Title: ISADORA
Series: Masters Among Monsters, #2
Genre: Erotic Paranormal Series
Author: Ella Frank
Release Date: January 12, 2016
A TRAGIC BEGINNING…
Isadora Nikitas understands what it means to be betrayed. That lesson was taught to her in the prime of her life, and when she is offered a chance to exact revenge, she finds it difficult to refuse.
Instead, she entrusts her survival to a mysterious vampire known only as Diomêdês, a male who wants nothing in return but to watch over her—in every way imaginable.
Gifted with speed, strength, and immortality, she determines that her life will no longer be governed by the needs and wants of a mere man. She has cowered for the last time, and with her Ancient by her side, she thrives and blossoms into the most formidable female vampire in existence.
But, once upon a time, like all little girls, Isadora believed in love. She believed it because she once had it. So, when it comes along a second time, she knows that it’s possible—but when you love someone, they become your weakness. Unless, in fact, they become your enemy instead…
A MYSTERIOUS PAST…
Fulfilling your life’s prophecy should be empowering. At least, that’s what Elias Fontana always believed. But, as he stands guard over the beautiful vampire he’s taken hostage, his convictions start to crumble. Made to believe by his creators that he and two others have been designed to destroy a dangerous race, he has difficulty connecting his current reality to the woman he once loved.
A TANGLED TALE TO UNRAVEL…
When friends become enemies and enemies become lovers, who can you trust in the webs of lies and despair? And, when your life is at stake and blood has been shed, how much are you willing to sacrifice to fulfill your destiny?
Isadora (Masters Among Monsters #2) by Ella FrankCopyright © 2016 by Ella Frank
January—11 years earlier…
ISADORA HURRIED DOWN the stark, white corridor and kept her eyes on the floor. She couldn’t believe how close she’d cut her latest feed. Alasdair would have her hide if he had to bail her out, but it wasn’t her fault. Not really.
Not one human had caught her eye in the latest batch of yieldings, and that was saying something considering she wasn’t partial to male or female like her cousins. Ugh, it was a slump. Thanos had warned her that it would eventually happen. She hadn’t believed him, though, and with Diomêdês out of town, her options were limited.
She’d been restless lately, which was unlike her, and tonight, she hadn’t been able to wait. The local hospital seemed a smart place to peruse a decent selection. That was until the damn patient had coded.
Just my luck, she thought, and when the first doctor had arrived, she’d promptly knocked him out, stolen his lab coat, and shoved him in the bathroom. Then a rush of hospital staff had shown up and she’d had no choice but to leave by foot. That had been…oh, about five minutes ago.
While shoving her hands in the deep pockets, she came up to the entry she’d walked through earlier and sighed. All she had to do was get out into the shadows and fade back to the lair without anyone seeing. Alasdair would be none the wiser.
As she turned the final corner, a smug grin crossed her lips—until she ran smack into the equivalent of a brick wall.
“Oh, shit. I mean—” The male standing opposite her placed a hand on her arm. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t see you until it was too late to stop the collision.” He chuckled, and the warm sound of the vibration had Isadora raising her eyes.
As he absently ran his palm down the sleeve of her coat, she barely felt the touch. He was unlike any she’d ever seen.
The first thing she noticed was his height. Being a tall female herself, she’d always been drawn to a man who surpassed her own stature, and this man had several inches on her. His hair, dark as her own, was swept back from his face as though he’d run his hands through it. It was the odd color of his eyes, though, that held her immobile. They were an unusual shade of…silver that reminded her of her Ancient’s hair, and right now, they seemed to be shining at her.
“Are you okay?” he asked, bending a little at the knees to get a better look at her.
She quickly lowered her head. Jesus. Talk, Isadora. Tell him you’re fine and get away from him. “I think I’ll survive.” No, no. Do not flirt with him.
“Well, thank god for that.”
Brilliant, she admonished herself. His tone had taken on a quality she knew all too well—interest. But she didn’t have time for this. She made a move to step around him, but the fingers she hadn’t even realized were still on her wrist tightened.
“Wait…”
She looked down to where he held her, and as if he’d just noticed, he released his grip.
“Yes?”
He gave a shrug, but the cocky smile that tipped his lips belied any kind of indifference. This man was confident, and he had every reason to be.
“You can’t just leave. What if I injured you?”
A burst of laughter bubbled out of her at the notion, and it was the first time in years she had done so.
“I’m serious,” he said as he took a step closer.
She brought her fingers to her lips to hide the grin she was flashing. “Yes, I can see that.”
“I mean, what if you leave and later suffer from a concussion? I’m a pretty solid guy, and you did run into me rather hard.”
As he said the word hard, their eyes locked and Isadora’s arm lowered, her lips parting. She needed to get out of there. The high from the feed and her lack of yieldings these past few weeks must’ve been causing a residual sexual pull, because all she wanted was to get naked and on her knees for this guy.
As a group of hospital staff ran by, he broke their connection and gestured with his thumb over his shoulder. “Do you need to go?”
Yes, but not because of that. “I should.”
“Are you a doctor here?”
“Ahh no. An intern.” Great, now I’m lying. And why that lie?
“Oh, so, if I come back, I might bump into you again?”
That was why right there. “Uh, maybe.”
When it was clear she wasn’t going to say anything else, he held his hand out for her to shake. It was such a human gesture and odd in light of their having already connected so spectacularly that she just stared at it.
“Then let me introduce myself so it won’t be strange when I show up again tomorrow. I’m Elias, and you are?”
As Isadora slid her palm into his, she allowed herself to take another good look at him. He was sexy, and the way he was watching her with intense focus made it more than obvious he found her just as appealing. Surely there’d be no harm if she took a little peek inside.
She gently pushed into his mind, and what she saw was anything but endearing or shy. He was imagining her as stripped down as she had just been picturing. However, he had her on her feet and against a wall—the hospital wall behind her, to be exact.
Loving that image, she was more than content to keep watching, but as if he knew she was in there, his mind went blank. She blinked, not believing what she was seeing, but sure enough, it was as if he’d flicked a switch and the television had been shut off.
“You’re not going to tell me your name?” he asked, breaking into her thoughts and flashing a wide grin.
She wasn’t sure why, but instead of compelling him to forget her, she slicked her tongue along her lower lip and watched him track it with those unusual eyes.
“I’ll tell you that the next time we bump into each other.”
“Which will be?”
Diomêdês would be gone for several more days, so perhaps she could amuse herself with this human until he returned. Then maybe…maybe she would present him as her next choice if things went well.
“I work tomorrow night.”
It should’ve alarmed her at how easily lies fell from her tongue, but she’d honed the perfect delivery of such tales over many centuries and found she really was quite skilled at it. Thanos, her cousin, was terrible.
“That’s good to know. I’ll be sure to stand in every corridor until you run into me.”
Isadora walked backwards, once again slipping her hands into the coat pockets, and winked. “I should pass by this one around midnight.”
As she turned to push through the exit, he called out, “I’ll be waiting…”
My my, Ella Frank, what a twisted tale you weave. The Masters Among Monsters series continues with Isadora, and all the puzzle pieces from the previous books begin to slowly put themselves together. But while you get answers to some things, you’re left with plenty more questions.
Truth be told, I struggled with my rating for a bit. Do I rate this for what it was or what I thought it would be? But Ella Frank has never been conventional, and she’s not one to be put in a box. This series proves exactly that. The woman is a chameleon of genres and her sinfully sexy writing style is sure to hook any reader. Her Masters Among Monsters series, however, is unlike anything I’ve read, not only by her, but anyone. Yes, it’s PNR, but if you’re expecting traditional romance, don’t hold your breath. MAM is sure to break some molds just like the characters within it.
I do not wish to break you. I wish to fuck you.”
If you’re thinking that each book is a only a romance for each character that’s named on it, think again. It’s so much more than that and it’s certainly not meant to be read as standalones.
Isadora and Elias clearly have a history together, yet after the events of the previous book, it’s clear that they are on opposite ends of what looks to be an upcoming war between the vampires and an entity that is still unknown. Who is Elias? Who is Leonidas? And who is the newcomer, Paris? Isadora delves into the history of how Isadora came to be turned; Deomedes, the ancient that saved her when he turned her; and her current situation with Elias Fontana. Each one of these characters has a POV. Not only that, but a large part of the book is still dedicated to the story of Leo, Alasdair and Vasilios. In addition to all these POVs, we also get one for Paris, Eton, and a little taste of Thanos.
I wasn’t expecting quite so many POVs, and I had also expected Isadora to be more focused on the romance aspect between Isadora and Elias. But this book is so much more than that. Ella has taken the big picture and broke it up into three parts. Each book offers another piece of the puzzle, but it’s impossible to do so without continuing what began in the first one. So while this has the addition of more history on Isadora, it’s also very much a continuance for the rest of the characters. It’s not cut and dry and it’s anything but black and white. It’s sensual and delicious world building along with an incredibly erotic romance that’s anything but ordinary. Is there really any wonder why this author continues to be an auto-buy for me?
While the book ends in as good a place as it can, all things considered, it’s clear there’s much more to come. And I for one cannot wait to see how everything concludes.
DON’T MISS THE BOOK THAT STARTED IT ALL
ALASDAIR (Masters Among Monsters, #1)
Ella Frank is the author of the #1 Bestselling Temptation series, including Try, Take, and Trust and is the co-author of the fan-favorite erotic serial, A Desperate Man. Her Exquisite series has been praised as “scorching hot!” and “enticingly sexy!”
A life-long fan of the romance genre, Ella writes contemporary, M/M romance and erotic fiction and lives with her husband in Portland, OR. You can reach her on the web at www.ellafrank.com and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ella.frank.author
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