Title: The Onyx Talisman (Talisman #3)
Author: Brenda Pandos
Release date: December 16, 2011
Publisher: Obsidian Mountain Publishing
Pages: 247
Source: Author

Unrest stirs deep in Scotts Valley. Filled with uncertainty, Julia anxiously awaits Nicholas’ return. Phil, hurt and unsure of his place as a sober vampire, holds the pieces of Julia’s fragile psyche together, secretly hoping Nicholas stays away forever. Scarlett bides her time, plotting for the perfect moment to prove herself and earn redemption. But somewhere in L.A., Alora conspires to reclaim her talisman and strip Julia of everything she holds dear.

Little do they know, a war is coming and more than one vampire would like to see the Prince of Vampires overthrown. As more and more vampires show up from nowhere, addicted to her scent, Julia must pick her allies carefully before it’s too late. Can Julia bargain with fate? When the time comes, will she even have a choice? Find out how it all ends in this explosive grand finale of The Talisman Trilogy.

The Onyx Talisman, the final book in the Talisman series, does not disappoint fans of the trilogy.  It’s full of action, suspense, steamy romance, and blood-crazed vampires.  Fans will get everything they wanted and more!

Getting back into the story takes pretty much no time at all.  Things pick up shortly after the ending of The Sapphire Talisman and it’s hard not to get sucked back in.  Tension is high, hearts are broken, and friendships are being tested.  The Onyx Talisman is one surprise after another.

Julia was a bit whiny.  Her life was falling apart and she got one surprise after another but it almost seemed like Nicholas was the only thing that mattered to her.  She was blind to what needed to be done because there was a chance that it might cause her to lose him.  She seemed a little obsessive.  It also seemed that their relationship was a little too mushy.  I honestly just didn’t see Nicholas acting the way he did in this book.  There were times he acted like his old self (and I loved that) but there were also times that he seemed like a completely different person.  Phil, on the other hand, was his old self.  He was wonderful and funny and a great guy.

The end was both satisfying and not.  Things seemed to work out too perfectly.  I just found it rather hard to believe.  I also felt that it was a little too hasty.  It just felt like everything happened way too fast.  There was a lot of build up throughout the book and things were just resolved quite easily at the end.  I liked the ending but I would have liked a bit more depth to it.

Overall, The Onyx Talisman will satisfy readers and leave them completely in love with the Talisman series and it’s wonderful characters.

Also, as part of the blog tour I have written a letter to the author, Brenda Pandos.

Brenda,

First off, thank you for that ending! Ahh I was so happy with it.

Second, thank you for bringing back my love of vampires.  Before reading The Emerald Talisman I had pretty much given up on finding a vampire book that I liked.  You showed me that vampires can still be awesome and that I can still love vampire books. I’m sure you will do the same with the Everblue trilogy and merpeople. =)

I look forward to reading all your future books!  Thanks for supporting my reading addiction!

Katie

Brenda is also having a giveaway for a Kindle, signed copies of Onyx, and some e-books so if you want to enter fill out the rafflecopter form!

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