Jeanne Marcella

NetGalley ARC.

*Possible spoilers within.*

I'll start with saying the idea of this book was great, but for me, it was poorly executed.

The entire time I was reading this book, I felt lost and confused. It was as if I had started reading a book in the middle of a series without having read the preceding books. There was a ton of world building, but it seemed to all have started in the middle and forgone the beginning/backstory.

Our protagonist, Lord California, Agustín, is a half angel/half demon who favors his demon side. His father, Harper is a full angel from Heaven that now resides on earth. Together--sort of together--they run the Infinity Corporation, a company with supernatural operatives that do...I'm not exactly sure what they do besides trying to trick and strong arm poor Calico--the other protagonist--into giving them access (and ownership) of his interdimesional portal.

Calico is an identical triplet from another dimension who, along with his brothers (who are both taller than him and therefore not identical), sought refuge on earth in the year 1900. He's a lord of space and time, a phoenix, and lycanthrope...and a god. Like, what?! He's running from his great grandfather who is a warrior priest that is cursed and trying to destroy him. And while I can understand being forced from your home, having a beloved family member under a spell that makes him want to kill you, and because of the curse some of Calico's powers are blocked being upsetting, Calico is a whiny little wimp. He's also clearly slow-witted because no matter how many times his brothers explain to him how this world's rules and traditions differ vastly from theirs, he can't seem to catch on. I literally wanted to reach into the book and shake some sense into him.

I hated Harper, who I believe was meant to be hated. He comes across as a holier than thou jerk who knows what's best for everyone. Calico, ugh! I did like Lord California, Agustín. And Mr. Triptych, who was the one moving the chess pieces on the board from the shadows, was the only truly obvious character. Within a few pages of meeting him, I immediately knew who he was, and in the end I was right in my assumption. It was done in a very heavy handed manner, using a trope I've seen in TV shows and movies galore. But at the same time, I loved what and who he was, I just wish I hadn't been able to figure it out within minutes of meeting the character. The other characters were okay. The story was interesting but would have been more so if the reader wasn't left wondering how it all had come to be.

All-in-all, I had a hard time getting through this book. It was just too confusing and all over the place for me. However, I love the idea of the story and some of the characters and would be interested in seeing where the series goes. I think this was a decent effort that needed more polishing.… (meer)

Well a very beautiful story the characters and that dominate the story are truly thought throw and also takes you in you fell all the ups and downs with the characters this book is a wonderful story and I wish there was more of it my praise goes out to the author and the others that had a hand in this wonderful book the story draws you in and keeps you there with all that is going on in the story as I said thanks to Jeanne for this wonderful story and please is there more of the same I will be going to try and get more of her books if there is I will let all my friends know and as always keep smiling and happy reading to you all with all my love from wee me.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx… (meer)