Book Review: Ryder on the Storm - Emerald Seer Book 1
by Violet Patterson
Reviewed by J Bryden Lloyd
Writing Style - 4.0/5.0 (Very Good)
In this inaugural work from this author, I was delighted to find a superb rolling style to the writing, which pulled me into the plot and kept me there. The construction of the chapters - which move between the two key characters, rather than being switches in the plot - are very nicely done.
The use of the dialogue and the thoughts of the characters well managed, although occasionally I found them a little tame for the events in the plot.
Character Development - 5.0/5.0 (Outstanding)
I was surprised how many `main' characters were being thrown into the tale, but it didn't seem to have any effect on the quality of the building of each of them. Even the dog has more than enough background and character traits to make him into the realistic pet he needs to be to play his role.
The author makes every effort to keep the characters realistic and rounded, irrespective of the fact that none of these characters are actually regarded as human. More commendable is the way your perception of the characters changes as you learn more about them.
I can't fault the work that has gone into these characters.
Descriptive - 4.0/5.0 (Very Good)
A lot of the descriptive in this book oozes confidence and quality. The author proves time and time again that she has a keen eye for detail in all the environments in the story. The characters themselves are easily covered in the same careful attention, and the result is quite vivid places and events.
There were odd occasions where there were very slight drop-offs in the detailing. Very minor, and in the throws of the action in the story, very understandable, but nevertheless it was noticeable, and more so towards the end when things were getting busy.
Language & Grammar - 4.0/5.0 (Very Good)
Very strong use of language throughout makes this the book it is. There were probably a couple of dozen typo's and incorrect words scattered throughout the whole book, none of which caused anything beyond a slight stutter in the read, and none of which were particularly memorable.
Despite the sexual tone of the book, there is no bad language, which pleasantly surprised me, but at the same time the `adult content' was very vivid and well written.
Plot - 4.0/5.0 (Very Good) - MINOR SPOILERS
This is a slightly new twist on the old girl-with-strange-powers-but-doesn't-know-what-she-is-meets-guy-who's-been-looking-for-her-all-his-life story, and I have to say that it works incredibly well.
There are nice little twists regarding the Seraphs and Were-hybrids, and although the bad guy is nicely twisted into the plot, I thought the author put too much effort into the other characters for any of them to be the bad guy (if that makes sense).
Although very well done, the end came about a little too easily for me, almost as if the bad guy had put himself in such a precarious position, expecting his plans to be foiled. Don't get me wrong, this wasn't the ruination of a great ending, but I felt it lacked a little `oomph'!
General - 4.5/5.0 (Excellent)
If I'm honest, the sexual side of the plot was not of interest to me, but as a paranormal romance, it was sort of requisite to the plot. I think, in fairness, this book covers far more than this single genre. There is a large fantasy element to the story, which would lend itself nicely as a cross-genre work, although that would be very dependent on the reader not minding the sexual elements of the story, not that they are thrown in at every opportunity; indeed, the story is quite exceptional in its own right and I would argue that, with a little jigging about, this would be a superb YA fantasy read.
At one-third of the way in, I was really unsure of this book. Although it was very good, and the characters were excellent, it seemed the story wasn't actually progressing, and I was starting to think the plot was simply going to revolve around the established characters and their interactions. No sooner had the thought prepared me for the book to fall away into monotony, than the whole story climbed to a whole new level, making me glad I had elected to read on - more in hope than expectation.
Although there were a few things I would have liked to see more of in the descriptive department, the grammar and the general plot, this is a very good book, and an excellent debut work for this author.
I look forward to the second instalment.
It rates around the 4-and-a-half mark, so we'll make it an even 5 stars!
