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House of the Rising Sun
Unavailable
House of the Rising Sun
Unavailable
House of the Rising Sun
Audiobook14 hours

House of the Rising Sun

Written by Kristen Painter

Narrated by Elijah Alexander

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

4/5

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Currently unavailable

Currently unavailable

About this audiobook

Every vampire has heard rumor of the mythical place where their kind can daywalk. But what no vampire knows is that this City of Eternal Night actually exists.
And its name is New Orleans.
For centuries, the fae have protected the city from vampire infestation. But when the bloodsuckers return, the fragile peace in New Orleans begins to crumble.
Carefree playboy Augustine, and Harlow, a woman searching for answers about her absent father, are dragged into the war. The fate of the city rests on them --- and their fae blood that can no longer be denied.
Book one in the brand new, action-packed urban fantasy Crescent City series, from award winning, House of Comarre author Kristen Painter!
LanguageEnglish
Release dateMay 13, 2014
ISBN9781478981596
Unavailable
House of the Rising Sun

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Reviews for House of the Rising Sun

Rating: 4.157894736842105 out of 5 stars
4/5

114 ratings12 reviews

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  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I agree with many of the comments saying that the female main Harlowe is a bit annoying, but I think everything else about the book is good enough to greatly outweigh the bad. I liked the premise, the setting and characterization is interesting, and I thought the pacing was quite good. A good fun read!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Great book. Can't wait for the 3rd book in this series.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    What a ride! If you have read Kristen's House of Comarré series you are somewhat familiar with the world of The Crescent City series already. In fact Chrysabelle actually makes a small appearance in HOUSE OF THE RISING SUN. It took me a little bit to get into the story but by the end I was fully invested and ready for book 2 to start.The main person I had a hard time loving was Harlow. Her reasoning for despising her mother and alienating herself were pretty selfish. I understand the underlying want to know the answers to her questions but her mother didn't seem like the type of person to withhold information out of spite and I felt she needed to get over herself a little and be more understanding. I also had a hard time with her reaction towards her mothers death and the inheritance she was left with. Because of this It took me a while to like Harlow and when she finally got her answers I was glad to see my instincts about her mother were right. I had no issues enjoying Augustine. We first met him in The House of Comarré series but we really get to know him in HOUSE OF THE RISING SUN. He is very loyal to his friends and family but also a playboy. I liked his sense of justice and the way he carried himself with pretty much every step of the book. The relationship between Harlow and Augustine isn't an easy one. There is a lot of feelings between the two but with that came a lot of head butting, and denial. I am very interested to see how there relationship (whether romantic *fingers crossed* or friendship) grows in book 2. New Orleans is always a great city to base a paranormal storyline in. Painter did a great job building her world and characters to fit right in. I would recommend Painters new series to anyone who has enjoyed her writing in the past or looking for an intriguing read in the future. * This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    The main girl pisses me off!! She thinks of nothing but herself!! She makes me so mad!! She doesn’t have ANY common sense. The story line was good would’ve been better without the girl.

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    House of the Rising Sun is the first book that I have read by Painter, but it definitely won't be my last. Painter does an amazing job with her world building creating a world where fae, witches, and vampires live, and she brings to life a New Orleans that contains all three. I absolutely loved the development of both main characters (Augustine and Harlow) as each face a trial that will change their lives forever, and I enjoyed how she brought these two characters together. Both characters really grew from the beginning of the book to the end, and I am looking forward to seeing what these new directions for them both lead them in book two. This book had many twists and turns keeping the reader's attention from beginning to end, and Painter did a good job setting up the next phase of the story in book two. Overall House of the Rising Sun was an amazing read that I would definitely recommend if you enjoy urban fantasy with a dash of intrigue, drama, and some romance. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.Received a copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Review courtesy of Dark Faerie TalesQuick & Dirty: Vampires and the fae collide in this addicting and thrilling spinoff to the House of Comarre series.Opening Sentence: “Why can’t we take the streetcar?”The Review:Augustine grew up being told he should deny his fae side. When he could do that no longer, his mother kicked him out. He learned to make his way on the streets in any way he could. Then, he met Olivia Goodwin, a famous fae actress, who took him in and became a second mother to him. Now, as an adult, he would do anything for Olivia. So when she’s viciously attacked by vampires, Augustine is understandably devastated and swears to find and eradicate those responsible no matter the cost.Harlow, Olivia’s biological daughter, has done her best to hide her fae side her whole life, seeing it more as a curse than a blessing. All she’s ever wanted was for her mother to tell her the name of her father, but Olivia always refused, causing an estrangement between mother and daughter. After the vampire attack, Harlow is filled with mixed emotions. She’s grieving the loss of a mother she never really knew while still angry at the fact that Olivia never told her who her father was. Despite her mixed emotions, she wants to help Augustine find those responsible for the attack. Doing so will mean embracing her fae nature, something that is much easier said than done. Will Harlow and Augustine be able to put aside their differences and work together to eradicate the vampire threat in New Orleans?I’ve read the first two books I believe in Painter’s House of Comarre series, and while I liked it, I never got around to continuing the series. So I was a little nervous about starting this spinoff because you never know how familiar you need to be with a previous series when starting a spinoff. Thankfully, while I was a little confused at first, mainly at how the world was set up, that confusion did not hamper my enjoyment of this book at all. In fact, if it weren’t for some issues I had with Harlow, this would be a five star read for me.Let’s start with Augustine. He’s a great main character for the series, and letting the reader have a glimpse of his childhood in the prologue was sheer brilliance because it made me form an immediate connection to him as a character to see how his biological mother treated him. If we hadn’t had the prologue, I may not have connected to him as quickly as I did.Harlow is another story. It was very hard for me to connect to her at first. While I understand her frustration and anger over Olivia’s refusal to share her father’s identity, the way Harlow acts towards Augustine and Lally (Olivia’s close friend and housekeeper) in the aftermath of the attack made any sympathy I had for her disappear. She’s so selfishly focused on her own problems and desires that she makes no effort to comfort these two people who are obviously grieving. Once Harlow sets aside some of her issues though, she does become more likeable, and I’m interested to see how she continues to grow as the series goes on.All in all, I think this was a great first book in a series. I had a very hard time putting the book down and have already started book two because I didn’t want to leave the world just yet. I’m a major series hopper, so when I decide to immediately continue on with a series, you know it has me hooked. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing where the series goes from here!Notable Scene:“You’re ditching Charlie’s Angels for me?”He shrugged. “This is going to make me sound like the world’s biggest creeper, but I could have those girls any night of the week, any week of the year. This is Nokturnos. They’re not who I want to spend tonight with.”“And I am?” She was trying hard not to feel flattered and failing.“You put time and thought into your mask. They didn’t. That says a lot to me.”She put a few points on his side of the scoreboard.“I’ll accept that.”“Have you been to New Orleans before?”“No.”“How’s your night going so far?”“Not great.” Although she’d gotten the start of a good buzz before she’d lost her drink. That was something.He extended his arm again. “I can fix that. I love this city and I’d be happy to turn your night around.”She almost reached for his arm, then hesitated once more. “How do you know I even care how the rest of this night goes?”He smiled full-on and her breath caught in her throat. Oh my. Why did fae men have to be so pretty?FTC Advisory: Hachette/Orbit provided me with a copy of House of the Rising Sun. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Set in an alternate future in New Orleans the Fae are out to the rest of the world and they are in control of the supernaturals in the world. This is actually set in an previous world but none of that is needed by the reader for this book. Set in a New Orleans that Fae rule and witches are lower on the social standing due to a curse set by a grief stricken witch several centuries before the city has been forgotten by vampires. The story starts with a famous retired Fae actress being murdered by the vampires that draws her adopted Fae son into taking a leadership role in defending the city and informing her estranged daughter about the other half of her heritage and a battle with her previously unknown father.

    A good tight story all around and I enjoyed it that I will be looking for the second book and just might backtrack to the previous books that are set in this universe.


    Digital review copy provided by the publisher through NetGalley
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Our Review, by LITERAL ADDICTION's Pack Alpha - Chelle:*Copy gifted in exchange for an honest reviewGreat book! The world building was stellar, the characters instantly likable, there was plenty of conflict on each page, the book started with a bang and instantly kept my interest, and even though it was the first of a 'new' series, there wasn't that dreaded data dump that makes you want to scream "get on with it already". It did have a graceful build, but from about 48% on it was constant action and like all good books should, left me wanting more after the last page was turned.Augustine is an amazing hero and his escalation into the Guardian of the Haven city of New Orleans means... yep, more Augie in future installment. Woot! :) Harlow was one of those heroines that you really, really dislike at the beginning because there's so much left to conjecture, but she really grows on you as the book continues and the chemistry between the two is undeniable. The supporting characters - both on the protagonist and antagonist side of the spectrum - were necessary, compelling, and left me wanting to know more, so I hope that we do, indeed, learn more about them as the series progresses.While CRESCENT CITY is a spin-off of THE HOUSE OF COMARRE it stands well on its own, and new readers will be able to jump in without issue.Would I recommend House of the Rising Sun? Absolutely! I'm really looking forward to book #2. This is a very intriguing new Urban Fantasy series with lots of supe groups and plenty of action. Right up my alley...
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This new urban fantasy series takes place in New Orleans. There are a variety of different supernatural creatures living there. Augustine is a fae who becomes the city Guardian after his friend and foster mother Olivia is killed by vampires. Augustine had been successfully dodging responsibility until that happened. Now, he is determined to rid the city of vampires. Another main character in this story is Harlow who is Olivia's estranged daughter. Their estrangement stems from Olivia's refusal to tell Harlow who her father is. Harlow is trying to deny that she is fae but her affinity with computers and her inability to touch anything or anyone with her bare hands without being overwhelmed with sensations clearly make her fae. She comes home to New Orleans to ask her mother for a large amount of money to pay a fine or else she will have to spend two years in prison for hacking into a company computer. Since Olivia left half of her mansion to Augustine and half to Harlow, a natural rivalry is set up. However, both of them want to bring the vampires who killed Olivia to justice which means they need to work together. It might be Harlow's mysterious father who is causing many of the problems in New Orleans and Harlow begins to understand why her mother might have kept his identity secret from her. This was an engaging urban fantasy with lots of interesting characters. It will be interesting to follow along with the series and find out what happens next.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    Weak story telling relying more on having a sexy central male character than anything else.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    A couple of recent experiences have made me extremely wary of spin-offs, so it was probably a good thing I didn’t know House of the Rising Sun was one until I was already well into it. I’ve never read Kristin Painter before this, and I’d definitely wanted to give this series a fair shot. So perhaps it’s to her credit that I didn’t even know this was a spin-off novel until I read the author interview at the back of the book – not once did I feel lost or in over my head even if I hadn’t read her House of Comarré series. Right away, I liked how this book was the perfect jumping-on point for a new reader, which is a quality I think all spin-offs should strive for.Augustine, who was a side character in House of Comarré gets to star in his own series here, returning to his hometown of New Orleans after some time away. He’s playing fast and loose, having very few responsibilities and getting to enjoy the attentions of human women who find his Fae heritage irresistible. He also gets free room and board whenever he wants in a luxurious Garden District mansion, thanks to his adoptive mother Olivia Goodwin, the retired movie star. It’s a good life! Little wonder then why he’s so fiercely reluctant when asked to be Guardian of the city. But when the vampire gangs start attacking innocent tourists and those he loves, Augustine finds he might not have a choice.Meanwhile, Olivia’s biological daughter Harlow gets into a massive amount of trouble, having been convicted of cyber-hacking. Completely broke and unable to pay the exorbitant fine, she decides on the lesser of two evils and hits up her mom for help rather than go to jail, even though the two have been estranged for years.What struck me early on was that neither Augustine nor Harlow seemed to be capable of taking responsibility of their own actions. Augustine wasn’t too bad – though it was a bit off-putting the way he figured he could get away with doing something wrong with no repercussions. When threatened with the Guardianship, all he could think about was how it would affect his cushy life. Guess what, Augustine, punishment usually goes hand in hand with breaking the rules! There’s really no sense in resenting it.Ultimately Augustine redeemed himself in my eyes, stepping up to fulfill his role. On the other hand, Harlow’s attitude left a bad taste in my mouth and did not really fade until the very end. It was revealed early on that her estrangement from her mother was due to Olivia refusing to divulge the identity of Harlow’s father. That’s a fixation Harlow NEVER allows us to forget. The way she went on about it, you’d think every one of her life’s misfortunes could be traced back to Olivia withholding her father’s name. Even her introductory scene involved Harlow imagining daddy coming to bail her out of trouble, as if she’d never have been duped into a cybercrime IF ONLY he’d been there in the first place. Characters tend to play a huge role in my enjoyment of a novel, so it was unfortunate that Harlow started off so self-absorbed and entitled.But how I adored the Kristin Painter’s portrayal of New Orleans in this series! If she’d had wanted the atmosphere of a never-ending party, she certainly nailed it. It’s the perfect setting when it comes to a haven for fae, vampires, witches and other supernatural creatures. I loved the scene of Nocturnos, a noisy and boisterous night of festivities where everyone just wants to have fun. Can’t really blame Augustine for being so happy-go-lucky when the mood’s just so positively infectious, and world building is simply phenomenal.Apart from the hiccups with the characters, I actually quite enjoyed this book and had a lot of fun with it. In fact, I thought the last page came far too soon, and wish ending hadn’t been so rushed. These characters have a lot of potential to grow, with Augustine having won me over already, and Harlow is well on her way to becoming a more sympathetic character. I’ll admit it – I’m raring to find out more. All in all, House of the Rising Sun is a promising start.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Reviewed by: Rabid ReadsI was super excited when I first discovered this novel because I’ve been meaning to give Kristen Painter’s writing a try, and although I’ve heard great things about her HOUSE OF COMARRE series, I have a more difficult time playing catch-up than I do jumping on the bandwagon at book 1. HOUSE OF THE RISING SUN has a lot going for it including captivating characters, detailed world-building, and a strong plot. Overall, I thought it was a good first installment, and a great introduction to Painter’s new CRESCENT CITY universe. However, I did have a major issue with Harlow; I found her to be very self-absorbed and I couldn’t sympathize with her daddy issues. She does get better as the story progresses, and I’m all for character growth, but her brattiness was just too extreme that it was difficult to see past it.I really loved the world-building in this first installment—I wish there had been more of it! The CRESCENT CITY universe is so rich and diverse that I was hoping for a background chapter or maybe a glossary to help fill-in some of the blanks. Now, it’s my understanding that Augustine’s a secondary character from this author’s first series, so I’m assuming I would have probably benefited from starting with HOUSE OF COMARRE. But, already I find myself fascinated by all of the different types of fae. What sets the Shadeux apart from the Smokesinger and the Raptor? Vampires, shifters, witches, and voodoo further complete the picture, and help ensure that all paranormal readers will be able to enjoy this book no matter their preferred poison.Harlow. Where do I begin? She and I did not get off to a good start. I found her bratty and very self-absorbed, and my opinion of her didn’t change until well past the mid-way point. I struggled to understand why she chose to alienate herself from her mother because of a man (her dad) she never met. Her attitude towards her inheritance on the tail end of her mother’s death was distasteful, and her prejudice against the fae was unjustified, especially given her genetics. Harlow does eventually begin to grow, and I found myself liking the character she might one day become if she continues down her new path. Unfortunately, the author made her heroine a little too hateful to the point that Harlow’s behaviour actually overshadowed some of this novel’s other merits.Augustine is a phenomenal character, and I can definitely understand why he earned his own spin-off series. I liked how his dark and light sides battle each other; he wants to do right by Olivia, his mom and Harlow, but it’s so hard to please everyone, and revenge has a way of twisting even the best of intentions. I enjoyed the diversity and scope of Painter’s secondary characters; Dulcinea, Fenton and Lally were insta-favourites, and I look forward to learning more about their backgrounds and seeing what roles they will play as this series progresses. It’s also worth mentioning that the villain is especially heinous, and I’m optimistic that the hunt is going to be almost as satisfying as the eventual final showdown.New Orleans is a great setting for this story, and the author makes good use of her location. I enjoyed the beginnings of Kristen Painter’s main plot arc, and see a lot of potential for future installments. HOUSE OF THE RISING SUN has one major downfall, but otherwise delivers on all fronts. I have high hopes for CITY OF ETERNAL NIGHT.