Monthly Archives: February 2016

Indigo Springs

Book Review of Indigo Springs (Astrid Lethewood #1), by A.M. Dellamonica

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Indigo SpringsI borrowed Indigo Springs (by A. M. Dellamonica) from my local library.

Description from Goodreads:
Indigo Springs is a sleepy town where things seem pretty normal . . . until Astrid’s father dies and she moves into his house. She discovers that for many years her father had been accessing the magic that flowed, literally, in a blue stream beneath the earth, leaking into his house. When she starts to use the liquid “vitagua” to enchant everyday items, the results seem innocent enough: a “‘chanted” watch becomes a charm that means you’re always in the right place at the right time; a “‘chanted” pendant enables the wearer to convince anyone of anything . . .

But as events in Indigo Springs unfold and the true potential of vitagua is revealed, Astrid and her friends unwittingly embark on a journey fraught with power, change, and a future too devastating to contemplate. Friends become enemies and enemies become friends as Astrid discovers secrets from her shrouded childhood that will lead her to a destiny stranger than she could have imagined . . .

Review:
I really wanted to love this book. It’s got a beautiful cover and a truly interesting premise. On paper the characters are interesting too. The main character is bisexual, another is trans (though I was never certain if that was their natural inclination or the result of magics) and another is notably narcissistic. I should love this book. Instead, I liked it but was perfectly happy to reach the end of it.

The problem I had was that the characters never jumped out and grabbed me. They’re flat, Jacks especially. The first person POV is a character who is basically outside the primary plot, the rest is third person from Astrid’s (the main character’s) POV. I connected to neither of them. What’s more, I could never quire wrap my head around the fact that the weak, simpering woman of 95% of the novel is the same as the strong, in control woman at the end. Yeah, there’s supposed to have been some time for her to adjust, but from the readers perspective it’s a big change in personality almost instantly.

All in all, it was an ok book. I’d read another of Dellamonica’s works but I didn’t love it.

Book Review of A Demon Bound (Imp #1), by Debra Dunbar

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A Demon BoundI downloaded a copy of Debra Dunbar‘s A Demon Bound from Amazon while it was free.

Description from Goodreads:
Samantha Martin is an imp, enjoying an extended vacation from Hel. All she wants to do is drink beer by the pool, play mischievous pranks on the humans, and get her hot neighbor in the sack. It’s a relaxing break from her infernal home, as long as she manages to avoid the angels, who won’t hesitate to execute her on sight.

But when her naughty hellhound lands her in trouble with the local werewolf pack, Sam is blackmailed into helping track and catch a killer. The steps she must take to appease the werewolves will put her right in the crosshairs of the angels. And with angels, there is no second chance. 

Review:
I almost gave up on this book at about 50%. Honestly, the only reason I didn’t had more to do with not wanting to DNF two books in a row than anything to do with the book itself. Because for the first 50% I thought it was just awful. I thought Sam was contrary and dysfunctional impulsive. I disliked her voice and she annoyed me in general. Yeah, I get it, she’s an imp; mischievous and un-serious is the name of the game. But all her antics just read as ineffective slapstick to me. Plus, I found the characters flat and poorly developed.

Past 50% the story balanced out a little. There were more characters to dilute Sam’s all but suicidal tendencies and a plot, beyond I want to f*ck my neighbor, finally developed. I still wouldn’t go so far as to say I liked it, but it did get better. I will grant that the book’s world and angel/demon politics seemed interesting and there is potential. This may just be a case of a rough start.

The Heiress Effect

Book Review of The Heiress Effect (Brothers Sinister #2), by Courtney Milan

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The Heiress EffectI borrowed The Heiress Effect, by Courtney Milan, from my local library. I reviewed book one of The Brothers Sinister series here.

Description from Goodreads:
Miss Jane Fairfield can’t do anything right. When she’s in company, she always says the wrong thing—and rather too much of it. No matter how costly they are, her gowns fall on the unfortunate side of fashion. Even her immense dowry can’t save her from being an object of derision.

And that’s precisely what she wants. She’ll do anything, even risk humiliation, if it means she can stay unmarried and keep her sister safe.

Mr. Oliver Marshall has to do everything right. He’s the bastard son of a duke, raised in humble circumstances—and he intends to give voice and power to the common people. If he makes one false step, he’ll never get the chance to accomplish anything. He doesn’t need to come to the rescue of the wrong woman. He certainly doesn’t need to fall in love with her. But there’s something about the lovely, courageous Jane that he can’t resist…even though it could mean the ruin of them both.

Review:
Everyone seems to have loved this book. I just…didn’t. Objectively I can say it was well written. The characters were pleasantly flawed. A number of different threads wove together, there at the end. The book is well written, but I just didn’t particularly like it. I thought Jane went from strong and confident to lost and confused and back again too abruptly without enough reason for her changes. I thought the happy ending was too sappy. I didn’t love the characters. I liked them well enough, but didn’t love them enough to care about them. For me, this book really was just ok.