Mel's Reviews > Crave

The first book of the Fallen Angels series, Covet, introduced us to Jim Heron, a former XOps soldier who –much to his own surprise– was appointed as the key player in the ultimate game of good versus evil. Crave is round two in that game, in where angels (leather clad, tattooed and pierced) and a demoness (with OCD) battle for the fate of seven souls and the future of mankind. Meanwhile: there is a love blossoming between an unlikely couple: cage fighter and former XOps soldier Isaac Rothe and his public defender Grier Childe.

I really wanted to love this book. I was very much intrigued by Covet, which was just the right amount of dark urban fantasy elements combined with romance, and I couldn’t wait to find out more about Jim, his posse and his mission.
Unfortunately I was slightly disappointed with Crave. Don’t get me wrong: it was an okay book. But I didn’t think it was as intense and entertaining as Ward’s other books and, more importantly, I felt there were a lot of missed opportunities. Ward could have done so much more with both the love story and the general plot, but I felt like she took the easy way out and simplified something that could have had much more depth.

The romance started out great. I immediately liked Isaac and the tension between him and Grier was tangible. But somewhere along the line their story ended up going in circles and falling flat (with a last minute trip to Sapville, argh!).
I also couldn’t quite warm up to Grier. Maybe it was because she was supposed to be oh so smart but did a lot of stupid things (I get it: a little suspension of disbelief is in order but some actions and events bordered on ridiculous). Or maybe it was because she had a tendency of reflecting on and paraphrasing Isaac’s thoughts and actions (which probably meant to underline Grier’s emphatic ability but it just felt like she was spelling out things which we as readers could figure out for ourselves). Either way, I couldn’t really be invested in her character.

I was more intrigued by Matthias, one of the many characters to get their own POV. I liked being in the heads of Devina and Matthias. I appreciated the fact that Ward wanted to give us something else (something not particularly evil) about these two evil characters, although I think she didn’t do it nearly enough as to really create grounds to invest in them.
Same goes for Adrian. This might sound like a cheap shot but I felt like Ward is portraying him as a Brother, but one who –however swoonworthy– still remains in cardboard territory for me.

The story had an interesting twist towards the ending and I was pleasantly surprised by it. Unfortunately, the ending itself felt rushed and actually fell flat.
I also couldn’t appreciate the amount of (made up) slang. It was ridiculous! And the fact that all characters occasionally spoke like 12 year olds trying to act cool, made their narrative voices blend in together. I sometimes had to check who I was reading about.

*light spoiler* My biggest disappointment, however, was the story line of Jim. I was really looking forward to learning more about him and I was expecting (/hoping for?) a little moral ambiguity; afterall: he was chosen by both sides to be their most valuable player. I think it would have made a very interesting premise and would create more depth to his character, but Ward wouldn’t go there. I felt like she took the easy way by making her character indisputably good. She ended up doing the same for a second character, which I truly found a waste as it defeated the whole purpose of the message of the book, which is that we are not our past and everyone can be redeemed if they really want to.