Review: Dark Angel's Ward
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 10 23, 2012
Nia Shay's Dark Angel's Ward has most definitely confirmed my affinity for angel literature, but that being said I'm not sure Shay and I are a particularly good fit.Is it Shay's fault? No. As corny as it sounds it isn't her, its me. I didn't realize how extensively the story would be influenced by sexual tension and desire when I picked up the book and I wasn't entirely prepared to accept it.I know I'll probably get bashed for this, but review is about opinion and the personal experience of a reader with a particular book so at least hear me out before you start judging. Sex in literature doesn't bother me at all, I read and enjoy romance as much as the next person. The thing is, I found myself increasingly frustrated that Jade's hormones overshadowed the themes that attracted my attention in the book description. I wanted and expected Zeph's madness, his intense devotion to Jade, the background on the Fairlight Society and Jade's internal conflict to take center stage. While all these elements are present, they were not as prominent as I imagined they would be. My rating is indicative of that disappointment, not Shay's talent nor the sexual nature of her story.The telling itself wasn't what I expected, but it wasn't the only aspect of the piece that rubbed me the wrong way. The dialogue, both spoken and internal, left me wanting. Shay has a great sense of humor and I found most of the exchanges entertaining, but I also found that the steady stream of sarcasm spewed forth by Jade painted a very contrary, bitter and one-dimensional character. There really is something to be said for moderation and I think a lighter hand may have helped make her a more relatable and compelling protagonist.Nitpicky? Yes. Sorry folks that's just the kind of reviewer I am. I really liked the premise of Dark Angel's Ward. The role of the wardens, the nature of angels, the incorporation of incubi, Markus' mad experimentation with genetic manipulation and Jade's innate fear of losing herself to Zeph were all very well imagined. I wasn't sold on the execution, but the story itself is more than a little appealing.