The voices haunt her…
As her powers accelerate, so do the revelations about her true lineage.
Destined to become the Aether—a witch who can control all four elements—the Elemental covens want her magic, power she didn’t even know she had.
And when the sexy and mysterious god, Chaos shows up, Arya’s place in the world is put even more at risk.
But learning who and what she is, and how to wield her power only tips the surface of the battle raging inside her. She’ll have to find a way to awaken her magic, deal with her growing attraction to Chaos, all while being thrust into the middle of a magical feud that has been building for centuries.
The Blood War might be over, but the war between witches is just beginning.
If you like Lisa Edmonds, Michael Anderle, Hailey Edwards, and Martha Carr, you’ll love this thrilling paranormal romance!
What reviewers are saying:
★★★★★ “Mysterious characters, twists, turns, and page turning galore.”
★★★★★ “A fast-paced magical thrill ride that begins with the first chapter and scarcely lets up until the final page.”
★★★★★ “A must read if you’re looking for a fresh take on gothic fantasy.”
★★★★★ “Twists and turns of the plot kept me reading.”
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Smoke and Ritual (Beautiful Dark Beasts Book 1) by Melissa Sercia is a very amazing story to read. This is book number one and I was hooked from the very beginning and I can not wait to read the next book in this series. I highly recommend this story to everyone who loves reading about fantasy, dark and paranormal romance.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This was a thrilling ride from beginning to end, it kept me on the edge of my seat. The characters are compelling with loads of potential, the world building and its many layers has been done masterfully, the love sub-plot is off to a good start. I honestly can’t wait to read more! Bravo
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Arya, Chaos, Sapphire, Diego and Seven went on their journey to find the Aether for Arya and met up with many exciting and dangerous super natural things along the way. Their journey results in an end none expected with the Aether and then the fight with Arya’s Aunt Echo. This book was exciting and intriguing and fun.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is a good book. It is fast pace and it has some good characters. Arya is strong and independent woman. Arya is trying to get through living at Sanctum, trying to pass making potion test and wishing she had a coven where she belonged. She meets the god Chaos at Sanctum he seems to be looking for someone that’s the Aether. Arya learns that she does have a coven that is evil and that she is the Aether that’s supposed to bring the covens together and stop her Aunt Echo. Good thing she has her friends, Seven and Chaos to help her awaken her powers, help her stop her aunt, find the missing members of covens and other supernaturals and save her family. On top of that she has to figure out how she feels about Chaos. She also has to deal with a new enemy that is about to show themselves. Will Arya get her powers in time before it’s to late? Will she became the Aether? Will she save her family? Will she be able to stop her aunt? Will she and Chaos act on there feelings for one another? Will she find the missing coven members and thee supernaturals? Will she figure out who there new enemies are?
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
5 CRANKY STARS
This is a delightful tale of magical creatures. Arya is a Sylph and witch but doesn’t have her full powers yet. She has been living in Sanctum for 10 years now. Her parents were killed in the great war and Ms Jane took her under her wing. No one knows she is a Sylph. She isn’t the only one there with secrets. Jane has secrets about Arya that she hasn’t told her. This oversight is going to cause problems in the near future. The story is fast paced with a wide variety of characters. Love is in the air when the God, Chaos appears. She is inexplicably drawn to him and his good looks. No one falls for a God and they are forbidden to fall for humans and of course, Arya is half human. She has always felt alone, knows very little about her parents and doesn’t belong to a coven. Can things get worse for her? You’ll have to read it to find out. It does lead to the greatest adventure of her life. Slowly the secrets are revealed which leads to a fight for her life. She finds new courage and a sense of belonging finally. This story combines demons, witches and others into one story, along with the Greek Gods. Truly entertaining and well written story.
Wow this is a fantastic read! The characters are strong and well written! I couldn’t put this down! I need more like….. nOW!
This is the 4th book I’ve read written by Melissa Sercia; she has done a great job at writing a good book; I can’t wait to read more of her books.
The story line caught my attention at the very beginning and kept me interested throughout the entire book.
I loved the characters.
I received a free copy of this book via booksprout and I’m voluntarily leaving a review.
Anya finds herself thrust in a dangerous world with new powers and personal temptation. I received an ARC copy and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Sercia has build a deep world full of magical characters who will instantly capture your imagination. This new series continues past stories, but stands alone as an entry to the books. I had not read the earlier series but had no issue jumping right in.
It’s a fun, fast-paced ride in a world where everything is steeped in dark history. While developmental editing has let this author down in some underdeveloped scenes and a romance that doesn’t build in a believable way, there’s still plenty to keep you reading. Copy edits are also lacking, and I had to look twice to see that this was traditionally published (though the issues are not frequent enough to turn off a reader, even a grammar nerd like me). Genre fans will not be disappointed, but these issues prevent me from giving 5 stars to what is an otherwise very fun read.
Come for the magic, stay for the deep lore of this world where even the gods might not have your best interests at heart. I look forward to the next book in the series.
The story centers around a young misfit witch who’s forced to realize her full potential. Our heroine is launched into an action-packed adventure that takes her around the globe and across the realms. Along the way, she faced with a gut-wrenching dilemma—she must choose between protecting her people or being with the one she loves.
Smoke and Ritual was an enjoyable read, perfect for those who gravitate to this genre. Once I picked it up, I didn’t want to put it down. The world-building was strong, the characters interesting, and the writing style engaging. It does include some sexual content, but nothing over the top.
As a big fan of Urban Fantasies, I was tickled to receive an ARC of this book prior to release. This was the first book I’ve read by Melissa Sercia and the first in her Beautiful Dark Beast series. Although it may be better to read her previous series beforehand, I personally did not find it necessary.
Highly recommend and look forward to the rest of the series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is somewhat of a spin-off from a previous series (which I LOVED!) that tells the story of Arya, a Sylph witch, trying to find her place. Strange things start happening to her after her 21st birthday, along with strange dreams. Information comes to light regarding Arya’s dormant powers and her aunt Echo’s plan to use those powers for evil. Characters from the previous series return….Jane, Seven, and Chaos. Enjoyed the romance between Chaos and Arya. The fight between Echo and Arya could’ve been drawn out more, but omg, the cliffhanger…..ugh. I need the next book!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This was intense from the first page to the last….Ayra always felt like an outsider as a witch without a coven, but The God, Chaos appears at her school, she now has a broader understanding of who she really is. She is off on an adventure to gain her powers and free her ancestors. Falling in love with Chaos was not part of the plan but she can’t fight it. Her best friends come to help and some unsavory characters pick up the fight as well. I can not wait to read the next book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is my first book by Melissa Sercia and I noticed in the first chapters this is a spin-off from her other series. I looked it up. Overall, that does not matter as this is a standalone series.
Arya is a young witch , still learning her craft at Sanctum, a safe haven. She feels different and alone because she has no parents and no coven and despairs she will ever get her magic right. Then strange things start to happen and when Chaos, a god, visits Sanctum it is revealed Arya is an Aether (an Elemental witch who can control all four elements) and Arya’s aunt Echo is trying to take control of Arya. Chaos will protect Arya.
A very entertaining story, ending on a cliffhanger…
I really enjoyed reading this book. It took me about two days to read because I couldn’t put it down. It had the familiar feel of witches, wolves and all things alike but was a fresh take on a supernatural read. I would definitely recommend reading! I can’t wait to see what’s in store for the sequel.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The story line was good, the character work was great, and the book had a smooth flow to it. I was entertained from beginning to end.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The author has done it again! In the first installment of Sercia’s new series, she spares no intrigue, as she takes us on another amazing ride through the intricate details of her fantasy world full of creatures in the night and magical realms. This fast-paced storyline kept me glued to the pages, and the love story was hot and steamy, just adding more flavor to the entire package. Readers of this genre will not be disappointed. I can’t wait for the next book. Counting down already…