Emerald Rising

Her Dark Quartet #0.5

by Bailey Grayson

I got what every girl wants on her twenty-first birthday... A How-To Guide to performing your own summoning.

There were no traditional engraved wine glasses or sentimental gifts for me. I did get a piece of jewellery that might have been my mothers but since I was dumped on the steps of a convent as a baby, I had no idea if that were true.

So, what's a girl to when all she has is questions about where she comes from, who she is and why she was abandoned? Obviously, she performs the summoning and prays that she doesn't end up like the girl in a horror movie with the Quija board. Dead as a doornail or Satan's unwilling bride.

But I got a Hell of a lot more than I bargained for...

Genres: Demons, Angels, Fantasy, Paranormal

97 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 1, 2021

Reviews

[Adrienne McFarlane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent prequel. This prequel sets the stage for the upcoming series by providing important background information. It gave character introductions, as well as important information about why things have to be the way they are. Definitely interested in reading the complete series from this prequel.

[Seraphia Bunny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emerald Rising by Bailey Grayson is the prequel to her newest series, Her Dark Quartet. In this book, the author gives readers a brief introduction to Emerald and the men who are bound to be hers. This paranormal reverse harem romance definitely sounds promising from the way that things begin.
Emerald was raised as an orphan in a convent, but the twist...she received money from an anonymous source. Now, her 21st birthday has arrived, and with it a mysterious letter providing her with information that she has long wanted all of her life. While it gives her some clues, it still leaves her in the dark as to what is coming her way in the form of danger, four deliciously sexy men, and a heritage she could never have guessed.
The storyline is definitely engaging and this delicious tidbit of a prequel left me eager for more. I got a nice amount of steamy to whet my appetite for more. But, while I did enjoy this book, there are some minor complaints, too. Emerald wanting to basically scream about these men “barging into” her home is a stretch. She performed a summoning spell. So when you summon...expect something to show up. Also, what’s with the constant fainting? Seems a bit overdramatic. I am disappointed we only get two of the initial men’s descriptions, but I’m hopeful we’ll get the rest in the next book to come.
This book definitely has piqued my interest in what’s to come. I’m looking forward to reading more about these characters, and I’m hopeful that some of my questions will be answered as well that I was left with at the end of this prequel. I’m rating this book 4.5 out of 5 stars.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emerald Rising is the prequel to Bailey Grayson's new series, Her Dark Quartet. This short story was a fun and interesting read, enticing readers just enough.


Emerald "Emmy" is the main character, she is sweet but impulsive and she is about to have her world turned upside down by four very handsome guys. River, the sexy bad boy, Ash with his playful nature, Blaze who is a little crazy and has rage issues and finally Griffin who's resting face is set to brooding.


There was a little steam, a whole lot of mystery, and all with a touch of magic. With the way Emerald Rising ended I'm really looking forward to seeing how the rest of Emmy's story goes.

[Noemi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emerald is an orphan who was raised in a convent. On her 21st birthday she receives a letter from her father who tells her she needs to use the summoning circle included in his letter. Out of curiosity Emerald does it, and she doesn't expect for 3 demons to show up in her house nor to find out that she's part demon. When the fourth demon summoned arrives at her hose too, more truth are discovered, and we are left with a cliffhanger wondering what Emerald will do.

I'm now so curious to read book 1.

I was kindly provided with an ARC by the author, but I'm leaving a voluntary and honest review.

[Debbie Eyre · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a good read! A well written kickass paranormal fantasy with a why choose romance storyline in which we meet Emmy an orphan who has no idea where she is from. There’s angels and demons and alpha males, family secrets and a summoning all set in this magical world created by this author and I cannot wait to read more.

[Cheryl Sedman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a prequel and a short read, but every page is worth reading.
Emmy has just turned 21 and receives a letter from the nuns she was raised by. From here we get to learn more about Emmy as she finds out more about herself and also get to meet her four bonded men River, Ash, Blaze and Griffon. To then end on a slight cliffhanger leading to what I can see being a great series.

[Angela Denny · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good start to this series. Emmy gets a letter and a necklace for her birthday. Hoping it will give her the answers she seeks she follows the instructions in it. She ends up with more than she bargained for and her life is turned upside down. Now she has more questions than answers and four infuriating men in her life.

[SaucyBishReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This prequel had me hooked from the start!!!

Emerald has so many questions about her parents and who she is. She gets a tiny bit of help but really more questions on her 21st birthday when she does a summoning. Say hello to River, Ash, Blaze and Griffon!

These guys are seriously hot and yummy! What do you get when you mix in demons, angels, war, secrets and mystery? This book right here! I couldn’t read it fast enough!!! The plot and storyline make me crave more!! Can’t wait for book one!!!

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review copied from my original read in the anthology The Princess & Her Alphaholes.

A great introduction to Emerald and the four angel and demon mercenaries bound to guard her, but I'm not sure I enjoyed how the story led to an academy-themed story line with professor/student reverse-harem relationships. The reasoning to erase her memory before sending her to the school was also rather a stretch.

Lastly, it was rather confusing to me when the mercenaries had mentioned that their King had given the orders to have them guard her, but later implied that the reigning royal family was super corrupt and evil? It was unclear whether or not the current and past Kings of the Underworld were the same individual.

I'll probably take a look at the first book in the series when it's released, but it also might end up not being my cup of tea. I did enjoy all the men's personalities though!

[Simply Stina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm hooked and now annoyed

NOTE: WHERE THE HELL ARE THE REST OF THE FLIPPIN BOOKS?!

Ok, so far, we have great character development and some pretty thorough world building. We also have a mystery! Which family could Emmy belong to? Is she only royal on her demon side? What other powers will manifest? I'm so intrigued.

What do we know about our FMC...
Emerald (Emmy): Newly discovered Blood Demon of a royal lineage, she was left at a covenant as a child and had just reached her 21st birthday. She received a letter from her father explaining just a few things like: her mother is deceased, she is in danger, and she will never get to meet her father due to the world he lives in. It also included instructions on how to complete a summoning that will bring forth people that will protect her for all eternity. Thus enters 3/4 boned mates.

Let's get into the MMCs...

River: Blood Demon, low on patience, leader of this merry band

Ash: Sex Demon similar to an incubus, playful/mischievous, second-in-command

Blaze: Fallen Angel, violent af, a lil psycho and his level of unhinged is acknowledged by everyone

Griffon: Guardian Angel, level-headed, logical, but has been playing the role of stoic and aloof neighbor, Gray.

I can't wait to see how they handle this new challenge.

[Steph · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a quick and fun prequel story set before the series even begins. I picked this one up since it looked like an interesting take on the academy RHs out there. I wasn't disappointed. There's a lot of setup and story in this short book - all the more reason to just pick up the full series.

The FMC!
Emerald, aka Emmy, is an orphan raised by nuns. I mean what a setup. She has no idea who her parents are or what she is, but on her 21st birthday, she gets a mysterious letter that then unleashes the plot. I think she's a great combo of wit and sass.

The Guys!
River, Ash, Blaze and Griffon - two demons, a fallen angel and an angel get summoned into a circle... What a good start to the series! We have the different personalities and powers that are introduced here. I'm not sure which I like the most, but I can't wait to learn more. Plus we'll get sexy teacher student vibes - love a good forbidden romance.

The Smut!
Not too much smut in here as it's only a prequel but we do get a sense of what is to come in the overall series.

[The_Book_Brat · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first read of Bailey’s and I’ll definitely be continuing with their work!!
I blitzed through this in a couple of hours is soo good!
For a prequel it packs so much into its 10 chapters including mystery, steam and heartache 💚
Emerald has grown up believe herself to be human as an abandoned orphan; however a letter on her 21st birthday throws everything she knows into disarray! 🙈
Not expecting anything from it she abides by the letter and summons 3 supernatural beings to her, River the bad boy, Blaze the broody dominant and Ashe the sexy caregiver! 😍 They unload a whole heap of information onto her including her own supernatural status and her bonds to them and a fourth member who surprisingly she’s known all along 😮
Identifying what she is places Emmy in unknown danger, so River, Ash, Blaze and Griff make a heart-wrenching decision to protect her…
Cannot wait for the next instalment to see how they all deal with the fallout of that decision!!

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excited for this series!

I went into this book blind mostly because I loved the cover. I’m so glad I did because it is an excellent prequel. We meet Emerald aka Emmy who has been raised in a covent since birth. She gets a letter on her 21st birthday from her dad she has never met. He tells her she is in danger and gives her directions to summon protectors to keep her safe. I love Emmy from the first chapter. She has a spark and knows how to take care of herself. We meet her protectors and find out they are demons from the underworld. River a blood demon, Ash a sex demon, and Blaze a fallen angel. We also meet Griffon who has been living undercover as her neighbor. All the guys had awesome personalities and were easy to like. Even though this was just a prequel there was a good amount of background and information packed in. I was sad when it ended cause I wanted the rest of the story. I definitely recommend this and can’t wait for the first book!

[Racquel Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing start to a new series!! The 🔥🔥🔥🔥 is definitely swoon worthy. We are introduced to Emerald, an orphan who was left on the steps of a convent to be raised by nuns. She knows nothing of her family history, literally just her first name and enough money to do whatever she wishes.
On her 21st birthday she received a letter from her dad and the story really just explodes from there. She is given a demon summoning spell to perform for her guardians. But who or what does she need guardians from? She doesnt believe its really real. She does it anyways.
Oh man to be a fly on the wall of that first meeting. The demon/angel men she summons are stunning and totally hers. What happens next is complete cliffhanger torture. I mean i knew something would have to happen. It is a prequel after all but I REALLY. Want to read the series so good job Bailey Grayson :) you have definitely got be hooked!!! A must read for anyone who loves angels and demons and HEAT.

[Book Life With Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emerald Rising was a delicious quick treat of a read and an extremely enticing prequel for greater things to come in Bailey Grayson’s Her Dark Quartet series. While it may have been short and left the reader begging for more of this deliciously steamy and intriguing story, it was definitely an intense introduction to an enchanting new world and I can’t wait for Emerald Reborn to come out next! Well done Bailey, well done!

Grab this story now and dive into a new world full of mystery, intrigue, sexy hot scenes and some off the charts chemistry between Emerald, River, Ash, Blaze and Griffon.

[Jennifer Soppe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Promises to be another great reverse harem romance series

Emmy, an orphan, has spent all her life wondering who her parents are and where she comes from while being raised in a convent. As the story progresses a mysterious letter appears, a seemingly hopeless action is taken, and the answers she seeks create more questions just as they appear. Bailey Grayson has given the reader a glimpse of what promises to be another great reverse harem romance series.

I read this book with my Kindle Unlimited subscription and I received a free copy of the book from the author. I had the opportunity to review or not.

[TheheartofBrigid · Rating 5 out of 5]

One hour. One hour is all it took. To say I was sucked in is an understatement. Emerald Rising is a prequel for Her Dark Quartet series by Bailey Grayson, and boy did it wet my appetite for what’s to come in this series.

Emerald just wants to know where she comes from and who her family may be. She was dropped of as a baby with no information. But, on her twenty-first birthday a mysterious letter shows up where she was raised leaving move questions than answers. It leaves instructions for her to do a summoning along with information that leaves more questions than what she had before. Should she do the summoning? Will it bring her closer to the answers that she is looking for?

[Naurarwen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely brilliant prequel to what I am hoping will be an amazing series. When Emerald hits her twenty-first birthday, she is given a letter from her father. A how-to on summoning demons, even she doesn't think it will work but she is compelled to give it a try. Three mysterious men appear in her living room and her whole life is about to change.

The prequel really does set the stage for what is to come for Emerald and her guys, and I'm totally there for it. I really can't wait until book one comes out, I plan on diving in straight away.

[Chelsea Okamoto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow……. This book sucked me right in from the beginning and I could not put it down. Emmy is an orphan growing up in a covenant but she has many questions about her parents. On her 21st birthday she receives a necklace and a letter. Hoping for answers she follows the instructions in the letter but more questions arise instead of answers. Bailey Grayson does a brilliant job giving us a peek into this new world while keeping us wanting more! Absolutely fantastic! I am excited to see where this series goes!! 💜🖤

[Kelly Bugler · Rating 4 out of 5]

brilliant read. I love a prequel to get my teeth stuck into this series.
Emmy is turning 21 and instead of partying in vegas she is in the convent discussing her life with mother superior. not Quite the life you expect for an average 21 year old.
The only present Emmy is left with is a 'how to' guide in summoning your own demon. Feeling like she is living her own horror movie she gets ready to have her own demon special.
Brilliant read. Cant wait to start the series.

[Kira Bell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an awesome prequel where we get to meet the main characters of the series and learn a little about all of them. I really enjoyed how well it was written so that readers will have an understanding of what the remainder of the series will be based on. Intrigue? Yes. Chemistry? Yes. Interesting and deep characters? Yes. A mystery to solve? Yes! I am excited about this series and can't wait for the next book!

[Chante · Rating 4 out of 5]

It doesn't happen often that you pick up a book that is so explosive from the first chapter that you end up dreaming about the characters for 2 full days. This book introduced us to Emerald and the four men who are bound to her. The guys are complete Alpha's (yes please!) and you get sucked into a magical world of intrigue from the get go. I am so excited to have discovered this author and honestly cannot wait for the next book!

[Catherine Leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, it’s very well written with such detail and emotion that you just fall into the story.
Emmy is a great main character, along with those hot AF demon/angels - I can see this is a start to what expect to be a fantastic series.
Love the twists and that ‘unknown’ element, kept be completely intrigued- I didn’t put the book down until the very last word and wow what an ending it was (cliff hanger), loved the teaser for the next book.

[TXBRITGAL · Rating 4 out of 5]

Talk about holy family tree Batman! 😲

A super quick intro to a great new series! Raised by nuns, never knowing where she came from...on her 21st bday a letter arrives with surprising info. Our main character's entire world turns on a dime in an instant. Angels, demons, lost family, abominations, rumors, danger...so many things are thrown at our poor gal in a very short amount of time. Join in all the fun and see where this goes!

[Nora · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's no secret I love the books by Bailey and this one though it is a shorter book draws you in and it is such an awesome story! It provides you with background information on upcoming books and I for one love that. Emma receives a letter and a necklace for her birthday. She follows the instructions in the letter hoping answers will be found but finds it's leaving her with more questions than answers. Can't wait for the rest of the journey here!

[Lynn Stifle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emmy is an orphan raised by nuns never knowing where she came from. On her 21st birthday she receives a mysterious letter and necklace from her father. Longing to find answers she follows the summoning instructions in the letter. She gets more than she bargained for and her life will never be the same. Now she’s stuck with four annoying men and she’s left with more questions than answers. Such a fantastic read! I’m extremely excited for this series and can’t wait for the next book.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emerald aka Emmy s a very interesting character and I really liked her fiery nature. Receiving a letter for her birthday changes things in her life. After all, not believing in something and then summoning a blood demon (River), a fallen angel (Blaze), and a sex demon (Ash). After finding out something about her, I won't spoil it, plans change for the boys on how they will protect her. Looking forward to how Emerald Reborn and Lockwood Academy is.

[Tara Syrnyk]

Oh wow this was such an awesome tease for the series! This has set the series up so well! I devoured this book as fast as I could and loved how just when I thought it was going in a certain direction, bam, plot twist! So fun! I am so excited for this series! I am loving what I've seen of these characters so far! It's a really fun and unique concept and I am looking forward to seeing how this story goes!

[Jodi Kimball · Rating 5 out of 5]

This prequel has me so excited for the rest of the series! I’m not one to read academy prn books, but I will definitely be making an exception for this one! The story is such a teaser for the dynamics of Emmy’s future quartet that it has me all keyed up and ready to read the whole series right now! Can’t wait! Write quickly, dear Bailey, write quickly! First time reading this author and I am not disappointed.

[Marissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This was a quick read that really seems to suck you in and gets pretty steamy upfront! We are intorduced to Emmy and she is just trying to discover more about her past and where she comes from. A letter brings her 4 strange men that aren't quite what she expected. I am excited to see where this will go and cannot wait to find out what is going to happen next. It definitely has me intrigued and dying for more!