A review by jovixmay
The Sweet Scent of Blood by Suzanne McLeod
2.0
My brain hurts so badly after reading this.
Pfft, it took me five months to finish this book. FIVE MONTHS. Admittedly after the first 150 odd pages I switched to speed reading, because it was giving me a migraine.
Lately I've been very picky when it comes to urban fantasy books, but this one came highly recommended by a friend, so I decided to give it a chance. The only reason I finished it at all is because I promised my friend I would.
Anyway, after reading some great UF over the past year, it takes a lot to keep me interested. This book wasn't especially bad. It just wasn't my kind of thing. At all.
I'll start with Genny, our leading lady. This is where my issues started. She came across as really closed off, at times cold, in the beginning. On top of that she was just such a bland protagonist, I often found my mind wandering because she was so dull. The only times something remotely resembling a personality surfaced was when she was in a state of high arousal. And for being a supposedly smart and tough gal she sure did get knocked out an awful lot.
Before I read this, I was shown some Genny/Malik snippets. Out of context, they were hot. A little formal sounding, but still really good. With context? I just found Malik to be rather creepy. I suppose I have to give him credit for making Genny a smidgen more interesting to read about. Other than that, I can't say I was a fan in the end.
What was with the abundance of secondary characters? Were half of them even needed?! I gave up trying to keep track because it seemed like every chapter more just popped up. Usually I love a huge cast of characters, but these guys made no impression on me whatsoever that it made it so frustrating trying to recall who was who and what they were.
The only saving grace in this book for me was Finn. His presence is the only reason I gave this two stars.
My other major problem with this was that after 100 or so pages it started to read like a Riley Jensen book. Which, to some people, may be a good thing. I loathe that series. Why? The unnecessary sex everywhere you look. I'm all for a sexy scene or four, but this girl was In UF, I like my sexy times to further the plot, not just have the main character be turned on constantly. If that was what I wanted, I'd read erotica.
Excuse me, I'm just going to go and bang my head against the wall until I forget what I just read.
Pfft, it took me five months to finish this book. FIVE MONTHS. Admittedly after the first 150 odd pages I switched to speed reading, because it was giving me a migraine.
Lately I've been very picky when it comes to urban fantasy books, but this one came highly recommended by a friend, so I decided to give it a chance. The only reason I finished it at all is because I promised my friend I would.
Anyway, after reading some great UF over the past year, it takes a lot to keep me interested. This book wasn't especially bad. It just wasn't my kind of thing. At all.
I'll start with Genny, our leading lady. This is where my issues started. She came across as really closed off, at times cold, in the beginning. On top of that she was just such a bland protagonist, I often found my mind wandering because she was so dull. The only times something remotely resembling a personality surfaced was when she was in a state of high arousal.
Spoiler
Which was pretty much the whole last half of the book.Before I read this, I was shown some Genny/Malik snippets. Out of context, they were hot. A little formal sounding, but still really good. With context? I just found Malik to be rather creepy. I suppose I have to give him credit for making Genny a smidgen more interesting to read about. Other than that, I can't say I was a fan in the end.
What was with the abundance of secondary characters? Were half of them even needed?! I gave up trying to keep track because it seemed like every chapter more just popped up. Usually I love a huge cast of characters, but these guys made no impression on me whatsoever that it made it so frustrating trying to recall who was who and what they were.
The only saving grace in this book for me was Finn. His presence is the only reason I gave this two stars.
My other major problem with this was that after 100 or so pages it started to read like a Riley Jensen book. Which, to some people, may be a good thing. I loathe that series. Why? The unnecessary sex everywhere you look.
Spoiler
Granted, Genny doesn't actually sleep with anyone in this book, but damn did she want to.Spoiler
She seemed to want to with (Yep, you guessed it!) everyone.Spoiler
lusting after someone damn near the entire way through, with no release.Excuse me, I'm just going to go and bang my head against the wall until I forget what I just read.