Paramour - (Of Ballads and Banshees) by Robin Alvarez (Paperback)

About the Book

Sadie is a banshee on the run-from hunters, her past, and a deadly truth. When a spell forces her to feel again, her powers spiral. As hunters close in, love could be her downfall... or her only hope.

Book Synopsis

Her banshee scream is a death sentence. His love might be hers.

"You know that feeling people get when something bad is about to happen to someone they love? Or how some seem to know it's their time right before getting into a horrible accident? That's me. I warn that death is coming."

Sadie is a banshee on the run-from hunters, from her past, and from the terrifying truth that she's killed before. As an empath, she's learned to shut her emotions down, because if she feels too much, she could easily turn lethal again.

There are no highs. No lows. No chance of losing control.

But when Sadie falls sick from a hunter's mysterious spell, she can no longer escape into the safety of other people's emotions. Now in a new town with a new identity, she's forced to feel everything. Grief. Rage. Longing. Fear. For the first time in her life, she makes friends, forging connections and breaking her careful rules for survival. And then there's Nathan-the human boy she's connected to by fate.

Falling for him may well be her undoing.

As hunters close in, Sadie must decide whether to let herself lose control-and risk everything that keeps her safe-all to protect those she never meant to love.

Review Quotes

"This exhilarating tale of survival and acceptance hits home even at its most supernatural." -Kirkus Reviews

"Alvarez weaves elements of old school urban fantasy faves like Buffy, Supernatural and True Blood ... into this heartwarming and bittersweet tale of grief, loss, redemption, and the enduring power of love." -A. Y. Chao, Sunday Times bestselling author of Shanghai Immortal

"Paramour delivered everything I crave in a paranormal romance-original lore, high stakes, and danger lurking around every corner." -Angela Montoya, author of A Cruel Thirst

"Alvarez's brave characterization and impeccable world building will have you turning pages late at night. A compulsive read for those who grieve and love in equal measure." -Leslie Lutz, award-winning author of Fractured Tide and Sweetest Darkness

"Robin Alvarez weaves a paranormal story that is grounded with heart and threaded with music. Alvarez deftly balances the feeling of first relationships and the awkwardness of settling in a new town, with an exploration of grief and big emotions. Paramour offers a fresh take on the genre that feels small town cozy, complete with coffees and cinnamon buns, while the world lore is so expansive that it feels like anything could happen." -Tessa Barbosa, author of The Moonlight Blade

"Paramour by Robin Alvarez distinguishes itself through an inventive portrayal of Sadie, a banshee who simultaneously acts as a harbinger of death, framed within a clear and consistent supernatural system...The Gráshí bond introduces a wonderful romantic element, linking fate and magic in a way that intensifies Sadie's relationship with Nathan, complicated by his grief and their connection. Alvarez sets firm boundaries for banshee abilities and consequences for rule-breaking, such as vulnerabilities to iron dust and the scarcity of grounding pins, and I love the credibility this gives the narrative. By integrating these elements with Sadie's circumstances, especially the physical impact of the Gráshí bond, Alvarez bursts through with a brilliant introduction to an ambitious series that promises to deliver. Very highly recommended." -Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite