Shards of Crimson (Crimson City)

Customer Reviews:

A varied collection for fans of the Crimson City series.......2007-03-04

The Crimson City series, created by Liz Maverick, is set in Los Angeles in the future when humans share the city with Vampires, Werewolves, Mechs and Demons. "Shards Of Crimson" has four short stories by Liz Maverick, Patti O'Shea, Carolyn Jewel and Jade Lee set within the Crimson City world and focusing on secondary characters from the earlier books. It's not necessary to have read any of the full-length novels to enjoy these stories but it can help to understand the background setting and some of the characters if you have.

"A Time To Howl" by Liz Maverick is the first story and it covers the Rogues, a breakaway group from the main power structures of the city, comprising a werewolf Tajo, vampire Hayden and two humans Jill and Bridget. They work as mercenaries but find that they have been set up, when watching the main vampire headquarters, as someone tries to kill a princess of the Werewolves, Gia, who is about to be given as bride to one of the vampires. Tajo the Werewolf ends up taking her hostage to keep her safe until they find who is trying to kill her. Of course Stockholm Syndrome does its work and although Tajo is a rough and ready man and not fit for a princess nature takes its course and the pair of them have to face up to the vampires.

Readers of this story would probably benefit from having read "Crimson Rogue" by Maverick as there are a lot of characters whose backstory we never quite fully understand. Although a good read with some moments of action there are also some unlikely plot devices and the relationship between the protagonists seems rather one-dimensional.

"DX" by Carolyn Jewel was a very different story, focusing on Hell Marshall, recently sacked from her job at Internal Operations in Crimson City following her relationship with a vampire, Tuan Ng. Hell is brought back to the team on a one-off basis to investigate a demon killing - the demon (the most dangerous kind, a Bak-Faru) almost killed Tuan and as Hell knows Tuan it is thought she will have most success with the investigation. She's partnered with Agent Jaden Lightfeather and very quickly their hormones start flying. However it soon becomes apparent that enemy and friend are somewhat confused and Hell has to decide who to trust - whether an evil demon can in fact be safer and more trustworthy than a friend.

This story had some interesting events and the underlying themes of the nature of trust and evil gave this story more depth. Hell knows that the hero has evil in him, she senses it, and yet she can also tell that he will protect her - it's unclear whether she's actually sold out for a handsome face and whether she will be happy with her future life but the tensions within the story make it a fun ride. This story worked well as a stand-alone and could be read without knowing any of the other Crimson City series as all necessary backstory is woven into the narration. It's an enjoyable read and very different from the preceding book in the collection.

The third book, "School Bites" by Jade Lee, was a particularly good contribution. Toni Freedman is a schoolteacher at a Middle School in Crimson City but her whole life is turned upside down when trying to break up a student fight. She is accidentally bitten by a young boy who has turned werewolf for the first time. Although applying the antidote it soon becomes clear that it hasn't worked and the school principal, John Wong, takes her home - getting rather more than he had bargained for in the process. Wong tries to train Toni in how to deal with being a werewolf - he is a Druid and has some skills in helping werewolves to keep control of their natures - but there is a definite deadline; if she doesn't show up at school on Monday everyone will know that she's a werewolf and she will lose her job. But things aren't as easy as they seem and when Toni returns to the school the secret is out - but it's not just her secret. Toni learns a great deal more about her fellow-teachers and students and what the school is actually about, as well as learning what it means to be a feared minority.

The themes of this story, although about otherworldly creatures, relate just as well to our world and that is part of the strength of this tale. ExcIusion, lack of acceptance and fear of otherness are all things that Toni faces, along with her doubts about her own strength and control. We meet the two main characters in the full-length novel "A Taste Of Crimson", Keeli and Michael, but this story works very well without any background knowledge of the series. It's a good read with some interesting points but may have benefited from being longer so that Toni's relationships with her school children, with Wong and with the werewolf community of which she is now a part could have been more deeply explored.

The final story is "Dark Awakening" by Patti O'Shea and is significantly shorter than the rest. It follows Kimi Noguchi, a young lady who has a crush on Nic, a demon and the half-brother of her cousin Mika. Nic seems to be avoiding her but she discovers eventually that he has been warned off her. Kimi is aware that she is a kijo, a special type of human and that she will gain some extra powers through training, but she doesn't realise that being a kijo is dangerous for her. At this stage of her life a demon could strip her of her powers - and Augustin, a Bak-Faru demon, is planning to do just that. Kimi enlists Nic's help to protect her from the demon but how can he do so when Augustin has already killed Nic's father and bested the son?

This was an enjoyable little story about the differences between humans and demons and the evil nature of some demons. Nic is aware that he could be dangerous to his soulmate as well and has been avoiding her to keep her safe from himself - although he breaks his own rules in due course. In such a short story it wasn't really possible to fully explore the characters of the protagonists but we do see Kimi growing up and beginning to understand what her status as a kijo means. This story worked on its own although the names and types of demons could be confusing initially. It's an interest read but the denouement between Kimi, Nic and Augustin seemed over rather quickly at the end.

These stories are all worth reading but all also suffer from the disadvantages of the short story format - it's hard to really find depth in, understand and sympathise with characters whom we barely get to know before the story ends, particularly as the sex between the main characters always seems to take up an inordinate amount of the word count, leaving much less for actual plot and characterisation. This book is probably one for the fans of the Crimson City series although it is also a great way to sample the writing of these four authors.

Copyright © 2007 Helen Hancox for Curled Up With A Good Book

3 stars.......2007-02-03

*** Los Angeles is the City of Fallen Angels in the Crimson City series. Now, in a follow up collection of stories to the successful shared world saga of 2006, four authors spin new tales of cross-cultural love in this dangerous land. If Romeo and Juliet had fangs or were prone to sprouting fur, they would fit right in here. Jade Lee provides the highlight of the anthology in her story of a human teacher who accidentally becomes a werewolf. The light humor of the story stands in marked contrast to the characteristic edginess of Crimson City overall. Fans of the series will not want to miss this final entry. ***

Amanda Killgore

Crimson City is Back!!!Yeeeesssss!!!.......2007-01-31

This return to Crimson City was absolutely wonderful. I would be very hard pressed to pick a favorite short story here because each one delivered a punch in the arm that keeps the reader turning pages. I'm keeping this review short. BUY IT!!!! BUY IT!!!!! BUY IT!!!!

Glad the crimson series has continued.......2007-01-22

I am so glad there are more books in this series. After reading the original ones, I disliked leaving that universe, particularly when I have gotten all the species and players sort of down.

This book was a delight. I was feeling a bit sad when I started it, and was cheered right up. Four great romances were just what I needed to feel good again. All were really good and I have difficulty choosing my favorite. The first by Liz Maverick probably is my pick, but the last by Patti O'Shay is close. All were good though. This book is well worth buying. I encourage all readers to buy it new to encourage the publishers to keep printing the series.

Was wrth the wait,but..........2007-01-10

...I would have rather some of the stories been longer. I hope this is not the end of the series. The authors could go a long way with this series. The don't need t end it. PLEASE don't end it!!! I have all the other books on my keeper shelf and will add this one. But, I was not able to give this one five stars because I just didn't enjoy all the stories as much as I hoed I would. they were good, but not great. Still a keeper, so I have the set.

Average customer rating:

Book #2 in the Crimson City Series
DISAPPOINTED
Oh yeah!
Unexpectedly interesting and thought-provoking story
Liu is for everyone's MUST BUY list!

A Taste of Crimson (Crimson City)
Marjorie M. Liu
Manufacturer: Love Spell
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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Similar Items:

Crimson City
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ASIN: 0505526328

Book Description

Los Angeles is no longer the City of Angels; dark things haunt its streets - dark, restless things. Bodies have been found, and the tentative peace between humans, vampires and werewolves teeters on the brink of collapse. Keeli Maddox needs to know why. If she and her kin are to survive, she must trust a man as different from her as night from day, as tooth from claw. He's a slayer, a betrayer, an enemy. But nobility lurks in dark places, and Keeli herself is no stranger to shadow. As sure as the moon will rise, Michael was meant for her. Life is about to change. Only three things will remain: the color of blood, the hot joy of skin on skin, and the danger in...A TASTE OF CRIMSON.

Customer Reviews:

Book #2 in the Crimson City Series.......2007-08-15

This was Keeli Maddox, granddaughter of werewolves, teams up with Michael, vampire law enforcement.

I enjoyed reading this book. Both characters were delightful.

We are introduced to the "demon world" here...

Fast past, well written. Wonderful read!

DISAPPOINTED.......2007-02-25

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE VAMPIRE AND WEREWOLF BOOKS AND I BOUGHT THIS ONE BECAUSE IT ACTUALLY HAD BOTH.

I MADE IT PAGE 23 WHERE I RAN INTO THE WORD "F____D". I ABSOLUTELY HATE BAD LANGUAGE IN BOOKS, MOVIES, ETC. I AM OF THE BELIEF THAT PEOPLE WHO USE IT HAVE LESS THAN AVERAGE INTELLIGENCE OR THEY WOULD HAVE USE PROPER ENGLISH AND NOT SPOIL THESE BOOKS FOR THOSE OF US WHO CANNOT ABIDE IT.

I WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER BOOK BY THIS AUTHOR AS I WOULD NOT WILLINGLY CONTRIBUTE TO SOMEONE'S INCOME WHO HAS NO BETTER SENSE THAN TO WRITE BOOKS WHICH WILL OFFEND.

I WILL STICK WITH CHRISTINE FEEHAN, SHERRILYN KENYON, AMANDA ASHLEY, ETC. MARVELOUS AUTHORS WHO KEEP ME NICELY SUPPLIED WITH TOTALLY ENJOYABLE PARANORMAL LITERATURE.

SARA JANE TURNER

Oh yeah!.......2007-02-18

I loved the mixture of Werewolf and Vampire--and a love story that was just to good to put down!

Unexpectedly interesting and thought-provoking story.......2006-12-07

When you do a random library pick you often end up with complete rubbish - I picked "A Taste Of Crimson" from a shelf in the sci-fi category without expecting too much of it - the cover image had a wolf howling at the moon overlaid with a picture of a man in a big cloak running down a road. The blurb on the back seemed overblown and cheesy (as usual) so I expected another run-of-the-mill vampire-werewolf-romance-thriller-chiller story.

"A Taste Of Crimson" surprised me. Yes, it is a story whose main characters are werewolves and vampires. Yes, it's a romance with all the usual trimmings. Yes, there are heroes and heroines and magical vampirey/werewolfy things going on. But there is a very strong theme running through this book that is definitely not run-of-the-mill - it's the theme of acceptance or ostracism of those different to you.

In the Los Angeles of this book, the humans are aware of the vampires and werewolves but are afraid of them and are starting to discriminate against them; werewolves are the bottom of the pile as they aren't rich, well-dressed and sexy like the vampires, so our heroine Keeli Maddox, a werewolf, can barely hold down a waitressing job because of the suspicion with which she is faced. And it's not only the humans who dislike the werewolves, there is also huge mutual antagonism between the vampire and werewolf community. Thus when Keeli meets Michael, a vampire assassin (he kills vampires that have gone rogue and is therefore disliked by his own kind), they face huge difficulties from both her culture and his over their relationship. What is so good about this book is the way in which these problems are described. This may sound a bit trite but sometimes reading this made me think of Germany pre World War 2 when various minority groupings in society were demonised and discriminated against, and often those behaving the worst to these minorities were other minorities. The werewolves and the vampires can't get along but they have to learn to work together in order to deal with the expected future problems from the humans.

Keeli and Michael find themselves working together to find the murderer of vampires - and the evidence suggests that a werewolf is carrying out these killings. The human police don't care about deaths within the supernatural community and so Keeli and Michael are battling against indifference from all but one of the human police and obstructiveness from the werewolves and vampires. Plus Keeli is finding herself becoming stronger and having to avoid challenges to the Alpha of her clan as well as having to do physical battle against those who want to punish her because of her relationship with a vampire. Michael has his own demons - his past as an assassin as well as some less-than-savoury events in his distant past. The way in which two flawed people work together to try and help their ungrateful kin is well written.

As in many books in the sci-fi genre there is a certain element of "Deus ex machine" to help the author out of tricky areas in the plot - in this case Grindla, a demon. What do you do when you need to rescue someone from a Fort Knox-type building? Well, you find your own handy demon who can magic you in and out just like that. And what about the short life span of werewolves compared to the almost-immortal vampires, when your hero and heroine have found each other? Well, perhaps your friendly demon Grindla can help with that too. Perhaps this is slightly lazy writing for an author but overall I didn't mind - the story has so many merits that one or two things like this are acceptable. I found it an enjoyable book to read and apart from a slightly slow section in the middle it kept my interest and I enjoyed finding out about the characters as they learned about themselves and I learned about this new world that they inhabited.

Liu is for everyone's MUST BUY list!.......2006-09-24

I loved this book, hated for it to end. I hope the rest of this series' titles are as excellent? For fans of paranormal fiction--romance & otherwise--action, suspense, drama, werewolves, vampires, magick, there's more than something for every reader interest. Liu's work is better than my now OLD favorites (of this genre) such as Feehan & Kenyon, & one of the top 50 BEST books of my long years (& out of millions). This story is as much ART as romance--though not in an overly stuffy literate, artsy-fartsy way--as much best seller fiction & action novel, as about learning to embrace ones' self warts & all. No boring or slow moments, no cliches, & nothing predictable--what a fresh voice & perspective Liu brings to the fiction table!
Other authors in related genres need to WAKE UP AND TAKE NOTES from Liu, please--no formulaic, template-driven, just-change-the-names, same-old-plot garbage romance readers are used to (even, alas, in the paranormal realm). I guarantee an awesome reader experience, no matter what your personal bent is. I just wish the entire series were written by Liu!
Here are two brief passages from page 279 that stick with me as an example of her fresh new voice & way with words:
FIRST:"So what's the story with The Bloody Pulp? Why is it the hot place for all the lowlifes?" [Keelie]
"No one asks questions and the blood is cheap and good." [Michael]

SECOND:"Keeli wanted to throw her arms around his body & hold him tight against her, tight enough to anchor his feet to the ground so he would not go into that awful place without her; but she...knew him well enough to understand his determination, and so she did not move when he left her side and crossed the street, a DARK FIGURE IN SUNLIGHT, GLIDING INTO THE GRAY, THE DIRTY, ALONE."

Average customer rating:

Crimson City - not your everyday romance, thumbs up
Better than I expected....
Don't miss this one
Addictive New Series!
This is a great series!

Crimson City
Liz Maverick
Manufacturer: Love Spell
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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A Taste of Crimson (Crimson City)
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ASIN: 0505526220

Product Description

Once, this was the City of Angels. The angels are no longer in charge. From the extravagant appetites of the vampire world above, to the gritty defiance of the werewolves below, the specter of darkness lives around every corner, the hope of paradise in every heart. All walk freely with humans in a tentative peace, but to live in Los Angeles is to balance on the edge of a knife. One woman knows better than most that death lurks here in nights of bliss or hails of UV bullets. Shes about to be tested, to taste true thirst. Shes about to regain the power shes long been denied. And Fleur Dumont is about to meet the one man who may understand her: a tormented protector whos lost his way and all he loved. 9.36 hours Read by Rebecca Rogers

Customer Reviews:

Crimson City - not your everyday romance, thumbs up.......2007-06-06

If you like the paranormal, whether it's vampires, werewolves, demons etc Crimson City and it's series is the one for you. All that you have read, steriotypes, strengths and weaknesses of all the species is thrown together in one place, Los Angeles. With all the havok and chaos with in the the city amongest its citizens love still finds a way. Romance, mystery, mayhem and more make up the world of Crimson City and Maverick is a master at portraying it.

Better than I expected...........2007-03-21

Once upon a time, this was a city of angels, of happiness and sorrow, of riches and squalor, of actors and regular people. Once upon a time, Los Angels was just a city. Then it all came crashing down. In a city where human's aren't the only species on the block, where they have to share the streets with werewolves and vampires, tensions were bound to reach their breaking point eventually...and when they did, it was an all out war. The city then became known as Crimson City for the blood that filled the streets, for the death and decay that could be found on every street corner.

Then there was a truce, and suddenly the war was over. But can lasting peace ever really exist with a city with three very different species where trust is as foreign as the Eiffel Tower?

Fleur is a vampire with a past shame, one that took her out of the vampire leadership and put her on the sidelines as little more than a spoiled rich girl. Then, with the assassination of her half-brothers, the once leaders of the vampire nation, she is thrust back into the seat of leader...without the training she should have had.

Dain is a man without a past, or at least one he can remember. His earliest memories is waking up in a hospital bed, his arms badly scarred from some sort of chemical weapon, to learn that the wife he can't remember is dead, killed by the vampires.

With the murder of Fleur's brothers, assassinated by a Mech-a human/machine hybrid the human's created for defense incase a second war should ever emerge-Dain's boss sends him to work with Fleur and uncover the mystery before all hell breaks loose Crimson City. With the human denying knowledge of how their top secret experiment got away, with the vampires, wolves and rogues doing the same, tensions are fast reaching their breaking points...people are dying in the streets and continued peace is looking more and more like a fantasy as the second tick by.

And to make matters even more complicated, Dain realizes he may have feelings for Fleur, which is absurd. Her kind killed his wife...murdered the most wonderful, innocent, pure, angelic women he had never known. She should hate them all, hate her. But...he doesn't.

The book wasn't exactly what I thought it was, though I don't recall what I think when I bought it. Still, it was a pretty good read. There are several books in this series, five I think, the first and last being written by Liz Maverick with three other authors writing the books in the middle. (That threw me off for a long time)

Don't miss this one.......2007-03-09

In fact don't miss any of the crimson series books. I read all of them in a week. Couldn't wait to get home from work to read. I'm looking forward to her next book in the series. Totally awesome.

Addictive New Series!.......2007-02-09

"Crimson City" is the first in an intriguing paranormal series, with each succeeding book written by a different author. Sounded strange to me, but it works! Each book is set in a future Los Angeles, now called Crimson City, where vampires, werewolves and humans co-exist, rigidly divided, in a state of ongoing tension.

This first story involves the relationship between a beautiful young vampire, Fleur Dumont, and a human cop, Dain Reston, who has a disturbing past he can't remember. In Crimson City the races don't mix, but together Fleur and Dain attempt to prevent a full-scale war between the races while they try to resist the growing attraction drawing them dangerously closer.

I really enjoyed "Crimson City" and immediately bought three of the books that followed ("A Taste of Crimson", "Through a Crimson Veil", and "Crimson Rogue"). Lots of action and lots of well-written romance. When I finished the book, I was really curious to see what would happen next in Crimson City. It's not necessary to read these books in order, as the lead characters in each book are different, but "Crimson City" is a good place to start. A very enjoyable series!

This is a great series!.......2006-12-22

All the book are written by different folks, but they all tie together, Paranormal with romance,sex, bad guys and heroes, and she-roes, What more could we ask?

Average customer rating:

The action packed conclusion to the CRIMSON series
The ending
captivating
Conclusion?
Wasn't this supposed to be the last book?

Crimson Rogue (Crimson City)
Liz Maverick
Manufacturer: Love Spell
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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Customer Reviews:

The action packed conclusion to the CRIMSON series.......2006-08-05

Years ago, Cydney Brighton was the soul survivor of a top secret team trying to open a portal between two dimensions. It was at that point in time she caught the eye of a demon and only because of this her life was spared. Years later, Cyd is working for B-Ops dealing with vampires and were-wolves. However one night peace is broken and hell seems to have come to the surface. In actuality, demons have invaded Los Angels, (renamed Crimson City) and one night while on the job, Cyd is sucked into Orcus (see CRIMSON CITY - book one also by Liz Maverick).

Fighting her way out of Orcus, Cyd is no longer "just human". Forcibly joined with Griff-Vai, the demon who's eye she had caught, Cyd manages to only escape because a portal appears in front of her and somehow she is able to grab the amulet used to make the portal appear (the very end of SEDUCED BY CRIMSON by Jade Lee). Now she is back in Crimson City and so many things have changed that Cyd doesn't really fit in: not with her former B-Ops associates, the government that wants her to restart the demon program and not even with her old associates in the underground.

Trying to find somewhere to fit in, Cyd starts working with Finn a man who quickly becomes the only person she feels safe with and can trust. Only, Finn, as an escaped Mech unit, has his own secrets. As Crimson City falls apart around them, and Griff hot on Cyds' trail, they can count only on one another to try and stay alive.

Liz Maverick certainly made me one happy reader simply by writing Cydneys story. With everything that is taking place between the vampires, demons, were-wolves and now adding the Mechs into the series, this is a story I really wanted to read.

However there is too much happening and unfortunately, I feel the story is incomplete, especially as the last book in the series. Key parts seemed rushed, and there are quite a few loose ends that I would have liked resolved. Many of my "loose ends" come from several characters (Bridget & Jillian to name two) that have had bit parts throughout the series but are suddenly secondary characters and there is too much happening in their lives. Honestly, I don't see Cydney and Finn having their "happy ever after" ...at least not quite yet.

I wasn't lost with the chain of events transpiring in CRIMSON ROGUE as Liz is a fantastic story teller. If you haven't read any of the books in this series however, you will not want to start with this one as there is to much information that will prove overwhelming to an unsuspecting reader.

Cydney really caught my eye as a messed up "side-kick" in the first book and she really proved herself a strong and capable woman with her own story. I also really appreciated the fact that as you learn more about her, its not like she suddenly morphs into someone she isn't; she still has to deal with many of the issued brought up when you are first introduced to her.

I was really able to empathize with Finn as a hero and I have to admit I wasn't disappointed with how things ended for him as a hero. However, I would have liked a confrontation with him and Fleur of the Vampires. I also have so many unanswered questions regarding him I don't really know what to say!

I must admit that I really enjoyed the story and overall feel that ROGUE has the possibility of being an excellent conclusion to the series. However, overall, I really needed more and I really think there needs to be another story. Even though I don't feel my review is very favorable, I was glued to this book until I finished, and the action is non-stop.

The ending.......2006-06-22

It's weird, but many of those hanging strings that Maverick created with the first book I had all but forgotten about until I got to this one. I suppose that is why she wrote the first and the last book in this series. If you read any other books in this series you'll find they are stand alones. They might hint at other characters or situations in other books, but really you don't need to know what happened to get by.

In this one your brought back to Cydney Brighton, aka Cyd from book one. She was the junky partner of the cop who fell in love with a vampire. Near the end of book one (Crimson City) she disappears. They only find blood all over the place, but no body parts. Well, apparently she was kidnapped by a demon and turned into his love slave. I know, weird, huh? This guy had been keeping his eye on her since her part in the experiments she and her team conducted years ago had been waiting until she reached her lowest point to break through and snatch her. Well, she escaped when the veil began to close by grabbing a hold of the necklace (I believe that part is found in Seduced by Crimson) and running for her dear life. Anyway, Cyd meets up with another runner from book one--the cyborg. He names himself Finn. They hook up, sparks fly, and the world changes forever--literally.

Read on to find out more. Happy reading!

captivating.......2006-06-13

I am held captive and can not put these books down, a collection that I can get lost in. Love them.

Conclusion?.......2006-05-17

If this is the last book set in Crimson City I will be very disappointed. It just cannot end now. Liz Maverick told really good first and last stories. She also started one (Marcus and Jill) that was not finished. If an email to the publisher is what is needed, then I am doing just that. The setting of the series is just too good to stop the books. Perhaps the "conclusion" of the series was just talking about the demon gate. I would love to see another series based in Crimson City with some of the previous characters appearing.

It was appropriate that this book featured Cydney who was in the first. Finn and she discover their humanity together and will appreciate each other because of it. Humanity in this series is a very loose term however.

Wasn't this supposed to be the last book?.......2006-05-09

Crimson Rogue is a very well written book, with a fascinating story, good action, and compelling characters that share a beautiful romance. As the purported last book of the Crimson City series, it does well to tie up most of the story lines from previous books and close a chapter on the species infighting. However, I had a huge problem with the fact that the romance between the secondary characters, Jill and Marius, remained completely unresolved and open-ended. Not only that, but the entire epilogue is like one big premonition of the disquiet soon to hit Crimson City again with a warning about the rogues. If you are reading this book thinking it will end the series, think again.

The lose ends that remain, purposely it seems on Ms. Maverick's part, just beg the reader to walk away unsatisifed and looking for a sequel (although one is yet to be announced in any way). If you're the type of person who can be happy with a finished story line for the main characters, and ignore lingering conflict between secondary characters, then I highly recommend this book. However, I strongly caution anyone like me, who will feel annoyed and manipulated into buying a 7th book whose story line and publish date remain a complete mystery.

Average customer rating:

Book #5 in Crimson City Series
starts with a bang and doesn't let up
Don't miss this one
Seduced by Crimson is a good read...
Awesome series! I want more!

Seduced by Crimson (Crimson City)
Jade Lee
Manufacturer: Love Spell
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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Customer Reviews:

Book #5 in Crimson City Series.......2007-08-15

This book was so original it was refreshing.

Very well written and what a wonderful imagination this author has!

Phoenix Tear (Xiao) and Patrick's Story.

Nice romance and a fun read.

starts with a bang and doesn't let up .......2007-04-24

Courtesy of CK2S Kwips and Kritiques

As the war between the species heats up in Crimson City, a common enemy has all kinds banding together to fight.

"Find her... the Phoenix Tear. Close the gate. Permanently." These were the last words of Patrick's mother as she lay dying and there was no way he could possibly refuse her last wish. Thus begins Patrick's adventure.

Patrick is the Draig-Uisge, leader of the Druids, who has the power to shape energy to his magical needs. When the demon Bak-Farus invade Earth through a gate from Orcus, death and destruction follow in their wake and the world will die if they are not stopped. Being so closely linked to the Earth, Patrick can feel the vitality of the world seeping out the loner the gate remains open. Following his mother's plea, he goes in search of the only one who can help him, the Phoenix Tear.

Xiao Fei is a survivor, but barely. She is the last remaining Phoenix Tear, a hemophiliac whose strength and gift lies in her blood. Her blood has the ability to heal the gravest of injuries, it can even make a vampire human again. She came to Crimson City years ago, after helping to close a demon gate in Cambodia at the tender age of eight years old, and being the only one to survive. Now, hiding out in Crimson City, she's about to confront the horrors of her childhood once more.

Patrick is convinced that a ritual sex act pairing him and Xiao Fei will enhance their respective powers and bring about the closing of the gate. Xiao Fei has her doubts, after all it took 30 monks and Phoenix Tears to close a gate last time. But allied with the vampires and werewolves and all the Druids, they may very well have a chance. Too bad love has to interfere with Patrick's plans.

This is only my second read of the Crimson City series but it was most definitely more sensual than the previous book in the series I read. This is due to the nature of the plot. Patrick believes they need sex to conquer evil and Xiao Fei is resistant initially. The attraction between them however overcomes all doubt on more than one occasion. The sexual pull is increased even more though as something interferes every time they are close to succumbing to their desires. Initially, the two star-crossed love birds fight the feelings between them, convinced their emotions will only weaken their dedication to the plan. It certainly doesn't help matters any that Patrick will do whatever it takes to complete the ritual and close the gate, even knowing this course of action could very well be the death of the woman he has come to love.

In spite of the nature of Patrick and Xiao Fei's gifts and the dedication to the cause, they never lose their humanity, which is one aspect I especially loved about Seduced by Crimson. Patrick has many inner battles to face, stemming from events unfolding in his childhood. We are made privy to his history through entries in a journal he kept through his teen years. These entries give us a lot of insight into him and why it is so very important he win this battle. Xiao Fei lived a horrific life as a child and the incidents surrounding the closing of the demon gate so many years ago has left her traumatized. This adds to her fear in present day as no one can truly understand what it means to have that gate open unless they lived through it before. We are given a look into her life through flashbacks and her telling of the story. This made her previous experiences have that much greater of an impact on how we viewed current events.

Seduced by Crimson by Jade Lee starts with a bang and doesn't let up until the final page is turned. The opening scene sets the tone for the rest of the book. On a bloody battlefield, Patrick sees what havoc the demons have wrought and must close the gate and defeat the Bak-Farus before they destroy the entire city and possibly the world. The frenzied pace of the story and the desperation to close the gate before it's too late make for a very tension-laden story. I was on the edge of my seat and biting my nails as I waited to see what would happen next. Add in the fact you have rival species like werewolves and vampires being forced to work together to help fend off the demons and the pressure builds still more, knowing their animosity towards one another could come to the forefront at any given moment.

© Kelley A. Hartsell, April 2007. All rights reserved.

Don't miss this one.......2007-03-09

Read all the Crimson Series books and couldn't put them down.

Seduced by Crimson is a good read..........2007-01-27

I really enjoyed this book. It reminded me of the Anita Blake series but not as dark and sexual. Once I picked this book up, I could not put it down. If you love the were's, vamps and all things goth, you will love this book and this series.

Awesome series! I want more!.......2006-03-30

A gate has been opened between Earth and the demon world of Orcus. Not only does the gate allow the demons free access to Crimson City, it sucks the life out of the Earth; if it isn't closed everyone on Earth will die.

Patrick has been raised as a druid and as the Draig-Uisge it is his responsibility to close the open gate. Thanks to the studies of his mother, he knows he needs to find the last Phoenix Tear - an adopted Cambodian waif who years previously, was the soul survivor the last time a demon gate was closed.

Xiao Fei may have been raised by Americans, but as the Phoenix Tear, knows she isn't just an ordinary girl. As a hemophiliac, a cut could kill her; instead because of her physic abilities she can self heal. More importantly, her blood can change a turned vampire or werewolf human again and it is her blood that can close a demon gate.

Wow! This is an excellent series! Jade Lee has written a totally engrossing story that makes me want the next installment and I really enjoy her writing style. SEDUCED BY CRIMSON, I think, lives up to its title as Patrick and Xiao Fei have a very seductive as well as sensual story. I think more so than with some of the other action paranormals I've read.

I found Patricks and Xiao Feis' relationship very interesting. Both are immediately drawn to one another for different reasons. However both have a very hard time acknowledging the bond that is forming between them because their relationship should be strictly business and is doomed.

Except I found it very funny that Patrick was positive that clinical sex would close the gate; as well as Xiao Fei's blood. How could he dare get his heart involved when he knew that her blood would close the gate? Add to this - the last time she was involved in closing a gate twenty-nine Phoenix Tears died. Xaio Fei is only one Phoenix Tear...who was loosing a lot of blood just trying to stay alive.

I have only finished reading one other book in this series. There are so many characters I don't know how they over-lap, however I think I might have "noticed" characters from three other books. I'm going to have to continue reading to find out if I'm correct! I don't know if it would be better to read them in order or not. SEDUCED BY CRIMSON is more sensual than the other story I read but just as action packed. (I think this whole story encompasses three days.) I highly recommend this series and can hardly wait to read the next book!

Average customer rating:

why all the bad reviews?
barf
A struggle to read, but still glad I did.
The Series is Very Captivating
I want to live in Crimson City

A Darker Crimson (Crimson City)
Carolyn Jewel
Manufacturer: Love Spell
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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Through a Crimson Veil (Crimson City)
Seduced by Crimson (Crimson City)
Crimson Rogue (Crimson City)
Crimson City
A Taste of Crimson (Crimson City)

ASIN: 0505526581

Customer Reviews:

why all the bad reviews?.......2006-11-02

Wow. i am confused as to why their are so many bad reviews. this is one of the best books in the series so far and i am not even finnished with it! i like it so much i came down to the pc to search and see what else this author has written and if she has done anymore of this series.

yes it is a bit confusing in the beginning. most crazy plots take a few pages to get everything in line most times.

i guess this is a love it or hate it book and i am a reader of a lot of books and consider myself a pretty good judge on what is good and what is bad.
I would recomend it

a keeper!! i hope more is written about the deamons in detail this opened up a whole new exciting world to explore.

barf.......2006-08-27

This is quite possible the worst book I've ever read. The plot is horrible, the characters shallow and there is an icky feeling that you are actually reading a bad Jerry Springer episode. The only characters I liked were the daughter and her pet. The bad guy is hate her/love her and dies way to easy. The good guy doesn't care that it was less than a day and a half since she was forced in mind if not body to "mate" with the bad guy before he "mates" with her. The whole thing ends with guess who the daddy is for her new baby. The only thing missing to make this story any more tacky is a dna test and a chair throwing fight. I recommend this book if you need a door stop or perhaps some kindling. To bad zero stars isn't an option!

A struggle to read, but still glad I did........2006-07-15

Claudia Donavan is a human woman just trying to survive in the Crimson City. Life is chaotic enough, but with demons infiltrating the police force, no one can be trusted. When her daughter is kidnapped, Claudia goes after her and finds herself thrust into the demon world of Orcus. Her only ally, Tiberiu Korzha cannot be trusted and isn't very popular amongst the vampire - his own kind.

Carolyn Jewel has written a very interesting novel built on the determination of what a mother would go through for the love of her child. Claudia, like the rest of the humans on the police force from Crimson City, is way out of her element; plus she is getting used by the demons and doesn't know it yet.

What surprised me the most about this story is that the pace was not as frantic as I expected. Claudia is very afraid of what is happening and what will happen to her daughter if she doesn't rescue her; but, even though she and Tiberiu are running for their lives and trying to escape the demons while on Orcus the pace of the book was very slow. Because the events transpiring and the pace of the book were at odds it was a struggle for me to continue reading the middle of the book.

What I did really like about A DARKER CRIMSON is that you do get to see the "enemy" - the demons from Orcus. I really liked this because while the humans are fighting to survive on Earth, they are doing the same on Orcus. You have innocent lives on both sides just like you have the extreme radicals that want to infiltrate the other world to destroy it. Reading this book is almost like getting to see the fight for survival from the eyes of the other camp, even though both Claudia and Tiberiu are from Earth.

Something else I think is note worthy about A DARKER CRIMSON that may be a deterrent for some readers: Carolyn is forcibly taken as a mate by one of the demons. While he seduces her, it is still against her will. I mention this only because I've heard so many readers not wanting to read this type of story. The demon is a main character in Claudia's life and serves as both a protagonist and an antagonist which I also found very interesting about this book.

All in all, this is a very unique addition to the multi-author Crimson series as it has plenty of its own merits to offer. I kind of look at A DARKER CRIMSON like a classic novel: a struggle to read but overall, a good book.

The Series is Very Captivating.......2006-06-13

I love the whole series, I've read three so far and can't wait to get the rest.

I want to live in Crimson City.......2006-05-21

I thought this was a great book. Yes - it was confusing at the beginning. I think the reason was I got these books out of order from the library this one was available before "Through a Crimson Veil" so I did not get the demon related "stuff" and references to charactor's from the preceding book. Then it got really good - Carolyn created a complex demon world where all the rules change. and Yes she could have "fleshed" out the last chapters so that "bam" and they lived happily ever after did not happen. But this book is better than average!! It shows a great deal of talent and imagination. I think Carolyn Jewel is on a par with Laurell K Hamilton in creating exciting new worlds!! The ladies (writers) of Crimson City rock!!!

Average customer rating:

Okay but in comparison
amazing
Go ahead, read this one first!
THE BEST IN THE SERIES THUS FAR!!
Demons and Werewolves and Vampires, Oh My!

Through a Crimson Veil (Crimson City)
Patti O'Shea
Manufacturer: Love Spell
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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Crimson City
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ASIN: 0505526476

Book Description

Los Angeles. Once, it was the City of Angels. Now, it's Crimson City, whose inhabitants know nothing of Heaven. The tentative peace between the species—werewolf, vampire, human—teeters on the brink of collapse. Sides are being chosen. Yet the peril is greater than any imagine. There is a power here that longs for release, an ancient darkness held captive too long. Below, beneath, beyond, it seethes. And there are those who would see it freed.

Mika herself seeks freedom. She's come to Crimson City looking for the key. But that key's keeper is a killer, an outsider, a mercenary with a poisoned past. To her kind, he has meant only death. No matter that Conor McCabe's pale green eyes hold a hint of lust, the glint of a bond never to be broken; the path ahead lies in shadow. In a city like this, death can come by fire or fang, by claw or kiss. And the moment of truth must come...Through a Crimson Veil.

Customer Reviews:

Okay but in comparison.......2007-02-12

I have read the other Crimson City books and I have to say I was a little disappointed in this storyline. This gives a glimpse into the Demon lifestyle but I felt that the characters were a little flat in terms of their backstory and why everything worked together. The book was an okay read but in comparison to the other Crimson City titles this one falls a little flat but it's still worth the read to continue Ms. O'Shea's story. I have hopes for more installments with more to the story as time goes on.

amazing.......2006-02-25

just finishing the book now it had a story that kept me interested i can'y wait to read the next one

Go ahead, read this one first!.......2006-01-11

I know THROUGH A CRIMSON VEIL is part of the Crimson City series - and I worried that I wouldn't understand what was going on if I tried to play catch-up with this, the third book. However, I'm happy to report that THROUGH A CRIMSON VEIL is a great stand-alone book!

I've read Ms. O'Shea's previous work, enjoyed it immensely and wanted to read this book. I resisted, however, thinking I needed to read the others in the series. So if that's what's holding you back - stop it! Get the book and read it!

Through a Crimson Veil has a great "concept", interesting, sexy characters and a great story. I've enjoyed it so much, I'm ordering the first 2 in the series and will read whatever follows. I'm not going to restate the plot lines and re-explain the book to you, other reviewers have done a great job with that. I will however, tell you that Para's are not usually my "norm" but I quite enjoyed Through a Crimson Veil. Let's see more (and more, and more) from this author!!!

THE BEST IN THE SERIES THUS FAR!!.......2006-01-07

I really liked this book. It was fast paced and action packed!!! The story was awesome. I didn't have one boring moment. I smiled a lot while reading this book. Thus far, I think the whole Crimson series are a great read, but this one has been the best. I will definitely be reading the whole series.

Demons and Werewolves and Vampires, Oh My!.......2005-11-27

Meet the "other" race in Crimson City. Now we have demons! Well, one of them at least is in the city. She's Mika, half human-half demon. And not even a very strong demon at that. But she is stronger than the average human. She split her time between her human father and demon mother but is more comfortable in the demon world.

Then we have McCabe. He hunts demons. When he isn't busy hunting werewolves and vampires. He works for B-Ops, the paramilitary outfit that serves as a policing force in the City of Angels aka Crimson City. He hates demons. But, that means he hates himself. McCabe has a demon father and a human mother, but he never met his father. He's looking to meet him though. But it's not for a Hallmark reunion, that's for sure.

McCabe and Mika are hot and sexy characters. They fight and love with equal amounts of passion. Mika is a spoiled brat you want to smack at times and McCabe is an arrogant ass who needs to be kicked in the gonads. Yep, I loved these characters. Any time an author has me talking back to the characters, she's won my heart.

Pick up Mika and McCabe's story today. It's the third in the Crimson City series and brings a whole new look to the players. Now it's not just fangs and vamps we have to worry about. It's a demon playground as well. And the demons are less organized factionally than either the werewolves or the vampires. Makes for a fascinating read!

Average customer rating:

The City in Crimson Cloak
Asli Erdogan
Manufacturer: Soft Skull Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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Book Description

Özgür is poor, hungry, and on the verge of a mental breakdown, with only one weapon against Rio: to write the city that has robbed her of everything. Reading the bits and pieces of Özgür's unfinished eponymous novel, with its autobiographical protagonist named Ö, Özgür's story begins to emerge. Meanwhile, the narrator limns a single day of Özgür's life, which is in fact her last. As Özgür follows Ö through the shanty towns, Condomble rituals, and the violence and sexuality of the streets to her own death, the narrator searches for a way to make peace with life, a route to catharsis. The two concentric novels, the borderline between the two Rio's — Özgür's Rio as a metaphor for death and Rio as life — begin to blur. Asli Erdogan’s brilliantly evocative, experimental second novel was a major hit in Turkey and Europe. Now available in translation, the book does for Rio what Joyce did for Dublin.

Average customer rating:

A varied collection for fans of the Crimson City series

Shards of Crimson (Crimson City)
Liz Maverick; Patti O'Shea; Carolyn Jewel; Jade Lee
Manufacturer: Love Spell
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000N33NVC

Customer Reviews:

A varied collection for fans of the Crimson City series.......2007-03-10

A Darker Crimson: Crimson City, Book 4 (Unabridged)

Average customer rating:

A Darker Crimson: Crimson City, Book 4 (Unabridged)
Carolyn Jewel
Manufacturer: audible.com
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Download
ASIN: B000VMRMFS

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