Scan barcode
alejandra_guerrero's review
2.0
OMG, I hate Raegel! He’s a manipulative SOB, posing as a Dom. He’s not; he’s just a toxic mothafucka. In book one, I saw the change in Ezekiel, the actual character progression from chapter to chapter. This guy flips a switch and goes from “I can’t love you, I’m so sad” to “we’re married now, you can’t leave me” in the span of a few pages (he didn’t even tell her they were married, BTW). The change of heart made no sense. He leaves Agatha, with the intention of rejecting her, and it gave me the impression he just came back to her because the tree was cursed and he needed a witch (It kinda seemed any witch would have done, but Agatha was already there, so…) yet he gets super mad at her because she interpreted his leaving exactly as he originally intended, and makes her feel guilty she left to help the gargoyles. He shits on Valek for helping her, and essentially threw a tantrum over the fact she asked the vampire, who was available, over him, who she thought (not without reason, mind you) had rejected and left her (he did, he just flipped a switch, I mean, changed his mind). He makes a huge deal of protecting his people just to ditch everything to fuck her for a week straight, and gets mad at his brother for pointing it out. He also hates Angelica because she’s mad he broke her sister’s heart, and acts as a complete asshole with her, not even bothering to be polite, but in his mind, it’s Angelica and all the other witches who are rude, so it totally justifies him being a dick to them. GOD, I hate this guy.
The only elven woman ever named had to be the spy? Really? And of course, let’s throw in some girl-on-girl hate, why not?
As for Agatha, Raegel walks all over her, and she lets him. At the beginning she was this hellion, independent, badass, take-no-shit kind of woman. HE decides she’s his, and she no longer has any freaking backbone whatsoever. She’s extremely insecure when he’s concerned, and I can’t blame her. Yet she thinks her feelings are unreasonable! Hell, HE acts as if she’s being unreasonable, so there. And he blames her for what he does. Yeah. She justifies his every shitty action, too. “...you punished me because you were punishing yourself for wanting me.” ARRGGHHH!!! Really? Really!!?? Almost DNF when that particular phrase came about. But I would have missed the gem where she talks of Zeus’ seducing of Leda as romantic. The greek myths taught here in Mexico must be wildly different from those taught elsewhere, it seems. Finally, he makes it seem as if the littlest of concessions he makes to her are huge life-altering things he graciously endures for her sake. Fuck, I hate him.
Another thing that bothered me was that the first two freaking chapters were exactly the same as some chapters from the previous book. Verbatim. Just changed “Agatha said” for “I said”, and in the Raegel chapter not even that. Totally unnecessary; I mean, if I’m reading book two, most likely I already read book one, it’s not like they can be read out of order. And the author keeps forgetting things mentioned in the first book. Like the color of the trees. Here, they are green and brown, and the elves dress themselves in those colors to blend with the forest, but we were told in book one that everyone but witches see the trees as black. So, which is it? Or the fact that the magic necessary to open a freaking portal (something elves can do, with their weaker nature magic and all) is much more than what’s necessary to turn several people into toads. Makes no sense! Also, how the fuck do they grow anything in purgatory, since there is no sun? And the author mixes celtic and wiccan ideologies with christian concepts like purgatory, and let’s add some talk about chakras too, can’t have too many conflicting concepts. Oh, and also, let's talk about meridians. I had to google those, because they’re never explained in the book, and my understanding of chakras is surface at best. Yet another problem is the wyverns. Sometimes they are described as big enough for a witch to ride on them, but other times they seem to be as big as a golden retriever, or maybe a great Dane (the same ones are described as having different sizes, if it was different wyverns that would be OK). Such inconsistency bothers me. And another inconsistency is Raegel’s tattoo. In book one it’s said the tattoo is something inherent to elven magic, like every elf has a tattoo representing everything they kill. But here it’s something that comes with Raegel’s curse, something only he has. And speaking of his curse, I’m not sure what it was. Because it’s said Ophelia controls him through the curse, but sometimes it sounds like her control IS the curse. And sometimes it sounds like her control over him is something completely different from the curse. Sometimes it seemed the elves were somewhat a puritan society, other times they were bigger sexual deviants than the incubi. And we’re told so much… like Raegel only eating “pure food”, mentioned by the werewolf prince at the end, but I never gathered that from the rest of the book. Finally, at the end everything happens because someone made that happen. There was never any real danger because the ghost of the Witch queen manipulated everyone so Agatha could be brought back. Yet we never knew ghosts could do something like that. In fact, it’s mentioned that all souls go from Purgatory to hell, where they are made to forget and taken somewhere, that wasn’t clear, unless there is a purification ceremony. Yet none of the witches Ophelia killed are there, until they help Raegel in the end. Yes, they were bound to Ophelia, but Raegel freed them, and nobody did any ceremonies to purify their souls, yet they were not in hell. A plot twist isn’t very effective when it happens thanks to the introduction of new rules or characters we didn’t know were a factor.
Anyway, I finished it, and I liked Valek enough to want to read his story. I disliked Raegel since book one, but Valek seems OK. The wolf prince is hardly mentioned in either book, by the way, so I know nothing about him. Not even his hair color. Just that he's more muscular than the rest of the princes, and that was mentioned in the second to last chapter here. But its painfully obvious who his mate is, even when what we're told in this book would completely eliminate the possibility. And the epilogues take so much tension from the rest of the story... they just spoil the things that happen. I know the overall story will have a happy ending, but still...
The only elven woman ever named had to be the spy? Really? And of course, let’s throw in some girl-on-girl hate, why not?
As for Agatha, Raegel walks all over her, and she lets him. At the beginning she was this hellion, independent, badass, take-no-shit kind of woman. HE decides she’s his, and she no longer has any freaking backbone whatsoever. She’s extremely insecure when he’s concerned, and I can’t blame her. Yet she thinks her feelings are unreasonable! Hell, HE acts as if she’s being unreasonable, so there. And he blames her for what he does. Yeah. She justifies his every shitty action, too. “...you punished me because you were punishing yourself for wanting me.” ARRGGHHH!!! Really? Really!!?? Almost DNF when that particular phrase came about. But I would have missed the gem where she talks of Zeus’ seducing of Leda as romantic. The greek myths taught here in Mexico must be wildly different from those taught elsewhere, it seems. Finally, he makes it seem as if the littlest of concessions he makes to her are huge life-altering things he graciously endures for her sake. Fuck, I hate him.
Another thing that bothered me was that the first two freaking chapters were exactly the same as some chapters from the previous book. Verbatim. Just changed “Agatha said” for “I said”, and in the Raegel chapter not even that. Totally unnecessary; I mean, if I’m reading book two, most likely I already read book one, it’s not like they can be read out of order. And the author keeps forgetting things mentioned in the first book. Like the color of the trees. Here, they are green and brown, and the elves dress themselves in those colors to blend with the forest, but we were told in book one that everyone but witches see the trees as black. So, which is it? Or the fact that the magic necessary to open a freaking portal (something elves can do, with their weaker nature magic and all) is much more than what’s necessary to turn several people into toads. Makes no sense! Also, how the fuck do they grow anything in purgatory, since there is no sun? And the author mixes celtic and wiccan ideologies with christian concepts like purgatory, and let’s add some talk about chakras too, can’t have too many conflicting concepts. Oh, and also, let's talk about meridians. I had to google those, because they’re never explained in the book, and my understanding of chakras is surface at best. Yet another problem is the wyverns. Sometimes they are described as big enough for a witch to ride on them, but other times they seem to be as big as a golden retriever, or maybe a great Dane (the same ones are described as having different sizes, if it was different wyverns that would be OK). Such inconsistency bothers me. And another inconsistency is Raegel’s tattoo. In book one it’s said the tattoo is something inherent to elven magic, like every elf has a tattoo representing everything they kill. But here it’s something that comes with Raegel’s curse, something only he has. And speaking of his curse, I’m not sure what it was. Because it’s said Ophelia controls him through the curse, but sometimes it sounds like her control IS the curse. And sometimes it sounds like her control over him is something completely different from the curse. Sometimes it seemed the elves were somewhat a puritan society, other times they were bigger sexual deviants than the incubi. And we’re told so much… like Raegel only eating “pure food”, mentioned by the werewolf prince at the end, but I never gathered that from the rest of the book. Finally, at the end everything happens because someone made that happen. There was never any real danger because the ghost of the Witch queen manipulated everyone so Agatha could be brought back. Yet we never knew ghosts could do something like that. In fact, it’s mentioned that all souls go from Purgatory to hell, where they are made to forget and taken somewhere, that wasn’t clear, unless there is a purification ceremony. Yet none of the witches Ophelia killed are there, until they help Raegel in the end. Yes, they were bound to Ophelia, but Raegel freed them, and nobody did any ceremonies to purify their souls, yet they were not in hell. A plot twist isn’t very effective when it happens thanks to the introduction of new rules or characters we didn’t know were a factor.
Anyway, I finished it, and I liked Valek enough to want to read his story. I disliked Raegel since book one, but Valek seems OK. The wolf prince is hardly mentioned in either book, by the way, so I know nothing about him. Not even his hair color. Just that he's more muscular than the rest of the princes, and that was mentioned in the second to last chapter here. But its painfully obvious who his mate is, even when what we're told in this book would completely eliminate the possibility. And the epilogues take so much tension from the rest of the story... they just spoil the things that happen. I know the overall story will have a happy ending, but still...
jenworries's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.75
bookwormbunny's review
5.0
Curse of Darkness is the second book in C.R. Robertson’s Princes of Purgatory series and this book gives readers Agatha and Raegel’s story. Their fates decided in the runes and by fate, their paths will cross and be sealed into the path that they are destined to follow. Agatha after years of not finding the one meant for her is prepared to embrace what she believes is her fate to die to protect those that she loves. But this elf prince will be the one who comes and takes her heart and she will be the one to melt his, but will they be strong enough to withstand the danger and destruction that is Ophelia?
Curse of Darkness hooked me in from the beginning by giving me a glimpse into the past and seeing Agatha and her sister while their mother was still alive. I almost missed who the chapter was about in my eagerness to devour it. LOL! I had to go back real fast and reread it. Then the author shifts to Raegel as his father offers up to Ophelia. Then the story shifts into present day and races ahead. I love how the author blends pieces of book one into this book so that they are familiar, but not simply repeated. I get the story from Agatha’s viewpoint, but still enjoy the fact that I know what is going to happen in that particular scene. The banter between the characters and family connection is well done and I like how warm it is.
I found Raegel to be an interesting character. There were some moments though in the book of where I’d forget that he’s actually an elf and not a vampire. It’s just some of the actions of him as a character, but then the author reminds me of certain details and then I cement it in my head that he’s an elf. He really comes off as a tortured soul in this book. He is tormented by Ophelia’s curse and the price that she exacts on him to force him to heel. I have to say that I love that the author has Raegel show his heart in unique ways. He does it subtly and in ways not meant to draw attention. Now, he does have his irritating moments, but I can move past them because he does get some payback here and there. LOL!
The relationship between him and Agatha is steamy to say the least. I love the push and pull that goes on between them and how well they can read each other even before they are mated. True to form this author gives readers a nice dose of steamy with this book. I wouldn’t call it overly graphic, but the detail is there and in all right the places to fuel the imagination all the way.
There is, of course, a spy in the elven midst and the author does a good job at keeping me looking at the wrong character for a whole minute. Also, you can be sure that as this story fills in the gaps to book one with these characters, that we’ll get to find out what happened exactly with the last spy.
This book is an enjoyable story, and the author drops who the next couple will be. I’m looking forward to the next book in this series to find out how they come together and what dangers they will face as Ophelia loses power a piece at a time and only becomes more dangerous in her quest to regain what she has lost. I am rating this book 5 out of 5 stars. If you read the first book and enjoyed it then I am sure that you are going to enjoy this addition to the series.
Curse of Darkness hooked me in from the beginning by giving me a glimpse into the past and seeing Agatha and her sister while their mother was still alive. I almost missed who the chapter was about in my eagerness to devour it. LOL! I had to go back real fast and reread it. Then the author shifts to Raegel as his father offers up to Ophelia. Then the story shifts into present day and races ahead. I love how the author blends pieces of book one into this book so that they are familiar, but not simply repeated. I get the story from Agatha’s viewpoint, but still enjoy the fact that I know what is going to happen in that particular scene. The banter between the characters and family connection is well done and I like how warm it is.
I found Raegel to be an interesting character. There were some moments though in the book of where I’d forget that he’s actually an elf and not a vampire. It’s just some of the actions of him as a character, but then the author reminds me of certain details and then I cement it in my head that he’s an elf. He really comes off as a tortured soul in this book. He is tormented by Ophelia’s curse and the price that she exacts on him to force him to heel. I have to say that I love that the author has Raegel show his heart in unique ways. He does it subtly and in ways not meant to draw attention. Now, he does have his irritating moments, but I can move past them because he does get some payback here and there. LOL!
The relationship between him and Agatha is steamy to say the least. I love the push and pull that goes on between them and how well they can read each other even before they are mated. True to form this author gives readers a nice dose of steamy with this book. I wouldn’t call it overly graphic, but the detail is there and in all right the places to fuel the imagination all the way.
There is, of course, a spy in the elven midst and the author does a good job at keeping me looking at the wrong character for a whole minute. Also, you can be sure that as this story fills in the gaps to book one with these characters, that we’ll get to find out what happened exactly with the last spy.
This book is an enjoyable story, and the author drops who the next couple will be. I’m looking forward to the next book in this series to find out how they come together and what dangers they will face as Ophelia loses power a piece at a time and only becomes more dangerous in her quest to regain what she has lost. I am rating this book 5 out of 5 stars. If you read the first book and enjoyed it then I am sure that you are going to enjoy this addition to the series.
More...