The Fallen

 

First off, please note that the cover above actually contains two novels: The Fallen and Leviathan.  For my book reviews, I use the cover I held in my hands while reading it, which is why I posted this cover instead of the single The Fallen cover. Just so you are aware, this review is on the one novel only: The Fallen.

Level: Older Teen

Genre: Fantasy > Urban Fantasy

Obtained: Purchased at Walmart

Reviewed by: Nic Echo

About the Book:

What this book is about is fairly simple. Upon his eighteenth birthday, Aaron Corbet starts to experience strange things. He is able to speak and understand all languages, including animals. Soon after, Aaron finds out that he is Nephilim, or an offspring of a fallen angel and a human woman. Not only that but Aaron is also part of a long told prophecy. It is said that he is to be the one to forgive the Fallen of their sins so that they may return to Heaven. However, there is a group of angels known as the Powers that are out to stop him and purge his uncleanliness from the world by death.

Rating: 7/10 Stars

Maybe I just have bad luck with teen novels, but few have swept me off my feet (exceptions are Diana Wynne Jones, who had been placed in both youth and teen, and The Hobbit, which is in both teen and adults). The Fallen by Thomas E. Sniegoski is no exception. However, I would not call this a complete disaster either. Originally, I was quite skeptical about picking this up since I had spotted the 2 in 1 versions, which dons a good looking, young lad on the cover. However, after reading the blurb I decided to give it a chance.

As I said, it wasn't brilliant, but neither was it dreadful. I am happy to say that the plot (for the most part) was fairly original. Granted Sniegoski's  writing style let this book fall flat. Although I have no problem with plot driven books, the lack of character development left me with little care for what happened to the characters, especially Aaron (but I have yet to find a main character in novel written strictly for teens that I have liked so far).

Sniegoski also needs to steer clear of the humour. Yes, I realise there is needed comedy relief, but Sniegoski fails at it miserably. The only exception to this was Gabriel, the talking dog, who had me laughing aloud. Now, at twenty-three, maybe I just don't have the same comedic tastes, but I wouldn't think twenty-three would make much difference. Teens, I would appreciate feedback on the humour in this book and what you thought of it.

On a plus note, I found it a great delight that Thomas Sniegoski actually did his homework on the angels. Much of what was in the book could be traced back to angelic lore. I know I, personally, have been turned off by many works of fiction because there was no mythos involved so kudos to Sniegoski.

So I would say that if you do spot the cover above in stores, do not be put off by it. This is no teen romance. In fact, there is plenty of action and violence, and it probably is better geared toward the male variety.

Overall, this is not a bad book, but the author's writing style makes the characters dull. The plot itself is pretty interesting though, and for those that care, plenty of research was done on the angels. The humour is a bit weak, as are the characters, but with the plot, it made for an all right read. Although I won't be recommending it to many people, teens may get quite the enjoyment out of it. 

What I'm Reading Next:

Part Two: Leviathan

The Graveyard Book

 

Level: Youth

Genre: Fantasy/Horror

Obtained: Christmas present

Reviewed by: Nic Echo

About the Book:

In this gothic tale, Neil Gaiman tells us the story of Nobody Owens. It starts off with him as just an infant, and the man Jack enters the home, killing the entire family except Nobody, who escapes to a nearby cemetery. There he is taken in and raised by ghosts. Of course, living in a graveyard causes Nobody to have several several eerie adventures. "Just don't leave the graveyard," the ghosts tell him for the man Jack is still looking to kill him.

Rating: 10/10 Stars

Neil Gaiman has worked his magic again in this marvelous tale. Inspired by Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book, Gaiman spins a whimsical story that both youth  and adults can enjoy. His writing style will keep you turning page after page to follow Bod's adventures. The imagination encompassed is phenomenal and thrilling. Gaiman also produces wonderful characters that come into a life of their own. Some are fun while others are frightful yet I believe neither are overly exaggerated so that they become unbelievable even in a fantasy realm. It is also nice to see that Nobody is not dark and goth like in this ghostly tale, making it where other people other than "goths" could easily enjoy it as well. Add Dave McKean's wonderful illustrations and you have a fantastic novel. This is a high recommendation for all.

What I'm Reading Next:

Sleeping Beauty Trilogy

Although I have read and written a review for each of the books in the trilogy, I have also decided to write one for the overall story since the trilogy is basically one long tale.

Level: Explicit

Genre: Fantasy > Erotica > BDSM

Obtained: Purchased at Borders

Reviewed by: Nic Echo

About the Trilogy:
Anne Rice takes the classic Sleeping Beauty tale and places an erotic spin on it. It starts with Beauty being awoken with not only a kiss but something much more invasive. Soon afterwards, she is taken to a nearby kingdom to become a sex slave. There she is humiliated and punished as she learns the ins and outs if servitude. However, by the end of the first book, Beauty disobeys her Prince and is sent off to the village, where she not only has to be sexually pleasing but is also expected to put in hard labour. Meanwhile, she debates whether to be a good slave or not. At the end of the second book though Beauty and a few other slaves are captured and are brought to an Arabic kingdom where she becomes part of one large anonymity where the slaves are treated no better than animals and decoration. Eventually, Beauty and couple of others are brought back to Europe, but even then they still have more turmoils to face.

Rating: 6/10 Stars
First off, if you dislike gay sex, BDSM, or large amounts of sex in your books, stay away from this. With that being said, this story was something of a bore. Being both a fan of Anne Rice and BDSM, I had expected this trilogy to thrill me like no other. However, most of this tale was nothing more than repetitive sex and punishments. Although I had expected lots of sex (this is an erotica after all), I had also expected some characterization and plot. Now, I am not asking for the grandest plot in the world, and I guess the one Rice gave us was all right, but there still was no characterization at all. There was never a sense of the characters besides a basic outline, most of which consisted of "Woe! How humiliating! Why do I put up with this? This is amazing. How I aim to please" and then back to Woe! often times all in one paragraph. We are also given no breaks in between the sexual escapades, making then blend into the work even more instead of slamming us with a literary orgasm. As I said, lots of sex was expected, but with the flimsy plot, the sheer amount of it one after another, and the lack of any sort of characterization, this trilogy ended up reading more like porn than actual erotica.

Anne Rice also had a habit of introducing characters to us and then having them randomly dropped and never really seen again. This is worst in books one to two, but three is just as guilty. For example, we are introduced to Prince Alexei in the first book, The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty, and we even get three chapters completely dedicated to him yet by the end, Beauty completely forgets about him and finds a new slave prince to obsess over. Afterwards Alexei is not even mentioned until the end of the third book.

The characters also seem to have gotten their idea of love from Anita Blake: control equals love. I lost count of how many Masters and Mistresses Beauty had fallen in love with, and the only couple I really believed was Tristan and Nicolas though I wonder if Nicolas' love is unrequited. Either way, I really wish we had followed Tristan through the entire story instead of Beauty. 

Now, this is not the worst "erotica" I have ever read, but it definitely falls short of what it could have been. It seems like Rice did not really try and simply penned a bunch of smut. I would honestly suggest to not waste your money, and if you like a BDSM style and yaoi/gay sex, I would suggest Ai No Kusabi instead, which has tantalizing sex scenes, good sense of characters, and a well thought out plot.

Beauty's Release

 

Level: Explicit

Genre: Fantasy > Erotica > BDSM

Obtained: Purchased at Borders

Reviewed by: Nic Echo

About the Book:

In this conclusion to Anne Rice's erotic trilogy, Beauty and a few other slaves have been captured by the raiders and are brought to a foreign land of Arabic origins. Like the previous novel, this book follows two different slaves: Beauty and Laurent, a runaway, as they try to find the meaning of themselves in this strange land before they are brought back to their own.

Rating: 6/10 Stars

Like in Beauty's Punishment, nothing really happens until closer to the end. Although there were some points of interest earlier, most of the book is the same basic punishments and the same boring sex that left me with little interest in this read. One of the points of interest was when Laurent is alone in the chamber of Lexius, their trainer/Master.

SPOILERS

While in here, the tables are turned as Laurent dominates Lexius, making for something different in the book: a slave actually fighting back! 

END SPOILERS

 

There is also a point where Beauty is with the Sultana, Inanna, and I could not help but feel horrified when you find out about the torture that the wives have endured. The way that Rice writes Inanna made me feel the character's pain all the more. If only she did this with the rest of her characters. 

I am also happy to note that although the character focus has been changed, Tristan and a few others are not forgotten. We still see bits of Tristan's mind when Laurent talks to him and both Nicolas, Tristan's old master, and the Captain of the Guard make appearances again.

As for the end, it becomes easily apparent what is going to occur, but none of us picked this up expecting a surprise twist ending, did we?  Overall though, it could have been worse, but it could have been much better. The sex and punishments are still constant and the internal dialogue is the same as ever. There are big enough differences in this book so it's not as dull as the first one, but it is still pretty much the same song as a different tempo.  I would suggest you save your money and spend it elsewhere.

What I'm Reading Next:

Beauty's Punishment

 

Level: Explicit

Genre: Fantasy > Erotica > BDSM

Obtained: Purchased at Borders

Reviewed by: Nic Echo

About the Book:

The second of Anne Rice's erotic Sleeping Beauty trilogy continues from where we left off. When we last saw Beauty, she had purposely disobeyed her prince and was condemned to the village. While she is on the way to the village, Beauty becomes enamored with the slave prince, Tristan, who also purposely disobeyed his master. Once they reach the village, they are auctioned off. Tristan ends up in the care of Nicolas, the Queen's chronicler, while Beauty is bought by Miss Lockley, the owner of one of the inns. Once the auction has taken place, we are taken back and forth between Tristan and Beauty as we follow them on their emotional and sexual adventures of servitude. 

Rating: 6/10

I have to admit that this is a very weak six. Although it was better than the previous installment, I still can't say this was an arousing read. The book does delve into the characters a bit more, but even so there seems to be little sense of character development. We do, however, get a nice insight into the mentality of being a slave, and there are some tender and loving moments between Tristan and Nicolas, which is one of the main things that made this book redeemable. Beauty, however, was still as dull as the last time and seemed nothing more than a whiny teenager. At least her attitude seems right for her age. Throughout the book, we are constantly bombarded with how she is a bad, bad girl who disobeys to only try her damnedest to obey moments later. Although this would be a logical mentality for someone to take, it gets tedious quickly. Also, Beauty actually calls herself a bad, little girl mentally. Yes, those exact words. You would think Rice could come up with something better.

The other improvement was there seemed to be more variation in the humiliation and punishment. There is still lots of spanking, but they are no longer every other paragraph, and many of them seem to be integrated into other forms of punishment. Rice also introduces more plot in this book, but sadly, most of it doesn't come into play until near the end when there is talk of raider that will come and steal slaves.

SPOILERS (Sort of)

There is actually quite a gripping moment when Tristan is taken from Nicolas after they have only recently found a love for each other.

END SPOILERS

Overall, Anne Rice may have improved from Claiming by attempting to introduce actual plot, sexual variation, and character development, but she still falls short of what this could have been. It is still repetitive and a sexual bore, and again I would advise anyone that dislike lots of sex, BDSM, or gay sex to stay far away, because once again that is basically all the book is.

What I'm Reading Next: 

 

The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty

 

Level: Explicit

Genre:Fantasy > Erotica > BDSM

Obtained: Purchased at Borders

Reviewed by: Nic Echo

About the Book:

In this erotic tale spun by Anne Rice, the Sleeping Beauty classic is taken to a whole new level where Beauty is awoken not by a kiss but something much more ... intrusive. After releasing Beauty's enchantment, the prince claims her as his own is the most humiliating way: as a sex slave.

 Rating: 5/10 Stars

First off, this book is not for everyone. If you dislike lots of sex in your books, put this book down. If you disliked BDSM, put this book down. If you dislike gay sex, again put this book down. If you are looking for a book with more sensuality, I would also suggest you look elsewhere.

With that being said, I have to admit I was sorely disappointed in this book. I decided to read this not only because I was interested of my own accord, but I had several friends claim that I would love it. I am sad to say they were wrong. My room mate states that the second and third books get better and although I do plan on giving them a chance, I must say that the first book does nothing for the mind nor the libido. From what I had read of Anne Rice's works (so far a little under half of the Vampire Chronicles), I figured that with her skill and my desire for certain taboo, I was sure that this collection would have me writhing in my seat, I was gravely mistaken. Although many sexual escapades were expected, there was little else. Several reviews that I read claimed it was nothing more than porn, and I would have to agree. There was no time given between kinks and sex to give us any sort of break. Nor was there any sort of character development, which might have endeared the reader to a more intimate experience.

Rice also needs to vary her kinks more. Ninety percent of this book was nothing more than spanking. If spanking is what gets you off, then maybe you will enjoy this book more. However, the kink was not the only thing Rice was guilty of repeating, The author really needed to extend her vocabulary; the book was overflowing with the word buttocks. Anne Rice may have come up with an interesting concept, but Rice failed to make it what it could have been. I hope that the rest of the trilogy is better, because this was definitely not worth my money. I would suggest not wasting yours.

What I'm Reading Next:   

Dead Reckoning

 

Level: Explicit Lite

Genre: Fantasy/Horror > Vampires/Urban Fantasy

Obtained: Borrowed from library

Reviewed by: Nic Echo

About the Book:

In the latest Sookie Stackhouse novel (11), problems just seem to be surrounding Sookie. First off, Harris reintroduces the Pelt plot. Sandra Pelt has escaped from the hospital, still intent on killing Sookie. Meanwhile, vampire drama continues as Eric, Sookie, and the others try to find a means to off Victor, the regent for the King of Louisiana, Arkansas, and Nevada, because Victor has been giving them unneeded trouble and trying to overthrow Eric himself.

Rating: 6/10 Stars

As for the overall plot, Harris seems to be settling back into her roots by having two different plots and then romance as the majority of her book. However, these plots really had nothing to do with each other and their only connection was Sookie. The first half of the book involves the recycled Sandra Pelt plot along with a small subplot involving Sam Merlotte. The rest of the book involved the Victor plot and Sookie's romance with Eric. Then, for the final chapter we are given a conclusion to the Pelt plot. Although the plots were decent enough, they could have easily been two separate novelettes. Okay, the Victor plot was decent. The Pelt plot has gotten too old and too foreseeable.  I am glad Harris put the Victor plot to an end. Although there are some open ends that she work with (such as how Felipe, the king, will act), I was getting tired of Sookie saying that Victor needed to die. 

The Pelt plot wasn't the only thing being dragged out in this series however. Quite a chunk of this book focused on Eric's and Sookie's relationship. Now, I have said before I don't mind romance in my books, but I cannot get behind this couple. I like Eric, and I don't mind Sookie, but it seems that any character Sookie ends up dating ends up becoming annoying quite quickly. Plus, it does not help that all I seem to be getting from this relationship is Sookie whining about secrets and thinking about sex with Eric. The other thing that bugs me is that she claims she loves him, but I can't believe it. I don't see it, and yes, I am going to put down that rule countless writers hear: show, don't tell. 

So, in summary, this book is a recycled plot, a different drawn out story, and an unbelievable romance that is nothing but whining and sex. That is two books in a row that aren't Harris's par, but at least they haven't dropped as much as Hamilton. There is still plenty hope that this series isn't dead.

What I'm Reading Next:

 

Dead in the Family

Level: Explicit Lite

Genre: Fantasy/Horror > Vampires/Urban Fantasy

Obtained: Borrowed from library

Reviewed by: Nic Echo

About the Book:

In then tenth installment of the Sookie Stackhouse series, our main heroine runs into more murder and still remains entwined in the supernatural world.  After Sookie allows the Shreveport pack to roam her woods on a full moon night, one of them tells her that he smelled several odd things: an old corpse and fairies. The corpse is none other than Debbie Pelt, a shifter Sookie killed in self-defence in Dead and Gone, so she isn't terribly worried about that. However, the portals between the human and Faery world have been locked shut, causing Sookie to wonder who it could be. Is it a good fairy like her cousin, Claude? Or is it a fairy with malintent? Perhaps it's even her crazy half-human, half-fairy great-uncle Dermot.

A few days later, Sookie has the werewolf's claims verified by one of Eric's vampires, but something new has arisen. The vampire has scented that another fairy has been on Sookie's land, and there is also a fresh corpse buried there.

Rating: 6/10 Stars

 There seems to be too much going on in this books: murders, mysterious fairies, and even Eric's maker makes an appearance to stir up trouble. Subplots are one thing (such as Sookie's romances), but I think this book may have been better if there didn't seem to be three separate plots pushed together (although they do tie together in the end). The plots were, at least, interesting.

We do get to meet some new characters, some of which proved to be quite interesting such as Appius Livius Ocella, Eric's maker, and his new fledgling, Alexei, a Russian royal who "died" at the age of thirteen. Although the latter has had a traumatic past, Harris writes him off quite well, causing the reader a small tension whenever he is on the page. Sookie also meet Dermot for the first time, who turns out to have been cursed for some time now. Dermot doesn't seem to be quite as interesting as Appius or Alexei though he doesn't really get as much "screen time" either.

However, even with the interesting characters and the busy yet interesting plots, there were three things that had me seething. The first is right after Sookie finds out about the new body. Eric comes over and Sookie only wants two things: to tell Eric about the body and to have sex. Now, I can understand the latter to a point. Sex can be quite the stress reliever. However, after Eric bores her with tedious information (during which she is whining that she rather be having sex), she decides that the problem involving the body isn't nearly as important as getting a nice shag. Seriously, Sookies poo poos the idea of telling her vampire lover about a BODY simply so she can reach the "ultimate ecstasy." If she keeps this up, Sookie may find herself following in Anita Blake's footsteps.

Actually, another of the things that pissed me off was in that same scene. When I said Eric bored Sookie with tedious information, I wasn't lying about it being tedious. When Eric enters, he tells Sookie that had important information that cannot wait. So what is so drastic? How the United States is divided up for vampires. Not only was the information confusing at times, but it had nothing to do with the book at hand. Maybe it will be used in a future book, but if that is the case, it would have made more sense to put it in that story rather than wasting our time for several pages.

The final thing that irratated me involved Dermot. When we meet him, we learn that is cursed, but by the end of the book

he is cured by Claude kissing him. I kid you not! There could have been such potential there, but instead Dermot's insanity is cured in one sentence by something so ridiculous your eyes will be stuck from rolling.

END SPOILERS

So, all in all, the plot wasn't too shabby though there seemed to be too much going on at times. Harris also introduces us to some new and interesting characters, but her old characters seem to be getting more irksome (let's hope this isn't the start of a downward slide for Harris). It's not the worst book there ever was, and it still provided a light and enjoyable read. However, I have to say this is not the best in the Stackhouse series.

What I'm Reading Next: