Here we are again... I've read a gazillion books in between that I haven't even bothered to add to my Goodreads, yet this author once again makes me wHere we are again... I've read a gazillion books in between that I haven't even bothered to add to my Goodreads, yet this author once again makes me want to write a review.
I have such a love/hate relationship with JLA. It's not even funny. While I find her books so easy to get lost in, they often just fill me with annoyance!
For example...This series. The original trilogy features Layla. God... What an annoying, self centered twat. This...this girl. So up in her own ass, so "Oh poor me, no one accepts me" so let's make sure I do whatever necessary to prove them right. So desperate for attention that she literally sides with who she was raised to believe was enemy no1 in 3 seconds flat just because he's focused on her. Now mind u, I absolutely adore Roth buuuut he deserves better and facts are facts. He persuaded Layla so easily I literally got whiplash. This immature idiot manages to string along 2 supposedly mature and wholesome males? Kinda unbelievable. And the love triangle is taken way too far with her jumping from one to the other like that. Grim said it better than me. Basically all she did for 2.5 books was relationship drama and being a wimp that constantly had to be saved by someone else. And then we get to this book, and u kinda expect that she has finally come to her own! But nope. 1 minute into a battle and this supposed badass needs to be saved. Yet again. Can she just catch the divine equal of Covid or something and disappear? Go on bed rest or something and stop being an annoyance?
The guys tho? Oof, yes mami! I love them both. Yes, definitely Cayman is my favourite character, followed by Bambi (and yes I cried when the witches took her). So, original series saving graces.
Then we get to the spin off and WoooHooo! A badass heroine! An actual badass, one that doesn't end up being the damsel in distress every other minute! One that kicks ass and does the saving! And she's funny! And cute! And all things lovable! I even liked how she handled the whole insta lust she got upon laying her eyes on the hotness that is Zayne! Only problem? She's someone we've met before! Where you might ask? Blood and Ash by none other than JLA herself. This character reads exactly like Poppy. Down to her "I have questions" statements. I realise that since the author is the same, having similarities in characters can be expected somewhat, but they are exactly the same personality in different settings. I can accept some crossover but virtually taking a whole ass character, renaming it and putting in another book feels like stealing from yr own pantry.
Will this stop me from reading the rest of the books and probably enjoying the hell out of them? Not at all. But once again JLA has managed to do something to stop me from fully appreciating her work....more
Things have been quiet for two years both on the Cascade and the Lijuan front amd waiting for something to change has e4 My precious Archangel Stars
Things have been quiet for two years both on the Cascade and the Lijuan front amd waiting for something to change has everyone on edge. When it does though, it isn't in the form Elena expects.
The Cadre has been summoned by the Luminata to visit their compound in Morocco and apparently the invitation isn't optional. Accompanying Raphael to the land of her ancestors seems luke a good way to take her mind off things, even if it means interracting with the snakes of the cadre. But when they arrive there, it isn't to the group of wise and pure "monklike" librarians Elena has been expecting but to an air or violence and darkness. Nothing is what it seems.
I will not go into a second rant about expectations this week but I will say that NS only marginally managed to deliver on mine this time, and they weren't even that high!
This book was a filler through and through! We get no progress on both the overarching plotlines of the series(Cascade and Lijuan). Instead we get some character development and the foundation to build some new stories on. That would have been just fine if the book was a little shorter. I found it a bit too long when in reality it had little to offer to the series plot.
That being said, this book had its moments! Watching the politics might not be my favourite thing but watching the bonds between Elena and Raphael grow is always a plus. And I loved seeing Aodhan grow stronger and forming relationships. And of course learning about Elena's family history was a huge bonus. I can see NS is building up to something, just don't know what yet.
And Raphael... I love this guy. He is my ultimate book boyfriend. I even named my dog after him.♥♥♥
I need the Aodhan-Ilium book to happen! I neeeeeeeed it!
So.... it's gonna be another Raphael and Elena book...
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I admit to a slight twinge of disappointment... I'm sure though, that once release date rolls around I'll be all over this, IT IS Elena and Raphael after all!!!
********************* Aodhan & Illium?? Pretty please?? I want me some Sparkle!!!
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Sorrow & Venom will suffice though... Or Alexander & Caliane?? Hm...
Sadly this book didn't work for me. I have come to love Eli Easton but this one wasn't as good.
My problems with it...
1) Splitting a tin1,5-2 Stars
Sadly this book didn't work for me. I have come to love Eli Easton but this one wasn't as good.
My problems with it...
1) Splitting a tiny book in two stories means that at least one of the two doesn't get enough time to mature and unfold. In this book both stories(Brian's last act on Earth to earn his next life and Kevin's and Chuck's romance, seemed too rushed. 2) I couldn't connect with any of the characters because we didn't see enough of them. 3) I didn't believe in the romance aspect because it developed too fast and behind the scenes. 4) I didn't like the whole "spiritual side" of the story. Not because I don't like the theme in general but because the characters seemed a bit cartoonish. 5) I didn't like the revelation that (view spoiler)[Chuck would have been the one commiting suicide if Brian had failed. (hide spoiler)] I didn't like it because firstly it made me sad for some reason, more than thinking that it would have been Kevin, made me. And secondly because I didn't see any signs of it in the story.
So, one would ask why 2 and not 1. That's easy, because I like the author's writing style and because despite all its problems I never once thought of dropping the book....more
Naasir's book finally came and for once a book exceeded every single one of my fairly high expectations. 5 Naasir Can Come Cuddle With Me Stars
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Naasir's book finally came and for once a book exceeded every single one of my fairly high expectations. Both the romance side of the story and the progressive storyline regarding the Cascade were as well developed and awesome as I've come to expect and demand from Nalini Singh.
Seven months Naasir had been hunting. Seven months since he'd told Ashwini he was ready to find a mate. Seven months and still his mate hadn't made herself known to him. Didn't she know he was looking for her?
I thought that I knew what to expect when it came to Naasir, other authors have written about heroes who are both human and animal, but even after the sides of his character that were revealed in Archangel's Shadows, I wasn't prepared for the miracle that was Naasir. His childlike innocense and black-and-white vision of the world when combined with his fierce loyalty and intelligence made Naasir a character that had you conflicted between wanting to cuddle him and wanting to jump his bones. Slightly feral, slightly "other" and a lot sexy, Naasir easily jumped to the top 10 of my favorite male characters in books.
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"You have secrets," he said slowly. "You wear another skin, too."
And then came Andromeda and my first thought was "WTH??". How could Naasir be paired with a scholar? A scholar who had actually taken a vow of celibacy nevertheless... But Andromeda proved herself a fitting mate for a creature that most of the world would consider an abomination. With her hidden strength and her determination not to let herself become as twisted as her family, Andromeda wasn't just a scholar lost in her books. She was a warrior in disguise. I loved how she understood Naasir and accepted him just as he was. And if I had a couple moments that I wanted to kill her for not telling him her secret, I quickly got over it.
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Together Naasir and Andromeda are sent on a mission to find Alexander's Sleeping Place and try to stop Lijuan from commiting yet another atrocity by killing a sleeping Ancient.
All the while the Cascade is getting stronger and power among angels is more fluid than ever. Archangels and angels alike gain power, sometimes with catastrophic consequences, new alliances are forming every day and change is a given.
I also have to mention that I liked that this book didn't have as much sex as the books on Raphael and Elena seem to have these days. Athough NS can write spectacular sex scenes, it lately seems to be a bit on the "too much" side. Luckily this book had little sex and plenty of romance developement.
And I just have to get into that "club" and say that if Ilium and Aodhan don't end up together, Nalini Singh is an evil person for teasing us with what we can't have. Their scenes were nothing short of epic!
I can't wait for what's coming next in the series and now I have a new character I want a book on, Alexander would be great with Caliane!!!
(view spoiler)[
Look at that cover...The feral eyes looking through the claw marks! I want this freakin' book soooooooooo badly!
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It's Naasir's book!!*fangirling*
And it's coming in September!
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Another year to wait...
I would start praying that it's either Naasir's or Aodhan's story but I'm afraid to hope! I need the book or at the very least a BLURB!!
[image] *I know the title is Angels' Pawn and not Angel's Pawn but I was too bored to correct it when I saw it.
A short story a5 Short Ash+Janvier Stars
[image] *I know the title is Angels' Pawn and not Angel's Pawn but I was too bored to correct it when I saw it.
A short story about the growing romance between a gifted Guild Hunter and a stronger than his age would suggest vampire. It isn't a love story. Not yet. This was more action focused, a short adventure....more
This book is about the Grim Reaper. Not some teenager, emo imitation of him but the actual guy. Or at least the guy as Larissa Io5 I wanted more Stars
This book is about the Grim Reaper. Not some teenager, emo imitation of him but the actual guy. Or at least the guy as Larissa Ione sees him, which is something along these lines...
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Lilliana was pretty kick-ass as well. The book was too short though. They should have gotten a full length story.
What does every father want from his daughter? Good grades at school. Nice overall behaviour. No lying. No whoring around. Waiting for love before giving What does every father want from his daughter? Good grades at school. Nice overall behaviour. No lying. No whoring around. Waiting for love before giving it up...
Well someone better send this particular father the memo because he obviously missed it. Sadly (or not) that's to be expected when you are Satan's daughter.
Muriel is the embarassment of the family. A good girl in a bad world. She doesn't lie much, she doesn't deceit, she doesn't even sleep around. Poor old daddy has become the butt of every joke in Hell. But a girl must do what she has to in order to survive in the unforgiving world of bad creatures.
This is not a "serious" book. No one would ever read it for its literally value. It is a comical depiction of Satan and his minions with his "nice" daughter as a protagonist. It actually reminded me the movie Little Nicky where Adam Sandler plays Devil's failure of a son.
It was light and funny, it could have easily passed as a satirical re-telling of many Devil related PNR books. The scenes were like they played out in fast forward. Everything happened in the speed of light.
My facorite person by far was Daddy Dearest. Every time he talked about how Muriel should defile herself in some way I laughed my ass off!
“I’ll show you things that’ll make you laugh in delight, scream in passion, cry for the sheer joy of it.”
5 Nalini Did It Again Stars
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“I’ll show you things that’ll make you laugh in delight, scream in passion, cry for the sheer joy of it.”
This book is the full story of Janvier and Ashwini, a romance that started in the Angels' Pawn novella. Angels' Pawn was just a small taste of what an awesome pair Ash and Janvier would make one day. Their romance is full of witty remarks and entertaining back and forths. It was honestly a delight to read.The fact that both of them are also badasses didn't hurt.
I'll be honest here and say that Janvier was the more entertaining of the two. Every other page he would say something that had me laughing to tears. But Ash has a pretty heavy secret so I will allow her some gloom.
Our main couple in the series Raphael and Elena also have a big role in this book with the POV changing to them a lot of times. These two never lose a chance to shine and this book only emphasized how awesome they can be. Many funny moments there too.
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But as much as I loved everyone else in the book, and I did love them a lot, the one who stole the spotlight was Naasir. He is now officialy my favorite of the Seven and I just can't wait to see what happens with him. PLEASE NS, PLEASE give him an awesome story, as special and unique as he is.
“Naasir stretched lazily before settling back into his previous position. “I’m old enough now, and I want someone to play with like you play with Janvier and Raphael does with Elena. Even Dmitri plays with Honor.” This seemed to fascinate him. “The rules are secret in each game. I want to have secret rules with a woman who . . .” A long pause. “A woman who knows me, understands what I am, and who wants to have secret rules with me.”
I love how slightly feral, not all that civilised and completely hilarious he can be. The "carnivorous plant" gift was one of my favorite moments in the book.
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And this moment was the most powerful in my opinion, even more than the Ash+Janvier ones.
“He'd never forget what Naasir had said to him when Dmitri yelled that he didn't intend to bury another child and that Naasir needed to have a care for his life. “Am I a person, Dmitri? Will you be sad if I die?” Hardened and cruel though he’d become, the innocent question had shaken him. “Yes,” he’d said, as honest in his answer as Naasir had been in his question. “You are a person. You are Naasir. I’ll lose a piece of me if you die and it’s a piece I’ll never get back.” Naasir had stared at him for a long time before coming over to hug him. “Okay, Dmitri. I’m sorry. I didn't know I was a person before.”
I swear I teared up at the scene. So moving.
The plot was interesting with the whole "leathal drug that shouldn't exist" deal and Ash and Janvier proved that they can kick some serious ass if they want but it wasn't the strongest part of the book. Watching the relationships between the characters grow and develop was the books strong feature. One other relationship I loved was the friendship that Elena has started to develop with the Legion. Also some seriously AMAZING Aodhan and Ilium friendhip moments. Aodhan is getting better!! I predict more awesomeness to come.
(view spoiler)[Ash' and Javier's story. I have to admit some disappoinment because although I like them I'd prefer Ilium or Aodhan or even Venom. Still it's Guild Hunter from the awesome Nalini Singh so...
“What are you doing?” She swallowed as she bumped up against a support beam. “I’m going to show you why you need to come home with me.” He planted both palms on either side of her head and leaned in until his lips brushed the tender skin of her ear. “You won’t regret it.” “I already told you. I don’t fuck fallen angels.” “So you said,” he murmured. “Do you kiss them?” “Ah… n—” He didn’t give her the chance to finish her sentence. Pulling back slightly, he closed his mouth over hers. Strawrberry gloss coated his lips as he kissed her, and he swore he’d never liked fruit as much as he did right now. Her hands came up to grip his biceps, tugging him closer as she deepened the kiss. “You’re good,” she whispered against his mouth. “I know,” he whispered back. Suddenly, pain tore into his arms as her nails scored his skin. “But you’re not that good.”
Wow. That was so much better than I thought it'd be!!! I kept putting off reading it and right now I have to admit that I was completely wrong.
KerrickWow. That was so much better than I thought it'd be!!! I kept putting off reading it and right now I have to admit that I was completely wrong.
Kerrick and Alison were an almost perfect couple. They were strong spirited, determined, physically and metaphysically powerful. Just how I like my heroes. Alison had the compassion and love to complete Kerrick's honour and honesty.
The plot of the book was predictable on most part but it had enough originality so as not to become boring or overused. And ok, let's face it the whole warrior group full of testosterone-ridden-male-perfection will never get old. The fact that Endelle (the leader) was such a major bitch, in the best way, wasn't bad either. I look forward to her story!!
I know I will love Marcus next but for now I have to put it off because Archangel's Legion is out and no one outranks Raphael!!...more
This book was WOW, just WOW. It was something completely different from the usual YA books and this made it very refreshing. It w5 Unique Stars
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This book was WOW, just WOW. It was something completely different from the usual YA books and this made it very refreshing. It was like reading manga. I could actually picture the images that should accompany each sentence.
The story was beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time. Karou was probably one of the most likable YA heroines I've EVER read and Akiva was so easy to relate. If I had loved someone like he did I would want revenge too if someone took him from me like this (I probably wouldn't have the means to extract it but still...).
Major Spoiler
(view spoiler)[I usually hate reincarnation stories but this one was so beautifully given that I didn't get that odd feeling that the hero wouldn't want the heroine if she wasn't his old love and vice versa. (hide spoiler)]
The ending was a huge surprise to me. I was close to tears reading what happened.
I won't say much more because everything has been said before. JUST READ IT! It was worth every minute.
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PS. Chiro you BITCH! I hope you burn for eternity!...more
I thought I'd write a review but it's been 3 days since I finished this and the details are already getting blurry(and I never write down my thoughts)I thought I'd write a review but it's been 3 days since I finished this and the details are already getting blurry(and I never write down my thoughts) so I'll give you the gist of this...
We have some...
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Yeah...Insta-lust/love is the name of the game. Been there, done that. Still I can easily forgive it since I kind of like it.
The heroine at the beginning was a wreck of insecurities and fears but she develops into a badass. I didn't like her at the beginning but I liked her in the end.
The hero was the usual "tortured at the edge of the cliff" kind of man. Something we've seen countless times and it's obvious we're gonna be seeing a lot in the future too.
Generally the book was good. Better than the previous IMO but still we've seen a thousand times before. Nothing to make it stand out. I'll give it a 4 but only because I liked the story enough. I probably won't even remember it exists in a week.
You know this feeling that you want to love a book, know you probably should but still can't manage the enthusiasm?? That was exactly me with3.5 stars
You know this feeling that you want to love a book, know you probably should but still can't manage the enthusiasm?? That was exactly me with this book. I kept thinking that I should be hooked with it, love every minute but in the end it just didn't work out that good for me.
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This book had it all. It had a very strong and interesting female lead. I actually kind of loved Penryn although at times I thought her bad-assery was a bit overstated. Having three close family members that are obssessed with martial arts I know that, no matter how much training you have in a mat, it cannot prepare you for a street fight. A sport always has rules which only works against you when your opponent is not afraid to fight dirty. I don't know if this disadvantage is somehow overcome when you train at 10 different fighting styles but still...
That being said Penryn was a very brave and loyal girl. She did everything she had to do to make sure her sister was taken care off which I admire very much. I also liked how she dealed with a mother most people would have dumped at an asylum years ago.
The book also had a very nice writing style and awesome world building. There was never unhelpful info overload to keep you confused and lost which I really appreciate although at some points it seemed that there were too little information. Everything that happened before the time the story picks up is just a blur in my mind with no details whatsoever. Still I wouldn't put this in the "cons" department.
Then there are the angels. I loved the fact that angels weren't do-gooders. It's what I love in Nalini Singh's Guild Hunter series and this book was no exception. The angels aren't flawless cherubs out to save the world. They are powerfull, arrogant, most times awful beings.
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I admit to finding Raffe mostly indifferent for most of the book. I liked him better by the end of the book but it still wasn't enough for me to love him. That's not to say I don't look forward to seeing how he develops in the second one.
Overall the book was really good. I do mean it when I say this. I just couldn't muster enough excitment to proclaim this book great or awesome. Maybe it's a mood thing? I'll definitely try it again in the future....more
Well Damn! When you think that Nalini Singh couldn't possibly have done it again she goes all the way to prove you wrong. I mean...WOW!!!(Eloquent I kWell Damn! When you think that Nalini Singh couldn't possibly have done it again she goes all the way to prove you wrong. I mean...WOW!!!(Eloquent I know.)
I have just one question for my very best author.
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What can I say about this book without spoiling it? When Aly told me that this one was as good as Angels' Blood I wasn't so optimistic but this one was quite possibly better. I think this is officially my new favorite in the series and that says a lot since I absolutely LOVE the first one.
In this book Raphael and Elena(and the New York angels in general) don't seem to be able to catch a break. Danger after danger seem to threaten their lives and peace. When angels start falling from the sky and vamps to die from a mysterious disease when they should have been immune to any kind of virus our favorite couple knows they are in trouble. What happens next is in one word Epic. Nalini Singh managed to twist the story again and again without making you a mess, trying to figure out what happened.
The very best thing in this book was the dynamics in Raphael's and Elena's relationship. Since the beginning of their entanglement Raphael always seemed to be the one making the decisions, the one with all the cards. In AL we finally see a true partnership. He asks for her opinion, capitulates to some of her wishes, includes her in the decisions. It was great to read this.
Elena also grows up during the book a lot. Her headstrong ways don't change much but she begins to realise that in a world ruled by politics sometimes you need to think before you act. Btw I found really cute the fact that Elena was jealous. We have seen her get a pissy eye with Michaela but it never was exactly jealousy, she is just a bitch and Elena hates her but isn't really jealous of her and Raphael. Actually seeing Elena jealous was fun.
The other past of the book that I loved was Aodhan. He is rapidly rising in my list of favorites in the series. For now he is up there with Ilium, Venom and Naasir, because I really can't choose between them. I wanted his book to be the next, instead I get Ash and Javier. I have to admit that although I want to know what happens with them I'd have prefered it to be a novella instead of a full length book.
(view spoiler)[I can't wait to see what the Primary will evolve into after the Legion's people separate. God, what a twist. I know we'll be seeing more of him. (hide spoiler)]
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Can't wait for what Nalini has in mind for us next.
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I had two points I wanted to mention after my re-read. I even had them written down. Too bad I wrote them on a post-it that I lost. I really don't remember page numbers or what exactly it was that I wanted to include.
Where the full novels in the series tend to be on the angsty and dark side, this novella is more on the sweet and idealic one. This makes5 Sweet Stars
Where the full novels in the series tend to be on the angsty and dark side, this novella is more on the sweet and idealic one. This makes it all the more special.
Jessamy has managed to keep some innosense and compassion despite the millenia that she's been alive and the cruelty she's witnessed from angels, vampires and humans. I liked how despite the fact that she was hurt by her parents' refusal to see that the condition of her wing wasn't all she was, she never resented or hated them.
Galen was also so much fun. I love warriors and Galen is exactly that. A big brute with little patience for games and no subtlety at all.
This novella is a beautiful start to a unique series by Nalini Singh....more
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