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Invisible War #1
Midnight in St. Petersburg
Rose Daziani is a sensitive—a powerful psychic who can read the hearts of those around her and see things no one else can. It’s a neat party trick, but doesn’t exactly pay the rent. That is, until a mysterious phone call summons her halfway around the world to the exotic city of St. Petersburg, Russia, and offers her a job using those psychic gifts she’s kept secret all her life.
But it turns out there’s a reason Rose is worth so much to her employers. Her team—a vampire, a fae-blooded hunter, and a priest Templar—can’t stop fighting with each other, mired in centuries-old grudges. The supernatural community of St. Petersburg is on the brink of war, and Rose herself has drawn the attention of a killer who will stop at nothing to get the vengeance he seeks. Rose will have to dig deep to find the truths that lie beneath the surface if she wants to succeed… or survive.
But it turns out there’s a reason Rose is worth so much to her employers. Her team—a vampire, a fae-blooded hunter, and a priest Templar—can’t stop fighting with each other, mired in centuries-old grudges. The supernatural community of St. Petersburg is on the brink of war, and Rose herself has drawn the attention of a killer who will stop at nothing to get the vengeance he seeks. Rose will have to dig deep to find the truths that lie beneath the surface if she wants to succeed… or survive.
398 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2012
10 people are currently reading
353 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
July 16, 2013
I've been in a reading slump for a long time, and this is the book that finally pulled me out of it. Fun, smart, and the best team of characters I've seen in a long time. If the sequel were already out I'd start reading it tonight.
January 1, 2013
I didn’t finish Midnight in Paris. I found myself halfway through the book, unable to force myself to continue. All of the reviews seemed to be excellent, though few in number. I certainly could not agree with what other readers were saying.
The basic story is interesting. You’ve got four strangers brought to St. Petersburg to perform a job who each have something special ability. Rose is a sensitive, capable of feeling the emotions and any imprint of emotions in people/places. Mike is a templar & a voider, someone who cannot be influenced by fae or read by a sensitive, and possesses magical abilities. Ian is a fae, with the blood of the dangerous faelocks, and hunts those he is descended from. Nazeem is a vampire, and we all know what they do.
Rose seems to own the story, but the author doesn’t let her own it. The perspectives seem to switch between Mike & Rose, but neither are distinct and most of the time it ends up coming off as 3rd person omniscient rather than limited. The chapters in the beginning are rather short, and as the story goes on, they get much longer. The length was an issue to me. Chapters became split into perspectives, despite the lack of a distinct difference between each. I’m pretty sure there were chapters with the perspectives switching like four times, and each perspective probably would have been appropriate as it’s own chapter. I don’t like really long chapters because that means I can’t stop until I reach the end, and when it seems like I’ve been reading the same chapter for 20 minutes… I’m going to be frustrated.
When Rose’s perspective seemed to belong to her for a paragraph or two, it was usually annoying to read and repetitive. There was a paragraph every now and then dedicated to reminding the reader that Rose was a social worker, so she has experience with impoverished people. New information wasn’t provided in this description, and it was unnecessary and felt condescending. As if I can’t remember her occupation.
While this was labelled YA, I don’t consider that accurate. None of the characters are young adults. Rose is the youngest, and she’s a college grad. At times she acted immaturely, though I wouldn’t necessarily say that would constitute the book as YA. Not to mention the “other” main character, Mike, is supposed to be in his 50s.
This was a book that could have been great, but there were so many things ultimately working against it. They’ve all come to St. Petersburg to perform a job that is never really explained in enough detail. They basically wander around the city looking for trouble, and it happens to fall into their laps. I understood why the characters stayed to perform the job, but I had no reason to care about it. The writing didn’t impress me and the main characters annoyed me. Perhaps I’ll pick up the book when I’m feeling a little less picky, but for now… it will remain abandoned.
This review is also on my blog.
The basic story is interesting. You’ve got four strangers brought to St. Petersburg to perform a job who each have something special ability. Rose is a sensitive, capable of feeling the emotions and any imprint of emotions in people/places. Mike is a templar & a voider, someone who cannot be influenced by fae or read by a sensitive, and possesses magical abilities. Ian is a fae, with the blood of the dangerous faelocks, and hunts those he is descended from. Nazeem is a vampire, and we all know what they do.
Rose seems to own the story, but the author doesn’t let her own it. The perspectives seem to switch between Mike & Rose, but neither are distinct and most of the time it ends up coming off as 3rd person omniscient rather than limited. The chapters in the beginning are rather short, and as the story goes on, they get much longer. The length was an issue to me. Chapters became split into perspectives, despite the lack of a distinct difference between each. I’m pretty sure there were chapters with the perspectives switching like four times, and each perspective probably would have been appropriate as it’s own chapter. I don’t like really long chapters because that means I can’t stop until I reach the end, and when it seems like I’ve been reading the same chapter for 20 minutes… I’m going to be frustrated.
When Rose’s perspective seemed to belong to her for a paragraph or two, it was usually annoying to read and repetitive. There was a paragraph every now and then dedicated to reminding the reader that Rose was a social worker, so she has experience with impoverished people. New information wasn’t provided in this description, and it was unnecessary and felt condescending. As if I can’t remember her occupation.
While this was labelled YA, I don’t consider that accurate. None of the characters are young adults. Rose is the youngest, and she’s a college grad. At times she acted immaturely, though I wouldn’t necessarily say that would constitute the book as YA. Not to mention the “other” main character, Mike, is supposed to be in his 50s.
This was a book that could have been great, but there were so many things ultimately working against it. They’ve all come to St. Petersburg to perform a job that is never really explained in enough detail. They basically wander around the city looking for trouble, and it happens to fall into their laps. I understood why the characters stayed to perform the job, but I had no reason to care about it. The writing didn’t impress me and the main characters annoyed me. Perhaps I’ll pick up the book when I’m feeling a little less picky, but for now… it will remain abandoned.
This review is also on my blog.
November 12, 2012
My rating is closer to 3.5-3.75 stars but I rounded up.
I won this book on a Goodreads giveaway. This is a book that very much caught my attention because I love urban fantasy. I was hoping it would be as good as it looked.
When I started this book I was pretty disappointed. The first 100 pages dragged on for me and the pace didn't really pick up until about page 150. I could have put the book down before this point.
When the action got going and I got drawn into the world, I really started to enjoy myself. The book doesn't have any romance to speak of (the barest hint here or there) or sex appeal so if you are looked for that, you aren't in luck. However, it does have interesting characters and a cool world that really snagged me in the end. I was up late finishing the book and ended up really enjoying myself.
What I disliked were small things. I HATED that they called magic men (warlocks or what have you) "voiders" - UGH - I understand the reference in the book to their lack of presence to a "sensitive" but when you are in the medical field like I am, all I thought about was urination . Pee pee and more pee. Each time they said voider I gave a little grimace inside. I have no idea if anyone else would have that reaction!
Another thing was the main character, Rose, was a bit of a tough nut to crack. She doesn't convey her emotions much, which bothered me. There is no "her heart pounded" or "she held back tears." She is kind of just there and very very persistent. I wanted more relate-ability from her character.
I also tend to compare all urban fantasies, especially involving the fae, to the Fever series. This book doesn't come close to that book in any regard. However, it isn't a very similar book in most ways so I know it's an unfair comparison.
Overall, I left the book feeling satisfied, which is more than I can say with many books I'm reading these days.
I won this book on a Goodreads giveaway. This is a book that very much caught my attention because I love urban fantasy. I was hoping it would be as good as it looked.
When I started this book I was pretty disappointed. The first 100 pages dragged on for me and the pace didn't really pick up until about page 150. I could have put the book down before this point.
When the action got going and I got drawn into the world, I really started to enjoy myself. The book doesn't have any romance to speak of (the barest hint here or there) or sex appeal so if you are looked for that, you aren't in luck. However, it does have interesting characters and a cool world that really snagged me in the end. I was up late finishing the book and ended up really enjoying myself.
What I disliked were small things. I HATED that they called magic men (warlocks or what have you) "voiders" - UGH - I understand the reference in the book to their lack of presence to a "sensitive" but when you are in the medical field like I am, all I thought about was urination . Pee pee and more pee. Each time they said voider I gave a little grimace inside. I have no idea if anyone else would have that reaction!
Another thing was the main character, Rose, was a bit of a tough nut to crack. She doesn't convey her emotions much, which bothered me. There is no "her heart pounded" or "she held back tears." She is kind of just there and very very persistent. I wanted more relate-ability from her character.
I also tend to compare all urban fantasies, especially involving the fae, to the Fever series. This book doesn't come close to that book in any regard. However, it isn't a very similar book in most ways so I know it's an unfair comparison.
Overall, I left the book feeling satisfied, which is more than I can say with many books I'm reading these days.
May 23, 2012
A vampire, a sensitive, a templar knight and a fae descendant, are all called to St. Petersburg. It sounds like the opening line of a joke doesn't it? Well, in this case it's a very serious matter. Something is desperately wrong with the city and Rose, the sensitive, can feel the blackness in every waking hour. They are offered a contract by an unnamed employer, to discover who is responsible for the murders. For Rose, this represents the opportunity of a lifetime, because not only will she finally be in the company of people who understand her, this deal represents more money than she ever thought possible. Unfortunately for Rose, none of her fellow teammates have any trust that she is up for the fight. Everyone seems to have secrets except for Rose, and no one is anxious to share.
Things escalate as Rose is attacked in her dreams. The tension between Mike the templar and Nazeem the vampire continue to stymie any possibility of trust between the group. As a servant of God, Mike sees Nazeem as unholy, and therefore beyond redemption. Nazeem, for his part, only wants the opportunity to help and despite himself, he is attracted to Rose. Ian, the fae descendant, only took the job to discover what happened to his long missing father and while he is excited to be there, this is clearly his priority.
The supernatural community is in an uproar because no one can tell for sure who is next to die. It could be a voider, or even a vampire, but what is certain, is that in just a few days, someone else is scheduled to die. Can the ragtag team get it together long enough to hunt down the evil, while negotiating the various politics at play?
First, let me say that it is refreshing to read an urban fantasy novel outside of a North American setting. One could almost feel the cold, and bleakness of St. Petersburg as Rose wraps herself in as many layers as possible. Web also used food, as a way to give the reader a sense of the setting. It felt authentic and that is something a lot of writers have problems with.
The only character of colour in the novel is Nazeem, but we don't really learn much about him from a cultural standpoint; however, we do learn about vampire culture through him. He is yet another in a long list of what I would call self loathing vampires. On the outside, he seems to accept himself for who and what he is and yet, he seems to be seeking redemption, which implies that he is not completely accepting of himself, or of other vampires for that matter. In a moment of passion, Nazeem kissed Rose and when she told him to stop, he did so immediately. I really liked that Webb included this scene as far too often, a woman in an urban fantasy novel is swept away by an otherworldly creature when there is much evidence that she should be running the other way. I liked that Nazeem did not force the issue, which helped to assert Rose's agency and her right to say no. Too often in these novels, no means yes and to see the opposite affirmed is really important.
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Things escalate as Rose is attacked in her dreams. The tension between Mike the templar and Nazeem the vampire continue to stymie any possibility of trust between the group. As a servant of God, Mike sees Nazeem as unholy, and therefore beyond redemption. Nazeem, for his part, only wants the opportunity to help and despite himself, he is attracted to Rose. Ian, the fae descendant, only took the job to discover what happened to his long missing father and while he is excited to be there, this is clearly his priority.
The supernatural community is in an uproar because no one can tell for sure who is next to die. It could be a voider, or even a vampire, but what is certain, is that in just a few days, someone else is scheduled to die. Can the ragtag team get it together long enough to hunt down the evil, while negotiating the various politics at play?
First, let me say that it is refreshing to read an urban fantasy novel outside of a North American setting. One could almost feel the cold, and bleakness of St. Petersburg as Rose wraps herself in as many layers as possible. Web also used food, as a way to give the reader a sense of the setting. It felt authentic and that is something a lot of writers have problems with.
The only character of colour in the novel is Nazeem, but we don't really learn much about him from a cultural standpoint; however, we do learn about vampire culture through him. He is yet another in a long list of what I would call self loathing vampires. On the outside, he seems to accept himself for who and what he is and yet, he seems to be seeking redemption, which implies that he is not completely accepting of himself, or of other vampires for that matter. In a moment of passion, Nazeem kissed Rose and when she told him to stop, he did so immediately. I really liked that Webb included this scene as far too often, a woman in an urban fantasy novel is swept away by an otherworldly creature when there is much evidence that she should be running the other way. I liked that Nazeem did not force the issue, which helped to assert Rose's agency and her right to say no. Too often in these novels, no means yes and to see the opposite affirmed is really important.
Read More
November 14, 2012
I received this book as a goodreads giveaway. It had interested me from the beginning because fantasy is my favorite genre.
I must say that this was a really good read. I really liked that it is grammatically correct. The dialogue is not too complicated for teens while still having dialogue that would intrigue adults.
In my opinion, I think the author made rather easy to endear the characters to the reader, even if the character was a bit of an "ass" to begin with. There was also a lot of character depth and character growth through out the novel, which I always look for. Overall, I liked how the characters grew but did not have a complete left field personality at the end.
I also found the plot to be extremely interesting and believable (in the sense of that universe), I think it made for a wonderful setup for a series of novels.
I really enjoyed this story the only downside I felt was that it took a while for the pace to pick up. I personally do not care for religious stories or religious undertones in stories but for Midnight in St. Petersburg it worked in its favor. It was a nice plot device and I did not find it factious or overbearing.
I must say that this was a really good read. I really liked that it is grammatically correct. The dialogue is not too complicated for teens while still having dialogue that would intrigue adults.
In my opinion, I think the author made rather easy to endear the characters to the reader, even if the character was a bit of an "ass" to begin with. There was also a lot of character depth and character growth through out the novel, which I always look for. Overall, I liked how the characters grew but did not have a complete left field personality at the end.
I also found the plot to be extremely interesting and believable (in the sense of that universe), I think it made for a wonderful setup for a series of novels.
I really enjoyed this story the only downside I felt was that it took a while for the pace to pick up. I personally do not care for religious stories or religious undertones in stories but for Midnight in St. Petersburg it worked in its favor. It was a nice plot device and I did not find it factious or overbearing.
February 3, 2014
4 stars
This novel turned out to be way different from what I was expecting, and not in a bad way either.
The plot was every bit as original and refreshing as the Russian setting. St. Petersburg with all of its obscure secrets managed to pull me right into the story, which I found I loved watching unfold through Rose and the others' eyes.
As far as the charcters go I have to say that while Rose could be a bit annoying at times, it was never too much. In a way it was fitting - she's young and reckless, not the best combination when it comes to survival.
All in all I enjoyed this novel a lot, and will absolutely get my hands on the next installment in the series - by the way I wonder, when is the author going to publish that?
This novel turned out to be way different from what I was expecting, and not in a bad way either.
The plot was every bit as original and refreshing as the Russian setting. St. Petersburg with all of its obscure secrets managed to pull me right into the story, which I found I loved watching unfold through Rose and the others' eyes.
As far as the charcters go I have to say that while Rose could be a bit annoying at times, it was never too much. In a way it was fitting - she's young and reckless, not the best combination when it comes to survival.
All in all I enjoyed this novel a lot, and will absolutely get my hands on the next installment in the series - by the way I wonder, when is the author going to publish that?
December 8, 2013
Great little book, I enjoyed the interactions between the members as they had to learn to trust each other in the midst of a war, as well as the inter generational/ experiential /species conflict that meant that everything didn't fit together overnight. There is a hint of romance as well as the space for hopefully a second book.
February 14, 2013
This had some pretty interesting characters and some not so much. It did flow well, at least to me. However, with that being said I won't be reading anymore from this series.
February 16, 2013
Curious to see where this will continue in the next book
April 5, 2013
Though it's not a genre I typically read, I thoroughly enjoyed this book!
June 25, 2014
Definitely interesting, especially if you're into the supernatural. It's a new little twist, but I like the characters.
November 29, 2012
IT WAS FANTASTIC. LOVED IT I COULDN'T PUT IT DOWN, AMAZING!!!
I WON THIS BOOK ON GR GIVEAWAYS.
I WON THIS BOOK ON GR GIVEAWAYS.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews