Friday 15 November 2013

Hearken (Daughters of the Sea 4) Review

I had the honor of being able to get a copy of Hearken from Kristen Day.  I must first admit that I was a wee bit of a pest about this book, and I can now apologize in advance that I will be a wee bit of a pest until I get book 5 in my grubby little hands. I'm sure that once you read this series you will understand why I was a pest!  But you are luckier than I am since books 1 through 4 are already out and available on all the major book sellers.

First a little bit about the book...

When the evil you fear is born from within, who will save us…from ourselves?

Sometimes our souls hear what our minds and hearts refuse to accept. It will whisper its continuous cadence until we're strong enough to glimpse the truth. But when the soul's whispers morph into screams, we're forced to gaze into the mirrors of time and see ourselves for who we really are. 

Grappling with her newfound leadership position, Stasia begins to experience a recurring nightmare of murder, as well as curious reveries about a violet-eyed girl who can control the moon. When tragedy grips the Tydes and several important relics are stolen from the Sons of Daimon, Stasia’s Council leaves for the forgotten island of Atlantis. Unfortunately Atlantis harbors its own secrets, and they are all calling to Stasia. As her nightmares become worse and she begins to lose control of her mind, those around her must find a way to reach her…and fast.

Olivia Campbell is used to getting what she wants, when she wants it. But destiny never asked Olivia what she wanted. Being Chosen to be a Paladin at birth had not been something she wanted, and she definitely hadn’t wanted her charge to be Anastasia. Unfortunately their irritatingly persistent Atlantean guide, Sebastian, seems to know all about her and the secrets she’s been hiding. As she fights to protect Stasia from an unknown force, Olivia’s own courage and loyalty will be tested in ways she never imagined. Will she be able to tell Stasia the truth before it’s too late for them both?


Did that grab your attention?  I know it did mine!  Here are the links to the series.

Links-
Chosen (Daughters of the Sea #3)




So below this review for Hearken I have attached my old reviews for the first 3 books.  This was originally going to be a trilogy.  But I am so very glad it didn't end then! And so will you!

Now this book picked up relatively where we left off in the ending of book 3.  I am so very glad it did too.  I so missed Finn and Stasia!  I loved the new twist in this book with Atlantis.  And the action in this book once again will keep you guessing at what will happen.  I have to admit that while I love Finn and Stasia there really is not a single character in this book that I don't feel a bond with.  I love how easy it is to make these characters your close personal friends.  Kristen Day did an AMAZING job on character creation and I must applaud her for the ability to suck me in with such ease.

I loved the new characters in this book, and I LOVE ATLANTIS!!! I want to live there!  I'd even wear white clothes for the rest of my life if I could!  Now I have to say that once again this book is filled with tragedy, and adventure and reveries and all sorts of magic that will have your mind in a boggle!  

Now I must give my two cents on the newest addition to this series, Sebastian.  First I love the name, I wanted that name for my son but since I wasn't lucky enough to have boys I have to just get my fill of Sebastian in other methods.  And this Sebastian just does not disappoint.  First of all he is HOT!  Then add to that is he is amazing, but he is hiding something, you just don't know what it is.  And when you find out, boy oh boy will your head spin as you shout out I KNEW IT!!!

Once again the fight scenes are of epic proportion.  And it is one heck of a roller coaster ride.  And the ending will have you screaming for the next book. *hint hint*  I'm sadly not known for my patience but at least I'm a polite stalker.

One other side note, there is a sex scene, not a huge one so I wouldn't worry too much about the younger teens reading this book.  

So are you still here?  What the heck are you waiting for? Go grab yourself this series, I HIGHLY Recommend it!!!  Go on get outta here already!!! Just follow the links and buy yourselves this fabulous and entertaining and breathtaking and all encompassing series!!!

Kristen Day kudos for yet another successful story that kept me sucked in until the very end and left me craving more!

Details/Disclaimer: Review copy was provided to me in exchange for a fair and honest review. The free book held no determination on my personal review.


Book Info: Forsaken
Daughters of the Sea Series-Book #1
By Kristen Day

Once you’ve been touched by darkness, it never leaves you…
Abandoned by her parents as an infant; seventeen year old Hannah spent her childhood wading through countless foster families until being adopted by the Whitmans three years ago.
Unfortunately, Atlanta’s high society wasn’t quite ready for Hannah…or the strange events that plague her.


Chilling visions of murder, unexplained hallucinations, and  dark, mysterious guy who haunts her nightmares all culminate to set in motion a journey of self-discovery that will challenge everything she’s ever believed; not to mention her sanity.

Sent to live at The House of Lorelei on Bald Head Island, NC for ‘kids like her’, Hannah quickly realizes things are not what they seem. Her fellow ‘disturbed’ teens are actually the descendants of mythical Sea Gods and Goddesses. And so is she.

But when Finn, the ghost from her dreams, appears in the flesh; her nightmares become reality and her dark visions begin coming true. Inexplicably drawn to him, she can’t deny the dangerous hold he has on her heart. The deadly secrets he harbors will ultimately test her courage and push the boundaries of her love.

She must decide if she is ready to embrace the ancient legend she is prophesied to be a part of. The fate of all the descendants will forever depend upon it.





What can I say but OMG! This book starts out with a small piece of history with the baby being left in front of the Police Station by her mother and father. This in itself creates a tug at the heart as both the mother and father cry about leaving their baby behind and it instantly creates a bond with the poor family who are forced to separate. We don't know it at the time but they did this to save their daughter's life.

Flash forward to when the baby is 17 years old. Having lived her entire life in the foster care system and being both mentally and physically abused, she suffers from nightmares. She has been adopted by a family and is now seeing a therapist for her blackouts and nightmares. Which the family think is because of her history. When she goes to a therapist who sends her to a different therapist who then sends her to a new school, at first we think oh wow what's wrong with this picture. What doctor does that after just a few questions. Then we start to see the strange things that are happening. 

First of all Hannah can hear music in the water of her bathtub, music with no origin. She see's things when she is blacked out, things that are unanswerable at this time but we do find out later what those things are.

Hannah goes to this new school where she recreates herself. Due to her visions during her blackout, she asks that they call her Anastasia or Stasia for short. This flags her because there is a legend regarding an Anastasia and everyone knows it at the school. Then we find that this school isn't just any old school, we find that EVERY student at this school has special abilities because they are children of the water. They are all children of the Gods/Goddesses. Part Human, part god which gives them these special abilities. 

I won't tell you who the mother and father of Anastasia is to not spoil the book but suffice it to say it is what creates quite a bit of the drama in the book.

This book has some heart-stopping action scenes and tear raising scenes. This book makes us catch our breath and laugh and cry and everything in between. I gladly give this book 5 stars and highly recommend it to anyone wanting a fabulous read.

I absolutely love books which bring the gods and goddess's of old into them. And this book has everything that I love, a little bit of romance, a little bit of action, some laughter, some tears, and a mystery that doesn't stop with the ending of the book.

Waiting patiently for the second book in the series now.









Book Info: Awaken







Daughters of the Sea Series Book #2

By Kristen Day


The sacrifices we make have the power to shift the very fabric of who we are, and ultimately who we are meant to be…

After learning of her true destiny as the intended Leader of the Tydes, Anastasia Whitman must now embark on a perilous quest to the Underworld before the age of eighteen in order to plant the seed of immortality and complete her essence to become a true Sea Goddess. But before she can make her legendary journey, an unexpected new student transfers to Lorelei; initiating a sequence of events that will unravel Stasia’s new life, and test the boundaries of her relationship with the mysterious, dark, and sexy Finn Morrison. The line between the Underworld and the Living begins to blur as gruesome ghosts, morbid reveries, and pure evil haunt her waking hours as well as her sanity. Once the details of Finn’s own startling destiny are revealed, the dangerous secrets he’s been hiding will threaten the very love Stasia believed to be indestructible. As time begins to run out, she will be forced to choose between the one she loves and the destiny she cannot escape.



Okay first let me say ARGH!!  OMFG!!  SERIOUSLY!!!! YOU'RE ENDING IT LIKE THAT!!!!  I AM SO ANGRY!!! Now that I have that out of the way let me explain.  Kristen Day has created the cliff hanger to end all cliff hangers! And that has me furious that I now have to wait until February to continue on this glorious story.

This book picks up were we left off in her first book Forsaken. The beautiful and lovely Pasha and the equally adorable Finn. Their escapades in this book are as exciting as they were in the first book.


Day's character creation is fabulous. Each character in her story has a unique personality, and I love each and every one. Well except for the bad guys those I HATE! As I am supposed to. In this story we are introduced to a new girl Nadia. And boy is she a *$^#&! Yes I know I didn't say what she is but I am sure you will read the book and determine the same thing I did that she is one twisted person!


The story line moves along, and it keeps your attention from the first page to the last.


But I say this is a MUST READ!!! Of course read book one first so you get the entire feel for the story. But Kristen Day has definitely created a tale worth reading and I love the entire Goddess story line. She has created a magical and wonderfully exciting tale.


Details/Disclaimer: Review copy was provided to me in exchange for a fair and honest review. The free book held no determination on my personal review.



Book Info: Chosen

Daughters of the Sea Series Book #3

By Kristen Day

Publication Date: January 29, 2013


The essence of who we are lies not in what we have, but in what we are willing to give up.  Because in the end, Time and Tide wait for no one.


After sacrificing all that she had, the evil princess of the Underworld is still successful in her bid to tear Finn from Stasia’s life.  In the midst of her search to reclaim him, Stasia is summoned to the island nation of Cyprus to take part in an age-old ritual; unveiling the missing pieces of her ancestry and re-igniting an ancient war.  As she struggles to both save Finn’s soul and free Carmen’s mind, Stasia’s bravery and determination will be pushed to its breaking point.  A dark storm is forming on the horizon, and the forces who are vying to destroy her may be much closer than she thinks.  Destiny weaves a sticky web of evil, betrayal, and revenge that can only be undone by the purity of love and the soul’s unyielding will to survive.  In the last installment of the Daughters of the Sea trilogy, the past will collide with the present as Stasia’s future hangs in the balance.  The prophecy that paved the way for her new life may indeed be the very thing that strips her of the ones she loves the most.


Nook


For a finale all I can say is WOW! Kristen Day has created the most fun filled and exciting series I have read in a long time. Her characters are AMAZING! The love between Pasha and Finn is to die for! I absolutely love how... Nope I am NOT telling! You will just have to go out and purchase your own copy of this amazing series!

What I will say is that this book picks up right where the last one left off. Not a second did you miss! I loved how Kristen answered all my questions and I absolutely adore how she did it! And the ending! OMG Totally love!

I think what I like so much about this series is the humanity in it. We learn not only about the MC but also about all her friends. This makes it seem to much larger a story. And Finn, I just wanted to scoop him up and gobble him up. How can you not love someone who is so supportive of the leader of their world? And I have to say that this is a 5 star read! From start to finish you will seriously enjoy this book and the entire series.

Details/Disclaimer: Review copy was provided to me in exchange for a fair and honest review. The free book held no determination on my personal review.



 
I am a southern belle at heart with a crazy streak that desperately tries to escape at every opportunity. I love all things nostalgic, rustic, and quirky. I've been told I see the world through rose-colored glasses, but I prefer to think of them as kaleidoscope glasses - swirling and morphing reality into something I can digest (who hasn't pretended those pasty lima beans were really kiwi strawberry jelly beans?).

I am the author of the DAUGHTERS OF THE SEA trilogy, which includes FORSAKEN, AWAKEN, and CHOSEN (Winter 2012). I love all books, but really enjoy writing young adult, paranormal romances. I've loved to write for as long as I can remember. My first published work was my poem RED in second grade (you guessed it - it was a poem about the color red - life altering, I know) that won me 5 gold stars and a spot in my elementary school's poetry book. That's when my addiction to the written word officially began. I was the only kid in fifth grade that actually enjoyed diagramming sentences. Go ahead and laugh – it’s okay.

When I'm not writing I'm making jewelry, painting, drinking sweet tea, watching the discovery channel, or going on random adventures in the mountains of North Carolina with my amazing husband. I graduated from Appalachian State University and dream of becoming a full time novelist.




2 comments:

  1. I'm so happy you loved Sebastian! He and Olivia were my favorite characters to write during Hearken and I fell in love with them, so I means the world to know you did, too!! Thank you so much for taking the time to write such a detailed review and participate in the blog tour! I love reading your reviews! I can also say I am incredibly glad Hearken lived up to your expectations! That was one of my big fears this time - being the 4th book. I can ALSO tell you that before book #5 comes out there will be a #4.5 novella!!!!!!!!!

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    Replies
    1. Oh Goodie!!! Let me know when it comes out and I'll read and review it for you! I can't wait!

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