What Am I Reading: Lothaire by Kresley Cole

First and foremost I bow to the superior commercial rightness of Kresley Cole. I have been reading her Immortals After Dark Series since the beginning. I’m sort of a geekified fan when it comes to her books. In fact she gets her own row in my book shelf.  

So when I got a hold of her latest book regarding the Enemy of Old, I was, well let’s just say that I already knew it was going to be good. Remember kiddies I’m a fan first.

I absolutely love the richness of the back story. It makes understanding Lothaire’s motives so much clearer.  I’d been dying to know what this “Endgame” was. The rather abrupt expulsion of he and his mother then her subsequent death would pretty much make any man a little mad. Very dramatic.

There was something I noticed here that I never really saw in all Ms. Cole’s other books. Seeing as we geekified fans are all familiar with Lothaire in all his nasty neutral but not by much naughty, you kind of just think of him as surly dialed up to fifty.  Was that ever a run on? I just figured he thought everyone but his own race was less. Not true apparently he has a special place in his heart for humans, the bottom, of his bottom.

What a mind fuck he got when his bride turns out to be human. Poor guy. You almost feel bad for him. I’m pretty sure someone in the Lore felt bad for him, that is if they all didn’t want to kill him. Fabulous set up Kresley, fucking fabulous.

Now follows the adjustment period of accepting the fact that not only is he saddled with this weak human as his bride, she a damn hillbilly. Picture Ellie May Clampet give her brown hair and then stick her in a room with sex on legs. Shit I felt bad for him. Lothaire like every Vampire in the series, becomes the most overbearing tyrant in the world towards his bride.

I’d love to say that the way vampires in her stories treat their new brides is tired and formulaic, but it’s not. In every story the men try very hard to dominate their brides, not just vampires, the whole freaking Lore does it. And yet it never gets tired. I don’t understand how that keeps working but I’m not going to knock it.

Not that Elizabeth didn’t deserve it sometimes. Ellie (ironically named) didn’t come completely with out assets. She’s got an evil deity sleeping in her that seems at serious odds with every one’s plans. I like how she was written, you aren’t supposed to like her and well I didn’t.

We also finally get to full story about La Dorada a powerful creature that was released by the Skiathi Archer in another story and her part was done rather masterfully as well. 

Lets be honest kiddies I am way too much of a fan to do this particular review objectively. I just can’t. I enjoyed Lothaire immensely and if I had three thumbs Kresley Cole would get them all.

But because I’m not objective I can say this. Kresley, sweetie you turned and immortal badass in to a powder puff. Lothair goes trick or treating? Seriously? Trick or treating was not part of the Endgame.

You still get three thumbs though.

Weekly E-Book: Disbelief By Peter Smalley

See Mr. Smalley's bio here

Alright as this is my first ever E-Book review, I’m not really sure how to offer you pictures since I can’t hold it. Let me just tell you about it. And then give as many links as I can find about it.

This Paranormal Romance is a little on the odd side. I think it’s because it’s written by a guy. You immediately can tell, but that’s not a handicap here, just a different take. And not because the author’s name is Peter. 

Meet Julia a debunker of things paranormal. It appears that her business is to separate the wolves from the sheep. In other words she keeps people from taking advantage of each other.

Kind of interesting as I had to get about halfway through the book to realize that she has actual powers. The author calls it “pushing” and I guess with this power she can use it to break down a charlatan’s illusion. I found this “pushing” notion a little vague but I ran with it. Oh course this is a family business which she inherited from her deceased father. He was the one who taught how to use her gift.

Julie bird our heroine of course is trying to stay afloat due to the fact that her dead papa was for lack of a better word useless where business was concerned. The debt he’s left behind forces her to “push” the wrong person, releasing a demon into the world. And now everyone is off to save the world. Brilliant.

I found this story interesting in some parts, seriously awesome in others and sadly lacking in a few places. 

I loved the interactions with the creatures she meets in the story that move her closer to the climax. While these moments in the story aren’t really important they seem to be the richest sections. They are detailed entertaining and really give insight into the potential strength Julie Knox has. 

Her libido is another point of interest in this story. She pretty much lusts after most of the able bodied males that cross her path. When it (the libido) interferes she’s focused enough to chastise herself and return to the task at hand. Clever and funny, thats all I can say about that.

Here’s what I found lacking, the love scenes. I enjoyed how the mood is set leading up to the act, but the execution is almost non-existent. Maybe because it’s hard to understand what a female main character feels being a male writer. Maybe since the source of affection isn’t really there? (I do believe that was a blatant hint, go read the book silly) Or maybe it’s just something I’m not seeing. Either way I thought the love scenes needed more bang. Bang. Get it... Har Har Har...

I give this, on my scale 1.5 thumbs, but since Peter has this book on Amazon and he’s very nicely requested I post there as well I’m going with 3.5 stars. The beginning was a little stunted, but once you got past that first few chapters it picks up and you find the author’s rhythm. I think the next book will be better and totally worth reading.  Oh yeah kiddies it’s another series. And if Peter Smalley would be so kind and give us a heads up we can all find it on Amazon when it’s out.

Here's where you can pick this up: Amazon