Rebekah Armusik

Stop by my blog to read the great interview Rebekah has done for me. Its very interesting. Here is direct link. Interview with Rebekah Armunsik at Michelle's Paranormal Vault of Books http://concisebookreviewsbymichelle.blogspot.com/2012/10/giveaway-interview-revi...

Wow, where to start? This book was soooooo good, I have trouble putting it into words. It had my emotions on a roller-coaster along with Nadija. I actually cried at one very traumatic scene about ¾ in, wont say what, but man, this book sucks you into Nadija’s world right with her. I will say, it’s the best book so far. But then again, its hard to compare them, as its an ongoing story, you have to read them all to understand it. They are memoirs in fact, written that way, and I love it.

This book continues right where we left off in book 3, Lucifer Rising. I won’t get into any spoilers for any of the books, as I want people who had not read any, to be able to read this, and see what a great series it really is, and give it a shot. This series is one that had me even more passionate about them than any other books out there, and there are many I really, really like, but this I love in a way I can’t explain.

Rebekah’s writing is top notch, it really is. It’s flawless, exceptional in a way that leaves me speechless. The way you get sucked in, and nothing else around you matters anymore.
I think the thing I love the most about this series, is that it is different than the usual vampire story, as I do not really call it that, as you can just as easily call it a fallen angel story.

Basically, I will say one thing, this series of vampires are actually fallen angels, from long ago. When exiled to earth, they found surviving on earth extremely difficult, no food would sustain them, until they found only human blood would. This is where it starts. And they are able to give the “gift” to selected loved ones; they have their own society, and rules to follow. Which leads up to Nadija, who is an “old soul” lets say. She is a Guardian and Guardians are also as old as the Fallen, I won’t get into explaining the Guardians, but lets say it’s a line of female magical users, who are in touch with nature. I guess that’s the best way to sum it up. These Guardians are part of a council that governs the fallen and their offsprings and the transfers (people that have been made immortal)

So, I believe anyone who enjoys fallen angels and or vampires, will really be able to get into this series. You start with The Memoirs of a Gothic Soul, which starts with Nadija’s life before she discovers this life, and follow her on the journey to discover who she is. (and that’s a great surprise, remember I said she is an old soul, well, you find out in 3rd book, Lucifer Rising) Then you read Mariposa, the journey of Nadija’s learning of the ways of the Guardians and more, then Lucifer Rising. Where big things are discovered.

This book goes deeper into her past, and what she must do. She will loose people she loves, and the pain she feels you will feel.
I love the deep romance and love that continues with Nadija and Alexei who finally get married.

I continue to LOVE Nadija’s funny antics, lol, I can see what she means on some stuff, like the whole wedding deal, she is not into it, the crowds and all the stuff that goes with it. I am with her on that, me, can’t stand crowds and all that. Here is a funny quote about the whole wedding deal, lol:

Alexei caressed my back. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine … but you know I hate crowds—and people in general, for that matter. That was absolutely awful, and I’m certain I will never put myself through again. Why on Earth would people feel the need to go up to a complete stranger and kiss them? It’s weird, right?” I waited for him to confirm and approve my neurotic issues.
All I got was a look of disbelief. “My darling, you are a social nightmare.”
“What—you want a divorce now because I’m not fond of embracing strangers?” I asked sarcastically.
He pulled me close and kissed my forehead. “Never!”

That would be me, lol. Her whit and quick tongue had me laughing at times. She has a bit of a potty mouth, but its her, and find it hilarious. She seems harsh at times, but we get to see how passionate and caring she really is. She is very empathetic and I love her for it. She feels deeply for so many, and my heart hurt for her pain at some dramatic events she has to endure.
Here is another quote that I absolutely just love. It’s a thought that Diji (Nadija) is having at her wedding.

He had loved me for centuries;
he’d loved me before it was necessary to mark time. We were two spirits forbidden to love, yet we abandoned all reason and allowed ourselves to be swept away. That, in my opinion, was true love— the kind of love you risk dying for.

I can’t get into the story much more without spoiling things. I kept this as spoiler free as I could for all the books. But some things are mentioned, and impossible to keep the first 3 out of it. It’s all an ongoing story as I mentioned. So start with the first book, and don’t stop, as it just gets better and better. Book one is just a stepping stone to more.
Again, Rebekah has brought us an epic tale of fallen angels/vampires and the most epic love of all. You need to check it out.
5 out of 5 stars, but would give a 10 if I could!… (més)

**The author provided a review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.**

This is another hard one for me to review. I think what it comes down to is that I liked the story but not necessarily the storytelling. In Armusik’s debut novel, she creates an interesting world and premise: a young woman, tired of feeling out of place and, at one time, powerless, in a small town in Pennsylvania, hops a plane to Prague to start a new life, continue her research on vampire folklore, and, ultimately, fulfill a destiny she never knew she had. With its interesting vampire mythology rooted in biblical legend and a storyline ripe with potential, I had high hopes for Memoirs of a Gothic Soul. Unfortunately, the storytelling kept me at arms length and prevented me from connecting with the characters.

One of the book’s strongest elements is its vampire origin story. Armusik provides biblical roots to the vampire creation myth which points to a very complicated relationship between vampires and God. In traditional Gothic tales, the vampire is a creature of Hell. In Armusik’s world, they are creatures of Heaven banished to Earth to live immortally alongside mankind. There is rich material here for conflict both in terms of physical battle but also in terms of more weighty issues like good vs. evil, faith and belief, and the like. This world is interesting and dynamic. Armusik sets up a fantastic supernatural backstory in which to drop her heroine, Nadija Fey.

Another strong point of the novel is the story arc for Nadija. She goes from powerless to powerful over the course of the book. I connected with the idea of a young woman finding herself in a foreign land, of moving away from the expected and immersing herself in an unfamiliar world only to find both romance and terror there. Great ideas are at play. Unfortunately, I just couldn’t connect with Nadija personally and I felt this way for several reasons. First, Nadija’s voice is very formal. There are quite a few lines like this:

"I must have fallen asleep with my book in my hand, for it was resting upon my stomach."

A young woman, barely in her 20s, in a contemporary novel, just doesn’t speak like this. It came across as stiff and forced. Nadijia also rarely spoke in contractions which enhanced this formal voice, making it feel less conversational and more distancing. I get that Nadijia is an old soul but she came across as pretentious and overwritten. For instance,

"I feared the staleness that was settling in – the ominous familiarity that brought with it regret and certainty. Although I hated uncertainty – the weakness and frailty that moved one’s mind to the center of an argument – I hated certainty in my future more. I wanted my life to romantically unravel to reveal itself in small portions that were easily digested. My life, if it continued here, would be revealed quickly and with certainty – a most unpalatable dish."

There are great moments in that passage but I needed to read it a couple of times to get to the meat of it.

Also, I felt there was a lot of telling and not a lot of showing. We know Nadija is intelligent mainly because she keeps telling us. Yet she puts herself in several situations that I find lack evidence of deeper thought. I don’t want to give too much away but there is work to be done with Nadija’s great grandmother who has to show her, and prepare her, for her destiny. There should be more scenes where we actually see her learning, training and becoming this new woman. We don’t. The few scenes we have don’t feel central to Nadija’s character development. At a key moment in a pivotal scene when she has to prove herself to a council of supernaturals, Nadija has a surprise. What happens in that scene should not have been a surprise to the reader. Her self-discovery should have been a journey the reader was privy to, where we see her growth and are not told about it.

Finally, the romance in the book is a cornerstone of the story. Unfortunately, I didn’t feel the chemistry between the characters. It felt like they were together only because they were prophesied to be soulmates. There was lust, but I didn’t feel any deeper connection than that.

This book has gotten rave reviews on Goodreads so I know it’s been well-received by other reviewers. For myself, I think there are good ideas here. This is the author’s first book and I plan on reading the next in the series to see if the issues I have with it have ironed themselves out. Unfortunately, with Memoirs of a Gothic Soul, I just couldn’t connect enough with the characters or the storytelling to give it a high recommendation.

2.5 Stars… (més)

I said this for the 2nd book, Mariposa, and it applies to this one too: Mesmerizing. Captivating. Addictive. Perfect. I am so hooked, and can’t wait until Halloween when the 4th book is out! I was very pleased with how this story progressed, it has just gotten better if that’s possible, but it did, so far each book just grows the story, and that’s the kind of series I like.

I am so amazed at Rebekah’s writing style. It all flows so beautifully together. The descriptions are so vivid, you really feel like you’re there with Nadjia. I am extremely impressed. Rebekah has a huge career ahead of her, and would not be surprised to see her become one of the top writers. I really believe that. Give these books a chance. They will hook you in, the story is so intriguing, and the suspense is there, with such believable characters. You become attached to them, and you will feel all the emotions and the fears and excitement right along with them.
Nadjia is a great lead character. I love her witty, sarcastic, sometimes harsh personality, it is refreshing to me, and that part of her, feels so real.

We begin this book pretty much were the last one Mariposa left off. There is a huge revelation at the end of this book, that I won’t say what, but it makes this love story between Nadjia and Alexei EPIC, it really does. We finally learn some well hidden secrets that shed some light on why these two are so perfect for each other, and seem drawn to each other as if it was a magnetic pull. We also get to learn why Nadjia is so powerful. She also learns some pretty awesome magick, that has me in awe.

Here is a very touching quote between Nadjia and Alexei, when he asked her if she was in love with James, she said she loved him, but not in love with him, and how he would not be able to fulfill all her needs, and that Alexei is everything to her, and then she says this:

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“And to be honest, this entire time I was quiet because I was thinking about how much I love you. Every time I allow myself that quiet reflection, I begin to panic. I become paralyzed with fear, because the love I have for you is so overwhelming and irrational that I would never survive the absence of it. For people like us, forever is a very long time.”

It’s so touching the relationship they have. It’s not perfect, they have their fights and all that, but they always come back to how much they mean to each other.

I again, really love the relationship Nadjia and Alexei have. I also really love the love James and Nadjia have for each other. It’s platonic, but a very really love all the same. James is a great character too; I really love the final truth we learn behind the Vlkolak that Nadjia learns from her Aunt Lizzy (Olga’s much younger sister) we find out who James’s father is, and it’s a whopper of a surprise, and a nice one too. We know from book 2 that Nadjia wants the get the Vlkolak back on the council, and she wants James as their king. She can feel James is filled with goodness like no other. I was openly crying when Lizzy was telling her story about when she was very young, and about the King of the Vlkolak. It’s heartbreaking, and the emotional turmoil this will put you in is hard to describe.

There are some funny parts too, as usual, as Nadjia does and says some funny things, she does have that quick tongue and it gets her into some funny situations. I can’t really quote some of the funnier ones, as they contain some language that I can’t post most everywhere, but hopefully you will find out when you read the books.

If you have not read books one (Memoirs of a Gothic Soul #1) and two (Mariposa #2 The Gothic Memoirs Series)yet, I suggest you start with them, as you need the info in them, or you would be lost. These books are meant to be a series, as I can tell it’s been a well thought out plan for the series. Not like some books that were meant for one or two then the author decides to write more.

I love some of the scenes that has Nadjia dealing with that horrid women who calls herself Countess, and she learns more about how she came about, and is NOT very happy about it, at all.

I feel privileged to be able to go on this journey with Nadjia and the rest of them. It’s a story like no other out there. It has its own spin on Angels, Vampires, and Magick. It will have you dreaming and thinking of this world that Nadjia lives it. It will feel like a long wait for book 4, and will be counting down the days.
Check out my blog for more reviews and extras http://concisebookreviewsbymichelle.blogspot.com/… (més)

(Summary from book)
"I am not a fool. This is why Olga was so distraught - because I teetered the line, and most times my left foot was a paperweight clinging to hell."

At the closing of Memoirs of a Gothic Soul, Nadija Fey underwent a transformation to save her life. That ending of her mortal life is just the beginning in Mariposa, Book 2 of the Gothic Memoirs series.

Though immortal, Nadija is no less of an enigma to those around her. She is the first Guardian to accept the gift of immortality, leaving the celestial council panicked and on edge. Some fear her new gifts may threaten the already-tilting balance, while others, like her Guardian sisters, find her transformation promising. One thing is for certain - her ascension to the position of queen has great significance, but she will have to stay true to being the Nadija that everyone loves her for.

Mariposa goes deeper into the epic story and unravels all you know about legends, theology, and history, blending them all into a cohesive map of the delicate balance Nadija is now responsible for maintaining. There are darker secrets, mysterious creatures, and evil surrounds her at every turn. Never has an author taken you through such a range of emotions with such passion and intrigue… Mariposa will challenge all you know about good and evil.

My Review:

Mesmerizing. Captivating. Addictive. Perfect. Four words to sum up this amazing book. Written beautifully, with lovable (and some not,) characters and an exciting, original plot that promises to absorb the reader in the story and give them a rollercoaster ride of emotions. From the opening chapter, I was gripped. I found it to be a difficult book to put down. It’s one of those books where, even though you couldn’t wait to read it, when you have, you half wished you’d not read it until the series is all published, as now you have to wait a while to find out what happens next. I do have the 3rd one ready to read, but after that, in for a wait until Halloween, when the 4th book is out.

It’s so refreshing to finally be reading a vampire series, that isn’t immature, or unbelievable, Rebekah Armusik's details makes is all come to life for you. So much of the history and tangible assets of magick and universal powers are played out here, that I found myself wondering just how long the author must have researched the history for her creative narrative. The world is so mesmerizing and real feeling.

From here down, this review will have spoilers for book 1, and mild spoilers for this book, only a little, so if you have not read book one yet,( Memoires of A Gothic Soul) you may want to come back after you do. You can read my review for book one without spoilers. ( I have hid the spoilers for THIS book under spoiler)

Mariposa starts right were Memoirs of a Gothic Soul left off. Except it will be from Olga’s point of view for a short time. As we know Diji is going through the tough transformation into Immortal to save her life. As we had left the last book with her in that process.

It’s sad, as its starts with poor Alexei holding their dead baby, as that attack had caused her to loose the child she didn’t really even know she was carrying. It’s so heart wrenching reading this part. Knowing Alexei must be feeling terrible pain, as well as Olga, and Jozef and Sophia as well as Nikolas, I can tell they all feel deeply for the lost child. They decide not to tell Nadija that she lost a baby she didn’t know she was carrying. I am not sure I agree with them on this, I have this feeling it will come back to bite them in the behind, as we know Nadija has one fire-hot temper, which I absolutely love about her.

Olga is amazed that Nadija was able to conjure such magicks when she was almost dead, she was tore apart, and was able to bring enough magick to keep herself alive long enough so Alexei was able to get to her in time to give her his gift of Immortality. So now we see the aftermath of this, and its heart wrenching as Nadija begs to be put out of her misery, as the transformation continues on. At chapter 2 we are back at Nadija’s point of view, and get to be with her mind as she finishes the transformation. She can feel the strong angel blood surging through her, and is very relieved when she looks in the mirror and she is normal, meaning the huge gaping hole that was tore through her cheek is gone, and her throat is healed up too.

I was very pleased with how this story progressed, it has just gotten better. In book 1, we had to learn all about this new world Nadija was thrust into, now we know, so the story can continue. There are many surprises along the way, things Nadjia will do that will shock some, but she has you rooting for her too. Myself I love her hot temper with a sharp mouth; I think it’s refreshing and real.
Here is a quote I like:

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“I know this much, Lex – my life is not worth living without you by my side. So I have only one need, and that is you. I would seek you before blood. It’s you that keeps me alive.”

Very sweet. I love the strong connection Nadija and Alexei have, and love the hot tempered fights too, makes it very real.

It was nice to see not only did Nadjia not lose her magick she became stronger. So strong, she actually scares Olga. She of course is set on revenge to Sasha and Adak for the brutal attack on her, and I do not blame her. I would want the same.

She has to return back to the states for a funeral (Jess’s mother) and to take out revenge on the man who murdered Jess in the first book. She ends up causing much more trouble for herself, and drags Crash along with her. She has to bring him to Prague with her, to keep him safe, which he is happy about, as he wanted to go there anyway. So she gets her best friend now, which I love. He has a funny wit about him, and accepts what she is now, a little scared of the magick and all that come with it.

Here is a quote I like Crash talking to Nadjia:

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(Najia asking Crash) “Are you okay?” I asked, wondering why he had opened the door when I specifically asked him not too.
“Yeah, I’m fine – just paranoid about devils and shit.”

This part comes from Nadjia having to deal with a possession. Seems Lucifer and his followers can only come into our world through possession, and Nadjia finds out through this possessed women, that some of her sisters (other Guardians) have turned to the dark side. She must find them.

She also has a unique connection with mouthwatering gorgeous James, who is not what he seems at first. She uses her ability to read energy, to pull her towards the best person for her to feed from, and its James (he has a short appearance in the first book) , and he agrees she can feed from him. He ends up being very protective of Nadjia, and the relationship they have is sweet, but it is platonic, she is very committed to Alexei, so this is not a love triangle or anything, just complicated. There is something special about James, and you will find out what it is. I will not spoil that surprise.

She has to deal with the council now, as she is no longer just a Guardian, she is Immortal now too, a deadly combination, with more power than anyone is comfortable. Some debate if she can even be killed, and if so, how.

She ends up taking on Father Marcello as her adviser, and this is a good thing, (he is Immortal too, one of the fallen)

As the book comes to a close, many things happen, that just breaks Nadjia’s heart. She feels she can’t take much more heartbreak. She has to deal with a horrid women, a transformed immoral, from long ago, she is a bit crazy and a bit schizophrenic. She calls herself a Countess. She must deal with this crazy woman, to try to find out which of the Guardian sisters are turned to the dark side. She must try to stop them from helping Lucifer rise. What happens at this Countess’s place is disturbing to Nadjia, and it makes you really feel for her and James.

Nadjia is finally able to meet some of her Guardian sisters in France, Morigaine, Xenia (Xenia is Milla’s mother), Anouk and what happens with all that is heartbreaking. I will leave it at that.

A very good 2nd installment. I highly suggest giving these books a try. It really will suck you in.

I am very glad I have Lucifer Rising already, as I am starting it right away. I will have a review of it up as soon as I finish it as well.
Check out my blog for more reviews and extras http://concisebookreviewsbymichelle.blogspot.com/… (més)