Review: prequel bringing series up to date
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 02 28, 2013
Lord Malachi (House of DeDe) Sharon MamaoloMy reviews are genuine whether I bought book or received it as an ARC, I don't gush and give false praise - I don't believe that helps readers or authors so what you read is what I truly feel about a book.A Lady of the Realm was one of the first books I reviewed and I was instantly hooked into the series. I love the world Sharon has created, full of witches, fairies (not with pretty wings and six inches high but some tough characters..) Elves ( same for them - no sweet tiny helpful creatures but some scheming manipulative people), vampires, werewolves and demons. None are really stereotypical and they balance really well in Sharon's  world.  This is book four - initially I was a bit disappointed - I love Malachi, who wouldn't? But was hoping to pick up from where the last book left off. This takes us right back to the start of the boys meeting - a prequel to Lady of the Realm if you like although as it contains elements from later stories where it brings us up to date it couldn't have worked as book one. Its a great book itself , just my wanting to know where and whets happening with Beth right from start that got me feeling a bit lost. Expectations and all they - but book five hopefully later this year will bring that and I'll be eagerly waiting :)It was fascinating picking up from the early days and seeing what the "boys" were like then, and seeing some of the events happening that shaped their later behaviours. Sasha is still the same erratic manic person but harder I feel than when he has Beth to temper him in later books - even though she's often the cause of his problems. I liked seeing the young Maria too - and finding out why Sasha married. Malachi was pretty much the same as I see him now - very intelligent, always on the ball and definitely out to give anything to protect Sasha.As always Sharon's writing is riveting and in the first  book I noted the overuse of apostrophes - that's all long gone and these later books are far more polished. Its been good to see how Sharon's writing had developed - more finesse and yet still the same raw, gritty storyline with real people who are tough, bitchy (Beth - definitely Beth!! ) manipulative and yet lovable. (not cuddly loveable but emotive love) Its been good to read about how it all started and what happened from a POV  other than Beth and to see if what I thought was going on was what actually happened - two sides to all stories and all that...its given me a greater understanding of much of the boys actions where it went over my head quite often before.Sharon does bring us up to date towards the end, and a brief glimpse of the next book -  whetting my appetite for more from the Realm...hope you get a quiet life this year Sharon and plenty of writing tine : ) as I'm keen for more to feed my fix!Stars: four and half - only because of my expectation of what it was going to be, not because the writing isn't up to scratch. Like I said I can see why it wasn't released earlier but I need (OK wanted...) more of the story as it is now. I'm just a terribly impatient person :( and when I'm lost in another world as I ma here I just want to know more of the story. At 1.94 for 198 pages is a good price because its definitely one for my keepers file to be read over again. I love to read a complete series once all books are out and with good writing there's always bits the reader has missed that get picked up second and subsequent readings I've found.