Asylum by K.A. Tucker

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Publication Date: 12/12/2011
Publisher: K.A. Tucker
Pages: 252


Welcome to my stop on the Asylum Blog Tour!! Along with my review, you also get an amazing character interview with one of my favorite couples, Fiona and Bishop. Enjoy your stay and if you haven't already, make sure you check out Asylum (and the Causal Enchantment series) - seriously incredible books! If you have already entered the giveaway to win eBooks/print books, check to see if I've announced your name as winner (located after the character interview); today's winner gets an eBook copy of Asylum. Is it you? Also, the fabulous author gave me 5 signed bookmarks; call me selfish but I'm keeping one for myself! The other four will be up for grabs soon, so stay tuned to my blog in the near future for that giveaway.

Tucked away in Sofie's wintery asylum with no hope of release for years, Evangeline must come to terms with her situation: the curse still plagues her, she's now hunted by a two thousand-year-old vampire, and the guy she's in love with tried to kill her. Plus, she's locked up with a cranky Max and the Forero kids—two people everyone seems to prefer dead over alive. Things aren't looking good.

Meanwhile, back in Manhattan, Sofie struggles to keep forty trapped and bloodthirsty Ratheus vampires at bay and a desperate Viggo from killing Evangeline's friends, all while hints stir outside the walls of the NYC vampire asylum of a war brewing between the Sentinel and the witches.

**I received a review eBook copy from the author in exchange for an honest review**

When the author asked me to be part of the Asylum Blog Tour, I immediately jumped at the chance. I absolutely fell in love with Anathema, the first book in the Causal Enchantment series, and I just knew that the sequel would completely live up to my expectations. I wasn't disappointed.

This book takes up immediately after Anathema ended, so it's like we never left the action. Evangeline is tucked safely away in the mountains and Sophie is left to deal with a bunch of extremely bloodthirsty vampires. Sophie is also still trying desperately to find a way to remove the necklace from Evangeline's neck without killing her in the process, yet still allow her to free her sister, Veronique, from her stony prison. With a virtual war looming and a realization of the bleak future the world has to look forward to, the race is on to find a way to stop it.

I feel like Sophie was really the main character of this book. Evangeline was, of course, a huge part of it as well, but it was Sophie who really stole the show. I loved her before, but I really respected and learned more about her in Asylum. It was so clear how much she cared for Evangeline; she loved her as if she were her own daughter, and her resolve to find a way to save her life never wavered. Sophie definitely had her work cut out for her; not only did she have to keep all of the crazed vampires in check, prevent them from running amok in the city, provide blood for them (at the high risk of being discovered by the Sentinel, who seek to reveal the existence of vampires to the world), but she also had to make sure that the love of Evangeline's life, Caden, and the rest of her friends survived. She definitely showed her strength and conviction, and her personality made her impossible not to love.

Evangeline, meanwhile, was stuck in an isolated cabin, not knowing when or if she would ever see her friends or Caden again. I definitely felt for her, being stuck in a sort of limbo, not knowing what would happen next. She stayed strong though and even managed to befriend the icy, yet incredibly sexy, Julian Forero. I think they learned a lot from each other, especially Julian since he absolutely hated vampires because of what they did to his parents, while Evangeline was in love with a vampire. They were coming from two different worlds but somehow managed to form a sort of bond which I thought was sweet (as long as she didn't get any crazy ideas about leaving Caden).

Another character that I adored in this book is Mage, who we met briefly in Anathema. There is certainly more to her than meets the eye and it was interesting to learn more about her. Of course I still loved Caden, Amalie, Bishop, and Fiona too; although they did have some important parts in the story, they weren't featured as prominently in this one for obvious reasons (mainly they were trying to learn to control their bloodlust).

Unfortunately there aren't a lot of sweet, romantic moments, with all of the chaos and of course the separation. It's still plain to see that Evangeline is completely enamored with Caden, despite her last memory being of him looking at her as if she was to be his next meal. Caden's feelings are a bit more of a mystery, with Sophie being suspicious about his true intentions; she thought perhaps they had used Evangeline simply to be able to travel to Earth to get all of the human blood they could want. All is revealed in due time, but you'll have to read it yourself to find out what happens!

This is honestly one of my favorite vampire series of all time, and that's saying a lot since I've read quite a few! I'm sure I said it before, after reading Anathema, but I love the world that the author has created and it manages to feel much different than all of the other YA vampire novels out there. As soon as I read the first page I knew I wouldn't be putting the book down until I finished; K.A. Tucker has such a way with words and is extremely talented at bringing the characters to life.

I was sad when I came to the last page, simply because I wanted more! I don't think I can rave enough about this series; it is one that I am so thankful I was introduced to, because it has become one of my favorites. The characters practically jump of the page, the story line is extremely entertaining, and the ending has me waiting on pins and needles to read the next installment in the series.

If you'd like to learn more about the author, K.A. Tucker, please check out her webpage and Twitter!

Now on to the interview with one of my favorite couples, Fiona and Bishop!

Interview

A huge welcome and round of applause to Fiona and Bishop for joining us today. We're so glad to have you and I have a few questions I'm dying to learn the answers to, so let's get started!

 Fantasy casting! Alex Pettyfer and Olivia Wilde are the two actors that the author envisions for Bishop and Fiona. I have to say, EXCELLENT choices, this would make for one hot couple!

Ok, let's start with an easy question. You guys are like the epitome of a cute couple. Tell us, how long have you been together?

Bishop: Too long! *throws arm around Fiona’s shoulder and laughs*

Fiona: *gives Bishop sharp elbow to the stomach. Turns to Bookerella Jamie and smiles slyly* I saved his sorry butt seven hundred years ago and I haven’t been able to get rid of him since. *giggles*

Bishop: Oh, please! It was me who saved you! *devilish grin*


Wow, that's a long time! I'm sure everyone else is wondering the same thing: how do you keep the romance alive after that many years?


Fiona: It's just different with us, you know? *looks at Bishop and smiles* I don’t know how to explain it. Since I met Bishop, it’s like... no one else exists. I mean, until recently, that was pretty much the case! But even if I were surrounded by a million guys, none of them would have anything that this goof couldn’t top. It’s strange - It’s like I’m addicted to him... *rolls eyes* AND here we go...

Bishop: *big grin and stretches back in chair, arms behind head* Did you get that? Ya, that’s right. You heard her. She’s addicted to me. She can’t get enough of this!

Fiona: *lips pursed together tightly for moment but then bursts out with laughter and leans in to nestle against his chest* It’s my own fault he’s like this. I keep swelling his ego...


On to more serious topics. What were your initial feelings/thoughts/reactions to suddenly being transported to Earth and exposed to human blood again?

Bishop: *face grows serious and arms fall to lap* Terrified, to be honest and nothing terrifies me. What if I couldn'tcontrol myself, like when I was first turned? I’d end up going on a mad rampage again. And Evangeline... *runs hands through wild hair* I mean, she’s so sweet! What if one of us got to her? I’d go mental with that guilt! Nothing could be worst! Well *shudders* except losing Fiona... *flips a strand of her hair through his fingers*

 Fiona: *nods* Ya, we were both pretty scared. Bishop has more control than me. I don’t know if it’s a male thing or a will power thing but I knew I’d have a harder time controlling myself. I kept picturing some blood-crazed feral version of me running through the streets, murdering small children and the elderly *grimaces* Amelie was so sure we’d be okay, I wanted to believe her! She’s always been the positive one...


Besides each other, who is the one other person you trust to have your back in a tough situation?

Bishop: That’s a no-brainer. Caden. My man’s got my back. He’s never let me down. I’d die for that guy.

Fiona: And, of course, I’m the same with his sister. They joke that we share a brain *chuckles* They may be right.


Although things are more than a little stressed at present, what do you think the future holds for the two of you?

Both: *Beams with excitement*

Bishop: What’s that cheesy saying? “The world is our oyster”? Everything lost to us is here again! Anything and everything we want to do.

Fiona: Ya, but what if we lose it again, Bishop? What if...

Bishop: No! No what- ifs. Sofie will figure it out with her magic. She’ll fix it all. Then * grabs her hand* we’ll go island-hopping, snowboarding, surfing, anything we want. Heck *smiles* maybe even have a wedding.

Fiona: *smiles shyly* What... are you proposing? Right here, in front of all these people?

Bishop: *grins* Maybe I am!

Fiona: *giggles and leans in to his chest again; turns back to Bookerella* I guess the answer to that question is ‘everything’. The future holds everything for us.

I hope everyone enjoyed my stop on the blog tour, I am really thankful to the author for letting me read her wonderful books and be a part of all of this! There are a few more things to wrap things up. First of all, the winner of the eBook on today's stop is:

Mary Ann Brady!


Congratulations! You are the proud new owner of an eBook copy of Asylum! Lucky duck, you are absolutely going to LOVE this book! The author should be contacting you soon about your prize (if she hasn't done so already). If you haven't entered to win a prize yet, what are you waiting for? There are still a few days left to enter to win eBooks/print books of Asylum, so check it out now!

ENTER THE GIVEAWAY