1 to 10 of 10
Review Date: 6/6/2008
Helpful Score: 11
I'm one of the rare (it seems) folks who really still like LKH and Anita Blake. I really liked The Harlequin and thought there was a step forward in a return to some bit of balance with that one. This one felt like two steps back to me, but not necessarily in regards to the balance.
I have a couple key things that I found annoying. First, the style/quality of the writing seem to be amateurish. I've always really enjoyed her style of writing in the past, but sometimes even simple writing mechanics seemed painful here. I found myself groaning (and not in a good way) with how some of the stuff was written.
Second, this book was far longer than it needed to be. I can't even believe I just said that. I've always thought her books could be bigger and go on forever, and I would be perfectly happy with that. Not this time. This book should have been like Micah... small paperback, and really cheap. I'm almost annoyed that this was put into a hardback.
While some of the underlying character development was really good, and even the skeleton seemed solid, something just seemed to get lost in execution. Jason is going home to his dying dad with his bed buddy just so he can prove he is truly straight... seriously!?! This just baffled me. I can't even put my finger on why, but it just seemed so whack. Then when you add the whole looking like the local celebrity into the mix, it just felt entirely too contrived.
I still enjoyed it, cuz these are some of my favorite characters, but I felt like I got a glimpse of them on some seriously bad hair days or something.
I have a couple key things that I found annoying. First, the style/quality of the writing seem to be amateurish. I've always really enjoyed her style of writing in the past, but sometimes even simple writing mechanics seemed painful here. I found myself groaning (and not in a good way) with how some of the stuff was written.
Second, this book was far longer than it needed to be. I can't even believe I just said that. I've always thought her books could be bigger and go on forever, and I would be perfectly happy with that. Not this time. This book should have been like Micah... small paperback, and really cheap. I'm almost annoyed that this was put into a hardback.
While some of the underlying character development was really good, and even the skeleton seemed solid, something just seemed to get lost in execution. Jason is going home to his dying dad with his bed buddy just so he can prove he is truly straight... seriously!?! This just baffled me. I can't even put my finger on why, but it just seemed so whack. Then when you add the whole looking like the local celebrity into the mix, it just felt entirely too contrived.
I still enjoyed it, cuz these are some of my favorite characters, but I felt like I got a glimpse of them on some seriously bad hair days or something.
Review Date: 8/6/2008
Helpful Score: 2
Now that I'm done reading Breaking Dawn, my final thought is ... seriously? Renesmee? That's a name for a character? Truly? YEEEEEEEEEEEEESH
I'll say 3.5 stars I guess. I need to sit back and absorb the story some more before I comment much further. But goodness, how that name bothered me.
I'll say 3.5 stars I guess. I need to sit back and absorb the story some more before I comment much further. But goodness, how that name bothered me.
Review Date: 6/6/2008
Helpful Score: 1
I really did not want to buy this book until it was in paperback, but I just couldn't resist. After the last couple or so disappointing Dark-Hunter books, I was almost tempted to stop with them all together. I'm so glad I didn't give up! While I still feel like some things were way too sudden or convenient, I finally cared about the main characters again. It certainly didn't hurt that so many answers were revealed.
Review Date: 6/6/2008
Helpful Score: 6
I did read the first in this series, Jacob, and felt it was a decent start to a new series. So, when I found a cheap used copy of this one, I figured what the heck?
Ugh, I wish I hadn't bothered. I didn't even finish it, and I just don't NOT finish a book. It's only happened less than a handful of times.
I felt like it took way too long to get to the story for this book. It seemed like a quarter of the book was spent rehashing the first one. And not even creatively. The dialogue felt so forced and obvious, I thought I was reading a bad Soap Opera's script or something.
I got more than half way through it, and never once could connect to the main characters. Or, should I say, who the main characters are supposed to be. There's so much involving other characters, I felt Gideon and Legna, were almost side story.
Not sure if I could make myself read the next one. But who knows... I can be a glutton for punishment.
Ugh, I wish I hadn't bothered. I didn't even finish it, and I just don't NOT finish a book. It's only happened less than a handful of times.
I felt like it took way too long to get to the story for this book. It seemed like a quarter of the book was spent rehashing the first one. And not even creatively. The dialogue felt so forced and obvious, I thought I was reading a bad Soap Opera's script or something.
I got more than half way through it, and never once could connect to the main characters. Or, should I say, who the main characters are supposed to be. There's so much involving other characters, I felt Gideon and Legna, were almost side story.
Not sure if I could make myself read the next one. But who knows... I can be a glutton for punishment.
Review Date: 6/6/2008
Helpful Score: 3
I was extremely disappointed in this book. I usually read the Aisling books fairly quickly, but this one seemed to drag on forever. The story seemed too chaotic with no direction, and yet it still seemed boring. This was quite the letdown, and makes me worry about any future installments.
Review Date: 1/19/2008
Helpful Score: 3
The third book in the Monere series, and definitely a steamy one. I like the characters, but I feel sometimes my least favorite character is Mona Lisa. I want her more fleshed out. I also wish she could commit to someone or at least the same few someones. Are we just going to keep seeing her discover new men she wants, only to discard the previous ones? It also seems like Amber is becoming less of a character and getting pushed further out. He seems very 2D when he does make an appearance.
One particular thing I found quite annoying, was the way things were summarized from previous books. Every time something needed to be clarified it felt forced. Like, here, let's stop the story so we can tell you what happened, and now back to the story. There was no flow at all in that regard. I understand the need to try to make it a stand alone book, but it was done very poorly.
Overall, I did enjoy the book, I read it very quickly, but I did feel something lacking with the story and the characters. I am curious what will happen with Dante in the future. Will he be continued as an important man in her life, good or bad? Or will he get tossed to the side of the story like the rest have been?
We shall see in 2009 I suppose.
One particular thing I found quite annoying, was the way things were summarized from previous books. Every time something needed to be clarified it felt forced. Like, here, let's stop the story so we can tell you what happened, and now back to the story. There was no flow at all in that regard. I understand the need to try to make it a stand alone book, but it was done very poorly.
Overall, I did enjoy the book, I read it very quickly, but I did feel something lacking with the story and the characters. I am curious what will happen with Dante in the future. Will he be continued as an important man in her life, good or bad? Or will he get tossed to the side of the story like the rest have been?
We shall see in 2009 I suppose.
Review Date: 6/6/2008
Helpful Score: 1
This was a strange book for me. When I was reading it, I couldn't put it down. But when I stepped away, I wasn't compelled to pick it back up. Because I do read quite often, I still finished it very quickly. I just found the paradox interesting.
I found myself relating to Margaret with respect to her love of books. Even now, I can find myself staying up until 3am on a work night reading a book. What's a little sleep compared to a great book?
Because I do read so much, I tend to see a lot of story lines coming.This story was nice because I couldn't even begin to imagine where things were going. And I loved that!
I found myself relating to Margaret with respect to her love of books. Even now, I can find myself staying up until 3am on a work night reading a book. What's a little sleep compared to a great book?
Because I do read so much, I tend to see a lot of story lines coming.This story was nice because I couldn't even begin to imagine where things were going. And I loved that!
Review Date: 6/6/2008
Helpful Score: 2
I was entertained for a couple hours, but felt like the book was just lacking. Maybe because this book was a hardback, I had greater expectations. I feel a bit ripped off, because even as a small hardback, the pages had large margins and large print. This would even make a tiny paperback.
As much as I look forward to the books in the "Undead" series, I would be happier to wait a little bit longer if it meant I got a story that was more fleshed out. I have grown to embrace all the characters in the series, and felt that this book did a disservice to them.
Despite that, I am still looking forward to the next one.
As much as I look forward to the books in the "Undead" series, I would be happier to wait a little bit longer if it meant I got a story that was more fleshed out. I have grown to embrace all the characters in the series, and felt that this book did a disservice to them.
Despite that, I am still looking forward to the next one.
Review Date: 6/6/2008
Helpful Score: 1
Wow. This book was just a wreck. Everything seem contrived and lacked any emotional development. I believed nothing. The whole history of Aidan and who has betrayed him and all that, was just laughable. And with Leta.. I felt like I should have felt something about her whole family issues, but I just couldn't muster up the concern.
I had high hopes since I thought Devil May Cry seemed to indicate SK was back on her game, but this makes me think twice about purchasing any of her future books. Unless someone gives 'em to me or I found some cheap used copies.
I had high hopes since I thought Devil May Cry seemed to indicate SK was back on her game, but this makes me think twice about purchasing any of her future books. Unless someone gives 'em to me or I found some cheap used copies.
Review Date: 6/6/2008
Helpful Score: 3
I am a sucker for paranormal romance, and while I knew from reviews that it was quite light on the romance, I was still very interested. Luckily, I was not disappointed at all.
Dante is a very strong female character, but she feels more real than other similar characters I've read (Anita Blake, Mercy Thompson). She's tough, but it's not unbelievable. She gets tired, pissy, and has moments where she needs to cry. I like that mix.
I also like that the book was obviously set in the future but it didn't feel like "oooh, look, I'm talking about fancy things I know nothing about cuz it's the FUTURE". The talk about slicboards and hovers and tattoos on the cheeks to identify psychically gifted folk were placed where it needed to be and not trying to take center stage.
The relationship aspect of the book was a bit weak, but I felt like it took the space it needed in the book. I do wish that it was developed better somehow. It seemed slightly forced at times that they would be together. You could see slight hints of Jaf becoming connected to Dante, and those felt realistic. But from Dante's side, it just seemed somewhat unnatural.
I also really liked the dialogue. When you're in the middle of a fight for your life with demons, I would imagine there would be cussing and frustration. Maybe it's just because I swear like a sailor myself, but I liked that her language seemed to match her "profession". Other books in similar genres that I've read seem to go into Ye Olde English land, or Hip-Hop street slang. This was definitely more ME, and it helped me get into the story more.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. The world that was created was very well thought out, the characters were interesting, and there was definitely no Happily Ever After. I dug it. Looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
Dante is a very strong female character, but she feels more real than other similar characters I've read (Anita Blake, Mercy Thompson). She's tough, but it's not unbelievable. She gets tired, pissy, and has moments where she needs to cry. I like that mix.
I also like that the book was obviously set in the future but it didn't feel like "oooh, look, I'm talking about fancy things I know nothing about cuz it's the FUTURE". The talk about slicboards and hovers and tattoos on the cheeks to identify psychically gifted folk were placed where it needed to be and not trying to take center stage.
The relationship aspect of the book was a bit weak, but I felt like it took the space it needed in the book. I do wish that it was developed better somehow. It seemed slightly forced at times that they would be together. You could see slight hints of Jaf becoming connected to Dante, and those felt realistic. But from Dante's side, it just seemed somewhat unnatural.
I also really liked the dialogue. When you're in the middle of a fight for your life with demons, I would imagine there would be cussing and frustration. Maybe it's just because I swear like a sailor myself, but I liked that her language seemed to match her "profession". Other books in similar genres that I've read seem to go into Ye Olde English land, or Hip-Hop street slang. This was definitely more ME, and it helped me get into the story more.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. The world that was created was very well thought out, the characters were interesting, and there was definitely no Happily Ever After. I dug it. Looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
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