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Burned Lands #3
The Hero Within
Can this villain become her hero?
As the only healer in a war-stained town, Eden McClain is devastated when the Salt Plague sweeps through the wastelands she calls home. Suddenly she's racing against time to save her people–and her niece–before it's too late. When she hears whispers of a cure, she knows she can't cross the dangerous Wastelands by herself to get it. She needs a guide. And she's just desperate enough to turn to a man who once betrayed her.
Redemption comes at a price…
After years of living on the leash of a dangerous psychopath, Johnny Colton is finally free, but that doesn't mean he can wash the blood off his hands. The easiest way to deal with the past? Just stop caring. Which is working perfectly for the rugged outlaw, until a beautiful ghost from the past rigs a trap for him.
The last person he wants to see is the woman who haunts his dreams, but as Eden points out, he owes her one. The only problem is that the people with the cure might also have created the plague, and deliberately unleashed it. It's a dangerous trap, and the only way to escape it is for two past enemies to learn to trust each other.
As the only healer in a war-stained town, Eden McClain is devastated when the Salt Plague sweeps through the wastelands she calls home. Suddenly she's racing against time to save her people–and her niece–before it's too late. When she hears whispers of a cure, she knows she can't cross the dangerous Wastelands by herself to get it. She needs a guide. And she's just desperate enough to turn to a man who once betrayed her.
Redemption comes at a price…
After years of living on the leash of a dangerous psychopath, Johnny Colton is finally free, but that doesn't mean he can wash the blood off his hands. The easiest way to deal with the past? Just stop caring. Which is working perfectly for the rugged outlaw, until a beautiful ghost from the past rigs a trap for him.
The last person he wants to see is the woman who haunts his dreams, but as Eden points out, he owes her one. The only problem is that the people with the cure might also have created the plague, and deliberately unleashed it. It's a dangerous trap, and the only way to escape it is for two past enemies to learn to trust each other.
340 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 20, 2018
57 people are currently reading
383 people want to read
About the author
Bec McMaster
64 books3,461 followersKidnapped by a dread pirate when she was a child, USA Today Bestselling Author Bec McMaster was raised on myth and legend, and offered her younger siblings to the goblin king many a time. Unfortunately, he did not accept.
Now she writes epic fantasy romance with a dark and sexy twist, which is almost as much fun. She has a secret weakness for villainous heroes, wicked fae princes and dangerous vampires, though in all her daydreams, she’s the one rescuing them.
Bec lives happily-ever-after with her very own hero and princess-in-training in the wilds of Australia, where she can often be found drinking tea or plotting her next travel adventure.
Escape the ordinary at www.becmcmaster.com
Join Bec's mailing list at http://eepurl.com/F_LkD for all the latest news on releases, exclusive excerpts, cover reveals, and epilogues.
Newest Release: CROWN OF DARKNESS (Available now)
Next release: MASTER OF STORMS (Legends of the Storm #5--coming January, 2021)
Where to start?
If you want deliciously dark fae princes, then try Dark Court Rising or Court of Dreams.
For sexy dragon shifters, see Legends of the Storm.
Sorcery and magic?
Try the Dark Arts series.
Kick-bustle ladies-saving-the-day steampunk romance?
Then check out London Steampunk and the London Steampunk: The Blue Blood Conspiracy series.
For rocket-fuelled post-apocalyptic romance with a twist on the werewolf theme, then read the Burned Lands.
Now she writes epic fantasy romance with a dark and sexy twist, which is almost as much fun. She has a secret weakness for villainous heroes, wicked fae princes and dangerous vampires, though in all her daydreams, she’s the one rescuing them.
Bec lives happily-ever-after with her very own hero and princess-in-training in the wilds of Australia, where she can often be found drinking tea or plotting her next travel adventure.
Escape the ordinary at www.becmcmaster.com
Join Bec's mailing list at http://eepurl.com/F_LkD for all the latest news on releases, exclusive excerpts, cover reveals, and epilogues.
Newest Release: CROWN OF DARKNESS (Available now)
Next release: MASTER OF STORMS (Legends of the Storm #5--coming January, 2021)
Where to start?
If you want deliciously dark fae princes, then try Dark Court Rising or Court of Dreams.
For sexy dragon shifters, see Legends of the Storm.
Sorcery and magic?
Try the Dark Arts series.
Kick-bustle ladies-saving-the-day steampunk romance?
Then check out London Steampunk and the London Steampunk: The Blue Blood Conspiracy series.
For rocket-fuelled post-apocalyptic romance with a twist on the werewolf theme, then read the Burned Lands.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
February 16, 2020
5 "You. Me. And everything that burns between us."Stars
Oh man! I've always had a soft spot for villains turned heroes , but this particular bad boy had my heart in knots.
We first see Colton in book one. He a villain from the begining, the reason both H in the first books turned wargs, but we also see him trying to make amends in each
and
to repay what he has done.
The 3rd book is Eden McClain and Johnny Colton story.
When a plague hits the Wastelands , Eden goes in search of a cure to save all her loved ones. She needs a guide to cross all dangers to Cortez City , so she request Colton's help to get her there.
This is a book about redemption , hope, loneliness and love. Having Colton so close to her makes Eden reconsider all the hate she has for him.
Eden is a spectacular h ( as all Bec McMaster h in this series), she is resilient, strong, stubborn, courageous , intelligent and gentle once she warms up to H.
Johnny Colton had made huge progress in his redemption over time , but that doesn't make him feel any better.He is troubled, lonely, hopeless and thinks he doesn't deserve happiness knocking on his door. He is determinated tho to get Eden back home safely even if it cost him his life.
The plot is still engaging, still full of dairy situations and still full of suspense.
I loved how they got past what happened between them long ago and how they managed to built a strong connection despise all odds. Colton was the pursuer of this relationship but once Eden fell into it, nothing stopped her from having Johnny at her side.
The sexual tension here was like a bomb and when they got down to business it exploded of the pages.
"But Eden McClain in the flesh was like a bomb going off in his hands.Under his touch, she ignited like wildfire,hands sliding up his chest, then dancing low, teasing along his belt buckle."
I am a bit disappointed that the author decided to finish this series here. A lot of secondary characters could have made great stories : Zarina , Ellie (book 2) , Arik and Nnedi, Lincoln maybe? , oh! Cj and Lily?? ...definitely lots of good stories could have come . But I was happy with the epilogue when Heaven seemed true heaven for all of them.
Oh man! I've always had a soft spot for villains turned heroes , but this particular bad boy had my heart in knots.
We first see Colton in book one. He a villain from the begining, the reason both H in the first books turned wargs, but we also see him trying to make amends in each
and
to repay what he has done.The 3rd book is Eden McClain and Johnny Colton story.
When a plague hits the Wastelands , Eden goes in search of a cure to save all her loved ones. She needs a guide to cross all dangers to Cortez City , so she request Colton's help to get her there.
This is a book about redemption , hope, loneliness and love. Having Colton so close to her makes Eden reconsider all the hate she has for him.
Eden is a spectacular h ( as all Bec McMaster h in this series), she is resilient, strong, stubborn, courageous , intelligent and gentle once she warms up to H.
Johnny Colton had made huge progress in his redemption over time , but that doesn't make him feel any better.He is troubled, lonely, hopeless and thinks he doesn't deserve happiness knocking on his door. He is determinated tho to get Eden back home safely even if it cost him his life.
The plot is still engaging, still full of dairy situations and still full of suspense.
I loved how they got past what happened between them long ago and how they managed to built a strong connection despise all odds. Colton was the pursuer of this relationship but once Eden fell into it, nothing stopped her from having Johnny at her side.
The sexual tension here was like a bomb and when they got down to business it exploded of the pages.
"But Eden McClain in the flesh was like a bomb going off in his hands.Under his touch, she ignited like wildfire,hands sliding up his chest, then dancing low, teasing along his belt buckle."
I am a bit disappointed that the author decided to finish this series here. A lot of secondary characters could have made great stories : Zarina , Ellie (book 2) , Arik and Nnedi, Lincoln maybe? , oh! Cj and Lily?? ...definitely lots of good stories could have come . But I was happy with the epilogue when Heaven seemed true heaven for all of them.
April 29, 2018
I LOVED this book so much!!! 😍♥️
September 10, 2019
⭐️4 stars⭐️
When did you stop fighting?
When did it become easier to give in, just a little?
When did you become numb, even as a part of you died, over and over again?
He wished he didn't know.
When did you stop fighting?
When did it become easier to give in, just a little?
When did you become numb, even as a part of you died, over and over again?
He wished he didn't know.
May 4, 2018
**I was provided a pre-publication copy of this book by the publisher for review purposes.**
The redemption arc for Johnny Colton is perfect! From villain to hero.
Here are some of my thoughts:
• I love Colton so much. I would have never thought I would care for his character in the 1st book of the series, but he has shown how much he deserves happiness since then. I am glad he gets his redemption because he truly exhibits kindness and care for others in each book up to this point. (Also #yes to diversity)
• Eden: Here is a girl who gets shit done. I love that she is so driven to protect the people she loves and even the people she doesn’t know. She does not take shit from other people, and it is great to see an equal balance of power between her and Colton.
• Lily and CJ? Is that something? Because I ship it anyway.
• Nnedi is badasss. She shows true compassion, authority, and grace. Her command over her female warriors and her interactions with her husband, Arik, remind me of the female commander from Black Panther (who is like my favorite character).
• The last 15% of this book really got to me. I was at the edge of my seat, feeling utter pain and anger (especially towards certain villains), and flipping the pages like crazy.
• Awww the interactions between Adam and Eden are the sweetest. It is also great to just see him with Mia again. Same goes for Wade and Riley.
Overall, the plot is well-paced and intriguing. My feelings are right there with the characters with each turn of their journey to find the cure for the plague. Another interesting development is the knowledge we get from Colton about wargs, and the whole alpha, beta, omega, delta, gamma stuff. I love that idea. If there is another book, I hope to hear more about this and see Colton actually teach other wargs about control. If this is the last book of the series, I’m still happy because this has been such a great book with a great hero and heroine. It is certainly my favorite book within this series so far. I’m giving this 4 stars.
Things that you might want to know (WARNING: Spoilers below)
Happy/satisfying ending?
Love triangle? Cheating? Angst level? Other things to note?
Tears-worthy?
Humor?
Favorite scenes?
What age level would be appropriate?
------------
Eden and Colton ahhhh I’ve been waiting for this forever ❤️❤️❤️
**Will be reviewing ARC edition*
The redemption arc for Johnny Colton is perfect! From villain to hero.
Here are some of my thoughts:
• I love Colton so much. I would have never thought I would care for his character in the 1st book of the series, but he has shown how much he deserves happiness since then. I am glad he gets his redemption because he truly exhibits kindness and care for others in each book up to this point. (Also #yes to diversity)
• Eden: Here is a girl who gets shit done. I love that she is so driven to protect the people she loves and even the people she doesn’t know. She does not take shit from other people, and it is great to see an equal balance of power between her and Colton.
• Lily and CJ? Is that something? Because I ship it anyway.
• Nnedi is badasss. She shows true compassion, authority, and grace. Her command over her female warriors and her interactions with her husband, Arik, remind me of the female commander from Black Panther (who is like my favorite character).
• The last 15% of this book really got to me. I was at the edge of my seat, feeling utter pain and anger (especially towards certain villains), and flipping the pages like crazy.
• Awww the interactions between Adam and Eden are the sweetest. It is also great to just see him with Mia again. Same goes for Wade and Riley.
Overall, the plot is well-paced and intriguing. My feelings are right there with the characters with each turn of their journey to find the cure for the plague. Another interesting development is the knowledge we get from Colton about wargs, and the whole alpha, beta, omega, delta, gamma stuff. I love that idea. If there is another book, I hope to hear more about this and see Colton actually teach other wargs about control. If this is the last book of the series, I’m still happy because this has been such a great book with a great hero and heroine. It is certainly my favorite book within this series so far. I’m giving this 4 stars.
Things that you might want to know (WARNING: Spoilers below)
Happy/satisfying ending?
Love triangle? Cheating? Angst level? Other things to note?
Tears-worthy?
Humor?
Favorite scenes?
What age level would be appropriate?
------------
Eden and Colton ahhhh I’ve been waiting for this forever ❤️❤️❤️
**Will be reviewing ARC edition*
October 16, 2019
A fabtastic conclusion to this series.
April 26, 2018
If like me you’ve followed this series from the beginning then you will know that Johnny Colton was instrumental in changing the lives of Adam and Eden McClain for ever . Reluctantly complicit in events that caused two men to become wargs and part of the reason that Eden has nightmares.
For Eden seeing her brother Adam change was bad enough but when he was outed and cast out of Absolution she dug her heels in and tried to be the best healer she could be. Now her town is threatened by the mysterious salt plague and it looks like crossing a brutal desert to Cortez City , outpost of the technologically advanced Confederacy is the only way to find a cure. Trouble is Eden needs a guide as she sets off into alien territory and the only one she can find is you’ve guessed it Johnny Colton !
This couple have seriously sizzling chemistry and oh my do I need to fan myself when he whispers to her in Spanish. It’s not an easy relationship though as Eden genuinely does have reasons to despise Johnny. Yet the author slowly but surely turns their conflict into something exciting and soul deep. I’ve enjoyed seeing the progression of Johnny from the first book Nobody’s Hero and his redemption was well worth the wait. Plus pairing him with his ‘ angel ‘ who isn’t sweet anymore was such fun. Eden has grown up, she’s brave, stubborn, smart and ready to stand up for what she believes is right.
It would be remiss of me not to mention what a cracking overall story this is because it’s more than just a romance. We get answers to the warg issue, get to discover much more about the elitist Confederacy and meet new characters along the way who surely the author has to come back to. I’m not sure if this series is set to continue but if not this felt like a fabulous place to leave it and I heartily recommend reading this series in order.
This voluntary opinion is of a copy I requested that was provided for me and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair
For Eden seeing her brother Adam change was bad enough but when he was outed and cast out of Absolution she dug her heels in and tried to be the best healer she could be. Now her town is threatened by the mysterious salt plague and it looks like crossing a brutal desert to Cortez City , outpost of the technologically advanced Confederacy is the only way to find a cure. Trouble is Eden needs a guide as she sets off into alien territory and the only one she can find is you’ve guessed it Johnny Colton !
This couple have seriously sizzling chemistry and oh my do I need to fan myself when he whispers to her in Spanish. It’s not an easy relationship though as Eden genuinely does have reasons to despise Johnny. Yet the author slowly but surely turns their conflict into something exciting and soul deep. I’ve enjoyed seeing the progression of Johnny from the first book Nobody’s Hero and his redemption was well worth the wait. Plus pairing him with his ‘ angel ‘ who isn’t sweet anymore was such fun. Eden has grown up, she’s brave, stubborn, smart and ready to stand up for what she believes is right.
It would be remiss of me not to mention what a cracking overall story this is because it’s more than just a romance. We get answers to the warg issue, get to discover much more about the elitist Confederacy and meet new characters along the way who surely the author has to come back to. I’m not sure if this series is set to continue but if not this felt like a fabulous place to leave it and I heartily recommend reading this series in order.
This voluntary opinion is of a copy I requested that was provided for me and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair
September 3, 2018
How to find love in a post-apocalyptic world ?
"You. Me. And everything that burns between us."
A meteor destroyed the world as we knows it. Humans have limited resources, some became dangerous creatures and nobody is safe from the things lurking in each different territory. And now a new menace appeared : a plague, caused by a bacterial infection. As the healer in the Wastelands, Eden McClain has tried to find a remedy, but nothing worked so far to stop the virus. When her adopted niece become ill and Eden learn there may be a cure, she doesn't hesitate to travel all the way to find it, even if it means having to convince a man, who betrayed her before and put her in danger, to be her guide.
Johnny Colton is a bounty hunter and he's also a warg. These creatures are known as extremely dangerous and at having trouble controlling their inner-beast. Helping Eden go to Cortez City might be his last chance at redemption. What the young woman ignore, is that when Colton got a hand at ruining her brother's life, he was just an other pawn to a madman.
The attraction is strong between these two but how can love blossom when they've got such an heavy history ? Somewhere between all the deserts, the canyons, the forests and the caverns they'll have to cross, a spark emerge in their eyes, their heart, a feeling that soon will ravage like a wildfire.
After reading more than twenty books by this author, I shouldn't be surprised by how amazing this book was, right ? Because everything she wrote has always been amazingly good ! But I know this one will have a special place in my heart. First, because the emotional journey of the MC was so incredibly touching, moving and so damn hot ! We met Eden and Johnny before in the series, but in this book, I saw a different side of them I don't remember seeing before. Eden's badass attitude surprised me in a very good way and Johnny had an inexplicable charisma that was so sexy (his Spanish lines too :p) Seriously, he was the perfect mix of gentle and edgy.
I'm sad there won't be other novels in the Burned Lands series but I take comfort in the fact I know Bec McMaster still have other stories to tell and other great characters I'll fall in love with, no matter what the genre she write.
"You. Me. And everything that burns between us."
A meteor destroyed the world as we knows it. Humans have limited resources, some became dangerous creatures and nobody is safe from the things lurking in each different territory. And now a new menace appeared : a plague, caused by a bacterial infection. As the healer in the Wastelands, Eden McClain has tried to find a remedy, but nothing worked so far to stop the virus. When her adopted niece become ill and Eden learn there may be a cure, she doesn't hesitate to travel all the way to find it, even if it means having to convince a man, who betrayed her before and put her in danger, to be her guide.
Johnny Colton is a bounty hunter and he's also a warg. These creatures are known as extremely dangerous and at having trouble controlling their inner-beast. Helping Eden go to Cortez City might be his last chance at redemption. What the young woman ignore, is that when Colton got a hand at ruining her brother's life, he was just an other pawn to a madman.
The attraction is strong between these two but how can love blossom when they've got such an heavy history ? Somewhere between all the deserts, the canyons, the forests and the caverns they'll have to cross, a spark emerge in their eyes, their heart, a feeling that soon will ravage like a wildfire.
After reading more than twenty books by this author, I shouldn't be surprised by how amazing this book was, right ? Because everything she wrote has always been amazingly good ! But I know this one will have a special place in my heart. First, because the emotional journey of the MC was so incredibly touching, moving and so damn hot ! We met Eden and Johnny before in the series, but in this book, I saw a different side of them I don't remember seeing before. Eden's badass attitude surprised me in a very good way and Johnny had an inexplicable charisma that was so sexy (his Spanish lines too :p) Seriously, he was the perfect mix of gentle and edgy.
I'm sad there won't be other novels in the Burned Lands series but I take comfort in the fact I know Bec McMaster still have other stories to tell and other great characters I'll fall in love with, no matter what the genre she write.
September 4, 2019
I voluntarily reviewed an early copy of this book :) this is the last book in the original trilogy, but since this world have soooo much potential for future stories, I am definitely hoping that Bec will come back to it at some point with more novels :) #FingersCrossed ;) but for now this is all we have, and what a way to end a series with a bang :) since this is the review of the last book, it's gonna be a bit tricky to actually write it, but I will do my best so all of you can read at least a little bit of it :) so here's what we're gonna do: the next paragraph will be completely spoiler free about the whole series, so even if you are brand new to it, you are safe to read it :) it will tell you a bit more about the world, the characters and the overall vibe :) then in the third and last paragraph, I will share my thoughts and feelings about this particular installment, so I will assume that all of you who will stay and read it, already read the first two books... I might mention some spoilery things and talk about characters or events without major explanations, so be prepared for all that :) ok, let's jump into that safe space first ;)
Bec McMaster is definitely one of my all time favourite authors... sitting currently at a very strong #2 (right after Penny Reid, but that's a story for another time) :) I adore her writing style in all of her books, which is saying something, cause she has a few of them... all of them different from one another :) steampunk, fantasy, paranormal... she has it all :) but Burned lands series may be her most underrated one, which really pains me, cause I love it soooo much :) but I get that dystopian-ish themes may not be for everyone... :) but if you loved "Mad Max fury road" as much as I did, you will inhale this trilogy without even thinking about it :) so let me tell you some more about it... ;) it takes place in the alternative version of our world set some time in the future... there was some sort of disaster, that plunged our world into Darkening... no, I'm not gonna go into more details, mostly since it's not explained straight away in the book, and those details are not that important at the beginning... but now people live in the Wastelands... forming settlements, doing their best to survive in the harsh conditions... one of the most important rules among them? don't get caught outside of the settlement after dark... cause there are monsters... let's just say that the Darkening influenced some people... in a very dangerous way... and since then, those people... changed... that's all I will say on the subject :) to be quite honest, that's pretty much all I can say without spoilers, so let's just jump into the main characters :) each book revolves around a different couple, but they appear in other stories as well... so I highly recommend you guys to read those books in order... that's the best way to understand all the connections and dynamics between certain people... not to mention that there are events in one book, that have consequences in others, so... just trust me and read them in order :) what else can I say to you about this series without spoilers...? :) the writing style is phenomenal, as always with Bec's books :) she writes stories full of surprising turns of events and characters who are strong and flawed in the most human way... they make mistakes and learn from them... they fall in love and form the most surprising friendships... this particular series is even more fast paced than her other ones... with action right from the very first chapter... you will gasp in shock and keep turning page after page, because you simply have to know what's gonna happen next... they are the best kind of addictive :) now that hopefully I convinced you to give this series a try, let me jump into the actual topic of this review, which is book #3 :)
Ok, last warning people :) if you are not caught up in this series, I might spoil you some major things right now... :) you ready? :) we met both our main characters before... and as much as I was curious to get to know more about Eden, there was no competition as to who was the main reason I read this book so quickly... Johnny Colton... *sighs dreamily* you might not know that about me, but I have a very soft spot for those morally grey, used-to-be-bad-but-they-changed-their-way heroes...there's just always something about their story that hits me in all the feels... so I was really looking forward to read more about Colton... he was after all sort-of-a villain in the previous books... but even then we could see some redeeming qualities in him, so imagine my joy when I learned he will be the hero of this final installment :) Bec definitely love those kinds of stories as well, because they appear in all of her series... ;) and Johnny... oh, how I loved him... :) what surprised me the most was his vulnerable and soft side... *sighs dreamily* it was Eden who irritated me from time to time ;) but only a little bit, because I could understand why she was so wary of the situation between them :) because to say that they have a history would be a huge understatement... yeah... complex doesn't even begin to describe that... so even though sparks fly between them, it will not be an easy way to a happy ending... :) this was an absolutely phenomenal ending to a series... although like I mentioned before, I am really hoping that Bec will come back to this world at some point... because in those previous stories, as well as in this one, she introduced us to quite a few very interesting characters and I can totally see them getting their own stories in the future... :) but for now, I am very satisfied where we left things... :) once again, I highly recommend you guys this action packed series full of surprises, strong and brave characters with an absolutely amazing writing style... don't hesitate and pick these gems immediately... you can thank me later ;) I promise I won't gloat... not even a little bit ;)
XOXO
A
Bec McMaster is definitely one of my all time favourite authors... sitting currently at a very strong #2 (right after Penny Reid, but that's a story for another time) :) I adore her writing style in all of her books, which is saying something, cause she has a few of them... all of them different from one another :) steampunk, fantasy, paranormal... she has it all :) but Burned lands series may be her most underrated one, which really pains me, cause I love it soooo much :) but I get that dystopian-ish themes may not be for everyone... :) but if you loved "Mad Max fury road" as much as I did, you will inhale this trilogy without even thinking about it :) so let me tell you some more about it... ;) it takes place in the alternative version of our world set some time in the future... there was some sort of disaster, that plunged our world into Darkening... no, I'm not gonna go into more details, mostly since it's not explained straight away in the book, and those details are not that important at the beginning... but now people live in the Wastelands... forming settlements, doing their best to survive in the harsh conditions... one of the most important rules among them? don't get caught outside of the settlement after dark... cause there are monsters... let's just say that the Darkening influenced some people... in a very dangerous way... and since then, those people... changed... that's all I will say on the subject :) to be quite honest, that's pretty much all I can say without spoilers, so let's just jump into the main characters :) each book revolves around a different couple, but they appear in other stories as well... so I highly recommend you guys to read those books in order... that's the best way to understand all the connections and dynamics between certain people... not to mention that there are events in one book, that have consequences in others, so... just trust me and read them in order :) what else can I say to you about this series without spoilers...? :) the writing style is phenomenal, as always with Bec's books :) she writes stories full of surprising turns of events and characters who are strong and flawed in the most human way... they make mistakes and learn from them... they fall in love and form the most surprising friendships... this particular series is even more fast paced than her other ones... with action right from the very first chapter... you will gasp in shock and keep turning page after page, because you simply have to know what's gonna happen next... they are the best kind of addictive :) now that hopefully I convinced you to give this series a try, let me jump into the actual topic of this review, which is book #3 :)
Ok, last warning people :) if you are not caught up in this series, I might spoil you some major things right now... :) you ready? :) we met both our main characters before... and as much as I was curious to get to know more about Eden, there was no competition as to who was the main reason I read this book so quickly... Johnny Colton... *sighs dreamily* you might not know that about me, but I have a very soft spot for those morally grey, used-to-be-bad-but-they-changed-their-way heroes...there's just always something about their story that hits me in all the feels... so I was really looking forward to read more about Colton... he was after all sort-of-a villain in the previous books... but even then we could see some redeeming qualities in him, so imagine my joy when I learned he will be the hero of this final installment :) Bec definitely love those kinds of stories as well, because they appear in all of her series... ;) and Johnny... oh, how I loved him... :) what surprised me the most was his vulnerable and soft side... *sighs dreamily* it was Eden who irritated me from time to time ;) but only a little bit, because I could understand why she was so wary of the situation between them :) because to say that they have a history would be a huge understatement... yeah... complex doesn't even begin to describe that... so even though sparks fly between them, it will not be an easy way to a happy ending... :) this was an absolutely phenomenal ending to a series... although like I mentioned before, I am really hoping that Bec will come back to this world at some point... because in those previous stories, as well as in this one, she introduced us to quite a few very interesting characters and I can totally see them getting their own stories in the future... :) but for now, I am very satisfied where we left things... :) once again, I highly recommend you guys this action packed series full of surprises, strong and brave characters with an absolutely amazing writing style... don't hesitate and pick these gems immediately... you can thank me later ;) I promise I won't gloat... not even a little bit ;)
XOXO
A
April 25, 2018
Bec McMaster can do no wrong. Fuck me. The Hero Within is set in a world that I usually completely avoid. I’m always wary because I don’t see how happiness and happy endings can be found in a world like that. I’m always worried as well that the action will completely over take the romance, because how can there be much romance in a world like that? So I’ve actually avoided this series for ages even though I’m in LOVE with all her other books. But I got sent an arc of this and seen that the hero was actually a villain in the other books and well there’s no way I could resist that! And I’m so unbelievably glad I gave it a go because I fucking loved it!
Johnny was the most heartbreaking hero she’s ever written. He deserves all of the things and happiness in the world. He was so vulnerable and hungry for love and pack. Also I don’t think he’s to blame for any of the stuff he did in the past. My poor, poor baby. His past was actually gut wrenching. And the way he craved Edens affection made my heart hurt. I hate nearly all kinds of angst but see the kind where the lad aches for his lass but thinks he will never actually have her and it’s in a book by a trusted author so I know he will definitely get the girl in the end? Man do I eat that shit up. I love being able to enjoy that delicious kind of angst because I know I’m guaranteed a happy ending. And the way Johnny aches for Eden in this made my toes curl. It was so romantic. The damn man carried her photo with him for years. He was everything. Also he needed her affection and love, not just her body. That’s my favourite thing about McMasters hero’s they are so, so sexy but they are also so fucking romantic it kills me. Johnny was honestly a perfect hero. The only kind of hero I like is a hero who is obsessed with his girl and treats her like a fucking queen. And McMaster always writes hero’s like that. It’s why I enjoy her books so much.
Eden was a great heroine for me, though I feel like some readers will struggle with her at times. I really love heroines who run from their feelings and try to push the hero away. It’s my favourite because it means I get to see the hero break down her defenses and chase her. He has to really work for it. And I love that. Also in this case in the beginning she really had reasons to resist him BUT there were times where she was a bit over the top and I can see it bothering some readers even though I was super happy about it! But once she gets past that she fights for him, so I really hope even if you do find her frustrating at times you realize why she is like that and that it is all worth it the end.
Like I said to begin with I’m always worried the action will overshadow the romance in books like this but I had nothing to worry about. The romance was front and centre and was amazing. I actually really enjoyed the action side of this, apart from the awful bit at the end that destroyed my heart and I thought I’d never recover until I did. I really enjoy stories where the couple have to travel together across the land on a mission. It’s actually one of my favourite setups!
Relationship info
Johnny was the most heartbreaking hero she’s ever written. He deserves all of the things and happiness in the world. He was so vulnerable and hungry for love and pack. Also I don’t think he’s to blame for any of the stuff he did in the past. My poor, poor baby. His past was actually gut wrenching. And the way he craved Edens affection made my heart hurt. I hate nearly all kinds of angst but see the kind where the lad aches for his lass but thinks he will never actually have her and it’s in a book by a trusted author so I know he will definitely get the girl in the end? Man do I eat that shit up. I love being able to enjoy that delicious kind of angst because I know I’m guaranteed a happy ending. And the way Johnny aches for Eden in this made my toes curl. It was so romantic. The damn man carried her photo with him for years. He was everything. Also he needed her affection and love, not just her body. That’s my favourite thing about McMasters hero’s they are so, so sexy but they are also so fucking romantic it kills me. Johnny was honestly a perfect hero. The only kind of hero I like is a hero who is obsessed with his girl and treats her like a fucking queen. And McMaster always writes hero’s like that. It’s why I enjoy her books so much.
Eden was a great heroine for me, though I feel like some readers will struggle with her at times. I really love heroines who run from their feelings and try to push the hero away. It’s my favourite because it means I get to see the hero break down her defenses and chase her. He has to really work for it. And I love that. Also in this case in the beginning she really had reasons to resist him BUT there were times where she was a bit over the top and I can see it bothering some readers even though I was super happy about it! But once she gets past that she fights for him, so I really hope even if you do find her frustrating at times you realize why she is like that and that it is all worth it the end.
Like I said to begin with I’m always worried the action will overshadow the romance in books like this but I had nothing to worry about. The romance was front and centre and was amazing. I actually really enjoyed the action side of this, apart from the awful bit at the end that destroyed my heart and I thought I’d never recover until I did. I really enjoy stories where the couple have to travel together across the land on a mission. It’s actually one of my favourite setups!
Relationship info
August 28, 2019
Another great instalment in this series by that terrific Aussie author, Bec McMaster.
These are not easy books to read. The world the characters inhabit is a real nightmare- kind of Mad Max meets I am Legend meets 28 Days Later.
But the characterisation is great and I am truly invested in their future by now, as this is book 3 of the series.
I was not looking forward to reading this one, because our hero, Johnny Colton, was definitely the villain in the previous books. How were we going to have him redeem himself? Could the author successfully excuse/explain his previous actions?
Well, it took a while, but BM did, and it was worth the struggle to get to that point. Our heroine, Eden, is also a tough yet sensitive woman, who has emerged from the protective shadow of her brother (the hero in the previous book) and tries her damnedest to make the miserable world in which they live a better place. She has some medical training and her attempt to heal others, while not always successful, is a large part of this desire. Johnny and Eden are polar opposites, in many ways.
A hell of a lot of shit goes down, there is a ghastly gladiatorial competition, and we have the usual cruelty and bloody brutality. I guess that is why the gradual development of a loving and passionate relationship between Johnny and Eden is so wonderful- a welcome respite from all the ugliness. The fact that each book in the series has the word hero in it kind of works for me: sometimes it takes someone going through hell to become the hero that is needed- at least, that's my romantic take on it!!
If you enjoy this genre, you will love this series.
These are not easy books to read. The world the characters inhabit is a real nightmare- kind of Mad Max meets I am Legend meets 28 Days Later.
But the characterisation is great and I am truly invested in their future by now, as this is book 3 of the series.
I was not looking forward to reading this one, because our hero, Johnny Colton, was definitely the villain in the previous books. How were we going to have him redeem himself? Could the author successfully excuse/explain his previous actions?
Well, it took a while, but BM did, and it was worth the struggle to get to that point. Our heroine, Eden, is also a tough yet sensitive woman, who has emerged from the protective shadow of her brother (the hero in the previous book) and tries her damnedest to make the miserable world in which they live a better place. She has some medical training and her attempt to heal others, while not always successful, is a large part of this desire. Johnny and Eden are polar opposites, in many ways.
A hell of a lot of shit goes down, there is a ghastly gladiatorial competition, and we have the usual cruelty and bloody brutality. I guess that is why the gradual development of a loving and passionate relationship between Johnny and Eden is so wonderful- a welcome respite from all the ugliness. The fact that each book in the series has the word hero in it kind of works for me: sometimes it takes someone going through hell to become the hero that is needed- at least, that's my romantic take on it!!
If you enjoy this genre, you will love this series.
August 19, 2018
Another good one. H was just so tortured having been forced to do despicable things by his uncle. h quite naturally holds a grudge since he has harmed the people closest to her. I really liked this especially since H was more emotionally vulnerable. I think the pack & new characters introduced also present good future book opportunities.
May 22, 2018
This was a pretty good series and this last book did not disappoint.
October 27, 2020
Eden and Johnny’s story was my absolute favorite of this trilogy! The range of emotions situated against the devastating background with kernels of hope peppered throughout-ack! Loved it all!!
May 29, 2018
The reveal of the different nano strains was interesting.
January 28, 2019
Another high quality post apocalyptic story. My favorite of the series if I had to pick one. Loved the hero.
May 6, 2018
ARC REVIEW
For me, although this series does not start off like gangbusters, it ends with a bang. The desolate areas on the skirt of civilization known as the Wastelands are experiencing a deadly epidemic. Eden McClain, the area's only healer is determined to find a cure. She hears of a possible cure located at the Confederacy's enclave. Now she has to cross dangerous territory filled with wargs and shadow cats in order to reach her destination. The only person willing to help is Johnny Colton. Johnny Colton begins as a villain in the earlier books and he gets his redemption here. This is what makes this story so satisfying. There is nothing like seeing a bad guy find his way back from the Dark side.
The storyline is filled with life-threatening scenarios as well as more tender moments between Eden and Johnny. Ms. McMasters introduces a new creative element to the wargs that I hope she will continue with in future books (a spinoff, perhaps?)
My biggest complaint is that given the role of the Confederacy in the previous two books, the bad guys were really not bad enough. I expect a big dramatic showdown and it does not quite get there for me. i want the Confederacy to be really evil. Is it wrong for me to say that they were not evil enough?
Nevertheless, the other parts of the story are both solid and creative. I am pleased to have had the opportunity to read this book.
I am reviewing this book voluntarily. I have made no promises to anyone and haven’t received any type of compensation or gift in exchange for the review.
For me, although this series does not start off like gangbusters, it ends with a bang. The desolate areas on the skirt of civilization known as the Wastelands are experiencing a deadly epidemic. Eden McClain, the area's only healer is determined to find a cure. She hears of a possible cure located at the Confederacy's enclave. Now she has to cross dangerous territory filled with wargs and shadow cats in order to reach her destination. The only person willing to help is Johnny Colton. Johnny Colton begins as a villain in the earlier books and he gets his redemption here. This is what makes this story so satisfying. There is nothing like seeing a bad guy find his way back from the Dark side.
The storyline is filled with life-threatening scenarios as well as more tender moments between Eden and Johnny. Ms. McMasters introduces a new creative element to the wargs that I hope she will continue with in future books (a spinoff, perhaps?)
My biggest complaint is that given the role of the Confederacy in the previous two books, the bad guys were really not bad enough. I expect a big dramatic showdown and it does not quite get there for me. i want the Confederacy to be really evil. Is it wrong for me to say that they were not evil enough?
Nevertheless, the other parts of the story are both solid and creative. I am pleased to have had the opportunity to read this book.
I am reviewing this book voluntarily. I have made no promises to anyone and haven’t received any type of compensation or gift in exchange for the review.
August 28, 2023
Oh I'm SO, so tempted to give this book 2 stars because especially in regards to the previous installments (mainly the 1st book), this has been such a letdown. I didn't really care about either of the main characters and in a romance book, that's kinda the main thing. But I feel like the story (aside from the romance aspect) was still decent and near the end it got better, so I decided to still give three stars (and for the fact that the series overall was not bad). But yeah, definitely not a book i'd like to reminisce about.
(also, while I did finish sooner than in august 2023 - not sure when - i did indeed read the book for the longest time starting at the end of 2021, which just tells you all the more my feelings about it. Damn, still thinking about giving it two stars. but let's leave it.)
(also, while I did finish sooner than in august 2023 - not sure when - i did indeed read the book for the longest time starting at the end of 2021, which just tells you all the more my feelings about it. Damn, still thinking about giving it two stars. but let's leave it.)
May 11, 2018
Johnny definitely redeems himself here ... and despite Eden being a slightly more typical wishy-washy heroine who is worrying about getting hurt again, but I admit I love her for being the healer character, meaning that her strength doesn't necessarily comes from physical kicking-ass stuffs like Riley and Mia. I love it when Eden smartly arm-wrestles the Absolution council to save Johnny.
AND the part of Adam knowing about Johnny boning his sister is HILARIOUS *laugh*
AND the part of Adam knowing about Johnny boning his sister is HILARIOUS *laugh*
May 7, 2018
Review originally published at Goldilox and the Three Weres and based on a copy provided by the author.
The Hero Within is easily my favorite book in the Wasted Lands series. It’s an Enemies to Lovers story, which is my fave. It’s also a road trip story, my other fave. (Actually there's kind of a tournament in there too, which rounds out my top three.) It takes readers across the divide between the wasteland where the other books are set and the Confederacy, into one of the border cities. I knew from earlier books that this part of the world existed, but I loved actually seeing it.
My favorite thing though was learning more about the Wargs. Johnny Colton is a little different than the heroes in the first two books since his parents were also Wargs. He’s more in control of his beast and knows something about how Wargs were created. But they meet some other characters on their journey who fill in all the blanks. They’re a lot more like we expect werewolves to be, which I might have liked to know earlier.
It also makes this feel more like a traditional shifter romance, which could be part of the reason I like it so much. There's none of that alpha-hole behavior that's been bothering me in shifter books lately though - Colton's big on consent. I really enjoyed his dynamic with Eden, as well as the chance to see his side of the incident that made them enemies initially, which is described from a different POV in the previous book.
The events in the earlier books play an important part in the story, both the shared history of the three heroes and the times where Colton popped up in the other stories. I enjoyed seeing the characters reconcile some of their differences. Part of Eden’s involvement in that history was new and made the romance feel more natural.
In some ways, I would have liked Eden and Colton's story to start the series. So many of my world building questions finally got answered. I'm happy to have those answers either way. And I'm happy with where these characters wound up.
The Hero Within is easily my favorite book in the Wasted Lands series. It’s an Enemies to Lovers story, which is my fave. It’s also a road trip story, my other fave. (Actually there's kind of a tournament in there too, which rounds out my top three.) It takes readers across the divide between the wasteland where the other books are set and the Confederacy, into one of the border cities. I knew from earlier books that this part of the world existed, but I loved actually seeing it.
My favorite thing though was learning more about the Wargs. Johnny Colton is a little different than the heroes in the first two books since his parents were also Wargs. He’s more in control of his beast and knows something about how Wargs were created. But they meet some other characters on their journey who fill in all the blanks. They’re a lot more like we expect werewolves to be, which I might have liked to know earlier.
It also makes this feel more like a traditional shifter romance, which could be part of the reason I like it so much. There's none of that alpha-hole behavior that's been bothering me in shifter books lately though - Colton's big on consent. I really enjoyed his dynamic with Eden, as well as the chance to see his side of the incident that made them enemies initially, which is described from a different POV in the previous book.
The events in the earlier books play an important part in the story, both the shared history of the three heroes and the times where Colton popped up in the other stories. I enjoyed seeing the characters reconcile some of their differences. Part of Eden’s involvement in that history was new and made the romance feel more natural.
In some ways, I would have liked Eden and Colton's story to start the series. So many of my world building questions finally got answered. I'm happy to have those answers either way. And I'm happy with where these characters wound up.
May 9, 2018
☆☆☆☆☆☆
May 12, 2022
Another, action-packed romance. I enjoyed this series more then I thought I would. Definitely recommend!
July 31, 2024
I adored this book and I love the concept of this series.
In this book, we see a villain redeemed and it is oh so sweet. I am ready to dive into more books in this world, and I can only hope they are created at some point in time!
In this book, we see a villain redeemed and it is oh so sweet. I am ready to dive into more books in this world, and I can only hope they are created at some point in time!
August 16, 2018
A super romantic conclusion for this amazing trilogy. All the imagery of each scene was so stunning and captivating. The constant fight for survival all through the series was heart breaking. The romantic part in this book? only about 23%! But Johnny and Eden would totally blow you away. My final thought? I'd really love to see a movie version of the Burned Lands.
April 29, 2018
This is such a great series!
This is kind of a hard book to categorize properly. There are elements of urban fantasy in the book. It takes place on earth after a huge meteor strike that destroyed much and sent everyone that survived into a nuclear winter. Society has been rebuilt with a great distinction between the haves, in the Confederacy, and the have not's, who live in the Wastelands. There are also monsters that prey on whatever and whomever they can find; some wear human skin and some are just nightmares.
This book is about Johnny Colton and Eden McClain. Colton is a warg that has learned to control the inner beast. He works as a bounty hunter on the edges of the Wastelands. He is running from his tortured past and decisions he cannot undo. Eden is a healer in Absolution, a city in the Wastelands that her brother built before the townspeople kicked him out. She is also alone even though she is surrounded by people in the town. They have a shared history that is dark and that still haunts both of them. Eden is setting out to get a cure for a strange new plague affecting her town. To do so she has to cross dangerous land and get inside a Confederacy city. Colton is in a bar on the edge of the Wastelands trying to drown himself in whiskey when Eden walks in.
This is a really good story! I was totally sucked in and didn't want to put it down! There are romance elements and urban fantasy/post-apocalyptic elements that all work so well together. The best part of the book by far is the characters. They are dynamic and they feel so real! They suck you in and you want to know more about what they are thinking and feeling. This is a great series and I highly recommend it! Yes, I did receive an early copy in exchange for a fair review. Yes, this is still the same review I would give to this book no matter what:)
This is kind of a hard book to categorize properly. There are elements of urban fantasy in the book. It takes place on earth after a huge meteor strike that destroyed much and sent everyone that survived into a nuclear winter. Society has been rebuilt with a great distinction between the haves, in the Confederacy, and the have not's, who live in the Wastelands. There are also monsters that prey on whatever and whomever they can find; some wear human skin and some are just nightmares.
This book is about Johnny Colton and Eden McClain. Colton is a warg that has learned to control the inner beast. He works as a bounty hunter on the edges of the Wastelands. He is running from his tortured past and decisions he cannot undo. Eden is a healer in Absolution, a city in the Wastelands that her brother built before the townspeople kicked him out. She is also alone even though she is surrounded by people in the town. They have a shared history that is dark and that still haunts both of them. Eden is setting out to get a cure for a strange new plague affecting her town. To do so she has to cross dangerous land and get inside a Confederacy city. Colton is in a bar on the edge of the Wastelands trying to drown himself in whiskey when Eden walks in.
This is a really good story! I was totally sucked in and didn't want to put it down! There are romance elements and urban fantasy/post-apocalyptic elements that all work so well together. The best part of the book by far is the characters. They are dynamic and they feel so real! They suck you in and you want to know more about what they are thinking and feeling. This is a great series and I highly recommend it! Yes, I did receive an early copy in exchange for a fair review. Yes, this is still the same review I would give to this book no matter what:)
May 3, 2018
This is my favourite book in this series so far. All the best romances have an unlikely hero or heroine, someone who isn't looking for love, someone who doesn't tick all the boxes. This book has two of them.
Eden is the overworked healer in a wasteland town hit by plague. When her family is hit she knows that she must venture across the dangerous territory of the great divide to find a cure. She needs a guide who can handle the treacherous journey, but the only person available is Johnny Colton, who has played the villain in the last two books. He is a very unlikely hero, the man who destroyed Eden's brothers life, happy to do the bidding of his evil uncle, no matter what the consequences.
But then, there is that chemistry between Eden and Colton, it was there right at the start, years ago, when he kidnapped her to trap her brother, and despite everything, it is still there now.
This is a great story, a classic adventure with plenty action, and twists and turns. Colton is a great character – despite his flaws he is everything that Eden needs, and she might just be his salvation. The tension between the two of them fairly sizzles right from the start. There is a good balance in this story, between the adventure and the romance, but when it gets going it is pretty steamy.
I received a free copy of this e-book in return for an honest review.
Eden is the overworked healer in a wasteland town hit by plague. When her family is hit she knows that she must venture across the dangerous territory of the great divide to find a cure. She needs a guide who can handle the treacherous journey, but the only person available is Johnny Colton, who has played the villain in the last two books. He is a very unlikely hero, the man who destroyed Eden's brothers life, happy to do the bidding of his evil uncle, no matter what the consequences.
But then, there is that chemistry between Eden and Colton, it was there right at the start, years ago, when he kidnapped her to trap her brother, and despite everything, it is still there now.
This is a great story, a classic adventure with plenty action, and twists and turns. Colton is a great character – despite his flaws he is everything that Eden needs, and she might just be his salvation. The tension between the two of them fairly sizzles right from the start. There is a good balance in this story, between the adventure and the romance, but when it gets going it is pretty steamy.
I received a free copy of this e-book in return for an honest review.
May 6, 2018
It's redemption time for Johnny Colton and it's perfect! We first met him in Nobody's Hero where he was a pretty clear villain, but in the second book , The Last True Hero, we see he is more than one-dimensional. Finally in this installment, we get his story and his background of systematic abuse and tragedy.
I have to say this was my favorite of the series because it had a lot of character development and more world building that I kept wanting to know more about from the other 2 books. We learn more about the plague that is sweeping the Wastelands, the people in charge of the Confederacy, and the origin of Cane. Plus we get a love to hate relationship that I wanted to explore since we met Johnny and Eden. Eden is such a great character because she knows her purpose and sticks to her guns no matter what. She's not afraid to stand up for the little guy and clearly cares about her people in both Absolution and Haven.
I'm sad to see this series go, but dare I say there might be more with the introduction of a character towards the end who intrigued me and helped our main couple escape Ragnarok???? Fingers crossed.
I received this review copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I have to say this was my favorite of the series because it had a lot of character development and more world building that I kept wanting to know more about from the other 2 books. We learn more about the plague that is sweeping the Wastelands, the people in charge of the Confederacy, and the origin of Cane. Plus we get a love to hate relationship that I wanted to explore since we met Johnny and Eden. Eden is such a great character because she knows her purpose and sticks to her guns no matter what. She's not afraid to stand up for the little guy and clearly cares about her people in both Absolution and Haven.
I'm sad to see this series go, but dare I say there might be more with the introduction of a character towards the end who intrigued me and helped our main couple escape Ragnarok???? Fingers crossed.
I received this review copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
April 29, 2018
Full disclosure: I received a copy from the author for review. However, my opinions are my own.
I trust Bec McMaster. I think that’s the biggest takeaway I have for this book. I’d been wondering if I’m a little worn out on romance, as I just haven’t found myself taken with the ones I’d been reading lately. I picked up this book as the end in a series that I had good memories of, one that had made me forget a trans-Atlantic flight.
The groundwork was laid in the earlier books, with Johnny Coltan and Eden McClain both playing smaller roles in the previous books, though their relationship is paused until this book. We get deeper exploration of the world and further understanding of the wargs, as Eden fights a plague and Johnny acts as her unwilling guide across the dangerous Divide.
While I wouldn’t say that dystopian stories are my strongest favorite, I love these ones. McMaster even addresses the slightly troubling Indian magical artifacts of the first book, and we get some racial diversity in the cast. I’m only sorry that fantasy readers who would never pick up a romance book are missing out on some amazing world building and delightful storytelling. Because I trust McMaster’s storytelling.
I trust Bec McMaster. I think that’s the biggest takeaway I have for this book. I’d been wondering if I’m a little worn out on romance, as I just haven’t found myself taken with the ones I’d been reading lately. I picked up this book as the end in a series that I had good memories of, one that had made me forget a trans-Atlantic flight.
The groundwork was laid in the earlier books, with Johnny Coltan and Eden McClain both playing smaller roles in the previous books, though their relationship is paused until this book. We get deeper exploration of the world and further understanding of the wargs, as Eden fights a plague and Johnny acts as her unwilling guide across the dangerous Divide.
While I wouldn’t say that dystopian stories are my strongest favorite, I love these ones. McMaster even addresses the slightly troubling Indian magical artifacts of the first book, and we get some racial diversity in the cast. I’m only sorry that fantasy readers who would never pick up a romance book are missing out on some amazing world building and delightful storytelling. Because I trust McMaster’s storytelling.
May 6, 2018
Five stars for a fantastic finish to the Burned Lands trilogy. The story arc of this trilogy may feel complete, but the setting is rife for expansion if Bec McMaster chooses to continue it.
We've met both Eden McClain and Johnny Colton in the previous books of the series, but The Hero Within is where they get a turn at not only surviving the Wastelands, but finding someone special to survive it with. When a new plague descends, Eden is forced to visit a Confederacy city several days journey away for vaccines and a cure. And who should she run into while seeking a guide in some craphole town? Johnny Colton, the man who altered, not only the course of her life, but several important people around her. The guilt Johnny still feels about the role he was literally forced to play in Eden's life pushes him to agree to guide her across a dangerous stretch of her journey.
There were so many great surprises this book! While not exactly spoilers, they definitely add to the progression of the story. I appreciate that while we don't completely abandon places we've read about before, the Burned Lands is an expanding environment to explore. The variety has made this a richer series.
When I first learned Eden and Johnny would helm this final book, I was curious to see how they could overcome the betrayal that was their initial introduction and if it would even be believable. Bec nailed it. Their attraction felt steamy and real, while their behaviour toward their past and present were plausible.
I may be sad the trilogy is complete, but wholeheartedly enjoyed the ride through the Burned Lands.
I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy of this book.
We've met both Eden McClain and Johnny Colton in the previous books of the series, but The Hero Within is where they get a turn at not only surviving the Wastelands, but finding someone special to survive it with. When a new plague descends, Eden is forced to visit a Confederacy city several days journey away for vaccines and a cure. And who should she run into while seeking a guide in some craphole town? Johnny Colton, the man who altered, not only the course of her life, but several important people around her. The guilt Johnny still feels about the role he was literally forced to play in Eden's life pushes him to agree to guide her across a dangerous stretch of her journey.
There were so many great surprises this book! While not exactly spoilers, they definitely add to the progression of the story. I appreciate that while we don't completely abandon places we've read about before, the Burned Lands is an expanding environment to explore. The variety has made this a richer series.
When I first learned Eden and Johnny would helm this final book, I was curious to see how they could overcome the betrayal that was their initial introduction and if it would even be believable. Bec nailed it. Their attraction felt steamy and real, while their behaviour toward their past and present were plausible.
I may be sad the trilogy is complete, but wholeheartedly enjoyed the ride through the Burned Lands.
I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy of this book.
April 29, 2018
This series keeps getting better. I have to admit when I read the first book, I wasn't sold. If I had not been a Bed McMaster fan, I don't know that I would have read the second book and certainly not the third. I am so glad I did. Hero Within us the best of the series, so far. Bed has said this finished an arc and not mentioned more to the series and now I am anxious about more of the story. I would love to hear more about Mayhew. We get more on the Confederacy. Cortez City was excellent.I loved the feeling of decay under the crisp clean city. We found out a lot more about Wargs and how they control the beast. But at the core, this is a story about two people opening their hearts. Johnny and Eden were incredibly sweet. My heart broke for Johnny when you find out his back story. Eden is a caretaker and even though she wants to hate him, she can't. Don't get me wrong, their love scenes are extremely hot but it was the tenderness that the share that really got me. This was a wonderful read. I voluntarily reviewed an advance readers copy of this book.
August 13, 2018
This is my favourite of the three books in The Burned Lands series. The trilogy is wonderful, but I thought that this book was outstanding!! From the very beginning you are gripped by the intensity of these two main characters - Eden McClain and Johnny Colton, who are thrown back together to saves the lives of two Towns and the Eden's loved ones from a new and deadly manufactured plague. From the moment they meet back up again the sexual tension and interest is so palpable, it oozes off the page. Both characters come from a place of vulnerability, Eden is afraid to trust after being betrayed by Johnny and Johnny hates himself because of the awful and harrowing past he endured, in order to survive. As their love story unfolds, you are caught up in their personal torment. This book is a real page turner and Bec McMaster uses her usual magic to mix adventure and danger with humour, which appears throughout this book. Other wonderful characters are also involved as she pulls you further into this sexy adventure. It is a wonderful read, I couldn't put it down.
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