I read this series because it was recommended to me since I like The All Souls Trilogy by Deborah Harkness. I do not like it quite as much as The All Souls Trilogy but it is good nonetheless. I like the librarian aspect and the historical research part but I also think the romance and story line in general is quite well done. It is a series that reads quickly while also keeping you engaged in the plot and characters. ( )

When I originally finished this book I was so flummoxed at what to say in my review that I put it off for more than a week. I am so obsessed with this series that I can't think straight after finishing a book. I had similar reactions after reading every book but I try my best to write what I felt from reading it. It just got harder has I moved through the series.

I just want to say that I love love this book and the rest of the series more than I can explain. I also want to say that Elizabeth Hunter really wanted to make us (me) cry this time around, this particular book elicited a variety of emotions from me. There were the happy swoony moments, the hilarious moments, the gasping moments, and the tear filled moments.

I can just imagine what the settings this story took place in might have looked like. Among all the drama and action, there was an adventure set in some of the most beautiful settings. I can only stretch my imagination.

Enjoyed Beatrice's old friends and her new ones, ooh Baojia. At first he just sounds really scary but while still scary we get to see a more softer side of Baojia and how much he cares for Beatrice.

Giovanni is still madly in love with Beatrice of course and is resolved with the fact that Beatrice needs to learn to take care of herself. He "tries" his best to take a step back from his usual overprotective stance on her training.

Beatrice continues to learn how to deal with the every growing scope of vampire politics while living in the territory of the Eight Immortals. She learns more about her strengths and that she wants to fight for the future she sees for her family. She also has to deal with an heart wrenching loss.

Am I forgetting anything, well yea a lot actually, but I really shouldn't say anymore. It's gonna be hard to find another series to replicate the feelings I get from this series. ( )

I had to stop this one in the middle because it got a bit boring. Within a few pages of picking it up again the action started and didn't stop til the end. Kinda not surprised at the events, how it was interesting how they unfolded. I'm not sure when I will finish this series, because, just thinking about it now, I'm not entirely interested in how it ends. Ouch. Just can't work up the enthusiasm. ( )

good book....the plot thickens...... ( )

Those of you who've been reading this blog since last year know that Elizabeth's first book A Hidden Fire made it into my list of best reads of 2011.

It's hard to explain why her writing pushes so many right buttons for me.

Elizabeth created a smart and intoxicating paranormal mystery with romantic elements which takes you all over the world in search of ancient manuscripts containing the secrets of the immortality elixir. It introduces a classic villain, a complicated vampire hierarchy full of intrigues, favours and a strange elemental magic. It brings you gorgeous martial art teachings and strong battle sequences. At last, it gives us an enigmatic pairing of Gio and Beatrice, whose relationship has a long, complicated and stormy past, but who're undeniably deeply in love with each other.

Maybe this is why I love this series so much.

The Force of Wind is a bittersweet, tumultuous and heartbreaking read. things we expect come to pass and things we don't expect at all come to pass.

Beatrice came a long way from being a snarky girl librarian to becoming a formidable opponent and warrior.

Book #3 takes her and Gio to a secret island in China where the Council of Eight Immortals lives ruling vampires of this world. The war with Lorenzo ended with a Mexican stand off, and the Council wants to make a peaceful decision concerning the manuscript which both Gio and Lorenzo consider theirs.

B feels that the clock is ticking and she is running out of time. She trains like mad with Baojia and Tenzin, preparing her body and mind to being turned because she feels that her humanity is a constant weakness in their battle with Lorenzo and she wants to eliminate it.

“I have to say, you do smell delicious. I kind of understand why he wants to keep you.”
Beatrice frowned. “Tenzin, please don’t make me feel any more like dinner than I already do.”
Her friend laughed long and hard. Finally, Beatrice did too. Then Tenzin reached over and stroked Beatrice’s hair back from her face, and the soft look she occasionally allowed herself peeked through.
“It will be all right. Relax.” Beatrice could feel the amnis start to creep across her skin as she stared at Tenzin. (taken out as a spoiler) held her hand and she allowed the soft
brush of her friend’s influence in her mind. She closed her eyes and listened to the hypnotic voice.
“Meditate. Just like we practiced. Calm. Let yourself relax.”
She drifted, focusing on a picture of Giovanni she held in her mind. It was the single minded look he gave her sometimes. When he was angry. When he made
love to her. When he killed for her. It was the look that told her she was the center of his world.
“I am your balance in this life,” she whispered to him, even though he was not there. “In every life.”
Her eyes flew open when she felt Tenzin’s fangs strike.

The finale is truly brutal and shocking. In each book of this series there are losses and sacrifices making a huge impact on every character, and this book is no exception. I also love how both the main and secondary characters have many facets and are constantly growing in each book. You don't see it often these days. We finally find out about Tenzin's past and why she is so estranged from her vampire's father. We also see more of an enigmatic Baojia, a Chinese assassin training and looking after B.

This is a gorgeous book in a fantastic series and a must read for fans of Anne Rice, Elizabeth Kostova and Dan Brown. ( )