Review: Obumbrate by Alivia Anders

Obumbrate (Illumine #2)

Author: Alivia Anders
Pages:292
Publisher: CreateSpace
Release Date: July 7th 2012
Author Website 
Available for Order: Amazon|Barnes and Noble

Source: ARR

Essallie Hanley just wishes her life could go back to normal. But what's normal when you carry the burden of knowing you're a half-angel created for war, that the only person who can help you is a demon still waiting to kill you, and that your only chance for salvation lied in a boy who died in front of you?
If Essallie had turned her back on everything she'd learned, she could have made the most of her fractured life. That is, until Kayden told her that she's a ticking time-bomb; that at any given moment her blood could betray her, her veins burning her alive from the inside out until nothing but ash remains.

Desperate to find answers, and possibly find her only chance for survival, Essallie heads back for New York City, back to the place where it all began. With every answer comes a price, and with every price the risks and rewards become greater. But when Essallie soon finds herself the target of an unknown hunter determined to kill her, she's at wits' end. That is, until a fellow Nephilim named Ari steps in. But is Ari a piece of the puzzle to her salvation, or the promise of her demise?

My Take:

 Ever felt that life couldn't get any more complicated, for Essallie Hanley being told she is a weapon and can be used that can put one big strain on life. Just days after the attack her ex had orchestrated, getting back to normal can take some time. Esepcially when you lose someone you felt a deep connection with. Not wanting to do anything with being a Nephilim and pushing away those who helped along the way, Essallie just wants the school year to end and go back home. But when the queen wants something she usually gets it, this time she is after the one Essallie can't give her, thats her power. So when attacked Essallie ventures into the last place she wants to go, Charon. Since the place gave her insight before, maybe the same person can give more of an idea of how much time she actually has.

Meeting Ari was a plus because another Nephiim couldn't get worst right. Its until he starts to question why she can't fight for herself. Essallie can see that he cares for her, but at the end of the day her time is running out and starting something is just not possible. Unless Kayden of course shows up with nothing more than a what stare. The problem with Kayden is that he just used her for his benefit and he pushes her buttons. With the three of them, figuring out a plan to see why the queen wants Essallie isn't as easy as any plan would go. One thing for sure Essallie puts her feelings aside and does the one thing she knows to do, question everything there is to be questioned.

While reading this I saw that Essallie was really trying hard to push those close to her, and in doing so she prevented any feelings to get in the way of her actions. Of course realizing Kayden used her really help with being on Team Kayden and of course later on he than changed my mind. Kayden is like that always changing my mind at every turn. Meeting Ari at first I was cautious and as the pages were turned I realized wow he actually cares and she doesn't yet see that he can actually see her. Add in a clock and you have the making of an intense ride. The one thing though to put some tears in my eyes was finding out who her watcher was, it hit me like an arrow to the heart. Of course her journey continues later this year, its just the wait is going to be tough. I want to know more of the queen, and who Essallie picks. Anders draws you in and leaves you wanting more and thats when you wish Christmas came faster.

5/5 stars

Review: Illumine by Alivia Anders

Illumine (Illumine #1)

Author: Alivia Anders
Pages:150
Publisher: CreateSpace
Release Date: January 7th 2012
Author Website 
Available for Order: Amazon|Barnes and Noble

Source: Library

For the past five months Essallie Hanley has been trying to forget about the frightening murder of her boyfriend. Haunted by vivid nightmares and hallucinations of the event she does anything she can to pretend she's like every other normal girl in High School. 

Only Essallie is far from normal. Able to conjure blue fire and a shimmering silhouette of wings from her body, she seeks the only known solace left to her name; her first home in Belfast, Maine. 

But she soon realizes that her return home is only the beginning of a long and twisted road taking her as far from her humanity as possible, with Kayden, the demon originally summoned to slaughter her, leading the way. Unable to touch her but oddly curious, he joins Essallie in her search to find out just what she is. But neither of them were prepared for the secrets they've begun to unravel, secrets that will change Essallie and everyone around her forever.

My Take:

Ever been to a party that changed your life forever, for Essallie going to a party did just that and opened her eyes to secrets she had know idea existed. Five months later after the tragicness she encountered, being sent to live with her brother should've been the one place her nightmares would not harm her, too bad reality isn't all too nice. Because that night is just the start to everything, finding out from a demon your a weapon and also more is one thing, but to find out that your boyfriend was willing to sacrifice you for his benefit, yeah that is a major sign to leave him. But what Essallie has no idea is that Kayden the demon who wants to kill her, also seems to grown found of her.

The thing is that when you touch someone you know you can feel them, but for Kayden, its a little different because when touched by Essallie his touch is short lived. Being a demon has its perks, being able to appear and disappear comes in handy. What is even more crazier is that Essallie power is growing more day by day meaning her even staying in human form and not combusting everything insight is a plus, but she needs everyone willing to help find out how powerful she is and if she can master it. The journey has just begun and conjuring energy is one thing.

I absolutely loved this because even though it was a fast read, I never wanted it to end ever. Of course finding out what she is and how she is able to cope with it is so cool. Essallie is strong enough to and able to mend her own destiny. Being capable to become a weapon is cool but what she does with her power is what will shape the kind of person she wants to be. We are just fortunate and able to read about her journey to finding herself in the process. For me this was hands down a wonderful story and with Kayden its hard not to like the demon your not supposed to. The future can only tell what is in story with Essallie and where her journey will lead.




5/5 stars

THE WAIT IS ALMOST OVER 

Out July 7 2012

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