Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.28 AVERAGE
3.28 AVERAGE
I love Keri Arthur's books, especially the Guardian series. I had that thought in mind when I bought this book (and the rest of the series). Unfortunately it isn't nearly as good as any of the others.
I am not sure when she wrote this in relation to her other books but it seems like it is one of her first efforts.
The story is the only saving grace to the book. The actual writing is horrible. Scenes are choppy and don’t flow at all. The attempts to use metaphors and imagery is so over-the-top it is laughable, repeatedly.
Naturally I intend to read the other three books in the series. Hopefully the second book is an improvement.
I am not sure when she wrote this in relation to her other books but it seems like it is one of her first efforts.
The story is the only saving grace to the book. The actual writing is horrible. Scenes are choppy and don’t flow at all. The attempts to use metaphors and imagery is so over-the-top it is laughable, repeatedly.
Naturally I intend to read the other three books in the series. Hopefully the second book is an improvement.
This one didn't reel me in like some of her other books. That said it was still good and found it to be an enjoyable read, just not memorable. Fans of her newer books are sure to like this one and that's who i'll mostly recommend it too.
This book was ok, but is not a patch on Keri's Riley Jenson books.
Part of what I objected to was that initially, Nikki was supposed to be a strong, albeit brittle woman, who'd battled her demons and come through the other side. Scarred, perhaps, but the minute Michael comes on board, she's turned into a sappy woman, who apparently can't be strong until she's unburdened everything - to him, no less - and ultimately ends up tied to him. Despite the fact that she had strong objections to it.
Yet she seems to have shrugged and ignored it, which doesn't feel "realistic" - I certainly would have been a lot more furious about it, if it were me!
Part of what I objected to was that initially, Nikki was supposed to be a strong, albeit brittle woman, who'd battled her demons and come through the other side. Scarred, perhaps, but the minute Michael comes on board, she's turned into a sappy woman, who apparently can't be strong until she's unburdened everything - to him, no less - and ultimately ends up tied to him. Despite the fact that she had strong objections to it.
Yet she seems to have shrugged and ignored it, which doesn't feel "realistic" - I certainly would have been a lot more furious about it, if it were me!
I could not help but draw similarities between Dancing with the devil and Anita Blake series. I loved the mystery of Dancing with the devil, and you have to admire the main character Nikki who has managed to survive a life on the streets and become a private Investigator. Nikki has some unusual talents in that she possesses Telekinesis and Telepathy. This is a handy trait for a private investigator to have, especially as she meets the Mysterious Michael. Michael is trying to hunt down and destroy the big bad evil vampire Jasper, and of course he develops strong and Instant desire for Nikki which he tries to ignore.
The story line for Dance with the devil is similar to a lot of Vampire novels, which was a bit disappointing, but I did grow to like the characters Nikki and Michael although I felt more for Nikki’s human boss Jake than I did for Michael which is unusual for me as I usually side with the Bad Boy. Jake is not a romantic third which makes this book more enjoyable for me, as Jake is married and more like a best friend/ brother to Nikki, looking after her and keeping her from making stupid mistakes, I do think a lot was left open with Jake though and mystery surrounds him, making me think in future books he may not be what he seems.
As I have said in earlier posts, even if the genre plot is the same as the rest it is the little mysteries that the Author provides that makes it enjoyable and stand out from the rest, and I really do believe this is where Keri Arthur makes Dancing with the devil stand out. The book and plot were full of little twists and turns and kept me guessing and reading.
If you enjoyed Anita Blake by Laurel K Hamilton, I do think this is a book you should try, I am Looking forward to reading the rest in the Nikki and Michael Series.
The story line for Dance with the devil is similar to a lot of Vampire novels, which was a bit disappointing, but I did grow to like the characters Nikki and Michael although I felt more for Nikki’s human boss Jake than I did for Michael which is unusual for me as I usually side with the Bad Boy. Jake is not a romantic third which makes this book more enjoyable for me, as Jake is married and more like a best friend/ brother to Nikki, looking after her and keeping her from making stupid mistakes, I do think a lot was left open with Jake though and mystery surrounds him, making me think in future books he may not be what he seems.
As I have said in earlier posts, even if the genre plot is the same as the rest it is the little mysteries that the Author provides that makes it enjoyable and stand out from the rest, and I really do believe this is where Keri Arthur makes Dancing with the devil stand out. The book and plot were full of little twists and turns and kept me guessing and reading.
If you enjoyed Anita Blake by Laurel K Hamilton, I do think this is a book you should try, I am Looking forward to reading the rest in the Nikki and Michael Series.
Nice book, two great characters with chemistry and something not new but well mixed like psichic powers and vampires. I´ll read the second book!
Libro carino, due personaggi che insieme hanno una buona chimica e un mix non troppo abusato come i poteri psichici e i vampiri. Leggeró il secondo libro!
THANKS TO NETGALLEY AND Random House Publishing Group - Bantam Dell FOR THE PREVIEW!
Libro carino, due personaggi che insieme hanno una buona chimica e un mix non troppo abusato come i poteri psichici e i vampiri. Leggeró il secondo libro!
THANKS TO NETGALLEY AND Random House Publishing Group - Bantam Dell FOR THE PREVIEW!
I am perpetually on the look-out for exciting new Urban Fantasy series, hence my excitement at receiving a digital ARC for Dancing with the Devil. I knew this one might lean more toward Paranormal Romance than I typically like, but I was willing to take the risk. The concept sounded really good to me.
One thing that I really liked about this book was the cover. It is not trying too hard to be sexy. It is a good urban fantasy depiction of a tough looking gal with a mysterious vibe. The red color was plays well into the Dancing with the Devil title. It has great use of fonts. It really looks like a book that I would enjoy. Alas, sometimes the adage is true about judging books by their covers.
I was expecting a story with a strong female detective, instead I discovered a stupid chick with the maturity of a bean sprout. Throughout the book, Monica (the heroine of the tale) runs headfirst into danger rather needlessly. Often this was a passive-aggressive response to being angry at someone, because it totally makes sense when you are mad at someone to risk your own life in the most dangerous scenario possible. Not. For a supposed detective, she was quite incapable of getting clue. I mean, the signs that Michael was a vampire were totally obvious. How long did it take Nikki to figure it out? Can you say, duh?
So, then there is the insta-lust between Nikki and Michael. I don't want to label it insta-love, because most of the time they did not even seem to like one another. Or maybe that was just because both characters spent the majority of the book in over-reaction mode. Sheesh, maybe they need some anger management.
And speaking of anger, Michael was a bit of an anger ball. He always get angry that she does not trust him, like REALLY angry, yet he gives her NO REASON to trust him. Did he really think his approach was going engender trust in her? Let's check his actions against the trustworthy check list. Would you trust a guy who tells you nothing while making it obvious that he is concealing a lot of information? I didn't think so. How about if he constantly promises not to control you, but repeatedly does so (even if it is to save your life)? Maybe not. I know, maybe you'd trust someone who would conceal his true nature from you and will lie to you about his ability to love? Not working for you? Well, maybe you should just get angry back and run headfirst into danger!
Beyond the characters themselves, the mythology seemed a little inconsistent to me. Nikki was able to open doors and break the necks of zombies using her psychic force, but she was unable to use it to open a car door? Smells kind of fishy to me. Worse, though, were all of the times when Nikki drained her power completely, yet she was always able to conveniently tap into more (unless Michael conveniently save her, making her angry).
The plot itself was kind of blah. After the first couple of chapters, the mystery is gone. We know who the bad guy is and what he wants. The rest of the book, the author seems to draw things out in a series of silly encounters. Nikki and Michael run into Jasper, Monica, and zombies, they fight, they scamper away, lather, rinse, and repeat.
I am still up in the air about whether or not I will this series another shot. I recognize that first books are not typically the best of the series. It would be pretty low risk, since I have received a digital ARC for the second installment.
*Disclaimer: a digital review copy of this book was provided to me free of charge by the publisher through Net Galley.
One thing that I really liked about this book was the cover. It is not trying too hard to be sexy. It is a good urban fantasy depiction of a tough looking gal with a mysterious vibe. The red color was plays well into the Dancing with the Devil title. It has great use of fonts. It really looks like a book that I would enjoy. Alas, sometimes the adage is true about judging books by their covers.
I was expecting a story with a strong female detective, instead I discovered a stupid chick with the maturity of a bean sprout. Throughout the book, Monica (the heroine of the tale) runs headfirst into danger rather needlessly. Often this was a passive-aggressive response to being angry at someone, because it totally makes sense when you are mad at someone to risk your own life in the most dangerous scenario possible. Not. For a supposed detective, she was quite incapable of getting clue. I mean, the signs that Michael was a vampire were totally obvious. How long did it take Nikki to figure it out? Can you say, duh?
So, then there is the insta-lust between Nikki and Michael. I don't want to label it insta-love, because most of the time they did not even seem to like one another. Or maybe that was just because both characters spent the majority of the book in over-reaction mode. Sheesh, maybe they need some anger management.
And speaking of anger, Michael was a bit of an anger ball. He always get angry that she does not trust him, like REALLY angry, yet he gives her NO REASON to trust him. Did he really think his approach was going engender trust in her? Let's check his actions against the trustworthy check list. Would you trust a guy who tells you nothing while making it obvious that he is concealing a lot of information? I didn't think so. How about if he constantly promises not to control you, but repeatedly does so (even if it is to save your life)? Maybe not. I know, maybe you'd trust someone who would conceal his true nature from you and will lie to you about his ability to love? Not working for you? Well, maybe you should just get angry back and run headfirst into danger!
Beyond the characters themselves, the mythology seemed a little inconsistent to me. Nikki was able to open doors and break the necks of zombies using her psychic force, but she was unable to use it to open a car door? Smells kind of fishy to me. Worse, though, were all of the times when Nikki drained her power completely, yet she was always able to conveniently tap into more (unless Michael conveniently save her, making her angry).
The plot itself was kind of blah. After the first couple of chapters, the mystery is gone. We know who the bad guy is and what he wants. The rest of the book, the author seems to draw things out in a series of silly encounters. Nikki and Michael run into Jasper, Monica, and zombies, they fight, they scamper away, lather, rinse, and repeat.
I am still up in the air about whether or not I will this series another shot. I recognize that first books are not typically the best of the series. It would be pretty low risk, since I have received a digital ARC for the second installment.
*Disclaimer: a digital review copy of this book was provided to me free of charge by the publisher through Net Galley.
I don't mind romance in my fantasy, the authors behind Illona Andrews show how it can work. What I mind is romance being first and the plot secondary. However, that's not the problem with this book.
The problem is that's what this book tried for and then miserably failed to achieve. It's not romance but a pile of idiotic cliches that didn't build characters that really cared for each other. They were cardboard cutouts following a simplistic and completely predictable plot. Both the heroes and the villian are paint-by-numbers.
Avoid this trash, even if you like romance in the lead.
The problem is that's what this book tried for and then miserably failed to achieve. It's not romance but a pile of idiotic cliches that didn't build characters that really cared for each other. They were cardboard cutouts following a simplistic and completely predictable plot. Both the heroes and the villian are paint-by-numbers.
Avoid this trash, even if you like romance in the lead.
This novel is full of blood-thirsty action, steamy romance and an ending that will leave you screaming for more. I couldn't put it down. I had to devourer every last syllable. Nikki is one bad ass chick I wouldn't want to be on the wrong side of.
See more of my review on my blog - Read it in Houston