Demon Ember

Resurrection Chronicles Book 1

Romance - Paranormal
240 Pages
Reviewed on 02/14/2018
Buy on Amazon

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Author Biography

Awarding winning M.J. Haag writes gripping stories about realistic characters in slightly less realistic situations. Whether fantasy or paranormal, each story brings an irresistible amount of romantic tension, wrapping the reader so firmly in the characters' lives that reality easily slips away. Mounds of dirty dishes and laundry are a common side effect.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Aimee Carol Dixon for Readers' Favorite

Hell has come to earth. It began with tremors that grew in scale until the safety of a whole European town was at risk. Silence crept in with the aftermath, reports of animal attacks flooded social media, and then, when the whole world was watching… everything stopped. In just a few hours the world as Mya knew it was upended. And then the chaos reached the United States and the true horror began. Demon Ember by M.J. Haag, Becca Vincenza, and Melissa Haag is a spine-tingling read that’s sure to please mature readers who like their novels rife with zombie apocalypses and romantic tension.

The authors work together with an ease to be envied. Their choice to juxtapose the introduction of their apocalypse with a typical day for Mya made the experience more chilling. The buildup was amazing, and something that really impressed me was the authors’ ability to keep that eeriness going throughout Demon Ember. Only once was I not on edge when one of the Infected was nearby, and that was orchestrated by the authors as well. As Mya adjusts to the routine and travel with Drav, the mysterious and often unnerving “grey man,” I found it easier to relax to the same degree she did. Still, even with the comfort gleaned from Drav’s presence, there are plenty of jump moments. Not to mention that most of the comedy and outrage came, in equal measure, courtesy of Drav’s intense curiosity about the female form. By having him come from such a different world and giving him such a steep learning curve made the actual burgeoning tenderness between Mya and Drav more easily accessible to me as a reader. Full of unnerving implications and suspense, Demon Ember is a book I cannot recommend highly enough.

Ankita Shukla

In Demon Ember, the first book in the Resurrection Chronicles Series, the authors -- M.J. Haag, Becca Vincenza, and Melissa Haag -- put forth their version of a world dealing with a near apocalypse situation. Mya and her roommate (Kristin) are having a typical college day when the news of tremors in Germany becomes the major highlight. Before anybody could understand the severity of the situation, similar tremors begin causing terror in the US as well. Their trepidation is increased by the sudden appearances of people with severed bodies and a weird gait. The problems quickly turn into chaos where everyone is terrified and clueless. While escaping the undead and dangerous beasts whose bites are converting normal humans into infected ones (undead), Mya runs straight into a creature so strange that no words could define him aptly. She only wants to reunite with her family, but this creature, who calls himself Drav, has a strange obsession with her. Mya is not sure how much she can rely on Drav and how he would react when they find her family. Nevertheless, if she wants to survive, Drav might be her only chance.

The authors have written a story that keeps their readers on the edge of their seats throughout the book. I was hooked right from the beginning and completely connected with the characters. Their trepidation is communicated very effectively. I could feel Mya's concern about her family's well-being and her distrust toward Drav. The execution of the action scenes is so perfect that I found my heartbeats in sync with the characters that were involved in their respective acts. The conversations and situations are kept as close to reality as possible. Mya was thinking the same things that popped into my head and so I found myself very much in harmony with her. Needless to say, she is my favorite character. Although she is in a desperate situation, she is not afraid to voice her opinion whenever required. She has a clear vision of right and wrong and is portrayed as a wonderful girl.

This book has met -- and, dare I say -- exceeded all my expectations. I am not a fan of action, violence or apocalypse scenarios; however, the authors' presentation and execution amazed me. I, as a reader, found myself perfectly synchronized with the characters and the plot. I could not wait to learn the climax, yet did not feel the need to rush my reading because the development (and therefore the reading journey) was so intriguing and enveloping.

Ray Simmons

I loved Demon Ember: Resurrection Chronicles Book 1 by M.J. Haag, Becca Vincenza and Melissa Haag. I was looking for something I could read in a weekend. Demon Ember looked like it would fit the bill. But I didn’t want to waste my time. I wanted something that would absorb me. I wanted something new that I could really get into. I am not a paranormal fan, but I realize it can be a great genre in the right hands. These authors have the right hands. I have seen this type of story before, but never done like this or done so well. Mostly you see this kind of tale in movies or on television and, though they are sometimes done well, I’ve never seen one done this well. A big surprise for me is that there is not one sex scene in this book, yet it has one of the most satisfying romances or friendships that I have ever read.

There are two main characters in Demon Ember and I liked them both a lot, though they start as apparent enemies. Mya and Drav soon develop a relationship that defies definition. A relationship that they both need and want. There is growth and it is very beautifully done. It had to be done well as it is the driving force that keeps the plot pushing forward. The story is good and there are a lot of questions for the reader to puzzle over, but the relationship is what keeps us going. The setting is done well, but again, the characters steal the show. There is great writing all round which glues everything together into a whole that transcends the individual parts.