Friday, November 27, 2015

Review - Hidden by Amy McKinley + GIVEAWAY

TITLE:    Hidden
AUTHOR:    Amy McKinley
INFO:    Paranormal Fiction, 243 pages
PUBLISHED:   Champagne Books, 2015
SOURCE:   Received from Publisher for Review 

ABOUT:   Cursed since birth, hunted by gods, and desperate for love—Jade never stood a chance.

Half-demon, half-goddess, Jade’s fate makes her a pawn in an epic battle among the gods. Hidden on Earth with her sisters, she successfully avoids the Oneiroi—the dream gods—bent on her destruction until the prophecy, long dormant, awakens a dark shadow within her.

Roen, a reclusive Worr demon known for his battles against the Oneiroi, is called to protect Jade. Together they must unlock their mysterious connection and find a way to beat back destiny. Can she outsmart the prophecy, change her fate, and find love—even when she learns who is connected to her destruction?


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EXCERPT:  Hades kissed his wife, Persephone, one last time before reluctantly relinquishing her above ground, where her mother impatiently waited.

Behave while I’m gone, Hades.” Persephone traced a pink-kissed nail along her husband’s dark jawline.

He was loathe to shave too often as the rough stubble against her skin excited her. “Six months is ridiculously long,” he murmured against her lush lips. “Find a way to meet me at the meadow.”

Mischief danced in her eyes as she stepped onto the boat which would ferry her along the River Styx, leading her out of the Underworld. “It’s a date,” she purred, blowing her husband a sultry kiss.

That woman slays me. He watched until she was out of sight. Once his bride was gone, his attention returned to his beloved Underworld and the current state it was in.

Hades leapt onto his chariot. A resounding crack split the air as he commanded his four black horses to lead him past boiling lava pits and stalagmites to the deepest, fiery pits of the abyss—Tartarus.

Creatures scampered out of his way. Fallen angels and demons went about their business—lest they draw his anger—as he thundered past. Tormented screams echoed off cavernous walls and pools of fiery despair. His pulse roared in his veins. He reveled at what he was about to see…

The Fates’ curse had begun.

Reining his steeds to a halt, he dismounted, his black boots crunching on a mixture of bones and jagged pieces of rock. Amidst the prisons, the things of nightmares tortured imprisoned souls.

A laugh rumbled up from his gut and rolled out. He threw back his head then ran his hands through his black hair, freeing it from its tie. Pers wasn’t here right now, due to his brother, Zeus’s, acquiescence to Demeter.

Hades ignored the slow burn in his chest at the thought of his wife being gone for six long months and focused on the game of persecuting his brother instead, for he knew a thing or two about Aiesa’s offspring that Zeus did not.

An ear-splitting scream rent the air, snapping Hades out of his thoughts. New souls.

He knew who sent them. Although he benefited from so many entering his domain, his brother would not be happy.


What a perfect time to pay Zeus a visit.



MY TAKE:   I must say I really enjoyed this book. From all signs it is the first in a new series and I am very much looking forward to the next installment. 

Mythology has always been something I've liked to read. New twists and additions to the old stories many times just don't cut it. Amy McKinley has created a tale (or series of tales) that seem like they sprang up at the same time with the originals. She blends her "new" characters and threads seamlessly with the "old" and known gods and underlings.

I liked Jade and was fascinated with the back story and the history that the author created for her and the other characters. It was interesting to watch the different factions fight for dominance and control while she was learning to fight for her own control of herself and her own inner "demon/goddess". Roen was definitely our questionable "hero" type without going overboard with it. Their chemistry was well written without being too much or too "vivid".  

As many first stories in a series will do, there is a lot of world building going on. This by no means takes away from Jade and her tale, it actually makes it even more of a great story by leaving the reader wanting much, much more. 
  
Out of 5 JEWELS, I give it:
Amy McKinley is a freelance writer and author. She lives in Illinois with her husband, their four talented teenagers, and three mischievous cats. Her debut novel, Hidden is the first in the Five Fates Series.  Connect with Amy:



Amy is generously giving away a $20 gift card to either Amazon or Barnes & Noble to one lucky reader. After you enter below, be sure to check in at the other tour stops to learn more about this lovely story and to gain more entries into the drawing. Good luck!

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~~~~~ Disclaimer:  All opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own.  I do not receive monetary compensation for my reviews but do utilize affiliate links.  I may receive books in  order to facilitate a review, but this does not guarantee a good review - only a completely honest one.  Each review post denotes how I obtained the book.

22 comments:

  1. Thank you so much for hosting me, Jules. What a fabulous review! I'm thrilled. I'm happy to answer any questions and good luck in the drawing. :)

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  2. Sounds like a great read, thanks for sharing it and your review!

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    1. Thanks :) I loved the review too. Very exciting to read this morning. I appreciate you stopping by, Eva.

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  3. This book sounds great and I would love to read it. ty.

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  4. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this one, I'm looking forward to reading it myself! :)

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    1. I'm happy you're going to read Hidden and really hope you enjoy Jade's story, Victoria. Thanks so much for stopping by and good luck in the drawing. :)

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  5. What was the happiest moment of your life?

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    1. When my children were born and holding them in my arms for the very first time. There are so many happy times but that one moment is so very sweet, so profound. Thank you for stopping by and good luck in the drawing. :)

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  6. If someone asked you to give them a random piece of advice, what would you say?

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    1. Never give up on your dreams. I know, how many times do people say that? But I truly believe it and I tell my kids the same thing. Make sure to find something in life that makes you truly happy, that t's something you wake up every day wanting to do, and find a way to achieve it. Thanks for stopping by, Mai and good luck in the drawing!

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  7. Great review, thank you for sharing!

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    1. I love the review Julie did as well! It was wonderful to wake up to :) Thank you so much for stopping by Betty and good luck in the drawing!

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    2. Thank you, Amy~that's very kind of you! Happy Writing!

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  8. thank you for the chance. The book looks good.

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    1. You're welcome, Vivian. I hope you like Jade's story and good luck in the drawing! :)

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  9. Excellent post! I really enjoyed reading the excerpt and your review! This book sounds like such an interesting and intriguing read! Totally can't wait to read this book!

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    1. Thanks, Ally! I'm really pleased with the review as well. :) So glad you stopped by and good luck in the drawing!

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