The Barrier Between

Collector, Book 2

By: Stacey Marie Brown

Narrated by: Amy Landon

Length: 10 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's Summary

Zoey's life has taken a dramatic turn. Only a few months ago, she was a Collector working for the secret part of the government called the Department of Molecular Genetics (DMG), tracking and collecting fae. Her life had been changing and improving, with a partner she loved and a sister she adored. Now all that is gone - Daniel murdered by a fae, and Lexi killed when the Seattle area was devastated by a powerful, magical electrical storm. In addition Zoey finds herself altered by her association with the Wanderer, Ryker. She discovered that she was an experiment from the very company she worked for. She could die at any moment of a threatening defect - taking Ryker's magic with her.

In a race against time, Ryker and Zoey set out to find a way to transfer Ryker's powers back before it's too late. Their journey takes them to the rain forests of South America, dealing with those who are after something Ryker possesses and who will stop at nothing to obtain it for themselves. What Zoey and Ryker discover can destroy them or tear them apart for good.

©2015 Stacey Marie Brown (P)2016 Tantor

Love this series!

Overall:
So I’m actually having to go back and skim over the books as I write the reviews because I blew through them so quickly. I have not been his obsessed with a series since starting ACOTAR/ACOMAF. I wasn’t going to write a review for the last 3 books because all of them are running together, but I feel like I owe these books my attention, lol. These books are not very well known (only 168 reviews on Goodreads for this one) and I feel like more people should know about them. I’m just going to do mini reviews on them though. The genre is a mixture between Urban Fantasy, New Adult, and Paranormal Romance. It’s not all about the romance, but it’s definitely in there.

The second books picks up with Zoey and Ryker in Peru after Zoey jumps them there to escape the DMG hunters at the end of book one. Almost all of book two takes place in Peru, which is a nice change of scenery from Seattle. Ryker and Zoey continue to try and find a way to transfer Ryker’s powers back to him, but run into some trouble as the powers begin to adapt to Zoey.

-We meet a new character, a sexy fae pirate named Croygen *swoons*. I absolutely adore his character because of his heavy snark and sense of humor, I’m always a sucker for someone who can make me laugh. You’re not sure whether you can trust him or not in the beginning, but he begins to grow on you.
-Ugh Amara is back. I knew I wouldn’t like her because I’m totally team Zoey and Ryker, but even without that she’s a stone cold B. One of my least favorite characters in any series. Ever. What she does to Zoey and Ryker at the end of this book made me want to reach through my phone and punch her in the face.
-And of course Sprig is still here. His character is a great comic relief and works in bringing Zoey and Ryker closer.
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"I watched his eyes move up my figure. My skin tingled every place they went. Then his eyes landed back on mine. Desire charged his expression."
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Okay, now let’s discuss Zoey and Ryker’s relationship. The tension between the two was building in book 1, but finally developed in The Barrier Between. The scenes between them: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥! I love that Ryker and Zoey’s relationship was not insta-love. Their relationship has been a slow burn from hating one another to what it develops into in this book over a period of weeks. I know “weeks doesn’t seem like a long time”. It is though when you’re with someone 24/7. I also appreciated the inner turmoil Zoey had about Ryker having a girlfriend. I’m devastatingly loyal so I have a hard time connecting with people who cheat. It was made pretty clear in this book though that Ryker and Amara’s “relationship” was not one of love, but more sex and convenience (at least for him).

Without revealing too much, we get to see the bad A Zoey that we heard about in City in Embers. Zoey gets tangled up in a fighting ring and we finally see the ruthlessness and cold fury that lives within her. I loved seeing this untamed side of her, as it has only been hinted at until this point. I really love kick A females so Zoey climbed near the top of my favorite female protagonists in this book.

Additional Notes:
– This is where I stress that the book is not YA. It’s New Adult due to the sexual content and the language. I have a terrible mouth on me (I was a sailor after-all) so swearing doesn’t even phase me. However, if you don’t like it – I would stay away from this series. It doesn’t distract from the story though, but rather adds to it IMO.

PLEASE MORE

Left with emotional attachments and sentiments of betrayal as this segment ended. Please expidite the next book.

Takes place immediately after first book Here we go

Here we go! Zoey and Ryker’s relationship is full on blooming in this second installment of 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳 𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴.

This book takes off right after the events of 𝘊𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘌𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘴. Most of the story revolves around Zoey and Ryker’s relationship, and the little family they are making with Sprig, the little monkey sprite who is always hungry, and loves honey.

There isn’t too much plot development in this one, as the focus is primarily on their budding relationship. But we are left on a pretty big cliffhanger, and I’m excited to see what happens next!

What this book is giving:
✅ Enemies to Lovers
✅ Found Family
✅ Urban Fantasy
✅ Heroine learning how to control her new magic
✅ A stone that everyone wants
✅ Cute Monkey Sprite

Look out for:
⚠️ Technically, kinda, cheating…but not really?

Rating:

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ /5

🌟🌟🌟🌟💫

𝑻𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒆𝒔: PNR Romance, Fae, Urban Fantasy, Enemies to Lovers
𝑹𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈: 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫
𝑺𝒑𝒊𝒄𝒆: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
𝑷𝑶𝑽: FMC
𝑻𝑾: Loss of a family member, abuse received in foster care

Zoey and Ryker’s story really takes off in book 2. These two are running from DMG and a whole bunch of other Fae, everyone is after them and they still have no clue how to get the powers out of Zoey and back to Ryker. The majority of this book takes us to Puru and I loved the change of scenery in this book. I also loved adding in the sexy Pirate, Cryogen. I will say, I don’t know what to completely make of him yet, but I am willing to stick around to find out.

This book ends in such a way that makes me so glad that book 3 is already out as I needed to instantly head into it.

This was just like the first book, one I just couldn't put down & the audiobook was so well done. The narrator did an amazing job bring this story to life.

I LOVE the series but POC described oddly

I thought book two would be better but the way the author describes BIPOC is soooo cringe. It’s almost like she’s only seen/heard about them on tv or pictures. I’m sure it’s not intentional at all but every time she tries, it’s using words that are shocking, peculiar, or down right stereotypical. Doesn’t take away from the story but I rolled my eyes a lot of felt uncomfortable at the most random moments. It just feels like maybe they’re should be some BIPOC in the publishing process.

I love this series

This will be my 2nd time through this series. I read it the first time and obviously listening to it the 2nd time around. I really loved this series and each book hooked me more and more. It took some years before I realized this was a follow up to the Darkness series. Now that I know I have been listening to the series in order.

Amy Landon does an amazing job of doing the voices for each character. Each one unique to its character. Her range is amazing. The story itself I obviously love and have reviewed already so I just wanted to leave on for the audio part. Because again amaze balls. Definitely worth the money.

Great story

Narrator did a fantastic job thank you so much for bringing this book to life.

Loved it

Love this series! This installment is filled with emotion and action. I loved all the character interactions and Sprig adds just the right amount of humour.

Keep Reading

I loved it. Good continuing story line. Keeps you wanting more.. I will finish the series

Yes and No

I liked the first book, this one not so much. First, when the back story highlights are repeatedly gone over, (both books) it frankly seems like filler rather than story enhancement. Also, Zoey's nonstop stubbornness and chip-on-shoulder attitude simply wore down my enjoyment and any good feelings I might have had for her. Instead of attributes perhaps showing her harsh beginning, it became just plain tiresome, boring. Cue drum roll, eye roll, here she goes again. She fought with everyone. And, just as in real life, when the drama is non-stop, one becomes numb to it.
Anyway, based on my experience, especially with book 2, and reviews of books 3 and 4, I'm going to pass on them.