My Wicked Enemy

This wasn't one of my favorite novels, probably not even in the top twenty. It had a certain appeal, what with demons, mages, magehelds and the overpowering magic. But this book just didn't seem to reach out to me as others have in the past. I had trouble connecting with the characters, almost as if the author just didn't put enough behind them and there wasn't enough passion for the reader to feel. I also didn't feel the spark, or emotions between Nikodemus or Carson. I wouldn't recommend reading this book unless you've already picked it up and really have nothing else to read. It wasn't very enjoyable. The world of magic and demons just didn't suck me in. I definitely will not be picking up the next one.

I should probably state up-front that I never like overly erotic urban fantasy or paranormal romance. I like the romatnic elements but could do without the overly-descriptive sex. I'm not a prude, but that idea is that I wnated ot be entertained when I read these kinds of novels. If I want to be aroused, I'll read erotic fiction or literature specifically geared towards that. One should just keep that in mind when reading this review.

Therefore, I wasn't too keen on this novel. It reminded me too much of Laurell K. Hamilton's later work in the Anita Blake series. Carson is great at the beginning, sweet and naive... but by the end it becomes all about how much power she has, how she may be becoming a mix of species, and how much sexual experimentation is she willing to go through with Nikodemus.

That's a bit of a turn-off for me, as I said, because I'm a traditionalist when I'm reading novels. For hot and sexy, I go elsewhere. I don't want to read about characters who are nearly omnipotent or whom absolutely everyone is iresistibly attracted to. While Carson isn't quite invincible, there's a lot that lends itself to her someday becoming so.

I also found Nikodemus a little odd. It's hinted that he is incredibly old, but there were occasions that felt a little immature or too "modern." I have reservations about the idea of someone living thousands of years but becoming attached to a t-shirt purchased from a popular website. It just felt a little too anachronistic compared to the old world feel of the other characters, the history of their universe, and the hierarchy within the species.

As for the mythos itself, that I did like. There's some similarites between the idea of the mages and fiends and the weather wardens and djinn in Rachel Caine's Weather Wardens series. There's the same concept of the former posessing the latter to do their bidding. That could lead down some interesting story paths and I enjoyed those bits more than the others.

If you're looking for something hot and steamy with supernatural elements, you're more than likely to enjoy this. Otherwise, it's not something I would keep following as there wasn't enough of the elements I actually like.