Reviewed by Becca
TITLE: A Flicker of Hope
SERIES: Druid’s Curse #2
AUTHOR: Shea Balik
PUBLISHER: self-published
LENGTH: 139 pages
RELEASE DATE: May 29, 2019
BLURB:
Kegan Tulach already knew that monsters were real. He’d faced them. Watched in horror as they killed those he loved. Then run from them. It was his response for the past two years. But now, on his twenty-first birthday, running wasn’t an option. He had no where to go. It was time for him to face his worst nightmare.
There weren’t many people who could do what Bjorn did. Fight monsters and live to tell the tale. It was a job thrust upon him as a kid. If he had known the true hell that would be cursed upon him, he would have preferred to die even though he’d only been fourteen at the time. Now, years later, he had hope that the curse would come to an end. The question was, would he choose the death he’d so desperately craved for more than a millennia, or would he do the one thing he swore he’d never do? Choose love.
If Kegan and Bjorn can find a way past their fears, they may discover something worth living for – each other.
This is a stand alone with an HEA, but reading the first book is recommended for full enjoyment.
REVIEW:
Oh my word do I love Kegan! The smart ass in him calls to me like a spirit animal lol. Yes, it’s a defense thing, but it’s still funny as hell. Even when terrified, he lets it rip and definitely makes things interesting. This has been a good series so far. I love the whole immortal thing and the fae. Druids and curses. Each character has such a personality and it’s been fun watching them all try to mesh while trying to survive.
After two years, Kegan figures he’d be used to the nightmares that is the Unseelie. After seeing his family ripped to shreds, especially his brother, who was his best friend. But nothing can get him past those images forever burned in his mind. And now it’s his 21st birthday. Time for his ritual and power. And admitting he’s terrified is putting it mildly. He bought a gun to keep with him, but it don’t do much good if he can’t use it. He goes out to do his ritual anyway, and is faced with the horrors of his nightmares. The Unseelie pets. Out of nowhere, some gorgeous behemoth of a man comes to help and save him, but Kegan doesn’t know how to fight. Bjorn is trying to get him to use his power but he doesn’t know how and believes he doesn’t have it. He does and uses it twice, unbeknownst to him, but it doesn’t save them. He is injured and Bjorn does all he can to get them to safety and to get Kegan healed. Kegan almost dies, but eventually gets better and now it’s time for the truth of everything and time to train. Time to put the stories he’s been told his whole life to use and use the rituals that have been handed down as well. Time to save the world. But each time they got to do a ritual, it seems more monsters are coming out, and they don’t know if this time they will survive.
Even being told stories of your heritage your whole life, never prepares you for the actual reality of what to face. I couldn’t imagine seeing the stuff of nightmares standing in front of you, ready to deliver your death. And nightmare is putting it mildly. These suckers put ugly to shame. I don’t blame Kegan a bit by freezing up or being scared. It’s terrifying to face your own mortality. But what made the scary parts not quite as scary, is that in the face of being scared or something, Kegan is a smartass with a capital S. And it is funny as hell. He goads Bjorn like you wouldn’t believe, goes toe to toe with a fae that could easily kill him and he doesn’t blink. It’s hilarious. He even goes toe to toe with the other smartass of the group, Arne, and believe me, it has you laughing your head off. It’s not easy what they are trying to do. Being injured the way he was, he’s already discouraged, and then being told constantly he will never be ready, just adds to the disappointment in himself.
But that’s where Bjorn is perfect. Bjorn is fighting the pull of the curse with all he has, but he can’t deny he’s falling for the little shit. He’s proud of how well Kegan is trying to keep it together, even when all he does is complain. But what’s great about Bjorn, too, is he is a natural nurturer. Each of the immortals have their own little things that make them the strong group they are, and Bjorn is a nurturer. You’d think not as big as the man is. You’d think he’s scary as hell, and when it comes to fighting, he is. But anywhere else, and most of the time, he’s a huge teddy bear. Which is funny all things considering. You’ll see what I mean when you read it.
It’s a good series. I’m really enjoying it. The one I’m waiting for, though, is to see who Arne gets stuck with. Because that is going to be the funniest of all.
RATING: 
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