Empires of Shadow and Ash

anthology only-part-of-anthology reviewed-2018

I absolutely love box sets like this and so far this one has not disappointed. I started off with Audrey Grey and Julie Hall’s story, Sky of Fire and Ash, and it was absolutely AMAZING! It had just every thing I was looking for in a story. First of all - DRAGONS (super hot and sexy ones I might add). The storyline is unique and you just never are exactly sure which way it’s going to go. Plus it has a tension building romance that leaves you begging for more and an ending that has you excited for their next installment. If all of the stories are even half as good as this one was, this is an absolutely epic box set and definitely worth every penny.

Ola Adamska

2,881 reviews26 followers

June 6, 2018

East of The Sun by Heather Marie Adkins
This is a short story that showed INTRIGUING premise of new series with a lot of possibilities.
Earth is poisonous, no one can touch it. The whole world is in the rampage, everyone does what they can to survive.
Suddenly an anomaly happens - a girl survives to touch the Earth! Where will it lead? What are circumstances of all events? Who is who? Who can she trust?
Read this shortie to learn it!

Rabid Reader

959 reviews16 followers

Momma Says: To Read or Not to Read

“Empires of Shadow and Ash” is a great anthology with some excellent stories. My favourite is “TSUNAMI RIDERS” by Rita Stradling. This story really captures the imagination. A world slowly being destroyed by the ocean, with tsunamis eroding the land and isolated pockets of civilization that only survive at the will of the goddess Tiamat, and from the supplies that the tsunami riders sell. Navigating the ocean by using the power of the tsunamis to take you from place to place is dangerous and exciting. The concept behind being a rider, the uniqueness of being a navigator and their connection to the ocean is truly fascinating. The simmering sexuality between Angel, Desi and Crispin and the unpredictability of their lives is great. The risks, adventure, intrigue, heat and relationships in this story defiantly leave you wanting more of this thrilling world.
My second favourite was THE TAINTED” by Frost Kay. It is a story full of emotion, turmoil and strife. The twists in this story are mind boggling and you really wonder how Hazel survives it all.
I also really liked “DIVINE GIFT” by Miranda Martin. It is a compelling post apocalyptic story with a strong, independent female lead.
This is a wonderful collection of books by a great collection of authors

Caroline

13 reviews1 follower

April 24, 2018

I am reviewing this collection based on the novella, "Witch of the Midnight Blade" by Kris Austen Radcliffe part of her Fate Fire Shifter Dragon series. This is an urban fantasy novella surrounding Philadelphia (Del), a young woman who works at a retirement home. She starts to feel something is off about the community home and starts to realize the these are not the typical elderly. Shifters, fates, and hellhounds? Oh my! It's a battle for survival in a fast paced adventure that will have you turning the pages of your e-reader as fast as your eyes can scan and process the words. As with any KAR novel I highly recommend.

3,441 reviews113 followers

I've read Fate's Illusion by Allyson Lindt and if it's any indication of what's included in this set, it's a must read. True to form, Lindt has given us a quirky heroine and this one is right in middle of a world ruled by the Greek gods. You'd think that being the daughter of Hades would give Lexi an advantage, some measure of safety, but it's quite the opposite in her crazy world. This is a reverse harem story, but we get a bit of twist with the fated loves aspect. Of course, that leads to some steamy goodness for Lexi, along with some decisions to make. With some fantastic world-building, this action-packed, steamy romance is everything I've come to expect from a good Urban Fantasy.

Elsbeth

838 reviews

booksprout goodread-authors

I only read Divine Gift by Miranda Martin, but that story alone makes this set worth your while.
Wonderful story with lots of adventures, friendships, sexual tension, enemies of all kinds and magic. I really enjoyed this, I couldn't put it down!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Debbie Eyre

5,918 reviews116 followers

May 14, 2020

The story was good, the characters intriguing and had a few twists thrown in to keep you on your toes. It’s hot and sexy and is intriguing and exciting.

Melissa

440 reviews4 followers

Read only Sky of Fire and Ash by Julie and Audrey and I love it!! Cannot wait to read more about Fallon, Pip and Rek!

Cheryl

263 reviews5 followers

This is for The Vampire’s Masquerade by Kiersten Fay
Did I love this book? Yes!
Would I recommend it to others? Yes!
Is there a lot of sex/steam? Yes.
Does it add/take away from the book? I think it adds to the book. These two have amazing chemistry.

Belinda Clemons

2,452 reviews29 followers

March 25, 2019

I ve only read 2 books so far in this set but boy were they explosive
Frost Kay's The Tainted was wow it had so many twists that I just was on the edge of my seat the whole time reading it it was an adventure reading it that's for sure Hazel was amazingly strong I just loved her character a lot Frost has hit the ball out of the park with this one.

Fates Illusion by Allyson Lindt was so vivid I was watching it come to life in my head as I was reading it. Lexi's father is Hades and like him she hates the other gods. in the first couple of pages she gets attacked by a gargoyle of all things but before things got bloody Actaeon killed it and said a few words about the tattoo of Death she has then leaves. i like Actaeon a lot and I love Cerberus I really cant wait to see what will happen with these characters.

Heather Marie Adkins East of the Sun was Intriguing exciting and sad all at the same time. I really like Terra and Roark and was sad about Rowan. but this is a post apocalyptic story so everything cant be happy. the ending has me wanting to know what will happen to these characters next

Rebecca Hamilton's Her Sweetest Downfall was really good I enjoyed reading it and was really happy at how it ended Rebecca never falls t make me enjoy a story.

Krystal

213 reviews

June 27, 2018

Fantastic, magical, wonderfully engaging read!

This was a fantastic, wonderfully written box set. Each story brings a unique and sometimes harsh fantasy world that keeps the pages turning with each adventure. They have everything from demons, angels, vampires, witches, zombies & so much more from the beginning of a new world to the end of Earth. I really enjoyed it. Reviews for each book are below.

East of the Sun by Heather Adkins *****
The Earth has become a chilling place in this story of survival. Has a bit of syfy horror to it.

Fate’s Illusion by Allyson Lindt *****
Greek God’s have taken over the world in this humorous tale with Hade’s daughter Lexi as the heroine. Action packed with loads of puzzling mysteries & a bit of romance.

Sky of Fire & Ash by Julie Hall & Audrey Grey*****
Awesome dragon story with a twist that makes this one an intriguing read with a new kind of firewalker.

Witch of the Midnight Blade by Kris Radcliffe*****
This one is action packed with a twist to the beginning of the end of the world. Del is just an average caregiver in a retirement home that is more than it seems, until a demon wants her. Masterfully written with a few surprises.

Last Escape by Pauline Creeden****
This interesting tale left a bit of a twist for our heroine Scarlet. Although a good read, this one is a little disjointed in some areas.

Soulless by Monica Corwin*****
Love the twist on Reapers & souls in this story. Fast paced & packed full of surprises.

The Vampire Masquerade by Kiersten Fay*****
Wonderful read from beginning to end. This story sweeps you up for amazing journey into a world of vampires that is smart, funny, hot & entertaining with never a boring moment.

Elemental Origin by J.A. Culican & Melle Amade*****
A unique & imaginative read with some unusual characters that keep the pages turning.

Resistance by Fiona Quinn*****
This read brings magic, mystery & danger throughout with well develop characters. Ember’s a strong witch who will need all her strength to help Tera & Crispin.

Tsunami Riders by Rita Stradling*****
Desiree has a strong gift with the ocean, which is needed in this water covered Earth. An adventure worth riding the waves for.

Spark of War by J.A. Culican****
Dragons have awaken & war is raging, but that doesn’t mean they need to get involved. Jaekob believes this until it nearly cost him everything. This is a heart wrenching tale of war & youth.

Zombie Infestation by L J Bushman*****
Serena’s a mother of two that kills zombies. This is an enjoyable story of a mom who can kick some serious a**. Between the zombies & the FBI there is never a dull moment & quite a few humorous ones.

Vampire Hunter Girl by Carysa Locke*****
Loved this take on the dhampir. This is masterfully written with engaging in-depth characters & some time travel. Elysia an Eidola dhampir with a gift she doesn’t want or understand, however Gaia will not be denied.

Divine Gift by Miranda Martin*****
The apocalypse has come in this tale that mixes dark & light into shades of gray. Aviella journey is chaotic at times but a great read.

The Tainted by Frost Kay*****
Hazel has grit & an amazing strength of character in her fight of survival. This is a dark adventurous read that will leave you gasping for more.

Fire and Ashes by Nicole Zoltack***
This apocalyptic word is over run by vampires with only the fittest surviving. Although the concept was interesting the story itself dragged on with little clarity or cohesiveness in parts.

Kiss of Offering by Taige Crenshaw & McKenna Jeffries*****
Who knew a plant could be so dangerous? Mischa Tanner & some of her crew of course. This short enjoyable read will have the pages flying as your immersed into a world where magic often leads to chaos.

Nocturnes by Jade Kerrion*****
This fierce & courageous story of a mother’s love was not what it seemed. Surprisingly deep it sucks you right in until the last word.

Olansia by Catherine Banks*****
Riddled with wit, humor, danger & yes a bit of romance this tale is great & fast read.

Her Sweetest Downfall by Rebecca Hamilton*****
This story takes you back to a time where witches were burned at the staked. For Ophelia the mark of the ouroboros couldn’t have come at a worse time. Her journey becomes at once horrible & magical.

Sarah

496 reviews1 follower

would seriously reccomend this box set to anyone who loves great stories and fantastic worlds.

Divine Gift by Miranda Martin
Aviella is such a strong, independent woman who is trying to find her place in a world gone to hell, literally. The post apocalyptic world is worse than anything but she is finding those who she needs to understand her special powers. This story is so gripping, so compelling, I couldn't put it down at all. The imagination needed to put together this story is astounding and I can't wait for the next installment.

Vampire's Masquerade by Kierstan Fay
Kasmin is the coolest, bad@ss lady I've seen! While she came across as timid and innocent at first, she really came into herself after meeting Lex. Lex, who happens to be a vampire, only wants something casual, no dating. But amazingly he can't stay away from Kasmin, especially as it relates to her exboyfriend Brian. I did NOT like Brian from the beginning! He came off as a spoiled, immature, very young boy. I loved the dynamics of the post world civil war civilization. It shows how humanity will always persevere!

The Tainted by Frost Kay
Holy Mackerel! This story has so many twists, turns, flips to keep anyone guessing! The world pictured here seems so truthful, especially as it could really happen. Hazel is one of the strongest people I have ever seen. What she is made to go through, by those surrounding her, is so harsh, so defining that I couldn't believe she is surviving it. This storyline makes me wonder, cry, shake my fist angrily, that I couldn't stop reading it! Prepare to have your mind blown by Frost Kay!

Fate's Illusion (Truth's Harem #1) by Allyson Lindt
This one hits hard so fast. I could totally see this happening if the Greek Gods were real and decided to command dominion over the Earth again. Lexi has to be strong, but her strength is so internalized, it comes off stronger than anyone else. Her blood father is Hades and one of her companions is his servant, Cereberus. Her other companion is Actaeon, who is a hero who doesn't act. I found their journey to be so real, even when it was just an illusion, and that what they learned was very valuable.

Witch of the Midnight Blade by Kris Austen Radcliffe
I would only give this one two stars. I was quite lost during this story. While it had action, paranormal aspects, and fun characters, I found I really didn't understand what was happening. It didn't help that Del herself had no clue what was going on and didn't really get straight answers to her questions either. I feel like there is a lot going on we don't see and the final chapter really threw me for a loop. It didn't tie anything up but seemed to make things worse.

Tsunami Riders by Rita Straddling
What a unique tale! Dez, Angel, and Crispin are all so different but so connected in different ways. Tiamet creating the tsunamis was very different than any other story I have read. This story has action, adventure, adrenaline, danger, and a little bit of romance. It will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Spark of War by J. A. Culican
Three star story
At first this story was confusing. I had no idea what to actually make of Jaekob, Kalvin, and Jaekob's father Mikah. It was hard to understand just how old the two boys were. The story really got interesting in the last third of the book. At some points it felt like the story jumped without connection to what happened next.

Elemental Origin by J.A. Culican and Melle Amade
This story was so intrepid, so dangerous and fantastical that I truly could not stop reading. Lyra was so strong, so stubborn down in the mines against all the trolls, dwarves, and eVols. Her pod, Lex, Vash, Byron, Maxwell, and Harrison, are her true loves, although there is no romance or intimacy. The strength she has to have to get herself out and back with her boys is fierce! The trials she has to go through make or break a person. Such a convoluted, heartbreaking but also heart lifting story.

Emily

267 reviews17 followers

I love dystopian and urban fantasy, so I had to preorder this set!
I have been able to read two ARCs already, and it makes me even more excited about this collection. :-)

The Tainted by Frost Kay:
I am a huge fan of Frost Kay -- I love everything she writes -- and this story did not disappoint. Hazel is a young girl living in a fenced-in community in a post apocalyptic society. As the heiress of the community, she has been isolated from the reality of the outside world, a world of "tainted," mutated people and animals. When it comes time for her to choose a husband in "the Blending," she is unsure what to do. After going to a party outside the walls the night before the Blending, she is set on an adventure that completely changes her life.
The first part of this story started out rather slow, and there is a feeling of Hazel being caged in to a life of duty. She seems very responsible and very pleasant, but it is a sad existence. Near the middle, the pace picks up, and I was quite shocked at how the story progressed. This story is dark, gritty, and I love it! This one was hard to put down. :-) I am very much looking forward to the next installment.

I also got to read a copy of "Divine Gift" by Miranda Martin.
Aviellla is a gifted girl who lives underground with the remainder of society. The "seals" of Revelation have broken, and angels, demons, and monsters roam the planet. Aviella meets a group of people whose power is unlike anything she has seen, and she slowly becomes used to using her abilities to survive rather than hiding them.
I have never read anything about this particular kind of apocalypse, which makes this book very unique. This story is very imaginative, and I would be interested in learning more about the specifics of the seals breaking and the angels and demons on the surface. The events of the story are very contained underground.
I'm not a fan of the "reverse harem" feel of this book. Aviella is intensely attracted to all eight main male characters and also to other male characters that we see in passing. She has the same feelings when in close proximity to any of them.
I also am not a fan of "the chosen one" trope. It is also frustrating that Aviella is so obviously powerful but no one will tell her anything of substance. They all seem to be keeping things from her. This causes problems as a result.
They also seem to be on the run all the time.
I liked the relationship between her and Rowan.
Overall, an interesting twist on Biblical prophecy.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Carol 27

1,093 reviews

distopian supernatural urban-fantasy

FATE’S ILLUSION by Allyson Lindt …. 4.5 stars & THE VAMPIRE’S MASQUERADE by Kiersten Fay … 3.5 stars

Here are my reviews for these two books ….

FATE’S ILLUSION by Allyson Lindt …. 4.5 stars

This is a good urban fantasy that’s full of action, adventure, betrayal, mythology and some steamy reverse harem romance. The story is well written with an interesting premise – Greek gods in modern times demanding sacrifice to appease their bruised egos due to lack of worship. Lexi is the daughter of Hades, and as such, has a special gift which puts her on the radar of the other gods. To thwart the gods, she agrees to a quest to free daddy-not-so-dearest from his prison. To aid her on her journey is Cerberus, Hade’s minion and Actaeon, the hero-son of the moon goddess Artemis. Both are stalwart, courageous companions and well suited to the task. For me, the trials at the labyrinth could have been more substantial to uniquely challenge everyone’s skill set. That aside, I very much enjoyed this story and the inclusion of so many of the Greek gods, heroes and mythological creatures that were featured. I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from the author and am voluntarily leaving a review.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

THE VAMPIRE’S MASQUERADE by Kiersten Fay … 3.5 stars

This is a sweet romance with a small side of suspense and a huge side of steam! This isn’t your typical vampire paranormal romance – at least not from my perspective. I would have thought I was reading a contemporary romance if it hadn’t been for the fangs, some blood drinking and the occasional mind compelling. Lex, the vampire, is considerate, sweet, respectful ... not at all what I was expecting and certainly not what I’ve experienced in this genre. Perhaps that was the author’s intent – to break the stereotypical vampire mold. If so, then she succeeded. As for the plot … this is essentially the story of a woman whose ex is desperately trying to win her back while the woman prefers the vampire. And who wouldn’t!?
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

arc

Katherine Paschal

2,304 reviews63 followers

June 15, 2018

All the books included in this set are really interesting and written by great authors. If you are looking for dystopian reads with an urban fantasy flair then this is the perfect collection to pick up. (this is pretty much just a mesh of my two favorite genres so I had to preorder it when I discovered it existed months ago. I am happy to report that I was not let down with this box set, it was an amazing value for what is included. Each story was so completely unique and pretty fast to read through. One story in particular made me happy, and it was Sky of Fire & Ash by Audrey Grey and Julie Hall.

Review of Sky of Fire & Ash
I have previously read Audrey Grey's work (aka Our Dark Stars) and absolutely fell in love with the world she was able to create, the characters she brought to life, and the conflicts that exploded on the pages making her one of my new favorite authors and I was super excited to learn she had a dragon dystopian story coming out in a collection of fabulous urban fantasy reads. I love dragons and adore dystopian so there was no doubt I was going to read her story. I have never read anything by Julie but her books are on my wishlist and I have been wanting to read her and found this to be the perfect opportunity.

We are introduced to Fallon, a genetically created girl who has the ability to withstand fire so that she can battle the dragons that have almost ahniliated mankind. But when Fallon ends up being kidnapped, she learns more about the war than she could ever have imagined.

This story was able to be nonstop action, with prickly Fallon ending up in one dangerous situation to another, be it flying through the sky to battling dragons to the death. Keep in mind that this was a short story, which I usually avoid, but this was so good! There was world building, character building and plot- not to mention an interesting love interest (yay Rek!) and the best dynamic between Fallon and her bestie Pip (I heart Pip!). But, the ending was devastating! I need more now so pretty please make me another book asap and put me out of my plotting future outcomes for Fallon misery.

Cath

950 reviews17 followers

June 22, 2018

This novella is included in the Empires of Shadow and Ash limited edition collection of Urban Fantasy and Dystopian novels. Its main character is a dragon called Jaekob, son to the First Councillor of the Dragon Council, Mikah. The story follows Jaekob and his childhood friends, Kalvin and Jewel, as all the dragons are awoken again. This only normally happens when the world outside is at war and hasn’t happened for decades, since the second Germanic war.

The dragon clans have lived underground for generations and never show themselves above ground any more, until the rising occurs. Upon awaking, the dragons start to get some alarms being tripped from their warded entrances and cave structures. An egg is also stolen and this brings anger and accusations amongst different groups of dragons and Jaekob has to intervene. He doesn’t want to follow his father into the Council, nor has any interest in fighting or politics. He just wants to work in a smithy creating his pieces of art.

Destiny gets in the way and what happens next makes him grow up quickly and have to pursue a different path than he expected. His personality takes some strong hits of an emotional nature as he and his friends explore long forgotten caves and tunnels and come across things that should be impossible. Obviously don’t want to give away any actual details, but the events certainly affect the dragon Jaekob is to become. In dragon years Jaekob and his friends are classed as older teenagers, but are in human years about eighty or so, since dragons can live a very long life.

I loved all the extra details that are added to the story, from the places eggs are kept to what happens if a dragon dies and so many more. The author certainly has a real imagination and ability to describe the world their characters inhabit in such a realistic manner. I bought the boxed set of books, but this is my freely given opinion of the book Through the Ashes prequel : Spark of Fire (book 4 in the series). The next book in the series is Through the Ashes : Sword of Fire (book 1), which takes place some ten years after the prequel. I found it very useful to read the prequel first to get to know the characters.

Michelle

171 reviews

My review is on the book, The Vampire's Masquerade by Kiersten Fay, as that is the only book in the set I've read so far. If I wasn’t hooked on vampires with Fay’s first Ever Nights book, I am now. A lot of us can relate to that guy who suddenly shows another, less likeable side eventually after a relationship has gotten serious. Kasima’s boyfriend, Brian, turns into a jerk and talks her into a “free pass” night at Ever Nights. Big mistake for him, as she has a run-in with a hot vampire (Lex) at the club while sitting at the bar wishing the creeps would leave her alone and for the night to just get over with. The pages are already steaming by the end of the very first chapter, and the steam hardly lets up through the rest of the book. The steamy scenes are tastefully done though, and there is an underlying story that tugs at your heart strings as what is supposed to be a “friends with benefits” thing between Kasima and Lex turns into something more. There is also some drama/action near the end that will make you stay up too late to see what happens, as Brian just won’t let her go.

Although quite a few of the characters are from the previous Ever Nights book, this could be read as a standalone, as the main character is new and Ever Nights is new to her, so the author does a good job explaining the club and the rest of them.

I did receive a copy of Fay’s book in exchange for an honest review, but I gladly pre-bought the set knowing what a good find this would be. Just her book alone was well worth the money, and there are some great authors in the set with a variety of fantasy I'm looking forward to reading.

Kristen Lewendon

8,429 reviews63 followers

Kim - Inside the Wong Mind

Fate's Illusion by Allyson Lindt
This takes the whole Greek pantheon and dumps it soundly on it’s collective head. Nothing is quite as it seems and even less as you’d expect it. There are parts of this that remind me a lot of the author’s Reagan Through the Looking Glass. Especially the kick-butt heroine and her two seemingly morally ambiguous heroes. (Though neither of them goes to the extremes of Hatter or Hare. At least not yet.) this opens a new and addictive series. I can’t wait to see what comes next.
Resistance by Fiona Quinn
I don’t think I’ve ever seen myth, magic, and the paranormal handled in quite this way before, and it's amazing. I love how much care and research obviously went into the writing of the magic rituals in the novel. While the traditions I'm familiar with ascribe the elements to different directions and would call the quarters in a different order, the foundation is solid and helped to make the world of the series feel even more real to me. Ember’s a strong, capable lead character with enough flaws to make her interesting, believable, and ‘human’. The plot twists and turns and doubles back on itself leaving the reader wondering what’s true and what’s just propaganda. When all was said and done, I wasn't ready for it to be over. There's still questions I want answers to and I will be counting down the days until the next book is available.
I received a complimentary copy of these stories.

387 reviews30 followers

Sky of Fire and Ash
by Julie Hall & Audrey Grey
Novella in Empires of Shadow and Ash: A Limited Edition Collection
Rating: 4/5

I absolutely loved the story and completed it within a couple hours. Recently, I became a huge fan of Julie Hall and her Life After series and when I saw she had another book coming out, I had to read it. Now, I’m going to have to read more Audrey Grey too. It’s that good.

Now to the story…DRAGONS! Who doesn’t love dragons? I admit I haven’t had a chance to read much regarding dragons but the story swept me up and I was so sad to see it end. Novellas have a way of taking you on a journey that you don’t want to end. The story does not rush to conclusions though at the end which is usually a consequence of length.

This is a beautiful story about self-discovery. Fallon is a Firewalker who has never fit in but she tries to do the job she was created for — kill scorchers in the war against the drakoni. However, when a mission goes “horribly wrong” (on her birthday no less) the truth about who she is and what she’s fighting for is just beginning. Will she be able to save her people? Will she accept her true destiny?

I highly recommend this book. I took off one star because I haven’t read the rest of the stories yet but honestly, paying $0.99 for this one story is so worth it. Anything else is just extra icing!

Vivian Chrisman

2,811 reviews4 followers

While I am familiar with several authors in this box set, some are new to me. I look forward to reading all the stories but have only finished two so far. Below are the reviews of those two.

"Divine Gift" by Miranda Martin:
This is the first book in a new series set in a "new world". Aviella has spent her whole life knowing that she is different and trying to control/hide "It". All she really wants is to find somewhere she belongs. There are several twists and turns along the way as well as the introduction of those who become her protectors. Will be interesting to see what is happens next in this "new world".

"Vampire's Masquerade" by Kiersten Fay:
Would you agree to a one-night "free pass"? This is the question Kasima has to face. It is also why she finds herself at a masquerade ball watching her boyfriend "flirt" with other women. It's also why she ends up having fun with a stranger. What happens when the night ends? Does it have to end? Is Kasima's relationship what she truly wants? Will this "little dove" find her wings or will jealousy destroy all? So many questions that I won't answer. You will have to read to find them.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout as well as purchasing a copy and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Katie Carroll

11 reviews2 followers

September 3, 2018

I have only read East of the Sun by Heather Marine Adkins on a freebie site and searched for this book separately so I could review it. But it hasn't popped up anywhere except in this box set. This story captivated me from the beginning. The concept of earth being poisonous and actually retaliating against humankind is a new concept to the widespread interest of the post-apocalyptic genre. The earth (Danu) being so toxic to live on was such an intriguing notion, and I'm not sure if earth was consciously trying to exterminate humans or what. There were many hints that earth was like this angry God/Goddess seeking revenge on humans who ruined her instead of earth just being a non-thinking planet that was simply reacting to the disastrous conditions humans caused. Finding out Terra was able to survive touching the earth and swimming in the water begs the questions why and how. Then her best friend dies which I was not at all prepared for even though I read a summary of the book before choosing to read it. Abruptly it ends on a cliffhanger (which doesn't bug me), but I am now left desperately craving more. What happens next? What does Terra discover on her journey? I'm so excited for book 2!

Penny

3,142 reviews85 followers

Generally, I don't talk about specific books in a set as I don't think it's conducive, but I am this time as I am not going to read this all at once. This review is, at this moment, just a review for one of the stories, East of the Sun. I had to come and write it while the words were fresh in my mind. I’ll update as I can. Every time I read a book/novella/story from Heather Marie Adkins, I am amazed at how well she writes! I have to warn you that this story does end on a cliffhanger, but I am so very eager to read more! I feel that there was a whole story just in the little I read, she is that good! Also, I admit I’m not a big fan of dystopian novels, but this one was excellent. 1st addition: just finished Divine Gift by Miranda Martin. For some reason, I thought I had read this author before, but I was wrong. I have to say this was a very intriguing book. As the one before, this did end on a cliffhanger. This book did lean towards more of a YA/NA feel if that is more your speed. This story was well-written and interesting, and I can't wait to read more about this world! I’m excited to read more in this set, and I can recommend this set highly just based on these stories alone! I was provided the e-book which I voluntarily reviewed but I did get my own copy.

Shannon Pemrick

Author 20 books191 followers

This review is for the second book in this set, Fate's Illusion. I started with this author because I've read her other books and loved them and I'll get to the other books soon (review will be updated when I do).

Fate's Illusion, wow. What a book. There's no time to prepare as events unfold quickly for Lexi right out of the gate. Hiding from the Greek gods that now control the world after an uprising only a few decades before, Lexi is no stranger to sticking to the shadows and trusting no one. Well, except Cerberus. Yes, the three headed dog of hell. THAT Cerberus. Together they have a crazy plan for one of the "dead" gods, though their motives are vastly different. Add in a broody hero by the name of Actaeon, and some god meddling, and things get even more complicated.

The chemistry between the characters is off the charts, though I found Lexi's and Cerberus' chemistry stronger and more likely to work out than hers and Actaeon's. It'll be interesting to see how that all develops through into the next book coming out later this year.

If you like thrilling stories, reverse harem action, strong heroes and heroines, and meddlesome gods, this is a book to read.

Ashley

1,178 reviews45 followers

dystopia kindle paranormal

Sky of Fire and Ash by Julie Hall and Audrey Grey
Dragon stories are usually hit or miss for me. I either love them or I can't stand them. Well, Sky of Fire and Ash definitely falls into the LOVE category. It was such an awesome read! There was so much action, intrigue, and fierce characters. I was completely hooked from the opening sentence. It was unputdownable and I found myself constantly on the edge of my seat. It's so good!

Fallon's an instantly likable character, as is her friend Pip. One of my favorite aspects of this story was their strong and unwavering friendship. And Rek...oh my... where do I even begin with him? I think I have a new crush!

The world building was spectacular. There's dragons, or drakoni, lots of different types of them, and I found it so interesting learning about them.

Even though this is a novella, it didn't lack anything. There's so much packed into it and it felt just the right length to me. I'm super eager for the next installment though! I can't recommend this highly enough!

Toni

2,378 reviews24 followers

June 23, 2018

This review is of one story within this set: The Vampire's Masquerade
Kasima is at the local vampire bar, Ever Nights. She got talked into it by her boyfriend and coworker Brian. This is a one night one free pass to do whatever they want before progressing with their relationship. Kasima isn;t too particularly fond of this idea and wants to leave to keep from watching her Brian making out with other women. Then she is rescued from a situation by Lex, a vampire. She leaves with him and they have a fantastic night. She feels guilty and on a date with Brian confesses her one night romp. Needless to say Brian was not thrilled and decides that he needs to go back to that club so he can use his pass that he supposedly didn;t use that night. Kasima breaks with Brian and from that moment on Lex consumes her thoughts. Then danger lurks in her life .
WOW! This is a fantastic story with a beautiful story.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Renee Arthur

433 reviews4 followers

I've read Tsunami Riders by Rita Stradling and looking forward to reading more of this set.

You think you want to catch a wave? In the future, those waves are tsunamis and people live on mountain tops to survive them. Angel, the captain, Dezzie, the navigator, and their crew ride those waves
on boats similar to surfboards in order to bring much needed supplies to the colonies. In one of the colonies they run into Gareth, a captain of a rival supplier, who is not a nice guy and loves to cause trouble. Later, they find a man tied up and hanging from chains on a cliff. When he manages to get himself untied, Dezzie makes a miraculous save and they bring him aboard. Things get even more interesting after that, but I don't want to spoil it for you. There's lots of action and adventure in this novella and I could see it becoming a series of books. If it does, I'll definitely be reading them!

amanda miller

6 reviews2 followers

My review is based off of Sky of Shadow and Ash by Audrey Grey and Julie G Hall.

I normally read a wide variety of books with sci fi dystopian being toward the least read of all the other types out there. But after reading the arc copy of this book I am completely hooked. Since dragons are well know as myths I figured it would be hard to write them in. The authors have surpassed my train of thought with this book. It was so hard to put it down, I read the entire book in a matter of three hours.

The characters all have loveable and hateable characteristics and this brings them more to life. Fallon is a very loveable character and has so many qualities to make her seem more lifelike. Her bond with her best friend is one we all have with our best friend.

I can’t wait to read more of this story and more of the novellas in this box set. This story has made me change my mind about this genre and I will be looking for more books just like it soon.

Priscila

854 reviews86 followers