A Prequel
(Dark Indiscretions, Book 0.5)
by Shakuita Johnson
A friendship forged out of necessity.
A bond broken and turned into hatred.
One once looked at as a brother.
The other loved to much and too soon.
James Johnston and Kain O'Grady once had a bond like no other ever seen before. Not only were they brothers of the heart, they were also lovers.
Centuries they spent at each other's side. Through good times and through bad, but never did their relationship suffer until one pregnancy and one prophecy changes their lives forever.
Betrayal is seen at every corner and madness close behind.
James looked up from the dirt piles he was playing with at the sound of someone shuffling up the valley. The midday sun was hot, blinding him with its light. Through the sunbeams, a small boy ambled to where James knelt in the dirt. He had never seen this boy before and James was wary. Mystics were the top of the food chain, and his father would kill him if he let someone get the better of him. It didn’t matter that he was only six or that the boy appeared smaller than him. It wouldn’t do to be taken by surprise by this stranger. He stood, baring his tiny fangs.
“Who are you? Why have you come here?” James growled, voice tiny but fierce. Even at six, he was a trained killer.
“My name is Kain. Our parents were talking down towards camp. They said you were here playing. I asked if I could come join you, so here I am.” Kain’s tiny hands curled to his side and his head cocked.
“Are you new here?” James asked, fangs still visible. He wasn’t ready to retract them just yet.
“Yes, we walked about two weeks time to get to this part of the hillside,” Kain said. “Would it be alright if I played with you?”
James eyed the strange boy suspiciously.
“Are you a Mystic, too?”
Kain smiled, his top lip pulling back to reveal his own set of small, pearly fangs.
“You don’t have a sister?” James asked.
“No. It’s just me.”
“Me too! Want to be bestest friends?” James withdrew his fangs at this unprecedented prospect.
“Yes!” Kain shouted while bouncing up and down, hands waving wildly.
“Good. We will be friends forever and ever.” James said with confidence.
To secure their blood bond forever, the two boys each nicked the tips of their forefingers with their fangs until blood bubbled at the slight wounds. When their bloody fingertips touched, an instant, unbreakable bond was sealed. They would be best friends forever, even as long as they both still lived and even passing into death. A bond between two Mystics could very well last forever. If nothing came between them, then James and Kain could be blood bound for an eternity.
Dreamcast
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Sometimes passion is found in love...
James and Kain are Mystics; part vampyra and part shape-shifting witch. Both were alone when neither was meant to be. They forged a blood bond as children, one so strong it bound them together for centuries, first as brothers and then as lover.
...other times it's born of blood and vengeance...
The Mooyer Society was born out of a single act of violence that set one grieving family on a centuries long quest to rid the world of all paranormal beings, no matter their origin.
...and, most frightening of all, sometimes passion springs from madness.
When James and Kain's family refuses to accept their bond, it sets in motion a chain of events that has the potential to destroy them all.
Set in a brutal society that rears its children with a legacy of pain and destruction, A PREQUEL tells the frightening tale of what can happen when passion turns into obsession and love gives birth to hate.
Set in an interesting world where human and paranormal elements both thrive; the concept is unique, intricately developed, and at times disturbing. First in a series, this is not a stand-alone story, and has a cliffhanger ending that is meant to leave readers wanting more. While the overall quality of writing is good, I did note numerous editing errors that were distracting at times, but did not significantly detract my attention from the plot development.
While containing several story elements that may be disturbing to some readers, including incest, physical abuse, torture and rape, this a complex and slightly disturbing story that grabbed my attention and kept me fully engaged. I will be reading more of Johnson's series in the future... I have to find out how it ends!
Shakuita Johnson is a 29-year-old Psychology major. When she isn't going to school or working, she is doing what she loves most. Writing. She started writing in middle school. Starting with poetry. Then short stories in a creative writing course her senior year. Her love for paranormal and supernatural started with R.L. Stine Goosebumps books and TV shows, Anne Rice Vampire Chronicles, and Christopher Pike books. She is an avid reader with over 100 books on her bookshelf and 1000 plus on her iPad. Visit her online and read her poems and one attempt at songwriting on her blog.
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ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping Shakuita!
DeleteThank you Carly for your informative review, I was just wondering were the darker aspect such as rape and torture very graphic or hinted at in the story?
ReplyDeleteThank you also to the author for giving 5 readers a chance to win a copy of her book.