chllybrd's review against another edition
3.0
TWICEBORN is one of those books that I am having a really hard time reviewing. The reason being that I didn't dislike the book, but I didn't fall in love with it either. On top of that, there isn't an obvious reason for either, it just was.
TWICEBORN had a lot going for it. Kate was a likable character, the storyline keeps you guessing and the there is action all over the book. So why didn't I love it? I just didn't completely fall into the story and things that I wanted to happen, didn't happen like I thought they would. That's not a bad thing, just made it harder for me to totally fall into some of the major scenes.
There was a little bit of romance in TWICEBORN. It was definitely a sideline sort of thing and wasn't super exciting, but I know some people like a little romance with their urban fantasy so I thought I would mention it.
I got through TWICEBORN no problem and I even enjoyed most of it, but not enough to want to know what will happen next.
* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
TWICEBORN had a lot going for it. Kate was a likable character, the storyline keeps you guessing and the there is action all over the book. So why didn't I love it? I just didn't completely fall into the story and things that I wanted to happen, didn't happen like I thought they would. That's not a bad thing, just made it harder for me to totally fall into some of the major scenes.
There was a little bit of romance in TWICEBORN. It was definitely a sideline sort of thing and wasn't super exciting, but I know some people like a little romance with their urban fantasy so I thought I would mention it.
I got through TWICEBORN no problem and I even enjoyed most of it, but not enough to want to know what will happen next.
* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
lavendermarch's review
3.0
This was an interesting, if slightly frustrating/irritating beginning to a trilogy. I had a hard time with the switches between Kate and Leandra, as they happened quite often, and Leandra was a bit more interesting, though colder, than Kate. I liked the magic. I wish there was more explanation of the world building elements of the story.
I have book two checked out through Kindle Unlimited (where I read this book) and may read it, although I did find myself slogging through this book a bit. It was slower at the start, and picked up in the last third. I didn't love either main character (if you can call them that - I guess they semi count as one?) and I found the pacing of events a bit weird, along with the placement of some flashbacks. I also didn't really get to know any of the characters very well, which I found frustrating.
All that said, I did like the concept of the story, and I love pretty much anything with dragons, so those elements, and the magic, made the story more interesting for me. However, as I didn't love the characters, I may not continue with the series. 3 stars.
I have book two checked out through Kindle Unlimited (where I read this book) and may read it, although I did find myself slogging through this book a bit. It was slower at the start, and picked up in the last third. I didn't love either main character (if you can call them that - I guess they semi count as one?) and I found the pacing of events a bit weird, along with the placement of some flashbacks. I also didn't really get to know any of the characters very well, which I found frustrating.
All that said, I did like the concept of the story, and I love pretty much anything with dragons, so those elements, and the magic, made the story more interesting for me. However, as I didn't love the characters, I may not continue with the series. 3 stars.
jessielzimmer's review against another edition
1.0
I wanted to like this book, urban fantasy with a lead character who was a mother? That's pretty awesome. But ultimately I just didn't care about anyone. Kate felt boring and whiny; while I think it's great to see moms in fiction, she felt like *just* a mother. Rather than a well-rounded character. She references Lachie every chance she gets and, instead of reading like a grieving parent, Kate is more like a woman with no other character traits *besides* motherhood. Deeply disappointing and frustrating to read.
The attachment to Lachie came too little too late in the 23rd or 24th chapter. Instead if allowing the reader to meet him or learn much about him before he dies, he screams plot device. He also reads more like a five year old than a ten year old, to me. The romance struck me as pointless and the whole "forgive and forget" at the end with Ben just felt wasteful. By the end I didn't *want* to see her with Ben, he was a douche who still had no problem sleeping with Kate - even knowing *both* their circumstances. I would've much rather Kate ended up with Garth. He at least had a stronger sense of development and honor. Ben makes one hail mary risk at the end, and all is forgiven, whereas Garth has developed and earned her trust throughout the whole book.
This was a big letdown, even as a fun fluffy read. I won't be continuing with the next in the series.
The attachment to Lachie came too little too late in the 23rd or 24th chapter. Instead if allowing the reader to meet him or learn much about him before he dies, he screams plot device. He also reads more like a five year old than a ten year old, to me. The romance struck me as pointless and the whole "forgive and forget" at the end with Ben just felt wasteful. By the end I didn't *want* to see her with Ben, he was a douche who still had no problem sleeping with Kate - even knowing *both* their circumstances. I would've much rather Kate ended up with Garth. He at least had a stronger sense of development and honor. Ben makes one hail mary risk at the end, and all is forgiven, whereas Garth has developed and earned her trust throughout the whole book.
This was a big letdown, even as a fun fluffy read. I won't be continuing with the next in the series.
anothercurleyhairbooklover's review
4.0
a very good book, looking forward to the next in the series.
aimee70807's review
4.0
Twice Born is intriguingly different from your run-of-the-mill shifter book. It's solidly urban fantasy instead of paranormal romance, with plenty of world-building (set in Australia, which makes it doubly different!). The story starts with a bang, following a character who's lost her memory of the last few hours but who just vaguely remembers blood dripping from her hands. How could you put that down?
I don't want to tell you much more, because this book's twistiness is one of its best points. There are mysteries within mysteries, and it's intriguing watching our heroine figure out what's going on. Unfortunately, I feel like that twistiness went a bit too far --- thus four stars instead of five. A bit of foreshadowing of one element that shows up near the end would have made me more emotionally invested in the book and brought me through a middle that otherwise felt too long. Or perhaps the author should have just cut out a hundred pages or so. (I do like my books short and sweet.)
But the end more than made up for that slight flaw, and I'm looking forward to book two. On for more twists and turns and dragon shifters!
I don't want to tell you much more, because this book's twistiness is one of its best points. There are mysteries within mysteries, and it's intriguing watching our heroine figure out what's going on. Unfortunately, I feel like that twistiness went a bit too far --- thus four stars instead of five. A bit of foreshadowing of one element that shows up near the end would have made me more emotionally invested in the book and brought me through a middle that otherwise felt too long. Or perhaps the author should have just cut out a hundred pages or so. (I do like my books short and sweet.)
But the end more than made up for that slight flaw, and I'm looking forward to book two. On for more twists and turns and dragon shifters!
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