Tuesday 24 April 2012

Dark Heart Surrender by Lee Monroe **Review**

Review of Book one: Dark Heart Forever
Review of Book two: Dark Heart Rising
Dark Heart Surrender by Lee Monroe
Series: Dark Heart #3
Pages: 390
Publisher: Hodder Children's
Release date: 5th April 2012
Buy: Book Depository | Amazon UK | Amazon US | Waterstones
Thanks to Hachette for my review copy of this book

If you've not already read books 1 and 2, this synopsis contains a slight spoiler.
Goodreads synopsis:
ONE GIRL. TWO WORLDS. SHATTERED. Jane's world has changed now that Luca, love of her live, inhabits it, and she's happier than she ever thought she could be. But how can a werewolf survive in the real world? When an immortal lives in the mortal world, the natural order of things must change. And what seems perfect, becomes destructive. They've overcome different worlds. But nothing could prepare Jane for this ...

At first, I think it must be said, that I was a little disappointed with this instalment in the series. This, though, is not because the story in this book is uninteresting, but rather because the story doesn't really lead on from Dark Heart Rising. The only thing that is continued from the previous book is Jane and Luca's relationship, but I was hoping that the storyline would also be developed and continued.
I thought that Raphael's story in Dark Heart Rising was really interesting, and we were left with a definite sense of having something more to come from him and his personal quest, but even a book later, we still know nothing new about what is happening with him.
I also really wanted to see more from Soren, and of course from the fabulous Vanya, who remains my favourite character in the series. But we saw nothing from either of them.

That however, is my only real complaint about the book - it was still a really great read in its own right. We get to see Jane and Luca's relationship tested to absolute breaking point, which is always interesting, and satisfying when they overcome the seemingly unsolvable problems they're faced with.

I think what I enjoyed most about this story was the amount of creativity behind it.
Without giving too much away, when the characters started talking about supernatural, evil, mischievous foxes, I immediately though that I was going to be faced with some kind of variation of a Kitsune (a Japanese Fox-Spirit), but what it actually turned about to be was a little more unique than that, which was amazing!
It also added a whole new, and certainly more dangerous twist to the whole series, as we now know that Jane and Luca are still going to have to face danger, even away from the creatures of Nissilum.

Like in Dark Heart Rising, the point-of-view that we're reading from switches from character to character - this time from Jane (obviously), to Luca, and to an entirely new character, Olivia. I enjoyed this in Dark Heart Rising, but it was even more effective in this book!
I loved the confusion that was apparent from both Jane and Luca, and that there appeared to be no reasonable explanation for this (apart from the presence of the mysterious siblings, Ade and Polly). It felt so real to me, mostly, I think, because we get to see each character's confusion and altering emotions first-hand (thanks to the switching point-of-view in the chapters), and when a character had a sudden change of heart, the reader becomes momentarily confused as well.
It was because, on occasion, I felt the same bewilderment as Jane and Luca, that it became suddenly more real to me.

This is just a small thing, but I also really enjoyed seeing Dalya (even as briefly as we did) in the novel, because we get to see her transforming from a little girl into a woman. It was brilliant to see her finally beginning to fill out and fit her mental age - she's been extremely mature since book one.
I can't wait to see what becomes of here in later books.

I'm definitely hoping to see more in this series - but what I would really love to see from the next instalment, is a continuation of the storyline that was left off at the end of Dark Heart Rising. I just feel as though there needs to be a little more continuity throughout the series.
Plus, I'd love to see much more mischievous fun from Vanya!!


44 comments:

Kali Skittles said...

Yikes! Haha, just as I said on my comment on book two, I hate when I want something and I don't get it into a book!

I'm still really excited about these books, but I'm definitely a little more prepared and won't go in expecting certain things now that I've read your reviews. I might actually enjoy it more now that I know what a little to expect from each book! :)

Suz said...

Great review! Glad to hear that book 3 is still good even though it doesn't continue the story from book 2. I'm glad it still switches narrators so we get perpectives from the different characters because I like reading everyone's side! I would love to win this series!

Bridget Howard said...

I have to start by saying that the cover is beautiful!!!! Sometimes its nice to have a little change of story especially since you said the first book was so predictable, but it is disappointing when you connect with a character and you don't get to see more of them!!! Thanks for the great reviews of these books they look really interesting and I'm excited to get to read them!!!!

Read Write Reviews said...

After reading these reviews I'll be picking these up soon.

Unknown said...

Ekk! I'm so very excited to read the ending of this book! Thanks for the great review!!

Anubha said...

I too do not like it when the story is not continued or I have some questions about a character and those go unanswered... But it also sounds from your review that it is still a good read so I will love to give a try to this series... :)

Christina Fiorelli said...

I love it when you get lots of POVs.

Thanks for the review!

Doodle said...

I love reading multiple POVs. I fell like I get to see event from all perspectives.
Great review!

Kimberly @ Caffeinated Reviewer said...

This one sounds exciting, as i love mult pov's , despite not getting to know some characters as much as you wanted..i think i want to read this series!

Kelly said...

I tried not to read too much in your review. It almost seems you weren't too happy with it. I hate seriesn where things really aren't solidly ended. thanks

TayteH said...

Wow. A lot of characters are added. Not sure how I feel. And not continuing close to the second book? Hmm..... I'm ambilivant about it. :D

passant said...

i know how frustrating it is sometimes that some things do not finish when you want them like cliffhangers, however sometimes i would like how authors leave us hanging and creating our own ending or beginnings for the characters!! i guess i ll have to read the book first before i can judge if it really suited to have this kind of thing :D
you got me hooked when you mentioned the mischievous fox, i love japanese culture and their mythology, so i m really intrigued to see how did the author diverge from the origonal idea of the japanese fox story !!!
thanks for the chance to read this amazing series and i wish all the luck with the author!!

Lisa Richards/alterlisa said...

This sounds like a series I'd enjoy as I love have more than one supernatural being in the storyline.

Sarah Elizabeth said...

I hope there's more books too!

Wenny Widy said...

I really can't find this book in my country yet and I really want this :)

Szappanbubi said...

Hmm, like this one is a 'special edition' :)
Maybe it shows us the 'whole picture' after war ...so there's silence and peace, little desperation and suspicion that something bigger bad is coming...O_o

Carrie at In the Hammock Blog said...

this one sounds so unique!! thanks for the reviews!

Filia Oktarina said...

finish read all review. I can't wait to read this series!!

Mary Preston said...

When a author is creative with their writing - well I just love it. It's a shame would you were a bit disappointed with this third book.

Zemira said...

I hope these books will come out soon in Bosnia. I need to get my hands on them.

Unknown said...

So, this 3rd book is a little disappointed? But as you said, this is still a very recommended book. Can't wait to read this series. First, I fell in love with those covers and then reading the review, the stories sound great.

Thank u for the review :)

Sharmaine C said...

Hmmmm... Normally the third book disappoints readers, well I was disappointed in Mockingjay. But maybe I'll enjoy this, who knows? Thanks for the review!

Anonymous said...

I suppose when books are often really good, there'll eventually come a book in a series that doesn't live up to the awesome-ness of the others! Good to see that you still enjoyed it though, although it IS very frustrating when a book doesn't deliver as much as you wanted it to do.

Veronica W. said...

Oh, so the POV is like that in "Shiver"? I love that! :)

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

I can't wait to have this in my bookshelf... Your review is a cliffhanger... What creature? And I want to know more about Olivia... Grr... Thanks for the review by the way... It was nice...

Kate said...

Mischievous foxes? That's a reason to read right there!

Chelsea said...

The books have such awesome covers! :D

Unknown said...

Wow I would love to read this book!

Anonymous said...

Nice review! Another thing I love about these books is their titles. The story seems great too.

Siff said...

Thanks for the review, i'm really intrigued by this series!

Lexie said...

Thank you for a great review even though you are somewhat disappointed to this third book. But hey, its a highly recommended series, right? So I really wanna win this giveaway and see if I would be disappointed too. :D Thank you again! :)

Dovile said...

I'm used to second books not being as great as first in a series, but I hope all three are great anyway.

Jolene and Family said...

I sometimes find that the third or second in a series doesn't hold up to the first. Bummer, yet I'm still anxious to start on this series

aliaa said...

Sounds like an intriguing series

Andrea said...

Looks fine, but something tells me I'll be not so happy D:

roro said...

Thanks for the review, i'm really intrigued by these books

Jaime Lester said...

It is funny to read a review where someone is honestly disappointed in a book, but they also enjoyed it. It definitely comes across even in the most positive of reviews. I haven't had the pleasure of starting this series yet, but I am looking forward to having the chance. It is a little worrisome about what might be coming in the next book, though. Hopefully the story will continue with the things that need to be continued and this series will leave all of its fans at the end with happy, unconfused feelings!!!

Michelle Chew said...

The series still looks good despite the downs you have mentioned! The altering POVs seems interesting for a change. Thanks for sharing.

Debdatta Dasgupta said...

hmmm... you have given this one a 4 star rating yet I feel that the review of the book is like it should be 3. Well Anything 3 and above is good for me so I think I will read this as & when I get my hands on them!

Anonymous said...

I haven't read any of the books in this series yet, but I'm looking forward to reading them, especially with your reviews about them!

The Avid Reader said...

I hate it too when the story-line is not continued into the next book. Its like reading a whole different book sometimes.

Glass said...

ididn't know there are going to be more books... Nice review.

Debora B said...

Hmmm. Not so thrilled about the fact that the storyline doesn't follow the previous book. I'm a very anxious person, so that would probably annoy me a lot. Like with the Wicked Lovely Series; I absolutely love the books, but I had to devour them so I could get to the next and to the continuation of the story I had read previously really fast x) Yeah, I have problems, I know. It is good to hear that this book has very creative conceptions, though. I think creativity is one of the things that can turn a simple book into a masterpiece =) Great review!

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