Review: Fantastic start to a new series...
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 07 11, 2013
Dweller on the Threshold (Beri O'Dell)Dweller on the Threshold - a unique name and a very unique book.  When I first read it in July after it was released I wasn't yet doing book reviews as a hobby, but I loved this story so much I had to say something!  Now that Blood of an Ancient (the second book in the series) has been released, I went back to reread this one to make sure a) I didn't miss anything and b) I re-wrote a review worthy of a brilliant story.Ms Elliott is definitely a keeper.  This book grabs you from the first page and doesn't let go right until the last.  Beri, a stunningly beautiful girl with an unknown past and unknown abilities, is drawn into a darker world of mayhem and murder as she goes head-to-head with a terrifying, soul eating evil that's out to destroy the world.  While the over-riding good against evil prevails, that's the only similarity this book has with many others of its genre.The storyline is refreshingly new, the characters brilliantly created, the relationships that develop are heart-warming, humourous and realistic - and Beri's love interest is sizzling hot and sensual. It's also not often a story endears the secondary characters so well that you find yourself rooting for them right alongside the heroine!  And the heroine - oh boy, Beri's tall, kick-ass snarkiness is all wrapped up in a beautiful, flame haired package! And with all the foibles and insecurities any normal girl would feel, having been rejected time and time again by a multitude of foster families.  Beri is a dichotomy resulting in beauty within and without.Ms Elliot has struck gold with her first full length book, writing with a skill and intensity that some authors, with several books under their belt, still yearn to attain.  This book ticked so many boxes for me - delight at Beri's unusual looks, loving her strength and attitude, thrilling at the dark, pain-filled, sexy love interest, pulling together a mixed bag of personalities for her support team, fighting evil and winning (almost..)!  The language and story-line flowed naturally, slowly building to a satisfying conclusion without any major cliff-hangers - just the desire to read the next book as soon as it was released.Which I'll be doing shortly...watch this space!