The End of Hatred (Etherya’s Earth) Book 1 By Rebecca Hefner
Description…..
A Metallica-loving Slayer princess. A sexy-as-sin Vampyre king. Can they secure peace?
These are dangerous times on Etherya’s Earth…
Slayer Princess Miranda, heir to the throne, has hated the Vampyres for a thousand years. Since the Awakening, she’s fought to protect her people, choosing to be a warrior more than a royal. When a female Vampyre washes up on the shore of her compound’s riverbank, she seizes the opportunity to take the offensive.
Sathan, King of the Vampyres, distraught at his sister’s disappearance and captivity, agrees to travel with Miranda to resect the Blade of Pestilence, also hoping to change his people’s state of endless war. Although the woman hates him due to the constant raids on her compound for the Slayers’ life-giving blood, he can’t help but admire the stubborn and strong princess.
As their journey progresses, both begin to understand that they are aligned in their hatred of Crimeous, leader of the Deamons, as well as their hope for peace between the Slayers and Vampyres. Determined to fight their growing attraction, they forge a tentative truce. But old wounds run deep and trust is scarce. Their faith in each other must remain strong or all will be lost…
Excerpt ….
“Our people have been at war for a thousand years. We are locked in a stalemate that neither side seems to be able to win. I have come to the conclusion that we need to change our tactics.”
“I’m listening.”
She inhaled a deep breath before continuing. “I’ve grown weary of fighting your people. I wish to form a temporary truce with you so that I can accomplish something of great importance.”
“Right,” he said, his tone suggesting that he trusted her about as far as he could throw her. “And what is it you need from me?”
“As the first-born descendants of Valktor and Markdor, our shared blood stream could release the Blade of Pestilence. Once I have it, I will use it to kill Crimeous and I will return your sister to you.”
Sathan blinked a few times, unsure he’d heard her correctly, and then he laughed incredulously. “Wait, are you serious?”
She stood still and mute, her chin thrust up in the air, waiting for his response.
“You want me to travel to the Cave of the Sacred Prophecy with you, release the Blade of Pestilence and then just let you go on your merry way after you’ve kidnapped my sister?”
“Yes,” she said, as if his statement hadn’t been dripping with sarcasm. “Except that I didn’t kidnap your sister. She washed up on the shore of our riverbank. I actually employed our doctor in nursing her back to health. You’re welcome, by the way.”
What a patronizing, cocky little bitch, Sathan thought. Although, he had to admire how she stood her ground against him. His physical dominance over her alone should’ve had her cowering. He tested her will by taking a step forward, closing the distance between them. She stood firm, tilting her chin up even more to hold his gaze, and reluctant admiration for her courage coursed through him.
Etherya’s Earth Series
Book 1: The End of Hatred
Book 2: The Elusive Sun
Book 3: The Darkness Within
Book 4: The Reluctant Savior
Book 5: The Impassioned Choice
Publication date 17/11/18
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“ For thousands of years, the Slayera and the Vampyres coexisted in peace. Etherya would reward them with blazing sunsets, good harvests and sun-kissed days that turned into long, balmy nights. She was grateful for the abundance of happiness she felt when she smiled down on her small, precious sphere. And then, in what was perhaps the blink of an eye in the span of things, all was shattered. The night of the Awakening had come.”
Excerpt from The End of Hatred
My review…..
Another world is born, and the goddess Etherya is charged with looking after it. Sounds simple enough. Then it sounds like it all went to pieces…..
Miranda is princess to the Slayera people. A beloved daughter, pampered and spoilt, until her mother is captured and never to be seen again….. From then on, her father changes, and Miranda is left to nannies and teachers, her only friend and companion was her cousin Kenden. Miranda is now a warrior princess, no longer content to sit at home, she takes the fight to both Deamons and Vampyre everyday. Determined to free her people from the blood raids. (Vampyres need blood to survive) and to kill the King of Deamons. No easy task, but Miranda is nothing if not stubborn.
Sathan is King of the Vampyres, he has been for over a thousand years. The Slayera (or Slayers as the Vampyre call them) are becoming more of a threat. Sathan although the Vampyre King, he longs for a quiet life for both himself and his people. His mating to the beautiful Lila, should be arranged and consummated by now, but something is holding him back. He knows they need the Slayera’s blood, but there has to be compromise. He’s sick of constantly fighting both the slayers and the Deamons.
After capturing the Vampyre’s sister, Miranda bargains with Sathan to join with her in finding the mythical blade Pestilence, once she has the blade her captive will go free. She needs the sword to destroy both Deamons and Vampyre. (Only she doesn’t tell Sathan that!)
Agreeing? An uneasy truce is formed. They set out to find the sword….
But there is a force in the background playing with lives. How did Arderin (Sathan’s sister) get captured? Is there a traitor in the Vampyre camp? Why are the Deamons becoming more of a threat?
The tension between Sathan and Miranda is definitely hostile, although Sathan is rather taken with the feisty female he’s accompanying across their lands, he can’t trust her. And as animosity turns to passion, will they be able to get past their hate? Can they see past the centuries of bloodshed? And can Sathan forgive Miranda’s grandfather for killing his parents?
Very well written. Very fast paced, full of action. Enough backstory (too much and you just get bogged down) and history concerning all the species that live on Etherya.
So what does the future hold for the Vampyre King and the Slayera Princess? Once she has her hands on the sword, will she wield it for good? Or finally will her people be free of the Vampyre shadow that’s hung over them since the beginning of time?
I really enjoyed that. A symbiotic relationship between vampyre and Slayera to start with, the Vampyre as a protector of the Slayera, who in turn supply blood as payment. That’s how it was suppose to be, that’s how the goddess intended for her precious, peaceful, superior race was suppose to be (the Slayera) but after the awakening, that all changed! Now they are bitter enemies, sworn to destroy one another! Miranda is a really good character, strong, fearless, and has her mothers compassion. She wants an end to this war without anymore bloodshed. And she wants the Deamons gone too. Sathan has a dry wit, a quick mind and a thirst for knowledge. He’s cautious, and I like that. He’s also suspicious about the whole thing. He knows he can’t trust Miranda, but if he could, then maybe the war between them could end, and they could join forces to destroy Crimeous, the King of Deamons. There are a few characters here, but they all seem to play a vital role. I like the snippets of past that come from passages of both Slayera, Deamon and Vampyre sacred texts. Gives more of an insight.
So what happens next?
Will the sword be found? Who gets to wield it? (Ummmm there might be a clause in that!) Will we find out what happened to Miranda’s mother (I have a feeling, it is a pivotal moment) Sorry your going to have to read it to find out. Oh and can’t wait to read the next one.
🦋
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