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kaje_harper's review against another edition
4.0
This review is for the whole, 6-novella arc. Because honestly, I devoured them back to back, and I have no clue where any particular instalment ended.
This paranormal/fantasy series is full of plot twists and world-building and all of it very well done. Information is revealed when it's needed, in a way that moves smoothly along with the action and gave me little "ahah" moments of figuring out where something fitted in. The fantasy set-up is unique enough to feel fresh and unpredictable. The action scenes are very visual and vivid.
This is M/M(/M) romance almost as much as paranormal action, and there's a good balance. The main characters - Caleb, John, and the drakul-entity Gray - are fun to watch, as they navigate the difficulties of a relationship where one of the three is a now a co-habitant in the body of another. Gray's personal discoveries, changing his flat reactive persona into a real character, and John's emotions as he dealt with love and betrayal, were highlights in the way the story unfolded. Caleb had his moments, in his new-found determination to become less passive in his own life, just as he had to give up some control.
I enjoyed the ride as they discover Gray's abilities, and Caleb's own, the true aims and allegiances of John's SPECTR superiors and colleagues, and a way to make their odd threesome work. There are revelations both personal and paranormal. I didn't love these guys quite as hard as I have other of this author's characters, but I enjoyed them a lot, cared about their outcome and had a great time watching the action unfold.
This paranormal/fantasy series is full of plot twists and world-building and all of it very well done. Information is revealed when it's needed, in a way that moves smoothly along with the action and gave me little "ahah" moments of figuring out where something fitted in. The fantasy set-up is unique enough to feel fresh and unpredictable. The action scenes are very visual and vivid.
This is M/M(/M) romance almost as much as paranormal action, and there's a good balance. The main characters - Caleb, John, and the drakul-entity Gray - are fun to watch, as they navigate the difficulties of a relationship where one of the three is a now a co-habitant in the body of another. Gray's personal discoveries, changing his flat reactive persona into a real character, and John's emotions as he dealt with love and betrayal, were highlights in the way the story unfolded. Caleb had his moments, in his new-found determination to become less passive in his own life, just as he had to give up some control.
I enjoyed the ride as they discover Gray's abilities, and Caleb's own, the true aims and allegiances of John's SPECTR superiors and colleagues, and a way to make their odd threesome work. There are revelations both personal and paranormal. I didn't love these guys quite as hard as I have other of this author's characters, but I enjoyed them a lot, cared about their outcome and had a great time watching the action unfold.
paperbackstash's review against another edition
5.0
Spectr Vol 2 collects the last three novellas of the Spectr series. I was fascinated by the first collection enough to rate it five stars, but I have to say the second collection is even better, mainly because of the developments between Caleb and Gray, and the Gray and John. Caleb and John already worked great, but finally Caleb accepts the possession in a different light and John's mixed conflicts about Gray are made known.
Eater of Lives is a mere 109 pages (sad), it's the weakest of the last three but still good. The story-line is shaking up the realities with the government-ran operation showing more of its dark colors. Dealing with the ex is humorous. The group has to hunt down a killing and sadistic windigo with an interesting ending to that mystery/showdown. While Hawk dishes out the goods with the relationship, she also keeps the plot interesting, the action scenes exciting, but curses up with a cliffhanger. I'm happy the rest of the series had already been published when I was reading this.
Destroyer of Worlds is the turning point in the series to wrap-up the big stuff. Finally John has to see the truth about the government system he's always thought was legit, and Caleb/Gray have to make their decision on whether to merge permanently or not, since the time has now run out. In an epic ending rescue and revelations of feelings, the ending of this book absolutely rocked. Seriously. Steam has always been sultry and hot before, but the ending of this one? Reading lightning bolts. Seriously, wow. It was already a top favorite series, but this further cemented it.
Summoner of Storms starts with the pre-existing, exciting relationship between the three intact. Now to wrap up corruption and the ending fight the series has been leading up to. The ending is a fierce battle of epic proportions but it all comes out okay in the end.
Loved every book, loved the series. Highly recommended for fans of m/m paranormal. Doesn't get much better.
Eater of Lives is a mere 109 pages (sad), it's the weakest of the last three but still good. The story-line is shaking up the realities with the government-ran operation showing more of its dark colors. Dealing with the ex is humorous. The group has to hunt down a killing and sadistic windigo with an interesting ending to that mystery/showdown. While Hawk dishes out the goods with the relationship, she also keeps the plot interesting, the action scenes exciting, but curses up with a cliffhanger. I'm happy the rest of the series had already been published when I was reading this.
Destroyer of Worlds is the turning point in the series to wrap-up the big stuff. Finally John has to see the truth about the government system he's always thought was legit, and Caleb/Gray have to make their decision on whether to merge permanently or not, since the time has now run out. In an epic ending rescue and revelations of feelings, the ending of this book absolutely rocked. Seriously. Steam has always been sultry and hot before, but the ending of this one? Reading lightning bolts. Seriously, wow. It was already a top favorite series, but this further cemented it.
Summoner of Storms starts with the pre-existing, exciting relationship between the three intact. Now to wrap up corruption and the ending fight the series has been leading up to. The ending is a fierce battle of epic proportions but it all comes out okay in the end.
Loved every book, loved the series. Highly recommended for fans of m/m paranormal. Doesn't get much better.
qace90's review against another edition
5.0
I loved these “episodes” because we get a lot more of Gray and I love the development of the relationships between Caleb, Gray, and John. This is truly a phenomenal paranormal romance mystery series and it only gets better as the characters and world are developed!
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