Chained to a demon queen for hundreds of years, fallen angel Ramiel has given up on his brothers and sisters–and humanity. He has seven days away from hell to replenish his power and that’s all he cares about–right up until his meeting with the much too innocent Kyria. He fell for that act before and it landed him in hell, he won’t be making that mistake again. To save her sick father, Kyria … father, Kyria knows she must find Ramiel. He’s dark, brooding and everything Kyria should be scared of, but the haunted look in his eyes makes her think there’s more to him. The tattoos and chains don’t frighten her either, but the connection she has with him does. When strange creatures attack her, Ramiel steps in to protect her.
Ramiel believes he’s reluctantly helping Kyria, but what neither of them knows is that she may be the one to save them all…
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I love a good supernatural romance – one where the author creates a world that you can immerse yourself in but is different than the one the reader knows. Maybe someone with a more extensive understanding of religious/mythological history would feel differently but I really enjoyed how Alvarez introduces both her baddies and the good guys, while setting up an interesting foundation for where the series may go.
Kyria thought she understood why her life was the way it was but when her dad gets sick her eyes are opened to things she could never imagine. Unsteady and confused, she’s still got a lot of gumption and fight in her. She takes everything in stride, even some hard-hitting truths about herself and her family.
Ramiel has spent decades feeling alone in the world. The last thing he wants is someone reminding him of his past and people who let him down but he’s compelled to help Kyria. She gets past his broody, standoffish exterior and, as they work together to find her dad, truths will come out that might just set him free … but only if he can manage to trust in someone else again.
Since it is the start of a new series, with its own special world, Alvarez does a fabulous job of setting things up for the future. There’s a lot that is going on with the underworld and what they want with our world, a special group of kids that could mean everything to our future, and a varied cast of characters who are doing their best to make sure that right wins out in the end. With a whole slew of people that I can’t wait to get to know better, a good mix of danger & the supernatural, and a plot that wonderfully sets up future stories, I am definitely looking forward to more from Alvarez.
(When there are demons and angels involved you know that religion is going to play a part. I’m assuming that those picking up the book will know what they are getting into but I’m throwing out a warning just in case for those that might find using God this way offensive.)
**Review given honestly and freely after receipt of a reader copy. This opinion is completely my own and was not influenced in any way.**
What a great start for R.C. Alvarez and her new Rapture series! I was completely intrigued by all the characters involved in this story and there were times when I found myself more interested in them than the main characters. Overall, a solid start to this series and I can’t wait to read the books to come.
Ramiel and Kyria couldn’t be more perfectly matched than they already are. I loved the bit of inner battle that Ramiel would have over Kyria. As much as he wants to stay away from her, he’s constantly being pulled in her direction and can’t exactly pin point what it is.
Kyria was definitely her own little mystery and throughout the book we’re learning what exactly she is. I loved her ferocity and tenacity towards her father and learning more of the truth about herself. She’s definitely no damsel in distress, but side by side with Ram, they definitely make a power couple.
I truly enjoyed Ram’s story as well as we’re going through each chapter, we’re learning so much about his past. And essentially why he is the broody archangel that he is.
Truly a great start with Alvarez’s debut book!
R.C. Alvarez
This is my first read by this author and I enjoyed it! Kyria and her father have been on the run off and on. This time they have settled down for the last six years, when her father tells her that they have to leave again and he suddenly he falls sick. Ramiel(a fallen angel) has been tortured over a century and during his 7 day reprieve helps out Kyria. This story had some interesting takes and surprises, especially for Kyria. Together the two of them work together to unravel the mysteries of Kyria and fight off the baddies. I loved it and look forward to reading more from R.C. Alvarez. 4 solid stars*****
****I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book provided by Entangled Publishing through NetGalley*****
What a great debut novel! Full of action, mystery, suspense and steamy paranormal romance, this story had me hooked from page one. Ramiel and Kyria’s story makes me want more from the secondary characters featured in the story. Can’t wait for the next book!
This is the first book I’ve read by this author and I can say that I’m truly looking for more.
An action filled paranormal romance with a sexy and tortured fallen angel, demons and a woman with a spine of steel.
Ramiel is strong, tortured and angry. He trusts no one but himself after a betrayal of those closest to him.
Kyria has been on the run most of her life. When her father falls ill however, she must find Ramiel in order to help her father.
The connection between her and Ramiel is instantaneous almost like it is fated. But things are more complicated than that because the truth she once believed in is about to be turned upside down.
Will she be strong enough for what’s to come? Are her and Ramiel fated?
This is a solid beginning to a promising series. It was well written and intriguing.
There was a lot of information and introductions to take in and I found that sometimes I got a little lost or tried to remember who a character was.
With that being said, I’m curious and excited to see how this story will continue to unfold.
I received an ARC via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Ram is an archangel that is enslaved to a demoness, but he gets 7 days on earth to replenish himself so his torment can begin again. He has given up on his life changing, and he especially doesn’t trust supposed “innocents” needing help. Kyria has gone to Ram to try to get help for her father, not realizing exactly what she is stepping into. Or what it will bring down on not only her head but Ram’s as well.
This book was not quite what I was expecting based off the blurb. That’s not to say it’s not a good read, but for me it was more of an ok read. This seemed to be more about the religion aspect to me, and not necessarily a romance book per se. That being said, I did finish the whole thing. And on a whole the story is decent, I just had a hard time getting into it because of all the talk about religion and such. It was a little too much for me I guess. I’m not sure if I want to read the next one, although I would like to know about one of the characters we see a lot of in it. So I guess I will probably give it a try again.
Reading the back cover of Unchained Desire by R.C. Alvarez, I was really interested to see how this would go…
Ramiel has been chained to a Demon Queen for centuries, humanity, oh please, the humans are all selfish and self centered. The only family he cares about are his brothers and sisters, and he hasn’t heard or seen them in a while. He is given seven days to replenish his energy (he needs blood) and that’s all he cares about now.
He wasn’t always this way, but meeting an innocent (who wasn’t so innocent) he was trapped, he now serves a Demon Queen, tortured and chained. But he hopes one day to be released, but he doesn’t know how or if ever.
Kyria is on the run!! Why?? And why does the tattoo like mark on the back of her neck ache? It’s been like that for the past two weeks. Her father has given her no choice, they have to run. After six years of some semblance of normality, they have to leave the ranch they’ve been living in and run again. Why? The cartel have found Darius (her dad) and Kyria, her mother had been murdered years ago and are after Darius. Her only friend Eli is concerned, but Darius is convinced Eli is part of the cartel (Eli’s father is the head, supposedly) and her dad keeps ranting about demons and keeping her safe.
In the bar, Ramiel is having a hard time, he feels out of sorts, he knows he should feed, but there is something not right. And he’s proven correct…. in she walks with an innocent and purity that sets his teeth on edge, but also a want (and last time he paid for it dearly) and when she approaches him to help her father (a man that helped put him where he is today) Ramiel tells her that he won’t help.
Kyria is crushed, her father needs help and she thought this Ramiel works help, but he’s arrogant and rude and really hot but when he tells Kyria that her dad doesn’t deserve help, she needs to convince him.
And when a demon attacks Kyria, Ramiel has no choice but to help. But there is a price, and he doesn’t want to pay it. But Kyria could be Ramiel’s saviour, but will he trust her enough? And what secret does Kyria hold?
Unchained Desire was well written. Ramiel and Kyria connected and the story really flowed. Very descriptive, I really liked it.
Original review: https://myshelfbooks.wordpress.com/2019/05/11/unchained-desire-r-c-alvarez/
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Balance is important in many aspects of our lives. It is also crucial for books. In a Paranormal Romance novel there must be a good balance between the story, the characters development, the action, the romance and the world building. The first book of The Rapture fails miserably at juggling all those aspects. But it shows promise…
In this story we follow Kyria, a young woman who is not aware of the paranormal creatures that surround her. She is even clueless about her own angelic blood running through her veins. When her father gets very sick, she goes looking for the second half of this duet: Ramiel. He is a fallen angel who has been captured by a demon and must do her bidding. Luckily, he can enjoy seven days of almost freedom now and then. Just enough time to meet a scared Kyria…
As I mentioned before, this book is pretty unbalanced. In this case, the scales favour much more heavily the world building part of the story. I really enjoyed all the facts that are dropped about the angels, the Nephilim, the demons… A huge bunch of details. They can’t be consider original, but they are all tied together pretty smoothly. I enjoyed the fact that these angels must drink blood. I wasn’t expecting vampires with angelic wings! It is not a long book, but the world that is offered could sustain dozen of different stories, so I will have to keep an eye on this author to see what comes next.
I honestly enjoyed all the world building and the nice setting, but I’m afraid the other aspects of the book had to be sacrificed in order to make room for it. We have the prettiest stage as a background for a really boring story. This book is mostly uneventful, with too much babbling that gets us nowhere. In many chapters of the book I had to fight back really hard in order not to fall asleep. The ending gets a bir more livelier, but by then the damage was done and I just wanted to get over it. Besides, the plot is rather obvious; but that wouldn’t have mattered if the pace were somehow good.
The characters are also pretty weak and lacking charisma everywhere. From the main couple, Ramiel is the most interesting. The bad boy fallen angel looked like he could be fun to read, but all the chances of banter are missed and what we get is a boring exchange that seems stuck in a loop. Maybe a tad less broody and a bit more playful would have made the character a lot better. His other half doesn’t help at all. Kyria is a mess as a character. She doesn’t make any sense. We just have to make believe with her. Even the way they meet is forced to a limit I hadn’t read in a very long time. Everyone knows that when your father blacks out, you shouldn’t call an ambulance or ask for help. Just run to the seediest club you know and look for what you think is a detective undercover during a mission… Standard procedure…
Even though the main couple is a nightmare, there are several supporting characters that are interesting and almost make up for them. Bishop would be, without any doubt, the best character of this book. I wish the same care would have been applied to Ramiel and Kyria. It seems obvious the crazy madman will be important during the whole saga. I think he is going to be the link between all the books. So I’m glad the character is so special and fun to read. Even though sometimes I didn’t understand a thing of what he was saying.
And if you are wondering if the romantic aspect of the book is worth mentioning, let me tell you that you would be better off skipping those parts. They are few, short and as boring as the couple that stars in them.
Overall, it is a good idea that has been carried out in a sloppy way. But the world building is good enough for me to check the next ones of this saga. So, let’s hope the author gets the balance better in future stories.