TASTE OF DARKNESS (Maria V. Snyder) TOUR!

Taste of Darkness (Healer #3) by Maria V. Snyder

Published: December 31, 2013

Publisher: Harlequin MIRA

Pages: 464

Received: for review 

Find It Here: Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble

She's fought death and won. But how can she fight her fears?

Avry knows hardship and trouble. She fought the plague and survived. She took on King Tohon and defeated him. But now her heart-mate, Kerrick, is missing, and Avry fears he's gone forever.

But there's a more immediate threat. The Skeleton King plots to claim the Fifteen Realms for his own. With armies in disarray and the dead not staying down, Avry's healing powers are needed now more than ever. Torn between love and loyalty, Avry must choose her path carefully. For the future of her world depends on her decision.

I have to say that this is a much darker book than the others, though I thoroughly enjoyed it. Not only do Avry and Kerrick get split apart again, but hope still guides them. This part of the story puts their little gang through hell - each person feeling a different sort of pain or fear during this tale. 

Avry deals with the fear of losing those she loves and being torn about her powers - to heal or not to heal? Kerrick deals with the unknown - life versus death. Ryne's army deals with the knowledge that there are bigger and badder things lurking in the forest such as the Skeleton King. While the rest of the crew are dragged along for the adventures and misadventures.

Avry is still by far one of my favourite heroines. She is selfless, caring, loyal and brave. She adapts to every situation, stands up for what she believes in and learns as much as she can to further the cause. I am also amazed by the love she and Kerrick share.

There were so many different ambushes and attacks in this storyline, but many were unpredictable to me and I was pleased that I found a book where I couldn't pick out all of the possible twists. I need more books with twists and turns like this. So many wonderful surprises.

I have a soft spot for both Flea and Danny. Flea because he comes into his own in this book and seriously surprises me in the last few chapters. And Danny, because I grew attached to him in Scent of Magic. It was nice to see him again in this part of the story.

In regards to the war, I wasn't ready for some of the surprises of certain people teaming up with one another. Though I guess it shouldn't have surprised me at all since there were so many plot twists.

I'm starting to think this just might be my favourite of the the series, though you definitely need to have read the series in order to know that back story of the characters and the plot. Such a great series. I'm definitely going to being buying the set for my MUST KEEP SHELF. 

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 Tour Schedule:

Week One:

12/30/2013- Read Now Sleep Later

12/31/2013- Tynga's Reviews

1/1/2014- Fiktshun

1/2/2014- Bibliophilia, Please

1/3/2014- Snowdrop Dreams of Books

Week Two:

1/6/2014- Parajunkee

1/7/2014- Moonlight Gleam Reviews

1/8/2014- The Cover Contessa

1/9/2014- Two Chicks on Books

1/10/2014- Mundie Moms

About the Author:

Maria V. Snyder changed from being a meteorologist to a novelist in 1995, when she began writing to keep her sanity while raising two children. Since then, she has published numerous freelance articles in magazines and newspapers, and teaches fiction-writing classes at the local college and area libraries. The classes give her the wonderful opportunity to encourage fellow writers, and to keep improving her craft.

Born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Maria always had a fascination with big storms. Dreaming of chasing tornadoes, Maria earned a bachelors of science degree in meteorology at Penn State University. But she discovered, much to her chagrin, that forecasting the weather wasn't one of her skills. In order to chase tornadoes you had to predict where they might form. Creating fantasy worlds where she has complete control of the weather was more agreeable to her.

Maria's research on food-tasting methods with an expert chocolate taster, her husband, turned out to be a delicious bonus while writing Poison Study.

Maria has a brown belt in Isshinryu Karate, and enjoys playing volleyball and the cello. Traveling in general and via cruise ship in particular are her biggest distractions from writing. Maria has traveled to Belize, Canada, China, Costa Rica, Europe, Mexico, the Caribbean and through the Panama Canal.

Maria lives with her husband, son, daughter and yellow lab, Hazelnut, in Pennsylvania where she is at work on more LUNA novels. She is also pursuing a master's degree in writing popular fiction from Seton Hill University.

Readers are welcome to contact Maria at the following email address: maria@mariavsnyder.com.

Where you can find Maria:

Website | Blog | Facebook | Goodreads