Gwen’s review of Elijah (The Nightwalkers, Book 3) by Jacquelyn Frank
Paranormal romance published by Zebra 17 Dec 07
I have read all three books in this series. I read the first, Jacob, before I started reviewing for TGTBTU, or I would have given it a C. Book 2, Gideon, I did review and gave it a C as well. Elijah surprised the hell out of me – I didn’t give it a C. It was better than that, in my opinion.
Now, don’t get me wrong. Frank still tends to run on a bit. I don’t think she’s met a metaphor for a body part or sensual feeling she didn’t like. Her love scenes are pages and pages and pages long. She frequently runs on and on about how intense feelings are, how beautiful/virile/amazonian the hero or heroine are, etc.
For example, with all due respect to actual editors and with an acknowledgment that I’m armchair quarterbacking here, I’ve struck out what I think are repetitive words or phrases, or just “so what” bits in this one paragraph:
Elijah fought off
a passing cloak ofdimming consciousnessand the spinning of his immediate surroundings. It was healonewho belonged at the head of his monarch’s armieswhen needed, and he who must train the spies and assassinswho would slink through the shadowsin the face of threatening intrigue. Therefore, he knew everything anyonecurrentlycould discover about the humans who dabbled inthe perverse arts ofblack magic. The same kind who stood around him that very moment, circling him like vulturesawaiting the end to a victim’s final death throes.
GAH! Still about twice as many words as needed. I agree writing is an art and I’m no artist, but piling more paint on a canvas doesn’t necessarily make a painting better. It feels like Frank is learning this and I have great hopes for the next entry in the series. I only skimmed a few paragraphs in Elijah, instead of the pages I skimmed in the first two books. That’s a step up in my estimation.
What was so much better in this book was Frank’s characterizations. Elijah and Siena are really a terrific couple. I loved that they found a way to be together. I love that Elijah is such an alpha hero, but he was still able to sublimate some of this drive to be with the woman he was destined to be with and whom he loved.
I also enjoyed the secondary characters. They really contributed to the story and moved the plot along. There was a bit of “future book salting” with the appearance of Damien. He showed up at an oddly opportune time and left just as suddenly. But hey. I’d do that too if I were an author with another book coming out in six months.
Elijah had a very nice love story, some excellent characters, and great action scenes. But most especially, the love story which was first class. All in all, a very fun read.
This book could standalone if you haven’t read any of the series. Frankly, I think if the series is new to you, then you could start here and be just fine. I recommend this book to fans of paranormal romance genre.
Grade: B-
Read more info and reviews about this series by following its tag.
Summary:
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They are called the Nightwalkers, an ancient race devoted to protecting the world from the darkness of the Necromancers. And their proudest warrior is Elijah, a man who bends for nothing and no one…until one woman brings him to his knees…
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SOME FEELINGS YOU JUST CAN’T FIGHT
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He is known as the Warrior Captain – a master of every weapon, a fierce soldier sworn to protect his kind from violence. Powerful, relentless, merciless, Elijah has always won every battle he’s ever taken on – until now. Ambushed by Necromancers, he is left for dead only to be rescued by a woman who could very well deliver the final blow… Siena, the Lycanthrope Queen.
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For over a decade, an uneasy peace has existed between the warring Lycanthropes and Elijah’s people, and he’s not about to let his guard down now around their queen.
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But Siena’s will is every bit a match for Elijah’s own, her sleek and sensual nature waking a hunger within him that he cannot deny. Now, the Warrior in Elijah is consumed with a different battle – winning Siena’s heart by giving her pleasure beyond all boundaries. What starts as attraction and arousal soon burns into a passion with consequences that will echo through the ages for both their people. And as would-be enemies become inseparable lovers, another threat approaches, one with the power to destroy them all…
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Surrender to the night.
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Read an excerpt.
Other books in the series:
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I have tried my hardest to get into this series and with Elijah I could hardly get past the 3rd chapter. Maybe it it is just me, but Frank’s long paragraphs don’t make for an easy read.
Oh well! 🙂
I read Jacob and enjoyed it for the most part (or at least I think I did since I can’t seem to remember much about it now) but never read Gideon. This one sounds better, though. I’ll add it to my list. 🙂
I read this one over Christmas. I liked it better than I liked Gideon, but not as much as I liked Jacob. This was one story where the secondary characters from the older books didn’t bother me as much as it does in other books by other authors. Mostly because all the characters have something to do with the plot, and they aren’t there just for book filler.
Some scenes were a bit over dramatic and flowery in phrase, but not horribly so. I liked it enough to want to read the next in line. Noah’s story is the one I really want to read. I just hope Frank doesn’t set him up with Anya, though I have the feeling that’s how it’s going to end up. I’d like to see a new character pop up.
Oh boy. Sounds like Ms. Frank needs to borrow my crit partner, Sarah McCarty. She is not afraid to redline stuff like that, let me tell you. I used to babble on in my writing too but that is no longer the case.
I find that when writers carry on like that, it makes the writing too flowery and boring because you want to get on with it already!