Review: Richly Complex and Nuanced!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 07 31, 2013
Richly complex and nuanced, Scent of Salvation by Annie Nicholas, Book One of the Chronicles of Eorthe, is an intricate story of alternate dimensions and paranormal creatures that will appeal to lovers of fantasy and paranormal romances alike.Dr. Susan Barlow creates a machine that transports people to alternate Earth dimensions. When told that her machine would be used by the military, Susan sabotages it and accidently sends herself to an alternate dimension. Unaware of the dangers that await her in this new world, Susan is unprepared for a world filled with shifters and vampires. Susan first comes in contact with the alpha male of the Apisi Pack; Sorin is in his feral, shifted form and speaks English. Appropriately, Susan freaks out and runs, discovering there are far more dangerous beings in this new world. Susan is intelligent and quick-witted character who always keeps her head in the game as she figures out to survive, which I absolutely adored. Susan's gut tells her that she can trust Sorin. A stoic character, Sorin is difficult to decipher because he is not always forthcoming with his feelings. Even though Susan, as a human, doesn't fit in with the Apisi Pack, she has no problems using playful banter, keeping Sorin on his toes and providing many laugh-out-loud moments. Although Sorin is not used to that kind of banter, he realizes that he likes it coming from Susan. Through these conversations and time spent with Susan, Sorin reveals the playful and romantic side of his personality, which endeared his character to me.Nicholas does a masterful job of establishing secondary characters who propel the plot forward. Kele and Peder have the potential to be a couple in a future story. Also, the author's develops characters who you will love to hate--Kele's parents and the vampire Benic--adding depth to the story and the multi-layered plot.Tying up major plot points while leaving just enough unanswered questions, Scent of Salvation is the perfect balance of romance, action, and vivid world building, ensuring the reader will be fully immersed in the story and come away wanting more.I received an eBook copy from the publisher for purpose of an honest review for The Jeep Diva. I was not compensated for this review, and all conclusions are my own responsibility.