Today, I’m reviewing Initiation Genesis and Tabeka’s Revenge, books seven and eight in the Crimson Realm Chronicles by fellow eXasty Books authors Gabriella Bradley and Taryn Jameson.
Title: Initiation Genesis
Series: Crimson Realm Chronicles, #7
Authors: Taryn Jameson and Gabriella Bradley
Genres: Sci-Fi/Fantasy Romance, Adult
Building a new city on Ierilia, Bernie as chosen ruler, is facing a difficult task…
Blurb: Starting anew on an alien planet is no mean task—especially if that planet is rife with magic, shapeshifters, dragons, and a villainous sorcerer, not to mention a fallen evil god.
Now that the king and queen have granted the people from Earth their own realm, Bernie Henderson has been elected to rule it and oversee the building of their new city.
Zohmes and Odoxon have not given up. Bernie finds himself immersed in the trials and tribulations of Ierilia. How will this affect his budding interest in Julia, the mother of Satan’s son?
Julia, Cylena, and Hirsuta were still in their robes when lunch was served.
“My heart is heavy for the families of the men who lost their lives,” Cylena said as she helped herself to some bread and cheese. “It feels wrong for us to be so happy to be reunited while others are grieving.”
“Has Catrice given any indication when we can expect our little prince?” Biryn asked Cylena, changing the subject.
She smiled. “Any time. Now that we have heard all the stories of your journey and the war, I think I would like to bathe and get dressed.”
“You have hardly eaten, Cylena.” Biryn stood and held her arm as she got up off her chair.
Julia noticed Cylena grimace, pull a face, and clutch her back. “She’s going into labor!”
Before Biryn had a chance to lead her to the bedroom, Cylena crumpled to the floor. “Call Catrice!” he shouted.
A sickly green mist appeared, enveloping Cylena. Biryn cradled her head in his lap. Astiana, Icaras, Cewrick, and Hirsuta rushed to the queen, Cewrick chanting a spell, but it did not remove the green fog.
Julia’s heart thudded against her ribs. “My God. Jonathan, can you do something?”
Catrice came rushing in, followed by Jason carrying a stretcher. “What the hell is all this green stuff? Incense? Get rid of it! Place her on the stretcher. We need to take her to the infirmary.”
They ran through the hallways, the green mist swirling around the gurney. Once in the clinic, Catrice and Jason shifted Cylena to a bed. Julia watched from the door as Catrice took out her stethoscope and listened to Cylena’s heart. Then, placing it on her belly, she listened for the infant’s heartbeat. Lifting Cylena’s eyelids, she shone a small flashlight at the pupils. Tears soaked her cheeks as she stepped back and shook her head. “Too late. They’re both gone.” Placing her hand on Biryn’s back, she said softly, “Biryn, I am so sorry. There is nothing we can do.”
Biryn roared. He gathered Cylena into his arms and sobbed. “Nooooo! This cannot be happening.”
Julia had not even noticed Taylith and the others had returned and joined them. Laura pushed her way through and rushed to Cylena’s side. Julia watched in awe as her sister placed her hand on the still woman’s heart and her other hand on her distended belly. Her hands glowed bright enough to light up the small room. Even Laura’s body began to glow, the light cutting right through the green mist.
Cylena suddenly took a deep breath and another. Catrice placed the stethoscope on her chest and nodded. “I have a heartbeat.” Then she listened for the baby’s and nodded again. “The infant’s heart is beating strongly.”
“But she is not waking.” Biryn’s voice was hoarse with emotion.
“Biryn, I don’t know, but it almost appears as if Cylena is in hibernation, in stasis,” Catrice told him.
Julia grasped Jonathan’s hand. “Zohmes.”
“Can you wake her from it?” Biryn wrung his hands.
“I’ve got no idea what this green mist is. Honestly, I don’t know if our medicine can fix this.” Catrice looked mortified as she talked to the king.
“I need to consult with Rania,” Ciara said from somewhere behind them.
“Let’s leave them alone,” Julia suggested. “Cylena is in good hands.”
First off, I loved the hero’s name: Bernie. You don’t see too many Bernies in romance novels. The name is about as popular as John. Sometimes simple is better, and Bernie works perfectly for the character because although he’s a captain of a team of people who fled Earth, he is a humble man. And humble is a good thing. A hero doesn’t have to be muscular and alpha to win over readers—at least not this reader!
The survivors of the fleet who left Earth in different space ships are given land of their own to rebuild on the magical and godly planet of Ierilia by King Byrn. Bernie’s in charge of Initiation Genesis.
It was nice seeing a book devoted to the people from earth taking a starring role. The reader is given a chance to see the war against Zohmes and Odoxon through different eyes.
Bernie has new eyes because he’s still having a hard time wrapping his brain around the fact dragons are real and can fly, lions can shapeshift into humans, there are a bazillion places where other “beings” live, and the gods and goddesses are real. And most important: magical isn’t an illusion, but also very real.
Watching Bernie cope with this was a great treat. But as for his lady love Julia, she’s much more accepting of everything she’s witnessed on Ierilia and she has immersed herself in Ierilian culture and its people.
A new world is explored this time, but I won’t say why. Let me simply put it as there’s more action and adventure, and it doesn’t involve the planet Ierilia.
There’s also food for thought in this novel that I really enjoyed. Because the earth people are eager to rebuild and indulge in earthen luxuries, it’s Bernie who has to remind them of what earth became and why they left. I really liked this. The Irilians have found balance, and they must sacrifice certain luxuries to live in harmony with their planet. And no, this wasn’t preachy at all. It was a fact I enjoyed.
There was also a great question posed about the engineered soldiers. The novel isn’t devoted to this, but I’m really hoping the authors explore this in another novel, because those questions need addressing, and I’m looking forward to finding out what lies in store for the engineered soldiers.
I never meant for the review to get this lengthy LOL, but because this novel came through new eyes, one can’t help but compare it to our planet and what’s happening in the present. Anyhoo, it’s a great read. A very nice treat. It keeps the series fresh.
Do yourself a favour and get yourself a copy at eXtasy Books. The authors have created a wonderful new world with lots of adventures and romance, and Initiation Genesis is a great novel for the collection.
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Title: Tabeka’s Revenge
Series: Crimson Realm Chronicles, #8
Authors: Taryn Jameson and Gabriella Bradley
Genres: Sci-Fi/Fantasy Romance, Adult
A heart betrayed… A soul crushed… Plotting revenge never felt so sickly sweet…
Blurb: Ignoring her mother’s warnings, Tabeka forms a relationship with Lord Cidus Milhella, the man chosen for her by the gods as shown her by the goddess Rania. However, her vision does not prepare her for the terrible price she must pay.
Betrayed by Cidus, disowned by her father and abandoned, Tabeka forges a life alone in the forests of Wildevein.
Years later, Cidus seeks Tabeka’s healing assistance to help his mate birth him a healthy heir. His request plants the seed for a plan of vengeance in Tabeka’s heart—one that will destroy Cidus and his goal for Wildevein.
The next morning, she decided to go to the manor and demand to see Cidus. Something had to have happened to him. She was sure of it.
The guard refused to let her through the gates. She had crouched beside the gates and waited until he finally rode through them.
“Cidus! Wait!” she called out.
He reined in. The stallion reared, whinnied, then stood snorting. Tabeka noticed the horse was unusually restless.
Cidus looked down at her, disdain clouding his face. “What do you want, wench?”
Was this the man she had fallen in love with? The man who was so tender, so sweet? The man she had allowed to take her? His face was chisel hard, his eyes like steel.
“Cidus, you did not come to speak to my father. He was outraged that I am carrying your child. My father has disowned and abandoned me.”
She would never forget his amusement. He had broken out in laughter and belittled her.
“Child?” He glared at her, disgust blazing in his eyes. “I do not blame your father for casting you out. You are nothing but a whore. It is not mine. Next week, I am to join with the Lady Ivia, daughter of Lord Schollen from the Getaga Realm. Get away from here, wench. Do not ever let me see you near my home again!”
He might as well have pierced her with his sword. He spurred the horse and galloped away. Tabeka was crushed, her heart torn to shreds. She ran as fast as she could, across the fields, through the forest, then tripped over a protruding root and fell, hitting her head hard against a rock.
The next morning, she decided to go to the manor and demand to see Cidus. Something had to have happened to him. She was sure of it.
The guard refused to let her through the gates. She had crouched beside the gates and waited until he finally rode through them.
“Cidus! Wait!” she called out.
He reined in. The stallion reared, whinnied, then stood snorting. Tabeka noticed the horse was unusually restless.
Cidus looked down at her, disdain clouding his face. “What do you want, wench?”
Was this the man she had fallen in love with? The man who was so tender, so sweet? The man she had allowed to take her? His face was chisel hard, his eyes like steel.
“Cidus, you did not come to speak to my father. He was outraged that I am carrying your child. My father has disowned and abandoned me.”
She would never forget his amusement. He had broken out in laughter and belittled her.
“Child?” He glared at her, disgust blazing in his eyes. “I do not blame your father for casting you out. You are nothing but a whore. It is not mine. Next week, I am to join with the Lady Ivia, daughter of Lord Schollen from the Getaga Realm. Get away from here, wench. Do not ever let me see you near my home again!”
He might as well have pierced her with his sword. He spurred the horse and galloped away. Tabeka was crushed, her heart torn to shreds. She ran as fast as she could, across the fields, through the forest, then tripped over a protruding root and fell, hitting her head hard against a rock.
First, this is one wild ride. It is. Tabeka has fallen hard for Lord Cidus Milhella as a young girl. She gives herself to him one night, and finds herself carrying his child. But Cidus does an about face the next week and wants nothing to do with Tabeka…and her quest for revenge begins.
Let’s first look at the characters. I really liked Tabeka. And I loved the world she was in at the beginning of the book. It was far away place from King Bryn’s castle, which I really liked because it kept the series fresh. For the first one third of the book, this was all about Tabeka and Cidus, and their homeland of Willimera (excuse my spelling).
The authors take you into the past to tell Tabeka’s story, so it does overlap somewhat with Initiation Genesis, but this is only for about one chapter.
Although the book starts strong with Tabeka’s story, she does take a back seat later in the story. I will admit this sort of bummed me out. I was glad to see Cidus take a starring role, but his adventures didn’t include Tabeka. I felt it should have because this was their love story.
But the new discoveries were well done, and this kept me reading. The world building, is, as always, done extremely well. Of course, the cast of characters starring in the series made their appearances, and were on hand to help Cidus.
I wish I could say more, but because I’m into the eighth book now, I would give out too many spoilers. Let’s simply say the plot kept moving, as did the series arc. The book does tie up readers expectations, and there is a cliff-hanger leading into the next novel.
As for the romance between Cidus and Tabeka, this was well crafted. Cidus was a great hero for Tabeka. I really enjoyed this pairing. I wish there could have been more of them together, though.
All in all, it’s a good read. And an excellent companion to the rest of the books in the series. Do yourself a favour and purchase yourself a copy at eXtasy Books.
Read my other reviews for each book in the Crimson Realm Chronicles: In Search of Pride, The Dragon’s Lion, Sword of Betrayal, Sword of Judgement, Testing the Crown, Shard in the Mirror.
Have you read any of the books in the Crimson Realm Chronicles? If so, do you agree with my reviews? If you haven’t read any of the books, are you willing to now?
Maggie Blackbird 