Book 1 in the sizzling enemies to lovers paranormal romance series These are dangerous times on Etherya’s Earth… the shore of her compound’s riverbank, she seizes the moment to take the offensive.
Sathan, King of the Vampyres, distraught at his sister’s disappearance and captivity, agrees to travel with Miranda to resect the Blade of Pestilence, also hoping to change his people’s state of endless war. Although the woman hates him due to the constant raids on her compound for the Slayers’ life-giving blood, he can’t help but admire the stubborn and strong princess.
As their journey progresses, both begin to understand that they are aligned in their hatred of Crimeous, leader of the Deamons, as well as their hope for peace between the Slayers and Vampyres. Determined to fight their growing attraction, they forge a tentative truce. But old wounds run deep and trust is scarce. Their faith in each other must remain strong or all will be lost…
**The Etherya’s Earth series is best read in order, so that the reader can enjoy the evolution of the characters. After all, the author loves a good twist and wants the reader to uncover them organically. However, readers of romance rest assured that each book has its own featured hero/heroine and HEA.
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Wow! I was really surprised by this book. The depth of the characters and the world they live in is outstanding. A unique world setting of old mixed with new. You almost forget the modern side of it with all the talk of castles and wars. A world made up of four main groups, Deamons, Slayers, Vampyres and humans all ruled by the goddess Etherya.
The title of this read matches the goal of this story perfectly. The princess of the Slayers, Miranda wants peace. She wants an age old war to end. She wants it to be the way it was before the Awakening. So when a Vampyre washes ashore on her lands, things set into motion that she is not sure she is strong enough to endure. With the help of an unlikely alley not only does she gain strength she finds love. But all this will come at a high cost.
This book is a steady paced read that I simply could not put down. I was up till 2 in the morning reading this intense read. This book has it all treason, secrets, love, power, danger and so much more. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. I fell in love not only with the characters but the story. It is a highly addictive read. Think Black Dagger Brotherhood. wink wink.
Overall this book is exciting and a wonderful story. With great characters and intriguing world you are sure to loose yourself in the book. I highly recommend this for paranormal romance readers.
The End of Hatred is author Rebecca Hefner’s debut novel and the first book in her Etherya’s Earth series. I have to admit up front, I’ve never read Paranormal/Fantasy Romance. But I took a chance with Ms. Hefner’s book and I am so happy that I did! It’s an excellent story that I struggled to put down. A fabulous debut and I can’t wait to read the rest of this series.
Sathan is the King of the Vampyres. His people are dependent on Slayers blood to survive. Over the years he’s tried to work with the King of the Slayers to come to a truce to save both their people. When Sathan’s sister disappears and ends up a prison of the Slayers, Sathan is forced to work with the Slayer Princess.
Miranda is the princess of the Slayers and the only living descendent from the first Slayer King. Miranda was only 8 years old when her mother was kidnapped by Crimeous the King of the Deamons & her grandfather murdered the King and Queen of the Vampyres. Because Miranda was too young to rule, her father took over as ruler. Miranda is tired of being at war, hunted by the Vampyres for their blood and by the Deamons who plague both the Slayers and the Vampyres. Miranda wants a change for her people.
With author Rebecca Hefner’s debut novel, we’re transported to Etherya’s Earth. A place where Vampyres, Slayers, Deamons & Humans exist. I have to say from the very beginning of this story I was drawn in. Ms. Hefner’s writing grabs you and pulls you into the story. You truly believe in the world and the characters she has created. As for the characters, oh my! Where do I start? This story has some fabulous main characters along with secondary characters. Miranda our heroine is strong, determined, smart and kind-hearted, wanting what’s best for her people. She’s more a warrior than a princess and is determined to end the war between the species. Sathan, the King of the Vampyres is hot and sexy, and I absolutely fell in love with him! He was just drool worthy and I’d sacrifice a vein for him any time! 😉 He’s also a loving brother to his siblings, a kind and patient leader and like Miranda growing weary of the constant war between the Slayers. As Miranda and Sathan work together to try to bring peace to their people, they grow closer and begin to have feelings for each other. With the Deamons always nearby, will these two find a way to defeat the Deamons and be together for eternity? I don’t want to give away too much of the story, but it was an absolutely fabulous read and I honestly didn’t want it to end. I look forward to reading the rest of this series and seeing what Ms. Hefner has in store for us in the future!
With a captivating storyline, fabulous characters that I look forward to seeing again, a war between species and some surprises along the way, this was an absolutely perfect story to start off this series! An excellent debut book that I highly recommend! Rebecca Hefner is an auto-buy for me and I give her her due, I now read Paranormal/Fantasy Romance and I’m in love with a Vampyre King! 😉
Miranda and Sathan
My goodness! Where to begin…it took me a bit to sink in to this book because there is just so much detail! The world Rebecca created is so fantastic – from slayers, vampyres and deamons to the goddess Etherya, Herself. They each were created for a purpose, but one heinous act interrupts the balance and sets centuries of calamity and destruction into motion.
Miranda, the slayer princess and Sathan, the vampyre king both wanting a peaceful end to the war between their kingdoms, reluctantly agree to work together to eliminate a common enemy. But their history of violence and hatred makes it difficult and an increasingly hot attraction gives this read the deliciousness we romance lovers crave. Sathan is big, powerful and confident with an inner calm that rivals Miranda’s beauty, strength and feistiness. Together they are pure perfection
This was my first read from this author and it did not disappoint. I wasn’t sure initially because I’m new to this sub genre, but I’ve been swept away to Etherya’s Earth and I’m having a hard time leaving. Definitely moving on to book 2, The Elusive Sun. Brava, Rebecca!
*enemies-to-lovers, alpha hero and heroine
First, this author is SPICY, but makes you wait for it! Trust me, worth the wait! And I love her fresh spin on vampyres, slayers, and daemons! Miranda and Sathan are royalty of sworn enemies but thrust to work together against a shared nemesis. As the strange and dangerous journey progress. so do feely feels! The world building and spin on these often used species is phenomenal and engaging. I cannot wait to read the rest of the series. Shut up and take my money, Ms. Hefner!
I love a books with good twist and turns and this book has several! It was a slow start which is why I only gave it four stars instead of five but once it gets going it’s a roller coaster of emotions and surprises. The story of Miranda and Sathan take you to a paranormal world unlike one I have seen before. I love the take on paranormal factions the author has taken. It’s a different but fun take on vampires, slayer, and demons. . Miranda is sick of war and when a vampire washes up on the shore she decides now is her chance! Using the vampires king sister as a bargaining chip they set out to retrieve a weapon to put an end to the demon king which is only the beginning. There is a HEA but the story isn’t done and you know the adventure will continue. The narration is done well and I enjoyed both reading and listening to the book.
The world of Ethyra’s Earth is one I instantly fell in love with!
Hefner crafts a magical tale filled with vampyres, slayers, daemons, and more as we follow Miranda, a princess intent on bringing peace to her people and Sathan, a king of a race of warriors who wish to be able to walk in the sun once more.
As we watch Miranda grow into the ruler she was always meant to be, we see her finding love as well with someone who she should hate. As she struggles to deal with her emotions and the heavy burden of leading her people into a new age, she finds out the truth about her past and discovers unexpected allies along the way.
Each page had me captivated. I never wanted this story to end and I can’t wait to read about the other characters and their trials and tribulations.
Reminiscent of a J.R. Ward novel, this book is the next big thing in paranormal romance.
*review for the audiobook version*
*Narrated by Devin Wilcox*
This author right here, absolutely does paranormal romance right! The world building is fantastic! The character development is amazing! I feel in love with Slayer Miranda and Vampyre King Sathan, an unlikely pair for sure but opposites attract. I couldn’t help but want to know more about the side characters. They are so involved and truly apart of everything that is going on, they feel like main characters too. There’s smoldering hot sexual tension, intense steamy scenes that will have you fanning yourself, action, some angst and suspense. I was so wrapped up in this story and I am excited for the next book. The narrator is new to me and I really enjoyed his voice. He took on multiple characters, really bringing them to life. I highly recommend this read/audiobook!
How can a book be so heart wrenching and heart warming at the same time?
Sathan and Miranda and their families, go through so much death, so much despair, so much suffering… But when things are good, they are great!
It’s a wonderful rollercoaster of emotions.
This action-packed page turner is a MUST READ and the characters bring forth strong emotions in us. There is not one who we don’t love, hate, hate to love or love to hate!!
I received a free ARC copy of this book and this is my honest opinion.
Another world is born, and the goddess Etherya is charged with looking after it. Sounds simple enough. Then it sounds like it all went to pieces…..
Miranda is princess to the Slayera people. A beloved daughter, pampered and spoilt, until her mother is captured and never to be seen again…..
From then on, her father changes, and Miranda is left to nannies and teachers, her only friend and companion was her cousin Kenden.
Miranda is now a warrior princess, no longer content to sit at home, she takes the fight to both Deamons and Vampyre everyday. Determined to free her people from the blood raids. (Vampyres need blood to survive) and to kill the King of Deamons. No easy task, but Miranda is nothing if not stubborn.
Sathan is King of the Vampyres, he has been for over a thousand years.
The Slayera (or Slayers as the Vampyre call them) are becoming more of a threat.
Sathan although the Vampyre King, he longs for a quiet life for both himself and his people. His mating to the beautiful Lila, should be arranged and consummated by now, but something is holding him back.
He knows they need the Slayera’s blood, but there has to be compromise. He’s sick of constantly fighting both the slayers and the Deamons.
After capturing the Vampyre’s sister, Miranda bargains with Sathan to join with her in finding the mythical blade Pestilence, once she has the blade her captive will go free.
She needs the sword to destroy both Deamons and Vampyre. (Only she doesn’t tell Sathan that!)
Agreeing? An uneasy truce is formed. They set out to find the sword….
But there is a force in the background playing with lives. How did Arderin (Sathan’s sister) get captured? Is there a traitor in the Vampyre camp? Why are the Deamons becoming more of a threat?
The tension between Sathan and Miranda is definitely hostile, although Sathan is rather taken with the feisty female he’s accompanying across their lands, he can’t trust her.
And as animosity turns to passion, will they be able to get past their hate? Can they see past the centuries of bloodshed? And can Sathan forgive Miranda’s grandfather for killing his parents?
Very well written. Very fast paced, full of action.
Enough backstory (too much and you just get bogged down) and history concerning all the species that live on Etherya.
So what does the future hold for the Vampyre King and the Slayera Princess? Once she has her hands on the sword, will she wield it for good? Or finally will her people be free of the Vampyre shadow that’s hung over them since the beginning of time?
I really enjoyed that.
A symbiotic relationship between vampyre and Slayera to start with, the Vampyre as a protector of the Slayera, who in turn supply blood as payment. That’s how it was suppose to be, that’s how the goddess intended for her precious, peaceful, superior race was suppose to be (the Slayera) but after the awakening, that all changed! Now they are bitter enemies, sworn to destroy one another!
Miranda is a really good character, strong, fearless, and has her mothers compassion. She wants an end to this war without anymore bloodshed. And she wants the Deamons gone too.
Sathan has a dry wit, a quick mind and a thirst for knowledge. He’s cautious, and I like that. He’s also suspicious about the whole thing. He knows he can’t trust Miranda, but if he could, then maybe the war between them could end, and they could join forces to destroy Crimeous, the King of Deamons.
There are a few characters here, but they all seem to play a vital role.
I like the snippets of past that come from passages of both Slayera, Deamon and Vampyre sacred texts. Gives more of an insight.
So what happens next?
Will the sword be found? Who gets to wield it? (Ummmm there might be a clause in that!) Will we find out what happened to Miranda’s mother (I have a feeling, it is a pivotal moment)
Sorry your going to have to read it to find out.
Oh and can’t wait to read the next one.
What a great surprise this book turned out for me. It started a tad slow as the world was built and before I really got a firm grasp on the characters and how the different species were all linked together. But watch out, once this book starts moving, it is a fast moving train. In this world, the Vampyres only exist on Slayer blood, but instead of a peaceful existence between them, there is constant war. This story revolves around the Slayer, Princess Miranda and Vampyre, King Sathan. Miranda is looking to find peace between their people, and unfortunately she will need Sathan’s help.
There is a lot of great action – good sex scenes and a bit of humor sprinkled in. The chemistry between Miranda and Sathan is off the charts – and even though the overall arc in this story continues on for the series, it does wrap up and cement Miranda and Sathan’s bond. Well worth picking up.
The End of Hatred is the first book in the Etherya’s Earth series and we are introduced to a world that co-exists within our own, that we are (up until now) unaware of. This world is roughly split into three – the Slayeras, the Vampyres, and the Deamons. They have been at war for centuries and Miranda, the Slayera Princess is tired of it. She comes up with a solution to end the war but she needs the help of the Vampyre King to do so, even if she is ostracised by her father.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story! From Miranda to Sathan, Lila to Latimus, Darkrip to Arderin, these characters all came to life. They are individual enough to remain in my mind whilst holding true to the characteristics of their races. I found the pacing to be perfect and there was never a dull moment. I also loved the pop references that I found, in particular, those about ‘Buffy’, for obvious reasons.
This is the start of the series and one I will be continuing with. It was a fantastic story and there are many more couples yet to come that I want stories for. Absolutely recommended by me.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian – I Dig Good Books!
This was my first Rebecca Hefner’s book. This is the first book in the Etherya’s Earth Series, a Paranormal Romance. Slayer Princess Miranda, and Sathan, the King of the Vampyres, are both great characters. They share a strong and a sizzling chemistry. The storyline is complex, original and captivating. The world building is well done. Devon Wilcox did a good job with the narration.
Sarthan and Miranda’s world is different to species created by a goddess who needed each other. One the Vampyre the other Slayera they were once at peace then after a betrayal they are at war now Miranda must find away to end there battle and kill a Demon ruler one who cost her the loss of her mother but know one sad she would fall in love with her enemy and anger her father in the process. Sarthan only wants to free his sister from his enemy now he is forming alliance’s with his enemies daughter and trying not to fall in lust or love with her he has a duty and a betrothed so many obligations but the thing he wants Miranda. They will face betrayal and war make new alliance’s and face a great battle but the most important will be for love and the uniting of there two kingdoms. The description of there world is interesting and new passion over the top. I found the modern dialect odd at times but still a good read.
I was allowed to read and advance copy of this book via BookSirens and this is my honest review.
A debut novel like none I’ve read in a long time! I’m absolutely hooked on this series! Miranda is tough as nail & determined to stop the war between her species and the Vampyres, even if it means partnering up with her sworn enemy, the Vampyre king. Plenty of steamy scenes to melt your kindles! Definitely not recommended for those under the age of 18. Can’t wait to read “The Elusive Sun”, (Etherya’s Earth Book 2)!
Thank you to BookSirens for introducing me to this author.
Amazing world building! This was a great book. I love paranormal romance, but I’ve steered away from the vampire romances for awhile because all the stories and mythologies started sounding the same. The End of Hatred has renewed my interest. I loved how the story took place in its own universe in a world outside of the human world. The enemies to lovers romance between the beautiful Slayer, Miranda, and gorgeous vampire hunk, Sathan, started out at a simmer then grew to a full hot flame that and was very enjoyable read. Can’t wait to see what happens next in this series with Lila and Latimus.
I am a huge fan of JR Ward and many other authors that have ongoing Vampire series so I was excited for the opportunity to review this audiobook and it didn’t disappoint. They did a great job of keeping the voices for the different characters distinct even though there is only one narrator, and I didn’t catch any instances where the wrong voice was used for the wrong character, which is a huge pet peeve of mine with audiobooks. The voices were also easy on the ears, if you get my meaning. I am a huge believer in that the narrator can make or break an audiobook.
The author did a great job of keeping the underlying story arc relating to the ongoing battle between Vampyres, Slayers, and Demons, while not rushing the character development. I am not a fan of giving away too much of the story in my review so I won’t share specifics, but I was definitely kept entertained as Miranda and Sathan attempt some common ground between two of the warring factions. Great new spin on the usual vampire/demon storylines I see around! I enjoyed it so much, I went straight to the audiobook for Book 2, The Elusive Sun, so I could see what was next for all the characters I am coming to love, or hate, depending on the character! 😉
I was given a free review copy of this audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
Slayers, Vampyres, and Deamons oh my! This is an awesome world building book that I ever read. The story is a love/hate relationship, reminding of a mixture of Romeo and Juliet and Hamlet all rolled into one. The story is full of hatred, but trying to overcome so the immortals can survive. Two unlikely allies is on a mission to destroy the Deamon king. You have discord within communities and you have foes who become allies. I would have read this story in one sitting, but staying up past four in the morning, was not an option, needed a little bit of sleep. I sincerely loved all the characters and yes I do have a favorite, but I refuse to ruin the plot with my big mouth. Rebecca Hefner thank you for introducing me to your fabulous world you are a doll. I loved every minute of it and can’t wait to read your other books. If you love paranormal romances like I do, make sure your read this series, it’s outstanding, and worlds like no other.
Where do I even start! This book sucked me into the world of Vampyres, Slayers, and Deamons and I kid you not when I say I couldn’t put this book down. I grabbed this book when it was on sale on Amazon and I had it on my kindle for a few months before I finally got to it but once I did I devoured it, if I didn’t start it so late in the day I would have finished it in one day, but sleep unfortunately did win out.
Miranda is the perfect Princess for her people, she has their best interest in her heart and she will do anything to make their survival her top priority. She proves this when Arderin, the Vampyre Princess washes up on her riverbank. Miranda goes to Sathan, King of the Vampyres, and proposes a deal…one he cannot refuse. But what neither of them expected was that on this journey they were about to embark on they would fall for one another.
The chemistry was amazing but what was even better was the whole world set up, it was so well thought out and the way everyone played a role in the others lives. It was truly a remarkable read. I have all the books in the series on my TBR list and the next book is on my kindle waiting for the right moment for me to get lost in their world again.
I highly recommend this series to anyone that enjoys paranormal romance or any kind.
Happy Reading!!!
What an intense start to a new series!
I am going to open with saying I really enjoyed this read and at this point would definitely recommend the series.
The story line is engaging and detailed.
It was easy to follow what was happening and who was who even though the story line itself was complex, something I enjoy in my reads.
There were times however I felt the author was trying to put too many details into this opening episode. I think we met everyone who will be anyone and got tidbits of backgrounds and possible whys, but many times, not enough IMO to build a solid picture.
Miranda is the princess of the Slayers. She is a warrior in her own right. She wants peace among the species and she believes she is the one prophesied to bring it to fruition. At times her choices seemed to be swayed by her connection with her father who IMO stifled her quite a bit to his own gain (dad may be a few bricks short). Miranda has a pretty solid wall up between her and the world. I felt like only one other character knew the girl behind the princess. When fate seems to deliver the perfect pawn right at her feet she embarks on a quest to fulfill the prophecy.
Sathan is the King of the Vamps. For me, he was an easy character to like. Despite being the king he is pretty laid back ~ he doesn’t put up with any bull but he is open-minded. When it came to his sister though he is a bit old fashioned (it could be he is just overprotective). He has been seeking peace among the species for decades. He has and will continue to do what is necessary for the survival of his people even if it is not the most peaceful solution.
He has a couple of younger brothers and a sister who make up this quartet of siblings ~ they definitely kept me entertained.
Just too much to sum up at this moment
I really enjoyed the world-building and the characters are well written making it easy to make an emotional connection with them.
I was provided an ARC of this series so I will be back with a complete series review.
I’m seriously so in love with this story and characters and just WOW! The End of Hatred by Rebecca Hefner is such a deliciously enticing and satisfyingly addictive paranormal romance about slayers, vampires, and demons. It absolutely captivated me from the very beginning and left me desperate for more in the end.
The Slayera Princess and the Vampyre King must learn to trust each other to fight a common enemy and restore peace between their people. As they journey to find the weapon that’ll defeat the leader of the Deamons, Crimeous, Miranda and Sathan find themselves not only on a similar path towards the same goal, but also undeniably attracted to each other. Will they be able to bring their people together to defeat Crimeous and eventually find a way to be together?
Hefner has a beautifully seductive way with words that I completely fell in love with this book. Her writing is effortlessly engaging and so utterly alluring. I was sucked in and I loved reading about all these supernatural beings and immortals. The world-building is simply outstanding and I thought the concept about Etherya’s Earth is creative, unique and undeniably intriguing. The plot is wickedly fun, dark, and mysterious. It’s fast-paced and so deliciously thrilling that I was literally holding my breath a few times. I thought the action, drama, humor, suspense, and romance were perfectly balanced creating a remarkably enjoyable reading experience. I honestly didn’t want to finish the story, but at the same time I was dying to find out what would happen next. I enjoyed the secrets, the betrayals, the angst, the heartbreak, and all the crazy twists and turns that made my heart race. The ending is heartwarming and fabulous in every way and I found myself smiling so much. There’s just so much to love about this story and I really cannot wait to see what happens next!
The characters are all really AWESOME. Miranda, the Slayera Princess, is a fantastic heroine. She’s fiercely loyal, kind, brave, and incredibly determined. She’s a bit stubborn and impulsive at times, but deep down, she has a really good heart. Miranda just wants what’s best for her people and will do anything to restore peace. The Vampyre King, Sathan, is such a lovable hero and like Miranda, he’s also looking for a way to end the ongoing war between the vampyres and slayers. I love that he’s caring, patient, honest and I fell so hard for him. Didn’t hurt that he’s ridiculously charming, sexy as hell and just so darn irresistible. AND he’s also a super sweet and loving brother. Yup, my heart melted over and over.
I love the supporting characters too. They all have a special place in my heart and there’s so much about each of them that I admire and love. But, I don’t want to spoil anything. I’ll let you have some fun getting to know their wonderful and intriguing personalities. I do want to mention that I’m most definitely looking forward to Darkrip’s book and just getting to know him more.
Absolutely love the romance. It’s dripping with yummy swoons and so much heart! Miranda and Sathan have that perfect chemistry I find absolutely irresistible. It’s hot and steamy, but also adorably sweet. It’s incredibly fun and beautifully touching watching Miranda and Sathan interact. I love their playful bantering, their sexy moments, and all their heartfelt scenes. Miranda and Sathan definitely made me smile and laugh, feel anxious and excited, and get emotional in the best way. I love these two so much and cannot get enough of them together.
With heart-pounding suspense, breathtaking adventure, intriguing drama, and thrilling action scenes, The End of Hatred by Rebecca Hefner had me gripping the edge of my seat. The world-building, the narrative, and the character developments are exquisitely and flawlessly well done. I loved the twists and turns, the conflicts and complications, the romances, the lighthearted moments sprinkled here and there, and everything else in between. This is such a wonderfully engrossing story about war, politics, family, forgiveness, redemption, friendship, and love. I will rave about this book with blood, tears, and all my heart. I honestly can’t recommend it enough and think it’s perfect for fantasy, paranormal, and romance lovers.
Sending virtual hugs to Rebecca Hefner for contacting me and sending me a paperback copy of The End of Hatred. I’m forever thankful for having the opportunity to read this book and being introduced into this enthralling world. My opinion and thoughts are my own and not affected by receiving a free copy of this book.