First Drop of Crimson

EDIT: September 2023

Every character has their best and their worst moments, their strenghts and their weaknesses. Scenes like the one below I can't unsee.

It sounded like Mencheres sighed. “My visions haven't returned. I see nothing anymore... and neither can I use my power to pinpoint Denise's location. That, too, is gone from me.”“Why the bloody hell haven't you found a way to fix that!” Spade almost shouted into the mobile, fear making him irrational. “I've never once asked you to use your power for me before. Why now, when I need you the most, are you of no use to me?”

I realise that due to trauma, this is the frantic rawest version of Spade, but his behaviour is a deal breaker for me. I don't like people who hurts others when they are hurt or scared.

There is, however, a bright and shining star in this book: Ian.

“Hallo, all !” Ian announced cheerfully. “That was a capital evening.”“Ian, mate , you look a bit worse for wear,” Spade gritted out, glaring at him. “Let's get you tucked into bed before you break anything else.”“I know our mythic history, King Arthur's and Sir Caradoc's,” Ian singsonged. Cat looked at Bones and let out a grunt. “Useless,” she muttered. Spade grabbed Ian, hissing something in his ear Denise didn't hear . Whatever it was, Ian laughed. “Charles, mate, you fret too much. I'm a grown man, I am, and I can blood my handle.”“Handle your blood?” Bones offered dryly.Ian grinned. “Exactly.”

In this book we start to see a different side of Ian. He's still the manipulative, morally questionable, licentious Ian we met in the previous books, but there is more to him than meets the eye.

“I know I'm a rotten bastard, but there are four people in the world I'd never see come to harm, even at the cost of my own life,” Ian said in a steady voice, turquoise gaze clear. “Two of them are here, yet neither of them trusts me. Believe me, even ruthless sods like me can be hurt by that.”“Yet you do lie, Ian, and you do manipulate, even the two of us,” Crispin said quietly. “Over little, insignificant things. Never over something that could mean your lives. Blimey, Crispin, you humiliated me over Cat, yet did I seek revenge? No. I went to bloody war for you less than a year later. I'll own what I am, but don't label me what I'm not when it comes to either of you.”

It moments like these that makes me want to skip the next few books and jump straight to Ian's story.

Spade had just risked his life to get Nathanial. So had Cat and everyone else ... Ian jumped over into the other boat, giving them a jaunty wave. “My compliments on an entertaining evening, everyone!”

Then again, if Ian and Bones are my type of hero, maybe I am not the right person to appreciate Spade.

Denise stifled her snort. As if Spade's chivalry would allow him to do anything to a woman. The harshest punishment she could imagine him dishing out to Cat would be refusing to open a door for her.


I am re-reading the entire Night Huntress Universe, let's see how this will go the second time around.

Some relationships are doomed from the start. You might try to force it, make excuses or go for couple's counseling, but sometimes you have to just give up and accept the inevitable.



This book was a doomed relationship from the start.

I gave it a chance, even though I did not like main characters when they made guest appearances in the other books. I tried to force the chemistry. As a last resort, I stopped reading to go through what others said to get me into the mood.



“I believe the most difficult choice you will ever have to make is whether you should just move on, or hold on a little tighter.” - Anonymous

It is with great regret that I am writing this:

I am giving up.

DNF


(April 2020)