How to Tame a Beast in Seven Days - A Novel of the Embraced

First book in the new series The Embraced by Kerrelyn Sparks, How to Tame a Beast in Seven Days is a wonderfully woven new Fantasy Romance world. The prologue paints a world where four Kingdoms all worship the sun and two small islands who worship the double moons. When a child is born under the eclipse, when two moons becomes one, they are said to be blessed by the Moon Goddesses and are special. The men in charge of the sun's church believe these children are dangerous and must be killed upon birth. But the Isle of the Moons often takes children into their sanctuary. The Embraced is about six young girls who were all born under the eclipse; this book centers around the eldest of the six, Luciana.

I can already tell this series going to be awesome. The active setting is spectacular, the fantastical medieval setting is so easy to picture in my head. The characters are so easy to fall in love with. The plot of a the book is a serious one but leave it to Kerrelyn Sparks to have a comic relief that will have you bust out laughing at inappropriate times.

Luciana was raised on the Isle of the Moons as an orphan along with her (adoptive) sisters. Luciana and her sisters would kill the time by telling fortunes using colored stones, it was all in fun until one day Luciana's prediction came true. Luciana's father came to the isle to get Luciana. The King has demanded that Lucius' daughter was to marry his nephew Lord Leofric of Benwick or else face death. The King has become greedy in his power and will do anything to obtain the wealthy lands that Lucius owns; that includes murdering them before the wedding. Leo is one of the embraced, but he contains the power of lightning and no one can touch him, so the can't kill him. Leo has risen in the ranks of the army and is now the Lord Protector of their Kingdom. All this was a way for the King to try and kill him but so far his attempts were unsuccessful. Now Leo has to go and get married to a young woman and protect her from the King's murderous intentions.

It was love at first sight. From across a crowded courtyard their eyes met and Luciana knew nothing would be the same again. Leo vows to protect his betrothed and despite the rumors about her, he knows she's different from any other woman he's met and he knows she's hiding something from him. He tries not to get to close afraid his touch will kill her but in no time their love is stronger than even the King. But will the Kings machinations kill them before it's too late?

Overall, outstanding. I really can't wait for the next books. It's a continual rollercoaster ride of adventure, action, magic, and mayhem; and the romance is pretty dang good too.

From the brilliant imagination of Kerrelyn Sparks comes a bold new fantasy romance series in which passion and magic collide. Behold the Embraced...

As one of the Embraced—one born with magical powers—the beautiful, innocent Luciana escaped certain death after her father hid her away on the Isle of Moon. Now, nineteen years later, her father has returned with a frightening request. He will be executed unless Luciana returns to the mainland and marries a man feared throughout the land: a terrifying brute known as the Beast.

Luciana accepts her fate and agrees to wed the Beast—Lord Leo—in order to save her father. Soon she learns that her betrothed is also one of the Embraced. With the ability to wield lightning, Leo’s immense power strikes fear into the hearts of men. . .and his mere touch can put an end to a woman’s life. But Luciana cannot deny the passion that burns between them. How can she resist the man who scorches her soul and makes her feel intoxicated with desire—even if surrendering to him could destroy them both?

Review:

I can say with certainty that I have loved every Kerrelyn Sparks book that I have ever read and that absolutely includes this one!

This is the first in a new series featuring people who are "Embraced" which are special powers. It starts with girls who have been sent to a nunnery as babies by their families to hide them from those who would not understand their powers. It looks as though each book will center around one of the girls and what happens when she finds out who she is and where she came from. In this first story we have Luciana, who can interact with the dead. This leads to some interesting, fun and dramatic scenes as she is interacting with them. Than we have "The Beast" or Leo who can harness lightening and can kill with a touch. It is basically love/lust at first sight for these two and all the things that these two go through to be together is a wild ride. I don't want to give away too many plot points or spoilers. So I will boil it down to this; we have good vs. evil, action, adventure, drama, court machinations and romance. The world building was done excellently and it was easy to understand, who and what was going on. Plus, Ms. Sparks always has a way with witty and fun dialogue that makes her stories all that much more enjoyable to read.

I would highly recommend this to anyone looking for a romantic fantasy read.

4.5Stars

*I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this book provided by the publisher.*

***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***

How to Tame a Beast in Seven Days by Kerrelyn Sparks
Book One of The Embraced series
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Publication Date: March 7, 2017
Rating: 4 stars
Source: eARC from NetGalley

***Warning: this is an adult book, and for the eyes of mature readers***

Summary (from Goodreads):

Luciana grew up on the Isle of Moon, hidden away because of her magical powers. But when her father arrives, he offers her a choice: remain on the island or return with him and marry the Beast of Benwick in order to save their legacy—and her father's life.

Lord Leofric, the Beast of Benwick, has not been touched since he was a child. Born with the power to harness lightning, he is a danger to everyone he touches. When he meets his betrothed, he expects a loveless, lonely marriage...until he discovers she's vastly more powerful than he realized. But is she strong enough to withstand his touch?

If they can survive, their love will alter the future of the kingdom. But will their extraordinary powers cost them everything?

What I Liked:

How to Tame a Beast in Seven Days is a funny, swoony, and sweet romance novel that is sure to charm readers. It's a quick read that will have you smiling throughout the story. I can't remember the last time I read a book (adult novel or otherwise) and felt light and happy during the entire thing. This book always had a light, hopeful, upbeat tone to it, even when there was the occasional dangerous scene. I really liked this book!

Luciana grew up on the Isle of Moon in a convent with several other orphaned girls. She is Embraced, which means she has extraordinary magical powers. The story opens with her father arriving at the convent to take her with him. It turns out, she has a father, and she had a twin sister, but the twin, Tatiana, died. Luciana goes with her father in order to save him; if she doesn't pretend to be her dead twin Tatiana, and wed the Beast of Benwick, her father will be killed and the Vindalyn holdings would be seized by the greedy king. Leofric of Benwick, Lord Protector of the Realm, has quite the reputation. He is Embraced, and his touch kills. He gets struck by lightning and absorbs the power of the lightning, which makes him extremely powerful and extremely deadly. But Luciana finds that he is not the monster everyone makes him out to be. He is selfless and willing to die for her and her father, as well as the people he serves, as Lord Protector. Their marriage was ordered by the king, but no one expected them to fall for each other.

The beginning is a little slow, but once Luciana and Leo meet (unofficially and then officially), I was really hooked. Their interactions were always interesting - and I was dying to know when Leo would find out who Luciana really was (remember, she is pretending to be her twin sister, who is actually dead).

From the start, I knew I would like Luciana. She is so sweet and kind, and she has the interests of her convent sisters and her father at heart. She drops everything to save her father, even if it meant marrying the Beast of Benwick. And even in meeting Leo and getting to know him, Luciana looks at him with an open mind and an open heart. I love how sweet Luciana is. It's rare that you'll find a sweet yet assertive heroine in romance novels - too often, she's either too assertive and bossy, or too innocent and naive. Luciana is a great combination of the two.

Oh Leo. Leo is my favorite of this book. He is so complex and different, and my heart broke for him. Every time someone referred to him as the Beast, or whispered or pointed or assumed something bad about him... worse still was when he would call himself a monster and think of himself in such a negative light. The poor man needed a hug! No one has really touched him since he was very young. He is isolated, and yet he is incredibly selfless and brave. He's a noble warrior with a good heart, and it's really too bad that everyone is terrified of him. He's such a good guy. He's also quite the wicked charmer, once one gets past his mask of indifference.

You probably can already tell, but this is based on Beauty and the Beast! Hence the sweet heroine and the isolated, tortured hero. Leo isn't actually a "beast" - he's a young, handsome young man - but he has the power to kill anyone with his lightning touch. But he's also incredible powerful, with all of the lightning he can harness. Luciana's power as an Embraced seems to be discerning the future, though she isn't quite proficient. She can also see and speak to ghosts.

I love the cast of secondary characters! Nevis, Leo's best friend, is hilarious (and eats with no shame, which is always funny). Brody, another friend of Leo's, is a sweetheart, and he's an enigma too. Luciana's father the Duke is a nice man, and she and him grow close despite not knowing each other for nineteen years. There are important ghosts in the story - yep, you read that correctly. Luciana's dead twin, Tatiana becomes an important secondary character. I liked seeing her and Luciana grow closer, despite Tatiana being an utter brat, initially.

One of the things that worried me a little was how Luciana's deception was going to impact Leo. It turns out that Tatiana was a spoiled, selfish brat, and she had a lover. Luciana, on the other hand, is a sweet and polite girl who was raised in a convent (and therefore, a virgin). I was worried about what Leo would think of "Tatiana" and when he would find out that "Tatiana" is actually Luciana. BUT I think the author did a great job with the reveal, and the timing of the reveal. Leo actually starts to pick up fairly quickly on the fact that "Tatiana" is not who she says she is.

The romance is so sweet! I feel like I'm overusing the word "sweet", but the romance can definitely be described as sweet. Luciana falls in love with Leo very quickly, which didn't bother me at all. The title says "seven days" and that is actually how long they have, from meeting each other, to getting married. The story goes on for a month after the wedding, but all of the falling in love occurs in a week. This worked for the story, and didn't feel rushed at all (despite the fact that it was only seven days). Leo and Luciana develop a strong emotional connection from the start. Leo is pretty much a goner upon first sight. Luciana quickly realizes that Leo is a good man, and her kind disposition lends itself to her keeping an open mind with him. The romance is sweet and chemistry between the pair is pretty steamy. Not the most fiery of romances, but they have their moments. They have great chemistry, for a sweet, cute pair.

I also liked how both protagonists develop internally. Luciana develops a relationship with her father, her sister (a ghost), and her dead mother (also a ghost). She has a whole family that she never had before, in addition to a handsome husband. And Leo - he's gone years without being touched, or loved. He's also withdrawn into himself. I had so much respect for Leo as he continued to serve everyone, despite everyone being afraid of him or blaming him for things he didn't even do. The author did an amazing job with the character development of both of these protagonists, with all of their issues in the past, and present.

The plot aside for the romance has to do with the selfish, murdering king who wants older, powerful land holdings for himself. The Duke (Luciana's father) has a lot of power and a lot of land. The king sends assassins to kill both Luciana and her father many times. The king also wants Leo dead since Leo is a direct heir to the throne (he is the king's nephew), among other reasons. So the climax of the book comes down to Leo and Luciana fighting for their lives.

Overall, I was quite pleased with this book! It was cute and light, funny and sweet. I love Beauty and the Beast retellings, and this one did not disappoint.

What I Did Not Like:

This isn't really a complaint because I'm satisfied in general (really, I am!), but I would have loved a little more steam in the romance. Don't get me wrong, there are a couple of sex scenes and smoldering non-sex scenes, but I wouldn't have minded more. There was really only one major sex scene and I feel like there should always be two or three. But again, this isn't really a complaint because the author did a good job with the chemistry, in general.

Would I Recommend It:

I definitely recommend this book to those who love adult romance. This is a fantasy romance set in medieval times, so it's kind of historical fantasy romance. There is plenty of magic (abilities, shifters, dragons, elves), plenty of humor, and plenty of swoon between Leo and Luciana. I dare you not to fall in love with Leo! I think he's a new favorite book boyfriend.

Also... the guy on the cover is a perfect Leo. I don't usually comment on a book's cover because the author has no control over that, and often times, the cover models don't quite match the character. But the cover model of this book's cover pretty much matches the Leo in my head. Maybe the hair could be a little more red but in general, he is perfect!

Rating:

4.5 stars. I'm trying to decide if I want to round up or down, and my general thing is that if I'm undecided, I'll round down for the time being. This book is more than likely going to end up in my top ten adult novels of 2017, at the end of the year! I am definitely looking forward to reading So I Married a Sorcerer.

Talk about a meaty piece of world building! Ms. Sparks has embarked on a new series and if it means to go on as it’s started, then this should be an adventure that fans are going to gobble up. There’s mystical prophecy, power plays, subterfuge, shape changers, ghosts, secrets and noble deeds. There’s an intricate plot of intrigue and deception and the heroine, Luciana is the focal point. She was innocent and ignorant of so many things about the world outside the Isle of Moon where she’s lived all her life. She’s known nothing else except her sisters. One clandestine visit from a surprise visitor leads the heroine onto a path she never imagined, and for readers, the adventure begins.

Ms. Sparks was meticulous about setting the stage for not just this book, but for all the novels to come. She did it in such a way that captured my interest and kept it. Secondary characters are slowly introduced and each one propelled the plot forward, contributed to the conflict or assisted in the eventual blossoming romance between Luciana and Leo. I enjoyed watching them fall in love; not the easiest thing to do amidst such mistrust and evil portents dogging their steps. Thank goodness for Leo’s stalwart friends, friends like Brody. I really liked him and he provided comic relief every now and again. But Brody isn’t a jester – he’s brave, courageous and loyal and has a lot of hero potential.

There’s a very clever evil dude that made quite an impression. He’s diabolical, wily and I bet he’s going to be a reoccurring pain in the neck for future heroes and heroines in the series. He’s unlike any villain I’ve seen so kudos to Ms. Sparks for introducing a convincing adversary.

What makes Leo such a fascinating hero is his…talent. It’s a very scary and powerful ability that has the power to kill everyone. That kind of puts a kink into any romantic plans he has or would ever have. How in the world did the author come up with such a surprising and effective work-around I can’t even begin to imagine. But it works, it’s amazing and it made perfect sense within the world that Ms. Sparks has created.

There is suspense, drama, action and even some humor. Of course, when Leo and Luciana finally stumble upon a way to love each other physically, the romance zooms off the charts into the stratosphere of pure satisfaction. Those scenes simultaneously made me smile (lightening rod) and swoon (romance and joy). They were SO good together!

There is absolutely no doubt that How to Tame a Beast in Seven Days is going to knock readers’ socks off. It has that wonderful storytelling voice that Ms. Sparks is known for, plus characters that are engaging, well rounded and vivid. I am an ecstatically happy reader and I’m looking forward to going wherever the author is going to take me next.

originally posted at long and short reviews

Brilliantly written full of intrigue, laughter, romance and vivid descriptions. This is the first book I have read from author Kerrelyn Sparks and I am not disappointed in this first book to the new The Embraced Series. It was enthralling on how she plotted this book with all the characters and plots going on in the background.

The dramatic first chapter opening quickly move the reader into Luciana's life and how her life was to change. It was very fast paced and I just couldn't put the book down from that point on. Her sisters were another point of interest and it was obvious that their stories would be just as phenomenal as hers.

What an interesting and unexpected character Lord Leofric, the Beast of Benwick turned out to be! His fully developed personality is larger than life and will enchant the reader as they learn more about him. The men in his army that are close to him create a tight family as well as a very strong defensive team for keeping those he cares for alive.

Brody is the secondary character that caught my imagination as he was featured throughout the book. Even if he wasn't there is something about him that drew me too him. As one of the Embraced it is obvious that there is more to him than meets the eye and I can't wait to read his book.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I can't wait for the next book to this series for this reason I give it 5 STARS.

Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.

After reading Kerrelyn Sparks' Love at Stake series I found myself reluctant to start reading another series by her since its been my experience when I love a series from an author so much and it ends, the next one they release is not as good because I go in with high expectations. I am so glad I decided to try this one.

Luciana thought she was an orphan raised by nuns of the Isle of Moon. She and her four sisters (they have adopted each other as such) have been together since birth with Luciana been the oldest at nineteen and Maeve been the youngest. But then in the middle of a rainstorm, Luciana discovers that she is not at all an orphan and her father has come to take her back home.

Then we have Leofric of Benwick best known as the Beast. Everyone knows he is Embraced and he by law should be dead but his power makes him almost invincible. He can absorb lightning into himself and harness it to move really fast or shoot it from his hands. Nobody can touch him or they'll die.

It was interesting seeing how this story developed, the rules or this world, how the Embraced come to be and what makes them special. As you can imagine there is not a lot of sexy scenes between the characters because of Loe's power and he doesn't realize that he can touch Luciana without harming her until later in the book but it gives the author for world building and to explain many facets of this new series.

I was so into the story with all the thing that were happening that I didn't care about it. I think it was well written, the characters well developed and it left me with enough curiosity to want to keep reading the series. I can't wait to get my hand on the second book "So I Married a Sorcerer" and the release of the third one "Eight Simple Rules for Dating a Dragon".

AudioBook Review
Stars: Overall 4 Narration 1 Story 4

The first and long awaited title I’ve been able to read and review from Kerrelyn Sparks, and I was not disappointed at all with the story, the world-building or the characters. I did not, unfortunately, get quite the buzz from the narrative performance from Jill Tanner, and there was one word, mispronounced and overused that made me grimace. Repeatedly. But, I digress.

A world that is comprised of five kingdoms that carries a feel of the medieval, with islands, competing factions, horrendous kings and a magical element, The Embraced, who are born under the night of the two moons, and all carry the weight of their special powers and a death sentence from the King. Right off, you can’t help but admire Sparks’ skill in building the world and settings without overwhelming readers with an infodump: and making you need to know more. But this is Leofric and Luciana’s story: full of all the drama, hope and understanding (not to mention dangers) that one could wish for.

Leofric is the Beast – able to contain and harness the power of lightning, the only reason he wasn’t killed at birth was his relationship to the King. Oh, and let’s not forget to mention that anyone who touches him, when his powers are charged, will be struck down – even casual touches bring sparks. Poor thing: he’s never been held or touched, and is usually feared and set apart: all leading to his own feelings of unworthiness. But, he’s betrothed, and must marry (King’s rules) and appear in court. A man who is fiercely protective of those he cares for – he’s not going to misstep here.

Then there is Luciana: living on an island with her “sisters”, she believes herself an orphan without actual family: only the other children on an island that harbors Embraced children. But, when her father appears and requests she stand in for her now dead twin sister, marry the beast and come off the island: she acquiesces. Many changes for this one – and while at first she is quite biddable and unwilling to make waves to choose for herself, her strength and her innate sweetness do see her through when meeting the “beast”.

Oh these two were adorable together: Leofric’s innate protectiveness and Luciana’s heart do work wonders on them both, as each finds support, caring, understanding and yes, love, in the other. Secondary characters add to the story with humor, sad stories and possible potential for future matches, as this world where a very powerful yet mortal King is desperately seeking to hoarde power and allies that will make him invincible. A clever start for a new series that will have people (me included) anxious for the next.

Narration for this story is provided by Jill Tanner, and sadly she did not manage to rise to the occasion. With repeated mispronunciations (particularly with the word grimace – which repeats far too often and is thus highlighted in neon) the boilerplate ‘read to get through’ feeling left me disappointed. SO much could have been different had she used emotion, smiled occasionally while reading, or even managed to convey some of the wonder and danger that Sparks put into the text. But, it was a flat performance, feeling very much like a read this chapter moment in high school, where you read to get done – not to actually engage that I can’t wholeheartedly recommend the audio version – but have bought the paperback for my own library.

I received an AudioBook copy of the title from Recorded Books for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

I received a copy of this book from netgalley for an honest review.

How to Tame a Beast in Seven Days is the first book I've read by Kerrelyn Sparks, and I was pleasantly surprised. The world in this book (and hopefully series) has similarities to Earth, including the name of Aerthlan, with five kingdoms, four that span the "mainland", and the last consisting of two islands, one small, Moon, and one very small, the Isle of Mist. On the island of Moon, they have a convent and then the rest of the island is filled with normal people. The convent worships the two Moons, Lessa and Luna. On the night the two Moons come together in an embrace, in what we would call an eclipse, any children that are born are considered Embraced. Both our hero and heroine are Embraced.

Leofric, the Beast of Benwick, is the Lord Protector of Eberon. He also happens to be Embraced, when he was five years old he got hit by lightening, and it's power stayed in his body until he touched his nanny and killed her. From then on, he had little to no physical touch with other humans, and usually only with a drought.

Luciana of Vindalyn, has been raised as an orphan at the Convent of the Two Moons. She's raised with four other girls, the youngest being 15 and Luciana was the oldest at 19. Mother Ginessa, the nun in charge of convent, encouraged the girls to spend time together when they weren't doing chores, because they couldn't stay quiet during meditation and prayer hours. Luciana had started to learn how to write and draw copies of certain books that the convent sells all over the mainland, since the nuns, and girls, are all fluent in all four mainland languages. Before Luciana can become too comfortable learning to make the books, a man shows up with two servants and a coffin. It had started storming on the island of Moon just before the stranger showed up, and it was raining very, very hard. One of the nuns came to get Luciana, to take her to Mother Ginessa's office, where she and the stranger waited.

Luciana learned that the stranger was actually her father, the coffin contained her identical twin sister, and she needs to leave with her father as soon as the raining stops, so that she can meet the Lord Protector of Eberon, as Tatiana, since they are to be married in two months at the king's residence. She's not sure if she wants to take the place of a sister she never met. At least, never met while her sister, Tatiana, was alive. Luciana, and Tatiana when she was alive, is able to see ghosts, to talk to them. That comes very much in hand later in the story, as she, Tatiana and their young ghost friend Chris hunt for the assassins the king has sent to kill Luciana and her father, and the Lord Protector if they are able.

Leofric, or Leo as his friends call him, started toward Vindalyn with almost his whole army, but shortly after, they're contacted by some of the troops left on the boundary with one of the other kingdoms, saying there was renewed fighting there. Leo sends some more of the army there. Then he stopped near another border and he walked right into some fighting with dragons, who'd stolen some kids from a border town. He ended up having to use his lightening power to stop the dragons and get all the kids back. He leaves a few more troops with this town, to help them rebuild and to ward off any dragons that might try to stop by again. From there he makes his way to Vindalyn and his betrothed. He sets it up so that it seems like only a small unit of troops make it there, almost like a scout team, with his best friend Nevis Harden as the officer in charge. Considering Nevis is the third highest officer, after Leo and Nevis' father, General Harden, he is more than qualified to lead a small unit of troops. This way, Leo is able to check out the lay of the land, so to speak. He tries to find out who the assassins could possibly be, check out the priests' rooms, and keep an eye out for security issues that Vindalyn might have.

From this point on, the action takes off, with Luciana and Leo meeting several times before she knows his name. He compliments her every chance he gets, which ended up twisting her up, since she found him so attractive but she knew she had to marry the Beast to save her father's life. She starts thinking of Leo as her dream man, all the way up until she officially meets him a few days later. Then she's not sure what she thinks of him. Soon after, assassins start attaching, poisoning, shooting arrows, and so on and so forth!! All within a couple days time. There really isn't a full moment throughout the book! Luciana's spies are helpful throughout most of the book, finding out about who had attacked them, once in enough time to get help for the poison. Through all of this, Leo has had suspicions about who Luciana is, but right before they leave Vindalyn to go to the king's court, he finds a letter that her foster sisters had sent her, calling her Luciana. What her father had done for years, hiding that his wife had had Embraced twins, was considered treason, as that both babies should have been killed as far as the king believed. Then when Tatiana died and their father asked Luciana to take over Tatiana's life, so that he wouldn't be killed by the king (death isn't an excuse for not being available to do the Kong's bidding, don'tcha know?). There's so very many reasons Leo could use to kill her and her father, if he hadn't already fallen in love with her. In a happy accident a day or so after he learns all her secrets from her, they find out he's able to touch her, even when his body is carrying much of the energy from the last storm he was caught in. For a man that's had very limited human contact, and that's only after an extended drought, he's very happy to find out he can hug, among other things, his beautiful wife.

Would I recommend this book? Yes! The only type of people I would tell to skip this, is the kind of people that everything has to be absolutely familiar to them when they read a book. If you don't mind the world is different, and really you could say it means Europe or Australia, which ever one your least familiar with; and the religions are different, they're more like Pagans. If you can overlook, or be excited by, those couple things, plus that pesky extra moon, then you're golden!! You're ready to check out an amazing new series, that I'm hoping will provide hours and hours of fun!!

Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy:

When I saw Kerrelyn Sparks’ name pop up, I instantly wanted to read this book; her Love At Stake is one of my guilty pleasures. Imagine by surprise when this book featured a meatier fantasy setting than her other vampire/urban fantasy series, and was funny and touching to boot! I consumed this book in a single day, tumbling through it as the intrigue, magic and love story developed. It was an enchanting with fabulously loveable characters and both humour and tragedy throughout.

Part of the charm is the world itself: the island-dwelling moon worshippers are female-led and accepting of magic users, and the male-dominated sun worshipping society tries to kill suspected magic users as soon as they are born. Somehow it doesn’t feel clichė’d; the mythology is well established and interesting, and not everything is black and white.

One example of a magic user who lives on the mainland is Lord Leofric, whose lightning imbued body kills all who touch him. This makes him a great weapon in the King’s army, but also an aberration who is feared across the land. He has a few friends, but even they are careful when dealing with him. He also has the misfortune of being the mad King’s nephew, making him a target for assassins whenever his power levels get low. He defends a country who hates and fears him, but still tries to do what is best whenever he can. He knows that he can never touch Luciana, his decreed betrothed, but he still vows to protect her and her father from the King’s machinations.

Luciana was everything I love in an heroine: she’s brave, she doesn’t let Leofric or any other man walk all over her, makes mistakes sometimes but is devoted to her family and her new country, despite having grown up apart from them because of her powers. Oh yeah, she can talk to the dead, too, which at first thought would be weird, but is used in really clever ways throughout the whole book.

My only issue with HOW TO TAME A BEAST IN SEVEN DAYS is the terrible title and cover. Spark’s previous books were a bit cheesy, and the chest/cheese combo worked. This book is so much better than that, and I’m so worried that it won’t get into the right hands. This is a proper fantasy novel. Yes, it has some PNR tropes, and it has a sexy love story, but it’s so much more than that. I really wish they had gone with a more serious cover - this atrocity will turn off so many people and makes reading it in public difficult. It doesn’t match the quality and tone of the book at all.

It looks like The Embraced series will have at least 5 books in it, and I can’t wait to discover more of the mainland countries who have been at war with each other as long as anyone can remember. The mix of political intrigue, magic and romance is such a perfect balance that I can’t wait for the next book, SO I MARRIED A SORCERER… I can only hope the sorcerer has a shirt on the cover.

4.5 Stars
Kerrelyn Sparks is known for her Love at Stake series about vampires with a somewhat comedic twist as well as historical romances. This book is a fantasy new series with another take on the Beauty and the Beast story. Luciana has grown up in a convent on an island as an orphan with others who are like her. She is known as one of the Embraced which means she has some magical powers. It’s a dangerous thing to be on the mainland where she was born which is why Luciana was hidden away years ago. When her father comes to take her home, Luciana risks all to help him avoid a nefarious plot. Through a series of subterfuges, she becomes engaged to Lord Leo, the “beast,” whom who everyone fears because he can kill with a touch since he can harness lighting and use it as a powerful weapon.

I enjoyed this story of two people who are caught up in political intrigue; they truly come to love one another despite all the risks. Luciana is brave and selfless, but also resourceful and would do anything to protect those she loves. She has a fierce warrior spirit and does not expect Leo or anyone else to shelter or rescue her despite their best efforts. Leo makes a fine hero; with his deadly power, he has had very little physical connection with anyone which makes for a lonely life, but he acts with honor and compassion towards his people. He is Lord Protector for an evil king who reminds me of Herod by wanting to destroy anyone he perceives as a threat to the throne, even his own family.

Since this is a new series, there is quite a bit of world building, but it does not interfere with the flow of the story. It’s a bit like Game of Thrones without all of the grim death and brutality as people actually get to be happy though they have been through some sad losses and difficult trials. Some Princess Bride style humor also lightens to the load so all is not drama. Five books are planned in the series and this one is off to a good start.

Publisher's Description:

From the brilliant imagination of Kerrelyn Sparks comes a bold new fantasy romance series in which passion and magic collide. Behold the Embraced...

As one of the Embraced―one born with magical powers―the beautiful, innocent Luciana escaped certain death after her father hid her away on the Isle of Moon. Now, nineteen years later, her father has returned with a frightening request. He will be executed unless Luciana returns to the mainland and marries a man feared throughout the land: a terrifying brute known as the Beast.

Luciana accepts her fate and agrees to wed the Beast―Lord Leo―in order to save her father. Soon she learns that her betrothed is also one of the Embraced. With the ability to wield lightning, Leo’s immense power strikes fear into the hearts of men. . .and his mere touch can put an end to a woman’s life. But Luciana cannot deny the passion that burns between them. How can she resist the man who scorches her soul and makes her feel intoxicated with desire―even if surrendering to him could destroy them both?

My Thoughts:

Luciana sees and converses with ghosts... Leo is affected by the power of lightening. Can these two tortured, misunderstood souls come together in a love that is one for the ages?
I really liked this read. I was amazed at how much humor was thrown into this Historical Fantasy with a paranormal aspect.
We have ghosts and magic and a whole lot more going on here. There was maybe just a bit too much going on at times for me to give this book better than a four star rating.
The humor is what grabbed my attention more than the underlying romance.
I would read and recommend this book on the humor factor alone. I laughed a great deal more than cried while reading this really good paranormal/historical romance by Kerrelyn Sparks.
It was not the first book I have read by this author and it certainly will not be the last one.
Although this book is the first book in a new series I would recommend it as a standalone title if you don't think you want to hang around to find out what happens to the other girls introduced briefly in this the first of the series.
I gave this book 4 of 5 stars for storyline and character development. The sensual rating gets 3 of 5 flames.
I received a complimentary digital ARC of this title from the publisher via Netgalley. This in no way affected my opinion of this book and I have left this review on a voluntary basis.

4.25 Taming Stars

This is my first Kerrelyn Sparks book and I can see why a lot of people like her. How to Tame a Beast in Seven Days is a standalone and is part of The Embraced series.

I don’t remember, but there are five girls involved, they are all introduced in this book. This is Luciana’s story.

Luciana is one of the girls that are Embraced which just means she has a power. Her father was scared for her so he hid her away in a convent. There she befriend several girls, like her. Luciana (Ana) is adorable because she grew up in a convent, she is very sheltered and somewhat naïve. I like Luciana’s heart and I like her youthful personality. It’s why I read these books.

Leo is considered a Beast. He can shoot lightning from his finger tips and because of this he can’t touch anyone. I know right? I gobbled this storyline like up! He an easy person to get to know, but he loves his people and now he is betrothed.

The beginning starts off with a lot of character development. You get a feel of what the book is about and kind of world it is. There are humans and even an elf. Some have powers and its usually different kinds, like animal shifting.

I liked Ana and I liked Leo, but because of the no-touch rule, it’s a slow burn novel. Someone is out to get Ana and I like the mysterious element of the book. I also liked reading about her interacting with other characters. I usually don’t care for the side characters, but I felt like they were a part of the story and I hope they get their own books.

There is a slow tug and pull between Ana and Leo, so if you like books with a huge buildup, this one is for you. I liked that mostly Leo was bewitched with Ana and even though he didn’t fully get her, he wanted her. I’m always a fan of the Hero chasing after the Heroine.

Overall, it was a fun book.

Great read. Excellent change of pace in the paranormal genre with and a historical romantic suspense. I loved this romance.

Luciana's life was in danger before she was born but her parents figured out a way to keep her safe, or so they think. She has been raised an orphan in the convent on Isle of Moon. She has gifts that have to be kept secret. She's Embraced.

Leo is called a beast. He is leader of an army and has thwarted death many times over but being ordered to marry Tatiana is too much. How can he do that when he hasn't been able to touch anyone since he was five? He's Embraced. Is gift more of a gift or curse?

Tatiana is a selfish, spoiled woman who is ready for the royal part of being married but not so overjoyed at the groom. After all, he's call a beast for a reason. She is also Embraced.

When Tatiana and her father are making their way to court they both become ill. He travels to Isle of Moon trying to save her, but it's too late. Once there he meets with the daughter he hasn't seen since birth. Tatiana is angry though, she's dead. And she was looking forward to her gowns. And the fun. She decides to hand around Luciana a while.

When Luciana hears the terrible position her father is in she decides to help but she has a lot of work to do and a lot of secrets to keep. She wants answers to her questions and most importantly, she is afraid her vision might come true.

This is a wonderful story, the characters are well described and thought out and you'll find yourself becoming immersed fairly quickly. A great book for an opener into a new series. I gave this a four star because it took me a little to get into the book, but not too long.

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

My Thoughts - 5 out of 5 Unicorns - I loved it!!!
***I choose what I read and review based on what intrigues me!! Yes, I got a review copy of this book, but no one tells me what to think, feel, or write about any book! And I’m picking up a paperback of it tomorrow!

The cover is a work of art!

This is the first book in a new series, and it is awesome! This is paranormal romance…my favorite! There are steamy scenes, so adults only.

I can’t believe it, but this is my first review for Kerrelyn’s work. I own and have read most of the Love at Stake series, and I even got my mom addicted to her work too! But it was before I started writing reviews! I guess I will have to go back and read the series and write reviews because I love her books and her writing style. She is definitely one of my fav authors!

This book had everything I love in a story! Adventure, conflict, drama, mystery, magic, and romance that ensured I couldn’t put the book down, I loved every moment! Luciana is an awesome leading lady and easy to love! She is strong and kind and will not back down for those she loves! There are some especially humorous moments with her sister, but I won’t spoil it for you! Leo is a great match, and I definitely fell in love with his protectiveness and how he is always will to stand up for everyone and fight for them regardless of who they are. This is a fantastic start to a series that I can’t wait to read more of!

I highly recommend to any paranormal adventure loving reader who wants everything in their books like shifters, gifts, ghosts, fighting, murder, and more!

A new world by Kerrelyn Sparks for a fantasy romance - a world of elves and dragons, magic and murder, politics and romance. A very nice beginning to a series of five women who were raised together in secret on an isolated island.

Luciana always thought she was an orphan until her father picked her up from the convent. He had hid her from certain death, a death her twin sister experienced instead. Now to save a duchy she will need to survive assassination attempts and marry a man called "The Beast". Fortunately she can talk with the dead and her twin is still hanging around.

A nice first level of worldbuilding but the second level is lacking - too much aiming for the HEA (Happily Ever After) ending people want in romances even though a lot of bad things happen for most of the book ramping up the problems to be solved. The switch to having everything good at the end was abrupt.

A good light read. Solid mix of epic fantasy adventure, coming of age, and light romance.

I do want to see Brody (a secondary character) fall in love and hope one of the women is for him in a future book.

Pet Peeve - Picture on the cover does not match the character description. He is missing the scar on his chest and also the hair is described as redder and slightly longer. Leo also wore gloves all the time.

Note: The Kindle edition at this time (4/4/2017) actually costs $2 more than the paperback available on the store and in stores.

This was a lovely fantasy romance that I really enjoyed. Luciana was hidden away on the Isle of Moon because she’s a twin and has powers due to being Embraced, especially the power to see ghosts. When her father, the Duke of Vindalyn, arrives on the island, he tells her because her sister has died, she must take her place and marry the Beast of Benwick or the king will take her father’s life. Lord Leofric of Benwick is also an Embraced, his power is that he attracts lightning and then is able to use it to harm others. He hasn’t been able to touch anyone since he was a child, and expects his marriage to be in name only. Leo’s life is in peril from the king as well, and he needs Luciana to trust him so he can protect her. I liked the innocent, kind and strong Luciana, who is thrust into a life of intrigue and danger but uses the power she has to great effect. Poor Leo had friends, but he had to keep his distance so he didn’t harm anyone, which made for a pretty lonely existence. I enjoyed the adventure as assassins were hunted and then a more dangerous foe was encountered, and the growing trust and affection between the couple was lovely. The addition of Luciana’s sister’s and mother’s ghosts was entertaining, as well as the shapeshifting dog Brody. It all made for a great read, and I loved this magical world.

Can I start off by complimenting the witty banter between Leo and “Ana”? That’s definitely the highlight of this book. Sorry – to back up, this story takes place in a fantasy world with a historical feel. There’s big dresses and castles and lots of old-timey speak. There’s also a few warring kingdoms with conflicting religions that leads to endless conflict.

Luciana has been raised in a convent, abandoned by her family when she was born. She has no real ambitions to ever leave the island and her adopted sisters. That all changes when she finds herself reunited with her family and she finds herself faced with a choice: does she save her father by marrying a “beast” or does she stay with her sisters to live the life she believes she wants.

As an obviously selfless woman, she takes the plunge into the world of royalty and impersonating her twin sister. The “beast,” as it turns out, is really not as beastly has everyone claims. This was almost like a beauty and the beast retelling in a lot of ways. While pretending to be things that they are not, these two find a way to be a really awesome couple. Oh, and there’s lots of political drama along the way, but the romance is really what everyone wants, right?

I am familiar with this author and her vampire novels. What I like about those novels is that each story has a strong set of leads (male and female). In addition, to be witty and a bit sexy.

I like this new Kerrelyn Sparks. The beginning introduces the reader to five friends. So, it would allude to the fact that there will be at least 5 books in this series. In this first book, we are introduced to Luciana. She is down to earth. Although, she may come from royalty. Oh and I can't forget to mention that Luciana had a sister, Tatiana (she is dead). Yet, Luciana can communicate with the dead.

Leo is a strong male presence. When ever he comes into a room, his presence just fills the room. He may be a Lord but he is also down to earth. In fact, Luciana is not the only one that has special abilities. Leo does as well. He has the ability of lightening.

While I did like this book and new series, it felt like the story didn't start until the half way point. This is when Luciana and Leo actually met. Luckily, the secondary characters were not just throw away characters. So they helped with the story. The romance between Leo and Luciana was a slow build up. I am intrigued to read the next woman's story.

I’m a bit conflicted about this book. Although I really liked the Embraced concept and world-building Kerrelyn Sparks set up in How to Tame a Beast in Seven Days, the romance aspect of this book fell flat for me.

Leo and Ana didn’t really make enough of a connection for me to believe that they had fallen in love in seven days. Now granted, due to Leo’s power they couldn’t touch so for most of this book, but even emotionally I didn’t get why they connected so powerfully, so soon. Even more confusing this seven day (quick) romance felt like a slow-burn due to the lack of physical contact. My brain just could.not.compute all the dichotomies. My other major issue with the book, the hero and heroine didn’t meet until almost a quarter of the way through.

I think I’ll give the second book in this series a chance when it comes out this summer. Like I said, I enjoyed the worlding-building and the concept of this new series. Fingers crossed that the second book in the series will focus a bit more on the romantic elements of the plot. 3.5 stars for How to Tame a Beast in Seven Days.

Copy for review provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

**ARC received from the author for an honest review**

Okay it has been a bit since I ventured into the fantasy world...and Sparks new series of The Embraced does not disappoint! I've always loved her vampire series and was super excited to get the chance to read this early!

I love, love, love learning a whole new world. Lands and odd names but with a feel of ancient medieval times. Magic and mysterious religions that cast eerie foreshadows on futures. Loved it all! Luciana was such a cute character! I love the interaction between her and her sisters. I'm hoping that they each get their own story so we can see how each of The Embraced differ and from each land.

I was a little let down that Leo had this bad boy reputation as The Beast but he kind of felt no more than a puppy to me. In battle and defense he was badass but with Luciana and his men he felt more boyishly charming (which may have been the point that I could've missed) but I was hoping for more of a "taming". That being said I do think that there was a great sense of humor to this book. Leo's reactions to some things were downright gut-busting. Excited for more of this series!!

Kerrelyn Sparks has given me another fabulous bite of entertainment. Been reading her Love at Stake series for years. How to Tame a Beast in Seven Days is set in a fantasy world called Aerthlan. This world is made up of five kingdoms. Four of these kingdoms worship the sun and one prays to the two moons. The day that these two moons align births are Embraced with Unique powers. Kings fearing these powers send assassins to kill the newborn infants. Loving parents exist and to spare their children from certain death send them stealthy to the Isle of Moon. Five sisters living on the Isle call themselves family and vow to always be together. Fate evolves around sister Luciana and the Beast Leo that no one can touch in this first of what will be a great new series. Paranormal fans will experience Beasts, Dragons, Heroes, Shifters, Elves and sisters with powers. A copy of this book was provided to me by St. Martin's Press through Netgalley with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book and my comments here are my honest opinion.

Luciana Vintello has been brought up in a convent as an orphan. She and the other girls on the island consider themselves sisters. The reason for Luciana being hidden since birth soon becomes apparent. Her special gifts will be very valuable when her new life starts.
Leofric of Benwick is the Lord Protector of the realm and nephew to a devious king. He is also known as the beast because he can kill with just a simple touch. His gift has caused him pain and torment all his life.
This is set in a fantasy land with four kingdoms who are always at war. It will take a lot of magic from the "Embraced" to bring peace to just this one of the kingdoms.
Lots of wonderful adventure and what looks at first like a hopeless love story. Secrets and political intrigue spice it up nicely.
This is obviously the first book in a series and I can't wait to read the next one. I loved it.

This is the first book in The Embraced series and I found it fun and fast pacing, as well as entertaining. In it you’ll find a tortured hero, a virginal heroine, plenty of villains and a lot of magic.

I was impressed with the world the author built, but disappointed at the romance, which hardly had any time to grow before it bloomed full force.

This was truly enjoyable to read and I would have had no trouble recommending it to even tweens, except it does contain sex scenes that are not suitable for them. Maybe the author should consider making this available to them as well, without the “R” rating.

If you’re this author’s fan, you’ll love this story and anxiously await the second installment to this series, So I Married a Sorcerer, which is coming out in August.

Melanie for b2b
Gift copy provided by the publisher for an honest review

This was an easy, fun and light paranormal set in a somewhat historical setting. I enjoyed the book and the characters. I didn't have to think much and it had some funny, light hearted scenes. The characters were likable and there was a small suspense plot although it was easy to figure out how everything would progress. A spirited and tough heroine and a wounded alpha male who had a difficult past. The romance was a slow progression on the physical side although the "I love yous" came very early. Still if you are looking for a lighthearted, fun and easy PNR this one fits the bill!

A copy of this book was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book and my comments here are my honest opinion.

This is something totally different for Sparks fans. Good but different. Historical fantasy featuring characters with paranormal powers and tertiary characters who are shifters. None of Sparks' trademark humor, to speak of.

I didn't read the blurb, and thus I was surprised by the genre change. I typically don't read blurbs for Kerrelyn Sparks because...*duh*...it is Kerrelyn Sparks. She's on my "read everything by" author list.

A fabulous start to a new series, and I can't wait to see where it goes.

This applies to the audio version I borrowed via the library's subscription to One Click Digital. I'll also note that the narrator is British and therefore pronounced several words wrong *grin* for American listeners.

Wow! I love this new fantasy world that Kerrelyn Sparks has created! As the story alternated between Luciana and Leo's points of view, their histories and hearts were revealed to the reader, and I found them to be caring and well-developed characters, mature beyond their chronological ages. The fantasy elements provided real danger and suspense to the romance and the attraction/arranged marriage trope played out well amid the secrecy and phobias surrounding the "Embraced" (supernatural gifting). I recommend this to all lovers of romance and fantasy. I look forward to reading future volumes in this new series.
I voluntarily requested and read an advance reading copy of the book. I offer my honest opinion in response to the reading experience.

I really really wanted to love this and it started out just great. Unfortunately at the end the story tapered out a bit and there were some minor issues I had with the story. Like I adored Tatiana, she was hilarious and I had her vividly in front of my eyes, pouting, screeching, stomping her dainty foot, absolutely cool. But when she met that other ghost... um. Yes. Okay. The heroine was very innocent and young and the hero very "dark and brooding" but they fit together great. I liked reading their story and especially that she doesn't need him to rescue her all the time but fights for herself. All in all it was a bit too much YA for my taste but a nice start and I will definitely give this series a chance to become awesome down the line.

Very well written romance with appealing main characters and substantial secondary characters. The world-building is very solid, and I particularly liked that the author has set this series up with the "sisters" on the island. I really hope one of the secondary characters in this book - Brody - gets his own story with one of the sisters. This is the first book by this author I've read, and I liked it sufficiently to look into what else the author has written - although sadly, I am not a fan of vampire books, so I will have to wait for the next in this series.

This book was a delight and so very enjoyable. The world building was exceptional and the multiple characters were crafted with care, intrigue, and a touch of paranormal. The romance between Leo and Ana was sweet and not what I expected. It surprised me in a good way. I felt the ending was a little rushed, but it did not take away anything from the story. This is a great start to a new series and I can't wait to read more books in this world.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I have read most of Kerrelyn Sparks vampire books and I really loved them. So when I heard there was a new series featuring all sorts of magical creatures I was instantly intrigued. How To Tame A Beast In Seven Days was magical, sexy, crackling with perfect tension, and had such incredibly complex and unique characters and fascinating worlds! I am in LOVE with this new series by Miss Sparks. She created something fresh and new in the paranormal world that has me HOOKED!

What a tantalizing new read filled with excitement, danger, and romance at every turn. It was fantasy packed with a lovely heroine named Luciana who just wants to help her father and a beastly hero named Leo who just wants to be touched. You can't help but fall in love with this story and its oh so entertaining characters. I love Sparks writing and have to say this is her best work yet. I can't wait for the next book!!!

Very well written romance with appealing main characters and substantial secondary characters. The world-building is very solid, and I particularly liked that the author has set this series up with the "sisters" on the island. I really hope one of the secondary characters in this book - Brody - gets his own story with one of the sisters. This is the first book by this author I've read, and I liked it sufficiently to look into what else the author has written - although sadly, I am not a fan of vampire books, so I will have to wait for the next in this series.

This book was a delight and so very enjoyable. The world building was exceptional and the multiple characters were crafted with care, intrigue, and a touch of paranormal. The romance between Leo and Ana was sweet and not what I expected. It surprised me in a good way. I felt the ending was a little rushed, but it did not take away anything from the story. This is a great start to a new series and I can't wait to read more books in this world.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I have read most of Kerrelyn Sparks vampire books and I really loved them. So when I heard there was a new series featuring all sorts of magical creatures I was instantly intrigued. How To Tame A Beast In Seven Days was magical, sexy, crackling with perfect tension, and had such incredibly complex and unique characters and fascinating worlds! I am in LOVE with this new series by Miss Sparks. She created something fresh and new in the paranormal world that has me HOOKED!

As stimulating as I find most novels written by the author, Kerrelyn Sparks, I was immensely disappointed by the writer's latest work of "How to Tame a Beast in Seven Days." In fact, I felt like I was reading a high school fictional story rather than a story from one of my favorite authors because the writing itself was so ordinary.

I am not sure what exactly was off with this novel, but the writing suffered. The eerie descriptive, sensual backdrop that I expect to find in a paranormal romance was missing as was the actual romance. Yes, there were bits and pieces of what was supposed to appeal to readers as romance, but it was so pushed. The attraction between Luciana and Leo was awkward and I felt like Luciana might have been too much of a woman for Leo to handle. Luciana was certainly powerful and I think that was another flaw with the book.

Most of the time I am perfectly fine with a heroine that can be considered an equal match for the hero, but this larger detail made Leo's character seem weak. Overall I didn't really care for Leo's abilities nor his overall Character. I did, however, enjoy Luciana. She was a refreshing heroine and I liked how she was capable of coming to her own rescue. I would enjoy seeing such a strong will trait in future heroines.

Regardless of a few likes I had with this book I am fairly confident that my reading of "The Embraced," ends here.

I won an ARC from the publishing company before the book was released and when I picked the book up, I couldn't put it down. The story was great. I kind of expected a contemporary but I like that it takes place in a different place than Earth. It's well written and I absolutely loved it. I can't wait for the next one. The characters were awesome with real problems and vulnerabilities, the setting came alive. I can't wait to continue the journey of the embraced.

My first love is paranormal books. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the creative writing and imagination of Kerrelyn Sparks. I feel in love with the characters and was hooked from the first chapter. So well written. There's danger, love, and a hea.

I voluntarily reviewed an advance advance of this book.

The land is divided into two kingdoms that either worship the sun or two moons. Twice a year the two moons eclipse and children born on these nights have supernatural powers. This is the first book in a new series and it is a great start. It is a fast read and I was hooked from the start. Luciano and Lord Leo are great together. I look forward to reading future books in this new series. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

Luciana has been raised on an island with other women like her who are Embraced. When her father comes to take her to the Mainland everything changes. Leo is called the Beast because he is also Embraced and his enhanced power is life threatening to others. He is determined to keep Luciana safe from the assassins who try to kill her.. I really enjoyed this story of fantasy and romance!

ARC received for review

4.5 stars

New series, new worlds, new species. Great start to this series. It was a little slow in parts but that's to be expected since we are learning all new stuff. Loved Luciana and Lord Leo. They were amazing together. Plus her "sisters" are going to make great heroines in their own HEAs. I'm hoping Ms. Sparks saves one for Brody.