Tuesday, February 12

Wicked Kiss: Book Review

Wicked Kiss

Michelle Rowen

Harlequin Teen
February 26th 2013
Young Adult | Paranormal
Angel | Demon
Official Blurb - 
MY KISS CAN KILL.

I used to be ordinary Samantha Day, but that's changed. Now, after one dark kiss from a dangerous boy, I can steal someone's soul...or their life. If I give in to the constant hunger inside me, I hurt anyone I kiss. If I don't...I hurt myself.

Bishop is the one whose kiss I crave most, but if I kiss him, I'll kill him. Then there's another boy, one I can't hurt. One whose kiss seems to miraculously quell my hunger. They're both part of a team of angels and demons that's joined forces in my city to fight a mysterious rising darkness, an evil that threatens everyone I know and love. I just wonder if I'll be able to help Bishop-or if I'm just another part of the darkness he's sworn to destroy....

NIGHTWATCHERS

When angels and demons must work together, something beyond evil is rising...

Bishop is quite the puzzle. Even at the end of the book there seems to be so much of him that isn't quite clear. I suppose all his lies are really in the name of protecting something precious to him. It is a good thing that the romantic relationship in this story only flirts with the line of traditional problems. There is a hint of miscommunication and a love triangle. Nothing deep which is good since Bishop wouldn't be able to swim in those sorts of waters. It seems wrong to label this story as containing a love triangle. More like a third wheel scenario. So this threesome have some delightful interactions. The dialog and better yet the actions of some of them are anything but boring. They have some interesting issues.

Kraven is so much more than meets the eye. I found I was more interested in his future as the others worked out theirs. For someone who has been through so much it just seems like there should be some measure of happiness in store for him.

Samantha just keeps finding one more issue after another. Just when it seems like life might be approaching some sort of norm she is thrown another loop. Good thing she is so determined to have just what she wants.

There is so much happening in this story that the pages fly by. This story was definitely harder to put down and walk away from. Very entertaining. A great addition to the first novel.

As everything begins to wrap up it all felt a bit too easy. Much too perfect to be real. As if it would be so simple as: Swallow this soul and call me in the morning. The way this ended felt like this story is only a two book deal. No cliff hanger but a very good feeling of closure. Does anyone know if there is a third book?

Spoiler Section:
Not really sure why Heaven would trust Bishop to watch Samantha. Are they really so blind to how compromised he is by his feelings? He can't be impartial and deliver the sort of results certain scenarios would require. Also, why enroll in her school? Does she need supervision that closely? It certainly doesn't seem Hell feels she needs to have such a close babysitter.

Content:
Language: Mild to moderate
Violence: Moderate to heavy

Moments Divine:

"Feel free to go back to a reasonable stalking distance when we get off this bus."
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"Are you going to kill me?" I gasped for breath. "You better. Because I'm so hungry right now I know I'm going to attack somebody. I can't control this."
"Yeah, right. I'm going to kill you for having a momentary burst of crazy. If I did that, my little brother would carve your initials into my spleen before he cut my head off."
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""So now what happens, little brother? Do you kill her, too? Do you fulfill your Heavenly mission, no matter who your victim has to be? Whatever they say, right? Come on, where's that shiny dagger of yours? Let's get this party started!"
"I'm not killing her," Bishop said evenly, every word as sharp as a blade. "Even if Heaven made it a direct order--I wouldn't do it. I don't care if they destroy this city, if they destroy this entire damn world. I would never hurt her." Kraven made a face. "I think I just threw up a little in my mouth."