carmenakamasi's review
dark
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
The first book in the quite unimaginatively named Kismet Knight, Ph.D., Vampire Psychologist series about a Mary Sue psychotherapist who falls in lust with a Gary Stu vampire overlord. This series is very much *what is says on the tin*.
This short was retro-fit into the telling of the actual story and is nothing more than gratuitous filler for a collection of basically vampire smut.
I don't consider it well-written smut, but nonetheless quite a fun read once you decide that mediocre smut about a potentially depressed centenarian and the ploy of his not-really-friends-maybe-allies to set him up with women christmas-carol-style can offer some respite during these stressfull times. (Well, it's my stressfull times and I had a laugh at the whole thing, so I guess it at least did something for me.)
Fair warning: quite a clumsy approach to non-con and rape built on the very shaky moral grounds of the characters.
This short was retro-fit into the telling of the actual story and is nothing more than gratuitous filler for a collection of basically vampire smut.
I don't consider it well-written smut, but nonetheless quite a fun read once you decide that mediocre smut about a potentially depressed centenarian and the ploy of his not-really-friends-maybe-allies to set him up with women christmas-carol-style can offer some respite during these stressfull times. (Well, it's my stressfull times and I had a laugh at the whole thing, so I guess it at least did something for me.)
Fair warning: quite a clumsy approach to non-con and rape built on the very shaky moral grounds of the characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence
jeanz's review
5.0
MY REVIEW
I purchased this one from Amazon.co.uk, as I had read The Vampire Shrink, Blood Therapy and Until Death Do Us Part by Lynda Hilburn already.
I was interested to learn more about Devereux and this novella was ideal as it is set the night before he meets Kismet for the first time.
The book gives you an insight into what type of Vampire "life" Devereux has led. One of womanising at time loving then leaving his women friends. Though all through his vampire life, once his newborn blood lust wore off Devereux has favoured being a rather civilised vampire. In that he doesn't believe in killing to take blood for the sake of it. He believes that vampires should stay in the shadows, where some of his brethren wish to be exhibitionists with their vampire ways. Devereux is somewhat "lifeless" and bored of his existence. His old vampire friends try to fix him up with various women, but things are not as enjoyable as they once were for Devereux. But as the title suggests this novella is set the night before he meets Kismet Knight! Devereux is set for his life to change when he meets Kismet. Is Kismet the change he needs?
Again this novella is so well written, I slipped straight back into the "comfy" feeling I get when curling up with one of Lynda's books. We learn lots about Devereaux which then explain his ways and motives in the following books. I agree with Lynda that you should read The Vampire Shrink first.
So what else can I say? Did I enjoy it? Yes of course! Would I recommend it? Yes but do read The Vampire Shrink first. Would I read more of the Kismet Knight Series? Yes, I have and want to read even more. Would I read more by Lynda Hilburn? Yes I certainly plan to.
I purchased this one from Amazon.co.uk, as I had read The Vampire Shrink, Blood Therapy and Until Death Do Us Part by Lynda Hilburn already.
I was interested to learn more about Devereux and this novella was ideal as it is set the night before he meets Kismet for the first time.
The book gives you an insight into what type of Vampire "life" Devereux has led. One of womanising at time loving then leaving his women friends. Though all through his vampire life, once his newborn blood lust wore off Devereux has favoured being a rather civilised vampire. In that he doesn't believe in killing to take blood for the sake of it. He believes that vampires should stay in the shadows, where some of his brethren wish to be exhibitionists with their vampire ways. Devereux is somewhat "lifeless" and bored of his existence. His old vampire friends try to fix him up with various women, but things are not as enjoyable as they once were for Devereux. But as the title suggests this novella is set the night before he meets Kismet Knight! Devereux is set for his life to change when he meets Kismet. Is Kismet the change he needs?
Again this novella is so well written, I slipped straight back into the "comfy" feeling I get when curling up with one of Lynda's books. We learn lots about Devereaux which then explain his ways and motives in the following books. I agree with Lynda that you should read The Vampire Shrink first.
So what else can I say? Did I enjoy it? Yes of course! Would I recommend it? Yes but do read The Vampire Shrink first. Would I read more of the Kismet Knight Series? Yes, I have and want to read even more. Would I read more by Lynda Hilburn? Yes I certainly plan to.
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