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avid_reader_96's review
4.0
I loved Holly and Will together. They're perfect for each other. If not for the romance between them this book would have fallen flat. The book started off good but I felt like the plot fell flat halfway through. Adam and Eliza May? I don't see it and I just didn't get the impression that Mab was all that powerful. The plot kinda sucked but it did bring Will and Holly together so it wasn't a complete fail.
book_worm_1319's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
jackiehorne's review
4.0
3.5 My love/discomfort relationship with Callihan continues. She writes well, creates compelling characters, and her steampunk Victorian paranormal world is compelling. She's a master of creating love stories where the two protagonists have true conflict, plot-based as well as psychologically-based reasons for not falling for each other, despite their attraction, which creates strong romantic tension.
But there's still quite a bit of plot-contriving to make everything come right in the end. Several things here in particular annoyed me:
• Holly is an inventor, and she's supposed to be trying to figure out a way to keep Will's turning into metal from becoming permanent. But we never see (or even are told) that she's spending any time on this pursuit (no doubt because the author doesn't think tinkering in the lab can be described in any compelling way). But it makes all the claims about Holly's skill/ability fall a bit flat
• Holly's been suffering from agoraphobia for a year, a reaction that Will forces her to overcome by carrying her bodily outside. Easily-overcome trauma, anyone?
• The "I have to give you up to save you and will be forced to forget you in the process" trope is really annoying, particular when, as in this novel, love/memory easily overcomes the magically-imposed amnesia
But there's still quite a bit of plot-contriving to make everything come right in the end. Several things here in particular annoyed me:
• Holly is an inventor, and she's supposed to be trying to figure out a way to keep Will's turning into metal from becoming permanent. But we never see (or even are told) that she's spending any time on this pursuit (no doubt because the author doesn't think tinkering in the lab can be described in any compelling way). But it makes all the claims about Holly's skill/ability fall a bit flat
• Holly's been suffering from agoraphobia for a year, a reaction that Will forces her to overcome by carrying her bodily outside. Easily-overcome trauma, anyone?
• The "I have to give you up to save you and will be forced to forget you in the process" trope is really annoying, particular when, as in this novel, love/memory easily overcomes the magically-imposed amnesia
bookishblondegirl's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
3.25
kate_and_books's review against another edition
5.0
By far my favourite of the series.
10 ‘Never trust the Fae’ Stars.
When they ripped out his heart, and he finally succumbed to blissful oblivion, he held onto one thing: his hate for his tormentor and the one with the angel’s face and the devil’s mind. Evernight.
We meet Will Thorne in Shadowdance and well he didn’t have my sympathy but he totally won me over in this book. He is a sanguis demon who worked for the Nex the opposite of the SOS. He has his loyalties to Jack and that is what got him in the trouble to begin with. He is slowly dying.
Will is passionate, has a zest for life and wants to enjoy every moment of life. Until he was taken by a Fallen Angel and his heart was exchanged for a clockwork heart. He is out for vengeance and he’ll do anything to get it. Even put out a contract on Holly’s head. He is plagued with madness and isn’t in his right mind until he meets her and realises that she can help him.
Holly lives on logic, routine and rules she doesn’t like to get emotionally involved in anything through her affinity for metal she spends most of her time working for the SOS making cool gadgets and in her laboratory. Since the incident when she was kidnapped and forced to work with the Fallen Angel she hasn’t left her house but is until Will bursts in to kill her but changes his mind as Holly tries to find a cure he will protect her from the contract on her head.
Holly and Will are amazing together as they are individually. Holly comes to terms for the feelings that she is developing for Will and Will realises that he wants more out of life.
Will has a fantastic sense of humour which made me laugh.
“I picked this room because it was the closest," he muttered, "but hells bells, it's like walking into a pink nightmare." He shuddered and turned to her. "I have the sudden fear that I might be attacked by dozens of French poodles.”
He loves getting a rise out of Holly How I love their banter and the battle of the wits.
“Another obvious statement.” Evernight let out a small huff. “Do you always interrupt people?” “I cannot remember. If they were as pedantic as you, I’m certain I did.” Her black winged brows snapped together. “Fine. I shall use small words and phrases.”
They have sweet moments and realise how they have been played and what they will have to sacrifice to save one another. But they also realise the real feelings that they have for one another.
"What if you had my heart?" "As you have mine?" His lips brushed her cheek, his breath unsteady. "Do I, Holly? Do I have your heart?" Her smile was tremulous. "You've had it all along."
Holly hides her desires well until she can’t anymore and Will loves it.
"I knew it," he said in a low rumble. "Under all that starch you're as dirty-minded as I am."
There were so many touching moments, heartfelt and heartbreaking moments and I was always rooting for them.
Adam plays a major role in this book but I won’t go in to too much detail although he does have a hidden agenda it just doesn’t work out the way that is meant to but his book is next.
Ms. Callihan sure knows how to pull you in to a series I have to say that this is a fantastic series and I can only recommend it but in saying that you want to have to read this series as it is unique in its own way. This book was no different. It has everything that makes a fantastic read. There is an intricate plot, with twists and turns. I in no way whatsoever was bored throughout the whole of the book quite the opposite I read during work as well which I’m not allowed to do but who cares.
10 ‘Never trust the Fae’ Stars.
When they ripped out his heart, and he finally succumbed to blissful oblivion, he held onto one thing: his hate for his tormentor and the one with the angel’s face and the devil’s mind. Evernight.
We meet Will Thorne in Shadowdance and well he didn’t have my sympathy but he totally won me over in this book. He is a sanguis demon who worked for the Nex the opposite of the SOS. He has his loyalties to Jack and that is what got him in the trouble to begin with. He is slowly dying.
Will is passionate, has a zest for life and wants to enjoy every moment of life. Until he was taken by a Fallen Angel and his heart was exchanged for a clockwork heart. He is out for vengeance and he’ll do anything to get it. Even put out a contract on Holly’s head. He is plagued with madness and isn’t in his right mind until he meets her and realises that she can help him.
Holly lives on logic, routine and rules she doesn’t like to get emotionally involved in anything through her affinity for metal she spends most of her time working for the SOS making cool gadgets and in her laboratory. Since the incident when she was kidnapped and forced to work with the Fallen Angel she hasn’t left her house but is until Will bursts in to kill her but changes his mind as Holly tries to find a cure he will protect her from the contract on her head.
Holly and Will are amazing together as they are individually. Holly comes to terms for the feelings that she is developing for Will and Will realises that he wants more out of life.
Will has a fantastic sense of humour which made me laugh.
“I picked this room because it was the closest," he muttered, "but hells bells, it's like walking into a pink nightmare." He shuddered and turned to her. "I have the sudden fear that I might be attacked by dozens of French poodles.”
He loves getting a rise out of Holly How I love their banter and the battle of the wits.
“Another obvious statement.” Evernight let out a small huff. “Do you always interrupt people?” “I cannot remember. If they were as pedantic as you, I’m certain I did.” Her black winged brows snapped together. “Fine. I shall use small words and phrases.”
They have sweet moments and realise how they have been played and what they will have to sacrifice to save one another. But they also realise the real feelings that they have for one another.
"What if you had my heart?" "As you have mine?" His lips brushed her cheek, his breath unsteady. "Do I, Holly? Do I have your heart?" Her smile was tremulous. "You've had it all along."
Holly hides her desires well until she can’t anymore and Will loves it.
"I knew it," he said in a low rumble. "Under all that starch you're as dirty-minded as I am."
There were so many touching moments, heartfelt and heartbreaking moments and I was always rooting for them.
Adam plays a major role in this book but I won’t go in to too much detail although he does have a hidden agenda it just doesn’t work out the way that is meant to but his book is next.
Ms. Callihan sure knows how to pull you in to a series I have to say that this is a fantastic series and I can only recommend it but in saying that you want to have to read this series as it is unique in its own way. This book was no different. It has everything that makes a fantastic read. There is an intricate plot, with twists and turns. I in no way whatsoever was bored throughout the whole of the book quite the opposite I read during work as well which I’m not allowed to do but who cares.
the_tilly0405's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-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
3.75
jonkerkat's review
4.0
Will and Holly is a kind of romance that you just wonder how it works. Like would he have fallen in love with her if he didn’t have the condition. Or would she have fallen in love with him if he didn’t speak to her gift. Which I think is where I struggled a little bit with this book. It was forced proximity which I appreciate. Just don’t think I could get over that will wouldn’t ever cross paths with Holly and vice versa. Ignoring that aspect though I loved everything else about it!
barefootamy's review
3.0
I've been enjoying Callihan's Darkest London series but by book five there's definitely a formulaic pattern going on. In this volume the lovely Irish scientist, Holly Evernight, doesn't actually do much science and somehow her agoraphobia is banished with a single outing in which Will Thorne behaves like a caveman and carries her out of her home by force.
mdalida's review
4.0
I nearly stopped this book halfway through because the plot had me rolling eyes. I'm glad that I did not; I think the latter half of the book more than made up for it.
I would've rated this 3 ⭐️ for the convoluted plot alone - assassination attempts, the hero is turning platinum from the inside out and needs the heroine's touch, the Nex, going to a Sanguis Fight Club, recovering old memories, another secret society aiming to kill, fae secrets, somehow Adam is involved.... it's a bit much for one story. It was inevitable that with that much of plot, some scenes would seem overly and ridiculously crammed together in order to resolve one story thread to move on to the other. I still have questions on how some plotlines actually worked given some of the "rules" of the world building, but it didn't rise to the point of dropping the book altogether. I just finished it two minutes ago, so my rosy vision may alter in a few days 🤷🏻♀️
Outside of the plot and machinations of so many different factions of the story, I liked the romance, overall. Holly and Thorne seemed to be a complicated match, but I liked their interactions, the sexy scenes were hot, and their love words were swoonworthy 😍. I seem to like the doomed, fated lovers trope more than I would've guessed because I ended up liking this book a whole hell of a lot more after seeing them overcome difficulties and find their way back to each other again.
In the end, the plot almost through me out of the story! If that makes sense. But I'm glad I kept going because the book wrapped up well for me and hit all my sweet spots for romance novels.
I would've rated this 3 ⭐️ for the convoluted plot alone - assassination attempts, the hero is turning platinum from the inside out and needs the heroine's touch, the Nex, going to a Sanguis Fight Club, recovering old memories, another secret society aiming to kill, fae secrets, somehow Adam is involved.... it's a bit much for one story. It was inevitable that with that much of plot, some scenes would seem overly and ridiculously crammed together in order to resolve one story thread to move on to the other. I still have questions on how some plotlines actually worked given some of the "rules" of the world building, but it didn't rise to the point of dropping the book altogether. I just finished it two minutes ago, so my rosy vision may alter in a few days 🤷🏻♀️
Outside of the plot and machinations of so many different factions of the story, I liked the romance, overall. Holly and Thorne seemed to be a complicated match, but I liked their interactions, the sexy scenes were hot, and their love words were swoonworthy 😍. I seem to like the doomed, fated lovers trope more than I would've guessed because I ended up liking this book a whole hell of a lot more after seeing them overcome difficulties and find their way back to each other again.
In the end, the plot almost through me out of the story! If that makes sense. But I'm glad I kept going because the book wrapped up well for me and hit all my sweet spots for romance novels.