Siren Song by Anna Marie May

sirensongTitle: Siren Song

Series: Watchtower 05

Author: Anna Marie May

Genre: Fantasy

Length: Novella (128pgs)

Publisher: Anna Marie May (Self-published 16th March 2013)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating:  ♥♥♥♥4Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: Legend says sirens will lead you to your death with a smile. Myths also claim dragons are nothing but figments of imagination.
Who could’ve possibly known that the last missing piece required to restore the Watchtowers to their full power would also carry within it the seeds of destruction?

A chance meeting between Raphael, first knight to King James, and Darren, related to the King of Muria, leaves everything Rafe has ever known in tatters. Still reeling from the loss of his former lover, Rafe embarks on a journey of self-discovery which will not only shake his beliefs to the core but also change the world.

Purchase Link: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-sirensong-1145801-143.html

Review: This story is part of a series and must be read in order. After his beloved, Vivian, was encased in ice to save their world, Rafe decided to stay close and has been living in the Icelands since. Saving a mysterious man from an icy death, begins him on the journey of re-joining the world outside. But, what he discovers nearly brings destruction to Dinas. Darren is on a journey to the focal point, when he slips beneath the ice and is rescued by the man who is his mate.  But, things become strange when the shadows come to life and legends of old return to the world.

This story continues not long after Icelands ended.  It picks up the story with Rafe and his happy ending. Rafe is still suffering from the loss of his beloved Vivian, but when he meets Darren he feels conflicted over the feelings that Darren evokes.  Returning to his home island, he confronts the past. But, when Darren turns up with strange stories of shadows, they begin to investigate the mystery. Darren knows he has to be patient if he wants his mate, delving into the mystery that seems to surround Rafe leads to them to discovering Dinas and their world may be in danger.  Can they save their world before it is too late? And, will Rafe ever be able to accept Darren as his lover?

I really enjoyed the conclusion to the Watchtower series.  Everything that has been hinted at and questions left unanswered in the previous books are all answered in Siren Song.  We see Rafe work his way through his grief for Vivian and discover if he can accept love again. Darren is a wonderful addition to the cast, although we saw him briefly in Out of the (Werewolf) Closet we get to know him a whole lot better in this story. I liked the new twists and loved how they all linked together the previous stories.  And Rafe and Darren make an excellent team. I really do hope that Anna Marie May will revisit this world again… we will just have to keep our fingers crossed.

I recommend this to those that love fantasy worlds, a great storyline, surprise twists, great characters and a very happily ever after.

 

Icelands by Anna Marie May

Icelands-400x600 Title: Icelands

Series: Watchtower 04

Author: Anna Marie May

Genre: Fantasy

Length: Short (68pgs)

Publisher: Anna Marie May (Self-published) (18th January 2013)

Heat Level: Low

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥3 ½ – 4Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: Welcome to a hell of a different kind: Icelands. The future hangs in the balance; one sacrifice is required to save them all. The question though is: will saving the future be worth the cost of losing someone you love?

Aidan races against time to find the last Watchtower to complete the circle, only to figure out that it doesn’t end there. In order to fire up the walls of protection, one sacrifice needs to be made to safe them all. But is losing someone you love really worth the outcome? One love is needed to safe them all and doom one of them to a life of misery, struggling to find new meaning in life. Does the end really justify the means, even in a matter of the heart?

From the elegant towers of Dinas to the unyielding Cursed Lands into a hell of different kind where everything is white and cold to touch—the race is on. The only question remaining is: Will they succeed? Or will they vanish into an icy hell never to be seen or heard from again?

Purchase Link: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-icelands-1041399-143.html

Review: This story is part of a series and must be read in order. Aidan has no clue where he might find the last Watchtower. So he sets off with Belze (his familiar) to find clues and to find someone who can help him with his powers. On his journey, Aidan is attacked by an unknown foe and it leads him to the fourth Watchtower. Now, Aidan has to admit the truth to his friends, one of them has to sacrifice their life in order for the Watchtowers to work, leaving behind the one that they love. Is the sacrifice too much to ask for? And, how much more do the Watchtowers require before their world is safe?

Icelands is an exciting addition to the Watchtower series. Aidan is still frustrated about his lack of control of his powers, he decides that he has to find a sorcerer to help him and sets off on a journey with Bleze (who complains every step of the way). On his journey he is attacked and we finally discover who has been trying to kill King James. Discovering the fourth tower by accident nearly kills Aidan. Having to explain the truth of the focal point to his friends devastates them all. But, the journey to the Icelands could just destroy them all.

I really enjoyed this story and the seamless way it continued from Out of the Werewolf (Closet. in this addition, we discover just who has been trying to kill James, we find that the friends might not have circumvented the Golden Legend and that sacrifice is hard to face. Aidan, James, Raphael, Vivian and Bleze have to travel across the lands into burning hell that brings a foe that they dread and to the coldest Icelands where they lose one of their own.

I must admit that I wish that there was someone who could help Aidan with his magic, as he seems to fumble around trying to save the world while he really hasn’t got a clue what he is doing. James, Raphael and Vivian are more in the background in this story.  I would have liked to get their thoughts and feelings about what was happening and what they faced. I hope that we will discover more in Raphael’s story Siren Song.

I will recommend this to those that love fantasy, surprise danger, magic, discovering deceit, fantastic landscapes, having love, losing love and an ending that is tainted with sadness.

 

Out of the (Werewolf) Closet by Anna Marie May

Title: Out of the (Werewolf) Closet

Series: Watchtower 03

Author: Anna Marie May

Genre: Fantasy

Length: Novel (196pgs)

Publisher: Silver Publishing (15th September 2012)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥4 ½Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: A marriage to his people’s worst enemy is only the start of Rick’s troubles. Ancient magic rears its ugly head, and his promise to Aidan, to find the third Watchtower, puts him right in the middle of an oncoming storm.

Waking up collared to his enemy isn’t the worst thing that happened to Rick–waking up to an impending forced marriage is. Yet, he can’t deny that underneath the anger he is attracted to Tom, King of bloody everything and enemy to Rick’s people.

Tom’s bumbling efforts to get closer to him, his puppy dog eyes, and surprising honesty are slowly winning Rick over. But travelling to the cursed land where no one outside Tom’s clan has set foot in centuries is only the start of their adventure.

Betrayal from within and his investigation into the ancient magic of the Watchtowers make Rick’s life more than interesting. But even he can’t anticipate where his search will lead him.

Purchase Link: https://spsilverpublishing.com/product_book_info/products_id/906

Review: This book is part of a series and must be read in order. Rick (Prince Alric) is confused to wake up in the bed of his enemy, collared and told he is about to wed. All he had wanted was to find the information on the Watchtowers for his friends, and now he is about to wed and facing certain death. But, the secrets of Tom’s clan lead Rick to answers, now if only he can survive betrayals and his own husband’s well-meaning fumbling’s.

This book picks up just after Rick leaves Aidan and James in Over the Moon and is an excellent addition to the Watchtower Series. Rick wakes up confused and befuddled in the hands of his enemy, who for some strange reason thinks Rick should be happy that they are to wed. Rick has more important things to worry about as the collar drains his life force and he knows he has an important task that now might fail, the Watchtowers. But, as Tom learns about a betrayal and sweeps Rick away to his people’s land Muria, Rick and Tom along with Tom’s uncle Darren make new discoveries.

This is a wonderfully written book that opens up the world and adds to the world building of the previous books. We met Rick briefly in Over the Moon and in this one he makes the story his own. We find out why King Tom of Allin is so hell-bent on getting his hands on Rick. We discover more about the Watchtowers and the next puzzle piece and we discover secrets about Tom. Rick and Tom make for a conflicted couple and there are some clashes between them, but they also come to a better understanding when they finally sit down and talk properly and they are honest on both sides.

Tom is not quite the character that you pictured him to be in the last book. Once you understand his story, you can totally get his actions and you wonder how Rick never saw it. Rick finally admits to himself that, although Tom got on his nerves, he’s also sexy as hell. They don’t go jumping into bed and it is hot when they do finally get the chance. We also get to briefly see Aiden and James, along with Belze, and discover that the next books will have hard decisions to make.

So, I will recommend this to those who love fantasy, hidden secrets, obsessed Kings, betrayal, new discoveries, more puzzle pieces, hot sex and a great ending with the sure knowledge of more great stories to come.

 

 

Being Human by Anna Marie May

Title: Being Human

Series: Fallen Angel 01

Author: Anna Marie May

Genre: Fantasy

Length: Novella (160pgs)

Publisher: Silver Publishing (5th May 2012)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: Love is never simple, especially between an angel forced from Heaven, a Guardian of Earth, and the Devil. The forces of Heaven and Hell are rising, but all Kai can think about is the human who owns his heart.

Love’s the key to salvation.

Or is it? If Kai hadn’t once loved Lucifer, he might not have started down the path towards Armageddon. Nor would he have met Alex, a Guardian from an ancient blood line who now holds to the key to his heart.

As the forces of Heaven and Hell rise, Lucifer returns with an old prophecy and a legacy that could mean their salvation. But life is never this simple. Amidst new terrors rising from the shadows, and old family secrets being revealed, will the blossoming love between Kai and Alex stand the test of time? Or will it fall victim to the darkness slowly rising around them?

Only time will tell if love truly conquers all…

Purchase Link: https://spsilverpublishing.com/product_book_info/products_id/779/?zenid=4c9494b25c83c08bcc2399a4686f1de9

Review: Kai is rescued by Lucifer just before the last of his grace is stripped from him. Why he was attacked, he isn’t quite sure, but now he is mainly human and as a prophecy begins he is drawn towards Alex, the human who bond them. Alex is a Guardian and he is attracted to the angel, Kai. Before Kai was out of reach, but now with Kai being human he is within Alex’s reach. But, he has been burnt in the past and with a new threat rising, he fights the attraction.

I really enjoyed this story of Heaven, Earth and Hell and the prophecy that brings them all together. Kai and the human, Alex, have somehow managed to accidentally bond and it has far-reaching consequences. When Lucifer rescues Kai from death and gives him hints as to what is happening it sets Kai on a path with Alex and the beginnings of the Threefold war. Alex is determined that Kai is not for him, but when Kai disappears it is Kai that makes him realize that nothing is forever.

When I came across Alex, my first impression was that he was a bit of a twink, but he proved to be nothing of the sort. Kai is the gentler sort, as he is a scholar, but he shows his mettle when it is needed most. The relationship between them isn’t easy, because even though Kai wouldn’t mind giving it a try, Alex is wary of a relationship. Lucifer hovers on the outskirts at first, as he had something going with Kai before he was banished.

I enjoyed the storyline and the twist of the Prince of Light and the Prince of Darkness was great and Kai and Alex have a couple of clashes, but figure out their relationship in the end. They are also hot together, although I did hope Kai would punish Alex for being an idiot (at least a little bit). This really is a really interesting storyline of how an adversary has played Heaven, Hell and the Earthly realm to begin a war that was prophesized thousands of years before. I am really looking forward to the next story in the series.

I will have to recommend this one to those who love angels, fallen angels, prophecies, hot sex, danger, stubborn men and a great ending.