Review of Feral Darling
Posted: 04 Nov 2021, 12:49
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Feral Darling" by Ed Diamante.]
Feral Darling by Ed Diamante is a supernatural romance set in modern-day Alaska. This adventure novel is the first installment of The Slayer Anthology.
Once again, Caelin’s life takes a turn for the worst after his father is viciously killed by a pack of bears. This unusual attack coincides with the appearance of Daemiana and the religious inquisitors to the remote Alaskan town of Kreuger Sound. Bound by godly duty, Ivers the Grand Inquisitor and his fanatic brotherhood will stop at nothing to destroy the cursed beast that is Daemiana. Althewhile, an ancient werewolf coven is hot on her trail—their leader, Dionisio, is bent on revenge. Young Caelin and Daemiana become intensely attracted to each other. But, their buried secrets threaten their love at every turn. Can their romance prevail against the odds—natural, supernatural, and religious? With Caelin as her only hope of survival, Daemiana will need to learn to trust men.
My favorite aspect of Feral Darling is the complexity of certain characters. Their deep internal conflicts make them infallible. I found myself contemplating the face value of their actions whether good or evil; things are not always what they seem. For example, Daemiana’s mistrust of men is almost misandrist. Another example is the inquisitor’s obsessive need for redemption.
Another favorite aspect was the werewolf folklore. The author did a great job of building this horrific beast, such as using silver talismans and the full-moon effect. Moreover, I loved the setting of the Alaskan wilderness. It was more appropriate for this mythical creature than a cityscape. On top of that, the author uses nature's elements against the werewolf, such as animals and climate. These scenes, in particular, were quite exciting and filled with survivalist-like adventure.
For those fighting-action enthusiasts, this book will feed their cravings. These scenes are descriptive with all sorts of weaponry, such as firearms, swords, and axes. The inquisitors and the werewolves engage in gruesome and bloody battles. In addition, the pictorial vocabulary left no holes in the imagination. Diamante freely aroused the five senses with his phrases. Unfortunately, these parts were my least favorite aspects of the story. After reading a few of them, I had my fill. Thankfully, they didn’t linger on.
Diamante ties spiritual commentaries into his lycanthrope folklore, adding discourse to the story. For instance, the characters’ monologues often question religious or karmic ideas. Mostly, these shifts flowed with the plotline, but there were moments when I was eager for them to end. So, this was a negative point for me.
Another negative aspect was the character-building of Daemiana. As the only female protagonist for the majority of the book, Daemiana doesn't really have anything to strive towards; instead, the other male characters profited from her. It was surprising because she seemed to play a central role yet felt incomplete. I got the sense that she was a conflict in the plot as opposed to a central character.
As such, I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars. I found a few errors, but they didn’t get in the way of my reading. Also, it doesn't merit a lower rating since I loved the werewolf adventure.
I recommend it to anyone who likes paranormal and supernatural genres. I also recommend it to those in search of action genres with lots of gore and horror. There is explicit language and sexual content, along with a description of attempted rape; thus, I caution sensitive readers. Also, there are references to biblical verses and satanic rituals. Some religious readers might take offense.
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Feral Darling
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Feral Darling by Ed Diamante is a supernatural romance set in modern-day Alaska. This adventure novel is the first installment of The Slayer Anthology.
Once again, Caelin’s life takes a turn for the worst after his father is viciously killed by a pack of bears. This unusual attack coincides with the appearance of Daemiana and the religious inquisitors to the remote Alaskan town of Kreuger Sound. Bound by godly duty, Ivers the Grand Inquisitor and his fanatic brotherhood will stop at nothing to destroy the cursed beast that is Daemiana. Althewhile, an ancient werewolf coven is hot on her trail—their leader, Dionisio, is bent on revenge. Young Caelin and Daemiana become intensely attracted to each other. But, their buried secrets threaten their love at every turn. Can their romance prevail against the odds—natural, supernatural, and religious? With Caelin as her only hope of survival, Daemiana will need to learn to trust men.
My favorite aspect of Feral Darling is the complexity of certain characters. Their deep internal conflicts make them infallible. I found myself contemplating the face value of their actions whether good or evil; things are not always what they seem. For example, Daemiana’s mistrust of men is almost misandrist. Another example is the inquisitor’s obsessive need for redemption.
Another favorite aspect was the werewolf folklore. The author did a great job of building this horrific beast, such as using silver talismans and the full-moon effect. Moreover, I loved the setting of the Alaskan wilderness. It was more appropriate for this mythical creature than a cityscape. On top of that, the author uses nature's elements against the werewolf, such as animals and climate. These scenes, in particular, were quite exciting and filled with survivalist-like adventure.
For those fighting-action enthusiasts, this book will feed their cravings. These scenes are descriptive with all sorts of weaponry, such as firearms, swords, and axes. The inquisitors and the werewolves engage in gruesome and bloody battles. In addition, the pictorial vocabulary left no holes in the imagination. Diamante freely aroused the five senses with his phrases. Unfortunately, these parts were my least favorite aspects of the story. After reading a few of them, I had my fill. Thankfully, they didn’t linger on.
Diamante ties spiritual commentaries into his lycanthrope folklore, adding discourse to the story. For instance, the characters’ monologues often question religious or karmic ideas. Mostly, these shifts flowed with the plotline, but there were moments when I was eager for them to end. So, this was a negative point for me.
Another negative aspect was the character-building of Daemiana. As the only female protagonist for the majority of the book, Daemiana doesn't really have anything to strive towards; instead, the other male characters profited from her. It was surprising because she seemed to play a central role yet felt incomplete. I got the sense that she was a conflict in the plot as opposed to a central character.
As such, I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars. I found a few errors, but they didn’t get in the way of my reading. Also, it doesn't merit a lower rating since I loved the werewolf adventure.
I recommend it to anyone who likes paranormal and supernatural genres. I also recommend it to those in search of action genres with lots of gore and horror. There is explicit language and sexual content, along with a description of attempted rape; thus, I caution sensitive readers. Also, there are references to biblical verses and satanic rituals. Some religious readers might take offense.
******
Feral Darling
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Paranormal stories are one of my favs too!