Ghostland

by Jory Strong

Book Overview

A dazzling urban fantasy romance from a fresh new voice whose bestselling e-books have put readers "in a constant state of arousal."(Fallen Angel Reviews)

Welcome to a postapocalyptic world, where the afterlife holds beings that only the bravest can summon-or dare to desire.

Taken from her home and family, shamaness Aisling McConaughey must enter the "ghostlands" to save a wealthy man's mistress. But there's a...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0425226069
• ISBN13: 9780425226063
• Release Date: April 2009
• Publisher: Berkley / Nal
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.5" x 8.2"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

Sizzling Post-Apocalyptic Romance

In a post-apocalyptic world Aisling McConaughey is ripped away from her simple life to use her gift as a powerful shamaness guide into the Ghostlands. When she unwittingly calls upon Djinn prince Zureal en Caym to help her discover the whereabouts of a high-powered politician's mistress, Aisling's not prepared for the price he will demand. Zureal has never before been called upon, but the experience of being torn away from his world and thrust into the power of another is not one he will tolerate without retribution. He will make the child of mud pay for taking control out of his hands. When Aisling and Zureal learn someone is trying to enslave a demon through the drug "Ghost", they must work together to discover who is behind the evil that threatens both of their worlds. GHOSTLAND is a powerful story of the struggle between right, wrong, revenge, passion, and forgiveness. Jory Strong wrote a complex, emotionally charged tale, successfully creating a world and characters that captivated me. Aisling first appears as a fragile woman who has never really had much in her life, but she quickly shows deep strength and while her confidence waivers, she always does what she MUST do, even when she is scared. Zureal was pissed. He did not like losing control, and he was determined to make Aisling pay. What he wasn't prepared for was the scorching heat of desire that he felt when he tracked her. I could feel the sizzle of passion as I turned the smoldering pages. Not only was their passion hot, but the action was riveting as they struggled to locate the fiend responsible for "Ghost" and in the process came to realize the feelings they held for each other. When I finished reading GHOSTLAND, I so looked forward to revisiting the post-apocalyptic world Ms. Strong had created that ran out to buy SPIDER-TOUCHED, book 2 in the Ghostland series, which I also loved...now I just have to wait patiently until September 2010 for the next installment, HEALER'S CHOICE. When author Jory Strong is not writing, you might find her reading or working with her horses on her ranch out in the boondocks. reviewed for Enchanting Reviews

Ghostland-A Joyfully Recommended Title

Since the last war, Aisling, a shamaness, and other supernaturals like her have been fighting for survival. They are different and it has become essential that they hide what they are from society. Aisling and her family do well in hiding until a priest comes to find her. Against her wishes and certain she will not survive, Aisling leaves her home with only her spirit guide Aziel. Aisling is needed to locate a missing woman, to see if she is dead or not. In the process of searching the Ghostlands, Aziel gives Aisling a name to call for help. It is Zureal en Caym, a demon of the House of the Scorpion, son of a demon prince. And he vows to kill her for summoning him. Zureal feels an urgency to find the one who summoned him and destroy her before she can bind him to her will. He is given permission to seek her out and has every intention of killing her. But first he must locate a stone tablet that could be detrimental to the Djin. And he needs Aisling to help him find it. As they search for the tablet and those who are creating a substance called Ghost, they are drawn to one another. Their attraction is forbidden by his people and abhorred by hers. Both know this and fight the attraction until they are swept away by the lust and the other deeper feelings they have not acknowledged yet. Will they overcome the barriers they face or will they succumb to the dangers they are challenged by? I'm new to urban fantasy. I've heard other people talk about liking it. I have to say that, for me, Ghostland was a great introduction. It has many of the elements that make a book really stand out for me. Strong characters, an intricate storyline and love that triumphs over all obstacles. But there is so much more tugging at the edges of my mind and imagination. The set up is there for more. This is only the beginning of the story. I personally can't wait to see where it goes from here. I Joyfully Recommend Ghostland. Willow Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

super urban fantasy

The Oakland Diocese asks self-taught shamaness Aisling McConaughey to help rescue an affluent VIP constituent's mistress Elena Rousseau. She would prefer to say no, but knows she has no choice as Elena will be sacrificed otherwise and so will the orphans and Geneva that Aisling loves. Aided by Aziel her spirit guardian disguised as a ferret, Aisling enter the dangerous Ghostland where spirits dwell. She knows she needs help to accomplish the quest so she summons demon Djinn Zurael en Caym to her side. He is outraged, but helpless as she has him bound; however, Zurael vows to kill the shamaness the moment he completes his mission which will end her summoning spell. However, as they work together, these natural enemies fall in love. The vivid description of a post apocalyptic world that followed The Last War is dark, grim; yet interwoven into the strong story line. Aisling is a terrific heroine who finds her already complicated mission becoming even more multifaceted and convoluted as she wonders why Elena is neeed as a ritual sacrifice and how love intrudes on her life. Zurael anchors the supernatural making the paranormal seem natural. Urban fantasy readers will relish GHOSTLAND and look forward to more escapades in Jory Strong's new California (and beyond). Harriet Klausner

Incredible world!

The world that Aisling and Zurael inhabit is nothing short of breathtaking. In a genre so filled with vampires and shapeshifters that, frankly, one series often seems to run into the next, I don't think you'll mistake Ghostland for any other book! Even now, a handful of days after I finished reading it, all I have to do is casually call it up in my mind and I can feel and see it almost as clearly as though I'd been there on a visit. Jory Strong's talent for worldbuilding is fantastic, and I very much look forward to reading more of her work! The characters are wonderful, no matter how incidental; even those that appear only briefly have quite a bit of personality and uniqueness to them. It's funny--despite the fact that this is a highly erotically charged book, the plotting and worldbuilding are so strong that I have trouble primarily classifying it as a romance or erotica novel. Those just aren't the aspects of it that come to mind first for me. Yet Zurael and Aisling make a powerful couple, and their scenes together sizzle. Jory succeeds in depicting a dom/sub relationship with grace and style, and without compromising Aisling's strength as a character and a person. Unlike Feehan's Burning Wild, Strong's Ghostland depicts a healthy "alternative" relationship. As long as you don't mind a book with a fair amount of blood and (occasionally kinky) sex, this is a fantastic novel for fans of the paranormal genre. The world is gorgeous, the characters are fantastic, and the plots will draw you in!

Outstanding Sensual Fantasy Romance

Strong has once again given us a deeply sensual romance with a strongly detailed world and an engrossing story. Her ability to combine the two togather will surely keep me buying her books. She is definitely on my must have list. Aisling McConaughey is an orphan, she is also a shamoness. She lives in a part of the world where gifted people are often harmed or simply disappear. She is taken from her only home and convayed to Oakland, California. A part of the country ruled by the church. She is told that she is needed to help find a missing woman. For Aisling can walk in the other world. The ghostlands where the dead go before being reborn. She is accompanied by a small ferret, Aziel, who is really her familiar, and the only one she truly can trust. There is still a USA but it is fragmented and parts are ruled by vampires, some by the church, and some by a form of government. Many years before a cataclysam brought the ghostlands closer and revealed many with talent. Witches, vampires, shamons and many other gifts are practiced today. There are those who would practice a black type of magic. They search for power over people. Asling finds the woman being sacraficed on an alter. As she is a shadow in the ghostlands she whispers a name given to her by Aziel. Zureal is a Djinn Prince, only someone who knows his name can summon him and the Djinn have not been summoned in many years. They always kill the one who summons and binds them. Zureal saves the woman but he promises Aisling that she will die for her summons. There are several dark threads moving through the story, and Zureal and Aisling are forced to work togather to find something important to the djinn. Everything in or from the ghostlands must be paid for. There is always a price and it must be paid. I loved the story and the way it moved, there are alot of sensual encounters so be warned. But the book is excellent, and I would encourage all readers who like urban fantasy to try this one on for size. The surprises keep coming all the way to the end. Do not miss it.