Blog Tour: Forbidden Forest (The Legends of Regia #1) by Tenaya Jayne

Forbidden Forest (The Legends of Regia #1)
written by Tenaya Jayne
published by Cold Fire Publishing, LLC

find it here: Barnes & Noble, Amazon, iBooks, Goodreads

Why did I pick this book: I participated in the blog tour hosted by CLP Blog Tours. (I received a copy of this book for review purposes.)

Did I enjoy this book: I ended up enjoying this book after I got past the first 75 pages or so. Then, I had to see how it ended. I read every free chance I had until I reached the end.

I found the beginning kind of slow. It is difficult for me to explain why I found the beginning hard to get through. I was glad to learn about the different classes, races, and cultures of the characters. We have shapeshifters, vampires, werewolves, elves, and halflings. The world building was amazing as well. Very descriptive. I could see everything in my mind’s eye. But it was just slow to read. I wanted it to move a bit faster.

Also, the transitions between points of view was sometimes difficult to keep up with. The points of view shifted between Forest, Syrus, the king, Kitch, Phillippe, and a few tohers. I wanted the transitions to be a bit smoother and clearer. I caught on but it was rough sometimes.

The two main characters were very well written. Forest is a halfling who is looked down upon but who is also an excellent fighter. She is hard and tough yet broken and sad. She has amazing strength…she went along with escorting the vampire prince despite her absolute hatred of vampires. She did what she had to do. Forest is a complex character that was developed wonderfully. Syrus, the vampire prince, was arrogant but humbled. The fact that he was blinded helped him become less arrogant. Syrus, too, was a complex character but endearing.

These two characters together had wonderful chemistry. The way they interacted with each other had me laughing at times, sighing at times, getting frustrated at times. I just thoroughly enjoying their story. This is the point where I really got into the book and wanted to see how it ended. I was invested in Forest and Syrus.

Speaking of the ending…UGH! What a cliffhanger!!!! I will definitely be reading the next book in this series. I have to know what happens next!

Would I recommend it: I would recommend this book.

Will I read it again: I will not but I will read book 2, Forest Fire.

About the book – from Goodreads: Born in shame. Cast from society. Shape Shifter/Elf hybrid, Forest must fight for any respect she can get. Targeted in her youth by a vampire noble who placed an illegal slave mark on her, she is forced to obey him, no matter what.

Slipping the grip of her master and abandoning the prejudice of Regia, her native world, Forest takes a job on Earth, guarding the portal, using her skills as a warrior to enforce Regia’s laws. Now, called home for a black ops mission, Forest must put aside her own prejudice to transport the vampire prince, Syrus, through enemy territory in a time of war.