Sandy Williams (1)

3.5/5 stars. Provided by publisher.
Something I've liked about this series all the way through is how it had the potential to be a love triangle, how the two men involved at times acted as if it was one, but McKenzie basically told them to stop their nonsense and get over it. She didn't wait around for Kyol to stop holding himself back because of tradition and when she was with Aren she gave him three days to shape up or get out. She pretty much acted like that with all the fae, being 100% show more over their bullshit and doing her best to get things arranged and done so she could move on with her life. And she did it. McKenzie was a cool character and I'll be sad to see her go. I won't, however, be sad to see Sandy Williams write more series in the future. show less

For generations the Rain family has operated a hotel on their land that has acted as a place of respite for paranorms. Vampires can see the sunrise and werewolves aren't pushed into a frenzy at the full moon. Because of this the Rains have always been tasked with keeping a neutral kind of peace between the various paranorm factions, following a specific set of rules put in place long before anyone can remember.

Five years ago Kennedy Rain ran afoul of these rules and left her parents to go show more to college intending on never looking back. But Kennedy has reluctantly decided to fill in for them while they're away on vacation. Except it seems that everything that can go wrong is going wrong to the point where is seems like someone is out to ruin the Rains. With her parents gone, and not knowing who to trust, Kennedy is on her own. She just has to make it until her parents get back.

It's been so long since I've read a vampire/werewolf-centric series (there are other paranorms, but for the moment the vampire and werewolf are the main ones). I loved getting back to what I tend to think of as "the beginning" of the paranormal / urban fantasy genre. These were the types of books I gravitated toward when I started reading the genre, but of course things have changed over the years. So when I get to go back into that space, I always feel this sense of nostalgia.

I really loved the setting of this story / series. The idea of there being an area where these paranorms can basically live as human again is super interesting and presents all sorts of cool possibilities to explore. Also, just the history of the area itself. How things came to be, not just with the land, but with the Rain family. I feel like there's more to unpack. And if it's something that might not happen within Kennedy's storylines, hopefully maybe a spinoff or novella could broaden this area of this fictionalized world a bit.

As for Kennedy - and the rest of the characters - it was a bit difficult to get a good beat on them. Kennedy comes back into this world, this life, that she abandoned five years ago and doesn't necessarily fit within it anymore. Her goals and ideals have changed from when she was a child and loved the magic of the paranorms. As she grew her eyes were opened to other aspects of the secret magical world and she didn't really agree with everything she saw. To come back now, she's also looked upon as an outsider by the paranorms. So there's a lot of distrust on both sides and for this reader, if it takes me more than half the book to start to trust a character - including the main character - that's too long.

I give it a slight pass because, to be fair, a lot is thrown at Kennedy in such a short amount of time. It's almost overwhelming. But I have Sandy Williams props because I felt like I was right there with Kennedy every time something else turned up wrong.

By the end, I had my feelings towards the characters figured out, and I'm definitely invested to the point where I need to find out what happens next. Plus I would not turn down any more page time spent between Kennedy and werewolf enforcer Blake, just sayin'.

Overall, I liked all the things this book reminded me of, but I loved the new territory is claimed for its own.

*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review. show less

While I wasn’t particularly impressed with The Shadow Reader, I was intrigued enough with the premise of Shades of Treason, the first in Williams’ new sci-fi romance series, that I decided to give this author another try. And I am very glad I did!

In Shades of Treason, Williams remedies the biggest problem I had with The Shadow Reader - namely, bland, undeveloped characters - by giving readers a compelling hero and heroine. I was immediately drawn in to Ash’s narration, and the show more alternating points of view provide additional insight into her love interest, Rykus. These characters are not one-dimensional cardboard cutouts, and I enjoyed uncovering their backstories, flaws, and motivations.

Shades of Treason marks my first foray into the sci-fi romance genre, and I am happy to say that it was successful! I love that the romance never overpowers the story. That said, my one complaint is that Ash and Rykus get it on at the most inopportune time in the whole book. (Seriously, you’re running for your life, and you’re going to have sex now?! This right here is why I can't read romantic suspense.) Still, I did enjoy the steaminess in a guilty pleasure kind of way.

For me, the highlight of the novel is the non-stop action. You're thrown into the fray right from the beginning, and the story never slows down. The fast-paced plot, combined with captivating worldbuilding and sizzling romantic tension, makes Shades of Treason a damn entertaining read that’s difficult to put down. This is exactly what I was in the mood for, and I can’t wait to pick up book two. show less

McKenzie can track the fae. She works for the fae king tracking dangerous rebels and is in love with Kyol, a high-ranking member of the fae king's court. She's content, at least until she's captured by the rebels and Aren, their leader, tells her some truths she's not ready to hear.

I liked this. It was different enough to capture my attention and had enough conflict to keep it.