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The Dark Forgotten #3
Unchained
Been there, slain that...
Ashe Carver, monster-killer, has the scars to prove it. But faced with a custody battle, she's hung up her stakes and taken a job at the public library, determined to show the courts and her ten-year-old daughter that she's as good a mother as she is a hunter.
Easier said than done. There are lovelorn vampires haunting the library, a slime demon in the shopping mall, and her new-mom sister needs a hand with her ghostbusting biz. Then, after centuries guarding a supernatural prison, Captain Reynard strides into her world like a hero from the library's Must Reads. Smokingly gorgeous, passionate and courageous to a fault, he has only weeks to live unless Ashe finds the thief who took his soul.
Ashe picks up her weapons to save the day—but not every problem can be solved with a stake. With so much tragedy in her past, Ashe fears the disaster she sees ahead—and prays she doesn't fail everyone. Again.
Memories are the hardest monsters to kill.
Ashe Carver, monster-killer, has the scars to prove it. But faced with a custody battle, she's hung up her stakes and taken a job at the public library, determined to show the courts and her ten-year-old daughter that she's as good a mother as she is a hunter.
Easier said than done. There are lovelorn vampires haunting the library, a slime demon in the shopping mall, and her new-mom sister needs a hand with her ghostbusting biz. Then, after centuries guarding a supernatural prison, Captain Reynard strides into her world like a hero from the library's Must Reads. Smokingly gorgeous, passionate and courageous to a fault, he has only weeks to live unless Ashe finds the thief who took his soul.
Ashe picks up her weapons to save the day—but not every problem can be solved with a stake. With so much tragedy in her past, Ashe fears the disaster she sees ahead—and prays she doesn't fail everyone. Again.
Memories are the hardest monsters to kill.
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 6, 2010
22 people are currently reading
734 people want to read
About the author
Sharon Ashwood
55 books462 followersSharon Ashwood is a free-lance journalist, novelist, desk jockey and enthusiast for the weird and spooky. She has an English literature degree but works as a finance geek. Interests include growing her to-be-read pile and playing with the toy graveyard on her desk. As a vegetarian, she freely admits the whole vampire/werewolf lifestyle fantasy would never work out, so she writes paranormal romances instead.
Sharon lives in the Pacific Northwest and is owned by the Demon Lord of Kitty Badness.
Sharon lives in the Pacific Northwest and is owned by the Demon Lord of Kitty Badness.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
June 27, 2019
3.5 stars
The heroine came across as a major dick in the last book, and the author doesn't make her undergo a personality transplant; she is still all rough edges. As always the plot was really great, stolen souls, demons, sucky lawyers etc.
The heroine came across as a major dick in the last book, and the author doesn't make her undergo a personality transplant; she is still all rough edges. As always the plot was really great, stolen souls, demons, sucky lawyers etc.
July 3, 2010
Unchained by Sharon Ashwood
Paranormal Romance – July 6, 2010
4 Stars
Ashe Carver is an ex-slayer. She has given up that job in exchange for being a mother to her ten year old daughter, Eden. She also has a lot of problems to tackle - a custody battle for her kid, demons to vanquish, a vampire to stop, and a magical urn to retrieve. Her ally, Captain Reynard, leader of the Guardsman that keeps the magical creatures from over running the world, has only weeks to live unless Ashe can find the urn that contains his soul. Likewise, Reynard has to stop the vampire that stalks Ashe and her family. As Ashe falls in love with the dashing Reynard, the quest to find the magical urn grows more and more urgent...
Unchained is a fun, solid popcorn read. Ashwood creates a sprawling world populated by vampires, demons, witches, fairies, and even hellhounds. There’s so much going on that readers can sometimes feel bewildered. What the book lacks in emotional depth, the author makes up for with unrelenting pacing and thrilling action scenes. Unchained feels and reads like a movie - it is fast and furious.
The characters are given an archetype and rarely ventures out of their pre-cast personalities, but that’s not a bad thing necessarily since this is supposed to be a fun read, not a literature class. Ashe Carver is an Amazonian queen - tough, feisty, and vulnerable at times. Captain Reynard is an immortal who longs to be alive. Though these two are the main stars of the show/book, I personally like Miru-kai, the Fey Prince, the best. I simply have a soft spot for the sneaky prince who feels far more complex than Ashe. I hope one day Ashwood will give Miru-kai his own story.
If you have always wondered what Buffy will be like ten, twenty years after college graduation, Unchained has the answer for you. Except that this time, the girl is not mooning after a vampire. Just like Buffy the show, Unchained is thoroughly entertaining and fun to read. It doesn’t strain the brain and is easy on the eyes.
Reviewed by Pauline from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club
Paranormal Romance – July 6, 2010
4 Stars
Ashe Carver is an ex-slayer. She has given up that job in exchange for being a mother to her ten year old daughter, Eden. She also has a lot of problems to tackle - a custody battle for her kid, demons to vanquish, a vampire to stop, and a magical urn to retrieve. Her ally, Captain Reynard, leader of the Guardsman that keeps the magical creatures from over running the world, has only weeks to live unless Ashe can find the urn that contains his soul. Likewise, Reynard has to stop the vampire that stalks Ashe and her family. As Ashe falls in love with the dashing Reynard, the quest to find the magical urn grows more and more urgent...
Unchained is a fun, solid popcorn read. Ashwood creates a sprawling world populated by vampires, demons, witches, fairies, and even hellhounds. There’s so much going on that readers can sometimes feel bewildered. What the book lacks in emotional depth, the author makes up for with unrelenting pacing and thrilling action scenes. Unchained feels and reads like a movie - it is fast and furious.
The characters are given an archetype and rarely ventures out of their pre-cast personalities, but that’s not a bad thing necessarily since this is supposed to be a fun read, not a literature class. Ashe Carver is an Amazonian queen - tough, feisty, and vulnerable at times. Captain Reynard is an immortal who longs to be alive. Though these two are the main stars of the show/book, I personally like Miru-kai, the Fey Prince, the best. I simply have a soft spot for the sneaky prince who feels far more complex than Ashe. I hope one day Ashwood will give Miru-kai his own story.
If you have always wondered what Buffy will be like ten, twenty years after college graduation, Unchained has the answer for you. Except that this time, the girl is not mooning after a vampire. Just like Buffy the show, Unchained is thoroughly entertaining and fun to read. It doesn’t strain the brain and is easy on the eyes.
Reviewed by Pauline from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club
August 13, 2010
Favorite Quote: “I would like to ride a good horse again.”
“Well, I have some unicorns down in the basement, if you’d like to take them out for a spin.”
“They only like virgins. I’m rather too late to that party.”
Ashe Carver is monster killer extraordinaire-and she has the scars to prove it. But she hangs up her stakes in favor of a more sedate Librarian job in order to convince her in laws that she is a fit mother. But life never goes the way you plan. Vamps want to impregnate her, a slime demon with a collecting fetish is hanging out at the mall, and a supernatural prison guard from the Castle has entered her life to inform her he will die in 2 weeks unless she finds his stolen soul.
And that’s all before breakfast.
In the third installment of The Dark Forgotten-Unchained- we are given the other Carver sister’s story-Ashe Carver. She made a horrendous mistake years ago that resulted in the death of her parents and the loss of her powers. She has spent her life honing her skills into the ultimate slayer that the supernatural world fears. But a custody battle with her in laws has her putting away the knives and replacing them with a library card.
This is the ultimate paranormal romance. Incredible word building creates a story so full of life that I was unable to put it down. The story races a long, even though it is chocked full of intrigue, suspense and romance. There is a lot going on but all the story lines blend so well together that the you see neither beginning nor end.
Read the rest of my review at Smexy Books.
“Well, I have some unicorns down in the basement, if you’d like to take them out for a spin.”
“They only like virgins. I’m rather too late to that party.”
Ashe Carver is monster killer extraordinaire-and she has the scars to prove it. But she hangs up her stakes in favor of a more sedate Librarian job in order to convince her in laws that she is a fit mother. But life never goes the way you plan. Vamps want to impregnate her, a slime demon with a collecting fetish is hanging out at the mall, and a supernatural prison guard from the Castle has entered her life to inform her he will die in 2 weeks unless she finds his stolen soul.
And that’s all before breakfast.
In the third installment of The Dark Forgotten-Unchained- we are given the other Carver sister’s story-Ashe Carver. She made a horrendous mistake years ago that resulted in the death of her parents and the loss of her powers. She has spent her life honing her skills into the ultimate slayer that the supernatural world fears. But a custody battle with her in laws has her putting away the knives and replacing them with a library card.
This is the ultimate paranormal romance. Incredible word building creates a story so full of life that I was unable to put it down. The story races a long, even though it is chocked full of intrigue, suspense and romance. There is a lot going on but all the story lines blend so well together that the you see neither beginning nor end.
Read the rest of my review at Smexy Books.
October 16, 2019
I really struggled to finish this book. I could pretty much guess what came next. I don't think that's the author's fault, it's just that this book was published in the midst of the popularity of similar books at the time. The 10 year old was a lot too teenage sounding for me, no matter what parental guilt her mom felt.
February 20, 2015
Ashe Carver has hung up her stakes and retired from her life of vampire hunting in order to raise her young daughter. But life is just not cooperating. Fallout from her sister Holly's life changing event are complicating Ashe's life. Since Holly's powers are on the fritz as a result of said event, Ashe is covering Holly's ghost hunting gigs, and said event has also gained Ashe the unwelcome notice of some persistent vamps who are making her an offer they don't intend to allow her to refuse. And to top it all off, the intriguing Captain Reynard needs Ashe's help recover his stolen soul - all in all it looks as if Ashe's life is not going to be as 'soccer mom' as she'd hoped.
Unchained, the third book of Sharon Ashwood's Dark Forgotten, was really enjoyable. There's plenty of action and intrigue, and a touch of both humor and romance. Unlike the previous book, Scorched, in which the hero Mac was good but the leading lady was forgettable (what was her name?), both of the starring pair here are good.
Ashe has mellowed from the previous book and she's no longer trying to stake her brother-in-law. Still Ashe remains a strong character and the mellowing, along with the trials of trying to be a vanilla human, have made her much more likable. And I really liked the transition for Captain Reynard from his credo of Duty, Honor, and Discipline. It ws fun to discover the passionate man with a twinkle in his eye, a sense of humor and a surprising down and dirty side beneath the chivalrous facade and the rigid self-control.
As with the previous book, I like the way that Ashwood straddles the PNR/UF line - there's a complete happily-ever-after so this is not quite urban fantasy but the romance is less central to the story than most paranormal romance. I also really enjoyed bits with a side character dark fey Prince Miru-kai and was a bit disappointed that he won't be the lead in the next book, but hopefully we'll still see more of him as hellhound Lore - whose part was exceedingly minimal here - moves to center stage in Ashwood's next book of the Dark Forgotten, Iced.
Unchained, the third book of Sharon Ashwood's Dark Forgotten, was really enjoyable. There's plenty of action and intrigue, and a touch of both humor and romance. Unlike the previous book, Scorched, in which the hero Mac was good but the leading lady was forgettable (what was her name?), both of the starring pair here are good.
Ashe has mellowed from the previous book and she's no longer trying to stake her brother-in-law. Still Ashe remains a strong character and the mellowing, along with the trials of trying to be a vanilla human, have made her much more likable. And I really liked the transition for Captain Reynard from his credo of Duty, Honor, and Discipline. It ws fun to discover the passionate man with a twinkle in his eye, a sense of humor and a surprising down and dirty side beneath the chivalrous facade and the rigid self-control.
As with the previous book, I like the way that Ashwood straddles the PNR/UF line - there's a complete happily-ever-after so this is not quite urban fantasy but the romance is less central to the story than most paranormal romance. I also really enjoyed bits with a side character dark fey Prince Miru-kai and was a bit disappointed that he won't be the lead in the next book, but hopefully we'll still see more of him as hellhound Lore - whose part was exceedingly minimal here - moves to center stage in Ashwood's next book of the Dark Forgotten, Iced.
August 15, 2010
4 1/2 stars
This is an interesting, well-written story, with a nice balance of humor, scariness, and tenderness. I enjoyed the read and am looking forward to the next in the series.
Ashe is an adrenaline junkie who has quit her job as a vampire slayer so she can retain custody of her estranged daughter, Eden. Reynard has been a guard for the Castle for hundreds of years, maintaining his sanity by holding onto the mantra duty, dignity and death. After Reynard’s soul is stolen by a collector demon, Ashe and Reynard team up to retrieve it.
Without access to his soul, Reynard is doomed to regain human sensations such as hunger and lust as he fades into death. Over the course of a few days, as their search progresses and Reynard fades, he rediscovers food in what is probably one of my favorite scenes from the book, as it beautifully reflects the bittersweet delight he experiences:
I really enjoyed the romance between Ashe and Reynard. They’re both adult characters who’ve lived full lives and as they hesitantly begin to open up to each other it’s apparent that the foundation of their developing relationship is based on mutual respect. Added to that are their relationships with others in the story, including Ashe’s daughter, Eden, and sister, Holly; Reynard’s boss, the fire demon Mac; and dark fey prince Miru-Kai, who plays the role of trickster.
Note: If you’re looking for a rehash of Ravenous, you’re not going to get it with this; neither is it exactly like Scorched. It’s its own thing. It will help to have read those first, but it’s not necessary.
This is an interesting, well-written story, with a nice balance of humor, scariness, and tenderness. I enjoyed the read and am looking forward to the next in the series.
Ashe is an adrenaline junkie who has quit her job as a vampire slayer so she can retain custody of her estranged daughter, Eden. Reynard has been a guard for the Castle for hundreds of years, maintaining his sanity by holding onto the mantra duty, dignity and death. After Reynard’s soul is stolen by a collector demon, Ashe and Reynard team up to retrieve it.
Without access to his soul, Reynard is doomed to regain human sensations such as hunger and lust as he fades into death. Over the course of a few days, as their search progresses and Reynard fades, he rediscovers food in what is probably one of my favorite scenes from the book, as it beautifully reflects the bittersweet delight he experiences:
The complex textures of the sandwich filled Reynard’s mind, blotting out everything else. Soft bread, the crunch of greens, the rich tearing of meat. He tasted butter. Holy God, he’d forgotten how good that was. … It was food, that basic connective tissue that bound man to man, regardless of race or creed or culture. Hunger was their shared inheritance, relieving it a universal rite. After so long, he was part of that brotherhood again.
I really enjoyed the romance between Ashe and Reynard. They’re both adult characters who’ve lived full lives and as they hesitantly begin to open up to each other it’s apparent that the foundation of their developing relationship is based on mutual respect. Added to that are their relationships with others in the story, including Ashe’s daughter, Eden, and sister, Holly; Reynard’s boss, the fire demon Mac; and dark fey prince Miru-Kai, who plays the role of trickster.
Note: If you’re looking for a rehash of Ravenous, you’re not going to get it with this; neither is it exactly like Scorched. It’s its own thing. It will help to have read those first, but it’s not necessary.
September 18, 2010
It had some small moments I liked, such as, "Sadly, slaying library patrons wasn't allowed. Bad customer service and all."
But overall, it just left me thinking, "eh." When I got to the end, I didn't realize it WAS the end - what about the witchy-warlocky power thing? What happens when they finally get out of the sack? I turned the page, thinking it would sort of wrap up, only to find it was an excerpt from the next book, and that was it for this one. Felt kinda cheated.
But overall, it just left me thinking, "eh." When I got to the end, I didn't realize it WAS the end - what about the witchy-warlocky power thing? What happens when they finally get out of the sack? I turned the page, thinking it would sort of wrap up, only to find it was an excerpt from the next book, and that was it for this one. Felt kinda cheated.
March 5, 2011
Reynard's soul has been stolen. He needs Ashe to help him find it. Will Ashe be willing to admit her attraction to Reynard or will it be too late? I thought this was the best book in the Dark Forgetten series yet. I enjoyed the development of the characters. We finally find out Ashe's secrets. Good reading.
July 25, 2019
Pretty decent read. Unfortunately I don't have the last book yet...we'll see if I remember this when I find it. LOL
Think it was my favorite of the series...certainly of the two I've read recently.
Think it was my favorite of the series...certainly of the two I've read recently.
December 26, 2019
Der beste Band der Reihe
Ashe Carver ist eine hervorragende Monsterjägerin. Doch nun hat sie ihren Job an den Nagel gehängt, denn sie befindet sich mitten in einem Sorgerechtsstreit um ihre Tochter Eden und muss beweisen, dass sie eine ebenso gute Mutter wie Jägerin sein kann. Deshalb reagiert sie auch zunächst abweisend, als der gutaussehende Reynard sie bittet, ein gestohlenes Objekt für ihn zu finden. Doch die Tage des Unsterblichen sind gezählt, wenn Ashe ihm nicht hilft. Denn Reynard wurde etwas Unersetzliches geraubt … seine Seele.
»Seelenkuss« ist der dritte Band der vierteiligen Dark-Magic-Reihe. Um es gleich vorwegzunehmen, für mich ist das der beste Teil. Ashe ist eine Protagonistin nach meinem Geschmack: selbstbewusst, kampfstark und trotzdem verletzlich. Sie hat sehr viel durchgemacht im Leben. Nun muss sie sich einer völlig neuen Herausforderung stellen. Denn die Schwiegereltern ihres verstorbenen Mannes fordern das Sorgerecht für ihre kleine Tochter. Unvermutet tritt außerdem Captain Reynard in ihr Leben, den wir bereits in »Vampirdämmerung« kennengelernt haben. Die Liebesgeschichte zwischen Ashe und Reynard entwickelt sich langsam, tritt aber nie zu stark in den Vordergrund. Schön fand ich außerdem, dass sehr viele Figuren aus den vorherigen Bänden erneut eine Rolle spielen durften. So fühlte man sich fast »wie zu Hause«. Der wichtigste Grund jedoch, warum mir »Seelenkuss« so gut gefallen hat, lautet »Miru-kai«. Er ist Dunkelelf und der wichtigste Warlord in der Burg. Gerade diese Figur, die vielschichtig und interessant gezeichnet ist, machte das Lesen von »Seelenkuss« zu einem wahren Genuss. Dunkelelfen haben eine besondere Art, die Realität wahrzunehmen. Dementsprechend gestaltet er sein und das Leben der Dunkelelfen an seinem Hof nach diesen Maßstäben. Ich hoffe sehr, von Miru-kai noch zu hören. Die Story beginnt rasant, Ashwood hält dieses Tempo konstant aufrecht. Deshalb spreche ich eine klare Leseempfehlung für alle Fans von Urban und Romantic Fantasy aus.
Ashe Carver ist eine hervorragende Monsterjägerin. Doch nun hat sie ihren Job an den Nagel gehängt, denn sie befindet sich mitten in einem Sorgerechtsstreit um ihre Tochter Eden und muss beweisen, dass sie eine ebenso gute Mutter wie Jägerin sein kann. Deshalb reagiert sie auch zunächst abweisend, als der gutaussehende Reynard sie bittet, ein gestohlenes Objekt für ihn zu finden. Doch die Tage des Unsterblichen sind gezählt, wenn Ashe ihm nicht hilft. Denn Reynard wurde etwas Unersetzliches geraubt … seine Seele.
»Seelenkuss« ist der dritte Band der vierteiligen Dark-Magic-Reihe. Um es gleich vorwegzunehmen, für mich ist das der beste Teil. Ashe ist eine Protagonistin nach meinem Geschmack: selbstbewusst, kampfstark und trotzdem verletzlich. Sie hat sehr viel durchgemacht im Leben. Nun muss sie sich einer völlig neuen Herausforderung stellen. Denn die Schwiegereltern ihres verstorbenen Mannes fordern das Sorgerecht für ihre kleine Tochter. Unvermutet tritt außerdem Captain Reynard in ihr Leben, den wir bereits in »Vampirdämmerung« kennengelernt haben. Die Liebesgeschichte zwischen Ashe und Reynard entwickelt sich langsam, tritt aber nie zu stark in den Vordergrund. Schön fand ich außerdem, dass sehr viele Figuren aus den vorherigen Bänden erneut eine Rolle spielen durften. So fühlte man sich fast »wie zu Hause«. Der wichtigste Grund jedoch, warum mir »Seelenkuss« so gut gefallen hat, lautet »Miru-kai«. Er ist Dunkelelf und der wichtigste Warlord in der Burg. Gerade diese Figur, die vielschichtig und interessant gezeichnet ist, machte das Lesen von »Seelenkuss« zu einem wahren Genuss. Dunkelelfen haben eine besondere Art, die Realität wahrzunehmen. Dementsprechend gestaltet er sein und das Leben der Dunkelelfen an seinem Hof nach diesen Maßstäben. Ich hoffe sehr, von Miru-kai noch zu hören. Die Story beginnt rasant, Ashwood hält dieses Tempo konstant aufrecht. Deshalb spreche ich eine klare Leseempfehlung für alle Fans von Urban und Romantic Fantasy aus.
January 4, 2024
Okay, so this third book in the series does have the traditional urban fantasy kick-ass heroine (admittedly not my favorite and why I tend to shy away from uf). But having read the previous two books (and yes, you want to read them in order), I was prepared and curious to see how Ashe fared on her road to redemption. I wasn’t disappointed. And then there was Reynard, such a great hero. I’m a big fan of integrity and he has this totally reasonable sad and broody thing going, and he’s a warrior, and experienced rake (in his previous life), and… just yum. Plus characters from the previous books and interesting new ones. The ending felt just a bit rushed, but maybe the next book will pick some of that back up. I SO appreciate this is not first-person (another tradition of uf and why I tend to avoid it). This series seems underrated to me; if there was more uf like this series, I’d read more of them.
July 6, 2020
Unchained was off the chain
This book was everything a paranormal book should be. This series just gets better and better. While each book can be read as a stand alone, the continuity of reoccurring characters can best be enjoyed by following the order of the series. Start this series now; you will not be disappointed.
This book was everything a paranormal book should be. This series just gets better and better. While each book can be read as a stand alone, the continuity of reoccurring characters can best be enjoyed by following the order of the series. Start this series now; you will not be disappointed.
January 24, 2018
Didn't like the characters in this one.
January 20, 2019
I really enjoyed the read and am looking forward to the next book in the series.
September 2, 2019
Enjoying this series.
May 14, 2020
Interesting premise, but too slow. I stopped at 45%, just didn't hold my interest.
December 31, 2021
1st time reading a book by author. Will not be last. Great storytelling.
July 18, 2010
I would just like to say this before I begin: I bought Sharon's first book, Ravenous, a while back. However, due to a large TBR pile--as I'm sure most bloggers can relate to--I did not have the chance to start the first book. In fact, it was months before I finally fished it up out of the book pile.
That was one of the stupidest mistakes of my "reading life".
I'm always pleasantly surprised when I find a paranormal romance that resonates with me. I adored Ravenous, as you will see with my review sometime soon. I haven't read Scorched yet (shame on me), but I plan on doing so immediately...or maybe I'll save it for when I need an amazing book fix, since I am positive Mac's story will not disappoint.
I would also like to mention my reviewing slump I had experienced. I read plenty of books within the past few weeks, and yet... I couldn't find the words to give any of these books justice. And boy, have some of the books I've read deserved it. Now, imagine my pleasant surprise upon finishing Unchained: I had things to say! I know I've found an excellent book when it has the ability to delight me out of a slump.
Okay, so all of that aside, I absolutely love the Carver witches. Ashe is the older sister in the family, and she is a badass slayer. She has a gun, a motorcycle, and a daughter. Strange combination for a mother, right?
Wrong. She pulls off the multitasking required of the modern day mother so perfectly, I was actually. Well. Surprised. While juggling the duties of two different lives, Ashe becomes a convincing heroine that the reader can connect with. On countless occasions, I desired nothing more than to offer a helping hand in order to ease the burdens this young woman was forced to experience. And then, to have Ashe desire a man whenever she sees how happy her sister and her lover are? It felt real. She felt real. I wish she was real (no I don't, because then Reynard would be real, and I would love to gobble that man up).
We see characters from the earlier books make guest appearances once again, which is an aspect in series that I adore. It's always fun to see the characters you initially fell in love with reappear, reassuring you with a huge grin that finding the love of their life hasn't made them dull. If anything, Holly and Alessandro are still buzzing with life, even with certain changes. I will readily admit that sometimes, I hate the after story of couples, simply because they settle down and come off as boring. Not the case with these two.
Then, there is the wonderful Englishman, Reynard. I feel like I didn't know as much about his character as I might have liked, probably because I have not yet read Scorched. I think I'm a sucker for a younger heroine, and then a seemingly immortal hero who could pretty much claim to be said heroine's great-great-great (tack on about five more of those) grandpa. It's always entertaining witnessing the hero's shock upon adjusting to the modern world. In fact, one of my favorite books of all time explores this. But Reynard had an air of dignity about him as he marveled at the sights. Not to mention, there was an inner bad-boy in that guard that made me pretty much want to ravish him like every other female in that book did.
Ashe's daughter added an entirely new element to the story that I enjoyed, both because she added her own sort of urgency at certain points, and she also assisted in redeeming some of the other secondary characters. Lovely characterization all around. Just like in Ravenous, I was convinced, I was holding my breath in anxiety, and then exhaling (when I wasn't suffocating) in relief. I loved it. I loved this. What more is there to say?
The plot is unpredictable. You know it's a paranormal romance, so you know there's going to be a HEA, but the journey towards that happily ever after made everything entirely worth it. I was surprised, and Sharon kept me guessing until the last page. Which, by the way, was the perfect ending for that couple. Like I said on Twitter last week: I giggled like a madwoman while feeling all warm and fuzzy inside.
Thank you Sharon, first for an amazing start to the series, then by granting me the opportunity to read Ashe's story, and then by inspiring me to actually write up a review. I think it's safe to say that if you have not yet read The Dark Forgotten series, that you should do so immediately. Sharon's characters are amazing, I promise you won't regret it :)
That was one of the stupidest mistakes of my "reading life".
I'm always pleasantly surprised when I find a paranormal romance that resonates with me. I adored Ravenous, as you will see with my review sometime soon. I haven't read Scorched yet (shame on me), but I plan on doing so immediately...or maybe I'll save it for when I need an amazing book fix, since I am positive Mac's story will not disappoint.
I would also like to mention my reviewing slump I had experienced. I read plenty of books within the past few weeks, and yet... I couldn't find the words to give any of these books justice. And boy, have some of the books I've read deserved it. Now, imagine my pleasant surprise upon finishing Unchained: I had things to say! I know I've found an excellent book when it has the ability to delight me out of a slump.
Okay, so all of that aside, I absolutely love the Carver witches. Ashe is the older sister in the family, and she is a badass slayer. She has a gun, a motorcycle, and a daughter. Strange combination for a mother, right?
Wrong. She pulls off the multitasking required of the modern day mother so perfectly, I was actually. Well. Surprised. While juggling the duties of two different lives, Ashe becomes a convincing heroine that the reader can connect with. On countless occasions, I desired nothing more than to offer a helping hand in order to ease the burdens this young woman was forced to experience. And then, to have Ashe desire a man whenever she sees how happy her sister and her lover are? It felt real. She felt real. I wish she was real (no I don't, because then Reynard would be real, and I would love to gobble that man up).
We see characters from the earlier books make guest appearances once again, which is an aspect in series that I adore. It's always fun to see the characters you initially fell in love with reappear, reassuring you with a huge grin that finding the love of their life hasn't made them dull. If anything, Holly and Alessandro are still buzzing with life, even with certain changes. I will readily admit that sometimes, I hate the after story of couples, simply because they settle down and come off as boring. Not the case with these two.
Then, there is the wonderful Englishman, Reynard. I feel like I didn't know as much about his character as I might have liked, probably because I have not yet read Scorched. I think I'm a sucker for a younger heroine, and then a seemingly immortal hero who could pretty much claim to be said heroine's great-great-great (tack on about five more of those) grandpa. It's always entertaining witnessing the hero's shock upon adjusting to the modern world. In fact, one of my favorite books of all time explores this. But Reynard had an air of dignity about him as he marveled at the sights. Not to mention, there was an inner bad-boy in that guard that made me pretty much want to ravish him like every other female in that book did.
Ashe's daughter added an entirely new element to the story that I enjoyed, both because she added her own sort of urgency at certain points, and she also assisted in redeeming some of the other secondary characters. Lovely characterization all around. Just like in Ravenous, I was convinced, I was holding my breath in anxiety, and then exhaling (when I wasn't suffocating) in relief. I loved it. I loved this. What more is there to say?
The plot is unpredictable. You know it's a paranormal romance, so you know there's going to be a HEA, but the journey towards that happily ever after made everything entirely worth it. I was surprised, and Sharon kept me guessing until the last page. Which, by the way, was the perfect ending for that couple. Like I said on Twitter last week: I giggled like a madwoman while feeling all warm and fuzzy inside.
Thank you Sharon, first for an amazing start to the series, then by granting me the opportunity to read Ashe's story, and then by inspiring me to actually write up a review. I think it's safe to say that if you have not yet read The Dark Forgotten series, that you should do so immediately. Sharon's characters are amazing, I promise you won't regret it :)
March 27, 2012
Review brought to you by OBS staff member Heidi
Beware of spoilers
This is the third installment of the Dark Forgotten series that follows the supernaturals of the town of Fairview. This book focuses on Holly’s sister, Ashe, and the guardsman, Captain Reynard, she helped keep safe in the last book, Scorched.
Ashe has taken her daughter, Eden, out of boarding school and has returned to live in Fairview near her family. Now, her daughter’s paternal grandparents are fighting for custody and Ashe has to quit being a slayer and prove she’s a good mom in order to keep Eden with her.
But, Alessandro refers one case to her; someone released a phouka from the castle. It’s a rare monster that looks like a giant bunny and it likes to munch on humans (yum).
While trying to track the monster, Captain Reynard shows up to assist her since the guards are the ones that lost the phouka in the first place.
The two of them work together and are able to chase the animal into a portal to the castle. But, they are being shot at by a vampire trying to kill Ashe. They work together and take him out as well.
Ashe is trying to be good for her daughter’s sake, but when she discovers demon slime in her lawyer’s office (slime in a lawyer’s office imagine that?) he gives her the job of getting rid of it, if she wants to win her case.
Captain Reynard returns to the castle to discover the urn that contains his soul has been stolen and if he doesn’t find it, he will weaken and die. So he must return to Fairview to start his search. He goes to Ashe for some assistance.
After some investigating, Ashe and Reynard realize they are both after the same culprit, Tony the collector demon. And worse yet, Ashe’s lawyer has been doing business with him; selling property to him to be exact, which is illegal.
And if that wasn’t enough to worry about, the vampire king of the east is after Ashe in hopes for her to bear a child for him, as Holly has done for Alessandro.
Now Ashe and Reynard are on a race against the clock to find the demon and Reynard’s soul before his time runs out. But in the middle of all this Ashe’s daughter disappears and they must find her as well.
I must admit I was a little disappointed when I read the blurb of the book and saw that Ashe’s love interest was going to be Captain Reynard. I thought that equated to this book being a snore for sure and there were so many other more interesting characters that could have done the job.
But I was pleasantly surprised and ended up really liking this book. In fact, it is my favorite so far of the series.
It was great getting to know Ashe and her daughter, Eden, some more. And I even found myself enjoying the parts explaining about how the old guardsmen were chosen and what kept them tied to the castle. I also found the dark fae prince, Miru-kai, to be a fun complex character….a bad boy you can’t help, but be intrigued by and even like a little….shhh if you won’t tell I won’t!
This book was better than I expected and I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series, Frostbound.
http://openbooksociety.com/article/sh...
Beware of spoilers
This is the third installment of the Dark Forgotten series that follows the supernaturals of the town of Fairview. This book focuses on Holly’s sister, Ashe, and the guardsman, Captain Reynard, she helped keep safe in the last book, Scorched.
Ashe has taken her daughter, Eden, out of boarding school and has returned to live in Fairview near her family. Now, her daughter’s paternal grandparents are fighting for custody and Ashe has to quit being a slayer and prove she’s a good mom in order to keep Eden with her.
But, Alessandro refers one case to her; someone released a phouka from the castle. It’s a rare monster that looks like a giant bunny and it likes to munch on humans (yum).
While trying to track the monster, Captain Reynard shows up to assist her since the guards are the ones that lost the phouka in the first place.
The two of them work together and are able to chase the animal into a portal to the castle. But, they are being shot at by a vampire trying to kill Ashe. They work together and take him out as well.
Ashe is trying to be good for her daughter’s sake, but when she discovers demon slime in her lawyer’s office (slime in a lawyer’s office imagine that?) he gives her the job of getting rid of it, if she wants to win her case.
Captain Reynard returns to the castle to discover the urn that contains his soul has been stolen and if he doesn’t find it, he will weaken and die. So he must return to Fairview to start his search. He goes to Ashe for some assistance.
After some investigating, Ashe and Reynard realize they are both after the same culprit, Tony the collector demon. And worse yet, Ashe’s lawyer has been doing business with him; selling property to him to be exact, which is illegal.
And if that wasn’t enough to worry about, the vampire king of the east is after Ashe in hopes for her to bear a child for him, as Holly has done for Alessandro.
Now Ashe and Reynard are on a race against the clock to find the demon and Reynard’s soul before his time runs out. But in the middle of all this Ashe’s daughter disappears and they must find her as well.
I must admit I was a little disappointed when I read the blurb of the book and saw that Ashe’s love interest was going to be Captain Reynard. I thought that equated to this book being a snore for sure and there were so many other more interesting characters that could have done the job.
But I was pleasantly surprised and ended up really liking this book. In fact, it is my favorite so far of the series.
It was great getting to know Ashe and her daughter, Eden, some more. And I even found myself enjoying the parts explaining about how the old guardsmen were chosen and what kept them tied to the castle. I also found the dark fae prince, Miru-kai, to be a fun complex character….a bad boy you can’t help, but be intrigued by and even like a little….shhh if you won’t tell I won’t!
This book was better than I expected and I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series, Frostbound.
http://openbooksociety.com/article/sh...
December 11, 2010
In February of 2009 the author debuted The Dark Forgotten series with book #1 Ravenous and I was intrigued by the story of Holly Carver, in December book #2 Scorched the story of Conall Macmillan and Constance Moore sucked me back into the authors world.. This book Unchained with the story of Ashe Carver and Captain Reynard absolutely blew me away!
Ashe is Holly's sister and the nightmare of every monster, she is also a single mother with all the problems inherent with the job! In this story while juggling the two facets of her life Ashe also once again connects with Captain Reynard when his soul urn is stolen and she elects to help him recover it so he does not die.
Simply marvelous characters who come to life in vivid color as described by the author, I absolutely laughed out loud when the "Monster Bunny" was first talked about and then was "icked out" when Sharon finally described the thing! This is a story about a woman who has a lot on her plate trying to do right by her child after her husband dies and her in-laws start a custody battle. Talk about nightmares, try being a single mother/retired monster slayer who has to toe the line while the "monsters in the closet" keep coming out to try and either kill her or make her their significant other! The relationship between Ashe and her daughter Eden to say the least is strained due to past miscommunications, the burgeoning powers that Eden is developing also attracts the notice of a Vampire who wishes Ashe to become what amounts to his ticket to power and if she does not comply than he will gladly take Eden in her stead. Add to that stress is the fact that Ashe promises Captain Reynard she would help him to locate his soul urn and retrieve it from the thief who has stolen it from "The Castle", which turns out to be much more complicated than she first thought! More stress comes to play when Ashe promises her sister Holly that she would take care of a small "ghost busting job" that also turns out to be anything but easy!
The plot lines weave in and out like snakes slithering in the shadows, when they are finally all connected the reader will nod their head and say "That makes sense"....
For anyone looking for a mushy Paranormal Romance this is not it, rather be prepared for an action packed hell-ride that will keep you riveted to the pages until the very end... You do get your HEA, but along the way it is one heck of an adventure to get there!!!
Ashe is Holly's sister and the nightmare of every monster, she is also a single mother with all the problems inherent with the job! In this story while juggling the two facets of her life Ashe also once again connects with Captain Reynard when his soul urn is stolen and she elects to help him recover it so he does not die.
Simply marvelous characters who come to life in vivid color as described by the author, I absolutely laughed out loud when the "Monster Bunny" was first talked about and then was "icked out" when Sharon finally described the thing! This is a story about a woman who has a lot on her plate trying to do right by her child after her husband dies and her in-laws start a custody battle. Talk about nightmares, try being a single mother/retired monster slayer who has to toe the line while the "monsters in the closet" keep coming out to try and either kill her or make her their significant other! The relationship between Ashe and her daughter Eden to say the least is strained due to past miscommunications, the burgeoning powers that Eden is developing also attracts the notice of a Vampire who wishes Ashe to become what amounts to his ticket to power and if she does not comply than he will gladly take Eden in her stead. Add to that stress is the fact that Ashe promises Captain Reynard she would help him to locate his soul urn and retrieve it from the thief who has stolen it from "The Castle", which turns out to be much more complicated than she first thought! More stress comes to play when Ashe promises her sister Holly that she would take care of a small "ghost busting job" that also turns out to be anything but easy!
The plot lines weave in and out like snakes slithering in the shadows, when they are finally all connected the reader will nod their head and say "That makes sense"....
For anyone looking for a mushy Paranormal Romance this is not it, rather be prepared for an action packed hell-ride that will keep you riveted to the pages until the very end... You do get your HEA, but along the way it is one heck of an adventure to get there!!!
May 26, 2014
Every time I read a book in this series, I wonder why it's taken me so long to continue and vow not to wait so long before reading the next one. Hmmm, 2 years between books 1 and 2, 9 months between books 2 and 3 - as long as I read book 4 before October, I'll be good.
I'll admit, I didn't particularly care for Ashe in book 1. She didn't come across as very sympathetic and was an obstacle in her sister Holly's romance with Alessandro. But then, she does have her reasons. An ill-advised spell attempted as a teenager broke her magic, adversely affected her sister and had tragic personal consequences. For a very long time, she didn't feel she deserved love or other good things in her life. Also, her life as a rogue vampire hunter has hardened her outwardly and makes it difficult for her to trust.
In book 2, Reynard had to make some tough decisions as head of The Castle (supernatural prison realm) guard. His brief interaction with Ashe toward the end of that book has been on both of their minds. We slowly learn about his personal history over the course of this book and I loved the additional information we received about his initiation into the guard.
Ashe and Reynard continually get thrown together in the beginning of the book and working together they begin to realize that all the disparate incidents they've stumbled across are connected in complicated ways. They have to contend with a prison escape, a Collector Demon, a vampire king with dreams of empire building and a lawyer with questionable morals, all while dealing with a stolen soul and a custody battle. One scene with a carnivorous rabbit had me thinking a holy hand grenade might have come in handy. LOL.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. The world Ashwood has created is fascinating and there are some interesting secondary characters. I wish this series had been more popular, because it appears the next book is the last. I'll definitely be reading it. I'm interested to see how romance between a hellhound and a vampire works.
I'll admit, I didn't particularly care for Ashe in book 1. She didn't come across as very sympathetic and was an obstacle in her sister Holly's romance with Alessandro. But then, she does have her reasons. An ill-advised spell attempted as a teenager broke her magic, adversely affected her sister and had tragic personal consequences. For a very long time, she didn't feel she deserved love or other good things in her life. Also, her life as a rogue vampire hunter has hardened her outwardly and makes it difficult for her to trust.
In book 2, Reynard had to make some tough decisions as head of The Castle (supernatural prison realm) guard. His brief interaction with Ashe toward the end of that book has been on both of their minds. We slowly learn about his personal history over the course of this book and I loved the additional information we received about his initiation into the guard.
Ashe and Reynard continually get thrown together in the beginning of the book and working together they begin to realize that all the disparate incidents they've stumbled across are connected in complicated ways. They have to contend with a prison escape, a Collector Demon, a vampire king with dreams of empire building and a lawyer with questionable morals, all while dealing with a stolen soul and a custody battle. One scene with a carnivorous rabbit had me thinking a holy hand grenade might have come in handy. LOL.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. The world Ashwood has created is fascinating and there are some interesting secondary characters. I wish this series had been more popular, because it appears the next book is the last. I'll definitely be reading it. I'm interested to see how romance between a hellhound and a vampire works.
December 19, 2010
I have really enjoyed this series. It's a lesser known one, I think. Somehow overlooked by many.
This is the 3rd book in the series The Dark Forgotten. In Ravenous, the series starts out with the story about Holly, a witch who runs her family's paranormal investigation business. (Kinda like Ghost Busters, but better) Holly's sister, Ashe is the focus of this book.
One of the things I really enjoy about this series is "the Castle". The Castle is located in another dimension and was built as a prison for dangerous supes. The 2nd book, Scorched, tell's Max's story and most of the story takes place at the Castle.
These books are full of weres, shifters, fae, vamps, immortals, demons, witches and, in this one, an evil rabbit. LOL! So, there's a supe for everyone. There is humor, romance, kick-ass heroines, sexy heroes and plenty of battles to keep the story moving at a quick pace.
In Unchained, Ashe is trying to be a good mom, having just taken her 10 year old daughter out of a boarding school in Spain. She's done with killing vamps and hunting things that go bump in the night. All to prove to the courts (and her dead husband's parents) that she's a good mother and should have full custody of her daughter. She's even taken a job at a library. But, when Captain Reynard comes to her seeking help, she can't say no. Reynard hasn't forgotten how Ashe saved his life during the battle at the Castle in Scorched. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series: Frostbound.
This is the 3rd book in the series The Dark Forgotten. In Ravenous, the series starts out with the story about Holly, a witch who runs her family's paranormal investigation business. (Kinda like Ghost Busters, but better) Holly's sister, Ashe is the focus of this book.
One of the things I really enjoy about this series is "the Castle". The Castle is located in another dimension and was built as a prison for dangerous supes. The 2nd book, Scorched, tell's Max's story and most of the story takes place at the Castle.
These books are full of weres, shifters, fae, vamps, immortals, demons, witches and, in this one, an evil rabbit. LOL! So, there's a supe for everyone. There is humor, romance, kick-ass heroines, sexy heroes and plenty of battles to keep the story moving at a quick pace.
In Unchained, Ashe is trying to be a good mom, having just taken her 10 year old daughter out of a boarding school in Spain. She's done with killing vamps and hunting things that go bump in the night. All to prove to the courts (and her dead husband's parents) that she's a good mother and should have full custody of her daughter. She's even taken a job at a library. But, when Captain Reynard comes to her seeking help, she can't say no. Reynard hasn't forgotten how Ashe saved his life during the battle at the Castle in Scorched. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series: Frostbound.
July 23, 2010
Unchained is the third novel in Sharon Ashwood’s Dark Forgotten Series, this time focusing on Captain Reynard. Captain Reynard works in the Castle, the Supernatural Prison. Though he works as a Guard, he basically is a prisoner himself. When he was taken to the Castle, his soul was taken & placed in an Urn…but now that Urn has been stolen & the further away Reynard is from him, the shorter his life span becomes.
Ashe Carver is a widow who met Reynard while helping her sister in the Castle, after retiring as a monster slayer. But the monsters keep on coming & Ashe can’t seem to stop, until it possibly costs her the custody of her daughter. Together Ashe & Reynard must find his soul & keep Ashe’s daughter safe.
What more can I say but “wow”! Sharon Ashwood not only captured a working single mother striving to provide for her daughter & keep her safe, but filled this book with action! Sharon Ashwood writes a world that is not only something from your worst nightmares (eek! bunny!) but a world thats filled with a team of people keeping the world safe for everyone.
I loved that Ashe was a widow with a daughter, it’s different & it worked but I would have loved to seen more interaction between Reynard & Ashe’s daughter, especially towards the end. And I have to say Ashe is one kick ass woman, both as a mom & as a monster slayer…she is passionate about everything in her life.
Thought Reynard & Ashe are the main characters, I fell in love with a secondary character. Miru-Kai, a Dark Fae Prince who is locked up in the Castle, you had to feel for him & understand some of his actions & why he did them. There is also appearances from some of the previous characters in books 1 & 2, which I loved.
If you are looking for an action packed PR, pick up Unchained.
Ashe Carver is a widow who met Reynard while helping her sister in the Castle, after retiring as a monster slayer. But the monsters keep on coming & Ashe can’t seem to stop, until it possibly costs her the custody of her daughter. Together Ashe & Reynard must find his soul & keep Ashe’s daughter safe.
What more can I say but “wow”! Sharon Ashwood not only captured a working single mother striving to provide for her daughter & keep her safe, but filled this book with action! Sharon Ashwood writes a world that is not only something from your worst nightmares (eek! bunny!) but a world thats filled with a team of people keeping the world safe for everyone.
I loved that Ashe was a widow with a daughter, it’s different & it worked but I would have loved to seen more interaction between Reynard & Ashe’s daughter, especially towards the end. And I have to say Ashe is one kick ass woman, both as a mom & as a monster slayer…she is passionate about everything in her life.
Thought Reynard & Ashe are the main characters, I fell in love with a secondary character. Miru-Kai, a Dark Fae Prince who is locked up in the Castle, you had to feel for him & understand some of his actions & why he did them. There is also appearances from some of the previous characters in books 1 & 2, which I loved.
If you are looking for an action packed PR, pick up Unchained.
March 26, 2025
Ashe has a ton of shit on her plate. Not only is she in a custody battle for her daughter with her dead husbands’ parents but she’s got to kill vampires, exercise demons and make sure she gets to work at the library on time. The last thing she needs is romance. Yet when the sexy but repressed Captain Reynard shows up looking for her help, she can’t say no to him. Especially knowing that he’s dying.
Reynard has lived for 300 years in the Castle, not feeling anything, not tasting anything, not dreaming of the outside world for anything. It’s the only way to protect himself from insanity over things he can’t change. But things are changing. The urn that contains his soul has been stolen. Now, he can’t remain in the Castle else he fades quicker. But being in the outside world, experiencing life, is a bittersweet thing. What will a man without any choices, chose if given the option?
Will he be satisfied with returning his old life forever or risk the reality of pleasure and pain in a normal human life with the woman he loves?
This book had the feel of an urban fantasy more then a paranormal romance. In that, a lot of time and focus was spent on outside secondary characters and the rest on the heroine Ashe. I have longed for Reynard’s story to be told but I felt let down by the little dusty of insight into the character we were left with. I didn’t feel any undying love connection between the characters either.
I enjoyed the world this author has created with all the many creatures living along side humans with there human problems but I was left disappointed with the overall story arc.
Reynard has lived for 300 years in the Castle, not feeling anything, not tasting anything, not dreaming of the outside world for anything. It’s the only way to protect himself from insanity over things he can’t change. But things are changing. The urn that contains his soul has been stolen. Now, he can’t remain in the Castle else he fades quicker. But being in the outside world, experiencing life, is a bittersweet thing. What will a man without any choices, chose if given the option?
Will he be satisfied with returning his old life forever or risk the reality of pleasure and pain in a normal human life with the woman he loves?
This book had the feel of an urban fantasy more then a paranormal romance. In that, a lot of time and focus was spent on outside secondary characters and the rest on the heroine Ashe. I have longed for Reynard’s story to be told but I felt let down by the little dusty of insight into the character we were left with. I didn’t feel any undying love connection between the characters either.
I enjoyed the world this author has created with all the many creatures living along side humans with there human problems but I was left disappointed with the overall story arc.
June 2, 2013
Ashe Carver used to be a witch; a spell gone bad took away her powers when she was a teenager. Undaunted, Ashe became a monster slayer. She spent many years honing her combat skills and learning about her prey. The monsters have been relatively quiet lately, so she sends for her ten year old daughter to come live with her. Determined to be a good mom, she even gets a day job to prove she hang up her monster killing days for the sake of her child.
Captain Reynard is the Captain of the guardsmen of the Castle; a prison for monsters. He's been there hundreds of years, and his duty ends only when he is killed or the magic of the castle prison winds down. He gets to venture out into the real world time to time, to capture escaped prisoners.
But when a thief steals Captain Reynard's soul, he knows time is of the essence. He knows he has only weeks to live, and he deplores Ashe to help him find the thief and his soul. Ashe is trying to live without the monsters, but Captain Reynard is just too good looking for Ashe to ignore. His gaze alone sets her belly afire. The two embark on a journey of action, monsters, romance, and humor that intensifies until a most satisfying story line.
UNCHAINED, BOOK 3, THE DARK FORGOTTEN is a fast-paced urban fantasy that will keep you hooked from cover to cover. Ms. Ashwood's characters leap from the pages, the romance is hot and passionate, and the monsters make me want to check under my bed. Superb and highly recommended!
Captain Reynard is the Captain of the guardsmen of the Castle; a prison for monsters. He's been there hundreds of years, and his duty ends only when he is killed or the magic of the castle prison winds down. He gets to venture out into the real world time to time, to capture escaped prisoners.
But when a thief steals Captain Reynard's soul, he knows time is of the essence. He knows he has only weeks to live, and he deplores Ashe to help him find the thief and his soul. Ashe is trying to live without the monsters, but Captain Reynard is just too good looking for Ashe to ignore. His gaze alone sets her belly afire. The two embark on a journey of action, monsters, romance, and humor that intensifies until a most satisfying story line.
UNCHAINED, BOOK 3, THE DARK FORGOTTEN is a fast-paced urban fantasy that will keep you hooked from cover to cover. Ms. Ashwood's characters leap from the pages, the romance is hot and passionate, and the monsters make me want to check under my bed. Superb and highly recommended!
July 19, 2013
Spoilers I'm sure..
I didn't like Ashe in the first book - especially since she kept trying to kill her sister's boyfriend since he was a vampire..
She hasn't really improved much for me here honestly. She is written up to be tough, but it seems she's the one who needs to be saved.. (like with the huge rabbit creature).
I did like Captain Reynard although the author talks about his past a bit repetitive for my taste. OK, he was a player - we get it. I did like the history though of how he was made a guard of the Castle and the deeper history of the Castle.
I thought their relationship was better than Mac & Constance. That being said, it was nothing great.
Ashe's daughter Eden was just an ok topic for me.. The library/mall angle was bad and so was the lawyer back story. The whole demon green mucus stuff was just weird.. And how did the urn make it out whole anyway??
My reviews for this series have gone down as my opinion of it has faltered. It was really difficult for me to finish this book - just couldn't hold my interest. I won't be reading the 4th (and final?) book even the the hellhounds were a bit interesting for me. Moving onto something else.
I didn't like Ashe in the first book - especially since she kept trying to kill her sister's boyfriend since he was a vampire..
She hasn't really improved much for me here honestly. She is written up to be tough, but it seems she's the one who needs to be saved.. (like with the huge rabbit creature).
I did like Captain Reynard although the author talks about his past a bit repetitive for my taste. OK, he was a player - we get it. I did like the history though of how he was made a guard of the Castle and the deeper history of the Castle.
I thought their relationship was better than Mac & Constance. That being said, it was nothing great.
Ashe's daughter Eden was just an ok topic for me.. The library/mall angle was bad and so was the lawyer back story. The whole demon green mucus stuff was just weird.. And how did the urn make it out whole anyway??
My reviews for this series have gone down as my opinion of it has faltered. It was really difficult for me to finish this book - just couldn't hold my interest. I won't be reading the 4th (and final?) book even the the hellhounds were a bit interesting for me. Moving onto something else.
December 25, 2013
OK I don't know if it's because I'm really busy or in a funny reading mood or what. I expected to really like this and I just didn't. I had a really hard time reading the last book in the series because I wasn't really interested in Mac or his story. Then I procrastinated starting this one. I wanted to read Ashe's story; I wasn't sure how I felt about Reynard. I liked them, and Eden. It's just that the other characters were a bunch of details without feelings for me. Well, Grandma, Eden and Miru-kai brought some feelings. I LOVED Alessandro and Holly, so I enjoyed them being here but it was too little; they could have been any couple from their role in this book. I mean for the details they had to be who they were, but emotionally they could have been anybody without the connection to them I had in the first book in the series.
Usually I am reserved about the first book in the series. I may like it and want to read more about the world. But the next books get better and better for me. In this case, the first book was the best for me. I've now read 3 books in the series. But I may be done with the series. I can't seem to stay excited about it.
Usually I am reserved about the first book in the series. I may like it and want to read more about the world. But the next books get better and better for me. In this case, the first book was the best for me. I've now read 3 books in the series. But I may be done with the series. I can't seem to stay excited about it.
June 19, 2016
As an adrenalin junkie, Ashe Carver has a tough time reconciling her slayer life with motherhood. Now that her in-laws are threatening to take her child, she has resigned from that life and is trying to adjust to a regular 9 to 5 job while being a full-time mother. That is until, Castle guard Captain Reynard once again appears in her life. The attraction is instant though logistics will be difficult with him living in another realm. Fighting renegade vampires and hunting down Reynard's stolen soul keeps the action intense and the lust high. A very suspenseful and exciting installment.
I liked this much better than Scorched which I found tedious and rather boring. This one goes back to the brilliance of the Ravenous which I absolutely adored.
I liked this much better than Scorched which I found tedious and rather boring. This one goes back to the brilliance of the Ravenous which I absolutely adored.
February 17, 2014
Ashe is a single mother, faced with some challenges. Her powers as a witch are burned out, due to a mistake she made. She has enemies from her time spent destroying vampires and demons. And her dead husband's parents are suing for custody of her daughter, saying she is an unfit parent.
Now a guard from the Castle which is a prison dimension, Reynard needs her help to save his life. Her lawyer wants her to get rid of a demon for him. And her day job as a circulation clerk may be in jeopardy, because she got vampire all over the carpet. What could happen next?
I read this book without reading the previous and the story stood on its own quite well. I enjoyed the characters and will be interested in seeing how more of them develop.
This story does have sex scene, but not to the detriment of the story.
I will definitely read more from this author.
Now a guard from the Castle which is a prison dimension, Reynard needs her help to save his life. Her lawyer wants her to get rid of a demon for him. And her day job as a circulation clerk may be in jeopardy, because she got vampire all over the carpet. What could happen next?
I read this book without reading the previous and the story stood on its own quite well. I enjoyed the characters and will be interested in seeing how more of them develop.
This story does have sex scene, but not to the detriment of the story.
I will definitely read more from this author.
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