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Irin Chronicles #2
The Singer
When you've lost everything you love, how do you fight the darkness?
Ava left Istanbul with a new identity, new name, and new magic she could barely control. Laid low by Malachi's sacrifice, she searches for help from the fabled Irina. But will the secretive women of the Irin race welcome or shun her? Ava's origins are still a mystery, and her powers are darker than any they've encountered before.
The Irin world hangs in the balance. And as the children of angels battle their own demons, ancient rivalries among the Fallen threaten to wreak havoc on earth.
Thousand of miles away, a warrior wakes with no memory of his identity or his people. Stumbling though the dark and twisted schemes of fallen angels, ravenous Grigori, and even his own leaders, he must find a way back to the one thing he remembers. A single voice calls him. Malachi has one mission.
"Come back to me."
THE SINGER is the second book in the Irin Chronicles, a contemporary fantasy series from Elizabeth Hunter, author of the Elemental Mysteries.
Ava left Istanbul with a new identity, new name, and new magic she could barely control. Laid low by Malachi's sacrifice, she searches for help from the fabled Irina. But will the secretive women of the Irin race welcome or shun her? Ava's origins are still a mystery, and her powers are darker than any they've encountered before.
The Irin world hangs in the balance. And as the children of angels battle their own demons, ancient rivalries among the Fallen threaten to wreak havoc on earth.
Thousand of miles away, a warrior wakes with no memory of his identity or his people. Stumbling though the dark and twisted schemes of fallen angels, ravenous Grigori, and even his own leaders, he must find a way back to the one thing he remembers. A single voice calls him. Malachi has one mission.
"Come back to me."
THE SINGER is the second book in the Irin Chronicles, a contemporary fantasy series from Elizabeth Hunter, author of the Elemental Mysteries.
335 pages, Paperback
Published May 6, 2014
About the author
Elizabeth Hunter
73 books6,063 followersELIZABETH HUNTER is a ten-time USA Today bestselling author of romance, contemporary fantasy, and paranormal mystery. Based in Central California and Addis Ababa, she travels extensively to write fantasy fiction exploring world mythologies, history, and the universal bonds of love, friendship, and family.
She has published over forty works of fiction and sold over three million books world-wide. She is the author of the Elemental Mysteries, the Irin Chronicles, the Cambio Springs Mysteries, and other works of fiction.
She has published over forty works of fiction and sold over three million books world-wide. She is the author of the Elemental Mysteries, the Irin Chronicles, the Cambio Springs Mysteries, and other works of fiction.
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March 1, 2018
First time in Kindle Unlimited!
So excited to announce that the entire Irin Chronicles series is in Kindle Unlimited for the next few months. I don't put much in KU, so if you're a KU reader, grab it while you can!
➜ Amazon: http://amzn.to/2aHGk17
MY REVIEW:
Okay, so yes, this book gave me the sads to write. WHY? Well... if you've read it, you already understand, but if you're reading this, have you already read it?
I feel like this just got way deeper than intended for a GR review.
So this is the book where you find out WHY that last chapter at the end of THE SCRIBE exists and what it all means and OH YEAH, you get to meet the pissed off badasses called Irina. Some readers don't like this book as much because it has way more pissed off women and way less of THE MENZ. Buuuuut, that's just the way this series is. You get to find out that there are two (three, four? Maybe a dozen?) sides to every story. And the things you THOUGHT were the truth might still be the truth... but only for some.
Things get dark. Things get light. And resolutions don't come easy. Especially not when you've lost the love of your life.
The Irin world just got way more confusing because what we thought was black and white is going to be painted over in shades of grey.
Enjoy!
May 3, 2014
Elizabeth Hunter fans have waited months to continue the Irin Chronicles and the story of Ava & Malachi. Like me, I'm sure many of you wiped tears at the ending of The Scribe, heartbroken by the devastating loss of Malachi. As I settled in to read The Singer, I found myself a bit wary and anxious. I have fallen in love with these characters, shared their love and laughter, felt their pain and heartbreak, suffered and grieved with them. Elizabeth Hunter has the magical ability to breathe life into her characters, propelling them from the page of their fantasy world to capivate you and make you believe, make you care, make you want more...so I turned to page one, took a deep breath and got lost in their world once again...
The Irin world is in turmoil. The Grigori are increasing their presence in Istanbul, and there's a power play among The Fallen that threatens to destroy everyone. Both Volund and Jaron want Ava, each for reasons of their own, and will stop at nothing to get her as an epic, world-ending battle ramps up between the Ancients. But Ava is unaware...
"Grief struck at the oddest times. Like a cat, it waited to pounce. She could go about her day, even talk about Malachi, ignoring the black hole that lived inside, then something little would swallow her up." (Ava from The Singer)
What do you do when you've lost everything - your heart, soul, mate - your reason for living? How do you continue when your other half is missing? Ava is lost, battling the darkness while drowning in her grief...she watched her mate die, killed while fighting to save her. The darkness is closing in...an evil force is stalking her so she seeks refuge among the elusive Irina - a magical race of women who can help her discover and broaden the scope of her magical powers - help her release her voice and finally sing. She is haunted by dreams of her lost love, Malachi...dreams that feel so real, she can sense his breath whispering over her skin, caressing her with words of love. However, Ava's dreams also have a dark side - an ominous presence, always lurking around the shadows, tempting her, calling her, preying upon her mind. Who is luring her into the darkness? Why do they summon her?
While Ava struggles with grief and darkness, there is a warrior far away, battling his own demons. He has awakened lost, not knowing his own name or where he belongs. As he fights to recapture his memories, his mind is inundated by a woman's mournful plea - "Vashama canem. Come back to me." The warrior's nights are spent pursuing and loving her in dreams, driven by a powerful bond that will not be denied. As his memory slowly returns, the mystical siren calling him in the night continues eluding him. He may no longer remember the woman haunting his dreams and mind, but he knows he loves her and recognizes her as his mate.
Elizabeth Hunter has created a magnificent world of amazing characters, entangled in a web of deceit, danger, loss, power, politics, and love that will have your heart racing time and time again. She has once again raised the bar in the world of fantasy and totally captivated me. The writing is wonderfully imaginative, enticing you deeper with a plot laden with twists and turns. I was quickly lured into The Singer and couldn't turn pages fast enough to discover what would happen next. Approaching the end, I thought I had a handle on it, Yes...I can live with this...things are good...and then...I read the Epilogue...What?! OMG...I need book 3 now! What a great read! A definite reread! I can't wait for the next and final book of The Irin Chronicles trilogy! Fans of fantasy, paranormal, romance and suspense will love The Singer and the Irin Chronicles. Beautiful! Creative! Brilliant! A must read!
*I received an ARC from the author*
http://crossmyheartbookreviews.blogsp...
The Irin world is in turmoil. The Grigori are increasing their presence in Istanbul, and there's a power play among The Fallen that threatens to destroy everyone. Both Volund and Jaron want Ava, each for reasons of their own, and will stop at nothing to get her as an epic, world-ending battle ramps up between the Ancients. But Ava is unaware...
"Grief struck at the oddest times. Like a cat, it waited to pounce. She could go about her day, even talk about Malachi, ignoring the black hole that lived inside, then something little would swallow her up." (Ava from The Singer)
What do you do when you've lost everything - your heart, soul, mate - your reason for living? How do you continue when your other half is missing? Ava is lost, battling the darkness while drowning in her grief...she watched her mate die, killed while fighting to save her. The darkness is closing in...an evil force is stalking her so she seeks refuge among the elusive Irina - a magical race of women who can help her discover and broaden the scope of her magical powers - help her release her voice and finally sing. She is haunted by dreams of her lost love, Malachi...dreams that feel so real, she can sense his breath whispering over her skin, caressing her with words of love. However, Ava's dreams also have a dark side - an ominous presence, always lurking around the shadows, tempting her, calling her, preying upon her mind. Who is luring her into the darkness? Why do they summon her?
While Ava struggles with grief and darkness, there is a warrior far away, battling his own demons. He has awakened lost, not knowing his own name or where he belongs. As he fights to recapture his memories, his mind is inundated by a woman's mournful plea - "Vashama canem. Come back to me." The warrior's nights are spent pursuing and loving her in dreams, driven by a powerful bond that will not be denied. As his memory slowly returns, the mystical siren calling him in the night continues eluding him. He may no longer remember the woman haunting his dreams and mind, but he knows he loves her and recognizes her as his mate.
Elizabeth Hunter has created a magnificent world of amazing characters, entangled in a web of deceit, danger, loss, power, politics, and love that will have your heart racing time and time again. She has once again raised the bar in the world of fantasy and totally captivated me. The writing is wonderfully imaginative, enticing you deeper with a plot laden with twists and turns. I was quickly lured into The Singer and couldn't turn pages fast enough to discover what would happen next. Approaching the end, I thought I had a handle on it, Yes...I can live with this...things are good...and then...I read the Epilogue...What?! OMG...I need book 3 now! What a great read! A definite reread! I can't wait for the next and final book of The Irin Chronicles trilogy! Fans of fantasy, paranormal, romance and suspense will love The Singer and the Irin Chronicles. Beautiful! Creative! Brilliant! A must read!
*I received an ARC from the author*
http://crossmyheartbookreviews.blogsp...
December 1, 2015
Original Post: The Singer at FLYLeF (www.flylef.com)
WITH SUCH A dramatic ending in The Scribe, the only thing that kept me from immediately burying my nose in Elizabeth Hunter’s The Singer (Irin Chronicles 2) was the time it took to download it onto my Kindle. Luckily, that was only a stretch of ten minutes or so, and I was blissfully back in the Irin world.
Ava lost everything she loved. Now she must find the courage and strength to continue on with a new identity and a new magic she can barely contain. With the support of Malachi’s scribe brother, Damien, Ava is welcomed into the hidden retreat of the fabled Irinas. Orsala, a powerful Irina empath, trains and guides Ava to embrace and control her dark and undiluted magic, but not before Ava unknowingly and innocently speaks the old language Vashama canem – “Come back to me.”
Thousands of miles away, a warrior wakes with no recollection of his identity. Anchored by a single voice that calls to him, Malachi has only one mission – he must find a way back to Ava. With scheming Fallen angels, deadly Grigori attacks, and even a potentially corrupt Irin counsel, the odds are stacked heavily against them. Can Malachi find Ava before it’s too late?
I really enjoyed the new cast of characters in The Singer. The Irinas are formidably females. We begin to see why they are revered, treasured, and protected by their male counterparts. Chief among them is Sari, Damien’s mate. Their story is a subplot full of heated passion and tantalizing tension, and delves deeper into the Irin world after the Rending.
Ms. Hunter ends her story with a lot of excitement. She meticulously lays the foundation for her characters to launch off into a high-intensity chase. Readers will follow along breathlessly to the end. But that’s not all; she ends with an epilogue that is a cliffhanger of a new mystery. Don’t worry, though. The Singer has a complete and satisfying closure. You won’t be left hanging, just excited for The Secret (Irin Chronicles 3).
May 31, 2018
2.5 What Happened Stars?
To say I’m disappointed would be putting it mildly. I gave the first book five starts and finished it in one sitting. I suffered through The Singer and I only finished it because I loved the first book so much.
Let me tell you this, I really hate it when the couple is separated for a majority of the book. I don’t know why authors do this. Well, I do no why, it’s called a filler book. It really upset me when it happened in Twilight and yet it happened again in this series.
It took before they got back together and oh my god, I was so upset and exhausted from reading I felt like I couldn’t enjoy the reunion.
You can honestly skim or skip this book and go to the next one. Sure there are some stuff that happens, a lot of politics, but mostly repetitive stuff. Oh my goodness, there so much repetitive writing, I was questioning if this was written by the same author of the first book?
I will finish the series, as the next book concludes Malachi and Ava’s story, but I’m not sure when I will pick it up. I felt so used after reading The Singer I feel like I need a break from my abuser.
Oh and having Malachi’s
To say I’m disappointed would be putting it mildly. I gave the first book five starts and finished it in one sitting. I suffered through The Singer and I only finished it because I loved the first book so much.
Let me tell you this, I really hate it when the couple is separated for a majority of the book. I don’t know why authors do this. Well, I do no why, it’s called a filler book. It really upset me when it happened in Twilight and yet it happened again in this series.
It took before they got back together and oh my god, I was so upset and exhausted from reading I felt like I couldn’t enjoy the reunion.
You can honestly skim or skip this book and go to the next one. Sure there are some stuff that happens, a lot of politics, but mostly repetitive stuff. Oh my goodness, there so much repetitive writing, I was questioning if this was written by the same author of the first book?
I will finish the series, as the next book concludes Malachi and Ava’s story, but I’m not sure when I will pick it up. I felt so used after reading The Singer I feel like I need a break from my abuser.
Oh and having Malachi’s
April 22, 2018
4.5 stars.
It’s difficult to review this book without spoiler.
So, I will review this series after I read book #3.
And I still loves it very much! ❤️
It’s difficult to review this book without spoiler.
So, I will review this series after I read book #3.
And I still loves it very much! ❤️
February 19, 2023
3.25⭐️
I like The Singer more than The Scribe . We get more actions, adequate storyline, conflict between lovers, and some answers.
The story began with Malachi losing his memories and he had to relearn about who he was and all about his world. Meanwhile, Ava was locked away on the safe place where she could learn her power and deal with her grief.
I was pretty moved with how little things reminded Malachi about Ava. And how frustrating it was to not be able to remember during the dream walk.
While I like this book, there are still some stupid shits that the characters did. How could they not know that Malachi and Ava were dream walking? How could they keep ruling out the possibility that her father’s side had Irin’s blood in the beginning of the book?
Anyways, Jaron also was continuing his plan and we still don’t know yet what it is. However, in the end of the book, we know that
Listen, I enjoyed the story. But, I did not enjoy Ava. I mean, I know she was grieving. However, choosing ignorance in the matter of life or death is just simply stupidity I couldn’t get over with.
Also, she was mad at Malachi for losing his memory. For God’s sake. It’s understandable that she was frustrated and sad. But considering her personality in the previous book, I’m sure she would've done the same thing regardless her emotional state. She just… suck.
Thank God, Malachi is the reasonable one. I don’t think Ava deserves him with an attitude like that.
The author did a great job creating a mystery behind Jaron’s actions. The fighting scenes are also pretty good and the dreams that Ava was having are really intriguing.
Maybe it’s just me, but I found it hard for me to be real connected with the characters. Sure, I could understand their feelings. But not with deeper understanding that made me want to cry.
I like The Singer more than The Scribe . We get more actions, adequate storyline, conflict between lovers, and some answers.
The story began with Malachi losing his memories and he had to relearn about who he was and all about his world. Meanwhile, Ava was locked away on the safe place where she could learn her power and deal with her grief.
“I believe you,” Rhys said, before clearing his throat. “You love your mate. But… you don’t love Ava. You can’t, because you don’t know her anymore.”
I was pretty moved with how little things reminded Malachi about Ava. And how frustrating it was to not be able to remember during the dream walk.
While I like this book, there are still some stupid shits that the characters did. How could they not know that Malachi and Ava were dream walking? How could they keep ruling out the possibility that her father’s side had Irin’s blood in the beginning of the book?
Anyways, Jaron also was continuing his plan and we still don’t know yet what it is. However, in the end of the book, we know that
“She is a means to an end,” Jaron said. “That is all.”
Listen, I enjoyed the story. But, I did not enjoy Ava. I mean, I know she was grieving. However, choosing ignorance in the matter of life or death is just simply stupidity I couldn’t get over with.
Ava decided she liked the idea of not knowing where her Irin blood came from. The mystery was frustrating, but a knot in her gut told her that some secrets were better left hidden.
Also, she was mad at Malachi for losing his memory. For God’s sake. It’s understandable that she was frustrated and sad. But considering her personality in the previous book, I’m sure she would've done the same thing regardless her emotional state. She just… suck.
“How could you not remember?”
“It’s not like I had a choice, Ava!”
Thank God, Malachi is the reasonable one. I don’t think Ava deserves him with an attitude like that.
“Because loving you is part of who I am. It’s not a memory or a moment. It is in my soul. And I will never—can never—forget my soul.”
The author did a great job creating a mystery behind Jaron’s actions. The fighting scenes are also pretty good and the dreams that Ava was having are really intriguing.
Maybe it’s just me, but I found it hard for me to be real connected with the characters. Sure, I could understand their feelings. But not with deeper understanding that made me want to cry.
November 15, 2014
4 Come Back to me Stars
"I will tear the threads of heaven to return."
The Scribe, left us with a cliffhanger from hell.
The Singer, picks up immediately and takes us for a wild ride across countries, realms and human souls.
If the scribe was about Malachi, then definitely the Singer is about Ava. Her ancestry, her powers, her despair. A story about grief, healing and the immense power of love. A race to reunite two lovers, whose passion will save the entire world and restore centuries old wrongs.
Irin and Irina hang in the balance and one wrong step will doom them forever...
Nail-biting and exciting, I devoured this sequel. It leaves you with a whole other set of questions but somehow sated and more than ready to read the next. My only complaint? A reunion that broke my heart. 'Nuff said! Go read Elizabeth Hunter's stories!
"I will tear the threads of heaven to return."
The Scribe, left us with a cliffhanger from hell.
The Singer, picks up immediately and takes us for a wild ride across countries, realms and human souls.
If the scribe was about Malachi, then definitely the Singer is about Ava. Her ancestry, her powers, her despair. A story about grief, healing and the immense power of love. A race to reunite two lovers, whose passion will save the entire world and restore centuries old wrongs.
Irin and Irina hang in the balance and one wrong step will doom them forever...
Nail-biting and exciting, I devoured this sequel. It leaves you with a whole other set of questions but somehow sated and more than ready to read the next. My only complaint? A reunion that broke my heart. 'Nuff said! Go read Elizabeth Hunter's stories!
May 19, 2015
I like Elizabeth Hunter style of writing, and find the world building for this trilogy interesting. But good lord, this second installment , imo, was most noticeable for its repetitive information and slow pace. Plus, I was on the fence with the heroine Ava in the Scribe, but in the Singer, she did not fail to get on my nerves throughout. Not to mention MCs only met in the freaking dream world ( or say other plane whatever) in ~80% of the book. Not cool! *urg*
April 28, 2016
I gave the first book in this series only two stars because I found it slow and boring although I thought some of the problem might have been the poor quality of the audio narrator. So I made sure I got hold of a print copy for this the second in the series. As it turns out this one is much, much better. It has it's slow parts but it also has a lot of happenings and some of the characters are really growing on me. I keep waiting for Ava to do something fantastically magical but I guess I have to wait for a later book. I very much like the Irin world that the author has created and I am always up for a few fallen angels so it is not really surprising I found the whole thing enjoyable. On to book three asap:)
April 16, 2014
I am having a much harder time writing the review for this second installment in the Irin Chronicles, it is not because it was not amazingly good, it is more because I hardly know where to start (or where to end)
We know at the end of The Scribe which was a novel of romance, danger and sacrifice that Ava was almost a broken person. In this novel we have a journey across Europe to find the Irina the females of the Irin race who have all but separated themselves from the world for their own safety.
I am not sure how much I should say about Malachi since much information would be a spoiler indeed. So I will kind of constrain myself to pretty much what the synopsis has said with the statement that Malachi spend almost all of the book searching for Ava to answer her call from the last book "return to me". Heady stuff indeed.
The most mind boggling thing about this book is trying to figure out Jaron, I still have no idea what he is doing, why he is doing it, is he on anyone's "side" and the last chapter just blows most things I might have thought apart and dumps a ton of more questions in my lap. Waiting for the next book is going to be pretty much as torturous as waiting for this one.
5 Stars if for no other reason it makes me think, it makes me guess what might happen in the future and then it inserts things that make me question every hypothesis I have created. The central point in this novel although it reads as an urban fantasy in most parts, it IS a romance at the heart of the story and without the great romantic story of Ava and Malachi this story would just be another mediocre novel in an ocean of mediocre novels.
Now I shall be depressed until the next novel in this series, I can't wait..
We know at the end of The Scribe which was a novel of romance, danger and sacrifice that Ava was almost a broken person. In this novel we have a journey across Europe to find the Irina the females of the Irin race who have all but separated themselves from the world for their own safety.
I am not sure how much I should say about Malachi since much information would be a spoiler indeed. So I will kind of constrain myself to pretty much what the synopsis has said with the statement that Malachi spend almost all of the book searching for Ava to answer her call from the last book "return to me". Heady stuff indeed.
The most mind boggling thing about this book is trying to figure out Jaron, I still have no idea what he is doing, why he is doing it, is he on anyone's "side" and the last chapter just blows most things I might have thought apart and dumps a ton of more questions in my lap. Waiting for the next book is going to be pretty much as torturous as waiting for this one.
5 Stars if for no other reason it makes me think, it makes me guess what might happen in the future and then it inserts things that make me question every hypothesis I have created. The central point in this novel although it reads as an urban fantasy in most parts, it IS a romance at the heart of the story and without the great romantic story of Ava and Malachi this story would just be another mediocre novel in an ocean of mediocre novels.
Now I shall be depressed until the next novel in this series, I can't wait..
February 26, 2016
3.5 disappointed stars!?!
I am not even going to lie, it took me a while to finish this book. It didn't even peak my interest until about 60% and even then it was meh...
The constant talking in circles, and being all cryptic better be worth it or else this series will suffer like CoHo's Never Ever series....
I believe this book is what people call middle child syndrome? The attempt to build a cryptic exciting mind-blowing plot to get he readers to instantly buy the next installment, when in all actuality it falls flat.
Having Malachi lose his memory was a bad move, it only made me angry. Thus, causing me to write a bad review... Happy endings = Happy people = Happy reviews! Get it together people!!!
I am not even going to lie, it took me a while to finish this book. It didn't even peak my interest until about 60% and even then it was meh...
The constant talking in circles, and being all cryptic better be worth it or else this series will suffer like CoHo's Never Ever series....
I believe this book is what people call middle child syndrome? The attempt to build a cryptic exciting mind-blowing plot to get he readers to instantly buy the next installment, when in all actuality it falls flat.
Having Malachi lose his memory was a bad move, it only made me angry. Thus, causing me to write a bad review... Happy endings = Happy people = Happy reviews! Get it together people!!!
April 30, 2014
I love the way Hunter's books spark something in me from the moment I pick up her book. How her words dance around in your head long after you are finished. How her characters become a part of you, embedding in to the very fibers of your being. At least that is how it has always been for me. And those feelings have only gotten stronger with each book she releases. And here I am now, reviewing another book. Another book that I was scared to start only for the mere fact that once I was done, it may be sometime before I can experience these feelings again.
***
"I need her," Malachi said. "And she needs-"
"She needs her mate back!" Rhys snapped. "Right now, you're only a shadow of who she needs."
***
So alas, here I am. Finished with THE SINGER and I am in complete and utter awe of Hunter. If you thought you loved these characters in THE SCRIBE, just wait. You are going to be blown away by what they bring to the table in this one. From the beginning my heart was hurting but also joyous. Here we thought we lost Malachi for good at the end of book one and was only given a sliver of hope to tide us over to this one. But to wake up without any recollection of who he is or where he is at? That is where the pain slips in. Snippets of memories resurface here and there and it is enough to get him started on the rediscovery of who he is and where he should go. And to find Ava.
Ava is really struggling in this one. She is learning all that she can about who she is, but the day she lost Malachi, was the day she lost a huge piece of herself. I think we all did. Right? Am I right? We all hurt right along with her that day. That is how big this book is to me. I loved these characters so much they were like close family. So if Ava was hurting I was hurting. If Malachi was scared of the unknown…I was scared for him too.
The whole book is absolutely amazing. But it is the end…the epilogue that got me the most. I was thrown for a loop and left gasping. Literally gasping as to what this all means. Game changer. Complete, total game changer. Prepare yourselves now, folks…mentally and emotionally.
5 Glorious Stars!!
***
"I need her," Malachi said. "And she needs-"
"She needs her mate back!" Rhys snapped. "Right now, you're only a shadow of who she needs."
***
So alas, here I am. Finished with THE SINGER and I am in complete and utter awe of Hunter. If you thought you loved these characters in THE SCRIBE, just wait. You are going to be blown away by what they bring to the table in this one. From the beginning my heart was hurting but also joyous. Here we thought we lost Malachi for good at the end of book one and was only given a sliver of hope to tide us over to this one. But to wake up without any recollection of who he is or where he is at? That is where the pain slips in. Snippets of memories resurface here and there and it is enough to get him started on the rediscovery of who he is and where he should go. And to find Ava.
Ava is really struggling in this one. She is learning all that she can about who she is, but the day she lost Malachi, was the day she lost a huge piece of herself. I think we all did. Right? Am I right? We all hurt right along with her that day. That is how big this book is to me. I loved these characters so much they were like close family. So if Ava was hurting I was hurting. If Malachi was scared of the unknown…I was scared for him too.
The whole book is absolutely amazing. But it is the end…the epilogue that got me the most. I was thrown for a loop and left gasping. Literally gasping as to what this all means. Game changer. Complete, total game changer. Prepare yourselves now, folks…mentally and emotionally.
5 Glorious Stars!!
October 18, 2019
Because Ava and Malachi’s story spans over the first three audiobooks and the overall series ARC it is necessary to listen to these in the order of their release.
In The Singer, Ava is taken into hiding to live and train with the Irina. Malachi searches for her and tries to regain his memories. The story was intense, but we also learned some history about the Irina and met these strong women.
Hunter mixed in some humor, passion, fear, and discovery. She kept me listening into the wee hours. Particularly the encounters with the Angels. We are quickly learning Ava is different.
The wait to see these two reunited was a killer, but wonderful and the narration only enhanced all the feels. I loved the combination of fantasy and romance weaved into this tale even as I hated the cliffhangers and three book aspects. The struggle was real..
Once again, the tale ended in a way that had me loading up the next audiobook. It was one heck of a ride. Ava and Malachi story will wrap up in the next audio, The Secret. Then the author assures me that in the rest of the series, each book delivers an HEA. Thank the scribes!
Zachary Webber narrates the first three novels which share Ava and Malachi’s story and they are brilliant. He gives voice to these characters capturing emotions and tone. His voice only enhances the suspense of an already well paced and intriguing tale. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
In The Singer, Ava is taken into hiding to live and train with the Irina. Malachi searches for her and tries to regain his memories. The story was intense, but we also learned some history about the Irina and met these strong women.
Hunter mixed in some humor, passion, fear, and discovery. She kept me listening into the wee hours. Particularly the encounters with the Angels. We are quickly learning Ava is different.
The wait to see these two reunited was a killer, but wonderful and the narration only enhanced all the feels. I loved the combination of fantasy and romance weaved into this tale even as I hated the cliffhangers and three book aspects. The struggle was real..
Once again, the tale ended in a way that had me loading up the next audiobook. It was one heck of a ride. Ava and Malachi story will wrap up in the next audio, The Secret. Then the author assures me that in the rest of the series, each book delivers an HEA. Thank the scribes!
Zachary Webber narrates the first three novels which share Ava and Malachi’s story and they are brilliant. He gives voice to these characters capturing emotions and tone. His voice only enhances the suspense of an already well paced and intriguing tale. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
July 30, 2015
**2.5 stars**
I picked up this book because of the way the previous one ended - I'm a sucker for the separated lovers trope. However, once that happened, I had no desire whatsoever to find out how this ends.
In The Singer, we learned a little bit more about the conflict between the Irin and the Irina. It still didn't make much sense to me how you would let your enemy divide you but it happens so there you have it. There was just so much freaking politics in this book that I probably dozed off a couple of times during those conversations.
The situation with Ava and Malachi was more interesting - she, depressed out of her mind and Malachi without knowing much about himself. I still have no clue why the angels have an interest in Ava and the origin of her birth and frankly, I don't care.
I will probably only finish the series if I get the last book from the library.
I picked up this book because of the way the previous one ended - I'm a sucker for the separated lovers trope. However, once that happened, I had no desire whatsoever to find out how this ends.
In The Singer, we learned a little bit more about the conflict between the Irin and the Irina. It still didn't make much sense to me how you would let your enemy divide you but it happens so there you have it. There was just so much freaking politics in this book that I probably dozed off a couple of times during those conversations.
The situation with Ava and Malachi was more interesting - she, depressed out of her mind and Malachi without knowing much about himself. I still have no clue why the angels have an interest in Ava and the origin of her birth and frankly, I don't care.
I will probably only finish the series if I get the last book from the library.
May 10, 2014
While this wasn't an awful book, it also didn't have much that stood out to me. The first book was incredible in the immersive descriptions of Turkey and in the unusual and fascinating setting. I loved that the city was almost a character unto itself, and I liked the way the relationships developed.
For me, this book was more like a placeholder. Mal has amnesia, so his old relationships and life are just sort of explained to him and development/growth freezes. Ava is meeting tons of new people, but she's distracted by grief and still not really developing new relationships or growing as a character. This whole book felt like one big placeholder while we wait for Mal and Ava to get back together so we can get on with the real plot.
For me, this book was more like a placeholder. Mal has amnesia, so his old relationships and life are just sort of explained to him and development/growth freezes. Ava is meeting tons of new people, but she's distracted by grief and still not really developing new relationships or growing as a character. This whole book felt like one big placeholder while we wait for Mal and Ava to get back together so we can get on with the real plot.
July 15, 2022
Flipping in love with this series 😍
May 2, 2014
OK, as I feared I devoured this all in one sitting. Early review on the blog tour (with giveaway), Friday, May 2nd at Yummy Men & Kick Ass Chicks. Release date is May 6th.
http://yummymenandkickasschicks.com/?...
This is the second book in the Irin Chronicles urban fantasy series by Elizabeth Hunter. I think like most urban fantasy, because it is one long story with appropriate stopping points, it is better and almost necessary to read the books in order. (Book one, The Scribe, is amazing and you can read my review here.) I try not to do much spoiling in my reviews but this will spoil some for the first book even if I am careful.
In the first book, Ava and Malachi meet, fall in love and are bound as mates. There is a war going on and Malachi is killed. But Ava, not knowing what she is or her powers, wails the words “Come back to me,” over and over in her grief.
The Singer is a fast paced book because one can’t help but read quickly. I was on edge, devouring the pages, anxious, totally filled with fear and hope throughout.
Ava is grieving for Malachi in this book. She is with friends and learning about her abilities, being trained to physically defend herself, be fit, and learn her own skills. There are seven families of Irina and she is from perhaps the rarest. Her days are filled with training but she longs to go to bed and sleep where she can soothe her grief with dreams of Malachi.
Malachi is actually alive. But he is like a newborn babe in that he has to relearn things, remember things and his protections and skills. He is driven to find Ava. He also dreams at night with her.
Jaron is a bizarre character. He is a Fallen and supposed to be an enemy. Both in The Scribe and The Singer, he is somewhat helpful. I don’t know what to make of him. I don’t exactly trust him, though. And he gives us a new shock at the end of The Singer, much in the way he did at the end of The Scribe.
If you loved The Scribe, you will love The Singer. It is a rush, with so much action and feelings and WANTING TO KNOW! It is filled with characters we are beginning to know and many new ones. I anticipated and dreaded what would happen all the way. I’ll be waiting and wanting to know more, until the next book, which likely is a year away.
5 stars
If you need more of a reason to buy this book, read this excerpt :)
Ava. The name fell into his mind and filled it. It brought the memory of air tinged with cloves and roasted hazelnuts.
“Who is she?”
The old man looked at him, pity in his eyes. “She is your mate. You remember nothing of her?”
“My mate?” Not a wife. More than a wife.
“Your mate. Your reshon. It is a sacred union.”
“Reshon?”
“Your souls were created for each other. And when you marked her with magic, they bonded.”
“Where is she?”
Evren and Rhys exchanged a look. Rhys said, “We don’t know, but we’re going to try to find her. We will find her.”
She wasn’t here. He felt as if he were stumbling through the dark, looking for something just out of his reach.
“Malachi,” Evren asked. “When you woke, you were like this?”
Malachi frowned. “I was by the river. There was nothing around. But I followed the water and found the farm.”
“The old retreat,” Evren said. “He woke near the old retreat. I think when he came back, he was reborn in the exact place he was born the first time.”
Rhys said, “You think Ava—”
“It must have been. I don’t know how, but it is the only explanation.”
“No Irina has the power to—”
“No Irina is like Ava. She has no training. She has never been told what she may not do, so who knows what she is capable of?”
Malachi broke into their quiet conversation. “You’re telling me I died?”
Evren and Rhys turned to him.
“I died?” he asked again. “Truly? I died. And I came back to life?”
“What do you remember?”
“Nothing. I remember nothing. Just her voice on the wind and the stars overhead. I’ve been getting flashes here and there, but I don’t remember her. How could I forget her?” He felt torn. Incomplete. And it wasn’t just the memories he was missing. “And you think she did this somehow?”
Evren said, “We don’t know. Not really. But there is no other explanation. Your brothers saw you die. Saw your body turn to dust. Your mate saw you die—felt you die.”
“But why would Ava be able to—”
“She said the words,” Rhys said. “The words she had heard her whole life. From the souls of everyone who mourned. She came to me before she left. Asked me what it meant. Vashama canem. Come back to me.” He turned to Evren. “I had no idea. How could I?”
“There was no way of knowing she could do this, Rhys. No way—”
“Wait!” Malachi felt a chill creep along his skin. “You’re telling me she spoke this command and I answered. Even from beyond death?”
“He’s telling you words have power,” Evren said. “Ava asked you to come back to her. And you did.”
http://yummymenandkickasschicks.com/?...
This is the second book in the Irin Chronicles urban fantasy series by Elizabeth Hunter. I think like most urban fantasy, because it is one long story with appropriate stopping points, it is better and almost necessary to read the books in order. (Book one, The Scribe, is amazing and you can read my review here.) I try not to do much spoiling in my reviews but this will spoil some for the first book even if I am careful.
In the first book, Ava and Malachi meet, fall in love and are bound as mates. There is a war going on and Malachi is killed. But Ava, not knowing what she is or her powers, wails the words “Come back to me,” over and over in her grief.
The Singer is a fast paced book because one can’t help but read quickly. I was on edge, devouring the pages, anxious, totally filled with fear and hope throughout.
Ava is grieving for Malachi in this book. She is with friends and learning about her abilities, being trained to physically defend herself, be fit, and learn her own skills. There are seven families of Irina and she is from perhaps the rarest. Her days are filled with training but she longs to go to bed and sleep where she can soothe her grief with dreams of Malachi.
Malachi is actually alive. But he is like a newborn babe in that he has to relearn things, remember things and his protections and skills. He is driven to find Ava. He also dreams at night with her.
Jaron is a bizarre character. He is a Fallen and supposed to be an enemy. Both in The Scribe and The Singer, he is somewhat helpful. I don’t know what to make of him. I don’t exactly trust him, though. And he gives us a new shock at the end of The Singer, much in the way he did at the end of The Scribe.
If you loved The Scribe, you will love The Singer. It is a rush, with so much action and feelings and WANTING TO KNOW! It is filled with characters we are beginning to know and many new ones. I anticipated and dreaded what would happen all the way. I’ll be waiting and wanting to know more, until the next book, which likely is a year away.
5 stars
If you need more of a reason to buy this book, read this excerpt :)
Ava. The name fell into his mind and filled it. It brought the memory of air tinged with cloves and roasted hazelnuts.
“Who is she?”
The old man looked at him, pity in his eyes. “She is your mate. You remember nothing of her?”
“My mate?” Not a wife. More than a wife.
“Your mate. Your reshon. It is a sacred union.”
“Reshon?”
“Your souls were created for each other. And when you marked her with magic, they bonded.”
“Where is she?”
Evren and Rhys exchanged a look. Rhys said, “We don’t know, but we’re going to try to find her. We will find her.”
She wasn’t here. He felt as if he were stumbling through the dark, looking for something just out of his reach.
“Malachi,” Evren asked. “When you woke, you were like this?”
Malachi frowned. “I was by the river. There was nothing around. But I followed the water and found the farm.”
“The old retreat,” Evren said. “He woke near the old retreat. I think when he came back, he was reborn in the exact place he was born the first time.”
Rhys said, “You think Ava—”
“It must have been. I don’t know how, but it is the only explanation.”
“No Irina has the power to—”
“No Irina is like Ava. She has no training. She has never been told what she may not do, so who knows what she is capable of?”
Malachi broke into their quiet conversation. “You’re telling me I died?”
Evren and Rhys turned to him.
“I died?” he asked again. “Truly? I died. And I came back to life?”
“What do you remember?”
“Nothing. I remember nothing. Just her voice on the wind and the stars overhead. I’ve been getting flashes here and there, but I don’t remember her. How could I forget her?” He felt torn. Incomplete. And it wasn’t just the memories he was missing. “And you think she did this somehow?”
Evren said, “We don’t know. Not really. But there is no other explanation. Your brothers saw you die. Saw your body turn to dust. Your mate saw you die—felt you die.”
“But why would Ava be able to—”
“She said the words,” Rhys said. “The words she had heard her whole life. From the souls of everyone who mourned. She came to me before she left. Asked me what it meant. Vashama canem. Come back to me.” He turned to Evren. “I had no idea. How could I?”
“There was no way of knowing she could do this, Rhys. No way—”
“Wait!” Malachi felt a chill creep along his skin. “You’re telling me she spoke this command and I answered. Even from beyond death?”
“He’s telling you words have power,” Evren said. “Ava asked you to come back to her. And you did.”
September 23, 2019
REVISED REVIEW 2019:
After finally being able to jump back into this series and this world, I was able to read The Singer with fresh new eyes and it was spectacular! I couldn't recall any of my previous issues or frustrations reading it prior. Safe to say I'm glad I was able to come back to this series!
___________________________
I AM FINALLY DONE OH SWEET SWEET VICTORY!
Was the book good you ask? ... No it was TERRIBLE
The Singer is the second novel in the Irin Chronicles, following the journey of Malachi and Ava, this picks up exactly where The Scribe left off. I thought this would be epic, especially after the ending of the first one (which FYI was just bloody amazing). I was wrong, so, so, so wrong. I took a break at 50% in April and finally came back to it at the end of May skimming the last 50% just so that I could say I was done, and move on to the next in the series.
This is not how series are supposed to work, it is only supposed to get better after the first one and continue on to do so afterwards. I really felt that this author just wanted a trilogy set, because this book was very repetitive, it had a lack of plot and romance, and felt more like a history textbook what with the author attempting to teach me more culture, history, and etc. on the Irin people... no, no, no honey I know all I need to know about the Irin people from the first one (which is the purpose in the first novel of a fantasy series), now it is time to get to the true heart of the story.
The romance did not actually begin until 80% of the book... I am all for angst and slow-burn but 80% like come on be reasonable here, I felt that was so unnecessary, and she only did that to get more pages into her story.
I also feel the author ruined both Malachi and Ava's character. The snarky, sarcastic, strong willed Ava the readers have come to know is completely gone in The Singer. Ava is a mess, succumbing to grief and depression which ultimately affects her daily life as well as her personality. I seriously, seriously feel the author has completely destroyed Malachi and I am not sure the readers will ever get him back. Malachi in The Singer is only focused on his love for Ava and finding her... that is it. That is the only substance he is given. The author has given Malachi
I still stand by the fact that the author should have left Malachi and Ava's story in The Scribe, and continued on with a new couple in The Singer because she has enough of the characters for it. The Singer was very upsetting to read especially after reading The Scribe which is a phenomenal phenomenal novel, add this to the fact that I felt the author did not take this book to it's fullest potential, and in the process has corrupted the story-line, as well as the characters (personally speaking). This being said the author has a lot of damage control to do in the third one and I cannot wait to read it.
After finally being able to jump back into this series and this world, I was able to read The Singer with fresh new eyes and it was spectacular! I couldn't recall any of my previous issues or frustrations reading it prior. Safe to say I'm glad I was able to come back to this series!
___________________________
I AM FINALLY DONE OH SWEET SWEET VICTORY!
Was the book good you ask? ... No it was TERRIBLE
The Singer is the second novel in the Irin Chronicles, following the journey of Malachi and Ava, this picks up exactly where The Scribe left off. I thought this would be epic, especially after the ending of the first one (which FYI was just bloody amazing). I was wrong, so, so, so wrong. I took a break at 50% in April and finally came back to it at the end of May skimming the last 50% just so that I could say I was done, and move on to the next in the series.
This is not how series are supposed to work, it is only supposed to get better after the first one and continue on to do so afterwards. I really felt that this author just wanted a trilogy set, because this book was very repetitive, it had a lack of plot and romance, and felt more like a history textbook what with the author attempting to teach me more culture, history, and etc. on the Irin people... no, no, no honey I know all I need to know about the Irin people from the first one (which is the purpose in the first novel of a fantasy series), now it is time to get to the true heart of the story.
The romance did not actually begin until 80% of the book... I am all for angst and slow-burn but 80% like come on be reasonable here, I felt that was so unnecessary, and she only did that to get more pages into her story.
I also feel the author ruined both Malachi and Ava's character. The snarky, sarcastic, strong willed Ava the readers have come to know is completely gone in The Singer. Ava is a mess, succumbing to grief and depression which ultimately affects her daily life as well as her personality. I seriously, seriously feel the author has completely destroyed Malachi and I am not sure the readers will ever get him back. Malachi in The Singer is only focused on his love for Ava and finding her... that is it. That is the only substance he is given. The author has given Malachi
I still stand by the fact that the author should have left Malachi and Ava's story in The Scribe, and continued on with a new couple in The Singer because she has enough of the characters for it. The Singer was very upsetting to read especially after reading The Scribe which is a phenomenal phenomenal novel, add this to the fact that I felt the author did not take this book to it's fullest potential, and in the process has corrupted the story-line, as well as the characters (personally speaking). This being said the author has a lot of damage control to do in the third one and I cannot wait to read it.
June 12, 2023
#1.) The Scribe: ★★★★★
#2.) The Singer: ★★
#3.) The Secret: DNF
What made The Scribe an entertaining, 4.5 star read -- contemporary setting, paranormal intrigue, romance, and action -- was dully absent from this book. Chock it up to middle book syndrome, bad book allergy, or unrealistic expectations because either way, this book bored me to tears.
THE GOOD
1) We meet this Sari that Damien is always on about.
2) Teases of Jaron and the other Fallen Angels being important to the story.
THE BAD
1) Lackluster plot + middle book = bland storytelling.
2) The If it didn't work in The Winner's Kiss it certainly fared no better here.
3) I'm all for girl power but I really resisted the whole Wonder Woman training up in the private, mountain house Angel camp because the new fantasy-focused aspect was not what I liked about the first book. In The Scribe, I specifically liked the small role the paranormal reveal played in contemporary, every day Middle Eastern city life. The moment we were whisked away to that Irina retreat with the other females was the moment it lost that relatable contemporary tone that I liked. Stop switching genres on me, people!
4) Relationship drama. Get together or don't -- just choose. That goes for both couples, too. Particularly for the one that didn't freakin' happen until the 80% mark. Idgits.
5) What happened to the intrigue and action? Did the angel training and tattoo sessions and talking in circles about Vienna politics override it?
FINAL THOUGHTS
Two stars because not only was the book slow and uneventful but it was slow and uneventful because someone somewhere decided to save the good stuff for book three and use this book instead to set her characters in place first. Lazy, lazy, uncompelling storytelling.
But I'm invested. Gotta find out what happens to these idgits in the end.
#2.) The Singer: ★★
#3.) The Secret: DNF
What made The Scribe an entertaining, 4.5 star read -- contemporary setting, paranormal intrigue, romance, and action -- was dully absent from this book. Chock it up to middle book syndrome, bad book allergy, or unrealistic expectations because either way, this book bored me to tears.
THE GOOD
1) We meet this Sari that Damien is always on about.
2) Teases of Jaron and the other Fallen Angels being important to the story.
THE BAD
1) Lackluster plot + middle book = bland storytelling.
2) The If it didn't work in The Winner's Kiss it certainly fared no better here.
3) I'm all for girl power but I really resisted the whole Wonder Woman training up in the private, mountain house Angel camp because the new fantasy-focused aspect was not what I liked about the first book. In The Scribe, I specifically liked the small role the paranormal reveal played in contemporary, every day Middle Eastern city life. The moment we were whisked away to that Irina retreat with the other females was the moment it lost that relatable contemporary tone that I liked. Stop switching genres on me, people!
4) Relationship drama. Get together or don't -- just choose. That goes for both couples, too. Particularly for the one that didn't freakin' happen until the 80% mark. Idgits.
5) What happened to the intrigue and action? Did the angel training and tattoo sessions and talking in circles about Vienna politics override it?
FINAL THOUGHTS
Two stars because not only was the book slow and uneventful but it was slow and uneventful because someone somewhere decided to save the good stuff for book three and use this book instead to set her characters in place first. Lazy, lazy, uncompelling storytelling.
But I'm invested. Gotta find out what happens to these idgits in the end.
April 17, 2014
Joint review with Victoria
Karina:
I loved The Singer even more than The Scribe. If the first book was tentative and spent a lot of time establishing the world-building, in the second book Elizabeth started spreading her wings. Her world expanded, her secondary characters multiplied and the plot thickened.
Paranormal fantasy is the right genre to describe this book. It's not straightforward enough to be paranormal romance and it's not as full of action as urban fantasy. Instead, it follows the route Elizabeth established in her Elemental World series - a variety of characters and settings; and I have to say I am loving the angels intrigues here. Loving it.
Vika:
I’m sad to say it K., but I didn’t love it as much as the first. I find angels very tricky in general, though Elizabeth truly amazed me with The Scribe – I absolutely adored it and I was eagerly anticipating The Singer ever since. Perhaps my expectations were set too high? I don’t know, but I wanted more from this follow-up novel. In fact, some structural elements reminded me of another series, and I couldn’t shake off the comparison. Nonetheless, Elizabeth’s writing is far superior and The Singer serves well in setting the stage for the next big act, which undoubtedly will bring on the fireworks.
Karina:
Although you are certainly right about this series reminding us both of BDB, I would say it's only in very broad terms, Vika. It's like this is an amalgam of good parts of paranormal romance as a genre. I don't know, but after getting burned on J.R. Ward, Gena Showalter and Lara Adrian, I don't see the same triggers I had issues with here. *grinning* Thanks God, otherwise I'd have to disown Elizabeth!
Overall, this is a good mix of paranormal romance and urban fantasy with its own fascinating mythology and a whole world as a playground for its heroes and heroines. So what if the bad (and good) guys can turn into dust? We had no problem with that in Buffy. The angels angle (pardon the pan) also reminded me more of angels from Supernatural than anything else. What do you think, V.?
Vika:
All great points K.! (I mean, who can argue against Buffy, right?)
And for the record, no one’s disowning anyone! I swear! *laughing* I should probably clarify my earlier comment. I first discovered Elizabeth’s books a couple years back and since then she’s become one of my favorite authors; I respect and admire her. So, my comment is in a way a compliment (a convoluted one, I know, but… just go with it) – I expect nothing but the best from her books: great writing, strong and independent heroines, and worthy heroes – and this series certainly got them. But what was up with the strong and independent woman we’ve come to know in the first book? She’s suddenly become bratty, needy, whiny, and unappreciative. Of course reasons behind it can be explained, but I really hoped she would handle it better and channel her grief differently.
Otherwise, it was a great story. The supporting cast really shined through, and as for the angels… their time is still to come. I’m very much fascinated by the mythology as well, K. and can’t wait to see what this brewing war among the Fallen will bring.
Karina:
Ava definitely went through major mood swings, but I would chalk it down to not only being incapacitated by her grief, but not having the need to take care of herself (which would have made her pull herself together quicker) with Damien and Sari's safe heaven's help as well. I believe she'll become more and more kick-ass as the series progresses.
All in all, a lovely, invigorating second installment in a fascinating new series. Definitely recommended. 4.5/5 from me.
Vika:
I really hope so, K.! I need kick-ass Ava back. But I agree, this is a strong second book and I'm dying to get my hands on the next installment - 4 stars from me. Read it guys!
September 28, 2024
Synopsis- When you've lost everything you love, how do you fight the darkness?
Ava left Istanbul with a new identity, new name, and new magic she could barely control. Laid low by Malachi's sacrifice, she searches for help from the fabled Irina. But will the secretive women of the Irin race welcome or shun her? Ava's origins are still a mystery, and her powers are darker than any they've encountered before.
The Irin world hangs in the balance. And as the children of angels battle their own demons, ancient rivalries among the Fallen threaten to wreak havoc on earth.
Thousand of miles away, a warrior wakes with no memory of his identity or his people. Stumbling though the dark and twisted schemes of fallen angels, ravenous Grigori, and even his own leaders, he must find a way back to the one thing he remembers. A single voice calls him. Malachi has one mission.
Review- This started off alright. It was on its way to being a solid three to three and a half stars (it's far too repetitive to warrant anything higher) but Ava screwed it up with her unbelievable self-centeredness and the stupid plot device of no one sharing any information.
Why do author's continuously feel the need to not share info amongst characters who trust each other. Hell, Le Carre's character give more away to each that these "brothers" and "sisters" do. It's just stupid that the resurrected MC wouldn't say more straight away. He holds so much to his chest, even though he has no memories. Wouldn't he want to glean as much as he could through sharing things he doesn't understand? He lives in a world of angel spawn and people that turn into gold dust when stabbed. I don't think sharing your dreams that seem to affect your waking life is a step too far into the unbelievable. But of course if he did that he'd have found out much sooner and the 336 pages probably could've been cut down to 236.
I get why Ava didn't share this dream-walking info. He's dead and it's private. But Ava had her own issues in this, which drove me crazy. She shuts down at the drop of a hat, which is a little understandable cos grief. But what I didn't get was the reunion. She spent 300 pages grieving and then has the singular fortune of finding her love returned and wants to run. Then Malachi has to placate Ava and convince her to stay. Seriously?! She bitched the whole book about how much she missed him and then when she gets a second chance, something no one else ever has had, she complains cos he has no memory. It was the dumbest premise for the big male love moment, which all of these romances seem to have. Usually, they have to apologise for doing something stupid like breaking up or cheating, not dying to defend said woman and coming back to life and finding her only to be rejected by her and needing to convince her to give them another go. Who would do that? Fair enough if he was like a zombie or smelled of decaying flesh or something else revolting. But he was his beautiful hard-bodied, sexy smelling self sans some tattoos and memories. Again, she's been living in a world of magic, angels and freaky shit, how could this be beyond the realm of possibilities to her? 🙄
Anyway, I'm not giving anything away by saying he manages to convince her he really does love her and then the rest of the book happens, which was actually good.
I'm not sure if I will carry on. I don't know if I care enough about the big overarching plot enough. 🤔 There are so many books out there...
Rating - Two it had some serious stupidity in it stars. ⭐⭐
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Devoured the book, couldn't put it down.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Really liked it, consumed within days
⭐⭐⭐ - Enjoyed a fair bit, better than average
⭐⭐ - Meh
⭐ - Absolute drivel
Ava left Istanbul with a new identity, new name, and new magic she could barely control. Laid low by Malachi's sacrifice, she searches for help from the fabled Irina. But will the secretive women of the Irin race welcome or shun her? Ava's origins are still a mystery, and her powers are darker than any they've encountered before.
The Irin world hangs in the balance. And as the children of angels battle their own demons, ancient rivalries among the Fallen threaten to wreak havoc on earth.
Thousand of miles away, a warrior wakes with no memory of his identity or his people. Stumbling though the dark and twisted schemes of fallen angels, ravenous Grigori, and even his own leaders, he must find a way back to the one thing he remembers. A single voice calls him. Malachi has one mission.
Review- This started off alright. It was on its way to being a solid three to three and a half stars (it's far too repetitive to warrant anything higher) but Ava screwed it up with her unbelievable self-centeredness and the stupid plot device of no one sharing any information.
Why do author's continuously feel the need to not share info amongst characters who trust each other. Hell, Le Carre's character give more away to each that these "brothers" and "sisters" do. It's just stupid that the resurrected MC wouldn't say more straight away. He holds so much to his chest, even though he has no memories. Wouldn't he want to glean as much as he could through sharing things he doesn't understand? He lives in a world of angel spawn and people that turn into gold dust when stabbed. I don't think sharing your dreams that seem to affect your waking life is a step too far into the unbelievable. But of course if he did that he'd have found out much sooner and the 336 pages probably could've been cut down to 236.
I get why Ava didn't share this dream-walking info. He's dead and it's private. But Ava had her own issues in this, which drove me crazy. She shuts down at the drop of a hat, which is a little understandable cos grief. But what I didn't get was the reunion. She spent 300 pages grieving and then has the singular fortune of finding her love returned and wants to run. Then Malachi has to placate Ava and convince her to stay. Seriously?! She bitched the whole book about how much she missed him and then when she gets a second chance, something no one else ever has had, she complains cos he has no memory. It was the dumbest premise for the big male love moment, which all of these romances seem to have. Usually, they have to apologise for doing something stupid like breaking up or cheating, not dying to defend said woman and coming back to life and finding her only to be rejected by her and needing to convince her to give them another go. Who would do that? Fair enough if he was like a zombie or smelled of decaying flesh or something else revolting. But he was his beautiful hard-bodied, sexy smelling self sans some tattoos and memories. Again, she's been living in a world of magic, angels and freaky shit, how could this be beyond the realm of possibilities to her? 🙄
Anyway, I'm not giving anything away by saying he manages to convince her he really does love her and then the rest of the book happens, which was actually good.
I'm not sure if I will carry on. I don't know if I care enough about the big overarching plot enough. 🤔 There are so many books out there...
Rating - Two it had some serious stupidity in it stars. ⭐⭐
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Devoured the book, couldn't put it down.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Really liked it, consumed within days
⭐⭐⭐ - Enjoyed a fair bit, better than average
⭐⭐ - Meh
⭐ - Absolute drivel
February 25, 2017
5 stars
Vashama canem. Come back to me. With these words, Ava brought back her mate though he's not entirely the same man. With spotty memories, Malachi tries to find his way back to the voice that has been calling out to him. Unbeknownst to Ava and her own power, she is led away to a haven for Irina for protection and to learn and control her power.
As Malachi returns to his brothers and get their help to find Ava, there's a power struggle between two Fallen angels, each with their own agenda for Ava. The Grigori numbers enmass in areas usually unseen and more questions arise as to their purpose.
While Ava grieves for her mate, you grieve with her even though you know they'll find their way back to each other. The emotions felt real even on Malachi's side as he struggle to understand what happened to him. They are each other's half and incomplete without the other.
More characters are introduced and you learn more about the Irin/Irina way of living. Intricately written, emotionally powerful, this one will leave you just as breathless as the first book. That epilogue didn't just slam a door open, it broke a dam for questions to flow through. While the ending didn't sit on a huge cliffhanger like in the first book, I'm still flabbergasted. Where is this going? Even as we have a name, the real identity is unknown. Is it who I think it is? I need to know! I need book 3!!
Highly recommended.
Vashama canem. Come back to me. With these words, Ava brought back her mate though he's not entirely the same man. With spotty memories, Malachi tries to find his way back to the voice that has been calling out to him. Unbeknownst to Ava and her own power, she is led away to a haven for Irina for protection and to learn and control her power.
As Malachi returns to his brothers and get their help to find Ava, there's a power struggle between two Fallen angels, each with their own agenda for Ava. The Grigori numbers enmass in areas usually unseen and more questions arise as to their purpose.
While Ava grieves for her mate, you grieve with her even though you know they'll find their way back to each other. The emotions felt real even on Malachi's side as he struggle to understand what happened to him. They are each other's half and incomplete without the other.
More characters are introduced and you learn more about the Irin/Irina way of living. Intricately written, emotionally powerful, this one will leave you just as breathless as the first book. That epilogue didn't just slam a door open, it broke a dam for questions to flow through. While the ending didn't sit on a huge cliffhanger like in the first book, I'm still flabbergasted. Where is this going? Even as we have a name, the real identity is unknown. Is it who I think it is? I need to know! I need book 3!!
Highly recommended.
June 11, 2014
I did like book 1 a bit more because of where the story took place and because of the build up. Also because Ava annoyed me in this one :/
So Mal is dead, no he is not. He is back and has amnesia. Being all good and well good as always. And trying to find Ava. All while Ava is in Norway missing him. No annoyance there yet, that comes when they meet. I mean honestly girl! I am gonna smack you over the head! You do not deserve him. At that point I wish he had left her.
The story stagnates a bit as it gets repetitive when they all wonder over and over who her parents are. Ok I get it, we do not know. Now I just freaking wanna know. The end gives a clue. Intriguing.
I like the angels, those guys are bad. Hehe, they are my favorites.
So Mal is dead, no he is not. He is back and has amnesia. Being all good and well good as always. And trying to find Ava. All while Ava is in Norway missing him. No annoyance there yet, that comes when they meet. I mean honestly girl! I am gonna smack you over the head! You do not deserve him. At that point I wish he had left her.
The story stagnates a bit as it gets repetitive when they all wonder over and over who her parents are. Ok I get it, we do not know. Now I just freaking wanna know. The end gives a clue. Intriguing.
I like the angels, those guys are bad. Hehe, they are my favorites.
August 28, 2014
The Singer is book two in the Irin Chronicles. This story is an exceptional follow up to the world established by Elizabeth Hunter in The Scribe.
Having discovered that she is an Irina, Ava travels to learn more about and train with one of the few communities of Irina's left in the world. She is mourning the loss of Malachi and forging forward to create a life for herself in this new and confusing world. Malachi, having returned without his memories, struggles to be reunited with Ava and regain the memories that made them a blazing couple.
Elizabeth Hunter is an amazing writer. Her prose is lyrical - she writes with such beauty. She creates a complex tapestry of history, love, cruelty, magic, rivalry, and politics, in exotic and spectacular regions around the world. The mystery is complicated. It keeps the reader involved and engaged throughout.
We learn more about the world of the Grigori and Irin - their origins, their purpose, their politics, and it is fascinating. What strikes me is the debate that ensues around the reintroduction of the Irina into Irin society. With their increasingly important, but precious standing, there is a lot of tension. It reminds me of the contemporary issue of security/safety vs. freedom. In this case, how much of the Irina's freedom and self-determination are the Irin willing to take away, even to the point of sequestering them, in order to protect them? And all of this done in the name of love. How will this issue be resolved? Will it fracture the Irin people and give the Grigori their ultimate victory? How will Malachi and Ava's agonizingly sweet relationship influence the final outcome? Who is Ava? There seems to be much more to her story than we originally led to believe.
IN A NUTSHELL:
This story moves me, intrigues me, provokes me, and makes me impatient for the next installment. It is one of my favorite reads of the year. If you haven't started this series, you are missing out.
Having discovered that she is an Irina, Ava travels to learn more about and train with one of the few communities of Irina's left in the world. She is mourning the loss of Malachi and forging forward to create a life for herself in this new and confusing world. Malachi, having returned without his memories, struggles to be reunited with Ava and regain the memories that made them a blazing couple.
Elizabeth Hunter is an amazing writer. Her prose is lyrical - she writes with such beauty. She creates a complex tapestry of history, love, cruelty, magic, rivalry, and politics, in exotic and spectacular regions around the world. The mystery is complicated. It keeps the reader involved and engaged throughout.
We learn more about the world of the Grigori and Irin - their origins, their purpose, their politics, and it is fascinating. What strikes me is the debate that ensues around the reintroduction of the Irina into Irin society. With their increasingly important, but precious standing, there is a lot of tension. It reminds me of the contemporary issue of security/safety vs. freedom. In this case, how much of the Irina's freedom and self-determination are the Irin willing to take away, even to the point of sequestering them, in order to protect them? And all of this done in the name of love. How will this issue be resolved? Will it fracture the Irin people and give the Grigori their ultimate victory? How will Malachi and Ava's agonizingly sweet relationship influence the final outcome? Who is Ava? There seems to be much more to her story than we originally led to believe.
IN A NUTSHELL:
This story moves me, intrigues me, provokes me, and makes me impatient for the next installment. It is one of my favorite reads of the year. If you haven't started this series, you are missing out.
May 14, 2014
Because Elizabeth Hunter is a five star author and an auto buy I feel compelled to explain and a little guilty about a 3 star rating. At the end of this book I was very hard pressed to finish, I was committed and did it but it wasn't easy for me. I am presuming that this book is providing some infrastructure, some backstory and transitioning us for the future. Buuuuttt, this is only book two, I was not ready for a transitional book already. Everybody is on the run. Everyone is confused. Frankly, I have not bonded with any of the characters, I hardly feel like I "know" any of the characters, main or otherwise. Ava is mysterious but not especially charismatic so the mystery is not so much enticing as "huh, what?". Malachi offers a bit more charisma but he is also a bit sketchy at this point. Everybody knows him. Is it really him? He doesn't even know himself. Ava thinks he doesn't know her. More "huh, what"...okay I'll just keep reading. With so many characters who I assume are supposed to be larger than life who I do not know I am cataloging rather than bonding. I am not loving with them, hurting with them or longing with them.
In the end I am filling in some of the blanks about the good guys and the bad guys with some of the other Angel and/or band of brother series I have read and frankly that is not good. I need more depth and less breadth and seriously some more anchoring of the main characters for me to continue with this series.
In the end I am filling in some of the blanks about the good guys and the bad guys with some of the other Angel and/or band of brother series I have read and frankly that is not good. I need more depth and less breadth and seriously some more anchoring of the main characters for me to continue with this series.
November 11, 2015
This review is going to be full of spoilers for the series so don't read on if you haven't read this book yet.
The Singer, second in Hunter's Irin Chronicles, suffered because it employed one of my least favorite tropes when a writer is basing a series on one couple... the let's keep them separated as much as possible trope.
At the end of the first novel, tragedy has struck. Malachi, Ava's mate and one solace died in front of her eyes, brutally struck down by the Irins fiercest enemy. Ava grieved and grieved hard calling out to him in the language she is only beginning to understand though she's heard it all her life... the language of Angels.
But the call has wrought a miracle- Malachi is resurrected unbeknownst to Ava. His memory is swiss cheesed and though he knows she is alive, she doesn't know he is... and she's in hiding. Now its a race to regain his memory- and his power- and find her because this he knows, danger is upon her and only he can keep her safe.
Again- though they met each other in their dreams, Ava and Malachi were separated almost the entire time. That's a pet peeve of mine in plotting. It's a lazy way to create tension imo, and I hate it.
The most interesting part of the novel is Ava gaining strength and getting to know her "sisters" but even so, we really didn't get too much more of who she is. Hopefully the third book will satisfy that. :)
The Singer, second in Hunter's Irin Chronicles, suffered because it employed one of my least favorite tropes when a writer is basing a series on one couple... the let's keep them separated as much as possible trope.
At the end of the first novel, tragedy has struck. Malachi, Ava's mate and one solace died in front of her eyes, brutally struck down by the Irins fiercest enemy. Ava grieved and grieved hard calling out to him in the language she is only beginning to understand though she's heard it all her life... the language of Angels.
But the call has wrought a miracle- Malachi is resurrected unbeknownst to Ava. His memory is swiss cheesed and though he knows she is alive, she doesn't know he is... and she's in hiding. Now its a race to regain his memory- and his power- and find her because this he knows, danger is upon her and only he can keep her safe.
Again- though they met each other in their dreams, Ava and Malachi were separated almost the entire time. That's a pet peeve of mine in plotting. It's a lazy way to create tension imo, and I hate it.
The most interesting part of the novel is Ava gaining strength and getting to know her "sisters" but even so, we really didn't get too much more of who she is. Hopefully the third book will satisfy that. :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 2, 2015
THE SINGER is an epic romance that delves deeper into a mystical world filled with magic, traditions, customs, and war. Elizabeth Hunter returns with another heart-stopping, addicting installment in the Irin Chronicles by exploring the many facets of love, loss, friendship and self-discovery. This may be a paranormal series, but on the most fundamental basis, it is a story about love – not just any love, but an all-consuming, powerful kind of love that extends beyond death and into the heavens.
“Malachi knew he would hear her his whole life. She would call and he would answer. He belonged to her as surely as she belonged to him.”
I LOVED THIS BOOK. After the cliffhanger of an ending that she left us with in The Scribe, I was antsy to start reading this one, almost to the point where I procrastinated it out of fear of what the author may throw at me next. I can honestly say that this book lived up to every single expectation I had and then some. In my opinion, it was the perfect Book Two of a series in that it added another layer to the Irin world by inserting new pieces to the puzzle to help determine what was going on all while in the backdrop of Ava and Malachi’s love story.
Ava and Malachi’s love story can be described in one word – EPIC. I love my various book couples, but these two are on a whole new level when it comes to how much two people are meant for one another. Although the men and women in this world do find mates with whom they are connected to on an emotional, spiritual, physical and mental level, Ava and Malachi’s pairing is so much deeper than that – in that they are not whole without the other. Elizabeth Hunter wrote this story in a way where I actually felt the loss and despair that both characters felt while they were separated from each other.
“He could hear her, crying somewhere. The sound almost brought him to his knees. She needed him. She was as lost as he was, but so far away. Come back to me.”
If you’ve read The Scribe, then you will know that Ava and Malachi are left separated from one another by reasons beyond their control. I thought I would get frustrated with this – I love them together – but the author wrote it in a way where they may have not been physically together, but there still were moments where I still got to see them together. It was very uniquely done and could only be done in a setting like the Irin world.
The story had just the perfect amount of suspense, mystery, intrigue, action, suspense, and romance to satisfy my expectations and cravings. Beyond Ava and Malachi’s love story, there is a lot of change going on in the Irin world. Their friends are working to help reunite the two of them, all while trying to figure out what Ava is. I was left asking myself “What are you Ava?” many times and although that is one mystery left for the next book, I was satisfied with where the story left it.
This book really allowed me to understand the Irin world – its history, its politics, what it means to be a Singer or a Scribe. It is a bit informational at times; however, as a whole, it is completely necessary in understanding what these characters are currently facing, especially when they have no idea what Ava is or where she came from. I applaud Elizabeth again for allowing her readers the ability to see her vision of this world – one where you can see the magic, smell the scents, and feel the emotions. As the reader, you become a part of the story and so invested in it that you live and breathe this world until the book ends.
Another thing I appreciated was that there were no conflicts thrown in just for the sake of having it. These characters are adults and they behave as such. They communicate with one another even when they are angry or upset. They do not usually run away from problems and there is always a reason if they do.
In an effort to keep this review spoiler-free, even for those that have not read The Scribe, I will not go into detail about what happens in this book. I will just say that if you enjoyed The Scribe, then this is a MUST READ, if only to calm your heart after reading the cliffhanger that book left you with. You will get resolution to that AND rest assured, there is no cliffhanger in this book. I was very happy with where the story ended, even though I will be not so subtly prompting Elizabeth about when she will be starting the third book in Ava and Malachi’s story.
“Because loving you I part of who I am. It’s not a memory or a moment. It is in my soul. And I will never – can never – forget my soul.”
I read a lot of books in a lot of different genres and I have loved a lot of them for various reasons. However, Elizabeth Hunter is one author that will always stand out to me – one who I feel takes that extra step when creating a story. Sure she has a unique plot with fascinating characters and storylines, but so do many others. What sets her apart from the rest is the way she tells her stories. Her writing is on a level of its own – it is beautiful, descriptive and pretty much flawless in my eyes. Only she can manage to write a story that will have you smiling, laughing, crying, screaming in anger and swooning at the same time, all while having her story set in a paranormal world. It is for this reason that she is one of my favorite authors and I highly recommend you read this book and series.
“Malachi knew he would hear her his whole life. She would call and he would answer. He belonged to her as surely as she belonged to him.”
I LOVED THIS BOOK. After the cliffhanger of an ending that she left us with in The Scribe, I was antsy to start reading this one, almost to the point where I procrastinated it out of fear of what the author may throw at me next. I can honestly say that this book lived up to every single expectation I had and then some. In my opinion, it was the perfect Book Two of a series in that it added another layer to the Irin world by inserting new pieces to the puzzle to help determine what was going on all while in the backdrop of Ava and Malachi’s love story.
Ava and Malachi’s love story can be described in one word – EPIC. I love my various book couples, but these two are on a whole new level when it comes to how much two people are meant for one another. Although the men and women in this world do find mates with whom they are connected to on an emotional, spiritual, physical and mental level, Ava and Malachi’s pairing is so much deeper than that – in that they are not whole without the other. Elizabeth Hunter wrote this story in a way where I actually felt the loss and despair that both characters felt while they were separated from each other.
“He could hear her, crying somewhere. The sound almost brought him to his knees. She needed him. She was as lost as he was, but so far away. Come back to me.”
If you’ve read The Scribe, then you will know that Ava and Malachi are left separated from one another by reasons beyond their control. I thought I would get frustrated with this – I love them together – but the author wrote it in a way where they may have not been physically together, but there still were moments where I still got to see them together. It was very uniquely done and could only be done in a setting like the Irin world.
The story had just the perfect amount of suspense, mystery, intrigue, action, suspense, and romance to satisfy my expectations and cravings. Beyond Ava and Malachi’s love story, there is a lot of change going on in the Irin world. Their friends are working to help reunite the two of them, all while trying to figure out what Ava is. I was left asking myself “What are you Ava?” many times and although that is one mystery left for the next book, I was satisfied with where the story left it.
This book really allowed me to understand the Irin world – its history, its politics, what it means to be a Singer or a Scribe. It is a bit informational at times; however, as a whole, it is completely necessary in understanding what these characters are currently facing, especially when they have no idea what Ava is or where she came from. I applaud Elizabeth again for allowing her readers the ability to see her vision of this world – one where you can see the magic, smell the scents, and feel the emotions. As the reader, you become a part of the story and so invested in it that you live and breathe this world until the book ends.
Another thing I appreciated was that there were no conflicts thrown in just for the sake of having it. These characters are adults and they behave as such. They communicate with one another even when they are angry or upset. They do not usually run away from problems and there is always a reason if they do.
In an effort to keep this review spoiler-free, even for those that have not read The Scribe, I will not go into detail about what happens in this book. I will just say that if you enjoyed The Scribe, then this is a MUST READ, if only to calm your heart after reading the cliffhanger that book left you with. You will get resolution to that AND rest assured, there is no cliffhanger in this book. I was very happy with where the story ended, even though I will be not so subtly prompting Elizabeth about when she will be starting the third book in Ava and Malachi’s story.
“Because loving you I part of who I am. It’s not a memory or a moment. It is in my soul. And I will never – can never – forget my soul.”
I read a lot of books in a lot of different genres and I have loved a lot of them for various reasons. However, Elizabeth Hunter is one author that will always stand out to me – one who I feel takes that extra step when creating a story. Sure she has a unique plot with fascinating characters and storylines, but so do many others. What sets her apart from the rest is the way she tells her stories. Her writing is on a level of its own – it is beautiful, descriptive and pretty much flawless in my eyes. Only she can manage to write a story that will have you smiling, laughing, crying, screaming in anger and swooning at the same time, all while having her story set in a paranormal world. It is for this reason that she is one of my favorite authors and I highly recommend you read this book and series.
April 23, 2014
I've been reading Elizabeth Hunter's writing since before she was Elizabeth Hunter. We've been friends for many years. In those years, her writing has grown immensely. I consider myself fortunate to be have the inside scoop on her projects, and I read The Singer in March.
I'm going to be honest. With some very rare exceptions, I'm not a fan of vampires. I think they're hard to do in an original way. I haven't gone out of my way to read a vampire series since Charlaine Harris' Southern Vampire Mysteries jumped the shark a few years ago.
Maybe this is why I've enjoyed her Irin Chronicles the most out of all E's (prolific) writing. In this series, she's created a unique supernatural universe, apart from anything I could even compare it to. Her characters are rich and jump off the page, and the settings she's put them in are vibrant and real in both The Scribe and The Singer.
The Singer is a well-woven tale with strong female characters taking center stage. In a lot of ways, I enjoyed this more than The Scribe because of the subtleties of the female characters, which loom in the background the in the first book. They shine in the relationships they have with each other and the men in the lives. They're smart, loyal, brave, and best of all, logical and kick ass. They don't fall into any number of cliches that can haunt paranormal romance women.
I won't reveal too much about the plot, except to say that The Singer answers some questions from The Scribe and creates a lot more which will leave you yearning for the next book.
I'm going to be honest. With some very rare exceptions, I'm not a fan of vampires. I think they're hard to do in an original way. I haven't gone out of my way to read a vampire series since Charlaine Harris' Southern Vampire Mysteries jumped the shark a few years ago.
Maybe this is why I've enjoyed her Irin Chronicles the most out of all E's (prolific) writing. In this series, she's created a unique supernatural universe, apart from anything I could even compare it to. Her characters are rich and jump off the page, and the settings she's put them in are vibrant and real in both The Scribe and The Singer.
The Singer is a well-woven tale with strong female characters taking center stage. In a lot of ways, I enjoyed this more than The Scribe because of the subtleties of the female characters, which loom in the background the in the first book. They shine in the relationships they have with each other and the men in the lives. They're smart, loyal, brave, and best of all, logical and kick ass. They don't fall into any number of cliches that can haunt paranormal romance women.
I won't reveal too much about the plot, except to say that The Singer answers some questions from The Scribe and creates a lot more which will leave you yearning for the next book.
August 24, 2023
August 2023
It's been awhile since I've visited this series and I love it as much as I always did. What I'm noticing now, though, is that Jaron is revealing little by little what his plan is, and it makes sense. And also the way the Fallen have no morals - they observe, they question, but they don't view things from a perspective of right and wrong. That's a fascinating take on angels. This book particularly is so fulfilling because of the way Ava and Malachi come together. I'm not sure if I totally buy into the idea of soul mates, but I sure do buy into their relationship. Two very different people and put in a position where they don't know each other anymore, which gives little context to their love for each other. And yet like Malachi says, "I know I'm right handed." That's the way he knows that he loves Ava. And that regardless of whatever circumstance they're in. It's inspiring.
October 2017
Re-read again and it's like returning to an old friend. I do love Malachi and Ava.
January 2016
And re-read again. Still a 5-star read. I'm completely taken with this story.
June 2015
I am completely in love with this world and these characters. If this is adult paranormal romance, then give me more!
Narration by Zachary Webber was stellar.
It's been awhile since I've visited this series and I love it as much as I always did. What I'm noticing now, though, is that Jaron is revealing little by little what his plan is, and it makes sense. And also the way the Fallen have no morals - they observe, they question, but they don't view things from a perspective of right and wrong. That's a fascinating take on angels. This book particularly is so fulfilling because of the way Ava and Malachi come together. I'm not sure if I totally buy into the idea of soul mates, but I sure do buy into their relationship. Two very different people and put in a position where they don't know each other anymore, which gives little context to their love for each other. And yet like Malachi says, "I know I'm right handed." That's the way he knows that he loves Ava. And that regardless of whatever circumstance they're in. It's inspiring.
October 2017
Re-read again and it's like returning to an old friend. I do love Malachi and Ava.
January 2016
And re-read again. Still a 5-star read. I'm completely taken with this story.
June 2015
I am completely in love with this world and these characters. If this is adult paranormal romance, then give me more!
Narration by Zachary Webber was stellar.
July 3, 2019
5 Stars... After the cliffhanger in the first book, I was eager to discover the fate of our characters... This book did not disappoint... Taking readers on a unique and fascinating journey, Elizabeth Hunter beautifully blends fantasy, romance, and action to create an unforgettable story... Ava and Malachi must travel their own paths to one another and along the way discover truths about themselves and their role in the larger picture... A war is brewing and Ava may be the key to changing the course of all known histories between the Forgiven and the Forgotten... Setting the stage for the final book in this intriguing couple's story, this read completely enthralled me from the very first words... I eagerly anticipate the next read and the discoveries within.:)
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