ELDER Review & Tour Post

I think of a better to kick off my birthday than celebrating release of ELDER, the final book in Raine Thomas' Firstborn Trilogy!  I have LOVED this series so much that I even went back and re-read the book that started my love of Estlorians, Becoming. 

Before I get to my review of ELDER, I'd like to share with you the trailer:

Well, what did you think??  If you haven't checked out the first two books in the Firstborn Trilogy, then check out Defy & Shift.  And don't forget about the books that started it all, The Daughters of Saraqael: Becoming, Central, & Foretold.   Check out The Prophecy (a Estlorian Short Story), which is currently free on Amazon. 

My Review:

     What a way to end a trilogy!  I've been waiting to read Clara Kate's story since she is the oldest of the "Firstborn".  Clara Kate, or CK as her family calls her, reminds me so much of her mom, Amber.  While her story couldn't be as easy as it seemed on the human plane or else there wouldn't be a story.  The glimpse into CK & Ini-herit's relationship while in the human plane was beautiful and explained so much about the frustration CK has felt since returning.  Elder picks up with the action of Shift with CK, Sophia, Quincy, Zachariah, Ini-herit and the others trying to track down and rescue Tate and Ariana.  I'm still amazed as older Estlorian's demonstrate emotions in different situations.  ELDER is filled with action, heartbreak, laughs and of course some romance.  It's hard to talk about how much I LOVED this final book in the triliogy without revealing secrets.  There were several times when I felt like my heart was going to be ripped out, but then it was pieced back together.  The interactions between "Sparky" and Tate are priceless and Teige and Ariana are too sweet.  So the tension between CK and Ini-herit is so strong because their love on the human plane was so strong and Ini-herit needs a little time to release hundreds of years of having no feelings on the Estlorian plane.  Watching Ini-herit struggle to remember what he felt for CK when on the human plane was endearing and while I hated to see what it did to CK, it fit his personality perfectly.  I was shocked by a couple revelations during the book, but the characters they affected, handled them well.  One thing I have always enjoyed about Raine's books is how she pulls in so many characters stories even when the focus is on one person.  Learning more the others we were introduced to in this series added to the background of looking for the scroll and bringing balance to the Estlorian plane.  It's not often you find a series with strong and humorous female and male characters, and I love what Raine does with her characters.  While I know this is the last book and I LOVED how she ended it by bringing all six books together, I still can't help but more.  I guess that's the best way to end a series, all questions answered, but hard to say goodbye.
If you haven't read Defy or Shift or the Daughters of Saraqael, I would highly recommend you pick them up!  I give ELDER 5 stars!

You can BUY ELDER on Amazon or Barnes & Noble

You can also add it to your Goodreads list.

Now for GOODIES!!!  Raine has put together a wonderful little giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Brief author bio: Raine Thomas is the award-winning author of a series of YA fantasy/romance novels about the Estilorian plane, including the Daughters of Saraqael trilogy and the Firstborn trilogy. She is a proud member of Romance Writers of America and is a contributing blogger to The Writer's Voice. When she isn’t planning weddings, writing or glued to social networking sites, she can usually be found on one of Florida’s beautiful beaches with her husband and daughter or crossing the border to visit with her Canadian friends and relatives.

Ways readers can connect with Raine:

Blog ~ Website ~ Twitter 
Facebook ~ Goodreads

Pinterest ~ Linkedin 

Cover Reveal: Elder by Raine Thomas

COVER REVEAL!

Elder (Firstborn Trilogy #3)

by

Raine Thomas

The cover was created by the amazing Devan Edwards of Nimbi Designs.

Blurb

Clara Kate is one of the eight beings needed to activate The Elder Scroll, an ancient artifact causing tragedy and darkness on the Estilorian plane. She knows that her focus needs to be on finding the final piece and stopping the evil Mercesti, but Ini-herit isn't making it easy. He’s working closely with Clara Kate on the quest to stop their enemies…too close for her comfort. His presence serves as a constant reminder of the love they shared on the human plane, a love that he no longer remembers at all.
 Her life and the lives of those she loves are at risk, and she knows she has to put aside her personal problems. So far on their journey, she's endured heartbreak, terror, pain and loss. She’s even been brought to the brink of death. She thinks things can't get any worse.
She's wrong.

Coming December 27, 2012

Add it to your to-read list on Goodreads

Brief author bio: Raine Thomas is the award-winning author of a series of YA fantasy/romance novels about the Estilorian plane, including the Daughters of Saraqael trilogy and the Firstborn trilogy. She is a proud member of Romance Writers of America and is a contributing blogger to The Writer's Voice. When she isn’t planning weddings, writing or glued to social networking sites, she can usually be found on one of Florida’s beautiful beaches with her husband and daughter or crossing the border to visit with her Canadian friends and relatives.

Ways readers can connect with Raine:

Blog ~ Website ~ Twitter 
Facebook ~ Goodreads

Pinterest ~ Linkedin 

Review: SHIFT by Raine Thomas

If you've visited my blog much over the last year you should know how much I LOVE Raine Thomas's books!  I fell in love with her Daughters of Saraqael last summer (devouring all 3 within a matter of days) and couldn't wait for the next generation.  Thankfully I didn't have to wait long for her Firstborn Trilogy series about the next generation of Estilorians.  

It's my pleasure to share with you SHIFT, the second Firstborn book. Don't forget to checkout the trailer! 

Having the ability to shapeshift, Sophia is familiar with change. But even she feels the rising tension in her homeland.
A shadowy male and deadly beast reside in their midst. The births of the newest Kynzesti loom. Hostile Mercesti continue to hunt for the Elder Scroll, and a traumatized female is too afraid to use her abilities to stop them.
Topping off Sophia’s stress is Quincy, the male she’s convinced can’t stand her. She rues the loss of their friendship, but can’t figure out how to move past it. She’ll soon learn, however, that mending that rift bears more significance than she ever imagined.
The search for the Elder Scroll takes on unexpected urgency, and Sophia finds herself in a race across the mainland. To stop the Mercesti led by Eirik, she and her companions must get past their differences and unite against them. If they don’t, Eirik will acquire the immense power he seeks, and two of the beings Sophia loves most will die.

     I was initially drawn to Sophia and Quincy's relationship in Defy as I could tell how much he cared about her, but couldn't quite find the right way to express his feelings.  SHIFT is full of surprises and had me biting my nails at times.  Sophia has always been a little timid and self conscious, though in SHIFT, she finally is given the chance to come out of her cocoon and emerges as tough yet beautiful butterfly who has a long journey ahead of her.  Shift is a great edition to the Estilorian series and does a great job about allowing the Firstborns to experience adventure, danger, love and at times heartache. Knowing this is the second book in the trilogy, I'm not sure that one more book will be enough to satisfy my need for the Estilorian world Raine has created.  SHIFT does not disappoint and will leave you begging for more.  If you haven't checked out Raine's Daughters of Saraqael series and DEFY the first book in the Firstborn Trilogy....what are you waiting for?  I give SHIFT 5 stars!

Where to purchase SHIFT:  Amazon  Barnes & Noble

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Daughters of Saraqael

 You can check out my reviews for

  BECOMING, CENTRAL, & FORETOLD

Firstborn Trilogy:

Check out my review of DEFY

Cover Reveal ~ Shift

If you have been following my blog over the past year, since I first discovered Raine Thomas' Daughters of Saraqael Triligoy, then you shouldn't be suprised that I again JUMPED at the chance to help with the cover reveal for SHIFT, the second Firstborn Trilogy book.  

Blurb for SHIFT by Raine Thomas

Having the ability to shapeshift, Sophia is familiar with change. But even she feels the rising tension in her homeland.

A shadowy male and deadly beast reside in their midst. The births of the newest Kynzesti loom. Hostile Mercesti continue to hunt for the Elder Scroll, and a traumatized female is too afraid to use her abilities to stop them.
Topping off Sophia’s stress is Quincy, the male she’s convinced can’t stand her. She rues the loss of their friendship, but can’t figure out how to move past it. She’ll soon learn, however, that mending that rift bears more significance than she ever imagined.
The search for the Elder Scroll takes on unexpected urgency, and Sophia finds herself in a race across the mainland. To stop the Mercesti led by Eirik, she and her companions must get past their differences and unite against them. If they don’t, Eirik will acquire the immense power he seeks, and two of the beings Sophia loves most will die.

And now for the beautiful cover...

If you haven't read Raine's other books, check them out below:

Daughters of Saraqael Trilogy:

 You can check out my reviews for

  BECOMING, CENTRAL, & FORETOLD

Firstborn Trilogy:

Check out my review of DEFY

DEFY - Review & Giveaway

     I have been a HUGE fan of Raine's Estilorian stories since I first read Becoming, Central, and Foretold last summer.  As soon as I finished reading Foretold, I emailed Raine to see if there would be more and she said YES!

     I've been waiting for the first installment in The Firstborn Trilogy and DEFY did not disappoint.  To catch you up, here is the summary for DEFY from Goodreads:

Seventeen-year-old Tate is about to make her parents’ dreams come true. Unfortunately for her, their dreams foretell her death.
Eager to explore more of the Estilorian plane and prove her abilities, Tate goes against her parents’ wishes and leaves the area of protection surrounding her home. Her choice puts her on a deadly path…one that leaves her alone, severely injured and battling for her life.
Her possible savior arrives in the form of Zachariah, a male who has removed himself from Estilorian society for more than fifty years. Fighting an unexpected connection to Tate, he must decide whether saving her life is worth destroying his.
As Tate struggles to find a way home, she ends up drawn into a dark Mercesti plot involving multiple murders and a powerful ancient artifact. With the unpredictable Zachariah as her only source for aid, she’ll soon find out if her abilities are strong enough to help her defy her Fate.

Would you like a little peak at what to expect from DEFY?

Well, I've picked out one of my favorite exchanges to share with you, I hope you enjoy!

"Now I am Sparky?" he asked, growing irritated despite himself.  He was trying to aid her and she was being difficult.   "Yeah," she said, giving him a tart look.
 "It's called sarcasm, Sparky.  Haven't you ever heard of it?"  Clenching his jaw briefly, he replied, "I know very well what sarcasm is, Beautiful."  He deliberately accented the last work, then regretted it when he watched the harsh statement hit her while she was already down.
“Touché,” she said in a quiet voice, all signs of anger gone.  “Look, you’re right, whoever you are.  I’m having a rough time.  Just let me have my personal collapse in private, okay?”

My Review:  5 stars

     I'm sure I had very high expectations going into this book because I loved the original trilogy so much and I was not disappointed!  Defy starts off with a glimpse into what life is like for Amber, Olivia, and Skye years after we left them in Foretold.  While this book is about Tate, you still get to know more about the other Firstborn's and their talents.  I still haven't mastered gushing without giving away details that you really have to figure out by reading the story, because there are some things that are weaved in the story you will enjoy figuring out!  Tate is very much like her mom, free-spirited and stubborn.  She is gutsy and often thinks after she has acted, which is what gets her into trouble a few times before she catches on. I really enjoyed seeing her grow into her own, though some of the situations she found herself in were heartbreaking.

    And you really can't have an Estilorian story without a little romance.  There really isn't a triangle, which I enjoy, it's more of different characters realizing the feelings they have for each other and figuring out how to express them in a way that the other one understands.  While there are only two confirmed new couples by the end of the book, there is another that is almost there.  Even though DEFY is about the Firstborn's there are some old favorites back, Ini-herit and Quincy have large parts and I personally enjoyed seeing how they develop their emotions, it's pretty funny at times.  While Amber, Olivia, and Skye have had several children, but since this is The Firstborn Trilogy, we don't get to learn much about the younger generations.  DEFY is a great addition to the Estilorian stories and I can't wait to read what challenges await them in the next installment of the Firstborn Trilogy.

    I hope you read DEFY soon and I can't wait to hear what you think about it.  Check out the Trailer for DEFY:








Now for the GIVEAWAY!!  Raine has kindly donated some SWAG to be given away to one lucky winner!   All you have to do is fill out the form below and spread the word!  Good luck!





Click on the banner at the top of the post for a link to stops on the Blog Tour!

Cover Reveal: DEFY by Raine Thomas

If you are a regular to my blog, you may have noticed reviews/ interview/ trailers from the Daughters of Saraqael books by Raine Thomas.  I fell in love with her first trilogy last summer and always keep my eye out for the next installment.  Raine is currently working on the Firstborn Trilogy and the first book in that series is DEFY:

Seventeen-year-old Tate is about to make her parents’ dreams come true. Unfortunately for her, their dreams foretell her death. Eager to explore more of the Estilorian plane and prove her abilities, Tate goes against her parents’ wishes and leaves the area of protection surrounding her home. Her choice puts her on a deadly path…one that leaves her alone, severely injured and battling for her life. Her possible savior arrives in the form of Zachariah, a male who has removed himself from Estilorian society for more than fifty years. Fighting an unexpected connection to Tate, he must decide whether saving her life is worth destroying his. As Tate struggles to find a way home, she ends up drawn into a dark Mercesti plot involving multiple murders and a powerful ancient artifact. With the unpredictable Zachariah as her only source for aid, she’ll soon find out if her abilities are strong enough to help her defy her Fate. 

If you haven't seen the other covers for Raine's books, then you are missing out! Following in the eye catching style of The Daughters of Saraqael covers, here is the beautiful cover of DEFY:

 What do you think?

Don't forget to add DEFY to your Goodreads list.
You can find more about Raine Thomas:
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