Review: Good but wanted something a bit more
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 02 21, 2012
The last of the remaining cursed phoenixes, Sadie, doesn't understand why Osiris won't just let her go. In her mind, she has done everything he has asked of her for over a hundred years and yet she is still with him. Still working for him. When her last job results in a sickness of flames roaming her body with the rise of her emotions Sadie knows something is wrong. She is getting weaker and paler with every move she makes. Afraid of hurting someone she goes to Osiris hoping he can help.Osiris is desperate to help the one woman he damned years ago for no reason. He has to have her. Has to keep her and nothing is going to stand in his way. He's a God, if anyone can break the rules he should be able to. Osiris has been in love with Sadie a very long time. Now if only she could admit to herself that she's been in love with him too.I have been looking forward to this book since I first read Ice's story awhile back. I have steadily followed these characters because I love the way in which they are wrote. I love the depth of the characters and the way they just pull me in and keep me ensconced for chapter after chapter.  Osiris, from the beginning was a character I wanted to sink my teeth into. He is guarded and really, unsure of himself though he masks it with superiority and arrogance. Once it comes out that he himself is the fourth phoenix that had been living with Sadie in previous books I knew he must have a thing for her.The Last Beginning opens with a look back 150 yrs to when he took Sadie from her life and cursed her with the phoenix. He did so in a purely selfish move because she had not sinned and didn't need to repent for anything. In her mind, she thought she was going to hell already and so Osiris just let her believe as much. The injustice of what he took from her hurt my heart. All because he couldn't approach her and just give her a choice. Again, surely because he was afraid of what she might say.When Ice and Arabella become mortal again, leaving only her, she becomes lonely. She spends much of the book confused and scared for what her future holds since she believes she may end up in hell. I really disliked Osiris for using that fear against her to keep her close. Though his dedication I suppose should be commended. Especially when Sadie becomes sick and Osiris doesn't know why. He becomes obsessed with finding a cure, regardless of Sadie's wishes.I enjoyed the fact that they had a intense emotional connection for much of the book. Even if Sadie denied it a lot. They were sensual without trying and when they come together it was almost sweet instead of "wham bam thank you mam". I did get annoyed with Sadie's back and forth on every single thing. Does she go with Osiris? Does she stay away? Does she even like him at all? Kiss him then push him away. For a woman as old as she was, she sure acted really young sometimes.I also felt like this was wrapped up extremely fast. I think I just wanted something a bit longer. It felt so much shorter then the other two books, though I don't know if it is or not. I felt a bit rushed there in the last few chapters like everything happened way to quickly and was resolved way to easily. The last page or so wasn't enough for me to feel a happily ever after. Maybe it's because I liked these characters so much and had looked forward to it since the beginning. Regardless, I think the ending hurt my perception of it just slightly.I give The Last Beginning by Rachel Firasek 3.75 stars!Nikki- Ramblings From A Chaotic Mind