A Book Obsession..

Drink Deep (Early Review)

, by KT

Drink Deep by Chloe Neill

Chicagoland Vampires #5

Clouds are brewing over Cadogan House, and recently turned vampire Merit can't tell if this is the darkness before the dawn or the calm before the storm. With the city itself in turmoil over paranormals and the state threatening to pass a paranormal registration act, times haven't been this precarious for vampires since they came out of the closet. If only they could lay low for a bit, and let the mortals calm down.

That's when the waters of Lake Michigan suddenly turn pitch black-and things really start getting ugly.

Chicago's mayor insists it's nothing to worry about, but Merit knows only the darkest magic could have woven a spell powerful enough to change the very fabric of nature. She'll have to turn to friends old and new to find out who's behind this, and stop them before it's too late for vampires and humans alike.

Merit should have known she wouldn't get a chance to fully come to terms with her loss before being thrust into the middle of another crisis. The humans in general are becoming more of a problem as they try to pass a registration act for all paranormals. Fuel is only added to the fire as Lake Michigan and the rivers turn completely black and stop flowing. Of course, the vampires are the first to be blamed as protesters come out in leagues. Merit will have to step up to get to the bottom of things before the tensions boil over, or her grief will be the least of her worries.

Drink Deep picked up two months after the ending events of Hard Bitten, and Merit is still in a staggering state of grief. Yet she is slowly trying to pick up the pieces and move forward the best that she can. She seemed to be making progress, but every so often the loss would overcome her and she breaks completely down. It is the fact that she continues to pick up the pieces and muster on that shows her true strength in character. Everyone of course has their own opinion about how she should be dealing, with some wanting to hurry her on, and others trying to hold her back. One character in particular incredibly infuriated me when they questioned whether or not Merit was respecting Ethan's memory. I just don't think it is anyone's right to tell her when it is time to fully move on, and Merit definitely felt the same way. Even so, Merit was able to see outside her own hurt to keep her duty to the others of her house as they are in that same state of grieving. It would have been so easy for her to forget that she wasn't the only one who lost something, but she never once did, making her truly admirable. They always say "A person's true character is defined in their darkest hour," and there can be no fault found with Merit.

The actual danger and plot of Drink Deep was a pretty much a giant wild goose chase. It was a massive case of pointing fingers, and Merit was generally led in circles as she tried to get to the bottom of things. The end result left me more than a little shocked, even though looking back I realize that I should have seen things coming. However, what made the actual build up the most interesting was the whole new depth to the supernatural world that we are introduced to in this book. Things were so much simpler back when there were only vampires, but then again simple is rarely interesting. I am eager to see where these new developments lead, and what new dangers they may possess.

The events of this book will have many political ramifications in the future, but in Drink Deep, they were merely set up. With the absurdity of the receiver placed upon Cadogan house, as well as the relations with humans, the political side of things will more than likely play a larger role than ever before in future installments, something I am both eager, yet nervous to see. While there was much grieving in Drink Deep, the overall theme of the book seemed to be hope. This honestly surprised me as I couldn't imagine how there could really be any other emotion than devastation and other negative feelings. Yet trust, hope, compassion, and even the potential for love all play their parts. This proves Chloe Neill knows how to write a well rounded book full of emotional depth that will easily suck the reader into Merit's world. While there wasn't really a cliffhanger ending, if you are anything like me, you will already be looking forward to the next installment and what the future may hold. All I can say is bravo to Chloe Neill for once again making my presumptions of what was to come be thrown out the window, making for a completely unpredictable read that left me more than satisfied.

(Received a copy from the publisher)

Rating:

Pre-order from Amazon:
Drink Deep (Chicagoland Vampires, Book 5)

Other Reviews:
The Midnight Garden
Rex Robot Reviews

Previous Books:
1. Some Girls Bite
2. Friday Night Bites
3. Twice Bitten
4. Hard Bitten

Challenge Categories:
Outdo Yourself
Horror and Urban Fantasy
Vampire

Want to see Chloe in person?

Thursday, November 3rd
BARNES & NOBLE
Oakview Mall
3333 Oakview Drive
Omaha, NE 68144
402-691-4557 (phone)
7 PM
Meet Rachel Caine & Chloe Neill!

Sunday, November 6th
BARNES & NOBLE
2100 North Snelling Ave
Roseville, MN 55113
(651)-639-9256 phone
2 PM
Meet Rachel Caine, Chloe Neill, and Andrea Cremer (author of the Nightshade series)!

Come to the bookstore, meet the authors, have your books signed, and participate in a raffle drawing to receive cool prizes!

The Doomsday Vault (Early Review)

, by KT

The Doomsday Vault by Steven Harper

Clockwork Empire #1

In a clockwork Brittania, Alice's prospects are slim. At 21, her age and her unladylike interest in automatons have sealed her fate as an undesirable marriage prospect. But a devastating plague sends Alice off in a direction beyond the pale-towards a clandestine organization, mad inventors, life-altering secrets, and into the arms of an intrepid fiddle-playing airship pilot.

Alice's life has been slowly deteriorating since the Plague struck her family hard. She lost her mother and brother to the clockwork plague, and then several years later, her fiance as well. So now everyone treats her like a pariah. At 21 she is already long past the prime age for a desirable marriage, and her love of automatons has even further outcast her. In a last ditch effort to save her family's honor she goes to one last ball to try and snag a fiance. This sets in a chain of events that will forever change her life as she gets thrown into a world of secrecy and finds an attraction in a man who would make a very unlikely match.

It took me a little while to really get into The Doomsday Vault as the beginning was a little confusing. Things took a turn for the better when the two story lines came together as Alice and Gavin meet. Prior to that point, I was a little unsure as to what the two different story lines had to do with each other. However, as time went on and they interacted together, I started to enjoy things a lot more. Perhaps that was because I finally had something to root for as their attraction grew, as before that I didn't have an attachment to their struggles. I enjoy reading the struggle and conflict these two faced as they tried to make decisions the best they could, even if it kept them apart. I've always been drawn to a story with mismatched couples with plenty of obstacles in their path.

This was my second foray into Steampunk, and to be honest I still have mixed feelings about the genre. The first had more of a western feel, while The Doomsday Vault was more Elizabethan. Both times I ended up enjoying the book in the end, but the large learning curve and past setting lessened my enjoyment. So while things have turned out okay overall, I still think I prefer books with a modern setting, as things like propriety, class status, and titles drive me a little batty. I realize those things were a major part of the time period, but it gets a little monotonous after a while. I guess it is a really good thing I didn't live during that time period. However, putting that all aside, the world behind The Doomsday Vault was quite intriguing. The plague that is the root of the world as they know it, not only kills, but also can give great gifts as well. Although the ones with the gifts, known as clockmakers, only receive the gifts of brilliance for a short while as eventually the plague claims them as well. Even so, almost all major innovation can be laid at their feat, which I found to be a really interesting twist on things, as who would expect a deadly disease to cause so much good.

While The Doomsday Vault didn't quite hold my attention as much as other books, I still was pretty entertained, and will come back for more when the next installment is released. There was enough of a build up and teaser for more, that I am very curious to see what happens next. So, while it didn't have a cliffhanger ending in the truest sense, there was still plenty enough left unsettled to leave me wanting more. Considering my feelings for this genre, that was no small feat, making The Doomsday Vault pretty impressive in the end. If you enjoy the steampunk genre, or even books set in the Elizabethan time period that have a little fantasy mixed in, then The Doomsday Vault should be a solid read.

(Received a copy from the publisher)

Rating:

Pre-order from Amazon:
The Doomsday Vault: A Novel of the Clockwork Empire

Other Reviews:

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Courting Darkness (Early Review)

, by KT

Courting Darkness by Yasmine Galenorn

Sisters of the Otherworld #10

We're the D'Artigo sisters: sexy, savvy ex-operatives for the Otherworld Intelligence Agency. But being half-human, half-Fae means our powers go haywire at all the wrong times. My sister Delilah is a Death Maiden and werecat who belongs to the Autumn Lord. My sister Menolly is a vampire who's dating a gorgeous werepuma, and the godfather of the undead-set. And me? I'm Camille, Priestess of the Moon Mother, married to a dragon, a youkai, and a Svartan. But my dragon father-in-law has decided that he doesn't like having me for a member of the family...

It's Winter Solstice, and Aeval welcomes me into her Court of Darkness. With Morio still dangerously weak from his injuries and Vanzir alive only thanks to my silence, the thought of training under Morgaine doesn't seem as daunting as it did. But then, Hyto returns to shatter my life. Captured and swept off to the Dragon Reaches, can I manage to stay alive long enough to escape, even as Smoky's father intends to break my spirit, then my body?

Things were really starting to look up for Camile. She's more in love then ever with her triad of husbands, now that Morio is on the mend, and the other two are home safe with her, well as safe as they can be considering the war. Even her upcoming training with Morgaine doesn't bother her as much anymore. All that changes when she is captured by Smoky's father, who is bent on vengence. He plans to break her mind, body, and soul slowly in the most horrific ways possible. She knows she must hold on to hope with every last shred, but how long can she really hang on with what she is about to face?

Not once in this entire series has the danger been as real and horrific as it was in Courting Darkness. In the author's note at the end she talks about how the story was dark, but that it had to be that way due to Hyto's nature. I completely agree with her, especially since he is by far the sickest thing the sisters have faced. That's really saying something when you look back over everything that has happened. My heart was pounding for the entire book and I literally cringed everytime Hyto came around. However, it isn't all dark as we got to see just how strong Camile is. What she withstands is nothing short of remarkable, but what is even more impressive is her character growth in the end. She learns that she can't always be the rock and that sometimes its okay to lean on others for support. In the past she has always taken on the heaviest burdens, but now I see her sharing some of that with the others, making the group only stronger in the end. The more these sisters grow and mature, the greater a force the become to be reckoned with. I know I wouldn't want to be on their bad side.

Courting Darkness, like all of Camille's books, comes jammed packed with sensuality. (Who can blame her as she has three incredibly sexy men for husbands!) It's always entertaining to watch them all struggle to get along and make things work, as each man is very different. Of course the focus in this book was mostly on Smoky due to the circumstances. I really enjoyed the closer look into his life. As a dragon he is so very territorial and quick to anger, yet his devotion to Camile is incredible. To see such a powerful being practically bow down before her is quite amazing. Despite his extreme reaction to certain events, I found myself falling even more for him, so that he is probably my favorite of her husbands.

With each new installment in this series, my favorite sister always seems to shift to whose ever turn it is to narrate. I think this really shows how talented Yasmine Galenorn is as she is able to make the reader fall for each sister over and over again. They all have their own unique "voice," and the variety really ratchets the enjoyment factor tenfold. As always, the ending left me satisfied yet more than hungry for more. So, make sure you don't miss Courting Darkness as it is yet another great installment in this stellar series.

(Received a copy from the publisher)

Rating:

Pre-order from Amazon:
Courting Darkness (Otherworld)

Previous Books:

Witchling
Changeling
Darkling
Dragon Wytch
Night Huntress
Demon Mistress
Bone Magic
Harvest Hunting
Blood Wyne

Challenge Categories:

Waiting on Wednesday (65)

, by KT

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights an upcoming release we are greatly anticipating.

My pick this week:

Crossed - Matched #2

by Ally Condie

Publication Date: November 1st, 2011

Amazon Pre-Order: Crossed (Matched)

In search of a future that may not exist and faced with the decision of who to share it with, Cassia journeys to the Outer Provinces in pursuit of Ky - taken by the Society to his certain death - only to find that he has escaped, leaving a series of clues in his wake.

Cassia's quest leads her to question much of what she holds dear, even as she finds glimmers of a different life across the border. But as Cassia nears resolve and certainty about her future with Ky, an invitation for rebellion, an unexpected betrayal, and a surprise visit from Xander - who may hold the key to the uprising and, still, to Cassia's heart - change the game once again. Nothing is as expected on the edge of Society, where crosses and double crosses make the path more twisted than ever.

The Shadow Reader (Early Review)

, by KT

The Shadow Reader by Sandy Williams

McKenzie Lewis #1

There can only be one allegiance. It’s her time to choose.

Some humans can see the fae. McKenzie Lewis can track them, reading the shadows they leave behind. But some shadows lead to danger. Others lead to lies.

A Houston college student trying to finish her degree, McKenzie has been working for the fae king for years, tracking vicious rebels who would claim the Realm. Her job isn’t her only secret. For just as long, she’s been in love with Kyol, the king’s sword-master—and relationships between humans and fae are forbidden.

But any hope for a normal life is shattered when she’s captured by Aren, the fierce and uncompromising rebel leader. He teaches her the forbidden fae language and tells her dark truths about the Court, all to persuade her to turn against the king. Time is running out, and as the fight starts to claim human lives, McKenzie has no choice but to decide once and for all whom to trust and where she ultimately stands in the face of a cataclysmic civil war.

McKenzie has a secret, she can see the fae and track their paths. The rest of humanity thinks she is crazy, as she talks to invisible people that others cannot see. For ten years she's worked for the king, by locating the rebels, but she's had just about enough. All she wants is a little normalcy to be able to finish her degree. Her love for Kyol is the only thing that has been holding her back, even if the king has forbidden relations between fae and humans. Then everything changes when she is captured by the rebel Aren. He slowly opens her eyes to what her blinders wouldn't let her see before. As she slides down a very slippery slope, McKenzie will have a tough path ahead of her once she chooses which side to trust. There won't be any going back after this.

By all rights I shouldn't have been able to stand McKenzie as her behavior for most of the book seemed incredibly immature, but somehow I found myself really liking her in the end. She's terribly naive, and stubborn as a mule, but also extremely loyal, if not blindly so. Even her being torn in a love triangle didn't make me want to run for the hills like that type of romance usually does. Perhaps that is because it was less about angst, and more about growth and letting go of childish illusions to make the best choice she can for herself. There were a lot of reasons for her initial immaturity, but as her eyes were slowly opened, we got to see glimpses at her iron strength that really shines in the end. I found myself wanting to cheer for her as she learned to make those hard decisions, and I can't wait to see where the path leads her next.

There were a few things that kept me from giving The Shadow Reader a perfect rating. While the world behind the book was very intriging, I couldn't help feeling like a fish out of water as I tried to figure things out. A lot of books go overboard with info dumps as things are being set up, but in this case, a little more information would have really gone a long way. I'm still not entirely sure what some of the terms mean, and I wish there had of been a glossary at the end for reference. Also, another thing that frustrated me was the multiple names each character had. It just made the story a little harder to follow, and kept me from being completely sucked in. However, I do think future books will be much better in that aspect now that I have a little better handle of things.

While the ending of The Shadow Reader wasn't a cliffhanger, things were left more than open enough for plenty more, making for my favortite type of ending. I love that sense of satisfaction coupled with the promise for the future, and this book definitely hit that nail on the head. All in all The Shadow Reader was a very solid debut novel that gave me a solid block of entertainment. The world and characters are quite compelling, making for a very enjoyable read. Fans of urban fantasy won't want to miss this great new addition to the genre.

(Received a copy from the publisher)

Rating:

Pre-order from Amazon:
The Shadow Reader

Challenge Categories:

It's Monday! What are you reading (65)

, by KT

It's Monday! What Are You Reading, hosted by Book Journey, is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week. It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.

Here's what I read this past week:

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor (Review)
Succubus Revealed by Richelle Mead (Review)
Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake (Review)
The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa (Early Review)

Tada :)

My Upcoming List:

The Shadow Reader by Sandy Williams (Early Review)
Courting Darkness by Yasmine Galenorn (Early Review)
The Doomsday Vault by Steven Harper (Early Review)
Drink Deep by Chloe Neill (Early Review)

The Iron Knight (Early Review)

, by KT

The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa

Iron Fey #4

Ash, former prince of the Winter Court, gave up everything. His title, his home, even his vow of loyalty. All for a girl… and all for nothing.

Unless he can earn a soul.

To cold, emotionless faery prince Ash, love was a weakness for mortals and fools. His own love had died a horrible death, killing any gentler feelings the Winter prince might have had. Or so he thought.

Then Meghan Chase—a half human, half fey slip of a girl— smashed through his barricades, binding him to her irrevocably with his oath to be her knight. And when all of Faery nearly fell to the Iron fey, she severed their bond to save his life. Meghan is now the Iron Queen, ruler of a realm where no Winter or Summer fey can survive.

With the (unwelcome) company of his archrival, Summer Court prankster Puck, and the infuriating cait sith Grimalkin, Ash begins a journey he is bound to see through to its end— a quest to find a way to honor his solemn vow to stand by Meghan’s side.

To survive in the Iron realm, Ash must have a soul and a mortal body. But the tests he must face to earn these things are impossible. At least, no one has ever passed to tell the tale.

And then Ash learns something that changes everything. A truth that turns reality upside down, challenges his darkest beliefs and shows him that, sometimes, it takes more than courage to make the ultimate sacrifice.

At the end of The Iron Queen, Megan Chase made the ultimate sacrifice for the nevernever by becoming the Iron Queen, meaning she would lose Ash forever, or so she thought. He swore a vow to find a way to do the impossible and return to her. Of course he couldn't set off on his quest alone as the ever annoying yet strangely loyal Puck insists on tagging along as a sidekick whether Ash want him there or not. Ash will be tested like he never was before in his very long existence, in order to prove his worth of a soul and his true love.

Ah, Puck and Ash. What are we going to do with those two? They were as thick as thieves (literally), then turned mortal enemies, and then into some sort of limbo between hate and acceptance. I really enjoyed getting to see the two of them working together again. Granted, tensions were very high, with every second spent together bringing them closer to disaster. However, in the end even though neither one would ever admit it, they make a very good team, and never should have been enemies. I think Ash's eyes were opened up to Puck's suffering and it helped calm some of his lingering rage. I don't think things can ever be as they were, as too much has changed, but perhaps they can start down a new path.

There is pretty major shakeup to the characters that would be huge spoiler to talk about. Suffice it to say that this event will completely change the game, and make Ash start to have doubts in his quest to become mortal. At first I was leery of the new development, but in the end I decided it was actually for the best. Some may disagree with me, on that, but it made Ash step a little off his track of single mindedness to open his eyes up to whether or not he was really doing what he wanted and needed the most. I just really liked how he was able to be entirely sure of his final decision once he finally made it. I'm sorry if that is too vague to understand, but as I said it would be too big of a spoiler. Hopefully things will be a little more clear once you read the book for yourselves.

Julie Kagawa had originally intended for things to end after The Iron Queen with the ultimate sacrifice being final. However, her editor convinced her to not leave things that way, and I cannot be happier that the series continued on for this final installment. There were just too many things left unanswered. Luckily The Iron Knight ties up so many of those loose ends and the ending feels very satisfying. It may be a little less so to those that are on the opposite "team" than the final winner, but I think in the end both camps will feel things ended as they should. Full of danger, heartache, and plenty of sacrifice, The Iron Knight is sure to please fans and give them the closure they have been waiting for. A definite two thumbs up.

(Received copy from Netgalley)

Rating:

Pre-Order from Amazon:
The Iron Knight (Harlequin Teen)

Other Reviews

Previous Books

Challenge Categories:
Outdo Yourself
YA

Drink Deep Winner

, by KT

Clouds are brewing over Cadogan House, and recently turned vampire Merit can't tell if this is the darkness before the dawn or the calm before the storm. With the city itself in turmoil over paranormals and the state threatening to pass a paranormal registration act, times haven't been this precarious for vampires since they came out of the closet. If only they could lay low for a bit, and let the mortals calm down.

That's when the waters of Lake Michigan suddenly turn pitch black-and things really start getting ugly.

Chicago's mayor insists it's nothing to worry about, but Merit knows only the darkest magic could have woven a spell powerful enough to change the very fabric of nature. She'll have to turn to friends old and new to find out who's behind this, and stop them before it's too late for vampires and humans alike.

And the winner is:

Rie Conley

Congrats!

Anna Dressed in Blood (ARC Review)

, by KT

Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake

Anna Dressed in Blood #1

Cas Lowood has inherited an unusual vocation: He kills the dead.

So did his father before him, until he was gruesomely murdered by a ghost he sought to kill. Now, armed with his father's mysterious and deadly athame, Cas travels the country with his kitchen-witch mother and their spirit-sniffing cat. Together they follow legends and local lore, trying to keep up with the murderous dead—keeping pesky things like the future and friends at bay.

When they arrive in a new town in search of a ghost the locals call Anna Dressed in Blood, Cas doesn't expect anything outside of the ordinary: track, hunt, kill. What he finds instead is a girl entangled in curses and rage, a ghost like he's never faced before. She still wears the dress she wore on the day of her brutal murder in 1958: once white, now stained red and dripping with blood. Since her death, Anna has killed any and every person who has dared to step into the deserted Victorian she used to call home.

But she, for whatever reason, spares Cas's life.

Cas lost his father at a young age, but he inherited his father's odd skills. Cas kills the dead, or at least the murderous ghosts that are left behind when people don't just stay dead. He's spent his life moving from place to place to seek out these ghosts and give them their final end. However, this latest move feels different. There's just something pulling him towards Anna's story, and he knows he must get to the bottom of it. He may have expected her to be just an ordinary ghost that he could easily vanquish, but he quickly finds her to be nothing like he has ever encountered. She brutally kills any who enters her house but for some unknown reason she spares him, only opening up more questions for Cas that he must get to the bottom of before it's too late.

One of the best things about this book was the characters. They were fully realized and were so easy to get attached to. I especially enjoyed Cas's character. He grew so much from the start. In the beginning he was such a loner, shut off from the rest of the world and quite single-minded in his path. Due to his father's murder he had kept everyone at arms length, even his own mother and focused only on revenge towards ghost. However as time went on, his walls of defense slowly came down, and he started to make friends and set up roots. As this went on, and he opened up he started to realize everything he had been missing. I think his biggest lesson was the fact that he didn't have to chose between being alone and pursuing his life's mission. I think a lot of this growth was a direct result of Anna herself. But, I won't get into how she could possibly have done this considering what she is, you'll have to just read it for yourself. :)

I haven't read a whole lot of ghost stories in that I scare pretty easy, but for some reason the description of this book really stood out to me. Perhaps I just wanted a fresh read to take a break from the typical paranormal books I read that feature vampires or weres and the like. I was even more pleasantly surprised to find the book to be even more set apart from the norm in that it is told entirely from a male character's first person perspective. Considering the fact that I've only read one other series with that type of narration, it definitely was a refreshing change of pace for me. I'll never completely turn away from my "tried and true" type of stories, but every so often I need that break, and Anna Dressed in Blood more than filled that requirement, making for an excellent read.

I was so excited to finally get a chance to read this book! I think I checked my mailbox every day for my review copy to arrive, but Anna Dressed in Blood was more than worth any wait. At first I had thought it was a stand alone novel, and the story could have technically been all wrapped up where it was left. However, there was a hint of where the story might go, which makes me desperate to get my hands on the next installment. I cannot wait to see where things lead, and I really hope Cas finds what he is looking for. Anna Dressed is one of those stories that will grab a hold of you from the very start and not let go. Trust me, you won't want to miss this.

(Received a copy from the publisher)

Rating:

Buy now from Amazon:
Anna Dressed in Blood

Other Reviews:

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Succubus Revealed

, by KT

Succubus Revealed by Richelle Mead

Georgina Kincaid #6

In Georgina Kincaid, succubus and she-demon, #1 New York Times bestselling author Richelle Mead has created one of her most enticing characters. But with a shot at love, and maybe even redemption, is the ultimate seductress finally going soft? Like hell she is. . .

Georgina Kincaid has had an eternity to figure out the opposite sex, but sometimes they still surprise her. Take Seth Mortensen. The man has risked his soul to become Georgina's boyfriend. Still, with Lucifer for a boss, Georgina can't just hang up her killer heels and settle down to domestic bliss. In fact, she's being forced to transfer operations. . .to Las Vegas.

The City of Sin is a dream gig for a succubus, but Georgina's allies are suspicious. Why are the powers-that-be so eager to get her away from Seattle—and from Seth? Georgina is one of Hell's most valuable assets, but if there's any way out of the succubus business she plans to take it—no matter how much roadkill she leaves behind. She just hopes the casualties won't include the one man she's risking everything for. . .

Just as Georgina thought things might have finally been settling down, she gets the most unwelcome news, she's being transferred to Las Vegas. Ordinarily this would be her dream job, but everything about the sudden transfer seems a little fishy. The more she looks into it, the more she realizes that this transfer seems to be a cover up for something as well as an easy means to tear her from Seth. She's more determined than ever to get to the bottom of all the questions.. Even if it means taking on Hell itself to do it.

I'm not entirely sure how I feel about this final installment, it was enjoyable, and yet it had its frustrations as well. I loved all the previous books, so full of danger, intrigue and even the heartache was compelling in its own painful way. Considering just how much I hate heartache in books, it really a testament to how good these books have been for me to be so entranced. In preparation to read Succubus Revealed, I re-read the first five books so the story would be fresh in my mind. While everything had been building up to immense levels in preparation for the final outcome, after reading it, I couldn't help but feel just a little let down. I just didn't quite feel the depth of emotion as I had previously, especially when it came to some rather rash reactions both Georgina and Seth had to certain events. I just felt that this lessened the impact of their love, and in turn the story for me. I mean if a book is going to repetitively tell me over and over again about how strong of a connection they have, then I want to see that without their own natures getting in the way constantly.

Now, lest you think the book was not enjoyable, or that there wasn't happiness to be had, that wasn't the case at all. My complaints about certain actions are really in the end only minor ones. Looking back, I think I may be looking at this a little bit unfairly based on the situation, and especially so when you consider how things worked out in the end. They are human after all, or well at least Seth is, and Georgina acts more mortal than I think she realizes. So,when you put all that aside, the book was quite enjoyable. I had predicted much of the final outcome, with a few twists that I hadn't been expecting. Sometimes when I've figured out a book's path ahead of time, it can get boring when it comes time to read it, but I didn't find that to be the case here. I think this is because of the major groundwork that had been laid in the previous books in preparation. That made it just as fun to tie everything together in my head to what I already knew, kind of like following breadcrumbs.

The ending of Succubus Revealed felt very solid and mostly fulfilling even though it did feel a little rushed. While there was an epilogue, I couldn't help but to wish there had been a little bit more. More of what, I'm not entirely sure, but just a few more moments would have been the icing on the cake. Of course they say the best book are the ones that leave you wanting more, so there is something to be said for that. Going along those lines, there was one unresolved issue that came a quite a shock to me. It may have been a smaller issue when you look at the grand scheme of things, but I still cannot help hoping there will be something written in the future to find out the answer. All in all Succubus Revealed was a good wrap up to a fantastic series, and while I am sad to say goodbye to these great characters, I draw satisfaction in the final resolution. Fans of the series won't want to miss this!

(Received a copy from the publisher)

Rating: