jae07's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
tonks332's review
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
jezzebelljc's review
3.0
Bishop it's just you - Mahogany and Blue
I am a sucker for books about angels and demons and take a look at that cover. However, Dark Kiss neither wow'd me nor did I hate it.
The Good
It starts out with a familiar relationship of two best girl friends, one who is lamenting a bad relationship with a cheater and one who is crushing on an older boy. Samantha, who has this crush, unexpectedly gets a kiss from Stephen, and he just walks away but not without leaving a life-changing hole inside her.
Once she meets Bishop, the story starts taking a turn from teen drama to a more paranormal read. There are electrical sparks, there is a feeling that the two need to be around each other, and yes this has all been done before. I would put the insta-love in the bad category, but Bishop really made the book for me so it was important that he was around as often as he was. Thankfully, the reasons behind it are a little different as it was important for Sam to help Bishop on his quest by finding beams of light. That sounds really strange, but stay with me here. They are going around to each of these beams and finding members of Bishop's team who are enjoyable in their own rights. Kraven, who is a demon, shares some juicy information about a past when he and Bishop were humans and I am interested in learning more about these two during that time.
There is also a bee motif throughout the novel. Sam equates her interactions with guys as stings or climbing into the nest. It's really enjoyable imagery for the situations.
The Bad
I don't think I ever got attached to the main character in this one. Sam just wasn't a character that I liked as a protagonist. In the beginning, as she is explaining why she would walk up to a street kid, she tells me that she ran away from home when her parents got a divorce because her mom started working and she should have been her mother's whole world. WHOA! As a single parent, this hits all the wrong buttons for me. What this means to me in the book is that she is a little bratty. I labeled her this way pretty early on so it was hard to draw closer to her.
The Romance
There is some chemistry between Samantha and Bishop that causes good tension and he makes a great romantic interest. Without giving too much away though, all I can really say is that currently their romance is hitting some brick walls.
Conclusion
This book had a nice concept that I hadn't seen put together this way and has potential to go somewhere certainly further in the series. I hope to feel more of a connection with the main character, but the other side characters are an eclectic bunch that I enjoyed learning about. I will be reading the second one in the series to see where this one goes because I am interested.
I am a sucker for books about angels and demons and take a look at that cover. However, Dark Kiss neither wow'd me nor did I hate it.
The Good
It starts out with a familiar relationship of two best girl friends, one who is lamenting a bad relationship with a cheater and one who is crushing on an older boy. Samantha, who has this crush, unexpectedly gets a kiss from Stephen, and he just walks away but not without leaving a life-changing hole inside her.
Once she meets Bishop, the story starts taking a turn from teen drama to a more paranormal read. There are electrical sparks, there is a feeling that the two need to be around each other, and yes this has all been done before. I would put the insta-love in the bad category, but Bishop really made the book for me so it was important that he was around as often as he was. Thankfully, the reasons behind it are a little different as it was important for Sam to help Bishop on his quest by finding beams of light. That sounds really strange, but stay with me here. They are going around to each of these beams and finding members of Bishop's team who are enjoyable in their own rights. Kraven, who is a demon, shares some juicy information about a past when he and Bishop were humans and I am interested in learning more about these two during that time.
There is also a bee motif throughout the novel. Sam equates her interactions with guys as stings or climbing into the nest. It's really enjoyable imagery for the situations.
The Bad
I don't think I ever got attached to the main character in this one. Sam just wasn't a character that I liked as a protagonist. In the beginning, as she is explaining why she would walk up to a street kid, she tells me that she ran away from home when her parents got a divorce because her mom started working and she should have been her mother's whole world. WHOA! As a single parent, this hits all the wrong buttons for me. What this means to me in the book is that she is a little bratty. I labeled her this way pretty early on so it was hard to draw closer to her.
The Romance
There is some chemistry between Samantha and Bishop that causes good tension and he makes a great romantic interest. Without giving too much away though, all I can really say is that currently their romance is hitting some brick walls.
Conclusion
This book had a nice concept that I hadn't seen put together this way and has potential to go somewhere certainly further in the series. I hope to feel more of a connection with the main character, but the other side characters are an eclectic bunch that I enjoyed learning about. I will be reading the second one in the series to see where this one goes because I am interested.
plantzone23's review
3.0
This book was good. All of the characters were cool and i like the plot too. When i read i wasn't expecting much and wasn't super surprised that it wasn't one of the best books i have ever read, but i still enjoyed it. It was a quick read for me.
jcqb09's review
4.0
This book was like the Hush, Hush series by Becca Fitzpatrick mixed up with the Soul Stealers series by Rachel Vincent. It actually was just that.
Which is why I liked it so much.
The whole "my parents were an angel and a demon" thing was an eye-roll-inducing cliche, but what else could you have in a book about Angels and Demons? I'm not gonna hate the book for that single unoriginality. I liked this book so much I read it in one sitting.
If you've read any of my other reviews (more specifically my Blood of Eden ones), I'm sure you know who my favorite character was... Kraven! The sarcastic jerk character! He was intriguing from the moment they awakened him. The other characters were cool, too. Bishop was interesting because he was like crazy and you usually don't expect the Alpha Male character to have any apparent vulnerabilities, so it was an interesting change. Carly I liked at first, but then once she became a "gray" I didn't like her as much; I wasn't so sad when she died(?). I was disappointed that there were no girls on the team of angels and demons - so Samantha could have a friend or something - but the team was like able enough (except Roth. like what even is your deal?).
I liked how, even though some parts of the book were predictable, I found myself paling (to the extent of my ability, of course) whenever a plot twist was revealed. Or reacting aloud when SAMANTHA FREAKING TELLS BISHOP THAT SHE WANTS TO KISS HIM. I like books where you can empathize with the characters; it shows good writing.
Upon reading the summary of the next book, I bet you can tell (if you're familiar with it) why I related this book to the Soul Stealers series. I'm super excited to read the next one just to see more of Kraven, the bae-ven. (ew wtf was that) Can't wait to read it!
Which is why I liked it so much.
The whole "my parents were an angel and a demon" thing was an eye-roll-inducing cliche, but what else could you have in a book about Angels and Demons? I'm not gonna hate the book for that single unoriginality. I liked this book so much I read it in one sitting.
If you've read any of my other reviews (more specifically my Blood of Eden ones), I'm sure you know who my favorite character was... Kraven! The sarcastic jerk character! He was intriguing from the moment they awakened him. The other characters were cool, too. Bishop was interesting because he was like crazy and you usually don't expect the Alpha Male character to have any apparent vulnerabilities, so it was an interesting change. Carly I liked at first, but then once she became a "gray" I didn't like her as much; I wasn't so sad when she died(?). I was disappointed that there were no girls on the team of angels and demons - so Samantha could have a friend or something - but the team was like able enough (except Roth. like what even is your deal?).
I liked how, even though some parts of the book were predictable, I found myself paling (to the extent of my ability, of course) whenever a plot twist was revealed. Or reacting aloud when SAMANTHA FREAKING TELLS BISHOP THAT SHE WANTS TO KISS HIM. I like books where you can empathize with the characters; it shows good writing.
Upon reading the summary of the next book, I bet you can tell (if you're familiar with it) why I related this book to the Soul Stealers series. I'm super excited to read the next one just to see more of Kraven, the bae-ven. (ew wtf was that) Can't wait to read it!
anjanavasan's review
4.0
The cover was pretty much enough to convince me to read this book but add the blurb, I'm sold. I'm a sucker for all things paranormal but have a bigger thing for stories about angels and demons. The whole Heaven versus Hell thing can never get tiring. I have to say though, with Dark Kiss, Michelle Rowen's put an awesome twist on the concept of Heaven and Hell with Angels and Demons working together.
The story begins with an angel named Bishop being sent to Earth on a mission to stop something bad that's happening and to protect it from a bigger disaster, namely, the 'Grays' - a type of soulless creatures that suck the soul our from humans through a kiss and make them a 'Gray' as well. Too bad Samantha gets kissed right at the beginning.
Honestly, I don't want to give too much of the plot away because not knowing what to expect is what made this book a real page turner for me. So, I'm not writing a synopsis this time.
When I started reading Dark Kiss, I knew right away that I'd like it, or at the very least, be able to connect to it because Rowen's writing was extremely relatable. The way Samantha thinks/speaks and her relationship with Carly reminded me of me as a teenager in some ways.
I was right there with Samantha the entire time, asking all these questions in my head and looking for answers.
Dark Kiss has an excellent plot going for it and even better characters. I was rooting for Sam and Bishop the entire time and it's been a while since a YA book couple made me do that. I was dying for one of them to make a move through out the novel! The chemistry between them is awesome and Rowen's writing nailed all the right words to make my heart flutter!
It's probably wrong of me to have a thing for Team Hell but Kraven is just so hot. I loved his sarcasm and bad boy attitude.
The reason I'm not rating this 5 stars is because while the plot and the writing were really good, they weren't intense enough for me. It's definitely a 4 star read, don't doubt that. I just need a bit of darkness, passion and intensity. I need to go through hell, or rather, an emotional roller-coaster before I see the light for me to rate a book 5 stars. Dark Kiss did have traces of it though and I'm seriously dying to read book two in the NightWatchers series! I need more Bishop and Kraven and I need it NOW.
The story begins with an angel named Bishop being sent to Earth on a mission to stop something bad that's happening and to protect it from a bigger disaster, namely, the 'Grays' - a type of soulless creatures that suck the soul our from humans through a kiss and make them a 'Gray' as well. Too bad Samantha gets kissed right at the beginning.
Honestly, I don't want to give too much of the plot away because not knowing what to expect is what made this book a real page turner for me. So, I'm not writing a synopsis this time.
When I started reading Dark Kiss, I knew right away that I'd like it, or at the very least, be able to connect to it because Rowen's writing was extremely relatable. The way Samantha thinks/speaks and her relationship with Carly reminded me of me as a teenager in some ways.
I was right there with Samantha the entire time, asking all these questions in my head and looking for answers.
Dark Kiss has an excellent plot going for it and even better characters. I was rooting for Sam and Bishop the entire time and it's been a while since a YA book couple made me do that. I was dying for one of them to make a move through out the novel! The chemistry between them is awesome and Rowen's writing nailed all the right words to make my heart flutter!
It's probably wrong of me to have a thing for Team Hell but Kraven is just so hot. I loved his sarcasm and bad boy attitude.
The reason I'm not rating this 5 stars is because while the plot and the writing were really good, they weren't intense enough for me. It's definitely a 4 star read, don't doubt that. I just need a bit of darkness, passion and intensity. I need to go through hell, or rather, an emotional roller-coaster before I see the light for me to rate a book 5 stars. Dark Kiss did have traces of it though and I'm seriously dying to read book two in the NightWatchers series! I need more Bishop and Kraven and I need it NOW.
loveleareads's review
3.0
3.5 stars
When I read Michelle Rowan's Demon Princess series, I was really surprised by how much I liked it. I didn't think I would like it as much as I did. I was pretty excited to read see how Dark Kiss would turn out. Although it wasn't as good as I hoped it would be, I still enjoyed it.
Rowan did not fail to create a world that captivated and intrigued me. I just love the worlds that she creates. I find them fascinating and creative.
This may be old school, but I do enjoy a nice good-verses-evil story. But it's not like we haven't seen this plot before. I'm not saying Dark Kiss wasn't original or unique. It may have had an old-school plot but it also had a unique spin.
I think my least-favorite part of this book were the characters. I liked Sam fine, but she wasn't anything special. I do wish that at times she wasn't as passive as she was. But she stepped it up when she needed to. And Bishop. Again, I liked him, but he wasn't as swoon-worthy as I had hoped. I did like him more than Sam, however. Overall the characters were just ordinary.
I do wish that the relationship between Sam and Bishop had developed a little more. There was a twinge of insta-love, though not nearly as bad as some books. This didn't really bother that much. However, I do like to have a little more banter between the two love interests.
Dark Kiss may not have been real fluffy, but it was still a fun read and nothing too series. I quite enjoyed this world and the story.
When I read Michelle Rowan's Demon Princess series, I was really surprised by how much I liked it. I didn't think I would like it as much as I did. I was pretty excited to read see how Dark Kiss would turn out. Although it wasn't as good as I hoped it would be, I still enjoyed it.
Rowan did not fail to create a world that captivated and intrigued me. I just love the worlds that she creates. I find them fascinating and creative.
This may be old school, but I do enjoy a nice good-verses-evil story. But it's not like we haven't seen this plot before. I'm not saying Dark Kiss wasn't original or unique. It may have had an old-school plot but it also had a unique spin.
I think my least-favorite part of this book were the characters. I liked Sam fine, but she wasn't anything special. I do wish that at times she wasn't as passive as she was. But she stepped it up when she needed to. And Bishop. Again, I liked him, but he wasn't as swoon-worthy as I had hoped. I did like him more than Sam, however. Overall the characters were just ordinary.
I do wish that the relationship between Sam and Bishop had developed a little more. There was a twinge of insta-love, though not nearly as bad as some books. This didn't really bother that much. However, I do like to have a little more banter between the two love interests.
Dark Kiss may not have been real fluffy, but it was still a fun read and nothing too series. I quite enjoyed this world and the story.
alexandrap529's review
1.0
Original Review: http://alexandrampatterson.com/2012/06/05/book-review-dark-kiss-by-michelle-rowan/
Summary: Set in modern day city, Dark Kiss is reminiscent of Twilight with more lovable characters and a stronger narrative voice. Samantha is a teenager who runs into a mysterious homeless boy, Bishop. Bishop seems a little off but after he kills a man in front of Samantha she's forced to involve herself in his world. Rather than reinventing the YA paranormal trope of a love triangle Rowan sticks to the script and introduces Bishop's brother, Kraven. Bishop and Kraven have been sent to earth on a mission to save Sam's city from soul eating monsters called grays -- the catch is that Sam herself is a gray and doesn't know it.
Bechdel Test?: Not at all. Sam and Carly talk a lot about Stephen (a hot guy at their school), Kraven and Bishop but don't discuss much else.
Rating: 3/5
Maybe because I've always found Anne Rice to be the original, but Rowan's Samantha is more fresh than Bella Swan; for the stronger female character along I found myself wrapped up in Dark Kiss. Even though the story isn't the most original thing ever I will probably indulge in the sequel when it comes out.
Summary: Set in modern day city, Dark Kiss is reminiscent of Twilight with more lovable characters and a stronger narrative voice. Samantha is a teenager who runs into a mysterious homeless boy, Bishop. Bishop seems a little off but after he kills a man in front of Samantha she's forced to involve herself in his world. Rather than reinventing the YA paranormal trope of a love triangle Rowan sticks to the script and introduces Bishop's brother, Kraven. Bishop and Kraven have been sent to earth on a mission to save Sam's city from soul eating monsters called grays -- the catch is that Sam herself is a gray and doesn't know it.
Bechdel Test?: Not at all. Sam and Carly talk a lot about Stephen (a hot guy at their school), Kraven and Bishop but don't discuss much else.
Rating: 3/5
Maybe because I've always found Anne Rice to be the original, but Rowan's Samantha is more fresh than Bella Swan; for the stronger female character along I found myself wrapped up in Dark Kiss. Even though the story isn't the most original thing ever I will probably indulge in the sequel when it comes out.