Helpful Score: 6
Let me start by saying that I've read several of this author's past Historical Romances and loved them. Sadly, this Paranormal Romance was not to my liking. In a word, it was too kinky.
I thought this would be a sexy and sensual "vanilla" romance-i.e. one heterosexual relationship. But the author introduces later in the book-a-a threesome scene with another male, in which it's the two males that are actually getting it on. That's not my particular cup of tea, but I could have gotten past that. It's when the author introduces the idea that "blood twins" are so magically linked that they also have SEX with each other-I just had to quit as incest is sick and not something I want to read about.
2 stars for a good try till it got all weird:(
I thought this would be a sexy and sensual "vanilla" romance-i.e. one heterosexual relationship. But the author introduces later in the book-a-a threesome scene with another male, in which it's the two males that are actually getting it on. That's not my particular cup of tea, but I could have gotten past that. It's when the author introduces the idea that "blood twins" are so magically linked that they also have SEX with each other-I just had to quit as incest is sick and not something I want to read about.
2 stars for a good try till it got all weird:(
Helpful Score: 3
I totally agree with Laura E and Chelsea S's reviews. I think most of us who read this genre are not prone to prudishness, but I found the blood-twins sex and three-way scene just a little too gross. But really more than anything, the quality of the writing was sub-par. How sexy can a leading character like Nikodemus be when his constant dialogue is "F--k, yea" or "Oh,f--k" or "you are so f--k'd up". I'm assuming the character made it through some kind of fiend middle school and matured a little. Even the last paragraph of the book drops the f-bomb. F'in A, maybe his emotional vocabulary could mature a little too?!
Helpful Score: 2
First of all let me say that as someone who reads a lot, I can honestly say I've never come across a book that was less what I expected then this.
In the world there are demon like creatures called fiends, and there are magekind who try to capture and harness their power. Nikodemus is an ancient fiend who is trying to kill the mage Magellan (could we find more ridiculous names if we tried?). Carson is a witch who has spent the better part of her life under Magellan's psychological control. While she and Nikodemus ought to be sworn enemies, they instead become allies and lovers.
Some parts of this were actually sort of funny, sort of sexy, sort of entertaining. There are some decent ideas here, though they are never fully developed or explained. Nikodemus is actually a pretty interesting, rough around the edges character.
Writing style--or rather the lack of style. There are typos, big obvious ones. There are problems where dialogue is thrown in between unrelated descriptive sentences. The diction and syntax is just really rough, so the whole thing doesn't flow at all. You really have to concentrate to keep up with what's going on.
Plot holes--serious, gaping, plot holes. I still have absolutely no clue what the purpose or origin of the mages is. What they do with their magic or how it works or why they need it. To be fair there is some explanation but it's very vague, almost like the author couldn't be bothered to throw in some background. And those aren't the only questions left unanswered.
General content***Minor Spoilers Ahead***Shock value does not always equal entertainment. You have some really crude, not in the least bit romantic sex, followed by a three-way that comes out of left field. I don't have a problem with crude language or multiple partners, when it fits the context. In this case it doesn't. It's just kind of there, like all the other poorly strung together plot points. Plus, the characters are underdeveloped, and the relationship is half-baked.
I honestly can't say I'd recommend this to anyone as a romance. Possibly as erotica, but then you have to ignore the other long winded content.
In the world there are demon like creatures called fiends, and there are magekind who try to capture and harness their power. Nikodemus is an ancient fiend who is trying to kill the mage Magellan (could we find more ridiculous names if we tried?). Carson is a witch who has spent the better part of her life under Magellan's psychological control. While she and Nikodemus ought to be sworn enemies, they instead become allies and lovers.
Some parts of this were actually sort of funny, sort of sexy, sort of entertaining. There are some decent ideas here, though they are never fully developed or explained. Nikodemus is actually a pretty interesting, rough around the edges character.
Writing style--or rather the lack of style. There are typos, big obvious ones. There are problems where dialogue is thrown in between unrelated descriptive sentences. The diction and syntax is just really rough, so the whole thing doesn't flow at all. You really have to concentrate to keep up with what's going on.
Plot holes--serious, gaping, plot holes. I still have absolutely no clue what the purpose or origin of the mages is. What they do with their magic or how it works or why they need it. To be fair there is some explanation but it's very vague, almost like the author couldn't be bothered to throw in some background. And those aren't the only questions left unanswered.
General content***Minor Spoilers Ahead***Shock value does not always equal entertainment. You have some really crude, not in the least bit romantic sex, followed by a three-way that comes out of left field. I don't have a problem with crude language or multiple partners, when it fits the context. In this case it doesn't. It's just kind of there, like all the other poorly strung together plot points. Plus, the characters are underdeveloped, and the relationship is half-baked.
I honestly can't say I'd recommend this to anyone as a romance. Possibly as erotica, but then you have to ignore the other long winded content.
Helpful Score: 2
Carson (a poisoned witch) escapes from Magellan, who has kept her cloistered and sheltered in his home since she was taken from her parents as a child. She escapes as a young woman and meets up with the fiend/warlord Nikodemus, who's supposed to kill her, lest he end up enslaved by her. They form an alliance and endure serious hardships to overcome Magellan.
This book definitely introduces the characters and shows how they owe fealty to Nikodemus and Carson, since she severed Harsh, Xia, Kynan and helped Iskander. I wasn't put off by the mind-linking (only) sex between Iskander, Nikodemus and Carson. I saw it as a way to renew Iskander and cleanse him from what he'd been through. The sexual link between twins is alluded to, but not fleshed out. I guess if one is willing to read about fiends changing form and having sex with humans, one needs to be somewhat open-minded.
This book definitely introduces the characters and shows how they owe fealty to Nikodemus and Carson, since she severed Harsh, Xia, Kynan and helped Iskander. I wasn't put off by the mind-linking (only) sex between Iskander, Nikodemus and Carson. I saw it as a way to renew Iskander and cleanse him from what he'd been through. The sexual link between twins is alluded to, but not fleshed out. I guess if one is willing to read about fiends changing form and having sex with humans, one needs to be somewhat open-minded.
I loved this book!! I've tried reading books about witches before & as much as I wanted to like those other books, I just couldn't do it, so when I ordered this book I honestly wasn't expecting much. Boy, was I wrong!! I think the big difference for me was the fact that this "magic" was based on using the 6th sense rather than casting spells. The action was non-stop from practically the very first page & it didn't slow down even at the end. All of the characters were interesting and seriously sexy. Talk about steamy!! I've ordered the second book & can't wait til it gets here!!
