Initial Reaction:



And



And



Oh Rebecca Ethington you've done it again!!!! You've thrown a wrench into my perfect story and happily ever after and I just can't deal with it!!!!

Burnt Devotion by Rebecca Ethington is the long awaited book five of the Imdalind series. Originally this addition was going to be a novella told from Thom and Wyn's POV but it is SO much more than that and it is AMAZING!!!! While our main characters Jocyln and Ilyan are present, but lacking perspective, we the readers take a trip in the minds of Wyn, Ryland, and Sain. Picking up the story during the battle from Soul of Flame, we get to see what happened to Wyn, Thom, Ryland, Sain, and Dramin as they tried to escape while Joclyn and Ilyan distracted the army waiting outside their doors. It's a great overlap and the story continues with their escape into Prague.

I love how Rebecca Ethington is able to write in so many different POV and I never feel lost! It was a nice change to Wyn, Ryland, and Sain from Joclyn. Each character has a unique voice and their personality shines through in the the writing.

Wyn is struggling. She has her memories back and now it's like she is two totally different people trying to share the same body. It was easy for me to empathize with her as her mood swings and temper flared. I felt for her as she struggled and rooted for her as she came back into her magic, which I must say is kicka--!

If Wyn is struggling, Ryland is drowning. His mind is in pieces because his father has taken so much from him. It is a constant fight for him as he struggles to keep his father's thoughts out of his mind and take control of his own body. He hurts physically and emotionally and it comes through in Ethington's writing. At times I cried for him because he is so different from the boy Joclyn fell in love with in Kiss of Fire. Yet at the same time, I couldn't help but think who is he really.

Then there is Sain....oh how I loathe thee!!!!! Sain is a character that I just don't quite have pinned down yet. He is manipulative and sneaky and I don't know how much we can trust him. He's terrible to Joclyn yet loves Dramin. It's all very confusing. Then I have to feel sorry for him because he lost his true love - Ovalia (gag me!!!) - and is basically only half the man he once was. But oh!!! I still despise him.

The plot of this book really revolves around the vision Jocyln had at the end of Soul of Flame where the Vily have attacked the people of Prague. The question becomes if they will make it to Prague in time and can they stop it. It's fast paced, heart pounding, can't stop reading as the action unfolds. I found myself holding my breath, gasping aloud, and yes even sobbing. So prepare yourselves!!!

Overall - if you haven't already guessed - I loved this book! It was not at all what I expected, it was SO much more! I love these characters, the plot, the HUGE EPIC TWIST in the entire series thus far and then of course the writing. Rebecca Ethington has a way with words that pulls you right into the midst of her stories. I cannot wait for Dawn of Ash the ending to Imdalind and at the same time I don't want this series to end! I will miss Ilyan and Joclyn and of course all the other characters. If you enjoy fantasy, romance, and young adult lit I highly suggest you read the series. It's a favorite of mine and not one to miss!

I received an eARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.

Claimed by Sarah Fine is book two of her new Servants of Fate series and picks up a week after the events of book one Marked. Galena Margolis is on the verge of discovering a vaccine that will put an end to the diseases plaguing mankind. When her volunteers begin dying suspiciously, she realizes that someone is out to stop her. As the Ferry's look to protect her with the help of the Kere, Declan Ferry steps in, fulfilling his father's last request: "Protect her and you protect the future." But protecting her comes at a high price.

I think I should preface my review by saying that I LOVE Sarah Fine! I've gobbled her books up like they are candy in the last year and a half and I was so excited when I received her newest series for review. Like seriously made my week :D

What I am loving about this new series is that each book can be read as a standalone novel, with each novel featuring two newish characters as the main characters with a unique plot that ties into the overall series plot. Claimed features Declan Ferry and Galena Margolis, both of whom I first met in Marked.

Declan is Cacy's older brother and chief at the EMS station where she and Eli work. I [icon name="fa-heart"] Dec! He's just amazing. He finds himself disenchanted by the work the Ferry's are doing and he is seriously considering turning in his scope which means that he is ready to give up his immortality. He's not happy and seems a bit lost at the beginning of the story. His only reason for continuing is the charge his father left him: "Protect her and you protect the future." In protecting her though, he finds himself falling for her and I have to say it's super sweet just how far he is willing to go and how much he is willing to give up for Galena.

Galena is Eli's older sister and I fell in love with her through Eli's eyes during Marked. She is a force to be reckoned with in my opinion. She suffered a horrific event that Eli touched on and it is expanded in Claimed. In spite of what's happened to her, she stays strong, she continues her work to develop this vaccine, and she does it all without asking for any help. She's focused and determined to fulfill her fate and I just love it! When Dec enters her life, she finds herself ready for more and to move past her nightmares. She's willing to explore possibilities that she originally thought closed to her. And that my friends makes for an awesome read!

The plot of this story is similar to the last book. Someone is after Galena, trying to stop her work. It's a fast moving story, filled with strained romance and suspense. If I'm being completely honest I think I liked this romance much more than Eli's and Cacy's story. Why? Very simple. Galena and Dec are older, slightly wiser and put each other before themselves. They focus on what the other may want instead of their own wants and besides all of that it's just a really sweet relationship that blossoms between them. One I rooted for throughout the book!

I was pleasantly surprised to find how much I enjoyed Claimed. I'm not one to usually like it when an author changes the characters in each book of a series but it works with this one! Not only does it add to the overall plot of the series, it's a nice change to see each of the Ferry siblings find love. My only complaint, and it's the same one as in Marked, are the sexual scenes. I felt they were overdone and personally I could have done without them. I don't need details if you get what I mean ;)

Other than than the book is fantastic! I love that I got a few answers to questions from the last book, namely who is working against Moros, but also new questions have come up. I'm excited to see just where the series is heading and I'm hoping that book three will feature Moros and Aislyn. I'm very curious about the eldest sister!

If you enjoy New Adult, science fiction, fantasy with a bit of mythology thrown in, and paranormal romance, I highly recommend you check the series out! It doesn't disappoint :D

Review in a Gif:

***Spoiler Alert*** If you have not read book one [b:Gates of Thread and Stone|17904985|Gates of Thread and Stone (Gates of Thread and Stone #1)|Lori M. Lee|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1399567616s/17904985.jpg|25084736], there are minor, unavoidable spoilers in this review of its sequel.

The Infinite by Lori M. Lee picks up a few months after the events of Gates of Thread and Stone. Kai and Reev live in the White Court, helping the new regime after Kai's impromptu yet much deserved killing of Ninu. Kai is restless, Avan is dead (WHY?!?!?!) and Reev is not acting himself. When a stranger claiming to be from another city needing their help arrives, Kai jumps on the chance to lead a team and leave the awkwardness that surrounds the White Court, but not all is at it appears and she finds herself in over her head.

Okay so Kai is by far one of my favorite characters. She is so strong-willed and independent, not listening to anyone and doing what she wants. Girl power right there ;) At the beginning of this story she is a bit lost. Her best friend and boy she come to love is dead, well sort of. He's back but doesn't remember her at all and he is now an Infinite. Kai doesn't handle this change well. To make matters worse her brother is distant and just not himself, leaving Kai confused and struggling to cope with her identity as the daughter of Time (literally) and Avan's condition by herself. So yeah she's a bit lost in this book, coming to terms with everything that has happened. She handles it, in my opinion, much better than I would and comes out on the other end stronger for it.

Avan is not the boy I fell in love with in Gates of Thread and Stone. He's now an Infinite, Conquest to be exact taking Ninu's place. There are times we catch glimpses of the old Avan, his love for Kai coming through. But that's it. There's not much humanity left in him and I struggle to understand if he will ever come back. The only plus side to his change is that he is now immortal just as Kai will be when her father passes over his power to her. So if Avan ever overcomes his new abilities and REMEMBERS her they will at least be together forever*

*Note: This is all conjecture on my part

Then there's G-10 or Mason as he now goes by. I love Mason! He's just adorable in this "I can kill you" kinda way ;) He's light-hearted, kind, can kick your tail if needed, and very obviously has a crush on our Kai. I wouldn't say there is a love triangle per se but there could be if Kai ever decides to move on from Avan, and I'm kinda rooting for him!

We get a lot more of Reev in this book and the dynamic between him and Kai has changed. Neither of them really know how to cope with it and my heart hurt for both of them as they struggled to find that familial love they shared. Reev is a great character though! He's strong, courageous and very obviously loves his sister. I adore him just as much as Kai does! He's her hero and I whole-heartedly agree with her.

The Infinite goes deeper into the mythology of the world Lee introduced us to in Gates of Thread and Stone and I found myself unable to get enough! As Avan is now an Infinite and Kai is learning more about her powers over Time, more of their world is brought to light and I love it!

On top of the extra mythology, there's the side story that takes Kai to Lanathrill, a town inside a mountain (super cool!). Lanathrill is inundated with these creatures that Kai suspects Ninu created to protect their borders. Now that he is gone no one can control them and they are wreaking havoc on the neighboring village. Kai with a team of sentinels that includes Mason travels to the town and really the surprises that come shocked me! I'll also admit a few tears were shed ;)

Overall Lee outdid herself with this sequel! It's unusual really for a sequel to live up to a 5-star first book, but this one did. If I could give it more than 5 I would. The Infinite deserves it! There's more action, more suspense, twists that I never saw coming (or maybe I just was in denial), and more questions to this world Lee's created. All I can say is....please hurry book three! I'm not sure I can wait very patiently for you ;)

If you enjoy young adult, fantasy, and dystopians than I highly recommend you check out Lori M. Lee's series Gates of Thread and Stone. It does not disappoint!

Review in a Gif:

I received an eARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.

Hmmm....this story had SO much potential but it just didn't cut it for me. Maybe I expected too much? I was really excited to read Maximus by Robert L. Black. From the moment I saw the cover and then read the synopsis I thought "This book will be awesome!" Sadly it wasn't.

Maximus follows the story of a Roman general - the book's namesake - sent to investigate the claims of Pontius Pilate in Judaea about a Jewish rabbi claiming to be the long awaited messiah. Maximus takes his deputy commander Androcles with him and together they disguise themselves as Jews, learn the customs and find themselves following Christ.

Maximus is an interesting, yet flat character. He is a high-ranking Roman general, unhappy with his gods and the continuous fighting of Rome. When offered this campaign of spying, very different from leading men on the battlefield, he accepts immediately though not without reservations. Taking his best friend with him, the reader gets a glimpse into the transformation of the two soldiers as they take on their roles as Jews.

The story doesn't just follow them though. It also follows Liora and her family as they become disciples of Jesus, believing him the prophesied Messiah. I like Liora and I can relate to her. She is kind-hearted, speaks her mind, yet loves her family with a devotion that anyone can see. It's no wonder when the two Romans disguised as Jews show up they fall in love with them.

The plot is pretty self-explanatory as Maximus and Androcles first travel to Judaea and then search for this Jewish rabbi. My problem with this is that it was poorly executed. There is A LOT of three/four word sentences that describe every detail, but not a lot of actual witnessing of Christ. There is a secondary plot where the two Roman soldiers fall in love with two Jewish girls, which while good drew attention away from the ultimate goal of following Jesus.

Maybe I'm being too critical, but when the synopsis says this is a story about Jesus as told through the eyes of a Roman soldier, I expected more Jesus and less of everything else. Instead the reader is given glimpses of Jesus and then nothing more is really mentioned until the very end when the crucifixion occurs. The resurrection is only mentioned in passing during the two page epilogue, which I was shocked since this is a redemption/salvation story as the Roman soldiers come to know the one true God.

I had a really hard time following the story because of multiple, MULTIPLE points of view. I like a lot of points of view, however as one reviewer described it "head-hopping" is not my thing. It was like every other page was a different character and I had a hard time connecting to any of them or understanding their motives.

Overall, the book itself was just okay for me. I had a hard time following with the multiple points of view. I felt like the romance of the story distracted me from the redemptive parts. Don't get me wrong the book had its moments, otherwise I wouldn't give it three stars. I feel that I should also note that I read an advanced, unedited copy of the book. That being said I hope that some of the "head-hopping" and basic, descriptive sentences were edited to flow better. I do plan to get a copy and find out.

If you enjoy historical fiction, Christian literature I think you'll enjoy the book. Despite it's flaws, I still found it enjoyable and I rooted for the characters in the end. My only wish was that the Christian aspects of the book would have stood out more.

I received an eARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.

Hmph....I'm not sure where to begin. There were aspects of Seeker that I loved then there were parts I just couldn't overlook. Seeker tells the story of three friends who have trained a majority of their lives to become...well, Seekers. Though none of them really know what this means and won't know until they take their oaths. When the ugly truth is revealed, one turns on another and the whole thing comes crashing down. Quin (one of the main characters), her mother, and Shinobu escape to Hong Kong and start new lives while John is left seeking revenge.

Let's start with what I liked...I really liked the multiple points of view. I know a lot of people don't like this, but I kinda <3 it. There are four specific points of view: Quin, John, Shinobu, and Maud the Young Dread. Quin is really the main character as the synopsis suggests as plot revolves around her and her family, but the others are important too. Quin, John, and Shinobu grow up together and train to become Seekers together, but John is hiding a secret from his friends that once known tears them apart.

There's a bit, well more than a bit, of a love triangle :eyeroll: which you all know I hate. This one is no different, except the author did something that is fairly hard to do with me. She made me want Quin to like the other love interest!!! I really rooted for the guy and swooned over him ;) In fact I'll just say it, I love Shinobu! He is my favorite character and does the most changing throughout the book.

Now for what I didn't like...the plot holes. There were multiple times while reading that I felt like I skipped pages because there was that much of a hole in the story. The chapters skipped around as they bounced from one character to another and they were hard to overlook. Once the book got through the first part and started into the next section it flowed better for me. However I was ready to sit the book down by then, but forced myself to continue. And I'm glad I did. About 75% into the book, the plot and action really picked up and I found myself unable to turn the pages fast enough.

Overall, I was disappointed in the plot holes as well as the setting. I was very confused as to when this book was taking place. The training of the characters and their weapons choice led me to believe this book set in medieval times or at least long ago, then a flying ship (car) appeared and I was thrown for a loop. I was confused a majority of the book and would have liked more explanation. However the ending of this book saved it for me. I'm curious for the next one and am looking forward to reading more about this world and its characters. If you enjoy young adult literature, science fiction/fantasy, then give it a try. If you've already read it, I'd love to know your thoughts ;)

Review in a Gif:

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review



That has to be one of the most intense reads I've had in a while...and that's saying something...because I read like ALOT! Stop picks up right where Sink left off. So if you haven't read this series yet, be aware that there will be minor spoilers to the previous books in this review. Braita must come face to face with her Vaq and confront the feelings she has for them. They seem remorseful and even apologetic but I find it a bit funny that they can be after she caught them in bed together AND not to mention all the things they've kept from her. Will Braita forgive them or will she stay with the "enemy" or will she just find a way to escape?

I've said it before and I'll say it again....I love Braita! She is such a fun character to experience. She is naive to the world's ways as a result of her upbringing (in this dystopian world, humans don't touch or make love...everything is done through science and I do mean EVERYTHING) and so when she winds up on Triaz and finds her Vaq, she's overwhelmed. Over the last two books we've seen her slowly come to grips with the reality of her situation and she's opening up to touch and feelings she's never had before. In her mind it's all still taboo which just adds to her cuteness and I think the appeal she has for the Vaq. In this book, we see Braita come to terms with her embarrassment and feelings of betrayal after catching her Vaq in bed together. I think she handles it rather well.

Oh the men in Braita's life!!! Let's address them in order of appearance shall we ;) First the Plumas of the East, Killeg and Phila, who are half-brothers and Vaq. For some reason, these two (who I like much better than Braita's Vaq pair) are extremely interested in her. I'm not sure whether I trust them or just WANT to trust them. They are wily pair for sure and in this book they keep as close an eye as possible on Braita without breaking any laws.

Second we have Jax, Braita's best friend and only human she knows on Triaz. Jax has a plan and at the end of book two slipped Braita a note about being ready to run. She has no clue what this means and Jax doesn't let her in on anything until close to the end...no spoilers there ;) Honestly, I want Braita with Jax, I like him and he's her species, also who doesn't love a best friend romance?!

Lastly the Plumas of the West, Malik and Leo, the lovers and Braita's Vaq. Needless to say I did feel sorry for them when Braita sees them for the first time. The situation is beyond uncomfortable and they are exhausted from worry and searching for her. They are sweet and kind to Braita, but I have to wonder if that will continue or if it's just a show for those handing her back to them. They've never harmed her, but they lied by omission ALOT! I have to wonder where their interests lie.

Overall this book is amazeballs (is that a word?)! Seriously, it's amazing. And the ending...OH!!!! What are you doing to me Scarlett?!?! The ending is just I can't discuss it. I need the next book ASAP. If you enjoy science fiction and the new adult genre, I highly suggest you check out this series. You will not be disappointed.

I received an eARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.

I have a love/hate relationship with City in Embers by Stacey Marie Brown. On one hand I LOVED the paranormal, urban fantasy feel of the book. Fae live among us and have declared war with an electric storm that basically wipes out Seattle (no spoilers in this review. I promise!). In the process Zoey Daniels, a collector for the DMG – think X-files section of the government, witnesses her partner being killed by a group of Fae and is then hit with a bolt of the magical lightening. This bolt of lightening transfers the powers of one Fae, the handsome and very intimidating Ryker, to Zoey. Now Zoey is stuck with Ryker until they can figure out how to get his powers back to him.

I really like Zoey. She is strong, fearless, and a bit snarky (I love snarky!). However she is also insecure. She is a foster kid who was never adopted and never really wanted. She bounced around from home to home finally sticking to one place at 12. Now 22, she’s in love with her partner, Daniel who happens to be 18 years her senior. This aspect bothered me a bit. I have nothing against age, but I felt Zoey was trying to force herself on this older man. Unfortunately (or thankfully depending on how you look at it), he dies early in the book, leaving our Zoey grieving and a bit on edge. This is when I really started to like her character.

Ryker is….I have no words for him. Zoey describes him as a Viking because of his intimidating size and overall hotness. He’s a bit of a jerk….no scratch that, he’s a BIG jerk to her. Basically he ties her to him and only seems to care about saving her to save his powers. He’s intimidating, demeaning, and hates…HATES humans and now he’s stuck with one.

Ok now to the actual storyline. I liked the concept and I really liked the urban fantasy/dystopian vibe of the plot. However, I felt like the relationship between Zoey and other characters could have been developed better. Zoey and Daniel are supposedly partners and have been for three years, Zoey claims to love him, but the relationship seems to be just at face value. It doesn’t go very deep, at least I didn’t think it did. It felt one-sided. Also the relationship between Zoey and Ryker bugged me. They go the entire book seemingly hating each other. Then after a few near-death experiences and fighting side-by-side, they open up a bit. A majority of the book is just Zoey’s imagination or reflections on the past. And THIS really bothered me!

There was a lot of room for character development and relationship building, heck even world building as really the only thing we know is this: Fae’s live among us and they aren’t easily killed. I felt like the author slacked a bit here and could have done a better job of explaining the DMG and the Fae.

Overall, I could go either way with this book. I enjoyed Zoey and the dystopian elements in the book, but at the same time it needed more paranormal and a little more character development. The ending however hooked me, and now I want to read book two of the series!

FYI, this book is NEW ADULT and has strong language, graphic violence, and some pretty intense sexual innuendos. I would recommend this book for anyone who enjoys contemporary paranormal romance.

Review in a Gif:

I received an advanced copy of this ebook from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.

My Initial Reaction to this Book:



So yeah, I'm torn on loving this book and being a tad confused. Ever Darkening is just that, an extremely dark and twisted fantasy adventure. What it essentially boils down to though is a story of good vs. evil and the natural balance of the world. Kaylyn is destined to bring an end to evil in her world, and when she defeats the last of the Malryx she finds herself a bit lost. Her whole life has been to destroy evil and now there isn't any. Then a villager from a faraway village comes asking for help. A darkness has consumed his village and they don't know how to defeat it. With a renewed sense of purpose Kaylyn and the other Zophas set out to help, but how do you stop nature?

I really liked the characters. Kaylyn is an unstoppable force of good. She's a bit naive though in that she doesn't question her charge to kill all Malryx. In fact she feels a sense of pride and accomplishment with each kill. It's her sense of duty almost. She's strong, she's independent, and she ALWAYS puts others before herself. When things go wrong, she takes the blame whether it's hers or not. Then there's the other Zophas (warriors against the Malryx): Azleco, Felix, Sosha, Tavi, Marsa, and Jorrin. Marsa is Kaylyn's best friend and adoptive sister as Marsa's mother raised Kaylyn after her parents died at a young age. Marsa is a bit obsessed with Jorrin, Kaylyn's other best friend. And when I say obsessed I mean she loves him and wants to have his baby obsessed. Jorrin though doesn't seem to return the affection. Instead he focuses most of his attention on Kaylyn, creating a tenuous friendship between the three.

I also really enjoyed the main story, once I understood it ;) The plot was slightly confusing to me. We are dropped into the end of a hundred-years war. The author doesn't give much explanation about the Zophas or the Malryx other than that one is good and one is evil. What helps the plot and the book as a whole are the characters and the relationships that are established as the plot gears up for the return of evil.

I felt like the book dragged in parts though :( There's a short prologue setting up the convoluted love triangle among Kaylyn, Marsa, and Jorrin (which in all honestly let me predict the ending). Then it jumps 7 years and we see Kaylyn killing the last Malryx, lots of action and suspense. Unfortunately it just drops off after that. It's almost as if the climax occurs at the very beginning and then we have to wait to reach a second climax, which doesn't come until around 45% into the book. Foley, a messenger from a nearby village, comes asking the Zophas for help. A darkness has plagued their village, killing their animals and changing the forest. Kaylyn and the other Zophas answer his call and find that killing the Malryx has upset the natural balance of their world. To restore it, nature has turned evil.

Overall I DID enjoy the book. Kaylyn is a fun character and the whole nature is evil thing is a pretty cool concept. I could have done without the angsty love business though. I know it was necessary for the book, but really I just felt awful for the characters involved. This is a standalone novel, however I think if the author wants she could have more from this world featuring other Zophas. If you enjoy young adult fantasy with a little romance I highly suggest you check this book out.

The Magician's Lie by Greer Macallister is an intriguing story about a young female illusionist arrested for murdering her husband.

I'm not gonna lie, I struggled between loving this book and hating it. In fact at one point I almost sat it down, but I pushed through to the end and I am SO glad I did!

The Amazing Arden is arrested by Officer Virgil Holt after the discovery of her husband's body, hidden under the stage cleaved in half with an axe, the same axe she used in her act. However she is adamant that she didn't do it, and to prove it she tells her story to Holt one late night/early morning in 1905.

"Tell me then," he says. "Tell me what happened."

She does something he's never seen her do. Not in the posters. Not onstage. And certainly not since he recognized and apprehended her in that restaurant.

She smiles.

The Amazing Arden looks at him out of her half-brown eye, tilts her head, and asks, "Where does a person's story begin?"

Arden is a fascinating character. Her real name, Ada Bates, represents the life she is trying to escape. Raised by her step-father and mother, she runs away after a rather scary encounter with her cousin. What I love about her is she's confident and determined. Whatever she sets her mind to, she accomplishes. When she runs away, she gets a job as a maid to support her. When her past catches up to her, she finds an escape to New York and secures a job as a dancer. She's a strong character who is just trying to find what she wants in the world.

Officer Virgil Holt isn't seen much, but he plays a big role. It is through him that we hear Ada's life story, and his frustration at her comes through this perception. He only wants to know what happened the night of her husband's murder, but she insists to understand and believe her he must hear the whole story. I like Virgil, but I also feel sorry for him. He's nursing his own secrets throughout the book that he slowly reveals to Arden so she will continue with her own story.

Ada's life is affected the most by three people: Ray, Clyde, and Adelaide. Ray is her step-cousin, three years her senior, and crazy. Seriously he is! He believes he has the power to heal people with just a touch and thought. He tests this on Ada and believes she is his. Honestly reading about him gave me the creeps and I fully supported her running away! Clyde is a young man that Ada meets while working as a maid and he is her escape to New York. I love Clyde, he is sweet and the relationship that builds between him and Ada is that sweet, untouchable first love. Adelaide is Ada's mentor whom she grows to care for I believe more than her own mother. She's tough and unlikable, but she takes Ada under her wing and eventually trains her.

The whole story is wonderfully written and spans about 15 years as Ada moves from the time her mother married her step-father to the night of her arrest. The synopsis compares it to Water for Elephants and I whole-heartedly agree! The setting alternates from Ada telling her story to the one night of her arrest (told from Virgil's POV). I loved this alternating POV and the wonderful way in which the author describes life on a train and on the road with an illusionist. He even explains some of the illusions and how they work!

My only complaint and why I nearly gave up on the story is that at times the plot dragged and seemed to almost stop completely. There would be some key point in the plot that would grab my attention and the pace would be fast and suspenseful, then there would be nothing and the pace would drop off for several chapters.

What I loved about the whole book was the writing. The words are beautiful and captivating. It was like Ada was talking directly to me! Overall I enjoyed the story and highly recommend it for anyone that enjoys historical fiction!

I received an eARC of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.

Marked by [a:Sarah Fine|5752145|Sarah Fine|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1336152650p2/5752145.jpg] is the first book in a brand new series entitled Servants of Fate about the Ferry family and their curse or gift of ferrying the dead to
their final resting place.

First off I'd like to preface my review by saying that I adore Sarah Fine and fell in love with her Guards of the Shadowlands series (so expect some fangirling). While this new series is very similar, it is also very different. For starters it is New Adult all the way. Guards was a 16+ or young adult crowd, not so with Servants. There are steamy scenes and lots of innuendos along with some foul language. So if you don't like that kinda thing, I'd suggest you skip this one. That being said onto my review ;)

I devoured this book in a little over 24 hours and do not regret one minute of it! Marked centers around two main characters and alternates between their points of view. Cacia, aka Cacy, Ferry is the youngest daughter of the Charon, the leader of the Ferry family and overseer, and I like her. She is outspoken, does her job as both a Ferry and an emergency worker, but holds back from relationships outside of her family. Why? Because her last boyfriend painfully reminded her that he was human by dying (because yes, as a Ferry she is immortal until she decides to retire) and she had to escort him to his final resting place, lucky for her it was Heaven. Since then Cacy has closed herself to the possibility of having an intimate relationship with anyone. She thought she was okay with this path until she meets her new partner.

Eli Margolis, Cacy's new partner, has a dark and haunting past. His parents are dead and it is just him and his older sister who happens to be a genius and is the reason they now live in the swamplands of Boston, instead of the desert lands of Philadelphia (I'll get to the AMAZING world-building in just a sec). Eli, like Cacy, shies away from relationships because he doesn't feel worthy of them and he has his sister to take care of. I really like Eli, however (and I can't believe I'm saying this) I felt like I was reading about Malachi (see Guards) all over again! The characters are extremely similar other than the fact that Eli is alive and well at the beginning of our story. Besides that, I loved him, but I kept picturing Malachi and was watching for Mazikin to appear at any moment.

While there are no Mazikin in this story, there are some pretty fantastic creatures called the Kere who work for the Fates and are destined to mark those whose time it is to die. Then after death the Ferrys escort them. Very, very cool tie in to Greek/Roman mythology with the Sisters of Fate and the ferryman! But back to the Kere. These creatures appear as human in the real world and can interact as such. But in the Veil (the in-between death and life, shades of grey, type of place), they take their true form which is something straight from nightmares! Some are good and some are twisted. They receive the names of the soon-to-die on their forearms and then it is up to them to mark them for death (not only mark them but also choose how they will die).

There is no love lost between the Kere and the Ferrys. The Ferrys see the Ker as vicious and greedy, killing and marking only for the money they receive for delivering the souls. The Ker see the Ferrys in the same light, but for think they are hoarding the money or cheating the Ker out of their cut. It's a very tense relationship that only gets worse when Cacy's father the Charon is murdered (I promise I didn't spoil anything as this occurs in the first 10% of the book!).

This murder is the main plot of the story along with the budding romance between Cacy and Eli. Cacy is determined to find her father's killer as she believes he was marked before the Fates deemed it time. And Eli just wants to be there for his new partner, if she'll let him. The relationship between Cacy and Eli was hard for me to swallow. I enjoyed the story, but it was too insta-love for me. But then again this is a book about the Fates and if they have a hand in it, insta-love makes sense :D

Now what really sold this book for me was the world-building! It was astounding. Fine does a superb job of mixing urban fantasy with a post-apocalyptic world. The reader gets to experience the Veil and the swamplands of Boston all in one chapter! My only complaint, I would love to know more about why Boston is a swamp and Philadelphia is a desert. There is no backstory, but Fine does build the dystopian world with the characters and how society and culture are influenced during the characters' time period. It's all quite fascinating!

Overall, I loved the book! I'm so, SO glad that the next installment comes out in March so I don't have to wait too long for more. If you have ever read a Sarah Fine novel, you know she's a queen of cliffhangers. Not so with this book :) While there is a mild cliffhanger, the book itself can be read as a standalone. Cacy and Eli's story is complete, though I'm sure they will show up as supporting characters in the books to come. If you enjoy urban fantasy, new adult/contemporary romance, or you loved Guards of the Shadowlands, I highly recommend you check out the book.

I received an eARC of this book from Amazon Kindle First in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.