Monday, June 13, 2016

Review of OF FEAR AND FAITH: N.D. Jones



Mystery / Magic / Paranormal Romance
Date Published: August 18, 2014

Magic, Mystery, Murder: A Paranormal Romance Unlike Any Other
Before trust and love can take hold, grow solid roots, and blossom into a reality larger than self, fear must be conquered and faith embraced. Yet fear of an ancient prophecy, of burning magical power, and a broken heart, Sanura Williams, psychology professor, is unprepared when Special Agent Assefa Berber enters her life, hunting a preternatural serial killer. Assefa's intelligent, chocolate eyes and intoxicating aura signature stirs her fire spirit but frightens the woman. In a world where all is not as it seems, Sanura and Assefa must battle the gods' first creations - vile predators who threaten the safety of humans. Each confrontation, each bloody clash, will bring Sanura and Assefa closer to fulfilling the prophecy of being the Fire Witch and Cat of Legend - the ones who will save humanity from the Water Witch of Legend. Death, godly magic, and physical attraction draw Sanura and Assefa to each other, but fear and faith will determine their destiny.

REVIEW

Mysterious, Scintillating, and Terrifying!

A cold-blooded killer is on the loose. The victims are mutilated and drained of blood, but this time he’s left a witness behind, and the child may be vital to understanding what’s behind the string of murders. Sanura Williams and Special Assefa Berber are up for the challenge, but little do they know that the real key to stopping the crimes can be found in an ancient prophecy.

OF FEAR AND FAITH is the 1st book in Ms. Jones’ DEATH AND DESTINY TRILOGY. The story was recommended to me, and this was my first time reading Ms. Jones. Can I just start this review off by saying a little something about the beginning? It’s SENSATIONAL! One of the best starts ever, so be prepared for some chills!

Of course, chills aren’t the only thing happening in this tale. There’s also the smoldering romance going on between fire witch Sanura Williams and hunky werekitty Assefa Berber. Dang if Ms. Jones doesn’t tease us along, but it’s worth the wait—I promise. When she finally delivers, the heat is on! Keep your air conditioners going!

The main characters are all very likable and well fleshed out. The descriptions are just enough and we root for Sanura and Assefa to prevail. This connection pulls us further into the story while the twists keep us off balance and constantly surprised.

There’s also a complexity of plotline locked into this story. Add in magic, folklore, and a fate that awaits Mother Earth and you have a slam bang of a tale that’ll keep you on the edge of your seat right up until the end. Yes, there’s everything you want and more packed into these pages. The dialogue was solid and very real despite the fanciful touches. I think that’s an important component for books delving into the paranormal to have. Without this type of grounding, the story doesn’t work this beautifully.

As for Ms. Jones’ writing, LOVING IT! Great flow, intelligent choices in vocabulary, construction, etc. And aside from the technical adeptness, there’s the ability to keep us hooked. But for me, it’s in describing this mysterious netherworld that Ms. Jones really excels. The terror-filled moments are fantastic and conveyed with an intensity that is unexpected. It really amps up the fear factor.  

OF FEAR AND FAITH is a great read and great start to the DEATH AND DESTINY TRILOGY. I highly recommend it and I’m interested to see where this story goes! 4.8 stars from me … and I want a werecat!

2 comments:

  1. Wow. I am truly humbled by your review, Gwen. It's only a little after nine in the morning and you've already made my day. Thank you very much for taking the time to read and review "Of Fear and Faith." More, I'm glad you enjoyed my first full-length novel. If interested in the second book in the trilogy, let me know and I'll be happy to send you an ARC.

    Sincerely,
    Natalie

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    1. Natalie - I thoroughly enjoyed your book and it was my pleasure to review. I love introducing readers to new authors, and I hope this will help get your name out there. :)

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