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raven168 's review for:
How to Tame a Beast in Seven Days
by Kerrelyn Sparks
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.