Ravenous (Dark Forgotten Series #1)

Series Potential Ruined By Romantic Format

Although this debut started well, with likable main characters and a promising supernatural plot/world, everything was just too condensed and rushed. The moderately complex and convoluted story line, (which involves creating portals to call forth a master demon through death magic, obtaining gullible human assistance, and the demon's ultimate plan of revenge and take-over), should have been developed over the course of at least a two to three books. Instead, it's all crammed into one overstuffed/unconvincing novel to make room for the next romance on the list. Further, the main characters should have been given time to develop naturally. The electric chemistry between the primary characters is squandered and, then, obliterated by their premature union. There's simply no character realism when the heroine, witch Holly Carver, is in love with her human boyfriend one day, gets dumped by him the next, wantonly kisses a virtually unknown detective the following day and, then, discovers that she loves her vampire partner, Caravelli, on the fourth. Further, no one who loves another, (as Caravelli supposedly loves Holly), would so readily and blithely deprive that loved one of their free will. All available options would be checked-out first with all available experts. It's unfortunate that the author decided to write this as an episodic romantic series featuring different leads with each addition. Holly and Caravelli would have made an intriguing/magnetic pair as paranormal partners. I'm not interested in reading romance novels featuring different characters in every book, but I would have been interested in an ongoing supernatural/investigative series featuring Holly and Caravelli.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Sensational New Author and Debut Story!

Wow! A fascinating and suspenseful debut book for Sharon Ashwood! She really knows how weave a sexy, romantic love story between a spunky witch and a seductive vampire! The mysterious plot will have you trying to figure out who is a traitor and who is not!! I cant wait for the next installment in the dark forgotten series!!

A great book for the reader looking to escape into the imagination.

A book that makes you want to keep reading. The characters are engaging with a heroine who can hold her own and a dangerous man you just love to root for. It had plenty to fuel the imagination, was fun, suspenseful with a sense of danger, and the romance angle added heat. I enjoyed it and will definitely be picking up the sequel.

Nice debut

Here we have yet another debut and first-in-series novel. If this initial outing is any indication, The Dark Forgotten will prove to be a formidable new series. While the book contains the requisite vamps and werewolves, among other species, the world in which they live and the abilities that each creature possesses is honestly unique to the genre. I especially liked the fact that a vampire bites is addicting and the tension this adds to the relationship between Holly and Alessandro.

To finish reading this review, head to my blog, Undercover Book Lover.

http://undercoverbooklover.blogspot.com/2009/05/review-ravenous-by-sharon-ashwood.html

Fantabulous!

I absolutely loved this story from beginning to end! The book starts off running and never slows down. Holly Carver is a witch who is running the family's ghost-busting business. In a world where sorcerers, vampires, witches, werewolves, ghouls, ghosts and demons have been revealed to human society, business is pretty good. Holly and her vampire partner Alessandro Caravelli encounter a ghost-busting job gone wrong, that exposes them to the demon realm. This realm is pretty much a prison that was made centuries ago by human sorcerers. Demons are using a tear in the fabric of reality as a portal. The demon-realm's guards have been known to hunt down those who have escaped and drag them back; however, they will also drag anyone who is not human with them. In order to save herself and others like her, Holly puts her life on the line to close the portal. Meanwhile, several sacrificial murders with vampire signatures have been exposed; Alessandro and Omara, the vampire queen, who is also the liaison between the supernatural and human worlds, fight tooth and nail to keep intact the thin thread of ceasefire between both. Ravenous is a perfect title for this book. Sharon exposes us to several types of hunger; from depraved vampire blood lust, starving ghouls, insatiable human vampire blood-slaves, famished soul sucking demons, power-hungry poltergeist, to even ravenous sexual appetites. I loved this book; I literally couldn't put it down. Sharon's writing style and world building are superb! There is plenty of suspense and humor in this book; with loads of action and pretty inventive fighting scenes. Holly's character is consistently tough and smart. I looked forward to the second book in the series, Scorched due out 12/1/09.

Good read but no new territory

I wasn't really grabbed by this book. It's okay, but it doesn't break new ground in the urban fantasy genre. It's still a good read, just not on the level of Kim Harrison, Patricia Briggs, Ilona Andrews or Karen Chance. Still if you are looking for something to read on a rainy day, you can feel confident that this book will entertain you.

Vampires, Witches, Demons...this ones got it all!

I got my hands on a review copy of this new novel. Basically the plot revolves around a young and powerful, witch named Holly Carver who does `ghost busting¿ to pay the bills. She often teams up with the vampire, Alessandro Caravelli, for the tougher jobs. Holly has some difficulties using powers and is uncomfortable with her potent attraction to Alessandro. Soon Omara, Alessandro¿s queen, shows up in town to complicate matters--as well as something much older and much more evil.

Upon reading it the first thing I did was fall in love with the hero, Alessandro Caravelli. Is this the only good thing about the novel? Heck no! The writer, Sharon Ashwood, has done a fabulous job with the plot. It keeps its pace throughout the novel, has juicy substance, and makes it across the finish line without losing its oomph. As well, Ashwood¿s world building is believable, unlike some of the sf/fantasy type novels, including the romance genre, that I¿ve read over the years. The background, magical structure and mechanics are plausible and won¿t leave you scratching your head in mystification. The characterization in the novel is zesty and each of the protagonists has enough internal conflict to make them interesting and keep us rooting for them all the way.

Ashwood has incorporated enough romance and hot sex among the adventures to keep us satisfied. This gets me back to Alessandro¿¿.

This tongue in cheek, action-packed jocular urban fantasy hooks the reader from the opening moment

In Fairview, Registered Witch Holly Carver of the Three Sisters Agency is a house cleaner who rids homes of haunting, poltergeists and other paranormal varmints. She is having a tough time with Steve Raglan¿s Victorian better known as the dangerous Flanders place. If she didn¿t need tuition money she would never take on the job of kicking the butt of a haunt from this Amityville-like abode especially since she realizes the house is hungry and she does not want to be fast food. However, six people including kids are trapped inside as lunch if not rescued. She succeeds with the help of her undead business partner Alessandro Caravelli but the haunted house almost dined on her.

Soon afterward her boyfriend dumps her and she learns a demon escaped from a portal her ancestors failed to shut properly. Holly feels responsibility since her family failed to do their job. She is not a highly regarded spellcaster, but vows to kick the demon in the butt back to the other side and shut the gateway. Her grandmother advises her and police detective Conall Macmillan helps her though he suffers from ¿psychic flu¿ he caught from kissing a siren in a bar. Alessandro tries to to help the love of his life Holly, but knows to do so will alienate his vampire Queen Omara, who demands total loyalty from her vamps. Besides everyone knows vampires are like chocolates; tempting to keep biting but too much can prove a sweet death.

This tongue in cheek, action-packed jocular urban fantasy hooks the reader from the opening moment when the audience sees Holly¿s business card and never slows down as she becomes popular, as the most sought after individual in the area from hordes who want her dead before she can close the portal. Well written with Fairview seemingly real as coming acrsss as the paranormal capital of the world and the supernatural feeling natural, the sub-genre audible will relish the adventures of Holly Carver, Registered Witch.

Harriet Klausner

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