Raine Down: An Urban Fantasy Adventure (The Shadow Guardians Book 1)
Ragnarok happened. Survivors converged on earth many millennia ago, breeding and blending with humans. Now, a secret battle of bloodlines is being waged in the shadows of the real world.
Raine Thoren became a Shadow Guardian to protect non-magical humans from threats they aren't even aware of. But the latest killer on the loose has stealth and power unlike any adversary she's faced. She won't be able to bring this one down alone.
FBI Special Agent Will Decker prefers to work by himself. After a mysterious woman saves his life, she's suddenly assigned to work with him in his quest to track an elusive killer. The more he learns about his new partner, Raine, and what demons lurk in shadows, the more fantasy becomes reality.
If they're going to stop the demon and unravel prophecies of the future, they'll need to work as a team and unlock each others' hearts and untapped powers.
Quarter Finalist
Plot/Idea: 9 out of 10
Originality: 9 out of 10
Prose: 9 out of 10
Character/Execution: 9 out of 10
Overall: 9.00 out of 10
Assessment:
Plot/Idea: Samet's dramatic, otherworldly story tackles both romance and suspense—and successfully merges the two into one intriguing and nuanced plot, rich with drama from the first sentence. The storyline is logically sound and well-thought out, and the supernatural elements immersive.
Prose: Keeping with its polished structure, Samet's prose is skillfully crafted, and the banter between Raine and Will is as believable as it is engaging. Samet is quite obviously a masterful storyteller.
Originality: Samet infuses the novel with a distinctive combination of action, romance, and intrigue—making this read undoubtedly unique.
Character/Execution: Samet takes a subtle approach to characterization, allowing the central protagonists to clash while developing their likability equally at the same time.
Date Submitted: May 14, 2023
