3 out of 4 stars
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Love Bites by Sheri Broadbent is a book in the fantasy/horror genre. It follows the story of Morgan Mansfield as she faces the truth of her parent’s death and tries to save whatever is left of her family.
Morgan’s life changed the night her parents were brutally murdered and the identity of the murderer remains a mystery to this date. Try as hard as she might, she cannot escape from the nightmares that have plagued her sleep since that day. She also cannot escape her sister, Fiona’s, constant reminders about how Morgan owes everything to Fiona. So, when Fiona seeks Morgan’s help, the latter is unable to refuse her sister. Only this time it’s too much. Spying on Seth, Fiona’s boyfriend and the father of her unborn child, is more than what Morgan had signed up for. Fiona’s persistence leaves Morgan no option but to trail her sister’s boyfriend. However, Morgan soon discovers that they are dealing with something much more dangerous than a cheating boyfriend here, something that could get them all killed.
If some readers go by the title and assume that this is another story about vampire romance, then they would be relieved (or disappointed perhaps) to know that it does not concern that theme. However, it does revolve around another popular fantasy creature. Since there is no dearth of literature in the fantasy/horror genre; I think an author has to work really hard to come up with something new. Thankfully, our author doesn’t disappoint. What I liked, apart from the plot twists, was how the author captured Morgan’s fear, passion for art, sense of guilt and obligation. Morgan knows that her sister has played a huge role in her success and Fiona doesn’t let her forget it. Morgan hates being her sister’s pet and simultaneously feels guilty for resenting her. Often, Morgan has to depend on alcohol for sleep. The author has sketched a well-rounded protagonist in Morgan, who comes with a baggage, succumbs to human frailties, makes mistakes, and most importantly, she is not a ‘damsel in distress’, but the hero of the piece. My favorite character, though, was Buster, Morgan’s cat, who provides comic relief, in addition to saving Morgan from creepy intruders.
Apart from good characterization, the author’s writing style is also impressive. The well detailed, vivid scenes heighten the reader’s anticipation and add to the suspense element in the novel. Cheating, deception, magic, terror, and a nice dose of women empowerment; the story has plenty of ingredients to engage the readers. What is a bit disappointing is the horror element. The horror scenes didn’t quite live up to my expectation; I felt that when the moment came, the author just rushed through the scene. The final result was tame in comparison to the potential it had.
I recommend this book for readers who like fantasy novels which don’t focus too much on the gore factor. I rate this novel 3 out of 4 stars, for its good writing and characterization.
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Love Bites
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comment making us wonder what fantastical creature the book contains, makes me want to read it to find out. Well played, reviewer. Congrats to the author on a contagious, positive review.
