Reading Bliss: Eternity & Halo City Review...

Title: Eternity (Crossroads Saga, 4)

Author: Mary Ting

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

Having happily ever after is never easy when evil lurks nearby. Now that Claudia has her memories back and her life seems to have settled down, the fallen have come out of hiding with the news about Aliah’s and his demons’ death. The fallen coming out of hiding is not a concern; there are those who want to be left alone. However, one particular fallen, Dantanian, is hungry for revenge. Being one of God’s first fallen angels, he is the evilest of his kind, known as an angel of many faces. He will do anything to get his way, even if it means forcing others to join him. And he will stop at nothing to get Michael on his side.

Dantanian will torture, kill for pleasure, and concoct evil schemes to get Michael’s attention; and once in his hands, he will try to destroy all the happiness Michael fought so hard to gain. Having no support from the Twelve, and with Claudia temporarily losing her powers, the venators and the alkins must work together once again to save their friends. As death draws near to those captured by Dantanian, will the gang reach them in time? Or will Michael return to the dark angel he once was and destroy everyone he loves?

“Jealous are we? I’ve got your attention didn’t I? You were kind of paying more attention to the books than me.” Michael gave a wicked grin, carefully shelved the book back into its space and placed his hands on her waist. Peering down at her eyes, his body pressed into hers.

“You’re not looking for a book boyfriend, are ya?” His tone was low and playfully challenging.

“Now, who’s the jealous one?” Claudia’s finger traced his lips. Michael slightly turned his head and teasing licked and nipped her finger. “No, I don’t have a book boyfriend cause only a real boyfriend could make me do what I just did, Mr. Michael. You made me wet.”

'Eternity, ' by Mary Ting is Claudia and Michael's happy ever after, or is it? The fallen, led by Dantanian, once again rise up against the angels and try and force Michael to join them by attacking those he loves the most,his family and friends. This book is very much a romance and it has the perfect book hero in Michael. There are actually several nods to this within the book itself, where character's speak about book heroes and Michael claims his place as one. With his loyalty, sweetness and protectiveness of Claudia and the way he speaks to her, in an almost poetic way, makes Michael the perfect dream boyfriend. His relationship with Claudia can seem cloyingly sweet at times, but there were some romantic moments, which I admit made my heart flutter. It seems angel wings do it for me, because when Michael flies with Claudia up into the sky I find myself soaring with them and when they indulge in kinky angel sex, I enjoyed the thought of the wings being used as an erotic tool. I enjoyed the world but I found myself wanting to see more of it. Also, when Claudia is pregnant with Michael's twins, despite the pregnancy being forbidden in the angel world, there are very little consequences. Dantanian can come across as a little too evil and the good side a little too good, but when you are dealing with good and evil and the themes in this book, I can understand how it would be hard to find a balance. Apart from some flowery languages in places, the book is well-written and I give it 4 angel hugs out of 5.

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Title: Halo City: Michael's Journey

Author: Mary Ting

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

When a massive group of angels known as nephilim—half human, half angel—had been found by the Royal Council, they were taken to Halo City. Instead of cleansing the Earth with a flood, which had been done before, the Royal Council created a place just for this group of angels. While they were being taken, one of the Twelve, named Aden, rebelled and convinced many alkins to join his cause—to live freely among the humans and take over Crossroads.

After the fall of Aden and his followers, Michael was taken to Halo City to heal. Not only did Michael had a difficult time settling into his new environment, he had conflicting issues regarding his past. Upon meeting the alkins, a particular one by the name of Davin refused to give up on helping him deal with his struggles. Together, they discovered a strange being that would appear at the Crossroads at unexpected times. Souls wandering there is nothing new, but this one aged as time passed. Mystified, they both searched for answers while refraining from telling the Twelve about her. Who is this being that had enraptured Michael’s attention? And will Michael finally forgive himself and find the happiness that he yearned to have?

'Halo City,' by Mary Ting is Michael's background story. It shows how he became an Alkin, how he made the friends he had and even how he first met Claudia. It is a nice little tie-in to the rest of the series but it seemed too short and to me didn't have the conflict that was in 'Eternity,' or other books in the series, to keep me in the story world. I give it 3 out of 5 because finding out Michael's background was of interest and it will be to fans of the story.

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Mary Ting resides in Southern California with her husband and two children. She enjoys oil painting and making jewelry. Writing her first novel, Crossroads Saga, happened by chance. It was a way to grieve the death of her beloved grandmother, and inspired by a dream she once had as a young girl. When she started reading new adult novels, she fell in love with the genre. It was the reason she had to write one. Why the pen name, M Clarke? She tours with Magic Johnson Foundation to promote literacy and her children’s chapter book, No Bullies Allowed.