That's What I'm Talking About...: Review: Vengeance Born

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Review: Vengeance Born

Edit Post

Vengeance Born

Author: Kylie Griffin

Release Date: Feb. 7, 2012

Publisher: Berkley

Light Blade series #1

ISBN: #978-0425245361

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Format(s): Paperback (328 pgs), e-book

Book Source: Publisher

About the book:

There is no mercy in the demon realm. No escape. In this place of desperation and conflict, anyone who is not pure bred is virtually powerless. Until an unlikely champion is born…

Annika, half-blood daughter of the Na’Reish King, longs for more than her tormented life among her father’s people. Conceived in hatred and bred as a tool of retribution, she’s gifted with a special talent that can heal as well as destroy.

With the Na’Reish vastly outnumbering them, Kalan, a Light Blade warrior, knows the future of humankind depends on him alone. Incursions into human territory and raids for blood-slaves by the Na’Reish Horde have increased. As Chosen-leader, he faces the task of stopping the demons—and convincing the Council of aging Light Blade warriors that change is necessary for survival.

When Annika learns Kalan is a prisoner in her father’s dungeon, her dream of escape seems within reach. She agrees to free him in exchange for his protection once they reach human territory. Now, marked for death for helping him, Annika must learn to trust Kalan as they face not only the perilous journey to the border but enemies within the Council—and discover a shocking truth that could throw the human race into civil war…

What G & U are talking about:

Gikany and Una are just going to give it to you straight first. This new Light Blade series and more importantly, this book, Vengeance Born is outstanding, and you just have to pick it up. If you are paranormal fans, paranormal romance fans, heck, if you just love fantasy, you need to jump on this ride now!

Our introduction to this world starts with Annika, a half-breed of human and demon, living in the demon world. She is an outcast and suffers greatly for her impure blood. When she meets Kalan, an imprisoned human Light Blade, her dreams of freedom and more importantly, escape, are given a chance. Kalan distrusts Annika once he sees her demon markings; however, she utilizes a gift that only Light Blade warriors posses, which intrigues him. Either way, as his only means of escape, he bargains with her; she will help him escape, and he will provide his protection to her in the human world.

Gikany and Una both found this new world to be mesmerizing. It is a mixture outstanding fantasy and sizzling hot romance. The flow of Vengeance Born is seamless and gripping; it was incredibly difficult to put down. The balance between the storytelling, the creation of the mythology, and the development of the relationship between Kalan and Annika was impeccable. The overarching themes of the struggle people have accepting others that are different and feuds that have lasted so long that no one really knows why, just that they are supposed to hate, are tackled by the author in a gentle but determined way. Although Annika and Kalan’s stories are fairly well resolved in the end, so much more is left open with other characters. As we’ve said before, the sign of a well-written book is that it lingers in your thoughts days or even weeks later. Vengeance Born is one of them, the characters and world followed Gikany and Una for days, even into our dreams. We cannot wait until the next novel in this incredibly rich world.

Speaking of, the next book is Alliance Forged due out July of this year, and we cannot wait to get our hands on it! It features…wait, we aren’t going to spoil it for you. Go pick up Vengeance Born, the debut novel in the Light Blade series and you’ll be heading over to Ms. Griffin’s website to see who is featured!

Their Rating:

Personal favorite - a must read (A+)

Purchase Info:

Vengeance Born (A Novel of the Light Blade)

Labels: 5 stars, Berkley Sensation, G-U Review, Kylie Griffin, Light Blade Series, paranormal romance

3 comments:

Lorraine E said...: Thanks for the review, sounds like just my kind of book!; February 7, 2012 7:09 AM
Angela Brown said...: Great review. Looks like I need to add this one to my TBR list.; February 7, 2012 7:38 AM
Una said...: Please do, it's a fresh mythology of humans and demons, exciting and hits on all your senses! Hope you enjoy!; February 7, 2012 2:02 PM