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Icarus
Don t get me wrong; immortality does have its perks. Take dieting for example kind of hard to do when you ve only got two choices: fresh blood and slightly less fresh blood. The media makes it all out to be glamorous. Romantic, even. But the books, movies and witty television shows have it wrong. Especially the ones that make a big to-do about not being wrong (you know, the ones that spell vampire Vampyr, like it s original). And don't think for a second that I was turned in some amazing, soul-binding, body-meshing way either. I don't think my libido is damaged enough to forget that kind of rendezvous. Though, to be honest, I don't recall anything about it. As soon as you are turned, as soon as anyone is turned, the powers that be rush in like witness protection agents and whisk you off, never to see your family or friends again. Your life changes in ways you never imagined that it could.
Like the fact that I was kidnapped last night. Totally didn't see that coming. Not being the Covenant-level assassin that I am (did I mention that already? I didn't get much of a choice in that either, the profession I mean). Oh, and get this the creeps who grabbed me claim that my mentor/should-have-kept-it-professional boyfriend, Trinity is the vampire equivalent to the anti-Christ.
Nice. And to think it's only Tuesday.
But wait, it gets better. See, there is one fact about vampirism that everyone gets correct our bodies can't biologically process natural light. Past that, all I know is that if I don't partake of my usual dose of Icarus every seven days (provided via injection by the powers that be), I'll lose my existence as I know it. It allows me to bask in the sunlight, keeps us from exploding into flames and I've heard rumors that it's what makes us immortal. You know, little things.
Now, since Head Creep removed the dosing disc from my arm, whether I had anything to do with it or not, I'm guilty of betraying High Coven. This fact not only sucks (pun intended), it means I've been condemned to death. An assassin condemned to death. Seems like kind of a shitty deal if you ask me.
I don't care that Head Creep is hot enough that he gives Christian Bale a run for his money. He claims that Icarus is part of some massive conspiracy, that vampires are a perverse mutation of beings from another universe, and that Trinity (along with some dark army he's supposedly in charge of) plans to exterminate the human race. Of course, he says this will occur in less than a week. And damn, wouldn't you know he'd kidnap me on day six of my dose
Like the fact that I was kidnapped last night. Totally didn't see that coming. Not being the Covenant-level assassin that I am (did I mention that already? I didn't get much of a choice in that either, the profession I mean). Oh, and get this the creeps who grabbed me claim that my mentor/should-have-kept-it-professional boyfriend, Trinity is the vampire equivalent to the anti-Christ.
Nice. And to think it's only Tuesday.
But wait, it gets better. See, there is one fact about vampirism that everyone gets correct our bodies can't biologically process natural light. Past that, all I know is that if I don't partake of my usual dose of Icarus every seven days (provided via injection by the powers that be), I'll lose my existence as I know it. It allows me to bask in the sunlight, keeps us from exploding into flames and I've heard rumors that it's what makes us immortal. You know, little things.
Now, since Head Creep removed the dosing disc from my arm, whether I had anything to do with it or not, I'm guilty of betraying High Coven. This fact not only sucks (pun intended), it means I've been condemned to death. An assassin condemned to death. Seems like kind of a shitty deal if you ask me.
I don't care that Head Creep is hot enough that he gives Christian Bale a run for his money. He claims that Icarus is part of some massive conspiracy, that vampires are a perverse mutation of beings from another universe, and that Trinity (along with some dark army he's supposedly in charge of) plans to exterminate the human race. Of course, he says this will occur in less than a week. And damn, wouldn't you know he'd kidnap me on day six of my dose
316 pages, Paperback
First published December 13, 2011
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684 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
June 19, 2017
I really enjoyed this story. finished a while back but only now getting around to uodating a review. Jessica is SUCH a good main character. its so refreshing to have a heroine who isnt bulletproof. too often they are almost superheros and invulnerable, but here we have a sarcastic, quipping lead who can (and frequently does) get hurt. it makes you so much more invested in her wellbeing and what happens to her as a character!
This tale of an asassin tasked with bringing someone in alive is really quite original.
so often vampire books are just like every other vampire book youve ever read, and I can end up rolling my eyes as the same thing happens over and over, but this was such an original slant and take on the genre, that i was frequently surprised and it kept me wanting to flip pages.
what's also great about this book is that not ALL the attention is on the main character. when that happens, it can feel a lot like the author is just living a little fantasy, casting themselves as the character and having amazing adventures, but here, Chancellor gives lots of love and attention to the supporting cast too. every one of them has a genuine part to play and they all feel fully fleshed out and real, giving the story believability and depth.
if you're looking for an original tale in a familiar genre, definitely give this a try.
This tale of an asassin tasked with bringing someone in alive is really quite original.
so often vampire books are just like every other vampire book youve ever read, and I can end up rolling my eyes as the same thing happens over and over, but this was such an original slant and take on the genre, that i was frequently surprised and it kept me wanting to flip pages.
what's also great about this book is that not ALL the attention is on the main character. when that happens, it can feel a lot like the author is just living a little fantasy, casting themselves as the character and having amazing adventures, but here, Chancellor gives lots of love and attention to the supporting cast too. every one of them has a genuine part to play and they all feel fully fleshed out and real, giving the story believability and depth.
if you're looking for an original tale in a familiar genre, definitely give this a try.
April 28, 2012
Book Info: Genre: Paranormal/Vampires Reading Level: Adult Available Currently Available from Rhemalda Publishers
Disclosure: I picked up a free eBook copy of this from Amazon after being informed of the sale by the publisher; there was no obligation, but I’m happy to provide an honest review.
Synopsis: Don t get me wrong; immortality does have its perks. Take dieting for example: kind of hard to do when you’ve only got two choices: fresh blood and slightly less fresh blood. The media makes it all out to be glamorous. Romantic, even. But the books, movies and witty television shows have it wrong. Especially the ones that make a big to-do about not being wrong (you know, the ones that spell vampire Vampyr, like it's original). And don’t think for a second that I was turned in some amazing, soul-binding, body-meshing way either. I don’t think my libido is damaged enough to forget that kind of rendezvous. Though, to be honest, I don’t recall anything about it. As soon as you’re turned, as soon as anyone is turned, the powers that be rush in like witness protection agents and whisk you off, never to see your family or friends again. Your life changes in ways you never imagined that it could. Like the fact that I was kidnapped last night.
Totally didn’t see that coming. Not being the Covenant-level assassin that I am (did I mention that already? I didn’t get much of a choice in that either: the profession I mean). Oh, and get this: the creeps who grabbed me claim that my mentor/should-have-kept-it-professional boyfriend Trinity is the vampire equivalent to the anti-Christ. Nice. And to think it's only Tuesday. But wait, it gets better.
See, there is one fact about vampirism that everyone gets correct: our bodies can’t biologically process natural light. Past that, all I know is that if I don’t partake of my usual dose of Icarus every seven days (provided via injection by the powers that be), I’ll lose my existence as I know it. It allows me to bask in the sunlight, keeps us from exploding into flames, and I’ve heard rumors that it's what makes us immortal. You know, little things. Now, since Head Creep removed the dosing disc from my arm, whether I had anything to do with it or not, I’m guilty of betraying High Coven. This fact not only sucks (pun intended), it means I’ve been condemned to death. An assassin condemned to death. Seems like kind of shitty deal if you ask me. I don’t care that Head Creep is hot enough that he gives Christian Bale a run for his money. He claims that Icarus is part of some massive conspiracy, that vampires are a perverse mutation of beings from another universe, and that Trinity (along with some dark army he 's supposedly in charge of) plans to exterminate the human race. Of course, he says this will occur in less than a week. And damn, wouldn’t you know he’d kidnap me on day six of my dose
My Thoughts: Having loved everything I’ve read from the very talented Ms. Chancellor, I was very excited to see what she did with vampires. I’ve already loved what she has done with angels and with faeries, so hopefully next it’ll be something like werewolves or zombies? I guess only time will tell.
Anyway, I’ve seen other reviewers comment on how Chancellor took a tired idea and gave it new life; this is indeed what she has done. These are not your parents’ vampires. Of course, I had to laugh about her claims of being old because The Lost Boys was out when she was in junior high... JUNIOR HIGH?? *laughs* I was in college when The Lost Boys (still one of my favorite “horror” vampire movies) came out.
I have to tell you, this was a really awesome book. The characters were all great – truly multi-faceted, hard to tell if we were really seeing the reality behind any of them through a lot of the book. In addition, some of them made some rather dramatic turnarounds. I loved the character of Tristan – yeah, he was the Big Bad through most of the book, but he was an interesting character. I also loved little Lucan, as little as he turned up – he was awesome. Quinn and Blake were neat as well, and I would have loved to have learned more about them. In fact, I’m sort of hoping that Chancellor continues this story, as I think there is more to tell. Things were left a bit up in the air.
There are some really great lines in this book. How about: The movies, television shows and novels have it wrong about us. Especially those bright stars who make a big to-do about not being wrong (you know, the ones who spell vampire Vampyr, as if that’s really original). They make being Kindred sound glamorous and romantic. Like all we do is drink blood and sit around discussing existentialism while wearing gothic garb and looking unnaturally beautiful. Another one I loved was Stop smiling like a cat with a fish-flavored arsehole. My cat enjoyed that one, too, especially the possibilities it raised.
I guess what I’ve been trying to say with all this gushing is that you need to read this book. You need to get this book and read this book – it is a completely new and different take on vampires, fresh and authentic, and just as beautifully written as all of Chancellor’s books have been. Very highly recommended for all who love a good fantastical story.
Disclosure: I picked up a free eBook copy of this from Amazon after being informed of the sale by the publisher; there was no obligation, but I’m happy to provide an honest review.
Synopsis: Don t get me wrong; immortality does have its perks. Take dieting for example: kind of hard to do when you’ve only got two choices: fresh blood and slightly less fresh blood. The media makes it all out to be glamorous. Romantic, even. But the books, movies and witty television shows have it wrong. Especially the ones that make a big to-do about not being wrong (you know, the ones that spell vampire Vampyr, like it's original). And don’t think for a second that I was turned in some amazing, soul-binding, body-meshing way either. I don’t think my libido is damaged enough to forget that kind of rendezvous. Though, to be honest, I don’t recall anything about it. As soon as you’re turned, as soon as anyone is turned, the powers that be rush in like witness protection agents and whisk you off, never to see your family or friends again. Your life changes in ways you never imagined that it could. Like the fact that I was kidnapped last night.
Totally didn’t see that coming. Not being the Covenant-level assassin that I am (did I mention that already? I didn’t get much of a choice in that either: the profession I mean). Oh, and get this: the creeps who grabbed me claim that my mentor/should-have-kept-it-professional boyfriend Trinity is the vampire equivalent to the anti-Christ. Nice. And to think it's only Tuesday. But wait, it gets better.
See, there is one fact about vampirism that everyone gets correct: our bodies can’t biologically process natural light. Past that, all I know is that if I don’t partake of my usual dose of Icarus every seven days (provided via injection by the powers that be), I’ll lose my existence as I know it. It allows me to bask in the sunlight, keeps us from exploding into flames, and I’ve heard rumors that it's what makes us immortal. You know, little things. Now, since Head Creep removed the dosing disc from my arm, whether I had anything to do with it or not, I’m guilty of betraying High Coven. This fact not only sucks (pun intended), it means I’ve been condemned to death. An assassin condemned to death. Seems like kind of shitty deal if you ask me. I don’t care that Head Creep is hot enough that he gives Christian Bale a run for his money. He claims that Icarus is part of some massive conspiracy, that vampires are a perverse mutation of beings from another universe, and that Trinity (along with some dark army he 's supposedly in charge of) plans to exterminate the human race. Of course, he says this will occur in less than a week. And damn, wouldn’t you know he’d kidnap me on day six of my dose
My Thoughts: Having loved everything I’ve read from the very talented Ms. Chancellor, I was very excited to see what she did with vampires. I’ve already loved what she has done with angels and with faeries, so hopefully next it’ll be something like werewolves or zombies? I guess only time will tell.
Anyway, I’ve seen other reviewers comment on how Chancellor took a tired idea and gave it new life; this is indeed what she has done. These are not your parents’ vampires. Of course, I had to laugh about her claims of being old because The Lost Boys was out when she was in junior high... JUNIOR HIGH?? *laughs* I was in college when The Lost Boys (still one of my favorite “horror” vampire movies) came out.
I have to tell you, this was a really awesome book. The characters were all great – truly multi-faceted, hard to tell if we were really seeing the reality behind any of them through a lot of the book. In addition, some of them made some rather dramatic turnarounds. I loved the character of Tristan – yeah, he was the Big Bad through most of the book, but he was an interesting character. I also loved little Lucan, as little as he turned up – he was awesome. Quinn and Blake were neat as well, and I would have loved to have learned more about them. In fact, I’m sort of hoping that Chancellor continues this story, as I think there is more to tell. Things were left a bit up in the air.
There are some really great lines in this book. How about: The movies, television shows and novels have it wrong about us. Especially those bright stars who make a big to-do about not being wrong (you know, the ones who spell vampire Vampyr, as if that’s really original). They make being Kindred sound glamorous and romantic. Like all we do is drink blood and sit around discussing existentialism while wearing gothic garb and looking unnaturally beautiful. Another one I loved was Stop smiling like a cat with a fish-flavored arsehole. My cat enjoyed that one, too, especially the possibilities it raised.
I guess what I’ve been trying to say with all this gushing is that you need to read this book. You need to get this book and read this book – it is a completely new and different take on vampires, fresh and authentic, and just as beautifully written as all of Chancellor’s books have been. Very highly recommended for all who love a good fantastical story.
February 8, 2012
Jessica Slate is a kindred covenant. In other words, she's a high-ranking vampire and assassin who is as sassy as she is revered for her strength. Part of what makes her one of the best assassins is her willingness to kill any target without ever asking why. She's perfectly content thinking that the male voice she often hears in her mind is just a figment of her imagination. She doesn't question why she has no other choice but to be an assassin and take Icarus, an injection from the Powers That Be that keeps her alive.
This all changes when she's sent on an odd mission. Usually she's required to assassinate vampires who've committed treason against the High Coven, but this time the higher ups want her only to retrieve the target. When she finds him and roughs him up a little, he's adamant on letting her know that everything she knows is a lie.
As much as she doesn't want to believe it, a series of events quickly forces Jessica to understand that everything she thought she knew IS a lie, leaving her with lots of overwhelming questions and answers. What role does her mentor and on/off again lover Tristan play in the grand scheme of things? Who is Jacelynd and why does she feel like he's familiar?
While it's important that Jessica regains her memory for her own sake, she also must do so for the sake of humanity. Only if she remembers can she stop the apocalypse...for now.
The moment I started Icarus, I knew it was a book J.S. Chancellor had fun writing. The book starts with a cool introduction that lets readers peak into Chancellor's mind and learn more about the story's creation. Then there's a small paragraph that summarizes what Icarus is in Greek Mythology. Last, but not least, each chapter title is also the title of a song, so J.S. Chancellor notes in the beginning which song the chapter gets its title from. That way, when reading the chapter, you can listen to the corresponding song on the playlist. I thought that was a nice idea.
I really like how genre savvy Jessica is. In the beginning, she jokes around about cliches that run rampant in vampire fiction and tries to say that vampirism, in reality, is actually not like that stuff at all. For the most part, this is essentially a love triangle story. At some points, the relationship stuff made my heart soar, but other times I felt it could be a bit sappy. I loved how the characters at the end of the story definitely felt different from the characters at the beginning. The conflict nicely built up and came to a good close.
It's not a good idea to read this for the apocalypse part of the storyline, since that is something that is mostly only happening in the background. While at the same time it seems like Jessica cares about what happens to humanity, it also seems like the love triangle and Jessica regaining her memories is more important.
I really did like this book, namely because it's fun. Though there are very serious moments, I still feel like this book's purpose was never meant to be some literary masterpiece or a book that would be seen as entirely unique to other supernatural books. I smiled at the witty conversations and felt all warm and tingly at the moments of pure love. And hey, maybe that was Chancellor's purpose all along.
This all changes when she's sent on an odd mission. Usually she's required to assassinate vampires who've committed treason against the High Coven, but this time the higher ups want her only to retrieve the target. When she finds him and roughs him up a little, he's adamant on letting her know that everything she knows is a lie.
As much as she doesn't want to believe it, a series of events quickly forces Jessica to understand that everything she thought she knew IS a lie, leaving her with lots of overwhelming questions and answers. What role does her mentor and on/off again lover Tristan play in the grand scheme of things? Who is Jacelynd and why does she feel like he's familiar?
While it's important that Jessica regains her memory for her own sake, she also must do so for the sake of humanity. Only if she remembers can she stop the apocalypse...for now.
The moment I started Icarus, I knew it was a book J.S. Chancellor had fun writing. The book starts with a cool introduction that lets readers peak into Chancellor's mind and learn more about the story's creation. Then there's a small paragraph that summarizes what Icarus is in Greek Mythology. Last, but not least, each chapter title is also the title of a song, so J.S. Chancellor notes in the beginning which song the chapter gets its title from. That way, when reading the chapter, you can listen to the corresponding song on the playlist. I thought that was a nice idea.
I really like how genre savvy Jessica is. In the beginning, she jokes around about cliches that run rampant in vampire fiction and tries to say that vampirism, in reality, is actually not like that stuff at all. For the most part, this is essentially a love triangle story. At some points, the relationship stuff made my heart soar, but other times I felt it could be a bit sappy. I loved how the characters at the end of the story definitely felt different from the characters at the beginning. The conflict nicely built up and came to a good close.
It's not a good idea to read this for the apocalypse part of the storyline, since that is something that is mostly only happening in the background. While at the same time it seems like Jessica cares about what happens to humanity, it also seems like the love triangle and Jessica regaining her memories is more important.
I really did like this book, namely because it's fun. Though there are very serious moments, I still feel like this book's purpose was never meant to be some literary masterpiece or a book that would be seen as entirely unique to other supernatural books. I smiled at the witty conversations and felt all warm and tingly at the moments of pure love. And hey, maybe that was Chancellor's purpose all along.
March 21, 2012
I don't know where to begin. Icarus; The Kindred was unlike anything that I've ever read before. Everything was completely new and different in this vampire story! I didn't have any moments that felt like deja vu!
The main character is Jessie Slate assassin extraordinaire. At least that's who she thinks she is. She is going about her business doing her job. Next thing you know she's been kidnapped and these people are telling her that everything that she believes is a lie. She doesn't know these people but they seem to know her. Jacelynd's seems very familiar. She's been dreaming of him for ten years.
She manages to escape them and calls Trinity. He comes to get her and next thing you know she's blood tithed to him. He then tells her that those people weren't lying. He goes on to tell her that Jacelynd was her husband up until she blood tithed him. She obviously feels betrayed. She escapes him and finds Jacelynd again.
There is soooo much going on but trust me, the experience will be better if you read it yourself. No Spoilers here!
There is so much intrigue, mystery, action, and excitement wrapped up in this book that I can't begin to describe it to you. Every time I thought I knew what was going on, it changed! There are twists and turns around every corner. I truly was on the edge of my seat a number of times.
There is a love triangle involving Jessie, Jacelynd and Trinity. It's not a very involved and drawn out ordeal though! As soon as she starts to remember her past, she knows who her heart truly belongs to. The romance is mostly sweet.
There are bad guys aplenty and it takes awhile to figure out just who some of them really are.
If you like vampire books, a great plot, some romance, and kick a** heroines, this is a must read!!!
I received a pdf copy from Rhemalda Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
The main character is Jessie Slate assassin extraordinaire. At least that's who she thinks she is. She is going about her business doing her job. Next thing you know she's been kidnapped and these people are telling her that everything that she believes is a lie. She doesn't know these people but they seem to know her. Jacelynd's seems very familiar. She's been dreaming of him for ten years.
She manages to escape them and calls Trinity. He comes to get her and next thing you know she's blood tithed to him. He then tells her that those people weren't lying. He goes on to tell her that Jacelynd was her husband up until she blood tithed him. She obviously feels betrayed. She escapes him and finds Jacelynd again.
There is soooo much going on but trust me, the experience will be better if you read it yourself. No Spoilers here!
There is so much intrigue, mystery, action, and excitement wrapped up in this book that I can't begin to describe it to you. Every time I thought I knew what was going on, it changed! There are twists and turns around every corner. I truly was on the edge of my seat a number of times.
There is a love triangle involving Jessie, Jacelynd and Trinity. It's not a very involved and drawn out ordeal though! As soon as she starts to remember her past, she knows who her heart truly belongs to. The romance is mostly sweet.
There are bad guys aplenty and it takes awhile to figure out just who some of them really are.
If you like vampire books, a great plot, some romance, and kick a** heroines, this is a must read!!!
I received a pdf copy from Rhemalda Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
Read
April 21, 2012Really enjoyed this story and was sucked in on the very first page! Love it when that happens! Think I've found a new favorite female character in Jessica Slate, as she's snarky and tough, but not a superhero and can actually get hurt. I get really tired of the heroes who are invulnerable and never get so much as a scratch, no matter how intense the battle.
Jessica is a Covenant-level assassin whose latest assignment was a little out of the ordinary. Instead of taking someone out, she actually had to bring them in alive. Strange assignment for an assassin and her target behaved strangely enough to give Jessica pause, but she's good at following orders and brought him in alive. Barely, but still alive.
But that's only the beginning. Jessica is kidnapped by the strangest group of kidnappers around. They keep spouting cryptic statements just like her recent target, and claim that her mentor/sorta boyfriend Trinity is actually a bad guy. Head kidnapper bears an uncanny resemblance to the man haunting her dreams and would give Christian Bale a run for the money, but that's beside the point...or is it?
Jessica, being made of awesome, escapes and contacts Trinity. Despite the automatic death sentence for having her Icarus dosing disc removed (by said kidnappers), Trinity protects her. But things don't add up and Jessica needs to figure everything out, and figure it out fast!
Loved this book! Jessica is a great character! And the secondary characters were good as well. Loved the unexpected twists, and the dialog was spot on. Sounded like real people having real conversations! And did I mention Jessica's snark appeal? Loved it!
Gave this one a 4/5 as I loved the characters, it had great writing, and an awesome plot!
Jessica is a Covenant-level assassin whose latest assignment was a little out of the ordinary. Instead of taking someone out, she actually had to bring them in alive. Strange assignment for an assassin and her target behaved strangely enough to give Jessica pause, but she's good at following orders and brought him in alive. Barely, but still alive.
But that's only the beginning. Jessica is kidnapped by the strangest group of kidnappers around. They keep spouting cryptic statements just like her recent target, and claim that her mentor/sorta boyfriend Trinity is actually a bad guy. Head kidnapper bears an uncanny resemblance to the man haunting her dreams and would give Christian Bale a run for the money, but that's beside the point...or is it?
Jessica, being made of awesome, escapes and contacts Trinity. Despite the automatic death sentence for having her Icarus dosing disc removed (by said kidnappers), Trinity protects her. But things don't add up and Jessica needs to figure everything out, and figure it out fast!
Loved this book! Jessica is a great character! And the secondary characters were good as well. Loved the unexpected twists, and the dialog was spot on. Sounded like real people having real conversations! And did I mention Jessica's snark appeal? Loved it!
Gave this one a 4/5 as I loved the characters, it had great writing, and an awesome plot!
June 13, 2012
Since I got this e-book for free from the publisher (Rhemalda Publishing) I feel like I should write a short review.
I'd actually had this book on my to-read list for awhile so I was excited to get a free copy. The story ended up being different from what I thought it would be, but in a good way! Jessica Slate's voice is what hooked me to this story. She's just the right amount of snarky and badass, and cool and calculating. All with plenty of real emotion.
For the majority of the book, I didn't even really think of the characters as vampires (again, that's a good thing). It was more about who the characters are, not what they are. And about their ties to each other--past and present--and the choices that have brought them together, for better or for worse. There are quite a few twists and turns to the plot and situations where I thought "how are they going to get out of this??" (which, in my opinion, is a sign of a good book--it keeps me turning the pages!)
I went back and forth trying to give the book a specific genre classification, but I couldn't decide on one so I'm going to call it a mix of paranormal, urban fantasy, and high fantasy; For any audience: adult, "new adult" or YA.
I really like J.S. Chancellor's writing style so I'll definitely be checking out some of her other books!
I'd actually had this book on my to-read list for awhile so I was excited to get a free copy. The story ended up being different from what I thought it would be, but in a good way! Jessica Slate's voice is what hooked me to this story. She's just the right amount of snarky and badass, and cool and calculating. All with plenty of real emotion.
For the majority of the book, I didn't even really think of the characters as vampires (again, that's a good thing). It was more about who the characters are, not what they are. And about their ties to each other--past and present--and the choices that have brought them together, for better or for worse. There are quite a few twists and turns to the plot and situations where I thought "how are they going to get out of this??" (which, in my opinion, is a sign of a good book--it keeps me turning the pages!)
I went back and forth trying to give the book a specific genre classification, but I couldn't decide on one so I'm going to call it a mix of paranormal, urban fantasy, and high fantasy; For any audience: adult, "new adult" or YA.
I really like J.S. Chancellor's writing style so I'll definitely be checking out some of her other books!
January 23, 2016
Icarus (The Kindred) is a vampire book with a unique spin. The story follows Jess Slate, a covenant level assassin who is kidnapped by those who claim everything she knows about her life and her vampire boyfriend Trinity is a lie. She doesn't take kindly to that kind of information and worse still, they have ripped out her dosing disc for the life-saving drug Icarus. Icarus allows her to walk in the sunshine and keeps her from bursting into flames.
The book is told in first person and Jess is quite a character. I love her snarky and witty personality while she is getting walloped and when she's giving her own ass-kicking to those who cross her. That was a treat to read and the author gets it right. The world the author paints is fully developed and I thoroughly enjoyed reading and getting to know all of the secondary characters. The book is non-stop action. Just when you think, there is a lull in the story, the author ramps it up two-fold. I will definitely be checking out more books by J.S. Chancellor. Recommended.
The book is told in first person and Jess is quite a character. I love her snarky and witty personality while she is getting walloped and when she's giving her own ass-kicking to those who cross her. That was a treat to read and the author gets it right. The world the author paints is fully developed and I thoroughly enjoyed reading and getting to know all of the secondary characters. The book is non-stop action. Just when you think, there is a lull in the story, the author ramps it up two-fold. I will definitely be checking out more books by J.S. Chancellor. Recommended.
June 22, 2013
Excellent book. I loved the weaving of the present and the past. I'm really interested in the world of origin for the species. I love the different take on the vampire thing. I'd like to read a prequel, about their parents maybe. And then another one about when they were young. I love that it did not have a completely wrapped up happy "everything is magically all better" type ending. It wasn't a completely devastating George RR Martin ending or anything either.
Great characters, fun dialogue, story depth, all the good things.
My only complaint would be that the 1st chapter spent a good deal of time telling me what kind of book it wasn't. It wasn't your typical vamp book. And really, I found that out on my own. A few chapters in and i can see what kind of story it is. So, it was right, but I didn't feel like it was necessary. However, if my biggest complaint about a book is that it lives up to it's own hype, well, that's not much of a complaint at all.
Great characters, fun dialogue, story depth, all the good things.
My only complaint would be that the 1st chapter spent a good deal of time telling me what kind of book it wasn't. It wasn't your typical vamp book. And really, I found that out on my own. A few chapters in and i can see what kind of story it is. So, it was right, but I didn't feel like it was necessary. However, if my biggest complaint about a book is that it lives up to it's own hype, well, that's not much of a complaint at all.
April 22, 2012
I'm actually giving this 31/2 stars but Goodreads doesn't allow 1/2 stars. I enjoyed this book, I really did and I particularly enjoyed the main character, Jessica Slate, but I had some real issues with sentence structure, some serious editing was needed, consistency and some more background was needed re the origins of her people. Also, I had problems with the general flow of the story, particularly where the big bad was concerned. Look no-one expects the author to reveal where she is going but she needed to make it all a little bit more convincing to justify the decision she made where that character was concerned. Still, it is a book I would recommend.
April 27, 2012
I am not a fan of first person writing but I did enjoy this book. It was a very fresh take on a world visited by many in a variety of ways. I very much enjoyed the "snarky" thoughts and comments of Jessica, the diffent characters, and as I said the unique approach. I did have a bit of a disconnect however from one scene to the next on occasion and could have done with a bit more explanation as to backgrounds of the kindred. Just felt as if I had missed a page or two as I read. But all in all I found the book interesting. This was my first Good reads giveaway book.
July 30, 2012
It was an amazing read. I was so happy I picked to read this book. It is so not your regular vamp book. It has a sad part were you would not even think of.... There's a part of action, well it's a lot of action in this book but not all of this is action. A lot of betrayal. In this book. You think you know who is behind all of it when you are so wrong. It has a bit of a romance with it too. What I liked best was how Jessica or Jessi or Jess would act. She was sarcastic & had a dark humor. Overall this book was AWESOME.
January 3, 2012
Icarus The Kindred by J.S. Chancellor was a very interesting read, brining a fresh new story to the vampire genre. The story is full of twits and surprises while the characters are fascinatingly developed with sharp witty dialogue. I must mention that I love the cultural humor filled within the pages that brought out nostalgia in a great way. I must say that I was very grateful to read this story and hope that there may be more to come in the
April 13, 2012
this book kept me hooked all the way. I got to halfway through the book and thought it was the end but turned the page and it said part one, i was astonished.
The details of emotion and description were really really good and i felt as if i were really the actually character. This author could probably pull of what no other could if she put her mind to it.
Overall great book .
hope you enjoy this.
Evie London
The details of emotion and description were really really good and i felt as if i were really the actually character. This author could probably pull of what no other could if she put her mind to it.
Overall great book .
hope you enjoy this.
Evie London
November 28, 2012
I bought this book because I'd never heard of it and totally love vampire stories. Chancellor didn't dissapoint either, the story was amazing. Jess is awesome as a heroin, and Jas (idk how it's actually spelled because I listen to an audiobook lol) sounds absoletly yummy. Tristan makes a good bad buy/good guy. I loved all the back story and the orginality of the story itself. Will most definetly be reading more from Chancellor in the future.
September 9, 2017
Decent book. I'm not such a fan of how they came to be and it was all a little confusing. But, the story was good and the ending resolved a lot. The characters needed a little more depth, but the main character was fun and snarky and resilient. Four glittery stars.
July 18, 2012
If you love vampires yet yearn for something fresh and new - try this book! Great action, deep characters, and sassy, kick-ass humor. What's not to love? Highly recommended!
August 3, 2012
Little long at some parts but I laughed some and cried some and fell in love with it
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