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dewey007's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
It's okay....
katyanaish's review against another edition
3.0
***3.5***
You know, I'm not sure why this book didn't engage me. It had a good story, good characters, an interesting mythology. But I never really hooked in. I had to MAKE myself finish it, I was so ambivalent about it.
I think the secret-keeping dragged on too much. I was interested at first, but it got to the point where it felt so tiresome that I just didn't care when they finally mutually revealed their big secrets. And oddly, they didn't care much either. Ben literally did not bat an eye at her ability. I believe his reaction was and then it was literally never spoken of again. Which in hindsight is baffling to me, but in the moment (as I read) may have contributed to my general feeling of MEH.
Anyway, I know I'm in the minority here - everyone I know loves this series. But I won't be reading onwards... I'm too busy for a series that feels like a chore to finish.
You know, I'm not sure why this book didn't engage me. It had a good story, good characters, an interesting mythology. But I never really hooked in. I had to MAKE myself finish it, I was so ambivalent about it.
I think the secret-keeping dragged on too much. I was interested at first, but it got to the point where it felt so tiresome that I just didn't care when they finally mutually revealed their big secrets. And oddly, they didn't care much either. Ben literally did not bat an eye at her ability. I believe his reaction was
Spoiler
"oh, is that why you're not scared to walk down dark alleys?"Anyway, I know I'm in the minority here - everyone I know loves this series. But I won't be reading onwards... I'm too busy for a series that feels like a chore to finish.
aranafyre's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting. Worth the read. Nothing ground breaking. I like the idea of the silver. The pacing was weird. There was one scene right after the marriage with all this sexual tension and it kind of abruptly ends with no resolution between the characters and then a week goes by. There was a lot of that.
maboelion's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
bookwitchva's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
steph01924's review against another edition
3.0
It was intriguing and fun for about half the book and better written than most historical romances. But then it started to drag a bit when all the romantic tension was gone...I guess I like my book couples to be in love but not so gushy about it. I'm not into the guy suddenly turning into a fountain of 'oh my, you're so beautiful my sweet and utterly wonderful darling honey pie'.
The other part that started to get frustrating was the big mystery of why Archer was masked and what his little club had done. Too much 'but I CAN'T tell you, it's too horrible, it's too gross, I'm too ugly' and when it was finally explained I was still a bit confused as to what a
The last thing that bothered me, and I'm not sure why I was squicked out more by this in this book than some other things is the fact that
My only theory is because we met peers of Archer's, all whom are clearly old, old men, so I began to imagine a creepy, old-man Archer leering at Miranda (which some of Archer's friends DID do, and we had to be inside their heads listening to them do it, EW, Leland) instead of the hot and appropriately younger-aged Archer. Sigh. Way to ruin it.
So yeah. I'll check out the next book and see how it is, because at least the parts surrounding the overly-gushy couple were ok.
The other part that started to get frustrating was the big mystery of why Archer was masked and what his little club had done. Too much 'but I CAN'T tell you, it's too horrible, it's too gross, I'm too ugly' and when it was finally explained I was still a bit confused as to what a
Spoiler
light demon who eats souls actually was. Meh.The last thing that bothered me, and I'm not sure why I was squicked out more by this in this book than some other things is the fact that
Spoiler
Archer was secretly like 90-years-old. I've shipped Buffy and Angel, which was infinitely more twisted a relationship, so I don't know why this part made me go 'whoa now. Pump the brakes.'My only theory is because we met peers of Archer's, all whom are clearly old, old men, so I began to imagine a creepy, old-man Archer leering at Miranda (which some of Archer's friends DID do, and we had to be inside their heads listening to them do it, EW, Leland) instead of the hot and appropriately younger-aged Archer. Sigh. Way to ruin it.
So yeah. I'll check out the next book and see how it is, because at least the parts surrounding the overly-gushy couple were ok.
jackiehorne's review against another edition
3.0
A first-time book by a writer with a lot of potential -- interesting premise, great sexual tension, a dead-on opening scene. But her debut also has A LOT of weaknesses: overall pacing; problems with bringing scenes to a satisfying sense of closure; world-building (just why is Miranda able spout fire at will?? Does anyone else in her world do something similar?? Can you say plot contrivance??); and gaps of logic in character motivation (why would Miranda get angry that Archer lied to her, immediately after they've finally come together emotionally and sexually? And in a way that should have made her realize his lie -- any reader paying even partial attention had guessed the truth far earlier...) And could she please use some other way to link clauses than the dull and almost meaningless "and"?
I'll definitely pick up her next book, in the hopes she and her editor continue to push her to improve, rather than rush her to pop out one flawed book after another.
I'll definitely pick up her next book, in the hopes she and her editor continue to push her to improve, rather than rush her to pop out one flawed book after another.
kenzee06's review against another edition
2.0
*I won this book in a GoodReads First Reads Giveaway*
First off, this book is about 100 pages too long. There was absolutely no need to drag it out that way. As this is one of my biggest pet peeves, automatic one star deduction. To make matters worse, those 100 pages were filled with angsty monologues from BOTH the lead characters. You're too dangerous to be with your love, but you love them so much, but you can't ever show them the terrible monster that you are, blah blah blah.
The premise itself was sufficiently interesting, and a few of the minor characters (Ian) kept the story from falling completely flat. However, for the most part I was disappointed. The book had too many problems. There wasn't any explanation of Miranda's powers. Miranda herself was rather annoying. Archer might have been worse. And they had NO CHEMISTRY. None. I'm all for a slow burn, but I think we got half way through the book before they even kissed. And I'm sorry, the part where they were touching tongues instead of kissing - no - that is plain weird, not sexy. When the villain threw a dagger at them, I cheered. When you find yourself rooting for the villain that's a big problem.
First off, this book is about 100 pages too long. There was absolutely no need to drag it out that way. As this is one of my biggest pet peeves, automatic one star deduction. To make matters worse, those 100 pages were filled with angsty monologues from BOTH the lead characters. You're too dangerous to be with your love, but you love them so much, but you can't ever show them the terrible monster that you are, blah blah blah.
The premise itself was sufficiently interesting, and a few of the minor characters (Ian) kept the story from falling completely flat. However, for the most part I was disappointed. The book had too many problems. There wasn't any explanation of Miranda's powers. Miranda herself was rather annoying. Archer might have been worse. And they had NO CHEMISTRY. None. I'm all for a slow burn, but I think we got half way through the book before they even kissed. And I'm sorry, the part where they were touching tongues instead of kissing - no - that is plain weird, not sexy. When the villain threw a dagger at them, I cheered. When you find yourself rooting for the villain that's a big problem.