Ash’s review of Nightfall (Dark Age Dawning, Book 1) by Ellen Connor
Paranormal Romance published by Berkley 07 Jun 11
It’s a first for me, a book where I can completely dislike the romance but love everything else. If you took out Jenna and Mason as a couple, I am not sure I would have minded. The rest of the book is just that good to me.
Hmm, where to start? I guess I will start with what I did not like about this book. That would be Jenna. I’ve read parts of other reviews where people didn’t like her, and when I started the book all I could wonder was why? She’s a strong character without any TSTL moments, she’s caring toward others, and I didn’t find her annoying. She was (yes, was) a pretty good heroine. Then she becomes “special,” and, honestly, I wouldn’t have minded if the demon dogs got her. I hate the person she turned into. She is selfish, uncaring, weirdly attached to Mason, and just overall unlikable. Even Mason sees it, but other than acknowledging it to himself, he doesn’t seem to care. Her adjustment period to what happens to her is remarkably short, and I think I would prefer to see her having to actually learn how to adapt. It’s sad when the old Jenna goes away, and I stopped caring about what happens to her.
My other complaint is the writing felt choppy to me. I am not sure if it is because I read an ARC or what, but it isn’t smooth. There are more than a few times I feel parts of the book are completely missing because the characters just randomly say things. I had to re-read the page to make sure I didn’t skip anything. It also feels this way with the romance between Jenna and Mason. I can’t understand why they want each other when they do. There really isn’t any build up or sexual tension between them. It’s almost as if it’s supposed to happen, so it did. I want more from them, and after the ‘change’ that Jenna goes through, the relationship just goes to a weirder place. The book seems to change into a different type of paranormal romance, but other authors have handled that ‘type’ much better. It seems like everything that is about Jenna, or Mason, doesn’t work in the book. I never get a clear picture of them as individuals or as a couple, especially Jenna since she essentially turns into a completely different person.
With that said, I love the world that Ellen Connor has created. Nightfall captures the feeling of basically being trapped and hunted. It’s like I’m in there with them, and even with the inconsistent writing, I’m always in the moment. The world building is enough to make me a fan. Being such a huge romance lover, it’s rare that I can overlook a bad romance as much as I did with Nightfall, but the rest of the story makes it worth reading.
I am a little worried about getting my hopes up for the next two books. They are set years after this one, the third book being twelve years after Nightfall. It’s not something I am used to. Of course, in Nightfall we don’t really ever find out what is going on, so maybe in the time between books the characters get some answers for us. I am just hoping the romance will equal the strength of the rest of the book.
Grade: B-
Summary:
Their instincts will save them.
Their passion will transform them.
Growing up with an unstable, often absent father who preached about the end of the world, Jenna never thought, in her wildest nightmares, that his predictions would come true. Or that he would have a plan in place to save her-one that includes the strong, stoic man who kidnaps and takes her to a remote cabin in the Pacific Northwest.
The mysterious ex-Marine named Mason owes a life-debt to Jenna’s father. Skilled and steadfast, he’s ready for the Change, but Jenna proves tough to convince. Until the power grid collapses and the mutant dogs attack-vicious things that reek of nature gone wrong.
When five strangers appear, desperate to escape the bloodthirsty packs, Jenna defies her protector and rescues them. As technology fails and the old world falls away, Jenna changes too, forever altered by supernatural forces. To fight for their future, she and Mason must learn to trust their instinctive passion-a flame that will see them through the bitter winter, the endless nights, and the violence of a new Dark Age.
Read an excerpt.
Other books in this series:
