Helpful Score: 2
Mel has a lot on her mind. She's raising a teenage daughter, living in a renovated High School, has her mother and her grandmother living with her, and just got 2 dead girls left on her doorstep. Mel's not sure why this is happening. Sure, it could be because she's an Amazon priestess living away from the rest of her tribe whom she left after the death of her son, but it could be just a coincidence too...right?
Knowing that it is most definitely not a coincidence, Mel has to summon her courage to face the tribe she left behind. People seem to keep getting in her way however, particularly men. The first a very talented and sexy tattoo artist she just hired to work in her shop. Mel knows Peter is keeping some kind of secrets of his own, but Detective Reynolds is making it hard for her to concentrate on much as he's constantly poking his nose where it doesn't belong...and it's getting harder and harder to explain away the odd occurrences that happen in her house.
Determined to find the murder of her tribeswomen and get the answers to her own questions about her past answered at the same time, Mel sets out to face her demons.
I have to say I was not expecting much. The whole theme of "Amazon Ink" is set in Madison Wisconsin. No offense to the Badgers (I love Bucky!), but not the most exciting setting for a murder mystery mixed with Amazon warriors. I have to say though I was pleasantly surprised.
"Amazon Ink" really held my attention. I wasn't on the edge of my seat or anything, and I was pretty sure I knew who the culprit was the instant he was introduced as a character, but I still wanted to get to the end of the book and make sure my hunch had some merit. Overall "Amazon Ink" had likable characters. For me, that's a big up sell for any fantasy. I cared about the characters and wanted them to succeed. I did have some problems with the writing however, that I cannot in good conscience as a reviewer fail to put into writing.
On the good side, "Amazon Ink" is a quick read. Great for a public transit commuter like myself, a plane ride, or a beach read. Devoti's style reminds me a lot of Gena Showalter only...better. Showalter writes good stuff, but it's more romance chicklit stuff with some adventure thrown in. Devoti is more adventure with a touch of romance thrown in. For me at least, that made "Amazon Ink" more readable and saved me a lot of eye rolling.
On the flipside, Devoti is not the most riveting author out there. There were definite places where my eyes skipped over big sections, sometimes even whole pages in an effort to get back to the action, I really only need one, maybe two, paragraphs about a character's feelings in my opinion. I want their life story, but spread out throughout the book, not in one fell swoop.
There were also a couple of spots where I really wanted to throw something at Devoti's editor. Take this example on page 349: "Makis's face was pale, his arms and legs akimbo - unnatural." This use of the word "akimbo" is incorrect. The sentence makes it feel like the guy is sprawled on the ground with his limbs in strange directions but "akimbo" means: "with hand on hip and elbow bent outward: to stand with arms akimbo."[...], which means it's impossible for legs to be "akimbo."
Strangely all those episodes of "Top Model" and "Project Runway" paid off. Very strange. Anyway, although "Amazon Ink" won't be winning any awards, I liked it. It was fun, different, off the beaten path, and I will definitely read the next installment.
3 ½ stars.
Knowing that it is most definitely not a coincidence, Mel has to summon her courage to face the tribe she left behind. People seem to keep getting in her way however, particularly men. The first a very talented and sexy tattoo artist she just hired to work in her shop. Mel knows Peter is keeping some kind of secrets of his own, but Detective Reynolds is making it hard for her to concentrate on much as he's constantly poking his nose where it doesn't belong...and it's getting harder and harder to explain away the odd occurrences that happen in her house.
Determined to find the murder of her tribeswomen and get the answers to her own questions about her past answered at the same time, Mel sets out to face her demons.
I have to say I was not expecting much. The whole theme of "Amazon Ink" is set in Madison Wisconsin. No offense to the Badgers (I love Bucky!), but not the most exciting setting for a murder mystery mixed with Amazon warriors. I have to say though I was pleasantly surprised.
"Amazon Ink" really held my attention. I wasn't on the edge of my seat or anything, and I was pretty sure I knew who the culprit was the instant he was introduced as a character, but I still wanted to get to the end of the book and make sure my hunch had some merit. Overall "Amazon Ink" had likable characters. For me, that's a big up sell for any fantasy. I cared about the characters and wanted them to succeed. I did have some problems with the writing however, that I cannot in good conscience as a reviewer fail to put into writing.
On the good side, "Amazon Ink" is a quick read. Great for a public transit commuter like myself, a plane ride, or a beach read. Devoti's style reminds me a lot of Gena Showalter only...better. Showalter writes good stuff, but it's more romance chicklit stuff with some adventure thrown in. Devoti is more adventure with a touch of romance thrown in. For me at least, that made "Amazon Ink" more readable and saved me a lot of eye rolling.
On the flipside, Devoti is not the most riveting author out there. There were definite places where my eyes skipped over big sections, sometimes even whole pages in an effort to get back to the action, I really only need one, maybe two, paragraphs about a character's feelings in my opinion. I want their life story, but spread out throughout the book, not in one fell swoop.
There were also a couple of spots where I really wanted to throw something at Devoti's editor. Take this example on page 349: "Makis's face was pale, his arms and legs akimbo - unnatural." This use of the word "akimbo" is incorrect. The sentence makes it feel like the guy is sprawled on the ground with his limbs in strange directions but "akimbo" means: "with hand on hip and elbow bent outward: to stand with arms akimbo."[...], which means it's impossible for legs to be "akimbo."
Strangely all those episodes of "Top Model" and "Project Runway" paid off. Very strange. Anyway, although "Amazon Ink" won't be winning any awards, I liked it. It was fun, different, off the beaten path, and I will definitely read the next installment.
3 ½ stars.
Helpful Score: 2
An urban fantasy to rival many of the best sellers and beat a good number of them. Why is there not more talk about this author? This was a great adventure. Well developed characters in a well developed paranormal subculture. Romance, but no sex - no problem. There are murders happening and you become more interested in finding the killer along with the heroine. I would imagine the relationships with the men she meets in this novel will grow in future stories. I'll be watching out for them.
Helpful Score: 1
fantastic! i loved every second of it and can't wait to read the next book. enough sexual tension for the romance lover, but no actual sex scenes for the urban fantasy lover. it is a keeper!
This is both suspenseful and original.Lori Devoti has created an Amazon culture from a combination ancient Greek legends and her own imagination. I was bowled over. This is one of the best fantasy novels I've read.
This is one of the best books I have read in a long time. Its original, witty and holds your attention throughtout the whole book. I have found a new author to add to my list of favorites.
Mel is a modern day Amazon who left her tribe, after conflict, years ago. She is working in the human world as an independant business woman, and raising her daughter a human. Then someone leaves the bodies of two dead Amazons at her door. Mel becomes the primary suspect for both the police and tha Amazons. She has trouble defending herself, while keeping her daughter and the police from learning about the tribe. Mel discovers some new truths and some old betrayals while hunting for the killer. Good story, with an interesting premise. Looking forward to the next in series.
After some kind of disaster, Melanippe "Mel" Saka has given up the Amazon life and moved to Madison Wisconsin to open a tattoo parlor along with her mother, grandmother and daughter. When dead Amazon girls start appearing on her doorstep with tattoos excised from their flesh, she is very concerned for her daughter. Very slowly the story builds (and I do mean slowly. It took almost 200 pages to get interesting.) and we learn why Mel left and why the Amazon Queen suspects Mel of these terrible deeds.
I had a lot of trouble getting into this book. I don't know if it was because I didn't like Mel, who seems incredibly wishy-washy to me or maybe it's just her pushy mother and grandmother running her life. Either way, it was well over halfway before she got a backbone and became the warrior I expected her to be. I enjoyed the ending and look forward to reading the next book. I liked Peter (the tattoo artist she hired) but I also liked detective Reynolds and I'm interested to see whom Mel chooses.
I had a lot of trouble getting into this book. I don't know if it was because I didn't like Mel, who seems incredibly wishy-washy to me or maybe it's just her pushy mother and grandmother running her life. Either way, it was well over halfway before she got a backbone and became the warrior I expected her to be. I enjoyed the ending and look forward to reading the next book. I liked Peter (the tattoo artist she hired) but I also liked detective Reynolds and I'm interested to see whom Mel chooses.
