Take by Nashoda Rose
Series: Scars of the Wraiths
Published by Indie
Published on: February 6, 2015
Genres: Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy
Pages: 206
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased
Amazon | Book Depo | Kobo | B&N | iBooks | GoodReads
MAX
Feelings are a luxury I can’t afford. Hidden behind a shield of quiet placidity, I keep my secret safe from those who’d use it against me. Until him—the tatted up, self-centered Scar assassin hired to protect me.
He takes pleasure in tormenting me, chipping away at my defenses as if I’m a toy to be played with. I hate that he continuously reminds me that I’m nothing more than a job. I hate that my body responds to his touch. I hate him.
JASPER
I’m not a good guy and I don’t pretend to be. Condemn me if you want, I don’t give a crap. You’re nothing to me. No one is … except her—Max. She’s my target. And I was hired to do a hell of a lot more than protect her … I was hired to kill her.
It should’ve been simple, but it was complicated as hell.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Stygian and Tyrant are the first two books in this authors, Scars of the Wraiths, series. I loved those two books and could barely put them down as they were so well written. Take is billed as a standalone book in the Scars world-maybe because the Wraiths aren’t involved? Not sure. If I hadn’t read the first two, I think I would have been pretty lost-at least in the beginning, as there is not a lot of back story about the Scars and their world.
Max is a Scar who has pretty much withdrawn from the world. She was rescued from a sadistic Scar named, Drake, who had used her to heal his lungs, over and over again, for six years. He also raped her and tortured her. She’s now living with a Taldeburu(leader of a group of Scars) Xamien, and under his protection. Besides being a healer, she is also able to heal another Scar’s Ink. She keeps this very secret because her former torturer has ink that has been destroyed by a goddess because his particular ink would endanger the world’s population. In this author’s world building, the ink(tattoo)a Scar is born with is able to leap from the Scar’s skin when called. It can then aid in a fight or something of that nature. Pretty unique! For those six years, Drake never discovered that she could have healed his ink and in doing so, his lungs would have healed. Jasper is a friend of Xamien, and he is also a ruthless Scar assassin. He enters Max’s world and turns it upside down. Jasper is as broken inside as Max is, and has a horrific past that has enabled him to become the unfeeling assassin that he is.
Of course this is the story of Max and Jasper’s romance. But it’s also the story of two people that are lost, broken, and alone, and how they heal each other. It becomes an exciting ride of a story when Jasper and Max have to escape both bad humans and vampires that are out to kill them-or abduct them. Those parts of the book had me on the edge of my seat.
I so wanted to love this book as much as the other two, and it almost happened. I loved the story, the back stories, and the characters. I enjoyed the romance, suspense, the hiding, and the chase scenes. One aspect held me back. Sex scenes that involve pain. The use of squeezing someone’s throat until they can’t breathe, or hitting their girlie parts just makes me cringe, and it pretty much ruined those parts of the book for me. I hate to say that because what would have been a 5 star read for me, completely changed at that point. I also don’t understand how it would be a good idea for a woman who has been brutally raped and tortured over and over again for six years(!) to have that done to her? It made no sense to me, even with the explanation given.
So 5 stars for the story and characters and 2.5 stars for the sexual scenes, puts me around 3.5 stars. It’s actually a good book, if not for the sexual scenes. I do plan on reading more of these books because I honestly love the premise of these stories and the urban fantasy elements are spot on. A new series with a new type of supernatural character? I can’t pass that up. I know that there are lots of people that won’t have my issues, so I do recommend this whole series to adult UF/PNR readers.
I’m Lorna and I live in Maryland. Since retiring, I spend my time mostly reading and reviewing books. My favorite reads are Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy, and Young Adult. I read a lot of indie books in addition to traditionally published books. Favorite paranormal creature? Vampires, but I am really liking werewolves more everyday.
oh, boo. A complete waste of good plotting if the characters aren’t all that remarkable. That sucks. I would probably be even more disappointed.
Yes, I was diappointed 🙁
Lorna recently posted…Review: Take by Nashoda Rose (@Mollykatie112)
This series sounds pretty unique with the ink. And I think it’s nice when there is a enough background information if a book serves as a standalone, else setting it in the same series might work better. It sounds exciting and like it has a good romance as well. Although I probably would have trouble with the rape and torture, not sure how graphic it is? I might check this series out as I always like unique concepts.
Lola recently posted…My To-Be Read List #22: poll
The rape and torture is just told about as the book happens after she has already escaped. It had a lot of action and romance. The ink part is very unique I thought 🙂
Lorna recently posted…Review: Take by Nashoda Rose (@Mollykatie112)
Thanks! That’s good to know. I don’t mind if it’s happened in the past, but I have trouble when you get to see the actual scenes in graphic detail.
The ink parts sounds really unique indeed!
Lola recently posted…Lola’s Advice: How to set-up a Street Team
I remember putting the first book of this series on my TBR pile after reading your review. Good to know that this doesn’t standalone well and needs the back story.
I do okay with the rough stuff as long as it’s consensual and doesn’t get too rough, but yeah, a rape survivor complicates it and it has to be written just right.
Glad it’s still going strong through book three.
Sophia Rose recently posted…Stranded With a Book – Sun N’ Fun Scavenger Hunt
She has scars all over her body from being tortured-why would she enjoy having her girlie parts hit-I am still shaking my head about it.
Lorna recently posted…Review: Take by Nashoda Rose (@Mollykatie112)
That would have completely ruined this for me as well. 🙁 Wonderful honest review Lorna!
Thank you Ali 🙂
Lorna recently posted…Review: Take by Nashoda Rose (@Mollykatie112)
Well poo. You do have me curious about the overall series though. I love the sound of the world and understand what brought this one down for you.
kimbacaffeinate recently posted…Audible Giveaway of The Voodoo Killings by Kristi Charish
This series is definitely worth the read and I did like this book a lot if you leave out the sex scenes. I really am going to keep reading the series-whenever the next one comes out 🙂
Lorna recently posted…Review: Take by Nashoda Rose (@Mollykatie112)
Oh I totally get why this one would be hard to define. It sounds very dark but for the 5 storyline I think I can deal with the sex scenes… but wish it was better.
Melissa (Books and Things) recently posted…The Winner’s Crime by Marie Rutkoski
I really love the series so far. I know it’s supposed to be dark UF but I just couldn’t handle those scenes. And I am not a prude!*Ha!*
Lorna recently posted…Review: Take by Nashoda Rose (@Mollykatie112)
I’m embarrassed to admit that I have Stygian (and maybe Tyrant too) and I didn’t realize it was paranormal! Hmm… I love that the Scars are born with ink that can jump from their bodies. That sounds fascinating. And I really want to get those read now. But as for Take…I’m going to have to agree with you on it not seeming right that Rose would have a rape victim endure that sort of sex. And I’m sorry that the sex scenes rather ruined what would have been a story you loved. I *am* glad that at least the story and characters were strong. 🙂
Don’t be embarrassed! As many blogs as we all visit it’s a wonder we remember any of the reviews we read!I love the ink part too-so unique! As far as the sex stuff, it still makes no sense to me and the explanation was hazy at best! If you do read this, I would be interested in what you think Brandee 🙂
Lorna recently posted…Review: Take by Nashoda Rose (@Mollykatie112)
Wow, this sounds like a rough one. But I am intrigued. The sex scenes might be too much for me though. Eesh!
Jennifer (Bad Bird Reads) recently posted…Review: Sustained by Emma Chase
Yes the scenes were rough for me and I think I cringed through all of them. If not this one, you might try book one in the series-I think it’s free and I loved it. Stygian is the name-hope I spelled that right.
Lorna recently posted…Review: Take by Nashoda Rose (@Mollykatie112)
It’s a shame that the sex scenes let the book down for you Lorna, because it sounds like a fantastic read. Sounds like Max and Jasper are perfect for one another and worked through their damaged pasts to be comfortable with one another.
Naomi Hop recently posted…Nuts by Alice Clayton ~ Review & Swoon Thursday (@alice_clayton, @SimonSchusterAU)
I really am enjoying this series. It’s dark and I knew that but given the main characters back story, the sex scenes just made me cringe in this one.
Lorna recently posted…Review: Take by Nashoda Rose (@Mollykatie112)