Olivia Helling

First off I think this should be noted that this is not a romance in a traditional sense. The main character does not find love, probably because he doesn't believe it exists, but there are another three books in the series for that situation to change.
I enjoyed the writing and the story. The incubus part I found strange. It didn't really ring true, it felt more as if Damon used the excuse of being part incubus to explain his own urges and his mother's indiscretion.
This is one of those occasions when a free book reaps rewards. I fully intend to buy more of Damon Snow's adventures.
ETA I've read a couple of reviews that agree with me on the incubus situation.
… (mer)

I am not sure what to say about this book. Let me think here for a second...



So. Hmmm... OK. Ugh....

Paranormal aspect.
I have no idea why it is even mentioned, to tell you the truth, unless it's relevant somewhere down the line in book 5. I just don't see it playing a significant role in incubus-turned-dirt-poor-rentboy setup in the near future. There are no superpowers. There is not a sniff of something dark or magical in the air. Any talented and eager rentboy with years of experience on top of it should know how to satisfy and manipulate clients.

Language.
I do like and read historicals/classics. But still I managed to get tangled in pinks, flats, culls and what have you.

Time Setting.
There are no references to the historical period, except for the opening sentence. There is no (paranormal) world building. MC's world is tight. So tight, in fact, I feel claustrophobic. This whole affair could be happening on Alpha Centauri 1649 years from now it's so bland where the environment is concerned.

Positive.
The story turned around close to the middle and allowed for interesting developing which I did not anticipate at all. A star for that.

However, I don't believe I will be continuing this series. Unless I am in dire need of a super quick read.

2 stars for the first 40-50%, 4 for the rest of it.… (mer)

Warning: Make sure to read the book description, because that's all you gonna get for the first, missing part of the story, Snowmancer 0.5. It's absolutely vital because only then you will be able to understand (somewhat) what's going on in the first chapters.

As for the review:

I appreciate the author's imagination in some aspects, in others I find the book seriously lacking of common sense, let alone of the above mentioned imagination.

Editing was another - and very serious - problem for me. I wasn't always sure what was going on and why. Silly things like the capital city full of villagers and peasants in "the kingdom of miners", for example, bothered me to no end. Another, separate problem was that while Lumi is trade oriented, it never occurred to anyone to trade outside their own peninsula. Or branch out and build a few ships and a port, since they are literally sitting on the ocean shore. I mean no one ever went out on a boat fishing or for simple fun? wth?

The last three chapters redeemed this book for me somewhat. Enough to round the initial 1.5 stars up rather than down.

While I hate giving a free book (with a beautiful cover) 1.5 stars, I do have my very strong reasons:

- i didn't like the editing;
- I didn't like the logistics (little made sense);
- I didn't like the MCs
- all in all, I didn't like the book itself.

Now, hear me out and before telling me I am too blunt or too rude!

I read through the reviews, and almost every other reader admits to either "not connecting with the characters" or "it's not the book, it's me". Sure, I use those excuses myself all too often. Sometime I legit believe that it's ME, not the book, like when it comes to bikers or ghosts, for example. NOT MY THING. Sometimes I don't connect with the characters, for whatever reasons. I also use those excuses as a polite "I didn't like your book and I feel bad saying it out loud". So when the majority of the reviews claim same excuses to give the book three or four stars? The picture is clear - it's not the readers, and it's not even the characters, it's the book.… (mer)

First off I think this should be noted that this is not a romance in a traditional sense. The main character does not find love, probably because he doesn't believe it exists, but there are another three books in the series for that situation to change.
I enjoyed the writing and the story. The incubus part I found strange. It didn't really ring true, it felt more as if Damon used the excuse of being part incubus to explain his own urges and his mother's indiscretion.
This is one of those occasions when a free book reaps rewards. I fully intend to buy more of Damon Snow's adventures.
ETA I've read a couple of reviews that agree with me on the incubus situation.
… (mer)