Review: The Stars Never Rise by Rachel Vincent

The Stars Never Rise by Rachel Vincent

Publisher: Delacorte Press
Publication date: 06/09/2015
Series: Untitled Series, #1
Age range: 12 - 17 Years
Source: Bought

Sixteen-year-old Nina Kane should be worrying about her immortal soul, but she's too busy trying to actually survive. Her town's population has been decimated by soul-consuming demons, and souls are in short supply. Watching over her younger sister, Mellie, and scraping together food and money are all that matters. The two of them are a family. They gave up on their deadbeat mom a long time ago.

When Nina discovers that Mellie is keeping a secret that threatens their very existence, she'll do anything to protect her. Because in New Temperance, sins are prosecuted as crimes by the brutal Church and its army of black-robed exorcists. And Mellie's sin has put her in serious trouble.

To keep them both alive, Nina will need to trust Finn, a fugitive with deep green eyes who has already saved her life once and who might just be an exorcist. But what kind of exorcist wears a hoodie?

Wanted by the Church and hunted by dark forces, Nina knows she can't survive on her own. She needs Finn and his group of rogue friends just as much as they need her.

This book is so unique and the action filled danger kept me immersed in the pages. Demons and possession, it can’t get any scarier than that right? Oh, but it does and Nina’s world is turned upside down when she discovers the truth. The poor girl couldn’t catch a break. There was danger at every turn and one misstep could lead to dire consequences.

The secondary characters were interesting enough, especially Finn, whom I can’t wait to find out more about him. His predicament has me intrigued about how he and Nina will fare in their relationship. All in all, Nina is a fierce protector when it comes to her sister and I loved how it drove Nina’s actions throughout the book.

There are still a lot of unanswered questions, but hopefully I’ll get my answers in the next installment. I believe Nina and her friends have jumped out of the frying pan and into the fire with the way events have progressed and I can’t wait to see how it all unfolds. This book has me excited about this series. 

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Order THE STARS NEVER RISE

Most Anticipated Read of June

Can you smell the excitement in the air? It's that time of the month when we all count down the days until the next installment in a favorite series, a new author debut or just a new release from a favorite author hits the bookstores. Most Anticipated Read will be featured the 1st Monday of every month.


Rachel is one of my favorite authors and I'm excited about starting this series. I just have a feeling it's going to be awesome!

The Stars Never Rise by Rachel Vincent will be released June 9th, 2015 

Order The Stars Never Rise

What book was/is your most anticipated read of this month? 

---

*CONTEST CLOSED* 

Rules: 1 Winner! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Contest ends @ 12:00am (CST) June 15, 2015. US & Canadian Residents only.

Review: Blood Bound by Rachel Vincent

BLOOD BOUND by Rachel Vincent
Pub. Date: August 2011
Publisher: Mira
Format: Mass Market Paperback, 400pp
Series: Unbound Novel Series
Source: Author - ARC

By blood, by word, by magic…

Most can't touch the power. But Liv Warren is special— a paranormal tracker who follows the scent of blood.

Liv makes her own rules, and the most important one is trust no one.

But when her friend's daughter goes missing, Liv has no choice but to find the girl. Thanks to a childhood oath, Liv can't rest until the child is home safe. But that means trusting Cam Caballero, the former lover forbidden to her.

Bound by oath and lost in desire for a man she cannot have, Liv is racing to save the child from a dark criminal underworld where secrets, lies, trauma and danger lurk around every corner…every touch…every kiss.

And more blood will be spilled before it's over…

In this thrilling new series, Vincent has created a nonstop, action-filled plot with twists and turns that will keep you glued to the pages. Set in a gritty world where the Skilled are bound by blood, Liv has to hold her own to stay at the top of her game. After all, she is one of the best blood trackers, which unfortunately for her, is the source of her problems. Mystery and action ensues as Liv and Cam join together on a hunt for a murderer.

I'm a big fan of Vincent's works and I was all too excited to get a crack at her new series. Vincent has created a whole new world with complex characters whose lives are encompassed with oaths and rules that they live and die by. Told in perspectives by both Liv and Cam, I really got down and dirty with these characters and the myriad of circumstances that played a part in their lives. I was highly intrigued and impressed with the blood bound oaths that dominate this world. It was interesting and entertaining to delve into the complexities and trickery rooted within these oaths. How far would the characters go to forsake an oath? This question kept me turning the pages.

This first installment packed a punch and opened up a whole new world to immerse myself into. I'm looking forward to seeing what the next book has in store for the characters. Overall, BLOOD BOUND exceeded my expectations and introduced me to a whole new cast that I can't wait to get to know better.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars

---

Check out the book trailer!

Review: Alpha by Rachel Vincent

ALPHA (Shifters Series #6) by Rachel Vincent

Pub. Date: October 2010

Publisher: Mira

Format: Mass Market Paperback, 472pp

Series: Shifters Series , #6

SPOILERS IN SUMMARY IF YOU HAVE NOT READ THIS SERIES!

The unscrupulous new Council chair has charged Jace, Marc and me with trespassing, kidnapping, murder and treason. Yeah, we've been busy. But now it's time to take justice into our own hands. We must avenge my brother's death and carve out the rot at the heart of the Council.

It's not going to be easy, and loss seems unavoidable, but I have promised to protect my Pride, no matter what. With a target on my back and Marc at my side, I'm heading for a final showdown that can—that will—change everything forever. A showdown I'm not sure I'm ready for.

But life never waits until you're ready.

So it’s come down to this…THE END

ALPHA is the last book in this mind-blowing series and I’m so so sad to see this series end. I can’t talk about ALPHA without giving praise to the other books that led up to this final installment. This series has become one of my favorites - let's just say it's in the top 3. I remember when I first started this series.  After I read the excerpt of STRAY online, I was hooked and it only got better from there.

I purchased STRAY & ROGUE together, so I kind of started this series when it was new. I grew to love this series and the characters as if they were real. It’s unbelievable to get to experience the growth of the characters in this series and the growth of the author’s writing. With each book that I devoured, I felt that much closer to the characters. This series took me through so much. This is a testament to Rachel’s writing that I laughed, got angry, and balled my eyes out with this series. Is it wrong for me to not want this series to end? I’ve become that attached to these characters. I think Rachel could do a spinoff in the Shifter world. I’m just saying.

I didn’t know what to expect coming into reading ALPHA, oh I had some guesses but I could have never predicted the pain that it would cause me to actually read this book. Faythe and her Pride have been through so much and I couldn’t wait to see some payback. Not to mention what us Shifter fans have been on pins and needles waiting for: Who will Faythe pick? Will it be Marc or Jace? My heart went out to both of the men vying for Faythe’s love. In the end, I couldn’t have agreed more and that’s all I’m going to say on that. Rachel did a fantastic job and even I didn’t know who she would end up with. Both of these men are great in their own way.

The outcome of the events from the previous novel that led up to the oncoming war was brutal. I didn’t see it coming. The surprises and twists kept knocking me off my feet. I couldn’t have asked for a better cast, plot, or ending. I could go on and on about this series but all I can say is, if you have not read this series, you don’t know what you are missing. This series has everything: Action, Romance, Suspense, Humor, and the best Shapeshifting cast I’ve ever read about.

Brava to Rachel for creating an unforgettable series! I’m going to miss it!

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars