Tayte, M. (2015). Forget Me Not (The Ceruleans Book II). Heaven Afire Publishing.YA / Supernatural / Romance
I gave this book 5 out of 5 Stars
Author's Blurb:
IN THE FACE OF DEATH, SHE MUST PROTECT THOSE SHE LOVES.
The Ceruleans: mere mortals infused with power over life and death. Five books; one question: If the might of the heavens were in your hands, would you be sinner or saint?
Death is stalking Scarlett Blake. As if the encroaching darkness in her head wasn’t enough, she’s become disturbingly accident prone. Falling off a cliff isn’t ideal when all you want is as much time as possible to live, to love.
Her fate is horrifying. Unbearable. And inescapable. No one can save Scarlett from The End that’s looming. Not Jude, the Cerulean who is intent on Claiming her. Not Luke, the boy who is intent on loving her.
The clock is ticking, louder with every heartbeat. Now Scarlett must decide how best to protect the people she loves. Will she trust in Jude and the life-after-death he promises? Will she stand against the Fallen, who have her sister captive? Will she carry the burden of her death alone – every headache, every hallucination, every wrenching, aching emotion?
And when the clock falls silent, when the darkness eclipses the light, will Scarlett fight for life? Or will she have no choice but to surrender?
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In Death Wish, author Megan Tayte kept readers flipping pages with an intriguing storyline and wonderfully clear and beautiful writing. And guess what? In Forget Me Not, Ceruleans II, she's nailed it again! The story picks up exactly where book one left off, with main character Scarlett Blake shouldering the weight of the world as she tries to protect her boyfriend, Luke, and her best friend, Luke's sister Cara, from being hurt. As the clock on Scarlett's human life ticks away precious time, Scarlett's Cerulean life comes closer and closer to "Becoming," and Scarlett has no choice but to trust Cerulean Jude that a future with him is the only way to save her sister, Sienna.
Where Death Wish didn't have one central element, Forget Me Not is heavily weighted on the romance side and as expected, Scarlett and Luke take their relationship to the next level. Readers can't help but adore this couple and will feel their bliss and pain in equal proportions. There are still plenty of doses of surfing and the supernatural to round out the story, and the looming question of when, where, and how (if?) Scarlett will "Become" is always there, keeping readers engaged. Careful readers will also pick up on some subtle hints that there are some dark forces affecting Scarlett's life - ones of which she is not fully aware. This story is dark, sad, and frustrating as Scarlett struggles to figure out how much of her secret (if any) to share with the people she loves, and who love her. When she ultimately decides that "Even a painful decision sits more peacefully than no decision at all," it may be too late in the game. But even though readers will fully recognize where the story is leading them -- and will likely shed a few tears on the way -- there are moments of beauty and hope and happiness and emotional healing that perfectly balance the story. Yes, there are questions unanswered (some still from book one), but I am confident that author Megan Tayte will fill the blanks in the next three books.
I recommend this book for older young adults. The main character is eighteen and living as an adult on her own. There is consensual sex happening (not descriptive), regular overindulgence in alcohol, and some references to drug use. American readers should note that they will likely encounter unfamiliar vocabulary and word spellings since the author is British. (I read this as an eBook and had fun clicking words and looking-up their meanings.)
After reading the first book, I was super excited to see a giveaway of books 1-3 on Sharing Inspired Kreations and was ecstatic that I won. So this read was pure pleasure and my honest review given with no strings attached.
Where Death Wish didn't have one central element, Forget Me Not is heavily weighted on the romance side and as expected, Scarlett and Luke take their relationship to the next level. Readers can't help but adore this couple and will feel their bliss and pain in equal proportions. There are still plenty of doses of surfing and the supernatural to round out the story, and the looming question of when, where, and how (if?) Scarlett will "Become" is always there, keeping readers engaged. Careful readers will also pick up on some subtle hints that there are some dark forces affecting Scarlett's life - ones of which she is not fully aware. This story is dark, sad, and frustrating as Scarlett struggles to figure out how much of her secret (if any) to share with the people she loves, and who love her. When she ultimately decides that "Even a painful decision sits more peacefully than no decision at all," it may be too late in the game. But even though readers will fully recognize where the story is leading them -- and will likely shed a few tears on the way -- there are moments of beauty and hope and happiness and emotional healing that perfectly balance the story. Yes, there are questions unanswered (some still from book one), but I am confident that author Megan Tayte will fill the blanks in the next three books.
I recommend this book for older young adults. The main character is eighteen and living as an adult on her own. There is consensual sex happening (not descriptive), regular overindulgence in alcohol, and some references to drug use. American readers should note that they will likely encounter unfamiliar vocabulary and word spellings since the author is British. (I read this as an eBook and had fun clicking words and looking-up their meanings.)
After reading the first book, I was super excited to see a giveaway of books 1-3 on Sharing Inspired Kreations and was ecstatic that I won. So this read was pure pleasure and my honest review given with no strings attached.
Thirty-odd years later, Megan is a professional writer and published author by day, and an indie novelist by night. Her fiction – young adult romance with soul ¬– recently earned her the SPR’s Independent Woman Author of the Year award.
Megan grew up in the Royal County, a hop, skip and a (very long) jump from Windsor Castle, but these days she makes her home in Robin Hood’s county, Nottingham. She lives with her husband, a proud Scot who occasionally kicks back in a kilt; her son, a budding artist with the soul of a palaeontologist; and her baby daughter, a pan-and-spoon drummer who sings in her sleep. When she’s not writing, you’ll find Megan walking someplace green, reading by the fire, or creating carnage in the kitchen as she pursues her impossible dream: of baking something edible.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE AUTHOR AND HER BOOKS
on her WEBSITE, on her BLOG, on INSTAGRAM
on FACEBOOK, on PINTEREST.
on her WEBSITE, on her BLOG, on INSTAGRAM
on FACEBOOK, on PINTEREST.
RELATED: (are these not the most GORGEOUS covers??)
Thank you for taking the time to read and review, Kristine.
ReplyDeleteI was interested to read about the Britishisms. I faced a choice when publishing whether to Americanise or not, and eventually I decided to 'be British' since that's authentically who I am and how I write, and as the characters are British, I wanted them to speak naturally.
I too quite enjoyed learning Americanisms when the tables were turned and I lived and studied in the States. In my first night at the dorm I caused mass hilarity by asking where the lifts were, and in a supermarket early on I bemused staff by requesting squash (not a vegetable in the UK, but concentrated cordial to mix with water). And don't even get me started on customs: I caused quite a stir WALKING to Wallmart; six separate drivers pulled over and tried to give me a lift. Happy days! :)
You definitely made the right choice to keep it in your native tongue! It's delightful to read and I "hear" the accents in the speech of the characters. Just one more way to escape into the book.
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