Tuesday 25 January 2011

Review: Nightwalker (Dark Days #1) by Jocelynn Drake


Description (from Amazon.co.uk
Mira has been a nightwalker for centuries, travelling the globe as an enforcer for a secretive, powerful organization. But this vampire has a secret that makes her a valuable target: the unheralded ability to create fire. And after many centuries, she's finally met her match in Danaus - a vampire hunter with his own mysterious past. But the cat and mouse game between nightwalker and hunter quickly turns into something far more deadly. For a portal has been opened to other worlds, and the ancient, immortal enemies are returning to the world. And the web of lies and secrets leads directly to the vampire triad who raised Mira. After a brutal betrayal, Mira has only one choice: hunt...or be hunted.

Nightwalker is from my To-Read List. I can't remember how it got there but it looked pretty interesting from it's blerb.

Let me first say... I did not finish this book. Idk. I managed to read to chapter 14 but something was lacking. The character development wasn't rounded enough, or something. I always find it hard to review books as I can never pin point why I either like, love or hate them, but not so with this one. It had so much potential though. It's actually disappointing that I don't really like it, and I definitely won't be continuing with the series. Inconsistencies and discrepancies, and not enough emotional development-if none at all. You only have to look at the leads relationship with Jabari to see the glaring obvious flaws in writing. And don't even get me started with Danaus. Jesus, even the Nerian! They are supposedly so scary but in the next instance the pain from a mere broken nose clouds his judgment so much she gains the upper hand. They are so hard to kill that she managed to kill 4 of them! If they are that easy to kill THEN WHY IS SHE SCARED SHITLESS BY THEM?!?!

I think I'm so pissed off because I really wanted to like this book. It could have been so, SO much better. And I really hate not finishing a book. I think I kept going just hoping it would get better. Um, no it didn't, just made me more annoyed. What a waste. (I may force myself to finish this book at some point, but Idk, maybe not. We'll see)

I need a new series, something on the same level as the Downside Ghost books. Oh well on to the next!

Rating: 0/6 - Did Not Finish

Review: Fledgling by Octavia E. Butler

Description (from amazon.co.uk)
Fledgling, Octavia Butler’s first new novel in seven years, is the story of an apparently young, amnesiac girl whose alarmingly unhuman needs and abilities lead her to a startling conclusion: She is in fact a genetically modified, 53-year-old vampire. Forced to discover what she can about her stolen former life, she must at the same time learn who wanted—and still wants—to destroy her and those she cares for and how she can save herself. Fledgling is a captivating novel that tests the limits of “otherness” and questions what it means to be truly human.

Fledgling by Octavia E. Butler was voted for by the participants of calico_reaction's book club for February's reading challenge, which I mistook for January's choice.

It's about a girl who wakes up in a dark cave with no memory and with only her newborn-like instincts to guide her as she tries to survive. The story is about her re-learning to be herself again, discovery her (and her family/race) history and customs, as she battles to save herself and her people from someone who want to see their world rid of her kind.

I have to say that I really enjoyed it

I really liked the start; I wasn't really sure what's going on. There were little clues telling you its not something good, I love a slow reveal :) I was totally sucked in from start to finish. It was really interesting finding out about shori's history and customs, and I loved the tone in which it was written. I would definitely recommend reading this book.

Rating: 5/6 - I Really Liked It