January 7, 2015

Review: Night Blade

Night Blade (Colbana Files, book 1) by J.C. Daniels

night-blade

Genre: Urban Files
Edition Reviewed: eBook
Amazon: Paperback | Kindle
Goodreads: Night Blade (2)

Kit Colbana is always biting off more than she can chew. She has a knack for finding trouble. This time, though, trouble finds her. Someone from her past drops a case into her lap that she just can’t refuse...literally.

People on the Council are dying left and right and she’s been requested to investigate the deaths. The number one suspect? Her lover, Damon. If she doesn't clear his name, he gets a death sentence. Even if she succeeds? They still might try to execute him. Oh, and she’s not allowed to tell him about the case, either.

The stakes are high this time around, higher than they've ever been. Kit may be forced to pay the ultimate price to save her lover’s life...a price that could destroy her and everything she loves.


Review:

The grammar issues I had wondered about before . . . apparently it wasn't an update I had missed. Sure they aren’t as prolific in Night Blade, but they are here. Frequently. Ah!!!! What the heck! Am I the only one noticing this? Because everyone else is leaving glowing reviews with no mention of any grammar issues. It's nothing too shocking. Just repeated words before and then after some words, a small misplaced, or an incorrect word. At least the repetitive phrases seemed to stop and Kit was only called stupid a few times so it wasn't unbearable.

While I wouldn't say that the last book borrowed from Kate Daniels, Night Blade definitely squashes any fear that the series can’t stand on its own. Even better is that the sketchy and jumpy writing of the first book is all but gone. Clearly Daniels has smoothed out a few kinks.

Even for a brief moment in the beginning of the book Damon seemed like a better character. Sure he was growling about Kit living her life doing the job that she was doing before he met her. Making me totally agree with Kit that she had been taking care of herself long before him, and she shouldn't have to change a thing. Then . . . boom. The Damon asshole that plagued the first book totally reared his ugly head and took a giant shit all over. Kit is doing hard things to save Damon. Yet, by Damon being secretive and going psycho to protect Kit—no, it was not romantic—he not only put his life on the line, but made Kit the center of a shit storm. One that Kit basically had to go the long way to figure out to save Damon’s life. And that long way was only more shit on top.

So everyone else understands the hints Kit gives them as she is magically bespelled by her Ex to not speak a word of what she's doing. To not even really think about it. Everyone, gets it. But when Kit finally has to address it with Damon and try and tell him what's going on the man—he. Ugh. He. Ahhhhhhhhh! It's basically their first real fight, he accuses her of not trusting him and he shows that he doesn't trust her. (Oh, and mainly because she can’t go back to his place right then.) Basically telling her it's over and running off like a freaking pubescent-whiny-teen. If they make up I'm gonna be so pissed off. Then when the whole world collapses down on Kit—come on who was the big bad last time that wanted her so much—and she's left open because she's so worried about Damon, he simply expects to snarl his way in and play hero.

Justin, the Ex who bespelled Kit and created the “mess”—was actually an amazing character. At this point I find him a much better love interest. Besides it's all Damon's fault and no one can convince me otherwise. Damon comes to rescue her I give him that. But that’s after he abandoned her and left her to the wolves. Justin is the hero in my eyes. As it ends up  Kit doesn't want to see Damon. Not because he basically betrays her, but because all the horrible-horrible-horrible stuff that happens in this book has “broken” her. Thank the book gods that she didn't think those horrid words of how she's now “sullied” for him. Oh, it would be over if Kit did that. Over!

This book is insane. Damon is one of the worst male “heroes” I've ever read, and I have serious doubts as to whether Daniels can pull an Arthur and create a Quinn transformation. At times I was close to reaching that happy reading place. Then it would crash and I'd enter . . . that dark reading place that I just won't rant about. However, the power of the last 30-40ish pages can not be ignored. The horror and sudden strong power of the writing can not be ignored . (Even with the grammar issues. Really, am I the only one seeing this????! No way it's my Reader sabotaging the books.) Sadly I've already purchased the next book. Can't. Look. Away.

Sexual Content: Sex, rape, and not overly detailed. Plenty of sexual humor and horrid things. Like I said nothing is overly detailed.

  
2/5- Average/disappointing, library check-out.


Previous book(s) in series:
Reviewed on BW: Amazon: Goodreads:
Blade Song (1)
Night Blade (2)
Broken Blade (3)
Edged Blade (4)
Blade Song (1)
Night Blade (2)
Broken Blade (3)
Edged Blade (4)
Blade Song (1)
Night Blade (2)
Broken Blade (3)
Edged Blade (4)

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