Wednesday, February 4, 2015

City in Embers by Stacey Marie Brown - Review & Giveaway



Purchase on Amazon: http://amzn.to/1A7JKkD

Zoey Daniels has been tossed from foster home to foster home, where she grows up fast and tough. When she is placed in her “last-chance” home, she finds a reason to stay and turn her life around: her foster sister, Lexie, who is paralyzed and confined to a wheelchair. Zoey will do anything to keep her safe.

After high school, Zoey is hired by a special government agency, the Department of Molecular Genetics (DMG), where she meets the other reason to remain: Daniel, her co-worker. The man she loves. But there is something unique about Zoey. She can see fae. Because of this, the DMG hires her to work as a Collector: catching, researching, testing, and using the fae to save human lives. The work never registers on her sympathy radar. She was raised to think of fae as beasts that feed on humans and want to destroy them. When devastation hits Seattle, Zoey's whole world is turned upside down. The electric storm connects her to a ruthless fae, a Wanderer named Ryker, whose dealings expose them to even more trouble and danger. They embark on a journey, running and hiding from both the government and fae, both of which threaten their lives and those they love.

My Review: I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review

City in Embers is an action-packed urban fantasy featuring lots of fascinating magical creatures and an addicting plot. Zoey is a kick-ass heroine with a traumatic past, coupled with an uncommon ability to see fae when most humans can't. Add in an adorable half-sprite/half monkey sidekick and you have the makings of a fun read.

The beginning of the novel was almost overwhelming. So much information so quickly, like massive info-dump. Whew-- it was rather exhausting. Once I was past this rocky start, things settled down into a better pace. The story was so interesting: the DMG, fae existing among humans, government experiments, and most of all Ryker.

What can I say about Ryker? He was the total alpha male-- you know the kind you hate at first due to his masculine nonsense but come to love by the end. The romance between Ryker and Zoey was hot and progressed over time. Considering they started off on opposite sides, the slower progression was needed to be believable.

I enjoyed the intriguing fantasy world created by Ms. Brown-- our world yet so very different. Nonstop action and unfolding secrets kept the pages turning. There were times when I found Zoey's backstory to be a tad draining... let's just say she had a rough life. Thank goodness there was the little sidekick to lighten the mood.

If you're an urban fantasy fan, especially one of fae stories, then I think you'll enjoy City in Embers.
 
About Stacey Marie Brown

   
Stacey Marie Brown is a lover of hot fictional bad boys and sarcastic heroines who kick butt. She also enjoys books, travel, TV shows, hiking, writing, design, and archery. Stacey swears she is part gypsy, being lucky enough to live and travel all over the world. She grew up in Northern California, where she ran around on her family's farm, raising animals, riding horses, playing flashlight tag, and turning hay bales into cool forts. She volunteers helping animals and is eco-friendly. She feels all animals, people, and environment should be treated kindly.

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