Title: Drink Divine
Author: Aryn Cordner
Series: Selena Bancroft Chronicles #2
Genres: Fantasy
Publication/Year: CreateSpace • 2013
Page Numbers: 318
Format: Paperback
Synopsis from Goodreads:
“Who are you?” I said, voice shaking—near hysterics.My Rating: ★★★★★
His eyes found mine, but I could not read them. “I’m not entirely human.”
In late nineteenth century London, seventeen-year-old Selena Bancroft has been blessed with beauty and fortune—and the expectation that she marry when she comes of age.
Consumed with wanderlust, a beau is the last thing Selena wants. However, there is something inexplicable about Gabriel Easton that draws Selena’s attention.
When she decides to spend the summer in Germany away from the hated social season, Selena brazenly flouts her debutante duties—despising the dresses, the suitors, and feeling like a pretty trinket at auction—and is unexpectedly drawn into Gabriel’s world. But Gabriel has a secret, one that will change Selena’s world forever. Will she willingly sacrifice everything for the one thing she never wanted?
Quote(s) I Like:
"I'm yours. But I'm not so selfish as to ask you to stay in my world. So I leave you with the choice." - Gabriel
"I want to apologize for my wife's behavior. Although you and she may not be on the best of terms, I want you to know I hold no such grudge and would never compromise your safety." - Mikhail
My Thoughts:
Drink Divine is an
outstanding YA paranormal romance novel. Aryn Cordner has created something
simply profound from start to finish. It wasn't too much romance that made me
sick to read. It was simply perfect. The world she created along with the
characters were awesome!
Selena Bancroft was
an awesome female protagonist. From start to finish she was fearless, sassy and
all about not being what society wanted her to be. From the beginning on the
book when he see Selena packing to head to Germany we see how sassy and smart
mouthed she can be. Her parents sent her to school to obtain a proper female
education while they were away in Egypt. Selena did not want to be in school so
she decided to leave, but in the midst of her leaving her aunt Edith comes
along and takes her to their home in London. While there she finds that her
aunt Edith wants her to have two seasons and marry to keep their inheritance
going. Selena does not want to be apart of that lifestyle, she wants to live
her life the way she chooses to. She lives by one rule: don't fall in love
because she doesn't need a man, but she is sadly mistaken when she meets
Gabriel Easton.
Gabriel Easton is a
young man of secrets that one could only imagine. He falls in love with Selena:
love at first sight, but his secret is too much for him to put on her. He is
not a normal human at all, he's a dhampir. He soon confides the truth to Selena
and gives her the option to stay or leave. Selena, on many accounts, has chosen
to stay with him and be happy, but their relationship is a secret because he
doesn't want Selena to be an outcast in society.
I love the romance
that brewed between the Gabriel and Selena and the chase that went on between
them. I love how Selena didn't care much for the "monster" he was,
but for the heart he had and the love he could give her.
Other characters I
loved: Anastasia, Aunt Jo and James. Anastasia was sweet girl, I didn't like
what her family made her do because of her cousin Tatiana, it just was not fair
to her at all. Aunt Jo kept me laughing -- I could see why Selena wanted to be
like her. Aunt Jo was sweet, kind and realistic about what she wanted as not
just a woman, but as a human being. James was such a flirt, at first I thought
he would be the one to end up Selena after things went south with her and
Gabriel because the connection between the two was insanely perfect.
Characters I
completely loathed: Viktor, Georgina and Tatiana. Viktor was a total douche for
his attacks just try and get Selena. The fact that he was feral makes sense,
but he didn't have to be that much of an evil vampire, Prince or not, he had no
rights to Selena at all and his constant chase for her pissed me off. Georgina
is a nice cousin, but listening to her mother Edith just made me hate her. She
should have just made sure that Selena had a great time in Germany. Tatiana was
pure rude and twisted. I don't like how she referred to Selena at all. I feel
as if she was probably envious of her. I just didn't really care for Tatiana at
all.
Overall, this book
was outstanding and quickly became a favorite for me. I however, cannot wait to
read the sequel! That ending left me heartbroken and what Gabriel and Anastasia
did was insane. I just hope Selena finds them again and I pray that Viktor dies
somehow someway.
Have you read this book?