Amber Smoke by Kristin Cast Pages: 275
Published by Diversion Books on June 9, 2015
Genres: Fantasy, Love & Romance, mythology, Paranormal, Romance, Young Adult
Source: eARC from Publisher
There is a world that runs parallel to our own, a world in which the souls of the damned are caged, where they are looked over by the Furies, and where they spend eternity in torment, mirroring the devastation and mayhem they created when alive.
Someone has opened the cage.
The worst of terrors has crossed the barrier that separates our world from theirs, and the Furies send a great, albeit untested warrior—their only son, Alek—to try to bring those souls back. He is young and handsome, headstrong and impulsive, and he won’t be able to do it alone.
Eva has grown up, beautiful and beloved, but surrounded by secrets. First, she will be hunted in an ancient feud that will threaten her life. Then, she will become the hunter.
With the police closing in and two worlds on the verge of crumbling around them, Alek and Eva must find each other, discover the limits of their powers, and work together to save everything they hold dear, including one another. Blending elements of mythology with the dazzling storytelling that her fans have devoured through the House of Night series, Kristin Cast weaves a spellbinding and passionate tale that starts a thrilling new series with an explosive charge.
Amber Smoke is the first solo book by House of Night author, Kristin Cast. It is the start of a new young adult fantasy/mythology series, called the Escaped. I didn’t initially realize that this had to do with mythology when I read the description. It talked about souls escaping from their cages, but those cages are their prison in Tartarus. Once I started reading and realized this, I was super excited. Amber Smoke is a very fast paced and quick read. It set up the series pretty well, but not a whole ton actually happened in this book. And more questions were posed than answered. Still, I am more than intrigued enough to want to know what is going to happen next.
Amber Smoke is told for multiple perspectives because the two main characters start out in different realms and don’t know each other. The furies had a son, Alek, that was to be the warrior of the underworld. To break a curse, he has to go above ground and round up the escaped and bring them back to face their fate. But to do this he needs the help of Eva. I’m not going to tell you why, because I thought that was a cool twist on the story, but I will say that you find out the basic nuts and bolts of why pretty early on. The rest of Amber Smoke is a big chase basically to find Eva and deal with the fall out of an on going crime spree investigation. There was a lot going on in Amber Smoke, and we were dropped into a world on the edge of turmoil. As a result, some parts of the story were mysterious and kind of confusing. More questions were created than were answered, but I feel confident that the next book will answer a lot of those questions and I think the series is just going to continue to get better.
Amber Smoke felt darker than the House of Night series. It was interesting to see this darker spin on mythology. I loved how Kristin Cast took some mythology elements and then twisted them, and turned them and made them completely her own. This is unlike any mythology book that I have read so far in the Young Adult genre. There is very light romance, mostly in the second half of the book, with the strong hint of much more to come. I think that is another reason why the second book and I are going to be best buds. I just know that Alek and Eva are on the edge of some strong feelings, and I can’t wait!
Amber Smoke does a good job setting up what looks to be an action packed and interesting new series. I am very intrigued to see what Kristin Cast has in store for us next, and I am more than a little wary to meet some of the other escaped. These “guys” are creepy, deranged and plain icky. Amber Smoke felt like a paranormal crime noir show, with mythology mixtd in for good measure. It’s a really cool concept. Fans of mythology and darker fantasies and paranormals should check out the first book in the Escaped Series.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
tonyalee
I saw this one the other day on my feed and was curious about it. It sounds wild, and something I might enjoy! Great review 🙂
Michelle @ Book Briefs
It was a pretty wild ride, not exactly what I was expecting but I liked it. It was pretty cute Eva. I hope you get the chance to read it. Thanks for stopping by Tonya 🙂
Jenny @ Supernatural Snark
Oooo mythology you say?! I’m a sucker for all types of mythology, but Greek has always been my favorite so I’m going to have to check this one out for sure Michelle!
Michelle @ Book Briefs
Mythology is probably my very favorite sub genre to read. This wasn’t as heavy on the myth as I was expecting and more focused on the killer and the investigation, but I think there will be more mythology in the next book, and I will like that one even more.
Thanks for stopping by Jenny 🙂
kimbacaffeinate
It sounds like an interesting beginning and I know how much you love mythology. It will be interesting to see how the series develops.
Michelle @ Book Briefs
This wasn’t as heavy on the myth as I was expecting and more focused on the killer and the investigation, but I think there will be more mythology in the next book, and I will like that one even more.
Thanks for stopping by Kimba 🙂
Sarah @ One Curvy Blogger
I love that you described this book as a darker spin on mythology. I love when mythology is mixed into fiction, but this sounds like unique to mythological fiction. Great review!
Michelle @ Book Briefs
Darker spin for sure. Even more so than I was expecting. It was a unique take on mythology, and if that is something you enjoy- I think this might be a good fit for you!
Thanks for stopping by Sarah. I hope you enjoy it 🙂
kindlemom1
I tried her House of Night series and hated it. I wonder if I would like this one, I do love mythology! Great review, I might have to give this a go.
Michelle @ Book Briefs
I read the first 4 books or so of the house of night series probably 6 years ago and I liked it well enough, but I never continued on. This one was good, but not my favorite mythology book by a long shot.
Jeann @ Happy Indulgence
Sounds like a dark, creepy paranormal read! I had no idea that the House of Night series had separate authors. Lovely review!
Michelle @ Book Briefs
This was darker than I expected, which was really interesting.
Thanks for stopping by Jeann 🙂
Victoria
Congratulations on your fist novel Kristin! So exciting 🙂
Michelle @ Book Briefs
This is her first solo novel. She also wrote the House of Night Series with a co-author (I think her sister)
Victoria
duh me… I left out the solo part 😀
Lekeisha
I liked the House of Night series, but decided to stop at book 4. I’ll definitely be checking out this new one.
Michelle @ Book Briefs
I did the same thing. I got to book 4 or 5 and I liked the series, but I haven’t continued on. Maybe I should revisit the books. I think have the first 8 in the series.
Dee @ Dee's Reads
omg, I didn’t know she was releasing this book on her own. How exciting!! I definitely will add it to my TBR..just because I am curious and it sounds good. Sounds like you didn’t love love love it, but I am oh so curious to read Kristin Cast without her mother— curious how / what her style is. Plus that cover is gorgeousness 🙂
Michelle @ Book Briefs
I didn’t love, love it. But I did like it well enough. I hope you get a chance to check it out.
bn100
this sounds interesting
Judy Schechter
Hi Kristin, congratulations on your first solo book release! I think the cover is beautiful and the book sounds great, thank you!
mary loki
Congrats! 😀
Josy Herrera
Congratulations! I hope i can read your book soon:)