Dannika Dark

Sterling

Sarah Escorsa

The premise of the book made me think I would enjoy it. I was wrong. 

The main character (I can’t even bring myself to calling her a heroine) is Zoe and she is one of the silliest characters ever. She is surrounded by a bunch of domineering males and they all think it’s perfectly fine to treat her as if she were (choose all that apply): 
- a child (oh wait, she acts like one!)
- a brainless twit (oh wait, she is!)
- an object (oh wait, that one is pretty obvious: Zoe is a woman and therefore an object)

Actually, the problem with the domineering males in this book is not their attitude, it’s that Zoe just doesn’t mind the way she is being treated. She happily goes along with all the silly ideas they come up with. She is pushed around and more or less forced to do things she doesn’t want to do, but that’s no problem at all. She is treated like she is some kind of puppet but hey, that’s perfectly fine! Kate Daniels where are you???? Someone needs to put some sense into that girl!!!! 

Need more reasons to find Zoe annoying? Worry not for the author is more than eager to please (I’ll just give two examples of stupid behaviour but the list is more or less never-ending): 
- Zoe is savagely murdered at the beginning of the book but she doesn’t think twice about shacking up with a total stranger (Adam) five minutes after meeting him. She then goes off with him to an unknown city and goes on a lovely walk with another total stranger she just met (Justus), through the dark streets of a cut-throat neighbourhood. Then she logically shacks up with him! Of course, that makes perfect sense! Arrrggghhhh!!! 
- She seems to love being patronized and is attracted to every domineering character that crosses her path. First she lusts after Adam (one of the dullest characters I’ve ever come across) then Simon and it looks like Justus is going to be next. Change our mind much??
 
Should I even talk about the Stupid Male Bunch? 
- Adam is such a flat character that he could be cardboard. I have no idea what he is about. He acts like Zoe is his 10-year-old daughter but it sure doesn’t bother her: he packs her suitcase because, you know, that’s much too complicated a task. Hey, he even packs money for her so she can buy clothes, what a considerate father! Come on little girl, you be nice and go and buy yourself something to wear. 
- Justus the sex magnet??!! You have got to be kidding me. The guy leaves me completely cold. And I’m sorry but a guy who thinks a girl can only be taught to defend herself and not to fight (because, you know, she’s only a girl and girls obviously don’t fight)? I don’t think so.

To make things worse, they are inconsistencies throughout the book. Some descriptions don’t make any sense at all and I had to re-read some passages to figure out what happened and how. One other thing that I would love to understand: Zoe can’t touch Adam for fear of electrocuting him (tough luck) but he can kiss her tongue & all and nothing happens. Did I miss something there?

I rest my case. Definitely staying away from this series!

We are all gifted. Zoe Merrick never believed that immortals existed - until she became one. Late one evening, Zoe was attacked by a stranger and left in a field to die She survived, and not only is her reflection no longer her own, but she's unable to control a powerful energy that's coursing through her body. Justus De Gradi is a man who can teach her that control. He's handsome, arrogant, and not entirely human Zoe learns the truth about herself - she is a Mage, and must let go of her old life and live among Bread. Justus has sworn an oath to protect her, but can he guard her life from the one man who has a right to claim it? Zoe learns the price of freedom. And the value of loyalty--Back cover.

Sterling (Mageri Series: Book 1)

Angel Myers

I don't remember my exact reasons for buying this book nearly 5 years ago now, but I can tell you that I am SO glad I did. This books takes the tired, old paranormal stories and mixes them up, adds to them, and makes them so fresh and new. The idea of the Mages is so cool and the shapeshifters and vampires in this world are totally different than anything I've read before. There's so much to hold your interest in this series and you're never left feeling like "I've read this story before." This book made me a Dannika Dark fan, I bought all the audiobooks for the series as well because I hated having to put down the story when I had to drive or work so I wanted to be able to keep going with the audiobooks! It's so easy to become invested in the characters, especially the main character Zoe/Silver, you constantly will want to know what happens next. Just buy the whole series at once because you're going to want to read it all! I am so glad Dannika Dark keeps revisiting this world in her other series', it's a great one!