He lifted his hands to wipe the tears, and as his hands moved from her cheek to the corner of her lips, he longed to kiss her. Hanna could tell what was on his mind and for a mad second, she also wanted to kiss him; she wanted to understand why she was suddenly attracted to him. For a second they stared at each other and then their lips met and moved against each other with want. The kiss was all that Hector had dreamed that it would be; he felt alive; with his eyes closed, his head was spinning with desire, and he pulled her closer to him as if his life depended on it. For Hanna, it was nice; at first it made her stop hurting inside, but something felt wrong and different in her head; it was not like she had felt with Sebastian; then the thought of Sebastian jolted her brain and she pulled away at once. While Hanna and Sebastian embark on dealing with the pain of their separation from each other, Hanna continues to gain more enemies all hungry for her powers. With all the wars raging, Sebastian finds it hard to walk away even though Hanna made it clear she didn’t need him. But later, Hanna discovers a revelation about someone, news that may help heal their sufferings but would it be enough or is it too little too late for their love …
Grander in scale than the first book (although the previous instalment was ambitious enough) and faster paced, Sebastian Two: Dark Times Arising races along with several interwoven plots involving revenge and power plays.
And at the centre of it all are the emotionally tortured protagonists Sebastian and Hanna. Hanna is a more complex character study this time around, deeply in love with the vampire Sebastian but also full of anger, resentment and set on revenge. The opening scene with her lamenting over Sebastian believing he’s drowned only for her rage to return the moment she realises he’s alive works perfectly.
Sebastian is equally tortured, obsessed with the idea of self -destruction as he yearns for his lost love. It is only when supreme vampire Mason intervenes to recruit him, that he is able to function at all.
Vampire tales can fall into several categories but the two main ones tend to be horror and fantasy, this novel belongs very much in the latter and there are also witches and magic thrown in there well in case we were in any doubt of this.
In the space of two novels Elizabeth Johnson has created a fully realised world populated by a host of engaging and elaborate characters and I see no limit to what she can do next with her vampire saga. I can’t wait to find out.
I just completed Sebastian Two: Dark Times Arising, the second in a series of books about a bizarre vampire world by author Elizabeth Johnson. I will reiterate what I said in my review of the first book, which is that this is hardly my favourite genre of book, in fact far from it. However, Ms. Johnson weaves such an incredible tale, with such great characterizations, that I could not put it down.
The book starts where the first book ended, with Hanna Greene, upon learning that Sebastian had earlier killed her birth mother (or did he?), decides she must leave the very charismatic hero, who is her passionate boyfriend/lover. This sets in motion a chain of events involving many of the characters from the first book—of course Sebastian and Hanna, the omniscient head vampire Mason Benedict, and the two separate sets of three malevolent vampire brothers.
New characters are either brought into the story or given greater emphasis. They include Hanna’s birth mother Hope Lane, the powerful Hilda Denali, the ultra-deceitful witch Ruth, and the deceased Isobel’s beautiful mother, Margret. The action in this book spreads further afield to Mexico, Nigeria, Pacific islands, and Japan.
I don’t want to give away any of the story but I will add there is one great kick-ass vampire battle near the end of the book you won’t want to miss. And of course, it ends unresolved, which means we need to see the next book! I strongly recommend this book, even to non-vampire fans, as I did the first one entitled Sebastian: The Secret Life of Sebastian and Hanna Greene. You won’t be disappointed.
This was more about Hanna as she grows into her powers and punishes Sabastian. A few editing errors.
Hanna has made Sabastian suffer for three years. She's felt his pain over his broken body but refused to go to him. Then things changed. She found out some new information "she" decided she would forgive him take him back. Like wtf! I wanted to reach into the pages and slap her stupid for what she put Sabastian through.
Sabastian is mourning the loss of his love. To dull the pain he repeatedly shatters his body. He has no purpose, no will to continue without Hanna. Then Thomas is sent by Mason to retrieve Sabastian at any cost and suddenly he is has a new focus enabling him to move forward without Hanna.
The flow was a bit jumpy I think its was due to the main focus switching a lot. Which took me a little while to settle into. Very one dimensional. I started off really enjoying this book then I got angry and frustrated at Hanna's self righteous attitude.
We find out more of Mason's plans and with new characters being brought into the story like Hilda on a path of vengeance leading straight to Hanna, it looks to be a great third instalment.
I was excited to hear of this book's release because I thoroughly enjoyed book one. Get ready, because two is even better than the first! The author picks up where she left off in book one, with Hanna learning that Sebastian isn't quite the hero she thought...or is he? With a big piece of new info, she's ready to make amends - finally, I was dying! - but along the way, we meet new characters and learn more about the old ones. I enjoyed the character development and backstory in this one. There was a lot of well-placed tension and build-up, which I enjoyed. Just as she did in book one, Elizabeth spins a tale of vampires, violence, drama, and love into a web of excitement. I loved the epic battle at the end, and I enjoyed connecting with all of the characters even more after reading book one. Parts of this book were so exciting, I had to go grab some snacks. Elizabeth's writing is smooth and concise; this was a fast read but one I wasn't read to finish because....there's still more to the story! So I know what that means. A book 3!!! But I did feel satisfied at the end. It was such a good continuation of the story. I'm truly looking forward to what comes next!
A friend recommended Sebastian: The Life of Sebastian and Hanna Greene to me last year. I was somewhat reluctant to read it partly because I was quite busy with work and also I assumed that it was going to be an insipid vampire love story. Said friend was so enthused with the book that they even gave me a copy so enamoured were they with it. Needless to say that the book lay gathering dust on my shelf for a while. Eventually, one sleepless night arose and there was nothing that I could do to get me to sleep. So I picked up the book thinking that this should aid my quest for sleep. This proved to be a monumental error as it had the completely opposite effect. I was hooked and read through the night. Later that day I bought my own copy as I believe in supporting new and talented people. I found Sebastian: The life of Sebastian and Hanna Greene to be a brilliant read and an astounding debut and since completing that book I have waited with baited breath for the sequel. So as soon as I found out that Sebastian 2: Dark Times Arising was released I promptly bought my copy. Now, because I found the first book so deliciously enjoyable, there was a degree of apprehension upon starting the book, could Ms Johnson achieve the same level of excellence or perchance even surpass it? Or would the sequel be a disappointment? With a huge sigh of relief, I can honestly proclaim that Dark Times Arising is absolutely brilliant. I devoured it. Oh, I really tried to savour it but, it was just too good. The first book was rather intimate in scale; Dark Times is truly global. Locations ranging from Mexico to Lagos and beyond. The main protagonists are still present and their characters are further developed. We are also presented with some newer and even more devilish characters. This book is brilliant, there is love, romance, witchcraft, evil, action and lots of blood. The action moves seamlessly from scene to scene and honestly the action rarely lets up. As I was reading I couldn’t help but picture it as a huge and successful movie. This book needs to be seen by more people and I am sure it will be a global bestseller I wholeheartedly recommend this book, to men, women, young and old. You will not be disappointed. A brilliant sequel. And so the torture resumes again as I await with baited breath the next instalment of this exciting saga.
One thing I can say with certainty is that fans of vampires and specifically vampire romance will likely love this book. I prefer my vampire stories to be more the gory-horror type, but Sebastian 2 had enough action and intrigue to keep even this book snob reading. There were some darker subplots that made me wonder if this would shift into full-blown horror, but despite the vampires and violence, it stays far from the horror genre.
There's an interesting tale going on here, and because this is the second book in a series of at least three, some of the darker and more intriguing plot points are not resolved by the end of the book. It lends the title a lot of weight: as dark as events might get in this book, we see from some of the subplots that the worst is still yet to come. The author seems to be saying, "You ain't seen nothing yet," and has done well to set up such by the end of this installment. The second book in a series and especially a trilogy should expand on the overall plot while ushering fans to rush and grab the next (or final) one, and I think Ms. Johnson succeeds in that.
I found some of the romance/relationship parts a bit puzzling, and at times the narrative gets bogged down with a little too much telling over showing, but romance fans are going to be much more into it than I tend to be. What's more, Ms. Johnson does craft characters that you feel strongly for, one way or another, and Hannah's fate should hook any reader. There's a classic dark versus light theme going on, and while kept simple, it's also fresh.
The book gets better as it goes along, once the dust has settled from the previous installment and Ms. Johnson hits her stride with this portion of the plot. For me, certain plot points didn't add up or seemed blown out of proportion, but your mileage may vary. As I said at the beginning, I think those who are more into the romance and vampire genres are going to enjoy this a lot.
* - I was given a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
Sebastian 2: Dark Times Arising is a paranormal romance that has a lot in common with Twilight and The Vampire Diaries, but with its own unique elements. It's the second book in a series about the tortured romance between a vampire boy who abstains from human blood and a human girl with unusually strong magical powers; when the action starts here, they have just broken off their relationship after Hanna finds out that Sebastian is responsible for the death of her birth mother--or IS he? Much is revealed about the characters' back stories over the course of the book, and Sebastian and Hanna struggle with their contradictory feelings for each other. What sets this apart from other books of its genre is the author's willingness to enter unusually dark territory for a romance, and the setting, which moves between such exotic locales for the genre as the North of England and Nigeria.
Although this setup had a lot of promise, the execution frequently fell flat for me. The prose style is often generic and relies more on telling rather than showing, and the plot is so crammed full of action that it rarely allows the reader space to breathe. Momentous events were revealed and resolved in the space of a single page, leaving me with a sense of "So what?" The exceptions were the scenes in Nigeria, when the text suddenly came to life, full of tension and life-like dialogue, so that I found myself wishing the action had been transplanted entirely to Africa. Now that would be a fabulous story to read!
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Fans of "Sebastian: The Life of Sebastian and Hanna Greene" will find this second chapter in the vampire saga exhilarating! The story picks up where it left off but takes the story to another level. Elizabeth Johnson does a tremendous job of developing the characters and building on the story that began in the first novel.
Sebastian and Hanna are estranged from one another. Hanna, despite her love for Sebastian, cannot bring herself to forgive him for taking her mother and keeping the truth from her. Elizabeth Johnson explicitly details Hanna's struggle to keep her distance from the man she both loves and despises.
Despite being a vampire who is capable of walking in the sun, Sebastian cannot find light in a world in which he cannot be with the only woman he is capable of loving. He simulates suicide and, in the process, inflicts severe pain upon himself in an effort to forget the love of his very long life and to punish himself for his transgressions. His pain consumes him, and if he cannot have the woman he loves, he will have his revenge on those who attempted to take her life and drove her from his arms.
The narrative of this novel moves along at an exhilarating pace! It is a powerful and moving story! I highly recommend it!
Sebastian: Dark Times Arising, the second book of Elizabeth Johnson’s series about star-crossed lovers Hanna and Sebastian, is aptly named. Trouble haunts them both, even though they’ve tried to forget each other.
At the end of the first book, Hanna cannot forgive Sebastian for lying to her, so they separate. In the beginning of the second, Sebastian is so distraught he tries to kill himself repeatedly. Yet when Thomas, one of Mason Benedict’s henchmen leaves Sebastian crushed under a crashed airliner, it is Hannah who senses his danger and pulls him back to life.
But many challenges lie ahead for the separated lovers, and this book book, while answering some questions, leaves the biggest one to be answered in the next installment. I’m looking forward to reading it.
This is a thoroughly enjoyable vampire adventure tale with a large cast of characters, complex emotions, and some ripping good fight scenes.
Just when I didn't think Ms Johnson could top book 1, she left me no choice but to devour the sequel Sebastian 2: Dart times arising. I really tried to savour this book once I found out it was out but the pace, the characters, Mason Benedict with his dark agenda, Hilda seeking revenge, Ruth the deceptive witch, the brothers, wow! What a line up of characters, not forgetting Sebastian and Hanna, still dealing with their separation. Hanna's powers fully developed and off course there is no conclusion so we have to wait for the third instalment. I can't say this enough, this is a great book that needs to be read by more people, even better when made into a movie. Well done again Ms Johnson.
Vampire Novels aren't really my genre, but all in all I found this to be an interesting take on the subject. This book has a lot of action, intrigue and a great fight at the end. My only complaints were some noticeable formatting issues at the beginning of the book, and since I hadn't read the first book, getting up to speed on everything the author had created in their world
Wow, I already knew to expect a lot from this book and the author didn't disappoint. The author brings in more Characters, all dangerous and enjoyable. Without gi9ven away the plot to this book, we have five hundred old witches, the monstrous three brothers, Anton, Zachary, and Hector come to play more in this book and of course, our beloved Sebastian and Hanna are still apart. You get to feel the pain of their separation. The author is truly gifted and I recommend all of her books. Can't wait to find out what happens next in Book 3. A truly fantastical read.
Bigger and better, this one had more characters, we get to read about Mason Benedict, the head of the vampires and how he took power. Hilder Denali, the last surviving child in her family and her plans for revenge. Hanna and Sebastian are still separated in this one but that is to be expected because of the secret Hanna learned in book 1. I felt more both Hanna and Sebastian, Sebastian because of the pain of losing Hanna and Hanna not having anyone she can really trust. I kept turning the page with this book, and the ending was epic, but I know that's not all because I still have book 3 to read and can't wait to see where this goes and how the story ends. For me, this author and her books will always get five stars, truly well deserved and well executed.
It was a good thing I had read book 1, so I knew the plot well, but new formidable characters were added in this one. I just kept turning pages. I must say one thing, the author is a gifted story teller, she is very expressive and elaborate, she laid the characters bare and that is very refreshing to read. Sebastian and Hanna are still separated, we get to see their pain and my heart hurt for them. I am not unto the next book, can't wait to read what happens next.
Well, I was not disappointed. This book is a great read, loads more characters, more devious in plans. The lovers are still separated but we get to feel their pain, I wonder what will happen next but as I have come to learn from this author, you can't predict what is to happen next she always surpasses my expectations. The fight at the end was epic, and I can't wait to see this book made into a movie, I am sure it will be quite popular. Don't take my word for it, pick up a copy and read for your self. I am now going to read the next instalment and all I can say is, I am drooling. A definite 5 star.
Sebastian 2: Dark Times Arising is the second book in this series about Sebastian. A centuries-old vampire who abstains from killing humans. He is desperately in love with Hannah, a human with extraordinary powers. But after loving him passionately, she has rejected him due to his involvement in the death of her mother.
This is a rather dark story of lost love, betrayal and vengeance.
Apart from Hannah, humans are little more than stage props, as the backdrop to the story focuses on powerful vampires and their attendant witches, and their efforts over centuries to rule the vampire world.
The multifaceted story itself holds interest, and the characters of Sebastian and Hannah are appealing. However the execution of the story is as tortured as the lives of Sebastian and Hannah.
The pace is good, and the structure suspenseful. However, the story is told (rather than shown) in a detached way that makes it hard to really connect with the characters. The dialogue is often more like a monologue, rather than a crisp exchange. The introspection means that we really understand what's going on in our character’s heads. But it is repetitive and often chunky. Huge amounts of back story are also delivered in chunks that stop the story dead.
Errors such as incorrect tense, incorrect pluralisation, head swapping (so it's sometimes difficult to know which character is speaking), detract from an otherwise polished presentation.
I really admire the grandeur of the series story and the fleshed out main characters so I'm giving this book 3 stars in spite of its issues.
This book was more than I had expected, I didn't know where the author would go with this one. I did enjoy the first book but this was even more daring, with loads of very fearful character. The author is certainly a gifted writer, and I truly can't wait to see how the story of Sebastian and Hanna ends. Will they unite in the next book? I recommend this book to anyone who loves thrillers, paranormal and romance.