Demonglass (Hex Hall #2)by Rachel Hawkins
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He laughed softly. “I can’t see you, but I have a feeling you’re cute when you’re jealous, Mercer.”
Well, damn!
I must say….one minute I was getting very, very bored, and the next, I was gasping and covering my mouth with one hand due to the dramatic occurrences unraveling before me. I think this is one of those situations where, while the second book was super good, it lacked a little of my favorite character….and let me correct you before you make unfair assumptions-I am not that girl who rates based on whether the male lead is wholly present or not (see above^^^^^my rating is clear), but if the story can’t stand on it’s own, that’s when I will squeal about the lack of that male presence.
I have to say that I abhor when certain reviewers rate lowly due to lack of the male lead-you know who you are-and don’t base the rating solely on the story’s merit or action. If you are one of these people, that’s okay! It’s your right, but I will not trust your reviews as they are…there is more to a story than *gasp* a hot dude. Now, even on my profile it says I will give any book with a ‘smidgen of romance’ a try-and maybe that makes me biased-but that’s my prerogative…take it or leave it.
For the first time in a long time, I let myself remember Archer, really remember him. His brown eyes and slow smile. His laugh, and how I felt when I was with him. How his voice sounded when he called me “Mercer.” The way he had kissed me.
I don’t know why I felt I needed to say that above. Maybe it’s to defend this particular book’s honor against some of the negative reviews it received, or maybe it’s because too many of my favorite books and/or series have been bashed and rated poorly because the male is not present. Well, it’s bullshit, and too many excellent and expertly written novels get bashed all because of the ‘second book formula’. It’s that damn routine where something epic happens at the end of book one (or, hey. NEAR the end) and then we see minimal guy time in the next. It almost always happens in trilogies, as far as I’ve seen, and it is a tad aggravating that it inevitably seems to occur frequently, but I also kind of like it in a weird, messed up way.
“It just seems like overkill when you already have a dagger and I have superpowerful magic at my disposal.”
“Superpowerful?” He stood up, a gold chain dangling from his fingers. “Let me remind you of two words, Mercer: Bad. Dog.“
I was one of those (before GR, B.G., if you will) that read the sappy, inevitable HEA, cliche, cookie-cutter, and overdone romances that are so common these days. Maybe that’s why I cringe when someone asks me to read a NA with no paranormal or dystopian or even a little fantasy in it-I NEEEEED that peril, I NEEEEEED that action, I NEEEED some angst and kick-ass situations. I’ve read all the cookie-cutters, bring on the pain. Anyways, wow, this is turning into a impromptu bio, that is why I have grown tolerant, if not a little fond, of male absences or sticky situations where the hero/heroine are separated for a time because, well, I’ve found that absence, both in real life and even more so in books, makes the heart grow fonder.
…I turned away, but he reached out and caught my wrist.
I could feel my pulse hammering under his fingers. “Mercer, that day in the cellar…” He searched my face, and I could sense him struggling for what he wanted to say. Then finally, “I didn’t kiss you back because I had to. I kissed you because I wanted to.” His eyes dropped to my lips, and it was like the whole world had shrunk to just me and him and the shaft of light between us. “I still want to,” he said hoarsely.
So, I think it’s quite clear what I’m trying to say here-there were definitely some moments where Archer was severely missed and I was a tad bored by the story, but in no way did it hinder my love for this series and it only made the story that much better when he was in it. That’s what happens when the author chooses to separate the leads-it makes the story stronger when they are reunited.
…”Let me guess,” I hissed, nodding at the chain. “Something else you stole from Hex Hall.”
He pushed himself to his feet. “Guilty.”
“Where the heck was I while you were playing Grand Theft Cellar?”
I believe it goes without saying that I adore Archer and everything Archer-ly inclined, so I will just say that he is, if possible, sweeter, hotter, and even more endearing in book two-quite swoon-worthy I must say. And then there’s Jenna, her vampire best friend. I didn’t love her as much, but in the end, when it mattered most, she came through and was supportive of her best friend and that’s what mattered most. It warmed my heart and brought me back to her side…not that I was ever on the opposite.
He shook his head. “That’s not what I meant. I wish we weren’t like this. You know, demon, demon-hunter. I wish I’d met you in a normal high school, and taken you on normal dates, and like, carried your books or something.” Glancing over at me, he squinted and asked, “Is that a thing humans actually do?”
And finally-the elephant in the room that is a love triangle. I do believe this was a baby one, not even to really be considered, but I have to put it out there and shelve it thusly. We have a new contender, kind of, for Sophie’s heart, and while he is both sweet and kind and even a tad smexy, he is not Archer-no contest. I’m even going to go so far as to say that I bet you know who this not-so-mystery man is, but as it is, I won’t mention him further.
It sucks that we miss people like that. You think you’ve accepted that someone is out of your life, that you’ve grieved and it’s over, and then bam. One little thing and you feel like you’ve lost that person all over again.
(I SWEAR that is SUCH a coincidence that this quote was one of the chosen ones lmao-I rarely use the word bam-must have been fate)
A great read, if a little dull at times, and then a BAM-tastic ending. I love when they are crazy and out of the blue-no one is safe, and no one sees it coming. Those are the absolute best endings and they offer so much more than the prophesied or predictable endings-those are good sometimes, too, but they just aren’t as…BAM. I don’t know how else to say it lol. You’re walking down the street, minding your own business…then BAM! Bus? lol (Friends shout out muahaha) So yeah. If you loved or even liked the first book, you’ll likely adore this one if you give it time to marinate and progress-I often find the best books have the most ‘killer’ endings, don’t ya think?
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