Enchantments will fail.
Closet doors will open.
And skeletons—all dressed in their finest secrets—will come out to dance.
Raised in urban downtown New York, Gabrian holds no grand illusions of how life really works. And legends of magic and vampires, nothing more than a bunch of hocus pocus stuffed within book pages or painted on the big screen.
But when a woman, no one else can see, enters her … within book pages or painted on the big screen.
But when a woman, no one else can see, enters her office and delivers a riddle filled warning about her intended fate, Gabrian’s grip on sanity takes a big hit—terrified she is falling into madness.
As Gabrian untangles secrets of her past, she discovers a powerful, hidden world of magic.
A supernatural world in which there is no return.
Now, she must choose a side.
To walk in the light… or to run within the shadows of darkness.
GREY, the first book in The Covenant of Shadows series of captivating urban fantasy novels, is new Vampire lore, a bit of romance and the supernatural, inspired by the beautiful minds that brought you City of Bones, Twilight and ACOTAR.
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Kade Cook has what I like to call a beautiful mind. Where does she come up with all this stuff: A story out of thin air that feels real, true, and authentic? And the characters … well-developed characters, main and secondary that live, breath, and rise from the pages. I’ve never been a fan of vampires or the stories they populate, but I’ll forever be a fan of Kade Cook if she can continue to cook up tales like Grey. She wields a flawless, third-person, omniscient narrator that feels surprisingly close to all the characters.
Cook takes us straightway into the action with a purposeful prologue that sets the tone for things to come. And come they do. It’s a supernatural smorgasbord. We are introduced to our protagonist, accomplished professional, Dr. Gabrian Shadwell. We are unknowingly drawn into her volatile world, and her gradual growth and transformation by the novel’s end are both significant and profound.
Cook doesn’t bore us with brooding backstory and tedious exposition but places this necessary information strategically throughout the narrative, wrapped in elegant prose, vivid descriptions and authentic, engaging dialogue. It’s somewhat cinematic in its approach and would make a great film. Cook also does a good job of keeping the tension up chapter after chapter, and the reader in suspense as to the outcome of our story and its dynamic heroine’s fate. Sample some of Cook’s exquisite words. “A foreboding sense of fear sweeps over her [Gabrian], sending a shiver down her spine and wiping her face clean of expression except for the dew forming in the edges of her eyes—sadly revealing to her an understanding that she has somehow managed to lose all control of her life.” These last words are telling to the story’s direction, but you have to read it to get more. Ha!
I’m not a fan of instalove at first sight, but Cook has found the right combination of words to make the concept more than believable. I was swept away when Shane and Gabrian first crossed paths, drawn into their blaze. But it’s Cook’s words that kept me there, unwilling to blink. Witness a bit of the magic.
“He stands above her, smelling an arousing scent of cinnamon in her hair. He looks down at her and feels his pulse begin to race just from being close to her. She is unlike any girl he has ever met before—she ignites him. She pulls his attention to its knees, making him want to take in everything she does—cling to every word she says. He wants to kiss her so badly it hurts. He can feel his need for her painfully twist in his chest.” And “He thought she was beautiful before but now he is convinced she has to be a descendant of the goddess Aphrodite herself, sent here to wreak havoc on his senses. Everything about her makes him weak, and he knows he is now and forever more irrevocably lost in her.” One more. “He [Shane] observes her transform from the shy wall flower he had met at the coffee shop only hours ago into the wind.”
Adrinn as villain is terrifying, intriguing, and formidable. The scene where he takes Gabrian to a bar to wield his dark magik is intoxicating (no pun). I read the chapter twice. Cook keeps the story grounded in the here and now with perfectly placed references to current pop culture. All in all, the Realm is an exciting and provocative place to be, and I’m looking forward to a return trip there. 5 stars plus for Kade Cook’s debut effort, Grey: The Covenant of Shadows.
What should a psychiatrist do if she fears she’s going insane?
That’s a problem Gabrian Shadwell must answer. She’s based her life on the logical, so when she learns things aren’t as black and white as she once believed, it’s hard to cope. Her entire life is a lie, and one by one, her eyes are opened to the truth of her situation. She’s not just a human—she has gifts. A Borrower, she’s known as, which in the Realm of her people can be considered both a blessing and a curse.
Gabrian must decide which she will become.
I personally loved this story! It was so creative and spunky that it was deeply engrossing throughout. Gabrian’s character was very strong and believable. She was a capable protagonist from start to finish. I also thought the villain of the story, Adrinn, was quite humorous with all of his quirks.
This was a solid 3.5 star read for me! I loved the concept & characters I just didn’t love the pace, I like my fantasy books to move faster. That is a personal preference so don’t hold it against the book as it’s fascinating!!
Gabrian, Gabe for short, is a practicing Psychologist in Manhattan, her bestfriend since college is her office manager. She took the practice over from her Dad when her parents retired to the Coast!! She’s a very logical thinker by nature & training.
Some strange things start occurring with her. She thinks she’s possibly seeing auras but it’s not all the time so she dismisses it. Then she reacts strangely to a drink and passes out. More & more things are happening & she keeps dismissing them as she doesn’t want to question her own sanity!! When her bf, Rachel, suggests she visits her parents for an extended Christmas break She agrees but whilst she’s out on a run before the trip something bad happens which can no longer be ignored. This means tht truths need to be admitted to her immediately!!! She is taken to her parents & her Mum starts to explain everything. Gabe’s life is never going to be the same again!!!
This is a totally new take on Vampire’s, Mage’s etc and for me and I loved that about this book!! The characters are mostly likeable, Ethan was my favourite The plot was really good too. I’d definitely read book 2 but I’d be hoping that Gabe starts to open up to her friends about the other things happening to her regarding her abilities & that she’d toughen up and want some revenge Being smart isn’t enough, she needs to be badass now
(Read using Kindle Unlimited)
Debbie, 1970, UK