susanatwestofmars's review against another edition
3.0
I have known Joss/Colleen (since the cat's now out of the bag) for a LONG time. I remember when she introduced this series, and yes, it's taken me this long to get to it. I'm a lousy friend -- or maybe not, since I'm really freaking hard when I sit down to write reviews.
This series is some serious crazysauce, and I like that. REALLY like it. Crazysauce is where we get fresh ideas. Gangas and crystals and immortality and invisibility... it's like a playground of fun, child-like ideas (that's NOT an insult; there's something so innocent and wonderful in these ideas).
So what's my problem? Why didn't I love this as much as I loved the ideas?
I'm not sure. Maybe some of it is the insta-lust. A lot of it is definitely Theo's clinginess to Sage; I can't stand when a man with romantic intents can't appreciate a woman's abilities and talents and skills, and he's right up there in that regard. Glad Simon wasn't the same.
And some of it... the whole thing with the dude and the archer chick. Fatima/Tatiana. And, of course, all the questions that a post-apocalyptic society brings. Some of these answers are satisfactory, some aren't.
So it was a good read and definitely met my goals: a fun, fast read that'd close out my 2021 reading challenge here on Goodreads. But a series I'm going to make sure I read start to finish? Nah.
However, if you do, tell me what happens.
This series is some serious crazysauce, and I like that. REALLY like it. Crazysauce is where we get fresh ideas. Gangas and crystals and immortality and invisibility... it's like a playground of fun, child-like ideas (that's NOT an insult; there's something so innocent and wonderful in these ideas).
So what's my problem? Why didn't I love this as much as I loved the ideas?
I'm not sure. Maybe some of it is the insta-lust. A lot of it is definitely Theo's clinginess to Sage; I can't stand when a man with romantic intents can't appreciate a woman's abilities and talents and skills, and he's right up there in that regard. Glad Simon wasn't the same.
And some of it... the whole thing with the dude and the archer chick. Fatima/Tatiana. And, of course, all the questions that a post-apocalyptic society brings. Some of these answers are satisfactory, some aren't.
So it was a good read and definitely met my goals: a fun, fast read that'd close out my 2021 reading challenge here on Goodreads. But a series I'm going to make sure I read start to finish? Nah.
However, if you do, tell me what happens.
aquariandancer's review against another edition
4.0
Envy Chronicles Book Two
Simon and Sage must go to Sage's homeplace to find information left behind by Remington Truth. The catch, Falling Creek is a settlement bent on repopulating the devastated world by strict breeding policies. Sage must be married to return and avoid being thrust upon some man with who-knows-how-many other wives. During their stay, Simon reveals that he gained a power in the Sedona caves as well. Sage also discovers his past when a Stranger recognizes him from the past.
Narration: Sebastian Fields does wonders with accents and dialects. He employs a reading narration utilizing accents instead of an acting narration with different voices.
If you're looking for a story with action, fun awkwardness, a bit of angst and love, this is the book for you!
Simon and Sage must go to Sage's homeplace to find information left behind by Remington Truth. The catch, Falling Creek is a settlement bent on repopulating the devastated world by strict breeding policies. Sage must be married to return and avoid being thrust upon some man with who-knows-how-many other wives. During their stay, Simon reveals that he gained a power in the Sedona caves as well. Sage also discovers his past when a Stranger recognizes him from the past.
Narration: Sebastian Fields does wonders with accents and dialects. He employs a reading narration utilizing accents instead of an acting narration with different voices.
If you're looking for a story with action, fun awkwardness, a bit of angst and love, this is the book for you!
laurenjodi's review against another edition
4.0
Embrace the Night Eternal
3.5 Stars
A man with a dark and murky past, Simon Japp is one of the men who survived the apocalyptic Change in stasis. Endowed with the ability to cloak himself in invisibility, Simon swears to assist the citizens of Envy in their struggle against the Strangers. Together with Sage Corrigan, the resistance’s resident computer geek, Simon travels to the polygamist settlement of Falling Creek to search for the man who may hold the key to saving humanity from the Strangers, and along the way discovers that there is more to life than simply existing…
The mythology of Ware’s post-apocalyptic world is fascinating and the on-going storyline involving the Remmington Truth, the Strangers and the Cult of Atlantis is captivating.
The dark, brooding and enigmatic Simon is my favorite type of tortured hero and the slow revelation of his personal story is intriguing. Sage is a sweet heroine with a troubling past of her own and her romance with Simon is intense and satisfying.
Two problematic issues arise, however, including the annoying love triangle, which is completely out of place in a paranormal romance, and Sage’s irritating tendency to allow Theo’s patronizing and condescending attitude toward her - she needed to grow a back-bone much sooner.
There are also tantalizing glimpses into Quentin and Zoe’s ongoing relationship, which has only whet my appetite for the next book.
3.5 Stars
A man with a dark and murky past, Simon Japp is one of the men who survived the apocalyptic Change in stasis. Endowed with the ability to cloak himself in invisibility, Simon swears to assist the citizens of Envy in their struggle against the Strangers. Together with Sage Corrigan, the resistance’s resident computer geek, Simon travels to the polygamist settlement of Falling Creek to search for the man who may hold the key to saving humanity from the Strangers, and along the way discovers that there is more to life than simply existing…
The mythology of Ware’s post-apocalyptic world is fascinating and the on-going storyline involving the Remmington Truth, the Strangers and the Cult of Atlantis is captivating.
The dark, brooding and enigmatic Simon is my favorite type of tortured hero and the slow revelation of his personal story is intriguing. Sage is a sweet heroine with a troubling past of her own and her romance with Simon is intense and satisfying.
Two problematic issues arise, however, including the annoying love triangle, which is completely out of place in a paranormal romance, and Sage’s irritating tendency to allow Theo’s patronizing and condescending attitude toward her - she needed to grow a back-bone much sooner.
There are also tantalizing glimpses into Quentin and Zoe’s ongoing relationship, which has only whet my appetite for the next book.
schomj's review against another edition
4.0
The world-building of this dystopian future was solid and the primary characters were sympathetic and believable.
The incredibly beautiful, brainy and kind virgin heroine was a little more Mary Sue-like than I generally prefer, but her back-story made all of that make sense and she was overall quite likable. I liked the hero quite a lot--he was on a quest for redemption before he met the heroine and their relationship development included a nice mixture of angst, trust, respect and sensuality. One of the villains indulged in some scenery chewing, but given the way that character was developed as a whole it made sense.
Some of the plotting for the overall series story arc was a little confusing, but that's probably because I didn't realize it was the second book in the series when I started.
I could see this appealing to fans of Ava Gray (and vice versa).
The incredibly beautiful, brainy and kind virgin heroine was a little more Mary Sue-like than I generally prefer, but her back-story made all of that make sense and she was overall quite likable. I liked the hero quite a lot--he was on a quest for redemption before he met the heroine and their relationship development included a nice mixture of angst, trust, respect and sensuality. One of the villains indulged in some scenery chewing, but given the way that character was developed as a whole it made sense.
Some of the plotting for the overall series story arc was a little confusing, but that's probably because I didn't realize it was the second book in the series when I started.
I could see this appealing to fans of Ava Gray (and vice versa).
abarrile's review against another edition
3.0
Not the best book, not the worst. Not really sure what went wrong, but there was definitely potential for a much better story. The characters were a bit too flat for my tastes. Currently reading Book 3, and it seems like it'll be better than the first two, but, compared to the author's Gardella Vampire series, I am not impressed.
kat_the_bookcat's review against another edition
3.0
Simon is one of six men who passed out in a cave and woke up to a different world fifty years later. Only he isn't one of Elliot's friends. No one's sure how he ended up there with them. And the girl he has his eye on has caught someone else's eye.
Simon's another of the angsty guys. He believes he doesn't deserve good. But luckily, he's not so angsty that he can't be an enjoyable character.
Sage is also a little angsty. But also a fun character. And she's very much attracted to Simon. But he seems determined to keep her at arms' length. However, when she and Simon end up stuck together in a strange place, she knows its her chance to convince him to be hers. Dun dun duuunnnnn.
Simon's another of the angsty guys. He believes he doesn't deserve good. But luckily, he's not so angsty that he can't be an enjoyable character.
Sage is also a little angsty. But also a fun character. And she's very much attracted to Simon. But he seems determined to keep her at arms' length. However, when she and Simon end up stuck together in a strange place, she knows its her chance to convince him to be hers. Dun dun duuunnnnn.
amym84's review against another edition
4.0
Originally posted at Vampire Book Club
Being book two in a series, and having the basic background set up already, I was able to get into Embrace the Night Eternal quicker than Beyond the Night. After finding out that the zombie-like gangas aren’t calling for ruuuuth but in fact calling for Remington Truth, the Resistance knows that they need to find Truth and how he’s linked to the Change and the Strangers.
A tip leads the group to believe there may be answers found in Falling Creek, a settlement that years ago broke off from the original group in Envy. They are the group that believed repopulation of the human race was the most important thing after the Change, so they left Envy and formed a community where men have multiple wives and their main focus is procreation.
Lou and Theo Waxnicki’s fellow computer hack Sage comes from, and years ago escaped from, Falling Creek. She knows that she’s the best person to get back in, unfortunately that means confronting things in her past that she’d rather just leave alone. Sage is ready to get out of hiding behind her computer all day, so she’ll do what needs to be done.
Of the five men who came out of that cave in Sedona, Simon Japp was kind of the odd man out. He wasn’t associated with Elliott and his group of friends when he went in, and once they woke up to a world of destruction, his reason for being there kind of faded into the background. In Embrace we learn who Simon Japp really is, and we learn that even with the destruction of the world he’s still trying to escape from his past.
I would say the thing that I like most about this series so far is the world. The mystery behind the Change keeps getting more twisted. Just when something makes sense, another bit of information is revealed that completely changes my perspective. It is extremely interesting and Joss Ware has done a great job here. There’s also some subtle headway made on why the cave survivors came away with the powers they did.
What irritated me a lot with the book is the fact that people kept trying to make decisions for Sage. Seemingly, she doesn’t ‘know what’s good for her’ and needs others to step in and push her in the right direction (please note the sarcasm). Simon is the biggest perpetrator of this. While he is more open to Sage’s ability to help with the investigation, he takes two steps back in the fact that he tries to nudge her towards another man when he starts to feel too much for Sage. Simon is still remorseful over events in his past and doesn’t feel he deserves to be cared about–and vice versa. Considering the backdrop of Eternal takes place in a community that values more the act of reproducing than any loving bond formed between partners. I think there should have been more distinction between that and the forming relationship between our two leads, because despite my irritations, I like Sage and Simon together. Things just didn’t play out to my satisfaction.
Regardless of my irritations, Joss Ware has set up some interesting developments for the next book.
Being book two in a series, and having the basic background set up already, I was able to get into Embrace the Night Eternal quicker than Beyond the Night. After finding out that the zombie-like gangas aren’t calling for ruuuuth but in fact calling for Remington Truth, the Resistance knows that they need to find Truth and how he’s linked to the Change and the Strangers.
A tip leads the group to believe there may be answers found in Falling Creek, a settlement that years ago broke off from the original group in Envy. They are the group that believed repopulation of the human race was the most important thing after the Change, so they left Envy and formed a community where men have multiple wives and their main focus is procreation.
Lou and Theo Waxnicki’s fellow computer hack Sage comes from, and years ago escaped from, Falling Creek. She knows that she’s the best person to get back in, unfortunately that means confronting things in her past that she’d rather just leave alone. Sage is ready to get out of hiding behind her computer all day, so she’ll do what needs to be done.
Of the five men who came out of that cave in Sedona, Simon Japp was kind of the odd man out. He wasn’t associated with Elliott and his group of friends when he went in, and once they woke up to a world of destruction, his reason for being there kind of faded into the background. In Embrace we learn who Simon Japp really is, and we learn that even with the destruction of the world he’s still trying to escape from his past.
I would say the thing that I like most about this series so far is the world. The mystery behind the Change keeps getting more twisted. Just when something makes sense, another bit of information is revealed that completely changes my perspective. It is extremely interesting and Joss Ware has done a great job here. There’s also some subtle headway made on why the cave survivors came away with the powers they did.
What irritated me a lot with the book is the fact that people kept trying to make decisions for Sage. Seemingly, she doesn’t ‘know what’s good for her’ and needs others to step in and push her in the right direction (please note the sarcasm). Simon is the biggest perpetrator of this. While he is more open to Sage’s ability to help with the investigation, he takes two steps back in the fact that he tries to nudge her towards another man when he starts to feel too much for Sage. Simon is still remorseful over events in his past and doesn’t feel he deserves to be cared about–and vice versa. Considering the backdrop of Eternal takes place in a community that values more the act of reproducing than any loving bond formed between partners. I think there should have been more distinction between that and the forming relationship between our two leads, because despite my irritations, I like Sage and Simon together. Things just didn’t play out to my satisfaction.
Regardless of my irritations, Joss Ware has set up some interesting developments for the next book.
mousegoddess's review
5.0
I LOVED THIS STORY SO MUCH.
Sorry for the caps, but I get very intense about my reading sometimes. I loved this book so much. Seriously. I particularly appreciated the fact that. It was a very well-rounded book and the characters behaved consistently. I almost don't want to read the next book because I don't see how it could be nearly as awesome.
Sorry for the caps, but I get very intense about my reading sometimes. I loved this book so much. Seriously. I particularly appreciated the fact that
Spoiler
he wasn't REDEEMED by the woman, but she helped him realize that he wasn't the man he used to be, that he was on the path to redemption and *tear*molsreads's review
4.0
I really enjoyed the first installment of this series and immensely enjoyed this book. I still think the romance aspect is a little lacking but I love, love the world Ware has built.
This book is about Simon Japp who is truly an outsider. He was an outsider in his life before the global disaster all but obliterated the Earth, and when he awakes 50 years later to this post-apocalyptic world he is the outsider among the other men who also experienced this mysterious Rip Van Winkle number. I'm always a sucker for tortured heroes and Simon has quite a past. I think he really made this book for me. Although, I kinda felt like we didn't quite get all his past. We learn about his violent past, as the right hand man for one of Vegas' biggest mobsters, but we never really learned how he got into that position. At least, I don't remember if this was explained. I read this a few weeks ago and am just now getting to review it.
So anyone else who's read this series did we find out how Simon ended up entangled with the mob? When reading I kept thinking, there's something more to this story. Something about his childhood or upbringing that we're missing. So, Kristie(j), you're the one who turned me on to this series. Do you remember? I'm pretty sure we didn't get that info. In any case, I felt like if I had just a little bit more about his background it would have made it a little more satisfying.
I really liked the heroine Sage who, because of her heritage, is also an outsider. Judged because of where she comes from. I thought she and Simon made a good pair.
I was a little miffed with Theo in this one. I was really intrigued by him in the first book and he was kind of a dope to Sage in this book. But I'm still looking forward to his book.
All in all, a good second book. I'm impressed by the world building but still wish for a pinch more smexy lovin'.
This book is about Simon Japp who is truly an outsider. He was an outsider in his life before the global disaster all but obliterated the Earth, and when he awakes 50 years later to this post-apocalyptic world he is the outsider among the other men who also experienced this mysterious Rip Van Winkle number. I'm always a sucker for tortured heroes and Simon has quite a past. I think he really made this book for me. Although, I kinda felt like we didn't quite get all his past. We learn about his violent past, as the right hand man for one of Vegas' biggest mobsters, but we never really learned how he got into that position. At least, I don't remember if this was explained. I read this a few weeks ago and am just now getting to review it.
So anyone else who's read this series did we find out how Simon ended up entangled with the mob? When reading I kept thinking, there's something more to this story. Something about his childhood or upbringing that we're missing. So, Kristie(j), you're the one who turned me on to this series. Do you remember? I'm pretty sure we didn't get that info. In any case, I felt like if I had just a little bit more about his background it would have made it a little more satisfying.
I really liked the heroine Sage who, because of her heritage, is also an outsider. Judged because of where she comes from. I thought she and Simon made a good pair.
I was a little miffed with Theo in this one. I was really intrigued by him in the first book and he was kind of a dope to Sage in this book. But I'm still looking forward to his book.
All in all, a good second book. I'm impressed by the world building but still wish for a pinch more smexy lovin'.
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