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Dark Sorcery #1
Forbidden Magic
Cheyenne McCray's paranormal romances seduce with an award-winning combination of heat and fantasy. Now, she weaves the first tale in an enthralling new series sizzling with dark magic and dangerous desires. Prepare to be spellbound by Forbidden Magic...D'Anu witch Silver Ashcroft knows she walks a perilous line by practicing gray magic. But it's the only way to protect herself from the evil that surrounds her. After the horrors she has witnessed, Silver thinks she is ready for anything...until the most intensely arousing being she has ever encountered swiftly--and sensuously--proves her wrong...Hawk is a Tuatha D'Danann warrior--powerful beings descended from the Fae. And for him duty has always come before pleasure. Then, clad only in moonlight, Silver Ashcroft welcomes him to her city of San Francisco and makes his blood sing with a passion beyond compare. She is the embodiment of fantasies he never knew he had, but the terrifying reality of his mission lurks in every shadow...Only the strongest will survive the upcoming battle, and the forces of darkness are more powerful than ever. Now, warrior and witch must trust in their hearts above all else--for to claim victory, they first must claim each other...
440 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published November 1, 2005
83 people are currently reading
3663 people want to read
About the author
Cheyenne McCray
162 books1,762 followersCheyenne McCray fell in love with reading and writing early, deciding in kindergarten that one day she would become an author. Today, she is an award-winning New York Times and USA Today bestselling fiction author who’s sold millions of books worldwide. Having published more than 100 novels and novellas in contemporary and paranormal romance, urban fantasy and romantic suspense, she is now also writing cozy mysteries as Deb Ries.
Chey grew up on a ranch in southeastern Arizona and delights in creating stories of suspense, love, and redemption with characters and worlds her readers can get lost in. Chey and her equally geeky husband live with their two dogs, six ducks (the neighborhood celebrities), and a small flock of chickens in a small Arizona town where she enjoys gardening, crazy quilting and, of course, writing.
Find out more about Chey, how to contact her, and her books at https://cheyennemccray.com.
Chey grew up on a ranch in southeastern Arizona and delights in creating stories of suspense, love, and redemption with characters and worlds her readers can get lost in. Chey and her equally geeky husband live with their two dogs, six ducks (the neighborhood celebrities), and a small flock of chickens in a small Arizona town where she enjoys gardening, crazy quilting and, of course, writing.
Find out more about Chey, how to contact her, and her books at https://cheyennemccray.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 135 reviews
May 17, 2007
Ugh. Bad grammar, cheesy character names, and the witchcraft in the book comes off as a blend of Dungeons & Dragons (firing Magic Missle!) and New Agey nonsense. I swear, the next time a witch in a book swears "by the Goddess!" I'm going to choke a bitch.
I couldn't even finish this one. Urgh.
I couldn't even finish this one. Urgh.
December 23, 2018
Re read December 2018
February 4, 2010
Hmmm, my first impression of this book is that it is way too convoluted and overly busy. It feels almost as if it's #2 in a series but I know it's not and thus I'm having a heck of time forcing myself to focus on all of the "otherworld", "underworld" and earthbound goings-on. There are way too many characters and plot machinations here and my brain is full.
A group of beings have summoned the evilest of evil beings from their underground prison. The Fomarri (sp?) are sea dwelling, stinky creatures that can take over a being, after they kill it of course, and they just adore kinky sex in their new sensitive bodies. Now that a few of them have been released they must gather a covens worth of witches to summon up the rest of them in a dastardly plan to take over earth -- when they're not busy have sex, that is.
When Silver's coven of white witches is kidnapped by the reeking demon's she's torn between using "gray" magic to set them free. Enter the hero (whom she summons) and let the sex games, uh rescuing, begin . . .
I stuck with this book but its plot was all over the map and some of the erotica was shockingly unsexy. Why did I keep reading then? I don't really know. I kept hoping it would get better. There are the makings of a good paranormal-romance here underneath all of the meh sex and blah characters but ultimately the problems are the only things I can remember.
The hero a bird-man cleverly named "Hawk" who has nifty little fold-away wings (that mysteriously never rip his clothing) likes chocolate chip cookies and sex or as the author puts it "sopping wet channels and hard, rough f*cks". Please stop charming me with the sexy talk. Other than his talent for being ready and able for sex in a moments notice we know little else about what makes him tick. He thinks the heroine, a witch named Silver, is the hottest thing he's ever seen and the relationship barely advances past that lust at first sight thing. I wanted to know about him. His past, his thoughts, his motivation, just give me something to latch on to here. Is there really nothing more to him than his obscenely large bits? It got to the point where I was skimming the sex scenes because they were so uninspired and because I didn't care about the characters it was all a bore.
The author spent numerous words on descriptions of food, witchcraft rituals and super skanky villain sex that wasn't even remotely interesting that would have been better spent developing her main characters and tightening up the plot. The whole book felt very rushed and unfocused.
I'll definitely buy the sequel used, if I bother at all.
A group of beings have summoned the evilest of evil beings from their underground prison. The Fomarri (sp?) are sea dwelling, stinky creatures that can take over a being, after they kill it of course, and they just adore kinky sex in their new sensitive bodies. Now that a few of them have been released they must gather a covens worth of witches to summon up the rest of them in a dastardly plan to take over earth -- when they're not busy have sex, that is.
When Silver's coven of white witches is kidnapped by the reeking demon's she's torn between using "gray" magic to set them free. Enter the hero (whom she summons) and let the sex games, uh rescuing, begin . . .
I stuck with this book but its plot was all over the map and some of the erotica was shockingly unsexy. Why did I keep reading then? I don't really know. I kept hoping it would get better. There are the makings of a good paranormal-romance here underneath all of the meh sex and blah characters but ultimately the problems are the only things I can remember.
The hero a bird-man cleverly named "Hawk" who has nifty little fold-away wings (that mysteriously never rip his clothing) likes chocolate chip cookies and sex or as the author puts it "sopping wet channels and hard, rough f*cks". Please stop charming me with the sexy talk. Other than his talent for being ready and able for sex in a moments notice we know little else about what makes him tick. He thinks the heroine, a witch named Silver, is the hottest thing he's ever seen and the relationship barely advances past that lust at first sight thing. I wanted to know about him. His past, his thoughts, his motivation, just give me something to latch on to here. Is there really nothing more to him than his obscenely large bits? It got to the point where I was skimming the sex scenes because they were so uninspired and because I didn't care about the characters it was all a bore.
The author spent numerous words on descriptions of food, witchcraft rituals and super skanky villain sex that wasn't even remotely interesting that would have been better spent developing her main characters and tightening up the plot. The whole book felt very rushed and unfocused.
I'll definitely buy the sequel used, if I bother at all.
February 21, 2018
The Forbidden is a wonderful paranormal romance that Cheyenne Cray previously published and introduced to readers back in the mid 2000s under the name Forbidden Magic. This is one exciting, angsty, full of magic and full of heat romance that has you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.
Silver Ashcroft, a D'Anu witch watches as her coven is attacked by demons and knows she needs help but what has happened is so unbelievable and horrifying, she knows she needs help but whom could she call that could defeat the demons? Silver summon the only warriors known to have defeated them in the past, the Tuatha D’Danann. Only there is a problem- the more grey magic that Silver uses, it puts her in danger when it comes to the dark magic and with her pulling on the grey magic, the stronger the she feels the pull to dark magic. Silver also is being stalked due to her use of grey magic and they are trying to bring her onto their side in order to use her and her magic to bring forth pain and destruction.
Oh my, these Tuatha D' Danann are fae warriors who banished the Formorii to their prison under the sea centuries ago and they are quite sexy—Especially Hawk, Tuatha D' Danann warrior . He is one of the D’Danann who answered Silver’s call. They are reminiscent of angels from Heaven. Silver and Hawk have this intense sexual chemistry going , on top of them working together to defeat the Demons . I enjoyed the action of watching good vs evil in this story and the fight to safe mankind. Does Hawk and Silver find HEA at the end of this read? Only way to find out is to experience this one of a kind paranormal romance. I really loved it and cannot wait to read the next book in this series.
My Rating: 4.5 stars *****
“I received an advanced copy of this book from the author at no cost to me."
Silver Ashcroft, a D'Anu witch watches as her coven is attacked by demons and knows she needs help but what has happened is so unbelievable and horrifying, she knows she needs help but whom could she call that could defeat the demons? Silver summon the only warriors known to have defeated them in the past, the Tuatha D’Danann. Only there is a problem- the more grey magic that Silver uses, it puts her in danger when it comes to the dark magic and with her pulling on the grey magic, the stronger the she feels the pull to dark magic. Silver also is being stalked due to her use of grey magic and they are trying to bring her onto their side in order to use her and her magic to bring forth pain and destruction.
Oh my, these Tuatha D' Danann are fae warriors who banished the Formorii to their prison under the sea centuries ago and they are quite sexy—Especially Hawk, Tuatha D' Danann warrior . He is one of the D’Danann who answered Silver’s call. They are reminiscent of angels from Heaven. Silver and Hawk have this intense sexual chemistry going , on top of them working together to defeat the Demons . I enjoyed the action of watching good vs evil in this story and the fight to safe mankind. Does Hawk and Silver find HEA at the end of this read? Only way to find out is to experience this one of a kind paranormal romance. I really loved it and cannot wait to read the next book in this series.
My Rating: 4.5 stars *****
“I received an advanced copy of this book from the author at no cost to me."
August 28, 2012
Cheyenne NEVER leaves the Simi hanging!! The Simi DORES her books & her characters & the worlds she transports us to!!
May 14, 2012
Give This Book a Chance, it is Unjustly Underrated!,
Wow, what a complete night/day difference from the first book I tried by Cheyenne McCray, Demons Not Included. Since the majority of reviews for Forbidden Magic were negative, I didn't think I was going to like this book but I actually loved it! Before you let someone's review (including my review) influence your own opinion, I recommend seeing their other reviews to make sure you share similar interest in books first. Silver Ashcroft is a white witch hiding a secret from her coven. She practices and wields grey magic and is being stalked by Darkwolf, a dark magic Warlock working for Balor the god of death. Darkwolf is trying to recruit Silver to aid him in summoning and releasing all the Formorii demons who were banished centuries ago from walking the earth, to forever live under the sea floor. Junga, a Formorii in a top general position, who covets her queen's position, has been instructed by her queen to return to San Francisco and assist Darkwolf in gathering enough warlocks for the summoning. Fearing the Formorii invasion, Silver goes against her coven's rules of absolutely no summoning EVER, and summons the Tuatha D' Danann. The Tuatha D' Danann are fae warriors who banished the Formorii to their prison under the sea centuries ago. Hawk, Tuatha D' Danann warrior answers Silver's call and together they combine their strengths, as well as the strength of other D' Danann warriors to defeat the Formorii. The Formorii refuse to let any of their people be confined to their hellhole any longer, capture and torture Silver's coven and try to force them to help in the summoning. Formorii demons are cruel, cannibalistic and perversely sexual creatures that enjoy inflicting misery. If released, they will swarm mankind like a plague. With mankind's imminent extinction, they will set their ambitious sights on concurring and bestowing their revenge on Otherworld. This book was fantastic! I enjoyed it immensely, it was dark, gritty and fierce. Despite my review there are a lot of elements to this novel that I purposely left out, in order not to give any spoilers. I consider this book to be "almost" a hybrid between dark paranormal romance and dark urban fantasy. If it weren't for the many sex scenes it would be a hybrid. I highly recommend this book to only those dark urban fantasy readers who have the patience to flip through the sex scenes (most of them are hot and passionate but one or two is more than enough) to disentangle the plot. I am anxiously looking forward to reading the next book in this series Seduced by Magic.
I also recommend:
Darkfever
Storm Born (Dark Swan, Book 1)
Demon Mistress (Otherworld)
Insatiable Desire (The Demonborn)
Witch Blood (Elemental Witches, Book 2)
Wow, what a complete night/day difference from the first book I tried by Cheyenne McCray, Demons Not Included. Since the majority of reviews for Forbidden Magic were negative, I didn't think I was going to like this book but I actually loved it! Before you let someone's review (including my review) influence your own opinion, I recommend seeing their other reviews to make sure you share similar interest in books first. Silver Ashcroft is a white witch hiding a secret from her coven. She practices and wields grey magic and is being stalked by Darkwolf, a dark magic Warlock working for Balor the god of death. Darkwolf is trying to recruit Silver to aid him in summoning and releasing all the Formorii demons who were banished centuries ago from walking the earth, to forever live under the sea floor. Junga, a Formorii in a top general position, who covets her queen's position, has been instructed by her queen to return to San Francisco and assist Darkwolf in gathering enough warlocks for the summoning. Fearing the Formorii invasion, Silver goes against her coven's rules of absolutely no summoning EVER, and summons the Tuatha D' Danann. The Tuatha D' Danann are fae warriors who banished the Formorii to their prison under the sea centuries ago. Hawk, Tuatha D' Danann warrior answers Silver's call and together they combine their strengths, as well as the strength of other D' Danann warriors to defeat the Formorii. The Formorii refuse to let any of their people be confined to their hellhole any longer, capture and torture Silver's coven and try to force them to help in the summoning. Formorii demons are cruel, cannibalistic and perversely sexual creatures that enjoy inflicting misery. If released, they will swarm mankind like a plague. With mankind's imminent extinction, they will set their ambitious sights on concurring and bestowing their revenge on Otherworld. This book was fantastic! I enjoyed it immensely, it was dark, gritty and fierce. Despite my review there are a lot of elements to this novel that I purposely left out, in order not to give any spoilers. I consider this book to be "almost" a hybrid between dark paranormal romance and dark urban fantasy. If it weren't for the many sex scenes it would be a hybrid. I highly recommend this book to only those dark urban fantasy readers who have the patience to flip through the sex scenes (most of them are hot and passionate but one or two is more than enough) to disentangle the plot. I am anxiously looking forward to reading the next book in this series Seduced by Magic.
I also recommend:
Darkfever
Storm Born (Dark Swan, Book 1)
Demon Mistress (Otherworld)
Insatiable Desire (The Demonborn)
Witch Blood (Elemental Witches, Book 2)
January 3, 2009
It Should be Forbidden to Miss this Magical Read
Silver Ashcroft is a D’Anu Witch and sworn only to use white magic, but Silver’s sensibilities run a little more on the grey side. She has been using grey magic to fight a powerful coven of witches using human sacrifice to power their magic. Now, that same coven has called forth an ancient and powerful enemy. Silver will need to use grey magic to summon the only warriors known to have defeated them, the Tuatha D’Danann. However, there is a problem. The more Silver uses her grey magic the stronger the she feels the pull to dark magic.
Hawk is a Tuatha D’Danann warrior who understands the need to save the earth realm, even if the elders do not. He also understands the pull a man feels for a woman. Something he feels intensely for the witch named Silver Ashcroft. Yet, he must constantly remind himself that duty always comes before personal desires. There are tragic consequences if one forgets duty.
In her first book in the Magic Series, Cheyenne McCray weaves a story of honor, danger, magic and love. Forbidden Magic illustrates how things, even love, are rarely black or white, but are continually changing shades of grey. But if you don’t care about shades of black and white then the one thing you should definitely know is that Forbidden Magic is a terrific read.
Silver Ashcroft is a D’Anu Witch and sworn only to use white magic, but Silver’s sensibilities run a little more on the grey side. She has been using grey magic to fight a powerful coven of witches using human sacrifice to power their magic. Now, that same coven has called forth an ancient and powerful enemy. Silver will need to use grey magic to summon the only warriors known to have defeated them, the Tuatha D’Danann. However, there is a problem. The more Silver uses her grey magic the stronger the she feels the pull to dark magic.
Hawk is a Tuatha D’Danann warrior who understands the need to save the earth realm, even if the elders do not. He also understands the pull a man feels for a woman. Something he feels intensely for the witch named Silver Ashcroft. Yet, he must constantly remind himself that duty always comes before personal desires. There are tragic consequences if one forgets duty.
In her first book in the Magic Series, Cheyenne McCray weaves a story of honor, danger, magic and love. Forbidden Magic illustrates how things, even love, are rarely black or white, but are continually changing shades of grey. But if you don’t care about shades of black and white then the one thing you should definitely know is that Forbidden Magic is a terrific read.
May 4, 2011
This book had a very promising start and at about 50 pages in, I was looking forward to a 4 star read. Slowly though, the extensive non-essential (padded?) descriptions started to bore me. And then, the demons (who had been given a bit of their own storyline - not an aspect that I was overly interested in) started to get really sexual. This was NOT interesting to me at ALL! The 'demon' sex throughout the story became more extreme and pretty debased. It was full on BDSM. Now I have nothing against a good BDSM book - but this was explicit 'baddy' sex completely lacking in respect or caring for the other partners. ICK!!
So this story just slowly went downhill for me. The action could be good in parts, but unfortunately, once I start to think a story is boring me, it is hard to get my attention back again.
I don't think I'll bother picking up any more in this series - not unless I literally fell face down on the next book.
So this story just slowly went downhill for me. The action could be good in parts, but unfortunately, once I start to think a story is boring me, it is hard to get my attention back again.
I don't think I'll bother picking up any more in this series - not unless I literally fell face down on the next book.
May 1, 2015
Forbidden Magic
2 Stars
When her coven is attacked by demons from the Underworld, Silver Ashcroft, a D'Anu witch who breaks with tradition and practices gray magic, disobeys the ancient edicts and summons the Tuatha D'Danann warriors - powerful beings descended from the fae. The first to answer Silver's summons is Hawk, a determined warrior who is both surprised and terrified by the strength of the attraction that sparks between them. Soon Hawk and Silver are fighting side by side, but the dangers that surround them are only getting stronger and may destroy everything they hold dear...
Cheyenne McCray’s first foray into paranormal romance is disappointing. The plot is underdeveloped with stereotypical portrayals of magic and witchcraft, the characters are one dimensional, and the romance is uninspired with an excessive number of mechanical sex scenes.
The story involving a demon invasion has potential. Unfortunately, it takes a back seat to the sexcapades of heroes and villains alike. Silver and Hawk’s relationship is a classic case of incomprehensible insta-love with no basis in logic or emotion, and each and every obstacle to their happy ever after is miraculously removed. Finally, neither the primary nor secondary characters are particularly interesting and the evil warlock fails to pose any real threat.
All in all, the predictable plot, commonplace characters and routine romance leave much to be desired.
2 Stars
When her coven is attacked by demons from the Underworld, Silver Ashcroft, a D'Anu witch who breaks with tradition and practices gray magic, disobeys the ancient edicts and summons the Tuatha D'Danann warriors - powerful beings descended from the fae. The first to answer Silver's summons is Hawk, a determined warrior who is both surprised and terrified by the strength of the attraction that sparks between them. Soon Hawk and Silver are fighting side by side, but the dangers that surround them are only getting stronger and may destroy everything they hold dear...
Cheyenne McCray’s first foray into paranormal romance is disappointing. The plot is underdeveloped with stereotypical portrayals of magic and witchcraft, the characters are one dimensional, and the romance is uninspired with an excessive number of mechanical sex scenes.
The story involving a demon invasion has potential. Unfortunately, it takes a back seat to the sexcapades of heroes and villains alike. Silver and Hawk’s relationship is a classic case of incomprehensible insta-love with no basis in logic or emotion, and each and every obstacle to their happy ever after is miraculously removed. Finally, neither the primary nor secondary characters are particularly interesting and the evil warlock fails to pose any real threat.
All in all, the predictable plot, commonplace characters and routine romance leave much to be desired.
December 25, 2013
Cheyenne McCray takes us to a whole new world in her paranormal romance series. Take urban fantasy and mesh it up with paranormal romance and a hint of eroticism and romanticism. Silver Ashcroft is a good witch who abides by the Wiccan ways. She's been the chosen one to lead the fight against evil. Estranged from her father and her sister gone missing, she's been taught not to use grey or black magic. But this is a force to be reckoned with. There's an eclectic ray of fantasy creatures here of good and bad. Besides her witch clan in San Francisco, she falls for Hawk of the D'Danannan warriors from the Otherworld, which is reminiscent of angels from Heaven. There's the Demons from the Underworld, which is the devils from Hell. Both worlds clash in this battle royale. She fights the pull of Darkwolf's lure to join the dark side and never experienced love and pleasure from Hawk to take it a whole new level. Lots of suspense, drama, romance, and experience, when we go above and beyond and back to Earth in this magical and delightful series.
July 28, 2018
DNF page 40
This was just too bad to go further with!
This was just too bad to go further with!
April 12, 2009
The story begins with an interesting premise. Silver Ashcroft is a D’Anu Witch practising grey magic in the San Francisco coven, a coven sworn to use only white magic. When underworld demons Fomorii appear in the city, summoned by Darkwolf, leader of the Balorite warlock clan, an ancient battle of good vs evil ensues.
The Formorii attack Silver's coven taking many of them prisoner & Silver does the forbidden, summoning help from the Tuatha D'Danann, Fae warriors from the Otherworld. Hawk, one such winged warrior answers her call & prepares to defend civilisation against this ancient evil.
Sound good??
As I said the premise was interesting, even exciting but the train after leaving the station at breakneck speed, promptly derailed! Poor writing, glaring inconsistencies & crudely rendered sex.
I was so sure this author was going to be my next paranormal fave that I bought the first three in this "romance" series before reading the first book. Yeah I know, 'Big Mistake' and did I mention the romance classification, surely that must have been a mistake too! This book should have had a 'seriously kinky sex' warning or at the very least an erotica classification. I could have dealt with the amount of sex (of which there was plenty) but crude euphemisms for genitalia - 'poking her channel' really did make me want to gag. I've read some very enjoyable erotic fiction but I draw the line at sex scenes that sound like they have been pulled off the pages of a bad porn magazine.
The Formorii attack Silver's coven taking many of them prisoner & Silver does the forbidden, summoning help from the Tuatha D'Danann, Fae warriors from the Otherworld. Hawk, one such winged warrior answers her call & prepares to defend civilisation against this ancient evil.
Sound good??
As I said the premise was interesting, even exciting but the train after leaving the station at breakneck speed, promptly derailed! Poor writing, glaring inconsistencies & crudely rendered sex.
I was so sure this author was going to be my next paranormal fave that I bought the first three in this "romance" series before reading the first book. Yeah I know, 'Big Mistake' and did I mention the romance classification, surely that must have been a mistake too! This book should have had a 'seriously kinky sex' warning or at the very least an erotica classification. I could have dealt with the amount of sex (of which there was plenty) but crude euphemisms for genitalia - 'poking her channel' really did make me want to gag. I've read some very enjoyable erotic fiction but I draw the line at sex scenes that sound like they have been pulled off the pages of a bad porn magazine.
July 13, 2011
This is really more 2.5 stars. I couldn't help feeling like the author couldn't decide if she wanted to write an urban fantasy novel or a romance. Nothing wrong with either, but swinging between the two sort of did a disservice to both. I mean the plot was interesting and if it hadn't been interrupted by so much extreme erotic romance would have been enough to hold my interest. (with maybe a little improvement on some of the dialogue and description of magic usage) Or it could have been totally more focused on the romance and the plot was sorta background for that. I don't have a problem with that at all. I read romances all the time, especially paranormal romances. But if that's what she was going for then the book was just kinda too long and dragged in places. Anyway. I might read more by her just to see if this is a consistent problem or maybe just this one book.
April 18, 2018
Wow this is an interesting, gripping read!! full of rich detail and wonderful characters!!
A really well written story so full of detail that you are totally sucked in from the first page till the last. This is going to be an amazing series!!
I totally love the chemistry between Silver and Hawk and the trials and tribulations that they have to go through make for compelling reading!!
Another gem from this brilliant author!
A really well written story so full of detail that you are totally sucked in from the first page till the last. This is going to be an amazing series!!
I totally love the chemistry between Silver and Hawk and the trials and tribulations that they have to go through make for compelling reading!!
Another gem from this brilliant author!
July 28, 2010
I'd actually started this series with the last book, Dark Magic, and was curious about the rest of the series. This first book kicks it off nicely. Picked up the rest of the series and blew through Seduced by Magic and Shadow Magic. Annoyed that I can't find Wicked Magic in digital/eBook format. Otherwise, this series is awesome!
July 26, 2017
Sex sex and more sex...
March 19, 2009
Oh my, I'm off to have a cold shower! Very erotic which won't appeal to everyone.
January 20, 2016
Full of smut with a great story line.
August 15, 2021
Magia Proibita è il primo volume della serie urban fantasy erotica: Magic. I volumi sono strettamente collegati per quanto riguarda la lotta tra forze del bene e quelle del male mentre ogni volume vedrà protagonista una coppia diversa.
La storia è ambientata a San Francisco e i protagonisti sono Silver Ashcroft, una coraggiosa strega D'Anu che vive una vita relativamente tranquilla fino a quando Hawk, un affascinante guerriero Tuatha D’Danann, l'avvisa che presto il mondo verrà invaso da crudeli demoni decisi a conquistare territori. A quel punto, Silver avviserà la sua congrega del pericolo imminente e propone un piano ma non viene ascoltata e per questo toccherà a lei combattere ma non sarà sola...
L'aspetto più sconvolgente di questo romanzo è la descrizione delle scene di sesso: dettagliate, numerose e con un linguaggio abbastanza volgare. L'autrice non si limita ad inserire non solo quelle tra i due protagonisti ma anche tra i "cattivi" (di cui avrei fatto volentieri a meno considerato quanto sia crudo lo stile e di alcuna utilità per il progredire della trama).
Per quanto riguarda la mitologia, l'autrice si è ispirata alle tradizioni irlandesi e l'idea alla base della storia la trovavo intrigante e nuova, peccato sia andata sprecata.
Lo stile è scorrevole e i protagonisti non risultano antipatici (forse avevano bisogno di una caratterizzazione maggiore e purtroppo non traspare un vero coinvolgimento emotivo tra i due) ma tutto sommato si riesce a portare a termine la lettura.
Non mi meraviglio che la serie sia ferma al secondo volume in Italia.
La storia è ambientata a San Francisco e i protagonisti sono Silver Ashcroft, una coraggiosa strega D'Anu che vive una vita relativamente tranquilla fino a quando Hawk, un affascinante guerriero Tuatha D’Danann, l'avvisa che presto il mondo verrà invaso da crudeli demoni decisi a conquistare territori. A quel punto, Silver avviserà la sua congrega del pericolo imminente e propone un piano ma non viene ascoltata e per questo toccherà a lei combattere ma non sarà sola...
L'aspetto più sconvolgente di questo romanzo è la descrizione delle scene di sesso: dettagliate, numerose e con un linguaggio abbastanza volgare. L'autrice non si limita ad inserire non solo quelle tra i due protagonisti ma anche tra i "cattivi" (di cui avrei fatto volentieri a meno considerato quanto sia crudo lo stile e di alcuna utilità per il progredire della trama).
Per quanto riguarda la mitologia, l'autrice si è ispirata alle tradizioni irlandesi e l'idea alla base della storia la trovavo intrigante e nuova, peccato sia andata sprecata.
Lo stile è scorrevole e i protagonisti non risultano antipatici (forse avevano bisogno di una caratterizzazione maggiore e purtroppo non traspare un vero coinvolgimento emotivo tra i due) ma tutto sommato si riesce a portare a termine la lettura.
Non mi meraviglio che la serie sia ferma al secondo volume in Italia.
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November 25, 2019This is the first book I've read by this author and I am not sure what was off- probably my mood. Most of the elements should have intrigued me - interesting but rather complicated world building, good heroes, a strong heroine, steamy sessions... but somehow it just didn't click with me and I can't put my finger on why. I was a bit disgruntled by some of the collateral damage in this war (no spoilers, please) but the tug-of-war between good and evil and the personification of that in Hawk and the Darkwolf was good.... There was something about the scene with Hawk smashing up against the shields which I found frustrating - and all that with a broken arm? I generally do appreciate heroes with a softer side, but I am not sure how much that is necessary to me when the hero in question is in the midst of battling darkest evil...
I have the second in the series on my TBR shelf and as this ends on something of a cliff hanger I will pick it up at some point, but felt a bit exhausted by the end of this and had to move towards something a bit more feel-good.
I have the second in the series on my TBR shelf and as this ends on something of a cliff hanger I will pick it up at some point, but felt a bit exhausted by the end of this and had to move towards something a bit more feel-good.
June 22, 2020
Silver is a member of the D'Anu, a white witch coven, that uses there power to rectify what evil the Balorites have created, however, Silver is willing to use gray magic to oppose the evil. This brings her closer to the dark side than the D'Anu allow. Then a D'Danann warrior comes to warn of a worse evil about to enter the human world. When the Fomorii arise from the Underworld Silver uses her magic to summon the D'Danann to help but only one warrior appears, Hawk, who was the messenger who warned her. As Hawk and Silver try to defend and defeat the Fomorii Silver is also being pulled to the dark side. This was an interesting first volume in a series that borders urban fantasy and erotica. However the dark characters pain filled over the top sex scenes pulled you out of the story. It was overdone and distracting. Hoping the next volume will have less of that.
October 4, 2018
So...1.5 stars.
The grammar...struggled. The plot...had some holes. The characters...were cliche. But hey. I finished it. That should say it's readable, at the very least, shouldn't it?
There were a few scenes that I enjoyed, interspersed between the gratuitous fucking and all-too-convenient plot devices. The sex scenes themselves were a mediocre B. I admit it: they weren't horrible. Some were actually decent. Well-written smut is always welcome, in my book, and some of the smut in this book was okay.
Honestly, I think I enjoyed Shayla the most. She was adorable. I wish we'd seen more of her.
The grammar...struggled. The plot...had some holes. The characters...were cliche. But hey. I finished it. That should say it's readable, at the very least, shouldn't it?
There were a few scenes that I enjoyed, interspersed between the gratuitous fucking and all-too-convenient plot devices. The sex scenes themselves were a mediocre B. I admit it: they weren't horrible. Some were actually decent. Well-written smut is always welcome, in my book, and some of the smut in this book was okay.
Honestly, I think I enjoyed Shayla the most. She was adorable. I wish we'd seen more of her.
December 25, 2017
Trying to step outside my usual reading genres every now and then I picked up this book at my local library's book sale. Not a bad story but obviously aimed at women readers due to the romantic bent of the story. Romance aside, not a bad urban fantasy story with a good heroine caught in a bad situation. Excellent character dialog and interaction, but a little predictable as to the final outcome. Could have used a few more plot twists, but otherwise a fairly straight story with a typical happy ending.
August 25, 2019
Reading Ravish: The Awakening of Sleeping Beauty made me remember this book. I vaguely remember the couple but not much more. I don't recall much of the plot but I do remember I did feel that the world building was slight. Still as one of the first Paranomal Romance's that I ever read - this was has a nostalgic place in my heart.
July 28, 2020
I rather enjoyed the backstory and setting of the series. Something I am sure will get expanded on. The main thing that threw me was the randomly entered sex scenes. The characters have suffered a loss, friends are missing or dead. Well lets get it on!
I also wasn't sure if the author was painting the BDSM actions of the villains as an evil act, since they were the only ones that engaged in such. Was she saying that only evil people engage in such activities?
Over all I did enjoy the story and the world and will continue with the series.
I also wasn't sure if the author was painting the BDSM actions of the villains as an evil act, since they were the only ones that engaged in such. Was she saying that only evil people engage in such activities?
Over all I did enjoy the story and the world and will continue with the series.
February 21, 2018
Paranormal romance is a hit or miss with me. There are only a few authors that I will read this genre from. I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. Silver and Hawk were really interesting characters. There was a solidv a tory line and characters I would like to know more about. I wish there would have been an epilogue but then I'm sure there will be more Silver and Hawk in book 2.
December 14, 2017
It wasn't the best book I've read and it wasn't the worst. I liked the action but it was pretty predictable, i.e. Heroine meets hunky hero and they fall instantly for each other. Also the totally erotic sex seemed to take away from what could have been a much better plot and just added more predictability. I'll read the next book in the series to see if things get a little better.
December 31, 2023
The 🌶 in this was hit or miss for me I'm not into what Junga apparently is into. When the spice matched what I'm into though 🌶🌶🌶🥵❤️!
It took me a bit to get into the story. But Once I got into the story, into the war between humans, witches and otherworldly fae against dark witches and demons, I enjoyed it!
White, Grey and dark magic. Good vs evil. Lust...I mean.. love at first sight.
It took me a bit to get into the story. But Once I got into the story, into the war between humans, witches and otherworldly fae against dark witches and demons, I enjoyed it!
White, Grey and dark magic. Good vs evil. Lust...I mean.. love at first sight.
August 7, 2018
This was an ok read, it's well written and sets up a good plot for the next book and future books. In my current reading mood, it was a struggle to get through. It's possible that I'm falling out of love with Paranormal Romance and I can't really blame this book for that.
January 15, 2020
Really liked the first book in this series. Great characters, lots of action, nice setting and location descriptions. If I had one complaint, editing... overall really enjoyed the first of what looks like many to follow.
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