Brides of the Kindred book 8 - (Alien Sci-fi Romance)

Evangeline Anderson is one of my favorite writers. I love her Brides of the Kindred series, addicted actually. This series will definitely keep you turning those pages. Very action packed, funny and sexy. You can't go wrong with this series.

Excellent book, with excellent writing from an excellent writer. This book has an amazing storyline in addition you get to see how the other characters from previous books are doing! I defiantly would recommend this book.

I love this series and it keeps getting better and better! This was a great story and I highly recommend it to readers of this series! A Kindred who can't stand being around people finally has hope of a cure and the human woman who he kidnaps is the price. I love a wounded hero and a strong heroine and this book has both!

I love this series! I never have to second guess, I just hit the 1-click purchase button and then hurry to start reading. Now I just have to wait for the next book in the series, Chained. Can't wait!

There was a long gap between the last kindred book and this one, Shadowed: Brides of the Kindred book 8. Yet we had teasers and tastes and from those it sounded like book 8 was another winner.

The characters were enthralling yet the story didn't come thru for me. Nina was a Native American yet she never shares her heritage with Reddix. It was mentioned more than once that she can't become a bride of the kindred, she can't leave Earth. It's the law. Yet there's no follow up on how she's able to be with him, what they need to do as a couple to make their union legal both on Earth and for the Touch Kindred.

Nina's healing gift is so vague. Is it touch? Is it her blood? Is it her physical presence? All three? I had the feeling it was her blood being swallowed by Reddix that reversed his condition. The connection between who Nina is, what she is, and her gifts aren't explored enough to give validity to Reddix being cured.

The last kindred book was about Saber and Lissa. Saber is Reddix's good friend and is a major player in this book Shadowed: Brides of the Kindred book 8. He comes across as dominate, taking over, pushing Lissa off and making up his own mind without her input. For everything Lissa and Saber went through I found his controlling nature in this book a big disappointment. A leader of his people asks for and does consult his mate. Saber does not.

Then there's the other women of our kindred warriors. I didn't see a lot of growth in their lives or personalities. The same old concerns, same food fetishes, some are pregnant, some have kids.

Since there was a big gap between book 7 and this one, I lost track of which mate is with which female. So when the females were talking and arranging the bonding ceremony, I completely lost interest. What I do remember is thinking. . . I hope the bonding fruit and results don't cause any of those pregnancies to abort, if in fact any of the pregnant wives decide to eat the cake with bonding fruit. My other thought was what a stupid excuse to get them to eat bonded fruit. A mix up in labels and which cake was for which party? I'm still shaking my head. And that woman that crashed the party, the one that was mentioned in a brief conversation. . . She ate the concentrated bonding fruit cake, walked thru the park, and was 'relieved' by two unknown warriors. I had to reread that part again because it bothered me so much. No, the two warriors and this up and coming priestess were complete strangers. If they were introduced at the wedding, . . . ok. . . But. . . For two guys and one lone woman, strangers, we're talking about an encounter that is similar to date rape drugs.

Ok, thinking about that while writing. Subtracting another star. Consensual rape? Never mind whether they knew about bonding fruit, (I know she didn't and some warriors don't) her sexual status (she was portrayed as virginal), or whether she falls pregnant. She is given no choice. And the guys know she's not their mate. This was a forced encounter. And Lissa as a priestess herself and knowing how sacred that lifestyle is. . . There wasn't the input from her that I'd expect. That whole scene just left a really bad taste.

I realize the author said she had a hard time getting back into this series. I can understand that but unfortunately her lack of interest shows. I was looking forward to this book, the teasers about Reddix and about Nina were wonderful - Boy was I let down. -- Dan's Wife

*Spoiler alert...there will be spoilers in this review!*

I read Shadowed feeling a sense of enjoyment through most of it. Even the kidnapping at the beginning didn't bother me, because Reddex at least wasn't trying to have sex with Nina (at least not at first) and his characterization and conditon was such, that he ended up depending and leaning on Nina quite a bit in the story, which I thought was nice. Nina came across as a gentle and patient soul, and a mature one as well. She wasn't girlish in the way that Nadiah and Lissa were in their books. She had some life experience and wasn't afraid to be strong for Reddex. It was clear that she felt compassion and curiousity about him very early on, so the whole kidnapping thing went over as smooth as something like being thrown over the shoulder of a giant emotionally-neurotic Kindred possibly could. Reddex was kind of refreshing simply because HE DID NOT WANT TO BE TOUCHED. Desperate because he was supposedly inheriting Saber's job as the leader of their clan (due to Saber being in an "incestuous" relationship with Lissa), Reddex goes to an exiled swamp witch on his planet who tells him she can mute all of the emotions he feels with the blood of a woman with healing hands. Just so happens that he's dream sharing with some Earth chick, who of course is Nina, and she's a massage therapist. But of course they crash land on a weird planet and bond (but not BOND because Reddex can't bond a bride to him due to his condition) and then he can't give her up. Also he discovers Nina mutes others' emotions when she's touching Reddex, and he can't feel hers, so after that, he definitely tries (a little too hard at times) to get into her pants. Ah well, it is erotica. Still, the sexy scenes were not as hot as they normally are and I did find myself skimming them a bit at times. Maybe it's just that it's all getting a little old for me.
And then....then I got to the last part of the book, which is basically Kat's bonding ceremony. It was very very disappointing to me that the story and solution to the issues between Nina and Reddex, was wrapped up with yet another bonding fruit incident. What's more, since the bonding fruit was involuntarily eaten by most of the the people at the reception, there are suddenly consent issues that come into play. Some of what was described in passing (regarding a freaking NUN and some twin kindred, more specifically) sounded like dubious consent at best. I'm certainly not fond of "You must have sex with me even though you don't want to because you'll die due to a health condition" kinds of scenarios. I just can't get down with that.
There will be more books coming I'm sure, especially since she sets up another couple of heroines for their stories in this one. But I think this was the nail in the coffin for me, and I'll be passing on those.

Stars: 4.5

Overall: Just when you think you have the Kindred universe figured out, Ms. Anderson through us Reddix & Nina and it makes you see everything in a whole new light. From the very beginning when they were dream sharing, I knew that this was going to be one wild and not so easy ride for both of them and i wasn't disappointed. Both of them had difficult pasts, having their own pain to deal with and I really enjoyed seeing them heal each other, especially at the end with the bonding fruit. I thank the Goddess that Ms. Anderson added the purple planet to the universe because it sounded like such a beautiful place to be. I think it has to be one of my favorite planets described so far, but I wish that we had more time with the planets inhabitants because they sounded so incredibly cool. When they finally reached Tarsia, I was pleasantly surprised about what happened there and I CANNOT wait to see what's going to happen there in the future because the ending left things WIDE OPEN! OH YEAH MORE BOOKS BABY! =) Side Note: I wish that we had more scenes with Nina and Reddix at the end because i felt like things were just cut off damn it.

Characters: Reddix & Nina

Page Turner: Yes

Series Cont: YES!! I'm so happy that the series is still continuing!

Recommend: I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK AND SERIES!

First I want to say that I received a complimentary review copy from the author. However I have purchased each of the other seven books in this series. I have also bought and read several others, here on the store.com. In total I have read at least 15 of Evangeline Anderson's books. Others, including Wishful Thinking (Swann Sisters Chronicles)and Forbidden are highly recommended.

One of the first things that strikes me different about this book compared to others in the series is the cover. The heroine, Nina, is looking straight out at me, the reader. She is daring me to be a voyeur and become part of her story. Nina is a very pragmatic and self-assured heroine, at least in the first half of the book. She is observant, capable and adaptive to new situations. The hero, Reddix, is a mixture of several other of Anderson's characters. I found his self-loathing a bit too heavy at times, but since he was basically a social outcast from his fellow Touch Kindred, his feelings are understandable.

We are also introduced to a new "big bad," a swamp witch with ex-issues and demonspawn.

I have to say the Touch Kindred are my least favorite of all the Kindred races. I liked the first original three books best, with the Beast and Twin Kindred my favorite guys. I feel their planets and societies are more interesting, as well as their "endowments." I want to see more of them.

Since this is erotic fiction, the intimate scenes are plentiful and descriptive. However I feel that Anderson is writing completely different when she does the sex scenes, because her writing style and vernacular changes considerably. Also after reading more than a dozen books some scenes have become a bit formulaic. (Finding different uses for bonding fruit seems to be a bit tiring and overused now.)

In the latter 25 percent of the book, when our protagonists get separated and we are back on the mother ship, the story starts to unravel a bit. A new character is introduced, which is usually the heroine of the next book. The storyline gets crowded. As in too many characters from the universe are interacting in everyone's business, they are all best friends, and I did not feel that the ending was tidy enough or wrapped up strong enough for the characters I invested in. Gone was the strong character Nina that I was introduced to in the beginning. She became really unsure of herself and what made her unique about her Native American heritage just seemed to fade away and not come back.

I really enjoyed reading this book, my mind was engaged and my imagination ran wild with the hot intimate scenes. Recommended.

Reviewed by Donna at [...]

Nina is exempt from the draft for Kindred brides since she is a Native American. However, that doesn't exempt her from dreaming about a dangerous man with shadowed features. And it doesn't exempt her from waking, aroused, after each dream. It certainly doesn't exempt her from falling in love with the very Kindred male who kidnaps her and drags her away from everything she knows.

Reddix is a Touch Kindred. But he is inflicted with a terrible syndrome that turns his touch sense into a curse. After suffering for ten years, he is willing to do just about anything to find a cure, including trading an innocent woman to an evil swamp witch. But after kidnapping Nina, he simply can't trade her to fulfill his bargain with the witch. He'd rather take on all the hurt and pain in the world than see the gentle, compassionate woman he has fallen in love with suffer for even a moment.

I only have a handful of authors whose books are on my "must have" list, and Evangeline Anderson is one of them. The Brides of the Kindred series is engrossing, and each new installation builds upon the last. I do not recommend trying to pick up the latest book and start from there...you need to start with the first book and finish them all. I know when you start, you'll be hooked.

The eagerly anticipated Book 8 of the Brides of Kindred has now been released and it in true Brides of Kindred fashion, it did not disappoint. Even though there was some time between this book and the last, Ms Anderson provides enough background information so the reader does not have to go back and re-read earlier books in order to remember "where the story is". As well, she very subtly weaved in the characters a book 9 (I hope). This is not a standalone book.

The plot was good however it was not as erotic as past books in this series but that is not to say this is not a good book. While I am not going to re-tell the book in a review (because I think you should read it yourself and find out) It is a story about a Kindred male Reddix who has a physical disorder what adversely affects all aspects of his life and Nina, an earth girl who has the healing touch. Their story begins with Reddix making a business type deal with a witch to cure him and unbeknownst to Nina, she is part of the deal. But as readers of this series know, all is not what it seems. But if you want to know more then buy the book. The price is right and the read very enjoyable.

I look forward to the next book in this series.

Brides of the Kindred 8: Shadowed by Evangeline Anderson is a book I was waiting breathlessly to read. I am a huge fan of the Brides of the Kindred series and this book does not disappoint. It has action, adventure, and an ending that will leave you wanting much more.

Reddix is a tortured hero and one I've waiting on for a long time. He is a good man who has been put in an impossible position, but he still doesn't lose the good that is inside him.

Nina is a woman full of hope and love. She is the light in Reddix's life, and the one who can use her goodness and love to bring back what is broken and fix a man who more than deserves to have his life back. The chemistry between these two is off the charts. They are meant to be together and it shows from the first time they meet.

There is a lot of world building in this story and characters we have met before. I would not read these books out of order. If you want a book with a lot of fire, action, and adventure, this one is the book to pick up. I love this series and cannot wait for more from Ms Anderson in the future.
5 shooting stars

Reddix comes to the Mother Ship to convince his best friend, Saber to return to their home planet to take over his responsibilities. Reddix's condition is getting worse. He goes to a witch to help find a cure. When he is told to find someone who has a pure heart and healing hands. He is supposed to turn her over to the swamp witch.

Nina is working hard as a massage therapist to finish up her PA program. She has been dreaming of a man and is never able to see his face.

When Reddix finds Nina, she realizes this is the man she had been dreaming of. Reddix kidnaps her. They crash on a planet of another race. Nina has to help Reddix with his condition and in the process they learn about each other.

Will Reddix turn Nina over to the witch? Will Reddix be able to get a cure for his condition?

Wonderful story of love found, love pushed away to save and then love found again.

This book, thus far, has been my favorite Kindred book to read in the entire series. The male character Reddix is the sexiest of them all making me truly wish that Kindred men really did exist as I would LOVE to be mated to a man like this. The curse of the taboo disease he has suffered nearly ten years of his life, RTS, reminds me of the story of Rogue from X-Men and draws out my full sympathy and empathy for him and yearning for his happiness. And Nina, half Native American, is a strong, determined, and selfless woman who is just the perfect cure to heal his condition and his battered heart. From start to end, I was completely engrossed in the story (to the point I didn't even cook dinner for the hubby, I just ordered pizza and told him to answer the door when they got to our place). The chemistry bouncing between them was, to me, very addictive and the love scenes the steamiest I've ever read of hers that she's written so far. I couldn't recommend this book more to anyone looking for something with just the perfect touch of erotica and adventure you look for in a book... And at 2.99, it's a wonderful deal. BUY IT! I guarantee you'll love this book.

Another great Brides of the Kindred! Each time I finish one of these books I wonder how Evangeline Anderson will be able to write another that's interesting, unique and as good as all those before. Well, somehow she does and she did it again with Shadowed, Book 8 in Brides of the Kindred.

Reddix is a Touch Kindred and has RTS (Reverse Touch Syndrome), which means he's unable to "touch" a female with his whisper fingers or give her the "Deep Touch" which bonds a Touch Kindred male to his mate. It also means he physically feels everyone's emotions and it always causes him pain, even positive emotions feel like pain to him. He is told by a witch on his planet of Tarsia that to be healed of his RTS he has to bring her a female of pure heart and healing hands and this female is on Earth. Because Reddix is to become Clan Overlord, and that would mean he'd have to be around people constantly and their emotions would bring him constant pain, he determines to bring this female from Earth back to the witch and be healed of his RTS.

Reddix is led to Nina, the female whose blood he needs and he kidnaps her, binds her in cuffs and escapes Earth. (((((The next few sentences are a little bit of a spoiler. Read it or skip to the next paragraph for the rest of my review.))))) He takes her back to his planet through an unstable wormhole and they crash land on an alien planet. They're both knocked out because of the crash landing and when Nina wakes up and is able to get loose of the cuffs and then put the cuffs on Riddix while he's still passed out I was yelling "You go girl!!" LOL I was SOOOO glad the tables were turned on him!

Nina's a great heroine, strong but kind and caring. She's really sweet, but not a wimp. I really enjoyed seeing the relationship develop between her and Reddix, who's one sexy Kindred! And of course the love scenes were HOT! *Fanning Myself* ;)

I also loved how we get to see the other characters from previous books we've grown to love and what is happening in their lives. After finishing Shadowed I want to go back and re-read all the other books in the series, kind of like revisiting old friends.

We're introduced to some new heroines in Shadowed that I KNOW will be in future books. CAN'T WAIT!!! LOL

This is definitely a five star read!

At this point the books just keep getting better and better. I can no longer say I have a fav because I fell in love with each book as the series went on. This series was so amazing. I literally read all 17 books over the past two weeks and couldn't do anything else not even watch my favorite shows because I was so sucked into this world of the kindred. Storyline, characters, and chemistry was amazing. I can't wait for more books in this series to come out!

Shadowed is the 8th book in the kindred series. I've been following this series since the beginning and I'm glad to say that it has only improved. Reddix and Nina's story was a wonderful addition to the series. As always in Anderson's books the chemistry and love between the characters is explosive. The world building in this series has also been pretty amazing..as always I was immersed in a whole new alien world and culture. I'm glad to say that there will be another book in this series which I am definitely looking forward to. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves an erotic romance with substance. You should also try to read the previous books in the series if you have not.

I only became aware of the Kindred series and Evangeline Anderson in the last couple of months, but I eat her books up so fast, I'm caught up with this newest installment. I'm both a Sci-fi geek and a hot blooded female, and this series always scratches both itches.

None of the Kindred stories are alike, making each a certain treasure, that you're foaming at the mouth for the next, which she always nods to at the end of each novel..

the books are also so reasonably priced, even it if weren't great I'd still read them.. needless to say I purchased all 7 and finished them in less than a month, and we aren't talking short stories, but full novels.

I'm waiting on 9 now.. I so love the series..

3.5 Stars
~Reviewed by SUZANNE & posted at Under the Covers Book Blog

Nina is having a pretty normal day when the almost seven foot tall Kindred walks in and kidnaps her. He does seem familiar though, but he can't possibly be the man she has been dreaming about; the man who scares and arouses her at the same time. Reddix, a Touch Kindred, needs a the blood of a woman with a pure heart and healing hands if he is going to cure his Reverse Touch Syndrome (RTS), which means he can feel everyone's emotions physically on his skin. But he never expects the Earth woman to capture his heart and his lust with her strength and compassion. But without the cure her blood will provide he will die, but can he sacrifice the only woman who he could ever love?

Another Kindred book! I love this series, with each new book I am treated to a smorgasbord of alien delights, I have had fangs, double cock, sexy twins and now I have Reddix, the gorgeous Touch Kindred who knows the best use for his tongue, amongst other things.

This book doesn't actually differ that much from the rest of the Brides of Kindred series, but it mixture of fun, angst and sexy is a winner for me so I don't mind that it is slightly repetitious with its story line. What I'm reading for is the sexy alien and watching him woo the Earth girl he can life bond with and Reddix and Nina didn't disappoint, they were great together. Her compassion soothed the rough edges of his personality and experiences and in return he loved the hell out of her.

What I also like about this series is that you get to have a little catch up with the previous characters and see them welcoming the next couple into the fold lending these books the cozy sense of coming home as you greet old and new friends.

If you haven't started this series and you want something with humour, steamy alien sex and lots of fun, then you need to give Brides of Kindred a go, it will leave you with a smile on your face and a longing to be abducted by the alien man of your dreams!

Shadowed....Evangeline has done it again! The story and characters were introduced and developed perfectly...I loved, loved, loved Reddix! Really loved him and Nina together....they were so perfect.....I really liked seeing how the characters (Liv/Baird, Sophia/Sylvan, Lauren/Xairn, Kat/Deep & Lock) from the other 7 books were doing. It was like visiting with old friends...Their were parts that made me laugh and brought tears to my eyes....I abso-frickin-lutely loved this book....As I do with all of her books, cause this chick can write her BUTT OFF!!!!....Don't start with this one but...READ THEM ALL!