Title: Destined
Author: Catriana Sommers
Publisher: Silver Publishing
Pages: 266
POV: 3rd
Sub-Genre: Fantasy
Kisses: 3
Blurb:
Raised together, Sarnaiel and Naliel are as close as brothers could be, until the dark elf Sarnaiel decides he wants them to be something more. Only after he reveals his intentions does he learn of an arranged marriage that stands between them and their happiness. Unable to stand the idea of the one he loves with another, he vanishes, leaving Naliel alone…or so he thought.
But someone has been watching the young half elf from the shadows, and without Sarnaiel’s presence he makes his move in the most brutal of ways. Naliel survives, but his mind and body are broken. Sarnaiel returns to pick up the pieces, mending and nurturing and rebuilding their bond, but once again their relationship is thwarted by the birth of Naliel’s bride.
Once the source of his greatest joy, Sarnaiel becomes Naliel’s torment. For Sarnaiel, when hurt, strikes back twice as hard and viciously. It doesn’t matter who it is. He almost goes too far and through that, finally learns what should be truly important to him. The oath they make that day is what seals their already unbreakable bond, and the two grow older, and wiser, together. For no matter what happens, no matter what they face, even if it’s their own kin, they live by their promise:
“It was us from the beginning, and it’ll be us until the end.”
Content concerns: This book contains near rape, questionable consent, and moderate violence
Review:
I have to say that Destined lives up to its blurb, or the blurb lives up to the story, whichever way, you get a very good idea of the events which take place through the story. Sarnaiel and Naliel are elves and incredibly close to one another. They grew up together, they do everything together, they are destined to be together come hell or high water and it takes a series of events that happen to them, as a team and as individuals for them to “see” that they do belong together as a couple and not just friends.
There is angst, of course one of my favorites, near rape, and of course violence, which pushed the story forward as something horrible happens to one of the characters and its up to the other to bring him around using his love and understanding to do so. Things aren’t smooth by any sense of the word for these two characters to come around and make the complete circle, but that’s what makes the story.
If you like fantasy and a bit of the angst and what have you, give it a shot..
Reviewed By: Michele
