jokos's review against another edition
4.0
May 2021
I still love it! 100% agree w baby me that it feels like a prequel, excellent setup for what I now KNOW is the epic rollercoaster of a story to come. Interesting how Mac is an obnoxious main character who goes on and on about how young and beautiful she is, and yet, I stan.
March 2013
This book feels like a prequel. It fills in the backstories, lays down the mythology and build the tension for what I hope is the epic rollercoaster of a story to come. I did get a bit frustrated at times, usually when I had to put it down but needless to say, I'm dying to read the next installment.
I still love it! 100% agree w baby me that it feels like a prequel, excellent setup for what I now KNOW is the epic rollercoaster of a story to come. Interesting how Mac is an obnoxious main character who goes on and on about how young and beautiful she is, and yet, I stan.
March 2013
This book feels like a prequel. It fills in the backstories, lays down the mythology and build the tension for what I hope is the epic rollercoaster of a story to come. I did get a bit frustrated at times, usually when I had to put it down but needless to say, I'm dying to read the next installment.
salene27's review against another edition
5.0
This is book one from my favorite series, no matter how many times I reread it still seems freash.
slavic_bookworm's review against another edition
3.0
Maybe it would be more stars if it wasn’t falsely advertised as a fantasy romance. I was really feeling reading that genre and how shocked I was when there was basically nothing romantic in this book. I heard that the romance starts showing up around book 3 or 4 but I won’t be continuing this book. Probably just wasn’t the right time.
whiptostic's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
tikipoupower's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
saraf7990's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
jasmyn9's review against another edition
5.0
So, yes, I am finally starting this series after looking at it on my selves for a couple years (I actually have the old covers). The think that stood out the most to me was the world itself. It is so incredibly well developed. While it is based on our modern-world, the "dark areas" are taking over. Now these are some pretty seriously scary places that I would never want to visit. They were just so well written that I got chills any time someone had to go there.
The fae creatures themselves, both Seelie and Unseelie, were also very well developed. I loved the scenes of Mac running into the Seelie prince. They were humorous and a little frightening at the same time - it takes skill to write that mix well. The various lesser "baddies" that Mac runs into were also given plenty of details - Moning didn't skimp on them just because they may not have been as important. They were a vital part in setting the stage and atmosphere.
The story is a bit unpredictable - but it's in a good way. I was constantly wonder what was going to happen next and then I was surprised to find out what it was. There is plenty of action and a bit of sleuthing and detective work that really drew me in. I needed to know "who-dun-it". There is a bit of resolution at the end, but not nearly enough to satisfy me. I'm really glad I have more of the series ready to pick up as soon as I can.
The fae creatures themselves, both Seelie and Unseelie, were also very well developed. I loved the scenes of Mac running into the Seelie prince. They were humorous and a little frightening at the same time - it takes skill to write that mix well. The various lesser "baddies" that Mac runs into were also given plenty of details - Moning didn't skimp on them just because they may not have been as important. They were a vital part in setting the stage and atmosphere.
The story is a bit unpredictable - but it's in a good way. I was constantly wonder what was going to happen next and then I was surprised to find out what it was. There is plenty of action and a bit of sleuthing and detective work that really drew me in. I needed to know "who-dun-it". There is a bit of resolution at the end, but not nearly enough to satisfy me. I'm really glad I have more of the series ready to pick up as soon as I can.
jezzebelljc's review against another edition
5.0
“My philosophy is pretty simple – any day nobody’s trying to kill me is a good day in my book.”
I haven't gone through this series in quite some time, and I don't have any reviews up for it so I wanted to give it another read through.
The Good
Mac on the surface is a girly-girl, Barbie reincarnate. She has the long blond hair, long tan legs, and loves the color pink (along with rainbow hues). However, she's shaken and stirred when she finds out that her sister has been murdered over seas. When Mac goes to Dublin, she literally has no one. She leaves behind grief-stricken parents who aren't really talking and comes to Ireland where she doesn't know a single soul. She's on a quest for vengeance though, so that's of little consequence right now.
Along the way, she meets some truly spectacular characters and sees things that are way out of her league of understanding. She learns of a dark world hidden from her in the small provincial town she grew up in. She's now surrounded with Fae, and boy are these guys scary. Moning's interpretation of the Fae are evil even though they are split into the two courts of Light and Dark (or Seelie and Unseelie), they are all bad. Moning provided such a deep and detailed world with numerous types of Fae, a catalog of mysterious characters, and objects of power with different abilities.
Mac ends up having to work with Jericho Barrons who is an all-around cocky, mysterious, oddly elegant, hard-angled, and truly Alpha male. One of the best things to me is that the characters of Mac and Barrons need a lot of work. They are very flawed in the beginning. Mac is a bit entitled and sugary sweet, and Barrons is too rough around the edges and doesn't care about anyone but himself. Watching Mac grow bit by bit was wonderful. She is still her sun-loving, bikini-wearing, rainbow girl deep inside, but she's also getting new sides to her that are amazing to read about. She's developing hard edges were she needs them. Barrons didn't really grow much in this one, but he has plenty of room for growth as a character and I love him anyway.
The Bad
The beginning was a bit on the slow side. Learning about Mac and her finding out the news about her sister was a little boring, but necessary. Then the trip to Ireland was well detailed for some world-building, but again, just slow. Things picked up dramatically after that though.
The Romance
This series is for an older crowd. There's not much romance to really speak of, but situations are mentioned in detail.
Conclusion
A great start for the series. The information of this abundant world isn't overwhelming, and is easy to grasp. The enigmatic characters make for good suspense because Mac doesn't have a clue who to trust. As a reader, you want her not to really trust anyone because it would be to her detriment. I love the intrigue, the unique world, the detailed and deep descriptions of the Fae, and just how scary they are. Excellent read that I recommend.
Originally posted at JC's Book Haven and given 4 1/2 stars.
I haven't gone through this series in quite some time, and I don't have any reviews up for it so I wanted to give it another read through.
The Good
Mac on the surface is a girly-girl, Barbie reincarnate. She has the long blond hair, long tan legs, and loves the color pink (along with rainbow hues). However, she's shaken and stirred when she finds out that her sister has been murdered over seas. When Mac goes to Dublin, she literally has no one. She leaves behind grief-stricken parents who aren't really talking and comes to Ireland where she doesn't know a single soul. She's on a quest for vengeance though, so that's of little consequence right now.
Along the way, she meets some truly spectacular characters and sees things that are way out of her league of understanding. She learns of a dark world hidden from her in the small provincial town she grew up in. She's now surrounded with Fae, and boy are these guys scary. Moning's interpretation of the Fae are evil even though they are split into the two courts of Light and Dark (or Seelie and Unseelie), they are all bad. Moning provided such a deep and detailed world with numerous types of Fae, a catalog of mysterious characters, and objects of power with different abilities.
Mac ends up having to work with Jericho Barrons who is an all-around cocky, mysterious, oddly elegant, hard-angled, and truly Alpha male. One of the best things to me is that the characters of Mac and Barrons need a lot of work. They are very flawed in the beginning. Mac is a bit entitled and sugary sweet, and Barrons is too rough around the edges and doesn't care about anyone but himself. Watching Mac grow bit by bit was wonderful. She is still her sun-loving, bikini-wearing, rainbow girl deep inside, but she's also getting new sides to her that are amazing to read about. She's developing hard edges were she needs them. Barrons didn't really grow much in this one, but he has plenty of room for growth as a character and I love him anyway.
The Bad
The beginning was a bit on the slow side. Learning about Mac and her finding out the news about her sister was a little boring, but necessary. Then the trip to Ireland was well detailed for some world-building, but again, just slow. Things picked up dramatically after that though.
The Romance
This series is for an older crowd. There's not much romance to really speak of, but situations are mentioned in detail.
Conclusion
A great start for the series. The information of this abundant world isn't overwhelming, and is easy to grasp. The enigmatic characters make for good suspense because Mac doesn't have a clue who to trust. As a reader, you want her not to really trust anyone because it would be to her detriment. I love the intrigue, the unique world, the detailed and deep descriptions of the Fae, and just how scary they are. Excellent read that I recommend.
Originally posted at JC's Book Haven and given 4 1/2 stars.
bleulucy's review against another edition
2.0
These books draw you in. They aim higher than they accomplish, with world building, relationship angst, and atmospheric struggles of morality and lust. An urban fantasy version of Dublin, almost always dark and wet provides the atmosphere, and Moning uses that well. Her main character (Mac for MacKayla) is pretty well developed, with a real(ish) voice (actually literally, the audio of this book sounds like the character has come to life). The hero (Barrons) is appropriately dark and mysterious. Like many compelling romances (see Twilight) this series is told entirely from Mac's perspective, which highlights her fear and attraction and gives the reader the opportunity to give up reasonableness and become a naive 18 year old. It is easy to read compulsively through the first few books. Then, the crazy sauce gets too thick and the remaining books are a quick peak into the Fever world if and when you get a chance.
simplysara84's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
A good pallet cleanser. Nothing too deep. Very entertaining and quick. I will continue in. Definitely campy though.