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Fury
When Shayla Aja comes back to the small town of Nyx to visit her grandma Ellie, she finds a lot has changed on the beekeeping farm--not only the house she spent endless summers in as a child, but Ellie herself has changed. And the reason seems to center entirely around Ellie's new Apiary Manager, August.
August is infuriatingly attractive and shamelessly flirts with Shay--for no apparent reason other than to get under her skin. And the more she tries to get to know August, the more Shay is convinced she's nothing more than a freeloader taking advantage of Ellie's generous heart.
Their shaky start is layered with both suspicion and attraction, but when Shay experiences a magical incident at the local farmers' market, something between them starts to shift. As Shay is forced to trust August with her big secret, they begin to open up to each other. As they reveal more about themselves and the life-altering events that brought them both to Ellie's farm--they realize they might also have been brought to each other.
August is infuriatingly attractive and shamelessly flirts with Shay--for no apparent reason other than to get under her skin. And the more she tries to get to know August, the more Shay is convinced she's nothing more than a freeloader taking advantage of Ellie's generous heart.
Their shaky start is layered with both suspicion and attraction, but when Shay experiences a magical incident at the local farmers' market, something between them starts to shift. As Shay is forced to trust August with her big secret, they begin to open up to each other. As they reveal more about themselves and the life-altering events that brought them both to Ellie's farm--they realize they might also have been brought to each other.
246 pages, Paperback
First published August 23, 2022
2 people are currently reading
131 people want to read
About the author
Jen Lawrence
2 books25 followersI finished my first novel when I was 16. Wrote it in pen in a notebook. I didn’t have a computer, but when I entered university, I could finally type it up and spent a few nights being the suspicious weirdo in the computer room. Once done, I had a book with a “straight” artist who meets a beautiful lesbian gallery owner and promptly realises she’s sapphically inclined. She comes out and is disowned by her family, finds out she’s pregnant with her ex-boyfriend’s baby, and her lesbian lover has cancer. In the end they both die. A murder and a suicide. It was grim.
I was 19 when I kissed a girl for the first time. Up until then, all my experience of queerness was from the media I had consumed and it had subconsciously painted a very bleak (at times sadly realistic) idea of what it meant to be queer to this day. That my main characters were both white, even though I’m not, was also telling.
After being distracted by women for a few years after that first kiss, I finally got back into writing. I began telling stories set in otherworldly places, about supernatural and magically inclined women, where the fact that they were gay was the very least of their concerns. Because though I support and appreciate those works that remind us that we’re not alone, what I also would’ve liked whilst feeling like the sole queer person not only in a massive family, but in the entire town, was some escapism from reality and to be sucked into fantastical worlds, filled with powerful lesbian beings, saving the day and being absolutely soft and gay for the women they love.
I’m 35 years old, from Cape Town, South Africa. And my ideal life would be spent writing and gaming with a cat on my lap until my back and eyes hurt, and then going outside to take a long walk with a dog, on a remotely located farm, with superfast internet connection.
Librarian note: Multiple authors with the same name in the GR database; this author is entered with 2 spaces.
I was 19 when I kissed a girl for the first time. Up until then, all my experience of queerness was from the media I had consumed and it had subconsciously painted a very bleak (at times sadly realistic) idea of what it meant to be queer to this day. That my main characters were both white, even though I’m not, was also telling.
After being distracted by women for a few years after that first kiss, I finally got back into writing. I began telling stories set in otherworldly places, about supernatural and magically inclined women, where the fact that they were gay was the very least of their concerns. Because though I support and appreciate those works that remind us that we’re not alone, what I also would’ve liked whilst feeling like the sole queer person not only in a massive family, but in the entire town, was some escapism from reality and to be sucked into fantastical worlds, filled with powerful lesbian beings, saving the day and being absolutely soft and gay for the women they love.
I’m 35 years old, from Cape Town, South Africa. And my ideal life would be spent writing and gaming with a cat on my lap until my back and eyes hurt, and then going outside to take a long walk with a dog, on a remotely located farm, with superfast internet connection.
Librarian note: Multiple authors with the same name in the GR database; this author is entered with 2 spaces.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
August 7, 2022
Whoa. This was totally unexpected and a phenomenal read from start to finish. I could not put this book down. The writing is smart with exceptionally witty banter. August, one of the main characters, is adorable, sexy and I think I am a little in love with her. Please don’t tell Shay!
The first half of the novel has Shay visiting her grandmother Ellie. It has been a few years since her last visit and things are definitely different. Ellie now has a live in apiary manager, August, who Shay does not trust. The second half of the story is a ‘hold on tight’ exciting fantasy/paranormal ride with my favourite fantasy mythical creature. I won’t spoil the fun of discovery for you by naming names.
Lawrence has the ability to write moving and emotional scenes which grip your heart. She also has kick ass dialogue chops. The story being a satisfying blend of romance and fantasy will appeal to a range of readers. If you love both of these genres, this book is for you. If you want to expand or dip your toe into fantasy then this book will be a gentle starter for you.
For my enjoyment factor, hilarious banter and blended story, this is a definite 5 out of 5 star novel.
I received a free advance review copy from Bella Books through NetGalley. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The first half of the novel has Shay visiting her grandmother Ellie. It has been a few years since her last visit and things are definitely different. Ellie now has a live in apiary manager, August, who Shay does not trust. The second half of the story is a ‘hold on tight’ exciting fantasy/paranormal ride with my favourite fantasy mythical creature. I won’t spoil the fun of discovery for you by naming names.
Lawrence has the ability to write moving and emotional scenes which grip your heart. She also has kick ass dialogue chops. The story being a satisfying blend of romance and fantasy will appeal to a range of readers. If you love both of these genres, this book is for you. If you want to expand or dip your toe into fantasy then this book will be a gentle starter for you.
For my enjoyment factor, hilarious banter and blended story, this is a definite 5 out of 5 star novel.
I received a free advance review copy from Bella Books through NetGalley. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 26, 2022
4.5 stars. Lawrence’s previous book “Guardian” was one of my favorite books of 2021, so when “Fury” was released I had to read it first up and I absolutely devoured it. I already knew Lawrence could write emotions but now I discovered a humorous side as well.
“Fury” is set in the same universe as “Guardian” and those of you who follow my reviews know how much I love a good fantasy story. That said, this story is set in a world resembling earth and a very large part of the story can be seen as a contemporary romance, but of course I loved the moment where the fantasy part kicked in. It’s there, but I think even non-fantasy fans can appreciate this story as the main story line is all about the romance between Shay and August.
You don’t need to have read “Guardian” to read this book, but I think it will enhance the experience (and it is a great book, so why not read it) as there are a few references and Luna from “Guardian” also makes a short appearance in this book.
Shay returns to her grandma in Nyx and suspects August (her grandma’s employee) of taking advantage of her grandma’s kindness. Everybody seems to adore August, especially Shay’s grandma. August is a kind, hardworking woman and has a flirtatious streak that’s somehow overdone and non-aggressive at the same time, I almost found it endearing. In short, she’s too good to be true and Shay is determined to find out August’s motives.
When Shay and August meet they immediately have this distinct way of communicating, I thought it was a bit crude at first and didn’t know what to think of it, but not long after I was a fan of their funny dialogues. That’s not to say this book is not serious, both characters have had their own hardship and the character development in this book is excellent. This book is written in third person from the POV of Shay, so you get most insight in her thoughts, but I also got a clear insight in August’s personality without reading her POV.
I loved the writing and I’ll happily round up this book to 5 stars, but it still had a few bumps. Some magical things happen and while it freaks out the characters to some extent I think a person who never has come into contact with magic would freak out way more, so this was not the most believable. Another point would be the ending. It was rather abrupt, I was immersed in the story and didn’t pay attention to the remaining pages and all of the sudden it was finished. I was sure there had to be at least one more chapter. The main storyline was finished, but it happened so fast and I would have liked to see how several small things that happened near the ending would continue. I can only hope this means there is another book coming. I feel there are more stories for Shay and August (and for Luna and Gia for that matter), so fingers crossed.
This fantasy romance will likely become one of my favorites of 2022. Lawrence has proven to be an excellent author, this book is infused with emotion, humor and a fantasy storyline that keeps you on your toes just when you think you know where things are going. I hope we can expect more books set in this universe, I will be reading them!
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
“Fury” is set in the same universe as “Guardian” and those of you who follow my reviews know how much I love a good fantasy story. That said, this story is set in a world resembling earth and a very large part of the story can be seen as a contemporary romance, but of course I loved the moment where the fantasy part kicked in. It’s there, but I think even non-fantasy fans can appreciate this story as the main story line is all about the romance between Shay and August.
You don’t need to have read “Guardian” to read this book, but I think it will enhance the experience (and it is a great book, so why not read it) as there are a few references and Luna from “Guardian” also makes a short appearance in this book.
Shay returns to her grandma in Nyx and suspects August (her grandma’s employee) of taking advantage of her grandma’s kindness. Everybody seems to adore August, especially Shay’s grandma. August is a kind, hardworking woman and has a flirtatious streak that’s somehow overdone and non-aggressive at the same time, I almost found it endearing. In short, she’s too good to be true and Shay is determined to find out August’s motives.
When Shay and August meet they immediately have this distinct way of communicating, I thought it was a bit crude at first and didn’t know what to think of it, but not long after I was a fan of their funny dialogues. That’s not to say this book is not serious, both characters have had their own hardship and the character development in this book is excellent. This book is written in third person from the POV of Shay, so you get most insight in her thoughts, but I also got a clear insight in August’s personality without reading her POV.
I loved the writing and I’ll happily round up this book to 5 stars, but it still had a few bumps. Some magical things happen and while it freaks out the characters to some extent I think a person who never has come into contact with magic would freak out way more, so this was not the most believable. Another point would be the ending. It was rather abrupt, I was immersed in the story and didn’t pay attention to the remaining pages and all of the sudden it was finished. I was sure there had to be at least one more chapter. The main storyline was finished, but it happened so fast and I would have liked to see how several small things that happened near the ending would continue. I can only hope this means there is another book coming. I feel there are more stories for Shay and August (and for Luna and Gia for that matter), so fingers crossed.
This fantasy romance will likely become one of my favorites of 2022. Lawrence has proven to be an excellent author, this book is infused with emotion, humor and a fantasy storyline that keeps you on your toes just when you think you know where things are going. I hope we can expect more books set in this universe, I will be reading them!
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 1, 2022
Soulmates.
This book is set in the same universe as the author's debut, Guardian, a fantasy book about guardians and soulmates that I enjoyed tremendously. For some reason, I didn't connect this book to Guardian immediately, which I should have given how similar their covers look. I also thought this story was dull and I couldn't get into the mood for a while. The story felt a little pedestrian and even the banter between Shay and August felt drawn out.
The turning point for me came when the fantasy elements started to play out and the story became far more exciting and interesting. At the same time, I love that what happens to Shay and August enables them to have a deeper connection with each other, one that is much needed to push their relationship forward, given Shay's history. I thought Shay and August lacked the intensity that the characters in Guardian who shared in their relationship but their chemistry was still pretty good and their bantering grew on me.
This story is pretty good but between this and Guardian, I still prefer Guardian.
I received an ARC from Bella Books through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book is set in the same universe as the author's debut, Guardian, a fantasy book about guardians and soulmates that I enjoyed tremendously. For some reason, I didn't connect this book to Guardian immediately, which I should have given how similar their covers look. I also thought this story was dull and I couldn't get into the mood for a while. The story felt a little pedestrian and even the banter between Shay and August felt drawn out.
The turning point for me came when the fantasy elements started to play out and the story became far more exciting and interesting. At the same time, I love that what happens to Shay and August enables them to have a deeper connection with each other, one that is much needed to push their relationship forward, given Shay's history. I thought Shay and August lacked the intensity that the characters in Guardian who shared in their relationship but their chemistry was still pretty good and their bantering grew on me.
This story is pretty good but between this and Guardian, I still prefer Guardian.
I received an ARC from Bella Books through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 23, 2022
I'm gonna leave my review here because this is what comes up when you search Fury by Jen Lawrence Guardianbut if you wanna see more about this author and her other work I suggest searching this in the Bella Books publishing catalogue.
This is my first read and review in months so bear with me.
Review
Though a bit different from her debut, Jen Lawrence once again provides an entertaining emotional and hilarious read. She continues her streak of well-written dramas with characters you just can't help but love. After this read, I think it's safe for me to say that whatever this author drops I'll most likely read.
Fury follows Shay settling into her home town of Nyx where she finds out her grandma has a new addition to her farm in the form of insanely attractive and charming, August Alecto.
A page at the beginning of the book describes this as part of the exploration of the fantasy world created by Miss Lawrence referred to as "The Darke Universe" and its Arima bonds. Arima can be attributed to soul mate-like connections between two people. This played a large part in her debut book titled "Guardians" Which came out last year.
If you haven't read Guardians I highly suggest you do. It was one of my favourite books of last year and an amazing debut by this author. However, it isn't necessary to understand this book as it's almost totally standalone. Though the main character of Guardians does make a slight and exciting cameo in this book.
Characters
August and Shay quickly find themselves on my favourite character list of the year. They're both hilarious characters who've been through a lot of trauma and find perfect comfort in each other.
Shay is a bit of a sceptical person which at first comes off a bit annoying till you learn more about her and August is a witty, hilarious and a caring partner in crime. I can't really explain it but it's rare to get two characters with such personalization and easy-going conversations these days.
Ellie, Shay's grandmother, is also a hilarious side character who's absolutely charming in her own rights. She not so sleekly sets up August and Shay and her interactions with them remind me a lot of mine with my grandmother who would always get me to rub her legs just as Ellie does Shay.
If you read Guardians then you'd be excited to know that Gia makes a small appearance in this book and her interactions with Ellie are also golden.
Plot
If I'm going, to be honest, the plot was slightly not what I wanted or expected. The fantasy world parallel to the one in this, that we saw created in Guardian only makes a small inclusion in this book which in my opinion was a bit of a bummer. The social order of that world was something that had me in total awe so it's safe to say that I cannot wait to see it again.
Though, the backstories and relationship of August and Shay make up for it. Lawrence strays away from the fantasy world just a bit and gives us more of a romance and I can't complain much about that.
Writing
Now this is only the second book by Jen Lawrence so I wasn't expecting the most perfect writing but I'm still impressed.
My biggest problem with this book would be the pacing. Some scenes almost irrelevant to the story would take up several unnecessary paragraphs meanwhile ones almost monumental to the story would go by in the blink of an eye.
For example, there are some scenes where something crazy would happen to one of the characters and they'd just straight up accept it when I feel as though they should've freaked out more or just longer in general. I felt like this was a bit unrealistic, considering the fact that Shay is a doctor so you'd think anything outside of the bodily realm of possibility would have her shell-shocked.
The pacing becomes a problem in major scenes. Both characters go through their own changes and the way they find out about these changes is underwhelming because of how little we have time to sit with it. I love the cameo of Gia but her cameo and its impact are fleeting because of how quick they go by. It kind of reminds me of the end of the Morbius movie where you get a load of information, the climax and then the end of the movie in ten minutes.
Final Thoughts
I imagine this book like other short fantasy novels will get a 4.0 rating or a bit below. Had it been longer or juicer I would not doubt its ability to go above. This is only her second book and yet with a Uhaul of undeniability, I can say, Jen Lawrence is quickly becoming my author to look out for. Because I know, she's only going to get better.
I cannot wait for the next book in the Darke Universe, I'm literally praying that there's going to be another. Unlike the first book, there's no teaser or sneak peek at the end so I'm a little worried if I'm gonna be honest and Jen Lawrence seemingly has no social media to see for updates so I'm even even more worried.
Do I recommend it? For the romance? Yes. For the fantasy? Hesitant, but yes. Because I know the pacing might become a problem for some fantasy lovers with this already short book.
Thanks to NetGalley and the Publishers for the ARC in exchange for a honest review
This is my first read and review in months so bear with me.
Review
Though a bit different from her debut, Jen Lawrence once again provides an entertaining emotional and hilarious read. She continues her streak of well-written dramas with characters you just can't help but love. After this read, I think it's safe for me to say that whatever this author drops I'll most likely read.
Fury follows Shay settling into her home town of Nyx where she finds out her grandma has a new addition to her farm in the form of insanely attractive and charming, August Alecto.
A page at the beginning of the book describes this as part of the exploration of the fantasy world created by Miss Lawrence referred to as "The Darke Universe" and its Arima bonds. Arima can be attributed to soul mate-like connections between two people. This played a large part in her debut book titled "Guardians" Which came out last year.
If you haven't read Guardians I highly suggest you do. It was one of my favourite books of last year and an amazing debut by this author. However, it isn't necessary to understand this book as it's almost totally standalone. Though the main character of Guardians does make a slight and exciting cameo in this book.
Characters
August and Shay quickly find themselves on my favourite character list of the year. They're both hilarious characters who've been through a lot of trauma and find perfect comfort in each other.
Shay is a bit of a sceptical person which at first comes off a bit annoying till you learn more about her and August is a witty, hilarious and a caring partner in crime. I can't really explain it but it's rare to get two characters with such personalization and easy-going conversations these days.
Ellie, Shay's grandmother, is also a hilarious side character who's absolutely charming in her own rights. She not so sleekly sets up August and Shay and her interactions with them remind me a lot of mine with my grandmother who would always get me to rub her legs just as Ellie does Shay.
If you read Guardians then you'd be excited to know that Gia makes a small appearance in this book and her interactions with Ellie are also golden.
Plot
If I'm going, to be honest, the plot was slightly not what I wanted or expected. The fantasy world parallel to the one in this, that we saw created in Guardian only makes a small inclusion in this book which in my opinion was a bit of a bummer. The social order of that world was something that had me in total awe so it's safe to say that I cannot wait to see it again.
Though, the backstories and relationship of August and Shay make up for it. Lawrence strays away from the fantasy world just a bit and gives us more of a romance and I can't complain much about that.
Writing
Now this is only the second book by Jen Lawrence so I wasn't expecting the most perfect writing but I'm still impressed.
My biggest problem with this book would be the pacing. Some scenes almost irrelevant to the story would take up several unnecessary paragraphs meanwhile ones almost monumental to the story would go by in the blink of an eye.
For example, there are some scenes where something crazy would happen to one of the characters and they'd just straight up accept it when I feel as though they should've freaked out more or just longer in general. I felt like this was a bit unrealistic, considering the fact that Shay is a doctor so you'd think anything outside of the bodily realm of possibility would have her shell-shocked.
The pacing becomes a problem in major scenes. Both characters go through their own changes and the way they find out about these changes is underwhelming because of how little we have time to sit with it. I love the cameo of Gia but her cameo and its impact are fleeting because of how quick they go by. It kind of reminds me of the end of the Morbius movie where you get a load of information, the climax and then the end of the movie in ten minutes.
Final Thoughts
I imagine this book like other short fantasy novels will get a 4.0 rating or a bit below. Had it been longer or juicer I would not doubt its ability to go above. This is only her second book and yet with a Uhaul of undeniability, I can say, Jen Lawrence is quickly becoming my author to look out for. Because I know, she's only going to get better.
I cannot wait for the next book in the Darke Universe, I'm literally praying that there's going to be another. Unlike the first book, there's no teaser or sneak peek at the end so I'm a little worried if I'm gonna be honest and Jen Lawrence seemingly has no social media to see for updates so I'm even even more worried.
Do I recommend it? For the romance? Yes. For the fantasy? Hesitant, but yes. Because I know the pacing might become a problem for some fantasy lovers with this already short book.
Thanks to NetGalley and the Publishers for the ARC in exchange for a honest review
September 18, 2022
This book is nothing like I expected. I loved Jen Lawrence’s debut novel Guardian, and was looking forward to more of that universe, and while I did get it, I also didn’t. Fury is a study in contrasts, an apparently straightforward romance that morphs into fantasy, kinda-enemies-to-lovers/meant to be, a story of grief with deep feelings and irresistible chuckles.
Shay visits her grandmother after a few years of staying away. Living with Mama Ellie is August, not an old man as Shay expected but a very hot woman her own age. Shay’s suspicions that August is taking advantage of Ellie don’t seem to affect how attractive she finds her, however.
The banter between Shay and August and the chemistry they share are wonderful. Ellie is another engaging character, smart, witty, sassy. While I was looking forward to a fantasy novel, I enjoyed the first part of the story the most, because of the character development. The second part is good too and I like the way the author pushed her characters to evolve and react but I probably would have liked it even more if it had been introduced more progressively. The ending feels slightly abrupt as well, to the point that I almost expected a cliffhanger.
That said, there’s a lot to love in Lawrence’s second novel. As I wrote, it’s set in the same universe as Guardian but reading the first book before this one isn’t necessary. If you do, you’ll recognize one of the characters and will probably understand the shift towards fantasy more easily. If you don’t, you won’t be tempted to compare and try to anticipate the second part, looking for elusive clues. Either way, I recommend reading both books, in whichever order pleases you.
I received a copy from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Read all my reviews on my blog: Jude in the Stars
September 6, 2022
As good as Guardian is, Fury is next level. Lawrence must have been writing on the sly for a very long time because this book rolls along at a comforting pace like a tale told long into the night by a trusted friend. No glitches, no bumps, just the patient revealing of someone’s story.
Shay arrives at her grandmother’s farm in Nyx. She is between jobs and homes so a temporary stay with the family seems like a logical decision. It’s been a minute since she connected with anyone but she doesn’t seem particularly bothered by this fact and her grandmother is ecstatic regardless. When Shay arrives, there is a surprise waiting for her, August, the new Apiary Manager, seems to have entrenched herself in the farm’s business and in Grandmère Ellie’s heart. Slight animosity, suspicion, and an undercurrent of attraction fill their first days together until they gradually get to know each other.
The first part of the book is an amazing treat if you love character development. Shay, August, and Ellie are drawn up honestly and lovingly. Beautiful work by the author, the interactions, the banter, the dynamics of body language. It’s all so good. Then in a heady rush, the author shifts gears and takes wild left turns. No details here because of spoilers but it’s a great ride involving action and sexy mains. Fury does happen in the same universe as Guardian so there is a definite connection and a Fantasy setting. You can read each one as a stand-alone or read both in any order. I’m totally in love with these worlds and hope more books are coming soon as well as audio.
Shay arrives at her grandmother’s farm in Nyx. She is between jobs and homes so a temporary stay with the family seems like a logical decision. It’s been a minute since she connected with anyone but she doesn’t seem particularly bothered by this fact and her grandmother is ecstatic regardless. When Shay arrives, there is a surprise waiting for her, August, the new Apiary Manager, seems to have entrenched herself in the farm’s business and in Grandmère Ellie’s heart. Slight animosity, suspicion, and an undercurrent of attraction fill their first days together until they gradually get to know each other.
The first part of the book is an amazing treat if you love character development. Shay, August, and Ellie are drawn up honestly and lovingly. Beautiful work by the author, the interactions, the banter, the dynamics of body language. It’s all so good. Then in a heady rush, the author shifts gears and takes wild left turns. No details here because of spoilers but it’s a great ride involving action and sexy mains. Fury does happen in the same universe as Guardian so there is a definite connection and a Fantasy setting. You can read each one as a stand-alone or read both in any order. I’m totally in love with these worlds and hope more books are coming soon as well as audio.
August 31, 2022
This was shocking in the best ways! I had thought this was 'just' a contemporary romance, with some slight mystical elements - but after the halfway point it went into full blown paranormal fantasy! And I was stunned! But again, in the best ways! I just was not expecting it!
Our two MC's and love interests are Shay and August who are delightful people, along with Shay's Grand-Mere, Ellie. You really feel the heart of all of these wonderful women, and their connection. The banter is amusing and you can't help but root for all of them, as you discover more about each character along with the story, in a wonderfully organic way.
My one "complaint" is just the constant narrative about how HOT August was, her abs, her muscles, her calves etc. She was constantly being ogled and had her hotness pointed out. It just got a bit tedious, because she had SO much more going for her, in that very perfect way. But that is a very minor gripe in a very readable, and enjoyable story, with two lovely MC's.
My only other gripe is that is ends abruptly after a very climatic moment, and I just so pumped, I wanted MORE. Which is absolutely a testament to the writing. I really hope that this story has a sequel, I desperately want to follow up with this couple, and Grand-Mere Ellie. Plus the town and all the magics, supernatural and mystical elements that has been sparked off here.
A truly riveting story.
ARC provided by Netgalley
Our two MC's and love interests are Shay and August who are delightful people, along with Shay's Grand-Mere, Ellie. You really feel the heart of all of these wonderful women, and their connection. The banter is amusing and you can't help but root for all of them, as you discover more about each character along with the story, in a wonderfully organic way.
My one "complaint" is just the constant narrative about how HOT August was, her abs, her muscles, her calves etc. She was constantly being ogled and had her hotness pointed out. It just got a bit tedious, because she had SO much more going for her, in that very perfect way. But that is a very minor gripe in a very readable, and enjoyable story, with two lovely MC's.
My only other gripe is that is ends abruptly after a very climatic moment, and I just so pumped, I wanted MORE. Which is absolutely a testament to the writing. I really hope that this story has a sequel, I desperately want to follow up with this couple, and Grand-Mere Ellie. Plus the town and all the magics, supernatural and mystical elements that has been sparked off here.
A truly riveting story.
ARC provided by Netgalley
October 14, 2022
I received an ARC copy of Jen Lawrence’s “Fury’’ from (via NetGalley) in exchange for an honest review.
So, here it is !!!
My rating : 3.5 ⭐️
Fury is Jen Lawrence’s 2nd novel setting in the fantasy world / Universe she created and which is referred to as "The Darke Universe" (discovered in "Guardians" which has been released in August 2021) and it’s once again about Arima bonds (an Arima being something like a soulmate).
This book focuses on Shayla “Shay” Aja coming back to the small town of Nyx to visit her grandma (Ellie) & August Alecto, Ellie's new Apiary Manager. August is charming & insanely attractive and shamelessly flirts with Shay—seemingly for no apparent reason other than to get under her skin.
The least which can be said is that they have a shaky start layered with both suspicion and attraction, but when Shay experiences a magical incident at the local farmers' market, something between them starts to shift …
Both MCs are more often than not hilarious in their interactions / flirting … & Ellie was a solid, funny and lovely secondary character who delightfully played matchmakers …
I liked the novel a lot … It was quite entertaining, but also emotional some times and uproarious some others. Some things about it bothered me, though:
°° While reading we learn that both MCs went through some traumas (a different kind for each) so it makes us fell for them because we understand them a bit better. This being said, I think that the character development (which includes the family background) wasn’t pushed deeply enough so despite what we learn about them, their bantering and their pretty good chemistry, there was still a lack of intensity regarding Shay and August…
°° IMO the book is way too short and has a weird pacing becoming a real problem in some major scenes regarding the fantasy part of the story, which is supposed to be the heart of it …
What I mean is that some scenes which are almost totally irrelevant to the “main” story are told unnecessarily lengthily whereas some which could have brought a lot of crucial things to the story go by very quickly, like in the blink of an eye. (for example: some scenes where magic is showing itself & something crazy happening to one or both MCs who then go through some major changes). It’s a shame because the romance part was pleasurable enough but all became far more exciting and even more interesting when the fantasy elements started to play out …
Sadly, that’s when, almost at once, we have loads of information, then a tad action (appearing to be the “climax”) and, then …BOOM … the end !! The story definitely finished in a too rushed way which let some huge parts of the plot unsatisfyingly and frustratingly unsolved. It’s even more accentuated by the lack of epilogue.
From my POV, it would have made more sense to have more details when the fantasy side kicks in and have the MCs freaking out … a lot !!! But, nope, no shell-shocked characters in there (main or secondary alike…) instead, unrealistically (especially given the fact that Shay is a trauma surgeon and August is very meticulous person & both seem to be down-to-earth), they just accept what’s happening like it’s total normal and move on …
°° Don’t get me wrong, it was great to have Luna (from “Guardians”) making an appearance (thank God, Gia stayed out of the story …) and interact with this pairing of pair of MCs BUT it happened too quickly. It was just a tiny inclusion, a bit like if it was forced into the story—some sort of after-thought—to be sure to let the reader know there’s, indeed, a link between the books…
It wasn’t perfect, far from it. But that was definitely a way more pleasant read for me than “Gardian” has been (“Gardian” was just a very average read, one I struggled to go through mostly because I really couldn’t stand MC Gia). And, since I’m still curious about this Darke Universe, I’ll keep an eye on this author and make sure to read the next instalments (yeah, plural) of this series which doesn’t seem to be called that for the time being (whereas it should be from my POV). Well, if there are some, that is. I hope so as well as I hope those 2 already released short novels are just the beginning of a way longer journey for Luna and Shay & August and that we’ll meet them all again soon. I think Shay and August deserve to become a solidly established couple and I wouldn’t mind another (full length = longer) novel about them, one, of course, full of adventures & witty banters and some explanations about how they got there …
So, here it is !!!
My rating : 3.5 ⭐️
Fury is Jen Lawrence’s 2nd novel setting in the fantasy world / Universe she created and which is referred to as "The Darke Universe" (discovered in "Guardians" which has been released in August 2021) and it’s once again about Arima bonds (an Arima being something like a soulmate).
This book focuses on Shayla “Shay” Aja coming back to the small town of Nyx to visit her grandma (Ellie) & August Alecto, Ellie's new Apiary Manager. August is charming & insanely attractive and shamelessly flirts with Shay—seemingly for no apparent reason other than to get under her skin.
The least which can be said is that they have a shaky start layered with both suspicion and attraction, but when Shay experiences a magical incident at the local farmers' market, something between them starts to shift …
Both MCs are more often than not hilarious in their interactions / flirting … & Ellie was a solid, funny and lovely secondary character who delightfully played matchmakers …
I liked the novel a lot … It was quite entertaining, but also emotional some times and uproarious some others. Some things about it bothered me, though:
°° While reading we learn that both MCs went through some traumas (a different kind for each) so it makes us fell for them because we understand them a bit better. This being said, I think that the character development (which includes the family background) wasn’t pushed deeply enough so despite what we learn about them, their bantering and their pretty good chemistry, there was still a lack of intensity regarding Shay and August…
°° IMO the book is way too short and has a weird pacing becoming a real problem in some major scenes regarding the fantasy part of the story, which is supposed to be the heart of it …
What I mean is that some scenes which are almost totally irrelevant to the “main” story are told unnecessarily lengthily whereas some which could have brought a lot of crucial things to the story go by very quickly, like in the blink of an eye. (for example: some scenes where magic is showing itself & something crazy happening to one or both MCs who then go through some major changes). It’s a shame because the romance part was pleasurable enough but all became far more exciting and even more interesting when the fantasy elements started to play out …
Sadly, that’s when, almost at once, we have loads of information, then a tad action (appearing to be the “climax”) and, then …BOOM … the end !! The story definitely finished in a too rushed way which let some huge parts of the plot unsatisfyingly and frustratingly unsolved. It’s even more accentuated by the lack of epilogue.
From my POV, it would have made more sense to have more details when the fantasy side kicks in and have the MCs freaking out … a lot !!! But, nope, no shell-shocked characters in there (main or secondary alike…) instead, unrealistically (especially given the fact that Shay is a trauma surgeon and August is very meticulous person & both seem to be down-to-earth), they just accept what’s happening like it’s total normal and move on …
°° Don’t get me wrong, it was great to have Luna (from “Guardians”) making an appearance (thank God, Gia stayed out of the story …) and interact with this pairing of pair of MCs BUT it happened too quickly. It was just a tiny inclusion, a bit like if it was forced into the story—some sort of after-thought—to be sure to let the reader know there’s, indeed, a link between the books…
It wasn’t perfect, far from it. But that was definitely a way more pleasant read for me than “Gardian” has been (“Gardian” was just a very average read, one I struggled to go through mostly because I really couldn’t stand MC Gia). And, since I’m still curious about this Darke Universe, I’ll keep an eye on this author and make sure to read the next instalments (yeah, plural) of this series which doesn’t seem to be called that for the time being (whereas it should be from my POV). Well, if there are some, that is. I hope so as well as I hope those 2 already released short novels are just the beginning of a way longer journey for Luna and Shay & August and that we’ll meet them all again soon. I think Shay and August deserve to become a solidly established couple and I wouldn’t mind another (full length = longer) novel about them, one, of course, full of adventures & witty banters and some explanations about how they got there …
August 3, 2022
Not what expected, which isn’t a bad thing. I did enjoy it, fantasy is not my thing, kind of sends my mind into overdrive… anyway, after reading some other reviews, if I understand correctly, there is another book by Jen Lawrence called Guardian, which is set in the same universe as Fury. I don’t think it’s a must that you read Guardian first, but I would recommend it, I was left a little bit lost.
The characters are strong, undeniably have strong attractions to one another and the storyline is very much different to what I normally read, which is what I’ve been wanting lately.
I’ve given Fury a 4 out of 5.
The characters are strong, undeniably have strong attractions to one another and the storyline is very much different to what I normally read, which is what I’ve been wanting lately.
I’ve given Fury a 4 out of 5.
August 1, 2022
4.5 Stars.
This is a fantasy story about Shay who comes back to her old home town to visit her grandmother Elle. Elle has a very profitable bee keeping farm and honey production facility. August is a beautiful mysterious handywoman who Elle has hired to help her run the farm.
Shay distrusts August and thinks she is after Elle’s money. Elle adores August and let’s her run the farm and remodel the old farmhouse. As the story progresses weird paranormal things begin to happen and the book turns into a fantasy story. We get a surprise visit from Luna from the Guardians story.
I found this book immensely entertaining and hard to put down. The first portion of the book is your normal romance with two very well written main characters. Both are charming and fun to be around even though each of them is suffering from a difficult past. There is plenty of back and forth with good witty banter. Eventually they learn to trust each other and give in to their feelings. My only regret is that it ended suddenly and I wanted more.
This book was a joy to read and I look forward to more fantasy from Jen Lawrence’s talented imagination.
Arc received from Bella Books through Net Galley for a voluntary and honest review.
This is a fantasy story about Shay who comes back to her old home town to visit her grandmother Elle. Elle has a very profitable bee keeping farm and honey production facility. August is a beautiful mysterious handywoman who Elle has hired to help her run the farm.
Shay distrusts August and thinks she is after Elle’s money. Elle adores August and let’s her run the farm and remodel the old farmhouse. As the story progresses weird paranormal things begin to happen and the book turns into a fantasy story. We get a surprise visit from Luna from the Guardians story.
I found this book immensely entertaining and hard to put down. The first portion of the book is your normal romance with two very well written main characters. Both are charming and fun to be around even though each of them is suffering from a difficult past. There is plenty of back and forth with good witty banter. Eventually they learn to trust each other and give in to their feelings. My only regret is that it ended suddenly and I wanted more.
This book was a joy to read and I look forward to more fantasy from Jen Lawrence’s talented imagination.
Arc received from Bella Books through Net Galley for a voluntary and honest review.
Read
September 11, 2022I read "Guardians", which is set in the same universe as this book and absolutely loved it. I’m more on the fence on this one. It starts like a conventional contemporary romance and all of the sudden, it changes into a full-fledged fantasy book. I knew this from the start, but even with that knowledge, the sudden change gave me whiplash. Once the fantasy story is presented, the pace picks up in a way that "Guardians" didn’t do, which I’m sure fans of the genre will appreciate. However, it feels that it finishes in a rush and some parts of the plot aren’t completely solved.
Take this review with a pinch of salt as I’m not the target audience for this book. I’m sure that fans of the genre will appreciate it more than I did.
Take this review with a pinch of salt as I’m not the target audience for this book. I’m sure that fans of the genre will appreciate it more than I did.
October 25, 2022
What an intriguing book!
It took me a little while to get into the story. When it starts, we meet Shayla who is visiting her grand-mere Ellie. Shayla irked me initially, particularly the way she inserts her viewpoints into Ellie's life after years of absence. August seemed nice, but the story felt pretty simplistic for the first good part of the novel.
Once the story shifts and the paranormal fantasy aspect is introduced, the story definitely peaked my interest. I think it was an error on my part to read this second book in a series without reading the first. It felt like I was missing a chunk of the fantasy storyline unfortunately.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Bella Books for a copy of this novel. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
It took me a little while to get into the story. When it starts, we meet Shayla who is visiting her grand-mere Ellie. Shayla irked me initially, particularly the way she inserts her viewpoints into Ellie's life after years of absence. August seemed nice, but the story felt pretty simplistic for the first good part of the novel.
Once the story shifts and the paranormal fantasy aspect is introduced, the story definitely peaked my interest. I think it was an error on my part to read this second book in a series without reading the first. It felt like I was missing a chunk of the fantasy storyline unfortunately.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Bella Books for a copy of this novel. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
July 31, 2022
Shay returns to small town of Nyx where she goes to see her grandmother Ellie who is a hoot and finds a lot had changed. While there meets August who she believes is taking advantage of grandmother and learns that’s not the case even though she still skeptical of her because she thinks August is too good to be true. As they both grow closer they learn more about each other they both realize they may have been brought together. I enjoy this read their are magical elements although I felt the story wasn’t finished well the main story was but I felt towards the end some parts felt unfinished but l do hope we get more Shay and August along with Gia and Luna maybe next book be about them. PS. Love Grandma Ellie
I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.
I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.
August 8, 2022
Halfway through reading this, I stopped and read the blurb because I had no idea where the story was going. There is immediate chemistry, which is done well and funny. The story started off slow but, once the fantasy aspect of the story began it moved quickly. I wonder if there will be any future books in this setting. Overall a fun, fantasy romance. I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
January 27, 2025
This was such an improvement from Guardian. I was reluctant due to the tropes and having a hard time connecting, but I can see improvement in the writing with this book.
The magical reveal was a little on the slow side. Also, the end came a bit fast, I really wanted more of the magic couple doing things and taking names.... however, I can appreciate a good cozy read. I am desperately hoping we get other books in this world because I actually do want to know more and am starting to get invested.
The main character and the love interest had great chemistry and legitimate reasons for the slow burn. There was lots of humor and sweet moments in between characters that made this a quicker read than I was expecting.
If you like fantasy based in our world, you might enjoy this. The fantasy element is more complex. However, this book simplifies the magic and the history of the world to make it easier to read. It could be a good bridge for anyone wanting to try something different from contemporary lesfic. Just be warned that the world building becomes very high fantasy quite quickly. You might also enjoy this if you like very playful banter/flirting between your leads.
The magical reveal was a little on the slow side. Also, the end came a bit fast, I really wanted more of the magic couple doing things and taking names.... however, I can appreciate a good cozy read. I am desperately hoping we get other books in this world because I actually do want to know more and am starting to get invested.
The main character and the love interest had great chemistry and legitimate reasons for the slow burn. There was lots of humor and sweet moments in between characters that made this a quicker read than I was expecting.
If you like fantasy based in our world, you might enjoy this. The fantasy element is more complex. However, this book simplifies the magic and the history of the world to make it easier to read. It could be a good bridge for anyone wanting to try something different from contemporary lesfic. Just be warned that the world building becomes very high fantasy quite quickly. You might also enjoy this if you like very playful banter/flirting between your leads.
September 27, 2022
4 stars. I was very much in the minority when it came to Lawrence’s 2021 debut Guardian. I didn’t like the romance at all but thought the world and writing were really good. I’m glad that I picked this up because it was so much better. I adored all of the characters and the romance was so good.
I am smitten with August. She’s such a babe. She’s self assured and a huge flirt and I loved her. Shay was just as awesome. She’s a bit of a fire cracker but is super sweet and caring and I loved the banter between her and August. Their chemistry was so good. They were perfect for each other.
The fantasy aspect comes in about 40% or so and it was just as good as it was in book one. I really love this world that Lawrence has built and find it all to be so fascinating. We also get to see Luna from book one and that was a really awesome cameo.
I loved this. It was everything I wanted book one to be and then some. I’m so excited for the next book.
I am smitten with August. She’s such a babe. She’s self assured and a huge flirt and I loved her. Shay was just as awesome. She’s a bit of a fire cracker but is super sweet and caring and I loved the banter between her and August. Their chemistry was so good. They were perfect for each other.
The fantasy aspect comes in about 40% or so and it was just as good as it was in book one. I really love this world that Lawrence has built and find it all to be so fascinating. We also get to see Luna from book one and that was a really awesome cameo.
I loved this. It was everything I wanted book one to be and then some. I’m so excited for the next book.
December 19, 2022
This story begins as a traditional romance in which a woman, Shay, arrives at her grandmother Ellie's house to find that an apparent employee, August, has taken over Ellie's beekeeping business. But this has nothing to do with the further development of the story. Because Shay's initial strange behavior is incomprehensible until we find out the event that she has had to go through. And August is also not the employee who is taking advantage of an old woman to seize her belongings. Even Grandma Ellie hides a few secrets.
I don't want to discover the secrets of any of them, it's worth finding out what these women are going to go through, turning an apparent romance into a fantastic and somewhat surprising adventure story.
I think it will have continuity, because the ending is quite open. This introduction, if it is what it has been, has left some unknowns that I personally would like to decipher in the future.
Publisher Bella Books was kind enough to provide me with an advanced reading copy via Netgalley for my honest review
I don't want to discover the secrets of any of them, it's worth finding out what these women are going to go through, turning an apparent romance into a fantastic and somewhat surprising adventure story.
I think it will have continuity, because the ending is quite open. This introduction, if it is what it has been, has left some unknowns that I personally would like to decipher in the future.
Publisher Bella Books was kind enough to provide me with an advanced reading copy via Netgalley for my honest review
August 19, 2022
This review is based on an ARC provided by Netgalley
Fury is a very surprising book to read and a hard book to review. At first glance it's a pretty good lesbian romance. Shay, our main protagonist visits the town of Nyx where her grandmother Ellie lives, where she encounters August, the extremely attractive beekeeper and assistant her grandmother has employed to help run the honey business. Their relationship starts off rocky, but the mutual wariness is garnished with lots of flirting and ill-disguised attraction. Inevitably they start to get closer.
But, this is only half of the book, both in terms of theme and content. Fury is also a fantasy book. This magical element is introduced early, but in a relatively low-key way. The magic in question is puzzling and mysterious, but it felt like it sort of fit within the broader arc of the story being told. Until, about halfway in. That's when the fantastic element makes itself felt and the general plot and pacing of the book comes closer to resembling an urban fantasy novel.
So, given this structure, how does the book read? The romance parts of Fury are beautiful. The flirting, the character chemistry, questions of past trauma and tragedy, hopes of healing all of it is written well and presented well. There was a discussion about keeping old loved ones in your heart while also making room for new ones that really chimed with me. In my opinion the book has all the elements as well as the writing execution to be a top class romance novel.
As for the fantasy part, there's a lot there. A lot of worldbuilding and lore are presented and they are not just there for stage dressing, they also serve as important plot points. A large part of the fantasy elements are directly connected to the romantic relationship and its evolution as well. However, perhaps due to how abruptly it is presented, the fantasy part feels rushed and out of place. From a glance at Goodreads, I am assuming that this book is thematically connected (for the fantasy part) to the author's earlier release - Guardian, so reading that first might have helped, though there was no clear indication that this book was part of a series. Once the fantasy element finds its feet, its well paced, with a pretty taut and action packed conclusion.
So, my take on this book is that the romance part is very well written, and the fantasy part, if it had been given more room to breathe and space to more organically work itself into the story would have been really good as well. Otherwise, the transition is abrupt and a bit disorienting.
I would still recommend this book as I feel the author has a lot to offer. I am rating this 7/10, rounding up to 4 stars out of 5 for Goodreads.
Fury is a very surprising book to read and a hard book to review. At first glance it's a pretty good lesbian romance. Shay, our main protagonist visits the town of Nyx where her grandmother Ellie lives, where she encounters August, the extremely attractive beekeeper and assistant her grandmother has employed to help run the honey business. Their relationship starts off rocky, but the mutual wariness is garnished with lots of flirting and ill-disguised attraction. Inevitably they start to get closer.
But, this is only half of the book, both in terms of theme and content. Fury is also a fantasy book. This magical element is introduced early, but in a relatively low-key way. The magic in question is puzzling and mysterious, but it felt like it sort of fit within the broader arc of the story being told. Until, about halfway in. That's when the fantastic element makes itself felt and the general plot and pacing of the book comes closer to resembling an urban fantasy novel.
So, given this structure, how does the book read? The romance parts of Fury are beautiful. The flirting, the character chemistry, questions of past trauma and tragedy, hopes of healing all of it is written well and presented well. There was a discussion about keeping old loved ones in your heart while also making room for new ones that really chimed with me. In my opinion the book has all the elements as well as the writing execution to be a top class romance novel.
As for the fantasy part, there's a lot there. A lot of worldbuilding and lore are presented and they are not just there for stage dressing, they also serve as important plot points. A large part of the fantasy elements are directly connected to the romantic relationship and its evolution as well. However, perhaps due to how abruptly it is presented, the fantasy part feels rushed and out of place. From a glance at Goodreads, I am assuming that this book is thematically connected (for the fantasy part) to the author's earlier release - Guardian, so reading that first might have helped, though there was no clear indication that this book was part of a series. Once the fantasy element finds its feet, its well paced, with a pretty taut and action packed conclusion.
So, my take on this book is that the romance part is very well written, and the fantasy part, if it had been given more room to breathe and space to more organically work itself into the story would have been really good as well. Otherwise, the transition is abrupt and a bit disorienting.
I would still recommend this book as I feel the author has a lot to offer. I am rating this 7/10, rounding up to 4 stars out of 5 for Goodreads.
July 31, 2022
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Let me preface this review by saying that no, you technically do not need to have read Jen Lawrence's debut novel "Guardian" in order to read this book... but it would be helpful.
Based on a previous NetGalley review, which kindly explained that "Guardian" is much more fantasy forward than this book, I went into this with tempered expectations and that definitely worked out in the book's favor. The world-building is sparse and hard to follow at times (hence my recommendation to read this as a sequel, not a companion), but if you're anticipating that, it still works as a kind of "chosen one" fantasy origin story. The setting and setup are entirely normal, focused mainly on the familial and romantic relationships of the characters. There's a LOT of focus on grief (TW: off-page death of family members) and the nonlinear nature of healing, with a particular emphasis on accepting new love—I was not expecting this kind of trauma to be such a big part of the book. I don't usually jive with this subject material, but it was handled skillfully and did, in my opinion add an interesting layer to the romance; be warned that, as a result, and despite all the flirting, the romance is a true slow burn.
What I didn't love was the pacing, particularly how it's "normal" for nearly 3/4 of the book and then BAM—suddenly the plot is straight-up fantasy. I found it unrealistic that Shay's powers took such a backseat for so long, and I did not appreciate Luna's info-dumping; it really didn't add to the gravity of the situation. I know she is the protagonist in "Guardian," so maybe if I had read it beforehand this information would've seemed more like a rehash instead of a poor attempt at establishing critical context to the sudden fantasy twist... Basically, I think some people will find issue with it like I did, but it's only a few pages, so it's not the end of the world.
Overall, I thought Fury was well-written and I was absolutely sold on the first half(ish). And yes, I probably will pick up "Guardian." I'm intrigued by the idea of the Darke world that Lawrence is creating, and maybe with the context provided in the first book, I will come to really enjoy this series. 4.25 out of 5 stars, ★★★★☆
Let me preface this review by saying that no, you technically do not need to have read Jen Lawrence's debut novel "Guardian" in order to read this book... but it would be helpful.
Based on a previous NetGalley review, which kindly explained that "Guardian" is much more fantasy forward than this book, I went into this with tempered expectations and that definitely worked out in the book's favor. The world-building is sparse and hard to follow at times (hence my recommendation to read this as a sequel, not a companion), but if you're anticipating that, it still works as a kind of "chosen one" fantasy origin story. The setting and setup are entirely normal, focused mainly on the familial and romantic relationships of the characters. There's a LOT of focus on grief (TW: off-page death of family members) and the nonlinear nature of healing, with a particular emphasis on accepting new love—I was not expecting this kind of trauma to be such a big part of the book. I don't usually jive with this subject material, but it was handled skillfully and did, in my opinion add an interesting layer to the romance; be warned that, as a result, and despite all the flirting, the romance is a true slow burn.
What I didn't love was the pacing, particularly how it's "normal" for nearly 3/4 of the book and then BAM—suddenly the plot is straight-up fantasy. I found it unrealistic that Shay's powers took such a backseat for so long, and I did not appreciate Luna's info-dumping; it really didn't add to the gravity of the situation. I know she is the protagonist in "Guardian," so maybe if I had read it beforehand this information would've seemed more like a rehash instead of a poor attempt at establishing critical context to the sudden fantasy twist... Basically, I think some people will find issue with it like I did, but it's only a few pages, so it's not the end of the world.
Overall, I thought Fury was well-written and I was absolutely sold on the first half(ish). And yes, I probably will pick up "Guardian." I'm intrigued by the idea of the Darke world that Lawrence is creating, and maybe with the context provided in the first book, I will come to really enjoy this series. 4.25 out of 5 stars, ★★★★☆
August 29, 2022
Fury is the second novel by Jen Lawrence, and the second story written in the ‘Darke Universe’. The first book, Guardian gives us the narrative of how the world came to be divided into two realms or mirror worlds and how darkness and evil magic entered the world. It also tells the tale of Gia and Luna, and shows us the world of the guardians. Fury tells the love story of Shayla Aja and August Alecto in the “mostly” human world. I loved the first book, and have been looking forward to this one. I’m happy to say I enjoyed this second novel as much as the first.
August and Shay really drew me into the story. They are so obviously destined to be together, that is if the darkness in the world doesn’t manage to separate them. The fantasy and magical elements are woven well into the overall plotline. The setting, a bee farm near the small town of Nyx, is well described and fits right into the narrative. This is a beautiful example of a truly great fantasy story set in a world that otherwise looks very normal to us humans.
Fury is a tale of romance, magic, mystery, danger, darkness, magical creatures, and maybe even a few vampires. What is even more wonderful, I believe this is not the end of the ‘Darke Universe’ novels. At least I hope it isn’t. I will be waiting with my fingers crossed for more books in this universe.
Technically, Fury could be read as a standalone, but I would encourage you to read both novels in order. They both have my highest recommendation.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bella Books for an honest review.
August and Shay really drew me into the story. They are so obviously destined to be together, that is if the darkness in the world doesn’t manage to separate them. The fantasy and magical elements are woven well into the overall plotline. The setting, a bee farm near the small town of Nyx, is well described and fits right into the narrative. This is a beautiful example of a truly great fantasy story set in a world that otherwise looks very normal to us humans.
Fury is a tale of romance, magic, mystery, danger, darkness, magical creatures, and maybe even a few vampires. What is even more wonderful, I believe this is not the end of the ‘Darke Universe’ novels. At least I hope it isn’t. I will be waiting with my fingers crossed for more books in this universe.
Technically, Fury could be read as a standalone, but I would encourage you to read both novels in order. They both have my highest recommendation.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bella Books for an honest review.
August 7, 2022
Alas, how did I find myself in the same situation again? I wanted more after Guardian and now after Fury, the thirst seems to go on. Readers need the next book; after all, there are still plenty of the Darke to defeat, more mystical characters to uncover, worlds to explore and definitely more romance to keep the fantasy going. First it was Luna and Gia, now Shayla and August.
In Fury, Shayla finally returns to her grandmother’s estate 3 years after a life changing event. In the visit, she finds herself not only having to contend with Grandma Ellie, there is also the well liked August, one who is obnoxious yet beautiful.
Jen Lawrence kept the fire slow and steady in the build up of the relationship but midway through the book turned it into an inferno that can only be contained by the pair complementing and working for each other. The transformations of Shayla and August is a treat for fantasy lovers. Who wouldn't want to see characters that they adore not only be able to wield extraordinary powers, fight with a vengeance and see villains struck with fear with an unknown opponent? I’m looking forward to the next instalment to see all the well loved characters and maybe new ones as well.
I just reviewed Fury by Jen Lawrence. Thank you NetGalley and Bella Books for the ARC.
In Fury, Shayla finally returns to her grandmother’s estate 3 years after a life changing event. In the visit, she finds herself not only having to contend with Grandma Ellie, there is also the well liked August, one who is obnoxious yet beautiful.
Jen Lawrence kept the fire slow and steady in the build up of the relationship but midway through the book turned it into an inferno that can only be contained by the pair complementing and working for each other. The transformations of Shayla and August is a treat for fantasy lovers. Who wouldn't want to see characters that they adore not only be able to wield extraordinary powers, fight with a vengeance and see villains struck with fear with an unknown opponent? I’m looking forward to the next instalment to see all the well loved characters and maybe new ones as well.
I just reviewed Fury by Jen Lawrence. Thank you NetGalley and Bella Books for the ARC.
August 17, 2022
Fury
by Jen Lawrence
I have to say the author’s first book was amazing and this book is no different.
Shayla goes home to see her grandmother after a few years away. She finds August there, and is taken aback . There is a nice steady pace to the book, you get to see the characters develop their relationship. The fantasy part makes the story feel unique. August wanted protect Shayla, no matter what.
There are definitely elements to the story, I do not want to give away this is a wonderful story. I definitely think everyone should have the opportunity to read it. And really draw their own conclusions. I did enjoy the book, it is a wonderful story. The author does a wonderful job and character development and the fantasy is like the cherry on top.
I would like to thank Bella Books and NetGalley for the arc! 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
September 2, 2022
When I first started reading this book, I thought ‘what a great read’. Then after reading chapter 8 I realized this book was going somewhere I didn’t want to go.
Both main characters are very likable, the supporting cast is somewhat likable but as I reflect back I start to see where something strange is happening. I figured I could tolerate a little fantasy but it turns out I was wrong.
So my advice is this, if you like strange plot twists you will probably enjoy this book. Please check out other reviewers for their input.
ARC via NetGalley/ Bella books
Both main characters are very likable, the supporting cast is somewhat likable but as I reflect back I start to see where something strange is happening. I figured I could tolerate a little fantasy but it turns out I was wrong.
So my advice is this, if you like strange plot twists you will probably enjoy this book. Please check out other reviewers for their input.
ARC via NetGalley/ Bella books
November 23, 2022
This was an interesting read. I don't usually read fantasy books but this had my attention from the start. I loved the romance part of the book which was mostly situated in the first half of the book. I loved granny Ellie as a side character. She was a hoot and a half.
The second part of the book covers the fantasy part and although it was good paced and had some hooks, I was more drawn to the beginning of the book.
Overall a nice read for people who love a little fantasy with their romance.
I received an ARC via Netgalley in return of an honest review.
The second part of the book covers the fantasy part and although it was good paced and had some hooks, I was more drawn to the beginning of the book.
Overall a nice read for people who love a little fantasy with their romance.
I received an ARC via Netgalley in return of an honest review.
July 14, 2024
This book is so bad, it feels like a cheap version of a True Blood episode.
2/3 of the book is a plain story about a small-town woman coming back home to her grand-mother Honey farm. She quickly starts flirting with August, the farm employee, tall and strong, mysterious, blablabla.. kind of girl.
Then out of nowhere BAM: magic. Silver fairy, dark giant bat, fire witch and vampires. So cringy.
How can this book be rated +4 stars is a mystery to me
2/3 of the book is a plain story about a small-town woman coming back home to her grand-mother Honey farm. She quickly starts flirting with August, the farm employee, tall and strong, mysterious, blablabla.. kind of girl.
Then out of nowhere BAM: magic. Silver fairy, dark giant bat, fire witch and vampires. So cringy.
How can this book be rated +4 stars is a mystery to me
August 24, 2022
This was a fantasy fiction. The story started out slow but as it progressed it got quite interesting. I thought the main characters had amazing chemistry. I especially loved the flirty, witty banter between Shayla and August. The secondary characters we also good. Well done, I recommend.
Thank you, Bella Books, and NetGalley for this ARC.
Thank you, Bella Books, and NetGalley for this ARC.
August 2, 2022
This book was okay but I didn't love it as much as I wanted to. I felt like it dragged on a bit much. The book wasn't long and it still felt like I was reading for ages. Like I said the story was fine and I liked the characters it was just to slow.
August 15, 2022
it was cute but just felt too much? like there were two separate stories here
would like to read the sequel when it comes out
would like to read the sequel when it comes out
October 5, 2022
A fantasy sapphic novel? My favorite genre! But I was not expecting this. Ended up reading it one sitting. I want to read more of their story.
January 4, 2024
Shayla is a doctor, having a crisis, so she goes back to visit her grandmother Ellie
August is managing the honey farm started by Ellie and her late husband.
This is a story of Shayla and August meeting, and finding their connection. It’s a story of magic and witchcraft, of love and loyalty. And sometimes of death and destruction.
At times it is written in an abstract way, where the main characters thoughts are their own, and we are voyeuristically watching them, but not quite understanding the whole picture.
It’s quite a long story, quite deep, but without love being discussed, but it’s obvious it is there.
August is managing the honey farm started by Ellie and her late husband.
This is a story of Shayla and August meeting, and finding their connection. It’s a story of magic and witchcraft, of love and loyalty. And sometimes of death and destruction.
At times it is written in an abstract way, where the main characters thoughts are their own, and we are voyeuristically watching them, but not quite understanding the whole picture.
It’s quite a long story, quite deep, but without love being discussed, but it’s obvious it is there.
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