Zoey Daniels has been tossed from foster home to foster home, where she grows up fast and tough. When she is placed in her “last-chance” home, she finds a reason to stay and turn her life around: her foster sister, Lexie, who is paralyzed and confined to a wheelchair. Zoey will do anything to keep her safe.
After high school, Zoey is hired by a special government agency, the Department of … Department of Molecular Genetics (DMG), where she meets the other reason to remain: Daniel, her co-worker. The man she loves.
But there is something unique about Zoey. She can see fae. Because of this, the DMG hires her to work as a Collector: catching, researching, testing, and using the fae to save human lives. The work never registers on her sympathy radar. She was raised to think of fae as beasts that feed on humans and want to destroy them.
When devastation hits Seattle, Zoey’s whole world is turned upside down. The electric storm connects her to a ruthless fae, a Wanderer named Ryker, whose dealings expose them to even more trouble and danger. They embark on a journey, running and hiding from both the government and fae, both of which threaten their lives and those they love.
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Zoey & Ryker’s story is much better compared to the first two books of Eli & Ember. It has a great start and an interesting concept. It’s just that there were too many enemies, it was all over the place. No insta love between Zoey & Ryker and has a love hate relationship. Then Zoey was supposed to be a badass (with her being a Collector and was a famous fighter) but Ryker ended up saving her all the time . Good thing we have Sprig the best sidekick ever, he made reading this fun .
I can’t help but compare the stories as it has a lot of similarities. All in all it was still okay and I can’t wait to see what happens with Zoey, Ryker and Sprig.
This review MAY contain spoilers.
OMG, the struggle is real! This is my first venture into the waters of Stacey Marie Brown and I honestly didn’t have any expectations going into this book. The synopsis of this book really called to me, and I am happy to say that I was blown away by this book! I am so glad that all the books in this series have already been released because I do not think that I could contain myself if I had to wait to finish this series.
I was completely immersed in this world. The world-building was entirely convincing. This is an urban fantasy, so this story takes place in our world but has fantasy and paranormal elements on top of our own world. I really liked the blending of both worlds. It was very seamless and shown in such a way that I felt this could actually happen. The realisticness was overpowering. I also liked the subtle blending of genres. This is urban fantasy, but there are elements of paranormal and dystopia as well.
I loved these characters. I felt very connected to them and their character growth was amazing. I loved how the coming together of the two main characters, going from enemies to companions (and maybe more?), not only advanced the romance in the book in a profound way but also strengthened each character individually. Both main characters have difficult pasts and personal demons that they need to overcome. Connecting with the other has brought them something that they didn’t have before. The hate-to-love (or at least friendship if not yet love) aspect in the book was very well written. It was a slow burn progression from enemies to respecting each other. And the romance is the same since the hate-to-love trope in the story connects to that as well. We don’t get any actual romance between the two main characters, but the romantic and sexual tension is some of the best that I have read. I normally like some actual romance in my books, but if this tension continues between the two main characters then I will gladly delay gratification.
The premise of this book is what really hooked me from the start. I was really impressed by the ideas in the story. I am such a fan of original and interesting ideas in fantasy and urban fantasy, and Stacey Marie Brown is a breath of fresh air. The plot was very consuming. I was compelled to keep reading and I was entranced by how smooth and clever the plot was. I started this book at bedtime and stayed up through the night until morning just to finish it.
Overall, I can just say that I have discovered a new favorite author and I am so thrilled! I can’t wait to finish this series and start in on Stacey Marie Brown’s backlist of books. Brown is a wonderful storyteller. If you enjoy moving urban fantasy or paranormal stories with complex characters and serious romantic tension then you will love this book!
I went thru this book and most of this series like a crazy woman! I love Ryker and Zoey. I’m on the last book now and I’m sad to see it end. That’s why I’m prolonging it! lol
A great book and story here !!
This Urban Paranormal Series has it all! A narcissistic mad-scientist bent on ridding the world of fae at any cost, greedy supernatural villans some of which who run female fight-clubs, a magical fae artifact with a mind of its own that everyone is after, a questionable fae “Trader” (Pirate), and a maddeningly perfect ex-girlfriend with awesome sword skills and questionable loyalties. Finally, a snarly but protective alpha-male “viking” whose betrayed vulnerable heart is won over by the determined love and loyalty of a stubborn, sassy, kick-ass human female, who starts out as an enemy Hunter and collector of the supernatural. But wait, there’s more! An irresistible narcoleptic monkey-sprite hybrid who can’t get enough honey, says inappropriate things amidst life or death situations, and has a stuffed animal goat for a girlfriend. I haven’t read a series this uniquely entertaining, suspenseful and spicy hot in ages!
I have been eyeing this book for so long and finally decided to start reading it. This was a good start to the Collector series. The story was very intriguing and got better as the story progressed. I really loved Ryker’s character. He was a mean and broody ass at first, but I love the way Stacey slowly peels back layers of his story. I also loved Sprigs, he was so funny. I think the author gives enough background about the Fae and what Zoey does at the DMG.
I admit I found Zoey’s character to be annoying throughout most of this story. Her history is a little choppy and her constant talk about her bad past and being able to beat everyone’s ass was annoying. I think this part of Zoey’s character was overhyped and was a let down when she wasn’t all the kickass. She does get better. Some parts of the story was a little slow, but the story still remains interesting.
I think this was a good start to the series and I definitely want to read more.
I am doing a re-read of this series before I dive into the 3 books in the Lightness saga. I might be reading this series a little backwards, as I haven’t read the Darkness series yet. But that’s another story. 😉 THIS series, though…Who DOESN’T want a sarcastic narcoleptic monkey sprite as a sidekick?!? I mean…Sprig is an awesome little dude!! And come on…let’s face it, Zoey has had some bad mojo thrown her way in life, but she’s stood up and faced every single bit of it and given it all the finger. She refuses to give up. In the face of everything, I would say she’s holding up pretty well…The only thing that’s managed to break her, well, I’ll let you guys read that. And Ryker…well, I don’t know what to say about Ryker. Ryker is…Ryker. lol
Already a fan of Stacey Marie Brown, having read her Darkness series (and YA/NA paranormal romance fanatic in general), City in Embers just topped my Favorites List after being unable to put the book down for 2 days! Allow me to gush momentarily to explain the new obsession (but if you read no farther, know that this book has depth, complexity and retains reality enough to draw you into the paranormal adventure!)…
Yes, the world Stacey Marie Brown describes (with beautiful imagery) is somewhat fantastical (Obviously. Fae and sprites? Hello.) but I cannot stress enough that she does an amazing job at retaining a feel of reality in her action-packed and heart-pounding plot (which is like a Pokémon collect-them-all for YA: dystopia, magic powers, fae, gangs, secret government divisions…). Normally I get hung-up on the improbable perfection in an adventure YA. Ever seen/read some apocalyptic tale in which the heroine never has to pee? Never needs to eat? Not Zoey. She is a functioning human being whose story weaves in these natural and unavoidable impulses seamlessly. The story brings up soul-deep and intense hardships (rape, homelessness, foster care, disabilities) in the characters’ pasts, which we learn about throughout the adventure when a situation or trait evokes the memory rather than in one big information dump.
Zoey is also very complex and therefore realistic and relatable. Sure, she’s mostly stubborn and a fighter, but she also has moments of weakness, moments where shock cripples her ability to fight or a distraction lets her enemy slide past. She experiences anger, love, frustration, joy, self-loathing, self-confidence, loss, happiness, bravery, fear, all of which I felt with her.
As for Ryker… You’re expecting a typical, broody, hot, tough guy whose insta-lust causes him to ignore his people’s taboo about associating with the heroine beyond necessary, right? Sorry, you’ll have to look to all the other YA books for this. Ryker is not the testosterone-emanating guy with tats and a motorcycle you watch from the other side of the bar as he saves a baby from an oncoming train. Oh no. Sure he’s intriguing and you’d like to hear about him from a friend, but he’s the guy where you walk into the bar, stiffen in fear, and turn around, take a train far away from him, bringing all babies in the vicinity with you. However, this animosity generates some very witty arguments between Ryker and Zoey, which adds some lightness to the severity and the darkness of their adventure. That and the ADD, narcoleptic little monkey-sprite with a knack for adult humor!
Okay, gushing over. Now for the bad: the cliffhanger. I had to download the next book immediately and cancel all other plans for the night. So excited to see what will happen next in this explosive fae-human world collision!