Bloody Claws (Kassandra Lyall, Preternatural Investigator, #3) in Mostly Sapphic

Aug 26, 2017 Kym Olsen rated it it was amazing

Shelves: lesbian, vampire, werewolf-shapeshifter, crime, scifi-paranormal

This is by far by my favourite lesfic series! I can't get enough of Kassandra and Lenorre's relationship! Each book is fast paced and has a great plot. The characters are flawed but likeable. Witnessing Kass struggle to let go of her control is fascinating to read especially when it comes to Lenorre. The only thing I thought was strange was that there was no Rupert in this book. ...more

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Apr 03, 2022 maya rated it liked it

Shelves: 2022-ratings

Kassandra is not the endearing reluctant heroine of her own story the way this book thinks she is. Her fleeting moments of character growth felt like pulling teeth. Lots of potential for her character growth, but were squandered. She is like the rich idiot with too much money that they don't know what to do with, but with unearned powers and faces little unmeaningful consequences. There were a couple of improvements in this book, but not enough to overlook the problems brought over from the firs Kassandra is not the endearing reluctant heroine of her own story the way this book thinks she is. Her fleeting moments of character growth felt like pulling teeth. Lots of potential for her character growth, but were squandered. She is like the rich idiot with too much money that they don't know what to do with, but with unearned powers and faces little unmeaningful consequences. There were a couple of improvements in this book, but not enough to overlook the problems brought over from the first two books.

What I like:
- Pennington's writing style. It's casual, quick, and straightforward, which suits my impatient brain. Pennington writes imagery and sounds well when something magical happens in the book.
- There were more lore on fae and witch practices. I like learning about them. I'd like to know more, get into the nitty gritty of it all.
- The crime-mystery this time around is much more interesting that tie in side characters, together with the wolf subplot.
- There was some character background. We got to know Kass a little more for her lack of trust when it comes to relationships and her insecurities as a lover, but it's not enough to explain her other traits.

Problems:
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- Kassandra as the protagonist lacks character growth throughout the series. She's severely passive, overbearingly reluctant, and stubborn. Unexplored reasons for her behaviour. Writing never offered the opportunity to understand her actions and decisions (or lack thereof).
- The side characters do call her out for her inaction and reluctance. Despite Kass being self-aware, nothing more was done. Only after much hesitation, reluctance, and being forced, she makes a decision. Her reasonings were shallow. She does not face severe consequences either as conflicts were solved in one or two pages. Nothing seems to be meaningful enough to propel her growth. By comparison, Rosalin undergoes more character growth than Kass, the protagonist.
- By the third book, I'm over Kass's self-sabotage regressive character arc and negative motivations. She can be frustrating at times to read.
- Kass is intentionally ignorant (unsure if the book intended for us to read her that way). Her specialising in paranormal investigations is baffling because she barely knows anything about that world. What's curiouser is that she's not curious at all nor she cares to know more. She skated by as she was constantly fed information instead of actively seeking them out. Lenorre contributes more to the crime investigation by bringing in Zaph, offering useful insights - pushing the plot along.

Kass not reading the books that were already mentioned in book two:
"Still, if she lent them to you, she obviously wants you to read them."
I shrugged. "Probably. One of these days, maybe I'll get to them."

Lenorre dumping her ass would have made for an interesting turn.

Off-scene, Zaph (unclear motive for helping) does the majority of the spell preparation for Kass (the investigator) while Kass was off having a threesome in a written scene. For the purpose of replenishing energies. Oh how challenging it was for Kass. I.. lmao. I'd understand the many sex scenes if the book was marketed as more romance-leaning.

- Kass's only personality, aside from being defensive, stubborn, reluctant, is that she knows her guns and holsters. She harps on it for the past three books, and yet she was barely given opportunity to show off in scenes. She just wears them, and I guess she looks cool in them (?).
- There was also the constant dubious consent vibes I've been getting... yeah.
- Rupert is barely present. Kinda funny to me.
- Paranormal politics never explored. This could have made the world more alive and atmospheric. But nah. Lenorre is happy playing the girlfriend who tags along even though she is the Countess Vampire.

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Despite how I feel about this overall, it's sad to know there's no continuation as the ending suggests it's setting up for the next one. The main thing that's been pulling me along this series is Pennington's style of writing. So much potential. But oh well.

3.25 ...more

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Apr 30, 2016 Verechnaya rated it did not like it

Shelves: rape-culture, urban-fantasy, f-f, romance

One of the rapey-est, most unhealthy and abusive romance I've heard in the lesbian PU genre. Seriously people stop writing your submissive bdsm fetishes in fiction if you can't deal with concepts like consent. Not everyone can see characters being pushed into sex that haven't consented to and think "oh it's just bdsm roleplay". Books are more powerful than that, you can't just write your fetishes down irresponsibly and think everything will be well. ...more

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