Customer Reviews

Chrysalis - Tribulations: Book 2

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4 star:		(1)
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I just finished reading my notes and review of Book 1 Chrysalis: The Awakening by M. L. Lacy and must quickly say that Book 2, Chrysalis: Tributions has not only surpassed but has moved the series into must-read status for fantasy lovers. Not only has the scope of the story expanded into an exciting novel but the writer has found her pace and style in her second book. Her words flow and pull readers in quickly and completely! Plus her blazing butterfly book cover is fantastic!

One key advantage point for Lacy's series for non-fantasy readers, including myself to some extent, is that her main character, Bree, was born a human, but a Chosen One. There is a background story that highlights why Bree was not brought into her role much earlier in her life; however, for readers, this provided Lacy the capability to explore how humans feel about "people" in the Magical world. Specifically, because of long life, vampires began sharing their mates with others during their lives. Now, for them, it is routine and considered normal. For Bree, however, she is not really interested in sharing her fiancée with anyone and, more importantly, her beliefs and feelings about sexuality are constantly being challenged and then explored. This struggle for Bree allows non-fantasy readers an easy way to understand and consider "the life" within that Magical world. Whether or not Lacy intended this or not, it was a great benefit for me since I, too, follow Bree's beliefs. Even though that is not endorsing the way of life for Magicals...

While Bree watches, learns, and prepares for meeting her major opponent as the leader of the Magical world, Esmeralda, she also faces a power struggle within her clan. Frankly I'm enjoying the overall power struggle that underlies the Clan's structure...that is, the need for all the men to protect Bree, even though she is the Chosen One...It is funny and sweet...and darn frustrating for both Bree and for some readers to see that the men refuse to recognize her true authority...

Of course she has not yet turned...

And, of course, Bree does what she wants and needs to do anyway...

Bree is like a lot of women, we allow loved individuals to do things that we may not like until we get to the boiling point and "explode" in frustration! She may need to develop a little better control in the future; but it is sure fun to watch her explosions in the meantime! One thing though, she has remarkable skills and knowledge that is constantly surprising everybody, because her strengths and total Magical abilities should not yet have been totally provided...

It seems that even the Magicals don't really understand how much the "elders" have given and shared with Bree, their last Chosen One. Ahhh, but I would have loved to see Esmeralda's face when Bree not only entered her hidden cavern, but also freed the two prisoners that Esmeralda had planned to trade for Bree!

Readers, there is a lot happening in this nearly 500-page novel...it does stand alone; however, I would recommend you start with Book 1 to get that background established. I have a feeling the Chrysalis series by M. L. Lacy is going to go on and on... Don't miss it!

G. A. Bixler

A very compelling read. I would recommend this book to those who love the fantasy genre. I love this author and cannot wait for the third book in the series.

I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book after reading the first one. I was hooked big time! In this well-named second book, we rejoin Bree and her clan as they have to overcome several obstacles aka. tribulations.. that keep blocking their way. Some of these challenges come from within the clan while many are just there because Bree is still adapting to the fact that she is "The Chosen One" in a magical world that she never knew existed.

The love story between Bree and her soul mate, Steven continues to strengthen even while she is trying to settle into her role as Alpha female to Bradley's Alpha male. Bree struggles with meshing her human emotions and values with the inner workings and structure of her supernatural and magical clan.

The author does a fine job of building and growing her characters. Although, I would love to know more about the men and just what it is that makes them tick. Especially when it comes to their utter devotion and I guess, addiction to Bree. I have to admit that Bree's character was much more forgiving and generous than I could have been. I wanted to completely throttle Madelyn. She was petty, mean and jealous. If I had been the one with Bree's powers, I'd have squashed her in a big way. (Yes, I really got into the book!) But I did really enjoy Bree and could easily place myself in her shoes. It isn't hard to imagine having similar thoughts and feelings if I were to be suddenly told that I had all of these abilities and everything in my life to this point was a facade.

I don't want to give anything else away for those who haven't had the pleasure of starting this series yet. Ms. Lacy has created a fantastic world with rich characters that I definitely want to read more about. I highly recommend readers start with the first book Chrysalis - The Awakening: Book 1 in order to get the full effect of this entire story. You can read my review of it HERE.

Again, this book is aptly titled as the Chrysalis: Tribulations encompasses change as well as hardship and suffering for the main character, Bree. She secretly learns that her family is not whom they seem to be. She has to learn and accept her role as clan leader, which is challenging when her clan member. Madelyn, is having jealousy issues being fueled by two new female members in various ways. To make matters worse for her mortal side, she learns that she has to share her long-lost true love with the other females, while she herself must be with the other men in her clan, in addition to four others that remain unknown to her at the moment. Bree also has her confrontations with Esmeralda, challenging the evil sorceress's demand that Bree remain in the council's care for her transformation.
Bree is taken on a journey of growth, enlightenment and change. She is gifted with a keen knowledge in knowing when something is not right with her clan, able to penetrate thoughts of those in her clan without their knowing, while at the same time she can block them from entering hers.
She befriends another vampire, as she can see beyond the evil in him and this is something that her clan has an issue accepting, but learns that Bree was correct.
All the while as Bree is handling issues of jealousy, learning of her heritage, dealing with the men in her clan that are drawn to her, and learning of her path and what she must conquer to succeed and a highly over-protective clan that continues to stand in her way for her own good, it is impossible not to go on the ride with her as you feel her emotions as she endures each trial.
M.L. Lacy has indeed captured me in this story because I can hardly wait for the next chapter in this series! Chrysalis: Awakening and Chrysalis: Tribulations are amazing pieces of work, as they wrap the reader in continuous nail-biting suspense, descriptive action sequences and soft intimate moments. I would greatly recommend this set to anyone that enjoys the paranormal and fantasy genre. I love how Lacy mixes the two and delivers such a wonderful tale that captures the heart and imagination.

Chrysalis: Tribulations is a fantastic read as it is the second book by M. L. Lacy in the Chrysalis saga. It picks up with Aubrey, "Bree" for short settling into her new life as the "Chosen One" although her transformation to the Magical World is still many months away. Esmeralda her arch nemesis has bounties on her life to the highest bidder to get rid of her before the year's end. Bree's powers are growing as she is navigating her way through being the Alpha female of the clan. Bree not only has to contend with the jealousy of Esmeralda but also with the females within in her own clan. The newest members have pushed Madalyn the mate of the Alpha male of the clan Bradley to challenge the decision of making Bree the Alpha just cause she is the Chosen One. So instead of having her family dragged through a court, Bree and the men of her clan have pretend to agree to let Madalyn have her chance at being the Alpha female and hope that she finds out she is not cut out for that role and most likely concede to Bree. As Madalyn goes about making demands and decisions which everyone pretty much ignores, secrets meetings are held with Bree and the men of the clan on what to do to keep Bree and the clan safe while getting rid of the dark creatures who threaten everyone's existence.




Bree also has to learn how to be able to satisfy the men of her clan. Preferably she would only want to be with her one and only Steven her soul mate but with this life there are certain traditions that are to be followed. As the Chosen One she is to have seven men that she is to be romantically involved with and she struggles with the mortal emotions that go with having to share her one and only with the other women of the clan especially with Madalyn and her cohorts but sharing herself with others. She has to learn to compartmentalize each one to keep them separate. Each one brings something different to her. She defines each one as Rick being her passion, Billy being her heart, Bradley is her old romantic love, and Steven her soul mate. At least Bree has a lot of help with guardians, teachers she sees in dreams, and two of the women in the clan who adore her and give their advice to help her along with advancing magical abilities as well as the romantic relationships that have to evolve with the men. Unfortunately, she also has to deal with this nasty demon in her dreams and waking life who is so determined to bring her to the dark side which she has now realized is her ex husband Nick in disguise. Tribulations is a fitting title as Bree struggles with preparing herself to leave the mortal world behind and crossing over to the Magical World to take her rightful place as the "Chosen One" Alpha female leader of the clan. The question is will she be alive to be able to claim it?