Crown of Crimson (Underworld Gods 2) by Karina Halle -Review Tour

Crown of Crimson (Underworld Gods 2) by Karina Halle -Review & Excerpt Tour

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date May 23, 2022

The next thrilling instalment in the Underworld Gods series. Perfect for readers who want high steam Hades/Persephone and Beauty and the Beast vibes with a dark Nordic folklore twist.

All Hanna Heikkinen wants is to be reunited with her father again. After all, that’s why she ventured into the dark and dangerous fantasy world of Tuonela, the Land of the Dead, in order to save his life. But this time her devotion to her father comes at a cost—her growing relationship with Tuoni, the God of Death himself, who held Hanna captive in exchange for her father’s life. The last thing she expects is to feel remorse at how she left things with Death, yet the dark and sexy God is all she can think about.

Death has always prided himself on never trusting the living, but Hanna’s apparent betrayal has left a scar fathom’s deep. Vowing revenge on his future bride, and making sure she upholds her end of the bargain, Death sets out across his realm to steal Hanna back, which only fans the flames between them. But Death and Hanna aren’t just fighting each other—malevolent Old Gods are rising to power within the realm, magic is being poisoned, and buried secrets are brought to light, secrets that may cause Hanna to lose everyone she loves dear once again.

•••••••

REVIEW: Second book in the Underworld Gods series, and we ended book one in a little bit of a cliffhanger…..

Hanna has mixed emotions on leaving Death. But she has the opportunity to be with her father, so it clouds her judgement. It’s hard for her to choose, but it’s only right to be with father. Death/Grim Reaper (Tuoni) is absolutely livid at being left by Hanna! She was suppose to stay with him forever. He’s going to get her back, and he’s going to make her sorry she left him….

This time we get to witness Death’s side of the story as well as Hanna’s, and I really enjoyed reading his side. He tries to keep emotions out of his reasonings for getting Hanna back, but we all know it’s because it’s his heart involved.

We start where the last book finished. Hanna is looking for her father, being given the chance to meet him is given to her, but to do that she needs to leave Death! When Death/Tuoni catches up with her, you think it’s going to be ok, he’ll forgive her and they’ll live happily ever after. Uh no! He crowns her his Queen, then throws her into a hole (oubliette) He has no intentions of forgiving her!

There is also other bits that will keep you entertained, underhanded dealings that will have Death fighting for his land! His ex-wife and son are nothing but trouble (but a coup was ready to happen, they waited whilst Death was dealing with Hanna to strike!) He also has to deal with an uprising, enemies coming back to seek revenge, and a family that really doesn’t like him! And Hanna is more than just a mortal looking for her father ? (that’s why you need to read book one first)

Oh and there is a prophecy claiming Hanna will bring Death to its knees and usher in a new era and new master!

I really enjoyed reading this book. It doesn’t end on a cliffhanger, but it does leave us wanting to find out more about Tuoni and Hanna. There are twists and turns that will keep you turning the pages, especially the last 1/3 of the book. And personally I can’t wait for the next book.

Oh, does Hanna ever come out of oubliette? Will Tuoni ever forgive her? And can he trust any of his children? And what of the prophecy?

And will Hanna ever reunite with her father? (See, told you there were lots of questions that needed answering) . So you’ll definitely need to read the first book (River of Shadows) before reading this one.

So if your a fan of fairytales for adults (this one did have vibes of Beauty and the Beast) then I’d recommend this one.

Click HERE for Julie’s review of book one RIVER OF SHADOWS

Copy supplied for review

? Reviewed by Julie

 

 

He shakes his head ever so subtly, his fingers bruising my skin. “After all you’ve seen, all you’ve done, all you’ve felt, and you’re still blind to the world around you. This is your world, Hanna. You know it is. You know you belong here more than you’ve ever belonged in your other life, and more than that, you belong here with me.”My jaw tightens as I try to ignore the way my heart is skipping in my chest. “You’re sounding sentimental.”

“You’re mistaking sentiment with facts,” he says, lowering his masked face toward mine. “A mistake I’m sure you won’t make again. You belong with me, because that is the bargain we made. There is no escape for you. Not now, not ever. You made a promise to me, and your promise will be held to the very end.”

There’s a finality in his words that makes my blood run cold. For a moment he loosens his grip and sighs deeply. “I know you don’t like being told what to do, but you could have had it all,” he says, almost wistfully. “You could have had my trust. Now you will become my wife and there won’t be an ounce of trust or love between us.”

My heart skips again. “Who said anything about love?”

“Hmmph.” He tilts his head, examining me. “I could have loved you, you know.”

Oh. That I didn’t know. And for reasons I can’t explain, it feels like he’s pulled a pin out from my heart and I’m slowly deflating.

 


 

Karina Halle is a former travel writer, music journalist & screenwriter, and The New York Times, Wall Street Journal & USA Today Bestselling author of over 55 bestselling novels, ranging from horror and suspense to contemporary romance. She lives on an island off the coast of British Columbia with her husband, and her adopted pitbull Bruce, where she drinks a lot of wine, hikes a lot of trails and devours a lot of books.

Halle is represented by the Root Literary Agency and is both self-published and published by Simon & Schuster, Hachette & Montlake. Her work has been translated and published in 20 languages.

You can visit www.authorkarinahalle.com and sign up for the newsletter for news, excerpts, previews, private book signing sales and more.

Connect with Karina

Website: https://authorkarinahalle.com/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4785031.Karina_Halle
Amazon: https://amzn.to/31HMztJ
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorkarinahalle/
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/912577838806567/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorhalle/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MetalBlonde
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/karina-halle

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River of Shadows (Underworld Gods 1) by Karina Halle-Review Tour

River of Shadows (Underworld Gods 1) by Karina Halle-Review Tour

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3EasO0D

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release January 30, 2022.

River of Shadows is an adult dark fantasy romance based on Finnish mythology and the underworld of Tuonela.

When 24-year old Hanna Heikkinen’s estranged father dies, she reluctantly makes the trip to Northern Finland for his funeral. Being in the enchanting land of ice and snow feels miles away from Hanna’s busy life back in Los Angeles, especially under the complicated circumstances.

But when Hanna discovers that her father’s body is missing, that’s when things really get weird. A mysterious man, Rasmus, tells Hanna the truth: her father was a powerful shaman who went into Tuonela, the Realm of the Dead, in order to barter for more life, and has been held captive by Tuoni, the God of Death. The only way her father can be freed is if she travels with Rasmus into the mythical underworld to rescue him.

Willing to do anything to have a second-chance with her father, Hanna accompanies Rasmus into the dark and bloody realm, traveling via the River of Shadows, stalked by dangerous creatures, monsters, and the living dead, until they finally come into the haunted kingdom ruled by Death and his family.

Only for her to be captured and held prisoner by the God of Death himself.

Turns out Death is intrigued by Hanna’s beauty and fierceness and makes a bargain with her. If she marries him, and spends an eternity in the Realm of the Dead as his wife, he’ll set her father free.

But even the most noble sacrifices come with hidden costs, and Hanna’s might involve the most unexpected of all things: her heart.

•••••••

REVIEW:A start to a new series by one of my favourite authors.

I do love a retelling of a classic, and this one reminds very much of Persephone and Hades.
It’s based on a Finnish mythology story, but it’s not necessary to know about it before diving into this amazing book.

Death I found was a fascinating character, to everyone who knows him, he’s cold and calculating, being Death he has to be, but being around Hanna brings out more, a possessive but sort of caring (well he thinks of it as caring)

Hanna comes to Finland from Los Angeles to say goodby to her father. But finding out he’s not in the coffin, but being held in the Underworld (or Tuonela) by Death himself, Hanna is coerced into setting out to rescue him! Hanna a great character, a mixture of self assured and confused. She’s thrown into a world that she didn’t think existed, to a world of Gods and their evil and spiteful ways.

Being given the option to marry Death to set her father free, what would you do?

It’s beautifully written, and really well thought out. It’s a little gory at times, and a little strange, but totally engrossing, I picked the book up and didn’t put it down till it was done.

Addition characters will have you either rooting for them, or wondering if they have an ulterior motive.

I was totally not expecting the cliffhanger, but I’m happy that we get more of Death and Hanna.

So if you like mythological stories and fantasy, then grab this book. You won’t regret it.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Julie B ?

Karina Halle is a former travel writer, music journalist & screenwriter, and The New York Times, Wall Street Journal & USA Today Bestselling author of over 55 bestselling novels, ranging from horror and suspense to contemporary romance. She lives on an island off the coast of British Columbia with her husband, and her adopted pitbull Bruce, where she drinks a lot of wine, hikes a lot of trails and devours a lot of books.

Halle is represented by the Root Literary Agency and is both self-published and published by Simon & Schuster, Hachette & Montlake. Her work has been translated and published in 20 languages.

Hit her up on Instagram at @authorHalle, on Twitter at @MetalBlonde and on Facebook. You can also visit www.authorkarinahalle.com and sign up for the newsletter for news, excerpts, previews, private book signing sales and more.

Connect with Karina

Website: https://authorkarinahalle.com/
Goodreadshttps://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4785031.Karina_Halle
Amazon: https://amzn.to/31HMztJ
Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/authorkarinahalle/
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/912577838806567/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorhalle/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MetalBlonde
Bookbubhttps://www.bookbub.com/authors/karina-halle

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