What I liked, loved, missed, didn't like, etc...

[Syd Gill]

Please use this thread to post your thoughts - do not create new threads to tell us you loved/hated/etc the book!

Personally, OB is probably an all time favorite of Jeaniene's books. I absolutely LOVED Leila -- I thought she was a fabulous character with so much depth and development potential. I want to see her go through ups and downs, with or without Vlad. Vlad was also fantastic and I loved seeing him trying but not trying? You know, Vlad style. I think the book ended with a major cliffie - I kind of unsettledness about the future, but it didn't leave me disappointed in the end. Lord knows, those two have a lot to work out in the coming books. And I can't wait!

What did you guys think?

[wonttorit]

Ahem....I won't say it's my favorite of Jeaniene's books, that spot is filled. (EKOD ) I will say if this isn't a shoot-fish-in-the-barrel guaranteed hit, well....it just is that's all.

How fabulous is it that Jeaniene wrote another hottie that gives Bones a run for his money! Vlad continued to evolve from that first meeting in At Grave's End, and this was such a pleasure to indulge in an entire book about him. If there was ever a perfect symbol for a character, it's those hot hands.

I will say this now...I hope book #2 in this series isn't the last.

Congratulations Jeaniene!

[wildchild1954]

You're right wont, this is definitely a shoot-fish-in-a-barrel hit! I loved seeing Leila sass back to Vlad when he's soooo used to women who kowtow to him. My favorite scene though would have to be when Mencheres, Kira, Bones, and Cat came to visit. I laughed soo hard! Cliff endings are not my favorite thing when I have to wait another nine months for the answer but for Jeaniene I'll stand it. I, too, hope there's more than one more book out there for Vlad, he's such an interesting character.

[pinksapphire]

I just got to finish it without reading any spoilers

Loved

Vlad : he's so original and in a way he's not a lame romantic hero but I saw him as an anti-hero with his own sense of justice and he doesn't care about people's opinion. He developed as a character from when we first met him and he seems less mysterious to me now.I liked his arrogance and his knowledge of his bad traits and ruthlessness and not hiding anything from Leila and most of all for the first time we get a sex god who didn't have to go through legions of women and be good at what he does.I found his "selectivity" and tenderness towards Leila endearing.

Leila: In my POV she is clear-headed,brave,rational and strong. I know she has a few outbursts here and there but most of the time she gets a grip of herself quickly and lashes back at taunts. Although her upbringing scarred her, she seems to really put it behind her back which is remarkable.

I was jumping up and down when Cat, Bones, Kira and Mencheres showed up.The bantering between Bones and Vlad as usual was classic and witty.

What i didn't like

The pacing of the story was so fast and I felt like the relationship between Vlad and Leila didn't progress fast enough.Also the villain didn't show up until the end and for the first time i didn't hate his guts and he didn't seem evil enough for me it was more of a settling old scores between Vlad and Szilagyi.

Don't hate me but even though I loved all the characters introduced in the book, I didn't feel any emotional connection between Vlad and Leila.There was great sexual chemistry but no love and his warning to Leila in the beginning that he can't love her was a part of it.

There were a lot of funny moments in the book and one my favorites was when Vlad was dramatically floating in the air with fangs and flames and revealed to Leila's family that he was a vampire. Gretchen fainting was another priceless moment.


All in all I enjoyed reading it and I cant wait for the arrogant Romanian to finally say the three letter words to Leila.

and congrats Jeaniene!

[uapeople]

AT lunch I started where the 20% preview left off and read to just before chapter 17 (which I hear may be a sparking scortcher) since I see a thread just for that chapter! Anyway I am loving this book, though I wish I were Leila without having to have to feel others pain and shock others. I just want the closeness to Vlad! I am hoping for a Cat and Bones cameo because, heck, Vlad has done so much for them he desrves them to help him. Love how he is choosy about women because his body is the one thing he can keep... unlike Bones (though I still love Bones and totally get why he gave himself to others so easily) and Ian. It shows perspective and how didn't things affect how we think and what we do. Anyway, dying to get off of work to finish reading.

[Soireb]

I waited for the book at midnight (it actually downloaded to my kindle at 1am). I started reading it, and didn't put it down until I was done; it was past 7am. Now, I'm sleepy and sort of going through the day looking (and feeling) like a zombie, but I don't regret it, I loved the book and the chemistry between Vlad and Leila and all the new characters.

I think we have a new chapter to drool over, Chapter 23 anyone?

Ken and Barbie? I would have never thought of Bones as Ken, but I was laughing like crazy (trying to do it as quietly as possible due to the hour).

[seawindrj]

I loved the book...like all the others before. But I was a little disappointed with the end...with Bones and Cat, even with the unfinished business leaving clues for the second one, Bones did declare his true love for Cat...
Besides that, Leila really is the perfect match for Vlad.

[theredhead02]

I think this book may have been the funniest yet! I stayed up til 3 last night reading, and laughed out loud multiple times, which I'm sure the roommates hated. The ending, to me as well, felt a bit abrupt. I flipped the page looking for more, but was sad to see it was over. But once again, Jeaniene, a wonderful work. Can't wait for the next one! And can't wait to see what happens between Vlad and Leila.

[minihaha]

OK..spent the day listening to the book...Tavia rocks...

But all I can say is..." Jeaniene, the end, seriously??????? That's just mean!"


Not happy at having to wait MONTHS for the next book but it's nice to visit Vlad again and I like Leila, she's cool, esp with the midget sidekick...

[uapeople]

Finished! Loved Loved Loved it...but it was Vlad so how could I not!
I agree about Vlad being a sex god and not having to go through legions of women to gain his skills.
When asked a question Vlad answers with brutal honesty like with the girlfriends.
It takes guts and confidence to let leila touch the manicles and other parts of his history, either he really was confident that she would still accept him becasue he had a good read on her OR he still is trying to be reserved in his feelings OR he figures if she can't accept me as is for who I am then it will never work OR protecting his people is still more important than even his love life OR he knows that leila feels the same.
Loved the Cat and Bones with Mencheres and Kira cameo and witty banter as well. Loved that Bones taught Leila to sing the most annoying songs. Wish we heard more of what she was singing each time instead of just some. There are a lot of annoying 80s songs! Agree Ken and Barbie was hystercial. Seeing them from another POV was great and the whole Bones in a dress. Hilarious.
Loved that Vlad was watching a vampire movie. Twilight maybe?
The whole role playing Dracula stuff was hysterical.
I totally think she is going to get her powers back. I think Vlad left and after looking through the rubble for the bad guy who I think is NOT dead and will haunt them like cat's dad, Greagor, etc., he will make a romantic gesture. I do think he will take her as his 1st vampire marriage wife.

Questions/Thoughts/Musings
Forgive me but I forgot how does a vampire takes a wife- so they just announce it in front of a witness? I think so right?
Do you think Ben could have taken vampire blood before he passed? I am thinking ghoul here! Her very own Dave!
I think I answered my own question but it really confused me how when Lila connects to someone in the present or their past or fuyure how Vlad couldn't hear her head until she was disconnected. But he and the bad guy could her her when she connected to her. I guess it's because she is connecting in the present to them so they can.
Do any of you see Leila's sister as a possible flame for Ian? She is so overly blunt I can so see it. Having Ian be around all the time to annoy Vlad in future books can be hysterical IMO.
Can anyone see Leila's dad as taking some vampite blood to heal his leg and joining Don's team (maybe he even knows Don).
Who do you think Vlad has been with Vampire wise? did we hope it wasn't Annette? Wonder if Leila will bunp into an ex.
Let me get this straight....Vlad had married the wife and had a son (who the bad guy killed after Vlad became a Vampire) and the wife thought Vlad dead so she committed sucide so not to be tortured by his enemies. Then he married again when he was a vampire and pretended that that women's child was his. Was this one killed, too? What happened to that wife?
If Mencheres can see the future but it almost never (or never) changes, then how come Leila's visions are so easy to change? I wonder what that means. maybe becasue the abilities are different or that Leila sees impressions and Mencheres only sees very strong fates? Oh I am so confused. I also wonder if Mencheres will get that ability back. ANd speaking of abilities, I am assuming Vlad has Mencheres's ability to just kill someone dead and has been hiding it all these years. That he also got it from Tenoch like Mencheres. If he had the future visions, I think he wouldn't be so facinated in Leila's ability.
I wonder if Leila is ever captured again if she can just stay in a vision so other mind reading vapires can't get anything off her.