♥♥♥ 4.5 'Mind Blowing' Stars ♥♥♥

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"Perhaps it's in darkness, that things will come to light."

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This book is a prequel to the Sons of Wrath series. If you have read the first two books, you know who Xander is by the few times we have read about him. This is his story where we learn how he became a fallen angel.



This is a bit hard for me to review because I didn't know what to think once it all came to an end. But I do know for sure that I enjoyed it.



We meet Xander and I didn't know what to really think of him. He seemed hard, self assured, dominant, and an anti-hero. But there were moments in the book where I wasn't convinced he was all that bad like he portrayed himself. At first, it seems like Xander has this weird obsession with a stripper named Karinna. He follows her around and desires her but he can't give in, because she is a human. There were also moments he was tender which made me freaking swoon.

Then we have Karinna, who I really liked for being strong and a badass. But she was an enigma just as much as Xander was. She desperately wants revenge for her sister. And to do that, she must infiltrate the dark club her sister was tormented and abused in. Karinna seemed to be haunted by her past and I really wanted to find out more about it and about her. She was just really intriguing.



When these two meet...holy freaking hell!! The sexual tension was very panty melting. They both were attracted to one another but both resisted for their own reasons. It was very entertaining watching them slowly break down and give in to it. I freaking loved it! I freaking loved Xander! He was SO sexy and an awesome alpha. The things he would say!! I really enjoyed the chemistry between these two characters and seeing them fall in love.

There were a few moments where I was't completely sure what direction the story was headed. So, I was left wondering. I should have been patient, because then there came a twist that just blew my mind. I seriously couldn't believe I hadn't picked up on the clues to realize what was coming. I LOVED that the author was able to surprise me that way. VERY well done in the writing.



After that big turn of events, I was a bit confused as to the feelings Karinna and Xander had. But then Xander sacrifices himself and I know that what he feels for Karinna is completely real. So, overall, I really enjoyed it. It was a really great read. I loved the plot and the big twist. I loved the mysterious but amazing main characters. I loved the steam with some BDSM in the mix. It also had some dark cringing scenes that makes this one not for everyone. But I wouldn't say it was DARK dark.

The ending was not your typical HEA but I felt like it ended like it should have. I am now highly anticipating reading about Xander in future books. If you already love the series like I do, or just love paranormal books, you need to read this one too. This one is one of those books you need to read with very little knowledge of the book to really enjoy it. So, please avoid spoilers. Trust me.



~Arc kindly provided by author, Keri Lake, in exchange for an honest review. ~

I loved this book and thought it was a great addition to the Sons of Wrath series

This time around we have Logan and Calla as our main couple, the book had already been set up at the end of Soul Avenged when Calla - being of pure blood – was the only person who could save Logan from death after he saved her from being raped but had been stabbed with demortis in return - one of the only things that can kill a demon. We knew that something was happening between them, especially with Calla’s reaction to Logan’s predicament but did we think that Logan would go for it? Hells no! So we’re left with pure, virginal Calla pining after the cold and emotionless Logan…. But don’t think of Calla as a victim, she’s a fighter…. But will she fight for Logan when it seems like a losing battle? I love the combination of this pairing and I’m a sucker for tortured heroes who think themselves unworthy of anything clean and pure so how perfect is Calla to challenge Logan’s demons? Pretty much so because I love what she brought out in him, how he pushed her away in the beginning, trying to fight the way he was feeling toward her, not even totally understanding his feelings but absolutely sure they aren’t what they were, then when he thinks he just needs her intimately, thinking himself a bastard for doing so – right up until he would risk everything for her… he had built his barrier, guarded the heart he refused to believe he had ….and timid, shy Calla knocked it down at every chance she got, by just being her. I was totally sucked in!

The storyline was a perfect progression and I love the new threat brought into the mix, these books aren’t fluffy romance books book, they are gritty, raw, violent, sadistic and at times grotesque…… but flipping awesome! Plus when you add a bunch of seriously hot but f’d up men….. let’s just say the temperature will soar. You can feel the danger & tension which adds to the appeal because with warriors like ‘the Sons of Wrath’, your enemies are going to be formidable and believe me….they are. The whole gang will take some knocks in this, one moreso than the others but don’t even think that it will be easy for any of them, and you can really appreciate and anticipate the consequences that will follow this book. I will say that even though the romance aspect is a battle of wills between two people who consider themselves unworthy, it is the only sweetness that you will find in this story but is the most beautiful, heartwarming sweetness you could wish for and I got the feeling that all of the brothers felt this one. I said there will be consequences for book three, which is true for more than one person because there are not only new creatures to deal with but new enemies from unexpected places, a little more knowledge on the ‘human/alexi’ situation and still one enemy yet to re emerge as the brothers await their fates…. I can’t wait!

Xander gets his story! =)
If you have no idea who Xander is, you will find out in The Fallen. He was introduced in Keri Lake’s first two books in Sons of Wrath, Soul Avenged and Soul Resurrected, which did come out before The Fallen. (as you noticed)…but that is because readers were anxious to find out about Xander and Keri decided his tale needed to actually be first. She did a bang up job on telling his tale because now questions were answered about this crazy, dark-twisted character that readers were fascinated about.

The moment I picked up books one and two of the Sons of Wrath series I knew I was a lost cause to everything around me until I finished the books. (My poor husband and girls had to figure out meals without me, etc.) The Fallen did the exact same thing too, but left me with an ache in my heart and left me loving the dark, twisted character Xander even more. I was not expecting his character to be the way he was in The Fallen, but Keri surprised me throughout the story. Don’t get me wrong he’s still intimidating, but he has a heart. A very kind heart…at least to one certain person. He went through an ordeal in The Fallen and Keri surprised me with a certain character that left me in shock. (especially towards the end).

The minute you start reading The Fallen you fall into a the dark and twisted world of Xander and how he sees himself as evil, but he’s doing evil for good. He has hidden secrets about him that are revealed in The Fallen, which help readers understand him better. We get to know who stole his heart too and why. We even get to see what makes him tick and what excites him. Let’s just say…you may be more scared or intrigued by him.

The other character, Karinna telling the tale is intriguing as well because she actually helped show the other side of Xander that readers did not know about. She played a major part in the story due to her wanting to know all about the corrupted world where Xander resides. She has her reasons though, and she is thrown into the world that she’ll either survive or die trying to find out answers. She’ll get help though, but Xander will either make her or break her even further.

Keri’s way of writing is like no other writers out there. Her use of narration of two different points of views, characterization, and dark imagery provide a dramatic structure throughout the story leading up to what makes The Fallen‘s ending unforgettable. (at least for the character Xander and even to Keri’s readers)

Keri gives fore warning ahead of time with this book being not for the faint hearted and it’s meant for 18+ readers only. It has lots of swear words, BDSM elements, abusive twisted moments, and dark gritty scenes that will make you cringe at times.

One of the reasons why I chose to write up a review like this instead of going into detail about the book is because this is not a book I want to spoil to readers. I loved the first two books and loved this one as well. Xander is a very intriguing character and again I am freakin’ ecstatic that Keri decided to tell his tale. Keri did not disappoint at all with Xander…in fact…she made me love his character even more. A lot of readers may find that weird, especially if you have read the other books because how he is…but every character has secrets to them. Xander’s life happens to be more graphic and tough than expected which is why I loved The Fallen.

Readers who are new to this series can start with the prequel first or they could even go with Soul Avenged first. It’s not confusing at all where you start from.

After reading The Fallen though, I definitely feel sympathy for such a crazy character, such as Xander. I’m going to need read Soul Avenged and Soul Resurrected again because I now know why Xander is the way he is thanks to The Fallen.

I give this prequel 5 full moons and recommend it readers out there that have read book one and two in the Sons of Wrath series, and readers who have been meaning to read the series.

AGAIN WARNING – if you are not used to dark gritty stories that involve elements such as graphic violence, sex and strong language then you may just want to move on to reading Soul Avenged, but you will miss out understanding Xander better. And once you finish Soul Avenged…I bet you will probably want to go back to The Fallen to find out about Xander. Yup…he has a way of making a reader wanting to know about him. At least that is what happened to me and several other readers.

I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

I’m always a sucker for the tortured brother… and Logan sure fits the bill! He was betrayed and abused by his mother, then spent decades tortured in hell after he finally got free of her.  He doesn’t believe that love exists.  Other than the devotion he has for his brothers, all he feels is a concoction of numbness and anger.  As the book begins, this is even more true than usual. He has just been brought back from death. He can’t even move –and he is seething.  He got into this situation saving the Alexi Calla from a rape.  If it wasn’t for her, he wouldn’t be weakened.  He feels no sympathy for what she’s endured or any gratitude for the blood she gave to save his life.

Calla is a strange blend of innocence and strength. She was an Alexi soldier. She is trained to kill and knows how to fight. But she is emotionally fragile, especially after the death of her brother.  And she is a virgin.  I can’t stress that enough. (Or at least, the book can’t stress that enough.) It’s really important.

Anyway, Calla has been tapped to help Logan through his post-resurrection recovery.  This isn’t an easy task, since he is an asshat of epic proportions and he seems to
dislike her more than most.  But underneath the animosity, there is a deep seated attraction, brought on by her blood coursing through his veins.  Not only does that make Logan lust after Calla, it also makes him protective of her.  And the longer they are under the same roof, the more those feelings come to the surface.

Poor Logan is such a hot mess.  Yes, he is a jerk, but he has been through so much. Some of the flashbacks made me cringe. And Calla is such a balm for his soul. 
The thing is, she has her own demons lurking. Despite her technical virginity, she has been abused as well, so when she and Logan finally come together, they both have mountains to climb.  It’s sad and sweet and sexy all at the same time.

I find that I really like this series.  It’s got that familiar Black Dagger Brotherhood vibe, with its group of screwed up, pumped up, sexy brothers fighting the things that go bump in the night.  It’s PNR, but right there on the cusp of UF, with its great world building,  a wide range of characters, and a continuing story arc that follows from book to book.  I am already so invested in Gavin, Calix and Zeke, and intrigued by the other brothers, as well.

This installment did a good job expanding the scope of the enemy.  And it opened up even more of the world, by taking us into the demon realm and introducing us to the leadership there.  But the big draw was the romance.  I liked Calla ok, but Logan… (*swoon*)…  I hurt for him and wanted so much to see him find his happiness.  It’s not an easy road, but I was very satisfied with the journey.

Rating: B

*ARC Provided by author for review

They say you can’t judge a book by its cover and that is true, but I’ll be honest and tell you that the cover drew me to this book when I first saw it. It reminded me of Underworld and when I read the blurb, I could see the heroine, Ayden, in something like that Kate Beckinsdale role.  So I gave it a go.

It didn’t feel like Underworld exactly, but that is a good thing. It’s its own story, but there were some common threads –enough that I got what I was looking for.

Ayden is a death-dealer of sorts. She is on a mission to kill every Lycan she can find, and she uses her super-human abilities to do it.  She’s not a vampire or a shifter, but an Alexi, a super-soldier created with the anti-bodies to the Lycan virus.  Her deadly purpose is fueled by a Lycan attack that killed her family and nearly ended her life.  She doesn’t really remember much of the life she lost –only her last moments– a side effect of her change.  But that only allows her focus to stay singular.  It’s only about killing the beasts.

She is a client of the Wrath brothers, demon siblings who carry out vengeance contracts.  In fact, they are almost like family, since she nearly settled down with their leader, Gavin.  Not only do they help her fight demons, but protect her from the Alexi group she abandoned, and who now want her back.

Anyway, Ayden is on a killing spree when she stumbles on Kane, a human who has just been bitten by a Lycan. Since his transformation is inevitable, she moves to kill him, only to be assaulted by memories when she touches him.  She is intrigued and decides to give him a stay of execution while she investigates the phenomenon.  She takes him prisoner to the Wrath home.  Suffice it to say that Kane is the hero and the prisoner dynamic doesn’t last, and an unlikely connection forms between Ayden and Kane.

I had a lot of trouble with Ayden in the first third of the book. She is an unreasonable bitch.  She is horrible to Kane. Yes, I know how she feels about Lycans, but he was a victim and the way she treated him made me want to kick her in the face.  I actively disliked her, while poor Kane was almost too good to be true.  Despite the fact that he is changing into a Lycan, he holds on to his humanity, and faces his impending death with dignity and acceptance.  I had trouble relating to them both.  And when their relationship dynamic changed, it felt abrupt.

However, once they did give into their attraction, I got really into the book. By then, I finally understood the relationship between Gavin and Ayden. (I was confused a little by the push and pull between them when I knew a romance was brewing with  different hero.) I was starting to get to know the Wrath brothers. And hello, the sexy times were amazing.

I liked the world that Keri Lake has created here and the foundation she has set for the series.  I like that she doesn’t always go for the obvious… like the first book in the Wrath brothers series does not actually use one of the brothers as a hero.  Though it confused me a little at first, I liked that Gavin, an obvious future hero, was hung up on Ayden. I liked that I didn’t guess how the plot would play out, that I wasn’t always sure who was a bad guy, who was a good guy, or who will end up with who.  I’m so tired of books that are obvious. This one wasn’t. Which makes me want to read more of the series.

I’ll admit, I almost put this down a couple of times in the beginning, because Ayden was so awful that I didn’t even want to see her get an HEA. But I am glad I stuck with it, and I really think that with a more sympathetic heroine, I will enjoy future books even more. I’ll keep you posted.

Rating: B