jbronderbookreviews

The Naked Tree by Morgan Lee

It was one small taste that transformed the entire history of our world. Colette is Vaporless, an Outlander. No worth. No value. All because she had no Vapors, lacked the sweet nectar of The Tree, and her heart had an extra piece. The land of Alvon is suspended high above the Earth, a judgment placed on it by Lorde, the supreme deity nearly seven Eons ago. The leaders of the Triunity, Adamek, Levi, and Eviya have created Alvon in their own image, a world deeply rooted in science, technology and pleasure. Their very lives depend on the fruit and energy given to them by the Tree of Knowl, but suddenly the tree begins to reject them and starts to deteriorate causing all humans who have eaten from the Tree to deteriorate as well. Eviya pinpoints the cause of the decay and points the finger at Colette and the Vaporless ordering for the capture and sacrifice of every Vaporless. On her quest to stay alive, Colette meets Rowan, the leader of R.H.I.S.K and joins his rebellion in an effort to save her own life. With the entire land of Alvon against them, and every human being hunting them, R.H.I.S.K. sets off toward Ilan in search of a way to stop the Triunity. Will Colette survive? Or will the Triunity succeed in recreating the perfection of their world?

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For more information, be sure to contact Morgan Lee.

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My Review

5 stars

In a world created by the Triunity, man is made in a lab for specific jobs. Love and compassion have been removed and now they do the job given to them, receive the Vapor from the Tree of Knowl and enjoy themselves with violence. But several years earlier, the Vaporless we found in the labs. Man without the vapors from the Tree of Knowl.

The Triunity didn’t think this would matter so they made them unimportant, more for the abuse of the Vapors. But then a child was created in the traditional way, Colette. She was hidden for most of her life. But now that the Tree of Knowl is dying, and the Vaporless are being blamed, she may be the one person that is able to save everyone.

This is an interesting story. I admit that I was a little lost at the beginning of the story, but once I figured out what was going on, the story took off. Colette has been hidden in a hole by her parents and been doing what is needed to survive. When a bounty is put on the heads of the Vaporless, her survival gets even harder. But she finds the R.H.I.S.K. and they seem to be able to help, even after capture by the Triunity.

Even though she has been beaten down, Colette refuses to give up. I cheered her as she succeeded and prayed when it looked like she going to die. This book is a great thrill ride and a great introduction to a new author. I can’t wait to read other books from Morgan Lee.

I received The Naked Tree from the author/publisher for free. This has in no way influenced my review.

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Madame Lilly, Voodoo Priestess (Volume 4) by Dormaine G.

It’s 1890 in New Orleans, a time of rich white men, sprawling plantations, Voodoo, high class parties and the unspoken Placage. Amidst the thick heat, magic and sorrow, a beautiful Creole woman exists in this cruel world. Although born free, she never knew life without the call of a ‘Master’ – until now.

Blessed with an ancient power, Madame Lily has an agenda that has galvanized her into the deepest reaches of High Society and to the darkness that is swirling with Voodoo.

Elijah is a First Made Protector tasked to guard and cleanse the world of the evils that roam. He spent millennia with only goodness in his heart until cursed – one meant to corrupt his very soul with love, obsession and infatuation… for Madame Lily, a woman that should rightfully be his adversary.

Drawn together by fate and magic, these two forces face off and sparks fly. A love that never should have been is born – a love that may change everything for both of them.

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Author’s Bio:

Dormaine was born in Long Island, New York where she lived most of her life. As an adult she liked to travel out of the country though her favorite places to explore were her fantasy worlds as an author. She may be a nurse by profession but her heart has always belonged to writing. As a young child she spent many Saturdays in the library nurturing her love for books. There she discovered her fascination for the science fiction genre, through books, movies and graphic novels.

Now she resides in Colorado with her husband and two feisty dogs. After many years of working in hospitals and travel nursing she took time off to pursue a career in writing. Her first novel “Connor” is in one of her favorite genres, young adult urban fantasy. Her second love is for horror of which she created the “Madame Lilly, Voodoo Priestess” series. This is just the start of her exploration as she stays locked up her office in Colorado spinning more tales.

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My Review

5 stars

Madame Lilly is continuing her torture of Julius and Henry. But with the knowledge of who is her family, she is going to use that to her advantage. At the same time Elijah is having second thoughts about Lilly. Because of his involvement with Sanura he blames Lilly’s current situation on himself. He know that a curse had been placed on the family but he did nothing about it. If her would have acted sooner would he have been able to change the current situation?

I admit that I cannot get enough of this series. The books are short but filled with so much. You can’t help but cheer for Lilly with everything that has happened to her. I also loved learning more about Elijah.

I can’t wait to see what happens next with Madame Lilly. This series is very addicting.

Be sure to check out the other books in the series:

Madame Lilly, Voodoo Priestess (Volume 1) by Dormaine G.

Voodoo Priestess, Madame Lilly, will get her revenge tonight even if the price is her soul.

In the late 1800’s Odara, a Creole girl in New Orleans, grew up wealthy and having the best of everything. She was taught the ways of plaçage: to be a wealthy man’s common-law wife. She didn’t want to follow the ways of plaçage as her mother had, until she met the man of her dreams, Henry Nicolas. He was handsome, charming and rich; perfect in every way until their first night of marriage when she saw his true malevolent side.

For twelve long years Odara endured abuse in the worst ways possible, taking her from a naive child to a scorned woman. A woman fueled with such revulsion towards Henry she would give anything for vengeance.

Through voodoo, Madame Lilly was born, but with it came consequences beyond even her comprehension.

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 My Review

5 stars

Odara is a beautiful Creole girl that was raised to be a placage, a dark skinned common-law wife to a white man. Even though she is strong willed and doesn’t want this life, once she meets her father’s business partner she finds herself falling for Henry Nicolas. But once she is married to him he abuses her greatly. She tries to ask for help from his wife but is spurned and others that offer to help are too afraid of Henry to be any real assistance. Twelve years later, Henry has tired of her and plans to find another woman. Odara can’t let this happen to another woman and sets about becoming Madame Lilly, Voodoo Priestess to punish Henry.

This is a quick, great read. My heart broke for Odara, here she thinks that she is finally going to be married to someone she loves and be taken care of when she is just abused. I can’t blame her for getting revenge but she doesn’t fully understand what she is getting herself into. I love the ending, it leaves open the possibility of much more to come.

I loved this story, it’s a great revenge tale, and I can’t wait to see what happens to Madame Lilly next.

Madame Lilly, Voodoo Priestess: Soulless (Volume 2)

Madame Lilly, Voodoo Priestess: Soulless Soulless and vengeful proves a lethal combination for those who have wronged her. The time is 1890, the place, New Orleans, and Odara is lost to Madame Lilly, her soulless side—and she has not finished what she started. Unleashing two great forces, Theolus and Hearon, with ferocious appetites against her common-law husband, Henry Nicholas, is just the beginning of the end for Lilly—only she doesn’t know it yet. For the spirits she raised took what was left of her humanity and left a piece of themselves within her; a piece that craves chaos. Needing to maintain control over them to do her bidding, Lilly must do what is required even if it means becoming more like them. Tortured, scorned and damned, Lilly has one mission in life: Retribution.

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My Review

5 stars

Madame Lilly is continuing to punish Henry, but first she needs to get more power so she can control Theolus and Hearon. Upon her return to the swamp, she learns that Henry’s father, Julius, has put a bounty on her head. Lilly decides to take Henry home and destroy both his and Julius’ family. But Elijah is close and is bound and determined to try and save her.

Lilly is being drawn into Theolus and Hearon’s power. She has so much rage inside her that it is easy to find comfort with them. There are hints that her great grandma Sanura had the same abilities as Lilly but no one has ever told her anything about Sanura. Although Lilly is becoming the evil creatures she has summoned you can’t help but cheer for her after everything she went through.

This is a great series of love, abuse, power, and revenge. After how Soulless ending I can’t wait to see what happens to Lilly in Sanura.

Madame Lilly, Voodoo Priestess: The Time of Sanura (Volume 3)

History always has a way of repeating itself

Madame Lilly journeys back in time to her great grandmother’s era, the time of Sanura. Both women possess more than a kinship for they are each bound by harmful spirits whom they refuse to relinquish. By the hand of a mysterious being, Elijah, Lilly is transported into the past to witness the dark path Sanura chose that ultimately lead to her demise.

While in this era, Lilly feels the turmoil Sanura endured as a young girl. Even as she fights to deny her ability to see the non-living. But the more she refuses the sight, the more the dead seem to flock. And then a dreadful accident takes place forcing her to finally accept her once unwanted gift. She soon welcomes the dead.

Through Sanura’s struggle of growing up an innocent child being forced to take on the burdens no one should undergo, she ultimately transforms into a frightfully powerfully woman. Lilly watches from afar, as Sanura grows more commanding with each act of wickedness, until her final downfall. Even then, Sanura refuses to surrender her bound spirits for they need her as much as she thought she needed them.

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My Review

5 stars

Elijah is trying to save Lilly by sending her back in time to live through her great grandmother, Sanura. We meet Sanura when she is fifteen and being sold because her master’s wifeis very jealous of her. She is sold to Dr. Smith who seems to have an extraordinary medical advantage over other people. But Sanura learns the truth and starts learning about voodoo from Mandisa a slave of Dr. Smith’s. Eventually Dr. Smith’s secret comes out and Sanura punished Dr. Smith.

Sanura decides to live in the swamp among the dead and safe from men. Sanura is approached by Quentin to save his sick wife, but the more they are around each other, and attraction starts. Eventually the fall in love and have a daughter and Quentin’s wife cannot handle the thought of her husband and Sanura. She plans on kidnapping Sofie, Sanura and Quentin’s daughter and setting Sanura on the path to the end of her life.

I love how this story just keeps getting better and better. It’s great to learn the background to the story and about Lilly’s powers. I really like Elijah and how he tries to help Saruna but things don’t work out.

I am beyond excited to see what happens in Volume 4.

I received all four volumes from Sage’s Blog Tours for free. This has in no way influenced my opinion of this series.

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