Review: Of Shadow Born by Dianne Sylvan

Title: Of Shadow Born
Author: Dianne Sylvan
Series: Shadow World, #4
Publisher: Ace
Release Date: March 26, 2013
Pages: 336
Rating:

Spread throughout the dark corners of our world lies the Shadow World, a society of vampires who feed off the living. In Austin, Texas, one woman must rise from the ashes of tragedy and confront an ancient evil before it destroys everything she holds dear…

After a heartrending night of loss and blood, Miranda Grey-Solomon, vampire Queen of the South, now stands in the ruins of her life determined to pick up the pieces and move on. David, her husband and Prime, is missing and presumed dead, and Miranda is lost without her soul mate by her side…But she has little time to grieve as enemies both old and new emerge to test her yet again.

Between vampires trying to take advantage of a Queen without a Prime, incursions by a mysterious organization of humans calling themselves the Order of the Morningstar, and the continuing threat from those within the Shadow World who have already tried to destroy her, Miranda and her allies are running out of places to turn. In order to save her territory and the ones she loves, Miranda must look to the ancient past, to the first days of the vampire race, and uncover secrets about the Signets that could change the course of history…

“You died . . . I felt you die . . . the others saw you . . . you went to dust . . . there was nothing left but a shadow.” Softly, he smiled. “And of shadow I was reborn.”

Shadow's Fall ended on one hell of a cliffhanger and this series is getting more interesting by the book. The first half of the book was pretty heartbreaking because Miranda is dealing with the fallout from the previous book. David is presumed dead and she is still alive which isn't right, because if a Prime falls, the queen does soon after. But some wicked ass things go down in OF SHADOW BORN and I'm glad to be there for the ride!

Miranda struggles to stand on her own and lead the Haven without David for now, but she is still heartbroken and it is hard without David and she finds a surprising friendship in Devon, they mourn together and bond over David. I really enjoyed Devon and Miranda coming together. I loved them getting along and forming a friendship. But David is not gone for long, thank god. I mean, seriously, the last line of Shadow's Fall gave us hope, so of course I knew he'd be back!

David comes back weird, not remembering what happened, I mean, he's back but stronger than ever and I'm not going to go too much into the why's and how's, but it makes me wonder was it worth him coming back. Will everything be okay. Miranda and David may be back together, but a war may be coming that they have to become a part of.

“You know what I do to people who question me.” Jonathan smiled up at him hopefully. “Shag them blind?” “Damn it, my torture methods are supposed to be a secret. Who told you?” The Consort chuckled. “I’m familiar with your work, my Lord.”

I must mention more of Devon and Johnathon. I loved them as always! Devon has been going through a lot and I mourn for him. I really hope that he will get want he needs most and I hope Johnathon can help him through it. There were many different POV's in OF SHADOW BORN and sometimes it got to be too overwhelming, so it was a little too much for me.

I enjoyed OF SHADOW BORN a lot. There is a cliffhanger at the end, but not as bad as the cliffhanger in Shadow's Fall. I am loving this series with every new book and I really look forward to see what transpires next in the Shadow World Series.

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Review: Shadow's Fall by Dianne Sylvan

Title: Shadow's Fall
Author: Dianne Sylvan
Series: Shadow World, #3
Publisher: Ace
Release Date: March 27, 2012
Pages: 325
Rating:

For three years, Miranda Grey-Solomon has kept her role as Vampire Queen of the South separate from her Grammy-winning music career. But now, her dual lives are starting to collide, threatening everything Miranda and David, her Prime, have worked for. 
The entire Signet Council has descended upon Austin for its ten-year summit, bringing with it Prime James Hart of the Northeast, a sworn enemy come to take his revenge on those who defied him. But Miranda and David receive an unexpected offer of help from David's sire, an ancient and powerful vampire with knowledge that may be their salvation-or their doom.

Honestly I don't know what the hell to say! SHADOW'S FALL pissed me off to no end (mainly because I hate cliffhangers!). I seriously wanted to throw the book across the room, and let me tell you, there is this massive end of the world cliffhangers at the end that is also part of me being pissed off! But the book was still out of this world awesome!

When I picked up SHADOW'S FALL I couldn't put the book down! It was so freaking good! We get to see all the primes again, which was my favorite part of the book. And they had this counsel meeting and this torment of all their elites against all the other primes elite.It was really cool! I loved that we get almost everyone's "point of view" in this book. We get Miranda, David, Jonathan, Deven, Cora and some new character's "point of view" as well!

David smiled. "Faith has been very driven this year---I think we have a good chance of winning." "I hope not. I really don't want to pay India ten grand. He'd never let me live it down."

It mad everything in the book quite interesting. In the beginning of the book Jonathan got this premonition that something horrible is going to happen and yes, by the end of the book we see everything come together from what horrible event he foreseen. And it was definitely horrible. I was a bit mad at a lot of characters in this book. A lot at Miranda for doing something, that could of resulted in everything turning so horrible.

She nodded. "Thank you for coming. I think I overdid it a little." He chuckled. "You? Never."

And also at Deven as well. I hope soon in the series there will be a time where he will trust David as his friend to make the right decisions, because I feel if he would have told him all of his thoughts and conclusions from the beginning, the "horrible happening" could have been prevented. I loved seeing Jonathan and Deven's "point of view". We had some new characters that I loved and hated and I can't believe a certain someone was evil even though I expected it! I loved them!

SHADOW'S FALL definitely exceeded my expectations since the last book! It was awesome and mind blowing. I just need to not think about this book for awhile or my head is going to explode from needing the next book in this amazing series.

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Review: Shadowflame by Dianne Sylvan

Title: Shadowflame
Author: Dianne Sylvan
Series: Shadow World, #2
Publisher: Ace
Release Date: July 26, 2011
Pages: 360
Rating:

It’s been three months since musician Miranda Grey became a vampire and married David Solomon, Prime of the South. As Queen, Miranda must quickly come to terms with her new role and learn how to negotiate the treacherous waters of Signet politics, inevitably making dangerous enemies along the way.

As if complicated vampire politics and a rising music career weren’t enough, an enigmatic but powerful force from David’s past appears, leaving a wake of chaos and uncertainty for the Pair’s fledgling relationship. Miranda begins to realize how little she really knows about her husband. But when an assassin begins targeting her friends and allies, the Pair must track down the killer, even as their lives hang in the balance…

SHADOWFLAME succeeds the previous Queen of Shadows in so many ways and you are left wondering if it is even possible to turn the pages fast enough. Dianne Sylvan has truly created a vampire world that I want to be apart of for years to come.

Miranda is now Queen and wife of David Solomon, Prime of the South and since becoming a vampire her life has changed more ways than you could possibly imagine. She is a very young vampire, but in our eyes she is the wisdom of one born to be queen. David is as cute and geeky as ever just how I like him. I love that we see David as perfect to an extend, but he is not. We learn things about David's past that may be shocking, but it made me love this book even more. Learning about David's past was one of the best things about this book.

In Queen of Shadows we met the lovely Devon, Prime of California and his Consort, Jonathan. I knew from the moment we met them that I wanted more. In  SHADOWFLAME, Devon plays a more important role in this book and I am in swoon-mode right now, because I am in love with this Prime. I thought that David had stolen my heart, but now I think I am devoted to Devon.

"Darling, sometimes I think it's a good thing you're so pretty."  

We get to meet some new characters that you will love and hate, but it makes reading the book that more enjoyable. SHADOWFLAME shows you just how dangerous it is to be in Miranda's shoes. She is the queen and there are some that wish her harm and you get to witness just how far they would go to her fall. Not just Miranda's life is at stake her, she is tied to her husband, David Solomon and if one dies so does the other.

SHADOWFLAME was an phenomenal book from beginning to end. When you reach that last page you will wish that you hadn't because the wait for the third book in this amazing vampire series will be that more painful.

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Review: Queen of Shadows by Dianne Sylvan

Title: Queen of Shadows
Author: Dianne Sylvan
Series: Shadow World, #1
Publisher: Ace
Release Date: August 31, 2010
Pages: 389
Rating:

Spread throughout the dark corners of our world lies the Shadow World, a society of vampires that feeds off the living. In Austin, Texas, one woman’s madness will drive her into a world that few people ever see–or even know exists…

Shortly after she picked up a guitar, Miranda Grey conquered the Austin music scene with a newfound ability to psychically manipulate her audience’s emotions. But as her powers outgrow her control, her mind is increasingly invaded by haunting secrets and overwhelming sadness. Unable to look anyone in the eye, Miranda is fast approaching the edge of insanity–with no one to catch her fall…

When he outlawed killing humans, David Solomon ignited a civil war among Austin’s vampires. As Prime of the South, his sympathy for mortals angered the old guard who refuse to control their violent urges. David has his hands full with the growing insurgency, but he takes in a broken-down woman, a musician in need of supernatural guidance. Little does he know that Miranda Grey has the power to change his world as well…

This series is a first in a series and is suppose to be considered urban fantasy but has a bit of both urban fantasy and paranormal romance included with in it. At the start of the book, I thought that main heroine, Miranda was an okay character but as soon as I hot farther into the book she grew into this strong character and I love this woman. The hero of this book is the very hot and sexy prime, David Solomon. oh, god I love this man! He is so sweet and such a romantic, I mean they way he is wit Miranda some parts he is so romantic and god, I want him! and we also have David's second in command, Faith! if I had a best friend it would so be Faith! she is so badass and when she is keeping Miranda company, i just love those scenes where they are talking about David and the rumors going around at the haven about David and Miranda...

There is also Devon and Jonathon. I want to know more about these two so bad. I hope we get more info about them in the next book! There were some things in this book I so did not like in this book like Miranda's best friends, Kat. I cant stand that girl. Miranda come back in her new apartment from the haven and Kat fixes her up wit a guy, and come on! she just is recovering from a heartbreaking experience. God, could Kat be even more insensitive. Kat says that she go out and be friends but Miranda doesn't wanna be around guys rite now, she's not able to touch them or have them touch her after what happened. Kat is so horrible, at least consider her feelings on the whole situation. In secret she is like just be friends but like while reading the book I already know that Kat hopes that they will grow into more than that. God. But of course Miranda only has one guy in her heart..(Solomon) but I think Kat is to naggy and is always trying to get into Miranda's bussiness. I would never want a friend like that. I also didnt like the spys/betrayers to the haven I thought like every frickin' guard there was a spy for Ariana. I mean the only ones that seemed safe were the servants.

I thought this love story was so beautiful and very emotional, sad at times because Sylvan does a great job with her words, and I think this is an amazing start into a series. I think that the second book is gonna be 10X better than this book. I read the description for book 2 on her website and wish it was July already. Book 2 sounds more action packed. I think this book is damn amazing and seriously a really good read. If your looking for a great read this is your book.

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