Review - Chrysalis: Tribulations by M.L. Lacy

The prophecy continues to unfold...

Chrysalis - Tribulations: Book 2

TITLE:     Chrysalis:  Tribulations
AUTHOR/EDITOR:    M. L . Lacy
INFO:    Paperback, Fiction, 448 pages
PUBLISHED:   Author House, 2010
ISBN#:   978-1-4490-1480-3
HOW'D I GET IT:   Received from the Author for review

FROM GOODREADS:  As the exciting Chrysalis saga continues, Bree's eyes are opening to unimagined possibilities. Reunited with her soul mate, Steven, and her protectors Bradley, Bill and Rick, she journey's through a world she is only now beginning to comprehend.

Challenges abound as she contends with the jealousies of her new status from Madelyn and the two newest members of her clan. As tensions escalate, the dynamics within her new family are enough to rock her world. And if that wasn't enough to contend with, Esmeralda, her arch nemesis who desires nothing more than to wipe Bree from the face of the earth, holds nothing back as she strikes out at Bree's family and friends.

As the prophecy told at her birth continues to unfold, Bree and those around her are only beginning to truly understand the danger's she will face and the strength required to endure. But her transformation as a Magical has only just begun and her abilities grow much too rapidly, draining her to the point of complete exhaustion. Her clan fears that too much has been demanded of her and they continue to tighten their circle of protection around her, preventing her from following her true path. Bree must find a way to convince them that she is capable of prevailing while she searches for a way to save both human and Magical worlds - before it's too late.

MY TAKE:   I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book after reading the first one.  I was hooked big time!  In this well-named second book, we rejoin Bree and her clan as they have to overcome several obstacles aka. tribulations.. that keep blocking their way.  Some of these challenges come from within the clan while many are just there because Bree is still adapting to the fact that she is "The Chosen One" in a magical world that she never knew existed.  

The love story between Bree and her soul mate, Steven continues to strengthen even while she is trying to settle into her role as Alpha female to Bradley's Alpha male.  Bree struggles with meshing her human emotions and values with the inner workings and structure of her supernatural and magical clan.

The author does a fine job of building and growing her characters.  Although, I would love to know more about the men and just what it is that makes them tick.  Especially when it comes to their utter devotion and I guess, addiction to Bree.  I have to admit that Bree's character was much more forgiving and generous than I could have been.  I wanted to completely throttle Madelyn.  She was petty, mean and jealous.  If I had been the one with Bree's powers, I'd have squashed her in a big way.  (Yes, I really got into the book!)  But I did really enjoy Bree and could easily place myself in her shoes.  It isn't hard to imagine having similar thoughts and feelings if I were to be suddenly told that I had all of these abilities and everything in my life to this point was a facade.   

I don't want to give anything else away for those who haven't had the pleasure of starting this series yet.  Ms. Lacy has created a fantastic world with rich characters that I definitely want to read more about.  I highly recommend readers start with the first book  Chrysalis - The Awakening: Book 1 in order to get the full effect of this entire story.  You can read my review of it HERE. 

   

MY RATING:    5/5

WHERE TO BUY IT:    Amazon, Indiebound

~~~~~ 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.

Review - Chrysalis: The Awakening by M.L. Lacy

Chrysalis - The Awakening: Book 1

TITLE:    Chrysalis - The Awakening
AUTHOR/EDITOR:    M.L. Lacy
INFO:    Paperback, Fiction, 589 pages
PUBLISHED:   AuthorHouse, 2009
ISBN#:   978-1-4389-5985-6
HOW'D I GET IT:   Received from Author for review

FROM GOODREADS:  All families have secrets. But at 32 years old, Bree Campbell is discovering that her entire life has been a secret. Like most people, it never occurred to her to question her mortality; that is until she learns that she is a mortal born into a family of Magicals and begins to question everything and everyone in her life.

As the doors to Bree’s new world fly open and she finally hears the prophecy told at her birth she must face the revelation that she is a Chosen One; the last and greatest of a long line of Chosen Ones. And if this were not overwhelming enough, she has been charged with saving the earth by repairing the cosmic tear that binds the mortal world she has always known and the Magical world she is just now discovering.

Bree’s journey will not be an easy one. She must face the realities of her new life and her new family; a clan of vampires who have been charged with protecting her for all of her mortal life. They have chosen her as a leader in their clan, a position that has really complicated things for her. For no sooner than Bree is finally reunited with her long lost love, Steven, Bree must learn how to navigate the jealousies and emotions within her new family.

Bree’s arch nemesis is Esmeralda, a powerful sorceress in her own right who will stop at nothing until this Chosen One is dead. If Esmeralda can claim Bree’s blood, heart and soul and restore her Demon to his body, she will be so strong that none will be able to oppose her and she will be free to rid the world of all mortals and she will be free to rid the world of all mortals and rule as she chooses.

But with the help of the Guardians and her dreams, Bree begins to awaken the powers hidden within her and begins to embrace the responsibility she has been born to. And even while these changes make her body weak, Bree begins to find an inner strength she never knew she had within herself.  Will it be enough to save the world?         

MY TAKE:   I loved this book.  The main character, Bree is a 32 yr old woman who has been sheltered from the truth and her real identity her entire life.  In the midst of protecting her, her parents and friends kept her from her true love and paved the way for evil to insinuate itself into her life - in the form of her abusive and deadly husband.  She was beat down both mentally and physically.  Now that she is getting a divorce, the path is clear for her reunion with her soul mate, Steven.  She just isn't immediately aware that he is a vampire who has been waiting for her since her birth. 

One of the things that I really appreciated in the book was the author's method of delivering vital information.  Instead of long, dry narratives full of important details or back story, she used dialogue between several characters or groups to fill the reader in.  It was a very refreshing technique from a lot of books I've read in the past.  I usually tend to skim over long sections of details and background history when I'm reading - I never did that while engrossed in this book.  The characters were interacting while giving me the info I needed to move forward in the story.

The characters were very richly written in this story.  There is a lot of humor and warmth as well as adventure and drama.  Family was another aspect that I really liked seeing with the author making the reader feel a part of the group.  Bree's family or extended family are a large, very warm and gregarious group.  Millie, Bree's Gran is one of my favorites.  She's a tough old bird that garners respect and admiration from everyone that knows her - good or bad.  She also just happens to be an extremely powerful witch.

This book was full of twists and turns - some you had an inkling were coming, while others were a big surprise.  I think the story flowed very nicely and I have to admit that I read it in one day.  I told everyone I was busy and immersed myself in Bree's world.   

I am really, really looking forward to this next book in the series: 

Chrysalis - Tribulations

MY RATING:    5/5

WHERE TO BUY IT:   Chrysalis - The Awakening: Book 1