Kelley's Reviews > Spawn & Spitfire Volume One

1.75 stars. This book (or collection of 3 mini-books with the same characters) is slightly better than the other Dahlen book I read, but not by much. The characters are a little better developed and the plot is full of twists.

However, the big problems with this book were the "tell not show" writing and the repetition. Something would happen, and then a character would tell another character about it, and then that character would describe the same events using the same words again to a different character. Over and over this happens. I found myself skimming most of these retellings, which made up at least 1/2 of this book. Every time a new character came in, someone had to tell them Cassie's whole history of abuse and survival. It got old really fast.

Another problem I had with this book was the inconsistent character portrayals. Cassie is portrayed as a strong fighter who never cries in the first couple chapters of the book. However, she spends the rest of the three books crying and being hurt. In books 2 and 3, she is constantly being shot, stabbed, and beaten up. What happened to the super fighter from book one who no one could touch? Also, Deke promises that she will be safe and no one will hurt her ever again after she is taken by the FBI in the first book. However, she is kidnapped (FROM HER HOME) no less than 4 times in the following 2 books. He keeps promising over and over, but she keeps getting hurt again and again. Huh?!?! It didn't make sense that street-wise, tough Cassie would stay where she wasn't safe. What was Deke bringing to their relationship, really?

I would not recommend this book series, and I do not think I will ever read a Dahlen book again. I tried two books, and I think that is enough.