Lincoln (Angelbound Lincoln, #2)

by Christina Bauer

[Inkslinger]

ARC provided by Monster House Books and Christina Bauer via NetGalley. All opinions are mine and freely given.

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07-13: Admittedly, I read the Angelbound Lincoln series out of order.. but I really enjoyed both the pre-quel and the third book. So, I expected to love one that centered on the Thrax prince himself.. even more.

'Lincoln,' book two in the series, somehow didn't read as smoothly to me as either of the others.

The second installment follows Prince Lincoln, a part-angel demon killer, as he comes into his own. He has fallen for a quasi-demon girl named Myla.. but his people see anyone demonic as the enemy.. and the PITA neighboring kingdom of Acca is determined to win the right to hunt her.

In an effort to protect her, he's been a first class jerk to keep her at a distance from him, but as time has passed.. he's only become more enamored and more aware that the precariousness of her situation continues to grow.

As I've said before.. Bauer has done a wonderful job with the world building. The races she employs in her stories are a quirky, but fascinating combination of beings.. the magic bases are interesting, and the villains are nothing if not persistent.

Still, this book felt off for me. Perhaps I've just grown tired of the first person storytelling style, but I think Prince Lincoln's voice just doesn't resonate well with me at times. I enjoy him when he's causing the villains problems, but when he's mooning about over his girl.. it's all rather dull. There's just not a lot of depth there with any of the characters.

Furthermore, while he seems to be able to spend ample time describing the most minute detail about Myla, there's a lot of story developing throughout the book.. and those pieces feel very rushed. It's like a bare minimum of words were used to get the most information into the shortest span of time possible so that he could go back to talking about his feelings.

There are a ton of interesting characters in the book.. and they really don't see a lot of page time either. They're tools of convenience to further plot or deliver information to the reader, but they aren't allowed to crystalize into anything solid. In fact, the story may be a bit dialogue heavy.. relying on that and inner monologues to explain what's happening, instead of really letting the reader experience it first hand.

I do have a couple of favorites though, Walker.. his Ghoul friend and Night, his spell casting mare.. are both fascinating. Myla is fine, same with Queen Ophelia. The sense of humor is there.. even if it doesn't actually make me laugh. Most of them are pretty likeable.

All in all, it was still a fun read. Very light and nothing wrong with the writing. It just felt weaker to me than the other two.

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07-12: Wow, okay.. after three months of delays.. I finally went back and finished this book. Review to come!

04-04: After a couple of weeks interruption, I read a bit more of this one today. I'm trying to wrap-up some outstanding titles, but the deadlines are ahead of them.. and I have some requests to get to as well. Sooner or later.. Lincoln!

03-15: Wow, I got very off track with this one. I just ran out of time before the tour as I wanted to get Trickster done instead.. and then it was like.. "well, now it's not pressing." lol. I do need to finish it though as soon as time allows.

02-14: I've pushed this one back a little, as I've got a blog tour coming up for a book in the same series and this is the second title of the three. Thinking I might go back and read book 1 first, then this, and the third.. to be ready.

02-10: Getting ready to start this one soon.. will it be good? I don't know. I've had quite an on again, off again relationship with this month's reads.