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katyanaish's review against another edition
4.0
This was a really great start to a series. I am hoping that, moving forward, we'll get some detail about the various supernatural societies (the Vamps and their Dark Council, the witches and their clan, the werewolves), but this was a fabulous introduction to the characters. Definitely looking forward to more!
vikingwolf's review against another edition
4.0
Dulcie has tried to escape the attentions of childhood friend Sebastian but when her parents die suddenly, he is determined to marry her. When Dulcie refuses, he attacks her and she realises that he is a vampire. Now she must summon The Righteous, crusading vampires who kill those who take human lives. Sebastian's powerful master Kali wants to harness Dulcie's witch powers and get her crown, allowing her to change history. The Righteous must stop her.
I don't normally like books with the sort of historical setting where ladies wear long dresses and cars don't exist, but this was an exception. Although the setting is historical, it reads more like modern urban fantasy. Dulcie is a strong woman who is determined not to marry a man she doesn't love and is going to resist Sebastian at all costs, especially when she realises he is a vampire. When she meets The Righteous, she and Michael are instantly attracted to each other. Again, I'm not a big romance fan but I think it worked quite well in this book as Michael is an interesting character.
There is a good mixture of action, witchcraft, tension, romance and saving the world. I wish I could write more but my notes for the review are missing and I no longer have the book to refer to! I recommend this for fans of vampires, witches, paranormal romance and urban fantasy.
I don't normally like books with the sort of historical setting where ladies wear long dresses and cars don't exist, but this was an exception. Although the setting is historical, it reads more like modern urban fantasy. Dulcie is a strong woman who is determined not to marry a man she doesn't love and is going to resist Sebastian at all costs, especially when she realises he is a vampire. When she meets The Righteous, she and Michael are instantly attracted to each other. Again, I'm not a big romance fan but I think it worked quite well in this book as Michael is an interesting character.
There is a good mixture of action, witchcraft, tension, romance and saving the world. I wish I could write more but my notes for the review are missing and I no longer have the book to refer to! I recommend this for fans of vampires, witches, paranormal romance and urban fantasy.
alisonb's review against another edition
2.0
Reading this book is starting to feel like a chore. The plot and character development feels really slow and also too fast at the same time. I am also not a fan of insta-love in a romance arc, it just isn’t believable-in this instance especially.
DNF @ 51%
DNF @ 51%
jackirenee's review against another edition
3.0
I first came across this storyline in a collection of short stories. The story of Cin Craven was the only story I enjoyed. I have been waiting what seems like forever to begin reading this series and now I am dying to go on to book two.
Cin Craven is a witch, from high social standing. When a suitor arrives at her doorstep, bringing evil in his wake, she must make the ultimate sacrifice to save the world. With the help of her new love, Michael, she becomes one of the undead.
The characters are wonderful, the writing fast paced, and everything is just a wonderful guilty pleasure. I read nearly half the book on our way to Chicago, and looked forward to our return trip back so I could finish the rest.
Highly recommended for Patricia Briggs and Laurel K. Hamilton fans. Cin will not disappoint.
Cin Craven is a witch, from high social standing. When a suitor arrives at her doorstep, bringing evil in his wake, she must make the ultimate sacrifice to save the world. With the help of her new love, Michael, she becomes one of the undead.
The characters are wonderful, the writing fast paced, and everything is just a wonderful guilty pleasure. I read nearly half the book on our way to Chicago, and looked forward to our return trip back so I could finish the rest.
Highly recommended for Patricia Briggs and Laurel K. Hamilton fans. Cin will not disappoint.
renpuspita's review against another edition
4.0
I usually give the first book of the series 4 stars (rarely I give 5 stars)I do that because, even though the story was good, there still need more explanation which tell at the next book.
Dulcinea Macgregor Craven, or Dulcie,is a daughter of a Viscount, and she inherited magic from her mother, the famous Macgregor Witch.At one night, her parents got accident, and because of that Dulcie 's magic is awakened.In her mourning stage, her childhood friend, Sebastian come and want to marry her. When she refuse, Sebastian show his true color, a vampire. He bites Dulcie, and threatened Dulcie and her servants. If Dulcie doesn't want to join with him, he will kill her servants and friends.
Dulcie panic and then ask help to Mr Pendegrass, her mother's old friend, and an apothecary. His shop is service Witch's need for their magic and spell. When Archie, Mr Pendegrass's student, tell her there are a vampire band, call The Righteous, whose annihilated vampire that broken their law (kill human), Dulcie decided to ask for their help.
Dulcie call The Righteous, with her spell, and then one of The Righteous,come to her home. His name is Michael, called Devil's Archangel. He's so handsome, with his dark blonde, and Dulcie began attract to him, like never before. Then, the other members come, Devlin, their leader, called Lord Dark, and his consort, Justine, called Devil's Justice...
Later, they know, Sebastian's master is Kali, Goddess of Destruction, a vampire, that Devlin know, she so dangerous, and impossible to beat her. Kali need Dulcie's magic to free her from her binding, so she can rules this world with her bloodthirsty... (sound familiar).Dulcie know if she still become human, she can beat Kali, so she ask Michael to take her virginity, and then make her a vampire. She tell Michael to give her a new name. Despite her scarlet hair (that hide under glamor, and become a copper colored hair), and her voluptuous body, Michael called her Cin..
And after that, Cin Craven is born, the vampire with witch power, that will do anything to stop Kali from her ambition...
I love with the story in this book. Dulcie's change from a mere viscount daughter to become Cin, a vampire, was written well.
My problem in this book is Kali's sex preference. She choose women than men, and the scene in Inn, when she have a menage with Sebastian and barmaid - and it involved Cin too!- make me cringed, and I almost skip that part.
Cin and Michael' s relationship is too new in this book. I want to
know, how their relationship will develop, and how Cin dealing with her new life as vampire, when she never get old, people that she love is dying and left her.
This series is interesting, and I continue reading [bc:Grave Sins|4497830|Grave Sins (Cin Craven, #2)|Jenna Maclaine|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255594280s/4497830.jpg|4546803]
If you love historical romance with paranormal aspect, first person POV, vampire, ass kick heroine, hot men (Michael, ehm). Just read this book! ;D
Dulcinea Macgregor Craven, or Dulcie,is a daughter of a Viscount, and she inherited magic from her mother, the famous Macgregor Witch.At one night, her parents got accident, and because of that Dulcie 's magic is awakened.In her mourning stage, her childhood friend, Sebastian come and want to marry her. When she refuse, Sebastian show his true color, a vampire. He bites Dulcie, and threatened Dulcie and her servants. If Dulcie doesn't want to join with him, he will kill her servants and friends.
Dulcie panic and then ask help to Mr Pendegrass, her mother's old friend, and an apothecary. His shop is service Witch's need for their magic and spell. When Archie, Mr Pendegrass's student, tell her there are a vampire band, call The Righteous, whose annihilated vampire that broken their law (kill human), Dulcie decided to ask for their help.
Dulcie call The Righteous, with her spell, and then one of The Righteous,come to her home. His name is Michael, called Devil's Archangel. He's so handsome, with his dark blonde, and Dulcie began attract to him, like never before. Then, the other members come, Devlin, their leader, called Lord Dark, and his consort, Justine, called Devil's Justice...
Later, they know, Sebastian's master is Kali, Goddess of Destruction, a vampire, that Devlin know, she so dangerous, and impossible to beat her. Kali need Dulcie's magic to free her from her binding, so she can rules this world with her bloodthirsty... (sound familiar).Dulcie know if she still become human, she can beat Kali, so she ask Michael to take her virginity, and then make her a vampire. She tell Michael to give her a new name. Despite her scarlet hair (that hide under glamor, and become a copper colored hair), and her voluptuous body, Michael called her Cin..
And after that, Cin Craven is born, the vampire with witch power, that will do anything to stop Kali from her ambition...
I love with the story in this book. Dulcie's change from a mere viscount daughter to become Cin, a vampire, was written well.
My problem in this book is Kali's sex preference. She choose women than men, and the scene in Inn, when she have a menage with Sebastian and barmaid - and it involved Cin too!- make me cringed, and I almost skip that part.
Cin and Michael' s relationship is too new in this book. I want to
know, how their relationship will develop, and how Cin dealing with her new life as vampire, when she never get old, people that she love is dying and left her.
This series is interesting, and I continue reading [bc:Grave Sins|4497830|Grave Sins (Cin Craven, #2)|Jenna Maclaine|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255594280s/4497830.jpg|4546803]
If you love historical romance with paranormal aspect, first person POV, vampire, ass kick heroine, hot men (Michael, ehm). Just read this book! ;D
ptaradactyl's review against another edition
3.0
3.5, actually. I wanted something light and fun to read, and this fit the bill. It made me all happy and smiley...at least till I stopped to think about how I would review it.
Overall, very fun. But some parts moved a little too fast. And Cin was maybe a little to modern. And, well, I'm not quite sure why a few parts were even added in. I would have liked more scenes with Michael planting primroses in Ming vases and a few less "intuatively female" reactions to his embraces. (that may be paraphrased, but you get the idea...)
My advice? Suspend your disbelief, go with it, and then go give someone a few passionate embraces when you're done.
Overall, very fun. But some parts moved a little too fast. And Cin was maybe a little to modern. And, well, I'm not quite sure why a few parts were even added in. I would have liked more scenes with Michael planting primroses in Ming vases and a few less "intuatively female" reactions to his embraces. (that may be paraphrased, but you get the idea...)
My advice? Suspend your disbelief, go with it, and then go give someone a few passionate embraces when you're done.
alexiachantel's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 Stars
Book one in the Cin Craven series brings a great mix of historical, paranormal, and romance. Jenna MacLaine has a knack for stirring things up and creating a fun easy read.
MacLaine introduces you to the characters, Cin and the evil vamp right along with a tragedy. What a way to start a book! The pace is kept up throughout, you meet Michael and the Righteous. Some kick ass fighters that are fun to read about and come in rather handy for Cin when she finds herself in the thick of things.
There were some issues with this book, some of the writing may pull you out of the story and certain phrases may not quite fit in with the setting. But the delightful characters that keep popping up and the magic keep you flipping through the pages.
A great paranormal series that will be entertaining to follow!
Book one in the Cin Craven series brings a great mix of historical, paranormal, and romance. Jenna MacLaine has a knack for stirring things up and creating a fun easy read.
MacLaine introduces you to the characters, Cin and the evil vamp right along with a tragedy. What a way to start a book! The pace is kept up throughout, you meet Michael and the Righteous. Some kick ass fighters that are fun to read about and come in rather handy for Cin when she finds herself in the thick of things.
There were some issues with this book, some of the writing may pull you out of the story and certain phrases may not quite fit in with the setting. But the delightful characters that keep popping up and the magic keep you flipping through the pages.
A great paranormal series that will be entertaining to follow!
funsizelibrarian's review against another edition
3.0
A slight step away from the usual historical romance. I look forward to the next in the series.
jonetta's review against another edition
3.0
Dulcinea Craven's world literally changed overnight when she found herself suddenly on her own and hiding from a childhood friend and now turned vampire. At a loss for what to do, she discovers the existence of a group of vampire slayers called The Righteous and, using her powers as a witch, summons them to her home. Dulcinea has an immediate attraction to one of the three who show up, Michael, referred to as the Archangel of the group.
I enjoyed the story but was troubled by some of the inconsistencies with the characterizations. Devlin, the oldest of The Righteous, was introduced as an extraordinarily powerful and menacing force but never showed up that way beyond the initial skirmishes. Once he faced Kali, he seemed to retreat meekly to a corner and was never again a force in the story. Justine, his French mate, showed more moxie than any of them. Michael has a lot of heart but this team never impressed me. Early on, they made it clear that Dulcinea was pretty much on her own, which I found absurd.
Dulcinea and Michael's relationship also went from nowhere to action very quickly. It was hard to get invested in them as a couple since it just seemed to be borne of lust. They are both very likable as individuals but I had no basis to root for them as a couple.
The most exciting aspect of the story was the final confrontation with Kali and Sebastian. However, the events leading up to it were very curious. The scene at the inn the night before the ritual at Stonehenge was just disturbing...I had no clue where it fit in with the events before or after.
I don't regret reading this book but am unsure if I want to move forward with the rest of the series. I'm rating this 3.5 stars.
I enjoyed the story but was troubled by some of the inconsistencies with the characterizations. Devlin, the oldest of The Righteous, was introduced as an extraordinarily powerful and menacing force but never showed up that way beyond the initial skirmishes. Once he faced Kali, he seemed to retreat meekly to a corner and was never again a force in the story. Justine, his French mate, showed more moxie than any of them. Michael has a lot of heart but this team never impressed me. Early on, they made it clear that Dulcinea was pretty much on her own, which I found absurd.
Dulcinea and Michael's relationship also went from nowhere to action very quickly. It was hard to get invested in them as a couple since it just seemed to be borne of lust. They are both very likable as individuals but I had no basis to root for them as a couple.
The most exciting aspect of the story was the final confrontation with Kali and Sebastian. However, the events leading up to it were very curious. The scene at the inn the night before the ritual at Stonehenge was just disturbing...I had no clue where it fit in with the events before or after.
I don't regret reading this book but am unsure if I want to move forward with the rest of the series. I'm rating this 3.5 stars.
schomj's review against another edition
2.0
I read this when it was self-published, so maybe some of the things that drove me crazy are better now that it's made it through an editor. (Although, when I tried to give it another chance in its revised form, I found too many of the same problems, so I didn't ever finish the re-read).
Anyway, the sheer number of WTF? moments specifically related to the sociocultural context in which it was set made it almost completely nonsensical. (i.e., the world-building was crap. Those characters in that time would not have known that, and they certainly wouldn't have talked about it like that. That = many different things. The one "that" that stands out most in my memory relates to the goddess Kali.)
The characters were... unfinished? It was like watching stick-figure cartoons set against a nonsensical backdrop. I can see how some people might find that enjoyable in a zany sort of way, maybe, but I got the sense that it wasn't deliberate or intentional on the author's part. That may be why this book drove me so batty. Or it could be that the characters were so here! there! all over the place I never got a good understanding of why they behaved as they did.
I liked the concept, but the finished product didn't really pull together for me.
Anyway, the sheer number of WTF? moments specifically related to the sociocultural context in which it was set made it almost completely nonsensical. (i.e., the world-building was crap. Those characters in that time would not have known that, and they certainly wouldn't have talked about it like that. That = many different things. The one "that" that stands out most in my memory relates to the goddess Kali.)
The characters were... unfinished? It was like watching stick-figure cartoons set against a nonsensical backdrop. I can see how some people might find that enjoyable in a zany sort of way, maybe, but I got the sense that it wasn't deliberate or intentional on the author's part. That may be why this book drove me so batty. Or it could be that the characters were so here! there! all over the place I never got a good understanding of why they behaved as they did.
I liked the concept, but the finished product didn't really pull together for me.