C-
Title: Edge of Oblivion
Author: J.T. Geissinger
Publication Info: Montlake 2012
ISBN: 9781612184197
Genre: Paranormal
This RITA® Reader Challenge 2013 review was written by MissB2U. This story was nominated for the RITA® in the Paranormal Romance category.
The summary:
There exists a world beyond our own. It is a world of ancient magic and well-guarded secrets, a world of strict laws and harsh punishments for those who betray them, a world inhabited by the Ikati, a race of gifted people who are so much more than they first appear. Brought together by fate in this world of danger and beauty, two people with dark pasts will meet.
Morgan is beautiful, smart, sexy…and about to die. Convicted of treason against her shape-shifting kin, she is given one last chance at redemption; discover the hidden lair of the enemy intent on destroying every one of her kind, or forfeit her life.
Xander is ruthless, heartless, cold-blooded…and assigned to kill her if she fails in her task. Expecting to feel nothing but contempt for the traitor under his watch, the assassin accompanies Morgan on her search, but as the two race through the heart of Italy while the clock winds down to zero hour, he finds himself drawn into a dangerous web of desire as powerful as it is forbidden.
Their passion will test everything they believe in, and endanger the future of the tribe itself.
And here is MissB2U's review:
This was a tough book to review because even though there were parts where things seemed to be taking off overall it was a “meh”. After I finished reading it I knew I had to wait awhile to give it a grade because I was too irritated to be fair.
There were three problem areas for me. First, this is book two in the series and Ms. Geissinger fails to fill in enough of the back-story to have the beginning of this book make much sense.
Second, there were characters and plot lines that were way too similar to other paranormal authors’ works that distracted me from some pretty nifty plot action unique to this book.
Third, there were too many contradictions for many of the characters’ actions to be credible. (More on this in a moment…) Those things combined with constantly trying to put the pieces of the abovementioned back story together made it hard to read more than a couple of pages at a time. It was flat out frustrating.
So.
Sentenced to death for treason against her English colony of the Ikati, (read Book One), Morgan is given a shot at redemption by the Queen, Morgan’s former bestie. Morgan has two weeks in which to find the location of the feral colony of Expurgari who captured and tortured the Queen based on something Morgan said or did, I don’t know ‘cause I haven’t read the first book yet. Also, there is a secret shared between Morgan and the Queen which is another reason for the Queen to save Morgan’s sorry ass, but again, Book One. Should Morgan fail she will be executed.
That task will fall to Xander, the totally hot six century old Ikati assassin from the Brazil colony who will accompany Morgan to Rome. She knows he’s totally serious about this because a) he has hash marks tattooed on his chest tallying all his kills, and her mark is there too just not crossed off and b) he collars her so she can’t shape shift into her animal form. This leaves her defenseless except for her gift of Suggestion. If she touches someone and thinks a suggestion like, “take your pants off and run around outside”, next thing you know you’ll be running around commando in the front yard. Also his face looks stony. A lot.
The contradictions drove me crazy. Morgan has only been allowed out of her colony in England once in her life but she’s totally comfortable flying in a private jet and finding her way around a foreign city. Wearing bloody rags, she was tossed into a holding cell and held for weeks before her execution date, yet when she enters the hall to meet her fate she looks like she’s ready for a Vogue photo shoot. Her wardrobe in Rome consists of lots of shoes from Chanel and Louboutin but she leaves on the trip straight from her (delayed) execution. Who packed for her and where did all these fabulous clothes come from? Why does she leave her shoes all over Rome without a second thought?
Xander has survived for six centuries as one of an elite group of assassins but when he meets Morgan his brain turns to mush. She gives him the slip in Rome with the equivalent of “Hey, your shoe is untied”. Then she enters her first Fever, she’s fertile), and he can hardly deal; and then he finds out she’s a VIRGIN and he turns into a big ‘ole cranky, jealous horndog. Oh, the Alpha of the feral colony can smell her and talk dirty to her in her head so this makes Xander even more jealous. And also makes her try to do the Hokey Pokey with him in Saint Peter’s Basilica. I know, right?!
It’s a mess, y’all. And yet, somewhere between teh hot seks and the “Brotherhood” wannabes there is some really nice writing that kept me reading. After I thought about the book for several days I realized that I’d still give it only a C-, but I’m sad about it. Not sad enough, however, to read any more books in this series.
This book is available from Goodreads | Amazon | BN | Kobo | iBooks.
She’s leaving $3000 shoes in random places in Rome? WTF? What woman just tosses Louboutins? I mean even if you’re not a heels girl that’s just a waste of money and shows a serious lack of sense.
Yep, there are a lot of head scratching moments in this book. They really interfere with the flow of the story ‘cause your brain is in a constant state of “…WTF?” There is some really lovely writing on occasion, just not enough.
This is a really random question (and probably only explained in book 1), but Xander, the PO/assassin. He’s six centuries old and he’s in Brazil? Does this mean the Ikati are pre-Columbian in origin? But they’re in England too? Did they start out in the Americas and emigrate to Europe? (That would actually be a kind of a cool reversal.) Or are they just sort of here there and everywhere?
From what I read in Book 2 the Ikati are a secret race. They live in our world but either always remain hidden from humans, pass as human or on occasion manipulate the human mind to not realize what they are or remember them. The Expurgari, or outcasts, kill humans. After having a little fun with them first…
Hi ladies,
First let me say thank you for taking the time to review the book; I appreciate everyone who makes an effort to slog through my writing, even if they don’t ultimately like it!
I think I actually must have done a pretty crap job being clear on some of the particulars because 1) Xander is not six centuries old, and 2) Morgan isn’t a virgin. (She did get her first Fever in the book, however.) I am totally going to smack my editor and/or myself. (Dear editor: if you’re reading this, that was a joke. Please don’t send me a legal notice.)
I love your site and do respect your opinion. Although this one wasn’t for you, I think you guys rock and maybe a future installment would be more to your liking. Thanks again for reading.
Best,
J.T.
So Xander is not 6 centuries old and Morgan isn’t a virgin…..ok, I don’t know about any one else but I’m confused*scratches head*
I read this book recently and really enjoyed it. I’m confused about this review for a number of reasons. Yes, Xander is not that old & Morgan is not a virgin. Not sure where those ideas came from.
This review pushed a button for me. Why do people read a book out of order and then expect to get it? As a reader, I do not want the preceding books in the series rehashed for me. It’s tedious. Morgan was established in book one. We know her wardrobe, for example. Yes, she wears these kind of clothes/shoes and she can afford to be frivolous with them. In fact, it’s kind of her way of paying back the establishment, so to speak. Her motivations are detailed out in book one. So… if someone packs a bag for her in book 2, it will have these clothes. They’d hardly go out and buy her a new wardrobe when one is sitting around already.
I admit the ‘going into heat’ instantly reminded me of The Black Dagger Brotherhood where same thing happens. Didn’t really bother me. And I admit, her entering a foreign country & being so comfortable when she’s only been in the world once was odd.
Just wanted to share my 2 cents b/c I find it bothers me to read a review based on reading a book out of order. Sad to think readers may lose out on a great series b/c of a review that won’t even make sense to most to those who read the series.
Love the Smart Bitches though! Thanks for doing what you do!
Perhaps I simply should have said that this book does not read well as a stand alone, since I know this to be true of other series. Since I have only read the one book and this is my first ever review it didn’t occur to me to do so and I apologize for my lack of foresight. I still think a reader who starts without reading the books in order will be confused. As for the factual errors, I own those! My opinion of this book has not changed; and as Ms. Geissinger said this one wasn’t for me.
I don’t think it’s a requirement that anyone who picks up a book in the middle of a series HAS to read all the others. Readers encounter books in the middle of a series all the time. Usually the first thing they learn is, “Can I start with this one or will I have no idea what’s going on?” If book 3 is nominated for an award, or book 6, or whatever, and readers pay attention to that award (which I presume the RWA would like readers to do!) then folks are going to pick up that book – because it was nominated. If it’s not accessible to a reader who doesn’t have the backstory, that’s fine, but it will color that reader’s opinion of the book, and, in this case, the review as well. I don’t think it’s fair to say, “Only readers who have read books 1-? can review THIS one because it’s book number 12 in the series.”