GtPGKogPYT4p61R1biicqBXsUzo" /> Google+ Sheep Book Review: Samurai Game by Christine Feehan | I Smell Sheep

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Sheep Book Review: Samurai Game by Christine Feehan

Samurai Game, by Christine Feehan, is the tenth novel in her GhostWalker saga. I started reading the series with this novel and was easily able to pick up from here without feeling lost or overwhelmed by the previous editions. Sadly, though, things start out with a bang but slowly bottom out as the story continues.

Plot:
In an underground club, a high-ranking public official spends his secret nights indulging in fantasies as exciting as they are depraved. For a seductive employee of the Dungeon, it’s her job to fulfill them.

But when a dictator makes his own catastrophic moves, the Ghostwalkers have no choice but to bring in two major players—a man and woman both driven by passion and revenge. Both expendable. Both with nothing left to lose.

I want to add that while the plot description sounds very compelling, this so called "underground club" and public official disappear after the first chapter. I'm not really sure why that was put in as the official plot. This story really did start out on a fantastic foot, I was drawn in right away and flew through the first half of the book with action that happens early and hits hard. Then the story picks up a bit and things get even more interesting! But as we reach the midway point everything just kind of falls apart. SO much time is spent on chatting about this satellite and that super special lens plus who's out to get who. Yes, the book's a PNR/suspense but the endless discussions got really old really fast.

Our lead pair, Azami and Sam, are just a middle of the road couple for me. They had nothing special that I'll remember a week from now, and there was nothing really all that wonderful that I could see them bringing to the table as a couple when that table already appears to be chock full of badass dudes. Sam's a nice guy and all, but he was just a tad too clingy for my tastes; total relationship pressure pusher. Not cool, dude. I did like that Azami is a tough chick who can handle her own when it comes to combat, plus, after the sick childhood she had at the hands of a monster you really are sympathetic to her character. When it comes to fighting she's got the skills to pay the bills! I really wish we could have gotten more of her kicking booty rather than sitting in board rooms looking demure and innocent all the time.

As the title tells you, the story is Samurai-based with a bunch of info on the men and women who still train by the sword this very day. And that was all nice and fine, but am I reading an intriguing PNR story here are doing a wikipedia search? It was hard to tell at times. I love sword fighting, sexy warriors, samurai anything, and heck yes I loved the Karate Kid movies but something went terribly wrong with this tale. In my opinion, this story should have been a novella with the back half taken out, and there was absolutely no need for the book to be as long as it was. To top it all off, the romance between our leads goes hot and cold at the drop of a hat. One second it's on like Donkey Kong and the next they are making tea and having a chat. *yawn*

Dialog heavy and under stimulating, but I tell ya that first half of the book is the stuff you long to read about! I'd say to check around at other reviews first but please proceed with caution on this one.

Getting 2 1/2 'blow dart concealing' Sheep
KD

6 comments:

  1. I think if you have not read some.of the others these books fall short. I teas the 4th one first and felt the same. Then.found the 1st.and ended io marathing it and.these aren't my thing. Some are stronger the others in this series and these.two.characters are not the strongest builds. Haven't read this one yet but I will. I'm a fan even though she is one of my dirty little secret reads! !

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    1. Maybe I needed to start at book 1, who knows. But I really didn't feel lost and she does a great job of giving backstory and letting new readers walk in at this point. I will keep giving her chances cause some of the other stories she writes are great from beginning to finish!

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  2. I love her books. I don't like this series as much as I like the Dark Series but I have enjoyed reading this series as well as the others.

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    1. The Dark Series has more to my liking for sure. I look forward to hearing what you think of this one after you read it Mary. :)

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  3. The first book in this series was definitely worth the read! After that, my interest waned. To me, except for the occasional scene, the subsequent books just didn't measure up. I credit Christine Feehan with introducing me to the PNR genre, and I loved a lot of her Dark books, especially the early ones. When Feehan is good, she's great! She's capable of writing scenes that will melt your socks off. But over the years, I feel that the quality of her novels has sadly diminished. :(

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  4. I do agree with Dani, I still love her books, and for now she stays autobuy, but the repetitiveness is getting to me. Get on with the story! And yes, the action sorely lacked from the middle, and picked up at the end. I do recommend you start with the first one, as the first lot are really awesome, and not so "secure" for the men and women now in their own compound. More adrenaline.

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