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readerpal656's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Rape
Moderate: Animal cruelty
Minor: Child abuse and Pedophilia
kimmiereadsalot's review against another edition
3.0
I was immediately hooked with the first chapter. Then it slowed down a bit before it got good again. All was good until Raven and Gabriel make a trip where stupid choices are made and certain things just don’t make sense. I hate when a story is propelled by dumb choices. But it worked out and things progressed. I was sucked back in until some another event happened that Gabriel should have felt through his bond but didn’t, and it wasn’t explained why (was he too weak to feel it?). And why did raven not seek her family for answers if her being a Tanglewood was so important? Why does she never confide in them? At least her sister? And there were a few more holes along the way that were very distracting.
That said, I was really into the story as a whole and may even purchase the next book. I like the uniqueness of this world. The voodoo stuff in NOLA was a bit creepy for me, but I’m hoping the Windy City won’t have all that.
That said, I was really into the story as a whole and may even purchase the next book. I like the uniqueness of this world. The voodoo stuff in NOLA was a bit creepy for me, but I’m hoping the Windy City won’t have all that.
becki4349's review against another edition
5.0
Couldn’t put it down
This book showed up on my Likewise feed as recommended for me, and I have to say, it was spot on. I could not put this book down. I was so engrossed with the characters and how the story would evolve, that I finished it in one night. Definitely going to read the whole series.
This book showed up on my Likewise feed as recommended for me, and I have to say, it was spot on. I could not put this book down. I was so engrossed with the characters and how the story would evolve, that I finished it in one night. Definitely going to read the whole series.
see_sadie_read's review against another edition
2.0
2.5
*Le Sigh* It’s not that this was bad, it was competently written and edited. But it’s just that everything in it has been done before…better in other places. This felt like nothing more than a cobbled together collection of tropes and often-read PNR scenes. At 10 percent into the book I made the following comment here on Goodreads.
While this comment was directed particularly at the attempted rape—because I am SO sick of authors reaching for this low hanging fruit to endanger their heroines so that the hero can step in—the point is also that I’m so bored with reading the same scenes in book after book after book. And Jack even sexually imperiled her heroine, not once but twice. Then even hinted at a third at the bar in Paragon. Geeze, get some new material, please.
But it wasn’t just the attempted rapes, the whole book gave me déjà vu, like I’d read it before. And I have, every scene, in about a thousand other books. There was nothing new here.
I appreciate that Jack made Raven fiercely independent and Gabriel weaker than most PNR heroes. But it wasn’t enough to rescue what was a structurally passable, but contextually blasé read. Plus, Raven became too strong too easily and I never really felt the romance develop.
*Le Sigh* It’s not that this was bad, it was competently written and edited. But it’s just that everything in it has been done before…better in other places. This felt like nothing more than a cobbled together collection of tropes and often-read PNR scenes. At 10 percent into the book I made the following comment here on Goodreads.
I have to ask AGAIN, is attempted rape really the ONLY plot point authors can come up with? At this point I’ve read essentially the same scene in SO MANY BOOKS that I consider it nothing but laziness on authors’ part & THINK LESS OF THEM FOR IT.
It’s not just that I don’t want to read ANOTHER rape scene, it’s that it’s been done so many times. Writing the SAME THING AS EVERYONE ELSE is boring & lacks creativity.
While this comment was directed particularly at the attempted rape—because I am SO sick of authors reaching for this low hanging fruit to endanger their heroines so that the hero can step in—the point is also that I’m so bored with reading the same scenes in book after book after book. And Jack even sexually imperiled her heroine, not once but twice. Then even hinted at a third at the bar in Paragon. Geeze, get some new material, please.
But it wasn’t just the attempted rapes, the whole book gave me déjà vu, like I’d read it before. And I have, every scene, in about a thousand other books. There was nothing new here.
I appreciate that Jack made Raven fiercely independent and Gabriel weaker than most PNR heroes. But it wasn’t enough to rescue what was a structurally passable, but contextually blasé read. Plus, Raven became too strong too easily and I never really felt the romance develop.
twistedpages's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
luckyreadingreviews's review against another edition
5.0
He was cursed by a voodoo queen who was angered that Gabriel refused to accept her advances, because he is an immortal dragon. The curse drains Gabriel's magic, and he will become stone if he is not able to lift it before Mardi Gras. He heals a near-death cancer patient in hospice using her magic since he doesn't have his own. Even though Raven Tanglewood may have a high probability of having psychic ability, Gabriel's gut instinct told him she was special. Seeing her in person, even sick and frail as she was, piqued his interest.
Raven had been battling cancer for the last five years and couldn't have imagined getting a second chance at life. Her new boss has instructed her to scan books in his library for magical texts that contain a cure for the curse he cast on her and now she is magically bonded to the dragon who saved her. He looks hopeless, but something strange has happened to Raven whenever she touches those magical texts, so there may be hope.
The characters and storyline captivated me. It was a wonderful start to a new series, and I enjoyed the chemistry between Gabriel and Raven. Raven is respected and treated with care, even though Gabriel is a dragon and by nature is controlling.
Raven had been battling cancer for the last five years and couldn't have imagined getting a second chance at life. Her new boss has instructed her to scan books in his library for magical texts that contain a cure for the curse he cast on her and now she is magically bonded to the dragon who saved her. He looks hopeless, but something strange has happened to Raven whenever she touches those magical texts, so there may be hope.
The characters and storyline captivated me. It was a wonderful start to a new series, and I enjoyed the chemistry between Gabriel and Raven. Raven is respected and treated with care, even though Gabriel is a dragon and by nature is controlling.
glowstars's review against another edition
3.0
It's been a while since I've read something that would fall under the banner of mass-market paranormal romance, but an ad for The Dragon of New Orleans kept popping up in my Facebook feed, and the alpha nature of said dragon was appealing.
I'd forgotten that this type of story lacks the steam of my usual dark and/or kinky romance reads, which was somewhat disappointing. Can you take away rating stars based on lack of steam? The story was inventive, fast-paced, and interesting, so maybe I shouldn't mark it down for steam. What a conundrum!
I think what really took away that fourth star was the lack of intensity throughout the majority of the novel. It started off really strong in the first chapter, describing the effects of Raven's illness. From then onward it felt like the author never really pushed hard or deep enough. Gabriel wasn't quite as alpha as you'd expect a royal dragon to be; despite a little initial protest, Raven accepted being swept along by events and putting up with sub-par explanations.
If I'm honest, I probably won't carry on with this series unless the next one pops up as a freebie. It just wasn't enough to get me to part with my pennies.
I'd forgotten that this type of story lacks the steam of my usual dark and/or kinky romance reads, which was somewhat disappointing. Can you take away rating stars based on lack of steam? The story was inventive, fast-paced, and interesting, so maybe I shouldn't mark it down for steam. What a conundrum!
I think what really took away that fourth star was the lack of intensity throughout the majority of the novel. It started off really strong in the first chapter, describing the effects of Raven's illness. From then onward it felt like the author never really pushed hard or deep enough. Gabriel wasn't quite as alpha as you'd expect a royal dragon to be; despite a little initial protest, Raven accepted being swept along by events and putting up with sub-par explanations.
If I'm honest, I probably won't carry on with this series unless the next one pops up as a freebie. It just wasn't enough to get me to part with my pennies.
kbn4's review against another edition
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Such a fun read!
enaira's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5