Review: 4.5 stars of action and kickass characters.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 02 16, 2012
The GoodAftershock is book one of the Rise of the Unseelie series, which is one branch out of three in a serial series called The Sidhe. All three series are set in the same world with interconnected characters. In this book we get to see what happened in End of the World from Jhaer's (Unseelie leader) point of view.Jhaer is none too happy when he finds out his people, the Unseelie, plan to relinquish their authority to the Seelie court. But when he goes to confront the Seelie fey, all hell breaks loose. The fey mounds start to crumble for unknown reasons. Jhaer, with the power of Earth magic, survives the big collapse of the only home most fey have ever known. Though devastated at first, Jhaer is not one to wallow in self pity. Sure, the fey needed those magical mounds to survive, but there are always other options out there in the human world. So in order to stop the fey from Fading, Jhaer devises a plan of action. He begins to create his own fey haven in the hopes that other fey will come and learn to live off the Earth, as many exiled fey have done for years. He wants to lead these fey, protect them, teach them a new way of life, and start again. And him being the leader of these lost fey just happens to be an awesome side benefit. To represent this new beginning Jhaer renames himself Donovan. (I will be referring to Jhaer as Donovan from now on.)I love that Donovan is creating a new world for his people. A place where all are welcome, especially the earthborn fey. He is determined not to Fade and his plans for his people are extensive. I was already initially impressed by Donovan's heroic ability to hold the mounds as long as possible so many of his people could escape with their lives. Then his resilience in picking up the pieces and starting anew only makes me admire him more. But he also has this bad boy side that I find sexy as hell. Donovan is the kind  of man that will not be tamed, and hell, who would want to tame him? He's perfect the way he is.The world building in the story was amazing. I walked away from this book and felt like I was still immersed in the fey world. The action was fast-paced and had my adrenaline pumping. The magical side was very intriguing and the characters were well fleshed out. Aftershock had that similar gritty feel as Cursed did, which I liked a lot better than the somber feel of End of the World.I love the set-up for future problems with the wizards, vampires, and changelings. Each creature wants to possess the fey for different reasons, but Donovan wont allow this. He has no qualms in killing to keep his people from slavery, and I can't wait to see how much further he will go to save his people. Donovan's interactions with Dawn and Trip interested me the most. Dawn, who so looks like a fey but has the mannerisms of a human, and Trip, with her tortured past in slavery. I can't wait to see what Archer and Ravynheart have in store for Dawn and Trip.Archer and Ravynheart's writing style is what pulled me in from the beginning and kept me glued to the pages all the way through. It is both beautiful and dynamic. I love the start to this series.The BadYou have to be prepared for the shortness of these books. Each book can be read in one sitting. I am getting use to it but it can be a little frustrating at first.The SnugglyNo sex and pretty much no romance. But there is a hint of possible romance in the future.OverallI truly get excited every time I read one of Archer's (and Ravynheart's) books. I don't know how everything is going to be brought together, but I'm happy to be a part of this journey. I am already invested in all the character's lives and now have a little crush on Donovan. If you love a great urban fantasy book, then I highly recommend Aftershock and the Rise of the Unseelie series.ExcerptAll hope shattered, leaving only fatalistic determination. Through raw force of will, Jhaer held aloft the vast cavern ceiling, allowing as many fey as possible the chance to escape, the stronger ones via teleportation, the lesser fey certainly crowding the portals that might whisk them to the surface. Alone, Jhaer balanced each rock, each clump of dirt. For miles. Sweat ran in rivulets down the strained muscles of his body. Holding. Binding. Unyielding. And yet fissures snaked through the cavern under the oppression of tons upon tons of earth overhead. Fissures Jhaer could not mend. Fissures that sheared as chunks broke free and rained from the sky. Chunks that slipped through his shattering strength. Jhaer dropped to his knees, giving all his power to the failing magic. The edges of the cavern crumbled, creating a cascade as each lost rock freed those above it. Rockslides like waterfalls poured down in a roaring that could not completely annihilate the screams of terror. Down the ceiling fell in ever greater pieces until the entire cavern plummeted down like a mountain to entomb everything beneath, burying alive everyone who had not already escaped. Including Jhaer.