Moonglow (Darkest London, #2) By Kristen Callihan
This book should have 10 stars only for the beautiful cover. I simply adore this picture
I'd give the story a good 4 star rating, but my overall is somewhere around 7 because of the characters <3 I fell in love with them <3
The story - Although this is a historical, it's full of paranormal beings, the writer introduced to us a whole lot of them, demons, vampires, werewolves, shifters, gim-s (ghosts of some kind), and I think there was an actuall angel in one scene XD
Anyway, this book is centered around Ian, the werewolf, and Daisy, Miranda's sister who has survived a werewolf attack. Ian takes care of her, and swears to protect her from the werewolf who is bent on killing women who wear Daisy's perfume.
Ian was banished from his clan a long time ago, and he is suffering in his solitude, mourning the loss of his wife and son. He finds his life is empty, he has no one to lean on, and even his nightly thrysts with whores don't do it for him. He meets Daisy, and soon they form a bond, one that goes above just attraction.
Daisy is finally free, after being abused by her husband for 6 years, now she's a widow, and ready to enjoy life again. But it doesn't work like that, almost like Ian, she tries to have an affair, but can't go on with it. After Ian saves her from the attack, she falls for him, even though she knows almost from the beginning that he's a lycan. He makes her feel safe and she stays at his house for her protection.
The ending :O Wow, I was so sure, so convinced . I love the fact that there was an alternative, I didn't see it comming (maybe I'm just stupid lol) but I liked it :)
I have to say, I was misty eyed for the last 30-40 pages. It was so emotional, atleast for me <3 Very very well written, I felt their pain and sorrow as if I was there. Just amazing <3 Those last 50 pages or so deserve a 10 star rating :) Moonglow (Darkest London, #2) Werewolves in London!
RTC Moonglow (Darkest London, #2) Did I just say in a review for another book that werewolves aren't sexy? Maybe that still stands, but this lycan is.
I super adored this couple. Moonglow (Darkest London, #2) Update 03/18: b-r with Joanna, Sam and Isabella.
Additional thoughts: Please keep in mind that I still haven't finished the series, but here it goes for the five books I've read so far.
Whenever I state that I consider Ember/Firelight and Moonglow to be the weaker of the five books I've read from this series, I always think it's actually nothing but a gross misrepresentation of GR' 5-star-rating system. It's something I always complain about; always conflicted when I see what else I have shelved under 3 and 4 stars.
This is PNR, so you'l always find some plot holes, convenient solutions to problems that are not applicable in the world as we know it.
Should you ever decide to give this series a go, I advice you not to make the mistakes I made when I first started. This is, of course, very dependant on reading habits, and sadly, I'm one of those who skip a sentence here, a description there.
Don't.
Read slowly, let it sink in, and you'll discover the numerous nuances Miss Callihan has given her characters. This series is as much plot driven as it is character driven. In fact, there's a beautiful dynamic between those two elements: the plot drives the characters, and the characters drive the plot. I have read enough PNR novels - and simply general romance books - by now and I have come to some conclusions:
- The absence of the almost obligatory fate-mating this sub genre suffers from - and yes, I don't like fate-mating at all, because it doesn't give the characters room to develop. But that's something I'd already mentioned in my original review.
- Expect the unexpected. That goes for the plot as much as for the characters.
- There's a not so fine line between animosity or wariness and antagonism. You'll find the characters of this series always at odds with each other. What you won't find is antagonistic behaviour for the sake of it. Something that drives me mad in the often used enemies-to-lovers trope. There are reasons for the animosity/wariness the characters begin their journeys with, but the author gives them not only a reason for it, she also gives them enough space and reflection to slightly shift the dynamics; which is why I I said further above 'take your time, read slowly.'
- Each character is unique in his/her own way. They all have their own ticks and quirks that make them stand out within the series. As a result, it never gets boring or repetitive.
A side note here: her heroines have backbones made of steel and it's not for show, either. These women fight with words as well as the powers available to them; and heroes who worship them for their strength and resolve. I think their strength, their wit and resolve is what attracts the heroes to them in the first place.
- This is where I will repeat myself again, but seeing how many mediocre books I've read lately, I think it's worth mentioning. Kristen Callihan isn't a wordsmith like some of my other favourite authors are. But she has this incredible talent to turn everyday occurrences, habits, supposedly meaningless chit-chat, things really, into poignant and very relatable moments which create an intimacy that is rarely to be found and which have - at that moment - nothing to do to with sexual tension. If anything, this 'technique' of hers only adds to the emotional and sexual tension.
- An atmospheric London that you can still find today, without the fog (London is pretty much fog free these days). But if you were to walk into the side alleys along Covent Garden and beyond, especially on darker days, it's easy to imagine: the London Miss Callihan brought so vividly alive.
If you ever let yourself immerse into the world Kristen Callihan built, you will find yourself biting your nails, laughing out loud, shocked, misty-eyed and elevated by the sheer depth of feelings, the devotion her protagonists have for each other.
Heaven knows when I will ever find the guts to finish this series. I don't want it to end.
Joanna and Isabella haven't finished this book just yet, with Sam rereading it. I'll continue to comment and and add my thoughts on the events in Moonglow on Romance Book Buddy Reading. But, ladies, thank you once again for a the immense fun it's been, and still is, to read this book with you!
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Original review 02/17:
I've never written a review for this one. However, I just re-read and finished Moonglow.
A wonderfully layered story that opens the paranormal world the author built even further, introducing us to lycans (and werewolves), to the GIM's (Ghost in the Machine) and the SOS (The Society for the Suppression of Supernaturals). But slowly and in small doses; never becoming overwhelming. After now having read a few PNR novels, I've found this to be a very important element. The first in this series, Firelight, opened the first door, and Moonglow takes it further.
Here we have the heroine, Daisy, who can control the flora. The hero, Ian, is a lycan. He's both man and wolf but can control his wolfish side, whereas a werewolf can't and is more wolf than man. I hope this makes sense.
I keep raving about this series. Besides being wonderfully built, written, executed, it does one thing that most PNR novels/series ignore: it lets the main characters' love grow. No fate-mate-ing here that leaves only one outcome and the reader wondering why these two fall in love with each other in the first place. Just because it's a romance it's not a forgone conclusion that Ms. Callihan's characters will fit. Instead, the author shows why her characters fit.
The romance between Daisy Ellis Craigmore (Miranda (Firelight) and Poppy's (Winterblaze) sister, the middle one) and Ian Ranulf, newly titled Marquis of Northrup, is raw and mirrors the grittiness of the story. What begins with two people feeling the attraction and the lust turns slowly and unwillingly into love. Both characters hide their pain - experienced over the years at the hand of others - behind a mask of flamboyance and cynicism which never slips into bitterness, though. On the contrary, their interactions are laced with ironic humour, never feeling sorry for themselves.
And although, it starts like a cat-and-mouse game between Daisy and Ian, it develops into open admiration and appreciation. No pretenses when these two come together. The sexual tension building up slowly, but it's hawt. By the way, the further you read, the hotter the books become and, oh dear, can this author write good sex scenes. Best thing though is, it's very sensual, and not simply one shag after another. Moonglow (Darkest London, #2)
A year after her husband's death Daisy Ellis Craigmore is free to come out of mourning. Her unhappy six-year marriage to a brutal man has left Daisy scarred and desperate to taste freedom. Ian Ranulf, Marquis of Northrup is tired of his life. There's little that holds his interest, until he comes across Daisy who has just witnessed a killing by a werewolf. For seventy years Ian has been in exile from his clan; he's kept his wolf tightly contained. Once the alpha of the Lycans, he turned over leadership to his younger brother Conall.
Both Ian and Daisy are hiding secrets about their pasts and who they are. Now with a murderer on the loose in London, targeting women wearing Daisy's particular perfume, Ian must find the killer before he finds Daisy.
The paranormal elements did seem to outweigh the historical in this story, whereas in Firelight I felt there was a lovely balance between the two. The sexual tension was not very, well, tense in this one either. And there was more emphasis on the love scenes. (Though this should appeal to a lot of readers.)
I felt a lack of anticipation in this one. It's already been revealed that Ian is a Lycan, taking away the page-turning intensity of the first book. Like her sister Miranda, Daisy also has a special talent and we find out the source of the sisters' gifts.
With book #3 Winterblaze featuring the third and eldest sister, Poppy and her husband Winston, they both get some page time. Poppy's gift is disclosed in Moonglow as well. Another character who will probably play important parts in upcoming books is Jack Talent, Ian’s valet.
Though not quite up to the standard of the first book in my opinion, Moonglow is still a very good read, and a great follow-up to Firelight.
Steam: 3
ARC courtesy of Grand Central Publishing via NetGalley
Moonglow (Darkest London, #2)
Once the seeds of desire are sown . . .
Finally free of her suffocating marriage, widow Daisy Ellis Craigmore is ready to embrace the pleasures of life that have long been denied her. Yet her new-found freedom is short lived. A string of unexplained murders has brought danger to Daisy's door, forcing her to turn to the most unlikely of saviors . . .
Their growing passion knows no bounds . . .
Ian Ranulf, the Marquis of Northrup, has spent lifetimes hiding his primal nature from London society. But now a vicious killer threatens to expose his secrets. Ian must step out of the shadows and protect the beautiful, fearless Daisy, who awakens in him desires he thought long dead. As their quest to unmask the villain draws them closer together, Daisy has no choice but to reveal her own startling secret, and Ian must face the undeniable truth: Losing his heart to Daisy may be the only way to save his soul. Moonglow (Darkest London, #2)
5 stars
Kristen Callihan has officially made me her devoted fan. Now, that's not just because the name Diana Gabaldon(my fav author ever) is on the cover. Nope it's Ian Rannulf and his wolfiness that made me a believer. Ok, Daisy was kind of cool, too.
About Firelight
Oh, God there was such a buzz about that book. So many people loved it! I don't know, but that kind of made me want to love it so bad. And I did like it. But I didn't love, LOVE it, so I ended up feeling disappointed. Didn't have that problem here, didn't expect very much but fell in love with Moonglow.
About Shifters
Or Lycans, or weres, or...whatever. I love well-done stories with them. It has so much potential! The way they can think weird-like and the cute, dangerous, sexy factor can be great. I loved Bayou Moon, which is one such book.
I like Lycans here. They are Scottish, sufficiently cute and sexy and with whole lot of problems to work through.
About Moonglow
Daisy(Miranda's sister) is finally free of an abusive marriage and she plans to fully enjoy that freedom. So, when a string of murders connected only with the victim's same perfume(same as hers) and the gruesome, werewolf execution mess up that plan, she will have to turn to notorious Ian Rannulf for help.
Ian has not had the best, er, couple of decades, really. He's alone, his family gone, banished and growing weaker because of his refusal to let the wolf out. But, then firecracker Daisy rushes into his life, and suddenly things are looking up. Very much so. Except the psychotic were killing women and wandering London. But that, of course is a minor obstacle when love is in question.
I absolutely adored Daisy and Ian. Her cheerful, no-nonsense demeanor and her love of life and courage endeared her to me thoroughly. Ian...is tortured and kind of sad, but when he's with Daisy we see the playfulness reappear, that same joy in life, and the strength he'll definitely need in this fight.
So, some flirting...
Daisy Craigmore, while having a most angelic countenance, could glare bloody murder quite well. “I don’t like you.”
He pulled her close, forcing her to lean into him. “Like has nothing to do with it. I’m watching over you until this thing is done, Daisy-Meg. You’ll not fight me on this, or you’ll see how great a pest I can be.”
“Ah, Daisy-girl, when you look at me with those eyes, even if they’re scowling at me from over your shoulder as they are now…” He smiled. “You light me up.”
And love...
“I made a lie of love.”(Poppy about her marriage)
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“She is going to live in truth,”(Poppy said about Daisy and Ian)
“Ah, but if you gave it to me freely, I swear on my soul I wouldn’t let it go to waste. With everything I am, I’d give it back to you in return. I’d keep ye, love ye till my last breath, lass.”
About The World
The world, lassies and gents, is expanding. And I'm no talking about the universe. Callihan started adding all kind of new beings, societies, magic stuff. It sure makes for an interesting background, and she now has an expanded pool of characters to pick from for future books. All sufficiently unique and tortured of course.
About Winterblaze
Winterblaze, coming February, 2012 is the next book in the series, and it's about Poppy and Winston, as we might have guessed from this book. I'm intrigued as how that will go, as well as by this mysterious SOS. So, definitely looking forward to it, here. February is sooo far away. Moonglow (Darkest London, #2) Well done! A great sequel to Firelight. I think I enjoyed this one even more. It too had a dark gothic feel with an interesting mystery plot, but the romance between Ian and Daisy surpassed my expectations. They worked so well as a couple.
I'm not a huge fan of PNR, especially shape-shifters, but this one worked for me. When Ian steps in to protect Daisy from a mad werewolf on the prowl killing innocent victims, the connection between these two was smoldering. He was such a passionate man, and I loved how their relationship heated up early in the story.
Many twists are revealed, which brings layers upon layers to the story. Daisy has the ability to communicate with plants, Ian reveals much about his past, and the ending was something I couldn't possibly predict!!
This was a tightly woven, complex and passionate PNR historical romance. I think fans of gothic romances will particularly love this series.
ARC copy provided through Netgalley.com Moonglow (Darkest London, #2) 3.75 STARS
He caught her expression and his smile grew fiendish.
“Don’t go getting calf-eyed on me,” he warned with amusement. “Or I’ll start to believe that you like me, too.”
I enjoyed this one. In fact I can easily say, I loved parts of it. But.. there were some parts that just irked me a little. In the love column would be everything Ian, and in the irked column would be everything Daisy. All the way down to her name. I can't really say why, I just found her a little glib and insincere in the beginning, and then quite the opposite towards the end.
The story itself was intriguing and creative, but there seemed to be just a little too much going on. It went from the introduction of lycan to a full-on paranormal menagerie. I suppose these were introductions into the storylines to come, but I was a little over-stimulated by it all. I did like the story surrounding Ian's character, but I hated the ending. Well... lets just say I hated .
I am intrigued by Poppy's story, and look forward to reading it. Moonglow (Darkest London, #2) 4.5 stars rounded up.
I’m not normally one for vampires, werewolves, shape-shifters or paranormal romances in general, but having read and heard such good things about the first book in this series – Firelight– I finally got around to listening to the audio version last year and was so completely hooked that I decided to read or listen to the rest of the series. It’s been a while since I listened to that book, but this month’s prompt of “series catch-up” gave me the ideal excuse to read book two, Moonglow.
The things I’d enjoyed so much about the first story are very much in evidence in this one – the Victorian setting, a terrific storyline, strong characterisation and the amazing chemistry the author creates between her two protagonists. Once again, I was sucked in pretty much from the word go.
Daisy Ellis is the middle of the three Ellis sisters, the youngest of whom, Miranda, was the heroine of Firelight. Daisy was married off to a much older, abusive man six years earlier, and has recently been widowed. Determined to enjoy her new freedom, she is out for a night on the tiles with a friend when a gruesome double-murder abruptly puts an end to her plans for the evening.
Ian MacKinnon, the Marquis of Northrup was one of the secondary characters in Firelight, a menacing presence whose infatuation with Miranda set him up rather as the villain of the piece. Ian is a Lycan – and here, I admit I was grateful for the explanation as to what that actually is, as I’d never have known the difference between a Lycan and a Werewolf otherwise!** – an immortal being who is almost two hundred years old. He was cast out from his home and people when he refused to take his rightful place as The Ranulf (the chief of all the Lycans) and allowed his younger brother to assume the role. He’s alone, tired of his empty life and all but dead inside – his mortal wife and son are dead and while he doesn’t want to go through life alone, he can’t bear the thought of experiencing such pain again.
But when he steps in to rescue Daisy from meeting the same gory fate as her friend, he finds himself immediately attracted to her beautiful face and body, impressed by her intelligence and courage - and begins to feel that perhaps there is something worth living for in his life after all. When it emerges that the murderer is a maddened werewolf whose killing spree seems to be somehow related to Daisy’s unique perfume, Ian swears to protect her – indeed, he’s the only one who can – while they attempt to find out who is behind the attacks and stop them.
Moonglow is an exciting story with plenty of action and a couple of plot twists I absolutely did NOT see coming. The set pieces – the scene at Highgate Cemetery where Daisy, having believed herself to be merely human discovers that she, like Miranda, possesses supernatural powers; or the Lycan’s merciless treatment of Ian – are so vividly written as to put the reader right in the centre of the action. In the case of the latter scene, that might not be such a good thing, because what happens to Ian is devastatingly brutal and difficult to read.
Ian and Daisy have endured their own personal versions of hell – Daisy from a violent husband and Ian as the result of his wife’s suicide – so they both bring a fair bit of emotional baggage to their relationship. Ian knows that falling for Daisy is stupid and that he’s only opening himself up to more devastating hurt – but he can’t help it. He’s a man who feels things very deeply, hiding that truth behind the world-weary, supercillous persona he adopts in public. Ms Callihan redeems him splendidly, turning him from an almost-villain in the last book into a loyal, honourable hero in this one. Watching these two emotionally bruised, proud people come together is a real delight, and even though their relationship in the early stages seems more based on lust than anything else, Ms Callihan develops it very skilfully so that we see that lust turn to love as the couple forges a strong bond based on mutual loyalty and trust.
There are some truly visceral emotional gut-punches in the story, not least of which is the one near the end which threatens to separate Ian and Daisy forever. The revelation is shocking – but I have to confess that I wasn’t completely happy with the resolution. It’s the only way the story could have gone, I suppose, but it’s probably my least favourite part of the book.
While all this is going on, we’re introduced to more of the elements making up Ms Callihan’s world of Darkest London; the SOS (Society for the Suppression of Supernaturals), the GIMs (Ghosts in the Machine), as well as vampires, shape-shifters and other supernatural characters that will no doubt feature in future books.
There are a couple of small inconsistencies that niggled a bit, such as when Daisy so easily leaves her sister Poppy when the latter’s husband is fighting for his life and Poppy needs emotional support - but I could let that go, as Daisy isn’t in a particularly good place, mentally, at that point, either. My biggest problem with the story (apart from the way in which the HEA is achieved) is the way in which Ian reverses his decades-old position about assuming his rightful place as Alpha of the clan in the blink of an eye. He does have reasons for it, but he seems to accept it too easily.
In all honesty though, those really are minor niggles rather than major reservations, because Moonglow is a terrific book. The mystery is very well executed, Ian and Daisy are strong, attractive characters and their romance is well-developed. The author creates the most incredible sexual tension between her principals; the air fairly crackles whenever they’re “on stage” together, and when they do eventually come together, the love scenes are hot, sexy and earthy.
I was captivated from start to finish, and can’t wait to move on to the next book, Winterblaze.
**A Lycan is (apparently!) an immortal who possesses the qualities of both man and wolf, and who is able to exert a measure of control over his “wolfish” tendencies. Whereas a werewolf is more wolf than man – and once a Lycan turns fully, he can never turn back.
Moonglow (Darkest London, #2) Haven't you learned, woman? You've fallen off the map. Here there be monsters.
The key to doing a binge right is leaving a shitty review for each successive read because you don't want to waste time actually reviewing them. Or at least that's how I feel right now. Normally I might put some effort in buuuuut considering all the aforementioned buddies who have been providing such great reviews during their joint reads, I'll leave their words to tell you how it is.
cc :
Sam
Joanna
Isabella
Bubu
You're the gift I never saw coming.
I think I liked this one just a little bit more than book one in the Darkest London series. But they are both excellent specimens of historical romance, riddled with paranormal flavouring, with (if you can believe it) fresh and unique elements to the creatures within the world, mystery, darkness, and oh did I mention the romance. Each pairing has also been fabulous; strong heroines, broody heroes, and did I mention the hot hot hot. (fans self)
My only complaint with this one is the quick resolution, which I hope we see some fallout for in future books, as I would've liked maybe a few more pages of explanation, I guess? It was just too much of a quick fix. But the solution itself was just.. feels.
I'm loving how each successive book is fleshing out the witches, werewolves, and who knows what!, in this world. Callihan is crazy creative and I so love her take on all these archetypes. Seeing as I can't wait for more I'm just going to go ahead and slide right into book three. #cantstopwontstop Moonglow (Darkest London, #2)
review  eBook or Kindle ePUB Ó Kristen Callihan
