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barb4ry1's review against another edition
2.0
M. L. N. Hanover is Daniel Abraham's pen name, under which he writes urban fantasy.
Novel's protagonist, Jayné (pronounced zha-nay) Heller lacks a clear direction in life – she’s dropped out of college and doesn’t get on with her family. Her uncle Eric dies and, rather unexpectedly, leaves all his possessions to Jane. Suddenly, she finds herself with a lot of money and properties around the world. Sounds like a great place for a fresh start.
Unfortunately, the wealth comes with a price. It turns out that her uncle was fighting a secret battle against ‘riders’ – evil spirits that take over human bodies and control them. Jayne is supposed to continue his mission.
While I enjoy the idea of riders taking over human bodies, I find the book disappointing. It feels like a thin YA novel that doesn't deliver any meaningful characters development or interesting plot. Almost everything (feelings, superpowers) is told, not much is shown in a convincing way. Basically, it's a simplistic story focused on a team of good guys stopping the bad guys before it's too late.
Characters feel terribly flat. There's unbelievable and rushed insta-lust between Jayne and one of her team members. Frankly, it was the worst romance I've read in ages.
Jayne is, basically, a directionless and vulnerable drop-out. Some would call her a loser. But when Riders come she suddenly demolishes them with amazing fighting skills. Later on, when the adrenaline drops, she shakes and cries and does whatever a regular human being would do. I have nothing against super-powers; heck, I absolutely love them. Here, though, the author didn't even try to explain what happened. It seems the series is supposed to be ten books long. I assume many things will be revealed in sequels. That's cool. Or rather would be, if this book made me want to read more about zha-nay. It didn't.
I've heard great things about Daniel Abraham. From readers and reviewers I trust. Sadly, after finishing Unclean Spirits chances that I'll read any of his books in the near future are close to none.
Novel's protagonist, Jayné (pronounced zha-nay) Heller lacks a clear direction in life – she’s dropped out of college and doesn’t get on with her family. Her uncle Eric dies and, rather unexpectedly, leaves all his possessions to Jane. Suddenly, she finds herself with a lot of money and properties around the world. Sounds like a great place for a fresh start.
Unfortunately, the wealth comes with a price. It turns out that her uncle was fighting a secret battle against ‘riders’ – evil spirits that take over human bodies and control them. Jayne is supposed to continue his mission.
While I enjoy the idea of riders taking over human bodies, I find the book disappointing. It feels like a thin YA novel that doesn't deliver any meaningful characters development or interesting plot. Almost everything (feelings, superpowers) is told, not much is shown in a convincing way. Basically, it's a simplistic story focused on a team of good guys stopping the bad guys before it's too late.
Characters feel terribly flat. There's unbelievable and rushed insta-lust between Jayne and one of her team members. Frankly, it was the worst romance I've read in ages.
Jayne is, basically, a directionless and vulnerable drop-out. Some would call her a loser. But when Riders come she suddenly demolishes them with amazing fighting skills. Later on, when the adrenaline drops, she shakes and cries and does whatever a regular human being would do. I have nothing against super-powers; heck, I absolutely love them. Here, though, the author didn't even try to explain what happened. It seems the series is supposed to be ten books long. I assume many things will be revealed in sequels. That's cool. Or rather would be, if this book made me want to read more about zha-nay. It didn't.
I've heard great things about Daniel Abraham. From readers and reviewers I trust. Sadly, after finishing Unclean Spirits chances that I'll read any of his books in the near future are close to none.
midnightgarden's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.0
cassiecruel's review
4.0
This book was really good, I loved the different elements of magic/vamps/werewolves and can't wait to see what happens in the next book :D
mzzmia's review against another edition
4.0
I really liked it. My biggest problem with it was that it spent too much time on relationship dynamics and not enough time on explaining the mechanics of how this world worked. I'm hoping that this lack of explanation was due to it being the first book in the series. We'll see how the second one goes. I was going to give it three stars but the mystery surrounding the lead character and het abilities are just too intriguing not to be a four.
thiefofcamorr's review against another edition
3.0
‘Unclean Spirits’ by M. L. N. Hanover is the first in the Black Sun’s Daughter series, which currently has four books available. A fifth is forthcoming, and it is unknown whether that will be the last.
We are introduced to Jayné (zha-nay, not Jane) Heller, a young woman who inherits everything her uncle Eric had to his name after he is murdered. Along with properties all across the world and a few extremely full bank accounts, he has also left her with an unlikely business – the one that got him killed in the first place.
Jayné soon meets a few business associates Eric ran with, and finds out (after nearly being killed herself) that they all dealt against a group of wizards known as the ‘Invisible College’, a group who force demon spirits onto unsuspecting humans, to then use them for their own growing power and needs.
She’s unable to believe this is actually possible, yet she has to learn quickly as they make it clear they don’t like her uncle or any heir that he’s left behind. Add to the pot the fact Jayné can’t sit by witnessing what the Invisible College are doing to innocents, or what happened to her uncle in the first place, she soon starts believing and decides she’s more than willing to fight back.
‘Unclean Spirits’ has a slow start as it pulls you into the story, introducing the other characters who Jayné meets and is able to call on, explaining how the demons work in this verse and so on. However, once it gets going it has an easy writing style that’s quick to read and devour.
The characters are what makes this story interesting – not exactly run of the mill (especially the first one she meets, Midian) and you learn just enough of them to want to learn more, and no more than that. We also get to see Jayné grow throughout the book, as she becomes more capable with her new life in general.
The plot is different enough from the usual vampire and werewolf prose out there – sharing elements, yet individually served. The fight scenes are effective, and the abilities shown are decent.
This book could stand as a read-alone, but it will probably make you want to look into the rest of the series, as well as the other work the author has done. You may have heard of the author under the name Daniel Abraham (The Long Price Quartet and The Dagger and the Coin Quintet) or as James S. A. Corey for the Expanse Series (with Ty Frank) with the first book of the series, ‘Leviathan Wakes’ up as a finalist for the 2012 ‘Best Novel’ Hugo Award.
We are introduced to Jayné (zha-nay, not Jane) Heller, a young woman who inherits everything her uncle Eric had to his name after he is murdered. Along with properties all across the world and a few extremely full bank accounts, he has also left her with an unlikely business – the one that got him killed in the first place.
Jayné soon meets a few business associates Eric ran with, and finds out (after nearly being killed herself) that they all dealt against a group of wizards known as the ‘Invisible College’, a group who force demon spirits onto unsuspecting humans, to then use them for their own growing power and needs.
She’s unable to believe this is actually possible, yet she has to learn quickly as they make it clear they don’t like her uncle or any heir that he’s left behind. Add to the pot the fact Jayné can’t sit by witnessing what the Invisible College are doing to innocents, or what happened to her uncle in the first place, she soon starts believing and decides she’s more than willing to fight back.
‘Unclean Spirits’ has a slow start as it pulls you into the story, introducing the other characters who Jayné meets and is able to call on, explaining how the demons work in this verse and so on. However, once it gets going it has an easy writing style that’s quick to read and devour.
The characters are what makes this story interesting – not exactly run of the mill (especially the first one she meets, Midian) and you learn just enough of them to want to learn more, and no more than that. We also get to see Jayné grow throughout the book, as she becomes more capable with her new life in general.
The plot is different enough from the usual vampire and werewolf prose out there – sharing elements, yet individually served. The fight scenes are effective, and the abilities shown are decent.
This book could stand as a read-alone, but it will probably make you want to look into the rest of the series, as well as the other work the author has done. You may have heard of the author under the name Daniel Abraham (The Long Price Quartet and The Dagger and the Coin Quintet) or as James S. A. Corey for the Expanse Series (with Ty Frank) with the first book of the series, ‘Leviathan Wakes’ up as a finalist for the 2012 ‘Best Novel’ Hugo Award.
thenia's review against another edition
3.0
Original paranormal world, where Unclean spirits (aka demons, vampires, you-name-it) from the Next Door (aka the demon world/other dimension) can enter the heroine's world and inhabit human bodies after ridding them of their original owners.
The plot and the secondary characters were interesting, but I did not like the main lead, from her name, Jayné, that everyone pronounced wrong, to her childish attitude and decisions. The situation is hard, since she's dropped into a world she has no idea how to handle and facing a task she's unprepared for at best.
In a nutshell, she's in way over her head and continues in ignorance for most of the story, up to the point where she decides she's the boss and that everyone should listen to her because her uncle left the reigns to her. The shocking thing is that they do listen to her and although it's a very close call, she manages to do what they set out to do, with a lot of help from her new friends and allies. She does manage to grow up a bit in the course of the story, but I still don't really care for her.
The writing is pretty decent, if one can ignore the repetition of a couple of the author's favorite phrases and the rehashing of how impossible the task is and Jayné's well founded worries of inadequacy.
I'm not sure I'll pick the next book in the series, since I find myself not interested enough in what happens next in the heroes' lives.
The plot and the secondary characters were interesting, but I did not like the main lead, from her name, Jayné, that everyone pronounced wrong, to her childish attitude and decisions. The situation is hard, since she's dropped into a world she has no idea how to handle and facing a task she's unprepared for at best.
In a nutshell, she's in way over her head and continues in ignorance for most of the story, up to the point where she decides she's the boss and that everyone should listen to her because her uncle left the reigns to her. The shocking thing is that they do listen to her and although it's a very close call, she manages to do what they set out to do, with a lot of help from her new friends and allies. She does manage to grow up a bit in the course of the story, but I still don't really care for her.
The writing is pretty decent, if one can ignore the repetition of a couple of the author's favorite phrases and the rehashing of how impossible the task is and Jayné's well founded worries of inadequacy.
I'm not sure I'll pick the next book in the series, since I find myself not interested enough in what happens next in the heroes' lives.
monicabhills's review against another edition
2.0
This book was ok. The author definitely had some antiChristian views but I found that ironic when they were supposed to be fighting riders aka demons. The first part of the book was interesting but the author named many of the males with female names. It was distracting. Plus it became predictable and then just frustrating. Many aspects were left unresolved. I pushed myself to finish this. I won't be reading the next one.
katiespina's review against another edition
2.0
Based on the cover of this book and hints made, Jayne has a tattoo that is significant. And I don't care how many sequels this book has, I won't read them. I got 200 pages in and kept asking myself what was going on with the stupid tattoo. When there was no payoff on that secret at the end, and no explanation of why it's "The Black Sun's Daughter" series, I'm out.
archergal's review against another edition
4.0
I'm starting to think I'll have to read anything that Daniel Abraham writes, under whatever pseudonym.
I don't usually like urban fantasy. There's too much romance or sex or whatever. Lots of times that aspect of a book gets in the way of the story for me.
But I liked this one. I like the characters. I thought the plot was a little simpler and writing less complex than some of the author's other books. But that's fine in a story like this. It's like good popcorn or some other yummy snack food: you enjoy it while you consume it. It's just a good story, written well enough to be enjoyable. You wouldn't necessarily want a steady diet of it, but it makes a good treat.
I don't usually like urban fantasy. There's too much romance or sex or whatever. Lots of times that aspect of a book gets in the way of the story for me.
But I liked this one. I like the characters. I thought the plot was a little simpler and writing less complex than some of the author's other books. But that's fine in a story like this. It's like good popcorn or some other yummy snack food: you enjoy it while you consume it. It's just a good story, written well enough to be enjoyable. You wouldn't necessarily want a steady diet of it, but it makes a good treat.