For those tired of stereotypical heroines but who still like their males all Alpha (with a sensitive edge), this is for you. Enjoyable, sweet but with...moreFor those tired of stereotypical heroines but who still like their males all Alpha (with a sensitive edge), this is for you. Enjoyable, sweet but with full on, passionate bedroom scenes, plus interesting touches of tech for the scifi fans. See my full review at http://critiquedebook.blogspot.com/20...(less)
Sadly this book wasn't for me and I couldn't finish it. For true fans of the horror genre, particularly the dystopian variety, this will probably suit...moreSadly this book wasn't for me and I couldn't finish it. For true fans of the horror genre, particularly the dystopian variety, this will probably suit you down to the ground. (less)
This is a humorous and romantic read that throws you straight into the story without any info dumping, with believeable and consistent charac...moreTHE GOOD:
This is a humorous and romantic read that throws you straight into the story without any info dumping, with believeable and consistent characters, no sections that drag and some great snarky one-liners. My favourite had to be the reference to the posturing of a couple of supervillains as having gone through 'Captain Kirk's Superhero School for Overactors'. It was so compelling and entertaining that I had to read it from start to finish in one sitting - luckily at 64K words it's a fairly quick read, but it still felt a complete and complex story. It's written in first person which I normally dislike, but that didn't stop me enjoying it thoroughly.
THE BAD:
There were one too many references to the main character's belief that she was a strong, independant woman - usually just before she melted in a puddle. I felt it was a little tell-y in places too.
IN SUM:
This is a sweet and warmingly romantic superhero story with no explicit bedroom scenes, some nice twists, some great humour, and all wound up nicely in just 64, 000 words. I f you've enjoyed films like Mystery Men and The Specials, then this is definitely a book for you.(less)
Although at the start I didn't think it was telling me anything new, the further I got into it the more interesting I found it. There were some really...moreAlthough at the start I didn't think it was telling me anything new, the further I got into it the more interesting I found it. There were some really great tips and suggestions, as well as some good, sound basics to work from - who would theoretically have the advantage between different pairings, how to introduce certain elements to the fight, and a comprehensive list of weaponry and armoury to save you hunting all over the internet, for example. There were also several helpful video links included to give you some visuals. A handy little book to help you get started or hone your writing of fight scenes.(less)
The Good: This is a beautiful fantasy with a sweet and sensual romance woven through it. A great deal of attention has been put into the world-building...moreThe Good: This is a beautiful fantasy with a sweet and sensual romance woven through it. A great deal of attention has been put into the world-building, and the other-wordly nature of the 'human' inhabitants is compelling - something a touch out of the ordinary. The characters have depth, and the story left me hooked into reading the other books of the series whilst still feeling this one was complete in itself.
The Bad: Some of the word choices and phrasing made me stumble on occassion. I think it's a style thing though.
In Sum: I liked this book. I liked how the central female's character developed, and felt her male partner was a good match but their relationship still stirred plenty of sparks and uncertainty at the start.(less)
The Good: The story doesn't waste any time throwing you into the action and there are several threads running through it to keep up the tension. It mad...moreThe Good: The story doesn't waste any time throwing you into the action and there are several threads running through it to keep up the tension. It made a nice change to read a romance story where the couple are an older generation than a lot of those I've read lately, and the uncertainty between them throughout the story despite - or perhaps because of - their experiences in life made their relationship poignant. The idea of alien pheremones invoking a fertility festival and of humans adapted for aquatic life hooked me from the start. The adaptation process is especially intriguing. For 37K words, there's a lot packed into this story.
The Bad: I felt the stories of the two main groups of antagonists in this was slightly underplayed overall. I feel the Wilders especially should have been a little more significant in their threat earlier in the story.
In Sum: This is a sweet and sensual romance, skillfully woven into a human society adapted to an alien world. Easy to read and compelling. (less)
I LOVED this book! I've been waiting on it since I read the blurb back in January, and it didn't disappoint. The premise of a supervillain ma...moreThe Good:
I LOVED this book! I've been waiting on it since I read the blurb back in January, and it didn't disappoint. The premise of a supervillain marrying the superhero really intrigued me, even if his methods for maintaining his perfect marriage seems morally questionable. What else would you really expect from the villain? So, the idea was novel and the blurb compelling. The story is very well written. Each chapter starts with a little snippet of internal though by the main character, each of which gives you a bit more insight into his mind and helps you empathize with him. Normally that kind of break up in a story can irritate me by pulling me out, but not in this case. The romance is sweet and sexy without the need for graphic bedroom scenes. The classical elements of the villain are all here - minions, dastardly plans and diabolical machines - but at the centre of it is a man who loves his wife and family enough to give up the world for them. There were great touches of humour too, as much as lines to tug on your heartstrings.
The Bad:
A sudden shift in location and identities left me a little confused in the middle of the book and it took me a few pages to get back up to speed. However, I felt this was probably in keeping with Evan's own confusion over the turmoil that had taken over his life.
In Sum:
It made me laugh, it made me cry, and I defy anyone not to go 'awww' by the end of the book. You'll be in no doubt about who is the real villain of the piece. Thoroughly enjoyable and a new twist on the old 'good vs. evil' in the greatest comic book tradition - but all grown up.
THE GOOD: While on the surface this may seem another erotica story, underneath it lies a sweet and timeless romance where two soul mates manage to meet...moreTHE GOOD: While on the surface this may seem another erotica story, underneath it lies a sweet and timeless romance where two soul mates manage to meet, and even death holds no barrier. The beautiful detailing in the writing perfectly reflects the time that it's set in. At first I though Matthew a sweet but deluded man, driven into a realm of illusion by his loneliness. But as the story unfolds you begin to wonder if it really is all in his head or whether there is life in his clockwork lady. The end has a surprising twist. I don't normally read erotica, but here it really underlines the repressed society in which Matthew lives and works, and the lengths that some people will go to in order to release their supressed sexual tensions in a time where the merest hint of impropriety is frowned upon. Despite the quirk in his nature, I felt very drawn and sympathetic to the character of Matthew.
THE BAD: The sex and language are very explicit, although that probably won't be a 'bad' for fans of erotica. Some might find the abrupt shift of setting in the final chapter a little jarring.
IN SUM: For fans of erotica, this will probably satisfy your craving, and with a new twist on the genre to keep it fresh. Providing you aren't easily offended, this is a touching love story with a real period feel and some interesting quirks. Very hot. (less)
The Good: This is a sad but sweet story, with a dark, gritty edge, that made my heart ache for the two central characters. Plix isn't the usual kick-as...moreThe Good: This is a sad but sweet story, with a dark, gritty edge, that made my heart ache for the two central characters. Plix isn't the usual kick-ass heroine - she's quietly but irrepressibly determined, tolerating huge amounts of pain and grief to fulfil a goal, denying herself anything remotely like a normal life. Edison is geeky but strong, and while Plix's blind stubborness drives him to despair, he still does his best to help her even as it carves out his heart every time. Their struggle to repress their obvious feelings for one another had me in tears.
The Bad: I struggled to find anything to criticise. There is a slight element of repetition in Plix's two forays for information that made me wonder if the opening was a flashback and now I was seeing the events in real time, but the fact that she gained something new told me it wasn't.
In Sum: This book absolutely tore my heart out. None of the technology is overdone if that's something you struggle with in reading scifi, and yet it's comprehensive and believeable. There's an equal balance between the romance and the science fiction elements. Loved it and want more.(less)
The good: I was really hooked by an excerpt I saw from the opening of this. I loved the concept of it, the whole idea of if you put your mind and memor...moreThe good: I was really hooked by an excerpt I saw from the opening of this. I loved the concept of it, the whole idea of if you put your mind and memories into another body, is it still you? There were lovely touches of technology and a good use of psychology. It questions the whole idea of identity, of soul and self, of sexual identity, and how much influence our body has on our mental state. A stark reflection of current society where so many people attempt to conform to the advertised 'ideal', often resorting to extreme surgery or damaging cosmetic procedures to achieve it.
The bad: About halfway through the story, I felt it began to drag a bit. It didn't seem to be going anywhere particularly fast, and I wasn't really feeling the emotional impact that Celia was going through as I felt I should have. Her confusion came across well but the tension was just lacking for me.
In sum: This was more of a thought-provoking story than an adventure. It was different and well-written but slightly missed the mark for me. The romance played a very small part overall (I know it isn't listed as a romance, but there is a romantic element in it with Celia grieving over her wife's divorce), and the erotica elements were probably too few for fans of the genre. While I'd read another title by this author, I'm not sure I'd recommend it to my sfr loving friends.(less)
The good: This is possibly unique in terms of the story. Well, perhaps the romance itself is not so odd, but the characters certainly are! There's some...moreThe good: This is possibly unique in terms of the story. Well, perhaps the romance itself is not so odd, but the characters certainly are! There's some wonderful humour, touching moments of sweetness, and cold-blooded murder! It's well-written and totally intriguing.
The bad: A knowledge about floral is helpful - non-horticulturists might struggle a little with the terms, although they are usually self-evident.
In sum: This has to be one of the weirdest things I've ever read, but highly imaginative and entertaining. Love, murder and mayhem down in the mulch, where plantae take on humanity in order to save their buds. The erotic nature of the story is decked in flowery innuendo. Settia's struggles to protect her cuttings, defend herself against the lustful, prickly embrace of a lecherous cactus and the viscious manhandling of the single human oppressor are enthralling, while her romance with the twining Vinesun was both hot and sweet. Wonderfully different.(less)
The good: Again, I loved the world building in this, the attention to detail and the portrayal of the characters. Heidi has a talent for making them so...moreThe good: Again, I loved the world building in this, the attention to detail and the portrayal of the characters. Heidi has a talent for making them so real. The writing is flawless and descriptive, and all the premises and reactions believable and consistent. The bad guys completely gave me the creeps, and I'm glad the torture scenes weren't more detailed - there was enough there for you to use your imagination, should you wish.
The bad: The only reason I've rated this a touch lower than Ambasadora is because I felt the events in Greenshift hadn't carried over into the relationship in Ambasadora. I know they were written in reverse and that Ambasadora focuses on Sara Mendoza and Sean Cryer, but I felt there maybe should have been a line or two considering Greenshift takes place only a month before Ambasadora. Pure nit-picking - sorry!
In sum: While I still prefer Ambasadora, this is a great addition to the library of any sfr fan.(less)
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