Could not get into this series

Unfortunately, I could not get into this story. It did not hold my interest. The characters made me not care about them one way or another. At a later date, I will listen to this series again and, at that time, I will update my review.

Simone Gayuma was an OK narrator. I received this free copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

1 person found this helpful

Magic and lust creates a hard earned vortex of lov

Dark Vortex (Mated by Magic Book 1) by Stella Marie Alden is a very well written and narrated paranormal romance with tons of magic, high emotions, suspense, danger, failure to communicate and one complex complication after another.
Zoey, unaware of her ancestry, finds herself in a world that completely and utterly confuses and frightens her. What should be comforting, her Mate Jack, only confuses and hurts her time and time again. Jack, relieved to have finally found his true mate, fails to realize how much Zoey needs his understanding, patience and care. Jack, the leader of his clan is alpha all the way and selfish in many ways when it comes to Zoey, his untrained and unaware of magic Mate.
While the magic within them is strong and continues to pull them together, the failure to communicate creates many opportunities for the antagonist to create havoc, putting Zoey in danger and threatening Jack's life.
Overall, a great book to read or listen to and I thoroughly enjoyed it! The HEA is promising for Zoey and Jack as well as the future of their clan. I can't wait to see what else this author has in store for some of the other characters introduced in Dark Vortex throughout the rest of the series. I will definitely be giving them a listen too!

1 person found this helpful

Great!

This was such a great story and so different from what I've read from Stella Marie. I was not disappointed though. There's magic, lust, love, and even some angst and suspense. I couldn't put it down and now can't wait for the other books in the series. The narrator does a good job of showing the emotions of the characters and bringing them to life. I would have loved to have a male and female narrator though as I prefer that and helps me get into the story more.

1 person found this helpful

Disappointing

This didn’t work for me. I think part of the problem was the world building – when there’s magic/fantasy and so many characters I like to get to understand it all better. Unfortunately, I never really felt like I was in the story. The magic wasn’t really fleshed out and didn’t feel consistent. Thrown at objects, it was destructive, thrown at enemies it could kill/repel, thrown at someone trying to have sex with you (enemy or not) it was an aphrodisiac? Why?

Jack & Zoe are fated mates, but Jack only wants one to strengthen his power and Zoe doesn’t know she has magic. It felt like their whole relationship was miscommunication, arguing about how they weren’t compatible, and then sex. Zoe is TSTL a lot but that’s sometimes instigated by Jack not being clear. The story wasn’t really fleshed out and the end was Zoe all of a sudden perfectly understanding and mastering her powers and Jack suddenly deciding he loves her. There’s nothing to substantiate these changes.

Sorta side note: I get that parents can be really cutesy and give all their kids a name that starts with the same letter. But an author can name them whatever they want and if you’re going to name the brothers Jack, Jace, & Josh AND they’re going to appear frequently – they need to be distinguishable. Yeah, I caught Jack after a bit… but Jace and Josh added confusion when there didn’t need to be.

I sort of liked the bones of the story, but the execution will keep me from continuing the series.

Narration:
I enjoyed Simone Gayuma’s performance. I’d be interested in checking out more of her work paired with a different author.

recommend

loved it. the narrator did a amazing job. i cant wait to start the next one.

Dark Vortex

Hmm, I’m speechless. This book had me sucked into it I hate pressing the pause button weather it’s that I got to work or had to go to bed. I truly felt that Jack and Zoey were meant to be and the hurdles a true test of love. Above all I love the complexity of this couple. I must say I was looking foreword to Zoey or Jack getting even with her fathers’ family.

Jack and Zoe

The first book in a series set in the modern world where witch clans are divided into either warriors or healers and the Solstice brings on their urge to mate and merge their magic with someone. Jack is the leader of his warrior clan and when he gets injured is taken to a healer, but instead discovers a possible mate in Zoe. Zoe only recently learned of her magical heritage and knows next to nothing about this new world she finds herself in. As a reader, you get to discover all about the witches right along with her. The connection between Jack and Zoe is electric and jumps out of the pages. Zoe has someone after her and Jack is facing a fight for the control of his clan, and their only hope is to mate and hope their combined power will be enough to defeat their enemies. An action-packed story filled with suspense, twists, drama, and steamy romance.
The narrator does a good job bringing the story to life and portraying all the emotion in the story. She also does a great job with the Russian accents for the villains in this story.

Wow just wow

What an amazing take on witches totally loved this book. I was listening at work and didn’t even want to pause it when I had too. The characters are great and easy to love. Although their coming together wasn’t as straight forward as it should have and could have been. But it is was at least a happy ending.
Simone was an awesome narrator, easy to listen.

Good Story

Good story with twists and turns. Will read the series. Looking for the next one.

Paranormal appetite

Zoe and Jack
I love their story it was intriguing fascinating heart-wrenching sizzlean and oh so sexy don't forget the action , suspense an intriguing storyline it original gem
overall this is a five-star read in the narration was fabulous like a wet dream come to life