D is for Desolation series by Ali Cross

 

For 2013's A to Z Challenge, I am talking about book series, particularly some favorite series as well as series I've been waiting to read for a LONG time.

D is for ... Desolate series by Ali Cross

Ali Cross truly is a writing ninja. I've followed her blog for a while, and when he debut novel, Become, came out, I rushed to read it. Wow! It was amazing! I was an instant fan, and it's been one of my favorite reads in the past couple years. Since then, I've had the pleasure to read Desolate, and I hope to read Destined soon. The best thing about the series that I loved was the mixture of Norse mythology with angels and demons. Loved the twist!

Sixteen-year old Desolation Black wants nothing more than to stay in Hell where it’s cold and lonely and totally predictable. Instead, she’s sent back to Earth where she must face the evil she despises and the good she always feared.

When Desi is forced to embrace her inner demon, she assumes her choice has been made—that she has no hope of being anything other than what her father, Lucifer, has created her to be. What she doesn’t count on, is finding a reason to change—something she’s never had before—a friend.

Click here to read my review of Become.

Where darkness lives, all becomes desolate . . .

It’s been two months since sixteen-year-old Desolation Black chose Earth over Hell and her friend Miri over her eternal love, Michael.

Desi goes through the motions of life: school, training, remaining vigilant against the forces of darkness, but her dreams are full of the choices she wishes she could change. When she’s injured by a strange demon, old temptations arise, and the lines between good and evil blur. Desi discovers those choices aren’t so final after all.

And this time, the power of love—for a friend, for a lover—may not be enough to save her from the darkness that lurks within.

Click here to read my review of Desolate.

Choosing is a bad idea, because Desi always makes the wrong one, and sometimes there are no do-overs. Certainly not this time, when all has been lost and Desi can’t even save herself, let alone her friends. For Desi, the hardest thing is letting someone help her, to accept their sacrifice on her behalf. But that’s exactly what she’ll have to do in order to save the worlds from Helena’s destruction.

The goddess of Helheimer, long imprisoned by Desi’s father, Loki, is free at last, and she’s bent on reclaiming what once was hers. The nine worlds will be drawn into war, over Hell, over Earth, with innocent humans meaningless collateral. While Michael and the Gardians of Asgard, along with the golden-armored Valkyrie lead the battle for freedom, it’s Desi who holds the destiny of all the worlds in her hands.

Can she set aside her doubts, once and for all, and claim the gifts that are hers to bear? Can she accept the sacrifice that is made for her and Become all that she was created to be?

Her final choice will define not only her future, but the fate of humankind, forever more. 

BECOME by Ali Cross

Title: Become

Series: Desolation, #1

Author: Ali Cross

Format: eARC

Source: Author

To Purchase: Smashwords   Amazon

Description: Sixteen-year old Desolation Black wants nothing more than to stay in Hell where it’s cold and lonely and totally predictable. Instead, she’s sent back to Earth where she Becomes the evil she despises and the good she always feared.

When Desi is forced to embrace her inner demon, she assumes her choice has been made—that she has no hope of being anything other than what her father, Lucifer, has created her to be. What she doesn’t count on, is a reason to want to change—something she’s never had before—a friend.

What she Becomes is neither Light nor Dark.

Something neither Heaven nor Hell expected.

Review: Ali Cross’s Become expands upon mythologies and explores an age-old quest of good vs. evil in a new and fantastic way.

Desolation Black, the Devil’s daughter, believes her destiny remains in her father’s realm. When she’s sent back to Earth, she experiences a Remembering unlike any other time. Then, she Becomes something unlike anything anyone expected. Now it’s up to her to choose where her destiny will take her, if she can keep balance between the Shadows and the Light.

This novel is a refreshing new take on good vs. evil and how choices play out against destiny. The characters are wonderful, deliciously complex, and more than typical stereotypes of good or evil. I love the characterization of Lucifer’s daughter, Desolation. At times she is such a teenager. Other times, she has the strength of her mixed parentage. From the first chapter, I cared about Desolation. The plot moved quickly in waves of seduction, regret, sin, and love. I love the use of Norse mythology to explain the worlds and characters within, as Lucifer = Loki, Asgard = Heaven, Midgard = Earth, etc. I laughed, cried, cared, and loved, and did not want to put this book down.

Become by Ali Cross has become one of my favorite books I’ve read this year. It’s definitely an awesome must-read.

Books Released - This Week November 7-13

Every Monday (with some exceptions) I will post books coming out this week. If you have a book coming out and would like me to mention it during its release week, please click here for more details.

11/22/63 by Stephen King

Release Date: November 8

Publisher: Scribner

Description: November 22nd, 1963 was a rapid-fire sequence of indelible moments: Shots ring out; a president slumped over; a race to the Dallas hospital; an announcement, blood still fresh on the First Lady's dress. But what if President John F. Kennedy didn't have to die; if somehow his assassin could have been thwarted? For Maine schoolteacher Jake Epping, those hypothetical what if's become real possibilities when he walks through a portal to the past. Without special skills and still unfamiliar with his new/old surroundings, he struggles to discover a way to change the history he left. Like its Under the Dome predecessor, Stephen King's 960-page novel shows that this master of suspense is back at the top of his game.

To Purchase: Amazon  

Inheritance by Christopher Paolini

Release Date: November 8

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers

Description: Not so very long ago, Eragon—Shadeslayer, Dragon Rider—was nothing more than a poor farm boy, and his dragon, Saphira, only a blue stone in the forest. Now the fate of an entire civilization rests on their shoulders.

Long months of training and battle have brought victories and hope, but they have also brought heartbreaking loss. And still, the real battle lies ahead: they must confront Galbatorix. When they do, they will have to be strong enough to defeat him. And if they cannot, no one can. There will be no second chances.

The Rider and his dragon have come further than anyone dared to hope. But can they topple the evil king and restore justice to Alagaësia? And if so, at what cost?

This is the much-anticipated, astonishing conclusion to the worldwide bestselling Inheritance cycle.

To Purchase: Amazon  

Become by Ali Cross

Release Date: November 11

Description: Sixteen-year old Desolation Black wants nothing more than to stay in Hell where it’s cold and lonely and totally predictable. Instead, she’s sent back to Earth where she must face the evil she despises and the good she always feared.

When Desi is forced to embrace her inner demon, she assumes her choice has been made—that she has no hope of being anything other than what her father, Lucifer, has created her to be. What she doesn’t count on, is finding a reason to change—something she’s never had before—a friend.

To Purchase: Smashwords

Bound by C.K. Bryant

Release Date: November 11

Publisher: Dragonfly Press

Description: When a photo shoot ends in tragedy, Kira discovers her best friend, Lydia, has been keeping a secret. Knowing the truth, and accepting it, will change Kira’s life forever and thrust her into a world of ancient curses, magical objects, and savage enemies. What happens next will challenge everything Kira knows about her world, herself and the shape-shifting warrior she’s falling in love with. No longer the timid mouse her mother accused her of being, but a woman who finds the mental and physical strength to endure and survive.

BOUND is a heroic tale of true friendship, infinite sacrifice and untamed love.

To Purchase: Amazon  

Exiled by RaShelle Workman

Release Date: November 11

Publisher: Polished Pen Press

Description: Stubborn, sixteen-year-old Princess Venus of Kelari wants one thing, to become a kelvieri, that is, until someone exiles her to Earth, kills her irrihunter and takes her family.Now she wants revenge.

First she’s got to get home. But before she can return to Kelari, the Gods have commanded her to help an arrogant boy named Justus find his soul mate.Only she doesn't know the first thing about love.

Rather quickly, her inexperience with human emotion is obscured by other matters—alien-controlled psychotic teens that are out to kill her, and a government group that is set on capturing and dissecting her.

Worst of all, Venus will suffer a painful death-by-poisoning, thanks to Earth’s atmosphere, if she remains on the planet longer than one week.Still, Venus is a Princess and she's got a plan. Surely, with her help, Justus will fall in love with a human.

But time is running out and Justus is falling for the wrong girl—her.

To Purchase: Amazon

Have you or will you read any of these books?