Devri Walls

Book source ~ Tour

The Council’s Venators Rune & Grey, the shapeshifter Beltran, and Council member and vampire Verida set off to rescue their Venshii friend Tate from the dreaded Games. While they cross the land to the Underground several factions are making their move as well. Rune’s twin Ryker, also a Venator, is in the hands of the Council’s enemy, the sorceress Zio and he doesn’t mind at all. Secrets are rampant and war is coming. Who will survive to rule Eon?

In order to post for the tour I’m writing this review while only having completed 68% of the book. Real life has just been getting in the way of my reading. Being an adult just sucks. I will update when I finish. However, in the meantime…

Here’s what I know: Grey is really getting the bad end of the stick in this book. Yikes! Rune is being a whiny-assed beyotch that I just want to smack around a bit to knock some sense into her. Plus, I’d enjoy it. Beltran can be quite annoying, but at least he’s also being helpful. Verida is just plain annoying. I hate Ryker. I mean, seriously, actually, loathe him. He is not redeemable in my eyes. Slit his throat and move on. Zio is a mystery. I am jonesing for her back story, but at this point I’ve only been teased with it. Arwin, the wizard, is probably my favorite character. I hope he kicks some serious ass in the last portion of the book. I dislike the vampire Dmitri, the werewolf Silen, the incubus Shax, and the succubus Tashara is kinda pathetic really. I hope she does some good work later. I have not yet seen the Fae Ambrose and the Elf Omri only had a small part before running off to take care of an emergency in his kingdom, so I hope to see more soon. Feena the Fae Queen is pretty much dead. I think? Her son Keir is King, but I don’t think he’s nearly as sneaky nor as smart as she is/was.

There are a LOT of underground and behind the back machinations going on and it’s hard to keep up with them. I just find this part a bit wearing. It seems like everyone except the Venators have two, three, or more faces and it’s exhausting.

The world is vastly interesting and built fairly well, the characters are in-depth and not cardboard caricatures, and while the plot is convoluted it is moving the story forward. I look forward to rounding third base and sliding into home soon with this one.

Update: I finally managed some time to finish this book. The only thing I need to add is…that ending!! Holy shit! I’m looking forward to book 4 because I have a feeling it’s going to be a doozy.… (meer)

4.5

Book source ~ Tour

Rune Jenkins and Grey Malteer have crossed over into Eon, a parallel world where all the things fantasy are actually real. They’ve been recruited by the Council because they are Venators, and Tate, a Venshii, is the one who retrieved them. Rune’s twin Ryker has also crossed over, but he’s in the hands of Zio. The Council hates Zio and that hate is mutual. But is one side really good and the other bad? Or is this world just totally fucked up? I’m forming an opinion, but won’t share yet.

Rune and Grey are knee-deep in secrets and politics of a world they have no idea how to navigate. It is nothing, I mean, nothing like Earth. Well, ok, the sneaky politics are the same, but think about if you could add magic and powers and otherworldly beings to our world and then you have an inkling of what Eon is like. Rune and Grey keep thinking they are back in Kansas (metaphorically) and this leads to serious trouble for them.

Ryker is another story. Man, I don’t know that this guy is going to be salvageable after staying with and believing everything Zio says.

When Grey’s dumb ass goes running into enemy territory and becomes the captive of Feena the Fae Queen, well, I can’t say I felt sorry for him. Rune also has me wanting to slap her around because seriously? How stupid do you have to be?

This book is at times frustrating and at others intriguing. I get that the characters are YA and in over their heads AND not by their own choice. But they are supposed to be smart. Not to say smart people don’t do dumb things, but after nearly dying in book 1, you’d think book 2 would see some epiphany billboards being lit up. However, the frustration is rewarded by character growth during the course of this book, so I’ll allow it. Every other character is fabulous. Every single one has an agenda and I don’t know what they are yet. I’m fully invested in finding out how all these pieces are going to fit together. Also? Beltran is perhaps my favorite character so far.

I will end this review with one thing that bugged the shit out of me. There is a moment, when Grey is off doing his stupid thing, that he leaves his boots by a river. Verida and Rune see those boots later. That’s how they know he did the stupid thing. But for the rest of the book, Grey suddenly has his boots on. This is the kind of thing I notice and it drives me nuts. Other than that, I recommend this book. It has danger, action, sexual attraction, magic, and intrigue. Layer upon layer of intrigue. Bring on the next book!… (meer)

Book source ~ Tour

Rune Jenkins loves all things supernatural, but has to suppress her fascination around her twin, Ryker. For some reason he’s taken an extreme dislike of the things she likes and it’s exhausting hiding it from him. One person she knows embraces the supernatural though and Grey Malteer doesn’t seem to care that people think he’s weird. When creatures suddenly come hunting for them, Rune is in for a rude awakening. The things she’s been drawn to are not fantasy, they’re real and she, Ryker, and Grey are sucked up into their world. It’s not all fun and games in Eon. In fact, it’s not fun at all. It’s terrifying and Grey and Rune don’t know who to trust. But Rune knows this…she will do anything to rescue her twin from the crazy bitch (and Council of Eon enemy) who took him from Earth. This Zio chick better watch out. Because Rune is coming for Ryker whether he likes it or not. Family is family.

While I’m a little iffy on the whole Council reason for bringing the Venators back to Eon after so long, I do enjoy the action. The characters are complex and yet simplistic. Grey has had a shitty upbringing, but he’s a good person. Rune has had an uncomplicated upbringing and she’s reckless and, to be honest, an idiot. At least she has good instincts and hasn’t gotten Grey killed. Yet. Ryker is completely unlikeable at this point, but who knows what the future holds? Side characters are pretty awesome. I think I almost like them more than the main characters. I didn’t rate this higher simply for personal reasons. Or one reason. The Council. They seem so cliché and all this double (triple, quadruple?) secret dealing is something I really hate. I get it. They are immortal creatures who thrive on this devious shit, but I really truly hate it. What can I say? Not a fan. However, the story flows fairly smoothly with no overly explained scenes and the world is fascinating. I look forward to seeing where this is headed.… (meer)

For years, Rkyer has been tormenting Grey because of his obsession with other worldly beings such as werewolves, goblins, fairies and shape shifters. Unbeknownst to Ryker, his twin sister, Rune, also has such an interest. When these evil beings attack Grey and Rune in Grey’s college dorm room, they are saved by Tate, a being from Eon, a parallel universe, who whisks them away to his world. Ryker, is kidnapped by the evil Zio who is bent on ruling Eon. Venators, the Enforcers of yore, have long ago disappeared from Eon, some having migrated to Earth. Being a Venator is hereditary and is in threesome’s blood. The corrupt Council which governs Eon wants to reintroduce Venators, through Grey and Rune, to enforce their rules, but Tate has alternate plans for them. When a dying man beseeches the Council to save his wife from werewolves and they refuse, Grey decides he must obey his conscience rather than the Council. Rune assists in the hopes of finding and saving Ryker.

Magic Unleased is the first book in the supernatural Venator series. Eon, a parallel universe to Earth is medieval in appearance and technology but its habitants possess magic. Venators, Latin for hunters, have superhuman attributes which Grey and Rune must master if they are to fulfill their destiny. There is a lot of action. Most of the characters are devious and untrustworthy. Fans of Cassandra Clare’s Mortal Instruments series or Laini Taylor’s Daughter of Smoke and Bone series will surely appreciate Venators.… (meer)