azaile's review against another edition
Another rich world full of rich characters. Eagerly awaiting our next adventure with Neve
emmar's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
wetdryvac's review against another edition
4.0
Love the world-build here. Crap-ton of non-con, though I've come to expect that from Arthur at this point.
ufcasey's review
3.0
3.5 stars
I loved Keri Arthur's Riley Jensen series despite the ridiculously over the top sex life of the main character in the early books (for the record, I didn't bother with it's spin-off series, it was just a watered down version of the original). So when I saw that Arthur wrote a new book in a whole new series, I jumped on it! And while this book also treats casual sex, well, casually, she scales it back several notches and instead focuses more on the actual plot this time.
There's still some negatives, mainly a deus ex machina that solves almost everything for the heroine, but overall I thought the premise of this was still pretty great and moved along at a nice pace. I will definitely pick up the next book which seems to be set in the same world but with all new characters.
I loved Keri Arthur's Riley Jensen series despite the ridiculously over the top sex life of the main character in the early books (for the record, I didn't bother with it's spin-off series, it was just a watered down version of the original). So when I saw that Arthur wrote a new book in a whole new series, I jumped on it! And while this book also treats casual sex, well, casually, she scales it back several notches and instead focuses more on the actual plot this time.
There's still some negatives, mainly a deus ex machina that solves almost everything for the heroine, but overall I thought the premise of this was still pretty great and moved along at a nice pace. I will definitely pick up the next book which seems to be set in the same world but with all new characters.
amyiw's review
3.0
3 1/2 stars
So I wasn't sure if this was a romance or a scifi dytopia paranormal similar to UF with the main character first person going on in the series, but in the end there is a romance (with other people in the mix) that ends with a HEA (not HFN) and concludes this portion of the story. No triangle or questions. And really the romance might have been the best part of the book only it was vague, just like the rest of the storyline.
So the story is set in a fantasy/scifi/paranormal world where there was a war with creatures 500 years past. It is thought that those are dormant but there is another that are less organized that are a constant threat to the city's walls. These cities and laws are given in bursts of info that one is not sure of the importance and might even be forgotten (I had to go back to the beginning after finishing). Although, I actually really like the characters and mostly liked the story, the vague world, fighting, and battles, mixed with a slow start to the main characters relationship, stunted me from being well connected.
I liked it, some parts I liked a lot, but it is more a 3 that a 4. I read the first Lizzie Grace before this one and really liked, 4.5 that one. So it is not the writing, it is starting a whole new world and trying to develop it while keeping the readers attention. Here we are in complete fantasy so there is a lot more world building that is needed. I may try the next but I will select Lizzie first.
So I wasn't sure if this was a romance or a scifi dytopia paranormal similar to UF with the main character first person going on in the series, but in the end there is a romance (with other people in the mix) that ends with a HEA (not HFN) and concludes this portion of the story. No triangle or questions. And really the romance might have been the best part of the book only it was vague, just like the rest of the storyline.
So the story is set in a fantasy/scifi/paranormal world where there was a war with creatures 500 years past. It is thought that those are dormant but there is another that are less organized that are a constant threat to the city's walls. These cities and laws are given in bursts of info that one is not sure of the importance and might even be forgotten (I had to go back to the beginning after finishing). Although, I actually really like the characters and mostly liked the story, the vague world, fighting, and battles, mixed with a slow start to the main characters relationship, stunted me from being well connected.
I liked it, some parts I liked a lot, but it is more a 3 that a 4. I read the first Lizzie Grace before this one and really liked, 4.5 that one. So it is not the writing, it is starting a whole new world and trying to develop it while keeping the readers attention. Here we are in complete fantasy so there is a lot more world building that is needed. I may try the next but I will select Lizzie first.
audiobookmel's review
4.0
My review and an extended sample of the audiobook are posted at Hotlistens.com.
Keri Arthur is an author that has been on my radar for years. I have no idea why I never tried her, but when I saw a book one of a series available for review, I grabbed it. I”m so glad that I did. This is a very interesting world that she’s built.
Neve is Unlit. She has stained skin and no magic. In this world, she is taken from her parents and raised to be a soldier in the Nightwatch. They protect the citizens of the area from the Adlin that love to eat humans. There are also witches, people who can control either air or earth.
When Neve goes out into the desert to rescue a woman, she gets herself noticed a lot more than she would like. Especially, since she used her magic that she shouldn’t have to help save herself and her charge from the Adlin.
This was an interesting start to the series. I can’t wait to learn more about this series. It is a romance, so there is a different couple featured for the second book. I hope to learn more about this world.
Narration
Justine Eyre is one of my favorite narrators (one of many). She does a great job with the narration of this series. I found myself really slipping into the world as she tells me the story. I love her choice of voices for both male and female voices. If you haven’t tried Justine’s narration, I highly recommend you give her a try.
**I like to thank the publisher for providing me with a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
Keri Arthur is an author that has been on my radar for years. I have no idea why I never tried her, but when I saw a book one of a series available for review, I grabbed it. I”m so glad that I did. This is a very interesting world that she’s built.
Neve is Unlit. She has stained skin and no magic. In this world, she is taken from her parents and raised to be a soldier in the Nightwatch. They protect the citizens of the area from the Adlin that love to eat humans. There are also witches, people who can control either air or earth.
When Neve goes out into the desert to rescue a woman, she gets herself noticed a lot more than she would like. Especially, since she used her magic that she shouldn’t have to help save herself and her charge from the Adlin.
This was an interesting start to the series. I can’t wait to learn more about this series. It is a romance, so there is a different couple featured for the second book. I hope to learn more about this world.
Narration
Justine Eyre is one of my favorite narrators (one of many). She does a great job with the narration of this series. I found myself really slipping into the world as she tells me the story. I love her choice of voices for both male and female voices. If you haven’t tried Justine’s narration, I highly recommend you give her a try.
**I like to thank the publisher for providing me with a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
nelsonseye's review against another edition
3.0
Unlit was my first Keri Arthur book, and I found it pretty good. I liked the world Arthur created and I appreciated the pragmatism of Neve. The attitudes toward sex were also different from other fantasy/scifi novels, and this also worked quite well. As a side note, I would have liked more of a consequence for Jamson. I don't know that his scenes served any purpose other than to show how awful he was. I don't like sexual assault at the best of times, but this scene was almost presented as a throw away.
lindca's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
Unlit is the first in a new series of fantasy romance standalones set in the same fictional world. This is a departure from Arthur’s usual UF series which feature the same main protagonist in a world based on our own. For the most part, it is well done.
Neve is an unlit (without magic) and stained (skin marked by evidence of old enemy ancestry) woman in a world that values magic and pure bloodlines. Raised in an orphanage, she has carved out a place for herself as a soldier in the Nightwatch. When she rescues a mysterious woman from the desert, she uncovers a conspiracy to destroy her state that appears to include members of her own community. She is drafted by Trey Stone, a military commander and member of the aristocracy, to join him as his companion in a celebration in the upper echelons as they try to ferret out who is betraying them and for what enemy.
Neve is a tough but quite likable character who has made the most of her circumstances. The chemistry between Neve and Trey is hot, though complicated by some personal and magical issues. As in Arthur’s previous series, sexuality is pretty open and freewheeling, so expect that Neve has more than one sexual partner as the story unfolds.
The world-building was a bit spotty or inconsistent at times, but interesting enough that I’d like to read more in the series. I found some actions/decisions towards the end a bit difficult to accept, slightly dampening my enthusiasm for the story.
All in all, though, this was a good first book in a new series and I will look for the second.
Unlit is the first in a new series of fantasy romance standalones set in the same fictional world. This is a departure from Arthur’s usual UF series which feature the same main protagonist in a world based on our own. For the most part, it is well done.
Neve is an unlit (without magic) and stained (skin marked by evidence of old enemy ancestry) woman in a world that values magic and pure bloodlines. Raised in an orphanage, she has carved out a place for herself as a soldier in the Nightwatch. When she rescues a mysterious woman from the desert, she uncovers a conspiracy to destroy her state that appears to include members of her own community. She is drafted by Trey Stone, a military commander and member of the aristocracy, to join him as his companion in a celebration in the upper echelons as they try to ferret out who is betraying them and for what enemy.
Neve is a tough but quite likable character who has made the most of her circumstances. The chemistry between Neve and Trey is hot, though complicated by some personal and magical issues. As in Arthur’s previous series, sexuality is pretty open and freewheeling, so expect that Neve has more than one sexual partner as the story unfolds.
The world-building was a bit spotty or inconsistent at times, but interesting enough that I’d like to read more in the series. I found some actions/decisions towards the end a bit difficult to accept
Spoiler
Killing the captive babies was more for convenience than for humanitarian reasons. They were not old enough to have been indoctrinated into Irkallan slave life and theoretically could have been saved, though it was not possible under the circumstances.All in all, though, this was a good first book in a new series and I will look for the second.
blood_rose_books's review against another edition
4.0
In the first in a new series Keri Arthur takes the readers on journey of discovery and treachery:
Neve March is one of the members of the Nightwatch, she is Unlit (has no magic) but is also stained as well a deformity that is looked down upon by the witches in power. Neve may not love her life all the time but she is happy being a solider serving in the Nightwatch. But Neve has a secret she can hear the whispers of the wind, something she should be able to do and her secret power is about to be put to the test. When Neve is sent out to investigate a strange light she did not expect to discover a woman who has been missing for 12 years but also evidence of an ancient enemy that was believed to be dead.
The Word of this book is DESIRE. He desires me, I desire him, he makes me feel desire, I'll make him feel desire and so on and so on, you get the picture. It would be the perfect drinking game book. Everyone drinks when the author uses the word desire. You'd be quite tipsy in a chapter or two. I was about to put this book down thinking that it was going to be more of a sci-fi romance book similar to some of the other series that Arthur writes. However, this aspect does change in the second half of the book, there is more action and the mystery surrounding the returning woman takes the forefront. Although desire is the word for this book, Arthur does not go into too much detail with her sex scenes most of the events happen behind closed doors, which I was surprised about.
I really liked Neve as a character, she is always a solider first and has unwavering loyalty to those that she loves. Even when she is told not to help or protect her brother/sister in arms she takes it into her own hands to do so. I also liked that she showed an appreciation for the old ways, in terms of weapons, and wanting to know more about them. Neve is Unlit and Stained but has heard the whispering of the wind, which she shouldn't be able to do but she keeps this secret to herself. It was interesting to watch Neve really find out her powers and there limits as often times this was in the middle of a battle.
I found that world building was a bit lacking for this, yes I understand he witches part and different houses, but where I got a bit confused is how the world ended up this way and really why the Unlit or Stained are seen as second class citizens (maybe I just got mixed up in everything but I think it has something to do with having power and not having power). So I guess I would like more of a back story for this world and how it became to be this way.
By the end of this book I was hooked and wanted to know more not only about Neve but also the world (which I want to know more about) so I'm looking forward to picking up the second book in this series.
Enjoy!!
Neve March is one of the members of the Nightwatch, she is Unlit (has no magic) but is also stained as well a deformity that is looked down upon by the witches in power. Neve may not love her life all the time but she is happy being a solider serving in the Nightwatch. But Neve has a secret she can hear the whispers of the wind, something she should be able to do and her secret power is about to be put to the test. When Neve is sent out to investigate a strange light she did not expect to discover a woman who has been missing for 12 years but also evidence of an ancient enemy that was believed to be dead.
The Word of this book is DESIRE. He desires me, I desire him, he makes me feel desire, I'll make him feel desire and so on and so on, you get the picture. It would be the perfect drinking game book. Everyone drinks when the author uses the word desire. You'd be quite tipsy in a chapter or two. I was about to put this book down thinking that it was going to be more of a sci-fi romance book similar to some of the other series that Arthur writes. However, this aspect does change in the second half of the book, there is more action and the mystery surrounding the returning woman takes the forefront. Although desire is the word for this book, Arthur does not go into too much detail with her sex scenes most of the events happen behind closed doors, which I was surprised about.
I really liked Neve as a character, she is always a solider first and has unwavering loyalty to those that she loves. Even when she is told not to help or protect her brother/sister in arms she takes it into her own hands to do so. I also liked that she showed an appreciation for the old ways, in terms of weapons, and wanting to know more about them. Neve is Unlit and Stained but has heard the whispering of the wind, which she shouldn't be able to do but she keeps this secret to herself. It was interesting to watch Neve really find out her powers and there limits as often times this was in the middle of a battle.
I found that world building was a bit lacking for this, yes I understand he witches part and different houses, but where I got a bit confused is how the world ended up this way and really why the Unlit or Stained are seen as second class citizens (maybe I just got mixed up in everything but I think it has something to do with having power and not having power). So I guess I would like more of a back story for this world and how it became to be this way.
By the end of this book I was hooked and wanted to know more not only about Neve but also the world (which I want to know more about) so I'm looking forward to picking up the second book in this series.
Enjoy!!