| Title | : | The Burning Bush (Santeria Habitat, #2) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 098502304X |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780985023041 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 427 |
| Publication | : | First published January 1, 2012 |
Rivera forces Lanore to investigate his case, the Burning Bush Murders. Someone's been tying girls to bushes and setting them on fire. Lanore must find the killer, or Rivera goes public with his information.
Meanwhile, Dante won't take his defeat without a fight. He counterattacks and the Santeria habitat, as well as Lanore’s and Zulu’s lives, is changed forever.
The Burning Bush (Santeria Habitat, #2) Reviews
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I wrote this and loved it!
Sorry about the ending....I've already recieved some death threats.
Smooches! -
4.5 out of 5- loved it, loved it!
Come read this review at
http://badassbookreviews.com/arc-revi... , it's my first review in a long time so come by and say hi.... or if you must.... here it is below...
I’ve been falling out of love with urban fantasy and paranormal books as of late. I’m not exactly sure when and how it happened but it did. My problems (since you asked):
The monsters are not scary. We have vampires, werewolves, demons, shape shifters, witches, and every possible combo imaginable. We have “good” vampires and “bad” vampires. We have “sexy” shape shifters and “scary” shape shifters. Shoot, we even have horny demon doctors trying to save the world! We have it all, in all possible combinations, but even with the infinite possibilities, the monsters are not scary unless the author makes the monster scary. The author shouldn’t have to make the monster scary. It should be scary because, well, it’s a damn monster. In my little imagination, a vampire should be scary because he is a fricking vampire!!! Not because he is a mean vampire. A werewolf is scary because he is a monster with fur and long claws, not because he was abused by a pup and raised by fairies (I made that up by the way). And as a rule, a demon is bad. It’s my rule. Demon = bad. No getting around it. Go ahead and call the monster rights organization, I don’t care. I don’t care how delicious you look, if you are a demon, I’m not going to jump your bones or your horn and I’m certainly not going to let you play doctor on me. Ok, I didn’t know I carried such deep seeded prejudices against monsters, I’m moving on.
The monsters are props. Monsters should not allow an author to get away with a bad plot. Just because the love interest is 7ft5, with a forked penis, and has blood that is an aphrodisiac, doesn’t mean you should excuse the author from writing a quality storyline.
The monster’s world is not logical. Ok, I know, the monsters are not from this world so they don’t have to follow our rules. Thus, a 180 pound man can fly and turn invisible (or sparkle in some cases). Or a werewolf manages to get no doggie hairs on the carpet and doesn’t smell like wet dog when he comes in from the rain. However, if you create a monsters world, it should be logical within that world. And if you have a monster that defies gravity, take some time to explain it!!!
So now that I’ve ranted about my problems with urban fantasy and paranormal books in general, it is so absolutely wonderful when I find a book that makes me fall in love again with this genre. The Burning Bush is that book. The monsters are monsters. They are animalistic, they don’t follow human tradition, customs and they have their own rules. They are brutal, have no mercy, powerful, and frankly, if you don’t like them, it’s tough shit.
Kenya Wright manages to not only win me over in making her monsters, well..monsters, but she also throws in a story line that manages to combine mystery, horror, and even some major steamy romance with a side of conflict. I’m usually disappointed in the follow up book (aka book 2) to a strong debut book. But Wright’s book 2 easily surpassed book 1 and left me with one hell of a shocking ending (please oh please say it aint so). -
I'm really enjoying this series. I'm glad I only had a couple of weeks to wait to pick this up after reading the first book. Otherwise, I would be a bitter chick :) I hate waiting for books :)
Wright does an excellent job with spinning the story. I had a couple of issues with it - some areas were repetitive for information. But it didn't take away from my enjoyment of the book.
Keep 'em coming Mrs. Wright. I'll be cranky waiting for book 3. Just letting you know NOW! :) -
Ok so I finally finished reading and it was a really hard finish for me. The book is very well written, some redundancies and contraction issues, the rebel patois isn't really a patois so perhaps didn't need to be included, but none of that is really distracting. The world building blows the mind it's so intricate, I actually love that this seems to be an alternate evolution of human history, where Freud is a Vampire and Sun Tzu is an earth witch. The parallels between the treatment of the mixies and various indigenous peoples all over the world is pretty obvious while at the same time managing to be subtle, not preachy and rather surprisingly well done, few authors are able to tackle such a subject without being heavy handed. The inclusion of Santeria as the religious backdrop for this particular habitat is interesting, but could probably be fleshed out a bit more for people that have no familiarity with the Voudon religions. It's even better than the first because we get more detail of the world, the pacing is not as frenetic as the first book and there is a good deal of back story that helps to flesh out the characters.
On to the things I hated. Love triangles, I'm sorry I think they're a played out lame plot device that belong solely in YA fiction, but then people that can't make up their minds irritate me to no end, so that might be the crux of my dislike, although I don't believe that you can love two people at the same time, I belive that you can care about two people a great deal, but one is always going to edge out the other and I'd say that's the person you really love, as evidenced by the ending.
The love triangle in this book is especially trying for a number of reasons. The greatest being that I hated the character of MeShack. He had absolutely no redeeming qualities, I'm sorry all the hotness in the world doesn't make up for the the fact that he's an unapologetic man-wh*re and he's literally a hair's breadth away from being a rapist.
Lanore becomes difficult to like through her interactions with MeShack. Her refusal to set boundaries creates a weird dichotomy where she's supposed to be this billy bada$$, but constantly lets this dude fondle her then ten minutes later she's all over Zulu, which kinda negates the cool and makes you just look like a clueless sket. As many times as he's stormed into the room while she was either, in the middle of sex with Zulu, about to have sex with Zulu or just finished having sex with Zulu, and she never says to him that that wasn't acceptable and in needed to end? Also, if you have to punctuate eveything with fireballs, chances are no one is taking you seriously to begin with.
And speaking of Zulu, why even bother to include him in the story as a love interest when with the way it's written it's obvious that he's NOT the endgame? When she thinks that MeShack is dead she says nothing else matters because all of her just withered and died. Wait....What? Isn't this the same chick that was telling Zulu not long ago that she loved him? Maybe she was mistaken and meant that she liked him and loved MeShack and hey Zulu you're just a filler until MeShack is done with his season. Yeah that must be it. Not to mention she comes down hard on Zulu constantly for his shortcomings, but MeShack only gets told to calm down? Including Zulu was a colossal waste of time and frustrating to boot, because you get to like and respect a character knowing that he's not gonna get what he wants and also have to watch him get cr*pped on. Like seriously, he never had a chance.
I'm not sure if I will be continuing on with this series, because even though it's hinted at that he's dead, it's also hinted at the he might not be, and it seems as if MeShack is the endgame for Lanore, and I'm sorry but I can NOT be convinced that he is the better choice.
All in all it is really a very well written book though, Kenya Wright got skills! I just hate MeShack.
(on a side note to the author if she reads this, I'm a Linguistic Anthropologist and my concentration is Creole languages and Patois' so if you ever need help with that......Oh and please don't hate this review) -
4.5 Stars
I didn't love every single thing about this book. But I still thought it was very, very good. I really like the series. The world building fascinates me. It's dark and disturbing, but very compelling. The main character is a contradiction, but one that makes sense. She is flawed but powerful; maligned yet idolized; loyal but conflicted. I like her. I want her to be happy. I want her to beat the odds. (I want her to be with Zulu. --But we'll get to that later.)
Basically, the story picks up where Fire Baptized left off. Lanore is in a relationship with Zulu and helping him with the MFE. MeShack is still a part of her life, as they raise little Ben together. But he opposes how she and Zulu are fighting the war against the vampire Dante. MFE is working with a more radical organization and they've bombed one of Dante's factories.
The bombing gives a crooked cop ammunition against Lanore, to force her to help him solve a murder case. Someone has killed a shifter and a Mixie, and hung each body on a magically burning bush. Either Lanore figures out the identity of the killer or the cop fingers her for the bombing. The story follows Lanore as she works to solve the case.
Of course, there is much more going on. There is the dangerous feud with Dante... a wealth of strong secondary characters. And the love triangle. The damn love triangle is killing me. I am firmly and completely Team Zulu. MeShack is a whore. He is unapologetic. He doesn't hide it. He simply blames the biology of his "season" and expects Lenore to be there waiting for him when he gets tired of humping every female in a 50 mile radius. It bothers me tremendously that even as we see Lanore move forward with Zulu, it feels like a foregone conclusion that MeShack is the endgame. And I DO NOT WANT that. I could go on and on about this, but I'll spare you.
What you can tell about my small rant is that I actually care about these characters a lot. There is no way I could say that this book is "meh." Even when I yelled at it (and I did,) I was completely engrossed in it. Invested. And not just in the relationships --though that part gave me the most angst. I was wrapped up in the murder mystery. And the politics. And the horrible racist (species-ist?) atmosphere in which the story is set. I can see Lenore becoming something so much more than what her society relegates her to. It all just... speaks to me. It affects me.
Then there is the ending. To call it a cliffhanger would be kind. I read the Epilogue and said out loud, "What the actual fuck was that?" I don't know what the hell happened to two of the major characters. I think I would have preferred if there had been no Epilogue at all. We would still have the same questions unanswered, but I wouldn't feel so confused.
That aside, this is a book (and a series) I would wholeheartedly recommend. It's just captivating. And different. Worth a read.
Rating: B+
*ARC provided by author for review -
I read it. Loved it more than Fire Baptized. I don't plan to write a review anytime soon, so you'll just have to check it out for yourself.
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Once again we are thrown into the amazing world of Santeria, where supernatural beings or Sups live out their lives separated from the human population in the caged cities of the Habitat. The story picks up with heroine Lenore in an adrenaline fueled soon to be disaster, immediately pushing you to the edge of your seat. Soon after this however comes the crux of the story, initiated by Rivera, the slimy Habbie cop from Fire Baptized. I found that his proposal to Lenore was a bit obvious a way to get her onto the main plot line, but that being said had it been done any subtler it would've been time wasted that was better spent getting straight into the main story. However this does seem to set up a convenient pattern that can easily be followed in subsequent books as Rivera continues to collect possible blackmail material.
Lenore is once again putting on her investigators hat, this time seeking the murderer of two girls. However at the same time she is dealing with many a distraction, least of all the continuing steamy love triangle between herself, Zulu and MeShack. While it seemed in the last book she was very resistive to committing herself in any way to either of these men, here she is instead putting her energies into making her relationships with both of them work, fitting the pieces of her life together. Of course that is all set to go to hell in a hand basket.
The thing that I really enjoy about this series is its authenticity. Its obvious in the building of this world and the characters that Wright draws heavily on her own life experiences, resulting in a very rich and relatable stable of personalities. I also enjoy how as more information is revealed about the nature of the Sups and how they came to be discovered that Wright has cemented this in our own reality, intertwining real-life events and people into the history.
The nature of the different breeds of Sups is also well thought out. While seemingly drawing from many traditional sources, each has a spin unique to this series that is complete and fascinating. The Mixbreeds or “Mixies” are especially intriguing, constantly underestimated by the Purebloods and the Humans, and yet offering a never-ending list of possible combinations of powers. I can't wait to discover more new characters in this world, but also to continue to learn more about Lenore and Zulu's mix of powers, particularly in regards to their Fairy heritage. In The Burning Bush more little choice tidbits are let slip, but the full nature of their lineage is still shrouded in mystery.
I really enjoyed the new characters. Zulu's half-sister Cassie is a breath of fresh air, opening Lenore's eyes to more of the world around her than the terror and misery she has seen. Angel seems very lost, but once her true purpose in this world is revealed she is a perfect fit. Graham - Lenore's father – is just plain scary, and yet he could be the ally she needs, no matter how much she doesn't want to need him.
All in all this book kept me riveted from start to finish. The world is captivating in its realism and its characters completely genuine, strictly adhering to who they are, never compromising. The story lines entwine seamlessly, I never found myself lost or bogged down with new information, it flowed easily and the end of every chapter left me desperate to keep reading. Lenore is a beautifully envisioned heroine, coming to terms with the many changes to her everyday life, as well as the changes to the world around her. I am thoroughly enjoying each new discovery on her journey and am already looking forward to revisting Santeria in the next installment Wildfire Gospel. -
I’m 💜 with a cheetah called MeShack. He’s so good to his Lala. That mate mark better be on her neck.
Cliffhanger ending. -
Wait until you read the story. It starts out with a bang.
Let me tell you something about it. But before I forget, I should tell you that this is Book Two in the series and may contain some mild spoilers.
Now they’ve really stepped in it. Zulu and Lanore blew up Linderman‘s Blood Factory. It just happens to be owned by Dante, a very powerful vampire that wants them dead.
To complicate matters, the bumbling cop, Rivera, was tracking them with their brands and knows they did it. He uses that knowledge to blackmail Lanore into helping him with a case.
A burning bush has been left in front of the police station. Inside is a naked dead girl showing no signs of burnt flesh or decay. It has to be magic that keeps the bush burning. Hence, Rivera’s need for Lanore. He is inept and lazy, and plans on taking full credit when Lanore solves the mystery. The mystery deepens when she discovers that this is the second burning bush that was dropped off.
I really liked this part:
Rivera took off his blood spattered jacket and slung it over the chair in the corner. “This is the second burning bush with a girl tied to it.”
“Two bush victims.” I shook my head. “And why doesn’t the public know about this?”
“The first victim was just a female mixbreed. A poor one.”
The prejudice portrayed in this scene made the story very genuine.
Let me give you a little background. Lanore is a mixbreed, or mixie for short, the product of parents from different magical species. They are considered the lowest form of trash. Each species in the caged cities, or habitats, are given a brand on their forehead signifying what species they are.
Lanore has a secret, the power of fire. She also has white cords sewn into her arm, put there when her lover Zulu claimed her as his mate during lovemaking. He did this without her consent and she wants them gone.
Zulu has multi-colored cords sewn into his skin from his wrists to his shoulders. They are a spell that lets him shift into a lethal Fairy beast called Prime.
And then there is MeShack. He is a were-cheetah and he makes my blood start racing and my heart go pitter-patter.
Lanore has a lot on her plate. She has to solve the burning bush mystery and keep Zulu and Meshack from killing each other. They both claim her as their mate.
Meshack had his chance and he blew it. He cheated on Lanore. Of course he is in his season, his beast is beginning to mature and is quite randy. The season lasts for seven years and Lanore isn’t putting up with it for that long. But Meshack doesn’t give up that easily. I love his purring when he is aroused. How she resists him, I can’t figure.
She has hooked up with Zulu. A body from heaven with beautiful flowing dreadlocks and a sarcastic wit that adds to his charm. He is her lover and protector and is fiercely possessive. A real alpha male. He is called The Heart Ripper and not because of his sexual prowess.
Here are a couple of scenes I really loved.
Meshack – “I have you alone in a cellar where no one can hear you call for help. You’re lucky I still have my pants on.”
Lanore – “You’re like a romantic serial killer.”
and this one:
Lanore – “Zulu said, and I quote,”Meshack can look but if he touches, I get to rip off the hand he used.” Then I explained that we weren’t committed and that he was acting like a possessive psycho.”
“His response?”
“Zulu just shrugged and said, “I am a possessive psycho.”
I don’t know who I want Lanore to end up with. I go back and forth, Meshack or Zulu, Zulu or Meshack? Either one warms my blood. The sexual tension just oozes from the pages.
There are also some very funny scenes all throughout the book. They add genuineness to the story, making it very believable.
I laughed out loud at this one! It takes place over the phone.
“So how would a fire witch cast a spell to create the burning bush?”
“The witch would attach their fire to the bush and then have the bush hold the girl in place like magical glue.”
Something banged and then crashed on her end of the line.
“Fox Jr.! I am on the phone!” Vee yelled and then cleared her throat. “Take your sister out of the toilet now! Partricia, get her out!”
The book is chock full of this stuff. It’s like every page wrings some emotional response out of you. Anger, lust, disgust, glee and triumph. Sometimes more than one.
You would think keeping track of all of the species would be difficult and the explanations of their abilities a drag. But Kenya writes like a master, puts it in laymen terms you could say, making it easy to follow and understand. There is always something thrown into the scene to draw a reaction from you. Very powerful writing.
There is so much sexiness in this book, but not a lot of explicit sex scenes. The author’s innuendos are more than enough to heat up your blood.
The bad guys are really bad and the good guys are so darn likeable. These characters are the friends I would want to hang with and have on my side if I lived in Santeria.
I could go on and on, but I can’t. I would be telling too much. You will just have to hurry over and get your own copy of The Burning Bush and enter the habitat at your own risk:) -
I received an ARC copy of The Burning Bush. I have not been compensated for my review, however, I do undeniably feel intellectually “richer” after reading this book ;)
The book’s description will tell you most of what you need to know about what The Burning Bush is going to be about and I am hesitant to say too much more about what happens in the book because it’s all important and I don’t want to give too much away! So instead, I’m going talk very generally about what makes The Burning Bush a completely amazing read that should not be missed!!
After finishing Fire Baptized, which I really enjoyed (definitely read it first if you are interested in the series), I had certain expectations for what needed to be covered in a sequel in order to keep me happy with the Habitat series. I really had wanted more backstory while reading Fire Baptized; the world Kenya Wright has created is richly unique and I couldn’t wait to learn more about it. I was also anxious to learn more about the characters’ pasts that had been touched upon but without much detail. The Burning Bush did not disappoint; I felt I learned more about the Habitat history than I had expected and was satisfied with everything I learned about Lanore, Meshack and Zulu.
While the plot is carefully crafted and keeps my attention from beginning to end, I think what makes this series, and particularly The Burning Bush, such a great read is the characters. Kenya does a spectacular job creating complex characters that come across as very real and relatable even though they’re supernatural. Lanore isn’t one of these very typical UF/PNR heroines that are professional investigators with extensive weapon training and a super power to boot, what makes her special is that in spite of being supernatural, she is just a struggling college student who is fighting against prejudice in a messed up world and trying to make the best of her complicated personal life. She somehow manages to get herself involved in crime investigations in both Fire Baptized and The Burning Bush, but solving those crimes isn’t what makes her who she is. It’s refreshing to encounter a different kind of protagonist in a genre that tends to produce, for the most part, a single type. Lanore is kick-ass without following the UF/PNR heroine formula.
Only adding to the realness of these characters is the fact that they are all far from perfect. Lanore, Meshack and Zulu (in addition to many of the minor characters) all have plenty of good qualities, but they have just as many that are less than admirable. I’m actually surprised at how much I can still love Meshack even though he’s a cheating man-whore! I find his regret over his cheating on Lanore very sincere and can sympathize with his position. At the same time, I want to smack him over the head and tell him being a shifter in his “season” is no excuse! Zulu rips out people’s hearts when they threaten his cause or those he cares about, and as disgusted as I am by his behavior at times, I can’t help but love how protective he is of those he loves and how dedicated he is to making a better life for “mixies”. Kenya does an amazing job and making these imperfect characters believable and completely lovable.
Finally, Kenya has such a talent for doing what I consider the impossible in her books. In Fire Baptized she introduced perhaps the only love triangle I have ever read that I wasn’t annoyed by, but even more, I feel just as mixed up as Lanore does about who “the right guy” is for her. I like that even in The Burning Bush I still don’t have the answer to who is the better choice and that I continue to enjoy the complexity of their relationship.
Bottom line: THIS SERIES IS A MUST READ! The first book, Fire Baptized, is awesome, The Burning Bush takes awesome to a whole new level! I can’t wait for book 3!! -
Firts of all I want to say that I think Kenya Wright is a genius!!! If there were more than five stars to rate this book I would give it quadruple stars!!!! Kenya blessed me with the ARC of "The Burning Bush" and I am ever so grateful as I fell in love with this series from book #1..I have just finished reading the second book and I am shell shocked at the moment!!! I mean, WOW! This story has had me so up and down in my emotions, I have been glued to it all weekend. Kenya, I can't believe you ended it like that!!! I am freaking out right now and I am praying that you will not take long to write #3!!!LOL I don't want to wait!!! I was screaming, "NO" and my family are all seriously thinking I need help right now!!! I am speechless...
In saying that, I am scared to say too much about anything in this story as I don't want to ruin it for anyone. All that I can say is that I think everyone should run out and read this series!!! Kenya has a way of writing that just sucks you right into the world and makes it so you don't want to leave. Her sense of humor is charming, and just hilarious. I often laugh out loud when I am reading her books. This book has the same kind of humor as the first one and I just love it! Her imagination knows no bounds and I have fallen in love with her "pixie pets" I would like some of my own; thank you very much!
The love triangle between MeShak, Zulu, and Lanore continues and at times is frustrating; but it is entertaining to watch the possesiveness and jealousy that goes on between Meshak and Zulu. Even with that though, they accept one anothers relationship with Lanore, because they just love her that much and want her to be happy. They do attempt to get along (begrudginly) when they are not trying to kill or maim one another! I also fell in love with Zulu's sister Cassie in this book. She ended up Lanore's sidekick while trying to find a murderer. Angel, was the other sidekick and at times the interaction between the three again had me in stitches.
I wish I could put my finger on what exactly the magic formula is that has me adoring this series..I think the biggest thing that I love is Kenya's imagination in her writing. The things that she comes up with are just genius and at times I wish I could live inside that intriguing brain of hers!!! She now has a fan for life in me..( Mind you I had said that after "Fire Baptized") These books are truly at the top of my best books list! I love the world of the "Habitat" and the people in it have now become familiar to me and I can hardly wait until I have a chance to be sucked right back into this fabulous, complex world that Kenya writes about.
I will be biting my knuckles until the next installment!!! (I am not kidding!) -
Excellent but…CLIFFHANGER MADNESS!!
I was glad to have the opportunity to review The Burning Bush (Habitat #2) by Kenya Wright after enjoying its predecessor a great deal.
When you’re a mixie, sometimes you have to take matters into your own hands to survive. In Lanore and Zulu’s case, that includes taking down a real mover and shaker, vampire businessman Dante Bottelli. After bombing his production plant, everything goes downhill and Lanore gets roped into a bizarre murder case, the Burning Bush Murders to be exact, involving the bodies of young women being tied to burning bushes. There is undoubtedly magic involved, making this not so cut and dry. Solving a murder and managing a turf war…it’s safe to say our heroine’s got her hands full.
There are some of the usual urban fantasy tropes that aren’t my favorite when it comes to this series, particularly the love triangle, but the actual story is engaging enough for me to deal with it. Their vigilante antics raise the stakes immensely, producing rather unpredictable outcomes. The characters themselves have quite a bit of flaws, but it makes them more relatable because of it. While the series is heavy on the drama and grit, there are quite a few laugh out loud moments as well. I can honestly say that I wasn’t bored for even one page.
Though longer than the first book, the Burning Bush is even better. The world building is as solid as ever and you really feel for the mixies being treated as second class citizens. Lanore, Zulu, and MeShack’s hardships take you on an emotional roller coaster that you feel even until the very last page. My jaw dropped to the floor. I wanted to make sure my file wasn’t corrupted and I somehow didn’t get the rest of the book. Think of the series finale of The Sopranos when it cut off suddenly and you stared at who had the remote. The “ending” if you can call it that was just unbelievable and it left me immediately wanting the next novel.
This series is as good as it gets when it comes to this genre, so I highly recommend it.
*ARC provided by Author.
*Review also posted to
Amazon. -
Aaaarrrgh – why weren’t book 2 & 3 written simultaneously? Another beautifully rendered cover for this series and a very accurate synopsis that doesn't need to be rehashed or revised. The series definitely needs to be read in order to get the full enjoyment experience of this very different and exciting world.
The installment picks up as book one ended with a great action piece making this reader appreciate the decision to continue the series. The plot(s) – make no mistake the threads are huge and are so much more than sub-plots, are each strongly written, easy to follow and do their part to give credence to this world.
Lanore has to help resolve the murder mystery and she continued her quest for mixed breed equality. The enhancement of the world included adding depth to the original cast, new secondary characters and more world building enhanced an already wonderful environment making it more vivid.
An already good and believable love triangle was re-enforced drawing the original main characters into sharper focus. Lanore was more than a loner desired by two men; showing another side of MeShack’s peripheral, shallow existence and a shared past added depth and; Zulu was humanized with an issue-filled family life and made him more than a neighborhood bully
By adding more subtle facets to all three characters, they were enriched with more depth & desirability. This time around I felt Lanore was a clever, strong woman in her own right and a more worthy bone of contention for the very strong male leads. Ms. Wright makes it hard to choose one.
Friendship, betrayal, suspicion, life, death, violence, love and mixed messages are wonderful ingredients in this spicy dish. The action pieces had great build-up and execution smoothly moving quickly through the next act. Cleverly intertwined in the witty, sexy banter and situations is a strong and telling commentary that touches some of today's hot topics of society and politics.
For my taste, this outing firmed the foundation established in book one, addressed my issues and built on the great promise and not as great promise of book one. My least favorite part of the book was the end! Cliffhanger! Why weren’t books two and three released simultaneously?!?!?
Rating: 4.5stars -
Wow, I did not expect to like the book quite so much. I certainly did not expect to almost turn into a desperate fangirl waiting for the next book. Here's what I thought:
What I liked: The book began with a bang. I liked the action and the fact that the author has maintained a fast pace till the very end. This book gives us a much greater insight into the world of Santeria and the work put into creating an intricate world is evident throughout. Not having read much from this genre, I still couldn't say if the concept of this world, its history and creatures are altogether unique but I do like the way it is written. The idea of Human-Supe Wars and caged cities is fascinating. The traits and behaviour of the old characters are consistent with the first book, though many back-stories are revealed, which I found interesting. The characters that are newly introduced are also well written. I liked the way the author uses this world to draw parallels with ours. There are so many underlying themes in the book, like family, race, abuse, justice. But the message is sent without making it too obvious, unlike in most books and I like the discrete symbols more than anything.
What I didn't like: The love triangle and the throwing around of "I love you"s reminded me of Twilight (in a bad way.) I don't think there was any other purpose of Lanore not being able to choose between MeShack and Zulu other than to attract readers (the kind who like Twilight.) If only the author had cut down on the mushy romance a bit, this book might have been a lot more interesting, but that might just be my opinion. Another thing I absolutely loathed was the cliffhanger ending. It is infuriating to have to wait for an entire new book to release to find out what happens next.
Thanks to that cliffhanger ending, it is no doubt that I'm going to read the next book. If you are a fan of urban fantasy, paranormal romance, I'm sure you'll like this book.
Read full review here:
http://peskypiksipesternomi.blogspot.... -
I was given this book as an ARC
You know what I hate, when you're in a good book and it leave you hanging at the end. You know what I love, when that cliffhanger is in a book that's an awesome series like
Kenya Wright's Santeria Habitat Series!
The Burning Bush is the second installment of The Habitat series that focuses on Lanore a "mixed breed" supernatural or "Supe" with the power of fire, hey she's the daughter of a demented Demon! In her first book, !!!
Fire Baptized, Lanore was thrust into a murder mystery that hit too close to home [Read My Review -
http://www.glintoflightblog.com/2012/...] and in The Burning Bush we find her being blackmailed by a "Habbie" Policeman into solving another crime. This one involves two young women murdered and magically cleaved to a burning bush.
To complicate matters Lanore is still working with an organization called MFE for Civil Rights for Mixed Breed Supernaturals alongside her current boyfriend Zulu a mysterious "mixed breed" with connections and money (rare for a "mixie"). And then there is Meshack a Werecheetah (Pure Blood) who was raised with Lanore and has designated her his mate, although he is currently in his season (were version of being in heat). Zulu has also finished his claim on Lanore so I'm gearing up for an epic battle for her heart in a subsequent book.
Seriously, this book has everything, politics, romance, mystery, murder...GET INTO IT WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR!!! -
Omg!! Who ends a book like that?!! I am so upset. Now I have to wait forever and a day until the next one comes out. MeShack better not be dead or I swear I am so done with this series! I really hope he isn't because I am really invested in this series and all the characters, but I would be completely heartbroken if he's dead. I still can't stop crying.
-
OMG
This was freaking amazing! I really like Graham! Hope to see more of him. Thoroughly pissed off about MeShee! This was funny, dramatic, and sexy! Love this series! -
http://readingandwritingurbanfantasy....
2.5 stars
At A Glance
Halfway through this book, I just knew it was going to be another 5 star story like the first book, Fire Baptized. Then the second half was like watching puppies being tortured.
The Good
Here's The Story...
Dante Bottelli has slaughtered mixbreeds for years so Lanore and Zulu, mixbreeds themselves, decide to get him back by blowing up one of his companies. But when corrupt cop, Detective Rivera, finds proof of Lanore's involvement, he blackmails her into helping him solve the Burning Bush Murders. Two girls have been found tied to bushes set on fire, a fire that cannot be extinguished. Lanore has no other choice but to help find the killer. But along the way, Dante continues to seek vengeance for his destroyed building by hitting Zulu and Lanore where it hurts most, their friends and family.
Wright's World...
I just love Wright's writing style. She is not afraid of the grit or horror of discrimination and injustice. The world she creates in her stories is both horrible and mesmerizing. I was glued to the pages, either on the verge of tears or trying to hold back hysterics. The conditions these mixbreeds have to live in day after day just get worse with each book. I couldn't imagine living in this world. It's truly heartbreaking.
Lanore
But what makes this book and series so amazing is the characters. Lanore was awesome in the first book, Fire Baptized. I liked her less in this book but she still remains to be a strong female lead who fights her own battles. She is compassionate and hardworking. She is in love with two men, and they are in love with her. Lucky wench. I noticed this book had a lot more romance and relationship stuff in it. I was happy to see that because this is the best and most interesting love triangle I have ever seen.
Zulu...
Zulu is still frightening as ever. Though I love Meshack, Zulu has my heart a little more. I like his brooding and protectiveness and the way he cares so much for Lanore. Sometimes he's a gentle giant, and other times he is straight up horrifying. His beast form use to scare the crap out of me, but not anymore. We get to meet his beast form more in this book and I love him as much as I love Zulu. I like how these shapeshifters' beast forms are like different people, different souls. It makes things so much more interesting.
Meshack...
Meshack was the same sexy jokster. He is more than hot, he is sizzling. He eats and breaths sex. I still hate him for cheating on Lanore all those years ago, but it's hard to stay mad at him when he brings on the charm. Meshack also shows his violent side in this book. Lanore and Zulu being together is almost killing him. It really is sad. Meshack and Lanore have a connection no one can break. They have been together since they were kids and nothing will separate them, not even Zulu. But will Meshack be a friend or a lover when this all ends? Who knows.
Damn You Cliffhanger...
The mystery kept me on my toes. I didn't know who the killer was or what Dante was really up to in the scheme of things until Wright wanted me to know. The world-building was perfect. The humor is above par. The action was exhilarating and the heartbreak was unbearable. The emotional rollercoaster Wright took me on was hard to take sometimes. I am dying to read the next book. Especially after that cliffhanger ending.
The Bad
Don't Hurt My Puppy...
So you might be asking yourself why I gave this book 2.5 stars when I have so many great things to say about it. Well, let me be straight with you. These 2.5 stars have nothing to do with Wright's writing ability, the plot, or the story. These 2.5 stars completely represent how much I "enjoyed" this book. This was a 5 star book until about half way through. Then things went down hill. This is what it was like reading this book:
"Oh, look at that cute puppy. He is sooo adorable. I want to love him forever. He means everything to me. Wait, why are you taking my puppy? What are you doing!! Stop hitting my puppy. OMG, you are going to kill him. You can't kick him like that. Please, stop. What are you doing with that knife? Don't torture my puppy, please!!!"
And then whoever is torturing my puppy slits it throat. That was what it was like reading the second half of this book.
Really, Lanore?
Am I being dramatic? Yes, but seriously. I have never had a book leave me in such a state of depression as this book did. I cannot believe the things Wright did in this installment. It was so horrible, so unfair, so eye-gougingly horrific I could barley finish it. And why did all these bad things happen? Because Lanore decided to grow a conscience. But not a good conscience, a stupid, useless conscience that made everything worse. Lanore's compassion and second guessing herself got people hurt and got people killed. And you know what she does to these people who have ruined her life? She doesn't want to kill them. She actively protects them from being killed. I can't. I just can't watch people be this stupid and only grow worse. These people are killers but she wants to handle them with kid gloves. Well, then she deserves everything that happens to her, but the people who get dragged down with her don't deserve it.
Not My Cup of Tea...
Okay, enough with my tangent. Let me end this by saying that this 2.5 stars is completely a personal preference rating. I don't like sad books and I don't like sad endings. I want to walk away from a book feeling happy or at least satisfied. That didn't happen with The Burning Bush. Anybody who can handle some pretty gut-wrenching events in stories will love this book. I am just not one of those people.
The Snuggly
I truly think Wright writes the best sex scenes ever. And most of the time, the sex gets interrupted, but the time leading up to it is just amazing. Like horny fireworks. I know that doesn't make sense but that's how I feel. The sexual tension she puts on the pages is malleable. I can smell, taste, and feel it. I just don't know who Lanore is going to end up with. I love both men so much.
Final Thoughts
The Burning Bush was a great story with amazing characters. This book is hard to put down because you end up caring for everyone so much. But when an author rips your heart out by killing and hurting the people you love in a series, it's hard to walk away feeling good about anything. Approach this book with caution. Hopefully the next book will make some things better. Recommended to those who love this series no matter what happens.
Quotes
"Must you not wear a shirt?" I sucked my teeth.
"I have you alone in a cellar where no one can hear you call for help. You're lucky I still have my pants on."
"You're like a romantic serial killer."
*****
"And will you be living with the damn cheetah for the rest of your life?" He (Zulu) slid his fingers up my shirt and tugged at the bottom of my bra. "Will our children be calling him uncle weird-guy-that-stays-in-our-house?"
"No. They'll be calling me Daddy." MeShack stood in the doorway. His feline eyes concentrated on Zulu's hands.
...The room just thickened with both men's power and stubborn testosterone. -
Even though I rated book 2, The Burning Bush, the same as book 1, book 2 is hella better than book 1. The surge in the quality amazed me, and that’s not a compliment I give lightly or frequently, if ever. Whether it’s better editing or better writing or both, it’s working~! Not to mention it’s another book written by an author-friend that I actually like; that’s two out of, uh, many now.
The heroine no longer has fits of TSTL. The transition between chapters was smooth, unlike in book 1 where it was raw, sudden, and disjointed. The plot progressed steadily and dished out ample action scenes, things that are unfortunately not common in the Urban Fantasy books I’ve been reading.
+ the heroine
I didn’t really care for Lanore in book 1, but I do now in book 2. She was awesome. I like her willfulness and confidence. It is rare to see an Urban Fantasy heroine who has no issue with sex and body image and loves herself for who she is. I love how she didn’t let her love interests control her life or decisions, how she pushed back when they got annoyingly alpha towards her, how she let them know in all instances that she is a fucking independent woman and not their fucking squeeze, and how when she wanted sex she got sex and there is no post-coital angst and regret or other emo issues.
I like how Lanore treats her friends and her pets. I like how she takes responsibility and doesn’t run when the going gets tough. While I love kickass bitches, I like that Lanore wasn’t typecast as one, i.e. her character didn’t feel trope-ish or similar to other Urban Fantasy heroines I read about. I like that Lanore is unique without tipping over into the special snowflake zone.
Long story short, I like Lanore.
+ the love triangle
It’s still there, but it wasn’t as annoying as it was in book 1, probably because it did not rear its ugly head often. I got a pretty good guess now who Lanore will end up with.
+ what I did not like
The ending was a cliffhanger for the first time in the series! Talk about the climax. It was great! Major progress in the series. But dude, I felt cheated out of the full awesomeness with that cliffhanger. So unhappy that the book was rounded down from a 3.5 stars.
In Conclusion
I rate The Burning Bush 3-stars for I liked it. Everything but the infuriating cliffhanger ending ruled. As said before, there was major progress in book 2. Deaths happened, people changed, allies and enemies... they’re not clear cut at all. Knock, knock. Who is it? Depth. Story depth, and also its companion Moral quagmire. Fuck, yeah. -
The Burning Bush picks up where Firebaptized left off. angry at Dante for his horrible and malicious behavior toward the Mixies in his care, Lanore and Zulu manage to strike back with great force and precision . But they don't on the ripple effect of the consequences. It seems that compromise will be necessary but Lanore and Zulu no longer know who their enemies are. Things aren't as they seem. Rivera blackmails Lanore into helping him solve another murder mystery.
I truly enjoyed this book. I love how the world has continued to develop. Learning more about the history, class dynamics, and problems drew me into the novel and made me excited to learn more in the books to come. I love how Ms. Wright has expertly crafted a new world with a new set of rules. I'm able to completely disappear the world of the Habitat. Some of my favorite characters returned and there are new interesting ones. There is still a hint of a love triangle. Though many will disagree with me, I prefer Meshack (I know what you are thinking). I know why Lanore isn't with him and he can be kind of gross, but if I have to pick one, I pick him. I can't stand violent, possessive men in the real world or in a book world. It drives me crazy because this is not love! In my world, women in these types of relationships often end up dead...but I digress.
There is much sadness in this installment which surprised me. Oh...and there's a cliffhanger. Pause. Yes. A cliffhanger. Everyone knows how I feel about cliffhangers. It almost diminished my enjoyment quite a bit. I had originally picked a different rating on that alone, but time away and reflection has allowed me to look at the bigger picture. One of the reasons I fell in love with this series is the fact that it stands on good writing and powerful creativity and imagination. If it starts to use some of the gimmicks of typical YA, I think it might start to lose some of its magic. That said, this isn't YA. The romance is hot, hot, HOT! The characters can be described as college age. Though the characters are a little older, it can read like YA sometimes. I really like that. We need more with older young characters.
This review is long for my standards but I still have so much to say! Overall, I loved this book. I didn't want it to end and I'm so excited for the future. I recommend this one to any one who enjoys hot romances, paranormal fun, adventure, and amazing writing. Is that everyone? Okay, I recommend this to everyone. -
The Burning Bush is the second edition to the Habitat series. It is about a new world where humans forced supernaturals to live in cages cities. This book continues the story of what happens to the protagonist Lanore Vesta. Lanore is a mixie that has a sight for equality between mixies and purebloods. With blowing up the vamp blood factory and a habbie detective that is blackmailing her solve the murder cases for him running after her, Lanore has a lot on her plate.
I read the first book and I loved it. The ending made me what to come back for more. I was lucky enough to finish the first book so close to the release date of the second.
I personally found The Burning Bush vastly intriguing and absorbing, plus it was an easy read. The enjoyed the plot much more than the first book, I’m guessing because I’ve grown to know more about the characters and I’ve grown attached to them in ways that I can’t explain.
Cassie was introduced into the book as Zulu’s sister. I absolutely adored her and she admired Lanore, which I thought was cute but kind of annoying. I grew attached to her throughout the book. I admit tears were shed when her death arrived.
As for the conclusion of the book, I only thought they would have a huge fight with the antagonist Dante, and he would die in the ending. But what actually happened was unanticipated, and undeniably unexpected, I was so shocked that my jaw fell open and stayed open until the last page. More tears were shed during the undetermined death of the hot and sexy Were-cheetah MeShack. The book ended with such a huge cliffhanger that will absolutely make you come back crawling for more.
The Burning Bush is marvelous second edition to the Habitat series. I will definitely recommend this to everyone I know who enjoys reading paranormal books. I am positively looking forward to the third edition. I do hope it comes out soon! -
Over the last year, I've become a pretty big Kenya Wright fan. The Burning Bush was a prime example of why!
At the end of Fire Baptized, I remember wondering what in the world the author still had to write about: the murderer was behind bars, Lanore had finally decided that she was interested in Zulu...things seemed to be pretty much resolved, at least in my opinion.
Enter The Burning Bush, second book to The Habitat Series. Ms. Wright made it perfectly clear, from the very first page, that I had been wrong in my assumptions about whether or not there should be a second book - boy, had I been wrong!
Zulu, Lanore and MeShack now have a whole new killer to contend with. The only difference is that the killer isn't after Lanore this time - but someone else is. That someone has found a way to integrate themselves in with the group closest to Lanore and Zulu. Oh, and as always, there's some hot, steamy, sexy scenes in there. And staying true to her style, Ms. Wright's characters are amazingly vivid; her description of experiences, locations and details are wonderfully realistic.
I won't say much more about the book or the story line itself; I wouldn't want to ruin the experience for anyone else. But I will say this...I cannot WAIT for the next book! The Burning Bush kept me up, wanting to read just a little more. When I got to the end, it was like watching the season finale of your favorite television show - the producers let off at a place that will guarantee you'll come back for more. That's exactly what Ms. Wright accomplished with The Burning Bush. In fact, when I reached the end of the book, I didn't know if I wanted to kiss her or scream at her.
Yes, it was just that good!
I received a free copy of the Burning Bush in exchange for my review. All opinions are my own and I have received no other compensation for my review. -
Author: Kenya Wright
Published by: DragonFairy Press
Age Recommended: Adult
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: 4
Review:
"The Burning Bush" by Kenya Wright was second installment of this authors 'The Habitat' series. This novel was about 'Lanore' who was the daughter of the demented Demon. You may need to read the first book by this author..'Fire Baptized,' to really understand parts of this second novel In the "The Burning Bush" that Lanore who had been involved with some 'blowing up of some of Dante Bottelli 's companies' and it seems that Detective Rivera finds out of Lanore's involvement and then he then blackmails her into helping him solve another crime which involved two women that had been murdered clinging to a burning bush. You will find that the plot is very intriguing keeping you totally involved in this emotional roller coaster ride. I found all of the characters so well developed and so captivating read having
paranormal/fantasy/shapeshifter/vampire/magic/witches/romance and yes, even some mystery in this read. You will find "The Burning Bush's" author is not "afraid of the grit or horror of discrimination and injustice." She will create a story that is both 'horrible and even mesmerzing' just leaving me to say: Wow! And at the end...a be ready for a 'cliffhanger.
If you are looking for a very engaging book that will keep you turning the pages... you have come to the right place...for "The Burning Bush" would be recommended to you. -
I think I liked this book better than the first. Lanore and Zulu blow up Danté’s Blood Factory and if the process of starting a war with the vampires, Lanore also manages to get blackmailed into solving a murder for Rivera. This aspect stretched my belief a bit too much. The ex con is going to blackmail a student, who really isn’t that smart and is quite a bad investigator, into solving a murder case? At least if he did it because of who she knows it would make more sense, but no, Rivera assumes that Lanore is a good investigator because she solved the first mystery.
I did think Lanore’s character has developed a bit more that the first book. Apart from her love life she does seem more sure of what she’s doing, less impulsive than before and definitely more dominant. The whole murder aspect is interesting and will keep you guessing but the final solution wasn’t as shocking to me as I think it was meant to be.
I’m also not quite sure where this story arc is going with her solving murders in both installments to be honest. I thought the whole point was equality for Mixbreeds and equality for Supernaturals among the humans, but so far it doesn’t seem to be going in that direction. Lanore is more worried about solving murders and preventing Zulu and Meshack from killing each other. Maybe it would have been better had she been a Private Investigator or something.
While it is an interesting read I did have a few problems with it, so 3.5 star read for me. Will I read the next one? Probably. -
I'm so sad. I was expecting so much more out of this installment than I got of it. For some reason I found La La's character to be a little annoying throughout the whole book. She's changed a little from the character I remembered in the first installment, and I just found myself disliking her immensely.
I just don't know where she stands anymore. And her relationship with MeShack and Zulu has agitated me beyond relief now. If she likes Zulu so much, why not just stay with him? She constantly rejects MeShack, and then does something to lead him on to a point where she's put in a situation that's borderline cheating.
Now, the only character that I actually like is MeShack. At least he knows what he wants; even if he is a man whore.
The story was reasonable. It kept me entertained enough to make me want to finish the book, but not enough to want to read the next installment. I honestly feel like this book could have been so much better. I'm sadly, and with a heavy heart, giving this book 3 stars.
-
The plot was not that good and I hate how the author writes the men in this series both Lanor's love interest are big ..muscular ..horny...growling ..no depth whatsoever dummies..it is like many PR novels in that aspect .and to top it all they are both similar in charachters ( if you can even call what little they have a charachters ) and their bodys too so I really do not care which one she chooses..
Not to mention her investigating abilities which are none existing ..and you either have her be a PI or do not make her be blackmailed into being an investigator it was just a poorly thought motive to me..
What saved this series for me is her dad ( scary creature ) and that it reminded me a little of the hollows series ( though not nearly as intriguing and original ) but I liked the similarities ..I just hope the men stop with the you are mine shit it stops being sexy after a few pages and now it just annoys me I like my heros to be smart as well as hot ..but sexy and stupid animals are not my cup of tea ... -
I read the first book, Fire Baptized, before I read the Burning Bush. These two books are absolutely awesome! Engaging from the get go. I loved reading and learning about the different “cities” and half human/half animal creatures. The way the author shapes the characters to be so fluid with their powers is amazing. Every time I would read about a character and their powers, you could really believe that the character was fused with certain elements (fire/water etc…) and it showed in the personality of the characters as well. I thought it was brilliant.
I am also a sucker for a good love triangle. You just don’t know who you like more, it changes by chapter of who you sympathize with and who you may feel a little angry towards. The stories were ever changing and keeping you wanting more to see what the end result would be. Loved these books and they definitely get 5 stars each!
***Reviewed by Jackie for New Age Mama-Free copy provided*** -
ARC provided by the author to review
I really love this book. This is the perfect sequel for an amazing book 1. It was even better than the first book!
Lanore, was suppose to continue her fight about equality for mixed breed but allowed personal vendettas get in the way. Once again she has Zulu and MeShack by her side, but they are joined in this book by a "seer" and a witch. Tragedies happened when Lanore veered from her fight and a twisted ending let a bigger question in the air. Will Lanore be able to keep on fighting?
Kenya's mastery with words is amazing. Her creativity and imagery of a paranormal world is superior and she has improved herself with this book in making the reader's emotional connections with her characters grows.
In this book I laughed and I cried, I raged and I cheered and now, I can't wait to read the next! -
This was a very confusing book for me, not the content, but the fact that I didn't enjoy it as much as I had hoped to. I won it from the Goodreads First Reads Program and it's paranormally, steamy, I should have been good to go. Yet some parts of this book just couldn't hold my attention. I thought perhaps it was because it was the 2nd in a series so I found a copy of the first one and read that, thinking that would help. I found the same issue with the first one, it was good, but it just didn't hold me. Back to reading this book again. The characters were cool but I didn't really care if I knew more. Overall the book was good, but the fact that it took me weeks to finish it just made me curious, why? The story is good, but it felt so similar to so much that's out there already. I really wanted to love this, but I'll have to settle for like.
-
Kenya Wright you have done it again!!
You made me fall in love, you made me scream at the top of my lungs, and you made me really really really want a WITCH STORY!!
If you do not deliver on my Witchy story I will be pounting. And no one wants to see that.
Kids! You want this book! It picks up where "Fire Baptized" left off and will keep you hooked until the very end. Also, you'll be wanting a witch story ;)
With well-though out characters (and a kick ass witch) and a plot that will make you flip the pages faster and faster to find out what happens, I guarantee that this book will not disappoint.
If you're looking for a spit-fire of a heroine then look no further than Lanore.
Pick this book up today!! It's just burning to be read!
