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3.46 AVERAGE
3.46 AVERAGE
Not really a great book but there's something about how familiar and pleasant it felt to read it again. It's a fun urban fantasy story.
Once again, another UF series that is just ok. It wasn't bad, it was just underwhelming. I think I can pinpoint the things about this book that left me unimpressed.
First, I don't buy the mythology. It is an alternate dimension, where vamps, weres, and golems are the predominate members of the world population, with humans accounting for just 1% of the population. And yet, the world timelines, locations, etc match up almost the same. This just seems ridiculous to me and rather than attempt an explanation, the author portrays this as just the way it is. I tried to turn my brain off and just go with it, but it kept rearing its logical little head.
The next biggest thing to bother me was that for a supposedly hard nose psychological investigator, Jace seems to be a big ball of insecurities, issues, and poor decisions. Seriously, don't tell me your character is one thing, then give me another! This is one of my biggest pet peeves in UF right now, but I guess it can apply to any genre.
Finally, why do we have to have books where every guys is a potential love interest. This book was a downright love knot. And most of it didn't make much sense at all.
Thank goodness the actually mystery was interesting and there was enough of it to offset the rest. It was well paced, if it did seem to have a bit of filler.
I'll definitely give the second book a shot to see it the series matures into itself.
First, I don't buy the mythology. It is an alternate dimension, where vamps, weres, and golems are the predominate members of the world population, with humans accounting for just 1% of the population. And yet, the world timelines, locations, etc match up almost the same. This just seems ridiculous to me and rather than attempt an explanation, the author portrays this as just the way it is. I tried to turn my brain off and just go with it, but it kept rearing its logical little head.
The next biggest thing to bother me was that for a supposedly hard nose psychological investigator, Jace seems to be a big ball of insecurities, issues, and poor decisions. Seriously, don't tell me your character is one thing, then give me another! This is one of my biggest pet peeves in UF right now, but I guess it can apply to any genre.
Finally, why do we have to have books where every guys is a potential love interest. This book was a downright love knot. And most of it didn't make much sense at all.
Thank goodness the actually mystery was interesting and there was enough of it to offset the rest. It was well paced, if it did seem to have a bit of filler.
I'll definitely give the second book a shot to see it the series matures into itself.
This is a unique take on the whole vampire/were/other type of novel. Loved the updated inclusion of golems to boot. In fact, I think one of my favorite characters was the golem, Charlie. For having no real face to speak of, his personality came through quite amazingly.
There is a lot of potential, (which is always good with a 1st book in a series) and I hope that there is more consistency with the next novels. I had a bit of a hard time on how the main character, Jace, was able to just fall right into relationships/life in a completely new universe, parallel or not. Yes, she had struggles adapting but at the same time, not enough.
Some of the other characters, Cassius and Gretchen, seemed ok, and I hope that in the following books in the series their characters get more definition. In this book, the associated positon of the characters vs. personality didn't quite line up.
It kept my interest enough that I do want to read the next book, and hopefully that one leads into another.
There is a lot of potential, (which is always good with a 1st book in a series) and I hope that there is more consistency with the next novels. I had a bit of a hard time on how the main character, Jace, was able to just fall right into relationships/life in a completely new universe, parallel or not. Yes, she had struggles adapting but at the same time, not enough.
Some of the other characters, Cassius and Gretchen, seemed ok, and I hope that in the following books in the series their characters get more definition. In this book, the associated positon of the characters vs. personality didn't quite line up.
It kept my interest enough that I do want to read the next book, and hopefully that one leads into another.
I really enjoyed D D Barant's writing style in this first outing in "The Bloodhound Files". The action and plot kept me reading until late and I finished the book in two days. Jace Valcheck, FBI profiler ripped out of our world and into a parallel world full of (vam)pires, (lynca)thropes, and (go)lems, is strong, sarcastic and fun. I look forward to reading more books in this series and seeing how D D Barant grows her characters.
3.5 stars. Mostly good. I thought that the mythology was interesting, although there were aspects that didn't really mesh with everything else. I liked the characters, and I'll most likely check out other books in the series.
I have been disappointed with some supernatural/crime fiction that relies too heavily on explicit romance or language to make the story exciting. Dying Bites was a wonderful relief to read. The lead female character is strong without having to act like a man. The original idea of transporting a human to another dimension where vampires, werewolves and golems seemed like it might be hokey at first, but actually turned out to be quite a delight. My favorite character is Jace's partner, golem Charlie. He's stuck in the 40's, complete with a fedora, and has a wit as sharp as his pinstripe suit. A wonderful start to the series!
Dying bites was a surprisingly good book. I'm personally not that much into this crime-investigation genre, but it managed to surprise me.
The idea of a parallel world is interesting, although not that original. I did not appreciate the classic humans/vampires/werewolves setup, with all the usual abilities, but the book made up to it with the depths of the parallel world's history. I enjoyed the concept of the Elder Gods - as a matter of fact, I've been toying with a similar idea myself.
The magic model was kind of weird and chaotic, I didn't really like it after the so-well designed magical system of the Dresden files series (which is a must-read, by the way, for all urban-fantasy fans).
The story was intense, not particularly fast-paced, but a definite page-turner towards the end. There were a few twists, but the overall outcome was very predictable.
The characters are the weakest point of the book. They are not interesting, so much that they are outright boring. Not to mention shallow. And so very-very predictable. Thankfully, there's not much focus on character development, because I'm afraid it would have quickly turned into a yawn-fest.
Overall, I don't regret reading it, it can be enjoyable. It's most definitely not an outstanding piece of work in any way though.
Honestly, I'm not certain whether I'll read the next book in the series. Perhaps when I'm bored, I'll give it a try.
The idea of a parallel world is interesting, although not that original. I did not appreciate the classic humans/vampires/werewolves setup, with all the usual abilities, but the book made up to it with the depths of the parallel world's history. I enjoyed the concept of the Elder Gods - as a matter of fact, I've been toying with a similar idea myself.
The magic model was kind of weird and chaotic, I didn't really like it after the so-well designed magical system of the Dresden files series (which is a must-read, by the way, for all urban-fantasy fans).
The story was intense, not particularly fast-paced, but a definite page-turner towards the end. There were a few twists, but the overall outcome was very predictable.
The characters are the weakest point of the book. They are not interesting, so much that they are outright boring. Not to mention shallow. And so very-very predictable. Thankfully, there's not much focus on character development, because I'm afraid it would have quickly turned into a yawn-fest.
Overall, I don't regret reading it, it can be enjoyable. It's most definitely not an outstanding piece of work in any way though.
Honestly, I'm not certain whether I'll read the next book in the series. Perhaps when I'm bored, I'll give it a try.
Probably more like 2.5 stars; was a pretty solid three-star for me until around chapter 14 or so, when certain plot elements were inserted which I felt were both too abrupt and too different from the tone of the story up to that point, and made the whole thing feel very kitchen-sink-ish. The ending also felt very flat, largely because almost nothing was resolved. I knew this was the first book of a series but I still like some sense of closure at the end of a novel.
a pretty good urban fantasy novel that has just about everything.
Audio- ( 2.7 stars)
I liked it, I didn't like it. it was thrilling, it was annoying. This has to be the most conflicting book I have read this year. I am a big urban fantasy/mystery fan and this did have that feel. But, yes there is a but- it didn't flow evenly. I wanted more time with the story and less time with Jace. I liked it enough to continue the series.
The Positives- I liked the CSI feel to the detective work. I liked the world where vampires, lycanthropes and golems rule. It was a fresh new angle, with a devastating past history. The side characters all had a unique perspectives and abilities. Charlie, The Gollum was a show stealer. he is the reason I am continuing the series. I think he should have been the center of the story he was much more interesting than Jace. Jace, a smart, often stubborn to a ridiculous level, Psychological Profiler- when she's is thinking work, she's good.
The negatives-Alternate universes/realities are hard for me to read. I just have a hard time going between what is her and what is there. I had some issues with inconsistency with the blending of the two realities. Somethings blended because of fans and yet another didn't because they didn't know anything about that world ? *Conflicting bits* I also thought she took the whole ripped out of my reality thing way to easily, it needed more conflict. Jace talking to her brain was very irritating. Jace was rude, hurtful, and acted mean to a couple of the characters. I am not a fan of mean. The narrator on the audio made Jace sound like a spoiled teenager.
I liked it, I didn't like it. it was thrilling, it was annoying. This has to be the most conflicting book I have read this year. I am a big urban fantasy/mystery fan and this did have that feel. But, yes there is a but- it didn't flow evenly. I wanted more time with the story and less time with Jace. I liked it enough to continue the series.
The Positives- I liked the CSI feel to the detective work. I liked the world where vampires, lycanthropes and golems rule. It was a fresh new angle, with a devastating past history. The side characters all had a unique perspectives and abilities. Charlie, The Gollum was a show stealer. he is the reason I am continuing the series. I think he should have been the center of the story he was much more interesting than Jace. Jace, a smart, often stubborn to a ridiculous level, Psychological Profiler- when she's is thinking work, she's good.
The negatives-Alternate universes/realities are hard for me to read. I just have a hard time going between what is her and what is there. I had some issues with inconsistency with the blending of the two realities. Somethings blended because of fans and yet another didn't because they didn't know anything about that world ? *Conflicting bits* I also thought she took the whole ripped out of my reality thing way to easily, it needed more conflict. Jace talking to her brain was very irritating. Jace was rude, hurtful, and acted mean to a couple of the characters. I am not a fan of mean. The narrator on the audio made Jace sound like a spoiled teenager.