Title: Ascension: A Dark Breeds Novel
Author: Sable Grace
Release Date: April 2011
Series: Dark Breeds #1
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Source: NetGalley
The gates of hell have opened, and one woman will stand in the crossfire as the Dark Breed -- vampyre, demons, shape shifters -- and mankind fight their last battle for survival.
Kyana is half Vampyre, half Lychen... and the last of her kind. Determined, dangerous, and damned, she has no love for the mortals who have imprisoned and misused her. But when the Order of Ancients entrusts her with a mission -- to find the key that will send the Dark Breed back into Hell for eternity -- Kyana has no choice but to accept.
She is furious to learn her assignment comes with an escort... Ryker, a demigod and fierce warrior who long ago found a way under her skin and stayed there. In a shaky alliance, they discover an ancient cult with dangerous motive and a god who seeks to destroy all others. And as Kyana begins to feel the heat that threatens to bind her to Ryker, she knows she has to resist. For it could only mean the undoing of them both...
'Ascension' is the debut novel of writing team Heather Waters and Laura Barone, under the pen name Sable Grace. Kyana is a Dark Breed, more specifically a half Vampyre, half Lychen, who is a member of the Order of the Ancients; a group of Dark Breeds run by the Greek Gods to protect humanity.
The Gods are losing their powers and the humans they chose to follow in their footsteps, the Chosen, are being murdered. Chronos has supposedly broken out of Tartarus, and if he takes over, then you can kiss humanity goodbye. Humans are being attacked and killed by the Dark Breeds who were imprisoned in Tartarus. And its all up to Kyana, vampyre Geoffry, demi-god Ryker, and witch Haven, to figure out how to seal the gate to Tartarus for good.
WORLD BUILDING: 5
I love the way Grace has masterfully spun traditional paranormal creatures with ancient Greek mythology.
CHARACTER BUILDING: 4
The characters are beautifully written. They're somewhat cliche, but they work. Kyana is strong but troubled, Ryker is the brooding male who wants the unattainable woman, Geoffry is the happy go lucky friend, and Haven is the voice of reason. I even love the way the Gods and the Fates were written.
ROMANCE: 3
This story is not about romance. Yes, there is a budding relationship between Kyana and Ryker, and yes, they have sex, but this story is more about action.
KICK-ASS: 5
This novel kicks ass. There is a lot of world building, but its not thrusted upon you. There is a lot of action, a lot of fighting, and a lot of bickering between the characters.
OVERALL: 17/20
Sable Grace is going to find a lot of fans after this book comes out. Urban fantasy lovers will fall for the world, the plot, and the characters. I cannot wait until the second book comes out.