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Summoned #1
Summoned
Twenty-three year old Dimitri has to do what he is told—literally. Controlled by a paranormal bond, he is forced to use his wits to fulfill unlimited deadly wishes made by multimillionaire Karl Walker.
Dimitri has no idea how his family line became trapped in the genie bond. He just knows resisting has never ended well. When he meets Syd—assertive, sexy, intelligent Syd—he becomes determined to make her his own. Except Karl has ensured Dimitri can’t tell anyone about the bond, and Syd isn’t the type to tolerate secrets.
Then Karl starts sending him away on back-to-back wishes. Unable to balance love and lies, Dimitri sets out to uncover Karl’s ultimate plan and put it to an end. But doing so forces him to confront the one wish he never saw coming—the wish that will destroy him.
A dark twist on genie folklore, SUMMONED follows a reluctant criminal as he unravels the mystery of the paranormal bond controlling him.
SUMMONED is represented by Rossano Trentin of TZLA.
Dimitri has no idea how his family line became trapped in the genie bond. He just knows resisting has never ended well. When he meets Syd—assertive, sexy, intelligent Syd—he becomes determined to make her his own. Except Karl has ensured Dimitri can’t tell anyone about the bond, and Syd isn’t the type to tolerate secrets.
Then Karl starts sending him away on back-to-back wishes. Unable to balance love and lies, Dimitri sets out to uncover Karl’s ultimate plan and put it to an end. But doing so forces him to confront the one wish he never saw coming—the wish that will destroy him.
A dark twist on genie folklore, SUMMONED follows a reluctant criminal as he unravels the mystery of the paranormal bond controlling him.
SUMMONED is represented by Rossano Trentin of TZLA.
237 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 27, 2014
34 people are currently reading
1,314 people want to read
About the author
Rainy Kaye
20books198followersRainy Kaye is an aspiring overlord. In the mean time, she blogs at RainyoftheDark and writes paranormal novels from her lair somewhere in Phoenix, Arizona.
She is represented by Rossano Trentin of TZLA. Someone told her she's a USA Today Bestselling author. She thought there would be cake.
She is represented by Rossano Trentin of TZLA. Someone told her she's a USA Today Bestselling author. She thought there would be cake.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 199 reviews
February 22, 2014
I couldn’t put it down until I finished it- literally. I read the whole thing in one night, which is why I now only have 2 hours before having to get up for work. So, I’d love to sit here and write a lengthy review regarding how much I loved this book, and that I think it is DEFINITELY movie material……but my eyes are starting to permanently cross and all the letters on my screen are rebelliously blurring into each other. (Review is coming soon)
and here we go-
After reading the other reviews regarding Summoned, I realize I’ve not a shred of talent when it comes to writing in general. So, this review will be a bit off tempo from the rest, and I will attempt to spare you as much as I can by keeping this short.
I would like to address the would-be readers who are hoping to find ‘romance� in this book. Do yourself a favor, put this book down, and go find yourself a Harlequin Romance novel. If you’re into the fantasy land fairytale world where you enjoy reading about some buff manly man sweeping a Barbie doll wannabe off her proverbial feet � please subscribe to women’s fiction. I think that is what they list those frilly fluff puff books under these days. Seriously, THOSE are the books that should really be listed under ‘fantasy�. (Right along with unicorns, Tinkerbelle, and everything else that doesn’t tend to exist in the really real world�)
Now if you are looking to read a book with a paranormal plot that has a realistic twist on it with a few hilarious situations thrown in here and there for good measure - here you go! I absolutely LOVED this book, and think it would be awesome as a movie. Ironically, my personal library mostly consists of non-fiction. Rarely does a work of fiction earn its place amongst my shelves, but Summoned is definitely there to stay. The author has an amazing flow to her writing, and I love how everything tied into the ending. She didn’t over embellish in descriptive detail either. I believe one commenter referred to this as ‘world building�. Quite frankly, I don’t need an author to break out the pretty colored sharpies and draw me some colorful mental pictures - my imagination doesn’t require excessive prodding and coaching. Over doing it on the descriptive details simply begins to bore me, and I lose interest in the book entirely.
I think the best part about this book is that the author has cleverly created Dimitri, an average guy who was suddenly thrown into the life of crime and assassination, and this assassin isn’t exactly Mr. Stud muffin Jason Statham. There is no warding off hordes of sword wielding ninja with superior martial arts, or killing a rabid pack of wolves off with only a couple of rubber bands and a number 2 pencil that just happened to be laying around. Nope, good ol� Dimitri has to improvise- the way any of us would have to do if we found ourselves in his situation. (Providing we didn’t suffer some kind of sudden psychotic break, or simply get killed within a few hours.) So it has a much more ‘real� feel to it, in a way that is relatable to the reader. I really would love to see more from this author.
and here we go-
After reading the other reviews regarding Summoned, I realize I’ve not a shred of talent when it comes to writing in general. So, this review will be a bit off tempo from the rest, and I will attempt to spare you as much as I can by keeping this short.
I would like to address the would-be readers who are hoping to find ‘romance� in this book. Do yourself a favor, put this book down, and go find yourself a Harlequin Romance novel. If you’re into the fantasy land fairytale world where you enjoy reading about some buff manly man sweeping a Barbie doll wannabe off her proverbial feet � please subscribe to women’s fiction. I think that is what they list those frilly fluff puff books under these days. Seriously, THOSE are the books that should really be listed under ‘fantasy�. (Right along with unicorns, Tinkerbelle, and everything else that doesn’t tend to exist in the really real world�)
Now if you are looking to read a book with a paranormal plot that has a realistic twist on it with a few hilarious situations thrown in here and there for good measure - here you go! I absolutely LOVED this book, and think it would be awesome as a movie. Ironically, my personal library mostly consists of non-fiction. Rarely does a work of fiction earn its place amongst my shelves, but Summoned is definitely there to stay. The author has an amazing flow to her writing, and I love how everything tied into the ending. She didn’t over embellish in descriptive detail either. I believe one commenter referred to this as ‘world building�. Quite frankly, I don’t need an author to break out the pretty colored sharpies and draw me some colorful mental pictures - my imagination doesn’t require excessive prodding and coaching. Over doing it on the descriptive details simply begins to bore me, and I lose interest in the book entirely.
I think the best part about this book is that the author has cleverly created Dimitri, an average guy who was suddenly thrown into the life of crime and assassination, and this assassin isn’t exactly Mr. Stud muffin Jason Statham. There is no warding off hordes of sword wielding ninja with superior martial arts, or killing a rabid pack of wolves off with only a couple of rubber bands and a number 2 pencil that just happened to be laying around. Nope, good ol� Dimitri has to improvise- the way any of us would have to do if we found ourselves in his situation. (Providing we didn’t suffer some kind of sudden psychotic break, or simply get killed within a few hours.) So it has a much more ‘real� feel to it, in a way that is relatable to the reader. I really would love to see more from this author.
June 1, 2016
I love the idea of Djinn, Genies and Jinn and call them what you will they are always a fascinating idea. So originally found in Arabian mythology but there's no doubt these magical creatures have enthralled many on a cold dark night. So spotting this original book had me opening it up with much anticipation.
I knew going in that Dimitri was not exactly going to be likeable because he right from the start is involved in pretty despicable things. He is trapped in a bond that seems to have swallowed his conscience but meets someone who shakes up the organised world he has created for himself. Syd is everything Dim wants in a one night stand but the aggravating woman just keeps bugging him! It's not that Dim doesn't want to see her again but no one can get close to him because that's a fast trip to disaster!
Dim has such a lonely life and its impossible not to be intrigued by him. Yes he is a killer but it's not something he ever wants to do. Controlled by Karl, Dim quite literally lives his life waiting for the next summons and his next task. Dim felt like a pawn following the evil machinations of Karl and even though Dim clearly tries to understand why these people are targeted his tasks just keep getting more convoluted and frankly bizarre.
Syd shakes up his orderly life and for once he actually wants to connect but that's not an easy thing for Dim. Syd had me wondering all sorts of things but I was totally blindsided by the end of this book. Seeing Dim unravel the secrets and stop lying to himself was a crucial break through. Is it a romance? Well the couple do feel strongly about each other and both are willing to make huge sacrifices. My problem was in spite of the numerous sexual encounters it just didn't feel romantic to me. I really enjoyed the story so any sex in it seemed superfluous to this reader. What kept me reading was a storyline that was unpredictable and I can't wait to find out what happens next
I was gifted a copy via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
I knew going in that Dimitri was not exactly going to be likeable because he right from the start is involved in pretty despicable things. He is trapped in a bond that seems to have swallowed his conscience but meets someone who shakes up the organised world he has created for himself. Syd is everything Dim wants in a one night stand but the aggravating woman just keeps bugging him! It's not that Dim doesn't want to see her again but no one can get close to him because that's a fast trip to disaster!
Dim has such a lonely life and its impossible not to be intrigued by him. Yes he is a killer but it's not something he ever wants to do. Controlled by Karl, Dim quite literally lives his life waiting for the next summons and his next task. Dim felt like a pawn following the evil machinations of Karl and even though Dim clearly tries to understand why these people are targeted his tasks just keep getting more convoluted and frankly bizarre.
Syd shakes up his orderly life and for once he actually wants to connect but that's not an easy thing for Dim. Syd had me wondering all sorts of things but I was totally blindsided by the end of this book. Seeing Dim unravel the secrets and stop lying to himself was a crucial break through. Is it a romance? Well the couple do feel strongly about each other and both are willing to make huge sacrifices. My problem was in spite of the numerous sexual encounters it just didn't feel romantic to me. I really enjoyed the story so any sex in it seemed superfluous to this reader. What kept me reading was a storyline that was unpredictable and I can't wait to find out what happens next
I was gifted a copy via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
June 29, 2016
I would like to thank Bastei Entertainment & Rainy Kaye for my copy of the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Some of my friends on GoodReads had said this book was really good but sadly for me it total flopped and I couldn't get into it at all.
Dimitri is a young genie without any powers stuck in a situation that is not the best. His master Karl Walker has him kidnapping and killing people without a choice in the matter, then he meets Syd and his world is about to change forever...
Ok, so Dim really annoyed me he was forever looking down on other people even after the things he has done. He kept contradicting himself and if he called someone a rockstar once more I was going to poke my eyes out what the actual hell?! Also, what was the deal with the Audi? Almost everyone nowadays drives an Audi, Merc or BMW so I don't get why he was so impressed with an Audi.. it is an AUDI. Also, he was soooooo bad at being a genie and very sloppy I felt like screaming at him are you for real?! You are meant to be a pro at this and done it a million times god! Then the whole situation with Silvia, why was he so much of an ass to her and always looking down on her making out she was a psycho with everything that he had done and was doing and his current relationship HELLO?!
So it just so happens that he meets Syd while she's waiting on "friends" in an old man bar? Yeah ok... so they go have amazing sex (I won't lie it's amazing sex) and she is a COMPLETE NUTCASE who comes across so desperate it made me cringe to think that some females are actually like that.
I was dangling on the start of the book and thought I was getting into it, by the second half it was really not for me so much so I was forcing myself to read it which I hate to do but I always seem to want to finish a book.
Sorry not for me and I don't know what to do about the ARC of the second book that I have, hey you never know right? Maybe I will change my mind and get into it.
Check out my blog
Some of my friends on GoodReads had said this book was really good but sadly for me it total flopped and I couldn't get into it at all.
Dimitri is a young genie without any powers stuck in a situation that is not the best. His master Karl Walker has him kidnapping and killing people without a choice in the matter, then he meets Syd and his world is about to change forever...
Ok, so Dim really annoyed me he was forever looking down on other people even after the things he has done. He kept contradicting himself and if he called someone a rockstar once more I was going to poke my eyes out what the actual hell?! Also, what was the deal with the Audi? Almost everyone nowadays drives an Audi, Merc or BMW so I don't get why he was so impressed with an Audi.. it is an AUDI. Also, he was soooooo bad at being a genie and very sloppy I felt like screaming at him are you for real?! You are meant to be a pro at this and done it a million times god! Then the whole situation with Silvia, why was he so much of an ass to her and always looking down on her making out she was a psycho with everything that he had done and was doing and his current relationship HELLO?!
So it just so happens that he meets Syd while she's waiting on "friends" in an old man bar? Yeah ok... so they go have amazing sex (I won't lie it's amazing sex) and she is a COMPLETE NUTCASE who comes across so desperate it made me cringe to think that some females are actually like that.
I was dangling on the start of the book and thought I was getting into it, by the second half it was really not for me so much so I was forcing myself to read it which I hate to do but I always seem to want to finish a book.
Sorry not for me and I don't know what to do about the ARC of the second book that I have, hey you never know right? Maybe I will change my mind and get into it.
Check out my blog
February 18, 2014
Dimitri Hayes has to do whatever he is told. Why? Well, because he's a modern day genie.
Obviously.
As such, he has to listen to his "master," Karl Walker, or bad things tend to happen to him. To make matters more complicated, he doesn't have any magical powers. One would think that might give him a pass on the whole genie bond thing, well, think again. No, Dim just has to come up with creative ways to grant wishes. Sometimes, thermite is involved.
This story starts with a bang, and the narrative explodes off the page. We meet Dimitri in the middle of granting one of Walker's wishes. He then goes to a bar to blow of some steam, because as he says, he really hates having to kidnap people.
Who doesn't?
Enter Syd, a woman he instantly wants to bang. She comes off flat in the beginning, but as Dim and the reader will soon learn, she's a little crazy. Good crazy. Women,especially women in their early twenties will be able to relate to this girl. Hell, we've probably all been this girl at one point. She was a welcome surprise, because not only is she fierce, she's intelligent and empathic.
Unlike Silvia who is a different kind of crazy, and the next person in line to inherit Dimitri. He is constantly trying to ward off her advances and keep Syd at a distance while he's granting wishes that become more bizarre as the story advances.
Then he has to face granting a wish that might just kill him. Boom! This story has everything. This is a mature read that can be enjoyed by a broad audience.
Thoughtfully paced action, realistic yet edible romance, and jaw dropping creativity.
A beautiful debut.
Obviously.
As such, he has to listen to his "master," Karl Walker, or bad things tend to happen to him. To make matters more complicated, he doesn't have any magical powers. One would think that might give him a pass on the whole genie bond thing, well, think again. No, Dim just has to come up with creative ways to grant wishes. Sometimes, thermite is involved.
This story starts with a bang, and the narrative explodes off the page. We meet Dimitri in the middle of granting one of Walker's wishes. He then goes to a bar to blow of some steam, because as he says, he really hates having to kidnap people.
Who doesn't?
Enter Syd, a woman he instantly wants to bang. She comes off flat in the beginning, but as Dim and the reader will soon learn, she's a little crazy. Good crazy. Women,especially women in their early twenties will be able to relate to this girl. Hell, we've probably all been this girl at one point. She was a welcome surprise, because not only is she fierce, she's intelligent and empathic.
Unlike Silvia who is a different kind of crazy, and the next person in line to inherit Dimitri. He is constantly trying to ward off her advances and keep Syd at a distance while he's granting wishes that become more bizarre as the story advances.
Then he has to face granting a wish that might just kill him. Boom! This story has everything. This is a mature read that can be enjoyed by a broad audience.
Thoughtfully paced action, realistic yet edible romance, and jaw dropping creativity.
A beautiful debut.
June 16, 2017
3.5 Stars
Dimitri is a genie with no powers. He does whatever Karl wishes. Dimitri doesn't want to kill or kidnap people, but he has no other choice. The paranormal bond doesn't even allow him to kill himself. He's trapped in every way.
Syd makes him feel like a normal person. What started as a one night stand turned out to be so much more. Syd is his freedom and deepest secret.
I loved the idea of the story, but I felt like the story dragged a bit. The story is told all in Dimitri's POV, but he rambles a lot. Thankfully there is no cliffhanger. Will I be reading the next book in the series? I think I'll give it another try.
Dimitri is a genie with no powers. He does whatever Karl wishes. Dimitri doesn't want to kill or kidnap people, but he has no other choice. The paranormal bond doesn't even allow him to kill himself. He's trapped in every way.
Syd makes him feel like a normal person. What started as a one night stand turned out to be so much more. Syd is his freedom and deepest secret.
I loved the idea of the story, but I felt like the story dragged a bit. The story is told all in Dimitri's POV, but he rambles a lot. Thankfully there is no cliffhanger. Will I be reading the next book in the series? I think I'll give it another try.
February 22, 2014
I was given an ARC copy of this book to review. The receipt of this book in no way influenced my review.
So what did I like:
Characters: If you're looking for a character that will melt your heart, Dimitri ain't it. So get your mind away from that idea right now. He's definitely not likeable. You almost can't help it. Heck, there's no reason to like him, after all, many scenes contain him killing someone in order to fulfill a wish by his screwed-up master, Karl Walker. And this is where Ms. Kaye shines. Dimitri is a pretty rough guy, but the people who "own" him are more reprehensible than him. This makes him likeable. In addition, he is very complex and rounded. Syd is fantastic. She's a tad nuts, in a good way, and she has Dimitri's number throughout the book I believe that a lot of readers will love these two. There both so fully-realized, as characters, that I felt that I knew them. Lastly, Karl and Silvia...Karl and Silvia...hated them. Hated them a lot. But I was supposed to. They aren't good people. So that rocked too!
Setting: Arizona. What else can I say. I live here. It was the last setting I would have thought for a book about a genie, but it works. It totally works. Rainy Kaye brought it all together for me. Since I live here, if she could bring it to life for me, she can definitely do it for you. Even the parts that happen in other cities like New Orleans made me feel like I was here. This is not the strongest part of the story, but I live in Phoenix and it felt very real to me.
Uniqueness: This is the best part of this story. The best part. This story has uniqueness in spades. I was so thankful at the end, that I had gotten a chance to read this book. Seriously? A genie named Dimitri who lives in Phoenix, Arizona and is bonded to a family starting with Karl Walker, his current master, and then eventually Silvia, who will inherit him? Inherit him? Cool! This was such a cool idea that there will be hundreds of authors that will wish they had thought of it first, but is uniquely Rainy Kaye!
Mystery: If this had been just a story about a genie fulfilling the wishes of a sociopath, I'd have thrown my Nook out the window and been done with this story. But it's not. All of this wish fulfillment is going somewhere, and if you play along, you might just be surprised at where this stroy is going. I'm not going to say anymore. But you're going to get blind-sided a couple of times.
Altogether, Summoned is a book that I would recommend to a lot of people. But definitely not everybody. It is extremely well written and an extremely effective and effecting debut novel. However it does come with this warning
Note: SUMMONED is not a romance. It contains strong language, naughty scenes, mature content, terrible wishes, mystery, discomfort, explosions, and an apple.
So check it out, but don't say I didn't warn you. If My Little Pony is your thing, Summoned won't be.
So what did I like:
Characters: If you're looking for a character that will melt your heart, Dimitri ain't it. So get your mind away from that idea right now. He's definitely not likeable. You almost can't help it. Heck, there's no reason to like him, after all, many scenes contain him killing someone in order to fulfill a wish by his screwed-up master, Karl Walker. And this is where Ms. Kaye shines. Dimitri is a pretty rough guy, but the people who "own" him are more reprehensible than him. This makes him likeable. In addition, he is very complex and rounded. Syd is fantastic. She's a tad nuts, in a good way, and she has Dimitri's number throughout the book I believe that a lot of readers will love these two. There both so fully-realized, as characters, that I felt that I knew them. Lastly, Karl and Silvia...Karl and Silvia...hated them. Hated them a lot. But I was supposed to. They aren't good people. So that rocked too!
Setting: Arizona. What else can I say. I live here. It was the last setting I would have thought for a book about a genie, but it works. It totally works. Rainy Kaye brought it all together for me. Since I live here, if she could bring it to life for me, she can definitely do it for you. Even the parts that happen in other cities like New Orleans made me feel like I was here. This is not the strongest part of the story, but I live in Phoenix and it felt very real to me.
Uniqueness: This is the best part of this story. The best part. This story has uniqueness in spades. I was so thankful at the end, that I had gotten a chance to read this book. Seriously? A genie named Dimitri who lives in Phoenix, Arizona and is bonded to a family starting with Karl Walker, his current master, and then eventually Silvia, who will inherit him? Inherit him? Cool! This was such a cool idea that there will be hundreds of authors that will wish they had thought of it first, but is uniquely Rainy Kaye!
Mystery: If this had been just a story about a genie fulfilling the wishes of a sociopath, I'd have thrown my Nook out the window and been done with this story. But it's not. All of this wish fulfillment is going somewhere, and if you play along, you might just be surprised at where this stroy is going. I'm not going to say anymore. But you're going to get blind-sided a couple of times.
Altogether, Summoned is a book that I would recommend to a lot of people. But definitely not everybody. It is extremely well written and an extremely effective and effecting debut novel. However it does come with this warning
Note: SUMMONED is not a romance. It contains strong language, naughty scenes, mature content, terrible wishes, mystery, discomfort, explosions, and an apple.
So check it out, but don't say I didn't warn you. If My Little Pony is your thing, Summoned won't be.
February 18, 2014
I was very fortunate to be allowed to read an ARC of Summoned…I will be honest, the cover is what first drew me in. The contents on the pages made me want to move in and live in the author’s mind. Rainy Kaye has written a fascinating and unique world where genies exist, but they certainly aren’t like what you see in the movies or in children’s tales. A kid’s book, this ain’t. ;)
I will admit that Dimitri took a little getting used to. The book opens with him kidnapping someone and admitting that MURDER is easier to do than a kidnapping. What kind of human thinks that like?!? He’s a complicated and multi-faceted character, and a pleasure to read about. He’s a Djinn, and the fairy tales you read as a child didn’t prepare you for this adventure. Poor Dimitri has to put up with so much…a master who summons him at every whim, forcing him to commit atrocious acts of violence and murder. I loved hating Sylvia and Karl, the puppet masters holding Dimitri’s strings, so to speak. At first, the wishes seem random, but there’s a mystery to solve here, and I relished figuring out what was going on at the same time Dimitri did.
Rainy Kaye gives the reader just enough information to make you think you know what’s going to happen, then she pulls the rug out from under your feet with plot twists that make you go “WHOA!� but in a good way. I found myself reading until late to find out what was going to happen next because I was so invested in the story.
I was very sad when I read the last page because I knew I’d have to wait for the next book. I can’t wait to see what happens next with Dimitri.
I will admit that Dimitri took a little getting used to. The book opens with him kidnapping someone and admitting that MURDER is easier to do than a kidnapping. What kind of human thinks that like?!? He’s a complicated and multi-faceted character, and a pleasure to read about. He’s a Djinn, and the fairy tales you read as a child didn’t prepare you for this adventure. Poor Dimitri has to put up with so much…a master who summons him at every whim, forcing him to commit atrocious acts of violence and murder. I loved hating Sylvia and Karl, the puppet masters holding Dimitri’s strings, so to speak. At first, the wishes seem random, but there’s a mystery to solve here, and I relished figuring out what was going on at the same time Dimitri did.
Rainy Kaye gives the reader just enough information to make you think you know what’s going to happen, then she pulls the rug out from under your feet with plot twists that make you go “WHOA!� but in a good way. I found myself reading until late to find out what was going to happen next because I was so invested in the story.
I was very sad when I read the last page because I knew I’d have to wait for the next book. I can’t wait to see what happens next with Dimitri.
March 2, 2014
I received an ARC from Rainy for an honest review, and here it goes:
This book moves along so well, I had to fight the urge to burn through it in one night. There are so many things you miss if you don't take it in.
Dmitri is a djinn, with no powers, just the fun of being forced to do all sorts of things against his basic desires or suffer miserably. The characters build throughout the book, as does the number of directions my mind thought the story would go in. I'd go through more details, but suffice to say, hard to do so without revealing spoilers.
I look forward to more from this author! And reading it a few more times.
This book moves along so well, I had to fight the urge to burn through it in one night. There are so many things you miss if you don't take it in.
Dmitri is a djinn, with no powers, just the fun of being forced to do all sorts of things against his basic desires or suffer miserably. The characters build throughout the book, as does the number of directions my mind thought the story would go in. I'd go through more details, but suffice to say, hard to do so without revealing spoilers.
I look forward to more from this author! And reading it a few more times.
April 25, 2014
Can I just say WOW ? What a Fiction! This has to be a movie immediately! Usually I don't like type of men like Dimitri but boy, he impressed me! If I'm gonna question myself... Why did I read this book? Summary hooked me from the first sentence because of that. Did I Like the cover? HELL YEAH! Am I in love to Dimitri? *blush* Yes! Will I read other books of Rainy Kaye? DOUBLE HELL YEAH!
March 14, 2014
(I actually gave this novel 4.5, but it's closer to 5 than 4)
A modern day genie tale almost sounds like it could be yawn-worthy to be honest. Despite my love for Rainy Kaye I was hesitant to read this novel. Yay, another romance novel that probably-- wait, wait, wait. What the Hell is going on here?
That's right. This novel is DIFFERENT. I saw none of it coming at any point, and I enjoyed that. The ending was a twist. The love story wasn't the same tired story. And the voice worked. Many women have this habit of being over gushy when writing men. The majority of men are not that adorable and loving when thinking about women. A woman does not take over their every thought every moment of the day.
Dimitri, our genie in question, is not the most likeable character you'll ever read about. Syd is not your most sympathetic heroine you'll ever see. However the two make a dynamic that works on the rush they give one another and then the reader. These characters are real compared to many that will be seen or read about. Their feelings are organic as are their actions. And at the end of the story you will be left with a question but satisfied with an ending.
Now, with all of this praise, why did I remove half of a star? Silvia. Silvia is not the main antagonist, but she proves to be one. She falls flat as a character. The author spends a little too much time pushing on us how we should feel about Silvia and I didn't completely feel that way... until one scene that caused me to have to put the book down for a day before I could read it again. This is a relationship that could have had a novel on its own to explain many things, but unfortunately for me it just didn't go the way I thought it should, or could. We can't all get what we want, though, and that is no fault of the author!
Reasons to Read:
One of the most original plots in contemporary fiction
Characters that keep you guessing
Sensual and Bloody
A borrowed tale has never fit so well in something new
Reasons Not to Read:
Might be a little too bloody for some
Fast paced parts sometimes can be a bit confusing
While some characters are expounded and worked with, some don't have the payoff
All questions won't be answered
A modern day genie tale almost sounds like it could be yawn-worthy to be honest. Despite my love for Rainy Kaye I was hesitant to read this novel. Yay, another romance novel that probably-- wait, wait, wait. What the Hell is going on here?
That's right. This novel is DIFFERENT. I saw none of it coming at any point, and I enjoyed that. The ending was a twist. The love story wasn't the same tired story. And the voice worked. Many women have this habit of being over gushy when writing men. The majority of men are not that adorable and loving when thinking about women. A woman does not take over their every thought every moment of the day.
Dimitri, our genie in question, is not the most likeable character you'll ever read about. Syd is not your most sympathetic heroine you'll ever see. However the two make a dynamic that works on the rush they give one another and then the reader. These characters are real compared to many that will be seen or read about. Their feelings are organic as are their actions. And at the end of the story you will be left with a question but satisfied with an ending.
Now, with all of this praise, why did I remove half of a star? Silvia. Silvia is not the main antagonist, but she proves to be one. She falls flat as a character. The author spends a little too much time pushing on us how we should feel about Silvia and I didn't completely feel that way... until one scene that caused me to have to put the book down for a day before I could read it again. This is a relationship that could have had a novel on its own to explain many things, but unfortunately for me it just didn't go the way I thought it should, or could. We can't all get what we want, though, and that is no fault of the author!
Reasons to Read:
One of the most original plots in contemporary fiction
Characters that keep you guessing
Sensual and Bloody
A borrowed tale has never fit so well in something new
Reasons Not to Read:
Might be a little too bloody for some
Fast paced parts sometimes can be a bit confusing
While some characters are expounded and worked with, some don't have the payoff
All questions won't be answered
April 20, 2014
Every preconceived notion and expectation of genies go in the trash with ‘Summoned�. Dimitri isn’t Aladdin’s blue Genie or any other pleasant, wish-fulling genie ever conceived�
Imagine yourself in a situation where you have no choice but to obey the commands of an evil, calculating master who orders you to break every law from petty theft to murder. Not obeying a wish comes with severe consequences; a dull hum in your head that evolves into an intense roar bent on destroying your sanity and eventually destroying you. This is Dimitri’s plight, and even though he’s one bad Jinn, he’s a trapped rat dreaming of a way out of his master, Karl Walker’s, nefarious clutches. Complicate that with an impromptu romp with the luscious Syd which turns into a love affair of sorts, and you’re in for a wild ride on the twisted dark side of traditional Djinn (genie) folklore. The things Dimitri is forced do is appalling, but it’s difficult to hate him when he has no choice but to obey or be destroyed�
The plot is beautifully woven with mind-blowing twists and sizzling sex scenes, and the conclusion will leave you reeling and feeling the backlash commonly associated with having finished a fantastically executed novel with an insanely good story line. Rainy Kaye’s writing is edgy, fresh and utterly different from any of the common cookie-cutter genres. Kaye is a master at bridging the divide between the lighter side of genie folklore and tradition to the darker, more realistic origins from which they emerged in ‘Summoned�.
Disclosure: I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Opinions are my own and unaffected by other parties.
Imagine yourself in a situation where you have no choice but to obey the commands of an evil, calculating master who orders you to break every law from petty theft to murder. Not obeying a wish comes with severe consequences; a dull hum in your head that evolves into an intense roar bent on destroying your sanity and eventually destroying you. This is Dimitri’s plight, and even though he’s one bad Jinn, he’s a trapped rat dreaming of a way out of his master, Karl Walker’s, nefarious clutches. Complicate that with an impromptu romp with the luscious Syd which turns into a love affair of sorts, and you’re in for a wild ride on the twisted dark side of traditional Djinn (genie) folklore. The things Dimitri is forced do is appalling, but it’s difficult to hate him when he has no choice but to obey or be destroyed�
The plot is beautifully woven with mind-blowing twists and sizzling sex scenes, and the conclusion will leave you reeling and feeling the backlash commonly associated with having finished a fantastically executed novel with an insanely good story line. Rainy Kaye’s writing is edgy, fresh and utterly different from any of the common cookie-cutter genres. Kaye is a master at bridging the divide between the lighter side of genie folklore and tradition to the darker, more realistic origins from which they emerged in ‘Summoned�.
Disclosure: I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Opinions are my own and unaffected by other parties.
March 29, 2014
Dimitri is a sarcastic twenty-three year old, with a huge secret- he is controlled by a paranormal bond that ensures he has to do whatever is wished for by his “master�.Dimitri, or Dim, is a genie. Or djinn if you rather.
We all grew up with I Dream of Jeannie, and/or Aladdin as our basis for what a genie is supposed to do, or look like. Well, I love and hate to break it to you but Dim is NOT that kind of genie! I would rather have him around than Jeannie or Robin Williams� lively blue Genie (Unless I am on the receiving end of a wish!) Don’t get me wrong- I love them both. I just love Dim more!
I love that this is a new take on the genie/master relationship, there is a bit of magic but otherwise Dimitri is a “normal� person. He is just like you and me, except he HAS to do whatever his Master wishes. The characters are believable, the story is well written, the world is one could clearly see and feel in my head. story all tied together leaving me (mostly) satisfied with the ending. I say mostly, because I REALLY didn’t want the book to end- I wanted it to keep going. Thankfully, Ms. Kaye is continuing the series!
If you don’t like steamy sex scenes, violence, and cursing then stay away from Dim and his world. If you don’t mind those, and like paranormal based stories then read Summoned! This� I� wish!
We all grew up with I Dream of Jeannie, and/or Aladdin as our basis for what a genie is supposed to do, or look like. Well, I love and hate to break it to you but Dim is NOT that kind of genie! I would rather have him around than Jeannie or Robin Williams� lively blue Genie (Unless I am on the receiving end of a wish!) Don’t get me wrong- I love them both. I just love Dim more!
I love that this is a new take on the genie/master relationship, there is a bit of magic but otherwise Dimitri is a “normal� person. He is just like you and me, except he HAS to do whatever his Master wishes. The characters are believable, the story is well written, the world is one could clearly see and feel in my head. story all tied together leaving me (mostly) satisfied with the ending. I say mostly, because I REALLY didn’t want the book to end- I wanted it to keep going. Thankfully, Ms. Kaye is continuing the series!
If you don’t like steamy sex scenes, violence, and cursing then stay away from Dim and his world. If you don’t mind those, and like paranormal based stories then read Summoned! This� I� wish!
March 24, 2014
LOVED IT!!!!
The story is told solely from Dimitri's point of view. He is HILARIOUS! A very sarcastic sense of humor, that is. He had a lot of one-liners that I wish i had highlighted so that I can incorporate them into my daily life. Guess I'll just have to read the book again and highlight them all :)
Dim is evil, albeit conflicted, and it's that conflict that makes him incredibly like able. Decency would shine through him every now and then, juuuust enough to keep me in his corner the entire time.
Syd is fun. She is incredibly random and quirky. While she wasn't in the story nearly as mich as Dim, I was still her fan for the whole story.
While the story itself was long, the mystery surrounding Dim, and his lack of knowledge about said mystery, kept me turning the pages as more and more got revealed. I can honestly say that I was NOT expecting the ending!
I am happy to see that another book will be coming out in this series. I'm just such a huge fan of Rainy's writing style, that i think I would read anything she writes!
***I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***
The story is told solely from Dimitri's point of view. He is HILARIOUS! A very sarcastic sense of humor, that is. He had a lot of one-liners that I wish i had highlighted so that I can incorporate them into my daily life. Guess I'll just have to read the book again and highlight them all :)
Dim is evil, albeit conflicted, and it's that conflict that makes him incredibly like able. Decency would shine through him every now and then, juuuust enough to keep me in his corner the entire time.
Syd is fun. She is incredibly random and quirky. While she wasn't in the story nearly as mich as Dim, I was still her fan for the whole story.
While the story itself was long, the mystery surrounding Dim, and his lack of knowledge about said mystery, kept me turning the pages as more and more got revealed. I can honestly say that I was NOT expecting the ending!
I am happy to see that another book will be coming out in this series. I'm just such a huge fan of Rainy's writing style, that i think I would read anything she writes!
***I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***
April 5, 2014
If I had a dollar for every hidden literary gem I have been fortunate to find, Summoned would be the latest to fill my piggy bank! Get ready for a twisted and convoluted tale of a young man caught up in a world he does not understand. A dark legacy has been handed down through the generations that make him a pawn to an often emotionally cruel and brutal master. Dimitri is a Djinn, cursed to do the bidding of his master, from thievery to assassination, with no way out, except pain and death. Dim does not follow the stereotype for the “hero� of a story. He is unsure, scared and needs to make do with only his own ability to improvise to do the deeds he is commanded to do and is powerless to deny. Young, alone and vulnerable, never feeling the joys that life can give, I was immediately drawn to Dim as he attempts to glean the truth of his life, the power limits of his master. Is there room in his life for love or will the Walkers use that as another tool against him? Karl Walker, the master is sadistic, a powerful force in the world to be reckoned with and his daughter, Sylvia is the quintessential spoiled child who has grown up a LOT unhinged. Syd is the one one good thing in Dimitri’s life, but can she save him from himself when he must keep his own truths hidden? What is truth and who can be trusted? Will Dimitri find a way to break the curse that binds him to evil?
Summoned by Rainy Kaye is a journey into the darkness, like mysterious fingers all pointing to an ending that will hit you like a bulldozer out of left field and whet your appetite for more! Rainy Kaye lays it all out there, no sugar-coating, no rambling, no force-feeding, no apologies for her blunt and bold style of writing. I was allowed to love, hate and be mesmerized by each character and each dark twist as I followed Dimitri, feeling his conflict, identifying with his innermost feelings. Talk about a tapestry of threads that are woven into a work of dark art under Ms. Kaye’s pen! Her ability to leave just enough bread crumbs to follow is impressive!
If you are looking for a walk on the dark side, filled with emotion, mystery, suspense, and in-your-face writing, pick this one up!
I received this copy from the author as part of the Summoned Tour and Giveaway stopping at Tome Tender April 6, 2014.
Series: Summoned - Book 1
Publication Date: March 27, 2014
Publisher: Immortal Ink Publishing
ASIN: B00JAZT88G
Genre: Paranormal Fantasy/Romance-Adult
Number of pages: 237
Available from:
Summoned by Rainy Kaye is a journey into the darkness, like mysterious fingers all pointing to an ending that will hit you like a bulldozer out of left field and whet your appetite for more! Rainy Kaye lays it all out there, no sugar-coating, no rambling, no force-feeding, no apologies for her blunt and bold style of writing. I was allowed to love, hate and be mesmerized by each character and each dark twist as I followed Dimitri, feeling his conflict, identifying with his innermost feelings. Talk about a tapestry of threads that are woven into a work of dark art under Ms. Kaye’s pen! Her ability to leave just enough bread crumbs to follow is impressive!
If you are looking for a walk on the dark side, filled with emotion, mystery, suspense, and in-your-face writing, pick this one up!
I received this copy from the author as part of the Summoned Tour and Giveaway stopping at Tome Tender April 6, 2014.
Series: Summoned - Book 1
Publication Date: March 27, 2014
Publisher: Immortal Ink Publishing
ASIN: B00JAZT88G
Genre: Paranormal Fantasy/Romance-Adult
Number of pages: 237
Available from:
April 28, 2014
I have read a lot of paranormal/fantasy books over the last few years, so it is always exciting when an author can surprise me with something new, which blows me away! That is exactly what Rainy Kaye has done. She introduced me to a fun character, who has an interesting heritage that had me quickly flicking the pages as I was immersed into the action, the romance and the mystery of the story!!
As you can gather from the blurb, Dimitri is a genie. He is not one of those fun 'make 3 wishes' kind of a genie, but one that is tied to a family bloodline that must fulfil whatever tasks the head of the family desires. It was exciting to see what he had to do and what would occur to him if he didn't. It is a lonely job for Dimitri, so he tends not to develop relationships. He does, accidently, find himself in a situation that has a girl getting under his skin. A one night stand that keeps occurring and no matter how rude or weird he is, Syd keeps coming back. He keeps his genie ways hidden and tries to have as much fun as possible with her. However, back to back wishes has Dim on edge and curious as to what is going on.
I just loved Dimitri! He was fun, witty, but also deadly! He has had eight years to work on his skills and is used to getting the job done. It was sad to see him explain why he couldn't form relationships and why his life is so lonely. It doesn't stop him from picking up though� because he is a male with needs! Syd I liked too, but as neither character really opened up to each other, I didn't find out her secrets until late in the book. Dim makes her happy and it was nice to see her relax and indulge in him when she needed. These two have sizzling chemistry and when they are alone, they find it difficult not to keep their hands and lips off one another!!
Rainy introduced some great secondary characters too. Karl, Dim's boss is an evil, calculating man, and I was puzzled as to what his plans were. Karl's daughter, Silvia was a bit wacko, and one situation with her had me confused, but I understood why later on in the book. Even though I had a couple of minor issues with the story, they were minor and took nothing away from the amazing story that I read. It had me mesmerised and I loved every minute of Summoned!! I’m excited to see what the author has planned next for this series!!
Complimentary copy provided by the Author in exchange for an honest review.
As you can gather from the blurb, Dimitri is a genie. He is not one of those fun 'make 3 wishes' kind of a genie, but one that is tied to a family bloodline that must fulfil whatever tasks the head of the family desires. It was exciting to see what he had to do and what would occur to him if he didn't. It is a lonely job for Dimitri, so he tends not to develop relationships. He does, accidently, find himself in a situation that has a girl getting under his skin. A one night stand that keeps occurring and no matter how rude or weird he is, Syd keeps coming back. He keeps his genie ways hidden and tries to have as much fun as possible with her. However, back to back wishes has Dim on edge and curious as to what is going on.
I just loved Dimitri! He was fun, witty, but also deadly! He has had eight years to work on his skills and is used to getting the job done. It was sad to see him explain why he couldn't form relationships and why his life is so lonely. It doesn't stop him from picking up though� because he is a male with needs! Syd I liked too, but as neither character really opened up to each other, I didn't find out her secrets until late in the book. Dim makes her happy and it was nice to see her relax and indulge in him when she needed. These two have sizzling chemistry and when they are alone, they find it difficult not to keep their hands and lips off one another!!
Rainy introduced some great secondary characters too. Karl, Dim's boss is an evil, calculating man, and I was puzzled as to what his plans were. Karl's daughter, Silvia was a bit wacko, and one situation with her had me confused, but I understood why later on in the book. Even though I had a couple of minor issues with the story, they were minor and took nothing away from the amazing story that I read. It had me mesmerised and I loved every minute of Summoned!! I’m excited to see what the author has planned next for this series!!
Complimentary copy provided by the Author in exchange for an honest review.
Read
June 1, 2016Copy received courtesy of NetGalley
The first quarter or so of this book began really slowly for me, though a reader who loves descriptions of action and sex, action and more sex, action and even more sex, will adore it.
But sex is . . . well, sex. It’s one note in all the possible notes of character development, so I found myself skimming all the sex in hopes that Syd, the girl 23-year-old Dmitri had fallen in lust with would get a personality along with her gazillion orgasms, meanwhile I was intrigued by the seemingly random action, while bumping up against my limits in certain types of violence.
I might have given up altogether except for the voice. Dmitri’s wry self-awareness, the taut humor as well as the tight and vivid descriptions kept me as involved as the central premise: a genie, or jinn, trapped in the job. As the reader finds out in the blurb, Dmitri is a jinn, controlled by Karl Walker, who sends him out on horrible missions without any explanation of why. Not even any training, which Dmitri had to get himself, though he’s given all the material things he needs for his missions.
Meanwhile, Karl’s horrible daughter Silvia is lurking around, obsessed with Dmitri, and reminding him that as soon as her father dies, she will inherit him, and then they will be together all the time. What, she asks, affronted, why isn’t he as excited as she is that she will be his to command one day?
As I hoped, Syd begins to show some personality, as Dmitri struggles to put together the whys and wherefores in his miserable life. The pacing then begins to accelerate, to a climax that was utterly riveting.
The author has a wicked imagination and a taut, ironic, often darkly witty voice. The book nearly topped my limit on types of violence, but held back a hair this side, and I mentioned that there is a lot of sex. If you are good with those, and like a tense tale at the speed of a runaway train, I recommend you seek out this book.
The first quarter or so of this book began really slowly for me, though a reader who loves descriptions of action and sex, action and more sex, action and even more sex, will adore it.
But sex is . . . well, sex. It’s one note in all the possible notes of character development, so I found myself skimming all the sex in hopes that Syd, the girl 23-year-old Dmitri had fallen in lust with would get a personality along with her gazillion orgasms, meanwhile I was intrigued by the seemingly random action, while bumping up against my limits in certain types of violence.
I might have given up altogether except for the voice. Dmitri’s wry self-awareness, the taut humor as well as the tight and vivid descriptions kept me as involved as the central premise: a genie, or jinn, trapped in the job. As the reader finds out in the blurb, Dmitri is a jinn, controlled by Karl Walker, who sends him out on horrible missions without any explanation of why. Not even any training, which Dmitri had to get himself, though he’s given all the material things he needs for his missions.
Meanwhile, Karl’s horrible daughter Silvia is lurking around, obsessed with Dmitri, and reminding him that as soon as her father dies, she will inherit him, and then they will be together all the time. What, she asks, affronted, why isn’t he as excited as she is that she will be his to command one day?
As I hoped, Syd begins to show some personality, as Dmitri struggles to put together the whys and wherefores in his miserable life. The pacing then begins to accelerate, to a climax that was utterly riveting.
The author has a wicked imagination and a taut, ironic, often darkly witty voice. The book nearly topped my limit on types of violence, but held back a hair this side, and I mentioned that there is a lot of sex. If you are good with those, and like a tense tale at the speed of a runaway train, I recommend you seek out this book.
March 30, 2014
What a completely different, totally absorbing and amazing book this was!
I knew, within the first page, that I was going to enjoy reading this book. It was funny, in a self-depreciating kind of way that makes you laugh with the character, not at the character. Dimitri has quite an unusual outlook on life but then, he has quite an unusual life! It is also quite a lonely life, never having had anyone else in his life, for more than a few hours, other than his father. And when he lost his father as a teenager, he was suddenly thrust into this life as the genie bond now ensnared him. And there was nothing he could ever do about it.
Dimitri has quite a casual approach to life. He lives in the house he grew up in and unless he is doing his genie thing he does nothing important. He eats, sleeps, plays video games, has casual hookups and basically stays on the periphery of the conscious world, where no one sees him or knows him or notices anything he does. Which is a good thing because if someone saw his kidnap or murder another person then he (and Karl) would have a problem. So when he realizes that he wants to see Syd again he knows he has a problem - he just has no clue what it is or how to deal with it - because in his life he has never wanted to see any human being again. Never.
There are so many things I could talk about but to do so would spoil some of the joy/sorrow/confusion/WTH moments you get with this book as you see something through his eyes, as you realize how very alone he has been. This book was worth reading from beginning to end and again and again. It is going to be one of those books where the more you read it, the more time you spend with Dimitri and Syd, the more you learn about them, their world and how different it is, or isn't, from our own.
I believe there are more books to come in this series, which I look forward to, and to anything Ms. Kaye decides to share with us.
I knew, within the first page, that I was going to enjoy reading this book. It was funny, in a self-depreciating kind of way that makes you laugh with the character, not at the character. Dimitri has quite an unusual outlook on life but then, he has quite an unusual life! It is also quite a lonely life, never having had anyone else in his life, for more than a few hours, other than his father. And when he lost his father as a teenager, he was suddenly thrust into this life as the genie bond now ensnared him. And there was nothing he could ever do about it.
Dimitri has quite a casual approach to life. He lives in the house he grew up in and unless he is doing his genie thing he does nothing important. He eats, sleeps, plays video games, has casual hookups and basically stays on the periphery of the conscious world, where no one sees him or knows him or notices anything he does. Which is a good thing because if someone saw his kidnap or murder another person then he (and Karl) would have a problem. So when he realizes that he wants to see Syd again he knows he has a problem - he just has no clue what it is or how to deal with it - because in his life he has never wanted to see any human being again. Never.
There are so many things I could talk about but to do so would spoil some of the joy/sorrow/confusion/WTH moments you get with this book as you see something through his eyes, as you realize how very alone he has been. This book was worth reading from beginning to end and again and again. It is going to be one of those books where the more you read it, the more time you spend with Dimitri and Syd, the more you learn about them, their world and how different it is, or isn't, from our own.
I believe there are more books to come in this series, which I look forward to, and to anything Ms. Kaye decides to share with us.
March 14, 2014
This was a great read. Wonderful debut book. Two things in particular made this a highly enjoyable read:
1. The characters. Dimitri is superbly written, full of attitude, guts and a deep personality. No wooden characters here. Despite the fact that he cannot turn down the onerous jobs he is commanded to do, such as kidnap, murder, arson, he has a moral compass that keeps us rooting for him, flawed as he is. The other characters are also well thought out and compelling to follow. Silvia in particular creeped me out as a spoiled, rich daughter who is messed up. She is determined to get her hands on Dim, but we know that would be a bad thing - for Dim at least.
2.The plot. We quickly learn the absolute control that millionaire Karl has over Dimitri, and learn the true nature of their insidious relationship. All through the book I was wondering how he was going to escape Karl's clutches, or worse, Silvia's clutches, since she "inherits" control of Dimitri after her father. The end is a pulse-racing rollercoaster of action with a rapid series of plot twists. I did not expect the outcome.
This is a refreshing change to endless werewolves and vampires, preferring to touch upon the myths of the Arabic culture instead.
My only complaint, a minor one, was that we don't find out the cause and history of the master-control bond between Karl and Dimitri until the very end. I'd have liked to see some more hints and teasers throughout the book.
Solid read. Contains a lot of sex (though well written) and a couple of disturbing events. Be warned.
I received a free ARC of this book, but it in no way influenced my review or enjoyment of this book.
1. The characters. Dimitri is superbly written, full of attitude, guts and a deep personality. No wooden characters here. Despite the fact that he cannot turn down the onerous jobs he is commanded to do, such as kidnap, murder, arson, he has a moral compass that keeps us rooting for him, flawed as he is. The other characters are also well thought out and compelling to follow. Silvia in particular creeped me out as a spoiled, rich daughter who is messed up. She is determined to get her hands on Dim, but we know that would be a bad thing - for Dim at least.
2.The plot. We quickly learn the absolute control that millionaire Karl has over Dimitri, and learn the true nature of their insidious relationship. All through the book I was wondering how he was going to escape Karl's clutches, or worse, Silvia's clutches, since she "inherits" control of Dimitri after her father. The end is a pulse-racing rollercoaster of action with a rapid series of plot twists. I did not expect the outcome.
This is a refreshing change to endless werewolves and vampires, preferring to touch upon the myths of the Arabic culture instead.
My only complaint, a minor one, was that we don't find out the cause and history of the master-control bond between Karl and Dimitri until the very end. I'd have liked to see some more hints and teasers throughout the book.
Solid read. Contains a lot of sex (though well written) and a couple of disturbing events. Be warned.
I received a free ARC of this book, but it in no way influenced my review or enjoyment of this book.
March 5, 2014
A great book!!! One I'm definitely happy to have in my collection!!!
The story is written so well and in such a way, not only does it suck you in from the first page but also makes you feel as if you're Dimitri--the main character--the entire time. His pain, his agony, his anxiety all become so vivid throughout the book. I held my breath, I clinched my fist, I laughed (he has a wonderful sense of sarcastic humor) and mostly felt my heart racing from beginning till end--especially towards the end--making it impossible to put the book down until I was finished. And now I want more!! Great great book!!!!
The story is written so well and in such a way, not only does it suck you in from the first page but also makes you feel as if you're Dimitri--the main character--the entire time. His pain, his agony, his anxiety all become so vivid throughout the book. I held my breath, I clinched my fist, I laughed (he has a wonderful sense of sarcastic humor) and mostly felt my heart racing from beginning till end--especially towards the end--making it impossible to put the book down until I was finished. And now I want more!! Great great book!!!!
March 28, 2014
Oh, my, this was such a fantastic book! And the 2nd book about genies in 12 months, so yeah, definitely fits with the unique factor that I love!!! And yeah, what a great, freaking, complex, wonderful book!
March 18, 2014
Review posted at
March 3, 2014
Summoned opens with a kidnapping. Dimitri dislikes kidnappings. Murders are easier for him. He gets in, does the job, and goes home to wait for his next assignment. On this afternoon, he has a precocious nine year old and her stuffed bunny shackled in his back seat. He doesn’t know why his boss wants her, but tells himself that it’s for ransom and she’ll be home before bedtime. He never sees anyone that he brings to Karl’s desert mansion after security drags them from his car, which is why he goes immediately to a bar to forget the afternoon ever happened. While there, he meets Sydney, a sexy blond who’s supposed to meet a friend until she gets stood up. Easy hook-up. No strings attached. At least, that’s the idea at the time.
Dimitri Hayes is an astonishingly complex antihero. He’s a child, a monster, a victim, a sex-fiend, and a bad man’s puppet. His entire reason for existing is to fulfill Karl Walker’s violent wishes. Because the act of being summoned physically moves him, without warning, from wherever he is to a special room in Karl’s house, Dimitri’s life outside of work is incredibly limited. He can’t have a part-time job, make friends. His sex-life consists of one-night-stands that he rudely kicks out in the morning to ensure they don’t call back. He doesn’t like it, doesn’t want to do what he does, but he literally has no choice. The magical bond that tethers him to his master is cruel when challenged. As it stands, there’s nothing in his life worth the trouble. So he lies to himself about who his victims are to make them worthy of the fate he brings to their door.
Syd, a “rock star� he meets by chance, was supposed to help him forget his troubles for a few hours and get lost. Getting rid of her, and her insatiable sexual appetite, proves to be impossible. Despite Dimitri being a complete jerk to her, she keeps calling, texting, and showing up at his house, until she becomes something he can’t live with or without.
I was delighted by the evolution of Dimitri’s character over the course of story. We are introduced to a deviant, who is somewhat weak-minded and apathetic, and he grows into someone with a moral compass that finds its true North and holds onto it for dear life. (And not just his own.)
But don’t get me wrong, Summoned is not a romance. In fact, I was neither surprised nor disappointed by the blood bath at the end. (No, that’s not a spoiler. Surely you can guess by now that people die, and I’m not telling whom.)
If you’ve seen me around the Internet, you might have read four things about me. I like a) organic scenes, b) inquisitive characters, c) slow reveals, and d) snowballing climaxes. In Summoned, Rainy Kaye solidly hits a, c, and d, which makes it a story pretty much written just for me. Even throws in a puzzle and Pre-Muslim Arabia at total bonuses.
Still, the author gave me an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review, and the book is not perfect. Some things are errors that I fully expect to be cleaned up before publication, because Immortal Ink cares about stuff like that. I also found details that I personally would have chosen to do differently, but Ms. Kaye didn’t actually write it just for me. It would suck of me to hold those against her, and I try hard not to suck.
I give Summoned 4.5 stars, and I round up. I recommend it to fans of dark paranormal that don’t mind mature content with their felonies and apples.
Dimitri Hayes is an astonishingly complex antihero. He’s a child, a monster, a victim, a sex-fiend, and a bad man’s puppet. His entire reason for existing is to fulfill Karl Walker’s violent wishes. Because the act of being summoned physically moves him, without warning, from wherever he is to a special room in Karl’s house, Dimitri’s life outside of work is incredibly limited. He can’t have a part-time job, make friends. His sex-life consists of one-night-stands that he rudely kicks out in the morning to ensure they don’t call back. He doesn’t like it, doesn’t want to do what he does, but he literally has no choice. The magical bond that tethers him to his master is cruel when challenged. As it stands, there’s nothing in his life worth the trouble. So he lies to himself about who his victims are to make them worthy of the fate he brings to their door.
Syd, a “rock star� he meets by chance, was supposed to help him forget his troubles for a few hours and get lost. Getting rid of her, and her insatiable sexual appetite, proves to be impossible. Despite Dimitri being a complete jerk to her, she keeps calling, texting, and showing up at his house, until she becomes something he can’t live with or without.
I was delighted by the evolution of Dimitri’s character over the course of story. We are introduced to a deviant, who is somewhat weak-minded and apathetic, and he grows into someone with a moral compass that finds its true North and holds onto it for dear life. (And not just his own.)
But don’t get me wrong, Summoned is not a romance. In fact, I was neither surprised nor disappointed by the blood bath at the end. (No, that’s not a spoiler. Surely you can guess by now that people die, and I’m not telling whom.)
If you’ve seen me around the Internet, you might have read four things about me. I like a) organic scenes, b) inquisitive characters, c) slow reveals, and d) snowballing climaxes. In Summoned, Rainy Kaye solidly hits a, c, and d, which makes it a story pretty much written just for me. Even throws in a puzzle and Pre-Muslim Arabia at total bonuses.
Still, the author gave me an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review, and the book is not perfect. Some things are errors that I fully expect to be cleaned up before publication, because Immortal Ink cares about stuff like that. I also found details that I personally would have chosen to do differently, but Ms. Kaye didn’t actually write it just for me. It would suck of me to hold those against her, and I try hard not to suck.
I give Summoned 4.5 stars, and I round up. I recommend it to fans of dark paranormal that don’t mind mature content with their felonies and apples.
April 1, 2014
Dimitri Hayes has a job fraught with hazards. The book opens with him saying “I dislike having to murder someone. Kidnapping is worse.� So, when I first started reading this book, I wondered if I’d stepped into a world that would introduce me to drug dealers or mafia bosses. I hadn’t. Instead, I stepped into a world far more fascinating and full of twists and turns. By virtue of Dimitri’s “birthright�, he is born with a unique connection to his employer, Karl Walker. A connection that requires Dimitri to answer his boss� summons regardless of the time of day or any other personal entanglements he might be involved in. Until now, Dimitri hasn’t really had many personal entanglements. Then he meets Syd, and his life changes forever.
I wasn’t sure how I felt about the book when I first started reading. When I started to read about murder and kidnapping, I wondered if I were actually reading a romance novel or not. It takes a significant chunk of the book to move past Dimitri’s job, his peculiar connection to his employer and his hot and heavy affair with Syd to realize that you are, in fact, reading a romance novel. There are numerous sex scenes in the book and they are rather explicit, which almost tips the book into erotica territory, which I, myself, do not mind. However, the fiery connection between Dimitri and Syd is explained at the end of the book� why they were so drawn to one another from the first time they met.
As I continued reading, however, I determined that the tasks Dimitri is required to perform are an integral part of the story and that Rainy Kaye had created a world that I was happy to be able to observe. So often, a paranormal romance novel is about a main character who falls in love with a werewolf or vampire. The unique twists such as the main character being male and the main character being the paranormal being are a refreshing change to an often over-saturated market. Because of the aforementioned sex scenes and the frequent bouts of violence, I would recommend this only to a mature audience.
Reviewed by HR Duby
I wasn’t sure how I felt about the book when I first started reading. When I started to read about murder and kidnapping, I wondered if I were actually reading a romance novel or not. It takes a significant chunk of the book to move past Dimitri’s job, his peculiar connection to his employer and his hot and heavy affair with Syd to realize that you are, in fact, reading a romance novel. There are numerous sex scenes in the book and they are rather explicit, which almost tips the book into erotica territory, which I, myself, do not mind. However, the fiery connection between Dimitri and Syd is explained at the end of the book� why they were so drawn to one another from the first time they met.
As I continued reading, however, I determined that the tasks Dimitri is required to perform are an integral part of the story and that Rainy Kaye had created a world that I was happy to be able to observe. So often, a paranormal romance novel is about a main character who falls in love with a werewolf or vampire. The unique twists such as the main character being male and the main character being the paranormal being are a refreshing change to an often over-saturated market. Because of the aforementioned sex scenes and the frequent bouts of violence, I would recommend this only to a mature audience.
Reviewed by HR Duby
April 28, 2014
4.5
*Book source ~ A review copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.
Dimitri Hayes is not your typical 23-year-old guy. Sure, he likes beer, porn and sex, but he can’t have a relationship because he’s at the beck and call of his Master, Karl Walker. Dimitri is a jinn and his family has been in service to Karl’s family for centuries. For eight years Dimitri has been doing Karl’s dirty work; robbery, kidnapping, murder. He may not like it, but it’s a familiar routine. Do a wish and then get some time off.
After he kidnaps a kid for Karl, he meets Syd and there’s something about her he can’t shake. He absolutely can’t do a relationship, but for the first time he’s thinking about it. Just as he believes he might be able to pull it off, Karl starts sending him on back-to-back wishes and Dimitri’s life goes to crap. And it only gets worse from there.
I’ve only read one story where the jinn are mentioned. This is my first book with a jinn as a main character. What an interesting story! Poor Dimitri is stuck in servitude to a real a-hole. Syd is quirky and a bit annoying, but overall a good match for Dimitri who is funny and a bit of a smart ass. The background of what he can and can’t do is interesting and I thought it was pretty funny that Dimitri is not some superhero dude with special powers. He actually is pretty bad at being a criminal though he always gets the job done. He has to or he suffers. Another interesting aspect of his genie-hood. The ending was great, too. There is one part there toward the end that seemed like it was dragging on and on, so that’s why I took off a half bite. Otherwise, this is a funny yet dark mystery revolving around a smart ass jinn, his hot woman and his asshole Master.
*Book source ~ A review copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.
Dimitri Hayes is not your typical 23-year-old guy. Sure, he likes beer, porn and sex, but he can’t have a relationship because he’s at the beck and call of his Master, Karl Walker. Dimitri is a jinn and his family has been in service to Karl’s family for centuries. For eight years Dimitri has been doing Karl’s dirty work; robbery, kidnapping, murder. He may not like it, but it’s a familiar routine. Do a wish and then get some time off.
After he kidnaps a kid for Karl, he meets Syd and there’s something about her he can’t shake. He absolutely can’t do a relationship, but for the first time he’s thinking about it. Just as he believes he might be able to pull it off, Karl starts sending him on back-to-back wishes and Dimitri’s life goes to crap. And it only gets worse from there.
I’ve only read one story where the jinn are mentioned. This is my first book with a jinn as a main character. What an interesting story! Poor Dimitri is stuck in servitude to a real a-hole. Syd is quirky and a bit annoying, but overall a good match for Dimitri who is funny and a bit of a smart ass. The background of what he can and can’t do is interesting and I thought it was pretty funny that Dimitri is not some superhero dude with special powers. He actually is pretty bad at being a criminal though he always gets the job done. He has to or he suffers. Another interesting aspect of his genie-hood. The ending was great, too. There is one part there toward the end that seemed like it was dragging on and on, so that’s why I took off a half bite. Otherwise, this is a funny yet dark mystery revolving around a smart ass jinn, his hot woman and his asshole Master.
April 13, 2014
This book was amazing! I haven't read a book quite like it before, it was unusual, passionate and defiantly something that I would read again. Rainy Kaye is a superb writer and brings us a story like none other with this one. I literally couldn't put it down for a second, I was captivated from the very first word.
For generations Dimitri's family has had only one mission, to obey the wish. Thanks to a century old genie bond between Dimitri's family and his current owner Karl's family, Dimitri is bound by the wish and in turn bound to Karl. Dimitri would love nothing more then to live the life of a normal person but thanks to the bond and to Karl's ruthless quest for power, he spends his time killing, kidnapping and whatever other tortures Karl can come up with.
When Dimitri meets beautiful and sexy Syd in a bar he cant believe his luck at getting a woman so amazing to want to stick around for more then one night. The more time he spends with her the more he wants to, the trouble is that Karl can summon him at any time and at any moment and then how would he explain his sudden disappearance to her? When Karl starts to send him on back to back wishes Dimitri knows that something isn't right, Unable to deal with all the lies and hurt that he causes people anymore, Dimitri sets out to uncover what Karl is up to and put a stop to it. But doing so forces him to confront the one wish he never saw coming—the wish that will destroy him.
This was the best book EVER! I loved all the characters but Dimitri was defiantly the coolest! I also really liked Silvia no ever took her seriously and it made her go a little crazy, ok a lot crazy...lol but I felt sorry for her always stuck in that house never having anyone else, it must have sucked big time.
For generations Dimitri's family has had only one mission, to obey the wish. Thanks to a century old genie bond between Dimitri's family and his current owner Karl's family, Dimitri is bound by the wish and in turn bound to Karl. Dimitri would love nothing more then to live the life of a normal person but thanks to the bond and to Karl's ruthless quest for power, he spends his time killing, kidnapping and whatever other tortures Karl can come up with.
When Dimitri meets beautiful and sexy Syd in a bar he cant believe his luck at getting a woman so amazing to want to stick around for more then one night. The more time he spends with her the more he wants to, the trouble is that Karl can summon him at any time and at any moment and then how would he explain his sudden disappearance to her? When Karl starts to send him on back to back wishes Dimitri knows that something isn't right, Unable to deal with all the lies and hurt that he causes people anymore, Dimitri sets out to uncover what Karl is up to and put a stop to it. But doing so forces him to confront the one wish he never saw coming—the wish that will destroy him.
This was the best book EVER! I loved all the characters but Dimitri was defiantly the coolest! I also really liked Silvia no ever took her seriously and it made her go a little crazy, ok a lot crazy...lol but I felt sorry for her always stuck in that house never having anyone else, it must have sucked big time.
January 21, 2015
One of the best books I have read! I had a very hard time putting this one down especially in the end. A wonderfully dark and delicious adventure.
Dimitri is forced to do what he's told. He's tied to a paranormal bond with Karl Walker, a multimillionaire and his 'master.' He's a modern day genie but instead of three wishes, the wishes are unlimited. Dimitri's resigned to his life, forced to be at his master's beck and call. When he meets Syd, a beautiful woman, he starts to fall for her. But he's forced to lie to her and Syd is not one to tolerate lies for long.
Dimitri tries to balance his two lives, but when he's forced to go out on back-to-back wish it becomes too much and everything starts to fall apart. When Dimitri tries to discover what Karl is after, he never expects the truth or what it will cost him.
Move aside Aladdin's genie and hello Dimitri. A dark and modern tale about genies. I really enjoyed the plot and concept. There aren't many books out there about genies and it was awesome to see one, but not only that, but to find one so beautifully done.
The characters were real and down to earth. There were no little Disney kids here.
I loved Dimitri's character! He's a complicated and dark character struggling with who and what he is. Nothing about him is typical or simple. He is such an interesting character to read about and one you are sure to remember.
I enjoyed the darker tone to the story and the nonstop action and drama. It was so easy to get sucked in and you'll be left wanting more in the end. The author's style was easy to read and flowed flawlessly keeping you on the edge of your seat to the very end.
If you enjoy paranormal books with a darker edge and a more realistic look at folklore then you will enjoy this.
Dimitri is forced to do what he's told. He's tied to a paranormal bond with Karl Walker, a multimillionaire and his 'master.' He's a modern day genie but instead of three wishes, the wishes are unlimited. Dimitri's resigned to his life, forced to be at his master's beck and call. When he meets Syd, a beautiful woman, he starts to fall for her. But he's forced to lie to her and Syd is not one to tolerate lies for long.
Dimitri tries to balance his two lives, but when he's forced to go out on back-to-back wish it becomes too much and everything starts to fall apart. When Dimitri tries to discover what Karl is after, he never expects the truth or what it will cost him.
Move aside Aladdin's genie and hello Dimitri. A dark and modern tale about genies. I really enjoyed the plot and concept. There aren't many books out there about genies and it was awesome to see one, but not only that, but to find one so beautifully done.
The characters were real and down to earth. There were no little Disney kids here.
I loved Dimitri's character! He's a complicated and dark character struggling with who and what he is. Nothing about him is typical or simple. He is such an interesting character to read about and one you are sure to remember.
I enjoyed the darker tone to the story and the nonstop action and drama. It was so easy to get sucked in and you'll be left wanting more in the end. The author's style was easy to read and flowed flawlessly keeping you on the edge of your seat to the very end.
If you enjoy paranormal books with a darker edge and a more realistic look at folklore then you will enjoy this.
April 4, 2014
I loved this book! It’s a modern take on a genie and his master, and it’s full of love, lust, drama and is written from the male point of view and our genie � Dimitri.
When I think of Genies, my first thought is of the television show “I Dream of Genie� or Disney’s “Aladdin� where the genie comes out of the bottle, this is not the case in this story. The genie bond is passed down to each generation of Dimitri’s family; it’s a genetic trait, so to speak.
This book is very well written, moves at a great pace, never lulls in action or sexy time and the emotions of our main character Dimitri are expressed beautifully. Occasionally there is a well-timed funny one liner included that gives you a laugh.
Dimitri is a strong person and wishes he had a normal life and was not stuck in this genie bond. Having to carry out his masters (Karl Walker) more violent requests does not sit well with him and when Syd enters his life this only increases his need for freedom. Syd is also a very strong character and is smart and will fight for not only her freedom, but Dimitri’s, as well. Their relationship is a steamy one, includes sexy love scenes and a nice progression with their feelings towards each other throughout the book.
The story became a little confusing towards the end when the mystery of this book is being revealed, however, this all comes together in the end.
Enthralling read that has stayed with me long after I’ve finished. I cannot wait to see where this series takes us.
5 stars!
See my full review here:
*I received a copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review*
When I think of Genies, my first thought is of the television show “I Dream of Genie� or Disney’s “Aladdin� where the genie comes out of the bottle, this is not the case in this story. The genie bond is passed down to each generation of Dimitri’s family; it’s a genetic trait, so to speak.
This book is very well written, moves at a great pace, never lulls in action or sexy time and the emotions of our main character Dimitri are expressed beautifully. Occasionally there is a well-timed funny one liner included that gives you a laugh.
Dimitri is a strong person and wishes he had a normal life and was not stuck in this genie bond. Having to carry out his masters (Karl Walker) more violent requests does not sit well with him and when Syd enters his life this only increases his need for freedom. Syd is also a very strong character and is smart and will fight for not only her freedom, but Dimitri’s, as well. Their relationship is a steamy one, includes sexy love scenes and a nice progression with their feelings towards each other throughout the book.
The story became a little confusing towards the end when the mystery of this book is being revealed, however, this all comes together in the end.
Enthralling read that has stayed with me long after I’ve finished. I cannot wait to see where this series takes us.
5 stars!
See my full review here:
*I received a copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review*
August 11, 2016
Holy Genie in a Bottle! This book was the most unique, original, exciting, gripping, edgy book I've read in a long time. Maybe ever. Dimitri is a slave to the Walker family. Well, not exactly a slave--he's a genie. Forget everything you've ever learned about genies. Forget about three wishes and rubbing bottles. Rainy Kaye's concept of genies is WAY more sophisticated that all that. This isn't Aladdin, kids. In fact, this isn't a book for kids at all. Full of steamy sex, violence, high speed chases, mind numbing pain, romance, and Arabic mythology, Summoned is strictly for adult readers.
When I began reading the book, I expected it to be good. After all, it came recommended by some readers and authors whose opinions I respect. But, wow! I honestly didn't expect for it to be THAT good. It exceeded all my expectations and more. Summoned is truly unlike anything I've ever read. The author has set the bar really, really high for paranormal/fantasy writers.
Dimitri has kidnapped, murdered, and destroyed. But, despite all that, he's completely charming and likable. Everything he's done has been at the command of his master. For Dimitri to disobey is impossible. Or is it? When he meets Syd, he begins to imagine a life of his own. For the first time, he wonders what it would be like to leave the Walkers. He begins to question his assignments. And, he begins to question who he really is. Syd is bold, brilliant, and has secrets of her own. Their passionate relationship kicks off a chain of events I never saw coming.
If you're looking for an interesting, intelligent, fast-paced, sensual, incredible book, you need to buy Summoned right now!
When I began reading the book, I expected it to be good. After all, it came recommended by some readers and authors whose opinions I respect. But, wow! I honestly didn't expect for it to be THAT good. It exceeded all my expectations and more. Summoned is truly unlike anything I've ever read. The author has set the bar really, really high for paranormal/fantasy writers.
Dimitri has kidnapped, murdered, and destroyed. But, despite all that, he's completely charming and likable. Everything he's done has been at the command of his master. For Dimitri to disobey is impossible. Or is it? When he meets Syd, he begins to imagine a life of his own. For the first time, he wonders what it would be like to leave the Walkers. He begins to question his assignments. And, he begins to question who he really is. Syd is bold, brilliant, and has secrets of her own. Their passionate relationship kicks off a chain of events I never saw coming.
If you're looking for an interesting, intelligent, fast-paced, sensual, incredible book, you need to buy Summoned right now!
December 27, 2014
AAAAAAMMMMMMAAAZZZZIIINNNGGGG!
Loved it. Couldn't put it down.
From the very first chapter when Dim kidnaps the little girl who sings the Neverending song to annoy him, I LOVED this book. It had everything to keep me interested. Humor, hot scenes, action, genies, cruel and crazy bad guys. Dimitri is a jinn or genie (minus the bottle) that must do what his master tells him to do. If he doesn't obey his body shuts him down. Think of the movie CRANK. Its fast-paced like that. Never a dull moment. Dimitri's master is the Karl Walker. Karl has a knack for having people killed, kidnapped and things stolen. Dimitri doesn't like what he does but what can he do to change it? He is sworn to not kill himself, not disobey and not kill his master. Then he meets Syd. A one night stand who makes him want what he can't have... A normal life. (Of course!) This is where the story starts to twist and turn.
I love that the romance is not the main focus of the story. The bedroom scenes are a big part but not the focus. The action is the main attraction. While I liked that part, the back to back bedrooms scenes were a bit much in the beginning. I mean who falls into bed EVERY time they walk in a guy's house they just met? Syd did.
I definitely recommend this book. Actually I recommended it to a friend and she went and downloaded it to her kindle. lol
Can't wait for book two!
Loved it. Couldn't put it down.
From the very first chapter when Dim kidnaps the little girl who sings the Neverending song to annoy him, I LOVED this book. It had everything to keep me interested. Humor, hot scenes, action, genies, cruel and crazy bad guys. Dimitri is a jinn or genie (minus the bottle) that must do what his master tells him to do. If he doesn't obey his body shuts him down. Think of the movie CRANK. Its fast-paced like that. Never a dull moment. Dimitri's master is the Karl Walker. Karl has a knack for having people killed, kidnapped and things stolen. Dimitri doesn't like what he does but what can he do to change it? He is sworn to not kill himself, not disobey and not kill his master. Then he meets Syd. A one night stand who makes him want what he can't have... A normal life. (Of course!) This is where the story starts to twist and turn.
I love that the romance is not the main focus of the story. The bedroom scenes are a big part but not the focus. The action is the main attraction. While I liked that part, the back to back bedrooms scenes were a bit much in the beginning. I mean who falls into bed EVERY time they walk in a guy's house they just met? Syd did.
I definitely recommend this book. Actually I recommended it to a friend and she went and downloaded it to her kindle. lol
Can't wait for book two!
July 30, 2016
Because kisses might begin with K, but better theings begin with F...
6 Stars!
I loved this. Why? Because I love bad boys okay?! The fact that Rainy can keep you on your toes for the entire book, and then throw a Whaaaaaaaat?? at the end helps! =P I couldn't put this down.
To see that there is more to come, leaves me feeling a bit, I don't know...
6 Stars!
I loved this. Why? Because I love bad boys okay?! The fact that Rainy can keep you on your toes for the entire book, and then throw a Whaaaaaaaat?? at the end helps! =P I couldn't put this down.
To see that there is more to come, leaves me feeling a bit, I don't know...
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