By S.B. Oakes
I wanted to start this blog by reviewing a book called High Voltage from one of my all time favorite reads, the Fever series written by Karen Marie Moning. I’ll start by saying, if you haven’t picked up one of her books before, you are seriously missing out. As an author, she has done nothing but grow by leaps and bounds with every book and it has been sheer reader nirvana witnessing it unfold.
I’ve been waiting for the culmination of the Ryodan Dani drama for one hella long time. If you’ve read any of the previous books, I’m sure you’ve been right there with me, stuffing popcorn (substitute snack of choice) to your face wondering how in the world she was going to get over that age hump that takes Ryodan out of the pedophile zone and into the all hands on…er deck zone. The last book handled this, but oh man the curve balls she threw!
For those of you who haven’t read, stop, right now. No, I’m serious. Here’s the link. Go read and then return, but by all means, do not mar the spectacular story pleasure by continuing.
High Voltage follows character Dani O’Mally after all her epic superhuman friends have left her while she struggles to find out what is kidnapping children’s parents around Dublin. This book takes place after previous books MC Mac has become the Seelie queen and sang the song of creation, but it is obvious that there is still trouble a brewin’ on the city streets. Though Mac has ordered that no one touch the fae, Danni knows that something bad is going down and does her normal Dani duty to find out what. The problem…the nine and Mac are all missing
Let’s start with the beginning. At first I thought in scene with the stone and the sea that it was Lor. Don’t ask me why. It just seemed like him and from the previous book you think it can’t be Ryodan, because why is he with a woman? I was in instant “cut a man” mode, but as I don’t want to give a ton of spoilers, I will say that the set up in this scene for the ending was amazing.
Ok, with that said, I really appreciate all the subtle set up that really carries the book all the way until the end. There were several things I didn’t expect and a few that were mac truck obvious. I was a little put off by the slow pacing at the beginning of the book. You spend almost all of your time thinking, “Is he coming now? How about now? Now? WHT?!” I’ll give it to Moning for the prolonged build in climax, but for me, it was a little too long and a little too slow. I wanted way more of that Dani-Ryodan fire. And when Dani couldn’t be touched! Oh that was sucker punch and I have to admit I cried a little. My heart broke for poor Dani and the horrible things done to her. I found Ryodan’s understanding of her and her past experiences quite fitting.
One more negative: I have to say that I felt their actual “love declarations” spiel were a little tooo easy. I know they’ve been coming at each other for years, but it seemed to me that Dani went from, “no way” to I’m all in a little tooo fast to remain true to her character for me. I guess I just expected more or maybe different.
Ok, enough of the negatives, as I said in the beginning, the set up on this book was fantastic. There were several plot twists that I never saw coming, Shazam for one. Also, the whole star bit from the very beginning as well as the lengthy backstory from Ryodan’s side were all great. Oh, man the things he did for her…and the bastard you think he is just isn’t quite the reality of things.
All in all, this book gives you a big perspective shift on the series. It gives you the HEA you want in spades and keeps you salivating for the next. Really, the entire ending was one big culmination of great plot set up. I would love to pick Moning’s brain and find out if she knew all this ahead of time or if she got struck by the gods of divine inspiration and took that sucker all the way home? I mean, come on, enquiring minds want to know.
As with all of Moning’s books I would highly recommend them…like right now…go…click HERE for High Voltage. Two fists up!
If you love Moning’s work grab my book Ultimate Sacrifice for FREE!