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kathydavie's review against another edition
4.0
First in the Dark Swan urban fantasy series surrounding Odile, the Dark Swan herself.
My Take
Sets the background for Odile/Eugenie and the prophecy that will direct the rest of her life.
I feel conflicted about Kiyo. I know he loves Eugenie and that he has previously broken things off with Maiwenn. The pregnant Maiwenn. If this were a human world, I would be appalled at Kiyo walking away from his baby and Maiwenn. But this is fae and their morals are different from humans. So taking that out of the equation, I don't understand why Eugenie has such an issue with Kiyo having had a romantic past. Eugenie whines on and on about what a "betrayal" Maiwenn's baby is to her, Eugenie. I don't understand that. The baby was before Eugenie. How is that a betrayal?
I must confess I take a perverse pleasure in watching Odile succumb to fae wiles. Dorian doesn't even let her get away with her attempts at denying responsibility for the sex she is "forced" to enjoy with him. Serves her right.
The Story
Something's up in the world of the fae. No one knew that Eugenie was also Odile. Now, every fae she crosses lately knows both her names. Then there's her meeting with Wil Delaney and his desperation over his sister's disappearance. It's all just too weird and too unsettling so Odile heads out to a bar to take her mind off it. A good place to be alone with company. Although, it does result in most unexpected company when she meets Kiyo Marquez. A gorgeous hunk of a veterinarian who takes her back to his hotel room. Oh yeah, they have a good time. Until the Ice Elemental shows up and Kiyo reveals himself to her.
It doesn't take long before Odile decides she will take on Delaney's job despite what everyone else is telling her and isn't it just her luck that Volusian just happens to lead her right to King Dorian. Who offers to help. For a price. And it's almost successful except for that betrayal from which they escape thanks only to the fox.
Yet there is one thing that comes from this failure. Eugenie learns the truth about her past, her father. A truth that forces her to become more intimate with the fae, with King Dorian. Pushing past her own boundaries. Learning to use her magic.
The Characters
Eugenie Markham, a.k.a., Dark-Swan-Called-Odile, is a half-human, half-fae who makes her living aiding people whom the fae are bothering. She is the bogeyman of the fae. She relaxes with puzzles and her sauna. Lara is her secretary handling the phone calls and making appointments. Tim is her not-too-honest housemate who scams people by pretending to be a Native American. Roland Markham is her stepfather, a now-retired shaman who taught her everything she knows; he also killed the Storm King. Dee is her mom. Strictly human with really bitter memories of her father. A man she's never spoken about except to indoctrinate Eugenie against any and all fae.
Volusian is a damned soul, demon-like. He is bound to serve Eugenie for as long as she can control him. Should he ever escape, he has told her — and continually tells her — how he will slowly torture her to death. A ghost to whom Eugenie gave peace, Nandi owes Eugenie two more years of service. Finn offers his service to Odile simply for the fun of it.
Wil Delaney is a human client whose younger sister Jasmine was taken by the fae over a year ago. He's a real nutjob terrified of everything in life.
Kiyo Marquez is half-Japanese, half-Latino. And all kitsune. King Aeson of the Alder Land is Jasmine's kidnapper. King Dorian of the Oak Land is the fae Volusian leads her to for help; Rurik the Ice Elemental and Shaya are members of Dorian's court. Tirigan the Storm King intended to conquer both the fae and human worlds. Maiwenn, queen of the Willow Land, was very much against Storm King's plans.
The Cover and Title
The cover is red! Odile is poised for action in a blur of fire even as her cropped sage green tank top shows off the tattoos on her biceps and rising up from behind the waistband of her faded blue jeans. A knife sheathed on one hip, a gun holstered on the other while she carries her quartz-tipped wand — looks more like a club to me!
The title is accurate enough as Odile is a daughter of the Storm King, one of two Storm Born.
My Take
Sets the background for Odile/Eugenie and the prophecy that will direct the rest of her life.
I feel conflicted about Kiyo. I know he loves Eugenie and that he has previously broken things off with Maiwenn. The pregnant Maiwenn. If this were a human world, I would be appalled at Kiyo walking away from his baby and Maiwenn. But this is fae and their morals are different from humans. So taking that out of the equation, I don't understand why Eugenie has such an issue with Kiyo having had a romantic past. Eugenie whines on and on about what a "betrayal" Maiwenn's baby is to her, Eugenie. I don't understand that. The baby was before Eugenie. How is that a betrayal?
I must confess I take a perverse pleasure in watching Odile succumb to fae wiles. Dorian doesn't even let her get away with her attempts at denying responsibility for the sex she is "forced" to enjoy with him. Serves her right.
The Story
Something's up in the world of the fae. No one knew that Eugenie was also Odile. Now, every fae she crosses lately knows both her names. Then there's her meeting with Wil Delaney and his desperation over his sister's disappearance. It's all just too weird and too unsettling so Odile heads out to a bar to take her mind off it. A good place to be alone with company. Although, it does result in most unexpected company when she meets Kiyo Marquez. A gorgeous hunk of a veterinarian who takes her back to his hotel room. Oh yeah, they have a good time. Until the Ice Elemental shows up and Kiyo reveals himself to her.
It doesn't take long before Odile decides she will take on Delaney's job despite what everyone else is telling her and isn't it just her luck that Volusian just happens to lead her right to King Dorian. Who offers to help. For a price. And it's almost successful except for that betrayal from which they escape thanks only to the fox.
Yet there is one thing that comes from this failure. Eugenie learns the truth about her past, her father. A truth that forces her to become more intimate with the fae, with King Dorian. Pushing past her own boundaries. Learning to use her magic.
The Characters
Eugenie Markham, a.k.a., Dark-Swan-Called-Odile, is a half-human, half-fae who makes her living aiding people whom the fae are bothering. She is the bogeyman of the fae. She relaxes with puzzles and her sauna. Lara is her secretary handling the phone calls and making appointments. Tim is her not-too-honest housemate who scams people by pretending to be a Native American. Roland Markham is her stepfather, a now-retired shaman who taught her everything she knows; he also killed the Storm King. Dee is her mom. Strictly human with really bitter memories of her father. A man she's never spoken about except to indoctrinate Eugenie against any and all fae.
Volusian is a damned soul, demon-like. He is bound to serve Eugenie for as long as she can control him. Should he ever escape, he has told her — and continually tells her — how he will slowly torture her to death. A ghost to whom Eugenie gave peace, Nandi owes Eugenie two more years of service. Finn offers his service to Odile simply for the fun of it.
Wil Delaney is a human client whose younger sister Jasmine was taken by the fae over a year ago. He's a real nutjob terrified of everything in life.
Kiyo Marquez is half-Japanese, half-Latino. And all kitsune. King Aeson of the Alder Land is Jasmine's kidnapper. King Dorian of the Oak Land is the fae Volusian leads her to for help; Rurik the Ice Elemental and Shaya are members of Dorian's court. Tirigan the Storm King intended to conquer both the fae and human worlds. Maiwenn, queen of the Willow Land, was very much against Storm King's plans.
The Cover and Title
The cover is red! Odile is poised for action in a blur of fire even as her cropped sage green tank top shows off the tattoos on her biceps and rising up from behind the waistband of her faded blue jeans. A knife sheathed on one hip, a gun holstered on the other while she carries her quartz-tipped wand — looks more like a club to me!
The title is accurate enough as Odile is a daughter of the Storm King, one of two Storm Born.
amirax's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
magikspells's review against another edition
3.0
Chock another one up for the monarch struggles shelf. I wasn't really expecting that when I went into this book, but I didn't know much about the particular backstory when I started it. I did enjoy the story for the most part. Honestly it was a little more tawdry than I thought it would be but it worked.
klippy's review against another edition
5.0
I don't write many reviews but I had to on this one. It took me alittle bit to get into this book but oh my. It turned out to be one of my favorites! LOVE IT!!!
stephxsu's review against another edition
3.0
Richelle Mead is really damn good at what she does. She always does her female protagonists well, and Eugenie (with the exception of maybe her name) is no exception. She kicks ass and doesn't put up with nonsense, yet can have a sense of humor when it comes to telling her story. More plusses in her favor: she doesn't fall to pieces and have to be rescued by the love interests. Better and better.
Richelle Mead also does some great world-building. Drawing upon the lore of the history of humanity, she creates a believable set of characters (the shamans) who can guard and protect the gateways between the human world and the faerie world. I quite enjoyed the unique faerie world that she has created, with its convoluted paths, different lands, and distinct and memorable faerie rulers.
I was less impressed by the love triangle. One of the males seemed to have been better developed and more likable than the other, with the result being that you're left wondering if the love triangle was put in because, oh, any book that sells these days needs to have a love triangle. Egads.
Overall, an easy and enjoyable urban fantasy read. It doesn't stand out in any particular way, but neither is it bad. I will continue this series when I'm in the mood for this kind of fantastical book.
Richelle Mead also does some great world-building. Drawing upon the lore of the history of humanity, she creates a believable set of characters (the shamans) who can guard and protect the gateways between the human world and the faerie world. I quite enjoyed the unique faerie world that she has created, with its convoluted paths, different lands, and distinct and memorable faerie rulers.
I was less impressed by the love triangle. One of the males seemed to have been better developed and more likable than the other, with the result being that you're left wondering if the love triangle was put in because, oh, any book that sells these days needs to have a love triangle. Egads.
Overall, an easy and enjoyable urban fantasy read. It doesn't stand out in any particular way, but neither is it bad. I will continue this series when I'm in the mood for this kind of fantastical book.
camibookish's review against another edition
3.0
Ok, Idk what to really say, really interesting and compelling at some parts, and slow at others, but I decided I like it enough to give the second book another try, I still think the Georgina Kincaid series are one of Meads's best... and Bloodlines ofc, 'cause you know, adrian <3
aliceboule's review against another edition
3.0
For once, could it be possible to have a female lead NOT afraid of her own power?? I get it. Eugenie has been raised to hate the Shining Ones and anything related to them. But still. I would have liked to have read about a woman discovering her power and using it for HER benefit- not become power-hungry and horrible mind you, but enjoy her power. sigh. I doubt i shall ever read such a book. HOWEVER if anyone knows of any let me knoww yess?
Anyways back to my review. SO Eugenie kills the Gentry and the Gentry loves/hates her. They all want to be the father of her heir and she cannot decide whether to allow it or not. Then it goes Kiyo, Dorian, Kiyo, Kiyo ect Basically Storm Born in a nutshell. It was not amazing: the sex not steamy, nor the action reviving. But it was a good read. Something to enjoy on a quiet afternoon. It reminded me greatly of Merry Gentry by Laurell K Hamilton so i kept making comparisons..
Not sure if i will read the others. Maybe later, when i have nothing else better to read.
Anyways back to my review. SO Eugenie kills the Gentry and the Gentry loves/hates her. They all want to be the father of her heir and she cannot decide whether to allow it or not. Then it goes Kiyo, Dorian, Kiyo, Kiyo ect Basically Storm Born in a nutshell. It was not amazing: the sex not steamy, nor the action reviving. But it was a good read. Something to enjoy on a quiet afternoon. It reminded me greatly of Merry Gentry by Laurell K Hamilton so i kept making comparisons..
Not sure if i will read the others. Maybe later, when i have nothing else better to read.
authoraugust's review against another edition
4.0
All right, all right. This was GREAT. No, I don't usually go in for paranormal romances. No, I didn't really have high expectations going in. But hey, it was $0.99 on Amazon's Daily Deal, so I figured...why not? And I'm glad I did. I learned a TON about the genre just from reading this, enough that I feel like I could write something similar without making a lot of the mistakes that otherwise turn me off from books of this type. The character development was pretty good (okay, so the tall dark and handsome stranger was a bit cliche, but he was also hot) and I loved the style. Definitely four stars.
embereye's review against another edition
3.0
Soooooo... this was fun, but uh... the romance bit, the sex scenes (hot as they were) I could've done without. I am not really buying the romance honestly and felt like it was just fluff and only barely moved the story along. The rest of the story I find neat and intriguing. I like the world building, I like the character for the most part although it seems that this was yet another one of those characters that likes to not know the truth about things or refuses to hear it or whatever. Kind of a repetitive theme amongst these types of books. Fun but that stuff was somewhat frustrating.