Shadows in Blood by Ainsley Shay

Shadows in Blood 

by Ainsley Shay

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I thoroughly enjoyed this action packed third instalment of The Immortal Trials.

Shadows in Blood is part of a young adult, urban paranormal/fantasy adventure that also has a touch of romance. The series must be read in order and whilst the series, at time of reviewing, isn't complete the books have been released in fairly succession, so it is worth jumping in if you haven't already.

We're half way through the story now and whilst there are still a lot of unknowns and secrets galore, I did feel as though plot strands were starting to tie together. Whilst I still have NO idea of how the story will progress, strangely enough I did feel as though we made significant headway in this book. I am beginning to build a much clearer picture in my head. 

It might just be me but this felt as though it had better pace and flow than book 2. That's not to suggest book 2 was a bad read, rather that this is an even better one! We don't see as much of Cameron, Mina and Raiden in this one, though there are quite a few other characters to meet and place into the story. There are also some surprises and plot twists added into the mix.

In the second half of the book Everly eventually felt like she was taking charge of events. I do like that she acts like a girl of 17 and not as though she were an adult, but time's a ticking and there are A LOT of powerful people plotting her demise! I loved how the story progressed and can't wait to see where the next book will take us.

Synopsis

Time is running out, and there’s no room left for mistakes.

The date of the ritual has been decided, and Everly has thirty-five days until she becomes the immortal’s sacrifice.

When shocking news comes in the way a sacred one, her entire world shifts. Everything she’s ever known may have been a lie.

But, Everly’s hope blossoms when she discovers a vital piece to the deadly mystery she’s trapped in. She must find a way to endure the never-ending horrors that continue to haunt her.

Especially if she plans to survive.

The CW’s Supernatural collides with LJ Smith’s Vampire Diaries in the thrilling series of The Immortal Trials.

Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07HYWBSY6/

•°`*•.¸ (`*•.¸ BOOK REVIEW ¸.•*´) ¸.•*´°•

Ashes and Shadows (The Immortal Trials #2) 

by Ainsley Shay

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This story gets better and better.

Ashes and Shadows is a young adult, urban fantasy that has a magnificent cast, lots of intrigue and plenty of peril.  It is written first person and entirely from Everly, the heroines, POV.  This book picks up pretty much where book #1 ended, and continues the story of magic, mystery and mayhem.

This is an author who's work I enjoy, she spins excellent magical tales into a modern day setting, merging the two into a massively entertaining read. Book #1, Echoes to Ashes totally drew me into a story that I very much wanted to continue with.  This is a series of books, none can be read as a stand alone and they do need to be read in order.

Everly is discovering more and more things, both about herself and about the immortal beings who are so very interested in her.  There are a few new people to meet, along with some surprising discoveries to be made and increasing threats to face. 

At times, Everly seems very trusting of the wrong people, I do find I have to remind myself that she is still only a teenager as.  I personally wouldn't trust any of them, but I guess in order to get the answers she needs, Everly has to trust someone.

The writing is executed well, making the story easy to follow and understand.  It also has good pace, holding your attention without moving too quickly, with lots of twists and turns in the plot. Characters clearly have their own motivations, because they only reveal information to Everly when it suits them.  They leave her in ignorance and then get offended by her unwitting actions!

I flew through this, devouring each word, page and chapter being totally riveted by the story.  I am massively looking forward to reading the final book and discovering the truth hidden behind all the smoke and mirrors that the immortals dazzle our heroine with.

This book is suitable for teens through to adults, it has a very mild amount of romance but kissing is as far as it goes.  If fantasy/urban fantasy/paranormal reads are your thing then this is a series I would recommend to you.

***********************

SYNOPSIS

Magic paints a target on Everly’s back, and her hunters won’t stop until she belongs to them...

As Everly attempts to control her powers, everything else in Veil Rock comes unhinged. Now, there’s a new a gift over-riding all of her senses, and its insatiable need to be fed drowns out everything else.

There’s only one person who can help her overcome the magic’s hunger. He’s more than happy to oblige... but he’s the last person Everly wants to turn to. Especially about this.

But, she may be left with no other choice as more supernaturals begin to realize how unique her powers are. The white witches are the only ones who know exactly what Everly is capable of, and they will do whatever it takes to keep that secret sacred.

Even if that means Everly’s death.

The CW’s Supernatural collides with LJ Smith’s Vampire Diaries in the thrilling series of The Immortal Trials.

Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/Ashes-Shadows-Immortal-Trials-Book-ebook/dp/B07GHB5MKW/




5 stars - This is a book I will not forget and would definitely read again.

4 stars - I really enjoyed this book, I probably wouldn't read it again but I would recommend it to others.

3 stars - This story was good but either forgettable or just very typical of its genre.

2 stars - Whilst the book was readable I either didn't enjoy parts of the plot or just could not connect to the main characters.

1 star - This is a book I simply could not finish for reasons listed in the review.