Wow, talk about a huge change in rating from the first book to the second. This one left a rather foul taste in my mouth.
Shade is an incubus demon who...moreWow, talk about a huge change in rating from the first book to the second. This one left a rather foul taste in my mouth.
Shade is an incubus demon who was cursed by an angry warlock when he caught Shade diddling his wife. The curse is set to activate when Shade falls in love. When this happens he is doomed to fade into nothing, becoming a kind of tormented ghost. So, Shade has spent his life avoiding any kind of romantic attachments in fear of activating the curse. Which has apparently given him license to be a complete ass.
The story starts with Shade waking up in dungeon that he shares with an extremely pissed off female werewolf named Runa. Runa, our heroine, reveals that she had dated Shade for a couple of months and it ended badly. This is where my problem started with the book. It's no spoiler to tell you that Shade cheated on Runa since its talked about in the first couple of chapters. Runa came to Shade's apartment one day to find him in the middle of screwing two women. This definitely set the tone of the story for me. I absolutely cannot stand cheating heroes. Its one of my biggest pet peeves. I muscled through the rest of this book mostly because of how much I had enjoyed the first one. The only reason why this book is getting two stars from me is because I enjoyed the subplots going on. Otherwise, Shade and Runa's relationship just pissed me off. I didn't really like Shade. He cheated on Runa and (view spoiler)[ was plotting to kill her through most of the book to save his own hide. (hide spoiler)] And he did nothing to redeem himself. There was barely even an "I'm sorry" involved. Runa spent a very short time hating him and then she suddenly switched to professing her undying love and devotion. Girl needs to grow a stronger backbone and Shade needs a swift kick to the balls.
Anyway, Wraith's story is next in the series. I'll be picking it up mostly because I had it ordered before I read this one. Hopefully, its closer to being like Pleasure Unbound than this one.(less)
Loved, loved, loved the hero, Rhage. After killing a deity's bird, Rhage was cursed to share his body with a dragon. Keeping the dragon under control...moreLoved, loved, loved the hero, Rhage. After killing a deity's bird, Rhage was cursed to share his body with a dragon. Keeping the dragon under control is something Rhage has to deal with on a daily basis and it often consists of him having to do things he'd otherwise never do. When Rhage meets Mary, he is instantly attracted to her but his curse puts a huge obstacle in their courtship.
As I said, I really adored Rhage. However, the reason why this is getting a mid-level grade is that I can't reconcile Rhage's choice (view spoiler)[to go out and sleep with a shit ton of women while he has Mary waiting for him at home in his bed. (hide spoiler)] I give Ward kudos for not taking the easy way out of that situation, but I just wasn't totally convinced that Rhage had exhausted all other possibilities and that sort of pissed me off. I also felt that Mary got over it way to quickly. Other than that I did enjoy this story, my only other wish is that Mary had been given more personality. She came off as rather... flat.(less)
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