It has been a while since I did one of these reading roundup posts. Not sure if I forgot, or just put it off, but there are a couple of books that deserve a mention. I am not going to cover everything that I read over the last month, but it was another mixed bag for me.
The Fever Series – So far, I am just starting the fourth book of Karen Marie Moning‘s Fever series. I have to admit, I went into this one not knowing quite what to expect. I have heard people say everything from it is the best urban fantasy series going to they couldn’t stand the main character, Mac. Turns out that I am really enjoying it – but I am also very grateful that I am not one of the unfortunate many who had to wait a year for the next book, since the cliffhanger endings would be a killer. I enjoy Mac, love Jericho, can’t wait to “see” Ryodan, have a soft spot for V’Lane, and I am even enjoying Dani so far. Very engrossing storyline, and the little hints of the MacKelter connection are a treat. So, for me so far, a great series.
The Indigo Spell – I think this is the book where Sydney comes into her own. I liked her character from her debut in the Vampire Academy series, but sometimes I just wanted to smack her. I totally got where she was coming from, being very strictly raised with a concrete set of beliefs, but those beliefs made her sometimes very frustrating. And how she left Adrian at the end of the last book – well, let’s just say I was hoping for better from her in The Indigo Spell. Turns out she delivered, and I can’t wait to see where Richelle Mead will take things in The Fiery Heart.
Beauty Awakened – Wow, this is a hard one, since I haven’t actually finished it. I am about a hundred pages in, and really struggling. I know there has been much talk about how Gena Showalter has had a change of faith, as it were, and how it has affected her writing, but I haven’t noticed it before now. I found that the last couple of books had a subtle religious theme running through them, but it was nothing that stood out for me that much. But man, this time around, I am finding it a real struggle to get invested in the story. The whole thing feels way too heavy handed and just too obvious, and that isn’t what I read Gena Showalter for. I have to read this one for the Character Guide, but if it weren’t for the guide, I am pretty sure it would be a DNF. This isn’t a knock against anyone finding faith – more power to her, but it is like someone else wrote the book. And this far into her writing career, it is a little late to change focus.
Did anyone else try any of these? What did you think of them?
