Karissa E. (ophelia99) reviewed The Geomancer (Vampire Empire: Gareth and Adele, Bk 1) on + 2527 more book reviews
I was a big fan of the Vampire Empire series and was excited to see that a new novel in that series (well more of a spin-off series) was going to be released featuring Gareth and Adele. However, I ended up being very disappointed in this book and really struggled to read it. I ended reading the first half of the book and then finally gave up.
Bloody murders are happening in London..again. It looks like despite Adele's purging of vampires in all of Britain, somehow vampires are finding a way to return to London. Adele and Gareth are puzzled and their investigating lead to them finding about a geomancer called the Witchfinder. The Witchfinder has not only found a way to make vampires immune to Adele's power but also a way to kill humans on a mass scale, just like Adele did to the vampires. Adele and Gareth must unravel the plot around this Witchfinder until it's too late and many, many humans die.
There is a lot about this book that I was struggling with. I was excited to see what adventures Adele and Garth went on next...but seriously do we have to use a similar plot all over again? Again the problem is vampires and again geomancy is at the heart of it all.
I expected some growth in these characters and their relationship; especially Gareth and Adele. However they have stagnated; no growth, still the same issues plaguing their relationship, nothing has changed.
Additionally parts of the book are written in completely different styles. I really felt like I was reading two stories mashed together at times; the writing styles clash. For example there are beautifully descriptive scenes where Adele and Gareth are out ice skating together; then suddenly we are dealing with war and strategy again and the writing changes to a stark military like style. I can only assume that the two authors wrote separate parts of the book; but greater care should have been taken to make the writing style more consistent throughout.
My main issue with this book however was that I just didn't care. The plot was boring, the characters were boring and as I result I struggled to stay engaged in the story. I was literally falling asleep every time I picked up this book. I absolutely could not get through more than a chapter or two at a time (and they are very short chapters). I finally gave up half way through. I just have way too many books to read to slog through this one.
Overall I truly wish I had never read (or read the portion that I did) this book. I would have preferred to leave Adele and Gareth in the happy place they occupied in my head after the last Vampire Empire book. I don't recommend this book. It's boring, rehashes the same type of plot that the original Vampire Empire series did, and the characters are stagnant. Not to mention that the writing style is inconsistent and doesn't flow well. Sorry Gareth and Adele...I guess it's time for us to part ways.
Bloody murders are happening in London..again. It looks like despite Adele's purging of vampires in all of Britain, somehow vampires are finding a way to return to London. Adele and Gareth are puzzled and their investigating lead to them finding about a geomancer called the Witchfinder. The Witchfinder has not only found a way to make vampires immune to Adele's power but also a way to kill humans on a mass scale, just like Adele did to the vampires. Adele and Gareth must unravel the plot around this Witchfinder until it's too late and many, many humans die.
There is a lot about this book that I was struggling with. I was excited to see what adventures Adele and Garth went on next...but seriously do we have to use a similar plot all over again? Again the problem is vampires and again geomancy is at the heart of it all.
I expected some growth in these characters and their relationship; especially Gareth and Adele. However they have stagnated; no growth, still the same issues plaguing their relationship, nothing has changed.
Additionally parts of the book are written in completely different styles. I really felt like I was reading two stories mashed together at times; the writing styles clash. For example there are beautifully descriptive scenes where Adele and Gareth are out ice skating together; then suddenly we are dealing with war and strategy again and the writing changes to a stark military like style. I can only assume that the two authors wrote separate parts of the book; but greater care should have been taken to make the writing style more consistent throughout.
My main issue with this book however was that I just didn't care. The plot was boring, the characters were boring and as I result I struggled to stay engaged in the story. I was literally falling asleep every time I picked up this book. I absolutely could not get through more than a chapter or two at a time (and they are very short chapters). I finally gave up half way through. I just have way too many books to read to slog through this one.
Overall I truly wish I had never read (or read the portion that I did) this book. I would have preferred to leave Adele and Gareth in the happy place they occupied in my head after the last Vampire Empire book. I don't recommend this book. It's boring, rehashes the same type of plot that the original Vampire Empire series did, and the characters are stagnant. Not to mention that the writing style is inconsistent and doesn't flow well. Sorry Gareth and Adele...I guess it's time for us to part ways.
Rachel A. (ra7) reviewed The Geomancer (Vampire Empire: Gareth and Adele, Bk 1) on + 1010 more book reviews
I really liked the original trilogy. So, I picked this up. I liked the world; vampires are evil parasites in this one. Adele and Gareth both continue to be unique characters. Adele, the Empress, had the power to harm vampires. Gareth, her lover and a vampire, was different. This picks up after the events of the last book. The vampires have been defeated....or have they?
The Witchfinder, the new Big Bad, is introduced. He has found a way to help and protect the vampires from Adele. He is powerful (shocker, right?). What follows is an adventure. Adele and Gareth travel to France, Tibet. They meet up with previous and new secondary characters. I think what frustrated me was, this wasn't that different from the previous trilogy. Adele and Gareth have the some Issues in this book. I don't think their relationship developed that much. Blah, blah, blah. I just didn't care about these characters like I used to.
Luckily, the original trilogy kicks ass and stands on it's own just fine. Without this one.
(And yes, I looked back at my reviews (or book thoughts) and noted some loose ends at the end of book 3- it's been long enough and I don't remember what they were anymore. But I do remember being happy and satisfied).
The Witchfinder, the new Big Bad, is introduced. He has found a way to help and protect the vampires from Adele. He is powerful (shocker, right?). What follows is an adventure. Adele and Gareth travel to France, Tibet. They meet up with previous and new secondary characters. I think what frustrated me was, this wasn't that different from the previous trilogy. Adele and Gareth have the some Issues in this book. I don't think their relationship developed that much. Blah, blah, blah. I just didn't care about these characters like I used to.
Luckily, the original trilogy kicks ass and stands on it's own just fine. Without this one.
(And yes, I looked back at my reviews (or book thoughts) and noted some loose ends at the end of book 3- it's been long enough and I don't remember what they were anymore. But I do remember being happy and satisfied).
