Before I even begin to explain the five-wing review I gave this novel, I need to make one statement: I am not a fan of werewolf books. There are even...moreBefore I even begin to explain the five-wing review I gave this novel, I need to make one statement: I am not a fan of werewolf books. There are even a few series by well known authors that caught my attention on the first book, but not enough to make me want to move on toward the second one. I am however a fan of werewolf movies. Odd...right?
I believe what makes the difference for me is the ability to see the emotion in the characters on screen which in turn gives them the appearance of truly feeling like humans that have turned into these gigantic dog-like creatures that will rip you apart. That element is what's missing in some of the werewolf books I've read. The Mayfair Moon takes that movie element, the art of making the characters feel real, and places larger than life emphasis on making sure the reader connects with the world the author has created. That's what kept me turning the pages on this one and that's what made me go ahead and purchase the sequel as well. For the first time in my history of reading, I am anxious for the sequel to book 1 of a werewolf book. Let me take this review a level deeper.
What I loved:
1) Isaac, my dear sweet Isaac, how do I love thee? Let me count thy ways. LoL This guy has absolutely zero douche factor. And he was still sexy even with the absence of that particular character trait. Woot! Finally a book where the guy impressed me on the first try. It didn’t take three-fourths of the story to get to the part that justified why he had to be such a crappy person. Why? Because there was no rudeness in him, yet he was still bad boy enough to keep me enthralled. After all, the world does not have to be populated by guys who throw a middle finger up at a girl to make her like him.
2) Xia and Adria: two of the main female leads. There was no TSTL factor present in the main characters. There were a couple of things that Adria did to make me raise an eyebrow but not anything drastic. You have to remember she is a young girl so she will make some questionable decisions or she won't feel like a teen. She would be more like an adult.
3) A host of likeable/memorable minor characters: the aunt named Beverlee, Adria's best friend Harry, the mysterious leaders of the packs, Viktor and Trajan, who were evil to the core but portrayed so well that they had likeable qualities too. Their personality traits were written in a fantastic style. Even though they were werewolves, I still thought they were sexy. There were others but I don't want to write a book in this review.
4) The plot: what can I say? There aren't too many out there that haven't covered the same topic at least a hundred times. It's the aithor's job to make sure you don't realize that. The werewolves in the story are unique, the mythology surrounding their existence is well drawn. And I believe that crucial element is what hooked me in the first place.
Things that muddled me little brain:
Not much at all. There was one chapter where a lot of names were thrown at me and I got pretty confused. But Ms. Redmerski does such a fine job of sorting out their personality traits throughout the story that you soon find yourself knowing each one of them personally.
What I don't agree with:
People that compare this novel to Twilight. I just don't get it. Why does every YA book have to be compared to Twilight. I have read some novels that are true rip offs of that formula, but this one just isn't one of them. There are no string of classroom scenes in this novel. Adria doesn't annoy the heck out of me the way Bella does. And remember what I said earlier: the guy in this novel is sexy and he doesn't even need the douche thing to be that way. Edward...well that's a different story. There's not a war between two groups of supernatural creatures; instead, the feud exists within two ancient houses of werewolves. There are no sparkly relatives that look like diamonds when they get in the sun. The list could go on and I think I've made my point here.
Overall, an excellent read that will present a world so realistic that you will not want to leave. I purchased the Mayfair Moon on a whim thinking I probably wouldn't get around to it. Wrong! I'm just glad that I did. And it’s just in time for the sequel. Pick up this gorgeous lush novel and I promise that you won't be disappointed. Well, you might be if you're looking for sparkly creatures of the night that drink blood. I would recommend the Mayfair Moon to both adults and young adult lovers of paranormal romance, urban and gothic fantasy, and of course those who love werewolf books.
Fantastic job Ms. Redmerski! My rating: a rarely given 5-wings! Sorry for the long post.
The Grim Reaper is a short story taking place in the romantic setting of Vienna. Although it has strong elements of an urban fantasy it could also eas...moreThe Grim Reaper is a short story taking place in the romantic setting of Vienna. Although it has strong elements of an urban fantasy it could also easily cross over to the paranormal arena as well. I love the way the Ms. Robert sets up the beginning. All five senses are taken into consideration. I truly feel as if I'm in the MC's shoes. The description of Vienna made me ache for a chance to walk along its historical streets. So when our protagonist is suddenly thrown into the life of a reaper of souls, I feel her pain and loss as if they were my own. Apparently the novice has to go through a succession of qualification tests before she can be classified as a full-blown reaper.
Other treats include a host of supernatural creatures that all play into something like an entourage of "playmates" for the reaper himself. Speaking of the reaper, I appreciated the way the author avoided stumbling into a cliched description of him. Nothing about the dark one was standard stock in this story.
And when the Novice finds herself faced with the one thing she most feared, Ms. Robert keeps the reader in her grip, putting you right inside the MC's shoes and delivering the right amount of emotion at just the right times. There's a humorous element underlying the story, keeping the mood of the Reaper's storyline from drifting off into the realm of complete darkness.
The only small issue I had was with the relationship between Kim and the novice and how they meet one minute and then suddenly the novice can tell what he's about to do by noting a breathing gesture he makes. If the two have just met how would she know that? And my biggest complaint (that is actually a reflection of the author's skillful writing) was that once I fell in love with Kim and Ana Marie (aka the novice) I wasn't ready for the story to end. The tender way the author handles their budding relationship at the end leaves the reader intrigued and anxiously awaiting the next segment in this charming installment. I would recommend this to anyone. (less)
**spoiler alert** Move over vampires...the angels are here! Patti Roberts' venture into the world of angels is a captivating one. She offers a point-o...more**spoiler alert** Move over vampires...the angels are here! Patti Roberts' venture into the world of angels is a captivating one. She offers a point-of-view from within the eyes of several different characters that each provide a unique take on the world. I enjoyed following the innocent Grace during her journey to cversome grief and understand more about who she is. While at the angelic end of the spectrum, you have the mighty Grigori clan ready to offer the reader a glimpse into the world of celestial royalty.
There are historical moments along with plenty of modern-day events to balance the plotline for readers of all tastes and ages. Paradox is the kind of novel designed for the reader to just sit back, relax, and enjoy. But watch out! The angels in this story are liable to wrap you up in their spell if you're not careful. My advice? Just let them do it. I did. A highly recommended and deliciously fun gem. 5 stars!
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