Wrathful and Unrepentant Jade (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
jadedmusings) wrote2011-10-26 10:16 am
jadedmusings) wrote2011-10-26 10:16 am
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What I'm Reading: Darkness Unbound
So, I'm reading Darkness Unbound by Keri Arthur. It's the first book in a new series that's a follow-up to her Riley Jensen, Guardian series (which I've mentioned quite a bit before). It's paranomral romance with werewolves, vampires, shifters (different from weres), and even ancient beings mistaken often for angels that are anything but angels.
Some things in it are disappointing. For example, despite being half-werewolf, Risa can't transform into a wolf. Of course there's a very good reason for this (namely that her other half isn't human and comes with its own set of uber benefits). I guess my mind is still in werewolf mode after several books focused on Riley who was half-werewolf and half-vampire (a dhampir). However, when I say it's disapppinting, I mean disappointing in the sense that I was expecting chocolate cake with cream cheese frosting and instead I got chocolate cake with chocolate frosting. I'm going to be a little put out, but I'm still going to eat that cake because it's damn tasty. (Great, I've gone and made myself hungry.)
Anyway, the book is great and I'm speeding along, grateful that book two is already due out this month or next. Arthur's writing has improved like most writers improve over time, not that she was ever bad to begin with. She still has the issue with seeming to pick a single favorite adjective and using it repeatedly. (In one of Riley's books it was kaledeiscope; in this one it's economical, usually when referring to how the male characters Risa finds interesting move.) That's probably just a personal quirk of mine that I pick up on these things.
There's some things that are mildly irritating. Riley had a gay twin-brother, Risa has a lesbian roommate (a horse shifter). Naturally, Risa is all about men like Riley was. I mean, part of me feels like Rhoan's and now Ilianna's sexuality are token, though Ilianna at least has to struggle with her family possibly not accepting her as she is. Granted, the portrayal I've seen is overall positive despite a couple of cringe-worthy incidents in the earlier Riley books with regard to non-heterosexual women, and there hasn't been any nonsense along the lines of anyone exhibiting homophobic behavior and having it be excused because, hey they have gay friends, ones they share a living space with, even! But the sexuality is never really explored and just seems to be there. "Look at me be inclusive," while not being all that inclusive. This isn't a complaint so much as an observation, and I admit my take on it might differ from others. I also realize the possible vast majority of Arthur's audience are straight women who wouldn't care for books that focus on non-heterosexual relationships. Whereas I would personally love to see more lesbian/bisexual women who have fulfilling relationships as main characters rather than supporting characters.
But again, so far I'm happy with what I'm reading. I had issues with Quinn as a hero (and still think Riley forgave him way too easily for things he did), and I'm hoping the heroes we're seeing in this series will avoid being assholes, or at least avoid being assholes who violate boundaries that should never be violated (Oh yes, Quinn, I'm still looking at you, sir. That sexy Irish lilt of yours will do you no good here, sir.).
Anyway, I'm just rambling at this point. Gonna go lie down and read some more while snuggling Sam before he has to go to work.
Some things in it are disappointing. For example, despite being half-werewolf, Risa can't transform into a wolf. Of course there's a very good reason for this (namely that her other half isn't human and comes with its own set of uber benefits). I guess my mind is still in werewolf mode after several books focused on Riley who was half-werewolf and half-vampire (a dhampir). However, when I say it's disapppinting, I mean disappointing in the sense that I was expecting chocolate cake with cream cheese frosting and instead I got chocolate cake with chocolate frosting. I'm going to be a little put out, but I'm still going to eat that cake because it's damn tasty. (Great, I've gone and made myself hungry.)
Anyway, the book is great and I'm speeding along, grateful that book two is already due out this month or next. Arthur's writing has improved like most writers improve over time, not that she was ever bad to begin with. She still has the issue with seeming to pick a single favorite adjective and using it repeatedly. (In one of Riley's books it was kaledeiscope; in this one it's economical, usually when referring to how the male characters Risa finds interesting move.) That's probably just a personal quirk of mine that I pick up on these things.
There's some things that are mildly irritating. Riley had a gay twin-brother, Risa has a lesbian roommate (a horse shifter). Naturally, Risa is all about men like Riley was. I mean, part of me feels like Rhoan's and now Ilianna's sexuality are token, though Ilianna at least has to struggle with her family possibly not accepting her as she is. Granted, the portrayal I've seen is overall positive despite a couple of cringe-worthy incidents in the earlier Riley books with regard to non-heterosexual women, and there hasn't been any nonsense along the lines of anyone exhibiting homophobic behavior and having it be excused because, hey they have gay friends, ones they share a living space with, even! But the sexuality is never really explored and just seems to be there. "Look at me be inclusive," while not being all that inclusive. This isn't a complaint so much as an observation, and I admit my take on it might differ from others. I also realize the possible vast majority of Arthur's audience are straight women who wouldn't care for books that focus on non-heterosexual relationships. Whereas I would personally love to see more lesbian/bisexual women who have fulfilling relationships as main characters rather than supporting characters.
But again, so far I'm happy with what I'm reading. I had issues with Quinn as a hero (and still think Riley forgave him way too easily for things he did), and I'm hoping the heroes we're seeing in this series will avoid being assholes, or at least avoid being assholes who violate boundaries that should never be violated (Oh yes, Quinn, I'm still looking at you, sir. That sexy Irish lilt of yours will do you no good here, sir.).
Anyway, I'm just rambling at this point. Gonna go lie down and read some more while snuggling Sam before he has to go to work.