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3.64 AVERAGE
3.64 AVERAGE
In an attempt to branch out, I’m listening to some romance genres that I generally wouldn’t normally even look at ... and holy hell (pun intended on this one). After listening to this first book, I am OBSESSED with the world created for this series.
This started off as a 5 star right away, and then just went down from there. I love the idea of these immortals with a demon trapped in them. Especially the idea of Maddox’s character with Violence as their demon. Sounds awesome right?! NOPE. He’s this big burly tough guy that has the worse case of insta-love I’ve ever read. And there’s no reason for it. I can sort understand Ashlyn’s insta-love with her finally getting a break from the voices, but what does Maddox get out of it? What makes her different than any other women he’s been with? It was frustrating.
I know this is a more romantic book, but I still would have like a little more action within the story. Without the romantic parts, the story had built up to this big fight that I was expecting, especially with demon-infused warriors, and there wasn’t one. Just disappointed.
I know this is a more romantic book, but I still would have like a little more action within the story. Without the romantic parts, the story had built up to this big fight that I was expecting, especially with demon-infused warriors, and there wasn’t one. Just disappointed.
DNF AT 41%.
I didn’t like a single character. The Lords of the Underworld backstory was so sexist, and it 100% doesn’t seem like they’ve changed. Still demean and disrespect women. Who the fuck think it’s hot for a man to call someone woman. We have names, you sanctimonious prick.
The Insta love was awful, boring, and so cringey.
Plot and world is messy, chaotic, and ridiculous.
I didn’t like a single character. The Lords of the Underworld backstory was so sexist, and it 100% doesn’t seem like they’ve changed. Still demean and disrespect women. Who the fuck think it’s hot for a man to call someone woman. We have names, you sanctimonious prick.
The Insta love was awful, boring, and so cringey.
Plot and world is messy, chaotic, and ridiculous.
So I read these series out of order. I've already read the 3 books out in the angels of the dark series by gena showalter and I enjoyed them much more than this book. I know this one was one of her earlier writings though so I will definitely stick with the series and hope it gets better.
Did I miss something? Did I read the wrong book? WHY DOES THIS BOOK HAVE MORE THAN 4 STARS ON GOODREADS?? I know that this book was published in 2008 and we had weird taste in 2008 but seriously? I guess it's because there weren't fanfic back then so I get why people loved it in 2008 but WHY does it still have a high rating?????
First of all, I have to say that I didn't know that this was a paranormal romance. I thought it was urban fantasy, and yes, there is a difference between these two genres. Paranormal romances don't tend to have plots and (most of the) urban fantasy books have amazing plots. I mean they have romances as well but not this bad.
I will try to break down why this was so bad but if you don't want to spend even one more minute reading about this book (and I wouldn't blame you, really) let me just say that it's cheesy, disgusting and annoying.
The first 100 pages "the hero", Maddox just calls "the heroine", Ashlyn, woman. W O M A N. Well, I guess he could've said "piece of meat" or "it". So he isn't that bad, is he?
Ashlyn is able to hear every conversation that has ever occured but all she wants is silence. So when she hears the townfolk talking about "angels" who live on the hill she thinks that they can help her control her ability. But when she gets there she realizes that these "angels" are actually humans that have demons inside them. Buuuuuut, she doesn't care because Maddox is so so so hot and all she wants is to be with him. Even though he basically threatens to kill her and nearly kills her. BUT Maddox is hot ofc but she also realizes that she doesn't hear any voices when she's with him. We really don't know why it's just convenient so don't question it.
Maddox has this "Violence" demon that he can't control so basically he has anger management problems. But we don't really care because it's not his fault that all he wants to do is hurt and kill people. HE HAS A DEMON INSIDE HIM OFC HE ISan asshole A VICTIM HERE. So after like... one day, they fall in love because why not they are both attractive. Maddox swears that he will do anything to protect her and she can't ever leave his side because it's for her own good.
Frowning, he reached out as if he meant to stroke her cheek. He caught himself and dropped his arm to his side, a mirror of her own actions a few moments before. "What doest matter is that you never answered me. Were you in that cell all night?"
His heady, masculine scent wafted to her nose, summoning her closer. She tried to resist, truly she did, but found herself leaning toward him despite his warning. "Yes."
Again, fury darkened his face. "Were you fed?"
"No."
"Given blankets?"
"No." Why did he care?
"Did anyone hurt you?"
"No."
"Did anyone... touch you?" A muscle ticked in his jaw, once, twice.
Her face scrunched in confusion. "Yes. Of course."
"Who?" he demanded. (...)
"All of them," she forced out, remaning in place. "I think. But they had to," she hurried to assure him. She couldn't believe she was defending his murderers, but it seemed the fastest way to calm him down. "It was the only way to get me inside the cell."
So our heroine isn't only an idiot but she is a moron as well.
There is a scene where Ashlyn is "poisoned" and she dies then someone saves her with CPR. CPR!!!!!!!!! I still don't know if I should be offended or if I should just laugh. I kind of did both.
Also, all of their conversations were like caveman talks. They didn't say "I" and it was done like they only talked like this because of their passion and it's just.................
Just please. Don't read this book. You can always read urban fantasy books like Fever by Karen Marie Moning or any Ilona Andrews book. Just not this.
First of all, I have to say that I didn't know that this was a paranormal romance. I thought it was urban fantasy, and yes, there is a difference between these two genres. Paranormal romances don't tend to have plots and (most of the) urban fantasy books have amazing plots. I mean they have romances as well but not this bad.
I will try to break down why this was so bad but if you don't want to spend even one more minute reading about this book (and I wouldn't blame you, really) let me just say that it's cheesy, disgusting and annoying.
The first 100 pages "the hero", Maddox just calls "the heroine", Ashlyn, woman. W O M A N. Well, I guess he could've said "piece of meat" or "it". So he isn't that bad, is he?
Ashlyn is able to hear every conversation that has ever occured but all she wants is silence. So when she hears the townfolk talking about "angels" who live on the hill she thinks that they can help her control her ability. But when she gets there she realizes that these "angels" are actually humans that have demons inside them. Buuuuuut, she doesn't care because Maddox is so so so hot and all she wants is to be with him. Even though he basically threatens to kill her and nearly kills her. BUT Maddox is hot ofc but she also realizes that she doesn't hear any voices when she's with him. We really don't know why it's just convenient so don't question it.
Maddox has this "Violence" demon that he can't control so basically he has anger management problems. But we don't really care because it's not his fault that all he wants to do is hurt and kill people. HE HAS A DEMON INSIDE HIM OFC HE IS
Frowning, he reached out as if he meant to stroke her cheek. He caught himself and dropped his arm to his side, a mirror of her own actions a few moments before. "What doest matter is that you never answered me. Were you in that cell all night?"
His heady, masculine scent wafted to her nose, summoning her closer. She tried to resist, truly she did, but found herself leaning toward him despite his warning. "Yes."
Again, fury darkened his face. "Were you fed?"
"No."
"Given blankets?"
"No." Why did he care?
"Did anyone hurt you?"
"No."
"Did anyone... touch you?" A muscle ticked in his jaw, once, twice.
Her face scrunched in confusion. "Yes. Of course."
"Who?" he demanded. (...)
"All of them," she forced out, remaning in place. "I think. But they had to," she hurried to assure him. She couldn't believe she was defending his murderers, but it seemed the fastest way to calm him down. "It was the only way to get me inside the cell."
So our heroine isn't only an idiot but she is a moron as well.
There is a scene where Ashlyn is "poisoned" and she dies then someone saves her with CPR. CPR!!!!!!!!! I still don't know if I should be offended or if I should just laugh. I kind of did both.
Also, all of their conversations were like caveman talks. They didn't say "I" and it was done like they only talked like this because of their passion and it's just.................
Just please. Don't read this book. You can always read urban fantasy books like Fever by Karen Marie Moning or any Ilona Andrews book. Just not this.
I have read many tortured souls saved by love type books. this one kind of droned. if it wasn't for the sex scenes, i'd say this was a YA book. not excited to read the 2nd but if i run out of books i might.
OK setup, but even cheesier than I expected. Story arc was all over the place, and resolved too easily.
I was super excited about picking this book up. Right off the top, I can say that I love the premise. Ms. Showalter says she didn't like the idea of a woman being blamed for all the evil in the world, so she tweaked the old myth and placed the blame for the opening of Pandora's Box on a band of immortal warriors. (Love it!) As a result, each of these warriors was punished by the gods to carry one of the demons from the box around inside of him. Love that too.
I even love Ms. Showalters writing. She clearly has talent, and oodles of creative energy. Sadly, though, this book just didn't do it for me.
Like I said, I love the ideas. And I can't pinpoint what it is that doesn't quite punch through to me. But I think I can sum it up by saying, the really poignant ideas felt under-done. I hate to use the word 'shallow' because of the negative connotation, but in this case, it really fits. The story felt more like a caricature of what it could have been. Maddox is the typical brusque, tortured hero who finds his heart softening for the lovely woman clinging to him. Ashlyn finds that only Maddox's presence can give her peace from the voices in her head. And this contrived attraction is stretched out with overwrought tension through most of the book. Later, we're introduced to more characters and learn more of the backstory and dive into some more world-building.
This book just felt like more of the same, up to and including the hints that each member of the 'brotherhood' of lords will get his happy ending in the coming books. It just didn't ring my bell. I never felt truly connected to the characters, surprised by anything, or deeply moved.
It was entertaining, well-written, and the series has tremendous potential. I have the next two books at home, and I will be reading them - hoping to see Ms. Showalter find a groove and really knock my socks off.
I even love Ms. Showalters writing. She clearly has talent, and oodles of creative energy. Sadly, though, this book just didn't do it for me.
Like I said, I love the ideas. And I can't pinpoint what it is that doesn't quite punch through to me. But I think I can sum it up by saying, the really poignant ideas felt under-done. I hate to use the word 'shallow' because of the negative connotation, but in this case, it really fits. The story felt more like a caricature of what it could have been. Maddox is the typical brusque, tortured hero who finds his heart softening for the lovely woman clinging to him. Ashlyn finds that only Maddox's presence can give her peace from the voices in her head. And this contrived attraction is stretched out with overwrought tension through most of the book. Later, we're introduced to more characters and learn more of the backstory and dive into some more world-building.
This book just felt like more of the same, up to and including the hints that each member of the 'brotherhood' of lords will get his happy ending in the coming books. It just didn't ring my bell. I never felt truly connected to the characters, surprised by anything, or deeply moved.
It was entertaining, well-written, and the series has tremendous potential. I have the next two books at home, and I will be reading them - hoping to see Ms. Showalter find a groove and really knock my socks off.
I WAS NOT EXPECTING THIS BOOK TO BE THIS GOOD. Just read it. It’s so good, I sobbed LIKE A CHILD, I laughed and felt for every single one of them. The only negative I have is that I couldn’t really grasp all of the characters and what they were cursed by since there were so many of them but this book makes for a really good start to a new series. Very excited to continue. 4.5 stars.
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No