This truly was a better than 3 read but I just don't feel strongly enough about it to give it a solid 4.
I enjoyed returning to this planet a great d3+
This truly was a better than 3 read but I just don't feel strongly enough about it to give it a solid 4.
I enjoyed returning to this planet a great deal, and I very much like the world building and culture in this series. So much that when I realized Reynolds had released a second I snatched it up and started reading it within a day. In truth I had given up hope that she would return to this world but I'm very glad that she did and hope she will continue to do so.
In fairness I have to say that it took me a long time to warm up to the hero in this one. I didn't find the arrogance attractive, but eventually I got to see more than just charisma and arrogance and did warm up.
Reynolds is another author who does a good job of balancing the relationship with the rest of the story. She often comes down a little more on the romance side than I personally prefer; but she does it well enough, and her erotica is so smokin' hot, that it's not a trial for me. :D
This one ended sounding like there could be more. I sure hope so. I'm in!...more
I had a hard time remaining engaged with this one and I'm not sure why. I enjoyed being back with the gang, I enjoyed seeing more of the kids, it was I had a hard time remaining engaged with this one and I'm not sure why. I enjoyed being back with the gang, I enjoyed seeing more of the kids, it was nice to get a bit more insight into several of what was originally secondary characters like Lassiter, etc.
But I thought the melodrama and self flagellation fests were a bit over the top. I am perfectly willing to admit that it could just be my head space at the moment....more
It was ok. I liked Jack well enough and Nyx was pretty strong given where she came from and how she got strong. She was also a bit naive but Ward's chIt was ok. I liked Jack well enough and Nyx was pretty strong given where she came from and how she got strong. She was also a bit naive but Ward's character arch for her took care of that.
I just found the story about the prison camp to be more than a little clunky. I am sure there is a wider conspiracy that will be revealed as it goes along, but I had a lot of trouble with suspension of disbelief regarding a forgotten prison and the king of the race not being aware of that..
We'll see how it evolves now that it's been outed....more
I didn't know who half those people were. I had trouble remaining engaged with the story. The new degree of magic in the series is uncomfortably uneh.
I didn't know who half those people were. I had trouble remaining engaged with the story. The new degree of magic in the series is uncomfortably unexpected.
I didn't like Devina the first time around in Fallen Angels series, I don't understand her being the big bad in BDB.
eh.
ETA: I did like finally getting an explanation for those freaking coffins, though....more
I think I'm tired of tortured, self-flagellating, dysfunctional heroes. Ward does them well enough, though, and this addition to the series i3.5 stars
I think I'm tired of tortured, self-flagellating, dysfunctional heroes. Ward does them well enough, though, and this addition to the series is no different.
I can't say I ever reached a point in which I liked the hero here. He is not a nice person.
The filial bonds thing were an interesting twist that have been going on for a very long time, and wouldn't it be great if we had some actual movement in that area?
Every now and then Ward throws out a hero and/or story that's just over-wrought with angst to the point that it makes me start disliking the characterEvery now and then Ward throws out a hero and/or story that's just over-wrought with angst to the point that it makes me start disliking the characters. It's why I don't much care one way or the other about Phury or Tohr. I had expected the book "The Shadows" to be more angst ridden than it ended up being, but I do believe this interval book in the series has pushed Trez into the "too angsty for me" category beside Phury and Tohr.
Also, I kind of feel like this was Ward's attempt at writing a book with a massive plot hole and then instead of trying terribly hard to fix the hole she just hung a big red lantern on it and then kept repeating to the reader why that makes it ok. I thought it was cute, but a bit weak.
In spite of those failings this still had all the other things you expect from a BDB book. Familiar characters that you either love or love to hate, Ward's own vernacular and idioms (thankfully not enough to ever leave you wondering wtf she was trying to say), broodily possessive alpha males who still manage to be fabulously charming and endearing. It's in there.
Frangione's narration was as perfect as ever, although there were several places in the Audible Audio where you could tell a piece had been spliced in because the transition was jarring.
Not the best book in the series, but not a bad ride even at that.
The sneak peak of The Sinner was interesting....more
I'm so grateful it's over. Finishing it felt a bit like self flagellation. I'm so grateful it's over. Finishing it felt a bit like self flagellation. ...more
I enjoyed the story, and I liked being able to return to the world and continue to see secondary and tertiary characters to which I have become attachI enjoyed the story, and I liked being able to return to the world and continue to see secondary and tertiary characters to which I have become attached. I am hoping we get to see more of Heart & Mom. :D
In all honesty, though, it's going to take me a while to get attached to Alessandro and Catalina. I'm willing to wait and invest the time, because I have faith in the authors and I love the world.
Can't say that I'm crazy about the use of a fish hook for ongoing story that happened in the epilogue, though. It wasn't glaringly manipulative but I was surprised and a bit disappointed to see the device used by Ilona Andrews as it's not usually their style....more
This is an ok PNR and the characters are likeable enough but I'm pretty bored with the "special snowflake" heroines. Admittedly this one has a well thThis is an ok PNR and the characters are likeable enough but I'm pretty bored with the "special snowflake" heroines. Admittedly this one has a well thought out reason for the heroine to be special and for everyone to want her, but I think Laurell K. Hamilton has put paid to this trope.
That said, this is an extremely slow burn reverse harem that doesn't even have a single consummation even at the end of the third book, so if you're looking for heat with your romance this isn't it....more
I do believe I'm done with this series. I can't stand the insipid, middle-school romance and I'm not enjoying pretty much every single relationship thI do believe I'm done with this series. I can't stand the insipid, middle-school romance and I'm not enjoying pretty much every single relationship the MC has being abusive, with one solitary exception. Watching a woman get abused and then running back for more because she thinks if she just proves one more thing then maybe they will like her is pretty repulsive and that's essentially the entire story with every single relationship with the exception of one friendship in this series.
I thought that the ending of this book might be the end to the romance stupidity at least, but in looking at the descriptions of the coming books I think probably not. So I'm done with Nava Katz.
I may listen to the most recent story in this world, though. The MC in that one is the half demon of the friendship I can tolerate in this series, so perhaps the abusive stupidity will end when I stop paying attention to Nava & her melodrama.
Recommended for: Drama addicts who enjoy having troublesome relationships in all things....more
I didn't realize this "new series" was in the Elder Races world. It was a bit like getting handed a gift. Don't worry, though, it's definitely a sta4+
I didn't realize this "new series" was in the Elder Races world. It was a bit like getting handed a gift. Don't worry, though, it's definitely a stand alone story and references to the Elder Races only serve to let a new comer know there is more if they want to pursue it and to remind those of us that have read at least some of the Elder Races of fond memories and connection. I liked that.
I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would, not because of anything Harrison does but simply because of where my head has been regarding romance in general but especially paranormal romance in recent times. I've always been very picky about romance and needed for there to be at least as much non-relationship story as relationship story to get immersed. Fortunately Harrison is really pretty good at that, and she does write smokin' hot sex scenes.
One of the things I loved about this book was that most of the protagonists were grown adults who had been around the block a time or two. They weren't tweens and 20-somethings still trying to figure out who they are. They were adults still trying to figure out who they are due to drastic life changes but with a wealth of experience behind them. Most of them had some measure of grey hair or slight wrinkles (or more) and I adored it.
The mystery was good even it if was essentially a set up for future books. I suspect that we will see these "bad guys" again.
There were a couple of places in this that felt like contrived drama, particularly places where monologing and giving people who didn't deserve it a3+
There were a couple of places in this that felt like contrived drama, particularly places where monologing and giving people who didn't deserve it another chance made the story seem contrived.
That said, it also felt like an introduction to the next long arc cycle in the BDB and for that I'm most excited....more
I liked this one much more than the first. I'm not sure if the reason is because I was in a better head space for it, because I hadn't just marathonedI liked this one much more than the first. I'm not sure if the reason is because I was in a better head space for it, because I hadn't just marathoned the entire original series from which this one was spun, or because it's just a better book. I suspect it's some combination of all three.
I didn't spend a lot of time rolling my eyes, the story was good although I figured the bad guy out before anyone else did, but I remained engaged throughout the book and see the MCs growth albeit subtle.
And Christian wasn't such a jackass in this book....more
Ilona Andrews never disappoints and Emerald Blaze is no exception.
I do have to say that the entries to this series seem a bit more romance than urba4+
Ilona Andrews never disappoints and Emerald Blaze is no exception.
I do have to say that the entries to this series seem a bit more romance than urban fantasy as compared to the entries where Nevada was the primary, but only a bit and since they are supposed to be romances I certainly wouldn't dream of holding it against anyone.
I liked that the relationship moved through the angsty stuff with this entry and am looking forward to seeing how it will play out in the next entry.