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Sebastian #3
Sebastian 3
An urban paranormal romance adventure fantasy: Sebastian's eyes close as he tries to welcome the inevitable, but then she speaks again and this time, she calls him "S." In his weakened state, excitement surges through him; Sebastian wonders if he is hallucinating again. He knows troubled minds conceive desperate ideas that bring about all sorts of imaginations, and he is sure that he is hearing things that aren't real. "S, can you hear me?" Hanna pleads.Mason Benedict continues his quest to resurrect his wife, Annemarie, and to gain the gift of light that enables vampires to exist in daylight and walk under the sun. His fame grows and many vampires join his army at the prospect of becoming day walkers. For this to happen, Hanna's blood and powers must be siphoned. Sebastian and Hanna must be found; imminent war is brewing. Hanna finds that she must also defend against the malicious Hilda Denali of the wolf tribe. Hilda blames Hanna for the curse on her tribe; her mission is simply to kill Hanna and cleans the wolf curse. Although Sebastian and Hanna are united again, there is a third wheel in their union, Hector, who has decided that Sebastian must die, but will his plans work? Sebastian and Hanna must decide whether to fight for their freedom or to run.Conquest of Power is the much anticipated third book in Elizabeth Johnson's captivating Sebastian vampire romance saga.
381 pages, Paperback
First published June 14, 2017
49 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
July 4, 2017
It's been a while since I've read this type of book. This is a fantastical, supernatural tale of magical beings (vampires), werewolves, and others, some of whom have other special powers, such as Hanna has. Her powers are pretty amazing. There is also a mystical, bald sorcerer, which is sort of a character I've seen in other stories. We also have plenty of characters and side characters, as well as the parents of our main characters, Hanna and Sebastian and the stories of their love lives.
There is a lot of back story to the love affair of the main characters, their parents, their love triangle, etc., all of which would make this appealing for YA readers. Some of the back story may have been too much for me, but it does seem to be the writer's style to elaborate a lot. We also get the story of Hanna's parents and how they meet, and her father is another supernatural being, who does not make an appearance until the end, but he does so in shining, intriguing glory. At times, though, it would feel kind of difficult to keep up with all the characters and their back story.
I felt reminded of some of the Greek myths I have read, with gods and goddesses fighting over one thing or another, over the love of a woman or man. This, again, makes this a good tale for the YA reader. The characters are spectacular while the love story is sweet. Still, I imagined Sebastion shirtless the whole time. Yes, he looked good in my imagination. He was just not a normal person, the kind who carries a cell phone and takes out the trash. The elements of fantasy are certainly there in this novel. I was not clear on where the characters were located, so imagined something like California with beautifully trimmed yards and shrubbery along with amazing scenery. Sebastian mentions having plenty of money. I did wish for more detail on where he got it.
The vampires in this tale are not cute, fairy-like vampires as we have seen in other works of fiction. Trust me, I have nothing against some good vampire lore. The vampires in this work live, love, and hate. They must have blood to survive. There is a long standing vendetta between Sebastian and another vampire, so there is definitely some snapping of necks. The story, overall, was quite entertaining and mostly kept me reading, despite some really long periods of description and dialogue, but it does seem to be a trait of the author to be very elaborative. I give it four stars. This book was read through Kindle Unlimited.
There is a lot of back story to the love affair of the main characters, their parents, their love triangle, etc., all of which would make this appealing for YA readers. Some of the back story may have been too much for me, but it does seem to be the writer's style to elaborate a lot. We also get the story of Hanna's parents and how they meet, and her father is another supernatural being, who does not make an appearance until the end, but he does so in shining, intriguing glory. At times, though, it would feel kind of difficult to keep up with all the characters and their back story.
I felt reminded of some of the Greek myths I have read, with gods and goddesses fighting over one thing or another, over the love of a woman or man. This, again, makes this a good tale for the YA reader. The characters are spectacular while the love story is sweet. Still, I imagined Sebastion shirtless the whole time. Yes, he looked good in my imagination. He was just not a normal person, the kind who carries a cell phone and takes out the trash. The elements of fantasy are certainly there in this novel. I was not clear on where the characters were located, so imagined something like California with beautifully trimmed yards and shrubbery along with amazing scenery. Sebastian mentions having plenty of money. I did wish for more detail on where he got it.
The vampires in this tale are not cute, fairy-like vampires as we have seen in other works of fiction. Trust me, I have nothing against some good vampire lore. The vampires in this work live, love, and hate. They must have blood to survive. There is a long standing vendetta between Sebastian and another vampire, so there is definitely some snapping of necks. The story, overall, was quite entertaining and mostly kept me reading, despite some really long periods of description and dialogue, but it does seem to be a trait of the author to be very elaborative. I give it four stars. This book was read through Kindle Unlimited.
September 4, 2017
Iiiiiiinteresting book. I'm not really sure where to start, especially considering all the high ratings I'm seeing here, and the fact that, while I love fantasy, Sci-fi, and all types of weird books, this is my first true foray into vampire romance (yeah, yeah, I know, where have I been all this time-- but better late than never, right? LOL). That being said, I'm wondering if there's a totally different set of expectations when it comes to this genre. One wouldn't think so, but then again, I think that's at least partially true for the romance genre in general, cause I've read some genuinely horrible stuff that's traditionally published and super popular.
Overall impressions: 'Sebastian' feels like it's coming from an author who's super sweet and genuine, but who desperately needs a group of good, honest beta readers, and/or a good editor. It's tone is sincere, passionate, and intense, and there are a few really cute lines. Sebastian and Hanna's interactions are cute and sweet, when they're not being schitzo and breaking up with each other in true soap opera fashion (I'll give them this-- they're passionate. Whether they're passionately in love, or passionately breaking each other's hearts over ridiculous stuff. Either way).
My biggest issue with the book is that the entire thing, and I do mean the ENTIRE thing, is a victim of telling rather than showing. We're TOLD every move made, we're TOLD every thought that crosses every mind, which will then often be reiterated, and we're TOLD every emotion-- some of them laughably blatant. Then there's the incessant head-hopping, where we're TOLD, blatantly, what every single person in the room is thinking and how they feel about it at every moment. There's also a lot of comma misuse, and changing tense randomly, which adds a sense of sloppiness and incoherence to the base issue of passive-voice telling.
The story itself isn't too bad, if not super original. There were explanations of Hanna's powers, along with the general magic system, that seemed contrived/not well explained, or else inconsistent and illogical, BUT-- I haven't read the first two books in the series, so in all fairness, some of those might be non-issues. I just kept thinking, if Hanna is supposedly so powerful, what are they even worried about? And it does kind of feel inconsistent. One minute she's undefeatable, the next, someone is 'suddenly' jumping out and getting the better of our dynamic duo. It moves really slow in places, focusing on the romance between Sebastian and Hanna, and I kind of got to thinking the big showdown that they kept planning for was maybe going to happen in the next book, instead of this one, but then at the end things picked up, and it turned into a three-way confrontation which did not, in fact, turn out quite like I was expecting. I was satisfied with the ending, though I believe there's going to be another book in the series.
I'm not really a huge fan of sappy, soap-opera style romance where everything is passion, passion, passion, and every little hiccup turns into a huge misunderstanding and everyone wears their heart on their sleeve and has a flamboyant love/hate relationship with everyone else, and there's always multiple people in love with the main character... BUT, I appreciate the fact that a lot of people do go for that, especially when mixed with a generous dollop of paranormal, and if that's your thing, then you might like this story (just do yourself a favor and start with book 1, unlike me). The author seems to have a really good sense for that style. I just really, REALLY wish someone had pointed out the passive voice, OCD amounts of reiteration of the obvious, and other blunders BEFORE it got published, because it sort of ended up feeling like an outline, or a 1st draft manuscript, rather than a finished novel. If you are able or willing to look past that, and love passionate kissing, classic vampires that (thankfully) don't sparkle in the sun, and gals that can throw fireballs, then this just might be the book for you.
As far as 'content' goes, the kissing scenes, while steamy and descriptive, don't descend into porno, which is kind of refreshing. To find characters who are able, if not entirely happy, to show honor and restraint, which is basically a foreign concept these days... bravo on that, Author. Yes, the characters have their reasons, which aren't entirely altruistic, for waiting. But it's nice not to get beaten over the head with sex scenes that have just been thrown in as imagination-candy for a change. Cussing is there, but pretty mild. Again, I had to smile at some of the imaginative, eloquent insults that get tossed around, rather than using swearing for a crutch.
But...WHAT is up with several century-old vampire dudes falling for young girls? Is that another vampire romance genre thing? Cause, I'm sorry, but that's just WEIRD and a little eww, no matter how popular the idea is (*cough* Twilight, *cough, cough*). So just, no...
Overall impressions: 'Sebastian' feels like it's coming from an author who's super sweet and genuine, but who desperately needs a group of good, honest beta readers, and/or a good editor. It's tone is sincere, passionate, and intense, and there are a few really cute lines. Sebastian and Hanna's interactions are cute and sweet, when they're not being schitzo and breaking up with each other in true soap opera fashion (I'll give them this-- they're passionate. Whether they're passionately in love, or passionately breaking each other's hearts over ridiculous stuff. Either way).
My biggest issue with the book is that the entire thing, and I do mean the ENTIRE thing, is a victim of telling rather than showing. We're TOLD every move made, we're TOLD every thought that crosses every mind, which will then often be reiterated, and we're TOLD every emotion-- some of them laughably blatant. Then there's the incessant head-hopping, where we're TOLD, blatantly, what every single person in the room is thinking and how they feel about it at every moment. There's also a lot of comma misuse, and changing tense randomly, which adds a sense of sloppiness and incoherence to the base issue of passive-voice telling.
The story itself isn't too bad, if not super original. There were explanations of Hanna's powers, along with the general magic system, that seemed contrived/not well explained, or else inconsistent and illogical, BUT-- I haven't read the first two books in the series, so in all fairness, some of those might be non-issues. I just kept thinking, if Hanna is supposedly so powerful, what are they even worried about? And it does kind of feel inconsistent. One minute she's undefeatable, the next, someone is 'suddenly' jumping out and getting the better of our dynamic duo. It moves really slow in places, focusing on the romance between Sebastian and Hanna, and I kind of got to thinking the big showdown that they kept planning for was maybe going to happen in the next book, instead of this one, but then at the end things picked up, and it turned into a three-way confrontation which did not, in fact, turn out quite like I was expecting. I was satisfied with the ending, though I believe there's going to be another book in the series.
I'm not really a huge fan of sappy, soap-opera style romance where everything is passion, passion, passion, and every little hiccup turns into a huge misunderstanding and everyone wears their heart on their sleeve and has a flamboyant love/hate relationship with everyone else, and there's always multiple people in love with the main character... BUT, I appreciate the fact that a lot of people do go for that, especially when mixed with a generous dollop of paranormal, and if that's your thing, then you might like this story (just do yourself a favor and start with book 1, unlike me). The author seems to have a really good sense for that style. I just really, REALLY wish someone had pointed out the passive voice, OCD amounts of reiteration of the obvious, and other blunders BEFORE it got published, because it sort of ended up feeling like an outline, or a 1st draft manuscript, rather than a finished novel. If you are able or willing to look past that, and love passionate kissing, classic vampires that (thankfully) don't sparkle in the sun, and gals that can throw fireballs, then this just might be the book for you.
As far as 'content' goes, the kissing scenes, while steamy and descriptive, don't descend into porno, which is kind of refreshing. To find characters who are able, if not entirely happy, to show honor and restraint, which is basically a foreign concept these days... bravo on that, Author. Yes, the characters have their reasons, which aren't entirely altruistic, for waiting. But it's nice not to get beaten over the head with sex scenes that have just been thrown in as imagination-candy for a change. Cussing is there, but pretty mild. Again, I had to smile at some of the imaginative, eloquent insults that get tossed around, rather than using swearing for a crutch.
But...WHAT is up with several century-old vampire dudes falling for young girls? Is that another vampire romance genre thing? Cause, I'm sorry, but that's just WEIRD and a little eww, no matter how popular the idea is (*cough* Twilight, *cough, cough*). So just, no...
July 19, 2017
With the third instalment of her Sebastian and Hanna series, Elizabeth Johnson once again weaves an impressive tale from the various threads of romance, hatred, betrayal, guilt, obsession, forgiveness and obsessive love. Emotions are almost of epic quality, melodramatic perhaps at times, but the power and force they possess drives the narrative onwards. Sebastian, like all the best protagonists, is a tortured individual. Added to the tension is the fact that if Hanna and Sebastian physically consumate their love Hanna would lose all her powers.
Mason himself, the arch nemesis, is far from being a one- dimensional villain, and is a complex character, driven by obsession rather than simply egoism or cruelty. He is more of a crime boss, a godfather, than a stereotypical vampire prince.
Despite the mix of magic and vampires, the feuds and conflicts that play out do so in a very believable way and in a convincing setting. This novel has nothing in common with the fantasy vampire setting of Underworld, for example, but in many ways is more like a crime thriller. Full credit to the author for refraining from indulging in pointless spectacles of supernatural daring do.
The tension is maintained all the way through. From the moment Hanna magically frees Sebastian from Mason’s prison (and even during his imprisonment) there is the sense of the inevitable showdown, with Sebastian and Hanna facing what are seemingly impossible odds.
Although the author has carved out her own unique niche in vampire fiction, there were two elements which struck me as less than original in the book. The first is ‘the quest to become day-walker’ element. I’m sure any vampire fan would immediately think of Blade. Although I have to add it is handled very different in this work. Similarly, the only eating animals for their blood’ is straight out of Interview with the Vampire. Again though, in the author’s defence, it does add to Sebastian’s character depth.
Overall, I can strongly recommend this one (and this series) to all fans of vampire fiction. Elizabeth Johnson is a very talented author and with her ability for creating complex human dramas, I believe she would be capable of writing in almost any genre she chose.
Mason himself, the arch nemesis, is far from being a one- dimensional villain, and is a complex character, driven by obsession rather than simply egoism or cruelty. He is more of a crime boss, a godfather, than a stereotypical vampire prince.
Despite the mix of magic and vampires, the feuds and conflicts that play out do so in a very believable way and in a convincing setting. This novel has nothing in common with the fantasy vampire setting of Underworld, for example, but in many ways is more like a crime thriller. Full credit to the author for refraining from indulging in pointless spectacles of supernatural daring do.
The tension is maintained all the way through. From the moment Hanna magically frees Sebastian from Mason’s prison (and even during his imprisonment) there is the sense of the inevitable showdown, with Sebastian and Hanna facing what are seemingly impossible odds.
Although the author has carved out her own unique niche in vampire fiction, there were two elements which struck me as less than original in the book. The first is ‘the quest to become day-walker’ element. I’m sure any vampire fan would immediately think of Blade. Although I have to add it is handled very different in this work. Similarly, the only eating animals for their blood’ is straight out of Interview with the Vampire. Again though, in the author’s defence, it does add to Sebastian’s character depth.
Overall, I can strongly recommend this one (and this series) to all fans of vampire fiction. Elizabeth Johnson is a very talented author and with her ability for creating complex human dramas, I believe she would be capable of writing in almost any genre she chose.
November 17, 2017
I liked this story a great deal. The characters were fairly well developed and the story flowed alone quite nicely. Some areas could've been better, but that didn't take away from my enjoyment of the story. There was quite a mixture of characters, but the story revolved mainly around Sebastian.
I love vampire stories and this one was a good read. I recommend it to those of you that like that kind of story.
I love vampire stories and this one was a good read. I recommend it to those of you that like that kind of story.
September 12, 2017
Having followed Sebastian and Hanna's story from the beginning, I was eager to see how Ms. Johnson would continue their story in CONQUEST OF POWER. Let me just say that I was not disappointed! In a publishing world where novels and their plots are growing thinner and thinner, the SEBASTIAN series stands out as a shining example of complex characters and rich storytelling. CHRONICLE is definitely the crown jewel so far, and that is saying a lot after two previous excellent installments.
Many other reviews have outlined much of the plot, so I won't go there and potentially spoil a few delightful surprises. These are not small books, and it's a testimony to Ms. Johnson's skill that the love between Sebastian and Hanna only grows better as the story continues. Their love is raw and believable, even though it unfolds within a rich supernatural world. Are they perfect? No, and thank goodness for the imperfections that allow us readers to relate to them so intimately. In less skillful hands, the rich array of supporting characters and backstories might have bogged down the story's flow. Ms. Johnson masterfully keeps everything spinning in perfect time to create a believable and beautiful tapestry. It's not easy to create an entire world and fill it with interesting characters-- just ask Anne Rice, J.R.R. Tolkien and George R.R. Martin, just to name a few.
Also, I don't find the plot point of Mason wanting to "borrow" Sebastian's ability to walk in the sun to be redundant with BLADE or other vampire stories. This is simply an archetype that is completely fair game because we all covet the things that we cannot have. Likewise, the idea of a diet of animal blood speaks closely to controlling our desires and appetites before they destroy us: gluttony, anger, lust. anger, etc. I thought Ms. Johnson's treatment of these was fresh and imaginative.
It's not strictly necessary to read the first two books, but you really should do so as a favor to yourself. You don't want to cheat yourself of even one bite -- sorry, pun -- of the delicious world that Elizabeth Johnson has created. Bravo.
Many other reviews have outlined much of the plot, so I won't go there and potentially spoil a few delightful surprises. These are not small books, and it's a testimony to Ms. Johnson's skill that the love between Sebastian and Hanna only grows better as the story continues. Their love is raw and believable, even though it unfolds within a rich supernatural world. Are they perfect? No, and thank goodness for the imperfections that allow us readers to relate to them so intimately. In less skillful hands, the rich array of supporting characters and backstories might have bogged down the story's flow. Ms. Johnson masterfully keeps everything spinning in perfect time to create a believable and beautiful tapestry. It's not easy to create an entire world and fill it with interesting characters-- just ask Anne Rice, J.R.R. Tolkien and George R.R. Martin, just to name a few.
Also, I don't find the plot point of Mason wanting to "borrow" Sebastian's ability to walk in the sun to be redundant with BLADE or other vampire stories. This is simply an archetype that is completely fair game because we all covet the things that we cannot have. Likewise, the idea of a diet of animal blood speaks closely to controlling our desires and appetites before they destroy us: gluttony, anger, lust. anger, etc. I thought Ms. Johnson's treatment of these was fresh and imaginative.
It's not strictly necessary to read the first two books, but you really should do so as a favor to yourself. You don't want to cheat yourself of even one bite -- sorry, pun -- of the delicious world that Elizabeth Johnson has created. Bravo.
August 30, 2017
Sebastian, Conquest of Power, is a very well written book by Elizabeth Johnson. Apparently this is the third book in this series and I have not read the other 2, but I didn't feel like that was a big issue. Things that happened in prior books that were of importance were explained well enough in this book to understand what was going on. And with that being said, I think based on what I gather happened in prior books, and now having read this one, I think this is probably the best of the three. It was full of action and had a very imaginative plot. I found that the author came up with a new twist on an old, very well covered topic and brought a breath of fresh air to it, which is always great and difficult to achieve in my eyes. The pace of the book is very good and never felt dragged out or rushed.
Sebastian is a very likable character who really just lives for one thing, and that is his love for Hanna. Nothing else really matters but how he feels for her and that he will stop at nothing to make sure that she is ok, even if that means sacrificing himself. Hanna is also a very likeable character, however also a tad frustrating I have found. She just refuses to listen to reason at times and always seems to know better. Hanna seems to disregard Sebastian's concerns and the experiences he has had and in the end gets the infamous "I told you so" which almost tears them apart.
The book has a very climatic ending and I find that it could have been left at that really so I am curious to see where book 4 could possibly go after all that has happened in this one. All in all I really enjoyed this book and can only recommend it to the people who look for something that is unique and different but like to read about their beloved vampires.
I have received this book from the author for an honest review. (LoP, Lovers of Paranormal)
Sebastian is a very likable character who really just lives for one thing, and that is his love for Hanna. Nothing else really matters but how he feels for her and that he will stop at nothing to make sure that she is ok, even if that means sacrificing himself. Hanna is also a very likeable character, however also a tad frustrating I have found. She just refuses to listen to reason at times and always seems to know better. Hanna seems to disregard Sebastian's concerns and the experiences he has had and in the end gets the infamous "I told you so" which almost tears them apart.
The book has a very climatic ending and I find that it could have been left at that really so I am curious to see where book 4 could possibly go after all that has happened in this one. All in all I really enjoyed this book and can only recommend it to the people who look for something that is unique and different but like to read about their beloved vampires.
I have received this book from the author for an honest review. (LoP, Lovers of Paranormal)
August 27, 2017
I received this book as part of the Author’s program at Goodreads and am delighted that I had the opportunity to read it. Since this in not a genre I am particularly familiar with, I may not have picked it up where it not recommended to me.
I found Conquest of Power an amazing story and one that I hope continues. It is written in a most breathtaking manner and following the lives and adventures of Sebastian and Hanna is well worth the read. Love, hate, revenge, kindness and mystery…Conquest of Power has it all. Sebastian is an admirable hero and Hanna is amazing. Initially, I had some trouble sorting through all the characters, but once I figured them all out, reading Conquest of Power was pure pleasure.
I am looking forward to the next book and to learning more about what is in store for this cast of characters because we know, the story can’t end here.
If you were looking for a true adventure, I would definitely recommend Conquest of Power.
I found Conquest of Power an amazing story and one that I hope continues. It is written in a most breathtaking manner and following the lives and adventures of Sebastian and Hanna is well worth the read. Love, hate, revenge, kindness and mystery…Conquest of Power has it all. Sebastian is an admirable hero and Hanna is amazing. Initially, I had some trouble sorting through all the characters, but once I figured them all out, reading Conquest of Power was pure pleasure.
I am looking forward to the next book and to learning more about what is in store for this cast of characters because we know, the story can’t end here.
If you were looking for a true adventure, I would definitely recommend Conquest of Power.
July 22, 2017
I just finished the third book in the Sebastian series by Elizabeth Johnson entitled Sebastian 3: Conquest of Power. I found it to be every bit as compelling as Book 1, The Life of Sebastian and Hanna Greene, and Book 2, Dark Times Arising. I will add the same proviso in this book review as I did for the previous two which is that the vampire genre is hardly my favorite. However, there is something about the way that Ms. Johnson forms her characters and constructs her story arc that just draws me in.
The center of this book is again the relationship between the unique vampire Sebastian, with his wonderful strength and skills, and his partner, a very special lady named Hanna Greene. Theirs is a love story with a tumultuous intensity and one that is buffeted by many forces, so much so that they remained apart for three years.
Many of the same characters from Books 1 and 2 re-emerge in this sequel including Hanna’s mother Hope; a set of vampire brothers named Nicholas, Henry, and Thomas; Hilda Denali, leader of the wolf tribe; Mason Benedict, the oldest and most powerful vampire of them all; and his witch wife Annemarie. However, some have perished as this story begins such as the supremely villainous Anton and Zachary from a different trio of brothers who succumbed in battle in Book 2. This leaves only the treacherous brother Hector, who plays a major role in this story.
Mason Benedict is the evil power center in this book. He wants for himself and for his vampires something Sebastian already has, the ability to walk in the sun. Some of the holes and misunderstandings between Sebastian and Hanna in the previous two books are filled in when we learn of the manipulations of Mason.
Sebastian and Hanna’s relationship is constantly tested as the battle lines are drawn in this tale. Yet, theirs is a love so powerful that Hanna observes that if they die it’s ok, for they experienced a level of love that few in this lifetime receive. I found myself envious reading about them. Yet, at the same time, they cannot consummate their relationship for reasons which you will learn when you read the book.
Everything builds to the final climactic battle, one of the best I have ever read. Sebastian and Hanna, the massive vampire army of Mason Benedict, and Hilda Denali and her wolf tribe go to war at a level that reminded me of Lord of the Rings.
At the risk of sounding promotional, I strongly recommend that you read these three books sequentially. One could pop in and still enjoy Conquest of Power, but I do believe you will really gain a greater appreciation of the story arc if you read all three. Elizabeth Johnson is a great storyteller!
The center of this book is again the relationship between the unique vampire Sebastian, with his wonderful strength and skills, and his partner, a very special lady named Hanna Greene. Theirs is a love story with a tumultuous intensity and one that is buffeted by many forces, so much so that they remained apart for three years.
Many of the same characters from Books 1 and 2 re-emerge in this sequel including Hanna’s mother Hope; a set of vampire brothers named Nicholas, Henry, and Thomas; Hilda Denali, leader of the wolf tribe; Mason Benedict, the oldest and most powerful vampire of them all; and his witch wife Annemarie. However, some have perished as this story begins such as the supremely villainous Anton and Zachary from a different trio of brothers who succumbed in battle in Book 2. This leaves only the treacherous brother Hector, who plays a major role in this story.
Mason Benedict is the evil power center in this book. He wants for himself and for his vampires something Sebastian already has, the ability to walk in the sun. Some of the holes and misunderstandings between Sebastian and Hanna in the previous two books are filled in when we learn of the manipulations of Mason.
Sebastian and Hanna’s relationship is constantly tested as the battle lines are drawn in this tale. Yet, theirs is a love so powerful that Hanna observes that if they die it’s ok, for they experienced a level of love that few in this lifetime receive. I found myself envious reading about them. Yet, at the same time, they cannot consummate their relationship for reasons which you will learn when you read the book.
Everything builds to the final climactic battle, one of the best I have ever read. Sebastian and Hanna, the massive vampire army of Mason Benedict, and Hilda Denali and her wolf tribe go to war at a level that reminded me of Lord of the Rings.
At the risk of sounding promotional, I strongly recommend that you read these three books sequentially. One could pop in and still enjoy Conquest of Power, but I do believe you will really gain a greater appreciation of the story arc if you read all three. Elizabeth Johnson is a great storyteller!
August 3, 2017
Sebastian, Conquest of Power—is the third book in Elizabeth Johnson’s “vampire romance” series in which witches, vampires, and wolves fight themselves and each other for survival, power, and love. I didn’t read the first two books in the series, yet it wasn’t difficult to follow the story without them. There is plenty of intrigue, the plot moves, the storyline is interesting, and the characters and settings are nicely done. That said—there’s a lot of repetitious dialogue, especially between Sebastian and Hannah, and an annoying poignant pause in the action where only a fool with a death wish would have wasted time stopping for a kiss. But overall, nicely done.
August 8, 2017
Sebastian Three: Conquest of Power by Elizabeth Johnson is an amazing book. This is a great book for all those individuals that love the dark meaningful stories of vampires, werewolves, witches, and other beings. Don’t worry that this is not the first book of the series, there is enough background information throughout this book that you will be caught up and understand exactly what is taking place. For those individuals that simply enjoy a good love story with various twists and turns, this book is also for you. I must say that I was truly caught off guard with this one and was actually left wanting more in the end. I can’t wait for the next installment to come out.
August 8, 2017
I have to confess I haven't read a book for fun in a long time. I've been busy reading marketing and business books. This book kept my attention pretty well as I'm very drawn to stories about vampires and who could resist a good love story?
For the most part, the story flowed very well. There were some sections I had to go back and re-read a couple of times to fully understand the story line. Over all, I recommend this book if you're looking to be entertained.
For the most part, the story flowed very well. There were some sections I had to go back and re-read a couple of times to fully understand the story line. Over all, I recommend this book if you're looking to be entertained.
August 2, 2017
Romance, Drama & Back story
With this third book, the Sebastian vampire romance saga appears to come full circle with the ‘resurrection’ of characters from past volumes and the appendage of back stories that attempt to fill the blanks. Those who’ve read the first two books will find some answers but perhaps not immediate relief as the protagonists are still in dire straits and their enemy seems to hold all the cards. Needless to say, emotions are running high. What’s more, the—Hanna/Sebastian/Hector—love triangle is infused with danger, unrelenting action, and lots of drama. This paranormal fantasy, spiced with romance, offers what conventional existence lacks: magical powers and extraordinary abilities to take on the enemy.
But Sebastian, like all vampire books, echoes the trite, emblematic storyline that dominates the genre—a gorgeous vampire meets a girl but can’t have her without trouncing other vampires—luckily, this tale goes a step further by introducing elements of human struggle that makes the characters and the events relatable. By so doing, it transforms the vampire meets girl narrative into a life and death spar that becomes a veritable survival of the fittest situation.
With this third book, the Sebastian vampire romance saga appears to come full circle with the ‘resurrection’ of characters from past volumes and the appendage of back stories that attempt to fill the blanks. Those who’ve read the first two books will find some answers but perhaps not immediate relief as the protagonists are still in dire straits and their enemy seems to hold all the cards. Needless to say, emotions are running high. What’s more, the—Hanna/Sebastian/Hector—love triangle is infused with danger, unrelenting action, and lots of drama. This paranormal fantasy, spiced with romance, offers what conventional existence lacks: magical powers and extraordinary abilities to take on the enemy.
But Sebastian, like all vampire books, echoes the trite, emblematic storyline that dominates the genre—a gorgeous vampire meets a girl but can’t have her without trouncing other vampires—luckily, this tale goes a step further by introducing elements of human struggle that makes the characters and the events relatable. By so doing, it transforms the vampire meets girl narrative into a life and death spar that becomes a veritable survival of the fittest situation.
August 7, 2017
This book and the entire previous books in the series has become my favorite in this genre. The fight scenes at the end of this book 3 are one of the best I ever read. I truly didn't think the author could top book 2, then again, I didn't think she could top book 1 either but here we go. A wonderful read indeed and I recommend it to anyone looking for a fantastical read.
July 13, 2017
I was advised by a friend to read Sebastian: The Life of Sebastian and Hanna Greene, the first book by Elizabeth Johnson. I was not at all interested as I assumed it was going to be a typical vampire meets girl story, but my friend persisted and now I thank my lucky stars for the pestering because I eventually succumbed and once I did I was hooked. This was a tale of, yes vampire meets girl, but the story was much more than this, there was romance, yes, but there was also action and danger and more than a hint of the supernatural. Elizabeth Johnson had garnered a new fan and it was with avid anticipation that I awaited the sequel Sebastian: Dark Times Arising. As soon as I started reading this I saw that Elizabeth Johnson had taken the novel to another level, I could not put the book down, the excitement and danger and a love that was poisoned was very well told by Ms Johnson. This sequel was much larger in scale with locations ranging from Mexico to Nigeria and more, I could actively picture the book as a major movie. And the action scenes were brutally told with relish. I loved it. Now, to say that the wait for Sebastian: Conquest of Power was a struggle is a major understatement, I literally could not wait and I literally stalked Elizabeth Johnson’s online page in anticipation of the magical words Sebastian 3, coming soon. The day finally arrived and upon announcement of the arrival of the book on amazon, I purchased it immediately. Sebastian: Conquest of Power, I loved the title, it promises so much and it was with excitement that I began reading. The lovers are back together thankfully, but all is not well, Hector is still a torn in Sebastian’s side. There is also a major war brewing and the sense of danger is palpable throughout the novel. There are baddies all around, the majestic and terrible Mason, the deliciously evil Hilda and the danger within, Hector. This novel does not let up. Anticipation sometimes leads to disappointment, thankfully, not when it comes to Ms Johnson. The novel is very well written and Ms Johnson has a unique style that I love. The final chapters were full of excitement at every turn I literally could not put the book down, the action was intense and extremely well written. This series of books is fundamentally a love story between Sebastian and Hanna, but it encompasses so much more. Yes, there is love, but there is also intrigue, action, witchcraft, werewolves and even Angels. I love Sebastian: Conquest of Power and I recommend it wholeheartedly to everyone that loves a good story. I await the next chapter in the series with extreme anticipation.
July 20, 2017
Sebastian 3: Conquest of Power, by Elizabeth Johnson, is a rich and satisfying addition to her Sebastian vampire series. Early in the story, Hanna and Sebastian are reunited after their long separation recounted in the second book. However, their problems are not over. The strange love triangle, involving Hector, Hanna, and Sebastian continues. Hanna seems to have mixed feelings about Hector and is not convinced that he’s a threat until it’s almost too late.
At the same time that Mason’s vampires are after Hanna for her powers, Hilda Denali and her were-wolves are also after Hanna, intending to sacrifice her.
The end of the story involves an epic battle and some interesting surprises that will, undoubtedly, be developed in the next book.
This is a fascinating story with winning characters and a complex plot.
At the same time that Mason’s vampires are after Hanna for her powers, Hilda Denali and her were-wolves are also after Hanna, intending to sacrifice her.
The end of the story involves an epic battle and some interesting surprises that will, undoubtedly, be developed in the next book.
This is a fascinating story with winning characters and a complex plot.
July 7, 2017
Fans of the "Sebastian" series will not be disappointed by this third outing in the saga. Sebastian and Hanna are estranged after Sebastian's shocking revelation to Hanna in the previous novel. Sebastian is being held prisoner by Mason, a vampire hundreds of years more powerful than Sebastian, in an effort to get to Hanna. Mason desperately wants something that Sebastian has. He wants to become a day-walker. It is a power that only Hanna can provide, and Mason will stop at nothing to attain that power.
Twists and turns abound! While languishing in captivity, Sebastian is approached by Mason who reveals to Sebastian a shocking truth about his past. It is a truth that many readers will not see coming. It is a truth that brings the saga full-circle, leading right back to the events of the first novel in the series. It is a very creative stroke on the part of author Elizabeth Johnson!
Though Sebastian believes the love of his life to be lost to him, Sebastian and Hanna demonstrate that true love can never be lost! Sebastian and Hanna have overcome hurdles before. Readers will be pleased to know that they will overcome them again!
A fabulous read! "Sebastian" fans are going to love it!
Twists and turns abound! While languishing in captivity, Sebastian is approached by Mason who reveals to Sebastian a shocking truth about his past. It is a truth that many readers will not see coming. It is a truth that brings the saga full-circle, leading right back to the events of the first novel in the series. It is a very creative stroke on the part of author Elizabeth Johnson!
Though Sebastian believes the love of his life to be lost to him, Sebastian and Hanna demonstrate that true love can never be lost! Sebastian and Hanna have overcome hurdles before. Readers will be pleased to know that they will overcome them again!
A fabulous read! "Sebastian" fans are going to love it!
September 7, 2017
Beautiful, complex, interesting, all this word don't quite cover how I feel about this book. I have read some reviews in here and most of them cover how I feel about this book. I have also read some people bashing the author, I think it's unfair. The work has been beautifully written most people can't pull what she's done. So, I applaud her her not drag her down. Yes, there were a few ignorable mistakes, I am not reading to point out inappropriate comma's that were a few and far between.
What an epic book, this one did not disappoint at all, and then the twist at the end. I can't recommend this book enough, it's really a great read
What an epic book, this one did not disappoint at all, and then the twist at the end. I can't recommend this book enough, it's really a great read
September 7, 2017
One word for it, Amazing, I didn't expect it to be this good, oh but it was more than that, it was great and more is to come. I am truly happy I got to read the three books. I kept picturing the whole book in my head and really would love to see it as a movie. I am still definitely going to read it all again. what a wonderful read. Five stars all the way.
August 6, 2017
I prefer my occasional vampire indulgences to lean towards the supernatural and also handle the violent aspects with taste. Better examples of this are “I Am Legend” with Will Smith and “The Lost Boys” with Kiefer Sutherland. Then there’s ones on the border, like “Blade” with Wesley Snipes and “Underworld” with Kate Beckinsale. Then there’s ones that are just too slow-paced, like “Interview with the Vampire” and “Twilight.” Johnson’s Sebastian trilogy seems to somehow swerve into all 3 of the better categories in terms of plot. And her intros and reviews support this enough that I would click the buy button based on that, if I were in one of my monster-movie-moods, especially around Halloween. However, reading her blurb a bit closer, I was perturbed that every other sentence shifts to a different tense and/or displays an odd comma splice or even an incomplete sentence! (Sentence fragments CAN be used for suspense, but must end with the proper punctuation, and not, alas, a mere period.)
I also noted this glaring flaw in a private promo intro, which I dismissed as a hastily-written primer with the good intention of filling-in the prior novels backstory. But alas, the first page of the 3rd novel is written just as badly; shockingly so, without even proper paragraph indenting. In sum, the book appears to be basically a treatment that was hastily padded into a novel, somehow, with zero editing beyond meeting a page count. Normally I’d politely decline to review this until a proper edit was done. However, I accepted a free copy as part of a non-reciprocal group-read, and thus I’m obligated to review my quota of randomly assigned books, even if in all honesty I must ask the author/publisher why they didn’t care enough to write at a grammatical quality expected of at least, I dunno, a third grader? I won’t give it a mere 1-star, as at least a fair amount of time went into the plotting; and also the author could quickly repost a new edited version which would only cost around maybe $100 for a modest edit. So I’ll give it a generous 2 stars.
I also noted this glaring flaw in a private promo intro, which I dismissed as a hastily-written primer with the good intention of filling-in the prior novels backstory. But alas, the first page of the 3rd novel is written just as badly; shockingly so, without even proper paragraph indenting. In sum, the book appears to be basically a treatment that was hastily padded into a novel, somehow, with zero editing beyond meeting a page count. Normally I’d politely decline to review this until a proper edit was done. However, I accepted a free copy as part of a non-reciprocal group-read, and thus I’m obligated to review my quota of randomly assigned books, even if in all honesty I must ask the author/publisher why they didn’t care enough to write at a grammatical quality expected of at least, I dunno, a third grader? I won’t give it a mere 1-star, as at least a fair amount of time went into the plotting; and also the author could quickly repost a new edited version which would only cost around maybe $100 for a modest edit. So I’ll give it a generous 2 stars.
September 28, 2017
Everything is a little too “too” with Conquest of Power.
Too familiar- The marketplace is gutted with books about vampires, werewolves, and witches, and in order to be interesting, the take or the hook has to be fresh, and I just didn’t see that here. It feels derivative of Rice or Harris (or maybe Twilight- but full disclosure, I’m not masochistic enough to undergo that endeavor). That being said, we all have genres in the entertainment world that we cannot get enough of, and if the vampire genre is your particular hobgoblin, this would be fine for you.
Too stilted- The dialogue just doesn’t quite feel right. I can’t tell if the author was trying to capture a more pseudo-Old World feel in the style and (frequently length) of the monologues, but whatever the intent, it just was off enough to be noticeable.
Too long- I don’t throw those two words out lightly (especially as someone who writes ridiculously long- I prefer, epic- books, and I don’t even mean the overall length just in terms of pages. I have no problem with a 400 page book, but so much of Conquest of Power is characters discussing and reflecting on events that happened in previous books in the series. I don’t know if the author is trying to make the book more accessible to someone picking up just this book in the series and trying to read it as a standalone, but it doesn’t work. The books either need to be standalone or the author needs to assume the reader read the previous books in the series. Splitting the difference added a lot of filler to the book that was unnecessary.
For an indie, reasonably well written from a grammatical standpoint. I don’t quibble over little things here and there.
Too familiar- The marketplace is gutted with books about vampires, werewolves, and witches, and in order to be interesting, the take or the hook has to be fresh, and I just didn’t see that here. It feels derivative of Rice or Harris (or maybe Twilight- but full disclosure, I’m not masochistic enough to undergo that endeavor). That being said, we all have genres in the entertainment world that we cannot get enough of, and if the vampire genre is your particular hobgoblin, this would be fine for you.
Too stilted- The dialogue just doesn’t quite feel right. I can’t tell if the author was trying to capture a more pseudo-Old World feel in the style and (frequently length) of the monologues, but whatever the intent, it just was off enough to be noticeable.
Too long- I don’t throw those two words out lightly (especially as someone who writes ridiculously long- I prefer, epic- books, and I don’t even mean the overall length just in terms of pages. I have no problem with a 400 page book, but so much of Conquest of Power is characters discussing and reflecting on events that happened in previous books in the series. I don’t know if the author is trying to make the book more accessible to someone picking up just this book in the series and trying to read it as a standalone, but it doesn’t work. The books either need to be standalone or the author needs to assume the reader read the previous books in the series. Splitting the difference added a lot of filler to the book that was unnecessary.
For an indie, reasonably well written from a grammatical standpoint. I don’t quibble over little things here and there.
September 1, 2017
Sebastian 3: Conquest of Power is an intriguing tale full of vampires, witches, and werewolves. In the ongoing saga of Sebastian and Hanna, this installment builds to an epic battle with some unforeseen twists and turns.
I enjoyed the story of Sebastian, a vampire, and Hanna, a powerful witch, and their desire to just be allowed to live their lives out in peace. Alas, that’s not to be as a war is being waged against them from all sides. Friends turn against friends, enemies join forces, and all beings in the supernatural world are forced to takes sides. With both Mason, leader of the vampires, and Hilda, leader of the werewolves, after Hanna for their own reasons, Hanna convinces Sebastian to trust Hector, a vampire with whom she was briefly involved during her separation from Sebastian. This leads to a great deal of tension between Hanna and Sebastian so, in addition to preparing for their battle, the two are forced to deal with the tension between them.
While the plot of the story held my interest and I turned the pages quickly in order to find out what was going to happen, I found myself frustrated at times with the repetitiveness of Sebastian and Hanna’s angst and arguing over Hector. Too often, it was: argue, pout, make up, repeat. Even the dialogue seemed repetitive. Also, at times, the flow of the story was interrupted by odd tense changes and grammar and punctuation missteps. Overall, though, I give the author a great deal of credit for developing a world certain to appeal to fans of YA vampire lore.
I read this book through Kindle Unlimited.
I enjoyed the story of Sebastian, a vampire, and Hanna, a powerful witch, and their desire to just be allowed to live their lives out in peace. Alas, that’s not to be as a war is being waged against them from all sides. Friends turn against friends, enemies join forces, and all beings in the supernatural world are forced to takes sides. With both Mason, leader of the vampires, and Hilda, leader of the werewolves, after Hanna for their own reasons, Hanna convinces Sebastian to trust Hector, a vampire with whom she was briefly involved during her separation from Sebastian. This leads to a great deal of tension between Hanna and Sebastian so, in addition to preparing for their battle, the two are forced to deal with the tension between them.
While the plot of the story held my interest and I turned the pages quickly in order to find out what was going to happen, I found myself frustrated at times with the repetitiveness of Sebastian and Hanna’s angst and arguing over Hector. Too often, it was: argue, pout, make up, repeat. Even the dialogue seemed repetitive. Also, at times, the flow of the story was interrupted by odd tense changes and grammar and punctuation missteps. Overall, though, I give the author a great deal of credit for developing a world certain to appeal to fans of YA vampire lore.
I read this book through Kindle Unlimited.
September 1, 2017
I had a hard time deciding between three stars and four for this book. The story itself is very good--a large cast of heartfelt otherworldly characters driven by love, loyalty and retribution fought to overcome challenges (both noble and mundane) that were easy to understand. It's rare to read a vampire novel and feel that the characterization of the species offers something new--in that sense, the world-building was strong. I enjoyed the discovery of details that were fresh, imaginative and darkly delightful.
With that said, the balance between well-explained characters and effective storytelling felt off-kilter. Tangential detail often made it difficult to follow the main thread of the story. There were so many characters, each with his own motivations and sub-plots, that I was 25% through the book before I had a grasp on who the protagonists were, what secondary characters I most needed to focus on, and what the plot was about. Other editorial issues (particularly POV and some head-hopping) added to this confusion and made the story feel meandering and out of focus. But only at certain times--this was mixed and some characters had consistently clearer voices than others.
The story itself was almost epic in its vision and complexity, but a large cast of characters and many subplots are always difficult to pull off. I felt myself wanting to read something different--maybe something simpler--by this author. The concept was amazing, but the execution was off.
With that said, the balance between well-explained characters and effective storytelling felt off-kilter. Tangential detail often made it difficult to follow the main thread of the story. There were so many characters, each with his own motivations and sub-plots, that I was 25% through the book before I had a grasp on who the protagonists were, what secondary characters I most needed to focus on, and what the plot was about. Other editorial issues (particularly POV and some head-hopping) added to this confusion and made the story feel meandering and out of focus. But only at certain times--this was mixed and some characters had consistently clearer voices than others.
The story itself was almost epic in its vision and complexity, but a large cast of characters and many subplots are always difficult to pull off. I felt myself wanting to read something different--maybe something simpler--by this author. The concept was amazing, but the execution was off.
September 7, 2017
Epic, epic, epic: Wow! Nicely executed. I am beyond words, I am now a true fan of this authors work.
The war was brewing but never did I expect the writer will take it to that height. The characters all complex and endearing, Hanna and Sebastian did fight a lot but it was believable and it added depth to their character and the twist at the end. I had thought this will be the last book to this epic story but we are to expect more and I will definitely be counting days until its release. Anyone who hasn't read the previous books should start from book 1, but if you come in from this one most important bits are explained here.
I enjoyed this one and once again, a definite and well deserved five star.
The war was brewing but never did I expect the writer will take it to that height. The characters all complex and endearing, Hanna and Sebastian did fight a lot but it was believable and it added depth to their character and the twist at the end. I had thought this will be the last book to this epic story but we are to expect more and I will definitely be counting days until its release. Anyone who hasn't read the previous books should start from book 1, but if you come in from this one most important bits are explained here.
I enjoyed this one and once again, a definite and well deserved five star.
October 24, 2017
Wow, wow, wow. What an epic story, I had expected a lot having read the previous books but never in my wildest imagination did I think the author would pull this out of the bag. The fight at the end was epic, the love story sweet, yes Sebastian and Hanna bicker a lot but that is to be expected if they didn't perhaps it will make their character dull. I enjoyed it. The author is very elaborate and I like that because if you missed the first two books and started with this one, you will be filled in on the important backstory. I truly look forward to reading more of the author's work, really what a breath of fresh air to a tired genre. And at last, we are to expect more from this beautiful story, can't wait for book 4 to come out, And can i say, don't start from book three read all 3 books sequentially to truly appreciate it. And yes there were some minor mistakes but i think the author can be forgiven for indeed she is a gifted and talented story teller.
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