I can't say that I cared very much about Carling in the previous book, and I had been putting off reading Serpent's Kiss because I just couldn't imagine what I would find sympathetic about Carling's story and feared being a bit bored by it. Well, my goodness, was I wrong on that front! In her own setting and without the trappings of institutional power Carling was a really very interesting character caught up in her own (literal) life and death situation. About half way through I realised I felt like I was reading the book because it had an intrinsically interesting puzzle at the heart of the story that was driving it and the character's actions, not just a loose scaffold on which to hang some wyrkind lovin' action. I loved that about the book - that the thinking through of the research into Carling's 'disease' was so meticulous and absorbing, and made the wham bam thank-you Gryphon bits (almost) an integral part of the tale. I thought there were some very lovely moments and deft touches in the writing of this book. And some very funny one-liners "Well, that was classy" being one of my favourites. It felt a very honest relationship, and as real as a romance between a vampire witch queen and a half eagle/half lion can be. Gostei tanto do romance de Carling e Rune! Carling foi uma surpresa; esperava que ela fosse uma vampira louca e algo cruel, mas não, revelou-se um ser capaz de muita compaixão. E foi muito engraçado ver uma vampira, na cozinha, a fritar frango para o cão. Lol A história de amor com Rune foi outra surpresa, uma história mesmo bonita, amorosa, linda e romântica. Não é um livro de muita ação mas o romance faz com que valha bastante a pena.[spoiler]Tive tanta pena que a relação de Rune e Dragos esteja terminada, pelo menos para já, tenho esperança que voltem a ser amigos. Também me custa que Rune agora esteja longe de Nova Iorque e dos outros personagens. Já com Tiago e Niniane "Tricks" aconteceu o mesmo; custa-me ver personagens tão importantes separados.[/spoiler]
What do You think about Der Kuss Des Greifen (2013)?
Oooooookay. Rune, baby, what happened? *confused*
—JuLovegood
Love Rune and Carling, they are perfect together!
—Amy
