Showing posts with label author: barb hendee. Show all posts
Showing posts with label author: barb hendee. Show all posts
March 9, 2016
The Noble Dead 14: The Night Voice
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
I have to admit, I really lost interest in this series during "series 2." This last series installment picked it back up a bit, but I've never regained the love I had for the first book. It took so long to read because I actually had a craving for another series in the middle that wouldn't let up, so I actually put this aside and re-read several books in that series before I convinced myself I really did need to finish this, especially since it's the last book. Still, I felt like I was more skimming to finish the book so I'd know the ending than really wanting to devour the book, which was disappointing. Several times I tried to dig in deeper and it just wouldn't hold.
The ending sufficiently paints a rather bloody battle that seems impossible at times while rounding out the "favorite" characters and where their places ultimately should be nicely. You could claim there's still the potential for more between Chane and Margerie at the end, but Margerie seems pretty content with where it is. I can't say any of their fates were really all that surprising. At the end of the day, it's nice just to have these wandering heroes find their homes and families in whatever manner best suits them. (Not to mention the hilarity over anyone really calling Margerie "Mom.")
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August 16, 2015
The Noble Dead 13: First & Last Sorcerer
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
After having taken a longer break than just waiting for the newest release required, I found I enjoyed coming back to the series more with this book than I have for awhile. I remembered enjoying the series originally and losing interest more recently as the books shifted focus and started to feel like they were dragging on. There's still a bit of lag, and this book seems to divide almost equally between Wynn's group and Margerie's, especially as the two end up joining back together for the majority of the story. The epilogue is the biggest twist though as it appears that the groups efforts to kill or cage the Children have been in vain as they sought out the orbs. Double the danger now as the "domin" is inside their group and hears their plans for these final two orbs along with being able to mess with their memories. Not a good recipe for this group of would-be heroes. It would be interesting, however, to see what a trip to these other elven lands might mean for Osha and Wayfarer. Certainly doesn't look like the adventure is over yet, despite the group's hopes for a quick resolution.
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September 2, 2014
The Noble Dead 12: A Wind in the Night
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
I hate to admit it, but the farther into this series I get, the less it holds my attention. This is especially obvious by how much longer it takes me to finish the books. I actually stepped away from this one for several months. The only reason I came back to it was because I hate leaving books unfinished... not because I really was interested in how it ends. Part of it I think is because of how disjointed it feels with the story being essentially two separate stories in one, even though they are both working for the same goal. Switching back and forth between Wynn's and Margerie's groups makes it harder to follow and not as engaging as a whole. Hopefully with only one orb left, the groups may be rejoining in the near future and this problem will be eliminated. Of all the characters though, I found Osha's to be the most compelling this time around and wished there especially would have been more interaction between him and Wynn. Something else to hope for in the next book I suppose.
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April 30, 2013
The Noble Dead 11: The Dog in the Dark
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I am still not as thrilled with this series with it's new focus as I was with the original books. A lot of flashbacks and piecing the story together that can make it difficult to follow who's telling what part of the story and what exactly happens in which order while trying to keep track of current events at the same time. Very awkwardly written with very little actual progress in the hunt. We don't actually see or hear anything from Wynn, Shade, Chan or Osha until the epilogue. Margerie is obviously having more trouble with her split sides, but other than that the only real addition is finding out particularly what happened with Margerie and Lessil went to hide the orbs during the earlier books that focused on Wynn and Shade. No new orbs, no final confrontation with their enemies, no resolution with Most Aged Father, no new information on where the last orb might be... just a lot of empty blanks that have been left hanging for awhile.
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March 24, 2013
Vampire Memories 5: Ghosts of Memories
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
Knew something had to change with this book since it was supposedly the end of the series. Julian's death would certainly fit that bill. Ivory was an interesting find, but Christian almost struck me as being worse than Julian. His only saving grace in that rating is that he wasn't actively hunting down all of his own kind... just Phillip and Wayde since they were directly in the path of what he wanted. Rather disappointed that the group didn't put it all together until they all nearly died as a result given they knew his powers and personality after Elisha seeing Christian's memories and Wayde seeing Ivory's. Too little too late I guess. Certainly seemed to apply here. Overall very anticlimactic for the ending.
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March 23, 2012
Noble Dead 10: Between Their Worlds
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I still like Leesil and Magerie better than Wynn and Chap, so by default this is picking up a little again. Couldn't help but feel bad for Osha and worried about Brot'an. Good to have the overal flow and voice back in the story, even if it is still largely centered on Wynn and much slower over all. They really accomplished very little in this book beyond establishing how much trouble Wynn can get into on her own and that they now have several unusual and uncommon allies scattered randomly rather than a consolidated group of power like the guild or the royals. No doubt there's more trouble to come in the future from all sides; especially when the enemies or "children" start showing up again.
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November 16, 2011
Vampire Memories 4: In Memories We Fear
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I actually felt this was one of the better books in the series. Previously I felt like I was sort of on the fence with what I thought about it and I wasn't as drawn to the characters from this series as from The Noble Dead. Now I can honestly say that I enjoy the series and am looking forward to the next book. Hendee does a wonderful job refreshing the scene and bringing reader's up to speed while still moving ahead with the story and developing the character's depth. While I'm still a little disappointed in the Wade vs. Philip scene, and honestly can't say myself why just yet, I like the new facets Maxim brings in to play and Philip's new outlook since the end of this installment. There's some new options with Mary now as well that I'm curious to see in the works. Really hoping it just keeps getting better from here.
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March 6, 2011
Noble Dead 9: Of Truth and Beasts
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This second set of the Noble Dead series admittedly does not do as much for me as the first. Magiere, Leesil and Chap are the ones that made the story come to life for me, so their absence makes this second part draw out longer than it feels like it should. The pace in this one still did pick up a bit from the last two, and the ending leaves me hopeful. The original trio now rejoining the current main trio may prove for an even better adventure to find the rest of the orbs. I'm also curious to see if there are any developments between Chap and Shade.
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November 27, 2010
Vampire Memories 3: Memories of Envy
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
More about Phillip and Simone than any of the other characters. Not as much Wade as I would have liked and Eleisha comes of weaker than ever. A little disappointing, but picks up a bit towards the middle of the book. Interested to see if they do anything interesting with Julian's involvement in the next one.
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