Includes review for book 2: THE WITCH'S DREAM
Books received via Boo Tour COmpany for review on my blog. No remuneration was exchanged and all opinions herein are my own except as noted.
These books are like crack for readers. I was hooked after reading the first book in this series and immediately began the second. To put it mildly I was swept off my feet. Everything from the world-building to the sex was excellent.
The world is a very complex, quantum multi-verse, very intricate and well thought out. I don't know if Victoria built everything up before hand or if she manages to invent these intricacies as she writes. I suspect the former because so far I haven't fallen over any continuity problems.
The characters are really appealing as well, and unique. I am really pleased with the development of each person in the story. There is a purpose for each.
Indeed, everything is highly detailed, location, character and species.
For example Abraxas demons:
"Abraxas are the spiritual expression of sex - which has two faces - the power of love and the joys of mutual sharing, or its opposite: domination, humiliation, sadism cruelty. "(The Witch's Dream, page 6 pdf)
Dannan's voice is unique, in a good way. Her style is halfway between showing and telling, which gives it a modern edge, like a report with feeling. I liked the almost scientific impression I got as I read.
And the relationships, from first glance to intimacy, the relationships sometimes develop quickly but they do develop. And the physical intimacy is sexy and erotic without vulgarity.
Part of my job is also pointing out the areas I find challenging. The style shows an organized writer bringing us well-developed everything and lots of detail. Therein lies the rub: when is it too much detail. A good pruning would make the story stronger. Too much detail treats everything from the design of a nightclub to the intricacies of plot with the same level of importance. I appreciate that Victoria has put so much thought into each aspect of her world; it gives the work a strong foundation.
But sometimes I don't need to see what's holding it together; if the continuity is good, the foundation of the story can work behind the scenes. I found myself mentally editing the stories. If the reader has to fill in the blanks on her own it makes it more engaging. It's weird but as I read I realized that both too much and too little detail can make things feel like an outline. Editing would often make a huge difference in a book - whether it's a mainstream publisher, a competent indy or someone paid to edit. I was reading an uncorrected proof so some of the typos and verb tense issues I found may well have been changed.
This leads me to one other issue: obvious foreshadowing. Look! Look! .... Look! With so much detail, I am not allowed to feel the event that is about to happen' not allowed to see it unfold. There are too many clues; the storyline becomes obvious. Way before I get to the event it's happened in my head and the next event is shaping itself.
I liken this to a painting where the artist gets carried away and has a hard time deciding the painting is complete and that a particular area should be left unspecific.
Did these minor "flaws" it make the book less readable, less exciting, less compelling? No, like I said, I began the second immediately after the first. And, keep in mind, I am not a big fantasy world person. Victoria manages to create worlds=on-worlds that are familiar enough that a glossary is not needed. While at first I wondered, which of the dimensions was the one I inhabit, I quickly stopped doing that and gave into the worlds she was creating. It is not often where I find flaws that are outweighed by the merits of a book, so this is an unusual instance for me. While some editing is called for I would still say these books are examples of superior writing and HIGHLY RECOMMEND them.
I liked it so much I immediately picked up book three!
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couldn't put it down
This was the first time I have read anything by ms. danann, and by was it good. I enjoy paranormal books, and this one has it all. It is a marvelous story with well developed plot and characters that jump out of the pages to become your friends. I highly recommend giving this a real good look. There are many more in this series and I can't wait to read them. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.
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