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Title: Scent of Darkness (Darkness Chosen, Book 1)
ISBN: 0451221737
Author:
Christina Dodd
Publicate Date: 2007-07-03
Publish: 2007-07-03
List Price: $7.99
Average Customer Rating: 3.5
Format: Mass Market Paperback
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Amazon Lowest New Price: $1.58
Amazon Lowest Used Price: $0.01
Amazon Merchant Price: $7.99
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| Customer Review: |
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1: choppy, but promising
I'm on the fence about this book, and whether to give it 3 or 4 stars. I'll post 4 stars, but I'll call it 3.5 stars in my review.
There are some very useful reviews about this book on here already, so I'll just keep this short and sweet, and highlight the good points and the bad points.
Good points: A good backstory and premise. A sexy hero. When the plot is moving, it is really moving. A promising series with largely likable characters.
Bad points: Primarily, very choppy writing. Confusing heroine. She's ready to throw herself at the hero in the first few pages, and then spends the remaining pages insisting she doesn't want him. We're also led to beleive through out most of the book that she harbors some terrible history. Suffice to say, it's not that horrible. But... it is confusing. The backstory gets pretty muddy. Either the author thought she was being mysterious but it came out confused, or her editor cut information that would have been useful. Not sure which it is. Also, when the story drags, it DRAAAAGGGGGSSSS.
So to sum up: The series is mostly promising, as long as the choppy and confusing writing clears up.
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2: 3.5 stars - The Backstory Holds Great Promise for these Shapeshifter Romances
The best parts of Scent of Darkness (besides the shifter parts, I'm a nut for those) was the the wolfshifting lead Jasha Wilder's family. I loved Jasha's family. Having a Russian grandmother, I could totally relate to momma Zorana plying her family and leading lady Ann with fabulous food. I also loved the way the pappa Konstantine took Jasha to task for his initial 'beastly' treatment of Ann. And the brief glimpses of the story of Zorana and Konstantine's romance - leading Konstantine to change his ways and be the first of his line since 'the deal' to take a wife and to mend his evil ways - in some ways out shone Jasha and Ann's romance here.
I liked Jasha as a character, he was sufficiently wolfish to be a good shapeshifter, but the wolfishness made his pursuit of Ann more of a series of ravishments than a romance - she seemed to be more of a target of opportunity than a love interest. Ann to me was frustrating. Her whole secret and the associated angst "the bad people always come" seemed a bit childish, this immaturity was also reflected in the whole story of 'the ring' too. I am not sure why later Ann suddenly gets snitty when Jasha asks her to marry him, but it certainly takes any romantic development away for pretty much the rest of the story and leaves only the eventual lust attack when she gives into her hots for Jasha.
I really liked the backstory, an ancient deal with the devil gave Varinski males the ability to shapeshift in exchange for their service to evil. But now a phophecy promises the Wilder family, who have broken from their evil kin, four women to retrieve the religious icons used to seal the evil pact, so that the deal can be broken and the damned souls of patriarch Konstantine and his three sons Jasha, Rurik, the disinherited Adrik, and a fourth unknown 'son' can be saved. I already have all the rest of the books in this series, so I am off to find out how the rest of Jasha's 'brothers' and their mates break the curse.
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3: EXCITING!
I couldn't put this book down! I loved the characters of Jasha and Ann. Fell head over heels in love with Jasha. What a MAN/WOLF!! I found parts highly erotic to the point where I had to put the book aside to just take a breath.
My heart raced throughout the novel. I loved the repartee between Jasha and Ann and enjoyed the squabbling between the siblings. Especially between Jasha and Rarik.
Dodd outdid herself with these books. I've read other books of hers and so far this one (along with the second in the series) are her best. I've just started reading the third one and I'm looking forward to reading about Arik.
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4: Loved this one!
I have read all three of the series and am secretly waiting for the last one but I would have to say this was my favorite. The wolf was sooo intriguing that it had my hair standing up. The fact that he could smell her mood swings or sense her LOVE for him was beautiful! Ann was just right in my view point. A little withdrawn but came out of her shell when necessary. The story line was good and yes facts did not explode out at you, if you remember their are three more books so your not going to get all the facts in this one. The love scenes in this were crazy and it actually makes you drool over a wolf. Have to say I find wolves majorly attractive after this one...lol. Read and you shall understand the connection. This one is top for me and hoping the last one is just as great
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5: Great book
Great book, love the story, although a little slow in places, this is a great read. recommend.
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