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Goddess with a Blade #4
At Blade's Edge
Rowan Summerwaite is no ordinary woman. Raised at the knee of The First and honed into a weapon by the Hunter Corporation, she wields ancient knowledge from the Goddess Brigid…and is newly married to a powerful Vampire scion.
Though she'd hoped the deadly events in Venice would end the threat to The Treaty she is sworn to protect, Rowan found evidence of a grander conspiracy to destroy the fragile peace that holds humans, Vampires and those with magic back from war. A war that would only hurt the weakest and destabilize the world as we know it.
It's not so much that someone ordered her assassination that makes her angry—people try to kill her all the time—as it is the risks those she cares for, especially her new husband, now face. Clive Stewart has never tried to pen Rowan in or control her choices. He has his own fires to put out now that he's married to the most powerful non-Vampire in their world, and Rowan knows it's a challenge to support her the way she needs while not being too much or not enough.
The organization that gave her a purpose, a home, roots and a path when she'd run from The Keep at seventeen has betrayed her. Now, instead of on a much-anticipated honeymoon, Rowan is in London gathering her allies and the evidence necessary to drive out the rot within Hunter Corp. and expose whoever is at the top.
Rowan is a predator and this threat is prey. She'll burn it down and salt the earth afterward. On her terms.
Though she'd hoped the deadly events in Venice would end the threat to The Treaty she is sworn to protect, Rowan found evidence of a grander conspiracy to destroy the fragile peace that holds humans, Vampires and those with magic back from war. A war that would only hurt the weakest and destabilize the world as we know it.
It's not so much that someone ordered her assassination that makes her angry—people try to kill her all the time—as it is the risks those she cares for, especially her new husband, now face. Clive Stewart has never tried to pen Rowan in or control her choices. He has his own fires to put out now that he's married to the most powerful non-Vampire in their world, and Rowan knows it's a challenge to support her the way she needs while not being too much or not enough.
The organization that gave her a purpose, a home, roots and a path when she'd run from The Keep at seventeen has betrayed her. Now, instead of on a much-anticipated honeymoon, Rowan is in London gathering her allies and the evidence necessary to drive out the rot within Hunter Corp. and expose whoever is at the top.
Rowan is a predator and this threat is prey. She'll burn it down and salt the earth afterward. On her terms.
297 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 14, 2015
86 people are currently reading
645 people want to read
About the author
Lauren Dane
112 books4,996 followersLauren Dane has been writing stories since she was able to use a pencil, and before that she used to tell them to people. Of course, she still talks nonstop, and through wonderful fate and good fortune, she’s now able to share what she writes with others. It’s a wonderful life!
The basics: Lauren is a mom, a partner, a best friend and a daughter. Living in the rainy but beautiful Pacific Northwest, she spends her late evenings writing like a fiend when she finally wrestles all of her kids to bed.
The basics: Lauren is a mom, a partner, a best friend and a daughter. Living in the rainy but beautiful Pacific Northwest, she spends her late evenings writing like a fiend when she finally wrestles all of her kids to bed.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
edited
October 20, 2015Pulled this quote out while I was editing. Love:
“Why put off the fucking part? You’re here now,” she said, writhing beneath him. “Service me.”
“I’m not entirely certain I can be gentle.” In fact he knew he couldn’t. Seeing her cry had unsettled him. Pricked at the protective instincts she brought out in him like no one and nothing else ever had.
He’d been the one to make her cry. His careless loss of control had hurt her. She was his finest thing, to not take better care of her was a waste of her perfection.
That and she was injured. He had no plans to say that out loud because he preferred not to get injured by his cranky wife.
Wife.
He blew out a breath, kissing her once again because she was his and he could. Her blood had filled every part of his consciousness, taking up space within him like she did every other part of his life.
“Why put off the fucking part? You’re here now,” she said, writhing beneath him. “Service me.”
“I’m not entirely certain I can be gentle.” In fact he knew he couldn’t. Seeing her cry had unsettled him. Pricked at the protective instincts she brought out in him like no one and nothing else ever had.
He’d been the one to make her cry. His careless loss of control had hurt her. She was his finest thing, to not take better care of her was a waste of her perfection.
That and she was injured. He had no plans to say that out loud because he preferred not to get injured by his cranky wife.
Wife.
He blew out a breath, kissing her once again because she was his and he could. Her blood had filled every part of his consciousness, taking up space within him like she did every other part of his life.
July 7, 2019
Okay, this book did have some very funny and exciting moments but it was the damn slow moments that made this book fall kinda short for me. I did enjoy it once I got through some of the mundane crap. It's unfortunate that I won't be jumping into the last book so quickly. I just sorta lost a bit of my patience with this story already. I'll probably pick it back up later on this year.
Overall rating:
3.5*~ I like it.
Overall rating:
3.5*~ I like it.
February 7, 2016
Audible version.
This book counts toward my Cliterary Genius A to Z book challenge. Letter A.
This book counts toward my Cliterary Genius A to Z book challenge. Letter A.
December 22, 2015
Instead of a much-anticipated honeymoon, Rowan is gathering her allies and collecting evidence to drive out the rot and stop a threat that would destabilize the world as we know it in this thrilling urban fantasy.
There is never a dull moment with conspiracies and betrayals as Rowan works to gather the evidence she needs to expose whoever is at the top and put an end to threat against The Treaty she is sworn to protect. The intriguing events draw the readers into the well written scenes and details that capture the imagination, bringing the story to life and making it easy for the readers to immerse themselves in the intrigue and excitement as the danger escalates. But putting an end to one thing doesn’t mean that the threat has been neutralized and pulse pounding tension builds throughout the story.
Clive also has his hands full since their marriage and Rowan has to meet the in-laws while she is in London adding to the pressures that the couple is under of course this also means that Rowan is having to deal with a few personal issues as well adding depth to the story and the fast paced, smooth flowing plot thrills readers with lots of suspense, excitement and romance as Rowan and Clive’s relationship spices things up and adds passion to the story.
First let me say that this is the first book that I have read in this series (my bad) but I had no trouble picking up what I needed to enjoy this story but it was obvious that I had missed on a lot of world and character building and I can tell you that I will be remedying that situation and looking forward to the next book as this fascinating world was full of interesting elements, a tough, believable heroine, a sexy love interest and whole lot of intriguing characters and exhilarating excitement.
- Eva
There is never a dull moment with conspiracies and betrayals as Rowan works to gather the evidence she needs to expose whoever is at the top and put an end to threat against The Treaty she is sworn to protect. The intriguing events draw the readers into the well written scenes and details that capture the imagination, bringing the story to life and making it easy for the readers to immerse themselves in the intrigue and excitement as the danger escalates. But putting an end to one thing doesn’t mean that the threat has been neutralized and pulse pounding tension builds throughout the story.
Clive also has his hands full since their marriage and Rowan has to meet the in-laws while she is in London adding to the pressures that the couple is under of course this also means that Rowan is having to deal with a few personal issues as well adding depth to the story and the fast paced, smooth flowing plot thrills readers with lots of suspense, excitement and romance as Rowan and Clive’s relationship spices things up and adds passion to the story.
First let me say that this is the first book that I have read in this series (my bad) but I had no trouble picking up what I needed to enjoy this story but it was obvious that I had missed on a lot of world and character building and I can tell you that I will be remedying that situation and looking forward to the next book as this fascinating world was full of interesting elements, a tough, believable heroine, a sexy love interest and whole lot of intriguing characters and exhilarating excitement.
- Eva
May 8, 2021
Re-read......looking forward to the next book....I really need to know who the big bad is
I really liked this b/c I love Rowan and Clive but there was not enough story development
Updated review: still feel the same I hope there's another book on the horizon
I really liked this b/c I love Rowan and Clive but there was not enough story development
Updated review: still feel the same I hope there's another book on the horizon
March 25, 2018
(I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.)
owan Summerwaite is no ordinary woman. Raised at the knee of The First and honed into a weapon by the Hunter Corporation, she wields ancient knowledge from the Goddess Brigid…and is newly married to a powerful Vampire scion.
Though she'd hoped the deadly events in Venice would end the threat to The Treaty she is sworn to protect, Rowan found evidence of a grander conspiracy to destroy the fragile peace that holds humans, Vampires and those with magic back from war. A war that would only hurt the weakest and destabilize the world as we know it.
It's not so much that someone ordered her assassination that makes her angry—people try to kill her all the time—as it is the risks those she cares for, especially her new husband, now face. Clive Stewart has never tried to pen Rowan in or control her choices. He has his own fires to put out now that he's married to the most powerful non-Vampire in their world, and Rowan knows it's a challenge to support her the way she needs while not being too much or not enough.
The organization that gave her a purpose, a home, roots and a path when she'd run from The Keep at seventeen has betrayed her. Now, instead of on a much-anticipated honeymoon, Rowan is in London gathering her allies and the evidence necessary to drive out the rot within Hunter Corp. and expose whoever is at the top.
Rowan is a predator and this threat is prey. She'll burn it down and salt the earth afterward. On her terms.
This is the fourth book in the Goddess With a Blade series. It is the first one I have read. Took a chance with it as a quick look on Goodreads seemed to give it quite a good rating and I wanted to read something different for a change...
I was torn between rating this as 2 stars or 3 - I finally settled on two stars, mostly for the fact that it wasn't quite at the 3-star level...
I am probably going to be called all sorts of fun names with this review but, hell, here it goes anyway...
There is just too much sex in this book for my liking. There is, in fact, a very good plot underneath that but, for some reason, it felt like every few pages there was sex happening between random characters. Not that sex is a bad thing...but repetitive, boring sex is another thing entirely.
Not a lot of action occurs in this book - whether that is because it is setting up for a finale in the next book...and we know there must be at least one more book to come cos this one was left on a cliffhanger. And I really do hate that. Tell me the story, build it up and then finish it. Give me a satisfying conclusion. This doesn't. Seems like some people don't have an issue with that. Good for them.
Would I go back and read the others in this series? Possibly - I have read reviews of the early stories and it seems that they are more plot-based and have sex as a side-story. That I can live with.
Paul
ARH
owan Summerwaite is no ordinary woman. Raised at the knee of The First and honed into a weapon by the Hunter Corporation, she wields ancient knowledge from the Goddess Brigid…and is newly married to a powerful Vampire scion.
Though she'd hoped the deadly events in Venice would end the threat to The Treaty she is sworn to protect, Rowan found evidence of a grander conspiracy to destroy the fragile peace that holds humans, Vampires and those with magic back from war. A war that would only hurt the weakest and destabilize the world as we know it.
It's not so much that someone ordered her assassination that makes her angry—people try to kill her all the time—as it is the risks those she cares for, especially her new husband, now face. Clive Stewart has never tried to pen Rowan in or control her choices. He has his own fires to put out now that he's married to the most powerful non-Vampire in their world, and Rowan knows it's a challenge to support her the way she needs while not being too much or not enough.
The organization that gave her a purpose, a home, roots and a path when she'd run from The Keep at seventeen has betrayed her. Now, instead of on a much-anticipated honeymoon, Rowan is in London gathering her allies and the evidence necessary to drive out the rot within Hunter Corp. and expose whoever is at the top.
Rowan is a predator and this threat is prey. She'll burn it down and salt the earth afterward. On her terms.
This is the fourth book in the Goddess With a Blade series. It is the first one I have read. Took a chance with it as a quick look on Goodreads seemed to give it quite a good rating and I wanted to read something different for a change...
I was torn between rating this as 2 stars or 3 - I finally settled on two stars, mostly for the fact that it wasn't quite at the 3-star level...
I am probably going to be called all sorts of fun names with this review but, hell, here it goes anyway...
There is just too much sex in this book for my liking. There is, in fact, a very good plot underneath that but, for some reason, it felt like every few pages there was sex happening between random characters. Not that sex is a bad thing...but repetitive, boring sex is another thing entirely.
Not a lot of action occurs in this book - whether that is because it is setting up for a finale in the next book...and we know there must be at least one more book to come cos this one was left on a cliffhanger. And I really do hate that. Tell me the story, build it up and then finish it. Give me a satisfying conclusion. This doesn't. Seems like some people don't have an issue with that. Good for them.
Would I go back and read the others in this series? Possibly - I have read reviews of the early stories and it seems that they are more plot-based and have sex as a side-story. That I can live with.
Paul
ARH
December 27, 2015
There was so much to laugh about in this book. I liked seeing Rowan dealing with her new role in life as Clive's wife. London was so different for her, a big house with lots of servants, which made Rowan uncomfortable. It was fun to see her deal with those situations. Better was seeing Rowan giving the smack down to the Hunter Corp. It was a long time coming and done in a way that needed to be done, a way to suss out the "bad seeds". It's a whole new world within the Hunter Corp, it will be fun to see how Rowan helps rebuild the organization.
I loved Clive's mother and how she dealt with Rowan. I can see why she would do that. It was great that Rowan understood and forgave her. I have a feeling that the two women will forge a solid relationship going forward.
I loved Clive's mother and how she dealt with Rowan. I can see why she would do that. It was great that Rowan understood and forgave her. I have a feeling that the two women will forge a solid relationship going forward.
December 10, 2015
I love this series, I seriously cannot get enough of Rowan Summerwaite, all around bad ass Hunter, adopted daughter of The First and mate to the Scion of North America. She is rude and crude and all out fantastic. The Rowan Summerwaite series aka Goddess with the Blade series just keeps getting better and better and with At Blade's Edge what seemed so simple is revealed subtly to uncover a truly complicated and deeply layered conspiracy that is about to rock Hunter Corps and the Nation of Vampires. It also introduces another major player in this phenomenal world, The Conclave (of sorcerers). At Blade's Edge like the previous other books can stand alone but there is an overarching plot that holds all the books together so its much better to read from the start. I cannot wait for the next book!
*ARC provided thru NetGalley by the publishers*
*ARC provided thru NetGalley by the publishers*
April 25, 2019
April 2019 re-read
So, yeah, I kinda did wait 2 years for the next book. Some people have been waiting longer than that. I seriously didn't remember much about this one. And I felt robbed of that bonding ceremony! So much fuss about it throughout the whole book and it didn't even start.
Freaking sorcerers, man.
2017 review :
3.5 stars
This book felt more like 'stuffing' for the next one. Like, I have a feeling something awesome will happen in the next book and the author gave us one last 'easy' book. I hope so, anyway.
I also hope I won't have to wait 5 thousand years for that next book.
So, yeah, I kinda did wait 2 years for the next book. Some people have been waiting longer than that. I seriously didn't remember much about this one. And I felt robbed of that bonding ceremony! So much fuss about it throughout the whole book and it didn't even start.
Freaking sorcerers, man.
2017 review :
3.5 stars
This book felt more like 'stuffing' for the next one. Like, I have a feeling something awesome will happen in the next book and the author gave us one last 'easy' book. I hope so, anyway.
I also hope I won't have to wait 5 thousand years for that next book.
April 11, 2018
I had such difficulty rereading this because I was constantly thinking about a secondary character's death and I couldn't remember when it was, so I was very much on edge. Like "Is it the next scene?! Oh no, thank god okay. Wait, is it this next scene?"
Sooo, loved all of it, but not the easiest reread. It's still one of my all-time favorite series and I really want the next one soon, okay? Pretty please.
Sooo, loved all of it, but not the easiest reread. It's still one of my all-time favorite series and I really want the next one soon, okay? Pretty please.
December 18, 2015
Originally published at Reading Reality
When I reviewed Blade on the Hunt last year over at The Book Pushers with my friend E, one of the things that I said was that the action in Hunt probably would lead directly to Rowan’s need to straighten out the mess at Hunter Corporation, and with extreme prejudice against some of the leaders of that mess.
And that turned out to be a big chunk of the story in At Blade’s Edge. Rowan knows who the guilty parties are, but she still needs to discover just how deep the rot goes. And even worse, she needs to provide proof beyond a shadow of a doubt, because there are way too many paper-pushers at the Hunter Corp. motherhouse who think that political double-dealing is their most important product.
It isn’t. All members of Hunter Corp. have sworn to maintain the balance between the regular humans, the vampires, and the magic users. That balance requires that all three groups are equally strong, and maintain equal vigilance against those who would attempt to upset that knife-edge balance of power, whether they do it deliberately or simply as unwitting pawns.
Rowan Summerwaite may be a lot of things, but she is NEVER anyone’s pawn. Not her foster father’s, who is the head of the Vampire Nation, and not her new husband Clive Stewart, the appointed Scion of Vampire North America. And certainly not paper-pushing scumbags at Hunter Corp.
Because Rowan is the avatar of the Goddess Brigid, and is the official Liaison between the Vampire Nation and Hunter Corp. And because Rowan is a power in her own right, as Goddess, as Hunter, and as daughter of the Vampire Nation’s First.
But Hunter Corp took her in and trained her when she was young, scarred and scared, after her escape from her foster father’s Keep and his abusive power. That Hunter Corp has betrayed her and all Hunters in the field cuts deep. So she resolves to cut deep into Hunter Corp to exorcise the rot.
Only to discover that fixing Hunter Corporation isn’t nearly enough. Someone is targeting all the organizations that serve the balance, determined to undermine the world in order to strike at Rowan. And determined to strike at Rowan any way they can in order to keep her from destroying them first.
Escape Rating A-: The first 9/10ths of this book are a lot of fun. We see Rowan very much in her element, doing all sorts of sneaky things to get the goods on the baddies in Hunter Corp. We get to see her with all of her allies, and watch with glee as she hoists the self-centered evildoers very much on their own petards. At the same time, while fun, the action doesn’t move forward a lot. Rowan is cleaning up crap from the previous book and you need to have read that previous book for these events to generate much feeling. I love Rowan, so I was happy to read about her kicking ass, taking names and making lots of people feel even more uncomfortable than she is at points. But it seems like wrap up. Concealed within that wrap up is a gathering of the allies, the importance of which isn’t obvious until that last, crucial 1/10th of the story.
In the middle of her hunt for the evidence, Rowan is also forced to meet and greet her new in-laws. The game that her new mother-in-law plays on her is an absolute hoot. Rowan’s attitude towards pretentiousness and preciousness in general and her mother-in-law’s game playing in particular remind me a lot of Eve Dallas in J.D. Robb’s In Death series. Eve and Rowan both have the same inability to understand cliches and idioms. And they are both marvelous deadpan snarkers.
As much fun as that first 9/10ths of the book is, the book ends in a shocking cliffhanger. We find out that the rot in Hunter Corp is not the only thing that Rowan has to contend with, and that her enemies will commit any heinous act in their attempts to get her off balance and to make her back off. The ending of this story left me absolutely gasping with shock and horror. And scrambling to find evidence of when the next book will appear.
For a series that I at first wondered if there would actually be a series, Rowan Summerwaite has gotten deeper and darker with each entry, to the point where At Blade’s Edge ends in a moment of “things are always darkest before they turn completely black” moment. I want more NOW.
But it sets the stage for the next level of this conflict. Rowan and her allies will need to root out the evil in all three organizations; Hunter Corp, the Vampire Nation, and the Conclave of Magic Users, in order to have a chance at maintaining the balance of world order. This is the job that Rowan has been trained for all of her dangerous and bloody life. It’s time to fulfill her destiny. She is going to have to wade in the blood of her enemies, and not be able to stop to mourn those of her own who fall along the way.
It’s going to be an awesome and epic adventure. And now I am on pins and needles, desperately searching (so far in vain) for the author’s announcement of the next book in the series.
If you love urban fantasy where the heroes and heroines have layers, the cohort of good bands together to fight the most excellent fight, and evil is darker than you first imagine, start this series now with Goddess with a Blade.
When I reviewed Blade on the Hunt last year over at The Book Pushers with my friend E, one of the things that I said was that the action in Hunt probably would lead directly to Rowan’s need to straighten out the mess at Hunter Corporation, and with extreme prejudice against some of the leaders of that mess.
And that turned out to be a big chunk of the story in At Blade’s Edge. Rowan knows who the guilty parties are, but she still needs to discover just how deep the rot goes. And even worse, she needs to provide proof beyond a shadow of a doubt, because there are way too many paper-pushers at the Hunter Corp. motherhouse who think that political double-dealing is their most important product.
It isn’t. All members of Hunter Corp. have sworn to maintain the balance between the regular humans, the vampires, and the magic users. That balance requires that all three groups are equally strong, and maintain equal vigilance against those who would attempt to upset that knife-edge balance of power, whether they do it deliberately or simply as unwitting pawns.
Rowan Summerwaite may be a lot of things, but she is NEVER anyone’s pawn. Not her foster father’s, who is the head of the Vampire Nation, and not her new husband Clive Stewart, the appointed Scion of Vampire North America. And certainly not paper-pushing scumbags at Hunter Corp.
Because Rowan is the avatar of the Goddess Brigid, and is the official Liaison between the Vampire Nation and Hunter Corp. And because Rowan is a power in her own right, as Goddess, as Hunter, and as daughter of the Vampire Nation’s First.
But Hunter Corp took her in and trained her when she was young, scarred and scared, after her escape from her foster father’s Keep and his abusive power. That Hunter Corp has betrayed her and all Hunters in the field cuts deep. So she resolves to cut deep into Hunter Corp to exorcise the rot.
Only to discover that fixing Hunter Corporation isn’t nearly enough. Someone is targeting all the organizations that serve the balance, determined to undermine the world in order to strike at Rowan. And determined to strike at Rowan any way they can in order to keep her from destroying them first.
Escape Rating A-: The first 9/10ths of this book are a lot of fun. We see Rowan very much in her element, doing all sorts of sneaky things to get the goods on the baddies in Hunter Corp. We get to see her with all of her allies, and watch with glee as she hoists the self-centered evildoers very much on their own petards. At the same time, while fun, the action doesn’t move forward a lot. Rowan is cleaning up crap from the previous book and you need to have read that previous book for these events to generate much feeling. I love Rowan, so I was happy to read about her kicking ass, taking names and making lots of people feel even more uncomfortable than she is at points. But it seems like wrap up. Concealed within that wrap up is a gathering of the allies, the importance of which isn’t obvious until that last, crucial 1/10th of the story.
In the middle of her hunt for the evidence, Rowan is also forced to meet and greet her new in-laws. The game that her new mother-in-law plays on her is an absolute hoot. Rowan’s attitude towards pretentiousness and preciousness in general and her mother-in-law’s game playing in particular remind me a lot of Eve Dallas in J.D. Robb’s In Death series. Eve and Rowan both have the same inability to understand cliches and idioms. And they are both marvelous deadpan snarkers.
As much fun as that first 9/10ths of the book is, the book ends in a shocking cliffhanger. We find out that the rot in Hunter Corp is not the only thing that Rowan has to contend with, and that her enemies will commit any heinous act in their attempts to get her off balance and to make her back off. The ending of this story left me absolutely gasping with shock and horror. And scrambling to find evidence of when the next book will appear.
For a series that I at first wondered if there would actually be a series, Rowan Summerwaite has gotten deeper and darker with each entry, to the point where At Blade’s Edge ends in a moment of “things are always darkest before they turn completely black” moment. I want more NOW.
But it sets the stage for the next level of this conflict. Rowan and her allies will need to root out the evil in all three organizations; Hunter Corp, the Vampire Nation, and the Conclave of Magic Users, in order to have a chance at maintaining the balance of world order. This is the job that Rowan has been trained for all of her dangerous and bloody life. It’s time to fulfill her destiny. She is going to have to wade in the blood of her enemies, and not be able to stop to mourn those of her own who fall along the way.
It’s going to be an awesome and epic adventure. And now I am on pins and needles, desperately searching (so far in vain) for the author’s announcement of the next book in the series.
If you love urban fantasy where the heroes and heroines have layers, the cohort of good bands together to fight the most excellent fight, and evil is darker than you first imagine, start this series now with Goddess with a Blade.
December 17, 2015
The second book Blade to the Keep remains my favorite of the series so far, but this one is a great rebound after what I felt was a weaker third book.
In this one, we are in the aftermath of Rowan having killed the evil Vampire Witch Goddess Enyo who left Rowan for dead at the end on the second book. But in hunting down and eradicating Enyo, Rowan has discovered a rot deep in the Hunter Corp, the company that has been like a family to her and that has held her loyalty for years. The corruption has bummed her to the point where she is seriously thinking about leaving the company.
Now she is married to Hot ( but stuffily British) Vampire Clive, is settled in London to meet his parents, and also gearing up to formally solemnify their union with her father as is required by the Vampire Nation. So she is at a bit of a crossroads. She wants to root out the corruption in the Hunter Corp, kill the traitors and make a decision on her future.
This was fun and a little less frenetic than the previous book. I liked Rowan in this one. She is just realizing what it means to be married and is starting to adjust a bit into her new role as wife, while still remaining laser focused on her mission to expose and kill the conspirators in the Corp. But Rowan is still Rowan -- mouthy, snarky and ready to cut someone's throat in a quick minute just cuz she's cranky like that.
Clive, even though he is suave and awesome, is also shown to be trying to fit into his role as Rowan's husband and what that really means on a day-to-day basis now that it is a reality. Being who they are and what they represent is bigger than just a being in love with each other. Their union brings huge political baggage (and rewards) that affect Hunter, Humans and the Vampire Nation. On a shallow note, he reminds me of a supernatural, upperclass British, more reserved version of Roarke from JD Robb's In Death series.
We meet his parents and his mother is .... interesting. I won't say more because part of the enjoyment of the book is discovering his mother.
A new character is introduced who feels like she is going to take up permanent (or long term) residency in the series. I rather liked her.
David and Alice, Rowan and Clive's super-efficient assistants remain their normal bad ass selves.
The book deepens the overall story arc of some shadowy group trying to destabilize the treaty that has kept the peace between Hunters & Vamps that we first get a hint of with The BloodFront group and Enyo earlier. But whoever is involved is even more in the shadows and has raised the stakes for Rowan personally. The book ends on a very shocking , abrupt and rather brutal note.
Very much looking forward to seeing what comes next.
In this one, we are in the aftermath of Rowan having killed the evil Vampire Witch Goddess Enyo who left Rowan for dead at the end on the second book. But in hunting down and eradicating Enyo, Rowan has discovered a rot deep in the Hunter Corp, the company that has been like a family to her and that has held her loyalty for years. The corruption has bummed her to the point where she is seriously thinking about leaving the company.
Now she is married to Hot ( but stuffily British) Vampire Clive, is settled in London to meet his parents, and also gearing up to formally solemnify their union with her father as is required by the Vampire Nation. So she is at a bit of a crossroads. She wants to root out the corruption in the Hunter Corp, kill the traitors and make a decision on her future.
This was fun and a little less frenetic than the previous book. I liked Rowan in this one. She is just realizing what it means to be married and is starting to adjust a bit into her new role as wife, while still remaining laser focused on her mission to expose and kill the conspirators in the Corp. But Rowan is still Rowan -- mouthy, snarky and ready to cut someone's throat in a quick minute just cuz she's cranky like that.
Clive, even though he is suave and awesome, is also shown to be trying to fit into his role as Rowan's husband and what that really means on a day-to-day basis now that it is a reality. Being who they are and what they represent is bigger than just a being in love with each other. Their union brings huge political baggage (and rewards) that affect Hunter, Humans and the Vampire Nation. On a shallow note, he reminds me of a supernatural, upperclass British, more reserved version of Roarke from JD Robb's In Death series.
We meet his parents and his mother is .... interesting. I won't say more because part of the enjoyment of the book is discovering his mother.
A new character is introduced who feels like she is going to take up permanent (or long term) residency in the series. I rather liked her.
David and Alice, Rowan and Clive's super-efficient assistants remain their normal bad ass selves.
The book deepens the overall story arc of some shadowy group trying to destabilize the treaty that has kept the peace between Hunters & Vamps that we first get a hint of with The BloodFront group and Enyo earlier. But whoever is involved is even more in the shadows and has raised the stakes for Rowan personally. The book ends on a very shocking , abrupt and rather brutal note.
Very much looking forward to seeing what comes next.
January 25, 2016
3 1/2
A book that makes me laugh without being silly or fluffy. What a pleasure.
I might have rated more without the ending, again it gives me the idea of a fictional supervillain. And also I got this silly idea in my mind that the overarching plot is shared wrongly along books. Weird, I know.
Go, Rowan, go :)
A book that makes me laugh without being silly or fluffy. What a pleasure.
I might have rated more without the ending, again it gives me the idea of a fictional supervillain. And also I got this silly idea in my mind that the overarching plot is shared wrongly along books. Weird, I know.
Go, Rowan, go :)
February 26, 2017
Amazing, heart wrenching book! This series gets better with every addition and I can't wait for the next!
June 11, 2016
Each book in this series got better than the last, which is a real joy. So glad I could glom all four - but now I have a book hangover! ~waits for book 5~
February 7, 2018
I am enjoying this series more and more. Well to tell the truth I love Rowan - her snark, her sass and her fucking unreal one liners - especially directed at Clive - priceless. "Classy as fuck".
January 4, 2024
Right when I thought there'd be a bit of a calm in the storyline, sh*t hits the fan. I'm here for it and the changes Rowan will be making to better the world.
January 5, 2016
Rowan has been betrayed by the Hunter Corp, there’s a rot within it and she is done with it, she is done with tolerating it and she is done with good Hunters dying
Heads will roll.
Of course she’s also a married woman – which in many ways is far more daunting than something as simple as rebuilding the Hunter Corp from the ground up.
The problem I have – which is always difficult when I love a series as much as this one – is that this book doesn’t feel perfectly executed. This could, in part, be due to my very very high expectations. The big showdown with Roth and the Hunters seems just…. Way too simple. They kind of just moved in, yelled at people and made it happen, no twist, no issue.
That’s not necessarily a bad thing. Not everything has to be a struggle after all, and one of the defining features of Roth is that he is incompetent. It’s one of the defining features of Hunter Corp in general – that they have the field agents who are experienced and skilled and the Office Agents who have no experience in the field and have spent far too much time dealing with things in theory and not nearly enough actual practical experience. So, yes it does make sense that Roth wouldn’t be a major challenge – that’s an ongoing issue through the books and it makes sense. Nor does everything need to be such an epic struggle and it’s not bad to have something handled well both because Rowan is so skilled, and, because Rowan is just this damn sick of this shit.
Which, I think, is another important element to point out – this goes so simply because Rowan is Done. She is Done with this. She is furious, she is betrayed, she is enraged and she is making sure this ends and things are changed. The simplicity reflects the strength and determination and power of Rowan who will Get Things Done no matter what.
But it still feels simple – I can understand it not being difficult, but it seemed to involve so little as well. It wasn’t only easy – but there wasn’t a lot to do. And when we handle that there’s just…. not much more left. Outside of the story we have Rowan and Clive’s relationship and them finding their
position as husband and wife
Read More
Heads will roll.
Of course she’s also a married woman – which in many ways is far more daunting than something as simple as rebuilding the Hunter Corp from the ground up.
The problem I have – which is always difficult when I love a series as much as this one – is that this book doesn’t feel perfectly executed. This could, in part, be due to my very very high expectations. The big showdown with Roth and the Hunters seems just…. Way too simple. They kind of just moved in, yelled at people and made it happen, no twist, no issue.
That’s not necessarily a bad thing. Not everything has to be a struggle after all, and one of the defining features of Roth is that he is incompetent. It’s one of the defining features of Hunter Corp in general – that they have the field agents who are experienced and skilled and the Office Agents who have no experience in the field and have spent far too much time dealing with things in theory and not nearly enough actual practical experience. So, yes it does make sense that Roth wouldn’t be a major challenge – that’s an ongoing issue through the books and it makes sense. Nor does everything need to be such an epic struggle and it’s not bad to have something handled well both because Rowan is so skilled, and, because Rowan is just this damn sick of this shit.
Which, I think, is another important element to point out – this goes so simply because Rowan is Done. She is Done with this. She is furious, she is betrayed, she is enraged and she is making sure this ends and things are changed. The simplicity reflects the strength and determination and power of Rowan who will Get Things Done no matter what.
But it still feels simple – I can understand it not being difficult, but it seemed to involve so little as well. It wasn’t only easy – but there wasn’t a lot to do. And when we handle that there’s just…. not much more left. Outside of the story we have Rowan and Clive’s relationship and them finding their
position as husband and wife
Read More
January 27, 2016
damn, was just getting into it and then i got to a cliffhangery ending.
I'm a bit dissapointed.
There were some good parts in it... totally like the take charge scenes, character development and action scenes. Or even the strategy sessions, but...
The sex scenes were unfortunately not that sexy. I dont mind sex in books, or a lot of it. But with this book i was just like: "i totally don't feel it, please just skip the sex parts, or oh noooo... not sex again?? You're totally wasting my time with it, i want to get on with the plot".
You know when you watch long series (asian) and they try to make the series longer by throwing obstacles, or an extra sidekick plot or some comedy from secondary/tertiary characters so the movie or series won't end too fast or for a change of pace... well I got the same vibe with the sex scenes. Too much water, not enough meat.
It might have something to do with the repeated inner dialogues of the characters... like... i know already why you love her, i've read it like a thousand times already. Always the same kind of dialogue, it would've been better if you presented other character traits the spouse loves about his/her mate.
Or it might have had something to do with the too short sex scenes? Only quicky-like sex, rub A on B..oohh i'm hot and bothered and then insert A in B...and now we both have premature ejaculations because you're so hot!! ...aaaannd end scene. A few pages later... ready.. set.. repeat.. same scene, only this time with another setting.
Sorry for the complaint, it's still a good book though and i'll definitely eagerly await the next book in this series. It would've been a 4 star for me if not for the things that bothered me that i've stated above. It kinda interrupted my reading flow, that's why this little rant.
I'm a bit dissapointed.
There were some good parts in it... totally like the take charge scenes, character development and action scenes. Or even the strategy sessions, but...
The sex scenes were unfortunately not that sexy. I dont mind sex in books, or a lot of it. But with this book i was just like: "i totally don't feel it, please just skip the sex parts, or oh noooo... not sex again?? You're totally wasting my time with it, i want to get on with the plot".
You know when you watch long series (asian) and they try to make the series longer by throwing obstacles, or an extra sidekick plot or some comedy from secondary/tertiary characters so the movie or series won't end too fast or for a change of pace... well I got the same vibe with the sex scenes. Too much water, not enough meat.
It might have something to do with the repeated inner dialogues of the characters... like... i know already why you love her, i've read it like a thousand times already. Always the same kind of dialogue, it would've been better if you presented other character traits the spouse loves about his/her mate.
Or it might have had something to do with the too short sex scenes? Only quicky-like sex, rub A on B..oohh i'm hot and bothered and then insert A in B...and now we both have premature ejaculations because you're so hot!! ...aaaannd end scene. A few pages later... ready.. set.. repeat.. same scene, only this time with another setting.
Sorry for the complaint, it's still a good book though and i'll definitely eagerly await the next book in this series. It would've been a 4 star for me if not for the things that bothered me that i've stated above. It kinda interrupted my reading flow, that's why this little rant.
March 9, 2016
for full review go to www.onebooktwo.com
I enjoy this series. Sure it’s got some very hot spots, but mostly I enjoy watching Rowan grow. She is not that old (again with the 23 year old chick and 500 year old vampire), but she has the education to back her up. She was raised by the “First” vampire ever. He’s off his rocker, but for some reason Rowan is the one that he chose to call daughter after he killed her parents. It’s weird but it works. Some of my favorite scenes are with Theo and Rowan. He has a hair trigger and is on the precipice of madness, but no other vampires must know or the Vampire nation will collapse.
Rowan is hunting ‘The Blood Front’ – a faction that thinks that humans should be designated ‘cattle’ as they rightfully are and vampires should be the master race. She is also hunting the vampires that threatened her foster father’s, Theo, throne. All that and there are sorcerers, witches and conspiracies galore.
There are so many scenes in this book that I loved, but the trial had to be one of the best. The ones that needed a comeuppance, got it. I will warn you though, the end was a cliffhanger of sorts. It sent Rowan on the hunt again and this time it will be more than personal.
I enjoy this series. Sure it’s got some very hot spots, but mostly I enjoy watching Rowan grow. She is not that old (again with the 23 year old chick and 500 year old vampire), but she has the education to back her up. She was raised by the “First” vampire ever. He’s off his rocker, but for some reason Rowan is the one that he chose to call daughter after he killed her parents. It’s weird but it works. Some of my favorite scenes are with Theo and Rowan. He has a hair trigger and is on the precipice of madness, but no other vampires must know or the Vampire nation will collapse.
Rowan is hunting ‘The Blood Front’ – a faction that thinks that humans should be designated ‘cattle’ as they rightfully are and vampires should be the master race. She is also hunting the vampires that threatened her foster father’s, Theo, throne. All that and there are sorcerers, witches and conspiracies galore.
There are so many scenes in this book that I loved, but the trial had to be one of the best. The ones that needed a comeuppance, got it. I will warn you though, the end was a cliffhanger of sorts. It sent Rowan on the hunt again and this time it will be more than personal.
December 16, 2015
AWESOME AWESOME AWESOME!!!!!!!!!! How is it possible for Rowan to get even more bad ass?!? In this novel she is still kicking butt and taking names and has the best smack talk of any other lead character I've read. And there has been several amazing sarcastic lead females. So I am beyond thrilled to know that this series is in fact not ending. There is another, 5th book, coming out. I do not know if this is the final one or not. I had believed this was the final until I read the book.
I love the series, I love these characters, I love love love it all! Definitely my all time Vampire Paranormal Series Favorite! I would love 2-3 more books with Rowan, but as long as they all come out in 2016 because I can't wait that long to found out what happens and continue to be a part of her journey!
I love the series, I love these characters, I love love love it all! Definitely my all time Vampire Paranormal Series Favorite! I would love 2-3 more books with Rowan, but as long as they all come out in 2016 because I can't wait that long to found out what happens and continue to be a part of her journey!
January 15, 2016
I have to start by saying that I absolutely love this series. The main character, Rowan, is witty, kick-ass, and someone that I wish was my best friend. From the very first novel, I've really wanted to see her succeed and really enjoyed her witty come-backs and sass. This was not my most favorite novel of the series. It was a little slow because it was catching up the novel after the extreme action of the last book in the series. On top of that, it has a sad cliff-hanger type ending which makes me desperate for the next book in the series which is not even out yet. :(
I think that it would be great for anyone who is a fan of fantasy, since it does have vampires and witches in it. I would also say if you are fond of a strong female protagonist, you will enjoy the heck out of Rowan.
I think that it would be great for anyone who is a fan of fantasy, since it does have vampires and witches in it. I would also say if you are fond of a strong female protagonist, you will enjoy the heck out of Rowan.
November 19, 2017
OMG
Rowan is now free to clean house at Hunter Corp. She has evidence and a powerful new ally in Genevieve of the Conclave. Everything is so very intense as the stakes rise. As the enemy has exposed themselves betrayals are devastating. I absolutely adore this series. The relationship between Clive and Rowan is so realistic, as they are constantly adjusting. This series is constantly on my immediate buy list.Highest recommendation.
Rowan is now free to clean house at Hunter Corp. She has evidence and a powerful new ally in Genevieve of the Conclave. Everything is so very intense as the stakes rise. As the enemy has exposed themselves betrayals are devastating. I absolutely adore this series. The relationship between Clive and Rowan is so realistic, as they are constantly adjusting. This series is constantly on my immediate buy list.Highest recommendation.
February 14, 2023
Slightly disappointed
Hmmm, I think I need to reread the previous books, read this one again and then post a review. I am hoping it is because I have too many books in my head at the moment which has left me sort of lost and blah on finishing this latest offering from Ms Dane!
It lacked the snark, battle elements, interactions etc of the previous books, it began and ended with an explosion in the conference room.
Hmmm, I think I need to reread the previous books, read this one again and then post a review. I am hoping it is because I have too many books in my head at the moment which has left me sort of lost and blah on finishing this latest offering from Ms Dane!
It lacked the snark, battle elements, interactions etc of the previous books, it began and ended with an explosion in the conference room.
January 23, 2016
Rowan works for Hunter Corp as a weapon for them. She's the only non-vampire in the vampire world and is newly married to one of the most powerful vampires.
I got through about 1/3 of the book, but the plot and characters were very similar to several series' that I've read so I just couldn't get into it.
**I received an ARC of this story in exchange for an honest review
I got through about 1/3 of the book, but the plot and characters were very similar to several series' that I've read so I just couldn't get into it.
**I received an ARC of this story in exchange for an honest review
December 15, 2015
I'm really enjoying this series. at long last Rowan cleans house at Hunters Corp. but they kill a friend and threaten her family in return. she needs to find her true enemy. I'm.beginning to suspect someone....but I could be wrong. I'll just have to wait to see in the next story I guess. sigh.
September 17, 2020
I think I'm done with this series.
In fairness it's been quite a long while since I read it and I've only just got round to leaving a review.
My abiding impression is it's just about sex, with Rowan goading Clive all the time that he can't do her harder. In between marathon sex sessions, they wave swords about and foil the baddies.
It seemed there was SOOOO much sex, I thought the author was going for Olympic gold medals or something. Weeeell, you've probably got them, well done you, but that's enough for me.
I'm not a prude, I like a good sex scene, especially if it flows with the story and the characters - and often when it doesn't. But not all the time. Not when it interrupts the flow of the story.
Unfortunately for me, the sex scenes just become overdone and I got very bored. To the point that I was yelling at them to get on with the story. Yes, yes well done, you're both very virile and marriage hasn't slowed your lust, I'm pleased for you, can we get back to the more interesting plot please? Because it is actually interesting. What? You're going at it again, like rabbits? Oh I see. I'll just get a cuppa tea and a packet of biscuits then.
It felt as though the plot was secondary to the sex, which is a shame because the actual story, you know when they're not shagging each other's brains, out is good.
I listened to these mostly in the car, so although it's not impossible, it's a bit harder to skip ahead than when you're reading. Though I'm unconvinced that skipping would have helped. Also I wasn't totally sold on Simone Lewis's narration. It wasn't that it was bad, I just didn't really like it.
If you like loads of sex in your book then give this a try, I just lost patience with it.
In fairness it's been quite a long while since I read it and I've only just got round to leaving a review.
My abiding impression is it's just about sex, with Rowan goading Clive all the time that he can't do her harder. In between marathon sex sessions, they wave swords about and foil the baddies.
It seemed there was SOOOO much sex, I thought the author was going for Olympic gold medals or something. Weeeell, you've probably got them, well done you, but that's enough for me.
I'm not a prude, I like a good sex scene, especially if it flows with the story and the characters - and often when it doesn't. But not all the time. Not when it interrupts the flow of the story.
Unfortunately for me, the sex scenes just become overdone and I got very bored. To the point that I was yelling at them to get on with the story. Yes, yes well done, you're both very virile and marriage hasn't slowed your lust, I'm pleased for you, can we get back to the more interesting plot please? Because it is actually interesting. What? You're going at it again, like rabbits? Oh I see. I'll just get a cuppa tea and a packet of biscuits then.
It felt as though the plot was secondary to the sex, which is a shame because the actual story, you know when they're not shagging each other's brains, out is good.
I listened to these mostly in the car, so although it's not impossible, it's a bit harder to skip ahead than when you're reading. Though I'm unconvinced that skipping would have helped. Also I wasn't totally sold on Simone Lewis's narration. It wasn't that it was bad, I just didn't really like it.
If you like loads of sex in your book then give this a try, I just lost patience with it.
March 17, 2024
French & English reviews
Un quatrième tome aussi bon que les précédents
Ce tome là marque un tournant que ce soit concernant l'intrigue (j'ai ADORE voir Rowan botter les fesses de certains =D) mais aussi la relation entre Clive et Rowan (j'ai adoré la rencontre avec les beaux-parents =D Et j'aime tellement les voir ensemble, notamment quand Clive prend soin de Rowan alors qu'elle est tellement grognonne ><)
J'ai particulièrement aimé les personnages secondaires ici, notamment David qui a bien grandi et Genevieve que j'ai beaucoup aimé =D
MAIS CETTE FIN !! Je m'y attendais pas >< (et je regrette vraiment qu'ils laissent pas Theo massacrer tout le monde ><)
Bref, un quatrième tome fort en tension et en rebondissement que j'ai dévoré
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
A fourth book as good as the previous ones
This book marks a turning point both regarding the plot (I LOVED seeing Rowan kick some people's *ss=D) but also the relationship between Clive and Rowan (I loved meeting the in-laws =D And I love seeing them together so much, especially when Clive takes care of Rowan when she is so grumpy ><)
I particularly liked the secondary characters here, notably David who has grown up and Genevieve who I really liked =D
BUT THIS END!! I didn't expect that AT ALL >< (and I really wish they let Theo massacre everyone ><)
In short, a fourth book full of tension and twists that I devoured
Un quatrième tome aussi bon que les précédents
Ce tome là marque un tournant que ce soit concernant l'intrigue (j'ai ADORE voir Rowan botter les fesses de certains =D) mais aussi la relation entre Clive et Rowan (j'ai adoré la rencontre avec les beaux-parents =D Et j'aime tellement les voir ensemble, notamment quand Clive prend soin de Rowan alors qu'elle est tellement grognonne ><)
J'ai particulièrement aimé les personnages secondaires ici, notamment David qui a bien grandi et Genevieve que j'ai beaucoup aimé =D
MAIS CETTE FIN !! Je m'y attendais pas >< (et je regrette vraiment qu'ils laissent pas Theo massacrer tout le monde ><)
Bref, un quatrième tome fort en tension et en rebondissement que j'ai dévoré
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
A fourth book as good as the previous ones
This book marks a turning point both regarding the plot (I LOVED seeing Rowan kick some people's *ss=D) but also the relationship between Clive and Rowan (I loved meeting the in-laws =D And I love seeing them together so much, especially when Clive takes care of Rowan when she is so grumpy ><)
I particularly liked the secondary characters here, notably David who has grown up and Genevieve who I really liked =D
BUT THIS END!! I didn't expect that AT ALL >< (and I really wish they let Theo massacre everyone ><)
In short, a fourth book full of tension and twists that I devoured
June 23, 2018
Holy Moly, Ms. Dane.. I bought this book in 2016 and keep it for some time since no information for a fifth book was available. Now it is but still nothing concrete.. However, I needed a good book and I was in the mood for Rowan so I read 'At Blade's Edge' and hoped for the best - but what an end?!? You've got to be kidding me.. how can you end it like this and not writing the next book in years. This was everything I hoped for and more. To see how Rowan's and Clive's relationship blooms and flourishes and we even get to meet his parents which was so much fun. Of course this book picks up where the last one ends - with the betrayal within Hunter Corps. and of course Rowan seeks revanche from Roth. The developments were great but what happens on the last pages.. I was shocked and speechless and now I will whine for some time because the next book is not available but only rumoured on Lauren Dane's website *sigh* I really hope there will be a fifth book published within the next year. Well, as they say.. Hope springs eternal. Nevertheless, I think this book was the best one yet and worth 5 stars
October 8, 2018
I picked up this book in the Nook store on my tablet because I had to know what happens with the characters. My personal review of the book is as follows:
I personally really enjoyed all of the(In my personal opinion) realistic relationship growth between "Rowan" and "Clive", especially her finally letting him (and others in her life) love and help her. I do personally wish that who the newest "bad guys" are would've been a bit more explained. My heart went out to "Rowan" at the ending which I do feel could've been left on a bit less abrupt of a cliffhanger. Overall I personally rate this book an 7 out of 10.
I personally really enjoyed all of the(In my personal opinion) realistic relationship growth between "Rowan" and "Clive", especially her finally letting him (and others in her life) love and help her. I do personally wish that who the newest "bad guys" are would've been a bit more explained. My heart went out to "Rowan" at the ending which I do feel could've been left on a bit less abrupt of a cliffhanger. Overall I personally rate this book an 7 out of 10.
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