Limecello’s review of Fallen (7 Deadly Sins, Book 2) by Erin McCarthy
Paranormal Romance released by Berkley Jove 29 Apr 08
Erin McCarthy is one of my favorite romance authors. My expectations may have been too high, because Book 2 of the Seven Deadly Sins series unfortunately disappointed. I felt that the story didn’t truly begin until chapter 9. The story moved too slowly for me, and I felt that the action didn’t begin until the nearly the end, and it became rushed. I also would have liked a bit more romance.
Gabriel and Sara have a very stilted relationship – if one can even call it a relationship for the first 20 or so chapters. More like awkward coworkers inexorably connected to each other, but stunted. They’re flawed, and their personalities seem to compliment each other. However, it takes a little work to like them. They have so much potential but don’t move towards each other in any way for so long.
I know Ms. McCarthy is a terrific writer, so featuring every positive in the book would take too long. Accordingly, I’m going to discuss what I disliked in the book. In an oversimplification, I don’t have much sympathy for Gabriel. His life sucks, he’s a fallen angel, cry me a river, he did it to his own damn self. Some theological issues bothered me too. Also, for someone who has had such a traumatic past, Sara… just doesn’t seem right. Even for someone weary and emotionally isolated, for a while Sara is rather… annoying.
Those notes and sniveling women, and Gabriel’s “women problems.” Gag. And the letters. Personally I didn’t think truly had an 1850s feel to them. There was an excessively suspicious character – and a major “duh” moment early on. The “legal speculation” upset me. Maybe it was the way the articles were written. I hate the media.
Fallen wasn’t much of a romance for much of the book, and while normally I’m a fan of unrequited/forbidden love romances, Fallen didn’t bring it for me. The characters were too disconnected and uncertain. Thee story itself is well written, but I would have liked more romance, and a better developed relationship between Gabriel and Sara. All the depositions, newspaper articles, and letters didn’t add much to the story for me. They didn’t give me insight into the characters, and having observed more than my fair share of trials, I don’t think what you get from the media would be useful in truly finding the facts of a murder. I also have a lot of questions about the absinthe. I guess I’ll have to try it. I do know absinthe is different in Europe vs. the US.
There were some very sweet moments in the book. For example, when Gabriel sketches Sara, hanging out the window, and when he finally plays the piano for her. Chopin always amuses me, and I can’t help but think of Franz Liszt. I normally really like Ms. McCarthy books, and I know she can write “darker” stories – I was bowled over by My Immortal – so I’d say that I set my expectations too high, but unfortunately, I didn’t enjoy Fallen as much as I thought I would. I do plan on re-reading it in the future and hoping I like it more then. Erin McCarthy fans may or may not enjoy Fallen and you may want to read it to see what is happening next in the series. I do however, plan on reading any and all of Ms. McCarthy’s books. I love her work, this book just won’t make it to the top three of my list.
Grade: C-
Read Devon’s review here and Laura D’s review here.
Blurb:
New Orleans, 1880s. Sent to watch over the decadent city, the angel Gabriel loses himself in the liquid pleasure of absinthe. So when his mistress, Anne, is murdered—and all evidence points to him— a foggy Gabriel cannot be sure he didn’t do it. His penance: to be forever denied love. Should he seek pleasure with a woman, she’ll know the depths of despair. New Orleans, today. Hoping to unlock that unsolved mystery, forensic scientist Sara Michaels, Anne’s great-great-granddaughter, meets the ageless, tormented Gabriel. To work together would mean suppressing their mutual attraction—he can’t allow himself to touch Sara, for her own sake. And for Sara, already familiar with the dangers of addiction, Gabriel poses the ultimate threat to her self-control. But can the desire burning between them turn into their salvation—or lead them both to destruction?
Read an excerpt here.
