Review: A Wicked Awesome non-cliche vampire book!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 02 12, 2014
Note: I received a free copy for an honest review on my blog and pages.**Warning: May contain spoilers*Wow. I've been a fan of Kiersten Fay since her first novel Demon Possession (my review for this can be found on Amazon as well).I wasn't sure what to expect, having heard that this series was different from her other novels. I was very pleasantly surprised!Coraline has lived a hard life. Her parents died in a building collapse when she was 10, leaving her an orphan.  Growing up homeless and constantly scrounging for food in a world now run by vampires that can walk in broad daylight, there's almost no place for a child to hide. Found and kept (not taken in, kept, like a pet) by the vicious Edgar, Cora learns to fear them and hide only within the deep, dark recesses of her mind. As she is "rescued" by a wealthy husband, her new seemingly perfect life is once again shattered as her husband is murdered, as he is believed to be involved in selling vampire blood on the black market.Now under the protection of the VEA (vampire enforcement agency) and the watchful eye of the gorgeous agent Mason (Mace) she relieves her natural instinctual fear that all vampires are inherently evil. At first both of their guards are up, but it isn't long before the two start to find out there's more to the other than meets the eye. Mace is sweet, caring, and tries to dispell all the horrible myths Cora has about his kind. As Cora becomes hurt, she's forced to take Mace's blood to heal. As lust consumes her she thinks she wants Mace, but he knows it's only the blood talking so he only goes so far. However, he does bite her thus creating a "blood bond" between the two. As time goes on and they arrive at a magical cottage, a "safe house" for the VEA the problems only escalate. Not only does Mason's sire/VEA partner Trent assign him to certain tasks, but another threat in the form of another dark haired, although much more ill tempered vampire named Knox arrive to wreak havoc, but there is a discovery that Cora is a witch from a very powerful line that had her powers bound as a child.Let me tell you how much I don't trust Trent. It seems as though all "coincidences" are his fault, and everything points to him.I don't trust Knox, either. He is obviously a jerk with his attitude and selfishness. His only semi redeeming quality is giving Cora his blood when she's shot, however now THEY have a blood bond. Since a bonded vampire can only get true nourishment from said donor, Knox feels it's his right to bite her at will, scare and threaten her, and use information to his own advantage.  He even comes close to raping her, and only gets away when her cat familiar attacks Knox. Trent always seems to be taking Knox's side, even saying Cora SHOULD feed him because of their "accidental" bond. I put that word in quotes because a man who was sent by the VEA was the one that shot Cora in the first place. Trent says he sent a woman...hmmm...Oh and she should feed him?? Why don't you ask HER for permission ass faces? Yeah Trent and Knox-I'm talking to you...Even though Mace loves Cora and she does care for him, she doesn't lie to him or lead him on by false feelings,and he's patient enough to stick by her no matter what. How sweet is that?!?Yes the book end on a cliff hanger regarding a shadow, Cora discovering her powers and Mace by her side, but it's the progression of characters that will bring readers coming back. Cora starts off as a shy, insecure wounded child of sorts, and slowly grows into her own. She doesn't trust easily or suffer fools because hey, when one dog bites you (pun intended) you're afraid of all of them. I like this about Fay's female characters. They aren't weak just for the sake of it. They've been wounded and have walls of protection around themselves. But slowly they find their own inner strength and grow to be able to hold their own.I do look forward to the backstory on Knox and Mason, and the possession of the spirit into a body it reaaally shouldn't be in...