Steven C. (SteveTheDM) -
Helpful Score: 1
So, first things first: I received this book as part of the Goodreads First-Reads program, which sends out free books to readers hoping for them to post glowing reviews on the various book-reader web sites.
But heres the truth: I really didnt like this book much. Granted, paranormal romance isnt a genre that Ive spent any time with, but I do like paranormal and urban fantasy stories, so this really wasnt a huge stretch for me. No, the real problem with this book was a pair of characters who could most accurately be described as losers for most of the narrative. The first protagonist is a woman who constantly goes on about how weak and helpless she is, whining about issues shes too wound up about to actually enunciate. The second protagonist is a protector type with a deep and dark background he doesnt want to talk about, either. In other words, a pair of people that are impossible to feel any empathy toward.
There was a time in the late 90s when I watched a lot of date movies with British actors who had an inability to communicate, and I walked out of every single one of those completely frustrated with characters who couldnt TALK to one another. This book might not have British actors, but damn, its sure full of people who cant talk.
So if I didnt like the characters, I could hope for a fun setting, right? Well, no. Not here. This book takes place in essentially two places. If theres any world here, with any other people around, the author sure left that information in her notes, because it didnt make it into the novel.
Was there any good at all then? Well, the last quarter of the book moves more from romance to paranormal, and that was a lot more interesting. (Though paranormal is wrong. This is urban fantasy, only without a good urban setting.) The fantasy elements are reasonably well thought out, and might be an interesting thing to explorewith a different set of characters and setting all together.
2 of 5 stars.
But heres the truth: I really didnt like this book much. Granted, paranormal romance isnt a genre that Ive spent any time with, but I do like paranormal and urban fantasy stories, so this really wasnt a huge stretch for me. No, the real problem with this book was a pair of characters who could most accurately be described as losers for most of the narrative. The first protagonist is a woman who constantly goes on about how weak and helpless she is, whining about issues shes too wound up about to actually enunciate. The second protagonist is a protector type with a deep and dark background he doesnt want to talk about, either. In other words, a pair of people that are impossible to feel any empathy toward.
There was a time in the late 90s when I watched a lot of date movies with British actors who had an inability to communicate, and I walked out of every single one of those completely frustrated with characters who couldnt TALK to one another. This book might not have British actors, but damn, its sure full of people who cant talk.
So if I didnt like the characters, I could hope for a fun setting, right? Well, no. Not here. This book takes place in essentially two places. If theres any world here, with any other people around, the author sure left that information in her notes, because it didnt make it into the novel.
Was there any good at all then? Well, the last quarter of the book moves more from romance to paranormal, and that was a lot more interesting. (Though paranormal is wrong. This is urban fantasy, only without a good urban setting.) The fantasy elements are reasonably well thought out, and might be an interesting thing to explorewith a different set of characters and setting all together.
2 of 5 stars.
