Genre: Young Adult (Paranormal Romance)
Date Published: June 1, 2013
Publisher: Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly Publishing
The Blurb:
Emma’s world is falling apart, and Kade, the only one who seems to hold her together, is missing. With death lingering right outside their door, decisions must be made before it’s too late.
The Midway has refused to send help, so they are left to seek out the only other who can stop Lucian.
A perilous quest sends Emma and a few Guardians into the Underworld, where the unimaginable abide, to beseech the Prince of Darkness himself. Lucifer.
Now, they must endure the deadly levels of Hell, which not one …mortal or immortal… has ever survived.
Prepare for love, loss, and the unexpected.
My Review:
Broken Wings is the second book in the Hidden Wings series by Cameo Renae. If you haven't read Hidden Wings yet, you need to read it before reading Broken Wings.
Check out my Hidden Wings review while you're at it. This book was bloody, and exciting, and threw in some surprises along the way. Emma's world has changed in pretty much every way that a person's world could change, and she's coming to terms with it all. I still would like to know more of the history behind Emma's situation. You're given some details here and there, but I still feel like I need to know more. However, there was so much going on within this book that I don't feel at all put out by not having learned everything just yet. It gives me something to look forward to in the coming books. Broken Wings was a nail biting adventure that brought me to hell and back, and I enjoyed every bit of it.
Broken Wings by Cameo Renae was provided to me by the author for review. The opinions are my own.
The Excerpt:
“Wake up! It’s Kade! Hurry!” A panicked voice yelled, yanking me from my sleep. I sat up, breathless, my heart frantically beating. I was trying to focus, when suddenly, all the lights clicked on.
Malachi was at the front door yanking it open. Dominic and Alexander ran to assist him. As soon as the door swung open, Kade fell limp into Malachi’s arms, and all I saw was red. Dominic and Alexander pushed around them and ran down the tunnel with their weapons in hand.
“Kade? Kade? Hey man! Are you with me?” Malachi said, shaking him. He quickly carried him to the couch across from me. Kade’s only answer was a groan, but his eyes remained closed.
“What the hell happened to him?” I gasped, frozen in place. He looked like he was badly injured.
I suddenly snapped myself from terror in front of me, and jumped up off the couch. I knelt at Kade’s side and held his hand in mine. It felt very cold and weak. Then a most horrifying realization hit me like a brick.
I was touching him, and there was no heat… no surges… no feelings of euphoria…nothing!
“Oh my God! Something’s wrong with him! He can’t die, right? Tell me he can’t die!”
Hot tears welled in my eyes as I looked at Malachi for answers. Something was VERY wrong. I couldn’t feel Kade and it scared the hell out of me.
“We cannot die unless our heads are cut off, or our hearts are pierced with an immortal blade, or ripped out,” Malachi answered.
“But why isn’t he responding?” I couldn’t tell what kind of injuries he had, because he was covered with blood.
“I don’t know. Maybe his injuries are too extensive for him to heal quickly enough. I’ve never seen an Angel in this bad of a condition. Especially, Kade. He’s too quick for someone to have beaten the shit out of him like this,” Malachi breathed.
I was even more worried, knowing that Malachi was this concerned. Dominic and Alexander came back in and secured the door.
“It’s clear. Kade was the only one who made it through,” Alexander announced.
“Alaine! Alaine!” Malachi yelled. Her door was still shut, but within a few seconds it swung open.
“Yes?” she responded from the room where Caleb was still under her watchful care.
“We need your help in here! Now!” he answered. I heard Alaine quickly giving instructions to James, and then she exited the room.
“What’s wrong?” she asked. Her eyes suddenly caught and steeled onto Kade’s lifeless body on the couch. She gasped and hurried over to us. I moved out of the way so she could get to him. Her eyes furrowed as she checked his pulse. “Malachi, help me get his shirt off.”
Malachi lifted his upper body while Alaine tugged his shirt over his head and dropped it on the ground. Kade moaned, but he was still unconscious. There were two noticeable puncture wounds in his chest. Noticeable, because blood was constantly flowing out of them. He also had a deep gash on his right shoulder.
“Dominic, bring me my medical bag! Quickly!” Alaine yelled. In seconds Dominic was at her side, passing her the bag. She quickly opened it and started pulling out supplies. She took a syringe and vial of fluid, and pushed it into Kade’s arm, then started to clean out his wounds. He moaned again, but his eyes were still shut.
Alexander went into the kitchen to watch the monitors.
“What happened to him?” she asked.
“I don’t know. I saw him on the monitor entering the tunnel, but didn’t see what happened before that,” Malachi answered.
“Were there any others?”
“None that we know of. He showed up alone.”
“Where’s his vial?” Alaine asked in an urgent tone.
“He keeps it in his right pocket,” Malachi answered, with narrowed eyes.
“Get it and pour some into his mouth, right now,” she asked, cleaning out one of the deeper wounds on his chest.
“Why? It doesn’t work on Immortals… only humans,” he responded, confused.
“I know that. Something’s happened to him. I don’t understand how, or why, but right now…Kade is human.”
“What?!?” The room exploded with gasps, confusion, and murmurs.
“Look,” she said, tilting his head to the side. She pushed the hair back from behind his ear, revealing nothing. His mark was gone. There was nothing, not even a scar.
I’d never really seen Kade’s mark, so I didn’t know what I was looking for. From what I learned, each Angel was born with a special mark, a mark that was unique to them alone. Their insignia. It was that mark which distinguished them from all others.
The room fell silent. Malachi, Dominic, and Alexander stared sadly at their wounded brother, who was now barely holding onto life.
Could Alaine be right? Was Kade really human? And if he was…how?
It was difficult to watch him lying there, quiet and still, beaten and barely hanging on. Just a few hours ago he was strong, fearless, and full of life - slaying demons and saving my life. He was my hero, my Knight-in-Shining-Armor.
“Just do it Malachi, and hurry,” Alaine scolded.
Malachi must have been in shock over her last words. He quickly snapped from his thoughts, reached into Kade’s pocket, and pulled out the blue vial. He twisted the top off, lifted his head a little, and poured half of its contents into Kade’s mouth. Kade coughed a bit, but swallowed. A few seconds later, he groaned, and his eyes popped open. They were red and glazed over, filled with pain and confusion.
“Kade,” Alaine nudged. His eyes suddenly rolled back and then closed again.
“We need to get him stabilized so we can get some answers from him.” Alaine looked worried, and her eyes looked weak and weary. She also looked like she was going to pass out.
“How is our perimeter?” Malachi called to Alexander, who made his way back into the kitchen and was watching the monitors.
“Fine so far. I don’t think they saw where he came in. He was probably injured taking out the ones that were near the entrance because there is blood splattered all over the walls. Right now, I can only see about three Darkling wandering around the outside, but they look completely lost. Frickin’ idiots. There are no signs of the Fallen, and I’m pretty sure the Darkling won’t find the entrance anytime soon. We should be safe, at least until morning.”
“The Fallen are definitely out there, waiting. We just need to be ready in case they do find the way in,” Malachi answered.
“If they do, I’ll know and will alert the rest of you. I’ll make sure to wake all of you if there’s any action,” he chimed, wiggling an air horn in his fingers.
“Yes, don’t forget to keep your weapons close,” Alaine said with concern.
I spent the next few hours watching her carefully stitch and bandage Kade’s wounds. I didn’t move an inch. I just sat still, watching her fingers work like magic. She toiled, tediously and tirelessly, until her work was finally complete, and when it was…it was perfect. She definitely knew what she was doing.
“Nothing vital was punctured, so he should be fine after lots of rest,” she whispered loudly enough so I could hear. I glanced up at her, and a half smile grew on her weary face.
“Malachi, could you please take Kade into the middle room? Danyel is in there now, but it’s closer and will be easier for me to go in between, to check-up on both Caleb and Kade. I hope Danyel doesn’t mind.”
“Sure,” he answered.
“And please give him one more dose from the vial before you leave.” He nodded and carefully lifted Kade.
A few minutes later, Danyel stumbled out of the room carrying an extra blanket and pillow. He looked horrible, like he’d just been awakened from the dead. He must have been out cold, because he didn’t move with all the commotion that happened earlier.
Meet the Author
How long have you been writing?
I’ve had a love for writing for as long as I can remember. My mom and grandma said that when I was three years old I used to sit for hours and copy words from books onto paper. Yeah, weird child…or maybe prophetic? Haha About ten years ago I joined a writing community, and started writing short stories. Everyone loved them and I even won a few contests, so I decided I’d try to write a full novel. That was about five years ago, and I haven’t stopped yet.
What inspired you to write your first book?
My first work is still unfinished. It was a children’s fantasy…half-way written, which I intend to finish one day soon. In My Dreams became my debut, after I had a nightmare and started the story the next day. The nightmare was part of Chapter 1 (colored up a bit…of course).
When you first started writing Hidden Wings, did you plan for it to be a series?
When I started Hidden Wings, I had no idea what it was going to become. I was thinking it was going to end as a trilogy, but when the complexity of the plot unfolded, I knew it would be longer.
For those who haven't read it yet, what can you tell us about Broken Wings?
Broken Wings is a primarily a journey into Hell. Writing it was VERY intense. There is a lot going on…suspense, horrifying creatures of the underworld, a little romance, horror, mystery, and twists, and I love the relationship developed between Emma and her father.
Which of your characters do you relate to most and why?
I would have to say Alaine. First, because she’s a woman, (haha) and second, because she has a teenage daughter that she loves and would fight for. I have a teenage daughter who is my best friend, however…sometimes she makes me want to go invisible. (It’s in the story.) lol
What is a secret about you that nobody else knows?
I’ve only read the first Harry Potter book. (shhhhhhh)
If your real life as a teenager was a Young Adult book, what would you, the main character, be like?
When I was a teenager I was very athletic and very sassy. If I was your friends, I was a true friend, and not a fake one.
What book have you read too many times to count?
C.S. Lewis’ ~ The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe. That was my FAVORITE book as a child.
What is the best piece of writing advice you ever received?
Write a little every day, even if it’s a few paragraphs, because that is a few paragraphs further than you were yesterday.
If you could hop into the life of any fictional character, who would it be and why?
I would say Bat Girl, because she’d get to be close to the hottie Bat Man and maybe even Bat Boy, and have access to all the cool gadgets and get to drive fast, awesome vehicles.
What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?
I think how dark I can be. I NEVER thought I’d be writing things with horror. In real life I am a very happy, friendly, easy-going person…but my writing has been dark and filled with horror. Scary!!! I had one reviewer say…I was wondering if a woman wrote this… Yep. That would be me, and let me tell you…I am equally as shocked.
What do you like to do when you're not writing?
If I’m not on the road exploring Alaska, I am probably reading, or watching a movie with the family.
Are any of the things in your books based on real life experiences or purely all imagination?
Most of the things are purely from my imagination. The emotions I tend to draw from experiences…like with In My Dreams…the sadness of losing someone. We lost my mother-in-law prior to me writing it, so the sadness poured onto the pages was what I was feeling. She was the first person that passed who I was really close to.
Thank you so much for having me on your blog, Gabby!!! <3
Thank you for stopping by. It's been a pleasure! :o)
About the Author:
Cameo Renae was born in San Francisco, CA, raised in Maui, Hawaii, and recently moved with her husband and children to Alaska.
She loved reading from as long as she can remember, and it was C.S. Lewis' - Chronicles of Narnia – which sparked a fire in her soul and made her want to create her own wondrous, magical worlds and characters to go on adventures with.
Her published books are In My Dreams (A YA Paranormal Romance Thriller), Hidden Wings (Book #1 in the HW Series), Descent (A HW Series Novella) and Broken Wings (Book #2 in HW Series).
One day she hopes to find her own magic wardrobe, and ride
away on her magical unicorn... until then... she'll keep writing!
To learn more about Cameo Renae and her books, visit her
website and
blog.You can also find her on
Goodreads,
Facebook, and
Twitter.
The Book Trailer
The Giveaway!!
There is a tour wide giveaway. Prizes include the following:
• GRAND PRIZE: Signed print copy of Broken Wings and bracelet inspired by the book.
• Second & Third Place Winners will receive an eBook set containing a copy of Hidden Wings, Broken Wings, and Descent. Giveaway is International.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
About the Author:
”
