Review: Really like it but I do have issues with it......
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 09 28, 2012
Number 4 in the series this one has Chris and Tanya on the road doing missions for the Coven then some stuff comes up and they have to hightail it back to New York. So I am going to split this review as I love most of the book but have some serious issues with the last part of it. I will detail those in the last part of this review.Good1: Characters stay true to their motives by this point their actions do not surprise you. You can see why they make the decisions they make this gives good continuity and like the other books you can relate to them as people.2: Few grammer problems and the editing is good enough not to break the spell of immersion.3: The plot is tight with each one moving into the other I did feel that the part in the woods ended abruptly but that was me and was understandable given the circumstances.4: The bear is still my favorite.5: The disillusionment with the Coven was handled expertly and was just great writing.6: The scenes with the government were handles again just perfectly and I thought they were indicative of the personality of all the characters in play at the moment.7: The introduction of Stacia even tho she has been through the books since book 2 is a good addition. At first I was worried but then I realized I am kind of done with Tanya she almost never puts Chris first when it counts the most and my guess is that he is mated to Stacia in some wolf way as she always knows where he is. Not saying Tanya is done just saying she needs to get it together and to be clear I do not advocate cheating in books at any time.Bad1: Well I am going to save these for the part at the end see after Overview but they will have spoilers so read at your own risk.OverviewIf you are reading this wondering if the ball was dropped on the 4th one before you have read the 1st "I've been known to do this" I will tell you that the entire series is great with some fantastic writing and story progression. Despite my gripes this is well worth reading and you will enjoy it.SPOILERS so don't read that means you!So lets take the Coven I am very glad he is finally figuring out how they treat him. In my opinion they all treat him as an asset not as person even his title Chosen just denotes that he is with Tanya he has no place of his own nor is he respected for himself. In fact he has no place or standing in the Coven despite bleeding, killing and saving them numerous times. Their actions are exactly like the governments wanting to use him but with no real affections. In Book 2 he gives up his badge saying "I won't work for anyone who breaks faith with me" Given the below why would he want to go back, when have they ever really had his back?Book 11: They try to get him to leave Tanya alone "Galina"2: They trick Tanya into saying thingsBook 21: They abandon Chris to a whole host of problems with really no objections from the Coven. They do this after Lydia drops a dime on him and Nika mind probes him. Such great friends.2: They suggest he would hurt or kill Tanya in rageBook 31: In this book you actually have a change where they don't actively try to get him to leave.Book 41: He is forced to leave his only home and his girlfriend because he killed someone intent on killing him. Oh and Tanya decides to let him that would be shocking if it was not what she always does.2: The Duelist has armor of DU to protect him from Chris. So if they have armor they have weapons and lets be real this could not of happened without Lydia, Nika and Tanya knowing about it. So you tell me do friends secretly conspire behind your back to create weapons and armor designed to kill you? How is this any different than the government? Oh well the government is not privy to all his secrets like Lydia, Nika and Tanya are. With friends like those you don't need enemies.3: Secrets like Section 17 and who knows what are kept from him. Why? Well I would not want to tell him you are making weapons designed to kill him or that vampires are killing people like cattle.