Homecoming
(Cloaked Devices 0.5)
by
Cecilia Robert
Pub October 25th
By Author Self Pub
ARC for Review
**Mature Content Warning** 17+ for language and sexual content.
Five years ago, twenty-three-year-old panther shifter Sera Czedar left her home and her newly mated groom in a humiliating position after a mating ceremony gone wrong. She built a new life for herself in Varselles, the City of Outcasts where shifters exiled from their clans in the Seven Kingdoms can go for sanctuary.
Five years ago, panther shifter Levian Grayson was abandoned on the bonding bed by his bride, Sera. After years of tracking her, he arrives in Varselles, intent on staking his claim on her once and for all, even if it means hauling her over his shoulder just to make sure that happens.
Sera has always known her homecoming would eventually catch up with her one day. The one thing she can’t bear to do is hurt Levian, which will happen as soon as he finds out the reason she left him. Is she ready to take that path? Most of all, will Levian still want her when the truth comes out?
The Way I See It
OH MY! What a wonderous read!! This world is so intricate and all of the characters personalities jump off the pages. Levian is brooding and dreamy. He will do what it takes to find his mate and once he does he will make sure she will never leave him again. This was a great entertaining read! Shifters, Humans, Viruses, New World oh MY!
H-aunted, Sera has been gone for so long Levian wants his mate back and safe in her arms.
O-wned, so long ago Levian claimed his mate while another let her go.
M-ission, a few trusted and not-so-trusted warriors will go claim Sera and bring her home where she belongs.
E-arn, Sera has had to fight. Respect and honor are not readily given in Varselles.
C-harming, a wolf has been her guide and her partner. Sera is grateful but she loves another.
O-bjects, so many years at work, so much training, all to collect artifacts that will win her fathers forgiveness.
M-ate, once lanky and a boy... now Beta Levian and Sera are meant for each other no matter what comes their way.
I-ndigo, the color of her panthers eyes. Sera has grown up and she will face her demons even if it breaks her heart.
N-aked, the truth is out. Her soul is bare. Its all up to Levian now.
G-esture, something so small a truth so obvious everyone will need time. Sera will return home but this is only the beginning.
The growth and the journey Sera had to take wasn’t easy but the best things usually aren’t. This was a quick glimpse into a new fab world. I am so curious about these journals... OMG, can Ms. Robert write a steamy scene!! Holy moly can-you-say HAWT! These twin brothers will steal your heart. Sera takes a bit of it too. ;)
My Rating
4.25 Panther, Roar, Fighter, Wolf, Journals, Father, True Mate, Tien, Ship, Reunion, Family, Soul Mate filled stars. For a steamy new fantasy in an amazing new world definitely check this gem out!!
Guest Post
Eeeep! We wanted to know about the inspiration behind the amazing world of Homecoming and a bit more about Sera!
So we asked ;)
When I started working on Homecoming, I was partly inspired by two things while creating Anndesia, the Cloaked Devices world. One of them was Nalini Singh's Psy-Changeling world. I could read the books in this series just for the world building alone--but then she has all those sexy Weres prowling across the pages. I'm a huge fan of her stories, as well novels that feature shifters in paranormal romance. The customs in Anndesia, for example the mating ceremony is something that I came up with. In our world, we have weddings to celebrate a man and woman's reunion. I wanted something similar yet different. Also, I didn't want to follow the usual 'fight or kill to acquire the Alpha title' route. In Anndesia, the current Alpha has the right to choose the next clan leader, and no one will oppose him--in the case of the duke choosing his reluctant daughter and training her to take over from him. In other shifter races in Anndesia, some Alphas nominate who they think would make a great leader for their clan and toss them in a ring to fight. Whoever wins, becomes the leader. Some of these practises are featured in later instalments of the Cloaked Devices series. Then we have Varselles. I had so much fun 'building' this city. It's so lively and dangerous and fascinating, a place anyone can hide and never be found. While creating a fictional world, I usually look at the world around me, decide what I can add to make a story more lively. That's how the carnival scene came about. Imagine tossing in something like a carnival in a city teeming with Outcasts, people who don't live by any rules!
The steam punk angle: I've always been intrigued by the steam punk world for a while now and always wanted to write in this genre. Homecoming isn't heavy on the steam punk elements because Anndesia is still a developing world, readying itself for this era and integrating it with the powers some of the humans possess. Then there is the fantasy part of the story where the humans have elemental powers. This was partly inspired by the Nickelodeon television series Avatar: The Last Air bender. The first time I watched this on TV, I ordered the DVDs immediately on Amazon so I could watch them anytime, study how the creators of this show weaved in the story together with the world they created. The world building is spectacular and so are the characters.
Sera's 3 favourite moves
There's one she really loves. The Choke. Sera is petite, so she has to figure out the fastest way to bring her fighting partner or attacker to their knees. This move works pretty well for her.
Her next move is 'duck, twist and punch' move down to pat, thanks to her size and being fast on her feet.
The last but not least, there is this one where she goes airborne and before her fight partner knows what hit him/her, Sera delivers two fast kicks on the person's face followed by the Choke. This also depends on how fast Sera or her opponent is on their feet.
Sera has a couple more up her sleeve, which will be showcased in the next book instalment.
Her choice of weapons
Daggers (one on her thigh and on her hip)
Various potions ranging from death-on-contact to sexual dysfunction that lasts up to forty-eight hours.
Her fists.
Claws are always good, when everything fails. :D
Thank you so much for having me here! :)
Eeeep! We are looking forward to MORE!!
Thank you Ms Robert!
About The Author
Cecilia Robert
I write YA, NA and Adult. My motto: Passion rules. I enjoy writing stories about people finding love in the most unexpected of places,and also about people finding their true purpose in life coupled with adventurous journeys, whether it's urban, fantasy, sci-fi, contemporary or paranormal romance. There's always a happy ever after, no matter how long it takes for the characters to get there. When I'm not working in my full time job, I don my supermom cape, or in most cases find myself trapped between the pages of a book in search for a hero who'll make me swoon with just a look or a word. My favourite form of therapy is knitting. Best. Therapy. Ever.
Find Her @
What a wonderful review, Ria! Thank you for taking time to read and review, and also for hosting me, Ria! This was really fun :D
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