Building From Ashes by Elizabeth Hunter
Series: Elemental World #1
Published by Indie
Published on: October 19 2012
Genres: Paranormal Romance
Pages: 326
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased
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For a thousand years, powerful earth vampire Carwyn ap Bryn has served others. God. His family. His friends. But tragedy and loss disrupt his peaceful existence, causing him to question everything he has committed his eternity to.
Brigid Connor has known about vampires since they rescued her from a painful childhood. But not even their vast elemental power can save her from the demons that torment her.
As loyalties are tested and new paths are forged, a lurking danger slowly grows in the Elemental World. Carwyn and Brigid will learn that even secrets revealed can come back to haunt you when you least expect it.
A continuation/spinoff of the Elemental Mysteries series. The timeline in this books stretches from BEFORE A Hidden Fire starts (so you see a little character history) until AFTER A Fall of Water finishes. As I’m sure lots of you could tell, Carwyn had quite a few things going on in his life that didn’t make it into Gio and Beatrice’s story. So Building From Ashes explores that storyline and also sets up the Elemental World for some new adventures...
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The Elemental World is a PNR spin-off series from Hunter’s Elemetnal Mysteries series, and as excited about this book as I was—FINALLY, a HEA for Carwyn—while still being a good read, it didn’t quite live up to my expectations.
Carwyn is a nearly 1000 year old Welsh vampire, and he’s been a priest that entire time. When he dedicated his life to the church, priests were allowed wives, and Carwyn had one, but when she died, leaving him a single parent of several small children, he was understandably distraught. His father, also a man of the church, sent him traveling on an errand to distract him from his melancholy.
It’s on that errand that Carwyn was changed into a vampire.
Despite his dedication to the church, Carwyn isn’t the stodgy, over-serious type you might expect him to be, not at ALL. He’s actually a bit of a prankster who LOVES pro wrestling, and has an extensive collection of truly horrible Hawaiian shirts. He’s also a huge flirt.
But he’s never felt compelled to move beyond flirtation.
1000 years. No sex.
*squints*
Well, he’s never felt compelled to move beyond flirtation until one of his daughters turns a beloved member of their human contingent into a vampire.
Brigid Conner has not had an easy life. As a child, she was adopted into Carwyn’s extended family after being rescued from her pedophile stepfather. Overcoming something like that is never a simple or easy task, and Brigid has struggled both with developing healthy relationships, and with . . . drugs.
Throughout her life, Carwyn has always been a constant. Her rescuer when she was a child, the one who discovered her addiction as a young adult, various times in between as well . . .
I liked the main plot of this book very much. What I struggled with was the timeline.
In Elemental Mysteries, the first couple of books (book 1 especially) took place years before the present. It wasn’t my favorite part of the series, and while it didn’t particularly bother me, I was glad when we finally got, and stayed, current.
This time it felt like a reread of previous events from another POV. I’ve never been a fan of that, and it was perhaps even more off-putting, having just finished reading said previous events.
Another issue I had was the religious overtone Carwyn’s man of the cloth status brought to the situation. Carwyn obviously struggled with his commitment to the church in conflict with his attraction to Brigid, while Brigid, as good Catholic, vowed over and over that she was going to hell for being attracted to a priest, and those are the kinds of things I avoid in fiction.
It’s just not my thing.
But the religious aspect is an isolated situation, so I have no qualms about continuing to read the series.
AND it must be said that a slightly disappointing Hunter book is still leaps and bounds better than most others, and the issues I had were not big enough to keep me from enjoying Building From Ashes overall. Recommended.
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My name is Jessica and I live in Chattanooga, Tennessee. I’m trying my hand at writing, but mostly I read. My favorite genres are Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Science Fiction, Urban Fantasy, and the YA versions of those genres, but if there is a book of a different color getting lots of buzz, I’ll read it too, just to be informed. If I’m not reading or writing, I’m probably on Goodreads or Pinterest or baking blueberry pies because I love them.
I really enjoyed Elemental Mysteries but for some unknown reason I have been putting off reading this spin off series. Your review reminded me that I really liked author’s writing style so I hope to get back to this world soon 🙂 Great review, Jessica!
Lucia recently posted…REVIEW: Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon
That is a tricky thing to blend in I imagine the struggle between cloth and following the heart. Still sounds like a pretty darn good read. I have the original series (or at least some of it) on my shelf so hopefully I get to it soon 🙂
Felicia The Geeky Blogger recently posted…#FitReaders: Weekly Check-in July 17, 2015
Not heard of this one, but it will be going on the list. 🙂
Stormi recently posted…It’s time to #dustoffyourbookshelf
He does sound lovely
blodeuedd recently posted…Author Interview and Giveaway: Liz Harris
Is it possible to read this book without reading the original series? Or is it sort of like Bloodlines by Richelle Mead where you would have had to read Vampire Academy in order to understand it? I’m not sure about the idea of a vampire priest… and basically step daughter falling in love with her step father though. ;]
Glad to hear that it was enjoyable even with the issues
Sorry this didn’t live up to your expectations, so disappointing when that happens! I have been meaning to try this author because I have heard good things about her. I think I will start with the original series instead of this one.
kindlemom1 recently posted…Review: The Veil by Chloe Neill
Glad to hear that despite some of the qualms you have about some of the themes on the book, you still enjoyed it enough to recommend it!
Great honest review Jessica!
Pili recently posted…Friday Reads: Mini-Reviews for The Stars of Summer and Open Road Summer!!!
Well, even though it wasn’t up to the rest of the books, it still sounds like a decent read. I would have thought this would be much better given the characters. You still have me wanting to give this series a go. 🙂
Melissa (Books and Things) recently posted…Tempted by Fire by Erin Kellison
I’m sorry it didn’t quite live up to your expectations, Jessica. But I’m glad it wasn’t all bad. 🙂 I’ve had EHunter on my tbr for, like, 3 years. *hangs head* I will get on the ball…eventually. 😉
Bookworm Brandee recently posted…New Release Review ~ With Visions of Red #2 ~ Trisha Wolfe
Yeah, I don’t think I’m keen on the religious overtone either, it wouldn’t sit well with me. But the paranormal aspects sound like they were done well. Lovely review!
I think the reason this book hasn’t had the same impact is because the spin off stories are self contained and can not develop as deeply as series plots. That said they are still a nice addition to the Elemental World 🙂
kara-karina ( recently posted…The Postman Knock #129
I haven’t read any of this series but it sounds like I’m missing out! And what’s up with the no sex for 1000 years? That’s a seriously long time to be repressed.
Mary recently posted…Quick Shot Reviews of the YA Variety