Ren's Little Corner

4,5 stars

Why I still continue this series?

If we see from ideas and originality,nothing new about "World of Ascencion" series. Ms Roane seems like mix all paranormal romance elements she'd knew.From the merry band of vampire brotherhood (BDB anyone?), winged creatures(Guild Hunter, everybody?), the smell-mate thingy (cough,cough,Midnight Breed?) and more. But, why I still read her books anyway?

That's because her world building captivated me. Ms Roane must do a hard work to make her books a little bit different from other series. So,she mix it with make Earth have six dimension,where mind ability control is the strongest power of all power and suddenly all her characters falling hard in love. Yeah,the latest not new after all,but still work to make readers interested.

Obsidian Flame continues what happen from book 4, Born of Ashes. Thorne,the leader of Warrior of Blood left Second Earth to chase his ladylove who doesn't want to be chased after,Marguerite. I'm still confused why the breh-hedden or bonding mate just hit Thorne now. When Marguerite free from her convent. Make a no little sense after all,since Thorn and Marguerite become lover (or fuck buddy) for hundred years. But, there it was.

Marguerite, hmm,I don't know. I will not say she is bitch to leave Thorne, or slut to have a single purpose after her freedom,having sex with many men. Actually,after she left Second Earth,she just having sex with Thorne. I almost afraid I will not like her. But Marguerite, surprisingly,not annoying. She has balls. Her relationship with Thorne of course different from other couples. More like a second chance type relationship.

Things get heating up in this book. The third triad obsidian flame was found,in form of Grace, Thorne's sister. Turn that she have 2 mates in the same time,the ex-traitor Leto and other villain, Casimir. Whoaa,mama,talk about having 2 mates, suddenly all that I think is menage of trois!! Alas, I think we will don't get it in the next book.Interesting to see how Ms Roane will bring Grace-Leto-Cassimir relationship.

The others,beside the main villain Greaves who march his new armies of thousand death vampires, is how Thorne manage his relationship with Her Supremeness Endelle.Yeah, the scorpion queen got her butt kicked (not literally) with Thorne left her, since Thorne is her vice. But what Thorne do,to break his mind link with Endelle. is necessary. How can he bonded with Marguerite if his mind still connected with Endelle? Actually the main reason I give this book almost 5 stars is Thorne-Endelle. While Thorne-Marguerite just pretty okay,I love the way Thorne manage his relationship with Endelle. They had been together for thousand years. They never been lover,even they tempted to do so.Endelle's love for Thorne more like sister for him and vice versa.For her quirkiness,weird attitude and hot temper that make her famous as scorpion queen,Thorne understand Endelle,and still support her. Ms Roane seems want to show, that love between man and woman,sometimes not just merely based on lust. Sometimes its just based on friendship and family,like what happen to Endelle and Thorne.

As for writing style,I'm glad to see Ms Caris Roane had improved. Oh,the book still thick, the sex scenes still hot (which some of them feel like repetition), but finally the amount of"cried" and "whatever" words decreased. I think,its odd if Ms Roane's writing kinda immature since she had published 50 books before under other pen name. But seems like she improved hers for the newest books,and I don't have an urge to frown when read the books

World of Ascencion might not be original,but I enjoy read them all. I can't wait to read the next book,Gates of Rapture. For PNR romance fans that love BDB,this series is can't be missed.