Title: Blood
Before Sunrise
Author: Amanda
Bonilla
Series: Shaede
Assassin #2
Genre: Urban
Fantasy
Publisher:
Signet Publishing
Format:
eBook/Paperback
Release
Date: July 3rd 2012
Pages: 336
Source: ARC
from Author
Contact Amanda
Overall Rating: 5 Bad Boys – Absolutely Loved
It!!!!!
Reviewer: Kat
Author Summary
“She
needed a bargaining chip and this was it. Raif’s daughter’s life for hers. And
he knew damn good and well I was right. Just like he’d assured me the night I’d
killed Azriel, this was far from over. His daughter was alive, I knew it. And I
was going to find her.”
For
months Darian and her Shaede guardian Raif have searched for the Oracle who
attempted to overthrow the Shaede Nation—and kill Darian in the bargain. But
now that they’ve finally found the half-crazed Oracle, for their efforts they
are granted a possibility too painful for Raif to imagine, and too enticing for
Darian to ignore.
Darian
is determined to reunite Raif and the daughter he thought was dead, but her
mission quickly proves dangerous when her lover Tyler is almost killed. And
when a brooding and mysterious Fae warrior offers his guidance—at an
extraordinary price—Darian finds herself willing to risk everything. As her
single-minded hunt turns into an obsession, and she and Tyler grow further
apart, Darian finds herself caught between the man she loves like a brother,
and the man whose love she can’t live without…
My Thoughts
Urban Fantasy fans are going to be so happy with this novel. Everything
that makes this genre fabulous is in this novel. Tons of action, great storylines,
plot twists and turns, kick-ass heroine, sexy men, inner turmoil and more. Well-written, perfectly paced so not to
overwhelm, outstanding character development, Shaede Assassin is definitely a
new addition to my favorite UF series list.
About the story…
Our heroine, Darian, is a Shaede assassin who had lived for
years unaware of the entire supernatural community around her. Head down, keeping out of trouble. Killing
the occasional bad guy. Life has drastically
changed for her since finding out she has a much larger role to play in the
supernatural world that she ever thought possible.
In this second installment of the series, Darian has some especially
difficult choices to make. Should she
follow her instincts and do whatever it takes to find Raif’s daughter that he’s
believed dead for years? If she does, it
may cost her the relationship she has with the man she desperately loves.
As Darian sets out on this dangerous road, she runs into way
more than she ever could have expected. As
well as her mission to find Raif’s daughter, she’s also on a path to
self-discovery. The plot thickens and is full of suspense and intrigue.
About the Characters…
Darian is a fabulous character. She handles each situation that is thrown her
way the only way she knows how…headfirst and fearlessly. And she has a lot of
difficult situations thrown her way.
She’s sarcastic and witty, and I particularly enjoyed her internal
dialogue - especially when dealing with the men in her life. I misunderstood Darian at first and didn’t get
why she chose to do things the way she did.
But eventually I started to understand her a little better. Thanks to the author’s brilliant writing. She’s lived alone taking care of only herself
for so long, she has trouble letting anyone help her. Darian is at the
precipice of self-actualization and she has a way to go yet.
Tyler is Darian’s model-gorgeous lover and protector. He is a Jinn
and very much in love with Darian. He’s
bonded himself to Darian - which is the way of the Jinn. They can bond
themselves to another three times in their long lifetime. Being Darian’s protector is no easy feat. She’s
headstrong and doesn’t always make the right choices. Tyler is very understanding and patient with
Darian. However, when someone starts
messing with their bond, he starts to become a tad unhinged and possessive. Ok,
well maybe a bit more than a tad, but that’s all I can say about that without
going into spoiler territory.
Then we have Raif. Umm, I like this mysterious one. Darian’s mentor and friend, he’s probably the
only person she cares what he thinks of her. He’s the King’s brother and protector of the
Shaede Nation. Not to mention hot-as-hell.
Might be the whole mystery thing, but I can’t wait to see what further
role the author is going to give him in the story.
Xander, King of Shaede Nation, has all the arrogance that comes
with being a King of anything. His unabashed flirting with Darian adds a lot to
the story. The way she handles him adds even more. She’s not completely
unaffected by him but is too much in love with Tyler to even go there. I love
it when she puts him in his place.
Our sleazy villain, Fallon, is batshit crazy. And what an
amazing villain he makes! As no one is entirely good or evil, we get to hear
about his personal demons that motivate him. The way the author developed his
character and delivers his story is pure brilliance. When it all comes out, it was one of my favorite
parts of the entire story.
My favorite Darian quote in the novel:
“Posturing is just part of the battle. Elk paw at the earth and
thrash their massive racks of antlers; birds display and puff their feathers;
canines circle one another, hackles raised and lips curled. We upright animals,
we talk shit.”
Bottom Line
If you are a fan of Urban Fantasy, kick-ass heroines and sexy
supernaturals, I highly recommend you read this one. Blood Before Sunrise is very well written and a great read. The
author has created compelling characters, a great storyworld and gives us an edge-of-you-seat
reading experience.
Happy Reading!!
5 Bad Boys – Absolutely Loved It!!!!!
So cool to see that the sequel is even better than the first one. Always a great sign. Thank you for the great review again hon. Loved your favorite quote LOL! Awesome review again hon. Thank you :)
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