It was refreshing to read one of the Lords of the Underworld novels that actually tried to return to the plot. I am that dork who has grown to like th...moreIt was refreshing to read one of the Lords of the Underworld novels that actually tried to return to the plot. I am that dork who has grown to like the plot woven, mostly, through these books and the only romantic reason I'm still reading is to see what happens to Paris and Sienna. Even though that seems to be a cluster and a half that had a wonderfully dramatic begining and has been mutilated over the books between Sienna's first appearance and this one. I'm still not exactly sure how I feel about that.
But that's not this book and I digress...
This one was refreshing. Best word for it! We had the return of the focus to obtaining one of the mystic artifacts and the Harpy games mixed with Kaia's prior disgrace and family woes were more interesting than the last SEVERAL of these books in my opinion.
As always the characters are well thought out, but this book they seemed truer to themselves than any of the others. Honestly, I'm getting a little bored with the "I'm a badass chick who offers no appologies until I meet tall, dark and demonically brooding then I turn into a needy chick who borders on pathetic for 200+ pages only to rally under the love of a smokin' hot man." This is not that. We understand Kaia's insecurity going in and it's downplayed through the majority of the book. Both the main characters are badasses and not afraid to show it.
I'm hopeful that this growth from the author bodes well for the next book which I hear is my Paris and Sienna saga! (Still nervous but SOOOOO hopeful! She's laid groundwork for some BEAUTIFUL angst and a level of drama and obstacles we've yet to see in the Lords of the Underworld series. Even though three or five books after we had a downright HATEFUL death scene now we're getting inner monologues of Sienna saying how much she has really always loved Paris ALREADY. So I guess we're not going to get to see any of that struggle... but again! I'm digressing...)
Anyway, another fun hot summer read from Gena Showalter. Not disappointing to the lusty romantic in me and helped ease some of my inner snobby plot Nazi thirst as well! While after the book before this I thought I'd need a break, after this one I'm ready to jump right into the next installment hoping to see some more of the plot ironed out as well as the rest of the Lords happily matched and married off!
Maybe I'm just getting used to it, but it seems like this installment spent more time with other characters in the story which made it a little less u...moreMaybe I'm just getting used to it, but it seems like this installment spent more time with other characters in the story which made it a little less upsetting whenever we changed to a new character. (I'm VERY intrigued by Paris' story line and will continue to read until his story comes out, at least!) As the third book in a series of at least twelve, I'm a little tired of the brooding, over possessive demon meets completely understanding, forgiving and cherish-able female plot line, but for a steamy summer read it served it's purpose! Again the balance between the two main characters and the plot exposition for the side characters was much better than the first two books and I'm looking forward to seeing what happens to Aeron and Paris!(less)
I think one of the most frustrating things about this series is that each novel is too crowded. I find myself liking the characters and continuing to...moreI think one of the most frustrating things about this series is that each novel is too crowded. I find myself liking the characters and continuing to read, but I would like each episode in the series to be it's own stand alone story. If the timeline for all the characters mesh, that's fine, but it's distracting and downright frustrating to try and follow three romance plots through one book. Especially when the first half of the book is dedicated to two characters that you begin to feel invested in and then Surprise! Suddenly it's the romance novel for a side character. There were twinges of this in the first book, and I was hoping the focus wouldn't be as divided in it's sequel. Unfortunately my hopes were ripped from my body like Death pulling a soul to escort to the gates of Hell and then dashed on a snowy mountaintop in Arctic. Surprise! Let's throw in a THIRD couple to get going just for fun! I think these books would be more fluid if they would maintain their focus on a single couple with the rest of the characters given their own screen time in their own novels. I really might be bitter about this... it just seems so ... cheap? Like 'Oh! Let's make the book longer! We have all these characters I want to hook up, let's get that started RIGHT THIS VERY SECOND!' Instead of weaving the stories together in the background and leaving the main focus as the main characters (Maybe I'm pampered because spiking interest in peripheral characters without having them steal the story is something that Kresley Cole does VERY well.) it just feels like we couldn't quite decide if we're writing a romance novel or an epic fantasy serial. Like if every every character in the Lord of the Rings saga needed to be paired. Totally unnecessary. And honestly it was a little insulting, like I wasn't expected to be able to pick up that the other characters were effected without being beaten over the head by it. Hell, maybe random narrator jumps just bug me!
Having said that... The plot is intriguing and the characters endearing enough for me to want to know more, so of course I will continue to read! Gena Showalter has created a very interesting blend of religion and mythology and I really do NEED to know what's going to happen with the relic hunting and Pandora's Box. The steamy bits don't hurt either and as much as I dislike the attention taken away from the "main" characters of this installment, I find myself wondering how poor Reyes and Paris are doing. (Still think I would have cared about them if their reactions had been the only indication of something wrong though... But hey, maybe I'm just too picky!)
Frustration aside, it's another book I plowed right through and I have the next book on the kindle ready to go! So we'll see if perhaps in book 3 we can maintain a focus on Reyes and Danika without digressing into other warriors relationships! :)(less)
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