At A Glance So effing boring! The Good The beginning was pretty good. Aimee is living in the woods, on her own, in a self-imposed isolation eAt A Glance So effing boring! The Good The beginning was pretty good. Aimee is living in the woods, on her own, in a self-imposed isolation ever since she was bitten and became a werewolf. Those woods are freaking creepy! Something is watching her and it's not a nice something. After getting the flu, she meets a nice doctor and his son and feels the need to protect them from whatever is stalking them and her. So she moves in with them. Aaaaannnnd that's it. The Bad Seriously, that's what the whole book is about. Nothing else happens. Oh, I'm sorry, was the 2 second stare down and minor tumble at the end suppose to wow me? Was it suppose to make up for the hundreds of pages of NOTHING? I seriously kept waiting for something to happen in The Moonshadow's Daughter and got so let down that I had to not read anything else for a day because I had to get over the disappointment.
Now, I haven't read the first two books of the series, thank Jebus (if you watch The Simpsons, you know that's funny), but I honestly don't see those making any difference to this book. Yeah, I would have understood more of the backstory and known the story of Aimee's friends, but nothing can fix this horsecrap. Sorry, I know, I'm being mean. I'm just tired of bad books. It's a little my fault since I kept reading, but I honestly thought things would pick up.
I liked Aimee and Jake at first. Jake's kid was especially adorable. Aimee and Jake are gentle, quiet kind of characters which I thought was a good kind of different, until they bored me half to death. I can only take so many generic talks, mild gazing into each other's eyes, and limp passion.
And where the hell was the werewolf funnery? We get to finally see a werewolf at the end of the book and that was for the 2 second 'fight.' The Snuggly The sex was as hot as a bag of wet hair. 'Nough said. Final Thoughts Just don't. Unless you like bland with a side of meh, this one is not worth the page turn. Not recommended.
Quotes Death comes to us all, Jake thought. Even in fairy tales. Feeling like he might throw up, he turned to wipe the sweat from his eyes. But before he could blink it away, he froze and dropped his hands to his sides. There, in the middle of the floor, lay a woman. Naked, covered in blood. Aimee.
At A Glance I really liked it but some things made me angry. The Good Mackenzie is a werewolf and she doesn't know why, but she deals with itAt A Glance I really liked it but some things made me angry. The Good Mackenzie is a werewolf and she doesn't know why, but she deals with it. She is a straight-shooter and takes no guff, even when two sexy werewolves kidnap her. Sebastian and Jonah try to convince Mackenzie to join the pack for protection, but Mackenzie is a lone wolf through and through.
Mackenzie is badass and super sassy. She often puts Sebastian and Jonah in their place when they pull the whole 'females wolves are lowly and must be protected to their detriment' crap. The werewolves in Shift are stuck in the ages of men ruling everything and women staying in the kitchen cleaning. *barf* Mackenzie is having none of it, even if she finds both Sebastian and Jonah appealing.
Mackenzie makes this book. She is a perfect mix of sarcasm, strength, vulnerability, and independent. She doesn't need a man in her life, which was refreshing.
I really liked the action and mystery in this book. I want to learn more about the paranormal world and dynamics because the author only scratches the surface on this one. We get mysterious vampires, jerkface fae, and so much more. The Bad OMG, these male chauvinistic assholes were too much sometimes. It was fun hating them at first. All characters can't be perfect. But these are love interests and their views never change throughout the book. Mackenzie obviously fights against their sideways thinking, but sometimes she capitulates and that pissed me off. If I was told women have a place and that's in the kitchen and under a man's thumb, I would fight every freaking second, no matter the situation.
Jonah and Sebastian needed to be more developed as characters. I didn't fall for either of them. The Snuggly Jonah and Sebastian fell flat for me as love interests. Jonah is too emotional and Sebastian is too set in his alpha ways. We get some sexual things going on but no sex. Final Thoughts I would definitely continue this series. I want to know what's next for Mackenzie, especially since I know it now involves vampires! It wasn't a perfect read nor did it have perfect characters but it was very entertaining. Recommended.
Quotes "I don't know what it is about you, Mackenzie Grey, but I want you more than I care to be Alpha. You're different--you're a fighter--and that does something to me," his deep voice whispered. With one hand, he reached for the buttons of my jeans. "I need to mark you as mine."
Started out exciting and went downhill from there.
The Good
The first few chapters really got my heart racing. The characters were snarky and thoughtful, and the concept was right up my ally. The imagery was well done as well. Lot’s of rich detail.
The Bad
The pacing was off. We got amped up action from the first few chapters, then a dragged out love story that didn’t feel super strong for the rest of the story. I was so disappointed. I kept waiting for something to happen. We are talking about shapeshifters and the hunters who kill them, something thrilling should have come out of this concept. But no, the fun and fighting was short lived. Even the end was anti-climactic. There was this whole prophecy thing the love story was based off of, and in the end, it didn’t even come to fruition.
The Snuggly
I never felt a close connection between Alexis and Kyran. It was like they were forced to be together because of a prophecy and the whole soulmate thing. They acted like they were getting attached but I never really felt it.
Final Thoughts
I just think this story fell flat in most ways. I wanted it to be good, I really did. I kept reading because I kept thinking something big would happen. It never did. Not recommended.
Quotes
She sucked in a breath and watched him as his predatory gaze trailed over her. She tried to mimic the intensity of his stare, but dominance contests weren’t her forte, so she blinked. That blink was all he’d needed. She opened her eyes to find herself pinned underneath him.
“His Soul’s Mate in the body of a Hunter. Impossible, yet there was no denying the radiant golden aura shining around her, like the glow from the sun at someone’s back.”
“So are you trying to make me force feed you, Hunter?” “No.” “Then eat.” “No.” ...more
At A Glance The best in the series so far. Perfect amount of action, mystery, and romance for a true urban fantasy.
The Good This series is getting better and better. I was skeptical with the first book, Royal Street, which I liked but I wasn't head over heels. Then River Road was better but still not quite as exciting as I expected. But Elysian Fields blew me away in a lot of ways. It had all the right elements to keep my interest and make me crave more.
I loved how many elements were going on at once in this book. And Johnson did a good job of tying them together in the end. But, OMG, did I get frustrated. DJ gets hit after hit in this one. Not an ounce of give for our girl. Jake is messing with her life, in a BIG way. Alex is starting to get real with DJ about his feelings. Jean Lafitte is...well actually he's the sane one in this story. LOL. Weird, right? He is actually very generous, helpful, and supportive. Pigs have officially flown.
But it's DJ's creepy neighbor Rand who really makes himself known in this book. I expected Rand to reveal himself to be something significant in the story. But wow, I never would have guessed how much his connection to DJ's crazy life went...and how much more it goes in just this book. We will be seeing him a lot more, and I don't know how I feel about that. He's a bona fide stalker with issues, and that's being kind. :) But seriously, it is funny to watch him mess with DJ.
DJ is getting stronger with each book. She still makes some bad decisions, but if she can be okay with that, then so can I. She's not hiding from her messed up life anymore. She is actually starting to embrace it, which makes me proud of her. You gotta work with what you got. And DJ does. I love that she is finally learning to use her magic. She is really taking life by the short and curlys and that kickass heroine is shining through.
I am very excited that a lot is changing in this world. Corrupt people are being exposed, supernaturals are being held accountable for their crimes, and DJ isn't letting anyone get away with anything anymore.
The plot was well done and the storyline kept my attention. The dialogue was entertaining and felt natural. The pacing was a lot better than the other books. The action was pure awesomeness. The series killer aspect was right up my alley. The series as a whole is going in a great direction.
The Bad Nothing huge stuck out to me as bad, but there was some minor annoyances that are not even worth mentioning. But one thing that did bother me (which is true for the other books but seems more prominent here) was the fact that DJ is pretty much the only female character around. Sure, there's Eugenie, her best friend, but we don't see much of her. Having DJ surrounded by this many men just seems unrealistic. There has to be more women in this world.
Also, DJ needs to stop having so many love interests. With Elysian Fields, we are now up to 4 love interests. That is TOO MANY. Sure, DJ seems to be focused on Alex, but she has feelings for 3 other guys. Come. On. Can anyone say overkill?
The Snuggly Despite the 4 love interests, I am happy to see DJ and Alex are finally going the direction I want them to. For the three book wait, I wish there was more sexual tension and build up in this book between DJ and Alex before they went further, but that's okay. I still love the idea of them together and hope to see them build an even stronger relationship in future books.
There is sex scenes but they are pretty glossed over. We only get the build up but no big show. Probably suitable for older teens.
Final Thoughts I will for sure be reading the next book in the series. There characters are super fun and interesting. The urban fantasy elements are fantastic. And the action was exciting. Highly recommended.
Quotes "What's wrong, DJ? You scared?" His words, carried on hot breath sweet with whiskey, tickled across my cheek. Jake's eyes were completely gone now, replaced by something cold and alien. "You should be."
I willed my voice to reflect a calm I didn't feel. "Explain what? Didn't it occur to you that I might listen better if you hadn't kidnapped me?" And right under Alex Warin's nose. He was going to be so royally pissed.
"Well, if you're going to talk it to death, never mind." I got up with every intention of marching back to my house and dying of humiliation--it would solve a lot of problems. He reached out and grabbed my arm before I got out of grabbing range, and pulled me into his lap. "Shut up." He cradled my jaw in his hands and touched his lips to mine....more
At A Glance Wild Things was a fun and intense read. But I did find myself bored in many areas.
The Good I loved getting to know more about the Pack and it’s dynamics in Wild Things. It was my favorite part. These shifters are so violent and angry, but there are those few who are so amazing and caring. Gabriel is one of my fav characters in this book. He is an amazing Pack leader and friend. He is so strong but gentle at the same time. Pretty much a perfect man.
Merit is really getting good at investigating. I actually felt proud of her for her deductions and original ideas when going about investigating the strange magic affecting the lives of supernaturals in Chicago. And her little ragtag team are so fun to watch as they dig up dirt and solve the mystery together.
A lot of trouble in Chicago in this book. The mayor is getting even crazier and anti-supernatural. The lengths she goes is unbelievable. Can anyone say psycho biotch? The new bad guy is a new player I would be interested in seeing again. Lots of back story with that one.
I liked how it all ended. With the new revelations in Wild Things, I think the next book is going to be amazing. Things are happening and things are changing, hopefully for the better.
The Bad I feel like each book is getting a little repetitive. Same problems, mostly same bad guys. I want more variety, something new and exciting. And because of this repetitiveness, I found myself bored in many areas of the book.
The Snuggly Holy Mind Blowing Sex, Batman! To tell you the truth, I always wanted a little more steam in this series, and boy did we get it. That effing sex scene! Wow. I have to admit, I read it twice. hehehe. I am loving the non-drama relationship Merit and Ethan have now. They are solid.
Final Thoughts I enjoyed Wild Things, I just want to see fresher material. Something new and super exciting. But this was still a great mysterious and intense story overall. Recommended.
Quotes “This was the magic of feasting & f*cking, of savoring the blood of a kill & calling the Pack to dine.”
“Merit,” he said, his voice ragged. “I need you. I love you.” “I love you.” Forever, he silently said. Regardless. Forever, I said to him.
“You were propositioned by magic mist?”
“Don’t get kidnapped this time. Ethan gets very irritated when you’re kidnapped.” ...more
At A Glance Even though the story was interesting, I found myself confused by many things.
The Good Sacrificed by Shadow blew me away in the beginning. I loved how dark the story was and that most of the characters were interesting. Reine did not create a gentle world. There were a lot of supernatural creatures to deal with and a lot of betrayal and secrets to uncover.
The story and plot reeled me in right away. I truly did not know the whole who, what, were, when, and why of it all. Reine was good at keeping all the twists and turns a complete surprises. I loved reading about Elise and her investigation. Her times with the werewolves was the best though. They were either tearing out her throat or making alliances with her. So hilarious.
The writing was crisp and it flowed well. The mystery kept me guessing. I loved all the demon parts. I want to learn more about the demonology in this series. The action was very well done. Very graphic and detailed.
The Bad My biggest problem with this book was that it was suppose to be the beginning of a series and it felt like I walked into the middle of a story. I know Reine has a lot of series and I think they connect in some way, but that shouldn’t matter. If this is suppose to be a new series, then there needed to be more background and explanation.
Elise is a complex character with a complex past and it felt like too much. Even with the information we got about Elise, I still didn’t understand her character 100%. Her past is still a mystery to me even though it was talked about.
I think the main plot got lost in a lot of different storylines that never got expanded on enough to be satisfying.
The Snuggly There is sex, but it felt like sex for the sake of sex. It wasn’t needed and it lead to nowhere. You know me, I like me some sexy-time in my books, but I want the sex to be there for a reason.
Romance wise, there wasn’t much. Elise got burned by James a long time ago, but she still has feelings for him but hates him at the same time. That’s about it.
Final Thoughts I don’t think I would continue this series. I wasn’t engaged enough. Plus, I think reading Reine’s other series is somewhat necessary to enjoy this series. But it was an overall interesting urban fantasy. Recommended to those who have read Reine’s other series.
Quotes “Getting shot was an experience that Elise ranked on the “unpleasantness” scale right around “trying to survive a week without coffee.”
“They were twin beasts in the night, swift and sleek and growling. With her body arched over the moonlight-soaked motorcycle, her thighs welded to metal and leather, Elise felt like she and the bike had become a single animal—another member of Rylie’s pack, restricted only to where the wheels could take her.” ...more
At A Glance This was totally a book I should have loved, and I did in some ways, but it fell short for me. I was bored with the million info-dumps.
The Good John Charming is a badass. He's in hiding, against the group who is suppose to support him. He meets Sig and her ragtag group of monster hunters and his life starts to unravel, in a good and bad way. As his feelings for Sig grow, he has to fight against the wolf inside him, the urge to run from his problems, and a jealous boyfriend who wants to torture him slow like.
As an urban fantasy lover, I was happy to see the rare male main character. I really liked everything about John. He's funny, a great fighter, and he even has a soft spot or two. He had a hard life with a messed up past, but he deals with it well. But it's Sig that brought out the best in him.
Sig was just as badassy as John. She is a fighter through and through and killing monsters for a living is her calling. Her and John deny their feelings for the longest time, especially since Sig has a boyfriend, but their attraction is hard to resist. I want to see these two together so bad. They seem perfect for each other.
I loved the story and how I didn't see a lot of the surprises coming. The other characters were entertaining too. There is a lot of action and the ending was spine-tingling. I was glued to the pages by the end. The world building was detailed. I walked away feeling like I lived in this world. And I loved James' take on all the supernatural.
The Bad So, you may ask why I gave Charming 2.5 stars if I seemed to love the characters, the world, and the ending. Well, I was EFFING BORED out of my mind for most of the book. It took me forever to get through it. There were WAY too many info-dumps. Yeah, I liked James' world building for the most part...until it lasted for pages upon pages, totally interrupting the story, dialogue, and action. I had to start skimming some of it or I was never going to get through this book. Charming needs to be cut down by at least 100 pages of 'too much' information. Without all this unnecessary and overdone info, I would have given this book 4 stars.
The Snuggly The romance is a small part of this book, as it should be since it's urban fantasy. But I loved Sig and John together. They are perfect for each other. They go through so much in just one book, it's like they have known each other forever.
There is only kissing in this book, so it is suitable for YA readers, but Charming reads as a NA or adult book.
Final Thoughts I really, really loved a lot of this book, but with how slow it was because of all the info-dumps, I couldn't say I would continue the series for sure. If you can handle excess info in your books, then you will love Charming. Overall not recommended unless you can handle 'The Bad.'
*Free book from publisher for honest review. ...more
At A Glance Better than the first book and more romance, but not enough happened to warrant that cliffhanger.
The Good Warning: It's almost impossible to write this review without some spoilers. Just a heads up.
This book does not lack in twists, turns, and surprises. The things we learn...just wow. I was so excited to learn about what happened to Trowbridge in "fae land," how Hedi had handled the pack all by herself, and the revelations about Hedi's brother, Lexi. No one gets a break in this series. The bad luck keeps on coming and there is not a happy end in sight. We can only hope something eventually gives and this group is able to live a semblance of a normal life. *snickers* Yeah right. Not holding my breath. Don't get me wrong. I love the drama and obstacles. It's what keeps things exciting.
Hedi is not the best pack leader. Things have been getting worse and worse with Trowbridge gone. I was totally freaked when things hit a head with the werewolf pack, but Hedi seemed oddly calm but scared at the same time. I think that's what I like about her. She has the most odd reactions to stressful and frightening situations. She likes to have internal monologues with herself and she notices the most random things when the world is falling apart around her. It's nice to have a main character that doesn't react they way you think she will or should. Kept me on my toes, that's for sure. Hedi did the best she could after getting hit with shock after shock. Trowbridge is back but not in the condition or state of mind she hoped. Her long lost brother, who was stolen away to Merenwyn when he was young, is back, but is not the kind, caring brother she once knew. And Hedi is stuck between loyalty to her mate, her brother, and herself.
Trowbridge has had one messed up trip to Merenwyn. He has been to hell and back and he is not the same man as before. He's changed, some for the better, and some for the worst. He's keeping a lot of secrets and its so frustrating for Hedi. Trowbridge gets on my last nerve most of the time, but I can't deny his alpha sexiness.
Lexi has lived in a nightmare most of his life, but it's the only life he knows. His loyalty to his sister is questionable at best, but you can't really blame him. He's done bad things that seem unforgivable, but then you realize that he's only done what he has to do to live. Lexi is a big whole question mark. I want him to find happiness but I don't know if he is too far gone.
The writing was pretty good but Evans excels in plot twists, shocking moments, and complex characters. Sometimes we don't even like the characters, but that's okay. They aren't perfect. Not everything can be rainbows and roses. Life is hard, life in a paranormal world is even harder. These people can only do what they think is best. And as a reader, we understand that and respect it. I loved the humor intertwined with the seriousness and the dialogue was great.
The Bad For a lengthy book, not much happens. Okay, that's not true. There are some pretty big events that take place, but there wasn't enough going on to move the story along for me. I felt like there was a lot of waiting around on the characters' part. And when we were going to get our big adventure, the story ends. Damn you, cliffhanger!!!!
I just can't get behind Hedi and Trowbridge's relationship. Or lack there of. Without me rooting for the couple, it's hard for me to fall in love with this book.
I had to do some skimming when it came to descriptions. I just got bored.
The Snuggly I did like the romance better in The Thing About Weres than The Trouble With Fate, but I still don't buy that Trowbridge is really into Hedi. His actions don't backup his mouth. He may say he feels for Hedi, but he rarely shows it. Sure, they have strong sexual chemistry, but if I was Hedi, I wouldn't settle for a one-sided relationship.
Be ready for strong sexual tension and some hot sex. Nothing over the top but pretty steamy.
Final Thoughts I have my problems with this series, but I can't deny that I find it kind of fascinating too. I have this itch to know what is going to happen next. I will be reading the next book for sure. I just hope I can fall in love with the characters more the next time. Recommended overall.
Quotes He lifted the knife then paused. He's teasing me with it. I registered that and, absurdly, that the skin over Knox's flared nostrils was potted with big pores and that--oh look at that--moonlight can make a silver blade gleam in a deadly and beautiful way. My belly tenses as he pointed the tip at my shoulder. It's going to hurt, it's going to--
"In this bed, it is just you and me. You are my Robbie Trowbridge." I flattened my hands beside his head and bent until our mouths were inches apart. His breath and mine mingled. "And I am reclaiming you."
*Free book from publisher for honest review*...more
At A Glance Johnson knows how to write characters you love easily. I just wish there were less boring parts.
The Good I will admit, River Road was better than Royal Street. I felt like the characters were more fluid. And with a stable setting, the plot felt more structured. I LOVED the addition of merfolk and nymphs. The more supernatural creatures, the better.
Now that the borders between the Beyond and our world have fallen, supernatural creatures are starting to make their home in present day New Orleans. When someone starts poisoning the water, making the merpeople sick, and wizards start showing up dead, DJ and Alex have to work together to find the culprit or supernatural war number two is about to break out.
DJ handles herself even better this time around. She is still a little reckless and still doesn't know how to shoot a gun, but her elven staff is all she needs to protect herself. She is still hopelessly attracted to the same dangerous men. But that's okay, it makes things so much more interesting. I love how DJ's mind works in this book. She focuses on her responsibilities and doesn't let up until it's all over.
Alex has become a little more laid back. He is still sexy as hell and still a stickler for rules, but I can see that stick being slowly removed from his butt. Jake is a whole other person in River Road. His life has changed the most since Royal Street, and not for the better. He spends most of this book fighting his new demons. Jean is oh so yummy still. But we now see a softer more romantic side of this pirate. He is more actively perusing DJ and that makes for some entertaining encounters. I also loved the addition of the surly mermen. They have much hate for the wizards which makes DJ's life even more complicated.
I think the plot was much better than the first book and had more interesting moments. The writing even flowed better. This book felt like a real urban fantasy. The ending was way more satisfying too.
The Bad This was better than the first book but I still found myself getting bored quite often.
This book is set three years after Royal Street. But none of the characters have really grown, nothing much has happened. It feels like days later, not years. The time skip felt off to me.
The Snuggly Though I love Alex, Jake, and even Jean, I think it's pushing it to have three men going after DJ. I loved Alex's jealously toward Jean though. Those parts made me laugh. Though I do feel like Alex and DJ have taken a large step back in their "relationship."
No sex, but some heavy petting and kissing.
Final Thoughts If River Road is any indication of the series, I think it's going to get better and better each book. It wasn't perfect by far. Still boring in a lot of spots. But definitely an improvement. Recommended to urban fantasy lovers.
Quotes “Until you stop dating the undead Pirate Of The Caribbean, you have no room to laugh.“
"Strong hands slipped over her shoulders as Alex joined us, standing so close, I could feel his body heat radiating up my back….He squeezed my shoulders a little hard for it to be a show of solidarity. I’d probably have bruises. He was marking his territory."
*I got this free book for a blog tour for an honest review*...more
At A Glance An interesting story but nothing spectacular. I almost gave it 2.5 stars but I did enjoy The Trouble With Fate enough to recommend it to some people.
The Good When this book got going, I was so intrigued by the world Evan's had created. Werewolves, fae, amulet necklaces with personalities. It was all so different and interesting. And the writing was so unique. It has a "lost in the heroine's head" feel. Hedi would think the most random thoughts at the most random times. Not everybody is going to like that, but I actually thought it was fun most of the time.
Hedi was snarky, odd, and a little lost. Her half-werewolf, half-fae heritage messes with her mind. Literally. It's like she has three different personalities. Mostly, Hedi keeps her "human" part in the forefront, but sometimes the fae and wolf in her peek through and cause some trouble. Hedi has had her life turned upside down once again with her Aunt's kidnapping and werewolf Trowbridge making an appearance in her life. Despite a little whining, Hedi does a pretty good job of figuring things out and trying to save the people she loves. She may stumble, but she has a lot of will.
Trowbridge was a grade a jerk. He's bossy, demanding, and has a take charge attitude. But this alpha werewolf has more to him than meets the eyes. He has a troubled past. He was accused of killing his family and wife and has lost his father's pack in the process. His solution was to run away. But Hedi's tenacity and reckless ways pushes him to confront his past and take back what's rightfully his. If only Trowbridge would give Hedi a chance. I could see them working well together in the future.
Hedi's fae amulet, Merry, was all sorts of creepy but cool. She may not be able to talk but she let's her feelings be known through her actions. She has spunk and her relationship with Hedi is so heartwarming. She is kind of hard to explain, so you have to read the book to get to know her.
The world of The Trouble With Fate is both brutal and scary. The werewolves are unpredictable and bloodthirsty, the fae are pretty much the same, and the fae magic is unpredictable but fascinating. But that damn cliffhanger was killer. Ugh.
The Bad The Trouble With Fate is a different type of urban fantasy. It kind of comes at you in waves. At one point it's super exciting, then it drags, lather rinse repeat. But really it's the writing you have to get use to. I didn't like it at first, then I got use to it, then I was kind of intrigued. But why I'm putting this in the bad section is because I think the writing style might lose some people. It's interesting, but it makes you want to skip paragraphs and pages to get the more fun parts. I think it comes down to pacing. It was all over the place.
The beginning is soooooo slow. I hate being bogged down with too much world-building and background, especially within the first chapter. It was all too much. That stuff needs to be spread out.
Some parts felt disjointed and choppy. Like it took an effort to make all the elements of the story fit together.
The Snuggly The romance is kind of messed up. Hedi has pined for Trowbridge since she was a little girl. But I didn't feel like Trowbridge had that many feelings for Hedi. She even gets that feeling and tries to push it aside. Too much happens for me that proves Trowbridge non-interest in Hedi so I don't really want them to be a couple.
There is a sex scene and definite sexual tension.
Final Thoughts I am still a little iffy with this book but I do believe there is an audience out there that will love The Trouble With Fate for all it's uniqueness. I will be reading the next book in the series because it's too hard to resist after the way this book ended. Recommend to some. Go with your gut.
Quotes He waited for me to explode again, and when I didn't, he used two fingers on my forehead to ease me back into my seat. "You are one crazy-ass Tinker Bell," he said, returning his attention to the road.
"Dude, it's harder than it looks." "Call me that one more time and I'll cut your balls off." "I'm the third," he said. "I'll still cut your balls off." "Leave it, Briggs," I said. "Her name is Cordelia. She is to be called by her name, and nothing else." I could hear her inhale of satisfaction. So to even it out, I said, "Cordelia, he is my third and that requires balls." There: my first quasi-Alpha ruling.
At A Glance Shadow of the Blood Moon kept my interest but I was rolling my eyes half the time because of the immaturity of the characters and their actions.
The Good I think what makes Shadow of the Blood so interesting is that even with its faults, I still found myself glued to the pages. I hated most the characters but still felt emotionally involved in their lives. I don't know how Robin does it.
Shadow of the Blood Moon is great when it comes to suspense, action, and drama. So much is going on all at once, you never know where the story is going to turn next. And Gen has that kind of voice that makes everything feel so intense. I felt like I was knocked off my feet many times. You know why? Because people DIE in this book. People we care about. It was so horrible I wanted to throw the book across the room. But I respected Robin's ability to not hold back and surprise us to such an extent. There were also many changes and many new characters in this book. I wonder where this is all going to go? Book three couldn't come out sooner.
I love the new bad guy. He's straight up creepy, insane, and indestructible. I kept asking myself, "How the hell are they going to defeat him?" It seems like none of the crew will ever be on board to work together. There is so much animosity, guilt, and resentment in this group of people that you can tell it's hard for them to truly work as a team. They try, but it seems like someone is always either dying or sacrificing themselves to stay behind. It was both frustrating but fascinating to read about.
Some of the secondary characters really shined in this book. Unfortunately, I can't mention many of them because they are new and you need to be a surprised when you meet them. But I can talk about Joseph. Though Joseph infuriated the crap out of me, he also made this book so much entertaining. I love that he has some options other than Gen and how Gen reacts to it all. Sweet jealousy. Serves her right, lol.
The Bad First, I really hated some of the actions of the characters this time around. Gen was all around stupid and whiny. Sometimes she deserved the hate others felt towards her and sometimes she didn't but she still did the whole martyr thing and said how everything was her fault over a million times. But she never learned from her mistakes. She made them over and over again. Then she would yell at people, then feel bad when they made a sad faces, then apologize. This happened about 20 times. So childish. She even apologized to kidnappers and murderers when she was mean to them. Ummm, yeah, Gen, you can probably yell at them without apologizing. That's when it's okay to lash out.
William is no longer a likable character for me. He treated Gen horribly. I wouldn't be with someone who doubted and blamed me for harming people as often as he did Gen. Plus, they did that whole makeup/breakup thing about five or six times in this book. And even when they got back together it was for no reason at all. No true "I'm sorry" or "I was wrong." They just had to get back together because they "belong together." Way to build a healthy relationship...not!
The love triangle is no fun at all. I found Gen's back and forth between William and Joseph to be annoying and repetitive. I don't even care who she ends up with. Gen doesn't deserve either of them anyway.
The plot was a little all over the place. There were a lot of abrupt changes and character introductions that seemed awkward. I wish things went smoother overall.
The Snuggly Not much romance in this book. We get some thick sexual tension, but that's it. I am so over this love triangle.
Final Thoughts I think the youngins will like this book more than adults. There is too much immaturity to handle sometimes. But despite my bitching, I still want to read the third book of the series. Damn cliffhangers. You got me, Robin, you got me. Recommended to YA readers.
Quotes "My heart belongs to you, Genevieve. The way it has since I first met you. The way it always will." I felt his blood heat up and rush through his veins when his fingertips grazed my cheek.
A wonderful heat surged through me and I wanted to turn my head so that our lips would collide in a passionate kiss. Then, I thought about William. Kissing Joseph might mean the end for William and me. Before all this happened my heart felt as if it had always belonged to William. Like we were somehow destined to be together. But, now I had doubts. Spending this time with Joseph made me do some soul searching. My heart yearned for them both. It divided right down the middle. Half belonged to William and the other to Joseph. ...more
At A Glance Black Moon is an odd book that's hard to review. I enjoyed reading it but was also left scratching my head in confusion when it comes to the plot.
The Good Okay, so the cover is what drew me to this book at first. Then I read the blurb and was like, "Fairies? I am all over that." But Black Moon ended up being nothing like I imagined. This is a self-discovery or coming of age story. Paige is a loner. She has no friends and no connection to teenagers like her. But when her mom tells her of her fairy heritage and takes her to a type of fairyland, Paige really starts to grow into herself.
Paige is a brat in the beginning of the book. But as her time in fairyland grows, the more Paige learns who she really is. She learns how to handle fairy politics, how to fight, and how to use her magic. And from Paige's new found self, she learns to ask questions. Questions about what these fairies really want from her and the truth about her family. Paige doesn't let anyone dictate her life. She fights for what she believes in no matter who she is up against. And when her magic and fighting mentor joins her on her crusade, that's when things really got interesting.
Naialah was the best character by far. She is really snarky and a little condescending, but in a fun way. At first, Paige hates her, but Naialah proves to be her best friend and confident. Naialah has a past that we are not privy too. She is not quite fairy which is suspicious. She is something else and it kills me not knowing. I want to find out what secrets she is keeping. I love a good mystery. Plus, she is so scary but sweet all at once. It's so interesting seeing her freak out with power and magic one minute, then becoming so caring and loving the next.
I loved the world Jessica created in Black Moon. The descriptions of the fairyland were amazing. I could picture everything with clarity and vibrancy. I would love to learn more about the fairy people in the next book.
The Bad My biggest gripe with this book was that the plot was not well structured. It was pretty aimless. The beginning was okay, the middle was meh, then the ending picked up. As for a solid plot, there wasn't one. This is more a story of self-discovery, which I don't mind, I just didn't expect it. And, really, it seemed like a waste of a great concept. This book had so much more potential.
Another huge annoyance was the descriptions. Every single action Paige performed was documented. We read about her taking a shower, drying herself off, brushing her hair, brushing her teeth, getting a soda, drinking the soda, going into the office, turning on the computer, waiting for the computer to load up... I think you get my point. So tedious and so unnecessary. It drove me crazy.
There was a decision made by the end that I did not agree with. Paige and Naialah go out on a mission but decide to not 100% complete it which is only going to cause more trouble later. It was just a silly choice to make.
The Snuggly There is almost no romance in Black Moon. But the few moments of interest we see is between Paige and Naialah. I wasn't expecting that. I loved Paige's confusion with this turn of events. She is confused by her attraction to Naialah and it really worked well for the story. I am assuming she didn't know her sexual orientation until now. I would love to see Paige grow more comfortable with the woman she is becoming.
Final Thoughts I would like to read the second book of the series, which is a good sign. I need to see what's going to happen next, especially with Paige and Naialah. But I hope their is more a structured plot next time. Recommended.
Quotes I took in the strange, exotic land as we followed a trail in what I assumed was Varulean’s version of soil. It was a rich deep brown color like the red brown of an almond. It didn’t feel like soil though. It had a spongy texture that reminded me of moss. With each step I felt like the ground would thrust me upward like a trampoline. I had the urge to take of my shoes and feel the strange texture with my bare feet.
*****
Then, just like that, it was chaos. I heard a howl come from somewhere in front of me and before I could make out which wolf the sound had come from, they were running towards us. Panic flooded my mind. I stood frozen, unsure of what to do... ...more
At A Glance I had a lot of trouble getting into Seven Kinds of Hell, but by the end I was pretty happy I stuck with it even if it wasn't my taste.
The Good What stands out about Seven Kinds of Hell is that it has a little something for everyone. It has a lot of action. It has the kind of mystery that keeps you guessing until the end. The suspense is intense for most of the book. The paranormal aspect is expertly woven within the story so you don't even think of it as fantasy. And a little dash of romance to keep things interesting. If you are looking for a loaded urban fantasy book, you can find it in Seven Kinds of Hell.
If you are into archaeology at all, this is the book for you. It is packed with rich history, artifacts, supernatural politics, and mythology. Then the paranormal aspect was fascinating. Werewolves, vampires, snake shifters, oh my! I love how Dana incorporates mythology and archaeology into her supernatural creatures' histories. And learning why these beings inhabit the planet and how they differ from the supernaturals I have read in other books was the best part.
I did enjoy following Zoe on her adventures most of the time. It seemed like she could never catch a break. I couldn't help but feel bad for her. She actually stayed pretty strong through the whole ordeal. Zoe had a way of assimilating to each new situation, each new threat. And her friends were with her every step of the way, even when we weren't sure they could be trusted.
The plot was very complex. I liked the twists and turns that caught me by surprise. And the writing was well done.
The Bad I don't know why but I just couldn't get into Seven Kinds of Hell for the longest time. This book took me way longer to read than any book has in a long time. But it wasn't that it was bad, it just wasn't catching my attention like I hoped. I think around page 200 I finally got into the swing of things.
I think the characters didn't really capture my attention enough to keep me wanting to read about them. They all lacked the spark that makes characters truly interesting.
There was a little too much archeology and history lessons that slowed down this book a lot. They were too lengthy for my taste. I like heavy information dumps in small doses. This book rang more like an archaeological thriller.
Some plot points and inner monologue seemed to repeat a lot. For example, there is a group after Zoe, then there is another group after Zoe, then another, and another. She couldn't trust anyone and she said so over and over again.
The Snuggly There is a minimal sex scene and minimal romance. Zoe and Will have an unfinished romance that sparks up a little in this book. But they weren't together enough to say the romance was satisfying, but it was enough for the theme and pace of the book.
Final Thoughts I almost gave this book 3 stars, but after some thought, I don't think I am going to continue the series. It wasn't bad but it didn't blow me away. I do, however, think this book has an audience that will love it. So I recommend it to some people but not all. My review should help you decide whether this book is for you.
Quotes The darkness was almost absolute, but I didn't need a light to sense the knife just below my chin.
Neither man spoke until we were deep in the shadows.
"We won't be need this," one of them said. I felt my shirt tear.
Now, the Beast whispered.
The oblivion I'd been seeking all night came as the Beast rushed in and I was suddenly a wolf. If I hadn't been resisting the rapists, it was because I hadn't been resisting the Beast.
I snapped my head around, seizing the wrist of the man with the knife. I bit through flesh, snapping fragile bones, feeling blood--dark, coppery, and filthy--rush out as I severed an artery. As his blood hit the floor of that dank basement, I felt a glorious satisfaction: his blood was better outside his veins. The more he bled, the better I felt....more
At A Glance Things are just starting to get interesting. I can't wait for the next book, but I still wish more happened in Focus.
The Good Focus is all about Levi and Allie's relationship. Allie still hasn't forgiven Levi for tricking her into getting engaged and becoming the princess of a supernatural society where Pteron (supernatural creatures with wings) rule. Forced to stay close to Levi for protection, Allie is now going to college in New Orleans. If college wasn't hard enough, Allie is still being pursued by people who want to either kill her or make her theirs. But Levi is there for her every step of the way, trying to get back into her heart...and pants. ;)
Focus really takes us deeper into the supernatural world. We finally get some answers to the questions left behind from Flight. Levi and Allie have a precarious relationship but they have to show a strong bond in public because a weak prince and princess means a weak leadership. The political part of the Pteron fascinated me. Learning more about Jared, his family, and his relationship in the hierarchy made me start liking him. He is such a player, and in Flight, he was pretty much an ass. But in Focus, he's a lovable ass. Then there's Hailey. I loved Allie and Hailey as best friends. They helped each other out in so many ways, they really are perfect friends for each other. I was excited to learn more about the side characters this time around.
If you felt bad for Allie for what Levi did in Flight, don't worry about it anymore. She got her payback. She gave Levi the runaround most of the book. She also kept leading him on, kissing him one minute, backing away the next. Though, not really one purpose. She can't help but feel conflicted. Levi deserved it though. She kept him on his toes every minute, making him work for his right to her.
Levi is as sexy and possessive as ever. He still has secrets and he still thinks like a Pteron more than a human, but his sweet side really comes out in Focus. He goes to great lengths to win Allie back. I love his protective streak, too. It's so obvious how much he loves Allie, he just has a funny way of showing it. I would love to learn ever more about him. I still feel there's something about him left untapped.
The story was good and the action was intense. Focus is more about character development though. We learn a lot more about the secondary characters which makes us love or hate them even more, and Allie and Levi are starting to finally feel like a real couple. I also enjoyed the peek at college life. It reminds me a lot of when I was in college, especially since Allie really cares about her grades but also tries to have fun. It's a hard balance to achieve. The cliffhanger ending was pretty juicy, too. I am dying to read book 3 now.
The Bad Again, as in Flight, I felt like there should have been more in this book. Focus ends on a cliffhanger but it felt like the story should have kept going because not enough happened to be left fully satisfied.
Allie was a little annoying in this book. She made some stupid decisions about her safety even knowing she was in constant danger. She needs to learn caution.
The Snuggly For most of the book Levi and Allie are on the outs, but Levi never misses a chance to touch and flirt with Allie. I think the sexual tension was so much more intense in Focus. Levi and Allie just get hotter. The sex is still YA, but we are slowly getting to New Adult content.
Final Thoughts I do feel Focus was a little better than Flight, but not quite 4 stars yet. It's getting there though. Really, I just wish there was more consistent action. But maybe this is a more relaxed series, and that's okay. I still can't wait for the next book. I have to know what is going to happen next. Recommended.
Quotes “Break ups aren't fair. Why does only one person have power? We both agreed to start dating. Why do you get to make the decision to end it? Shouldn't it be a joint decision too?
Relationships aren't a democracy. Not everyone gets an equal vote.”
*****
"You look so good with your wings." I reached out and touched one, but he shifted, moving it from my reach.
"If you want to touch them, you have to come closer."
"I am close. If I get any closer, I'll be on your lap."
At A Glance Yay. I love any book with Elena and Clay in it when it comes to this series. I just wish I got to see more of their twins.
The Good As many of you know, Elena and Clay books are my favorite and this one is no exception. Frostbitten really tied up some loose ends for me, especially with the couple's relationship. We know that Elena and Clay don't always communicate well and even act like children sometimes, but since they had their twins, I see a huge change in them. They are more mature, more responsible, and closer than ever.
This is really Elena's book where she considers her past, present, and future. We get glimpses of Elena's past and how she dealt with the horrors of being a foster child. We also see her for the woman she is today: a loving mother, supporting wife, and kickass werewolf. We finally see her as a true future alpha with responsibilities she can now easily handle. Clay too faces his past and proves to be the best father ever and comes to truly embrace his partnership with Elena. I can finally see the happy ending they so deserve and it makes me smile.
The Alaskan setting was a nice change up and the plot was intense. We encounter some really effed up werewolves who eat humans. That's a big no-no, so Elena and Clay are sent to investigate while trying to save this one rogue Mutt from getting into deeper crap than he can handle. The mystery about the "creatures" was awesome. I always love learning new supernatural mythology.
We get some intense life or death situations and heart-pounding twists that I didn't see coming. Frostbitten is fast-paced and full of action. We don't see too many of the other characters we know from the series, but that's okay. All I need is Elena and Clay and I am content.
The Bad I was a little disappointed that we didn't get to see more of Clay and Elena's twins. I wanted to see them interact together but we only got a few scenes with them and I felt jipped. This is Elena and Clay's last book in the series, it would have been nice to see them as a family more.
The Snuggly We get a couple love scenes that are well done but not overly explicit.
Final Thoughts This is a quick read that will keep you glued to the pages. I love that we delve even deeper into both Elena and Clay as individuals and as a couple. Armstrong is really great at characterization. That's what keeps me reading. Highly recommended.
Quotes “Next Clay gave the house rules for living with the Sorrentinos, which sounded a lot like the Ten Commandments. Thou shall not lie, steal anything, kill anyone, disrespect your hosts or covet any of Nick's girlfriends. And if you break the rules, you'll get your ass kicked and handed to you in pieces—a part I suspect God left out.”
*****
“Did you use a chainsaw?" Joey said. "I seem to recall you like chainsaws."
"There wasn't a power outlet." Clay turned to me. "That's what I want for Father's Day, darling. A gas powered chainsaw.” Women of the Otherworld Series: Book #1: Bitten Book #2: Stolen Book #3: Dime Store Magic Book #4: Industrial Magic Book #5: Haunted Book #6: Broken Book #7: No Humans Involved Book #8: Personal Demon Book #9: Living with the Dead Book #10: Frostbitten Book #11: Waking the Witch Book #12: Spell Bound Book #13: Thirteen
Similar Reading: Mercedes Thompson Series Chicagoland Vampires Series Night Huntress Series Kate Daniels Series ...more
At a Glance I so wanted to give Blue Moon more stars because I really enjoyed it, but the plot wasn't very structured and the ending could have been more exciting. But I still liked it a lot.
The Good Here's The Story... Jem is in a good place. She has the love of her life, Sean, by her side and a male pack of werewolves that adore and accept her. Then one of her packmates, Josh, had to go and get a girlfriend and ruin everything. Jem thinks this new girl is bad news, while the rest of the pack just thinks she is being a territorial female. But when Josh starts acting weird and the girl keeps trying to insert herself more into the pack, Jem decides to take action. But will she be too late?
The Pack... The first thing that caught my eye was the amazing connection the pack of werewolves shared. They are all very playful and loving but they also have fierce emotions that bond them. I wish I would have read the first book because I would have liked to see Jem's initiation into the pack. Her being the only female in the pack gives her some advantages and disadvantages. They try to appease her as much as possible but they also see her fears as frivolous jealousy. But even through their squabbles, they continued to love and care for each other.
Jem... Jem is both strong and vulnerable. Her emotions are so raw and Belfield let's see every heartbreaking moment Jem goes through in this book. We get so inside Jem's head, I literally felt her emotions as she experienced them. She is also greatly protective of her boys in the pack. She endangers herself to save them from harm. The new girlfriend, Marianne, is spooky in a sweet way. She has this gracious exterior, but we all see the deception that lays behind her eyes. But only Jem is suspicious enough to actively seek out Marianne's plans for Josh.
A Different Kind of Love... Josh and Jem's relationship was an interesting one. You can tell Josh feels more for Jem than friendship, but he is trying to move on. But when Jem seems jealous of Marianne, Josh gets mixed signals. I felt heartbroken as they fought over the new girlfriend. They have love for each other, even if Jem is in love with Sean.
Getting to the Meat of It... Though the first half of the book is a little aimless for my taste, the second half really picked up. The mystery behind Marianne was exciting to discover. And the little war between Marianne and Jem made me smile with glee as they tried to one-up each other. I was surprised how nefarious and dark things turned near the end of the book. That was the best part for me. When I read about werewolves I expect some blood and savagery, and we did get that in the end.
I liked the added mystery behind Jem and her lost memories. There is more to her than meets the eye and we find out all about her true past along with her. I would like to continue this series because I am dying to see what is going to happen next.
The Bad This is a minor thing but the language was a bit off for me, but since the author lives in England, I guess it was to be expected. I started to get irritated with the constant use of "whilst."
My biggest problem was the aimless plot in the beginning. There is no real goal until half way through the novel. I wasn't quite sure why I was reading this book at first. It picks up half way through, which is when things got really interesting, but then the ending, which could have been epic, was pretty simple. No big struggle or "Oh my God, are they going to make it?" feelings.
Many of the characters decisions were annoyingly stupid. What did they think was going to happen when they let bad stuff keep happening without really trying to stop it? I felt like saying "duh" half the time. I like characters that take action, not let things sit till it's too late.
The Snuggly This definitely has sex it. It was very cute and well done. Nothing overboard, but probably not suitable for YA readers.
I didn't get to experience Sean and Jem's beginning relationship, but I got a great impression of their love for each other in this book. You could tell it went soul deep.
Final Thoughts Though I only gave Blue Moon three stars, I actually quite enjoyed it. If it wasn't for the aimless beginning and non-struggle ending, I would have given this book 3.5 to 4 stars. I so plan to read the first book and the third book of the series sometime. These characters interest me to no end, and I want to know everything about them. A recommend read.
Quote Whilst I waited, I cleared away the breakfast plates, piling them into the dishwasher. My head tilted at Sean's footsteps padding back across the landing. Lids lowering, I envisaged his naked body glistening from the water.
My eyes opened. I turned toward the stairs, took a step.
"Sit down." Nathan's attention left his paper long enough to give me his 'stern' look.
When I peered once more toward where my mind had travelled, Nathan cleared his throat. With a sigh, I slumped into my seat, glaring at Ethan's quiet snorts of laughter into his mug. ...more
At A Glance Let's put it this way, I read this book a couple years ago and I completely forgot everything about it. I reread it for this review, and I've already forgotten half of it again.
The Good Though Hope and Karl aren't my favorite couple of the series, I was excited to see them again in this book. Hope is still struggling to control her chaos demon all while trying to accept and embrace her feelings for Karl, our hot werewolf. I enjoyed them in this book. They don't have a perfect relationship but it's getting there.
I will say one thing about Living with the Dead, Armstrong really went all out on her bad guy...or girl. Adele was batshit crazy. She is a hardcore sociopath and killer. But before she kills people, she likes to toy with them first. The lengths she will go has no bounds. I have read some pretty dark characters in my day but Adele tops the cake.
The Bad As you can see, there is not much good in this book. It got two stars only because I did enjoy Hope and Karl for the most part. But the rest of the book was so...stupid.
We meet Robyn, a human, who has never been in the series before. I don't know why Armstrong decided to introduce us to her. She is so insignificant to the series it's not even funny. And her being a human just took out the sparkle of reading about interesting supernaturals. At least Finn, a cop, can speak to the dead. But even he wasn't really interesting.
Living with the Dead did nothing to build onto the overall plotline of this series. It was a filler book that didn't keep my attention. This was the last book I bought from the series because of how boring it was. This is my least favorite book of the series.
I think the weirdest thing is that a whole bunch happens but I still yawned through three-forths of it. Then the ending was just blah. I was like, "What was the point of all this?"
Oh, and the last thing. The other books in the series were first person POVs and this one was third person. It really changed the dynamic, in a bad way.
The Snuggly Not much snuggly going on. Just a little with Karl and Hope. The romance was thin overall.
Final Thoughts I think I just forgot about another one-forth of the book just now. I have a really great memory and for me not to remember a book is weird. I would not recommend this book. I think series readers might want to read it just because.
Quote “What am I? Let's just say I won't fetch a stick for you. I won't beg for treats. And, no matter how nicely you ask, I will not roll over and play dead.” ...more
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