Thursday, September 11, 2008

Kiss of Midnight: my failure at reading challenges

I took on the Ban On Buying Book Challenge. I made my list. I have been slowly whittling away at the TRB pile. I was doing good.Then I picked up Kiss of Crimson and realized it was book 2 in the series. WAIT! No! I can't read this! My series order OCD started throwing a temper tantrum. Big time. I just couldn't do it. So I was in a pickle. I had two choices: 1) I would have to complete the challenge without actually finishing my TBR list OR 2) I could break the rules of the challenge in order to fulfill the challenge. What do you think I did? Yup. No willpower. I went out and bought Kiss of Midnight. Since I was there and they happened to have one copy of Jade Lee's newest release, The Dragon Earl, I had to snag that one, too. Technically I had already started reading it since she gave me a sneak peek pamphlet at the signing last month. :) (Isn't it amazing how I can justify this?)

So I finished Kiss of Midnight before bed last night. It was a well written book with a great Big Bad. The heroine was complex and the hero perfectly angsty. Yet I finished this book and felt a little meh. Objectively, I know that this was a good book. Here's the problem: I read the BDB first. I think if I had read Lara Adrian's books first and then moved on to the BDB I would have loved KoM. Instead I was already a BDB crackhead. Ms. Adrian's vamps and world seemed to pale in comparison. Lucan was like the less attractive, slightly chubby-but-nice guy whose brother you lust after (the BDB). I felt kind of bad as I read the book that I did not love it/him the way I love the BDB/Zsadist. I know this is my issue, not a fault with the book. If you love the vamp story line you should definitely give it a shot, especially if you have yet to read any of Ms. Ward's crack-like novels.

That is not to say the book is inferior to the BDB. I actually like the Big Bad in the Midnight Breed series far more than I like the Lessening Society. The Omega? meh. The Rogue Master? Bad ass.

Now if only we could ditch Marrissa, allow Butch and V to fulfill their destiny together and send them after the Rogue Master, we would have one freakin' amazing book, my brother.

8 comments:

Nicola O. said...

Option 3 - LIBRARY! or beg or borrow from a friend. ;-)

I am right there with you on the BDB. http://alphaheroes.blogspot.com/2008/07/lara-adrian-midnight-breed-series.html

:)

JenB said...

I vote for having Marissa get hit by a bullet train on a visit to Japan...

I didn't care much for Kiss of Midnight. I didn't *not* like it, but I think I was still too high on BDB to appreciate it.

I hear the second book Kiss of Crimson is much, much better, so I'll try it one of these days.

Christine said...

Is it terrible that I'm so happy you broke your ban? LOL I couldn't have done it at all... I'm so happy you couldn't either. ;p

I had read the BDB before the Midnight Breed series as well, and at first I found myself comparing them a lot... especially the first book or two, but the authors' story telling voices are very different, and the character and story arcs rapidly separate. I think Adrian can write heroes AND heroines really well. And Adrian knows how to stick to her world building rules. The bottom line for me is that I love both series and will rapidly devour both!

Tracy said...

We'll forgive you for buying KOM since I would have done the same thing! :)

I've read both the MB series as well as BDB and although they are similar I think that the writing styles between the 2 authors is different enough to be enjoyed. I really like Adrian's world and her characters.

Jenb - I'm with you - let's send Marissa to Japan NOW!!! Even if V and Butch didn't get together she still needs to be hit by a train! lol

Shannon said...

But Christine, it was a justified purchase. I could not finish the challenge without it!

I will def have to read book two, if for no other reason than to complete the challenge. I do want to give the series a chance (especially since I have been staring at the latest BDB book for months but can't bring myself to read all of Phury's whining.)

Kristie (J) said...

I read the BDB books first but I still prefer the Laura Adrian books more. I think her world building is better and there is a more even balance between hero/heroine. But then I don't really get the whole BDB thing. I liked the ones I've read so far - the first 2 - but I didn't get the least bit addicted to them like so many others.

Kati said...

Well, I have to say, I love the Lara Adrian series. Sure, it's not BDB, but the things I appreciate about it is that she's built a mythology and she sticks to it. I appreciate that she doesn't utilize deus ex machina every time she can't figure out what to do. And I think her heroines have more of a backbone.

All that being said, I feel about BDB like I do about Brokeback, "I just can't quit" it.

Anonymous said...

I love the Midnight Breed series. I agree that book one is 'meh' but book two is much better.

I felt the same way about Dark Lover though. I thought it was ok...I read the second one because I was in love with Butch. He was the only reason I kept reading but then I got addicted and the rest is history.

Can I just say, I must be totally in love with Butch as a character as I actually like Marissa! HONEST!

Jen and Tracy are just mean, bitter laydeez who want a bit on man action! *g* Although I would npt be adverse to that myself.

As for MB series, 'Harvard, Harvard, he's my man, if he can't do it , no-one can!' *shrugs* Don't ask... *grin*