I really do like these Reader Recommendation posts…maybe I am nosy, but I enjoy finding out what stands out for people who like the same thing I do. I don’t have any “real-life” friends who read PNR/UF/YA at all, so I depend on reviews and opinions to see what I am going to throw on top of Mount TBR next. This recommendation comes from Delhia Alby, who sounds like she has found a good one. I have heard very good things about the Shaede Assassin series from Amanda Bonilla, and this confirms it.
What Delhia says…
Do you know the Shaede Assassin series by Amanda Bonilla? It’s my revelation this year. This series is just amazing! I think it’s always difficult to make a difference with Urban Fantasy’s books because we can find a lot of them today. But the author succeeded in this challenge, and even more. She created an explosive, dynamic mix which leads us in a new universe that we don’t want to leave. Indeed, once started, we instantly get into the story and it’s really difficult to put the book down before finishing it. Well, you can understand now that this series blew my mind away!
While we discover Darian in the first and second book, we understand her past in the novella. So many things happened to her and it’s difficult for her to accept her true nature. We see her evolve in the first book into someone who cares for her friends, a new experience for her. She discovers a new world full of things she didn’t expect. Tyler is an important character in this story as well. He will do everything he can to help and protect our heroine. And when I say everything, it’s really everything! It was funny and cute to see them evolve together, Tyler, trying to expose his feelings to her and Darian trying to stay away from him.
The second book was really heartbreaking; It was so pleasant to see Darian with our little Djinn, Tyler, as she always was alone before. We understand that this relation will also be complicated between an overprotective Tyler and a shaede a little too independent for her own good. It was really surprising to see the efforts that they both try to do to make their relationship work, but it’s also a difficult situation. I confess I asked myself a lot of questions all along the book about Tyler because I didn’t understand what was going on. Amanda Bonilla was able to beautifully recreate the feelings of the characters throughout the book, love as well as sorrow. It’s difficult for Darian to know what she really wants to do and at the same time it’s impossible for her to be totally opened to Tyler as she is afraid and trying to protect him as well. Many things happen in this novel and Darian will end up with more responsibilities than she would have thought at first, or even us. I confess that everything was a real surprise; I didn’t expect that at all. The author succeeded in this challenge to make of this story a wonderful book, really! It’s always really easy to relate ourselves to Darian from the start. We perfectly feel the complexity of her feelings. She has evolved a lot since the first volume and she is now more vulnerable. It’s the reason why we can easily understand her acts.
In the two books we have two great investigations that will lead us into deep paths. The battles are really detailed, so we can only enjoy them. I was a little afraid they were quite fast like in some books or not much described because it’s true that it can be very difficult, but it wasn’t the case. And we get each time into the energy of the moment.
The character of Darian is in constant evolution and I’m sure the third book will have a lot of answers for us.
The Shaede Assassin reading list can be found HERE.
Many thanks to Delhia, and as always, feel free to hit the Contact Me page (shown over on the right column) and send a bit of info on your under-appreciated favorites.
thank you so much for posting my big review lol. It was really fun to do one, and well I love these books!
I was glad you did it, it was exactly what I was hoping for these posts. If you have any others you want to spread the word on, feel free.
Kal
Thanks, I’ll think about it.
No pressure – I have a few more lined up, but I don’t want to do too many at once. Maybe space them out a bit.
Kal
That is so funny that you said you don’t have any real life friends that read this genre, me either, and my love of these books is just crazy, so I visit the blogs and sites too. So glad I am not the only one. I haven’t read that series yet but I do have the first book on my TBR pile, which is out of control. I would highly recommend Caris Roane, Kristen Painter and D.B. Reynolds, they are some of my favorites. Thanks for letting me comment!
Hey Lisa…sad to be the only one, isn’t it? At least there is a whole online world that gets it, but my collection still gets some odd looks when people come over.
If you want, you can do a write up about what you like about a favorite series, and I can make your own recommendation post. Helps to get the word out for the author, and I figure more publicity means more books.
Kal
It would be a pleasure to give you some of my reviews it’s just if I need to rewrite them, It takes more time lol. I have so many, but I would love to.
There is no rush, you can do as many or as few as you like. As long as it is a series you love, you are good to go.
Great recommendation! I loved the first book shaedes of gray from this author but haven’t picked up the second book. This rec is motivating me to pick up the second book for some long holiday labor day weekend reading. Thanks!
It was a great rec – must jump on board myself.
Absolutely adore this series! Shaedes of Grey was a spectacular debut and then Blood Before Sunrise followed it just perfectly! I can’t wait to see where this series leads us.
It’s so weird to see so many lovely ladies who read this genre, and yet, I too don’t have any RL friends to share my love of paranormal with! It’s sad, but it makes me all the more grateful for the bookies online!
Thank god for the online world, since it would be mighty lonely reading all by myself.