A Shade of Vampire 19: A Soldier of Shadows

Bella Forest is a magnificent writer and incredible story teller. I've bought the first book on a whim and I was instantly hooked!! I love all the characters and their stories. If you like to read books about love, family, adventure and supernatural beings, then get these books asap! You will not be disappointed. I have recommended these wonderful books to so many friends and they have thanked me profusely for the introduction.

Bella, a simple thank you will never be enough to express my gratitude. I'm in your corner. Wishing you the very best in all your future endeavors!!

What a world wind of emotions....this book will have you laughing , crying, gasping and holding your breathe in anticipation of things to come. Ben and River have proven to be strong and wise beyond their years. Once again, Bella Forrest has written a 5 star worthy novel who's ending leaves you wanting more !

I loved Shade of Vampire when it came out. Several of my friends were read them as well and we are all middle age adults. But it's getting old and every month there is a $3.99 book of a few chapter in the story. It is starting to feel rushed and long dragged out. I love books I am invested in, I am in the lower 20's of several other authors with long series. But this one, I am finding I wish they would just end it already and move on to something else. Out of all my friends that were reading only one still is and she said the same thing she is sort of over it. Someone is in trouble and the love of another is going to save them in the end. She could do this for the next ten years with just picking a new person to highlight every 4th book and we will be on book 120 of this series, but nothing will have really changed but the second half of the title.

Title: A Soldier of Shadows
Series: A Shade of Vampire
Designation: Book Nineteen of a Multi-Novel series, NOT a Standalone Read
Author: Bella Forrest
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal Romance
Reading Platform: Kindle Unlimited
My Rating: FIVE MAGNIFICENT STARS *****
Wow! Best-selling author Bella Forrest has dazzled her readers yet again with A Soldier of Shadows, the nineteenth release in her spellbinding mega-hit series, A Shade of Vampire and she has totally left me breathless- again! Like thousands of my fellow Shaddicts, I've been hooked from the very first book of the series and now anxiously await each release. I simply can't get enough! I was turning the pages so fast, my Kindle Fire couldn't keep up! Just when I think there's no way this series can get any better - wham - Bella hits us with another knockout! Bella has surprised us all with another riveting adventure that curls our toes, makes our hearts pound and keeps us begging for more! This is a paranormal/supernatural/fantasy saga so unlike any other I've ever read. It is exciting, well crafted, original, unique, imaginative, thrilling, fast paced, riveting, action packed, mysterious, suspenseful, enchanting, heartbreaking, heartwarming, seductive, passionate and oh so romantic. 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 its enemies. Can you tell that I really love this story? The narrative is exceptionally well written in the first person with a multitude of alternating points of view. Each chapter is told by one of the characters which I feel gives so much more depth, intensity and perspective to the story and adds to the complexity and understanding of the characters. The dialogue is smart, exceptionally well executed, well edited and flows effortlessly. Although the story is compelling and the dialogue is exceptional, it's truly the magnificent, comprehensive cast of larger than life characters that makes the biggest impact. They are well developed, captivating, intriguing, engaging, endearing and quite literally, out of this world sexy! They explode from the page, grab your imagination, capture your heart and hold you totally enthralled from beginning to end. Forrest skillfully combines these elements to craft a stunningly brilliant masterpiece of paranormal romance filled to the brim with action, adventure, fantasy, mystery, suspense, magic, supernatural beings, love, passion, loyalty, heartbreak, hope and plot twists that will blow your mind.

In Book Nineteen, our story resumes in The Shade after the attempt is made to transform Ben Novak, Prince of the Shade, back to human. Unfortunately, the attempt fails miserably but during the ordeal, Ben has a vision of being taken to Cruor, the home of the Elders, while being held captive as a baby by the Hawks. While Ben struggles to recover from the unsuccessful transformation, River leaves the Shade with the aid of one their witches to seek her family and return with them to the Shade but surprisingly discovers they have been captured and taken to The Oasis. Ben and River must now face a painful and unexpected truth. In order to gain the answers they seek, both must return to The Oasis and hopefully also find and free River's family. But none of the residents of the Shade anticipate the new player that has joined this dark and mystifying game of life and death - Nuriya, Queen of the Nasiri Jinn and the real mistress of The Oasis - a new and unknown enemy to Derek, King of the Shade. One, it seems, they can't defeat. Through their trials, Ben and River continue to grow even closer and as our two unlikely lovers and heroes continue their struggle to survive and attempt to save the ones they love, the residents of the Shade continue to face challenges of their own - challenges that only the dragons, the newest additions to the Shade, can offer insight and help to defeat. Additional important pieces to the puzzle are slowly revealed only to be replaced by even more perplexing questions. Oh my! Will Ben and River be successful in their new quest to free their families??? Will Ben ever discover the answers he so desperately needs??? Will they survive another journey to The Oasis??? Will Ben ever be able to free himself from the life with which he has now been cursed to live??? Will Jeramiah finally be able to exact his revenge??? We'll see!!! No spoilers from me but I will say this......Handsome, guilt-stricken, newly turned vampire who can't control his bloodlust-check! Beautiful half-blood heroine who gets caught up in what she once thought to be only fantasy and fairy tales-check! A plethora of supernatural characters including vampires, werewolves, witches, dragons, ogres, hawks, jinn, mermaids, mermen and even a hellhound-you bet! Danger, drama, adventure, suspense, mind blowing plot twists and a dangerous new enemy-you bet! A possible romance for Ben and River-it's looking very probable!!! That and a whole lot more! I love it! I never tire of visiting my friends of 'The Shade'. It always feels like returning home. If you love heart-wrenching young adult paranormal romance, heartbreaking angst, tantalizing magic, out of this world fantasy, spine-tingling suspense, hold your breath action, malevolent enemies, evil machinations, unexpected plot twists and heart-pounding adventure, then you will surely enjoy A Shade of Vampire series. Buckle up my lovelies! It's another wild, wonderful and thrilling ride! Please keep in mind, this is a series - not a stand alone story and the books should be read in order of their release - and it does contain nail biting cliffhangers that will leave you on the edge of your seat panting for more - which I love! Bella always keeps us on our toes but lovingly rewards our patience with each new release. Well done, Bella, very well done! I can hardly wait to read what happens next with Derek, Sophia, Caleb, Rose, Ben, River, Claudia, Yuri, Vivienne, Xavier, Aiden, Corrine, Ibrahim and all the other wonderful residents of the Shade when Ben's adventure continues in Book 20! And a few of our old favorites from the early books even make a return! Charmingly captivating, seriously sexy, powerfully compelling and delightfully entertaining!!!
My Rating: FIVE MAGNIFICENTLY ENTERTAINING STARS *****

Bella Forrest continues to break through a storyline and spin the world she created like a top. I am very pleased with Ben's story thus far. His bond between he and River brings tears to my eyes. I had pictured Ben as a victim, not a hero. He is changing my mind. It is wonderful to see him mature and become selfless like his mother even though his bloodlust is so much like his father.

I am looking forward to the next book. Where will they go from here? Will Ben accept his fate willingly or fight it to his death? Will Derek find the answers he is looking for in a new realm? What is Jeremiah planning? Will River continue to fight to be with her one true love? I need more.

As the secrets of Bens problems unfold, more emerge. Who’s voice is in his and Rivers heads? What has the Oasis to do with it? Question upon question, with some but not all answers. Another quest for the inhabitants of the Shade, a deadly enemy left behind. So gripping you won’t be able to put it down. Another excellent book and that’s a promise. If you are new to this author I can highly recommend her books and cannot stress enough that they are addictive. You have been warned!!!

Every time I think this story cannot get any better, it does! The romances in this series are epic. I find myself trying to slow down so I don't finish the book so soon but I can't help myself. The flow from one book to the other is perfect. I absolutely love these books and would recommend this series to anyone who loves paranormal romance or vampire books. There are vampires, werewolves, witches, jinni, dragons, mermaids, bird people, and ogres(I think I got them all). Bella creates a world you can't wait to get lost in!

In this shocking continuation of Ben's story, many jaw dropping answers as to why Ben has an uncontrollable addition to human blood, are finally revealed. Not to mention, the many sacrifices that are made. As always, the wonderful family of The Shade try to help Ben and River... This book is so full of revelations, my mind's still reeling! Another 5 stars for Bella and The Shade!

“Whether you like it or not, Benjamin, the time has come for you to take your place. Your place as their soldier of shadows.”

Oh man! I think that things are about to get intense! We’ve known for a while now that there’s something different about Benjamin Novak, but up until now all we’ve had is more questions about why and what it means for him. Well in this book we got TONS of answers about what makes him so different and get some hints at things to come as a result. If you felt bad for Ben before, just wait until you read this book. My heart broke for the poor kid, I can’t even imagine what he’s going to have to go through now or how he’s going to get out of this situation. There’s always some disaster brewing with the residents of The Shade, it’s one of the things I love about this series, but this one of the first times that it’s pulled this much at my heartstrings! I’m really enjoying the River/Ben pairing and I truly hope they can find some semblance of happy ever after before too long! I can’t believe that this is book 19 and the series is still going this strong, you’d think that it would eventually run out of steam but Bella Forrest keeps finding ways to make it fresh and still exciting after all this time. I’m excited to see that there’ll be more books beyond book 20 and it also looks like there’s a dragon spin off, I can’t wait for that! Keep them coming!

Wow! Bell Forrest has done it again! she has delivered another awesome book to the series A Shade of Vampire. I love Ben and River together. when reading this book you get involved with the characters, and cried, and laughed and this has been a wonderful book. I recommend that this is a MUST MUST read. All your favorite characters from the shade are back and an exciting end that leaves you with great anticipation for book #20.
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