Here we are.
There is an inherent problem in releasing this book so late: it takes place straddling all of the books that have come out in the interim (there are four of them!) which makes it occasionally confusing. Actually, it pretty much straddles all of the books in the series.
Which makes it feel way behind the times.
I refuse to blame the author-- I don't think this is the order in which she would have chosen to release them. But when the heroine, Danii, "passes by" Emmaline's room at Val Hall it's jarring-- in real time, Emma's book came out in the Fall of 2006. In other words, in my head, she's already been out of Val Hall for over three years.
But this is neither here nor there. Danii and Murdoch's book has really been in the wings since Dark Needs at Night's Edge, Conrad Wroth's book, when we really get to know Murdoch and realize that he has indeed been blooded. We just don't know whowhatwhenwhyhow. In terms of the story, I wish a lot of the interpersonal conflict had been minimized-- it's bad enough that she's ice fey and they can't touch, do we really need his commitment issues, too?-- on the other hand, with so many paranormal peeps running around and hook-line-and-sinkering for their "fated one" in 2.5 seconds, it's nice to see a more realistic take. Go on, soak up the irony. I'll wait.
Now, a word about the series as a whole: I'm nervous. In the beginning, Cole all but presented a list of the people who were going to have their own books, and those numbers are rapidly dwindling. In fact, with the release of Garreth and Lucia's book in January, we've officially run down the roster. I can see a book for Kristoff in the future (maybe with one of the Wroth sisters once they're brought forth?) but I have a serious concern that she's going to start making people up for the sake of giving them books. I love all of the people in these stories, and I'm not sure I care about any other peripheral characters enough to want their stories too.
Regin would be a disaster.
Nix is too crazy to settle down.
The demon mercenaries are too generic. (I might make an exception for Desh... maybe)
I don't want a story set in Icegard, so there goes the dude Danii just handed her crown to.
And this is problematic, because for all of these books, the Accession has been looming, and right now it hasn't even started yet. I'm not sure exactly who the bad guys are (the split Horde?), and it does seem that everyone is on the same side at this point. So... where's the battle? And are we going to get to see all of our favorite badass characters on the front line? (Personally, I would pay good money for a second Conrad and Neomi book. They would rock the socks off the front line.)
I have implicit trust in Kresley Cole-- she's only delivered what I would consider to be two lackluster books, and I can blame myself for that opinion. The first one was never going to live up to my expectations, and the second one I really didn't care about the character. So for the moment I'm going to be thankful to have finally read Danii and Murdoch's story, and I am going to get pumped for Garreth and Lucia. Because I do love me some Lykae in the morning.
