Monday, April 23, 2012

ARC Review: Caridad Pineiro - The Claimed

Sin Hunters Series:

Book 2:

The Claimed: Christopher Sombros and Victoria Johnson

 

Summary:
From caridad.com

Victoria Johnson loves her life. She’s her own boss in a quaint beachside town, and has great friends who keep her grounded. If only they knew who she really is: an heiress to an ancient race who possesses astonishing superhuman powers. It’s Victoria’s duty to restore her clan of Light Hunters to their former glory by choosing the perfect mate. In Christopher Sombrosa, she just may have found him. Strong, smart, and successful, Christopher exudes a powerful energy. Their connection is sensual, irresistible-and forbidden.

A member of the Shadow Hunter clan, Christopher has defied his own father to lead his people away from affliction and violence. Yet he cannot ignore his duty to carry on his ancient bloodline. Stunningly beautiful and brimming with an erotic life force, Victoria is everything Christopher ever hoped for in a mate . . . but as a Light Hunter, she’s his mortal enemy. Together, they could unite their warring tribes. But murderous factions on both sides don’t want peace-and they’ll stop at nothing to keep light and darkness apart forever . . .

Review:
Although, this is the second book in the series, this is the first book I have read by Caridad Pineiro, I missed the first book in the series. That being said, I feel like this book can be read on its own but it would be helpful to have read the first book in the series as there are events that are mentioned that refer to the first book.  There are a lot of new terms are thrown out at you in the beginning with the Light Hunters and the Shadow Hunters and it can be somewhat disorienting but you catch your balance pretty quickly and everything is explained in its time.

This is a fast paced novel that will not leave you bored, there is plenty going on to hold your attention. This is a tale of two natural enemies inexplicably drawn together at the worst possible time.  Victoria is of the Light, she has immense power and a responsibility to her people to mate with a male of Light also with great power, the fate of her clan depends on her. She takes her duties seriously and knows what is expected of her, but the romantic residing in her heart wishes she could have more, could have love.  All her life she has done what is expected of her, only this time she wants something of her own, someone of her own. She has that chance but all she has to do is go against everything she has ever been taught and stand up to her parents and lead her people in a new daunting controversial direction. I really like Victoria, she is kind and loyal. She has a vision she is willing to risk all on but mostly she cares about her people. You can’t really hate on someone who gives so much to those she loves even at the sacrifices of her own happiness sometimes. She befriends humans and her guard she treats like family.  She isn’t a slave to tradition and while she respects that her parents are the current leaders she knows her strengths and isn’t afraid to throw her weight around a little.

Chris is one of the most powerful of the Shadows, hunters that a plagued with the pox, they crave the energy that the Light can provide them. Chris has parted with his father’s Shadow clan  and is returning to the old ways of hunting and has set up shop practically right in Victoria’s back yard.  He knows what is right and what is needed and doesn’t let fear guide him or stifle him. I like his fearless attitude, he is willing to turn away from traditions hundreds of years old and go on alone with his small band of followers, he inspires.  That takes tremendous cahonies, but he pulls it off. He leaves his father and his people behind and starts all over, and his gamble looks like it will pay off as his people become less and less tainted. I love a man that goes big. If you’re going to do it go huge! Chris knows what he wants and he goes for it, even if it may seem crazy like his attraction to Victoria. He shouldn’t want her, but he does, and that little, ok big thing with her being a Light, ehh, he knows he’ll get past it and make her see what is right as well.
A chance meeting at a scene of a horrific accident leaves both Chris and Victoria longing for more, but neither knows what the other is, but they suspect something.  This leaves Chris and Victoria dancing around each other with their intense attraction; they have plenty of lust which scorches off the pages but as these two dance around each other one eye is busy checking the other out and the other eye is looking for any actions to prove their distrust to of one another.  When the truth comes out they know that they cannot have each other the distrust runs too deep but the possibilities could save both clans. Not everyone is eager to see the feud between Light and Shadow end; which, makes this situation ripe for betrayal and war.   Before the end of the book both Victoria and Chris will lose those they love.

I enjoyed this installment; it was a refreshing read after so many vampires and were’s novels in the paranormal genre. Instead of harvesting blood they harvest energy. This is not necessarily new, but it’s not as saturated, so it’s nice to take a break sometimes and it worked in this installment. I’ll probably even go back and read the 1st book and am eager to see where Caridad Pineiro takes us with this series, we were left with possibilities for the future and the traitors are still loose!

Rating: 


ARC provided by NetGalley for an honest review

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