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“As I step into the room, a silver flash blurs my vision. Before I can take a breath, the world falls away.” Brianna has always felt invisible. People stare right past her, including the one boy she can’t resist, Blake Williams. But everything changes at a house party when Brianna’s charm bracelet slips off and time stands still. In that one frozen, silver moment, Blake not only sees her, he recognizes something deep inside her that she’s been hiding even from herself. Discovering show more she is descended from Danu, the legendary Bandia of Celtic myth, Brianna finds herself questioning the truth of who she is. And when she accidentally binds her soul to Blake, their mutual attraction becomes undeniable. But Blake has his own secret, one that could prove deadly for them both. Bound together by forbidden magic, Brianna and Blake find themselves at the heart of an ancient feud that threatens to destroy their lives and their love. show lessTags
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Member Reviews
Release Date: Sep 8, 2012
ARC from Netgalley: 4½ stars/5 stars
“Beauty is pointless when no one’s looking. And no one ever looks.” But Brianna Paxton is used to no one looking at her and has resigned herself to the fact that this will likely never change. Until the day it does change, and then, quite unexpectedly, everything and everyone around Brianna changes, too. And who would have thought all that change could occur simply because Brianna took off her lucky silver bracelet?
Silver’s plot revolves around an ancient feud that all began with a tragic case of love gone way wrong. Through the centuries the feud, and need for vengeance, has traveled through the generations of two families, the Sons of Killian and the Daughters of show more Danu. Silver’s plot is entertaining, interesting, and filled with action and romance. Mixed into the brilliantly unfolding plot is the backstory of the feud, Danu and Killian, as well as the backstory of a few of the novel’s major characters. While the plot moves along rather quickly, it is not rushed, and the backstory is appropriately placed throughout.
While Silver contains a whole host of characters, this particular novel focuses primarily on Brianna, Blake, and Austin. Brianna had the potential to be a really annoying and angsty teenager, but Vance thankfully avoided this by creating a lead female that is smart, logical, rational, and not really your typical teenage girl at all. Brianna knows no one is ever looking at her, especially guys, but rather than wallowing in self-pity, Brianna chooses to focus her attention on her studies and hones her skills as a scientist who relies on empirical evidence rather than emotions. As the plot unfolds and Brianna begins to understand more about herself and her role in the ancient feud, she becomes even stronger and more confident. I love this about Brianna’s character and hope that her confidence and intelligence will continue to grow as the series grows.
Blake, God bless his stupid little heart! Blake is perhaps the most tragic character in the entire novel. He is beautiful, he is conflicted, he is physically strong, and he has a serious problem with inserting his foot in his mouth at every turn. Blake understands that he can’t help or control his connection to Brianna, and this struggle often has very bad results. Being near Brianna makes Blake both stronger and weaker and the two must come to terms with their place in each other’s world. While Blake struggles to say and do the right thing, he often epically fails. With that being said, it is abundantly clear that Blake is good and well-intentioned, he just can’t ever say or do what he really means, properly. Thank goodness, Brianna was also written to have a healthy level of patience ☺
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Austin in this review, as he is such a major part of Silver, but he is also a character that is difficult to discuss without divulging too much of the plot’s secrets, twists, and turns. So, I will leave you with my impression of Austin: slimy, creep-tastic, over-the-top nice, and always seeming to have some ulterior motive. For me, Austin never “felt” right; his actions and his words never really align, but you don’t fully know and/or appreciate why that is until it is nearly too late. Austin’s role in Silver is vital, and the plot just wouldn’t have been the same without him, but he still pisses me off!
Bottom line: Silver is an excellent read that had me hooked from the very first line. It is a book I had absolutely no desire to put down and, quite frankly, didn’t put down until I had plowed through the entire thing. With the exception of a few smallish and nagging questions, nothing about this novel didn’t appeal to me. This book is a fantastic blend of strong characters and great plot, and something I would certainly feel comfortable recommending to mature young adults and adults alike. Finally, it is clear that Talia Vance is far from done with the stories of Killian and Danu and Blake and Brianna. For that, I am very excited!! Write faster Talia Vance; I have the distinct feeling you are going to have a very large group of followers anxiously awaiting the release of book two. show less
ARC from Netgalley: 4½ stars/5 stars
“Beauty is pointless when no one’s looking. And no one ever looks.” But Brianna Paxton is used to no one looking at her and has resigned herself to the fact that this will likely never change. Until the day it does change, and then, quite unexpectedly, everything and everyone around Brianna changes, too. And who would have thought all that change could occur simply because Brianna took off her lucky silver bracelet?
Silver’s plot revolves around an ancient feud that all began with a tragic case of love gone way wrong. Through the centuries the feud, and need for vengeance, has traveled through the generations of two families, the Sons of Killian and the Daughters of show more Danu. Silver’s plot is entertaining, interesting, and filled with action and romance. Mixed into the brilliantly unfolding plot is the backstory of the feud, Danu and Killian, as well as the backstory of a few of the novel’s major characters. While the plot moves along rather quickly, it is not rushed, and the backstory is appropriately placed throughout.
While Silver contains a whole host of characters, this particular novel focuses primarily on Brianna, Blake, and Austin. Brianna had the potential to be a really annoying and angsty teenager, but Vance thankfully avoided this by creating a lead female that is smart, logical, rational, and not really your typical teenage girl at all. Brianna knows no one is ever looking at her, especially guys, but rather than wallowing in self-pity, Brianna chooses to focus her attention on her studies and hones her skills as a scientist who relies on empirical evidence rather than emotions. As the plot unfolds and Brianna begins to understand more about herself and her role in the ancient feud, she becomes even stronger and more confident. I love this about Brianna’s character and hope that her confidence and intelligence will continue to grow as the series grows.
Blake, God bless his stupid little heart! Blake is perhaps the most tragic character in the entire novel. He is beautiful, he is conflicted, he is physically strong, and he has a serious problem with inserting his foot in his mouth at every turn. Blake understands that he can’t help or control his connection to Brianna, and this struggle often has very bad results. Being near Brianna makes Blake both stronger and weaker and the two must come to terms with their place in each other’s world. While Blake struggles to say and do the right thing, he often epically fails. With that being said, it is abundantly clear that Blake is good and well-intentioned, he just can’t ever say or do what he really means, properly. Thank goodness, Brianna was also written to have a healthy level of patience ☺
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Austin in this review, as he is such a major part of Silver, but he is also a character that is difficult to discuss without divulging too much of the plot’s secrets, twists, and turns. So, I will leave you with my impression of Austin: slimy, creep-tastic, over-the-top nice, and always seeming to have some ulterior motive. For me, Austin never “felt” right; his actions and his words never really align, but you don’t fully know and/or appreciate why that is until it is nearly too late. Austin’s role in Silver is vital, and the plot just wouldn’t have been the same without him, but he still pisses me off!
Bottom line: Silver is an excellent read that had me hooked from the very first line. It is a book I had absolutely no desire to put down and, quite frankly, didn’t put down until I had plowed through the entire thing. With the exception of a few smallish and nagging questions, nothing about this novel didn’t appeal to me. This book is a fantastic blend of strong characters and great plot, and something I would certainly feel comfortable recommending to mature young adults and adults alike. Finally, it is clear that Talia Vance is far from done with the stories of Killian and Danu and Blake and Brianna. For that, I am very excited!! Write faster Talia Vance; I have the distinct feeling you are going to have a very large group of followers anxiously awaiting the release of book two. show less
Silver by Talia Vance
ARC received from Flux Books via Netgalley
Release Date: 9-8-2012
Reviewed by: Middle Sis Jenn
The Sisters Say: Sizzling, Surreptitious, and Spellbinding
“My life is a series of cruel ironies. The pretty girl no one sees. The horse I have to sell. The kiss I can’t keep.” -ARC, Location 205-206
From the moment I read the blurb of Silver, I had been waiting (impatiently) to read it! Then Talia told me it was on Netgalley and I have to admit…I did my happy dance—the dance that makes my toddler laugh, that makes my dogs start jumping up and down, and that makes my husband roll his eyes and mumble something about books being more important than oxygen for me. And in that moment—I might have given up a few breaths show more to be one of the first to read this book!
The idea of Brianna binding her soul to her mortal enemy just mesmerized me, and I will say that Talia did not let me down! One of the best things about this book is there isn’t chapter after chapter of set-up that you have to wade through to understand the world. The action starts in Chapter 1, and I have to say one of the best scenes of the book occurs in this chapter—the scene where Blake discovers who Brianna truly is. It’s sinister, but in a sexy way, and you can just feel the magic in the way Talia describes the scene. I felt like time froze and I was swept into their world to watch as both of their destinies crossed. AND I love the duplicitous dialogue here. My fave you ask? Said by Blake: “’Where have you been hiding?’ His smile is lethal.” Ohhhh…goose bumps!
I always enjoy seeing different mythology in a book, too. I absolutely love when mythology interwoven into the plot, but usually, all we see is Greek mythology. Every once in a while you see Norse mythology, but I have never read a YA book that has Celtic mythology in it; and it was intriguing to see something new and different. You don’t need to know much about the culture either because what you need to know is explained briefly without dragging down the action or dialogue.
One of the great things about this book is it keeps you guessing—which is something I really like. It may drive some people crazy that they are never able to tell who they can trust, but I think it adds to the suspense. I will say that I am still a little on edge because I don’t know who to trust!!! I mean, they’re mortal enemies; so who you can trust and who is good and who is bad is always going to be muddled in the shadows! I bet Talia is smiling mischievously knowing the torment she is putting us through…shame on you Talia! Keep it up!
The best character in this book is Jonah—a Son of Killian who has his death grip aiming for Brianna. He was such a jerk that I wanted to find someone that looks like him and give them a good old-fashioned you’re-an-a** rant. I have a feelings we’ll be seeing more of his jerkiness in the next book. Yay!
Brianna is your typical heroine who is struggling with the realization that she is something more than human. I liked her, although I will admit that I was not blown away by her. I wanted her to have more of a memorable personality—an aura that would strike you as someone with a great destiny awaiting. But, really, she just felt like a normal girl—which many people will like because they can relate to her. I, on the other hand, tend to like my heroines with a little more flare and a little more self-esteem (even if it only comes after gaining their powers). I’m hoping we will see her character develop into a don’t-mess-with-me-unless-you-want- to-be-called-“Eyepatch”-for-the-rest-of-your-life type of heroine. But, that’s just me—I tend to like the overbearing, kick your butt gals.
Now for Blake—the eye candy (or is it mind candy since it’s a book?). He’s the mortal enemy of Brianna, a Son of Killian who has pledged to do away with any daughter of Danu; yet, when their souls are bound together, it awakens something within him that makes him see Brianna as something other than a threat. I really liked Blake’s passion, but at times it felt unrealistic. I mean, he’s been trained his entire life to hate anyone like Brianna, yet his feelings for her change so quickly. I totally believe this is possible, but I wish we would have seen more scenes with him so we could see him struggle with his decision and then eventually fold. Plus—we would have gotten more scenes with him which I’m sure all the girls would love! Blake is mysterious and stealthy and protective of Brianna. He is definitely swoon-worthy. I’m hoping we will see A LOT more of him in Gold (the sequel)—and hopefully we can see a deeper, more personal side to him.
I enjoyed the romance in the novel, but I wish there was more! I definitely still wanted to trade places with Brianna at times, but I’d categorize the romance as a spark. I want to see a full out blaze! And the scene where their souls are bound—I wanted more! There was already one mature conversation in the book, so it would have been great for her to keep with the mature theme and given us a few more details!
What a debut for Talia Vance! Full of mystery and intrigue, betrayal and romance; Silver is a definite Must Read for lovers of paranormal romance!
Content Warning: I would rate this Mature YA for one scene near the beginning. I was kind of surprised by this scene because to me, the only reason it was there was to show how much of a jerk Jonah is, but I would have rather seen another way to show that he’s jerk and kept that scene out so more teenagers could read it.
I’ll leave you with one more of my favorite quotes from the book!
“The truth has never seemed clearer to me than it does right now. We cannot change the past. We cannot change our future. The ending was written the moment Blake kissed me on the beach.” ARC, location 2652-2653 show less
ARC received from Flux Books via Netgalley
Release Date: 9-8-2012
Reviewed by: Middle Sis Jenn
The Sisters Say: Sizzling, Surreptitious, and Spellbinding
“My life is a series of cruel ironies. The pretty girl no one sees. The horse I have to sell. The kiss I can’t keep.” -ARC, Location 205-206
From the moment I read the blurb of Silver, I had been waiting (impatiently) to read it! Then Talia told me it was on Netgalley and I have to admit…I did my happy dance—the dance that makes my toddler laugh, that makes my dogs start jumping up and down, and that makes my husband roll his eyes and mumble something about books being more important than oxygen for me. And in that moment—I might have given up a few breaths show more to be one of the first to read this book!
The idea of Brianna binding her soul to her mortal enemy just mesmerized me, and I will say that Talia did not let me down! One of the best things about this book is there isn’t chapter after chapter of set-up that you have to wade through to understand the world. The action starts in Chapter 1, and I have to say one of the best scenes of the book occurs in this chapter—the scene where Blake discovers who Brianna truly is. It’s sinister, but in a sexy way, and you can just feel the magic in the way Talia describes the scene. I felt like time froze and I was swept into their world to watch as both of their destinies crossed. AND I love the duplicitous dialogue here. My fave you ask? Said by Blake: “’Where have you been hiding?’ His smile is lethal.” Ohhhh…goose bumps!
I always enjoy seeing different mythology in a book, too. I absolutely love when mythology interwoven into the plot, but usually, all we see is Greek mythology. Every once in a while you see Norse mythology, but I have never read a YA book that has Celtic mythology in it; and it was intriguing to see something new and different. You don’t need to know much about the culture either because what you need to know is explained briefly without dragging down the action or dialogue.
One of the great things about this book is it keeps you guessing—which is something I really like. It may drive some people crazy that they are never able to tell who they can trust, but I think it adds to the suspense. I will say that I am still a little on edge because I don’t know who to trust!!! I mean, they’re mortal enemies; so who you can trust and who is good and who is bad is always going to be muddled in the shadows! I bet Talia is smiling mischievously knowing the torment she is putting us through…shame on you Talia! Keep it up!
The best character in this book is Jonah—a Son of Killian who has his death grip aiming for Brianna. He was such a jerk that I wanted to find someone that looks like him and give them a good old-fashioned you’re-an-a** rant. I have a feelings we’ll be seeing more of his jerkiness in the next book. Yay!
Brianna is your typical heroine who is struggling with the realization that she is something more than human. I liked her, although I will admit that I was not blown away by her. I wanted her to have more of a memorable personality—an aura that would strike you as someone with a great destiny awaiting. But, really, she just felt like a normal girl—which many people will like because they can relate to her. I, on the other hand, tend to like my heroines with a little more flare and a little more self-esteem (even if it only comes after gaining their powers). I’m hoping we will see her character develop into a don’t-mess-with-me-unless-you-want- to-be-called-“Eyepatch”-for-the-rest-of-your-life type of heroine. But, that’s just me—I tend to like the overbearing, kick your butt gals.
Now for Blake—the eye candy (or is it mind candy since it’s a book?). He’s the mortal enemy of Brianna, a Son of Killian who has pledged to do away with any daughter of Danu; yet, when their souls are bound together, it awakens something within him that makes him see Brianna as something other than a threat. I really liked Blake’s passion, but at times it felt unrealistic. I mean, he’s been trained his entire life to hate anyone like Brianna, yet his feelings for her change so quickly. I totally believe this is possible, but I wish we would have seen more scenes with him so we could see him struggle with his decision and then eventually fold. Plus—we would have gotten more scenes with him which I’m sure all the girls would love! Blake is mysterious and stealthy and protective of Brianna. He is definitely swoon-worthy. I’m hoping we will see A LOT more of him in Gold (the sequel)—and hopefully we can see a deeper, more personal side to him.
I enjoyed the romance in the novel, but I wish there was more! I definitely still wanted to trade places with Brianna at times, but I’d categorize the romance as a spark. I want to see a full out blaze! And the scene where their souls are bound—I wanted more! There was already one mature conversation in the book, so it would have been great for her to keep with the mature theme and given us a few more details!
What a debut for Talia Vance! Full of mystery and intrigue, betrayal and romance; Silver is a definite Must Read for lovers of paranormal romance!
Content Warning: I would rate this Mature YA for one scene near the beginning. I was kind of surprised by this scene because to me, the only reason it was there was to show how much of a jerk Jonah is, but I would have rather seen another way to show that he’s jerk and kept that scene out so more teenagers could read it.
I’ll leave you with one more of my favorite quotes from the book!
“The truth has never seemed clearer to me than it does right now. We cannot change the past. We cannot change our future. The ending was written the moment Blake kissed me on the beach.” ARC, location 2652-2653 show less
Silver was, simply put, amazing. I was instantly sucked into the story by the beautiful magic and romance. While the love story happens very quickly, it still feels genuine and it didn’t make me like it any less.
Boys just don’t seem to notice Brianna, so when the necklace that hides her identity falls off, she feels like she is being seen for the first time—and in a way she is. Since the story starts out just before Brianna loses her bracelet, we just get sucked into the thrill of being noticed along with Brianna.
I really thought that the story would be filled with quite a bit of angst from the description (“why doesn’t anyone notice me, whah, whah,” etc.). Luckily, that’s not really how it played out. Yes, Brianna had her show more emotional lows, but rather than coming across as angsty, I really felt for her. Brianna has been through a lot in her life and you just have to feel compassionate for her, as well as intrigued by the cause behind some of the more colorful problems she has encountered.
The mythology in Silver was intriguing—partially because I am not very familiar with Norse myth, so every aspect of the story felt new and fresh to me. My favorite part, however, was undoubtedly the romance. I adored Blake and Brianna. It is kind of a Romeo/Juliet type of love story—tragic, but lovely at the same time.
Prepare to get swept up in the romance and magic of Silver. Talia Vance has woven a tale that is filled with mysterious mythology, forbidden love, and lots of emotion. This is paranormal romance at its best. show less
Boys just don’t seem to notice Brianna, so when the necklace that hides her identity falls off, she feels like she is being seen for the first time—and in a way she is. Since the story starts out just before Brianna loses her bracelet, we just get sucked into the thrill of being noticed along with Brianna.
I really thought that the story would be filled with quite a bit of angst from the description (“why doesn’t anyone notice me, whah, whah,” etc.). Luckily, that’s not really how it played out. Yes, Brianna had her show more emotional lows, but rather than coming across as angsty, I really felt for her. Brianna has been through a lot in her life and you just have to feel compassionate for her, as well as intrigued by the cause behind some of the more colorful problems she has encountered.
The mythology in Silver was intriguing—partially because I am not very familiar with Norse myth, so every aspect of the story felt new and fresh to me. My favorite part, however, was undoubtedly the romance. I adored Blake and Brianna. It is kind of a Romeo/Juliet type of love story—tragic, but lovely at the same time.
Prepare to get swept up in the romance and magic of Silver. Talia Vance has woven a tale that is filled with mysterious mythology, forbidden love, and lots of emotion. This is paranormal romance at its best. show less
I loved silver. I loved how Brianna was always fighting the monster within her and wanting to save everyone to prove to herself more than to everyone that she wasn't evil, a killer, like so many wanted to prove her be. The fight between good and evil, to know what or who was good or bad was captivating.
Brianna is a strong character with a sharp tongue and has always been practically invisible to guys. And then there is Blake. Handsome, popular Blake who is always flanked by girls and who Brianna has been watching and longing for for a year. Blake, like all the other guys doesn't notice Brianna until her bracelet, which her dead grandmother gave to her, accidentally breaks at a party and a flash of silver alerts Blake of her existence. show more Together, the two of them struggle between their crazy attraction for each other and their loyalties to their families. Not to mention stopping a war from destroying them.
I haven't read anything about Celtic mythology so Silver was a whole new world for me that I didn't hesitate to enjoy. I had a very hard time setting my iPad down to do my homework but I totally don't regret it. Silver was worth it and I was tempted to skip some of my classes just so I could continue reading it.
The sexual tention between Blake and Brianna is always so crazy and I loved it.
A mind-blowing romance, a thrilling, steamy story and badass characters makes Silver one halluva book.
This is the first book I've read by Talia Vance and it sure won't be the last. I can't wait to read Gold, the second book in the Series. Just the title makes my heart flutter in anticipation.
If you haven't read Silver yet, I don't know what you're waiting for. You are missing on so much! show less
Brianna is a strong character with a sharp tongue and has always been practically invisible to guys. And then there is Blake. Handsome, popular Blake who is always flanked by girls and who Brianna has been watching and longing for for a year. Blake, like all the other guys doesn't notice Brianna until her bracelet, which her dead grandmother gave to her, accidentally breaks at a party and a flash of silver alerts Blake of her existence. show more Together, the two of them struggle between their crazy attraction for each other and their loyalties to their families. Not to mention stopping a war from destroying them.
I haven't read anything about Celtic mythology so Silver was a whole new world for me that I didn't hesitate to enjoy. I had a very hard time setting my iPad down to do my homework but I totally don't regret it. Silver was worth it and I was tempted to skip some of my classes just so I could continue reading it.
The sexual tention between Blake and Brianna is always so crazy and I loved it.
A mind-blowing romance, a thrilling, steamy story and badass characters makes Silver one halluva book.
This is the first book I've read by Talia Vance and it sure won't be the last. I can't wait to read Gold, the second book in the Series. Just the title makes my heart flutter in anticipation.
If you haven't read Silver yet, I don't know what you're waiting for. You are missing on so much! show less
I love Celtic lore and anything having to do with their legends. That's where my beloved fairies come from and I love the ancient traditions of the Celts though I am no expert in them by any means. Not many books have ventured into this subject area so it's a bit hard to follow sometimes when you aren't familiar with the lore. Even though I've read some of the old legends, I didn't know Danu or Killian so I found myself foundering a bit as I read the beginning of the book. I was completely lost and disappointed. When I finally got to what I'll call "the beach scene" I was about to give up entirely. Then I decided to start over.
When I started over, I read slower, taking time to understand what Brianna was saying and thinking, what show more actually happened in the silvery flash moments, what her friends were like, I really read slow because this all seemed brand new to me. As I read the second time, everything clicked and by the time I got to "the beach scene" I understood what was happening. So I caution you to read slowly and really understand what is real and not real in Brianna's words. I thought she loved Blake, but how do you love someone you've only worshiped from afar? And I thought when their souls were bound that they would love each other, but love didn't seem to factor into that. Love is separate from the soul. And that secret that Blake has, yeah, it's a killer!
I really did enjoy this story. I thought it meandered a little bit at first and I was a bit shocked at a couple of the scenes in the beginning, this is definitely for MATURE YA readers. Christy, one of Brianna's best friends is a girl that has a "jerk radar" as Brianna says, only she uses it the wrong way, falling for the jerks instead of turning away. Haley, Brianna's other best friend, is a guy magnet attracting any guy she wants dating them a little while and dumping them for the next guy. Brianna though has been invisible to guys until her charm bracelet falls off and Blake finally sees her.
The story behind their possibly not being able to be together is much bigger than some Romeo and Juliet kind of thing. It goes back thousands of years. And the two go back and forth between trusting and not trusting each other. Blake says things that Brianna doesn't understand and is hurt. Brianna lashes back and in you don't know if they really have feelings for each other or its the bond or both. I thought, from the synopsis this was going to be a boy and girl in love against all odds fighting against someone or something but that's what I get for believing the synopsis. It's kind of like believing in book covers. Sometimes you're lured in by false pretenses. But these two fight against having feelings for each other which was especially hard on Brianna's part as she'd watched Blake from the sidelines for so long. But the urge to fight was stronger.
There are plenty of side characters beside Brianna's best friends, most of them being Blake's friends, Jonah (grr), Austin, Joe and Brianna's parents. Yes, she does have parents that are somewhat involved in her life and bless the girl, she has rescued a horse, Dart, from the race circuit where he didn't do well, and has nursed him back to health. She has to sell him because she used part of her college fund to buy him, but she rescued an animal. Gotta love that girl. I found that I liked her more and more as the story went on and she became what she was meant to be-the Bandia.
The role the fates have destined her to play is not one any of would choose, I think and its one of those recurring ones that's been played out through time, kill or be killed. But Brianna is different and she wants to choose a different path for herself and she is determined to find a different way to live her life. The end of the book is nicely concluded but there is much more to come and I can't wait to see how the story turns out. I know there will be a lot of trials ahead for Brianna and Blake. I just hope their love becomes something more solid than it seemed to be in this first novel. And I'm sure there will be quite a few battles to be fought in the coming books, whether it be of wills or physically, they will come.
I recommend this to anyone who loves a bit of fantasy and legend, Celtic lore, magic, romance. This is definitely for Mature YA readers as there are sexual references in the book that are fairly explicit.
I received an ARC of this novel from the publishers Flux via NetGalley for an honest review. I received no compensation for my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own. show less
When I started over, I read slower, taking time to understand what Brianna was saying and thinking, what show more actually happened in the silvery flash moments, what her friends were like, I really read slow because this all seemed brand new to me. As I read the second time, everything clicked and by the time I got to "the beach scene" I understood what was happening. So I caution you to read slowly and really understand what is real and not real in Brianna's words. I thought she loved Blake, but how do you love someone you've only worshiped from afar? And I thought when their souls were bound that they would love each other, but love didn't seem to factor into that. Love is separate from the soul. And that secret that Blake has, yeah, it's a killer!
I really did enjoy this story. I thought it meandered a little bit at first and I was a bit shocked at a couple of the scenes in the beginning, this is definitely for MATURE YA readers. Christy, one of Brianna's best friends is a girl that has a "jerk radar" as Brianna says, only she uses it the wrong way, falling for the jerks instead of turning away. Haley, Brianna's other best friend, is a guy magnet attracting any guy she wants dating them a little while and dumping them for the next guy. Brianna though has been invisible to guys until her charm bracelet falls off and Blake finally sees her.
The story behind their possibly not being able to be together is much bigger than some Romeo and Juliet kind of thing. It goes back thousands of years. And the two go back and forth between trusting and not trusting each other. Blake says things that Brianna doesn't understand and is hurt. Brianna lashes back and in you don't know if they really have feelings for each other or its the bond or both. I thought, from the synopsis this was going to be a boy and girl in love against all odds fighting against someone or something but that's what I get for believing the synopsis. It's kind of like believing in book covers. Sometimes you're lured in by false pretenses. But these two fight against having feelings for each other which was especially hard on Brianna's part as she'd watched Blake from the sidelines for so long. But the urge to fight was stronger.
There are plenty of side characters beside Brianna's best friends, most of them being Blake's friends, Jonah (grr), Austin, Joe and Brianna's parents. Yes, she does have parents that are somewhat involved in her life and bless the girl, she has rescued a horse, Dart, from the race circuit where he didn't do well, and has nursed him back to health. She has to sell him because she used part of her college fund to buy him, but she rescued an animal. Gotta love that girl. I found that I liked her more and more as the story went on and she became what she was meant to be-the Bandia.
The role the fates have destined her to play is not one any of would choose, I think and its one of those recurring ones that's been played out through time, kill or be killed. But Brianna is different and she wants to choose a different path for herself and she is determined to find a different way to live her life. The end of the book is nicely concluded but there is much more to come and I can't wait to see how the story turns out. I know there will be a lot of trials ahead for Brianna and Blake. I just hope their love becomes something more solid than it seemed to be in this first novel. And I'm sure there will be quite a few battles to be fought in the coming books, whether it be of wills or physically, they will come.
I recommend this to anyone who loves a bit of fantasy and legend, Celtic lore, magic, romance. This is definitely for Mature YA readers as there are sexual references in the book that are fairly explicit.
I received an ARC of this novel from the publishers Flux via NetGalley for an honest review. I received no compensation for my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own. show less
One word. WOW! I mean WOW. What a story. Now this is story that I have (1) never heard of before and
(2) left me breathless.
First off, the plot line of the story is awesome. I like how the author took a this real story and made it her own. I really loved how well descriptive it was in getting back round history of the characters along with what is going along in the present.
There is a love interest that is off the charts. I loved that their love is not only forbidden but frowned upon. Two enemies coming together? Awesome! I like how they fought what was happening to them yet you can tell that they really belonged together.
There are many plot twist and turns in the book. Along with great character growth, I am excited to see where this show more book goes next.
Silver is enticing yet beautiful. A tale told so strongly, you are captured to read till the very end. All the amazing emotions fill the reader with a great reading adventure. If you want an fresh yet exciting story read this book! show less
(2) left me breathless.
First off, the plot line of the story is awesome. I like how the author took a this real story and made it her own. I really loved how well descriptive it was in getting back round history of the characters along with what is going along in the present.
There is a love interest that is off the charts. I loved that their love is not only forbidden but frowned upon. Two enemies coming together? Awesome! I like how they fought what was happening to them yet you can tell that they really belonged together.
There are many plot twist and turns in the book. Along with great character growth, I am excited to see where this show more book goes next.
Silver is enticing yet beautiful. A tale told so strongly, you are captured to read till the very end. All the amazing emotions fill the reader with a great reading adventure. If you want an fresh yet exciting story read this book! show less
Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales
Quick & Dirty: Dark and captivating tale about powerful magic and tragic love.
Opening Sentence: Beauty is pointless when no one’s looking.
The Review:
Brianna Paxton is invisible. The only people who can truly see her are her two good friends Haley and Christy. She just thinks it is a weird quirk of the people around her until the day Blake actually “sees” her one night at a party. She can’t believe her luck, not only can Blake see her but another boy at the party, Austin, takes an interest in her. Both boys know exactly that Brianna is a descendant of Danu, a powerful goddess and witch. Blake and Austin have their own plans for Brianna, good, bad and sketchy.
Blake comes from a family that hunts show more down those like Brianna, but he can’t deny the attraction he feels towards her. One night of passion leaves them bound together, body and soul. As Brianna slowly learns about herself and the people around her, she believes that a curse can be broken and not everyone has to live up to their legacy.
Brianna is a complicated girl. One minute she hates being invisible and then the next misses her invisibility. She has no problem getting into fights with her best friends. Brianna is also a little “stalkery” when it comes to Blake. She has kept a diary about her interactions with Blake on a daily basis for the past year.
Silver has a dark, tragic tone that flows throughout the novel. As a descendant of Danu, Brianna holds some powerful magic, but as generations of her kind have been hunted down by Blake’s family, their relationship is not taken well. Blake hides the fact that he is bonded to Brianna from his family, the only solution to the bond is death, but Blake seeks another way to lose the bond without either one of them dying.
Brianna’s first person account is well written even during the angsty teen parts, even as I wanted to scream at her to talk to her friends instead of constantly getting in fights with them. I had a hard time with many of the decisions that Brianna would make throughout the novel, especially when she would follow Blake around like a stalker. And I didn’t understand why she couldn’t believe Blake about a little thing like her bracelet when other even stranger things were happening around her that she believed with no problem.
Overall, Silver is a dark and angst filled teen novel. Readers who love highland magic and lore may want to give this novel a try. Beware to all horse lovers because there is a scene with a horse that may be a little hard to take even though all works out in the end. The ending of Silver has me hooked for the sequel Gold. I can’t wait to see how the relationships play out after that.
Notable Scene:
I don’t feel dizzy. At first, nothing is out of place. It’s not until I realize that I can no longer hear Matt cleaning up behind the counter, or even Christy as she repeats the spell that my pulse kicks into overdrive. The fact that the room is devoid of sound is the only warning I get before the entire room goes pitch black.
Crap. It occurs to me too late that I might be considered an evil creature who should be banished from earth, and I wonder if the spell really did work. But then the room comes back into focus, everything and everyone immobile, lost in silence.
I wait for something to happen. For someone to move in the stillness, but at first there’s nothing, just a frozen moment in time, stretching into a hollow void. The movement comes from behind me. I let go of Haley and Christy’s hands and get up from the table. When I turn around, everyone is still. Matt’s hand hovers over a note pad, but his eyes are locked on Christy even as his pen is pressed to the paper.
There is a flash of silver dancing in the air to his left.
Then the fairy tale princess is there, her indigo eyes sparkling.
“Are you Danu?” I ask as she walks toward me, arms outstretched.
“So you know me now, do you? A short lived peace then.”
FTC Advisory: Flux provided me with a copy of Silver. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. show less
Quick & Dirty: Dark and captivating tale about powerful magic and tragic love.
Opening Sentence: Beauty is pointless when no one’s looking.
The Review:
Brianna Paxton is invisible. The only people who can truly see her are her two good friends Haley and Christy. She just thinks it is a weird quirk of the people around her until the day Blake actually “sees” her one night at a party. She can’t believe her luck, not only can Blake see her but another boy at the party, Austin, takes an interest in her. Both boys know exactly that Brianna is a descendant of Danu, a powerful goddess and witch. Blake and Austin have their own plans for Brianna, good, bad and sketchy.
Blake comes from a family that hunts show more down those like Brianna, but he can’t deny the attraction he feels towards her. One night of passion leaves them bound together, body and soul. As Brianna slowly learns about herself and the people around her, she believes that a curse can be broken and not everyone has to live up to their legacy.
Brianna is a complicated girl. One minute she hates being invisible and then the next misses her invisibility. She has no problem getting into fights with her best friends. Brianna is also a little “stalkery” when it comes to Blake. She has kept a diary about her interactions with Blake on a daily basis for the past year.
Silver has a dark, tragic tone that flows throughout the novel. As a descendant of Danu, Brianna holds some powerful magic, but as generations of her kind have been hunted down by Blake’s family, their relationship is not taken well. Blake hides the fact that he is bonded to Brianna from his family, the only solution to the bond is death, but Blake seeks another way to lose the bond without either one of them dying.
Brianna’s first person account is well written even during the angsty teen parts, even as I wanted to scream at her to talk to her friends instead of constantly getting in fights with them. I had a hard time with many of the decisions that Brianna would make throughout the novel, especially when she would follow Blake around like a stalker. And I didn’t understand why she couldn’t believe Blake about a little thing like her bracelet when other even stranger things were happening around her that she believed with no problem.
Overall, Silver is a dark and angst filled teen novel. Readers who love highland magic and lore may want to give this novel a try. Beware to all horse lovers because there is a scene with a horse that may be a little hard to take even though all works out in the end. The ending of Silver has me hooked for the sequel Gold. I can’t wait to see how the relationships play out after that.
Notable Scene:
I don’t feel dizzy. At first, nothing is out of place. It’s not until I realize that I can no longer hear Matt cleaning up behind the counter, or even Christy as she repeats the spell that my pulse kicks into overdrive. The fact that the room is devoid of sound is the only warning I get before the entire room goes pitch black.
Crap. It occurs to me too late that I might be considered an evil creature who should be banished from earth, and I wonder if the spell really did work. But then the room comes back into focus, everything and everyone immobile, lost in silence.
I wait for something to happen. For someone to move in the stillness, but at first there’s nothing, just a frozen moment in time, stretching into a hollow void. The movement comes from behind me. I let go of Haley and Christy’s hands and get up from the table. When I turn around, everyone is still. Matt’s hand hovers over a note pad, but his eyes are locked on Christy even as his pen is pressed to the paper.
There is a flash of silver dancing in the air to his left.
Then the fairy tale princess is there, her indigo eyes sparkling.
“Are you Danu?” I ask as she walks toward me, arms outstretched.
“So you know me now, do you? A short lived peace then.”
FTC Advisory: Flux provided me with a copy of Silver. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. show less
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- Dedication
- For Sammy and Hunter: Never stop dreaming.
- First words
- Beauty is pointless when no one's looking.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)And I choose Blake.
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