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3.5 AVERAGE
3.5 AVERAGE
It has been eight long years since Justus de Wynter fell in love with insipid bluestocking, Bethany Mead, and suffered the biggest downfall of his life. He was sentenced to exile as a rogue vampire for revealing to her what he really was and she was imprisoned in a mental institution because no one believed her. Now on the run, Bethany and Justus strive to overcome their past and find the love they once shared.
This was by far my least favorite book of the series. I did not like Bethany at all, she came off as a dimwitted character that I wanted no part of. I feel bad that that is who Justus lost his heart to and almost lost his life for.
This was by far my least favorite book of the series. I did not like Bethany at all, she came off as a dimwitted character that I wanted no part of. I feel bad that that is who Justus lost his heart to and almost lost his life for.
No, not for me. I tried the 60% but it's not for me. The writing wasent engaging enough.
This gets two stars only for the sheer saving grace that this book didn't make me mad like one stars tend to do. With that said, do buckle in. I took notes.
Firstly, for the first time ever, I took a count. I won't say what that count is yet, but it came out to 40.5 total, in the whole book. This is quite concerning, because despite this being a self-published book (the first three books of this series were trad published), in 287 pages, I found 40.5 typos. The half points were reserved for typos that I wasn't sure were 100% typos, or thinks that irked me, like reusing the same phrase two sentences in a row... not to mention these were obvious typos. If it was a missing period every few chapters, maybe I'd understand, but these are basic typos that had me shuddering. At one point, I had to show my boyfriend the pain of seeing the wrong use of "your" instead of "you're" (page 95. I made sure to take note).
My second issue is the order the book is written in. Chapter 1 takes places in the present time of the story, which lasts until page 12. We then launch into a flashback where we learn how our main characters ended up in this situation, so I figured it'd be a quick recap. I was questioning why we were still in the flashback by chapter 7. I had to look up when the first book took place due to the confusing namedrops to find out this book's flashbacks take place before that book. I dealt with inconsistencies of character action because I figured the flashback would be over soon enough, and we'd get to the main story. I dealt with our main girl being very dumb, as she was supposed to be naive but it didn't cross her mind a single time how going into the garden with him alone could ruin her (there's a point where your character is innocent and a point where she's just an idiot). I dealt with the main guy saying "Oh, I hope she doesn't get seriously injured when I'm not around" and his friend saying, "You're overreacting, calm down", just for said woman to get seriously injured in the next chapter like he predicted it and didn't knock on wood. Like I said, flashback, should be over soon, right?
I finished the flashback when I was drunk, but still had enough mind to write down the following; "116 pages of flashback? Even drunk this is ridiculous."
Like I said, 287 pages of book. 116 of them was spent on a flashback building up the relationship of our main characters. It would have made more sense to start with that, and have the chapter straight out of the flashback be what the actual chapter one is. Spending chapters upon chapters after your first to explain a romance just to go back to present day would be suspenseful in any other novel, but here--given the genre, the fact I've read three other books from this series, etc.--it's just tedious and nonsensical. I slogged through the flashback wondering if the whole book might just be flashback, and the chapter would be the mains escaping to start their lives together with nothing else. I had to re-read the blurb to assure myself that wasn't going to happen.
Another thing is exposition. In books like this one, it's not surprising two chapters from each character's perspective will recap the same exact details from each other, such as describing a third party the same way twice within a few pages due to POV change. However, such as on page 132, there's a huge block of text explaining the plot of book four, which I actually appreciate because I skipped that one. Still, the later recap on Lydia and Vincent's love story from book 2 is annoying all the same. I get it's for people who haven't read the other novels, but leaving a little to the imagination or not explaining it would entice readers to try the other novels. If you don't want the readers to try reading those couples' stories, sure, recap them in their entirety, but for a series that can be read out of order, the author isn't at all encouraging of reading the other novels this way.
The name drops of characters is somewhat amusing. The Duke and Duchess from book 1 are mentioned several times, though never appear, which is annoying as I genuinely enjoyed that one. Vincent and Lydia being big parts of this story is somewhat weird, as they were book 2. Gavin and Lenore, from the previous book, makes total sense, and so does the momentary introduction of our lead for the next book. Still, why wasn't book 3's main couple mentioned? One was a literal doctor, she could have helped our main girl with her drug addiction (which is only very briefly touched upon, leaving no lasting emotional or plot impact at all). There are also obvious paralells between Justus and Bethany saving each other, which is so obvious it becomes annoying, much like the sex scenes that are so awkwardly timed they might as well have me saying, "This is just like the post car-chase scene from Fifty Shades Freed."
So, for my final point, and arguably the most egregious. I loved book 1 and 2 of this series. Book 3 a little less so, this one definitely less, and I think that's due to one main thing. In books like these--particularly ones in a certain setting or time period--I think it's important that that time period actively impacts the plot. In book 1 and 2, the fact that the main girls were debutantes impacted how the story went. Book 3, less so. This book could have been written to take place at any time in history, and it would still be the same. In order for these regency romances, or historical stories with supernatural elements in general, to work, I feel like the setting needs to be integral to the world they live in. This book could be changed to take place in modern day and almost nothing of importance would be changed, aside from language used and the mention of the Roma, all that jazz.
My boyfriend told me I should read this when I asked him what to read next. I asked him why this one, in particular. I added I only hadn't unhauled it yet because his mother got it for me for Christmas, before I decided not to continue this series. He smiled and said it's because these kinds of books lead to my writing a scathing review. I told him I only tear a book apart when reading it makes me suffer.
He nodded, and here we are.
Firstly, for the first time ever, I took a count. I won't say what that count is yet, but it came out to 40.5 total, in the whole book. This is quite concerning, because despite this being a self-published book (the first three books of this series were trad published), in 287 pages, I found 40.5 typos. The half points were reserved for typos that I wasn't sure were 100% typos, or thinks that irked me, like reusing the same phrase two sentences in a row... not to mention these were obvious typos. If it was a missing period every few chapters, maybe I'd understand, but these are basic typos that had me shuddering. At one point, I had to show my boyfriend the pain of seeing the wrong use of "your" instead of "you're" (page 95. I made sure to take note).
My second issue is the order the book is written in. Chapter 1 takes places in the present time of the story, which lasts until page 12. We then launch into a flashback where we learn how our main characters ended up in this situation, so I figured it'd be a quick recap. I was questioning why we were still in the flashback by chapter 7. I had to look up when the first book took place due to the confusing namedrops to find out this book's flashbacks take place before that book. I dealt with inconsistencies of character action because I figured the flashback would be over soon enough, and we'd get to the main story. I dealt with our main girl being very dumb, as she was supposed to be naive but it didn't cross her mind a single time how going into the garden with him alone could ruin her (there's a point where your character is innocent and a point where she's just an idiot). I dealt with the main guy saying "Oh, I hope she doesn't get seriously injured when I'm not around" and his friend saying, "You're overreacting, calm down", just for said woman to get seriously injured in the next chapter like he predicted it and didn't knock on wood. Like I said, flashback, should be over soon, right?
I finished the flashback when I was drunk, but still had enough mind to write down the following; "116 pages of flashback? Even drunk this is ridiculous."
Like I said, 287 pages of book. 116 of them was spent on a flashback building up the relationship of our main characters. It would have made more sense to start with that, and have the chapter straight out of the flashback be what the actual chapter one is. Spending chapters upon chapters after your first to explain a romance just to go back to present day would be suspenseful in any other novel, but here--given the genre, the fact I've read three other books from this series, etc.--it's just tedious and nonsensical. I slogged through the flashback wondering if the whole book might just be flashback, and the chapter would be the mains escaping to start their lives together with nothing else. I had to re-read the blurb to assure myself that wasn't going to happen.
Another thing is exposition. In books like this one, it's not surprising two chapters from each character's perspective will recap the same exact details from each other, such as describing a third party the same way twice within a few pages due to POV change. However, such as on page 132, there's a huge block of text explaining the plot of book four, which I actually appreciate because I skipped that one. Still, the later recap on Lydia and Vincent's love story from book 2 is annoying all the same. I get it's for people who haven't read the other novels, but leaving a little to the imagination or not explaining it would entice readers to try the other novels. If you don't want the readers to try reading those couples' stories, sure, recap them in their entirety, but for a series that can be read out of order, the author isn't at all encouraging of reading the other novels this way.
The name drops of characters is somewhat amusing. The Duke and Duchess from book 1 are mentioned several times, though never appear, which is annoying as I genuinely enjoyed that one. Vincent and Lydia being big parts of this story is somewhat weird, as they were book 2. Gavin and Lenore, from the previous book, makes total sense, and so does the momentary introduction of our lead for the next book. Still, why wasn't book 3's main couple mentioned? One was a literal doctor, she could have helped our main girl with her drug addiction (which is only very briefly touched upon, leaving no lasting emotional or plot impact at all). There are also obvious paralells between Justus and Bethany saving each other, which is so obvious it becomes annoying, much like the sex scenes that are so awkwardly timed they might as well have me saying, "This is just like the post car-chase scene from Fifty Shades Freed."
So, for my final point, and arguably the most egregious. I loved book 1 and 2 of this series. Book 3 a little less so, this one definitely less, and I think that's due to one main thing. In books like these--particularly ones in a certain setting or time period--I think it's important that that time period actively impacts the plot. In book 1 and 2, the fact that the main girls were debutantes impacted how the story went. Book 3, less so. This book could have been written to take place at any time in history, and it would still be the same. In order for these regency romances, or historical stories with supernatural elements in general, to work, I feel like the setting needs to be integral to the world they live in. This book could be changed to take place in modern day and almost nothing of importance would be changed, aside from language used and the mention of the Roma, all that jazz.
My boyfriend told me I should read this when I asked him what to read next. I asked him why this one, in particular. I added I only hadn't unhauled it yet because his mother got it for me for Christmas, before I decided not to continue this series. He smiled and said it's because these kinds of books lead to my writing a scathing review. I told him I only tear a book apart when reading it makes me suffer.
He nodded, and here we are.
Ugh. I love Ann’s writing. I really do. With the way WYNTER’S BITE ended I’m wondering if this is the last of the series. Each book has set up the next book’s protagonist nicely and obviously. This one . . . it could be a couple different people. I’m wondering if the intent is to let the series lie with this one and if she decides to carry it on she at least has a couple options. Methinks that might be the case.
The one thing that stood out to me about WYNTER’S BITE against the other books was that the sexual tension wasn’t as fantastic here. I’ve always praised Ann’s ability to write panty-soaking tension with her character. She likes to build up, dangle a piece, and then take it away at least one or twice before the culmination actually happens. Here, though, the tension was subdued. I didn’t feel that squirmy anxiousness that I normally felt in the other books.
That could have to do with the character situations and pacing being vastly different from the previous books. In all the other books the female protagonist and love interest are new to each other. Here Justus and Bethany have known each other and he’s rescuing her. So we have some flashbacks to set up their meeting, flashing forward to the rescue, peril as they remain on the run, both for Bethany as an escaped lunatic and Justus, a rogue vampire, before they finally settle. So no surprise that in a book that deviates from the norm of the series it’s going to deviate in more than one way.
Just don’t think this is me saying that the book was bad. Not at all. It just stands out against the others and I wasn’t prepared for such a different take on the standard plot so it threw me a little bit. I still loved Justus’s development and Ann creates fantastic, strong female characters that fit the regency mold in their limitations but break clean out of it with their strong minds and strong wills. Ann uses women that would have otherwise been rejected from society and gives them life with other societal rejects in the vampires. I love it.
I do hope Ann keeps writing in the Scandals with Bite series, but if she is setting this one aside for now I would understand. She has plenty else for me to read, and I can always re-read some of my favorite books!
4.5
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
The one thing that stood out to me about WYNTER’S BITE against the other books was that the sexual tension wasn’t as fantastic here. I’ve always praised Ann’s ability to write panty-soaking tension with her character. She likes to build up, dangle a piece, and then take it away at least one or twice before the culmination actually happens. Here, though, the tension was subdued. I didn’t feel that squirmy anxiousness that I normally felt in the other books.
That could have to do with the character situations and pacing being vastly different from the previous books. In all the other books the female protagonist and love interest are new to each other. Here Justus and Bethany have known each other and he’s rescuing her. So we have some flashbacks to set up their meeting, flashing forward to the rescue, peril as they remain on the run, both for Bethany as an escaped lunatic and Justus, a rogue vampire, before they finally settle. So no surprise that in a book that deviates from the norm of the series it’s going to deviate in more than one way.
Just don’t think this is me saying that the book was bad. Not at all. It just stands out against the others and I wasn’t prepared for such a different take on the standard plot so it threw me a little bit. I still loved Justus’s development and Ann creates fantastic, strong female characters that fit the regency mold in their limitations but break clean out of it with their strong minds and strong wills. Ann uses women that would have otherwise been rejected from society and gives them life with other societal rejects in the vampires. I love it.
I do hope Ann keeps writing in the Scandals with Bite series, but if she is setting this one aside for now I would understand. She has plenty else for me to read, and I can always re-read some of my favorite books!
4.5
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.