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trinforeman's review against another edition
2.0
I was highly disappointed with this novel. This was nowhere near what Mrs. Showalter is capable of. I felt like I was reading a typical dime store romance novel. I was missing her normally quirky and fun lead characters. The story had potential but I'm not eager to pick up the next one.
debrasbookcafe's review against another edition
3.0
adubrow's review against another edition
4.0
(Originally posted @ CSI:Librarian.)
Every so often a book comes along that makes me feel utterly, absolutely, giddily vindicated in my belief that wanting a book of quality is not foolishness. A book that makes me go "Aha! There is absolutely nothing wrong with me because THIS! This is why I am picky when it comes to romance!" I do have to admit though that in this case, I wasn't too surprised by being so pleased by a Paranormal Romance. This is not my first trip to the Showalter... Am I allowed to call it a Rodeo? Maybe the Showalter Experience is more appropriate. Anyway, whatever you call it, this is my first time blogging about it. As you might have guessed, I'm pretty happy about it.
Lord of the Vampires is a pretty seductive little novel that I had a very hard time putting down. Showalter took the done to death theme of vampires in love and women magically going to other worlds to be with them and actually made me like it. I was charmed by just about everything this book had to offer me.* I was thrilled to read about Jane, a woman who was quite capable of dealing with problems on her own, and Nicolai, a vampire who had lost pretty much everything and was doing whatever it took to get it all back not just for himself but his family.
More importantly, I liked both of main characters and I liked them getting together. There were moments of humor, moments of hotness, moments of family, moments of interest in which the characters liked each other for reasons other than sex, and even brief mentions of gay men.** The writing was great and steamy, the chemistry was pretty epic, and the pacing was perfect. Furthermore, nothing went on for too long, nothing was too tidy, and everything was pretty much satisfying. Are there moments of predictability or cliché? Sure, but that certainly didn't hurt this book nor did it take anything away from my enjoyment. I would point out though that there are a lot of gray areas of consent going on in parts of the book especially in regards to the creepy bad witches. It didn't bother me, to be honest, but that I think is still worth mentioning for those who prefer to avoid such things.
In conclusion, more please! Whether you're a hardcore Paranormal Romance fan or if, like me, you are a more skeptical, reticent one who sometimes worries that The Hater of All Things Love is going to become your moniker, I suggest checking out this book and possibly pre-ordering the others. I, for one, definitely plan on reading the rest of the Royal House of Shadows series, and I'm especially looking forward to Lord of the Abyss by Nalini Singh.
* I didn't like the fact that everyone evil in this book was unattractive and that this was commented on/linked together, but thankfully, that notion got very little page time.
** Maybe it's just me but I hate stories where everyone is the same in every concievable way or where every man has to be into the main female character because she's female. And I hate worlds where everyone has the same sexual preference, religion, culture, etc. I don't want to live in a world of sameness and frankly I refuse to acknowledge the possibility that I do. So I definitely appreciate the writers, like Showalter, who don't get so caught up on things like that, but just focus on writing an awesome story. Which is pretty much all I want out of a book.
Every so often a book comes along that makes me feel utterly, absolutely, giddily vindicated in my belief that wanting a book of quality is not foolishness. A book that makes me go "Aha! There is absolutely nothing wrong with me because THIS! This is why I am picky when it comes to romance!" I do have to admit though that in this case, I wasn't too surprised by being so pleased by a Paranormal Romance. This is not my first trip to the Showalter... Am I allowed to call it a Rodeo? Maybe the Showalter Experience is more appropriate. Anyway, whatever you call it, this is my first time blogging about it. As you might have guessed, I'm pretty happy about it.
Lord of the Vampires is a pretty seductive little novel that I had a very hard time putting down. Showalter took the done to death theme of vampires in love and women magically going to other worlds to be with them and actually made me like it. I was charmed by just about everything this book had to offer me.* I was thrilled to read about Jane, a woman who was quite capable of dealing with problems on her own, and Nicolai, a vampire who had lost pretty much everything and was doing whatever it took to get it all back not just for himself but his family.
More importantly, I liked both of main characters and I liked them getting together. There were moments of humor, moments of hotness, moments of family, moments of interest in which the characters liked each other for reasons other than sex, and even brief mentions of gay men.** The writing was great and steamy, the chemistry was pretty epic, and the pacing was perfect. Furthermore, nothing went on for too long, nothing was too tidy, and everything was pretty much satisfying. Are there moments of predictability or cliché? Sure, but that certainly didn't hurt this book nor did it take anything away from my enjoyment. I would point out though that there are a lot of gray areas of consent going on in parts of the book especially in regards to the creepy bad witches. It didn't bother me, to be honest, but that I think is still worth mentioning for those who prefer to avoid such things.
In conclusion, more please! Whether you're a hardcore Paranormal Romance fan or if, like me, you are a more skeptical, reticent one who sometimes worries that The Hater of All Things Love is going to become your moniker, I suggest checking out this book and possibly pre-ordering the others. I, for one, definitely plan on reading the rest of the Royal House of Shadows series, and I'm especially looking forward to Lord of the Abyss by Nalini Singh.
* I didn't like the fact that everyone evil in this book was unattractive and that this was commented on/linked together, but thankfully, that notion got very little page time.
** Maybe it's just me but I hate stories where everyone is the same in every concievable way or where every man has to be into the main female character because she's female. And I hate worlds where everyone has the same sexual preference, religion, culture, etc. I don't want to live in a world of sameness and frankly I refuse to acknowledge the possibility that I do. So I definitely appreciate the writers, like Showalter, who don't get so caught up on things like that, but just focus on writing an awesome story. Which is pretty much all I want out of a book.
fromjesstoyou's review against another edition
4.0
"4 out of 5 stars!! I wasn't able to resist the Dark Seducer anymore then the women in the book did! It was an addicting read, that I couldn't seem it get enough of. Plus..."
Read more of this review and TWO TEASERS here: http://frommetoyouvideophoto.blogspot.com/2011/08/feasted-on-royal-house-of-shadows.html
Read more of this review and TWO TEASERS here: http://frommetoyouvideophoto.blogspot.com/2011/08/feasted-on-royal-house-of-shadows.html
lindaunconventionalbookworms's review against another edition
4.0
This was an exceptional book! The story drew me right in - from the very first word, I was mesmerized with this strange world, and the paralell worlds excisting beside it.
Jane was a very strong and smart heroine, having been through hell and back, after a car accident killed her family, and left her shattered.
Nikolai was a vampire crown prince, and he'd been bespelled by an evil princess, to forget who he was, and then enslaved for her sexual pleasures.
Jane and Nikolai ended up saving each other, and it was very satisfying! The sensual scenes were written in true Gena Showalter style - hot, demanding and believable!
Jane was a very strong and smart heroine, having been through hell and back, after a car accident killed her family, and left her shattered.
Nikolai was a vampire crown prince, and he'd been bespelled by an evil princess, to forget who he was, and then enslaved for her sexual pleasures.
Jane and Nikolai ended up saving each other, and it was very satisfying! The sensual scenes were written in true Gena Showalter style - hot, demanding and believable!
olive2read's review against another edition
3.0
Gods, don’t do the audio. The voice the narrator gives to the hero is AWFUL.
Other than that - an interesting world with heavy handed plot points. Hoping the rest of the series is a bit better (seeing as each book is a different author).
Other than that - an interesting world with heavy handed plot points. Hoping the rest of the series is a bit better (seeing as each book is a different author).
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