Early Review: Hearts of Chaos by Kira Brady

Title: Heart of Chaos
Author: Kira Brady
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Series: Deadglass #3

Mass Market Paperback,  352 pages
Publication: March 4, 2014 by Zebra

Source: I received a review copy (arc) from the author in exchange for a honest review.

Pre-Order|AMAZON|BOOK DEPO|

To save her world, one woman's fierce quest will put her up against an ancient evil—and a desire too dangerous to deny...

She is betrothed to Seattle's most feared shifter clan leader. Still, the Lady Lucia can never be the dainty aristocratic wife Emory Corbette thinks he needs. And as a malevolent, all-consuming monster plots to take hold of their shattered world, Lucia will risk her untapped powers to defeat it—and challenge the Raven King's seductive rule.

No one in Emory's many lifetimes has ever defied him. Lucia's courage and strength are shaking his iron control to its core...and making him hungry, for all she can give. But their only hope is a wrenching sacrifice that could unite humans and shifters in victory—or destroy everything Lucia and Emory desire most.

Heart of Chaos is the third and final installment in Brady’s Deadglass series following couple, Lucia Crane and Emory Corbette. It’s been a few months since the unraveling, where Demigod Kingu wreck havoc on Seattle and its citizen. The Kivatis (totem animal shifters) and Drekars (dragon shifters) are trying to pick up the pieces but the worst is yet to come as the Tablet of Destiny and Heart of Tiamat finds a new host in Zetain, a ruthless drekar warrior. Tiamat is finally freed from her prison and she plans to birth a new breed of children to create a pantheon she lost.

Emory and Lucia were betrothed from an early age, out of obligation to the Kivati people rather love. I loved seeing their transformation from the beginning of the series to their own book. I didn’t think I would like this couple as much as the previous couple, Grace and Leif but I ended up loving them just as much. I must admit I wasn’t a fan of Lucia from the start when readers first met her in Hearts of Darkness; she came off as snobby and immature. Everyone including the Raven Lord thought Lucia as a dainty fragile girl  and because of the prophecy she must be put on a pedal stool. The prophecy says Lucia will either be the savior or the destruction of the Kivati people, and because they think she's their salvation she's always locked safely behind Kivati hall. However Lucia grew immensely over the course of the series, becoming more than what people thought of her. In the first book she was physically attacked by one of her own people causing her to become even more closed off than normal but in book two she took her life back. She got fighting lessons from Grace and helped lead a group of Kivati into battle against Kingu. In Heart of Chaos she continues to stand-up for herself becoming a major player and fulfilling the prophecy. I admired her strength and determination to live life to the fullest…especially after what happened to her in the first book.

Emory came off as stand-offish and cold when readers first meet him, but yet he intrigued me. He was a man that people looked up to and at the same time a man that people feared. Readers only got to see one side of Emory in the first two books, a man that put his people above himself and an all-around leader. In this final book we glimpse the other side of him; one that is vulnerable and full of passion. It is in knowing that the end is possibly near that he finally realizes to live not only for his people but for himself. He breaks routine and his character and does things he wouldn’t contemplate before Lucia for Lucia.

Hearts of Chaos was an excellent conclusion to a phenomenal series. An exhilarating ride full of myths and magic. As I mentioned in my other reviews, this paranormal romance series is unlike any series I’ve ever read. Mrs. Brady is the only author that I know of that writes a paranormal romance that has different lead couples in a series but the same connecting plot/story arc and that alone makes her standout in a sea of identical paranormal romances. Brady pens a creative and unique world with multifaceted characters that you can’t help but fall in love with…even the baddies. The Deadglass series may have come to an end but the epilogue leaves an open door for a possible story in the world of Deadglass and one I hope Mrs. Brady will write. There are still so many stories to be told within the Deadglass world, so I hope that this isn’t the end end. I highly recommend this series to all PR and UF fans, you will not regret it! Brady is an author to watch. I will buy and read anything she writes! 

Review: Hearts of Shadow by Kira Brady

Title: Hearts of Shadow
Author: Kira Brady
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Series: Deadglass #2

Mass Market Paperback, 352 pages

Publication: May 7, 2013 by Zebra

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Source: Publisher, Author

Grace Mercer’s unmatched wraith-killing ability made her the unofficial defender of a city shattered by supernatural catastrophe. So there’s no way she’ll allow the new regent of Seattle’s most powerful dragon shifter clan to “protect” her from a vicious evil stalking the ruined streets—and keep her from the freedom she’s risked everything to earn.

Leif’s science-honed instincts tell him Grace is the key to keeping shifters and humans safe. But helping this wary fighter channel her untapped power is burning away the dragon’s sensual self-control and putting a crucial alliance at risk. Soon the only chance Leif and Grace will have to save their world will be a dangerously fragile link that could forever unite their souls…or consume all in a storm of destruction.

I read a lot of paranormal romance novels but it’s rare that I stick with a series after the first book because the world or leading couple didn’t make a lasting impression on me. This is not the case with the Deadglass series. I was so happy when I found out the heroine was going to be Grace ‘Reaper’ Mercer; she definitely stood out from the secondary characters in the first book, Hearts of Darkness. Hearts of Shadows is the second book in the Deadglass series, and it picks up six months later with Seattle’s Drekars (dragon shifters), Kivatis (totem animal shifters), and humans rebuilding after the Unraveling (Gate of Hell was open). Aptrgangr and wraiths are loose in Seattle and to make matters worse Kingu, a demi-god is wrecking havoc everywhere he goes looking for his long lost lover’s heart and the Tablet of Destiny. 

Grace is the type of heroine I always love reading about, one that is strong, independent, kick-butt, and has the I-don’t-give-a-fuck attitude. Grace is only human but she battles Aptrgangr and wraiths daily.  She wants to protect those who can’t protect themselves. Grace had a rough life. Her parents died when she was young and was left on her own defending/providing for herself on the mean streets of Seattle.  Around that same time, her situation got worst. Sven Norsgad, a Drekar bound Grace to him as a blood slave making Grace his personal plaything and fighter. After Sven died, Grace wasn’t freed but found herself bound to the next Regent, Leif.  Grace has a burning hatred for all Drekar after what Sven put her through, and Leif is no exception.  Grace has fortified a wall around herself so she doesn’t ever get hurt again but the more time she spends with Leif her perspective starts to change…maybe not all Drekar are bad. 

Leif never wanted to be King; he’s the type of person that likes to work behind the scenes. Leif is a scientist who has been building different structures and gadgets to help re-establish Seattle. Leif isn’t like most Drekar, he doesn’t have a thirst for powe, torture people like his brother Sven, or care for politics. He is kind, intellectual, genuine and passionate. Leif has always longed for a soul (Drekars are soulless), to find his love, and his one true match. Leif believe that when his time ends there will be no entry to Valhalla, but instead just a dark void of nothingness for one needs a soul to enter Odin’s hall. Leif’s belief changes after meeting Grace, instead he finds hope. He never met anyone more intriguing, strong and beautiful as Grace in all the years he’s been alive, and he’s been alive a long, long time. Grace makes him want more in life and to strive to be a better person, to be the proper king to his people and human citizens of Seattle.

Hearts of Shadows is an excellent follow-up to the Deadglass series and in my opinion better than the first book. I loved how this book picks up directly where readers left off, and though the leading characters changes in each book…the main story/book arc is the same. Brady has created a fascinating world with different mythology infused together, and strong multifaceted characters that make lasting impressions whether they are primary characters or secondary (Zetain, the female Drekar, or Thorsson). For those who read the first book, Hart and Kayla make a short appearance in the bookJ. I highly recommend this series to all PNR/UR fans. This is a series you don’t want to miss, and definitely a couple you will love! The ending gives readers an idea of what is in store for book 3, and I can’t wait…if you think the demi-god Kingu is bad, think again! I wonder which two characters Brady will pick for the final book, I’m with most readers and am hoping for Corbette and…Lucia? 

Shadow Heir by Richelle Mead

Title: Shadow Heir
Author: Richelle Mead
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: Dark Swan #4 (Final book)

Mass Market Paperback, 390 pages
Published December 27th 2011 by Zebra

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Source: Bought it for myself

|SUMMARY| 
Shaman-for-hire Eugenie Markham strives to keep the mortal realm safe from trespassing entities. But as the Thorn Land's prophecy-haunted queen, there's no refuge for her and her soon-to-be-born-children when a mysterious blight begins to devastate the Otherworld. . .

The spell-driven source of the blight isn't the only challenge to Eugenie's instincts. Fairy king Dorian is sacrificing everything to help, but Eugenie can't trust the synergy drawing them back together. The uneasy truce between her and her shape shifter ex-lover Kiyo is endangered by secrets he can't—or won't—reveal. And as a formidable force rises to also threaten the human world, Eugenie must use her own cursed fate as a weapon—and risk the ultimate sacrifice. . .

|REVIEW|

The Dark Swan series is one of my favorite series, and I was pretty sad when the author said Shadow Heir would be the final book. I’ve been putting off finishing the series for awhile because I didn’t want it to be the end end and was hesitant because so many readers were upset about how the book ended. After reading Shadow Heir, I’m one of those disappointed readers. I’ve invested time in this series, and really loved all the characters (minus the stupid fox and queen Maiwenn) and for the book to end as it did was a load of crap. 

There were multiple revelations in the last two to three chapters that had me going “WTF! Are you serious?!” It was shocking, and not the good kind. I think the way the author ended it, or why she chose the way for things to play out was because she was too busy putting the time to work in her YA/Spinoff series…and this series ended up suffering.  There wasn’t a lot of action in this book (I think Eugenie did one or two spells that it , no war or big fight) either like the previous books because Eugenie was pregnant with the twins and the book consisted mostly of her hiding till the baby came. When Eugenie did give birth, she was back in the otherworld dealing with a horrible blizzard and finding out the source of problem.   

Overall a well written book, and had the usual Mead writing style, but the storyline wasn’t exciting. The only two things that I enjoyed in the entire book was learning more about Eugenie’s minion Volusion and whenever King Dorian had page time. Volusion, man I love that guy! Readers got to see more of Volusion in this book, and learn more about his past/how he came the way that he was (heart-breaking story!). He totally rocked/Save the day when it came to the ‘’problem” Eugenie had to fix, or actually he fixed it LOL. As for Dorian, I think he’s everyone favorite character, everything he says was funny/charming. The book’s stupid shocking cliff-hanger ending really sucked…and all I can think is poor Dorian. Although Mrs. Mead said this was the last book in the series, I hope she gives this series another book. NO, this series deserves another book, a BETTER-REAL ENDING!

 

Shadow Heir was definitely not my favorite book. The majority of the book I would consider it an okay read, but it has one of the worst ending I have ever read.

Review: Hearts of Darkness by Kira Brady

Title: Hearts of Darkness
Author: Kira Brady
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Series: Deadglass #1

Mass Market Paperback, 352 pages
Published on  August 7, 2012 by Zebra

Source: Author

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Reading level: Ages 18 and up

||SUMMARY||
Nurse Kayla Friday has dedicated her life to science and reason. But for her, Seattle is a place of eerie loss and fragmented, frightening memories. And now the only clue to her sister’s murder reveals a secret battle between two ancient mythologies…and puts Kayla in the sights of lethally-sexy werewolf mercenary Hart. He’ll do whatever it takes to obtain the key to the Gate of the Land of the Dead and free what’s left of his soul. But seducing the determined Kayla is putting them at the mercy of powerful desires neither can control. And as the clock ticks down to hellish catastrophe, the untested bond between Kayla and Hart may lead to the ultimate sacrifice.

||REVIEW||

I knew I wanted to read this book right when I read the summary, I’m a sucker for any book with werewolves or shifters…and this book had both!! Before starting this book, I read several reviews that compared this series to Karen M. Moning’s Fever series. I love the Fever series as much as the next reader, but after reading this book the similarities to the Fever series are the main heroine trying to find out who killed her sister and her sister’s link to a supernatural world. Other than those two tid-bits, the similarities ended there. This is one of the most original paranormal romances I’ve read all year; I love everything about this book from the characters, to the appealing world-building.  

The novel takes place in an alternate Seattle, where ghosts/Wraiths are the cause of the occasional black outs around the city and the unknowing humans are dependent on the old invention of gas lamps to light the dark. Kayla Friday, our heroine of the novel arrives in Seattle to identify her sister’s body and what she doesn’t know is that she just walked right into a war that has been brewing between two shifter races for control of the city. The two main shifter clans are The Kivati (Native American) who can shift to any animal on the totem pole) and the Drekar (Norse) who are Dragon shifters.

I really enjoyed the world that Mrs. Brady created. She did a wonderful job of blending Native American, Babylonian and Norse Mythology together for a flawless story with strong-unique characters.  Kayla, I don’t really know how I feel about her, there were times when I admired her and other times felt annoyed with her.  Hart, was the typical tortured-bad boy, alpha male which will have readers swooning over him. There were also secondary characters that made a lasting impressing such as; Grace, a small girl known as The Reaper, Oscar another fellow comrade of Hart, Lucia the prophesied princess, Sven the Drekar and many more.  The pacing of the book was great, it keep getting more interesting with each page and never let up even till the end. There were so many interesting characters in this book, and what I like about this book was that there wasn’t necessary a bad guy or a good guy...everyone was in the gray area. Everyone made their choices because they believe that it was the right thing to do, which was refreshing to see from the norm of other books.

 There were a lot of twists near the end of the book, which took me by surprised…totally didn’t see it coming! This is a first book in a planned trilogy, and while the book ended on a good note for our main hero/heroine the ending sets the next book up for a whole new problem that needs to be solved. I highly recommend this to Urban Fantasy, Paranormal and even Fantasy Fans. If you’re looking for a new, refreshing read full of complex characters, and a dark and gritty world look no further….this series is worth checking out! I can’t wait to read book 2, Hearts of Shadow which comes out May 2013. 

**Thank you Kira for sending me a copy of this book for review** 

FTC disclaimer: The author provided me with a copy of Hearts of Darkness , in return I provide an honest review.