Reviewer: Andrea
I received a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
The Summary:
In Stacey Kennedy’s steamy paranormal romance novel, a rookie guardian sworn to combat the undead risks life and love in a world of violence, witchcraft, and seduction.
Trained as an Elite Guardian and witch, Nexi Jones has lost her family and she’s hell-bent on making sure she doesn’t lose anyone else. At least she has Kyden, her smoldering hot partner who’s been there for her every step of the way. But just as Nexi thinks she’s done mourning, tragedy strikes the Otherworld when a fellow guardian is murdered by a group of rogue vampires. Drawn into their dangerous games, she and Kyden trek into the Earthworld to hunt down a killer—and Nexi alone will be put to the ultimate test.
Although Kyden knows that Nexi must fight her own battles, his guardian instincts are raging as he struggles to keep her close. The ruthlessness of these vampires is like nothing he’s ever seen. And at their helm is the black witch Astoria, a demon with one burning desire: to shed blood in the name of vengeance. What troubles Kyden even more, though, is the warlock lurking in the shadows. Let the devil do his worst . . . all Kyden can do is love and protect Nexi until his last breath.
The Review:
This was a fun read. When I began, I wasn’t aware it was a sequel; however, fear not, you will be able to follow. There are lots of characters and rules to this intricate set of worlds, but Kennedy does a great job of keeping the reader in the loop. The notion of a triple-threat of worlds is daunting and intriguing, and while some the supernaturals’ abilities were the expected, tried and true (elemental witchiness, vamps with an erotic bite, wolves the size of ponies), the Guardians protecting the precarious truce between Earthworld and Otherworld were a nice twist. Kennedy also sets up a smooth follow-up novel in the mysterious and sultry Magnus.
While I loved the spunky, irreverent ignorance of Nexi, her fierceness and the protectiveness of Kyden were formulaic, but isn’t that what we paranormal romance readers love? PLOT SPOILER ALERT! What I didn’t expect was her connection to Magnus and the feelings he inspires. His touch inspires . . . ahem . . . naughty thoughts that aren’t typically part of the expected plot.
I did tire of her baggage and felt that it became repetitious. I found myself skimming paragraphs rehashing her “can’t lose anyone else” emotions, and of course, the entire supernatural world wants her for something to the point that Billy Squier’s “Everybody Wants You” should be her theme song, but I see this leading to a grand crescendo in following novels.
