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4.15 AVERAGE
4.15 AVERAGE
This was fun but man I felt like I was just waiting and waiting for the action to happen. It definitely felt like a book that was coming off of a big climactic predecessor (which it was) and needed to lay a lot of groundwork for future books.
I like being inside Dani's head. It's been a real pleasure to watch her grow from a frenetic annoying teen to a composed woman. I also really like the way Moning is showing Dani working through her mental health. She compartmentalizes everything so much that it's hard for her to actually access her own feelings. Her vaults are too strong. I like how this is played as a strength initially because it allows her to survive through some pretty harrowing circumstances, but then the perspective shifts and we realize that this coping mechanism won't do her any good as she grows.
The plot and the "bad guy" were such a peripheral element to this book. It was clearly all about Dani's continued personal evolution and her relationship with Ryodan. Don't get me wrong; I liked it. But the bad guy / soul eater / god plot is nothing to write home about in this one.
The main hunter being a good guy and also being her Helcat Shazam was a little too tidy for me but I'm fine with it. I wonder if these books will ever have real stakes. Everything seems to generally work out. And her whole Persephone vibe of having to spend half her time as a hunter and half as a human is so deus ex but all right. If that's what it takes for her to hang with all the immortal characters, so be it.
I like being inside Dani's head. It's been a real pleasure to watch her grow from a frenetic annoying teen to a composed woman. I also really like the way Moning is showing Dani working through her mental health. She compartmentalizes everything so much that it's hard for her to actually access her own feelings. Her vaults are too strong. I like how this is played as a strength initially because it allows her to survive through some pretty harrowing circumstances, but then the perspective shifts and we realize that this coping mechanism won't do her any good as she grows.
The plot and the "bad guy" were such a peripheral element to this book. It was clearly all about Dani's continued personal evolution and her relationship with Ryodan. Don't get me wrong; I liked it. But the bad guy / soul eater / god plot is nothing to write home about in this one.
Spoiler
Ma gurl is a HUNTER! This was a totally random and also super fun twist. I almost wish it hadn't all resolved so quickly and in such a tidy little wrap up way. Her slowly becoming black skinner and taloned as she channels the high voltage to shock her enemies was such a treat that I wish we hadn't seen her turn into a hunter at the end so quickly. I could have eaten up that mystery for three more books!The main hunter being a good guy and also being her Helcat Shazam was a little too tidy for me but I'm fine with it. I wonder if these books will ever have real stakes. Everything seems to generally work out. And her whole Persephone vibe of having to spend half her time as a hunter and half as a human is so deus ex but all right. If that's what it takes for her to hang with all the immortal characters, so be it.
This is a Fever book and therefore it is great. And yet... it had its ups and downs. I liked being in adult Dani's head. I loved the sacrifices that were made on both sides to be ready to be together. I loved the resolution of the mystery of the thrown star. The thing with Shazam... I don't think anyone saw that coming. What she became? Big surprise. It was an unexpected ending for a highly unconventional couple. I am a romance fan and this is the sort of thing that I can't imagine feeling okay about if it had happened to any couple. But for Dani and Ryodan.. it kinda works.
Having said all that, I was hovering between a 4 and a 5 star but I always round up. It still had the same gripping feeling as the other books--that feeling where you don't want to put it down and go do real life things. (That is the number one thing that makes it a 5 star to me anyway.) Ryodan did a lot of painful things for Dani, but they were not all consistent with his character. He is strong and powerful. He is not "run and hide because the girl I like is not ready for a relationship". And yet, offering to turn Dancer--THAT is strength and sacrifice.
On the other hand, Dani's all grown up now, and I loved seeing how she was able to temper her emotional responses to stuff with more adult logic. She had actual CONVERSATIONS, people, where she explained her feelings and actually listened to those of the other party. unprecedented. I think the previous lack of that maturity is perfectly consistent with her character development but it could be a bit tiresome occasionally. And yet. There really wasn't much happening in this book as far as plot lines. It was mostly her thinking about stuff and showing how much she has been helping people for the last two years. The bad guys were pretty anti-climatic. I mean, she leaves the battle without even knowing how it ends. I actually forgot about them for large sections of the book. At some point she went off to look them up while Ryodan talked to Barrons and I didn't immediately know what she wanted to research because it'd been so long since they were part of the story.
Also, the language was a lot more... flowy, and descriptive. I don't remember KMM writing like this before. It was not exactly a problem, but it was just... different, and a little more dense to get through.
Having said all that, I was hovering between a 4 and a 5 star but I always round up. It still had the same gripping feeling as the other books--that feeling where you don't want to put it down and go do real life things. (That is the number one thing that makes it a 5 star to me anyway.) Ryodan did a lot of painful things for Dani, but they were not all consistent with his character. He is strong and powerful. He is not "run and hide because the girl I like is not ready for a relationship". And yet, offering to turn Dancer--THAT is strength and sacrifice.
On the other hand, Dani's all grown up now, and I loved seeing how she was able to temper her emotional responses to stuff with more adult logic. She had actual CONVERSATIONS, people, where she explained her feelings and actually listened to those of the other party. unprecedented. I think the previous lack of that maturity is perfectly consistent with her character development but it could be a bit tiresome occasionally. And yet. There really wasn't much happening in this book as far as plot lines. It was mostly her thinking about stuff and showing how much she has been helping people for the last two years. The bad guys were pretty anti-climatic. I mean, she leaves the battle without even knowing how it ends. I actually forgot about them for large sections of the book. At some point she went off to look them up while Ryodan talked to Barrons and I didn't immediately know what she wanted to research because it'd been so long since they were part of the story.
Also, the language was a lot more... flowy, and descriptive. I don't remember KMM writing like this before. It was not exactly a problem, but it was just... different, and a little more dense to get through.
I think I may have outgrown this series. I love the inventiveness of the Fae monsters but this book was too much internal struggle, guilt, and other angst. Too much focus on whether Dani and Ryodan would ever do the deed. And I really didn't feel like the Ryodan character was very developed (except his abs!). I'm sorry to say goodbye because up to now I have really liked this series.
It started a little slow compared to the others but oh my what a love story and ending!!!!!!!!!! Didn't see it coming, but Ryodan is my favorite beast
Dani gets another book to herself as she partners with Ryodan to take on a new threat to their world. I enjoyed reading a point of view from an older Dani. She has really grown and matured a lot and it was nice to see. She is a true superhero in every sense of the word. The mystery about what was happening to her was interesting and her romance with Ryodan was surprisingly heartwarming. The ending was super sweet and definitely not what I expected. 3/5 stars.
Look, I know I keep saying it but I cannot rate these books properly, I'm too invested in this world and these characters so I'll probably keep giving higher ratings than deserved. If I were a new reader, I'd probably rate this lower, but I'm not and I can't help myself at all.
High Voltage is probably my least favourite of the series apart from Iced. I was half pleased that we'd be moving away from Mac and Barrons, I love them but I was also getting a little sick of them, there's only so much of the mush that I can take and I felt that their story was getting a little tired, and after reading High Voltage, I'm glad. They were still mentioned, still on the outskirts of everything happening so they were still there but they were not the focus and so I couldn't get sick of them. Dani is a lot better than she was in Iced, she's grown up and lost the annoying shit (omg, I'm so glad I've not had to read 'feck' until my eyes bleed) but I think, perhaps, she's lost too much and is no longer recognisable as Dani. Obviously she would have changed after five years in the Silvers but still.
The Ryodan / Dani stuff is creeping me out a little bit. I know she's not fourteen anymore but it still makes me feel a little bit icky.
I must admit, I had a little cry at the beginning because I'd somehow managed to forget about Dancer and then I got hit with "Remains of the one who danced you into love are in the ground, Yi-yi" and then I remembered. And then his grave. And I had to relive the pain all over again. (I really should reread this series!!)
New bad guys added to the mix in this installment, the Old Gods that were there before the Fae and who have now been awakened and who are pissed. They want to wipe out both humans and the Fae. And then you've got the Fae who want the world for themselves.
Ending was a bit anti-climatic, I felt like it was over too quick and that we didn't get to see much of it because the focus was on Dani and. Speaking of Dani and developments in this book
Despite the bad stuff, I'm still rating it a 4 stars because I know I will continue to gobble up anything that is released in this universe, I don't care how bad or how ridiculous it gets, I'm too invested. And I do like the writing.
Pre-release thoughts:I'm guessing this is Jada Dani and in that case... I WANT IT NOW. GIVE IT TO ME.
If it's not, or Jada Dani goes back to being Dani Dani... NOPE. I'll pass. Except not really because I won't be able to stay strong.
High Voltage is probably my least favourite of the series apart from Iced. I was half pleased that we'd be moving away from Mac and Barrons, I love them but I was also getting a little sick of them, there's only so much of the mush that I can take and I felt that their story was getting a little tired, and after reading High Voltage, I'm glad. They were still mentioned, still on the outskirts of everything happening so they were still there but they were not the focus and so I couldn't get sick of them. Dani is a lot better than she was in Iced, she's grown up and lost the annoying shit (omg, I'm so glad I've not had to read 'feck' until my eyes bleed) but I think, perhaps, she's lost too much and is no longer recognisable as Dani. Obviously she would have changed after five years in the Silvers but still.
The Ryodan / Dani stuff is creeping me out a little bit. I know she's not fourteen anymore but it still makes me feel a little bit icky.
I must admit, I had a little cry at the beginning because I'd somehow managed to forget about Dancer and then I got hit with "Remains of the one who danced you into love are in the ground, Yi-yi" and then I remembered. And then his grave. And I had to relive the pain all over again. (I really should reread this series!!)
New bad guys added to the mix in this installment, the Old Gods that were there before the Fae and who have now been awakened and who are pissed. They want to wipe out both humans and the Fae. And then you've got the Fae who want the world for themselves.
Ending was a bit anti-climatic, I felt like it was over too quick and that we didn't get to see much of it because the focus was on Dani and
Spoiler
her transformation into a Hunter.Spoiler
was it ever mentioned in previous books that her hand sometimes went black after she stabbed the Hunter in a previous book? Or was it just something shoved in in this book out of lack of anywhere else to go for Dani? Also it's awfully convenient that she's now immortal and will spend half her time human and half dragon.Despite the bad stuff, I'm still rating it a 4 stars because I know I will continue to gobble up anything that is released in this universe, I don't care how bad or how ridiculous it gets, I'm too invested. And I do like the writing.
Pre-release thoughts:I'm guessing this is Jada Dani and in that case... I WANT IT NOW. GIVE IT TO ME.
If it's not, or Jada Dani goes back to being Dani Dani... NOPE. I'll pass. Except not really because I won't be able to stay strong.
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
Another awesome book in the series! I loved discovering more about Dani and Ryodan!
Can't wait for more!
Can't wait for more!