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diaryofthebookdragon's review against another edition
4.0
I picked up this series because Ilona Andrews mentioned they were a fan.
At start it seemed like a cliched pnr but after some time I got into the story. I liked the chemistry between characters. And the world really intrigues me, I must find out more.
At start it seemed like a cliched pnr but after some time I got into the story. I liked the chemistry between characters. And the world really intrigues me, I must find out more.
emac021's review
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
pencils's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
nicoleness's review against another edition
3.0
Fun story. But really, jelly-ice? I had a hard time not rolling my eyes at some of the invented terminology of this world. It got to the point where I'd really be into the book, engrossed in the story, and then suddenly, jelly-anything was mentioned, and it pulled me out of the book. Aside from that, I love the concept of the prism/talent relationship, meeting on a plane beyond the physical. I liked the book, but it would have earned another star if not for the awkward, seemingly forced jargon. Maybe next time, hire an editor who specializes in romance AND sci-fi?
sarahc_98's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
ccgwalt's review against another edition
3.0
SFR Reading Challenge 2012
TBR Reading Challenge 2012: Personal- on my tbr list since June 2010.
Grade B
This is a fairly typical Jayne Castle/Krentz book: not too deep, but entertaining. Her heroes are rarely well-developed, and seems to spend a lot of time gnashing teeth over the heroine's actions. Lucien is a fine hero, but a little bland. Amaryllis is more developed, but isn't an inspiring heroine. One character describes her as "a prissy, straight-laced, self-righteous [person] who seemed to think it was her job in life to act as a goddamned conscience for everyone else." And that about sums up Amaryllis. She's about as sexy as a Miss Manners etiquette book, but not as humorous. I didn't dislike her at all, I just wasn't drawn to her and couldn't see any reason Lucien was, either. Plus she pulled one or two TSTL stunts and was way too naive to be believed.
Since Castle has spent time in this book setting up the world, the next two books might have more plot and less backstory. I'll probably read the next one since I own it.
TBR Reading Challenge 2012: Personal- on my tbr list since June 2010.
Grade B
This is a fairly typical Jayne Castle/Krentz book: not too deep, but entertaining. Her heroes are rarely well-developed, and seems to spend a lot of time gnashing teeth over the heroine's actions. Lucien is a fine hero, but a little bland. Amaryllis is more developed, but isn't an inspiring heroine. One character describes her as "a prissy, straight-laced, self-righteous [person] who seemed to think it was her job in life to act as a goddamned conscience for everyone else." And that about sums up Amaryllis. She's about as sexy as a Miss Manners etiquette book, but not as humorous. I didn't dislike her at all, I just wasn't drawn to her and couldn't see any reason Lucien was, either. Plus she pulled one or two TSTL stunts and was way too naive to be believed.
Since Castle has spent time in this book setting up the world, the next two books might have more plot and less backstory. I'll probably read the next one since I own it.
tinasbooknook's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoy this futuristic worldbuilding, the fun combination of contemporary and sci-fi.
Great chemistry and neat storyline.
Great chemistry and neat storyline.
nixwhittaker's review against another edition
5.0
Like her Harmony series this is set on another world where humans have been trapped after travelling through a curtain. here we have two talents that need each other to be at their best. I love this writer as she is a fan of marriage and love over just plain lust.
becasaur27's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars. I really enjoyed this world. It is a kind of sci-fi romance, which I don't see all that often. BUT the characters just didn't do it for me. I mean, not so bad that I didn't finish the book, but I really wanted to be much more in love with both of them than I was. And it wasn't that they didn't both have issues to work through, but they just seemed a little flat to me. I might revisit the world at some point, but don't need to go out and read the whole rest of the series RIGHT NOW like I do with some other books. (This is actually a good thing right now anyway as I have a lot of books I want to read. :) )
amyiw's review against another edition
3.0
I liked this 3 1/2. It is a bit old school futuristic paranormal romance with a standoffish woman, strung tight. Big businessman trying to hide his talents.
A curtain/veil opened on Earth 200 years earlier and allowed intrepid humans to venture to a planet in another part of the galaxy, St Helens. Unluckily the curtain closed, so St Helens has evolved through the founders perseverance though 200 years later many question those motives and really what were the founders beliefs. Many people have gifts but those gifts take two people to use, the psy and the focus.
St Helen's society is very conservative in some ways yet liberal in others. Divorce is looked down upon and almost impossible to get. Children out of wedlock is a no, no and bastards are treated very unkindly. There is birth control for both males and females so it doesn't stop relationships. It does make many cautious about making their own matches, so they go to psychic counselors whom specialize in finding the perfect fit.
So our heroine works as a for hire focus, for psychics. Lucas, a wealthy businessman hires her to attend a party to investigate a traitor in his firm. They immediately have sparks and stumble upon other happenings during the investigation. They continue to look into the questions that opened up, while getting closer and having a relationship develop. It was a pretty good story and world though I felt a little like I was in the 70tys. Being on their own planet where no Earth made object functions or exists, makes it easy to develop a technology that is behind the times even though it is in the future. It was also written in 1996 which was the edge of the PNR boom of the 2000. This was a lead in and IMO, a basis for much of the Psychic PNR of today. Nalini Singh says it is one of her favorite series, and I can definitely see where it may have influenced her.
I enjoyed the romance and the story and will continue on with the series. It wasn't my favorite but it was good for an early PNR.
A curtain/veil opened on Earth 200 years earlier and allowed intrepid humans to venture to a planet in another part of the galaxy, St Helens. Unluckily the curtain closed, so St Helens has evolved through the founders perseverance though 200 years later many question those motives and really what were the founders beliefs. Many people have gifts but those gifts take two people to use, the psy and the focus.
St Helen's society is very conservative in some ways yet liberal in others. Divorce is looked down upon and almost impossible to get. Children out of wedlock is a no, no and bastards are treated very unkindly. There is birth control for both males and females so it doesn't stop relationships. It does make many cautious about making their own matches, so they go to psychic counselors whom specialize in finding the perfect fit.
So our heroine works as a for hire focus, for psychics. Lucas, a wealthy businessman hires her to attend a party to investigate a traitor in his firm. They immediately have sparks and stumble upon other happenings during the investigation. They continue to look into the questions that opened up, while getting closer and having a relationship develop. It was a pretty good story and world though I felt a little like I was in the 70tys. Being on their own planet where no Earth made object functions or exists, makes it easy to develop a technology that is behind the times even though it is in the future. It was also written in 1996 which was the edge of the PNR boom of the 2000. This was a lead in and IMO, a basis for much of the Psychic PNR of today. Nalini Singh says it is one of her favorite series, and I can definitely see where it may have influenced her.
I enjoyed the romance and the story and will continue on with the series. It wasn't my favorite but it was good for an early PNR.