Review: Winter Halo by Keri Arthur

Winter Halo

Author: Keri Arthur
Publisher: Signet
Series: Outcast #2
Pages: Mass Market Paperback, 368 pages
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: December 6th 2016

Summary:

From the New York Times bestselling author of the Souls of Fire novels comes the second in the futuristic fantasy series that will make you want to keep the lights on...

When the bombs that stopped the species war tore holes in the veil between worlds, they allowed entry to the Others. Now, a hundred years later, humans and shifters alike live in artificially lit cities designed to keep the darkness at bay....

The humanoid supersoldiers known as the déchet were almost eradicated by the war. Ever since, Tiger has tried to live her life in peace in hiding. But in the wake of her discovery that Central City’s children are being kidnapped and experimented on, Tiger’s conscience won’t let her look the other way.

The key to saving them lies within the walls of a pharmaceutical company called Winter Halo. But as she learns more about the facility, Tiger’s mission is derailed by a complication: Winter Halo’s female security guards are being systematically attacked by an unknown force.

Now Tiger must summon all her gifts to stop those responsible for both atrocities—no matter the cost to herself...

Review:

And just as so often I am not really sure how to rate this.. because there a clearly two different ratings to this book. The first half was simply too slow, basically little to nothing of note happens.
Then suddenly everything changes in the second half, loads of actions but also we get a few (mind you very few answers) There is progress in the romance, the mystery and there is character growth.
The first half to be frank is rather disappointing.
The second half is why I like the series in the first place..

The only thing I liked consistently so far is the world building. I love the idea of dechet. I love the backstory, the world and the different moral aspects that it throws up. It's an interesting take on dystopia with a paranormal spin.

I like Arthurs descriptions, love her writing style. And while Outcast is set a quite different world from what I have read by Arthur up to now, it clearly has Arthurs signature on it. Interesting, imaginative world building, strong female lead (that is a slight bit promiscuous) and strong male lead, that is shrouded in mystery. While I enjoy her descriptions I felt that there was a lot of repetition in the first half. I am not sure why Charles was thrown in the occasion, but the second scene with him, felt like rather the obligatory allotted smut, than anything else.

The character building was similar in that aspect. I found the first half rather uninspired. Looking back it was a repetition of the first book. We already went through all of that with the characters. Though some of it was essential to what followed, I found it too long wound and repetitive. In fact I found myself just annoyed with Tig and Jonas at their arguing.. until things changed.
I like Tig. And now even more than before. I grew to like Jonas, he suddenly looks like an enticing love interest. If you would have asked me about him about 35% I would have said, I am not interested anymore. Now I can't wait to see what else is happening between them. More importantly I wanna see what change has happened and how it will change them individually.
I love Tig's interaction with Bar and Cat. They as a unite have not changed, yet they all seeing thing from different points of view. It's a brilliant dynamic. Very clever done and really beautiful to read about. Their loyalty, compassion and love for each other and how the event affect them individually is simply wonderful.
Penny made a minimal appearance, yet I want to know more. There have been revelations and I am wondering where Arthur is taking this character.
The rest of the support cast, however stayed the same, no growth but that isn't really a negative thing. It kinda highlights, that the changes in the MCs are rather unique considering the circumstances and history.

The plot picks up right where the first book ends. As I said, in the first half not much of interest happens. Then the second half kinda explodes into super fast paced action and we are bombarded with new info and some twists.
Yet looking back, I feel that I wanted more. Not that much has happened, well it kinda has, but we could put it under two main headlines maybe three. I feel like I have loads of questions still, barely any of the ones I was left with after the first book have been answered.

So while the first half was a bit disappointing, the second half was captivating and brilliant.
Now all I want is get my hands on the next installment!




Rating: 

ARC was provided by Publishers through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Review: City Of Light by Keri Arthur

City of Light

Author: Keri Arthur
Publisher: Piatkus Books
Series: Outcast #1
Pages: Paperback, 304 pages
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Dystopia, Sci-Fi
Release Date: January 5th 2016

Summary:

The first in an all-new futuristic fantasy series from Keri Arthur—the New York Times bestselling author of the Souls of Fire novels.

When the bombs that stopped the species war tore holes in the veil between this world and the next, they allowed entry to the Others—demons, wraiths, and death spirits who turned the shadows into their hunting grounds. Now, a hundred years later, humans and shifters alike live in artificially lit cities designed to keep the darkness at bay....

As a déchet—a breed of humanoid super-soldiers almost eradicated by the war—Tiger has spent her life in hiding. But when she risks her life to save a little girl on the outskirts of Central City, she discovers that the child is one of many abducted in broad daylight by a wraith-like being—an impossibility with dangerous implications for everyone on earth.

Because if the light is no longer enough to protect them, nowhere is safe...

Review:

I really enjoyed City of Lights. There were many good surprises and I can't wait to get my hands on the next book.


Let's get straight to the point: I loved the world building. It's imaginative and unique. I like the idea of the dechet. And one slowly gets to know more and more about the past wars, learning about the rifts and the after effects of the past. A complex and interesting world.
I think City of Light shines with the world building- my favorite part of the book.

Tiger is a great female lead and I really liked . This is mostly told from her POV. I loved her vulnerability, her strength and her level-headedness but also her utter kindness. She is a kick-ass hero, who is complex and likable. I liked her choices at the end - in fact I was so upset with Branna and her crew at the time, I felt I would have not been as kind as Tig at the time.
While I found that Branna and her crew were questionable at times- their actions absolutely infuriating- I am intrigued by them- I want to know more. Especially Jonas.
I found the ghost really an interesting part of this. Arthur used them very cleverly, more than that I loved how Tig interacted with them. Their reactions are totally believable and relatable. It ties in with the great world building and I love this aspect just as much.

The plot was despite the huge amount of action scenes quite slow- but steady. In fact not that much happens, I mean lots of battles and stuff but we actually not give that much. The mystery however does keep one entertained and guessing.
I liked the story line even if it is definitely same old same old for Arthur in some ways. Honestly: I thoroughly enjoyed it.
But I was left with a gazillion questions! The fact that I am going to have to wait a while before I get to read the next book is a huge issue! ( in the best possible way(

My biggest issue with this: The romance aspect and the smut. I don't exactly know why Arthur always let's the heroin sleep around- but well, she does. And the sex scenes here were not particularly good, nor did they make much sense to me. I liked Tig's chemistry with Jonas. I didn't think she had any chemistry with Sol. None whatsoever actually.
So I found their relationship off kilter and I didn't believe their supposed old bond.
It's actually quite odd, because Arthur usually excels on the romance parts.
The good news, the romances bits are rather a side track in this. Which was another surprise for me, since I expected this to be a PNR. Which this is not. I really liked that. I am however hoping that we will get some more romance in the next installment.

A solid start to a new series!
The world building is brilliant. I loved most of the character building and enjoyed the mystery and have high hopes for the next installment.
I am intrigued




Side note: I took a long while to read this. But not because the book wasn't any good- I had issues in how the ARC formated on my kindle. I found myself reading a page at times twice or thrice- took ages to read and was quite often distracted by the odd break in between sentences and even words.
I ended up downloading it onto my ipad and reading it on there... Don't ask me why I waiting for nearly half the book to do so, well actually I simply prefer to read novels on my paperwhite- it's way nicer to read on.
This is not a real issue connected to the book- I just thought I mention it, because it took me a couple of weeks to get through the book- which is an eternity really.
Once I gave in and just read it on my ipad- I read this in a few hours.

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