Blog Tour and Review: Daughters of the Sea Book 1,2 &3- Kristen Day

Summary: The essence of who we are lies not in what we have, but in what we are willing to give up. Because in the end, Time and Tide wait for no one.

After sacrificing all that she had, the evil princess of the Underworld is still successful in her bid to tear Finn from Stasia’s life. In the midst of her search to reclaim him, Stasia is summoned to the island nation of Cyprus to take part in an age-old ritual; unveiling the missing pieces of her ancestry and re-igniting an ancient war. As she struggles to both save Finn’s soul and free Carmen’s mind, Stasia’s bravery and determination will be pushed to its breaking point. A dark storm is forming on the horizon, and the forces who are vying to destroy her may be much closer than she thinks. Destiny weaves a sticky web of evil, betrayal, and revenge that can only be undone by the purity of love and the soul’s unyielding will to survive. In the last installment of the Daughters of the Sea trilogy, the past will collide with the present as Stasia’s future hangs in the balance. The prophecy that paved the way for her new life may indeed be the very thing that strips her of the ones she loves the most.

Excerpt

Finn

“Rise and shine, Love!” Nadia appeared before me and my blood instantly began to boil with overwhelming hatred. “We have much to do!”

“I’m not playing your bullshit games, Nadia,” I growled.

“Games?” She snorted, cracking a dry smile and coming to a stop in front of me. Her features hardened and her golden eyes flashed, “This is no game, Love. But believe me - I’ll be enjoying every minute.” She noticed the small puddle of blood collecting below my right knee and smirked.

“Why Finn, I don’t believe I’ve ever seen you look so dreadful. It’s a shame your essence and abilities have no effect down here. That looks horrific.”

“You’re playing with fire, Nadia,” I accused her in a low voice. She should know the consequences of her actions.

“I happen to like fire. It’s powerful and tantalizing. Just like me.” She turned on her heel, kicked off her shoes and made her way to the trunk. She visibly shivered in her thin tank top and jeans. With a snap of her fingers, the room warmed to a comfortable temperature.

“I don’t know how you stand it down here! It’s absolutely frigid!” She chuckled to herself when I cursed her through gritted teeth. She whistled happily as she opened the trunk and began rifling through it; searching for something in particular.

“Now where did I put it…Aha! Found it!” she squealed with delight. Then she snapped her head around and grinned at me like she was two personalities away from a straight jacket and a padded room. “Enjoying the view?”

“Don’t flatter yourself.”

“Oh come on Finn,” she purred. “You know you want this.” She spun around in a circle and raised a golden, sly eyebrow at me. “But unfortunately for you, I don’t screw pieces of shit.”

“I’m crushed.”

She looked me up and down, tapped her chin, and smiled, “Not yet.” With a flick of her finger the white vines pinned me against the wall; slicing new wounds on my arms and legs. “I’ll save that for later. Right now, we have other things to take care of. And I must say, I’m so glad you came to your senses and chose me. I was beginning to lose hope,” she joked. She twitched over to where I was shackled to the wall and let out what sounded like something close to a cackle.

“Yea, I’ve really been looking forward to having my soul wrenched out of my body and starving to death in this god forsaken hole in the ground,” I spit at her with venom.

“I might not be as transparent as that little tramp of yours, Stasia, but-“

“Leave her out of this! You don’t even deserve to speak her name,” I growled. The familiar rush of power and adrenaline that usually accompanied my anger didn’t come, and I began to realize the gravity of the situation I was in. Not that I was going to let Princess Psycho know that.

“Oh, please…she’s nothing but an Achilles heel.” She collapsed into a fit of giggles, “Get it - cause her brother was Achilles..?” I ignored her failed attempt at irony.

“She possesses every quality required of a leader in our world and more. Qualities you have never, and will never, possess - purity, strength, grace and most importantly, humility.”

“Humility, weakness - same thing.” She dismissed my words with a flip of her hand.

“The prophecy speaks for itself. Even you can’t argue with that,” I retorted. “She is my destiny. And I, hers.”

“All I hear is blah, blah, blah-I want to have sex with her-blah, blah, blah. Lust turns the strongest of men into invalids and I simply couldn’t let that happen. Your essence is far too important for what is ahead of me.”

“Essence becomes useless without love. Love turns the strongest of men into warriors. When a man has someone to fight for, he’s capable of moving mountains.”

Her grin dropped and she stomped over to me with vapor rolling off of her skin. She stood in front of me, silent for a moment, then grinned wickedly and unrolled the leather case she had been clutching in her hand. She slid something silver out and held it up so I could see it. A syringe.

“I think I’m in the mood to play nurse.” Her eyes sparkled as she moved towards me. I tried to fight the vines, but the excruciating pain that shot through me sucked what little energy I did have completely dry. “Now don’t tire yourself out, Love. I need to get a good strong sample.”

At her words, another pair of vines shot out from the stone wall and slithered around my left arm; securing it tightly. My trace had become dull in the last few days under whatever vacuum she had placed on my prison.

She slowly ran a finger down my cheek and smiled sympathetically. “Your sacrifices will not be in vain. I can promise you that.” She dropped her hand and her golden eyes hardened, “But the slow, painful deterioration of your soul will be. I’ve decided you owe me that. It’s the least you can do.”

“So, are you looking forward to spending eternity on Tartarus, or will an exception be made to send you straight to the pits of fire?” I asked in the same tone I’d use to ask about the weather.

“You really think my own mother would sentence me to an eternity of hell?” she chuckled. “Please tell me you aren’t that simpleminded.”

“You know as well as I do that a certain level of evil is not tolerated. Your mother’s decision will be overridden by the-“

“Shut up!” she yelled and slapped me across the face. It stung, but I hid it beneath a purposefully smug smile -- which only made her anger boil over. “Enough of this! You are no more than a means to an end. You will never be Prime. You will never see your tramp or your family again. You are nothing.” With that, she uncapped the syringe and drove it into my forearm; right through the eye of the skull. My thoughts turned to Stasia as my world filled with pain and faded into darkness.

Title: Chosen

Pages: 312

Rating: 5/5 Stars

Review: I received this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review. I love this cover! What can I say about this book that I haven't already said about the first two. They were all so amazing.the secrets just keep unravelling and getting better. One in particular blew my mind. It explained a lot of why some characters had love/ hate relationships. It was also sad and I teared up over it. You could tell the author was breaking the readers hearts and I think she took joy in it. I also appreciated all of the danger in the book. It lurked around every corner and you never knew when it would jump out at you. Kristen Day has an amazing imagination. She gave glorious details about everything in the story and it helps the reader lose themselves. 

Again great characters who continue to learn and grow with each turned page. They continue to surprise me with both good and bad. I loved finding out their new talents and affinities. I enjoyed watching Anastasia accept who she was supposed to become and use it in the name of good. I can tell she will be a great leader. Finn is also full of surprises. But good, romantic ones that made me go "aww". So friggin cute. I have a feeling that we haven't seen the last of the "evil" and I look forward to it resurfacing.

I just found out that there will be a fourth book, YAY!! Can't wait to get my fins on it lol. I would recommend the series to mythology lovers, romantics and those who love a good adventure. 

Summary: The sacrifices we make have the power to shift the very fabric of who we are, and ultimately who we are meant to be…

After learning of her true destiny as the intended Leader of the Tydes, Anastasia Whitman must now embark on a perilous quest to the Underworld before the age of eighteen in order to plant the seed of immortality and complete her essence to become a true Sea Goddess. But before she can make her legendary journey, an unexpected new student transfers to Lorelei; initiating a sequence of events that will unravel Stasia’s new life, and test the boundaries of her relationship with the mysterious, dark, and sexy Finn Morrison. The line between the Underworld and the Living begins to blur as gruesome ghosts, morbid reveries, and pure evil haunt her waking hours as well as her sanity. Once the details of Finn’s own startling destiny are revealed, the dangerous secrets he’s been hiding will threaten the very love Stasia believed to be indestructible. As time begins to run out, she will be forced to choose between the one she loves and the destiny she cannot escape.

Title: Awaken

Pages: 273

Rating: 5/5 Stars

Review: I received this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review. This novel started off a little slower for me than the first book, but it quickly picked up. I'm still loving the Greek mythology aspect. But I also enjoy how unlike book one, this novel introduces more the just the Gods and Goddess' of the sea. Kristen Day also informs us that they are more types of offspring depending on the God that they descended from. I'm also finding the secrets of the Gods to be entertaining. Plus who doesn't love a good adventure down to the Underworld. 

This book for the characters is a lot more fun and easy going, but they also got through some hard times. New characters are also introduced, who I am not fond of  but I do hope that they get there's in the end. Anastasia has learned a lot about herself in this book but she still has growing and maturing to do. She seems to be very resourceful but often finds herself in dangerous situations, I can't wait to see what happened next in book three! Finn made me mad in this book because he chose to hide things from Stasia because he feels like it was better that way then telling her the truth. But when Anastasia finds out the truths hit hits the fan and Finn doesn't even fight for her, he lets her go. STUPID BOYS!!

This was a great book, but my advice is to have the next book sitting beside you for when you finish. Plus this book had a giant cliffhanger.  I again would recommend this novel to mythology lovers!

Summary: Once you’ve been touched by darkness, it never leaves you…

Abandoned by her parents as an infant; seventeen year old Hannah spent her childhood wading through countless foster families until being adopted by the Whitmans three years ago. 

Unfortunately, Atlanta’s high society wasn’t quite ready for Hannah…or the strange events that plague her.

Chilling visions of murder, unexplained hallucinations, and a dark, mysterious guy who haunts her nightmares all culminate to set in motion a journey of self-discovery that will challenge everything she’s ever believed; not to mention her sanity. 

Sent to live at The House of Lorelei on Bald Head Island, NC for ‘kids like her’, Hannah quickly realizes things are not what they seem. Her fellow ‘disturbed’ teens are actually the descendents of mythical Sea Gods and Goddesses. And so is she.

But when Finn, the ghost from her dreams, appears in the flesh; her nightmares become reality and her dark visions begin coming true. Inexplicably drawn to him, she can’t deny the dangerous hold he has on her heart. The deadly secrets he harbors will ultimately test her courage and push the boundaries of her love. 

She must decide if she is ready to embrace the ancient legend she is prophesized to be a part of. The fate of all the descendents will forever depend upon it.

Title: Forsaken

Pages: 258

Rating: 5/5 Stars

Review: I received this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review. I have really noticed lately that there are a ton of YA books coming out based on Greek mythology!! I think it's the new it thing to write about, not that I'm complaining because I LOVE Greek mythology!!i really enjoyed how this book was strictly abut the Gods and Goddess' of the sea (hence the name haha). I also liked how Kristen Day has separated the offspring of the Gods into four separate categories depending on who sired them. So awesome! The story flowed extremely well and I really only stopped in order to sleep, other wise I demolished this novel very quickly. I am also in love with all of the secrets!

I loved reading about Anastasia's transformation from the "orphan girl" to the girl of the prophecy. It was refreshing watching her grow into that role. She definitely had big shoes to fill and had to put on her big girl panties. Fin stole my heart wi his dark blue eyes and sexy dreadlocks!! I also enjoyed that his character had a lot recasting on his shoulders and that he didn't crack under the pressure. I just wished that he wouldn't have hid things or "neglected" to tell Stasia things. But I can't wait to see where their relationship goes. 

This was an awesome first book I bathe Daughters of the Sea series by Kristen Day.o can't wait to read the next book. I would recommend this book to those who love Greek Mythology and even those who don't. It's a great read so try not to miss out.

About Kristen Day

Kristen Day is a southern belle at heart with a crazy streak that desperately tries to escape at every opportunity. She loves all things nostalgic, rustic, and quirky. She’s been told she sees the world through rose-colored glasses, but she prefers to think of them as kaleidoscope glasses - swirling and morphing reality into something she can digest (who hasn't pretended those pasty lima beans were really kiwi strawberry jelly beans?).

She is the author of the DAUGHTERS OF THE SEA trilogy, which includes FORSAKEN, AWAKEN (Oct 2012), and CHOSEN (Winter 2012). She loves all books, but really enjoys writing young adult, paranormal romances. She’s loved to write for as long as she can remember. Her first published work was her poem RED in second grade (you guessed it - it was a poem about the color red - life altering, right?) that won her 5 gold stars and a spot in her elementary school's poetry book. That's when her addiction to the written word officially began. She was the only kid in fifth grade that actually enjoyed diagramming sentences. Go ahead and laugh - its okay.

When she’s not writing she’s making jewelry, painting, feeding her addiction to sweet tea, watching the Discovery Channel, or going on random adventures in the mountains of North Carolina with her amazing husband. She was born in Boone, NC and graduated from Appalachian State University with a degree in Marketing in 2001.

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