I won an unabridged copy of Slave to Sensation over at the All About Romance Blog (thanks!) and read it for Leas Audiobook column.
I have to say I was expecting a super fantastic read. This is a series that seems to be a favorite of many of my goodreads (and real life) friends but Im afraid it didnt quite live up to the amazing read I had built up in my head. It wasnt bad, not by any means, but it didnt leave behind any lingering emotions or sense of awe. Ill read more of them, I am intrigued but I wasnt blown away by any of it.
Im not going to rehash the plot because so many have done it so well and Im lazy. Im just going to jump in with my random thoughts, issues and complaints.
The narrator did a decent enough job, I think she got Saschas monotone down pat but I have to admit the entire reading was a wee bit too emotion-less and sleepy inducing. Even sexy Lucas was all quiet and breathy. He was a sexy panther-creature but I couldnt sense the purrs nor the growls and had to rewind on numerous occasions because I didnt catch what he was saying. I can get what the narrator was doing but it just didnt do it for me.
The world-building was well done and relatively interesting without being too over-powering BUT the love story just didnt have enough awww moments to hook me and I felt a little detached from the whole thing. I know, I know, Im too freaking picky. The shared sensual dreams and Saschas introduction to the world of sensation, sex, food, etc. was fun to read and I enjoyed watching the bonds shared by the changelings and loved the shoe nibbling cubs wish there was more of that stuff.
In the end, there was too much psy-techy talk, suspense and too many characters for me. I like more intimate character studies I guess and the balance in this type of PNR novel is a difficult one. Its a solidly written, good book but it didnt have that something special to knock me over the edge into 5 start territory and if Im being completely honest, I found myself bored through too much of it. I never felt moved by any emotion (maybe Im just dead inside!). I actually listened to this twice to be sure it wasnt my mood or that Id missed something special the first time around but alas I still felt the same way on the second reading.
I have to say I was expecting a super fantastic read. This is a series that seems to be a favorite of many of my goodreads (and real life) friends but Im afraid it didnt quite live up to the amazing read I had built up in my head. It wasnt bad, not by any means, but it didnt leave behind any lingering emotions or sense of awe. Ill read more of them, I am intrigued but I wasnt blown away by any of it.
Im not going to rehash the plot because so many have done it so well and Im lazy. Im just going to jump in with my random thoughts, issues and complaints.
The narrator did a decent enough job, I think she got Saschas monotone down pat but I have to admit the entire reading was a wee bit too emotion-less and sleepy inducing. Even sexy Lucas was all quiet and breathy. He was a sexy panther-creature but I couldnt sense the purrs nor the growls and had to rewind on numerous occasions because I didnt catch what he was saying. I can get what the narrator was doing but it just didnt do it for me.
The world-building was well done and relatively interesting without being too over-powering BUT the love story just didnt have enough awww moments to hook me and I felt a little detached from the whole thing. I know, I know, Im too freaking picky. The shared sensual dreams and Saschas introduction to the world of sensation, sex, food, etc. was fun to read and I enjoyed watching the bonds shared by the changelings and loved the shoe nibbling cubs wish there was more of that stuff.
In the end, there was too much psy-techy talk, suspense and too many characters for me. I like more intimate character studies I guess and the balance in this type of PNR novel is a difficult one. Its a solidly written, good book but it didnt have that something special to knock me over the edge into 5 start territory and if Im being completely honest, I found myself bored through too much of it. I never felt moved by any emotion (maybe Im just dead inside!). I actually listened to this twice to be sure it wasnt my mood or that Id missed something special the first time around but alas I still felt the same way on the second reading.
I have to say I was expecting a super fantastic read. This is a series that seems to be a favorite of many of my friends but I'm afraid it didn't quite live up to the amazing read I had built up in my head. It wasn't bad, not by any means, but it didn't leave behind any lingering emotions or sense of awe. I'll read more of them, I am intrigued but I wasn't blown away by any of it.
I'm not going to rehash the plot because so many have done it so well and I'm lazy. I'm just going to jump in with my random thoughts, issues and complaints.
The narrator did a decent enough job, I think she got Sascha's monotone down pat but I have to admit the entire reading was a wee bit too emotion-less and sleepy inducing. Even sexy Lucas was all quiet and breathy. He was a sexy panther-creature but I couldn't sense the purrs nor the growls and had to rewind on numerous occasions because I didn't catch what "he" was saying. I can get what the narrator was doing but it just didn't do it for me.
The world-building was well done and relatively interesting without being too over-powering BUT the love story just didn't have enough "awww" moments to hook me and I felt a little detached from the whole thing. I know, I know, I'm too picky. The shared sensual dreams and Sascha's introduction to the world of "sensation", sex, food, etc. was fun to read and I enjoyed watching the bonds shared by the changelings and loved the shoe nibbling cubs wish there was more of that stuff.
In the end, there was too much psy-techy talk, suspense and too many characters for me. I like more intimate character studies I guess and the balance in this type of PNR novel is a difficult one. It's a solidly written, good book but it didn't have that something special to knock me over the edge into 5 start territory and if I'm being completely honest, I found myself bored through too much of it. I never felt moved by any emotion (maybe I'm just dead inside!). I actually listened to this twice to be sure it wasn't my mood or that I'd missed something special the first time around but alas I still felt the same way on the second reading.
I'm not going to rehash the plot because so many have done it so well and I'm lazy. I'm just going to jump in with my random thoughts, issues and complaints.
The narrator did a decent enough job, I think she got Sascha's monotone down pat but I have to admit the entire reading was a wee bit too emotion-less and sleepy inducing. Even sexy Lucas was all quiet and breathy. He was a sexy panther-creature but I couldn't sense the purrs nor the growls and had to rewind on numerous occasions because I didn't catch what "he" was saying. I can get what the narrator was doing but it just didn't do it for me.
The world-building was well done and relatively interesting without being too over-powering BUT the love story just didn't have enough "awww" moments to hook me and I felt a little detached from the whole thing. I know, I know, I'm too picky. The shared sensual dreams and Sascha's introduction to the world of "sensation", sex, food, etc. was fun to read and I enjoyed watching the bonds shared by the changelings and loved the shoe nibbling cubs wish there was more of that stuff.
In the end, there was too much psy-techy talk, suspense and too many characters for me. I like more intimate character studies I guess and the balance in this type of PNR novel is a difficult one. It's a solidly written, good book but it didn't have that something special to knock me over the edge into 5 start territory and if I'm being completely honest, I found myself bored through too much of it. I never felt moved by any emotion (maybe I'm just dead inside!). I actually listened to this twice to be sure it wasn't my mood or that I'd missed something special the first time around but alas I still felt the same way on the second reading.
