great - Rated 
I happen to think this is a great series. You can really get to like all the characters, the men are great Alphas, who adore their mates. I shall certainly be reading all the series. If you like Sherrlyn Kenyon books then you WILL enjoy this series.
Gideon - Jacquelyn Frank - Rated 
More of the same in this one really. If you've read Jacob, you know the plot of Gideon already. Gideon, the eldest Demon has lived in self-imposed exile for over a decade, ever since the night he encountered Magedelena under a Hallowed Moon. Now, with necromancers threatening the safety of all Nightwalker species, Gideon must face his past and his fears to fight for his people and win his destined mate.
The Nightwalker books are lushly written and highly enjoyable for that, but the plot of Gideon, like Jacob, depends more upon skilfull and intriguing world-building than action and intrigue. Despite a history of animosity and mistrust between Gideon and Legna, they come together as an Imprinted pair very quickly and with very little angst. Legna cries loud and long about not wanting the pairing, not wanting Gideon himself, whilst he prattles and moans in a patronising manner, but their issues are quickly swept under the rug and forgotten. Even those who oppose their mating, such as Legna's brother, the Demon king Noah, seem to forget their objections after a while.
As with Jacob and Bella from the first book, Gideon and Legna are "destined" to be together, which removes any real sense of conflict from their relationship. Although Legna initially struggles against her attraction, she can't escape it so she just resigns herself to it and hey-presto, she's madly in love. Ta-da! I have to admit it's a factor in these books I find irritating.
Where Frank excels is in her world-building and mythology, and it's that which keeps me coming back. We see for the first time some of the other Nightwalker races - Vampires and Lycanthropes, and get an intriguing glimpse of their societies. Frank gives some new twists to shape-shifters, although there's not much fresh in her take on vampires. That doesn't really matter though, since the characters are fascinating. Siena, Queen of the Lycanthropes will be back in the third book, Elijah, and I look forward to seeing her.
If it weren't for the sense I had that I was running in place with this book, I might have rated it higher. Frank is a great writer with a powerful imagination, but her characters spend more time talking than acting and that lets Gideon down. And one other question - why do the Demons have a king, the Lycanthropes a Queen, but the Vampires only a Prince?
So bad it stinks. - Rated 
Another reviewer wrote that they were impressed by the `other-world building' in this book. Other world! Forget it. This is basically the story of the petty squabbles and pregnancy worries of a group of friends, husbands ands wives. I finally gave up believing in the `other world' when on page 102, Noah, who is supposed to be the King of the Demons, uses the word `cockamamy'. I mean. How is that `other world?'
The only unique thing about this novel is that it is the first paranormal I have read to feature a pregnancy out of wedlock. Plus the lack of physical and mental privacy described in the story reminds me of the harshest communist indoctrination policies rather than the paranormal. Maybe that's the 'other world' the reviewer was referring to.
I know I will spend the rest of the novel trying to decide which TV Soap the story tries to emulate. Certainly nothing with class, so that cuts out Melrose Place and Dallas. (Yup, I stopped watching soaps when I left my teens.)
Be warned female readers. Something mean and nasty happens to one of the female characters. Thankfully she makes a complete recovery. But if I had known about it, I would not have bought this novel under any circumstances. (Because I personally disapprove of cruelty towards minors and animals.)
Fundamentally. There is a complete disconnection between the narrative story and the dialogue of the characters. Imagine Twelfth Night with a Brooklyn accent and sensibilities.
That is just about the only incident of note that happens in this story. The rest is mainly endless nit-picking, belly-button examining conversations between characters. Which is, I suppose, what passes for 'character development' with some authors.
btw. In this novel, the heroine calls the hero 'a tosser' as a term of endearment!!!!
Beam me up Scotty.
Recommended - Rated 
Gideon's story is the second book in Jacqueline Franks nightwalkers series. I found this book slightly to harder to read than the first one but it was still enjoyable.
I think it was harder to read (in the beginning) because the main characters were so resistant to their falling in love and the fact that the relationship was not equal compared to Jacob and Isabella's in the last book.
This, I believe, would be due to the fact that Gideon is over 1000 years old and much more guarded than Legna (can I just say that Legna or Magdelegna is a horrible name) who is only 250 years old. But her youthfulness is just what Gideon needs.
It was good all the same and it leads you to the next book which is about Elijah.
Somewhat disappointing - Rated 
After reading "Jacob" which was excellent, I was a bit disappointed in this book. I found that I skipped pages just to find out what happened. The storyline was weak although the characters was strong and it took forever for the characters to sort themself out and get it together, although they knew each other. When they finally did I was expected much more and the anticipation just evaporated into nothing. The book did explain a lot (maybe too much) from they relationship in reading Jacob. Everything that made "Jacob" and excellent book was lacking in "Gideon: The Nightwalkers" I was sadly.....disappointed
|