by Anise Rae
Legends say a syphon can drain a mage dry. He’ll brave the danger. Will she?
Someone’s playing pranks. The body of the late Casteel patriarch has been stolen and gifted to the family’s enemy, the powerful Rallises. As far as Bronte Casteel is concerned, they can keep it. She hasn’t spoken to her family in thirteen years, not since they exiled her from society for her lack of mage power. But she’s a syphon mage, able drain another mage’s power. Syphons’ destinies are always the same: death by fiery stake. She hides her secret by living among the Nons--powerless humans and the lowest class in the Republic. When her family orders her to go plead for the body’s return, she comes face to face with the one man who knows her secret.
Colonel Vincent Rallis isn’t letting his syphon get away this time. Not when she’s under suspicion of body-napping and aiding anti-mage terrorists. He’ll prove her innocence whether she wants him to or not, and then convince her they belong together...forever.
Vincent’s help comes with a steep price: Bronte must reveal her power. The inevitable ensuing witch-hunt and trial would be bad enough, but even a tough girl might buckle if her prosecutors are her own parents.
CONTENT WARNING: Hot, steamy nights with the colonel’s magic touch
Syphon's Song is a wonderfully new and exciting story that opens with Bronte Casteel being pulled from her current existence and tasked by her family to deliver a message to the family's powerful enemy. She has been cast out to the world of mages, existing in the severely regulated world of the Nons, and living in constant fear with a secret. Rather than being a Non (a non magically gifted). Bronte actually has magic, a type of magic that has not been seen for many years and historically those who were found to have this gift have been killed on discovery of this power. She has lived in constant fear for her life, suffering the emotional abuse of the rejection of her family, all while trying to eke out a living as a musician. On arrival at the Rallis estate she encounters Vincent, whose path she crossed when she was a child, and the fireworks begin. The Syphon's Song is a wonderful journey filled with a plethora of emotions including palpable fear, hope, and love all with an undercurrent of anger fueled with the fires of revolution in the making.
The writing was clean and well executed and filled with wonderful characters that are a joy to get to know. The only thing that keeps this from being a five star read in this reader's opinion is a gap in the world building; i.e. perhaps there could have been more world building regarding what occurred to bring about a world filled with mages and nons resulting in the prejudices against the nons. For those who enjoy a little smexy heat in their reads you will not be disappointed. The smexy parts are very sensual and well written adding to the storyline making it a richer read. The ending is very satisfying and while this is book one you are not left hanging, but rather curious and eager to see what will happen next with this world and the characters we have come to know.
I would recommend this book to fans of adult paranormal romance that is story driven and a little taste of something new in the mix. I received this book from NetGalley.
4 sheep
About the Author:
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Anise Rae spends her days dreaming up alternative realities where people just like her (and you) have magic, worlds populated with heroines who dare to stand up to society’s expectations and be true to themselves and heroes with plenty of savvy to fall in love with such brave women.
Though she lacks real supernatural powers, she believes the true magic within us is our own creativity – a gift we must nuture as frequently as possible. It’s why her house is littered with crayons, craft kits, legos, yarn, paper, pens, and books. Or it could be because she hates to clean.
She lives in the suburbs of Atlanta with her two children and a dog with an amazing ability to sniff out hidden stashes of dirty socks. They also litter her house.
website-FB-twitter
Anise Rae spends her days dreaming up alternative realities where people just like her (and you) have magic, worlds populated with heroines who dare to stand up to society’s expectations and be true to themselves and heroes with plenty of savvy to fall in love with such brave women.
Though she lacks real supernatural powers, she believes the true magic within us is our own creativity – a gift we must nuture as frequently as possible. It’s why her house is littered with crayons, craft kits, legos, yarn, paper, pens, and books. Or it could be because she hates to clean.
She lives in the suburbs of Atlanta with her two children and a dog with an amazing ability to sniff out hidden stashes of dirty socks. They also litter her house.
You know, I saw the cover and thought this looked a little New Adulty, but your review made it really appealing. Never judge a book.....
ReplyDeletethat cover does look New Adult or even YA, I made the same judgement.
DeleteGreat review Denise, adding it to my ever growing wishlist immediately.
ReplyDelete