Review: Arcadia Burns

Title: Arcadia Burns

Series: Arkadien # 2
Genre: Young Adult-Urban Fantasy/Paranormal
Author: Kai Meyer
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Release Date: February 12, 2013
Book: ARC sent by publisher
Video Review: HERE

"Following the brutal deaths of her sister and aunt, Rosa Alcantara has become what she never thought possible: the very rich and very powerful head of the Alcantara clan. Saddled with this immense responsibility, Rosa must now conduct all business matters--legitimate and not--while negotiating among the greedy, bloodthirsty members of her own family. Not to mention convincing everyone that her blossoming relationship with enemy Alessandro Carnevare won't put the family business in danger.
But loving Alessandro comes at a price. As Rosa continues to fall for him, she discovers the dark secrets of his family's dealings and how they intersect with her own painful past. She wants to believe she can trust Alessandro, but they're so different: Alcantara and Carnevare, snake and panther. How can she love someone whose family wants her dead?
When Rosa and Alessandro uncover an ancient conspiracy intent on destroying both clans, they will do anything to stop it. Racing to put the pieces together, evading their relatives' murderous feud, and learning what it means to control the most influential families in all of Sicily--the two teens must risk everything to love each other and survive."

Review: Arcadia Awakens

Title: Arcadia Awakens
Series: Arkadien # 1
Genre: Young Adult- Fantasy
Author: Kai Meyer
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Release Date: February 14, 2012
Book: ARC sent by publisher

"To Rosa Alcantara, the exotic world of Sicily, with its network of Mafia families and its reputation for murder and intrigue, is just that—exotic and wholly unknown. But when her life in Brooklyn begins to fall apart, she must travel there, to her family’s ancestral home, where centuries of family secrets await her.

Once there, Rosa falls head over heels for Alessandro Carnevare, the son of a Sicilian Mafia family, whose handsome looks and savage grace both fascinate and unsettle her. But their families are sworn enemies, and her aunt and sister believe Alessandro is only using Rosa to infiltrate the Alcantara clan. And when Rosa encounters a tiger one night—a tiger with very familiar eyes—she can no longer deny that neither the Carnevares nor the Alcantaras are what they seem.

Hidden caves, dangerous beasts roaming the hills, and a history of familial bloodlust mean that Rosa can’t trust anyone. Torn between loyalty to her family and love for their mortal enemy, Rosa must make the hardest decision of her life: stay in Sicily with her new love…or run as far and as fast as she can."

I really like it when authors write out of the box. The idea behind this book and watching it unfold really capture me. I liked that is wasn't something typically but really unique. A cross between Atlantians  and ancient blood lines sparking powerful mafia families is quick to capture the reader and hold them.

Say what! Atlantis. Mafia. Blood lines. All of this in one book sparking my curiosity till the end. Once a few chapters in the mafia really got me. I enjoyed reading about the powerful families and the front they were using. Now, when the author added Atlantis to the mix, I got as bit confused. It did take me a few more chapters and some back tracking to fully understand what the author is picturing. Though once I understood the concept, it because easier for me to read and love the book. 

What I enjoyed most about this book is the great outside thinking of it. I really adored the idea of the mafia crossing the lines of an ancient powerful past. It gave the story a much more fuller aspect to it. I was able to read and understand these characters better.

With that being said I am very interested in seeing the way this series progresses. The ending definitely left me hanging for more. The plot, the characters and the amazing adventure of power enthralls the reader till the very end!


I give it 4 BITES!

Happy Reading!