The Mayfair Moon by J.A. Redmerski
Published: February 6th, 2012
Reading Level: Young Adult
Paperback: 352 pages
Series: The Darkwoods Trilogy, #1
Rating: 5 of 5 stars
Summary:
After a nightmarish encounter with a werewolf, seventeen-year-old Adria Dawson loses her sister, but gains the love of a mysterious young man and his legendary family.
Strange and tragic things begin to happen in the small town of Hallowell, Maine: residents come down with an unexplainable ‘illness’ and some disappear. In the midst of everything, Isaac Mayfair is adamant about keeping Adria safe, even from her sister whom he has warned her to stay away from.
As unspeakable secrets unfold all around Adria, impossible choices become hers to bear. Ultimately, no matter what path she takes, her life and the lives of those she loves will be in peril. As she learns about the werewolf world she also learns why her place in it will change the destinies of many.
Review:
I still enjoy paranormal stories even though I don't read them as often anymore. Werewolves are my favorite but it's difficult to find good stories that don't just recycle what we've all read a million times. The Darkwoods Trilogy is a great series to pick up if you want something unique and interesting set in the paranormal world.
Adria and her sister haven't had an easy life. The end up in Maine and have a werewolf encounter but at the time they have no idea that's what it is. Some people in the town have been sick or disappeared and soon Adria's sister starts acting strange and hanging out with some odd people.
In comes Isaac and his family. Isaac is a good guy who really wants to keep Adria safe. Him and his family introduce her to a world she never imagined existed and now she finds herself in danger at ever turn.
I enjoyed Adria as a character. She had every excuse to be a complete biotch but she wasn't. She remained a good person and cared for her sister even though she refused to listen to her.
Issac wasn't the only person Adria meets in this story. He has a whole slew of"family" she is faced with; some good, some bad. These characters really help build a solid base for this story. I enjoyed getting to know them all and seeing what happened to them as the story progressed.
This story has a complex plot so there are many questions remaining after book 1. The werewolf world is something we just begin to understand through Adria's POV. I highly enjoyed this story!
Kindred by J.A. Redmerski
Published: July 20th, 2012
Reading Level: New Adult
Paperback: 348 pages
Series: The Darkwoods Trilogy, #2
Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Summary:
Isaac Mayfair is hiding a dark secret. And just when Adria Dawson thinks the worst of her life among the werewolf world is over, she learns the secret that can rip her and Isaac’s love apart. Adria must come to terms with what the truth means for her. What it means for her life and how much time she has left to live it. She must choose between two different fates, neither of which can offer life as a certainty.
As if Isaac’s betrayal isn’t enough, Adria learns that there are things out there older and more powerful than werewolves could ever be. An archaic entity known only to few as the Praverian, unlike anything Adria has ever known or heard of.
As Adria struggles with her own fateful dilemmas, she must also try to find out why the Praverian is so interested in her and do everything in her power to stay out of its way.
Review:
I decided to review these two together since I read them within a short timeframe. You may want to avoid this review if you don't want spoilers for book 1. When Kindred picks up, a fight has just taken place for Adria's life and Isaac's relationship with her is strong. He wants to protect her at all costs.
7 months after the battle, Adria is experiencing some strange symptoms that could be linked to a Blood Bond (something we learn about during the first book). These symptoms make her feel like she is losing her mind and it really takes a toll on her.
I felt that this book explores the werewolf culture a bit more. Although much of it is focused on Adria's situation, we hear a lot about the rival packs, alpha fights, and ancient creatures more powerful than all of them.
As with The Mayfair Moon, the minor characters are just as wonderful. Their roles grow in this story and friendships build and change. Adria's sister is sort of missing from this story but I have a feeling she will return. Also, some parts were a little more difficult to follow and some places just didn't grab me as much as the first book did. Nevertheless, this continues to be a very enjoyable paranormal series and I'm looking forward to reading the final installment.
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