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The Dark Forgotten #1
Ravenous
Alternate cover edition of ISBN-10: 0451226178 / ISBN-13: 9780451226174.
A dark AND sexy paranormal romance from an exciting debut author
Vampires, Werewolves, and other creatures have emerged from the shadows. And some of them have sinister THINGS on their minds...
One kiss is all it takes to lose your soul�
Holly Carver is a small-time witch who busts ghosts for tuition money, but ends up wrangling a demon when a haunted house job goes bad.
Her Undead business associate, Alessandro Caravelli, suspects the demon is somebody's not-so-secret weapon. The supernatural community is at war, and Holly's unpredictable magic holds the key to hell's doorway. Soon Holly is on everyone's "must have" list, and not in a good way.
Alessandro wants her for more than magic. A lover with six centuries of experience, the vampire is walking seduction, but he's also a predator. Every moment he spends guarding Holly, every second he spends falling under her witch's spell, he becomes more and more of a threat himself. As Holly's sharp-tongued grandma warns her: vampires are like a box of rich chocolate—they seem so tempting, but over-indulgence is a killer�
A dark AND sexy paranormal romance from an exciting debut author
Vampires, Werewolves, and other creatures have emerged from the shadows. And some of them have sinister THINGS on their minds...
One kiss is all it takes to lose your soul�
Holly Carver is a small-time witch who busts ghosts for tuition money, but ends up wrangling a demon when a haunted house job goes bad.
Her Undead business associate, Alessandro Caravelli, suspects the demon is somebody's not-so-secret weapon. The supernatural community is at war, and Holly's unpredictable magic holds the key to hell's doorway. Soon Holly is on everyone's "must have" list, and not in a good way.
Alessandro wants her for more than magic. A lover with six centuries of experience, the vampire is walking seduction, but he's also a predator. Every moment he spends guarding Holly, every second he spends falling under her witch's spell, he becomes more and more of a threat himself. As Holly's sharp-tongued grandma warns her: vampires are like a box of rich chocolate—they seem so tempting, but over-indulgence is a killer�
344 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
95 people are currently reading
3483 people want to read
About the author
Sharon Ashwood
55Ìýbooks424ÌýfollowersSharon Ashwood is a free-lance journalist, novelist, desk jockey and enthusiast for the weird and spooky. She has an English literature degree but works as a finance geek. Interests include growing her to-be-read pile and playing with the toy graveyard on her desk. As a vegetarian, she freely admits the whole vampire/werewolf lifestyle fantasy would never work out, so she writes paranormal romances instead.
Sharon lives in the Pacific Northwest and is owned by the Demon Lord of Kitty Badness.
Sharon lives in the Pacific Northwest and is owned by the Demon Lord of Kitty Badness.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 186 reviews
May 19, 2009
Yay!! Another winner in the unknown author (to me, anyway) lottery. I picked up "Ravenous: The Dark Forgotten" on a whim and I'm sure glad I did. Sharon Ashwood managed to pique my interest with her tale of a modern day witch with dating 'issues'.
Holly's the last of the Carver family, a registered witch, and sole proprietor of the 'Three Sisters Agency'-Specializing in the removal of hauntings, poltergeists, and unwanted imps. Her occasional 'partner' while working is a very sexy vampire, Alessandro. She has a 'normal' boyfriend-an economics prof at the local college, and things between them are heating up. Life's looking pretty good. At least it was...until she got a call to cleanse one of the oldest and spookiest uninhabited witch homes in the city...and runs into what looks like the beginning of a paranormal war! Now her life is filled with demons, vamps, weres, hell hounds, and other creatures who all seem to want something from her...either her powers or just a quick snack!
What did I like about this book? I liked the 'world' the author began to build. She took lore, myth, and 'old wives tales' and created something new and different. I won't say exactly how it's different, but I will say that I don't see myself having trouble differentiating this book from the masses. The imagination and skill in bringing those thoughts to life...just grand! I also enjoyed the plot. Yes, there were times when I could guess the outcome...but there was always a twist--so I was right...but maybe not exactly in the way I thought I would be. Make sense?
This tale also has a future. I can see several more books in the offering and I'm planning to pick up her next, "Scorched: The Dark Forgotten", in December 2009. From the teaser in the back of this one, it will continue the story of one of the very intriguing cast of secondary characters...and Ashwood has quite a few to choose from!
So if you're looking for something 'newish' from the paranormal world; and you like romance with a heavy dose of urban fantasy; and you're interested in a new version of Hell...try out "Ravenous" by Sharon Ashwood. You just might have another book for your wishlist.
Holly's the last of the Carver family, a registered witch, and sole proprietor of the 'Three Sisters Agency'-Specializing in the removal of hauntings, poltergeists, and unwanted imps. Her occasional 'partner' while working is a very sexy vampire, Alessandro. She has a 'normal' boyfriend-an economics prof at the local college, and things between them are heating up. Life's looking pretty good. At least it was...until she got a call to cleanse one of the oldest and spookiest uninhabited witch homes in the city...and runs into what looks like the beginning of a paranormal war! Now her life is filled with demons, vamps, weres, hell hounds, and other creatures who all seem to want something from her...either her powers or just a quick snack!
What did I like about this book? I liked the 'world' the author began to build. She took lore, myth, and 'old wives tales' and created something new and different. I won't say exactly how it's different, but I will say that I don't see myself having trouble differentiating this book from the masses. The imagination and skill in bringing those thoughts to life...just grand! I also enjoyed the plot. Yes, there were times when I could guess the outcome...but there was always a twist--so I was right...but maybe not exactly in the way I thought I would be. Make sense?
This tale also has a future. I can see several more books in the offering and I'm planning to pick up her next, "Scorched: The Dark Forgotten", in December 2009. From the teaser in the back of this one, it will continue the story of one of the very intriguing cast of secondary characters...and Ashwood has quite a few to choose from!
So if you're looking for something 'newish' from the paranormal world; and you like romance with a heavy dose of urban fantasy; and you're interested in a new version of Hell...try out "Ravenous" by Sharon Ashwood. You just might have another book for your wishlist.
July 14, 2012
I picked up Ravenous by Sharon Ashwood because I liked the sound of the blurb. I tried to ignore the front cover. (Seriously? Who wears clothes like that, while delicately fingering the hilt of a blade?) The idea of a ghost-busting witch seemed interesting and entertaining, and by midway through the first chapter, I was hooked. My thoughts went something like this:
Chapter 1: This is great. Holly is a really interesting character, strong but not aggressive, and it’s such a novelty to see a vampire in the supporting role rather than in the spotlight, so to speak.
Chapter 3: Pure awesome. A witch fighting a house for possession of the souls of a group of frat boys, while a vampire played keep-away with sentient black goo, leading to great sentences like: Let the vampire play with the slime monster. She had civilians to save.
Chapter 4: A sudden jolt. The point of view switches from Holly to Alessandro. I can see why it was necessary, but it’s a bit jarring. Although that may just be because I’ve been reading a lot of 1st person narrators lately.
Chapter 7: Two chapters of Alessandro’s POV. He’s interesting, but I wanted a witchy novel, not a vampy novel. I don’t care about the vampire court, I want to know what Holly’s doing.
Chapter 9: WTF? What’s with all the insane sexual tension? Ooooh. Oh. Oh! Right. This is paranormal romance. How the heck did I miss that?
At this point, I put the book down for a few days. Paranormal romance really doesn’t do it for me. Especially with a vampire as one of the obviously-going-to-make-it couple. I put it on the pile of books near my bed, and started thinking about what to read next.
°¿²Ô±ô²ââ€�
°¿²Ô±ô²ââ€�
I kept thinking about it. I kept thinking about Holly. I kept thinking about the strange psychic injury she sustained as a child that stopped her from being able to cast capital-M magic without being in excruciating agony. I kept thinking about her magical house, and the giant mouse-demon she fought. I kept thinking about� Well, the whole book.
So I picked it back up, and devoured the rest of it in one sitting.
The plot of Ravenous is fairly predictable, and none of the “surprise twists� surprised me at all. The point of view continues to switch between Holly and Alessandro, which I found vaguely annoying, but very reasonable within the plot of the story � they both had access to different information, and neither was very good at sharing. Both Holly and Alessandro have a disturbing proclivity for running through intense sexual fantasies in their heads whenever they encounter each other. Or anyone else of the opposite gender, for that matter.
But the plot is entertaining, the world-building is phenomenal, and Holly is a staggeringly awesome character. (And, as an added bonus, she doesn’t look, dress or behave anything like the picture on the cover of the book.) I found myself skimming over the various sex scenes (which were good) with a frustrated, “Get back to the story!� And that’s got to be a good thing. Right?
All the standard tropes are covered. There’s the ‘sudden but inevitable betrayal�, the ‘vampire potentially saved by love�, and the ‘magic-used with more power than she could possibly know�. But these were all woven together around a beautifully realised character, an interesting love interest, and a world full of magic and mystery.
Ravenous isn’t going to make you think. It isn’t going to open your eyes to any great truths. But it is going to entertain. If you’re looking for a bit of light, magical, romance reading, then I definitely recommend this book.
Chapter 1: This is great. Holly is a really interesting character, strong but not aggressive, and it’s such a novelty to see a vampire in the supporting role rather than in the spotlight, so to speak.
Chapter 3: Pure awesome. A witch fighting a house for possession of the souls of a group of frat boys, while a vampire played keep-away with sentient black goo, leading to great sentences like: Let the vampire play with the slime monster. She had civilians to save.
Chapter 4: A sudden jolt. The point of view switches from Holly to Alessandro. I can see why it was necessary, but it’s a bit jarring. Although that may just be because I’ve been reading a lot of 1st person narrators lately.
Chapter 7: Two chapters of Alessandro’s POV. He’s interesting, but I wanted a witchy novel, not a vampy novel. I don’t care about the vampire court, I want to know what Holly’s doing.
Chapter 9: WTF? What’s with all the insane sexual tension? Ooooh. Oh. Oh! Right. This is paranormal romance. How the heck did I miss that?
At this point, I put the book down for a few days. Paranormal romance really doesn’t do it for me. Especially with a vampire as one of the obviously-going-to-make-it couple. I put it on the pile of books near my bed, and started thinking about what to read next.
°¿²Ô±ô²ââ€�
°¿²Ô±ô²ââ€�
I kept thinking about it. I kept thinking about Holly. I kept thinking about the strange psychic injury she sustained as a child that stopped her from being able to cast capital-M magic without being in excruciating agony. I kept thinking about her magical house, and the giant mouse-demon she fought. I kept thinking about� Well, the whole book.
So I picked it back up, and devoured the rest of it in one sitting.
The plot of Ravenous is fairly predictable, and none of the “surprise twists� surprised me at all. The point of view continues to switch between Holly and Alessandro, which I found vaguely annoying, but very reasonable within the plot of the story � they both had access to different information, and neither was very good at sharing. Both Holly and Alessandro have a disturbing proclivity for running through intense sexual fantasies in their heads whenever they encounter each other. Or anyone else of the opposite gender, for that matter.
But the plot is entertaining, the world-building is phenomenal, and Holly is a staggeringly awesome character. (And, as an added bonus, she doesn’t look, dress or behave anything like the picture on the cover of the book.) I found myself skimming over the various sex scenes (which were good) with a frustrated, “Get back to the story!� And that’s got to be a good thing. Right?
All the standard tropes are covered. There’s the ‘sudden but inevitable betrayal�, the ‘vampire potentially saved by love�, and the ‘magic-used with more power than she could possibly know�. But these were all woven together around a beautifully realised character, an interesting love interest, and a world full of magic and mystery.
Ravenous isn’t going to make you think. It isn’t going to open your eyes to any great truths. But it is going to entertain. If you’re looking for a bit of light, magical, romance reading, then I definitely recommend this book.
December 28, 2010
Ravenous is the epitome of a middle-of-the-road book. It’s an entertaining read, but not one I’d jump to recommend.
Classified as paranormal romance, Ravenous follows the structure of that genre, but also includes plenty of urban fantasy elements and will probably appeal to readers on that side of the subgenre divide. The central characters, Holly (a witch) and Alessandro (a vampire), fall in love while trying to prevent a demon from wreaking havoc in their city. Sharon Ashwood tells the story in third person, with the point of view alternating between Holly, Alessandro, and occasional others.
Ashwood’s best touch is probably the witch houses. In this universe, when a witch family lives in a house, the building absorbs a great deal of power and becomes partially sentient. We see two examples in the novel: one benevolent and one gone horribly wrong. Another fun aspect is the snarky humor:
Eternal life didn’t make a person anything besides old. The real value lay in what you did with all that time. As far as he could tell, most immortals wasted that opportunity on internal politics and fashion crimes.
On the other hand, the characters could have used more fleshing-out, as could the relationship between the leads. Holly and Alessandro initially meet and establish a friendship offscreen, before Ravenous begins, so we don’t get to see the formation of that bond. Instead, most of the development is sexual. One terrific exception is the scene where Holly calls Alessandro for comfort after dispatching a human-sized mouse, and he comes to her rescue even though he thinks she means a garden-variety rodent. This is one moment when the emotional connection between the characters really comes through. I’d have loved to see more moments like that. In addition, everything seems to fall into place a little too easily at the end.
Also disappointing is
Classified as paranormal romance, Ravenous follows the structure of that genre, but also includes plenty of urban fantasy elements and will probably appeal to readers on that side of the subgenre divide. The central characters, Holly (a witch) and Alessandro (a vampire), fall in love while trying to prevent a demon from wreaking havoc in their city. Sharon Ashwood tells the story in third person, with the point of view alternating between Holly, Alessandro, and occasional others.
Ashwood’s best touch is probably the witch houses. In this universe, when a witch family lives in a house, the building absorbs a great deal of power and becomes partially sentient. We see two examples in the novel: one benevolent and one gone horribly wrong. Another fun aspect is the snarky humor:
Eternal life didn’t make a person anything besides old. The real value lay in what you did with all that time. As far as he could tell, most immortals wasted that opportunity on internal politics and fashion crimes.
On the other hand, the characters could have used more fleshing-out, as could the relationship between the leads. Holly and Alessandro initially meet and establish a friendship offscreen, before Ravenous begins, so we don’t get to see the formation of that bond. Instead, most of the development is sexual. One terrific exception is the scene where Holly calls Alessandro for comfort after dispatching a human-sized mouse, and he comes to her rescue even though he thinks she means a garden-variety rodent. This is one moment when the emotional connection between the characters really comes through. I’d have loved to see more moments like that. In addition, everything seems to fall into place a little too easily at the end.
Also disappointing is
June 27, 2019
I really liked this for the interesting world, the romance I could leave or take mainly coz it was UF, h is dating someone else at the start, then making out with someone else & the I love you at the end came out of the left-field. But I like the author's writing and the world.
November 28, 2008
Sharon Ashwood gives good haunted house in her paranormal romance, Ravenous.
Ghost-busting grab student Holly Carver is a witch out to make tuition money, but the Flanders House is no easy job. Six people have entered the building, but none have emerged yet. So in goes Holly and her vampire partner Alessandro Caravelli to investigate. Work of demons is definitely afoot, but that takes some kind of sorcery, so who's the mastermind?
The author's website proclaims this as "urban fantasy romance". Ah...no. I much agree with the publisher's label of "paranormal romance". The first three chapters are intriguing, and Flanders House makes for one hell of an interesting read. But the rest of the novel doesn't live up to it, though there are worthy scenes here and there.
The problem lies mainly with the characters. Long-haired, leather-clad vampire Alessandro has superficial qualities (if you go for that unoriginal type), but otherwise I can't really describe his character. He doesn't come alive. Same with Holly, bordering on being a Mary Sue - three guys fancy her (including her 1 tru wuv, so the others have to be evil, right?) for no particular reason I can see other than she's there. And Holly has a lot of powerful magic, only it's crippled in the beginning. But of course it's conveniently restored for her to defeat the baddies, but I would've respected her more if her powers had remained handicapped.
A childhood accident led to Holly's magic being crippled, but for me her sister Ashe Carver deserves her own novel. She has the more interesting story: Ashe had magic, and then she lost it for good. So how is she dealing with paranormal problems when she no longer has her powers?
The author has the potential to write some really interesting stuff. But for now her characters need to step out from their prescribed cardboard cut-outs and become more like real people. Ravenous should go down a treat for paranormal romance fans, but urban fantasy readers might be less than impressed.
Ghost-busting grab student Holly Carver is a witch out to make tuition money, but the Flanders House is no easy job. Six people have entered the building, but none have emerged yet. So in goes Holly and her vampire partner Alessandro Caravelli to investigate. Work of demons is definitely afoot, but that takes some kind of sorcery, so who's the mastermind?
The author's website proclaims this as "urban fantasy romance". Ah...no. I much agree with the publisher's label of "paranormal romance". The first three chapters are intriguing, and Flanders House makes for one hell of an interesting read. But the rest of the novel doesn't live up to it, though there are worthy scenes here and there.
The problem lies mainly with the characters. Long-haired, leather-clad vampire Alessandro has superficial qualities (if you go for that unoriginal type), but otherwise I can't really describe his character. He doesn't come alive. Same with Holly, bordering on being a Mary Sue - three guys fancy her (including her 1 tru wuv, so the others have to be evil, right?) for no particular reason I can see other than she's there. And Holly has a lot of powerful magic, only it's crippled in the beginning. But of course it's conveniently restored for her to defeat the baddies, but I would've respected her more if her powers had remained handicapped.
A childhood accident led to Holly's magic being crippled, but for me her sister Ashe Carver deserves her own novel. She has the more interesting story: Ashe had magic, and then she lost it for good. So how is she dealing with paranormal problems when she no longer has her powers?
The author has the potential to write some really interesting stuff. But for now her characters need to step out from their prescribed cardboard cut-outs and become more like real people. Ravenous should go down a treat for paranormal romance fans, but urban fantasy readers might be less than impressed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 12, 2011
I think fans of either genre will enjoy this book. I'm on the fence with my overall opinion of this book. It started out fun and interesting. Holly is cleaning the bad spirit out of an old house to pay for college. It turns out the house is a bit more malevolent than she expected and our story goes from there. The mystery is decent. I wanted to know who was summoning demons, how and why they stole a book from the vampire queen, and what was killing college students. I was also interested in our main vamp character's (Allesandro) enemy vamp. All of those things are pluses for the book, but there were a few minuses. First, the characters. Holly is neither likable nor unlikable. She seems pretty normal, which is a plus for me in this world of too-tough chicks. Allesandro is a pretty old vampire that is formal around his queen, and carries himself well. However, a few times he uses slang or makes reference to something an "old school" vamp probably wouldn't know about. He is a modern vampire yet still speaks regally. I couldn't wrap my head around that sometimes, the character seemed a bit inconsistent. Then there is the vampire queen, Omara. She isn't very bright. She leaves her extremely valuable magic artifacts, the only source or her power, and the only reason she is queen, lying around for anyone to steal. She falls for a bad boy and refuses to see reason, and also manages to get jealous of Holly and Allesandro. She's a mess. Not too impressive for a queen that is supposed to instill fear. Another minus for me is the pace. At times there is tons of action and demon slaying, and at times we are wandering from place to place with no real purpose. All in all this book is a decent romance and a decent urban fantasy book. In true romance style the next book centers around a different main character, Mac. I didn't like the snippet in the back of the book, and I may not read it. I do care about the "Dark Forgotten" beings left in The Castle/Hell, but I'm not sure if that is enough.
October 3, 2009
**3.5ish**
Though it's classified as PNR, Ravenous reads like thrilling UF. It has moments of wit and terror, enhanced by the growing connection between witchy heroine, Holly Carver, and her vampire partner, Alessandro Caravelli.
Ashwood's characters are realistic, as is the dialogue. The relationships flow easily, punctuated by moments of wry humor. Holly, Alessandro, Mac, and others are flawed yet likable, doing the best they can in a dark situation.
Unlike a lot of PNR, the plot takes center stage. The developing love match just adds a welcome layer to a twisted tale of murdered co-eds, vampiric power struggles, and summoned demons. The author's world-building is subtle but effective, accomplished through action and snippets of information. These details lay a solid groundwork without being overwhelming.
Ashwood manages some surprises along the way, keeping the tension high and the general outcome unclear. By the end of it all, I was satisfied with the way certain details were wrapped up, and also eager to know what lies ahead for the denizens of Fairview.
The only fault I found was the marked shift between the UF scenes and the internal monologues. The writing style seemed to change as Ashwood delved into Holly and Alessandro's feelings. However, this shift was most apparent toward the beginning. By mid-novel, the styles coalesced into something much more fluid.
Overall, a successful introduction to a promising series. I especially like that each book will focus on different members of a community, rather than utilizing the trope of a league, clan, band of brothers, etc. In PNR, it's the subtleties that set a series apart, and Ashwood's world seems poised to stand out.
Though it's classified as PNR, Ravenous reads like thrilling UF. It has moments of wit and terror, enhanced by the growing connection between witchy heroine, Holly Carver, and her vampire partner, Alessandro Caravelli.
Ashwood's characters are realistic, as is the dialogue. The relationships flow easily, punctuated by moments of wry humor. Holly, Alessandro, Mac, and others are flawed yet likable, doing the best they can in a dark situation.
Unlike a lot of PNR, the plot takes center stage. The developing love match just adds a welcome layer to a twisted tale of murdered co-eds, vampiric power struggles, and summoned demons. The author's world-building is subtle but effective, accomplished through action and snippets of information. These details lay a solid groundwork without being overwhelming.
Ashwood manages some surprises along the way, keeping the tension high and the general outcome unclear. By the end of it all, I was satisfied with the way certain details were wrapped up, and also eager to know what lies ahead for the denizens of Fairview.
The only fault I found was the marked shift between the UF scenes and the internal monologues. The writing style seemed to change as Ashwood delved into Holly and Alessandro's feelings. However, this shift was most apparent toward the beginning. By mid-novel, the styles coalesced into something much more fluid.
Overall, a successful introduction to a promising series. I especially like that each book will focus on different members of a community, rather than utilizing the trope of a league, clan, band of brothers, etc. In PNR, it's the subtleties that set a series apart, and Ashwood's world seems poised to stand out.
November 29, 2013
After languishing on my TBR for two years, I was pleasantly surprised with this first instalment of The Dark Forgotten. Great world building, easy reading flowing style and likeable main characters, it's a pity this series didn't get more attention.
January 4, 2016
I was a bit dubious to start this as there was some mixed reviews, but I'm so glad I did, it was fast paced and magical and some nice dirty scenes, the only downside was it kept jumping from different character povs and u had to catch up with it, but otherwise on to the next book x
June 26, 2016
I don't understand why it has been shelved as an urban fantasy more than a paranormal. The blurb says so too, that it is a paranormal romance!
April 23, 2012
Review Courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales
Quick & Dirty: Magic on every page.
Opening Sentence: “Why didn’t you say you were calling about the old Flanders place?�
The Review:
Ok, so I went back in time and picked up the first in this series, after already reviewing the fourth. Screwy, I know, but I was on a deadline. So, in this first installment we are introduced to what seems to be most of the major players in the rest of the series. It’s nice to get to know them a bit more. And we are also introduced to the series� biggest premise…Imagine the world when all those things that go bump in the night announce their existence, and become legal citizens of the world; business owners, bus drivers, the woman standing in front of you in the checkout lane. Crazy, I know. And, like anything outside the preferred, some of these races are subject to racial profiling, hate groups, etc. Geez, you’d think by the time these guys showed up in your lives, we could agree to disagree, or something.
In this first installment, we meet Alessandro (doesn’t his name just give you the shivers?) whose place in the world is governed by his Queen. She has, of late, had him chaperoning the vamps in our little town of Fairview, making sure they toe the line, that sort of thing. He also has a side job, helping registered Carver witch Holly rid the town of unwanted ghosts. Alessandro also harbors a secret need for Holly, one he refuses to act on, given her magical human status.
Holly is the only witch left working for her family’s agency, Three Sisters. After the tragic death of her parents in a sort of magical accident caused by her older sister Ashe, Holly’s magic has been a bit unreliable, or even broken you could say. For all these years, her small magic has been harder to grasp, and her big magic can be used, but causes her some rather severe pain.
When Holly is given the job of ridding a potential frat house, she turns up just for the money. She, like usual, contacted her business partner of sorts, Alessandro for help with this sort of job. When the house turns out to be more evil than she believed, and had already taken lives, including the possibility that it has taken the life of her professor boyfriend, she knows that even though it might hurt, she has to take this place down.
Following her recovery from the above job, and the subsequent loss of her relationship with the professor she has a run in with a large mouse, we’re talking the size of a human, who turns out to be a demon summoned from her prison into our world. The plot thickens as Alessandro and Holly must find this demon before it hurts someone else. We’re talking infected cops, meddling Queens, clan rivalries, a huge battle, and a surprising turn of events when we learn the truth about a certain professor.
Well, I liked this book as much as I did the fourth one. Like I said earlier, nice to get in on the beginning of the series, meet the people, hang out a bit. I have the next book on hand to review, so watch out for that, though I’m pretty sure it will be just as good as the others.
Notable Scene:
Holly let the energy rip the house’s magic apart, burning her nerves in a searing flash of heat. Sudden light flared. A bang. The smell of summer storms.
The black ooze hissed and bubbled where it touched her. It jerked away, scuttling back even as it melted to nothing. Holly pressed her forehead against the hard floorboards, flattening her body to connect with the physical house as much as she could. She had to give the power somewhere to go. Energy rushed through her like a current, far, far too much for the house’s magic to handle. She stole a glance, lifting her head just long enough to see that the black river had sizzled sown to a fast-vanishing puddle.
The glow was in the walls now, a faint hum washing through the air. Holly could feel the place shudder as the impact of the power blast reached the foundations. It resonated with her body, the sensation oddly intimate. Holly searched with her senses. The voices in her head were dead silent. Still. Gone. Zapped.
Nevertheless, Holly let the energy flow longer, making sure. She’d seen horror flicks. This house wasn’t getting any sequels.
A head rush made her glad to be lying down. Tears of relief leaked from her eyes, drying as they touched her hot cheeks. Raising one hand, she stared at the light under her skin, mesmerized. Great Goddess, I’m still glowing!
But it wasn’t over yet. Drawing on her broken power came at a cost. Holly’s flesh tightened, her heart stuttering like a drum tumbling down a hill. She pulled her knees under her, struggling to draw breath, but her lungs were like stone. No air.
Thoughts collapsed, puppets hacked away from their strings. No air, no air!
Sweat poured down her face. The glow faded. Now she was shaking. Her lungs grabbed a huge gasp, the instinct to live somehow cramming down the power, locking it away again.
And just when she thought the pain might be over, the aftermath hit—anguish so deep, it slashed each vertebra as it passed. Holly screamed a soundless word—she knew not what—and curled into a ball.
I won. I hurt.
Holly sobbed from sheer agony.
This was the reason she never took on more than snippy ghosts.
The Dark Forgotten Series:
1. Ravenous
2. Scorched
3. Unchained
4. Frostbound
FTC Advisory: Penguin/Signet provided me with a copy of Ravenous. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,� or bribes were exchanged for my review.
Quick & Dirty: Magic on every page.
Opening Sentence: “Why didn’t you say you were calling about the old Flanders place?�
The Review:
Ok, so I went back in time and picked up the first in this series, after already reviewing the fourth. Screwy, I know, but I was on a deadline. So, in this first installment we are introduced to what seems to be most of the major players in the rest of the series. It’s nice to get to know them a bit more. And we are also introduced to the series� biggest premise…Imagine the world when all those things that go bump in the night announce their existence, and become legal citizens of the world; business owners, bus drivers, the woman standing in front of you in the checkout lane. Crazy, I know. And, like anything outside the preferred, some of these races are subject to racial profiling, hate groups, etc. Geez, you’d think by the time these guys showed up in your lives, we could agree to disagree, or something.
In this first installment, we meet Alessandro (doesn’t his name just give you the shivers?) whose place in the world is governed by his Queen. She has, of late, had him chaperoning the vamps in our little town of Fairview, making sure they toe the line, that sort of thing. He also has a side job, helping registered Carver witch Holly rid the town of unwanted ghosts. Alessandro also harbors a secret need for Holly, one he refuses to act on, given her magical human status.
Holly is the only witch left working for her family’s agency, Three Sisters. After the tragic death of her parents in a sort of magical accident caused by her older sister Ashe, Holly’s magic has been a bit unreliable, or even broken you could say. For all these years, her small magic has been harder to grasp, and her big magic can be used, but causes her some rather severe pain.
When Holly is given the job of ridding a potential frat house, she turns up just for the money. She, like usual, contacted her business partner of sorts, Alessandro for help with this sort of job. When the house turns out to be more evil than she believed, and had already taken lives, including the possibility that it has taken the life of her professor boyfriend, she knows that even though it might hurt, she has to take this place down.
Following her recovery from the above job, and the subsequent loss of her relationship with the professor she has a run in with a large mouse, we’re talking the size of a human, who turns out to be a demon summoned from her prison into our world. The plot thickens as Alessandro and Holly must find this demon before it hurts someone else. We’re talking infected cops, meddling Queens, clan rivalries, a huge battle, and a surprising turn of events when we learn the truth about a certain professor.
Well, I liked this book as much as I did the fourth one. Like I said earlier, nice to get in on the beginning of the series, meet the people, hang out a bit. I have the next book on hand to review, so watch out for that, though I’m pretty sure it will be just as good as the others.
Notable Scene:
Holly let the energy rip the house’s magic apart, burning her nerves in a searing flash of heat. Sudden light flared. A bang. The smell of summer storms.
The black ooze hissed and bubbled where it touched her. It jerked away, scuttling back even as it melted to nothing. Holly pressed her forehead against the hard floorboards, flattening her body to connect with the physical house as much as she could. She had to give the power somewhere to go. Energy rushed through her like a current, far, far too much for the house’s magic to handle. She stole a glance, lifting her head just long enough to see that the black river had sizzled sown to a fast-vanishing puddle.
The glow was in the walls now, a faint hum washing through the air. Holly could feel the place shudder as the impact of the power blast reached the foundations. It resonated with her body, the sensation oddly intimate. Holly searched with her senses. The voices in her head were dead silent. Still. Gone. Zapped.
Nevertheless, Holly let the energy flow longer, making sure. She’d seen horror flicks. This house wasn’t getting any sequels.
A head rush made her glad to be lying down. Tears of relief leaked from her eyes, drying as they touched her hot cheeks. Raising one hand, she stared at the light under her skin, mesmerized. Great Goddess, I’m still glowing!
But it wasn’t over yet. Drawing on her broken power came at a cost. Holly’s flesh tightened, her heart stuttering like a drum tumbling down a hill. She pulled her knees under her, struggling to draw breath, but her lungs were like stone. No air.
Thoughts collapsed, puppets hacked away from their strings. No air, no air!
Sweat poured down her face. The glow faded. Now she was shaking. Her lungs grabbed a huge gasp, the instinct to live somehow cramming down the power, locking it away again.
And just when she thought the pain might be over, the aftermath hit—anguish so deep, it slashed each vertebra as it passed. Holly screamed a soundless word—she knew not what—and curled into a ball.
I won. I hurt.
Holly sobbed from sheer agony.
This was the reason she never took on more than snippy ghosts.
The Dark Forgotten Series:
1. Ravenous
2. Scorched
3. Unchained
4. Frostbound
FTC Advisory: Penguin/Signet provided me with a copy of Ravenous. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,� or bribes were exchanged for my review.
March 23, 2011
~* 3.5 Stars *~
Holly Carver is a witch who makes ends meet by working small-M magics for the Three Sisters Agency. She has a partner, Alessandro Caravelli, the vampire that backs her up and keeps her safe when needed. He's totally hot, but Holly has a boyfriend and is getting ready to start college classes and doesn't completely trust vampires and their hungers. And she values her own free will too much to become either lover or snack to Alessandro. Doesn't mean he's not the first call she makes when she gets a job to clean a sentient house that's been kicking up some trouble.
At least, she was told it was kicking up some trouble. Truth is a little more intense - missing college students and faculty and reports of screams and weird lights. And the house isn't just sentient. It's malevolent. And it wants a big bite of witch. Holly can deal with the house - barely - but one thing leads to another and the house is just the first in a long line of increasing badness and danger.
A week ago all Holly wanted wanted was to do a job to get the money to pay for her classes and spend time with her boyfriend. Now she just wants to survive. Alessandro intends to make sure Holly gets everything she wants. And some things she doesn't realize she needs. Like him.
Ravenous started strong with a quickly-paced plot of danger and risk, nicely tempered with the sort of tongue-in-cheek and often self-deprecating humor that I personally favor - mostly from the protagonist, Holly. Even the prologue gave me a huge grin. Capitalizing on that humorous tone, Ashwood was able to quickly sketch out the world and a bit of the mythos without overloading the reader with exposition so the world building and character development felt very organic to the plot as it began to develop. Unfortunately, it wasn't all quite so blood and roses and there was an element that I felt was too-quickly brought up that halted that organic development and for me, the book never quite totally gelled after that.
While I enjoyed the concept of the world and the plot (the idea of sentient housing was awesome), and appreciated the primary and secondary characters, Ravenous stuttered a bit when the vampire queen Omara and Alessandro go from discussing paranormal murders on the town's college campus to Omara bringing up the Chosen legend, a legend about vampire mates that most vampires believe are nothing more than fairy tales. I had more than a few issues with that. The idea of a Chosen mate has been so overused in various incarnations in paranormal romance and fanged fiction. What little originality or unique spin on that oft-utilized romantic catch-all attempted in Ravenous was quickly stifled by the jarring out-of-the-blue mention and lack of connection to other topics during that conversation. It left me feeling like the entire Chosen topic was dealt with in a very heavy-handed and obvious manner. A sixty-foot, flashing neon sign pointing at Alessandro and Holly would've been more subtle.
There's not much subtlety to be found in Ravenous. That's not always a bad thing, but in this case, I was left feeling like various plot points kept being set up as conflict for the characters, then quickly knocked down as easily as if they were bowling pins, without a lot of impact on the characters involved as the story progressed. So many plot points and twisting developments, in fact, that there never seemed to be time to fully explore the ramifications or nuances of one before the next set was placed. It makes for a fast read, but doesn't allow for much depth or substance in the plot.
That being said, there were quite a few things that I liked about this series opener, not the least of which is the ramifications of the Castle and the potential for lots of meaty conflict with its inhabitants. I found the concept behind the interdimensional prison to be quite intriguing and hope to see that developed further. I also felt for Mac and while I wish his story had been given more room to make more of an impact here, I liked it very much. I enjoyed Holly and thought she did a reasonable job as heroine - and that's saying something, because the female leads are usually the first thing I don't like. I also liked Alessandro, but I was a little disappointed in the dearth in his development and the sort of cursory attention given to his relationship with Holly. I prefer a romance that develops with more attention and work given to that development, and this just wasn't that sort of romance. It wasn't quite to my tastes or preferences. I still enjoyed it.
I was very pleased with the promise I saw for a series here, and think Ashwood is off to a good start. I have no qualms at all about her writing style and her ability to add lyricism and humor to her prose to keep characters and situations fresh and hope that's a trend that continues with Scorched. Especially as I've already got it sitting in my To Be Read pile. I was left with a favorable feeling towards this book and look forward to continuing the series with the hopes that a few of my issues with this book won't be carried over to the next.
~*~*~*~
If you like this review, check out my book review blog for more.
Holly Carver is a witch who makes ends meet by working small-M magics for the Three Sisters Agency. She has a partner, Alessandro Caravelli, the vampire that backs her up and keeps her safe when needed. He's totally hot, but Holly has a boyfriend and is getting ready to start college classes and doesn't completely trust vampires and their hungers. And she values her own free will too much to become either lover or snack to Alessandro. Doesn't mean he's not the first call she makes when she gets a job to clean a sentient house that's been kicking up some trouble.
At least, she was told it was kicking up some trouble. Truth is a little more intense - missing college students and faculty and reports of screams and weird lights. And the house isn't just sentient. It's malevolent. And it wants a big bite of witch. Holly can deal with the house - barely - but one thing leads to another and the house is just the first in a long line of increasing badness and danger.
A week ago all Holly wanted wanted was to do a job to get the money to pay for her classes and spend time with her boyfriend. Now she just wants to survive. Alessandro intends to make sure Holly gets everything she wants. And some things she doesn't realize she needs. Like him.
Ravenous started strong with a quickly-paced plot of danger and risk, nicely tempered with the sort of tongue-in-cheek and often self-deprecating humor that I personally favor - mostly from the protagonist, Holly. Even the prologue gave me a huge grin. Capitalizing on that humorous tone, Ashwood was able to quickly sketch out the world and a bit of the mythos without overloading the reader with exposition so the world building and character development felt very organic to the plot as it began to develop. Unfortunately, it wasn't all quite so blood and roses and there was an element that I felt was too-quickly brought up that halted that organic development and for me, the book never quite totally gelled after that.
While I enjoyed the concept of the world and the plot (the idea of sentient housing was awesome), and appreciated the primary and secondary characters, Ravenous stuttered a bit when the vampire queen Omara and Alessandro go from discussing paranormal murders on the town's college campus to Omara bringing up the Chosen legend, a legend about vampire mates that most vampires believe are nothing more than fairy tales. I had more than a few issues with that. The idea of a Chosen mate has been so overused in various incarnations in paranormal romance and fanged fiction. What little originality or unique spin on that oft-utilized romantic catch-all attempted in Ravenous was quickly stifled by the jarring out-of-the-blue mention and lack of connection to other topics during that conversation. It left me feeling like the entire Chosen topic was dealt with in a very heavy-handed and obvious manner. A sixty-foot, flashing neon sign pointing at Alessandro and Holly would've been more subtle.
There's not much subtlety to be found in Ravenous. That's not always a bad thing, but in this case, I was left feeling like various plot points kept being set up as conflict for the characters, then quickly knocked down as easily as if they were bowling pins, without a lot of impact on the characters involved as the story progressed. So many plot points and twisting developments, in fact, that there never seemed to be time to fully explore the ramifications or nuances of one before the next set was placed. It makes for a fast read, but doesn't allow for much depth or substance in the plot.
That being said, there were quite a few things that I liked about this series opener, not the least of which is the ramifications of the Castle and the potential for lots of meaty conflict with its inhabitants. I found the concept behind the interdimensional prison to be quite intriguing and hope to see that developed further. I also felt for Mac and while I wish his story had been given more room to make more of an impact here, I liked it very much. I enjoyed Holly and thought she did a reasonable job as heroine - and that's saying something, because the female leads are usually the first thing I don't like. I also liked Alessandro, but I was a little disappointed in the dearth in his development and the sort of cursory attention given to his relationship with Holly. I prefer a romance that develops with more attention and work given to that development, and this just wasn't that sort of romance. It wasn't quite to my tastes or preferences. I still enjoyed it.
I was very pleased with the promise I saw for a series here, and think Ashwood is off to a good start. I have no qualms at all about her writing style and her ability to add lyricism and humor to her prose to keep characters and situations fresh and hope that's a trend that continues with Scorched. Especially as I've already got it sitting in my To Be Read pile. I was left with a favorable feeling towards this book and look forward to continuing the series with the hopes that a few of my issues with this book won't be carried over to the next.
~*~*~*~
If you like this review, check out my book review blog for more.
May 28, 2010
Holly Carver is a witch living in the little town of Fairview. She comes from a long line of powerful witches, but damaged her own powers badly during a spell when she was little, and therefore uses what little witchcraft she has left to banish ghosts from old buildings in return for tuition money. She is helped in her ghost busting business by Alessandro Caravelli, a six centuries old vampire who clearly wants to be more than just a friend to her, but knows that if he ever bites her, his addictive venom will turn her into a mindless slave, not the independent and strong-willed woman he has grown to love.
Holly experiences a rough couple of days. She is nearly killed saving her professor boyfriend and some of his students from a sentient, evil house. Then said boyfriend asks her to sell her ancient house that has been in her family for countless generations, something she can't do, because the root of her (now limited) powers reside there. When she refuses, he dumps her, unable to deal with her supernatural abilities. Several students are found dead around campus, and a giant (nearly person-sized) mouse manifesting in Holly's house turns out to actually be a demon, who wants to take over Fairview, and from there, the world.
Alessandro, in return, has to deal with the return of his ruler, the vampire queen Omara. She's none too happy about his divided loyalties, but also wants to make sure Holly can help her banish her demon nemesis back to the supernatural prison it escaped from. An ancestor of Holly's helped her banish the demon once before, and while she is none too happy about Alessandro's affection for Holly, she will use it to get Holly on her side, if need be.
Ravenous: The Dark Forgotten is one of many paranormal books I picked up in a sale at my local fantasy/sci-fi bookstore, and it has languished on my book shelf for many months. The cover is, like on so many paranormal books, grossly misleading. I can only assume that the cover is meant to portray Holly, although she never wears anything even vaguely as skimpy and tarty as the top on the cover, but there is one mention of her ritual silver dagger, and she has dark hair, so I guess that's as far as the cover artist needed to stretch themselves. I'm assuming the title refers to the ravenous hunger felt both by the victims possessed by the demon Geneva - who seem to feel an all-consuming literal hunger after she kisses them, and that of the victims of the vampires, who once they experience a vampire bite become ravenous for sex, and will do anything the vampire who bit them wishes, submerging their own will to that of their vampire master.
The book can be classified both as a paranormal fantasy and as a paranormal romance, depending on whether the reader thinks the most important part of the story is the couple getting together, or their defeating the evil demon. I personally felt the romance aspect was secondary in the book, and most of the book is Holly coming to terms with first the limitations of her stunted power, then later the possibility of her full powers returning, and how she is going to support herself in the future rather than with whether or not she's going to find true love with Alessandro.
Sharon Ashwood's book was not the most groundbreaking paranormal fantasy I have read, but she creates a nice world, and sketches some good characters. I must admit that the revelation of some of the bad guys did not exactly make me gasp in surprise, it was all rather predictable, but I was never bored reading the book, and will probably pick up the sequels at some point. It appears as if Ashwood, like Kelley Armstrong, instead of writing all her books about the same characters, has new protagonists in each book, all loosely inter-connected in the same world. As far as I can see, her second book is about the cop who gets demon-possessed in this one, and the third appears to be about Holly's older sister. That can keep things from getting boring, so I will look out for her books, but I doubt I will rush out to buy them as soon as they are released.
Holly experiences a rough couple of days. She is nearly killed saving her professor boyfriend and some of his students from a sentient, evil house. Then said boyfriend asks her to sell her ancient house that has been in her family for countless generations, something she can't do, because the root of her (now limited) powers reside there. When she refuses, he dumps her, unable to deal with her supernatural abilities. Several students are found dead around campus, and a giant (nearly person-sized) mouse manifesting in Holly's house turns out to actually be a demon, who wants to take over Fairview, and from there, the world.
Alessandro, in return, has to deal with the return of his ruler, the vampire queen Omara. She's none too happy about his divided loyalties, but also wants to make sure Holly can help her banish her demon nemesis back to the supernatural prison it escaped from. An ancestor of Holly's helped her banish the demon once before, and while she is none too happy about Alessandro's affection for Holly, she will use it to get Holly on her side, if need be.
Ravenous: The Dark Forgotten is one of many paranormal books I picked up in a sale at my local fantasy/sci-fi bookstore, and it has languished on my book shelf for many months. The cover is, like on so many paranormal books, grossly misleading. I can only assume that the cover is meant to portray Holly, although she never wears anything even vaguely as skimpy and tarty as the top on the cover, but there is one mention of her ritual silver dagger, and she has dark hair, so I guess that's as far as the cover artist needed to stretch themselves. I'm assuming the title refers to the ravenous hunger felt both by the victims possessed by the demon Geneva - who seem to feel an all-consuming literal hunger after she kisses them, and that of the victims of the vampires, who once they experience a vampire bite become ravenous for sex, and will do anything the vampire who bit them wishes, submerging their own will to that of their vampire master.
The book can be classified both as a paranormal fantasy and as a paranormal romance, depending on whether the reader thinks the most important part of the story is the couple getting together, or their defeating the evil demon. I personally felt the romance aspect was secondary in the book, and most of the book is Holly coming to terms with first the limitations of her stunted power, then later the possibility of her full powers returning, and how she is going to support herself in the future rather than with whether or not she's going to find true love with Alessandro.
Sharon Ashwood's book was not the most groundbreaking paranormal fantasy I have read, but she creates a nice world, and sketches some good characters. I must admit that the revelation of some of the bad guys did not exactly make me gasp in surprise, it was all rather predictable, but I was never bored reading the book, and will probably pick up the sequels at some point. It appears as if Ashwood, like Kelley Armstrong, instead of writing all her books about the same characters, has new protagonists in each book, all loosely inter-connected in the same world. As far as I can see, her second book is about the cop who gets demon-possessed in this one, and the third appears to be about Holly's older sister. That can keep things from getting boring, so I will look out for her books, but I doubt I will rush out to buy them as soon as they are released.
March 26, 2025
As the last of the Carver witches, the heroine feels compelled to keep her family legacy alive and, hell, if it also helps pay the bills then that's an added bonus. With her partner, the dangerous but sexually alluring vampire hero, she's called on to de-ghost haunted houses and to find lost pets-basically things not too exciting but hey. She didn't sign up for the house she's called to that night. Never before has she encountered a more dark and menacing residence and she instantly realizes this if going to test her magic like it's never been tested before. And boy was she right. She goes in hoping to save the lives of 6 people who have gone missing inside its walls-her boyfriend included, and the strength of the evil pulsating around her is almost the death of her. She barely makes it out alive and only able to save 3 of the 6 people, making her sick with guilt.
That night is the turning point in the heroine's life. Her boyfriend, a human, is frightened by the world she lives in and pushes her to 'be normal'. To sell her family home and live in a condo, pretend to be human and forget all about her magic and her talent. This isn't something she can or will do. The break up is hard but she finally sees the ignorance of the man she once thought she loved. And she also sees the attraction that's always existed between herself and the hero. Though it's evident there is a connection-hell how can anyone NOT be attracted to such a graceful and beautiful man? They've never acted on it. Because she had a boyfriend but mainly because the hero fears losing control.
It's in his nature to crave blood and sex and can't have one without the other. He refuses to risk the woman he's secretly in love with. Plus, he’s bonded by a vow to serve his queen and the woman is possessive. But a few kisses here and there can't be denied and though the hero longs for more, his desire to protect her is greater than his need to have her. And when the world is falling apart around them, there's little time for romance.
An ancient enemy has resurfaced, vowing revenge against the vampire queen by opening a portal between hell and earth. Freeing demons and all other sorts of creatures from the prisoner that's held them for thousands of years. They work together well, the witch and the vampire but even they can't seem to get a handle on the task before them. Lies and betrayal circle them and when the heroine is poisoned by a demon the hero must mark her to save her life. She refuses to live like that- a slave who's will is not her own. The hero too regrets the need because it hurts her and drives them apart. But even when it's broken, she knows that bonding or not, he's a apart of her, like she is a part of him.
This book was a bit too much Urban Fantasy for my liking. I wanted more romance and I didn't get it. Sure, the main characters had their screen time but honestly even what little time they did spend in each other’s company was lacking in chemistry. It didn't help matters that the heroine was basically attracted to 4 different men in the course of a 330-page book. The boyfriend who turned out to be the cliché prejudiced bastard. The hot cop who is captured by the spell of a demon. The werewolf teacher, and finally the vampire hero. That's a lot. Added to the lack of sexual tension between the hero and heroine it made for an unsatisfying book in my opinion. Granted, the plot overall was okay. Plenty of action, plenty of clues and leads that point to the culprit. But I didn't much like it. I think 2 stars is healthy but I'm iffy in regards to the rest of the series.
That night is the turning point in the heroine's life. Her boyfriend, a human, is frightened by the world she lives in and pushes her to 'be normal'. To sell her family home and live in a condo, pretend to be human and forget all about her magic and her talent. This isn't something she can or will do. The break up is hard but she finally sees the ignorance of the man she once thought she loved. And she also sees the attraction that's always existed between herself and the hero. Though it's evident there is a connection-hell how can anyone NOT be attracted to such a graceful and beautiful man? They've never acted on it. Because she had a boyfriend but mainly because the hero fears losing control.
It's in his nature to crave blood and sex and can't have one without the other. He refuses to risk the woman he's secretly in love with. Plus, he’s bonded by a vow to serve his queen and the woman is possessive. But a few kisses here and there can't be denied and though the hero longs for more, his desire to protect her is greater than his need to have her. And when the world is falling apart around them, there's little time for romance.
An ancient enemy has resurfaced, vowing revenge against the vampire queen by opening a portal between hell and earth. Freeing demons and all other sorts of creatures from the prisoner that's held them for thousands of years. They work together well, the witch and the vampire but even they can't seem to get a handle on the task before them. Lies and betrayal circle them and when the heroine is poisoned by a demon the hero must mark her to save her life. She refuses to live like that- a slave who's will is not her own. The hero too regrets the need because it hurts her and drives them apart. But even when it's broken, she knows that bonding or not, he's a apart of her, like she is a part of him.
This book was a bit too much Urban Fantasy for my liking. I wanted more romance and I didn't get it. Sure, the main characters had their screen time but honestly even what little time they did spend in each other’s company was lacking in chemistry. It didn't help matters that the heroine was basically attracted to 4 different men in the course of a 330-page book. The boyfriend who turned out to be the cliché prejudiced bastard. The hot cop who is captured by the spell of a demon. The werewolf teacher, and finally the vampire hero. That's a lot. Added to the lack of sexual tension between the hero and heroine it made for an unsatisfying book in my opinion. Granted, the plot overall was okay. Plenty of action, plenty of clues and leads that point to the culprit. But I didn't much like it. I think 2 stars is healthy but I'm iffy in regards to the rest of the series.
March 29, 2016
To be very fair at the start of this review I am naturally predisposed towards any book that has these 3 things: chick with sharp pointy object on cover, character who owns/wants an Aston Martin Vanquish (my dream car) and a heroine who has to battle the minions of darkness--both those of the academic kind and supernatural sort. Ravenous goes one step beyond by making me really enjoy reading about the characters.
Poor Holly has so much on her plate, none of which want to fit together nicely. She tries her hardest to make things work out and it just seems to make things go from bad to hellacious worse. As if calculus isn't scary enough add to it a power crazy demon intent on sucking the soul right out of you, makes hazing week look much simpler huh?
The Vampire Queen, Omara, was by far my favorite character. Morally ambiguous, manipulative, sneaky, lying and possessive there really aren't too many positive traits to label her with. Except her utter loyalty to her people's cause and that vampires adhere to every single law that she squeezes out of us humans so that they can be a measure of equals. She remembers freedom to live out in the open--and wants it back.
The mystery of the book is figuring out where everyone lies on any given side or time of day. Holly is firmly entrenched in the side for good of course, but everyone else is a variable. Alessandro--her hunky vampire partner (who looks very good in leather fringe apparently)--is arguably on the side of good as well, but is trenched in loyalties and secrets that it sometimes makes it hard for him to exhibit that. The demon is a force for evil clear and present. Omara is mostly out for herself first, her people second and everyone else comes in a distant if she cares to remember them third.
There's a twist at the end, that's hinted during the book, but each time just as easily explained away harmlessly. And the next book, focusing around a not quite main character from this book, promises more whispered secrets and forbidden knowledge. Plus any book that has hell hounds as something other then slobbering beasts is just plain fun (I won't even get into the Orpheus myth fun!).
Poor Holly has so much on her plate, none of which want to fit together nicely. She tries her hardest to make things work out and it just seems to make things go from bad to hellacious worse. As if calculus isn't scary enough add to it a power crazy demon intent on sucking the soul right out of you, makes hazing week look much simpler huh?
The Vampire Queen, Omara, was by far my favorite character. Morally ambiguous, manipulative, sneaky, lying and possessive there really aren't too many positive traits to label her with. Except her utter loyalty to her people's cause and that vampires adhere to every single law that she squeezes out of us humans so that they can be a measure of equals. She remembers freedom to live out in the open--and wants it back.
The mystery of the book is figuring out where everyone lies on any given side or time of day. Holly is firmly entrenched in the side for good of course, but everyone else is a variable. Alessandro--her hunky vampire partner (who looks very good in leather fringe apparently)--is arguably on the side of good as well, but is trenched in loyalties and secrets that it sometimes makes it hard for him to exhibit that. The demon is a force for evil clear and present. Omara is mostly out for herself first, her people second and everyone else comes in a distant if she cares to remember them third.
There's a twist at the end, that's hinted during the book, but each time just as easily explained away harmlessly. And the next book, focusing around a not quite main character from this book, promises more whispered secrets and forbidden knowledge. Plus any book that has hell hounds as something other then slobbering beasts is just plain fun (I won't even get into the Orpheus myth fun!).
November 14, 2011
I'm going to be generous and give this 2.5 stars.
I really wanted to like this book. In spite of the fact that it is a classic urban fantasy with classic urban fantasy tropes, there were a few elements to this book that I thought were imaginative and interesting. For one thing, I love the idea that witches in this UF universe have semi-sentient houses, and that haunted houses are really just sentient houses gone bad. That was cool. But that was one of the few innovative ideas in this novel.
The characters all felt wooden and two-dimensional. Alessandro in particular was a boring, occasionally bizarre (what was with his wardrobe?), and ultimately disappointing character. He was weak, selfish, and easily manipulated. I found it difficult to believe that he actually loved Holly. Holly was more likeable, but nothing about her stood out in any way. She didn't feel like a real person to me, so I found it hard to care about what she was going through. As for Mac, his portrayal as a spineless victim in this book doesn't make me eager to read more about him in .
Like I said, 2.5 stars is generous. It's not a good sign that my favorite character in this book was an evil house.
I really wanted to like this book. In spite of the fact that it is a classic urban fantasy with classic urban fantasy tropes, there were a few elements to this book that I thought were imaginative and interesting. For one thing, I love the idea that witches in this UF universe have semi-sentient houses, and that haunted houses are really just sentient houses gone bad. That was cool. But that was one of the few innovative ideas in this novel.
The characters all felt wooden and two-dimensional. Alessandro in particular was a boring, occasionally bizarre (what was with his wardrobe?), and ultimately disappointing character. He was weak, selfish, and easily manipulated. I found it difficult to believe that he actually loved Holly. Holly was more likeable, but nothing about her stood out in any way. She didn't feel like a real person to me, so I found it hard to care about what she was going through. As for Mac, his portrayal as a spineless victim in this book doesn't make me eager to read more about him in .
Like I said, 2.5 stars is generous. It's not a good sign that my favorite character in this book was an evil house.
December 14, 2014
I positively devoured this book. When I wasn’t reading it, I was itching to pick it up and continue on it. I was even skipping through it just to get through it faster (and then had to backtrack when I missed important details). Alessandro was a glorious thing to read. Like the back of the book says, he’s walking seduction. Everything he says is innuendo and a tease, and a vision to behold (think like what Tom Cruise looked like as Lestat in Interview with the Vampire, only more gorgeous, and dressed in open-chested or mesh shirts and tight black leather pants. *drool*) Not to mention he had that whole Twilight vampire angst going too (Not that he was unhappy being immortal, but unhappy that he couldn’t actually have love without worrying about biting said girl and turning her into a slave over time). But he wasn’t the only fun character to read about. There was also Perry Baker, his werewolf buddy who had a whole laundry list of hilarious problems like accidentally dating a werewolf hunter, and worrying about the students waiting for him “lift a leg and pee on the mainframe�. This book had so much loveable humor, combined with delectable romance, with strong women (not just Holly, but the vampire queen Omara as well), and, of course, suspense of hoping Holly will be able to get out of situations.
February 24, 2009
I enjoyed the idea behind Ravenous, but it felt like the author didn't have any faith that her readers would be even passably intelligent. She spent so much time spelling out what was going on that there was nothing for the reader to get excited about. Nothing that makes them want to turn the pages and say, what's going to happen next? It's not a bad story over all and it does get better after the first 150 pages. It will be interesting to see if her writing style gets better.
**possible spoilers** The characters were a little weak. Your main character, Holly was a decent character, she had some depth but nothing that made you really want to like her. Her house on the other hand was fantastic. A sentient house was delightful. The secondary character, Alessandro, was very one sided. He was suppose to be ages old and yet he was petty and stone faced with no real passion. Omara, the Queen of the Vampires was even more petty, jealous and childish. She was suppose to be the big bad, but she was written more like a spitefull cheerleader with a really big boyfreind standing behind her. The actual demon of the story started out as a big rat. A four foot tall rat, but still how can that be scary? When you see her later, it's kind of disappointing.
**possible spoilers** The characters were a little weak. Your main character, Holly was a decent character, she had some depth but nothing that made you really want to like her. Her house on the other hand was fantastic. A sentient house was delightful. The secondary character, Alessandro, was very one sided. He was suppose to be ages old and yet he was petty and stone faced with no real passion. Omara, the Queen of the Vampires was even more petty, jealous and childish. She was suppose to be the big bad, but she was written more like a spitefull cheerleader with a really big boyfreind standing behind her. The actual demon of the story started out as a big rat. A four foot tall rat, but still how can that be scary? When you see her later, it's kind of disappointing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 24, 2009
Ashwood's novel begins with the suspenseful hunt through the demonic house. Later, the pace slackens only slightly as the hunt for the evil that is behind several hideous murders continues. All the characters are well realized, and their actions in trying circumstances are completely believable. Ashwood has a unique and fascinating take on demons and the nature of hell. Brisk pacing and credible characters add up to an entertaining and captivating story....
January 1, 2015
If you look at the covers of this series you would think it is an ongoing series about a female character. Alas each book has its own couple. Loved this book. Hoped the series would continue in book two. I was not that much of a fan of the Mac character in this book, and a bit disappointed he is the main character of the next. Hoped it would be a strong females book series.
I will not continue with book 2 because of the reason mentioned above.
I will not continue with book 2 because of the reason mentioned above.
November 12, 2009
Wow! A fascinating and suspenseful debut book for Sharon Ashwood! She really knows how weave a sexy, romantic love story between a spunky witch and a seductive vampire! The mysterious plot will have you trying to figure out who is a traitor and who is not!! I cant wait for the next installment in the dark forgotten series!!
October 12, 2011
I can't really pinpoint exactly what turns me off from this book. It was good, lots of action, some romance, bad good/good guys ... it just didn't seem to flow right. Big events weren't given the acknowledgement they deserved. I don't know if I'll be continuing the series although I would've liked an update on Mac.
July 19, 2011
Love, love, love this book and this series. So well written and not a single boring moment for 335 pages. Sharon Ashwood sure knows how to write an awesome PNR. This is the first book in The Dark Forgotten Series. If you like vampires, witches and other things that go bump in the night you will love this book.
February 17, 2009
This book has lots of different PNR elements - vampires, ghouls, demons, changelings, witches, werewolves and even humans. : )
Lots of action and multiple elements to keep track of. Very enjoyable read. Can't wait for book 2 which ought to be interesting.
Lots of action and multiple elements to keep track of. Very enjoyable read. Can't wait for book 2 which ought to be interesting.
November 19, 2009
Quite enjoyed this book. It had similar elements to the Rachel Morgan series but it never felt like the author copied her. The story developes naturally without everything just magically working out. No Sue here :) Would recommend it to all urban fantasy lovers :)
February 9, 2009
Jessa's pithy reviews:
Danger + Desire = Delicious! Holly is a great heroine who fights hard to come into her own.
Danger + Desire = Delicious! Holly is a great heroine who fights hard to come into her own.
June 3, 2016
Wow, loved this book.
November 22, 2019
Hollys Freund hat sie verlassen, weil sie ihm zu sehr Hexe war. Der umwerfend attraktive Vampir Alessandro will hingegen nichts von ihr wissen, weil sie zu sehr Mensch ist. Doch Hollys kompliziertes Liebesleben ist noch ihr geringstes Problem, als ein Dämon auf ihre Heimatstadt losgelassen wird. Die junge Hexe ist die Einzige, die ihn stoppen kann! Nur fordert solche Magie immer einen Preis � und der ist Hollys Leben!
Obwohl das Buch schon älteren Datums ist, hat mich das Cover sofort angesprochen. Die Story beginnt rasant. Man wird in die Welt hineinkatapultiert. Etwas verwirrt hat mich, dass zunächst nicht klar ist, warum eine Hexe öffentlich praktizieren kann, begleitet von einem sehr gut aussehenden uralten Vampir. Aber egal. Holly muss schon auf den ersten Seiten in ein besessenes böses Haus, um Studenten zu retten. Das Setting gefiel mir und so las ich weiter. Und wurde nicht enttäuscht. Denn in diesem rasanten Tempo geht die Geschichte weiter. Uns begegnen Ghule, Dämonen und eine gefährliche Vampirkönigin. Trotz der Actionszenen kommen die Figuren nicht zu kurz. Besonders Holly macht eine sehr interessante und vor allem glaubwürdige Entwicklung durch. Ich mochte die junge Hexe auf Anhieb. Gleichzeitig werden die romantischen Szenen geschickt miteingeflochten, ohne die Story zu dominieren. Ausgerechnet als ich glaubte, es könnte nichts Neues mehr kommen, machte die Geschichte eine Wendung durch, die mich sehr positiv überraschte. Ich möchte hier jedoch nicht zu viel verraten. Am besten lest ihr es selbst. Für mich eine klare Leseempfehlung für alle Fans von Urban Fantasy.
Obwohl das Buch schon älteren Datums ist, hat mich das Cover sofort angesprochen. Die Story beginnt rasant. Man wird in die Welt hineinkatapultiert. Etwas verwirrt hat mich, dass zunächst nicht klar ist, warum eine Hexe öffentlich praktizieren kann, begleitet von einem sehr gut aussehenden uralten Vampir. Aber egal. Holly muss schon auf den ersten Seiten in ein besessenes böses Haus, um Studenten zu retten. Das Setting gefiel mir und so las ich weiter. Und wurde nicht enttäuscht. Denn in diesem rasanten Tempo geht die Geschichte weiter. Uns begegnen Ghule, Dämonen und eine gefährliche Vampirkönigin. Trotz der Actionszenen kommen die Figuren nicht zu kurz. Besonders Holly macht eine sehr interessante und vor allem glaubwürdige Entwicklung durch. Ich mochte die junge Hexe auf Anhieb. Gleichzeitig werden die romantischen Szenen geschickt miteingeflochten, ohne die Story zu dominieren. Ausgerechnet als ich glaubte, es könnte nichts Neues mehr kommen, machte die Geschichte eine Wendung durch, die mich sehr positiv überraschte. Ich möchte hier jedoch nicht zu viel verraten. Am besten lest ihr es selbst. Für mich eine klare Leseempfehlung für alle Fans von Urban Fantasy.
September 20, 2018
One kiss is all it takes to lose your soul� in this thrilling paranormal world. Holly who is a small town witch and Alessandro, her vampire partner, are two solid and captivating characters that grab readers� attention from the beginning and refuse to let go. Their relationship is full of turmoil both emotional and physical with sizzling chemistry as they fight their attraction while Alessandro tries to keep Holly safe from everyone that wants a piece of her. The romance between Holly and Alessandro is intense and one that dreams are made of as they discover that maybe their differences aren’t so far apart as they thought and just maybe a witch and a vampire can have a happily ever after.
The fast paced and smooth flowing plot keeps readers glued to the pages with lots of thrilling events full of danger and suspense as the supernatural community faces a war brought on by quite a few characters all with different plans in mind and surprising twists keeps readers holding their breath in anticipation of what will happen next. The author brought her well-developed and fascinating world to vivid life with well written words that makes it easy for the readers to picture each and every scene while using some unique and fascinating elements to make the story a bit different from others and I am certainly looking forward to reading more of this mesmerizing series.
The fast paced and smooth flowing plot keeps readers glued to the pages with lots of thrilling events full of danger and suspense as the supernatural community faces a war brought on by quite a few characters all with different plans in mind and surprising twists keeps readers holding their breath in anticipation of what will happen next. The author brought her well-developed and fascinating world to vivid life with well written words that makes it easy for the readers to picture each and every scene while using some unique and fascinating elements to make the story a bit different from others and I am certainly looking forward to reading more of this mesmerizing series.
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