Book Review: The Becoming Trilogy by Jess Raven & Paula Black !!!

REVIEW: THE BECOMING TRILOGY BY JESS RAVEN & PAULA BLACK

[Click on the covers to add the respective books to your Goodreads Shelf]

BOOK 1: BECOMING RED

Published On: November 30, 2012

Publisher: Self-Published

Source: Review Copy

SYNOPSIS:

‘You got me back. You always said you would.’

Ash DeMorgan, graduate, orphan, ice maiden, has long since consigned the fairytale nightmares of a troubled childhood to the realm of fantastical childish imagination.

Now, lured back to Dublin, the scene of her tragic past, Ash encounters a city pulsing under the dangerous sexual influence of a new street drug the locals call Rave. Nothing is as it seems. Ash is about to discover that her nightmares are real, ancient Irish myths are larger than life and roaming the streets of the medieval city, and she has become the prey in their erotic hunt. A step back into her past is about to become a high adrenaline race for survival.

Connal Savage, outcast, assassin, and living, breathing hunk of ancient mythology, has lived a thousand years servicing a debt of revenge. Dead inside. Until he encounters his boss’s granddaughter, an infuriating woman who threatens to lead him to hell with all his good intentions, who manages to chip away at the hard encrusted defences of a lifetime spent at war and burrow herself deep into a part of him that hasn’t breathed for centuries. He is about to discover that when it comes down to the wire, when you’re bargaining with the Grim Reaper for the life of the one you love, you will do anything...

Book one of The Becoming series. A new voice in paranormal fantasy and romance.

I got this book from the author, free of cost, in exchange of an honest review from my side.

Firstly I would like to thank the authors for giving me this opportunity of reading and reviewing this book and I would also like to thank Carrie Fort [moderator of Lovers of Paranormal Group of Goodreads] for giving me this book under their read to review theme.

Well, without discussing the plot anymore I'm jumping right into describing the pros and cons of this book because I know that my fellow reviewers have already gave a vivid sneak peek of the story to the readers. Let me first highlight the cons. There are mainly two points that I didn't quite like about this book. The first is the pace - the starting was a bit slow for my taste and it took a lot of time to suck me in to the story. The second point is that there are too many erotic scenes. I agree that some steamy scenes make the read intriguing but too much of it just spoils the excitement of the reader and the anticipation to know what's going to happen next. Well, at times I just yelled "God guys !!! Just move on!!!" to the characters.

Now off to the positive points and I'm happy to say that they outmatch the cons. The characters are really well developed and properly nurtured by the author and they went on improving with time but I didn't quite like the female lead. Next comes the passionate romance and the remarkable way of presenting it in words, just hoped that the scenes would reduce in numbers but it didn't. The suspense and mystery is great and the self-discovery of both the characters impressed me a lot. The use of Irish mythology in the concept is a A+ point of this book which is fresh and properly executed as well and I liked the plot very much, it's absolutely creative !!!

Over all a good read that I guess many of you will love and apart from the few mentioned negative points I don't felt it to be boring. It is an enjoyable read. so go on and try it out !!!

RATING: 3 MATED VAMPIRES

BOOK 2: BECOMING BAD

Published On: June 30, 2013

Publisher: Self-Published

Source: Review Copy

 

SYNOPSIS:

How do you fight the monster when it is inside of you?

The black lake beneath Dublin’s medieval city holds a secret. Imprisoned there for millennia, an ancient race of demi-gods have found a way to the surface and are preying on humans to feed their sexual appetites. Hunted to near-extinction, these half-men, half-beasts have been without a single female to breed a new generation. Until now.

All her life, Ashling DeMorgan feared her dreams. She kept her head buried in ancient mythology, because the real world seemed so much scarier. On returning to Dublin to settle her invalid grandmother’s affairs, Ash discovered a city plagued by the same wolf-like creatures that killed her mother. Their bite is like sexual heroin and Ash has been bitten. Now she is trapped in a waking nightmare, with the monster who ordered the death of the only man she’s ever loved. Made to doubt if she ever really knew the assassin-turned-guardian who stole her heart and gave his life for hers, Ash finds herself betrayed by her own changing body.

In a dangerous world of suspicion and divided loyalties, Ash must come to terms with what she is becoming. Worse still, her infuriatingly arrogant captor may just prove to be her most unlikely ally in what will become a life and death race for survival.

MacTire, king of a once formidable race, has lived his life in the shadow of a half-brother who took everything from him. Connal Savage seduced his mate and engineered a genocide that all but exterminated their species. Finally, he has a chance at retribution. Connal’s woman is his for the taking. But are the bonds of brotherhood so easily severed and are the ghosts of the past ever truly dead and buried, or will they come back to haunt him?

I got this book from the author, free of cost, in exchange of an honest review from my side.

Firstly I would like to thank the authors for giving me this opportunity of reading and reviewing this book and I would also like to thank Carrie Fort [moderator of Lovers of Paranormal Group of Goodreads] for giving me this book under their read to review theme.

Well, the sequel is far much better than the first book and I really enjoyed this read. The characters are awesome and Ash outshone every character out there and she won me over as well. She was confident and full of faith and tried to get out of the hellish situation even when she was mentally, emotionally and physically weak and shattered. 

The action scenes are a big part of this sequel which really impressed me a lot and the author gave an adequate dose of passionate romantic scenes and didn't over burdened the story with it which I liked as well. The mystery is thick and really kept me hooked in and the mythological touch and the awesome and remarkable presentation of it within the story intrigued me.

A fascinating read and hope that you guys will love it as well. Happy reading !!!

RATING: 4 SEXY VAMPIRES

BOOK 3: BECOMING BLOOD

Published On: December 4, 2013

Publisher: Self-Published

Source: ARC Review Copy

SYNOPSIS:

Becoming Blood: the electrifying Becoming trilogy concludes.

Ashling DeMorgan has survived becoming wolf, escaped the death-trap of Fomor and found the love she’d feared dead. But, when you’re a pawn in the Morrígan’s apocalyptic scheming, freedom, and survival, comes at a price. Is it one they are prepared to pay?

They've been to Hell and got the t-shirts. Now, Hell is coming for them.

As two ancient enemies prepare to converge on Dublin City, Ash and Connal find themselves drawn into a battle of mythological proportions. But will their secrets and divided loyalties put them on opposite sides of a war that neither wants?

In a dark and dangerous world where sex is an addiction, will Ash and Connal’s happy ever after end in Hell, or can the very thing that cursed them set them free?

I got this book from the author, free of cost, in exchange of an honest review from my side.

Firstly I would like to thank the authors for giving me this opportunity of reading and reviewing this book and I would also like to thank Carrie Fort [moderator of Lovers of Paranormal Group of Goodreads] for giving me this book under their read to review theme.

Whoa!!! This is an epic end to this trilogy, it couldn't have been any better !!!

The characters are great and oh my god, I fell in love with Connal. Well I know it's kinda late but it's better to be now than never, right? The action scenes just knocked me over and the suspense nearly chocked me to death. The stakes are high this time and it's do or die situation for Connal and Ash, well that's common for them I guess. 

Loved the ending very much and it was totally unexpected for me which made the read more fascinating and gripping for me. The steamy scenes were great and I loved that it wasn't over done like the first book. I would definitely recommend this trilogy to all of you and it's really a great trilogy, hope that you guys will enjoy it!!! Enjoy guys!!!

RATING: 5 FIGHTER VAMPIRES

THE BECOMING BOX SET TRILOGY

SYNOPSIS:

Box Set Edition of the Becoming Novels Paranormal Romance

Book 1: Becoming Red

Book 2: Becoming Bad

Book 3: Becoming Blood

‘You got me back. You always said you would.’ Ash DeMorgan, graduate, orphan, ice maiden, has long since consigned the fairytale nightmares of a troubled childhood to the realm of fantastical childish imagination. Now, lured back to Dublin, the scene of her tragic past, Ash encounters a city pulsing under the dangerous sexual influence of a new street drug the locals call Rave. Nothing is as it seems. Ash is about to discover that her nightmares are real, ancient Irish myths are larger than life and roaming the streets of the medieval city, and she has become the prey in their erotic hunt. A step back into her past is about to become a high adrenaline race for survival.

Connal Savage, outcast, assassin, living, breathing hunk of ancient mythology, has lived a thousand years servicing a debt of revenge. Dead inside. Until he encounters his boss’s granddaughter, an infuriating woman who threatens to lead him to hell with all his good intentions, who manages to chip away at the hard encrusted defences of a lifetime spent at war and burrow herself deep into a part of him that hasn’t breathed for centuries. He is about to discover that when it comes down to the wire, when you’re bargaining with the Grim Reaper for the life of the one you love, you will do anything...