Review: unusual and interesting paranormal
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 09 5, 2013
The Crimson Night Marie Hall.Arc supplied by Netgalley.Paranormal romance, I love it so Crimson Night was one I had to request :) Its a strange book to get into in the beginning. The characters are so very different from what we're used to, but ultimately once I'd worked them out a bit better it made for a welcome change. Though its classed as romance, that angle isn't as prevalent as I'd expect but there is some hot sensual sex between Pandora and Luc.Pandora is Nephilm, but seems to be unusual for them in that she feels emotions for people, and has sympathy. Usually they're a  very unemotional, practical race and she's still a killer, still takes what she needs but tries to balance it. I felt for her, its not her fault she was born what she was, and she'd tried to make the best of it. I love the way the Carnival is home to the family of different types, all have their faults but make up a family under the protection of Luc, their leader.Luc, I wasn't sure what to feel about him, on the outside he's proud of what he is and unashamed of his practical non emotional stance, and yet he's clearly got a soft spot for Pandora, though he's limited in how far he'll go to protect her. They've a chequered past spanning thousands of years, so its a complicated relationship. The Nephilm each have their own demons, and Pandora's Lust is strong and sometimes its a very tough fight between her and Lust. It seems to be that way for all the characters, they have themselves and their demon half but almost as two separate entities within one body, and the control each person has varies. It made for some interesting scenes, and I'm hoping that its going to become a series. I can't find that info anywhere but it reads as though there's more to come from Pandora and her family.There's sex here, both practical and pleasurable in type, lots and lots of blood and gore, demons, weird creatures, mystery and mythical people, plots, backstabbing, danger and adventure. A really interesting storyline, and hinting at a prophecy which makes me feel there's more books to come. I'm still unsure of Luc and his romantic feelings for Pandora (or not), and her for him even at the end. It was a good read, something very different from what I expected, but I really enjoyed it even though the romantic angle was tentative. I think that might heat up more in the next books, if this continues as a series. It did grow from what I felt at the start, but I could feel the caution on both sides about really letting go of emotions.Stars: four. Good read, unusual story and I do hope there's more to come.