The Last Beginning by Rachel Firasek

Title: The Last Beginning (Curse of the Phoenix, #3)
Author: Rachel Firasek
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Length: Novella
Launch Date: February 2012
ISBN: 978-1-937044-56-5

Source: NetGalley

Synopsis:

Though she’s always hated being a phoenix, Sadie has to admit immortality has its advantages. She’s seen and done more in the last 150 years than she’d ever dreamed of, but she can’t get past the fact that Osiris has done nothing but manipulate her and her fellow phoenixes.

Or that, when her last incarnation as a phoenix comes to a fiery end, the fire slowly begins to consume her body.

Sun god Osiris is ashamed of his role as ruler of the Underworld, but he unless he can figure out how to save Sadie, that’s exactly where she’s going to end up. Permanently. Terrified he’s going to lose her, he takes her on a hunt for The Book of the Dead, which is the only way he knows he can save her—even if it means she’ll hate him forever.

My Thoughts:

As you will remember from my reviews of The Last Awakening and The Last Rising, I absolutely love this series of novellas.  The Last Beginning was no exception – especially when it comes to Osiris, the God who had locked all of these ladies into being phoenixes.  I knew that I did not complete understand Osiris but didn’t realize how much I didn’t understand.  While this is Sadie’s story, the last remaining phoenix since Osiris has allow the other two women out, the story is just as much about Osiris.  As always, Rachel’s writing style grabbed my attention right away and never let it go.  I read this story in one sitting.  I just could not get enough.  It is the absolute passion that Rachel Firasek uses to create the mesmerizing and captivating interactions between Sadie and Osiris, that draws a read in and results in powerful emotional responses from the reader, both positive and negative.

The fact that there is background provided as to how Sadie became a phoenix and why Osiris has always seemed to have a special affection for her was an excellent way to start not only the story but my deeper understanding of Osiris and his obsession and love for Sadie.  And in return Sadie total dislike and frustration with Osiris.  However, this beginning to change rapidly as Sadie has some very painful transitions and beings to flame as she transitions or gets upset.  Osiris knows that he can’t lose Sadie and will do anything to save her.  Even if it is breaking all the rules.  The pain and heartbreak of this story was well done.  It is amazing to me that what most authors do in a full length novel, Rachel Firasek is able to do in a novella length book without leaving the reader completely frustrated with a lack of true ending which is the trouble I typically have with novellas.

This novella provides an emotional roller coaster of events most of which I never saw coming.  It was the perfect ending to an outstanding series of novellas.  I am sad to see the end come.  I would love to see a fourth story that would give a peak into each former phoenix’s life now and just where they are.  These ladies have found fresh starts and it would be awesome to see them down the line living those lives.

All in all, I was extremely pleased with the outcome of this book and the wrap up of the series.  I cannot wait to see what adventure Rachel Firasek will provide us with next.  Be sure to stop by and check out her website, as well, there is always something fun going on.

My Rating:

5 Penguins!

An outstanding wrap up and more.

Heart Breaking yet freeing

Title: The Last Awakening (Curse of the Phoenix, #2)
Author: Rachel Firasek
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Length: Novella
Launch Date: December 2011
ISBN: 978-1-937044-40-4

Source: From the Author for Review

Synopsis:

For three hundred years, Arabella’s life has been one meaningless death after another. In a cruel twist of fate, Osiris–god of the Underworld–gifts the phoenix her mortality and returns her voodoo magic. If she fails to harness her wayward magic and save a man worthy of a second chance, she’ll forfeit her power and her soul–forever.

Ex-soldier Greyson Meadows desperately wants to be freed from the nightmares and guilt that haunt him after the tragedy that brought him and Ari together. Confronted by the waif of a woman who forces him to face his worst fears, he resists, fighting the need to keep his personal demons hidden instead of setting them free.

When Ari becomes the target of her own magical blunder, it’s not just her life in danger, but now the one of the man she loves.

My Thoughts:

The Last Awakening was a very different story than The Last Rising but I enjoyed them equally.  I actually think that I was caught by surprise as to how different these two stories are but why wouldn’t they be I asked myself afterward. Every man and woman has their own unique story and the world would be pretty boring if we were all the same.

As the book opens, Arabella is being drawn to the next person that will need her.  She soon discovers that it is a handsome man in a grocery store in the middle of nowhere.  An old veteran goes crazy and shots the place up.  The handsome man made and impression on Arabella and she begs Osiris to send her back to him.  Arabella is back on earth after spending three hundred years serving the god of the underworld, Osiris.  He has warned her that she is on her own and her voodoo magic has been returned however her phoenix has been taken in its place.

Greyson is an ex-solider and has horrible issues, those issues continue after the grocery store is shot up and one of his best friend’s wife and two young children die of their injuries yet Greyson survives.  Not on that but the beautiful woman he met in the store that day disappeared into flames and has been no where to find.  The guilt is horrible and he really does not know what to do with himself.

Greyson heads to his local hangout only to find her there, he cannot figure out how she is out and about let alone working.  He is drawn to her but just can’t allow himself to get involved, it is just too much.  Arabella has different thoughts and keeps pushing at him but her voodoo is getting out of control and she doesn’t know what to do about it.  Will the two be able to work things out or will disaster strike first.

I really enjoy this story it has twists and turns all over the place, many surprises that you never see coming.  Greyson is a huge basket of conflict, one moment I totally get him and the next he leaves me confused as to his action and why he makes the decision he has.  But the man is smokin’ and knows how to please Arabella.  She also has her own troubles, she struggles with her voodoo and this brings a welcome surprise in the book and that is the return of my favorite character from book one.  We get a small peak into their lives along with some trouble that Arabella faces with her voodoo.

All in all, this was a page turner that I sat and read in one sitting.  Rachel Firasek knows how to put together a novella that balances the romance and a real story, something that I have found few and far between in the novellas I have read.  Typically, they are all romance and sex or they are all plot with sneak peaks at the romance and sex but nothing lasting for memorial.  I hope that you will check out both of these novella!  They are on the top of my recommendations!

My Rating: 

The Last Awakening earns 5 penguins and all of their little hearts as well.

A page turner that leaves you wondering what could possibly happen next.

Rachel Firasek has brought it all to the table with this story!  Great Work!