just my thoughts about a book I bought.
**I didn't make the next round in Lori Brighton's blog--Bummer--good luck to all the next rounders!**
I started reading this book a couple of weeks ago, and yes, it took this long for it to get interesting. No, this isn't a book by a debut author (I doubt if I would have stuck around!). It's DARK CURSE by Christine Feehan. Now, Feehan is a new-to-me author and I have serious doubts if I'll buy another book by her.
Why?
THE GOOD: First off, I'll say the back cover blurb did it's job, and the cover art was pretty decent, too, so I thought I'd take the chance. It was about an ancient race, Carpathian's and their fight against evil, along with a heroine who was part Carpathian, part mage, and part Dragonseeker, but belongs to no race. Okay, it was the dragon part that got me.
THE BAD: It starts off with a LOOONG prologue involving a child being abused, drained of blood/spirit and terrorized. YUCK. Then it pops to the present where the heroine stupidly involves her friends because she's too focused on discovering her past (yep, she's the abused child) to be concerned for her friends who she pretty much killed--they lived, but at what price? Then a Carpathian shows up and sucks her blood, marking her as his 'soulmate'. Uh, WTH? Don't tell me this is just some glorified vampire novel??!! Well, CRAP!
The Ugly: OMG--talk about back story dumps . . . and dumps . . . AND detailed exposition about the history of the Carpathian's AND their stupid language. I had Tolkien flashbacks. Ya, know the elven language is sexy in the movies, but reading it? Boring. And then add a pile of Russian/Romanian/ uh, Carpathian names. Oh, sure, CF did a lot of research, but I didn't really give a rat's a$$ about it! 145 pages later, the author finally gets into the 'real' story.
I'm still hesitant about this novel. Call them what you want a Carpathian still sucks blood, still can't go in the daylight, still gets incredible strength, etc, the only thing a Carpatian isn't is UNDEAD. And I hate to say it, but that isn't enough to keep my interest.
I read to escape. I don't really like reading dark and this is a very dark book.
--If this is an example of the stories that publishers are buying, then I'm NEVER going to sell my stuff, I don't write dark and I like it that way.
So what books are sitting on my desk, waiting to be read?
--The Heart of Christmas--historical romance novellas
--The Christmas Ball--historical romance novellas
Yep, Sam's Club has had a shipment of Christmas Books!
--Timeline by Michael Crichton--time travel--a reread
--The Hob's Bargain by Patricia Briggs--fantasy
--Because Your Vampire Said So by Michelle Bardsley--paranormal vamp romance, but has fun feel to it
--Fairy Dust and the Quest for the Egg by Gail Levine--Tinkerbelle middle grade novel
--Inkheart by Cornelia Funke--middle grade novel
What do you have in your pile to read??
Write on! After I finish crocheting a baby blanket for my niece. . .
FYI: I STOPPED reading this book on page 234, third page into chapter twelve. I rolled my eyes one too many times. The romance part of it is suffocating! And ya'll know how much I love my romance, but give me some freakin' plot to move this boring story forward! Aarrgghh!
When I first discovered CF, I LOVED her! But, after book--I'd say 6- the plot and characters started repeating themselves for me. A lot of people love her, and I see the lure. But Sherrilyn Kenyon writes something similar without the repeat. Which I guess is why I like Sherri so much. I like dark stuff--not much of a light-hearted reader very much. Although I will pick up Julia Quinn. Who doesn't love her?
ReplyDeleteBTW-- have you read Soul Magic yet??? OMG so good!!!
So sorry you didn't make the next round--but I'm so proud of you for entering!!
No, I haven't gotten SOUL MAGIC yet. It's on the list to buy when I head to B&N next week before I get my hair done (they're next door to each other).
ReplyDeleteRemember when I turned you on to Jen's BLOOD MAGIC? Yeah, I expect SOUL MAGIC to be right up there. I know Jen won't disappoint.
She is wonderful writer and a strong following but not my cup of tea.
ReplyDeleteI'm reading the second book in Nora Roberts's Wedding trilogy. contemporary romance. Enjoying it a great deal.
I know, Cyndi. I think that's why I tried so hard to read the story and why I was so disappointed with it.
ReplyDeleteAnother reason could be because I didn't follow the Carpathians from the beginning.
But then again, I started Jim Butcher's Dresden series with BLOOD RITES (#9, I think) and fell in love with the story. Of course, I bought all his Dresden stories and have read, and reread, them.
CF's stories never appealed to me, so I don't know much about her writing. I have a friend who reads her stories, though she liked the first ones better than the present ones.
ReplyDeleteI'm reading Claire Cook's THE WILDWATER WALKING CLUB, and enjoying it. The next book in my TBR pile is by CJ Box. :)
I just looked at my TBR pile and discovered that I bought some of them two years ago--to tell the truth I don't think I'll be reading them.
ReplyDeleteTime to sort for the donation pile!
I have a CP who LOVES anything Christine writes. She says her writing is so emotional and her characters' motivations make anything acceptable. I disagree.
ReplyDeleteOh, I'm sure CF has a devoted following, otherwise she wouldn't be on the NYT best seller list, but her writing isn't for me. I really had to force myself to get as far as I did!
ReplyDeleteAs much as I hate subjectivity when I'm trying to gain interest in my stories, I'm glad that I can pick and choose who I want to read or who I want to quit reading. :-)
Thanks for stopping by, Mama Mary!