Reviews

My Familiar Stranger by Victoria Danann

aggielexi's review against another edition

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2.0

I finished this according to my kindle I am 100% done. I wish I knew when I finished this. I don't even remember what it is about. So I give it two stars because I obviously didn't hate it or else I would remember. But I mean I don't remember it at all, guess I better read it again to jog the memory.

obasinaomi_'s review against another edition

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5.0

It was awesome!

beckiebookworm1974's review

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5.0

What an amazing start this is actually a reread as I’ve decided to read the whole series so thought I’d better recap as it’s been a while. Genre wise this is a paranormal/sci-fi read it’s incredibly imaginative but very slow-burn on the romance front. It’s not really a graphic one and relies more on its narrative and storyline to draw the reader in. It’s told from various POVs but focuses mainly on the main characters and the romance part of this doesn’t kick in till quite far in. It’s also a long book which are always my favourite to read.

The story centres on Elora Laiken an unexpected visitor from an alternate dimension who suddenly appears out of thin air gravely injured and near death at the headquarters of the order of the black swan. Elora is from an alternate dimension and finding her place in this new reality and with everything that has occurred prior well she’s not got an easy road ahead.

We are also introduced to the members of the elite B-team who are all present in the chamber when Elora makes her appearance. During the course of this, we get to know them well and it’s these men who give our girl a sense of belonging when she’s feeling so lost and misplaced. First Storm who is literally her rock and guardian angel then later Ram who is totally kicking himself for his initial lack of awareness and foresight when he realises just what this girl potentially means to him. The third member of the team is Kay a total peacemaker and the glue that keeps the other two stable especially as they are all still reeling from the loss of the fourth member and Rams teammate who was killed in action before Elora arrived.

The Order of the black swan is a secret paranormal military organisation that fights the scourge of hidden vampires in this dimension. This world is the same yet with subtle differences one being there are elves and fairies here they are just regular people but it was definitely a cool touch to have.

This doesn’t have any major shocks or jar-dropping twists and was an easy read relying on the emotional connections to sell itself. We do have a bit of a love triangle but it’s more two men developing feelings for the same woman there’s no real play off and it’s obvious who Elora really wants and as a girl who abhors any sort of love triangle this didn’t bother me here so it’s a small piece of this and not an angsty one.

frogglodite's review against another edition

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3.0

This book was much better than I thought it was going to be. A stranger in a strangish land... great concept and well written. The only issue I had was at the end... her 'secret' just came out of nowhere. I felt like there should have been more hints or something before that bomb was dropped. And when it was, it was just accepted as almost an after thought. Hell no! You drop a bomb like that on me, I'm going to have some serious questions.

But, all in all, it was a good read.

montanalikethestate's review against another edition

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2.0

Awesome concept. Good characters. Mediocre plot. Amateur writing. Terrible editing.
I won't be continuing this series.

willowisp79's review against another edition

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4.0

This had been in my TBR pile for a while, and im not sure why i didnt pick it up sooner.....but im glad i did pick it up!

So the gist of this book is that there is a secret Unit of "soldiers" who fight against Vampire. they are also in an alternate dimension. They know this as our girl, Elora, is plunged through a vortex from her own world and catapulted into this world. She should have died. ALL of her body was affected...yet she didnt. The hospital facility at the unit treated her. it took her a few months to get 100%.

We follow the "B Team" - consisting of Ram, Storm and Kay. Their fourth comrade sadly died in their last mission, so they have been given some time off.
Storm stays to care for Elora.

When the other 2 come back, they are shocked at Elora's recovery and Ram's body (an Elf) recognises her as his Mate.....but will Storm just step back and let Ram take over where he has been for the past few months?

Elora is also tested in all ways possible. She is stronger, faster and better at martial arts than the majority of the knights...but theres never been a female Knight...can this be altered? There are some others who feel they deserve the position on the B Team (credited as being the cream of the units)....will they take it lying down to be overlooked by a female?

A great read, well written and great characters, im really hoping the next book carries on in the same way!

Read on behalf of CBLS Tours in return for an honest review

rbradley923's review against another edition

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adventurous slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

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booklvrkat's review against another edition

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4.0

WOW! What a great new world this book has introduced me to! And the author? SUPER! I'm quite impressed with this recommendation, and can't wait to meet her.

Elora has just gone through a cheese grater of a time jump. Basically. Arriving in a bloody gruesome mess into the lives of three men who help her learn her new world. Not that different from where she's from, but different none the less. And they aren't just men. They are Knights of The Black Swan, and they are in the fight for their lives, and the world around them.

Vampire, Elves, Berserkers and a most awesome beast she can call her own. ONCE she trains him. This story is going to grab you and run away with you, make sure you have some time.

jasmyn9's review against another edition

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5.0

I've been looking forward to this series for awhile - everywhere I hear such great things about it. I'm happy to say that it didn't disappoint one bit. From page one Victoria Danann draws you into Elora's story as she is quite literally ripped from her own dimension into another. The story related her experience beautifully. With just enough of the world alike to ours that it's easy to understand and relate to the strange but little differences Elora experiences.

Saying Elora's arrival in this dimension was painful would be an understatement. The men that witness her arrival aren't even sure if she's human at first. But one, Storm quickly comes to the rescue and whisks her off to the infirmary where they patch her back up. Storm sits by her side and the two become very close. But when she is introduced to Ram, he realizes he almost missed out on meeting the most important person in his life. These men that surround Elora are part of The Order of the Black Swan - vampire hunters and protectors of the "real world" from the paranormal.

Elora is eager to help her new friends and in the process runs into a very unique vampire by the name of Istan Baka. I can't say too much about him just yet, but he's quite the character and I loved him. Now it may seem like there is a lot going on...and there is...but the book paces everything beautifully. Keeping the action going without being overwhelming. There were several points that had my heart racing and unable to put the book down. The romance was touching, but it did keep you guessing which wonderful guy she would eventually pick.

I couldn't wait to pick up the next. These books were written perfectly to follow one after the other. Enough of a cliffhanger to make you extremely curious, enough of an ending to give you a little resolution.

mdlaclair's review against another edition

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3.0

While this book had a lot of fun characters. The storyline and main character development left something lacking. I felt that the love story was wanting in a lot of ways because we knew how everyone felt but no one was saying anything. Really? Then everyone was confessing that they love each other and the main character choose the wrong man knowing he was wrong for her. Again really? not a character I wasnt to was my time reading about.