Cover Image: Graves of Wrath

Graves of Wrath

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

A big thank you to NetGalley and Bell Bridge/Imajinn Books for the ARC. I am voluntarily reviewing this book. First time reading this author. I knew it was a risk as this is book 5 but also book 1 in a new series set in Paris. All the characters are known so no real descriptions. I found this to be frustrating as I didn't have the background knowledge. So for me it didn't read well as a stand alone. I sort of didn't get Jess's vampirism. Seemed sometimes she could tolerate sun but not others?? I couldn't connect with the characters. I give this a 3.

Was this review helpful?

Unfortunately I did like it as much as I was hoping, it just didn't keep my attention like some of the other vampire book series does and so I won't be going on with this series ,with that said I would like to think Netgalley for giving me a chance at read and review it in change for my honest opinion.

Was this review helpful?

Jess is a vampire hunter and - a vampire. Regent, Jess' brother is a priest sent to France for an unknown reason. Jess and and her boyfriend Britt, who has Angel DNA goes to France on holiday but to check up on her brother.. When they get there, they see shadows everywhere. Regent meets a girl who looks just like Jess Is she a long lost sister or a doppelganger? Why are there shadows that only hurt some people and not others. You have to read it to find the mysteries. The author is new to me and I really loved her book. I received this book from Net Galley for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

This book was a little confusing for me. I felt like I was missing something and this title is a first in a series. So with that being said... I just could not get into this read and based on how this book went down I may have had to read another series to be in the know in this read. Not sure what to think. I feel just lost. I wonder if I am the only one who feels this way?
I received this ARC from the publisher via Net Galley at my request for an honest review. Thanks NET Galley.

Was this review helpful?

Love these characters!!! I'm so glad that this a series. I read the last series with these characters and loved it. This story arc looks like it will be just as amazing. I recommend it high;y.

- - Received copy through NetGalley - -
L

Was this review helpful?

I've missed the depth of Lisa Gardner's books, and had stopped reading her for awhile, but this was a fantastic book to come back to her! LOVED it!

Was this review helpful?

This book is very solid continuation of the series, I enjoyed the byplay between the characters and am already looking forward to the next book

Was this review helpful?

ARC/Urban Fantasy: I want to thank NetGalley for letting me have a copy of this book in lieu of an honest review.

Once again, I have judged a book by its cover; the title was cool too. I immediately looked at the description and thought this was my kind of book. Book one of a new vampire cop series and all the mayhem that includes; how could it go wrong! I loved the first three books of Larissa Lone series which was a demon ER. Well this didn’t work for me on so many levels. This book is not book one, it is book one of an arc so characters are already established with their powers and quirks in the first three book arc. That being said, the author felt the need to tell me facts from other books without giving personalities to the three main characters. They were dull and less than one dimensional. Usually when I read a book, I pick an actress or actor or at least their face to make it more personal. It doesn’t even have to be a lead actor, it can be a character actor. For example, a young C. Thomas Howell is Odd Thomas to me.

The vampire Jess is not cunning or dark and I couldn’t figure out her restrictions when it came to sunlight. She could handle some sunlight because she has part of a soul, but yet, she is dead at dawn, but yet she has to be in darkness when she is dead for the day. Things also come too easy for her. For example, she needs a pass or something to travel on a plane to Europe, but that isn’t explained. The secret NYC police squad was only partially explained. I had a lot of questions. Also Jess is like a James Patterson character with loads of money to get an French apartment and have it fitted before her arrival, in no time flat and without minion, to her specifications. The author apparently has never has to work with a contractor before.

Her brother Regent, the priest should have been the most interesting character and have conflicts between good and evil. I guess he resolved all that in the last books because he was so boring. Since the book’s narrative is mostly when Jess is awake, there are conversations we miss and only hear when they are being explained to Jess. For instance, Regent is in an informational meeting with the church earlier in the day, but your only hear, in third person, his point of view of the conversation as he relays it to Jess.

Then there’s Britt the new angel and boyfriend to Jess the Vampire. He too should be conflicted, probably more than the priest, but has no qualms except deciding which pet name to call Jess on that occasion. He is a newly made angel and I never understood his powers or lack of. Again, his conflict must have been resolved in the first books. While drama in real life is something I stay away from, happiness in a book is not a great plot point.

The plot starts out with no real explanation of why they need to go to France except to Jess has a bad feeling about her brother working there for 90 days for the church. That’s it for the first couple of chapters, just a doppelganger; with a body finally hitting the floor. This book just came out, so that’s the only plot I’m giving; which is nothing I can recommend unless, I guess you’ve read the first three books and love the characters.

There are a lot of continuity problems with time. If a book is good, I will let it go because I want to see how the story ends. If a book is lined with boring dialog and plot, my timeline demon comes out and I nitpick at continuity.

Was this review helpful?

I was immediately attracted by the cover and read this book almost in one go. The character of Jess is endearing, the story captivating. Eager to read what follows.

It all starts when Jess learns that his brother has been sent to Paris by the Vatican for three months. She will come help her and once arrived the top will fall on vampires. Women are murdered and vampires are on the verge of revolt. Hurry to read more because it's over with a cliffangher.

Was this review helpful?

A different paranormal story a spit off from another series.
Jess and Britt are great passionate couple one a vampire with part of a soul and the other half angel.
Good action,drama,characters and love story.
Haven't read the others but will have too because I liked the story.

Was this review helpful?

A little bit "wordy" at times but overall a good book. As I haven't read the rest of the series there was a few parts which I had to make assumptions about but I don't think it hindered the book. The storyline was good, loved the ending. I'm only giving it 4 instead of 5 because it's rather generic. I don't feel there's anything that sets this apart from any other book in the same "supernatural detective" genre or at least not enough to make me read it again. Maybe that will change if I read the rest of the series as it may just be "middle book syndrome" where it's a bridge or filler between two really good ones. Still, worth reading, and I'm sure it's a must if you've read the rest of the series.

Was this review helpful?

Jess, Britt & Regent. A vampire, an angel & a priest. Police officers and lovers, Jess and Britt fly to Paris to follow her brother the priest to find out what strange happenings are going on in Paris. While there, they meet Jess's twin vampire sister and see shadows possessing humans. It takes them all to save Paris.
Goodreads & Facebook

Was this review helpful?

This is the first book I've read in this series. I enjoyed the story line very much, although there are major inconsistencies. I had a hard time ignoring them. First off how can Jess be 29 & her baby brother in his seventies? It's implied that she was just turned into a vampire recently. How is it they can just get blood delivered without anyone wondering what the heck? Supposed vampires are still unknown to the majority of the population. How does the name of the book relate to the story? These issues pop up throughout the book. Maybe they've been addressed in earlier books but for a first-time reader it's puzzling & annoying. Overall though I did enjoy the plot, the way the demons were portrayed & the ending was dead-on. #GravesOfWrath #NetGalley

Was this review helpful?

Jess was the captain of NYPD’s Vampire Hunting team. Less than a month ago Jess would have said her job was one of the most significant things in her life. It gave her reason to rise from her day sleep every evening and face her dark existence Jess had a human soul mate Britt Also a beloved brother Regent who had been sent by the church to Paris for three month assignment. Regent knew the timeframe but not the details of the job. Jess’s cop gut told her the pieces didn’t fit something wasn’t right. Cardinal Vasilli turned Uriel who had been an angel into a voracious vampire and she nor Britt trusted him.Jess had literally died when she had tried to save Uriel from becoming a vampire. Jess and Britt were putting in for time off Jess knew she had a lot of time coming and Britt had not taken any time off since he joined Jess's team four years ago. Next they had to figure out how to get Jess through Customs since Jess didn’t have a beating heart but a forensic vampireolist Sampson Case was making a small machine that mimicked a pulse rate that could get through the mental detectors. They also had to be careful when they got to Paris .as it would be daylight and she had to get to the hotel without being hurt. Jess could stand some sunlight but not long. This did make Jess unique among vampires. Jess wanted to stay below the radar while in Paris if possible. Jess felt she could really use a break. Britt wasn’t sure Jess was ready for a vacation she had too much energy to be happy sitting around doing nothing. Jess didn’t know how she would manage not seeing Regent even for a shot time. Regent’s prayers had had saved Jess’s partial soul . Regent had been kidnapped and secretly regressed from being a seventy three year old senior to a man in his mid forties. Regent’s physical health. Jess and Regent always worked as a team when there was a vampire problem. Regent had been threatened if he didn’t take the job in Paris he had to retire. Jess and Britt saw a lot of shadow creatures while they were on the bridge Britt steps off the bridge and the shadow monsters attacked his feet and chewed down to the bone in places . Britt managed to get back on the bridge and for some reason the shadow monsters did not want to go on the bridge. Jess managed to get Britt tp her brothers even though he was in horrible pain and had lost a lot of blood. Regent put herbs on his feet and prayed over Britt. +The next evening when Jess returned Britt’s feet were healed from his Angel DNA and what Regent had done for Britt. Regent goes to the ancient texts to try to find some answers how to handle these monsters.
I had mixed feelings for this book. I did like the idea of a different monster. But I wanted more for this story. I loved the relationship between Britt and Jess but also Regent and Jess. I also loved how Britt and Jess interacted. I loved how protective Jess was of regent. This dragged for me at times. Also there seemed to be too much information at times. I wanted something more from this story. At times I got annoyed with Jess as she seemed to feel sorry for herself a little too often. I did like the plot. I did like the characters but as I said I had mixed feelings.

Was this review helpful?

I enjoyed the story, it was your standard paranormal romance, but even if you don't read the genre regularly I would recommend this book to you because it's fantastically written and the author is super talented.

Was this review helpful?

This was a did not finish. I did not like the world building and felt that I needed more backstory.

Was this review helpful?

This book is the first in a new series, but it is a continuation of the author’s other series Jess Vandermire, Vampire Hunter. While I believe you can read this series without having read the previous series, I think it would be better to have read the other one. I had forgotten how much I had enjoyed this author’s writing until I read this book. She makes her characters feel real, and she deftly weaves a great plot. However, I do have to admit that this book did have a little too much information in a couple of places, and sometimes I really wanted to roll my eyes where Jess felt too sorry for herself. But those two things aside, I think the author is trying to set up new readers for a great new series, and I for one can’t wait to see what comes next. I think we should trust the author, because I really liked the previous series, and I see some great things in this book that I saw in the other one. Highly recommend! Thanks to NetGalley and Bell Bridge Books/ImaJinn Books for the e-book which I voluntarily reviewed.

Was this review helpful?

The premise for this book would make it right up my alley but the execution of the storytelling was just off. Immediately starting this book, I felt like I was seriously missing something... and yes, it is the first in this series, I checked. I know this is going to sound strange saying I felt like I was missing something but my second issue was all these random, detailed information dumps that made it choppy. And finally, some of the plot directions never went anywhere, maybe to continue in a future installment... but that just doesn't work for me. Overall, this book was not for me.

I received this ARC copy of Graves of Wrath from Bell Bridge Books - ImaJinn Books. This is my honest and voluntary review. Graves of Wrath is set for publication March 30, 2018.
3 likes

I am only posting review on Goodreads unless you request otherwise. I did not rate on Goodreads so it will not effect book's rating.

Was this review helpful?

DNF. Except for the content this reads like children's fiction. The structure, style, and vocabulary are all very simplistic. The dialogue was cringe worthy. The "pet names" were rediculous.

Was this review helpful?

Jess and Britt follow Regent to France where he has been called to help with an urgent matter with the church. As vampire hunters, they become embroiled with mysterious dark happenings in Paris. As Regent searches for the answer in ancient texts, the city comes under attack. Not having read any of the previous series, for this, book 1, there were too many references to the previous series that kept the flow of the story to stop for me. I almost DNF at the numerous affectations of calling Jess "love". Almost as bad was being called "dearest" by her brother numerous times. Not having several big plot points revealed was a big NO for me. Saving those for a future book is a "I will not read the next book". The premiss was good, the left out plot reveals were intriguing, I did not connect with the characters.

Was this review helpful?