It was nice getting to see a glimpse of the Guild Hunter world from the sidelines. There were enough details about Raphael and Elena to perk my intereIt was nice getting to see a glimpse of the Guild Hunter world from the sidelines. There were enough details about Raphael and Elena to perk my interest in reading their stories again, but I also got a deeper look at a few characters I have wondered about for a while. Namely, Jessamy/Galen and Ashwini/Janvier. Though I didn't love every story in this collection, I never out and out disliked any of them. And it whet my appetite for more from this series.
Angels' Pawn:
A vampire hunter faces off against two rival factions and the angel manipulating them both, and a vampire whose help is not entirely selfless...
This was my second favorite story of the collection. I have been wondering about Ashwini and her crazy Cajun vampire ever since I first met her in Angels' Blood. It was great to finally get some detail on their unique relationship. I don't think this story will be quite as pleasing to those who are completely unfamiliar with the glimpses we have seen of them in the main books, but I think it will still give a solid taste of what the overall world is like.
I liked that the author didn't tie everything up neatly in a bow when the story ended. If you're current in the series, you know that Ashwini and Janvier still aren't together, so although the plot is wrapped up, the romance ends without a HEA or even a HFN. It was just a peek at their unconventional relationship. Foreplay, you could say. :) Some may not be pleased with that, but I thought it fit perfectly. We're left with the impression that they will one day end up together, but that day definitely isn't today.
Rating: B+
Angels' Judgment:
A hunter must track one of her own gone bad, while surviving the deadly tests placed in her way by the archangels themselves. Unexpected backup comes from a stranger who might just be the most lethal threat of all...
This story made me realize that I had never really thought about Sara as an object of interest in Elena's books. She was always there in the background, ready to stand for Elena, but I never really thought about her on an individual basis. Maybe because she already seemed so grounded? I don't know. Regardless, it was interesting to get a closer look at her. I liked that we jumped into the story before Sara was even the Guild director. For one thing, it gave us a chance to see an early Raphael as the cadre discussed what the change in position would mean to them (yay!). For another, it gave us a chance to see her struggle with her decision on the director position.
Deacon's job was interesting. If his past as the Slayer was mentioned in the main books, or even the existence of the Slayer at all, then I don't remember it. But I thought it added an interesting level to the Guild world. They are serious about policing their own, and if you're the boogieman that the rest of the hunters keep a wary distance from, then chances are that you're quite a badass.
Although there was heat, the romance itself felt rushed and rather perplexing. It just didn't feel natural to the circumstances or the characters. The crimes were interesting, although the eventual reveal of the bad guy made me cock a brow. It seemed random. And has Sara always called Elena "Ellie" so incessantly? That grated on me a bit.
Rating: C
Angel's Wolf:
A vampire becomes fascinated with the seductive angel who rules Louisiana. But all is not what it appears to be in her court.
*Since I read this story just a few months ago in the Angels of Darkness anthology, I didn't read it again this time around. The review below is taken from the .*
Despite not loving this book, I enjoyed getting to follow a female angel this time around. Well…a natural born angel, I mean. ;) I was a little surprised to see how nice she was, though. I didn’t want her to be cruel but every other angel out there (except for Illium) seems to flirt with a lack of care for those weaker than them. I expected Nimra to have that edge of inhumanity as well and was a little disappointed to see that she didn’t. It aided the romance development in such a short story, I know, but I was looking forward to seeing a female version of a toned down Raphael.
Noel fell pretty easily for a guy who had the issues that he did, but I enjoyed watching the fall. I felt that he was the more emotionally healthy of the pair, despite the intimacy issues he struggled with. Both Nimra and Noel were dominant personalities, but when they came together they were surprisingly sweet. Especially Noel. ;)
Rating: C-
Angels' Dance:
An angel trapped in the mountain stronghold of the Refuge finds herself under siege by a warrior angel from a martial court.
So here it is, my favorite story in the anthology. We have been given glimpses of these characters throughout the series, and I have always been intrigued by the sweet teacher and the surly warrior. I was surprised to realize that Jessamy was so much older than most of the other angels we have spent time with in the series. She has an air of sweetness and innocence that makes her seem younger than she is. It turns out that Galen is the young one. For all his strength and grumpy ways, he is barely a fraction of her age.
I really liked the way Jessamy's lame wing was treated. She struggled to come to terms with it the way any other normal person would. She may have been sweet and nice, but she wanted to fly just as much as any other angel did. The beginning of Galen and Jessamy's courtship is a little bumpy due to Galen's blunt speaking, which manages to insult poor Jessamy. Both of them struggle to mesh their personalities and lives together, while Jessamy fears for their future together. In addition to having a wonderfully sweet romance, the story managed to feel much longer than it actually was, pleasing me with its well-rounded feel.
I loved that we got to see so many quality details about so many other characters. We got to see some of Jason, some of Aodhan, and some great details about Raphael. Being the teacher, Jessamy has some nice mentions of his change from a child to a man. And...we also got to see the story behind Illium's nickname! I love little details like that. Even if I wouldn't have enjoyed the romance, they make the story worth reading. For me, at least. ;)
Rating: A-
Favorite Quote:
"What makes you think I'd let you within a foot of me?" Her voice held the rough edge of desire, but it could as easily have been anger.
"What makes you think I'd ask nice?"
"Try anything and I'll cheerfully gut you with your own knife."
Deacon smiled. And it turned him from sexy to devastating. "This'll be fun."
Despite popular belief, angels were not the favored ones. They did not have choices like the humans. Angels only had duty.
Well hello, Cynthia Eden. I
Despite popular belief, angels were not the favored ones. They did not have choices like the humans. Angels only had duty.
Well hello, Cynthia Eden. I see I’ve been missing out by putting off giving your books a try. I can’t remember where I got the impression, but for some reason I always assumed that Eden wrote light, fluffy PNR. I’m relieved to be mistaken. I liked the way she kept me guessing through the story. I wasn’t sure who was good and who was bad and how everything would resolve. The uncertainty of it added a nice tension to the read.
Keenan was a very interesting character. He was an Angel of Death for years and had no life beyond his duty. He didn’t experience emotion the same way humans did so he never had a problem fulfilling his task. Until Nicole. For some reason she got to him in a way that no other person had. He was drawn to her goodness and found that when the time came, he couldn’t help but intervene. Of course, it still didn’t turn out perfectly, but he was cast down for stepping outside his role and daring to take a life that he wasn’t ordered to take. He lost wings and powers and found himself bombarded with human emotions and sensations that he previously lacked.
When Keenan finds Nicole he’s shocked to find how much she’s changed. She’s done some bad things since becoming a vampire and he has a hard time reconciling her with the woman he spared. I liked this aspect of their relationship. Nicole talked a good game, but she didn’t always like the person she had become. She was worried about what Keenan would think of her because even she didn’t approve of what she had done. Keenan and Nicole both had to learn to love the woman she had become, vampire baggage and all.
I really liked the way this book was setup. It had a bit of a ”City of Angels� vibe to it, except without the depressing ending. Speaking of "City of Angels"--Why? Why would you do that to me at the end??? That was so upsetting. I’ll hate you for it foreva, I swear! *ahem* I'm back from my little tangent now. Keenan falls and gets to discover the wonder of life and emotion with Nicole. He’s never loved, never touched�hear that virgin hero lovers?--before her. But I didn’t quite understand why this girl, out of all the girls through time, was the one to reach through and cause him to let her live. It was a small niggle, but I would have appreciated a little stronger of a foundation. Once they were together it was smooth sailing for me. I loved watching them learn to trust and rely on one another and then eventually fall in love.
The uncertainty of who to trust was very well done. Keenan was walking in unfamiliar territory and had no clue of what to expect, let alone who was telling the truth. I found myself bouncing back and forth between believing Sam and believing Az. It helped that they both seemed to have a thread of truth running through whatever they said. I enjoyed being confused about who to believe, right alongside the characters and I’m very curious to see where the next book will take us in this world.
I’ve heard that this series is lightly tied into the author’s Night Watch series, but seeing as how I’m new to this author, I can say that this reads just fine with no outside knowledge of the other series. The only time I felt that I might have been missing something was when Nicole spoke about her past torment at the hands of another vampire. I have no idea if that tied into something else, but I felt that there was more to that story that I was already supposed to know.
Favorite Quote:
"Some things in this world were more important than duty, and some things were even stronger than death."
I’m not usually much of an anthology fan, but I needed a Meljean Brook fix to tide me over while I wait for Michael’s book, so I jumped at the opportuI’m not usually much of an anthology fan, but I needed a Meljean Brook fix to tide me over while I wait for Michael’s book, so I jumped at the opportunity to review this book. I was quite surprised to find that I really enjoyed it! Maybe I should try to overcome my anthology dislike and give more of them a try.
Angel’s Wolf by Nalini Singh:
In the spellbinding universe of the Guild Hunters, a vampire becomes obsessed with the seductive angel who rules the Louisiana territory. But in her court, all is not what it appears.
I was surprised to find that this was my least favorite stories in the anthology. I found the read pleasant, but that was about all. I’m a big fan of the Guild Hunter series so I was expecting this to be one of my top reads out of the bunch. Brook may have been my motivation to get the book, but Singh was the icing on the cake.
Despite not loving this book, I enjoyed getting to follow a female angel this time around. Well…a natural born angel, I mean. ;) I was a little surprised to see how nice she was, though. I didn’t want her to be cruel but every other angel out there (except for Illium) seems to flirt with a lack of care for those weaker than them. I expected Nimra to have that edge of inhumanity as well and was a little disappointed to see that she didn’t. It aided the romance development in such a short story, I know, but I was looking forward to seeing a female version of a toned down Raphael.
Noel fell pretty easily for a guy who had the issues that he did, but I enjoyed watching the fall. I felt that he was the more emotionally healthy of the pair, despite the intimacy issues he struggled with. Both Nimra and Noel were dominant personalities, but when they came together they were surprisingly sweet. Especially Noel. ;)
Rating: C-
Alphas: Origins by Ilona Andrews:
A woman is kidnapped into a world divided by a superhuman civil war. As the captive of an irresistibly dangerous male, she has two choices: submit and become a pawn, or take hold of her own destiny.
I am shocked--shocked, I say!--to find that this was my favorite story in the anthology. I did not like it at all when I began reading it. I was deeply uncomfortable with the set up and the dynamic between Lucas and Karina. Karina was in the wrong place at the wrong time and ended up being mortally wounded. The “good guys� can tell that she’s a donor (a semi-rare subspecies that contains a hormone needed by subspecies 30—aka Lucas) and offer her a bargain to save her life. This bargain is crap, really. It’s death or slavery. Lucas owns her. He can do whatever he wants to her.
Lucas hadn’t kidnapped her. He hadn’t forced her into human slavery at gunpoint. She’d been attacked by Rishie and the shark-toothed man, and she’s been given a choice to die or to live on Lucas’s terms. She was a victim of circumstance. That didn’t change the fact that Lucas owned her now.
The House of Daryon had stripped every shred of independence from her. She depended on Lucas for everything: her food, her safety, her clothes, the safety and survival of her daughter. He had the power to tell her when to go to bed, where to sleep, when to shower…He was protecting her and Emily from some sort of terrible enemy she couldn’t understand and he could kill them both at a moment’s notice. Any relaxation of the rules became a kindness on his part. A small thing, like a toothbrush, seemed like some great favor. But it wasn’t, she told herself. It wasn’t.
And don’t imagine that he was some sweet guy and that his ownership of her was just a formality. The so-called “good guys� were very scary men. Sick men, really. Lucas strongly reminded me of a serial killer and I got the heebie-jeebies when I realized just how easy it was for him to contemplate raping Karina. He didn’t, but that was just because he respected her for submitting to her part of the agreement without even trying to fight. The reader never had the comfort of assuring themselves that he wouldn’t cross that line. Later in the story he admits to Karina that he was raised in a culture where the only real behavior check was that they couldn’t murder each other just because they felt like it.
So why did I like this story so much? I honestly don’t know. It was dark and sick and the closest thing you’ll get to a romantic relationship is a connection that closely resembles Stockholm Syndrome. But, man, it sucked me in.
Rating: A
Nocturne by Sharon Shinn:
Accepting a position in a secluded and whispered-about mansion, a woman soon discovers the source of its mystery: the blind, tormented angel who lives there, and whose secrets could now destroy them both.
This is the first book I’ve read by this author, so my opinion is of a total newbie, not someone who is familiar with the Samaria series. I was surprised to find how much I enjoyed the world, despite being a little confused by the connection between God and the angels and the humans. Why exactly are angels living with the humans? I get that they need to mate with them to produce more angels, but are they angels-angels? They can sing to Jovah and he can immediately send what they desire (like medicine) to answer their prayers, but it didn’t really have much of a religious vibe to it. So…yeah. A little confused about that.
I really, really enjoyed watching the bond develop between Moriah and Corban. They both initially are drawn to each other for complicated reasons—Moriah from a desire to tempt fate, and Corban from a reluctant interest in something other than his depression. Soon they find themselves growing closer. Corban comes to depend upon Moriah for her aid in helping him overcome his injury, but you can also see the subtle hints that he is beginning to care from her. I say subtle because the story is told strictly from Moriah’s point of view. She’s a strong, abrasive woman at times, but I loved her all the same. She is unceasingly practical and it was fun watching her roll her eyes at herself over falling for an angel. Especially because she has such a bad opinion of angel-seekers!
This was the most emotionally satisfying story of the bunch for me, although I do wish the romance had been expanded more and that the ending had been more leisurely. Regardless, I plan to check out this series to see how I like a full length novel by her.
Rating: A-
Ascension by Meljean Brook:
When vampires disappear from a community he’s protecting, a world-weary Guardian doesn’t know what evil he’s hunting, but he’d rather hunt alone than accept help from his ex-lover and fellow Guardian, Radha. But Radha refuses to leave him, because she’s determined not just to help him save the community…but to save him.
I’ve been curious about Radha for a while now�who wouldn’t be curious about a perpetually half naked woman who dyes herself blue?--so it was a treat to find that this story was about her. Learning about her past with Marc made me wince in sympathy for her--Ouch! I thought her present behavior toward him was a little uneven, though. She confused me with her assertive sexual advances while still being hesitant about her feelings. I didn’t feel that I got a good handle on her personality and my enjoyment of their relationship suffered because of it. Marc was a little too placid and boring for me as well, so I found that I didn’t feel much of a spark.
I liked what we discovered about the killer’s identity. I think Brook excels at twisting expectations and playing with the line between right and wrong and good and evil, and this was no exception. Nothing was cut and dried about it and you’ll find yourself wondering where your true sympathies lie.
Although I found the story pleasant, I wasn’t that thrilled with it overall. I don’t think it was able to adequately showcase Ǵǰ’s awesome skill with subtle character development and rich world building. She can build a story like nobody’s business, and I think I’m going to have to stick with her full length books from now on, rather than being disappointed in the limitations that a novella length story imposes.
I didn’t realize quite how much I missed Singh’s Guild Hunter world until I jumped back into it. The first book in this series, Angels� Blood, gave meI didn’t realize quite how much I missed Singh’s Guild Hunter world until I jumped back into it. The first book in this series, Angels� Blood, gave me my first taste of this author and I loved it so much that I indulged in a serious glom session and inhaled the rest of her backlist. Said glom session led to me falling in love with the Psy/Changeling series as well, but even that doesn’t come close to how happy the Guild Hunter world makes me. There was just something about Elena and Raphael (and that incredibly romantic scene at the end of the first book) that sucked me in. I was iffy on Dmitri (from the last book, Archangel’s Blade), but I have always enjoyed Jason. It was great to read his story. Jason is sent into the archangel Neha’s territory to investigate the murder of her consort. After the recent upheaval in the Cadre no one is willing to see another Cadre member lose it, so Jason is sent in as a sort of damage control measure. Even though he’s Raphael’s spymaster, and thus not to be trusted, his skills in uncovering secrets make him perfect for figuring out what happened to Eris, so Neha agrees to allow him access to her territory as long as he agrees to a blood bond with someone of her line, and of her choosing. This bond would make Jason family, in a sense, and would obligate him to protect the family’s best interests, splitting his loyalty between Raphael and Neha’s line for the duration of the agreement. Jason goes, of course, and finds himself tied to an angel who is not at all what she seems. Mahiya, the angel that Jason bonds with, it a puzzle that he just can’t figure out. Jason’s job is to understand people and to know all the things they want to hide, so Mahiya, a woman who appears bland at first glance and who allows herself to be treated as nothing, draws his attention. He sees flashes of personality that just don’t add up and his interest, first as a spymaster and later as a man, is caught. I really like Mahiya. She’s not an out and out badass like some of the previous heroines, but she has a core of pure steel. She’s willing to forego anything in the name of survival; pride, dignity, comfort, trust. Whatever it takes, she’ll bend. That may not sound like much to some, but I find it impressive. She’s survived for hundreds of years by playing a deep end game and being cunning and smart, and she’s somehow managed to keep from turning bitter or cold. How can you resist a girl like that? Jason is a deep one. He’s had a rough life and he has an extremely hard time connecting with people. What I loved about him was how self aware he was. He knew exactly what his issues were and why. His biggest problem is that he just doesn’t care the way most people do. His past kept him too isolated and broke something inside him. He’s bonded with Raphael and the other Seven, yes, but he knows that it’s not as deep as it should be. I think the author did a great job developing his character, especially given how quiet and withdrawn he was. She had to make a mountain out of a molehill and she succeeded with me. I loved Jason and how consistent he stayed throughout. The ending especially emphasized this. Jason and Mahiya’s HEA is unique to them and is an echo of their personalities. Jason and Mahiya’s romance is very different from the previous romances in the series. It makes sense, of course, given that they’re different people, with vastly different personalities, but I think that it might throw some readers off. I, personally, loved that the romance was so subdued. Jason has always come across as somber and quiet, so a loud, dramatic romance wouldn’t have fit at all. Instead, we are treated to two master strategists who slowly fall for each other. Neither of them trusts easily, and both of them have a role to play that keeps them from broadcasting their burgeoning feelings, but the emotion is definitely there. I loved that their needs matched each other so well. Mahiya finally found someone that she could love and trust and Jason finally found a home. *sigh* Because Jason had to travel into Neha’s territory we don’t see as much of the cast as we’re used to. I think this helped Jason and Mahiya step out of the shadows and prevented their quiet personalities from being dominated by some of the other flashier characters. We get a visit from Venom and a small visit from Aodhan, but other than that we don’t see much of the other characters. However, the author does have scenes from Dmitri and Honor’s POVs scattered throughout the book, continuing their story. Those scenes didn’t do much for me but I know they’ll probably thrill a lot of you Dmitri lovers. ;) Favorite Quote:
In many ways, he was the opposite of Aodhan, the angel so broken, he couldn’t bear the slightest touch. Jason, by contrast, sometimes only felt real and not the phantom Lijuan had named him if he had the pressure of another’s skin, another’s wing against his own. It was as if all those years, decades, when he hadn’t felt the touch of another sentient being had created a thirst in him that could never be assuaged.
I really had no expectations going into this book, so I was pleasantly surprised to find myself with an absolutely engrossing story. There is a definiI really had no expectations going into this book, so I was pleasantly surprised to find myself with an absolutely engrossing story. There is a definite romantic angle at work here, but it would be a mistake to go into this expecting a HEA at the end. I’ll get into that more a little later, but I just wanted to make that clear up front. Sins of the Angels stays true to Urban Fantasy and has set up a romantic arc to span multiple books.
One thing I loved about this book was the fact that the romance never overshadowed the main storyline. I know that is an odd compliment coming from me–since I’m usually the opposite–but it really worked for me here. The connection between Aramael and Alex was intense enough that you could feel the tension in the background, waiting to spring up, the minute they let their eyes lock. There is barely any sexual contact in this book (they only kiss once) but the tension sizzled for me.
She didn’t know how long they’d stared at one another, neither moving, before she had blinked and the wings had disappeared. Before his eyes had taken on the torment that made her want, once again, to reach out to him, as if her touch could heal something in him. Heal something in herself.
I just loved them together. The romance was “forbidden� at its finest; A woman who refused to open her mind to the impossible and an angel unable to love a human. What made it all so excellent was the fact that their star-crossed status made complete sense. Alex spent a lot of the book in denial, which could be occasionally frustrating, but it felt authentic for a character with her background. I also appreciated the dislike she had for his role as her partner. Her fear of the flashes she saw of his true angelic self drove her dislike and determination to end their partnership, but it felt lifelike for her role as detective. Who wouldn’t be angry and suspicious over someone with no experience and a sealed file? Then again, her boss’s decision and eventual frustration with her also felt authentic.
Those realistic actions are one of the things that made me enjoy this book so much. It’s also why I liked the relationship staying low key. It wouldn’t have been realistic for a lead detective investigating a serial killer to let her hormones get in the way of finding the killer. At times the daily grind of Alex doing her job and investigating the murders felt slow, but it also fit. I occasionally wished that Alex would hurry up and face the truth so that we could hurry the story along, but I think I would have found it a little too unrealistic if she had. (See how fickle I am?) The author spent her time slowly developing Alex’s eventual belief and convinced me that the way it unfolded was the only natural way for it to have occurred.
The author’s take on the angelic and demonic world felt pretty fresh and new. I found parts of it a little frustrating–which had me a bit personally conflicted since the one I was frustrated with was the One (aka God)–but I really liked it overall. I felt religion was flirted with a tiny bit, but was avoided for the most part. What we learned about the angels had me intrigued. There were so many factors to it–The Highest Seraph, the Anointed, the Dominion, the Powers, the Guardians, the Fallen, the One…it all came together into a really interesting world.
Although I enjoyed most of the book, there were a few things that bothered me. One was the multiple POV’s we were treated to. I understand why they were included, but I got a bit impatient with being drawn away from the main storyline to peek into someone else’s head. It gave the reader a more well rounded picture of the events, I know, but it got a bit boring. Luckily they weren’t too long and I was able to quickly sink back into the main storyline. The other thing that I did not like was the ending. I am not a fan of cliffhangers, and while this one did wrap up some of the main threads of the plot, it also left us hanging on quite a few. Namely, the future for Alex and Aramael. We’re left with hope that they’ll hook up eventually, but I hate leaving a book like that. I don’t even know where the next book will find them individually, let alone what will happen to them together. I just find it frustrating to be left with so many questions after such a climactic event at the end. I’m definitely going to pick up the next book (and would have even without being left hanging) but I’m hoping the end of the next won’t be as jarring. I hate closing a book feeling frustrated.
Favorite Quote:
Time, and Alex’s heart, stood still. For what seemed an eternity, she felt nothing but Aramael’s hand against her cheek. His truth. And then, with a ferocity that stole her capacity to breathe, elation exploded through her entire being and the universe narrowed until it encompassed just the two of them. Until she became nothing more than the heat of his body, the whisper of his breath against her face, the longing that flooded her veins.
Yet another fun episode in the Lords of the Underworld series. I’ve noticed that word crops up almost every time I write a review for one of ShowalterYet another fun episode in the Lords of the Underworld series. I’ve noticed that word crops up almost every time I write a review for one of Ƿɲٱ’s Ǵǰ�fun. The characters are always so funny, and even when they don’t get along, their dislike of each other always includes funny situations and verbal sparring.
I was a little uncertain of Kaia and Strider as a couple. I wasn’t exactly thrilled to have one of the protagonists have a sexual history with the other protagonist’s friend, but the author actually pulled it off pretty well. Strider was bothered by it, yes, but he eventually got over it and he never tried to “forgive� her, because he knew there was really nothing for him to forgive. I also thought the reason for a big part of his reluctance to be with her made a lot of sense. I never thought about what it would mean for a competitive guy like him to come after “the sexorcist.� I imagine anyone would have anxiety about that.
The setup for putting Strider and Kaia in close proximity was pretty weak, but once they were stuck in each other’s company it wasn’t too hard to ignore that and move on. The harpy games were exciting on their own, so throwing in a little extra heat with Kaia and Strider made it even better. The harpies were one of my favorite parts of the book! They were all so bloodthirsty and off the wall that any scene with them in it—which was most of them—really popped. The violence and heckling between them reminded me of the valkyries in Kresley Cole’s Immortals After Dark series and Shelly Laurenston’s characters in her Pride series. In other words, they were a riot.
I was surprised to hear the backstory on Kaia. I felt bad for her having such a rough life based on that one incident. Especially when they were blaming the wrong person! I was a little surprised she was so emo about her mom not being proud of her, though. How long has it been? Shouldn’t you be over this by now? Either way, her determination to be better was endearing and it was sad to see her be underestimated by those closest to her.
Kaia and Strider were great together. They were both cocky as hell and enjoyed their constant challenges, although Kaia had a tendency to use his inability to refuse a challenge against him when she wanted to get her way. Honestly, I have a sneaking suspicion that no one else out there would put up with their egos so it’s lucky they found each other. ;)
We get to see some of the side characters, but the author kept them from taking over, which has been a complaint of mine in the past. William and Kane get some page time and it seems like there will be an interesting storyline developing with them from the events we see here. We also got a peek at Legion and how she’s doing. I was really surprised with how she seemed in this book. Is it possible that I might actually one day like her now that she seems so different??? That would be pretty shocking. We also got to see more of Sabin and Gwen, which thrilled me because I really enjoyed their story. Plus, more Paris. His storyline really seems to be heating up. I haven’t had much interest in him in the past, but he seems to be getting a darker edge and a bitterness about his demon that quite intrigues me.
I enjoyed most of this book but it was not quite as action filled as most of the other ones, so I felt like I was spinning my wheels quite a few times. It slowed the pacing down and occasionally caused my attention to wander. Luckily the rest of the book pleased me enough that this was not a huge issue. I’m really looking forward to the next entry in the series.
Favorite Quote:
That damn kiss had ruined everything. Had he kept his tongue to himself, he could have continued thinking of Kaia as a friend and only a friend. Now, he just wanted to convince her that blow jobs were a mandatory part of their arrangement.
This was an entertaining read. I can’t say that it was very original, as I saw many familiar elements mixed together, but that’s not something I requiThis was an entertaining read. I can’t say that it was very original, as I saw many familiar elements mixed together, but that’s not something I require for every read. What matters most is that the author took the world and tweaked it enough to make it her own. The world rules occasionally felt a bit complicated and bulky, but the author explained it all well and kept me from getting confused. I liked the unique spin Day gave on the reason lycans and vampires existed in the world. I, unfortunately, felt that some of the elements she featured were not given the weight they needed, but I’ll get into that more shortly.
I was uncertain about whether or not I would like this book in the beginning. It felt a bit overdone and I got tired of the overuse of adjectives and the fawning adoration of how hot the angels were. I was surprised by how modern the ancient angels felt, as well. I had to adjust mindsets and shed the expectations I had for a more serious, intense PNR, so I could enjoy what the book actually was.
I thought the premise of this book was pretty interesting. I’m not much of a fan of reincarnation, but I didn’t mind how the author handled it here. I originally got the impression that the author was just going to throw it in there without delving into it much but she surprised me at the end. I wasn’t too keen on Adrian punishing others for the same transgressions he was committing, but I understood why he thought it was necessary. It did make it a bit ridiculous, though.
I liked the angle about Shadoe dying again and again throughout time as a punishment for Adrian. But after getting a peek at Shadoe’s core personality I thought Adrian wasn’t missing much with her gone. She seemed very unlikable and it was hard to see what inspired the love that drove him to reunite with her again and again. Lindsay, on the other hand, I liked. I felt her character occasionally lacked nuance, but she stood out as thoughtful, considerate, strong, and a fighter. She was completely unlike the previous incarnations of Shadoe and we got to see Adrian fall for Lindsay instead of just falling for the girl housing Shadoe’s soul.
I thought the attraction and the desperation to be together before time ran out was really well done. Lindsay finds herself unable to resist Adrian without knowing why. Finding him attractive would be normal, but she feels a compulsion to touch him, to claim him. She’s a straightforward girl and is willing to act on those feelings—which I liked—but she also finds herself “falling� for him within just a few hours of knowing him—which I didn’t like. In addition to that, she has no problem sleeping over the first night (not for sex) despite barely knowing him and having already heard him proclaim that she couldn’t leave. Once we got into the thick of the romance I liked it, but I winced over how unrealistic I found some of the beginning stages, before that point.
Although I liked the world Day created, I thought she played with things that I felt needed to have more weight to them. For one, she linked the angels to God and by extension, religion, instead of going the usual route and casting the angels as removed from religion. Souls were mentioned frequently, but they didn’t seem to be an important factor in the world (other than to create a line between angels, lycans, and vampires) which surprised me because God/religion was brought into play, and souls are definitely important in that. And reading about the actual transgressions that made the angels lose their wings led the reader to regard God as the villain more than anyone else. Added to that, the way the lycan slavery was treated made me uncomfortable. Lindsay, a girl from the regular world, didn’t like it, but she didn’t really make a stand against it either. Even though her friend/guard, Elijah (loved him), was directly impacted by it and was in a particularly dangerous situation for a lycan. I just needed more focus placed on these things so I could feel more comfortable with it.
I’m curious to see where Day is planning to take us in this trilogy. I’m a bit nervous about the punishment that might eventually come down on Adrian, but I’m trying not to lose my HEA high by dwelling on it. I’m eager to get my hands on the second book so I can delve into Elijah’s story. He ended this book in a tight spot and it’ll be interesting seeing him try to wiggle out of it.
Favorite Quote:
"I'm yours."
Lindsay shook her head. "No."
Adrian's features lit with a glorious smile. He twisted swiftly and she found herself beneath him, filled with him.
"I know what it means when you say that," he murmured, hooking his arm beneath her leg and drawing it up, opening her so completely he hit the end of her.
Panting in exquisite torture, she managed, "It means run. Save yourself."
"All of which says, 'I'm falling for you. Adrian.'"
Ah, the conclusion to the Living in Eden series. I didn’t realize this was going to be a trilogy, so that was a bit of a surprise, but it was a welcomAh, the conclusion to the Living in Eden series. I didn’t realize this was going to be a trilogy, so that was a bit of a surprise, but it was a welcome one. I love that the author didn’t draw it out too long. I’m sorry to say goodbye to Eden and Darrak, but I’d much rather end on a high note, still wanting more, than have the series drag on forever.
This has been a really fun series. If you haven’t read the two previous books, I don’t recommend you start here. It doesn’t stand on its own very well. For the past two books we have seen Darrak and Eden struggle to come to terms with their feelings and the fact that they are stuck together. They haven’t had the smoothest path, but they’re both still hopeful that they can find a way to get Darrak out of Eden’s body, without hurting him. Also, they’re highly motivated to find a solution, given that they can’t have sex without repercussions until they fix his curse. Sounds simple, right? Right�
The Darrak we see in this book is a bit of a change from the guy we’ve known in the past two books. I’ve always enjoyed his voice, so I noticed right off that he was a bit more subdued than he was before. He still had some nice lines, but the jokes and sarcasm weren’t as frequent as before. Instead, we saw a more vulnerable side of him. He’s finally come to realize what Eden means to him and struggles to reconcile that with their situation and the person he used to be. He also has to come to terms with the fact that he and Eden might not being seeing eye to eye on their feelings and their hopes for the future.
Eden is not quite as likable as she was in the past, but it’s (mostly) understandable, given what all has happened to her. She’s trying to roll with the punches, but it seems like the hits just keep coming and it’s wearing on her. She’s stressed and having a hard time controlling her magic and just wants her body back to herself. She cares about Darrak too much to take the easy way out, but she could use a break right about now. She just doesn’t have the energy to deal with feelings and what-ifs when they don’t even know how to get out of their current situation. Eden’s desperate for a solution, but when things are taken out of her hands and solved for her, she starts to reevaluate how she actually feels.
One of the things I really enjoyed about this book, and this trilogy in general, is that not all the characters are nice people. They’re not the “bad� guys of the story, per se, they’re just crappy people who sometimes make crappy choices. I liked that the author didn’t feel the need to excuse their actions and make everyone friends in the end. I know that some people like everyone singing “Kumbaya� at the end, but I’m not one of them. Take Ben, for example. I loathe him with a fiery passion. If I had watch him be excused for his douche behavior then I might have had to punch my book. And I don’t want to do that. Because that would be the final straw in convincing my husband that I’ve gone ‘round the bend. That loathing goes double for a person close to Eden who popped back up, by the way. They did some things in this book that cut even the slight amount of sympathy I had for them.
I found this book really readable and enjoyed seeing it all wrapped up, but it wasn’t perfect. As I mentioned before, Eden was less likable and Darrak was more subdued. We also ended up seeing much less of him than usual, due to things that I won’t discuss, so the usual dynamic was a bit off and not as gripping. I felt that things were a little too easy for Eden in regards to her magic. She never got any control of herself—no matter how much Darrak nagged—she just had the equivalent of an “Easy� button to clear up her problem. Way too convenient.
I found the developments with Lucifer very interesting. I like that the author didn’t make things as black and white as they originally seemed. I was surprised to hear the particulars of Lucifer’s connection to hell, but it made sense once I thought about it. I enjoyed how it all resolved and liked getting a little glimpse of the future for Darrak and Eden in the epilogue. I’m sorry to say goodbye to this series, but it was a fun ride while it lasted.
Favorite Quote:
”Stanley?� Darrak said after a moment. “Do you know who this is?� A pause. “No, it’s okay. Don’t be scared. I’m not going to do that to you.� Another pause. “Seriously, I’m not. Evisceration is extremely messy and the cleanup is a—Come on. Stop crying. Be a man.�
I cannot believe I did this to myself again. I opened this book and didn’t stop until I had inhaled it. And it was so good * Originally Read 8/21/11*
I cannot believe I did this to myself again. I opened this book and didn’t stop until I had inhaled it. And it was so good to revisit this world, but now I’m horribly aware of the looooong wait for the final book. And it’s Michael’s book, so that just makes it even harder. I don’t want to say goodbye, but I want it so bad. I know I’m not going to be able to hold out a whole year. I’m going to crack and have to reread them all to torture myself some more.
I was really surprised to discover how different this entry felt from the earlier books in this series. That’s not a bad thing, I actually liked seeing things from another perspective, but it was unexpected. I think if you were completely new to the series you could jump into this book without a lot of the same issues you would experience by jumping into one of the other ones. The third book, Demon Night, also seems like an easy place to jump in. I DO NOT recommend it, however, because I think this series is best experienced from the beginning, so you can watch each twist and turn develop in the story arc. And I seriously cringe in horror over the thought of someone starting with this book and spoiling themselves for the intense events in Demon Forged.
One of the most surprising things about this book was how removed it was from the Guardians. The hero tried his hardest to steer clear of them so he could fulfill his own mission, so we spent most of the story solely focused on Ash and Nicholas. We occasionally cut away to spend some time in Taylor’s POV (squee!) and eventually get some time with the Guardians, but for the most part it’s just them. Luckily, they were great together. Ash was especially hilarious, owing to her problem feeling emotion, and watching Nicholas become frustrated by her lack of memory was fun.
Ash is the worst demon ever, but that’s what makes her so fun. She cannot remember anything, so we get a crash course on the ins and outs of demons right alongside her. I really enjoyed getting a deeper look at the Rules and what was and was not allowed and how that could be twisted. Nicholas finds her a little frustrating at first, and is very suspicious of her—big surprise. Who ’t he suspicious of? I loved watching him be bothered by her staring—she’s ’t worried about making people uncomfortable—and I laughed to myself as he tried to figure out whether or not she really was that clueless and actually did want him. I can’t blame him for being suspicious, especially because what he knew about demons was pretty concrete, but I wish he had let it go earlier. Luckily, neither of them were unreasonable and both were willing to own when they screwed up.
I loved watching Ash and Nicholas grow into themselves together. They both started the book in a kind of childlike state. They inadvertently helped each other discover themselves, but it wasn’t without bruised feelings along the way. I also really, really liked how the author played with what makes a person who they are. I, personally, agree with the decision that Ash made, and the reason she did. I would have been very unhappy if it had gone any other way. I am firmly of the belief that the person you are is what life and experience has made you. Change one thing and it might change everything. You might never had ended up the person you are today.
In addition to a lovely romance, we are also treated to an ever deepening story arc. Each book has layered onto this storyline, which is why I really think people cheat themselves if they skip around. I am constantly impressed by the depth and intensity we get in each book and am amazed at how well balanced they are. Not only do we get a great romance, we also get an intricate story full of well developed characters and plots galore. I am really excited to see how this will all resolve in the end.
Favorite Quote:
"And I wasn't thinking of a plane." When she looked at him blankly, Nicholas clenched his teeth and counted to three. "I know you can fly."
Her eyes widened and she looked down at her hands. "I can shape-shift into a bird? How?"
Jesus H. Christ. The next time he made a bargain, Nicholas would damn well make certain the demon knew more than a bag of bricks.
I had heard excellent things about this book and it turns out that everyone was right. I loved it! I was quite impressed with the fresh and complex woI had heard excellent things about this book and it turns out that everyone was right. I loved it! I was quite impressed with the fresh and complex world Pang created. The reader is dropped directly into the story and left to figure things out without any excessive infodumps. That style doesn't always work, leaving the reader too confused, but I think this author pulled it off nicely. The heroine, Abby, was relatively new to the OtherWorld, giving the author an easy way to pull the reader into the world without it feeling clunky.
Abby was in a bad place mentally six months ago and did something rash. She signed a contract making her the TouchStone of the Protectorate in return for seven years of agelessness and a wish granted upon fulfillment of the contract. She also got an enchanted iPod thrown in for good measure. She had no clue what she was getting herself into and the situation is made worse by the fact that the faery she's contracted to, Moira, hasn't bothered to teach her much about the new world she's a part of. When the book opens we see that Abby has been holding down the fort alone for the past couple months. Moira left her a vague note and disappeared. As Abby finds herself pulled into a search for some missing succubi she finds her lack of knowledge getting her into one bad spot after another.
I really liked Abby. Her personality made her very approachable for the reader. She had some baggage that made her insecure and vulnerable, but she didn't let it turn her into a whiner. She didn't let people get close too easily and she tended to lie to herself, but who could blame her? She was witty and occasionally self deprecating and had an easy charm to her. She was fully aware that she was in over her head, but she did her best to keep her chin up and brazen her way through it. She found herself in hot water again and again, the last one to realize how she had messed up, but I think she handled herself very well. She had her moments of ignorance and obliviousness, but she never strayed into the TSTL territory.
Brystion was another surprise. He was brooding and sexy and had his jerk moments (often in the beginning), which I expected, but he also was surprisingly thoughtful and sad. He struggled with his feelings of inferiority and unworthiness. His worry over a future between them rang true for me. Hooking up with someone like an incubus is not going to be easy. They may have laughed about him being a walking orgasm and may have teased each other about the his powers of seduction, but the reality of what he is and what he does is not something to take lightly. The author did a great job with making him likable and sympathetic, despite some of his more mercenary qualities. Actually, maybe because of those very qualities. It's hard to fault someone for intense loyalty.
In addition to Abby and Brystion, Pang created a wonderful set of secondary characters that gave us a glimpse of many different creatures in the four paths. I loved quite a few of them, including Phineas, the adorable little unicorn, but I could have quite cheerfully beaten the crap out of Robert. Man, that angel was a giant douche. I could do with less of him in the next book. I liked that the author managed to make each of Abby's friends have a bit of depth to them. That's quite an impressive feat considering how many characters there were and that the main characters were never shortchanged.
Pang has a very readable voice that made the pages turn quickly. She easily shifted between funny and serious without ever jarring the reader. This one didn't end on a cliffhanger but not everything was wrapped up at the end. I am quite eager to see what she has in store for us in the second book.
Favorite Quote:
"Throw me a goddamned rope!" I wasn't sure if he could hear me, given the howl of the wind, but he signaled my words with a shrug.
"I tried to bring one, but it couldn't come through the *bleep*." His voice was husky, a midnight fury laced with the metallic edge of bullets. He paused. "Hold on! I've got something here, but it won't be quite long enough, so you're going to have to time it with the waves."
"You'd better not be talking about your dick. I mean, you're well hung and all, but it's a Shadow Realm, not Fantasyland," I snorted, trying not to laugh.
I’ve tried to figure out how to write my review honestly without giving spoilers, but I just can’t. My major dislike involved a plot point that I woulI’ve tried to figure out how to write my review honestly without giving spoilers, but I just can’t. My major dislike involved a plot point that I would consider to be a spoiler, so be wary and don’t read it unless you really want to know.
Dmitri, I’m happy to say, is still the same guy we first saw in Angels� Blood. He’s wicked and naughty, and still has that disturbing vein of cruelty. He was, I have to admit, one of the members of the Seven that I was least interested in, but I really got to know him here and grew to love him. He’s dark and dangerous, but what really swayed me were his memories. That guy, the one his memories, was the one that really made me fall for him. If we wouldn’t have seen him as he was then, I’m not sure how much I would have cared for him in the present. As I said, he had a vein of hard anger and cruelty in him that had me shying away. Rafael could be cruel and cold to Elena and others, but he didn’t seem to relish it the way Dmitri did, and that seemed to make all the difference for me.
I tried not to compare their relationship to Elena and Rafael, I really did. And I succeeded for the most part. It was weird seeing them from the sidelines and only having a few scenes with them, but the author was smart not to let any of the other characters accidentally dominate Dmitri’s book. We got to see Jason and Illium and Venom, but the scenes with them seemed few and far between. What we did see of Illium continued to hint toward a worrying fixation on Elena, though. Just like in the last book, I’m not sure what I think of the continued mention of this subject. It’s making it into a bigger thing than I want it to be and I keep hoping it will be dropped.
Honor and Dmitri both have had to learn to cope with the horrific abuse they’re suffered. Dmitri is, of course, further along in the game than her, but he has had way more time to adjust. Honor is still jumpy and can’t control her occasional involuntary fight or flight reaction around him. Although Honor would seem to be the more wounded of the two, being that her experience was more recent, Dmitri really stole the show. His constant flashbacks exposed us to a pain and a yearning that has never healed in him. It has been so many years and he’s still not over his wife. He longs for the happiness and the love he felt when he was with her, and he just about broke my heart. That’s really what leads into why the relationship between Honor and Dmitri left me dissatisfied.
Dmitri was clearly not over his wife, and honestly, I don’t blame him. The flashbacks we were shown were incredibly compelling and it broke my heart to know that he didn’t have that anymore. Although he started to make a connection with Honor, there was so much time devoted to memories of his prior life and Honor’s similarities to his dead wife that I felt that the present relationship was shortchanged. I mean, we even had flashbacks during the scenes where Honor and Dmitri were getting frisky! I ended up being more interested in the past relationship than the present one and wished I could have read that romance, because they had something beautiful.
(view spoiler)[I know why Dmitri was constantly reminded of his wife when he was with Honor, but it really made me doubt that Honor was actually what kept him interested. The author built up the past connection and Dmitri’s continued devotion so well that the current relationship didn’t quite fit. It seemed like the only reason why it developed into more than his typical catch and release attitude was because he became unwillingly intrigued by the similarities.
I was very shocked and unhappy to find that�.This is where the SPOILERS come in, people�.Honor was cast as Dmitri’s dead wife, reincarnated. I know that some people find that situation very romantic, but I’m not one of them. To me, there’s a very clear definition between this person and that person. Just because both people have the same soul does not mean that they are both guaranteed to be loved by the same person. Every action and inaction and event that you experience defines who you are. It’s that person that someone will fall in love with. And I don’t feel that those things are interchangeable. Change one event about your past and you could change your whole personality and outlook on life. You might not have grown and learned enough to become the person you are today.
So to have Dmitri’s dreams come true by tying up his pain in a big red bow and giving him his wife back makes me very unhappy. What about Honor? She seemed to exist only as a vehicle to ease his torment. I am not convinced that he would have ever been completely fulfilled by just her. He was too hung up on his wife. But because she is his wife it’s okay. Now he’ll love her with everything he has. But is he really loving Honor? Or is he just loving his wife any way he can get her? I don’t like to close a Romance with these nagging worries, so I’m not exactly stoked about how this all turned out. (hide spoiler)]
Other than that, I also felt that the story was a little slow and that the plot wasn’t really important. It almost seemed like it existed only to give Honor and Dmitri an excuse to be around each other and to give Dmitri a compelling reason to reveal pieces of his past.
Although I wasn’t thrilled with this book, I still enjoyed it. The Guild Hunter world is an awesome place to be and I enjoyed getting to see more of Ashwini and getting to see the storyline for Holly (Uram’s victim) developed further.
Favorite Quote:
"Like to push, don't you?"
"If I don't," he purred, leaning down to kiss her while he plumped and shaped her breast with a proprietary hand, "how will I ever get you to a point where you'll let me tie you up and use a whip on you?"
Although I enjoyed this book for the most part, a lot of what I loved about the first book, Black Wings, was missing. I had quite a few iff*3.5 Stars*
Although I enjoyed this book for the most part, a lot of what I loved about the first book, Black Wings, was missing. I had quite a few iffy moments while reading and found myself genuinely relieved when I ended Black Night more positive than not. I have no plans as of yet to quit this series, but I have to admit I’m a little more wary than I was after reading the first book.
It seemed like a good chunk of my time reading the beginning of the book was spent trying to resist the urge to pull my hair out. The heroine, Maddy, seemed to subscribe to the belief that she should ignore any advice she was given about her interactions with the supernatural world, just on principal. I cannot stand deliberate stupidity, and she had it in spades. Again and again things would turn out badly because she just wouldn’t listen. She would acknowledge later that she could have avoided it, but she just brushed it off by saying that she couldn’t stand everyone telling her what to do. Personally, I think smart people would prefer to know the lay of the land before they went blundering around. Too bad Maddy wasn’t that intelligent.
I was really pleased that Henry didn’t include a love triangle in the first book. I marveled over finally finding an Urban Fantasy without a love triangle and was impressed that the author didn’t feel the need to conform to the current trend. I guess I spoke too soon, because although there ’t an out and out love triangle, there seems to be one in the making what with the flutters going on for another man. How lame. :( Gabriel was barely even in the book, so that was another downer. I was really looking forward to seeing the tension between them and watching them (or her, since he feels he can’t) try to find a way to be together. I felt we ended the book in the exact same place we started in, just with a different setup. I’m afraid if plot devices that seem like carbon copies of each other keep popping up to keep them apart, I’m going to get tired of this. I don’t like the feel of being stuck spinning my wheels.
I also felt like things were too easy for Maddy this time around. She seems to shrug and accept anything that comes her way with barely a flinch. Her reactions and the lasting impact of certain upsetting close calls were nil, so it was hard to get swept away and feel any urgency. Plus, I wasn’t happy to see a certain event used so cavalierly. That’s a pet peeve of mine.
Despite my dislikes, the pages turned quickly, and I was sucked in. Once the action starts, it just keeps on going. We rarely see Maddy do her actual job—which I missed—but we get exposed to a lot of new sides of her world. We meet the Werewolves and the Fae, and although I didn’t feel we got much depth to them, we got enough to whet my appetite for more.
The politics involved in being Lucifer’s granddaughter are still the main object of my interest (and frustration) in Maddy’s new role in the supernatural world. I really liked watching Maddy find her feet as Lucifer’s representative and enjoyed her burgeoning self confidence in that arena. But those very politics also frustrate me and leave me with the feeling that I’ll be stuck watching this same dance again and again for a few more books. I could be wrong, though. The author really could pull through and surprised me.
Just like with my review of the first book, I have to warn those of you who are not fans of having the angel/demon/Lucifer angle messed with against reading this book. I doubt you’ll be happy with the role Lucifer is cast in and you’ll probably grind your teeth to find that pretty much every major character in the book is some kind of relative of hell. So, just an fyi. :D
Favorite Quote:
"People are staring," Gabriel murmured next to me.
"Oh, gee, why would they stare?" I said. "It's not like I'm having an argument with my coat lapel or anything."
This book turned out to be quite a pleasant surprise. Urban Fantasy books seem to be hit or miss wReview originally posted at
*4.5 Stars*
This book turned out to be quite a pleasant surprise. Urban Fantasy books seem to be hit or miss with me. First person narrative is not a favorite of mine—it makes me feel like I’m living in a vacuum—and too often I don’t like the heroine. It’s hard for me to read and enjoy a book when I’m stuck in the head of someone I don’t particularly like. I’ve also noticed that quite a few heroines seem to be bitchy and argumentative as shorthand for strong. Unfortunately, bitchy does not equal strong for this reader. My point with this surplus of information is that I actually liked this heroine. She hit me just right.
Another strong point in the book’s favor is the lack of love triangle. Thank you Christina Henry for not including that. I hate them! This book has enough tension and roadblocks in the relationship without the added headache of another man.
This was an incredibly quick read. Once the action starts it just doesn’t stop. You’ll find yourself sucked in and unable to set it down until you read just one more chapter. The writing is smooth and the author did a nice job of spicing the narrative with humor. It achieved a nice balance with the action and never strayed into the slapstick.
Maddy felt very real. Her reactions were more in line with a regular person’s, so it was easy to relate to her. There was even one part where she got her ass kicked and threw up from the pain before passing out. Now, you may wonder why vomit stuck out in my mind enough for me to mention it, but it’s just one more example of her atypical UF heroine behavior. She didn’t gracefully get beat up and still manage to not break a nail. Maddy had some knock-down-drag-out fights and she didn’t always win on her own. She doesn’t come out of the fight with her pride untarnished either. Some of those people cleaned her clock! But I liked it because it was way more believable than an invincible bad ass.
I really loved Maddy’s relationship with Beezle. He was so cute and protective. He was just like a grumpy teddy bear that you wanted to cuddle! His interactions with the people who interacted with Maddy were a lot of fun too. I love when characters have that wise talking sidekick, like Bob in the Harry Dresden series.
This is a UF that actually felt like a UF instead of leaning toward a PNR. There was the beginning of a possible romantic relationship, but that was just a small focus in Maddy’s new life. The most sexual contact you’re going to get is a kiss or two. I didn’t mind though—I actually think it made the book better.
The author did a good job of hooking my interest into Gabriel though. The things that we learned about his past made him very sympathetic—especially because he doesn’t seem to recognize that his life should be any different. Also, the reality that they face with Maddy’s new political position makes me invested in seeing them work it out. I’d probably root for them on pure principle even if I didn’t like them together just to thwart a certain someone who thinks that he can rule Maddy’s life now no matter what.
I really liked the details of the world. Maddy’s job really interested me. I especially was intrigued by the politics of it. How interesting! The new political world that she has stepped into also seems like it’ll be quite fascinating to learn more about. The only real complaint I had about this book was the lack of world building. Don’t get me wrong, I understood her world and I enjoyed it, but there was just something missing for me in the development of it. Possibly the author will add depth as the series unfolds a la Kate Daniels.
The only warning I would give is for those that do not enjoy books that play with how bad Lucifer actually is. If you don’t enjoy anything but the traditional role of Hell and fallen angels you might just want to pass on this one. They weren’t presented as boy scouts or anything, but they weren’t quite as reviled as some might prefer. So be warned!
That leads to one last comment I’d like to make about the author’s style. She had a very clean writing style with the occasional flip into a more descriptive, powerful style. I also really liked the way the angels were portrayed as beautiful, but it was almost a terrifying beauty.
pg. 32: ...opened her eyes to find the dark angel blocking out the sky, and all she could see was his awful beauty, haloed in starshine and moonlight, and his black burning eyes. He whispered her name, and his voice wound into her ear and down her throat and under her ribs, and she knew what he had come for.
I just loved the way it was written!
I urge all of you who are interested to go grab a copy of this book and try it out for yourself. Hopefully it works as well for you as it did for me!
Favorite Quote:
pg. 100
His dark eyes were lit by starshine, and I felt I was falling again into the heart of the universe. Not by some spell of Gabriel's, but by my own foolish wants and needs. He had kissed me to save me--this much I understood. But my heart, my very lonely heart, ached for what I had never known before.
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