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The Light of Darkness #1
The Power of Conviction
Darkness creeps across the Midlands. Only the Priesthood can stand against its terrifying presence.
Trained in the arts of the Light, the priests tread a bloodied path through the scores of demons, seeking to rid the world of their unholy presence. The fight against demonkind grows increasingly perilous, threatening the Priesthood’s very survival.
Priestess Anaya stands resolute in her conviction. Despite the dangers she must endure, her faith in the Goddess and Her divine supremacy remains steadfast. She intends to follow the commands of her High Priest, no matter how gruesome.
Then comes a day when all her beliefs are challenged.
A fateful meeting with the elusive demon, Samael, opens the doors to doubt. Anaya begins to question the very foundation of the Priesthood and the preachings of the Goddess.
Could they be wrong about demonkind? Is her purpose in life truly for naught?
The Light of Darkness series is intended for a mature audience, containing sensitive subjects including violence, torture, consequences of sexual abuse, emotional scars, mature language, and steamy scenes.
The Light of Darkness is perfect for readers who enjoy visceral, gripping epic fantasy tales with dark undertones and romance.
Trained in the arts of the Light, the priests tread a bloodied path through the scores of demons, seeking to rid the world of their unholy presence. The fight against demonkind grows increasingly perilous, threatening the Priesthood’s very survival.
Priestess Anaya stands resolute in her conviction. Despite the dangers she must endure, her faith in the Goddess and Her divine supremacy remains steadfast. She intends to follow the commands of her High Priest, no matter how gruesome.
Then comes a day when all her beliefs are challenged.
A fateful meeting with the elusive demon, Samael, opens the doors to doubt. Anaya begins to question the very foundation of the Priesthood and the preachings of the Goddess.
Could they be wrong about demonkind? Is her purpose in life truly for naught?
The Light of Darkness series is intended for a mature audience, containing sensitive subjects including violence, torture, consequences of sexual abuse, emotional scars, mature language, and steamy scenes.
The Light of Darkness is perfect for readers who enjoy visceral, gripping epic fantasy tales with dark undertones and romance.
314 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 5, 2019
62 people are currently reading
224 people want to read
About the author
Catrin Russell
17 books92 followersCatrin Russell writes character-driven Epic Romantic Fantasy with dark undertones and spice. With a weakness for all things morally grey, she crafts immersive sword and sorcery adventures featuring enemies-to-lovers romances and characters who rise against their adversaries only to fall for one another.
Living in northern Sweden, Catrin draws inspiration from the rugged, beautiful landscape that surrounds her. When not writing, she spends time with her grumpy but loving husband and three adorable kids, finding joy in books, art, and peaceful woodland walks beneath the midnight sun.
As a dog owner and animal lover, Catrin often weaves animal companions into her stories. Her background as a nurse influences her approach to health and healing within her worlds. Her writing is infused with humour that, depending on who you ask, is witty, cheeky, and always on point.
Subscribe to Catrin’s newsletter for all the latest releases and exclusive FREE content at https://catrinrussell.com/books/freeb...!
Living in northern Sweden, Catrin draws inspiration from the rugged, beautiful landscape that surrounds her. When not writing, she spends time with her grumpy but loving husband and three adorable kids, finding joy in books, art, and peaceful woodland walks beneath the midnight sun.
As a dog owner and animal lover, Catrin often weaves animal companions into her stories. Her background as a nurse influences her approach to health and healing within her worlds. Her writing is infused with humour that, depending on who you ask, is witty, cheeky, and always on point.
Subscribe to Catrin’s newsletter for all the latest releases and exclusive FREE content at https://catrinrussell.com/books/freeb...!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
July 10, 2020
5 resolute stars!!
A grim and bloody tale of faith, forbidden love and revenge, that will have you at the edge of your seat and wishing for more!
The first book in the Prime Series and I believe I found another favorite!
Humanity is threatened by demons! In all shapes and sizes, they keep attacking settlements, leaving nothing but corpses behind. But the Priesthood rises and dares to stand against them. Blessed by the Goddess and trusting in Her divine supremacy, the priests follow with unwavering faith a dedicated path to rid the world of the foul creatures' unholy presence.
Trained in the arts of the Light, the priests walk a bloodied path through the scores of demons. But the fight against demonkind is becoming increasingly perilous, and danger rises to threaten the Priesthood’s very survival.
The orders of the High Priest become more and more gruesome, in an attempt to keep the upper hand. But will his adepts be willing to follow? And is the path as righteous as it seems?
In masterful strokes, Catrin Rusell paints here a compelling picture of a dark world, where faith clashes with reason, dedication blends in with obsession and appearances are never quite as they seem. Honor, ethics, righteousness, justice and morality, they are all beautifully brought into focus and challenged on the background of a sweeping war with demonkind.
How far would you go in doing your duty? How gruesome should an order be before you draw the line and refuse to obey? Would you follow a command through even though the result will make you want to hurl? Or would you stand your ground despite being called a traitor to the cause?
This author here will make you walk a tightrope in between!
Beautifully fleshed-out characters complement this gripping story and you may find it difficult to pick a favorite. They aren't perfect, but just right! Neither too great nor too plain, just human! I for one love them all!!
Anaya, the MC. A badass warrior priestess whom demons learnt to fear!! Strong and brave Anaya; so lonely and guarded; so steadfast in her path and yet so vulnerable and fragile and kind-hearted! You cannot help but stand in her corner and cheer while she questions, doubts and dares the forbidden!
Anaya - by Catrin Russell
Lenda. Sweet and gentle Lenda who would rather heal then hurt! Her kindness and inner light you cannot help but notice! She's the little sister each and everyone of us would do anything to protect.
Lenda- by Catrin Russell
Eden. Brave, honorable and charming! He is every lady's dream. And the man any mother would want for her daughter!
Eden- by Catrin Russell
Edric. Tough, lonely, broken Edric! He is one of those unforgettable characters that will stay with you long after the tale is over. His horrid past. as well as his struggle to mend himself, you cannot but admire!
Edric- by Catrin Russell
Vixen. Tough and sexy commander Vixen, who'll hold her ground with any demon or man alike! She'll throw a solid punch if you piss her off and have you on your back in no time. But you won't find a better match than her, if you want to heal a broken heart.
Vixen- by Catrin Russell
And lastly, Samael. Our Prime predator and kick-ass demon! He'll have his own kind cowering in fear at a mere glance - and that's just in his human form. When his claws come out... you would'n want to piss him off even by chance! And still, I'd have this bad boy savage monster for a book boyfriend any day!! Why you ask?! You're gonna have to read this to find out! :D
Samael- by Catrin Russell
Written in a wonderful, elegant prose, this debut novel has something for everyone.
Love and tenderness enough to make you sigh, for all those in search of great feeling; as well as mystery and suspense to keep you guessing till the very end.
Bloody action scenes are aplenty for those in search of kick-ass fights:
"The Prime shrieked as the spell enclosed around it, the exoskeleton catching alight. Vixen dared the flames as she hurled herself onto the beast, this time hacking her sword at its neck, reaching deeper with every blow."
As well as gory battles raw enough to fully satisfy:
"An enormous black and green, heavily scaled tail came swinging through the mist. Cutting through the Light around them, it tore through Scott. It smashed into his body, ripping it apart, his intestines hurtling towards the other priests. In a whoosh of towering mist, a leg came crashing down, crushing Joseph under its weight."
This author doesn't shy away from killing, pain and suffering. She'll give you raw torture scenes that will make you cringe in outrage:
"The... moved on to the next item on his list. He grabbed a mace leaning up against the wall and swung it at the demon. The boy attempted to remove himself from its path, but the shackles held firm. Crimson and teeth sprayed...."
just as easily as unjust punishments, enough to break a heart:
"More lashings. Then more.
Ceaselessly falling.
More and more blood was drawn, as the whip rippled across the man's already raw skin. ... "
"Mercy has nothing to do with it. All is allowed in war."
And yet,
"I am not heartless." - so our demon says!
Whether both statements stand... remains to be seen!
Note: The Power of Conviction is the first book in The Prime Series and ends in a cliffhanger. You'd do well to keep the sequel close by because you'll definitely want to see what happens next!!
Hope you will love it just as much as I did!
Happy reading! :)
Find this review and much more on my book review and cover art blog The Magic Book Corner
A grim and bloody tale of faith, forbidden love and revenge, that will have you at the edge of your seat and wishing for more!
The first book in the Prime Series and I believe I found another favorite!
Humanity is threatened by demons! In all shapes and sizes, they keep attacking settlements, leaving nothing but corpses behind. But the Priesthood rises and dares to stand against them. Blessed by the Goddess and trusting in Her divine supremacy, the priests follow with unwavering faith a dedicated path to rid the world of the foul creatures' unholy presence.
Trained in the arts of the Light, the priests walk a bloodied path through the scores of demons. But the fight against demonkind is becoming increasingly perilous, and danger rises to threaten the Priesthood’s very survival.
The orders of the High Priest become more and more gruesome, in an attempt to keep the upper hand. But will his adepts be willing to follow? And is the path as righteous as it seems?
In masterful strokes, Catrin Rusell paints here a compelling picture of a dark world, where faith clashes with reason, dedication blends in with obsession and appearances are never quite as they seem. Honor, ethics, righteousness, justice and morality, they are all beautifully brought into focus and challenged on the background of a sweeping war with demonkind.
How far would you go in doing your duty? How gruesome should an order be before you draw the line and refuse to obey? Would you follow a command through even though the result will make you want to hurl? Or would you stand your ground despite being called a traitor to the cause?
This author here will make you walk a tightrope in between!
Beautifully fleshed-out characters complement this gripping story and you may find it difficult to pick a favorite. They aren't perfect, but just right! Neither too great nor too plain, just human! I for one love them all!!
Anaya, the MC. A badass warrior priestess whom demons learnt to fear!! Strong and brave Anaya; so lonely and guarded; so steadfast in her path and yet so vulnerable and fragile and kind-hearted! You cannot help but stand in her corner and cheer while she questions, doubts and dares the forbidden!
Anaya - by Catrin Russell
Lenda. Sweet and gentle Lenda who would rather heal then hurt! Her kindness and inner light you cannot help but notice! She's the little sister each and everyone of us would do anything to protect.
Lenda- by Catrin Russell
Eden. Brave, honorable and charming! He is every lady's dream. And the man any mother would want for her daughter!
Eden- by Catrin Russell
Edric. Tough, lonely, broken Edric! He is one of those unforgettable characters that will stay with you long after the tale is over. His horrid past. as well as his struggle to mend himself, you cannot but admire!
Edric- by Catrin Russell
Vixen. Tough and sexy commander Vixen, who'll hold her ground with any demon or man alike! She'll throw a solid punch if you piss her off and have you on your back in no time. But you won't find a better match than her, if you want to heal a broken heart.
Vixen- by Catrin Russell
And lastly, Samael. Our Prime predator and kick-ass demon! He'll have his own kind cowering in fear at a mere glance - and that's just in his human form. When his claws come out... you would'n want to piss him off even by chance! And still, I'd have this bad boy savage monster for a book boyfriend any day!! Why you ask?! You're gonna have to read this to find out! :D
Samael- by Catrin Russell
Written in a wonderful, elegant prose, this debut novel has something for everyone.
Love and tenderness enough to make you sigh, for all those in search of great feeling; as well as mystery and suspense to keep you guessing till the very end.
Bloody action scenes are aplenty for those in search of kick-ass fights:
"The Prime shrieked as the spell enclosed around it, the exoskeleton catching alight. Vixen dared the flames as she hurled herself onto the beast, this time hacking her sword at its neck, reaching deeper with every blow."
As well as gory battles raw enough to fully satisfy:
"An enormous black and green, heavily scaled tail came swinging through the mist. Cutting through the Light around them, it tore through Scott. It smashed into his body, ripping it apart, his intestines hurtling towards the other priests. In a whoosh of towering mist, a leg came crashing down, crushing Joseph under its weight."
This author doesn't shy away from killing, pain and suffering. She'll give you raw torture scenes that will make you cringe in outrage:
"The... moved on to the next item on his list. He grabbed a mace leaning up against the wall and swung it at the demon. The boy attempted to remove himself from its path, but the shackles held firm. Crimson and teeth sprayed...."
just as easily as unjust punishments, enough to break a heart:
"More lashings. Then more.
Ceaselessly falling.
More and more blood was drawn, as the whip rippled across the man's already raw skin. ... "
"Mercy has nothing to do with it. All is allowed in war."
And yet,
"I am not heartless." - so our demon says!
Whether both statements stand... remains to be seen!
Note: The Power of Conviction is the first book in The Prime Series and ends in a cliffhanger. You'd do well to keep the sequel close by because you'll definitely want to see what happens next!!
Hope you will love it just as much as I did!
Happy reading! :)
Find this review and much more on my book review and cover art blog The Magic Book Corner
June 9, 2021
Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮
First off, I need to say I am happy to read the continuation of Edric's story, even if he is not the MAIN main character of the series. He still has a very large role, and I enjoyed seeing his development and learning more about him (both good and bad). I don't want to say more as it would spoil, I only felt like that needed to be said!
Second, I love the entire cast! The characters are wonderful, fleshed-out, relatable, and exciting! Each and every one of them. I also loved how the story centres around a static place, more so than the typical "out on an adventure" that you would see with most epic fantasy. This was a fresh take that I truly enjoyed. And I always enjoy a story where questions are raised about what is right and wrong, and what different perspectives might bring to the table. I'm curious to see how this will play out, to say the least.
As with her prequels, Catrin Russell has the right amount of descriptions which really puts me in the scene, and it's always exciting to see what happens next. The different plots that you follow as a reader all have their own intrigue, so no matter the POV, I was always immersed in the world.
Oh, and that ending! Need to read book 2 asap!
ARC copy received from the author in exchange for an honest review.
First off, I need to say I am happy to read the continuation of Edric's story, even if he is not the MAIN main character of the series. He still has a very large role, and I enjoyed seeing his development and learning more about him (both good and bad). I don't want to say more as it would spoil, I only felt like that needed to be said!
Second, I love the entire cast! The characters are wonderful, fleshed-out, relatable, and exciting! Each and every one of them. I also loved how the story centres around a static place, more so than the typical "out on an adventure" that you would see with most epic fantasy. This was a fresh take that I truly enjoyed. And I always enjoy a story where questions are raised about what is right and wrong, and what different perspectives might bring to the table. I'm curious to see how this will play out, to say the least.
As with her prequels, Catrin Russell has the right amount of descriptions which really puts me in the scene, and it's always exciting to see what happens next. The different plots that you follow as a reader all have their own intrigue, so no matter the POV, I was always immersed in the world.
Oh, and that ending! Need to read book 2 asap!
ARC copy received from the author in exchange for an honest review.
July 12, 2022
This was a great book. It took me a bit to get used to the writing style. But then I was quickly swept away by the plot and loved it to the very end. It was definitely heavy on the romance, but I felt it tied in well with the story. I really grew to care for the characters, each well developed and I felt a connection to several. I loved it. I'll definitely be reading more of the series.
August 7, 2019
When priestess Anaya encounters the demon Samael, she’s in for a hell of a time. Catrin Russell’s The Power of Conviction paints a picture of a darker world where the priesthood is embroiled in a sweeping battle with demons. But all is not as it seems, a fact that Anaya will soon be confronted with. Russell is a great writer who seamlessly splashes down actiony scenes and emotional encounters in a way that kept me turning pages to the end. I’m really looking forward to the next one!
November 3, 2020
I enjoyed this story which features some first-rate world building and is paced superbly. There's an authentic flavour and continuity that comes through in the writing that helps the book flow. It's an absorbing read.
The story itself is sound enough, I was reminded of the Grimm series. Despite the hunting being for demons I felt the author had created something different with its own lore and rules. The concept of having a prime (or boss) works well during the quests as the Priesthood hunt out the evil around them (with mixed results). Good fiction becomes much better with memorable characters and we have plenty of them here.
The dynamic that unfolds between Anaya and Samael creates both a hook and intrigue. What can light and darkness possibly have in common, after all? I found it made for fascinating reading and complimented Anaya's quests, adding a tasty element to the story.
While Anaya is our protagonist, Edric is an interesting character too with real depth provided by both his backstory and his gruff quirkiness. He's deftly written and Vixen works very well also as the one who takes an interest in him for reasons of her own.
Lenda is a good, likeable support character too while Ekelon is supposed to be a good guy but his means sometimes suggest otherwise.
Some of the other characters (Adena, Eden, Arax, Lilith) get a little lost in the background but I think they're supposed to as we have plenty of characters taking centre stage. It's a balancing act not to throw too many new characters at the reader and one that the writer has managed well.
There's plenty of violence, sex and torture going on here but it's not gratuitous and works as part of the story.
The climax of the book just works and foreshadows possibilities for future works (of which there are). Can't wait to read them.
The story itself is sound enough, I was reminded of the Grimm series. Despite the hunting being for demons I felt the author had created something different with its own lore and rules. The concept of having a prime (or boss) works well during the quests as the Priesthood hunt out the evil around them (with mixed results). Good fiction becomes much better with memorable characters and we have plenty of them here.
The dynamic that unfolds between Anaya and Samael creates both a hook and intrigue. What can light and darkness possibly have in common, after all? I found it made for fascinating reading and complimented Anaya's quests, adding a tasty element to the story.
While Anaya is our protagonist, Edric is an interesting character too with real depth provided by both his backstory and his gruff quirkiness. He's deftly written and Vixen works very well also as the one who takes an interest in him for reasons of her own.
Lenda is a good, likeable support character too while Ekelon is supposed to be a good guy but his means sometimes suggest otherwise.
Some of the other characters (Adena, Eden, Arax, Lilith) get a little lost in the background but I think they're supposed to as we have plenty of characters taking centre stage. It's a balancing act not to throw too many new characters at the reader and one that the writer has managed well.
There's plenty of violence, sex and torture going on here but it's not gratuitous and works as part of the story.
The climax of the book just works and foreshadows possibilities for future works (of which there are). Can't wait to read them.
May 11, 2020
What a ride! Classic Good vs. Evil with a wicked, enticing twist.
What starts out as a story painted in black and white, soon becomes an elaborate painting in various shades of grey, with beautiful highlights and shadows.
Priestess Anaya, part of the Clergy since early youth, is suddenly filled with doubt about the righteousness of her actions after meeting the Demon Samael. Her experience clashes with the incresingly violent fights of the Priesthood to ward off Demon attacks, and the puzzling behavior of the High Priest, suddenly turning from moderate to radical.
Will the battle she has to fight within affect her ability to act as a Priestess? Is the world really as black and white as she was led to believe, or are the High Priest's motives not as pure as he implied?
Anaya is a great main character, with strength and inner beauty, but also with flaws that make her become real in the reader's mind. Still, the moment he appeared, my heart beat for the perfectly created antagonist Samael, making me feel the inner struggle of both parties like they were my own. I have to admit, I was unable to take sides.
The Power of Conviction gripped me until the end, pushing the sequel on top of my TBR pile in the process. It was impossible to stop reading. Now I need to know how the story between those two opposing characters will unfold.
Catrin Russell, thank you for the wonderful hours I could spend in your world. Deserved five Stars !
What starts out as a story painted in black and white, soon becomes an elaborate painting in various shades of grey, with beautiful highlights and shadows.
Priestess Anaya, part of the Clergy since early youth, is suddenly filled with doubt about the righteousness of her actions after meeting the Demon Samael. Her experience clashes with the incresingly violent fights of the Priesthood to ward off Demon attacks, and the puzzling behavior of the High Priest, suddenly turning from moderate to radical.
Will the battle she has to fight within affect her ability to act as a Priestess? Is the world really as black and white as she was led to believe, or are the High Priest's motives not as pure as he implied?
Anaya is a great main character, with strength and inner beauty, but also with flaws that make her become real in the reader's mind. Still, the moment he appeared, my heart beat for the perfectly created antagonist Samael, making me feel the inner struggle of both parties like they were my own. I have to admit, I was unable to take sides.
The Power of Conviction gripped me until the end, pushing the sequel on top of my TBR pile in the process. It was impossible to stop reading. Now I need to know how the story between those two opposing characters will unfold.
Catrin Russell, thank you for the wonderful hours I could spend in your world. Deserved five Stars !
August 9, 2019
A one stop shop for your reading pleasure.
The Power of Conviction has been an absolute pleasure to read. Catrin Russell has managed to take the best of multiple genres and masterfully blend them seamlessly together. This book has all the key elements I enjoy, action, drama, romance, mystery, and suspense. At no point was I bored. There is just the right amount of character development without slowing the pace of the story. Overall I am pleased that I gave this book a chance. The only thing that I would have like to see different is based upon personal taste. I felt that the chapter breaks could have been a bit more frequent, however, this is not a deal breaker for me. If you are in the mood for a book that will leave you wanting more, then I highly recommend you pick up your copy today and see for yourself. Can't wait to sink my eyes into the next installment on this series.
The Power of Conviction has been an absolute pleasure to read. Catrin Russell has managed to take the best of multiple genres and masterfully blend them seamlessly together. This book has all the key elements I enjoy, action, drama, romance, mystery, and suspense. At no point was I bored. There is just the right amount of character development without slowing the pace of the story. Overall I am pleased that I gave this book a chance. The only thing that I would have like to see different is based upon personal taste. I felt that the chapter breaks could have been a bit more frequent, however, this is not a deal breaker for me. If you are in the mood for a book that will leave you wanting more, then I highly recommend you pick up your copy today and see for yourself. Can't wait to sink my eyes into the next installment on this series.
June 30, 2020
The Power of Conviction is a spectacular debut novel! Catrin Russell creates a new world and invites us to step through the door by using powerful and detailed prose. Russell describes her world down to the most minute details, drawing you in and making you a part of the Midlands! Demons are ravaging settlements and killing fearful humans who are not able to defend themselves against the powerful beings. Anaya, a priestess warrior, slays demons and protects people. Samael is a demon. When the two of them meet, fireworks erupt, but you’ll have to read to find out what happens! This book will keep you turning the pages, so settle in for a thrilling ride! I cannot wait to read The Path of Salvation to see where Catrin Russell takes us next!
July 17, 2020
Really enjoyed this dark fantasy read. Strong warrior priestess', demon attacks, romance it had everything. Really well written and the story just pulls you in. A must read for any fantasy lovers.
October 12, 2020
Fantasy is a new genre for me but The Prime Series was recommended to me by an author whose opinion I respect, Karen Crawford. I do like to escape into books and The Power of Conviction is the perfect escape from the real world; I couldn't help but be drawn into the dark, powerful and magical world that Catrin Russell has created.
I loved Anaya's story; how she came to be a respected member of the Priesthood and her interactions with Samael, a demon that she has been taught to destroy. Anaya is confused by her feelings for Samael and the more she gets to know him, the more she questions everything she has been taught. The development of their friendship into love was beautiful to behold as dark met light and sparks almost shot out of my kindle. There are some steamy scenes but I wouldn't describe them as graphic or erotic so they shouldn't offend more sensitive readers; it's definitely a book for adults though.
Aside from the burgeoning romance between Anaya and Samael, there are many battles with demons and I found these scenes so very vivid and exciting. With so much death and destruction around, it's very well described without being too gory or bloodthirsty. I was also very intrigued by the High Priest who sends his priests out to hunt demons; it becomes evident where his motivation to destroy demons has come from but I wondered how much of his instructions were fuelled by revenge.
The Power of Conviction is an excellent start to a series; it has built up enough mystery and intrigue to fuel my interest to read further books and I have to say that I was quite disappointed to reach the end of the book. Catrin Russell is a very talented writer and she has certainly left this reader thirsty for more!
I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
I loved Anaya's story; how she came to be a respected member of the Priesthood and her interactions with Samael, a demon that she has been taught to destroy. Anaya is confused by her feelings for Samael and the more she gets to know him, the more she questions everything she has been taught. The development of their friendship into love was beautiful to behold as dark met light and sparks almost shot out of my kindle. There are some steamy scenes but I wouldn't describe them as graphic or erotic so they shouldn't offend more sensitive readers; it's definitely a book for adults though.
Aside from the burgeoning romance between Anaya and Samael, there are many battles with demons and I found these scenes so very vivid and exciting. With so much death and destruction around, it's very well described without being too gory or bloodthirsty. I was also very intrigued by the High Priest who sends his priests out to hunt demons; it becomes evident where his motivation to destroy demons has come from but I wondered how much of his instructions were fuelled by revenge.
The Power of Conviction is an excellent start to a series; it has built up enough mystery and intrigue to fuel my interest to read further books and I have to say that I was quite disappointed to reach the end of the book. Catrin Russell is a very talented writer and she has certainly left this reader thirsty for more!
I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
August 9, 2020
Catrin Russell beautifully created a world where the priesthood is in a battle with demons. Anaya being the head priestess had a strong belief that demons do not have emotions and are manipulating creatures.
But that is all questioned when she met a demon and no normal demon but a prime himelf. Her conviction gets questioned.
.
Firstly I really loved how the author delicately depicted all the characters. None of the characters were just there. Every character had a purpose.
💫My favourite character being Lenda she was shown as a peaceful and not a single violent bone in her body. She is the character that everone needs in real life. Kind, trusting and always there for Anaya.
💫Anaya was shown as the one who had a strong conviction but meeting Samael was the big turnover for her. She started hesitating. She was not sure anymore if this "cause" will lead to a better ending or not. Her conflict grew bigger and bigger as she started to spend more time with Samael.
💫Edric was depicted as really strong and quite closed off with others other than Anaya in the start but as the story progressed it showed the reasons why he was so closed off. The stronger he was physically the weaker he was from inside. His character development was really good.
💫Vixen being a commander in past shared a little different ideology from that of the priesthood. She was depicted as strong but at the same time really attractive. I liked how she slowely pushed through the boundaries of Edric. But she never pushe him too far.
There were also some character that I didn't like in particular. Author write them in a way that made me despise them a little.
💫Hight Priest had a really strong conviction. At start I sympathized with him but the more he started doing things in the name of goddess I didn't liked him. The revelation towards the end of how he killed the prime made me think that he might not be fair about this at all.
💫Adena was one of those people who are stuck on one cause however gruesome it gets even if it made her puke her guts out.
Overall I really liked how the characters were shown. They all had a character development. Not sudden but subtle.
I also really loved author's writing style. The ending made me anticipate if Anaya is going to support this conviction even after all the thing that have happened?
But that is all questioned when she met a demon and no normal demon but a prime himelf. Her conviction gets questioned.
.
Firstly I really loved how the author delicately depicted all the characters. None of the characters were just there. Every character had a purpose.
💫My favourite character being Lenda she was shown as a peaceful and not a single violent bone in her body. She is the character that everone needs in real life. Kind, trusting and always there for Anaya.
💫Anaya was shown as the one who had a strong conviction but meeting Samael was the big turnover for her. She started hesitating. She was not sure anymore if this "cause" will lead to a better ending or not. Her conflict grew bigger and bigger as she started to spend more time with Samael.
💫Edric was depicted as really strong and quite closed off with others other than Anaya in the start but as the story progressed it showed the reasons why he was so closed off. The stronger he was physically the weaker he was from inside. His character development was really good.
💫Vixen being a commander in past shared a little different ideology from that of the priesthood. She was depicted as strong but at the same time really attractive. I liked how she slowely pushed through the boundaries of Edric. But she never pushe him too far.
There were also some character that I didn't like in particular. Author write them in a way that made me despise them a little.
💫Hight Priest had a really strong conviction. At start I sympathized with him but the more he started doing things in the name of goddess I didn't liked him. The revelation towards the end of how he killed the prime made me think that he might not be fair about this at all.
💫Adena was one of those people who are stuck on one cause however gruesome it gets even if it made her puke her guts out.
Overall I really liked how the characters were shown. They all had a character development. Not sudden but subtle.
I also really loved author's writing style. The ending made me anticipate if Anaya is going to support this conviction even after all the thing that have happened?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 12, 2021
This well-written piece of art teases you just enough to keep reading! It sucks you in to a world that is filled with dark auras, impossible love and amazing environments! I am officially addicted!
October 2, 2019
I was recommended this book by a friend and I LOVED IT!
The characters are great, the story is compelling and it really draws you in. You can't put down. I have already reread this book, just like I with Mortal Instruments and other favourites series, so this is definitely up there!
I love the way this world is turning everything on its head: How religion and faith are mixed with real life and the struggles we all face. I love that it's medieval but still touching modern issues.
Oh, and I love that the shapeshifting demons are animals. I cannot get enough of anything to do with animals and here it is used in a very subtle but compelling way.
And, erm... Samael totally is my new Book-Husband!! <3 RAWR
I love his character development through the first book and I picked up the next as soon as this ended.... :D Did I mention Samael is my favourite character? I loooooove him!!
But I also love the use of broken characters and how they struggle to heal themselves through it all, and how love develops so naturally between some of them. I really appreciate that it is just the right amount of characters which means the book never gets boring. There is always something on the go, big or small, which keeps you on your toes!
The characters are great, the story is compelling and it really draws you in. You can't put down. I have already reread this book, just like I with Mortal Instruments and other favourites series, so this is definitely up there!
I love the way this world is turning everything on its head: How religion and faith are mixed with real life and the struggles we all face. I love that it's medieval but still touching modern issues.
Oh, and I love that the shapeshifting demons are animals. I cannot get enough of anything to do with animals and here it is used in a very subtle but compelling way.
And, erm... Samael totally is my new Book-Husband!! <3 RAWR
I love his character development through the first book and I picked up the next as soon as this ended.... :D Did I mention Samael is my favourite character? I loooooove him!!
But I also love the use of broken characters and how they struggle to heal themselves through it all, and how love develops so naturally between some of them. I really appreciate that it is just the right amount of characters which means the book never gets boring. There is always something on the go, big or small, which keeps you on your toes!
January 5, 2022
Power of Conviction is the debut novel for Catrin Russell in her ‘The Light of Darkness’ series, but you would think she has been writing for years with the quality of both the story and the characters.
Whilst the story does follow the path of a couple of main characters here and there for plot purposes, it mainly follows the character of Anaya Caelin, a Senior Priestess of the Goddess of Holy Light.
We also learn about the story of the founder of the Order, the High Priest, Ekelon Hamptom, who become the High Priest after being granted special powers by the Goddess of Holy Light to help him defeat Demons that had ravaged his village. Since then, he has made it his mission in life to eradicate the Demon threat to humanity.
The Author has created this in-depth, and intricate world to tell her story in, full of amazing detail. The story has been set in a Middle-Ages style of era; however, the characters have the ability to draw on holy abilities from the Goddess, and there are Demons in the land. The Author has taken a few liberties to make the story her own, but the details are captivating overall. The descriptive work, quality and multiple levels of Demons is not only fascinating, but adds this whole extra layer to the story that is intriguing. It also provides an engaging enemy for the Priesthood.
However, as the story unfolds, Anaya begins to realise that everything she has been taught over the years about Demons might not be true. I don’t want to give too much away, No Spoilers, but the way the story unfolds is intriguing to say the least. Anaya meets Samael, a Demon, on several occasions, and these meetings are far from what she is used to with Demon-kind, he is different, not violent, playful, humourous, inquisitive, traits a Demon is not meant to have according to her teachings.
This is a book that takes a look at how we can be so sure about something, because of how we are taught something, but only because of a certain point of view – it all depends on the perspective of the person doing the teaching. If you change that perspective, you can quickly change that point of view. And years of doctrine can suddenly start to unravel.
The really powerful aspect of this book is the Character work, Catrin Russell’s Character writing is just exceptional, especially given this was her first ever book.
Anaya’s character is just stunning, this beautiful and powerful young woman, taught from a young age to think a certain way, but through her own intelligence and strong moral code, she sees that there are more ways than just the one she is being taught. Anaya has a special affinity with the Goddess as well, being particularly powerful as a Priestess. More than that though, she is able to see the true inner self of a person. A good example of this is one of the other Characters in the book, Edric, another Senior Priest, who is very gruff and comes across as very obnoxious to nearly everyone. However, he has a secretive past, and whilst Anaya does not know this past, she does know that he is a good person inside, and so does not give up on him, nor does she block him out like the others do. Anaya is the only one that will work with Edric, and Edric has a close bond with Anaya.
And this is the real power of Russell’s character writing, in that you can feel the bonds between these characters, and you really start to get to know them as you read about them. You become really engaged with her characters, wanting to learn more about them, and to know what is happening with them, and suddenly, you have finished book 1!! And so you start on book 2 as you just have to know what is going to happen next!!
There are several other wonderful Characters in this story, Lenda, Anaya’s friend, who is just wonderful, we meet several young ‘Disciples’ training to be Priests, as well as multiple Priests who all go on Missions, most who don’t return thanks to one Demon or another. Without spoilers, one of the other really intriguing characters is Samael, the Demon that interacts with Anaya. He brings a whole new level of depth to the story, and really changes how Anaya (and the reader) perceives Demons, making this story all the more enthralling.
Added to that is the action and romance that are intertwined throughout this story. There are multiple rather intense love stories (and I mean Intense!!) that are told as the characters tell their individual tales. This makes for an interesting diversion to the main story of Human vs Demon, and adds a very human element to the story. Russell does a brilliant job of portraying these very intimate stories.
The other part of this Fantasy story that Russell has done with exceptional skill is the combat and fight scenes. There are some brutal fight scenes in this book, as the Demons and Priests fight in what are gritty, graphic and very realistic portrayals of combat that ends up with multiple characters dead (don’t get too attached to anyone). When you read a Fantasy story, there is always going to be combat, it is just a part of the genre, and so it is important that the Author get it right, not only has Russell done this, but she has captured the magical aspects as well, (The scenes in which the Priests use some of their abilities is just captivating, and totally awe inspiring, as different Priests unleash the powers of the Goddess of light and literally smite Demons, you are left re-reading passages it is so sensational).
This is an extraordinary Debut Novel, and anyone that loves Fantasy of any type will absolutely love it. I have to admit that I normally don’t read a lot of Fantasy, preferring Sci-Fi, but this is worth reading regardless of genre as it is something special. I am already into the 2nd book and have bought the rest of the series I thought this book was so good – do yourself a favour and get a copy!!
Whilst the story does follow the path of a couple of main characters here and there for plot purposes, it mainly follows the character of Anaya Caelin, a Senior Priestess of the Goddess of Holy Light.
We also learn about the story of the founder of the Order, the High Priest, Ekelon Hamptom, who become the High Priest after being granted special powers by the Goddess of Holy Light to help him defeat Demons that had ravaged his village. Since then, he has made it his mission in life to eradicate the Demon threat to humanity.
The Author has created this in-depth, and intricate world to tell her story in, full of amazing detail. The story has been set in a Middle-Ages style of era; however, the characters have the ability to draw on holy abilities from the Goddess, and there are Demons in the land. The Author has taken a few liberties to make the story her own, but the details are captivating overall. The descriptive work, quality and multiple levels of Demons is not only fascinating, but adds this whole extra layer to the story that is intriguing. It also provides an engaging enemy for the Priesthood.
However, as the story unfolds, Anaya begins to realise that everything she has been taught over the years about Demons might not be true. I don’t want to give too much away, No Spoilers, but the way the story unfolds is intriguing to say the least. Anaya meets Samael, a Demon, on several occasions, and these meetings are far from what she is used to with Demon-kind, he is different, not violent, playful, humourous, inquisitive, traits a Demon is not meant to have according to her teachings.
This is a book that takes a look at how we can be so sure about something, because of how we are taught something, but only because of a certain point of view – it all depends on the perspective of the person doing the teaching. If you change that perspective, you can quickly change that point of view. And years of doctrine can suddenly start to unravel.
The really powerful aspect of this book is the Character work, Catrin Russell’s Character writing is just exceptional, especially given this was her first ever book.
Anaya’s character is just stunning, this beautiful and powerful young woman, taught from a young age to think a certain way, but through her own intelligence and strong moral code, she sees that there are more ways than just the one she is being taught. Anaya has a special affinity with the Goddess as well, being particularly powerful as a Priestess. More than that though, she is able to see the true inner self of a person. A good example of this is one of the other Characters in the book, Edric, another Senior Priest, who is very gruff and comes across as very obnoxious to nearly everyone. However, he has a secretive past, and whilst Anaya does not know this past, she does know that he is a good person inside, and so does not give up on him, nor does she block him out like the others do. Anaya is the only one that will work with Edric, and Edric has a close bond with Anaya.
And this is the real power of Russell’s character writing, in that you can feel the bonds between these characters, and you really start to get to know them as you read about them. You become really engaged with her characters, wanting to learn more about them, and to know what is happening with them, and suddenly, you have finished book 1!! And so you start on book 2 as you just have to know what is going to happen next!!
There are several other wonderful Characters in this story, Lenda, Anaya’s friend, who is just wonderful, we meet several young ‘Disciples’ training to be Priests, as well as multiple Priests who all go on Missions, most who don’t return thanks to one Demon or another. Without spoilers, one of the other really intriguing characters is Samael, the Demon that interacts with Anaya. He brings a whole new level of depth to the story, and really changes how Anaya (and the reader) perceives Demons, making this story all the more enthralling.
Added to that is the action and romance that are intertwined throughout this story. There are multiple rather intense love stories (and I mean Intense!!) that are told as the characters tell their individual tales. This makes for an interesting diversion to the main story of Human vs Demon, and adds a very human element to the story. Russell does a brilliant job of portraying these very intimate stories.
The other part of this Fantasy story that Russell has done with exceptional skill is the combat and fight scenes. There are some brutal fight scenes in this book, as the Demons and Priests fight in what are gritty, graphic and very realistic portrayals of combat that ends up with multiple characters dead (don’t get too attached to anyone). When you read a Fantasy story, there is always going to be combat, it is just a part of the genre, and so it is important that the Author get it right, not only has Russell done this, but she has captured the magical aspects as well, (The scenes in which the Priests use some of their abilities is just captivating, and totally awe inspiring, as different Priests unleash the powers of the Goddess of light and literally smite Demons, you are left re-reading passages it is so sensational).
This is an extraordinary Debut Novel, and anyone that loves Fantasy of any type will absolutely love it. I have to admit that I normally don’t read a lot of Fantasy, preferring Sci-Fi, but this is worth reading regardless of genre as it is something special. I am already into the 2nd book and have bought the rest of the series I thought this book was so good – do yourself a favour and get a copy!!
August 9, 2020
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a review.
To be honest, this was a DNF for me. I really liked the magic system and the accompanying battle scenes. I think the premise of the story is also very strong.
Nevertheless, the reason I stopped reading, about halfway through, was the writing itself. There were simply too many mistakes in the prose, such as head hopping (switching between POVs mid-paragraph) and infodumping. If you're the kind of person who doesn't mind, as long as the story is good then I can recommend this book, otherwise I would advise against it.
To be honest, this was a DNF for me. I really liked the magic system and the accompanying battle scenes. I think the premise of the story is also very strong.
Nevertheless, the reason I stopped reading, about halfway through, was the writing itself. There were simply too many mistakes in the prose, such as head hopping (switching between POVs mid-paragraph) and infodumping. If you're the kind of person who doesn't mind, as long as the story is good then I can recommend this book, otherwise I would advise against it.
July 2, 2020
The Power of Conviction is a story of forbidden love with a mythological twist. The book takes you to a land under siege of a large number demons taking form of mammals and insects, while still able to take human form.
Priest and Priestesses are trained in the art of tracking and killing the demons who target and harm local villages. The love story begins when a demon and Priestess fall in love.
Priest and Priestesses are trained in the art of tracking and killing the demons who target and harm local villages. The love story begins when a demon and Priestess fall in love.
July 14, 2020
I absolutely adore books where you feel so absolutely certain you know who the villain is and then all of a sudden you're wrong, and you can feel the confusion of the mc as if it's your own!
The world building is so interesting! I really can't wait to read the rest of this series!!
The world building is so interesting! I really can't wait to read the rest of this series!!
January 10, 2020
This is the 1st book I've read written by Catrin Russell; she has done a great job at writing a good book; I can’t wait to read more of her books.
The story line caught my attention at the very beginning and kept me interested throughout the entire book.
I loved the chemistry between the characters.
I received a free copy of this book via booksprout and I’m voluntarily leaving a review.
The story line caught my attention at the very beginning and kept me interested throughout the entire book.
I loved the chemistry between the characters.
I received a free copy of this book via booksprout and I’m voluntarily leaving a review.
July 30, 2020
This book is hard for me to put down. It has all i love! Fantasy, love, action och just the perfect amount of adult scenes ;) One of my favorite books without a doubt. Just can't wait to read the coming books of this series! LOVE IT SO MUCH!
June 30, 2020
I’m more of a crime thriller reader, but this book was featured in my book club, and I was hooked on the first page! Ms. Russell makes her characters come to life, and you find yourself cheering all of them on! I’ll definitely continue reading The Prime Series!
July 5, 2020
I love this book because Catrin Russell captures the essence of good versus evil, which always involves conflict and questioning. The characters grow, and I can't wait to see what happens with Anaya and Samael. I loved Lenda too! Healer and so kind.
July 6, 2020
This book was amazing! The detail and character nuances kept me gripped to the end. In fact, I had to read the follow up to finish the story!
July 3, 2022
It's a 3.5 from me; I'm rounding it up to 4.
I have mixed feelings about the book since I experienced too many ups and downs while reading it. The start was slow for me, and after a while I wondered if I should keep going, but then it picked up and I began enjoying it. Then there were some parts that didn't interest me, but others were amazing.
This is one of those books where I loved the supporting characters more than the protagonists. Edric and Vixen's relationship was the best part of the book for me. I have a thing for broken men who only open up to one special woman, and the author explored this theme perfectly.
I had a hard time connecting with Anaya and Samael, mainly because they seemed too confused about what they wanted. While it worked out for the plot, it didn't do much for me. At times their reactions seemed too juvenile for their age and experience.
I liked how the author showed what was going on with different characters instead of focusing only on the main characters. It gave me an insight into their personalities and motives.
For someone who finds darkness comforting, I liked that the book showed that light is not always good and darkness isn't always evil. It is the individual who makes the right or wrong choice.
The worldbuilding was great! The descriptions of various factions among the demon kind, the human beliefs and their traditions, and the fight sequences were all well written.
I hope to see more of Edric and Vixen in the coming books. I also hope that Samael and Anaya get some clarity and see things for what they are. They have a long way to go and conflicts to deal with.
I'm not sure if I will be continuing with the series since it's a long one and based on my experience with this one, I am a bit hesitant. However, I've come across many people who have enjoyed the series, so I urge epic fantasy lovers to give it a try since we all have different tastes.
I have mixed feelings about the book since I experienced too many ups and downs while reading it. The start was slow for me, and after a while I wondered if I should keep going, but then it picked up and I began enjoying it. Then there were some parts that didn't interest me, but others were amazing.
This is one of those books where I loved the supporting characters more than the protagonists. Edric and Vixen's relationship was the best part of the book for me. I have a thing for broken men who only open up to one special woman, and the author explored this theme perfectly.
I had a hard time connecting with Anaya and Samael, mainly because they seemed too confused about what they wanted. While it worked out for the plot, it didn't do much for me. At times their reactions seemed too juvenile for their age and experience.
I liked how the author showed what was going on with different characters instead of focusing only on the main characters. It gave me an insight into their personalities and motives.
For someone who finds darkness comforting, I liked that the book showed that light is not always good and darkness isn't always evil. It is the individual who makes the right or wrong choice.
The worldbuilding was great! The descriptions of various factions among the demon kind, the human beliefs and their traditions, and the fight sequences were all well written.
I hope to see more of Edric and Vixen in the coming books. I also hope that Samael and Anaya get some clarity and see things for what they are. They have a long way to go and conflicts to deal with.
I'm not sure if I will be continuing with the series since it's a long one and based on my experience with this one, I am a bit hesitant. However, I've come across many people who have enjoyed the series, so I urge epic fantasy lovers to give it a try since we all have different tastes.
October 24, 2020
Darkening Light
As the 1st full-length novel of the series, "The Power of Conviction" blew my mind in more ways than one. I expected strong feelings, since prequels 1 and 2 had touched me deeply, but this one threw the ball out of the park. The characters are so lifelike you can't help but feel connected to them. I love some, others made me angry everytime they appear and one, Ekelon, dissapointed me to the point of tears(not because it was badly portrayed, there's NOT a single plain character in this book, but because of his actions in this installment). The books takes you through the life of various characters during the span of about year (it may be more, I didn't keep a good track of the time) and their "adventures". That's why you feel the characters so much, because you share a lot of time with them.
Plot is absolute perfection. Humanity's dark side is portrayed with such realism for a fantasy book, you feel disgusted for the actions of the Priesthood. It's like you're reading a dark chapter on humanity's history, showing exactly how destructive and fanatics we can get. This book shows you how an organization that was created with the purest and honorable of intentions ends up twisted in the darkest of ways. Is a gruesome slap to the face. What the Priesthood does to demons is what we are currently doing to animals, plants and even other humans.
On another note, the scenes painted are gorgeously detailed, gruesomely in case of the battle scenes, and the landscapes can be almost felt with all our senses. Miss Russell's storytelling has a way to capture our senses and makes us feel part of the story.
And I can't end this without talking about the sex scenes. As with everything else, the 'love' parts are richly detailed, hot but also elegant and deeply emotional. Here you won't find the crude words normally used in erotica but a fine narrative that shows care and love, from the characters AND the author.
The Power of Conviction is truly a masterpiece from beginning to end.
As the 1st full-length novel of the series, "The Power of Conviction" blew my mind in more ways than one. I expected strong feelings, since prequels 1 and 2 had touched me deeply, but this one threw the ball out of the park. The characters are so lifelike you can't help but feel connected to them. I love some, others made me angry everytime they appear and one, Ekelon, dissapointed me to the point of tears(not because it was badly portrayed, there's NOT a single plain character in this book, but because of his actions in this installment). The books takes you through the life of various characters during the span of about year (it may be more, I didn't keep a good track of the time) and their "adventures". That's why you feel the characters so much, because you share a lot of time with them.
Plot is absolute perfection. Humanity's dark side is portrayed with such realism for a fantasy book, you feel disgusted for the actions of the Priesthood. It's like you're reading a dark chapter on humanity's history, showing exactly how destructive and fanatics we can get. This book shows you how an organization that was created with the purest and honorable of intentions ends up twisted in the darkest of ways. Is a gruesome slap to the face. What the Priesthood does to demons is what we are currently doing to animals, plants and even other humans.
On another note, the scenes painted are gorgeously detailed, gruesomely in case of the battle scenes, and the landscapes can be almost felt with all our senses. Miss Russell's storytelling has a way to capture our senses and makes us feel part of the story.
And I can't end this without talking about the sex scenes. As with everything else, the 'love' parts are richly detailed, hot but also elegant and deeply emotional. Here you won't find the crude words normally used in erotica but a fine narrative that shows care and love, from the characters AND the author.
The Power of Conviction is truly a masterpiece from beginning to end.
January 20, 2021
Thank you to Catrin for the e-book!
I thoroughly enjoyed this story! I like the world she has built, the chatacters developed, it is just so captivating!
The story centers around Anaya, a Priestess. She has devoted herself to the goddess. She doesn't question the hunting of demons, she believes them to be heartless, evil beings without feeling. And then she meets Samael, a demon. As she gets to know him, she begins to question the way they think of demons. Are they truly evil? Or are they just like humans?
I cannot wait for the next book, this one stopped on a cliffhanger and I need to know what happens next!
I thoroughly enjoyed this story! I like the world she has built, the chatacters developed, it is just so captivating!
The story centers around Anaya, a Priestess. She has devoted herself to the goddess. She doesn't question the hunting of demons, she believes them to be heartless, evil beings without feeling. And then she meets Samael, a demon. As she gets to know him, she begins to question the way they think of demons. Are they truly evil? Or are they just like humans?
I cannot wait for the next book, this one stopped on a cliffhanger and I need to know what happens next!
July 15, 2021
Russell kicks off her ‘The Light of Darkness’ series with a gripping and dark first instalment. As the title suggests it is a balance of light and dark, of faith and demons, and of what happens when you begin to question the foundations of your faith.
The world building is done well, the pace never lets up and some of the descriptions paint a very vivid picture! I thought the idea of the demons being linked to specific creatures was intriguing, and some of the encounters were particularly disturbing! (Especially because I don’t like wasps). ;p
A promising start to a series which is now 6 books in? Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys struggles between “good” and evil” and when the lines between the two begin to blur!
The world building is done well, the pace never lets up and some of the descriptions paint a very vivid picture! I thought the idea of the demons being linked to specific creatures was intriguing, and some of the encounters were particularly disturbing! (Especially because I don’t like wasps). ;p
A promising start to a series which is now 6 books in? Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys struggles between “good” and evil” and when the lines between the two begin to blur!
July 14, 2022
For a while, it appears to be about the priests' war against demons: full of death, greed, and blood (called "claret" way too many times). The focus shifts to an ACOTAR-like blooming affair between star priestess Anaya and an angsty (30-year-old) demon. I should have seen it coming from the prologue.
I enjoy dark fantasy and fantasy romance, but this book didn't work for me as they didn't mesh properly. Its cringy Disney-esque scenes clash with the gore from the fight scenes. There are graphic sex scenes that felt out of place and harmed the narrative's pace. I found myself skimming to get to the plot.
The story features multiple romantic pairings, and I'm disappointed none of them is queer (except for an accidentally represented demiromantic character). There's one character dealing with sexual abuse trauma, and I don't think it was done sensibly.
We spend the whole book watching our heroine question her priesthood's methods and motives, just for her to back down near the end for the sake of drama.
This first chapter of the saga isn't actually closed. It ends with smut that, once again, doesn't do much to advance the plot, while many threads are left open to lure you into the next one. Nevertheless, I won't be continuing the series.
I enjoy dark fantasy and fantasy romance, but this book didn't work for me as they didn't mesh properly. Its cringy Disney-esque scenes clash with the gore from the fight scenes. There are graphic sex scenes that felt out of place and harmed the narrative's pace. I found myself skimming to get to the plot.
The story features multiple romantic pairings, and I'm disappointed none of them is queer (except for an accidentally represented demiromantic character). There's one character dealing with sexual abuse trauma, and I don't think it was done sensibly.
We spend the whole book watching our heroine question her priesthood's methods and motives, just for her to back down near the end for the sake of drama.
This first chapter of the saga isn't actually closed. It ends with smut that, once again, doesn't do much to advance the plot, while many threads are left open to lure you into the next one. Nevertheless, I won't be continuing the series.
June 17, 2024
5 resolute stars!!
A grim and bloody tale of faith, forbidden love and revenge, that will have you at the edge of your seat and wishing for more!
The first book in the Prime Series and I believe I found another favorite!
Humanity is threatened by demons! In all shapes and sizes, they keep attacking settlements, leaving nothing but corpses behind. But the Priesthood rises and dares to stand against them. Blessed by the Goddess and trusting in Her divine supremacy, the priests follow with unwavering faith a dedicated path to rid the world of the foul creatures' unholy presence.
Trained in the arts of the Light, the priests walk a bloodied path through the scores of demons. But the fight against demonkind is becoming increasingly perilous, and danger rises to threaten the Priesthood’s very survival.
The orders of the High Priest become more and more gruesome, in an attempt to keep the upper hand. But will his adepts be willing to follow? And is the path as righteous as it seems?
In masterful strokes, Catrin Rusell paints here a compelling picture of a dark world, where faith clashes with reason, dedication blends in with obsession and appearances are never quite as they seem. Honor, ethics, righteousness, justice and morality, they are all beautifully brought into focus and challenged on the background of a sweeping war with demonkind.
How far would you go in doing your duty? How gruesome should an order be before you draw the line and refuse to obey? Would you follow a command through even though the result will make you want to hurl? Or would you stand your ground despite being called a traitor to the cause?
This author here will make you walk a tightrope in between!
Beautifully fleshed-out characters complement this gripping story and you may find it difficult to pick a favorite. They aren't perfect, but just right! Neither too great nor too plain, just human! I for one love them all!!
Anaya, the MC. A badass warrior priestess whom demons learnt to fear!! Strong and brave Anaya; so lonely and guarded; so steadfast in her path and yet so vulnerable and fragile and kind-hearted! You cannot help but stand in her corner and cheer while she questions, doubts and dares the forbidden!
Anaya - by Catrin Russell
Lenda. Sweet and gentle Lenda who would rather heal then hurt! Her kindness and inner light you cannot help but notice! She's the little sister each and everyone of us would do anything to protect.
Lenda- by Catrin Russell
Eden. Brave, honorable and charming! He is every lady's dream. And the man any mother would want for her daughter!
Eden- by Catrin Russell
Edric. Tough, lonely, broken Edric! He is one of those unforgettable characters that will stay with you long after the tale is over. His horrid past. as well as his struggle to mend himself, you cannot but admire!
Edric- by Catrin Russell
Vixen. Tough and sexy commander Vixen, who'll hold her ground with any demon or man alike! She'll throw a solid punch if you piss her off and have you on your back in no time. But you won't find a better match than her, if you want to heal a broken heart.
Vixen- by Catrin Russell
And lastly, Samael. Our Prime predator and kick-ass demon! He'll have his own kind cowering in fear at a mere glance - and that's just in his human form. When his claws come out... you would'n want to piss him off even by chance! And still, I'd have this bad boy savage monster for a book boyfriend any day!! Why you ask?! You're gonna have to read this to find out! :D
Samael- by Catrin Russell
Written in a wonderful, elegant prose, this debut novel has something for everyone.
Love and tenderness enough to make you sigh, for all those in search of great feeling; as well as mystery and suspense to keep you guessing till the very end.
Bloody action scenes are aplenty for those in search of kick-ass fights:
"The Prime shrieked as the spell enclosed around it, the exoskeleton catching alight. Vixen dared the flames as she hurled herself onto the beast, this time hacking her sword at its neck, reaching deeper with every blow."
As well as gory battles raw enough to fully satisfy:
"An enormous black and green, heavily scaled tail came swinging through the mist. Cutting through the Light around them, it tore through Scott. It smashed into his body, ripping it apart, his intestines hurtling towards the other priests. In a whoosh of towering mist, a leg came crashing down, crushing Joseph under its weight."
This author doesn't shy away from killing, pain and suffering. She'll give you raw torture scenes that will make you cringe in outrage:
"The... moved on to the next item on his list. He grabbed a mace leaning up against the wall and swung it at the demon. The boy attempted to remove himself from its path, but the shackles held firm. Crimson and teeth sprayed...."
just as easily as unjust punishments, enough to break a heart:
"More lashings. Then more.
Ceaselessly falling.
More and more blood was drawn, as the whip rippled across the man's already raw skin. ... "
"Mercy has nothing to do with it. All is allowed in war."
And yet,
"I am not heartless." - so our demon says!
Whether both statements stand... remains to be seen!
Note: The Power of Conviction is the first book in The Prime Series and ends in a cliffhanger. You'd do well to keep the sequel close by because you'll definitely want to see what happens next!!
Hope you will love it just as much as I did!
Happy reading! :)
Find this review and much more on my book review and cover art blog The Magic Book Corner
A grim and bloody tale of faith, forbidden love and revenge, that will have you at the edge of your seat and wishing for more!
The first book in the Prime Series and I believe I found another favorite!
Humanity is threatened by demons! In all shapes and sizes, they keep attacking settlements, leaving nothing but corpses behind. But the Priesthood rises and dares to stand against them. Blessed by the Goddess and trusting in Her divine supremacy, the priests follow with unwavering faith a dedicated path to rid the world of the foul creatures' unholy presence.
Trained in the arts of the Light, the priests walk a bloodied path through the scores of demons. But the fight against demonkind is becoming increasingly perilous, and danger rises to threaten the Priesthood’s very survival.
The orders of the High Priest become more and more gruesome, in an attempt to keep the upper hand. But will his adepts be willing to follow? And is the path as righteous as it seems?
In masterful strokes, Catrin Rusell paints here a compelling picture of a dark world, where faith clashes with reason, dedication blends in with obsession and appearances are never quite as they seem. Honor, ethics, righteousness, justice and morality, they are all beautifully brought into focus and challenged on the background of a sweeping war with demonkind.
How far would you go in doing your duty? How gruesome should an order be before you draw the line and refuse to obey? Would you follow a command through even though the result will make you want to hurl? Or would you stand your ground despite being called a traitor to the cause?
This author here will make you walk a tightrope in between!
Beautifully fleshed-out characters complement this gripping story and you may find it difficult to pick a favorite. They aren't perfect, but just right! Neither too great nor too plain, just human! I for one love them all!!
Anaya, the MC. A badass warrior priestess whom demons learnt to fear!! Strong and brave Anaya; so lonely and guarded; so steadfast in her path and yet so vulnerable and fragile and kind-hearted! You cannot help but stand in her corner and cheer while she questions, doubts and dares the forbidden!
Anaya - by Catrin Russell
Lenda. Sweet and gentle Lenda who would rather heal then hurt! Her kindness and inner light you cannot help but notice! She's the little sister each and everyone of us would do anything to protect.
Lenda- by Catrin Russell
Eden. Brave, honorable and charming! He is every lady's dream. And the man any mother would want for her daughter!
Eden- by Catrin Russell
Edric. Tough, lonely, broken Edric! He is one of those unforgettable characters that will stay with you long after the tale is over. His horrid past. as well as his struggle to mend himself, you cannot but admire!
Edric- by Catrin Russell
Vixen. Tough and sexy commander Vixen, who'll hold her ground with any demon or man alike! She'll throw a solid punch if you piss her off and have you on your back in no time. But you won't find a better match than her, if you want to heal a broken heart.
Vixen- by Catrin Russell
And lastly, Samael. Our Prime predator and kick-ass demon! He'll have his own kind cowering in fear at a mere glance - and that's just in his human form. When his claws come out... you would'n want to piss him off even by chance! And still, I'd have this bad boy savage monster for a book boyfriend any day!! Why you ask?! You're gonna have to read this to find out! :D
Samael- by Catrin Russell
Written in a wonderful, elegant prose, this debut novel has something for everyone.
Love and tenderness enough to make you sigh, for all those in search of great feeling; as well as mystery and suspense to keep you guessing till the very end.
Bloody action scenes are aplenty for those in search of kick-ass fights:
"The Prime shrieked as the spell enclosed around it, the exoskeleton catching alight. Vixen dared the flames as she hurled herself onto the beast, this time hacking her sword at its neck, reaching deeper with every blow."
As well as gory battles raw enough to fully satisfy:
"An enormous black and green, heavily scaled tail came swinging through the mist. Cutting through the Light around them, it tore through Scott. It smashed into his body, ripping it apart, his intestines hurtling towards the other priests. In a whoosh of towering mist, a leg came crashing down, crushing Joseph under its weight."
This author doesn't shy away from killing, pain and suffering. She'll give you raw torture scenes that will make you cringe in outrage:
"The... moved on to the next item on his list. He grabbed a mace leaning up against the wall and swung it at the demon. The boy attempted to remove himself from its path, but the shackles held firm. Crimson and teeth sprayed...."
just as easily as unjust punishments, enough to break a heart:
"More lashings. Then more.
Ceaselessly falling.
More and more blood was drawn, as the whip rippled across the man's already raw skin. ... "
"Mercy has nothing to do with it. All is allowed in war."
And yet,
"I am not heartless." - so our demon says!
Whether both statements stand... remains to be seen!
Note: The Power of Conviction is the first book in The Prime Series and ends in a cliffhanger. You'd do well to keep the sequel close by because you'll definitely want to see what happens next!!
Hope you will love it just as much as I did!
Happy reading! :)
Find this review and much more on my book review and cover art blog The Magic Book Corner
March 29, 2022
After reading the two prequels to The Light of Darkness high epic fantasy series by Catrin Russell, Righteous Dawn and The Redeemed, and loving them, Book 1 of the series proper, The Power of Conviction, was next on my list.
I thought the prequels had been amazing but what I found in this book was an adventure extraordinaire! But let me give you a quick glimpse into the story first…
Anaya is a senior priestess of the Temple Village and under Ekelon, the High Priest, whom we have previously met in the prequel The Redeemed, together with abused criminal youngster Edric who is also now a senior priest, we get to know life as a priest or priestess serving the Goddess and fighting demons and their Darkness with the Light of the Goddess.
This all sounds like a classic tale of good versus evil, if it was not only for all the shades of grey but also for all the other colours in the rainbow that show that life is never as straightforward as one wishes it to be perhaps.
Anaya meets demon Samael who has a very different view on the priesthood’s activities and the High Priest’s motives in ordering the slaughter of all demonkind. Anaya is devout to the cause, yet starts to question things progressively, the more often she meets Samael. Samael who keeps appearing and disappearing however the Darkness he wants, which is quite infuriating and made me wish more than once to kick some butt.
Besides these two, there are more characters that play important parts in the unravelling of the story, subplots and changes in POVs that are clearly marked so the reader never gets confused, which I find important when changing scenes, POVs and having time leaps within a chapter. Russell stirs these water excellently, however, so unless your brain doesn’t work at full capacity you will find it easy to follow the story and the different subplots and strands that weave together in the fabric of the story throughout the book.
Another thing I would like to point out that has particularly impressed me in terms of her writing skills and plotting are the fighting scenes. They are brilliantly crafted, precise, logical in their fluency of motion and never out of place. Keeping up accuracy while bringing the story forward at a rapid, urgent pace is something many authors have failed at and is, therefore, particularly noteworthy.
The third aspect that is worth mentioning in particular is the worldbuilding and concept of magic in this story. Fantasy stories can take a bad turn when info-dumping in the beginning to describe a world and set up the pictures in the reader’s mind. That can lead to overwhelm and overload on the reader’s part. I am happy to announce that this book deals with the matter in a refreshingly different way.
Descriptions are woven throughout the story and the images and information are built in the reader’s mind in a fluent and contextual manner that makes it easy to take in and enjoyable when one finds out yet another morsel of information about Russell’s brilliantly crafted and well thought-out fantasy world that can possibly most be likened to a sort of medieval setting with magic and demons.
Violence is graphic, sometimes gory without passing the line into the horrific (in my humble opinion), and the romantic scenes between adults, although quite innocent and slowburn, are nonetheless not fade to black. I would say, they are perfectly written for the context of a high epic fantasy novel. Romance has its rightful place as a couple of the subplots of this epic tale but doesn’t dominate the story, which keeps well in line with the genre.
Now to my personal experience of the book. I absolutely loved it! From the first page, I was drawn in, my mind leaving the mundane to firmly settle in Russell’s fantasy world. I fevered with the characters, read the narration out aloud to myself, stood, with book in hand, in the middle of the room, re-enacting the battle scenes and biting my nails at the folly of star-crossed lovers. I would message my friends who have already read this book about the events I was reading about, sharing my enthusiasm, my despair, even my tears.
Yes, I cried with Anaya and Edric, rejoiced with Vixen and clutched my heart with Eden and Lenda, an innocently sweet young couple whom you cannot help but love and wish to protect. They are so inherently good and pure of heart. I wanted to slap Edric upside the head a few times and kick the demon Samael’s behind several times as well. I don’t know how many messages I began with “OMG!”, having come to a twist I had not foreseen at all and the surprises kept coming!
The very last surprise, however, was the final sentence. It ended the story, yet at the same time, it felt somewhat like a cliffhanger, even though it wasn’t at all. So I snatched up Book 2, The Path of Salvation at once and read the prologue which had me in tears all over again right away. However, then I decided to better write this review first to observe the break in the story between books.
I cannot begin to tell you how much I crave to read more of this story, how thrilled and excited I am that all six volumes are on my shelf and waiting for me to work my way through them from cover to cover, spending sleepless nights yet again, because I just cannot put the books down, just like it happened with this one.
The love to detail in things, places but also people strikes just the right balance between beauty and overload, the author’s writing style adept in conveying urgency and speed as well as peace, slowness and tranquillity, as is required. Catrin Russell is not one of my two favourite fantasy authors for nothing. And for someone who usually gravitates towards contemporary romance or historical fiction, I might add that I am probably harder to please in this genre than a fantasy fan.
For all that, Russell’s skills in captivating her audience and making a story and characters, even an entire world come to life in a way that it literally tears me out of my seat to mock-fight and slay demons as well as read the story out loud to taste the story with all my senses, eyes, tongue and ears alike, is quite a feat. And she did it effortlessly. I am beyond impressed. But most of all, I am deeply grateful for such an amazing and exciting reading experience and the fact that I have five more books in this series to enjoy hereafter. Because let me assure you, this tale is epic!
I thought the prequels had been amazing but what I found in this book was an adventure extraordinaire! But let me give you a quick glimpse into the story first…
Anaya is a senior priestess of the Temple Village and under Ekelon, the High Priest, whom we have previously met in the prequel The Redeemed, together with abused criminal youngster Edric who is also now a senior priest, we get to know life as a priest or priestess serving the Goddess and fighting demons and their Darkness with the Light of the Goddess.
This all sounds like a classic tale of good versus evil, if it was not only for all the shades of grey but also for all the other colours in the rainbow that show that life is never as straightforward as one wishes it to be perhaps.
Anaya meets demon Samael who has a very different view on the priesthood’s activities and the High Priest’s motives in ordering the slaughter of all demonkind. Anaya is devout to the cause, yet starts to question things progressively, the more often she meets Samael. Samael who keeps appearing and disappearing however the Darkness he wants, which is quite infuriating and made me wish more than once to kick some butt.
Besides these two, there are more characters that play important parts in the unravelling of the story, subplots and changes in POVs that are clearly marked so the reader never gets confused, which I find important when changing scenes, POVs and having time leaps within a chapter. Russell stirs these water excellently, however, so unless your brain doesn’t work at full capacity you will find it easy to follow the story and the different subplots and strands that weave together in the fabric of the story throughout the book.
Another thing I would like to point out that has particularly impressed me in terms of her writing skills and plotting are the fighting scenes. They are brilliantly crafted, precise, logical in their fluency of motion and never out of place. Keeping up accuracy while bringing the story forward at a rapid, urgent pace is something many authors have failed at and is, therefore, particularly noteworthy.
The third aspect that is worth mentioning in particular is the worldbuilding and concept of magic in this story. Fantasy stories can take a bad turn when info-dumping in the beginning to describe a world and set up the pictures in the reader’s mind. That can lead to overwhelm and overload on the reader’s part. I am happy to announce that this book deals with the matter in a refreshingly different way.
Descriptions are woven throughout the story and the images and information are built in the reader’s mind in a fluent and contextual manner that makes it easy to take in and enjoyable when one finds out yet another morsel of information about Russell’s brilliantly crafted and well thought-out fantasy world that can possibly most be likened to a sort of medieval setting with magic and demons.
Violence is graphic, sometimes gory without passing the line into the horrific (in my humble opinion), and the romantic scenes between adults, although quite innocent and slowburn, are nonetheless not fade to black. I would say, they are perfectly written for the context of a high epic fantasy novel. Romance has its rightful place as a couple of the subplots of this epic tale but doesn’t dominate the story, which keeps well in line with the genre.
Now to my personal experience of the book. I absolutely loved it! From the first page, I was drawn in, my mind leaving the mundane to firmly settle in Russell’s fantasy world. I fevered with the characters, read the narration out aloud to myself, stood, with book in hand, in the middle of the room, re-enacting the battle scenes and biting my nails at the folly of star-crossed lovers. I would message my friends who have already read this book about the events I was reading about, sharing my enthusiasm, my despair, even my tears.
Yes, I cried with Anaya and Edric, rejoiced with Vixen and clutched my heart with Eden and Lenda, an innocently sweet young couple whom you cannot help but love and wish to protect. They are so inherently good and pure of heart. I wanted to slap Edric upside the head a few times and kick the demon Samael’s behind several times as well. I don’t know how many messages I began with “OMG!”, having come to a twist I had not foreseen at all and the surprises kept coming!
The very last surprise, however, was the final sentence. It ended the story, yet at the same time, it felt somewhat like a cliffhanger, even though it wasn’t at all. So I snatched up Book 2, The Path of Salvation at once and read the prologue which had me in tears all over again right away. However, then I decided to better write this review first to observe the break in the story between books.
I cannot begin to tell you how much I crave to read more of this story, how thrilled and excited I am that all six volumes are on my shelf and waiting for me to work my way through them from cover to cover, spending sleepless nights yet again, because I just cannot put the books down, just like it happened with this one.
The love to detail in things, places but also people strikes just the right balance between beauty and overload, the author’s writing style adept in conveying urgency and speed as well as peace, slowness and tranquillity, as is required. Catrin Russell is not one of my two favourite fantasy authors for nothing. And for someone who usually gravitates towards contemporary romance or historical fiction, I might add that I am probably harder to please in this genre than a fantasy fan.
For all that, Russell’s skills in captivating her audience and making a story and characters, even an entire world come to life in a way that it literally tears me out of my seat to mock-fight and slay demons as well as read the story out loud to taste the story with all my senses, eyes, tongue and ears alike, is quite a feat. And she did it effortlessly. I am beyond impressed. But most of all, I am deeply grateful for such an amazing and exciting reading experience and the fact that I have five more books in this series to enjoy hereafter. Because let me assure you, this tale is epic!
July 7, 2022
This book literally had me hooked from the very beginning. The world building throughout this book was amazing. The character dynamic was breathtaking. I couldn't get enough of the characters and how much depth each of them had. Of course my favorite Anaya, the MC. (First off I love the name Anaya.) Anaya was a total badass from the very beginning. She was brave, strong and yet she dared to question.
Samael, the badass demon who is all predator ends up taking an interest in Anaya and soon has her questioning everything she's been trained and taught her entire life. I loved how the author was able to put violence, gore, romance, mystery, and plenty of suspense together and blend it seamlessly for one hell of a book. Now while I was completely enthralled with Anaya and Samael, the author brought in some other amazing characters that also ended up being just as great as the two MC's and added more back story and depth to the entire story.
I also really enjoyed that even though this book has demon fighting and quite a bit of violence, the author also made sure to add some steamy romance and I think it even the book out. This is just the first book in a trilogy, so be prepared this book ends with a CLIFFHANGER but with that said this book was everything and more and I'm so glad that I was given the opportunity to read it. I can't wait to read The Path of Salvation and see what twists and turns the author has waiting for us readers. I highly recommend this book.
Samael, the badass demon who is all predator ends up taking an interest in Anaya and soon has her questioning everything she's been trained and taught her entire life. I loved how the author was able to put violence, gore, romance, mystery, and plenty of suspense together and blend it seamlessly for one hell of a book. Now while I was completely enthralled with Anaya and Samael, the author brought in some other amazing characters that also ended up being just as great as the two MC's and added more back story and depth to the entire story.
I also really enjoyed that even though this book has demon fighting and quite a bit of violence, the author also made sure to add some steamy romance and I think it even the book out. This is just the first book in a trilogy, so be prepared this book ends with a CLIFFHANGER but with that said this book was everything and more and I'm so glad that I was given the opportunity to read it. I can't wait to read The Path of Salvation and see what twists and turns the author has waiting for us readers. I highly recommend this book.
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