I liked this book a lot but I wanted it more focused on Cassie and Caine than the rest of the characters. I was especia4 I Wanted More Of Cassie Stars
I liked this book a lot but I wanted it more focused on Cassie and Caine than the rest of the characters. I was especially disappointed of how much space Gaius occupied....more
Now that is a cliffhanger if I have ever seen one! And a delicious one at that! (Yes, I'm the weird one out... I love a good cliffy!) But luckily the Now that is a cliffhanger if I have ever seen one! And a delicious one at that! (Yes, I'm the weird one out... I love a good cliffy!) But luckily the next book is out so I only have to stew for a little while!
The book had a weak start but it definitely picked up along the way! Not my favorite in the series but a very good addition overall....more
This was so...disappointing. 2,5 is a very generous rating.
In my book this wasn't even a sex scene. It was a rape one. Now most who've actually read mThis was so...disappointing. 2,5 is a very generous rating.
In my book this wasn't even a sex scene. It was a rape one. Now most who've actually read my reviews are familiar with the fact that I have a very high tolerance of blurred lines when it comes to literature(I'm not so forgiving in real life). I can actually overlook it completely if a woman says "no" when it's actually anything but... But this was Barrons and Mac.
This "scene" completely destroyed my view of their romance. I loved the fact that they didn't get down and dirty 10 minutes after they met each other. My favorite thing in the books was that they developed their attraction by getting to know each other.
Then I read a scene in which they have sex at their second meeting, while Mac is actually afraid of him even if she wants him, when afterwards Barrons actually has to take her memory so that she won't remember anything and have regrets. This is so not cool.
I usually don't mind it if the hero is too aggressive because afterwards the heroine is happy most of the times. This time Barrons didn't allow Mac the courtesy to think this through for some time, he didn't allow her the time to actually think of her attraction to him. Having read Mac's POV on this day I can completely honestly say that my idea was that she didn't even like the guy.
I think this scene is completely out of place with the rest of the books. The only reason I give it a 2.5 is because I loved seeing how Barrons' mind works. It was way more primitive and savage than I would have thought.
Merged review:
2,5-3 Super-Surprised Stars
BR with my awesome MacHalo Girls. (If we have any boys sorry, haven't noticed you.)
When I was little and I did something wrong I would never apologise, even when I knew I was wrong. So my mom would ground me and yell and generally force the words "I'm sorry" out of my mouth because she thought that being unable to say sorry at such a young age was unhealthy but the words would come out fake and lose some of their value. Now you're probably all wondering what the hell this has to do with Burned. Well, this book felt like a big-ass forced apology from Ms. Moning for Iced. The sad thing is she shouldn't have to apologise to anyone about what she chooses to write and by not writing what she wanted she made the story seem a bit "plastic". BUT despite that she did manage to lure me in at many points and make this book a little bit unique so for that I have to say congratulations to her.
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Now I'm gonna take a page from Mac's book and tell you all my observations in a few words because you know... too bored to do better.
Positive Facts
Fact, Burned was much more interesting than Iced. Fact, there were plenty of twists in the story and if I'm being honest I was surprised by some of them. Fact, Lor was AWESOME. I want more, more, more. Fact, we have more Barrons. I love me some Neaderthal. Fact, for me Ryodan was pretty much redeemed for what he did to Dani and Jo in Iced. Fact, the second half of the book was close to great. Fact, Jada, I like her. I hope she stays(or at least part of her). Fact, (view spoiler)[The Unseelie Princess thing was a great twist. I want more details about her, about the sweeper, about everything. (hide spoiler)] Fact, the UK and the Concubine were one of my favorite things in this book. More of them please Ms. Moning. (view spoiler)[
I heard also that you believe this world you claim you can save is doomed.” He does not answer, merely stands, enjoying the warmth of her body near his, the sweetness of her breath on his face. She disparages, “You would deceive me for a single kiss.” “I would raze worlds for a single kiss.” “Try saving one, for far more than that.” “The fabric of their Universe is damaged. Without the song, it is not possible.” She says, “You are the Unseelie King. You will find a way.” “That sounds suspiciously like faith in me,” he mocks. “You see faith where only a challenge has been issued. Will you fail?” He lowers his head again, until their lips are nearly touching. “Kiss me as if you remember me. Inspire this wild god as once you did. Incite poetry and fire with your passion and perhaps I’ll find a way.” [...] This time, unlike so many others, he doesn’t take charge, or seek to deepen the kiss. Merely stands after the agony of half a million years of grieving this woman, basking in his first moment free of pain. Breathes it, inhales it, allows the particles of his being the chance to become for a single glorious moment something other than drawn in tightly upon himself in a frozen, eternal shudder of denial and crushing loss. Regret is poison that kills the soul. She cries out against his lips, draws back and looks up at him. “Such grief! It is too much. I cannot endure it!” “If you believe nothing else I tell you, my queen, believe my pain. Consider the cause.”
(hide spoiler)] Fact, the whole Mac vs Book thing can evolve to greatness. I hope KMM uses it well.
Negative Facts
Fact, why the Alpha Alternative KMM? I hated it when we weren't sure if it was fact or lie and (view spoiler)[confirming it happened (hide spoiler)] didn't make me like it more. Fact, Mac in this book was a puny, silly, doormat version of herself. What happened to Mac 2.0 or 5.0 or whatever? Where is the badass she was in book 4,5? This pushover isn't the Mac I know and love. Hope this changes. Fact, what happened in the relationship between Mac and Barrons? All the intimacy that there was between them in the end of Shadowfever is gone in this one. We are back to "Ms. Lanes" and secrets and distance and loneliness. Why?? I actually teared up in this scene... (view spoiler)[
In bed, I steal moments of tenderness when sex has finally exhausted me to the point where I’m too bone weary to fret anymore about the enormous capacity for evil that’s taken up squatter’s rights inside me. I touch him, put all those things I don’t say into my hands as I trace the red and black tattoos on his skin, the sharp planes and hollows of his face, bury my hands in his dark hair. He watches me in silence when I do, eyes dark, unfathomable. I sometimes wake up to find he’s pulled me close to him and is holding me, spooned into my back with his face in my hair, and those hands that don’t speak like mine don’t speak move over my skin and tell me I’m cherished, honored, seen. Out of bed we’re islands. Ms. Lane and Barrons.
(hide spoiler)] Fact, (view spoiler)[while I do like Jada, I thought the way KMM chose to grow Dani up was anti-climatic. You can't just take a main character, throw him in the Silvers and poof, the old girl is gone and now we have a woman in our hands. Convenient but I wanted to watch Dani mature and grow old. Not suddenly get her all grown up. (hide spoiler)] Fact, there is too much recounting. If I wanted to get all the facts and details of the previous books in the series, I'd go ahead and re-read them. I don't want to have so many info about what has happened again and again. It becomes tiresome. Fact, Mac's inner ramblings were too much sometimes. I want less talk and more action. Between this and the re-countings we could have done away with about 20% of the book. Writing shorter books isn't bad.
For more details about the negatives of this book you can go ahead and read Sarah's review. I think she analysed it perfectly.
All in all, not bad but KMM can do SOOO much better. I expect better of her. I don't want uncohesive characters and plotlines. I want solid stories that leave me craving more. I was very surprised that I liked this book even as much as I did but I still need more....more
It's done. My yearly fix of IAD is already fading and I can't quite tell if I was satisfied with my dose or not. I wa4 For The Hell Of It Stars
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It's done. My yearly fix of IAD is already fading and I can't quite tell if I was satisfied with my dose or not. I was waiting for this a long time and maybe my expectations were higher that they should have been. Not that the book was bad or anything, just... I need subcategories to explain! Here they come...
The couple:
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It's a PNR book so the romance played a big part in the book. I was semi-satisfied with the romance. Jo was great. Strong, stubborn, protective and sly. I liked her street smarts and her survivor instict. I also liked how, for once, the girl actually accepted that she was in love and keeping the guy fairly easily, without the angst and turmoil, on the other hand though, Rune wasn't worth it. And here comes the problem, I didn't like Rune. He was a first class ASSHOLE! He had all the right elements for a PNR hero, tall, dark, dangerous, protective, alpha, commitmentphobe,... The usual. But I hated how he couldn't see how he hurt Jo, how he dismissed her as hysterical and by the time he got his shit together it was already too late in my book.
The plot:
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And it is. It always is with IAD, especially when Nix is involved. I loved seeing the "other side". I enjoyed getting to know the Morrior a little bit and seeing that though they might be the opposition(are they really gonna be??), they are not evil. They have good intentions at the very least. Although I still haven't made up my mind about Orion. Still, the story was interesting. I loved how Rune and Jo chaced after Nix and the new revelations. Still, the book felt like a filler. A way for KC to build the world and lay the groundwork for the books to come. Fillers are needed in a series but waiting 1.5 year for one makes you a bit frustrated. I think KC should consider writing a few novellas in between to cover some ground. Still, the story wasn't boring or anything so...
The secondary characters:
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Well, Nix definitely has! She is a basketcase and she still can stategise with the best of them. I love watching while she plays with other people's lives like chess pieces. I'm dying for her POV! Even a small look into her head is going to be awesome. I just hope that when it comes the author will be able to actually deliver. Apart from our beloved prophetess there were plenty of new characters and almost none of the old. Meeting the Morrior was the most interesting aspect of the book by far and I have a theory that (view spoiler)[Blace-the primorial vamp guy- is Jo's and Thad's father (hide spoiler)]. But we'll have to wait and see on that one. I hope we get books on many of the new players, I just want these new guys to match up with a few of the old ones. This series can't go on forever... Can it? Nix with Darach? Now that will be a match for the madhouse! There was also a bit of built up for Thad's book, with Natalie probably. But since Thad is still a kid, we're probably gonna wait on that one for a while.
Summing up:
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It wasn't what I got but I don't know whether to be happy or sad about that. What I do know is that I hope KC speeds her writing up a bit and deivers a few of the much promised books. Furie, Kristoff, Cata, Munro, some of the Dacians and now Darach, the Demon Lord guy(that for the life of me I can't remember his name right now), Blace. I can't deal with even more new characters.
(view spoiler)[December 2015?? Why are you being so cruel Ms.Cole??
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At least give us a BLURB!!!
06/05/2015
Is it just me or is the title and the cover really that weird? I just saw this here today and it honestly doesn't fit with the rest of the series...
03/06/2015
Well, they do say be careful what you wish for. I got my wish for a BLURB and I'm not excited at all right now. Why new characters? There are literally more than a dozen already introduced that could have gotten a book. Is this going to be the next Dark-Hunter? Will the characters never stop coming until we stop remembering who the hell is who, or even worse, stop caring? I do still plan to read the book and be optimistic about it because I just can't help myself but if the next one is about some newcomer too or some irrelevant character that no one cares about, I'm not gonna be a happy reader!
5/10/2015
From KC's Facebook page:
IAD news! Eight Fast facts about Sweet Ruin (coming 12-1-2015)! 1. This story will push the Accession forward in a major way 2. This is the 2nd longest book in the IAD series 3. I chose to release this story before others because I’m setting up future conflicts (it needed to come before Munro’s, Furie’s, Cara’s, and Thad’s) 4. AND because I wanted to introduce Orion, a male who will play a huge role in Nïx’s future 5. AND because I wanted to introduce Darach Lyka, the 1st Lykae and the alpha of his species. (Remember the guy from the Living Book of Lore, the human male who was bitten and rose from the dead as a Lykae? We’ll meet him in Sweet Ruin!) 6. You’ll see Thaddeus as an adorable little kid (his favorite word is fuggoff) 7. You’ll travel to new realms. Ruin’s weekender is on Tortua, a pleasure plane, and has a glass floor to view the story beneath it. Ahem 8. You’ll meet most of the Møriør, who’ve had to deal with Nïx’s diabolical side (we all know she’s done some shady things to her ALLIES—now you’ll see her in action against her ENEMIES. Not for the faint of heart!)
Do I feel placated? Well, I'll admit... a tiny bit! And who is Orion? Maybe Nix's future +1?? Also the first Lykae? Dear book, please hurry a bit!! (hide spoiler)]...more