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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
Urban fantasy with werewolves and vampires. Some pacing and character issues.
A great new series.
I’ve been looking for more urban fantasy to read and I came across this book. It was cheap so I thought I’d try it and I’m glad I did. I have a weakness for alpha master vamps and this one delivered. A great new heroine to follow and an interesting cast of diverse secondary characters. Looking forward to the next one.
I’ve been looking for more urban fantasy to read and I came across this book. It was cheap so I thought I’d try it and I’m glad I did. I have a weakness for alpha master vamps and this one delivered. A great new heroine to follow and an interesting cast of diverse secondary characters. Looking forward to the next one.
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-paced
An overly complicated plot, a real idiot of a protagonist (seriously - she's horror movie female victim #1 levels of dumb), and some pretty not-great writing in need of an editor made me struggle waaay too much with this book. I will not continue with this series.
The story is uneven mostly because the world building is lacking and the character development is weak. I thought there was too much thrown into the first book, considering the book is less than 300 pages long. I lost count of how many times Sam’s life was in danger and honestly started skimming some of it. And I don’t particularly care for the dream-like death trope, which I thought was overused a bit here.
Sam is not well developed. It’s clear she had a lot of trauma at an early age (TW: kidnapping, rape, torture) and has scars to show for it. And again, this is where the lack of world building shows. She’s a werewolf, so why does she have scars? Because a silver blade was used? Because the trauma happened before her first change? Because there was sorcerer magic afoot? No real explanation for it. And moreover, no one questions why a werewolf has scars. It’s just never brought up.
The other characters are more one-dimensional. Clive is a stereotype of a master vampire, who, by the way, just keeps having neat powers when he needs them. Owen is a white witch and Dave is some sort of demon. Lots of other supernaturals are thrown in including succubi, kelpies, dragons, mermaids, possible gods/goddesses, and even one of the fates. But there wasn’t any seeming rules around this world. No rhyme or reason. While I like being immersed in a world where the supernatural exists, it still needs some boundaries, some form.
But despite these things, the story did keep me reading. It is fast paced and doesn’t keep you guessing on who the baddie is.Although the real baddie is still out there at the end of book 1, so I’m guessing more shenanigans will be afoot in book 2.
And why use the Middle English version of witch - wicche? It just seemed to random. She didn’t use “vampyre” or werewulf/werwulf. So why use the old form of witch? Again, the lack of world building did hurt the story.
Overall, uneven. And I’m not sure I liked it enough to read book 2.
Sam is not well developed. It’s clear she had a lot of trauma at an early age (TW: kidnapping, rape, torture) and has scars to show for it. And again, this is where the lack of world building shows. She’s a werewolf, so why does she have scars? Because a silver blade was used? Because the trauma happened before her first change? Because there was sorcerer magic afoot? No real explanation for it. And moreover, no one questions why a werewolf has scars. It’s just never brought up.
The other characters are more one-dimensional. Clive is a stereotype of a master vampire, who, by the way, just keeps having neat powers when he needs them. Owen is a white witch and Dave is some sort of demon. Lots of other supernaturals are thrown in including succubi, kelpies, dragons, mermaids, possible gods/goddesses, and even one of the fates. But there wasn’t any seeming rules around this world. No rhyme or reason. While I like being immersed in a world where the supernatural exists, it still needs some boundaries, some form.
But despite these things, the story did keep me reading. It is fast paced and doesn’t keep you guessing on who the baddie is.
And why use the Middle English version of witch - wicche? It just seemed to random. She didn’t use “vampyre” or werewulf/werwulf. So why use the old form of witch? Again, the lack of world building did hurt the story.
Overall, uneven. And I’m not sure I liked it enough to read book 2.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Violence
Moderate: Rape, Torture, Kidnapping
I wasn't sure, at first, about this book. The title had me wondering. That didn't stop me though, as I've been in many supernatural bars in my lifetime (through books), and I knew this would have to be interesting.
Interesting it was. And violent. Sam is knocked down, knocked around, and literally beaten not just once, but several times through this story. All because someone wants to kill her. She has no idea who she pissed off or why they could possibly be pissed off as she has kept her head down and out of sight for most of her life. She also doesn't know why the Master Vampire of the city stops in once a month for a drink at her bar.
The story is a tale of survival. Getting beaten down and abandoned but still pulling herself up to do what she has to. There is snark woven in and through this book as Sam has a sassy personality. I had a tough time following along once or twice throughout the book, but Sam gets these horrible visions. She may think it's really happening, but it's only happening in her mind. I want to tell you that only because I got confused.
Clive Fitzwilliam. Old vampire. Master of the city. Head of the Nocturne for San Francisco. Rich and powerful and a force to be reckoned with. Yep, he falls for the 24 year old werewolf.
Their combination has been done in other books, but I still like it. Mostly, their relationship isn't the forefront of the book. It's the mystery of who wants Sam wiped off the face of the Earth. Whether it be bravery or stupidity, Sam takes things into her own hands and, again, does what she has to do to survive.
I like rooting for the underdog and Sam really got the party started. I liked this book and I can hardly wait for the next book to be released.
I give it 4 stars.
Interesting it was. And violent. Sam is knocked down, knocked around, and literally beaten not just once, but several times through this story. All because someone wants to kill her. She has no idea who she pissed off or why they could possibly be pissed off as she has kept her head down and out of sight for most of her life. She also doesn't know why the Master Vampire of the city stops in once a month for a drink at her bar.
The story is a tale of survival. Getting beaten down and abandoned but still pulling herself up to do what she has to. There is snark woven in and through this book as Sam has a sassy personality. I had a tough time following along once or twice throughout the book, but Sam gets these horrible visions. She may think it's really happening, but it's only happening in her mind. I want to tell you that only because I got confused.
Clive Fitzwilliam. Old vampire. Master of the city. Head of the Nocturne for San Francisco. Rich and powerful and a force to be reckoned with. Yep, he falls for the 24 year old werewolf.
Their combination has been done in other books, but I still like it. Mostly, their relationship isn't the forefront of the book. It's the mystery of who wants Sam wiped off the face of the Earth. Whether it be bravery or stupidity, Sam takes things into her own hands and, again, does what she has to do to survive.
I like rooting for the underdog and Sam really got the party started. I liked this book and I can hardly wait for the next book to be released.
I give it 4 stars.
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
This is the first book in the Sam Quinn UF series where the MC Samantha (Sam) Quinn, is a werewolf who runs a hidden combo bar and bookstore for the San Francisco supernatural community.
This book was a hard one for me to get into because the MC is a survivor of rape and torture and there is an evil in this book that makes us relive the events with her. I don't like books with SA. I actively avoid them. They're described in full and in first person. So we get a front row seat to her torture and even death...and then she wakes up and we have to wonder each time if this is real or another dream. I read this originally in January and decided not to read more, but a friend really liked them and suggested I give it another try.
I'm sticking with 3/5 stars (rounded up from 2.5.) I'm starting the next in the hope the torture porn feel of the first was a one off...
This book was a hard one for me to get into because the MC is a survivor of rape and torture and there is an evil in this book that makes us relive the events with her. I don't like books with SA. I actively avoid them. They're described in full and in first person. So we get a front row seat to her torture and even death...and then she wakes up and we have to wonder each time if this is real or another dream. I read this originally in January and decided not to read more, but a friend really liked them and suggested I give it another try.
I'm sticking with 3/5 stars (rounded up from 2.5.) I'm starting the next in the hope the torture porn feel of the first was a one off...