Photo credits: Free Photos
Edited by Vaishali
Title: 'The Barrier Between'
Author: Stacey Marie Brown Series: (Collector #2) Genre/Themes: Urban Fantasy, New Adult, Romance, Apocalpyse, Dystopian, Fae, Paranormal, love triangle Publisher: Twisted Fairy Publishing Year of Publication: 2015 Version: Paperback ISBN: 97800989013178
Note: 'The Barrier Between' is the second book in the 'Collector' series, so this review will contain spoilers for those who haven't read the first book in this series.
Review
‘I should have known once you open a sealed jar, it can never be truly closed again. Feelings and thoughts bled into the cracks and seeped in. Modifying, changing, corroding what had worked perfectly before.’
“Wait. Why are you mad at me?” “Because.” He shook his head, forcing his heated gaze from me, his voice low. “You changed everything.”
‘City in Embers’ left me in a place where I could see so much to foster and so much to assemble come the next book, ‘The Barrier Between’. ‘City in Embers’ reached its conclusion on a forestalling note of ‘what next?’, ‘what’s going to happen between Ryker and Zoey?’, ‘I wonder how they are going to evolve together?’ ‘And how they are going to tackle what has fallen at their unlucky feet?’ among other excited thoughts. In other words the ending of ‘City in Embers’ left a lot to be said and a lot to anticipate with this intense dystopian story and what is being cultivated between Ryker and Zoey. I was eager!
“When did you sneak in?” he whispered so low I barely heard him. “Get this far under my skin?”
‘The moment our lips met, the barrier combusted…’
‘The Barrier Between’ unfortunately missed out and fell flat where expectantly probing parts of this story could have flourished its roots and brandished its pursuits with a wieldy blade. I enjoyed this book and what it did offer, but there were plot points and character actions which frustrated me, and I’d be lying if I said it was better than its predecessor. Reading ‘The Barrier Between’ was like waiting for the ice cream van to halt its tyres at my stop, only to ride right past me, leaving me without the sweet treat I was looking forward to and a pocket full of money that I don’t know what to spend on…Unsated, and missing a flavour I was hoping would soon coat my tongue.
“I was willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for him. Are you?”
‘Maria’s lips curled in a malevolence. “The Avenging Angel has come home.’
Now residing in Peru, Zoey and her fae cohorts are far away from Seattle’s grieving streets and the electric storm that invoked mass destruction. Ryker and Zoey are careful to watch their backs from the countless people who are after them for a tempting destiny Ryker has locked in the sole of his boot. With information coming to light, enemies trailing them, Ryker and Zoey are in a race against transience, finding ways for Ryker to retrieve his powers back from where they presently live: inside Zoey.
‘He tipped his forehead against mine. “What am I going to do with you?"
‘I never feared death, but now I wasn’t living solely for me.’
Zoey becomes saturated with fae power, magic overtaking her system, while Ryker is shedding the skin of what makes him fae. Doing everything she can to partition Ryker’s powers from acclimating to her body, Zoey is severely worried for the safety of the Viking she is so reservedly falling for… but just when barriers are cautiously falling as they offer pieces of themselves for the other to hold, their safe harbour shatters because the barrier between them gradually begins assembling.
‘I was hoping the faster I walked, the quicker I would leave those newfound emotions behind, drowning them in the rushing water.’
Ryker and Zoey both knew what was coming, but this is a fight that also has the space to break them, it’s only up to them whether they give it the wherewithal to let it… Good things don’t last and days are totalled.
‘He will leave you, Zoey. You know it is only a matter of time. They always do.’
‘The Barrier Between’ is a trusty title for this second instalment because there are many people, and situations stacking up and erecting this wall between Zoey and Ryker, and they only help it grow. Taking many steps back and denying what is so obviously burning between them, it’s a shame this fire can’t singe this budding wall. And the sad thing is that they let it…
“I understand it’s in your nature to do what you do best. Fight. No matter the odds. It’s who you are. You will never be able to leave this life behind…’
Zoey’s instincts to secrete herself from pain are not so effortlessly superseded, and Ryker’s instinct to shut himself off is similarly as strong…I think what they both need is for me to smack their heads together so they stop hurting each other. I like the emergent relationship between Ryker and Zoey, they have something special, something electrifying, but both are evenly terrified of giving in and letting go of the last pieces that can bring them together because of all that stands bastion between them.
What Ryker and Zoey have inadvertently and involuntarily built up together is placed on hold…
‘He had awakened something in me that did not want to be suppressed any longer. It wanted more.’
‘A single spark and we were lost in the flames.’
Zoey comes to realise that everything is temporary, but her feelings are not, and neither is her fear, matching Ryker’s own as they fight an argue, kiss and seek comfort, longing and fearing, but they know this isn’t going to end well because when it comes down to it a sacrifice will become the inevitable aftermath. They are both pre-emptively careful trying not to cross lines, and hiding what they really want, and Zoey and Ryker are more alike than they care to admit.
“Fuck you for screwing everything up,” he whispered hoarsely, letting his hand glide down my face.'
“And fuck you, Wanderer, for wreaking havoc in mine,” I responded in the same breathy tone.’
As the breaks hit, and trouble rises, this fantastic threesome becomes a miserable fivesome, and Ryker’s past has every intention of not letting him go. Here is where Stacey Marie Brown propels the story into cliché territory. I don’t mind cliché as long as it has a fresh twist on the generic and has been executed in a smart, exciting way (even a simple way) - and Amara was undoubtedly going to make a reappearance in this story - but the author seemed to plunge her heels into the generic ‘ex-girlfriend/jealousy’ trope and ran with it in an superfluous way. I didn’t like how ‘The Barrier Between’ relied on this cliché to carry this book.
“I feel like I’m in prison.”
“No….You’re in hell.”
I like Ryker and Zoey A LOT, A LOT, A LOT! – but even they frustrated me, especially Ryker as soon as Amara comes back into the picture. I didn’t like how Ryker was using Amara as a tool to hide behind so he could push Zoey away. He was hurting her – unavoidably – but I didn’t like how he let Amara become a bridge between them, leaving Zoey vulnerable and unsure, the third wheel, not knowing where her place was among these new fae who enter the story. Zoey makes mistakes too, and both of them are flawed but the ball kept bouncing between courts, and I wanted Ryker to grab it and make a choice.
“Andrew was not my type at all, but thank you for lowering my standards for me.”
“It’s the end of the world, and you decide to be picky?” “Oh, shut up.” I smacked at his chest. My arm bounded back like it had hit cement.’
I wanted Ryker to mollify Zoey’s fears because he already knows them, but he only drove them. His character frustrated me because of this, and although Zoey doesn’t need anybody to fight in her corner, it is what she really wants, and it would have been nice for him to stick up for her more than he did. Ryker is still quite mysterious to me, and even though he has told Zoey some personal anecdotes, I wanted more from him. Ryker does have many layers as a character, but perhaps if we had something from his perspective it would have elevated his character arc and enhanced this story. Because we only see situations from Zoey’s eyes, we feel in accordance to how she feels, but I wanted this with Ryker too…or perhaps I’m being too greedy?
“How is it one insignificant person can bring such destruction and havoc? How were you capable of changing my life?”
There are developments within this story, but not a great deal does evolve plot-wise because ‘The Barrier Between’ explores the stagnation and trials both Zoey and Ryker face through this dangerous mess of oncoming death and vague ambiguity. I like the constant state of conflict, the angst and drama, the sexual tension and the heated fire that tides with a single touch between Ryker and Zoey…its honestly hot!
Desire charged his expression.
The dam we’d tried to build between us splintered. We moved at the same time.’
I can understand that the pressure of writing a sequel must be nerve-wracking, but I think ‘The Barrier Between’ fell into the ‘second book syndrome’? Is that a thing? I’m not sure, but it felt like the author grew stressed and wasn’t sure how to piece some of the shards of this story together, and I had similar issues with Stacey Marie Brown’s ‘Darkness’ series too. Reading this was a lot of fun, but it was also slightly irritating. That said, this story had me glued to its pages and my eyes could wanted only to gobble every word up, waking up every morning I was dying to know what was going to commence.
‘Nothing kills your savagery like happiness.’
‘At our worst I still didn’t want to be without him.’
A character I can safely say gave me no trouble, warmed me, made me cackle with humour and widened my heart with cute adoration was my ADD monkey sprite, Sprig! I love him, so much! He is loyal to Zoey, provided laughter and cheeky jokes in tension-filled scenarios. I want my own monkey sprite, and wish for a new species of Sprig’s to arise someday…that’s actually kind of scary…
‘I was surrounded by a pirate, a Viking, and a talking monkey. Disney had nothing on me.’
50% through, reality strikes Ryker and Zoey, and a complication enters – one who I REALLY didn’t like, though her character was contrived in such a way – twisting the fates, but about 70% through the story was losing its flavour. The major plotlines weren’t difficult to predict but they still left me with my mouth open, feeling indignant when the truth did come out…and the cliff-hanger? I need to read the next book!
“You got some balls challenging him like that.” Croygen sidled up to me, nodding after Ryker. “Most fae warriors wouldn’t even do that…except you seemed to have a power over him no one else does.”
Ryker is the only man who has seen the different sides of Zoey, he sees her instability and volatility, and the flux in between. Vulnerability isn’t something Zoey shares at all – if not in kind – and her feelings for Ryker make her brittle, and she can’t show them unless they are accepted or shared. After raw loss, she can’t fathom any more of it, only her life seems to be taking her there…again. And If denial means safety… then denial is the thorn to pluck.
After deceit arises to the surface, and evil shows its face, Zoey and Ryker are torn and helpless because now there is a bigger barrier between.
“God dropped his Angel on me again, and I’m not letting you get away this time.”
I gave this book 3.5 stars -
P.S: This series has some seriously gorgeous covers!
Trigger Warning: Sex scenes that aren’t largely descriptive and swearing. Note: This series could also do with another round of editing because I spotted minor grammatical mistakes and spelling errors.
My Rating System:
★ - 1 star: I did not like the book ★★ - 2 stars: The book was okay ★★★ - 3 stars: It was a good, solid read ★★★★ - 4 stars: A great book ★★★★★ - 5: A phenomenal read
THIS PART WILL CONTAIN SPOILERS!
Favourite parts/Thoughts:
1) Drunk Ryker…I think he should get drunk more often! 2) I’m glad I finally got to meet a water fairy since they were talked about quite a few times in the ‘Darkness’ series. 3) I like Croygen’s character, and I think he just might prove Ryker wrong in the next book 4) I still love Daniel, perhaps even more…why couldn’t he still be alive!….*weeping* 5) I’m not sure how I feel about Zoey accepting her fae heritage so easily… 6) I’d like to know more about Sprig’s past. He’s a great character but I think it would be interesting to perhaps see a serious, more honest side to him? About what happened to him while he was with DMG? 7) Most of the women in this book are filled with jealousy and animosity towards Zoey, and I kept thinking why can’t we have some positive female influences that aren’t threatened by other females? I think we need some women in this story that stick together and show some kind of cohesion.
Favourite Quotes:
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‘I had never felt completely safe before. Always on the edge and waiting for the other shoe to drop. Security was always an obscure idea. Something I dreamed about having but never really understood. I knew instantly what the difference was. He was home.’ “Yeah, I’ll bet he’s a big boy…Oh, Ryker, you are so big.” “I did not say that.” “Oh, Viking, bang me with your large stick again.” “Sprig, shut up.” He snickered and opened his mouth again to talk. I snatched a banana off a seller’s cart and shoved it into his mouth. “Aaacck!” He batted the fruit away. Scraping the taste off his tongue. “That was mean, Bhean. Dirty!” “Then you stop being nasty.” He tilted his soft head against my cheek. “But you like it dirty.” “Ahhhh!” I yelled and Sprig went sailing off my shoulder and landed in the bushes. He brushed himself off and kept walking. “With no sense of humour,” he shouted.’ ‘I hadn’t realised how much I’d begun to respect fae’s rules of battle. They still were old school, and few fought with guns, choosing blades instead. There was an honour in that. It was about who was a more skilled fighter. It was about smarts. Guns could render the slowest person a winner in a duel. But in the general sense, I liked the concept of “may the best fighter win.” I went into all my fights with only my fists and wits.’ ‘The girl who held so much rage for life, for the cards she was dealt, was bounding to the surface again. The girl who could only solve things with her fists growled inside, wanting to break out like a caged animal.’ ‘He let go of the shackles, allowing them to fall to the floor. “No. Keeping peace here is hard enough. You only bring misery and evil to our doorstep.” “So you like me then?” ‘I was about to change everything between us. A couple of words, and I would have my murderer standing across from me, no longer my friend.’ ‘My lids drifted closed, tucking my head deeper into him. Home. Safety. Happiness. Before, I imagined those things would be objects or material items. But now all those things came in a form of a Viking.’
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Rlated posts:
● 'City in Embers' by Stacey Marie Brown
● 'From Burning Ashes' by Stacey Marie Brown ______________________________________________ CategoriesAll Leave a comment and lets talk about 'The Barrier Between'
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