The Passion Season: Book I of The Covalent Series by Libby Doyle is a truly amazing urban fantasy guaranteed to set the heart strings aflutter and the pulse racing. At the start it follows Rainer Barakiel, son of Lucifer as he is exiled from his home. He is a Covalent, a race who above all things must find a balance between the energies of creation and 
destruction. His father Lucifer was a traitor, and gained control over the destruction realm and all those who dwelled within. Relentlessly he sends his forces against the Covalent in hope to seize control, whilst also sending his minions to the earthly realm where the son he wished to win over was exiled. Loneliness threatens to engulf Rainer, but find unexpected friendship from Pellus, an adept assigned to him who shield his activities from mortal eyes. Empires rise and fall, his time passed in a combination of business and battle, longing for home. But then he finds it in the most unexpected place, in the arms of a human known as Zan, and finds in her a kindred spirit. Zan, (Alexandra O’Gara) is no stranger to turmoil, she has a warrior’s soul and has survived more than most should ever witness in her life, a former army veteran, recovering alcoholic, who now works as an agent for the FBI. She has no interest in men but is helplessly drawn towards him, and both have secrets they would rather remain buried. With the war between realms and the uncovering of sacrificial cults Zan grows closer to discovering a truth that could put her very life in jeopardy, one Rainer must shield her from, or risk what they have become.
If I could give any more than five stars I would. Libby Doyle has a vivid descriptive voice allowing the crafting of beautifully scripted romance, epic conflicts, and heart pounding action. Clear thought has gone into every aspect of the plot, from the inner workings of magic, to the dividing of realms in a fantastic manner. The Passion Season: Book I of the Covalent Series truly is a book you won’t want to put down. Written in alternating character point of views we are given glimpses into the psyche of some very real, well-constructed characters. It has everything, good vs evil, conflict, friendship, betrayal, and some smoking hot sex scenes, which at no point were anything other than beautifully written. Engaging, page turning, thrilling, I just couldn’t put it down. One thing is for certain, Libby has been added onto my top author list so I remember to keep an eye out for the next book in this epically fantastic series.
K.J's Athenaeum 