Monday, February 11, 2013

Unwrapping: Review of SECRETS OF THE SKY, an Immortals In Alameda novel by Jaye Shields

I am one of the tour hosts for the SECRETS OF THE SKY by Jaye Shields Blog Tour and to get us in the mood for my day, which is Wacky Wednesday when the adorable Reed sisters from the Immortals In Alameda series will be visiting me, I'm pleased to review this extraordinary story that lives in this the second book in this amazing fantasy/paranormal series. If you aren't familiar with the series yet, please feel free to check out my review of the first book - SECRETS OF THE FOG.

***eARC provided by author in exchange for an honest and unscripted review.

Blurb for SECRETS OF THE SKY:

Sparrow Reed might look like an angel, but she’s a witch with a back full of enchanted tattoos and she’s not afraid to use them. When her best friend’s life is threatened by an evil Goddess, Sparrow joins an epic battle against the demons sent to destroy her home. She never realized that the night she almost died, her life would truly begin.

Rowen Aerion of the Knights of the Fog was sent to the human realm to tip the balance in an unfair fight. But when he arrives on Alcatraz Island to aid the mortal humans, he sees an angel fighting demons. But she’s not an angel, she’s human. And according to a soothsayer, his love for her will mean her demise.

Sparrow is thrust into a world she never imagined existed, yet nothing thrills her like the handsome warrior who refuses her seduction. When Rowen’s rejection sends Sparrow into the arms of a dangerous rebel, Rowen must decide which is more dangerous, the oracle’s grim warning, or forsaking his heart’s sole desire.

 
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If you read SECRETS OF THE FOG by Jaye Shields, you know that Sparrow, Tera, the Knights of the Fog, the aunts, a vampire & shifter as well as a quetzalem, battled Chaos and her demons to protect the human world. You know that Tera and Sabin had their happily-ever-after and that Sparrow was saved from death by the blood of Pyrrhus, the sexy quetzalem/dragon. You know that in the last chapter, Sparrow left several frantic messages about her mother, Egret, having gone missing. I love that Jaye takes us back not only to that time at the beginning of SECRETS OF THE SKY, but also gives a backstory for Sparrow's mother, Egret. We're given a glimpse into the secret of Sparrow Reed's father and why this petite blond witch with a back full of bird tattoos is so special. 

Sparrow Reed is independant, tough, and able to take care of herself - most of the time - but heartbroken, after enjoying some amazing physical activites with the gorgeous and sexy Rowen Aerion, a Knight of the Fog who she first met on the battlefield then encounters again when she, Tera, and the aunts, as well as Duncan and Michelle travel to the mystical Kingdom of Hy-Breasal to be honored by the High King with the gifts of rings of immortality, she decides she doesn't need anyone's help to find her missing mother. Angry, disappointed and determined to prove she doesn't need Rowen after he refused her, she throws away her ring at just the wrong time. Now, armed only with her cunning skills, her ability to transform into birds, and a companion who, until her recent encounters with Rowen, had been her seducer in her dreams, Sparrow finds herself in a very wrong, very dangerous realm.

While Sparrow and Pyrrhus attempt to survive the dangerous Canicus Realm, Rowen discovers that Sparrow is most likely in danger and, the oracle's warning be damned, he cannot allow this incredible woman who has very much wormed her way into his heart perish without him doing something to save her. Unfortunately, all does not go well and now, it's not only Sparrow and Pyrrhus whose lives are on the line but Rowen's also when they're all captured by dragon hunters.

SECRETS OF THE SKY by Jaye Shields is so action-packed that it's hard to catch your breath except when you're forced to put this amazing story down. Had I the opportunity, I know I never would have put it down because I was so captured by the story of Rowan and Sparrow, as well as the second romance that belongs to Sparrow's mother, Egret - I'm not saying any more because it's a spoiler. Amazing characters abound in this series, the aunts - Morgana and Melissandra Reed - the fellow Knights of the Fog, and Pyrrhus, the Quetzalem who you begin to think is not such a good guy until he proves himself to be just that and more, and then - the bad guys, who are truly nasty! The aunts still fascinate us and make us laugh because they are just so adorable but we get to know Egret a bit better and learn of her lost love.

I highly recommend SECRETS OF THE SKY, the second book in the Immortals In Alameda series by Jaye Shields to anyone who loves a splendid mix of fantasy/mythology and paranormal elements, splendid characters - both main and secondary- action, action, and more action, and a romance that will have sighing with relief, as well as a secondary romance that will have you reaching for tissues. I'm going to be totally honest and tell you that this ending tore me up emotionally. I could barely read the last chapter through my tears. At one point, I was actually sobbing. This was the most emotionally charged ending I've ever read and I've read many that have left me in tears but never one that made me sob.

Happy Reading Everyone and I hope you'll come by on Wednesday when the aunts, Morgana and Melissandra Reed, will be visiting to give us a little insight into the world of the Immortals In Alameda! You know that's going to be a Wacky Wednesday!

SECRETS OF THE SKY, book two in the Immortals In Alameda series by Jaye Shields, Crimson Romance, available now in ebook formats.

                                                                                       

3 comments:

Aimee Duffy said...

Can't wait to get stuck into this series!

Another great review Amy :)

XOXO

Tasty Book Tours said...

I agree, fantastic review Amy!! And Thank you for hosting on Wednesday, and today as well!!

Jaye Shields said...

Thank you for yet another, incredible review. XOXO I love Unwrapping Romance!