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ravencrantz's review against another edition
2.0
Another book from my NetGalley queue finished! This was slightly better than most, but given my track record, that's not saying much. The premise was great, and it started and ended with a lot of action, but the middle parts were lacking and the characters and plot were hard to follow.
There was a lot of history in this book, and I mean a lot. I can appreciate it and the time and research that must have gone into it, but even with one of the few history subjects I'm interested in, I was bored. I found myself skimming a lot of the info dumps, and still being able to follow a lot of what was going on. I feel like a lot of the history dumps could have been condensed to make for easier reading that didn't seem like I was reading a scholarly text.
I wasn't a fan of how the secret shapeshifter, "Fangborn", society was supposedly integrated with humans. Or the fact that they just called humans "normals". I know I poke fun at the silly terms authors come up with for humans in fantasy books, but at least be more creative than that! I mean, technically, to a Fangborn, the shapeshifters are the normal ones so this only makes sense from a human perspective. Also the werewolves calling their forms "skinself" and "furself", while more creative than "normals", was just as aggravating and kind of weird to read.
I didn't connect to any of the characters, and the only thing I liked about our main character, Zoe, was how she grew to accept both parts of herself, wolf and human. I didn't like how confusing it was who was who, and how one moment a person is trying to kill Zoe, and the next they're helping her. I appreciate the idea that this seemingly perfect secret society isn't so perfect after all, but the execution was mediocre, especially after having to trudge through the whole book to learn something I had already suspected.
This is definitely one of those books I would choose to rewrite if given the chance. It has a lot of potential to be great, but so many things kept falling flat. It would have worked really well as a standalone, but there was a hasty set up for sequels, which I'm not interested in. I do have to applaud accurate depictions of Boston, even if they were few and fleeting. The last Boston based book I read was a major let down in that regard. So there is one good thing about this book.
There was a lot of history in this book, and I mean a lot. I can appreciate it and the time and research that must have gone into it, but even with one of the few history subjects I'm interested in, I was bored. I found myself skimming a lot of the info dumps, and still being able to follow a lot of what was going on. I feel like a lot of the history dumps could have been condensed to make for easier reading that didn't seem like I was reading a scholarly text.
I wasn't a fan of how the secret shapeshifter, "Fangborn", society was supposedly integrated with humans. Or the fact that they just called humans "normals". I know I poke fun at the silly terms authors come up with for humans in fantasy books, but at least be more creative than that! I mean, technically, to a Fangborn, the shapeshifters are the normal ones so this only makes sense from a human perspective. Also the werewolves calling their forms "skinself" and "furself", while more creative than "normals", was just as aggravating and kind of weird to read.
I didn't connect to any of the characters, and the only thing I liked about our main character, Zoe, was how she grew to accept both parts of herself, wolf and human. I didn't like how confusing it was who was who, and how one moment a person is trying to kill Zoe, and the next they're helping her. I appreciate the idea that this seemingly perfect secret society isn't so perfect after all, but the execution was mediocre, especially after having to trudge through the whole book to learn something I had already suspected.
This is definitely one of those books I would choose to rewrite if given the chance. It has a lot of potential to be great, but so many things kept falling flat. It would have worked really well as a standalone, but there was a hasty set up for sequels, which I'm not interested in. I do have to applaud accurate depictions of Boston, even if they were few and fleeting. The last Boston based book I read was a major let down in that regard. So there is one good thing about this book.
paperbackstash's review against another edition
3.0
The society of protectors isn't really my thing, and there were several things going on in this story - including about artifacts - that was a bit dull to me. Not a bad start to a series but not really my type of story.
abookishtype's review against another edition
3.0
Zoe Miller has lived her entire life on the run. Her mother has been hiding from Zoe's father's family all of Zoe's life. All Zoe knows is that they are dangerous people. When her mother dies, it seems like it's only a matter of hours before people are chasing Zoe all over Boston. As Dana Cameron's Seven Kinds of Hell unspools, government agents, werewolves and vampires, Russian gangsters, and who knows who else end up chasing Zoe to London, Paris, Berlin, and beyond.
Read the rest of my review at Summer Reading Project. I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley for review consideration.
Read the rest of my review at Summer Reading Project. I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley for review consideration.
kenniem's review against another edition
4.0
At first this book had me a little confused. The Werewolves and Vampires story has been done to death, but adding the Russian mobster? It felt like the author was not confident in the story. That will teach me to judge a book by its blurb.
(Thanks, Twilight and Underworld for ruining Vampires and Werewolves for me.)
Well, Twilight and Underworld this is not,
http://thetorchslguide.com/2014/08/23/book-review-seven-kinds-of-hell-by-dana-cameron/
(Thanks, Twilight and Underworld for ruining Vampires and Werewolves for me.)
Well, Twilight and Underworld this is not,
http://thetorchslguide.com/2014/08/23/book-review-seven-kinds-of-hell-by-dana-cameron/
billies_not_so_secret_diary's review against another edition
3.0
Not too bad of a story, wasn't exactly a grabber, but it kept my interest enough to see what would happen next. Got the next one in the series so I'll let the kindle read this one too me also.
jennyninnymuggins's review against another edition
3.0
There were far too many coincidences in the plot of this book, but other than that I found it engaging and the characters were fun. I plan on reading the next in the series.
vailynst's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 Stars – I had a tough time rating this book. A part of me says that it only deserves 3 stars but I wanted to give it 4 for excellent ideas. In the end, I compromise with a 3.5 stars.
Zoe's been on the run for most of her life. Her Mom didn't explain exactly why they're on the run. She only knows that her father was mixed up in something bad and her Mom took her away when she was a baby to keep her safe. Most people get to live in one town or two while growing up. Zoe has grown up all over the U.S. and under several aliases. She gets ready to take off again but it's totally different situation now. Her Mom fails prey to cancer and leaves her with two commands before she dies. The most important:
Don't let her father's family find her.
The world that Dana Cameron weaves together is striking in its unique mix of legends, paranormal, shape-shifters and mythology. It's like looking at the world with cool shades. Everything is familiar and the same but everything has a layer of meaning that has been left unseen. What if all those pictographs and cave drawings of half man and half animal beings were true? What would the world be like then?
The first book of the Fangborn introduces us to an unlikely group of characters. In the lead is Zoe, a socially awkward young woman who isn't comfortable in her own skin and used to a life of secrecy. She can count the number of real friends on one hand, but she's willing to leave them all behind to keep everyone safe. She's not just running away from an unknown danger that haunts her family. She's running away from everyone to hide from herself.
The Beast.
She can't control the Beast. What if the Beast takes over and she never turns into a human again? What if the Beast attacks the people she loves? She can't take the chance. She won't take that chance.
It doesn't matter. Everything Zoe knows and believes in will be challenged. The very people she least expects to be a part of her insane journey across the world will be at her side. How does she know who is a friend or enemy? How will she know who to trust? What is this prophecy that stays she's the chosen one? With every step forward, there are two taken sideways.
Instead of leaving town and starting a new life in a new city, Zoe finds herself stalked by those who bear a striking family resemblance. Danny, an old childhood friend, becomes bait to lure Zoe into a dangerous game with nefarious characters. With heart pounding and terror trapped in her throat, Zoe dives into the rabbit hole to save her friend.
I love everything about the Fangborn, the hints about where they're from, what they can do and how they are an integral part of society. Even if they're a hidden part of it.
As a lover of history, mythology and relics, I find myself equally put off and attracted to the archaeological aspects of the story. Parts of it is really interesting and parts of it throws me out of the story. As a reader, I never came to terms with Zoe being an archaeologist. If Zoe was still a student and working as an intern, it would be easier to accept. Most of the time, I would forget she is one until the book reminds me that she is.
The climax of the story is MOST EXCELLENT! I wanted to give the story 4 stars just for the climax. It was very well done! It wasn't exactly what I expected and the unusual mix of events was awesome! I may have jumped up and down a little in excitement during this part. Okay, it was really a sit down chair dance but it still counts.
I want to preface my next comment with this: I'm definitely team Zoe & Will. I want them to work. However, the love making scenario felt really out of place. I'm glad they got together. I just think the description could have hinted more and said less. That small bit of the book felt really out of place in the way it was written. Not by that part happening but because of how it is written. It's not because I don't like explicit love scenes. I do. I just felt that this part was an odd duck out with the rest of the book.
I would have liked more time to get to know the other characters and a little less time in Zoe's head.
The bones of the story are great and I can't wait to see what story the second book will tell.
I know I didn't give the book 4 stars. It doesn't matter. You should read this book. The reasons why I would mark a book down to a 3.5 stars may not be your reasons. This book is an excellent start to a new series and I am definitely going to be in line to read the next one.
Read via NetGalley
To read more reviews, check out SSV website: Silk Screen Views
Zoe's been on the run for most of her life. Her Mom didn't explain exactly why they're on the run. She only knows that her father was mixed up in something bad and her Mom took her away when she was a baby to keep her safe. Most people get to live in one town or two while growing up. Zoe has grown up all over the U.S. and under several aliases. She gets ready to take off again but it's totally different situation now. Her Mom fails prey to cancer and leaves her with two commands before she dies. The most important:
Don't let her father's family find her.
The world that Dana Cameron weaves together is striking in its unique mix of legends, paranormal, shape-shifters and mythology. It's like looking at the world with cool shades. Everything is familiar and the same but everything has a layer of meaning that has been left unseen. What if all those pictographs and cave drawings of half man and half animal beings were true? What would the world be like then?
The first book of the Fangborn introduces us to an unlikely group of characters. In the lead is Zoe, a socially awkward young woman who isn't comfortable in her own skin and used to a life of secrecy. She can count the number of real friends on one hand, but she's willing to leave them all behind to keep everyone safe. She's not just running away from an unknown danger that haunts her family. She's running away from everyone to hide from herself.
The Beast.
She can't control the Beast. What if the Beast takes over and she never turns into a human again? What if the Beast attacks the people she loves? She can't take the chance. She won't take that chance.
It doesn't matter. Everything Zoe knows and believes in will be challenged. The very people she least expects to be a part of her insane journey across the world will be at her side. How does she know who is a friend or enemy? How will she know who to trust? What is this prophecy that stays she's the chosen one? With every step forward, there are two taken sideways.
Instead of leaving town and starting a new life in a new city, Zoe finds herself stalked by those who bear a striking family resemblance. Danny, an old childhood friend, becomes bait to lure Zoe into a dangerous game with nefarious characters. With heart pounding and terror trapped in her throat, Zoe dives into the rabbit hole to save her friend.
Spoiler
The story grabbed me full tilt at the beginning. I became confused when the pace slows down to a near crawl, and I felt like I was thrown into an info dump with long mental digressions into the past. I realize all of them are important for the story but I felt rather disappointed in the pacing. It's like starting a roller coaster ride. Instead of getting ready to go down that first hump into speedy reckless exhilaration, you find out that you need to ride around for a while, go up another few hills and THEN you get the adventurous yeehaw drop.I love everything about the Fangborn, the hints about where they're from, what they can do and how they are an integral part of society. Even if they're a hidden part of it.
As a lover of history, mythology and relics, I find myself equally put off and attracted to the archaeological aspects of the story. Parts of it is really interesting and parts of it throws me out of the story. As a reader, I never came to terms with Zoe being an archaeologist. If Zoe was still a student and working as an intern, it would be easier to accept. Most of the time, I would forget she is one until the book reminds me that she is.
The climax of the story is MOST EXCELLENT! I wanted to give the story 4 stars just for the climax. It was very well done! It wasn't exactly what I expected and the unusual mix of events was awesome! I may have jumped up and down a little in excitement during this part. Okay, it was really a sit down chair dance but it still counts.
I want to preface my next comment with this: I'm definitely team Zoe & Will. I want them to work. However, the love making scenario felt really out of place. I'm glad they got together. I just think the description could have hinted more and said less. That small bit of the book felt really out of place in the way it was written. Not by that part happening but because of how it is written. It's not because I don't like explicit love scenes. I do. I just felt that this part was an odd duck out with the rest of the book.
I would have liked more time to get to know the other characters and a little less time in Zoe's head.
The bones of the story are great and I can't wait to see what story the second book will tell.
I know I didn't give the book 4 stars. It doesn't matter. You should read this book. The reasons why I would mark a book down to a 3.5 stars may not be your reasons. This book is an excellent start to a new series and I am definitely going to be in line to read the next one.
Read via NetGalley
To read more reviews, check out SSV website: Silk Screen Views
eloiseinparis's review
2.0
This story with potential that never properly got off the ground. It had all the elements but the majority of it was just boring.
jldyer's review
3.0
I liked the world building and mythology. The characters were not well developed and the plot was inconsistent. I may read the next, but not right away.
aimee70807's review
3.0
When I read the beginning of this book, I was so excited. Finally, some paranormal fantasy that's different, and with an enticing archaeological twist!
Unfortunately, the middle lagged...and sagged...and dragged. I gave up at 66%, sick of repetitiveness with no character development. I might come back to it if nothing better comes along.
Unfortunately, the middle lagged...and sagged...and dragged. I gave up at 66%, sick of repetitiveness with no character development. I might come back to it if nothing better comes along.