You guys! I am SOOOOO excited to be hosting a stop on the blog tour for Shimmer. I've already devoured the book -- you can check out my fangirl review below -- and I can say with absolute certainty that this is a series you do NOT want to miss.
And just in case you don't believe me, here are ten reasons this series should definitely be on your radar:
1. Rafa - Honestly, this list could just be Rafa, Rafa, Rafa, and so on. But there is more to love about this series than just him. ;0)
RAFA
a younger Charlie Hunnam
(The author fancasted the last book for me as part of the Haze blog tour last year, and you can check out that post here.)Age: 139 yearsBased: Pretty much anywhere with a bed.Favourite food: Lamb shanksFavourite weapon: KatanaFavourite place: PatmosBest friend: JudeFavourite way to relax: Use your imagination. I’m also partial to beer.Earliest memory: Sneaking into the armory and trying to lift Nathaniel’s broadsword. It was taller than me and I knocked a bucket off the bench. Nathaniel caught me dragging the blade around the room. He made me stay in the armory until I could grip it and swing it properly. He thought it was punishment.
2. Gaby/Gabe - The whole series is told from her point-of-view and it is just lovely being in Gaby's head. This girl is fierce and broken and determined. And she just wants her old life back. Too bad it never existed to begin with...
3. Nephilim - Gaby, Rafa and crew are the product of forbidden relationships between angels and human women. And. They. Are. BADASS. They are some serious demon-killing machines!
4. Angels - This is quite possibly my favorite series involving angels...right up there with Susan Ee's series about evil angels. I even said in one TTT that the two should collaborate one day. I might die from the awesome. But Paula Weston has created this amazing backstory for her characters, focusing on the Fallen and the Heavens, and it is just utterly captivating.
5. Gaby and Rafa - These two just sizzle. Their chemistry is simply off the charts, even from their first encounter, and I dare you not to ship them to infinity and beyond.
6. The Aussie Effect - I don't know about you, but I have never not enjoyed a book written by an Australian author or that takes place in Australia...or both. When I hear these characters in my head, they have Aussie accents, which is beyond awesome because I kind of have a thing for that. =) Plus, a large part of the book takes place in Australia, a place I've wanted to visit since childhood. And, gawd, do I love the Aussie slang and terms that take context clues to decipher! I would LOVE to hear these books on audio!!!7. Not Your Typical YA - Dude, these characters are all around 19, going on 139. For reals. But the story doesn't read like a typical NA either, even though all of the characters are beyond high-school age. I'm not actually sure their is an age classification for this type of book, but regardless, it works. Most especially because these characters are dealing with far more than just relationship drama and the usual. They're trying to figure out which angel-dude fathered them while slaying demon ass, while trying to deal with their feelings. Talk about complicated lives!
8. Secrets and Lies - You're going to form some theories while reading this series, and some will come to fruition and some are going to be completely blown out of the water. You are going to be shocked into silence and angered enough to nearly throw the books at the wall -- but you won't because they are the precious and you would not do that to them. And just when you think there can't be anything left to surprise you, you will be wrong again.
9. Camaraderie - Despite everything these characters are going through -- and which of them were frienemies at best and enemies at worst when this all started -- there's just this sense of togetherness throughout the books. They are in this fight together and they will see it through to the bitter end. Even the human characters who've become just as much a part of this as the Nephilim.
10. Compulsively Readable - I've read and re-read these books and I plan on re-reading the whole series again in the near future because it is just so awesome and unlike any other angel-themed series I've ever read. I dare you to start this series and not immediately the next book...and the next book...and the next book.
There you have it. All very valid reasons why you should start this series today. =D My review for Shimmer, the third book in The Rephaim series follows, but maybe don't read it if you haven't read the first two books in the series yet. ;0)
SHIMMER
By Paula Weston
In stores now!!!
Here's the summary:
Gaby thought her life couldn’t get more complicated.
She’s almost used to the idea that she’s not the nineteen-year-old backpacker she thought she was. She can just about cope with being one of the Rephaim - a 140-year-old half-angel - whose memories have been stolen. She’s even coming to grips with the fact that Jude, the brother she’s mourned for a year, didn’t die at all.
But now Rafa—sexy, infuriating Rafa—is being held, and hurt, by Gatekeeper demons. And Gaby has to get the bitterly divided Rephaim to work together, or Rafa has no chance at all.
It’s a race against time - and history. And it may already be too late.
Having now read this series in its entirety, I think I can safely say this was my favorite out of them all. Of course, I loved each and every book with every fiber of my being, but I loved how the Rephaim had to come together in this book. Okay, I'm lying...I love how Rafa and Gaby came together in this book, lol.
Still, there's just something about seeing bitter enemies having to fight side by side against a common foe. Reminds me of the X-Men a bit. ;) Plus, now that Jude's back, we get to see more of how things were for the past ten years, when the Sanctuary Rephaim thought they knew best and the Outcasts were just rebels with a cause. And yet, no one really knows anything...not even the omniscient Nathaniel.
Because apparently, Jude and Gabe weren't the only ones keeping secrets. But I liked what the secrets did to the characters, what it revealed about them, and not only those who were directly affected but all of the Rephaim and the few outsiders who knew of their existence. The things revealed in this book have definitely changed the game, most especially for the two Rephaim who escaped the Sanctuary's notice for all of those years.
And despite all of these secrets and knowing that Rafa is still keeping things about their history from her, Gaby decides that he's worth the time and effort to get to know again. There's an undeniable connection there, so it makes sense, even with that threat of their past indiscretions looming over them. But I think Rafa has proven over the course of the series that if he did do something to hurt Gabe, something unforgivable, he's willing to make amends, to do whatever it takes to prove he's not that same guy.
People make mistakes. Same goes for half-angel/half-human hotties. I kind of love that underlying theme of forgiveness in these books. Because every single one of these characters has done something for which they need to be forgiven, whether they understand that yet or not -- well, except for poor Maggie...she got dragged into this without knowing what she was getting herself into. :P
About the author:
I’m the author of the Rephaim series. For my day job, I’m a writer-journalist-professional communicator with pH creative, where my writing involves a lot less profanity. :)
I also love to read, blog, cook, eat, drink and travel and tend to get passionate about human rights, ethical food production… actually, I can get passionate about pretty much anything.
I’m also a huge fan of Australian literature, fantasy/paranormal writing across books, TV and film; I love comedy; I’m a closet comic reader and TV addict; and I’m borderline obsessed with the Foo Fighters.
(Photo credit: Celia Southcombe, Flow Photography)
Find Paula:
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads
Be sure to check out the rest of the tour for more great reviews and insight into one of the best series around!
Shimmer Blog Tour Schedule:
MONDAY, MARCH 14, 2016
Lee at Rally the Readers
Jillian at centre of the universe: the dreaming
Michelle at Undeniably Book Nerdy
Juhina at Maji Bookshelf
TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 2016
Lynne at Words of Mystery
Laura at If It Has Words
Leanne at Author Leanne Dyck
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2016
Lauren at Love is not a triangle
Joy at Joyousreads
Krystal at Krystal’s Stellar Book Blog
THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 2016
Jaime at Fiction Fare
Liz at Midnight Bloom Reads
Crystal at Winterhaven Books
Andrea at Cozy Up With A Good Read
FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 2016
Jen at The Starry-Eyed Revue
Summer at MissFictional’s Books
Patty at Bookish Wanderlove
This sounds awesome, wonderful post!! xx
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