#Review - A Shifter's Heart by Raven Steele, Ava Mason #Fantasy #Paranormal

Series: Rouen Chronicles Book #10
Format: Kindle, 313 pages
Release Date: October 29, 2019
Publisher: Amazon Digital Services LLC
Source: Kindle
Genre: Urban Fantasy
  
“You set my heart and soul on fire.” 

Someone has taken Briar’s most valuable belonging: the Abydos, ancient blood that in the wrong hands can destroy the world. Briar and Angel race to get it back but a dangerous creature leads them on a hunt that nearly gets them killed. 

Through it all, Angel tries desperately to get Briar to feel what he’s always known to be true: they are soul mates. But Briar’s heart is too battered and bruised to feel the truth. 

If Briar can't reconcile her feelings for Angel, she won't just lose the Abydos but something far more valuable: true love.

A Shifter's Heart is the 10th installment in co-authors Raven Steele, Ava Mason's, Rouen Chronicles. The story picks up right where A Vampire's Battle finished. Briar (Isabella Moretti) has been betrayed by Luke who told his mother, Trick, where the location of the Abydos was. Trick and her second took the blood and ran. What she, nor Luke understoood, if the blood falls into the wrong hands, the world will be on the brink of an apocalypse. Imagine her anger at Luke for being so careless knowing how important the blood was to her. 

Briar's family protected the blood for many years before her entire pack was annihilated by someone searching for the blood. But, Briar has no time to wallow in hurt or self-pity. The Phoenix (Ivona) is still around causing untold damage to Rouen. A dangerous portent involving Briar, Samira, and Lynx which is supposed to lead to an evil known as Trianus rising from Hell is still on the horizon. Briar will have to get her emotions under control quickly and hunt down Trick and the Abydos before someone else gets to it first. But, with Angel going with her on the hunt, her emotions are exactly what are tested.

New characters appear in this story. A character called Shade is first. Shade is a rare Ghoul who wanders the earth searching for a willing body. He needs the blood to help with the transition. Therefore, Angel and Briar end up using Briar's connection to the Abydos, as well as his own gift of seeing the future, to hunt down Shade and the blood. If the blood falls into Ivona's hands, she will use it to raise Trianus from hell. The couple's journey takes them to places of both Angel and Briar's past which leads to some interesting action scenes. 

This also includes Coast City where Angel and Briar meet with Aris's father. Over the course of this adventure, Angel gets his first real attempts at telling Briar why they are supposed to be together and not Luke who I haven't trusted in a very long time. It's interesting to me that almost everyone from Adelaide, to Mateo, to Samira, to Lynx, knew that Angel and Briar had a connection and belonged together. 

The book is actually filled with lots of sex scenes which is not unlike Samira's third installment with Mateo. This book bridges Samira's trilogy with the beginning of Lynx's. I am concerned at the direction the series seems to be taking. Especially reading the end of this book. It is apparent that Lynx has major secrets to reveal. Readers of this series have known that she's powerful but is she really a friend? It is apparent that Shade as well as another new character who just happens to be a vampire hunter, will continue to appear in the next 3 books.

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#Review - A Vampire's Battle by Raven Steele #Urban #Fantasy

Series: Rouen Chronicles #9
Format: Kindle, 367 pages
Release Date: August 26th 2019
Publisher: Amazon
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Genre: Urban Fantasy

“I will embrace my darkness if it means spilling your blood." 
 

Samira finally gave up the one thing she vowed to keep forever, the Kiss of Eternal Night, in hopes of saving her one true love. But fate had something else in store for her, and the Kiss was replaced by something far more dangerous. If she’s not careful, it will take her to a place she can’t come back from.

But Samira won’t let this new curse pull her away from her only desire. Kill Korin, the vampire who nearly destroyed her and took everything she’s ever loved. She’s willing to give up everything to accomplish her goal, even if it means crossing over to the other side.  

Because sometimes it takes the dead to kill the living.

A Vampire's Battle is the Ninth installment in author Raven Steele's Rouen Chronicles. 2 weeks have passed since Samira Chevoky and Mateo nearly lost their lives to Korin and the Phoenix in A Vampire's Rage. In the process of being bled dry to the point of death, Samira lost the Kiss of the Eternal Night which has been part of her for centuries. It is the key to defeating the Phoenix, and without it, where will Samira find the strength to avoid being controlled by Korin's compulsion?

Samira's former mentor, Detrand, a strigoi vampire royalty, has found himself in Rouen along with Adelade a powerful Fae who is Detrand's mate. I actually loved this move by the author since both Detrand and Adelade are remarkable characters with interesting dynamics in power and coupling. Because of Cassandra's actions in saving her life, Samira is experiencing a new ability to go invisible. She can be in the beyond and the here for a short time. 

Samira and Mateo's mate connection thrives and expands in this episode. In fact, there are plenty of sexy moments in the book for those who love good sex scenes. Mateo is Samira's rock and guide in this world where nothing has gone right so far against Korin, or the Phoenix. Samira, Briar, and Lynx attempt to put together an alliance that includes Oona, the Fae Queen, as well as humans, vampires like Aris, & Angel, and werewolves. One were clan in particular makes an interesting appearance which leads to even more questions which we will be chasing into the next installment.

Lynx and Briar finally get a peak into the prophecy which they are apparently key players in raising a evil known as Trianus. Sersi, the leader of the Ames de la Terra, has some interesting words for both characters. One who takes it in stride, the other, Lynx, who isn't exactly jumping up and down with joy in learning that she's a key player. After all, there is so much more to Lynx than meets the eye. We, readers, still do not know who her father is, and how her combined Light and Dark powers are going to help defeat the Phoenix as well as another powerful antagonist named Zane.

I have actually cut and pasted the actual prophecy to the Excerpt section of this review. It says a whole lot, but also I blame Samira for not being more upfront with Briar before she killed (3) must kill Alpha's on her own tour de revenge against those who killed her family and betrayed her trust. Briar also has some issues to deal with in this book, namely Luke, which I have seen coming for a very long time now. I don't trust Luke, and after this book, I am definitely Team Angel because he is always there for her and never stands in her way.

Speaking of which, the Tenth installment is a Briar and Angel story called A Shifter's Heart which will take place after the events of this story. Events that are shocking and leaves many questions. There are some really impressive action scenes in this book, as well as some shocking losses that goes to show how dangerous going up against the Phoenix is to ones health. I still do not know the actual identity of the Phoenix. This person could literally be anyone including some allies. I have several guesses, but it's apparent the author is taking her time in revealing who it is. 

This is the final installment in Samira's trilogy. I am still waiting for Lynx to have her turn as a primary narrator. All in good time I guess.


**Intended for adult readers due to violence, language, and some sexual content.

When the crimson moon rises on the eve of Litha, three dark souls will give their blood to bring forth the great Trianus, Lord of the Underworld, from the dark abyss. A Komira, sealed by the blood of three Alphas, a vampire who abandoned the Kiss of the Eternal Night, and a witch blessed by the sun and the moon. Bonded by fire and ice, the three will bend a knee and bow to the new Prince of Darkness, true and faithful servants, as he takes his place as ruler over mortal lands once again.”

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#Review - A Vampire's Fury by Raven Steele, Ava Mason (#Urban #Fantasy)

Series: Rouen Chronicles #8
Format: Kindle, 306 pages
Release Date: June 4, 2019
Publisher: Amazon
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Genre: Urban Fantasy

“The beast inside me is awake, and it is hungry.” 
Her heart gutted by Korin's betrayal, Samira turns her focus on not just killing him but destroying everything he holds dear. Only tearing apart the ones he loves will give her the revenge she requires. 

To do so, she must reawaken the beast inside her, the Kiss off Eternal Night. It is both a gift and a curse. If she’s not careful, tapping into those dark powers may destroy a lot more than Korin. The people she loves will also be at risk. But maybe that’s the cost of achieving ultimate revenge.  
Or so the beast inside her says..

 

“The world of superheroes is black and white; the world of monsters is not. Sometimes you need evil to fight evil.”

A Vampire's Fury, by authors Raven Steele, & Ava Mason, is the 8th installment in the Rouen Chronicles. The first thing I should say is that every book in this series connects to the next in the series including Aris Crow's trilogy which is set in Coast City. Time line wise; it has been 2 weeks since Korin killed Samira's daughter Faithe as well as another friend in a power play to make Samira grovel for forgiveness. It has also been 2 weeks since Lynx fell into a coma after unleashing a power we haven't seen to this point. 

Samira has a darkness in her called the Kiss of Eternal Darkness. Now that it is out, Samira has a craving to make Korin and his vile son Naburus pay for their transgressions against her, as well as forcing Mateo to work to kidnap more humans for his Scorpion Breath experiments. A surprising revelation is soon uncovered, and I am not sure if this will spoil things or not. At the end of Briar's trilogy, the Phoenix rose and is now the controlling powers behind Korin. But, could the Phoenix actually someone Lynx knows?

"A storm is coming, and only the dead can save the living.”

I've seen a different side to Briar this book as well, but I do have some questions about her relationships with both Angel and Luke who is very, very annoying and secretive throughout this story. I don't know what is going to happen from here. Angel has had enough of waiting in the background. He knows that Briar will be shattered if he chooses to leave, however, he doesn't want to hang around for eternity waiting for her to choose. 

I appreciated that Lynx was given a much more impressive role in this story again. Lynx is being forced by her mother Cassandra to go for training at Principis Noctis to learn how to use her gifts. We know that Lynx is powerful. She's proven herself, and will do so again.  Lynx is one part of the mysterious prophecy, and Briar has already done what she was supposed to do to become the second part of the prophecy. Now, all the Phoenix needs is for Samira to play her part in what could be apocalyptic for human kind. 

Samira has all sorts of issues to deal with. Regardless of her head, her heart is absolutely in love with Mateo, and would be devastating were he to not be in her life. She also finds herself in some dangerous situations and has to reign it in when her actions puts those she loves in danger. I have mentioned that you should read the books in this series in order, including the trilogy about Aris Crow. That warning now pays dividends when Aris arrives in Rouen to help Samira and her allies. This should be a very interesting story going forward.

This story is full of intense drama, suspense, intrigue, angst, emotional heartache, violence, torture, deceit, twists that have you glued to page after page of this thrilling, titillating, brilliantly written story.  

“The sides you choose are important. Remember that, if you live through this.”

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#Review - A Monster's Fight by Raven Steele #Urban #Fantasy

Series: Rouen Chronicles # 7
Format: Kindle, 293 pages
Release Date: May 7, 2019
Publisher: Amazon
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Genre: Urban Fantasy

“I stopped fighting my inner monster. We’re on the same side now.”
  

Aris is back, but he's not alone. His once greatest enemy fights alongside him to take down Coast City's biggest villain. But the city isn't how they remembered. Vampires have taken over, and Aris isn't powerful enough to defeat them. His only hope is to tap into the ancient powers coursing through his blood but doing so may have severe consequences. The monster buried inside him must be unleashed.

A Monster's Fight, by author Raven Steele, is the 7th installment in the authors Rouen Chronicles. As the story opens, 9 months have passed since Aris Crow, Victor, Oz, Amy, and Emma left Coast City for Bisou Island where Victor is learning to deal with his new reality. No spoilers. I will recommend that you do read the first two installments in Aris's trilogy before continuing on to Samira's second installment in the Rouen Chronicles. Everything will make sense once you are finished reading this book. Trust me.

Thanks to Samira & Ames de la Terra, Aris and his allies are safe from what is happening in Coast City. Oz has been on a roller-coaster ride since he joined with Aris. His participation is actually a highlight since he is one of the few who isn't supernatural or with mighty powers. Aris knows he can't stay forever in Bisou Island because it's become apparent that Bastian has totally taken over the city, and the city is tearing itself apart by the seams. Humans are revolting against vampires. 

And, Samira is pre-occupied with with the growing evil in Rouen where her friends are facing an unimaginable evil which has come back stronger than before. Aris continues to struggle to keep the darkness within him thanks to having Elizabeth Bathory's blood flowing through his veins. He is playing a much, much larger game than he could ever imagine. He has to make it so that Bastian takes him into his confidence. He has to somehow keep Oz, Victor, as well as the human resistance from being wiped out. 

Aris has to become the thing he hates. A monster with a taste for human blood. Aris is a very strong character, but can he stop Bastian as well as the Ministry who we finally meet all of the members when they show up in Coast City thanks to revolt against Bastian. The ending has some emotional moments which you should be prepared for. But, I am ready to go back to Rouen, and pick up with Samira, Briar, and Lynx as they prepare to fight for their lives against several really powerful and evil villains. 

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#Review - A Monster's Birth by Raven Steele #Urban #Fantasy

Series: Rouen Chronicles #6
Format: Kindle, 328 pages
Release Date: April 16, 2019
Publisher: Amazon
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Genre: Urban Fantasy

“The only monster you need to be afraid of is the one inside of me.” 
 
Aris Crow returns to Coast City not as a hero, but as a powerful vampire determined to kill the dark creatures who destroyed all that mattered to him. But, as a monster himself, he'll have to conquer his own demons and also unite with old enemies if he has any chance of saving his city. 

A Monster's Birth is the 6th installment in the Rouen Chronicles, as well as the 2nd installment in Aris Crow's story arc. It has been 6 months since Aris Crow rose as a vampire. He has spent the past 6 months training with Samira who readers of this series should know about. Aris blood is pure and strong thanks to his connection to Elizabeth Bathory. But, can he control the monster, or will the monster control him? While Aris is learning his way as a vampire, his home in Coast City has become a haven for all kinds of vampires. 

His nemesis Victor is no longer the big dog in town. A worst sort of villain has taken over. His name is Bastian, which you would have met if you read the first installment in this story arc. Bastian is an old and powerful vampire who answers to the Ministry. The Ministry consists of a group of 9 vampires, witches and shape shifters who think the should be ruling the world, and not humans. With Samira off dealing with issues in Rouen, Aris's allies include Rebecca, a shifter, as well as Oz, a geek of extraordinary talents who also has a sister, Amy, who found some good news in regards to her health. 

Aris has some interesting twists to deal with. Someone is still experimenting with the V-Protein creating unbelievably strong monsters, humans have all but given up that anyone will show up and be the hero they need, and Aris is still trying to figure out what to do with his relationship with Emma now that he's a vampire and she's a human. I absolutely recommend that you read all 3 of Aris's books before moving back to Samira's. The reason is that Aris will soon be joining Samira and her allies as they fight against really powerful enemies. Aris first has to put his own home in order before he moves on to something else. 

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#Review - A Monster's Death by Raven Steele #Urban #Fantasy

Series: Rouen Chronicles #5
Format: Kindle, 317 pages
Release Date: March 26, 2019
Publisher: Amazon Digital Services LLC
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Genre: Urban Fantasy

The city doesn't need another hero. It needs a monster. 
 

Aris has lived beneath the streets all his life as a growing evil overtook the city he loved. He’s watched the people suffer, smelled their fear, and heard their cries for mercy. All while they lived under the control of the ruthless man who murdered his parents.
  
But the time has come for Aris to rise from the darkness. He’s trained his whole life for this moment and, unlike the justice system, he will not fail the people of Coast City, or the woman he fell in love with as a child, the woman who believes him dead. 

But no one told him that sometimes heroes aren’t enough. Sometimes people need a monster.

 

A Monster's Death is the 5th installment in author Raven Steele's Rouen Chronicles. This novel actually takes place at the same time as A Shifter's Curse where Briar is in Rouen, Louisiana fighting those who destroyed her family and meeting Samira and Lynx who will become best friends and allies. As I understand it, Aris, who is the protagonist of this story, will soon be joining Briar, Sam, and Lynx in Rouen where the villains have become much more dangerous than those Briar, Sam, and Lynx have already fought and defeated.

In this trilogy, we follow Aris Crow. Aris lives in Coast City where he has been living underground along with his guardian Roman watching his home be destroyed by a group of villains, including Victor, and the Physician. Aris was thought to have died along with his father and his mother. He survived thanks to the V protein in his blood. The V protein makes him stronger, and faster than normal humans. Aris inherited his father's traits. But, there are so many questions as to who his father really was, and whether he was really a hero or a villain.

Aris has also been watching over his childhood friend Emma, even stepping in and stopping violent thugs from doing bad things to her. But, he is only one person and every move he makes, seems to make things even worse. Aris knows that he can't trust the law to punish the criminals. They seem to always be released before facing any serious jail time. Aris allies include Roman, who is blind, his aunt Krista, who is a criminal sketch artist for the Coastal PD, and Oz Lewis, a young hacker who he befriends and ends up being more valuable than Aris could have dreamed of.

Victor is a curious villain in that it appears that he may have another insight into the real Jonas Crow, Aris' father, and whether or not he was really a hero, or a villain. Victor seems to also have a sixth sense that has stopped assassination attempts against him. There are groups that the reader will be familiar with if you've read the first 4 books in this series. Ames de la Terra is mentioned as the place where Aris and Roman spent a good part of his life learning about elemental magic and attempting to understand what the V protein will eventually do to his body. Principes Noctis is also mentioned. This is a group of supernaturals who worship the darkness, and feed on human blood and flesh. They truly believe they should be ruling humans and not hiding away.  

As the story digs in, the reader knows that the city needs a different kind of hero. A hero who might actually be a monster with the capabilities of defeating very dangerous enemies which you will read about in the next installment!

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#Review - A Vampire's Bane by Raven Steele, Ava Mason (#Urban #Fantasy)

Series: Rouen Chronicles #4
Format: Kindle, 336 pages
Release Date: March 11, 2019
Publisher: Amazon
Source: Amazon

Genre: Urban Fantasy, Romance

“The monster isn’t under my bed. It’s screaming inside my head.” 
 

Cursed by the Kiss of Eternal Night, Samira lives her life as an ancient and powerful vampire, guarding her emotions carefully. One slip up and the darkness inside her could send her on a rage-filled, bloodlust path of death and destruction. It’s happened once before, and it could easily happen again. 

For over a century, she’s managed to keep the beast inside her at bay, but when someone from her past shows up unexpectedly, her emotions hang by a thread. Especially when she finds out they are working with the Phoenix, the source of the growing evil in Rouen.

Maybe it’s time she stops controlling the monster inside her. It may be the only way she can save those she loves.

 

A Vampire's Bane, by co-authors Raven Steele and Ava Mason, is the fourth installment in the Rouen Chronicles. This is a story that takes place in the fictitious town of Rouen, Louisiana where something evil is brewing and a group of vampires, witches, and shifters stand guardian. While the first three stories of this series focused on Briar, this book focuses on Samira Chevoky. Samira is a centuries old vampire who is roommates of Briar (Alpha shifter) and Lynx (Witch). 

She's a vampire who holds something very dark within her. If she let's it out, there could be major repercussions for everyone. To make things even more twisted, Samira's maker, Korin Khalid, shows up in Rouen and he's not to be taken lightly. Neither is the Phoenix who readers met in A Shifter's Revenge. The Phoenix is portrayed as a man throughout this book, but who is in fact a woman who can shift at will into anyone she wants. Truly makes who you trust with your life even more important now.

The authors reveal a prophecy that Samira, Briar, and Lynx are apparently part of. If the prophecy is taken seriously, it would mean Trianus will be summoned from the Underworld and subjugate humans as well as supernatural who stand against it. Samira has had relationships with Mateo, as well as other more interesting characters who come out to play in a major way in this story. Since I mentioned the evil that has arrived in Rouen, I would suggest that you read, at least, the final book in Briar's story so that you can understand what has happened. 

Even though Samira is main character in this book, don't forget about Briar or Lynx since they help out with pretty much all of the trouble that is faced in this story. Samira has some unusual friends which include Mateo, but also several others who we finally discover have been in Rouen for a very long time. Yes, I am talking about the Fae. There are several key Fae characters who join with Samira, Lynx, and Briar to keep the villain in check. Good luck with that! 

I understand that the authors have chosen to write several books featuring a character who doesn't appear in this book, but has connections with Samira and a group known as Ames de la Terra. Not sure why they didn't finish Samira's trilogy first, but it is what it is. Especially if this particular character isn't going to show up in Samira's story.  

I am more curious about Lynx now, than I was during Briar's books. Lynx is thought of as being part of the prophecy with Samira and Briar, no spoiler, yet we know next to nothing about Lynx's magic or her abilities. She does shine a bit brighter in this book, but she also is prone to trying to prove her self by overextending herself.  In case you were wondering, Briar has reverted to someone I didn't recognize for much of the story. Samira pretty much has to play social worker to her in order to keep her emotions and her attitude in check and not letting it get the best of her which at times it does. I am also tired of the triangle between her, Angel and Luke. She is obviously in love with both of them yet doesn't have any idea what to do about it.

I can't say whether or not I will read Aris Crow's books unless they somehow connect to this story.  If they do, then, of course I will read it.

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#Review - A Shifter's Revenge by Raven Steele, Ava Mason #Urban #Paranormal

Series: Rouen Chronicles Book 3
Format: E-Book, 349 pages
Release Date: January 15th 2019
Publisher: Amazon Digital Services LLC
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Genre: Urban Fantasy

"Never kick me when I'm down, because when I get back up ... you're screwed."

Briar should be living the easy life. She finally checked off the last name on her kill list. The new pack Alpha isn't an a-hole, and her smoking hot shifter boyfriend is finally ready to spelunk her bat-cave.

But she should've remembered that life hates her. An unknown evil force is kidnapping people to create an army of drug-induced, soldier-like supernaturals. If that wasn't bad enough, the Abydos, the ancient blood Briar has vowed to protect, has been discovered. Briar must risk moving it before the growing evil in Rouen gets their hands on it.

Just when she thinks she's safe, Briar learns of a deep betrayal by someone close to her that threatens not only her pack, but the entire city. She can't fight against it as she is. She must become more, become greater. If she can't accept her destiny and fully embrace the shifter she was meant to be, then history will repeat itself, and she'll lose her pack and everyone she cares about.
 

 

A Shifter's Revenge is the third installment in co-authors Raven Steele & Ava Mason's Rouen Chronicles. This story is a continuation of A Shifter's Curse and A Shifter's Rage. It has been four days since Briar, aka Isabella Moretti, removed a one of the last key players responsible for the murder of her entire pack, her family, while leaving her for dead. Briar, we learned in the previous novel, is also a powerful shifter known as the Komira. But, if you thought Briar's life was going to get any easier now that she's crossed names off her list, you are in for a huge surprise.

With the killing of the previous Alpha, Briar has caught the attention of various principals like the Ministry aka Principes Noctis, who believe they should rule the world. Briar is told she has to fill the position within 48 hours, but who does she want to put in harms way? Briar also learns that there are a whole lot of people interested in the Abydos blood, including Samira & Angel, that Briar's family swore to protect for fear of it falling into the wrong hands. It that weren't enough, the authors decide that a being called Trianus should be mentioned. 

This is the book I've been waiting for. No, not because of all the twists, and the betrayals, and the twisted love triangle that apparently is not going to be resolved, or the bizarre Hyde's that seem to be indestructible, but, because of Lynx Morgan. Lynx has been kept mostly in the background thanks to her mother, Cassandra. We know that she comes from a powerful witch family. In fact, we've met 3 of her cousins who have been attached one way or the other to the Silver Claws pack

But, when things get really going, Lynx joins with Briar, and Samira Chevoky, as well as those that Briar can trust, as she has to once again deal with powerful entities that want to force Briar to join with them voluntarily or by force if necessary. Readers of this series know that Briar is a bad-ass. We now know a bit more about Samira as well. She's the bearer of the kiss of eternal night, leader of the norther realm, and once had a relationship with Mateo. But, Lynx is able to finally come out of her shadow with an impressive display of power. 

I loved the friendship that has developed between Briar, Samira, and Lynx. I loved that Roma once again gets to play with the big dogs. I really want to learn who Roma really is, and the reason she seems to be outside of other witches cliches. I don't know about anyone else, but I actually like Angel. He really loves Briar even though she has her heart set on Luke. Angel isn't going anywhere, any time soon I don't think. 

So, here's the deal. I've seen almost everyone rate this book with 5 stars. Sorry, I can't overlook the silly editing errors throughout this book. This is not an advanced copy. It is a finished copy that went on sale 01/15/2019. Therefore, an editor should have caught the glaring errors. Example: The story is talking about one character in particular, but they ended up using the wrong name. This could have been found easily enough. 

This is the end of Briar's trilogy. The next three books are supposed to be from the point of view of Samira, and I am ok with that since the Epilogue pretty much seems to indicate that a new villain is eager to play with Samira and see who stands when all is said and done. The Samira/Mateo angle should definitely be revealing since they have some sort of background from centuries ago.     

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#Review - A Shifter's Rage by Raven Steele, Ava Mason #Paranormal #Fantasy

Series: Rouen Chronicles # 2
Format: E-Book, 377 pages
Release Date: December 18, 2018
Publisher: Amazon
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Genre: Paranormal / Urban Fantasy

"I never go to bed angry. I stay awake and plot my revenge."

Imprisoned for killing Silas, Briar's only chance of surviving is to rely on her roommates and Luke, the sexy shifter she loves to hate. But getting free won't solve her problems. She still has to kill Dominic, the pack Alpha who murdered her entire family.

To do that, she has to make Dominic believe she's still team bad guys so she can get close to him and find out whom he's working with. Especially when she learns just about everyone and their evil dog is looking for the one thing she has sworn to protect--the Abydos, powerful and ancient blood that could either end the world or save it.

But playing the other side has some severe consequences, especially when she gets too close to the darkness and savors it's poisonous flavor one too many times. If Briar can't let go of her demons, she'll lose everyone she loves.

** Intended for adult readers due to violence and language. **

 

A Shifter's Rage is the second installment in authors Raven Steele & Ava Mason's Rouen Chronicles series. This story finds our protagonist, Briar, imprisoned by her nemesis, Dominic, Alpha of the Silver Claws pack, after she removed one of the men from her list of people she needs to kill in order to gain revenge for what they did to her entire family and her pack when she was a young girl. Having removed number 2, it now becomes a game of cat and mouse before she can attempt to take out the most dangerous man on her list. 

But, before Briar can move forward to remove number one on her list, she has to prove to Dominic and the rest of the pack, who don't seem to trust her, that she is worth every chance that she is given to her. She is a dangerous shifter with uncanny abilities to defeat any foe she encounters. If that means showing up and parlaying with a Sangre Nocturnas Vampire peddling a drug called Scorpion's Breath, then so be it. If it means betraying the trust of others who she gave her word to, then so be it. The ends after all, do justify the means.

But, before we, as readers can get to that point, we have to take a real look at who Briar is, what she is able to do, why she is on this road to revenge, how she was able to survive the brutal attack on her family & pack, and how she can handle the things that the authors put her through in this book. Trust me folks, this book is a wild ride with plenty of shocks, and it makes Briar seem much more human in nature when she finds herself drawn not only to a vampire, Angel, but to the drug he has been peddling to sell to humans. 

There is even a part to this story where you have to believe that Briar is spiraling out of control and there may not be any hope for gaining her revenge if she can't see what she is doing to herself and others. Can her friends Luke, Ryder, Lynx, Samira, and Roma save her, or will the darkness lead her on an entirely different road from which plenty of folks haven't returned from? I think the fact that the authors added Angel to the mix, really put a hold on what I was expecting from Briar and Luke. After all, Angel is either one of the most curious allies a girl has ever known, or he has an agenda that hasn't been revealed as of yet. Either way, I don't think we have seen the last of Angel. Has anyone else gotten the creepy vibes from Briar's Uncle? There is something there that just doesn't add up.

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#Review - A Shifter's Curse by Raven Steele, Ava Mason #Fantasy

Series: Rouen Chronicles # 1
Format: Kindle, 372 pages
Release Date: December 11, 2018
Publisher: 
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Genre: Urban Fantasy

"Karma takes too long. I'd rather beat the shit out of you right now."

With a dagger in her boot and blades in her bra, Briar, a powerful shifter, arrives in Rouen with one goal: find and kill Dominic, the man responsible for the destruction of her entire family and wolf pack. When she discovers he is an Alpha surrounded by muscle-ripped shifters and equally as strong witches, she knows the only way she will get close enough to kill him is if she joins his dangerous and shady pack.

But infiltrating them proves more challenging than she expects, especially when her new roommates turn out to be supernaturals with their own powers and secrets. She can't tell if the centuries-old, nosey vampire and fashion-sensitive witch are working with her or against her.

Whether they are friends or enemies doesn't change things. Briar has a job to do. And she is willing to do whatever it takes to quench her thirst for revenge, even if it means destroying her own soul. 

 

"We were reapers riding on iron stallions, preparing to take blood."

A Shifter's Curse is the first installment in authors Raven Steele and Ava Mason's Rouen Chronicles. Rouen, Louisiana is a town that is the home to vampires, witches, and shifters. For one shifter in particular, Briar (Isabella Moretti), is on a mission to hunt specific individuals who were responsible for the mass murder of her entire family. Even though she somehow managed to escape their fate, she was fundamentally changed forever. One could say she was made even stronger by the horror she experienced.

But, first things first.  After all, one can't go on a mission of revenge without having a job (money), or a place to escape the darkness that is sure to come. Enter Lynx (witch) and Samira (vampire) who become Briar's roommates and support mechanism. Briar is a very sassy, smart mouthed, badass heroine who walks the walk, and definitely takes no prisoners. Even though she is out for revenge for her family, and what happened to her, she first has to do some bad things in order to be trusted and taken in by the shifter pack led by Dominic De Angelo and his pet psycho Silas. Oh, and let's not forget the sexy shifter, Luke, who looks at you like he's going to eat you. Never a dull moment in Briar's world.

According to the author's web page on Amazon, this is the first of three books for Briar, then will have 6 more books featuring Lynx and Samira. The storyline is actually very good, engaging, entertaining, has twists, surprises, and plenty of dark moments. I have to say that I enjoyed the dark scenes because you can't claim you are on a mission for revenge against your enemies without doing some really horrible things in order to hide who you really are and what you are protecting from an even greater power who may end up destroying the world.

I definitely look forward to the sequel coming out December 18, 2018.   

Amazon