Book Tour for Dark Waters by Liia Ann White (Review & GIVEAWAY)

Good things come in small packages which you'll find in today's featured book, Dark Waters by Liia Ann White.  Keep reading to get an in-depth look into this book and Ms. White along with my impressions of this book.  Don't forget to leave a comment for your chance to win gift cards......

When I first started writing Dark Waters, I hadn’t intended it to be the first in a series, but the longer it went, the more I realised the world had more to offer than I’d initially thought. So I made sure there were some loose ends that needed to be tied up, in books 2 and 3, which will hopefully bring back some readers.

In book two I plan to continue the story from the end of Dark Waters, which will include Adora and Randor living in the human realm, the continuing war between the Seelie and Unseelie Fae and also a stranger finding Adora while she’s in the human world.

I’ve already started book two, in fact, I’m a few chapters through and I can tell you it will be more action packed, suspenseful and so much hotter than Dark Waters was. I loved writing Dark Waters, but now I can really delve into the characters more, discover and tell more about their worlds and yes, let them have some smoking hot love proclamations.

Randor is a Fae assassin. As the most feared military officer in the Faery Realm, he only got out by striking a deal with the late King to become an assassin for hire. Something he was only able to do because of his place as adopted family member. When he’s ordered to kidnap the Unseelie Faery Princess and deliver her to the Seelie Queen, he doesn’t think twice, until he sees his target. Adora. Unseelie Princess. Most beautiful being in existence and feared witch warrior and his soul mate. Disobeying orders is something he’s never done before. But when he brings her into the Human Realm; his home, he has no regrets. Until his Elvish friend, Kiel, disapproves and an unexpected attack raises questions about his loyalties. The only way that could have happened was if Kiel tipped off the Queen's witch, Maleficent.

Adora was fearless, powerful and intensely unhappy. Until she was kidnapped by a mysterious stranger, who happens to be her half human, half Seelie soul mate. After being attacked, Adora, fearing she'd lose Randor, admits her feelings for her soul mate. The two of them just need to find a way they can survive together - away from the feuding kingdoms. Entering the Seelie castle, under a pretense of needing the witch's help to bind Adora's immense power, they ask for Maleficent, whom they plan to eliminate so she can no longer track them.

When all hell breaks loose, they're involved in a fight including the witch, Kiel and the Queen. A fight that not all of them will survive.

EXCERPT:

“Lady Adora Belira, Princess of the Seelie Court, daughter of King Polara, and future ruler of the Water Lands.”
As the kingdom’s attendant announced her arrival in the court, Adora rolled her eyes. Stating her entire title each time she entered the room was so ridiculous and unnecessary. But Father had always been a stickler for rules. He was one of the last remaining old-school faeries, insisting his lands follow the ancient laws laid down by the Originals.
Adora had never followed the rules. Her mother was the enforcer of the family. Since she’d died, Adora had used her father’s obliviousness to her advantage and rebelled against him and the kingdom at every chance she got.
Father looked down at her clothing with a frown. She preferred to wear combat gear, consisting of a skin-tight top, pants, and versatile boots. The rest of the kingdom would prefer she conform and dress in something more fitting for a princess, a flowing gown that had no practical use whatsoever. She was a healer for the army. She needed to be prepared for anything.
“I do wish you’d wear something Kilip has prepared for you, even if only when dining in the court.” Father spoke with a slight wheeze.
“And I do wish you’d see someone about that cough you have,” she told him, sticking out her chin stubbornly. “It’s getting worse, Father.”
Adora sat by his side at the head of the royal dining table. Several heads turned and people gasped when she spoke to the king with a tone of disrespect. Once again, she rolled her eyes. She’d been doing a lot of that lately.
“Mind your business,” Adora snapped at the gawkers. All of them looked down and focused on their own conversations.

BUY LINKS:   EVERNIGHT PUBLISHING   |   AMAZON   |   ARe

MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:

Ms. White wastes no time getting right to the action in her newest release, Dark Waters.  As the start to a new series the worldbuilding is intriguing with the battle lines drawn between the races.  While it's not clearly defined the issues between these two groups, the war has waged for ages with the danger becoming more prevalent.  Princess Adora's life has constantly been in jeopardy and at the start of this story she's once again been kidnapped.  Her first instinct is to escape from her captor but she soon discovers feelings unknown to her before which greatly affects the future originally laid out for her.  She's always lived her life a bit differently though, more comfortable on the battlefront than dressed to the nines.  Her choice of wardrobe with its camouflage and rugged style reflects her warrior woman mentality and ability to protect herself.  The magical abilities she unleashes throughout the story are an impressive sight to see and make her more than a match to Randor's talents.  Upon meeting Randor though the one thing she can't protect is her heart as he is her destined mate.

Randor is a strong match to Adora both in and out of the bedroom. Like her, he lost his mother at an early age and it's led to his finding an inner strength through tragedy.  He's honorable and admires her strength which quickly wins her over.  Their early battles against each other are just as exciting as their battling beside each other to escape to the human world.  These battles reflect the sexual tension that crackles between them from the moment he first sees her.  This ultimately leads to some steamy sexual encounters that are nicely spaced throughout this novella.

Along with the likable main couple comes a cast of colorful secondary characters whose true purposes are kept hidden.  Just when you think someone's a good guy you sadly find out differently.  The battles throughout the story are fast-paced with some exciting uses of the paranormal being wielded.  The final battle scene is exciting but definitely leaves things up in the air.  There's a great amount of espionage for future books.  There IS a sense of a HEA but nothing concrete as their lives are still in jeopardy.  While not everything in Dark Waters is clear there's a strong main couple to root for and much intrigue still to come.

My rating for this is a B-

*I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

AUTHOR INFO:

Liia Ann White is an Australian author, hailing from Perth, WA.
She spent her childhood daydreaming about far off lands, creating her own unique characters, reading books about witches, faeries, demons, ghosts and a host of supernatural creatures. Eventually, she gained the courage to put her imagination to work.
A self-proclaimed geek, Liia collects Disney and Star Wars memorabilia and loves all things nerdy.
A vegan animal lover, she wishes to one day have her own rescue shelter for unwanted and 'unadoptable' animals. When not writing, she can be found reading or spending time with her dogs.
Liia is a member of Romance Writers of America, Romance Writers of Australia, Passionate Ink, Futuristic, Fantasy & Paranormal Chapter of RWA and Young Adult Chapter of Romance Writers of America as well as being the webmistress for YARWA.
Always interested in meeting new people, Liia can be found on facebook or twitter almost constantly.

Website: www.liiaannwhite.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/LiiaAnn
Facebook: www.facebook.com/LiiaAnnWhite

**********GIVEAWAY**********

Liia Ann will be awarding a $10 Amazon Gift Card and a $10 Evernight Publishing Gift Card to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour.

-To be entered, leave a comment, along with your email addy.

-Winners will be chosen randomly from all comments made throughout the tour, so the more you comment the greater your chances of winning.  A list of all participating blogs can be found here.

-Giveaway ends at 11:59 PM CST on 4/19.