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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
If you enjoy classics and supernatural fantasy, you will definitely want to give this book a try., June 23, 2010
This review is from: The Darkly Luminous Fight for Persephone Parker (Mass Market Paperback)
The Darkly Luminous Fight for Persephone Parker by Leanna Renee Hieber
Historical Paranormal Romance - April 27, 2010
4 ½ Stars
In 1888 London, there are six extraordinary mortals who possess the power to keep London from being overrun by ghosts. This group is led by Professor Alexi Rychman, the 6 members of the group have recently welcomed their 7th member, Percy Parker, who is the reincarnation of the Goddess Persephone. Together, Professor Rychman, his beloved Percy, and the rest of this group of misfits must stop the Whisperworld from taking over London. Worst of all, Rychman and his friends must also stop the Lord of Darkness from reclaiming Percy once more.
The Darkly Luminous Fight for Persephone Parker is the second book in Hieber's Victorian Fantasy novel involving Percy Parker and the other Guardians of the mortal world. I would highly recommend starting this series by reading the first book The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker before reading this second novel. This story picks up right from where the first book left off. If you try to dive in without reading the first one, the second book will seem very confusing and difficult to read. Thankfully, the first book is a great read as well. As soon as I figured this was not a stand alone, I bought and read the first book and then dove straight right into this one. Hieber is such an engaging and talented writer that I could not stop reading for the past five days!
First of all, I think the story in the second book is even better than the first. Percy Parker, our protagonist, really matures by the second book and becomes quite feisty at the end. Hieber did an amazing job bringing Percy to life, especially during the final climax. I was so impressed that I read out sections of it to my husband! The rest of the characters are equally well written, from the brash (yet loving) Mr. Rychman to Jane, the group's Healer. Every character has their own problems/subplot that are original and well thought out.
Hieber is a writer who writes with love and care. You can see how much attention she pays to the details in her story and with all of her characters. She's the only writer who really writes like a Victorian. Unlike other romance writers, who even though they are writing historical novels, they still retains their contemporary "accent," Hieber really writes in the style of Gaskell or Austen. To keep it authentic, Hieiber also keeps her books romantic aspects very chaste. If you enjoy classics and supernatural fantasy, you will definitely want to give this book a try. Hieber does a successful job of marrying these two genres to create something unique and well worth your time.
Reviewed by Pauline from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club
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11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful Tale, better than first!, April 19, 2010
This review is from: The Darkly Luminous Fight for Persephone Parker (Mass Market Paperback)
Because the synopsis on the back of the book is so beautifully written (just like the rest of the book) I wanted to post it here for you to read.
From Leanna Renee Hieber's website:
With radiant, snow white skin and hair, Percy Parker was a beacon for Fate. True love had found her, in the tempestuous form of Professor Alexi Rychman. But her mythic destiny was not complete. Accompanying the ghosts with which she alone could converse, new and terrifying omens loomed. A war was coming, a desperate ploy of a spectral host. Victorian London would be overrun. Yet, Percy kept faith. Within the mighty bastion of Athens Academy, alongside The Guard whose magic shielded mortals from the agents of the Underworld, she counted herself among friends. Wreathed in hallowed fire, they would stand together, no matter what dreams or nightmares--may come.
After reading The Strangely Beautiful Tale last year and giving it a five star review and naming it my favorite book of the year, it is obvious that I had super high hopes for The Darkly Luminous Fight. I was not disappointed either! I am not usually big on romance novels, but this series is the perfect blend for me. There is the magical guard that protects London and Athens Academy, Percy being able to speak and see the ghost, a battle of light vs dark, and the romance that unravels for the characters involved.
The Darkly Luminous Fight starts off with the Guard celebrating their win against the darkness, and Percy and Alexi's engagement. They are such a sweet couple, even Percy's shyness about her pale skin and what Alexi will think is endearing. She is very inexperienced with men in general, and to go from nothing at all to a husband is difficult for Percy to grasp.
I really liked the addition of the old Guard trying to help the new Guard even if there are bad feelings between some of them. Percy having to be mediator made it quite interesting, because everyone had to rely on her to know what was going on. It proved to the other members that they definitely need her aboard.
I adore all the secondary characters in this story. They have such large hearts and care so much for what the prophecy has in store for them. They get on each others nerves sometimes, but they are always there for each other; never letting one person fight on their own.
Again, Leanna has such a great voice and I enjoy reading her writing so much. I can not wait to see what she has in store for us in the future. I also wonder how she could come up with another title for the next book (lol). My review definitely isn't getting across how much I adore this series. I do hope those who are lovers of paranormal romance will give this one a shot.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Unique & Fascinating, September 29, 2010
This review is from: The Darkly Luminous Fight for Persephone Parker (Mass Market Paperback)
The Darkly Luminous Fight for Persephone Parker picks up exactly where the previous installment concluded- with our daring members of The Guard finally finding peace in their seventh member- Persephone. The story was fascinating, beautifully entertaining and even better than the first! I suggest reading the first novel before beginning this one, you don't want to miss out.
This magical story propelled me into the emotional sacrifices Persephone and The Guard are forced to make so that their dearly fragile prophecy can continue to be protected. Now Percy finds herself with something she has never had- a family of wonderfully unique people who make her "special traits" seem not so unusual- The Guard. And after saving the Guard during a disastrously dangerous battle against Darkness, Percy finds herself starting a new life she never could have imagined possible. But the extraordinary life she has always dreamed of may not last quite as long as she would have liked. And unfortunately she finds herself wrapped up in yet another battle with Darkness. The fate of the mortal world rests on her ability to travel to the Whisper World and face Darkness herself. Can she conquer death for good this time, or will Darkness take The Guard and Persephone once and for all?
I thoroughly enjoyed this story! I was concerned that the "magic" would fade but it was just as fascinating in the second novel as it was in the first. One thing that I absolutely adored was that the plot took me to more personal places with The Guard. I felt like I could connect better with them because the story told more about their past and individual lives. Hieber writes with such beautiful detail and the romantic subplots are enough to keep the story sensitive without taking away from the terrific battles. Now I am extremely excited to get my hands on the third installment of Percy Parker - The Perilous Prophecy Of Guard And Goddess! I highly recommend this series for those that love historical romance, the paranormal and steampunk!
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