REVIEW: The Ballad of Aramei by J.A. Redmerski

Title: The Ballad of Aramei (The Darkwoods Trilogy #3)
Author: J.A. Redmerski - Website || Twitter || Facebook
Publication Date: November 18, 2012
Format: eARC*
Rating: 5/5
Get it: Amazon || B&N

Everything about Adria Dawson’s life has changed in unimaginable ways: the shattering betrayal of her mother, the fight for her life and sanity…the loss of her humanity. But now Adria must face the ultimate challenge and risk not only her life, but the lives of everyone she loves at the wrathful hands of Isaac Mayfair’s father.

Determined to help unravel a mysterious message deeply rooted in an unhinged mind, Adria becomes obsessed with traveling into Aramei’s turbulent past to see the truth of how the relationships and betrayals between the Mayfair and Vargas bloodlines were formed.

Meanwhile, Adria and the Mayfairs are doing everything they can to smoke out and trap the Praverian traitor. A trip to Providence uncovers not only an old family line who are enemies of the Praverians, but also raises questions about the Praverian’s true agenda.

But the traitor will be caught. People will die. And Adria’s destiny to be the cause of a war will come to pass. But what could a kind and simple girl like Adria Dawson ever do that could be considered an act of war? The landscape of the werewolf world will be forever changed in the climactic conclusion to The Darkwoods Trilogy.

My thoughts, feelings, and reactions.

The Darkwoods Trilogy by J.A. Redmerski has been one epic series I have been loving more and more with each novel. The last book, The Ballad of Aramei is no exception. In this conclusion to the thrilling trilogy, the stakes are even higher for all the characters I have grown to love tremendously. Fast paced, dark and full of sacrifices, fans of this amazing trilogy will not be disappointed to be back in this world.

Continuing from the events of the previous book, The Ballad of Aramei starts off with Adria adjusting to being a new black beast. With the help of Isaac and the other werewolves in the Mayfair family, Adria starts to embrace being a werewolf; balancing that side of her with her human side. Adria continues to impress me with her strength and bravery as she really steps up to figure out what is going on around her. She really comes into her own and takes initiative. She doesn’t sit back, but she stands up, fights back and she makes it known that she can handle anything that is thrown her way. I love how Adria conquers her fears and doubts and has the courage to do something that needed to be done despite the consequences it will bring. She just knew it was the right thing to do and she did it. Adria is one amazing character and I cannot help but love her more and more.

While the romance was not the center of this book, it was still there in the background and I commend Redmerski for still making it a solid part of the book. I have always adored the relationship and connection between Adria and Isaac but also with Harry and Daisy. There were plenty of sweet moments that diffused the seriousness and imminent danger of the book. These were the parts that made me smile, giggle, and swoon to no extent. 

Redmerski really took this last novel up another level and gave it her all. The writing is even more eloquent than before and the pacing moves nicely throughout the book. The action that she brought into this final novel is everything I have been waiting for and more. The epic war was what I have been dying to read and Redmerski did not disappoint. She brought it all with full force and greatness that totally swept me away. The twists and revelations were completely mind-boggling! When the real traitor was revealed, lets just say I so did not see that one coming and I swear even that character had me fooled! 

Aspects that were brought up in the first two novels get fully explained and explored in The Ballad of Aramei. More of Aramei’s past is revealed and I really got the sense of the life she had before when she first met Viktor and Trajan. I loved this part in the book because I felt like I was really transported there just like Adria. More Praverian background is shed, along with more depth of what they do with their Charges and of course, Harvesters that hunt them. All of this was centered and connected around Adria and I thought Redmerski did a excellent job of weaving this into Adria’s life causing havoc, chaos, and danger. It was the perfect combination to make one heart-racing novel.

I’m a little sad to say goodbye to this world and all the characters in it, but I truly believe that the ending that Redmerski created for this beloved trilogy is a spectacular one. Redmerski gives the characters the hope, conclusion and resolution they all needed. Not everything is a happily ever after, but realistically fits the end that needed to be told. While this trilogy has ended, it will always be a part of me that I will continue to cherish for a lifetime.  

 

Cover Reveal: The Ballad of Aramei by J.A. Redmerski

Eeeep! The Darkwoods trilogy is definitely one of my favorites so I'm super excited to show you cover to the final book in the trilogy..

The Ballad of Aramei by J.A. Redmerski 

(The Darkwoods Trilogy #3)

Expected Publication Date: December 10, 2012

The Blurb:

Everything about Adria Dawson’s life has changed in unimaginable ways: the shattering betrayal of her mother, the fight for her life and sanity…the loss of her humanity. But now Adria must face the ultimate challenge and risk not only her life, but the lives of everyone she loves at the wrathful hands of Isaac Mayfair’s father.

Determined to help unravel a mysterious message deeply rooted in an unhinged mind, Adria becomes obsessed with traveling into Aramei’s turbulent past to see the truth of how the relationships and betrayals between the Mayfair and Vargas bloodlines were formed.

Meanwhile, Adria and the Mayfairs are doing everything they can to smoke out and trap the Praverian traitor. A trip to Providence uncovers not only an old family line who are enemies of the Praverians, but also raises questions about the Praverian’s true agenda.

But the traitor will be caught. People will die. And Adria’s destiny to be the cause of a war will come to pass. But what could a kind and simple girl like Adria Dawson ever do that could be considered an act of war? The landscape of the werewolf world will be forever changed in the climactic conclusion to The Darkwoods Trilogy.

Me: AHHHH! The cover is perfect. I love the fire in the background. I love how you can see Adria and Isaac's hands, clasped and everything. Seeing Adria's especially is significant. I can't believe this is the last book. I can't for to read it, but I'm also dreading the end because I hate to let these characters go!

Check out the other books in the trilogy!

What do you think of the cover?

Are you just as excited as I am?

*squeeee*

REVIEW: Kindred by J.A. Redmerski

Title: Kindred (The Darkwoods Trilogy #2)
Author: J.A. Redmerski - Website || Twitter || Facebook
Published: July 20, 2012
Format: eARC*
Rating: 5/5

Isaac Mayfair is hiding a dark secret. And just when Adria Dawson thinks the worst of her life among the werewolf world is over, she learns the secret that can rip her and Isaac’s love apart. Adria must come to terms with what the truth means for her. What it means for her life and how much time she has left to live it. She must choose between two different fates, neither of which can offer life as a certainty.

As if Isaac’s betrayal isn’t enough, Adria learns that there are things out there older and more powerful than werewolves could ever be. An archaic entity known only to few as the Praverian, unlike anything Adria has ever known or heard of.

As Adria struggles with her own fateful dilemmas, she must also try to find out why the Praverian is so interested in her and do everything in her power to stay out of its way.

Due to adult content, this book is recommended for 17+.

My thoughts, reactions & feelings

If I thought The Mayfair Moon was amazing, Kindred was spectacular. Just when I thought it couldn’t get better, J.A. Redmerski writes Kindred, which completely blows The Mayfair Moon out of the water. Every part of Kindred was so brilliant, I’m still reeling from it all. 


Kindred starts off a few months later from where The Mayfair Moon left off and already, Redmerski had me wanting more Adria, more Isaac, and more werewolves. She starts off the book with one hell of a scene that kept me on my toes the entire time reading it. I had no trouble falling back into story with Adria and all the werewolves. It felt like coming back home to something comfortable and familiar. Kindred was not as fast paced as the first book, but it’s even more riveting. For me, Kindred had a pace that continued to build up chapter by chapter. The intensity, the tension, and Earth-shattering revelations hit me all at once and left me speechless. Redmerski’s storyline and overall writing was executed perfectly with great amount of emotion and passion. My curiosity and desire to find out what was going on compelled me to read this book at a much faster rate, not wanting to be away from the book for too long. At the same time, the closer I reached the end, the more I wanted to slow down, savor the book, and let it all draw out. 


I loved Adria in The Mayfair Moon, but I admired and adored her way more in Kindred. I really got swept up in all of Adria’s emotions. She’s gone through so much and even in this book, she’s still going through even more. After everything, Adria was still brave, still strong and she was still holding on even when she felt hope slip away. I love her selflessness and how she was always thinking and putting others before herself. Adria was just as tough as ever and I felt she was even more independent and fierce in this book. Adria and Isaac’s relationship was a lot stronger and deeper in Kindred. I saw how much they cared and loved each other in The Mayfair Moon, but I felt their love and connection in Kindred. Even though both are hiding secrets for the sake of each other, I understood why. I was able to sympathize with both of them. I think because of the events in Kindred, their bond became more solid. I loved seeing a gentle and softer side to Isaac. He was always kind, but I can tell in Kindred he’s less reserved. He really showed how much he loved Adria and how much she meant the world to him. What I loved most was that he never gave up on her and he never lost hope.

I was thrilled that Kindred had more background on Isaac and of course, the werewolves. I really got to learn more about how Isaac lived his life, what his duties and responsibilities were along with finding out some of the rankings in his family and the werewolf hierarchy. It left me utterly fascinated and had me wanting to know even more of this world. There was also another supernatural creature in the mix called Praverians. They read minds, control emotions, watch out for humans, but also feed off their essence. They’re super powerful, dangerous and even scarier than the werewolves. Praverians can crush a human and werewolf skull with just one thought and seriously, that had me amazed to no extent. I absolutely loved that Redmerski added the Praverians because it gave the book more mystery and suspense than ever before. Just when I thought Adria’s life couldn’t get any more complicated, she gets caught up with the Praverians. This gave the book more wow-worthy plot twists that really had my heart racing with anticipation and shock.

It truly is an understatement to say I loved this book so much. I loved The Mayfair Moon, but there was something about Kindred that really took my breath away. It was darker, sexier and definitely edgier. Better than the first, Kindred was forceful and out there, completely overpowering and downright phenomenal. I can’t wait for the third book!

*Thanks to Jessica for sending me a copy for review

The Mayfair Moon Blog Tour: Review + Character Interview

Title: The Mayfair Moon (The Darkwoods Trilogy #1)
Author: J.A. Redmerski
Published: January 6, 2012
Format: Kindle ebook, 352 pages
Rating: 5/5

After a nightmarish encounter with a werewolf, seventeen-year-old Adria Dawson loses her sister, but gains the love of a mysterious young man and his legendary family.

Strange and tragic things begin to happen in the small town of Hallowell, Maine: residents come down with an unexplainable ‘illness’ and some disappear. In the midst of everything, Isaac Mayfair is adamant about keeping Adria safe, even from her sister whom he has warned her to stay away from.

As unspeakable secrets unfold all around Adria, impossible choices become hers to bear. Ultimately, no matter what path she takes, her life and the lives of those she loves will be in peril. As she learns about the werewolf world she also learns why her place in it will change the destinies of many.

My thoughts, reactions & feelings.

The Mayfair Moon J.A. Redmerski was entirely exceptional from the storyline, to the characters and mostly the werewolf lore. Even before I reached the end I knew I would want more. 


The writing was magnificent.


• Sometimes a story and idea is great, but for me, the writing and the execution of this said story in words needs to come off the page and take me there. Redmerski did this, hands down. I was hypnotized by the story effortlessly. The more I read, the more I couldn’t just get enough! Redmerski set the pace beautiful, easing me along side the main character. 


Adria was kick-ass, bad-ass and all around amazing.


• I absolutely adored Adria! She has this snarky voice complete with the perfect amount of sass and a stoic personality. I was able to relate to her in so many ways. As the story went on, I saw Adria’s toughness and her capability thinking on her feet while still thinking things through. Make no mistake that Adria is a strong character and it’s obviously seen especially with everything that Adria’s put through. She handles everything with an immense amount of maturity. What I liked most about Adria is the fact that she’s an overall good person.

The romance was lovely.


• Redmerski can write some sweet and swoon-worthy moments without giving too much or too little. I love Adria and Isaac, the tension, the chemistry, the strong attraction and all the feelings. It was amazing and exhilarating. I love them together and I’m sure other readers will too. I couldn’t help root for Adria and Isaac.

One of the best werewolf books I’ve read in a long long time!


• I fell in love with the werewolves aspect of this book. The Mayfair Moon werewolves were not just any ordinary type of wolves I’ve been reading about. They are terrifyingly scary with hairy fur and razor sharp teeth and claws that stand at least six to seven feet tall. Then there is this war between two werewolf packs and though both are just as frightening, the tension was thrilling. Their world was quite complex, but ultimately interesting. Redmerski definitely developed this part of the book very well.

The ending was crazy good.


• It was explosive and the plot twists! Wow, they were truly unexpected! I never saw it coming. It was crazy and intense and Redmerski put me on an incredible ride. I was surprised and shocked and all kinds of mind-blown from that ending. 



Overall, The MayFair Moon was was dark and dangerous, sexy and exciting all at once.  If you love werewolves, a good romance and crazy twists, this book is definitely for you! 



*Thanks to Jessica for providing a copy for me to review :)

Purchase The Mayfair Moon: Kindle || Paperback

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Character Interview with Adria Dawson!

Hi Adria! Thanks for stopping by my blog! I'm super excited to have you here! Let's start off with a few easy questions and go from there.

I hear you like Ian Somerhalder and Jared Padelecki! Is this true and what brought this on? (BTW, I love Ian!)

• Hi Jessirae! Thanks for having me. And yes, it’s true. I have a thing for…well, Sam Winchester more than the actor who plays him (though I do love Jared, too). Sam is my soft spot between the Winchester brothers. As far as Ian Somerhalder, well he’s (please don’t tell Isaac I’m saying this stuff!) sexy, sexy.

 - Don't worry Adria! I won't tell Isaac. Your secret is safe with me! ;)

I like to read a lot of books and I noticed you read too. Do you have a favorite book?

• I don’t read as much as I’d like to. My friends back in Georgia engulfed three or four books a week! I’m lucky to read one every two weeks. My favorite book ever is Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman.

I've always wanted a sister. So I have to ask, what's the best thing that you love about your sister, Alex?

• Alex was my best friend until…well, you know. But what I loved most about her was that she took care of me. Our mom wasn’t so great at that sort of thing, so I guess I’ll always love Alex for taking on the role of my mother, but still being my sister and my best friend, too.

Moving is always tough. What's the one thing you miss about Georgia?

• Gah! I hate moving! I think what I miss the most about Georgia is the southern atmosphere, the sort of country-city living, summertime that doesn’t last a week like it seems to do in Maine so far. Maine and Georgia are two completely different worlds, but I have to say that things have not turned out so bad.

Can you tell me what was going through your mind the moment you saw Isaac Mayfair?

• Honestly? Well, I thought he was too hot for my blood. I mean I’ve seen a lot of hot guys and just like anybody else, thought to myself, “Wow…,” but there was too much going on in my life at that moment for me to be too drooling over him…too much.

 - I completely understand, Adria. You were going through so much all at once!

I thought you were really brave in The Mayfair Moon, Adria. How do you battle fear and anxiety while facing such menacing supernatural creatures such as werewolves?

• Thank you, Jess – that really means a lot to me. But I guess the way I got through most of it was because of experience. Sort of. I kind of grew up around abuse and chaos and maybe over time I learned how to overcome traumatic situations easier than someone who has never really had to face something like that before. But I was still terrified, trust me. I doubt much in the human world can really ever prepare someone to be face to face with a real, living, breathing werewolf. 

Just so my readers know, how gorgeous is Isaac? Is he drop dead sexy? ;)

• *blushes so frickin’ hard!* Yeah, he’s pretty hot. But really what makes him irresistible to me the most are those bewitching eyes of his and that grin he likes to show when he’s screwing with my head! I can’t resist it.

 - I'm sure every girl out there can't and will not be able to resist Isaac's charm! *giggles*

So I have to admit that I have a major crush on Nathan. (Please don't tell him!) Do you think I have a chance? ;D

• *grins hugely* Girl, I’m telling you he’s a wild card! I admit it; he’s hot-to-boot, sweet like honey and has a long list of girls that want a piece of him. But between you and me, your so frickin’ cute and have the kind of happy, outgoing personality that Nathan happens to like, so yes, I think you definitely have a chance. ;-)

 - OMG! Adria, you do not know how happy this makes me! *jumps up and down* I adore Nathan to bits.

Now for some This or That questions:

Day or Night? I love the day

Indoors or Outdoors? Definitely outdoors

Summer or Winter? Summer!

Coffee or Tea? Tea (with lemon)

Pizza or Hamburgers? Pizza

Werewolves or Vampires? Heh. I’ll take a werewolf over a vampire any day. ;-)

Thank you so much, Adria, for stopping by! It's been a pleasure to have you on my blog! I can't wait to read more about you in KINDRED!

• Awesome, Jessirae! Thanks again for having me. Now I’m off to… coughtellNathanshelikeshimcough *runs away squealing with laughter*

- *sigh* I should have known that you were going to tell him, Adria. That's the last time I confide in you! I may have to tell Isaac your secret after all, LOL!

****

I hope you guys enjoyed my interview with Adria! <3 She's a sweet girl, but don't underestimate her! She's hangs out with werewolves and she can throw a mean punch or two ;) And whatever you do, don't tell her your secrets! She'll tell. *stomps away*

Check out the other stops on the tour HERE.

And look out for Book 2 in The Darkwoods Trilogy: Kindred coming 7/20!

About the Author: 

J.A. Redmerski is a  Contemporary Fantasy and YA writer - author of THE MAYFAIR MOON and DIRTY EDEN. She’s  a mother, werewolf & zombie fanatic, book addict and a happy hermit obsessed with the Universe. Oh, and AMC's "The Walking Dead". 

Jessica started her first novel at the age of thirteen and has been writing something ever since. Generally, she loves characters in life and on paper. She pays attention to people, especially those whose personalities make them different from the rest of us: the drug addict roaming the Laundromat that talks to himself, the young, inattentive mother in the park with the meanest kid on the playground - (the entire cast of 'Swamp People') - characters fascinate Jessica and she hopes that it shows in her  literary work. 

Some authors that inspire Jessica are Neil Gaiman, Cormac McCarthy, Max Brooks, Anne Rice, J.K. Rowling, Richard Matheson, William R. Forstchen, Carrie Ryan, Stephenie Meyer and Lisa Smedman.

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