Customer Reviews

Vulnerable: The First Book of the Little Goddess Series

5 star:		(56)
4 star:		(19)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(11)

 

 

I loved this book. It sucked me into the NorCal universe of Corinne Carol-Anne Kirkpatrick, Adrian, and Green immediately, and I simply could not put it down. I, too, look with anticipation for the next installment of this story. That said, I found the typographical errors and poor editing jarring, and it lessened the total impact of the book. I would purchase this book again IF I could get a copy that was more polished --- I had to stop several times and try to figure out just what word the author had intended to write, and I found myself wishing for a pen in order to correct the blatant errors of punctuation and spelling. This story is just too good to stand in this sloppy edition!

Cory lives in rural America in the middle of nowhere. She comes from a poor working class family and as a result, not only do other people consider her white trash, but her own parents also can't understand why she would want to get a good education instead of finding a cheap job and a husband asap. But since she doesn't want to be stuck in this life and place, she takes a job as a night-shift clerk at a local gas station to finance a good education. Once she has passed her finals, she will get the hell out of here! She has learned to deal with the way people treat and see her by taking on a "tough-chick" persona, including died hair, heavy make-up, lots of earrings and a tough, often unfriendly behaviour. But underneath that exterior she's actually shy and feels that she's not worth much. She's not beautiful or thin or from a good family. Because of that, she's almost painfully shy around some of the more good-looking men who come to the gas station regularly. But one night, Arturo, one of those customers, won't accept that anymore. When he touches her hand and makes her look at him and talk to him, her life changes forever. Because Arturo is not a normal man, he's one of a large group of preternatural beings living in the surrounding foothills, and his touch opens her eyes to this world. Soon she makes friends with some of the sidhe, were-creatures and vampires she now sees as what they are. And she falls in love with Adrian, a vampire who's also second in command at the fae's hill. Things get complicated and dangerous when attacks on Adrian and the were-people start. Someone from the vampire's past obviously wants to harm or even kill him. In the process, Cory discovers not only that she has powers she never knew about, but she is also confronted with the fact that human morals don't count much among the fae / were / vampire community. Because Adrian and Green, the sidhe leader of the group, have been lovers for a long time. And Cory also feels attracted to Green...
This is Amy Lane's debut novel and also the first book in the Little Goddess-series (followed by "Wounded" and "Bound" so far). She isn't with a large publisher, but has worked with iUniverse, a self-publishing company. As a result she doesn't get as much money or attention as authors with larger publishers, but when I look at her great books, I also get the impression that she has more freedom to write a gripping and unusual story instead of being forced to do what some editor thinks will sell well. What should also be mentioned is that the price for the book may seem relatively high if you just look at the article page without seeing the real book. But although the page count may not be that high, it's larger than your average trade paperback and iUniverse don't waste space by extra large print or lots of unprinted space at the edges as many large publishers do to justify their exaggerated prices for trade paperbacks. So you really get something for your money. What may also be a result of this independent way of publishing is that you get something really unusual and unbelievable beautiful and intense. Vampires, Sidhes and were-animals have become fairly common in today's (dark) fantasy market, especially mixed in with romance. But this novel is so much more than other books. For one thing, the author goes back to some of the superstition and folklore about fae, for example, and then works it into something very original. The vampires are also at once based in tradition and quite different, individuals that need blood and can't go out in the sun, but they can be as good or as bad as any human being. What you are as a person isn't determined by your race / species here! Another reason for the high quality of this book is the fact that Amy Lane does so much more than simply tell a story. She is great at using different perspectives (here the point of view alternates between three main characters, Cory, Adrian and - more neutral - Green). That never gets confusing, but provides you much more insight into them than one single point of view would. The book (both the language and what happens) is also quite simply beautiful - I don't have another word for it. And last but not least, it's also very romantic and sensual. But here I should warn sensitive readers: The relationships are mostly not monogamous. This never turns into the cold sexual marathons you get from Laurell K. Hamilton lately, but if you want your heroine to be with one man only or don't like the idea that two men might love each other, then you may not feel comfortable with this book. And the last thing to mention would be that the author had the courage to not just give you a nice supernatural romance, but has the courage to also move into painful emotions and loss. The book is very intense that way.
To sum it all up: If you like dark fantasy or fantasy in general, want more than just another average novel and are open-minded regarding alternate sexualities I can only say: Buy the book and get parts 2 and 3, too. They are worth every cent! This is one of the best books I've read in years. And you will also support an independent author who has the courage to publish unusual and high-quality literature. What more can one ask?


Touch the Dark (Cassandra Palmer Series, Book 1)Lover Eternal (Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book 2)Private Demon: A Novel of the Darkyn (Signet Eclipse)Blood Bound (Mercy Thompson Series, Book 2)

I don't usually leave feedback/reviews on Amazon.com. I figure everyone needs to make up their own mind when it comes to reading. Writing is an art form and is appreciated/interpreted many different ways by many different people. And who am I to say something is good or bad? However, I feel compelled to write a review for this book.

I purchased this book after seeing all the rave reviews and because I'm a PNR lover. I didn't mind the price because I figured it was going to be a great read. I've been looking for a new PNR series after reading several more "mainstream" series such as Twilight Saga, Sookie Stackhouse, Mercy Thompson, Weather Warden, etc.

I was so excited when I read the description and reviews for this book and starting reading it as soon as I opened the box from Amazon. However my excitement was dead about three chapters into the book and my disillusion began soon after. The only character I somewhat enjoyed was Green, and that's only because he reminded me another tall, long haired blond from a different series. The others seem a little weak and somewhat absurd. But even more bothersome was the writing style of this book.

The writing doesn't seem to flow smoothly and is somewhat choppy in parts. Almost like reading something that was written by a non-English speaking person. You get the jest of it, but your left wondering what the writer was really trying to convey. I find myself having to read entire sections of the book over again in an attempt to understand certain conversations between characters. I love to read and would like to think I know HOW to read as well, but this book made me feel like a 5th grader trying to read and understand a college textbook. However, this is just my point of view, and after really struggling to finish this book, I'm not planning to continue the series and I don't think I would recommend this book to other PNR fans in general.

Sorry Ms. Lane, It would seem based on the reviews for this book many people enjoy your work, it just wasn't for me.

This book was a great effort for this first-time published author. The book tells the story of Cory, a young woman trying to find her place in her world. In doing so, she meets various supernatural beings, and finds that her place is not necessarily where she thought it was, and home is where you make it.

I enjoyed this book greatly, and it is an extremely refreshing change of pace from the usual "vampire" book which tends to be extremely violent and dark, with some quite sadistic. This book takes a more positive approach, although there is certainly enough action to satisfy traditionalists. The characters are complex and we get a glimpse into a three-dimensional culture of the supernatural beings-not just a one-dimensional, stereotypical description. In addition to creating a complex, vital world of the supernatural, Amy Lane also vividly portrays our own human world and paints a complex picture of our human heroine, so Cory too breaks out of the stereotypical hero/heroine role.

This certainly is a book that will please fans and readers of traditional "vampire" books, and people simply looking for an enjoyable book as well. I hope we see additional books from this author.

On the surface Vulnerable is about a young girl living in a small town who dreams of escaping and seeing the world. She's already a warrior even if she doesn't see herself as such. Her armor is the facade of a tough little Goth complete with makeup, metal, hair dye, contacts and a bitchy attitude. Her weapons are her tongue, her wit and her determination.

Then one night working her graveyard shift at the Chevron she "sees" Arturo. One accidental touch irrevocably changes her world. Adrian becomes besotted with her and leads her into a new life where she finds she's stronger than she ever knew. As Cory discovers herself she helps those around her discover themselves as well. The story runs the gamut of emotions from desperation, despair and guilt to wonder, hope and acceptance. Love, salvation and redemption. Parts of the book were hysterically funny. Other parts were utterly heartbreaking.

Any author who can make you care about her characters, make you laugh out loud and make you cry real tears has done her job. Amy Lane did her job very well.

Book 1. Vulnerable
Obviously a first book. You can see that the ideas were there, like a weaver faced with a loom and a mental idea of the clothe they want to weave, but its their first piece, so you end up with tightly woven sections and areas with a few holes and snags.

You are sort of dropped into the story with little preamble, the characters haven't grown into their full depth and personalities and the dialogue is a little stilted/forced and choppy. The plot flows but you are left with a few "what the..." moments, trying to figure out how you got to that point.
Having said that, I could see what Amy was going to achieve, the potential that was there and that the story WOULD evolve.

witch/vamp/elf/ etc. heroine attending community college while working the graveyard shift at an obscure gas station looks up from her books one night to find out that people are much more than they seem. have to mention that the book contains some raunchy scenes but somehow the author manages to blend them seamlessly with the plot and leaves the reader with a better understanding of the characters rather than a feeling of disgust. i couldn't put this book down and am patiently waiting for her next installment. wish i could give it 4 1/2 stars!

Corrine Carol-Anne Kirkpatrick, known as Cory, is a girl who wants something more out of life than a double-wide trailer in a small town in Northern California. So she does what tough girls do - she goes to college! It's not easy, though, to work your way through school. Cory takes a job on the graveyard shift at remote mini-mart/gas station on a dark road in a creepy canyon where suspicious characters lurk. She protects herself by cultivating a tough-girl persona, complete with attitude, spikey hair and multiple piercings, to cover her shyness and inner power. But she can't hide what she really is to those who can see beneath the surface, and soon she finds herself with a hot new boyfriend named Adrian. Adrian is not exactly human, and he is not exactly alive, but he's drop-dead gorgeous and he loves her dearly. It is Adrian who introduces her into Northern Cal's juiciest, most exciting paranormal community. And here Cory finds acceptance, and challenge, and all the things she needs to grow into the powerful woman she was meant to be.

This book just glows with charm. The characters come alive on every page. The author understands that paranormal fiction, like Sci-Fi, isn't about building new worlds that no one has ever thought of before. It is about how you populate worlds that are almost familiar. So we meet Sidhe, and fey, and vampires, and lyncanthropes, which we have seen before in other series. But these characters are particularly fine. Not always good, and not always nice, but always vividly drawn, and the reader is drawn into their lives.

The descriptive language is beautiful, but even more, the life force of these characters jumps right out of the book. It's one of those books that stays with you long after you read the last page. I am especially pleased to see there are more books in the series, and more coming in the future.

Have a look at this exciting new series from a stunning new talent. Highly recommended.

This is one of my favorite books. I have read it several times already. I just recently learned the author is going to be writing another book in the series and I almost wept with joy!!! This SO on my keeper shelf. This is an enjoyable read anytime anywhere. I cannot say enough good about this book and the auther. Please buy this book new and read it.

You MUST get through the first 4 or 5 chapters of this original artist's first published effort. It is WELL worth it. Amy Lane takes Sex and Love, in particular Love, way beyond gender. By half way through the book, I couldn't put it down. The character development is professional and endearing at the same time. The descriptive scenes put you in the garden, in the story, wishing for a relationship and home as wonderful as she has developed. I not only cried through the last 4 chapters but for an hour after I finished, truly feeling involved in this woman's, these preternaturals' lives. A wonderful faerytail, well told, well done.