I'm a huge fan of Carmen DeSousa's Creatus series, and so I was thrilled to get an early read of this one. Creatus Talis is both an extension and a spin-off of the first four books. While some of the original characters continue on, we focus on new characters with a new direction. You don't have to read the early books to jump right into this new one. (Though you should, because they are too good to miss!)

I love Vev's character! She's a total badass, but in a way that feels believable. While we see she's conflicted and sometimes doubts herself, we also see her strength and determination.

The story has a lot of depth. Throughout the book, the content moves seamlessly from intense to emotional to thought-provoking.

One of my favorite things about this book and the series in general is that it's written in a way that feels entirely plausible. The explanations and the science all make sense. We could very well have a race of people called Creatus blending in with us average humans. The realism makes this book all the more captivating.

I think this book reads fine as a stand-alone. At the end, we're left with an issue to consider, something that we know will be incorporated in the next book. I am absolutely not a fan of cliffhangers, but I didn't get that irritated feel at all here. The ending left me satisfied with how the story played out, while also looking forward to what will happen next.

*I was provided with an advance copy of this book, with no expectations of a glowing review in return.* ( )