Book Review: Into Darkness

Into Darkness

By:  S.A. Archer & S. Ravynheart

Publish Date:  July 6, 2013

Publisher:  Ravynheart Publishing

Format:  ebook, 98pgs

Genre:  Urban Fantasy

Series:  1st of Into Magic series;
continuation of Rise of the Unseelie, Champion of the Sidhe, and Touch series.

Recommendation:  Continuation of the series with a darker twist to them.  All combine into one blended story!

Synopsis:
One Dangerous World... The Intense Storylines... All Collide in Season Two of The Sidhe!

Poisoned with dark magic, Lugh, the former Champion of the Sidhe, is ruled by the beast within, and it has one goal... to reclaim a source of magic that will make it unstoppable.  But his allies have not forgotten his quest to restore the realm of fey that will prevent the fey from Fading.

By Lugh's side is London, a human druidess pledged into his service.  London's got Lugh's back, even if he's whacked out of his mind.  She'll need more than quick thinking and her gun to get them out of the trouble that is coming for them.

The Unseelie, led by Donovan, have brought the Sidhe back from the brink of extinction.  And now they are not going to let Lugh remake a fey realm under Seelie control.  With the young earthborn Sidhe coming into their powers, the Unseelie rise against the forces that would once more see them under Seelie tyranny.

With longer episodes, Season Two combines the three storylines from Season One, with explosive results!

First Sentence:
The sense of de ja vu brought on a wave of nausea for London almost as much as the reek of blood.

Purchase At:
Amazon

***I read for my honest thoughts on the story, from the author.

My Thoughts and Summary:
Lugh has changed, consumed by the Darkness yet holding off the eclipse - barely.  London is still his druidess and needs the Sidhe Touch to live.  She will do his bidding, no matter what.

The more pieces of the magic puzzle Malcolm finds, the easier it is to follow the threads of magic to the next piece.  And more obsessed Malcolm becomes with the mission to find all the magic and bring it together.

Lugh is on the mission for artifacts to create a new fey realm, and power.  The wood elves think they can stop the fade, or extremely delay it.  Lugh is willing to do this procedure to get to create the new realm and powers with it.

Each want to help the fey, by restoring the power so the Fade doesn't take any more.  But, each has their valid reasons for why they can't afford the 'help' of the other.  Or why the other is dangerous.  Will the Fey survive the constant battle between Seelie and Unseelie long enough?  The rift is needed, but is it needed still?  Could the Seelie and Unseelie be switching roles?  Maybe so....


What a way to start Season 2.  All characters we enjoy are here.  Even Jonathon the dragon.  This is a complete intersection of the three previous series; Champion of the Sidhe, Rise of the Unseelie, and Touch.  We get POV from London, Malcolm, Donovan, and Lugh.  All in one place!

Interesting turn of events and what we learn.  There are deep secrets to the Dark Beast in Lugh, and this makes me curious to motives behind others that are now lost.  Or are they?  I'm still curious as to that little question from season one.  And what happens to him here...Oh my.  Just when you think Lugh has it bad, it gets worse.

Malcolm.  Wow.  Just when you think he's coming around, he falls backwards.  This boy is falling for his bloodhound instincts and not even know it.  The things he does with magic, he is a key to many things.  And one that is hard to control at that.  He's damaged and becoming obsessed with magic and playing with it.  He has no idea what he's doing, but he's doing it.

Oooo, this is the one.  The ending is top notch.  Fighting and intense to hold your attention to what's going on. Then!  Then you see someone you never thought you would! LOL!  Ha!

Book Review: Captivated

Captivated

By:  S.A. Archer & S. Ravynheart

Format:  eNovella

Publisher:  Rabynheart Publishing

Publish Date:  January 2013

Series:  5th in Touch series
Affiliated with Champion of the Sidhe series, and Rise of the Unseelie Series

Book Synopsis:
London's had a rough journey and made some bad choices.  She's on the Unseelie hit list and hoping that hooking up with a Seelie is the answer to all her problems.  Only now that she's beginning to get a glimpse of the bigger picture, she finds herself at ground zero of more magical trouble than she ever expected.

First Sentence:
Tall, blond, and delicious heading your way.

Purchase At:

Amazon ~ Kindle

My Thoughts and Summary:
London is woken at four in the morning by a text, Lugh is on his way.  Lugh has returned to her as he promised, but somethings off...darker.  He offers to take London as his druidess and with her profession he hires her permanently to find all the relics he needs.

London thinks she has found someone to help her with her needs but she might be the one doing the helping...he might be in more danger than she.

We see Lugh's reactions through London here.  Seeing Lugh see the Unseelie for the first time since the fall of the Mounds.  London has no idea what's happened to him, we do after reading Protector of the Light, so it's neat to see the affects from the outside looking in.  We see a lot of what is becoming of Lugh and being we are new, like London, this is a great place to see it first hand as Willem explains to us what and how 'it' affects Lugh.

This story is heavy with crossover to Lugh's story.  We go in search with Lugh to find the relics he needs, we see Jonathon and Willem, and Willem joining us on this aventure.

London is on a mission, yet taking the pledge to be Lugh's, London feels in to deep and something about Lugh is different.

I'm curious to see the Unseelie story to learn more of their side and curious of Lugh's story with being with London in this one the whole time.


*I read this story for an honest review.

Book Chat...on a Fey series

I was included in a Live Google chat with the authors S.A. Archer and S. Ravynheart in chatting about their fey series's I've been reading.  Yes plural series's.  They have three book lines that cross over in the same world.

If you are curious about the chat you can watch the video of the three of us at Fey Cast.

I tried to get a few pieces of juicy details for you, but Ravynheart put his foot down. ;D Lol.

The first book in each story line:  (note: each of these 1st books are FREE on Amazon Kindle)

These stories are all done in novella length series.


If you would like you could read the Prequel to Champion of the Sidhe series:  In Whom You Trust (goes with End of the World starting book series).  I did enjoy this one and it starts at Fey Cast and hops to a few blogs for each section.

Book Review: Compelled

Compelled

By:  S.A. Archer

Format:  eNovella

Publisher:  Ravynheart Publishing

Publish Date:  November 9, 2012

Series:  4th in Touch series
Affiliated with Champion of the Sidhe series, and Rise of the Unseelie series

Book Synopsis:
London's made mistakes.  A lot of them.  Enough so that she's been marked for elimination by a powerful Unseelie Sidhe.  As a human cursed with an addiction to the Touch of the Sidhe, her life and her future depends on finding a Sidhe who will hire her on a permanent basis.  The only way to put her reputation for causing trouble behind her is to prove herself by tracking down a powerful druid who's endangering the Sidhe.  But when old enemies resurface, can London trust the man she was sent to investigate?  Or will this finally be her fatal mistake?

First Sentence:
"You screwed the pooch on that one, babe."

My Thoughts and Summary:
Joe is back and chatting with London.  London tells him about her threatening text from the Unseelie.  We learn Joe has found himself a Sidhe to serve.  But then, Joe didn't contact London to 'catch up' and chat about her flailing reputation he'd heard of.  No, he needs her help and it just might clear her name enough to please his Sidhe boss to take her in.  It's always good to have a backup plan when your life depends on it, if she can pull it off and clear her name.

We get to see two characters from previous stories; Joe and Riley.  Great to see the characters resurface again!

Joe's to check out a man for his boss.  A man who likes to think of himself as a ladies man, and thinks London could do the trick.

London is scared after her run in with the Unseelie.  She's now stacking out her own home waiting to see if they come for her.  She's not been staying there.

This story does cross with Lugh's story in Protector of the Light.  We get to see London's view of the meeting of Lugh.  Again I was worried it would be to much repeat from Lugh, but from London's mind the brief encounter is new and interesting.

I really found this interesting with the tie-in with the other books/series here.  I've been trying to piece together from the other series and London (to me) unknowingly fulfilling a mission for a Sidhe and maybe even through exttention helping the one that wants her dead.

Sneaky.  Good.  Well played.  I love it when things are all entwined together and play out on a bigger screen.  Wonderful addition to London's story and the other series as well, always learning more about this world.


**I read this story for an honest review

Book Review: Enchanted

Enchanted

By:  S.A. Archer

Format:  eNovella

Publisher:  Ravynheart Publishing

Publish Date:  May 2012

Series:  3rd in Touch series
Affiliated with Champion of the Sidhe series, and Rise of the Unseelie series

Book Synopsis:
All London wants is her life back, not something easy to accomplish with her addiction to the Sidhe Touch constantly gnawing at her.  This time she's found an earthborn Sidhe who just might take the edge off her craving.  If she can keep the other predators like vampires and wizards from claiming her prey, that is.

First Sentence:
London wasn't looking for Mr. Right.

My Thoughts and Summary:
Six weeks since her last fix and London's desire for the Touch of the rare and hidden Sidhe is becoming a need to her life and sanity.  London has found there are Sidhe in a glamoured club, which she has staked out, waiting for one to leave and kidnap for his Touch.  Not sure what to do, when she's captures a Sidhe, to get his Touch and not have him vanish on her instead, she binds him with silver cuffs and calls her Vampire friend Selena to help.  Taking him to Selena's warded manor home, but there are others there that are interested in the fey as well...werewolves.  London's little mess up could start an all out war between the races.

This short story has it's action with it.  Fighting and lots of running for their lives.  Fighting of human, werewolves, vampires, and fey.  Nice to keep the story moving forward, and learning about the different races present in this series.

Rash thinking is fuzzed by the overwhelming desire for nothing but the Touch.  London comes to the realization that her desperation for the Touch has drawn her to have blinders and limited thought as to what she is told... she will believe anything even obvious lies and did things she can't change which is making life harder.  London is starting to come to some truth, and has to learn to accept it.  Finding the Touch might be harder now with the truth out, but maybe, just maybe, there might be one tiny chance of an ally in the end, if she plays her cards properly.

London is willing to fight for her fey here, but also what helps her is the nervousness of the Vampires.  We learn they are always prepared and London being a close friend to Selena has let her in on the secrets in their home.  There is always something around; weapons, secret rooms, and escape routes everywhere that can be used in the dire emergency.

Oh!  Shame on the authors.  Evil as they are!  They left me with a cliffhanger ending!  Shame, shame. lol.  I am now in need of the next story to see what troubles are heading London's way.  It should be out in just a few months.


I read this story for an honest review

Who? What? Where (71)

Who are you with? Where are you at? What's happening?

Share with us just a little bit of what is happening in the book you are reading, right where you are now.

Just a tiny taste of what's happening, remember try to not give spoilers of the book.

(This is a new meme I'm going to try and will tweak as I go. And please don't laugh at my lame attempt at drawing. ;D )

I'm with London searching for that special one to give her the Touch.  Yes, a Sidhe, which are hard to find.  It's been six weeks since the last fix and London can feel herself coming undone with need.  I'm not sure yet where we are in the world.  I'm curious what promises and favors London has agreed to, to find a lead to a Sidhe... one would do just about anything to live.

Enchanted
By:  S.A. Archer

The Sidhe Books Trailer

I've been reading 3 short story series that will soon intertwine.  They are set in a fey world with Sidhe, Vampires, Changelings, and more.  In case you are curious about the series, other than my reviews.  Here is a trailer for you.

The first story in London's series of Touch; Cursed is free ~ Amazon Kindle

Today is the last day that the third in London's story line is free: Enchanted ~ Amazon Kindle

All the stories are a low price of 99c.

If you are curious about my thoughts you can find them:

Champion of the Sidhe series

Rise of the Unseelie series

Touch series

Book Review: Addicted

Addicted

By:  S.A. Archer

Format:  Ebook, Novella

Publisher:  Ravynheart Publishing

Publish Date:  January 2012

Series:  2nd in Touched Series
Affiliated with: Champion of the Sidhe, and Rise of the Unseelie series

Book Synopsis:
Suffering from the addiction to the Sidhe Touch, London is obsessed with finding a source of magic that can ease her curse.  Unfortunately, premium magic like the Touch comes with one heack of a high price tag.  Working off the debt she's racked up to the dealer may well terminate her addiction once and for all, because nothing's more dangerous than doing a Changeling's dirty work.

First Sentence:
"Are you sure he's Sidhe?"

My Thoughts and Summary:
London is feening terribly for the Sidhe Touch, and Sidhe are rare to come across, almost impossible to find.  London is addicted and will pay any price for the touch.  She meets with four newbie vampires who think they know of a Sidhe, when London mentions the magic she see a response the tells her they know where one is.  But to see the Sidhe could cost London more than just money.  Could the next Sidhe be worse than the first one, the one that cursed her?

This novella was a slower start for me.  But in that I will also say it's setting up London's addiction, to make us aware of her condition since we left Cursed which was before she became to bad in her addiction. Also, it draws the world of creatures of night for use too.  We see vampires with fey in this side of the Sidhe series'.  The Touch Series is definitely, thus far of the three series', has more sensual and sexual nuances to it.

We meet a few new characters here.  Rand, I can't say much other than he's not really a good guy but one for the money.  And we meet Joe Lansing.  Now I kind of like Joe, and I'm hoping we have future contacts with him.  He could be a potential strong character to work with London, yet has his opinion on things that might not agree with her too.

London keeps trying to survive with this curse in the "right" way, or as close to it as she can.  London is starting to see that might not be an option, any way she goes.  One thing that stuck with me was no reason or goal was given for a "mission" London was sent on, as her payment, but I'm thinking this is what addiction does to you and you don't have to or want to know.

After reading this one, I'm looking forward to London potentially crossing paths with Donovan from the Rise of the Unseelie series.


I received a copy of this short story for an honest review from the author.

Book Review: Cursed

Cursed

By:  S.A. Archer

Format:  Ebook, 10,000 words

Publisher:  Ravynheart Publishing

Publish Date:  October 2011

Series:  1st in Touched series; affiliated with Champion of the Sidhe series and Rise of the Unseelie series.

Book Synopsis:
As a private investigator specializing in paranormal problems, London Eyer thought she could handle working for the Sidhe. They couldn’t be any worse than vampires or werewolves or wizards, could they? Oh, how wrong she was. One ‘Touch’ of Sidhe magic and she was cursed. Her only chance to survive is to serve the creep that cursed her against the vicious Changelings out for his blood.
#
Touched is one of the interlacing story lines, that makes up The Sidhe saga. Each thread can be read alone, but if you read them together in the suggested order, you will get the full experience.
 
First Sentence:
Hanging out with a vampire while she feeds on someone is kinda like being in the room while your best friend makes out.

My Thoughts & Summary:
London is called to a meeting with vampire associate and friend Selena, to meet a new client - Rico.  London's new client is... special and curses her with a touch to working for him, a sidhe.  Now she needs to find some specific information for him while jonsing for his next touch, but who knows what more will be needed or happen in the future.

This short read starts out with a dark sexual, sensual feel to it.  And even has a dark feel through it.  After reading the other two short stories I liked the history supplied through London's contacts and the darkness here.  This story introduces a few other elements to the other short stories, a history and the side of the fey's enemies.  We learn much more of the Wizards and their brief history with the fey.  We see the land is divided by the fey and wizards, Ireland and England.

I'm curious to see how these three storylines touch each other through the future writings.  They each add elements to the other series.  All do have a feel of the beginnings of a book for each character, but do have an arc to the story and a close.  Just a close that lets you want to know more.


I read this at my own leisure and enjoyment.