As part of the Fire on the Island blog tours, it's my pleasure
today to give you my impression on this story, an excerpt to tease you and a
giveaway for a chance to read this awesome story! Enjoy!!!
Fire On The Island (Vigilati, #1)
by J.K. Hogan
376 pages
Published August 2nd 2012 by Sapphire
Star Publishing
“She who wields the mark is the barrier
between man and monster. She is the daughter of gods, the mother of man,
protector of all. Vigilati Usque Ad Mortem”
All Isla Macallen wanted was a simple
existence on her little Scottish island, free from her mother’s insanity and
the prying eyes of neighbors. What she got was embroiled in a war for the souls
of mankind. A war of good versus evil, of witches versus demons, and Isla
learns that she alone can end it.
Dr. Jeremiah Rousseau was a
self-proclaimed nomad, traveling the world researching paranormal phenomena. He
doesn’t expect his research to lead him to Scotland, and to the woman who will
turn his world upside down.
Together with a facetious shapeshifting
animal spirit guide, Jeremiah and Isla discover that she is part of an ancient
bloodline bred to protect the gateways between the human world and the spirit
world, to keep evil demons from destroying them. They must find the key to
defeating Alastore, the demon king, and closing the gate before Samhain, when
the veil between the worlds is lifted. As the war for their souls wages around
them, Isla and Jeremiah will risk it all for love—a love neither had ever
thought possible.
My rating 4 / 5
I read a great and interesting
adventure. Fire on the Island was totally my kind of read: action, a nice plot,
great characters, paranormal situation and supernatural creatures, hot scenes
and a tory who take place in Scotland (near it). Yes, this book had everything I love and
it actually had conquered my heart.
J.K. Hogan has great writing skills and
knows how to build an intriguing and mysterious plot. At first I thought:
another witch story, as many others: another vampire story, another werewolf
story... But when I started this book, something compelled me. I don't know
why, maybe it was the myths and legends around Dr. Rousseau research, or the
insane childhood of Isla (love the name BTW), but I wanted to know more and
more and at first I was pretty excited!
This book is separated in 3 parts. The
first part was amazing and I was eager to know more. The research of Dr.
Rousseau was appealing and the past of Isla was quite intriguing. When they
met, it was all fireworks and sparkles!
Then in the second part we learn about
the threat Isla and Jeremiah (Dr. Rousseau) will have to overcome and more
about what Isla and her family line means. I have to say that the second part
was entertaining, mysterious and a bit dark, but sometime I felt it was hard
and long before we reach the main point. I don't know if I express myself
correctly, but sometime I find the course a bit slow. Maybe I was too eager to
see Isla going through and fill her destiny!
The third part was amazing, a mix of
actions, great scenes and sad moments, which form a perfect balance!
The characters were strong and well used
in this story, everyone had a purpose and it was great to read about a gay
couple (which doesn't happen often, actually it's my first time!).
The bad guy was not really present until
the end of the second part, but always a background presence. I liked his goal
and how he could achieve it.
Overall, this story was a great
entertainment, I had pleasure while learning about Jeremiah and Isla and I will
look forward for more books from J.K. Hogan!
I recommend this book to everybody how
want to read a good Paranormal Romance adult and/or young (just so you know,
the sex scenes are described, but not too much). If you like/love stories about
witch, legends and myths surrounding the Celtic mythology, or just want to read
something with fantasy, supernatural creature and evil bad-ass, this book is
for you!
Author Bio
J.K. Hogan
has been telling stories for as long as she can remember, beginning with
writing cast lists and storylines for her toys growing up. When she finally decided
to put pen to paper, magic happened. She is greatly inspired by all kinds of
music and often creates a “soundtrack” for her stories as she writes them.
J.K.
resides in North Carolina, where she was born and raised. A true southern girl
at heart, she lives on a farm with her husband and their three horses, one
miniature donkey, one cat, and two champion agility dogs.
In addition
to writing, she enjoys training and competing in dog sports, spending time with
her large southern family, camping, boating and, of course, reading! Please
feel free to visit J.K.’s contact page—she’d love to hear from you!
Twitter:
@JK_Hogan
Excerpt:
Isla had stopped at the edge of the porch and stood,
frozen, staring out into the rainy darkness. Beyond her, Jeremiah could see the
silhouette of a man. His face was in shadow, but from the luminescent eyes
swirling with shadows, he knew it was Alastore.
When the
man stepped forward into the dim light cast through the open door of the house,
it became clear that he had a victim. Mhairi Mackay stood in front of the
demon, and he had a strong arm locked around her neck.
Jeremiah
surged forward, determined to protect Isla's only remaining family, but Marduk
stopped him with a hand on his shoulder. With a silent shake of his head,
Marduk encouraged Jeremiah to think first and act with care.
Trust
nothing, question everything, because things will most definitely not be as
they seem. Marduk's earlier words came back to him, and Jeremiah gave the
man a quick nod to let him know he understood.
Isla
lifted a foot to step down off the porch. "Think, Isla. Breathe. That's
not really Mhairi. She's at Sacred Hearts, guarded by doctors and nurses that
didn't even want to let us in at first, remember?" he said in a low
tone.
He saw a
shudder rack her slender body but, much to his relief, she stayed put. Three
pairs of eyes fixed on the pale, glowing arm that had the projection of Mhairi
in a headlock.
Alastore
threw his head back and cackled, before pinning each of them with a hard glare. "You think you can
defeat me? I will lead you to your graves like lambs to the slaughter."
His voice was demonic, and they could hear the echo of pure evil behind it. It
sounded like a dozen demons living inside one body, speaking in unison.
Without
warning, he wrapped his free hand around Mhairi's head and twisted in opposite
directions. They heard a gruesome snap before the image of Mhairi crumpled to
the ground.
A
strangled cry ripped from Isla's throat as the three of them bounded off the
porch. They ground to a halt as Alastore threw his hands up toward the sky, and
the pelting raindrops burst into incandescent flames.
The pellets
of flame singed their skin, forcing them back to the shelter of the porch. Isla
wailed as the spectre of Mhairi seemed to dissolve under the onslaught of fire
and rain combined. Alastore’s head swiveled back to face them, his eyes
gleaming with madness and hatred, pierced through to Isla’s soul.
“The
little witch thinks she can defeat me! I, who can make the sky rain fire?” He
took a step forward and Isla stood her ground. He glared at her with his mouth
turned up in a gruesome sneer. “I will burn your life!” he spat
at her.
“You’ll
watch everything you care for turn to ash if you fight me!” He turned
his cutting glare to the two men standing shoulder to shoulder on her right and
absently gestured toward them. “These will die. Everyone will die.”
Facing
Isla again, he gave her a sickeningly sweet smile. “And you, my dear…You will
watch things fall apart. And then, you shall be mine.” She shuddered when he
licked his lips and leered at her.
Isla
would never be able to explain what came over her in that moment. As she
focused on the images the demon pushed into her head—the pain and suffering,
the dead and dying—it was the thought of Alastore turning his wrath upon
Jeremiah that sparked the bone-deep anger inside her.
Storming
off the porch into the maelstrom of fire and rain, she felt the breeze on the
nape of her neck, when Jeremiah reached for her and missed. Storming toward
Alastore, she stopped a few feet in front of him.
The
balls of fire raining from the sky seemed to roll off an invisible shield
around her and fury radiated from her body. "The hell I will!" she
growled at him, gathering her energy low in her chest, preparing for a strike.
Marduk's deceptively calm whisper drifted over to
Jeremiah. "He's goading her for a reason. Pushing her buttons. He may be
trying to funnel her energy into himself, leaving her vulnerable for him to
take her. Alastore does nothing without reason. Stop her."
Jeremiah
palmed the shotgun and whispered back to Marduk. "If I shoot him, it's not
going to stop him, right?" He waited for the other man to nod before
continuing. "But it'll hurt."
Giving
him a devious grin, Marduk nodded again. "It sure will. When he's in
corporeal form, he'll feel the same pain a human would, he just won't die. It
will send him back to the locus to recharge."
"Good
enough for me." Jeremiah pumped the forestock of the shotgun, drawing
Alastore's attention. The demon snarled at him but didn't seem overly worried.
That didn't bode well.
Bracing
the buttstock of the twelve gauge on his shoulder, he took aim and pulled the
trigger. Nothing happened. Cursing, he expelled the dead round and pumped
again. Trigger pull, nothing.
Howling
with laughter, Alastore returned his attention to the 110 pounds of livid woman
that stood in front of him. He cocked his head, like an animal hearing a
strange sound. "So pretty, and yet so easy," he began, "just
like your mother."
"Christ,"
Jeremiah hissed as he saw flames spike out from Isla's fingertips. She was
playing right into Alastore's hands, but she just couldn't see it. Shoving the
shotgun into Marduk's hands, he turned toward the house.
"I
think he's somehow jamming the gun. Maybe if I find something with no
mechanics, he won't be able to stop it."
"Hurry."
Well,
duh. Jeremiah bounded into the house and began tearing through cupboards and
rifling through drawers. He thought about grabbing a knife, but he didn't think
any of them should get that close to the demon.
Inspiration
struck when he found an unopened bottle of vodka, dusty and forgotten in a
cabinet. Grabbing a kitchen rag, he ripped it in half. Emptying a third of the
bottle down the sink, he stuffed the rag down into the neck, making sure that
it was in far enough to soak up the alcohol.
He
snagged a lighter from a drawer and rushed back outside. "Get her out of
the way," he ordered Marduk as he passed, not even stopping to make sure
the other man heard him. He didn't need to stop, because Marduk ran to catch up
with him as he was lighting the rag on fire.
Marduk
grasped Isla by the shoulders and yanked her back into his arms as Jeremiah
tossed the burning bottle at Alastore's feet.
The
projectile immediately exploded, engulfing the demon in a huge wall of fire.
The surge of heat was so intense, Jeremiah backed up several steps. He stood,
watching as the skin melted off of Alastore's corporeal form to reveal a
blackened skeleton.
An
inhuman screech rent the air as Alastore pointed a bony finger at them.
"You're mine," he croaked as what was left of him dissolved into ash
and flame.
"Yeah,
yeah, and our little dog, too. Got it," Jere grumbled.
"Hey!"
Marduk's indignant tone said he didn't appreciate the dog reference, but
Jeremiah didn't much care. Pulling Isla away from wolf-boy, he enveloped her in
a tight hug. Resting his chin on the top of her head, he allowed the shudders
he had been suppressing to roll over his body. Giving her one last squeeze, he
set her away from him and brushed past her, stalking into the house, slamming
the door behind him.
Giveaway:
*Disclosure of Material Connection: I am a member of Reading Addiction Blog Tours and a copy of this book was provided to me by the author. Although payment may have been received by Reading Addiction Blog Tours, no payment was received by me in exchange for this review. There was no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, publisher, publicist, or readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision’s 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning Use of Endorcements and Testimonials in Advertising*
Oooh, this sounds very good! Thanks for the post, I'm adding it to my TBR
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