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Scorched (The Sapphire City Chronicles, Book 1) Kindle Edition

4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 60 ratings

In a world where everyone wears a mask, you can't trust anyone… not even yourself.

Verity Fortune was once Sapphire City’s top crime-fighter, wielding her powers of telekinesis to battle the city’s most despicable villains.

Now, she’s consumed by a single burning desire -

Revenge.

Against those who took away her mask, her memory, and nearly her life.

Having escaped from the asylum they left her to rot in, Verity dons her mask once again and becomes the Seeker, a vigilante warrior for truth.

But when she unwittingly uncovers an evil conspiracy deep within her own family, she’s suddenly on the run, alone and hunted by those she thought were on her side…

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From the Publisher

bestselling books; bestsellers 2019 2020

Product description

About the Author

I'm an Aussie living in northern England, where at least the hospitality and the beer are warm. I write in coffee shops, feed my enormous cat, and watch TV or read until far too late at night. If it's got serial killers, superheroes, monsters or spaceships – preferably all four – I'm there.
On the big issues: Captain Picard is cooler than Captain Kirk, Batman would beat up Superman, and vampires are hotter than werewolves any day. See, I knew we'd get along.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00JTN14KO
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ One More Chapter (22 May 2014)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2169 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 334 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 0008105014
  • Customer reviews:
    4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 60 ratings

About the author

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Erica Hayes
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Erica Hayes was a law student, an air force officer, an editorial assistant and a musician, before finally landing her dream job: fantasy and romance writer.

She writes dark paranormal and urban fantasy romance, and her books feature tough, smart heroines and colourful heroes with dark secrets.

She hails from Australia, where she drifts from city to city, leaving a trail of chaos behind her. Currently, she's terrorizing the barren wastes of Canberra.

Customer reviews

4 out of 5 stars
60 global ratings

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Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 29 October 2014
    This is an addictive, gripping and well written superhero story with echoes of Batman and The X-Men.

    Verity Fortune, Seeker, escapes from captivity where doctors have kept her special abilities suppressed and attempted to destroy her memories. One thing she knows for sure is that the supervillain Razorfire killed her father, and she is determined to hunt him down and get revenge. However, she has been gone a long time, and someone in her family is her enemy. Soon she is a fugitive, desperate for allies, and hooks up with Glimmer, who has his own reasons for hunting down Razorfire.

    It's great to have a female superhero tale like this. There are elements of romance, and some of the principal males are a little too super, but ultimately and primarily the story is about Verity and is narrated by her. In many ways she is both hero and villain, her mind and memories abused, beset by grief and guilt and disfigurement. And being a superhero, she is faced with a number of scenarios that test her moral principles.

    The contrast between the volatility of Verity and the rationality of Glimmer is my main point of frustration, in that she is a little too volatile and he is a little too rational, but it's a minor complaint. I devoured this book, and the ending was clever. I don't know whether a series is planned, but it's a brilliant setup for one...
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 8 August 2016
    Wow! This read was a real fun ride! A very grown-up superhero story with a hell of a pace, well drawn characters and fantastic, punchy dialogue.

    Verity Fortune is my spirit animal. Need to get my hands on Scarred, pronto.
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 15 June 2015
    I love, love, love super-hero books and if you love your super-heroes portrayed in a very grown-up/gritty/sharply-observed/dark/scarred way, then you too will love this urban-fantasy superhero book.
    It’s a high-octane, roller-coaster of a ride, with absolutely no let-up along the way. The descriptions are poetical, the humour wry, snarky and very dark, the characters deliciously flawed and the plot well developed.
    Incredibly impressive. Loved!
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 14 July 2014
    'Scorched' is the perfect read if you love superheroes battling against a dystopian society. Told from the first person point of view it doesn't shy away from the graphic violence which characterises this type of urban fantasy.

    Verity Fortune battles against the darker elements of society with her supernatural family, hiding their true identities behind the glamour and glitz of a corporate family. Haunted by the cataclysmic events which led to tragic loss and torture, Verity fight backs against the elements which she believes have violated her.

    The cleverly twisted plot obscures the truth. There are some obvious twists which the reader can guess but these hide the deeper story which is surprising and sows the seeds for the adventures to come.

    The romance in 'Scorched' is not immediately obvious but as the story develops you realise that all Verity's actions are a consequence of her love. Well written dialogue, atmospheric settings and vivid action make this a gripping read. I look forward to the next in the series.

    I received a copy of this book from Harper Impulse via NetGalley.
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 6 August 2015
    As I write this I've literally only had two hours sleep. Why? Because I picked up this book with the intent to read only one more chapter after a loooong day at work, and I couldn't put it down. If you love superhero stories, this book is very much your thing. It's a bit of Batman meets Kickass meets Huntress (sorry for the nerdy references) with a little bit of romance thrown in to whet your appetite for more. The story follows Verity Fortune, aka Seeker, as she struggles to remember her past before she was captured and tortured because of her telekinetic powers. Hayes writes very complex characters, throwing in a sympathetic villain or two, but I won't spoil the details. I can only hope more books follow this one because I'm dying to learn more about Glimmer. :)
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 19 October 2014
    This was about as much nerdy super fun as you could squeeze into a single book, and a delightful read from start to finish. Hayes did a truly wonderful job of creating the superhero metropolis vibe, complete with smarmy politicians, secret identities, public showdowns, the lot. For comparison, I'd say it was very Batman-esque; especially with the added element of a crime-fighting duo of awesomeness that is Glimmer and Seeker. I hope to see a lot more of those two in the next book now that everybody knows what's what and who's who, because we've only just scratched the surface of that fascinating relationship dynamic, I'm sure.

    Seeker - Verity Fortune - was an incredibly enjoyable lead with as much mystery surrounding her as anyone else since she has spotty memories at best of what happened right before she was captured and tortured for months. As the flashbacks increase and the puzzle pieces reveal themselves, a very shocking picture starts to emerge, and Verity finds the only person she can really trust is herself - and maybe not even that. The only character who even comes close to gaining her confidence is Glimmer - Mr. Save The World. I don't know much about him yet, but what I do know only makes me want to know more, and I'm definitely keen for any hint of romance from that corner the author wants to throw my way.

    Scorched is the first of a new series, although I struggled to find a name for said series in any of the usual places online, or any news about book two, but all I'll say is there better be one! I'll certainly be checking Hayes' website for more info, and I suggest you join me in my stalker-like ways.

    In short, if you like superheroes in all their glittery glory, complex heroes and sympathetic villains, then definitely check this book out! 4 Stars! ★★★★

    A copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
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Top reviews from other countries

  • MRS
    5.0 out of 5 stars Edgy, dark superhero adventure
    Reviewed in the United States on 3 December 2014
    What I liked.
    Beautiful, almost poetic descriptions that gave me a serious dose of author envy. Also I guessed who the real traitor was, which might seem a bad thing but made me feel better, only to get caught out by the main plot twist (it's a doozie!). These carefully set up plot points kept me on the edge of the seat with a serious 'what will happen next?!' anticipation. Great general tension throughout, and plenty of action and adventure as you'd expect from a superhero story. And the bad guy is BAD! Nothing beats a villain who really is evil.

    What I didn't like.
    This is tagged on Amazon as a romance, but *potential spoiler* I don't feel that it is - if it was a romantic HFN, it was pretty ambiguous, and the sexual tension/chemistry throughout wasn't great. I certainly didn't feel there was any hope for any kind of romantic entanglement or longevity in the vague hero/heroine relationship. But the main thing that bothered me was as soon as Verity appears as herself at the family company, she's jumped by Doctor Mengele. Of course she's been betrayed, but following on from that she continues to go out in public as herself and her superhero guise, makes appointments as her journalistic self and contacts old work mates...yet doesn't get caught? Her enemies wouldn't keep tabs on the other people in her life in order to recapture her? Also she's bothered by her scarred face enough to want to wear her mask all the time, yet doesn't seem bothered showing it as Verity.

    In conclusion.
    Any fan of the likes of the Marvel films (and in particular those still waiting for a heroine-led superhero film like Black Widow) will enjoy this. There's some sexual tension (though not enough for a romance in my opinion), and plenty of adventure, action, jeopardy, and twists to keep any non-romance reader hooked. This reads very much like the first of a series, so I hope the next will be out soon.
  • Kathy King
    4.0 out of 5 stars Nice read for a change
    Reviewed in the United States on 16 December 2016
    Nice change of pace read for me. Not what u think it will be. Keeps your interest that is for sure.
  • JAK
    3.0 out of 5 stars Lots of action
    Reviewed in the United States on 6 August 2020
    So, Verity is augmented; she has superpowers. Her whole family does. But she's been imprisoned and tortured with her powers suppressed. She manages to escape but her memory is fragmented and the rest of the book is about her attempt to figure out what really happened to her.

    I'd like to give this book a higher rating but it was so easy to figure out the behind the scenes details that by the time they're revealed, I want surprised. But it was fun to read despite that.
  • Stephanie C.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommended!
    Reviewed in the United States on 26 December 2016
    Fast paced & well plotted, one of the darkest storylines I've experienced a long time. Highly recommended!
  • WKA
    4.0 out of 5 stars A good read.
    Reviewed in the United States on 22 February 2017
    Interesting take on the superhero genre. A good read.

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