Good - another one with Charles and Leah traveling. We get a lot of Tag as he "tags" a long, which is a joy. A little more is explored with Charles maGood - another one with Charles and Leah traveling. We get a lot of Tag as he "tags" a long, which is a joy. A little more is explored with Charles magic. The villain in this one is quite interesting and the mystery is interesting - we get a small role with the FBI we have met and liked previously, but have the tables turned here? Bran makes some appearances and Leah shows more of her sides. Black witches galore in their way again. This one seems to catch up more with the Mercy Thompson timeline at the end with a certain event that coincides with the recent Mercy book. The end is a bit too hokey and convenient in a few ways with something with Samuel....more
The heroine can be annoying at times but a very good start to a series. I've heard the second book tends to cause some anger, so I'll see. CliffhangerThe heroine can be annoying at times but a very good start to a series. I've heard the second book tends to cause some anger, so I'll see. Cliffhanger of sorts but at least the series has a lot of books already out. Full review to come....more
Unfortunately I mainly found this one boring and frustrating. It's a repetitive movement of frustrating imprisonment, experiments, and mental visits. Unfortunately I mainly found this one boring and frustrating. It's a repetitive movement of frustrating imprisonment, experiments, and mental visits. It's confusing on going from the intent of the "doctor" - who is cruelly sadistic, having a lot of it not make much sense if you dig deeper into it, and the bond between the three didn't seem wholly convincing to me. Randomly it jumps to the points of view of two other characters, Matt and Tate, that I didn't feel like reading or investing in much. The main downfall to not getting interested enough is probably because I couldn't connect with the characters having convincing relationship ties to each other. ...more
As hard to put down as the first, but has some frustrations the first didn't character-wise. Still, this is a new favorite series that I already wish As hard to put down as the first, but has some frustrations the first didn't character-wise. Still, this is a new favorite series that I already wish were longer. There are two books published after this (but one of them isn't out until June!! Argh), and I have no idea if the series is finished or still in progress. Bummer, but at least I still have two books.
Alice hasn't been doing well. Consumed by guilt by the end of the events from the first book and on a seemingly permanent break from her new fuzzy-bunny Sean, the chip on her shoulder is still concrete strong and weighing her down. She's asked by her former boss and father-like-figure Max to help with a case for the vampire court. What's at stake is huge; dozens of prostitutes and homeless have been missing, and no one is looking in the right direction before the mages came onboard to sniff around.
Mystery-wise, the reader is treated with plenty of actual investigating again - case files, witness talking, video cameras showing us surprise traitors, ooh la la. We also get a bit of supe politics, town outcry and riots, an appearance before the court, complications with the police (although that's dialed down).
Detective Lake is actually open-minded and I liked him. I don't think the author should have had him (view spoiler)[romantically inclined toward Alice, why not just stay friends? (hide spoiler)] He's a good guy and a good cop and I don't see why Alice couldn't have thrown him some more bones. I get she has the natural inclination to lie, has mucho to hide, but it wouldn't have implicated her by telling him some truths. She has some big secrets to hide, but not about this case and not about some of what happened in present day. The character is a bit stubborn and very frustrating in this sequel.
Speaking of that, I could have shaken her with Sean too. She's nearly dying and halfway passing out pretty much every chapter of the book, but she's so prickly and antagonistic when asked if she's okay, what happened, and for help. Argh! That's the main reason this one was a star short of the last. Seriously, it gets bad.
We get a little of Charles and the vamps, done in a well way. We find out a secret is out there which should be interesting - their ending meeting showdown? Simply awesome.
Sean is where it's at, but I disliked that a certain character is leaving by the end of the book. I wish the author had gone a different direction with that. He will be missed.
There's some genuine grief and a stunner of sadness in this one too with personal loss. On the other hand we get an adorable new dog Roscoe for a few pages, news about Alice's past that may be coming closer to her present *yikes*, more on the big bad John West from the last book, but sadly very little Malcolm the ghost time. Also, Natalie from the first book is totally MIA - would have liked her to stay around as a casual friend.
Hard to put down once I started. I absolutely am enthralled with Illren and couldn't approve more. I usually wouldn't be for another new addition, 3.5
Hard to put down once I started. I absolutely am enthralled with Illren and couldn't approve more. I usually wouldn't be for another new addition, but my eyes keep begging for him to pop up for more page-time. He steals the show, and most of the book really. Oliver has grown on me as sweet and video-game buddy perfection; their relationship is just so warm. Rook and Parker give the excited tingles, even if on Rook's side there are more issues with the territorial thing. Terrance is part of the "clan" but not in a way it might have happened, but just as important.
We get more of the loathsome Henry and he's here to hate even more. Another crime to solve, but not a mystery really. There is too much of the FUA again and one thing I didn't like is how Nora keeps having so much manipulation and choices stripped from her, even from her own people, about this job. Grrrr. I still hate the FUA. How can she get over how much they didn't care what Henry did to her and humans with kidnapping, enslaving, hurting or killing when she wasn't of value to them as just a normal human until Terrance stepped in? And with slaps on the wrist with Henry? The agency isn't respectable or fair, so I'm not getting it. At all. I'm not against the consultation case stuff or her being independent, but ugh otherwise.
And the last chapters? That just went odd-ball weird. Not sure what to think yet.
Nora learns much thanks to Giselle about her relationships (fun meeting), and there are several stand out moments, especially the phone call and meeting with Illren, the bonding Thanksgiving, Rook and the Christmas tree decorating, just many moments to savor. It's re-readable. Finally Nora gets resolution about what she needs but she still doesn't progress much (besides losing fear) about intimacy stuff. We shall see.
I do wish the next book were already here (sighs). Painful wait....more
I waffled between 2 and 3 stars, so let's go with 2.5
Being a big fan of the first book, and the sequel, it was a surprise I disliked so much about thiI waffled between 2 and 3 stars, so let's go with 2.5
Being a big fan of the first book, and the sequel, it was a surprise I disliked so much about this series finisher. Laken Cane still writes her words fluidly; the reading was smooth, I could easily envision the scenes she crafted, actually feel the despair and darkness in the atmosphere, but maybe she didn't mean to make me so annoyed and frustrated that it ended up shadowing the good stuff.
Main issue? I know this is a darker RH PNR series, so the last book being darker after the apocalyptic events of the second makes sense. I'm now left with a main character I don't like or care about. She's mainly emotionless, at times cruel, isn't as convincing with her romantic state (now it's more like obsessive control than actual feelings). Since it's a Reverse Harem Urban Fantasy, there needs to still be real affection and attachment, otherwise it's just a twisted use-and-abuse system eventually.
Giving me more grating ammunition, she's downright arrogant and almost ignorant. She's so consumed with her abilities now she unreasonably thinks she can handle anything, so keeps charging in without proper planning, and gets taken down a peg a few times by other characters trying to reason with her that, while she may be all that, she's not ALL that.
The ending feels rushed and it throws mindbenders. Rhys, wow. Didn't see it coming, and while it makes it's own kind of sense, it's depressing and doesn't follow the usual RH trope. I always liked Crawford but didn't see that coming at the end (when was that hinted at before? Is it simply her vamp appeal turned up on speed dial?) If Himself had just consumed his last assistant for a refill of power, he should have a long time remaining before it wears off, but with the change of events at the end, then the sacrifice of a character is pointless?
There were some things I liked about the book. "Darkness" was a true villain with creepy ick factor and sociopathic, psychopathic overload. Angus is still his usual Bull self and it awesome. I loved her relationship with Amias and some of the progression.
On the other hand, not all characters will get a choice on leaving her from now on. She shows this with her control and using others to help her and her force. It was disturbing to stomach.
Instead of the usual RH where people are glued together by emotion, it feels more like now that most are stuck together and not necessarily by their choices and free will.
The series is over. It was a good series, but the last book was a tough digest.
It pains me to rate a book in my favorite RH series a 3 instead of the usual 4 or 5. I liked the book, of course, having trouble setting it aside, insIt pains me to rate a book in my favorite RH series a 3 instead of the usual 4 or 5. I liked the book, of course, having trouble setting it aside, instantly engrossed in my favorite pack family. That said, this book was harder to handle - it was grim and dark and bleak and painful. There were rifts inside the pack and steps backward in relationships. There was torture, painful words, extended heartbreak, some losses and grieving, and the possibility of two deaths. Little humor and not as much bonding, brutal stuff.
I didn't get the big reveal of Cassia's big news broke to the group, which I was looking forward to. Not only was I looking forward to it, but I wanted to see everyone's reactions for extended periods of time. I was surprised to see one wolf already knows and didn't seem to react strongly about it at all, so that was upsetting. Andrew was a favorite in this one, he's really grown on me as a humor source and pillar of strength. Cassia does tell ONE person, however, toward the end - the reaction is so sweet and cheered me up after so much bleakness.
Finally Gabriel hops on for the ride too (not Cassia but future adventures). Where will that lead....?
This book is a game changer for the Sable pack and community. So many are now gone and so much now destroyed. I'm worried about a certain small girl, too. There's plenty of loss to go around.
This book focuses quite a bit on Isaac, who has seem kind of in the back for awhile now. We get all his secrets, and uncover several lies and misconceptions.
A hard thing about this book is finally the pack is apart. Kage is hardly around for two reasons, and same as Jed. It was hard not having all the pack together for most of the book as I've come to expect and enjoy.
The villains are twisted and nasty. We have another direction on who is behind it, but we know what. We finally know the instruments of killing, creepy as they are, and we now know the race behind the madness.
Cassia does some pretty stupid moves and decision making too. I can't even blame it on the hormones since she's shown the tendency to lack common sense sometimes before. This book showed some consequences of her carelessness, which was painful to watch. Overall I enjoy the character, but sometimes I wish someone would rant at it her a bit more to use her head and logic, trust the instinct that is warning her something is wrong.
Not my favorite, but I'm still as love with this series as ever. I hate to see it end two books from now, but I'm beyond happy the author extended it for two more books to bring it to a 10-series....more
“There were all kinds of books: books that educated, books you read at the beach or on planes, books that sold bad advice…and books that could leve4.5
“There were all kinds of books: books that educated, books you read at the beach or on planes, books that sold bad advice…and books that could level whole cities.”
Well done Urban Fantasy is still my favorite genre, but as the years go on, after I read more so many that were subpar or overdone, and as the market has become saturated, finding new favorites is harder. This one was great fun and the whole series (I’m caught up on it) is a delight. This one pushed a lot of my generic I-Like-UF Buttons.
The MC is a powerful woman with a lot of secrets. She investigates, has morals, and is sarcastic without having a massive chip on her shoulder. I love when the MC has secrets that take forever to reveal and is a mystery that everyone wants to solve. Another plus is the magic blending with the MC is unique and not something you see in other Urban Fantasies in quite the same way.
The world-building was nifty with an assortment of paranormal critters, councils, each with their own wags, agendas, and shake peace treaties. The vampire world is dark and gritty, the shifter violent and secretive, the magic unbalanced and screwed up (scary), the police involved with their own investigations that land them in hot water and eye the heroine of the story.
Tension and secrets remain, not resolved from multiple stories, kept me glued with tension. The story held a worthy enough mystery for an urban fantasy opener while not drowning out the personalities of the players and relationship side-plots. There are actual investigation steps and stages.
We get a ghost sidekick. One that’s present a lot, has secrets of his own, and is involved with her powers. Another winning draw.
I adore the new boyfriend - an alpha werewolf. Also some interest from a shady vamp. Be still my hormones. There are some actual, genuine steamy scenes too. *fans self*
Cops can get in the way in some of these stories, but one of the best selling features of this story was the dicey relationship with a pretty cool human cop who sees and senses too much. That added even more layers that kept my interest.
If you’re in the mood for a new Urban Fantasy, I highly recommend this one. There’s a few books out and the books don’t take too long to be released....more
Very good - review will be coming eventually since I'm so slow to review anymore - but quick thoughts. This was a delightful change from a typical UF Very good - review will be coming eventually since I'm so slow to review anymore - but quick thoughts. This was a delightful change from a typical UF and there's a few twists at the end. The main character is special but for morbid reasons that don't necessarily mean anyone wants her because of that uniqueness - in fact it deters some. I definitely didn't expect a certain betrayal and twist during that last chapter, yikes. Not sure where the series will go from here but I'll be on board to check it out when the next book is released....more
It's still a great series but this was my least favorite. Jane again leaves town. Bruiser is around some but little happens. Rick is likable but stillIt's still a great series but this was my least favorite. Jane again leaves town. Bruiser is around some but little happens. Rick is likable but still too in her life for me with the love triangle stuff but the sheriff and Eli were hilarious. It's nonstop action but I wish the author would slow down a bit - I'd like to have had Jane calm down a little of the non-compassion that she used to have - a lot of important characterization seems skipped over at times to get to the action of the story, but I don't mind the pace slowing to show more of the bonding scenes. Beast is a joy as always, and the cat scene in the kitchen was hilarious, both with Eli, then Rick, then the wolf. Also, I hope the author doesn't have Jane see Leo offpage and miss seeing how it is the first time since you know who was accidentally bonded instead. Was purring involved against Jane's will? These are little details that spice up the story for me but that the author is starting to skip through.
I really like this series but inconsistencies with the Grindys and weres is driving me crazy and causing mucho distraction. I can't stand this part of the series
1 - This book and another suddenly claims that if Jane is bit by a were and changed, not only is the Were who bit someone killed, but also the one bit will be killed if they do not get healed by a magic blade in time. WTF? In the first book with the Grindy, only the biter was killed as a punishment for spreading on purpose. The victim was never killed! If this were the case, why are there any Weres at all? Why weren't the Weres she hunted previously who spread the bites not killed instantly by their Grindys? ALSO, in the first few books of the series it was mentioned several times that just because someone was bit by a Were, it was no guarantee they'd get the infection and become a shapeshifter, and it could take awhile to tell - so saying now that the Grindy would kill the victim almost immediately is pissing me off to no end. Not fair and not consistent.
2 - At first the Grindy's was Were-cat only - we know this because no one there had heard of them until the visitor from the African Tribe where the were-cats are. It doesn't make sense the werewolves would have their own version because then there never would have been that battle in the bar (they would be too scared to go around killing people), we would have seen grindy's there, and werewolves wouldn't have been involved in so many wars and infect so many people...otherwise they would have just been killed out, so this makes no sense.
3 - The Grindy's have been overdone now and make the Were-animal completely unscary as they are suddenly killed instantly if they do anything wrong
4 - It still makes NO sense that Jane could be changed into a shifter considering what she is. That's just annoying reasoning. And this stumble with Rick because of that is also incredibly annoying - I don't want that to be who she ends up with anyway (George instead, anyone?), but having that as a reason is obnoxious.
“We don’t poison. We shoot, stab, cut, slice and dice, eviscerate, disembowel, and decapitate. Sometimes shoot and blow up our enemies. We’ve been kn “We don’t poison. We shoot, stab, cut, slice and dice, eviscerate, disembowel, and decapitate. Sometimes shoot and blow up our enemies. We’ve been known to bury our dead in the swamp. But we don’t poison. Poison is wussy.”
Some series get weaker as they continue past a certain high numbers, but some stay strong. Jane Yellowrock continues to shine with keeping some of the same aspects that made fans fall in love with it in the first place, but there are enough changes to keep it interesting.
The setting up of the clans was especially fascinating. So much in this book went into the development of the showdown fight that it was hard to attach to as many characters. I'm a bit over Jane still reliving her past but there is a new twist about that. I don't buy into the whole European embrace thing and hope the author doesn't change Jane too much to where I don't recognize her with future changes.
In this one Leo is making a stand and some major changes, including finally getting along better with Jane for the most part (when can he be trusted fully? Perhaps never). The big battle that’s been building for awhile is finally here, and the losses will be sad.
The cliffhanger I was fearing from reviews wasn't as brutal as I thought...it's more of a geez hope all will be okay, not a sudden fall off a cliff to a gruesome death kind of ending. I will say though that if a certain someone really is dead then the series will have lost a lot of it's soul. There is a sad loss as well in this one ...more
“Chicken, yeah, that's me. I'd rather fight an old rogue-vamp in my underwear, with my bare hands, than deal with relationship problems.”
Raven Curse “Chicken, yeah, that's me. I'd rather fight an old rogue-vamp in my underwear, with my bare hands, than deal with relationship problems.”
Raven Cursed takes Jane out of New Orleans and back to her hometown Asheville, but she’s not running from the vampires – she’s on an extended job. Accompanied by Gregoire, who hasn’t really been around since the first book, Derek and the marines, the two twin blood servants Brandon and Brian, I got over my irritation of her being out of the city when the rest of the characters started making up for it. She meets a few new ones, of course, and does some overly extended scenes of bonding with Molly and the sisters that got a little boring. She has to buddy up with some of the local cops during investigation, but mainly side characters stayed side characters.
The book starts with a central job – Jane is supposed to smooth over a political parley for the vamps – but ends up involving new crisis. Returning werewolves ripping up the locals have Jane in a guilt frenzy, and demented Evangelina has upped her evil witch badness. Toss in obstacles with Rick still not able to shift and Kem being a pain about it, and you have plenty of storyline to keep the pacing strong.
Even if the fight scenes and teasing with the twins was fun, I missed Bruiser being kept to phone calls. He does show later but they never had an actual scene. Leo finally shows up too, but briefly, but at least he’s finally in a good mood and over his grief. Jane makes a mistake of claiming a title she doesn’t understand – sometimes I do wish she acted with more sense – but it’s clear she didn’t know what she was doing. Since vampires don’t seem to understand anything reasonably that other people do, that doesn’t really let her off the hook later on.
I was happy to get a break from Jane’s chapter long spiritual journeys in the spirit lodge, but her unreasonable guilt wasn’t fun to deal with. Blaming herself for the witch woes or the werewolf drama grew tiresome. At least there were some dominance battles with Kem that were fun, that especially hot Gregoire scene, and the introduction of weird demon/angel.
Jane learns a few new things she can do, but even Beast feels like she’s abandoning her by the end of the book. It ends yet again with her wanting to leave but changing her mind at the last minute, another false start and seeming end with Rick, but at least the head vamps are in better moods and not as annoying, although Gregoire overreacted big time with her accidentally stake by the door instinct.
A good sequel but probably my least favorite of the first four. ...more
The third book isn’t slowing down at all because there’s something always going on, central large myster “Alarm stole over me on little kitten feet.”
The third book isn’t slowing down at all because there’s something always going on, central large mystery story-wise, small side mysteries, personal dilemmas for the main characters, AND personal dilemmas for the side-characters. An unusual thing about this series is that Jane is a form of shifter, although not considered a were – usually the first and second books involving shifters involve OTHER shifters as the main focus. Instead Jane Yellowrock has mainly involved vampires and witches until now.
A major theme in this one ends up being the weres – Jane didn’t even know they really existed until she found out in the first book – and I was intrigued on how they she’s react to them, and them to her, especially the were cats. The book opens with a trip to a local bar to negotiate with a rival of Leo’s, and already we run into werewolves who not surprisingly end up assholes. While the second book digs into some background lore of vampires, this one does with weres, but again my interest in the past isn’t as strong as it is in the present stuff going on. Still, her meeting with the werecats wasn’t much of a letdown, where Leo shows a douche side, but I am curious about her meeting a werecat someday that is attracted to her. Apparently in these books weres are turned off by her smell instead.
Gee DiMercy is introduced in this third book as well, a strange and mysterious rare creature that brings life to his scenes between impressive fighting and teasing stalking. Jane had witch roommates in the last book, but this time she has to deal with Molly’s sister. She’s just…okay, but gets on my nerves later with Bruiser distraction. There is a particularly cool scene where her magic backfires when Jane trusts her judgement on dealing deeper into her past.
The book opens with Rick and it closes with Rick, but this isn’t a Rick heavy story. It’s part of his downfall and the dislike most fans feel for his character. You’d think he would have tossed out the player ways since he and Jane have become an official item, but apparently not. He’s not a love interest so much as Bruiser is when the Primo steps up. Discarded from Leo temporarily, when Bruiser temporarily moves in on Jane’s territory it’s awesome. Their dancing outside on the patio ends up being one of the hottest, most magical scenes of the series. It’s drawn out several pages and the intensity of the genuine chemistry almost gets the pages actually sizzling. I always liked Bruiser before, but that scene majorly amps up the man’s appeal.
Throw in the shower scene and yikes! Bruiser becomes more focused and almost domineering in this one, which was a turn on, but he does make it clear in the end who his heart really belongs to so I can imagine the heart crush impact of that with Jane. I hold out for the Bruiser and Jane soul mate bonds, combined with Leo perfection hope sandwich someday.
Leo has gotten out of most of his grief-ridden killing frenzy, but he’s still unstable, especially during one street chase. The ending wraps this particular issue up well, but only in the afterword. With Jane getting the short end of the stick with getting blamed for stuff, getting into uncomfortable situations, I almost want her to leave the town in her dust while she’s taking off. She almost gets there too, but there’s that particular motorcycle showing up down the street…
Jane finds out a few more things about herself and battles it all out in an intense and violent ending battle scene that leaves her torn. The Katie dance scene was awkward but humorous, and there's some changes there. We get Beast time and a few shifts so that is all good.
Can a party go more wrong? Poor Jane. So much security went into the were meeting, but once you have unexpected guests, a vicious murder, and a returning Carrie coming in like Carrie from the prom, you have mayhem.
You get Jane being a truly badass rescuer who lives up to her lethal name, but those final paragraphs give us a nasty cliffhanger about Rick again. Overall the book is just as good as the first two, getting more involved with other creatures and world-building, finally Leo starting to move on from his loss, more development with existing characters, and Jane settling in farther with Beast. ...more
"For a gal who had been out of circulation for a few years, I was getting a lot of attention. Too bad they were cop, blood-servant, and angry vamp. I’"For a gal who had been out of circulation for a few years, I was getting a lot of attention. Too bad they were cop, blood-servant, and angry vamp. I’d be lucky to survive."
Any hope of the hot union between Jane and Leo that was teased in the first book was kind of blown to smithereens at the finale of Skinwalker – the second book takes off where Jane hasn’t been wise enough to leave town yet, and her relationship with the MOC has changed big time as a result of a certain death. Leo....well, he's definitely not the hunky vamp from the first story
Big time bonding with Angie and Molly as the witches are introduced more than through phone calls, more yummy Bruiser scenes, Rick coming across more interesting in his player way, a strange dressmaker, the bonding scene with Katie’s girls. Bethany is a bizarre one but another example of how workable the world building is with this one. Rick still isn’t a worthy character by this point since you just can’t trust him, but I do find still like him by this second book. I can’t complain about any of the characters.
Sometimes the mystery plot lost me a little bit, but the ending had a heavy bang with Angie’s help. Jane learns a little more about her past and her connection with Big-Cat with her family history. As always Beast is a hoot to be in the head of, but I do wish Jane were a little stronger in her own skin – she seems to almost get killed too much and too easily in this one.
We do get more background on the vampire legend and creation, which I only find semi-interesting – I’m more interested in the current characters in the series than their race origins. The same with Jane’s past – it’s good to know but I get a little impatient sometimes living too much in the past.
Any delays are made up with awkward party scenes, Leo’s roaring takedown again some vamps itching to take off, Bruiser’s reluctant flirting, Jane getting more intuned with her inner beast, Beast’s amusing addiction to the witch children as “kits”, and a violent ending that delivers this as a twisted but fascinating Urban Fantasy series. Addicting stuff.
Oh, but couldn’t' we get more details with a certain pairing at the end other than a sentence?? After all that build-up, it's just sneaky. 0_0 ...more
After reading three of these in a row - loving the first, liking the second, but not getting into this one quite as much - I will still continue the sAfter reading three of these in a row - loving the first, liking the second, but not getting into this one quite as much - I will still continue the series but it's not as urgent of a series addiction right now. The book is good, but there were things that became small turn-offs and dampered my enjoyment a bit.
Sam is funny at times - especially when teasing the elves with her singing - but she does have a vicious side. Her sidekick visitors kept me laughing, and I'm amazed Wyatt is so entranced still considering their differences and how the relationship seems to be leading into a love triangle zone. Wyatt is a great guy but perhaps should move to friend zone by this point since it's pretty obvious the angel is stealing the scene and I'm not sure how much longer Wyatt can stay onboard with the supernatural love-drama. I'm curious on the sister and those developments. Meanwhile Gregory isn't endearing himself to me half the time with the punishment stuff, arrogance and smugness either.
The best things the book and series have going for it is the humor that's so fun it leaves me laughing aloud, how unique the main character, the dark worldbuilding blended in with delightfully morbid fun stuff, and that the pacing is pretty evenly applied with all the action sequences.
The series is well recommended to Urban Fantasy fans and is a hidden discovery for me - I will definitely be reading the rest of the series, unless something happens to completely sour it for me, but the slightly uneven pacing with this one and some annoyances with Sam cooled some of my fire and enthusiasm for a bit....more
“Or you could take out your phone and we could play Words With Friends for your soul.”
The first was pure fun, unique and made me laugh aloud a few ti“Or you could take out your phone and we could play Words With Friends for your soul.”
The first was pure fun, unique and made me laugh aloud a few times, so I was happy to continue the series. The second isn’t as good for several reasons, but it’s still a fine follow-up that continues a strangely twisted, unique Urban Fantasy series world. It’s hard to put my finger on why I didn’t get into this one quite as much since the characters are the same (with growth) and the storyline is interesting, but I think a problem is that I saw some traits of the main character I found annoying and that the humor was weaker this time around.
The story is mainly Sam helping out her foster demon brother retrieve an artifact from vamps, and then having to do a mix-up with a few Elven races. There were some fun scenes in there that were hard to put down. Oh, and the demon brother is hilarious – the unique characters definitely keep me coming back to the story, that and how unique some of it is. Yes it’s twisted, but yes it’s fun!
The demon horse was epic, and with her dog the animals may as well steal the show.
Sam has a meaner side in this book – I knew it was around in the first book but it didn’t dominate the story as much. I’m confused on her being committed to Wyatt in her way, a character I actually like very much, but then turning around and doing so many others on the side suddenly. If I went by the first books rhythm and how she thinks about Wyatt when she’s with him, I find this interest in others surprising. The love triangle tangle with Gregory is just annoying. It’s a strong contender in this series that makes sure it stays as much in the mind of the reader as anything else going on in the story.
Wyatt is loyal and fun, so thankfully he’s around plenty even if I ended up feeling bad for him being paired with Sam. Sam being a different character was fun at first, but the mean and twisted side doesn’t work as well for me this time because I couldn’t relate to him. At least she doesn’t torment/kill one guy because he beats her at Angry Birds (yes, really!), but the ear eating scenes I could have done without.
I know a lot of people like Gregory and I do enjoy his scenes for the most part, but he mainly comes across as a dick that pisses me off. His superiority attitude doesn’t help me warm up to him, and if I were Sam I’d feel more like slapping him than the weird interdimensional sex thing.
Even if I didn’t enjoy it as much as the first, it was still a fun ride that made quick reading. Sam especially amused me with her music taste, tormenting Wyatt in the car with Journey and freeing herself by singing with the Elves. Ha.
But seriously, who doesn’t love Journey??? ...more
This series never invested me fully – I think there is something loose about the paranormal worldbuilding, I didn’t like the head vamp honcho, and theThis series never invested me fully – I think there is something loose about the paranormal worldbuilding, I didn’t like the head vamp honcho, and the main character’s stubbornness to see morals rubbed me the wrong way in the first book. That said, these aren’t bad books – they’re just not going to be favorites for me and I don’t have enough interest to continue the other series they spawned.
The ending half was better than the rest of the book, almost bumping it to four starts. We’ll go with 3.5 since I’m indecisive. Loved the “dog” and that ending, some of the characters…
Scarlett’s ability is she is a null, so basically whenever she’s around all the paranormals zap to normal. It’s unique and interesting, but there’s only so much that can be done with it to keep my interest. Her job as a cleaner is to remove the crime scenes and bodies before the human police find out – makes sense for the paranormal community, but for the humans who lost loved ones and have no idea what happened to them, not so much.
Scarlett is more likable now that she’s opening her eyes thanks to Jesse’s influence, and I was happy to see more of Will finally since he hasn’t gotten as much page time as the vampires. Jesse is just okay – to me a bit dull – but most of the characters sort of fade out. The storyline was interesting because there’s a big bad team that’s coming to annihilate the local weres. Blending the witches in was fun since they ended up my favorite of the series.
I was surprised at the twist ending on who she ended up with, too. I’m happy with the outcome. There was another surprise with the friend Molly though :/
The book did a good job of tying up loose ends, Scarlett becoming more comfortable with her own position and power, standing up for herself, and how the characters seemed to reach a new sort of understanding. The story was kept fresh with some new introductions but the author took care to keep the regulars the main focus.
This one was my the one I enjoyed the most out of the first three.
“Nulls are the wrecking ball of the supernatural world: we swing in and out of situations, creating damage and chaos. But sometimes in a really usefu “Nulls are the wrecking ball of the supernatural world: we swing in and out of situations, creating damage and chaos. But sometimes in a really useful way.”
Dead Spots is the first of a series that currently has three books out. I haven’t dug into it far enough to see if it’s a completed trilogy. I have the other two books to read, and planned to this month, but you know how that can go.
Scarlett is the go-to girl for the supernatural leaders in town, namely the Master Vampire and Werewolf pack leader. She’s called in to clean up messes and “accidents” before the humans finds the remains and get a witch hunt brewing. In this series world-building, supernaturals are under the radar and humans are blissfully unaware of their existence.
Scarlett is a null where the magic of all ceases to work in her radius, so she’s able to calm situations, fights and such, since vampires will turn temporarily human and lycathropes will instantly shift out of their forms. Some don’t like this ability, especially the head honcho of the vamps who doesn’t want any aging or temporarily vulnerability, while her roommate actually likes the temporary aging since she was changed when she was too young looking to be considered respectable in modern times. Lycanthropes enjoy the power since in this series worldbuilding, lycanthropy is a constant struggle all month, and being around Scarlett gives peace and calmness.
While working with a human detective who saw more than he should, she is given an ultimatum to solve a crime in two days – otherwise the dickish vamp leader will take her life in exchange for politics.
The pacing is fine, although not as fast as one may hope. Scarlett’s job is rather a turn-off and I got disgusted with her covering up certain crimes like the humans didn’t matter. I especially felt bad for the villain. The lead vamp is an absolute ass with little redeeming quality. If I were in her shoes, I’d hate the job and it would bother me more than it does her – which is one reason I couldn’t warm up to the character.
What usually happens, happened – the story got better as it went along.
There is an unfortunately love triangle brewing too.
The cliffhanger is slightly cheesy with the surprising twist but still, I’m curious where that will go in the next book. Since I already own the next two books, will read and give the series a full chance. ...more
I wasn’t blown away by the first book, but I found in enjoyable in a few spots so decided to try again and see if I warmed up more to the characters iI wasn’t blown away by the first book, but I found in enjoyable in a few spots so decided to try again and see if I warmed up more to the characters in its sequel.
While the mystery is a little lackluster, the story isn’t a bad follow-up to the first. I probably enjoyed it more simply because I did thaw to the characters some. Tossing in the nemesis Olivia and having it tied in with Scarlett’s past and what she’s discovering about herself helped, and of course I enjoyed that she is starting to second-guess Jesse’s point that she needs to pay attention to some of the harm her “Job” is doing.
The book uses multiple person point of view, which I don’t care for with certain Urban Fantasies. Strangely when Scarlett is on stage the writing is first person, but with Jesse it is third-person. It’s not as awkward as it sounds, but it’s not a typical technique. The focus isn’t on romance at all, although there is some brewing still between Scarlett and two characters. There’s a mini love triangle, kind-of, but it’s not written in as an important or urgent thing so I was able to ignore it.
I’m still not a big fan of the head honcho vamp but Dashiell doesn’t have me want to chase him around with a stake as badly as he did in the first book. Some of his dialogue is needed for humor, even if his annoying deadlines still grate. Kirsten is a well-done character who leads the witch world and seems a decent enough sort. Jessie is still just okay, kind of bland. There isn’t anything new with his cop persona and he doesn’t shine otherwise in any unique way.
Scarlett isn’t someone I bond with either. She accepts the inevitability of her horrible circumstances and only slowly is trying to do something about it. She still doesn’t have as much heart as I’d hoped with all that Jessie is pointing out to her, but at least she’s more sympathetic than the first story.
World-building is okay but nothing unique. There is a cliffhanger that made me anxious to pick up the third book, and usually three is a charm for me in series....more
Sorry, that person's shelf is private.
Erin *Proud Book Hoarder*
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