King Hall/ King Cave (Forever Evermore 1&2) by Scarlett Dawn-a review

King Hall
Forever Evermore #1
by Scarlett Dawn
Genre: New Adult, contemporary, paranormal, urban fantasy
Release Date: August 2013

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About the book: Release Date August 2013

King Hall — where the Mysticals go to learn their craft, get their degrees, and transition into adulthood. And where four new Rulers will rise and meet their destinies.

Lily Ruckler is adept at one thing: survival. Born a Mystical hybrid, her mere existence is forbidden, but her nightmare is only about to start. Fluke, happenstance, and a deep personal loss finds Lily deeply entrenched with those who would destroy her simply for existing — The Mystical Kings. Being named future Queen of the Shifters shoves Lily into the spotlight, making her one of the most visible Mysticals in the world. But with risk comes a certain solace — her burgeoning friendships with the other three Prodigies: a wicked Vampire, a wild-child Mage, and a playboy Elemental. Backed by their faith and trust, Lily begins to relax into her new life.

Then chaos erupts as the fragile peace between Commoners and Mysticals is broken, and suddenly Lily realises the greatest threat was never from within, and her fear takes on a new name: the revolution.

REVIEW: KING HALL is the first instalment in Scarlett Dawn’s contemporary, new adult paranormal Forever Evermore series focusing on a group of four ‘Mystical’ prodigies (vampire, shifter, mage, elemental) who have been blessed or ‘cursed’ by bloodline or connection to take their rightful places as the ruling Kings and Queens of the paranormal world. As the final year of school comes to an end, our foursome will be thrown into a war, not of their making. The Commoners (humans) want to rid the world of the Mysticals (supernatural beings) and they will start with the destruction of King Hall on graduation night.

Scarlett Dawn pulls the reader into a storyline that follows four twenty-something adults as them embark on a year of vigorous training, magical manipulation and mind numbing studies. We watch as strangers become friends and with it the realization that without one another they are lost. Working together, they are a powerful combination and in the end, it will be the individual losses and heartbreaking truths that will bring them closer together.

KING HALL is labeled a new adult storyline but reads similar to many YA (young adult) stories and series. There is a familiarity about the premise ala House of Night and even a little Harry Potter thrown in for good measure. Our foursome will encounter discrimination and retribution from humans while struggling with their own identities as future rulers in a world on the brink of war.

There were a few plot points that felt unnecessary including the opening sex-ed for supernatural beings-it was uncomfortable and felt forced-as thought the author was trying too hard. There were many humorous and funny as well as some heartbreaking moments in the storyline. Their mentors and current Kings put our foursome through some pretty tough tests but in the end, there were not prepared for hell that rained down on their happy celebration.

As a new author, Scarlett Dawn has written a wonderful and seductive storyline that will be sure to please the paranormal fan in all of us. The sexual heat is minimal-most of the action is implied or after the fact- and in this it reads closer to YA. There is a bit of a cliff hanger-one that has our foursome on the run- and in this you know, that together they will survive everything and everyone that is thrown their way.

Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

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King Cave
Forever Evermore #2
by Scarlett Dawn
Genre: New Adult, contemporary, paranormal, urban fantasy
Release Date: January 1, 2014

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 1, 2014

The safe, comfortable world of Lily Ruckler and her fellow Mystical Kings and Queens is rocked to the core by the attacks at King Hall. Not only does Lily have to kill the Commoners attacking her people, she also has to assume the mantle of leadership, and bring the surviving Mysticals to King Cave.

It should have been too much, but she is not alone. Ezra becomes her rock, her best friend, the one person who understands. As Pearl and Jack struggle with inconsolable loss, Ezra and Lily work to keep the Mys community safe in their new home, and plan a deadly retaliation.

Their friendship saves them both…but it also draws attention. Whispers. Judgment. It’s not normal for Shifters and Vampires to be friends, and when a horrifying truth is revealed, their relationship morphs from unusual to unspeakable. Lily is good at keeping secrets that could get her killed. Is she willing to risk Ezra’s life as well?

REVIEW: KING CAVE is the second instalment in Scarlett Dawn’s contemporary, new adult, paranormal, UF series-Forever Evermore. The primary focus of this instalment is on two Mysticals –Shifter Queen Lily and King Vampire Ezra –and the upcoming war between Comms (Commoners) and the Mys (Mysticals). It is believed that breeding between the species results in beasts of unknown powers, and therefore the Comms are going to war to prevent the supernatural powers from ‘infecting’ the human race.

As with all supernatural and paranormal societies, there are rules and regulations about interacting with other species or breeding outside of the group. In this, the storyline takes on a dark and foreboding premise. Lily and Ezra’s relationship will become tabloid fodder for the Elders and the reigning Kings, but a relationship that is about to put everyone at risk including the couple themselves.

Scarlett Dawn pulls the reader into a storyline of heartbreaking sorrow and shredding grief. No one is safe when death comes looking for a fight-a fight that death wins over and over. This is an adult storyline, with adult images and adult pain and suffering. There are moments of humor that are offset by betrayal and hatred to be followed by the horror of death and everything it has to offer.

KING CAVE is a well-written, amazingly detailed and energetic story about prejudice, stereotyping and speciesism. Ancient and archaic rules once meant to protect will throw the new generation of ruling factions into a war with the humans and among themselves. Lily and Ezra will be caught between love and duty and, in the end, everyone will lose when the final spell is cast.

The secondary characters are a necessary and colorful addition to the storyline with well-developed roles that add suspense, cruelty and questionable behavior.

Scarlett Dawn blends the paranormal with the mundane resulting in an imaginative storyline that is as dramatic as it is intense. This is a story of betrayal and pain; heartbreak and sorrow; prejudice and hatred; love and loss. Lovers of both the paranormal and urban fantasy will be pulled into a story where love and hatred ride a very fine line where one misstep results in the staggering realization that maybe it was never meant to be.

Copy supplied by Netgalley.

Reviewed by Sandy