- ISBN13: 9780312947057
- Condition: New
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Product Description
Ever think Scrooge had it right before the ghosts ruined his life? Meet Aidan O’Conner.
At one time he was a world-renowned celebrity who gave freely of himself and his money without wanting anything in return…until those around him took without asking. Now Aidan wants nothing of the world–or anyone who’s a part of it.
When a stranger appears at his doorstep, Aidan knows he’s seen her before…in his dreams.
Born on Olympus as a goddess, Leta knows nothing of the human world. But a ruthless enemy has driven her from the world of dreams and into the home of the only man who can help her: Aidan. Her immortal powers are derived from human emotions–and his anger is just the fuel she needs to defend herself…
One cold winter’s night will change their lives forever…
Trapped together in a brutal winter storm, Aidan and Leta must turn to the only power capable of saving them–or destroying them both: trust.
K. Wolcott @ 10:06 pm
I loved Kenyon’s first six books in this series. But the last 4 have gone from bad to worse (starting with Wren’s story, Ravyn’s story and the last two terrible dream hunter installations). This latest Christmas Dream Hunter story reads like it was originally planned as a short story for an anthology; then was stretched out to make a full length novel by slapping additional scenes in. There’s no chemistry between hero and heroine and way way too many secondary and superfluous sketchy characters. Altogether a waste of my $8.00. I think Kenyon knows her fan base is not happy, because she added some extra short chapters at the end giving us a peek at the past beloved New Orleans characters (Kyrian, Amanda, Grace, Julian, Val, Tabby, Talon, Sunshine having Christmas together, along with a glimpse of Nick, and a Christmas scene with Ash, Danger, Alexion, Simi, etc). The only other book in this series that I will purchase is Ash’s story and only because Kenyon herself said she wrote Ash’s story a few years ago, back when she took the time to really craft a storyline and characters we cared about. Other than Ash’s book or books, I won’t purchase another book in this series (or in the other series she’s writing about the Arthurian Era Knights.)
Andrea @ 10:38 pm
Wow. This book was just a wreck. Everything seem contrived and lacked any emotional development. I believed nothing. The whole history of Aidan and who has betrayed him and all that, was just laughable. And with Leta.. I felt like I should have felt something about her whole family issues, but I just couldn’t muster up the concern.
I had high hopes since I thought Devil May Cry seemed to indicate SK was back on her game, but this makes me think twice about purchasing any of her future books. Unless someone gives ‘em to me or I found some cheap used copies.
Dwynnie @ 11:49 pm
I agree with other reviewers that this seemed like a short story that was expanded into a novel–and not just padded–the text size reminded me of double-spacing and increasing the font size to get that extra required page.
As far as the story, the characters just weren’t fleshed out and the plot seemed just on the surface. I had been looking forward to this book, but I was disappointed. This is one to borrow, if you need to read it.
I like Sherri’s books, but this one just didn’t seem up to the rest.
Mellow @ 12:50 am
This was a very short book which was my main disappointment. I just found it hard to believe that Aidan reacted so well to the fact that a Greek God was out to kill him sent by his jealous brother, and that Leta was a Goddess to protect him. For someone supposedly so jaded and bitter he fell in love pretty quick with Leta. The new Greek God characters and insights into old ones were good (Zeus makes his debut here) but I honestly liked the ending better. SK added Christmas epilogues of previous DH and WH characters, and a tantalizing clip of Acheron’s vision on how bad things are going to go for him. The last few pages bumped it up to a 3 star. I still love SK and I am looking forward to Xyphers story with some old friends from the New Orleans gang.
L. J Lewis @ 2:32 am
By this point I really should know better. I have only myself to blame because the Dream Hunter novels have never been anything less than absolutely dreadful. Sherrilyn Kenyon has been really cranking them out this year, with at least three Whatever-Hunter novels and who knows how many of her other series that I don’t read. Too bad they’ve all been unabashedly terrible. It occurs to me that Kenyon has reached a point in her career that she obviously doesn’t care anymore. Her hard core fan base is going buy, buy, buy no matter what. I’m sorry but three pull your hair out awful books in a row amounts to three strikes you’re out.
Admittedly Kenyon was never really a high caliber writer to begin with but there is no comparison with her early books. There was a freshness, an excitement, to the work. These were genuinely exciting adventures and the story reflected an obvious passion and enthusiasm that Kenyon had for her characters and her world. It could pull you along. Now? Ehh… the style is more akin to a bored salary worker just doing it for the paycheck.
Upon a Midnight Clear is the usual Dream Hunter malarky. Leta, the oneroi heroine, like all Dream Hunters is supposed to be under a terrible curse that has sealed away their emotions. Of course, this doesn’t stop her from being whiny and angsty. Leta is on the trail of her archenemy Dolor, the god of pain. Dolor’s target is Aidan, a reclusive actor that is supposed to be a stand-in for Eboneezer Scrooge. He’s shut himself off from the world thanks to having the standard Kenyon background of having his friends and family be the usual string of evil cartoon villains that live only to torment him. Leta shows up at his cabin and teaches him the meaning of true love and charity like some erotic Tiny Tim (Isn’t that an awful thought?).
Truly, one of the reasons the Whatever-Hunter series has gotten to be such a pain to read is that Kenyon can’t make her characters nuanced anymore. Evil people are like comic book villains, insane laughing balls of unstoppable malice just because it feels good. Really, how seriously can anyone take a character that acts like Gargamel from the Smurfs? Good hides itself behind rippling pectorals and a wounded past. Wounded as in every person you ever met treated you like a red headed step child. Everything is about as subtle as a bat to the face. Plus everyone, from the gods to thirty something humans, talks like an idiotic teeny-bopper. Also included in the back of the book is a short piece about the Dark Hunter characters past and present opening Christmas presents together. It was a mistake to include this because it really drives home the point that all the characters have one single personality type to share between them like the Gorgons share a single eye.
I also have to wonder about the editing. In one scene, Kenyon tries to work in a Dexter reference but its so forced that any decent editor should have nixed it. As if the audience is to dense to get the joke, the writer clarifies that it’s a show on Showtime. And Dexter is serial killer! And he lives in Miami and has boat! Really, I don’t appreciate being talked down to. The audience is either going to pick up on the reference or they aren’t.
To add insult to injury, this is really an anthology piece disguised as a novel. This story probably wouldn’t crack one hundred pages if not for huge margins, huge typeset, and the fact that with every new chapter the text starts on the last fifth of the page. Best of all, its sold to you at full novel price! Unbelievable! There is absolutely no redeeming value to this. If this was supposed to be a Christmas present to the fans, it amounts to a lump of coal in your stocking.