Genevieve Drake never knew this demon world existed. Now she just wants to survive it. Hunted on the streets of New Orleans, Gen turns to the hunter, Jude Delacroix, who is bound to protect her soul and who’s also captured her heart.
2022 updated covers
Series Information:
Author: Juliette Cross
Genre: Paranormal/Urban Fantasy Romance
Reviews of this trilogy are of the Entangled Publishing editions; although I own the Samhain editions and the 2022 updated editions, as well.
Books in the Series:
Forged in Fire
The Vessel Trilogy, Book One
2017 cover
ISBN: 9781640632172
Word Count: 98K
About the Book:
Genevieve Drake has never been the helpless kind of girl, has never needed to be rescued. That is, not until her twentieth birthday when some dude nearly chokes her to death in an alley and a hot stranger rips a monster from inside the guy.
The hot guy? Jude Delacroix—Dominus Daemonum, Master of Demons. Now her guardian, whether she likes it or not.
But she’s seriously beginning to like it.
My Review:
Genevieve Drake is a normal woman living in a normal everyday world until the night she turns 20. Everything about her life is turned upside-down with introduction of demons and guardians. The fact that she's been identified as a Vessel and now on the radar of two very powerful demons is just icing on the cake really. Fortunately, Genevieve has as pretty hot guardian by the name of Jude Delacroix, or Mr. R & B (Rugged and Beautiful).
Jude is a very powerful and quite ancient piece of male flesh - one that doesn't look a day over 30. Built, sexy as hell, and that voice??!! It makes Genevieve shiver in anticipation. Except, it doesn't matter how hot and sexy he is or how much Genevieve wants to put her hands all over him. She's a pure and untouched Vessel and to keep her safe, a virgin she must remain. Of course, Genevieve refuses to believe the seriousness of her new life and finds herself in serious situations that could compromise her purity, life, and what side of the line - Light or Dark - she stands for.
Genevieve is a very likable character. She is snarky and sweet. Her life hasn't all been wine and roses, however, as she still harbors a lot of feelings and emotions pertaining to the suicide of her mother many years prior. Juliette took Genevieve's character and turned her into someone that many readers will be able to relate to, made her realistic and genuine. Now, I know not everyone is a Vessel like Genevieve (::wink::) but her normal human qualities make her a strong character. She doesn't exactly fall onto the Vessel/Guardian bandwagon easily but I wouldn't have liked her as much if she just took everything as gospel. Making mistakes, not listening to Jude, and general disbelief, even after seeing a demon disintegrate before her very eyes, made Genevieve a more credible character.
Jude is a fantastic hero in Forged in Fire. He takes Genevieve under his wing and promises to protect her - even when she risks her safety by not listening to him. He's honorable in the sense that he doesn't want to defile her - even though it's clear he would love nothing more than to ravish her body - in order to preserve her purity as the Vessel. Jude knows that Genevieve is safer from the demons as a virgin. He has secrets that Genevieve tries to get him to reveal but Jude only talks about what he wants to talk about, which irritates Genevieve. I love the bantering, sexual tension, and interactions between Jude and Genevieve.
I really enjoyed Forged in Fire. I read it when it came out originally and loved revisiting Genevieve and Jude this past few days. Juliette's writing style is wonderful and sometimes lyrical. The dialogue between all characters is smooth and understandable. The plot is wonderfully constructed and the world building was done extremely well. The details were descriptive enough to paint wonderful pictures in my mind as I read along but not overly done or obnoxious.
I was provided with a copy of this book. This does not
affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. The opinions I have
expressed are my own.
My Rating:
Sealed in Sin
The Vessel Trilogy, Book Two
ISBN: 9781640632189
Word Count: 90K
About the Book:
While Jude Delacroix spends his days and nights searching for the prophecy, another protector steps in to take his place. Thomas, a guardian angel, claims Genevieve is his to protect if the demon hunter does not. As threats against her life escalate, he offers her the power to sift.
Knowing the transfer of power comes through a kiss, she hesitates. Thomas stirs a desire where there should be none.
My Review:
Sealed in Sin is action-packed as Genevieve, Jude, Kat, and George search the globe for the other half of the prophecy. Genevieve and Jude are growing closer with each passing day, making it difficult to remain chaste and keep Genevieve untainted. When Genevieve's guardian angel continues to show up at opportune times and offers her the ability to sift, additional feelings start to brew within Genevieve. Things aren't always what they seem and Genevieve learns the hard way to be a bit more discerning in whom she trusts.
Genevieve grows so much in Sealed in Sin. Suddenly thrust into the paranormal world in book 1, Genevieve wasn't at all prepared for anything she learned. As the story progressed, we do see her getting stronger but in book 2 the is a very marked difference. She's hunting demons with Kat like she's been doing it her entire life. Jude is gone a bit more but he's trying to find the prophecy so that Genevieve, the Vessel, can plan for the upcoming war.
Juliette's writing style is wonderful and sometimes lyrical. The dialogue between all characters is smooth and understandable. The plot is wonderfully constructed and the world building was done extremely well. The details were descriptive enough to paint wonderful pictures in my mind as I read along, never becoming overly done or obnoxious.
I couldn't put the book down and devoured it in a couple of days.
I was provided with a copy of this book. This does not
affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. The opinions I have
expressed are my own.
My Rating:
Bound in Black
The Vessel Trilogy, Book Three
2017 cover
ISBN: 9781640632196
Number of pages: 88K
About the Book:
Genevieve Drake is on a dangerous mission—to find the soul collector, Lethe, and enter the deepest, darkest level of the underworld, where no one has ever gone into and returned.
But when an old enemy makes a surprising appearance, she is tested to the point of breaking and risks remaining in this dark abyss forever.
My Review:
Of the books in the trilogy, Bound in Black is my absolute favorite (they are all great but book 3 is superb). The conclusion to the series is deep and emotional. Juliette Cross takes Genevieve and Jude to an all new level, one that had me weeping in sadness and for joy. During all of the emotional upheaval, everyone is preparing for the impending war between Light and Dark.
Juliette's writing style is wonderful and sometimes lyrical. The dialogue between all characters is smooth and understandable. The plot is wonderfully constructed and the world building was done extremely well. The details were descriptive enough to paint wonderful pictures in my mind as I read along but not overly done or obnoxious.
The book is engaging and I was pulled back into the wonderful world of Genevieve and Jude. There were two brilliantly carried out plot twists that took my breath away. I was horrified yet captivated by the truths revealed. Everything about this series is perfection. Now that the series has concluded I feel lost without the world created by Juliette Cross. I would love for there to be more in the world of The Vessel and her family.
I couldn't put the book down and devoured it in one day.
I was provided with a copy of this book. This does not
affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. The opinions I have
expressed are my own.
My Rating:
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