It's not that there was anything particularly wrong with Kindling The Moon. It's well written, well paced and reasonably readable. There was the odd tIt's not that there was anything particularly wrong with Kindling The Moon. It's well written, well paced and reasonably readable. There was the odd typo or spelling mistake or missing punctuation, but I can live with that.
But it was rather like an unfortunately boring date. You know how it is. You go to a bar together and all they want to do is talk about body fluids and how they power magical spells. They seem like a perfectly nice book. But there's nothing really special there. No spark, no chemistry.
And talking about no chemistry, I just did not feel the sizzle between the two main characters. At one point they were kissing and he stuck his finger down her panties and I felt like I was reading a text book. I felt nothing. Maybe this is because Lon didn't feel like someone I would ever go for. He's quite a bit older than Cady, at 42 for her 25 and he has a moustache. I really struggled to feel the attraction.
Around the 60% mark my interest started to wane and by the 80% mark it was pretty much gone.
This date is over, alas, but I'll bear the fond memories of Cady's parent's sex magic for a long, long time. ...more
Blade Song is one of those rare creatures. Just when I think I can't possibly take yet another Urban Fantasy, kick ass female investigator working amoBlade Song is one of those rare creatures. Just when I think I can't possibly take yet another Urban Fantasy, kick ass female investigator working amongst pushy, powerful Supes - this one comes in and knocks me around.
In an overcrowded market of very similar stories, Blade Song manages to be fun, entertaining and highly enjoyable! Especially for fans of Kate Daniels waiting for another novel.
Kit is an intelligent, strong protagonist - Damon's your usual alpha male hunk and there is mystery a'foot! It's SOLVIN' TIME!
Seriously, I didn't expect the fun. I didn't expect to enjoy it. Which is not to say that it was perfect. Kit narrates the beginning of this novel like it's been waaaaaaayyy too long between her psychologist appointments. "Leave some mystery, Kit!" I wanted to say. She has some serious shit to get off her chest - but none of it is stuff that didn't already come up later in the novel and could have been revealed to the reader as part of the narrative/character revelations to each other. So the info dump at the beginning is truly curious.
I thought I'd have to take a jack hammer to Damon's soft and tender parts at the beginning of this novel - but I didn't have to. Kit sorted him out nice and good for me which is just so satisfying!
This is a book for those familiar with UF genre, looking for a light fun read. Those who want original world building will not enjoy this at all. It really is Urban Fantasy Lite - perfect for switching off your brain, enjoying blood, death and sex, and having a good ride.
I had an issue with the resolution at the end of the novel, but I shan't reveal it here for spoilers. Basically, I think this is more than worth the price and I would love to read more from this author. A truly delightful surprise.
I put off reading this book for a long time and I’m not sure why. I asked Matt if there was any sexy times in it, and he said not really. That may havI put off reading this book for a long time and I’m not sure why. I asked Matt if there was any sexy times in it, and he said not really. That may have had something to do with it. But if he’d told me that there was so much chemistry between Chase and Rayna, I might have checked it out faster. Because it kind of had the potential to stroll into bow chica wow wow territory, and probably would have more if they hadn’t all been so busy fighting to survive. Also, Merrick, what are you doing wasting all that potential sexual chemistry?! And have you ever considered writing romances?
Exiled is like a diamond in the rough. I see so much of Merrick’s potential as an author. I think given time, attention, and hardwork – his books are going to be pretty damn great. Exiled itself was a difficult book to me to rate. The raw material, itself, was pretty excellent. There was certainly plenty to appreciate about the novel and I had a great deal of enjoyment while reading it. This was Merrick’s first novel, though, so there are always going to be things that an author can learn and improve on. When I said diamond in the rough, I meant it. I got the sense throughout reading it, that it really needed an experienced editor to cut and polish it to help Merrick bring out the best parts, and chip off the parts that were cumbersome or unnecessary.
[image] In case you can’t tell – that’s Aladdin and that’s someone explaining the process of how they perfected his look. Isn’t this, like, the most appropriate GIF for a review ever?!
The intro needed to be a little smoother, and the back end of the story contained some unnecessary story telling that I could see was probably setting up for the next novel, but that really punched the pacing in the gut and detracted from the overall plot.
The characters were a big positive for this book. Chase was endearing in that way that little brothers are. Overly-confident and just adorable enough to pull it off. Rayna was a great counter-balance, providing maturity and a gravity that Chase could aspire to. Marcus played the ever-patient and ever-ignored father figure while Chase’s mum gave the novel a sweet, grounding, human touch. Then, of course, there’s Vincent if you want a mature romantic lead.
And whilst I am eager to follow up on the lives and adventures of Chase and crew, I can’t help but want to take a red pen to this book. I enjoyed it so much but feel like its potential was cut short, like a world-class athlete with no one to train it. Merrick made a couple of astounding female characters, which I’d like to see him do more of. The novel does feel a little unbalanced and overpopulated with powerful men in leadership/destiny roles. I feel like they’re especially necessary to balance out the damsel in distress-heavy plot toward the second half of the book.
You’re probably going to like this book if you’re into a younger version of The Dresden Files with a main protagonist who is almost as exasperating. It’s certainly not a perfect novel, but also not without merit.
Ultimately, I want to see more from Merrick. This was a really hard book to rate. I feel like it deserved more stars based on my enjoyment, but the issues with the plotting and pacing tripped me up. I think he has the signs of an excellent story teller, though, and I’m eager to read the next in the series, Shift.
I met Kendall Grey in Kara's chat and resolved to try and read every author who attended since they were all fabulous people. Inhale was my maiden voyI met Kendall Grey in Kara's chat and resolved to try and read every author who attended since they were all fabulous people. Inhale was my maiden voyage into this endeavour and came with a strong recommendation from my dear friend.
I purchased a copy and eagerly sat down to read. I applaud Grey on her imagination and unique world-building. Also her research and attention to detail gets a credit. I wasn't able to finish this novel despite rather liking both of the main protagonists and generally appreciating the magic system and society she created.
I had to stop reading though because I found the writing very difficult to submerge myself in.
It felt like every third sentence was doused in jarring, uncomfortable metaphors and the similes were not a great improvement.
Of course, the first odd bit of writing to really catch my eye was on page 19 - not a great start:
"Or innocent people woke up dead."
Someone in the comments mentioned a Cordelia quote from Buffy.
[image](Image is from Coalitiongurl.tumblr) If anyone remembers this episode, Giles' reaction to that comment was my exact reaction to the line above.
And if that had been the worst of it I would have gotten the hell over it and gotten back to reading and trying to submerge myself in the world and narrative. But it wasn't.
"The implications rushed like a runaway bowling ball on a pre-ordained path to a game-winning strike. For the opposing team."
"The Sentinel's body convulsed, her fear producing more Fire. Like pulling spaghetti from a steaming pot, the jackals dredged out the last few red sparks and fought over them with bared teeth."
These are the examples that most stick out. It's not that they're horrible but, to me, they felt craftless and cumbersome in the text. There was an awkward, rough quality to the prose that made it difficult for me to connect to the writing.
When I realized how hard I was working to try and enjoy the story, I mostly gave up. For this caliber of novel, I expect to be swept away, not to endure a hard slog against the current.
Goodness, now I'm doing it too! Signing off before it spreads and gets worse!
I have this hangup, you see. The thing that's always bugged me about serialized novels is how they take X amount of time to catch you up on all the prI have this hangup, you see. The thing that's always bugged me about serialized novels is how they take X amount of time to catch you up on all the previous novels.
Look, I get it's important for people who can't remember all the past storylines and for those that haven't read the previous books. But I have never been one to start in the middle of a series or to need these little updates so they always aggravated me. They always seemed like gigantic wastes of time and stalled each book more and more as the series progressed.
However, I accidentally requested this title from Netgalley not knowing it was the fourth book in a series I'd never even heard of. So going in blind caused me to have a love/hate relationship with the recaps. I absolutely needed them to know what was going on with the long, involved storyline. However, on the otherhand - and this is not to say Meding did them badly but that all catchups are pretty much like this - they didn't provide enough information or understanding to truly grasp what had happened in previous novels.
And unfortunately, Wrong Side of Dead has a huge backstory to catch up on which feels disingenuous because most of these complicated, deep relationships seem to have begun only a few weeks ago. So when the main character says, "I'd trust him with my back any day!" and then a chapter later we find out that she's only known him for three week, it felt weird.
But then, I'm told the House of Night series, Marked, take place over a couple of weeks and there are a lot more of those.
So my first problem was too many characters, intricate relationships, history and backstory to really get a grasp of in this novel. The storyline kept stalling as Meding needed to go back and explain complicated history, interspecies politics and try to reinforce the importance of a romantic relationship that is scarcely seen in this book.
My second problem was that Meding takes so long to get to the actual plot that it was easy to forget there was one. This series seems to have fallen into the trap where the romantic relationship - or its lack of, has become so important that it has taken control of the story.
My third problem was that, even though I knew nothing of the history of the villain and had only been introduced to him in this book, his comical fiendishness was both predictable and a little trite. There were times when I thought, "Hey, guys... um, this is going to happen so you'd better do something about it. Just sayin'." Then three chapters later it happened, everyone reeled in shock, and I facepalmed myself.
The writing was servicable and several of the characters were certainly likable - but this just isn't a series to pick up halfway through. Perhaps the reviews of dedicated fans who have an emotional investment in the story and characters would be more helpful. I just didn't feel like this series offered anything that you couldn't find in other, tighter, better written series....more
For me, sometimes I rate a book because, objectively, it's just a really bad book with limited literary quality. This is not an objective rating and For me, sometimes I rate a book because, objectively, it's just a really bad book with limited literary quality. This is not an objective rating and I need to reinforce that before we continue. It is a subjective reflection on my personal reading experience.
Because the first half of the book, that I read, wasn't necessarily a poorly written book. If you like fairy fantasy then you will probably enjoy it. I, for one, enjoy fairies - but not this kind of fairy story, and it's not the author's fault.
Long is trying to get back to somewhat old school fairy tale tellings, and in doing so, has returned to many of the themes intrinsic to the fairy mythos - which is moral, physical and spiritual purity of the human which is tested when pitied into the fairy realm where temptations and defilers lurk around every corner.
Don't eat their food, don't dance with them (cause you know what dancing leads to...) don't corrupt yourself by lying with the fairy king. The counter balance to that is that through love, moral goodness (restraint for evil temptations) and by having a pure heart - you can triumph over the wicked, corrupt fae.
All a lovely story if that's your thing, but it isn't mine. I don't do distressed damsels at risk of having their virginity frisked and proving to all that their mighty heart can not be conquered by evil because she's just so GOOD and PURE. Look at her rescue that baby! Look how vulnerable she is one minute but protecting innocent children the next!
It really is my fault. I should have paid more attention to the cover. I mean, take a good look at that thing for a second.
[image]
I mean, look at it! She's wearing a white fru-fru dress while walking through a forest, clutching blooming flowers to her lower body and looking flustered and scared. I couldn't have picked a better way of depicting maidenhood if I'd taped a real hymen to the front cover. I need to learn to pay attention!
Just about everything that happens to our protagonist, from the moment she steps into fairy, is a sex metaphor she must escape from. And if that kind of repressed expression of female sexuality speaks to you then please try this book. But at the point in which a handsome man kisses her and she LOSES HER SOUL, and Oberon shows up as one of the big antagonists promising to deflower her because she's just so pure and good - well, that's the point at which my upchuck reflex goes into overdrive and I mentally check out.
At least I now know why Steph and I have no soul. It's all that dirty, dirty sex and alcohol and bad food and filthy dancing and lack of any kind of repression. And I really wouldn't personally have it any other way.
This review can be found on our blog at Cuddlebuggery.
*Thanks to the publishers who provided this ARC to me through Netgalley....more
Usually when reviewing a book, it's possible to give away a few minor plot points, in order to discuss the theme and intentions of the author, withoutUsually when reviewing a book, it's possible to give away a few minor plot points, in order to discuss the theme and intentions of the author, without actually spoiling anything in the book. With Shadowfever, however, pretty much discussing anything is a spoiler.
[image] In fact, admitting the existence of the book is actually a spoiler.
I can't even really discuss what characters feature in this story because that, too, would be a spoiler. This review has absolutely no spoilers in the main part. Down below, if you scroll to the very bottom of the page, you will see some comments and thoughts of mine that contain spoilers but they are well marked and easily avoided.
My best chance for providing a spoiler-free review for you is to just describe my general feel of the book.
[image] This is really the easiest way for me to do that.
Reading this book was like that scene out of Napoleon Dynamite where Pedro promises his class that if they vote for him, all their dreams will come true.
Shadowfever was a little like that. In the first four books, KMM promised that if I just picked this one up, ALL MY DREAMS WOULD COME TRUE.
And you know what? KMM wasn't fucking around.
[image] Pictured: Not Fucking Around
She did everything I believed was absolutely impossible. She did it with class, she did it with style and she actually made me happy that I put my faith in this series.
That's a pretty big order to fill.
As promised, the Shadowfever delivered WITH fireworks.
Part of it was that Mac was such a singularly self-introspective character. Every thought, every action, every word or omission was examined with cruel, objective efficiency. And even when she lied to herself, she always came back later with a big hammer of truth and shattered those illusions until those illusions were SORRY and promised to never illude (made up word alert) again.
She defied a mainstay of western literature in her savagery and need for vengeance. Most (Disclaimer: Not all) literature idealizes woman as the forgiving creature who prefers to get on with her life as opposed to wasting it on vengeance. Probably so that she can get down to the baby making that is so important.
This is a particular problem in the romance genre where KMM first made her big break.
Women do not traditionally want to hold the cooling body of their enemy while blood drips to the floor and their hand twists the weapon that has brought an end to their vengeance. Usually, that's a man thing.
But, you see, Mac takes responsibility for her own vengeance. She takes responsibility for the world - despite how much she doesn't want to. We see repeatedly in the first four books that as much as she wants to shift the burden, she doesn't. That takes a special kind of strength. All the while reading this series, I was only glad it was Mac's story and not mine.
Kat's story would have ended with shagging V'lane ruthlessly because Kat couldn't keep it in her pants when sexy came calling. The end. I just would have trusted my gut and hoped that Barrons, Rowena or V'lane of the MacKeltars knew better. Who was I to decide the fate of the world?
Shadowfever sorely tests that aspect of Mac, that strength to not rely on others to solve her problems. I cannot sing KMM's praises enough for this. Princesses who sit in castles waiting for the noble prince to find them, romance heroine's whose honourable, rich lover turns up to rescue them... Their stories pale in comparison to a lead character who rolls with the punches that life gives her and does everything in her power to punch back.
The single problem that I have with this book is its inability to let go of other western (and other cultures are to blame too) ideals that we place on our female leads.
The concept of action for selfish reasons is briefly addressed in this book and I felt that KMM was handling it so well. I felt that Mac's selfishness and desire to use power for her own means were actually so well justified by the past text that maybe she SHOULD be allowed to use the ultimate power to achieve her means.
This concept was later twisted and garbled though and, without going into detail, was the only small botherance I really had with what was other a fantastic novel and a spectacular end to this amazing series.
SPOILERS BELOW ***************
**Spoilers Commencing:** There is actually more of a reason that I didn't give this book more than four stars and why I might decide to bump it down to three.
Reading up to this book several fans, including myself, picked apart the other four looking for clues. We were so sure that Barron's identity, Mac's mysterious past, the Unseelie King, the purpose of the book... we were so sure that the answers were staring us right in the face and that we just needed to find the right set of evidence to figure it out.
But now I know that for the lie it was. Some things were cleverly concealed, like the identity of Alanna's killer and the holder of her journal. However, all of the rest, I feel, were kept from us. You can't deduce what Barrons is from the pitiful amount of information provided in the first four books and nothing will prepare you for the rather annoying truth. He's something never before seen. Never before heard of. There's no myth, no legend. It was never something we COULD guess.
Same with Mac's origins. How could you actually know that the book was capable of absorbing itself into a fetus? You can't. You never have enough information that you could have deduced that.
So whilst I really enjoyed Shadowfever, I felt a bit cheated that KMM wasn't the brilliant creator, cleverly concealing the truth so that the truly observant amongst her readership could arrive at the right conclusions. She just didn't give us enough information. Maybe that sounds like whining. Maybe it sounds like a petulant child, stamping its foot and saying, "It's not fair!"
Well, truthfully, if a mystery writer finished a novel and the hero came out and said, "It was the Maid in the poolroom with the candlestick but you wouldn't have been able to guess that because I'm only now presenting the information necessary to come to that conclusion!" Well, in that case you'd think the mystery writer was cracked. Half the fun is in trying to be smarter than the protagonist. In this case, none of us really had a chance.
Also, Mac's a big whimpy coward who should have told Barrons right from the getgo that she loved him.
My other problem with this entire series is the nature of women and men portrayed. Mac and Dani are the only good, powerful women portrayed and Dani is just a child.
The Fae are supposed to be matriarchal yet they are effectively led by V'lane. The women don't really have any power. The so-called queen is weak, ineffectual and needs to be protected by a Prince who also does all the work for her. In the confrontation between Seelie and Unseelie we see that the female fae have no voice or authority over the men and their opinions are easily discarded.
All the big players in this book are men with the sole exception of Rowena, who is not only a total bitch but also weak and obviously a very poor leader with bad judgement. Women who gain power in this series, with the sole exception of Mac, become bad. The Seelie Queen is depicted as cruel, jealous and ultimately defeated by her more powerful husband.
Might makes right for Barrons and his men whose views on women make cavemen look fair and reasonable. The MacKeltars are just as bad and reading this book gives the distinct impression that Mac's vagina (and who gets it) is just as important as Mac's abilities.
Barrons becomes furious with Mac in Dreamfever for withholding information about the Book because apparently this is the one thing he's after. YET, he knows that Mac's search for her sister's killer is the one thing she's after and he is all too happy to keep information about that to himself.
Fiona gains some power by eating unseelie flesh in these novels yet she is ultimately a doormat to her petty emotions for Barrons. Not a single one of the major book players (McCabe, Malluce, O'Bannion) are female. Women simply don't have power in the Fever world. Even if they're supposed to.
Okay, so some of the girls asked that I do a review of the Anita Blake series because I mentioned some things that intrigued them.
It's not a finished Okay, so some of the girls asked that I do a review of the Anita Blake series because I mentioned some things that intrigued them.
It's not a finished series and usually I would reserve judgment on a series until it comes to its conclusion just in case the author was going somewhere I wasn't expecting.
Kind of like that scene out of Austin Powers where Austin's in the bathroom stall with a bad guy and a big Texan man is in the next stall and can only see Austin's feet. He hears Austin Powers grunting as he fights the guy, saying, "Who does Number 2 work for?"
The Texan guy, thinking that Austin is taking a crap, decides to pitch in and give encouragement to someone who is obviously struggling.
"That's right! Show that turd who's boss!"
Well, that's what reading Anita Blake is like. You're sitting in the next stall with someone who, nine or so books ago you thought was really nice and normal. Suddenly they start to struggle and you want to be encouraging, or you want to tell them to give up, take a laxative and come back later. The thing is, at first you're wary to because maybe something else is going on. Maybe a brilliant struggle for life and death is happening but you just can't see it. Maybe at the end of the series, you're going to come out, see what's left over in the stall and proudly proclaim:
Jesus Christ, what did you eat?
The first 10 books are filled with mystery and intrigue. They've got great characters and really interesting storylines. They've got action. DAMN have they got action! Obsidian Butterfly, in my opinion, the last good book is such a thriller in so many ways.
They're a little bit sexy and you find yourself wishing a little more sexy would come your way because it's kind of really hawt.
But then something happens after book 10. It happens so quickly that you're kind of in a headspin, looking around going, "Am I still reading the right series? Have they printed a different book under the same name?"
Because suddenly, they're no longer mysteries. There's no longer any real edge-of-your-seat suspense. Suddenly, you think you're going to go a little crazy if you read another freakin' sex scene. Suddenly the writing is so poor, so transparent! The characters are so unlikable and so unrelatable that they might as well be from another galaxy.
You're just walking along one day, admiring the view, when suddenly - OH CRAP! ANITA JUST HAD SEX WITH A WERELEOPARD IN ANIMAL FORM!!!!
You're minding you're own business, enjoying a cup of coffee when - FUCK! SHE JUST HAD A THREE WAY WITH TWO MEN! ANALSEXANALSEXANALSEX!!!
You were about to get ready for work when, out of nowhere - CROTCHBUCKETS! SHE'S JUST HAD A MASSIVE GROUP ORGY AND BEEN 'SPITTED' BY TWO MEN! FAAARK!!!
Then you wonder if you can still walk into a church after reading these books. They become so appallingly bad that you wear them like a badge of pride. "Oh, you think THAT book is shocking? Has she ever had sex with an animal while a whole room full of people look on?" "Oh! You think THAT'S shocking? Did that character ever have seven consecutive boyfriends and nine casual fucks at the same time?" "Really? That character is THAT powerful? Did they ever defeat an evil villain with the power of their crotch alone?"
Speaking of which, this is one of the major, MAJOR flaws of Anita Blake. Her Cooter. The Crotch of Doom as some of the girls call it. Almost every man she comes across, she has to sleep with. And then he loves her. He's addicted to her. He can't get enough of her. It's ridiculous. That girl had better have a TV screen in her forehead, beer leaking from her nipples and a bellybutton that dispenses sandwiches. Otherwise I just ain' buyin' it!
She amasses power like it's spare change. She goes from being a powerful animator of zombies, to a necromancer who can control ALL dead things (including vampires), as well as being a lupa (Queen of the Werewolves, Namira-Ra (Queen of the wereleopards) having six strains of were in her but none of the downsides like actually changing. She becomes a succubus. She is a human servant part of a powerful Triumvate. Then she makes her OWN triumvate with her own Vampire to call and an animal to call. It's just RIDICULOUS! You're wondering where it stops!
This stops her from having any character growth. I thought Anita Blake's flaws were going to be dealt with at some point. I thought her pride, arrogance, lack of impulse control, insecurities etc were going to be addressed through circumstances and a learning curve. No. She just becomes so powerful that it doesn't matter anymore.
And the books are just basically sex. That's all that happens. Everyone has sex. All the time. And then they all argue. A lot. Anita wears a skirt, so three out of seven of her boyfriends take issue with that and then argue with Anita and amongst themselves. Anita chips a nail, so at least five of her boyfriends go mental and start blaming each other.
I really don't know why this mess continues. It's beyond ridiculous. I think LKH just wants to see how much she can shock us now. What more can she do to play with our heads? So Anita has brain sex with another woman. So Anita has sex with a sixteen year old. It doesn't matter anymore. In the end, Anita never takes responsibility for ANY of it. She never really sits down and says: "Regardless of everything - I want to be with THIS person and THAT person. I want to do THESE crazy sex acts because that would get me hawt. Then I want to try it with five men at once."
No. It's always the situation. She's always "made" to do it. This makes me lose so much respect for both the character and LKH. You want fantasy smut in your story? Fine. Put it in there. But don't make it so that the character never CHOOSES the fantasy smut. Don't make it so that each and every time, the character is forced by circumstances to do these crazy, smutty things. WTH?
And lastly, don't push feminist bullshit down our throats when every other woman in this series is either a bitch, psycho, cow or pathetically weak! If Anita was a real woman than she'd stand up to a little damn competition. Instead she fights with every other woman around like it's some kind of damn pissing competition.
I kept thinking that maybe LKH was behind that stall, doing something that didn't seem apparent to me. From what I could see so far, she was struggling to get something out. I kept wanting to yell at her for it, but then I thought, maybe there's something epic happening. Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe it's just because I can't see enough from my stall in the bathroom of life.
No, my friends. In this instance, she's not wrestling a man into a toilet bowl for information. She's not leading us through some epic, well thought out drama that's going to unfold brilliantly if we just hang on and keep reading.
She's just shitting with us. Well and truly, and enjoying the money we pay her for the pleasure of reading this crap....more
Kat Kennedy
>
Books:
urban-fantasy-woot
(9)
Loading...
