Linsey Hall

Magic Undying by Linsey Hall
Dragon’s Gift: The Seeker Book #1

What fun! Del is definitely dead, or so everyone assumes, until she wakes with a heartbeat and the need to escape the underworld. Once out she is not safe and has poisoning to overcome, a demon to locate and the Warden of the underworld to contend with. Her friends are there to help out should she need them but most of Del’s time is spent with Roarke, the warden.

Roarke is gorgeous, strong, smart, wealthy, lethal and intrigued show more by Del and yet he still plans to return her to the underworld since she died AND rules must be followed. Del is attracted to Roarke but has no desire to return to the underworld. She is attractive, lethal, smart, deadly, and has plenty of secrets she does not want out. She also is tied to death in ways that are yet to be explored.

This book is a great introduction to the next set of books in the Dragon’s Gift series and, if possible, I believe I like Del and Roarke together better than I liked Cass and Adrian. I am eager to see what will happen when Nix meets her match in the future.

I love a book that makes me think and this one did. With Arthurian legends, Greek mythology and crossovers into other belief systems and mythologies this had me thinking about “what if” and also the idea that many times what one believes “is”. What is the afterlife and is it the same for everyone? Is immortality a possibility? What is or could be resurrection? Could there be dragons and other supernatural beings out there? If I “believe” could that impact reality? Hmm…anyway…this was a great story and fun to continue contemplating even though I have now finished the book.

Thank you to the author for the copy of this book. This is my honest review.

5 Stars show less

“I doona CARE for you. I LOVE you. There’s a difference. A damn big one. You’ve saved my life, saved my soul, woken me from the coma of existing but no’ living. And I love you. You’re strong, brave, determined, selfless, funny. You’re everything I’ve ever wanted but dinna realize. You’re what makes me whole now, no’ my soul.” - Warren Campbell

Good Lord, why, WHY do you torture me so with guys like Warren?! Do you get some kind of sick satisfaction seeing me drool over show more their brooding ways or something?!

Warren Campbell has ceased hoping he can ever get his humanity - his soul - back ever again. So it's only undestandable that he doesn't trust soulceresses, since he's in this predicament thanks to one of their kind. But when said soulceress is about to break out of her eternal prison, he will need to work side by side with Esha - who just so happens to be a soulceress, too. What is more, she is the only one that makes his body respond, eager for something he has long shoved away. Will they be able to defeat Aurora and get her back to her prison before her use of Warren's soul breaks him completely? And what will they do when they realize they may be even more perfect for each other than they originally feared?

Well, what can I say? I knew this was going to be a love-hate romance, and wasn't disappointed. I love these types of romances. They have the right amount of drama, and while it breaks my heart to watch two people who would be a really awesome couple throw all this hate and hurt at each other, it also makes the point when they finally break down and get together even sweeter.

Warren and Esha's story was like that. They were always throwing insults and hurtful words towards each other - Warren doing it even more often - and it kept ripping my soul in two sobbing pieces. Why? Because they weren't just wonderful together. They also knew it! And they kept pushing each other away for so many reasons, no matter how valid! I'm telling you, the moment the dam broke, I cried!

And I have to admit, the way things ended... Well, I was shocked! Not only did it surprise me - I mean, I rarely if ever get that kind of feeling when reading anymore - but I also think that Ms. Hall painted a much better picture than the one I had in mind. Trust me, mine was reaaaallllyyyy gloomy!

Ana's story is up next - oh, goody, I like her, she has spunk and she's funny. Plus, she likes Esha as much as I do, so that makes her a lovable character in my eyes. show less

Now THIS was something new - and you know me, new is most of the times translation for "I've never seen this, now I have, and GOD it was awesome"!

Cadan Trinovante is a Mythean Guardian, an Immortal whose duty is to protect those that affect humanity greatly. He's loyal to his cause, and never gets completely attached to those he protects. But his new mission is about to prove tricky. Diana Laughton, a woman seeking to work as a professor one day, is the reincarnation of Boudica, the ancient show more Celtic warrior queen, and she's in real trouble. Demons are after her, an enemy of Boudica's wants to kill her, and a man she's instantly attracted to is trying to protect her, but hides a ton of secrets that could very well bring back her past life's memories. Can she survive even against the odds saying she's meant to die after fulfilling her mission? And will Cadan be able to get a second chance for his heart, when the same woman who once threw it away is once again by his side, about to be taken by death once more?

I simply LOVED this book. And I'm ecstatic that it's the first of the series, because I couldn't possibly be able to be satisfied with just one story about the Mytheans.

What to praise first? The story that was full of plot twists and surprises? The pace that never let me take a breath? The characters that were a perfect mix of contemporary and legend?

Well, this book was all this, and more. It was fast in pace, packed with action, and the characters were wonderful in the mixed natures. I mean, usually immortal characters are overdoing it with using modern facilities, like the writers are trying their hardest to prove that those beings that came from the ancient times can really live in our century. Ok, we don't doubt they can, no need to keep rubbing it in our faces.

But Ms. Hall did her characters justice. They were fairly good in blending with modern society, but they hadn't forgotten their roots, their history. They were modest in using technology, and while they did that, they didn't overdo it with their supernatural abilities, either.

A perfect balance!

What is more, the romance in the story was equally hot AND emotional. For the first time in so long, we actually see a guy who finds the woman he believed to be his one true love, NOT trying to change the reincarnation into her original form. See, Cadan knew he was falling in love with Diana. He did fight it, but he didn't try to turn her into another Boudica. He saw her for who she really was. It was refreshing to read, and yes, I think deep down, he instinctively knew Boudica hadn't really loved him, not the way Diana did.

Well done, Cadan!

Diana was also an interesting female. She was scared out of her wits, didn't try to hide it or act tough, yet didn't become a useless damsel in distress, either. No, she tried to become stronger, to find answers to her questions, and was always willing to help as long as it was within her powers to do so. The way she treated Cadan had me cringing at times, of course, but then I kept reminding myself that Boudica played a major part in that, so it was easy to transfer my dislike towards her person and enjoy the rest of the story.

Now I can't wait to read Warren and Esha's story. Something tells me theirs is a love-hate relationship, and I love those! show less

Oh my gosh, Connor is freaking hot!!!!!!!! All this time reading the Dragon's Gift series and I always pictured him as the nerdy, lanky, mop of curly hair, potions wiz sidekick brother to Claire. I should have known that Linsey would throw us off-track like that. And Sora, I so want to know more about her. Fated Mates!!!! yessss. Though this book is not a very long read and the story speeds through quite quickly, you get to see a whole new side of Connor and it is going to leave you show more scratching your head about why you saw him any other way.

Advanced Review Copy provided for voluntary review consideration. show less