Title: Of Flame and Light
Author: Cecy Robson
Series: Weird Girls #7
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Loveswept
Pub Date: October 18,2016
Pages: 350
My Copy: Courtesy of Tasty Book Tours and Loveswept For Honest Review
Book Summary:
Taran Wird holds the unique ability to conjure fire and lightning. She is mated to Gemini, Second in Command to the Squaw Valley Pack of the Lake Tahoe Region, and the sole werewolf to possess the ability to split into two wolves. And although they are mates, Taran's insecurities have driven them apart.
Devastated by an injury that left her with a zombie-like limb, Taran struggles to regain command over her magic. But when her arm and her power turn against her, lashing out on those she most loves, she knows she can no longer carry this burden alone. Not that she likes the alternative.
The only way to regain control of her magic is to align and learn from the local coven of witches―the very ones who sought to banish her when she and her three unique sisters first moved to the mystical region. But although Taran is trying, the teachings don't come easy, and the tasks leave her weak and emotionally shattered.
Yet Taran must learn and learn fast. Time is running out. The fire she once mastered so easily has become her greatest adversary and is now slowly burning her alive . . .
Book Review:
Taran is definitely a woman who really proves that she is no pushover in this book. I like how Taran is front and center in this book and that this pushes her story forward in a lot of ways. I thought that Taran’s issues were important and how the twists and turns this book took were really good and made me want to see what happens next to everybody else in the universe as well.
Taran hasn’t had an easy time since she got a new limb after the events of book 5 and has had to deal with it. Not to mention her powers and relationship are kind of in a mess. She can’t harness her abilities the correct way. Not to mention her and Gemini have broken up, but yet because of Celia and Shayna, her sisters being married to wolves she definitely is going to run into the wolves, and of course Gemini comes into the house from time to time, which makes it awkward for her and Gemini to talk. Yet something happens that makes Taran really dangerous to everybody around her. So Gemini and the wolves bring her to Vieve, the leader of the coven.
This leads Taran to join the coven and train to be a witch, so that she can master her abilities. Her abilities have almost caused people to get hurt or almost hurt. Not to mention she gets to see a bit of the future or a possible future with Celia and Aric’s son. Yes, they are going to have a boy, but nothing is ever certain. The future can change, but this can be a good thing or a bad thing depending on how you look at it.
Taran doesn’t like witch training. She definitely is a person who doesn’t follow the rules or someone who is submissive. I always think it’s one of the reasons I like her. Things happen during her training and tests. Everything goes wrong for her and right for her during the book and tests. Also she gets a familiar which is forbidden in the paranormal world. Taran realizes that she has problems. Then there are things going on with Esme who can heal people.
She manages to pass a few tests, but then she has a real big challenge. But before she can do this test, something happens with Mancuso’s dog. This sets Mancuso off big time. I like through out the book how Mancuso and Taran go off on one another. The exchanges between these two women can become very heated at one another. Yet once the dog is killed by Alice, Taran’s zombie or familiar, Mancuso kind of goes nuts. Her powers really go nuts at times. Just thought it was nice to see Mancuso get unhinged.
I also like how Taran in a magical disguise manages to seduce Gemini much to Celia and Aric’s disgust because they don’t realize it’s Taran, but think she is someone else. This was interesting because Taran doesn’t realize that Gemini recognizes her because she is his mate. I thought it was really interesting. Of course things get more complicated between them because when they start to argue, things come out that need to be said and they start to begin to work things out after this. I really found this to be interesting.
Of course, when everything seems to be getting back on track, things go crazy meaning crazy epic battle between an evil witch and what’s left of the Coven that Taran belongs to, along with her sisters try to battle Savana and her minons, creatures and all other kinds of monsters. It’s a crazy scene, but somehow they manage to overcome the bad witch. Also what was nice was Taran realizes how upset she was and not thinking clearly about Gemini.
Gemini and Taran really do come clean with one another about what happened that night that tore them apart. It was a really good honest scene that I totally got that needed to happen. Also this means that both Gemini and Taran relationship is back on the mend. A really good installment in this series.
Rating:
4.5 Hearts
Promo & Giveaway
Blurb
Taran Wird holds the unique ability to conjure fire and lightening. She is mated to Gemini, Second in Command to the Squaw Valley Pack of the Lake Tahoe Region, and the sole werewolf to possess the ability to split into two wolves. And although they are mates, Taran's insecurities have driven them apart.
Devastated by an injury that left her with a zombie-like limb, Taran struggles to regain command over her magic. But when her arm and her power turn against her, lashing out on those she most loves, she knows she can no longer carry this burden alone. Not that she likes the alternative.
The only way to regain control of her magic is to align and learn from the local coven of witches―the very ones who sought to banish her when she and her three unique sisters first moved to the mystical region. But although Taran is trying, the teachings don't come easy, and the tasks leave her weak and emotionally shattered.
Yet Taran must learn and learn fast. Time is running out. The fire she once mastered so easily has become her greatest adversary and is now slowly burning her alive . . .
Author Info
Cecy Robson is an award-winning author of magical realms, to-die-for Alpha heroes, and young adult adventure. A double RITA® 2016 finalist for Once Pure and Once Kissed, and published author of more than fifteen titles, you can typically find her on her laptop or stumbling blindly in search of caffeine.
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Excerpt
I hurry forward when I realize I’m just standing there, gaping at them.
I don’t think I take more than a few steps when something crunches beneath the sole of my left boot. I think it’s a stick, but the sound seems off, especially since the ground is so moist. I lift my foot only to jump away.
“T, you coming?” Shayna calls when I don’t move.
“T?” she asks again.
I swallow hard, hoping I’m imagining things as they run back to me.
“What’s wrong?” Emme asks. Unlike Shayna who’s fired up for all the action about to go down, I can sense the worry in her voice.
“Bren . . .” I begin, pointing to the spot near my feet. “Is that a, um, toe?”
He cocks his head. “Nah.”
Emme places her hand over her heart and sighs. “Oh, good—”
“It’s a thumb,” he answers. He sniffs the air. “Right hand, male, and the poor bastard’s been dead a long time.” He looks ahead. “Yeah, this shit’s not good. Call it in, Shayna, but type it. Don’t use voice-to text.”
“Why, dude?” Shayna asks, reaching for her phone in her back pocket.
“Because I’m not sure how well this bitch can hear, or if she has other things listening for her,” he responds.
He motions ahead to a crow. It squawks twice in our direction and flutters away.
Shayna lifts her phone to show us the blank screen. “Phone’s dead, kids.” She quickly pockets it and places a handful of toothpicks in her palm. “I wouldn’t bother, Emme,” she adds when Emme reaches for her phone. I doubt any of our phones are working.”
“She’s right,” Bren says. He shoves his phone into the backpack Emme is carrying and peels off his white T-shirt.
“This keeps getting better and better,” I mutter.
Bren strips out of his jeans, leaving only his underwear and shit-kickers on. “Em, stay behind me,” he tells her. “Shayna, you’ve got the rear.”
Which leaves me in front of Shayna and the most protected. I’ll be honest, this helpless damsel in distress role does nothing for my morale.
I march ahead, forcing myself to snap out of the shock of finding some guy’s thumb, push aside my fear, and tap into my inner diva. I remember a little too late that my inner diva is louder and usually sashays in platform stilettos. I slow my steps, careful not to disturb the creepy things hiding in the bushes.
Let me be the first to tell you, woods are bullshit and top of the scales of the scary meter, second only to graveyards. It’s the reason so many horror movies are based here, and why I’m watching out for psychos with machetes lurking behind trees. But given our past experiences, where danger lurks, so do the dark ones. I’ve had my fill of alleyways, construction sites, abandoned structures, but especially these damn eerie woods!
