Review: Beneath the Skin by Adrian Phoenix
January 20th, 2010 | Author: Tiffany
Title: Beneath the Skin (Maker’s Song, Book 3)
Author: Adrian Phoenix
Release: December 29th, 2009
Buy Kindle version: here
Goodreads Entry: here
Rating: 4 Stars
The dark pieces of vampire rock star Dante Baptiste’s past are violently emerging, and it is only a matter of time before the Fallen discover he is the creawdwr they have sought for thousands of years. The destruction he left behind in Oregon threatens to reveal his identity as Fallen Maker and True Blood, exposing the young nightkind to shadowy predators — mortal and supernatural — who will do whatever it takes to win his favor…or destroy him.
RESTS IN DANTE’S HANDS.
When beautiful FBI special agent Heather Wallace went AWOL on assignment, she chose irresistible Dante over the shady government forces that now stalk them both. Heather has her own secrets of the past to uncover, but she is also the only one who can hold her nightkind lover together when his dangerous quest for the truth threatens to send him over the edge. And as she and Dante fi ght for their survival, she realizes they must work together to protect their future — before his mysterious destiny tears them apart….
Book 3 of the Maker’s Song series by Adrian Phoenix picks very quickly after where book 2 left off. In fact the entire events of Beneath the Skin take place over just about a week. So much is going on in these few days that several times I wondered if time just ran differently in their world. Ok not really, but seriously if I could get as much done in a day as these guys I would be superwoman!
In Beneath the Skin Heather and Dante find themselves stuck trying to deal with the aftermath of all the events that take place at the end of In the Blood. Dante is lost within himself, buried in flashbacks and memories of his past. Heather is now on the run from the agencies she used to work for. Lucien is still being held by the Fallen and suspected of being dead. Book 3 explores the question…. can Dante keep his sanity or is he destined to be just a weapon who has lost control?
One of the things I love about this series are the characters. Heather kicks ass and I was glad to see her finally slip on some leather pants. For once I think the book cover actually portrays a look the characters pulls off in the story! I love Heather because she is smart, determined, dedicated, and simply will not take no for an answer. Not even from the bad boy vamp in PVC mesh and leather. There is never even a question that she is strong enough to stand beside Dante and fight with him.
Equally lovable is Dante, a True Blood (born) vampire and Fallen Angel “maker”. He is like an M&M, hard shell…. sweet chocolatey goodness in side. His foul mouth and flippant attitude make him a fun character to read about. I just can’t help but love a guy who is so fond of flipping people off and tossing out the F#&! word. As if his oddly charming personality isn’t enough, Dante is man enough to not push Heather behind him at the first sign of trouble. He doesn’t go all alpha crazy and lock her in a closet when things start falling apart, in fact he admits to needing her. But make no mistake, you will get your sexy man beast fix with this book as he has no problem putting Heather up against a wall if ya know what I mean *wink wink nudge nudge*.
Something else to look forward to from Beneath the Skin is an extended glimpse at Von, the sexy biker nomad. He plays a heavy part in the book. His dedication and love for Dante and all the things he considers “his” is touching.
Now for my complaints… *sigh*. I hate to do it, but I have some. This installment has just too much going on. Halfway through the book I was seriously considering whipping out some graph paper and making a flow chart so I could remember who was who and what agency they worked for. The way the author draws us into Dante’s head and his struggle to not lose it was flawless. I ate up those chapters like freshly baked cookies. But I found myself growling and sighing when we got pulled out of those scenes only to be stuck in the middle of Shadow Branch/FBI/Whatever other Agency crap. There were just too many agents with too many agendas and in the end there was nothing done with those plot points. They are just left dangling in the wind. On top of that the ending seemed abrupt… I didn’t expect it to be so sudden and got the feeling that because of all the plot lines the book was originally longer but they needed a stopping point.
Now that I complained, I will admit, that field agents (don’t ask me which agency they were from) Emmet and Merri interest me. I do look forward to seeing what part they will play in the wind and I liked the relationship between them. However, everything else relating to the Shadow Branch and the plot to capture/release Dante just went over my head and left me feeling confused.
Even with my gripes, Beneath the Skin, is a great read. So much of the action of the book comes from within Dante’s mind and I found myself really enjoying the experience. Often a good internal struggle is so more engaging than the external dangers. This book was definitely better than the last and I look forward to the next one. It will be interesting to see how and if resolution comes about in book 4.
Disclaimer: This book was purchased by me.
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Tags: 100 challenge, 4 stars, Adrian Phoenix, Maker's Song, thriller-suspense challenge
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[...] Beneath the Skin [...]
Sandman Slim (Sandman Slim, #1) by Richard Kadrey
May 25, 2010
June 29, 2010
My name is Tiffany and I am enamored with all things Kindle. When I am not cuddled up with my Kindle I am raising 2 stubborn little girls while attending college full time. I enjoy reading paranormal romance, urban fantasy, and dark urban fantasy. I have recently branched out to include some sci-fi and romance (both m/m and contemporary). I love a good alpha male, no matter what genre he is from.
I once made a flowchart while reading a book
Even with the things that bothered you, this still sounds like a series I would like..Nice review!
This is one of those series that has been sitting on my shelf for a while now. It really sounds like a series that I would like, just need more time in the day.
I have so many complaints about this series. I’ve read the first 2 books and I just kept getting frustrated with the multiple narratives (to the point that I just skipped right to Heather or Dante’s POV) and the many, many parallel story-lines about characters I had no interest in.
BUT you’re right – Heather & Dante are pretty awesome characters, and I will no doubt read ‘Beneath the Skin’ simply because I want to know what happens to them.
Great review.
Yep, that is my biggest gripe with all of the books Danielle…. too many narratives. But this one was by far the worst even if I liked some of the new characters.
Let’s be honest “considering”…? You know you whipped out the graph paper, or at least an excel spread sheet. If I wasn’t so lazy I’d have a flow chart for Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Dark Hunter series. I kid you not.
Do you think I’ll like this series?
KC – I am not 100% sure. ITs very much UF more than PR and there are always a lot of plot threads, but Dante is sexy as hell. I wasn’t in love with book 2 but thought book 1 was good.