Quick Catch-Up Review

I’ve read a lot since Daughter of Smoke and Bone but just haven’t really been up to writing too much about any of them. They didn’t strike me too much other than Looking for Alibrandi and I’m sure I have notes stashed somewhere but here’s a quick catch-up on my recently read books!

Finished up all of Karen Marie Moning’s Highlander series, other than the last book since it seems it doesn’t really have much to do with the overall series. Actually, only about four of the books had anything to do with the Fever series. The others, very loosely based just off the Highlanders.  Really loved it overall. Romance, action and shady darkness. Though often times, it’s the same exact plot, no?  I went back to reread part of FEVER just so I could catch glimpses of Christian’s Uncles… I don’t like rereading too much, but I had to!

Slowly reading through Melina Marchetta’s bibliography and finished Looking for Alibrandi. Lovely. There’s such raw realness whenever I read her characters and even more so when it’s regular teenage angst. But it’s so much more. I can’t really begin to explain how much I enjoyed it.  This isn’t a page turner but just another wonderfully woven story by Ms. Marchetta. I’m only disappointed that I’m slowly finishing up reading everything she’s written. Sad.

Dark Skye by Kresley Cole. It’s what we’ve come to expect from Ms. Cole and her Immortal After Dark series. It’s fun, the couple has chemistry and there must be something they must overcome and achieve all while the plot moves through the Ascension.

 
Beautiful Ashes by Jeaniene Frost was a disappointment. The premise is there and it’s interesting but at the same time, it feels done in the scheme of paranormal romance novels. Even the insta-lust that’s frequently used seems meh. Between Adrian and … the girl who’s name escapes me now, it’s supposed to be taboo and sexy but it’s neither. Adrian is interesting and even the girl but … something’s missing.

Night’s Honor by Thea Harrison had me worried that a new pair, one who we aren’t familiar with would turn me off of series but it was nicely written.  The relationship developed and blossomed. But with so much of the plot wrapped around that, the action was slightly neglected this time around and delegated to bickering of the Vampire council and quickly wrapped up toward the end.

Anita Blake. My go-to when I haven’t researched any new books to read and it’s there. Flirt was at least a story with a basic plot.  Bullet was a free for all shit show of fake eroticism and metaphysicalness that just barfed all over itself. Yeah…. I read it because shit. I DON’T KNOW WHY. It’s there. It’s cute man characters that I’m used to.

Curio by Cara McKenna. Oh snap. Erotica! Now while I realize once I got to the end, this book is considered erotica, it was very charming and heart felt. Strange I would use that to describe it but the relationship between Caroly and Didier was like a soft caress. They explored each other sensuously, languorously both physically and emotionally. And as I’m used to pseudo emotional angst of male characters, Didier problems seemed real and horrifying all at once. It was a very frank and honest look into a relationship.  Honestly I enjoyed it a lot and I have to admit that I actually skipped a bit just so I could find out what happened at the end.

Burns Hot Fast and Bright

Book Review:  Fever (series) by Karen Marie Moning Includes Darkfever, Bloodfever, Faefever, Dreamfever, and Shadowfever
Book Rating: 4/5 (overall)

How do I review a book when for me, it wasn’t just a book? It was a long week that submersed me in another world. Here’s the thing, it’s a very very different review and experience to read a book in a series over a long span of time vs a few days. There’s a break, there’s anticipation waiting for the next book. With Fever, I plowed through it, I devouredit. Had I been unable to do that, I don’t think I would have been as obsessed as I have.  

Well what can I say that hasn’t been said.  It’s a great series, action packed, intriguing and with some hot sexual tension between Mac and Barrons. Initially Mac was the pink powerpuff, annoying and you’d think wtf – why, WHY are you doing this?! Luckily she has since redeemed herself.  

Along the way, she loses what she initially set off on, tracking her sister’s killer, side-tracked by the Fae and the Sinsar Dubh. We follow her on a journey of self discovery, of vengeance, and loss. It’s great. Mac turned out to be a great heroine, very self aware. What was extremely strange was that I was waiting for her to be saved, yet she saved herself countless times. She didn’t always, but she recovered in her own resilient way.  It’s refreshing and says a lot about what I’m used to reading that I’m expecting Barrons or V’lane to come in on their horses to save the day…

Then as we wrap up this portion of the series, we face existential crises, mistaken identities, cover-ups and more! It’s not too hard to follow but it does like it usually does, go down the road of well, philosophical thinking.

This is such a short review for an amazing series. I mean it’s not ground-breaking, it’s not very nuanced and the characters… sometimes they lack depth, but it’s a wild and amazing ride with Fever. And by the way, don’t even bother trying to figure out what’s going on. You might think you know but, all clues don’t point you in the right direction. At all.