How To Tame A Beast in Seven Days by Kerrelyn Sparks ~ Review

Title: How To Tame a Beast in Seven Days (The Embraced #1)
Author: Kerrelyn Sparks
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Fantasy
Length: 416 pages
Publisher: St Martin’s Press
Release Date: March 7, 2017
Source: Review Request
Rating: 4
Heat Rating: 3
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

Luciana grew up on the Isle of Moon, hidden away because of her magical powers. But when her father arrives, he offers her a choice: remain on the island or return with him and marry the Beast of Benwick in order to save their legacy—and her father's life.

Lord Leofric, the Beast of Benwick, has not been touched since he was a child. Born with the power to harness lightning, he is a danger to everyone he touches. When he meets his betrothed, he expects a loveless, lonely marriage...until he discovers she's vastly more powerful than he realized. But is she strong enough to withstand his touch?

If they can survive, their love will alter the future of the kingdom. But will their extraordinary powers cost them everything?

How To Tame a Beast in Seven Days was a fantastic book. Set in a fantasy world, it pulled on my roots of high fantasy reading and made them proud. A world that is detailed and vibrant, with people to go right along with it. There are even dragons!!!! Combine that with a beautiful arranged marriage style romance, I think I found a truly winning series.

The Embraced are a group of people born under a certain moon and grow up to be blessed/cursed with strange and sometimes terrifying powers. Luciana is an orphan growing up on the Isle of the Moon, the one place where Embraced are not feared and reviled. She was sent there to protect her from those that would kill her for what she is. She loves the island and her 'sisters,' but when her father (surprise!) shows up, she finds out that her history is completely different than what she believed.

Returning with her father to the mainlands, Luciana will have to convince the world that she is another person as she prepares to marry the Beast of Benwick, a man rumored to kill all who come near. And so begins our romance. Of course, the Beast has a surprising history and personality. I'm wasn't sure how Kerrelyn Sparks was going to get these characters together for a while. Everything was stacked against them and both were terrified of what might happen.

There are some crazy twists and turns as Luciana and the Beast travel to the capital. Attacks, deaths, discoveries, and along the way we get to meet some really great secondary characters that I feel just might show up with a story of their own - I certainly hope so.

While I enjoy a good twisting tale, there were a few times that it seemed like a twist was thrown in to drag the story out just a tad, and then we had a bit of a rushed ending. Overall, I loved the world, I loved the characters, and I can't wait to see what they are going to do next.

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book**

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