First comparison to Ward: Aside from the obvious (Vampires, Good v Evil War complete with Warriors) Adrian does a far superior job defining the world of the novels. I found the explanation of the existance of vampires intriguing and unique, providing an explanation of their original and continued existance that was much easier to accept than the good/evil god-like explanation used by Ward. I agree whole heartedly with your assessment of her worldbuilding – I loved it.

Secondly, the characters in Adrian are much more completely defined. Their personal histories, their personalities, etc. They remain true to themselves throughout the story.

Thirdly, the female characters are wonderful. They are equal participants in the relationships, having equal parts in drawing the story out from beginning to end.

And last but not least, having read all three books in order, these books are much better books in that they pick up from the last, lead to the next, but do not sacrifice the current story in doing so.

I loved the main characters. They were believable and empathetic. The growth of their relationship was believable given their personal histories. And their particiaption in this story contributed meaningfully in advancing the greater story forward.

With all that said, reading Ward is SO addictive – a drug that kept me speeding through the story(s) on a high and enjoying the experience while it lasted, but in the end after I finished, I felt let down and vaguely (and sometimes sharply) disappointed when the high dissapated and I could assess the book as a whole. Adrian’s books didn’t have me on such a high-speed high, more like a really-good buzz, but there was only anticipation for the next book when I was finished. The only disappointment was that I had finshed the book. These books are staying on the “keeper” shelf.

That was probably my favorite part. She didn’t wait for Tegan to do anything. She asked him to help with something, when he refused, she moved on and tried to fix it herself. And did just fine, too. I ADORED her.

I loved Ward’s “Lover Awakened”, but that was one of the things that bugged me, the way Bella wouldn’t leave, even when Zsadist wanted her to. Granted, it had to happen that way or he would never have let her in, but it grated. I can’t see Elsie doing that.

Loved this book. I have a new series!

I really enjoyed it.

2Wild – Thanks for commenting. Having read all of ward’s books and all of Adrian’s books, I’ll give my rebuttal here.

1. The title: I don’t find the titles to be indicative that the Breed series is derivative of the BDB series simply because I doubt Adrian picks the title. Most of the titles are picked by the editor/marketing team, at least that is what I have read other places. I didn’t even recall the similarity of the titles (both using some derivation of the root word Awake). When there are 400 new titles put out a month, I would guess that it’s hard to find new titles. But alas, it is a valid complaint and I made it before in regards to another series featuring vampires and “Brotherhood”.

2. Zsadist’s story: I know you haven’t articulated specifics so I would be guessing at what you might view as similarities. Instead of guessing (and likely guessing wrong, I’ll try to address how I found the stories different.

a. (I think in outline format, if you haven’t guessed that by now). Zsadist v. Tegan. Zsadist and Tegan were both tormented souls but the cause of their torment, the reason for their emotional frigidity was very different. Zsadist was beaten, abused, both emotionally and physically. He needs to be beaten on a regular basis. He is mentally and emotionally crippled. His main outlet is anger. Tegan, on the other hand, was the victim of Rogue violence. His loved one was taken from him and returned to him a shell of a person that needed to be killed in order to be merciful to her. His response to this loss was to become emotionally removed. He did not have anger or pain or hurt because to do so would to feel. In fact, in this, his characterization is more internally consistent than Zsadists. Further, Tegan’s awakening was not dependent on Bella. It was a self awakening. He learned to love, not because he had to but because eventually he wanted to.

b. Bella v. Elise. There is a huge difference in the female characters. Bella is captured and tortured by the lessers. She returns and seems to suffer no consequences. She soothes Zsadist’s savage internal beast. Her love is his salvation.

Elise, on the other hand, was victimized in a different way. She had loved and lost, both her husband and son. She was not captured and tortured by the Rogues. She was not targeted, initially, in anyway.

c. The worldbuilding. The similarities are that there are good vampires and bad vampires, yes? But that is the case in alot of books, even dating back to Anita Blake’s stories and probably before then. I found the construct of the Darkhaven, the Order, the Breeds, to be sufficiently dissimilar to the Ward series. Plus, there is no scribe virgin, thank god. Since the Scribe Virgin is the basis of the vampire mythology, I think that the lack of one in the Breed series provides enough distance to create a differentiation between the two.

Can’t wait to see what those who won have to say about it.

kerri
Jan
Stephanie Z
sula
Brenna

Will you guys email me and I’ll send you the book from Fictionwise. It will be the mobipocket one of course.

BUT…she's better than Ward? And I don't have to deal with world-building inconsistencies? Or steroid-enhanced, uber-violent metrosexuals who talk like they're in a 50 Cent music video? Tempting…

Hah! This made me snort into my coffee.

But I still love me some Ward. Admitting that you have a problem is the first step to recovery, right? What if we don’t want to recover? *g*

I don't oftentimes agree with SC of AAR's A reviews, so maybe I'll try her D reviews instead.

Ah. I tend to agree with a lot of her Ds and quite like the same books she does. There you go.

I bought the ebook last night and am quite enjoying it, even though wounded psychic beauties with lavender eyes do tax my patience a little. To be fair, she is moving the plot along.

Miki- fictionise allows you to send a book as a gift.

Huh. I knew you could send coupons for a book you already own…didn’t know you could do gifts. Cool!

BUT…she’s better than Ward? And I don’t have to deal with world-building inconsistencies? Or steroid-enhanced, uber-violent metrosexuals who talk like they’re in a 50 Cent music video? Tempting…

Sandy Coleman at AAR does a brutal dismemberment job of the first book in the series (Kiss of Crimson), so I'm picking up from the third if the first two aren't necessary.

is incentive enough for me to give this series a chance. *g* I don’t oftentimes agree with SC of AAR’s A reviews, so maybe I’ll try her D reviews instead.