Burnt Devotion by Rebecca Ethington

Synopsis:

It was supposed to be the final battle, the one to end Edmund’s line, his life, and free the magic Edmund had taken from the world. That was how it was foreseen. The end of the battle that has raged for centuries, unbeknownst to the mortals around them, the battle that would end with Joclyn’s death.

But it did neither.

The battle still reigns, Joclyn still lives, and the sight that was given eight hundred years ago is broken.

And it’s not the only one.

Sights that were once thought infallible have become nothing more than scattered glass, with broken pieces shattering into incorrect visages. Sain clings to the magic that he knows to be true, but there is something else, something that he is not saying. And what he does say is no longer adding up.

Something is wrong.

Ilyan and his people move through the caves, following a sight they hope to be correct, fleeing a battle that should have been the end while the battle within each of them grows with each step.

Ryland fights the monsters his father has infected him with.

Wynifred fights the confusion of who she is.

Dramin fights to live.

Prague may not survive this battle, it may be ripped to shreds… or burned to ashes.

My Review: 4 Stars

I know... I know... all the Imdalind fans are probably screaming at me like... "What is wrong with you?! Only 4 stars?!" But alas... it was only a 4 star read for me. Sad to say... the first half of the book kinda dragged. It probably had to do with the fact that I had just finished reading Soul of Flame and quickly started Burnt Devotion. So... it kinda felt like I was reading the same thing over again... just from Wyn and Ryland's point of view. While I did like it... it was just a bit too much for me all at once.

But once I got past the first half of the book it definitely picked up! There were lots of twists and turns that I really did not see coming. Some made me happy while others made me very, very angry!! All I have to say is... CURSE YOU SAIN!! I KNEW I couldn't trust you!! And I KNEW I didn't like you!! What the crap Jack?! What the heck are you going to do now?! And I will say up front that if ANY of my favorites don't make it out I will be very, VERY angry!! Grrrrr.

But while Sain was busy screwing everything up... while Wyn was battling with who she really is... while Dramin is hanging on to his life... while everyone is trying to figure out what happened to Thom... while Joclyn and Ilyan continue to fight for their lives and try and stop certain sights from coming to pass... there are lights at the end of the tunnel for Ryland! THAT made me happy! I really can't wait to see how his story falls into place. That poor guy has been through more than Joclyn has and I think that he definitely deserves a happy ending!! I mean really... with a father like Edmund... they ALL deserve a happy ending!! Please... please... please make this happen!! I really just NEED it to happen!! My heart and soul hurt for all those that have been affected by the evil Edmund and all his evil little minons!! Grrrr. 

I can't wait to see how this series ends!! It's been a long ride... full of lots and lots of emotions!! Happiness... sadness... anger... disbelief... betrayal... laughter... but most of all lots and lots of unconditional love!! *dreamy sigh* Have I mentioned how much I LOVE this series?! ;)

And to end on a happy note... I can now share with you who I see for certain characters!! They all just make me smile! :) Hehe. 

 

Soul of Flame by Rebecca Ethington

Synopsis:

The Time for the final battle has come.

Edmund's armies have surrounded the Rioseco Abbey, trapping the few survivors inside. The sight that Ilyan was given a thousand years ago is about to come to pass.

If only Joclyn was able to fight.

Joclyn is tormented by the hallucinations that Cail’s mind has left her with, her magic an uncontrollable torrent that even Ilyan cannot control. Her moments of lucidity are broken by fears of dripping pipes and bleeding walls, and a desire to kill Ryland that she is having trouble trying to ignore.

The sight has shown her power, shown her success, but it has also shown her death – The end of her life something she is not quite willing to give up on yet.

Even past her death, the sight has shown her love, and that love may be the only key to her sanity, to her strength, and to Edmund's death.

That love may stand in her way, and a single choice may tip the scales and secure their future, or destroy their fate.

My Review: 5+ Stars

*WARNING* May contain spoilers if you have not read this series! Read at your own risk... ;)

Oh my heck!! I just have to say up front that Soul of Flame is my most favoritest book so far in this series!! It's like each book just keeps getting better and better as the series goes on!! I just don't want it to end... but then again I do... and I want Jos and Ilyan to come out on top!! Is that too much to ask?! Hehe.

As stated in previous reviews... Jos has seriously been put through the ringer! This poor girl just can NOT catch a break and it hurts my heart! But ever the strong one... she just keeps pushing forward... knowing what she has to do... know that with Ilyan's help she can face it and she will face it! She is just THAT strong! But that doesn't make the journey any easier! :( What does help make it easier?! Why Ilyan of course!! *dreamy sigh* I absolutely 110% LOVE Ilyan!! He is absolutely the most amazing man ever!!

This book not only focuses on Jos overcoming all that Edmund, Cail and Ryland have done to her but we also get to see her grow and become stronger not only with Ilyan's help but also on her own which just makes her that much more amazing! She shows everyone around her that she really is The Silnỳ.. the Chosen One who WILL take Edmund down... eventually... ;)

My favorite part of the book?! All things Jos and Ilyan!! *dreamy sigh* The love that these two have for each other literally melts my heart and turns me into a pile of goo!! Seriously... these two are at the top of my favorite couples list!! Their binding ceremony was absolutely spectacular!! I LOVED seeing Ilyan and Jos put themselves first for a change!! Seriously... words just cannot describe it!! These two are just AMAZING!! I LOVE them!! *double dreamy sigh*

And alas... I have to bring this up... but I will make it short and sweet... I promise!! Edmund, Ovailia and Sain... I seriously cannot STAND you!! I despise you all!! You are horrible excuses for human beings!! Yes... I know that Sain is Joclyn's father but there is just something about it him... I do not like the way he treats Joclyn... and I just do NOT trust him! What are you up to?! Grrrrr.

But on a happy note... Joclyn... Ilyan... Thom... Wyn... Darmin... LOVE them all!! They simply ROCK!! Hehe.

Ms. Ethington... you have done it AGAIN!! You are seriously one talented writer who can suck me in and not let me go... I LOVE IT!! :)

Scorched Treachery by Rebecca Ethington

Synopsis:

While Joclyn is trapped in the tormenting hell of Cail’s mind, the battle around her only continues to grow and spread.

Edmund has infiltrated the underground hallways of Prague, guiding the massacre that would end the lives of the last of the great magical race. In her attempts to stop him, Wynifred has been captured and her magic restrained. Chained up in the ancient dungeons of Prague, her fate is left in the hands of her father, who has tried to kill her before.

With Ryland’s screams and Sain’s fragmented sights as her only company, Wyn must rely on something that has been hidden deep inside of her for centuries to help them break free.

Ilyan’s whole life has been building up to one purpose. Protect the Silnỳ. He knows what he must do, and he has no doubt in his ability to do so. But when his father’s magic removes Joclyn’s mind from her body, he is left protecting the shell of the one person he loves. Desperate to find a way to break her free of her prison, he makes a choice. And that one choice changes everything.

Now, Ilyan finds himself bound to Joclyn in a way that he never knew to be possible. They say that blood is thicker than water, but Black Water burns, and Ilyan’s heart may not be strong enough to keep it pumping through his veins and give the girl he loves back into his brother’s care.
Even if he can, it may not be safe to do so.


My Review: 5 Stars

Wow... wow... wow!! Scorched Treachery was even more amazing than I thought it would be!! After reading Eyes of Ember I had several questions come up and I was curious as to what was happening "behind the scenes" with Wyn and Ilyan. Man oh man! Rebecca Ethington did NOT disappoint me! I LOVED Scorched Treachery!! I swear her books just get better and better each time one is released!!

I have said it before in other reviews and I will say it again in this one. I can always tell when a book is going to be a winner for me when I can shut out everything going on around me and enter into the same place as the characters in a book. And Ms. Ethington did just that... AGAIN!! I was sent on an emotional roller coaster and loved every minute of it! I felt happy... sad... angry... hopeful... stressed... thrown for a loop or two. My advice to anyone that reads Scorched Treachery is to just go with the flow... don't try and figure things out because just when you think you have... BAM!! Curve ball!! I loved seeing how everything really did tie in together and every single question I had was answered. Of course there were other questions that came up but hey! That's what book 4 is for right?! ;o)

Thank you Rebecca for writing such an amazing series!! I am so glad that I stumbled upon it by accident. It has quickly become of one my favorites!! I can't wait to see what you have in store for us in book 4!! It's going to kill me but I already know beyond a shadow of a doubt that it will be amazing and definitely worth the wait!!

Eyes of Ember by Rebecca Ethington

Synopsis:

Joclyn is in hiding, hunted by the man she still desperately loves. Ryland is gone, his mind erased, no memory of Joclyn remains. But, Joclyn’s heart desperately begs her to hold out hope. While, in reality the black eyed monster that possesses him, attempts to kill her over and over.

If it wasn’t for Ilyan, Joclyn would be dead by now.

Ilyan. The man who once stalked her, is now Joclyn’s protector, the only thing she has left. He protects Joclyn from the men who seek to end her life, and while she is haunted by dreams where Ryland begs her to break the bond between them.

Ilyan is there. Always there.

Ilyan trains and prepares her, teaching her everything she needs to know in the hope that one day she can avenge Ryland, if not protect herself from him.

And then there is her father.

The man who has never been there, is suddenly responsible for everything. And who he is has made Joclyn into something she never wanted to be.

The Silnỳ.

My Review: 5+ Stars

*WARNING* May contain spoilers... read at your own risk!! ;o)

Ummmm.... WOW!! Can I give Eyes of Ember more than 5 stars?! If I could... I totally would!! I absolutely LOVED it!! Believe it or not... I thought it was better than Kiss of Fire... which is saying a lot by the way because I loved that one too!!

Holy crow Batman!! Talk about an emotional roller coaster!! One minute I was laughing... then next I was crying... after that I was livid beyond belief... and then sighing with contentment... only to start smirking and then cringing minutes later... it was amazing!! And I loved every minute of it!! ;o)

Can I just tell you have much I love Ilyan... *sigh* If you thought Ryland was amazing in Kiss of Fire, wait till you see Ilyan in Eyes of Ember!! He surpasses Ryland in the amazing category!! ;o) Completely selfless... the ultimate protector... the best teacher... the most loving friend... a shining light in the darkest of times... *sigh* I will take one of him please!! ;o)

And Jos... WOW!! That poor girl has been put through the ringer and them some but still continues to move forward. With help from Ilyan, she is able to see who she really is and what she's meant to do. She learns that with him she can face and overcome anything and everything. Together they are strongest.

The two parts of the book I loved the most was when Jos finally sees Ilyan for who and what he really is too her and then finally admits her feelings for him! (I got a little teary eyed and loved every minute of it! Hehe.) And then the sparring match that follows closely after her discovery. Oh my heck!! CLASSIC!! I had that stupid little goofy grin on my face the whole time!! I just love their relationship!

Ugh! Edmund... Cail... Ovailia... Ryland. I just have one thing to say... You all suck and I hope you get what's coming to you!! I have never had so many evil feelings towards characters in book before... just thinking of them is getting me angry again! I have actual feelings of hatred for them! Grrrr.

But have I mentioned how much I love Jos and Ilyan?! ;o) Hehe.

Thank you Ms. Ethington for another phenomenal book!! I am totally invested and addicted to this series... your mission has been accomplished!! :o)

Kiss of Fire by Rebecca Ethington

I have read this series so many times but it was all before I started my blog. Since I have just completed my "refresher course" before reading and finishing Burnt Devotion, I thought it would only be right to post them all on here as well. It is, after all, one of my favorite series. So... sit back and enjoy the Imdalind ride as I pay tribute to an amazing author... Rebecca Ethington!! :) And P.S. To all of you who look forward to my castings... you won't see one until my Burnt Devotion review. It's not going to be couples... just some of the characters that I have loved throughout the series so far... and even a new one. But you will get to see a glimpse of who I see while reading. ;)

Synopsis:

Joclyn Despain has been marred by a brand on her skin. She doesn't know why the mark appeared on her neck, but she doesn't want anyone to see it, including her best friend Ryland, who knows everything else about her. The scar is the reason she hides herself behind baggy clothes, and won't let the idea of kissing Ryland enter her mind, no matter how much she wants to.
The scar is the reason she is being hunted.

If only she knew that she was.

If only she had known that the cursed stone her estranged father sent for her 16th birthday would trigger a change in her. Now, she is being stalked by a tall blonde man, and is miraculously throwing her high school bully ten feet in the air.

Joclyn attempts to find some answers and the courage to follow her heart. When Ryland finds her scar; only he knows what it means, and who will kill her because of it.

My Review: 5 Stars

WHAT?! NO!! That was NOT supposed to happen!! I can't be left hanging like this!! So NOT fair!! Ugh!!

I was totally sucked into Kiss of Fire from the start and absolutely LOVED it!! Joclyn and Ryland quickly moved their way to the top of my most cutest and amazing couples list!! They were best friends from the start... fell in love over their years of friendship... and not only make each other better but together they are complete. *sigh* I so cannot WAIT for book two to come out!!

I am SO glad I stumbled upon Rebecca L. Ethington! After reading Kiss of Fire she too has moved to the top of one of my lists... favorite authors!! I can't wait to see what's in store for Joclyn and Ryland in Eyes of Ember! :o)