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Horngate Witches #2
Crimson Wind
THERE ARE GOOD GUYS. THERE ARE BAD GUYS. AND THEN THERE’S MAX.
Max knows what trusting the wrong person can cost you. Her former friend Giselle, a powerful witch, enslaved Max years ago, turning her into a Shadowblade—a deadly warrior compelled to fight for Giselle. But there’s more at stake now than Max’s thirst for revenge. The Guardians, overseers of the magical world, have declared war on humanity and on any witches not standing with them. Max and Giselle have come to an uneasy truce in order to protect what’s left of Horngate, their coven’s home. Max would do anything for Horngate—even give herself over to a mysterious otherworldly creature in the nearby mountains in exchange for his help. But first, she intends to save the mortal family she left behind. And Alexander, the Shadowblade warrior who could be her closest ally or her deadliest enemy, is going with her.
On a road trip into the unknown, Max and Alexander face wild magic, desperate enemies, and battles that bruise both body and soul. But the greatest challenge will come from unexpected revelations that test everything Max believes about who she is—and where her loyalties lie. . . .
Max knows what trusting the wrong person can cost you. Her former friend Giselle, a powerful witch, enslaved Max years ago, turning her into a Shadowblade—a deadly warrior compelled to fight for Giselle. But there’s more at stake now than Max’s thirst for revenge. The Guardians, overseers of the magical world, have declared war on humanity and on any witches not standing with them. Max and Giselle have come to an uneasy truce in order to protect what’s left of Horngate, their coven’s home. Max would do anything for Horngate—even give herself over to a mysterious otherworldly creature in the nearby mountains in exchange for his help. But first, she intends to save the mortal family she left behind. And Alexander, the Shadowblade warrior who could be her closest ally or her deadliest enemy, is going with her.
On a road trip into the unknown, Max and Alexander face wild magic, desperate enemies, and battles that bruise both body and soul. But the greatest challenge will come from unexpected revelations that test everything Max believes about who she is—and where her loyalties lie. . . .
368 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 28, 2010
40 people are currently reading
1603 people want to read
About the author
Diana Pharaoh Francis
44 books759 followersI was raised on a cattle ranch in Northern California (outside a town called Lincoln which is now part of an enormous sprawl). I taught myself to ride a horse at the age of six, as no one had the time to teach me—they were all busy learning how to irrigate, how to cajole an angry bull into another field, how to pull a calf… Afraid of heights, and absolutely sure I was going to die, I managed to scramble up on the back of a very patient and lazy strawberry roan destrier, and plod off into the sunset.
Thereafter, I spent much of my early life on horseback, or so far buried into a book that the rest of the world ceased to exist (much to the annoyance of my family—it took several attempts to get my attention). We all had very specific jobs on the ranch and mine was horses and cattle—out rounding up at dawn. And since I rode bareback, my standing request was to wake me up 5 minutes before everyone else headed for the barn—time enough to dress and eat my Wheaties, and no sleep time wasted on saddling.
After high school, I attended college after college, racking up a BA and MA in creative writing and a Ph.D. in literature and theory. My very patient and supportive husband traipsed across the Midwest and back to Montana for me (though my husband insists that he’s been running and hiding and I just keep finding him), where I now teach at the University of Montana-Western. We also a son Q-ball, who in our humbly unbiased opinions, is the most wonderful son ever produced, and a daughter, Princess Caesar, who is the most wonderful daughter ever produced.
I have a fascination for the Victorians, weather, geology, horses, plants and mythology, I like spicy food, chocolate and cheesecake, and I have an odd sense of humor. (Or so I’ve been told. Often.) Incidentally, the Pharaoh is in fact my real name, and oddly enough, is of British origin.
Some of my current favorite sf/f writers are Ilona Andrews, Carol Berg, C.E. Murphy, Patty Briggs, Lynn Flewelling, Rachel Caine, David Coe, and Anne Bishop.
Thereafter, I spent much of my early life on horseback, or so far buried into a book that the rest of the world ceased to exist (much to the annoyance of my family—it took several attempts to get my attention). We all had very specific jobs on the ranch and mine was horses and cattle—out rounding up at dawn. And since I rode bareback, my standing request was to wake me up 5 minutes before everyone else headed for the barn—time enough to dress and eat my Wheaties, and no sleep time wasted on saddling.
After high school, I attended college after college, racking up a BA and MA in creative writing and a Ph.D. in literature and theory. My very patient and supportive husband traipsed across the Midwest and back to Montana for me (though my husband insists that he’s been running and hiding and I just keep finding him), where I now teach at the University of Montana-Western. We also a son Q-ball, who in our humbly unbiased opinions, is the most wonderful son ever produced, and a daughter, Princess Caesar, who is the most wonderful daughter ever produced.
I have a fascination for the Victorians, weather, geology, horses, plants and mythology, I like spicy food, chocolate and cheesecake, and I have an odd sense of humor. (Or so I’ve been told. Often.) Incidentally, the Pharaoh is in fact my real name, and oddly enough, is of British origin.
Some of my current favorite sf/f writers are Ilona Andrews, Carol Berg, C.E. Murphy, Patty Briggs, Lynn Flewelling, Rachel Caine, David Coe, and Anne Bishop.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 179 reviews
June 2, 2017
4.5 Stars!
RTC!
RTC!
January 2, 2011
I was disappointed by this book. Having read the first one, which had flaws, but was nevertheless a promising novel, I eagerly awaited the second installment. But author didn't worked on aforementioned flaws, and even added a couple of new ones.
Main story of this book just isn't very interesting. Instead of focusing on catastrophic events which began at the end of the fist book in this series, main focus is on rescue mission. Problem is - author failed to make me empathize with those who heroine is supposed to save, and with heroine herself. Max was a little too one-dimensional in the first book, and I hoped that miz Francis would flesh her out a bit, maybe adds a couple of flaws, some more back-story, etc. Instead Max got more marysueish. She goes out of her way to help a complete strangers, we are told how she risks everything, even her important rescue mission to save some people whom she just met and knows nothing about. It is overdone, and unrealistic even for UF genre. That episodes didn't add anything of value to main plot, other than group of secondary characters who started to respect and adore our heroine.
Speaking of main plot - rescue mission's conclusion was pretty bad too, not only it still wasn't shown to us why should we care about those people, but also they were introduced as uncaring, crass and one-dimensional bunch of jerks.
Second main character, Alexander, also hasn't got more development. He is constantly presented to us as some kind of alfa-male, top dog Shadowblade, but instead he feels more like beta-male at best. He is even less fleshed out than Max. Honestly, I was more interested in Max's brief flirt with angel than in their supposedly epic romance.
Main story of this book just isn't very interesting. Instead of focusing on catastrophic events which began at the end of the fist book in this series, main focus is on rescue mission. Problem is - author failed to make me empathize with those who heroine is supposed to save, and with heroine herself. Max was a little too one-dimensional in the first book, and I hoped that miz Francis would flesh her out a bit, maybe adds a couple of flaws, some more back-story, etc. Instead Max got more marysueish. She goes out of her way to help a complete strangers, we are told how she risks everything, even her important rescue mission to save some people whom she just met and knows nothing about. It is overdone, and unrealistic even for UF genre. That episodes didn't add anything of value to main plot, other than group of secondary characters who started to respect and adore our heroine.
Speaking of main plot - rescue mission's conclusion was pretty bad too, not only it still wasn't shown to us why should we care about those people, but also they were introduced as uncaring, crass and one-dimensional bunch of jerks.
Second main character, Alexander, also hasn't got more development. He is constantly presented to us as some kind of alfa-male, top dog Shadowblade, but instead he feels more like beta-male at best. He is even less fleshed out than Max. Honestly, I was more interested in Max's brief flirt with angel than in their supposedly epic romance.
January 11, 2011
Looking for a fast paced action book with no nonsense type of female heroine who frustrates you?
This is the book for you.
Book 2 of the Horngate Witches will not disappoint.
Promises were given, prize waiting to be claimed, family/people to rescue and a place called "Horngate" to be rebuild.
Max does not seem to be getting any breather at any moment. And.. Max will still be Max who will not hestitate to sacrifice herself for the greater good.
She sleeps, she dreams, she has difficulty in waking up each time.
With the Guardian declaring war on humanity, Max is running out of time. She decides to do something to it before she sets off to retrieve her family to Horngate.
After making an agreement with Scooter, Max sets off with Alexander on a road trip home.
In book 2, there were development of the 2 main lead characters, introduction of some new characters and some secrets were revealed which you do not see it coming.
And the ending? It killed me. *lol*
Oh... and I thought I sensed something between Max and Tutresiel.
Perhaps that will be explain in book 3? Choices... Choices..
This is the book for you.
Book 2 of the Horngate Witches will not disappoint.
Promises were given, prize waiting to be claimed, family/people to rescue and a place called "Horngate" to be rebuild.
Max does not seem to be getting any breather at any moment. And.. Max will still be Max who will not hestitate to sacrifice herself for the greater good.
She sleeps, she dreams, she has difficulty in waking up each time.
With the Guardian declaring war on humanity, Max is running out of time. She decides to do something to it before she sets off to retrieve her family to Horngate.
After making an agreement with Scooter, Max sets off with Alexander on a road trip home.
In book 2, there were development of the 2 main lead characters, introduction of some new characters and some secrets were revealed which you do not see it coming.
And the ending? It killed me. *lol*
Oh... and I thought I sensed something between Max and Tutresiel.
Perhaps that will be explain in book 3? Choices... Choices..
August 5, 2012
So, I liked this book even more than the first. Max, the main character, is REALLY tough-chick, but I dunno, I really like the world-building in this series, and I love how savage Alexander is about Max, the chemistry between them is great. Sometimes the author relies on phrases like "panties in a twist" and "ass on your shoulders" a BIT much, but I enjoyed it and picked up #3 immediately! Very good series for people who like their Urban Fantasy grittttty.
March 2, 2013
I'm divided on what to rate this book. On one hand, I want to give this one 4 stars. On the other, 3.5 stars for a few elements that throw the story off a bit for me. I figure I can decide what the rating is once I finish my review.
Max is the Prime. She is the leader of the Shadowblades and Sunspears of the Horngate Coven. War is riding the winds, witches are being recruited to fight a battle between Guardians who want to thrust magic back into the world and Humanity. Horngate barely survived the fight on its grounds and Max has worked hard to rebuild. She's determined to bring back her family to the coven for safety and to fulfill the promise she's made to Scooter. For what she believes in, Max is willing to fight with everything she has and bleed until her very soul is bare before she gives up anything or anyone she cares for.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. Bitter Night built a fun foundation to delve into and this novel has been a nice ride. I'll be moving onto the next book in the series. I really want to know what Max does in the webs with Scooter.
3.5 Stars it is!
Max is the Prime. She is the leader of the Shadowblades and Sunspears of the Horngate Coven. War is riding the winds, witches are being recruited to fight a battle between Guardians who want to thrust magic back into the world and Humanity. Horngate barely survived the fight on its grounds and Max has worked hard to rebuild. She's determined to bring back her family to the coven for safety and to fulfill the promise she's made to Scooter. For what she believes in, Max is willing to fight with everything she has and bleed until her very soul is bare before she gives up anything or anyone she cares for.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. Bitter Night built a fun foundation to delve into and this novel has been a nice ride. I'll be moving onto the next book in the series. I really want to know what Max does in the webs with Scooter.
3.5 Stars it is!
January 6, 2011
Reading a Horngate Witches book is a bit like watching a big summer movie. Action! Explosions! Impossibly tough characters doing awesome things! It’s a heck of a ride. Crimson Wind, the second installment in the series, is better than the first and quite enjoyable.
Crimson Wind benefits, in part, from my having read Bitter Night and gotten an idea of what to expect from the series. These really aren’t much like the usual urban fantasies. Some of Diana Pharaoh Francis’s changes to the formula are excellent, but they can be jarring if you go in with the wrong expectations. The primary setting is neither a gritty city nor a quaint small town but an isolated mountain stronghold; the supernatural beings are unusual for the genre; Max is abrasive even by urban fantasy standards; and the story is told in third person through the eyes of two narrators. In addition, Crimson Wind proves Francis is not creating a world perennially on the verge of apocalypse but never quite getting there, nor is she creating a post-apocalyptic world. This is a during-the-apocalypse world. I think I gasped aloud when a well-known landmark went kaboom partway through the book. Francis is not afraid to blow up the scenery and change the world right before our eyes.
Familiarity with the series’ unique setting isn’t the only reason I liked this one better, though. The main issues I had with Bitter Night were that I couldn’t connect to Max and didn’t find the romantic subplot convincing. Here, Francis fleshes out Max further, showcasing both of the central facets of her personality — her reflexive anger and her selfless heroism — and making her likable despite her razor-sharp tongue. Her nascent relationship with Alexander feels more fully drawn too, and this time around the physical attraction and the hint of a deeper connection really come through the pages.
The impetus for the plot is that Max learns her mortal family in California is in danger. She takes Alexander with her and travels there, both of them dogged by dire visions and prophecies. Along the way they encounter some of the chaos kicked up by the Guardians and try to save people whenever they can. These adventures are suspenseful and reveal aspects of Max’s personality, and her eventual reunion with her family is deeply emotional for Max and for the reader.
Francis keeps the focus squarely on what Max and Alexander personally witness. On the one hand, I like this. It adds to the immediacy of their mission and helps keep the story personal rather than making it a big-picture story. On the other hand, once in a while I wished Max would turn on the car radio and at least give us a brief hint of what is happening in the rest of the world as the Guardians rise.
Crimson Wind ends on a cliffhanger and will leave readers wanting more and wondering how Max will get herself out of her current pickle. If anyone can do it, it’s Max…
Crimson Wind benefits, in part, from my having read Bitter Night and gotten an idea of what to expect from the series. These really aren’t much like the usual urban fantasies. Some of Diana Pharaoh Francis’s changes to the formula are excellent, but they can be jarring if you go in with the wrong expectations. The primary setting is neither a gritty city nor a quaint small town but an isolated mountain stronghold; the supernatural beings are unusual for the genre; Max is abrasive even by urban fantasy standards; and the story is told in third person through the eyes of two narrators. In addition, Crimson Wind proves Francis is not creating a world perennially on the verge of apocalypse but never quite getting there, nor is she creating a post-apocalyptic world. This is a during-the-apocalypse world. I think I gasped aloud when a well-known landmark went kaboom partway through the book. Francis is not afraid to blow up the scenery and change the world right before our eyes.
Familiarity with the series’ unique setting isn’t the only reason I liked this one better, though. The main issues I had with Bitter Night were that I couldn’t connect to Max and didn’t find the romantic subplot convincing. Here, Francis fleshes out Max further, showcasing both of the central facets of her personality — her reflexive anger and her selfless heroism — and making her likable despite her razor-sharp tongue. Her nascent relationship with Alexander feels more fully drawn too, and this time around the physical attraction and the hint of a deeper connection really come through the pages.
The impetus for the plot is that Max learns her mortal family in California is in danger. She takes Alexander with her and travels there, both of them dogged by dire visions and prophecies. Along the way they encounter some of the chaos kicked up by the Guardians and try to save people whenever they can. These adventures are suspenseful and reveal aspects of Max’s personality, and her eventual reunion with her family is deeply emotional for Max and for the reader.
Francis keeps the focus squarely on what Max and Alexander personally witness. On the one hand, I like this. It adds to the immediacy of their mission and helps keep the story personal rather than making it a big-picture story. On the other hand, once in a while I wished Max would turn on the car radio and at least give us a brief hint of what is happening in the rest of the world as the Guardians rise.
Crimson Wind ends on a cliffhanger and will leave readers wanting more and wondering how Max will get herself out of her current pickle. If anyone can do it, it’s Max…
January 8, 2012
When you condense this down and look at the big picture, all that happened was Max went to save her family and brought them back to Horngate. That really is all. Some magical items were found, different paranormals were encountered, and the magician entity made an appearance too, but that wasn't incredibly important. Crimson Wind felt like it should have been a few chapters in a larger story, and I'm not really sure what the point is in continuing. The focus of this story was the love interest, not really a furthering of the plot. The big bad entity is expanding and conquering of course, but I just didn't get a feel for the world at large here. I also have a hard time getting through the overabundance of action. I can skip 10 to 20 pages, see that the good guys came out on top, and be perfectly fine. The action just isn't written is such a way that it's important to me. I don't need to know who kicks who where, and what awesome butt kicking skills the main character has. I don't see the purpose in this book, and don't see where this series is going. At some point I'm sure there will be an encounter between Giselle and Max, I'm sure the sorcerer slavery issue will be addressed, and I'm sure the main male love interest will continue to protect the main character and overuse the word "mine." It's a shame because I really enjoyed the first book in this series. I liked the shadowblade idea, and Max had an interesting history, but this book threw all of the good work done with the first book out the window. Some editing and a more complex plot would have done this book wonders.
January 30, 2012
I had the same issue with this one that I had with the first one, it's just a weird mix of pretty good urban fantasy and pretty bad romance. Alexander is a boring, extremely predictable hero, exactly the same as every guy in hundreds of romance novels and their interactions are trite and eye-rollingly silly. "One spark--one touch from Max--would ignite him into a conflagration. And this was not the time or place." Yeah, they were driving.
And the UF was weaker this time around too. The premise was that Max's family was in urgent and mortal danger. So she took a shower. And ate. And eventually they left. And stopped along the way to help Alexander's "sister" and her ex. And rescue some people. And have a weird adventure. And rescue some more people.. And get kidnapped and then help some more people. All while her family is supposedly being actively attacked. Her sense of urgency was really lacking considering the vision we were presented with. And the journey, while mostly interesting, was a bit too much. Maybe I could have done without the mage or the ice queens or something. It was just a lot. If it had all been related to the Guardians at least it would have made more sense.
So it wasn't bad or anything, it was just a bit too cluttered and the romance is really not to my taste. Max is an interesting character and I wish Alexander had some character beyond "typical hero." But the ending certainly has me curious about the next book, no surprise about that, cliffhangers are good for that.
And the UF was weaker this time around too. The premise was that Max's family was in urgent and mortal danger. So she took a shower. And ate. And eventually they left. And stopped along the way to help Alexander's "sister" and her ex. And rescue some people. And have a weird adventure. And rescue some more people.. And get kidnapped and then help some more people. All while her family is supposedly being actively attacked. Her sense of urgency was really lacking considering the vision we were presented with. And the journey, while mostly interesting, was a bit too much. Maybe I could have done without the mage or the ice queens or something. It was just a lot. If it had all been related to the Guardians at least it would have made more sense.
So it wasn't bad or anything, it was just a bit too cluttered and the romance is really not to my taste. Max is an interesting character and I wish Alexander had some character beyond "typical hero." But the ending certainly has me curious about the next book, no surprise about that, cliffhangers are good for that.
January 6, 2016
I think Francis somehow invaded my dreams or something and wrote an urban fantasy series just for me. This has everything I look for in UF: Very strong and intelligent female protagonist, equally strong and intelligent male love interest, a peril laden plot, lots of almost dying, the female saving the male as often as the other way around, the male strong and deadly but completely tender and gentle with the female and loyal to her to a point of recklessness, the man wants her even more than she wants him but he waits and doesn't force or push, and of course lots and lots of action, action, action. There are a few erotic scenes but they never get very far. I like the suspense with that although she takes it a little further than I would like. I like that we're seeing more of Max's personality and thus why her team is so loyal to her. Her kindness feels a little off but it's good that we see it.
The only thing I don't like in the series that she always ends with a cliffhanger.
Other than that there was only one problem that confused me and if anyone has the answer, please let me know: (big spoiler)
Highly recommended if your tastes are anything like mine.
The only thing I don't like in the series that she always ends with a cliffhanger.
Other than that there was only one problem that confused me and if anyone has the answer, please let me know: (big spoiler)
Highly recommended if your tastes are anything like mine.
December 27, 2010
I love, love, love this series!! Max is one of my absolute favorite female characters. I cannot come up with one single complaint about this book. I'm glad Alexander finally stepped up and became more aggressive. It was sexy as hell. Max definitely has to have a strong male who can keep up with her. There is a lot that goes on in this story. Max's ultimate goal is to locate her family and ensure their safety before having to surrender herself to a nameless and very powerful being that she has nicknamed "Scooter". She is sidetracked numerous times and she recruits several people along the way. There is also a lot of sexual tension and teasing between Alexander and Max. It was great ;) I also like that Tutresiel seems to be developing a crush on her. Maybe book three can end with Max in an Alexander and Tutresiel sandwich. I have my fingers crossed.
June 3, 2018
Why aren't there more people reading this?!
Again, this book was impossible to put down, I refused to do any work while reading it. I barely even ate!
Another action-packed book, there was no time to stop and relax and enjoy Max and Alexandre's relationship. But who wants romance and pink, fluffy unicorns when you have blood and death and the unexpected waiting right around the corner?!
If you're reading this review and haven't read the book, you should get right on it. It'll be fun, I guarantee it
Again, this book was impossible to put down, I refused to do any work while reading it. I barely even ate!
Another action-packed book, there was no time to stop and relax and enjoy Max and Alexandre's relationship. But who wants romance and pink, fluffy unicorns when you have blood and death and the unexpected waiting right around the corner?!
If you're reading this review and haven't read the book, you should get right on it. It'll be fun, I guarantee it
June 1, 2020
The action doesn't stop in this book, the world is going nuts and our characters are on a road trip. Max is great, she wants to save the world and everyone needs help. It ends with the start to the next adventure, so very much looking forward to the next one.
March 23, 2011
Originally posted at http://www.smexybooks.com/2011/03/rev...
Favorite Quote: “I swear I will fucking kill her this time.”
Bound to a witch who lied, betrayed, and tortured her into becoming the ultimate weapon, Max lives for the day she can finally exact revenge. But revenge will have to wait. Horngate and the world is under the threat of annihilation. The Guardians who control all the magic are tired of humans destroying the world and have decided to wipe the world clean and let magic reestablish itself. Any witches who do not join their cause are considered their enemy. Max will do anything to save Horngate and her family; including honoring a bargain Giselle made offering up Max to a supernatural being in exchange for his help. But first, Max has to find her family and bring them back to Horngate. Giselle sends Alexander with her. As Max and Alexander fight for their lives on the way to Max’s family, Max will learn some things about her past that will test her loyalties and question her future.
First off, let me say that I highly recommend reading Bitter Nights first. These books are not comfortable as a stand alone.
Crimson Wind takes place four weeks after Bitter Nights ended. Max and Giselle have agreed to an uneasy truce in order to rebuild and save Horngate. Alex has still not been asked to join Horngate but he has been given two premonitions that will change things at Horngate. As Max readies to leave Horngate to bring her family back she has to promise Scooter she will join him when she returns. He in return gives her a gift that all but guarantees she will. Giselle commands Alexander to go with her, warning him that his life is forfeit if Max does not return alive.
I’m on the fence with this book. I adore the world that Ms. Francis has created. Dynamically constructed characters combined with a dark and violent storyline captivated me in Bitter Nights.
Ms. Francis has a smooth writing style that fleshes out her characters in a physical manner. You can feel the emotions rising from the pages to engulf you. Realistic dialogue further enhances this.
In Crimson Wind however, Ms. Francis does a 180 and devotes almost the entire book on explaining and setting up a potential relationship between Max and Alex. We do not get much interaction of the Blades or Giselle. We also don’t much arc advancement. I felt as though Ms. Francis jumps the line and gives us a PNR storyline. It created a choppy storyline that dragged at times. It left me with many unanswered questions from Bitter Nights.
In here we divulge more into Max’s and Alex’s psyches and we hear both POV’s creating a better understanding to what they are felling about each other and themselves. Max is a fierce, loyal, courageous woman with a vulnerable streak. Her steel tempered by betrayal and hate-Giselle’s betrayal hurt her far more then she lets on. Max will sacrifice herself over and over to protect those she feels are in need. Friend or foe-it doesn’t matter.
Alex is the male version of Max, but not as vulnerable. He willingly to became a Shadowblade so the fine edge of martyrdom isn’t apparent in him as it is in Max. Alex wants Max with a consuming passion but also wants the loyalty she inspires from her blades. He needs to be part of something and so far Max and Giselle are blocking him.
Once Max and Alex get to Max’s family Max receives some information from her family that shocks her and further deepens the anger and betrayal she feels. We are only given a short time bonding with them and then we have to fight our way back to Horngate. I wish less time had been spent on the road trip and more time spent with Max’s family after they arrived back at Horngate. I really wanted to see how Max’s family deals Giselle.
The ending is a shocking climatic cliffhanger that had my jaw hitting the floor. I honestly slammed down the book and fumed. All in all Ms. Francis gives us an action packed and emotionally turbulent story that showcases what a clever and talented writer she is. But I can’t help but feel that this particular storyline would have been better served as perhaps the 3rd or 4th book in the series.
Rating: C
Favorite Quote: “I swear I will fucking kill her this time.”
Bound to a witch who lied, betrayed, and tortured her into becoming the ultimate weapon, Max lives for the day she can finally exact revenge. But revenge will have to wait. Horngate and the world is under the threat of annihilation. The Guardians who control all the magic are tired of humans destroying the world and have decided to wipe the world clean and let magic reestablish itself. Any witches who do not join their cause are considered their enemy. Max will do anything to save Horngate and her family; including honoring a bargain Giselle made offering up Max to a supernatural being in exchange for his help. But first, Max has to find her family and bring them back to Horngate. Giselle sends Alexander with her. As Max and Alexander fight for their lives on the way to Max’s family, Max will learn some things about her past that will test her loyalties and question her future.
First off, let me say that I highly recommend reading Bitter Nights first. These books are not comfortable as a stand alone.
Crimson Wind takes place four weeks after Bitter Nights ended. Max and Giselle have agreed to an uneasy truce in order to rebuild and save Horngate. Alex has still not been asked to join Horngate but he has been given two premonitions that will change things at Horngate. As Max readies to leave Horngate to bring her family back she has to promise Scooter she will join him when she returns. He in return gives her a gift that all but guarantees she will. Giselle commands Alexander to go with her, warning him that his life is forfeit if Max does not return alive.
I’m on the fence with this book. I adore the world that Ms. Francis has created. Dynamically constructed characters combined with a dark and violent storyline captivated me in Bitter Nights.
Ms. Francis has a smooth writing style that fleshes out her characters in a physical manner. You can feel the emotions rising from the pages to engulf you. Realistic dialogue further enhances this.
In Crimson Wind however, Ms. Francis does a 180 and devotes almost the entire book on explaining and setting up a potential relationship between Max and Alex. We do not get much interaction of the Blades or Giselle. We also don’t much arc advancement. I felt as though Ms. Francis jumps the line and gives us a PNR storyline. It created a choppy storyline that dragged at times. It left me with many unanswered questions from Bitter Nights.
In here we divulge more into Max’s and Alex’s psyches and we hear both POV’s creating a better understanding to what they are felling about each other and themselves. Max is a fierce, loyal, courageous woman with a vulnerable streak. Her steel tempered by betrayal and hate-Giselle’s betrayal hurt her far more then she lets on. Max will sacrifice herself over and over to protect those she feels are in need. Friend or foe-it doesn’t matter.
Alex is the male version of Max, but not as vulnerable. He willingly to became a Shadowblade so the fine edge of martyrdom isn’t apparent in him as it is in Max. Alex wants Max with a consuming passion but also wants the loyalty she inspires from her blades. He needs to be part of something and so far Max and Giselle are blocking him.
Once Max and Alex get to Max’s family Max receives some information from her family that shocks her and further deepens the anger and betrayal she feels. We are only given a short time bonding with them and then we have to fight our way back to Horngate. I wish less time had been spent on the road trip and more time spent with Max’s family after they arrived back at Horngate. I really wanted to see how Max’s family deals Giselle.
The ending is a shocking climatic cliffhanger that had my jaw hitting the floor. I honestly slammed down the book and fumed. All in all Ms. Francis gives us an action packed and emotionally turbulent story that showcases what a clever and talented writer she is. But I can’t help but feel that this particular storyline would have been better served as perhaps the 3rd or 4th book in the series.
Rating: C
July 13, 2014
Grade: F for Epic Fail!
The flaws in Bitter Night I accepted due to being the first in the series with sequels usually surpassing the first. Crimson Wind doesn’t follow this pattern. No, it goes the other way. It may be unfair to make this judgement after only 74 pages but I don’t think so.
Characters: Max is a tough bitch, an Uber-Alpha. It’s over the top. Alexander is also supposedly Alpha but um, he’s a bit wet and dull. We didn’t need his POV, it only served to add pages where none were required. Giselle is presented as the powerful witch presiding over the group when in fact she is Beta to Max’s Alpha, which is confusing considering their history as torturer and victim. The characters are misrepresented, under-developed and unappealing though the cast is a large one so there’s little time to get to know them all individually.
Romance: Forced. Max is reluctant to be with Alexander...because he’s a stalker. He worships the ground she walks on. She doesn’t say or think this. It’s my opinion of him. We’re told they have this hot sexual tension between them when there’s no evidence of that. There’s more chemistry between her and warrior angel, Tutresiel. Their witty banter was the only element I enjoyed which covered a very tiny percentage of the book.
Plot: To find, save and bring Max’s family back to Horngate.
Procrastination. By the time I gave up, Max hadn’t made it out of Horngate for this mission. She wasn’t even prepared to leave yet and I was almost 25% in. What took place in this time wasn't very interesting to me. It was just a lot of foreboding nonsense. However, I was intrigued by the fact that Max hadn't interacted with her family in 30 years which threw me. I was curious as to how Francis was going to make that work.
World-building: I was unconvinced by the world created in Bitter Night and wasn’t reassured in this one. It’s too easy to poke holes in it. There‘s a melding of mythologies that doesn’t quite work. The angels seem out of place. It’s a closed world where everything supernatural is a secret from the main population. However, Armageddon has now been unleashed on the world but we’ve yet to see the effect it has had outside of Horngate. Perhaps if I had read on this would’ve been rectified. On the whole, there are just too many questions and not enough answers.
I’m not curious to learn more.
The flaws in Bitter Night I accepted due to being the first in the series with sequels usually surpassing the first. Crimson Wind doesn’t follow this pattern. No, it goes the other way. It may be unfair to make this judgement after only 74 pages but I don’t think so.
Characters: Max is a tough bitch, an Uber-Alpha. It’s over the top. Alexander is also supposedly Alpha but um, he’s a bit wet and dull. We didn’t need his POV, it only served to add pages where none were required. Giselle is presented as the powerful witch presiding over the group when in fact she is Beta to Max’s Alpha, which is confusing considering their history as torturer and victim. The characters are misrepresented, under-developed and unappealing though the cast is a large one so there’s little time to get to know them all individually.
Romance: Forced. Max is reluctant to be with Alexander...because he’s a stalker. He worships the ground she walks on. She doesn’t say or think this. It’s my opinion of him. We’re told they have this hot sexual tension between them when there’s no evidence of that. There’s more chemistry between her and warrior angel, Tutresiel. Their witty banter was the only element I enjoyed which covered a very tiny percentage of the book.
Plot: To find, save and bring Max’s family back to Horngate.
Procrastination. By the time I gave up, Max hadn’t made it out of Horngate for this mission. She wasn’t even prepared to leave yet and I was almost 25% in. What took place in this time wasn't very interesting to me. It was just a lot of foreboding nonsense. However, I was intrigued by the fact that Max hadn't interacted with her family in 30 years which threw me. I was curious as to how Francis was going to make that work.
World-building: I was unconvinced by the world created in Bitter Night and wasn’t reassured in this one. It’s too easy to poke holes in it. There‘s a melding of mythologies that doesn’t quite work. The angels seem out of place. It’s a closed world where everything supernatural is a secret from the main population. However, Armageddon has now been unleashed on the world but we’ve yet to see the effect it has had outside of Horngate. Perhaps if I had read on this would’ve been rectified. On the whole, there are just too many questions and not enough answers.
I’m not curious to learn more.
December 30, 2010
This sequel was even better than the first book in the series! We pick up where we left off with Max trying to get Horngate back on track and repaired from the recent fights that nearly destroyed it. Max though has been having trouble sleeping and is plagued by the bargain that Giselle and she struck with the unknown force she nicknames "Scooter". He wants what he was promised, Max, but first Max wants to go get her human family and take them to Horngate so they will be safe. She and Scooter come to the agreement that he can wait a week for her to get her family but once she gets back she's all his.
Max and Alexander set off to retrieve Max's family. Alexander has not one but two prophecies hanging over his head, one regards his place at Horngate and the other is about Max. I really enjoyed Alexander I thought he stepped up a lot in this book, and he really got to show more of his emotions. Along the way to Max's family they encounter new characters that we will hopefully see in the next book. Max picks up strays where ever she goes, and it was great to see that despite how cold and unfeeling she thinks she can be she has a big heart. This book was all about the trials to finally get to Max's family, at one point you wonder if they are ever going to make it. They encounter wild magic and witness the beginnings of the world changing, more ShadowBlades and Sunspears from different coven's, and we get to meet someone Alexander cares about and calls family. Throughout their journey these two grow closer and are trying to decide whether to act on their feelings or in Max's case not to because of her fate with Scooter hanging over her head.
This book was amazing, we got everything that was alluded to in the first book. Definite character growth for Max and Alexander, though I wish we got to see more of the side characters, the entire book was Alexander and Max on the road and at the end they reached the family. I wished we could have seen more of the side characters because they always bring comedic relief and you can really tell that they care deeply for one another. These was also a big surprise in this book, and a betrayal of sorts. It was something that I definitely didn't see coming and can't wait for it to be explored fully.
Max and Alexander set off to retrieve Max's family. Alexander has not one but two prophecies hanging over his head, one regards his place at Horngate and the other is about Max. I really enjoyed Alexander I thought he stepped up a lot in this book, and he really got to show more of his emotions. Along the way to Max's family they encounter new characters that we will hopefully see in the next book. Max picks up strays where ever she goes, and it was great to see that despite how cold and unfeeling she thinks she can be she has a big heart. This book was all about the trials to finally get to Max's family, at one point you wonder if they are ever going to make it. They encounter wild magic and witness the beginnings of the world changing, more ShadowBlades and Sunspears from different coven's, and we get to meet someone Alexander cares about and calls family. Throughout their journey these two grow closer and are trying to decide whether to act on their feelings or in Max's case not to because of her fate with Scooter hanging over her head.
This book was amazing, we got everything that was alluded to in the first book. Definite character growth for Max and Alexander, though I wish we got to see more of the side characters, the entire book was Alexander and Max on the road and at the end they reached the family. I wished we could have seen more of the side characters because they always bring comedic relief and you can really tell that they care deeply for one another. These was also a big surprise in this book, and a betrayal of sorts. It was something that I definitely didn't see coming and can't wait for it to be explored fully.
January 29, 2012
Max is still in the thick of things. She hasn't been able to sleep because Scooter wants her and it's affecting everything. She finally decides to confront him only to find out her real family are in danger. Scooter agrees to give her a week. Alexander has also been told some things from both Magpie and Giselle and it's been decided that Alexander will accompany Max to get her family.
So I'm thinking, all right a road trip with just Max and Alexander ~ about time!! But I should've known better. Trouble always finds Max and this book has lots of trouble. As with the first book, there is almost nonstop action. While I mostly liked it, I was really wanting some down time with Max and Alexander. I really enjoyed how their relationship is evolving and how it seems that they are the ones for each other. But how sexually frustrating!!
Many new characters are brought in as well as Max's family and I can't wait to see how everything goes at Horngate. I felt sorry for Max, still having that feeling of being left out of the loop. I think Giselle has some explaining to do. She's gotten off easy so far ... she owes Max.
One complaint I have is that parts of the book seem very choppy and they don't flow well. I had to reread a few paragraphs.
And wow ... there are two moments towards the end that got me a bit teary eyed! And the ending? Well, let's just say, make sure you have Shadow City ready and waiting!
Favorite line:
“Just remember, I am not going anywhere,” he said, still watching her lips. “And if you ever try to hide from me, I will not believe you are dead. I will find you. Count on it.”
So I'm thinking, all right a road trip with just Max and Alexander ~ about time!! But I should've known better. Trouble always finds Max and this book has lots of trouble. As with the first book, there is almost nonstop action. While I mostly liked it, I was really wanting some down time with Max and Alexander. I really enjoyed how their relationship is evolving and how it seems that they are the ones for each other. But how sexually frustrating!!
Many new characters are brought in as well as Max's family and I can't wait to see how everything goes at Horngate. I felt sorry for Max, still having that feeling of being left out of the loop. I think Giselle has some explaining to do. She's gotten off easy so far ... she owes Max.
One complaint I have is that parts of the book seem very choppy and they don't flow well. I had to reread a few paragraphs.
And wow ... there are two moments towards the end that got me a bit teary eyed! And the ending? Well, let's just say, make sure you have Shadow City ready and waiting!
Favorite line:
“Just remember, I am not going anywhere,” he said, still watching her lips. “And if you ever try to hide from me, I will not believe you are dead. I will find you. Count on it.”
May 9, 2012
Not quite as good as the 1st, but gigantic cliffhanger that makes you want to go right to Book 3!
January 6, 2011
This review was first posted on http://rubysreads.com.
Okay, first of all, how awesome is the name “Diana Pharaoh Francis”? I mean, it has Pharaoh in it. And it’s not Diana “Pharaoh” Francis. It’s actually part of her name. Although I suppose it could be a pseudonym. If so, it’s a cool one.
Sadly, my experience reading Crimson Wind was not as enjoyable as my fancies surrounding the author’s name. In the spirit of full disclosure, though, I have not read Bitter Night, the first book in the Horngate Witches series. Darn these publishing companies! They’re determined to prevent me from keeping my promise about reading series books in order. Um, joking. I’m grateful for each and every book I receive. Honestly. But, now that I’m reviewing books as well as reading them, I have a much harder time reading books out of order. I think I may actually have been converted to the cause instead of just paying lip service. Silver Zombie is the case in point.
Fortunately–or unfortunately, depending on how you look at it–my issues with Crimson Wind were bigger than the fact that I read it out of order. But before I get into that, let me back up a sec and give you some of the plot. Crimson Wind‘s heroine is Max. She’s a kick-butt heroine of the over-the-top variety. Thirty years ago she was betrayed by her friend Giselle. Giselle is (and was) a powerful witch and she believes that Max is the key to the survival of her coven, Horngate. Since Horngate is all Giselle’s concerned about, she felt justified in turning Max into a Shadowblade. And not just any Shadowblade, the Prime Shadowblade. Sadly for Max, the process has involved long hours of tortuous proceedings. It also resulted in an ability to go out in the daytime. She is even susceptible to the reflection of the sun from the moon. She is bound to Horngate and to Giselle by compulsion spells. Furthermore, Max had to leave her family and never see them again and that’s really the crux of Max’s hatred of Giselle.
As the description tells us, in Bitter Night, Max and Giselle reached a kind of truce in order to save Horngate. In the thirty years that Max has served the covenstead, she has come to care for the community. Her desire to save the covenstead–and the people within it–comes from Max herself more than the compulsion spells that Giselle has put on her. Max also cares for all the Shadowblades that serve under her. In fact, she’s willing to sacrifice herself for them. As Crimson Wind begins, Max is anxious about the family she’s left behind. Part of the agreement that she and Giselle made will allow Max to bring her family to Horngate and safety. Max’s journey to bring her family to the covenstead is the novel’s ultimate destination.
I wish I could say that Max makes the trip on her own, but she doesn’t. Alexander, a fellow Shadowblade Prime, goes with her. Alexander was bound to a different covenstead and a different witch, but the binding was dissolved in the first book. Alexander is sent with Max because he would be a threat to her status as Prime at Horngate if he stayed behind without her. I really, really wish he had stayed behind. He was boring. Francis wavers between making Alexander Max’s equal and making Max such an incredible warrior/leader/Prime/Shadowblade that no one can match her. It’s mentioned several times that Alexander is the only Prime that could challenge Max for her position at Horngate. He speaks without contractions because he was born in a time of precise speech. Okay, fine, but it still irritated me. Alexander is also Max’s romantic interest, which is not a relationship I cared to see develop. Personally, I thought the angel Tutresiel was more interesting and showed more promise. The chemistry between Max and the angel was far more interesting, but possibly that was because they spent so little on screen time together.
I’ve been thinking a lot about why the Max/Alexander pairing held so little interest for me. It has some of the elements that make me (slightly) swoony in other romance novels. Alexander is clear that he wants Max and she’s resistant. I usually love it when the hero pursues the heroine with deadly intensity. But I felt like yawning when Alexander did it. Maybe because it was a pale echo. I can’t articulate the difference, so I’ll just reiterate: I give the romance a big “F”. And if you should know anything about me as a reader, it’s that enjoying the romance is central to my enjoyment of a book. If it’s not satisfying, it’s not for me.
That said, Crimson Wind failed for me in other ways. As I mentioned earlier, Max is an over-the-top kick-butt heroine. She can do everything, she’s stronger than everyone, everyone admires her, she’s self-sacrificing, she helps those in need. In short, Max is like a really strong Girl Scout with a foul mouth. Also, she gives everyone stupid nicknames. I never connected to Max. And since she narrates the half of the book that Alexander doesn’t, I confess I was relieved to reach the last page of this book.
There was a moment when, despite the endless, ridiculous detours, Max and Alexander finally reach her family, that I thought things might get interesting. They didn’t. There was a spark of hope and it was snatched from me. I can’t say anything else because that would involve major spoilers. Let’s just say there was a plot twist that had potential. I’m very sorry to say that Diana Pharaoh Francis wasted it. But she still has a cool name.
Okay, first of all, how awesome is the name “Diana Pharaoh Francis”? I mean, it has Pharaoh in it. And it’s not Diana “Pharaoh” Francis. It’s actually part of her name. Although I suppose it could be a pseudonym. If so, it’s a cool one.
Sadly, my experience reading Crimson Wind was not as enjoyable as my fancies surrounding the author’s name. In the spirit of full disclosure, though, I have not read Bitter Night, the first book in the Horngate Witches series. Darn these publishing companies! They’re determined to prevent me from keeping my promise about reading series books in order. Um, joking. I’m grateful for each and every book I receive. Honestly. But, now that I’m reviewing books as well as reading them, I have a much harder time reading books out of order. I think I may actually have been converted to the cause instead of just paying lip service. Silver Zombie is the case in point.
Fortunately–or unfortunately, depending on how you look at it–my issues with Crimson Wind were bigger than the fact that I read it out of order. But before I get into that, let me back up a sec and give you some of the plot. Crimson Wind‘s heroine is Max. She’s a kick-butt heroine of the over-the-top variety. Thirty years ago she was betrayed by her friend Giselle. Giselle is (and was) a powerful witch and she believes that Max is the key to the survival of her coven, Horngate. Since Horngate is all Giselle’s concerned about, she felt justified in turning Max into a Shadowblade. And not just any Shadowblade, the Prime Shadowblade. Sadly for Max, the process has involved long hours of tortuous proceedings. It also resulted in an ability to go out in the daytime. She is even susceptible to the reflection of the sun from the moon. She is bound to Horngate and to Giselle by compulsion spells. Furthermore, Max had to leave her family and never see them again and that’s really the crux of Max’s hatred of Giselle.
As the description tells us, in Bitter Night, Max and Giselle reached a kind of truce in order to save Horngate. In the thirty years that Max has served the covenstead, she has come to care for the community. Her desire to save the covenstead–and the people within it–comes from Max herself more than the compulsion spells that Giselle has put on her. Max also cares for all the Shadowblades that serve under her. In fact, she’s willing to sacrifice herself for them. As Crimson Wind begins, Max is anxious about the family she’s left behind. Part of the agreement that she and Giselle made will allow Max to bring her family to Horngate and safety. Max’s journey to bring her family to the covenstead is the novel’s ultimate destination.
I wish I could say that Max makes the trip on her own, but she doesn’t. Alexander, a fellow Shadowblade Prime, goes with her. Alexander was bound to a different covenstead and a different witch, but the binding was dissolved in the first book. Alexander is sent with Max because he would be a threat to her status as Prime at Horngate if he stayed behind without her. I really, really wish he had stayed behind. He was boring. Francis wavers between making Alexander Max’s equal and making Max such an incredible warrior/leader/Prime/Shadowblade that no one can match her. It’s mentioned several times that Alexander is the only Prime that could challenge Max for her position at Horngate. He speaks without contractions because he was born in a time of precise speech. Okay, fine, but it still irritated me. Alexander is also Max’s romantic interest, which is not a relationship I cared to see develop. Personally, I thought the angel Tutresiel was more interesting and showed more promise. The chemistry between Max and the angel was far more interesting, but possibly that was because they spent so little on screen time together.
I’ve been thinking a lot about why the Max/Alexander pairing held so little interest for me. It has some of the elements that make me (slightly) swoony in other romance novels. Alexander is clear that he wants Max and she’s resistant. I usually love it when the hero pursues the heroine with deadly intensity. But I felt like yawning when Alexander did it. Maybe because it was a pale echo. I can’t articulate the difference, so I’ll just reiterate: I give the romance a big “F”. And if you should know anything about me as a reader, it’s that enjoying the romance is central to my enjoyment of a book. If it’s not satisfying, it’s not for me.
That said, Crimson Wind failed for me in other ways. As I mentioned earlier, Max is an over-the-top kick-butt heroine. She can do everything, she’s stronger than everyone, everyone admires her, she’s self-sacrificing, she helps those in need. In short, Max is like a really strong Girl Scout with a foul mouth. Also, she gives everyone stupid nicknames. I never connected to Max. And since she narrates the half of the book that Alexander doesn’t, I confess I was relieved to reach the last page of this book.
There was a moment when, despite the endless, ridiculous detours, Max and Alexander finally reach her family, that I thought things might get interesting. They didn’t. There was a spark of hope and it was snatched from me. I can’t say anything else because that would involve major spoilers. Let’s just say there was a plot twist that had potential. I’m very sorry to say that Diana Pharaoh Francis wasted it. But she still has a cool name.
April 14, 2017
This series is turning out to be a hell of a ride.
Alexander. I'm still holding out on you.
I guess the problem lies in you not being my type rather than you being a wimp.
I'll at least admit that.
But only that.
January 4, 2011
Crimson Wind (Horngate Witches) by Diana Pharaoh Francis
Paranormal Romance –Dec. 28th, 2010
3 1/2 stars
For fast paced action, drama, angst, and tons of tension, Crimson Wind is your book. The heroine is the gutsy, no nonsense type who is willing to sacrifice herself for the greater good. Crimson Wind is the 2nd installment of the Horngate Witches series by Diana Pharaoh Francis and can be read by itself but with the vivid cast of characters make it best to be read in order.
Max is a Shadowblade, a female human who has been transformed into a warrior and bound by the powerful witch named Giselle to protect her coven and territory. The evil witch Giselle got Max drunk and tricked her into being a Shadowblade forever. As the most elite Shadowblade, Max is the Prime, the one charged with guarding and commanding the rest of the Shadowblades. In the prior book, Max met another Prime name Alexander, and they worked together. Now Alexander has no coven to call his own and is under Max’s command. Max values Alexander’s skills but fights her attraction to him. She feels any relationship is dangerous and lives for duty only. Besides she has a huge problem. The witch, Giselle has promised Max to a powerful being without her consent. Max tries to confront this otherworldly being, but he reveals to her that her human family is in peril. Max rashly promises that once she rescues her family, she will return and let him do whatever he wants with her.
Max is living on borrowed time. Can she find any happiness with Alexander or is the rest of her life doomed to suffering under the control of this powerful being?
This is certainly an exciting story and has all the elements of a noble and suffering heroine. Max is one of the most tortured and self-sacrificing characters I have ever read. I liked that she is tough but the way she treats others who seem to really care for her turned me off. While she is a strong character, she is often very cold and harsh to other characters she interacts with. I especially didn’t like how she treated Alexander who only wanted to aid her. In fact, I felt really bad for him; he is willing to put up with a lot of crap from her and at some point, I wish that he had left her.
While I admired Max’s skills and can-do attitude, it got a little tiring when she is the only one who can do anything right. I would have liked other characters to help out more or taken a bigger part of the action, too.
While, the plot is fantastic, the heroine's relationships with other characters are sometimes uncomfortable to read. A heroine that is tough but also a victim doesn’t mesh well in certain areas. Those who love action packed urban fantasies with an edgy heroine will enjoy this latest installment.
Reviewed by Steph from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club
Paranormal Romance –Dec. 28th, 2010
3 1/2 stars
For fast paced action, drama, angst, and tons of tension, Crimson Wind is your book. The heroine is the gutsy, no nonsense type who is willing to sacrifice herself for the greater good. Crimson Wind is the 2nd installment of the Horngate Witches series by Diana Pharaoh Francis and can be read by itself but with the vivid cast of characters make it best to be read in order.
Max is a Shadowblade, a female human who has been transformed into a warrior and bound by the powerful witch named Giselle to protect her coven and territory. The evil witch Giselle got Max drunk and tricked her into being a Shadowblade forever. As the most elite Shadowblade, Max is the Prime, the one charged with guarding and commanding the rest of the Shadowblades. In the prior book, Max met another Prime name Alexander, and they worked together. Now Alexander has no coven to call his own and is under Max’s command. Max values Alexander’s skills but fights her attraction to him. She feels any relationship is dangerous and lives for duty only. Besides she has a huge problem. The witch, Giselle has promised Max to a powerful being without her consent. Max tries to confront this otherworldly being, but he reveals to her that her human family is in peril. Max rashly promises that once she rescues her family, she will return and let him do whatever he wants with her.
Max is living on borrowed time. Can she find any happiness with Alexander or is the rest of her life doomed to suffering under the control of this powerful being?
This is certainly an exciting story and has all the elements of a noble and suffering heroine. Max is one of the most tortured and self-sacrificing characters I have ever read. I liked that she is tough but the way she treats others who seem to really care for her turned me off. While she is a strong character, she is often very cold and harsh to other characters she interacts with. I especially didn’t like how she treated Alexander who only wanted to aid her. In fact, I felt really bad for him; he is willing to put up with a lot of crap from her and at some point, I wish that he had left her.
While I admired Max’s skills and can-do attitude, it got a little tiring when she is the only one who can do anything right. I would have liked other characters to help out more or taken a bigger part of the action, too.
While, the plot is fantastic, the heroine's relationships with other characters are sometimes uncomfortable to read. A heroine that is tough but also a victim doesn’t mesh well in certain areas. Those who love action packed urban fantasies with an edgy heroine will enjoy this latest installment.
Reviewed by Steph from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club
June 18, 2017
This was even better than the first book, and that's saying something!
The book picks up a few weeks after the events of Bitter Night. The Coven is on shaky legs and trying to get back to some semblance of order after the attacks that nearly buried them. Giselle is still weak and on the edge of her witchy control, and tensions are high for the Blades and Spears.
This isn't helped much by the addition of Alexander, whom no one- perhaps with the exception of Max- trusts further than they could throw him. Actually.... they could throw him pretty far, so that analogy doesn't really work, but you get the idea.
Max is having an even harder time of it. As if ignoring the incredibly appealing Alexander wasn't trial enough, that damned pesky demigod, Scooter, keeps trying to snatch her away in her sleep. His nightly visits are causing her so much damage that her healing spells are about to lose their battle and one of these mornings, she might just not wake up.
She realises she has little choice but to go and see what the hell he wants. But she is in no way prepared for what he has to say...
I loved this storyline. As with the previous book it was both exciting and unusual. It reminded me in places of "A Journey to the Centre of the Earth". I find I enjoy urban fantasy that's quite heavy on the fantasy, like Kate Daniels, Cassandra Palmer, The Fever series, etc.
Give me weird creatures and people-eating plants and I'm a happy girl. Who knew?
I also loved all the sexual tension and emotional stuff. There was just enough to have you rooting for them, but not so much that you felt the need to wash your eyes. No gratuitous sex scenes as of yet.
Max is such a fantastic character. She has so much to deal with but even with her plate more than full she just can't walk by a person in need without trying to help. She just can't. She even gets accused of "collecting strays" by Alexander, much to her annoyance. I think it unnerves her that he can read her so well.
There is clearly a lot more to come for this series, and this book with have you salivating for the next one due to the abrupt ending. Make sure you have it nearby.
The book picks up a few weeks after the events of Bitter Night. The Coven is on shaky legs and trying to get back to some semblance of order after the attacks that nearly buried them. Giselle is still weak and on the edge of her witchy control, and tensions are high for the Blades and Spears.
This isn't helped much by the addition of Alexander, whom no one- perhaps with the exception of Max- trusts further than they could throw him. Actually.... they could throw him pretty far, so that analogy doesn't really work, but you get the idea.
Max is having an even harder time of it. As if ignoring the incredibly appealing Alexander wasn't trial enough, that damned pesky demigod, Scooter, keeps trying to snatch her away in her sleep. His nightly visits are causing her so much damage that her healing spells are about to lose their battle and one of these mornings, she might just not wake up.
She realises she has little choice but to go and see what the hell he wants. But she is in no way prepared for what he has to say...
I loved this storyline. As with the previous book it was both exciting and unusual. It reminded me in places of "A Journey to the Centre of the Earth". I find I enjoy urban fantasy that's quite heavy on the fantasy, like Kate Daniels, Cassandra Palmer, The Fever series, etc.
Give me weird creatures and people-eating plants and I'm a happy girl. Who knew?
I also loved all the sexual tension and emotional stuff. There was just enough to have you rooting for them, but not so much that you felt the need to wash your eyes. No gratuitous sex scenes as of yet.
Max is such a fantastic character. She has so much to deal with but even with her plate more than full she just can't walk by a person in need without trying to help. She just can't. She even gets accused of "collecting strays" by Alexander, much to her annoyance. I think it unnerves her that he can read her so well.
There is clearly a lot more to come for this series, and this book with have you salivating for the next one due to the abrupt ending. Make sure you have it nearby.
January 4, 2013
3.5. Would have tipped the scales to 4, but they went AWAY from the angels and the other blades, where I enjoy those interactions. Also, huge overuse of the nickname Slick! ( -.25 stars for that alone lol ) I think she used it almost every time she was talking to Alexander. I understand the significance of it, and how she only uses his real name if she is really worried about him, but my goodness!
Again I like the concept of this series which is why i will continue reading, and why I really wanted to give it 4. But other than what I stated above , the other issues I have are:
I dont believe Max and Alexanders relationship. I mean she is such a strong character, that I think she needs someone like an Angel to be on equal footing, and show a really powerful relationship. Alexander does come across way too "nothing". Funny thing is, I really like him, but I want him to find some other cool chick to end up with.
The writing was better in this one, but there still a lot of getting in and out of cars, whose seated where and why.. I really thought if this book was still light on angel and guardian action, that we would at least see more of her family, but this was tucked away at the end. I was glad to have less witch-bitch action though.
I think they next one should squeeze a 4 out of me :)
Again I like the concept of this series which is why i will continue reading, and why I really wanted to give it 4. But other than what I stated above , the other issues I have are:
I dont believe Max and Alexanders relationship. I mean she is such a strong character, that I think she needs someone like an Angel to be on equal footing, and show a really powerful relationship. Alexander does come across way too "nothing". Funny thing is, I really like him, but I want him to find some other cool chick to end up with.
The writing was better in this one, but there still a lot of getting in and out of cars, whose seated where and why.. I really thought if this book was still light on angel and guardian action, that we would at least see more of her family, but this was tucked away at the end. I was glad to have less witch-bitch action though.
I think they next one should squeeze a 4 out of me :)
October 21, 2015
Max oh Max, when will you ever learn!
Crimson Wind is a bumpy thrill ride that takes you on a road trip that even the best of us would find intolerable to say the least.
When the truth finally comes out and Max faces her worst fear things really start to heat up with her and Alexander, only to abruptly be cut short with a dreaded cliffhanger ending.
However knowing Max and her penchant for trouble the next book Shadow City should really be a doozy and will read it soon.
Crimson Wind is a bumpy thrill ride that takes you on a road trip that even the best of us would find intolerable to say the least.
When the truth finally comes out and Max faces her worst fear things really start to heat up with her and Alexander, only to abruptly be cut short with a dreaded cliffhanger ending.
However knowing Max and her penchant for trouble the next book Shadow City should really be a doozy and will read it soon.
May 26, 2012
This is definitely one of my favorite series now. Max as the heroine is perfect. She's got a smart mouth without coming off as annoyingly 'sassy,' and kick-ass but with some vulnerability. It takes a really talented writer to pull off making characters with ridiculous names seem believable. And making someone who speaks like Alexander and a few others do because it just feels right given their previous lives. The only thing I wasn't a fan of was how abruptly it ended. I know what Max has to do next would never have fit into this book and has to be the whole basis of the next one, but I would to at least like to have seen how some of the new characters were going to fit in. Only critique though, otherwise awesome.
January 5, 2011
Ahhhh, I really feel denied. The ending was so good but so hard to take. I laughed about 3/4 of the way through the book thinking I was in a version of The Wizard of Oz. Max has been through the ringer in this installment and with this ending I can only imagine what kind of hell she'll go through in the next book. A year is a long time to wait for resolution. But, I know it will be so worth it. Crimson Wind is great!
November 4, 2012
Paced in a way that good storytellers do to stretch the reader...I'm not so good with that bc I'm not normally a patient gal, but this is exquisite .... Review forthcoming.
did-not-finish
February 10, 2016After 130 Pages of posturing and nothing else happening, I gave up...
May 8, 2013
I love this series, the first book was so good I almost reread it right after finishing it!
May 21, 2011
Liked It...But I'm Perplexed
It's been four weeks since Max and the Horngate Witches, Shadowblades, and Sunspears fought off the initial attack of the genocidal Guardians, gaining two powerful angels as allies in the aftermath of the melee. Max suffers no delusions, though. She has no doubt that whatever the Guardians have planned next is going to make that battle seem like a picnic in the park as they rid the earth of humans and bring back the magic that has long since slipped from the world.
As Prime to the witch-bitch Giselle, Max is compelled by magic to protect Horngate and defend the Witch to the death. That job would be considerably less complicated if Giselle hadn't given Max over to the godlike entity Max calls Scooter, who is demanding in no uncertain terms that Max fulfill her promise to him and come with him to walk the web between worlds. Not that Max has any idea what that means...or what Scooter is, really. In fact, all she knows is that this is one promise she can't get out of alive...and one that may kill her by fulfilling.
Adding to Max's angst is the need to save the human family that she was ripped away from thirty years ago, as well as her conflicting emotions for Alexander, former Prime of the witch Selange but now freely associated with Horngate and considered one of her Shadowblades. Yeah, nothing quite like being caught between about five different rocks and six hard places to really spice up her life.
Now she's got to make a deal with Scooter for a little more time, then take a road trip through hell - literally - to get her family out of California and back to the relative safety of Horngate. And according to Giselle, she's got to take Alexander along with her to watch her back. If she survives, she has to give herself to Scooter. If she dies, so do many people under her protection. Either way, she's going to end up losing that which is most important to her, her home and the people there. Especially one very proud, very virile Prime who looks at her with emotions in his eyes that terrify her more than Guardians, Scooter, and an impending apocalypse combined.
This strong second installment to the Horngate Witches series was actually a bit more enjoyable a read for me than the first. From a technical standpoint, it's free from several of the issues I had with Bitter Night, with a better balance between description, world definition, mythos, and action. The exposition was thoroughly but succinctly handled, refreshing the minds of readers familiar with the series without weighing them down with an excessive rehash of information they already have, but providing a comprehensive summary of the previous events for readers new to the series. I even found myself much fonder of Alexander, who I had some problems with in the previous book.
Action scenes were plentiful and brutal, and Francis isn't any easier on Max or Alexander in this one. The plot is a little more focused, narrower in scope and mostly encompassing the road trip Max and Alexander go on to get her family. We also get a clearer picture of who Max is and what drives her, and are awarded several tense glimpses at her inner demons. And those are some nasty little buggers.
I do wish we'd have fewer prescient or far-sight prophecies flying around as the series continues. As a reader, I don't like when results of vague prognostication is used as points of conflict or as glimpses of future events. It tends to decrease my emotional investment if I know what's coming - even if I don't necessarily know how it's coming - and it leaves a pall over unfolding events if that glimpse is less than favorable. It can be a useful tool, sure, but in this book it was a plot device used more than once and not always successfully.
At the center of the series is the complex and often conflicted Max, a bitter woman cloaked in barely caged rage at her circumstances, but a woman of strength and valor, with nearly suicidal heroic tendencies, who is just now starting to let some of the people around her in a little bit as she begins to realize how much she cares for them. She yearns for revenge against Giselle, which causes her physical pain, and often her loathing of what was done to her makes her downright frightful, yet her honor is unquestionable and her dedication unwavering.
It's clear from this book that while Giselle and Max may have reached an accord of sorts and agreed to a detente in the first book, neither forgiveness nor acceptance will be on the table any time in the near future. Their unique dynamic and the relationship Max has with her Shadowblades were the most compelling and unique aspects of the series premiere, Bitter Night, and is part of the cause for my perplexity in Crimson Wind, because the plot here precludes much interaction with Giselle or the Blades and Spears. There are several plot threads woven nicely into this book, and I was fascinated by some of the revelations about Max's family, but I'm left feeling a little confused as to the direction of the series given the events of this book, including a scene that introduces two characters that seemed rather superfluous in the big picture, and I'm unsure where the author is going with Max's character.
In fact, several times I found myself frustrated with Max, and wish familiar and fond secondary characters had a larger role to balance out some of the more annoying evidence of her emotional retardation. As much as I think the romantic subplot between Alexander and Max was much better defined and had a ton more emotion in it, the constant friction between them started to get to me after awhile and the rehashing of their different positions started to feel a little repetitive in theme. A bit more variety in characters and conflict would have been appreciated.
Crimson Wind is an odd book in that I enjoyed the story here more than I did Bitter Night, but was left with significant questions about the direction it seems to take the series and a drive to have those questions answered. With a long wait until the December 2011 release of the third book in the series, I'm going to have to be patient for those answers, because regardless of the issues and questions raised by either book, I can't argue that Francis has created a series that is original, fresh, and has a lot of promise. I'm highly motivated to see what comes next.
~*~*~*~
Reviewed for One Good Book Deserves Another.
It's been four weeks since Max and the Horngate Witches, Shadowblades, and Sunspears fought off the initial attack of the genocidal Guardians, gaining two powerful angels as allies in the aftermath of the melee. Max suffers no delusions, though. She has no doubt that whatever the Guardians have planned next is going to make that battle seem like a picnic in the park as they rid the earth of humans and bring back the magic that has long since slipped from the world.
As Prime to the witch-bitch Giselle, Max is compelled by magic to protect Horngate and defend the Witch to the death. That job would be considerably less complicated if Giselle hadn't given Max over to the godlike entity Max calls Scooter, who is demanding in no uncertain terms that Max fulfill her promise to him and come with him to walk the web between worlds. Not that Max has any idea what that means...or what Scooter is, really. In fact, all she knows is that this is one promise she can't get out of alive...and one that may kill her by fulfilling.
Adding to Max's angst is the need to save the human family that she was ripped away from thirty years ago, as well as her conflicting emotions for Alexander, former Prime of the witch Selange but now freely associated with Horngate and considered one of her Shadowblades. Yeah, nothing quite like being caught between about five different rocks and six hard places to really spice up her life.
Now she's got to make a deal with Scooter for a little more time, then take a road trip through hell - literally - to get her family out of California and back to the relative safety of Horngate. And according to Giselle, she's got to take Alexander along with her to watch her back. If she survives, she has to give herself to Scooter. If she dies, so do many people under her protection. Either way, she's going to end up losing that which is most important to her, her home and the people there. Especially one very proud, very virile Prime who looks at her with emotions in his eyes that terrify her more than Guardians, Scooter, and an impending apocalypse combined.
This strong second installment to the Horngate Witches series was actually a bit more enjoyable a read for me than the first. From a technical standpoint, it's free from several of the issues I had with Bitter Night, with a better balance between description, world definition, mythos, and action. The exposition was thoroughly but succinctly handled, refreshing the minds of readers familiar with the series without weighing them down with an excessive rehash of information they already have, but providing a comprehensive summary of the previous events for readers new to the series. I even found myself much fonder of Alexander, who I had some problems with in the previous book.
Action scenes were plentiful and brutal, and Francis isn't any easier on Max or Alexander in this one. The plot is a little more focused, narrower in scope and mostly encompassing the road trip Max and Alexander go on to get her family. We also get a clearer picture of who Max is and what drives her, and are awarded several tense glimpses at her inner demons. And those are some nasty little buggers.
I do wish we'd have fewer prescient or far-sight prophecies flying around as the series continues. As a reader, I don't like when results of vague prognostication is used as points of conflict or as glimpses of future events. It tends to decrease my emotional investment if I know what's coming - even if I don't necessarily know how it's coming - and it leaves a pall over unfolding events if that glimpse is less than favorable. It can be a useful tool, sure, but in this book it was a plot device used more than once and not always successfully.
At the center of the series is the complex and often conflicted Max, a bitter woman cloaked in barely caged rage at her circumstances, but a woman of strength and valor, with nearly suicidal heroic tendencies, who is just now starting to let some of the people around her in a little bit as she begins to realize how much she cares for them. She yearns for revenge against Giselle, which causes her physical pain, and often her loathing of what was done to her makes her downright frightful, yet her honor is unquestionable and her dedication unwavering.
It's clear from this book that while Giselle and Max may have reached an accord of sorts and agreed to a detente in the first book, neither forgiveness nor acceptance will be on the table any time in the near future. Their unique dynamic and the relationship Max has with her Shadowblades were the most compelling and unique aspects of the series premiere, Bitter Night, and is part of the cause for my perplexity in Crimson Wind, because the plot here precludes much interaction with Giselle or the Blades and Spears. There are several plot threads woven nicely into this book, and I was fascinated by some of the revelations about Max's family, but I'm left feeling a little confused as to the direction of the series given the events of this book, including a scene that introduces two characters that seemed rather superfluous in the big picture, and I'm unsure where the author is going with Max's character.
In fact, several times I found myself frustrated with Max, and wish familiar and fond secondary characters had a larger role to balance out some of the more annoying evidence of her emotional retardation. As much as I think the romantic subplot between Alexander and Max was much better defined and had a ton more emotion in it, the constant friction between them started to get to me after awhile and the rehashing of their different positions started to feel a little repetitive in theme. A bit more variety in characters and conflict would have been appreciated.
Crimson Wind is an odd book in that I enjoyed the story here more than I did Bitter Night, but was left with significant questions about the direction it seems to take the series and a drive to have those questions answered. With a long wait until the December 2011 release of the third book in the series, I'm going to have to be patient for those answers, because regardless of the issues and questions raised by either book, I can't argue that Francis has created a series that is original, fresh, and has a lot of promise. I'm highly motivated to see what comes next.
~*~*~*~
Reviewed for One Good Book Deserves Another.
February 8, 2011
Review provided by Black Lagoon Reviews:
Crimson Wind, the second novel in Diana Pharaoh Francis’s Horngate Witches series, is a fast paced thrill ride through a world where mages and witches roam amongst unsuspecting humans. Phenomenal world building, entrancing characters, and a thrilling plot make this a must read for urban fantasy and paranormal romance lovers alike!
As this was my first entrée into the Horngate Witches series and my first time meeting the characters, I was a little unsure about what to expect. However, the buzz around this book was definitely a deciding factor for me and the premise sounded quite interesting. But, what I wasn’t expecting was for the novel to go from zero to sixty in a matter of pages. From the very beginning Max is pushed into action and the world of Witches, Mages, Shadowblades, Sunspears and yes, even Angels come into to quick focus. The after effects from the war between covens and the impending attack by the Guardians on the human race to take back the world in the name of Magic gives this novel a great immediacy as Max has to first settle some unfinished business with Scooter, a demigod who she was promised to by Giselle her Witch master. There is great detail in the atmosphere of this novel, both with dramatic and suspenseful flairs that serve to keep the pace driven. The tense atmosphere between Max and fellow Prime Alexander is wonderfully painted adding a nice sexual tension to an already rife and dire plot line. The world itself is masterfully crafted with wonderfully detailed attention to the hierarchy of the magical society. While complex, the levels of the food chain are easily decipherable from those who have the power, those who fight under that power, and those who are simply to be followers. In addition, the sense of foreboding and suspense adds another element as the world we know begins to be altered by wild divine magic. This magic creates an alien landscape unlike any other and the descriptive quality of Francis’s writing brings it to uncanny life. This adds even more action and danger into an already pumped plot and was an aspect that I both loved and wanted to see more of.
The characters themselves are perfectly rendered and wonderfully portrayed. Max is a no nonsense woman who is both tough and determined. Her loyalties are unquestionable and she doesn’t shy away from danger. Instead, she is more easily described as the one running straight for it with great abandon. Her concern for a family she has let believe she was dead for something like thirty years was touching showing vulnerability in the chink of the armor she holds so close to herself. In truth, I loved seeing the little glimpses of human longing, pain and love within her. They were definitely a contrast to the balls to the walls fighter who we first see going so easily into the Scooter’s den alone. Of course, it is easy to recognize why she would inspire so much loyalty from those around her as her thoughts are always towards others-how to keep them safe and how to protect them without any thought to herself. Alexander on the other hand focuses most of his own attention on her well being, trying to save her from killing herself at every turn with her need to save others. He is likewise a tough as nails Alpha male, only he is willing to lay down his pride in order to claim Max, the heart of Horngate. The chemistry between them is amazing as well. The tension is almost palpable through out the story as Max tries to deny her feelings towards him while he is determined to make her realize the extent of her longing for him. As the story progresses Max does indeed come to see the extent to which she both relies on and desires Alexander only to remember that when the mission is over, she is destined to be bound away with Scooter. In truth, what I really loved about the characters was the extent of inner dialogue. The thoughts and emotions of the characters were wonderfully evoked and really drew you into the them. Their personalities were perfectly captured in this respect and made them instantly likable.
Really, Francis’s writing style in and of itself is a worth a mention as well. Obvious through her details and development of both the world and the characters, she is a master at her craft. She takes an impossible world, molds it and makes it real. The writing is concise giving it a brisk fast pace and yet the story itself is lushly detailed and thoroughly explored. The ever constant conflicts are perfectly presented to add an edge to the pace that keeps it moving and the opening of so many plot lines to explore in later novels leaves the reader wanting more.
However, there were a few things that still nagged at me. One was that despite the fast pace at times the story seemed to lag. It was like an over flow of information that stalled my brain or something, sensory over load I suppose would be an apt term. Also, the dangling romance that never really seems to move anywhere was a hindrance to me. While I loved the tension, I would have liked to see Alexander make a little more progress with Max. Instead, she only draws more deeply into herself cuddling snuggly to her selfdenial. And yes, given her precarious position I can understand it to an extent, but it was just a little too little bang for the emotions…no pun intended. And lastly, the main plot of the book felt a little unrealized. Giselle’s prophecy and even Magpie’s prophecy seemed to be completely bypassed, though it was always in the forefront of Alexander’s mind. These never resolved, nor they even come to pass at all despite the fact that they led me to believe that this was were the story was leading. The fact that this the story actually didn’t lead to the relization of the prophecies was a little bit of a disappointment. And if the battle with the Ice Queens was indeed the void that Giselle felt then oh how underwhelming that was.
At any rate, this was an action packed novel that kept my interest peaked. The world is nicely created, the characters adequately explored and there is a wonderful cliff hanger that leaves you wanting more. If you have yet to read the first novel in the series, Bitter Night, I would suggest you do so before picking up Crimson Wind, though if you do go out of order you can still muddle through quite nicely.
Crimson Wind, the second novel in Diana Pharaoh Francis’s Horngate Witches series, is a fast paced thrill ride through a world where mages and witches roam amongst unsuspecting humans. Phenomenal world building, entrancing characters, and a thrilling plot make this a must read for urban fantasy and paranormal romance lovers alike!
As this was my first entrée into the Horngate Witches series and my first time meeting the characters, I was a little unsure about what to expect. However, the buzz around this book was definitely a deciding factor for me and the premise sounded quite interesting. But, what I wasn’t expecting was for the novel to go from zero to sixty in a matter of pages. From the very beginning Max is pushed into action and the world of Witches, Mages, Shadowblades, Sunspears and yes, even Angels come into to quick focus. The after effects from the war between covens and the impending attack by the Guardians on the human race to take back the world in the name of Magic gives this novel a great immediacy as Max has to first settle some unfinished business with Scooter, a demigod who she was promised to by Giselle her Witch master. There is great detail in the atmosphere of this novel, both with dramatic and suspenseful flairs that serve to keep the pace driven. The tense atmosphere between Max and fellow Prime Alexander is wonderfully painted adding a nice sexual tension to an already rife and dire plot line. The world itself is masterfully crafted with wonderfully detailed attention to the hierarchy of the magical society. While complex, the levels of the food chain are easily decipherable from those who have the power, those who fight under that power, and those who are simply to be followers. In addition, the sense of foreboding and suspense adds another element as the world we know begins to be altered by wild divine magic. This magic creates an alien landscape unlike any other and the descriptive quality of Francis’s writing brings it to uncanny life. This adds even more action and danger into an already pumped plot and was an aspect that I both loved and wanted to see more of.
The characters themselves are perfectly rendered and wonderfully portrayed. Max is a no nonsense woman who is both tough and determined. Her loyalties are unquestionable and she doesn’t shy away from danger. Instead, she is more easily described as the one running straight for it with great abandon. Her concern for a family she has let believe she was dead for something like thirty years was touching showing vulnerability in the chink of the armor she holds so close to herself. In truth, I loved seeing the little glimpses of human longing, pain and love within her. They were definitely a contrast to the balls to the walls fighter who we first see going so easily into the Scooter’s den alone. Of course, it is easy to recognize why she would inspire so much loyalty from those around her as her thoughts are always towards others-how to keep them safe and how to protect them without any thought to herself. Alexander on the other hand focuses most of his own attention on her well being, trying to save her from killing herself at every turn with her need to save others. He is likewise a tough as nails Alpha male, only he is willing to lay down his pride in order to claim Max, the heart of Horngate. The chemistry between them is amazing as well. The tension is almost palpable through out the story as Max tries to deny her feelings towards him while he is determined to make her realize the extent of her longing for him. As the story progresses Max does indeed come to see the extent to which she both relies on and desires Alexander only to remember that when the mission is over, she is destined to be bound away with Scooter. In truth, what I really loved about the characters was the extent of inner dialogue. The thoughts and emotions of the characters were wonderfully evoked and really drew you into the them. Their personalities were perfectly captured in this respect and made them instantly likable.
Really, Francis’s writing style in and of itself is a worth a mention as well. Obvious through her details and development of both the world and the characters, she is a master at her craft. She takes an impossible world, molds it and makes it real. The writing is concise giving it a brisk fast pace and yet the story itself is lushly detailed and thoroughly explored. The ever constant conflicts are perfectly presented to add an edge to the pace that keeps it moving and the opening of so many plot lines to explore in later novels leaves the reader wanting more.
However, there were a few things that still nagged at me. One was that despite the fast pace at times the story seemed to lag. It was like an over flow of information that stalled my brain or something, sensory over load I suppose would be an apt term. Also, the dangling romance that never really seems to move anywhere was a hindrance to me. While I loved the tension, I would have liked to see Alexander make a little more progress with Max. Instead, she only draws more deeply into herself cuddling snuggly to her selfdenial. And yes, given her precarious position I can understand it to an extent, but it was just a little too little bang for the emotions…no pun intended. And lastly, the main plot of the book felt a little unrealized. Giselle’s prophecy and even Magpie’s prophecy seemed to be completely bypassed, though it was always in the forefront of Alexander’s mind. These never resolved, nor they even come to pass at all despite the fact that they led me to believe that this was were the story was leading. The fact that this the story actually didn’t lead to the relization of the prophecies was a little bit of a disappointment. And if the battle with the Ice Queens was indeed the void that Giselle felt then oh how underwhelming that was.
At any rate, this was an action packed novel that kept my interest peaked. The world is nicely created, the characters adequately explored and there is a wonderful cliff hanger that leaves you wanting more. If you have yet to read the first novel in the series, Bitter Night, I would suggest you do so before picking up Crimson Wind, though if you do go out of order you can still muddle through quite nicely.
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