Crimson Oath by Elizabeth Hunter is live!
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Blurb
A brand new vampire. The lover who got her killed. And a desire neither can deny.
Tatyana Vorona used to be human… until she met the dark and mysterious Oleg Sokolov. He lives in a world of power, blood, and betrayal. And now so does she.
By helping him, Tatyana helped herself to an early grave. Then she rose again as a vampire with the ability to manipulate water. Tatyana is in hiding, trying to master her magic, blood lust, and the terrifying draw she still feels toward the man who set all this in motion.
He might control fire, but flames of desire have a will of their own.
Oleg’s empire was shaken by his daughter’s betrayal and the bloodshed that followed. Now someone else is trying to take advantage of the chaos to destabilize his rule further. He should be hunting them down, making an example of anyone who dares to challenge him.
Instead, he’s searching for her. No matter how far Tatyana runs, he’s determined to return her to his side. And when it turns out she’s hiding right underneath his nose, he’ll do whatever it takes to make Tatyana his. Permanently.
Fire and water collide in this steamy romantic fantasy about a new vampire that won’t submit and her powerful lover who must learn to bend in order to keep her. CRIMSON OATH is the sequel to BLOOD MOSAIC, and takes place in the same expansive world as Hunter’s popular Elemental Series.
Review
3.5 stars
The second book in The Firebird and the Wolf series, it was so good to come back to Elizabeth Hunter’s Elemental world for an exciting and romantic continuation for Oleg and Tatyana. They were separated at the end of the first book in their series, and this book begins months later with them still apart, but with Oleg desperately searching for the woman that he can’t forget.
Tatyana is now a vampire and is trying to reconcile the end of her human life with the reality of her immortality, and I enjoyed seeing her trying to figure it all out. She finds temporary sanctuary with the kamvasa, a super secretive band of vampires that spend six months of the year travelling in caravans across eastern Europe. It’s reminiscent of the gypsy lifestyle, with a fabulous mix of vampire and human characters that embrace Tatyana into their world. Meanwhile, Oleg is investigating a series of attacks on his business and his people, tracking down the bad guys and uncovering a devastating betrayal that hints at a deeper plot against him. All while trying to find his girl.
There’s a lot going on, but admittedly, I struggled through the first half of this book. There are a lot of characters introduced and a whole lot of vampire politics going on and I struggled to keep everything straight in my head. Hunter’s world is so deep and complex, there’s just a lot of information thrown at you at once in this book, and I hadn’t reread the first so couldn’t remember who we had met, who we hadn’t, and how everybody all fit together. It doesn’t help that our couple were apart so the romance was pretty much non-existent, and honestly, that’s the whole reason I was reading, so I initially wasn’t feeling it.
Things pick up in the second half though. We get to see Tatyana on her travels and, best of all, Oleg is back in her life and determined to win her heart.
“This will be good. While you are still in the kamvasa, I will court you.”
She shook her head. “What does that even mean?”
We will spend time together, talk about many things, and share experiences that are not sex. So you will understand my character and I will understand yours.”
She grimaces. “So…no sex? Just talking for another six weeks?”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” he said. “We can have sex and talk at the same time.”
The love story is definitely there – it’s hot and steamy, and the connection between Oleg and Tatyana is just gorgeous. There is mad chemistry and a lot of emotion, and I loved seeing their relationship progress as Tatyana figures herself out and Oleg fully embraces his feelings for her – protecting and supporting her every step of the way.
“This is your dance. Your life will be long, milaya. My life will be long. Right now this is your dance.”
I enjoyed reading about the kamvasa. It’s a great concept, and so interesting, and I love the way that Hunter has woven it into her world. Those familiar with the world may recognise the tie- in with the Elemental Legacy series, and Ben and Tenzin both appear in this book. Theirs are the only books in the Elemental world that I haven’t read, but I understand that events of this book cross over with Dawn Caravan, and even though I haven’t read that one, the crossover is very well done, and I enjoyed seeing them again.
This is an enjoyable read. A little slow to get going for me, but it finishes on a high note, and I’m excited to see what happens next for Oleg and Tatyana in the final book of their series.
3.5 stars.
An Advanced Review Copy was generously provided by the author for an honest review.
The Firebird and the Wolf
A standalone spin-off from the Elemental universe
Blood Mosaic (#1)
Review
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Crimson Oath (#2)
Review
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Obsidian Empire (#3)
Buy: Amazon
About Elizabeth Hunter
ELIZABETH HUNTER is a USA Today and international best-selling author of romance, contemporary fantasy, and paranormal mystery. Based in Central California, she travels extensively to write fantasy fiction exploring world mythologies, history, and the universal bonds of love, friendship, and family. She has published over thirty works of fiction and sold over a million books worldwide. She is the author of Love Stories on 7th and Main, the Elemental Legacy series, the Irin Chronicles, the Cambio Springs Mysteries, and other works of fiction.
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