Helpful Score: 2
Okay MacRieve was abused and molested as a child by a Succubus. But his treatment of the heroine for nearly the ENTIRE BOOK is too much. He's such an asshole it's difficult to get past. It isn't the normal romantic kind of hating each other until they love each other thing. He's cruel and hateful to Chloe and I don't think he ever redeems himself.
Not much happens besides sex. Yes I did actually say that is a downside. Because the heroine, very predictably, winds up being a succubus, MacRieve's most hated species, most of the "action" in the book revolves around sex. Wanting to have sex and not being able to, foreplay, heavy petting, thinking about sex, talking about sex, fighting about sex, fighting not to have sex. Fighting to have sex. Not much else is going on. It was a little...boring.
Hopefully we don't have to read about many more succubae or incubi in the future, sadly all the sex really bogs down the romance and possible plot that doesn't involve sex.
Nevertheless, MacRieve gets 3 stars because it's still full of funny Kresley Cole-isms, the heroine is a strong ass-kicking babe, and women are rarely portrayed as helpless victims. Go KC!
Not much happens besides sex. Yes I did actually say that is a downside. Because the heroine, very predictably, winds up being a succubus, MacRieve's most hated species, most of the "action" in the book revolves around sex. Wanting to have sex and not being able to, foreplay, heavy petting, thinking about sex, talking about sex, fighting about sex, fighting not to have sex. Fighting to have sex. Not much else is going on. It was a little...boring.
Hopefully we don't have to read about many more succubae or incubi in the future, sadly all the sex really bogs down the romance and possible plot that doesn't involve sex.
Nevertheless, MacRieve gets 3 stars because it's still full of funny Kresley Cole-isms, the heroine is a strong ass-kicking babe, and women are rarely portrayed as helpless victims. Go KC!
The prologue totally hooked me and then it jumps to a crazy scene with Nix (my absolute favorite character) so with that alone it makes it hard for me to dislike this book. But as I kept reading I couldn't decide. Then by the end, it won me over.
You need to be warned that MacRieve does a lot of horrible things to Chloe mostly because of the trauma he suffered as a child. I liked that in many ways he mirrors Webb (the guy who tortures and kills all paranormal beings) in his prejudice, except he was able to relearn from his new experiences.
It's hard not to root for Chloe because she is so resilient. The best thing about her was her reactions to MacRieve's abuse. She stands up for herself and also knows when it's time to cut him off.
The only thing I didn't like about the book was all the soccer metaphors. It was too much and kind of sophomoric. I wouldn't mind if Cole had made it into a running joke between characters but Chloe thought in soccer terms to deal with everything.
I'm uncertain how to feel about where Cole is going in regards to Webb. I thought it would have been nicer and more complicated if Webb was more like how Chloe remembered him.
Overall, it was a quick read and kind of emotional. It had some fun parts, not as much as her other books but well worth it. Definitely read her previous ones in the series first to give yourself some background. It's not absolutely necessary but it helps.
You need to be warned that MacRieve does a lot of horrible things to Chloe mostly because of the trauma he suffered as a child. I liked that in many ways he mirrors Webb (the guy who tortures and kills all paranormal beings) in his prejudice, except he was able to relearn from his new experiences.
It's hard not to root for Chloe because she is so resilient. The best thing about her was her reactions to MacRieve's abuse. She stands up for herself and also knows when it's time to cut him off.
The only thing I didn't like about the book was all the soccer metaphors. It was too much and kind of sophomoric. I wouldn't mind if Cole had made it into a running joke between characters but Chloe thought in soccer terms to deal with everything.
I'm uncertain how to feel about where Cole is going in regards to Webb. I thought it would have been nicer and more complicated if Webb was more like how Chloe remembered him.
Overall, it was a quick read and kind of emotional. It had some fun parts, not as much as her other books but well worth it. Definitely read her previous ones in the series first to give yourself some background. It's not absolutely necessary but it helps.
This book did suck me in; however, it still had way too many eye-roll, anger inducing moments for me.
Will was too full of angst, disrespectful, downright mean, and rude. He has had centuries to get over it. "You speak of change as if it's easy. I'm nine centuries old." Nice excuse asshole. "There was clearly so much going on in his head, yet he'd rather let her dangle in the dark than share any of it."
The way Will treated Chloe was awful. I enjoyed it when Chloe stuck up for herself. I do think she forgave too quickly and Will didn't do nearly enough groveling. The last part of the book explained things- way too conveniently IMO. And everything was *magically* forgiven.
Chloe was strong, awesome, and deserved better. An annoyance of mine: a 24 year old who has never dated (because boys are icky!), and (drum roll) a virgin!
Favorite quotes= "Rub some dirt on it." and "Then don't say things that make me want to cleat you in the face."
Will was too full of angst, disrespectful, downright mean, and rude. He has had centuries to get over it. "You speak of change as if it's easy. I'm nine centuries old." Nice excuse asshole. "There was clearly so much going on in his head, yet he'd rather let her dangle in the dark than share any of it."
The way Will treated Chloe was awful. I enjoyed it when Chloe stuck up for herself. I do think she forgave too quickly and Will didn't do nearly enough groveling. The last part of the book explained things- way too conveniently IMO. And everything was *magically* forgiven.
Chloe was strong, awesome, and deserved better. An annoyance of mine: a 24 year old who has never dated (because boys are icky!), and (drum roll) a virgin!
Favorite quotes= "Rub some dirt on it." and "Then don't say things that make me want to cleat you in the face."
