nemerith's review
4.0
Venice will never be the same... not that I've been there mind you, but still!
This prequel tells of Lucas, a playboy vampire and Natalia, the new records keeper for the covens. How they meet, the pull they both feel towards each other and the love that grows.
I instantly took a liking to the world the author created. Well.. it's our world with supes (vampires, witches, shifters, demons,...) in it :p , but the way Jena described her environment, scenes and conversations made it for the reader very easy to follow and as such was very immersive.
The characters were superb, loved them! Pacing was good, not too slow not too fast.
I would strongly recommend reading this prequel before reading the first of the series 'The devil you know' as this really sets the stage and gives you an indication how the world works.
Be aware though that this is a bittersweet and short prequel (in my honest opinion exactly what a prequel should be, but that's me).
Onwards to the main course! :)
This prequel tells of Lucas, a playboy vampire and Natalia, the new records keeper for the covens. How they meet, the pull they both feel towards each other and the love that grows.
I instantly took a liking to the world the author created. Well.. it's our world with supes (vampires, witches, shifters, demons,...) in it :p , but the way Jena described her environment, scenes and conversations made it for the reader very easy to follow and as such was very immersive.
The characters were superb, loved them! Pacing was good, not too slow not too fast.
I would strongly recommend reading this prequel before reading the first of the series 'The devil you know' as this really sets the stage and gives you an indication how the world works.
Be aware though that this is a bittersweet and short prequel (in my honest opinion exactly what a prequel should be, but that's me).
Onwards to the main course! :)
see_sadie_read's review
3.0
2.5
Basically a prologue to the series. It's OK, but almost all tell and I never felt connected to the characters.
Basically a prologue to the series. It's OK, but almost all tell and I never felt connected to the characters.
anyaatawfullotofreading's review
3.0
It was a bit of a rough start but the detailed descriptions give in to a world that is captivating. And while getting a story started can be difficult, once in the swing of it, it was an impressive supernatural world, with vampires and witches and demons. A very good start to a urban fantasy series!
Although the prose is well written, full of powerful language and easy to read, romance is apparently not her style! And I've got to ask, what was with the random question marks? Building up the romance might not have worked as well as it could have but god, she can write suspense and action! Lucas is a bit of a cliché character, a womanising vampire, and even though his love story with Natalia is short, you believe it. You want Lucas to find out what happened to her, you want to find out more about her coven and his powers to see auras.
All in all, a very good start to what I'm sure will be a powerful fantasy series!
Although the prose is well written, full of powerful language and easy to read, romance is apparently not her style! And I've got to ask, what was with the random question marks? Building up the romance might not have worked as well as it could have but god, she can write suspense and action! Lucas is a bit of a cliché character, a womanising vampire, and even though his love story with Natalia is short, you believe it. You want Lucas to find out what happened to her, you want to find out more about her coven and his powers to see auras.
All in all, a very good start to what I'm sure will be a powerful fantasy series!
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