Queen Takes Sunfires: Book 1

Queen Takes Sunfires #1

by Joely Sue Burkhart

A Vampire Queen's Secret Baby

I awoke in a pile of garbage in a dark alley with no memory of what happened to me or even who I am. All I know is my name, Karmen. By the vicious scars on my body, I've been through hell and lived to tell about it. Barely.

In the hospital, my memory slowly beings to return. Something is after me. It's not safe. I have to get away. But I don't know who to trust. Certainly not the man who left me in the alley. He smelled like a wolf. Or the doctor, who asks me if I'm even human.

Then the doctor drops a bombshell. I'm pregnant. And I have no idea who the father is.

Only that his monsters hunt me in the burning light of day.

Genres: Vampires, Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance, Paranormal Romance, Shapeshifters, Novella

80 pages, ebook

First published January 26, 2020

About the author

I write books. Sometimes I even finish them!

Reviews

[Ciru · Rating 4 out of 5]

No!!!!!! Noooooooo!!!! Book 2 comes out in May!

This was such a captivating introduction to Karmen+Eivinid. But I have to say, I am now getting tired of novellas in this series. I want a full book. Be it for Helayana/Karmen with bits of Shara and her blood.

I honestly do not know how to feel about "her situation". I need answers. I need plot unfolding. I need a complete story goddamnit!

Then, we also have the fact that the doctor has released her blood into the world. What are the consequences? I need a complete story goddamnit!

All I can say is, another stellar book from Joely, the writing was phenomenal and captivating even though it was a novella and I'm looking forward to a complete novel from her.

[♂♀♂ Mary's Menage Reviews ♂♂♀ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like this author but I hate cliffhangers... not even a happy for now! then adding to that this book has a short 80 pages AND book 2 will be released in 3 months! May 2020........... meh

However, on the positive side, it is a new queen, a new story and this author knows how to captivate her readers (although not fond of her unicorns serial). I got hooked about the heroine. The storyline seems interesting and a different strory from her other serial queen shara although still in the same universe.

I don’t get that the author cut the story in the middle with the first male of her harem who ran away. No development with the relationship whatsoever. Very frustrating, not even a love story, no sex, no nothing... an introduction of the heroine, that is all.

I call this book a prologue or a teaser.

I recommend to wait they are all out next year or you will forget the story. Sad. This author will loose a lot of her fan base behind.

[Manila Griffith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Confused.

Disappointing cliff hanger have a good story but short.
I expected a more solid story leaves a lot out. No meeting of the sundries only vauge description. No blood or king alone queen trying to survive in the end.

[Coco.V]

🎁 FREE on Amazon today (9/21/2020)! 🎁

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

This has been in my KU borrows for months and I wanted to clear some stuff out. It is HEAVY. Very intense themes of abuse. I also didn’t know that this is a spin off series. I don’t think you need to read the main series before you read this one. The world building is fine? Would probably be better if you had read the main series, but it was okay. I didn’t feel super confused or anything even though there is some pretty crazy stuff going on and there is honestly a lot of world building that needs to happen in order to explain everything. To be honest, the main reason that I am giving this three stars is because I really did not like the main male character. He just seemed like kind of a jerk and I don’t see how he will be redeemable.

[Seragrime · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was so excited for a spin-off but this book was aimless, plot-less and confusing.

There is ZERO world building in this book, which would be fine if it stayed within the confines of the Vampire Queen cannon but immediately from the onset it starts by referencing events and things that elude to the norse Gods and some other villain that kidnapped a queen and was defeated. We the reader know zip about any of it but the potential blood just keeps adding more and more on top of the stuff we already don't understand. Same with the new Queen. It's pretty obvious she was taken by Ra as a child, tortured etc but her missing memories suddenly filling in right when the plot needs it, gets annoying fast. She also does the same thing about stating stuff we have no understanding of with zero explanation.

I think I'm going to sit out this series.

[Jason · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is not even a book-too short

I used to like this series quite a bit but her books are getting shorter and shorter and no matter how much I like them way way too short....80 pages does not a story make

I will not be pre-ordering anymore of her stories and for as far as future books I will not be buying them unless the page count is at least 200 pages -which is still super short but at least readable.

[Teela (bookdragontee) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew who I was, at least at my core. I was a survivor. I knew that much. I'd endured things I couldn't make myself remember. But I was still alive, and that's all that mattered. Now that I had my freedom, I'd do anything.

Anything.

To stay free.

Karmen Sunna owns my fucking heart. 🥺

We all knew Ra was the literal worst, but to get a stronger taste of just how bad... the fact that Karmen can even function, that she survived what she did - what she continues to survive. I don't have the words.

I will say that while this one lacked spice (and it's totally understandable why), Joely more than makes up for it with tension and unbearable angst (especially from Eivind, who is clearly supposed to be her Blood and alpha, but he's so damn stubborn and fearful and infuriating. I can't with this guy.)

But Karmen? She's the best. My heart aches and breaks for her, but our girl has fucking steel running down her spine, even with all of the fear and trauma inside of her.

[Kelsi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short but also a bit different from the Shara series

This was more like a novela. But my biggest “issue” with this was more of the themes used to create tension. In Princess Takes Unicorns series, the author seems to jump on the bully academy train which I wasn’t a fan of. The Shara series was all about respect, not negging, poor communication, and hurting people because you need to “protect them”. Definitely not my style. So when this one came out and the main character was a grown woman and I hoped we would go back to more of a respect driven relationship dynamic. Nope. Spoilers below.


Her “first Blood” (if you can even call him that) is really disrespectful, and not only is he emotionally blunt and hurtful, but he literally left her to die. Alone. Because his *internal struggles*. At the end of this novella, he has an internal monologue where he calls himself a cur and heartless for what he did. But only because our girl was nice, and defied his expectations. So this is where you lose me a bit. He was heartless and had zero respect to her situation (even though she was clearly victimized from the beginning) and then he starts to feel bad for his behavior once he figures things out? What about treating all people with respect and care even if they aren’t a victim? You never know what people have gone through. Frankly, this guy handled all of this really poorly, and his *reasons* are a ridiculous excuse to be mean, if find this true in a lot of books where the guy is mean and they try to explain away the behavior because he struggles with the feels. Nope, you are trying to rationalize abusive behavior and tell woman to endure it and forgive it. Nope. Get over it or don’t take it out on people. Be an adult.

And the final thing that really turned me off is the theme of forced relations and the result. I get the plot and I understand what this prison world was like from the shara series but the fact Karmen was tortured for centuries and some how conception happened (when we’ve been told previously a Queen can control that choice of when) didn’t sit well with me. She doesn’t even have memory for most of this, the last time she was herself was in the opening when she was a girl. Now you’re telling me this girl and woman without a clue all of a sudden conceived. Troubling. Made my stomach turn. And this may be controversial but I hope she leaves that life behind- completely and starts new. I have zero, absolutely no interest on seeing this story progress with this plot line and this poor girl losing all freedom and life for centuries only to have one herself. Not dramatic in a good way for me. I can see what possible troupes that will be employees moving forward (acceptance of her station by any future men, a *gift* regardless of her condition, etc etc), and I’m really into any of that.

I’m a bit disappointed in the vague and overt themes of abuse that have crept in this series that our main female characters are going to have to forgive to be seen as “strong”. Leave toxic people behind. Period. Teaching woman that if we only stick around and love guys who treat us poorly, that we’ll get a knight after it all is toxic and a really bad message. Or accept *gifts* despite the horrible circumstances. I really hope that doesn’t happen here but too many of these themes are laid out in this initial novella for me to think otherwise.


I would only stick with Shara’s book series, if you haven’t read them yet- they are absolutely amazing. The other spins not so much. I read fantasy to escape the real world, not have a vampire tell me all guys are awful so suck it up.

[Chrissy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A New Queen!

It’s ages since I read one of the ‘Queen Takes’ books and I’d forgotten how good they were. This story starts with Eivind, the brother of Helayna, from Queen Takes Darkness. Eivind is an Aima King and a born wolf-shifter who lives in fear of being chained by a Queen, like his father before him.

Eivind finds an Aima Queen lying apparently dead in an alley and spends the rest of the book helping her whilst trying to run away from her. The Queen is Karmen and she was kidnapped as a child to be one of Ra’s Wives.

This book is gripping and I whipped through the pages so quickly because I wanted to know what happened next. Then of course it ended - ARRRRRGHHHHH!!!!! I really hope I don’t have to wait long for the next book as Karmen seems a really interesting character, who is filled with strength but unbelievably damaged by her years trapped with Ra. Eivind seems equally strong and damaged and it will be an interesting read to watch them work out their issues.

Another great book in the Aima universe.

[Meghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whoa

Holy mother of Aima. JSB has done it again. I'm completely drawn to Karmen and I got sneak peeks of my absolutely favorite queen ever. That already guarantees I'm going to like this spin off. You cant help but be drawn to Karmen and her desire to never do wrong to others the same way it was done to her. And that's all I can tell you on that. There is a lot of trust building that needs to happen and ahhh.. I want so badly to say more but I dont give spoilers. I know this book is shorter than we are accustomed to but the stop in the story feels like a good natural spot to stop it before the next book. So I'm dying to get my hands on the next one.

[BookAddict ✒ La Crimson Femme · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here we go again! Another book in the same universe as Shara's (Their Vampire Queen). This is a tightly written fast pace story which ended so... quickly. As in, just as it was getting good, the story is over. I fully expect a second story to follow up. For those who don't like cliffhangers, good news, the 2nd book is already out. Lately, it seems Ms. Burkhart is writing more serial stories than full length novels. Honestly, I'll read anything she writes so ... if it must end abruptly, I'll still come back for me.

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a good introduction to a new story arc, but nothing was resolved other than Karmen figuring out who she was. I was not even sure if this could get counted as a full novel in the series since it was so short; book 2 is definitely required.

Romance: pregnant amnesiac Aima queen with (possible) 200+-year-old wolf shifter & Aima king MMC

[Noelle Woodruff · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not put this book down!! It's not as long like previous Queen books from Joely but it was still so good! I'm excited to see what else Karmen can do and what she'll need to do with the Sunfires.

[Danielle Gumm · Rating 5 out of 5]

I freaking loved it!! I could not put it down once I started! And the way it ended ugh 😩 😩 I need more Karmen will be a force to be reckoned with. I can’t wait to see what’s going to happen next!

[Kayleigh Mariscal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anticipation.

Like with all of the other books in this series, you jump right in to the story. Karmen is an exciting new character that I can't wait to learn more about.

[Marsha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great start!

Wow Joely never disappoints. An excellent start to a new queen's story.
I can't wait for the next installment. Please hurry Joely.

[Cheryl Lewis wetmore · Rating 1 out of 5]

Its not even a book!

So disappointing how can it be called a book when it is like 2 chapters long? Now have to wait until May for the rest not worth the wait? ?

[Yexely Perera · Rating 1 out of 5]

To short

Not a book only 90 pages and not even a second book available. The plot was interesting but not complete. If it was longer it would get more stars

[Jessica S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short, quick, intense.

[Fritz Sands · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a reread, since QTS 3 just came out and I wanted to reread the first two books first.

First -- yeah, you really need to read Shara's series first or the world will not make sense at all.

That being said, there are some really interesting expansions of the world here. We have an Aima king where the paternal legacy is important, not just the maternal legacy. That is now for the world.

Second, this is the first time in the books where a Blood or King walked away from accepting a bond with the Queen who called him. And that will be a plot point in the subsequent book.

I understand the views of the people who downchecked the book, but I found it a good start to the story.

[Kara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Left with no memory in a dark alley barely alive, she is taken to the hospital to only find out she is pregnant. The wolf king finds her and as bad as he wants to stay away he can’t. He doesn’t want to be any queens blood and chained up like his father was. She was kidnapped as a child and held captive. She is slowly getting some memories back a little at a time. Sorry to give any spoilers but there is so much more to this book and so many little nuggets were left in other previous books as they overlap. Highly recommend onto next book

[Nicole Turk · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nicole T.

I am not impressed by this prequel. There are too may names and dynamics of people we know NOTHING about! I can I get into something if I feel like I have been dropped into a full blown panic attack of someone else! No thank you! And this waiting 4 years for another book...girl bye!

[Vernon Haning · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick & short

This was a quick and short read, just to fill in some of the back story for the characters. We knew the basics, but were missing details, and had been left to out own imagination

[Cindyg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Karmen is fierce, and a survivor. She has the willpower to move forward even though she has no idea what she’s doing in this strange new world.Eivind is what he’s meant to be, Karmen’s rock and his Blood.🩸
I really like this short story.
Highly recommend!

[gio · Rating 3 out of 5]

I knew this was gonna be good since Karmen showed up in Queen takes Darkness.

[Linda Calizo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not sure what to say…..

I love the Vampire Queen series, this is branch off of an existing book.
I’m hoping book two leaves me with a good feeling and questions answered.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read

Always well written, and great addition to the series! I can not wait to read what happens next and for her to find her power.

[Briana Weller · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was too short but a great start to the spin-off series

[Tween 2 Teen Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting premise, but nearly identical to Queen Takes Darkness