Thank you NetGalley and Firetrail Publishing for giving me a chance to read and review Runes. Also, thanks to Xpresso Tours and Ednah Walters for the opportunity to be a part of the Runes Tour.
Readers: please make sure to check out the Giveaway!
Runes
(Runes, #1)
by Ednah Walters
Published: May 20, 2013
Published by Firetrail Publishing
Genre: YA Paranormal Romance
Formats: eBook, Paperback ~245 pages
Book Blurb:
Seventeen-year-old Raine Cooper has enough on her plate dealing with her father’s disappearance, her mother’s erratic behavior and the possibility of her boyfriend relocating. The last thing she needs is Torin St. James—a mysterious new neighbor with a wicked smile and uncanny way of reading her.
Raine is drawn to Torin’s dark sexiness against her better judgment, until he saves her life with weird marks and she realizes he is different. But by healing her, Torin changes something inside Raine. Now she can’t stop thinking about him. Half the time, she’s not sure whether to fall into his arms or run.
Scared, she sets out to find out what Torin is. But the closer she gets to the truth the more she uncovers something sinister about Torin. What Torin is goes back to an ancient mythology and Raine is somehow part of it. Not only are she and her friends in danger, she must choose a side, but the wrong choice will cost Raine her life.
Raine (Rain with a silent 'E') Cooper's life has been difficult lately. Her father has been missing for three months after a plane crash that left many dead and some alive. The problem is, is that her father's body is among neither of the two categories. He is missing. Raine's mother believes he is fine and will be home any day, but Raine is starting to lose hope. He is supposed to be there when she turns 17, make her breakfast, and watch her wear her "Never Been Kissed" shirt that Raine and her best friend Eirik made a pact about years ago. Now everything seems to be falling apart.
Ahh, Eirik. Raine's best friend since they were practically toddlers together. She has the biggest crush on him, but he never has made any move so they are in the friend zone. For now, that is...
Enter Torin, the new next door neighbor with the sapphire eyes and chiseled body. The first time Torin and Raine meet he instantaneously makes her irritated and a lust bunny at the same time. But she loves Eirik and tries to stay away from the boy/man who makes her insides quiver. But things are never that simple and there is something about him that is off. He can make things happen - or unhappen - without anyone knowing. And after he heals her after she is attacked, she must know what he is and why he is there.
I was intrigued by the book's title. I love books that deal with runes and runic mythology and Runes is nothing I could have imagined it to be. Once I started the book, there was nothing that was going to get in my way from finishing it and finding out the secrets for myself. Ms. Walters did a great job of bringing each character to life. Cora, Raine's other BFF is hilarious and yet has a very serious and protective side. All the characters are very relatable and I never felt that they were not well rounded and genuine.
I also love her use of Nordic mythology, it is the pantheon I know the most about and I still could not figure out what Torin was. I was frustrated that it took 80% of the book to find out the big secret, but the buildup was done in a way that I was not bored along the way. And the bad guys, well they are bad, but there are also things unseen that I can't discuss without giving things away. But, there is so much going on and no one is ever who they seem. There is a love triangle, but it wasn't as infuriating as most are in YA fiction. And I know who I hope Raine ends up with, but I will keep my mouth shut until I read the second book.
The ending...I just don't even know what to say about it. It ripped my heart out and made me want to crumple to the ground and cry. However, the second book, Immortals, will be coming out soon and I must have it ASAP! There was nothing about this book that I did not love. NOTHING. At first I was irritated by the spelling of Eirik's name, but then when it was explained why, I was placated. There is romance, friendship, love, death, and real emotion throughout. Ms. Walters has written a book that I thought was going to be good, but I was pleasantly surprised that it is great! Anyone who likes mythology, romance, and a story that will suck you in and never leave, then Runes is the book for you!
FTC Advisory: I was given a copy of this book from NetGalley for an honest review and I used the book to be a part of a blog tour as well. No backroom deals or whispered promises were made.
EDNAH WALTERS grew up reading Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys and dreaming of one day writing her own stories. She is a stay-at-home mother of five humans and two American short-hair cats (one of which has ADHD) and a husband. When she is not writing, she’s at the gym doing Zumba or doing things with her family, reading, traveling or online chatting with fans.
Ednah is the author of The Guardian Legacy series, a YA fantasy series about children of the fallen angels, who fight demons and protect mankind. AWAKENED, the prequel was released by Pill Hill Press in September 2010 with rave reviews. BETRAYED, book one in the series was released by her new publisher Spencer Hill Press in June 2012 and HUNTED, the third installment, will be released April 2013. She’s working on the next book in the series, FORGOTTEN.
Ednah also writes New Adult paranormal romance. RUNES is the first book in her new series. She is presently working on book 2, IMMORTALS.
Under the pseudonym E. B. Walters, Ednah writes contemporary romance. SLOW BURN, the first contemporary romance with suspense, was released in April 2011. It is the first book in the Fitzgerald family series. Since then she has published four more books in this series. She's presently working on book six. You can visit her online at www.ednahwalters.com or www.ebwalters.com.
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Tour Grand Prize (INTL)
1st prize: A choice of signed copy or e-book of Runes and $25 gift card from Amazon
2 prize: A choice of signed copy or e-book of Runes and $10 gift card from amazon.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
hat a beautiful review. Thank you for participating. I love Norse mythology too and since you do too, you're going to really love Immortals. The ending....hmmm, blame the three crones
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