Review: Didn't Live Up To It's Publicity
Rating: 2 out of 5
Date: 07 24, 2013
There was a long gap between the last kindred book and this one,Shadowed: Brides of the Kindred book 8.  Yet we had teasers and tastes and from those it sounded like book 8 was another winner.The characters were enthralling yet the story didn't come thru for me.  Nina was a Native American yet she never shares her heritage with Reddix. It was mentioned more than once that she can't become a bride of the kindred, she can't leave Earth.  It's the law.  Yet there's no follow up on how she's able to be with him, what they need to do as a couple to make their union legal both on Earth and for the Touch Kindred.Nina's healing gift is so vague.  Is it touch?  Is it her blood?  Is it her physical presence?  All three?  I had the feeling it was her blood being swallowed by Reddix that reversed his condition.  The connection between who Nina is, what she is, and her gifts aren't explored enough to give validity to Reddix being cured.The last kindred book was about Saber and Lissa.  Saber is Reddix's good friend and is a major player in this bookShadowed: Brides of the Kindred book 8.  He comes across as dominate, taking over, pushing Lissa off and making up his own mind without her input.  For everything Lissa and Saber went through I found his controlling nature in this book a big disappointment. A leader of his people asks for and does consult his mate.  Saber does not.Then there's the other women of our kindred warriors.  I didn't see a lot of growth in their lives or personalities.  The same old concerns, same food fetishes, some are pregnant, some have kids.Since there was a big gap between book 7 and this one, I lost track of which mate is with which female.  So when the females were talking and arranging the bonding ceremony, I completely lost interest.  What I do remember is thinking. . . I hope the bonding fruit and results don't cause any of those pregnancies to abort, if in fact any of the pregnant wives decide to eat the cake with bonding fruit. My other thought was what a stupid excuse to get them to eat bonded fruit.  A mix up in labels and which cake was for which party?  I'm still shaking my head.  And that woman that crashed the party, the one that was mentioned in a brief conversation. . . She ate the concentrated bonding fruit cake, walked thru the park, and was 'relieved' by two unknown warriors. I had to reread that part again because it bothered me so much.  No, the two warriors and this up and coming priestess were complete strangers. If they were introduced at the wedding, . . . ok. . . But. . . For two guys and one lone woman, strangers, we're talking about an encounter that is similar to date rape drugs.Ok, thinking about that while writing.  Subtracting another star. Consensual rape?  Never mind whether they knew about bonding fruit, (I know she didn't and some warriors don't) her sexual status (she was portrayed as virginal), or whether she falls pregnant.  She is given no choice.  And the guys know she's not their mate. This was a forced encounter.  And Lissa as a priestess herself and knowing how sacred that lifestyle is. . . There wasn't the input from her that I'd expect.  That whole scene just left a really bad taste.I realize the author said she had a hard time getting back into this series.  I can understand that but unfortunately her lack of interest shows. I was looking forward to this book, the teasers about Reddix and about Nina were wonderful - Boy was I let down.  -- Dan's Wife