Customer Reviews

Very Much Alive: True Destiny, Book 1

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

 

 

I really looked forward to enjoying another one of Dana Marie Bells' book since reading all of the Halle Puma & Shifter series several times over because they were that good. Unfortunately, this book was a huge disappointment - I had to force myself to finish it. Many times I stopped reading, went on to another book that I actually enjoyed and then forced myself to go back to it with the hope that it would improve to only be more disappointed. I just could not get interested in the story or characters.

The main characters, Kiran and Logan are really the Norse Gods, Loki and Baldur. A major problem for me in the first half of the book was that I simply could not keep straight which character was which god and had what supernatural powers. I have read Federal Tax Laws that were clearer. While the Norse Gods concept was unique, it was also very confusing to the reader unless one was very knowledgeable about Norse mythology in the first place. The Norse mythology was also a little too much for such a short novel because it forced the author to find a way to introduce the different Norse Gods, their different powers and relationship to each other which just led to MAJOR bewilderment. Many times things were not clear until much later in the book when the reader was fed a little more background on the Norse mythology which then made a much prior passage make sense, somewhat, sometimes. The story might be interesting if reread after a "cheat sheet" concerning Norse mythology is made by the reader but quite frankly I still do not think I would be any more interested in the characters or story than I was the first time around.

As for the "hot sex" scenes that another reviewer mentioned - maybe explicit but that did not make them "hot". To me, the scenes were more of a "throw in" because that's what is expected in a book that is supposed to be an erotic romance and I had long stop caring whether there was any romance between the characters.

Note to Author: Please Dana - return back to the Halle Shifter series and let this series stay in the past like Norse mythology.

Living life on the run has become second nature for Kiran Tate and Logan Saeter. As the years go by the man they are running from, Oliver Grimm, gets closer and closer to catching and ultimately destroying them. Determined to end the battle between them and Grimm, Kiran and Logan search out Grimm's step - granddaughter and private eye Jordan Grey to help them. When they meet Jordan they find they have two tasks at hand; convincing her that they are Norse Gods on the run from Odin who was framing them for murder and who happens to be her step-grandfather but more importantly than that is convincing her that she belongs in their bed.

Jordan doesn't know what to make of the two gorgeous men that walked into her office, but from the moment she met them they turned her world upside down.

Very Much Alive is a very eclectic story, with gorgeous shapeshifting Norse Gods, hot sex and a plot that carries over centuries, but it wasn't enough to hold my interest. I found the characters to be very irritating especially Kir and Logan and Jordan's siblings. However I did like Jordan, she was the saving grace of this story. I think the author was going for quirky, tongue and cheek with this story but it didn't come across very well. Men shape shifting into cars to drive their lovers around just didn't work for me. Although Very Much Alive was not my cup of tea, it could be a fun story for others.


Ley
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

I do agree with another reviewer: if you aren't up on your Norse mythology, this book is hard to follow. There are a lot of characters crammed into a small space, and there's way too much assumed knowledge on the part of the author. That's the bad bit.

So why four stars? Because I found the interaction between the three main characters: Logan (Loki), Kir (Baldur), and Jordan to be just wonderful. Bell is great at creating distinct characters that shine through their actions. Paranormal romance is often bogged down with melodramatic dialogue. Bell's conversations are delightful--they are the kind of laughing interactions I have with my own friends (er, minus the sex). Additionally, there was a great sweetness to the romance that was a treat to read.

So here's my tip: if you want to really enjoy this book, read a quick primer on Norse mythology first. It will be worth it. I know I'll be reading up a little before the second installment.

NO SPOILERS or plot summaries. Recommendations included.

HIGH LEVEL: Book 1 of a paranormal romance series that focuses on Norse gods in modern America. Not a good read: awesome concept, blundered execution. I'm a fan of Dana Marie Bell's work. Her "Gray Court" series is my favorite. This, however, was a TERRIBLE example of her work. Awkward and confusing, this story never really evens out and pulls you in. You're left wondering what on earth is going on and how on earth such childish people could be GODS. Please don't judge this author's work by this book!

STYLE: In typical Bell fashion, the atmosphere was light and fun and the story is relatively SHORT. Trouble is this DID NOT WORK for this concept, though. Norse mythology has an imposing cast of characters and implies nobility and power- yet it was thrown at you all at once, liberally sprinkled with trite humor. Not only did you have to figure out which god was which, but then you had to remember what their modern names were- who was related to who- who had what power- what they all had to do with our story! It was a mess. Truly a mess. It was MUCH better suited for a more serious book- a longer story where it could have unfolded better.

CHARACTERS: Undeveloped and silly. These were supposed to be Norse gods, but they somehow all came across as the cast of a bad tv series. There was no depth. Their actions felt forced because they weren't given room to develop and they were almost all interchangeable. I couldn't tell them apart except by checking which name was mentioned and then assigning the dark hair to one and the light hair to the other and giving up on the supporting characters. Also, given all of the various relationships it seemed vaguely incestuous...

BOTTOM LINE: Not worth the time. Perhaps if you are a fan of this author and find this concept interesting, you might want to go ahead just to see if the series improves. If you haven't read anything from this author before- DON'T start here. She's really very talented! I'm not sure I'll bother with the next book. I just didn't grow to LIKE these people.

RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. R.G. Alexander's steamy vampire/were/witch romance series: Regina in the Sun (Children of the Goddess)
2. R.G. Alexander's threesome themed para-erotica Wicked Sexy: Wicked, Book 1- very simple stories, but I wasn't impressed by book 2
3. Vivian Arend's Tidal Wave: Forces of Nature, Book 1- with frolicking dolphins and also Stormchild: Pacific Passion, Book 1 - with multiple seaside creature shifters. Both VERY SHORT.
4. Anya Bast's Witch Fire (Elemental Witches, Book 1) - romance with a little more substance
5. Dana Marie Bell's Dare to Believe (The Gray Court) - sexy, humorous para-romance with all manner of fae: Sidhe, dragons, leprechauns, vampires and more.
6. For fans of manage... Marie Harte's Rachel's Totem - lighter, less developed para-erotica featuring a variety of shifters in a quirky little town. Also, Roane (Circe's Recruits 1)- para-erotica around genetically engineered shifters who bond through sexual connections
7. Sherrilyn Kenyon's Fantasy Lover - Dark Hunter series with shifters, vamps and Greek gods. The first book is not as good as the rest- it just gets better and better.
8. Sydney Somers' gargoyle spin on romance: Primal Hunger: Pendragon Gargoyles, Book 1 and her less-adventurous witch-centric "Spellbound" series Say You're Mine

I read this one and thought it was good, not as funny as some in her Halle series The Wallflower: A Hunting Love story, Halle Puma Series Book 1., Steel Beauty: Halle Pumas, Book 4 or Bear Necessities: Halle Shifters, Book 1, but I wanted to re-read it so I could read Eye of the Beholder: True Destiny, Book 2.

On completing that, I thought it was better than good. It wasn't excellent, but Jordan was a good character, eventually I thought Kir and Logan were ok too. I thought the use of different Norse gods was great!

I've purchased everything Ms. Bell has written so far and I enjoy all her works.