Gothic Books - Page 12

Arrow's Flight (The Heralds of Valdemar, Book 2)

Mercedes Lackey

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 33 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

A growing up story 5 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

This is volume two of the story of Talia, a young girl who becomes the Queen's Own Herald in the land of Valdemar. In the first volume, we leared of Talia's history in an abusive home and her being Chosen by a Companion and her training at the Herald Collegium. In this volume that story continues from the point where she receives her Whites as a full fledged Herald and must set out on her 18 month internship under the tutelage of a qualified Herald.

The beauty of this volume is that it is really all about the coming of age of Talia. The poor abused girl who is still very unsure of herself, has to deal with many challenges along the border's frontier. Most of her troubles are really internal as she has a unique Gift (Empathy) for which there are no existing rules or precedents. It does not help her that her hold on her Gift is actually quite tenuous. Throughout the book she struggles with herself.

The book is a wonderful story of how this insecure young woman becomes a mature and secure woman who is comfortable with her unique gifts, is comfortable with who she is, and sheds her inhibitions and fear of men as she spends the 18 months with Kris. While all of this is going on, she is also starting to realize that her true love is another man and we get to watch and observe her feelings for Dirk develop steadily even though Dirk is never present in the book itself.

This volume has restored my faith in this series. The first volume can now be seen as setting the context and filling in the history of this fascinating character. While I was not totally happy with the first volume - essentially its almost direct copying of an earlier trilogy - this second volume has gone in a totally different direction and was a wonderfully engrossing read. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone.

Editorial Review:

Set in the medieval fantasy kingdom of Valdemar, this unique and exciting novel continues the story of Talia. Having mastered the powers necessary to a guardian of the kingdom, she faces the final preparation for her initiation as adviser and protector of the Queen.

The Sorceress Of Belmair (The World of Hetar)

Bertrice Small

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 7 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

I hope there is a good reason for the introduction of a new world... 3 out of 5 stars.
3 of 4 people found this review helpful.

I am a huge fan of Bertrice Small and the World of Hetar. The first 3 books of the series are well-written, and you don't want to put the book down until you finish the whole thing! However, I am really disappointed with the newest addition to the Hetar series. It's definitely not the best out of the 4.

Dillon and Cinnia's "love" was undeveloped and seemed unbelievable. An entire world was introduced without having much development. I couldn't have cared less about any of the characters or why the women were disappearing. The 2 things I found fascinating were the Yafir and the relationship between Nidhug and Cirillo.

I'm sure this book will be relevant to the next addition, but it didn't seem like much progressed. We find out a surprising bit of news that doesn't really faze the characters other than Lara. Things that would have made for great reading are swept neatly under the rug. And the ending just dropped off. I actually reread the last chapter twice just to make sure it was in fact the ending.

Editorial Review:

A Past Awakened

Magic coursing through his blood, Dillon, son of Lara, Domina of Hetar, follows his mystical path to Hetar's brightest star. Belmair is a forgotten world. And, it turns out, his people's lost heritage. Summoned to marry the king's daughter and inherit the throne, Dillon discovers Belmair is beautiful, enigmatic and seductive—as is his strong-willed new queen, and the mystery lying at Belmair's heart.

A Love Unimagined

Cinnia, sorceress of Belmair, expected to claim her rightful place as ruler, not as the wife of a stranger chosen by Belmair's magical guardian. But the enchantment that seals a marriage of power and greatness soothes her wounded pride, allowing her to use her magical gift to uncover the darkest secret of a bright planet whose young women are inexplicably disappearing….

Private Demon: A Novel of the Darkyn (Signet Eclipse)

Lynn Viehl

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 25 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

A better read than the first one 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I read the first book in this series and I thought it was pretty good, but I felt that there was something missing in it. After I read Private Demon, everything started coming together in the general plot. I have to admit that this book was better than the first one. I wasn't too sure about Thierry's character at first. There wasn't much said about him in the first book so I wasn't quite sure that I would like his character much, but he turned out to be just as exciting as the plot. Overall I will say this about the book it was very emotional with a healthy dose of good sex, and gut twisting action. I actually felt bad for one of the characters at the end of it. You just wanted to shed a tear for him. (Not gonna say who. So don't worry about spoilers.) I can't wait for to read the third book. (Lucan's an awesome character)

Editorial Review:

Night after night, Jema Shaw's dreams have become a haven for Thierry Durand. But his nocturnal visits have placed her in danger and brought her between two ancient enemies: the Brethren and the Darkyn.

After Twilight

Amanda Ashley, Christine Feehan, Ronda Thompson

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 34 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Christine Feehan Fan - Carpathian Series 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 2 people found this review helpful.

I love the Carpathian series from Christine Feehan. But I was a litlle dismayed when I bought the anthology "Dark Dreamers", then ordered the "After Twilight" anthology from Amazon, and it turned out the CF short stories were the same.

Feehan does it again. 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 2 people found this review helpful.

This book is interesting in that it highlights the ancients that were sent out before the time period of the other books.

Editorial Review:

Three of romance's hottest bestselling authors -- Amanda Ashley, Christine Feehan, and Ronda Thompson -- invite you to explore the dark side, to taste the forbidden, to dive into danger with heroes who fire the blood and lay claim to the soul in these striking tales of sensual passion. A man hunts for a woman. Yet what if he is no ordinary male, but a predator in search of prey? A dark soul looking for the light? A vampire, a werewolf, a mythic being who strikes fear into the hearts of mortals? When day fades into night, when fear becomes fascination, when the swirling seduction of everlasting love overcomes the senses, it must be after twilight.

Spirited Away (Signet Eclipse)

Cindy Miles

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 25 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Cute book!!! 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

I love this book. Its one of the most romantic books i have read in a long time. Its purely fun, non-serious reading. Its not written the best, but its really hard to put down. If you like sweet, fun, romantic books, this is IT!

Parental Advice: (not to give anything away at the end, but if you have a kid or teen reading this) the end of the book has a sex scene. It is the last two or three pages of the book. The rest of the book is mostly just mushy, but you do get several comments like, "If only i could touch you, I would take you right here." but nothing happens till the end. You can do what my mom does, she proof reads it, then tapes up the raunchy stuff- that way i can still enjoy it.

Editorial Review:

Knight Tristan de Barre and his men were murdered in 1292, their souls cursed to roam Dreadmoor Castle forever.

Forensic archeologist Andi Monroe is excavating the site and studying the legend of a medieval knight who disappeared. But although she's usually rational, Andi could swear she's met the handsome knight's ghost.

Until she finds a way to lift the curse, though, love doesn't stand a ghost of a chance.

In Darkness Reborn (Paladins of Darkness, Book 3)

Alexis Morgan

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Total reviews: 15 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Alexis Morgan continues her red-hot paranormal series with a mysterious warrior and his forbidden love for a woman who's allegiance lies with his sworn enemy. . . .

Once a warrior for the Others, Barak q'Young is caught between two worlds -- exiled from his homeland, and a pariah among his enemies, the Paladins. While hunting a betrayer who's selling the precious blue gems that light the Others' world, Barak must aid geologist Lacey Sebastian in her research for the Paladins. Barak is instantly drawn to the fiery, beautiful woman, but Lacey initially despises the enemy intruder. Soon she sees beyond his violent past, though, finding the dark warrior intriguing -- and extremely sexy.

Though neither can resist the passion that blazes between them, Barak is torn between loyalties, hiding a secret gift that could prove useful to Lacey's research, at the sacrifice of his own people. But when Lacey is kidnapped and held hostage, Barak realizes he will do anything to save her . . . even risk his own life.

No Words Alone (Love Spell Futuristic Romance)

Autumn Dawn

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

exciting science fiction romance 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 2 people found this review helpful.

Working as a translator for the Galactic Explorers has not been fun in what should have been an uplifting experience for Lieutenant Xera Harris-d. Her captain is a boorish self-conceited macho idiot and the company he represents cares only about the bottom line. Thus she is not shocked when her vessel and that of the Scorpio race get entangled in hostilities with both crash-landing on a nearby hostile planet.

Shockingly Scorpio, Commander Ryven warns the enemy crew of the dangers and offers to escort them to safety. As the sole woman amidst testosterone-thinking thugs on both sides, Xera expects to be a victim. She especially believes her side starting with her captain is the group to fear the most from so she stays close to the Scorpio hunk as he is probably the only safe situation. When another Scorpio ship rescues everyone, Xera knows she is a POW, but her heart captured by Ryven frightens her the most.

NO WORDS ALONE is an exciting science fiction romance driven by the strong cast on both sides of the conflict. The Galactic Explorer's crew led by the captain is cutthroat coming across as pirates in space while the Scorpio are more disciplined as a professional military unit. The Romeo and Juliet love story in outer space is well written as the audience sees the first hand cultural divides and taboos inside of the superb Autumn Dawning of a new "universe".

Harriet Klausner

Warrior: The Cat Star Chronicles

Cheryl Brooks

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 9 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Second in the series, this sexy paranormal features a lovely witch with powers of healing, communicating with animals telepathically and fire-throwing, and an enslaved Zetithian warrior-a being from a planet where the people had a feline gene, making him sensuous, graceful, beautiful and remarkably virile. Tisana is an alien/human hybrid living on the planet Utopia, an Earth colony founded by those looking to get back to a simpler, non-mechanized way of life more in harmony with nature. The witches of Utopia are only female, rarely marry, and will only bear one daughter with a special male referred to as Leo, one of a band of Zetithian warriors captured when his planet was destroyed, and sold into slavery throughout the galaxy, has been beaten nearly to death by his former master, and is brought by his new owner to TIsana to heal him. Tisana cares for Leo, who finally stops trying to escape and accepts her ministrations, which begin to include mesmerizing lovemaking...until the two are drawn into a rescue mission by Leo's new owner, whose sons have been kidnapped by a neighboring village lord. Pursuing the boys through snowstorms and sword fights, Tisana must locate them by communicating with the animal population, and she must find a way to win her new lover/beloved from the jealous man who would do anything to thwart her if he knew that Leo was her destined.

Sex, Lies and Vampires (The Dark Ones, Book 3)

Katie MacAlister

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 29 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Tired story, but cool Mummies! 2 out of 5 stars.
2 of 3 people found this review helpful.

Katie Macalister has a ton of fans, so I'm thinking that maybe this book just wasn't for me. I'm a fan of the Anita Blake series, Mary Janice Davidson and Michelle Rowan so I though, hey let's give Sex Lies and Vampires a try.

I finished the whole book, but I couldn't get into it. There were some really great parts-- Mummies etc. Macalister can be terribly funny. The problem lies in the repitition and the dialouge. The characters seem empty and the story tended to repeat itself a lot. They spent a LOT of time traveling from one place to the next. Every couple chapters there was a "on the train" scene. AUGH!

Anyway, a gagillion fans can't be wrong-- Macalister is doing something right, and there is no denying she's a gifted writer... the story just wasn't for me.

Originally Posted on Romance Junkies in 2005 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

If you like mysterious vampires known as the Dark Ones, castles filled with treasure unlike any you can ever imagine, a heroine more content to translate obscure languages than work charms, and a supporting cast of imps, betrayers, and immortals, then SEX, LIES, AND VAMPIRES is definitely the book for you.

Nell Harris is the type of woman who delights in the old-namely, in ancient artifacts. A junior professor of medieval history in Seattle, she's been lured to the Czech Republic by Melissande Banacek to view the Holy Grail of her profession-the Graven Plate, a breastplate from a suit of armor made in the late 1300's at the castle of Churburg. A legend among medievalists, no one has ever laid eyes upon the interlocking plates that detail the history of a knight-errant. For Nell, this is the opportunity of a lifetime. Unfortunately, upon her arrival at the home of Ms. Banacek, she gets a little more than she bargained for.

Nell is not one to believe in paranormal beings or things that go bump in the night. So, when she spots a common Central European Imp in Melissande's living room, she's a little unnerved. When Melissande goes on to inform Nell that she's a Dark One, a Moravian vampire, Nell decides that the lady must be insane. Next, this strange lady goes on to tell her that Nell herself is a Charmer. A demon lord by the name of Asmodeus has taken Melissande's brother and nephew hostage, and a fellow vampire by the name of Adrian, whose also known as The Betrayer, is responsible for it all. Bound to Asmodeus by a curse, Melissande's brother and nephew cannot escape. Hence the need for Nell, who as a Charmer has the power and ability to charm the curse.

All would be easy if not for the fact that Nell has forgotten that ten years ago she actually believed in charms, curses, and her abilities. After a charm gone wrong killed her best friend, Nell buried herself in the past-and tangible evidence. Now she's been tricked into helping a boy who can only survive with her help-and in return, she'll have sole possession of the Graven Plate.

Greed and the desire for tenure may be the motivating factors at the start of her journey, but joining forces with Adrian, who isn't what she first thought him to be, is what keeps her going. There's more at stake than the release of a vampire and his son, and it's up to Nell and Adrian to combine their powers to rescue a society on the verge of collapse.

SEX, LIES, AND VAMPIRES is full of fun characters, quirky dialogue, and the redeeming power of love. This isn't the first book I've read by Ms. MacAlister featuring the Dark Ones, and it most certainly won't be my last. I love Ms. MacAlister's world of vampires and supernatural beings, and once you pick up one of her books, I'm sure you'll feel the same.

Prince of Ice (Tales of the Demon World, Book 2)

Emma Holly

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 29 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Sexy, fun, imaginative! 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

I enjoyed this novel. It's funky different with a Chinese, regency, futuristic blend that is wholly inviting. Emma has a way with words that is utterly sensual and yet builds the plot. No gratuitous sex here but sex that is intrinsic to the story line and swings the characters around to their final destiny.

Good idea gone bad. 1 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

When the story was first opening up, I was really looking forward to the plot that Ms. Holly was laying out. It seemed like this was going to be a real romance that I could get into. I figured that she just went a bit overboard with the adjectives while setting up the main conflict of the story. However, it became apparent to me quickly that the story was just one sex scene after another, each trying to be more graphic than the next. I was completely put off by the "alternative lifestyle" content that was included. It must be my mistake, but I thought that I was buying a romance, but ended up with something worthy of Penthouse. The main characters, after being separated since childhood, don't regain their love relationship at all when they meet again. Instead, they jump on each other and hardly disconnect parts for the entire book. I think that my favorite part of this story was very near the end, when there seemed to be honest plot development. Maybe I am in the minority, but I think that instead of being shelved in the romance section of my bookstore, this should have been placed squarely with the sex novels (aka erotica).

Editorial Review:

Emma Holly loves to take a walk on the wild side, and here she ventures into a sensuous and dangerous world where a human courtesan becomes the flesh and blood property of a demon prince. Soulmates, lovers-and victims of an unnatural desire that could drive them both insane.