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brendalovesbooks's review
4.0
At first, I didn't think I'd like this one. And I was a little baffled that it had a relatively high rating on goodreads. But then I kept reading, and it got better and better. I liked it a lot. On to the next in the series...
amibunk's review
3.0
Slightly crass characters and mediocre writing should give this book two stars, however its uniquely different story and setting made the novel more enjoyable than I anticipated.
colorfulleo92's review
4.0
Just what I needed in my semi reading slump. So good with fast paced action and humor, I just want more of the story, luckily it's the first book in a series, YAY!
traecrochet's review against another edition
3.0
Max is a the Prime Shadowblade of the Witch Giselle, that is, her top night warrior. Tricked into sacrificing her life by Giselle, Max wants nothing more than to kill her and end her slavery. However, with a war brewing that can wipe out existence for all of mankind, Max has to put her hatred aside and help Giselle.
To be honest, I found this book to be confusing at first. Diana Pharaoh Francis either throws too much information at you, or not enough. Max was an okay character, but lacked the depth and emotion I would have expected from someone forced into eternal slavery. Alexander, Max's love interest, constantly being leered at by Max, but they lacked sexual tension you so often expect in Urban Fantasy novels. Overall, I've read worse, but I hope this series picks up in the second book.
Also: No steamy love scenes??
To be honest, I found this book to be confusing at first. Diana Pharaoh Francis either throws too much information at you, or not enough. Max was an okay character, but lacked the depth and emotion I would have expected from someone forced into eternal slavery. Alexander, Max's love interest, constantly being leered at by Max, but they lacked sexual tension you so often expect in Urban Fantasy novels. Overall, I've read worse, but I hope this series picks up in the second book.
Also: No steamy love scenes??
rebeccazh's review
June 14 2017:
Reread the first few chapters and it doesn't bear up to rereading. The writing is a little stilted and awkward. I love the idea though, of sunspears and shadowblades.
Reread the first few chapters and it doesn't bear up to rereading. The writing is a little stilted and awkward. I love the idea though, of sunspears and shadowblades.
paradoxically's review
3.0
First impressions were pretty bad. Max seemed overly dramatic to me. Take the scene where she was looking at this boy and thought something akin to 'if he knew how many people she killed', or the scene where she's staring at dead 'innocent' bodies and immediately became swamped with a need for vengeance (that's your first reaction? Really?). Or the scene soon after that where she sees another Shadowblade and wants to jump his bones. Talk about whiplash from 'must have vengeance' to hot and bothered.
Then there's just some things that bother me, personally. I don't like alternating POVs (the POVs in this book switch between Max and Alexander, who is pretty much Designated Love Interest). I also don't like books in which someone is enslaved, mostly because I keep getting irrationally angry at a book. I knew what I was getting into before I started reading it, but I didn't know that Giselle, the one who bound Max, is a twit who thinks that doing such things are all right because Max 'agreed' (when she didn't know the full facts, when she thought it was just an impossible, amusing thought, when she was drunk, and so on). It was needed (or, rather, for her it was needed), but it still annoys me.
It's not all bad though. I have a huge loyalty thing, so the loyalty that the rest of the Shadowblades show Max made this book a lot more tolerable. The book was also better as it went on--I don't know if I got used to the things that irritated me before or if I was actively ignoring them, but it read smoother. Max seems a little... I'd say superhuman, but she is, obviously, superhuman. But she nudges towards Mary Sue level.
Overall, about 2-3 stars. Since a lot of it is my personal bias, I'll just keep it at 3 stars.
Then there's just some things that bother me, personally. I don't like alternating POVs (the POVs in this book switch between Max and Alexander, who is pretty much Designated Love Interest). I also don't like books in which someone is enslaved, mostly because I keep getting irrationally angry at a book. I knew what I was getting into before I started reading it, but I didn't know that Giselle, the one who bound Max, is a twit who thinks that doing such things are all right because Max 'agreed' (when she didn't know the full facts, when she thought it was just an impossible, amusing thought, when she was drunk, and so on). It was needed (or, rather, for her it was needed), but it still annoys me.
It's not all bad though. I have a huge loyalty thing, so the loyalty that the rest of the Shadowblades show Max made this book a lot more tolerable. The book was also better as it went on--I don't know if I got used to the things that irritated me before or if I was actively ignoring them, but it read smoother. Max seems a little... I'd say superhuman, but she is, obviously, superhuman. But she nudges towards Mary Sue level.
Overall, about 2-3 stars. Since a lot of it is my personal bias, I'll just keep it at 3 stars.
lynseyisreading's review
5.0
What an outstanding start to a series. There have not been many books that I have read that have left me with a look of pure, stupefied awe on my face over its sheer awesomeness. But this is definitely one of them. I've actually just finished reading it for the second time and thought I'd come back and add to my review since first time around I could only manage a few lines of small words due to the whole stupefaction thing.
So what was so good about it? Well, first of all let me let you into my personal list of must-haves for any book to be deemed a "favourite": Action, fast pacing, a grin-worthy hint of romance, humour, a high magic/fantasy content, and I'm also a sucker for a kick-ass chick and/or a bad-ass dude. Someone I can cheer on and really root for and go "Yeah! Smash his face in!" (Because I'm a little vicious like that). And this book just had it all. In abundance.
It was deliciously easy to read as well. Written in third person, although Max is the main character you get nearly as much time in the head of one of the other characters which provides a great balance giving you an almost panoramic view of events. Francis handles these changes with aplomb. When Max is doing something that you'd probably be better watching than experiencing first hand (and believe me, Max does some pretty wince inducing stuff), you swap to the other POV. It was fantastic in that sense.
The other thing that bowled me over was its unique characters and never before seen supernatural beings. Francis is/has been a fantasy writer prior to this series, and it shows here in her refusal to go down the typical vampire/werewolf/shapeshifter route. Instead, she brings us something fresh and new to sink our eager little fangs into. Shadowblades and Sunspears. Both are immortal- well, maybe more like long-lived- and both are created by strong elemental witches to be used as their protection. Think of them as guardians of the witches' coven- day shift and night shift, as one can't survive the sun and the other can't survive the night.
Max, our leading lady, and the Shadowblade Prime, is one of the toughest, if slightly suicidal, characters I've ever encountered. She's also housing a monumental amount of rage and resentment at the start of our story which is interesting to witness and see her work through. There was quite a lot of character growth in this story and more to come, I suspect. The secondary characters were equally vivid, and there's one in particular that makes me want to jump up and down in fan-girl glee. *Clappy hands, clappy hands*
I recommend this for all Urban Fantasy fans. If you like Kate Daniels, Dorina Basarab, Chicagoland Vamps, Elemental Assassin series, this series is a must!
So what was so good about it? Well, first of all let me let you into my personal list of must-haves for any book to be deemed a "favourite": Action, fast pacing, a grin-worthy hint of romance, humour, a high magic/fantasy content, and I'm also a sucker for a kick-ass chick and/or a bad-ass dude. Someone I can cheer on and really root for and go "Yeah! Smash his face in!" (Because I'm a little vicious like that). And this book just had it all. In abundance.
It was deliciously easy to read as well. Written in third person, although Max is the main character you get nearly as much time in the head of one of the other characters which provides a great balance giving you an almost panoramic view of events. Francis handles these changes with aplomb. When Max is doing something that you'd probably be better watching than experiencing first hand (and believe me, Max does some pretty wince inducing stuff), you swap to the other POV. It was fantastic in that sense.
The other thing that bowled me over was its unique characters and never before seen supernatural beings. Francis is/has been a fantasy writer prior to this series, and it shows here in her refusal to go down the typical vampire/werewolf/shapeshifter route. Instead, she brings us something fresh and new to sink our eager little fangs into. Shadowblades and Sunspears. Both are immortal- well, maybe more like long-lived- and both are created by strong elemental witches to be used as their protection. Think of them as guardians of the witches' coven- day shift and night shift, as one can't survive the sun and the other can't survive the night.
Max, our leading lady, and the Shadowblade Prime, is one of the toughest, if slightly suicidal, characters I've ever encountered. She's also housing a monumental amount of rage and resentment at the start of our story which is interesting to witness and see her work through. There was quite a lot of character growth in this story and more to come, I suspect. The secondary characters were equally vivid, and there's one in particular that makes me want to jump up and down in fan-girl glee. *Clappy hands, clappy hands*
I recommend this for all Urban Fantasy fans. If you like Kate Daniels, Dorina Basarab, Chicagoland Vamps, Elemental Assassin series, this series is a must!
luluht's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
rosetyper9's review
5.0
I have lately had an issue with getting into books, it's a weird and inconvenient problem in the book blogging hobby. I started reading this book after dinner last night and continued reading to about 2am today. It was amazing, it was a bit slow to start and there was a part of the plot that I was a bit lost on but everything else was amazing. The dialogue was witty, funny, and full of a few fun pop-culture references. I love the strength of Max's character and the tension between her and Alexander. I love the angels, witches, faerie folk, creatures, spells, magic, etc. I loved it all. There was so much action going on in this book, it is non-stop the whole way through, no joke, there is like 2 pages in the whole book that something is not going on. It was a complete thrill ride, one I will gladly take again when the next book is released, and I can hardly wait to see whats up with Scooter