Kindle Edition Download to your Nook (eBook) Download from Apple iTunes (eBook) Download from Smashwords (eBook) Amazon Amaranthine Night Category:  Action/Thriller ISBN-10:  1480139599 Pages: 304 Copyright: March 11, 2013 ISBN-13: 9781480139599 Price: $2.99 (eBook) Jorick, Katelina and friends race to find the ancient relic, the heart of the raven, before the evil vampire Malick can get his hands on it.  A myth with the power to destroy the world… Katelina has barely recovered from the chaos of Malick’s revolt, yet she and Jorick must go to Munich to testify before the True Council. All hopes of a vacation are dashed when they’re assigned an entourage that includes Verchiel, a vampire Katelina never wants to see again. Her hatred is forgotten when Malick and his henchmen penetrate the stronghold in Munich. Jorick hijacks the trip and diverts them on a quest to reclaim the Heart of the Raven. Said to be the disembodied heart of Lilith, the relic may be more reality than myth, and if it falls into the wrong hands it could have disastrous consequences for the world. Can they reach its hiding place before Malick? The fifth installment of the Amaranthine series sees Jorick and Katelina draw closer as they surround themselves with their own miniature army to outwit the machinations of the ancient master. Katelina grows stronger and learns to stand on her own because there’s no room for the fainthearted in a world where darkness is eternal and the night tastes like blood. Excerpt The sound of footsteps came from one of the broad arches, and suddenly a group of black coated vampires hurried through. Weapons were clutched in their hands and identical medallions hung around their necks. Among their ranks were Wolfe and Sadihra. It was the Scharfrichter. Wolfe stepped forward. He held something shiny that looked like a cross between a jagged sword and spear. He pointed it towards them and demanded, “What are you doing here? Go to the lower levels!” An explosion made the room quiver. The giant chandeliers swayed and Katelina covered her ears against the noise. As the aftereffects faded, all eyes danced around in search of damage, but there was nothing. Katelina glanced to the top of the stairs where a puff of smoke drifted away. Someone had blown through the secret room! Katelina was suddenly lost in flashbacks of the attack on The Guild. Explosions, blood, fire, screams. Was Oren stupid enough to attack Munich? Oren or not, Wolfe was right. They needed to get out of there! She retreated towards the elevators and the broad curving stairways. Jorick didn’t move with her. He stayed rooted to the spot, his spine straight and his eyes narrowed in defiant determination. Then the sound started. A low thrumming that quickly rose to a screaming pitch. Katelina clamped her hands over her ears and bit back a cry. She knew the sound and knew its maker. It wasn’t Oren. It was Malick. A blonde vampiress appeared at the top of the stairs, a large gun/grenade launcher combo in her hands. She was dressed in clingy black and a long coat. Instead of the intricate knot of the Executioners, she now wore a primitive golden eye medallion around her neck. It was the same golden eye that had once graced the Audience Chamber; one of Malick’s symbols. It was Griselda, a former Executioner. She and two others had defected with Malick and were now obviously working as his lackeys. The thrumming sound grew louder and Katelina’s knees buckled. Jorick moved to her, his eyes on the newcomer. The Scharfrichter fanned out to fill the lobby. Like Jorick, some of them seemed unaffected by the sound, but others’ faces were twisted in obvious pain. “Halt! Lower your weapon!” Wolfe cried, and then repeated the words in several languages. Though Griselda stopped in the middle of the stairs and moved to one side, she ignored his last order and held tightly to the grenade launcher. Wolfe stepped forward threateningly. As if on cue, Greneth, another of the defectors, sauntered through the dissipating smoke and down the steps. Like Griselda, he was dressed in a long black coat with the same gold medallion at his throat. He’d gone only a few steps before Senya, the third of Malick’s lackeys, appeared in a similar getup. Her expression and dark bobbed hair sent a jolt of fear down Katelina’s spine that was as cold as the flash of her knives. Wolfe shouted to them, but his words were lost to the building noise. Katelina thought she might have squealed, but she couldn’t hear it. The scene blurred before her and the edges of her vision turned dark. Jorick laid a hand to her. His smooth, silent voice rolled through her mind, washing away the throbbing thrum. “Go downstairs, little one. Find the others. Tell them-” “Tell them what, my son?” Katelina’s attention snapped to the stairs where Malick stood. His long hair and beard glinted silver and his dark eyes glittered like volcanic jewels. His usual flowing red robe was replaced by a black one that made him seem like he’d coalesced from a shadow; a piece of the night made flesh and topped with moonlight. The noise stopped, and the room disappeared. All that existed for Katelina was the ancient master’s eyes and his soft voice whispering through her. The words were too fast and too quiet for her to make sense of on a conscious level, but some part of her understood and that understanding brought with it a crush of fear and sorrow. “Leave her!” She was suddenly aware that she was on her feet. Jorick stood in front of her, one arm behind his back and his fingers laced with hers. Malick smiled pleasantly. “As you wish.” His gaze moved to the Scharfrichter who stood around the base of the stairs. Their weapons were raised, and various expressions of pain and anger were on their faces. Malick regarded them with something like quiet curiosity. “Shall we separate the chaff from the wheat?” He flicked his hand and most of the Scharfrichter crumpled to the floor. Wolfe, Sadihra and two others remained standing, though by their expressions it was a strain. “Good.” He met their eyes and Katelina imagined a recruitment speech. Their angry glares said the offer had been rejected. Malick shrugged. “Very well.” He motioned again, and the prone Scharfrichter writhed on the floor. As one they gave a thin, high wail. Katelina could feel the pressure in the room increase, but her head stayed clear, as if Malick had other plans for her. The cries of a Scharfrichter nearest the stairs grew louder than the others and suddenly blood erupted from his eyes and ears, as if his brain had exploded inside his skull. But not just his brain; blood poured from his mouth and Katelina imagined that all of his organs had been liquefied, like those of the victims at the Citadel. Katelina stifled a scream and stepped back. Her hand slipped from Jorick’s grasp, and the thrumming slammed into her brain. He caught her hand quickly and the agony faded, leaving her sweaty and shaking. Malick wasn’t sparing her; rather Jorick protected her.

Heart of the Raven - Wicca Witch 4 You
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was an exciting and adventurous book with amazing things happening around every corner! I loved all the interesting characters and the many personalities, not everyone got along but they all worked together for the cause. My favorite Character was Verchiel he made me laugh on many occasions and he was always pushing someones buttons.

Katelina and Jorick are being sent to Munich to testify before the True Council but shortly after they get there Malick and his henchmen invade and they are forced to flee. Malick wants the Heart of the Raven which Jorick has stolen from him and hidden somewhere. The heart is said to be the heart of Lilith the very first vampire and who ever drinks from it will become the most powerful vampire on earth. Jorick assures Katelina that it is just a myth and that it is also said that it is to be the heart of Lilith herself and that to restore it to her would be to restore Lilith the oldest vampire in existence, but that none of it is true.but is it? Malick seems to think so and they must get to the heart and to Lilith before he does or the world they know might no longer be. for whoever controls the heart is said to control Lilith.

The book was amazing! Joleene is a superb writer and I was on the edge of my seat most of the time never knowing what would come around the corner next! I will defiantly have to read the previous books now as I loved this one so much!

Heart of the Raven by Joleene Naylor
Superb story! A great read. Couldn’t get enough!
I love vampire books and this is definitely one of my favorites of all times. There was enough violence and humor to satisfy my need for the supernatural. Though I love a good overall vampire romance, every now and again I crave a dark romance, with plenty of action to keep me interested and Heart of the Raven definitely did it for me.
The characters are so convincing there were times when I did not feel as if I was reading a story at all. The plot was definitely interesting and kept me intrigued to the point where I just had to keep reading to find out what was going to happen next.
This is one series I will definitely read again. Over and over.
-Kristy Centeno

Heart of the Raven
Malick escapes with his loyal followers and is on a hunt for a special treasure. The vampire who owns this treasure would have powers beyond any other or so the rumor goes. Rumor also insists Jorick has this treasure hidden, which Jorick denies. But he doesn't want it in the hands of Malick, so off around the world Jorick goes with Katelina right beside him. Heart of the Raven is the best in this series because the reader is so attached to so many of these characters, and certainly to Jorick, Katalina, Verchiel and several others. However, we meet a new character in this book who fast becomes a beloved character, Maeko.

This book is full of fun, adventure, horror, and so much else thrown into the pot. Will they find the heart of the raven before Malick does? What happens when they do find it? Well, it's not the ending I expected. I absolutely cannot wait for the next book. I have so many questions.

So often serials start to grow old as the author runs out of ideas. Not so for Joleene Naylor's talent.

-DM Yates