Kris’ New Year’s Readolution 3! To try a different author and/or genre once a month.
I was hoping to get a chance to do one of my more detailed ‘thoughts’ about this book; however, RL has intervened majorly in the past 4 weeks so here’s a taste instead!
Mourning Doves by Angela Romano
The Blurb:
In the world of the future, humans uneasily walk side by side with “Kin”—humanoids with animal mutations. TASK was formed to help ease the way for human and Kin to exist together. The program also deals with the problems those differences cause.
Leander Kale and his partner, Epsilon Maddox, are one of TASK’s top teams with a special bond all their own. Praised for their abilities and cursed for their existence, Leander and Epsilon struggle to do what they do best: hunt the Hunters, a breed of Kin that lives only to infect others and kill. But now there’s a leak inside TASK, an informant telling the Hunters when a team is closing in, giving them a critical advantage and a chance to escape.
That leaves Leander, Epsilon, and the other TASK members fighting blind—fighting for their lives and the lives of all of humanity. All they need is one lead, one clue to help them find the traitor, and they have to find it before the Hunters invade TASK itself and destroy them all.
Why I bought it:
Are you kidding? Look at that Anne Cain cover. Plus, hello… mutants! Can anyone say X-Men??
Dislike/like (ending on a high note):
Dislike~ The main issue I had with this book was that I thought too much was going on. By this I don’t mean that the plot was convoluted, rather the pacing did not let up at all. Not bad for those of you who like their action, but I admit by the end I kept thinking to myself “He got shot AGAIN! Jesus. Does the author hate his guts or what?!”
Like~ It was refreshing to read a story so different to the ‘standard’ shifter tales. This, together with the plot, the characters and the crime/ thriller/ conspiracy threads, gave it a real edginess that I enjoyed very much.
Dislike~ This relates to my point about ‘too much going on’. Mourning Doves is not only about Leander and Epsilon, but also tells the stories of two other couples. My preference would have been for the book to focus solely on the relationship between Leander and Epsilon. I got to the end and wanted a deeper understanding of the connection between the two men and of their feelings for each other.
Like~ In a similar way to my being ‘the stuff of legends’, Mourning Doves is ‘the stuff of epilogues’. The last few pages of the epilogue in particular were simply awesome and left me with a deep feeling of satisfaction at a HFN well done. This, to my mind, is what a real epilogue should do.
So, what I think:
A good paranormal story by this first time author which will appeal to those who like their shifter stories, especially as it will offer them something different from the norm. Angela Romano is, I think, an author to definitely look out for in the future.
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‘Tasting’ is my version of a mini-review where I talk a (very) little about what I liked and disliked about a book as well as who I think the story will appeal to. Oh, and I’ve added a bit about why I picked up the book in the first place – sometimes this can be interesting to know.
Kris + Books = Good. *Sometimes*. 
Great review, Kris. I’ve looked at this one several times and umed and ahed about it. I think I’ll give it a go now, especially since DSP are having a 15% off sale at the moment.
Like the new background by the way, the white on black always gives me a headache to read (you see the sacrifices I’ve had to make to read your blog every day, Kris. I’m your number one fan.).
I think it is a good read, although as I said there was a heck of a lot going on in the story. Also, not a lot of romance happens between the two main characters; however, their absolute loyalty and commitment to one another as well as their deep feelings is fairly obvious.
Glad you like the new backrgound. I switched my browser to Google Chrome and all the font changes were making it difficult for me to read let alone anyone else! Hopefully this will make it easier on everyone’s eyes, especially those of you who have been making the ultimate sacrifice… #1 fans included. 😉
I’ve just changed to Google Chrome too. Not sure how I feel about the font thing yet. It seems a bit sparse. I’m giving myself a few weeks to see if I can get used to it.
Well that sounds kind of cool. Do they REALLY shift or stay in half form like on the cover? I read a short recently where the guy could shift into a tiger but in his non-shifter form he still had a tail and strips (lighter of course). Kind of different. I like busy books sometimes. I’ll keep it in mind. (As if I don’t have enough books to keep me busy for weeks now. LOL)
Hi Kris!
I love the cover of the book but unlike you, I thought the plot was totally convoluted. I thought all the circular action (he ran away from home only to end up back there almost immediately) made it mind buzzing. Plus I didn’t think it was terribly creative with the bearrs, wylfs, and kits. It reads like fanfiction that got picked up and sold by DSP.
Now if the author had spread this out as a series – something like 3/4 books I think this could have been a real fascinating bunch of books.
I do like the new background!
Jen: I was just having too many problems with IE – like trying to pay my bills on websites that hadn’t yet upgraded or even planned to – to go back to it. I’ll stick to GC and the upgrades are coming through thick and fast as well, which is good.
Tam: If my memory serves they do both. There are variations of the mutation, including those who have been created in labs.
“As if I don’t have enough books to keep me busy for weeks now. LOL”
*snort* Read, woman, read!!!
A) Love the new look dahlink. You’ve finally come into the light. Though I liked the black I like the grey as well. When I first started blogging my background was dark blue and it was HARD to break away from that! 🙂
The book sounds good – interesting in an action packed way.
Hey Kassa! 😉
Fanfic is something that has not really interested me at all so I’ve not read enough of it – maybe 1 or 2 – stories to be able comment about that aspect.
I thought it gave a different take on the standard shifter story – you know pack rules, you’re my mate, etc kind of stuff – to keep me interested, even if some of the tropes were still familiar.
You found it convoluted?? I can see why because of the ‘busy-ness’ of the story. Despite all of the threads and sub-plots, I didn’t find it confusing at all. Your point about it being circular is an interesting one. I agree with you that it was in places. I actually took that to be deliberately done by the author because of what ended up to be connections between the past and present as well as the way the villian was leading them all around by the nose. 🙂
I’m with you all the way with your comment about spreading the story over a series of books. I think it would have been much better served in this type of format.
You like the background. Goodo. All the money that you save on not having to buy glasses and headache medication can now go on books. LOL.
Kassa: Look at me talking your head off. *g*
Tracy: Thanks lovey. You think it’s grey too? *My eye sight must be worst than I thought.*
I liked this book even with the issues I had with it. Very actioned packed and lots of different stories. It’s probably best to try and read it while your girls and hubby are busy with other things so as to allow maximum concentration. 🙂
What color do you think it is?
Or should I say supposed to be?
*shrugs* Something not grey-ish.
Its blue. Light gray-blue, but blue. To me.
Oh, thank God. I thought I was the only one who could see the blue in it.
Yeah, um…grey. I looked in both Firefox and IE. Sorry. 🙂
Are you sure it’s not blue?? Take another look.
Hi again Kris!
I should have clarified because while I wasn’t confused on the plot, I thought it had way too many side plots and a lot of details left out which to me made it convoluted. I’m probably using that word wrong (yea, I’m *definitely* no editor). Details such as the shifting and their human form would be clothed down to shoes, guns, and cell phones (hehe). Plus the scene changes where one scene it’s an action scene and the next the two lesbians are talking about going out on a date to the anonymous dream sequence. I kept wanting to say lesbians in 1 book and Wolf/Mercedes in another.
I think it’s fascinating that you took that to be a deliberate act of the author, whereas I took that to be unintentional. That’s really interesting and I’ll have to think about that. I also wish the main characters had been together. I kept hoping! Though I’m sure there will be sequels.
BTW – I use Safari and the background is blue to me, but it was gray earlier. 😀
Again, Kassa, I’m totally with you on preferring each of the couples having their own stories.
I too wished that there was focus on the main characters. I would not describe this book as a romance between them by any stretch of the imagination, although they were pretty obviously devoted to each other. Having said that, I think that’s one of the reasons why I did so love the last few pages of the epilogue. It left me with a great HFN and dreaming of a possible future. 🙂 What can I say, I’m such a romantic. LOL.
The colour was gray earlier, but is now blue?? How very odd. *shrugs*
That was a great review Kris. Amd it sounds like this is definitely an author to keep an eye on 🙂
I’m with Henre – like the new colour scheme. Fingers crossed June is a bit less hectic for you!
Sorry, that should have read Jenre! I think I need to light the fire as my fingers are getting numb!
Hey Orannia, I will definitely look out for this author in the future.
Glad you like the new colour scheme too. You guys should have all told me earlier that the other one was a bit hard to read… or are my plans for keeping you all terrified of me working?? LOL.
Is it getting cold in NZL then?? It’s not been too bad here in Perth yet.
June *sigh* will be more of the same. End of financial year sucks big time for sole traders. 😦
Um, ok…let me see. Nope, nothing’s changed still grey. Although I DID appreciate the subliminal messages you were trying to give. 🙂 lol
Ya sure about the colour?? LOL. I thought people would like my message. 😉