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Nightsiders #1
Daysider
Human/vampire relations are in turmoil in a stunning new series by New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Susan Krinard.
Tensions between human and vampire factions are escalating. Peace hangs in the balance. And like two ill-fated stars, Alexia Fox and Damon are destined to collide. She's a seductive human operative on a mission to infiltrate an illegal vampire colony. He's a vampire and represents everything she loathes—and all that she desires. Their attraction is scorching, immediate…and could explode like the fragile truce they've both been fighting independently to preserve. Now the world's last hope hinges on their ability to work together. As enemies they are doomed, but as allies they just might save the world.
Tensions between human and vampire factions are escalating. Peace hangs in the balance. And like two ill-fated stars, Alexia Fox and Damon are destined to collide. She's a seductive human operative on a mission to infiltrate an illegal vampire colony. He's a vampire and represents everything she loathes—and all that she desires. Their attraction is scorching, immediate…and could explode like the fragile truce they've both been fighting independently to preserve. Now the world's last hope hinges on their ability to work together. As enemies they are doomed, but as allies they just might save the world.
304 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 1, 2013
12 people are currently reading
293 people want to read
About the author
Susan Krinard
77 books330 followersTrained as an artist with a BFA in Illustration from the California College of Arts and Crafts, Susan Krinard became a writer in 1992 when a friend read a short story she'd written and suggested she try writing a romance novel. A long-time fan of science fiction and fantasy, Susan began reading romance -- and realized what she wanted to do was combine the two genres. Prince of Wolves, her first romance novel and one of the earliest to feature a werewolf hero, was the result. Within a year Susan had sold the manuscript to Bantam as part of a three-book contract, and the novel went on to make several bestseller lists.
Since then, she's written and published over fourteen paranormal and fantasy novels, and written stories for a number of anthologies, both fantasy and romance. Both the anthology Out of This World (which included Susan's "Kinsman") and the novel Lord of the Beasts appeared on the New York Times Bestseller List.
Susan makes her home in New Mexico, the "Land of Enchantment", with her husband Serge, their dogs Freya, Nahla and Cagney, and their cat Jefferson. In addition to writing, Susan's interests include music of almost every kind, old movies, reading, nature, baking, and collecting unique handmade jewelry and decorative crafts.
Since then, she's written and published over fourteen paranormal and fantasy novels, and written stories for a number of anthologies, both fantasy and romance. Both the anthology Out of This World (which included Susan's "Kinsman") and the novel Lord of the Beasts appeared on the New York Times Bestseller List.
Susan makes her home in New Mexico, the "Land of Enchantment", with her husband Serge, their dogs Freya, Nahla and Cagney, and their cat Jefferson. In addition to writing, Susan's interests include music of almost every kind, old movies, reading, nature, baking, and collecting unique handmade jewelry and decorative crafts.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
August 2, 2013
This story introduces a fascinating world that is richly detailed and expansive enough to accommodate many future stories. We learn a bit about the vampire society from Damon and we learn much about the politics of their world as Alexia and Damon desperately try to figure out what is REALLY going on and who is on what side and with what motives. It is all very complicated (maybe too complicated with several names for every variation of vampire and half-breed) and honestly they talk and theorize a bit too much for my personal tastes. I’ve always been a bit of an action girl. The story does have action along with a side of betrayal and angst–enough to keep me reading to the end. I did trip on a few plot holes and tangled story-lines along the way, but if you are a careful patient reader that likes to pick apart a puzzle this might be the story for you.
September 4, 2013
A PNR with a dystopian twist, Daysider is an engaging read. With a different heroine, it would have almost been a UF. As it is it can't be labeled anything other than PNR, as just here an heroine can be this trusting and have an HEA ..
Together with the ending (too much "peace and love" hippy for my tastes, way too easy, a pat on the readers' head), this is also my main reason for three stars.
Except these nits, the story has an incredible world (with some unexplained moments), on the dark side of the spectrum (more reason why the heroine was unbelievable naive), and a plot worth of the worst vamp politics you might like. Characters, on the other side, were almost to bland for such a world.
As I said a nice read and reasonably priced, too. But honestly nothing to talk about.
Together with the ending (too much "peace and love" hippy for my tastes, way too easy, a pat on the readers' head), this is also my main reason for three stars.
Except these nits, the story has an incredible world (with some unexplained moments), on the dark side of the spectrum (more reason why the heroine was unbelievable naive), and a plot worth of the worst vamp politics you might like. Characters, on the other side, were almost to bland for such a world.
As I said a nice read and reasonably priced, too. But honestly nothing to talk about.
August 6, 2013
I had never read anything by Susan Krinard before I read this book, so maybe this story is somehow tied to her other series, but I don’t think it is. And that is where the problem’s begin, although this book does have a prologue explaining some things in this world this book is written like it’s the second or third book in a series. The prologue while explaining the war the led the world to be the way it is also very briefly tells us the story of Jenna Donnelly’s conception one of the first Dhampire’s on record. A woman who whose parents loved each other and met during the first wave of the war. Why was Jenna mentioned? I have absolutely no idea because she had nothing to do with this story. After her mention in the prologue neither she, nor her parents make an appearance in the book. This story follows Alexia, a dhampire born of the second wave of the war. These Dhampire’s, mother’s were raped by the vampire’s.
The Vampire’s or Opir as they prefer to be called are a complete mystery. They lay dormant deep in the earth for Millennia. Why? We don’t know, and we’re never told. One day they awoke and decided to take over the Earth replacing human’s are top dog. Why? We don’t know and we’re never told. Although the Opir don’t consider themselves human everyone we come into contact with has been turned. So several millennia ago did a bunch of people became Vampire’s then decided to bury themselves deep in the ground. Why? We don’t know and we’re never told. Are these elder’s that are spoken of but we never see truly supernatural or other worldy? Were they truly never human but able to turn human’s? We don’t know and we’re never told. When the Opir rose they must have had low number’s so they turned several human’s to be their soldier’s. Some of these soldier’s are mutants and can walk in Daylight. Why can the walk in the sun but are weaker in strength than other Opir? We don’t know and we’re never told. The Opir also have their own ancient language that was unknown to human’s before they rose, but we never get to hear it. Damon our Opir/Daysider/Darketan hero refer’s to himself as sterile. Alexia says something to the effect of Dhampire’s can’t just be made, so are they sterile too? The Opir are not dead as evidenced by the fact that they can procreate with human’s. So can Opir procreate with each other? Why are Daysider sterile? Are Dhampire’s sterile? Does walking in sunlight strip them of their fertility? We don’t know and we are never told. Also this story take’s place in California. There are three colony’s. One human, on vampire, and one undetermined rebel. There is no mention of the rest of the world. Is this all that’s left of life? Are their other colony’s but no longer a larger Government overall. Are there other vampire colony’s? I understand that a writer has to leave a bit a mystery so that the reader comes back for more of a series but this was ridiculous.
Alexia the heroine was strong, smart, and capable. Damon was the typical brooding and mysterious vampire. Neither character was particularly witty or endearing, to be honest none of the character’s were. How these character’s fell in love is beyond me. They didn’t spend much time talking about thing’s other than avoiding or fighting the conflict they both faced. Alexia did not even begin to trust Damon until the very end of the book. They did have very hot sex, but that’s lust not love. In the end the stories conflict was resolved, so I am grateful there was no cliffhanger. All that being said I probably would read the next book in this series. I liked the world that was built, of the next book answer’s some of the basic question raised in this novel I would become a fan of the series. I’ll just have to wait and see.
The Vampire’s or Opir as they prefer to be called are a complete mystery. They lay dormant deep in the earth for Millennia. Why? We don’t know, and we’re never told. One day they awoke and decided to take over the Earth replacing human’s are top dog. Why? We don’t know and we’re never told. Although the Opir don’t consider themselves human everyone we come into contact with has been turned. So several millennia ago did a bunch of people became Vampire’s then decided to bury themselves deep in the ground. Why? We don’t know and we’re never told. Are these elder’s that are spoken of but we never see truly supernatural or other worldy? Were they truly never human but able to turn human’s? We don’t know and we’re never told. When the Opir rose they must have had low number’s so they turned several human’s to be their soldier’s. Some of these soldier’s are mutants and can walk in Daylight. Why can the walk in the sun but are weaker in strength than other Opir? We don’t know and we’re never told. The Opir also have their own ancient language that was unknown to human’s before they rose, but we never get to hear it. Damon our Opir/Daysider/Darketan hero refer’s to himself as sterile. Alexia says something to the effect of Dhampire’s can’t just be made, so are they sterile too? The Opir are not dead as evidenced by the fact that they can procreate with human’s. So can Opir procreate with each other? Why are Daysider sterile? Are Dhampire’s sterile? Does walking in sunlight strip them of their fertility? We don’t know and we are never told. Also this story take’s place in California. There are three colony’s. One human, on vampire, and one undetermined rebel. There is no mention of the rest of the world. Is this all that’s left of life? Are their other colony’s but no longer a larger Government overall. Are there other vampire colony’s? I understand that a writer has to leave a bit a mystery so that the reader comes back for more of a series but this was ridiculous.
Alexia the heroine was strong, smart, and capable. Damon was the typical brooding and mysterious vampire. Neither character was particularly witty or endearing, to be honest none of the character’s were. How these character’s fell in love is beyond me. They didn’t spend much time talking about thing’s other than avoiding or fighting the conflict they both faced. Alexia did not even begin to trust Damon until the very end of the book. They did have very hot sex, but that’s lust not love. In the end the stories conflict was resolved, so I am grateful there was no cliffhanger. All that being said I probably would read the next book in this series. I liked the world that was built, of the next book answer’s some of the basic question raised in this novel I would become a fan of the series. I’ll just have to wait and see.
February 10, 2024
Most Harlequin Nocturne books are good but not always great. This one was so great. There is a lot of tension between vampire factions and humans. Alexia Fox and Damon who is a daysider, a vampire that can stay in the light. Even though they are on opposite sides they have a strong attraction. They are both investigating an illegal colony for each of their sides. They have to work together when someone is trying to kill them both.
May 15, 2017
Okay, were to start? This was a somewhat interesting dystopian, vampire story. Damon, is a Daysider, a not-quite vampire nor human that needs blood to survive and can go out in the sun. He works for the vampires. Alexia is a Dhampir, half human and half vampire. Some need blood to survive, others don't. She works for the humans.
Not cut and dry, unbeknownst to either of them, they were part of an experiment. They fall in lust, not quite trusting the other. For the length, there was just too much going on, many characters, and multiple different names for the same thing. (The vampires called themselves Opir, the humans called them Nightsiders and on it went).
Not cut and dry, unbeknownst to either of them, they were part of an experiment. They fall in lust, not quite trusting the other. For the length, there was just too much going on, many characters, and multiple different names for the same thing. (The vampires called themselves Opir, the humans called them Nightsiders and on it went).
August 7, 2021
This might've been a better book had the author spent just a fraction of the amount of time she spent on world-building and used it on the romance instead. I honestly lost track of whatever was happening in the last 4-5 chapters.
December 3, 2018
I read & enjoyed the prequel but this one both dragged and the romance was melodramatic. About 2/3 through I simply couldn’t continue with this one.
March 8, 2019
First book in a nighters series . Like the fact both are strong characters. Looking forward to next one.
March 15, 2020
I hate that fact that I liked this book...
November 3, 2016
Setting: the future… dormant vampires awoke and warred with humans for 10 years; truce found where humans live in enclaves, and vampires in citadels; San Francisco Enclave, West Coast Region; Erebus, Opiri citadel below San Francisco; regions known as the Zones; Eleutheria, illegal colony in the Zone where humans and vampires live side by side;
Theme: prejudices; manipulations by governments; freedom; falling in love;
Characters:
Alexia Fox: dhampir agent – of the 40% that cannot be turned vampire, but need special patch (unknown to her, Daysider blood) so able to digest food and not need blood; mother raped by vampire during the war; raised to hate vampires and to despise idea of drinking blood, and to be agents for the human government; she has embraced it all; sent on mission to observe and report on a colony that has shown up in the Zone; unknown to her, she is part of an experiment… her drug patch is taken from her, and she is put in proximity with a Darketan – to see if they can work together, tolerate/take blood from one another;
Damon: Daysider/Darketan – incomplete transition of human to vampire – live long, faster/stronger than humans (not as strong as vampires), need blood, not a vampire’s blood slave, can be in the sun, agent for the vampire council; he is sent out to stop enclave spies from getting to colony; he does not know that he is part of an experiment – he has been given ‘watered down’ blood, and will hunger soon, and is placed in proximity to a dhampir;
Michael Carter: dhampir agent; Alexia’s partner; ends up an Orlok / Lamia – \dhampir/monster/vampireish creature that lives in the Zone, killing all like animals; he angry because his last partner/lover used in similar experiment, and she died … so he sets up Alexia – but then calls in a part of the Enclave that is going to destroy the colony; but he is attacked, and becomes an Orlok, and understands, and does what he can to help/protect Alexia;
Garret: another story? Alexia’s brother, who was convicted of some unknown crime (self defense?), and sent out of the Enclave…. I expected to find him in the colony, but he did not show up… a sore spot for Alexia;
Eirene: Damon’s Darketan lover; they were punished, and she was sent on a suicide mission; Damon thought she was dead, closed his heart to anyone else – to become more cold/withdrawn; she in fact sent to the Enclave, to see if her blood would help the dhampirs (and to spy for the citadel); it does; she tried to escape, but came across a child Alexia who needed blood – she gave her a bit, soothing her pain – and found she had a purpose there, and stayed; but she is gathering information, and her ‘jailers’ are relaxed around her;
Theron: old, yet progressive vampire; believes in equality – sets out to start a colony, and extends his belief in equality to humans; the humans freely give blood, and are respected by the vampires; Damon spent much of his time in debates and learning from him – though Damon knew nothing of his quest for his own colony; he is aware that the colony may not survive, but sees its value in starting something new, that may get others thinking;
Wilson McAllister, Aegis Director of Field Operations: Alexia’s boss; he does not know about the experiment the government is imposing on Alexia; when finds out, he heads to the Zone to help;
Summary:
Outer story – the dhampir and the Darketan learning to see each other beyond their prejudices; and a colony, that places humans and vampires and dhampirs and Darketans living in equality and democracy – and the forces (human, vampire, vampire rebels) that are trying to stop the colony;
Inner story – Alexia and Damon are drawn to each other… and when Alexia needs blood to survive, her body takes over, seduces Damon, and takes his blood – in turn, Damon is in sudden need for blood when they are in the colony… and Alexia steps up to volunteer to provide it (jealous of someone else giving it to him, and because they are connected)… and they fully acknowledge their bond;
Outer/inner story – they work together to protect the colony… with the help of Michael and the Orloks, they stop the vampires ace is and humans from attacking… and then calmer minds show up, and peace is ensured (at least for that day);
Memorable scenes:
Slaves / Blood-serfs; no jails in Enclaves – their convicted sent to the citadels, to become vampire blood slaves; vampire society, have enthralled humans who do their bidding mindlessly, and provide them blood; politics – those that accept truce with humans, and rebels who want to rule the world, and subjugate all humans; Enclaves – though government has some kind of working relationship with the vampire government, they teach the humans to hate vampires; part of treaty is for Enclaves to send their convicts to the Zone/citadels to become vampire blood-serfs;
Theme: prejudices; manipulations by governments; freedom; falling in love;
Characters:
Alexia Fox: dhampir agent – of the 40% that cannot be turned vampire, but need special patch (unknown to her, Daysider blood) so able to digest food and not need blood; mother raped by vampire during the war; raised to hate vampires and to despise idea of drinking blood, and to be agents for the human government; she has embraced it all; sent on mission to observe and report on a colony that has shown up in the Zone; unknown to her, she is part of an experiment… her drug patch is taken from her, and she is put in proximity with a Darketan – to see if they can work together, tolerate/take blood from one another;
Damon: Daysider/Darketan – incomplete transition of human to vampire – live long, faster/stronger than humans (not as strong as vampires), need blood, not a vampire’s blood slave, can be in the sun, agent for the vampire council; he is sent out to stop enclave spies from getting to colony; he does not know that he is part of an experiment – he has been given ‘watered down’ blood, and will hunger soon, and is placed in proximity to a dhampir;
Michael Carter: dhampir agent; Alexia’s partner; ends up an Orlok / Lamia – \dhampir/monster/vampireish creature that lives in the Zone, killing all like animals; he angry because his last partner/lover used in similar experiment, and she died … so he sets up Alexia – but then calls in a part of the Enclave that is going to destroy the colony; but he is attacked, and becomes an Orlok, and understands, and does what he can to help/protect Alexia;
Garret: another story? Alexia’s brother, who was convicted of some unknown crime (self defense?), and sent out of the Enclave…. I expected to find him in the colony, but he did not show up… a sore spot for Alexia;
Eirene: Damon’s Darketan lover; they were punished, and she was sent on a suicide mission; Damon thought she was dead, closed his heart to anyone else – to become more cold/withdrawn; she in fact sent to the Enclave, to see if her blood would help the dhampirs (and to spy for the citadel); it does; she tried to escape, but came across a child Alexia who needed blood – she gave her a bit, soothing her pain – and found she had a purpose there, and stayed; but she is gathering information, and her ‘jailers’ are relaxed around her;
Theron: old, yet progressive vampire; believes in equality – sets out to start a colony, and extends his belief in equality to humans; the humans freely give blood, and are respected by the vampires; Damon spent much of his time in debates and learning from him – though Damon knew nothing of his quest for his own colony; he is aware that the colony may not survive, but sees its value in starting something new, that may get others thinking;
Wilson McAllister, Aegis Director of Field Operations: Alexia’s boss; he does not know about the experiment the government is imposing on Alexia; when finds out, he heads to the Zone to help;
Summary:
Outer story – the dhampir and the Darketan learning to see each other beyond their prejudices; and a colony, that places humans and vampires and dhampirs and Darketans living in equality and democracy – and the forces (human, vampire, vampire rebels) that are trying to stop the colony;
Inner story – Alexia and Damon are drawn to each other… and when Alexia needs blood to survive, her body takes over, seduces Damon, and takes his blood – in turn, Damon is in sudden need for blood when they are in the colony… and Alexia steps up to volunteer to provide it (jealous of someone else giving it to him, and because they are connected)… and they fully acknowledge their bond;
Outer/inner story – they work together to protect the colony… with the help of Michael and the Orloks, they stop the vampires ace is and humans from attacking… and then calmer minds show up, and peace is ensured (at least for that day);
Memorable scenes:
Slaves / Blood-serfs; no jails in Enclaves – their convicted sent to the citadels, to become vampire blood slaves; vampire society, have enthralled humans who do their bidding mindlessly, and provide them blood; politics – those that accept truce with humans, and rebels who want to rule the world, and subjugate all humans; Enclaves – though government has some kind of working relationship with the vampire government, they teach the humans to hate vampires; part of treaty is for Enclaves to send their convicts to the Zone/citadels to become vampire blood-serfs;
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 7, 2013
Book Info
ebook, 304 pages
Published August 1st 2013 by Harlequin Nocturne
ISBN 1460317025 (ISBN13: 9781460317020)
Source:Netgalley EARC
Book Buy Links
AMAZON
B&N
Human/vampire relations are in turmoil in a stunning new series by New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Susan Krinard
Tensions between human and vampire factions are escalating. Peace hangs in the balance. And like two ill-fated stars, Alexia Fox and Damon are destined to collide. She's a seductive human operative on a mission to infiltrate an illegal vampire colony. He's a vampire and represents everything she loathes-and all that she desires. Their attraction is scorching, immediate...and could explode like the fragile truce they've both been fighting independently to preserve. Now the world's last hope hinges on their ability to work together. As enemies they are doomed, but as allies they just might save the world.
What I did not like or what gave me the most pause as I read the book were a couple or things:
1. The two main characters internalize more than they show by word or deed, even their actions are not consistent with how they seem to feel at times and it can be a bit confusing if not downright misleading.
2. The at times overwhelming amount of information that could have been minimalized by the characters just taking action rather than "thinking" things to death.
3. The fact that the main characters are involved almost from the beginning while at the same time they fight their mutual feelings for each other, even though they become physically intimate, and they show no real trust in one another until almost the end of the book which makes it hard to see them as a couple.
What I did like and what kept me enjoying reading the story:
1. The world building done by the author was concise and well developed.
2. The different factions of Vampires are explained in just enough detail to set them apart from each other and keep track of who is who easier.
3. Alexia Fox, the dhampire Aegis agent, is a strong leading female character whose mission puts her at war with herself emotionally even though she tries not to let it hamper her ability to complete her job.
4. Damon is very believable as a Vampire who has the ability to walk in daylight with full immunity to the sun, his race the Darketans are not quite unique to vampire lore but rarely explored and my favorite type of vampire hybrid.
While I felt a bit of confusion trying to keep up with the different characters and their allegiances at times on the whole this was a nice easy read that the author has detailed very believably and her characters are developed in a manner that allows the reader more time to focus on the the action in the scenes rather than spending a lot of time worrying about who is doing what or why they are behaving the way they are.
There is a lot of political maneuvering that takes place in the story, at times it overshadows the main plot point and at times it also dictates the characters actions but in the end it all boils down to whether or not enmity can be set aside for the good of both human and vampire alike. By the time you finish this book you will have a new appreciation for just how hard such a resolution is to achieve. Kudos for the way in which the author dealt with the many problems as they arise throughout the story.
Having read and enjoyed several books previously written by author Susan Krinard in her Fane series and her Vampire/Werewolf Trilogy it was with great joy that I saw where she had penned several new works in 2013 including this book Daysider and her first book in her new Urban Fantasy series Mist-Mist #1 which released in mid July.
ebook, 304 pages
Published August 1st 2013 by Harlequin Nocturne
ISBN 1460317025 (ISBN13: 9781460317020)
Source:Netgalley EARC
Book Buy Links
AMAZON
B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS
Human/vampire relations are in turmoil in a stunning new series by New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Susan Krinard
Tensions between human and vampire factions are escalating. Peace hangs in the balance. And like two ill-fated stars, Alexia Fox and Damon are destined to collide. She's a seductive human operative on a mission to infiltrate an illegal vampire colony. He's a vampire and represents everything she loathes-and all that she desires. Their attraction is scorching, immediate...and could explode like the fragile truce they've both been fighting independently to preserve. Now the world's last hope hinges on their ability to work together. As enemies they are doomed, but as allies they just might save the world.
My Thoughts
What I did not like or what gave me the most pause as I read the book were a couple or things:
1. The two main characters internalize more than they show by word or deed, even their actions are not consistent with how they seem to feel at times and it can be a bit confusing if not downright misleading.
2. The at times overwhelming amount of information that could have been minimalized by the characters just taking action rather than "thinking" things to death.
3. The fact that the main characters are involved almost from the beginning while at the same time they fight their mutual feelings for each other, even though they become physically intimate, and they show no real trust in one another until almost the end of the book which makes it hard to see them as a couple.
What I did like and what kept me enjoying reading the story:
1. The world building done by the author was concise and well developed.
2. The different factions of Vampires are explained in just enough detail to set them apart from each other and keep track of who is who easier.
3. Alexia Fox, the dhampire Aegis agent, is a strong leading female character whose mission puts her at war with herself emotionally even though she tries not to let it hamper her ability to complete her job.
4. Damon is very believable as a Vampire who has the ability to walk in daylight with full immunity to the sun, his race the Darketans are not quite unique to vampire lore but rarely explored and my favorite type of vampire hybrid.
While I felt a bit of confusion trying to keep up with the different characters and their allegiances at times on the whole this was a nice easy read that the author has detailed very believably and her characters are developed in a manner that allows the reader more time to focus on the the action in the scenes rather than spending a lot of time worrying about who is doing what or why they are behaving the way they are.
There is a lot of political maneuvering that takes place in the story, at times it overshadows the main plot point and at times it also dictates the characters actions but in the end it all boils down to whether or not enmity can be set aside for the good of both human and vampire alike. By the time you finish this book you will have a new appreciation for just how hard such a resolution is to achieve. Kudos for the way in which the author dealt with the many problems as they arise throughout the story.
Having read and enjoyed several books previously written by author Susan Krinard in her Fane series and her Vampire/Werewolf Trilogy it was with great joy that I saw where she had penned several new works in 2013 including this book Daysider and her first book in her new Urban Fantasy series Mist-Mist #1 which released in mid July.
[EArc from Netgalley in exchange for honest review]
March 15, 2017
I liked it till I didn't. I enjoy paranormal romance but after the five minutes of romance , I lost interest in the futuristic and confusing war and violence of this book
August 17, 2013
Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy
DAYSIDER doesn’t bring to mind your typical paranormal vampire romance. The vampires don’t fit the sexy vampire mold and it takes place in a society following a war between vampires and humans, with a shaky truce between the two and separate societies. In other words, it was not entirely what I was expecting after having read the blurb, which doesn’t make it bad, but I thought it was worth a fair warning.
Aside from all that, the book doesn’t actually focus on the vampires and humans. It focuses on the daysiders and dhampirs- the result of a failed human to vampire transition, and the product of a vampire and human coupling, respectively. The relationship is between our heroine and hero, Alexia and Damon, is sizzling, I think at least partially because it is very forbidden. And their relationship develops very quickly, something I attribute to their presence in the dangerous no-mans-land area between the human and vampire cities and the fact that at multiple points people try to kill them. Those are usually pretty strong bonding experiences and the feeling of Alexia and Damon against the world is very strong throughout DAYSIDER. Alexia ends up coming off as mostly smart, but way too trusting- she pretty much automatically agrees to go along with Damon, despite the fact that in theory he’s the enemy and she has no idea what he is really up to. I really couldn’t get a grip on Damon’s character, and I think most of that is because of his multiple objectives he has that the reader doesn’t know about, plus the objectives that his leaders gave him that he doesn’t even know about. I felt like overall he had good intentions, so I didn’t dislike him as a hero, he just felt a little less real compared to Alexia’s character.
The main thing that stood out about the book was the ridiculous amount of twists and turns in the plot. Basically, take every vampire book you’ve read, and think about all the vampire politics and drama- for example, the Long Game in the Kitty Norville series, the drama between Cadogan House and the GP in the Chicagoland Vampires series, or anything involving Mircea in the Cassie Palmer and Dorina Basarab series. I could go on, but I’m sure you have some series or book in mind. Now take that amount of backstabbing and political maneuvering and multiply it by ten. Or maybe fifty. Then you may start to get an idea about the amount of twists and turns that happen in DAYSIDER. For about 75% of the book, it was nearly impossible to tell who was on whose side, what everybody’s real mission was, and what the end-game was (aside from the obvious getting Alexia and Damon their happily ever after). Now, take all that drama and twisty plot turns, and multiply it again by the fact that everybody had different names for everything- for example, what the humans called daysiders called themselves darketans, and we have vampires, which are also called opirs or nightsiders. Plus, there’s the enclaves and the citadels, which each have specific names too. I was pretty much lost by chapter two since not everything was always explained the first time it came up.
DAYSIDER is so creative and different, but at times I feel like that was what ended up holding it back. It was so outside the norm of what I normally read and sometimes so complicated that I felt like I was missing out. If you like the kind of thing where you can’t guess what’s coming around the corner because it is so unexpected or you’re a more attentive reader than me (maybe that was my issue?) you’ll probably like DAYSIDER. For me, though the romance was hot, that was a smaller portion of the plot than I expected, and I was confused for most of the rest of it. As it stands, I’m probably not going to continue on with the Nightsiders series.
Sexual content: Several graphic sex scenes
DAYSIDER doesn’t bring to mind your typical paranormal vampire romance. The vampires don’t fit the sexy vampire mold and it takes place in a society following a war between vampires and humans, with a shaky truce between the two and separate societies. In other words, it was not entirely what I was expecting after having read the blurb, which doesn’t make it bad, but I thought it was worth a fair warning.
Aside from all that, the book doesn’t actually focus on the vampires and humans. It focuses on the daysiders and dhampirs- the result of a failed human to vampire transition, and the product of a vampire and human coupling, respectively. The relationship is between our heroine and hero, Alexia and Damon, is sizzling, I think at least partially because it is very forbidden. And their relationship develops very quickly, something I attribute to their presence in the dangerous no-mans-land area between the human and vampire cities and the fact that at multiple points people try to kill them. Those are usually pretty strong bonding experiences and the feeling of Alexia and Damon against the world is very strong throughout DAYSIDER. Alexia ends up coming off as mostly smart, but way too trusting- she pretty much automatically agrees to go along with Damon, despite the fact that in theory he’s the enemy and she has no idea what he is really up to. I really couldn’t get a grip on Damon’s character, and I think most of that is because of his multiple objectives he has that the reader doesn’t know about, plus the objectives that his leaders gave him that he doesn’t even know about. I felt like overall he had good intentions, so I didn’t dislike him as a hero, he just felt a little less real compared to Alexia’s character.
The main thing that stood out about the book was the ridiculous amount of twists and turns in the plot. Basically, take every vampire book you’ve read, and think about all the vampire politics and drama- for example, the Long Game in the Kitty Norville series, the drama between Cadogan House and the GP in the Chicagoland Vampires series, or anything involving Mircea in the Cassie Palmer and Dorina Basarab series. I could go on, but I’m sure you have some series or book in mind. Now take that amount of backstabbing and political maneuvering and multiply it by ten. Or maybe fifty. Then you may start to get an idea about the amount of twists and turns that happen in DAYSIDER. For about 75% of the book, it was nearly impossible to tell who was on whose side, what everybody’s real mission was, and what the end-game was (aside from the obvious getting Alexia and Damon their happily ever after). Now, take all that drama and twisty plot turns, and multiply it again by the fact that everybody had different names for everything- for example, what the humans called daysiders called themselves darketans, and we have vampires, which are also called opirs or nightsiders. Plus, there’s the enclaves and the citadels, which each have specific names too. I was pretty much lost by chapter two since not everything was always explained the first time it came up.
DAYSIDER is so creative and different, but at times I feel like that was what ended up holding it back. It was so outside the norm of what I normally read and sometimes so complicated that I felt like I was missing out. If you like the kind of thing where you can’t guess what’s coming around the corner because it is so unexpected or you’re a more attentive reader than me (maybe that was my issue?) you’ll probably like DAYSIDER. For me, though the romance was hot, that was a smaller portion of the plot than I expected, and I was confused for most of the rest of it. As it stands, I’m probably not going to continue on with the Nightsiders series.
Sexual content: Several graphic sex scenes
October 25, 2014
Written For Confessions From Romaholics
Susan Krinard has managed to combine perfectly action and suspense with romance. Paranormal, love and death compose an absolute mosaic of mystery and intrigue. Extreme situations, with troubleshooting downright surprising betrayals, murder, corpses, love found and love fulfilled, are the ingredients of this amazing story. The book is read at a brisk pace and the plot that unfolds leaves you breathless. You can never know what’s waiting for you on the next page; when you think you’ve finally figured out everything another overthrow situation occurs and you start wondering what surprises you’ll find next.
The action takes place in a neutral zone, a world created by humans and vampires who can’t fit in any of the colonies. Alexia Fox and Damon are two operative agents in two different camps sent on a mission to observe an illegal vampire colony. She is a dhampir, the offspring of a human female and a male vampire, working for the Enclave, and Damon is a daysider, an outcast in his society because of his unique traits working for the Erebus. They are both sent as covert operatives into the Zone in order to find out more information about this illegal colony. The mission seems very simple at first sight –just go there, take a look and get out. Things are even more complicated as nobody is what they seem to be and each is hiding behind well-outlined masks. The two must overcome mutual mistrust and indoctrination they have been subjected to ever since childhood, to light the truth behind a network of conspiracy and murder, planned, amazingly, by one man. The attraction between Damon and Alexia is immediate, both of them fighting against it, but faith has is a way of playing its own hand, and they have nothing left to do except submit.
After a series of life-threatening actions, they choose to live as if the present day is their last, to take advantage of their passion, because they both know that even if they have a near-run escape, they don’t stand a chance to have a life together, and they will never be left alone. But the discovery of the illegal colony and its inhabitants gives them a new hope for their futures together. In there, vampires and humans are living together in harmony. They will have a chance there, even more so as his blood is the antidote to her illness, and her presence soothes the beast within him which takes the form whenever he is embraced by strong feelings like anger or love.
The final is surprising, everything is set to a fast pace, all the agents show there, another race comes to the rescue, Damon’s old flame (supposedly dead) makes an appearance and everything seems to end well. This is the part of Daysider that left me unsatisfied. Yes, Damon and Alexia choose to stay together, but I don’t think they have much to say in the matter, they are just two pawns in a big game of power. We don’t get the chance to find out will happen to the colony, with Damon and Alexia and how Eirene (Damon’s ex and the woman who saved Alexia’s life a long time ago) escaped after twenty years and why now. This is the only reason I’ll give this book 4 stars, because of the ending.
I was pleasantly surprised by how many actions and twists this book has, and if you want a book with lots of action, intrigues, romance, a story to try to unravel, this is the story.
Susan Krinard has managed to combine perfectly action and suspense with romance. Paranormal, love and death compose an absolute mosaic of mystery and intrigue. Extreme situations, with troubleshooting downright surprising betrayals, murder, corpses, love found and love fulfilled, are the ingredients of this amazing story. The book is read at a brisk pace and the plot that unfolds leaves you breathless. You can never know what’s waiting for you on the next page; when you think you’ve finally figured out everything another overthrow situation occurs and you start wondering what surprises you’ll find next.
The action takes place in a neutral zone, a world created by humans and vampires who can’t fit in any of the colonies. Alexia Fox and Damon are two operative agents in two different camps sent on a mission to observe an illegal vampire colony. She is a dhampir, the offspring of a human female and a male vampire, working for the Enclave, and Damon is a daysider, an outcast in his society because of his unique traits working for the Erebus. They are both sent as covert operatives into the Zone in order to find out more information about this illegal colony. The mission seems very simple at first sight –just go there, take a look and get out. Things are even more complicated as nobody is what they seem to be and each is hiding behind well-outlined masks. The two must overcome mutual mistrust and indoctrination they have been subjected to ever since childhood, to light the truth behind a network of conspiracy and murder, planned, amazingly, by one man. The attraction between Damon and Alexia is immediate, both of them fighting against it, but faith has is a way of playing its own hand, and they have nothing left to do except submit.
After a series of life-threatening actions, they choose to live as if the present day is their last, to take advantage of their passion, because they both know that even if they have a near-run escape, they don’t stand a chance to have a life together, and they will never be left alone. But the discovery of the illegal colony and its inhabitants gives them a new hope for their futures together. In there, vampires and humans are living together in harmony. They will have a chance there, even more so as his blood is the antidote to her illness, and her presence soothes the beast within him which takes the form whenever he is embraced by strong feelings like anger or love.
The final is surprising, everything is set to a fast pace, all the agents show there, another race comes to the rescue, Damon’s old flame (supposedly dead) makes an appearance and everything seems to end well. This is the part of Daysider that left me unsatisfied. Yes, Damon and Alexia choose to stay together, but I don’t think they have much to say in the matter, they are just two pawns in a big game of power. We don’t get the chance to find out will happen to the colony, with Damon and Alexia and how Eirene (Damon’s ex and the woman who saved Alexia’s life a long time ago) escaped after twenty years and why now. This is the only reason I’ll give this book 4 stars, because of the ending.
I was pleasantly surprised by how many actions and twists this book has, and if you want a book with lots of action, intrigues, romance, a story to try to unravel, this is the story.
March 9, 2014
Alexia is a dhampire – half human and half vampire, born in the savage times when the vampires first rose from their long hiding places and made war on the world
It’s now a very different world. The treaty has established human Enclaves and vampire Citadels – with clear Zones between them in a desperate attempt to prevent another war breaking out between them. But there are factions in both governments waiting for a chance to march again and desperate to do what they can to bring about the complex.
Both sides hear of an illegal vampire colony in the zone – both sides have to investigate to see who is responsible and how badly the treaty has been breached.
Alexia works for Aegis, the human defence agency as a spy and agent, her job is to enter the Zone and combat covert actions from Erebus, the Vampire Citadel. Damon is a Daysider, a rare daywalking vampire hybrid who works as an agent for the vampires. Forced to work together, they investigate just who is behind this colony and try to find a way to stop a seeming inevitable war.
The main thing I liked about this book was the world setting – a post war dystopian vampire setting? Two hostile powers, humanity and the vampires, both controlling their own nations and glaring at each other? A delicate balance of politics and agents to try and prevent another mutually destructive war while extremist factions on both sides are just dying to bring on round 2? Different varieties and mutations of vampire and dhampire acting as agents for both sides, trying to prove their worth and loyalty in societies that barely trust them and will never fully accept them? Both factions have also had to make major compromises that, on some level, makes their societies thoroughly unsatisfactory as well – creating even more pressure for change, even if change could bring everything down in ruins.
Yes, sign me up. This is designed to intrigue me
The plot isn’t entirely original per se – though it’s not overdone either. It combines with the world and a series of twists and plots to really really work. The plotting of both sides is complicated and nuanced, there are some excellently placed red herrings, lots of confusions and distractions and a constant pressure on who to trust and why. This couples with the really unique and fascinating world setting, drastically different view points and societies that have, at best, made some very severe concessions which neither are happy about and certainly are questionably moral or suitable for their people to make for a very compelling story. Except for the romance (which I will get to) the pacing is good – well run with a nice
I think I would have been happier with Alexia being conscious a little longer at the beginning of the book – she was rendered helpless and defenceless, in need of aid and protection far too quickly for her to develop as competent in her own right.
I did find the ending… too neat and a little forced. It ended nicely with everything where it should be and a set up for new stories with the same characters in the same world; but it also had a major doozey of a coincidence with Damon’s old love interest and the intervention of a Deux Ex Machinae to make the story work. I’m hoping that they will be developed into a greater role in later books and not just be a convenient super power dropped in to make this story actually work.
Read More
It’s now a very different world. The treaty has established human Enclaves and vampire Citadels – with clear Zones between them in a desperate attempt to prevent another war breaking out between them. But there are factions in both governments waiting for a chance to march again and desperate to do what they can to bring about the complex.
Both sides hear of an illegal vampire colony in the zone – both sides have to investigate to see who is responsible and how badly the treaty has been breached.
Alexia works for Aegis, the human defence agency as a spy and agent, her job is to enter the Zone and combat covert actions from Erebus, the Vampire Citadel. Damon is a Daysider, a rare daywalking vampire hybrid who works as an agent for the vampires. Forced to work together, they investigate just who is behind this colony and try to find a way to stop a seeming inevitable war.
The main thing I liked about this book was the world setting – a post war dystopian vampire setting? Two hostile powers, humanity and the vampires, both controlling their own nations and glaring at each other? A delicate balance of politics and agents to try and prevent another mutually destructive war while extremist factions on both sides are just dying to bring on round 2? Different varieties and mutations of vampire and dhampire acting as agents for both sides, trying to prove their worth and loyalty in societies that barely trust them and will never fully accept them? Both factions have also had to make major compromises that, on some level, makes their societies thoroughly unsatisfactory as well – creating even more pressure for change, even if change could bring everything down in ruins.
Yes, sign me up. This is designed to intrigue me
The plot isn’t entirely original per se – though it’s not overdone either. It combines with the world and a series of twists and plots to really really work. The plotting of both sides is complicated and nuanced, there are some excellently placed red herrings, lots of confusions and distractions and a constant pressure on who to trust and why. This couples with the really unique and fascinating world setting, drastically different view points and societies that have, at best, made some very severe concessions which neither are happy about and certainly are questionably moral or suitable for their people to make for a very compelling story. Except for the romance (which I will get to) the pacing is good – well run with a nice
I think I would have been happier with Alexia being conscious a little longer at the beginning of the book – she was rendered helpless and defenceless, in need of aid and protection far too quickly for her to develop as competent in her own right.
I did find the ending… too neat and a little forced. It ended nicely with everything where it should be and a set up for new stories with the same characters in the same world; but it also had a major doozey of a coincidence with Damon’s old love interest and the intervention of a Deux Ex Machinae to make the story work. I’m hoping that they will be developed into a greater role in later books and not just be a convenient super power dropped in to make this story actually work.
Read More
December 27, 2023
Posted At: Riverina Romantics
My Rating: 5 out of 5 *
Hotness Rating: 4 out of 5 <3
I'll be the first to admit that I love vampires. I never tire of them. But at the same time, I do know how repetitive their world can get. So when I checked this particular book out, I was intrigued. It sounded like the vampires I adore, but with a different flare. And yeah, I was definitely right about that.
Krinard has created a much different world for vampires than I'm used to. They were the same can't-be-in-the-son-blood-drinkers that they're supposed to be, with some rather interesting differences. I don't want to say too much and give anything away, but I have to at least have to give a taste. Vampires and humans live separately from each other in their own designated places--enclaves for humans, citadels for vampires. There are half-breeds on each side, both ostracized from both races, but used to further their goals. Of course none of this is particularly new, per se, but it is done in a way that I haven't seen in a while. It very much captured my interest and kept me reading seriously to the end.
I absolutely adored Alexia from the beginning. Even in the prologue, I could tell she was different in that she was going to be amazing--and she was. She was incredibly strong, even when things were going to hell in a handbasket right in front of her eyes. She never truly seemed vulnerable, except for a few instances where wasn't overly obvious, but noticeable to a trained romance reader. She was very intelligent, always using her wits when most people would have resorted to emotions. It was interesting to see how she responded to the situations she found herself and and the things that happened to her. She never made excuses, she accepted what was fact, and she embraced what she felt and believed in. I don't think she could have been any more perfect of a heroine.
Damon was fantastic. Even as a vampire, he screamed different. He was also incredibly intelligent, but more flawed. He knew what he had to do, he came to his own conclusions, but he seemed to have more of a struggle to get there. I liked that he and Alexia kind of switched roles, for most male characters are the strong and Stern ones in the female characters are the more emotional but complementary type--here they were reversed, and it was refreshing. He was still strong in his own ways, but he was more ruled by his feelings due to his heritage. (-
snicker- You'll love it.) His dedication and determination were very prominent in everything he did. His feelings for Alexia were so strong, you could see the changes she was causing in him, and vice versa.
The writing was amazing. Easy to read, yet descriptive enough I felt like I was right there in the scenes with the characters. The romance between Alexia and Damon was not only hot, but it was passionate and realistic, and oh so fan-myself-drool worthy. I mean, it damn! I want me some of that! I applaud Krinard on this book. I don't think I could find anything wrong with it. It was interesting, well-done, and spacey. Everything I could ever want in a romance. Definitely give this book a chance if you like paranormal/vampire romances. Kudos, Mrs. Krinard!
My Rating: 5 out of 5 *
Hotness Rating: 4 out of 5 <3
I'll be the first to admit that I love vampires. I never tire of them. But at the same time, I do know how repetitive their world can get. So when I checked this particular book out, I was intrigued. It sounded like the vampires I adore, but with a different flare. And yeah, I was definitely right about that.
Krinard has created a much different world for vampires than I'm used to. They were the same can't-be-in-the-son-blood-drinkers that they're supposed to be, with some rather interesting differences. I don't want to say too much and give anything away, but I have to at least have to give a taste. Vampires and humans live separately from each other in their own designated places--enclaves for humans, citadels for vampires. There are half-breeds on each side, both ostracized from both races, but used to further their goals. Of course none of this is particularly new, per se, but it is done in a way that I haven't seen in a while. It very much captured my interest and kept me reading seriously to the end.
I absolutely adored Alexia from the beginning. Even in the prologue, I could tell she was different in that she was going to be amazing--and she was. She was incredibly strong, even when things were going to hell in a handbasket right in front of her eyes. She never truly seemed vulnerable, except for a few instances where wasn't overly obvious, but noticeable to a trained romance reader. She was very intelligent, always using her wits when most people would have resorted to emotions. It was interesting to see how she responded to the situations she found herself and and the things that happened to her. She never made excuses, she accepted what was fact, and she embraced what she felt and believed in. I don't think she could have been any more perfect of a heroine.
Damon was fantastic. Even as a vampire, he screamed different. He was also incredibly intelligent, but more flawed. He knew what he had to do, he came to his own conclusions, but he seemed to have more of a struggle to get there. I liked that he and Alexia kind of switched roles, for most male characters are the strong and Stern ones in the female characters are the more emotional but complementary type--here they were reversed, and it was refreshing. He was still strong in his own ways, but he was more ruled by his feelings due to his heritage. (-
snicker- You'll love it.) His dedication and determination were very prominent in everything he did. His feelings for Alexia were so strong, you could see the changes she was causing in him, and vice versa.
The writing was amazing. Easy to read, yet descriptive enough I felt like I was right there in the scenes with the characters. The romance between Alexia and Damon was not only hot, but it was passionate and realistic, and oh so fan-myself-drool worthy. I mean, it damn! I want me some of that! I applaud Krinard on this book. I don't think I could find anything wrong with it. It was interesting, well-done, and spacey. Everything I could ever want in a romance. Definitely give this book a chance if you like paranormal/vampire romances. Kudos, Mrs. Krinard!
September 13, 2013
Daysider. Susan Krinard.
ARC supplied by Netgalley.
I love fantasy and especially vampire romance novels. I had some trouble starting this book though, the world introduced is typically dystopian, and as the environment and people are so different I had to keep referring back to see what the characteristics of the different types of people were, and exactly which side each belonged to. It was a work of suspense and adventure where Dhampire Alexia Fox is sent out on a covert mission with another person, and she meets Damon, a vampire, but of the type known as Darketan. Various things happen and Alexia ends up teamed with Damon, and her partner has gone off alone. It's part of a plan they've come up with not trusting Damon, but it has repercussions beyond that which they envisaged.
For much of the early part of the novel the only characters are Alexia and her partner Michael. I thought that this would have allowed me to get to “know” them, but I never really felt I did that. Michael remained an enigma to me, and I couldn't feel any kind of empathy for Alexia. I don't know why – but it did mean that the novel never really took off for me. I did like Damon, what I knew of him, and he seemed, ironically, the most trust worthy of the three to me. There's lots of trickery and double dealing, and I got to the place where my gut was trusting Damon but I really hadn't a clue who else was telling the truth, and what was actually happening as opposed to the versions told by various others we met. The first half of the novel really doesn't seem to have much occurring, Michael and Alexia go into the Zone, a sort of neutral no mans (or vampires) land. They meet Damon as I said earlier, and other than scouting back and forth, and being attacked by unknown others there doesn't seem to be much real action, or anything relevant progressing the story . There's lots going on but it doesn't move the story forward for me.
Sadly this is a novel that hasn't worked for me, I was just too uninterested in what happened to the various factions. There's lots of double dealing and betrayals, a smattering of romance and a big reveal at the end, but it all left me unmoved. Its just not the sort of novel I enjoy – but then I don't like Pratchett, Eddings, Rowling, Showalter etc. and yet millions of readers love them. Its an example of a good, well written book but one that simply doesn't resonate for me. That doesn't mean others won't like it – thankfully we all want different things and that leads to a fantastic selection of novels and inevitable some will appear to be ones we'd like but in reality not work out. My rating is personal, based on my enjoyment – others will form a different view.
It contains 368 pages for £4.74 on kindle, a good lengthy read and another reason I thought I'd enjoy it. Its such a different world with so many types of character that a shorter novel wouldn't allow any understanding of them. It needs to be that length, I'm just sad it didn't work for me :( On my VFM scale its good value, and for those who enjoy it and re-read as I do with favourite novels it works out a bargain.
Stars: just two sadly, I just didn't like it – a reflection on how it fits – or doesn’t – my taste though and not on the book itself.
ARC supplied by Netgalley.
I love fantasy and especially vampire romance novels. I had some trouble starting this book though, the world introduced is typically dystopian, and as the environment and people are so different I had to keep referring back to see what the characteristics of the different types of people were, and exactly which side each belonged to. It was a work of suspense and adventure where Dhampire Alexia Fox is sent out on a covert mission with another person, and she meets Damon, a vampire, but of the type known as Darketan. Various things happen and Alexia ends up teamed with Damon, and her partner has gone off alone. It's part of a plan they've come up with not trusting Damon, but it has repercussions beyond that which they envisaged.
For much of the early part of the novel the only characters are Alexia and her partner Michael. I thought that this would have allowed me to get to “know” them, but I never really felt I did that. Michael remained an enigma to me, and I couldn't feel any kind of empathy for Alexia. I don't know why – but it did mean that the novel never really took off for me. I did like Damon, what I knew of him, and he seemed, ironically, the most trust worthy of the three to me. There's lots of trickery and double dealing, and I got to the place where my gut was trusting Damon but I really hadn't a clue who else was telling the truth, and what was actually happening as opposed to the versions told by various others we met. The first half of the novel really doesn't seem to have much occurring, Michael and Alexia go into the Zone, a sort of neutral no mans (or vampires) land. They meet Damon as I said earlier, and other than scouting back and forth, and being attacked by unknown others there doesn't seem to be much real action, or anything relevant progressing the story . There's lots going on but it doesn't move the story forward for me.
Sadly this is a novel that hasn't worked for me, I was just too uninterested in what happened to the various factions. There's lots of double dealing and betrayals, a smattering of romance and a big reveal at the end, but it all left me unmoved. Its just not the sort of novel I enjoy – but then I don't like Pratchett, Eddings, Rowling, Showalter etc. and yet millions of readers love them. Its an example of a good, well written book but one that simply doesn't resonate for me. That doesn't mean others won't like it – thankfully we all want different things and that leads to a fantastic selection of novels and inevitable some will appear to be ones we'd like but in reality not work out. My rating is personal, based on my enjoyment – others will form a different view.
It contains 368 pages for £4.74 on kindle, a good lengthy read and another reason I thought I'd enjoy it. Its such a different world with so many types of character that a shorter novel wouldn't allow any understanding of them. It needs to be that length, I'm just sad it didn't work for me :( On my VFM scale its good value, and for those who enjoy it and re-read as I do with favourite novels it works out a bargain.
Stars: just two sadly, I just didn't like it – a reflection on how it fits – or doesn’t – my taste though and not on the book itself.
October 2, 2013
There is lots of world building in this tome. The premise is very cool. Vampires, Daysiders, Humans, Dhampirs, Orlocks. Everyone wants their own piece of the world. Dhampirs are the offspring of Vampires and human women.
Alexis and her partner, Michael, are sent out to study a wayward colony. They don't know much about it, but they want what's best for Dhampirs and Humans. They both believe that the leeches, the Vampires, BloodMasters, shouldn't be allowed to rule.
Then we meet Damon, a Daysider. Daysiders don't burn in the sun, are fast and sharp. And, apparently gorgeous.
Alexis and Damon feel a pull right off the bat. It helps when he saves her life almost immediately. Michael, on the other hand, nearly kills Damon within minutes of meeting him. Lots of animosity there.
Back to the world building. There's a novella that introduces us to this world, but I haven't read it and I kept getting bogged down in all the info dumping that makes up this book. So many factions, all with their own agendas, had to be introduced. Maybe if I had read the novella it would have made this one clearer.
Beyond that, I kept wondering where the romance was. The time that we actually spent with Damon and Alexis was great. Then would come pages of narrative that had me skimming. I can see an instant attraction that morphs into love. Imprinting is something that I get. So that part worked for me. But there wasn't really very much of it, especially for a Harlequin.
The action in this book is great. Monsters and guns and fighting to the death, interspersed with some steamy scenes that include the biting of necks. I liked those bits.
But I was left with questions...lots and lots of questions. Where did these vampires come from? They've been under the earth for centuries? But we didn't have clue they were there? Why did they go into hibernation? Had they killed off most of the humans a millennia ago and slept until those they left repopulated the world? Where were their cities? I don't know, I just had questions.
From the summary of the next book, Nightmaster, it doesn't sound like any of the same characters are going to be in it. I think I'm going to have to find the novella, Holiday with a Vampire, and check that out before I move onto another one in this series.
Three and a half bookmarks, rounded to a four for Goodreads.
*Thank you, NetGalley and Harlequin, for the opportunity to read this book.
Alexis and her partner, Michael, are sent out to study a wayward colony. They don't know much about it, but they want what's best for Dhampirs and Humans. They both believe that the leeches, the Vampires, BloodMasters, shouldn't be allowed to rule.
Then we meet Damon, a Daysider. Daysiders don't burn in the sun, are fast and sharp. And, apparently gorgeous.
Alexis and Damon feel a pull right off the bat. It helps when he saves her life almost immediately. Michael, on the other hand, nearly kills Damon within minutes of meeting him. Lots of animosity there.
Back to the world building. There's a novella that introduces us to this world, but I haven't read it and I kept getting bogged down in all the info dumping that makes up this book. So many factions, all with their own agendas, had to be introduced. Maybe if I had read the novella it would have made this one clearer.
Beyond that, I kept wondering where the romance was. The time that we actually spent with Damon and Alexis was great. Then would come pages of narrative that had me skimming. I can see an instant attraction that morphs into love. Imprinting is something that I get. So that part worked for me. But there wasn't really very much of it, especially for a Harlequin.
The action in this book is great. Monsters and guns and fighting to the death, interspersed with some steamy scenes that include the biting of necks. I liked those bits.
But I was left with questions...lots and lots of questions. Where did these vampires come from? They've been under the earth for centuries? But we didn't have clue they were there? Why did they go into hibernation? Had they killed off most of the humans a millennia ago and slept until those they left repopulated the world? Where were their cities? I don't know, I just had questions.
From the summary of the next book, Nightmaster, it doesn't sound like any of the same characters are going to be in it. I think I'm going to have to find the novella, Holiday with a Vampire, and check that out before I move onto another one in this series.
Three and a half bookmarks, rounded to a four for Goodreads.
*Thank you, NetGalley and Harlequin, for the opportunity to read this book.
June 28, 2013
Tensions between human and vampire factions are escalating. Peace hangs in the balance. Like two ill-fated stars, Alexia Fox and Damon are destined to collide. She's a seductive human operative on a mission to infiltrate an illegal vampire colony. He's a vampire and represents everything she loathes, and all that she desires. Their attraction is scorching, immediate...and could explode like the fragile truce they've both been fighting independently to preserve. Now the world's last hope hinges on their ability to work together. As enemies they are doomed, but as allies they just might save the world
Received in ebook format from the publisher via www.netgalley.com
Expansionists want to extend vampire territory into human space since they are running out of space. The two are sent by their own sides to investigate illegal building and find an instant mutual attraction, despite the opposing sides.
The appearance of Lysander, a daysider like Damon throws the collaboration into turmoil as no one knows who to trust. A battle ensues, Damon wins and finally Alexia and Damon get to the new colony, where, by sheer coincidence it appears that Damon is an old friend of the leader, so is allowed access. Here humans and all breeds of vampires can survive without enslaving anyone.
Damon keeps having these dark spells, where he becomes over emotional for a sub vampire and reaches unexpected strength, making him stronger than even a full blood vampire. Alexia believes she can save him and pull him back from these dark moments and she goes some way to achieve this (bleugh woman thinks she can save a man by changing his violent temper)
The enclave gets attacked, friends become enemies, enemies friends, and rescue comes from an unexpected source.
There is an awful lot of talking and only occasional bouts of action as Alexia and Damon try to work through their mission. Despite all the theories being expounded between the two, in the end I found it all rather tiring, and I lost interest. I like two things from my vampires: plenty of fighting and plenty of sex. The fights scenes, when they arrived were good, and the rare sex scenes sexy. Unfortunately neither happened that frequently
An awful lot of information was parted over to the reader by people standing around talking. Damon’s mission was too full of "oh did i not tell you about that? Whoops!" It's rare that I suggest that a book could do with being longer, but if more of the back story/world could have been built up, then there would be less of the brain dump by conversation. I understand the reasons behind much of the talking (it was a means to an end) but there were bits of the back story that could have been handled differently
Received in ebook format from the publisher via www.netgalley.com
Expansionists want to extend vampire territory into human space since they are running out of space. The two are sent by their own sides to investigate illegal building and find an instant mutual attraction, despite the opposing sides.
The appearance of Lysander, a daysider like Damon throws the collaboration into turmoil as no one knows who to trust. A battle ensues, Damon wins and finally Alexia and Damon get to the new colony, where, by sheer coincidence it appears that Damon is an old friend of the leader, so is allowed access. Here humans and all breeds of vampires can survive without enslaving anyone.
Damon keeps having these dark spells, where he becomes over emotional for a sub vampire and reaches unexpected strength, making him stronger than even a full blood vampire. Alexia believes she can save him and pull him back from these dark moments and she goes some way to achieve this (bleugh woman thinks she can save a man by changing his violent temper)
The enclave gets attacked, friends become enemies, enemies friends, and rescue comes from an unexpected source.
There is an awful lot of talking and only occasional bouts of action as Alexia and Damon try to work through their mission. Despite all the theories being expounded between the two, in the end I found it all rather tiring, and I lost interest. I like two things from my vampires: plenty of fighting and plenty of sex. The fights scenes, when they arrived were good, and the rare sex scenes sexy. Unfortunately neither happened that frequently
An awful lot of information was parted over to the reader by people standing around talking. Damon’s mission was too full of "oh did i not tell you about that? Whoops!" It's rare that I suggest that a book could do with being longer, but if more of the back story/world could have been built up, then there would be less of the brain dump by conversation. I understand the reasons behind much of the talking (it was a means to an end) but there were bits of the back story that could have been handled differently
August 12, 2013
Title: Daysider
Series: Nightsiders Book #1
Author: Susan Krinard
Genre: Romance/Sci-Fi and Fantasy
Blurb: Human/vampire relations are in turmoil in a stunning new series by New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Susan Krinard
Tensions between human and vampire factions are escalating. Peace hangs in the balance. And like two ill-fated stars, Alexia Fox and Damon are destined to collide. She's a seductive human operative on a mission to infiltrate an illegal vampire colony. He's a vampire and represents everything she loathes-and all that she desires. Their attraction is scorching, immediate...and could explode like the fragile truce they've both been fighting independently to preserve. Now the world's last hope hinges on their ability to work together. As enemies they are doomed, but as allies they just might save the world.
Thoughts: First off, let me say that paranormal romances are my favorite genre. I love how authors can take us into a completely new world, and make it so very believable. I especially love when they can spin it in a totally new way and make it sound so plausible. It's a real credit to the author when they can come up with a new world, or a new planet, and really suck readers into a story. With that said, I really liked the idea behind this novel. Reading the blurb, I was really excited about it. And while I enjoyed it, I did have a big critique on it.
There is just so much going on in this story. While that is not necessarily a bad thing, when it comes to a book with the length of a Harlequin Nocturne novel it can detract from the story - and the characters. For me, it felt like I spent so much time trying to sort out the world, the different types of vampires/creatures, the subdivisions of vampires/creatures, the factions, etc. that it was difficult to become fully engaged with the characters and their story. I felt like the world would have been better served with a much lengthier book. All this information just felt crammed into this novel.
The story is well-written, but too jam-packed - enough so that the story itself suffers for it. However, on a more positive note, with all the groundwork laid out in this book hopefully it won't be an issue for the next one in the series!
Rate: C
Review By: Sarah
http://www.thebookreadinggals.com
Series: Nightsiders Book #1
Author: Susan Krinard
Genre: Romance/Sci-Fi and Fantasy
Blurb: Human/vampire relations are in turmoil in a stunning new series by New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Susan Krinard
Tensions between human and vampire factions are escalating. Peace hangs in the balance. And like two ill-fated stars, Alexia Fox and Damon are destined to collide. She's a seductive human operative on a mission to infiltrate an illegal vampire colony. He's a vampire and represents everything she loathes-and all that she desires. Their attraction is scorching, immediate...and could explode like the fragile truce they've both been fighting independently to preserve. Now the world's last hope hinges on their ability to work together. As enemies they are doomed, but as allies they just might save the world.
Thoughts: First off, let me say that paranormal romances are my favorite genre. I love how authors can take us into a completely new world, and make it so very believable. I especially love when they can spin it in a totally new way and make it sound so plausible. It's a real credit to the author when they can come up with a new world, or a new planet, and really suck readers into a story. With that said, I really liked the idea behind this novel. Reading the blurb, I was really excited about it. And while I enjoyed it, I did have a big critique on it.
There is just so much going on in this story. While that is not necessarily a bad thing, when it comes to a book with the length of a Harlequin Nocturne novel it can detract from the story - and the characters. For me, it felt like I spent so much time trying to sort out the world, the different types of vampires/creatures, the subdivisions of vampires/creatures, the factions, etc. that it was difficult to become fully engaged with the characters and their story. I felt like the world would have been better served with a much lengthier book. All this information just felt crammed into this novel.
The story is well-written, but too jam-packed - enough so that the story itself suffers for it. However, on a more positive note, with all the groundwork laid out in this book hopefully it won't be an issue for the next one in the series!
Rate: C
Review By: Sarah
http://www.thebookreadinggals.com
November 16, 2014
Two and half stars. I remember when Krinard was one of the very few paranormal romance authors back in the mid 90's before the genre took over the romance section. At the time her stuff seemed fresh and exciting. Fast fast forward twenty years and here she is still writing vampire stories in a market long ago saturated.
Her attempt to breath some life into the genre involves a future in which the world is divided into human cities and vampire cities that maintain an unease truce. The concept strongly reminded me of Jacqueline Lichtenberg's cult classic 1970's Sime/Gen series, which also included humans split between vampire like Simes and human like Gens down right down to a suspicious new settlement and agents from either side having to learn to work together.
"Daysider"'s concept and plot should have made for a strong and compelling story. Unfortunately the book was poorly paced, heavily padded and desperately in need of further revisions. The setup and initial world building were interesting, but soon the story took a wrong turn. Pitifully, it uses the tired insta-love crutch and all forward momentum is halted. Instead of the two lovebirds coming together through experience they bizarrely spend page upon page analyzing ad nauseam a handful of facts trying to discern the various political implications. Both are holding back information and periodically they will add in one of those hidden facts and the whole discussion will begin anew. The thing is the politics aren't that complicated or interesting but for the next 200 or so pages this futile exercise will repeated over and over again by various characters mired in brain numbing discussions. The story doesn't become interesting again until the last third of the book, with the final few chapters being jammed packed with action sequences.
I actually am really intrigued with the world, and there is a lot of scope for further exploration. However, I am leery of reading any further Nocturne books based on the two I've recently read.
Her attempt to breath some life into the genre involves a future in which the world is divided into human cities and vampire cities that maintain an unease truce. The concept strongly reminded me of Jacqueline Lichtenberg's cult classic 1970's Sime/Gen series, which also included humans split between vampire like Simes and human like Gens down right down to a suspicious new settlement and agents from either side having to learn to work together.
"Daysider"'s concept and plot should have made for a strong and compelling story. Unfortunately the book was poorly paced, heavily padded and desperately in need of further revisions. The setup and initial world building were interesting, but soon the story took a wrong turn. Pitifully, it uses the tired insta-love crutch and all forward momentum is halted. Instead of the two lovebirds coming together through experience they bizarrely spend page upon page analyzing ad nauseam a handful of facts trying to discern the various political implications. Both are holding back information and periodically they will add in one of those hidden facts and the whole discussion will begin anew. The thing is the politics aren't that complicated or interesting but for the next 200 or so pages this futile exercise will repeated over and over again by various characters mired in brain numbing discussions. The story doesn't become interesting again until the last third of the book, with the final few chapters being jammed packed with action sequences.
I actually am really intrigued with the world, and there is a lot of scope for further exploration. However, I am leery of reading any further Nocturne books based on the two I've recently read.
July 14, 2013
Daysider was one of those books where there were so many things that I absolutely loved. The main reason I read it as with the majority of the books I read is for the romance. This book has a hero, a heroine, sex scenes, a happily ever after, and absolutely no romance. For the most of the book Alexia and Damon hate each other, dislikes what the other supports, and has absolutely no trust for the other. The constant hate and disdain makes it difficult to see them in their happily ever after.
I need passion and want and desire in my romance. I most definitely need the chase. The couple and their pursuit of one another is what makes the romance romantic.
Now let’s move on to the awesome, the world and the dynamics of that world. The world is dark and violent, and almost could be considered post-apocalyptic. Around thirty years ago there was an Awakening and vampires made an appearance to humans for the first time. There were battles and war and a fight for supremacy that ended with an armistice. This allowed for humans and vampires to have some peace from each other while staying in their own areas. Nothing is ever that perfect and not everyone does exactly as they should. It was also impossible to keeps the species separate and now there are mixed bloods, half breeds, and some with mutations.
Alexis and Damon are neither human or Nightsider (vampire.) There is not a comfortable place for them in any society. They are similar in that they are living a half-life among people that will never accept them. Who better to send into the no man’s land known as the Zone to investigate what may very well be the start of something extraordinary or the start of someone stretching their boundaries where they shouldn’t? Just when I started believing that Damon and Alexis were merely expendable pawns Krinard kept doing the unexpected with this world and I was shocked by much of what was really going on.
I need passion and want and desire in my romance. I most definitely need the chase. The couple and their pursuit of one another is what makes the romance romantic.
Now let’s move on to the awesome, the world and the dynamics of that world. The world is dark and violent, and almost could be considered post-apocalyptic. Around thirty years ago there was an Awakening and vampires made an appearance to humans for the first time. There were battles and war and a fight for supremacy that ended with an armistice. This allowed for humans and vampires to have some peace from each other while staying in their own areas. Nothing is ever that perfect and not everyone does exactly as they should. It was also impossible to keeps the species separate and now there are mixed bloods, half breeds, and some with mutations.
Alexis and Damon are neither human or Nightsider (vampire.) There is not a comfortable place for them in any society. They are similar in that they are living a half-life among people that will never accept them. Who better to send into the no man’s land known as the Zone to investigate what may very well be the start of something extraordinary or the start of someone stretching their boundaries where they shouldn’t? Just when I started believing that Damon and Alexis were merely expendable pawns Krinard kept doing the unexpected with this world and I was shocked by much of what was really going on.
October 30, 2014
Daysider opens with a detailed explanation of the world Susan Krinard has created and believe me, you will need it. This is a new series so we have a lot to absorb about the vampires and humans, and since the plot includes a calculated, high stakes game of cat and mouse between the ruling council in Erebus (Citadel) and the leaders of the Enclave, readers need to understand how this all came to pass. Each side wants a bigger piece of the Zone, which is this no man's land between the strictly controlled areas inhabited by vampires and humans, but neither side wants to be charged with breaking the tentative peace treaty that's been in place since the end of the war.
Damon is a Darketan working for the Council and Alexia is a Daysider agent working for the humans. They are both considered different in their respective communities because of their mixed heritage. Each has been tasked with investigating a secret settlement that might be staging a rebellion of sorts, and when they encounter each other in the Zone an uneasy truce is declared so they can work together in obtaining intel. Neither anticipated the almost instant attraction that burns between them like a fuse on dynamite just waiting to explode.
As mentioned before, there is a lot of information to absorb but that's usually the case with a new series, so just go into it knowing that some of the details might feel repetitious. The action and suspense is balanced nicely with a passionate involvement between Damon and Alexia. The progression from enemies to lovers wasn't necessarily a gradual thing considering the timeline of events, but it was instinctual and full of heat, starting more like an outlet, then developing into a fierce need. Those feelings also change as they began to trust each other more and share their individual stories. Daysiders is what I would classify as a cross between Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance, and it's something readers of both genres would enjoy.
Damon is a Darketan working for the Council and Alexia is a Daysider agent working for the humans. They are both considered different in their respective communities because of their mixed heritage. Each has been tasked with investigating a secret settlement that might be staging a rebellion of sorts, and when they encounter each other in the Zone an uneasy truce is declared so they can work together in obtaining intel. Neither anticipated the almost instant attraction that burns between them like a fuse on dynamite just waiting to explode.
As mentioned before, there is a lot of information to absorb but that's usually the case with a new series, so just go into it knowing that some of the details might feel repetitious. The action and suspense is balanced nicely with a passionate involvement between Damon and Alexia. The progression from enemies to lovers wasn't necessarily a gradual thing considering the timeline of events, but it was instinctual and full of heat, starting more like an outlet, then developing into a fierce need. Those feelings also change as they began to trust each other more and share their individual stories. Daysiders is what I would classify as a cross between Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance, and it's something readers of both genres would enjoy.
February 20, 2015
3 stars = pretty good. Daysider is the first full length foray into Krinard's complex `vampire apocalypse' Nightsider world which was introduced in the prequel "Halfway to Dawn" ( from Holiday with a Vampire 4). Krinard continues with her enemies-to-lovers theme as both of her characters, a half human/vampire Dhampir agent for the humans and a day-walking vampire for the vampire Nightsiders, come together on a scouting mission centered around a splinter Nightsider colony that popped up in neutral territory.
I like both of the leads who are on the fringes of their own worlds, and the initial enmity between the pair is a nice tension builder. I did like the book, but Krinard has so much going on in the background that this would have probably worked better in a more urban fantasy romance framework because the relationship doesn't really get developed past the physical before the `I love yous' and the culmination of the conflict and the big reveal of the conspiracy in background part of the plot ends up being pretty info-dump-y.
Still I did enjoy the story enough to go back and check out the prequel, and I think to clarify the world a bit more I would like to see another story set within a Nightsider city, maybe between a human serf and a progressive Bloodmaster, because I'd like a better idea as to how that part of the `world' works.
ARC via NetGalley - I received no compensation for my review and my opinions are my own.
I like both of the leads who are on the fringes of their own worlds, and the initial enmity between the pair is a nice tension builder. I did like the book, but Krinard has so much going on in the background that this would have probably worked better in a more urban fantasy romance framework because the relationship doesn't really get developed past the physical before the `I love yous' and the culmination of the conflict and the big reveal of the conspiracy in background part of the plot ends up being pretty info-dump-y.
Still I did enjoy the story enough to go back and check out the prequel, and I think to clarify the world a bit more I would like to see another story set within a Nightsider city, maybe between a human serf and a progressive Bloodmaster, because I'd like a better idea as to how that part of the `world' works.
ARC via NetGalley - I received no compensation for my review and my opinions are my own.
August 3, 2013
Our Review, by LITERAL ADDICTION's Pack Alpha - Michelle L. Olson
*eARC received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
-Actual rating 4.5 Skulls
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It was like a Sci-Fi mixed with an Urban Fantasy, mixed with a Paranormal Romance and had me hooked from the very beginning.
Susan somehow managed to combine heart stopping action and edge of your seat suspense with enough romance to keep diehard Paranormal Romance fans happy while still making Urban Fantasy lovers want more. There was also a deliciously dark edge to things.
The world building was done wonderfully, the characters were well developed and instantly likable (or reviled) - except of course for those times when they were one or the other and ended up being the opposite. ;-)- and the story was fast paced and full of intrigue.
This was a book that I grabbed from NetGalley because it looked interesting and because I knew we would be hosting Susan for her Urban Fantasy debut, but it ended up being a read that I couldn't put down. I can't wait for more of this series... If you want a unique Urban Fantasy Romance with a bit of a Sci-Fi feel that has tons of action, fascinating plot twists, and major room for future installment potential then this is definitely a book you need to check out!
*eARC received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
-Actual rating 4.5 Skulls
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It was like a Sci-Fi mixed with an Urban Fantasy, mixed with a Paranormal Romance and had me hooked from the very beginning.
Susan somehow managed to combine heart stopping action and edge of your seat suspense with enough romance to keep diehard Paranormal Romance fans happy while still making Urban Fantasy lovers want more. There was also a deliciously dark edge to things.
The world building was done wonderfully, the characters were well developed and instantly likable (or reviled) - except of course for those times when they were one or the other and ended up being the opposite. ;-)- and the story was fast paced and full of intrigue.
This was a book that I grabbed from NetGalley because it looked interesting and because I knew we would be hosting Susan for her Urban Fantasy debut, but it ended up being a read that I couldn't put down. I can't wait for more of this series... If you want a unique Urban Fantasy Romance with a bit of a Sci-Fi feel that has tons of action, fascinating plot twists, and major room for future installment potential then this is definitely a book you need to check out!
August 26, 2013
Susan Krinard is one of my favorite paranormal romance authors, so I was pleased to find this at Netgalley. However, DAYSIDER suffers a bit from the Harlequin treatment; there's so much Krinard has developed for this world but so little space to tell it in that I found myself getting tired of all the infodumping that separated the snappy dialogue and the sexy tension between the two main characters. The story coalesced into something thrilling near the end, but for such a short book, it sure took a while to get there.
This is more complex than a lot of Harlequin novels, with many threads and motivations combining, sometimes in confusing ways. The action, when it comes, is well written, and the sex scenes are pretty steamy, but I was left wondering what happened sometimes when I'd read the slower bits too fast in order to get to the romance. Everyone is manipulating everyone else here, and it's hard to tell who the good guys are. I suspect this book would benefit from a second reading, but I'm not sure I want to go through the long sections of infodumping. I wonder the short prequel to this series might help explain things.
Here's hoping the next books in the series have more even pacing and a little less complexity.
Received as a free digital ARC via Netgalley and the publisher.
This is more complex than a lot of Harlequin novels, with many threads and motivations combining, sometimes in confusing ways. The action, when it comes, is well written, and the sex scenes are pretty steamy, but I was left wondering what happened sometimes when I'd read the slower bits too fast in order to get to the romance. Everyone is manipulating everyone else here, and it's hard to tell who the good guys are. I suspect this book would benefit from a second reading, but I'm not sure I want to go through the long sections of infodumping. I wonder the short prequel to this series might help explain things.
Here's hoping the next books in the series have more even pacing and a little less complexity.
Received as a free digital ARC via Netgalley and the publisher.
July 28, 2015
Good read. I liked the story and the characters. The main plot line itself is fairly simple-- go in, get the information and deal with this potential ally. But the universe is complicated and there are betrayals right and left. It got even more complicated when all the secrets started coming out, and to be honest, I'm still not exactly sure I understand all of them.
There is a fragile truce in existence since the vampires woke and the world broke out in war because the vampires wanted human slaves and the humans of course didn't want to Be slaves. The heroine is one of the half vampires born shortly after the war, all of whom are agents for the humans. The hero is what the humans call a Daysider, not human or vamp or a mix, but stronger than the average human. All Daysiders work for the vampires or Nightsiders. Humans all live in San Francisco, vampires all live in their own city not far away, and in between is a no-man's-land called the zone. (I had a little trouble remembering what was called which--were the vampires in the Compound or the Enclave? Or did it have some other name?) Anyway, an illegal colony of vampires has turned up out in the zone and the hero and heroine are sent by their respective bosses to investigate. And it takes off from there with many, many twists and turns.
There is a fragile truce in existence since the vampires woke and the world broke out in war because the vampires wanted human slaves and the humans of course didn't want to Be slaves. The heroine is one of the half vampires born shortly after the war, all of whom are agents for the humans. The hero is what the humans call a Daysider, not human or vamp or a mix, but stronger than the average human. All Daysiders work for the vampires or Nightsiders. Humans all live in San Francisco, vampires all live in their own city not far away, and in between is a no-man's-land called the zone. (I had a little trouble remembering what was called which--were the vampires in the Compound or the Enclave? Or did it have some other name?) Anyway, an illegal colony of vampires has turned up out in the zone and the hero and heroine are sent by their respective bosses to investigate. And it takes off from there with many, many twists and turns.
August 14, 2013
This book was kinda hard to get into at first because of the amount of information that is given to us. There are humans, vampires that live in the night, vampires that can walk in the day, two different types of half vampire half humans and some weird creature that I'm still not sure what they are exactly. All these creatures live between three areas and there is lots of political fighting. That's just stuff you learn in the first couple chapters. Then mix in double agents and science experiments and it kinda confused me in parts and I had to reread a few paragraphs to make sure I knew what was going on and I'm pretty sure I've got it.....maybe. I definitely liked the second half of the book al much better. The relationship between the two MCs was one that I was actually rooting for since the second they laid eyes on each other. They were both strong fierce people that needed each other in more ways then they realized. Their sense of honor and commitment to their own factions was something neither one could overlook, but they both wanted to so bad you could feel it raidate of the page. Looking forward to see if there will be more about this unique world.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.
December 29, 2014
I love this new world created by Susan Krinard!
I love Damon and Alexia! Damon is a daysider (a vampire who can go out in the sunlight) and Alexia is a dhampir (a child conceived when a vampire raped a human.) Alexia is brought up to hate vampires and is made to fight against them when older. She has to have a patch on her arm to be able to eat human food or she will die. While on a mission, Alexia and her partner (Michael) meet a daysider named Damon who says he would like to partner with them to find a vampire colony outside of their city. Alexia decides to take him up on his offer and to find out more about the daysiders. Michael disappears to find the colony and Alexia stays with Damon to search. Alexia and Damon are attacked. Damon tries to protect Alexia but is shot himself and passes out. When Alexia wakes up, her patch is missing. Who took it? She is now facing death from starvation. Alexia and Damon are together with no clue who to trust. With betrayal at every turn, will these two become lovers or maybe more? You will have to read to find out more.
I loved this book! I totally recommend it and can't wait to read the next two stories in this miniseries!
I love Damon and Alexia! Damon is a daysider (a vampire who can go out in the sunlight) and Alexia is a dhampir (a child conceived when a vampire raped a human.) Alexia is brought up to hate vampires and is made to fight against them when older. She has to have a patch on her arm to be able to eat human food or she will die. While on a mission, Alexia and her partner (Michael) meet a daysider named Damon who says he would like to partner with them to find a vampire colony outside of their city. Alexia decides to take him up on his offer and to find out more about the daysiders. Michael disappears to find the colony and Alexia stays with Damon to search. Alexia and Damon are attacked. Damon tries to protect Alexia but is shot himself and passes out. When Alexia wakes up, her patch is missing. Who took it? She is now facing death from starvation. Alexia and Damon are together with no clue who to trust. With betrayal at every turn, will these two become lovers or maybe more? You will have to read to find out more.
I loved this book! I totally recommend it and can't wait to read the next two stories in this miniseries!
December 29, 2013
This was... OK. It's about vampires. I typically don't pick up vampire novels any more, but this was Sue Krinard, who has a habit of doing "creatures" in an interesting way. And her vamps are kind of different, with an interesting world built around them. Only this book was about 2 half vampires who are kind of made for each other, literally, as in they need each other's kind of blood to live. And after Feehan I'm worn out on that sort of story. I slowly lost interest as the story moved along, and while I finished it didn't enjoy it all that much.
FYI, I started the next book because it was about the vampire society, only it turned out to be about the *nice* vampire who isn't like all the rest. He didn't sparkle, but I just dropped the book after I found that out. I hate the romance novel conceit that all heroes in a novel have to be Heroes.
FYI, I started the next book because it was about the vampire society, only it turned out to be about the *nice* vampire who isn't like all the rest. He didn't sparkle, but I just dropped the book after I found that out. I hate the romance novel conceit that all heroes in a novel have to be Heroes.
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