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A review by kikiandarrowsfishshelf
The Turning by Jennifer Armintrout
4.0
Disclaimer: I picked this up because I liked the author’s blog.
The one thing I really hate about Goodreads is the fact that I can’t give half stars. Sometimes something is more than “liked it” but not quite “really liked it”. This is a 3.5 or higher, but not quite a four. Here’s why it’s not quite a four – the characterization could have been a little better for there are places in the novel where it is a little uneven and there are, quite frankly, a bit too many info-dumps. I may or may not touch on these issues further in this review.
There is far, far, far, far too much urban fantasy out there where a girl with a chip on her shoulder has two men pursuing her. These men are usually supernatural’s and one is the “bad boy” while the other is a “good boy”.
Thankfully, Ms. Armintrout keeps the meaning of bad.
Cause too often in UF the bad boy’s (and sometimes he’s the true love) behavior is stalker like.
Carrie, the heroine of this book, is in fact a woman and not girl. She is in her later twenties and after a rather bad night becomes a vampire. On top of that, she finds herself caught between two men who represent two sides. The first, the bad boy, is her sire Cyrus who is a real vampire. He does not sparkle; he’s like a shark on steroids that is addicted to S&M, and believes vampires should rule the world. The second man, the good boy, is Nathan who is a vampire who is also a vampire hunter. There is just one little problem. Nathan and his quasi son Ziggy are not members of Buffy’s team.
Think Van Helsing times six hundred. Chose us or die.
The decisions Carrie has to make are far more than “Team Cyrus” or “Team Nathan”. The choice is about who she should be as a person- or a vampire – a far more important question than who she should sleep with.
BTW – if you are Team Cyrus, seek help.
And that’s point. Carrie’s choice is compound by the fact that as her sire, her maker, Cyrus has a bond with her. In fact, Carrie’s relationship with Cyrus is one of the few where a writer really takes a look at the idea of control. It’s true that in some cases the excuse of the blood tie is used a bit too much, but it is also immensely refreshing to read a book where the “love” scene with the bad boy are not the be all and end all. There is a load of difference between the interactions between Carrie and Cyrus, and Carrie and Nathan. The scenes where Carrie is with Cyrus are uncomfortable, and seem intended to be that way. And this is because of the question of control and free will. It’s nice to see someone really, truly look at that issue. To take the step and deal with issues like abusive relationships and how some UF stories use them, whether Stockholm syndrome would take place. Is it done perfectly? No, not quite. The characterization could be a little more even or fluid. But Armintrout does really seem to be examining sexual politics in a way that very few others in the paranormal/UF books. The only other writer I can think of it who has touched upon the issue in such a way is Carrie Vaughn.
And that’s why I rounded up. That and the fact that the vampires are not toothless Romeos, and Armintrout does write in such a way that we can see why Carrie is tempted, why she might give into the dark side. And at the end, you really can’t help wanting to shout, ‘You go girl!’. The book isn’t perfect but it is enjoyable and different enough to stand out.
The one thing I really hate about Goodreads is the fact that I can’t give half stars. Sometimes something is more than “liked it” but not quite “really liked it”. This is a 3.5 or higher, but not quite a four. Here’s why it’s not quite a four – the characterization could have been a little better for there are places in the novel where it is a little uneven and there are, quite frankly, a bit too many info-dumps. I may or may not touch on these issues further in this review.
There is far, far, far, far too much urban fantasy out there where a girl with a chip on her shoulder has two men pursuing her. These men are usually supernatural’s and one is the “bad boy” while the other is a “good boy”.
Thankfully, Ms. Armintrout keeps the meaning of bad.
Cause too often in UF the bad boy’s (and sometimes he’s the true love) behavior is stalker like.
Carrie, the heroine of this book, is in fact a woman and not girl. She is in her later twenties and after a rather bad night becomes a vampire. On top of that, she finds herself caught between two men who represent two sides. The first, the bad boy, is her sire Cyrus who is a real vampire. He does not sparkle; he’s like a shark on steroids that is addicted to S&M, and believes vampires should rule the world. The second man, the good boy, is Nathan who is a vampire who is also a vampire hunter. There is just one little problem. Nathan and his quasi son Ziggy are not members of Buffy’s team.
Think Van Helsing times six hundred. Chose us or die.
The decisions Carrie has to make are far more than “Team Cyrus” or “Team Nathan”. The choice is about who she should be as a person- or a vampire – a far more important question than who she should sleep with.
BTW – if you are Team Cyrus, seek help.
And that’s point. Carrie’s choice is compound by the fact that as her sire, her maker, Cyrus has a bond with her. In fact, Carrie’s relationship with Cyrus is one of the few where a writer really takes a look at the idea of control. It’s true that in some cases the excuse of the blood tie is used a bit too much, but it is also immensely refreshing to read a book where the “love” scene with the bad boy are not the be all and end all. There is a load of difference between the interactions between Carrie and Cyrus, and Carrie and Nathan. The scenes where Carrie is with Cyrus are uncomfortable, and seem intended to be that way. And this is because of the question of control and free will. It’s nice to see someone really, truly look at that issue. To take the step and deal with issues like abusive relationships and how some UF stories use them, whether Stockholm syndrome would take place. Is it done perfectly? No, not quite. The characterization could be a little more even or fluid. But Armintrout does really seem to be examining sexual politics in a way that very few others in the paranormal/UF books. The only other writer I can think of it who has touched upon the issue in such a way is Carrie Vaughn.
And that’s why I rounded up. That and the fact that the vampires are not toothless Romeos, and Armintrout does write in such a way that we can see why Carrie is tempted, why she might give into the dark side. And at the end, you really can’t help wanting to shout, ‘You go girl!’. The book isn’t perfect but it is enjoyable and different enough to stand out.