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3.44 AVERAGE
3.44 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-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:
Complicated
Once enslaved, Jerusalem is gifted with exceptional strength and speed. This makes her a Saint, able to hunt down vampires and Confederates with ease. There’s one vampire that she won’t hunt yet though- Alexei. Alexei came from Europe to help the Union cause. When Jerusalem and Alexei head out on what should be a routine mission, their lives completely change. Jerusalem and Alexei are soon on the trail of one of the most dangerous vampires to exist. As skeletons from their closets arise, Jerusalem and Alexei must work together to survive.
I loved Jerusalem! She has been through horrible events and yet bravely chooses to use her power to help others. Jerusalem is always courageous and looking for a fight. Alexei has a lot to learn from Jerusalem despite being immortal. The romantic tension between Alexei and Jerusalem was intense and beautifully written. They work closely together, but Jerusalem has to reckon with whether she can ever care about a vampire after what happened to her family. Lauren Blackwood crafts an unputdownable story! The Dangerous Ones is action-packed and filled with historical details with fantastical twists. I particularly loved how creatively The Underground Railroad was represented. Readers who enjoy enemies-to-lovers, action-packed adventure, and fierce characters will love this book.
Thank you to Lauren Blackwood, Wednesday Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I loved Jerusalem! She has been through horrible events and yet bravely chooses to use her power to help others. Jerusalem is always courageous and looking for a fight. Alexei has a lot to learn from Jerusalem despite being immortal. The romantic tension between Alexei and Jerusalem was intense and beautifully written. They work closely together, but Jerusalem has to reckon with whether she can ever care about a vampire after what happened to her family. Lauren Blackwood crafts an unputdownable story! The Dangerous Ones is action-packed and filled with historical details with fantastical twists. I particularly loved how creatively The Underground Railroad was represented. Readers who enjoy enemies-to-lovers, action-packed adventure, and fierce characters will love this book.
Thank you to Lauren Blackwood, Wednesday Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Thank you NetGalley and Wednesday books for the opportunity to read this e-arc..this is my honest opinion of the book.
The blurb made it more promising to me. It really jumps straight in to the civil war and fighting and strategic planning with a few flash backs thrown in. The characters use modern lingo but seem to try to represent characters of the time at the same time and I find it kind of annoying. The concept is really cool of the Saints that have enhanced abilities against the vampires. But I wasn't really looking for a legit straight all war book.
The blurb made it more promising to me. It really jumps straight in to the civil war and fighting and strategic planning with a few flash backs thrown in. The characters use modern lingo but seem to try to represent characters of the time at the same time and I find it kind of annoying. The concept is really cool of the Saints that have enhanced abilities against the vampires. But I wasn't really looking for a legit straight all war book.
This was a well written and unique read. This book had an interesting storyline and is told through dual points of view. I loved the concept of this one. I did however, struggle to get into it at first and it took a bit before it had my full attention, but that could be because historical fiction isn’t a genre that I read often. Dangerous Ones did have some great characters, and if you are looking for a young adult historical fantasy romance, you may want to give this one a try.
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Ever since Within These Wicked Walls, I've had Lauren Blackwood on my list as a must-read new author, and I was beyond excited for The Dangerous Ones. It sounded like everything I ever wanted to read: vampires, a historical setting, and a strong FMC with a compelling forbidden love story.
Unfortunately, this book didn't quite grip me like WTWW did, for a number of reasons.
But first, the stuff I loved:
Jerusalem's POV grabbed me by the throat from the first line and didn't let me go until the last. She was strong, bold, brave, and sassy, and I loved her voice=y first person narration. Although Jerusalem's backstory was often ugly and difficult to stomach (many thanks to Blackwood for including trigger warnings at the start!), I felt Blackwood balanced the trauma everything Jer endured with the joy of her budding relationship and the inner strength she possessed. In particular, I loved the banter between Jer and love interest Alexei.
I felt Blackwood handled the blend of Civil War history/fighting for freedom and the speculative element of vampires very well; it reminded me of H. G. Parry's Declaration of the Rights of Magicians duology in that regard. The worldbuilding was stellar and the ending was so immensely satisfying.
But for me, I think the biggest issue was I just did not love Alexei's narration. Since he is the MMC, we're in his head for an approximate half of the book, and those were the parts I wished to skim. While I think Blackwood did an excellent job of tying both MCs back to the villain, I simply did not feel Alexei's motivations on the visceral level that I did Jerusalem's, and I kept wondering why exactly she was attracted to him. I got why he was attracted to her--she's a spear wielding badass and a five-foot-nothing bundle of sass--but he felt...bland in comparison. I also had some issues with the pacing and with the giant chapters, where Jerusalem and Alexei switch POVs numerous times. It may just be a particular critique of mine, but I wish each chapter had kept to one character throughout until the next chapter, rather than switch within.
I think fans of romantasy and vampires will definitely eat this up, especially the "he falls first" and "eternal pining" coming from Alexei's chapters, but it just wasn't my favorite Lauren Blackwood novel.
Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press/Wednesday Books, and Lauren Blackwood for gifting me this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Unfortunately, this book didn't quite grip me like WTWW did, for a number of reasons.
But first, the stuff I loved:
Jerusalem's POV grabbed me by the throat from the first line and didn't let me go until the last. She was strong, bold, brave, and sassy, and I loved her voice=y first person narration. Although Jerusalem's backstory was often ugly and difficult to stomach (many thanks to Blackwood for including trigger warnings at the start!), I felt Blackwood balanced the trauma everything Jer endured with the joy of her budding relationship and the inner strength she possessed. In particular, I loved the banter between Jer and love interest Alexei.
I felt Blackwood handled the blend of Civil War history/fighting for freedom and the speculative element of vampires very well; it reminded me of H. G. Parry's Declaration of the Rights of Magicians duology in that regard. The worldbuilding was stellar and the ending was so immensely satisfying.
But for me, I think the biggest issue was I just did not love Alexei's narration. Since he is the MMC, we're in his head for an approximate half of the book, and those were the parts I wished to skim. While I think Blackwood did an excellent job of tying both MCs back to the villain, I simply did not feel Alexei's motivations on the visceral level that I did Jerusalem's, and I kept wondering why exactly she was attracted to him. I got why he was attracted to her--she's a spear wielding badass and a five-foot-nothing bundle of sass--but he felt...bland in comparison. I also had some issues with the pacing and with the giant chapters, where Jerusalem and Alexei switch POVs numerous times. It may just be a particular critique of mine, but I wish each chapter had kept to one character throughout until the next chapter, rather than switch within.
I think fans of romantasy and vampires will definitely eat this up, especially the "he falls first" and "eternal pining" coming from Alexei's chapters, but it just wasn't my favorite Lauren Blackwood novel.
Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press/Wednesday Books, and Lauren Blackwood for gifting me this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review!
adventurous
emotional
The Dangerous Ones by Lauren Blackwood is a unique historical fantasy romance, so it basically has everything. It is well-written and I was pulled in right from the beginning. The characters are written in such a way that I really cared about what happened to them and the romance was sweet and felt very genuine.
The story follows two characters, Alexei and Jerusalem, who are involved deeply in the Civil War. My one complaint on this storyline is that the addition of vampires and fantasy to the Civil War kind of pulls the focus away from the seriousness and real issues of the Civil War, but they do always try to bring it back to the struggle of Black Americans and the racism in these times. Alexei is a vampire from Russia who moved to the US to escape his evil keeper, The Red Mask. He becomes involved in the Civil War as he believes in the cause and is against the idea of people being in control over others. This is where he meets Jerusalem, who is an ex-slave who was held by a vampire mistress. She escapes after her family is killed and becomes a vampire killer in the Union Army. Alexei is enamored with Jerusalem and is almost head over heels after their first meeting. She is more hesitant. I find Jerusalem to be a really intriguing protagonist, but she definitely makes some impulsive decisions. I love how independent she is, but she is also independent to a silly degree sometimes. Their relationship is sweet and they work well. I would consider this a medium-burn romance.
The plot follows Alexei and Jerusalem as they attempt to get revenge, him on The Red Mask, and her on the vampire mistress who tortured her and killed her family. The background characters in this story are well-written and characterized and I like their relationships with the main protagonists. The story is written well and the plot moves at a good pace.
Overall, I would give this book 3.5/5 stars. The story is well written and I liked the characters. The story promises and achieves a good historical fantasy romance and it is definitely worth the read. I would recommend it to anyone who likes historical fantasy books with a bit of romance. It is definitely not super spicy, but it does feature a bit of spice. It is definitely a good read, and I recommend it.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This was a fast paced retelling of America's dark past. The Civil War is always a topic of controversy. How the north freed the slaves. Though they only freed them to weaken the south. It's not like they respected slaves anymore but had no other choice. It was a byproduct of their progression. I found that making our main protagonist/slave holder a vampire highlights how monstrous "masters" were and to me really hit home. I have seen discourse on people not liking Blackwoods approach to this topic and I think they need to look at the bigger picture and her own comments about this being trauma she is working through. I don't think anyone should judge others on how they handle these delicate and painful topics.
I found Jerusalems relationships with a vampire a interesting choice. To me it opened up the conversation on how not all "vampires" were bad but even he had to control himself around her. I think this is parallel to how white people have to actively choose and be aware of how racism works and how deeply it can be ingrained into society and their own perspectives.
I feel if you look deeper into the story there are amazing themes and thought provoking sentiments that are great for a ya audience and should be discussed. It fits this age group by stepping away from true history making it easier to understand but doesn't step away from the true cruelty inacted upon slaves and people of color.
This book was not a five star because I felt the storyline was slightly rushed and could have more fully fledged out. That being said it did not take away from what the author was trying to bring to light in my opinion.
I found Jerusalems relationships with a vampire a interesting choice. To me it opened up the conversation on how not all "vampires" were bad but even he had to control himself around her. I think this is parallel to how white people have to actively choose and be aware of how racism works and how deeply it can be ingrained into society and their own perspectives.
I feel if you look deeper into the story there are amazing themes and thought provoking sentiments that are great for a ya audience and should be discussed. It fits this age group by stepping away from true history making it easier to understand but doesn't step away from the true cruelty inacted upon slaves and people of color.
This book was not a five star because I felt the storyline was slightly rushed and could have more fully fledged out. That being said it did not take away from what the author was trying to bring to light in my opinion.
adventurous
dark
fast-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:
No
This book is told from dual points of view; some chapters are from Jerusalem and others are from Alexei. Something I found a little jarring is that the chapters would start as one POV and shift to another throughout the chapter. The author does indicate when the shift is happening, but I just prefer it when POV shifts happen with chapter changes. In addition, part of this book is told through flashbacks. I thought the flashbacks were a little messy. For the most part, I thought that Jerusalem's time enslaved and Alexei's time being tortured could have been better told either as separate chapters interspersed throughout the novel or in order at the beginning of the book.
I really loved the magical realism of this book; the writing style reminded me a lot of Dread Nation by Justina Ireland. Jerusalem is a fierce main character and Alexei was just kind of okay. I felt like there was not enough between them to really warrant a love story. Almost all of their conversations are surface level, and that's just not enough for me. I think the language used in the book was also just a little too modern. I do like a good revenge story, and I enjoyed reading this book.
This was a fast read for me and had some really interesting elements, but for me, it was a little jumbled and just an okay read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
I really loved the magical realism of this book; the writing style reminded me a lot of Dread Nation by Justina Ireland. Jerusalem is a fierce main character and Alexei was just kind of okay. I felt like there was not enough between them to really warrant a love story. Almost all of their conversations are surface level, and that's just not enough for me. I think the language used in the book was also just a little too modern. I do like a good revenge story, and I enjoyed reading this book.
This was a fast read for me and had some really interesting elements, but for me, it was a little jumbled and just an okay read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, War
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
What a unique story!! I really enjoyed this book. The uniqueness of it was enough to grip me. I read a lot and find that it's becoming harder to find stories that don't feel like I've read something like it before. There are two things that irked me a bit. First, the modern language in the Civil War Era really throws you off balance. FMC says salty. Really? The other was the description of the chimera. I realize it's fantasy, but if it's going to be a made-up creature, then don't use the name of something already around. Overall, it was an interesting, fast-paced read.