Honestly, I'd have given this a three star rating, but because I know how difficult it is to craft a story, being a writer, and because I want to keep reading book 3, I'll be fair and give it a four.
SPOILER ALERT
Here is why:
I loved book 1. Couldn't wait to get my hands on book 2. Then I was intrigued when I realized that Hudson was in Grace's head, like wow. Great twist. That perhaps he wasn't the all evil person we think he is; even greater twist. TILL --- in order to build Hudson, Ms. Tracy appeared to decide to diminish Jaxon. That was a big no for me.
We spent book 1 discovering this great, powerful, take no prisoners character. Held our breath when we knew Grace was returning, how will he deal with this? Held our breath when they first meet, and even kept holding to see how they would overcome Hudson playing interference between them. Then, I started realizing where the author was going, she wants Hudson and Grace to end up together, so the solution is to play down this amazing vampire we've come to love, Jaxon, make him whiny, weaker and suddenly even less interesting than say, Mehki.
I cringed, kept holding my breath for Jaxon to be redeemed but he never was, not even until the end. Not really. Their relationship was tarnished, making Grace seem unreasonable, like now that she's a gargoyle she suddenly doesn't want Jaxon's help? He has been protecting her from the start, and not just that, but he has also believed in her abilities. Not sure where the narrative came from that he just thinks of her as a lowly human. That was the never the case. So their arguments seemed forced, because the author needed us to start cheering for Hudson - it appeared.
I felt cheated, like I wasn't given the choice to follow through as a reader, worse, that our characters weren't given the choice either. Too much of the author's hand was seen in the painting.
Listen, I liked Hudson, more even before I discovered where Ms. Tracy was going with the story. He is witty, kind, really gets Grace, they have the best convos and he makes me laugh. And he is a kick-ass powerful vam with a British accent, what's not to love. Loved him. Even rooted for him at the end there. My issue is, I wasn't allowed to choose this myself. It was shoved down my throat by taking an equally powerful character, Jaxon and making him weak, so that Hudson could be strong. I felt cheated that I spent 1000 or so pages falling for this man and investing in his relationship with Grace, only for it to be treated like it wasn't important at all.
So, I would have wanted a slower burn to this, or rather, a stronger Jaxon and Grace. Certainly a stronger Jaxon, still feared. Still the powerhouse he was. When was it that Cole got the guts to come and attack him? And the way they beat him like he was nothing? Where did they find that spell to break the bond? How, if it's meant to be a difficult thing to do? This could have been better planned. For instance, why didn't the father, Cyrus do this himself? I would have bought Jaxon's dad kicking his ass, but even so --- surely, he should have been given an opportunity to fight back. He was just blindsided, then he lay in a heap waiting to die. HOW is this the way to snatch something so potent from of one of our heroes?
Meanwhile, the same Grace who had endured all the crap with him as they fought the Unkillable, proceeds to fight EIGHT paranormals on her own, having just learned to fly and with zero combat training beforehand? No --- it didn't ring true at all. Though I did enjoy the Ludares.
Also, if Hudson could reduce his father to a heap JUST by the wave of his hand, why didn't he do this in the first place? Why didn't he wave his hand and have them locked up in the ground, all of them, or something, then turn around and explain to Jaxon what was going on? Why kill the foot soldiers and leave the king intact?
Then --- Flint, who I love, even though he tried to kill Grace. And I love, love that he is gay and in love with Jaxon. However it came from absolutely nowhere! And it was clear this was never the author's goal from the start. Even so, all this happened in book 2, why not seed this in from the very beginning? This would have been the perfect place to showcase Jaxon, maintain his power and sexiness, if we had more scenes with him and Flint from the beginning. So that we are not blindsided, and we are more sympathetic to Hudson and Grace.
Yeah, thought I was the only one but glad many others felt the same. All in all, this is a great series. And though I almost gave up in book 2, too upset to read on, I can't wait to see how Ms. Tracy treats book 3. But our Jaxon needs to return in all his glory.
I'm late to the party reviewing this, I just hope Ms. Tracy took on what others said when the book was done and rectified Jaxon.
VHuskey
Amazon Customer
Helena
Mrs. Scott
Heidi Parker