Jeanne C. Stein

I tried several times to get into this book over the last few weeks. At first I thought I was fed up with urban fantasies (but then I read Greywalker, so I knew I wasn't). Then I thought it was vampires in general (but then I re-read Once Bitten, Twice Shy and knew I wasn't). Finally I decided that I must just have other things to read that are more pressing, except I don't really. I've had a lot of free time on my hands lately, so I should have had the time if I wanted to really read the book.

So, after finishing Sea of Shadow (for the third time), I sat myself down and told myself to read the book. From what I read on other reviews I was expecting something...different I suppose. Not something worse, or better, but different. Every reviewer is different right?

Unfortunately I found myself disliking the book. Not completely, I did want to know more about the Vampire society that Stein was setting up for the future books and despite myself I was wondering if Anna would have an emotional epiphany about Avery and David sooner rather than later (I like soap operas). The rest falls flat for me. I never quite believed Anna--she felt unreliable at best, admitting to raging hormones and apparently a new sex drive that clouded her 'intense' feelings for her serious boyfriend David whenever Avery was around. The mystery angle confused me and I wanted to stake Avery, a more self-serving man I have yet to read in a novel series!

Anna's apparent infidelity (multiple times) with Avery left a sour taste in my mouth as well. And I didn't even get the sense she did it because she felt like she was drifting from David, or that her feelings had shifted or anything--pretty much Avery came on the scene, Anna waxed poetic about David for a hot second and the next in the bed with Avery. Even after she realized she was being used for whatever reasons. Though even this I couldn't get too worked up about because neither Anna nor David nor Avery seemed to be 'whole' characters. Bits and pieces thrown together with potential that never blossomed.

I wish I had better things to say, but I don't. I will likely give this series another chance with book 2, since sometimes the freshman book in a series is so busy trying to establish itself the book suffers for it, but after that we shall see.… (meer)

Ilona Andrews is one of my favorite authors and the Kate Daniels series is my favorite of all the books that the husband/wife duo write. The writing style is fast paced and engaging and the characters are completely believable despite the fantastical elements that surround all the books. These books are a must read for me and I eagerly devour them and count the months until the next one arrives. I love that despite the occult and romance leanings of these books there is still a generous dose of humor. I highly recommend the Kate Daniels series.… (meer)

The few reviews I read about this book were quite contradictory and since they picked up my curiosity I went and read it.
One of those reviews was quite negative saying that the plot and the characters were dull and it was clear from the start who was the bad guy that kidnapped David. I don't think it was that clear! Maybe it's just me but, till the bad guy in question was revealed, I still had my doubts about who was the responsible of the kidnapping so I enjoyed the story and, while one can't say it outright differs from the ones on the genre, I particularly like these settings so I'll continue to read about Anna Strong's adventures.
… (meer)