The Scribe: Irin Chronicles Book One (Irin Chronicles, #1)

by Elizabeth Hunter

• ISBN10: 1492182125
• ISBN13: 9781492182122
• Publish Date: 12 October 2013
• Publish Status: Active
• Imprint: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 292
• Language: English

Reviews

[Nadz@Totally Addicted to Reading]

I went into this story with high expectations. Despite this being the first time, reading the author’s work, the synopsis and the reviews gave me hope. Unfortunately, it did not blow me away as I had hoped.

I liked the premise and the world building, but I hard time connecting with the main characters, especially as a couple. They did not stir up any of my emotions. To make matters worse, the story moved at the pace of a snail. I fell asleep many times listening to this book. The narrator attempted to bring the story alive, but it was not enough to prevent sleep from knocking at my door. I would listen to more of his work.

The story, which was set in Istanbul and Cappadocia, provided a rich mixture of mythology, history, archeology and magic. We learn of the fallen angels and their offspring, the Irin and Gregorias. The Irina women and Irin men each had their own abilities and were responsible for protecting humans. However, the Gregorias were intent on the destruction of humans.

While I loved the hero, I was not a big fan of the heroine. When she first appeared, she struck me as an independent, strong, and feisty. She clearly had issues, which is not a problem, but it becomes bothersome when it overshadows her strengths.

I found the secondary characters interesting, and I would love to learn more about them.

I was not a big fan of the romance. I did not buy into Ava and Malachi being a couple. Their relationship was the only thing that moved quickly in the story.

The story ended on a sad note with a doozy of a cliffhanger.

Conclusion/Recommendation
In conclusion, I found the Scribe to be an average read. Although, it didn’t live up to my expectations, after that ending I am curious to learn what direction the story will take, so I am prepared to continue the series.

[kimbacaffeinate]

Fair warning, while there is an overall story arc to the Irin Chronicles the romantic thread sharing the story of Ava Matheson and Malachi, Scribe Warrior takes place over the first three audiobooks. I am told the rest of the series offers HEA’s with each story.

Ava is a human who has heard voices her entire life. They come from everyone. Spoken in the same language all over the world. A language not known to man. She seeks solitude in remote place and travels the world freelancing as a photographer.

Malachi is one of the Fallen, an Irin Scribe Warrior. When he spots Ava something draws him near and he’s surprised to find Grigori warriors following her. The Grigori are also fallen, but unlike the Irin who protect mankind, they seek its downfall. Malachi realizes this human woman is more. Could she be Irina? The tale that unfolds was addictive, romantic, frustrating, suspenseful and fantastic.

The story shared mythology, archeology, and history of the fallen, their children, angels etc and focuses on their children. Men are warriors and able to translate and preserve. Women are seers and singers. Both protect mankind and typically mate the other. One completes the other. A terrible tragedy has caused tension between the Irin men and the Irina. Because of this their race is dying.

I loved the motley crew of Irin who compromise Malchil’s unit. Rhys, Leo, Max, and their leader Damien. We have not yet met the Irina and to be honest, Damien’s wife sounds scary. LOL

I loved the world-building and the overall arcs of the Irin Chronicles. We get to travel to Istanbul and Cappadocia in this first book with the promise of more travel in the next. Hunter brings the world to life in vivid color as she weaves the complex hierarchy of this race and teases us with knowledge they do not possess.

The romance was sensual, complicated, frustrating, funny and heartbreaking as mated bond romances are. Their story isn’t over, and to be honest I immediately began listening to The Singer, book two. This first book ends with a nasty cliffhanger. Oh lord, I would have been in the corner somewhere if I couldn’t at least listen to the first few chapters on The Singer.

Zackery Webber narrators and does such a fantastic job. I have to be honest though. I love listening at bedtime and when I first begin a book, I always listen at 1.0x before speeding it up to a place that works for the story & narrator. Well, each night I would set a sleep timer for 30 mins and begin listening. Typically, I will reset this timer 2 or 3x’s before drifting off. Three nights in a row, Mr. Smooth Webber lulled me to sleep before that timer went off.

[stacey_is_sassy]

Wow...I mean...WOW!!

This was my first story by Elizabeth Hunter and it will definitely not be my last. I was engaged from the first minute until the last. Listening to the narrator made this story come alive for me. I saw these characters, felt their emotions and lived on the edge waiting to see what fight was next.

Four-star instead of 5?? Well, my friends, I DID NOT SEE THAT ENDING COMING AND I CRIED ON THE TRAIN AGAIN!!! Yes, I can hear you all saying...Toughen up Buttercup!! But, seriously, I really was a little bamboozled by the ending. IT WASN'T SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN THAT WAY!!!!

Ok, I've got that off my chest now. My tears were at such an awkward time too. Mind you, any time you cry on the train is a bad time, but in this case, I was just pulling into my station to get off. So, then I had to walk down the road with my head down and sniffling.

I survived and then went on to finish the story and I have hope that everything will work out in the end.

The Scribe has been on my radar for years and when I saw it on Audible, I had to give it a go. This story was fast-paced, interesting, sexy and thought-provoking. The characters were unique and very appealing to me. The baddies too were unique because they are of the beautiful movie-star looks variety. Sure, we get a few shallow and vapid villains in our reads but can you imagine an army of beautiful men setting out to kill you in the sack...hmmm...maybe not such a bad way to go. ;-)

I'm a little hesitant to move onto the second book considering where things left off, so if there are any fellow readers who've read The Singer and can give me a heads up, I'd love it.

[wyvernfriend]

This read like it was the middle of a series not a first book, and I felt like I was missing something in the story until I was about 2/3 of the way through. Still this story of a woman who can genuinely hear voices and a semi-immortal mostly set in Istanbul was interesting. The relationship needed more buildup, and I didn't really feel like the different male characters were different.