Helpful Score: 1
I had high hopes for this sequel to Myles' debut novel, Gentlemen Prefer Succubi. Alas, it appears that I'm not going to like where this series is leading. I just couldn't get into this story. Whereas I liked the attention to Jackie's character in the first novel, it got tiresome in the second. I wanted more character development from Zane and Noah so that we could fall in love with them right alongside Jackie. But ultimately, their presence is sparing and for most of what little time they are mentioned in the book they are forgettable and not exactly noble. I know at the end, supposedly they come through, but it was done so offstage, that I can't get a handle on their motivations, personalities, nor understand what Jackie sees in them.
And that leads me into another one of my objections with this second book--Jackie's ditzy personality. For a smart girl, Myles writes Jackie as pretty stupid most of the time and has the other characters treat her like a child as well. In the first story this worked because Jackie was new to being a Succubus and it followed that she wouldn't know much about it. But in the second book, having her walk around blind to all the dangers of her existence and having her boyfriends omit key intelligence from her "to protect her" only to inspire even more poor decisions is really insulting to the character and to the reader. It's getting old.
Thirdly, I was depressed with the direction Myles took Jackie's best friend Remy. In the first book, Remy ended up sharing a body with Joachim, one of the first angels to fall from heaven. He seemed a tragic figure--one who loved unwisely, couldn't succeed as a vampire because he was too good, and died seeking the forgiveness of heaven. So why in book two has he turned into a second rate horror movie stereotype and is possessing Remy's body a la the Exorcist? There was a possibility for a much more intriguing story for Remy and Joachim concerning character development and plot. (Joachim's gravitas coupled with Remy's live-it-up attitude could have been interesting.) But instead it turned into a cheap thrill.
Also, I was so thrilled with Myles for not making her Succubus super slutty in the first book that it made me even more upset when Jackie got all hoochie mama in the sequel. Once again, Jackie has to deal with increased sexual neediness due to a curse that increases her metabolism and makes her horny all the time. If the recycling of the needs-sex-all-the-time plot device weren't annoying enough, now Myles introduces several unlikable men with whom Jackie has to battle her curse-induced attraction so as not to betray her unworthy boyfriends--who are off sulking and putting Jackie in more danger by omitting how much they know. Noah eventually redeems himself, but I just can't understand how Jackie can forgive Zane for not warning her about the danger she was in and making his "sacrifice" for her obsolete.
I guess what it boils down to is that I'm finding Jackie to be really weak. She has become less the Bridget Jones of the paranormal world--a veritable everywoman placed in extraordinary circumstances with whom most women can identify--into a pawn and plaything for the men in this story. I find this really disturbing, especially since she can't seem to stand up for herself against any men who have a certain cuteness factor. Jill Myles is still a good writer and for all my misgivings about her plot and characterizations, this second attempt is very readable. The last quarter of the book really picks up and is a better read than the first three quarters. But I'm just not sure I'll keep going with this series. I certainly won't pay for a copy of the yet-to-be-released third book. Not unless she actually furthers the romance between the principle characters and turns this series back into a romance series.
And that leads me into another one of my objections with this second book--Jackie's ditzy personality. For a smart girl, Myles writes Jackie as pretty stupid most of the time and has the other characters treat her like a child as well. In the first story this worked because Jackie was new to being a Succubus and it followed that she wouldn't know much about it. But in the second book, having her walk around blind to all the dangers of her existence and having her boyfriends omit key intelligence from her "to protect her" only to inspire even more poor decisions is really insulting to the character and to the reader. It's getting old.
Thirdly, I was depressed with the direction Myles took Jackie's best friend Remy. In the first book, Remy ended up sharing a body with Joachim, one of the first angels to fall from heaven. He seemed a tragic figure--one who loved unwisely, couldn't succeed as a vampire because he was too good, and died seeking the forgiveness of heaven. So why in book two has he turned into a second rate horror movie stereotype and is possessing Remy's body a la the Exorcist? There was a possibility for a much more intriguing story for Remy and Joachim concerning character development and plot. (Joachim's gravitas coupled with Remy's live-it-up attitude could have been interesting.) But instead it turned into a cheap thrill.
Also, I was so thrilled with Myles for not making her Succubus super slutty in the first book that it made me even more upset when Jackie got all hoochie mama in the sequel. Once again, Jackie has to deal with increased sexual neediness due to a curse that increases her metabolism and makes her horny all the time. If the recycling of the needs-sex-all-the-time plot device weren't annoying enough, now Myles introduces several unlikable men with whom Jackie has to battle her curse-induced attraction so as not to betray her unworthy boyfriends--who are off sulking and putting Jackie in more danger by omitting how much they know. Noah eventually redeems himself, but I just can't understand how Jackie can forgive Zane for not warning her about the danger she was in and making his "sacrifice" for her obsolete.
I guess what it boils down to is that I'm finding Jackie to be really weak. She has become less the Bridget Jones of the paranormal world--a veritable everywoman placed in extraordinary circumstances with whom most women can identify--into a pawn and plaything for the men in this story. I find this really disturbing, especially since she can't seem to stand up for herself against any men who have a certain cuteness factor. Jill Myles is still a good writer and for all my misgivings about her plot and characterizations, this second attempt is very readable. The last quarter of the book really picks up and is a better read than the first three quarters. But I'm just not sure I'll keep going with this series. I certainly won't pay for a copy of the yet-to-be-released third book. Not unless she actually furthers the romance between the principle characters and turns this series back into a romance series.
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