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mooncricketjp's review
3.0
You should still try it...
I absolutely loved the story/plot but didn't so much like the style of writing. For me, there was too much detail; sometimes it felt like one thought was explained in multiple pages. Definitely one of those types of books that readers should judge on their own.
I absolutely loved the story/plot but didn't so much like the style of writing. For me, there was too much detail; sometimes it felt like one thought was explained in multiple pages. Definitely one of those types of books that readers should judge on their own.
faustin2nd's review
4.0
I really liked this book. I was a bit apprehensive when I got it, because I thought: group of men, kidnapping? Eh, please let this not turn into a group orgy mixed with some Stockholm's syndrome. I think the world-building was elaborate enough to justify the rule-bending, so the kidnapping didn't take over the whole story (thank God) but Tyr!
Now, I understand that heroes like Tyr are not everyone's cup of tea. Alpha? Check. Problematic? Hm...sorta check. Violent? Check check check. Beard and hairy? Check. But Megan knew how to weave his character flaws into a very lovable character. Honestly this book is just a BDSM-lite romance in a post-apocalyptic Viking-esque world where brotherhood rules above all and resources are scarce. This is not an insult by the way, I'm all for well-written BDSM-lite romances set anywhere so I'm going to follow this series very closely. Some of the characters introduced in this book deserve their own stories (Wulf and Gunnar - what's up with that? I need more!)
I'm going to find other Megan Crane books as I wait for the next book.
Now, I understand that heroes like Tyr are not everyone's cup of tea. Alpha? Check. Problematic? Hm...sorta check. Violent? Check check check. Beard and hairy? Check. But Megan knew how to weave his character flaws into a very lovable character. Honestly this book is just a BDSM-lite romance in a post-apocalyptic Viking-esque world where brotherhood rules above all and resources are scarce. This is not an insult by the way, I'm all for well-written BDSM-lite romances set anywhere so I'm going to follow this series very closely. Some of the characters introduced in this book deserve their own stories (Wulf and Gunnar - what's up with that? I need more!)
I'm going to find other Megan Crane books as I wait for the next book.
hannas_heas47's review
5.0
Thanks Netgalley for a copy to read and review.
This caveman style type of book just comes around too few times for my liking. Barbarians.....check. Hot alpha male.... Check. Chick who needs dragging back to lair.... Check. Loved it. Had that end of times drama but well worth the read in my opinion. One of my top ten for this month anyways. I was drawn into a unique storyline and the characters had fabulous chemistry. Five stars.
This caveman style type of book just comes around too few times for my liking. Barbarians.....check. Hot alpha male.... Check. Chick who needs dragging back to lair.... Check. Loved it. Had that end of times drama but well worth the read in my opinion. One of my top ten for this month anyways. I was drawn into a unique storyline and the characters had fabulous chemistry. Five stars.
thenovellush's review
5.0
4.5 stars.
I read a lot of quick outlaw romances, but this one is the best, hands down. I've seen some people complain about the main character's motivation, however this is the kind of book I talk about when I say I will forgive plot stuff if the characters are done well and y'all.... Helena's quest may have seemed silly, and there were a lot of holes in the dystopian aspect, but I believed in her urgency and most importantly, I wouldn't have cared much about it anyways because I was 1000% here for the romance because the way those author conveyed their emotions had me sucked in, face 2 inches away from my tablet, reading so fast that I had to go back and reread some sentences over and over again. And some I read over and over again because I enjoyed them so much.
Keep in mind, I found his book in an erotica section with a BDSM tag, so I expected the copious amounts of sex. In any outlaw type romance novels there's usually a LOT of sex. Just saying. That said, I just really love how well written this book is.
This is the kind of emotion portrayal that I crave in my romances. This is the kind of writing that I'm talking about when I say I want to believe in the tension and passion between the two (or more) main characters.
Despite the BDSM tag, it's what I would call BDSM lite. Some control aspects in the romance that have more to do with the society having some patriarchal themes tied in to the fact that the men are vikings, but nothing formal and it doesn't dominate the sex scenes. Tyr is in control, but it doesn't get 50 Shades and whatever punishments Helena earned are alluded to but handled off screen. And they sound more like they were funishments anyway.
Half star docked because in the beginning the male posturing from Tyr during the raids was hard to swallow and induced a lot of eye rolling. After the raid the "look at these puny punk ass bitches....all these punk bitches are inferior to me." type exaggerated alpha statements came down a lot. Those statements scared me at first and made me think it was going to be more of the same shenanigans that I usually see with outlaw type characters when they're written in a way that makes it look like the author doesn't know how to make them come off as cocksure and badass except to make it so extreme that it's corny and annoying.
I might skip the 2nd book because I don't like Gunnar's character so much. Not sure yet.
I read a lot of quick outlaw romances, but this one is the best, hands down. I've seen some people complain about the main character's motivation, however this is the kind of book I talk about when I say I will forgive plot stuff if the characters are done well and y'all.... Helena's quest may have seemed silly, and there were a lot of holes in the dystopian aspect, but I believed in her urgency and most importantly, I wouldn't have cared much about it anyways because I was 1000% here for the romance because the way those author conveyed their emotions had me sucked in, face 2 inches away from my tablet, reading so fast that I had to go back and reread some sentences over and over again. And some I read over and over again because I enjoyed them so much.
Keep in mind, I found his book in an erotica section with a BDSM tag, so I expected the copious amounts of sex. In any outlaw type romance novels there's usually a LOT of sex. Just saying. That said, I just really love how well written this book is.
This is the kind of emotion portrayal that I crave in my romances. This is the kind of writing that I'm talking about when I say I want to believe in the tension and passion between the two (or more) main characters.
Despite the BDSM tag, it's what I would call BDSM lite. Some control aspects in the romance that have more to do with the society having some patriarchal themes tied in to the fact that the men are vikings, but nothing formal and it doesn't dominate the sex scenes. Tyr is in control, but it doesn't get 50 Shades and whatever punishments Helena earned are alluded to but handled off screen. And they sound more like they were funishments anyway.
Half star docked because in the beginning the male posturing from Tyr during the raids was hard to swallow and induced a lot of eye rolling. After the raid the "look at these puny punk ass bitches....all these punk bitches are inferior to me." type exaggerated alpha statements came down a lot. Those statements scared me at first and made me think it was going to be more of the same shenanigans that I usually see with outlaw type characters when they're written in a way that makes it look like the author doesn't know how to make them come off as cocksure and badass except to make it so extreme that it's corny and annoying.
I might skip the 2nd book because I don't like Gunnar's character so much. Not sure yet.
anabelsbrother's review
3.0
3.5/5
I reviewed the whole series on Romances Ever After.
[Possible triggers: kidnapping, dubious consent]
Now that I finished all four books, I can say that the first book is the weakest in the series, but it’s still entertaining and a good start.
Tyr is the war chief of the raider clan, fiercely loyal to his king, Wulf, and his people. The raiders have a reputation to be fearsome men who live by their own law and code, which is vastly different from the rest of the surviving human race, or the mainlanders. He met Helena, a mainland woman, in one of the raids he led, and was immediately drawn to her feistiness and spirit. However, Helena has her own secret, one she would die to protect, and a mission trusted upon her by her late parents, and she would do everything in her power to carry it out.
What I love about Edge of Obsession is how the difference between the mainlander’s way of living and the raiders’ is highlighted through Helena and Tyr. They both have different upbringings and worldviews as well a set prejudice against each other’s people. The more time they spend with each other, the more they learned about each other, and found things to respect about each other.
I do feel like this book is sex-heavy (boy did the raiders love their sex orgies), and while I didn’t mind it one bit (heh), it will probably bug people who prefer more dystopia with their stories. Helena’s mysterious mission kind of got sidelined by her and Tyr’s explosive attraction to each other and all the sexy times they had until probably some 70-80% of the story, so yea it might be a deal-breaker to some.
I reviewed the whole series on Romances Ever After.
[Possible triggers: kidnapping, dubious consent]
Now that I finished all four books, I can say that the first book is the weakest in the series, but it’s still entertaining and a good start.
Tyr is the war chief of the raider clan, fiercely loyal to his king, Wulf, and his people. The raiders have a reputation to be fearsome men who live by their own law and code, which is vastly different from the rest of the surviving human race, or the mainlanders. He met Helena, a mainland woman, in one of the raids he led, and was immediately drawn to her feistiness and spirit. However, Helena has her own secret, one she would die to protect, and a mission trusted upon her by her late parents, and she would do everything in her power to carry it out.
What I love about Edge of Obsession is how the difference between the mainlander’s way of living and the raiders’ is highlighted through Helena and Tyr. They both have different upbringings and worldviews as well a set prejudice against each other’s people. The more time they spend with each other, the more they learned about each other, and found things to respect about each other.
I do feel like this book is sex-heavy (boy did the raiders love their sex orgies), and while I didn’t mind it one bit (heh), it will probably bug people who prefer more dystopia with their stories. Helena’s mysterious mission kind of got sidelined by her and Tyr’s explosive attraction to each other and all the sexy times they had until probably some 70-80% of the story, so yea it might be a deal-breaker to some.
emilyhei's review
4.0
Helena has been running with the intent of not being caught, she never expected to be captured by Raiders. It didn't help that she couldn't stop herself from putting up a fight and capturing the interest of Tyr.
The world now is all about women serving as a winter wife, used to conceive before being sent to the next man if they don't succeed. Helena is not thrilled with what is expected, and she has her own reasons for not wanting to be apart of it. Tyr calls to her though and doesn't let up about his interest in her. Helena is at a crossroads while Tyr struggles with what he is feeling towards Helena, is she just one of many?
Intriguing story. I thought this whole concept was fascinating. Liked Tyr, he is not overly warm and fuzzy but sometimes you sense a softer side to his gruff demeanor. Helena is a fighter, once you uncover her reasons behind what she has done you are cheering her on. Great read.
The world now is all about women serving as a winter wife, used to conceive before being sent to the next man if they don't succeed. Helena is not thrilled with what is expected, and she has her own reasons for not wanting to be apart of it. Tyr calls to her though and doesn't let up about his interest in her. Helena is at a crossroads while Tyr struggles with what he is feeling towards Helena, is she just one of many?
Intriguing story. I thought this whole concept was fascinating. Liked Tyr, he is not overly warm and fuzzy but sometimes you sense a softer side to his gruff demeanor. Helena is a fighter, once you uncover her reasons behind what she has done you are cheering her on. Great read.
bananatricky's review
4.0
So I requested the third book in this series from NetGalley not realising that it was the third book in a series. I loved it so much that I got the first two books PDQ.
First off, this series is about a dystopian viking-type world. Think bands of marauding warriors on long boats, braids, fighting and fucking. Lots of fucking. Honestly, if my use of the f-word in this review offends you DO NOT under any circumstances read this book.
The world failed, the seas rose about 100 years ago and most of the continental USA is under water. The USA has regressed into a semi-feudal society in which priests control access to what little electricity remains by claiming old power plants as temples. With a limited population the priests mandate the population enter into marriage purely for procreation during the cold winter months. Each couple is required to have sex every night, but anything that doesn't lead to pregnancy is strictly forbidden. As a consequence sex has become a chore for most. These people call themselves the Compliant. Think of some of the less-developed worlds of Firefly.
The exception are the raiders. Like the vikings of old, the raiders are a race apart. Bound by oaths of allegiance to their king, they believe in the power of the sword. Tyr is the Kings War Chief, when leading a raid on a small settlement he runs into a woman who challenges him. The woman, Helena is part of a family whose mission is to reconnect the USA to the power stations and to give electricity back to the people.
I'll be honest, I think the third book is better than the first book, although all the story arc points are mentioned in this first book I would describe this book as plot light, heavy on the sex. Helena has always followed the Compliant way, even though her parents were a love match and taught her to think for herself. When she enters the raisers' secret base she is shocked by the rampant, non-Compliant, hedonistic sex which takes place all around her (and I do mean all around her).
Whilst Tyr is the sort of alpha dominant male character that I usually loathe with every fibre of my being, I actually quite liked him. Don't get me wrong, he still acted like a douche at times, and apparently he needed to force Helena to beg for help, obvs because "she needed it" like every other alpha douche always just knows what a woman needs because they all have degrees in psychology, but somehow in a post-apocalyptic society where might rules it seems more acceptable. And somehow, calling the love of your life "a little shit" becomes quite endearing.
If your OCD reading habits can allow you to read out of sequence I would definitely recommend reading the third book before the first, unless you are just jonesing for some raunchy sexy reads, the third book develops the plot more, still steamy but definitely plot driven.
Anyway, I've promised myself that I will clear some of my NetGalley TBR pile before I allow myself to read the second book, but I'm really looking forward to it.
First off, this series is about a dystopian viking-type world. Think bands of marauding warriors on long boats, braids, fighting and fucking. Lots of fucking. Honestly, if my use of the f-word in this review offends you DO NOT under any circumstances read this book.
The world failed, the seas rose about 100 years ago and most of the continental USA is under water. The USA has regressed into a semi-feudal society in which priests control access to what little electricity remains by claiming old power plants as temples. With a limited population the priests mandate the population enter into marriage purely for procreation during the cold winter months. Each couple is required to have sex every night, but anything that doesn't lead to pregnancy is strictly forbidden. As a consequence sex has become a chore for most. These people call themselves the Compliant. Think of some of the less-developed worlds of Firefly.
The exception are the raiders. Like the vikings of old, the raiders are a race apart. Bound by oaths of allegiance to their king, they believe in the power of the sword. Tyr is the Kings War Chief, when leading a raid on a small settlement he runs into a woman who challenges him. The woman, Helena is part of a family whose mission is to reconnect the USA to the power stations and to give electricity back to the people.
I'll be honest, I think the third book is better than the first book, although all the story arc points are mentioned in this first book I would describe this book as plot light, heavy on the sex. Helena has always followed the Compliant way, even though her parents were a love match and taught her to think for herself. When she enters the raisers' secret base she is shocked by the rampant, non-Compliant, hedonistic sex which takes place all around her (and I do mean all around her).
Whilst Tyr is the sort of alpha dominant male character that I usually loathe with every fibre of my being, I actually quite liked him. Don't get me wrong, he still acted like a douche at times, and apparently he needed to force Helena to beg for help, obvs because "she needed it" like every other alpha douche always just knows what a woman needs because they all have degrees in psychology, but somehow in a post-apocalyptic society where might rules it seems more acceptable. And somehow, calling the love of your life "a little shit" becomes quite endearing.
If your OCD reading habits can allow you to read out of sequence I would definitely recommend reading the third book before the first, unless you are just jonesing for some raunchy sexy reads, the third book develops the plot more, still steamy but definitely plot driven.
Anyway, I've promised myself that I will clear some of my NetGalley TBR pile before I allow myself to read the second book, but I'm really looking forward to it.
kellym_16829's review
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
prgchrqltma's review
DNF around 10%. Was expecting romantic suspense, got dystopian viking warrior romance. Was so startled, I paged back to make sure that someone hadn't put in a different book. Just not my thing.