Crystallum
Laney McMann
(Primordial Principles #1)
Published by: Booktrope Publishing
Publication date: October 25th 2015
Genres: Urban Fantasy, Young Adult
Kadence Sparrow wasn’t born a devil’s child—she was turned into one. Now, she’s hiding from the truth, and running for her life.
For years, Kade’s true nature has lurked behind an illusion, so when her dad gets another job transfer, she knows the drill: no close friends, no boyfriends, and most importantly: don’t expose what she is. Ever. Keeping secrets is easy. Lies are second nature. So is the loneliness—and the fear, but when the Shadows attack, and Kade meets Cole Spires, she could expose everything she’s trying to hide.
As one of the Celestial Children, Cole lives by an oath: defend the Ward, protect the Primordial race, guard the gateways, and stick to his own. Everything else is a distraction, and besides, he’s lost enough. Cole’s job is clear, and no one his age does it better. So, when he meets Kade in a club downtown, he assumes she just wants his attention. Most girls do, but Cole soon realizes … Kade isn’t like most girls.
The children of heaven and hell are living among us, fighting an age-old war. And falling for someone from the opposition is not an option. But a chance encounter between Kade and Cole will blur the rules, as Kade’s journey to keep her truth hidden catapults them together and into a web of lies, forcing her to not only face the demon inside her, but to answer the hardest question of all.
Which is thicker—blood or water?
Are you a reviewer? You can request a review copy of Crystallum here!
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EXCERPT:
PLUMB STOOD in the driveway, hands on her hips, a piece of bright yellow paper in her hand. Cole groaned, exhausted, as he made his way toward her. The only light was a dim one above the door on the Brotherhood’s front porch.
Plumb waved the paper in the air. “It’s four fifteen in the morning, and I’m afraid to even venture why I received a notice for you to appear in front of the Warden later today. And Danny has nothing to say, which could only mean one thing—” Plumb looked him up and down. “With the condition you’re in, I’m not sure I want to know where you’ve been.”
“You probably don’t.” Cole held his hand out for the summons.
Plumb handed the paper over, scowling, and Cole slipped it, unopened, into his pocket.
“Are you going to tell me where you’ve been?”
“Thought you didn’t want to know.” He walked toward the porch. There was a time, when Cole was much younger, that he never would have spoken so bluntly to his Lead, but those days, buried by all of his new responsibilities within the Ward, had faded. They were close to equals now, even though Plumb was about fifteen years older.
“Cole.”
“I’m tired as hell. I’ve been up all night.” He turned to face her. “Okay? I need to get some sleep.”
“What were you doing in the middle of the night that the Principals couldn’t handle?”
“A girl.”
“Excuse me?”
“No…I, no, I wasn’t doing a girl. She just…never mind.” He headed for the door, flustered. The last thing he needed to do was think about Kadence like that. His brain already went into some kind of jumble every time her name was mentioned, and it was bad enough that she’d had her hands all over him.
“You were with Tiffany? Until four in the morning?” Plumb sounded like a disapproving mother. “Cole, I understand you’re seventeen, and boys—”
“I was with Kadence.” He wished she would shut up.
My Review
Oh my sweet holy goodness!!! Ok so I absolutely obsessively adored Ms Laney's Fire Born series. But... I think she may have out done herself here. I won't lie- this writer fascinates me with her excellent skills of placing words together that make me seriously emotional. And she's definitely creative. But here, well, it's not really angels and Demons. It's more what's become of those angels and Demons since coming to the mortal plane. And it's not just a teenage romance. It's so very much more than that.
So Kadence- aka Kade- is our leading lady. She's always moves around with her father, so she has no friends, no real experience with normal teenage life, and she's really wanting something more. But she's not human. In fact she's a monster, or so she thinks herself to be. So when she goes with her new friends- she desperately wants them to be her friends- to a club, she sees the shadows stalking her. Now she's been on the run for a long time from a demon, and those shadows signify his presence. But when she doesn't expect is to see a boy get rid of those shadows. Only something she can do, because no one is like her. And here we meet Cole. But gimme a second... Kade is almost your typical teenage girl except she broke my heart. No she didn't have the horrible past but she had a really sad one. Who could live without friends. I can't imagine. And I never expected at the end that "that" was they why. Yeah I can't go there yet either. So Kade is sweet though and she's going to find herself, because she will gain friends, and love, and knowledge and experience. That right there is what made me love watching her go through the hard parts.
Now Cole. Oh holy Hawtness. He's your rebellious good guy. Yes yes, he's a good guy. He's one to break the rules but he always wants to make sure it turns out alright. He wants to protect others and help keep them save and ignorant too. His best friend Danny cracked me up the whole book. He's not just a best friend he's a little comic relief and the entire rational thought of the group. But Cole has had some struggles too and sometimes he feels he needs to prove something. The dad issue is just one example. And when he really starts fighting for Kade and with Kade, there's no going back. And man oh man was it a beautiful disaster to watch! I think I love them both and they are my new favorite power couple!!
Ok so the plot just about blew my mind. I can't explain it without ruining it so I will be very basic. Good needs to fight against evil to keep all us humans safe. Yeah that's good. Lol and the world building and explanations to everything is so damn awesome. Yeah my vocabulary lacks but it's just awesome so I'll go with that. I almost had my heart wrenched out of my chest at the end. There's fantastic side characters- her two besties, Jake, Ms Plumb... I really must say the set of characters definitely made me feel like I was completely invested with them. I know them. They are my friends. And I really didn't even know what the hell to say to that part about him and him because the bad guy will blow your ever loving socks off. I was literally slack jawed and shocked and then wanted to crawl into a ball and hug myself and cry... For that person. No I can't tell you! But I so badly want to. I've never wanted to give spoilers until now- because I want everyone to know how fantastic this book is- but you should find out for yourself. Ms Laney, when you read this- you need to give yourself a high five, a par on the back, and a margarita with chocolate on the side. This book is flipping brilliant! And I will hug you one day for always letting me be a part of your fantastically created worlds! Thank you for that! And I am absolutely DYING for book two... Hahahaha! I don't know how else to tell you this book is a phenomenal beginning to this new series and I seriously urge you to try it. Seriously-you won't be able to put it down either! Since it's significant, I will not give paws today... I will give 5 BEAUTIFUL SPARROW AND FALCON WINGS! Yeah that part is just awesome too but I can't tell you about that either ;)
CRYSTALLUM
by Laney McMann Playlist:
Phantogram
~ Black Out Days
Sleigh
Bells ~ Bitter Rivals
Parade
Of Lights ~ We’re
The Kids
Until
The Ribbon Breaks ~ One Way Or Another
Scars
On 45 ~ Crazy For You
The
Moth & The Flame ~ Young & Unafraid
Until
The Ribbon Breaks ~ A Taste Of Silver
Dashboard
Confessional ~ Stolen
Snow
Patrol ~ Chasing Cars
SafetySuit
~ Life Left To Go
Bruce
Springsteen ~ I’m
On Fire
AWOLNATION
~ Run
Dave
Matthews Band ~ Crash Into Me
Author Bio:
Laney McMann is the author of The Fire Born Novels (TIED, TORN, & TRUE) and The Primordial Principles series (CRYSTALLUM, book #1 ~ Fall 2015).
She is the product of very creative parents and the most imaginative grandmother ever. With an untapped passion for the supernatural and all things magical, her voracious appetite for reading fantasy started really young ~ and so did her love of words.
She writes young adult dark urban fantasy novels mixed with a spike of romance, a hint of history, a dash of mythology, and lots of paranormal.
On the non-writing side of life, Laney is a former classical dancer, music snob, chef, and a right-brained thinker to a fault. When she's not dreaming up new dead ends to torture herself with, she spends her time running.
Laney is published by J. Taylor Publishing and Booktrope Publishing
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