ARC Review: Ascension by Sable Grace {spoilers}

Title: Ascension
Author: Sable Grace
Series: Dark Breed
Book Number: One
Page Number: 384
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Publisher: HarperCollins
Release Date: May 1, 2011

Recieved From: netGalley
Format: eBook

Goodreads Summary:
The gates of hell have opened, and one woman will stand in the crossfire as the Dark Breed -- vampyre, demons, shape shifters -- and mankind fight their last battle for survival.

Kyana is half Vampyre, half Lychen... and the last of her kind. Determined, dangerous, and damned, she has no love for the mortals who have imprisoned and misused her. But when the Order of Ancients entrusts her with a mission -- to find the key that will send the Dark Breed back into Hell for eternity -- Kyana has no choice but to accept.

She is furious to learn her assignment comes with an escort... Ryker, a demigod and fierce warrior who long ago found a way under her skin and stayed there. In a shaky alliance, they discover an ancient cult with dangerous motive and a god who seeks to destroy all others. And as Kyana begins to feel the heat that threatens to bind her to Ryker, she knows she has to resist. For it could only mean the undoing of them both...

My Review/Thoughts/Ideas:
I am very proud to say that I have just finished reading my very first ARC from netGalley. Some of the reviews I've seen for this book so far have mentioned that they can't release the review until around April but I looked over everything on netGalley and I can make no such claim. So if the publisher's or the author's would like me to take this review down all you need do is ask.

This book was an excellent first-in-series, as well as a great debut novel. The story mixes Greek myth with vampires, shifters, demigods, and other nightmarish creatures. The door to Tartarus has been opened and all hell has been unleashed on Earth or Above as it is known in the book. Not only are humans being massacred but special people known as the Chosen are dropping like flies.
It is up to Kyana, a vampire/lychen half breed, and the rest of her Dark Breed brethren to protect what is left of humanity and especially the Chosen.

Kyana is the best tracer that the goddess Artemis has so when a very rare artifact, that most believed to be a myth, goes missing Ky is recruited to go on a mission to both find this artifact and the person with the ability to steal it. Along for the ride is Ryker, a demigod, and the only man to get under Kyana's skin and stay there. They set off on a quest to close the door to Tartarus and as the Fates said "save the world."

I really really enjoyed this whole book. Tons of action and romance that made it unputdownable. The heroine is all about kicking ass and she tends to shoot first and ask questions later. I think she is a front runner for my favorite Kick Ass Chick of 2011. I think I also respect her alot because of all the things she went through prior to her Turning but she still manages to be a strong female. She does have her flaws, as most characters do, she cannot let anyone else be in charge and it seems no matter what Ryker says to her about how he feels she will never believe him. Although towards the end you do see her realize that if she had occasionally listened to her friends things would have turned out differently.

The male lead of course is Ryker, son of Ares. He is an extremely powerful demigod and is in all liklihood Kyana's life mate. He is a lot different from many of the heroes in this books particular genre. Usually they're all get in your face and force themselves on you until you submit but Ryler is nothing like that. He actually tries to stay away from Ky because he knows that if they were to be together even once it would be his undoing. I think it is so sweet that he wants her to really want him and not just for sex. I see great things in the future of both these characters.

All of the side characters are very well written. The two most important being Geoff, Kyana's vamp tracer friend, and Haven her witchy roommate and best friend. They both play extremely significant roles, which a lot of times the side characters are just there to support the main characters, these two have important destinies of their own aside from Kyana and Ryker's destiny.

This is a bit a lengthy review but I felt the book deserved it. This is the first book this year that I have felt this strongly about. I cannot wait to see what happens next and how Kyana reacts to the news she reieves at the end of the book. I believe the next installment is going to be just as action-packed as this one.

Rank: 5/5