* * * *
It has been two years since Violet Eden walked away from the
city, her friends, her future and - most importantly - her soulmate, Lincoln.
Part angel, part human, Violet is determined to stand by the promises she made
to save the one she loves.
Living in the perpetual coldness of a broken soul she
survives day to day as a Rogue Grigori in London.
But when an unexpected visitor shows up at her door, the
news he bears about someone she swore to protect leaves Violet with no choice.
Even worse, she fears that this might all lead back to the
night she tries hardest to forget. And what was taken without her permission.
Violet is going back to New York ... and she knows exactly
who is going to be there.
With Phoenix in her dreams and Lincoln in her heart she knows
it is only a matter of time before the final choice must be made.
Here we go - it's the last one and Violet and company need to
go out with a bang. And boy, do they!
I don’t know about you but I was quite broken up by what
happened at the end of Endless. When she walked away from Lincoln it was as if
I was being ripped apart too. Darn these stories and how they suck you in! So I
was still mad at Violet for leaving when we catch up with her in London. It’s been
two years and she’s been roaming around, never resting in one place for too
long, taking odd jobs here and there in order to survive. In London, she’s made
friends of sorts like Gray whom we met when they were in Santorini, who
partners with her on jobs.
I found Violet incredibly whiney and annoying during the first part of the book. Don’t get me
wrong, I’m normally her biggest fan but I was just so irritated with how she
was living in denial about her feelings. I know, I know, it’s all in the name
of self-preservation but the fact that she walked away from everyone and
terminated her relationship with Lincoln makes Violet a crabby, lonely yet very
stubborn gal.
What brings her out of her self-imposed isolation is when
she is informed that Spence is missing. Knowing that he was following a big lead
and was taken in the process, Violet has to suck it up and return to New York
and the Academy to face Josephine et al. And then there’s Lincoln. This reunion should go really well!
It’s all awkward, angsty and chaotic but Violet has to keep
focused and formulate a plan to rescue Spence. This means she has to work with
Lincoln and work on her muddled up feelings at the same time. Events take them to New
Orleans which becomes ground zero for the second half of the book and I must say, Violet’s
reaction to seeing Bourbon Street for the first time mirrors the BiblioJunkies’
reaction to seeing it while we were there for RT14. That gave me a good chuckle
which I shared with Nat and Shel.
There’s an entire world at stake in Empower and Violet must come to
grips with herself sooner rather than later. All the cryptic messages and
dreams she receives are only confounding for as long as she chooses to separate
herself from her friends and allies, especially Lincoln.
I began to enjoy the story once I got over my frustration
with Violet. As with all the previous books, there’s plenty of action and
secrets to unearth. Violet is at her best when she’s thinking with a clear head
and she has her friends at her side. I was just as restless as she was
throughout Empower but in the end, she proves why she’s the ultimate warrior and fulfills
her true potential. Empower is a perfect and satisfying end to the series. Truth be told, I'll miss seeing some of the most incredibly stylish covers around. See?
But mostly, I'll miss Violet, Lincoln and their friends. They do deserve a rest though and then may be ... Mardi Gras anyone?
~ Bel
