Shadow Marked by Anna J. Evans: Review by JesykaJames

Review for Shadow Marked by Anna J. Evans

Title: Shadow Marked
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Pages: 308
Format: Paperback
Source: The Book Depository
Release Date: May 4th 2010
Publisher: NAL Trade/Signet Eclipse
Series: Yes
No. in Series: 1



Synopsis: Samantha Quinn has been in the dark since age six, when her parents sacrificed her sight in a Satanic ritual. She is trying to get over her demonic past, but horrific lifelike visions haunt her. Her intuition gets stronger and clearer after a wild, adrenaline-fueled sexual encounter with Jace, her brother's childhood friend. And now Samantha is more tormented than ever by what she can "see"-and by what she felt in that forbidden encounter...

Samantha must now prevent the deaths she sees in her premonitions and protect her body from the same demon from her twisted childhood. Her dark curse reveals that Jace will be the next victim, and it is crystal clear that she must destroy the demon to protect her love.



My Review: I didn't like this book, so this is going to be a pretty short review.

The book seemed to jump in way to fast. One minute the main character was a timid (blind) mouse about to be eaten and the next she was a sex kitten trying to fuck her brothers best friend up against a wall in a demon infested ally... WFT?

Usually, with a book like this there is a redeeming quality. Like, the plot is trash, the characters suck, but the sex scenes rock... well, this is not one of those books. The characters are uninteresting. The plot is nonsensical. And the sex scenes leave a lot to be desired.

To be honest, towards the end of the book, I started reading one in every three lines, sometimes just the dialog, because honestly, it was that bad. I can't even think of one thing to say in defense of this book... I guess, it was written okay, if you take into consideration that the main female character was blind... but really, I think that just made it harder to read. It just seemed like a ramble of words.

I didn't like any of the characters. They were all very one dimensional. I particularly hate Stephen, Sam's brother. He seemed like a pointless character until about the last quarter of the book. Jace was annoying. Sam was wish-washy and flakey. One minute she's the demure blind little sister, the next line she's braving the demon infested streets of NY.

The plot... well, I mean, it might have been a good concept it there was a little more effort put into it. But as it was, it was just all over the place.

I will not be picking up the second book in the series. Even if it's on sale at my local Reject store for .99c.

If you disagree with my review, leave me a comment, or email me and let me know why :)


My Review: One Tiny Bat

Posted By:

Email: pages2crave@hotmail.com

Marked by Elisabeth Naughton Review by JesykaJames

Review for Marked by Elisabeth Naughton

Title: Marked
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Pages: 321
Format: Paperback

Source: Big W

Release Date: April 23rd 2010
Publisher: Love Spell
Series: Yes
No. in Series: Book 1


Synopsis: THERON—Dark haired, duty bound and deceptively deadly. He’s the leader of the Argonauts, an elite group of guardians that defends the immortal realm from threats of the Underworld.

From the moment he walked into the club, Casey knew this guy was different. Men like that just didn't exist in real life—silky shoulder-length hair, chest impossibly broad, and a predatory manner that just screamed dark and dangerous. He was looking for something. Her.

She was the one. She had the mark. Casey had to die so his kind could live, and it was Theron’s duty to bring her in. But even as a 200-year-old descendent of Hercules, he wasn’t strong enough to resist the pull in her fathomless eyes, to tear himself away from the heat of her body.

As war with the Underworld nears, someone will have to make the ultimate sacrifice.

My Review: I liked this book, but I didn't love it. It was a fairly short book, I read it two days, which would normally be good... but at the end of this book I must say I felt... unsatisfied. The whole book seemed rushed to me, and the closer it got to the end the more rushed it felt. It had half a page at the end of 'happily ever after' which, well honestly, you have to kind of expect to a certain extent in a Paranormal Romance novel, but it was so rushed that I was barely interested in them working out there problems and getting together anyway. And though this is a continuation series, I don't think Casey and Theron are going to get anymore floor time.

I have to say, I feel like there wasn't a lot of effort on Elizabeth Naughton's part, there was some pretty good world building, but in the end what was lacking, for me, was the characters. I like to be drawn into a book by it's world, and it's characters. I had a hard time connecting with any of the characters in this novel. I feel like there wasn't enough... personality I suppose.

There were some very cute moments between Acacia and Theron, and I did genuinely like the banter that went on between them. I will say there was a spark between the characters, but not to the level of spark between; for example Larissa Ione's characters Ares and Cara.

"And what do you call this... this attraction between us?"

She cocked her head "Your problem?"

"I call it opportunity. A chance to see if fate is really pushing us toward a combined destiny. And there's one way to know for sure."

Her eyes narrowed. "How?"

He moved closer, barely brushing his body against hers, and felt her shudder. And oh, yeah, as far as gambles went, this was the big one. "All it takes is one night."

She blinked twice. "Are you for real?"

Then she laughed. Her laughter went on and on, to the point a frown worked it's way between his eyebrows. When she finally paused to breathe, tears were streaming down her cheek. "Oh, my God. That was the best line I've ever heard. 'Here sleep with me and I'll tell you if you're my destiny.' Nice one, Theron"

The entire relationship seemed rushed, and based only on the premise that they were soul-mates. Fated to be together.

I will say, that once again I am going to give this author another chance. I have ordered the second book in this series, and will hopefully have a better review for that. I hate to give bad reviews, but honestly, this was not a great books for me. It needed more. I do have hope though, that the second book will be better.

Rating: Two Tiny Bats out of Five

(I have decided to go back to the normal rating system, as it was getting to complicated between here and GoorReads.)

Posted By: JesykaJames

Email: pages2crave@hotmail.com