by N.J. Walters
September 21, 2020
Publisher : Entangled: Amara
226 pages
No one is more surprised than Asher, one of the oldest vampires on Earth, that he's attracted to vamp hunter Jo Radcliffe. She's smart, a talented slayer, and she's gorgeous. Something about her pulls at him, like no one ever has before. For a man, whose name strikes fear in everyone—this is something new and intriguing. And quite possibly deadly, if she discovers his secret.
Jo has two things in common with the handsome Asher—they are both slayers and someone is messing with them in a very-much-trying-to-kill-them way. She's not so happy about joining forces with a dude she doesn't know. But he's sexy as hell and really good at his job as one of the Forgotten Brotherhood, whose business it is to execute misbehaving paranormals.
She knows she's bait in a larger plot to harm Asher and the Brotherhood. And there is nothing he won't do, no line he won't cross, to keep her safe—which may be the weakness that destroys them both.
Each book in the Fury Unleashed series is STANDALONE
Burning Ash is my introduction to author NJ Walters and to the Forgotten Brotherhood series. While I could tell that I had missed two intense and interesting stories, I was able to get the gist of what had gone down (I'm still going to put the first two books high up on my TBR list though because I need deets!).
Asher and Jo's story is part of a larger plot that encompasses the series but no worries, there are no cliffhangers in the book, just an excitement for the next book. At least for me, there was excitement.
Where to begin with what I loved about this book? How about with Asher himself? When it comes to popular vampires in romance, the majority of them are brooding, mysterious, and a bit glum. Asher is totally different. He's ancient, like old-as-dirt ancient but you wouldn't know it because this vamp is fun, flirty, and has a sense of humor. He might have a few moments here and there of deep internal thoughts but this is a vamp that can still find things to smile about. Like a certain tacky reality show. Honestly, Asher was a great character to introduce me to Walters' work and he'll be difficult to beat.
Jo's no slouch either. I can't get enough of fully capable, butt-kicking heroines like her. She's tough on the outside, a true survivor, but on the inside, she's as vulnerable as they come. Jo's smart as a whip, snarky, and it takes a lot more than a vampire to frighten her. Some of my favorite scenes in Burning Ash were just Jo kicking butt. She's definitely no shrinking violet and while she's only human, she can stand and fight with Asher and his supernatural buddies.
But who am I kidding? It was the romance between Asher and Jo that really sold me on this book and this new-to-me author. An ancient vampire who falls in love with a shoot-first-don't-bother-asking hunter? And it's more than just the opposites attract theme; it's the way the author handled their first meeting and the development of feelings between them. Asher's charmingly sarcastic first words to Jo almost get him shot and stabbed. From that moment, the banter and connection between them were just as addictive for me as a reader as it was for them as characters.
As a member of the Forgotten Brotherhood, Asher is hanging with a very reclusive, exclusive crowd. They're the deadliest creatures around. The ones that garden variety vampires, weres, and demons fear because they're the boogeymen who will come for them if they've stepped out of line. Meeting two other members of the Brotherhood put Asher's personality in stark contrast. Maccus and Bjorn are exactly how I expected them to be at first. They're intense, moody, and mostly monosyllabic. In other words, I'm curious about them.
The writing in Burning Ash flows easily and takes time to take the reader through the journey but makes sure that every step of that journey is interesting, engaging, and has a purpose. I had such a good time that I finished this book in two days. It's definitely one of the best books I've read this year and I can't wait to check out previous books in the series and to see what's next for this series.
Sheep Rating: 5 Sheep
Adria Reyes
About the Author:
Once upon a time N.J. had the idea that she would like to quit her job at the bookstore, sell everything she owned, leave her hometown, and write romance novels in a place where no one knew her. And she did. Two years later, she went back to the bookstore and her hometown and settled in for another seven years.
One day she gave notice at her job on a Friday morning. On Sunday afternoon, she received a tentative acceptance for her first romance novel and life would never be the same.
N.J. Walters is a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author who has always been a voracious reader, and now she spends her days writing novels of her own. Vampires, werewolves, dragons, time-travelers, seductive handymen, and next-door neighbors with smoldering good looks--all vie for her attention. It's a tough life, but someone's got to live it.
One day she gave notice at her job on a Friday morning. On Sunday afternoon, she received a tentative acceptance for her first romance novel and life would never be the same.
N.J. Walters is a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author who has always been a voracious reader, and now she spends her days writing novels of her own. Vampires, werewolves, dragons, time-travelers, seductive handymen, and next-door neighbors with smoldering good looks--all vie for her attention. It's a tough life, but someone's got to live it.
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ReplyDeleteSounds like a good read!
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