Title: Graced
Author: Amanda Pillar
Release Date: 26 January 2015
Genre: PNR
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Synopsis
City Guard Elle Brown
has one goal in life: to protect her kid sister, Emmie. Falling in love–and
with a werewolf at that–was never part of the deal.
Life, however, doesn't always go to plan, and when Elle
meets Clay, everything she thought about her world is thrown into turmoil.
Everything, that is, but protecting Emmie, who is Graced with teal-colored eyes
and an unknown power that could change their very existence. But being different
is dangerous in their home city of Pinton, and it's Elle's very own differences
that capture the attention of the Honorable Dante Kipling, a vampire with a
bone-deep fascination for a special type of human.
Dante is convinced that humans with eye colors other than
brown are unique, but he has no proof. The answers may exist in the enigmatic
hazel eyes of Elle Brown, and he's determined to uncover their secrets no
matter the cost...or the lives lost.
Guest Reviewer - Jo Matthewman
Graced is a fantastic first novel from a young Australian
author, Amanda Pillar. Pillar, a well-known editor of urban supernatural
fantasy stories, has brought together the tired old Vampires vs Werewolves (or
just plain Weres) and a post-apocalyptic world to create a wonderfully written
and intriguing tale of suspense, danger and, of course, love.
Graced is about a young woman finding out the secrets of her
heritage, as well as the heritage of the other creatures that live in her
world. Whilst the Vamps, Weres and the “special” humans may suggest to the
reader that this is another Twilight fan fiction, after reading the first
chapter, you understand that story is anything but a Twilight rip-off.
Elle, the main ‘human’ character, is a quick-witted city
guard who understands the delicacy needed to survive in her environment. Her
priorities are to keep her sister safe and to make sure that their secret is
never found out by anyone. The Weres and Vamps are the rulers of this world and
humans are looked upon as either beneath their notice or as their food
source…with the exception of Dante.
Dante, a vampire, is a freak even amongst
his own people. He knows that there is something not quite right going on with
the human population, and begins experimenting to prove his point.
When Clay, the devastatingly handsome and cheeky Were,
arrives on the scene, his presence triggers a sequence of events that throws
Elle’s, Dante’s and his own world into turmoil.
Whilst, at times, the story can seem a little slow to
develop, when it does, all the pieces start falling into place. The novel ends
with an opening for a possible sequel, which I hope, will be on the cards for
the future.
Overall, this is a beautifully written story that captures
the reader and takes them along for the ride. The character and scene
development ensures that the reader is right there in the dirty, stinking
alleyways of the city, feeling what the characters feel as they discover the
secrets of their individual races.
Bio
Amanda Pillar is an award-winning editor and author who
lives in Victoria, Australia, with her husband and two cats, Saxon and Lilith.
Amanda has had numerous short stories published and has
co-edited the fiction anthologies Voices (2008), Grants Pass (2009), The
Phantom Queen Awakes (2010), Scenes from the Second Storey (2010), Ishtar
(2011) and Damnation and Dames (2012). Her first solo anthology was published
by Ticonderoga Publications, titled Bloodstones (2012). Amanda is currently
working on the sequel, Bloodlines, due for publication in 2015.
Amanda's first novel, Graced, was published by Momentum in
2015.
In her day job, she works as an archaeologist.
