Review: Interesting premise, sweet love story
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 08 3, 2011
This is the first of the Warder series, and it's a sweet series, in spite of the grim supernatural universe in which the characters live. I personally preferred this installment to the second, Tooth & Nail, probably because I loved Ryan. Cool, in control, on top of his game, to see his hidden, needy side was a nice contrast.VERY MILD SPOILERS:Without delving deeply into the plot here, suffice it to say that "Warders" are demon-killers who protect the world we know, but we "normal" humans are unaware of their existence. In order to carry out their gruesome work, they need to recharge. Unfortunately, if they recharge by having sex with someone with whom they are not a "match," they tend to drain their partner. Add to that a need for a Warder to bond with someone: a "Hearth." As in "home and hearth," the place where your heart can rest. A Warder will not drain his Hearth - they are yin/yang. But finding a Hearth is not an easy thing, either.Each installment of the series (or at least, of the two I've now read), involves a Warder finding his Hearth. Each can be read independently, although this first installment has a bit more background which you might choose to read first.The stories are well-written and surprisingly sweet. That said, my only hesitation in giving this an unconditional 5-star is that I wanted more: more background and more world-building. I wanted to know more about how Warders are chosen and indoctrinated. I wanted to know more about the organization that supports them. More, more, more! Which is, I suppose, a testament to the appeal of the universe Ms. Calmes has created. I hope that future installments will have more of these elements to satisfy my curiosity and I look forward to reading more!