Shades of Gray (Jude Magdalyn, #1)

Feb 13, 2011 Chibineko rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I had to think pretty hard about this review because I wanted to make sure to put it just right. I don’t want anyone to think that this book was absolutely horrible, but I do want people to realize exactly how green this book really is. I’ll be blunt & say that this book desperately needs to be re-worked & re-written.

The book’s premise is an interesting enough one. It doesn’t break any of the common tropes of the UF genre, but then those tropes are popular for a reason. They work & t...more I had to think pretty hard about this review because I wanted to make sure to put it just right. I don’t want anyone to think that this book was absolutely horrible, but I do want people to realize exactly how green this book really is. I’ll be blunt & say that this book desperately needs to be re-worked & re-written.

The book’s premise is an interesting enough one. It doesn’t break any of the common tropes of the UF genre, but then those tropes are popular for a reason. They work & they’re entertaining. I just feel like it could have been better executed than this was.

My main problems stem from different sources. First off, I felt like Jude was far too powerful too soon. Yes, her power usage did knock her on her butt, but she was also able to do just about everything. It’s a little much, especially when she’s this all powerful magic user so quickly. I didn’t really get a sense that she really worked all that hard on everything & I really feel like it would have been better if the writer had staggered all of this over multiple books, taking time in building Jude’s powers. I really felt like everything was just kind of a shortcut to get directly to the power & as such, I feel like the author cheated herself out of the impact that she would have gotten if she’d drawn it out over several books.

Something that could have also benefited greatly from being staggered over several books is the romantic triangle of Jude/Williams/Theo. The author goes from 0 to 60 & the chemistry suffers as a result. There’s an event that is supposed to be a defining moment in the triangle, yet it just sort of fizzles & felt forced, as if the author felt like she needed to draw a definite line in order to justify Jude going with one person over the other. It lacked impact. Another thing that lacked impact was Jude’s reveals over her past & I felt kind of puzzled that she angsted more over the orphanage than what she did after she ran away. It just didn’t make any sense & we’re not really given any justification as to why her actions afterwards would be considered a better situation than returning to the orphanage.

The author does have potential & I don’t mean this to sound like she’s without talent. This book just desperately needs a rewrite & I think that a round through a good writing group would do wonders. (If they don’t rip it to shreds, they’re not doing their job.) There’s just too much telling instead of showing & Jude really needs a serious powering down. She occasionally comes across as a Mary Sue, which is a shame since she has the potential to be a very intriguing character. The whole thing just needs work.
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Oct 18, 2010 Belinda Boring rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I knew when I read the blurb that I’d enjoy reading this book but NOTHING prepared me for the feelings of shell shock and amazement I felt the moment I finished it. I texted my BFF and one of the first things I said was “My gosh, how will I ever be able to write a review that could describe just how much I loved this book?” I still feel that way and so with a hopeful heart, I pray to Book Gods that somehow I can do this book justice.

To say that I loved and enjoyed this book would be a gross unde...more I knew when I read the blurb that I’d enjoy reading this book but NOTHING prepared me for the feelings of shell shock and amazement I felt the moment I finished it. I texted my BFF and one of the first things I said was “My gosh, how will I ever be able to write a review that could describe just how much I loved this book?” I still feel that way and so with a hopeful heart, I pray to Book Gods that somehow I can do this book justice.

To say that I loved and enjoyed this book would be a gross understatement. The story had a real edge to it that I really appreciated and definitely didn’t expect to find. It was a no holds barred story of Jude Magdalyn and how she suddenly found herself in the middle of a battle where she was expected to take a pivotal role. She was the Prophecy, the foretold person who would bring peace and eventually became the leader of a group of magical people called The Covenant. Although she felt extremely inadequate, when you add the little training and years of experience she'd had and the heart she had, she more than met the challenge and ruffled a lot of feathers along the way. She had to prepare her newly appointed people for the battle against the resident evil vampire Hart, all the while having to deal with a budding love relationship and the heartache of betrayal from another. The author wrote a well thought out story, filled with humor and action, heartache and triumph and it definitely hooked me from beginning to end. I’d been looking for a book with a slightly dark feeling to it and I found it in Shades of Gray.

I loved Jude within moments of meeting her and it wasn’t too long before I realized that she was exactly how I like my lead females – opinionated with a splash of sarcastic humor. Growing up the way she did and the years she spent on the street trying to survive really gave her the kind of grit that made her amazing to read. She had this toughness about her, a no nonsense feel and I loved how she paid no attention to the role people expected her to play but did what she felt was right. She wouldn't play games and she showed an incredible amount of heart as she sometimes worked blindly towards preparing her people for the upcoming battle. There was no fakeness about her, being completely real and I LOVED the thought process Jude had and the way the author showed it through the inner dialogues she wrote for her. For me it was including those insights that made Jude 100% believable for me because I could totally imagine myself in her place, thinking and reacting the same way. I can’t begin to describe how refreshingly REAL Jude was and what an incredible character she was to me. There was no fluff when it came to Jude. She was three dimensional in every sense of the word, having a depth and layer to her that made connecting to her as easy as breathing.

There were a lot of great characters in this story but being the romance junkie that I am what review wouldn’t be complete without a few gushing words about the men. There were two men in Jude’s life that would’ve given anything to be with her. First there was Williams, a 200 year old vampire that I was INSTANTLY attracted to. The sexual tension between him and Jude was intense, my body shivering in those beginning scenes and the image I had of Williams was that he was incredibly powerful and just oozed masculine sexuality. He was drawn to Jude and I loved those scenes where he would sneak up on her and lay on the seductive heat. I sat there tingling with anticipation, waiting for the pages to start scorching when along comes Theo, a member of the covenant who for all I could see was the “safe” love choice for Jude. I’ll admit I didn’t hold much hope for him but he was also incredibly sexy with an amazing sense of humor and down to earth attitude. He was entirely focused on Jude and supporting but seriously, when up against a vampire, he didn’t stand a chance. Through the different twists the story took however, I was proven wrong, that Theo wasn’t just the safest choice but the only choice and I sat back and watched it all play out. I loved the way that Jude interacted with Theo and Williams with the constant change of dynamics in their relationships and it added a real spice and emotion to an already amazing read. Great men who showed me that there’s always more to meet the eye than first appearances.

I REVELLED in the evilness of the characters in this book and I can’t begin to describe how excited I was to read a story that totally let go and gave the characters free reign to show just how bad they could be. I have a real “thing” for the well written villain and I swear I almost overdosed on Hart and his minions. I was practically thrumming reading the scenes with Hart and although he made my skin crawl at times, he had my blood pumping and those final scenes with him had me bouncing around in my seat he was that delicious. A very loud MWAHAHAHAHA from me!!

I’ve said before that when reviewing I stick mainly with the emotions and connection I had while reading, touching things like word choice only as they affected my experience with story. Having said that, my review wouldn’t be complete if I didn’t share my reaction to the amazing way the author chose to write her story. To me, one of the signs of a well written book is in the descriptiveness in the scene and how well the author can pull me in and make me see it, turning the story from just words on a page to a kind of mini movie in my head. The downside to this is I sometimes find in the quest to create the scene, the author includes too much detail and loses me where a few well chosen sentences could have done it much better. It didn’t take me long to realize that this author was a GENIUS when it comes to word choice. Each word she used when put together held power and it was INCREDIBLY easy to not only see the scene but to feel it. There were scenes that had me so completely entranced that I couldn’t read fast enough, my heart completely invested in the story. Her writing style made the story become real (gosh I wish I could find a better word than that because it doesn’t quite capture just how good it was) and I have to say it was an amazing experience.

As the book wrapped up and I was finally able to release the breath I’d been holding through those final scenes, I realized that I had just found what I’ve come to term as a HALLEJUAH book. It had totally taken me over, drawing such a powerful response that for a moment I was completely speechless and happily exhausted from the emotional ride I’d just taken. To me, this is a book that needs to be read and I hope that others will be able to have similar experiences to what I had. I can’t praise the author and her story enough. A definite read for not just lovers of Urban Fantasy but for anyone who appreciates a book written so well that it comes alive. Enjoy!
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Nov 30, 2010 Jenny rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Review originally published at http://supernaturalsnark.blogspot.com...

THE STORY
Though she is named after saints, Jude Magdalyn's life has been anything but blessed. The death of her parents resulted in life in an orphanage, and then life on the streets forced at times to sell her body for survival. Now, she lives the life of a con artist, reading tarot cards for tourists wanting the authentic New Orleans experience.

A reading with what she assumes is one such client yields highly atypical result...more Review originally published at http://supernaturalsnark.blogspot.com...

THE STORY
Though she is named after saints, Jude Magdalyn's life has been anything but blessed. The death of her parents resulted in life in an orphanage, and then life on the streets forced at times to sell her body for survival. Now, she lives the life of a con artist, reading tarot cards for tourists wanting the authentic New Orleans experience.

A reading with what she assumes is one such client yields highly atypical results as events take place and information comes to light revealing Jude to be the preordained leader of the Covenant, a group of powerful individuals warring with an organized group of vampires. Now she finds herself in the middle of a life she never thought possible, surrounded by people with whose hopes and dreams she is burdened, destined to fill a role she's not sure she can handle.

With the guidance of her mentor Gillian and the occasional pointer from vampire warrior Williams, Jude begins to hone her powers and train for the war everyone says is coming, and coming quickly. Jude has only ever had to care for herself, but now she bears the responsibility of dozens of lives, young and old alike, and as much as there are those outside the Covenant who wish her harm, she may face an even greater threat from within.

MY THOUGHTS
Shades of Gray wastes little time introducing us to the action, immediately catapulting us into a richly diverse and slightly eerie post-Katrina New Orleans as our heroine realizes she's an intrinsic part of a war humanity has no idea is being waged. Typically, finding ourselves in the middle of events quickly is welcome, as world building and extensive descriptions of characters and locations make for a slower pace where our involvement in the story is delayed considerably. However, the lack of history in this tale keeps us on the fringes of the battle as opposed to being on the front lines, our limited knowledge preventing us from fully ascertaining the magnitude of what Jude and company are fighting for. The villain is clear, but the specifics of how the opposing factions came to be and why their hatred burns so bright remains muddied. Therefore, our emotional response when good lives are lost is stunted, our hearts merely bruised instead of shattered beyond repair as the full weight of their sacrifice remains outside our realm of understanding.

Jude has an incredibly smart mouth and a bottomless reservoir of pithy remarks, and while this makes for some extraordinarily entertaining witty repartee, her sarcasm is sometimes layered so thick it forms a coat of armor around her we are unable to chink, thus keeping the sentiments underneath out of our reach. She also at times makes herself difficult to like, one instance in particular with regard to Williams, engaging in an activity during a time of grief from which she knows she should walk away, having the presence of mind to know it's wrong but not the emotional strength to refuse the comfort. When the dust settles, she immediately cries foul, making a monster of a man who, based on the information we've been provided, doesn't entirely deserve the label. Her attention shifts from Williams to Covenant member Theo quickly and easily prior to the grief episode, and when he provides her with an out from blame for the entire ordeal she latches onto it with a shocking intensity, assuaging her guilt and transferring her hurt and pain to Williams's broad shoulders. She is strong and independent, but her shortcomings force us to keep our distance when we might otherwise be drawn in by a friend, a confidante, and an able leader.

The secondary characters are beautifully portrayed however, a wide array of personalities overflowing with flaws and vulnerabilities as well as unique gifts and inherent strengths that add a fascinating layer to the story. Our affection for Williams is instant and unwavering, one of the reasons why his quick dismissal by Jude and his subsequent treatment at her hands leaves us a bit confused, wondering if we agree with her that our loyalty has been misplaced. He is a vampire of many secrets who acts in ways that, despite their mysteriousness, are in her best interest even if she fails to view them as such. As much as we would like to hate Theo and render him a usurper of Jude's attentions whom we adamantly deny the gift of our affection, Ms. Pruitt makes him very difficult to dislike. He takes Jude's snarky comments in stride and instead of meekly accepting them or lashing out in anger, absorbs them and slings them back at her with the added facet of guidance, helping her to extend her powers and be the ray of hope they need her to be.

We are left with an interesting development in Jude's personal life, one with far-reaching implications for both the war itself and her existence as a whole. It's clear we have as much to learn as Jude, and here's hoping we get a touch more information in book two so that we no longer have to crouch on the sides of the fighting ring, but rather get to have our hands tagged so we can cross the ropes and enter the fray.

Rating: 3/5(less)

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Sep 21, 2010 Shéa MacLeod rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: takin-names-kickin-ass-aka-urb

Warning: Here there be vampires.

Don't worry. They don't sparkle.

I'm a huge fan of urban fantasy and paranormal romance and I think this is a great blend of both. I also love that it's set in New Orleans and the author gives you a real sense of BEING there, feeling the streets,living with the people, and I love that.

I'm not going to reiterate what the novel is about. You can read that in the book blurb. What I am going to say is that while the story is full of magic and mystery, the characters an...more

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Jun 20, 2012 Tana rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is the first book in the Jude Magdalyn series, it is a really great story, and I absolutely loved it and enjoyed every page.

The humor, wit and sarcasm is some fantastic writing and I truly enjoyed reading Shades of Gray. L.M. Pruitt is an excellent author, the character description are written extremely well you get to know everyone, the story flows so well that you have a hard time putting this book down.

Jude is a really great main character, when we meet her she is working as a fake tar...more

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Aug 21, 2011 Alyssa (Hesperia Loves Books) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-favorites, read-in-2011

Wow! This was truly a phenomenal read with an amazing cast of characters, written by an equally amazing author, L.M. Pruitt. This urban fantasy gem features Jude Magdalyn (how cool is that name?), who has been on her own since leaving the Catholic orphanage she grew up in. She doesn’t trust easily, only a few select friends, and she gets by running tarot card scams. That all changes in one single night and she realizes that nothing will ever be the same.

There are SO many things that I LOVED abo...more Wow! This was truly a phenomenal read with an amazing cast of characters, written by an equally amazing author, L.M. Pruitt. This urban fantasy gem features Jude Magdalyn (how cool is that name?), who has been on her own since leaving the Catholic orphanage she grew up in. She doesn’t trust easily, only a few select friends, and she gets by running tarot card scams. That all changes in one single night and she realizes that nothing will ever be the same.

There are SO many things that I LOVED about this book. It was one that, as I was reading, I just kept thinking OMG I have to tell everyone about this! Jude, the heroine, is one of my favorite kind of female leads. Her sarcasm & wit have no boundaries, she thinks on her feet, takes shit from no one, has tons of love to give but only a select few see it, and she is willing to sacrifice herself for the greater good and those she loves. Here are a few more reasons:

LIKES
-An incredibly rich story line that kept me intrigued throughout the book and wanting to turn the page to read more. I couldn’t wait to see what was going to happen next.
-An incredible cast of secondary characters. In my opinion, L.M. Pruitt, pushed her book to that next level because of those characters. They did not detract at all and added tremendous content to the overall plot. Jude’s story touches so many lives and she is affected by so many in her ever-changing world, the amazing development of these characters was pivotal to her journey.
-Williams – enough said!
-The lead in for book #2. If you know me, then you know that I hate cliffhangers. The set up for the second book, Shades of Desire, was enough to leave me really anticipating the next, but not feeling like I wanted to throw the book (think Dreamfever).
-Jude’s sarcasm & wit. I know I mentioned it earlier but it was absolutely incredible and one of my favorites parts of the book. I couldn’t wait to read what come out of her mouth next. It was sharp when needed, funny & best of all – completely necessary to her character!

DISLIKES
-There were not many and the ones that did present themselves were not enough to lessen my rating any. There is one particular thing that I wished we would have gotten more information on. It’s something that I would consider a spoiler so I’m going to put it behind a tag, so be forewarned. (view spoiler)

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Sep 19, 2010 Amber May rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shades of Gray by Lois Pruitt is a phenomenal book that follows a young woman by the name of Jude Magdalyn through her new and exciting life. This book is not the typical vampire/supernatural book. It is packed full of magic and includes vampires as part of the scene rather than the primary focus of the book. I loved this book! It is unique and has a great flow to the dialogue. I think Jude is a great main character. Jude has strength that she aquired while on the streets but at the same time yo...more

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Sep 06, 2010 Heidi rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I really wanted to like this book, but it was so choppy. I didn't understand the flow of the book. As in the main character Jude has a relationship with Theo. They had a 4 minute conversation that didn't feel like much of anything to me, but some how the main character thought they had some major flirting. I was lost. Additional transition were not complete. One chapter ending with Jude stating you had great archery skills and in the next chapter first sentence she had talk a group of children h...more

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Dec 04, 2011 Andi marked it as did-not-finish

Shelves: kindle

I'm bummed, because I just couldn't get into this book's characters or the plot.

$.99 on Kindle

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Mar 21, 2012 Poussinette (Sophie) rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is only a personal opinion...

I think LM Pruitt has talent, is a good writer with a nice sense for suspense and characterization. Yet I hated her book : EDITOR desperately needed here ! And I do mean a good editor, who kicks his/hers authors' nether parts, makes them forgo clichés and mend the big gaping holes in their plots.(view spoiler)...more

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Sep 29, 2010 Shari rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Everyone

This books was so great to read. It was so entertaining from the first page to the last, I felt like I was on a roller-coaster reading it not knowing what the next turn and twist would bring!
Her characters are so endearing you have to love them, the authors brings out those feelings by how well she has developed them, you like/love the good guys and truly despise the villains. It is almost a gift when an author can bring these emotions out in a reader! Another reviewer said she wanted certain ch...more

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Mar 29, 2011 Loves To Dive rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shades of Gray is, I'm hoping,the first of many books about Jude Magdalyn, a fake tarot card reader and real Prophecy to the Covenant. I loved the writing style of this book, the dialouge is witty and Jude is a real wise acre. This book is pack full of action, humor, sadness, and has a pretty good little mystery going on. Set in New Orleans you get the southern feel and yet it doessn't push it too far. There are vampires, magic, good guys, bad guys, good guys who are sometimes bad guys, battles...more

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Sep 05, 2012 Olivia rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I JUST wrote the review for "Hole in the Wall" which was a short story of the events that occurred before this book. I finished reading it earlier today. I really enjoyed it which is what made me run out and get this book. This totally seems like a different story written by a different author with a different writing style. The development seems rushed. The characters changed drastically from the short story to this story and they are supposed to be continuous.

Jude seemed like a cool chick wh...more

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Sep 25, 2010 Gaby rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

-Really feels like your in the city- great descriptions
-Good Plow, easy to read & follow. To Heidi, may I syggect that you re-read some parts. Jude distinctly says that archery practice is over a period of days, so when she's talking to the archors it makes sense why they're skilled.
-Characters are easy to fall in love with. Gillion hits the prefect pitch between patient and impatient mentor. Williams is tortured and brooding, but you never forget he's dangerous and Hart - you love to hate h...more

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Oct 29, 2012 Jackie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I loved the beginning of this series. It left me straining for the next book. Thank goodness it is out and I can keep reading on in this story. L.M Pruitt’s story of an orphaned grifter/charlatan who ends up being the Prophecy for an organization she didn’t even know existed. Jude is just coming into powers she didn’t know existed and is now thrust into a politically volatile, very violent and dangerous situation. Not to mention the two extremely hot men that are vying for her attention. Jude mu...more

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Aug 29, 2011 Lady Heather rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: pnr/urban fantasy/kick-ass heroines

Shelves: 1st-in-a-series, magic, paranormal-romance, urban-fantasy, vampires, thriller-suspense, kindle, l-m-pruitt, kick-ass-female-leads

This book was such an unexpected treat!
The writing, storyline, and characters were brilliant.
The dialogue was amazing.
LOVE LOVE LOVE Jude's character! She is strong, determined, damaged, and has one 'hell of a mouth' on her! Her bantering with the other characters is priceless..made me laugh out loud!

I look forward to reading the next book in the series "Shades of Destiny", but unfortunately it is out of print at the moment.

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Feb 09, 2013 Rhomy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 1st-in-a-series, part-of-a-series, pnr, magic, owned-kindle, friend-s-5star-reviews

3 - 3.5 stars

Well, this book is going to be hard to review. I didn't love it. But let me explain.

First things first: let's divide it into categories.

Cover: Gorgeous, amazing and sexy. (Love the colors)

Writing: Nice, fun and fresh.

Edition: mmm... I'd say poor. An editor is supposed to help the author, not only find grammar mistakes but also "holes" in the plot and all those things. Here... that was very needed.

Storyline: Entertaining. Actually I really liked the story. It mixes magic and vampir...more

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Nov 28, 2011 Shelley rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: pnr-fantasy

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Mar 26, 2011 T. Tolles rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Loved it! Shades of Gray is a great book full of intrigue, action, friendship, love and family. You'll love Ms. Pruitt's humor and all the colorful characters she paints for you. Can't wait to see what happens in the sequel.

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Oct 22, 2012 Lisa rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I would have given this book a higher rating, but the first 30 pages were tedious. I understand that the author was trying to find a way to explain Jude Magdalyn's family and personal history but I felt that maybe they could have found a more eloquent way of doing so. The first few pages of the book grab you, then the character meets everyone else. Instead of explaining, the characters introduced use unneccesary conversational filler. Otherwise, the story picks up after the character background...more

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Sep 04, 2012 Tash rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: urban-fantasy, favourites, arc, bewitching

Reviewed for Confessions From Romaholics

To see review at Confessions

Shades of Gray is the first in the series about Jude Magdalyn Henries who discovers that she is no ordinary person. In fact, she is the head of the Convent, a group for people with magic, and has inherited an house and a council. She’s also inherited a whole lot of trouble with a war brewing around her between the vampires who want her and the control of the vampires and the Convent.

Jude Magdalyn is the Prophesy, the one that th...more Reviewed for Confessions From Romaholics

To see review at Confessions

Shades of Gray is the first in the series about Jude Magdalyn Henries who discovers that she is no ordinary person. In fact, she is the head of the Convent, a group for people with magic, and has inherited an house and a council. She’s also inherited a whole lot of trouble with a war brewing around her between the vampires who want her and the control of the vampires and the Convent.

Jude Magdalyn is the Prophesy, the one that the group has been waiting for after being told about her coming a couple of hundred years ago. It spell trouble for the group because they aren’t the ones to find her but instead, the main bad guy Hart and his league of vampires who want her for her supposed powers. She is saved by William, the head of the other league of vampires in town. William is currently fighting Hart. He takes her to safety to Gwen who has been the unofficial head of The Covenant for years while they waited for Jude.

This is a world away from Jude’s humble beginnings as an orphan who was left on the steps of a church to be raised by its nuns. She began life as a teenage runaway and now is doing a number of jobs to support herself, including posturing as a tarot reader in order to survive. This tarot reading starts her journey into her past and future which is looking bright with the prospect of having never to worry about money again as she discovers she has inherited Crossroads and her parents wealth. All this is hard for Jude since she’s a strong independent woman.

Gwen soon sets Jude on her training to learn to control the magic she never knew existed but she has only a limited time before Hart makes his next move against the Convent but it doesn’t stop him trying to play games with the death of her best friend. This part of the novel I hated because she is like ‘noooooooooooooooooo she died!’ but then she soon forgets about it and is distracted by other stuff and it is never mentioned again. Maybe the author was trying to show that Jude was strong but woman have emotions and this was her best friend! The absence of mourning was terrible in making the character feel real for me.

While Gwen is training Jude to wield her magic, William is hunting down Hart and his followers. Things appear okay for Jude until she meets the council that throws into a tailspin as they openly either like her or hate her which is not good news for Jude on top of everything else she’s dealing with. But there is one particular member who soon comes to be a very special person in her life: Theo, who lost his parents a few years ago in an accident and looks after his great gram now. He is another member who hates Jude who he doesn’t understand. He’s soon falling for her and vice versa but with all the problems going on, it makes it hard for them to get together and make sense of their attraction. Then when the day of reckoning comes and one of the people that Jude has gotten close to dies and her secret is revealed, the Covenant is thrown in chaos.

This is the first book I have read by this author and won’t be the last as I am reviewing the complete series as part of having L.M. Pruitt herself on the blog talking about her heroine. I loved the idea of this series and I give it 4 couples. (less)

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Sep 11, 2012 A.R. Von rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: rr-2012-challenge

Not many books can hook a person from the start. But this one did it to me! There was no beating around the bush in any given situation or any softening to cover the blows in here. It’s all straight and to the point; exciting, humorous, adventurous, titillating, emotional and fun. A great read for those paranormal readers that like a story with edge, excitement and a few twists.

Jude is one tough chick that takes nothing from no one be it vampire, witch or human. She has amazing instincts that I...more

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Aug 03, 2012 Kate rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2-star-rating

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Shades of Gray had a great storyline, however the execution of the plot definitely needed some work.

There were a number of editing mistakes where words were thrown in where they shouldn't have existed which caused me to pause during the flow of reading the book.

Now to the book itself.

There were issues that I had with Shades of Gray, especially with regards to having things in the book that just didn't need to be there or if they were to be there to be more elaborated. My issues are as follows:

Ju...more Shades of Gray had a great storyline, however the execution of the plot definitely needed some work.

There were a number of editing mistakes where words were thrown in where they shouldn't have existed which caused me to pause during the flow of reading the book.

Now to the book itself.

There were issues that I had with Shades of Gray, especially with regards to having things in the book that just didn't need to be there or if they were to be there to be more elaborated. My issues are as follows:

Jude & Theo - I didn't feel it, the chemistry, the love. It just wasn't there for me and by the end of the book, I was still trying to figure out what was so deep in their love for each other. I get the whole 'love at first sight' but to me it was one sided and Jude only started 'thinking' that he cared for Theo when she found out that he saved her life - but then all of the sudden without any internal dialogue along the way or any sign whatsoever, she declares her love for him. It just didn't feel real to me.

Jude & Williams - I DID feel the chemistry between these two characters, if was different, it was real but it confused me as to the point of having this connection when nothing comes of it - it's just oh well whatever it was nothing. This is one of those things that didn't need to be in the book unless elaborated on. What got on my nerves, was the aftermath of the one night stand. Yes, it wasn't exactly moral that Williams chose the night of the death of Gillian to sleep with Jude, but he did make it clear that she was drunk and she was quite a willing participant even brushing the thought of Theo but the fact that Jude turned it around and made that it was all of Williams' fault, that he took advantage of her (which could be perceived that way) but regretting it happened and moving on is one thing, but turning it on the other person and blaming them when you were a willing participant is another.

The Realism - the fact in the space of a couple of days Jude finds that she's the prophecy, she manages to get complete of all her powers after not even knowing that she had them while also continuously having new ones that were convenient that specific points of the book (the astral projection scene a good example) but the biggest one for me was the fact that she fell four storeys but managed to get up and run without broken bones, or even winded was very farfetched as was the whole casting a circle where no one could get through but then all of the sudden Williams shows and the explanation given is 'only the living can stay out'.

So there are my issues with Shades of Gray - overall the story would be a great story, original but needs to be rewritten.(less)

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Jun 14, 2012 Mindy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: dream-reader-dreamer2229-blo

In a recent review I said I was over vampire books, but this series could make me change my mind. Granted it’s not all vampires, but it’s very clever. The Covenant is a group in charge of keeping the supernatural world in working order. The main character, Jude, finds out that the things that go bump in the night are really the things from nightmares in “Shades of Grey.” Jude is an orphan who makes a living doing odd jobs. She has no family, was orphaned at birth, raised by nuns, lived on the s...more

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Apr 06, 2012 Nawnee rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: authors-i-m-addicted-to, books-i-couldn-t-put-down, hot-and-steamy-yum-yum

I found the prequel to this book for free on amazon and couldn't pass up the opportunity to get a taste of the series, and the authors writing style for free before investing my time and money into a new author and series. Now the free book L.M. Pruitt offers as a look into Jude's life before basically all hell breaks loose is definitely more than I bargained for, not only does it have a sassy kick ass leading lady, and interesting plot and story line, but I also liked the authors writing style....more

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Sep 26, 2011 Andrea Guy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011-reads, ebook, paranormal, thebookishsnobpromotions, urban-fantasy

This type of book isn't usually my thing, but the book blurb called to me and I had to read it. I really wasn't disappointed. Jude is the type of heroine that most women are totally excited to see. She's a no nonsense, kick ass kind of girl. She's really a refreshing character, plus she's not super rich, which is another thing that scores points with me.

When I started reading this the setting and the vampires and the witches reminded me a bit of True Blood. The characters all share that same "we...more

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Aug 16, 2011 Naomi rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shades of Grey is the first installment in the Jude Magdalyn series by LM Pruitt. Words can’t describe how brilliant this book was. There was action, romance, a bit of smut and heartbreak: the makings of an awesome story.

Jude Magdalyn Henries is just your average girl trying to make a living in the streets of New Orleans, be it hustling or setting up a scam, it puts food on the table and pays the bills. But all that changes after a scam goes wrong and Jude is on the run when she stumbles head fi...more

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Aug 21, 2011 Heather Book Savvy Babe rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: urban-fantasy, paranormal-romance, review-on-blog

4.5 of 5 stars! Review on blog at www.booksavvybabe.com

I really, really enjoyed Shades of Grey. Jude Magdalyn is a tough, independent heroine who adapts well to new situations. She is smart, quick, and in no way a damsel in distress (well, at least most of the time). Jude had a tough upbringing, as an orphan raised by nuns, and forced to live on the streets for awhile. However, Jude was not completely hardened by her background, she is still capable of caring for other people, and she is fiercel...more

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Jul 30, 2011 Jackie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: e-book-edition-for-review, read-in-2011, e-book-read

Shades of Gray: A Jude Magdalyn Novel has a very short prequel Hole in the Wall free on Goodreads and also on Smashwords
that introduces us to Jude before the events taking place in the full length book. It is not however necessary to read it but if you do some of what Jude faces will make more sense.

Magic, mysteries, vampires, family dramas, sarcastic kick-ass leading female character and romance fill the pages of this scintillating tale of intrigue and action penned by L.M. Pruitt . A very ri...more Shades of Gray: A Jude Magdalyn Novel has a very short prequel Hole in the Wall free on Goodreads and also on Smashwords
that introduces us to Jude before the events taking place in the full length book. It is not however necessary to read it but if you do some of what Jude faces will make more sense.

Magic, mysteries, vampires, family dramas, sarcastic kick-ass leading female character and romance fill the pages of this scintillating tale of intrigue and action penned by L.M. Pruitt . A very riveting page turning tale of Jude Magdalyn, former street urchin/grifter/pickpocket who has turned into a fire-wielding all around force to be reckoned with! Jude has been on her own for most of her 20 odd years of life after the death of her parents. Imagine her surprise when it turns out that she is a magic user of immense power who also happens to be the head of a group called "The Covenant" and has not only one but two of the men who are part of this group vying for her attention.

I found this to be a stimulating reading experience, immediately drawn into Jude's story from the first page and as each layer of Jude's past is stripped bare and she has her family secrets revealed one by one I was holding my breath or in shock right along with Jude! The crazy cast of very multi-dimensional characters that make up Jude's new friends, and foes as well, are all add to what turns out to be a pretty interesting as well as very fast paced story.

Being that the book is set in my favorite location of New Orleans with all it's wonderful ambience and spicy places to have a good time did not hurt either.

Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Suspense story fans will all get a thrill out of this reading experience. Author L.M. Pruitt penned a story that you can not put down until all the secrets are revealed and the villain is either destroyed or manages to destroy Jude. To find out more you really need to pick up a copy and read this one for yourself! Book 2 Shades of Desire: A Jude Magdalyn Novel is also available on Kindle and in Paperback as well.

I have to disclose that this book was an e-arc copy submitted to me by the author via The Bookish Snob Promotions for an honest review and that there is no other compensation from her, the tour host or the publisher except my reading pleasure and enjoyment of the characters depicted in the story.

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Sep 23, 2011 Naomi Clark rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I shall be perfectly honest: I was sent this book by someone who's opinion I trust as an example of a really bad urban fantasy. I was expecting it to be poorly written, poorly plotted, and generally just ... poor.

So I was kinda surprised to find I loved it. Not just enjoyed it, or found it passable or okay, but actively loved it - thought about it when I wasn't reading it, looked up the author's other works, and started following her on Twitter. That kind of "loved it." I'm not sure why there's...more I shall be perfectly honest: I was sent this book by someone who's opinion I trust as an example of a really bad urban fantasy. I was expecting it to be poorly written, poorly plotted, and generally just ... poor.

So I was kinda surprised to find I loved it. Not just enjoyed it, or found it passable or okay, but actively loved it - thought about it when I wasn't reading it, looked up the author's other works, and started following her on Twitter. That kind of "loved it." I'm not sure why there's such a massive gap between what my friend experienced in reading this and what I experienced, except that art is subjective, but there we go. Not that this is a flawless book. There is, in fact, one big (potential) problem with it.

Jude Magdalyn, the protagonist, is a massive Mary Sue. Tragic past? Check. Chequered love life? Check. Super powers, recently discovered and easily mastered? Check? Great Destiny? Check. It's all there. She gets away with bad behaviour, has all the wittiest lines, a great guy falls madly in love with her within hours of meeting her, and she inherits massive, massive wealth early on in the book.

I call her Mary Sue-ness a potential problem, as opposed to an actual problem, for a couple of reasons. The first is that, actually, I don't have a problem with Mary Sues in well-written books. Good writing trumps most things, and I think Pruitt is a very good writer. The second is that the phrase "Mary Sue" seems to have become a shorthand for "urban fantasy heroine," rather than being a genuinely useful term. Look, urban fantasy is about people taking on monsters, magic, mythological beings, and general mayhem. Unless you're seriously tooled up with resources - be they magical or physical or whatever - you're probably not going to last very long. Therefore, characters in UF need to have said resources. It's a logical part of the genre for me. But it currently seems to be an excuse for appellating every heroine who knows how to wield a magic wand and/or a Glock efficiently a Mary Sue. Not useful to me. I know for some readers, the presence of a Mary Sue is an instant Do Not Want, but for me it's not such a deal breaker.

Anyway, back to Shades of Grey. So yes, Jude is Mary Sue. I don't care. She's also funny, sharp, and engaging. Pruitt's voice and sense of place are strong. The secondary characters are interesting, as is the plot. Jude, an orphan raised by nuns and now working as a con woman in New Orleans, discovers she's the destined leader of a magical organisation called the Covenant. Cue sexy vampires, politics, back-stabbing, shock revelations, et al. Yeah, it's not the most original thing ever, but Pruitt makes it her own. And if you can look past one or two oddities in the text (such as Jude's seeming indifference to the murder of her best friend, and a kind of "was it, wasn't it?" rape scene that left me scratching my head), I think what you've got is a strong first novel from a writer who is going to grow and grow.

I ate up this book despite the flaws. The pacing and tension worked for me, and I just plain like Jude. I can see it won't be a book for everyone, but it's not badly written, nor is it a bad example of the genre. In fact, it's a damn good one as far as I'm concerned, and I'll be buying the sequel and her other works in very short order. This was just a compelling read - I'm loathe to use the term "guilty pleasure" because I don't feel guilty about enjoying it, but that's probably the best term for it.

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Shades of Gray (Jude Magdalyn #1)

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