Balthazar
Evernight, Book #5
By Claudia Gray
ISBN # 9780061961182
Author’s website: http://claudiagray.com/
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Bridget
For hundreds of years, the vampire Balthazar has been alone—without allies, without love.
When Balthazar agrees to help Skye Tierney, a human girl who once attended Evernight Academy, he has no idea how dangerous it will be. Skye’s newfound psychic powers have caught the attention of Redgrave, the cruel, seductive master vampire responsible for murdering Balthazar and his family four centuries ago. Now Redgrave plans to use Skye’s powers for his own evil purposes.
Balthazar will do whatever it takes to stop Redgrave and exact his long-awaited revenge against his killer. As Skye and Balthazar stand together to fight him, they grow closer—first unwillingly, then undeniably. Balthazar realizes his lonely world could finally be changed by her.
In a story filled with forbidden love and dark suspense, one of the most beloved characters in Claudia Gray’s New York Times bestselling Evernight Series will captivate readers with his battle to overcome his past and follow his heart.
Skye Tierney is now home from Evernight Academy with some sort of psychic ability that allows her to see someone’s death if she walks by where they died. There is no beating around the bush in this book. Right from the start, Skye is in trouble and the oh-so handsome Balthazar comes to her rescue.
No one can give Skye an explanation for her new ability except for the very bad, Redgrave, who wants to use Skye’s blood for his own gain and will do anything to make Skye his. Balthazar, who has a 400 year old grudge with Redgrave, promises to keep Skye safe while also trying to finally put an end to Redgrave’s reign of terror.
Skye is very well written and developed. She’s strong willed and brave. She is grieving for a dead brother but still manages to keep it together and never backs away from a new threat. Those who have read the previous EA books and who are familiar with the intriguing Balthazar, will be pleasantly pleased with him in this installment. I really loved the growing relationship between Sky and Balthazar. It wasn’t the instant love that most books have. Their love grows painfully slow and reluctantly but I loved reading every bit of it.
Claudia Gray delivers again with this addictive tale about a boy who doesn’t think he can love a human without a tragic ending and a girl who just can’t take no for an answer when love is at stake. The details were imaginative and thorough and I had no issues diving into the book after the long wait from the fourth Evernight book.
I recommend this book not only to Evernight fans, but also to non-fans. It’s a great read and you won’t be sorry you bought it.
