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llina's review
adventurous
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
lizabethstucker's review against another edition
4.0
Book Two of the Circle Trilogy. The preparation for the final fight against Lilith, Queen of the Vampyres, and her army of undead continues. The story now focuses on Larkin Riddock and Blair Murphy, the shapeshifter and the demon hunter.
Used to never being truly loved by the men in her life, Blair didn't believe she could have any type of future with Larkin. But she was willing to take enjoyment in the moment as she prepared for the upcoming apocalypse.
As the time grows closer to Samhain, the circle moves to Geall, Larkin's home, one step ahead of Lilith and her black sorcerer, Midir. Things become even more complicated and dangerous as the locals must be convinced of the reality of vampires and trained to fight.
This is an exciting installment in Nora Roberts' trilogy, the danger and fear ratcheting up a notch. I shall always be in awe at the power of Roberts' storytelling skills and how she can bring her characters to life. Friendship is always an important part of her books, as is the meaning of family, both that of blood and that of choice.
Used to never being truly loved by the men in her life, Blair didn't believe she could have any type of future with Larkin. But she was willing to take enjoyment in the moment as she prepared for the upcoming apocalypse.
As the time grows closer to Samhain, the circle moves to Geall, Larkin's home, one step ahead of Lilith and her black sorcerer, Midir. Things become even more complicated and dangerous as the locals must be convinced of the reality of vampires and trained to fight.
This is an exciting installment in Nora Roberts' trilogy, the danger and fear ratcheting up a notch. I shall always be in awe at the power of Roberts' storytelling skills and how she can bring her characters to life. Friendship is always an important part of her books, as is the meaning of family, both that of blood and that of choice.
dreamer4ever's review against another edition
5.0
I almost never do a re-read but it's been years, I love this series very much and I hope to encourage all that like fantasy to pick this up. Book 2, let's begin...again!!!
All done, was just as good as the first read, this series will always have a special place in my heart.
All done, was just as good as the first read, this series will always have a special place in my heart.
marjolaine_lafreniere's review against another edition
3.0
I don't like the fact that the first sex scene between the main couple is anger sex, and that the first kiss between the main couple of book three is anger kissing. And there were some cliché moments that required some power-through, or even some light skimming. But all in all, an entertaining read, and I stand by the three star rating.
shelfleigh's review against another edition
4.0
The circle of six move from Ireland to Geall as they maneuver closer to their final show down with Lilith.
This installment focused on the love developing between Larkin and Blair. While it did improve upon the love story of the last book, it still suffered from pacing issues. Blair shows up toward the last 10% of Morrigan's Cross, meaning they have not know each other that long. Each book is roughly one month of time. So they have essentially know each other 5 or 6 weeks before they reach an HEA. The best thing about their story is the ability to go directly to the romance without having to sketch out the initial plot, unlike Hoyt and Gleena's story.
If you can look past the timing of it all, Larkin and Blair work as a couple and as friends. Larkin has a playful, fun loving side that Blair obviously needs in her life, while she adds a bit of seriousness to an otherwise playboy. The two were given more time to be fleshed out from the plot and each other. We also get a tiny glimpse of the awesomeness of Cian and Moira, which is obviously the couple of the last book.
We still have no idea of Lilith's motivation, but we do get to know more about her inner circle (Lorna and Davey). Honestly, I think I like this series so much because Roberts plays with so many fantasy elements. Witches, warlocks, and ghosts are staples of her writing; adding vampires, time travel, dragons, and alternate dimensions really livens up the plot.
tl;dr While the love story suffers a bit from pacing, the overall series is shaping up to be a home run.
This installment focused on the love developing between Larkin and Blair. While it did improve upon the love story of the last book, it still suffered from pacing issues. Blair shows up toward the last 10% of Morrigan's Cross, meaning they have not know each other that long. Each book is roughly one month of time. So they have essentially know each other 5 or 6 weeks before they reach an HEA. The best thing about their story is the ability to go directly to the romance without having to sketch out the initial plot, unlike Hoyt and Gleena's story.
If you can look past the timing of it all, Larkin and Blair work as a couple and as friends. Larkin has a playful, fun loving side that Blair obviously needs in her life, while she adds a bit of seriousness to an otherwise playboy. The two were given more time to be fleshed out from the plot and each other. We also get a tiny glimpse of the awesomeness of Cian and Moira, which is obviously the couple of the last book.
We still have no idea of Lilith's motivation, but we do get to know more about her inner circle (Lorna and Davey). Honestly, I think I like this series so much because Roberts plays with so many fantasy elements. Witches, warlocks, and ghosts are staples of her writing; adding vampires, time travel, dragons, and alternate dimensions really livens up the plot.
tl;dr While the love story suffers a bit from pacing, the overall series is shaping up to be a home run.
mollierose's review against another edition
3.0
I only started reading Nora Roberts last year, and she was instrumental in helping me out of an academia-induced, years-long reading slump. However, after gorging myself on two trilogies and two standalones, the sugar rush is fading.
This series is remarkably similar to her Stars of Fortune trilogy – there’s an Irish magician, an artist, a female badass, a himbo, some version of a cursed dude, and a woman who’s not of this world. They form a circle selected by the gods to save the world from a Big Bad. If anyone else’s name were attached to this, there’d be a clear case for plagiarism.
So, is it fun? Yes. Is it readable? Yes. But am I getting sick of it? Also yes.
This series is remarkably similar to her Stars of Fortune trilogy – there’s an Irish magician, an artist, a female badass, a himbo, some version of a cursed dude, and a woman who’s not of this world. They form a circle selected by the gods to save the world from a Big Bad. If anyone else’s name were attached to this, there’d be a clear case for plagiarism.
So, is it fun? Yes. Is it readable? Yes. But am I getting sick of it? Also yes.
theaussiebooklover's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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
4.0
ssejig's review against another edition
4.0
The second in a trilogy about vampires, this book has the warrior (Blair) and the shapeshifter, Larkin, (two of the six destined to defeat Lilith) hooking up. Blair is a demon-hunter from modern day New York, trained to kill vampires. Larkin is part of the royal family of Geall, a not-as-mythical-as-thought realm that is to be the battleground between humans and vampires. An evil queen named Lilian is trying to take over the world and thought that Geall would be a grand place to start. The gods decided that they needed to put a team together to stop her and this book is the mid-point of their training, when they have to convince the people of Geall that vampires exist and that the people need to be prepared to fight.
We also get Larkin, who grew up in a happy home and is still pretty heart-whole, falling for Blair, who was never loved by her father and then dumped by her fiancé because of her demon hunting. It will take some work to get the two of them together, especially while planning for war.
I remembered this as my least favorite book in the series but on re-read, actually came ahead of the third book (too much sturm and drang) whereas these two, for the most part, see what they want and take it.
We also get Larkin, who grew up in a happy home and is still pretty heart-whole, falling for Blair, who was never loved by her father and then dumped by her fiancé because of her demon hunting. It will take some work to get the two of them together, especially while planning for war.
I remembered this as my least favorite book in the series but on re-read, actually came ahead of the third book (too much sturm and drang) whereas these two, for the most part, see what they want and take it.
ibeeeg's review against another edition
3.0
Full Review of Dance of the Gods can be found at Mom-Musings
Rating: 3.75/5 stars
I really liked this story and I am a bit surprised at that.
You may be asking, "Why are you surprised?" My answer, "I am surprised because I did not like Morrigan's Cross (Circle Trilogy, book 1) that much.
Honestly, I did not expect to like Dance of the Gods, period.
I thought I would drag myself through the book.
You now may be asking, "Why read this book at all if you thought you would have to drag yourself through the read?".
My answer, "I decided to read Dance of the Gods because my friend, Shari, told me that the series does get better. Besides, she said Cian is her favorite Vampire. Well, if not for anything else, I need to read these books just to find out about Cian ."
Yes, my friends,my dear readers, that is the only reason why I decided to go forth with the series because I tell ya, Morrigan's Cross did not give me the desire to read forth.
"Tell us Deanna, What did you like about this book?"
My answer, "Characters, characters! If I was not convinced before, I most certainly am now! I am a character driven reader. Yes, of course, the plot is important. However, for me, if the characters are not endearing, are not calling to me, are not well developed then I do not care about the plot. For me, if I do not feel some sort of pull towards a character, if I do not see some depth in a few of the characters then the story is doomed.
Dance with the Gods delivered in character development. With Morrigan's Cross, I did not connect with the main characters and only felt a slight pull towards the others.
Dance with the Gods did a good job building up to the show down which will occur in the next book, Valley of Silence. I am so looking forward to reading Valley of Silence not only for the action but also for the characters. Mostly though, with honesty, I want to read Valley of Silence because of Cian! Yep, I want to read more of him...like I said, he is alluring.
Dance with the Gods was very satisfying!
I truly enjoyed this read.
Rating: 3.75/5 stars
I really liked this story and I am a bit surprised at that.
You may be asking, "Why are you surprised?" My answer, "I am surprised because I did not like Morrigan's Cross (Circle Trilogy, book 1) that much.
Honestly, I did not expect to like Dance of the Gods, period.
I thought I would drag myself through the book.
You now may be asking, "Why read this book at all if you thought you would have to drag yourself through the read?".
My answer, "I decided to read Dance of the Gods because my friend, Shari, told me that the series does get better. Besides, she said Cian is her favorite Vampire. Well, if not for anything else, I need to read these books just to find out about Cian ."
Yes, my friends,my dear readers, that is the only reason why I decided to go forth with the series because I tell ya, Morrigan's Cross did not give me the desire to read forth.
"Tell us Deanna, What did you like about this book?"
My answer, "Characters, characters! If I was not convinced before, I most certainly am now! I am a character driven reader. Yes, of course, the plot is important. However, for me, if the characters are not endearing, are not calling to me, are not well developed then I do not care about the plot. For me, if I do not feel some sort of pull towards a character, if I do not see some depth in a few of the characters then the story is doomed.
Dance with the Gods delivered in character development. With Morrigan's Cross, I did not connect with the main characters and only felt a slight pull towards the others.
Dance with the Gods did a good job building up to the show down which will occur in the next book, Valley of Silence. I am so looking forward to reading Valley of Silence not only for the action but also for the characters. Mostly though, with honesty, I want to read Valley of Silence because of Cian! Yep, I want to read more of him...like I said, he is alluring.
Dance with the Gods was very satisfying!
I truly enjoyed this read.
readbyashleyd's review against another edition
4.0
I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of Nora Roberts! She writes such a wide variety of books and she does them all so well, it’s quite impressive. This is a bit different than any I’ve read by her and it’s interesting to see her to vampires. It’s my second time reading this series and I enjoyed it just as much this time around! It’s been so long since I’ve read them that it’s like experiencing them for the first time again.