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Lick of Fire #7
Rising Darkness
He cannot die…
The phoenix will continuously rise from the ashes. For Zenon, this is his ultimate curse. Left to rot at the end of a chain for millennia, he is desperate to end the suffering of one horrendous demise, and rebirth, after another - to finally find peace. Desperate for anything other than his fated life of solitude. Desperate for his true death.
She cannot live…
Tormented by an unrelenting heart affliction, Nickie has to endure dying repeatedly. The physical pain of death is eclipsed only by the paralyzing fear of when her heart will stop beating next… and whether or not this time will be the last. That is, until she learns the myth of phoenix shifters, and the healing power they have over their human mates.
Together they could be everything…
An evil is rising. One more powerful than any the phoenix shifters have faced before. If Zenon and Nickie cannot convince the others to help, the pain they’ve already endured will pale in comparison to their future.
The phoenix will continuously rise from the ashes. For Zenon, this is his ultimate curse. Left to rot at the end of a chain for millennia, he is desperate to end the suffering of one horrendous demise, and rebirth, after another - to finally find peace. Desperate for anything other than his fated life of solitude. Desperate for his true death.
She cannot live…
Tormented by an unrelenting heart affliction, Nickie has to endure dying repeatedly. The physical pain of death is eclipsed only by the paralyzing fear of when her heart will stop beating next… and whether or not this time will be the last. That is, until she learns the myth of phoenix shifters, and the healing power they have over their human mates.
Together they could be everything…
An evil is rising. One more powerful than any the phoenix shifters have faced before. If Zenon and Nickie cannot convince the others to help, the pain they’ve already endured will pale in comparison to their future.
295 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 15, 2018
53 people are currently reading
121 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
May 17, 2018
Note: I received an advanced review copy in exchange for my honest review.
Rising Darkness is the 1st book in the Lick of Fire series.
Being the first book, obviously reading the synopsis - it's simple. Phoenix Paranormal Romance. That alone caught my interest because well you don't see many books about them.
The story I really liked, I loved how you can tell its going to be a series...which for me I enjoy as if its a good book it means more. The characters each have a story, so you are drawn into wanting to know more which helps add the emphasis of what the main characters are going through themselves.
Without spoiling anything, I'll say that things don't come easy on a emotional level which I really liked. While you eventually have the "couple" it took time, effort and they need to get through different issues to well work out...so for me I felt there was a pinch of realism. I don't really love books where its mate meets fated mate = happily ever after; everything is perfect and rainbows & puppies. (note: i do like puppies and rainbows.) > I just want a couple to come together and while they know they should be together its never so simple...
The story length is great, wasn't super short but long enough to keep you interested and allows enough characters to develop and interesting things to happen too. I really did enjoy this book overall, and actually am excited that there will be more in the series soon.
If you like Elianne Adams - you will enjoy this book. It's just as good as her other books, and its actually one of my favs out of most. To sum it up: I recommend buying & reading this!
Rising Darkness is the 1st book in the Lick of Fire series.
Being the first book, obviously reading the synopsis - it's simple. Phoenix Paranormal Romance. That alone caught my interest because well you don't see many books about them.
The story I really liked, I loved how you can tell its going to be a series...which for me I enjoy as if its a good book it means more. The characters each have a story, so you are drawn into wanting to know more which helps add the emphasis of what the main characters are going through themselves.
Without spoiling anything, I'll say that things don't come easy on a emotional level which I really liked. While you eventually have the "couple" it took time, effort and they need to get through different issues to well work out...so for me I felt there was a pinch of realism. I don't really love books where its mate meets fated mate = happily ever after; everything is perfect and rainbows & puppies. (note: i do like puppies and rainbows.) > I just want a couple to come together and while they know they should be together its never so simple...
The story length is great, wasn't super short but long enough to keep you interested and allows enough characters to develop and interesting things to happen too. I really did enjoy this book overall, and actually am excited that there will be more in the series soon.
If you like Elianne Adams - you will enjoy this book. It's just as good as her other books, and its actually one of my favs out of most. To sum it up: I recommend buying & reading this!
May 13, 2018
Liked the characters we meet, even the crazy women.
This book has a really sad situation with all those wonderful magical creatures tortured to death like that.
First few pages really grab you then it became a little bit of a slow read. I put this down to new world building over information but I am not sure, as we are only given a very small amount of information about the baddies. Have no idea why they are doing what they are? I am expecting things to be revealed as this series progresses as there are a few gaps.
Really liked Nicki, she has gone through so much. Then got annoyed when she accepts Zenon disrespecting her, without a real apology. An orgasm is not an apology no matter how good the orgasm.
Poor Zenon has been through something worse than hell and it seems his brothers have too.
Unfortunately it feels as if Zenon does not respect Nicki. After being told numerous times they are stronger together, he leaves her and goes off on his own, right into a trap.
After all the pain Zenon causes Nicki after being caught, there is little in the way of apology to Nicki. His remorse was lacking for me.
Think the friend Jasmine deserves her own story.
For all that a couple of things annoyed me, I enjoyed this and will be reading the next book.
This is my honest review of this book.
This book has a really sad situation with all those wonderful magical creatures tortured to death like that.
First few pages really grab you then it became a little bit of a slow read. I put this down to new world building over information but I am not sure, as we are only given a very small amount of information about the baddies. Have no idea why they are doing what they are? I am expecting things to be revealed as this series progresses as there are a few gaps.
Really liked Nicki, she has gone through so much. Then got annoyed when she accepts Zenon disrespecting her, without a real apology. An orgasm is not an apology no matter how good the orgasm.
Poor Zenon has been through something worse than hell and it seems his brothers have too.
Unfortunately it feels as if Zenon does not respect Nicki. After being told numerous times they are stronger together, he leaves her and goes off on his own, right into a trap.
After all the pain Zenon causes Nicki after being caught, there is little in the way of apology to Nicki. His remorse was lacking for me.
Think the friend Jasmine deserves her own story.
For all that a couple of things annoyed me, I enjoyed this and will be reading the next book.
This is my honest review of this book.
October 18, 2020
Very Good!
I was hooked into this story from the 1st page into the last as the story is full of fast paced action, good vs bad scenes/plots & some light sex scenes.
Nickie & a bunch of other women who have the same health condition (of dying & then coming back to life) haven gotten together with some help from some witches to go find their mates that have the same health condition.
Zenon (who is a male, but, unfortunately that name reminds me of a couple of Disney movies that I saw about a girl with that name), is a Phoenix shifter that was captured & has also been tortured for centuries not only by the people that captured him but also by some other creature from a different realm that is always using him as food.
When Nickie finds Zenon he is in a field dying & Nickie knows that he’s hers as she can feel herself about to die too. Well that & because the witch told them that they would know.
This is the beginning of their story & if you want to know more then you will have to read the book too.
I was hooked into this story from the 1st page into the last as the story is full of fast paced action, good vs bad scenes/plots & some light sex scenes.
Nickie & a bunch of other women who have the same health condition (of dying & then coming back to life) haven gotten together with some help from some witches to go find their mates that have the same health condition.
Zenon (who is a male, but, unfortunately that name reminds me of a couple of Disney movies that I saw about a girl with that name), is a Phoenix shifter that was captured & has also been tortured for centuries not only by the people that captured him but also by some other creature from a different realm that is always using him as food.
When Nickie finds Zenon he is in a field dying & Nickie knows that he’s hers as she can feel herself about to die too. Well that & because the witch told them that they would know.
This is the beginning of their story & if you want to know more then you will have to read the book too.
June 14, 2018
Zenon
This KU library selection is the first book by this author in a multi author series, making it book seven in the series. I haven't read any of the other books in the series, but this standalone really caught my interest. Xenon is a Phoenix who was captured and shackled by black magic untold centuries before. He dies repeatedly, only to rise and die again. But now, unknown to him, a human woman is tied to him, dieing and rising in synch with him.
Nickie has had a heart condition since she was a child. She dies and comes back with frightening regulatory, only recently learning the cause. She is matched to a Phoenix, a mythical being who exists and is being held captive while tortured and killed over and over again. She and others like her have been selected to free their mates, fighting the darkness that ensnared them. Nickie believes she is up for the challenge, but she has a lot to learn.
This KU library selection is the first book by this author in a multi author series, making it book seven in the series. I haven't read any of the other books in the series, but this standalone really caught my interest. Xenon is a Phoenix who was captured and shackled by black magic untold centuries before. He dies repeatedly, only to rise and die again. But now, unknown to him, a human woman is tied to him, dieing and rising in synch with him.
Nickie has had a heart condition since she was a child. She dies and comes back with frightening regulatory, only recently learning the cause. She is matched to a Phoenix, a mythical being who exists and is being held captive while tortured and killed over and over again. She and others like her have been selected to free their mates, fighting the darkness that ensnared them. Nickie believes she is up for the challenge, but she has a lot to learn.
August 6, 2018
This was my first phoenix shifter story and I was glad I read it. Phoenixes are such unique mystical creatures and I liked how Ms. Adams crafted the world they lived in.
Rising Darkness is a first book in a series which, based on the endig of this story, contains interconnected stories of different phoenix shifters held captive by dark magic. This story is about quite the fundamentals of this new series.
Nicki and Zenon make a lovely couple and through them the readers start to learn the phoenix shifters' nature and what happened to them all those years ago.
I gave it 3 stars because although this book is a standalone romance yet it will take the whole series to find out what caused the perish of the phoenixes and hopefully for the villains to get their punisment in equal mesures.
I liked the writing, the world building and the main characters too but still felt like a cliffhanger story-wise.
Rising Darkness is a first book in a series which, based on the endig of this story, contains interconnected stories of different phoenix shifters held captive by dark magic. This story is about quite the fundamentals of this new series.
Nicki and Zenon make a lovely couple and through them the readers start to learn the phoenix shifters' nature and what happened to them all those years ago.
I gave it 3 stars because although this book is a standalone romance yet it will take the whole series to find out what caused the perish of the phoenixes and hopefully for the villains to get their punisment in equal mesures.
I liked the writing, the world building and the main characters too but still felt like a cliffhanger story-wise.
May 15, 2018
Emotional Phoenix-Shifter Story!!
A phoenix chained by dark magic. While others around him met their death he continued to rise time after time. A young lady with a heart condition. She also faces death, but her rising is never guaranteed. When witches with good magic gathers a group of women they are charged with staying together and to find those in chains with a promise of a mating which will ensure their future health.
The phoenix we meet is Zenon. His phoenix so long chained and tortured reacts to Nickie as she is able to release him. But those using dark magic are on their trail. Will this mating “work” and can they find his brothers and free them also.
A gritty and emotional story, with a beautiful mate romance. Stirring read!!
*** I am voluntarily leaving my honest review of this book ***
A phoenix chained by dark magic. While others around him met their death he continued to rise time after time. A young lady with a heart condition. She also faces death, but her rising is never guaranteed. When witches with good magic gathers a group of women they are charged with staying together and to find those in chains with a promise of a mating which will ensure their future health.
The phoenix we meet is Zenon. His phoenix so long chained and tortured reacts to Nickie as she is able to release him. But those using dark magic are on their trail. Will this mating “work” and can they find his brothers and free them also.
A gritty and emotional story, with a beautiful mate romance. Stirring read!!
*** I am voluntarily leaving my honest review of this book ***
August 16, 2018
What an amazing start to the phoenix part of the Lick of Fire Series. I L.O.V.E.D. IT!!!
This is Nickie and Zenon's story and what a story it was! Love, heartache, & passion team up against unbelievable evil in this gripping tale of Phoenix shifters, witches, humans, and evil dark magic mages.
I wish we would have been provided a prologue to see what actually happened with how the girls were chosen, gathered, and what the witch told them. It would provide insight into the series I would have loved and I would have given it a 5 star review. I plan to continue with this series and also check out some of the other Authors writing in The Lick of Fire I haven't read before.
Also, Nickie talked about a sword the witch gave her and said she would need to learn to wield. As far as I can tell she abandoned it with the 1st vehicle. I hope it wasn't that important!!
This is Nickie and Zenon's story and what a story it was! Love, heartache, & passion team up against unbelievable evil in this gripping tale of Phoenix shifters, witches, humans, and evil dark magic mages.
I wish we would have been provided a prologue to see what actually happened with how the girls were chosen, gathered, and what the witch told them. It would provide insight into the series I would have loved and I would have given it a 5 star review. I plan to continue with this series and also check out some of the other Authors writing in The Lick of Fire I haven't read before.
Also, Nickie talked about a sword the witch gave her and said she would need to learn to wield. As far as I can tell she abandoned it with the 1st vehicle. I hope it wasn't that important!!
June 28, 2018
Full review of the book available on Paranormal Romance Lovers website.
To sum up my feelings, this book has a very promising setup and interesting premise on the plot, with enticing world full of magic, witches, and shifters. Attractive and catching right from the opening, but then slowing down the pace to explore the relationship between Nickie and Zenon, playing with the emotional side of the story, raising the heat level, and pushing the mission that builds the plot to the land of the forgotten. What I also lack is more information about the world building itself and the motives leading to the behavior of the antagonists -we know next to nothing. I would certainly approve of more balance between the plot development and romance in the book.
To sum up my feelings, this book has a very promising setup and interesting premise on the plot, with enticing world full of magic, witches, and shifters. Attractive and catching right from the opening, but then slowing down the pace to explore the relationship between Nickie and Zenon, playing with the emotional side of the story, raising the heat level, and pushing the mission that builds the plot to the land of the forgotten. What I also lack is more information about the world building itself and the motives leading to the behavior of the antagonists -we know next to nothing. I would certainly approve of more balance between the plot development and romance in the book.
August 8, 2018
Interesting shifter romance
The phoenix is a first for me in a shifter romance. The story was a bit confusing at the start. I wondered if it were more of a sci-fi romance. Then it settled into a groove and flowed more smoothly. Things finally started to make sense. I think the author could have done a better job of drawing the reader into the narrative. I also came across a handful of proofreading errors which generally weren't egregious enough to pull me from the story. Overall an engaging story with some stilted dialogue. Speaking of which, how were your hero and heroine able to understand each other? They wouldn't have been speaking much the same language, because language changes dramatically over the centuries.
The phoenix is a first for me in a shifter romance. The story was a bit confusing at the start. I wondered if it were more of a sci-fi romance. Then it settled into a groove and flowed more smoothly. Things finally started to make sense. I think the author could have done a better job of drawing the reader into the narrative. I also came across a handful of proofreading errors which generally weren't egregious enough to pull me from the story. Overall an engaging story with some stilted dialogue. Speaking of which, how were your hero and heroine able to understand each other? They wouldn't have been speaking much the same language, because language changes dramatically over the centuries.
September 18, 2018
Will the Phoenix ever learn that they're stronger with their mates?
Zenon is a phoenix that has been captured and tortured to death many times in his life but nothing will hurt as much as when his mate busts his balls when she catches up with him. He's determined to save her from harm but he's trying to do this alone....yeah that's not gonna fly with Nickie - she's gonna make him regret leaving her behind.
I loved the sparks that flew between Nickie and Zenon from the start. I loved the premise of this story and the way that the other characters are in the sidelines waiting for their voices to be heard. And I can't wait for Zander and Jackies story - I wonder if he'll be as daft as Zenon in thinking he can march into trouble alone without his mate? Silly Phoenix
Zenon is a phoenix that has been captured and tortured to death many times in his life but nothing will hurt as much as when his mate busts his balls when she catches up with him. He's determined to save her from harm but he's trying to do this alone....yeah that's not gonna fly with Nickie - she's gonna make him regret leaving her behind.
I loved the sparks that flew between Nickie and Zenon from the start. I loved the premise of this story and the way that the other characters are in the sidelines waiting for their voices to be heard. And I can't wait for Zander and Jackies story - I wonder if he'll be as daft as Zenon in thinking he can march into trouble alone without his mate? Silly Phoenix
May 21, 2018
Imaginative start to new series…Zenon, a Phoenix shifter, has been chained for centuries in a desolate place. Countless times, he has been attacked, tortured, dies, and rises again. In Nickie's short life, she has also been dying and coming back to life. With Zenon's rescue, Nickie and Zenon are on the run. I received a free copy of this book from the author. This is my honest and voluntary given review. This is an imaginative and suspenseful romance with a few steamy scenes. I love this new series by the author. It is at least as good as anything that she has written. I recommend this book and look forward to the next book in the series.
May 27, 2018
This story is simply incredible! I loved it from the first chapter right on through to the last word. It weaves a beautiful tale of love overcoming obstacles and stacked odds. Zenon, the phoenix shifter, has loved many lifetimes in the desolate field of misery, dying and regenerating over and over again. Nickie has a fatal heart condition, as in she dies every so often but then her heart stirs again and she lives. It's a mystery to be healed through any means. I can't even say anymore for fear of spoilers. I've already backspaced a lot. LOL. But this is wonderful world that I can't wait to dive into again.
May 16, 2018
More please!
This first book of the series explains some of the workings of the involved parties but leaves a lot of questions open.
An ancient evil has doomed the phoenixes to burn and rise again and again, watching the dark forces taking over and not being able to help.
Witches have banded together to remedy mistakes some of their own have made and their plan finally is put in motion to save the legendary birds.
There is a strange connection between human women doomed to die and the phoenixes.
After the first successful pairing the search for more of the legendary birds begins.
May 16, 2018
I really liked this story about a phoenix shifter and his human mate to be. It starts out with the pair finding each other in modern day times and gets crazy from there as they try to stay ahead of the bad guys. It was well written and full of action. Some sexy scenes, funny scenes, and heart wrenching ones too to make the story fly by as I read it in one sitting to see how it would end. And I was not disappointing. An entertaining read that I chose to review because I liked it. Cannot wait to see how the other stories end up and how the phoenixes are rescued.
May 28, 2018
Wow
Seriously wow. This story was fantastic. Well written, likable characters, captivating storyline; all combined into a book that sucked me in and had me panting for more. I even preordered book 2 before actually getting to the end of book 1. The link between the women and the phoenixes was genius, the phoenixes back story was super creative, and the health infliction the women suffer from was ingenious. I really really loved this book.
Seriously wow. This story was fantastic. Well written, likable characters, captivating storyline; all combined into a book that sucked me in and had me panting for more. I even preordered book 2 before actually getting to the end of book 1. The link between the women and the phoenixes was genius, the phoenixes back story was super creative, and the health infliction the women suffer from was ingenious. I really really loved this book.
May 18, 2018
Wow ... This captivating story is absolutely packed with action and sooo much suspense from the onset. You’ll find yourself instantly mesmerised by these witty, strong willed characters that will have you laughing, crying & screaming right along with them!! This story is guaranteed to definitely keep you turning pages all night long! This is a voluntary review of an advanced copy
June 21, 2018
This series opener had so much angst, mystery, suspense, drama and steamy romance, it was a page turner for me! I love how feisty Nikki was and the hopelessness of Zenon was crushing. If you're looking for a totally gripping story, look no further than this well written and interesting story of fated mates and their trials
September 4, 2018
First of all, phoenixes!! I've never read a book about a Phoenix shifter and let me tell you I did enjoy it. I liked the characters and the storyline. I was waiting to find out how they got separated and put in the positions they were found to be in, but I guess they'll get into that later on in the books. Can't wait to read the rest!
May 16, 2018
Burning love
Phoenix are such magnificent creatures, strong, sensitive and honourable. The characters are brought to life by the author with all their strenghts and weaknesses. We really wants to see both how this story ends and how the overall storyline plays out.
Phoenix are such magnificent creatures, strong, sensitive and honourable. The characters are brought to life by the author with all their strenghts and weaknesses. We really wants to see both how this story ends and how the overall storyline plays out.
May 24, 2018
Great book
This was a wonderful read and I look forward to the rest of the series. It had action and a lot of it . I now have to go back and read the first six books but I'm sure I'm going to enjoy them just as much as this one.
This was a wonderful read and I look forward to the rest of the series. It had action and a lot of it . I now have to go back and read the first six books but I'm sure I'm going to enjoy them just as much as this one.
August 11, 2018
Didn't want to put it down.
I liked the way there are different layers to the story. I feel like I was missing something in the beginning though. As I read, it became more clear. I liked the way it turned out.
I liked the way there are different layers to the story. I feel like I was missing something in the beginning though. As I read, it became more clear. I liked the way it turned out.
August 24, 2018
One of the best shifter books I've read all year! Chock full of suspense, steamy goodness, and a Phoenix mate with dimples. Yum!
Looking forward to the stories from the other gals mentioned in this story.
Looking forward to the stories from the other gals mentioned in this story.
February 23, 2019
Rising Darkness
This is the first Phoenix Shifter book I've read. It was a good read and a good start to a series. I look forward to learning more about these Phoenix shifters and the world being built in this series.
This is the first Phoenix Shifter book I've read. It was a good read and a good start to a series. I look forward to learning more about these Phoenix shifters and the world being built in this series.
May 15, 2018
Great start for a new series! Full of suspense and drama. I really enjoyed the storyline and can't wait for the next book. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.
May 16, 2018
Not what I expected
First it was snarky and feisty and I loved it. Then it was cheesy mess. Nothing much going on to keep you interested.
First it was snarky and feisty and I loved it. Then it was cheesy mess. Nothing much going on to keep you interested.
May 21, 2018
Wow what a read!! I cannot wait to read the rest in the series! If you like paranormal you'll love this book!
May 21, 2018
Good story line with an interesting mix of personalities and a nice fast pace to keep the action rolling. I enjoyed the characters and the plot. Only a couple stand-out typos-- A good read.
June 5, 2018
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Loved Zenon! He was so lost most of the time as to what was going on with Nickie! Great book!!
July 19, 2018
Come on baby light my fire
Enjoyable read, short and sweet.
Follow the Phoenix and their mates as the battle dark witches, with the help of the good ones.
Enjoyable read, short and sweet.
Follow the Phoenix and their mates as the battle dark witches, with the help of the good ones.
July 29, 2018
I liked the premise of the book, but not so much the execution.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews