Bitten in Two (Jaz Parks, #7) in SOS: Serious Overload of Series

Mar 23, 2011 The Flooze rated it liked it

Shelves: glutton_for_punishment, urban-fantasy-paranormal, vanquished_2013

I'm torn between 2 and 3 stars.

It seems time has not made much of a difference for my relationship with this series. While I admit this installment includes a smattering of interesting details, I'm still contending with the same old issues.

Rardin displays great ideas. Her supernatural world-building incorporates many layers and factions, bringing a wide variety of dangers into play. Her Q-like character Bergman ushers in a fun amount of tech that supports the super spy theme. And her characters I'm torn between 2 and 3 stars.

It seems time has not made much of a difference for my relationship with this series. While I admit this installment includes a smattering of interesting details, I'm still contending with the same old issues.

Rardin displays great ideas. Her supernatural world-building incorporates many layers and factions, bringing a wide variety of dangers into play. Her Q-like character Bergman ushers in a fun amount of tech that supports the super spy theme. And her characters engage in constant, good-natured teasing, relieving their fears and frustrations while revealing their closeness.

But none of that is enough to make me care about their fates.

My most common complaint still holds true: Jaz's fractured mind makes it impossible for me to accept her as a capable agent. A character who gets so distracted by her inner dialogue that she repeatedly doesn't notice when she stops dead in the middle of the street...how can I see her as anything but a liability? To herself and her team? Add to this the fact that her companions often seem just as distracted and I have no idea how these people get anything done - let alone stay alive.

This aspect makes it tedious to follow the story. Throw in frequent flashbacks and I'm at a bit of a loss. I can't get invested in the current action because their past is more engaging than their present. Learning about Vayle's relationship with his servants and his ward becomes fascinating when described briefly through Vayl's eyes. The short-lived glimpse highlights a backstory and a writing style that I'd much prefer; Jaz's part in this tale utterly pales by comparison.

I constantly find myself looking for more when reading these books - and not in the good way. Sections focusing on Moroccan architecture could be better used to explain Vayl's change from rogue to buttoned-up agent. Pages describing the antics of Granny May, Teen Jaz, and Inner Bimbo could be better spent on mages, demons, and the place of the Eldhayr. Rardin may display interesting ideas, but she rarely grants fuller explanations, much to my dismay.

I picked this up at the library thinking it was the last in the series. I remembered my prior frustrations but thought it might be worth seeing how the whole thing wrapped up. Question now is, will that same curiosity get me to pick up the truly final book?

No time soon, at least. No use heaping aggravation upon aggravation. ...more

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Oct 24, 2009 Literary Ames rated it liked it

Shelves: hunters-warriors-assassins, read-in-2011, dtb, vampires

Love of all kinds grabs every character by the balls and squeezes which didn't always end happily. Loss has always played a big part in this series but it's showcased in a new light in this one. I found Jaz's approach to not leaving Vayl even though he wasn't himself (he'd regressed to his 1777 self and viewed everyone close to him as characters from his past), possibly permanently so, very moving. Their love letters to each other were very emotional and not cheesy in the least. I appreciated he ...more

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Aug 01, 2010 Katyana rated it really liked it

Shelves: ass-kicking-women, fantasy, vampires, uf

***3.5***

It was alright, but I wasn't as engaged as I was on earlier books. And there didn't seem to be much forward motion to the story... it read like a bridge book. Laying the groundwork for the next book, which, I hear, wraps the overall plot for the series. ...more

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Dec 30, 2009 Charlotte (Buried in Books) rated it really liked it

Shelves: vampires

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Feb 16, 2011 Shelleyrae at Book'd Out rated it liked it

Somewhere in Morocco is the demon formed Rocenz that Jaz needs to save her life, but the gang's search is hampered by Vayl's inexplicable memory loss, the result of a curse laid on him in Scotland (Book #5). In a desperate bid to restore Vayle from his 1777 time warp, Jaz drags a wizard, Sterling, into the fight and along with Cole, Bergman, robokitty and a bit of help from a local stalker, the gang face down a vicious clan of werewolves, a greedy mage and Kyphas's betrayl.
Vayle's amnesia prov ...more

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Mar 13, 2011 Sandra rated it really liked it

Shelves: jennifer-rardin, pnr-uf, own, vampires

Moving on from Canberra to Morocco. And we find Vayl suffering from amnesia and thinking it is 1777. The gang have become people Vayl knew at that time ie Cole is his valet Bergia and Jaz is Madame Bergia, the housekeeper. Strangely, Bergman has become Helena, Vayl's ward. Cassandra is back home to keep her away from the demon Kyphas who has become the maid.

So, following on from Pete's death, the gang's unofficial mission is to get the Rocenz so they can carve Brude's name on the gates of hell a ...more

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Jun 17, 2011 Cindy (eclecticfirefly) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: uf, vampires, demons

I always enjoy the escapades of Jaz and Vayl. In this book, Miles plays a starring role and comes into his own as a kick-a$$ character. Good for him!

I was going to give it 4 stars.....but then I remembered the quote I found. My favorite quote of all time!

This quote is good on it's own. But for full effect, must be read in context.

"'His dickness was so far beyond help they decided to amputate.' I think that's--Vayl? Are you...laughing? About the serious malady of dickness?"

All spoken by Jazz to V ...more

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