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Book CoverGwen’s review of Upon the Midnight Clear (Dream-Hunters, Book 2) by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Contemporary paranormal romance published by St.Martin’s 30 Oct 07

Sherrilyn Kenyon is quite good at writing heroines. I have always loved her women and Leta is no exception. She’s determined and self-sacrificing. An all-around nice person. She’s also a Greek goddess of dreams and isn’t supposed to have any emotions, as per Zeus’s curse on her kind. A curse that isn’t working, by the way.

I have been ambivalent on Kenyon’s heroes – for example, loved Zarek, hated his brother Valerius. This book’s hero, Aidan, is on the down side of Gwen’s Likability Scale. He’s a whinny, self-pitying bitch for most of the book. No noble characteristics about him at all. As such, it was very difficult for me to believe in his relationship with Leta.

The interesting twist in this book was the heroine had the special powers and the hero was the human. I always like that, when an author switches things up. It did very little to help this story, though. Leta managed to stay a bit weak and ineffectual when it counted, leaving the heavy-lifting to Aidan.

When you see this book, it seems short for a paperback – not as many pages. When you open it, it seems REALLY short for a paperback – they have used double spacing, wide margins, and a large font. Now, either Kenyon’s publisher is formatting books for her older, more myopic fans, or this was a short-story that was made into a novel. Add a little padding and a huge font and, presto-change-o, you have a very short paperback that you can still sell for the full paperback price. Grrrrrrr! That did not amuse me.

All in all, it just wasn’t a very good book. It should have been left a short-story and put at the back of one of her other novels. I’m depressed about this. I’m a big Kenyon fan and her last three books just haven’t been as good. On the plus side, the Holiday Gatherings short-story at the end of the book was a fun read – perhaps she needs to go back to the lesser Were-Hunters. This does not bode well for Acheron’s story, coming out next year – but I’ll still buy it (it’s a sickness).

faye.jpgGrade: D+

blurb:

     Ever think Scrooge had it right before the ghosts ruined his life? Meet Aidan O’Conner. At one time he was a world-renowned celebrity who gave freely of himself and his money without wanting anything in return…until those around him took without asking. Now Aidan wants nothing of the world-or anyone who’s a part of it. When a stranger appears at his doorstep, Aidan knows he’s seen her before…in his dreams.Born on Olympus as a goddess, Leta knows nothing of the human world. But a ruthless enemy has driven her from the world of dreams and into the home of the only man who can help her: Aidan. Her immortal powers are derived from human emotions-and his anger is just the fuel she needs to defend herself…One cold winter’s night will change their lives forever…Trapped together in a brutal winter storm, Aidan and Leta must turn to the only power capable of saving them-or destroying them both: trust.

Read an excerpt.