A Review
Genre: Dark Fantasy
Star rating: 4/5
Blurb:
She is pure light.
He dwells in the darkness.
Will she discover the power within before he snuffs out that beautiful light forever?
On the surface, everything about Kira Lockwood is a picture of perfection — an amazing best friend, a loving boyfriend, and a promising future in ballet. But beneath it all, she’s plagued with unusual dreams and nightmares. And to make things more complicated, the man who haunts those very dreams has just moved in down the street. Their attraction is undeniable, but she struggles to understand their otherworldly connection.
Blake Michaelson is a handsome and powerful centuries-old warlock. He and his three brothers have been searching for one thing – Kira Lockwood. Though she doesn’t know it, she is a descendent of the first Supra Virtutem, a witch with the ability to harness the ultimate power. He and his brothers have spent a lifetime, hunting others like them, and claiming their magic as their own. To ensure their immortality, Blake must complete the Order of Three: claim her body, take her blood, and end her life.
Kira can’t ascend and harness her power until her 21st birthday but her magic lives within her and her light recognizes the darkness. Will Blake complete his mission or will the power within her be enough to save her?
I had the absolute pleasure of meeting B.L. Cagle and S.J. Brown at Books, Gowns, and Crowns about a month ago. I was at the booth next to them, so we got to talk and get to know each other a little over the weekend. I picked up a copy of their first book and received my first ever paperback ARC of the second book! It did take me a couple of chapters to be consumed by this story, but that’s typical for fantasy books with this much thought that goes into them.
Starting this book felt like falling down a rabbit hole. The first few chapters were slower in pacing as you peaked over the edge, but as you keep going you find yourself tumbling headfirst, unable to get enough as you fall through this world. Book two is going to be interesting and the ending of book one is what ramps that up. I love the fact that actual ballet terminology is used.
This book shows a true depiction of the sleepless nights, countless hours of practice, that comes with a passion like dancing. The author does a great job truly depicting what that does to the students, their bodies, and their mental health. Kira shows this throughout the book, but it is very evident in the beginning and then the author starts throwing fantasy elements at Kira which adds so much intrigue and interest. I love the words that are used throughout this book, there are many that I have never seen in writing before, and they are beautiful, these words evoke the imagery, bringing the image brighter into the reader’s mind. It also gave me some words to add to my own vocabulary.