Audible Book Review: Kindred by S.J. West

This is interesting fantasy, but a romance that drags.
Kindred
By: S.J. West
Narrated by: Brittany Pressley

Series: The Watcher Chronicles, Book 2
Length: 7 hrs and 43 mins
Release date: 11-01-16
Publisher: Audible Studios
Genre: Paranormal, Romance
My Rating: 3.75 of 5.0 Overall; Story 3.75; Narration 4.0.

Publisher's Summary
In the second book of The Watcher Chronicles series, Jess finally learns where her father has been since the Tear first opened. While Mason tries to keep his distance from her, Jess continues to search for the other vessels with Chandler by her side.
This series is intended for a mature audience. Recommended for ages 17 and older due to sexual situations and adult themes.
If I were to use the movie rating system, I would rate this series an R.
©2013 S.J. West (P)2016 Audible, Inc.

Review:
Jess has met her father and learned more about the history and workings of the Tear. Jess is looking for more of the special guardians, like Chandler. They each have a crown, a special artifact and an angelic being who is their guide. They need to find all seven in order to have a chance to close the Tear.

Meanwhile, Jess wants to continue her growing friendship with Mason, but he is convinced that he will only put her in danger so he stays away… until he accepts that she will be in danger with or without him. Maybe he can help protect her.

I do enjoy the underlying storyline, but the romance is pervasive and just too frustrating. It detracts from the story. I’m not sure why the author says this would be rated R as there is no active sex. However, there is description of sexual abuse in the past. There is intrigue that ends this story and leads to Book 3, Oblivion. I may pick that title up in the future. Like Book 1, Broken, I recommend this to fantasy readers who like slow building romance.

Audio Notes: Brittany Pressley continues to do a nice job with the narration. I am glad I had the story on audible.

Source: May 2023 Audible Plus Catalog. This qualifies for 2023Audiobook goal.

Book Review and Kindle Giveaway Link: Kindred (The Samsara Chronicles Book 12)

I am still enjoying this series but this one has an abrupt break that left me flat. At least I have  book 13 to read for next week.

Kindred (The Samsara Chronicles Book 12) 

by Diana Kemp and Gabriella Bradley 

• File Size: 147 KB
• Print Length: 65 pages
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: eXtasy Books (May 25, 2012)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B0086FQP2I

Genre: Science Fiction

My Rating: 3.75

Book Description

Publication Date: May 25, 2012

After Aislinn and Dylan witness Shakan’s confession regarding the abduction of the royals, he is sentenced to banishment in the Overlap.

Shakan’s sentencing to the Overlap for his betrayal of the royals and his collaboration with the Klatrians leads Aislinn and Dylan to finalize their plans to rescue her parents before the Fortieth Tribunal. In the meantime, the Klatrian resistance make their own plans in response to Aislinn and Dylan’s arrival.

Review:
This book in the series starts with Aislinn using the communicator eye to speak with Vark. They begin negotiations to release Aislinn’s parents, Samara and Bonerus, in exchange for the skull. Vark is darkly twisted but has flashes of a prior time when he wasn’t so consumed.  There is a wonderful scene of interaction between the Royal parents as they meet with Rodorus and he explains more about the rebellion cause.

The authors then introduce Kinestra of another Nivana province.  Altithronus will move on to be with the Antiquitas and Kinestra will become a new support for Aislinn.  The Tribunal meets to sentence Shakan and begin the ceremony of banishing him to the Overlap, the place of temporal displacement. There is a battle against the dark force at the Overlap that Aislinn has to resolve.

There is a nice thread of continuity in circumstances of the last ceremonial banishment and the current ceremony. I was enjoying the process of the story and anticipating how the banishment would unfold when this episode abruptly ended. It felt like an inappropriate break point to me and left me disappointed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

An interesting quote:

Power...
Is this how it feels to stand at the pinnacle and gaze down on the world? She wondered. No wonder so many had abused it before.  Location 668.

Thank you to the authors for providing this book for review as part of a Pump Up Your Book Tour event with Kindle Giveaway link.

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Pump Up Your Book and The Samsara Chronicles are teaming up to give you a chance to win a Kindle Fire!

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Each person will enter this giveaway by liking, following, subscribing and tweeting about this giveaway through the Rafflecopter form placed on blogs throughout the tour.  If your blog isn’t set up to accept the form, we offer another way for you to participate by having people comment on your blog then directing them to where they can fill out the form to gain more entries.
This Kindle Fire promotion will run from June 1 – August 31. Winner will be chosen randomly by Rafflecopter, contacted by email and announced on September 1, 2012.
Each blogger who participates in The Samsara Chronicles virtual book tour is eligible to enter and win.
Visit each blog stop below to gain more entries as the Rafflecopter widget will be placed on each blog for the duration of the tour.
If you would like to participate, email Dorothy at thewriterslife(at)gmail.com. Last day to sign up is July 27. What a great way to not only win this fabulous prize, but to gain followers and comments too! Good luck everyone!

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