This was a breath of fresh air in the genre of kickass female leads. So many times the authors try so hard to make the heroine big and bad, they come off as jerks or trying to prove something - and then don't live up to their own hype. Max is not perfect. She's got problems. She's also clever, doesn't have crazy powers that make her ability to fight or win seem ridiculous, and in spite of her apparent recklessness she is not stupid and she plans things out. She's strong, disciplined, and doesn't take shit, but she also is compassionate, sympathetic and dreams of another life. She's a good leader, and it feels legit when her people swear they will follow her. The author, in other words, has creating a Prime worth reading. I'll look forward to the next one. But sorry, Bitter Nights. You lose a star because I didn't get to find out who was still alive at the end! Bad form, withholding information like that. Do you think I don't care about the other Shadowblades? Or is this blackmail to get me to read the next one? I would have anyway. You didn't have to be so mean. What if you didn’t have to grow old and die? What if you could have superhuman speed, strength, and endurance? What if you could see, hear, and smell better than any human? Would you want to? Would you say yes?Max had been asked those questions once. She had said yes – after all, it was just theoretical. There was no way to change who you were.She was wrong.Now she was shackled to a witch as a Shadowblade – a magic-infused warrior and bodyguard. No longer human. As if that wasn’t bad enough, now a war was starting between the witches and the gods … and Max needs to choose which side she really wants to be on.I have my little sister to thank for recommending this book to me – although I’ll admit I was a bit panicked that it might have some heavy romance in it … I still have trouble remembering my baby sister is all grown up. Happily, the romance was very subtle and well done. Even better, I loved the new paranormal races – Shadowblades which are almost like vampires that don’t need blood – and Sunwalkers, their daytime counterpart. The magic concept was really cool too (flesh witches!! *shudder*). BUT – my absolute favorite character doesn’t show up much until the very end. I can’t wait to read more books in the series to see if he comes around more. My only hint – an angel with wings made of fire. Oooh, I have goosebumps!!! :DObviously, I loved the characters and world building. But the story and plot were fascinating, too. The author tosses in tantalizing tidbits about the world and story as you go along, and before you know it you’re absolutely hooked. There is some intense action, including some pretty gory torture scenes. There aren’t too many, but if you have a weak stomach – you have been warned.All in all, I really enjoyed this book, and I intend to find the rest of the series to see what happens. I’d recommend it to anyone who wants a new paranormal series to dive into, although I’d lean to recommending it to more mature readers. Again, there is some pretty descriptive gore, a few steamy passages, and the main character insists on calling witches “witch-bitch” – it was funny the first few times, but it gets pretty tiresome. Well, I guess that last bit might appeal to the less mature …
What do You think about Shadowblade (2010)?
Kind of a slow start but it turned into an enjoyable book.
—srkreddy
love love loved this book! could not put it down
—Nikki
