, or Jacob’s complications in being the unofficial liaison between the normal and the paranormal of the town.
I also enjoyed the world building in this. I felt that the authors did a great job of creating this world of wizards, sin eaters, witches, etc. I loved the little snippets about what each could and could not do, and I look forward to seeing everything expanded in the coming sequel.
As hinted to above, the plot in Sin Eater was rather addictive. From the first page, I was thrown into this world of mystery, such as who cursed Harry, who is Aria’s birth mom, who’s the person targeting all three of them. There were so many different questions and theories swirling around during the entirety of the book, and I loved seeing each play out in front of my eyes. I thought the authors did a great job of balancing all sides of the story as well as developing them.
The two things that brought this book down a notch in my eyes though were the ending as well as the character development. As mentioned before, I felt that I really didn’t get to know Harry, Aria, or Jacob beyond a superficial level. I feel that the book would have benefited from a slightly more in-depth look into their lives, but maybe the sequel will dive more into that! The ending, on the other hand, felt a little rushed. It was like build up, build up, build up then BAM the big revelation. It felt somewhat out of place for me. I don’t know if it’s because I feel there’s still more to be revealed in the future or because I felt that the one bad guy came out of nowhere...it just wasn’t my favorite part of this book.
Regardless, Sin Eater provides an entertaining story perfect for fans of urban fantasy and paranormal. I, for one, am dying to know what will happen next! Luckily, the second book Revelations is due out September 21, 2017!
Grade: B
Lately I've been craving a good paranormal book so when Sin Eater, the first book in the Aria Knight Chronicles, landed on my radar, I immediately added it to my wish list. I was especially intrigued by the concept. A young woman who can eat people's sins when they die? Now that's crazy yet fascinating! As it turned out, Sin Eater was an exciting, fast paced, and incredibly addictive series opener- so incredibly addictive in fact that I easily devoured this book in one sitting.
Sin Eater begins the story of Aria Knight, part-time nanny/part-time sin eater. Aria is the first person to admit her life is kind of insane; however, the one thing she doesn't anticipate is for it to get any crazier then it already is. So when the call comes in to help out a recluse billionaire in his final moments on Earth, she agrees. She needs the money, and the person paying her offers her aide in finding her birth mother. Going to the billionaire’s house turns out to be a huge mistake, though, as Aria finds him dead. The lead suspect in the murder? Aria, of course. Teaming up with Jacob and Harry, two complete strangers who are also being targeted by the same person who set up Aria, three free vow to find the guy behind this.
Sin Eater is told in three POVs: Harry, a private investigator who is plagued by a curse, Jacob, a wizard who serves as the mayor’s chief of staff, and Aria, the resident sin eater of their small town.
The three POVs flowed seamlessly. The authors did a fantastic job of making each POV sound not only unique but also important to the overall tale. While I didn’t feel like I truly connected with any of the characters beyond a superficial level, I still liked reading about them, if that makes sense. Each brought their own crazy story to the table – be it Aria’s sin eating, Harry’s curse that lead him to have three deceased voices in his head, or Jacob’s complications in being the unofficial liaison between the normal and the paranormal of the town.
I also enjoyed the world building in this. I felt that the authors did a great job of creating this world of wizards, sin eaters, witches, etc. I loved the little snippets about what each could and could not do, and I look forward to seeing everything expanded in the coming sequel.
As hinted to above, the plot in Sin Eater was rather addictive. From the first page, I was thrown into this world of mystery, such as who cursed Harry, who is Aria’s birth mom, who’s the person targeting all three of them. There were so many different questions and theories swirling around during the entirety of the book, and I loved seeing each play out in front of my eyes. I thought the authors did a great job of balancing all sides of the story as well as developing them.
The two things that brought this book down a notch in my eyes though were the ending as well as the character development. As mentioned before, I felt that I really didn’t get to know Harry, Aria, or Jacob beyond a superficial level. I feel that the book would have benefited from a slightly more in-depth look into their lives, but maybe the sequel will dive more into that! The ending, on the other hand, felt a little rushed. It was like build up, build up, build up then BAM the big revelation. It felt somewhat out of place for me. I don’t know if it’s because I feel there’s still more to be revealed in the future or because I felt that the one bad guy came out of nowhere...it just wasn’t my favorite part of this book.
Regardless, Sin Eater provides an entertaining story perfect for fans of urban fantasy and paranormal. I, for one, am dying to know what will happen next! Luckily, the second book Revelations is due out September 21, 2017!
Grade: B
July 26, 2017
This was a really great and epic read for me! I'm a big fan of paranormal mysteries. There needs to be more of these in the world! Escobar has an excellent plot, character, and twists to keep me coming back for more and more. I was thoroughly surprised and kept in suspense the whole read!
September 21, 2017
http://openbooksociety.com/article/si...
Sin Eater
The Aria Knight Chronicles, Book # 1
By Alesha Escobar, Samantha LaFantasie
ISBN13: 9781548120481
Author’s Website: www.aleshaescobar.com & www.samanthalafantasie.com
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Omar
Summary
Aria Knight has an unusual set of skills: she will hold back the hounds of Hell so that you can fly toward the Pearly Gates, and she will wipe your slate clean so you don’t become karma’s bitch…for a price.
A Sin Eater has to make a living in today’s world somehow.
But when she’s called in the dead of night to perform her rite for a recluse billionaire, she stumbles upon a murder scene, and the evidence points to her.
In an attempt to clear her name and uncover the true culprit, Aria is forced to team up with a private investigator who’s possessed by three spirits and a handsome wizard who would rather see all Sin Eaters like Aria go extinct.
Aria knows her job is never easy, but now it’s become downright deadly.
SIN EATER is the first book of the Aria Knight Chronicles by USA Today bestselling author Samantha LaFantasie and Alesha Escobar, author of the bestselling Gray Tower Trilogy.
Review
When a person dies, those who still believe in old tales or have seen it done, called a Sin Eater. As the name says, a Sin Eater is a person who takes the sin of a recently deceased person and helps him move on to the afterlife. This is how we meet Aria Knight, the Sin Eater, as she performs the ritual for a woman that just died, and manages to get in time before the soul of the deceased is devoured by the Hellhounds. Then we meet Harry Storm, a P.I. as he tries to get in time to a local Apothecary for his weekly potion, before the ghosts that inhabit his body get to take control over his body. After drinking his potion, he follows the person he was tasked to gather information from, Jacob Wolfie. Jacob is a wizard and the Mayor’s Chief of Staff of the city. Given the recent problems and fights between non-wizards and wizards, Jacob has been assigned to find a deal or balance between the parties.
Without knowing it, somebody is pulling the strings and has set their eyes on the three characters. In hopes of creating a war within the community, the characters are set up to take the blame for different crimes and be the scapegoats of a hidden group. Now Aria, Harry (and his ghosts), and Jacob must find a way to work together, and find the real criminals behind the shadows, before they get killed.
I liked the Sin Eater, it was a good book and the story was okay. To tell you the truth, I decided to read this book because I remember seeing a long time ago a movie also called Sin Eater or The Order, and it had the same type of story that the summary of this book mentions. I liked the concept of a person removing the sins of a deceased individual to help her go to heaven or a better afterlife, and I wanted to know what type of storyline could be created to add this type of character.
I liked that in the world where this book takes place, magic and other types of supernatural things exist, but at the same time is trying to make the non-magic and magic parties to work with each other. I also liked that some things are not common and are looked down upon, such as, in this case the sin eaters, as some thought they were all dead. At the same time, I liked the used of the three different characters, and each of them coming from a different branch of the humans that inhabit this world.
While I liked the story, there were some things I think fell short. One of them was, that while the story is a fast read, I still think that in the process of making it not a long story, some information was omitted or missing. One moment they are looking over the information they have and learning new things, and the next they are already fighting the villain of the book. Out of nowhere we learn of betrayals that weren’t even whispered along the story and from characters that didn’t seem important to pay attention.
I found very easy to spot the villain or enemy around the first -third of the story, but it was a shocking turn of events when at the end you learn who he is also is working with.
While I didn’t like much the character of Harry Storm, I did like the ghost that inhabit him. Maybe I didn’t have enough of the actual Harry in the book to get to know him, but there wasn’t a click to his character like there was with the other two. I do hope we get to see more of the ghosts in the upcoming book.
If you are a fan of authors Alesha Escobar and Samantha LaFantasie, and you are interested in their work, then I recommend you Sin Eater. Here three individuals have to put their differences aside and help each other find the people behind the murders of innocent people, while also trying to stop a civil war. In our last hours, we all called for somebody to help us move on, even if it’s a Sin Eater.
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*
Sin Eater
The Aria Knight Chronicles, Book # 1
By Alesha Escobar, Samantha LaFantasie
ISBN13: 9781548120481
Author’s Website: www.aleshaescobar.com & www.samanthalafantasie.com
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Omar
Summary
Aria Knight has an unusual set of skills: she will hold back the hounds of Hell so that you can fly toward the Pearly Gates, and she will wipe your slate clean so you don’t become karma’s bitch…for a price.
A Sin Eater has to make a living in today’s world somehow.
But when she’s called in the dead of night to perform her rite for a recluse billionaire, she stumbles upon a murder scene, and the evidence points to her.
In an attempt to clear her name and uncover the true culprit, Aria is forced to team up with a private investigator who’s possessed by three spirits and a handsome wizard who would rather see all Sin Eaters like Aria go extinct.
Aria knows her job is never easy, but now it’s become downright deadly.
SIN EATER is the first book of the Aria Knight Chronicles by USA Today bestselling author Samantha LaFantasie and Alesha Escobar, author of the bestselling Gray Tower Trilogy.
Review
When a person dies, those who still believe in old tales or have seen it done, called a Sin Eater. As the name says, a Sin Eater is a person who takes the sin of a recently deceased person and helps him move on to the afterlife. This is how we meet Aria Knight, the Sin Eater, as she performs the ritual for a woman that just died, and manages to get in time before the soul of the deceased is devoured by the Hellhounds. Then we meet Harry Storm, a P.I. as he tries to get in time to a local Apothecary for his weekly potion, before the ghosts that inhabit his body get to take control over his body. After drinking his potion, he follows the person he was tasked to gather information from, Jacob Wolfie. Jacob is a wizard and the Mayor’s Chief of Staff of the city. Given the recent problems and fights between non-wizards and wizards, Jacob has been assigned to find a deal or balance between the parties.
Without knowing it, somebody is pulling the strings and has set their eyes on the three characters. In hopes of creating a war within the community, the characters are set up to take the blame for different crimes and be the scapegoats of a hidden group. Now Aria, Harry (and his ghosts), and Jacob must find a way to work together, and find the real criminals behind the shadows, before they get killed.
I liked the Sin Eater, it was a good book and the story was okay. To tell you the truth, I decided to read this book because I remember seeing a long time ago a movie also called Sin Eater or The Order, and it had the same type of story that the summary of this book mentions. I liked the concept of a person removing the sins of a deceased individual to help her go to heaven or a better afterlife, and I wanted to know what type of storyline could be created to add this type of character.
I liked that in the world where this book takes place, magic and other types of supernatural things exist, but at the same time is trying to make the non-magic and magic parties to work with each other. I also liked that some things are not common and are looked down upon, such as, in this case the sin eaters, as some thought they were all dead. At the same time, I liked the used of the three different characters, and each of them coming from a different branch of the humans that inhabit this world.
While I liked the story, there were some things I think fell short. One of them was, that while the story is a fast read, I still think that in the process of making it not a long story, some information was omitted or missing. One moment they are looking over the information they have and learning new things, and the next they are already fighting the villain of the book. Out of nowhere we learn of betrayals that weren’t even whispered along the story and from characters that didn’t seem important to pay attention.
I found very easy to spot the villain or enemy around the first -third of the story, but it was a shocking turn of events when at the end you learn who he is also is working with.
While I didn’t like much the character of Harry Storm, I did like the ghost that inhabit him. Maybe I didn’t have enough of the actual Harry in the book to get to know him, but there wasn’t a click to his character like there was with the other two. I do hope we get to see more of the ghosts in the upcoming book.
If you are a fan of authors Alesha Escobar and Samantha LaFantasie, and you are interested in their work, then I recommend you Sin Eater. Here three individuals have to put their differences aside and help each other find the people behind the murders of innocent people, while also trying to stop a civil war. In our last hours, we all called for somebody to help us move on, even if it’s a Sin Eater.
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*
September 13, 2018
This was an incredibly powerful book and it deals with some less attractive aspects of human nature. And although there are some ray of lights here and there, the story is mostly sad and angering. Make no mistake, the story is incredibly gripping and as much as I wanted to I could not stop reading it. I actually did not stop until I finished the next book as well.
The authors did a fantastic job combining urban fantasy plot and infusing it with ugly human nature. The writing is impeccable, the world well thought of, the characters well developed, and the plot masterfully executed. The characters are not fluffy lovable ones but gritty, realistic ones.
Aria, the main character is a sin eater and it took me a while to warm up to her because of her insistent faith in humanity regardless of all that was happening around her. However, if people like her did not exist, no one would ever be saved. Her best friend Margot, however, I adored from the first moment. Then there are Harry, Jacob, Edwin, Benjamin, Kyra and their kids, and an array of other interesting characters.
One of the ugly aspects of this book is the underlying question of people paying for their sins and atrocities, or just simply being cleansed of them without bearing any responsibility in the end. Obviously, there is much more to sin eaters and their powers but this was an interesting thought.
The plot starts simple enough and then the whole hell breaks loose due to the enormous amount of hatred between certain groups of people. The authors did a fantastic portrayal of what if scenario. Hatred spills like the plague that it is and infects even the innocents and spreads towards the next book which I started reading immediately. It was indeed a very powerful book and I enjoyed it very much.
Reading order is Sin Eater (The Aria Knight Chronicles, #1), Revelations (The Aria Knight Chronicles Book 2), and Legacy (The Aria Knight Chronicles Book 3) has been announced.
The authors did a fantastic job combining urban fantasy plot and infusing it with ugly human nature. The writing is impeccable, the world well thought of, the characters well developed, and the plot masterfully executed. The characters are not fluffy lovable ones but gritty, realistic ones.
Aria, the main character is a sin eater and it took me a while to warm up to her because of her insistent faith in humanity regardless of all that was happening around her. However, if people like her did not exist, no one would ever be saved. Her best friend Margot, however, I adored from the first moment. Then there are Harry, Jacob, Edwin, Benjamin, Kyra and their kids, and an array of other interesting characters.
One of the ugly aspects of this book is the underlying question of people paying for their sins and atrocities, or just simply being cleansed of them without bearing any responsibility in the end. Obviously, there is much more to sin eaters and their powers but this was an interesting thought.
The plot starts simple enough and then the whole hell breaks loose due to the enormous amount of hatred between certain groups of people. The authors did a fantastic portrayal of what if scenario. Hatred spills like the plague that it is and infects even the innocents and spreads towards the next book which I started reading immediately. It was indeed a very powerful book and I enjoyed it very much.
Reading order is Sin Eater (The Aria Knight Chronicles, #1), Revelations (The Aria Knight Chronicles Book 2), and Legacy (The Aria Knight Chronicles Book 3) has been announced.
September 18, 2017
3.5 stars, actually.
It took me a little while to warm up to the story as I am more used to Urban Fantasy with one POV, this one switches a bit between the main folks. This is your usual UF modern milieu with sorcerors living amongst us...however the interesting bit here is that they are not secret. In the town where the story takes place, there is even a movement to "register" the sorcerers, with a bit of a timely political echo to what's happening in the U.S. right now.
Aria's sin-eating was a new for me. I liked the idea of her easing the transition between life and death for folks, but at times was left with an uneasy understanding of how/why sin eating fit into the overall magic system of the world. Like, if sin eaters are so rare, why does everyone seem so prejudiced against them? And what happens to the majority of folks if they are so rare? (in the book its said sorcerers weighed down by sin become vampires, but there weren't tons of vampires running about) and also apparently they are long-lived but this doesn't seem to impact Aria that much...so I was confused at times.
Once Aria the sin-eater, Harry the possessed PI and Jacob the sorcerer get together to fight an evil murderer that keeps changing names, things got a little easier to both figure out (since we discover some of the differently named bad guys are the same bad guy, and also what exactly is going on with Harry). And the relationships between these three as they figure out what the bad guy is up to certainly was interesting. I think I would liked to have seen more of the evil "vlad" possessing Harry, and also a tad bit more editing in some chapters...i.e. the book tells us one of Harry's possessing ghosts is a former loremaster like three times. I'd read the next one in the series, though, with the hopes that it would be like the second half of this book.
It took me a little while to warm up to the story as I am more used to Urban Fantasy with one POV, this one switches a bit between the main folks. This is your usual UF modern milieu with sorcerors living amongst us...however the interesting bit here is that they are not secret. In the town where the story takes place, there is even a movement to "register" the sorcerers, with a bit of a timely political echo to what's happening in the U.S. right now.
Aria's sin-eating was a new for me. I liked the idea of her easing the transition between life and death for folks, but at times was left with an uneasy understanding of how/why sin eating fit into the overall magic system of the world. Like, if sin eaters are so rare, why does everyone seem so prejudiced against them? And what happens to the majority of folks if they are so rare? (in the book its said sorcerers weighed down by sin become vampires, but there weren't tons of vampires running about) and also apparently they are long-lived but this doesn't seem to impact Aria that much...so I was confused at times.
Once Aria the sin-eater, Harry the possessed PI and Jacob the sorcerer get together to fight an evil murderer that keeps changing names, things got a little easier to both figure out (since we discover some of the differently named bad guys are the same bad guy, and also what exactly is going on with Harry). And the relationships between these three as they figure out what the bad guy is up to certainly was interesting. I think I would liked to have seen more of the evil "vlad" possessing Harry, and also a tad bit more editing in some chapters...i.e. the book tells us one of Harry's possessing ghosts is a former loremaster like three times. I'd read the next one in the series, though, with the hopes that it would be like the second half of this book.
August 7, 2017
Can anyone guess what I'm going to say. I LOVE MULTIPLE POINTS OF VIEW. And the author, to me did this perfectly. From the moment I saw it was different points of view, I could wait to see how their story crossed paths. I was pleasantly surprised how they were all woven together.
We start with Aria, with her sin eating and wanting more out of her long life. She ends up following a path that lands her being put under arrest. That has her coming across Harry Storm, who is a PI on the trail of Jacob Wolfe a wizard who works in the mayors office. Both Aria and Harry are hired by the same "mystery man". Harry to watch Jacob and Aria to perform the final rights of a dying man. With these jobs they cross paths. Now Jacob turns out to be the third point of view. And he I would say is the middle of the growing conflict that is building between those with magic and those without.
When all three path are finally combined, we get more of each backstory that lead them to where they are and why they have to work together to solve the problems at hand. And oh boy when they finally figure out who is pulling all their strings and who is behind the murders and attacks that are happening around their city.
And major plot twist, when we find out who is really pulling the strings and why. I really wanted to side with them. ::jazz hands:: Crazy turn of events. People are kidnapped, some are killed, some end up with powers, and some feelings start to come up.
So all and all I'm recommending this to anyone who is in magical, dark mystery filled joy ride you should read Sin Eater available in both Paperback and Kindle
We start with Aria, with her sin eating and wanting more out of her long life. She ends up following a path that lands her being put under arrest. That has her coming across Harry Storm, who is a PI on the trail of Jacob Wolfe a wizard who works in the mayors office. Both Aria and Harry are hired by the same "mystery man". Harry to watch Jacob and Aria to perform the final rights of a dying man. With these jobs they cross paths. Now Jacob turns out to be the third point of view. And he I would say is the middle of the growing conflict that is building between those with magic and those without.
When all three path are finally combined, we get more of each backstory that lead them to where they are and why they have to work together to solve the problems at hand. And oh boy when they finally figure out who is pulling all their strings and who is behind the murders and attacks that are happening around their city.
And major plot twist, when we find out who is really pulling the strings and why. I really wanted to side with them. ::jazz hands:: Crazy turn of events. People are kidnapped, some are killed, some end up with powers, and some feelings start to come up.
So all and all I'm recommending this to anyone who is in magical, dark mystery filled joy ride you should read Sin Eater available in both Paperback and Kindle
June 16, 2017
4.75/5 Stars
Wow. Just wow.
In this novel we follow three characters: Aria, Jacob, and Harry. Aria is a sin eater who wants to find her mother in order to potentially not be a sin eater. Jacob is a wizard working in the Mayor's office trying to avert a war and wizarding registry. Harry is a human hit with a curse that allows spirits (not all of whom are good) to control his body. They are thrust together in unforseen circumstances in what becomes an imaginative supernatural fiction.
It was certainly an interesting concept to have humans and supernatural beings live together in a world where nothing is hidden. I know, it does almost sound like an X-Men type of deal, but it's not. In this novel, wizards and supernatural folk don't try to hide from the outside world, unlike in X-Men where they hide their abilities.
I loved the authors' take on well known supernatural classics. Wizards have factions and not all can cast magic. Some are Loremasters (aka historians), some are mind readers, etc. Plus vampires are born from the souls of witches/wizards who fie without a sin eating ritual. Pretty cool concept in my book.
The characters are imaginative and super dimensional. Each has a complex back story that I believe haven't even been fully developed. But hey, it is the first book in the series!
Overall, as a first read by these authors, I fell in love. I can't wait to read more from each.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review
Wow. Just wow.
In this novel we follow three characters: Aria, Jacob, and Harry. Aria is a sin eater who wants to find her mother in order to potentially not be a sin eater. Jacob is a wizard working in the Mayor's office trying to avert a war and wizarding registry. Harry is a human hit with a curse that allows spirits (not all of whom are good) to control his body. They are thrust together in unforseen circumstances in what becomes an imaginative supernatural fiction.
It was certainly an interesting concept to have humans and supernatural beings live together in a world where nothing is hidden. I know, it does almost sound like an X-Men type of deal, but it's not. In this novel, wizards and supernatural folk don't try to hide from the outside world, unlike in X-Men where they hide their abilities.
I loved the authors' take on well known supernatural classics. Wizards have factions and not all can cast magic. Some are Loremasters (aka historians), some are mind readers, etc. Plus vampires are born from the souls of witches/wizards who fie without a sin eating ritual. Pretty cool concept in my book.
The characters are imaginative and super dimensional. Each has a complex back story that I believe haven't even been fully developed. But hey, it is the first book in the series!
Overall, as a first read by these authors, I fell in love. I can't wait to read more from each.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review
August 17, 2017
Sin Eater, by Alesha L. Escobar and Samantha LaFantasie Fantasy Writer
If you are looking for your next original paranormal read.....look no further! Like one click buy it now! Seriously ...like RIGHT now!
Well ok if you insist you need more to convince you here is my review ...
I say original because this is not your shiny shimmery vamp or conflicted lover wolf story.
The story starts with Aria the Sin Eater performing the rights at a person's death. This is a ritual asked for by the deceased to cleanse them of their sins before the hounds of hell come to claim their soul. She was born into this and desperately wants out.
Then we meet Harry whom has his own curse to deal with... take multiple personalities and escalate that and call it a curse. One of those personalities is a psychopathic murderer. These are not just hallucinations and psychic metal breaks. These are actually human dead souls trapped with in you.
Then Jacob whom is trying to avoid a war between humans and wizards. He had deep seeded hatred for sin eaters. All while playing politics.
See original right? You could have 3 separate stories right there with those completely different characters. But no these two authors threw them together into a well written, exciting and adventurous story.
I will impatiently await the next installment. I have added both of these talented writers to my follow list. I foresee many exciting adventures to come
If you are looking for your next original paranormal read.....look no further! Like one click buy it now! Seriously ...like RIGHT now!
Well ok if you insist you need more to convince you here is my review ...
I say original because this is not your shiny shimmery vamp or conflicted lover wolf story.
The story starts with Aria the Sin Eater performing the rights at a person's death. This is a ritual asked for by the deceased to cleanse them of their sins before the hounds of hell come to claim their soul. She was born into this and desperately wants out.
Then we meet Harry whom has his own curse to deal with... take multiple personalities and escalate that and call it a curse. One of those personalities is a psychopathic murderer. These are not just hallucinations and psychic metal breaks. These are actually human dead souls trapped with in you.
Then Jacob whom is trying to avoid a war between humans and wizards. He had deep seeded hatred for sin eaters. All while playing politics.
See original right? You could have 3 separate stories right there with those completely different characters. But no these two authors threw them together into a well written, exciting and adventurous story.
I will impatiently await the next installment. I have added both of these talented writers to my follow list. I foresee many exciting adventures to come
July 5, 2018
This is the first book in the series The Aria Knight Chronicles and Aria is a Sin Eater, she eases troubled souls enabling them to move on after she takes on their sins. Many a time she finds herself fighting hell hounds who are also ready to grab the troubles souls to drag them to hell rather than paradise, so it is a battle between Aria and the hell hounds! Then there are the watchers causing trouble for the large wizarding population, many of these were extremists and dangerous. Sin eater children were given up by their parents as soon as the mark appeared on the palm of their hands and shriveners brought these children up and taught them how to do their duty but all Aria wanted was to live a normal life and she needed her mother to cast the spell of undoing but had no idea who her mother was. Vampires enter the picture too and the rioting in the streets reaches dangerous levels. The only thing that placed Aria apart from her shrivener was that she still had hope in humanity and wanted to save and protect those who wanted her to do so. A very exciting and different novel, with great characters especially Aria of course, but also Harry and Jacob who I must say I am dying to see how they intend to tackle the upcoming war looming on their doorstep so to speak! So roll on book 2 cause I found the idea of a sin eater fascinating and original. Another well done for Alesha Escobar on this great new series.
July 27, 2017
Sin Eater by Alesha Escobar and Samantha LaFantasie is the first book in The Aria Knight Chronicles series and for me is a five star read.
What an awesome series. This book can be enjoyed time and time again. It is amazingly intense and the authors prepare you for the journey for you to take alongside the characters really well. The characters and story development were perfectly done. This book was extremely well written and has fast become of my favourite books. I will definitely want to one click future releases from these authors. This book was full of different emotions with many twists and turns in the book that will keep you guessing what is going to happen till the very end.I have the feeling that I am going to be seeing some special works coming from this dynamic duo.
I could not wait to get to the end so I devoured it in one sitting. Incredible work!!
The storyline was done really well and was believable. It kept me gripped from the very start until the end, so much so I took the book everywhere with me in order to finish it. I adore this book and cannot wait to read the next in the series as well as other work from these amazing authors. I will definitely be recommending this to everyone I know.
I'll definitely look forward to the next in the series.
Definitely one awesome book to pick up and I can see these authors going from strength to strength.
What an awesome series. This book can be enjoyed time and time again. It is amazingly intense and the authors prepare you for the journey for you to take alongside the characters really well. The characters and story development were perfectly done. This book was extremely well written and has fast become of my favourite books. I will definitely want to one click future releases from these authors. This book was full of different emotions with many twists and turns in the book that will keep you guessing what is going to happen till the very end.I have the feeling that I am going to be seeing some special works coming from this dynamic duo.
I could not wait to get to the end so I devoured it in one sitting. Incredible work!!
The storyline was done really well and was believable. It kept me gripped from the very start until the end, so much so I took the book everywhere with me in order to finish it. I adore this book and cannot wait to read the next in the series as well as other work from these amazing authors. I will definitely be recommending this to everyone I know.
I'll definitely look forward to the next in the series.
Definitely one awesome book to pick up and I can see these authors going from strength to strength.
August 6, 2017
I'm always on the lookout for a good Urban Fantasy series and was quite impressed with Sin Eater. As with most books in the genre, we get wizards, vampires, and a bit of telepathy. What sets this one apart, and is a unique and interesting idea, is the sin eater angle.
The writing style and opening scene quickly drew me in and the fast pace and twists kept me turning pages. Aria is a strong, likable character that you genuinely want to root for. In fact, the book is full of great characters - some likable, some not so much (kind of the point, right?). I really liked Harry and his cast of characters, and I look forward to seeing more of him in future books.
I also like that the current conflict is resolved by the end of the book. There are, of course, still unanswered questions and more trouble on the horizon, but we aren't left with a huge cliffhanger to stew over.
I can't talk about an Urban Fantasy without mentioning world-building, which is excellent in this first in the series. Characters are introduced and developed, and we learn exactly what a sin eater does and why, as well as their place among other supernaturals in the Aria Knight world.
Overall, Sin Eater is a solid start on a promising series and I can easily recommend it to anyone who enjoys Urban Fantasy. I, for one, will be anxiously awaiting the next book in the Aria Knight Chronicles.
The writing style and opening scene quickly drew me in and the fast pace and twists kept me turning pages. Aria is a strong, likable character that you genuinely want to root for. In fact, the book is full of great characters - some likable, some not so much (kind of the point, right?). I really liked Harry and his cast of characters, and I look forward to seeing more of him in future books.
I also like that the current conflict is resolved by the end of the book. There are, of course, still unanswered questions and more trouble on the horizon, but we aren't left with a huge cliffhanger to stew over.
I can't talk about an Urban Fantasy without mentioning world-building, which is excellent in this first in the series. Characters are introduced and developed, and we learn exactly what a sin eater does and why, as well as their place among other supernaturals in the Aria Knight world.
Overall, Sin Eater is a solid start on a promising series and I can easily recommend it to anyone who enjoys Urban Fantasy. I, for one, will be anxiously awaiting the next book in the Aria Knight Chronicles.
August 4, 2017
-I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
Sin Eater, by Alesha Escobar and Samantha Lafantasie is a supernatural mystery that reflects the various perceptions of good and evil, and whether or not humanity can be saved.
Aria Knight is a sin eater, a creature who helps cleanse a soul by removing them of their sin before they pass on. She is hired by a man named Dominic Belagio to perform a sin eating ritual, promising her not only a substantial reward, but also help for finding her mother, a witch who could help her become normal. However, when she arrives and stumbles across a dead body, she is suddenly forced into the political arena filled with Watchers and Wizards, as she tries to seek out the truth behind the murder. Meanwhile, Harry is a man who is cursed by the wizard Warren Bright. Struggling to find the wizard, Harry has to prove himself against the curse, as he unwittingly unravels the twisted legacy that details the animosity between humans and wizards. Both Aria’s and Harry’s stories intertwine magically, as half-truths ad lies are uncovered, with a veil of deception lingering near.
Personally, I loved Aria. She takes her jobs, both as a sin eater and a Nanny, seriously. It’s clear she cares for her loved ones, and though she is a bit rough around the edges, she stays true to her morals. She’s strong, but she also has a soft side for humanity, no matter how much she says she doesn’t. What’s more, she doesn’t impose her own rules on others, which makes her convincing enough as a hero. While Harry was a bit more of a mystery to me, I enjoyed the way he deals with his curse. It adds to his already growing repertoire of skills, and though this might sound horrible, I like his curse.
The theme of how human one is enshrouds them. Like I said before, Aria will not force her own morality on others. All the same she does wish to die, having lost faith in humanity so very long ago. She’s humble enough to where she knows she can’t judge others, and it’s a source of constancy throughout the novel. In a world where humans threaten wizards, and wizards and vampires abandon their own conscience to try and seduce their demons, it’s as if Aria is a fairy godmother, simply waiting for the right moment to come out and save everyone. Though Aria might not fit the goody-two-shoes mold of a fairy, nonetheless the theme was well done.
Overall, I would give this book a 4.3 out of 5 stars. I loved both Aria and Harry, and their interactions leave something to be desired in the upcoming books. I also enjoyed the theme of morality and humanity, and how the characters’ particular personalities and conflicts illustrate how these themes are used. The book was like a modern take on the fairytale genre, but without the gore of the Grimm Brothers. I would recommend this book to fans of J.K Rowling, mystery, and extremists with too much time on their hands.
Sin Eater, by Alesha Escobar and Samantha Lafantasie is a supernatural mystery that reflects the various perceptions of good and evil, and whether or not humanity can be saved.
Aria Knight is a sin eater, a creature who helps cleanse a soul by removing them of their sin before they pass on. She is hired by a man named Dominic Belagio to perform a sin eating ritual, promising her not only a substantial reward, but also help for finding her mother, a witch who could help her become normal. However, when she arrives and stumbles across a dead body, she is suddenly forced into the political arena filled with Watchers and Wizards, as she tries to seek out the truth behind the murder. Meanwhile, Harry is a man who is cursed by the wizard Warren Bright. Struggling to find the wizard, Harry has to prove himself against the curse, as he unwittingly unravels the twisted legacy that details the animosity between humans and wizards. Both Aria’s and Harry’s stories intertwine magically, as half-truths ad lies are uncovered, with a veil of deception lingering near.
Personally, I loved Aria. She takes her jobs, both as a sin eater and a Nanny, seriously. It’s clear she cares for her loved ones, and though she is a bit rough around the edges, she stays true to her morals. She’s strong, but she also has a soft side for humanity, no matter how much she says she doesn’t. What’s more, she doesn’t impose her own rules on others, which makes her convincing enough as a hero. While Harry was a bit more of a mystery to me, I enjoyed the way he deals with his curse. It adds to his already growing repertoire of skills, and though this might sound horrible, I like his curse.
The theme of how human one is enshrouds them. Like I said before, Aria will not force her own morality on others. All the same she does wish to die, having lost faith in humanity so very long ago. She’s humble enough to where she knows she can’t judge others, and it’s a source of constancy throughout the novel. In a world where humans threaten wizards, and wizards and vampires abandon their own conscience to try and seduce their demons, it’s as if Aria is a fairy godmother, simply waiting for the right moment to come out and save everyone. Though Aria might not fit the goody-two-shoes mold of a fairy, nonetheless the theme was well done.
Overall, I would give this book a 4.3 out of 5 stars. I loved both Aria and Harry, and their interactions leave something to be desired in the upcoming books. I also enjoyed the theme of morality and humanity, and how the characters’ particular personalities and conflicts illustrate how these themes are used. The book was like a modern take on the fairytale genre, but without the gore of the Grimm Brothers. I would recommend this book to fans of J.K Rowling, mystery, and extremists with too much time on their hands.
August 2, 2017
I was blessed with a free copy of this book, and have chosen of my own volition to share this review with you!
A riveting tale about a Sin Eater and the trouble she encounters, while pursuing her profession. A strange call, requesting the services of a Sin Eater; prior to the death of the subject (Sin Eating performed after death) precipitates this tale of murder and politics. Aria (the Sin Eater) teams up with a possessed detective to solve this crime.
This book has well-developed characters. The plot line twists in many different directions; but the plot remains visible throughout!
Overall opinion: a fun read!
A riveting tale about a Sin Eater and the trouble she encounters, while pursuing her profession. A strange call, requesting the services of a Sin Eater; prior to the death of the subject (Sin Eating performed after death) precipitates this tale of murder and politics. Aria (the Sin Eater) teams up with a possessed detective to solve this crime.
This book has well-developed characters. The plot line twists in many different directions; but the plot remains visible throughout!
Overall opinion: a fun read!
July 6, 2017
Familiar with the work of both Alesha Escobar and Samantha LaFantasie, it was a real treat to see their talents blended in this story. I was enthralled immediately by Aria Knight, her powers, and her conflicted feelings about them. I'll be interested to see how she fares in her next adventure. The fast paced story is set in a world where wizards could easily be your next-door-neighbors or public servants. The paranormal is all perfectly normal—no more but also no less problematic than a multi-ethnic society with citizens from different cultures and religions.
June 17, 2017
An interesting and exciting new fantasy series that introduces us to a world of Magic and mayhem. I really enjoyed all the different characters and what they were. This wasn't your average witch/warlock story this was so much more!
The story was fast-paced and entertaining. I loved trying to solve the mystery and discovering all the new twists in the story.
I look forward to reading what happens next.
I voluntarily reviewed an arc from the author.
The story was fast-paced and entertaining. I loved trying to solve the mystery and discovering all the new twists in the story.
I look forward to reading what happens next.
I voluntarily reviewed an arc from the author.
July 21, 2017
I thoroughly enjoyed Aria's story. Born a sin eater, she is much older than she appears because performing her "magic" keeps her young, but she no longer wants her abilities. Others have different plans for her. When she meets Harry, she is trying to find her birth mother, but someone doesn't want her to do that either. I've already preordered book 2 and am anxious for more of Aria's story. Fans of paranormal will enjoy this book.
July 22, 2017
A well written story with great characters and a unique and interesting plot. I don't envy Aria her job of sucking the sins from the newly dead.
Harry is going a little nutty listening to the voices inhabiting his body, and handsome Jacob, whose side is he really on?
This is the first novel I have read by Alesha Escobar and I was very impressed. I now looking forward to reading book two.
I received an ARC of Sin Eater and this is my honest review.
Harry is going a little nutty listening to the voices inhabiting his body, and handsome Jacob, whose side is he really on?
This is the first novel I have read by Alesha Escobar and I was very impressed. I now looking forward to reading book two.
I received an ARC of Sin Eater and this is my honest review.
July 14, 2017
A very good introduction to a fascinating and original new series. I like the idea of balance that "sin eaters" bring to this supernatural world. Interesting characters and overall an enjoyable read! I would be very keen on finding out what happens next!
*I received a free copy of this book, and my thoughts/opinions are my own.
*I received a free copy of this book, and my thoughts/opinions are my own.
January 5, 2018
This multi point of view story is a visionary look at how the paranormal can fit in with today’s society. Each Character felt so real with their individual struggles, but were still able to work together as a team for the good of the world. I really enjoyed the story and couldn’tstop flicking the pages over on my kindle.
I can’t wait to see where Aria, Harry & Jacob go next.
I can’t wait to see where Aria, Harry & Jacob go next.
July 15, 2017
A new fast-paced paranormal series. A fresh look on magic, creatures of lore and myth, exciting characters with a strong and endearing female lead. The author has put together a great world. I hope see much more of this series. *I received this book free as an ARC and have issued my review.*
February 20, 2018
Love reading about sineaters
Discordant amazing fantasy filled with sineaters, wizards,healers, and even vampires. Read about discontent among the various magical populations. Can the dissatisfaction be resolved or will there be war?
Discordant amazing fantasy filled with sineaters, wizards,healers, and even vampires. Read about discontent among the various magical populations. Can the dissatisfaction be resolved or will there be war?
April 8, 2020
Kindle version: Poor word choice and sentence structure. Story builds in a lurching fashion. Climax doesn't feel logically placed. Conclusions drawn by protagonist are not explained well. Dialogue between characters feels like video game conversations.
September 9, 2020
understand this is laying the ground work - but where it was an extremely slow start in the beginning, it felt a bit rushed and slightly disjointed. That said, have already pre-ordered the next one.
Read
June 12, 2017July 17 is release day, and I can't tell you how excited Samantha and I are! SIN EATER is currently available for pre-order at your favorite online book retailer. When you step into this world....you'll be pulled in and taken for an exciting adventure.
I want to give a huge thanks to my alpha reader (Luis Escobar) and my beta readers, as well as friends, authors, and bloggers who've been supportive of this project. July 17 can't come fast enough!
I want to give a huge thanks to my alpha reader (Luis Escobar) and my beta readers, as well as friends, authors, and bloggers who've been supportive of this project. July 17 can't come fast enough!
Want to read
December 7, 2017💝 FREE on Amazon today (12/07/2017)! 💝
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