I should have known better, I really should. This book is bad on so many levels that I don’t know where to start. Actually, “start” is a bit misleading, as I didn’t even manage to finish it.
Angels’ Blood is labeled an Urban Fantasy Romance, so a lot of world building goes on in the first couple of chapters. The basic premise is as follows: Elena Deveraux is a vampire hunter living in an alternate reality Manhattan. In this world, archangels rule, served by their vampire slaves. Humans are the lowest on the pecking order. Hunters are classified as human, although they have a special power which other humans do not: the ability to track vampires gone bad.
One day she’s called to a meeting with Archangel Raphael, the leader of North America, and receives an unusual assignment: to trace a renegade angel. (I’m not sure why angels can’t track each other given that they are supposed to be all-powerful, but whatever.)
Elena is a Buffy wannabe with a bad attitude. She spends the first few chapters stomping and sulking. She’s supposedly terrified of Raphael, yet she defies him at every opportunity. Her death-wish is the result of some childhood trauma, which will no doubt be explored as the story progresses.
Elena is described as having dark gold skin, white hair and silver eyes. Sounds a little odd, but nothing I can’t cope with.
Then we come to Raphael. The depiction of his piercing blue eyes reminded me of Elijah Wood, or the dude who played Boone in ‘Lost’. It’s not a compliment either way. The description of his hair left me with the distinct impression he was sporting a mullet. The wings skeeved me out and I tried to erase them from my mental image, especially the gold dust which they emit when shaken. So we have a bemulleted, bewinged hero with a funky dandruff problem. Oh, and he’s naked.
All the secondary characters are stunningly beautiful, etc., and in a permanent state of arousal. I think there was an orgy in Chapter 7, but I was already skimming at that stage, so I’m not one hundred percent sure.
My problem is not with the story itself. It’s totally ridiculous, of course, but I didn’t expect anything else from the description on the back cover. The main reason I can’t continue with the book is Raphael. Bearing in mind that this is supposed to be a romance, I’m assuming Raphael is our hero and Elena is our heroine. The idea of those two getting intimate revolts me and I really don’t need to read about it.
I’m not a huge fan of paranormal/urban fantasy, but Angels’Blood got great reviews elsewhere and I thought I’d give it a go. I was not expecting something bordering on interspecies porn.
I really hate not finishing books, especially ones I’ve spent money on. If anyone can convince me that the rest of the story is worth reading at a later point, please try. For now, I think I’m moving on to something better. Grade: DNF
{ 1 comment }
Ah, you just totally made my day!