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3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
I'll continue reading as I'm curious where this is heading.
The first book was only just interesting enough for me to want to get the next one. Nothing special. But this one grabbed me. I really liked it. Interesting plot, good world building, introduction of some new characters that I really liked and want to see more of. The varying points of view added a nice layer to the various existing characters as well. Very good.
3.5 for me, it seemed to lapse from short bursts of exciting moments to long dragged out almost boring scenes.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, once it truly started, which for me was midway through. That's the only reason I've dropped a star off it. It wasn't as gripping as the first, but it's always difficult to follow a cracking book. The story of Lily and Rule is still excellent.
It's been awhile since I've read the first book in the series, but I liked going back to this world Eileen Wilks has created. It starts not too long after the first book left off and it deals with the repercussions of the events in the first book.
I like that Wilks has Lily and Rule working on their relationship rather than having both of them just fall deeply in love in the first book and that's it. It's nice to see them get to know one another better, and this book really solidifies their both wanting to work to be together despite their differences.
There was one thing that kind of bothered me though. The way the book was structured. It's set up in the beginning with one path in mind to find the staff and Harlowe who escaped at the end of Tempting Danger and then in the middle it changes paths completely and it flt very disjointed almost like we had to get used to a new book right away. There was no easing into it. The first part just ended abruptly and we are expected to change gears right away. I will admit the events the occured caused me to want to read as quickly as possible so I could get to the conclusion, but I would have rather had the original story drawn out better.
Besides that, I can't wait to continue this series. I understand that the main focus leaves Rule and Lily and goes towards Cynna and Cullen in the next couple of books. At first I was a little weary of that scenario, but after being introduced to Cynna in this book and reading the repartee between the two of them, I'm anxious to see where their storyline goes. Until Then!
I like that Wilks has Lily and Rule working on their relationship rather than having both of them just fall deeply in love in the first book and that's it. It's nice to see them get to know one another better, and this book really solidifies their both wanting to work to be together despite their differences.
There was one thing that kind of bothered me though. The way the book was structured. It's set up in the beginning with one path in mind to find the staff and Harlowe who escaped at the end of Tempting Danger and then in the middle it changes paths completely and it flt very disjointed almost like we had to get used to a new book right away. There was no easing into it. The first part just ended abruptly and we are expected to change gears right away. I will admit the events the occured caused me to want to read as quickly as possible so I could get to the conclusion, but I would have rather had the original story drawn out better.
Besides that, I can't wait to continue this series. I understand that the main focus leaves Rule and Lily and goes towards Cynna and Cullen in the next couple of books. At first I was a little weary of that scenario, but after being introduced to Cynna in this book and reading the repartee between the two of them, I'm anxious to see where their storyline goes. Until Then!
Lily Yu is attacked by a demon at her sister's wedding and Rule gets more anxious than ever regarding her safety. Lily is not happy about having him around all the time while she searches for the staff and Harlowe.
I liked this book very much, usually the second in a series is not as good as the first and I felt that at the beginning but it gets better around 20%. Yu's world is not as big as she though, and expanding universe with parallel worlds, gods, demons and wars grabbed my attention. Cynna is a great new character, and Cullen continues to be my favourite. I am also happy that Rule ends this story in a totally different state of mind. I am looking forward to read the next one!
I liked this book very much, usually the second in a series is not as good as the first and I felt that at the beginning but it gets better around 20%. Yu's world is not as big as she though, and expanding universe with parallel worlds, gods, demons and wars grabbed my attention. Cynna is a great new character, and Cullen continues to be my favourite. I am also happy that Rule ends this story in a totally different state of mind. I am looking forward to read the next one!
Mortal Danger was a slow book for me.
This is for one because it ties heavily into the first book, which I didn't read so I was feeling a bit lost a times, and for other because Eileen's Urban Fantasy plays out a lot closer to Fantasy than others I read in the field - as someone who doesn't read much straight Fantasy that, too, took a toll on me. But there's also something about her writing style that didn't fully sync with me.
However, all in all it's a good story that I enjoyed reading, eventhough it takes it's time to get going (the book did only pick up for me past the half-way mark), and if it wasn't for my personal bias towards Fantasy I'd give it four stars.
This is for one because it ties heavily into the first book, which I didn't read so I was feeling a bit lost a times, and for other because Eileen's Urban Fantasy plays out a lot closer to Fantasy than others I read in the field - as someone who doesn't read much straight Fantasy that, too, took a toll on me. But there's also something about her writing style that didn't fully sync with me.
However, all in all it's a good story that I enjoyed reading, eventhough it takes it's time to get going (the book did only pick up for me past the half-way mark), and if it wasn't for my personal bias towards Fantasy I'd give it four stars.
I actually liked the arguments between Lily and Rule. They didn’t feel in any way like the characters were being unreasonable; they argued about entirely understandable things (in particular butting heads over independence and secrets). They are, after all, two extremely different people who were thrown together by the Lady the lupi serve. Not every goddess-created mate bond works out, after all, although at least she seems to pick people who stand a good chance of falling in love. That aspect of outside interference is what makes their bond different and, IMO, better than, the standard one-true-mate plots in many other books. There’s still an aspect of self-determination here, which I find much more palatable than most other such constructs.
Lily and Rule are great characters, as are all the secondaries. Cullen is a sorcerer who moonlights as an exotic dancer, which is great fun. We also get to meet more of Lily’s new co-workers and her boss, and we see more of her family. I’m enjoying the slowly expanding sphere of attention that gradually brings more and more of the world into play.
There are some fascinating events later in the book, but I’ll just say that I thought it ended with a very satisfying bang.
Longer review including premise on my site: http://www.errantdreams.com/2015/01/review-mortal-danger-eileen-wilks/
Lily and Rule are great characters, as are all the secondaries. Cullen is a sorcerer who moonlights as an exotic dancer, which is great fun. We also get to meet more of Lily’s new co-workers and her boss, and we see more of her family. I’m enjoying the slowly expanding sphere of attention that gradually brings more and more of the world into play.
There are some fascinating events later in the book, but I’ll just say that I thought it ended with a very satisfying bang.
Longer review including premise on my site: http://www.errantdreams.com/2015/01/review-mortal-danger-eileen-wilks/
I'm going to shamelessly borrow a technique from my friend and buddy-reader, Mimi, and shorthand this as:
'The one where Lily becomes two people, visits Dis with Rule and an annoying demon, and meets Cynna. Also, dragons.'
First read in somewhen between published date of 2005 and 2010, when I entered a trial break-up with urban fantasy. There was much that I didn't remember, but I did recall the journey to another realm and dragons. Interestingly, the part about dragons that I thought I remembered, however, wasn't here and is probably in the next book. My memory for these things is so non-specific. At any rate, Mortal Danger is fast paced, having relied on the initial book, Tempting Danger, for most of the political world-building. Never fear, however--there's more to learn for all of us, including the main characters.
It opens with Lily at her sister's infamous wedding, where Lily is discovered unconscious in the bathroom, likely as the result of some kind of demon contact. Rule and Lily meet up with the witch from the FBI Special Ops and are introduced to Cynna, a 'Finder,' who just happens to have had a fling with Rule a few years back. This is also when Lily realizes Rule is much older than her, the lupi having longer lifespans. Relationship drama is a touch-and-go plot device for me, heavy on the 'go,' so it's almost a relief when the team confronts the staff and staff-holder and Rule disappears.
But she wasn’t asking questions. Questions were Lily’s way of sorting the world into shapes she could deal with, and she’d been tossed some pretty odd curves in the past few hours.
It gets a little odd at that point, and safe to say that it's definitely not your average paranormal. In fact, this one barely qualifies as 'paranormal' in my book, primarily only because the relationship between Lily and Rule is quite central to the plot(s). I did enjoy the dragons, but I felt Wilks was a bit weak in her plotting of external events happening over in Dis. Specifically (general spoilers), the demon-dragon politics and the intention of the dragons are with the little refuge group, especially when it seems there is dissension in the dragon ranks. This book ends up giving a solid and needful push forward in Lily and Rule's relationship that should help minimize some of the basic insecurity and independence issues Lily has. That's what I hope, at least.
"As gracefully as dandelion fluff, that great body drifted to the ground near the cliff ’s edge."
I thought the writing quite good, with rarely a phrasing or process that tripped me up mentally. In fact, I'd say there were moments that shone. Verdict? If you still enjoy reading urban fantasy with an 'out' supernatural approach and paranormal elements, you could do far worse than this series. Yes, the next one is on the way from the library.
Three-and-a-half stars, rounding down to create some kind of obvious difference between the four-star book that preceded this (Tempting Danger) and the one that followed (Blood Lines).
Thanks to Mimi for the kick-in-the-pants buddy read. My vague memories might have won out otherwise :)
'The one where Lily becomes two people, visits Dis with Rule and an annoying demon, and meets Cynna. Also, dragons.'
First read in somewhen between published date of 2005 and 2010, when I entered a trial break-up with urban fantasy. There was much that I didn't remember, but I did recall the journey to another realm and dragons. Interestingly, the part about dragons that I thought I remembered, however, wasn't here and is probably in the next book. My memory for these things is so non-specific. At any rate, Mortal Danger is fast paced, having relied on the initial book, Tempting Danger, for most of the political world-building. Never fear, however--there's more to learn for all of us, including the main characters.
It opens with Lily at her sister's infamous wedding, where Lily is discovered unconscious in the bathroom, likely as the result of some kind of demon contact. Rule and Lily meet up with the witch from the FBI Special Ops and are introduced to Cynna, a 'Finder,' who just happens to have had a fling with Rule a few years back. This is also when Lily realizes Rule is much older than her, the lupi having longer lifespans. Relationship drama is a touch-and-go plot device for me, heavy on the 'go,' so it's almost a relief when the team confronts the staff and staff-holder and Rule disappears.
But she wasn’t asking questions. Questions were Lily’s way of sorting the world into shapes she could deal with, and she’d been tossed some pretty odd curves in the past few hours.
It gets a little odd at that point, and safe to say that it's definitely not your average paranormal. In fact, this one barely qualifies as 'paranormal' in my book, primarily only because the relationship between Lily and Rule is quite central to the plot(s). I did enjoy the dragons, but I felt Wilks was a bit weak in her plotting of external events happening over in Dis. Specifically (general spoilers),
"As gracefully as dandelion fluff, that great body drifted to the ground near the cliff ’s edge."
I thought the writing quite good, with rarely a phrasing or process that tripped me up mentally. In fact, I'd say there were moments that shone. Verdict? If you still enjoy reading urban fantasy with an 'out' supernatural approach and paranormal elements, you could do far worse than this series. Yes, the next one is on the way from the library.
Three-and-a-half stars, rounding down to create some kind of obvious difference between the four-star book that preceded this (Tempting Danger) and the one that followed (Blood Lines).
Thanks to Mimi for the kick-in-the-pants buddy read. My vague memories might have won out otherwise :)
Lily Yu's grandmother is AWESOME. I have given the book a whole extra star just because she is so AWESOME.
(Though it's been so long since I read the books that I can't remember if Lily Yu's grandmother actually first appears in this book or the next one. Nevertheless! She is AWESOME.)
(Though it's been so long since I read the books that I can't remember if Lily Yu's grandmother actually first appears in this book or the next one. Nevertheless! She is AWESOME.)