Review: Into the Dreaming by Karen Marie Moning

Into the Dreaming (Highlander #8) by Karen Marie Moning
Publication Date: April 24, 2012
Publisher: Delacote Press
Number of Pages: 253
Format: Hardback
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For the first time in hardcover, here is #1 New York Times bestselling author Karen Marie Moning’s novella Into the Dreaming, a tale of Highland fantasy, star-crossed lovers, and the timeless manipulation of the ancient, immortal Unseelie king. This is Moning at her romantic, funniest finest.

Free him from his ice-borne hell . . .

Stolen from his beloved home in the Highlands of Scotland, imprisoned in the Unseelie king’s dark, frosty kingdom, Aedan MacKinnon endured centuries of torture before becoming the icy, emotionless Vengeance, the dark king’s dispatcher of death and destruction in the mortal realm.

And in his century you both may dwell . . .

Aspiring romance novelist Jane Sillee has always believed that she was born in the wrong century, but she’s managed to make a decent enough life for herself—if only she could stop having those recurring dreams about a man too perfect to exist.

In the Dreaming you have loved him . . .

Haunted every night of her life by a devastatingly sexy Highlander who comes to her while she sleeps, Jane tries to write him out of her head and heart. As a child he protected her, as a woman he loves her.

Now in the Waking you must save him . . .

When an ancient tapestry bearing the likeness of her beloved Highlander arrives on her doorstep, Jane is whisked back in time to fifteenth-century Scotland, to the castle of Dun Haakon on the isle of Skye, where she is given one chance to save her dream lover . . . or lose him forever to the Unseelie king.

Caught in a deadly game between the light and dark courts of the Fae, Jane must find a way through the ice to the heart of her Highander. But will the love of one mortal woman be enough to defeat such ancient and ruthless immortal enemies?

As big of a fan I'm of KMM I can't believe it took me a year to buy this book. Especially since I've been dying to get my hands on it since before it was re published you couldn't even find the story anywhere. Not to mention all of the bonus material in it. The cover is absolutely beautiful. I've tagged the book with both Fever and Highlander tags because of some of the bonus material, it's has a little bit of everything.

The story itself is a very quick read and very cute. Not only did it feel good to read her work again, but to be back in the Highlander world. As long as Jane can remember she has had dreams of this Highlander warrior, which Jane can swear feels so real. But now she is swept back in time, and he doesn't remember who she is or even himself. To break the curse the Unseelie King has put on him, she must make him fall in love with her within the next month. I love the little twist in this short story, different from most PNR books. It's the female that is doing the seducing and chasing instead of the other way around. I knew going into the book that the fae mythology is slight different from her Fever series and even the later Highlander books, because at the time when she wrote it it was being published by a different publisher. None the less it's still a decent read.

On to the bonus material. Which is pretty much the main reason I was excited to get the book. The first one is a proposal for a never written book called Ghost of a Chance. It features the brother of Hawk from her first Highlander book Beyond the Highland Mist. After reading it I'm a sad it never got written. It sounds like it would be an awesome book. The second bonus feature is some deleted scenes from Kiss of the Highlander. As KMM explains originally when she write it, when Gwen goes back in time instead of confronting Drustan she fakes amnesia. Here we get a sense on how that part of the book played out.

The third and last Highlander bonus, and probably the biggest bonus content is the original draft for The Dark Highlander, or as KMM calls it The Dark Highlander Lite. It's a completely different story, and even has a different heroine, Elizabeth who happens to be a friend of Gwen. The draft itself is very good and would of made a good book. But it's lacking that darkness surrounding the real book. It's light and fluffy, but it did leave me interested and wouldn't mind reading the whole thing if it existed.

Now there's two bonus for the Fever world or well not really bonus. Since the book came out a few months before the Fever graphic novel, it contain a sneak peek of that with half of the arts still being in black and white. And then there's also included the first chapter of Darkfever. As a huge Fever fan not much that I hadn't seen before.

I think this book is an awesome introductory to both of her series. If you haven't read either or one or the other, this book is an excellent buy to get a taste. Even for a person who randomly picks it up, it will easily suck you in and make you wanting more of each series.

Rating: 4/5

Review: Shadowfever by Karen Marie Moning

Shadowfever (Fever #5) by Karen Marie Moning
Publication Date: January 18, 2011
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Number of Pages: 594
Format: Hardback
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Description: “Evil is a completely different creature, Mac. Evil is bad that believes it’s good.”

MacKayla Lane was just a child when she and her sister, Alina, were given up for adoption and banished from Ireland forever.

Twenty years later, Alina is dead and Mac has returned to the country that expelled them to hunt her sister’s murderer. But after discovering that she descends from a bloodline both gifted and cursed, Mac is plunged into a secret history: an ancient conflict between humans and immortals who have lived concealed among us for thousands of years.

What follows is a shocking chain of events with devastating consequences, and now Mac struggles to cope with grief while continuing her mission to acquire and control the Sinsar Dubh—a book of dark, forbidden magic scribed by the mythical Unseelie King, containing the power to create and destroy worlds.

In an epic battle between humans and Fae, the hunter becomes the hunted when the Sinsar Dubh turns on Mac and begins mowing a deadly path through those she loves.
Who can she turn to? Who can she trust? Who is the woman haunting her dreams? More important, who is Mac herself and what is the destiny she glimpses in the black and crimson designs of an ancient tarot card?

From the luxury of the Lord Master’s penthouse to the sordid depths of an Unseelie nightclub, from the erotic bed of her lover to the terrifying bed of the Unseelie King, Mac’s journey will force her to face the truth of her exile, and to make a choice that will either save the world . . . or destroy it.

The most anticipated book of 2011, with the publication date was pushed back several times. And since I read the series a few months after the release of Dreamfever, this was the first time I had to wait for the book in the series, which was a year. The year waiting about killed me, and I feel bad for those who had to wait the 16 months for it. The book met my expectations and then some.

As the last few books, it picks up immediately where the last one left off. After all the waiting we finally get to see who was the beast that Mac had killed. And at least to me, it was no surprised that it was Barrons. Mac experience grief all over again. And she finally admit her feelings that she herself had refuse to even acknowledge. Mac teams up with the unlikely in search for the book. Let's remember that Barrons has told Mac before to not to believe anything is dead until you burn the ashes and wait three days to see if it rises. And of course, Barrons refuse to stay dead.

Follow Mac on a whirl of a journey. Finally getting most of her answers. This book is full of twists and turns at every page. Who is Mac? What is Mac? We are taken through a few theories before finally discovering the truth. And for those of you who are familiar with Moning's Highlander series, those Keltar men finally show up, and we even get a small appearance from Adam Black. And as can expected those scenes were hilarious. We see more of Ryodan, and another one of the men we got to know a little, Lor.

Feelings are exposed. Characters are exposed. This book will take you on a very emotional trip. Not only is this the best book out of the series, it tops my list of favorite books of all time. Do not attempt to read this book with not a lot of reading time blocked out. You won't want to put it down.

If I could I would write this book a million stars. But I will have to settle for just five.

Rating: 5/5

 

Review: Dreamfever by Karen Marie Moning

Dreamfever (Fever #5) by Karen Marie Moning
Publication Date: August 18, 2009
Publisher: Dell
Number of Pages: 498
Format: Paperback
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Description: They may have stolen my past, but I’ll never let them take my future.

When the walls between Man and Fae come crashing down, freeing the insatiable, immortal Unseelie from their icy prison, MacKayla Lane is caught in a deadly trap. Captured by the Fae Lord Master, she is left with no memory of who or what she is: the only sidhe-seer alive who can track the Sinsar Dubh, a book of arcane black magic that holds the key to controlling both worlds.

Clawing her way back from oblivion is only the first step Mac must take down a perilous path, from the battle-filled streets of Dublin to the treacherous politics of an ancient, secret sect, through the tangled lies of men who claim to be her allies into the illusory world of the Fae themselves, where nothing is as it seems—and Mac is forced to face a soul-shattering truth.

Who do you trust when you can’t even trust yourself?

Dreamfever picks up right where Faefever left off. Mac has been raped by the Unseelie Princes and has been turned Pri-ya. Because Mac is so out of it, the beginning is narrated by Dani, who manages to rescue Mac and take her back to the abbey. And of course it's not long before Barrons comes in to take her away. And with him he brought reinforcements which will make your jaw drop. While being Pri-ya we see a new side of Barrons. And there are certain scenes that will make you swoon. And of course Barrons does the impossible, he brings Mac from being pri-ya.

Mac isn't just stronger, but seems to have new abilities like being able to break through Barrons wards. This book takes Mac through a journey while she searches for answers. Which she does get a few answers, but no surprise they leave to more questions. And we even see a little bit more of Ryodan as he interacts with Mac.

And in following suit from the last book, we are left with an even bigger cliffhanger. Jaw dropping is an understatement. Once again if this is the first time reading the series, make sure you have the next book before reading this. Trust me, the ending will make you go crazy.

Rating: 5/5

 

Review: Faefever by Karen Marie Moning

Faefever (Fever #3) by Karen Marie Moning
Publication Date: September 16, 2008
Publisher: Dell
Number of Pages: 389
Format: Paperback
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Description: The New York Times bestselling author of Darkfever and Bloodfever returns to Dublin’s Fae-infested shores in a bold, sensual new novel. Hurtling us into a realm of seduction and shadows, Karen Marie Moning tells the enthralling tale of a woman who explores the limits of her mysterious powers as she enters a world of ancient sorcery—and confronts an enemy more insidious than she could ever have imagined. He calls me his Queen of the Night. I’d die for him. I’d kill for him, too. When MacKayla Lane receives a torn page from her dead sister’s journal, she is stunned by Alina’s desperate words. And now MacKayla knows that her sister’s killer is close. But evil is closer. And suddenly the sidhe-seer is on the hunt: For answers. For revenge. And for an ancient book of dark magic so evil, it corrupts anyone who touches it.

Mac’s quest for the Sinsar Dubh takes her into the mean, shape-shifting streets of Dublin, with a suspicious cop on her tail. Forced into a dangerous triangle of alliance with V’lane, an insatiable Fae prince of lethally erotic tastes, and Jericho Barrons, a man of primal desires and untold secrets, Mac is soon locked in a battle for her body, mind, and soul.

As All Hallows’ Eve approaches and the city descends into chaos, as a shocking truth about the Dark Book is uncovered, not even Mac can prevent a deadly race of immortals from shattering the walls between worlds—with devastating consequences.…

Faefever picks up right after the last book. A run in with the book makes Mac miss her meeting with Christian MacKeltar. This is the book that I really fall in love with Christian in. Who proves that he's more useful than what Mac thought he was. He's the first person she's encounter that hasn't lied or played games with her.  And we learn that Christian's uncles had sent him here to spy on Barrons.

Mac realizes that time is running out. They must keep the walls up during Halloween night. She has mange to trick Barrons into going to Scotland to help the Keltars with their rituals to keep the walls up. The sidhe seers have their own ritual, and Rowena has even allow Mac to come and help. But Mac can't even get out of the city. The whole city has gone made and rioting. Mac manages to get away and find safety in a church. But the worst is yet to come. With a cliff hanger that I didn't even see coming will leave you speechless.

Amazing as always, this book has it all. If you are reading the series for the first time, you might want to make sure you have the next book handy.

Rating: 5/5

 

Review: Bloodfever by Karen Marie Moning

Bloodfever (Fever #2) by Karen Marie Moning
Publication Date: October 1, 2007
Publisher: Dell
Number of Pages: 349
Format: Paperback
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Description: I used to be your average, everyday girl but all that changed one night in Dublin when I saw my first Fae, and got dragged into a world of deadly immortals and ancient secrets...

In her fight to stay alive, MacKayla must find the Sinsar Dubh—a million-year-old book of the blackest magic imaginable, which holds the key to power over the worlds of both the Fae and Man. Pursued by assassins, surrounded by mysterious figures she knows she can’t trust, Mac finds herself torn between two deadly and powerful men: V’lane, the immortal Fae Prince, and Jericho Barrons, a man as irresistible as he is dangerous.

For centuries the shadowy realm of the Fae has coexisted with that of humans. Now the walls between the two are coming down, and Mac is the only thing that stands between them.

Still grieving for her sister, Alina, Mac has wants more than just answers and justice. She wants blood. She wants revenge. Fully convinced that Alina's boyfriend, Darroc or the Lord Master as he is widely known, is the one who killed her she won't stop at anything to get it.

It seems that everyone wants a piece of Mac. Barrons wants her around to find the Sinsar Dubh for what he claims to be his personal collection. V'lane wants her to find the book for his queen. Rowena, the Grand Mistress of the sihe seerers just wants her to join their ranks and be a good soldier. Darroc wants her dead. What it all comes down to is the two major powers, Barrons or V'lane. Barrons has saved her life, but still remain mysterious and cold. And Mac knows she cannot trust him. V'lane on the other hand answers her questions and tells her what she wants to know. But she's not completely sure of his true intentions. Plus he's fae and have trouble trusting him.

This is probably my third favorite in the series. The pacing definitely picks up.  We get more questions than answers, especially where Barrons is concerned. We get several hot scenes between Mac and Barrons. And once again he saves her life. If you loved Darkfever, this one will blow you away.

Rating: 5/5

 

Review: Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning

Darkfever (Fever #1) by Karen Marie Moning
Publication Date: October 31, 2006
Publisher: Dell
Number of Pages: 342
Format: Paperback
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Description: MacKayla Lane’s life is good. She has great friends, a decent job, and a car that breaks down only every other week or so. In other words, she’s your perfectly ordinary twenty-first-century woman.

Or so she thinks…until something extraordinary happens.

When her sister is murdered, leaving a single clue to her death–a cryptic message on Mac’s cell phone–Mac journeys to Ireland in search of answers. The quest to find her sister’s killer draws her into a shadowy realm where nothing is as it seems, where good and evil wear the same treacherously seductive mask. She is soon faced with an even greater challenge: staying alive long enough to learn how to handle a power she had no idea she possessed–a gift that allows her to see beyond the world of man, into the dangerous realm of the Fae….

As Mac delves deeper into the mystery of her sister’s death, her every move is shadowed by the dark, mysterious Jericho, a man with no past and only mockery for a future. As she begins to close in on the truth, the ruthless Vlane–an alpha Fae who makes sex an addiction for human women–closes in on her. And as the boundary between worlds begins to crumble, Mac’s true mission becomes clear: find the elusive Sinsar Dubh before someone else claims the all-powerful Dark Book–because whoever gets to it first holds nothing less than complete control of the very fabric of both worlds in their hands….

Meet MacKayla Lane, Mac for short.  At 22 her life is just one big party, the way she likes it. She's been counting down the days until her big sister, Alina, comes back from Ireland from studying abroad. That's until she got the phone call that turned her life upside down; her sister has been murder. The police are at a dead end with no leads on who murdered her. And that's when Mac decides to take action and go to Dublin herself to solve the mystery.

It doesn't take Mac long to realized how shelter her life as been. Realizing that she has a gift to see the Fae, she is thrown in an unknown world. Meeting bookstore owner, Jericho Barrons, saved her life. He seems to know very much about this strange world. But he stills very mysterious and Mac hasn't decided if he's one of the good guys or the bad. At first he tells her to go home or she will get herself killed. But when he realizes that she can sense fae objects, there was no turning back for her. And then we have Vlane, a Seelie prince, who wants the book for his queen so she can put the walls back up.

The world building is amazing in this book. It will suck you right in and you won't want to go back. By far this is my favorite series. If you haven't read this yet, then do it. You won't be disappointed.

Rating: 5/5

 

ICED book trailer by Karen Marie Moning

October 30th marks the release of ICED, the next book in the FEVER series, but this time, it's Dani's journey.
Check out the book trailer. ARE YOU READY FOR ICED?