Customer Reviews

Mona Lisa Craving (Monere: Children of the Moon, Book 3)

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

The third book in the Monere series, and definitely a steamy one. I like the characters, but I feel sometimes my least favorite character is Mona Lisa. I want her more fleshed out. I also wish she could commit to someone or at least the same few someones. Are we just going to keep seeing her discover new men she wants, only to discard the previous ones? It also seems like Amber is becoming less of a character and getting pushed further out. He seems very 2D when he does make an appearance.

One particular thing I found quite annoying, was the way things were summarized from previous books. Every time something needed to be clarified it felt forced. Like, here, let's stop the story so we can tell you what happened, and now back to the story. There was no flow at all in that regard. I understand the need to try to make it a stand alone book, but it was done very poorly.

Overall, I did enjoy the book, I read it very quickly, but I did feel something lacking with the story and the characters. I am curious what will happen with Dante in the future. Will he be continued as an important man in her life, good or bad? Or will he get tossed to the side of the story like the rest have been?

We shall see in 2009 I suppose.

I was confused at events alluded to in the second and third books in this series, and discovered that Sunny's Mona Lisa short stories are not parallel additions to the Mona Lisa series, but must-reads for continuity. The two stories are found in two separate short story compilations (Over the Moon and On the Prowl). Read 'Mona Lisa Three' in Over the Moon between Mona Lisa Awakening and Mona Lisa Blossoming, then read 'Mona Lisa Betwining' in On the Prowl after Mona Lisa Blossoming but before Mona Lisa Craving. While Mona Lisa Three adds more dimension to the series, Mona Lisa Betwining' is necessary to understand the opening of Mona Lisa Craving.

I recommend Lucinda, Darkly after all of these novels, though, as an independent story line, you could read Lucinda's tale at any point after her introduction to the Mona Lisa world (which occurs in the short story 'Mona Lisa Three').

Since the author copied good ideas from Anne Bishop and Laurel K. Hamilton, I expected a good plot. But all the heroine does in EVERY book is get kidnapped, repeatedly, and have (badly written) sex drowned in flowery purple prose.

I've read the first two books in this series but wasn't aware Sunny had written more. I've already downloaded Mona Lisa Darkening and look forward to purchasing the Lucinda series. What a wonderful world Sunny has created. I keeps me coming back for more!

This book definitely is a page turner. I couldn't put it down. I just had to finish it!

As a toss away series to read while awaiting the publication of better books, Dead and Gone (Sookie Stackhouse, Book 9) for example, the Monere series continues to steal wholesale the characters, themes & worlds built by Laurell K Hamilton, Anne Bishop & now with the inclusion of Dante and his family - Jacqueline Carey in her wonderful work Kushiel's Dart. Anyone well read in paranormal & fantasy literature over the past 5 years can see that Sunny has lifted her work from others. Dante, his brother and his father all fight in the Casseline style as written by Carey. Will it never end!!??

This book was on par with others in the series with the bright spot being Halcyon.

I really enjoyed the first two novels in Sunny's Children of the Moon series and was looking forwarding to delving back into the world of Mona Lisa with this, the third installment. Imagine my surprise, and annoyance, to find that I seemed to have come in part way through the story.

What's missing is Sunny's entry in the 'On the Prowl Anthology - Mona Lisa Betwining' which serves as a bridging story, dealing with events from the second book and detailing an important revelation concerning the main character, Mona Lisa, that is then carried on in this book. (The novella also serves to introduce Lucinda, Halcyon's Demon Dead Sister who now has her own series The Demon Princess Chronicles. A handy bit of cross promotion!).

The start of Craving picks up where the novella left off and only makes vague reference to the missing events which drove me crazy.

This seems to be following the latest trend of authors contributing to anthology books, not with self contained entries from their continuing series, but rather a bridging story which means you need to read it (not to mention buy the anthology) to understand what's happening in the series, or more annoyingly offering the first few chapters of the full length book, leaving you hanging, and usually trying to figure out what the heck it was all about.

The other reason for my middle of the road rating, was that I felt rather than fleshing Mona Lisa's character out, she opted to instead lurch from battle, to sex scene, to battle, etc, cramming the plot in awkwardly between. I also agree with some of the other reviewers that some of the older characters were pushed aside with barely a look in to make way for new characters, who despite having possibility, were left half done.

Having said this, I did enjoy the book and am cautiously awaiting the fourth installment, Mona Lisa Darkening, to see if Sunny can bring back some of the magic that made the first two books so addictive.

Good quick read when your between books; but I still think she is a copycat with an unoriginal storyline. Don't get me wrong, the book is good, it just isn't AMAZING.

This is another good book by Sunny. A fast paced, quick read that had me on the edge of my seat more than once. As far as characters go, Dante is a REALLY strong and intriguing character that had me reading as fast as I could for more. His strength, madness and superantural power combined make him a match for a Queen. Fortunately or unfortunately for Mona Lisa she's the Queen he needs to change his destiny--one that she cursed him into a lifetime ago!!!

4 stars instead of 5 for dialogue that waxed a little too poetic for me. Overall a great series, I can't wait for book 4 in the series.

Overall, I do like the Monere' series. At first, I was afraid nothing else would come out as "Mona Lisa Rising" incorporated so many blatent lifts from other authors & series I thought Sunny would be sued.

That said, with each book, a bit more of the long & convoluted history of the Monere' comes to light.

In "Craving", Mona Lisa has to deal with the increasing desire to get pregnant. Being a Mixed Blood (only 3/4 Monere'), makes a resolution to this problem a major issue. Who could father her child, and why he should/shoudn't, was entertaining to read.

The continuing sub-plot with Halcyon was handled well. Her lingering feelings over Gryphon wasn't quite...authentic enough. She welcomes Dontaine & even Dante into her bed w/ the ease of Anita Blake - which is not a compliment for either lady.

The biggest problem I have with this series, and "Craving" doesn't do any better than pts 2 & 3, is that the author repeats various key points of the Monere' and Mona Lisa's problems - repeatedly in the same book no less. While I understand that one doesn't want to lose readers new to the series, seeing the same phrasing in *every* book gets old. Which is sad, because the *characters* she has created, for the most part, are well-developed, and develop more in each book. But the *story* doesn't seem to be moving along much.

I will have to think twice about picking up the next book, especially as it is a year before it comes out.