If you don't know about this book, yet - go check it out on goodreads. :) It's the story of Payne - twin to Vishous, daughter to the Bloodletter and the Scribe Virgin. We met her in past books-- and Manny - Dr. Manuel Manello - who worked with Jane - we met him a while back.
**WARNING** I may inadvertently include some spoilers here...
Okay. Let's talk about the brothers. Not Jonas, not Bellamy. Black. Dagger. Brotherhood. Feel me? I picked up Dark Lover in 2006 and I've been lost ever since. This latest installment was a little... well, it was like a bridge book. There was Payne and Manny - but there was also V and Jane working stuff out. There was the introduction of Xcor and his band of bastards. And there was the introduction of Veck - who is the main character in Envy - the third installment of the WARDen's Fallen Angels series - coming out later this year. So this book was a bridge - from the wrapping up of all the storylines in the last book - to the beginning of some storylines for future books.
There was not whole lot concentration on the Payne/Manny relationship -- since they both fell in love immediately. Most of the angst came from how he was going to fit into the BDB world - and that got wrapped up pretty nicely. Although - it was foreshadowed way back in V's book. :) Love it when the WARDen does that.
There were some great scenes between V and Jane, and V and Butch - love that bromance going on there. Let's face it-- V needed to work some shit out. And he did. So that's good. I enjoyed this little subplot thoroughly.
Xcor and his band of bastards - hmmm... I found myself forcing my eyes to not skim these sections, and to actually read them. I know they are here for a purpose - the WARDen would not spend so much time on backstory for them, if not... but... they failed to excite me - either in a bad or good way. I did enjoy the menage scene with Xcor, Throe, and Kandi, though... Thanks, WARDen :) I am a little intrigued to find out if they are there as enemies or future allies. I found myself liking Xcor and Throe a little, as they both showed they were at least honorable vampires. Throe and his vendetta to protect helpless women. And the way Xcor protected Payne when he discovered she was Chosen. Like he truly respected the position of the Chosen.
Veck - Thomas DelVecchio - Jose's new partner... And we know he is going to be the MC of the next Fallen Angels book - so I'm glad we got to meet him, but we met him a lot, and got a lot of detail, and he had a lot of facetime, almost like Envy was running long and the WARDen needed to include more backstory on Veck somewhere else. I hope it's not all repeated in Envy...
Finally, Qhuinn and Blay - my favorites and the first thing I did when I got this book was flip through it for Qhuay scenes. I am glad Qhuinn finally admitted out loud his feelings, even if it wasn't to Blay. He is one step toward making all us Cellies very, very happy... I am also glad he laid it all out to Layla - I just don't like her very much, and yet I want her to find an HEA - just not with Qhuinn, in any way, shape, or form. I am not sure what Q's vision meant, and I only hope it means she surrogates for him and Blay. I know the WARDen said that Qhuay would only get a novella, if anything, but I can't help but wonder who the next book will focus on? We didn't see any of Murhder in this book, or No'One - both of whom I know will be featured in future books... I will just have to stalk the BDB board and see if I can find any info.
All in all, I did not race through this book as I have with others in the series - but I did love it as an installment in the lives of these characters that I have fallen so in love with. And now I have to wait sooo long for the next book-- which I know nothing about.. .GAH!!!
I would probably give it 4 out of 5 stars.
I'd have to agree with your overall assessment, you're review read pretty similar to mine! LOL! Soo that's why Veck was in this book! I couldnt figure out the overall point to him. I thought we were going to get another half vampire. Although I am curious about Veck in the "angels" series I probably wont read it. I read the first 2 and they left me flat.
ReplyDeleteI liked this story. Not the best in the series but still a good entry. It was great to finally find out that Manny is at least part vampire, although I suspected that from hints in previous books. To find out that he was Butch's brother was awesome....LOVER REVEALED is my all-time favorite of the series. (I hope that Manny follows Butch's lead and goes thru the transition). I love the author's style of writing but thought there was a little too much of the over-the-top allegorical internal dialogue that the characters are famous for. It was very funny and intriguing in the early books but seems to be too heavy-handed and overused in this book. All in all, a great read for a series fan....I am so waiting for the next one!
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