ARC Review: Rage (Kindred: The Fated #1)

Rage (Kindred: The Fated #1)

Donna Grant

Blurb:

Elin feels as if she’s been in the fight of her life forever. She lost her mother to prejudice and misunderstanding and her sister to the Coven, not to mention her home and the freedom to use her magic without consequence. But she finally feels as if she has found a place to at least rest—that is if she can remain hidden.

When a mysterious illness befalls his clan, taking many lives, Rob Mackenzie finally goes to check on the person squatting in the cottage on his family’s land. He hopes to find help. He doesn’t expect the most enchanting and enigmatic woman he’s ever seen or the way she makes him feel—the passions she rouses. But it’s clear she has secrets, and earning her trust may be the toughest battle of his life.

When the truth comes to light that a witch has been targeting the Mackenzie clan, Elin can’t remain sequestered. She knows she can help, and some things are more important—especially when they include saving the man she has quickly come to love. But it means revealing her secret to him and those who have hunted her kind for eons. Those who see anything they don’t understand as evil. Still, Elin hasn’t been able to safeguard those she’s loved in the past. She has to at least try to save Rob and his family.

Even if it means her end.

Themes:  Paranormal, Historical

Rating:  4 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

To be perfectly honest I went into this story knowing I would enjoy but not really recalling the characters or their connection to the original Kindred storyline because the previous series ended so long ago (in reading years). I knew I would love it simply because I rarely don’t enjoy one of Donna’s stories and I especially enjoyed the Kindred series, but it wasn’t until the second of third chapter that I really started to recall who Elin was and her connection to the previous series finale. That said I loved how Donna wove this new spinoff from the original series and I am really looking forward to finally getting some closure on a few of the characters I was sad never got their HEA. Elin has not had an easy life, always being hunted and feeling separate from those around her, but she has never given up on the hope of finding a home for herself and the acceptance she craves. She has made a solitary home for herself in a beautiful glen, far away from others, but when her solitude is broken by the brother of the local laird, she knows she won’t be able to stick around much longer. Rob Mackenzie stumbles across the enchanting young woman living alone in the glen and knows she is a flight risk, but he is determined to find someone that can help with the terrible sickness that has covered his kin and clan.  As Rob and Elin begin to spend more and more time together their feelings blossom from friendship into something much deeper, but there are dark forces building against them.  Can Rob offer his faith and trust in Elin and find a way to protect her while she confronts the darkness haunting his Clan  or will Rob forsake her like so many in her past have and leave her in the cold alone again? 

Honestly I loved the story from beginning to end.  The characters were each so unique with their layers of vulnerabilities and fears to their strengths and assets, balancing one another perfectly.  It is obvious that only by working together and fully trusting will they get through the coming battle with the evil and finding a way to move forward in their future.  Elin has a lot to atone for in her mind, but at the same time she knows she can’t offer her trust to others without risking her life.  There have been too many times in her past when she was burned and there is no way she could ever risk it again without fully trusting the one she is with.  I loved seeing her find faith and trust in Rob and offering her heart to him. Rob is obviously beyond his experience and understanding when he first meets Elin, thinking her only a helpless young woman, but he quickly begins to see how powerful and strong she is and begins to trust in her abilities and her willingness to do whatever it takes to keep herself and those she loves safe.  I enjoyed watching him standup for her and show his love against all those that tried to tear her down, even herself. The passion between Rob and Elin was subtle in the beginning but one friendship blossomed into trust the passion had an outlet and there was no denying the heat.  I am dying for the next book in this series as I suspect I know who the couple with be and if so I can only hold back my inner squealing fan-girl so long while I wait.  Once again Donna Grant gives us a spin-off series that is looking at being even better than the original and I cannot wait for it to develop.

*eARC provided by author for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review.  No compensation was provided.