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3.34 AVERAGE
3.34 AVERAGE
Moody urban fantasy verging on horror; the vampires are frightening, good people do monstrous things, and our heroine Edie keeps plugging along, pushed by her own decency. Really, really good.
1. Good story. Great idea and the execution wasn't bad. There were some things that were confusing, jumps in timing or where a character was (physically) from moment to moment but otherwise it was entertaining.
2. I read the Audible version and the reader was...Less than ideal. She read the book. That was it. There were some Russian accents and a British accent but the characters all sounded flat. There was nothing in her narration that pulled me into the book and made me want to stay. If it hadn't been a good story I wouldn't have stayed. The narration was just that bad. So 3 stars: 4 for story and 2 for narration.
2. I read the Audible version and the reader was...Less than ideal. She read the book. That was it. There were some Russian accents and a British accent but the characters all sounded flat. There was nothing in her narration that pulled me into the book and made me want to stay. If it hadn't been a good story I wouldn't have stayed. The narration was just that bad. So 3 stars: 4 for story and 2 for narration.
I received this as an ARC from Booksirens in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.
I really love the concept of this book. It did take me a few days to get through as the pacing of the story seemed a bit slow at times, but once Edie met Anna, the story picked up and I enjoyed it a lot more. I am excited to see where to story goes from here, will Edie see Ti again?
Ti was a zombie and had a lot happen to him. I understood Edie's hesitancy to get into a relationship with him at first but she frustrated me so much when she was so disgusted by his injuries. She is a nurse in an ER or goodness sakes and should be used to seeing gruesome injuries. Plus, he wouldn't have any of those new injuries if it wasn't for her. Her inner monologue annoyed me a lot of the time, which contributes to why I wasn't able to give this a higher rating. However, I really liked a lot of the side characters including Ti, Sike, and Anna so I am looking forward to reading more about them. I really hope Edie matures in this next book. She definitely has potential and I do like that she chose to keep her original memories and job, so I have hope for her!
I really love the concept of this book. It did take me a few days to get through as the pacing of the story seemed a bit slow at times, but once Edie met Anna, the story picked up and I enjoyed it a lot more. I am excited to see where to story goes from here, will Edie see Ti again?
Ti was a zombie and had a lot happen to him. I understood Edie's hesitancy to get into a relationship with him at first but she frustrated me so much when she was so disgusted by his injuries. She is a nurse in an ER or goodness sakes and should be used to seeing gruesome injuries. Plus, he wouldn't have any of those new injuries if it wasn't for her. Her inner monologue annoyed me a lot of the time, which contributes to why I wasn't able to give this a higher rating. However, I really liked a lot of the side characters including Ti, Sike, and Anna so I am looking forward to reading more about them. I really hope Edie matures in this next book. She definitely has potential and I do like that she chose to keep her original memories and job, so I have hope for her!
Slow and confusing start, but overall not a bad book.
First off, I want to say I enjoy Urban Fantasy and the creative spins each author puts on their own novels are always intriguing and I think that this author does a great job. I enjoyed the nurse/hospital setting of this novel and the hijinx that happen there. I really enjoyed Grandfather and some of the other characters and would be interested to know more about Asher and Anna. However, the main character was a bit TSTL and I had a hard time rooting for her. The relationship with her brother is incredibly toxic and I kept wanting her to actually stand up for herself.
I was not expecting this book to be quite as gory as it was. So warning if you, like me, are squeamish. The main love interest I found dull, offputting, and then at the end completely disgusting and was hoping Edie would come to her senses.
I can’t really pinpoint when the book started to turn for me. I would definitely read more from this author, but not from this series.
I was not expecting this book to be quite as gory as it was. So warning if you, like me, are squeamish. The main love interest I found dull, offputting, and then at the end completely disgusting and was hoping Edie would come to her senses.
I can’t really pinpoint when the book started to turn for me. I would definitely read more from this author, but not from this series.
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
3.5 stars
Good worldbuilding, but the explanation of things lacked some clarity. Though I rarely agreed with her decisions, I liked Edie. Ti was nice (if somewhat stalkerish and overwhelmingly into Edie), but . . . ew.
Good worldbuilding, but the explanation of things lacked some clarity. Though I rarely agreed with her decisions, I liked Edie. Ti was nice (if somewhat stalkerish and overwhelmingly into Edie), but . . . ew.
Edie has accepted a new job working in Y4 as a nurse for the paranormal and in return her they will keep her older brother clean. Edie has watched all the training videos but nothing prepares her for raging dragons, vampire blood ceremonies, zombies or shapeshifters that look like fellow nurses. It’s going to be a lot for her to handle but she can’t give up because she needs the money to feed her cat and keep her brother drug free. When Edie’s patient accidentally dies she compelled by him to find Anna but it isn’t ill she arrives at the man’s apartment does she know who Anna is.
Edie knows she needs to find Anna but when she finds her and happens to save her she has no idea she will be held responsible for the death of her vampire captors. Soon Edie will have to track down the girl she saved before the vampires force her death. With the help of a former zombie patient she sets out to do just that but will she find Anna in time? Will she survive her trial with the vampire even if Anna is found?
I love Edie she’s a broken girl with issues but doesn’t let them drag her down because she does what needs to be done. Edie is my favorite type of character she’s a kick ass heroine who doesn’t rely on a man to help her. She also has a good heart risking her life to save others even those who would try to kill her. Edie has an interesting taste in men but I like that she looks for the good ignoring what’s on the outside. She has a lot of potential as a character who may be a nurse but is a lot more.
I’ve had Nightshifted on my bookshelf forever just never seemed to find the time. After having finished the book in my free time over the last couple of days I can’t believe I waited so long. Edie lives in a world where humans don’t know the supernatural exist but they have a medical place, and their own councils that rule. I really enjoyed the unique idea of using a hospital as the backdrop for Edie’s story it was fresh, and exciting. I really like the way the author mixed the different supernatural beings throughout the story even giving us new ideas like the zombie Ti. I just loved Edie she’s a great character who I was easy to connect with and can’t help cheering her on through the book. I honestly really enjoyed Nightshifted I can’t think of anything I didn’t enjoy it’s well written and exactly what I hopped for when I picked it up. I can’t wait to get current with the series I have the second one and plan to order the rest. A brilliant first installment in an exciting new series.
This review was originally posted at Vampire Book Club.
Any author who can weave wit, subversive undertones and clever world building into a novel gets my attention.
Cassie Alexander demanded my attention with Nightshifted. She took a scenario that could become very campy very quickly — namely a nurse working in the supernatural ward of a hospital — and molded it into a tale of self-strength, desperation and noble causes.
Edie works the crappy shift at the bottom-run hospital. She’s new to working on Y4, the secret ward for supernatural types. And she’s only doing to because the beings in charge agreed to keep her drug addict brother clean. Her work there finds her embroiled in vampire affairs, trying to save a child-like vampire girl.
But she’s not doing it because she wants to save the world. Just this one girl. Because something deserves to go right here. Atonement is Edie’s game.
Things on the romance front are awkward for her. She tends to be a one-night-stand type of woman, which is working just fine. Until it isn’t. And she meets a zombie — not the rotting kind, but a kind fireman. And he cares. And maybe she cares. And it’s complicated. And messy.
The merger of dark tone and wry humor make Nightshifted a must read for fans of Jaye Wells, Stacey Jay and Stacia Kane. I’m eager to read the next book, Moonshifted, to see how Edie progresses.
Sexual content: Sex
Any author who can weave wit, subversive undertones and clever world building into a novel gets my attention.
Cassie Alexander demanded my attention with Nightshifted. She took a scenario that could become very campy very quickly — namely a nurse working in the supernatural ward of a hospital — and molded it into a tale of self-strength, desperation and noble causes.
Edie works the crappy shift at the bottom-run hospital. She’s new to working on Y4, the secret ward for supernatural types. And she’s only doing to because the beings in charge agreed to keep her drug addict brother clean. Her work there finds her embroiled in vampire affairs, trying to save a child-like vampire girl.
But she’s not doing it because she wants to save the world. Just this one girl. Because something deserves to go right here. Atonement is Edie’s game.
Things on the romance front are awkward for her. She tends to be a one-night-stand type of woman, which is working just fine. Until it isn’t. And she meets a zombie — not the rotting kind, but a kind fireman. And he cares. And maybe she cares. And it’s complicated. And messy.
The merger of dark tone and wry humor make Nightshifted a must read for fans of Jaye Wells, Stacey Jay and Stacia Kane. I’m eager to read the next book, Moonshifted, to see how Edie progresses.
Sexual content: Sex
adventurous
funny
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I had picked up the second book from a used bookstore and figured out there was likely a book or two before with 30 pages, so I got the digital copy since the second seemed like a promising and fun read but I wanted to start from the start. It did not disappoint. It was a fun romp, interesting world building, and characters I enjoyed. I feel like the series hovers between urban fantasy and paranormal romance, so if you're a fan of either, you might like this, though there is some mild to moderate gore/body horror, if that's a trigger.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Body horror, Drug abuse, Gore, Blood