A Shade of Vampire 30: A Game of Risk

Title: A Fame of Risk
Series: A Shade of Vampire
Designation: Book Thirty of a Multi-Novel Series (Book Six of Season Four), NOT a Standalone Read, Contains Cliffhanger
Author: Bella Forrest
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal Romance
Reading Platform: Kindle Unlimited
My Rating: FIVE CAPTIVATING STARS *****
A Game of Risk is the thirtieth riveting release in the international bestselling A Shade of Vampire Series and Bella Forrest has totally left me totally breathless - again! Like thousands of my fellow Shaddicts around the world, I've been hooked since the first book of the series and now eagerly await each new release. And it's no surprise that Forrest has delivered another gripping adventure that curls our toes, makes our hearts pound and keeps us begging for more! This is a beautifully written young adult supernatural/fantasy/adventure saga unlike anything I've ever read. The story is well crafted, imaginative, thrilling, fast paced, action packed, suspenseful, sweet, romantic and at times, also dark and mysterious. Whew, what a mouthful, but these are only a few of the words that come to mind after reading this incredible chronicle of the Shade, its inhabitants and their enemies. The narrative is exceptionally well written in the first person with multiple points of view. Each chapter is told by one of the primary characters (and there are many), which I believe gives more depth, intensity and perspective to the story adding vital insight into their thoughts, fears and motivations. The dialogue is smart, well executed and flows effortlessly. Although the premise and plot for the series is intriguing as well as compelling, it's truly the magnificent cast of larger than life characters that makes the biggest impact. They are well developed, fascinating, captivating, engaging, endearing and quite literally, out of this world! They explode from the pages, grab your imagination, capture your heart and hold you completely and totally enthralled from beginning to end. Forrest skillfully combines all of these elements to craft a beautifully written paranormal romance filled to the brim with danger, action, adventure, fantasy, mystery, suspense, magic, supernatural beings, loyalty, heartbreak, betrayal, angst, hope, passion, love and plot twists that will blow your mind. After thirty books in a series, some might think the story has grown old or stagnant, but nothing could be farther from the truth. After reading all the books of the series, there are two things I've learned beyond a shadow of a doubt. First, when reading anything written by Bella Forrest, always expect the unexpected and two, absolutely nothing is ever impossible as we've all witnessed time and time again. In each book Forrest writes, she takes her readers on an emotional and thrilling roller coaster ride unlike any other, one that keeps us on the edge of our seat and riveted to each page while screaming, "OMG - that didn't just happen!" And the icing on the cake, Forrest's books are always well edited, professionally formatted and have gorgeous covers! I'm not a professional reviewer but I know what I like, what I love and what I don't and I love this series! I've never experienced anything like it. After reading Book 24: A Bridge of Stars, the conclusion of Ben and River's story, I could not stop myself from wondering, where Forrest would take her readers next and how would she surpass her last book. But never fear, my friends, Forrest has once again exhibited her exceptional talent, skill and imagination by giving us yet another riveting new adventure featuring an entirely new generation of heroes as well as our beloved favorites from earlier books.

Premise:
Almost twenty years have passed since former vampire and now fae Ben Novak, Prince of The Shade, married the beautiful half blood River Giovanni, in a multiple wedding ceremony hosted by the dragons in The Hearthlands. And much has changed in those years. The King and Queen of The Shade, Derek and Sophia Novak, are now proud grandparents, thrice over and many of the other residents are also proud parents. Wow! Time really flies, doesn't it? Ben and River Novak have one seventeen year old half fae daughter, Grace. Caleb and Rose Achilles have two human children, Hazel, age fifteen, and Benedict, age twelve. Kiev and Mona Novalic have one seventeen year old son named Brock who is half warlock. Witches Ibrahim and Corrine have been blessed with a lovely seventeen year old full blooded witch daughter named Arwen. Claudia and Yuri have an eighteen year old human daughter, Ruby. Even the dragon residents of The Shade are flourishing. Dragon shifter Jeriad and his human wife Sylvia now have a son, handsome strapping nineteen year old half dragon Heath who can't shift but can breath fire. And there have many other happy unions among the residents. Aiden and Kailyn have been married for almost twenty years. Abby and Erik also took the plunge along with Micah and Kira, Eli and Shayla and the two Jinn, Aisha and Horatio. And not surprisingly, ice dragon Lethe also has a human bride and now resides inside the protective boundaries of The Shade. Even Lucas Novak is a thriving resident of The Shade community as well as a productive member of the family and he and Derek have been able to form a close, rewarding familial relationship. And of course, we all remember the birth of Xavier and Vivienne's beautiful daughter, Victoria Vaughn near the end of Ben and River's Story. But as much as things have changed, there are still many things that have remained the same including The Shade's many enemies. A team of warriors has been carefully chosen from the residents of The Shade to fight those enemies and dubbed as The Shadow League or TSL with Ben Novak as Commander and Derek Novak as Commander in Chief. They've been granted an arsenal of technologically advanced weapons along with authority from the government to fight the Bloodless and other malevolent supernaturals who have invaded the human realm. Unfortunately, the Hunters organization has grown as well. They are now known as the International Bureau for Supernatural Investigations aka IBSI and supposedly, also working as a representative of the government to fight the Bloodless and rogue supernaturals in the human realm with their authority surpassing that of even the FBI and CIA. But as always, the Hunters aka IBSI still seem to have a hidden agenda and as in the past, still pose a serious threat to not only the residents of The Shade, but to all supernaturals in every realm. Oh my! The man at the root of it all is Bradley Thornton of the IBSI and not surprisingly, he and his organization of Hunters still seem to hate the residents of The Shade and take advantage of every opportunity to covertly eliminate them.

In Book 25, A Clan of Novaks, Forrest sets the stage for the beginning of a new adventure with an entirely new generation of heroes and heroines. We find beautiful and still very human nineteen year old Victoria Vaughn as one of only two human members of The Shadow League. Victoria is a newly inducted member along with four of her friends, Arwen, Brock, Heath and Grace. They have finally been allowed to accompany the team on a mission resulting in a dangerous showdown with the IBSI, one which almost cost the lives of several members of their team. Derek realizes that something is very wrong and determined to discover what other dastardly deeds Thornton is planning. The Shadow League embarks on an unauthorized fact-finding mission and attempts to infiltrate an IBSI facility. Arwen and Victoria discover a mysterious portal to another realm just outside the facility along with a large cage holding a badly beaten and battered but still very handsome young man who is obviously more than just human. Victoria insists that Arwen use her magic to free the young man who surprisingly admits to being a werewolf. But how is that even possible? It's nighttime and werewolves are forced to transition into their animal forms at sundown but he's still in his human body. Unfortunately, freeing him sets off an alarm resulting in the arrival of ISBI guards and their deadly trained mutant fighters. Victoria is injured and nearly captured but rescued just in the nick of time by the enigmatic former prisoner/werewolf she and Arwen had just freed. Now, a very human Victoria finds herself in The Woodlands realm at the mercy of her mysterious rescuer with her survival now totally dependent upon the handsome werewolf.
Prince Bastien Blackhall is a werewolf and an anomaly. He was born not as a human baby but as a wolf pup and spent the first fifteen wolf years of his life in his wolf form, not being able to shift. But once he finally managed his first shift into a human, he could then transform at will and never forced into wolf form each and every night like his brethren. His father had been the leader of The Woodlands Realm Blackhall Tribe until recently when Bastien was forced to witness the murder of his entire family at the hands of The Hunters aka IBSI. Inexplicably, Bastien was not killed but captured, beaten and forced into a cage with no hope of escape - until an unknown and very lovely young human woman appears, seemingly determined to rescue him. When the young woman is injured and nearly captured herself, he knows he must help her. And it has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that she's very beautiful and also smells absolutely delicious. Oh my! A new romance is born and here we go again!

In Book 26, A World of New, our story resumes directly after the Hunters'(aka IBSI) attack on The Woodlands Realm which has led Bastien to believe that Victoria may be the traitor who led the enemy to their door just as his Aunt Brucella charged. Bastien is reluctant to believe the accusations against the young woman who rescued him and for whom he has now grown to deeply care for, but he must focus his attention on escaping not only the deadly Hunters but staying out of the clutches of his aunt and her unwelcome attempts of forcing him to marry her daughter Rona. Victoria, having been rescued by her family during the Hunters' attack, finds herself back at The Shade, alone and miserable without Bastien. She somehow must convince her family to return to The Woodlands, discover Bastien's fate and hopefully rescue him before it's too late. Fortunately, Derek has a plan to return The Woodlands and liberate the entire realm. And that's only the first step of his strategy to completely eliminate the threat posed by the Hunters. But during the attack on the Hunter base of operations, a prisoner is discovered by The Shadow League. The lone survivor is a young man who appears to be paralyzed and near death with no memories of his life or identity. They rescue him and take him to The Shade to heal and recover. The lovely half fae Grace Novak is charged with his care but all is not as it seems. The young man appears to be a half blood who was not only held captive by the Hunters but also used as an experimental test subject. Unfortunately, the witches nor the Jinn can identify the cause of his illness and are unable to heal him. To make matters worse, for some inexplicable reason, the hunters are determined to recover their missing prisoner, no matter the cost. And the lovely seventeen year old Grace seems to be developing a very strong attachment to the young man with no name. Another mystery is afoot and possibly another blossoming romance! Oh my! Is this unknown young man friend or foe? Will Grace be able to help him remember who he is and how he came to be a prisoner? And will The Shadow League find Bastien in time and free the The Woodlands realm from the Hunters? We'll see!

In Book 27, A Web of Lies, the adventure continues after Derek and The Shadow League liberate The Woodlands Realm from the hunters/IBSI. They rescue Bastien from the Trunchlands, the Ogre realm and transport him to the hospital at The Shade for treatment. Despite Brucella's attempts to keep them apart, Bastien and Victoria are finally reunited but their separation has forced the young couple to realize their true feelings for each other. Unfortunately, Bastein's Aunt Brucella is not so easily deterred and refuses to submit to her husband's wishes. She is still determined to force Bastien into a marriage with her daughter, Rona, no matter the cost, and with Brucella's new plan, that cost could be great indeed. The identity of the mysterious young man rescued earlier from the IBSI/hunter facility in The Woodlands has finally been discovered. A man by the name of Atticus Conway, claiming to be the young man's father, arrives at The Shade with an army of hunters pleading for the release of his son so that he may receive treatment from the IBSI, also revealing that without this treatment that only the hunters can provide, his son will die. Josh, now known to be Lawrence Conway, is surrendered to his father, Atticus and the IBSI. But now that Lawrence aka Josh is back in the hands of the hunters/IBSI, Grace is forced to admit that her interest in the handsome young man has evolved into something far greater than only the professional regard of a caregiver. Unfortunately, Grace's instincts are also telling her that all is not as it seems and that Atticus Conway has not been entirely truthful in his claims. Grace finds herself with quite the quandary but is more determined than ever to uncover the truth regarding Lawrence Conway aka Josh and the mystery surrounding him. Lies are exposed, shocking secrets revealed, new enemies uncloaked while old enemies still lurk at every turn. Oh my!

In Book twenty-eight, A Touch of Truth, our story continues on Murther Island where Brucella sets into motion her deceitful plan to manipulate the imprisoned Mortclaws, coercing them into aiding in her quest to destroy Victoria with the promise of their freedom, and also demanding an alliance between the Mortclaws and Northstones to be insured by the marriage of her daughter Rona to Bastien Blackhall (Mortclaw???). Bastien has now become the leader of the Blackhall Clan of Werewolves and is working tirelessly to negotiate alliances with the other clans of The Woodlands, but his heart and thoughts are focused on the lovely Victoria who has returned to The Shade. But Brucella may have bitten off more than she can chew, quite literally. While searching for information on the mysterious FOEBA and the location of her former patient and new friend Lawrence Conway, Grace is captured by the IBSI in Hawaii and transported to Chicago. But again, all is not as it seems. Danger abounds and more mystery is afoot. What is FOEBA and what is the nefarious IBSI up to this time? Did Lawrence survive and if so, will Grace be able to find him? Will she find a way to escape? Or has her luck finally run out? And exactly who is Atticus Conway and what is his real connection to the IBSI? Will The Shadow League finally discover the purpose of FOEBA? Will they somehow manage to stop the power hungry machinations of the IBSI before it's too late? We'll see!

In Book 29, An Hour of Need, while a troubled Victoria ponders her life and the risks she's willing to take to ensure a future with Bastien, the remaining members of the weary, beleaguered heroes of The Shadow League face insurmountable odds in their fight against the malevolent IBSI, but resolutely continue their search for answers in order to save one of their own. But time is running out, their enemies are closing in and what they discover may very well be too little too late. Oh my! Could Atticus Conway's son, Lawrence, be the key to finding the answers they desperately seek? Will Lawrence even remember his beautiful, selfless caregiver Grace and the time he spent at The Shade? We'll see! OMG! I was glued to my chair, white knuckling my ereader, completely enthralled with my heart fluttering wildly in my chest while the pages flew as did the time!

In Book 30, A Game of Risk, our story continues as our heroes and heroines from The Shade race against the clock, facing insurmountable obstacles to save the people they love. Victoria soon realizes the true depth of her feeling for Bastien but how much is she willing to sacrifice of herself for the man she loves? And will Bastien be willing to do the same. The clock is ticking for Grace as she finally faces the worst challenge of her life. But will she suffer it alone, with only her family for comfort or will Lawrence see his father, Atticus Conway, for truly the evil man he is? Time is running out for our warriors of The Shade. Have they finally found an enemy they cannot defeat or will Derek and Ben once again achieve the impossible? Just how much are they willing to risk? We'll see! Oh my! This just gets better and better!

Two beautiful, brave heroines-check! A handsome werewolf prince-check! A mysterious young man with no memory-check! A magnificent cast of characters including a new generation of heroes-check! A plethora of supernatural beings including mutants, vampires, werewolves, witches, dragons, ogres, jinn, fae and even a hellhound-you bet! Danger, drama, adventure, suspense, betrayal and malevolent enemies-check! Two sweet budding romances-maybe! That and a whole lot more! Buckle up my lovelies for another exciting new adventure with all our favorite residents of The Shade including a brand new generation of heroes, all working together to battle old enemies along with a few new ones as well. I can hardly wait for Book 31: A Twist of Fates which will be the penultimate release before the conclusion of Grace and Victoria's story! I love it! Fabulous entertainment and an awesome read!

But I wish they lasted longer. These books are shorter than from the very beginning. They seem to draw u in for sure but I almost feel teased & less satisfied with it because I'm not given enough of the story. Of course I have to keep reading. So sad about Grace. Also I can only hope Victoria & Bastien will somehow come together with all ending on good note. A few things to mention.... Where is Kiev? He's hardly in any of these stories. Miss that character. Want to hear more about Brock & Arwen too. I really love the Bastien character as well! Reading about Ben watching Grace turn into Bloodless was so heartbreaking. Made me cry. Poor girl. Hope she finally comes together with Lawrence. BUT what about Orlando??? He should not be so alone. He needs somebody too. I feel really bad for him. Bella, your writing is brilliant & you have me hooked until the very end. Thank you. I'm definitely s Shaddict!!!!

This series completely moves me. It keeps me on the edge of my seat at all times wondering what will happen next.

So many questions. What will happen to Lawrence now that his father had discovered he is working with the novaks?!will they make him black out the whole thing or will they novaks save him?

Poor grace! Her running out of time killed me. But her mind still existing makes me curious. What does this mean for Orlando. . .

Vicky... I knew she'd drink too much of that formula. Now look at her! She's a mess! What will she do now?

This series is just a wirlwind of emotions but I love it!

This addition to the saga is full of serious action and suspense. My heart is just aching to find out if Ben can save his daughter or if Lawrence can save the love of his life. Tremendously complex storylines intersect deeply throughout this amazing saga. Where one storyline seemingly resolves a few more form seeking resolution. So many supernatural beings, so many different family dynamics. This is by far much more complex and evolved since the onset of the 'Twilight' phenomena . I await patiently for August 3rd! I have obtained my copy via KU.

Oh my god, this book was amazing! I am absolutely loving Derek being even more of a badass than he already was, I love him more and more with every book! This book was really fast paced and I couldn’t believe what I was reading! I was turning the pages so quickly, I just couldn't put it down! It was all very exciting and at times traumatic, Bella's cliffhangers kill me! I can’t wait for book 31. I can never predict what will happen next so I have given up trying lol, I’m just really looking forward to reading it and finding out. Thanks again for another amazing book Bella!

Bella always delivers the unexpected!

It feels like I'm watching a movie instead of reading a book. There's plenty of background information, sometimes things jump ahead of where you think things are going. But Bella always brings all the parts together and leave you wanting more!

How to start? This book is another fast paced action packed episode in the life of the Shade. There are risks to be taken on many fronts, some successful, some not. Fearless as always our hero’s jump in with both feet! Suspense and heartaches, joy and disappointment abound in this race to save not only the people we love but maybe even the world as we know it. Another hit Miss Bella.

Bella did it once again. Mesmerizing us with her words and imagination. I can't wait to read the next chapter and the next after that. Everything about this book left me wanting more I read it faster than any other. I'm a shaddict to the end. Thanks again Bella Forrest you are a true genius. Buy the entire series it's worth it. Adventures and fun for months if you do.

Love this series, it really pulls you into the world of the Shade. I find it hard to put down and usually have read the entire book in one day. I highly recommend for all age groups. Can't wait for #31. While you can read each book alone, I recommend that you start with book 1. By the time you reach book 30, these are your neighbors. Love it

A shade of Vampire series has everything you want in a story. Full of romance, adventure, and lots of twists... You'll look forward to each book, all 32 of them and you won't need to wait, since they're all out, except the last two, out in Aug & prob. Sept. 2016. If you loved Twillight, this author is for you. Also loved all of Bella's other books, you will too... :)))

This series is amazing and definitely a five star rating plus. Luckily I and others don't have to wait to long for the next book and up coming ending. Which is a joy and a sadness. Sure hope Bella has more ideas in-store after the ending. How can we live with out her books. And how can it come to a conclusion in just two books?

Sadly, Shade inhabitants are being forced to fight the bad guys, deal with multiple dramas on many different levels and still survive to fight another day! Good thing they are supernatural! I doubt most of us humans could survive! 30 was another excellent chapter in this saga, looking forward to 31!

I absolutely love Bella Forrest! She keeps you engaged and also doesn't leave you hanging very long! I honestly believe this series needs to be turned into a television show! I love this series and once I start reading it, I cannot put it down!

Going to leave this review short and sweet, if you're this far in the series this book will not disappoint. It leaves you on your toes more than others and has you not wanting to wait a second before cracking opening the book that follows.

Bella, Bella, Bella! An amazing writer!! Each book captures from the very start!! She creates a world most of us would love to live in! A wonderful escape from reality! How she puts a book a month out I will never know!!

Bella, Bella, Bella! An amazing writer!! Each book captures from the very start!! She creates a world most of us would love to live in! A wonderful escape from reality! How she puts a book a month out I will never know!!

Great continuation of the series! Can't wait for the next book. I just love all the characters in the Shade! If you haven't read the Shade series, go back to the beginning and read them all, you won't regret it!