Review: I am still intrigued...puzzled, but very intrigued.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 07 12, 2014
I read book 1, Blood Lust, and was very drawn in to the tale. I really wanted to know where the author was headed with her characters. I had an underlying sense that Ms. Santiago was attempting something slightly different with her world. I could see many possibilities coming in book 2, Blood Oath.While I applaud the author for a brave attempt at a new idea, it felt incomplete in areas for me. As much as I could relate to Eve, she also left me confused over just WHAT her personality type was. I mean I nearly want to call her bi-polar. I CAN go as far as telling myself that Eve has an inner struggle between her "average human" side and her "alpha wolf" side. Two opposing concepts WOULD make a being feel a bit crazy! However, IF that was the concept the author was going for, I feel she missed the mark in getting it across to the reader well.As for the soul-bonding in this tale, I like her use of it...to a point. Some of the logic just does not follow through. I believe this is the FIRST I have read where the "bonding" part did NOT include sex/ mating to fulfill it! There is a lot of foreplay, some sensual moments, but there is never any release. As a reader, that is frustration building too, needing a cold shower from reading a book?? I get that Eve and Jericho can sense that they are soul mates, but my mind can not wrap around the term without some sort of ACT that DOES the bonding?! That for me needs some clarification, just HOW is this working for the characters in this world? Also if Jericho is a "centuries" old vampire....why on earth would Eve be surprised that he knows about soul-bonding? That one really throws my head off.I became confused with Max as well. I like his character, yet the direction Ms. Santiago took him in felt off. Again there is the logic thing. If he is a beta that has been acting like an alpha for years, and LIKES his place in the pack. I fail to see why he would even tell Eve what she is, why would he encourage her knowing that she would be his competition? The only thing that fits for me is telling myself his ego was just so big that he felt Eve would not deny him. The problem is that most of his character is not portrayed in that light so it feels like a stretch.I felt there was just a tad too much repetition of certain details that the average reader is not going to "forget" while reading. On the flip side, we are given "hints" at things in the back-story. Only a line here or there seeming out of the blue. That gets you asking questions, so you KNOW the author has a lot she is building up to. The trouble is that even after this second book, I need answers to questions that hit me in book 1! I do like that I am asking questions, that means I AM interested. However, the answers need to come, if not it all gets too frustrating and you lose the enjoyment of the read. Blood Oath ends with many things still happening and new issues needing to be addressed as well as the old! I really hope there is a 3rd book, I NEED my questions answered!! In an odd way, I am slightly conflicted on how I feel with this one. To start with, I DID enjoy the tale! It DID keep my interest, I kept up with the imagery, and I FELT involved...usually.