Grishma by Kelly Anne Blount

Grishma Character Description:

Ryder

• Black hair that looks perfectly tousled and deep green (emerald) eyes.
• Lean and muscular/athletic build (nice/well defined stomach and chest)
• Awesome smile (straight super white teeth)

Brooklyn

• Brown hair with blonde highlights
• Petite
• Small waist and medium-sized chest 
• Eyes are hazel with golden flecks 

Their Relationship

• Start as classmates that do not have any type of friendship
• Must rely on one another immediately for survival
• Mutual crush develops early on, very innocent at first
• Ryder is desperate to save Brooklyn and his family
• He becomes jealous when Brooklyn a.k.a. Princess Sophie is married to Prince Algid 
• His feelings for her grow and by the end of the book he declares his love for her
• She loves him too, but doesn’t get to share that with him, although they kiss several times
• Over the next two books, their relationship faces challenges. Eventually, their love will persist and they will end up together. Also, their relationship will become sexier over the next two books.

Grishma

• Huge, blood dripping from twisted snout, thick scaly hide tenting over a muscular structure, skin is speckled green and brown making it superbly camouflaged, and she constantly smells like rotting fish.
• Razor sharp claws protruded several inches. Each claw is uniquely serrated to do maximum damage and they could slice through flesh with minimal effort. 
• Green cat-like eyes (on the cover of Grishma and Ayla)

Ayla

• Auburn (red) hair and blue eyes
• Tiny/very petite
• Innocent

In the world of Necoh, everyone fears Grishma, a hideous murderous beast responsible for ruining or ending the lives of anyone who dare cross her.

As a young boy, Ryder lived with his family, deep in the caves underneath the Kadin Forest, unaware of the horrors of the world. His simple world was turned upside down one horrible night when Grishma attacked his family, killing his father and kidnapping his mother and younger sister.

From that night on, Ryder devoted his life to killing Grishma. He tracked the monster from Necoh, to our world, and back again. Unfortunately, during his quest, he accidentally transported Brooklyn, a high school junior into his tumultuous world, where she is mistakenly identified as Princess Sophie, the missing princess of Sumner.

Days after Princess Sophie’s return, Grishma plots and manipulates the King into drugging and marrying off his only daughter to Prince Algid of Dratun. Desperate to save Brooklyn, who now believes she is the long lost princess, his mother, and his little sister, Ryder embarks on the deadliest part of his quest.

Will he save Brooklyn? Will she ever regain her memory? What will become of his mother and sister?

Through epic adventure, loss, and love, GRISHMA depicts the strength of the human spirit and the tight bonds formed by the unique creatures of Necoh.

Purchase

Purchase on Amazon: http://amzn.to/1gFKbtR

Purchase on Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1p1O3rA

Excerpt:

A booming voice awoke Brooklyn from her flower-induced slumber. “My daughter! My sweet, sweet daughter! You have returned to me!” 

Brooklyn’s eyes flew open. Looking around, she took in a large hall with deep crimson banners flying throughout. Each wall was covered with at least ten portraits and several sconces holding candles. 

Turning her head slightly, she realized she was slouching in a fancy chair with gold and silver accents. In front of her was a large group of people dressed in strange clothing. The women were wearing brightly colored dresses with tight corset tops and flowing skirts on the bottom. The men were dressed in loose-fitting brown pants, white or tan long-sleeved shirts, and long flowing red capes. 

Laro was sitting next to Brooklyn grinning from ear to ear in a fancy velvety outfit. 

Where am I? Who are these people?

A large man with a thick brown beard rushed over to her. He reached forward and kissed her forehead repeatedly. 

Okay, don’t panic, this is probably just a nightmare. Just breathe deeply and smile. 

“Sweet daughter! Where have you been? I have spent every day searching for you since you disappeared!” 

Okay, so it isn’t a nightmare and even the King thinks I’m his daughter! “Um, Your Majesty, I think there has been some sort of mistake. I’m not Princess Sophie! My name is Brooklyn.”

Drawing his face within inches of hers he appeared to study her closely. 

“Laro! What is the meaning of this? What have you done with my precious daughter? Why does she not recognize her own father?”

Laro cowered in his chair. “Um, Sire, she has been claiming to be this Brooklyn since I met her. I think perhaps her mind has been altered. I’m sure it’s nothing your potion mixers cannot fix — right, Your Grace?” 

The King glared at the small furry creature and then turned to inspect Brooklyn again. He leaned so close to her face that she could smell his breath. Yuck! It smells like rotten fish! 

Sensing she still wasn’t ready to admit she was the long lost Princess Sophie, he looked at Laro and yelled, “YOU! What have you done to my daughter?” His voice became louder and louder with every word he uttered and a large purple vein protruded from his forehead. 

He immediately switched to a softer tone and looked at Brooklyn. “Who did this to you, my sweet Sophie? Why don’t you recognize me? Please tell me. Was it Laro? Has he erased your memory?”

Brooklyn’s eyes grew wider but she was too scared to say anything. What do I do? Should I just play along?

The King slammed his hands down on the arms of his throne and stood up. “That’s it! Take Laro and throw him in the dungeons until this matter has been settled!” 

Laro looked petrified. He barely managed to squeak, “But, but, Your Majesty! I was promised a reward! Why aren’t you taking me to one of your finest estates to live happily ever after?” 

The King seethed. “A reward? For the traitor that erased my daughter’s memory? Never! Guards, take him now!”

Grishma by Kelly Anne Blount
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I would like to thank the author Kelly Anne Blount for giving me this book for honest review. The storline is good, I enjoyed it very much. The characters are well developed and written. Where I had a problem was with the world building. I get that the characters think that the world is beautiful, but if you don't describe it so that I can picture it in my my mind, then that is a problem. For me, world building is just as important as the plots and character development. I am looking forward to reading the next book and I hope that Kelly grows with her writing and does a better job with the world building.

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About Kelly Blount

Kelly Anne Blount was born in Madison, WI. After attending university, she moved to Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands to teach elementary school. While living there, she met the love of her life and was married in a beautiful ceremony on the Caribbean Sea.

After returning stateside, Kelly started to pursue another passion, writing. Since writing her debut bestselling young adult fantasy novel, Grishma, she has written the sequel, Ayla, and is currently working on the third book in The Necoh Saga.

Kelly has also written the first book, Impassioned, in her upcoming contemporary romance, Hard Love Series.

When she isn’t writing or serving as an intensive intervention teacher working with children with special needs, Kelly can be found spending time with the love of her life, their furry rescues, and enjoying the beautiful sites of Asheville, North Carolina.

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