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Pure Requiem by Aja James

Who he was…

The Creature was not always an “it,” a monster and tool for Medusa’s use. Once upon a time, he was a boy, and then a man. He had a name—Erebu. Twice, he sacrificed himself for love. Twice he died and was revived by his Mistress. In the process, he lost his soul and buried the painful memories where no one could find them, least of all him.

Who he is…

Now one of Medusa’s most brilliant henchmen, captured by the Pure Ones yet treated like a friend rather than a foe, the Creature is reminded of the soul he lost, the memories he’d forgotten, and the dream he used to hope for. But first, he must confront the past.

Who he is meant to be…

The Creature realizes that he matters, he has will, even if he is not completely free; that without darkness there is no light, and that darkness can be beautiful too.

When his newfound friends—his family—are threatened, will the Creature find the strength to fight for love? Will he make the right choice and change the course of Destiny?

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(free to read with Kindle Unlimited)

If I haven't said it yet, I'll say it now... I love Erebu!

How is this possible?

How did the author make this person into a redeemable hero? Or would he be an anti-hero?

I don't know how it was done. And I don't even care. I LOVE HIM!!

And to top it all off, I got not only Ere... but Pure Requiem gave me more of my beloved Tal!

The following are my thoughts, feelings, and questions about this read. If you don't want to be spoiled, stop here!

1. The Creature, who will now be named Ere (because I refuse to ever call him 'it' again) was as sarcastic, adorable, vulnerable, and particularly loquacious as ever.

2. I found it entirely too sweet when Ere impersonated Inanna to spend time with Tal. How cute was it that Tal knew all along that it was him? And how nice was it that he was so honest with his father, even in disguise?

“There’s a certain symmetry as well as randomness in the lines. It’s actually quite…beautiful, despite the ugliness that created them. When I look at you, I see colors, and the world pales to gray. You’re a work of art, papa.”

And then I saw it: a corner of his mouth slowly curved up in that gorgeous, heart-palpitating squirk. Holy gods, how I love this heroic male with all my twisted, black heart!

3. I love Ere's connection to Benji. I live for every moment of their time together, their banter, their love, and their light.

There he goes with his obsession with cuckoos again. I suppose I aided and abetted this unhealthy fixation with the grim fairytales I’ve been telling him. He’s determined to prove to me how cuckoos are actually beautiful and love-worthy, how the ugliest of them all is destined to mate with a magical golden phoenix of all things. One can never account for a boy’s wayward imagination.

Is Benji seeing the future? The phoenix... that would be The Eagle King right? Is he to be Ere's promise of happiness?

4. How sweet was it when Ere finally saw his true self for the first time?

Huh. I guess I’m genetically blessed with a big, fat ass. Despite the beef jerky imitation that describes the rest of me (except the obscenely plump meat hanging between my legs), my backside doesn’t appear to have gone on the same diet.

5. Why do I want Ere to write me some letters? I'm in love with his love for Dalair. I love how his letters were sweet, vulnerable and honest. I am begging for these two 'brothers' to reunite and find their love and friendship again.

6. How hot was that first scene between Tal and Ishtar? Initially he was tense and reluctant and still averse to her touch. Then he became dominant and exchanged the power with his mate. Is this what he needed to finally overcome the hurdle to their passion? Will they be okay now? And when the heck will he get back his sight???

7. Am I the only one who melted into a sticky puddle over Ere's love and admiration for his parents? I'm a gushy mess!

I stand in front of the bathroom mirror admiring the gorgeousness that sprouts from my scalp. I think it’s my best feature. After all, I got it from Ishtar Anshar, Heaven’s Brightest Star. I cock my head a little in consideration. On second thought, maybe I like my eyes best. Because they’re from Tal-Telal, the General of the Pure Ones. Everything else about my body is probably my own, so I don’t like that as much. But the features that are from…them I absolutely adore.

8. I'm still wondering about the futures of Rhys, Ana, and Adam Morgan. Will there be happy endings for them? I always thought Ana and Adam would hook up.

9. Will I ever get the back stories for Tristan and Ayelet? I want to know who they really are and how they ended up mated.

10. The reconciliation of Ere and Liv almost made me teary-eyed. I know this is fiction, but what are the chances that she was the same girl who gave him a broken heart. They were kids together. She knew him before he ever became The Creature. How cool is it... how far he's come to be able to forgive her?!

11. I would love for someone to tell me why Ishtar is still being referred to as a Dark One when we know that her true father was a Pure One. Doesn't that mean she is half and half? Doesn't that make Inanna and Ere 3/4 Pure and 1/4 Dark?

What I know is this... Ere is still a rascal, but he is definitely redeemed. He's becoming the hero he was always meant to be. After an epic battle scene, it seems he's ready to make a huge sacrifice for his family and friends. Now here I am, ready to start Pure Destiny, and all I can think of, besides my love for these characters, is 🎵 Ding Dong the Witch is Dead 🎵 One down... one to go!

Check out the previous books:

“He is so beautiful, my love,” she whispers, the salt from her hot tears blending with the light sprinkle of water from the showerhead as it all trickles down my skin, leaving me raw.

“Benji described him accurately—eyes like yours, hair like mine, tall and much too thin. But you wouldn’t believe how his beauty eclipses the gods of old unless you beheld it for yourself.”

I clench my fist against the small of her back and hug her tighter.

I cannot see my son. I do not know if I ever shall. At least I have the memory of Inanna to sustain me. At least I had my daughter for two decades before we were separated. But I have never seen Erebu. My blind eyes throb with visceral pain at the loss.

“I will tell you all about it,” Ishtar adds softly, as if sensing my torment. “Our son truly cannot be described as anything but beautiful. He is all male, but there is a feline, delicate grace about him. I do not think it’s because of his thinness. It’s his inherent gentleness and playfulness. He might display his prickly, irreverent wit to the world, but he’s terribly sensitive inside. And gravely hurt.”

She sniffs, and I take a deep breath, both of us gathering ourselves out of sorrow, focusing on joy.

And hope. Always hope.

“Often, he makes scornful, self-deprecating comments,” she continues in that soothing, low voice, “partly to fend off harsher words from others that he seems to expect as his due, and partly because he truly believes them himself. He has so much light within him that it shines through whenever he looks upon Benji. Yet, so much darkness as well, focused inward. And because of this, not in spite of it, he is exquisitely, painfully beautiful. Endlessly fascinating, multi-faceted like the kaleidoscopic fragments of light filtered through the most perfect diamond.”

Aja James just completed the Pure/ Dark Ones paranormal-fantasy romance series in 2020. If you want your heart battered, bruised, shattered and skewered, then put back together in the most glorious ways, check out the series below. Every couple gets an HEA, but they fight like hell for it on the way.

Aja is now working on her new series, Dragon Tails, because dragons are her favorite shifters of all!

Ever since he laid eyes on Eveline Marceau, Ramses wanted to possess her. Inside and out.
He wanted to own every fiber of her being.

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Dark Possession by Aja James

Alend Ramses is not who he seems…

The first-ever Dark King, the most powerful vampire ruler in the world, was once the lowest of the low. A slave who became a Consort who became a King…he’s lived long enough to learn from his mistakes and never repeat them.

Or has he?

Eveline Marceau knows a lot…

The Pure Ones’ Seer and Scribe is an intellectual female with hidden depths, which no male across time has come close to uncovering. She is certain that Ramses is no different; she knows what she wants, and he is exactly opposite.

But she doesn’t know everything.

Their paths cross unexpectedly…

Pulled into the Dark Ones’ dizzying world of intrigue, violence and mayhem, the meek little “librarian” shows her steely backbone and holds her own. By all appearances, she is one of the Dark King’s possessions, a symbol and portent for a potential future as tensions between the Dark Ones and their enemies run high.

Appearances can be deceiving.

Can Eveline work with Ramses to steer Destiny in the right direction, or will history once again repeat itself toward a bloody, oppressive end?

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(free to read with Kindle Unlimited)

Once again, Aja James gave me an honorable, broken hero to sink my teeth into. Had me feeling like fighting Eveline for the privilege!

Matter of fact, Eveline wasn't doing bad herself. I absolutely adored the way she transformed once she met Ramses. Dark Possession a.k.a. The Evolution of Eveline was a sensually frustrating masterpiece.

Honestly, I found so much to love about this book... like the way Eveline was mesmerized by Ramses and his #phallus elephantas.

She had the almost irresistible urge to rub her face in his inviting crotch.

Could crotches be inviting? Apparently, Ramses’ was.

Unconsciously, Eveline licked her dry lips at the sight.

She was so, so starved.

“Thirsty?” He asked solicitously in that sinful, dark chocolate voice.

She swallowed with an audible gulp.

His chest seemed to shake, and if Eveline was paying attention to anything above his waistline, she would have seen that it was shaking with barely suppressed amusement.

“Hungry?”

He was taunting her. Some self-preserving part of her brain just knew that he was.

Right on cue, his penis bobbed and pulsed again, squeezing out more clear fluid, the fat, juicy head with its winking slit looking directly at her. (If penises could look, that was).

As if to say, come take a good long suck. Eat my cream until you’re full to bursting. I’ll satisfy all of your most wanton and depraved appetites.

Can these two be more delicious together?!

I loved that although this book heavily featured Ramses and Eveline, there was still something about their story that fed into the subplot that has been building throughout this entire series. For example, I need more information about The Eagle King. I was hoping that he and Ramses would finally have the conversation that seemed to be so necessary, but no. I want them to confront Ramses' regret over their first encounter when he turned his back on his own kind. I wanted the Eagle to share their origins and their bond. I want all of these beings to finally unite so that Medusa and Wan'er don't stand a chance.

If I didn't already not care a dang lick about Queen Ashlu before, this book... getting Ramses story... seeing how she used, abused, and manipulated him... I definitely hate her now.

When he was smaller, she used to sift her fingers through his ebony curls while she hugged him to her bosom as a loving mother would. She doted on him and carved time out of every day to spend with him. Playing, dreaming, making him laugh, feeding him food and drink from her own hands.

Was it any wonder that he loved her unconditionally? His beautiful, magical Dark Queen.

He never suspected that it was all pretense.

Good thing she's dead.

I did think that it took far too long for Ramses to wise up to who Queen Ashlu truly was. At times, I thought it made him pathetic. But then I remembered she had him since he was a baby. So it wasn't beyond the realm of possibility that he would have a blindspot when it came to her. However, to die at the age of 11 as a Pure One because he gave himself to her when she didn't love him back (thanks Decline), to be reborn as a Dark One and rededicate himself to the same person who didn't love him... He took to long to walk away.

Although Ramses was disgusted and repulsed by having sex in order to expedite negotations between the houses, I'm so glad that Eveline quickly stepped up to sabotage his efforts. That entire scene where she cursed one of the vampire queens was hilarious. Like her, I didn't understand why he put himself through it all. He was a fearless leader. Feared and respected. It just wasn't necessary and it was gross and I'm just thrilled that I didn't have to go through seeing anything yucky.

After all these millennia, Eveline found him.

Though she, too, hadn’t been searching.

They’d found each other.

They’d come home.

I don't know what the mating of Eveline and Ramses means for the two houses. Will the Cove and the Shield finally operate as one unit? It would be smart, no? Will Ramses and The Eagle King have 'the talk'? Will The Eagle King feature in a big way in the story to come? And when the heck will Medusa and Wan'er finally die? They will die, right?!

I'm full of questions and curiosity and the only solution is to keep reading and falling in love with all of these characters, the author's writing, and the beautiful story that is too quickly coming to an end.

Oh, and what does this prophecy mean?

A queen becomes Queen

A slave becomes Mate

A King falls in flames

A winner loses in games

A queen gives way

A Mate displaced

A Champion reborn

A King transformed

A stone heart in fire

A soul dances higher

When True Love reveals

And old wounds heal.

Check out the previous books:

“Which part of me do you want to possess the most?” he rasped into her ear, softly biting the tender lobe.

“Which part of me do you hunger for the most?”

Her busy little hands gave his buttocks a hard, thorough squeeze before curving around his hips to grasp his manhood through his trousers in one fist while the other took a firm hold of his balls.

He shuddered against her and ground into her grip, fucking her hand in short bursts until his pre-cum leaked profusely from the head, wetting her palm even through the confining fabric.

“This?”

He knew without a doubt that she craved his sex, but he still wanted to hear her say it.

“Yes,” she breathed, squeezing him tightly with both hands, making him see stars.

At the same time, he was afraid. Females the world over wanted him. It was the primal maleness of him, the elemental strength and power. Ashlu had wanted him for the same reason, and he’d used her sexual desire to bind her to him.

But with Eveline, he wanted her to want more from him. To want him the way he wanted her.

Loved her.

He bit back a helpless groan at the truth of it. He loved her completely. Utterly.

He loved the way she stood up to him, since the first moment they met. She always held her ground, not giving him an inch. He loved the way she focused on her work, how she truly enjoyed and was inspired by her role amongst the immortals.

He loved the way she became doggedly obsessed when she wanted something, how despite being an imminently logical, intellectual female, she also had a fiery, implacable temper, a possessive, jealous streak as wide as the Nile. He even loved the quirky nicknames she thought up to call him in retaliation for his calling her “little sprite.”

Most of all, he loved her passionate heart, her courage and loyalty, how she didn’t hesitate to go after him, and to try to help a complete stranger in the eagle king, even after he abducted her.

This depth of feeling obliterated everything he thought he knew. The closest he’d felt to this before was merely obsession.

This…

This was irrevocable, permanent possession. His body stilled against her, though tremors of a different kind racked him. Doubt. Vulnerability. Surrender.

And undiluted, all-consuming love.

Aja James just completed the Pure/ Dark Ones paranormal-fantasy romance series in 2020. If you want your heart battered, bruised, shattered and skewered, then put back together in the most glorious ways, check out the series below. Every couple gets an HEA, but they fight like hell for it on the way.

Aja is now working on her new series, Dragon Tails, because dragons are her favorite shifters of all!

The thing about pain is that your body gets inured to it after a while.
Your mind becomes numb.
Same with shame.
But the soul… The soul absorbs it all.

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Pure Darkness by Aja James

We are who we are…

For as long as it can remember, it has been known as the Creature. Neither he nor she, neither Pure nor Dark…a beautiful abomination to all races and Kinds. A faithful henchman of the evil Medusa, it has perpetrated dark deeds beyond redemption, even if its own hands have never directly taken a life.

We are who we’re made…

Once upon a time, the Creature was conceived in love, a True Love that endured across millennia of trials and tribulations. Its parents have never given up hope that they would one day recover their lost son. And, too, the Creature was not always as it is now. But circumstances shriveled its heart and suffocated its soul, forging a being who cares about nothing and no one—

Until now.

**WARNING: EXPLICIT DARK CONTENT INCLUDED.**

This is not a romance. But it is a story about love.

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(free to read with Kindle Unlimited)

This book... if there was any doubt about the creative genius that is Aja James... this book is proof!

Who knew that The Creature, the one person who was like an evil puppeteer, manipulating events and causing death and mayhem to my peeps... Who knew that I would have such empathy for him?

I'm in love with how in love he is with his son.

Benjamin doesn’t let me get away with anything. It’s like he sees right through me. Or into me. Like he can see straight into my black, ugly, twisted soul.

OMG and his hero worship of Tal. My sweet, broken, beautiful Tal. With me knowing he's his father and him being totally ignorant... I think it made it all the sweeter!

I don’t know why I ever thought the male less than resplendently magnificent. Yes, he has more scars than skin. Yes, he’s blind and stripped of his Gift. But he’s the fucking Tal-Telal! Lack of empathy doesn’t mean I can’t admire. That’s what people do with legends. He practically oozes confidence, strength, leadership, determination, and pure sexual maleness out of every pore. If I were an unrelated female between the age of sixteen and six hundred, I’d do him. And I don’t even like sex!

Okay, maybe not the whole 'I'd do my father bit', but I'll give him the out because he doesn't know!

And then Tal's emotional response to the son he never knew he had, but loves so deeply anyway...

“Because you are mine to protect,” he says in that low, husky voice, his words sending me staggering, even though my physical self has not moved. “I was unable to do it in the past. I did not know about…you. I know now. I will protect you, Binu. I will always protect you.”

I love The Creature's sarcasm and wit. I love how broken he is and how it drove him to make certain decisions. I wish there was a way to brutally punish every person who ever treated this male unkindly. The horrors he suffered through, the betrayals, abuses, and pains... he deserves some form of vengeance... of justice. Poor thing!

Don't even get me started on how this male connected with Dalair. His feelings were felt. Strongly. At times I didn't know whether I was supposed to laugh or cry. My heart completely broke for him... again. This dude couldn't catch a dang break!

Over the years, Dalair and I grew unbearably close. Unbearably, because I didn’t know how I was ever to survive when this fantasy ended. When I lost my only friend and brother.

Since I’d been reborn as the Mistress’s Creature, I’d never met another living being who impressed me more than Dalair.

Please, almighty gods that be, don’t let anything happen to my heart and my light. I needed them in my life the way I needed air. It might have started in pretense, but the feelings I felt for Dalair and Kira were more real than anything else across the entirety of my existence. They made me feel alive. They gave my life meaning. I loved them, I loved them, I loved them!

I'm not saying I'm loving The Creature, but I'm definitely feeling him. I've always liked him and wanted to know more about him and now that I do... I can see myself falling for him. I'm a sucker for broken males and they don't come in more pieces than this one. I hope the Pure Ones can get through to him (if they finally reveal his truth) and that he switches sides. F-ck Medusa!

Check out the previous books:

Aja James just completed the Pure/ Dark Ones paranormal-fantasy romance series in 2020. If you want your heart battered, bruised, shattered and skewered, then put back together in the most glorious ways, check out the series below. Every couple gets an HEA, but they fight like hell for it on the way.

Aja is now working on her new series, Dragon Tails, because dragons are her favorite shifters of all!

He had the softest, juiciest, most beautiful lips of any male she’d ever known... Aella knew that Yun himself would be the greatest gift she could ever receive.

──────　♔　──────

Pure Surrender by Aja James

Aella Alexander:

An Amazon warrior in her human life, Aella has always taken and fought for what she wanted, and what Aella wanted, she got.

Until him.

Cloud Drako:

The mysterious new recruit to the Pure Ones’ team of Elite soldiers is not what he seems. He has a critical role to fulfill to maintain Balance in the universe…

He cannot afford to be distracted by her.

Destiny is shaped by choices made:

The past cannot be changed, a past that neither Cloud nor Aella remembers. But the future is yet unwritten. In this present time, with this second chance, Cloud must make his ultimate stand: to carry out the role he’s been assigned, or to embrace an uncertain future, knowing that his choice would be irrevocable. Absolute.

And that the souls of countless innocents depend upon it…

Can Aella help him choose wisely, or will she lead them all to ruin?

Amazon CA * Amazon US
(free to read with Kindle Unlimited)

I honestly don't know how she does it. Aja James has kept me enamored of her story for 12 books and I never want it to end!

Seriously... I don't want it to stop and yet, I can't wait to see where all of these characters I have fallen for (and those I'm yet to love) will end up.


Once again, I've got a lot to say and I'm not going to hide any of it behind spoilers. Cloud and Aella deserve to have my love for them spelled out all over the place. So if you want to go in blind, stop here and know that you'll be in for one heck of a ride!

Mind you, everything from this point forward is going to be random, jumbled, and just my thoughts and opinions as I read this book.

Finally getting Cloud's story... surprising and blissful. Aella finally getting her male... hot and glorious. I loved discovering the mystery and history that defined Cloud Drako. I loved how Aella reminded me so much of one of my favorite heroes of all time — Diana Prince. They were both fierce warriors and I lived for their banter, their push-and-pull relationship, and their eternal love. No matter the age, their connection was immediate and real and beautiful.

The prophecy, as recited by Eveline, is something I can't wait to see fulfilled.

I was kind of grossed out by the whole 'Ramses screwing the vamp in the throne room, in front of Jade, who was just waiting to have a word' scene.

1. Isn't he supposed to end up with Eveline? Sweet, naive, doesn't deserve a manwhore cuz she's so kind, Eveline? Seeing him (or intimating him) screwing his way through Dark and Pure females gave me hives.

2. The idea of him being a not-so-good guy seems more and more likely to be true. Say it ain't so!

Why does this author love to break my heart? Everything Tal and Ishtar were suffering through drove me nuts. I can't believe the continued terror that still lives in Tal's soul. And why can't my man see? When will his eyes heal?

Jade has always been magnificent, but as a member of the Shield, she really shines. I am loving her big heart and the ways in which she has embraced her new life and family. What she was willing to do to help out Tal and Ishtar... this woman is amazing!

Back to Cloud and Aella: their every touch... every kiss... every look... it was easy to recognize that what they shared went beyond the physical. And it was felt. Their spiritual connection was so beautiful and I couldn't wait for them to really see each other and what they meant to each other.

I'll admit that I'm not the biggest fan of the way that Aella tried to woo Cloud. What about him and his demeanor told her that her usual go-to would work on him? When she didn't seem to take it seriously, why did she think he would? I was as annoyed as he was.

And I loved when all of her teasing and flirting and nonsense finally made him snap! Seriously, what was hotter than Cloud telling Aella about herself and then tearing that pu--y up?!

But then I got so much of their back story (thanks for that btw) and her actions made sense. She was an Amazon, taught to take what she wanted, taught to seduce men, used to men falling all over themselves for a taste, so why would she change what ain't broke? However, she knew Cloud was different. He made her different. So I think she should have approached him differently. Three years later and she was still trying (and failing with) the same thing. After all these years, why was the master strategist so unaware of the need to change? Maybe not treating him like a piece of meat would've helped. Especially when he loved her so desperately (even though they couldn't remember).

Whoa... so the Snake King is dead?! Thankfully he left some words of wisdom for this couple. Aella has only really spoken about her obsession with Cloud's body, which he obviously couldn't stand, so I'm glad she got a wake up call that forced her to make better choices and show her love and desire for all of him.

My question about the person who had the gift of water has been answered... it's Cloud! I wonder how this will affect the rest of this series. What role do the masters of elements play in the events to come? And what are those events???

The end packed one heck of a punch. It seems that Eveline's story is about to be CRAZY!! Kidnapped, manhandled, and left to despair along with about a dozen other Pure Ones, it seems her captor is the first male to get her motor running. Too bad he intends to make her into his Pure Blood slave. Could her captor be Ramses? What is going on??? And will Ere/Binu/The Creature finally find out that he was created out of love? Will he reveal that he's Benji's dad? OMG I'm so excited to get more!!

Check out the previous books:

“You’re everything I’ve ever wanted,” she murmured, “everything I never even knew I wanted. How am I supposed to let you go after our time together is done?”

She looked into his eyes then, confessing truths to him that she knew he didn’t understand.

“Amazons don’t keep men,” she whispered. “It is our law. It is what binds us together against all odds. I love my people, my queen, my sisters, and the little girls who will grow up into fine women warriors one day. I love our way of life. The freedom. The passion. The independence to do as we please.”

She drew in a breath and pressed on, “I have never wanted anything else, though I have met other peoples and experienced other cultures through my travels. I do not want to be a man’s possession. I am not a mere receptacle for his seed. I do not wish to be tied down to anyone, to any place.”

She swallowed and stared intensely into his eyes.

“But…but… I want to be yours. I want you to be mine. I don’t want anyone else to have you, to touch you and taste you as I do. I want to own all of your kisses and smiles and looks. I want to devour you, consume you, drink you up and soak you in until your essence fills me from the inside out, and when I sweat I smell of you, because every part of you has mated with every part of me.”

Aja James just completed the Pure/ Dark Ones paranormal-fantasy romance series in 2020. If you want your heart battered, bruised, shattered and skewered, then put back together in the most glorious ways, check out the series below. Every couple gets an HEA, but they fight like hell for it on the way.

Aja is now working on her new series, Dragon Tails, because dragons are her favorite shifters of all!