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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The Slaughtered Lamb Bookstore and Bar was a fun and engaging book. The plot was well written and kept me on my toes, which is a bonus. I also found several of the characters had depth to them and I especially liked the protagonist and her vampire boyfriend. The book also deals with the aftermath of rape in a well-written manner.
dark
mysterious
tense
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:
Yes
Overall, this was a strong start to the series. Leaves plenty of room for further plots, but starts with a well-established cast and setting. I love the setting of the bar and the details of its design. I also enjoyed the vast variety of supernatural characters and types we got to meet, and hope that it'll be expanded on in the next book.
My only small complaint is that the cast is mainly men - there are only 2-3 supporting female characters - of which their parts are fairly minor. I get that this is a romance book as well - so the main love interest is male - but his second in command is male, two men help run the bar, etc. Not a huge complaint, but worth noting.
The character development of the main character is really well done, however. She isn't wimpy or whiny and the romance had a nice sizzle.
My only small complaint is that the cast is mainly men - there are only 2-3 supporting female characters - of which their parts are fairly minor. I get that this is a romance book as well - so the main love interest is male - but his second in command is male, two men help run the bar, etc. Not a huge complaint, but worth noting.
The character development of the main character is really well done, however. She isn't wimpy or whiny and the romance had a nice sizzle.
I wanted to absolutely love this... But it was only okay. Honestly, I was really hoping for a sexy paranormal romance when I started this. And while this has a romantic subplot, it just fully didn't hit the mark for me. I think the problem for me was that our main character has a very tragic and traumatic backstory that she isn't fully over and which is brought up constantly throughout the entirety of the book. Sam has been through a lot. Despite this background that should make her more cautious about her safety, Sam makes so many stupid decisions. She gives everyone ample opportunity to kill her and then wonders why she keeps getting attacked. It feels like this should be out of character for her because of her past trauma. For example, while she's watching Coco finish fixing her protective necklace, which she was overwhelmingly scared to let out of her sight a few moments before, Sam decides, despite knowing she's in danger, to just take off to get drinks and a snack, without saying anything to Coco . She also doesn't lock the door behind herself when she leaves. And all this because she didn't want to nod off again. Of course, the second she finishes buying her drinks and snacks she runs into trouble that Coco had to leave her shop to help her out of, in turn allowing Sam's protective necklace to be destroyed beyond repair. And this keeps happening... She goes out, nearly dies and gets upset that people keep telling her that she should stay home. It did get better towards the end of the book, but my frustration with her was overweighing my enjoyment of the book. There is also the fact that, especially at the beginning, we are treated to first-person, very detailed and full color torture and death visions that are unsettling at best. I felt that some of them were unnecessarily graphic. And the frequency of the visions made it so that I wasn't completely sure what was actually happening and what was just another death dream.
Overall, I probably would continue with the series. It had a good urban fantasy set up that I was vibing with and I did like Sam despite her lack of self preservation.
Overall, I probably would continue with the series. It had a good urban fantasy set up that I was vibing with and I did like Sam despite her lack of self preservation.
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
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
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Torture
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A local author wrote a book about the city next door that fit in to my favorite genre. Of course I was going to read it.
First of all, I loved the world that was woven. I loved the idea of the bar and the details into making it accessible for everyone. The trauma that the MC endured and this should come with a trigger warning because there was plenty of details about it in the book was a lot and it obviously molded the adult she became.
I didnt like the interpersonal romantic relationship as much or maybe it was because of her past scars crowded on it, maybe it will grow in the next one. I do look forward to the other friendships in the book growing with the next book and her trusting atleast the immediate group around her more.
The level of trauma that the MC encouters in her past does make this a different book. I like that she didnt just emerge from it as a superwoman. I liked it, the mystery aspect only intrigues me farther, the diversity and the local setting makes me love it more.
First of all, I loved the world that was woven. I loved the idea of the bar and the details into making it accessible for everyone. The trauma that the MC endured and this should come with a trigger warning because there was plenty of details about it in the book was a lot and it obviously molded the adult she became.
I didnt like the interpersonal romantic relationship as much or maybe it was because of her past scars crowded on it, maybe it will grow in the next one. I do look forward to the other friendships in the book growing with the next book and her trusting atleast the immediate group around her more.
The level of trauma that the MC encouters in her past does make this a different book. I like that she didnt just emerge from it as a superwoman. I liked it, the mystery aspect only intrigues me farther, the diversity and the local setting makes me love it more.