Wicked Burn by Rebecca Zanetti - Review

This series started with a really sexy bang.  Rebecca writes gruff, macho, dominant Immortal beings and saucy heroines.  Witch Enforcers are pretty hot stuff even if they do go a little caveman all over their mates.  I loved Kellach and Lex who got the ball rolling with a high-speed romp through Seattle chasing a new designer drug that killed humans and had the potential to kill witches should they be shot-up with enough of the devastating poison.  Then came Wicked Edge with Daire and Felicity who took my breath away, man they were an explosive couple – a witch and a demon and here in Wicked Burn was another such pairing only this time the witch was a canny, successful, feisty Irish female called Simone and the Demon was bad-arse Nicholai Veis.

Although I didn’t write a review for Wicked Edge, it was my favourite, and unfortunately it still is.  This one went, I feel, on a little tangent losing sight of the understory.  The fight against the production and dissemination of a drug that poses a threat to all witches.  We are no closer to finding out who is manufacturing it, and no closer to knowing why.  Don’t get me wrong, I loved the chemistry between Simone and Nicholai, some of the sex was hot, hot, hot especially the mind manipulating ice and fire play.  But I did quickly grow tired of all the running and rescuing that was necessitated by the fact that Simone had multiple enemies, even those who were apparently trying to help her.  I was bemused by how they always seemed to find her even when she and Nick were ensconced in ‘safe’ houses.  How?  How did they know where she was?  That, my friends is a question that annoyingly is not fully answered.  A secret perhaps to be revealed in the next instalment.

The introduction of a new shifter species I also found a little eye-roll worthy, as they have never even been hinted at before.  It felt a little like Ms Zanetti was just jumping on the DS bandwagon.  Perhaps they will be a vital link in the future fight against Apollo, but if not then they weren’t really necessary.  The world is already so full of Supernaturals without them, I’m a little surprised there is actually any room for humans.

Now, however, this book did come with one delicious perk.  It has a novella attached, a short story about our favourite vamp and his mate – Talen and Cara.  Yes, my friends, it was back to the original.  It was sexy and adult.  It was raw, fast-paced - as is usual for a Zanetti paranormal - but this was about a couple’s transitioning relationship.  Certainly an interesting topic.  How can a relationship forged in adversity, survive the boredom of peace?  Where now do both Talen and Cara fit within each other’s lives?  It was a study in stamina and staying power; about first loves and purpose and renewal and vowing again.  It was finding one’s place in life – it was great and I loved it – it was the icing on the cake.

«««  («««« for the novella)

Sydney Whyte

Rating Chart

«……………….A no goer

««……………Alright, but not a re-read

«««………..Liked it

««««…….Loved it

«««««…Amaze-balls – ticks all the boxes!!!

Dead Camp 1 by Sean Kerr - Review

For me this was one of the harder book reviews to write.  I actually tossed up whether to do it or not.  I had it recommended on a fan site and heard the chatter about it from others in the group and was expecting something a little different.  My feelings for this book are slightly ambiguous.  I love it and I equally hate it too.

This is the first book in a series and is little more than foundation laying.  It covers only a day or two in the life of Eli but the back-story covers so much more.  What happened in London?  Why does Eli wallow in so much self-pity that even my empathy is exhausted?

I have little affinity with the main character.  I was left to meander bemused through the first half of the book, my attention caught first by one event and then another, to be offered full insight into their story but in reality was gifted nothing more than a mystery.  And then to be tossed from that character to another and then another and then another, to warm to them and then to be abandoned to another tale of woe from the past.  The author created intensity, I felt it deeply.  But my curiosity was never really alleviated.

I only became invested upon hearing the thoughts of an angel, the struggle he had to do what was right when religion/god forbade him to interfere.  His hands tied and unable to help.  I felt for him, for his silence and the accusations of others which I know must have been painful.  He would tell the truth if he could but he is stymied at every turn.

  

The book left me anxious, not alone for Eli, but for Malachi; for the danger he was putting himself in and that for a creature he loves unconditionally, but who in all likelihood was his murderer.  I fear for Ethan, so human and fragile.  I care about who he is and that he will survive.

Mysteries are thrown at me from every angle and nothing is resolved.  Who is Ethan, what has happened to his father?  Who made Eli a vampire in the first place, why does the devil want him so badly?  Why the demonization of a man who was real, and evil in his own right?  Was that truly necessary?  Interesting though.

I love the diary section of the book, the revelations of Isaiah, the innocence, the determination to offer himself as salvation for his future wife.  I loved their story, and their tragedy.  That’s not saying Ethan’s mother Eva deserved to die, certainly not in the manner that it happened.

I don’t fear for Eli, although I suppose I should, after all everything revolves around him, he is the centre.

The style of the book is slow, full of wonderful descriptive phrases - luscious word pictures of misery - that tell you everything and yet still keep their secrets.  What happened in London?  What happened to Gideon?

I found some phrases jarring, mostly that used by Eli.  This story is set in Germany during the war and the incarceration of the Jews and yet Eli comes up with gems such as "fuck", and "bum" for bottom, and "nada, diddly squat".  These terms sound so modern, so familiar, and while they indeed might have been language used in the speech of the day, they didn’t feel quite right.  The London event happened in Victorian England in the age of Jack the Ripper, days when one had their mouth washed out with the mere uttering of the word ‘damn!’  And in Hitler’s Germany I’m sure language would have hardly progressed, especially for one who had hidden away for the last sixty years.

I give it a three because I will definitely re-read some time in the future, possibly because all the information cannot possibly be absorbed in the one sitting.

«««

Sydney Whyte

Rating Chart

«……………….A no goer

««……………Alright, but not a re-read

«««………..Liked it

««««…….Loved it

«««««…Amaze-balls – ticks all the boxes!!!

Opportunity: Kingdom of Ara: Episode Three by Nicholas Bella - Review

The name says it all.  Opportunities lost; opportunities gained.

Nicholas Bella has once again woven a nail biting tale.  Scheming wolves, an epic battle sequence; lofty and dangerous dragons, violence and subjugation, the testing of loyalties and super ‘supe’ sexiness.

Though this episode offered sadness and loss, it also offered hope and even a hint of mercy.  The way some of the characters endured their punishment earned them my greatest respect.  It also offered an insight into the very genetics of the supe world that the author has created for us, answering many questions that fans were no doubt wondering about… the strengths of the beings that populate New Haven; and their weaknesses.  It gave insights into the loyalties and the closeness and love between old friends, into the power of Theoden and the blood connection he has with his children.

While some curiosity was assuaged, more was engendered.  It tickled us with hints of future possibilities.  Will those now in despair turn it into success… the germ is there; all they need do is reach out and take it?  If they have the courage they can turn submission into a reward.  It may take an adjustment in mind-set but that is the opportunity that they are now afforded.

While I apologise for being purposefully vague – I don’t want to spoil this highly anticipated episode for anyone – all I can say is that it played my emotions beautifully, fear, anxiety, sadness, empathy, relief, pride and satisfaction.  A must read for all the fans of this author and anyone who loves all things dark paranormal, violent and super sexy.

On a more personal level, I confess to just having one quibble.  While I know this tale could not be written adequately from his perspective, I wanted more of Noel.  He was the beginning of this story for me and I now feel a disconnect.  Don’t get me wrong, I love all the characters Nicholas has woven through this series but I find myself missing him in particular in this episode.  But still a stellar five star read, none-the-less.

«««««

Sydney Whyte

Rating Chart

«……………….A no goer

««……………Alright, but not a re-read

«««………..Liked it

««««…….Loved it

«««««…Amaze-balls – ticks all the boxes!!!

Dance of Desire by Christopher Rice - Review

My monthly 1001 Dark Nights fix!

This year I made a few New Year’s resolutions.  One, as you might know was that I intended to experience a cocktail every month for the entire year – one that I had never experienced before.  I had every intention of sticking to it, I mean how hard could it be? Really?  It’s drinking.  But as is the way with all such promises, life and reality got in the way.  Cocktails are expensive!  The other was a promise to myself that I would review the monthly offering of the 1001 Dark Nights author.  They are steamy, romantic, sweet, and dark offerings so how hard could it be keeping that resolution either.  Hmmm.  I find that, as usual, I have been a little remiss in keeping my word, even if it was only to myself.  So reality is not a monthly offering but either a famine or a feast.

We’ve had the famine, so now the feast.  I’ve just posted one, now here is another.

This is only the second book I have read of Christopher Rice’s.  I loved the first.  I love this more.  Why I don’t own everything he’s ever written I don’t know.  Not enough time in the day I guess, but I’m determined to make him a regular in my growing kindle library.

Dance of Desire is the tragic story of death, of how it changed the course of history, changed the promise of young love to something taboo; forbidden.  Having to bury deep the burgeoning attraction they have only moments previously found for each other to become brother and sister has damned the promise of young loves fulfilment between family friends Amber and Caleb.

They are left angry, hurt and desperate.  They are forced into a life never anticipated and must accept it now as normality.  It seems to me, in their intention to honour Amber’s father in his decision to keep his friend’s teenage son safe, every moment of their lives from that point on was a futile dance of denial, and in that denial only obsession blossomed.  What might under other circumstance have been relegated to little more than teenage hormones - a first crush - through tragedy and longing became much, much more.

The story beneath Christopher’s pen, was a thing of beauty, his words flowing with empathy and feeling, his descriptive phases conjuring wonderful pictures in my mind, and the tragedy lightened with dashes of humour that had me laughing out loud even as my heart bleed for them.

Christopher Rice doesn’t just tell people’s stories he reveals their souls.

«««««

Sydney Whyte

Rating Chart

«……………….A no goer

««……………Alright, but not a re-read

«««………..Liked it

««««…….Loved it

«««««…Amaze-balls – ticks all the boxes!!!

Z: A Demonica Underworld Novella by Larissa Ione - Review

My monthly 1001 Dark Nights fix!

I’ve had this book on my ‘to-read-list’ for a little while now - less than a month actually when I look back to see when I bought it, so not really that long - but when I’d come to the end of my MM bender, which honestly is never really over for me, it was this author that I headed straight for.  While I haven’t read every single one of her books I would consider myself a ‘Demonica’ addict if not a ‘Larissa Ione’ one, because I have read all of those associated with the world that she has created in this wonderful series.

As an intro back into the world of FM romance this one was an excellent starting point.  For one thing, I love that her females are not only a little vulnerable but are eminently sassy, dangerous and borderline evil (some of them anyway).  No simpering for an Ione heroine, and best of all most of them are far from virginal.  It is a pet hate of mine that women are portrayed often in romance as either pure and unsullied, or of singular or little experience if they’ve managed to do any of ‘it’ at all, while Mr Loverboy has basically had the privilege of being an all-out man-whore and gets a great big pat on the back for it.

Well, no problem here.  This is the norm turned on its head.  Vex is a sexy, mouthy, sassy soul-catcher and Z, a fallen angel imprisoned to the promise of fidelity to his previous love who fell and died thirty years ago.  It is her soul he is desperate to find.  And of course - cue fate - Vex finally brings her soul to him while trying to coerce Azagoth to save her own from a nasty piece of work escaping from Sheoul, who has been sucked into her and threatens to take her over.

It was great to immerse myself in the shenanigans of Sheoul-gra and Azagoth’s realm again.  I have loved and revisited its colourful characters on numerable occasions and this is another that I will definitely add to the revisit list.

««««

Sydney Whyte

Rating Chart

«……………….A no goer

««……………Alright, but not a re-read

«««………..Liked it

««««…….Loved it

«««««…Amaze-balls – ticks all the boxes!!!

Drago Star (Toy Soldiers Book 1) by J Johanis - Review

After having been directed to a blog post by Diverse reader featuring a number of authors who write dark erotic fiction, some of whom I have read previously, an excerpt from the short novel, Drago Star caught my attention.  This is the first in series, and as expected there were warnings everywhere – it is dark fiction; you are left in no doubt of what to expect.

Having read the book in one sitting, I put it down and thought “I don’t know what to think”.  That was six days ago and now that I have had time to mull it over, I shall call it a learning experience.  (Not only can reading garner entertainment, it can help us come to know ourselves.)

The original draw for me was the premise of a small human becoming captive of a beast – a dragon in this instance – it was the threat inherent in the words, the forced capitulation – humanity against the universe.  I wanted to see if Gideon ever gained his freedom; but I also won’t deny that the dark theme of sexual slavery in this paranormal setting was a motivation.

The writer's style in the small excerpt that tempted me fit with all my preferences and my curiosity was pricked.

While the word describing my first reaction at stories end might have been bemused, it is now one of pique.  The story stayed with me, the horror for all that Gideon suffered on his journey, played on my mind for a number of days as I tried to work out why I am a person that would even want to read it.  I know I enjoy erotica ‘with feeling’ – doesn’t have to be romantic, just amazing sex.  This tale held none of that.  (And the violence you might ask?  Well in the paranormal world, physical harm to your protagonist is seldom enduring, kind of like video games – reboot, re-spawn - there is always some paranormal explanation for survival, I’ve found.)  Suffice to say, I’m still unsure why, but something of the dark curiosity in me just wanted to know more.

Having watched a movie some time ago with similar theme where British soldiers were going ‘through training’ to join the elite forces, what was actually going on in J Johanis’s book I suspected pretty quickly, and really I think there was little intention on the author’s part to hide it.  The story was about the journey, the will to survive despite the torture.  The violence and subsequent raping perpetrated on Gideon by his Dragon Master, I found to be one thing but the thing that truly got me was the humiliation he had to suffer as a means to control him.  Gideon does strike me as a sensitive person underneath his determination to win out.  How he will handle his new position knowing what he has suffered is the thing that calls me to read on.

«««

Sydney Whyte

Rating Chart

«……………….A no goer

««……………Alright, but not a re-read

«««………..Liked it

««««…….Loved it

«««««…Amaze-balls – ticks all the boxes!!!

Chance (book 7 in the Demon’s Gate series) by Nicholas Bella - Review

*Doing a happy little dance*

I shouldn’t say this but getting so wrapped up in a story and trying to anticipate where the author might be taking you, coming up with scenarios and thoughts like some crazy, obsessive fan-girl, and then getting it right can, in some instances, be such a fucking turn on!  Finished this book and went, “Haha, I fucking knew it!”

Don’t get me wrong.  I’m not saying this author is predicable.  No, no never, because he can hit you with the most unexpected twists and turns, but in this instance my usually slow arse just picked up the clues.  However on that subject will I say no more…

What I will say is the tone of 'Chance' was in some ways refreshingly different.  Yes, it was sexy as fuck, that is a given with this author.  It contained the prerequisite gore, bloodthirstiness and demony-angst that all his fans require in a Nicholas Bella novella.  Something scary has arrived, but something more terrifying is coming, something that will shake the very foundations of all demondom upon the earth, and of course all humanity will get caught in the middle.  But beneath this mega doom and gloom Nicholas has imbued this novella with the sweetness of domesticity.  Brian and Raphael’s relationship can only be described as, “sooo cute”.  I know Raphael is a hard-arsed demon, and Brian is trying to be, but some of their interactions just created ‘awww’ moments for me and unlike the previous instalment ‘Lovelorn’ this time I really felt it - their connection - and I really enjoyed it.  It was like a pause, a breath of fresh air amongst the turmoil and I just loved it.  Honestly, I can’t wait for more.

Another five-star rating…

«««««

Sydney Whyte

Rating Chart

«……………….A no goer

««……………Alright, but not a re-read

«««………..Liked it

««««…….Loved it

«««««…Amaze-balls – ticks all the boxes!!!