Stone Cold revenge by Jess Macallan
STONE COLD REVENGE (SET IN STONE #2) BY
Forced by her maniacal father, the king of the shadow elves, to live in his house and train to become his heir, newly minted princess of the paranormal Elleodora Fredricks doesn’t think things could get much more complicated. On the outs with her gargoyle love interest, Jax, and confused about her relationship with her childhood sweetheart, MacLean the phoenix, Elle knows her fate decrees that her powers will manifest themselves in full on her twenty-eighth birthday, which is quickly approaching
With help from two long-lost family members, some long-forgotten memories, and even her long-gone mother, Elle discovers there’s more to being part shadow elf than she ever knew. But will she be able to harness her unique abilities in time to take revenge on her enemies? For Elle, it’s all in a day’s work .
Macallan’s Set in Stone series brings a fresh and exciting voice to a genre that has become stagnant. With Stone Cold Revenge, the second book in the series, Macallan expands the world she introduced in Stone Cold Seduction. Elle returns to her father’s mansion – a place filled with the memories of childhood torture and abuse, in order to solve the mystery surrounding missing ancient artifacts and prove her innocence. Elle must agree to become her father’s heir and in the process learn more about her father’s shady business holdings, embrace her Shadow Elf Princess responsibilities, and finally, prepare for the on-set of her powers on her 28th birthday. Adding even more complexity to the story is Elle’s need to choose a mate before her birthday – a process that has her choosing between two loves.
This story develops over a short period of weeks as Elle’s birthday is only days away. Elle is bolstered by the trust and friendship provided by her stalwart friend Teryl, whose oracle powers provide guidance and support during this mission. And while we see many of the characters from Stone Cold Seduction continue to be involved in this second book, Macallan also introduces several new characters – most interestingly Elion, a god and Elle’s uncle, and Luna, Elle’s godmother. Both of these characters play pivotal roles in preparing Elle to receive her powers.
At its core the novel deals with themes of manipulation, self realization, deceit, and the metaphysical questions of morality & the soul. When your world is turned upside down, everything you have ever known is a lie, and those you trust aren’t everything they seem – what do you believe in? Can you believe in yourself & accept a new set of serious responsibilities when you don’t even understand your own powers? Can you put your own needs aside for the needs of the greater good?
At times, Elle can seem petulant and immature. But when everything you’ve ever known or believed in has been changed forever in a matter of days, you probably deserve some slack. Elle does choose a mate. And the story line regarding the powers Elle inherits on her 28th birthday is so cool and creative, it makes Macallan really stand out from the pack.
Jess Macallan and her Set in Stone trilogy is the future of urban fantasy. Imaginative, original and enchanting, the Set in Stone series is magic. I wouldn’t be surprised if this is optioned for film or television in the future.
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