Don’t get in the way of me and my sai. At least, not if you’re a vampire. That’s a quick way to end up dead. My name is Ashryn Barker, and I’m a vampire hunter. One of the best in fact.I also have a secret. One I can never tell anyone else. When I look someone in the eyes, I can see their deepest secret, the one hidden behind the illusion they show the world. My name is Ashryn Barker, and I’m … Ashryn Barker, and I’m here to shatter your illusions.
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Shattered Illusions is book one of the complete Ashryn Barker Trilogy, an action packed urban fantasy with a low heat whychoose romantic subplot.
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“Shattered Illusions” Is A Great Read With Awesome Drama!!
She’s a HUNTER…
What She Hunts is Vamps,
At least, until she’s sent into a TRAP,
What’s to become of a Hunter,
Once She becomes Prey!
I was granted an ARC of Laura Greenwood’s “Shattered Illusions (Ashryn Barker Trilogy Book 1)” via B00|{$P®0UT. I recommend this book to others based upon its own recommendations. All opinions expressed within this review are uniquely my own & freely given!
Until next time… Happy Reading!
It’s not hard being the best hunter around… until being that good gets you on their radar. Then life gets interesting.
THE BLURB
Ashryn Barker is one of the best vampire hunters around. Raised within the Guild, hunting and killing vampires is her life. Until one fateful mission out to an abandoned house, without backup, to take out a nest of vampires. Everything she’s ever known about vampires is about to be shattered.
TONE OF THE BOOK
Shattered Illusions is quite light-hearted; there is plenty of humour throughout.
SENSITIVE TOPICS
This novel is aimed at young adults. The most sexual thing that occurs is kissing and a few lustful thoughts.
The novel has has limited gore but there is significant action with plenty of scenes of character’s sneaking through buildings, getting into sword fights and more.
The focus of the novel is on adventure. There is brief topics of murder.
SERIES SYNOPSIS
Shattered Illusions is the first novel in the Ashryn Barker series.
The novel is 126 pages long, making it a novella compared to a standard romance novel length (of 300 pages average).
Each novel in the series follows a different group of characters, so far in the series all between human women and alien men.
REVIEW
There is definite adventure feeling within Shattered Illusions, with much of the novel focused on meeting other characters or getting caught up in action. The tension seemed to slow down in the middle of the novel but picks up shortly after.
The world building that Laura’s established within the novel is both unique and solid. You will certainly believe that not all is as it seems at face value, and be left wondering what crazy adventure Ashryn will get involved in next.
Laura Greenwood’s has a wonderfully fun approach to writing. The novel is filled with humour and puns that will leave you chuckling. The heroine Ashryn has a quirky personality and inner dialogue that is refreshing to read, especially since so many romance novels can lean towards drama and heavy topics.
It’s like they want to be stereotypical. Nothing says vampire hunter like wearing stake holsters or carrying around holy water. And yes, I have to do that too.
My only caveat with this novel was it’s length. I would have loved to see some more world building within this novella, pushing it’s length a bit longer.
FINAL WORD
I enjoyed Shattered Illusions. It’s a very quick read, with three seperate novellas making a full length novel. I loved the humour and puns throughout, making it a light-hearted read.
I loved this story and I can not wait to read the next in this series. I would recommend this to everyone
I enjoyed getting to know Ashryn she goes from being a vampire hunter to a vampire, but she seems to take it in her stride. She soon realises that everything she’s been told and taught is not what it seems, then throw in an increased attraction to a few of her new colleagues.
Shattered Illusions by Laura Greenwood. Ashlyn Barker is a vampire hunter with a secret , if she looks in your eyes she can see any illusion you have and break it. She can see your secrets! A very good short story to a great box set. I love Laura Greenwood books! I always recommend them.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Ashryn is a vampire hunter. That is until the night she’s turned. Everything she thought she knew is thrown out and she finds that maybe everything she’s been taught was false. Vampires aren’t all evil and all hunters aren’t good. Can’t wait for book two!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The storyline is very different and unique. The characters are interestingly developed. We have Ashryn who is awoken in a new type of life that she never expected. She gives us a lot of insight of her thoughts throughout the story that does help us to understand her original life and how different things are for her. The is some action in the story but not as much as I would have liked to see. But, the way the action is told it does add to the story. Yes, the story ends in a cliffhanger but it tells me that the second story is going to have a lot going on in it. I did love the hint and build up of the relationships that is expected to come. Honestly it was a good story. I am really excited to read the second book.
Ashryn the vampire hunter is betrayed by her own. Now she is a vampire and the one being hunted. Fun and quirky characters. Good story of betrayal.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I love this author’s books, but I’m not totally sure how I feel about this one yet. It is a shorter length introduction to the trilogy it will end up being. We meet Ashryn Barker who is a vampire hunter with a unique gift of being able to shatter people’s illusions. I like the concept, and am looking forward to continuing the story to see it flesh out better, which I have every confidence that it will. Her unusual situation and her attitude toward it are intriguing and give this trilogy great potential.
Ashryn had been spent almost her entire life as a vampire hunter being told repeatedly how terrible vampires are. She can easily accept this, until the mission she is sent on alone that turns into a catastrophe and turns her world inside-out. Everything she has been taught is now in question. Who can she trust? How can she move forward? What does she believe now as she has to start over and rediscover herself?
This is only the beginning . . . stick with Ashryn’s story and find out what awaits her in the future as she pulls herself together and joins forces with others of her kind. Betrayal is painful – where will she go from here?
Shattered Illusions
(Ashryn Barker #1)
by Laura Greenwood
The Shattered Illusions, the start of the trilogy, offering the reader an interesting read and something different from the other books by is author; slightly refreshing. I love the way Ms. Laura Greenwood sets up this series; the great story development with the heroin having kickass skills having been raised as a hunter. Then her entire world has been turned upside down and betrays her organization and becomes a vampire; she struggles with the magnitude of the changes and yet remains relativity calm despite her future being totally unknown.
This trilogy could have been one solid, well-developed full-length novel; but, instead the author chose to divide it in to three books; giving a better character development as the story-line progresses. There is hope for the plot, as the readers learn more about the main character’s gift, who the commander is and why she is part of the organization. The world-building is improved as the trilogy expands, and it becomes clear there’s an attraction and sexual tension builds between female MC and the four guys; there something sensual about the and thinking what happens behind closed doors. Each book can be read as a stand-alone (as I read them) and ends with a cliffhanger, that leaves a lot is left to the imagination; drawing the reader deeper in to the story-line.
If you are looking for a good vampire book, then you most likely enjoy this one.
This is a very fast read! I was gifted each book of the trilogy and really enjoyed The Shattered Illusions. Now the pieces have been put together. Read the books in ordered. I will be rereading this trilogy (in order) again. Therefore, I am giving The Shattered Illusions a 4.5-star rating.
Vampire Hunter becomes what she hunted and has to learn to live her life with her new developments
Shattered Illusions – How would you feel if what you had been taught in life was a lie. Ashryn has to deal with that very fact in book 1. Love the characters and the interplay between them.
True to form this book takes the reader on a wild ride. I loved the beginning of this series. Ashryn is one of the best vampire hunters around. She’s never really fit in with the hunters, but oh well. When she’s sent to check out a vampire’s nest alone, she doesn’t think anything about it. Now her whole world has changed and she doesn’t think it’s for the better. She meets three enticing vampires and has a new reality to wrap her head around. Remus is my favorite right now. Eric has the power and Bram has a chip on his shoulder. You think that she’s got enough to figure out, but no, her expertise is still needed. I was not expecting a cliff hanger, but now I’m chomping at the bit for book two. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
This was an incredible read from start to finish…
This is a book you won’t want to put down, you’ll be hooked from the start, I enjoyed reading it. I’d recommend your book to anyone. The only time I put it down was to take care of a drink.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Shattered Illusions by Laura Greenwood is a wonderful story to read. It is about a vampire hunter, this story has strong characters and a wonderful story line. It ends on a cliff hanger and it is a short read but I loved reading this story and can not wait to read the next book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Omg! What’s up with Ashryn, supposedly the best vampire hunter in the guild? She is sent by her guild on a dangerous solo mission and caught in a trap. She is saved from death by the vampire leader and changed into the very thing she has hunted all her life. A cliffhanger ending…to be continued in the next exciting installment. This is grrrrreat reading!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Our heroine is a human vampire hunter with the ability to shatter illusions (hence the title). She is also the subject to attention for not one but four males.
I am on the fence as to what to think of this one. This is a short introduction to a new character and world, and as an introduction, there will be a lot of things about the characters and setting that you don’t know yet. And the short length just exacerbates that issue. But I still feel like there is too much left unsaid and that we should have gotten a few more clues. Perhaps if the author had cut back on our heroine’s inner ramblings, we might have a better feel for how things work.
And yet the story was intriguing, as were the characters. There is a lot of potential there, but we are left hanging (literally and figuratively as the story ends with a cliffhanger). I will pick up the second book to see if things come into better focus. Here’s hoping.
Tentatively recommended if you have the patience to proceed to book two.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout for review purposes.
This is the first book in the Ashryn Barker series and wow, I love the concept that was put into place in this book. This book definitely takes you for a ride from the actions that happen. It is really hard writing a review that does not give spoilers. Ashryn is a snarky and spunky character and has some bad choices made for her in the means of her hunter work. I can not wait to see what happens in book two as there were several things that started to rise and my mind is just spinning on how it will go.
This was a fun read, I really enjoyed the characters and the story line! The FMC is great, snarky, funny, sarcastic and kick ass. Likewise the men are equally great, the premise of this book is original and great, the action keeps the story rolling well. I look forward to reading the next book.
*I received a free copy of this book which I voluntarily chose to write an honest review for.
Book one in the new Ashryn Barker trilogy and what great start it is too. Ashryn had been raised pretty much her whole life as a vampire hunter being taught how awful they are. This is not a problem for her until she is sent on a mission by herself with dire consequences. Who can trust and what can she believe as she takes her fist steps in this world new to her. Great story development and Ashryn herself had me dying laughing. I cannot wait to see what happens in the next installment. If you are looking for a good vampire book then you might like this one. I really enjoyed it so I give it 4/5 stars.