Review: Ethereal Fury (Gemini Rising #1) by Jessica O'Gorek

Title: Ethereal Fury (Gemini Rising #1)
Author: Jessica O'Gorek
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BEWARE! THE PLANET IS WOUNDED... THE GEMINI ARE RISING AND OUR TIME ON EARTH IS LIMITED
Angry at the human race and its methodical destruction of her resources, Mother Earth recruits souls who have just left their bodies to serve Her, and turns them against humanity. Gemini, a clan of paranormal beings, picked from these possessed humans, emerges. A powerful, rising force proceeds to carry out Mother Nature’s plan to systematically destroy towns, cities, states… and eventually, the world. Amidst the chaos, a forbidden relationship between a human girl, Violette, and Onyx, a lead Gemini, begins. They will both find themselves in the middle of a revolutionary war that will either save, or destroy our world.

**A free copy of this book was provided by author in exchange for an honest review**

I have mixed feelings about this book. I did like it, but not the whole book. For me, it was really hard getting into the story at the beginning. I was confused and sometimes even bored and almost gave up on it a couple of times, but what made me keep going was the writing. The other half of the book was really captivating and I have read it in one breath. At the end, I was positively surprised. I had a hard time deciding how to rate this book. I have decided to give it three stars because it was good and I saw a lot of potential there. I really hope that the sequel will be better, because, honestly, I do love giving five stars to books, I hate writing shitty reviews and I usually don't even rate them. But some things just didn't work out for me. It could have been better. Maybe I just had unrealistic expectations because of all those five stars reviews.

First, I have to admit that gorgeous cover is what attracted me to this book in the first place. I loved the concept of revenge of Mother Earth and creating an army of Gemini to eliminate all human race. It was something new and really refreshing. At the same time, I felt little disappointed because Gemini were possessing humans and the Church considered them demons and I must say that is an old thing! I didn't like that they were turned into demons. I don't know, in my mind, Mother Earth is a powerful being who is perfectly capable of destroying human kind by simply causing a natural disasters and voila the bad guys are gone. But we all need a little drama in our life and what' s better than killing your abusers little by little like they have done to you. Maybe Mother wanted to savor a victory slowly so she could enjoy it much more. I prefer to think that way. I got over all that demon thing later. I got used to it, and it doesn't bother as much as before.

Characters

Slate

"What an odd thing for her to say. She was a sixteen-year-old girl in a Catholic orphanage. Surviving in a place like this should be as easy as breathing."

Obviously, he said that. 

Violette is just too smart for him. I still don't get why she fell in love with him. Well, it's not like she had too much of a choice, to be honest. He was controlled and sheltered from the outside world by Father Darius and although I liked him a lot because he was so nice person and besides how could you not like a loyal, caring, innocent and loving man like him. I hated Oliver/Onyx at the beginning so I was team Slate first. I was, because I'm not anymore. I got bored of him. Yes, I fell for the bad guy I'm humbly admitting. But in Slate's defense I have to say that guy never left the church so it's no wonder he is the way he is.

"I’m busy studying and learning verses. I don’t have time to be mean, or be a criminal.” 

Oliver/Onyx

He was so despicable, such a greedy man, I was happy when he died. Then he was turned into Gemini with a mission to save the world from the people like he used to be. That confused the hell of me. Why were they after churches and not after humans that had contributed to the pollution the most. Maybe I just missed something? He fell so hard for Violette for no obvious reason. He was drawn to her and even spared her life and broke the rules. Forbidden love? Yes, I like that a lot and I kind of grow attached to him. I knew he was an asshole, but gave him the second chance because he was very good to my dear Violette. Although one time he wasn't good to her and I know that I was supposed to hate him for that but I loved him instead. Ha, like I have said already, I love little drama.

"Sweet, innocent, untouched, yet here she was, a deliberately seductive display of what should have been absolutely private. That she would risk her safety like this made him crazy, but he simply could not take his eyes off of her yet."

Yes, she will be the death to you :)


Violette

Poor girl, doesn't wanna be a nun and had to lead a life of misery. For Violette the orphanage was like a prison. That safe life was not for her, too safety also meant too boredom. Violette was really mature for her age and she perceived the things around her very well. She was the only character I liked from the beginning till the end. She was innocent and naive, but it didn't bother me as much as usually for a reason I cannot find. Maybe I was just in a mood for a character likes her. I liked her innocence, but I saw a lot of inner strength in her and that made me love her even more.

"What person in her right mind would want to cuddle with an unearthly since could not be defined? Me, that’s who. Okay, so she was crazy, now what? She could just enjoy the lunacy instead of having these question-and-answer periods."

She was a reckless a lot, but I'm glad she was, because I enjoyed her scenes with Onyx a lot and I'm looking forward to see how their relationship will develops further.

Plot
Ha, you wish! I'm not going to say a word about that, I don't wanna spoil it for the future readers.

To end, I liked it, not as much as I thought I would, but still it was an enjoyable read. I would recommend it to fans of paranormal romance, because this is really something different. Getting into the book was hard for me, but I can promise that it gets better. And to warn you all, there is a cliffhanger at the end. I have a love-hate relationship with them. I had a sneak peek into the first chapter of the sequel. it ended with cliffhanger too. I mean, really? That was so mean. Dear Jessica, please write faster, because I'm dying to see what will happen next.