This reader's personal opinion, ©2019, all rights reserved, not to be quoted, clipped or used in any way by goodreads, Google Play, amazon.com or other commercial booksellers*
I love how this author writes and am always drawn into her worlds.
But, this one -- while a very good book -- disappointed me. It was too sweet, too "easygoing," too forced in the banter because it went on for so long at start of book. But what really disappointed was how softened the characters of Sorrow/Holly and Venom were.
Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed their story and am glad I read it. It just didn't seem like I was reading about Sorrow and Venom but instead entirely new characters. I'm happy for their happy-ish "ending" but expected more action and tension from these two. Possibly it's just that I was really over-anticipating Venom's story and didn't appreciate some wishy-washy parts. Based on past books, I like these characters as a couple; based on this book, I just don't get the romance element which made for something really missing.
All that said, I'm still looking forward to rest of the series.
*©2019. All rights reserved except permission is granted to author or publisher (except Penumbra Publishing) to reprint/quote in whole or in part. I may also have cross-posted on Libib, LibraryThing, and other sites including retailers like kobo and Barnes and Noble. Posting on any site does not grant that site permission to share with any third parties or indicate release of copyright.
Ratings scale used in absence of a booklikes suggested rating scale:
★★★★★ = All Time Favorite
★★★★½ = Extraordinary Book. Really Loved It.
★★★★☆ = Loved It.
★★★½☆ = Really Liked.
★★★☆☆ = Liked.
★★½☆☆ = Liked parts; parts only okay. Would read more by author.
★★☆☆☆ = Average. Okay.
★½☆☆☆ = Disliked or meh? but kept reading in hopes would improve.
★☆☆☆☆ = Loathed It. Possibly DNF and a torturous read.
½☆☆☆☆ = So vile was a DNF or should have been. Cannot imagine anyone liking. (Might also be just an "uploaded" word spew or collection that should not be dignified by calling itself a "published book." If author is going batshit crazy in the blogosphere over reviews -- I now know why they are getting bad reviews. Or maybe author should take remedial classes for language written in until basic concepts like using sentences sink in. Is author even old enough to sign a publishing contract or do they need a legal guardian to sign for them?)