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3.32 AVERAGE
3.32 AVERAGE
If you'd like a book to put you to sleep.....here it is! I must be in a rut lately, it seems every book I pick up sucks, or doesn't interest me. I'm not really that into gargoyles....I've picked up quite a few lately with gargoyles and they're boring as fudge. Maybe you like gargoyles... But when you need them they turn to stone. What good is that? Thanks netgalley for an arc in exchange for my thoughts.
Warren's Heart of Stone starts off on an odd note, I thought, but once it gets some traction going, it's quite an enjoyable read.
I found the start of this book a little unpolished as it struggles to quickly communicate a rather intriguing world much like ours but with two competing secret societies - one pro-demon and one not - and with a collection of Guardians who spend most of their time as grotesques/gargoyles. There were some awkward notes as all of this is being established. Our heroine has a natural talent for magic, but she's never really realized that's what it is that's trying to spill out of her. Her difficulty in accepting some of what Kees - one of the Guardians - is trying to tell her was a little off for me in light of her own connection and experience with something out of the ordinary.
Once the story moved beyond that, I found a lot to enjoy. Kees' struggle with what he knew to be true about himself (emotionless), and what he was actually feeling entertained me. I liked the overarching story, with the struggle between demons wanting to destroy life on Earth and the Guardians and their Wardens trying to prevent that.
I'd recommend it for fans of paranormal romance looking to get away from the standard vampire/shifter fare.
See this review and others at To Each Their Own Reviews
I received this via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I found the start of this book a little unpolished as it struggles to quickly communicate a rather intriguing world much like ours but with two competing secret societies - one pro-demon and one not - and with a collection of Guardians who spend most of their time as grotesques/gargoyles. There were some awkward notes as all of this is being established. Our heroine has a natural talent for magic, but she's never really realized that's what it is that's trying to spill out of her. Her difficulty in accepting some of what Kees - one of the Guardians - is trying to tell her was a little off for me in light of her own connection and experience with something out of the ordinary.
Once the story moved beyond that, I found a lot to enjoy. Kees' struggle with what he knew to be true about himself (emotionless), and what he was actually feeling entertained me. I liked the overarching story, with the struggle between demons wanting to destroy life on Earth and the Guardians and their Wardens trying to prevent that.
I'd recommend it for fans of paranormal romance looking to get away from the standard vampire/shifter fare.
See this review and others at To Each Their Own Reviews
I received this via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I wasn't sure I was going to finish this book at first. The beginning was a bit disjointed, didn't like the characters or the action much.
I think the book was supposed to start off with a bang...which I guess it did, unfortunately not in the way intended by the author.
After about 20% the book got much better and I enjoyed the read.
There's lots of action, seems like everyone they talk to get killed. The whole gargoyle premise was fun, it's just not something we see too often. Unfortunately, Mr. Gargoyle is a super hot superjerk. There's a very detailed love scene early in the book. He seems to enjoy himself very much and then turns into Mr. Stone Cold (pun intended).
overall I liked the book. But it could have been a lot better. I think I would read a sequel with the hopes that it is written better than the first. This read like a first effort of a new author, so was disappointing from a best selling author like Christine Warren.
I think the book was supposed to start off with a bang...which I guess it did, unfortunately not in the way intended by the author.
After about 20% the book got much better and I enjoyed the read.
There's lots of action, seems like everyone they talk to get killed. The whole gargoyle premise was fun, it's just not something we see too often. Unfortunately, Mr. Gargoyle is a super hot superjerk. There's a very detailed love scene early in the book. He seems to enjoy himself very much and then turns into Mr. Stone Cold (pun intended).
overall I liked the book. But it could have been a lot better. I think I would read a sequel with the hopes that it is written better than the first. This read like a first effort of a new author, so was disappointing from a best selling author like Christine Warren.
I enjoyed reading HEART OF STONE even though it is a plot line that has been done before. After all, paranormal romances are popular and there are only so many races out there for the author to choose from. At least having a romance between a gargoyle and a human isn't as common as say a vampire and a human. So it isn't the story itself that sets this book apart from the rest of the pack.
It's the characters themselves. Ms. Warren has a gift that causes her readers to truly care about them. Ella is all too human with her screwed up past and her determination to do her best regardless of it and her fears. Kees is determined that Guardians aren't allowed to feel emotion so what he feels for Ella confuses him. Yet they manage to overcome obstacles to be able to work as a team. And what a team.
Of course, the fact that the sex is hot doesn't hurt at all. And there are some scenes that will have you fanning yourself despite the cold winter days or nights. Ms. Warren hits just the right notes here also between description and letting our imaginations run wild. And goodness knows just where your thoughts will take you.
I think that this is a great start to a series and I am looking forward to reading the next one which will feature Emma's friend Fil. Fil is a lot more open then Emma and I look forward to seeing just how she deals with her gargoyle.
*** I received this book at no charge from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions expressed within are my own.
I'd say this was a 4.5 It was a two day read which means I really could not put it down. Loved the characters, good plot. A couple of nits with the world building and the bad guys are a bit cartoonish but still a very fun read.
2-stars. This book was disappointing. I have had people recommend The Other, a series by the same author, but I am not impressed with the plot, world or character building in this particular book.
It featured a museum docent, Ella Harrow, who was attacked in front of a gargoyle statute, late at night in the museum where Ella was employwed. The magic in Ella's voice awoke the gargoyle statute, and the guardian responded to her need for rescue.
Kees explained to the scared Ella, that he was guardian and e had been in a sort of stasis until he was needed. Somehow, her internal magic roused him and now he was flesh again and ready to protect.
She trusts him and he flies her to her 2nd floor apartment, which baffled me because he seemed to know the city well enough to navigate it. Then, her couch AND her apartment fit this huge gargoyle with wings. I had a little trouble with that, but I believe the gargoyle had a cloaking spell, so others didn't see his wings, tail etc. Maybe it also including some shrinking abilities.
Kees and the other 6 guardians protect the world for evil demons. They were divided up into separate regions and assigned to a particular warden, who is their source of information. Kees asked Ella to help him locate his warden who used to live in the Paris area. When they managed to locate the Warden's guild, Kees found out that the demons they had banished had returned. Ella's magic had summoned him back into action. Complicating his duty was his new found attraction to Ella.
I will just say this: I had all kinds of issues with this one. But at the end of the day, this book was slow paced and dialogue was boring. I just did not enjoy anything about this story because both heroine and hero were uninteresting to me. I didn't like it so I am not sure I'll read the sequel.
It featured a museum docent, Ella Harrow, who was attacked in front of a gargoyle statute, late at night in the museum where Ella was employwed. The magic in Ella's voice awoke the gargoyle statute, and the guardian responded to her need for rescue.
Kees explained to the scared Ella, that he was guardian and e had been in a sort of stasis until he was needed. Somehow, her internal magic roused him and now he was flesh again and ready to protect.
She trusts him and he flies her to her 2nd floor apartment, which baffled me because he seemed to know the city well enough to navigate it. Then, her couch AND her apartment fit this huge gargoyle with wings. I had a little trouble with that, but I believe the gargoyle had a cloaking spell, so others didn't see his wings, tail etc. Maybe it also including some shrinking abilities.
Kees and the other 6 guardians protect the world for evil demons. They were divided up into separate regions and assigned to a particular warden, who is their source of information. Kees asked Ella to help him locate his warden who used to live in the Paris area. When they managed to locate the Warden's guild, Kees found out that the demons they had banished had returned. Ella's magic had summoned him back into action. Complicating his duty was his new found attraction to Ella.
I will just say this: I had all kinds of issues with this one. But at the end of the day, this book was slow paced and dialogue was boring. I just did not enjoy anything about this story because both heroine and hero were uninteresting to me. I didn't like it so I am not sure I'll read the sequel.