DemonessTenebrae

So, yeah, I know I said in my last review how I'm sure that this Series will get even better with the sequels and I'm giving it a 3* as a sign of faith that the author will know how to improve her good points (great world-building) and turn bad points into good or at least moderate ones (*shitty* romance). That sadly didn't happen. 

What did happen was the exact opposite! The *shitty* romance is now taking most of the book and that awesome inventive world-building is a mere shadow of its former self. There is no more thriller, only a slight science fiction is still present.

WHY??? We have tons and tons of shitty mediocre paranormal romances, why didn't you work on your great thriller/SF blossoms that had a promise of beautiful flowers in them? NO, you had to go and ruin everything.

When will the authors understand that bland, mediocre sex isn't enough anymore? Sure, a few decades ago a hint of supernatural and some bland sex scenes might have been good enough but not today. When you have a promise of such an intriguing story on your hands you don't go and ruin it with instant stupid no chemistry love and staying for almost half of the book inside one's mind and on PsyNet....

But let me explain my five greatest objections:

1. STEREOTYPE NO.1 - HE WON'T FIT !!!

For the love of everything that is holy, please stop with that chauvinistic crap. YES, IT WILL FREAKING FIT, unless you are in the very very small percentage of the human population that has oversized penises. The rest will be just fine. Because you know, nature, biology, genealogy, evolution etc. 

"Faith found herself unable to close her fingers completely around him. How could anything so thick fit in her body?"

The only conclusion presenting itself when I'm reading sentences such as the aforementioned one for a thousandth time now is that either the author has some serious issues involving sex or lack thereof OR she is just feeding the readers what she thinks they want to read to buy her books. No one can be that stupid...

2. STEREOTYPE NO.2 - THE VIRGIN HEROINE

Oh, yeah, heroine in the second book is a virgin as well. Whereas in the first book I didn't make a big deal about it because I thought, well, it is the first sequel and the author is using the old recipe and no harm done as long as she doesn't repeat it. WELL SHE REPEATED IT! What is it with this virgin demand? How can that be so marketable? Their first time hurts as hell, they are inexperienced, we have no naughty scenes because duh, the heroine doesn't know how to act and the hero keeps turning out as a molester because he practically had to force her to overcome her fear. 

No, no, no.... stop it! For once I would like one experienced woman in such a genre, one that would behave like Cat from the "Night Huntress" series (trying many poses, in many different places, at oddest times...). Just *facepalm* on all those virgin books.

3. INSTA - LOVE

I understand how some people see that kind of romance as the most romantic and intriguing but come on. Every single book in the paranormal romance genre lately has the instant love effect. Their eyes met and BAM, love, destiny, forever my ass okay? Just for once why don't you put SOME EFFORT in bringing the heroes together slower and stronger? So we could feel their bond and cry and laugh with them? Not like this, I've read this book and I will forget about it as soon as I go to sleep. And I can guarantee you that I WILL NEVER READ IT AGAIN. Ever. Because I made no emotional connection with the characters whatsoever. None.

4. PSY MIND & PSYNET

Although I do like this world setting, I really do, this book made it really difficult for me to decide positive on whether to stay with the series or not. 

Because half of this book was made in Faith's head and her strolling through the PsyNet. You have to understand that in spite of the great concept of the PsyNet you proposed to your readers, dear author, you can't expect from us instant love for spending countless pages in one uninteresting mind and her idle talk about nothing.

What's even more bothersome, when I've said that most of the book was *wasted* on the *shitty* romance I meant wasted. Because Faith, the heroine, lived all by herself deep in the woods and there are almost no other characters in the first part of the book besides Sascha and Lucas who come to meet Faith and Vaughn (the hero) at some cabin in the woods. Boring, boring, boring. There is no real urgency, no thriller, no sense of greatness, only Faith's inability to tolerate touch from Vaughn. And their attraction was instant, of course, because it's so natural that a savage changeling and an emotionless psy fall in love. Argh... it feels so forced.

5. MYSTERY TURNS TO SHIT

The only thing that actually kept me going was the mystery of Faith's visions and a darkness descending upon her. The build-up was good despite that stupid mushy crap between her and Vaughn. And that build-up goes through 2/3 of the book only to be dealt with so anti-climatically that I had an urge to crush something. 

Want to know why? Because before they solved that mystery in such a low, unnoticeable, unimaginable and completely unimportant way, the pair had sex, they made promises and everything was right. So who gives a flying fuck about that "side-story" mystery shit, right? I mean, the pair so unbelievably wound up together (hint: irony) that we shouldn't care less about the ACTUAL STORY !!!

There is more than this, much more that I could mention but I'm tired, I have a headache and a sudden urge to write my own freaking novel just to get away from all of this stereotypical, mediocre, bland sex/"love" thing. I honestly can't tell if I'll read a book number 3 in this series because life is short and there are tons of books out there calling me so... maybe... I don't know in this moment. But I wouldn't recommend this one. I can tell you in few sentences everything that is going on with the world-building so you don't have to needlessly suffer. Spare yourself. 

This short story comes between the first book "Slave to Sensation" and the second "Visions of heat" and it revolves around the main pair from the first book, Sascha Duncan and Lucas Hunter.

Sascha and Lucas were left babysitting two adorable cubs. They are lively boys but very fond of Sascha despite her being a Psy. She also had some cute scenes with them in the first book.

The boys want to hear a story before bed from Sascha but since she grew up in a cold and unfriendly environment she knows nothing about stories or storytelling. So she turns to Lucas for help and he pleases her. He starts to tell a story about a Cannibal Princess. The boys are entranced in it but more than them, so is Sascha. When Lucas saw how much she liked it, it melted his heart.

Later on, in bed, she asks Lucas to tell her another story, one not involving cannibals...

This short story is a perfect example of a funny, entertaining, lovely side-story which is meant to show another side of the characters and give them more depth.

This book is the first in the "Psy-Changeling" series by Nalini Singh. "Slave to Sensation" is a completely inappropriate title because there isn't much sensation there. And no one is slaving for it. 

You might have guessed by now that I'm not thrilled with this book. And no, it isn't because romance wasn't really happening or the characters didn't seem to have any chemistry. It is because the world-building is such a success that the "romantic" part actually spoiled it. Yes, you saw it right. I think that this book should have been an SF, thriller, mystery and then it would have been a big perfect hit.

A future world where emotions are considered dangerous after devastating wars...

The "Psy" are people with specialized psychic abilities and no emotions. No emotions means no violence, no hatred, no wars. They are in the upper circles of society and handle most of the world-important and justice-related business because they are considered the most rational for it.

"Changelings" are shifters of various animal varietis and the complete opposite of the Psy. They thrive on emotion and living with the nature. If not for them, the polution would long ago killed the planet and everyone on it. They are climbing the social ladder and seem to finally have the upper hand on Psy after all those years of Psy omnipotence.

Humans do exist but we don't deal with them in the first book. They are only mentioned. Like some bugs waiting to be squashed. It would be too nice to say that everyone looks down on humans, the humans are so irrelevant that no one even has any feelings about them. Humans are... invisible, low, unimportant. Kinda offensive but unique outlook.

So, the system works like this. Despite everyone sharing the same planet, the Psy and the Changeling (no more mention of humans) have their own communities, their own laws and their own secrets. They exist next to each other and interact only when it's business related because for some reason Psy really like their money. 

Everyone knows their place. Except for our main heroine Sascha Duncan. She is undoubtedly a Psy, but a flawed one. She doesn't fit in there. And if she shows that to anyone, including her own mother, she would be sent to rehabilitation aka mind wipe. The Psy deal with any and all abnormalities. Not one is allowed to be free. So Sascha builds up her mental walls and hides behind them pretending not to feel anything because any flicker of emotion could be her last.

As luck would have it, she is forced to do a business deal with the alpha male of the black panthers pack Lucas Hunter. He is a scarred, lethal and a very sensual male who knows it and shows it at every opportunity. He started the business deal with the Psy for one reason only, to find the information he was looking for. Six months prior, a member of his pack was brutally murdered and a Psy metallic stench was left in the air. When digging around for more information, Lucas found out about other killings with the same MO and decided to let the police handle it as to not go to war with the Psy. But what really happened was a major cover up. Every single murder was hushed away and all the clues had gone dark. Knowing that the Psy was the perpetrator they decided to investigate on their own. When a beautiful female Psy came to their meeting, he was surprised at her behaviour, she was a Psy everything his race hated yet she wasn't. He was perplexed and with each day he became more and more obsessed with her.

Each party has their own agenda. For Lucas he was supposed to use this Psy to find the name of the killer. For Sascha it was to bring home a profiting business deal and find out more about the Changelings.

What neither of them expected was that soon after the initial meeting another woman from a different pack would be taken. And if the killer followed his previous MO, this female had only another seven days to live. Live as in being tortured each day until finally she would be killed in a place she previously felt safe in. Now, the time was of the essence and neither one of them can go with tiptoeing around each other anymore.

I have to admit that the thriller/mystery part was a welcome although unexpected surprise that threw me of my feet. It's been awhile since I found something like this in a paranormal romance genre. I believe it to be fantastic. The world-building along with the killer on the loose mystery story is an awesome combination. I was actually re-reading some pages to get full details and to embed them in my memory. It wasn't just swallowing pages, it was studying them carefully. I was intrigued and delighted.

Then came the "romance" part. Which didn't work well with me for a couple of reasons.

1. No chemistry. None, at all. Just a declaration, she is mine (because he feels she is) and a lot of hesitation on her part.

2. Shifters. I'm usually not impressed with shifters because of their too wild nature. Here, it was a constant contact with pack members. Constant touching and kissing everyone in the pack. Wtf?? I get what you tried to do, I really do. But I still can't find females kissing all the males on the mouth when needing comfort normal. No, no, just no. When you say they are extremely territorial and possessive they shouldn't let other men kissing their women on the mouth even when they can somehow feel it isn't about the lust but comfort. Noooooooooo!

3. Mating for life and never taking another mate after the other dies. I get mating for life, it does have a romantic undertone and it suits the cats and the wolves. But! If one dies, the other will most likely follow and it will never ever mate again??? What about the kids? How selfish do you have to be? Yes, the loss of a spouse is a devastating thing, but if all the parents would just wither and die after their partner, most of the world population would seize to exist. And most of the children would grow up parentless. And with horrible childhoods. I think you overdid it here. It isn't romantic, it's unrealistic and selfish.

4. Slow, almost non-existing romantic build-up. Most of this book deals with the world-building, the Psy and the Changeling world and Sascha's flawed nature. Only the ending, the last few chapters really deal with Sascha and Lucas. And by that time they jumped through no-touching, distant relationship to I know you are my mate. Ehmmm... ha?

The positive side.

As I already mentioned, the world-building is awesome. 

Also, there were a couple of episodes which I found endearing. Like the one where Sascha had to deal with two cubs, one of which had chewed on her boot. That was so funny and lovely. Also, Lucas and Sascha did have a couple of nice conversations, I'm just disappointed that they came abruptly and no real development followed it. I liked this one:

"I wish you'd love me."

"Why?"

"Because then maybe you could protect me, too." Haunting sorrow whispered through her tone.

"Why do you need protecting?" His male instincts were rising past the dark burden of memory.

She cuddled closer and he wrapped his arms tight. "Because I'm broken." Her hand kept smoothing over his heart and he could feel a melting warmth invade his body. "And the Psy don't allow broken creatures to live."

"You feel perfect to me."

I did like the setting and the outlook of this book, I truly did. This kind of world is not that difficult to imagine. Human emotions are a great asset at some times but a terrible burden at others. The idea to live without them is... unimaginable. I, who feel more than I would like, can not possibly imagine to go on living without any emotion in my body, mind and soul. Like a robot. Like a thing. What would be the point of living then? But on the other hand, we wouldn't have the Middle East situation or the Africa situation. 

It is a very complex thing to consider. And even when it is done, like the Psy did in order to stop the killings and the war, you still have abnormalities. You still have killings just for a different purpose and with a different style. Neat, thought through to the tiniest detail, precise, clean, studious. And what's the worst about it, the Psy covered it up. Because they couldn't let the general public know of their flaw. Because the reason for turning their emotions off and having the most powerful seats in the world was that they couldn't feel anger, hatred and evil. If the word gets out that they still do heinous things despite everything, the world would once again descend into chaos and many innocents would die.

Nalini Singh is truly a wonder. I have very high hopes for the sequels and I hope they won't disappoint me. Also, she has a talent for SF/thriller, she should really try to create something without the romance being the main part.

"But gods, he was incredible. Standing in the UG parking lot, he'd looked like a giant goth biker, wrapped in leather and chains, his massive boots sporting wicked talons at the tips. Even the backs of his fingerless gloves were adorned with metal studs at the knuckles. She'd always hated the tough-guy bullshit but Revenant had fucking owned it. She got the impression that he lived his life that way; if he wanted it, he owned it."

Revenant. A villain, a hero, an angel, a demon. He is a complex being. And a hero of the "last" of the "Lords of Deliverance" series. I mean "last" as in the last from the main characters, the Horsemen and their family. The author mentioned she plans to make side-stories that will be shorter than the full novellas but not by much. They will be made the same way "Azagoth" was in the 1001 Dark Pleasures edition. I'm looking forward to it. Azagoth was great. 

Revenant is Reaver's long lost brother. His twin brother. A shadow angel. The strongest being in Sheoul next to Dark Lord himself. He was raised in Sheoul and led to believe he was a vyrm, an offspring between an angel and a fallen angel. He believed that until he found out the truth and realized just how much his destiny sucked. From two twin brothers one had to go to heaven while the other had to stay in Sheoul. He was chosen as a newborn to be raised in literal hell. Since the moment he found out what and who he really was, he couldn't stop questioning the decision damning him to life in hell. Was he the evil twin? Did his mother saw him as the one more inclined to this kind of life? Because it was his mother that chose to damn him to hell. But she also stayed with him. And that is what he couldn't explain. If she saw him as evil, why did she volunteered to stay in hell? 

A troubled soul standing at the crossroads. He will either succeed and finally have a life or he will fail and that would be the end of Revenant, the Destroyer. All this questions, all the mixed emotions and asshole angels who refused to help him while Satan demanded the proof of his loyalty was put aside when he met Blaspheme.

Blaspheme, a beautiful UG doctor that is a False Angel on the outside but hides something deep beneath those fake layers. She is also in a very big trouble that not only involves and puts her life at risk but also her mother's. Her mother is a fallen angel and she is hunted by the Eradicators, heaven's executioners. Blaspheme believes that this is happening because she is a vyrm, an offspring of her fallen angel mother and her angel father. Namely, vyrms are considered abominations in heaven and hell and both sides hunt them down and kill them. That's why they are so rare and most live in hiding. Blaspheme's mother has sacrificed a False Angle when Blaspheme was born so she could have the disguise of one. She had all the talents and characteristics of a False Angel but they were disappearing as the time passed. Now, she had to make a decision, she will either have to sacrifice another or she will have to reveal her true colours and stand up to her pursuers. 

Amidst all of the confusion, a dark, sexy, forbidden male appears before her. A person she should never associate with especially not now that her disguise is fading away. But this particular male doesn't seem to give up and he has found something that he finds irresistible about her. 

Revenant and Blaspheme found each other in the crucial time in their lives where everything was at stake. Their lives and their future. If not for each other, they would have failed an achieving their destiny.

"Hmmm." Rolling her bottom lip between her teeth, she teased him by tracing the veins in his shaft with her finger. "Was that an invitation?"

"Yes," he ground out. "An invitation, an order. A motherfucking plea. Call it what you want, just fuck me."

"Show me your fangs."

Instant fangage. He'd show her his freaking liver if she'd just make him come.

About the book.

I found "Revenant" very good which is to say it isn't the best it could be. Why not? Because there was something missing. Something. For the final book and such a bad boy who hangs between literal Heaven and Hell, this book should have been darker, richer, spicier... His background story is difficult and sad but it isn't menacingly dark. Most of this book had that happy undertone where you just knew nothing bad would happen. And if something bad does happen, something else will come along to fix it and make it happy again.

I dislike comparing authors because each one has its own style but I will make an exception here. And I won't compare. I will just say that this book should have been more on the track of Karen Marie Moning's "Fever" series and the dark, menacing aura that surrounded Barrons, the main character. That would have made this story befitting of the end of the "Lords of Deliverance" series.

Despite the missing ingredient, everything else was great. Just like it usually is where Larissa Ione is concerned.

The relationship between Revenant and Blaspheme was at times frustrating, at times full of lust, at times sweet and a lot of times funny. They really do work well together, the chemistry is there. But again, it is so evident that they will be together that there was no mystery really. All that was left was to see how exactly will their union progress. The same goes for the prophecy considering Revenant. Despite details being vague, it was obvious he will make it happen. And that is that missing ingredient. More mystery, suspense and rich flavour. 

But on the other hand, the humour is one thing Larissa Ione knows how to handle very well. A lot of times I laugh out loud when reading her books. They are... somewhat cheerful. That is her style. 

"You don't appreciate confidence?"

"I don't appreciate arrogance. There is a difference."

"And what is the difference?"

"Confidence is arrogance without an asshole."

"Too bad Soduchi was an arrogant ass. But then, most surgeons were. No werewolf blood needed for that. Just a medical degree."

About the overall series.

"Lords of Deliverance" is a great series altogether. But not better than the "Demonica" (not for me). "Demonica" was a fresh, spicy series that made me giggle and made me flush but "Lords of Deliverance" wasn't like that. I felt as though everything was revealed to me at the beginning. I knew exactly how the relationships will turn out and how the family ties will progress. I knew they would beat evil with little or no damage to themselves. It was very predicable and it followed a pattern. The thing about Eidolon, the UG and Eidolon's brothers was the new, inventive turn. The idea of a demon hospital, of the brothers of different species, of the Aegis and government involvement... everything was exciting. Then it wasn't anymore. No surprises left. All we had left was an experienced author with a good sense of irony, sarcasm and humour which gave stories a passable grade.

I hope Larissa Ione finds that spark again. An idea which will put her great sense of writing to good use and give us more rich stories with a fresh outlook.

"I have no desire to sleep with you. I want to fuck you. And there is no such thing as perfectly good sex. If it's perfectly good," I mock in falsetto, "he should be shot in the head and put out of everyone's misery. Sex either blows your fucking mind or it's not good enough. You want me to blow your fucking mind, Ms. Lane? Come on. Do it. Be a big girl."

And there it is, the great Karen Marie Moning back in full glory. Oh, how I anticipated this moment. Similar to Barrons, this book blew my mind. Just like "Darkfever" once did. I didn't believe it possible, to come back from that "Iced" fiasco but here it is. Almost a masterpiece. 

MacKayla Lane is back. Oh yes, that hello kitty gone dark southern rainbow girl is a million times better choice than the fecking feck fourteen year old Dani. Mac makes me feel nostalgic and exhilarated at the same time. She has a knack for pissing me off but she also feels more real and more involved in the story and with the rest of the characters. Dani seemed so out of place and outside of the known characters' circle, plus her butchering of the English language almost caused my mental breakdown.

This book is a perfect transition book. Namely, this book serves as a regroup spot for all of the characters. Every single one of the most known characters develops its progress and story in this book. Unlike "Iced" (which I wish never existed) here we actually experience the story from multiple points of view at once. 

Mac is the narrator throughout most of the book. It feels so nice having her back in the story. I missed her blonde hair and pink nails following the unbreakable sexy beast called Jericho Barrons. She has the ominous book Sinsar Dubh inside her and the book is fighting for the control. She is unable to kill anyone or anything in fear that she will lose control over herself (she knows from the experience). Which makes her a passive target unable to do anything relevant. It also pisses Barrons off...

"Do you think I can't protect you should you persist with your idiotic passivity?

Idiotic passivity, my ass. As today proved, activity is far more idiotic, and deadly. Is that why he arranged this meeting? To force me to be involved? "Of course not." I change the subject.

It's time. He says his next words aloud and there's a gentleness to them that undoes me. "You're not living anymore, Rainbow Girl."

When I read that passage, I shivered and felt tears filling my eyes. Literally. That sentence is one of the most powerful sentences in the book. I might put it on my wall. Barrons is so stoic and removed from everything but when he does slip up he does it so emotionally, I feel like my walls are breaking. I can only imagine how Mac feels... Barrons also plays a big role in this book as a part of the Nine and as Mac's better half (:p). He is unbelievably enticing and lethal as ever. Irresistible... 

You might ask yourself, what happened to Dani and this being her story. Well, thankfully, the focus isn't on her this time but she's there. In the beginning she is the same old Dani, as annoying as ever. But she bickers with Mac, acts like a child and runs away into the Silvers. And disappears for weeks. During which time we get to see what everyone else does. When she does return to the story, she is - such a large plot twist that I don't even want to put it under the spoiler. The point is, she does return but never again the words fecking or dude are spoken out of her mouth so it's safe to read her passages without pulling your hair out.

Ryodan. The leader of the Nine. The man in charge of Chester's. The man who kept Dani alive during her childhood and her teens. The man who is so deliciously mysterious, sexy, menacing and powerful that you can't help but drool over him... He is a very important part of the story. Perhaps that comes from his major role in all the important events or from his connection with Dani (which we noticed in the previous book, goes way deeper than one would think, and even deeper than that as this book proves it).  He is frantically searching for the missing Dani while dealing with his other plots. He helps Kat achieve something she didn't even know she was missing. He intermediates between the Princes, Princesses, humans, Fae and sidhe-seers along with other creatures not belonging in these categories. It's not enough to say that he has his hands full. No. He is drowning in all of the tasks he needs to do. Mac and Ryodan were never friends, and that relationship hasn't improved. They are still in each others hair all the time. But when push comes to shove, Barrons shines as always.

"What I know, brother, is you break every goddamned rule for Mac."

"Back at you, Ry. Difference is, I'll help you do it."

"Lor has never been Pri-ya." Ryodan shakes his head in disgust. "The princess can't turn us. Son of a bitch, Mac's ass is ---"

"Mine," Barrons says flatly. "You will never go there. You have a problem with Mac, you work it out with me. I am her shield, I am her second fucking skin."

Shivers. Shivers down my spine. Brrrr.... So, back to the point. Ryodan is the man in this book. Oh, yeah. He is... like Barrons but still not fully released. I expect that in the next book. And that book couldn't come sooner.

Christian. The handsome highlander turned Unseelie Prince was captured at the end of the last book and taken captive. He actually gave himself up to help Dani because he likes her on some unexplainable level. Well, he's still suffering chained to a cliff. His insides are taken out every day and every day he dies only to repeat the torture all over again when his flesh grows back. He is slowly losing his mind and there is no telling what will happen if he's ever released considering his unbalanced mental state from before.

Kat. The leader of the sidhe-seers is having problems on two different levels. First, the love plan. Her lover Sean has suddenly withdrawn from her after working at Chester's. She doesn't know what happened. But she does know that she has no time to investigate it thoroughly. Because problem number two, she needs more power or to use her own power more efficiently. She leads but knows she isn't made for it. When she seeks help from Ryodan and ends up working with Kasteo (one of the Nine, the one who doesn't speak) her leadership role at the Abbey is snatched from an unknown outside group of sidhe-seers.

Lor. One of the Nine who loves banging platinum blonde easy chicks with huge tits. So far, that was all he was known for. And now he has the opportunity to do nothing but fuck for two weeks straight. Namely, he was under the spell of the Unseelie Princess and everyone thought he went Pri-ya, only Mac (and consequently Barrons) knew he wasn't. Mac made a deal with him and backed up his story with Ryodan. Who gave him private chambers and ordered blonde busty females to fuck him 24/7 to help him with his Pri-ya state. Jo, the sidhe-seer who hooked up with Ryodan for some time finally acknowledged the truth, he will never love her, so she broke up with him. And he was waiting for her to do that so she'll move on. The problem is Mac wanted to hurt Ryodan for what he has done to Jo so she told her that Lor was Pri-ya and she should go fuck him because that's the easiest way to mend a broken heart. And as everyone knows, people who turned Pri-ya are mindless sex slaves so Lor won't remember anything. Jo mustered up the courage and under false beliefs went to Lor. He usually doesn't do petite brunettes but this one was impossible to refuse. When all of the misunderstanding and lies cleared out, one big surprise revealed itself. Lor feels something for Jo? Woohoo, next book please !

"Fade, get your ass down to Lor's room an untie Jo." He's silent for a moment. "It's none of your fucking business why Jo's tied up there. Just do it. And I don't care what that woman says or does, I don't care if she's suddenly snatched up by a tornado and dropped straight on your dick, you will not fuck her." Another silence. "Yes, she's naked. No, that's not cool. Fuck you, Fade. Forget it. Take one of the waitresses down. You will remain outside the door while she goes in and unties her. Then tell Jo's she's fired." Silence. "I don't care what the waitress thinks. Fire her, too."

One of the characters that weren't common so far is the Unseelie King who lost his mind after losing his mistress, the Seelie Queen. He appeared on occasion as the Dreamy Eyed Guy (as Mac called him) to observe the situation. Now, he has his mistress back, but since she drank from the Cauldron and forgot everything, she is like a different person. And for the King who has long surpassed his role and became God, that isn't enough. She tries to make him save the world but without her memories and with his his mental instability, it results to nothing and the world is heading straight to oblivion...

So many bad boys in here. Damn, I would even go with the end of the world plan, only to participate in it with all of them. I didn't even get to the two Highlanders who will cooperate with Mac, Barrons, Ryodan and Jada for a time. 

This book has it all. Action, mystery, plot twists, love, passion, lethal menace, end of the world setting... So many hot guys, your nose will start bleeding. Woman are also well represented. Not only are they beautiful but also dangerous and kick-ass fabulous. Fae add a variety and complexity to this book which would be a degree less entertaining without them. 

One of the reasons why I love KMM's books in Fever Series so much is the unknown that keeps you on the edge. By that I mean, Barrons and the Nine. We are in the seventh book but I still can't say what they are exactly. I can vaguely describe it but nothing in particular. They are a mystery. The dark unknown. A sexy-as-hell menace. Despite being the main characters and the ones who will most make your heart race, you just don't know them and when you think you do, they'll prove you wrong. It's amazing. It's rare for the authors to leave such a mystery for so long. Because it's risky. But KMM does it masterfully. She engages us in a story and leaves no room for the doubt. Without giving too much detail, she engages us emotionally and doesn't let anyone stray from the story.

If I could, I would give this book ten stars. It's an invigorating read that made me starving for more and more and more !!!

"Temptation isn’t a vice you triumph over once, completely, and then you’re free. Temptation slips into bed with you each night and helps you say prayers. It wakes you in the morning with a friendly cup of coffee, and knows just the way you take it, heavy on the sin."

"I made a decision. More than safety or happiness, I want you Yuiko. I don't know how I can smile at a place where you are not there."

Leo is turning eighteen and Yuiko has his birthday all planned out. She decided on the time and bought a present. When they were on their way to meet each other, Leo was hit by a car and rushed to the hospital. It was a miracle that he survived that straight on impact.

In the hospital, Yuiko finally learns the truth about Leo's past, his upbringing and the secrets that made him live in the wild instead in a civilized society. Everything makes sense afterwards. Regretfully, despite knowing all of that Yuiko still ends up as a hostage and the only one who can save her is the injured Leo.

This manga is really fresh and unique. The boy isn't your typical all-knowing, well-liked, too-handsome-for-his-own-good kinda boy. He has a tough exterior that hides his inner kind nature. Yuiko is on the other hand, a well liked person but not too popular. She is the kinda girl who easily makes friends and cares for others.

Their pairing is perfect. She is the only one who really knows him and the only one who can calm his inner beast. Leo is the perfect type for Yuiko too. The one she has to care for but the one who will always stay by her side and protect her despite being childish and easygoing. 

I really liked the art. It's detailed but not too imposing. It shows emotion but it also nicely handles the action. The only thing that sometimes bothered me was too much text at once which made letters quite small and a bit difficult to read. But other than that, I have zero complaints.

It really came as a surprise when I learned this manga only has two volumes. I can't see why so little. The material should have been enormous. The idea of a shady past, supernatural abilities and slow but steady romance should have been more than enough to produce a long lasting manga. 

I for one, would still like to follow it. Unfortunately, we won't get our wish but I'll hold this manga in my top shelf and always remember it with fond emotions.

"Yuiko, be with me. (kiss)"

Oh my, what a beautiful story...

This is one of the shortest but most unique mangas I've read in a while.

"Yuiko Kubozuka is a high school girl who loves animals. Unfortunately, animals don't like her and flee away from her whenever she comes near. One night, while trying to save a runaway cat in a tree, she meets a boy with wild hair and scary eyes who saves the cat. The next day, that boy turns out to be Yuiko's new transfer classmate, Leo Aoi. She finds him to be funny and not scary at all, while everyone else feared him because of his appearance. This makes Leo very happy. But there's a secret hidden within Leo."

The heroine, Yuiko is the beast master from the title. She most definitely earned the title. The boy who recently transferred, Leo, is a timid, cute, kind boy until he transforms into a scary beast at the sight of blood and feeling of danger. In that state he is beastly like and the only person ever that wasn't scared of him in that state was Yuiko. Not only was she not scared but she helped him calm down and get to his senses.

A beautiful romantic story about a boy from the wilderness and a girl with a kind heart... The comedy is light, the story developed enough to get us interested, the characters are adorable and the romance is kinda slow but progressing.

The art was nicely done, mangaka is a true artist and I will search for more of his work.

It would be really nice if this story got an anime version but I doubt it will happen because for one it is too short, and second it came out back in 2006.

"You aren’t just my weakness, Leila.” Vlad drew me next to him, one hand sliding along my jaw while the other caressed my back. “You are my destruction, because if I were to lose you, it would finish me."

"Bound by Flames" is the third (and not the last as I thought) instalment in the "Night Prince" Series by the author Jeaniene Frost. The fourth and final (hopefully, this time) book is supposed to come out in 2016.

Let me start by saying that I love Jeaniene Frost. She is one of the first authors who made me hooked on paranormal romance genre and one of the first authors who made me so desperately fall in love with her books that I read all of them in a few days time with only taking a break to eat, sleep and shower. Cat and Bones are my all-time favourite vampire couple ("Night Huntress Series"). Cat is also one of the most badass heroines I had a chance of reading about. She is my role model, a smart, sexy, capable, strong woman who never takes no for an answer and always goes beyond her limits in order to save her loved ones.

But. The "Night Prince" series started off... interesting. Vlad was one of my favourite characters from the "Night Huntress" series and I was extremely happy to see his story. And then it happened. The illusion broke. Because Vlad wasn't the protagonist of the story, Leila was. She was the person from whose perspective the story was told from. And she was the one who ruined it for me.

Don't get me wrong. Vlad is still awesome. A vampire who controls fire... nothing more to say. But Leila was just not right. She was weak, annoying, a completely new character who suddenly took over Vlad's story. And her perspective sucks.

Female protagonist works out if you feel like she is the main character and the person who you want to read about. It doesn't work out, though, if you want to strangle her only to see more of Vlad. That just doesn't work. And it didn't. Not for me.

I started this book with the idea that this was the final sequel and that this will conclude the series because I remember reading about it when the first book came out and the author mentioned trilogy. Well, the trilogy means three books and this is the third one. After I finished it, though, I was surprised at the weird ending and the note that said that the final book comes out in 2016. I was irritated. For one, there is nothing more to tell. And second, shouldn't that have been stated somewhere in the beginning of the book like the author's note or heaven's forbid, the prologue? Well, that aside, let's turn to the book in question.

Summary,

Vlad and Leila are in an ongoing war with Vlad's long hated enemy called Szilagyi. The conflict is heating up and casualties grow in number. Leila is now a vampire and she and Vlad have many more marital issues to solve and many more difficulties to overcome. But they don't really have time for any inner reflections and emotions sharing because Leila is kidnapped by the one and only - Szilagyi. While taking her, Szilagyi also made the courtesy of demolishing Vlad's castle in Romania along with killing most of his staff in it. What will Vlad do now that his beloved wife is in the hands of one of the most twisted man in existence who inflicts unimaginable pain on her and sends the evidence of it back to Vlad?

***SPOILERS***

Review.

1. Leila is kidnapped. Again. The FOURTH bloody time. How is that even possible??? Are you really that stupid or do you have the shittiest luck ever known??? I was so aggravated at this that I almost smashed my laptop while reading it. I don't know if the author ran out of ideas or she really wants to piss all over Leila but whatever the case I still don't know why she's going with four instead of three books. Looks like she already had little material to work with.

2. The FAKE-RAPE. Let me tell you something. Rape is not something you joke about or take lightly. Rape is not an object of amusement. That is one of the worst crimes known to humankind and if you won't take it seriously enough, then don't do it at all. First of all, it's hard to imagine that only Maximus would be allowed to touch Leila after being in Szilagyi's favour for only about a month. And she was imprisoned for weeks always hanging on the wall naked. There would be times when the guards or even ruthless Szilagyi himself would take advantage of that. And yeah, I know that it was supposed to be Maximus' reward or something, but do you really think that the guy like Szilagyi who hated Vlad so much for centuries would pass on the opportunity of raping his wife only to reward some meaningless newcomer vampire for his month long of unimportant service? I don't think so. No chance in hell. If the author were to be honest with her description of Szilagyi, he would have raped her himself first and left her for everyone else to "enjoy" her as they please as long as they kept her alive. That would be the dark scenario the author seemingly wanted to convey. But instead she went with the gruesome idea that turned into a daycare play. She took something dark and evil and put it in the scenario of a care-bears movie. NO, just no. You either leave ideas like this behind and focus on the romance or you follow through with that idea like Karen Marie Moning bravely did in her "Fever" series. I just can't deal with this. Jeaniene Frost made the biggest yet mistake here. I can't get over it. It's unforgivable. And it makes me sad...

3. Vlad. Just Vlad. Why? Because he became a side character. Someone who pops in from time to time to kick ass, act stoic and unmovable or to show some 15th century sexism and ruler/servant behaviour. I honestly felt like this series should have been renamed from "Dark Prince" to "Circus Princess" or "Electric Princess". It's all about Leila. Leila. Leila. Leila. Leila... And her inability to accept the dark Vlad, or her inability to stay un-kidnapped or her inability to power up her power or her inability to listen to the voice of reason. The inability, if you hadn't noticed so far, is the key word of Leila's existence. Bingo. The "Unable Princess". There we go, perfect.

4. The story either dragged for too long or it was rushed. I really really think the author should have made this a trilogy. The pace is way off. Leila's inner reflections and emotion expressing or soul searching took more pages than defeating the final boss. And that was not nearly as spectacular as it should have been. You want to know why? Because Vlad did everything. All of it. And Leila wasn't present for some parts. And of course we couldn't be present as well since we had to follow her bickering with some suddenly important necromancer Radu who is even stronger than Szilagyo but became important only in the last few chapters of the story. And yeah. we hadn't heard of him before either. This necromancer is so powerful that he can vanish /teleport/sth unheard of ever before. And he worked under Szilagyi even though he became stronger. And I guess he is the next villain or something since Leila's life is tied to his (through some necromancer spells and a shit load of luck) and I doubt Vlad will just quietly sit by while all the injuries from Radu would show on his wife.

5. The wedding. They had another one. The vampire one this time. Over in less than a chapter, I don't even know if it was a page or two long. Completely uninteresting, dull and forgetful. One would think that something memorable would come out of such a strong union. Nope. 

6. The family (Gretchen and dad) and Marty. They are shown so many times but they couldn't be more boring and useless characters even if you intended to make them so. Gretchen is annoying pain in the ass who only cares about clothes, money, shopping, pink while dad became a recluse who refused to see his daughter. Marty did actually have a couple of longer conversations with Leila but only to complain on Vlad. If you look at the "Night Huntress" series, pay attention to let's say Rachel and tell me that these side characters in "Night Prince" have the same effect. No. Just filling out pages with rubbish.

7. Purposely trying to slander Vlad. It seems that everyone suddenly decided to piss on Vlad. Everyone is telling Leila how her husband is a no-good murderer, ruthless ruler, dominant sexist male who will never let her do anything, stubborn vampire of the old who will never listen to her etc. Everyone is slandering him. Marty, Gretchen, Maximus... what the hell??? Isn't this supposed to be the "Night Prince" series? It's bad enough I have to see thing from Leila's perspective but to read about how awful Vlad is is way too much. 

All in all, the reason why I gave this book 2.5 stars despite having so many complaints is the fact that Jeaniene Frost still writes better than most of the authors of this genre. I have higher expectations of her than the rest.

I am disappointed. But I also forgive. Jeaniene made other works that are stunning and she deserves some credit. Because I have a high opinion of her I also criticize her work more deeply and more detailed. Perhaps I am in the wrong but I stand by my opinion. This is Jeaniene's worst novel I have read so far.

I wasn't engaged in the story as with the rest, Leila gets on my nerves more and more with each page, storyline was neither inventive nor fresh and the author couldn't decide on showing us the suffering of incarceration and torture in detail or just naming it and then skipping it in its entirety. For example, Leila was skinned. Her entire skin was removed. We know that because the author said it. It was neither shown nor described nor re-lived. It was only mentioned. That is not how these kind of things are done. Because if you only mention it, I won't feel bad for her. If you have described it in detail or at least sneaked a peak on it, I would connect with the character. I have absolutely no emotional connection to Leila and this is her third book, so figure it out. 

I will read the last book but I will never re-read it again. This series will best be forgotten. And by the way, if you're going to put Cat into the story, give her more than two dialogues and a background scene. It's disrespectful. You could have at least described her used grave power more and not put us through a silly emotional whirlwind of yet-again-kidnapped-Leila instead. I hope the last book won't put me through the same anguish this one did. 

Written for and published on a Croatian web portal: www.citajme.com

„Bili su usamljeni i tužni ljudi, sve troje, i neće si uzajamno umanjiti tugu, ali mogu, vrlo pažljivo, stvoriti svijet koji će prihvatiti njihovu samoću.“

Rečenica koja je uzeta iz pripovijetke „Zlatni dečko, smaragdna djevojka“ najpotpunije ocrtava narav i izričaj ovog djela. Ova fantastična zbirka priča sadrži devet pripovijetki u kojima se u potpunosti razotkriva ljudsko srce i svi njegovi nedostaci i potrebe. Spisateljica Yiyun Li donosi nam pripovijetke iz kulture daleke Kine, zemlje u kojoj je rođena i koja joj je obilježila njen život bez obzira što danas živi i radi u SAD-u. Ta kultura nama je potpuno strana no način na koji su ljudski odnosi u njoj predstavljeni bliski su svima nama i svaki se čitatelj pronalazi u nekoj osobini ili nekom aspektu zastupljenih likova.

U naslovnoj priči, mrzovoljna profesorica Dai pokušava svoju bivšu studenticu Siyu spojiti sa svojim neoženjenim sinom Hanfengom koji je već u mlađoj dobi otkrio da je homoseksualac. Profesorica Dai rano je izgubila muža i nikada se nije ponovno udala te je Hanfeng odrastao bez oca dok je Siyu odrastala samo sa ocem i nikada nije upoznala majku. Dvoje otuđenih ljudi koji polako ulaze u četvrto desetljeće života imaju mogućnost jedno drugome umanjiti usamljenost na ovome svijetu koji kao da nije bio stvoren za njih.

„Nikad nisam zaboravila nijednu osobu koja je ušla u moj život, i možda je to baš razlog što ne mogu imati neki život za sebe. Ljudi koje nosim sa sobom potrošili su ne samo vlastite zalihe, nego i moje, premda su nedužni kradljivci moga života, a za to mogu okriviti samo sebe.“

Najdomljivija priča koja je mene dirnula jest „Ljubaznost“. Ona je napisana iz prvog lica i prati život djevojke Moyan kojoj sudbina nije bila naklonjena. Njena majka je doživjela veliko razočaranje u ljubavi te je polako počela gubiti razum i umjesto da ju njena obitelj smjesti u ludnicu, odlučila se je udati za starijeg čovjeka koji je nju neizmjerno volio. Kada su dobili dijete, mislili su da će svi problemi nestati, no ništa se nije promijenilo. Majka je ostala otuđena i zarobljena u svijetu svojih ljubavnih romana dok je otac radio i činio sve da bi njenoj majci bilo udobnije. Ono što je Moyan najviše nedostajalo u životu jest upravo bliskost s majkom. Ta odsutnost ju je pretvorila u ženu kojoj do ničega u životu nije previše stalo. Dvije osobe koje su se trudile promijeniti joj život, profesorica Shan i poručnica Wei, ostale su samo likovi u sjećanju koje s vremena na vrijeme znaju isplivati na površinu i ponukati protagonisticu na promišljanje o životu.

Yiyun Li višestruko je nagrađivana spisateljica i često uspoređivana sa svojim suvremenikom, Harukijem Murakamijem. Njena zbirka pripovijedaka „Tisuću godina molitvi“ osvojila je međunarodnu nagradu Frank O'Connor za pripovijetku, nagradu PEN/Hemingway, Guardianovu nagradu za debitantsku knjigu, Kalifornijsku knjižnu nagradu za prozni prvijenac, a uvlaštena je u uži izbor za nagrade Orange te Kiriyama. Godine 2009. Objavila je roman „The Vagrants“ koji je ubrzo postao njeno najčitanije djelo.

Vrsna pripovjedačica Yiyun Li posjeduje rijetki talent kojim se uvlači u srca svojih čitatelja dojmljivom snagom likova koje oživljava na stranicama svojih impresivnih djela. Njena proza obiluje ljudskom dramom koja se nalazi usred tradicije i politke isprepletenima prošlošću. Spisateljica opisuje živote malih ljudi, ali onih koji odrastaju u teškim uvjetima strane kulture komunističkog režima.

Njeni likovi se nalaze u normalnim ljudskim situacijama, sa svim poteškoćama i nedostacima koje svatko od nas na neki način doživljava i svi su oni usamljeni i otuđeni i od svijeta i ljudi. Sve se te ljudske drame mogu smatrati malima, čak neznatnima poput one Yilan koja shvaća da je prestara da ima dijete, ali odluči kako će pomoći mužu da postane otac nakon što njihovo dijete strada u nesreći (pripovijetka „Zatvor“) ili problemi Meilan koja želi zavesti svog susjeda udovca Changa (pripovijetka „Vrtna cesta broj 3“), no način na koji nam ih Yiyun Li donosi sa svojim jasnim i britkim rečenicama ostavljaju snažan dojam na čitatelju praćen dubokim emotivnim udarcem.

Napisano za i postavljeno na portal: www.citajme.com

„Nitko ne zna zašto se takve stvari događaju, no neki filozofi iz dubine svemira tvrde da smo svi mi na više mjesta odjednom, ali smo svjesni samo jedne realnosti... Svatko u svojoj razini postojanja doživljava događaje koji su samo njemu namijenjeni, koliko god se to činilo nemoguće, tako je svima. Često ti događaji ljude usmjeravaju prema nekom cilju, no tu stvar prelazi pomalo u ezoterične vode i lako se zapitati zašto nekom sve ide glatko u životu, a neko do svega dolazi jako teško.“

Vanja Spirin ime je sa kojim se često susrećemo, no ponekad nam izmakne činjenica koliko je ono zapravo važno u literarnom svijetu Hrvatske i šire. Autor je svoju ljubav prema pisanju otkrio vrlo rano, još u osnovnoškolskim danima te je shodno tome objavljivao svoje uratke u časopisima „Smib“ i „Modra lasta“. S godinama, autor je objavljivao svoje uratke i u raznim zbirkama, časopisima, novinama i internetskim portalima. Stil u kojem se autor najviše pronašao jest fantastika. Tome svjedoči i njegovih pet djela fantastike, književna nagrada „Gaia“ za doprinos književnosti te književna nagrada „Sfera“ za najbolju fantastičnu priču.

Autorov najnoviji doprinos svijetu fantastike jest djelo „Smrtonosna mizija i druge priče“ koje se sastoji od sedam fantastičnih priča. One su redom: „Smrtonosna mizija“, „Legenda o Velikom ratniku“, Vinovnici invazije jednog jedinog svemirca“, „Svemirska stvarčica“, „O piramidama i tajanstvenim svicima“, „Lovac“ i „Nimfa“. Priča koja se spominje u samom naslovu djela, „Smrtonosna mizija“, najopsežnija je i jedina je ispričana iz prvog lica. U nedavnom intervjuu koji je autor Vanja Spirin dao za portal www.citajme.hr objašnjena je riječ mizija koja je u mnogih čitatelja stvarala radoznalost. Naime, to je složenica od riječi misije i vizije, a odnosi se na vizije glavnog junaka koje ga odvode u opasne misije, a sve će to postati jasnije nakon što se djelo pročita.

„Smrtnosna mizija“ priča je koje je glavni junak zagrebački momak iz kvarta koji je nakon mutne prošlosti i spletom okolnosti sreće i sudbine odlučio okrenuti novi list u životu. Od vagabonda, propalice i polu-kriminalca postao je vegan koji voli fileke, a za život zarađuje svojim novim taxijem. Tko bi ikada pomislio da je baš on sljedeći pangalaktički heroj koji će se vodeći iskrenim osjećajima uputiti na udaljeni planet Hertz-Columbus kako bi spasio svoju djevojku od svemirskih loših momaka. Tamo će udružiti snage sa stvorenjima koje inače voli jesti kako bi pobijedio Nečastivog i spasio svoju Esmeraldu, a sve to uz pomoć drevnog okultnog kulta na zemlji zvanog Mitrin kult koji u cijeloj toj priči ima mnogo dublje i skrivenije namjere.

Jednu od najzabavnijih priča, osobno smatram „O piramidama i tajanstvenim svicima“. Heroji priče zaputili su se avionom do bosanskih piramida kako bi uz pomoć druida pronašli stare spise u njenim dubinama i spasili svijet. No, na njihovom (nimalo lakom) putu izdogađat će se nekoliko sasvim neočekivanih situacija koje će čitatelja dovesti do smijeha i (sasvim moguće) na rub suza. Prikaz druida koji oko vatre peku kranjske kobasice toliko je nemoguć da nemamo drugog izbora nego ga prihvatiti kao jedino moguće realno stanje.
Sve priče pripadaju SF i humorističnom žanru, no ni jedna od njih se ne sastoji isključivo od toga. U svakoj priči čitatelj može pronaći nešto za sebe, od krimića preko mitologije i gastronomskih delicija do nasilja i putenih užitaka. Junaci su predstavljeni kao pravi hrvatski junaci, reprezenti svojeg naroda i svoje vrste. Oni su često suočeni sa izborom i životno važnim dilemama koje rješavaju u svojstveno hrvatskom stilu. Ono što se proteže iz priče u priču i povezuje sve naše junake jest neki oblik prijateljstva koje se iskazuje kroz potporu ili povjerenje, no bez obzira na oblik ono konačno utječe na odluke i pozitivnost ishoda priča glavnih junaka.

Djelo je napisano pravim zagrebačkim govorom koji je veliko osvježenje za mnoge čitatelje ljubitelje znanstvene fantastike. Ono govori kako stvari stoje načinom kojim su do tog mjesta dovedene. Autor ne preza pred upotrebom takozvanih prostih riječi, čestog nasilja (ponekad ničim izazvanim) te putenim užicima koji vješto podižu atmosferu djela.

Priče su na prvi pogled zabavne, no svaka od njih donosi neku kritiku društvu. Neke to čine očigledno, a u nekima se poruke vješto kriju. Tako se možemo susresti sa nemogućnošću otplate dugova i potraživanja od Zagrebačkog holdinga, Hrvatske televizije i T-coma, oglušenosti bezdušne vlasti na traženje predstečajne nagodbe, odbijanja junaka univerzuma u trešnjevačkoj udruzi branitelja jer oni zapravo ne poznaju nikog tko se zaista borio i slično. Vanja Spirin znalački kritizira mnoge nevaljale aspekte društva i to kroz jedinstvenu prozu znanstvene fantastike čime se je još jednom dokazao kao jedno od vodećih imena hrvatskog književnog kruga fantastike, autor koji je često predstavljan kao onaj koji može - „spojiti nespojivo“.

"You have to meet me halfway, or I will stop chasing you. And when I do, you'll regret the loss."

Aye, woman, anyone would regret that loss. That Lykae is fine.... Ahm... never mind that, let's continue more formal :)

The next couple on the list: the aforementioned Lykae, Garreth MacRieve, the Prince of the Lykae and a gorgeous Highlander who was a king while his brother Lachlain has been imprisoned. And the mysterious Lucia the Huntress, half Valkyrie, half unknown (and I mean unknown as in not even she nor Nix don't know what's her other heritage).

Garreth MacRieve was a known womaniser and a troublemaker when his brother Lachlain was the first in line for the crown of the Lykae. He never expected to be in a position where he has to care for all of his clan and where he doesn't have anyone else to ask for help. (Un)fortunately his brother was imprisoned by the Horde and disappeared for a long long time in which period the rake called Garreth had to become a responsible, strong and dependent man and a king worthy of his name and his brother's memory.

"Before assuming the throne, he'd been wild, a ladies' man and a brawler, so bad he'd been nicknamed the Dark Prince."

Lucia the Huntress is a part of the big Valkyrie family, she is of course a part Valkyrie and a part no-one-knows-what. She is known as "The Archer" or the best archer that ever existed. She never misses her target because if she would she would experience unimaginable pain which would cripple her for a while. She is a very withdrawn and mysterious person who doesn't share her secrets with anyone else but her closest sister Regin the Radiant who long ago risked her life to save Lucia's. And of course, Nix, no one keeps secrets from the soothsayer Nix who-knows-it-all. 

"A three-foot-long fish plopped onto the deck in front of Garreth and Damiano. Jutting from its head was an arrow with a line attached. Bow fishing.

From behind them, Lucia said, "Please put your penises away, gentlemen. Dinner is procured. By a woman."

Garreth and Lucia are destined to be. Or to put it differently, Lucia is Garreth's mate, one and only for him. And even though Valkyrie do not have that term in their language, they do consider the man to be their intended when they feel like they would always run straight into his arms, no matter what. 

So, where is the problem you might ask?

Well, let's see where to start. The Valkyrie hate Lykae and this starts to happen before Lachlain and Emma, Lucia has to keep her vow of celibacy if she wants to remain the Archer, Lucia is also married and needs to kill that son-of-a-b**** of her husband with her ability as an Archer is she wants to stop the Apocalypse... and then we also have those petty things like straightforwardness and impatience of Lykae combined with the hot temper and fierceness of Valkyrie. Misunderstandings. Troubling past... other people getting in the way... you know the drill.

Garreth and Lucia are a tough couple. He followed her for a year all around the world when she fled him to prepare for her duty which she has to do every 500 years. He always followed her and never let go. Even when he finally caught up with her in the middle of the Amazon where she had to go to retrieve a certain object. He was - persistent. Like Lykae usually are. And Lucia was ashamed of her past and scared for her future too much to trust him from the beginning. The fact that he is a Lykae and that with every full moon he has a pull to mark his mate, didn't help one bit. She was too scared to trust him. And he was too stubborn to see that. 

There are a few things that still bother me with this series.

1. The heroine even though losing her virginity in the beginning of the book, was restored to her virgin state by a Goddess. Why was that necessary? Why? Again with the VIRGINS *facepalm*. The same result could have been done with just taking an oath not to sleep with anyone. It didn't have to be restoration to a virgin state. STAHP with the VIRGINS. Just stahp!

2. TIMELINE. Again we go back to past before the beginning of the first book in the series. Which wouldn't be so bad if it was to be read as a prequel. But no. It flies past the other books and their happenings as well. Unnecessary! It could have been done as a great prequel. Stop mixing the timeline. Things are complicated as it is with the abundance of characters. No need to add the time confusion on top of it.

3. Lucia WASN'T REPRESENTED ENOUGH in the previous books. I just had no feelings towards her. At all. Not the positive, not the negative. She was introduced as an old character but she wasn't, well yeah in name only. But does it count? The author should pay a little more attention on introducing the characters properly. So we have some build-up and interest to see how their love affair will unravel. 

4. The SHAFT IS TOO BIG. Again. Damn those immortals. Not only are they gifted with a potentially eternal life but every single one of them has a shaft larger than a horse. I guess, all the humans are screwed. When the luck, money, life span, beauty and extra abilities were given, only the immortals were present at the banquet. 

"Sensing her hesitation, he took her hand, placing his cock in her warm palm. Just preventing himself from running his shaft over it, he grated, "Make a fist."

She couldn't close her fingers around it. "I can't," she murmured, then glared at him when he had to bite back a chuckle."

Despite some frustrating negative remarks, I also have positive ones.

1. A STRONG heroine. Lucia has survived rape, mortal danger, many perilous situations and all with the help of her sister Regin or with no help at all. She never mobilized her entire family to help her do her duty. She didn't even entrusted them with her inner most secrets not to get them involved and exposed to danger.

2. PERSISTENCE of the Lykae. Some may argue that Garreth was too persistent but I say that he was just adorable. He never intended on letting his woman go without a bloody damn good reason which she hasn't provided. It's so rare. Especially in modern times. People give up at the first obstacle, love is considered great as long as it's easy. Of course marriages fall apart and people end up single. Less and less people want to be bothered by the those difficulties anymore. 

3. CHANGING SCENERY. The author really tries to give us different experiences with each and every book in this series. Which I know is really difficult when you haven't travelled to all of the places you like to portray. This time we have the opportunity to experience a small part of the Amazon and it's breathtaking. Kudos, Kresley Cole.

4. The CHEMISTRY. Kresley Cole has a knack for creating an incredible chemistry between the main characters. It kinda holds the whole story together. Especially when you try to put this story before, in-between and after the previous stories in the prequels.

5. WORLD BUILD-UP. It's great. It keeps spreading and introducing more and more characters. Thumbs up.

6. HUMOUR. All of Cole's books have this streak of humour that never gets old. I enjoy it tremendously. All those witty comebacks are a great way to brighten up the mood.

"He irritably gazed at the females. "Why'd you invite them?" he demanded. "Damn you both, I weary of this. Did you never think I doona like nymphs?"

"Nay," Uilleam said with a swig. "Any being that sports a penis likes nymphs."

Munro drained his bottle and added, "You canna argue with medical facts."

All in all, I enjoyed the book and the pair. Despite being pissed of at Lucia who could have avoided all that has transpired if she just explained it in a few sentences to poor Garreth who was always kept in the dark. But then we wouldn't have another book, now would we? Yes, indeed. More please :P

"If you think to seduce me to free you, it won't happen."

"Seducing you is its own end, love."

"The Future Project is taking the initiative!" - Shibazaki

Kasahara receives a call from Satoshi and leaves the dormitory. Shibazaki finds her note and alerts the rest of the team Dojo (must mention that she stormed into the male dormitory, straight into Dojo's room XD). Satoshi tries to recruit Kasahara and when that fails he admits that he doesn't really want her but his brother Tezuka and that she must tell him if he joins the Future Project all charges against Kasahara will disappear. One plot starts to uncover...

"It was my choice to come get you. Of course I was worried about you. Do you have a problem with that?" - Dojo (to Kasahara)

Shibazaki's admirer is finally showing his true agenda. How pitiful. And I feel so sorry for Shibazaki. To finally let somebody a bit closer and to have it turn out the worst way possible... Ganbatte kuadasai Shibazaki :*

Some time later Kasahara was cleared of all charges out of the blue. And she received a letter from Satoshi. A letter which will change her life and it was about freaking time, oh, I'm so excited. She finally knows who her real Prince is. Aaaaaaaaaaaa..........

As Shibazaki cut all ties with her admirer, Tezuka was standing guard at Shibazaki's request. They are so interesting. They will be the best couple. I have complete faith in that. The episode which shows how their friendship evolves to a higher level was one of the sweetest and funniest at the same time. Shibazaki really has no shame, does she?

As Kasahara frets over her new discovery, she comes to a conclusion that Dojo must hate her since she hurt him with continuous mentioning of her Prince and how he is better than Dojo. Of course, only Kasahara can come up with that particular conclusion. Baka. Will she never learn? Will she never understand?

The Library is experiencing a series of attacks on hearing-impaired women. Someone is groping them and taking pictures, taking advantage of their condition. That moron had no idea what he started and who's coming for him... don't ever ever provoke the nice always smiling Instructor Komaki 'cause you may not live to tell about it.

The romance between Dojo and Kasahara is finally taking an important step forward. Despite Kasahara's conclusion that Dojo hates her. Step is still made. She can focus on him as a man he is now, at last. And he will surely be more affected because one thing that Kasahara is most than anything else is honest. When you tie that with the straightforwardness and you got yourself some blushing for sure. I can already see it. And can hardly wait. 

Shibazaki and Tezuka are so different yet so similar that it's frightening. They will be the most respected, acknowledged, high-society couple you can imagine. They are both respected, seen as cold and calculative, have a lot of high up connections, Tezuka's family is in high society, their position will only rise... if they manage to manage each other, they will be the strongest looking couple in society. Just get on with that. Stop being so elusive, dammit. 

One of my favourite manga's is looking stronger than ever. I foresee a beautiful future for our favoured characters. Woohoo :)

"You're so busy feeling sorry for yourself you forgot how to treat your friends. Is this who you are? I don't think so! Don't keep stuff bottled up! Let it out like a man! If you need to work it off, well I'm here. Bring it on!" - Kasahara (to Tezuka)

Someone is posting quite nasty book reviews on the Library's website and it is an actual librarian called Kazuki Sunagawa, believe it or not. The reviews have provoked many people, among them Marie and Kasahara because their favourite books were portrayed as trash. And for a librarian to write such things is a disgrace but the freedom of speech expends to the employees as well and at the top of the page it clearly states that this is a personal opinion and not Library's. But is it really that simple?

"Sorry. I just don't know if I can be unbiased on the issue. Especially when it concerns her. (Komaki about Marie)

Heh... Love is blind. Love is blinding. (Dojo)"

Tezuka reveals a bit of his history and upbringing. His brother Satoshi and him were very close and Tezuka even idolized Satoshi until the day Satoshi decided to leave the family. Namely, Satoshi and his father had differing opinions on the future of libraries and freedom of speech. Satoshi wanted to change the Library, he wants to make the Library a part of the government organizations like the MBC is. He believes that this is the best for the future and for stopping the war between the Library and the MBC even though he is aware of the fact that the Library would lose much of its power and influence in that case. So he founded a "Future of the library" group.

"You haven't changed, Hikaru. And you know I haven't either. I'm not one to give up easily. You will be... Mine." - Satsohi (about Tezuka)

Shibazaki's admirer tells her that he has a source which told him that the Musashino Library is engaging in an unauthorized destruction of books and that the story will be published unless she tells him to ask his source to pull the story out. She is torn between the desire to protect the Library and the need to be honest and truthful. 

"The tension in the Library is stronger than ever. The two ideologies are about to clash. It's going to be ugly."

The modern day book burning was blamed on Sunagawa. When the panel of inquiry questioned him he managed to make a deal by naming an accomplice, Corporal Kasahara. The most righteous girl in the world. Everyone received this news as a shock when the panel asked to question Kasahara but Dojo seemed to be hurt more than the rest. So adorable. 

Team Dojo set on to prepare Kasahara for any and all possible questions and provided her with satisfying answers. 

"This is going to be a marathon. Things will get harder and harder for you. This is an order. Let me know when it becomes too much for you!" - Dojo (to Kasahara)

Intrigue, plots, suspense in lieu of action. Not bad, not bad at all. It's a real page-turner. Or should I be more accurate and say a page-clicker since I read it on my laptop? :) Anyway, the things are getting very interesting, the atmosphere is heating up and this Volume is way to short for the weak of heart so just continue on to the next one to calm your nerves.

One thing I must mention is a difference between the anime and manga. Here, in Volume 7 we have much more inner reflections and personal struggles displayed than are shown in an anime. The story itself is consistent but way too short in the anime. In the manga we encounter Kasahara's pain and feel her struggles as our own during her lengthy interrogation, especially as everyone starts to avoid her and reject her as a criminal. Manga is much more emotional and realistic. 

Bonus manga. Marie Nakazawa and Kasahara get soaking wet when heading to the Library. Consequently Marie is given a Library member uniform to change into and through series of silly developments she is mistaken as a real member and is given a couple of jobs to do until Komaki finally finds her and then... well he's just so sweet...

Extra bonus manga. Kasahara unable to relax and sleep. Until she imagines her... prince.

"So why did I open up like that? As if I had total faith in Kasahara, letting her see me be vulnerable. After all these years, I found someone I actually want to be friends with." - Shibazaki

It's that time of the year again and in Japan it is customary for girls to give chocolates to the boys they fancy on Valentine's Day, homemade would be the best of course.

All the guys have their little following and Kasahara doesn't know how to handle it. So, she does what she does best. She buys simple chocolates for the whole Dojo team and leaves them for everyone on the table. But Dojo is late and all the chocolates were gone by the time he arrived. Kasahara wanted to give him some she saved but then she experienced a shock when she spied a beautiful woman giving him some homemade expertly wrapped chocolates on the hallway. Of course she couldn't give him her small, bought, simple chocolate after that, now could she?

A great episode amidst Kasahara's anxiety attack. Tezuka and Shibazaki are very popular and along with the tons of chocolates they receive a lot of invites for dates and meals outside of the main building. When they see each other among the many fans, they decide to get a lunch together to get away from everyone else. So pragmatic... and promising.

Later on, Shibazaki gets a serious admirer, a patron of the Library who intrigues her enough to go on a date with him. His name is Hikaru Asahina and despite his nice appearance he looks like he has some other agenda. While discussing him with Kasahara, Shibazaki reflects on her not so pleasant history of her school days and friendship and acting like a nice girl just to be accepted. A beautifully displayed character's background. It explains a lot about Shibazaki and her twisted standards.

Besides the romantic developments, the Library encounters new problems. Everybody is speculating that the Commander will leave and that they will get a new chief. Which soon comes true and as the new head arrives General Sadahiko Eto.

In the popular magazine Weekly New World an article about a minor who was convicted as a murderer was published with the entire court deposition and the minor's photograph and full name which violates the juvenile court privacy law. The idea was to show the public how twisted those murders were and what exactly happened because the murderer only received a slap on the wrist, so to speak. Now the Library has to make a choice if the magazine will be available in its entirety, if the article will be expelled or if only some parts will be available to read. Freedom of speech vs the law, it's never an easy decision.

Tezuka's mysterious brother finally makes an appearance. And he's... very interesting.

"Hikaru. What will it take for me to win you back?" - Tezuka's brother

Bonus manga. Hot springs! Woohoo! Hot hot hot... springs ;) Awesome. Tezuka defending Shibazaki, Komaki finally snapped and let his guard down and to top all of it, Kasahara saw Dojo naked, like totally utterly naked... gyah *.* My favourite bonus manga so far. By far.

Extra bonus manga 1. Moburo's business.

Extra bonus manga 2. Tezuka's insomnia.

Extra bonus manga 3. Dojo blushing... awwww 

This Volume brings us a lot of laughter, awwww moments, close friendships, respected colleagues, many romantic interests and one major change, arrival of the new head of the Library. It lacks in action which was consistent so far but it does reveal plots which will undoubtedly lead to more action in the future. Until then, sit back, enjoy and laugh along with these amazing characters and their everyday mishaps.

"I'm the Valkyrie who most wants to be held - and I never can be.- At the thought she felt her bottom lip trembling.- I'd rather not have had a glimpse of what I've been missing.

She dropped her head into her hands and wept, her freezing tears making her want to scream."

The fourth and the last brother Wroth to get hitched. Murdoch Wroth is a Forebearer, a vampire who abstains from drinking blood directly from the source. He was turned into a vampire along with his brother Nikolai by the Forebearer king Kristoff himself. They then turned their other two brothers, Sebastian and Conrad. When he was human he was a known womaniser who despite his combat skills will forever be remembered as a manwhore, a term that will be a painful reminder of his leisure human life. 

Daniela aka Danii is a Valkyrie who is also a part ice fey, unique of her kind. She can resist shiny and expensive objects unlike other Valkyrie but because of her ice fey lineage she can't touch anyone other than ice people. If she were to be touched by others, she would suffer great burns and her body would eventually overheat and she might shatter. Everyone calls her Ice Queen or Ice Maiden and she is thought of as untouchable, distant, arrogant. Everything that can not be further from the truth. She desires to be touched, loved, cherished. But because she knows this to be impossible, she acts like nothing can get to her only to spare her feelings.

Murdoch and Danii are an impossible pair, one who worked his way through countless of women and who is of vigorous temper, the other a virgin who longs to be touched but never can be and that greatly affects her behaviour. Never say never, though. True love can always find a way...

Despite me loving vampires, this story just didn't do anything for me. I love Kresley Cole greatly and her writing style always pleases me but this story was just so washed up and dull that the 2* I did give it was only for the previous books and hope that the Series will improve.

1. How many times in one Series do you need to use a VIRGIN HEROINE? I know that mainstream sells but come on. Danii was so out of place that she just came out as pushy more than anything else. She was a descendant of a Queen, next in line for the throne and yet her behaviour and lifestyle didn't showcase for it. Not even a little bit. 

2. TIMELINE SUCKS. Sorry to say this but what the hell? This story is placed during and after the Hie, before and after catching Myst, before and after catching Conrad. So, Murdoch and Danii were together-ish form the second book of the Series onwards? Really? And now we have a repeat on some of the old happenings. Like catching Conrad in a Lore bar, it is copy pasted. And some other stuff. I found it so boring that I skipped some old-repeat parts.

3. They DESERVED MORE. Danii has intrigued me from the beginning. An ice fey, awesome right? Now, her story is all rushed, placed in some former stories, written in mere 160 pages. I really thought she deserves a full length novel but not as she was finally portrayed as some whimpish and childish girl. I thought she will be more warrior like, controlling ice, blizzards, snow... She was so cool in my head and now she is degraded to an escaped-failed-lab-experiment-like who can only puff some cold air now and then. Where is the badass when you need one? And don't get me even started on Murdoch, a reformed rake. 

4. What is up with heroes repeatedly KISSING the heroines LASHES??? I don't get it.

The story was jumbled, the chemistry between main characters almost non-existent, sex scenes were dull and bland, there was nothing new and fresh, everything is a cliche, used over and over and over again by the different paranormal romance authors...

The only interesting thing going on was a speculation of how will Murdoch finally gain the ability to touch Danii. And that one I also guessed but the question mark was still there. 

I hope that this isn't how the Series will continue because if it so I will be very sad... 

"Next time you take off crying, hide someplace an emotional girl is more likely to hide." - Dojo (finding Kasahara in the bushes)

Kasahara's parents are still visiting. She is almost on the brink of exhaustion but she's convinced she can still pull the deception off. When her mother opposes her clerk work as too close to the danger she snaps but her father manages to handle the situation. Kasahara finally reveals to her parents why she decided to join the Library. She tells them her embarrassing story of the prince who saved her and the books from the evil MBC members. 

Her father unlike her mother doesn't seem to oppose her choice. He actually seems supportive. Which makes a world of difference for poor Kasahara.

And finally we learn a lot more about the mysterious Mikihisa Komaki-sensei and his non-existent (?) love life. Is it true that he cares for a seventeen year old girl much more than he should?

The aforementioned girl is a hearing-impaired high school student Marie Nakazawa, and Komaki's neighbour with whom he grew up together. Despite being ten years younger than Komaki, they were always close. When she started to lose her hearing and closed herself from the world, he was the one who broke through her shell and made her smile again. Now, she is the only constant in his life next to his job.

Because of his close connection to her, Komaki was taken by the MBC members under the suspicion of abusing a person with disabilities. He recommended her a book which stars a heroine with a hearing disability who falls in love with an older man and they wind up together. The MBC decided that his act was intolerable and insensitive because he recommended that book to a girl who is hearing-impaired. Now, the MBC is torturing Komuki to get a confession...

"Gosh. I can't see you as a child anymore. What am I going to do?" - Komaki (to Marie)

Bonus manga. The best humour so far. I literally cried from laughing out loud. When Kasahara gets riled up about something, there is nothing stopping her. And she charges straight forward. This time it's Tezuka who won't get away until he succumbs. 

Bonus manga 2. *blushing* Awesome Kasahara - Dojo romance episode. Kasahara in a fancy dress at a fancy hotel and all the guys turning to gape at her while Dojo is fuming beyond belief. Don't miss it !

"She's mine." - Dojo (about Kasahara while holding her in his arms, *blush* *blush*)

Extra bonus manga. Jealous Dojo and oblivious Kasahara XD