severelyhopefulcloud's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
librovert's review
3.0
Whew, Shades of Dark was so much better than it's predecessor [b:Gabriel's Ghost|7384977|Gabriel's Ghost (Dock Five Universe, #1)|Linnea Sinclair|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1267441193s/7384977.jpg|342951]!
I liked the story in Gabriel's Ghost, but there were a lot of minor issues with the writing and the characterization that Sinclair really improved upon in Shades of Dark.
I thought Shades of Dark does a much better job of handling character emotions. It still wasn't perfect, but it was much improved. In the first book I found Chaz to be childish and unreliable in her emotional reactions to things - she was much more rational and, I thought, acted more her age in Shades of Dark.
I actually think these two books could have been edited and combined into one book for a much more complete story.
I liked the story in Gabriel's Ghost, but there were a lot of minor issues with the writing and the characterization that Sinclair really improved upon in Shades of Dark.
I thought Shades of Dark does a much better job of handling character emotions. It still wasn't perfect, but it was much improved. In the first book I found Chaz to be childish and unreliable in her emotional reactions to things - she was much more rational and, I thought, acted more her age in Shades of Dark.
I actually think these two books could have been edited and combined into one book for a much more complete story.
masquerader888's review
3.0
After reading and enjoying the first book, Gabriel’s Ghost, in this series I was excited to read the sequel. Having now finished Shades of Dark, that excitement has soured.
I will give credit to the fact that the plot-arc started in the first book is brought further in this work; the goals set forth are largely reached; tho in a disintegrating social landscape they lose some of their importance. What I felt the lack of in this book was the depth that I so enjoyed in the first book in this series. The church and its role in uniting and dividing the different species we have been introduced to, the political turmoil caused by power struggles (which is greatly present in this book, but I felt that the deft hand we saw in Gabriel’s Ghost that painted a picture was somewhat replaced by a heavy hand and a sharpie.) the history and how it interacted with the time period of the book. The foreshadowing, always a bit heavy-handed, became for me just telling me what was going to happen…more akin to a playbook than an expansion of ideas.
I did love the delving into Sully’s exploration of the Kyi. The fact that it was cloak-and-daggered a bit bothered me almost as much as the reason behind the sly exploration. I felt that some of the most interesting parts of this story were taken off-screen, as it were. Told about, but not showed.
The main characters in this volume were a grave disappointment to me. The reason I enjoy connected works, indeed one of the reasons I picked up this book in the first place, was to continue learning about and expanding the relationships that were built in the previous work. In this book, that prior relationship, I felt, was in many ways dismissed, diminished, and forgotten. For perhaps the first forth of the book, that continuation existed, but when a new primary character was introduced it changed the relationship dynamics of the whole crew, most notable Sully and Chaz. The trust that had formed was greatly diminished, and the capabilities of the individual enhanced by a partner applied only to a sexual and energy arena. It was a large disappointment to me that the author chose to take the character devolvement conflicts in the direction she chose too. I realize the motivation behind the inclusion of the character dynamic that was introduced; I just do not appreciate it.
While a fairly well written book, with intriguing elements that would have otherwise kept my attention, the conclusion of this work precludes further contact from me into this author’s worlds. I do not consider anger and nauseousness to be a favorable byproduct of such an expenditure of my time. By the finishing of this work I wanted to vomit. (Not really a reaction I look forward at the end of any kind of book, but one that I thought was going to be a romance—albeit a sci-fi one—reached its antithesis in such a reaction.) This author has broken my faith in their writing and I highly doubt I will continue to read any more of her books. I do not trust that she will not again pour bilge-water into my psyche.
I will give this work three stars for the development of plot and characters—after-all it did enact a visceral reaction on my part—I do however truly wish I had stopped reading after book one.
I will give credit to the fact that the plot-arc started in the first book is brought further in this work; the goals set forth are largely reached; tho in a disintegrating social landscape they lose some of their importance. What I felt the lack of in this book was the depth that I so enjoyed in the first book in this series. The church and its role in uniting and dividing the different species we have been introduced to, the political turmoil caused by power struggles (which is greatly present in this book, but I felt that the deft hand we saw in Gabriel’s Ghost that painted a picture was somewhat replaced by a heavy hand and a sharpie.) the history and how it interacted with the time period of the book. The foreshadowing, always a bit heavy-handed, became for me just telling me what was going to happen…more akin to a playbook than an expansion of ideas.
I did love the delving into Sully’s exploration of the Kyi. The fact that it was cloak-and-daggered a bit bothered me almost as much as the reason behind the sly exploration. I felt that some of the most interesting parts of this story were taken off-screen, as it were. Told about, but not showed.
The main characters in this volume were a grave disappointment to me. The reason I enjoy connected works, indeed one of the reasons I picked up this book in the first place, was to continue learning about and expanding the relationships that were built in the previous work. In this book, that prior relationship, I felt, was in many ways dismissed, diminished, and forgotten. For perhaps the first forth of the book, that continuation existed, but when a new primary character was introduced it changed the relationship dynamics of the whole crew, most notable Sully and Chaz. The trust that had formed was greatly diminished, and the capabilities of the individual enhanced by a partner applied only to a sexual and energy arena. It was a large disappointment to me that the author chose to take the character devolvement conflicts in the direction she chose too. I realize the motivation behind the inclusion of the character dynamic that was introduced; I just do not appreciate it.
While a fairly well written book, with intriguing elements that would have otherwise kept my attention, the conclusion of this work precludes further contact from me into this author’s worlds. I do not consider anger and nauseousness to be a favorable byproduct of such an expenditure of my time. By the finishing of this work I wanted to vomit. (Not really a reaction I look forward at the end of any kind of book, but one that I thought was going to be a romance—albeit a sci-fi one—reached its antithesis in such a reaction.) This author has broken my faith in their writing and I highly doubt I will continue to read any more of her books. I do not trust that she will not again pour bilge-water into my psyche.
I will give this work three stars for the development of plot and characters—after-all it did enact a visceral reaction on my part—I do however truly wish I had stopped reading after book one.
rclz's review
4.0
I'm tempted to only give this a 3.5 for the ending. The ending wasn't terrible but it felt not quite done, like there should have been a epilogue. Oh well hopefully the missing information will come through in the next book.
I did like the book overall. It was fast passed and the characters good and bad where well done. The plot easily held my interest. I thought there was a point or two that felt like they could have been resolved in a way that didn't seem so convenient but I still liked it.
I did like the book overall. It was fast passed and the characters good and bad where well done. The plot easily held my interest. I thought there was a point or two that felt like they could have been resolved in a way that didn't seem so convenient but I still liked it.
nelsonseye's review against another edition
3.0
Between three and four stars. I may reconsider my rating in the future.
sewcialist_librarian's review
3.0
It reads along the same lines as S.L. Viehl's Stardoc books. An Accidental Goddess is still her best book.
bellzy's review
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
It's decided. The only book in this quartet I really enjoy is Hope's Folly. I just don't like Sully
julesmcleish's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
reginaexmachina's review
2.0
I kinda bounced between 2 and 3 stars with this one. I loved the first book in the series, 'Gabriel's Ghost', to pieces. However, I felt like this was a completely different book. It had a much larger focus on character drama and dynamics than in the previous book, which wasn't necessarily a negative. The majority of the book focused on Sully and Chaz's relationship with Ren and most of the other characters making less appearances. I also think Sully must have gotten some kind of brain transplant between the first and second book. There were some excuses for things he did in this book, but nonetheless he does some pretty mean and morally bad things in this book. And personally if I was Chaz I'm not sure I would have made the same decisions. It got the the point where towards the end of the book I really didn't like Sully very much anymore. It also felt like a few plot strings were left open but I got a little lost and confused towards the end so I may have just missed some things.
I wanted to give it a higher rating since I was really exited for this book and Linnea's writing kept me from giving up on it. But with the problems I had with the plot and some of the things the character did, I just couldn't give it a better rating than that. I'm still holding hope for the next book in the series though. I've loved all of the other books by this series, and one book isn't going to ruin that.
I wanted to give it a higher rating since I was really exited for this book and Linnea's writing kept me from giving up on it. But with the problems I had with the plot and some of the things the character did, I just couldn't give it a better rating than that. I'm still holding hope for the next book in the series though. I've loved all of the other books by this series, and one book isn't going to ruin that.
schomj's review
3.0
Finally, 10 years after buying it, I have read this. Yay for working through backlists!
CW: rape, dickhead boyfriend not standing up for his girlfriend when she gets sexually harassed by said boyfriend's new bromance
CW: rape, dickhead boyfriend not standing up for his girlfriend when she gets sexually harassed by said boyfriend's new bromance