BOOK REVIEW:
I got asked the question, ‘Can Balthazar be read without reading the Evernight series, or a good chunk of it, before cracking open Balthazar?’
Well ,as I have read and reviewed all the Evernight series, I have read the books twice, and LOVED them all differently, it can....................but.............why would you want to jump to Balthazar and miss all of Balthy and what endears him to the reader. Miss out on reading about Black Cross, Lucas, Bianca, all the totally awesome sidekicks that Claudia throws at the reader. We are talking Ranulf and Vic. Vic has the most awesome dude dialogue. Ranulf with the basin haircut is just so innocently hilarious, bring on the Viking Warrior I say.
I almost want a Vic spinoff....I am serious here Claudia, that boy rocks. He could start his own fashion label.
AND!! Miss out on reading about the true Psycho Goldilocks character that Claudia shows us in Charity, the girl is tame compared to how she behaves in Hourglass. People I am remembering scenes as we speak, that girl is nasssssttttyyyy...hehe!!
Do I recommend reading Evernight series before cracking open Balthazar, should be the question I get asked and the answer would be a resounding, YES!
Claudia has written four books before Balthy, this is probably why Balthy got written, I am using my psychic abilities here...hehe!!
Hence the book cover has the blurb down the bottom...’It’s finally his turn.’ ( Thankyou Miss Claudia xxxxx)
The readers fell sooooooo in love with him in the Evernight series, sure he wasn’t right for Bianca, but he was selfless and beautiful and soooooooo much more than Claudia shows us in Balthazar. I am not saying that is a bad thing, because you are supposed to have been up to speed and read Evernight series so she didn’t have to retell what most of us already knew.
Balthy aka Bath Tub boy, whatever endearment as the reader you have for him, he has a story that makes your heart break for him in the previous four books.
Not to mention the wraiths, and all those Nummy Num Num scenes...* waggles eyebrows*.
Claudia blew my mind with her twists and characters in the Evernight series. I nearly fell off the bed when I got my first POW ( didn’t see that one coming) in Evernight. I was like WT!!! Stargazer ( the astronomy scene observatory thingy) , Hourglass ( Blackcross, Psycho Goldilocks , that kid needed therapy, BIG TIME!!) I haven’t even gotten started. Afterlife, although Claudia surprised the heck a doo out of me with where she took that storyline, it was a quieter book, but it suited where she was going. I personally was going somewhere completely else in my head after Hourglass...cause after some of those scenes * face plant *, who knew ?
The scenes between Bianca and Balthy.....oh yeah there was a scene, * fans one self* , but if you have only read Balthy or just touched on Evernight series, then you have missed out on what I am talking about * fans one self again* .
Everybody loves a good Ball scene, and the Autumn Ball and the dancing and Balthy.....* sigh* . I know I am not mentioning Lucas, but I am trying to explain why you should read Evernight, whole series before Balthy . Lucas well he is a whole 4 books.
I suppose I should talk about Balthazar the book now.
I LOVED IT!!! Claudia knows how to give us faithful Evernight series readers the Balthy we have been waiting for.....yup!!!! Naked! Visually I tried real hard to squint and see that scene..hehe!! Not that he is squint worthy....maybe as this is YA I shall leave that alone. * cough*
Skye is a gorgeous character that only gets touched on in Evernight series, but she is soooooo good for him. I like that she takes charge a little as Balthy is quite damaged from all those centuries ago , not to mention the handful Charity is. Like , Psycho Goldilocks is truly a handful. Claudia let’s you get a little hint of it at end of Balthy when Skye’s parents surface. I was giggling as I thought those who don’t know Charity, have no idea what she is capable of.....shall I mention that diving board scene....*wink*
Balthy is fighting his fears in his book, but I am so glad to see that he is breaking through them.
Claudia is again making rather wonderful use of stakes and beheadings. A smaller amount of Nummy Num Numming ( think fangs and I want to suuuucccckkk your blood) , but a whole lot of Balthy kissing....hi five Claudia!
Claudia kept Balthazar interesting to those of us who are up to speed by bringing in a tribe of vampires, new to us. I think I could have almost liked Redgrave, if he wasn’t a baddie. Finding a bit more out about Jane was putting a little puzzle piece to bed for me and Balthy’s pain and finding more out about how Balthy’s torturous change came about and the demise of Charity’s sanity, cause that girl is sooooo not all there.
I tweeted Claudia asking if this was stand alone as I have read via Goodreads reviews, but I think Claudia has ended Balthy so she can continue if she wants. I personally want!!
Claudia lands today in Sydney , Australia. Marissa will be going to the book signing in Perth and she has a special surprise for everyone.....Go Marissa!!!!! Very impressive!!! Knock it out of the ball park!
Harper Collins have kindly assisted me with my own blog giveaways , that Miss Suzi has assisted me with, to get signed, they are on their way to Lara as we speak. I even kept my Balthy copy that Harper Collins Aust kindly sent to me as I was that dedicated to getting this review done. I only had 40 pages left to read and I fell asleep, but it is here with me, not getting signed . I figure I shall peel and stick a bookplate in it that I have enclosed for signing, so that all the followers that couldn't make it to Claudia , get a chance for a signature in their book, if they win. But I have to pinch one, sorry.
This review comes with some more Balthazar paperback giveaways, Miss Lara has so kindly donated. Thankyou Lara and Harper Collins, much appreciated.
Big Thankyou !! to Claudia Gray for taking the time to sign my goodies, much appreciated. May you enjoy a good vegemite sanga, ( the key is little vegemite, more bread) a lovely red or white wine this country has to offer ( I was born in the Barossa Valley, personally can’t beat a good drop of the Barossa) maybe not the sanga and wine together, that could be nasty and may a caramello koala cross your path:D
I know you have been to Australia before but ENJOY!!!
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Claudia Gray@claudiagray
FAVE QUOTES:
She reached out blindly with one hand, and Balthazar's arms went around her, enveloping her in his embrace. Skye didn't cry, didn't speak. Instead she gripped the lapels of his coat as she buried her face in the curve of his neck. He held her tightly as she breathed in and out, steady and slow, calming herself.
Balthazar's eyes were locked on her bare neck, which Skye figured she should have found unnerving, but didn't. His black T-shirt fitted his broad chest and taut abdominal muscles like so much body paint.
"Wait." Balthazar pushed away her hands. "Shouldn't."
"I'm not molesting you. I'm putting you in a hot shower. You can't do it yourself." Skye tugged off his wet coat, then got to work unbuttoning his shirt. The damp fabric stuck to his skin. "I've seen a naked man before, you know. I'm not a virgin. My eyes aren't going to fall out in astonishment or anything."
.........Okay, she thought. Deep breaths........
Charity whisper - sang, "We all - fall - down!"
3 X BALTHAZAR PAPERBACKS
GIVEAWAY
OPEN NOW!!!
CLOSES 31ST MARCH 2012 MIDNIGHT
OPEN TO AUSTRALIANS ONLY, SORRY.
Please leave a comment with your email address to enter .
If you are overseas and want to gift the book to an Aussie friend who lives at an Aussie address,
then feel free to enter and what a lovely kind thought .
Random Org as usual will draw winners names.
Let me know if you are going to any
Australian book signings of Claudia's .
They kick off 15th March in Queensland
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Michelle
