Book Review: Rapture (Fallen Angels #4) by J.R. Ward

Rapture by J.R. Ward
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

So, I had the same issues with this book as I did with Crave.

With this installment of the series taking the focus back to the character of Mathias, I felt as though, again, that the feel and vibe of this world was lost. I personally feel that the books in this series that have a more obvious cross over with the Black Dagger Brotherhood (BDB) series have a better flow and feel more cohesive in terms of fitting into, and being part of the world that they are set in. Even though there were elements of this book that demonstrate this cross over, like Mels being the one that took over Beth's job at the newspaper, and landmarks like the cemetery, for me, these things weren't enough to make this feel grounded and part of that same world.

With Mathias having been painted as 'The Bad Guy' in Crave I found it difficult to see him in a positive light in this book. Although it was interesting to see the kind of person that he could have been if his life had taken a different course. We do get to see into Mathias's past and discover what set him on the path that took him to running the XOps, which I feel helped you understand him a bit more as a character. I didn't mind Mels's character; she has the strong and independent thing going for her.

I still, STILL, don't have any real feelings for Adrian and the Archangels. Although it looks as though Adrian may be starting to get some more page time, so perhaps that'll help. The Archangels are really just secondary characters and don't feature all that much so it's hard to form an opinion on them. With Jim however, I really just want to knock some sense into him. (To be fair the way things are going, Adrian or Nigel must just get right on that). This whole obsession with Sissy... Look, I'm all about efficiency, so I'm finding it really frustrating that Jim keeps trying to save Sissy. You've a war of biblical proportions to win buddy! Win the war and you save her anyway; stop trying to do one then the other! (Don't you hate it when the fictional characters don't listen to you?).

If you have been reading the series that I would say stick with it and read this one. (I'm already part way through the next book in the series and it's better than this one, so keep going.)

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Book Review: Envy (Fallen Angels #3) by J.R. Ward

Envy by J.R. Ward
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this book, maybe even more so than I did Covet.

Having recently finished the Black Dagger Brotherhood series (BDB) it was great to finally see what happened to Veck once the Band of Bastards had left the hotel, as it was all left a bit of a mystery in Lover Unleashed (BDB #9).

I think that this book redeemed the series in my eyes as I felt that crave lack the feel and vibe of the world that Ward had created with the other series. I think that picking up the secondary story line from Lover Unleashed was a great idea, as it helps build upon the world that has been created, and makes it feel more real with showing that there are stories outside that of The Brotherhood. I thought that this story line focusing in on Veck was very gripping and I didn't want to put it down. It was interesting to discover Veck's backstory, and I liked the relationship between Veck and Reilly.

Three books in and I still haven't figured out my feelings towards Jim and Co. and the Archangels. To be honest, the only negative (which is a minor thing really,) for me about this book was Jim's fixation with saving Sissy. It's slightly irritating as Jim has already been told that if he wins the war then all the souls in hell will be saved and yet he still seems sidetracked with finding another way to save her. Why not focus on the tack at hand and kill two birds with one stone??

Anyway... Apart from that small and minor thing, I loved it and would totally recommend it; especially if you felt a bit let down by Crave.

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Book Review: Covet (Fallen Angels #1) and Crave (Fallen Angels #2) by J.R. Ward

 Covet by J.R. Ward
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

So I enjoyed this book, but initially found it hard to get into. I think this had a lot to do with setting up the characters, so that you could get an impression of who they were and what their lifestyles were like; so the story did pick up and drag me along with it, after a little bit.

I liked the cross over with the world of the Black Dagger Brotherhood (BDB) series, as it showed that world from a different perspective; Marie-Terese, who was just a background character in the BDB, bumping into Phury at her support group, and Trez doing his part as club owner. I liked that Ward started this series off with a lesser character from the other series. I personally feel that it made it easier to get into the flow of this story. It was nice to discover Marie-Terese's backstory and get to know her character better. Vin, as a character, is your typical alpha male, self made, trophy girlfriend/wife, objects have no meaning just status kind of guy. (Probably would fit in well with the BDB). When it comes to Jim, i don't really know how I feel about him. I don't love him; don't hate him either. The same really goes for Adrian, Eddie and the Archangels. At the moment they feel ore like background characters.

I like Dog. He's cute.

This is a good book that while I enjoyed it, I didn't fall in love with it like I did with the BDB books.




View all my reviews Crave by J.R. Ward
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I didn't like this one as much as I did Covet. But 3 stars would have been to harsh but since I can't give partial stars I've rounded up to 4.

Crave picks up pretty much where Covet left off. Jim is on his way to deal the assignment he was given by his old boss in exchange for some information. Although he doesn't do the job quite the way his boss intended.

Personally I found the characters in this book hard to gel with. I'm not sure why, I just never seemed to click with them. Now I know that I shouldn't compare this series to the Black Dagger Brotherhood (BDB) series, but it's hard considering that they are set in the same world/place. For me the BDB set up this world with a certain vibe and feeling to it as well as with the characters; so where Covet focused in part on Marie-Terese, who first showed up in the BDB, that same vibe and feeling was brought in with her giving the book that same feel and flow that I loved with the BDB and that made everything feel cohesive; that this is the same world, same place, just new perspective. That was also helped by the cameo appearances of the BDB characters. For me this book lacked some of that vibe, that feeling that made everything flow and helped me connect with the characters, and left this book seeming a bit disconnected from he world that it was meant to be in.

I also don't feel that I bonded anymore with Jim, Adrian, Eddie or the Archangels. I'm still rather ambivalent when it comes to them sadly.

I also feel that the plot twist towards the end felt a little hurried. I feel as though perhaps a few more pages that focus on what the fallout from it could have helped that seem less rushed.

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Book Review: Ancient Magic (Dragon's Gift: The Huntress #1) by Linsey Hall

Ancient Magic by Linsey Hall
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Okay so I really really enjoyed this book. If you are looking for a super quick read, that is fast paced has some awesome characters and a good dose of action, then this is for you.

I thought that this book had a great unique concept that made it a real page-turner. I feel that Linsey Hall has put her own spin on the magic genre with this book. I love the idea of there being these somewhat hidden cities that the rest of the world doesn't know about, where all of these magically inclined individuals reside. I thought that Cass, Del and Nix were very interesting characters, even though Cass is the main focus in this book. I can't wait to find out more of their backstory and see how their characters develop. I also liked that Hall has put her own stamp on the whole shapeshifter thing, with Aiden even being able to change into another mythical creature like the Griffin; I thought that this was really different and refreshing to see someone do something other than the standard werewolf aspect (not that werewolves aren't awesome, because they are).

I think that this series has a lot of potential and I can;t wait to get my hands on the next installment. I definitely recommend that you check this out.

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