Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
This started really good, I liked the story and I absolutely adored Kate (definitely the strongest point of the book! a female MC who's powerful but still has to train every day and knows her own limitations?? Hell yeah! Plus, she has the most delightful sense of (dark) humour) but I had two major issues with the book. First, the classic info-dump typical in all first-book-in-a-series - it was boring at times but mostly very confusing. The second issue was how quickly the story turned into a creepy, gory mess - Still, the main story was interesting enough for me to go on reading this series, and I can't wait to see more of Kate!
Spoiler
the two murders described at the beginning of the book were gruesome enough, but the rapes and torturing and interspecies breeding? I absolutely could have done without that.
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-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
Overall rating: 4 stars
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Plot: 8/10
Ending: 7/10
Writing: 8/10
Heroine: 10/10
Humour: 8/10
Steaminess: 6/10
HEA: n/a - series
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Plot: 8/10
Ending: 7/10
Writing: 8/10
Heroine: 10/10
Humour: 8/10
Steaminess: 6/10
HEA: n/a - series
An interesting start to a series; I like that a lot is left open to explore later. But after one book I'm not feeling invested yet; it hasn't stood out compared to many other books in the same genre. Mainly I think the problem is that the writing isn't quite up to the ambition. We'll see if it improves in the rest of the series.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Great series. Have read almost all the books by Ilona Andrews - several great series - Kate Daniels, Innkeeper, Edge, Hidden Legacy,
Even though I love this series, I don’t think I ever re-read the first book, partly it’s because I didn’t have the physical copy, but still… how is it possible? Usually, I just pick the books I have at home and re-read some favourites parts, but this time I decided to go the whole way and re-read the whole series – because I still didn’t read the 10th book and I decided it is the time.
This was such a fun, because it shows how this world is still taking shape and how nothing is final yet. Some aspects that in later books disappeared are highlighted here, while a lot of things you would expect to be here just aren’t. There are also some mistakes from the perspective of later books. The oldest (unnamed) son of aunt B is mentioned, but by this time only Raphael is alive and he is the youngest if I remember correctly and is using a shotgun, which… we all know that Raphael is a knife guy (he is also described as a kid, but in third book it is confirmed that it was Raphael…). It is also mentioned that Daniels has kids which he hasn’t by this time… but… all of those little things were more cute to me than anything… It’s so nice to see this world grow and the book is still pretty solid.
Also, I have to say that I was taken back by the force of sexual violence in this book. It’s not really a theme in the later books (it’s a dark world, so… not really entirely gone, but… more subtle…), but if that is a trigger for you, be careful with this one. It’s not exactly graphic, but there is a lot of a bad stuff happening off stage and… not nice.
It was so nice to meet “original Kare”, only now did I realise how major development she went through and still she is the same person (and I love her so much). To experience again Kate’s first meeting with Curran ( XD ) and with Derek (who is still one of my faves – Roman moved him from the pedestal, but… I still love him). I am so sentimental… Some of the later books are definitely better than this one, but… I can’t give it less than five stars…
I gave him my best cryptic smile. He did not fall down to his feet, kiss my shoes, and promise me the world. I must be getting rusty.
This was such a fun, because it shows how this world is still taking shape and how nothing is final yet. Some aspects that in later books disappeared are highlighted here, while a lot of things you would expect to be here just aren’t. There are also some mistakes from the perspective of later books. The oldest (unnamed) son of aunt B is mentioned, but by this time only Raphael is alive and he is the youngest if I remember correctly and is using a shotgun, which… we all know that Raphael is a knife guy (he is also described as a kid, but in third book it is confirmed that it was Raphael…). It is also mentioned that Daniels has kids which he hasn’t by this time… but… all of those little things were more cute to me than anything… It’s so nice to see this world grow and the book is still pretty solid.
“He finished the bandage and was examining it critically.
"You know those things are unreliable." His voice held just a touch of reproach.
“Eleven out of twelve work fine. I’d say that’s better chances than getting an orgasm with a blind date and women still try.”
Also, I have to say that I was taken back by the force of sexual violence in this book. It’s not really a theme in the later books (it’s a dark world, so… not really entirely gone, but… more subtle…), but if that is a trigger for you, be careful with this one. It’s not exactly graphic, but there is a lot of a bad stuff happening off stage and… not nice.
It was so nice to meet “original Kare”, only now did I realise how major development she went through and still she is the same person (and I love her so much). To experience again Kate’s first meeting with Curran ( XD ) and with Derek (who is still one of my faves – Roman moved him from the pedestal, but… I still love him). I am so sentimental… Some of the later books are definitely better than this one, but… I can’t give it less than five stars…
adventurous
challenging
funny
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
Really want to give this three and half stars.
Its a little rough around the edges and the plot is rather simplistic, but overall it was very like able and well worth the read. Plus the main bad guy was really well done.
Oh one thing that I just couldn't get past was that way too many of the main male characters had names that started with C. I'm terrible at remembering names, but if too many are too similar its almost impossible for me to keep track of them all. =P
Definitely going for book two!
Its a little rough around the edges and the plot is rather simplistic, but overall it was very like able and well worth the read. Plus the main bad guy was really well done.
Oh one thing that I just couldn't get past was that way too many of the main male characters had names that started with C. I'm terrible at remembering names, but if too many are too similar its almost impossible for me to keep track of them all. =P
Definitely going for book two!
A decently written urban fantasy without the oft-annoying requisite romance. No tough chick/slick vamp sex scenes here, and I for one was grateful.
Andrews changes up some things nicely, though many of the conventions are still here. Her protagonist is a tough, leather-wearing, sword-swinging, spell-slinging quipster who is surprisingly unlikeable. Really. If you're going to create an ongoing series, it might be a good idea to make the reader like the main character. At least a little bit.
I did enjoy Andrews' takes on vampires and shape-shifters--fairly different from the norm. Her world in which tech and magic come and go in waves is an interesting setting.
But in the end, while it was decently written, it was fairly forgettable and I'm not sure I'd read the next in the series.
Andrews changes up some things nicely, though many of the conventions are still here. Her protagonist is a tough, leather-wearing, sword-swinging, spell-slinging quipster who is surprisingly unlikeable. Really. If you're going to create an ongoing series, it might be a good idea to make the reader like the main character. At least a little bit.
I did enjoy Andrews' takes on vampires and shape-shifters--fairly different from the norm. Her world in which tech and magic come and go in waves is an interesting setting.
But in the end, while it was decently written, it was fairly forgettable and I'm not sure I'd read the next in the series.