Ash’s review of Never Again (The Wizards of Nevermore, Book 1) by Michele Bardsley
Paranormal Romance published by Signet 01 Mar 11
I really enjoyed parts of this book, and I really disliked parts of this book. I feel like I was reading two different books and it’s surprising to me how inconsistent the story and the writing is.
The parts featuring Gray and Lucy are great. I like the banter between them, I like their chemistry, and they are just a fun couple to read. I do wish the change in their relationship hadn’t happened so quickly. The same for the characters and their own growth. In the beginning Gray seems like a moody, tortured hero and Lucy is broken down with nowhere to go. When they get together, it seems as if they get brand new personalities. A little more time focused on their character and relationship development and less time on the boring details would have made Never Again a much better book.
As for the boring details, there is at least one scene with a character practically telling his life story and I just didn’t care. After a smoking hot love scene with Gray and Lucy, that is not what I wanted to read about. The scene changes took me out of the mood and at times I just wanted to put the book down. Plus, we get inside too many people’s heads. I didn’t want to know what everyone in town is thinking. I can hardly keep straight who is who. There are too many inner monologues and not enough action. For a series about magic users, there is hardly any magic.
Another thing I want more of is the final showdown. It ends up being a letdown. Jut when things start to get good, the book is over. The bad guy comes to town, the one who has physical and mentally abused Lucy, and it’s anti-climatic. I had already guessed who the other bad guy is, and I kept reading to see if I was right.
I can see that this series has potential, if the boring parts can be weeded out. The secondary characters I’m able to keep straight are a great addition to the story and they stand out for me the most. I just wish I wasn’t left with so many questions. I am not sure if they next book is a continuation of Gray and Lucy’s story, but I feel like I’ve been left hanging with some of the little things (like did she keep the coin?! I really want to know). So I wasn’t blown away, but I’ve had worse and I look forward to the next book.
Grade: C
Summary:
Lucinda Rackmore is a witch cursed…
Desperation sends her to the last place anyone would think to find her … the small Dragon-protected town of Nevermore, Texas. To escape the wrath of her ex-lover, she must plead her case with the town’s Guardian—the man her family betrayed a decade ago.Gray Calhoun is a wizard scorned…
Gray wants nothing to do with the Rackmores, especially not the spoiled younger sister of the woman who sacrificed him to a demon lord. But when Lucy shows up at his door begging for sanctuary, he can’t turn her away.Magic is love reborn…
An infamous Rackmore witch isn’t the only trouble in town, either. Someone’s creating demonic mayhem—and murdering citizens. Only with Gray and Lucinda working together, can they hope to defeat the dark forces that threaten Nevermore. And maybe along the way, they’ll find that love is the strongest magic of all.Read an excerpt.
