Review: Refreshing Paranormal novel
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 03 12, 2014
Favorite Quotes“Denial was a wonderful thing, like a rain slicker to keep the deluge of crazy from soaking too deep into my skin.”“‘And I’m really not going to hurt you the way you think I am.’ ‘You don’t pick up a dagger like that near a runecovered altar with shackles on it unless you intend to carve me up like a sacrificial lamb, so cut the crap, Asher.’”Why I picked It UpI'm not exactly sure. I just sounded like something unlike anything I've ever read.Plot“The room had sacrificial chamber written all over it, with ancient carved circular rock walls, a stone floor with a drain in the center, shelves upon shelves heavy with old things I had no name for, and the last, a stone object I could only call an altar. Honest to goodness shackles hung from either end of it. A freakin’ altar, and me in my virgin sacrifice outfit.”The plot of this novel was the hitter. Adams crafted an intricate sequence of events that started on the first page of the novel. Addison can see thing, things that other people can't, and for years has been pretending that she was normal. But when one of her episodes leads to her being late to Professor Asher Green's class, things take a turn. Asher turns out being part of the Mortal Machine--a group of immortals that protect the world from wraiths that want to take over. Soon, Addison is sucked into Asher's world, whether she wants to become part of it or not. And to add a bit of a twist, Addison is someone that the wraiths want...and will do anything to have.This novel never got boring. That was what I loved about it. It kept building and building and building, even when I thought it couldn't anymore. There were so many surprising events that I didn't see coming, and I loved that element of surprise, seeing as many novels have become predictable.Leading Lady“How had I gone from invisible nobody to having the two most attractive men I’d ever met fighting over me? Oh right. It had nothing to do with me and everything to do with some sort of power trip to own the freak who could see dead things from an alternate reality. Silly me for forgetting.”“‘What do you see?’ I asked. ‘The pure heart and determination of a warrior, the soul of a lover, and a foundation made of unquestionable loyalty. You are the one who will never be corrupted my the power you wield.’”Two words come to mind when I think of Addison Beckett: Determined and selfless. Addison was not the one to let people walk over her or belittle her. She stood up for herself, even against oppressors that could crush her. She didn't whimper, she didn't hide. She stood tall. In addition to that, she was selfless. She gave up her life and her friends and her family to do what would help the world. She was a very likable character for me.Leading Male“Leaning down to my right ear, he whispered, ‘Go. Read. Keep it out of sight. Come back when you’re done. Have I put it in simple enough terms for you, Plaid?’ Caught in a shiver he induced in me, I threw my elbow sideways. He grunted and stepped back. ‘Fine, I’ve got it. You don’t have to be such a giant prick.’”“‘I bet you’re a real hit with the ladies…before you open your mouth.’”Similarly, two words come to mind when I think of Asher Green: Complicated Jerk. Asher, unfortunately, was one of those unlikable likable characters. The one where, if you met them in life you'd slap them and run, but as a character can't help but sympathize with. For the majority of the novel, I hated him. He was rude, arrogant, mean, and thought he had the right to threaten and control Addison. But the more I read, the more I realized that maybe something else was going on. We just barely scratch the surface that is the psyche of Asher Green in this novel, and I can't wait to see what else we learn about him in the upcoming novels.Romance“‘Hush now,’ he whispered against my ear in a voice full of some thick emotion that slide over me like a kind hand against bruised flesh. ‘Don’t fear me. Never me. I’ve got you.’”The romance in this novel was pretty subdued, but you could always feel the tension. Asher was, well, Asher, and there were some rules that prohibited things like, well, touching. And those made things difficult. Romance wasn't exactly a main driver in this novel. As I said, there wasn't really much outright romance, more like a weird tension that is present throughout the novel that has you screaming at the characters who obviously belong together. And then there was the ending...and I just don't know what to expect from this not-couple in the next novel. And surprisingly, I love it.World BuildingI enjoyed the mythical world that Adams created. I have never read anything like it, and it was like a breath of fresh air. Paranormal is a genre that can easily become repetitive, and this was a novelty. And it was very well done. The world that she created was obviously well thought out, and all open ends were securely tied. I can't wait to see more of it, and see what else is involved in this world with the Mortal Machine.ConclusionDarkside Sun was a refreshing paranormal novel that was unlike anything I've seen. Complete with a whole new type of paranormal society, a barely there romance, and a plot to-die-for, it's definitely a novel you don't want to miss.