(To see the rules for Fanged Mania, go to the end of this post)
Half Black Soul: Book II of The Alexa Montgomery Saga by H. D. Gordon
Just a month ago, I’d been a pretty normal teenager. I was seventeen and I lived in a small town in Missouri. Now I am a killing machine, a warrior or a murderer. Or both. Happy birthday to me.
Spoiler Alert: This is Book II in the Alexa Montgomery Saga.
I was driving through Pennsylvania, in the rain, when hunger hit me. I just happened to be at an exit, so I took it and went into the diner at the convenience store. After eating, as I walked to my car, I should have paid more attention to my senses. I knew I never should have left my sword in the car. It wouldn’t happen again. I knew he was there and I knew he was going to attack me. It would be the last thing he did. I let the monster deal with the man and felt a euphoria as he lay dying.
As I drove away I thought about how I came to be here.
I knew I was different, but a Sun Warrior? The Last One? My mother had taught me how to fight and told me to protect Nelly. Nelly wasn’t just a Searcher, but so much more. After the attack at the house, Nelly and Jackson, who was a werewolf and my boyfriend, and I ran to Two Rivers in Pine Barrens, NJ.
It was magnificent until you saw underneath it. When I met Soraya, she exposed the truth 
to me and I vowed to change it. But one good thing had come of it. I met Kayden, the only Libra left. Like me, the last of his kind. Would we end up together?
The first thing on my agenda was to find out if my mother was still alive.
After the incident at the convenience store, I stopped at a rest area to regroup. The monster was in total control of me. I was horrified. I jumped out of the car and ran. I ran for the exit and as normal feelings started to come back to me, I felt hope. I ran straight into Kayden. I felt his goodness wash over me. My desperation led me to go one step further, a kiss so deep the monster was driven away. I turned to the car and waited for him to enter.
I was going to Olivia’s’, my mother’s friend who had sent us to Two Rivers, to find out about my mother, and anything else I could. She told me I was meant to lead a revolution. I had to go to Dangeon to find my mother.
Nelly was bereft when she read the note Alexa left for her.
Nelly’s mind sent out a blanket search, seeming of its own free will. She could sense a feeling of fear from everyone in the village.
She was called before the Queen and asked about Alexa being missing. Nelly fed the her the lie she had been working on, only to be assaulted by the Queen’s attempt to search her. She could block her, but that would alert the Queen to the fact Nelly was a searcher and may put her in danger.
That night Nelly dreamt of Alexa’s death.
5 – Would Buy It For Them (lol)
The ending blew me away. I can hardly wait to get my hands on the next book to see what happens.
The cover is beautiful and the title is so very appropriate.
The writing needs some editing, but the story is so good and so wonderfully told that it is easy to overlook. The plot is so detailed that it drew me into the story and didn’t let me go. It captured me from the very beginning. Even after I read the last page, the last sentence, the last word, I was craving more.
The characters are as well-developed and detailed as the plot.
It is so easy to fall for Alexa, who has to fight her battle with her monster within. Don’t we all have our own inner battles? I found it easy to empathize with her because it.
Kayden, what can I say about Kayden? Wouldn’t you like to have your very own (smoking hot) Guardian? He is always there for Alexa. And, of course, Nelly, who is so sweet and innocent.
I can’t decide who Alexa will end up with and I’m not sure who I want her to end up with. My fist thought is always Jackson, he has been with her through thick and thin. He would lay down his life for her. Her own private, and also smoking hot, werewolf.
The Rise, Book III, is on it’s way to me as we speak and I can hardly wait to pick it up and start reading. I love Alexa and I am rooting for her, wanting her to have everything her heart desires. Now I just have to find out if she gets it.
This book was given to me in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
H. D. Gordon is the author of The Alexa Montgomery Saga. Blood Warrior, the first book of the Alexa series was her debut novel and has held a spot in the top 100 fantasy bestsellers for over a month. Half Black Soul is the second book in this series and H. D. plans to complete Alexa’s tales by the end of 2012. In June of 2012, Joe, a fantasy novel about a young clairvoyant, was released as well. H. D. is a lifelong reader and writer, a true lover of words. When she is not reading or writing she is raising her two daughters, playing a little guitar, and spending time with her family. She is twenty-three years old and lives in the northeastern United States.
H.D. has been generous enough to offer up 5 ebooks of the first book in the Alexa Montgomery Saga: Blood Warrior. If you haven’t read any of her books, this is a great starting place. International. Entry is easy, as always, simply leave an email address I can contact you at if you win and answer the question – If you were a Warrior, what would be your weapon of choice?.
To join in, copy and paste these rules and the above banner into your Fanged Mania post and add your link to this week’s Fanged Mania post at Elisabeth Wheatley’s Blog. Fanged Mania is a Friday meme counting down to the release of Fanged Princess and displaying all things vampire and awesome. Fanged Mania posts can be a review of a vampire book, a quote from the latest Vampire Diaries episode, a showcase of a cool vampire book’s cover, or whatever you like so long as it is vampire related. Don’t forget, participants will be entered in the drawing to win a fanged-abulous prize pack!
The prize pack I mentioned includes Vampire Diaries and Breaking Dawn posters as well as a paperback copy of Erica Steven’s Captured (my review here) and the complete collection of The Vampire Hunter’s Daughter stories by Jennifer Malone Wright, in paperback, too! =D
Oh, and the contest is international. And the more Fanged Mania posts you have, the more entries you get! So what are you waiting for? Hop on the bandwagon!
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If I was a warrior… I would like to be a Vampire, but if I can’t be that…. I guess I would like to be a good swordsman! Thanks, Emily
A vampire has many weapons in her repertoire and I would think immortality would be a great one. I’m with you on being a vampire. Good Luck, Emily
Awesome review! Thanks for posting!
Thanks Nicole. Happy holidays.
Another great review Sherry! I’m almost done with Rise and waiting for the ARC of Redemption. I love this series, and the cover art is brilliant.
Thanks Laura. I really like the new covers they are coming up with. Right now, these are the ones on Amazon. I have a couple books I need to read and review before I can get to Rise, but probably will start it next week sometime. I can hardly wait. .
You won’t be disappointed.
Glad to know you guys love the work we are putting into the series! We will soon be annoucing and releasing the series on paperback.
And Laura Im still waiting to see how it all ends as well. LOL! I have no idea!
BTW you both read Joe…. right?
I have! Loved it too. It’s on my list for review in January. Maybe by then I can have my reviews for The Rise and Redemption ready.
No, I haven’t read it yet. I remember seeing it float around a while back and noticed the cool cover. Congratulations on the paperbacks coming. That is really awesome.
I’ve yet to read this series! It sounds good though!
I don’t think I’d be very good with a weapon, I’ve read that a bow and arrows or a spade is a good defense against a zombie, but I’m not sure how much luck I’d have with either! I think I’d have to learn to fight dirty!
sarah(dot)elizabeth(dot)bookworm(at)gmail(dot)com
Fighting dirty would probably be a good idea. How about a flamethrower. That’s what I always think of when dealing with vampires, zombies or any of those other critter things that just refuse to die. lol
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a sword.
reviewing.shelf@gmail.com
It would either be a sword or a bow and arrow.
funsiized08@gmail.com
Good Luck and thanks for stopping by.
HEY!
i’v been looking forward to reading this series for ages!! so thank you for the chance!!
if i could be/have any weapon……. my first choice would deff have to be some sort of were-animals. those things are machines!!! theres a reason why all the other critters of the supernatural world are concerned about them! otherwise i’d choice some sort of sword fighting skill – im thinking two swords, those ppl are crazy wicked! 😀
also great review!! made me look forward to this series even more!!!
Badassmonkey24(at)gmail.com
I am finishing up The Rise and the story just keeps getting better. Thanks for stopping by and good luck in the giveaway.
Hi Ash, hope your holidays were great. I have been trying to contact you to let you know you won a copy of Blood Warrior. Please send me a vaild email address at sherryfundin69 at netscape.net so I can contact the author. Thanks.
My weapon of choice, hmmmm. If I was a creature, it would have to be something with incredible speed and strength. Usually a were-creature of some kind. If it was a weapon, something that could magically become pocket size when needed. Also inscribed with runic or mystical symbols that magically knew which energy could take down my opponent and would change it’s resonance to do the most damage.
oops here’s my email addy: penumbrareads(at)gmail(dot)com
I never thought of having a magic weapon. That’s a great idea. Sounds to me like you would come out of the fight a winner. LOL
Oh, I don’t need to be entered in the contest because I will be getting a copy of Blood Warrior. But if the author would like to give out Half Black Soul or any of the ither Blood Warrior Saga books, I’d be happy to win one, lol ^_^
Thanks for stopping by anyway. You never know what may come up. I hope you enjoy the series as much as I am.
My weapon of choice would be a crossbow, but I’d have to learn how to use one first, lol.
Almost forgot!
pearlofabonogirl@hotmail.com
I think that would do some damage. Good luck and Happy Holidays.
Thank you. Happy Holidays! <3
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If I were a warrior, my weapon of choice would be a katana sword instead of automatic weapons. If I were a warrior being, I’d choose speed and agility over strength and bulk.
-Susan-
susan.laine@hotmail.com
Sounds like you’ve battled before. lol Thanks for stopping by and good luck.
great review! if i were a warrior my weapon of choice any kind of sword really.
Having them bleed out seems to be a good choice. Thanks for stopping by. Good luck in the Giveaway.
What a great review. I’ve never seen the series before. I’ll have to check it out.
As for a weapon, I would need something with a long reach as I’m not sure I’m really athletically inclined. lol Not to mention that I would need to be trained as well.
Stacey_dvn (at) yahoo (dot) com
Maybe we could have a training session for all of us before we take them on. Lol Thanks for stopping by and good luck.
Hmm, If I were a warrior, what would my weapon of choice be?….Honestly, I have NO IDEA! LOL I guess a sword, but I am also thinking just quick wit. You need to not only be fast on your feet but quick in the mind.
Anyway, thanks for the opportunity to win. I’ve been wanting to read this series and haven’t gotten around to it yet.
I think you have some good ideas. Good luck.
My weapon of choice would be my hands, filled with the power of lightning. Few beings (either human or paranormal) would be able to survive a lightning strike. And if the being were near water…? Oh, boy…LOL
This looks like an interesting series. I’d love to read it, if given the chance. Thanks for the opportunity to win!
Now that’s a really good one. Never thought of something like that. Thanks for stopping by and good luck.
E-mail addy: bookbabey@gmail.com