Shadow Spell by Nora Roberts

"This is what we are," Brannaugh said, still glowing from the shock of energy. "This is what we have. The nights grow longer now. The dark conquers light. But he will not conquer us."

Oh, would you believe how much this pains me? Writing this out, spelling out my feelings this way, a way that doesn't make Nora Roberts sound like the god of romance and storytelling and romantic storytelling I know her to be. She's fueled my dreams of love and fulfillment since I was a girl of preadolescence and I still firmly believe she is a queen among authors. But even royalty have an off day, I suppose.

To be fair, I knew that beyond the first book, Dark Witch, I was going to have a tough time. There was something so specific and individualized about the way I loved Iona and her story that I knew it wouldn't translate the same throughout the series. And it didn't help that these characters whom I knew would arise from the role of secondary to primary characters failed to win me. It was the love of Iona and the promise of her future with Boyle that drew me away from my doubt and trapped me into really liking the Dark Witch after the rich opening chapters.

Without her intense draw, it's too easy to see how dull I find the rest of the story beginning with Shadow Spell. Because the remaining characters felt like a gloomy day that left me begging for the sunshine that was Iona and because most of the plot is made up of uneventful, boring dinner conversations of supposed strategy instead of actual action, I found myself yawning and flipping quickly through the pages--so quickly, in fact, that the words could only be skimmed. Barely.

In truth, this read felt more like a DNF sitting since I can't recall over a quarter of the book, just a blur of words as I hastened to reach the ending I desperately wanted. Wanted not due to real worry or excitement for the conclusion, but due to eagerness in actually finding one at last. Folks, it's a sad day when I'm begging for a new Nora Roberts book to end so that I can chuck it aside.

I will be checking out the final book, just to see how that final couple stops prolonging the torture of not being together and to convince myself that it was just this installment that bothered and not the whole story idea. And let's face it: I'm always excited for a New Nora no matter what, even when I'm disappointed by the last.

Paperback / 319 pgs / March 25th 2014 / Berkeley Penguin / Goodreads / $17.00

My copy was purchased on Amazon.com.

What did I rate Shadow Spell?

Remnants by Lisa T. Bergren

The elder likened the Hour of our Call to a tidal pull, the first birthing pangs of a pregnant mother... but to me it felt like a scream building inside. Excitement and glory, swirling in a ball within my chest. Electrifying. Mobilizing.

Did I really say I was going to post this review three days ago? Has it really been a month already since my last post? I'm clearly just so damn absentminded I should be responsible for little else. That's why I keep rejecting your blog tour invites and review requests, people, and not because it pleases me... much (but there would be no confusion if more read a certain web page). Anyway, I did make an exception to my current policy for one of the few authors I would bend over backward because I wanted to be a part of her latest book's outbreak into blogging society. Have I done a good job with keeping up? I could've done better, I freely admit. But the point is I'm more or less ready to talk about my feelings on the matter.

I'm going to be upfront and say I am pretty darn disappointed with Remnants/Season of Wonder and... just why did I think I wanted to be honest upfront? It's painful to say even that much when I utterly adore Lisa T. Bergren, as a person and an author. I feel guilty, even knowing I don't owe the lovely Lisa an unqualified happy response to what I read. However, whether this wasn't my cup of tea or that I found it strangely lacking, the overwhelming conclusion is that I didn't enjoy this book nearly as much as I'd hoped.

A promising first few chapters combined with my enthusiasm to have something else of the author of the River of Time novels cross my lap made it ease to delve into this new world filled with new characters in what looked to be an engaging and exciting story. I was intrigued by these warriors of God fighting for the remnants of a world that wasn't my world but felt eerily familiar.

But the foundation of what is built for us doesn't hold strong for very long.

It took me little to no time to realize that while I snickered at the humor that wanted to be there and tried to love the potential of a long-brewing romance between the main characters, I didn't see, didn't feel, and ultimately didn't care. It became difficult to keep my attention firmly pressed to the pages when I was so distant from these people trying to rally together to save the world, a world that provoked a few questions, yes, then promptly lost my interest as did most everything else.

It's an interesting book, for all it's needlessly overwhelming length, but that's all it amounted to in the end. It wasn't gripping or immersive or any of the other fun words I like to use to describe the state a book put me into. And so I may retain a mild curiosity for the next book in the series, but nothing more.

Hardcover / 414 pgs / April 8th 2014 / Blink / Goodreads / $15.99

My copy was sent to me as an ARC for the Remnants blog tour.

What did I rate Season of Wonder?