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arisuaru's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
amiascah's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
What to say, I'm not a fan of instant loves, and that's what this was, I get enemies to lovers but they didn't even know they were enemies before they become lovers. There's good spice, there's steamy spice, there's spice build up and spice for the sake of spice, but this was bad porn. There was a plot and I different original idea. I got turned off on all the female characters for how perfect they are were because they were sybils and no other person could do what they do as well as they could why also looking oh so hot. It kinda reminded me of male romance authors. There was no angst despite him obiviosly being her sworn enemy, there was no build up, there was nothing for me to give a damn about the characters to care. Which caused all the porn to fall flat, and I found myself flipping to find out if anything interesting would happen.
redentrapy's review against another edition
3.0
So this story and the premise of it were great. There were a couple of issues, like the plot got overshadowed sometimes by the romance, and in other places I got really irritated with reading the same I should turn him in but I can't because I love him speech, happens about 50 times in the book. I characters are fun but Riana's character really bugged me.
Anyways the plot was great. I loved it. It's about Riana Dumain a Sybil or trained warrior priestess who battles evil with earth magic, with her two partners Cynda the fire Sybil and Merilee the air Sybil. They are fighting against a cult of dark magic users called the Legion. The Legion uses their magic to summon demons and kill people. One day a kid winds up dead by magic and two OCU or Occult Crimes Unit detectives show up. Creed Lowell and his partner Andy. Creed has a very dangerous secret though he's a half demon created by the Legion himself. Riana has to choose between her love and her sisters or does she...?
I loved most of the characters but I can honestly say the Riana's character bugged me. She was so whiny and desperate which is so different from how the author tried to make her which was as a leader and a strong-willed woman. Riana can't so anything by herself until about the last 50 pages of the book then she finally grows a backbone. She is so afraid of everything. I don't know her character just is one of my worst pet-peeves. Creed on the other hand was gorgeous and fun though there were times when he too couldn't do anything unless Riana was there but at least he had a back bone from the very beginning. I loved Cynda's character she's fiery and temperamental but very loyal and caring. She follows her heart and does what she thinks is right even if she loses everything in the process. Merilee was the mediator between Cynda and everyone else. She's cool, calm, collected, and follows her friends even if they do something wrong. The three sister triad are actually perfect for each other. They each complement the other.
So overall it was good I just couldn't stand Riana. I give it 3.5 stars.
Anyways the plot was great. I loved it. It's about Riana Dumain a Sybil or trained warrior priestess who battles evil with earth magic, with her two partners Cynda the fire Sybil and Merilee the air Sybil. They are fighting against a cult of dark magic users called the Legion. The Legion uses their magic to summon demons and kill people. One day a kid winds up dead by magic and two OCU or Occult Crimes Unit detectives show up. Creed Lowell and his partner Andy. Creed has a very dangerous secret though he's a half demon created by the Legion himself. Riana has to choose between her love and her sisters or does she...?
I loved most of the characters but I can honestly say the Riana's character bugged me. She was so whiny and desperate which is so different from how the author tried to make her which was as a leader and a strong-willed woman. Riana can't so anything by herself until about the last 50 pages of the book then she finally grows a backbone. She is so afraid of everything. I don't know her character just is one of my worst pet-peeves. Creed on the other hand was gorgeous and fun though there were times when he too couldn't do anything unless Riana was there but at least he had a back bone from the very beginning. I loved Cynda's character she's fiery and temperamental but very loyal and caring. She follows her heart and does what she thinks is right even if she loses everything in the process. Merilee was the mediator between Cynda and everyone else. She's cool, calm, collected, and follows her friends even if they do something wrong. The three sister triad are actually perfect for each other. They each complement the other.
So overall it was good I just couldn't stand Riana. I give it 3.5 stars.
laurenjodi's review against another edition
4.0
Bound by Shadow
4 Stars
Synopsis:
As a fully trained Sybil, Riana Dumain is a warrior priestess in the battle of good versus evil. When she becomes involved in a case involving the occult murder of a child, Riana suspects that NYPD detective Creed Lowell may possibly be a foot soldier for the evil Legion cult, using his badge and drop-dead looks to consolidate demonic power. Why then does she find herself so attracted to him?
Review:
An intense and sexy romance with an excellent mythology centering on demons and the powers inherent to the four elements. The elemental magic and symbolism are unique (at least to me) and I found them particularly appealing.
The plot is action packed and absorbing but there are moments when it drags possibly due to the need to explain the complex mythology and consolidate the world building. The story is, however, well worth the effort of slogging through these areas.
Creed and Riana are an engaging couple and the development of their relationship is one of the book’s strong points. Creed is an interesting character because he is at odds with himself and must come to terms with his true nature before he can commit to someone else.
Riana originally comes across as physically and mentally strong but her insecurities are soon revealed and accentuate her conflicting emotions regarding Creed. Her inability to completely trust Creed despite everything he does for her is annoying but consistent with her characterization.
The secondary characters are also well developed. The other Sybils have distinct personalities and backgrounds, and it is great that they stand up for their principles. Some readers may find them obnoxious but I, for one, enjoy reading about strong willed, intelligent and powerful female characters. The villains are a little clichéd and it is not difficult to guess who they are, but the final showdown with them is exciting.
The book is well written and the next two installments are set up nicely within the storyline. I look forward to reading them.
4 Stars
Synopsis:
As a fully trained Sybil, Riana Dumain is a warrior priestess in the battle of good versus evil. When she becomes involved in a case involving the occult murder of a child, Riana suspects that NYPD detective Creed Lowell may possibly be a foot soldier for the evil Legion cult, using his badge and drop-dead looks to consolidate demonic power. Why then does she find herself so attracted to him?
Review:
An intense and sexy romance with an excellent mythology centering on demons and the powers inherent to the four elements. The elemental magic and symbolism are unique (at least to me) and I found them particularly appealing.
The plot is action packed and absorbing but there are moments when it drags possibly due to the need to explain the complex mythology and consolidate the world building. The story is, however, well worth the effort of slogging through these areas.
Creed and Riana are an engaging couple and the development of their relationship is one of the book’s strong points. Creed is an interesting character because he is at odds with himself and must come to terms with his true nature before he can commit to someone else.
Riana originally comes across as physically and mentally strong but her insecurities are soon revealed and accentuate her conflicting emotions regarding Creed. Her inability to completely trust Creed despite everything he does for her is annoying but consistent with her characterization.
The secondary characters are also well developed. The other Sybils have distinct personalities and backgrounds, and it is great that they stand up for their principles. Some readers may find them obnoxious but I, for one, enjoy reading about strong willed, intelligent and powerful female characters. The villains are a little clichéd and it is not difficult to guess who they are, but the final showdown with them is exciting.
The book is well written and the next two installments are set up nicely within the storyline. I look forward to reading them.
amalyndb's review against another edition
2.0
The first in the Dark Crescent Sisterhood trilogy (which I read after the second). It was okay, but I think I like the second one better.
fmoreno's review
3.0
Not as great as I thought it would be. Nonetheless, I've spent a few funny moments with this book. The plot though didn't fascinate me and I am not going to read the rest of the trilogy. It's not that I don't think that it's worth the effort but because I think I don't have the will to read the rest.
In the paranormal genre this is median book, really.
I think there is better in this genre, unfortunately.
In the paranormal genre this is median book, really.
I think there is better in this genre, unfortunately.
bookishinsomniac's review
3.0
This book took me a really long time to get through. Mostly I think that stems from me being a little unsure what genre this book falls into. Technically it was supposed to be a paranormal romance, but it didn’t really have that feel to me. It seemed like it was a paranormal book with some randomly placed graphic sex scenes. I am a huge sucker for romance, but I think the concept of the Sybils is strong enough to stand on its own.
Pros:
• Sybils: the whole concept of the Sybils was great. I loved that they had elemental powers and I loved their sisterhood together. The motherhouses and the fact that they secretly fight demons all over the world was fantastic.
• Riana and Creed: they definitely had heat, but it was a little too cliché head over heels the second they locked eyes.
Cons:
• Sex scenes: they seemed really randomly placed in the book. Usually I would never be the type to say cut back on the sex, but for me it really took away from the story.
• There was a lot of fluff. The story seemed too long and I think a lot could have been cut away and the main plot would’ve still been there.
Overall, I’m giving this book 3/5 stars mostly because of the Sybils. I will continue with the series because I do like the other members of the triad and I think their stories will be interesting too.
Pros:
• Sybils: the whole concept of the Sybils was great. I loved that they had elemental powers and I loved their sisterhood together. The motherhouses and the fact that they secretly fight demons all over the world was fantastic.
• Riana and Creed: they definitely had heat, but it was a little too cliché head over heels the second they locked eyes.
Cons:
• Sex scenes: they seemed really randomly placed in the book. Usually I would never be the type to say cut back on the sex, but for me it really took away from the story.
• There was a lot of fluff. The story seemed too long and I think a lot could have been cut away and the main plot would’ve still been there.
Overall, I’m giving this book 3/5 stars mostly because of the Sybils. I will continue with the series because I do like the other members of the triad and I think their stories will be interesting too.
stellaprice's review
1.0
I don't think I can say anything good for this one. I found 2 plot discrepancies in 75 pages... and the storyline went from pretty good to dragging and over heavy on the action in seconds. Its a Long book, with a plot I'm still trying figure out, And by that I mean what made it unique. I feel like the author didn't finish a lot of ideas she had going on, and that she threw together a bunch of ideas that seemed like a good idea all together, but it falls flat.
Oh and the amount of times she mentions scent and musk in the love scenes went from being acceptable to just gross really really quickly.
I love Ms. Windsor's EC works, and I was really excited to read this book, I'm a big fan of witches and such, and chicks that kick butt, but this just seems like trying too hard.
Creed is an OK character. Riana is ok as well, both didnt get me to the point of caring for them though, and i really wanted to.
Im not sure if I will be reading the next two in this series, but you never know.
Oh and the amount of times she mentions scent and musk in the love scenes went from being acceptable to just gross really really quickly.
I love Ms. Windsor's EC works, and I was really excited to read this book, I'm a big fan of witches and such, and chicks that kick butt, but this just seems like trying too hard.
Creed is an OK character. Riana is ok as well, both didnt get me to the point of caring for them though, and i really wanted to.
Im not sure if I will be reading the next two in this series, but you never know.
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