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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
I received an ARC of this book through Goodreads Giveaways.
Kerrelyn Sparks brings together elements of paranomal and fantasy romance in an all new series called The Embraced. In How to Tame a Beast in Seven Days, Luciana, in order to saver her fathers life, must leave the only home she has ever known to marry a man many call The Beast. Lord Leo, known to many as The Beast, has the power to harness lighting. because of this he is a danger to anyone he touches. When he meets Luciana, it's discovered that she may be capable of touching him without coming to harm. Through assassination attempts and various other challenges he finds himself wanting to protect this women who is his betrothed. perhaps after all these years he's finally found someone who could love him.
This was my first time reading anything by Mrs. Sparks and It was fantastic. The combination of both fantasy and paranormal elements in this book was great. Mrs. Sparks definitely has a way with writing not just stories but characters also. I not only felt sorry for Luciana but for Leo too. What I loved most about this was that it, in a way, reminded me of Beauty and The Beast, but was still its own story. I can truly say that Kerrelyn Sparks has made herself a new fan with this series. I look forward to reading book two (Available this August!!!!!). Fans of her previous books/series will definitely want to check this out when it's released in March. In fact fans of both paranormal and fantasy romances should check this out. I definitely highly recommend reading it!
Kerrelyn Sparks brings together elements of paranomal and fantasy romance in an all new series called The Embraced. In How to Tame a Beast in Seven Days, Luciana, in order to saver her fathers life, must leave the only home she has ever known to marry a man many call The Beast. Lord Leo, known to many as The Beast, has the power to harness lighting. because of this he is a danger to anyone he touches. When he meets Luciana, it's discovered that she may be capable of touching him without coming to harm. Through assassination attempts and various other challenges he finds himself wanting to protect this women who is his betrothed. perhaps after all these years he's finally found someone who could love him.
This was my first time reading anything by Mrs. Sparks and It was fantastic. The combination of both fantasy and paranormal elements in this book was great. Mrs. Sparks definitely has a way with writing not just stories but characters also. I not only felt sorry for Luciana but for Leo too. What I loved most about this was that it, in a way, reminded me of Beauty and The Beast, but was still its own story. I can truly say that Kerrelyn Sparks has made herself a new fan with this series. I look forward to reading book two (Available this August!!!!!). Fans of her previous books/series will definitely want to check this out when it's released in March. In fact fans of both paranormal and fantasy romances should check this out. I definitely highly recommend reading it!
adventurous
medium-paced
The pacing of this was insane. The primary antagonist is introduced in the last five chapters.
I won an ARC of this book thru a contest here and I'm glad I did. I ended up loving this story and just thoroughly enjoying it all. The characters were fantastic. They could be funny, sweet, serious, and just simply great. Leo and Luciana made a perfect couple and Leo's two closest friends were also favorites of mine. It's supposed to take place on a different world, but to me it really seemed a lot more like a historical read with the paranormal twist. Either way, it totally worked.
Luciana was sent away to live on the Isle of the Moon when she was just born because on the mainland where she is from children who are born on a specific day are born with powers (called the embraced). The King of that realm is all pissed that he doesn't have these powers so he has decreed that these children are to be killed. It's even worse when twin girls are born on that day. Unfortunately for Luciana she just happens to be a twin born on that day. Sent to Isle for her safety, she has grown up thinking that she was an orphan and becomes 'sisters' with four other girls just like her (who will no doubt star in their own books going forward). Everything changes for her when one night a man shows up with a coffin. Imagine her surprise when that man turns out to be her father, and the one in the coffin is her dead twin. Oh, and did I mention that Luciana can see and talk to dead people? A power that will definitely become a very good thing.
Leofric is the nephew of the king. Though he was born an embraced, he still lives because people fear his power over lightning and a simple touch from him can kill. The king has made several attempts to kill Leo but has only succeeded in killing his parents and making all the people fear him as the Beast of Benwick. The king had made Leo the Lord Protector of the realm in another attempt to get him killed, but against the odds Leo has lived and become a great leader. He has the respect and loyalty of the entire army he leads. In other words, he's now a bigger threat.
Despite her father's protests, Luciana has decided to go back home with him when she hears that if she does not he will lose his life. For the king has declared that Tatiana (Luciana's twin) is to marry the Beast of Benwick and now that she's dead the only way to do it is for Luciana to pose as her sister. The biggest problem of which is that she is so completely different than her sister personality wise. But a good cover story to explain that away has been agreed upon and seems to be working well enough. Leo knows why his uncle has ordered him to marry the one he has. He wants that land and the king figures that Leo will kill his bride leaving no heir. Not leaving anything to chance though, the king has sent assassins to kill Luciana and her father. When Leo learns of this, he makes plans of his own to protect them. It's not long until he has to change his plans though and come face to face with his bride to be. Their attraction is immediate but each has heard rumors of the other. Rumors that they are having a hard time believing. With assassins still out there the two of them spend more time together and fall harder for the other. But the biggest problem between them is Leo's fear of hurting Luciana. A fear that Luciana wants to break because she desperately wants to touch him. And soon enough, they find out she can. Seeing it as the only way to protect them, Leo knows they must marry sooner rather than later. When Leo learns that he can be a true husband to her, he soaks it up. The people may see him as a beast that does nothing but kill, but Luciana saw the truth before they even wed. That he just wanted to be loved and treated like a normal person. Knowing that she is the person he loves and who can make him happy fills her with so much.
Together they escape multiple assassination attempts and all the king's evil plans. Each have their own unique spies and it makes for an interesting game they play. And by the end, they each gain so much more than they ever expected and look forward to all the good they can do for their realm.
I am definitely excited to read more of this series.
Luciana was sent away to live on the Isle of the Moon when she was just born because on the mainland where she is from children who are born on a specific day are born with powers (called the embraced). The King of that realm is all pissed that he doesn't have these powers so he has decreed that these children are to be killed. It's even worse when twin girls are born on that day. Unfortunately for Luciana she just happens to be a twin born on that day. Sent to Isle for her safety, she has grown up thinking that she was an orphan and becomes 'sisters' with four other girls just like her (who will no doubt star in their own books going forward). Everything changes for her when one night a man shows up with a coffin. Imagine her surprise when that man turns out to be her father, and the one in the coffin is her dead twin. Oh, and did I mention that Luciana can see and talk to dead people? A power that will definitely become a very good thing.
Leofric is the nephew of the king. Though he was born an embraced, he still lives because people fear his power over lightning and a simple touch from him can kill. The king has made several attempts to kill Leo but has only succeeded in killing his parents and making all the people fear him as the Beast of Benwick. The king had made Leo the Lord Protector of the realm in another attempt to get him killed, but against the odds Leo has lived and become a great leader. He has the respect and loyalty of the entire army he leads. In other words, he's now a bigger threat.
Despite her father's protests, Luciana has decided to go back home with him when she hears that if she does not he will lose his life. For the king has declared that Tatiana (Luciana's twin) is to marry the Beast of Benwick and now that she's dead the only way to do it is for Luciana to pose as her sister. The biggest problem of which is that she is so completely different than her sister personality wise. But a good cover story to explain that away has been agreed upon and seems to be working well enough. Leo knows why his uncle has ordered him to marry the one he has. He wants that land and the king figures that Leo will kill his bride leaving no heir. Not leaving anything to chance though, the king has sent assassins to kill Luciana and her father. When Leo learns of this, he makes plans of his own to protect them. It's not long until he has to change his plans though and come face to face with his bride to be. Their attraction is immediate but each has heard rumors of the other. Rumors that they are having a hard time believing. With assassins still out there the two of them spend more time together and fall harder for the other. But the biggest problem between them is Leo's fear of hurting Luciana. A fear that Luciana wants to break because she desperately wants to touch him. And soon enough, they find out she can. Seeing it as the only way to protect them, Leo knows they must marry sooner rather than later. When Leo learns that he can be a true husband to her, he soaks it up. The people may see him as a beast that does nothing but kill, but Luciana saw the truth before they even wed. That he just wanted to be loved and treated like a normal person. Knowing that she is the person he loves and who can make him happy fills her with so much.
Together they escape multiple assassination attempts and all the king's evil plans. Each have their own unique spies and it makes for an interesting game they play. And by the end, they each gain so much more than they ever expected and look forward to all the good they can do for their realm.
I am definitely excited to read more of this series.
How To Tame a Beast in Seven Days was a fantastic book. Set in a fantasy world, it pulled on my roots of high fantasy reading and made them proud. A world that is detailed and vibrant, with people to go right along with it. There are even dragons!!!! Combine that with a beautifully arranged marriage style romance, I think I found a truly winning series.
The Embraced are a group of people born under a certain moon and grow up to be blessed/cursed with strange and sometimes terrifying powers. Luciana is an orphan growing up on the Isle of the Moon, the one place where Embraced are not feared and reviled. She was sent there to protect her from those that would kill her for what she is. She loves the island and her 'sisters,' but when her father (surprise!) shows up, she finds out that her history is completely different than what she believed.
Returning with her father to the mainlands, Luciana will have to convince the world that she is another person as she prepares to marry the Beast of Benwick, a man rumored to kill all who come near. And so begins our romance. Of course, the Beast has a surprising history and personality. I'm wasn't sure how Kerrelyn Sparks was going to get these characters together for a while. Everything was stacked against them and both were terrified of what might happen.
There are some crazy twists and turns as Luciana and the Beast travel to the capital. Attacks, deaths, discoveries, and along the way we get to meet some really great secondary characters that I feel just might show up with a story of their own - I certainly hope so.
While I enjoy a good twisting tale, there were a few times that it seemed like a twist was thrown into drag the story out just a tad, and then we had a bit of a rushed ending. Overall, I loved the world, I loved the characters, and I can't wait to see what they are going to do next.
**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book**
The Embraced are a group of people born under a certain moon and grow up to be blessed/cursed with strange and sometimes terrifying powers. Luciana is an orphan growing up on the Isle of the Moon, the one place where Embraced are not feared and reviled. She was sent there to protect her from those that would kill her for what she is. She loves the island and her 'sisters,' but when her father (surprise!) shows up, she finds out that her history is completely different than what she believed.
Returning with her father to the mainlands, Luciana will have to convince the world that she is another person as she prepares to marry the Beast of Benwick, a man rumored to kill all who come near. And so begins our romance. Of course, the Beast has a surprising history and personality. I'm wasn't sure how Kerrelyn Sparks was going to get these characters together for a while. Everything was stacked against them and both were terrified of what might happen.
There are some crazy twists and turns as Luciana and the Beast travel to the capital. Attacks, deaths, discoveries, and along the way we get to meet some really great secondary characters that I feel just might show up with a story of their own - I certainly hope so.
While I enjoy a good twisting tale, there were a few times that it seemed like a twist was thrown into drag the story out just a tad, and then we had a bit of a rushed ending. Overall, I loved the world, I loved the characters, and I can't wait to see what they are going to do next.
**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book**
3.5 stars
Interesting premise - guy falls in love with girl but his touch could electrocute her, and girl has a secret identity. It actually reminded me of a light version of [b:The Winter King|10485751|The Winter King (Weathermages of Mystral, #1)|C.L. Wilson|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1372702999s/10485751.jpg|15391255]. Only with funny ghost interactions. There is a bit of quasi-insta-love, but I'll forgive it because this isn't meant to be literary fiction, just fun fluff which it was.
Interesting premise - guy falls in love with girl but his touch could electrocute her, and girl has a secret identity. It actually reminded me of a light version of [b:The Winter King|10485751|The Winter King (Weathermages of Mystral, #1)|C.L. Wilson|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1372702999s/10485751.jpg|15391255]. Only with funny ghost interactions. There is a bit of quasi-insta-love, but I'll forgive it because this isn't meant to be literary fiction, just fun fluff which it was.
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Child death, Cursing, Misogyny, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, War
I was so excited that I won a copy of How to Tame a Beast in Seven Days from Goodreads. This is the first book I have read written by Kerrelyn Sparks but it most certainly will not be my last.
How to Tame a Beast in Seven Days is the first book in the new captivating series "The Embraced". I immediately was drawn into the story and loved the wonderful world building and lovely characters. The whole concept of the embraced was very interesting and gave me that paranormal/fantasy concept that I love so much. There was also a hint of a historical feeling that I thought was pretty cool and of course the romance. Leo was a great male lead, I found him quite charming. Luciana and Leo have great chemistry and I was so excited when they finally got together. There were lots of obstacles which also led to some fun action scenes that kept the fast pace flowing well throughout the book. I am not sure if it is meant to have a bit of a Beauty and the Beast vibe but it's definitely there and one of my favorite parts of the story. Overall I think that it was a pretty fun unique read and I can not wait to read more books in this series and find out more about Luciana's sisters. I also hope to see more of Brody. Hopefully there will be a happily ever after in there somewhere for him too. He's just so adorable.
How to Tame a Beast in Seven Days is the first book in the new captivating series "The Embraced". I immediately was drawn into the story and loved the wonderful world building and lovely characters. The whole concept of the embraced was very interesting and gave me that paranormal/fantasy concept that I love so much. There was also a hint of a historical feeling that I thought was pretty cool and of course the romance. Leo was a great male lead, I found him quite charming. Luciana and Leo have great chemistry and I was so excited when they finally got together. There were lots of obstacles which also led to some fun action scenes that kept the fast pace flowing well throughout the book. I am not sure if it is meant to have a bit of a Beauty and the Beast vibe but it's definitely there and one of my favorite parts of the story. Overall I think that it was a pretty fun unique read and I can not wait to read more books in this series and find out more about Luciana's sisters. I also hope to see more of Brody. Hopefully there will be a happily ever after in there somewhere for him too. He's just so adorable.