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toastymaloney's review against another edition
3.0
For this being about Menes and Hatshepsut, I was surprised at how little they were in this story. Maybe the next one.
This story focused on Menes/Jackson and Marissa. She is finally acknowledging her feelings for Jackson, if only to herself. She struggles with all the reasons she shouldn't be with him instead of even thinking of any reasons she should be with him. And then she finds out about the whole Bodywalker thing, and is sure Jackson has lost it.
It felt long, but an interesting part of the story as a whole.
This story focused on Menes/Jackson and Marissa. She is finally acknowledging her feelings for Jackson, if only to herself. She struggles with all the reasons she shouldn't be with him instead of even thinking of any reasons she should be with him. And then she finds out about the whole Bodywalker thing, and is sure Jackson has lost it.
It felt long, but an interesting part of the story as a whole.
moirwyn's review against another edition
2.0
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This review originally appeared on my blog, Books Without Any Pictures:
http://bookswithoutanypictures.com/2014/01/27/forever-jacquelyn-frank/
Police officer Jackson Waverly has recently been brought back from death by becoming a Bodywalker. This means that his body is shared by the ancient Egyptian pharaoh Menes, and the two souls are blended together into one. Part of the reason why Jackson wanted a second chance at life is because of his feelings for Marissa, a psychiatrist who works at the police station. Marissa comes off to many people as a stuck-up bitch, but that’s because she puts up an external wall of professionalism to keep herself from getting hurt. Jackson’s had a crush on her for more than a year, but he’s too dedicated to his job act on his feelings and complicate things with a workplace romance. The problem? Menes is waiting for his queen Hatsheput to be reincarnated. He really wants Marissa to become Hatsheput’s Bodywalker host, but Marissa doesn’t want to kill herself so she can share her soul with an undead queen.
When I read the first book in the series, I was less than impressed with the writing and the pacing. Forever has much better writing, but the pacing threw me off. There’s less explanation and background needed about the Bodywalkers and their world, and so we get into the relationship drama right away, and that came at the expense of worldbuilding and paranormal plot. Perhaps because I’m accustomed to reading fantasy rather than romance, I was itching to see more action (of the literal and figurative varieties) and less wrestling with emotions.
Marissa is the embodiment of a high-strung professional. She spends so much time taking care of other people’s problems that she never takes the time to have a life of her own. My favorite character in the story, albeit a minor one, is her outspoken sister Lina, who warns Marissa that she needs to take some chances and experience more of what life has to offer.
“You need to loosen up,” Lina said, for the thousandth time. “Before you know it your youth will be gone and bam!”–she smacked her hands together–”You’re old and decrepit with cobwebs in your vagina and you’ll be sitting there wondering why you never actually lived your life. I constantly hope you’ll throw caution to the wind one day and just embrace your life.”
As a character, Lina cracked me up. Her honest and no-nonsense outlook on life was a refreshing contrast to the protagonists. Even though she’s batshit crazy, she’s the most reasonable character in the book.
It took Marissa around 200 pages of sexual tension to finally bang Jackson, and the tension between the two was a bit overplayed. Jackson is pretty much your stereotypical lawful good guy, so he doesn’t want to complicate Marissa’s life or overstep boundaries. He isn’t used to breaking rules. Menes is used to being a king, so he is a lot more willing to help Jackson push his own boundaries. Then there’s Marissa trying to decide whether or not she wants to let go and become emotionally vulnerable, even though it’s obvious that she already is. Then again, romance isn’t my usual genre, so I suspect my frustration with the drama is more a reflection of me than of the book itself.
And then there’s the whole Marissa/Hatsheput controversy. Asking the person you love to die so someone else can share her body with her is creepy. I get that Jackson and Menes have to share the same body, but I felt like they were putting too much pressure on Marissa to become like them. When you truly love someone, you accept them for who they are rather than trying to force them to be someone they’re not. The whole immortality and superpowers thing complicates it a bit, and Jacquelyn Frank chose to take a risk by presenting dying just to become a Bodywalker as a good thing. Some people are going to think it’s romantic, and others are gonna think it’s just weird.
This book was ridiculous. Good for a light read, but if you try to analyze it seriously, it will make your head spin. Forbidden was definitely the stronger book of the two. And yet, despite my frustrations with Forever, I will be reading book three.
http://bookswithoutanypictures.com/2014/01/27/forever-jacquelyn-frank/
Police officer Jackson Waverly has recently been brought back from death by becoming a Bodywalker. This means that his body is shared by the ancient Egyptian pharaoh Menes, and the two souls are blended together into one. Part of the reason why Jackson wanted a second chance at life is because of his feelings for Marissa, a psychiatrist who works at the police station. Marissa comes off to many people as a stuck-up bitch, but that’s because she puts up an external wall of professionalism to keep herself from getting hurt. Jackson’s had a crush on her for more than a year, but he’s too dedicated to his job act on his feelings and complicate things with a workplace romance. The problem? Menes is waiting for his queen Hatsheput to be reincarnated. He really wants Marissa to become Hatsheput’s Bodywalker host, but Marissa doesn’t want to kill herself so she can share her soul with an undead queen.
When I read the first book in the series, I was less than impressed with the writing and the pacing. Forever has much better writing, but the pacing threw me off. There’s less explanation and background needed about the Bodywalkers and their world, and so we get into the relationship drama right away, and that came at the expense of worldbuilding and paranormal plot. Perhaps because I’m accustomed to reading fantasy rather than romance, I was itching to see more action (of the literal and figurative varieties) and less wrestling with emotions.
Marissa is the embodiment of a high-strung professional. She spends so much time taking care of other people’s problems that she never takes the time to have a life of her own. My favorite character in the story, albeit a minor one, is her outspoken sister Lina, who warns Marissa that she needs to take some chances and experience more of what life has to offer.
“You need to loosen up,” Lina said, for the thousandth time. “Before you know it your youth will be gone and bam!”–she smacked her hands together–”You’re old and decrepit with cobwebs in your vagina and you’ll be sitting there wondering why you never actually lived your life. I constantly hope you’ll throw caution to the wind one day and just embrace your life.”
As a character, Lina cracked me up. Her honest and no-nonsense outlook on life was a refreshing contrast to the protagonists. Even though she’s batshit crazy, she’s the most reasonable character in the book.
It took Marissa around 200 pages of sexual tension to finally bang Jackson, and the tension between the two was a bit overplayed. Jackson is pretty much your stereotypical lawful good guy, so he doesn’t want to complicate Marissa’s life or overstep boundaries. He isn’t used to breaking rules. Menes is used to being a king, so he is a lot more willing to help Jackson push his own boundaries. Then there’s Marissa trying to decide whether or not she wants to let go and become emotionally vulnerable, even though it’s obvious that she already is. Then again, romance isn’t my usual genre, so I suspect my frustration with the drama is more a reflection of me than of the book itself.
And then there’s the whole Marissa/Hatsheput controversy. Asking the person you love to die so someone else can share her body with her is creepy. I get that Jackson and Menes have to share the same body, but I felt like they were putting too much pressure on Marissa to become like them. When you truly love someone, you accept them for who they are rather than trying to force them to be someone they’re not. The whole immortality and superpowers thing complicates it a bit, and Jacquelyn Frank chose to take a risk by presenting dying just to become a Bodywalker as a good thing. Some people are going to think it’s romantic, and others are gonna think it’s just weird.
This book was ridiculous. Good for a light read, but if you try to analyze it seriously, it will make your head spin. Forbidden was definitely the stronger book of the two. And yet, despite my frustrations with Forever, I will be reading book three.
booksabrewin's review against another edition
4.0
I received a physical copy of this book from the publishers via the blog host's request in exchange for an honest review and participation in the blog tour.
I got through the first book without too many issues with the four spirits, two bodies dilemma. I have to say, I was a little weary going into the second book, especially with the synopsis talking about having to kill the woman that the original host was in love with in order for her to host the queen counterpart spirit to his king. That just has drama written all over it. Not to mention, I couldn't even imagine how exactly he would come to ask her for such a thing. "Hey baby, you're kind of hot, will you die and host the spirit of my alterego's queen? Pretty please?" I absolutely had to find out more about this story.
Jackson died and came back with a Bodywalker king living contentedly inside him. He was moderately okay with that. What he wasn't okay with was the fact that he would have to give up on his infatuation with the precinct psychiatrist in order to commit his heart and body to Menes' queen whenever she were to appear. He was struggling with the need to get closer to her while also knowing it cannot be anything permanent. He wouldn't ask her to host Hatshepsut's spirit. He would not disrupt her life in such a way. But what his head and his heart are telling him to do, not to mention the commentary from Menes who finds Marissa to be the perfect host for his queen, are completely different.
Marissa has always had a thing for the strong K-9 officer at her work. She couldn't explain why she was having such a hard time resisting him, but resist she must. She is his psychiatrist after he lost his K-9 partner in a tragic event and cannot cross that patient-doctor line. She must keep things professional. A tactic she has learned to use in many an uncomfortable emotional situation. But when faced with the otherworldly power of the spirit inside Jackson and what that spirit is capable of doing, she must wonder if what is professionally ethical is really what is keeping her away from him. Jackson is a frightening man all by himself to Marissa, add to that one royal alpha male and it makes for a very potent combination that makes Marissa question whether distance from Jackson is truly what she wants.
With the reappearance of Menes, the Bodywalker king, the Templars are quick to attempt to send him back to the Ether before his queen can join him, even if that means awakening an evil the likes of which the world has never known.
This book in the series focused a lot more on how Bodywalker sex can be odd. Ultimately the host is not just having sex with the other host, but also the Bodywalker... if sex is between two Bodywalkers, that is a whole lot of different personalities all mixed in there. What happens if one likes it one way and the other another? I couldn't see how any of that could be any more confusing. And I struggled even more with this book that the last, however, the connection between Marissa and Jackson seemed more real (if that's even possible in this sort of situation) than the one between Ram and Docia. I found myself falling in love with Jackson's quick wit as well as Menes's sexual innuendos. I started to (kinda, sorta) grasp how the Bodywalker and the host kind of compliment each other. I found the insight into the Templars that was given to show them in a new light. Not all of them are bloodthirsty zealots bent on world destruction.
Forever is the perfect middle story. It fluffs out the details of the Bodywalker race and couples that with yet another steamy romance.
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hannas_heas47's review against another edition
4.0
This is the second book in the night walker's series. I consider it the body walker series, just because at the point of death a host can join with a soul from the ether. This Jackson's story, he's the host of Mene's, Egyptian King, who spends the entire book waiting for Marissa to be the host to his soul mate Hatshepsut. I think this book has a lot better sexual tension than the first but it still waits until the end before an actual action happens. This was a quick good read, and if you liked Jacquelyn Frank's other books this one doesn't disappoint! It also gives more details about Ram and Docia, and gives you clues to the next book about Leo!
pebblespenguin1's review against another edition
5.0
‘Forever’ is the second novel in The World of Nightwalkers series. I really enjoyed the first book ‘Forbidden’. To me Jacquelyn’s writing is always irresistible; she creates such amazing new worlds. This series is one of my favorites.
Surprisingly I like the sequel ‘Forever’ even more than I liked ‘Forbidden’ and I couldn’t put ‘Forbidden’ down, so that is definitely saying something. I really loved the idea of the mummification process that the Ancient Egyptians did, put them into the Ether and gave them a sort of immortality.
I have always had a fascination with Ancient Egypt, so this series was a treat for me. I was very fond of Jackson and Marissa in the first book and to see their story continue and unfold. I also really enjoyed reading about Menes. I love pharaohs and their queens; I mean how cool is that? So to have Menes’ story told was very cool. I loved the difference between Menes and Jackson’s personality.
When I first read the synopsis I was worried that the ending would be predictable, but I was pleasantly surprised. ‘Forever’ kept me on the edge of my seat until the very last sentence. Both characters are extremely strong and stubborn, so having them go through this dynamic story together creates sparks; amazing, irresistible, luscious sparks that you can’t turn your eyes away from.
I love this story and cannot wait to read more.
raven168's review against another edition
2.0
Maybe 2.5 stars...because I smiled here and there.
Picking up about three weeks after Forbidden, Jackson is living out the remainder of his human life as well as he can while still trying to live in anonymity amongst his coworkers. He's able to still be in the sun for some time yet because when Menes first appeared he used way too much power and it's taking longer for their blending to progress. Docia and Ram have gone ahead to New Mexico and are taking care of running things until Jackson goes there. The last day that Jackson planned on working, a child goes missing and he's called out with Sargent to try to find him. While out in the woods with Marissa he's attacked by Templars. So much for not being known as the king. But by protecting Marissa he has essentially made her a target too and she invariably gets dragged into his new world.
Now the reason for so few stars is because pretty much nothing happens in this book. It's all pretty much about Jackson trying to break thru Marissa's walls and have her see what he feels for her and accept it and herself. Eventually leading to Menes wanting her to die so his queen can be reborn in her body. Which of course she rejects flat out right away. Though that only lasts a few hours in the end... While I can say that I like Jackson/Menes' character, I am not a fan of Marissa. Frankly, I don't like her much at all. I didn't care for her in the first book, and this one didn't endear me to her any more either.
For things that actually did happen? Leo gets kidnapped and tortured by Chatham. And when I say tortured, I mean really tortured. Chatham is seriously totally insane. Leo's savior actually comes in the form of one of the last people one would expect. After accidentally reviving Apep, who's pretty much the epitome of evil here, Kamen finally sees the truth for what it has been for so long and that he had blinded himself to. So despite his own debilitating pain, he lugs Leo off to the Politic bodywalkers with the full intention of doing all he can do to fix the wrong he has done by unleashing this evil. So, hooray! Another powerful Templar defection.
Picking up about three weeks after Forbidden, Jackson is living out the remainder of his human life as well as he can while still trying to live in anonymity amongst his coworkers. He's able to still be in the sun for some time yet because when Menes first appeared he used way too much power and it's taking longer for their blending to progress. Docia and Ram have gone ahead to New Mexico and are taking care of running things until Jackson goes there. The last day that Jackson planned on working, a child goes missing and he's called out with Sargent to try to find him. While out in the woods with Marissa he's attacked by Templars. So much for not being known as the king. But by protecting Marissa he has essentially made her a target too and she invariably gets dragged into his new world.
Now the reason for so few stars is because pretty much nothing happens in this book. It's all pretty much about Jackson trying to break thru Marissa's walls and have her see what he feels for her and accept it and herself. Eventually leading to Menes wanting her to die so his queen can be reborn in her body. Which of course she rejects flat out right away. Though that only lasts a few hours in the end... While I can say that I like Jackson/Menes' character, I am not a fan of Marissa. Frankly, I don't like her much at all. I didn't care for her in the first book, and this one didn't endear me to her any more either.
For things that actually did happen? Leo gets kidnapped and tortured by Chatham. And when I say tortured, I mean really tortured. Chatham is seriously totally insane. Leo's savior actually comes in the form of one of the last people one would expect. After accidentally reviving Apep, who's pretty much the epitome of evil here, Kamen finally sees the truth for what it has been for so long and that he had blinded himself to. So despite his own debilitating pain, he lugs Leo off to the Politic bodywalkers with the full intention of doing all he can do to fix the wrong he has done by unleashing this evil. So, hooray! Another powerful Templar defection.
amyiw's review against another edition
4.0
Just above 4 stars.
I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads- required statement.
I'm so happy that I received this through one of those give away contest that I am always entering, as I just finished the first book Forbidden last month and loved it. I have read all of the Nightwalker books and just finished with the Shadowdweller trilogy, so far I'm am liking this part of the Nightwalker world better than both of those. And I really liked the Nightwalkers, the Shadowdwellers not so much.
So this book, the 2nd is about the King, Menes, or Jackson, who is Docia's brother from book one. It starts up 3 weeks after the first book ends. Jackson is hiding out in plain site, keeping himself on the police force, while trying to get the psychiatrist's attention. It starts out slowly and I would have liked Frank to have gone back to the day he died and start from there rather than have this slow build, while training his new dog and searching for missing persons. You really don't get to see the blending. Though later in the book you do get how they are working it out.
Finally, he is attacked and the story seems to start. Once it does, it is non-stop like the first book.
Jackson and Menes have chosen Marissa as theirs but whether she accepts it, and the world, and accepts that she will be a bodywalker also someday, is the main story. While this occurs, an over arching plot forms. A very evil entity is released and scrolls state that the 12 Nightwalker races will have to come together to defeat it. Well, we heard that in the prolog of book one so, not new. But how could 12 species come together when, one is fighting a civil war in itself?
Some of this is started and answered here but there is a lot left in the air. The main part of this book is the relationship and that is answered but the book left off in such a place that I feel I read only 1/2 of the story... or even less. I hope she writes several more and gets the other Nightwalkers involved soon. I am enjoying the overall story line and am very interested how they will come together with the other books.
So far I've heard of--
1- Demons
2- Druids (though they are extinct some humans can be decendant)
3- Shifters
4- Vampires
5- Mystrals (I'm going to have to re-read Demian to see if there are others mention in it)
6- Shadowdwellers
from this series
7- Bodywalkers
8- Djynn
9- Night Angels (yes, these are mentioned in this book and I have no idea what they are)
And if you add the two species that the others are not sure about but are mentioned you have-
10- Gargoyles (?)
11- Natural born witches (?)
If anybody has any other ideas, let me know.
At the end of the book there is a preview of the next book which looks like will be Leo and one of the gargoyles.
Enjoying the series. This book starts a little slower compared to the first book and leaves more up in the air at the end. Not enough to make me crazy, but enough that I want to read the rest of the series. Ah... too bad they aren't out yet or I would get them all to read.
I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads- required statement.
I'm so happy that I received this through one of those give away contest that I am always entering, as I just finished the first book Forbidden last month and loved it. I have read all of the Nightwalker books and just finished with the Shadowdweller trilogy, so far I'm am liking this part of the Nightwalker world better than both of those. And I really liked the Nightwalkers, the Shadowdwellers not so much.
So this book, the 2nd is about the King, Menes, or Jackson, who is Docia's brother from book one. It starts up 3 weeks after the first book ends. Jackson is hiding out in plain site, keeping himself on the police force, while trying to get the psychiatrist's attention. It starts out slowly and I would have liked Frank to have gone back to the day he died and start from there rather than have this slow build, while training his new dog and searching for missing persons. You really don't get to see the blending. Though later in the book you do get how they are working it out.
Finally, he is attacked and the story seems to start. Once it does, it is non-stop like the first book.
Jackson and Menes have chosen Marissa as theirs but whether she accepts it, and the world, and accepts that she will be a bodywalker also someday, is the main story. While this occurs, an over arching plot forms. A very evil entity is released and scrolls state that the 12 Nightwalker races will have to come together to defeat it. Well, we heard that in the prolog of book one so, not new. But how could 12 species come together when, one is fighting a civil war in itself?
Some of this is started and answered here but there is a lot left in the air. The main part of this book is the relationship and that is answered but the book left off in such a place that I feel I read only 1/2 of the story... or even less. I hope she writes several more and gets the other Nightwalkers involved soon. I am enjoying the overall story line and am very interested how they will come together with the other books.
So far I've heard of--
1- Demons
2- Druids (though they are extinct some humans can be decendant)
3- Shifters
4- Vampires
5- Mystrals (I'm going to have to re-read Demian to see if there are others mention in it)
6- Shadowdwellers
from this series
7- Bodywalkers
8- Djynn
9- Night Angels (yes, these are mentioned in this book and I have no idea what they are)
And if you add the two species that the others are not sure about but are mentioned you have-
10- Gargoyles (?)
11- Natural born witches (?)
If anybody has any other ideas, let me know.
At the end of the book there is a preview of the next book which looks like will be Leo and one of the gargoyles.
Enjoying the series. This book starts a little slower compared to the first book and leaves more up in the air at the end. Not enough to make me crazy, but enough that I want to read the rest of the series. Ah... too bad they aren't out yet or I would get them all to read.
stephtorto's review against another edition
5.0
As always, another great book by J. Frank. Book 1: World building. Book 2: Character building. Book 3: ??? at this point, looks like it'll be major action and some appearances by other Nightwalker races - which is COMPLETELY EXCITING.
readermonica's review against another edition
4.0
Really enjoyed this audio book. Full review to come