Lara Adrian

This one didn't have any major shortcomings (that aren't by definition part of the genre) but there just isn't anything that distinguishes it from any other popular pnr.
I have read a lot of pnr many of which had worse execution or major weaknesses but many of them also had novel ideas or interesting twists on old cliches/stereotypes to offer.
I would describe this book as an almost pure distillate of pnr. It's the result you would get if you average all popular pnr together.
If you are new to the genre and can endure a bit of cheesiness this might be an enjoyable read but for more experienced readers that look for something with a bit of uniqueness, this will probably be very boring.… (lisätietoja)

Gli ultimi libri di questa serie mi avevano lasciato alquanto delusa - sempre uguali a se stessi. Per non parlare dell'ultimo, dove nell'ultima metà del libro succede di tutto e di più. Troppe novità concentrate.

Questo nuovo libro, che dà l'avvio a un nuovo ciclo dedicato alla nuova generazione della Stirpe, ci offre una boccata d'aria fresca. Cambiano i nemici, cambiano le priorità. Adesso Lucan, Capo dell'Ordine, ha il compito di mantenere e far crescere in modo proficuo la pace tra umani e membri della Stirpe, dopo che questi ultimi sono stati costretti ad uscire allo scoperto. Le cose non vanno tanto bene però. Molti umani vorrebbero soltanto sterminare i mostri...

La protagonista è Mira, figlia adottiva di Renata e Niko. Diventata grande e guerriera come la madre, Mira è un tipino tutto pepe pronta a disubbidire agli ordini e a fare di testa sua. E così, cacciandosi nei guai, finirà per incontrare la sua vecchia fiamma, che credeva morto in un'esplosione, Kellan Archer (una nostra vecchia conoscenza). Leader naturale e dall'onore ancora integro, Kellan scappa dal suo futuro con Mira, finendo però - siete sorpresi? - per finirle decisamente addosso.

Nel complesso è un romanzo carino, ma, per quanto mi riguarda, si è rovinato un po' nel finale. Questi nuovi cattivi nella loro organizzazione ricordano un po' troppo quelli vecchi. Vedremo come si evolverà la faccenda nei prossimi volumi. E la risoluzione della questione Mira-Kellan nel finale mi è parsa semplicistica - della serie: il libro deve finire bene a tutti i costi.… (lisätietoja)

Darker After Midnight
4 Stars

Synopsis
After placing the entire Breed race at risk of discovery, Dragos is on the offensive and the warriors are playing catch up. At the heart of the conflict are Sterling Chase, a warrior struggling against his bloodlust, and Tavia Fairchild, a young woman who is not what she seems. Together Chase and Tavia will have to accept their true natures if they are to defeat Dragos before he unleashes hell on earth.

Review
A satisfying conclusion to the existing story lines.

Chase and Tavia's romance is hot and heavy but definitely not the best in the series. Chase has always been an ambiguous character for me, and while his HEA is well deserved and quite rewarding, his redemption is nonetheless not as convincing as it could have been. He seems to overcome all obstacles far too quickly and conveniently. Tavia's character is extremely interesting but I don't want to give too much away, so suffice it to say that she is strong, independent and kick-ass (I particularly enjoyed the way in which she contributes to Dragos's downfall).

The scenes involving the entire Breed warrior "family" are a definite highlight. It is very gratifying to see everyone together even if it is a little saccharin sweet. Some of the newer characters such as Lazaro, Kellan, Nathan and Mira are compelling and I am eager to see where Adrian takes them.

While the plot includes several cliched and predictable moments, the development of Dragos's reign of terror and his ultimate demise is action packed and thrilling with some surprising twists. The ending feels a little rushed but the hints at future stories are intriguing and Adrian establishes a compelling new mythology that will make a good foundation on which to build the next installments.

In sum, a worthwhile read for those who are lovers of the Breed.… (lisätietoja)