I almost didn't read this book, as Nora Roberts characters can be pretty much interchangeable throughout dozens of books. They all have the same speec...moreI almost didn't read this book, as Nora Roberts characters can be pretty much interchangeable throughout dozens of books. They all have the same speech patterns, and the personality types of her characters are becoming, not quite boring, but predictable.
Reena Hale from Blue Smoke, Reece Gilmore from Angels Fall, Phoebe MacNamara from High Noon, Fiona Bristow from The Search, Abigail from The Witness - all these characters are basically the same person... there a few personality quirks unique to each book, but basically identical. Nate Burke from Northern Lights is the same character, just male. The circumstances of these characters lives are also very, very similar.
In one way, I'm glad I read the book. The short, choppy speech patterns her characters always have was less noticeable, and there was a pronounced personality difference between Abigail and Brooks. In many NR books, I have to double check to see which characters are speaking as they are all so much alike. In fact, I was relieved by Abigails analytical speech patterns, since it made her stand out as a character.
In another way, I'm very disappointed by the book. The first part of the book was suspenseful and intriguing, and really kept me turning the pages. But once we meet Abigail and Brooks, the suspense is pretty much nonexistent. I kept waiting for it, but it never showed up... there were a few promising moments, but they soon fizzled out, leaving me feeling let down. Of course we know what is going to happen between Brooks and Abigail, its a romance written by Nora Roberts. Its the journey to get to the happily ever after that is supposed to be interesting, but this book was very boring in that respect.
At one point, we see the bad guys having a meeting, Elizabeth is mentioned, and I thought...."excellent, the story is really going to take off now!" But then we never see them again, and nothing happens! I'm reading the book, and there's only a few pages left, and I'm left thinking "but that was boring, where's the action?" And there wasn't any. None. Oh, I guess the little so called twist with Elizabeth at the end was mildly interesting, but since I had just read three-quarters of a book about Abigail, it was easy to see coming, and not the least bit suspenseful.
And the epilogue? Its just the final chapter of the book, not a true epilogue. We see nothing of the sentencing, no arrests, no fallout from Abigail's little present, nothing. No "curse's, foiled again!" from the bad guys. We don't even see the wedding, or dress shopping, or anything to show that time has passed. Instead we get about 5 or 6 hours from the time Elizabeth steps down from the witness stand, and Bert gets a glass of champagne (which was cute).
I thought about making this a two star review, but I wanted to reward NR for not using the same speech patterns as often in this book. So, three stars, and I'm doubting I'll pick up another NR. (less)
Flu is a very creepy read. As I was reading the book, I would find my muscles tensing up and then pressing back into the chair. Both are excellent sig...moreFlu is a very creepy read. As I was reading the book, I would find my muscles tensing up and then pressing back into the chair. Both are excellent signs that I was nervous and tense, whi. is unusal in a zombie novel.
The characters are, for the most part, normal, everyday people who are easy to relate to. Geri, the mostly self-sufficient girl who manages to get the best of a couple of possible morons. Karen, the dingbat in denial. Pat, an IRA operative, is mostly understandable, and comes off as mostly a good person who's disconnected from life. And then there's Gallagher, the books bad guy, and he's pretty good at it. At times his nutty-ness is over done, and a bit predictable. The military aspects of the book were very predictable, but the doc adds a level of creepiness while also explaning why the military is what it is.
I didn't give this a five star for a simple reason... at one point in the book, this line exists "A sudden sound rang out." Its even its own paragraph. There were a few times while reading that I was completely knocked out of the book with a "What the heck was that?",'but they were few and far between.
All in all, its a zombie book with real a scare factor, a disturbing ending, and enough happening in it that I would reread it. (less)
This book didn't further the story of Mags at all. I don't think anything new was learned. Also, there really wasn't an ending, just a stopping off po...moreThis book didn't further the story of Mags at all. I don't think anything new was learned. Also, there really wasn't an ending, just a stopping off point. I'm not sure Mags is interesting enough for 5 or more books.
The good... Mags has finally learned to speak properly. So much better to read.
Will i pick up book 5? I don't know. I think I'll check the reviews first, and if they say the series still isn't finished, I'll be forgetting about the series competely. (less)
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