"You stole my heart from the moment those beautiful lips cursed me with a dagger to my throat in the alley." - Draven to Emma
Soul of Salvation by Ali Stuebbe
Book #2 of The Divide
Review of book one - Blood of Desiderium
Rating -
Genre - Fantasy Romance
POV - Dual 1st person
Heat - explicit
Source - Kindle Unlimited
Length - 400 pages
In the aftermath of the battle at the Court of Ashes, Emma’s sacrifice for salvation thrusts her into a dark realm where the God of Darkness demands a grim price for her newfound power.
The fate of the world hangs in the balance,
A God is harboring dark secrets,
And a mate refuses to lose again.
The darkness’ hold on her makes her hunger for death, until a predestined bond beckons her and conflicts the monster she has become. Emma must follow through with a world-altering task, or decide if she wants to break free from the vice of her powers, for the sake of all she loves.
Then, a profound truth changes everything, testing her strength to bring light to a dark reality. Will Emma endure the burdens of her task or will she sacrifice her heart to protect those she holds dear?
The fate of the world hangs in the balance,
A God is harboring dark secrets,
And a mate refuses to lose again.
The darkness’ hold on her makes her hunger for death, until a predestined bond beckons her and conflicts the monster she has become. Emma must follow through with a world-altering task, or decide if she wants to break free from the vice of her powers, for the sake of all she loves.
Then, a profound truth changes everything, testing her strength to bring light to a dark reality. Will Emma endure the burdens of her task or will she sacrifice her heart to protect those she holds dear?
MILD SPOILER, but Blood of Desiderium ended with Emma making a sacrifice—to stop her father from killing everyone, she went with him. Draven watched the life be snuffed from her eyes and the darkness take a firm hold of the woman he loved. It was devastating and waiting for the conclusion to THAT... lawd, the wait was excruciating.
But here I am and it was well worth it.
In Soul of Salvation, Emma is in the dark world inhabited by her father, Whiro, the god of darkness. He keeps giving her tests, the worst of which is taking the lives of random fae males. While in the realm, Emma feels nothing. She does what she's supposed to do, waiting for her next task. When her father commands her to betray Draven and bring him as the next soul to be sacrificed, it's her first time going back to her world. Will she remain cold and unfeeling or will Draven be the key to giving her her heart back?
On the flip side, Draven's a wreck. He drowns himself in drink to soothe the pain of Emma's absence and their friends aren't able to reach him. They understand, but there's really nothing they can do to help. When word reaches them of Emma's arrival, Draven can't stay away. And then it's a fight to save his mate and his kingdom from the worst being they've ever seen.
I loved the build up to battle and how these characters were able to still find time to renew their bonds. Emma was done fighting Draven and it was so freaking sweet to see them so in tune with each other. Draven would do absolutely anything to save, protect and keep her and she would do the same.
This duology ended so perfectly and I'm excited to see what's next from this author.
Ali Stuebbe grew up in the state of Ohio, near the city of Cleveland. At the age of 21, she married, becoming a military spouse, and has called three other states home. She studied English Literature at Cleveland State University and American Public University. She began writing her debut novel when she grew confident in her writing and felt ready to bring this story to life. When she’s not writing, she can be found at the gym or sitting on the couch with her nose in a book and a large coffee in her hand. Ali is the author of Blood of Desiderium, and currently lives in Texas with her loving husband and two beautiful children.Visit https://www.alimariestuebbe.co for more information.
“I feel like I’m finally whole. I’m five thousand years old,” he rasped. “But the day you found me in the woods, that’s when my life started.”
Rogue Rider by Larissa Ione
Standalone - Demonica #9 / Lords of Deliverance #4
Rating -
Genre - Paranormal Romance / amnesia
POV - multiple 3rd person
Heat - descriptive
Source - library ebook
Length - 458 pages
Previous books in the series: Pleasure Unbound * Desire Unchained * Passion Unleashed * Ecstasy Unveiled * Sin Undone * Eternal Rider * Immortal Rider * Lethal Rider
Jillian Cardiff came to this remote mountain town to forget the demon attack that almost killed her. Instead, she rescues-and falls for-a gorgeous stranger who has no memory of anything other than his name. Handsome, charming, and protective, Reseph seems like the kind of man whom Jillian can trust. But with hints of a troubling history of his own, he's also the kind of man who can be very dangerous . . .
Reseph may not know why he mysteriously appeared in Jillian's life, but he knows he wants to stay. Yet when Jillian's neighbors are killed, and demon hunters arrive on the scene, Reseph fears that he's putting Jillian in danger. And once it's revealed that Reseph is also Pestilence, the Horseman responsible for ravaging the world, he and Jillian must face the greatest challenge of all: Can they forget the horrors of a chilling past to save the future they both desire?
Reseph may not know why he mysteriously appeared in Jillian's life, but he knows he wants to stay. Yet when Jillian's neighbors are killed, and demon hunters arrive on the scene, Reseph fears that he's putting Jillian in danger. And once it's revealed that Reseph is also Pestilence, the Horseman responsible for ravaging the world, he and Jillian must face the greatest challenge of all: Can they forget the horrors of a chilling past to save the future they both desire?
I'm probably in the minority, but I didn't have a problem with Reseph. I didn't blame the guy for what he did when he was Pestilence and I'm pissed that his family couldn't do better sooner. These Horsemen are prophesied: if their seals break, they turn evil. Reseph's seal broke and he did EXACTLY WHAT WAS PREDICTED. And everyone blames him for not fighting his evil side harder. Poor thing.
So Reaver saved Reseph from certain insanity and our dude had no memory of who he was beyond his name. Jillian finds him unconscious in the snow and takes him home to help him. He miraculously heals quickly and they have an instant connection, despite Jillian's hesitation due to past trauma, and I was just waiting for the other shoe to drop.
And drop it did. Hard.
Pestilence isn't actually gone and all the baddies are trying to get him to resurface. The Aegis losers are still on the loose, believing their way is the right way. Kynan and friends have created DART and I'm guessing they'll be the real good humans for the stories going forward. And the bond between the siblings is an absolute mess. Reseph grows as a person, although he's so much more than a person (half angel and demon, remember?) and I loved how Jillian brought out all of the awesome this male was keeping to himself. My guess about Reaver and Harvester has been confirmed and I'm really looking forward to their story, which I think is next.
Oh and spoiler...
Lilith is gone. But I don't really understand this because she appears in the next gen book, Legacy of Temptation. I guess I'll have to find out in the following books how this is possible.
Seriously, if you are a paranormal romance groupie like I am, you should have started this series already. I do not mind being a fictional Reseph Rider.
Air Force veteran Larissa Ione traded in a career in meteorology to pursue her passion of writing. She has since published dozens of books, hit several bestseller lists, including the New York Times and USA Today, and has been nominated for a RITA award.She now spends her days in pajamas with her computer, strong coffee, and supernatural worlds. She believes in celebrating everything, and would never be caught without a bottle of Champagne chilling in the fridge…just in case.
She lives in Wisconsin with her retired U.S. Coast Guard husband, her son, a rescue cat named Vegas, and her very own hellhounds, a King Shepherd named Hexe and a Belgian Malinois named Duvel.
Visit https://www.larissaione.com for more information.
The prophesies were there . . . but no one listened. They are the four Horsemen of the Apocalypse and they have the power to usher in Doomsday . . . or prevent it.
Lethal Rider by Larissa Ione
Standalone - Demonica #8 / Lords of Deliverance #3
Rating -
1/2Genre - Paranormal Romance / enemies to lovers
POV - multiple 3rd person
Heat - descriptive
Source - library ebook
Length - 464 pages
Previous books in the series: Pleasure Unbound * Desire Unchained * Passion Unleashed * Ecstasy Unveiled * Sin Undone * Eternal Rider * Immortal Rider
Eight months ago, demon-slayer Regan Matthews seduced the fourth Horseman of the Apocalypse, Thanatos. Now, she's pregnant with his child - a child who, if prophecies are to believed, is fated to save the world. But things aren't always as they appear, and the baby conceived by two warriors may yet be the very catalyst that kicks off Armageddon. Thanatos, who will be Death when his Seal breaks, never thought he'd have a family, but as he grows close to Regan and his unborn son, he allows himself to dream. But as the world edges closer to the end of days and his evil brother plots against him, Thanatos realises that the sacrifice he must make will destroy everything he dreamed of having.
I will start this off by saying that Regan almost ruined this book for me. In the beginning, she was just awful. She knew she did Thanatos wrong, but she kept antagonizing him. Which was fun because I lived for Than trying to terrorize this woman, but I wanted her to own her shit and move this romance-and-an-apocalypse-and-a-baby-story along.
Than was a hopeless romantic who didn't have a clue how to woo a woman. His deepest desire was to have a family of his own, but when his wish is about to be granted, he finds out that his brother is out to destroy everything. Than's son-to-be is his agimortus and if he's killed, Than will become Death. So everyone is desperate to prevent this from happening, Pestilence has gotten so much worse, and the world as we know it is on the brink of disaster. But there's hope and if all the parts can come together at one exact moment, if they can figure out a way to cure or kill Pestilence, then everything should work out.
Is it wrong of me that I felt absolutely terrible for Reseph? Seriously, when he remembers everything he did as Pestilence, he won't be the same fun-loving male everyone adored. And how will people react to him when they know what he did when he went to the dark side?
His book is next and I can't wait to find out!
Air Force veteran Larissa Ione traded in a career in meteorology to pursue her passion of writing. She has since published dozens of books, hit several bestseller lists, including the New York Times and USA Today, and has been nominated for a RITA award.She now spends her days in pajamas with her computer, strong coffee, and supernatural worlds. She believes in celebrating everything, and would never be caught without a bottle of Champagne chilling in the fridge…just in case.
She lives in Wisconsin with her retired U.S. Coast Guard husband, her son, a rescue cat named Vegas, and her very own hellhounds, a King Shepherd named Hexe and a Belgian Malinois named Duvel.
Visit https://www.larissaione.com for more information.
All she knew was that her Horseman name, Famine, was fitting. She'd always been starving for somthing she couldn't name, because she hadn't experienced it.
Now she had.
A man's touch. A man's affection.
Now she was hungrier than ever, and that could only be a bad thing.
Please note: this post includes reviews for Vampire Fight Club (#6.5), Immortal Rider (#7), and Apocalypse: The Lords of Deliverance Compendium (#7.5)
Now she had.
A man's touch. A man's affection.
Now she was hungrier than ever, and that could only be a bad thing.
Please note: this post includes reviews for Vampire Fight Club (#6.5), Immortal Rider (#7), and Apocalypse: The Lords of Deliverance Compendium (#7.5)
Immortal Rider by Larissa Ione
Rating -
1/2Standalone - Demonica #7 / Lords of Deliverance #2
Genre - Paranormal Romance / marriage of convenience
POV - multiple 3rd person
Heat - descriptive
Source - library ebook
Length - 433 pages
Previous books in the series: - Pleasure Unbound * Desire Unchained * Passion Unleashed * Ecstasy Unveiled * Sin Undone * Eternal Rider
Arik Wagner, a soldier with the U.S. Army's paranormal unit, the R-XR, kissed a girl and liked it. And then he went to hell as punishment. Where he's spent weeks being tortured...and plotting revenge.
Limos, Horsewoman of the Apocalypse, isn't your average girl. She's immortal, dangerous, and her fiancé is Satan himself. In a moment of weakness, she gave in to her desire and kissed Arik, triggering her fiancé's wrath - and his claim on her. In order to save Arik, and the world, Limos must make a dangerous pact with her recently turned evil brother, Pestilence. A deal that might just cost her her soul...and her heart.
Limos, Horsewoman of the Apocalypse, isn't your average girl. She's immortal, dangerous, and her fiancé is Satan himself. In a moment of weakness, she gave in to her desire and kissed Arik, triggering her fiancé's wrath - and his claim on her. In order to save Arik, and the world, Limos must make a dangerous pact with her recently turned evil brother, Pestilence. A deal that might just cost her her soul...and her heart.
Arik had a thing for Limos, she seemed to have a thing for him, he moves in for a kiss, and he's taken immediately to hell.
He's tortured, healed, tortured again.
And that's just the very beginning of this book.
Obviously he gets rescued, but this was only the start of the hot mess in store for these characters. Limos was betrothed to the ruler of Hell, who actually isn't Lucifer, from birth. At first eager to be with him, when she meets her brothers and experiences true humanity, she can't get away from him and her commitment fast enough. Too bad she wears a chastity belt which would maim any man who attempted to get it on with her. Not to mention her jealous fiance who would love to torture her wouldbe suitors (see Arik?).
A loophole is discovered, Arik gains the upperhand, yadda yadda yadda.
This was such a small part of the story.
Pestilence is going strong. He's absolutely devastating the world and his siblings on a regular basis.
Harvester is holding Reaver captive for some reason and things aren't looking too good for our favorite angel.
The Aegis (boy, do I freaking hate this organization SO MUCH) come up with a really dumb plan that Regan has to put into play. Things take a dark turn and I'm kind of hoping that Thanatos tortures her and everyone involved. If the roles were reversed, people would be clutching their pearls and rioting, but because he's not only a male, but a Horseman, it's okay?
And seriously there was tons more going on. This series is one of those stories that I could tell you everything that happens and I still wouldn't be able to tell you what was what. Every book develops the story more and I'm eager to get the big picture because everything I've learned so far has blown my mind in the best way.
Vampire Fight Club by Larissa Ione
Rating -
POV - Dual 3rd person
Heat - descriptive
Source - library ebook
Length - 100 pages
When a wave of violence that hits too close to home forces shapeshifter and underworld nurse Vladlena Paskelkov to go undercover, her first stop is a haven of vice—with a dangerously sexy vamp in charge . . .
Legendary, jaded, Nathan Sabine is the manager of Thirst, a wildly popular vampire club—and secret underground blood arena. But Nathan, a rare daywalker, possesses other, even more explosive secrets, as does his beautiful new medic, Vladlena. The one thing they can’t conceal is the lust that simmers between them . . .
Now, in an underworld divided by revelry and violence, debauchery and vengeance, Nate and Lena will discover which risks are worth taking—and which desires demand surrender . . .
Legendary, jaded, Nathan Sabine is the manager of Thirst, a wildly popular vampire club—and secret underground blood arena. But Nathan, a rare daywalker, possesses other, even more explosive secrets, as does his beautiful new medic, Vladlena. The one thing they can’t conceal is the lust that simmers between them . . .
Now, in an underworld divided by revelry and violence, debauchery and vengeance, Nate and Lena will discover which risks are worth taking—and which desires demand surrender . . .
I found Lena to be quite silly throughout the story. She knew that her days were numbered and decided to investigate her brother's death. She goes undercover and a slipshod kind of plan to find out the truth, unprepared to defend herself or snoop wisely. Nathan was okay, but it was hard to find depth behind either of these characters. I was entertained by the story though. I liked the idea of this club that caters to a certain type of clientele, which is a front for an underground supernatural fight club. The big bad was suitably scary and there was plenty of action that moved the story along. I loved how subtle the author was with providing links to the main story. Now that I know that there's a link between Nathan and Thanatos, I wonder if he'll be making an appearance in Death's book.
Apocalypse: The Lords of Deliverance Compendium
Rating -
Source - library ebook
Length - 76 pages
New York Times bestselling author Larissa Ione brings readers behind the scenes with this definitive guide to her latest imaginative, epic series featuring the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. With character descriptions, key player background information, a handy glossary of terms and special abilities, a Q&A inspired by reader questions, and an all-new, exclusive short story, this is a must-read for every Larissa Ione fan.
I loved all of the tidbits explored in this book, but it was the short story of how the Horsemen were conceived that really grabbed me. Can someone please get rid of Lilith already???
I know I'm late to starting this series, but the story gave me such a huge clue and I'm freaking out. So... Verrine = Harvester? And Yenrieth = Reaver?
Amiright??!!
Air Force veteran Larissa Ione traded in a career in meteorology to pursue her passion of writing. She has since published dozens of books, hit several bestseller lists, including the New York Times and USA Today, and has been nominated for a RITA award.She now spends her days in pajamas with her computer, strong coffee, and supernatural worlds. She believes in celebrating everything, and would never be caught without a bottle of Champagne chilling in the fridge…just in case.
She lives in Wisconsin with her retired U.S. Coast Guard husband, her son, a rescue cat named Vegas, and her very own hellhounds, a King Shepherd named Hexe and a Belgian Malinois named Duvel.
Visit https://www.larissaione.com for more information.
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