Title: Red Kiss
Author: Deidre Knight
Publishing Date: June 2009
Genre: Paranormal
Rating: D
Sensuality: Warm
Red Kiss is the second book in Deidre Knight's Gods of Midnight Series. River Kassandros is a shape shifting spartan warrior sworn to protect mankind from Demons along with six of his spartan brothers. Each of the warriors were given a special gift that helps make them unique. River can shapeshift into any weapon of his choice. But his special gift comes with a negative side effect in that when he emerges from his weapon form he in a berserker state and has the lust of battle riding him hard. River has been lost to his brothers when Sable, a Djinn Demon tosses River in the shape of a dagger into a river and he washes out to sea. For four months he remained in his dagger form at the bottom of the ocean. It isn't until Emma Lowery, a descendant of the Oracle with special powers of her own, hears River calling to her for help. She is able to save River and unite him with his Spartan brothers.
The biggest problem I had with Red Kiss was the hero, River. I'll be honest. I hated him. He was a big whinny baby most of the time and he drove me absolutely nuts with his constant yammering about how he isn't worthy of his fellow Spartan brothers' and Emma's love. I wanted to slap him upside his head and tell him to get over it already. So many times River's actions were that of a petulant child, not a grown man. I like my heroes to be confident and believe in themselves. River was constantly doubting himself and it slowed the pacing of the story to a snail's pace.
There are some interesting side stories within Red Kiss. The king and the Oracle were back. They didn't have much of an appearance and that was a mistake in my mind. Plus, a few of the other Spartans started to begin their stories. Knight even makes one of the warriors homosexual. I thought this was a unique twist to a romance series, where usually all of the men are heterosexual. I also liked how the villain tried to redeem himself in the end. Again, it is unusual to find that in the books I read. However, the poor pacing and execution of the story was still sorely lacking for my taste.
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Darque Reviews
8 comments:
I agree with a lot of your comments. River did not bother me as much as he bothered you. I enjoyed the unusualness of his ability, I thought that was unique.
I definitely agree that the king and the Oracle should have gotten more air time.
And i did like the whole homosexual male character, that was different.
Good review, i am posting mine soon.
Hi Jill,
Hmmm I'm frowning considering this series and that is never a good thing. I've been on a two way street with this series, at one hand I like the concept of Spartan warriors but at the other hand the heroes don't seem all that well-drawn to me.
I will have to find out one day though this series isn't on my immediate TRP :S
Great Review Jill, and I have to be honest. I bought the first book, 'Red Fire', and it was a total DNF for me. I was so excited for this series too because I LOVE the Parallel books. OH gosh, 'Parallel Seduction' is one of the best books I've ever read, but Diedre's new series leaves much to be desired for me.
What sealed it with 'Red Fire' was that the hero turned into a hawk while having sex. Well parts of a hawk anyway. YUCK!! The villians were laughable and I just wasn't feelin' it at all. I couldn't finish it and it looks like I'll not be picking up 'Red Kiss' either.
~VFG
Interesting review, Jill :) My biggest problem now though is that I'm a bit burned out on this type of storylines (men that band together for a purpose)... it's just getting old.
nath, it is a built in series. If there is a group of them you know that there will be more books. But you are right it is becoming very overdone.
Kris - Okay, I'll be on the lookout for your review!
Leontine - I really wanted to like it, but I don't think this author's writing style appeals to me. But I don't really like Nalini Singh and I know a lot of people do, so to each his own.
VFG - I wondered about Knights Parallel series. Is is romantic suspense? I might give it a go. I wanted to DNF this one, but I kept hoping it would get better. It didn't, LOL!
Nath - I know what you mean, but if it is done right, I can still read those types of stories. Now though, the market is flooded so the good ones are hard to find.
nobody likes a whiny man! At least not me. Thanks for the honest review.
Jenny - LOL! I know, right? I was like, enough is enough man up already :) It killed me to give this book a D because I met Deidra Knight at RT and she was really nice, but it was how I felt - nothing personal, I just didn't like River.
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