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Nightshade #1
Nuit de sang
Pour Jillian Conrad, l’expression « être au mauvais endroit au mauvais moment » prend tout son sens. En effet, kidnappée par un assassin, elle se retrouve au beau milieu d’une guerre sans merci qui oppose les vampires à une organisation gouvernementale tentant de protéger l’humanité de ces monstres sanguinaires. Mais les apparences peuvent être trompeuses et son ravisseur, Declan, pourrait bien être son seul espoir.
346 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 10, 2010
185 people are currently reading
4548 people want to read
About the author
Michelle Rowen
67 books2,722 followersNational bestselling author MICHELLE ROWEN writes paranormal romance, urban fantasy, and young adult fantasy, both light and dark, sexy and sweet, long and short -- it all depends on the story! She's won a Holt Medallion for Best First Book and a Romantic Times Reviewers Choice award for Vampire Romance. For more information, please visit Michelle at her website at www.michellerowen.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 289 reviews
February 23, 2011
2.5 Stars
This book captured my attention right from the start. Jillian was just a normal girl, minding her own business at work, when she was used as a hostage and injected with some mysterious serum. The next thing she knows, she’s been kidnapped and is on her way to a scientist to see if they can save her from the serum’s deadly effects.
The guy who kidnaps her is Declan, none other than the hero of the book. After meeting him and seeing his behavior toward Jillian—because he is a pretty cold, harsh man in the beginning—I had to double check the back cover to make sure that he was actually someone I was supposed to like. Yep, he’s the hero. I was pretty skeptical that the author could pull off making me like him, but she did. The details we learned about him and the reasons for his behavior were very convincing. Kudos to the author for creating such a believable back and forth in personality.
The attraction was a little hard to believe. Not the fact that they would be attracted to each other, but the fact that it happened so quickly. It’s kind of hard for me to swallow Jillian going from terrified and angry about being kidnapped to being hot for Declan. But if I ignored how quickly everything happens, I kind of liked them together.
I really, really liked Jillian. I think some might dislike the fact that she’s a victim for most of the book, but I liked it. Not the victim thing, but the fact that she wasn’t Billy Badass like most other UF heroines. This girl was not tough and the serum did not turn her into a Buffy clone. She was still just a regular girl without any increased strength or healing. The only difference was the effect her blood had on vampires. I would actually say that the serum put her at an even further disadvantage than a regular human. She still healed as slow and could still die, but now she had to deal with smelling irresistible to them and having to avoid getting munched on at every turn. It was different than the norm and I found it refreshing.
Jillian had a great voice as the narrator. There were so many quotable lines that I had a hard time resisting the urge to update frequently on Goodreads.
Nightshade is an Urban Fantasy, but it straddles the Romance line at times. I think some people might find themselves confused about what genre it is exactly and find themselves disappointed if they were expecting a HEA. Just make sure you go into it with the right set of expectations.
So, I’ve gone over what I liked and now I have to go over what I hated. The first 3/4 of the book was a 4 heart grade for me, but the last 1/4 was a 1 heart. I averaged it out to end up with the 2.5 heart final grade. I am going to put my dislikes in the spoilers. Please people, do not read them if you don’t want to be spoiled. These will not be tiny spoilers, they’ll be spoilers for a major event in the end. Be warned.
So…I don’t think I’m going to be continuing with this series. It’s regrettable, because the beginning was good and I really like this author’s Living in Eden series, but I do not like where this series seems to be headed at all.
Favorite Quote:
Review originally posted on Fiction Vixen.
This book captured my attention right from the start. Jillian was just a normal girl, minding her own business at work, when she was used as a hostage and injected with some mysterious serum. The next thing she knows, she’s been kidnapped and is on her way to a scientist to see if they can save her from the serum’s deadly effects.
The guy who kidnaps her is Declan, none other than the hero of the book. After meeting him and seeing his behavior toward Jillian—because he is a pretty cold, harsh man in the beginning—I had to double check the back cover to make sure that he was actually someone I was supposed to like. Yep, he’s the hero. I was pretty skeptical that the author could pull off making me like him, but she did. The details we learned about him and the reasons for his behavior were very convincing. Kudos to the author for creating such a believable back and forth in personality.
The attraction was a little hard to believe. Not the fact that they would be attracted to each other, but the fact that it happened so quickly. It’s kind of hard for me to swallow Jillian going from terrified and angry about being kidnapped to being hot for Declan. But if I ignored how quickly everything happens, I kind of liked them together.
I really, really liked Jillian. I think some might dislike the fact that she’s a victim for most of the book, but I liked it. Not the victim thing, but the fact that she wasn’t Billy Badass like most other UF heroines. This girl was not tough and the serum did not turn her into a Buffy clone. She was still just a regular girl without any increased strength or healing. The only difference was the effect her blood had on vampires. I would actually say that the serum put her at an even further disadvantage than a regular human. She still healed as slow and could still die, but now she had to deal with smelling irresistible to them and having to avoid getting munched on at every turn. It was different than the norm and I found it refreshing.
Jillian had a great voice as the narrator. There were so many quotable lines that I had a hard time resisting the urge to update frequently on Goodreads.
"I was afraid of him on too many levels to count. But there was also a part of Declan Reyes--the man who'd put me in danger, threatened to kill me, kidnapped me, tossed me around and bullied me, but also saved my life and comforted me when I'd been sick--that I'd slowly begun to depend on and even...like. And that was just as scary as anything else I'd had to deal with today."
Nightshade is an Urban Fantasy, but it straddles the Romance line at times. I think some people might find themselves confused about what genre it is exactly and find themselves disappointed if they were expecting a HEA. Just make sure you go into it with the right set of expectations.
So, I’ve gone over what I liked and now I have to go over what I hated. The first 3/4 of the book was a 4 heart grade for me, but the last 1/4 was a 1 heart. I averaged it out to end up with the 2.5 heart final grade. I am going to put my dislikes in the spoilers. Please people, do not read them if you don’t want to be spoiled. These will not be tiny spoilers, they’ll be spoilers for a major event in the end. Be warned.
So…I don’t think I’m going to be continuing with this series. It’s regrettable, because the beginning was good and I really like this author’s Living in Eden series, but I do not like where this series seems to be headed at all.
Favorite Quote:
"My name's Jillian," I said. "Jillian Conrad. My friends call me Jill."
Taking it to a friendly introduction level might make all the difference. Make him see that I wasn't just a random hostage. I was a normal person with a normal life and I didn't deserve any of this.
His lips thinned. "Jillian?"
I nodded eagerly. "Yes."
"Shut the fuck up, Jillian."
Review originally posted on Fiction Vixen.
May 22, 2011
2.5 starts.
Plotwise it wasn't even worth two stars, but somehow I found myself enjoying it from time to time. It was like one of those B-horror movies: they are incredibly stupid and you know it, but you still can't stop watching.
I have very little patience for PNR lately. Nightshade is paranormal romance disguised as urban fantasy and that in itself kind of pisses me off. The problem is, even the romance is unconvincing. Some parts were completely unbelievable. I know believability is not one of the genre's strong points, but there are lines you just can't cross.
Jill gets kidnapped by Declan (hey, it's PNR, his reasons don't really matter), and here's how she describes him:
His face didn't have an ounce of humanity to it. Around the black eye patch, scar tissue branched out like a spiderweb up over his forehead and down his left cheek, all the way to his neck. He was as scary-looking as he was ugly.
Yet half a day later, she's completely in love with him. Another half a day later, he stands and watches while a vampire feeds from her and almost rapes her. A few hours after that, she sleeps with him. Did I mention he only has one eye?! :D
Ok, maybe we're a little tired of gorgeous vampires/faeries/werewhatevers, but Rowen went to the extreme here: Declan is a dhampir. He heals like a vampire, but everything leaves scars. His face looks like a medieval battlefield. He lost an eye in a fight so he wears and eye patch. He injects himself wiith a serum that helps him suppress his vampire urges AND turns him into a killing machine without emotions. He's cold, ugly and very rude. What's not to like?
The world building really isn't worth mentioning. I'll just spare you the details. I know some of my friends really liked this book, and I can respect that, but it definitely wasn't for me. I have no intention of reading the next one.
Plotwise it wasn't even worth two stars, but somehow I found myself enjoying it from time to time. It was like one of those B-horror movies: they are incredibly stupid and you know it, but you still can't stop watching.
I have very little patience for PNR lately. Nightshade is paranormal romance disguised as urban fantasy and that in itself kind of pisses me off. The problem is, even the romance is unconvincing. Some parts were completely unbelievable. I know believability is not one of the genre's strong points, but there are lines you just can't cross.
Jill gets kidnapped by Declan (hey, it's PNR, his reasons don't really matter), and here's how she describes him:
His face didn't have an ounce of humanity to it. Around the black eye patch, scar tissue branched out like a spiderweb up over his forehead and down his left cheek, all the way to his neck. He was as scary-looking as he was ugly.
Yet half a day later, she's completely in love with him. Another half a day later, he stands and watches while a vampire feeds from her and almost rapes her. A few hours after that, she sleeps with him. Did I mention he only has one eye?! :D
Ok, maybe we're a little tired of gorgeous vampires/faeries/werewhatevers, but Rowen went to the extreme here: Declan is a dhampir. He heals like a vampire, but everything leaves scars. His face looks like a medieval battlefield. He lost an eye in a fight so he wears and eye patch. He injects himself wiith a serum that helps him suppress his vampire urges AND turns him into a killing machine without emotions. He's cold, ugly and very rude. What's not to like?
The world building really isn't worth mentioning. I'll just spare you the details. I know some of my friends really liked this book, and I can respect that, but it definitely wasn't for me. I have no intention of reading the next one.
April 14, 2021
Three stars for this one (Goodreads: three stars means I liked it) because it hooked me in and it was definitely hard to put down, albeit mainly because of my horrified fascination at what was going to happen next. Yes, reviews of this book should come with trigger warnings! So let's do that first.
One morning as luck would have it, Jill Conrad, age 28, working as a temp and still wondering what do do with her life, finds herself in a very, very wrong place at a very, very wrong time. Over the next four days (which is the total time span of the book) Jill is going to suffer
For me, the ugliness of Jill's trip through hell is softened by what it brings out in her--she bounces back again and again from the abuse, very often reacting with healthy rage and calling her abusers to account (even if it means more abuse), and some part of her has enough detachment to narrate her story with a touch of sarcastic and sardonic humor. She's clearly a very bright person who does her best to rise to her challenges.
And the story is pretty gripping because Jill's first-person narration keeps us wondering along with her what the hell is going on and what these people are really all about.
These people: first there's a scientist who gets off an elevator where Jill's waiting to board. He's carrying a syringe. Then a big ugly guy pulls a gun and demands the syringe, the scientist refuses, grabs Jill as a human shield, and injects all the serum in the syringe into her neck. The big ugly guy shoots the scientist, grabs Jill, and hauls her over several blocks to his car. He tells her the serum is a secret poison that will kill her and hospitals wouldn't know what to do with it. He says he's taking her to the only person who has a possible antidote--six hours away in the middle of a desert.
So goodbye San Diego and hello Death Valley and a secret government lab where three scientists have been working on methods to destroy vampires. In the lab compound Jill is locked into a room, when she isn't being dragged here and there by force and subjected to brutal experiments. It turns out the serum in her bloodstream really works--captured vampire bites Jill, vampire explodes in flames and turns to ash. Except that the vampire has to suck away at Jill for a while before the serum takes hold, and vampires combine blood lust and sexual lust, groping as they bite and suck. Yuck. (Other rhyming words can be supplied.)
The big ugly guy's name turns out to be Declan, so we know that he is supposed to be the romantic heartthrob. Actually, I recently came across a man named Declan in real life, so I put that up against the countless Declans we meet in romantic fiction. Well, this Declan is one of the most disagreeable, ill-tempered killers you can imagine, full of hate. He's a dhampyr--vampire father, human mother--with a savage backstory. And the serum makes Jill irresistible to vampires and dhampyrs alike.
For me it was a weak point in the story that Jill would suddenly start to lust after Declan. Nothing about her suggests submissive, and we're talking about four days in Jill's life with more trauma than most people get in a lifetime. But it's important to the plot that Jill does hook up with him and they even start to behave like life mates!
We're pretty deep into spoiler territory, but I should mention weak point number two: there's a vampire king who has a sumptuous underground palace very close to the lab, yet they assume he doesn't know what they're doing or that he's their prime target. Out there in the desert, and Matthias the vampire king doesn't know what that nearby secret government installation is all about? Disbelief suspended, because in this complicated plot it turns out that nobody is what they seem. Enough said.
One morning as luck would have it, Jill Conrad, age 28, working as a temp and still wondering what do do with her life, finds herself in a very, very wrong place at a very, very wrong time. Over the next four days (which is the total time span of the book) Jill is going to suffer
kidnappingand each of the items on this list will happen to her more than once! There, you've been warned.
captivity
grievous bodily harm (GBH)
vampire biting and bloodsucking
sexual assault (rape interrupted)
forced injection of dangerous drug
extremely painful drug reaction
forced compliance in lethal mission
face slapping
forced nudity
deliberate psychological terrorizing
deceit
betrayal
For me, the ugliness of Jill's trip through hell is softened by what it brings out in her--she bounces back again and again from the abuse, very often reacting with healthy rage and calling her abusers to account (even if it means more abuse), and some part of her has enough detachment to narrate her story with a touch of sarcastic and sardonic humor. She's clearly a very bright person who does her best to rise to her challenges.
And the story is pretty gripping because Jill's first-person narration keeps us wondering along with her what the hell is going on and what these people are really all about.
These people: first there's a scientist who gets off an elevator where Jill's waiting to board. He's carrying a syringe. Then a big ugly guy pulls a gun and demands the syringe, the scientist refuses, grabs Jill as a human shield, and injects all the serum in the syringe into her neck. The big ugly guy shoots the scientist, grabs Jill, and hauls her over several blocks to his car. He tells her the serum is a secret poison that will kill her and hospitals wouldn't know what to do with it. He says he's taking her to the only person who has a possible antidote--six hours away in the middle of a desert.
So goodbye San Diego and hello Death Valley and a secret government lab where three scientists have been working on methods to destroy vampires. In the lab compound Jill is locked into a room, when she isn't being dragged here and there by force and subjected to brutal experiments. It turns out the serum in her bloodstream really works--captured vampire bites Jill, vampire explodes in flames and turns to ash. Except that the vampire has to suck away at Jill for a while before the serum takes hold, and vampires combine blood lust and sexual lust, groping as they bite and suck. Yuck. (Other rhyming words can be supplied.)
The big ugly guy's name turns out to be Declan, so we know that he is supposed to be the romantic heartthrob. Actually, I recently came across a man named Declan in real life, so I put that up against the countless Declans we meet in romantic fiction. Well, this Declan is one of the most disagreeable, ill-tempered killers you can imagine, full of hate. He's a dhampyr--vampire father, human mother--with a savage backstory. And the serum makes Jill irresistible to vampires and dhampyrs alike.
For me it was a weak point in the story that Jill would suddenly start to lust after Declan. Nothing about her suggests submissive, and we're talking about four days in Jill's life with more trauma than most people get in a lifetime. But it's important to the plot that Jill does hook up with him and they even start to behave like life mates!
We're pretty deep into spoiler territory, but I should mention weak point number two: there's a vampire king who has a sumptuous underground palace very close to the lab, yet they assume he doesn't know what they're doing or that he's their prime target. Out there in the desert, and Matthias the vampire king doesn't know what that nearby secret government installation is all about? Disbelief suspended, because in this complicated plot it turns out that nobody is what they seem. Enough said.
February 8, 2011
My thoughts:
This book just got better and better. First it was ok, then good, and that the end I did not want to let go of the people and the world.
Jillian lives a normal life in a normal world, until the day a freaky professor injects her with poison and then she gets kidnaps by one scary looking guy. She is scared, but she is also tough, and I liked that about her. She had to adjust quickly as she learnt that there are evil vampires out there and she now cos of the serum is poison to them. The government has plans for her.
Then there is Declan, the love interest of course. But he is one cold man, a half-vampire who does what he is told. But even in his bad moods I liked him. And then I liked him some more.
The book kept surprising me too, things are not what they seem to be. And even the Good Guys can do bad things.
The book has a romance building up, ok more lust and friendship at the beginning, but it's changing. There is some action, scary laboratories, and some crazy dhampyrs that would rip your throat off if they could. The book keeps building up this intense feeling and then, oh then it gets good. That is all I can say.
PS. I liked the vampire king, lol. Lips sealed.
Recommendation and final thoughts:
I am getting my genres mixed again, but anyway this is not straight PNR, it's very UF too so let's call it a mix. There is some ass-kicking, and some romance, and it's a book I would recommend. I really wish I had book 2 next to me. I need more. It's a nice new world that will surprise you.
Reason for reading.
Sounded good
Cover:
meh
This book just got better and better. First it was ok, then good, and that the end I did not want to let go of the people and the world.
Jillian lives a normal life in a normal world, until the day a freaky professor injects her with poison and then she gets kidnaps by one scary looking guy. She is scared, but she is also tough, and I liked that about her. She had to adjust quickly as she learnt that there are evil vampires out there and she now cos of the serum is poison to them. The government has plans for her.
Then there is Declan, the love interest of course. But he is one cold man, a half-vampire who does what he is told. But even in his bad moods I liked him. And then I liked him some more.
The book kept surprising me too, things are not what they seem to be. And even the Good Guys can do bad things.
The book has a romance building up, ok more lust and friendship at the beginning, but it's changing. There is some action, scary laboratories, and some crazy dhampyrs that would rip your throat off if they could. The book keeps building up this intense feeling and then, oh then it gets good. That is all I can say.
PS. I liked the vampire king, lol. Lips sealed.
Recommendation and final thoughts:
I am getting my genres mixed again, but anyway this is not straight PNR, it's very UF too so let's call it a mix. There is some ass-kicking, and some romance, and it's a book I would recommend. I really wish I had book 2 next to me. I need more. It's a nice new world that will surprise you.
Reason for reading.
Sounded good
Cover:
meh
June 2, 2015
interesting first book for a new series. Def going to continue it and look forward to read book 2.
February 15, 2015
I really really enjoyed this. I don't read a lot of Adult Paranormal Romance, so I don't have much to compare to genre-wise, but I love the author, so I'm pretty much going to read everything Michelle/Morgan has ever written.
I really really enjoyed this book. It took me a day to read and I was hooked from the beginning. It starts out with explosive action, which for me is always a good thing, but I'm also nervous about openings like that because we're caught up in the action of the beginning there has to be an effective way to build the characters and get a feel for them. I felt a little bit like that in the beginning. The stakes are immediately high in the beginning that I had a hard time feeling sympathy for Jill, simply because I just didn't know her. But that didn't last long because by thirty pages you learn a lot about Jill's character and I really really liked her.
What I liked most about it was that yes, it is Paranormal romance, but there was definitely a bigger plot going on which I enjoyed. Action, love, more action, lots of depth. I can't wait to see how this duology plays out :)
I really really enjoyed this book. It took me a day to read and I was hooked from the beginning. It starts out with explosive action, which for me is always a good thing, but I'm also nervous about openings like that because we're caught up in the action of the beginning there has to be an effective way to build the characters and get a feel for them. I felt a little bit like that in the beginning. The stakes are immediately high in the beginning that I had a hard time feeling sympathy for Jill, simply because I just didn't know her. But that didn't last long because by thirty pages you learn a lot about Jill's character and I really really liked her.
What I liked most about it was that yes, it is Paranormal romance, but there was definitely a bigger plot going on which I enjoyed. Action, love, more action, lots of depth. I can't wait to see how this duology plays out :)
February 4, 2011
3 stars.
This book could have been great as just a paranormal romance or great as just as an urban fantasy but together something went a bit wrong. The story was good but something was missing. Not sure what.
The beginning- great,
The middle- snooze
The end- pretty good
Overall- I'll have to think about this one and come back and edit this review when I have more time. It is one of those books that you liked enough but you didn't know why you weren't "wowed" by it.
This book could have been great as just a paranormal romance or great as just as an urban fantasy but together something went a bit wrong. The story was good but something was missing. Not sure what.
The beginning- great,
The middle- snooze
The end- pretty good
Overall- I'll have to think about this one and come back and edit this review when I have more time. It is one of those books that you liked enough but you didn't know why you weren't "wowed" by it.
March 11, 2015
I could not put it down!!! I loved the story and the characters. I can not wait until the the next book! I'm smelling a crazy love triangle with Declan, Matthias, and Jill! Should be interesting cause I do love all three of them!
March 24, 2011
4.5/5
Jillian sólo quería un café de Starbucks, habría regresado sana y salva a su oficina de no haber sido por las puertas del elevador que se cerraron antes de lo debido, es decir, frente a sus narices.
Momento equivocado, lugar equivocado…
Cuando el elevador se dignó a abrirse de nuevo, un hombre con su bata de laboratorio puesta y una jeringa en las manos se encontraba dentro. Jillian esperó a que el chico se moviera, cosa que no sucedió; en cuestión de minutos un tipo apareció detrás de ellos y venía armado. La única persona en medio, era ella, un rehén al azar.
Declan necesita el suero que está dentro de la jeringa, a él no le importa si la chica es amenazada, tiene un objetivo que cumplir y un humano muerto es lo de menos… o lo era, hasta que el loco científico le inyecta a Jillian el suero que la convierte en un arma contra los vampiros, desde ese momento ella pasa a ser parte importante de su itinerario, así que simplemente se la lleva.
Ni Declan ni Jillian están felices con la idea. Para él, ella es sólo un estorbo. Para ella Declan da miedo, su rostro tiene unos pequeños desperfectos y su falta de sonrisas es extraña. Mientras se dirigen a ver al padre de Declan, un par de vampiros se interpondrán en su camino para recuperar el ansiado suero, y un par de sueros los pondrá en apuros… (es que nadie ha dicho que la vida sea fácil) ahora sólo se tendrán a ellos mismos para salvarse.
Jillian, la narradora de la novela, consiguió sorprenderme; ya les he dicho algunas veces que no me gustan mucho los libros en primera persona porque a veces (como me sucedió con afterlight) no puedo conectar con ellos y me frustra toda la novela, por suerte esto no fue así. Ella es una chica fuerte y decidida, pese a todo lo que tiene que pasar, con su vida dando un giro inesperado, se sobrepone y sigue adelante, enfrentándose a todos los cambios y cosas que le pasan. Siento que como heroína de una serie de Urban Fantasy tiene un potencial enorme y es obvio que voy a estar al pendiente de cómo se desarrolla su personaje en los siguientes libros.
Declan es un medio vampiro, ha sido enseñado desde chico que debe luchar contra los seres de la noche, y su cuerpo tiene más de una marca que prueban el difícil camino que le ha tocado vivir. No es el héroe convencional que estamos acostumbrados a ver y eso consiguió sorprenderme desde las primeras páginas, no puedo decir mucho de él, porque no quiero arruinarles la lectura, sólo diré que espero que la vida sea mas fácil para él conforme avance la historia.
Como no había leído nada de la señora Rowen, iba a ciegas, pero ha sido maravilloso leer este libro, no te abruma con largas descripciones y sus diálogos son muy agiles, lo que consigue un ritmo bastante rápido a la historia.
Nightshade es mas que una bonita portada, es un inicio muy bueno para una serie, donde la traición esta a la orden del día y los vampiros llegan pisando fuerte. Después de ver cómo termina la historia y leer el extracto de Bloodlust (segundo libro de la serie) que viene al final del libro, estoy ansiosa por ver qué otras sorpresas nos dará la serie.
-------------
Jillian just wanted a Starbucks coffee, she would have returned safely to her office had not been for the elevator doors closed before it was due, ie, in front of their noses.
Wrong time, wrong place ...
When the doors opened again, a man who wore his lab coat and carried a syringe in his hands was inside. Jillian waited for the guy to move, which did not happen, in minutes a guy came up behind them and come armed. The only person in the middle, it was she, a hostage random.
Declan needs the serum is in the syringe, he does not care if the girl is threatened, has a goal to fulfill and a dead human is less ... or was, until the mad scientist injects the serum and Jillian that becomes a weapon against the vampires, from that moment she becomes part of their itinerary, so it just takes it.
Or Declan and Jillian are happy with the idea. For him, she is just an annoyance. For her, Declan scary, his face has a few flaws and lack of smiles is strange. As they head to see the father of Declan, a couple of vampires stand in their way to retrieve the desired serum, and a pair of serum, will embarrass ... (is that nobody said life was easy) now only be taken to save themselves.
Jillian, the narrator of the novel, got me surprised, and I said sometimes that I do not really like first-person books because sometimes (as I did with Afterlight) I can not connect to them and frustrates me the whole novel. She is a strong and determined girl, despite everything that has to happen to her life by giving an unexpected turn, overlaps and move on, to face the changes and things that happen. I feel like the heroine of a series of Urban Fantasy has a huge potential and obviously I'll be aware of how their character grown in next books.
Declan is a half vampire, has been taught since childhood that he must fight against creatures of the night, and his body has more of a mark to prove the difficult road he lives. It is not the conventional hero we're used to seeing, and that got surprise from the first pages, I can not say much about it, because I will not ruin the reading, I'll just say that I hope make life easier for him as the story develops.
As he had not read any books of Ms. Rowen, was blind, but it was wonderful to read this book, because not overwhelm you with long descriptions and dialogue are very agile, which gets a fairly rapid rate in story.
Nightshade is more than a pretty cover, is a very good start for a series, where betrayal is the order of the day and vampires come stomping. After seeing how the story ends and read the excerpt from Bloodlust (second book in the series) coming to the end of the book, I'm anxious to see what other surprises will give us the series.
Jillian sólo quería un café de Starbucks, habría regresado sana y salva a su oficina de no haber sido por las puertas del elevador que se cerraron antes de lo debido, es decir, frente a sus narices.
Momento equivocado, lugar equivocado…
Cuando el elevador se dignó a abrirse de nuevo, un hombre con su bata de laboratorio puesta y una jeringa en las manos se encontraba dentro. Jillian esperó a que el chico se moviera, cosa que no sucedió; en cuestión de minutos un tipo apareció detrás de ellos y venía armado. La única persona en medio, era ella, un rehén al azar.
Declan necesita el suero que está dentro de la jeringa, a él no le importa si la chica es amenazada, tiene un objetivo que cumplir y un humano muerto es lo de menos… o lo era, hasta que el loco científico le inyecta a Jillian el suero que la convierte en un arma contra los vampiros, desde ese momento ella pasa a ser parte importante de su itinerario, así que simplemente se la lleva.
Ni Declan ni Jillian están felices con la idea. Para él, ella es sólo un estorbo. Para ella Declan da miedo, su rostro tiene unos pequeños desperfectos y su falta de sonrisas es extraña. Mientras se dirigen a ver al padre de Declan, un par de vampiros se interpondrán en su camino para recuperar el ansiado suero, y un par de sueros los pondrá en apuros… (es que nadie ha dicho que la vida sea fácil) ahora sólo se tendrán a ellos mismos para salvarse.
Jillian, la narradora de la novela, consiguió sorprenderme; ya les he dicho algunas veces que no me gustan mucho los libros en primera persona porque a veces (como me sucedió con afterlight) no puedo conectar con ellos y me frustra toda la novela, por suerte esto no fue así. Ella es una chica fuerte y decidida, pese a todo lo que tiene que pasar, con su vida dando un giro inesperado, se sobrepone y sigue adelante, enfrentándose a todos los cambios y cosas que le pasan. Siento que como heroína de una serie de Urban Fantasy tiene un potencial enorme y es obvio que voy a estar al pendiente de cómo se desarrolla su personaje en los siguientes libros.
Declan es un medio vampiro, ha sido enseñado desde chico que debe luchar contra los seres de la noche, y su cuerpo tiene más de una marca que prueban el difícil camino que le ha tocado vivir. No es el héroe convencional que estamos acostumbrados a ver y eso consiguió sorprenderme desde las primeras páginas, no puedo decir mucho de él, porque no quiero arruinarles la lectura, sólo diré que espero que la vida sea mas fácil para él conforme avance la historia.
Como no había leído nada de la señora Rowen, iba a ciegas, pero ha sido maravilloso leer este libro, no te abruma con largas descripciones y sus diálogos son muy agiles, lo que consigue un ritmo bastante rápido a la historia.
Nightshade es mas que una bonita portada, es un inicio muy bueno para una serie, donde la traición esta a la orden del día y los vampiros llegan pisando fuerte. Después de ver cómo termina la historia y leer el extracto de Bloodlust (segundo libro de la serie) que viene al final del libro, estoy ansiosa por ver qué otras sorpresas nos dará la serie.
-------------
Jillian just wanted a Starbucks coffee, she would have returned safely to her office had not been for the elevator doors closed before it was due, ie, in front of their noses.
Wrong time, wrong place ...
When the doors opened again, a man who wore his lab coat and carried a syringe in his hands was inside. Jillian waited for the guy to move, which did not happen, in minutes a guy came up behind them and come armed. The only person in the middle, it was she, a hostage random.
Declan needs the serum is in the syringe, he does not care if the girl is threatened, has a goal to fulfill and a dead human is less ... or was, until the mad scientist injects the serum and Jillian that becomes a weapon against the vampires, from that moment she becomes part of their itinerary, so it just takes it.
Or Declan and Jillian are happy with the idea. For him, she is just an annoyance. For her, Declan scary, his face has a few flaws and lack of smiles is strange. As they head to see the father of Declan, a couple of vampires stand in their way to retrieve the desired serum, and a pair of serum, will embarrass ... (is that nobody said life was easy) now only be taken to save themselves.
Jillian, the narrator of the novel, got me surprised, and I said sometimes that I do not really like first-person books because sometimes (as I did with Afterlight) I can not connect to them and frustrates me the whole novel. She is a strong and determined girl, despite everything that has to happen to her life by giving an unexpected turn, overlaps and move on, to face the changes and things that happen. I feel like the heroine of a series of Urban Fantasy has a huge potential and obviously I'll be aware of how their character grown in next books.
Declan is a half vampire, has been taught since childhood that he must fight against creatures of the night, and his body has more of a mark to prove the difficult road he lives. It is not the conventional hero we're used to seeing, and that got surprise from the first pages, I can not say much about it, because I will not ruin the reading, I'll just say that I hope make life easier for him as the story develops.
As he had not read any books of Ms. Rowen, was blind, but it was wonderful to read this book, because not overwhelm you with long descriptions and dialogue are very agile, which gets a fairly rapid rate in story.
Nightshade is more than a pretty cover, is a very good start for a series, where betrayal is the order of the day and vampires come stomping. After seeing how the story ends and read the excerpt from Bloodlust (second book in the series) coming to the end of the book, I'm anxious to see what other surprises will give us the series.
February 4, 2011
Quick & Dirty: This compelling, frightening, and well-written urban fantasy will have you begging for the next installment.
Opening Sentence: Life as I knew it ended at half past eleven on a Tuesday morning.
The Review:
Jillian Conrad had a particularly bad day at the office. In the midst of a coffee run, she is caught between a gun wielding, dangerous looking Declan Reyes, and a stark raving mad scientist. The mad scientist injects Jillian with a deadly serum. Greatly displeased by this turn of events, Declan kills the scientist. Declan needed that serum to help destroy the undead kingdom. With no choice left but to flee the scene of the crime, Declan kidnaps Jillian because she now has the serum he needs coursing through her veins. This unlikely pair embarks on a deadly adventure to destroy the vampire king and unbeknownst to them, save each other in the process.
This is the first novel I've read by Ms. Rowen, and I have to say - I'm hooked. I love her writing style, and ability to craft a captivating, fast-paced story. Ms. Rowen succeeds in blending a bit of romance into this unconventional story, making Nightshade an extremely satisfying read.
While some of the treachery and betrayal was predictable, it didn't detract from my enjoyment of the story. Interesting secondary characters add depth to this captivating world. The vampire mythology and worldbuilding are fantastic. Ms. Rowen's take on Dhampyr's is particularly riveting.
Jillian's character surprised me in many ways. She doesn't have any hidden talents or latent powers upon which to rely. Jillian only has her wits and determination to help her survive against a dark and dangerous backdrop where vampires and their enemies rule. Jillian is a strong female character that is forced to adapt quickly to deadly surroundings. She has a tough journey ahead of her, and I'm looking forward to seeing her grow into her role as heroine.
Declan Reyes isn't your conventional urban fantasy heartthrob; handsome beyond all reason with very little physical flaws - yeah not so much. I love his complexity. Declan still manages to be sexy even with his imperfections.
Overall, Nightshade is a thrilling urban fantasy. Pulse-pounding action and strong characters breathe life into the story, and will grab you from page one. Nightshade is a great start to a very promising new urban fantasy series. One taste is all it takes, and I can hardly wait for the second installment, Bloodlust, to hit shelves on July 5, 2011.
Notable Scene:
Terror coursed through me.
But it was only the beginning. After inhaling my scent and sliding his cool, wet tongue over my throat for a few seconds, seconds during which I whimpered and clawed at him and tried to break free, I felt the sharp tips of his fangs press against my skin.
Declan, please...help me...I wasn't sure if I said it aloud or only thought it. Either way, he didn't help. He didn't burst into the room to save me.
And then I felt the pain.
I screamed and kicked as the vampire pierced my skin and sank his fangs deep into my throat. The next moment it felt as if I'd been paralyzed. I couldn't move anymore, couldn't fight against him. But I could still feel everything.
The pain was acute; deep and searing, like twin blades digging into my flesh. Then there was the equally horrible sound of slurping as he began to drink my blood. His hand, which had been stroking between my legs quickly moved to undo the top button of my pants and greedily slip inside.
And I couldn't move. I couldn't beg for him to stop. At that moment, I couldn't even scream.
The Nightshade Series:
1. Nightshade
2. Bloodlust
FTC Advisory: The author provided me with a copy of Nightshade. No goody bags, sponsorships, "material connections," or bribes were exchanged for my review. In addition, I don't receive affiliate fees for anything purchased via links from my site.
Opening Sentence: Life as I knew it ended at half past eleven on a Tuesday morning.
The Review:
Jillian Conrad had a particularly bad day at the office. In the midst of a coffee run, she is caught between a gun wielding, dangerous looking Declan Reyes, and a stark raving mad scientist. The mad scientist injects Jillian with a deadly serum. Greatly displeased by this turn of events, Declan kills the scientist. Declan needed that serum to help destroy the undead kingdom. With no choice left but to flee the scene of the crime, Declan kidnaps Jillian because she now has the serum he needs coursing through her veins. This unlikely pair embarks on a deadly adventure to destroy the vampire king and unbeknownst to them, save each other in the process.
This is the first novel I've read by Ms. Rowen, and I have to say - I'm hooked. I love her writing style, and ability to craft a captivating, fast-paced story. Ms. Rowen succeeds in blending a bit of romance into this unconventional story, making Nightshade an extremely satisfying read.
While some of the treachery and betrayal was predictable, it didn't detract from my enjoyment of the story. Interesting secondary characters add depth to this captivating world. The vampire mythology and worldbuilding are fantastic. Ms. Rowen's take on Dhampyr's is particularly riveting.
Jillian's character surprised me in many ways. She doesn't have any hidden talents or latent powers upon which to rely. Jillian only has her wits and determination to help her survive against a dark and dangerous backdrop where vampires and their enemies rule. Jillian is a strong female character that is forced to adapt quickly to deadly surroundings. She has a tough journey ahead of her, and I'm looking forward to seeing her grow into her role as heroine.
Declan Reyes isn't your conventional urban fantasy heartthrob; handsome beyond all reason with very little physical flaws - yeah not so much. I love his complexity. Declan still manages to be sexy even with his imperfections.
Overall, Nightshade is a thrilling urban fantasy. Pulse-pounding action and strong characters breathe life into the story, and will grab you from page one. Nightshade is a great start to a very promising new urban fantasy series. One taste is all it takes, and I can hardly wait for the second installment, Bloodlust, to hit shelves on July 5, 2011.
Notable Scene:
Terror coursed through me.
But it was only the beginning. After inhaling my scent and sliding his cool, wet tongue over my throat for a few seconds, seconds during which I whimpered and clawed at him and tried to break free, I felt the sharp tips of his fangs press against my skin.
Declan, please...help me...I wasn't sure if I said it aloud or only thought it. Either way, he didn't help. He didn't burst into the room to save me.
And then I felt the pain.
I screamed and kicked as the vampire pierced my skin and sank his fangs deep into my throat. The next moment it felt as if I'd been paralyzed. I couldn't move anymore, couldn't fight against him. But I could still feel everything.
The pain was acute; deep and searing, like twin blades digging into my flesh. Then there was the equally horrible sound of slurping as he began to drink my blood. His hand, which had been stroking between my legs quickly moved to undo the top button of my pants and greedily slip inside.
And I couldn't move. I couldn't beg for him to stop. At that moment, I couldn't even scream.
The Nightshade Series:
1. Nightshade
2. Bloodlust
FTC Advisory: The author provided me with a copy of Nightshade. No goody bags, sponsorships, "material connections," or bribes were exchanged for my review. In addition, I don't receive affiliate fees for anything purchased via links from my site.
February 23, 2011
Read Full Review Here
I bought this book based off a 2 star review from a blog that I really trust. Now, why would SHB buy a book when a trusted source didn’t care for it…..curiosity my friends. The review was written so well I thought, ‘hey’ I kind of what to know what the reviewer is talking about. To me, this is a sign of a good review – either you think ‘hey no way jose’ or hmmm maybe I should give it the ole college try.
Nightshade is Michelle Rowen’s latest release in what I like to call Urban Fantasy/Romance (I’m making this up, but roll with me here). Jillian is having what is supposed to be an average workday, when she is taken hostage in her work building by some crazy mo-fo in a white lab coat. Injected with an unknown formula, Jill is kidnapped by a one-eyed bastard, Declan, who wouldn’t bat an eye by killing her. Declan isn’t a nice guy, he isn’t your typical hero either. Some of you might even check the blurb to see if this is who Jill is supposed to end up with. I’m not sure if my reading self likes assholes or what, but I was immediately drawn into Declan’s mysterious personality.
His lips thinned. “Jillian?”
I nodded eagerly. “Yes.”
“Shut the fuck up, Jillian.”
Jill isn’t your typical heroine, she’s not outgoing, she doesn’t kick ass and wear leather; she is just your average woman. This is kind of refreshing and to me, she didn’t come off as a whiny-I only- need-a-man-to-help-me-type heroine.
As the story progresses Jill finds out that Declan is a damphyre, half vampire, half human. I liked how the author slowly unraveled their relationship – until Jill finds out what Declan’s is she despises him. She even thinks about killing him when they both are attacked and the woman gives Jill a knife to ‘take care’ of her kidnapper.
I liked how gritty Nightshade was. This is no light contemporary romance; there is violence, vampires, and forced seduction. Now, let’s chit-chat about the whole reason SHB bought this book…forced seduction through mind control. I won’t go into details because this is kind of a spoiler, buuuuuuut let’s just say I didn’t mind this scene at all (quick, somebody call Dr. PHhl). Jill doesn’t want to have anything to do with Matthias, actually up until this point he is a known vampire enemy (the King) and is thought to be a rapist. Let’s just say he almost gets’s to home base with her, but pulls away because he wants her willingly. Yes, I think author could have expanded a bit more on Jill’s recovery from this scene instead of jumping back into the action, but, as a whole, I didn’t mind there was a little forced seduction. Hell, I confess I thought that scene was kind of sexy. I could kind of see how the author used this since he ‘might’ become a potential love interest. I’m guessing here folks this isn’t confirmed.
So, what has SHB learned from all this.
SHB is muy curious
A 2 star review isn’t always a bad thing, actually if written well like the one I read it can lead you to actually buy the frigging book
Although Nightshade isn’t a 5 star read, I was interested in where the story was going and I’ll be buying the second book because curiosity causes Smokinhotbooks to buy more books .
Share with SHB have you ever bought a book based on a negative review?
I bought this book based off a 2 star review from a blog that I really trust. Now, why would SHB buy a book when a trusted source didn’t care for it…..curiosity my friends. The review was written so well I thought, ‘hey’ I kind of what to know what the reviewer is talking about. To me, this is a sign of a good review – either you think ‘hey no way jose’ or hmmm maybe I should give it the ole college try.
Nightshade is Michelle Rowen’s latest release in what I like to call Urban Fantasy/Romance (I’m making this up, but roll with me here). Jillian is having what is supposed to be an average workday, when she is taken hostage in her work building by some crazy mo-fo in a white lab coat. Injected with an unknown formula, Jill is kidnapped by a one-eyed bastard, Declan, who wouldn’t bat an eye by killing her. Declan isn’t a nice guy, he isn’t your typical hero either. Some of you might even check the blurb to see if this is who Jill is supposed to end up with. I’m not sure if my reading self likes assholes or what, but I was immediately drawn into Declan’s mysterious personality.
His lips thinned. “Jillian?”
I nodded eagerly. “Yes.”
“Shut the fuck up, Jillian.”
Jill isn’t your typical heroine, she’s not outgoing, she doesn’t kick ass and wear leather; she is just your average woman. This is kind of refreshing and to me, she didn’t come off as a whiny-I only- need-a-man-to-help-me-type heroine.
As the story progresses Jill finds out that Declan is a damphyre, half vampire, half human. I liked how the author slowly unraveled their relationship – until Jill finds out what Declan’s is she despises him. She even thinks about killing him when they both are attacked and the woman gives Jill a knife to ‘take care’ of her kidnapper.
I liked how gritty Nightshade was. This is no light contemporary romance; there is violence, vampires, and forced seduction. Now, let’s chit-chat about the whole reason SHB bought this book…forced seduction through mind control. I won’t go into details because this is kind of a spoiler, buuuuuuut let’s just say I didn’t mind this scene at all (quick, somebody call Dr. PHhl). Jill doesn’t want to have anything to do with Matthias, actually up until this point he is a known vampire enemy (the King) and is thought to be a rapist. Let’s just say he almost gets’s to home base with her, but pulls away because he wants her willingly. Yes, I think author could have expanded a bit more on Jill’s recovery from this scene instead of jumping back into the action, but, as a whole, I didn’t mind there was a little forced seduction. Hell, I confess I thought that scene was kind of sexy. I could kind of see how the author used this since he ‘might’ become a potential love interest. I’m guessing here folks this isn’t confirmed.
So, what has SHB learned from all this.
SHB is muy curious
A 2 star review isn’t always a bad thing, actually if written well like the one I read it can lead you to actually buy the frigging book
Although Nightshade isn’t a 5 star read, I was interested in where the story was going and I’ll be buying the second book because curiosity causes Smokinhotbooks to buy more books .
Share with SHB have you ever bought a book based on a negative review?
June 2, 2011
Declan was this gross looking dude. He only had one eye.(?!) Yuck. I just could't get into the story.
October 28, 2020
Fantastic! Loved this book and the way it hooked me in. I'm so ready for book two now.
March 15, 2011
3.5 Stars
Jillian Conrad, a normal temp worker, went out for a coffee run. On her way back a scientist catches her, holds a syringe to her throat and threatens a scary man who has a gun on them. Fortunately Jillian is not shot, but instead she is shot up with the syringe. The gunman Declan Reyes, a half-vampire and assassin, was sent to get what was in the syringe, but ends up with Jillian instead. The nasty stuff Jillian finds in her system is Nightshade, a powerful weapon against vampires. It makes her blood irresistible and deadly. Declan’s vampire side also finds her irresistible.
I love heroines that are on the average side. I mean this woman is a temp worker who is unsure of what she wants to do with her life. Then one day she is thrown into madness. I love that more than a mercenary or detective. I find it easier to relate to. That having been said Jillian is not the most active heroine, but how she reacts to danger is what I expected. A lot of the book she spends sick, or getting a grip on how over her head everything is. Instead of being put off this helped me relate to her. I like a powerful heroine, but I like to watch them grow to the roll.
Declan on the other hand flip-flops a lot. At the start of the book he cares nothing at all for Jillian and wouldn’t bat an eye at killing her. His change seems impossible, but is pulled off with skill. He has to inject himself with a serum so he doesn’t get vampy crazy. At first I was sharply reminded of Blade, which was fine with me. Then he goes off the magic juice, and I like him, as does Jillian. Once his back story is put into perspective, with the people that surround him, he is not only likeable, but I felt sorry for him. Not just any kind of sorry, but the, ‘Mommy I found a puppy, can we keep him’ kind of way. Jillian, in my opinion, half wants him to protect her (when crazy happens), and half feels emotionally responsible for him. Did I mention he wasn’t that pretty? Most heroes are not only buff but have pretty faces, but not our Declan. Nope, he is covered in scars and gets stares from everyone. Sure under the scars he is rock hard, and fit, not to mention well endowed, but that face isn’t all that pretty. This is another reason I liked him. Eye-patch anyone? I don’t need perfect, in fact I don’t even like perfect characters, and Declan isn’t perfect. It makes for a much more interesting man.
The story itself isn’t bad. In fact it plays the ‘switch’ on its readers. I think many will be surprised by it. I didn’t think it was coy, but gave enough hints early on. Nothing is too good to be true after all. I won’t give anything away, but only say that all the players in this book are dangerous, even our seemingly sweet Jillian packs a punch. The plot does a good job with Jillian pulling the reader along. There is some science talk, thankfully, not a lot, but some. I think some readers might find a lack of moral value in most of the characters. Jillian and Declan have some, and Declan’s is kind of confused, but the rest of the characters are a toss.
I have mentioned a lot of things that I enjoyed about the story, but there are a few I didn’t. Declan and Jillian hit it off so fast that it’s creepy. I understand that Jillian is sick, confused and might die, but some of her emotional responses get tiresome. I am not a fan of hearing worries repeated. I feel like it is a plot device to instill vital information, but by the time it is repeated, I have already bought the plot. Another thing is a part in the story with Declan that bothered me. In a dangerous matter of moments he is told a large bit of information he just accepts. For some reason I found this very against his character considering his back ground. In his position I would have never swallowed a bit of it, but I guess coming out of Jillian’s mouth... In his position I would have thought the vamps mind messed with her, but whatever. This is towards a surprising ending that felt slower in the making than the rest of the story.
There is a hunky scene with Declan, but it is short, and is one of the reasons he seemed to look like a cute puppy to me. The steamy isn’t that strong in this story, but the story itself is still very much worth it. Plus I think the series has a lot of potential to get very good!
Some of my favorite parts of the book included scenes with the vamp king. He was the biggest and most pleasant surprise in the book for me. I can’t say that much about him without giving away details. So I will leave it at that.
All-in-all I liked it. I am glad the next one comes out in the summer and can’t wait to pick it up. This is a series that so far I will happily continue. There are some short comings, but not enough to put me off. Most of the book I finished in one sitting. It was hard for me to put it down.
-Beth (Guest Reviewer0
Jillian Conrad, a normal temp worker, went out for a coffee run. On her way back a scientist catches her, holds a syringe to her throat and threatens a scary man who has a gun on them. Fortunately Jillian is not shot, but instead she is shot up with the syringe. The gunman Declan Reyes, a half-vampire and assassin, was sent to get what was in the syringe, but ends up with Jillian instead. The nasty stuff Jillian finds in her system is Nightshade, a powerful weapon against vampires. It makes her blood irresistible and deadly. Declan’s vampire side also finds her irresistible.
I love heroines that are on the average side. I mean this woman is a temp worker who is unsure of what she wants to do with her life. Then one day she is thrown into madness. I love that more than a mercenary or detective. I find it easier to relate to. That having been said Jillian is not the most active heroine, but how she reacts to danger is what I expected. A lot of the book she spends sick, or getting a grip on how over her head everything is. Instead of being put off this helped me relate to her. I like a powerful heroine, but I like to watch them grow to the roll.
Declan on the other hand flip-flops a lot. At the start of the book he cares nothing at all for Jillian and wouldn’t bat an eye at killing her. His change seems impossible, but is pulled off with skill. He has to inject himself with a serum so he doesn’t get vampy crazy. At first I was sharply reminded of Blade, which was fine with me. Then he goes off the magic juice, and I like him, as does Jillian. Once his back story is put into perspective, with the people that surround him, he is not only likeable, but I felt sorry for him. Not just any kind of sorry, but the, ‘Mommy I found a puppy, can we keep him’ kind of way. Jillian, in my opinion, half wants him to protect her (when crazy happens), and half feels emotionally responsible for him. Did I mention he wasn’t that pretty? Most heroes are not only buff but have pretty faces, but not our Declan. Nope, he is covered in scars and gets stares from everyone. Sure under the scars he is rock hard, and fit, not to mention well endowed, but that face isn’t all that pretty. This is another reason I liked him. Eye-patch anyone? I don’t need perfect, in fact I don’t even like perfect characters, and Declan isn’t perfect. It makes for a much more interesting man.
The story itself isn’t bad. In fact it plays the ‘switch’ on its readers. I think many will be surprised by it. I didn’t think it was coy, but gave enough hints early on. Nothing is too good to be true after all. I won’t give anything away, but only say that all the players in this book are dangerous, even our seemingly sweet Jillian packs a punch. The plot does a good job with Jillian pulling the reader along. There is some science talk, thankfully, not a lot, but some. I think some readers might find a lack of moral value in most of the characters. Jillian and Declan have some, and Declan’s is kind of confused, but the rest of the characters are a toss.
I have mentioned a lot of things that I enjoyed about the story, but there are a few I didn’t. Declan and Jillian hit it off so fast that it’s creepy. I understand that Jillian is sick, confused and might die, but some of her emotional responses get tiresome. I am not a fan of hearing worries repeated. I feel like it is a plot device to instill vital information, but by the time it is repeated, I have already bought the plot. Another thing is a part in the story with Declan that bothered me. In a dangerous matter of moments he is told a large bit of information he just accepts. For some reason I found this very against his character considering his back ground. In his position I would have never swallowed a bit of it, but I guess coming out of Jillian’s mouth... In his position I would have thought the vamps mind messed with her, but whatever. This is towards a surprising ending that felt slower in the making than the rest of the story.
There is a hunky scene with Declan, but it is short, and is one of the reasons he seemed to look like a cute puppy to me. The steamy isn’t that strong in this story, but the story itself is still very much worth it. Plus I think the series has a lot of potential to get very good!
Some of my favorite parts of the book included scenes with the vamp king. He was the biggest and most pleasant surprise in the book for me. I can’t say that much about him without giving away details. So I will leave it at that.
All-in-all I liked it. I am glad the next one comes out in the summer and can’t wait to pick it up. This is a series that so far I will happily continue. There are some short comings, but not enough to put me off. Most of the book I finished in one sitting. It was hard for me to put it down.
-Beth (Guest Reviewer0
July 4, 2011
I'm not going to start off my review with my usual summary of the book. I'm just going to dive right into what I thought about Nightshade.
Jillian is an ordinary woman caught up in extraordinary circumstances. She was injected with poison and kidnapped by a man who looks like he would kill her without hesitation. From this perspective, I can understand why Jillian's attitude was pissy but it didn't make me like her at all. In the beginning, after Declan kidnaps her and they are on the road, her barrage of questions drove me batty. Declan is scarred, wears an eye-patch and shot a man in cold-blood out in public. I would think that after what she had been through in just that little bit of time, Jillian would cool the attitude and shut up. I found her personality annoying and unlikable.
There was nothing that I liked about the first 60% of the book. I liked Declan's character even when he's in his robot state. Declan is a dhampyr and to tamp down his vampire instincts, he injects himself with a serum every 3 hours. With the help of the serum, Declan is an emotional-less killing machine. He doesn't experience blood thirst, desire, anger...nothing. He heals like a vampire but because he's half human, his wounds leaves scars. His body is riddled with evidence of the battles he has fought. Jillian describes him as ugly and during an angry conversation she was having with Declan, she calls him an "ugly bastard." I really did not like her at that point because throughout the book, Declan has been protecting her and making sure she is safe. And this is how she repays him. Because of her stank attitude towards him throughout most of the book, I found their "romance" totally unbelievable and far-fetched.
Nightshade is described as a paranormal romance but I disagree. The "romance" between Declan and Jillian is non-existent. There was no romance build-up between the two. Throughout the first half of the book, Jillian pretty much hated him. Then out of the blue, she wanted him and they have sex. What? This completely threw me and I was tempted to put the book down. It felt like that part of the plot was thrown in so that the book would get the Paranormal Romance label. I wouldn't call this book an Urban Fantasy either because there's no world building whatsoever. I don't know how I would categorize it.
Thankfully, the last 100+ pages of the book were so much better than the first 200 pages. When Jillian was kidnapped and taken to the Vampire King, Matthias, Nightshade got more interesting. The introduction of Matthias and what happened from that point on is what saved the book for me. I'm sure that Matthias isn't the most favorite character because of some of his actions involving Jillian, but I liked reading about more there than just Declan and Jillian. These two alone did not carry the book enough to make it interesting. With the introduction of Matthias, we get interesting plot twists and deceptions that kept me guessing and engaged. Declan and Matthias were the only likable and interesting characters in Nightshade, in my opinion.
I don't know how I feel about Nightshade. I didn't hate it; I didn't love it. I will read the next book, Bloodlust, in hopes that the story gets better and that Jillian will develop more as a character. I have a hard time with it being categorized as a PNR because I don't think it is. A quick romp in the sack does not make it a PNR.
Rating: D+/2.5 stars
Jillian is an ordinary woman caught up in extraordinary circumstances. She was injected with poison and kidnapped by a man who looks like he would kill her without hesitation. From this perspective, I can understand why Jillian's attitude was pissy but it didn't make me like her at all. In the beginning, after Declan kidnaps her and they are on the road, her barrage of questions drove me batty. Declan is scarred, wears an eye-patch and shot a man in cold-blood out in public. I would think that after what she had been through in just that little bit of time, Jillian would cool the attitude and shut up. I found her personality annoying and unlikable.
There was nothing that I liked about the first 60% of the book. I liked Declan's character even when he's in his robot state. Declan is a dhampyr and to tamp down his vampire instincts, he injects himself with a serum every 3 hours. With the help of the serum, Declan is an emotional-less killing machine. He doesn't experience blood thirst, desire, anger...nothing. He heals like a vampire but because he's half human, his wounds leaves scars. His body is riddled with evidence of the battles he has fought. Jillian describes him as ugly and during an angry conversation she was having with Declan, she calls him an "ugly bastard." I really did not like her at that point because throughout the book, Declan has been protecting her and making sure she is safe. And this is how she repays him. Because of her stank attitude towards him throughout most of the book, I found their "romance" totally unbelievable and far-fetched.
Nightshade is described as a paranormal romance but I disagree. The "romance" between Declan and Jillian is non-existent. There was no romance build-up between the two. Throughout the first half of the book, Jillian pretty much hated him. Then out of the blue, she wanted him and they have sex. What? This completely threw me and I was tempted to put the book down. It felt like that part of the plot was thrown in so that the book would get the Paranormal Romance label. I wouldn't call this book an Urban Fantasy either because there's no world building whatsoever. I don't know how I would categorize it.
Thankfully, the last 100+ pages of the book were so much better than the first 200 pages. When Jillian was kidnapped and taken to the Vampire King, Matthias, Nightshade got more interesting. The introduction of Matthias and what happened from that point on is what saved the book for me. I'm sure that Matthias isn't the most favorite character because of some of his actions involving Jillian, but I liked reading about more there than just Declan and Jillian. These two alone did not carry the book enough to make it interesting. With the introduction of Matthias, we get interesting plot twists and deceptions that kept me guessing and engaged. Declan and Matthias were the only likable and interesting characters in Nightshade, in my opinion.
I don't know how I feel about Nightshade. I didn't hate it; I didn't love it. I will read the next book, Bloodlust, in hopes that the story gets better and that Jillian will develop more as a character. I have a hard time with it being categorized as a PNR because I don't think it is. A quick romp in the sack does not make it a PNR.
Rating: D+/2.5 stars
February 6, 2011
Jillian Conrad had no idea that running out for coffee would change her life forever. On the way back up to her office, she is held hostage with a man holding a syringe. During the standoff between this scientist and a gunman, she gets injected with a serum – which turns out to be the last vial of a poison created to kill vampires. Jill is human – but the man holding the gun, that kills the scientist and kidnaps her, is a half-vampire.
Declan Reyes is a dhampyr, and needs that poison (Nightshade) that is now inside Jill. His father and a group of people who have come together to stop rogue vampires wants the formula to kill the king vampire, Matthias. Declan is determined to deliver Jill to his father at any cost. Declan is the group’s assassin, and he has the scars to show it. Wearing an eye patch, with scars covering most of his body, Jill describes him as a “tough bastard.” He takes a serum every three hours that keeps his vampire side at bay, but it also causes him to be an unfeeling soldier.
Jill’s scent now that she has been injected with Nightshade makes vampires go into a frenzy. She becomes more than just a pawn in this vampire war. Betrayals and secrets start to come to the surface, and Declan must come to grips with a new side of himself.
Nightshade is the first book in Michelle Rowen’s new urban fantasy series. This is the first I have read by her and I am super impressed. The world isn’t that unique – vampires are really evil, and Declan and his crew lead the hunt to keep humans safe. What really drives this story is Declan and Jill. Declan is this very quiet, intense killer who has no time for anything else in his life. But he also takes a serum every three hours which keeps emotions out of his life – and his vampire tendencies. But when events happen, and he is unable to get to the serum, all of a sudden he feels. And he lusts. Something he has never done before.
“I don’t want to drink your blood, Jill,” he said, his attention on the road ahead of us again. “ I want to tear off your clothes and bury my cock deep inside of you while you scream my name. There’s a big difference.”
Physically, he is not handsome – but Jill comes to learn that under the scars and eyepatch is a very gentle warrior. He hasn’t been given a lot of choices in his life, and Jill is there to rally for him and she believes that he can have a different path.
Jill herself at first is a little much to take – constantly asking questions but at the same time, her fear and mistrust of Declan makes sense. Once Declan goes off his daily serum, the lust between them builds up and it is very hot. Jill also has a nice sarcastic edge to her that keeps it light even in her darkest times.
So there I was, hurtling down the highway in a stolen pickup truck toward a secret anti-vampire research town with a scarred, dangerous dhampyr on the very edge of his self-control holding my hand, comforting me about a failed suicide attempt once upon a time, and proclaiming that he wanted to screw my poisoned brains out.
It was like a fucking fairy tale.
The pacing is great with lots of action and some nice twists. I really enjoyed Matthias, the vampire king and his eventual role in everything that plays out.
Nightshade is a great start to a new urban fantasy series.
Rating: B+
Declan Reyes is a dhampyr, and needs that poison (Nightshade) that is now inside Jill. His father and a group of people who have come together to stop rogue vampires wants the formula to kill the king vampire, Matthias. Declan is determined to deliver Jill to his father at any cost. Declan is the group’s assassin, and he has the scars to show it. Wearing an eye patch, with scars covering most of his body, Jill describes him as a “tough bastard.” He takes a serum every three hours that keeps his vampire side at bay, but it also causes him to be an unfeeling soldier.
Jill’s scent now that she has been injected with Nightshade makes vampires go into a frenzy. She becomes more than just a pawn in this vampire war. Betrayals and secrets start to come to the surface, and Declan must come to grips with a new side of himself.
Nightshade is the first book in Michelle Rowen’s new urban fantasy series. This is the first I have read by her and I am super impressed. The world isn’t that unique – vampires are really evil, and Declan and his crew lead the hunt to keep humans safe. What really drives this story is Declan and Jill. Declan is this very quiet, intense killer who has no time for anything else in his life. But he also takes a serum every three hours which keeps emotions out of his life – and his vampire tendencies. But when events happen, and he is unable to get to the serum, all of a sudden he feels. And he lusts. Something he has never done before.
“I don’t want to drink your blood, Jill,” he said, his attention on the road ahead of us again. “ I want to tear off your clothes and bury my cock deep inside of you while you scream my name. There’s a big difference.”
Physically, he is not handsome – but Jill comes to learn that under the scars and eyepatch is a very gentle warrior. He hasn’t been given a lot of choices in his life, and Jill is there to rally for him and she believes that he can have a different path.
Jill herself at first is a little much to take – constantly asking questions but at the same time, her fear and mistrust of Declan makes sense. Once Declan goes off his daily serum, the lust between them builds up and it is very hot. Jill also has a nice sarcastic edge to her that keeps it light even in her darkest times.
So there I was, hurtling down the highway in a stolen pickup truck toward a secret anti-vampire research town with a scarred, dangerous dhampyr on the very edge of his self-control holding my hand, comforting me about a failed suicide attempt once upon a time, and proclaiming that he wanted to screw my poisoned brains out.
It was like a fucking fairy tale.
The pacing is great with lots of action and some nice twists. I really enjoyed Matthias, the vampire king and his eventual role in everything that plays out.
Nightshade is a great start to a new urban fantasy series.
Rating: B+
February 2, 2011
Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy
Confession time: I’m a huge fan of Martin Short. I love all those stupid comedies he made in the 80’s including one starring Dennis Quaid and Meg Ryan called Innerspace. In the movie Martin gets accosted by a scientist exiting an elevator (who’s being chased by an assassin) and injected with the contents of top secret experiment after which the assassin shoots the scientist and pursues Martin. Why am I telling you this? Because that’s the exact same opening scene of NIGHSHADE, except instead of a micronized Dennis Quaid, Jillian is injected with a formula that makes her irresistible—and deadly—to vampires.
My hands down favorite thing about NIGHSHADE was the surprising turn (or should I say turns?) that the romance took. The guys in this book do not start out as shiny and drool worthy—they are monsters. Harsh, uncaring, debauched monsters. And I didn’t see them coming. I kept waiting for the ‘real’ love interest to show up and didn’t even notice how the monsters snuck up on me until they were no longer monsters in my eyes. Hats off to Michele Rowen for the skillful turnabout that I bought completely.
I wonder what it says about me that I preferred the monster side of Declan to the more human version. He acted a bit ‘neutered’ for lack of a better word when he was off his vamp-suppressing meds. I also did not get how he went from almost attacking Jillian one minute because he couldn’t control his desires to essentially having to be coerced through every single step of the first sexual encounter with her. She’s supposed to be vampire heroin in every sense of the word and he had to be literally dragged to her bed protesting the whole time. I was expecting/hoping for something more there.
The beginning of NIGHSHADE is excellent, the middle is a bit lackluster, but the ending was strong and nicely set up the future for this series. The good news is you don’t have to wait even another day to read more about Jillian. Her story continues in the anthology PRIMAL that released on February 1st. The next full length Nightshade novel is called BLOODLUST and will be published on July 5, 2011. Off to read PRIMAL.
Sexual Content:
A couple moderately graphic sex scenes. References to rape.
Confession time: I’m a huge fan of Martin Short. I love all those stupid comedies he made in the 80’s including one starring Dennis Quaid and Meg Ryan called Innerspace. In the movie Martin gets accosted by a scientist exiting an elevator (who’s being chased by an assassin) and injected with the contents of top secret experiment after which the assassin shoots the scientist and pursues Martin. Why am I telling you this? Because that’s the exact same opening scene of NIGHSHADE, except instead of a micronized Dennis Quaid, Jillian is injected with a formula that makes her irresistible—and deadly—to vampires.
My hands down favorite thing about NIGHSHADE was the surprising turn (or should I say turns?) that the romance took. The guys in this book do not start out as shiny and drool worthy—they are monsters. Harsh, uncaring, debauched monsters. And I didn’t see them coming. I kept waiting for the ‘real’ love interest to show up and didn’t even notice how the monsters snuck up on me until they were no longer monsters in my eyes. Hats off to Michele Rowen for the skillful turnabout that I bought completely.
I wonder what it says about me that I preferred the monster side of Declan to the more human version. He acted a bit ‘neutered’ for lack of a better word when he was off his vamp-suppressing meds. I also did not get how he went from almost attacking Jillian one minute because he couldn’t control his desires to essentially having to be coerced through every single step of the first sexual encounter with her. She’s supposed to be vampire heroin in every sense of the word and he had to be literally dragged to her bed protesting the whole time. I was expecting/hoping for something more there.
The beginning of NIGHSHADE is excellent, the middle is a bit lackluster, but the ending was strong and nicely set up the future for this series. The good news is you don’t have to wait even another day to read more about Jillian. Her story continues in the anthology PRIMAL that released on February 1st. The next full length Nightshade novel is called BLOODLUST and will be published on July 5, 2011. Off to read PRIMAL.
Sexual Content:
A couple moderately graphic sex scenes. References to rape.
May 2, 2011
I really enjoyed this book, I read it in one day and couldn't put it down until I had finished it. Jillian is a normal office worker out on the office coffee run when she is taken hostage by a mad scientist type and injected with an unknown serum just before he is shot dead by Declan the cold and cruel assassin who then kidnaps Jillian as the only link to the formula of the serum.
I had no idea at the start that Declan would turn out to be the hero, I was convinced he was the bad guy as he was so cold and scary, covered in scars and wore an eye patch he's not described initially as hero material. We find out that Declan is half vampire half human and has to take a serum of his own every three hours to repress his vamp "urges".
Jillian is a great character, she remains a normal office girl, terrified and out of her depth in the situation she finds herself in. She doesn't develop any super powers or muscles as a result of the serum which I found kind of refreshing. The serum does however have one main effect, it makes her a kind of weapon of mass destruction in the war against vampires. You see, the vamps are instantly attracted to her scent and can't resist drinking her blood, however when they do the vamps immediately breathe fire and then spontaneously combust. Which I found quite cool. Basically, the vamps want her dead sharpish and the mad scientists want to use her to kill off the head vamp Matthias.
Matthias the bad guy (or is he????) comes into the book towards the end which I thought was a shame as he was a great character. The ending is fast paced and exciting, and is left wide open for the next installment "Bloodlust" which should be out in July.
Overall I would give Nightshade 4 stars it had everything in it- evil mad scientists, a down to earth heroine, a cold and harsh hero who turns out to be rather hot when he is off the serum (and has a nice side- he loves his one eyed cat), a hint of a vampire secret society and loads of action. The romance between Jillian and Declan builds up nicely although its not all smooth sailing between them. I definitely want to read the sequel in July. Keeper shelf? Yes.
I had no idea at the start that Declan would turn out to be the hero, I was convinced he was the bad guy as he was so cold and scary, covered in scars and wore an eye patch he's not described initially as hero material. We find out that Declan is half vampire half human and has to take a serum of his own every three hours to repress his vamp "urges".
Jillian is a great character, she remains a normal office girl, terrified and out of her depth in the situation she finds herself in. She doesn't develop any super powers or muscles as a result of the serum which I found kind of refreshing. The serum does however have one main effect, it makes her a kind of weapon of mass destruction in the war against vampires. You see, the vamps are instantly attracted to her scent and can't resist drinking her blood, however when they do the vamps immediately breathe fire and then spontaneously combust. Which I found quite cool. Basically, the vamps want her dead sharpish and the mad scientists want to use her to kill off the head vamp Matthias.
Matthias the bad guy (or is he????) comes into the book towards the end which I thought was a shame as he was a great character. The ending is fast paced and exciting, and is left wide open for the next installment "Bloodlust" which should be out in July.
Overall I would give Nightshade 4 stars it had everything in it- evil mad scientists, a down to earth heroine, a cold and harsh hero who turns out to be rather hot when he is off the serum (and has a nice side- he loves his one eyed cat), a hint of a vampire secret society and loads of action. The romance between Jillian and Declan builds up nicely although its not all smooth sailing between them. I definitely want to read the sequel in July. Keeper shelf? Yes.
May 17, 2018
I really loved this book. I felt like it was a different concept for a vampire book. Maybe it was all the talk of serum and injections since I work in a lab and test that stuff lol. However, there were some really frustrating parts where we would almost get answers but the person doing the telling would stop talking and refuse to say any more. I really hate it when that happens. But there was so much action, especially at the end, that I gave it 4 stars. I listened to the audiobook. I didn’t much care for the narrator. While she has a great story telling voice and you can feel the characters’ emotions, she has a lot of trouble switching from one to another so you can’t really tell who’s talking. It’s like she catches herself after the first sentence then does it properly. I feel like after practicing, she will be superb at it. She really does a great male voice, which I think is a great quality in a female narrator.
January 8, 2019
This one was good, 'fluffy' fun. I enjoyed it very much.
Good points:
Characterization: I liked the main character, Jillian, who did her best to fight against the difficult circumstances she found herself in. For instance, when it came down to it she did put the well being of others ahead of her own, which was admirable. I thought her reaction to the situation she finds herself in in this book as a result of pure accident (i.e. she is a temp in an office and steps out for a coffee break, when she is taken hostage by a man who injects her with a mysterious substance) was realistic as well, because no one would react very well to what happens to her. (She is kidnapped, discovers that vampires exist and a vampire apocalypse may be at hand, and has to accept a whole new reality.) Despite this and despite her general lack of agency, she does what she can to carve out her own place in all of this and does not simply accept what she is told.
Declan (i.e. another central character) was also generally well drawn as a character, in that he was a character who did unethical things, but it was easy to see that he had been brainwashed into believing what he was doing was necessary. For instance, much was made of a substance he was being injected with, which would reportedly mute his emotions, so while he still knew right from wrong it probably did make it easier to manipulate him (i.e. because he maybe wouldn't fight as hard against something he perceived as being fundamentally wrong). An important element of the story was his origins, as well as the fact that he was raised by people who told him lies to use him to their own ends.
Other characters were generally pretty well drawn as well, including Matthias, the vampire king (not a good guy, but still an interesting character and definitely not one note evil). For instance, he seemed to at least be capable of understanding that 'glamouring' a woman into having sex with him was rape, which doesn't make him a prince among men by any means, but made it easier to accept that he wasn't quite as evil as he had initially been made out to be (i.e. he had initially been portrayed as a rapist, among other things).
Other characters such as Noah, a research assistant who befriends Jillian, was also pretty well drawn and not overly simplistic character: he is shown to have problems with some of the things he is asked to do to fight vampires (e.g. performing experiments on unwilling human victims). For this reason he does help out the main characters (i.e. Jillian and Declan).
World building: In general, the world building wasn't very different from the usual vampire stories and legends, but I don't think this was a problem in general for this book. It was interesting and generally well done, with vampires' general existence being a secret from most of humanity, save a few involved in a secret government program.
The author, IMO, did a good job of showing glimpses of a complex underground society ruled by vampires (i.e. this was apparently the reason humans didn't know vampires existed: they had always lived below ground to avoid the sun's light). There appeared to be a definite hierarchy in this underground world: vampires and blood servants (i.e. humans who chose to serve vampires) were ruled over by older vampires. The important parts of the hierarchy were emphasized, namely that there was an ongoing war between factions supporting two different candidates for vampire king.
Several elements and questions were left open or unanswered: this was notably the case for the issue of why certain dhampyr offspring of vampires (i.e. human women could have babies fathered by vampires) were closer to human while others were violent monsters. (I'm hoping this will be addressed in the sequel.)
Much more time was spent on delineating the group involved in fighting vampires: we got to meet their apparent leaders, including a man named Carson and a scientist named Dr. Gray. What was shown to be the case from the beginning was the fanatical nature of their efforts, and we were introduced to this throughout the book (i.e. through various unethical actions of members of this group -I'm trying not to spoil the book here).
So as you can see, the world building was perhaps a bit summarily done, but was still interesting!
Plot: Much of the plot consisted of the main character/Jillian trying to survive what happens to her. Despite this, some important answers to WHY things happened were provided in the book such that it didn't feel like half a book (see here for an example and discussion of this infuriating trend in the publishing world, written by yours truly).
So all in all, the plot was not badly executed as well.
Bad points/constructive criticism:
Characterization: In general I liked the characters, so I don't have anything negative so say here!
World building: This was perhaps the only (slight) weakness in this book. The world building was not badly done, but there were several aspects of the world building which were left open/not explained by the end of the book and which I hope will be so in the sequel.
I'm not saying everything has to be explained in the first book, BTW, but I do think things need to be explained at some point in the series! (I will update this review once I read the sequel...)
Plot: This moved along at quite a fast pace, which can be a problem in some books (i.e. if not enough time is spent on exposition). This wasn't a problem in this book IMO, because revelations and exposition did take place at various points throughout the book. Also there were parts of the book where the main character took the time to ponder what was happening to her (as well as what she had been told) such that the book included the refreshing feature of a heroine who was (1) not an idiot and (2) capable of thinking for herself and making up her own mind.
All in all, I really enjoyed this one! (Again, please note that I may update this review after reading the sequel, because I've been disappointed by other series...)
----------------
Other urban fantasy novels I would recommend:
(1) This Case if Gonna Kill Me, by Phillipa Bornikova.
(2) Generation V, by M.L. Brennan.
(3) Nice Dragons Finish Last, by Rachel Aaron.
(4) The Immortal Rules, by Julie Kagawa. (NB: Please note that the final book proved that the science behind this series is, unfortunately, crap. I really liked the series up until that point, so this was unfortunate. Also, the science in question dealt with the actual cause of the apocalypse they had all lived through so... yeah. It was a major plot point in the arc of the series and rather jarring that the author got this so wrong -because I have difficulty accepting the notion that a non airborne (i.e. spread by being bitten) virus could spread more quickly than an airborne virus without any kind of credible explanation as to why.)
(5) Blackbirds, by Chuck Wendig.
(6) Wide Open, by Deborah Coates.
(7) Dragon Bound, by Thea Harrison.
(8) Unholy Ghosts, by Stacia Kane.
(9) Written in Red, by Anne Bishop. (For a neat dark fantasy read, make sure to check out this author's Black Jewels series, also.)
Good points:
Characterization: I liked the main character, Jillian, who did her best to fight against the difficult circumstances she found herself in. For instance, when it came down to it she did put the well being of others ahead of her own, which was admirable. I thought her reaction to the situation she finds herself in in this book as a result of pure accident (i.e. she is a temp in an office and steps out for a coffee break, when she is taken hostage by a man who injects her with a mysterious substance) was realistic as well, because no one would react very well to what happens to her. (She is kidnapped, discovers that vampires exist and a vampire apocalypse may be at hand, and has to accept a whole new reality.) Despite this and despite her general lack of agency, she does what she can to carve out her own place in all of this and does not simply accept what she is told.
Declan (i.e. another central character) was also generally well drawn as a character, in that he was a character who did unethical things, but it was easy to see that he had been brainwashed into believing what he was doing was necessary. For instance, much was made of a substance he was being injected with, which would reportedly mute his emotions, so while he still knew right from wrong it probably did make it easier to manipulate him (i.e. because he maybe wouldn't fight as hard against something he perceived as being fundamentally wrong). An important element of the story was his origins, as well as the fact that he was raised by people who told him lies to use him to their own ends.
Other characters were generally pretty well drawn as well, including Matthias, the vampire king (not a good guy, but still an interesting character and definitely not one note evil). For instance, he seemed to at least be capable of understanding that 'glamouring' a woman into having sex with him was rape, which doesn't make him a prince among men by any means, but made it easier to accept that he wasn't quite as evil as he had initially been made out to be (i.e. he had initially been portrayed as a rapist, among other things).
Other characters such as Noah, a research assistant who befriends Jillian, was also pretty well drawn and not overly simplistic character: he is shown to have problems with some of the things he is asked to do to fight vampires (e.g. performing experiments on unwilling human victims). For this reason he does help out the main characters (i.e. Jillian and Declan).
World building: In general, the world building wasn't very different from the usual vampire stories and legends, but I don't think this was a problem in general for this book. It was interesting and generally well done, with vampires' general existence being a secret from most of humanity, save a few involved in a secret government program.
The author, IMO, did a good job of showing glimpses of a complex underground society ruled by vampires (i.e. this was apparently the reason humans didn't know vampires existed: they had always lived below ground to avoid the sun's light). There appeared to be a definite hierarchy in this underground world: vampires and blood servants (i.e. humans who chose to serve vampires) were ruled over by older vampires. The important parts of the hierarchy were emphasized, namely that there was an ongoing war between factions supporting two different candidates for vampire king.
Several elements and questions were left open or unanswered: this was notably the case for the issue of why certain dhampyr offspring of vampires (i.e. human women could have babies fathered by vampires) were closer to human while others were violent monsters. (I'm hoping this will be addressed in the sequel.)
Much more time was spent on delineating the group involved in fighting vampires: we got to meet their apparent leaders, including a man named Carson and a scientist named Dr. Gray. What was shown to be the case from the beginning was the fanatical nature of their efforts, and we were introduced to this throughout the book (i.e. through various unethical actions of members of this group -I'm trying not to spoil the book here).
So as you can see, the world building was perhaps a bit summarily done, but was still interesting!
Plot: Much of the plot consisted of the main character/Jillian trying to survive what happens to her. Despite this, some important answers to WHY things happened were provided in the book such that it didn't feel like half a book (see here for an example and discussion of this infuriating trend in the publishing world, written by yours truly).
So all in all, the plot was not badly executed as well.
Bad points/constructive criticism:
Characterization: In general I liked the characters, so I don't have anything negative so say here!
World building: This was perhaps the only (slight) weakness in this book. The world building was not badly done, but there were several aspects of the world building which were left open/not explained by the end of the book and which I hope will be so in the sequel.
I'm not saying everything has to be explained in the first book, BTW, but I do think things need to be explained at some point in the series! (I will update this review once I read the sequel...)
Plot: This moved along at quite a fast pace, which can be a problem in some books (i.e. if not enough time is spent on exposition). This wasn't a problem in this book IMO, because revelations and exposition did take place at various points throughout the book. Also there were parts of the book where the main character took the time to ponder what was happening to her (as well as what she had been told) such that the book included the refreshing feature of a heroine who was (1) not an idiot and (2) capable of thinking for herself and making up her own mind.
All in all, I really enjoyed this one! (Again, please note that I may update this review after reading the sequel, because I've been disappointed by other series...)
----------------
Other urban fantasy novels I would recommend:
(1) This Case if Gonna Kill Me, by Phillipa Bornikova.
(2) Generation V, by M.L. Brennan.
(3) Nice Dragons Finish Last, by Rachel Aaron.
(4) The Immortal Rules, by Julie Kagawa. (NB: Please note that the final book proved that the science behind this series is, unfortunately, crap. I really liked the series up until that point, so this was unfortunate. Also, the science in question dealt with the actual cause of the apocalypse they had all lived through so... yeah. It was a major plot point in the arc of the series and rather jarring that the author got this so wrong -because I have difficulty accepting the notion that a non airborne (i.e. spread by being bitten) virus could spread more quickly than an airborne virus without any kind of credible explanation as to why.)
(5) Blackbirds, by Chuck Wendig.
(6) Wide Open, by Deborah Coates.
(7) Dragon Bound, by Thea Harrison.
(8) Unholy Ghosts, by Stacia Kane.
(9) Written in Red, by Anne Bishop. (For a neat dark fantasy read, make sure to check out this author's Black Jewels series, also.)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 6, 2012
Mon avis en Français
My English review
Je ne connaissais Michelle Rowen que par sa série Sarah Dearly mais c’est vrai que ce roman est complètement différent de ce que j’ai pu lire d’elle. Il ne faut pas s’attendre à quelque chose tourné vers la chick-lit mais plutôt tourné vers la fantaisie urbaine. Et quel plaisir, l’auteur sait jouer des deux genres sans aucun problème.
Jillian est une jeune femme qui n’a rien demandé à personne et pourtant sa vie va être complètement chamboulée en deux secondes…. Le temps qu’un scientifique la prenne en otage en sortant d’un ascenseur pour lui injecter un produit qui semble intéresser pas mal de personnes mais qui la rend surtout très malade. Elle va tout de suite être emportée dans un monde où les vampires sont monnaie courante et où elle pourrait avoir une place prépondérante à présent. Emmenée dans un endroit secret, kidnappée par un tueur au sang-froid nommé Declan, elle va devoir faire face à une toute nouvelle perspective. Mais tout commence maintenant, et il n’existe aucun retour en arrière. Il se pourrait bien que ce produit qu’on lui a injecté ne la change à tout jamais.
J’ai vraiment beaucoup apprécié ce roman, c’était une réelle surprise. Jillian est une jeune femme que l’on apprend à connaitre tout au long du volume et même si elle est terrifiée par tout ce qu’il se passe, elle reste courageuse en toute circonstance. Elle m’a fait beaucoup sourire au début du roman à vouloir ses réponses et à ne poser que des questions tout au long de son voyage. J’ai pu tout à fait me mettre à sa place et me voir faire la même chose. C’est le genre de chose que je pourrais faire sans problème. J’ai été d’ailleurs très impressionnée par le self contrôle de Declan dans ces moments-là. Oui parce que c’est sûr qu’il faut en avoir ! Mais quoi qu’il se passe, qu’on la kidnappe, qu’on lui fasse peur, qu’on la maltraite, notre jeune héroïne essaie toujours de s’en sortir par n’importe quel moyen. Puis tout y passe ! Declan est aussi un personnage qui m’a tout de suite intrigué. On essaie de savoir ce qu’il a et de comprendre comment il peut supporter cette vie si solitaire. On ne l’aime pas au départ, voire on le déteste mais notre cœur s’attendrit dès qu’on comprend qui il est vraiment et ce qui le pousse à être ce qu’il est.
C’était un très bon roman, et je suis assez triste qu’il n’en existe que deux. Je suis cependant curieuse de pouvoir lire la suite, pour voir ce qu’il adviendra de nos héros car je sens que ça ne sera vraiment pas simple pour eux. On apprend énormément d’informations dans ce premier tome et j’ai hâte d’en découvrir plus.
My English review
Je ne connaissais Michelle Rowen que par sa série Sarah Dearly mais c’est vrai que ce roman est complètement différent de ce que j’ai pu lire d’elle. Il ne faut pas s’attendre à quelque chose tourné vers la chick-lit mais plutôt tourné vers la fantaisie urbaine. Et quel plaisir, l’auteur sait jouer des deux genres sans aucun problème.
Jillian est une jeune femme qui n’a rien demandé à personne et pourtant sa vie va être complètement chamboulée en deux secondes…. Le temps qu’un scientifique la prenne en otage en sortant d’un ascenseur pour lui injecter un produit qui semble intéresser pas mal de personnes mais qui la rend surtout très malade. Elle va tout de suite être emportée dans un monde où les vampires sont monnaie courante et où elle pourrait avoir une place prépondérante à présent. Emmenée dans un endroit secret, kidnappée par un tueur au sang-froid nommé Declan, elle va devoir faire face à une toute nouvelle perspective. Mais tout commence maintenant, et il n’existe aucun retour en arrière. Il se pourrait bien que ce produit qu’on lui a injecté ne la change à tout jamais.
J’ai vraiment beaucoup apprécié ce roman, c’était une réelle surprise. Jillian est une jeune femme que l’on apprend à connaitre tout au long du volume et même si elle est terrifiée par tout ce qu’il se passe, elle reste courageuse en toute circonstance. Elle m’a fait beaucoup sourire au début du roman à vouloir ses réponses et à ne poser que des questions tout au long de son voyage. J’ai pu tout à fait me mettre à sa place et me voir faire la même chose. C’est le genre de chose que je pourrais faire sans problème. J’ai été d’ailleurs très impressionnée par le self contrôle de Declan dans ces moments-là. Oui parce que c’est sûr qu’il faut en avoir ! Mais quoi qu’il se passe, qu’on la kidnappe, qu’on lui fasse peur, qu’on la maltraite, notre jeune héroïne essaie toujours de s’en sortir par n’importe quel moyen. Puis tout y passe ! Declan est aussi un personnage qui m’a tout de suite intrigué. On essaie de savoir ce qu’il a et de comprendre comment il peut supporter cette vie si solitaire. On ne l’aime pas au départ, voire on le déteste mais notre cœur s’attendrit dès qu’on comprend qui il est vraiment et ce qui le pousse à être ce qu’il est.
C’était un très bon roman, et je suis assez triste qu’il n’en existe que deux. Je suis cependant curieuse de pouvoir lire la suite, pour voir ce qu’il adviendra de nos héros car je sens que ça ne sera vraiment pas simple pour eux. On apprend énormément d’informations dans ce premier tome et j’ai hâte d’en découvrir plus.
March 2, 2011
Originally Posted at http://thespinecracker.blogspot.com/
I'm still shocked at where Nightshade took me. It was much more than other PNRs I've read. There's still a guy, a girl, and several complications with a little steamy mixed in, but the surprising plot transformed this PNR into something much more unexpected..... and I liked it!
Rowen starts in with the action from basically page 1, creating a near-perfect pacing. Readers will find it almost impossible to stop until you have all the answers. *whispers* I read the entire book in about 4 hours. So, I'd have to say that the story-line is the homerun of the book. I was so sure I knew exactly where everything was headed {being the know-it-all that I am} and I'm happy to report I was severely wrong. There were a couple of times where I literally said, "No she deeant". Since the book is all plot, it's hard for me to elaborate more than the basic synopsis, but trust me readers, you'll be floored by all the developments, and then become desperate like me for the next book.
Declan pretty much kidnaps Jillian in the beginning of the book, so there's absolutely no way you're ever going to have soft feelings for the guy, right? Wrong. As Jillian {and the readers} spend more time with him, and watch as his hard shell starts to crack, you wont be able to help yourself from falling for him. He's so tortured and vulnerable underneath his soldier's physique. And his lifetime of heartbreak and betrayal only fuel your empathy. It's difficult to discuss his transformation, because it has a lot to do with the plot, but he's definitely the unlikely hero, and trust me it works.
Jillian on the other hand was a slightly less solid character for me. She's tough, sure, but seems to go along with things a little too easily in my opinion. Now, it doesn't ruin anything here, and I do believe that her weak character is meant to speak to the damage that she has, but there was something I couldn't quite put my finger on that left me slightly detached from her. By the end of the book Jillian has transformed a lot, and we get a bigger glimpse at who she really is. So, I'm pretty sure that the rest of the series will highlight her more, and I'm ready for it.
The world that Rowen showcases was interesting and worth your time. It goes beyond traditional vampire lore and includes government cover-ups, which I always find intriguing. I mean, how much do you think goes on in a government really?! It made for a believable escape from reality, one that I wish to return to very soon.
Bottom Line: A fantastic start to a new series. Entertainment galore.
I'm still shocked at where Nightshade took me. It was much more than other PNRs I've read. There's still a guy, a girl, and several complications with a little steamy mixed in, but the surprising plot transformed this PNR into something much more unexpected..... and I liked it!
Rowen starts in with the action from basically page 1, creating a near-perfect pacing. Readers will find it almost impossible to stop until you have all the answers. *whispers* I read the entire book in about 4 hours. So, I'd have to say that the story-line is the homerun of the book. I was so sure I knew exactly where everything was headed {being the know-it-all that I am} and I'm happy to report I was severely wrong. There were a couple of times where I literally said, "No she deeant". Since the book is all plot, it's hard for me to elaborate more than the basic synopsis, but trust me readers, you'll be floored by all the developments, and then become desperate like me for the next book.
Declan pretty much kidnaps Jillian in the beginning of the book, so there's absolutely no way you're ever going to have soft feelings for the guy, right? Wrong. As Jillian {and the readers} spend more time with him, and watch as his hard shell starts to crack, you wont be able to help yourself from falling for him. He's so tortured and vulnerable underneath his soldier's physique. And his lifetime of heartbreak and betrayal only fuel your empathy. It's difficult to discuss his transformation, because it has a lot to do with the plot, but he's definitely the unlikely hero, and trust me it works.
Jillian on the other hand was a slightly less solid character for me. She's tough, sure, but seems to go along with things a little too easily in my opinion. Now, it doesn't ruin anything here, and I do believe that her weak character is meant to speak to the damage that she has, but there was something I couldn't quite put my finger on that left me slightly detached from her. By the end of the book Jillian has transformed a lot, and we get a bigger glimpse at who she really is. So, I'm pretty sure that the rest of the series will highlight her more, and I'm ready for it.
The world that Rowen showcases was interesting and worth your time. It goes beyond traditional vampire lore and includes government cover-ups, which I always find intriguing. I mean, how much do you think goes on in a government really?! It made for a believable escape from reality, one that I wish to return to very soon.
Bottom Line: A fantastic start to a new series. Entertainment galore.
May 7, 2011
I rated Nightshade 4 of 5 stars. This book begins with a normal girl with a normal life as a temp in an office in San Diego. Suddenly, Jill’s life is drastically changed. Jill, caught between a scientist and a killer, is injected with poison and subsequently kidnapped by said killer. Jill realizes that the stone-cold killer is her best option for getting rid of the poison, and discovers that there is more to the world than she ever knew. Vampires exist, and her stone-cold killer, Declan, is half vampire. As time passes, Jill begins to understand and feel for Declan, and when he isn’t in stone-cold killer mode, Declan can be magnetizing, protective, and attractive. Because of the poison in Jill’s veins, Jill becomes essential to both vampires and those who would kill the vampires. She is right in the middle of the fight, and much is expected of her. However, as Jill discovers, things are not always as they seem. Sometimes the ones who are supposed to be good are really bad, and those who are bad are really not so bad.
Nightshade offered it’s own take on the vampire story. Jill is a normal girl, in a normal world, with a normal life. She has no special training or skills, so she is very easy to relate to. There are times when it felt as though she was a bit gullible or naive, believing whatever was told to her. However, she seemed to deal with situations pretty well, and adjusted accordingly. I came to like her character, and I’m quite curious to see what happens to her.
As for Declan, well, I have to admit that I feel sorry for the guy. He was trained and raised to deny his baser instincts as well as emotions. He lives to kill, and to be scarred, until Jill comes along and challenges his way of thinking and his entire life.
I thought the vampires in Nightshade were quite interesting, from the monstrous dhampirs to the bloody vampire politics. I really like the vampire king, Matthias. He is not what I expected, and I believe he will continue on in the series.
Nightshade is one of the books that blends urban fantasy and paranormal romance, and blends it well. There is chemistry between Jill and Declan, and at times Matthias. Nightshade captured my interest and offered up intriguing characters, I am anxiously awaiting book 2, Bloodlust.
View this review and more at my blog: http://booksavvybabe.blogspot.com
Nightshade offered it’s own take on the vampire story. Jill is a normal girl, in a normal world, with a normal life. She has no special training or skills, so she is very easy to relate to. There are times when it felt as though she was a bit gullible or naive, believing whatever was told to her. However, she seemed to deal with situations pretty well, and adjusted accordingly. I came to like her character, and I’m quite curious to see what happens to her.
As for Declan, well, I have to admit that I feel sorry for the guy. He was trained and raised to deny his baser instincts as well as emotions. He lives to kill, and to be scarred, until Jill comes along and challenges his way of thinking and his entire life.
I thought the vampires in Nightshade were quite interesting, from the monstrous dhampirs to the bloody vampire politics. I really like the vampire king, Matthias. He is not what I expected, and I believe he will continue on in the series.
Nightshade is one of the books that blends urban fantasy and paranormal romance, and blends it well. There is chemistry between Jill and Declan, and at times Matthias. Nightshade captured my interest and offered up intriguing characters, I am anxiously awaiting book 2, Bloodlust.
View this review and more at my blog: http://booksavvybabe.blogspot.com
July 23, 2011
I have always been a big fan of author Michelle Rowen! I loved her feisty and fun Demon Princess series, but I also fell in love with her Immortality Bites series that was full of romance and quirky humor. When I noticed she was starting a new and darker series, I jumped on the fan band wagon and purchased a copy to read! The author did not disappoint even if the series is darker than her other books.
Jillian finds herself held captive during a stand off between Declan -- a vampire assassin -- and a scientist. When the scientist injects a poison called Nightshade into her neck, she doesn't realize she is now a pawn in a vampire war. Declan is not only a vampire assassin, but he is also half vampire himself. He takes a serum to keep his vampire side suppressed but it also makes him a cold robot of a man. When he takes Jillian with him to his compound, he realizes that her blood is different and she has an addictive scent to her now. The Nightshade that is poisoning her system is the ultimate weapon to destroy vampire's. They can't resist her blood, but it kills them within minutes of drinking it. Together, they have to find a way to cure Jillian of the poison, but they also have to fight their growing attraction.
I loved Declan and Jillian. She was strong and determined, but she also had a soft side. She didn't fall fast for Declan as most heroines of a book do. She couldn't stand him for a bit. Declan is horribly scarred and cold. He is not your typical and gorgeous hero. He has flaws, but ones that make him into the hero we want. He protects Jillian with everything he can and his only fault is trusting the wrong people. When they confront the King of the Vampires, I thought there was going to be a huge show down. What you get is not what you expect though. The author pulls the rug out from underneath you and leaves you not knowing who is the bad guy, the good guy, or who to cheer for! I loved the way it ended even if there were some tears in my eyes. It leaves you craving the next book in the series so we can see what will happen next, but it also leaves the reader satisfied at the conclusion of the book.
Another great series to add to my obsession with this authors writing! I can't wait until I get my hands on the next book in the series!
Jillian finds herself held captive during a stand off between Declan -- a vampire assassin -- and a scientist. When the scientist injects a poison called Nightshade into her neck, she doesn't realize she is now a pawn in a vampire war. Declan is not only a vampire assassin, but he is also half vampire himself. He takes a serum to keep his vampire side suppressed but it also makes him a cold robot of a man. When he takes Jillian with him to his compound, he realizes that her blood is different and she has an addictive scent to her now. The Nightshade that is poisoning her system is the ultimate weapon to destroy vampire's. They can't resist her blood, but it kills them within minutes of drinking it. Together, they have to find a way to cure Jillian of the poison, but they also have to fight their growing attraction.
I loved Declan and Jillian. She was strong and determined, but she also had a soft side. She didn't fall fast for Declan as most heroines of a book do. She couldn't stand him for a bit. Declan is horribly scarred and cold. He is not your typical and gorgeous hero. He has flaws, but ones that make him into the hero we want. He protects Jillian with everything he can and his only fault is trusting the wrong people. When they confront the King of the Vampires, I thought there was going to be a huge show down. What you get is not what you expect though. The author pulls the rug out from underneath you and leaves you not knowing who is the bad guy, the good guy, or who to cheer for! I loved the way it ended even if there were some tears in my eyes. It leaves you craving the next book in the series so we can see what will happen next, but it also leaves the reader satisfied at the conclusion of the book.
Another great series to add to my obsession with this authors writing! I can't wait until I get my hands on the next book in the series!
January 26, 2011
Nightshade by Michelle Rowen
Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy -Feb. 1st, 2011
4 ½ stars
Nightshade is a spellbinding Urban Fantasy that drew me in and never let me go. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it and am eager to read the next installment.
Jillian Conrad was bringing coffee to work when the elevator she was waiting for opens up to reveal a crazed scientist and a threatening gunman who wants a ‘formula.’ The scientist grabs Jill as his hostage and when the gunman threatens the scientist for the formula, the scientist instead injects the only remaining prototype into Jilian’s bloodstream and is immediately shot dead. Jillian becomes ill from the shot and the gunman, named Declan, grabs her before she can recover. He informs her that she has been poisoned and the only way to find an antidote is to come with him. Despite her pleas, he drags her with him.
Soon they are followed by minions of vampires. But Jillian doesn’t believe in vampires or that Declan is half-vampire, half- human. That is until he is wounded and she sees the effect light has on him and his super healing abilities. Afraid and not knowing who to trust, she follows and helps Declan. In the process, she discovers a man who is much more than he appears. But will any relationship between them have a chance when she may be dying?
I loved this story. Declan is taking a drug to hold back his vampire half because he is afraid he may hurt someone with his violent vampire side. It makes him cold and unemotional, the perfect killing machine. Declan works for people who hate vampires and has learned that his vampire half is evil. But when he is off his meds, he becomes a different person, one with feelings and needs. Jillian is attracted to Declan’s new personality but can she trust him? The suspense, twists, and turns are spine tingling. There is a lot a back stabbing as new and surprising secrets are revealed. Jillian is very resourceful and likeable. As she desperately searches for a cure, I, too, was caught in her struggles.
Nightshade is a fast-paced, gripping Urban Fantasy filled with tension and intriguing characters.
Reviewed by Steph from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club
Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy -Feb. 1st, 2011
4 ½ stars
Nightshade is a spellbinding Urban Fantasy that drew me in and never let me go. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it and am eager to read the next installment.
Jillian Conrad was bringing coffee to work when the elevator she was waiting for opens up to reveal a crazed scientist and a threatening gunman who wants a ‘formula.’ The scientist grabs Jill as his hostage and when the gunman threatens the scientist for the formula, the scientist instead injects the only remaining prototype into Jilian’s bloodstream and is immediately shot dead. Jillian becomes ill from the shot and the gunman, named Declan, grabs her before she can recover. He informs her that she has been poisoned and the only way to find an antidote is to come with him. Despite her pleas, he drags her with him.
Soon they are followed by minions of vampires. But Jillian doesn’t believe in vampires or that Declan is half-vampire, half- human. That is until he is wounded and she sees the effect light has on him and his super healing abilities. Afraid and not knowing who to trust, she follows and helps Declan. In the process, she discovers a man who is much more than he appears. But will any relationship between them have a chance when she may be dying?
I loved this story. Declan is taking a drug to hold back his vampire half because he is afraid he may hurt someone with his violent vampire side. It makes him cold and unemotional, the perfect killing machine. Declan works for people who hate vampires and has learned that his vampire half is evil. But when he is off his meds, he becomes a different person, one with feelings and needs. Jillian is attracted to Declan’s new personality but can she trust him? The suspense, twists, and turns are spine tingling. There is a lot a back stabbing as new and surprising secrets are revealed. Jillian is very resourceful and likeable. As she desperately searches for a cure, I, too, was caught in her struggles.
Nightshade is a fast-paced, gripping Urban Fantasy filled with tension and intriguing characters.
Reviewed by Steph from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club
January 21, 2011
Jillian Conrad was minding her own business coming back to work after a break to pick up coffee when she ends up being taken hostage. She ends up being injected with a serum that was made to act as a deadly poison to vampires, thus making her blood irresistible to all vampires.
This is a problem, since the person or half person who saved her happens to be half vampire & it’s taking all his will power not to drain her. There are also many people who want this serum & not all of them know Jillian is in fact the only source of the serum, but when they find out her life is at risk. Declan has to either protect her or kill her & Jillian doesn’t know which way he’s going.
Let me just warn you now, this is a darker Michelle Rowen then you are used to….and it rocked my socks off!
Jillian kicks all sorts of booty, even in the grips of terror. Lets face it, she is unwillingly the only source of a serum meant to destroy the vampire race & this serum has yet to be tested, yet it’s inside of her. The side effects are unknown, yet Jillian doesn’t break down & lose it, she keeps fighting. Jillian is a character that grows constantly through the story, gaining more strength & more snark as she goes.
Declan is an extremely interesting character, though I can’t give you all the details because I would spoil it for you but I can tell you he reminds me a lot of Stacia Kane’s Downside character Terrible. Uh Huh. He’s just that kind of man, a hard life & you just want to hug him. He’s complicated & has so much depth, he will be the character you fall in love with.
The world building is phenomenal, Michelle Rowen really has a knack for writing a world that you could see yourself a part of even if it doesn’t exist. As for the action, there is plenty of it & it makes for one hell of a ride. I’m still on a high after reading Nightshade, it leaves you satisfied & wanting more at the same time!
But like I said, don’t go expecting Michelle Rowen PNR…because this Michelle Rowen 2.0 is all about the nitty, gritty, snark filled ride. That said, I think I love Michelle Rowen 2.0 a little bit better, she’s awesome.
4.5
This is a problem, since the person or half person who saved her happens to be half vampire & it’s taking all his will power not to drain her. There are also many people who want this serum & not all of them know Jillian is in fact the only source of the serum, but when they find out her life is at risk. Declan has to either protect her or kill her & Jillian doesn’t know which way he’s going.
Let me just warn you now, this is a darker Michelle Rowen then you are used to….and it rocked my socks off!
Jillian kicks all sorts of booty, even in the grips of terror. Lets face it, she is unwillingly the only source of a serum meant to destroy the vampire race & this serum has yet to be tested, yet it’s inside of her. The side effects are unknown, yet Jillian doesn’t break down & lose it, she keeps fighting. Jillian is a character that grows constantly through the story, gaining more strength & more snark as she goes.
Declan is an extremely interesting character, though I can’t give you all the details because I would spoil it for you but I can tell you he reminds me a lot of Stacia Kane’s Downside character Terrible. Uh Huh. He’s just that kind of man, a hard life & you just want to hug him. He’s complicated & has so much depth, he will be the character you fall in love with.
The world building is phenomenal, Michelle Rowen really has a knack for writing a world that you could see yourself a part of even if it doesn’t exist. As for the action, there is plenty of it & it makes for one hell of a ride. I’m still on a high after reading Nightshade, it leaves you satisfied & wanting more at the same time!
But like I said, don’t go expecting Michelle Rowen PNR…because this Michelle Rowen 2.0 is all about the nitty, gritty, snark filled ride. That said, I think I love Michelle Rowen 2.0 a little bit better, she’s awesome.
4.5
February 18, 2011
2.5-3 stars
I'm still not quite sure how I feel about this book.
Jillian is bringing coffee to her coworkers when waylaid by a crazy scientist whose labs are in the same office building comes out of the elevator & uses her in a stand off with a crazy guy with scars. They keep talking about a poison & how the vial he has in his hand is the last of it. Then he sticks her with it. The crazy guy with scars shoots the crazy scientist dead & grabs Jillian for a long road trip to visit his "dad" who is supposed to be able to help. Also, the poison she's just been injected with kills vampires after a single bite - not that she believes they exist just yet...
So there I was, hurtling down the highway in a stolen pickup truck toward a secret anti-vampire research town with a scarred, dangerous dhampyr on the very edge of his self-control holding my hand, comforting me about a failed suicide attempt once upon a time, and proclaiming that he wanted to screw my poisoned brains out.
It was like a fucking fairy tale.
Jillian is likeable enough, but she's super flaky. She changes her mind really easily & her loyalties along with it. This whole book spans four days & it's pretty hard to believe.
Also, I just finished reading the latest IAD with a hero whose name was Declan, had a scarred body, & took shots to suppress his supernatural self. Not that I think one has to do with the other, but I definitely thought it was weird...
I'll probably read the next to see what happens.
I'm still not quite sure how I feel about this book.
Jillian is bringing coffee to her coworkers when waylaid by a crazy scientist whose labs are in the same office building comes out of the elevator & uses her in a stand off with a crazy guy with scars. They keep talking about a poison & how the vial he has in his hand is the last of it. Then he sticks her with it. The crazy guy with scars shoots the crazy scientist dead & grabs Jillian for a long road trip to visit his "dad" who is supposed to be able to help. Also, the poison she's just been injected with kills vampires after a single bite - not that she believes they exist just yet...
So there I was, hurtling down the highway in a stolen pickup truck toward a secret anti-vampire research town with a scarred, dangerous dhampyr on the very edge of his self-control holding my hand, comforting me about a failed suicide attempt once upon a time, and proclaiming that he wanted to screw my poisoned brains out.
It was like a fucking fairy tale.
Jillian is likeable enough, but she's super flaky. She changes her mind really easily & her loyalties along with it. This whole book spans four days & it's pretty hard to believe.
Also, I just finished reading the latest IAD with a hero whose name was Declan, had a scarred body, & took shots to suppress his supernatural self. Not that I think one has to do with the other, but I definitely thought it was weird...
I'll probably read the next to see what happens.
January 23, 2011
Nightshade started out eerily similar to the movie Blade. Half vampire, able to go out in sunlight, takes serum to fend off cravings, while keeping the humans safe from vampires. I almost put the book done thinking I didn't need to read it since I've already seen the movie multiple times.
Thankfully, I stuck with Nightshade. The writing flowed so well that I became completely absorbed in the story. Before I knew it, I was halfway into the book and so in love with it that I couldn't have put it down if I wanted to. Yes, Declan started out a lot like Blade, but once he stopped taking his serum, he became quite his own character. Jill sees the difference in him and liked it as much as I did. Even though he kidnapped her, held her hostage, and she initially found him physically repulsive, none of that matters when we see the kind of person he truly is.
Jill isn't what you expect as a main character in this type of book. She doesn't have any type of ability. She isn't a fighter or experienced with weapons. She truly is just an average woman caught up in something bigger. Jill goes to hell and back a the whim of government funded scientists. But are they trying to help her or harm her?
Nightshade is amazing. The pairing of Declan and Jill is deliciously awkward and tension-filled. The excitement builds as it becomes harder to distinguish the good guys from the bad guys, until the fantastically unforeseen climax. I absolutely can not wait for the sequel!
Thankfully, I stuck with Nightshade. The writing flowed so well that I became completely absorbed in the story. Before I knew it, I was halfway into the book and so in love with it that I couldn't have put it down if I wanted to. Yes, Declan started out a lot like Blade, but once he stopped taking his serum, he became quite his own character. Jill sees the difference in him and liked it as much as I did. Even though he kidnapped her, held her hostage, and she initially found him physically repulsive, none of that matters when we see the kind of person he truly is.
Jill isn't what you expect as a main character in this type of book. She doesn't have any type of ability. She isn't a fighter or experienced with weapons. She truly is just an average woman caught up in something bigger. Jill goes to hell and back a the whim of government funded scientists. But are they trying to help her or harm her?
Nightshade is amazing. The pairing of Declan and Jill is deliciously awkward and tension-filled. The excitement builds as it becomes harder to distinguish the good guys from the bad guys, until the fantastically unforeseen climax. I absolutely can not wait for the sequel!
February 3, 2011
I started out loving this book. Declan is proof that you don't have to be physically perfect to be sexy as hell. He's damaged both emotionally and physically but you're torn between wanting to run from him, hug him or just jump him. I liked him a lot. Jillian is a pretty good character too. She has the wit I've come to expect from MR's female leads. So the story is cruising along...some action, some intrigue a few sexy moments and then comes Matthias which brought the book to a screeching halt for me. There is a scene between Jillian and Matthias that I found so jarring and completely out of the blue that I went from "I can't wait for what happens next" to "I can't wait to be done with this book". I'm sad to say although she's built an interesting world and there's more mysteries to be solved I'm not sure the next book in the series will be an automatic buy for me. I gave the 3-stars just because the first 2/3 or so was so enjoyable...but the rest barely ranked a 2 for me.
March 23, 2011
From the first page I connected with Jillian, I really liked as a character, I think is a strong and determined girl. Show her courage and fear even during and after the doctor injects the serum, it became very real and be the first book in the series, I am absolutely delighted.
Declan is not the guy we usually see in books as a hero, and I liked it also gives a twist to the story unexpected and is a kind of "what matters is the inward beauty".
The vampire king, one love!
The book surprised me from beginning to end and that end ... promising! Awaiting the next book in the series!
I received this book by Yel @The Itzel Library, for review. Thanks!
Declan is not the guy we usually see in books as a hero, and I liked it also gives a twist to the story unexpected and is a kind of "what matters is the inward beauty".
The vampire king, one love!
The book surprised me from beginning to end and that end ... promising! Awaiting the next book in the series!
I received this book by Yel @The Itzel Library, for review. Thanks!
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