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8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Meh. Confusing denouement, Cheater Ending, July 9, 2009
This review is from: Eve of Chaos (Marked, Book 3) (Mass Market Paperback)
OK, first of all a lot of reviewers for the first two books seem to have been assuming the series is a trilogy. I never could figure out why, other than the first three books came out "together" over a 3 month period. So, let me be clear: It's not a trilogy. Don't expect any kind of ending here in book 3.
I gave the first two books each 2.5 stars mentally (3 amazon stars for the first, 2 amazon stars for the second), but I feel this one honestly earns a 2.0 star rating. I can understand why the writing has not improved -- probably all three books were written and submitted before the author started getting editorial feedback, but still I was hoping for something smoother this time.
Instead we still get bad calls like having characters with similar names (Sarakiel and Sarabel, Eve & Eve(!)) making things confusing at times. We still have pointed references to Eve's best friend who has yet to come on stage three books into the series, we still have characters coming and going at random -- In this case we have the detectives and the priest who have not been seen since book one stirred back into the mix for little reason.
As far as the love triangle goes Eve is *still* insisting she is a "one man woman" while having now slept *on purpose* with both brothers. I could understand this, sort of, in romance, but in Urban Fantasy someone needs to tell her a "triad" is hardly the most unusual arangement around and to get over herself. Of course despite the marketing and shelving the series continues to *feel* like romance with both brothers obsessed with how hot and special Eve is almost to the exclusion of the possible end of the world.
As for the plot? Well, frankly I didn't fully understand all the manuvering and bargins with Satan as well as how it all played out at the climax. Maybe that's because I was skimming that part, maybe it really *didn't* make much sense. Certainly one of the prime villans showed up at a teleconference at the end of the book as though nothing had happened -- I assume the character got a stern talking to, but on the whole the only people pusnished were innocents.
The question of "infernals" didn't get much advancement here. There was a brief mention of "nature vs nurture", but nobody seriously considered the issue. Hank continues to be treated as a sympathetic character -- funny how Eve never mentions how his "rotting soul" smells like a sewer to her, even though by the rules of the book, it must. Funny too how working with Hank (and now his assistant too) never seems to make Eve question her assumptions.
I suppose all that's at about the same level as the first two books. If I had to say specifically what drops this one from 2.5 to 2.0 for me, it would be the actual ending of the book, which is both very "romancy" and too cute by half. *Way* too cute by half. *Extremely* *Way* *Too* *Cute* *By* *Half*.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
So many questions unanswered, July 12, 2009
This review is from: Eve of Chaos (Marked, Book 3) (Mass Market Paperback)
I've loved all of Sylvia Day's work, especially her historicals. I NEVER read urban fantasy books. However, this was Sylvia's work, and I've been a long time fan since her first book, so I gave this series a try. I love Eve's character and I liked how the first book started out, but I really didn't like the second book which had too many characters that I didn't feel invested in so I skimmed through it. This third book was better in that regard (the number of major players decreases) and we learn more about the people we care about, (Eve, Alec, Abel, Montevista, etc.) However, I felt cheated in the end.
I would have liked to have some major questions answered and I'm not sure I'm patient enough to read another book if it goes on and on like the second book without answering the more significant questions (what exactly happened in the past with Alec and Abel?, who does Eve choose? ) Maybe I'm just not a urban fantasy series kind of girl. I like conclusions, even if they are only partial conclusions like that of 'In the Flesh' (which is awesome btw).
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Satan's put a price on her head, July 31, 2009
This review is from: Eve of Chaos (Marked, Book 3) (Mass Market Paperback)
Life doesn't get any easier for Eve Hollis, bearer of the Mark of Cain and unwilling warrior for God, in this, the third of S. J. Day's Marked series, which takes up her story shortly after the conclusion of the previous book, Eve of Destruction. In the intervening time, Eve appears to have reached at least a temporary accommodation with her new reality as a celestial demon hunter, while simultaneously continuing her uneasy dance with both Cain, recently promoted to archangel, and Abel, whose interest in her continues to grow. All is not well, however, as increasing numbers of Infernals - demons dwelling on Earth - are congregating in southern California and more specifically around her, meaning that the Marks under Cain's command are being run ragged dealing with the dangers they pose. All becomes clear when an Infernal Eve is assigned to kill reveals that Satan has placed a bounty on Eve's head, meaning that every demon wishing to curry favour with the Prince now has her in his, her, or its sights.
To add to Eve's difficulties, Cain, who has been stripped of the ability to feel love for anything except God as a result of his promotion, is displaying distinctly un-angelic tendencies, behaving more like a stalker than a lover, and Abel is making greater efforts to win her affections, all while the three of them find themselves sharing an intimate mental bond, feeling the thoughts, memories and experiences of the others, often whether they want to, or not. As if this were not enough, the other archangels seem to be showing a marked lack of urgency in seeking to recover Raguel, currently a prisoner in Hell, and a demonic serial killer Eve believed she had vanquished in the first book, Eve of Darkness, makes his reappearance, attracting the unwelcome attention of the mortal police to her once more.
She thus has no choice but to navigate her way through a dangerous web of both Celestial and Infernal plots, and attempt to find out what Satan has planned, unravel the mystery of Cain's transformation and, arrange the rescue of Raguel, all while trying to both stay alive and deal with her own tumultuous feelings for the two brothers. In this she finds unlikely aid from Hank, a shape-shifting Infernal who has transferred his allegiance to the other side, and hindrance from the archangel Sarakiel, Abel's former lover who appears intent on winning him back.
Eve of Chaos is a worthy sequel to the first two volumes in the series, and Day keeps the plot moving at a smart pace: from the opening fight with a Japanese snow-demon at an O-bon festival to the final climactic battle, action and events come thick and fast, leaving one hardly a moment to pause for breath. More characters, Biblical, Infernal and Celestial are introduced, and even though many threads are neatly concluded at the end of the book, there are plenty of unanswered questions (and a final, somewhat contrived, cliff-hanger) to make one eager to read the next instalment of Eve's adventures. Eve continues to be an appealing protagonist, struggling to deal with her three-cornered love-life, while demonstrating that she is far more clever, capable and clear-sighted than at least some of her celestial superiors. Cain and Abel, too, continue grow as they contend with the changes Eve has wrought on their lives and relationship.
Overall, then, if you've enjoyed Eve's previous adventures, you'll enjoy this one, and find yourself hoping Day gets the next book out as quickly as possible.
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