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zaza_bdp's review against another edition
4.0
J'ai retrouvé avec plaisir la bande des Destructive Delta, et je me suis globalement régalée avec ce livre, même si j'ai mis plusieurs jours à le lire.
Le gros atout de ce livre, c'est l'humour ! Une fois encore, je me suis retrouvée à rire comme une débile devant les facéties de Dex, que je n'arrête pas de traiter de "crétin". Mais qu'est-ce qu'il est débilos ce mec ! Débilos, mais attachant et tellement drôle ! Un vrai gosse ... On sent que l'auteure prend du plaisir à le mettre en scène dans des situations folles, et c'est à lui qu'elle réserve les meilleures répliques. Le contraste avec la discrétion et la force tranquille de Sloane n'en est que plus fort.
Bon je m'égare là, car ce tome porte sur Ash & Cael, pas vrai ? Hmmm alors côté romance, je suis quand même un poil déçue, parce que cela fait 4 tomes qu'on attend ça, une dizaines d'années qu'ils attendent ça, et du coup, je m'attendais à quelque chose de plus explosif ! Du genre à secouer la tête de lit et à faire trembler les cloisons ! :) Au final, on a quelque chose de tendre et doux, ce qui colle aussi, vu les insécurités de Ash et son besoin d'y aller mollo. Ils sont mignons tous les deux, en tout cas, mais ils ne m'ont pas fait vibrer comme je l'avais espéré.
Côté action, eh bien c'est mou durant trois quarts du livre, et ensuite, ça part dans tous les sens, et c'est parfois un peu confus (ou alors j'étais trop crevée pour comprendre la description des scènes en anglais ...). On a de grosses surprises, et j'ai trouvé le final vraiment cool, car il donne vraiment envie de lire la suite (puis bon, c'est sur Calvin & Hobbs, donc ...).
Je note tout de même quelques petites choses qui m'ont un peu contrariée, notamment cette manie de considérer Cael comme un môme. On pourrait croire que c'est un mec d'une vingtaine d'années, alors qu'il a quand même 10 ans d'expérience chez les T.H.I.R.D.S, il n'est donc pas un perdreau de l'année. Certains rebondissements tombent un peu trop bien et font trop "soapesques" à mon goût ...
Un tome quand même sympathique, malgré ces petits défauts, et encore une fois, qu'est-ce que j'ai ri ! Je ne vais pas tarder à attaquer la suite, et je suis impatiente de voir comment l'équipe va gérer sa nouvelle "vie" ...
Le gros atout de ce livre, c'est l'humour ! Une fois encore, je me suis retrouvée à rire comme une débile devant les facéties de Dex, que je n'arrête pas de traiter de "crétin". Mais qu'est-ce qu'il est débilos ce mec ! Débilos, mais attachant et tellement drôle ! Un vrai gosse ... On sent que l'auteure prend du plaisir à le mettre en scène dans des situations folles, et c'est à lui qu'elle réserve les meilleures répliques. Le contraste avec la discrétion et la force tranquille de Sloane n'en est que plus fort.
Bon je m'égare là, car ce tome porte sur Ash & Cael, pas vrai ? Hmmm alors côté romance, je suis quand même un poil déçue, parce que cela fait 4 tomes qu'on attend ça, une dizaines d'années qu'ils attendent ça, et du coup, je m'attendais à quelque chose de plus explosif ! Du genre à secouer la tête de lit et à faire trembler les cloisons ! :) Au final, on a quelque chose de tendre et doux, ce qui colle aussi, vu les insécurités de Ash et son besoin d'y aller mollo. Ils sont mignons tous les deux, en tout cas, mais ils ne m'ont pas fait vibrer comme je l'avais espéré.
Côté action, eh bien c'est mou durant trois quarts du livre, et ensuite, ça part dans tous les sens, et c'est parfois un peu confus (ou alors j'étais trop crevée pour comprendre la description des scènes en anglais ...). On a de grosses surprises, et j'ai trouvé le final vraiment cool, car il donne vraiment envie de lire la suite (puis bon, c'est sur Calvin & Hobbs, donc ...).
Je note tout de même quelques petites choses qui m'ont un peu contrariée, notamment cette manie de considérer Cael comme un môme. On pourrait croire que c'est un mec d'une vingtaine d'années, alors qu'il a quand même 10 ans d'expérience chez les T.H.I.R.D.S, il n'est donc pas un perdreau de l'année. Certains rebondissements tombent un peu trop bien et font trop "soapesques" à mon goût ...
Spoiler
la scène avec les parents au cimetière, le retour du vilain ex, d'abord au club, puis son implication avec les autres méchants ...Un tome quand même sympathique, malgré ces petits défauts, et encore une fois, qu'est-ce que j'ai ri ! Je ne vais pas tarder à attaquer la suite, et je suis impatiente de voir comment l'équipe va gérer sa nouvelle "vie" ...
kira_dance's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
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? Yes
4.5
bitchie's review against another edition
3.0
I had a bit of a problem with this book in the series. While I liked the Ash and Cael bits, and I liked the THIRDS plot, about the doctor and the serum, I don't think the author did nearly as good a job blending the two parts into one, cohesive story, like she did with all the previous installments in the series. With Destructive Delta still on leave, a good part of the plot has suddenly switched into the POVs of Austen and Lt Sparks, which was quite jarring, and made the whole sub plot feel like it belonged to another book, only coming together in the last quarter of the book.
And then there were the problems I had with Cael's characterization. He's always been the cute one, the sweet one, who acted a bit younger than the other agents, but I think the author way over sold it here. Cael was constantly giggling and blushing and he even swore like a teenage girl. Jerkface jerk, seriously? THIS is the Therian Cheeta shifter who's also a longtime THIRDS agent? I know he was never supposed to be in the same league as Ash and Sloane, but I didn't expect him to be quite so silly. He did do quite well in his fight at the end, but by then, I already had the giggling blushing kid image in my head, that's going to be hard to let go of.
Oh well, Calvin and Hobbs are next, finally! I'm excited, but also a bit wary, especially after this book.
And then there were the problems I had with Cael's characterization. He's always been the cute one, the sweet one, who acted a bit younger than the other agents, but I think the author way over sold it here. Cael was constantly giggling and blushing and he even swore like a teenage girl. Jerkface jerk, seriously? THIS is the Therian Cheeta shifter who's also a longtime THIRDS agent? I know he was never supposed to be in the same league as Ash and Sloane, but I didn't expect him to be quite so silly. He did do quite well in his fight at the end, but by then, I already had the giggling blushing kid image in my head, that's going to be hard to let go of.
Oh well, Calvin and Hobbs are next, finally! I'm excited, but also a bit wary, especially after this book.
a_reader_obsessed's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 Stars
It’s been a long time coming getting Ash and Cael together, and though not as epic as I would’ve liked, this still had its sweet and poignant moments. As always, for me the happy ending that we get for these two is what ultimately counts.
Of course I loved seeing gruff, grumpy Ash fall hard and show his softer, vulnerable side. In turn, Cael is just one of the best guys ever. He has infinite patience and is devout in his love and utter trust with the reluctant Ash. Though I missed Dex and Sloane quite a bit, it was a very nice look at them from other people’s perspectives.
As this focuses on Ash and Cael, and how they reconcile their problems in and amongst the craziness that is their and Destructive Delta’s lives, the action and fun factor did not fall short. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again - I love the evolution of this series and the entire cast of characters. Each story builds upon itself and makes the experience richer and more entertaining, as well as more meaningful. There’s a new challenge for our team which seems like a complete game changer. I look forward to what the future brings!!
It’s been a long time coming getting Ash and Cael together, and though not as epic as I would’ve liked, this still had its sweet and poignant moments. As always, for me the happy ending that we get for these two is what ultimately counts.
Of course I loved seeing gruff, grumpy Ash fall hard and show his softer, vulnerable side. In turn, Cael is just one of the best guys ever. He has infinite patience and is devout in his love and utter trust with the reluctant Ash. Though I missed Dex and Sloane quite a bit, it was a very nice look at them from other people’s perspectives.
As this focuses on Ash and Cael, and how they reconcile their problems in and amongst the craziness that is their and Destructive Delta’s lives, the action and fun factor did not fall short. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again - I love the evolution of this series and the entire cast of characters. Each story builds upon itself and makes the experience richer and more entertaining, as well as more meaningful. There’s a new challenge for our team which seems like a complete game changer. I look forward to what the future brings!!
jess_theinkspell's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
drez80's review against another edition
3.0
I originally thought these two would be my fave couple, but over the last few books, I've actually become far more interested in Calvin and Hobbs. Maybe that's part of the reason I didn't love this one. I also thought Ash's 180 was too quick. He was paranoid about being gay and being caught with Cael through the entire book and then at the end he was just fine with everything. I just don't see that happening.
mdee's review against another edition
3.0
I feel so sad giving this only 3 stars :(
The first two books in this series are some of my favorite books of all time. I've read and re-read Hell & High Water and Blood & Thunder so many times that I've lost count. Then Rack & Ruin let me down a little and Rise & Fall let me down even more. I felt like I betrayed my love for these amazing characters by not enjoying their story as much as I had previously.
I hoped that Against the Grain would rekindle my love for this series to the same degree as the first two books but it didn't. I still love the characters but their stories just don't seem to spark the same excitement as they used to.
Regardless of how I've felt about the past few books, these characters will continue to hold a special place in my heart. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that any future books would be able to match the magic of the first two.
Side Note: I've bought and started reading each previous book the moment it was released at 12am. It took me well over a month to finally cave in and get this one. That alone should say something.
The first two books in this series are some of my favorite books of all time. I've read and re-read Hell & High Water and Blood & Thunder so many times that I've lost count. Then Rack & Ruin let me down a little and Rise & Fall let me down even more. I felt like I betrayed my love for these amazing characters by not enjoying their story as much as I had previously.
I hoped that Against the Grain would rekindle my love for this series to the same degree as the first two books but it didn't. I still love the characters but their stories just don't seem to spark the same excitement as they used to.
Regardless of how I've felt about the past few books, these characters will continue to hold a special place in my heart. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that any future books would be able to match the magic of the first two.
Side Note: I've bought and started reading each previous book the moment it was released at 12am. It took me well over a month to finally cave in and get this one. That alone should say something.
wenburt's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
4.25
mikibooks's review against another edition
1.0
Suficiente, me doy por vencida. Último libro que leo de esta saga. Voy a dejar de perder mi tiempo con una autora que sólo sabe repetir el mismo esquema, cuyos diálogos y secuencias narrativas son mediocres, repetitivos, previsibles. Que pretende incluir personajes "latinos" que no son más que un cliché caminando. Y que, aún cuando parece presentar una pareja diferente, sus características son iguales a la anterior: cada uno representa el mismo papel, el mismo personaje. Si no le da la cabeza a Charlie Cochet para pensar nada diferente, la verdad es que no pienso aumentarle su porcentaje de lectores ovejas.