Review: Too short, too much suspension of belief
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 09 29, 2013
I've got a few "issues" with this book.  First is the length. It's really a novella. Not a novel. It was much too short for the money paid. Perhaps if there were an additional 100 pages or so, some of the issues I have with the story line could have been tied up. As it is, it felt rushed and unfinished.I've really grown fond of Sam during these first 4 books of the series. I love her strength and determination balanced with her vulnerability. She will protect her children regardless of the sacrifices to herself even as she still struggles with who, and what, she is.Obviously when reading any paranormal novel, you must suspend your belief system. That being said, there are a few too many things in this book that just push that belief suspension too far.*** Warning - SPOILERS ***Take the medallion. You're telling me that the ancient vampire 1000 years old or more has not been able to find the medallion and Sam, the newbie just happens to have it?  And that no one seems to know how the medallion really works but Sam is able to figure that out in less than 2 days?  And when Sam puts on the medallion it magically bonds to her such that it can't be removed until she dies but yet she just happens to run across the guy who knows just how to fix that? Keep in mind that the vamp that attacked her had the medallion and it was "...worn by [her] attacker...".  Was is bonded to him to?  It was inferred that it was hanging from his neck and not bonded to his skin.  Add to that, the conveniently available Maximus knows how to reverse the vampirism?  But yet there is only enough for 1 dose? In the entire vampire universe there is only 1 medallion and 1 dose?  Not logical. None of this really hangs together well.Going back to our ancient vamp - bow tie man. He wants to die but there's no way to kill him.  Given that the laws of physics seem to apply to just about everything else in this story, seems to me dismemberment and incineration should be sufficient to do in just about anyone. It's just too difficult to believe there's no way to kill the guy. I could believe he simply wanted to be human again, tired of being a vamp for so long. But to want the medallion just so he can die?  Again... not logical.Oh and one more thing. It really bugged me that there was no attempt on Sam's part to explain that her son's "cure" might be reversible. Instead she lets Danny believe it's permanent.  Given that she's sympathetic to the fact he loves his son, you'd think she'd at least give him this hope.