Zoey’s life has taken a dramatic turn. Only a few months ago she was a Collector working for the a secret part of the government called the Department of Molecular Genetics (DMG), tracking and collecting fae. Her life had been changing and improving with a partner she loved and a sister she adored.
Now all that is gone—Daniel murdered by a fae, and Lexi killed when the Seattle area is devastated … devastated by a powerful, magical electrical storm. Zoey herself is altered by her association with the Wanderer, Ryker, in life-changing way.
Zoey discovered she was an experiment from the very company she worked for. She could die at any moment of a threatening defect—taking Ryker’s magic with her.
In a race against time, Ryker and Zoey set out to find a way to transfer his powers back before it’s too late. Their journey takes them to the rainforests of South America, dealing with those who are after something Ryker possesses and who will stop at nothing to obtain it for themselves.
What Zoey and Ryker discover can destroy them or tear them a part for good.
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A lot has happened to Zoey & Ryker, I love that there’s improvement in the relationship of Ryker and Zoey. I especially love the scene between Ryker, Zoey & Sprig at Izel’s
What I don’t really like is whenever Zoey jumps to the “Fight Club”. It was like it was put there just to make Zoey look tough. I felt like there were a lot of things going on but there was no progress in the story at all.
This may not be my favorite but the author still kept me curious & interested on what will happen with Ryker & Zoey, so onto the next book
“Promise me you will never handle it again. We’ve been through far too much shit for me to lose you to a rock.”
This review MAY contain spoilers.
The first book in this series greatly impressed me, but this book was even better! I adore this fictional world where fae come in all different shapes, sizes, and races and are hidden from (most) humans.
This book leaves off right where City in Embers left off so there is no time lapse in between books. I was glad for it. The plot really expands so much in the second book. It gets way more intense and so many things come to light. I was so compelled to read it that I finished the entire book in one sitting, just as I did with the first book. There were some plot twists that I did not foresee that I was jazzed about. I hate to see them coming so I was pleased that I didn’t. The foreshadowing and mystery were woven into the story very well. At times you really didn’t know who was ally or foe. I also loved the many different “villains” in the story, because there are a lot! There are three main groups of villains and then there were other threats as well. I liked the balance and how each threat played into the story as a whole.
I love the world-building in this! Most of the book is set in Peru and the descriptions are just lovely. I felt like I was personally walking through the rainforest, seeing Machu Picchu, going to dive bars, and eating in quaint diners. It was very atmospheric.
I loved the new characters in the book and how they contributed to and changed the dynamic and the chemistry between the characters. SO MUCH DRAMA, YA’LL! And it is so tasty! Hehe. There were girl feuds that got my blood boiling and bro fights that riled me up. The environment created by the characters was intoxicating. The character growth of the main characters in this book has a lot of depth. They are constantly showing their cards and their true natures, even if they have to go through their own obstacles to get there. The demons that they face in themselves helps them to overcome their obstacles and makes them really decide on what they truly want.
The romance in this book is damn hot! I don’t think that there is any other way to put it. This series had a slow-burn romance, which I love. I adore the way that the two main characters come together and get to know each other so completely. They wrestle with themselves over their feelings though, never really admitting that they have them for one another but definitely showing *ahem, physically, cough* that they actually do. There is a lot of body language and dialogue between the characters that shows their true feelings. And it is glorious!
Overall, this series is quickly lodging itself into my heart. I have fallen in love with these characters and this creative fantasy world. I definitely have a new favorite author! Stacey Marie Brown is a talented storyteller that you won’t want to miss out on!
This book started off a little slow for me, but it definitely gets better as the story moves along. I liked that some new characters have more of a role in this book. Sprig is always so much fun and the funniest, cutest thing ever. I still love Ryker even though he needs to get his stuff together and figure out what he wants. Zooey is discovers more about what DMG did to her and she is becoming more acclimated to Ryker’s powers.
Zooey is still annoying as hell and I hate her childish behavior. It makes me have to read this book is slow doses. Her jealousy over Ryker is too much to deal with. Again her tough routine is quite annoying with every need for her to fight and go into a blind rage. Its too unbelievable for me because most of the time she gets beat up.
But the ending of this book was a complete wtf moment. And now I’m dying to know what will happen next. I glutton for punishment.
This book is full of non-stop action and adventure. Ryker and Zoey finally admit they have feelings for each other and boom! In walks Amara. I wanted to smack her in the face immediately. I mean, obviously she was Ryker’s girlfriend first, but I felt like she was stepping on Zoey’s toes. But Zoey, being Zoey, stepped back. She knew from moment one that it was never permanent. So she steps back and focuses on trying to help Ryker get his powers back AND keeping Sprig fed and taken care of. Sprig is pretty awesome with his funny humor. He just kinda passes out at random times too. Another character that showed up with Amara is Croygen. I’m not 100% sure of which side he’s on, but I feel like he’s got a soft spot for Zoey. He may not like Ryker, but he loves Amara. And he owes a life debt to Ryker. Even more, he feels a sort of kinship with Zoey in that they share something in common. They both love someone they can never have. I am still rooting for Zoey and Ryker!
I couldn’t stop myself from writing a gushing review for the first book in the Collector series, and I’m going to have to do it again for The Barrier Between! I jumped right into this book, having been thoroughly hooked by The City in Embers, and only a few days later have finished, now thirsting for the 3rd book (for which I have to wait a whole 3 months! Across the Divide releases Dec 9th. Yes it’s already on my calendar in BIG letters).
In this book, Zoey and Ryker find a small respite in their flee for their lives (from various fae, gangs and government officials) during which time they have to figure out what to do about the whole Zoey having Ryker’s powers thing. Somehow that is the less stressful thing in their lives at the moment. The tension between the two during this phase ramps way up. That is not to say they don’t still regularly butt heads, but they are beginning to respect each other, overcome their biases against each other’s species, and finally notice that they are attracted to each other. Some very hot scenes! Stacey Marie Brown keeps the characters true to their nature while letting them evolve, and she writes some amazing, non-cliche romance thrown in with all her creative, heart-pounding storyline. There is intensity in their emotions, the action, and the plot twists.These kinks–the appearance of people and places from the beginning of their adventure–thrown into the little family life that Ryker, Zoey and their hilarious child-like monkey-sprite Sprig have created definitely spice up the conflict (and sexual tension) and escalate the intrigue before causing me to smack face-first into another breath-halting, frustrating (though I must respect the author’s ability to get me to that level of attachment) cliffhanger.
I am very impressed that the story did not falter or lose intensity as the romance stepped up, and once again loved the quick pace, detailed descriptions and flowing writing style of Stacey Marie Brown. Prepare to become part of the collector world and all the danger and emotion that entails with this book; the best word I can use to describe The Barrier Between is “intense.” I am literally counting down the days til I can reenter the Collector world and see how Zoey will get out of her new predicament and whether she will get the few simple things she wants: her monkey BFF, the guy, freedom, his life and her own life. Nothing too extravagant. I’m sure it’ll be a piece of honey-cake.