Veena’s review of Soulfire (Nightwing, Book 1) by Juliette Cross
Fantasy Romance published by Lyrical Press 20 Oct 14
This is a Romeo and Juliet style short story set in a fantasy world where the Cades and Nightwings are deadly enemies. Considering that they both lived in different parts of the town where social norms were designed to keep them apart, Jessen and Cade should never have met, but fate, in the shape of an author’s imagination, takes a hand and Jessen ventures into the forbidden and Lucius is forced to come to her rescue.
Lucius is a fantasy dragon-like creature who has wings and breathes fire, while Jessen is human. Considering the state of enmity between their families and the fact that Jessen is promised to a candidate chosen by her father, the reader fears this is not going to end well. Fortunately, this is a romance, so it definitely ends better than the original Romeo and Juliet.
The story itself in its various twists and turns is quite predictable. What I, however, found interesting is the fable regarding the discovery of soul fire and the creation of the Morgons. It will come as no surprise that Lucius is descended from the original hero of the tale, though the human version of it pitches him as a villain. Jessen is fascinated with the story but more especially once she’s attracted to Lucius and hears the true tale of love and heart bonding.
I find myself actually giving this story a higher grade because I really enjoyed this short fable, both versions of it. We meet other interesting members of the Nightwing clan and I can’t wait to see more human and Morgon relationships evolve as the series promises.
Grade: B
Summary:
In a world divided by prejudice and hatred, only love can bridge the chasm.
Tensions are rising in the Gladium Province. The boundary between humans and Morgons has begun to blur. While the human aristocracy strives to maintain distance between their daughters and the dragon-hybrid race, fate has other plans.
As the daughter of the corporate king, Jessen Cade is duty-bound to honor her arranged marriage to a man she detests. Feeling trapped by family duty and a loveless future, she longs for more, straying to the Morgon side of the city.
Lucius Nightwing is the eldest son of the powerful Morgon clan, and the greatest enemy of Jessen’s father. When a bar-room brawl thrusts Jessen into his arms, his dragon roars to the surface, craving to sate his carnal hunger in the brown-eyed beauty. The beast in Lucius recognizes her as his own, even if the man refuses to admit the truth.
No excerpt available
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