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heiroffire1989's review against another edition
4.0
prrrrr... I've never been into Violence before, but Maddox definitely changed my mind ;)
cedrisc's review against another edition
DNF - so boring. Got to 38% but was skimming the last couple of pages. Just don't care what happens. The book is full of cliches.
evikes's review against another edition
3.0
First please let me say that there are 3 main ingredients I need in order to love a book – Alpha male (Jaime Fraser from Outlander and the BDB Boys come to mind) and strong heroine, well polished unpredictable storylines, and a HEA (happily ever after) at the end. These are the things I like. Next, I want to stress that I liked this book - it had almost all of those elements. I was not too impressed in the first quarter or so, but the last half was quite good. The characters are very similar to the Black Dagger Brotherhood (who I LOVE) and frankly, it annoyed me that the Lords were so similar (the gorgeous one who needs sex all the time, the scarred one, the angry cryptic one, and the one with multi coloured hair).. and did I mention they live together in a castle/fortress away from humanity and battle a group of Hunters who smell like gunpowder and are always trying to kill them? I was about half way through the book when they actually started getting their own personalities and drew me in. The author really didn’t spend enough time on developing the characters and I wasn’t invested at all. The premise was really good and the author has a great imagination. I like how she tied in a lot of mythology and Pandora’s box, but she could have elaborated on that….
Some of the storylines also weren’t very polished, and just didn’t make sense. **spoiler** The Lords live with demons inside themselves who they can barely control and live in constant fear that they will take over. Maddox has the demon of Violence in him – Maddox realizes that Ashlyn ‘tamed’ his demon and that he no longer fought for control every minute (*cough* DBD?); not once does he mention this incredible fact to the other Lords.. even when they chain him up and tell him that they plan on using her as bait to catch the Hunters and she may not survive. The fact that his demon can be controlled because of her should be a HUGE development if you base it on the rest of the book, but he never mentions it. The author just isn’t consistent with plot lines.** end of spoiler** I would have also like to hear more of the story pertaining to WHY the human Hunters hate the Lords so much. It was mentioned enough throughout the story that a reader should wonder about it and it may have added credibility to the storyline, but it is not elaborated on.
The last thing I want to mention is that I just couldn’t get over the fact that Maddox and Ashlyn both forgot how to talk when they were horny. Neither one could speak in a complete sentence the entire time they were hot & bothered and only communicated using 1 or 2 word statements “More. Good. Hot.” It would have added some intensity to the love scenes, but when it was happening in EVERY scene, it was just annoying.
I did like Ashlyn (the heroine) and Danika (the other character who will be reintroduced later in the series). I will be reading the next book, since I believe it deserves a chance… maybe it suffers from ‘first book in a series – itis’. Most often, a decent series requires at least 2 or 3 books before I truly can make up my mind about it. Overall, I liked this book enough to read the next one – just hope the plot & character issues aren’t as apparent in the other books.
Some of the storylines also weren’t very polished, and just didn’t make sense. **spoiler** The Lords live with demons inside themselves who they can barely control and live in constant fear that they will take over. Maddox has the demon of Violence in him – Maddox realizes that Ashlyn ‘tamed’ his demon and that he no longer fought for control every minute (*cough* DBD?); not once does he mention this incredible fact to the other Lords.. even when they chain him up and tell him that they plan on using her as bait to catch the Hunters and she may not survive. The fact that his demon can be controlled because of her should be a HUGE development if you base it on the rest of the book, but he never mentions it. The author just isn’t consistent with plot lines.** end of spoiler** I would have also like to hear more of the story pertaining to WHY the human Hunters hate the Lords so much. It was mentioned enough throughout the story that a reader should wonder about it and it may have added credibility to the storyline, but it is not elaborated on.
The last thing I want to mention is that I just couldn’t get over the fact that Maddox and Ashlyn both forgot how to talk when they were horny. Neither one could speak in a complete sentence the entire time they were hot & bothered and only communicated using 1 or 2 word statements “More. Good. Hot.” It would have added some intensity to the love scenes, but when it was happening in EVERY scene, it was just annoying.
I did like Ashlyn (the heroine) and Danika (the other character who will be reintroduced later in the series). I will be reading the next book, since I believe it deserves a chance… maybe it suffers from ‘first book in a series – itis’. Most often, a decent series requires at least 2 or 3 books before I truly can make up my mind about it. Overall, I liked this book enough to read the next one – just hope the plot & character issues aren’t as apparent in the other books.
idratherbereading542's review against another edition
3.0
Read Count: 2
- Main Couple: Maddox(demon-Violence)/Ashlyn(human)
- POVs Included: Dual (Maddox, Ashlyn)
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RE-READ 2/19/2022
UPDATED RATING (3 STARS -- SAME)
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ORIGINAL REVIEW (1/11/2011):
ORIGINAL RATING (3 STARS)
So I've had this series on the back burner for a long while. I seem to be the last person in the world to read this so I figured it was about time I jumped on the bandwagon. I read The Darkest Fire prequel in the Into the Dark anthology first, and then moved onto this one. I liked this a lot better than the prequel (of course, it's not a short story though), but I didn't like it as much as I thought I would.
The main reason I didn't give this four stars was because I thought it lacked a more solid storyline. Most of the story was just about Maddox and Ashlyn, which is fine, but it was lacking a "bigger picture" kind of feel. The series' I tend to like the most are the ones where there is an overall story going on in the background of all the love stories. I just think it adds a certain layer to the world that I'm reading about.
In addition, I thought that a little action could have gone a long way in this story as well. There really wasn't much action at all and while I'm a sucker for the romance and the sex (which was great btw), I also like to have a bit of action going on in between. Since there wasn't too much of a background story going on, there wasn't really a place for too much action to happen.
However, I will say that near the end of the book (probably the last 50 pages or so), there seemed to be a bigger picture forming. We get to hear from the daughter of a god named Anya who I believe will play a bigger role in the future books. I like her personality a lot so far so I hope we get to hear more from her. Also some other things happen later in the book that seem to be driving at an overall storyline for the series. This is good, but I thought that it could have happened earlier in the story so that more could have played out in this book.
Now, onto the things I did like. I really liked Ashlyn as a heroine. I thought she was a kick ass heroine. She wasn't whiny, scared all the time, or bitchy. I truly liked her character. I also liked Maddox, but I think that he could have showed a little more emotion sometimes. I get he has his demon (Violence) to deal with, but sometimes he would just say these really short sentences (fragments, if you will) that were absolutely void of emotion even when he was telling her he loved her. It's hard to explain. But I did still like him and I liked how their story came full circle in the end.
Overall I liked the story, but it wasn't my favorite first in a series for sure. I will give it the benefit of the doubt though in that this one was really setting up the series, characters, and world, so that might be why it was a little slower. I really like the concept though and I think there's a lot of room for really interesting stories and different types of heroines to come into play. I look forward to the rest of the series and learning what kind of heroine ends up with each of them.
- Main Couple: Maddox(demon-Violence)/Ashlyn(human)
- POVs Included: Dual (Maddox, Ashlyn)
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RE-READ 2/19/2022
UPDATED RATING (3 STARS -- SAME)
-----------------------------------
-----------------------------------
ORIGINAL REVIEW (1/11/2011):
ORIGINAL RATING (3 STARS)
So I've had this series on the back burner for a long while. I seem to be the last person in the world to read this so I figured it was about time I jumped on the bandwagon. I read The Darkest Fire prequel in the Into the Dark anthology first, and then moved onto this one. I liked this a lot better than the prequel (of course, it's not a short story though), but I didn't like it as much as I thought I would.
The main reason I didn't give this four stars was because I thought it lacked a more solid storyline. Most of the story was just about Maddox and Ashlyn, which is fine, but it was lacking a "bigger picture" kind of feel. The series' I tend to like the most are the ones where there is an overall story going on in the background of all the love stories. I just think it adds a certain layer to the world that I'm reading about.
In addition, I thought that a little action could have gone a long way in this story as well. There really wasn't much action at all and while I'm a sucker for the romance and the sex (which was great btw), I also like to have a bit of action going on in between. Since there wasn't too much of a background story going on, there wasn't really a place for too much action to happen.
However, I will say that near the end of the book (probably the last 50 pages or so), there seemed to be a bigger picture forming. We get to hear from the daughter of a god named Anya who I believe will play a bigger role in the future books. I like her personality a lot so far so I hope we get to hear more from her. Also some other things happen later in the book that seem to be driving at an overall storyline for the series. This is good, but I thought that it could have happened earlier in the story so that more could have played out in this book.
Now, onto the things I did like. I really liked Ashlyn as a heroine. I thought she was a kick ass heroine. She wasn't whiny, scared all the time, or bitchy. I truly liked her character. I also liked Maddox, but I think that he could have showed a little more emotion sometimes. I get he has his demon (Violence) to deal with, but sometimes he would just say these really short sentences (fragments, if you will) that were absolutely void of emotion even when he was telling her he loved her. It's hard to explain. But I did still like him and I liked how their story came full circle in the end.
Overall I liked the story, but it wasn't my favorite first in a series for sure. I will give it the benefit of the doubt though in that this one was really setting up the series, characters, and world, so that might be why it was a little slower. I really like the concept though and I think there's a lot of room for really interesting stories and different types of heroines to come into play. I look forward to the rest of the series and learning what kind of heroine ends up with each of them.
kreadsromance1's review against another edition
3.0
Summary: Contemporary paranormal/fantasy romance. The evils released from Pandora's Box reside in immortal men who are hunted constantly. Our mortal heroine has her own powers and seeks out the men, not knowing exactly what they are, to help her control her ability. Romance ensues. Expect some sex, a fair bit of violence and character death.
Spoiler
Main pairing: Ashlyn/Maddox
Favourite character: Lucien or Torin
Villain(s) The Hunters
Character rating: 9/10
Plot rating: 6/10
Setting rating: 4/10
Overall rating: 6/10
Pros: I loved the concept of this story - the evils of Pandora's Box are released into the bodies of (now immortal) men who must control them and keep them from tearing apart the world. The characterisation of each man and how the evil affects them was really interesting and well thought out, and it was easy to view all the men as both empathetic characters and potentially scary, dangerous people.
The primal chemistry between Ashlyn and Maddox was well written and steamy. There was a perpetual edge of danger to it even though you know Maddox would never hurt Ashlyn, and it made for an intense read.
I particularly enjoyed Maddox's character arc and where he ended up. He definitely got his HEA and deserved it, too.
Cons: Ok, let's talk about the issues with this book.
Issue one: heroine's blinding naivety. She spend the majority of the book thinking that the people who raised her are the good guys, despite the fact that the books describes multiple times how she was treated like a lab rat, had almost not affection or physical contact, was essentially worked like a slave, and had no say over her own life. My goodness did this get on my nerves. The amount of extra trouble her naivety caused was painful.
Issue two: the romance aspect was watered down by one particular, really annoying thing - it was always "oh I just have to do this thing that takes me away from you first." Over and over again, "we'll spend some time together after I do x". And of course x always takes longer and is more dramatic than the characters think it will be. I just want to see the two main characters spend a good chunk of time together, damn it!
Issue three: needless secretiveness, mostly by the heroine. Random example: given Ashlyn's abilities, it makes sense to take her to a place where she might be able to get some intel on the enemies. Instead of talking to the main guys (you know, the ones who have been fighting these battles for centuries and know what is going on) and suggesting this our fragile, naive, not completely clued in heroine decides the best thing she can do is sneak out while there are assassins out there looking for her and the others. Because that was really going to end well.
Issue four: given that this is based on Greek myth rather than Abrahamic beliefs, the use of the word "demon" to describe the evils of Pandora's Box really grated on me. In actual myth the words "gift" or "god" are often used, but I have never come across an ancient Greek source talking about demons the way the author here is using the word. I would have accepted "spirit" before I accept the Christian-isation of ancient Greek myth. See also: the author's use of "hell". Call me picky, but Christianity has been used to whitewash too many cultures.
Let's add in the inclusion of a random goddess known as Anya who is apparently the goddess of anarchy under the Greeks. But here's the thing - there is already a goddess of anarchy in Greek legend, so why invent a random one with a completely non-Greek name?!
Issue five: The bad guys stupidly had matching tattoos. Yeah, the Death Eaters in Harry Potter could get away with it because everyone pretty much knew who they were. But in this book, when the Hunters are essentially nameless, faceless enemies it is a really dumb idea to have a mark on your forearm showing you belong to the organisation. Especially when you're fighting powerful supernatural beings.
Final opinion: When I started this review, I'd rated the book 4 stars. Now that I've talked through the issues I had with the book, you may notice the rating is now 3 stars. What I'm saying is that while I was swept away with the plot and the characters I really enjoyed the novel. Now that I've had time to think about the things that annoyed me, it really has tarnished my view of the book somewhat. It's still a fun read and a reasonably good romance (would have been better with more, you know, romance) but I think the issues I had with the writing are just getting clearer now I've stepped away from it.
natinthehat8's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
juliagooliareads's review against another edition
It’s bad like wow bad. How did this dialogue ever get printed. Do not read the rest of the series. Remember the guy that says the opposite of what he means? Ya think of him
kstep1805's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
3.0
I found this book a bit confusing and a bit boring. There was a little bit too much jumping from perspective and the world building left something to be desired. But the storyline was interesting so I’ll pick up the next book.
sara11_reads's review against another edition
1.0
DNF. Nothing about this book made sense. There are some long reviews on this site that lay out all the issues that I had.