The World Doesn’t Give Without Taking …Decades have passed since our world was decimated by the Dredge. Some say it was an act of God. Others believe the devil himself breached the gates of hell and turned the masses into the mindless infected with an appetite for carnage.Those of us who’ve survived the Calico experiments know the only thing more terrifying than the monsters that seek to ravage … the monsters that seek to ravage what’s left of us, are the men who created them. Ones too capable of hiding their true form, and burying their darkest secrets.
Somewhere beneath the facility lies the answers, a cure for our suffering. To reach it, we’ll have to open the haunting tomb, where man’s deadliest mistakes, the most violent mutations, lie trapped within its tunnels, waiting to be set free.
Our only hope in surviving them are the very Alphas who were designed to hunt us down. The titans forged by cruelty and pain.
Kings of carrion.
We taught them to love, and in turn, they vow to protect us. To deliver the cure for humanity’s sake. Except this world doesn’t give without taking, and any chance of saving us will require the greatest sacrifice of all.
Complete Trilogy Now Available:
- Juniper Unraveling (Book 1)
- Calico Descending (Book 2)
- Kings of Carrion (Book 3)
more
I am so freaking hooked on this series!! Who knew the scaredy cat who avoids anything that could make me jump would love these books so much?!
Valdys is stuck in the locked up facility of Calico and Cali is desperate to save him. While she travels to find the rebels known as the Skulls (Six’s group) with Cadmus and Titus, she refuses to give into despair. I admired her determination and her giving heart. I still didn’t love her though, for a number of reasons…
I’m not a fan of the whole ‘estrous’ or ‘heat’ theme that the author had going for Cali. While it gave her an excuse to sleep with more than one Alpha, it didn’t feed the story. If this wasn’t a part of the story, it wouldn’t have been missed. It wasn’t necessary and it was gross.
her logic lacked logic. She was annoyingly dense and I don’t know why no one ever called her out on it.
her intentions, when it came to the heart, were hard to read. While I believed that she cared for the Alphas, it was too weird to take seriously. I know I’m in the minority with this, but her scenes with Cadmus rubbed me the wrong way. Again, that’s probably because of the ‘binding’ nonsense that was introduced in the last book.
I don’t even want to get into the other reasons. I liked getting Wren’s perspective, if only because it gave me much needed glimpses of my beloved Six. Can’t get enough of that guy! The way that the author developed these characters, the world they live in, and how believable most of it was had me completely engrossed in this story. It’s scary as heck. Seriously, getting back into Calico reminded me of a literal version of the video game The Last of Us. If you think the Ragers are bad, there’s an entire underground area overrun with the worst mutations you can imagine. I was freaking out!!
And then you get to the end, which was so bittersweet that I’m having a hard time dealing. While there were happy endings, there is still one more book in the series, detailing what happens to Titus and I’m probably going to read that too… once my heart has a chance to heal.
Third in the series and still just as strong in the storytelling as the first! This series is everything I could want in a dystopian zombie apocalypse thriller.
We get the worlds from Juniper Unraveling and Calico Descending here – Cadmus, Titus and Cali on the hunt for a way to get back to Valdys so naturally they need to locate Wren and Six. SO GOOD.
Do not read this series if you have an issue with gratuitous and unapologetic death, destruction or hard emotions. If you want something in your face, well fabricated and with constant action, surprises and pure true-mate love, START NOW.
Somewhere beneath the facility lies the answers, a cure for our suffering. To reach it, we’ll have to open the haunting tomb, where man’s deadliest mistakes, lie trapped within its tunnels, waiting to be set free.
With this third installment in the Juniper Unraveling series, we are taken back to the hospital in search of Valdys and the cure for the Dredge. Take heed to the warning given at the beginning of this book. Some scenes are brutal. Some so heart-wrenching I sobbed!
S O B B E D!
And while I was so angry, and maybe even cursed Lake a few times, I absolutely loved Kings of Carrion!
As usual, Keri Lake’s characters are flawless, and we are gifted not only with Cali, Valdys, Titus and Cadmus, but we also get more Six and Wren.
We are broken pieces, stitched together by the pain of our losses … In a world of monsters, love makes us human.
Bonded by horrific circumstances, their love for each other is fierce, and there isn’t anything they wouldn’t do to protect each other. Kings of Carrion is a heart-wrenching story of love and loss, and of friendships that know no bounds.
Lake is a master at world-building; whether a story about an anti-hero, a thriller, or dystopian, Lake has an unmatched ability to immerse the reader within each scene. We stand at the edge of towers overlooking the world below, we stare at tortured bodies, and we smell the stench burning from hospital stacks. Lake’s readers experience the same heartbreak, and heart-wrenching sadness that her characters feel. But we also experience all the feels that come with the strongest, most beautiful unconditional love.
I think I’ve written this in every review of one of her books, but Keri Lake is by far the most underrated author I know of. I can’t wait for the world to discover her.
The Juniper Unraveling series is one of my all-time favorite series! This post-apocalyptic story is angsty, brutal, steamy, violent, haunting, and unsettling, all the while holding a captivating love story.
I was provided a review copy by the author; this did not influence my opinion of the book.
Kings of Carrion
I have been sitting on writing this review for weeks while continuing to struggle on how to put my feelings into words. The sheer agony that I felt for these characters in this brutal world that they live in truly broke me and continues to tug at my heartstring weeks later. Yes, tears continue to flow and a book hangover doesn’t even begin to describe the residual feeling left after reading this book.
This particular book brings all of the characters from the first and second books together to fight for their lives and also the lives of others. This series is a tale of love, sacrifice and survival……Kings of Carrion has torn my heart into shreds only leaving myself to try to put it back together to be able courageously venture to the last book in this series…God of Monsters. What a journey this has been…..
“Yet, we carry on, with bruised hearts and torn skin, because we love, and that’s what gives us purpose. Air gives us breath. Food gives us strength. And love gives us hope.
In a world of monsters, love makes us human.”
“Someone has to be the bad guy.” -Cadamus
My heart is in tatters from all the anxiety and pain endured while reading this book. KINGS OF CARRION is definitely a 5 star, but I went through so much to get to that 5 stars. That’s one thing I love (and hate but mostly love *wink*) about Keri’s stories…there isn’t an HEA without pain first. She always gives the reader a sliver of hope to hold onto while reading though. It is all worth it in the end and makes for one incredible and unforgettable journey.
We are broken pieces, stitched together by the pain of our losses. I don’t know if we’ll ever be fixed again. The only thing that’s certain is the uncertainty that awaits us.
-Valdys
Told from dual POVs (Cali and Wren) Keri does not disappoint with this continuation of her Uniper Unraveling series. We get a continuation of Cali and Valdys’ story as well as more about Six and Wren in book. Each book my mind is further blown and my love for this series deepens. She’s created a dystopian obsession within me. I CAN’T GET ENOUGH!!!! If you’re a returning reader of this series, BUCKLE UP because Keri doesn’t hold back.
Before I go, I have to say Keri NAILED IT with this cover!!! It is absolutely perfect for this story. There’s a scene in the book that is exactly that cover and I loved having it for an in person visual. THAT is Valdys 100%.
Now I go onto the final book in the series!! I’m so anxious to read about the mysterious Titus.
Air gives us breath. Food gives us strength. And love gives us hope. In a world of monsters, love makes us human.
-Cali
5 ‘verisimilitude’ Stars
I’m not sure where to start with my review. Has it made me an emotional mess? Yes. Is it a mind blowing read that will pull at your very heart and soul? Yes. Does it deserve more than 5 stars? Most definitely, Yes. I can’t even put into words how phenomenal this third book in the series is. So much goes on in this story that it will captivate you in ways you will never expect.
I was enthralled by Juniper Unraveling to the point I needed to read Calico Descending. But nothing prepared me for this story. The way this author writes, I could feel each characters emotions in my soul. I laughed, I was angered, I was sad to the point of crying my eyes out, but yet, I felt happy and felt the love these characters have for each other. I fell in love with Wren and Six, Cali and Valdys and don’t get me started on Cadmus and Titus. My heart beats for them.
When a book or series gets me so invested like this one has, I know without a doubt it is a book that will forever be ingrained in my heart. Words can’t even say how much I’m looking forward to reading the final book in this series. If it’s anything like this story, it will be just as epic!
“In a world of monsters, love makes us human.”
Absolutely brilliant, I’m an emotional wreck!
What an absolutely outstanding, fitting end to this part of the story by Keri Lake. Masterfully written, I have been through almost every emotion. It’s shattered my heart and put me back together again…….almost. There is a little broken bit I think will take a long while to mend.
Keri Lake has created an incredible but brutal world, ravished by a devastating virus, where survival is a daily challenge but not always for the reasons you think. Its dark and very dangerous, but amongst the depravity and cruelty, hope, faith, trust, loyalty and the deepest soul searing love is the bright shining light.
My emotions are still all over the place a few days after finishing. This book….gah!!! Tears (I have sobbed), heartbreak and anger, it was utterly enthralling. I feared for the characters I’ve come to love and felt their pain all the way through. I say again, it’s brutal and not for the faint hearted but I couldn’t put it down. Oh but that ending…..perfect, it couldn’t have ended with a better epilogue, it left me with warmth in my heart.
Six, Wren, Cali, Valdys, Cadmus and Titus have stolen a little piece of me as I’ve stolen a little piece of them. I’m not giving it back!! There is more to come soon from this world and I cannot wait!
Keri Lake is quickly becoming a firm favourite. If I could give more than 5 stars I absolutely would!
“Yet, we carry on, with bruised hearts and torn skin, because we love, and that’s what gives us purpose. Air gives us breath. Food gives us strength. And love gives us hope. In a world of monsters, love makes us human.”
Breathe. This book. Inhale. Exhale. Was absolutely amazing! I’m definitely going to have a hard time moving on from this story. I’ll explain my feelings, but nothing more, I don’t want to spoil this for anyone. Painstakingly designed to evoke every emotion possible! I laughed and cried. My heart was broken and mended and broken and pieced together again. This journey is haunting yet memorizing. Vividly written, a gritty suspense that will leave you breathless. I’m still choked up and I finished a few hours ago.
A teeth-grinding sucker punch to the heart!
This was the best dystopian book I’ve read in awhile.
Loved the world building and the characters.
I immersed myself quickly, I had been on the edge of
my seat since “Calico Descending “. This book, this trilogy
didn’t disappoint. The characters from book 1-2 meet each
other in “Kings of Carrion”, and end up being allies in a quest
that can cost their lives. Cali (from Bk2) is relentless in saving
her other half, Valdys, with the help of her warriors Cadmus
and Titus. It was an amazing conclusion to a book with so much suffering but also with a lot of people left with fight in them.
I can’t wait to read more from this author.
Keri Lake’s world of Ragers, Alphas, and Calico are back. And it is definitely better than ever. in Kings of Carrion, I didn’t just get to Cali and Valdys, but I got Wren and Six as well. I missed them since reading their beginning in Juniper Unraveling. I loved the heroines, Cali and Wren, within the story. They weren’t weak in any sense of the word. These young women fought for what they wanted. They didn’t say sorry. It was amazing to witness this, especially when some, not all, pictured them as weak.
The world, which the author drops the readers in, isn’t for the faint of heart. It keeps you on edge. Making you want to throw your kindle. I would suggest, like the other books in the series, to go in blind. Don’t over read a review and look for clues. Don’t jump ahead because you are hunting for the those answers. Everything will come out in time. Just hold and be thrust in the world that is apocalyptic in nature.
Keri Lake completely outdid herself with this with this one. After book one we were left with a feeling of ‘what’s gonna happen next?’ Well the conclusion is here and Oh My Goodness the book hangover is gonna be a killer. Make sure to hang on to your kindles, they may end up across the room. The feels that this book evokes is unlike any I have felt in awhile! One minute I’m sitting on the edge of my seat waiting to see what lays ahead, and the next I’m gripping my kindle so hard I’m afraid it’s gonna crack, then I’m grabbing the Kleenex box and crying like a baby. I’m telling you this one has it all! These characters are so real you feel their pain, see their scars. Cali, Valdys, Camdus, Titus, Wren, Rhys. They all will forever have a place in my heart and I plan to revisit them again and again!
4.5 stars
It had been weeks since Calico and the gruesome inhabitants were sealed off. As hope and humanity died out inside the reinforced walls, the escaped survivors clung on the chance of a cure. But to reach it, they must break into the very horror they escaped from without even knowing if it would be worth it.
Reading this book was like immersing myself into two different worlds. Part one was the calm before the storm where hopes were still alive. Going into part two was like bracing a Category 5 hurricane and hope for a quick death.
I liked the storyline, however, I felt some aspects were too perfect for a dystopian story. I also wasn’t a fan of a certain character who I thought was selfish and unreasonable. My favorite character in this book was still Cadmus and I’m glad he got to show his true self.
Like previously mentioned, part two was intense and nerve-wracking. There were times I felt like I was in a horror survival video game. Thank god I was just a reader safely living behind the words lol!
Kings of Carrion is a grisly tale of desperation and survival. It would appeal to readers who enjoy romance in a dark dystopian setting.
Continuing in the series timeline, the search for answers remains a priority for those who escaped Calico. With a cure possibly being stored underground and the status of Valdys’ condition unknown, Cali and the Alphas, Cadmus and Titus, continue on their path to find those who can gain access. Along the way, they intersect with those who have also endured.
Narrated in dual POV, the storyline shifts between integral characters and how their experiences before, during and post Calico have shaped them. With similarities in determination and strength, they are willing to sacrifice for those they love.
What I enjoyed about this book is the tightly created dystopian world and how the communities behind the wall, desert and Calico are in stark contrast to each other. The level of deception that pervades is eerily manipulative. The bond among certain characters was strong and the sacrifice made by one made an impact, even though it was foreseeable.
This story could be divided by the first half that covered knowledge gained and the second half with vividly conveyed action. The science behind the search for a cure of the Dredge is intriguingly disturbing and still holds some mystery.
Kings of Carrion is a dystopian story steeped in heart-throbbing action in a setting where humanity has waned, but hope remains.
WHOA! Just as I expected… an EPIC conclusion to Valdys and Cali’s story! Kings of Carrion had me on the edge of my seat. It was super intense and well worth the hours I stayed up late into the night reading. I did not want to put it down! The world and the characters that the author created were incredible. Freakin’ phenomenal! The writing is fluid and flawless. As I read, it was like watching a movie, if not like, being in the story myself. Everything was simply PERFECT! I loved Cali, Valdys, and the others that joined them for this thrilling finale. That being said, let’s not forget that ending! Ugh, I haven’t cried over a character in a long time, but this one got me real good. The epilogue couldn’t have been any better. It healed my heart and gave me peace. Now, I just need something for this book hangover!
Kings of Carrion is a MUST read. Even if you have never read a dystopian novel, don’t let that deter you. If you are a fan of dark romantic suspense novels with intense alphas and strong heroines, I highly recommend Valdys and Cali’s story. I promise, you will not be disappointed!
Review by Lys
The MOST heart wrenching, soul tearing book I’ve ever read. This epic book will leave you dumb founded and teach you some things about love and sacrifice. The twists and turns alone leave your head spinning. This is the trilogy of the year! You HAVE to read it.
It is official! I’ve read every brilliant book from you, Ker Lake!
Kings of Carrion brought me to my knees more than a dozen times. I wiped out an entire box of tissues, yelled out loud from the top of my kindle, all while slapping the invisible high five for the fierce women who reign among the kings. What an honor to read this book.
“We are broken pieces, stitched together by the pain of our losses. I don’t know if we’ll ever be fixed again. The only thing that’s certain is the uncertainty that awaits us. Moments like these, when we close our eyes, and the images of our past remind us of how fleeting life can be. How, in the shutter of an eye, the universe can change.
How quickly the world will take what’s given.
Yet, we carry on, with bruised hearts and torn skin, because we love, and that’s what gives us purpose. Air gives us breath. Food gives us strength. And love gives us hope.
In a world of monsters, love makes us human.”
This is just one example of phenomenal writing in Kings of Carrion. A Dark, post-apocalyptic saga, but one that will change your mind, body, and soul!
This book just devastated me! I fell in love with this series from the first book, and have eagerly read each subsequent book. Once you start reading, you won’t want to put it down until the very last page is read. I loved Cali and Valdys, but my heart ached for Cadmus too!! I loved seeing all the characters back together in this final book. I didn’t want the book to end, and that’s truly the mark of a good book, when it hurts to close it and set it aside at the end, knowing there’s no more to read!
I can only applaud Mrs Lake for writing such an exciting, thrilling story. I am beyond enthusiastic, Kings of Carrion, third installment of the Juniper Unraveling series, was everything I needed at the moment… and then more.
Wait until you’re immersed into the incredibly eerie atmosphere of Calico. You’ll feel the threatening, frightening ambiance sink its claws into you, and it won’t let go until the end. It’s the kind of chill that will twist your stomach. Imagine an urbex session gone wrong, bringing to life your worst nightmares, trapping you in an horrifying place.
I read Cali and Valdys’ adventures with eyes large as saucers, as I lost myself in the pages.
Danger, violence and atrocities reign in Calico. Pitch black is what comes to my mind when I think about it. But. Yes, there is a but… the raw emotions, the passion, the love, the desire to live was still palpable all along.
The alternating of the different points of view, combined with the action scenes created the perfect rhythm.
I highly recommend Kings of Carrion to readers who want to experience an thick atmosphere and a brilliant storyline. It raised a lot of questions about science and ethics which I really enjoyed.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher/author to review.
Decades have passed since our world was decimated by the Dredge. Some say it was an act of God. Others believe the devil himself breached the gates of hell and turned the masses into the mindless infected with an appetite for carnage. Those of us who’ve survived the Calico experiments know the only think more terrifying than the monsters that seek to ravage what’s left of us are the men who created them. Ones too capable of hiding their true from and burying their darkest secrets. Somewhere beneath the facility lies the answers, a cure for our suffering. To reach it, we’ll have to open the haunting tomb, where man’s deadliest mistakes, the most violent mutations, lie trapped within it’s tunnels, waiting to be set free. Our only hope is surviving them are the very Alphas who were designed to hunt us down. The titans forged by cruelty and pain. Kings of carrion. We taught them to love and in turn, they vow to protect us. To deliver the cure for humanity’s sake. Except this world doesn’t give without taking, and any chance of saving us will require the greatest sacrifice of all.
This is the third and final book in the Juniper Unraveling Series. I have loved this series and the conclusion will absolutely blow you away. I don’t want to talk about the story for fear of giving something away. This book is going to have everything you need to keep you on the edge of your seat and devouring it. I couldn’t put it down. It is one of those series that will have you reading well into the night and then diving right into the next book. You do not want to miss this series. It is absolutely a must read.
Soul crushing, spine tingling, heart throbbing goodness! What an ending for Cali, Wren and those awe-inspiring Alphas. As Cali searches for a way into Calico, along with Titus and Cadmus, in hopes of rescuing Valdys she finally hooks up the Rebels. I was so excited to find out that Wren and Six were going to be front and center and on a quest of their own as Cali finds them and what she hopes is a way back into Calico. Although nobody wants to go back into that hellhole, Cali has to know if her true love is still alive and Six will do anything to save Wren and his child. A lot of old faces and a few new ones as the group prepares to make their way back into the madness of what’s left of Calico that’s fraught with danger, death, betrayal and sadness. It’s a nail-biting trip as the danger ramps up at every turn and the bodies start piling up. So much loss and one in particular broke my heart! It’s an exciting ride as the group dwindling and those left are wondering if they’ll make it out. Parts were a little wordy for me and, damn, there was some preaching going on! Good messaging though. Do not evil! Another thing…is it just me? I was a little put off by those big, brutal Alphas shedding tears. I like my Alphas fearless and tearless with a side of harsh! Leave the crying to those nasty humans begging for their life. I was anxious to get to the finale after all the pain and those creepy mutations at every turn. The ending was terrific and the epilogues made the journey through this crazy dystopian world worth it! I really hope we get more of Titus and Atticus. Hint, hint. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC.