Review: The Unforgiven

Reviewed by Jen
 

As a frequent reader of Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance, I can just tell when I'm jumping into a series midway through.  It's something about the way the author talks about the backstory... in the way the characters are introduced... like there's all this stuff we're supposed to know already, but the author gives a quick recap/ info dump for the new readers just joining in.  After reading the first chapter of this book, I would have bet you money that I missed a previous book in the series.  There were storylines already in progress, relationships and backstory alluded to... But this is, indeed, the first in The Watchers series.  It had me out of sorts from start.

The basic premise is this: thousands of years ago, a group of angels fell from Heaven and mated with mortal women. Their offspring were called Nephilim.  They have been reviled since they first walked the Earth; they have no souls and no chance of an afterlife.  Each Nephilims belongs to a clan that traces back to their ancestor angel.  Each of the clans has its own special magic and they hate each other.

Many Nephilims born to mortal women do not know what they are. But should they have a near death experience, their change to their true form is triggered.  The change manifests through some serious sexual hunger.  And without another Nephilim to meet their needs and anchor their change, the newbie will go crazy and die.

Cade has been tasked to find Maggie and be the anchor through her transition. Maggie has no idea what she is, but when she meets Cade, she knows what she wants.  Cade and Maggie come from different clans, and once he helps her through her transition, he can wield control over her... make her his slave... and use her magic for the good of his clan.

As Maggie undergoes her transition, she has flashbacks to the life of her ancestor Lilith. They teach her about her clan and where she comes from.  Honestly, I found the Lilith scenes to be more interesting than the ones featuring Cade and Maggie.  (Until it took a turn to Incest-ville and got super gross.) The story surrounding Cade's leader Artur and his estranged wife Cybele was really the best thing the book had going for it.  The sex scenes between Maggie and Cade were hot, but I didn't really connect to an emotional relationship between the two. 

Frankly, the book was too long and had too much crammed into it.  It had potential, but when all was said and done, the only character I ended up caring about was Cybele.  It wasn't terrible, but not great.  Almost 3 stars.

*ARC Provided by NetGalley

The Unforgiven

by Joy Nash

Release Date: August 6, 2011

Publisher: Dorchester