Christine P. (happyandbeck) - reviewed Crouching Vampire, Hidden Fang (Dark Ones, Bk 7) on + 3 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
I agree with what Marna C. has said about the "comic relief" secondary characters and pet names. They are not funny and take away from the flow of the story. I do like some of her Dark Ones novels but not this one. I just skimmed through the end just to finish it.
Series I did enjoy alot - Sookie Stackhouse by Charlaine Harris, Queen Betsy by MaryJanice Davidson, also her Derik's Bane book, and Dead series by Tate Hallaway.
Series I did enjoy alot - Sookie Stackhouse by Charlaine Harris, Queen Betsy by MaryJanice Davidson, also her Derik's Bane book, and Dead series by Tate Hallaway.
Marna C. (feritgrrl) -
Helpful Score: 2
Ok- to start. I really like most all of Katie MacAlister's books. They are always funny,sexy,romantic and exciting. But the titles...the current trend of trying to give them cute pop-culture reference-y names isn't working for me and doesn't have anything to do with the actual plot of the book itself.
That said- this is a book two of a 'mini-series' I guess I'd call it, that started with Zen and the Art of Vampires. This story continues the romance between Pia Thomason and her Dark One, Kristoff, picking up at a point just after the last book left off with the vampire and his Beloved seperated through misunderstanding and miscommunication. Pia is not given long to patch up her broken heart before she is hauled back into the battle between the anti-vamp Brotherhood of the Light, who insist she is their Zorya- some sort of ritual ghost/spirit guide- and the Dark Ones- who have summoned her to answer for various crimes including the disappearence of Alec, a Dark One who had been, well,a friend 'plus benefits' to Pia before she found herself Kristoff's Beloved and wife.
Pia and Kristoff must team up to solve the mystery of Alec's disappearence and the murder of the previous Zorya as well as saving some of the spirits Pia left hanging around at the end of the last book. Oh yes, and they must discover how to work out the apparent mistake- they think- of their link as Dark One and Beloved.
I enjoyed most of the book- with some reservations. MacAlister works waaay too hard at trying to write funny/zany secondary characters.This never works- without exception these characters are annoying to me and detract from the story. If the heroine is already smart, witty and/or clueless in an amusing way, it is just overdoing it with the 'extra' comedic factor. The secondary friend characters would work much better as 'straight men' to the main action- or at least tone down the zany... a lot.
It isn't the worst thing to bring in characters from previous books, but again, the attempt to make them funny doesn't quite work. Let the characters be themselves as they were in the previous book- and enough with the jokes about petnames etc. Yes this is a fantasy novel, but the characters can act somewhat like normal folk, or at least converse like them in that it just seems odd to have them divulging their bedroom secrets and intimate pet names to total strangers whom they have just met, in front of large numbers of other 'people' listening to the conversation.
So far, I have been pleasantly surprised by this series. I have read all of the books thus far and while this wasn't my favorite of the series, it isn't the worst either (I thought the first one was kind of a clunker.)In the main, a fun read, but Katie, if you are listening, ditch the 'zany friends,'please!
That said- this is a book two of a 'mini-series' I guess I'd call it, that started with Zen and the Art of Vampires. This story continues the romance between Pia Thomason and her Dark One, Kristoff, picking up at a point just after the last book left off with the vampire and his Beloved seperated through misunderstanding and miscommunication. Pia is not given long to patch up her broken heart before she is hauled back into the battle between the anti-vamp Brotherhood of the Light, who insist she is their Zorya- some sort of ritual ghost/spirit guide- and the Dark Ones- who have summoned her to answer for various crimes including the disappearence of Alec, a Dark One who had been, well,a friend 'plus benefits' to Pia before she found herself Kristoff's Beloved and wife.
Pia and Kristoff must team up to solve the mystery of Alec's disappearence and the murder of the previous Zorya as well as saving some of the spirits Pia left hanging around at the end of the last book. Oh yes, and they must discover how to work out the apparent mistake- they think- of their link as Dark One and Beloved.
I enjoyed most of the book- with some reservations. MacAlister works waaay too hard at trying to write funny/zany secondary characters.This never works- without exception these characters are annoying to me and detract from the story. If the heroine is already smart, witty and/or clueless in an amusing way, it is just overdoing it with the 'extra' comedic factor. The secondary friend characters would work much better as 'straight men' to the main action- or at least tone down the zany... a lot.
It isn't the worst thing to bring in characters from previous books, but again, the attempt to make them funny doesn't quite work. Let the characters be themselves as they were in the previous book- and enough with the jokes about petnames etc. Yes this is a fantasy novel, but the characters can act somewhat like normal folk, or at least converse like them in that it just seems odd to have them divulging their bedroom secrets and intimate pet names to total strangers whom they have just met, in front of large numbers of other 'people' listening to the conversation.
So far, I have been pleasantly surprised by this series. I have read all of the books thus far and while this wasn't my favorite of the series, it isn't the worst either (I thought the first one was kind of a clunker.)In the main, a fun read, but Katie, if you are listening, ditch the 'zany friends,'please!
Denise S. (denisesilva) reviewed Crouching Vampire, Hidden Fang (Dark Ones, Bk 7) on + 8 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
Although I usually enjoy her books, this one I just couldn't get into...I don't know if its just me, but a lot of what was going on was confusing and the constant lust between two characters have for each other and the sex scenes I could do without.---Denise in Redding,CA
Carla T. (dogodame) reviewed Crouching Vampire, Hidden Fang (Dark Ones, Bk 7) on + 46 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
After reading several of the reviews on this site, I was a little reserved about starting this book. However, once I started it, I couldn't put it down. It was an enjoyable read for a spring day. I'm glad that Pia and Kristoff finally worked out their relationship.
Monica G. (champsmom) -
Helpful Score: 1
Another great and humorous read from MacAlister. I love the she brings some of her old characters out to play such as Christian, Sebastian and Allegra~! While it's the second book for Pia I don't think readers would have trouble following along if they missed the first book. Although I would still recommend reading the entire series. (as well as Aisling's series).
Wendy H. (donkeycheese) -
What happens when your groom leaves you right after the wedding and is several continents away from you? You speak to him directly with your mind but if he blocks you out, you cry yourself to sleep and eat lots of ice cream.
Pia Thomason cries herself to sleep every night. Her husband wants nothing to do with her and even when she projects her thoughts to him, he shuts her down abruptly. Pia is a chubby, middle-aged woman who recently found herself the new Zorya and married to two men. One of those men is a vampire, and the other a member of the Brotherhood, which Pia found herself to be a member of since becoming Zorya. A Zorya can see and interact with ghosts and help them find their way to their eternal rest, or Ostri as Pia calls it. The vampire council wants to see Pia as soon as possible, but all Pia can think about is her broken heart and why the Dark One, Kristoff, doesn't want her.
Kristoff is a Dark One, a Moravian vampire. Pia is his Beloved, and he cannot live without her, literally. Every time she beckons him with her mind, he blocks his thoughts from her. Pia expressed desire for one of Kristoff's friends, Alec, a few months ago and Kristoff would rather die than get in the way of Pia's path to true love. But Kristoff really is dying since he can't feed from anyone but Pia, unbeknown to her. When the council brings Pia to him, he collapses before her.
Once Pia feeds Kristoff so he can function, she confronts the council on the way they've treated him. They are keeping him prisoner, and bring many accusations against Pia as well. Pia made a deal with the Brotherhood, for the release of reapers that the council is holding so that she can terminate her position as Zorya. After much discussion, the council decides that Pia and Kristoff must find out whom the mole is that is feeding information to the Brotherhood about the Dark Ones. If they succeed, all the charges will be dropped.
Pia and Kristoff complement each other perfectly. Pia is an out-spoken woman who knows what she wants, and she wants Kristoff. She uses her wiles to garner his attention, not knowing she had it months ago. Kristoff is a possessive Dark One with a deep secret that he does not want to share with Pia, lest he lose her. The two set off fireworks like the Fourth of July! When intimate or arguing, they are made for one another. Witty with a splash of romance and a dark puzzle to unravel, CROUCHING VAMPIRE HIDDEN FANG is a sure-fire hit!
Pia Thomason cries herself to sleep every night. Her husband wants nothing to do with her and even when she projects her thoughts to him, he shuts her down abruptly. Pia is a chubby, middle-aged woman who recently found herself the new Zorya and married to two men. One of those men is a vampire, and the other a member of the Brotherhood, which Pia found herself to be a member of since becoming Zorya. A Zorya can see and interact with ghosts and help them find their way to their eternal rest, or Ostri as Pia calls it. The vampire council wants to see Pia as soon as possible, but all Pia can think about is her broken heart and why the Dark One, Kristoff, doesn't want her.
Kristoff is a Dark One, a Moravian vampire. Pia is his Beloved, and he cannot live without her, literally. Every time she beckons him with her mind, he blocks his thoughts from her. Pia expressed desire for one of Kristoff's friends, Alec, a few months ago and Kristoff would rather die than get in the way of Pia's path to true love. But Kristoff really is dying since he can't feed from anyone but Pia, unbeknown to her. When the council brings Pia to him, he collapses before her.
Once Pia feeds Kristoff so he can function, she confronts the council on the way they've treated him. They are keeping him prisoner, and bring many accusations against Pia as well. Pia made a deal with the Brotherhood, for the release of reapers that the council is holding so that she can terminate her position as Zorya. After much discussion, the council decides that Pia and Kristoff must find out whom the mole is that is feeding information to the Brotherhood about the Dark Ones. If they succeed, all the charges will be dropped.
Pia and Kristoff complement each other perfectly. Pia is an out-spoken woman who knows what she wants, and she wants Kristoff. She uses her wiles to garner his attention, not knowing she had it months ago. Kristoff is a possessive Dark One with a deep secret that he does not want to share with Pia, lest he lose her. The two set off fireworks like the Fourth of July! When intimate or arguing, they are made for one another. Witty with a splash of romance and a dark puzzle to unravel, CROUCHING VAMPIRE HIDDEN FANG is a sure-fire hit!
Janie T. (FriscoOBX) reviewed Crouching Vampire, Hidden Fang (Dark Ones, Bk 7) on + 601 more book reviews
another great one by macalister. worth the read.
Pretty good action in this book the continuation of "Zen & the Art of Vampires".
Lori V. (cjsmom) -
This was by far the best yet! I finished it in hours and than read it again the next day. I have liked all the Dark One's but Kristoff and Pia are GREAT together. The book before this left you hanging but this one ties it all up for you. I can not wait for the next one.
