Review: Crave (Fallen Angels #2) J.R. Ward

Crave (Fallen Angels #2) by J.R. Ward
Published October 5th 2010 by Signet
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

About the book
Seven deadly sins. Seven souls that must be saved. One more no-holds- barred battle between a fallen angel with a hardened heart and a demon with everything to lose.

Isaac Rothe is a black ops soldier with a dark past and a grim future. The target of an assassin, he finds himself behind bars, his fate in the hands of his gorgeous public defender Grier Childe. His hot attraction to her can only lead to trouble-and that's before Jim Heron tells him his soul is in danger. Caught up in a wicked game with the demon who shadows Jim, Isaac must decide whether the soldier in him can believe that true love is the ultimate weapon against evil.

My Thoughts

Crave is a great installment to the Fallen Angels series by J.R. Ward. This is the second time I’ve noticed that this author seems to hit her stride after the first book. She does a much better job in this book of developing the characters, carrying the plot to an even more intriguing level and infusing just the right amount of back-story to make you feel like you’ve comfortably falling into the storyline.

Not sure how this happened, but in this book I’m actually feeling compassion toward Devina. The poor demon has OCD, she has to see a therapist for her hording issues, and she’s fallen for the one person that can define the future of humanity, thus stripping her of her powers and possibly existence. Now, I don’t agree with what she’s doing and how she treated Jim in this book, but she periodically reveals her moments of weakness in a way that I can’t help but want to fist bump her when she scores one for her team.

I’m surprised with how my feelings toward Adrian changed in this book. I didn’t care for him too much in the book because of how he betrayed Jim by practically carrying him into the demon’s lair, but in this book when Jim is rescued, Adrian shows his shift in loyalty and commitment to Jim, which was quite redeeming. I like Jim a lot more in this book, but I don’t feel he did much to score one point for the good side, so the outcome didn’t surprise me. Eddie was steady as always, which I sort of feel like he’s become my favorite of this band of do-gooders.

I liked how this installment included a military feel where Jim is presented with his second opportunity to influence the course of humanity where the ultimate outcome is either redemption or condemnation. In Crave we meet Isaac and Grier (love that name btw) and they are being targeted because Isaac is fleeing from the XOps. This book provides a ton of action and before you know it, the ride is over. Very fast paced IMO and overall, I’m pleased with how this series is progressing. I can’t wait for the next book.

4 Suns

Review: Covet (Fallen Angels #1) by J.R. Ward

Covet (Fallen Angels #1) by J.R. Ward
Published October 29th 2009 by Signet
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

About the book
Redemption isn’t a word Jim Heron knows much about—his specialty is revenge, and to him, sin is all relative. But everything changes when he becomes a fallen angel and is charge with saving the souls of seven people from the seven deadly sins. And failure is not an option. Vin DiPietro long ago sold his soul to his business, and he’s good with that — until fate intervenes in the form of a tough- talking, Harley-riding, self-professed savior. But then he meets a woman who will make him question his destiny, his sanity, and his heart—and he has to work with a fallen angel to win her over and redeem his own soul.

My Thoughts

Interesting new series by J.R. Ward, but not quite as captivating as her Black Dagger Brotherhood series. However if you’re a die-hard fan of this author, I think The Fallen Angels series will keep you entertained as you wait for the release of the next BDB book.

Covet did suffer from a slow start, and I had a little issue with the setting and surrounding characters paralleling the BDB universe. I would have preferred for this series to stand on its own in that respect.

In addition, I’ve never been a huge fan of the whole fallen angels concept, but then again, I’ve only tried the YA attempts and the two that I’ve read were pretty much disappointing.  The concept of this book takes a while to grasp and digest and the characters aren’t anything extraordinary or squee-worthy really, but in the end, you have to admit it was slightly entertaining.

I liked Jim, but not as a MC, so we’ll see if I decide to go along with him on his journey as he’s chosen for possessing two halves, both good and bad in equal measure, and is presented with seven chances to influence his fellow man; and if he performs as the ‘good’ angels believe he will, the outcome shall save the souls in question and they shall prevail over the other side of life, ultimately allowing humanity to continue to thrive.

Seems like a far stretch, but overall you get caught up in the lives of those Jim is trying to influence, so the story eventually falls into place. Interesting and better in terms of other stories I’ve read on fallen angels, but still not high on my rating scale.

3 Suns