A review by blueskyvibes1point0
Zen and the Art of Vampires: A Dark Ones Novel by Katie MacAlister

adventurous funny mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

During her singles journey through Europe, Pia Thomason, a resident of Seattle, seeks companionship while grappling with the approach of her 40th birthday. Unfortunately, the candidates vying for her affection fall short of her expectations. However, a chance encounter with two enigmatic individuals in Iceland leads Pia into a captivating romance with the undead, revealing that in the world of vampires, matters of the heart aren't the only ones hanging in the balance.

Rating:
1. **Plot and Storytelling:** 4/5 I appreciated the fresh approach to the dark ones' storyline and found the overall narrative quite engaging.

2. **Characterization:** 5/5 The characters in this book truly won me over, especially how they evolved throughout the story. Katie’s portrayal of her flawed yet strong female lead was particularly captivating, and the side characters were equally delightful.

3. **Writing Style:** 5/5 Another 5 out of 5 from me for Katie MacAlister’s writing style. I believe she skillfully weaves a compelling tale with excellent pacing.

4. **Originality:** 5/5 I found the book's fresh take on both the vampire romance genre and Katie’s dark one series to be quite refreshing and thoroughly enjoyable.

5. **Emotional Impact and Resolution:** 3/5 While the book did evoke some minor emotional responses like giggles and cringes, overall, it didn't have me on the edge of my seat. I was slightly let down by the resolution and the open-ended conclusion, though I'm optimistic about future developments.

6. **Smut:** 4/5 I appreciated the level of spice in the book without it becoming too excessive.

7. **Narrator emotion and tone:** 5/5 Nicole Poole did a commendable job in narrating the book, effectively conveying emotions and maintaining an appropriate tone throughout.

8. **Narrator character differentiation:** 4/5 Poole did well in distinguishing between characters with varied voices and speaking styles.

9. **Narrator pacing and flow:** 5/5 for the excellent pacing and flow of the narration. Poole’s delivery matched the book's rhythm perfectly, neither too slow nor too fast.

10. **Audio quality:** 5/5 for the excellent audio quality, as expected from recorded books.

Overall score: 4.5/5

I would absolutely recommend you check this book out. I preferred the audio format. It was a very good listen.  

if you like this book, I would recommend you check out the rest of the Dark Ones series by Katie MacAlister.  Her dragon sept series is also a great place to start in the supernatural, romance world.