Customer Reviews

Much Ado About Vampires: A Dark Ones Novel

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I was first introduced to Katie MacAlister and her Dark Ones series through a short story from the book My Zombie Valentine. I was impressed with her writing then, and after reading Much Ado About Vampires (I got an advance copy from the publisher), I am hooked on the Dark Ones series!

Much Ado About Vampires is the ninth book in the Dark Ones series. The story is centered around Alec and Cora (Corazon). Alec is a "Dark One" (vampire) who has been banished to the Akasha for killing the woman that accidentally killed his Beloved (mate). Cora finds herself and her friend, Diamond, in a very strange situation (a matter of wrong place at the wrong time) and gets banished to the Akasha, where she meets Alec. Once Cora gets a good look at Alec, she realizes she's seen him before, and she is definitely not happy about it...at first.

There is a lot of light humor in this book, and funny circumstances. I found myself chuckling many times throughout the book (sometimes aloud).

If there is anything about the book that I found a bit annoying, it would be Cora's over-use of the phrase "Jesus wept". If it had only been used a couple of times, I probably wouldn't have even thought twice about it. However, I would say that would be my only complaint because I really enjoyed the book. The story wasn't hindered by reading the ninth book first, and I will be purchasing the rest of the series.

Okay, it's official - I'm officially tired of where KM's books are going.

I loved KM when I first read her books: starting with Aisling's first 2 dragon books, followed by Men in Kilts and The Corset Diaries. I loved the first 3 Beloved books, Noble Intentions and The Trouble with Harry. I enjoyed most of the rest of her contemporary books as well.

In "Much Ado" the writing is pretty good - as always with KM. I never seem to have many hangups with her as I do with some other writers. There's still a lot of humor, sort of. I did like that there is an interchange of voices between heroine and hero in this book (they are often completely in 1st person), and I am still interested in Dark Ones and Beloveds. I was also glad that Ulfur was having his moment.

But I am tired of the same heroine and hero in each book - they are really not different at all. I liked them at one time, but after 6-7 times of the same thing...

I am also officially bored with the Princes of Abaddon story lines that have dominated the last few books, in most of the series from KM. Part of this is personal preference - I don't like demonlord storylines, but part is because they have ALL been in that direction. There's got to be something else.

I'm bored! I don't like it! I'm struggling with finishing this book and keep finding myself back to another book, by another author that I haven't read in years and is nothing like KM... that's usually a bad sign for me.

When I first started reading KM, I was sure that I would buy ALL of her books - I stopped being in such a hurry after "Vamps get the Blues" - but didn't stop. I am glad that I got this one from the Library! I liked Jaz's story much better.

As a dedicated fan of Katie MacAlister, I've read all of her books and I've got to say this is one of her best.

The plot picks up where Zen and the Art of Vampires left off: Having melodramatically confessed his sins, Alec is now alone and belovedless. There are several new characters complete with quirks and character flaws and, as a bonus, several characters from previous books and series' actively participate in the effort to "help" Alec find his "happily" ever after.

Somehow Katie manages to appeal to new readers without boring the rest of us with extensive summaries of past books.

I can't in good conscience give this book less than three stars because Katie MacAlister is incapable of writing bad books. But in the Dark Ones series this is one of the weaker picks. I waited so long for a new book in the series and was hoping the wait was going to be worth the anticipation. For me, this book falls short of the others in the series. In fact, the last two have been disappointing. I think it's a good book...just not what i was hoping for in the series. Stand alone, it would probobly be a great, fun, sexy read.

This is the first book I've started of Katie's, and I have to say, it's a struggle to read. I am currently still in the process of reading this and I am having to force myself to finish. I find she has a good story line, but I am completely turned off by her dialogue and some of the way the characters act. To me, it's unrealistic...espeically Cora. With her dialogue, I can't help but roll my eyes. I don't know if it is on purpose or not, but I just can't get into it.

I have been a big fan of Katie MacAlister since I picked up Sex, Lies and Vampires almost 10 years ago. Her Dark Ones series not only keeps me in stitches, it also does wonders for my libido! (wink, wink, nudge, nudge..lol The picture on the front cover is exactly what Alec looks like in the book (sometimes not always the case) and Cora is hilarious and (like many of Katie's heroines) is a "real", relatable woman, not a frail, skinny, "needs to be saved by a big strong man" type. I love her! Thanks Katie for continuing a fun, irresistible series!

A new Dark Ones novel that resolves the issue of beloved reincarnation...

Corazon Ferreira agrees to the whole past-life hypnosis thing on a party dare. Little does she know the vampire she views murdering a woman lives next door to her friend. Who knew the same vampire, Alec Darwin, was her mate in a previous life? She hates vampires, especially since her sister up and married one, and they like to kill people.

When Corazon finds herself on the wrong end of a demon lord and shipped off to some form of hell the only one available for rescue is... of course, the gorgeous vampire she wants to despise. She would love to give him the finger and be on her way, but he's the only thing willing to stand against those who seek to use and kill her. What's a girl to do with a hungry, seductive vampire that is so good at whispering sweet nothings? Take advantage of course.

Katie MacAlister's latest is my first Dark Ones novel, and I was a bit thrown off. I think Corazon's character is what did it for me, and the fact that the entire story is from her point of view. The heroine is intelligent, but I didn't like her. Her attitude threw me, and I found it difficult to believe Corazon could be anyone's beloved. I know that females are fickle, but this character is a big barrel of fickle. She tends to overreact and jump the gun on things, which is a major turn off to me.

On the other hand, I really liked Alec-- dark, brooding, and delicious. It surprises me that MacAlister gave him such a polar opposite for a beloved. It really disappointed me that this story was not told, at least partially, from his point of view because I really wanted to be in Alec's head. I don't believe this was fair because heroes deserve the chance to give readers a peek at their inner thoughts.

Now I will say that the story did stand well on its own. MacAlister does a great job of bringing people into the world she's created, and I was able to pick on the rules quickly. She does a good job of blending the back stories of the characters into the tale. Secondary characters were extremely enjoyable and there is one in particular--a certain, abandoned beloved that I'm interested in finding out more about. Plus, readers who love other books in the series get to see Pia and Kristoff again.

Overall, for fans of this series that have been anxiously awaiting Alec's story then you will not be disappointed. I found this was not a favorite of mine, but would still be willing to give other books from Katie MacAlister a chance.

Review Courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick & Dirty: Such fun to read, wild and witty.

Opening Sentence: Alec Darwin was dying, or as close to it as one could be without having that last little spark of life flutter away into nothingness.

The Review:

This is the story of Corazon Ferreira, a budding real estate agent, and known vampire hater, well serious vampire dislike-er. As the story opens, we find Cora taking pictures of an old mansion along with the woman who stole her husband, who also works at the realty agency. While Cora is exploring the basement, she gets mixed up in some sort of demonic tool theft, and it's "Welcome to Hell" time...well, Hell/Purgatory. Thankfully she stumbles upon someone who should be able to help, but needs a little saving first. But *gasp* the creature she saves is none other than the vampire that has been haunting her. Actually, he is haunting her dreams, and past life regressions, but I digress.

Alec Darwin has been sentenced to Akasha (sort of like purgatory) for crimes against his kind. Just as he has decided to fade away into nothingness, along comes Cora to bring him back. Which, by the by, was the exact opposite of his wishes. Having lost his beloved some centuries ago, Alec has merely existed all this time, and wants his time to come to an end. However, now that she has given herself to him, in every way...ahem... Alec cannot find the will to turn Cora away, especially when he finds out what a real mess she is embroiled in.

Alec and Cora, once out of the Akasha, must enlist the help of their friends, and some of their enemies, to rid themselves of the dangers of death, destruction and perpetual imprisonment. And in doing so together, they realize that even after all this time, they truly are meant to be.

Set in the age of cell phones and credit cards, Much Ado About Vampires takes place in several countries and on many separate planes of existence. Ms. MacAlister seems to have that knack for tying the dramatic into the funny, and I found myself chuckling out loud, much to the consternation of those sitting by me at the restaurant I was in while reading a good chunk of the book.

The only thing I wonder about is if some of the concepts in this story are covered in some of the previous books. It would have made some of the more bureaucratic and political situations a tad bit easier to follow.

Otherwise, as I stated before, this book was a lot of fun. Makes me want to run out and grab books 1-8 and all the other related stories. If only.

The Dark Ones Series:

1. A Girl's Guide to Vampires

2. Sex and the Single Vampire

3. Sex, Lies and Vampires

4. Even Vampires Get the Blues

5. The Last of the Red-Hot Vampires

6. Zen and the Art of Vampires

7. Crouching Vampire, Hidden Fang

8. In the Company of Vampires

9. Much Ado About Vampires

FTC Advisory: Penguin Group provided me with a copy of Much Ado About Vampires. No goody bags, sponsorships, "material connections," or bribes were exchanged for my review.

As usual Katie Mac Alister writes a fun read. Why shouldn't there be unexpected laughter and things going wrong if you are involved unexpectedly with a vampire. I have laughed out loud in reading each of her books. I enjoy them.

I really like the Kate MacAlister books. I have most of them in paperback, and several on Kindle. I expected to equally enjoy this one. I didn't! It wasn't bad...it just wasn't good! It was so cookie cutter, that it did not seem that any effort was made to create a real plot. A lot of repetition made it become very lackluster before the not very exciting end. I thought the heroine was something of a twit! Whiny and not too intelligent comes to mind. And the most unbelievable twist to Sally, that didn't make a lot of sense, and didn't follow through for me... Usually, I can't wait to re-read a book I enjoy. I will have to be desperate to read this one again, any time soon! Get it at the library!!!