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Showing posts with label Shawntelle Madison. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Shawntelle Madison. Show all posts
Monday, May 13, 2013
Review: Bitter Disenchantment by Shawntelle Madison
Bitter Disenchantment
Author: Shawntelle Madison
Release Date: April 23, 2013
Publisher: self-published
Coveted #0.4 (prequel)
ISBN: #978-0988798519
Genre: Urban Fantasy, novella
Format(s): Paperback (156 pgs), e-book
Book Source: NetGalley
About the book:
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Werewolf Natalya Stravinsky's outspoken sidekick, Aggie McClure, is featured in this prequel novella. Before Agatha set foot in South Toms River, New Jersey, she had the fight of her life to face. Destined to be the alpha female over her Manhattan pack, Aggie was fully prepared to take on her role until her father arranges a marriage without her consent. She wants out–but the only way is with money–something her new controlling husband won't give her to escape. But such odds never kept a wolf like Aggie down. To sever the twisted tie, she finds herself pitted against raging wood nymphs and backstabbing brownies in an underground supernatural fighting ring. With every victory, the sweet taste of freedom is closer, but her husband isn't willing to let her go that easily. Until the very end, Aggie must fight for the one thing she's never had: a choice.
What I’m talking about:
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Shifter Agatha McClure, aka Aggie, is the only daughter of Desmond McClure, the powerful alpha of the Midtown wolf pack. Desmond is making changes at home, to include leaving Aggie’s mom and mating with a new wolf, one that will produce an heir to take over the pack someday. In addition, he’s also declared it is time for Aggie to marry, introducing to Aggie her intended, Victor. Not one to take things lying down, Aggie refuses to just sit back and marry Victor until she gets to know him better. Unfortunately for Aggie, it isn’t until after she marries Victor that she finds out he’s not the man she hoped he’d be.
While reading the first two books in Ms. Madison’s Coveted series, I’d grown rather fond of Nat’s best friend, Aggie. But after reading Bitter Disenchantment, I’ve learned to love Aggie. She is one tough wolf and full of amazing fortitude. She never complains and learns when to pick her battles, especially with her father and her husband. She stays focused on what is important, but remains flexible enough to roll with the punches (literally!). I hope that Ms. Madison pens another tale from Aggie’s POV.
Both Desmond and Victor are devilish antagonists. Desmond’s cruelty is overtly dominant, while Victor hides behind a polished exterior. The pair are beyond controlling, attempting to bend the world and people around them to their individual wills. They are so easy to hate, which makes me cheer for Aggie even more.
Overall, the story is well written. The author does a fabulous job chronicling the degradation of Aggie's marriage and hopes. The means by which Aggie chooses to escape is an interesting one, and it goes to show how desperate she's become. I enjoy her interactions with fellow fighter, Paula and Paula’s children-it shows what a good, kind and caring person Aggie is.
In addition to the primary storyline of Aggie’s efforts to break free from her husband, there is a mysterious group of spellcasters after her. Although this is a minor thread, it has just enough meat to add some intrigue.
In the end, Bitter Disenchantment is a wonderful novella with a lot of substance. The story has an emotional edge and depth that had me shedding a few tears. I enjoyed the themes of overcoming odds and creating friendships, and about allowing someone else to fight for you once and a while. The story has a lot for being a shorter book. Friendship, betrayal, love and loss. Excellent story.
My Rating:
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Loved it - enthusiastically recommend (A)
Reviews in the Series:
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Review: Kept by Shawntelle Madison
Kept
Author: Shawntelle Madison
Release Date: Nov. 27, 2012
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Coveted Series #2
ISBN: #978-0345529176
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Format(s): Paperback (320 pgs), e-book
Book Source: NetGalley
About the book:
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Fresh from defending her pack in battle, Natalya Stravinsky, a whip-smart werewolf with a lovable neurotic streak, wants a little rest and relaxation. Once an outcast, she’s now eager to rejoin the ranks of her New Jersey pack, and has even gotten a handle on her obsessive urge to hoard holiday ornaments. Yet Nat barely has time to revel in her progress before the next crisis comes howling at her door.
Nat’s father has suddenly gone missing, captured by the Russian werewolf mafia. And as Nat steps up to save her dad from a mob boss’s deadly game, two men step in to play another round for her heart: her gorgeous alpha ex-boyfriend, Thorn, and her new flame, the sweetly sensitive wizard Nick. With her life growing more harried by the minute, Nat must stay cool, calm, and collected . . . or else risk losing everything.
What I’m talking about:
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WARNING: this review discusses multiple plots that occur throughout the book. Due to the nature of how the book is set up, I may reveal things about the story that some would consider spoilers. So, if you don’t want to know anything that happens in this book, you may want to avoid my review!
After surviving numerous attempts on her life and helping her former pack win an attempted takeover battle, Natalya (Nat) Stravinsky realizes it’s time to work past her mental and emotional issues and rejoin the South Toms River pack. Kept opens a few months after the conclusion of the first book, Coveted. During dinner with Nat’s family, it appears that her relatives have welcomed her back into the fold (she’s been a rogue wolf for the past several years, having been kicked out of the pack). However nasty Auntie Yelena (dad’s sister), reminds Nat, as well as the rest of the family, of Nat’s past failures. Yelena apparently lives to put down, degrade and bully Nat.
At dinner, we learn that Nat will have to compete in some sort of trial to rejoin her family’s pack (and that she’s supposed to be training). We also catch up on family events (like the wedding of Nat’s brother Alex). In addition, Nat overhears her parents in a serious conversation that leaves her a bit worried.
Nat’s concerns blossom to fruition, when her dad goes missing. He’s gone back to Atlantic City, where he once worked for a crime syndicate, to repay a “moon debt.” Nat’s training for the trail is put on hold, while she, along with Alex and her ex-lover (and future pack Alpha), Thorn, journey south to save Nat’s father.
Although there is a lot that happens in Kept, I enjoyed the crossing storylines and changing scenes. Early on, we get insight that Nat is lonely. She's working on her OCD and learning to deal with changes in her schedule (thanks to her therapist). She has blown off training to get back into her pack, which tells me that although she says she really wants back in, she's scared that she'll fail and remain the outsider. And although she’s back in with her family, she doesn't feel like she has too many wolves on her side. But what we do see is that Nat finally has some spine and believes in herself. This is such an improvement from her behavior in Coveted.
The next section of the book is dominated by Nat’s attempts to save her father. She agrees to fulfill his moon debt, and the first task is to retrieve a missing item from a goblin. With Thorn at her side, they take on the task, and we finally get some one-on-one time between Nat and Thorn. I was NOT a fan of Thorn after the first book. I was hoping this alone time would win me over, but during the first half of the book, I still felt like he is a total ass. He has no people skills and apparently thinks only about himself.
After that task is completed, Nat must drive a delivery truck north to a pack in Maine. She has no idea what the cargo is, but understands that it’s not going to be a safe journey. For this part of the story, we get some excellent group bonding action. Nat is accompanied by her friends from therapy, including her other potential love interest, the good wizard Nick. The trip to deliver the mysterious freight was one of my favorite parts of the book. I enjoyed the group of friends working together. They make a great team. In addition, the action was excited and much better than the first book. I also enjoyed the tender scenes between Nick and Nat.
When Nat fulfills the blood debt halfway through the story, I wondered what would happen for the rest of the book. It’s here that the story shifts back to the pack and Nat’s personal life. We witness Nat interacting and learning from her Grandma about Old Magic. We find out more about Nick. And we also witness more of Nat’s loneliness and continued outcast status, even though she saved her father. At a Welcome Home party, Nat starts to finally see the that Thorn is sort of a jerk. Then at a family dinner, Yelana is utterly horrid to Nat, and once again Nat is unable to stand up for herself. Although the scenes were tough, I felt that they added some needed emotional depth to the book.
One of the things that I really enjoyed in Kept, that was missing from Coveted, was the intimate and honest dialogue between Nat and various characters. Nat and Nick share some fabulous moments, some of which hurt a bit emotionally. Likewise, Nat and Heidi (her mermaid friend) also share a few tender moments. Also, Nat and Thorn finally air everything that has passed when they were apart for five years. Each of these interactions made for a much richer overall story.
When Nat and Thorn finally have their moments, it is both hot and romantic (even in a run down cabin), but also incredibly heartbreaking. Thorn is obligated to another (total b*tch), and although he says he is willing to put aside his duties and commitments, Nat is not. However, the truth and weight of pain is finally out in the open, and I have to admit, even I fell for Thorn (at last!)
The story concludes with Nat’s attempts to rejoin her pack. The physical trial for Nat was as good as any action scene. I loved that some of her fellow competitors helped her out. It shows that despite what some may say or even what she thinks of herself, she is liked. The final battle was gruesome, but a good fight scene. I don't feel like it was cut short or ended too quickly.
Overall Kept is near one-hundred percent better than its predecessor, Coveted. Although there is a LOT that happens, and the scenes shift dramatically within the book, the storylines and dialogue are tight. In addition, there is great emotional depth, giving the book the extra heft needed to make it so good. Kept has everything I enjoy in a story… great heart, action, romance and a happy ending that didn't compromise our heroine.
My Rating:
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Loved it - enthusiastically recommend (A)
Reviews in the Series:
Coveted (Book #1)Review: Collected by Shawntelle Madison
Collected
Author: Shawntelle Madison
Release Date: Sept. 30, 2012
Publisher: Amazon Digital
Coveted Series #0.5
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Novella
Format(s): e-book
Book Source: Free on Amazon
About the book:
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Natalya Stravinsky, the charmingly neurotic werewolf from Coveted, is featured in this prequel novella. Before Thorn Grantham returned to South Toms River, New Jersey, Natalya lived alone with her stash of holiday trinkets. Her life takes an interesting turn when she faces a difficult challenge: to find a stolen figurine she'd recently won from a magical creatures auction website. It should be simple, just demand for it back from the pesky thief. But a set of events occurs that puts not only her life at risk, but her family's as well.
What I’m talking about:
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The novella, Collected, takes place about 7 months before Coveted, the first book in Ms. Madison’s wolf-shifter urban fantasy series. Although technically a prequel to the series, it was released after the Coveted, and I think can be enjoyed either before or after the first book. However, for me, already knowing the idiosyncrasies of our heroine made this story more enjoyable.
Once again, our story is told from the first person point of view (POV) of Natalya (Nat) Stravinsky. Nat is a rogue werewolf, kicked out of her pack and virtually alone. She is also a tad neurotic and suffers from OCD, making her an even greater outcast. She lives to feed her collection of hard-to-find or one-of-a-kind holiday decorations. Nat was looking forward to the delivery of her newest “treasure” only to discover its package has been taken from her home. She begins to track down the culprit with a single-mindedness that is fierce, although she battles her need for cleanliness and order against the "unsanitary" conditions of the woods, which makes for entertaining reading.
After successfully tracking down the thief, Nat agrees to a dangerous mission in which she works with/for not one but two different nefarious creatures. Nat recruits her younger brother Alex and his buddy Miles to help her break into a Leprechaun-run factory and fulfill her bargains to win back her prize.
I like our heroine, Nat, so much more in Collected than in Coveted. Although she's got her disorders and is far from perfect, she doesn't come across as the broken, beaten-down woman she did in Coveted. This time around she's determined and no longer wishy-washy. She goes up against a dragon creature, a water-based demon, and very dangerous leprechauns to fulfill her commitments. She follows through and stands up for herself. I found myself cheering for Nat this time around.
I also enjoyed reading more of her younger brother, Alex. We see how and why he ends up in the situation he finds himself in Coveted. The brother-sister bond is tight and special, something that wasn’t really present in the first book.
The overall plot was a fun adventure. There wasn’t anything too tricky or difficult. The action was just right for the shorter-length story. It was entertaining to learn more about some of the other supernatural creatures in Ms. Madison’s world.
All in all, Collected is an enjoyable novella. The story provided solid background information about Nat. I loved seeing Nat as a strong and almost defiant woman, since we don't see much of that version of her in Coveted. Sure, Nat is broken and has her illness, but she can fight to get pass its effects on her.
My Rating:
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Liked it - recommend (B+)
NOTE: The author is providing a free copy of this novella for an unspecified time!
Reviews in the Series:
Labels:
3.5 stars,
Amazon,
Coveted Series,
novella,
Shawntelle Madison,
Twimom Review,
urban fantasy
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Monday, October 15, 2012
Review: Coveted by Shawntelle Madison
Coveted
Author: Shawntelle Madison
Release Date: April 24, 2012
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Coveted Series #1
ISBN: #978-0345529183
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Format(s): Paperback (304 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Publisher
About the book:
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SOMETIMES WHAT YOU COVET IS IMPOSSIBLE TO KEEP.
For werewolf Natalya Stravinsky, the supernatural is nothing extraordinary. What does seem strange is that she’s stuck in her hometown of South Toms River, New Jersey, the outcast of her pack, selling antiques to finicky magical creatures. Restless and recovering from her split with gorgeous ex-boyfriend, Thorn, Nat finds comfort in an unusual place: her obsessively collected stash of holiday trinkets. But complications pile up faster than her ornaments when Thorn returns home, and Nat and Thorn discover that old flames still remain intense.
Before Nat can sort out their relationship, she must face a much hairier problem. Her pack is under attack from the savage Long Island werewolves—and Nat is the first target in the turf war. Toss in a handsome wizard vying for her affection, a therapy group for the anxious and enchanted, and the South Toms River pack leader ready to throw her to the wolves, and it’s enough to give anybody a panic attack. With the stakes as high as the full moon, Nat must summon all her strength to save her pack, and ultimately, herself.
What I’m talking about:
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Although we don’t know much about how “pack” hierarchy works, it is evident from the very start that Nat falls at the very bottom of the pecking order. We learn that in the five years since her love (and son of the pack alpha leader) Thorn has left, Nat has fallen prey to her obsessive compulsive disorder, been kicked out of the pack, and is making ends meet in a curio shop. She left her life in New York City after she couldn’t function any long to move back home, and she is now alone, abandoned even by her family.
Disrupting the meager life she’s carved out for herself, Thorn returns to South Toms River preparing to take over as the son of the alpha - a job he put off when he left five years ago. A rival pack is working to take over the South Toms Pack, and it looks like Nat is on their list to kill. It is evident that Thorn is still attracted to (and probably cares for) Nat, but he has been promised to another in hopes to make the pack stronger.
I’m going to say right up front that I am very conflicted about Coveted. At times I absolutely enjoyed the story, Nat, and several of the side characters. However, at other times I was annoyed by the direction of the plot, the actions of some of the characters, and well, I did not care for Thorn at all. About halfway through the book I wrote a note to myself: This book is like a train wreck. Nothing is going right, but I can't take my eyes off. I keep waiting for things to turn around for Nat. And although the storyline did pick up, I still feel like it was too little, too late.
The beginning of Coveted sets up to be a book that relies on socioeconomic class differences to build a story, with our heroine the outcast and picked on by those richer and more powerful. Then we find out that her returned ex, the love of her life, is being forced to marry the "rich bitch princess." The book had the feel of a YA teen angsty story. Luckily, this “feel” wore off over time as the story matured, but I was still not happy with how poorly the rich and beautiful treated our heroine.
Nat... What do I say about dear Nat? At times I adored her. I actually LOVE that she is a flawed heroine. Her OCD nature is fun, and also gives a framework for emotional drama while providing room for her to grow and mature. However, while I enjoy when a heroine who isn't perfect or strong, Nat had very little self-respect. She lets everyone treat her like crap, to include her family. It's hard to cheer for a character that doesn't cheer for herself.
And then there is Nat’s relationship with Thorn. In the prologue we are lead to believe that the pair had a very deep connection. And now he’s back and apparently still attracted to Nat. I wanted to know why. Just as Thorn wanted to discover why the enemy desperately wanted to kill Nat, I wanted to find out why she was worth the effort. I don't mean to be cold-hearted, but Nat hardly ever gave me something to fight for. I felt that if she was unwilling to fight for herself, why should I care about her? I constantly wondered if her lack of self-defense had to do with her OCD illness or if it's a physical manifestation of the pack hierarchy, but it wasn’t evident.
As I stated before, I am not a fan of Thorn. First, he left Nat to move across country, and he never once checked in as her life fell apart. Then he pops back into town, and he still apparently crazy for her. He continually ran to her side each time she was attacked by the Long Island Pack, practically swooning over her as he cuddled her and made sure she was safe. Yet if she returned any of his affection, Thorn would coldly remind her that he is engaged to another. Ass. I just couldn’t stand him by the end of the book, and if there is to be any sort of future connection, I will need a lot more convincing in the next book.
There were several side characters that I enjoyed. First, Nat ended up with a roommate very unexpectedly. Aggie understands Nat’s disorder and respects her need for organization. However, she also helped nudge Nat and kept her from becoming a complete hermit. Aggie wormed her way into Nat’s life, and I am grateful.
In hopes to get her life back, Nat began group therapy. There she is welcomed among an array of semi-crazy characters, who all end up like family. This group’s actions throughout the story, and especially at the end of the book, helped Nat become a more likable character and created a richer, more fulfilling plot. I was just unhappy that the group therapy storyline took a long hiatus in the middle of the book.
Nat’s family was hit and miss. Because Nat was tossed out of the pack, they also have abandoned her. Aggie forces the family back together, and in the end I admired them. There was an extremely touching scene involving Nat’s family as they banded together without judgement after disaster strikes Nat. The one character I adored from the beginning was Nat’s grandmother, whom I believe holds close to her vest, valuable information about Nat.
The final scenes of the book were actually pretty good. Nat began to fight for herself, and there were glimpses of a character I could grow to love. I definitely want to read the next book, Kept, to see if she gets stronger, and I want to learn what her secrets are.
Overall Coveted was a decent book. There were some good to great exchanges and scenes, yet at other times I felt something was missing. In particular, there were a couple situations where something fairly big would happen, I’d wonder what happened, only to never have it brought up again. There were some minor plotlines that felt like fluff - only there to add drama. The book is definitely urban fantasy, but it's pretty light for UF, I dubbed it “UF chick lit.”
In general, Nat's character is agreeable, and although I was not happy with how she was treated or how she treated herself through most of the book, she had redeeming qualities. I was glad to see Nat moving forward towards the end of the book. I liked Aggie, the support group and her grandma, but didn't care for most of her family. I also didn't like Thorn or his father, and I wondered how such a jerk could be alpha! I felt the majority of the fight scenes were too short and anti-climatic. Despite all of that, the story was easy to read, and had a quick pace. Even with its flaws, I couldn’t put down Coveted and am looking forward to reading the next installment.
My Rating:
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Liked it, but I had some issues - recommend (B)
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