jasmyn9's review
3.0
It's been awhile since I read the first book in the Order of the Blade series, and I was quite happy to see that I was able to jump into Darkness Seduced without having to re-read it. There is an overall story arc, but the high points were covered in a way that didn't seem like a re-cap, and the romance was definitely a hot stand-alone affair.
Lily is mentioned in book one and the Calydons are out to find and rescue this woman that has been held by the bad guys (rogue Calydons) for years......yes years! But Gideon is quite surprised when they find her and it seems like she may be his mate. Why? Because he already lost his, and he isn't supposed to have another. So, our story begins with them denying the truth in front of them - but at least they have a good reason to.
Calydons aren't supposed to mate, it turns them into temperamental a-holes that like to kill everyone around them. But in the first book, our couple defies fate and manages to avoid what was thought to be inevitable. Gideon and Lily will now have to do the same.
There is tons of action in this story, and the pacing was reminiscent of an urban fantasy - so I think people who just want a good paranormal adventure will enjoy this book right along with the paranormal romance crowd.
However, with the Calydons playing with destiny, and their sanity, we don't quite have a HEA - but more of a "well, at least we haven't killed anyone yet so we can stay together" type of ending. The evil still lurks out there and they still need to destroy it. There were a few times that it seemed like the action overtook everything else - it was quite violent at times. I enjoy a good fight between good and evil, but the hop between downtime and action happened a little suddenly at times.
Lily is mentioned in book one and the Calydons are out to find and rescue this woman that has been held by the bad guys (rogue Calydons) for years......yes years! But Gideon is quite surprised when they find her and it seems like she may be his mate. Why? Because he already lost his, and he isn't supposed to have another. So, our story begins with them denying the truth in front of them - but at least they have a good reason to.
Calydons aren't supposed to mate, it turns them into temperamental a-holes that like to kill everyone around them. But in the first book, our couple defies fate and manages to avoid what was thought to be inevitable. Gideon and Lily will now have to do the same.
There is tons of action in this story, and the pacing was reminiscent of an urban fantasy - so I think people who just want a good paranormal adventure will enjoy this book right along with the paranormal romance crowd.
However, with the Calydons playing with destiny, and their sanity, we don't quite have a HEA - but more of a "well, at least we haven't killed anyone yet so we can stay together" type of ending. The evil still lurks out there and they still need to destroy it. There were a few times that it seemed like the action overtook everything else - it was quite violent at times. I enjoy a good fight between good and evil, but the hop between downtime and action happened a little suddenly at times.
nogenreleftbehind's review
3.0
It's been awhile since I read the first book in the Order of the Blade series, and I was quite happy to see that I was able to jump into Darkness Seduced without having to re-read it. There is an overall story arc, but the high points were covered in a way that didn't seem like a re-cap, and the romance was definitely a hot stand-alone affair.
Lily is mentioned in book one and the Calydons are out to find and rescue this woman that has been held by the bad guys (rogue Calydons) for years......yes years! But Gideon is quite surprised when they find her and it seems like she may be his mate. Why? Because he already lost his, and he isn't supposed to have another. So, our story begins with them denying the truth in front of them - but at least they have a good reason to.
Calydons aren't supposed to mate, it turns them into temperamental a-holes that like to kill everyone around them. But in the first book, our couple defies fate and manages to avoid what was thought to be inevitable. Gideon and Lily will now have to do the same.
There is tons of action in this story, and the pacing was reminiscent of an urban fantasy - so I think people who just want a good paranormal adventure will enjoy this book right along with the paranormal romance crowd.
However, with the Calydons playing with destiny, and their sanity, we don't quite have a HEA - but more of a "well, at least we haven't killed anyone yet so we can stay together" type of ending. The evil still lurks out there and they still need to destroy it. There were a few times that it seemed like the action overtook everything else - it was quite violent at times. I enjoy a good fight between good and evil, but the hop between downtime and action happened a little suddenly at times.
Lily is mentioned in book one and the Calydons are out to find and rescue this woman that has been held by the bad guys (rogue Calydons) for years......yes years! But Gideon is quite surprised when they find her and it seems like she may be his mate. Why? Because he already lost his, and he isn't supposed to have another. So, our story begins with them denying the truth in front of them - but at least they have a good reason to.
Calydons aren't supposed to mate, it turns them into temperamental a-holes that like to kill everyone around them. But in the first book, our couple defies fate and manages to avoid what was thought to be inevitable. Gideon and Lily will now have to do the same.
There is tons of action in this story, and the pacing was reminiscent of an urban fantasy - so I think people who just want a good paranormal adventure will enjoy this book right along with the paranormal romance crowd.
However, with the Calydons playing with destiny, and their sanity, we don't quite have a HEA - but more of a "well, at least we haven't killed anyone yet so we can stay together" type of ending. The evil still lurks out there and they still need to destroy it. There were a few times that it seemed like the action overtook everything else - it was quite violent at times. I enjoy a good fight between good and evil, but the hop between downtime and action happened a little suddenly at times.
see_sadie_read's review
3.0
This is the second book in the Order of the Blade series and it was a fun little read. It picked up where the first left off and, as expected, followed the soul mates Gideon and Lily. I liked Lily. She was a strong survivor, which is good since she also seemed like a perpetual victim. I also like Gideon. He was a strong, honourable man and anyone who has read many of my reviews knows that I like that character type a lot. Unfortunately I didn't like Lily and Gideon together very much.
I could get over the insta-love. It's really to be expected in this genre. I even accepted that they had an extra strong attraction to one another due to her magic and his whole Sheva thing. What I had trouble with was that she essentially condemned him for doing what he was supposed to. Yes, she accepted him eventually, but she still made him grieve his previous actions, grovel and apologise. I don't mean that she forced him to do it, but she made him feel like he needed to.
No doubt this was meant to be read as her bringing the ice-king to life and teaching him to feel again. In fact we're essentially told so. However, to me it just felt wrong. Soldiers do horrible things during times of war and the Order is at war. Why should he have to apologise for difficult but honourable actions? His personal need to atone undermined the unavoidable necessity of those situations. It felt like it weakened his commitment to the cause and I simply didn't like it. This is, of course, a completely personal opinion and nothing more.
The ultra baddie that they were up against kept me interested, though his minions seem awful easy to beat. I thought the ending was a little sappy for my taste, but the threads left open for Elijah and Ana's story is really tempting. I'm torn because I like the characters and would like to know more about the rest of the Order members, but I already kind of feel like I've had enough of the series. Maybe there just wasn't enough of a difference between the first and the second books. I don't know. I'm still undecided.
I could get over the insta-love. It's really to be expected in this genre. I even accepted that they had an extra strong attraction to one another due to her magic and his whole Sheva thing. What I had trouble with was that she essentially condemned him for doing what he was supposed to. Yes, she accepted him eventually, but she still made him grieve his previous actions, grovel and apologise. I don't mean that she forced him to do it, but she made him feel like he needed to.
No doubt this was meant to be read as her bringing the ice-king to life and teaching him to feel again. In fact we're essentially told so. However, to me it just felt wrong. Soldiers do horrible things during times of war and the Order is at war. Why should he have to apologise for difficult but honourable actions? His personal need to atone undermined the unavoidable necessity of those situations. It felt like it weakened his commitment to the cause and I simply didn't like it. This is, of course, a completely personal opinion and nothing more.
The ultra baddie that they were up against kept me interested, though his minions seem awful easy to beat. I thought the ending was a little sappy for my taste, but the threads left open for Elijah and Ana's story is really tempting. I'm torn because I like the characters and would like to know more about the rest of the Order members, but I already kind of feel like I've had enough of the series. Maybe there just wasn't enough of a difference between the first and the second books. I don't know. I'm still undecided.
ashleypolich's review
5.0
I love these books! this author's writing style is amazing! I love the story line and the way she portrays the characters. it's kind of like you're there with them throughout their journey :)
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