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4.06 AVERAGE
4.06 AVERAGE
4.5 note to self: in still darkness (novella) can be read before or after this one (numbering shows after but the timeline runs parallel to book 2)
Listened for fun (Audible)
Overall Rating: 4.75
Story Rating: 4.75
Character Rating: 4.75
Audio Rating: 4.50
First Thought When Finished: I can't believe it is so long to the next one! I can't WAIT! (I guess I have too)
Story Thoughts: I am going to be honest and say that you will get so much more out of the story if you read these books in order. This one built on the previous two with such greatness that I was immediately drawn into the story. I was really curious how Bastian was going to fit in with the rest of the group and was totally thrilled about how it was handled. I am not giving anything away but the way the whole thing played out was perfectly done. I was not disappointed in this edition of the series.
Character Thoughts: I think Dianne writes awesome characters. Bastian was a character that has grown so much since we met him and I was pleased in how he continued to grow in this story. His support of his vampires never wavers and that makes me love him more! Melanie is the perfect match for him. She has always been supportive and she is strong, smart, and wonderful at defending him. I love her gumption and she is probably my favorite female character so far.
Audio Thoughts:
Kristen Potter is really good for this series. I think she has perfect pacing and just the right amount of attitude to pull off the strong characters. She has decent male voices and she has great distinction. You can tell who is talking at all times and I adore that! I recommend this series on audio.
Final Thought: Freaking October! That is when the next one is out *sigh*
Overall Rating: 4.75
Story Rating: 4.75
Character Rating: 4.75
Audio Rating: 4.50
First Thought When Finished: I can't believe it is so long to the next one! I can't WAIT! (I guess I have too)
Story Thoughts: I am going to be honest and say that you will get so much more out of the story if you read these books in order. This one built on the previous two with such greatness that I was immediately drawn into the story. I was really curious how Bastian was going to fit in with the rest of the group and was totally thrilled about how it was handled. I am not giving anything away but the way the whole thing played out was perfectly done. I was not disappointed in this edition of the series.
Character Thoughts: I think Dianne writes awesome characters. Bastian was a character that has grown so much since we met him and I was pleased in how he continued to grow in this story. His support of his vampires never wavers and that makes me love him more! Melanie is the perfect match for him. She has always been supportive and she is strong, smart, and wonderful at defending him. I love her gumption and she is probably my favorite female character so far.
Audio Thoughts:
Narrated By Kirsten Potter at a running time 11 hrs and 36 mins
Kristen Potter is really good for this series. I think she has perfect pacing and just the right amount of attitude to pull off the strong characters. She has decent male voices and she has great distinction. You can tell who is talking at all times and I adore that! I recommend this series on audio.
Final Thought: Freaking October! That is when the next one is out *sigh*
http://megansbookmaddness.blogspot.com/2015/10/phantom-shadows-by-dianne-duvall.html
I am completely obsessed with this series! AH! Dianne Duvall knows how to write a fantastic paranormal book. It has just the right amount of romance and just the right amount of action. This is my new favorite series. I just finished this one and I am currently listening to the fourth book [b:Darkness Rises|16101233|Darkness Rises (Immortal Guardians, #4)|Dianne Duvall|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1380382295s/16101233.jpg|21911534] as I'm writing this... no joke y'all I can't stop.
Melanie is a badass! I love her. I love that Sebastian tries to keep her at a distance but Melanie doesn't let him. And I love that she doesn't let what everyone else says about Bastion sway how she feels about him. I think it says a lot about her that she stuck up for him in front of everyone when no one else would. Especially since she didn't really know any of the immortal guardians all that well. I love strong female leads and she was defiantly that.
And then Sebastian .. I knew I would love him. I always seem to love the guy everyone else hates. But he is so adorably awkward sometimes.
What I love the most about these books is how she can bring in different POV and not make it overwhelming. It's obvious that there are two main characters in each book but then there will be a chapter or two in Seth's or one of the previous main characters POV and I love it. It keeps you connected to everyone as a whole but still focused on the main characters love story. I have read a few books that have tried to pull this off and NONE of them have. I am completely in love with it.
OH MY GOD!! AMI!!! ahhh!!! Seriously. What a bomb to drop on me at the end. Not cool Dianne. Not cool. Kidding. Just means I have to jump right into the next one.. which I am. so job well done :)
I am completely obsessed with this series! AH! Dianne Duvall knows how to write a fantastic paranormal book. It has just the right amount of romance and just the right amount of action. This is my new favorite series. I just finished this one and I am currently listening to the fourth book [b:Darkness Rises|16101233|Darkness Rises (Immortal Guardians, #4)|Dianne Duvall|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1380382295s/16101233.jpg|21911534] as I'm writing this... no joke y'all I can't stop.
Melanie is a badass! I love her. I love that Sebastian tries to keep her at a distance but Melanie doesn't let him. And I love that she doesn't let what everyone else says about Bastion sway how she feels about him. I think it says a lot about her that she stuck up for him in front of everyone when no one else would. Especially since she didn't really know any of the immortal guardians all that well. I love strong female leads and she was defiantly that.
And then Sebastian .. I knew I would love him. I always seem to love the guy everyone else hates. But he is so adorably awkward sometimes.
What I love the most about these books is how she can bring in different POV and not make it overwhelming. It's obvious that there are two main characters in each book but then there will be a chapter or two in Seth's or one of the previous main characters POV and I love it. It keeps you connected to everyone as a whole but still focused on the main characters love story. I have read a few books that have tried to pull this off and NONE of them have. I am completely in love with it.
OH MY GOD!! AMI!!! ahhh!!! Seriously. What a bomb to drop on me at the end. Not cool Dianne. Not cool. Kidding. Just means I have to jump right into the next one.. which I am. so job well done :)
adventurous
challenging
informative
medium-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
It took a bit to get in the flow of this book. I still enjoy the series and like the characters. This book just was slow for me.
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Oh my goodness I have so much love for Bastian and Melanie. So far out of the series this has been my favorite of the books. Diana Duvall has become a must read author for me
I really liked Dr. Melanie from the last books, and I had hoped she would be the one with Bastien because there was that connection.
I know a lot of them still didn’t trust Bastien and it's understandable because of how he entered the story, but we all have a past. And we should get the chance to not let our pasts define us.
Melanie wants the best for the Vampires and for the Immortals and I love that she doesn’t want to put them into harm's way. The fact that she is a gifted one didn’t surprise me in the least.
I like that she helped bridge the gap of how others thought of Bastien, but it was ultimately his actions that brought them around.
Again, I am really just enjoying the narration Kirston’s voices are not overdone. They add depth to each character.
I know a lot of them still didn’t trust Bastien and it's understandable because of how he entered the story, but we all have a past. And we should get the chance to not let our pasts define us.
Melanie wants the best for the Vampires and for the Immortals and I love that she doesn’t want to put them into harm's way. The fact that she is a gifted one didn’t surprise me in the least.
I like that she helped bridge the gap of how others thought of Bastien, but it was ultimately his actions that brought them around.
Again, I am really just enjoying the narration Kirston’s voices are not overdone. They add depth to each character.
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Love Bastien's character and the continuing tension between paranormals & humans in this page-turning series!
This book felt a lot long than the prior books for some reason. I knew there was more to Bastien than his sarcastic remarks and "bad attitude" but he was still annoying. He could have been more understanding as to why people hate him, after all, he spent over a century hunting Roland and building an army of vampires. Surely one can get why Roland and his friends hate his guts, but nope! Bastien and his lady friend Melanie were acting like the immortals should let bygones be bygones!
Overall, the book was written in the same vein as the prior books. It was entertaining, but I am not sure where the author is going with the series. I hope the next book belongs to Richard (Reshard) because I like him a lot.
Overall, the book was written in the same vein as the prior books. It was entertaining, but I am not sure where the author is going with the series. I hope the next book belongs to Richard (Reshard) because I like him a lot.
Really a 3 1/2, almost want to bump it up but it dragged just a little too much and had one roll my eyes moment. I really did like the story of Melanie and Sebastian but didn't like that the guardians, especially the top Seth and David would threaten without knowing or judging the whole. Then they would and still come to the Amy is a special special so don't push her. I wanted to slap them both. They tiptoed around Amy and agreed with her then did the opposite then threatened the others if they did anything out of their OK. Then they do the very thing that they nearly kill one person over. And the end, duh. And threatening Marcus really, Amy is going be alright with that? This interfered with Melanie and Sabstian's relationship and ticked me off for Amy. One star because of Seth's high a might assholiness toward's, Bastien, Marcus and, yes, Amy. So she isn't even the main point of the story but of course is thrown in there. Nice to see Marcus and Amy and their future but not with the drama. Bastien and Melanie went pretty smoothly and would have been a pretty good PNR if it was muddled with the other line.