Disclaimer: I received a free of copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own, as always.
Before Serenity and Cyrus can embark on a romantic honeymoon, one of their gifts from an immortal comes to life and unleashes a devastating series of events that forces them to make an unthinkable sacrifice. To undo the evil of dark magic, Serenity must travel to the immortals’ hold in Iceland. Alone.
Her journey leads to an island shrouded in mystery, where secrets from her past come to light…and she forms an inexplicable connection with a handsome, tempting healer who may pose the greatest risk of all.
Cyrus comes close to unraveling without his mate, but refuses to let honor or duty keep them apart, even if it means the bloodshed of his own kinsmen.
As the Great Council prepares to convene to determine their fate, friends become enemies, enemies become allies, and soul mates are pushed right to the edge—where love and faith is their only hope of survival.
Warning: Contains soul mates put through the grinder, dark magic drama that will leave you reeling, angry sex that crumbles concrete, an alpha hero pushed over the edge, and a roller coaster full of twists.
Isis Rushdan latest book, Protector of the Flame, is the second book in the Kindred series. And it is good. It is really good! But I have to talk about book #1, Kindred of the Fallen, first because Protector of the Flame make no sense whatsoever without it.
Seriously – make sure you read Kindred first! It is a must or you will be completely lost. There is no (or very little) Book #2 starts off exactly where #1 ends and I am sure this will be the case when the third book is released.
Serenity is a tattoo artist from New York with a special gift which allows her to see into one’s soul and create the perfect tattoo. She is engaged to Evan, who has been her best friend for 16 years, and while she doesn’t want to live the life of a lawyer’s wife but feels like this is the best that is going to happen. Then in walks Cyrus, who almost immediately rushes her senses and sweeps her off her feet and completely changes her life. Cyrus introduces her to the life she should be living – as one of the Blessed of the Kindred. See – Cyrus is her kabashem (or soul mate) and where there is a ton of history and mythos to go along with that, basically it means that they are two halves of one soul, needing and searching for their one true love. And because they are one of the Blessed, once together, their union can save the Kindred race.
Serenity is a funny girl. I was always rooting for her but there were definitely situations I was rolling my eyes and wanting to shake her silly! She a strong-willed woman and while she is quick to succumb to her new future and realize that Cyrus was who she wanted, she feels the pull of her past still and it almost ruins her future.
And Cyrus, whew, he wins you over immediately….as soon as he walks into the room in Serenity’s tattoo parlor. Sinfully handsome (and really might take over as my book boyfriend), he won’t be denied, no matter what. He knows that Serenity is his kabashem and he will do anything to get her to realize it. He has been waiting for many, many years for her and now that he has found her, there is no letting go.
In Kindred, Cyrus introduces Serenity to her new life and the changes that have to happen. Of course, meeting your soul mate doesn’t mean a happily ever after and really, would you read a romance that was?? Cyrus and Serenity fight not only for their love but for their future and the future of the Kindred.
Isis Rushdan has no qualms in ending a book with a serious cliffhanger. Oh man, I love a good cliffhanger but it makes it really hard to be patient for the next book! Luckily, Protector of the Flame was already sitting, waiting for me to read it. I love when that happens.
In Protector, Serenity has been given a gift that changes life as she knows it. She is forced to travel alone to unknown territory where she learns about her own past and meets a man who could very well threaten her future. We get to know more about the Kindred and their history. There is definitely a different feel to this book – it’s a bit more dark, we meet characters who maybe we shouldn’t like but do, we learn awful things about Serenity’s past and while Cyrus and Serenity are still very much together, circumstances work to pull them apart.
ARRRG! I KNOW!!!!
I didn’t want this story to end. I read both books in a day and a half and now I have to “patiently” wait for book #3 (I mean – I hope she is a quick writer). Isis Rushdan created irresistible characters and a world so unique and drenched in its own history and myths that you fall completely in love. Rushdan is going on my “must read” list right this second!
If I had a rating system, I would give it 5 stars!
Isis Rushdan was born in New York City. Fresh out of high school at sixteen and to the horror of her family, she turned down a college scholarship and joined the U.S. Army. She likes to keep her family on their toes, but they have always been supportive and even signed the parental consent form. She had to wait almost a year due to a minor age hiccup, but her calling to serve did not diminish. After her tour, she went on to graduate with a B.A. in Psychology from Ohio State University and parlayed her degree into an active duty commission as an officer in the U.S. Air Force. In 2005, she joined the reserves, where she is still a member of the Armed Forces.
You can find out more about Isis and her books on her website, Facebook and Twitter pages.
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