Book Review: The Whispering (Velesi Trilogy Book 3) by L. Filloon

Title: The Whispering
Author: L. Filloon
Series: The Velesi Trilogy #3
Pages: 330
My Rating: ❤❤❤❤

Tharin and Lily find themselves back in Pathen in search of Julia and the key to Eirrell, but old foes and new ones are in close pursuit. Adding to their plight, all doorways to Velesi have been closed.

Forced to discover a way back to their realm, the group finds help from new friends and those who once stood against them are now allies. To make matters worse, a betrayal causes the door to the UnderRealm to open, allowing demons and monsters once imprisoned to roam the realm freely.

Time is of the essence as there are only two Ancients left while Ka grows weaker, struggling to hold the realm together. It is up to Tharin and Lily to find the doorway to Eirrell, call the Unnamed Sidhe and save Velesi.

Journey back to Velesi and join Tharin, Lily, Tolan, Julia, Alorn, Mellis, Ziri and Cessa to save the realm and maybe have a wedding...or two, but then again, it is Velesi, so...maybe not.

Being in quarantine and therefore not having to do any of my graduate coursework at the moment has had me on a bit of a reading binge. I desperately needed to take a break from the very long, but good Chicagoland Vampire Series. While looking at my Kindle books I came across the Velesi Trilogy again and perked up when I saw it. I knew then that I had to give that series a re-read!

Wouldn't you know, this would actually be like my third time reading this series!! The books themselves are a breath of fresh air, just like the rain so elegantly described in Velesi. The sass in the books are fantastic and it was truly entertaining to see. I forgot just how much I loved and appreciated each and every character, even the twisted "bad guys" trying to destroy the world. Everyone had their own part to play.

Looking back at my reviews, I realized that the last time I re-read the series, I didn't get to book three and therefore NEVER reviewed it....gasp! I just left people hanging on books one and two. So years later, here I am to pick back up from where I started.

So far, everything that has occurred in books one and two has led up to preparing for the prophecy, the battle of Velesi at the doorway to Eirell. I found Lily to be extremely wishy-washy in this book, but if any one of us were in her position I believe we would all be just a little wishy-washy. Despite her gentleness and vulnerability, Lily is a very strong-willed character and the fact that she has had to learn about a new world, marry a guy she barely knows, and is the center of a prophecy....all without her consent deep down doesn't sit right with her. I definitely know being told what I could and couldn't do would not sit right with me, not by a longshot.

So, with that being said, this book though packed with twists and action, tends to deal with some more angsty feelings, especially between Tharin and Lily. Ultimately, I do enjoy them together, but I do wish we were able to dig a little deeper into their relationship and see some more development; however, the world as they know it may be ending and we don't have time for that.

I have to say, that despite me wanting more Tharin and Lily moments, I did enjoy this conclusion and the series as a whole. The author showed us the world she created and just how lovely it was. It was a great read, and still, my all time favorite line happens in book one, when Lily and Julia see the elves' ears and instantly think they are Vulcan. It's a fantastic line that has me dying every time the elf ears are even mentioned.

"That's right - he makes me feel and sound like a cliché...and I don't care."

Book Review: The Drifting (Velesi Trilogy Book 2) by L. Filloon

Title: The Drifting
Author: L. Filloon
Series: Velesi Trilogy #2
Pages: 344
My Rating: ❤❤❤❤

“Welcome to Velesi, Princess.”

It is Lily’s first day in the Velesi realm but not as the princess she was made to believe, but as a captive to a strange Lithi elf name Ziri – Tharin and Tolan’s mysterious brother. Who is he and why has he taken her? Or is he only a pawn in someone’s deadly game of chess?

Tharin and Lily discover a prophecy involving the Unnamed Sidhe and a way back to Eirrell, the birthplace of the Thirteen Clans. However, before they can get to the doorway to Eirrell, Lily must first make it to the Day of the Seating to take her rightful place on the throne of the Willow Clan.

Tharin must keep Lily safe until the Day of the Seating even if it means keeping the beautiful Sidhe warrior Kalis close to him. Will he be able to protect his naïve, but stubborn bride-to-be not just from Harlu but from his warrior mistress? He once again turns to his brother and cousin, to only find that Tolan has his own problems with his feisty Julia.

Thank goodness for the future king of Velesi that he has Phoris, Alorn and Mellis to cover his royal back.

Welcome to Velesi, a realm existing alongside our own with their own rules, their own players and their own way of life.

The Drifting picks up exactly where the first book in the series, The Binding, ended. Lily is scared, she is in a new place with strange people she doesn't know. The one person who should be helping her, Tharin is extremely wishy-washy this entire book. Just as with the first book, this one also switches back and forth between the perspectives of Lily and Tharin. Everytime Tharin's turn would happen, I would instantly think, "Okay, how are you going to make me mad now?" I mean, it was just one thing after another.


Not only did Tharin dig a hole for himself, but he kept on digging...deeper...and deeper. I really like Tharin, but come on, you're the future king, man up! It was not only me that felt this way, Lily had exactly no idea what was going on with him, among other things. She is a busy girl! Being at the center of a prophecy that could save the world and prevent war is certainly no cake walk! And on top of that, she has to deal with some moody, wishy-wasy elf!

Besides Tharin, being Tharin, the world that L. Filloon created is expanded upon even more in this second installment. She is extremely talented! She described a world filled with beautiful trees, and a LOT of rain. There is no doubt in my mind that Velesi would be beautiful.

"However, he was right about one thing. You are stunning, but then again, you are my twin."

"What a spoiled and self-entitled bitch. I have had to deal with her type all my life, both Julia and me. Always looking down their noses at me, and my height had nothing to do with it."

"Yes, but you must remember that you hold your own destiny. Fate can whisper in your ear what road you should take, but it is up to you to make that decision."

 

Book Review: The Binding (The Velesi Trilogy Book 1) by L. Filloon

Title: The Binding
Author: L. Filloon
Series: Velesi Trilogy #1
Pages: 279
My Rating: ❤❤❤❤❤

Two nights after her eighteenth birthday, Lily is attacked while out jogging, but is saved by Tharin Lunar, a Sidhe prince. When she discovers that her attacker is her own brother, Lucas, who disappeared four years ago, Lily refuses to believe that her brother would truly hurt her and becomes determined to find Lucas and bring him home. Lily finds that Lucas’ disappearance is somehow tied to Tharin; so when he informs her that she is his betrothed and must return with him to Velesi, fulfill a treaty between their families and unite the two strongest clans through their marriage, Lily agrees. However, she’s not going to Velesi for a wedding, but to bring home her only family, Lucas.

On their journey to the borders of Velesi, the realm of the Thirteen Clans, they’re pursued by a Sidhe assassin group call the Ange, meet with an ogre crime lord that ends badly, deal with a sleazy troll motel manager, and when they discover that there’s a bounty on their heads, they must keep one step ahead of every assassin, bounty hunter and low-life criminal in Velesi.

Protecting Lily has become the biggest challenge of Tharin’s life. Lucky for him he has help in the form of his twin brother, Tolan, Lily’s best friend Julia and his three bodyguard cousins. 

This is my third time reading this book. That's right, you heard me, THIRD. Just like with the first two times, I found myself immediately sucked in right from the start. I just love the characters! Not just one or two, but all of them! How often can you say that about a book?

The story begins when Lily is attacked after her eighteenth birthday. After that, the point of view switches between her and her savior, Tharin. So, you do not just get the whole story through Lily's eyes, you instead get to see half of it through Tharin's. Ever wonder what someone else is thinking in certain scenes? Well, you do not have to wonder in The Binding. Many of the scenes overlap, so you will be able to see a scene through Tharin's and Lily's eyes. I loved that!

Just to be clear, The Binding does have a cliffhanger. When I first read it - you know the first time - I remember thinking how I had to get my hands on the next book. Well, I did a little while later. I found myself just as much in love with that book, and even the last one, as I did with the one that started it all, The Binding. This is a great book that starts off a great series! Be prepared you will laugh, be frustrated, but above all else, you will find yourself rooting for the wonderful characters that L. Filloon has created!

 

Book Review: Elfin (Elfin Series Book 1) by Quinn Loftis

Title: Elfin
Author: Quinn Loftis
Series: Elfin Series Book 1
Pages: 248
My Rating: ❤❤❤❤

Before tonight Cassie Tate’s biggest concerns were whether she could pass Algebra and how she was going to keep Elora, her best friend, from dressing her in a skimpy fairy costume for Halloween. Her feet were firmly planted in suburban reality and she had no reason to believe her life would be anything but that of a typical teenager. That is until tonight, when Cassie saw something that no human was ever supposed to see; in the blink of an eye she was thrown into the world of the Light and Dark Elves.

He comes from a realm where light and dark have fought for millennia. He is of a race known to humans only in myths and legends. The darkness that lives inside him is a part of both who and what he is and it makes him the most gifted spy and assassin in the history of his time. His life is not his own; he lives in the service of the Dark Elf King. He slays who he must, has mercy on no one, is relentless in his hunt, and never tires of seeing his prey fall. He is Triktapic, assassin, spy, most feared of the Dark Elves.

Now, in the midst of his King’s complicated plans to expand the Dark Elves’ holdings into the mortal realm, for the first time, Trik finds his loyalties divided. For no Elf, Dark or Light, can turn away from their Chosen.

Unbeknownst to the mortal realm, the battle between Light and Dark is being brought to their doorstep. The only one who can keep it at bay holds darkness in his heart like a lover, and the one who can sway that heart must decide if she can look beyond his black past, beyond his evil nature and see the man he is destined to be.

The question must be asked, does love really cover a multitude of sins? Can true love actually conquer all or will his darkness consume those around him until all that stands is an assassin with the blood of the mortal realm on his hands?

Cassie Tate is a good girl, she doesn't get into trouble and makes good grades. She is just your normal, average eighteen year old, or is she? Turns out, she apparently has a "chosen" who is not so average or normal.

Trick is a dark elf assassin that actually likes what he does. Remorse, never heard of it! He just does whatever the dark elf king asks him to, that is until he meets his chosen.

Trick has stayed in the darkness for centuries and has somehow managed to be paired with Cassie, the manifestation of all things good. Throughout the book, Trick struggles with accepting Cassie, because he believes that he doesn't deserve her. The actual struggle that takes place within Trick about whether or not to change his evil ways helps make him a more dynamic character.

To me, Trick seemed much more real than Cassie. Throughout the whole book, Cassie is made out to be extremely good.....and pure........and angelic (You might as well picture her with a halo!). On the other hand, Trick struggles with what is right and what is wrong. He doesn't believe he is worthy of Cassie. He needs to overcome his darkness and realize that Cassie does have some faults.

Overall, I enjoyed Elfin! I have read the first three books of Loftis' The Grey Wolves Series, and her writing is definitely hers! In Elfin, Cassie has a snarky best friend that reminds me of Jen (TGWS), but toned down a bit. I have come to the realization that I really like Loftis' writing, and that I need to get a hold of more of her books!!!

Book Review: Lark (Lark Trilogy Book 1) by Erica Cope

Title: Lark
Author: Erica Cope
Series: Lark #1
Pages: 314
My Rating: ❤❤❤❤❤

The last time she checked, Mia Carrington was pretty sure that she was a normal girl with a completely ordinary life.

She goes to high school, has a crush on the gorgeous and mysterious new boy in town, and has strange dreams that she can’t help but feel are real somehow.

Okay, so maybe she’s not all that normal after all.

A freak accident changes Mia’s life forever when she is thrown into another world and left to deal with the revelation that she is the daughter of the King of the Light Elves. Throw in an ominous prophecy predicting that Mia will break a curse unleashing the Dark Elves on the world and well, things don’t look too good.

There is danger lurking at every corner in this strange world and Mia isn’t sure who she can trust…

The only thing she is certain of is that the Dark Elves know about her, and they will stop at nothing until they have her.

Mia is ready for her senior year! She has a job she likes, does well in school, and was even voted cheerleading captain. In addition to all of that, she met Grey. He seems to pay attention to no one else, but her. They even both work at the movie theater together. Despite this, Grey insists that they are good friends. Mia cannot help but wonder, "What if?" She thinks she knows Grey so well, but after an accident that should have resulted in a trip to the hospital, she learns that there is much more to him than meets the eye.

It turns out, that the world is a lot bigger, and dangerous than Mia realized. Her biological father that ran out on her mother before Mia was born, finally comes back into the picture. Turns out he is actually an elf king! As if things couldn't get any crazier, turns out Mia could be part of an ancient prophecy that could result in the dark elves being able to escape the underworld. Wow, no pressure right?

I really enjoyed Lark! The plot of this book is actually very similar to Amanda Hocking's Trylle trilogy. The same kind of stuff happens, but I think that Cope is actually going to take a different route in the rest of the series. Just because they are similar, does not mean that Lark is not worth reading! I loved the Trylle trilogy, and think that Lark is just as good!! Mia is a very relatable character. She describes herself as somewhat of an introvert that loves to read. I mean how can that not be relatable?

"We both know that the movie theater is probably number two on the avid reader's dream job list, number one being the library, of course."

"I'm pretty certain Senior-itis does in fact exist and that the disease is currently running rampant through my veins."

"This Jacoby character, regardless of how dreamy he may appear, is aiding and abetting my captivity. Not exactly the kind of guy you want to bring home to meet mom."