Di tutta la serie letta questo libro è sicuramente quello che ho gradito di meno in assoluto e sembra quasi che la Banks stia perdendo progressivamente la capacità di scrivere storie altrettanto valide quanto lo sono state quelle dei primi volumi.
Decisamente il peggiore sinora scritto anche perché, se si esclude la parte iniziale, Donovan risulta praticamente irriconoscibile e totalmente rimbecillito rispetto al passato. Per non parlare della protagonista femminile, Eve, che mi è piaciuta proprio poco, troppo piagnucolosa, debole, insicura, oltre che contradditoria e priva di temperamento. La lettura peggiore di questa serie.
Una storia inutilmente tirata per le lunghe con tante ripetizioni dei medesimi concetti, priva totalmente di quell’azione che dovrebbe essere la prima caratteristica di questi libri e basata in pratica unicamente su un fraintendimento del tutto assurdo e che una persona con un minimo di orgoglio e amor proprio avrebbe risolto in 15 secondi.
Insomma, un libro tanto atteso che si è rivelato invece da dimenticare.
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It's a copout, but I agree with the reader below, xxx, in every point they make.

I enjoyed the book enough to finish it. But I'm glad this wasn't the first in the series I'd read.

When the spotlight was focused on Donovan, I expected so much more. But instead his instantaneous falling for Eve was too unbelievable (no, that isn't an oxymoronic comment to make about a romance novel!) and he was altogether portrayed too simplistically.

The repetition around Eve was very hard to plough through. The plot line along with its repetition was bad enough, but I felt that the all-capable Kellys were not painted in a good light - they lost some of their mystique in this novel.

In fact, despite the use of the word from time to time, they didn't come off as warriors to me. ( )

I'm so glad this wasn't the first KGI book I read because I never would have read any of the others. The premise of the story was good; woman running with her half brother and sister escaping their abusive father and end up getting help from Rusty and Donovan. The problem with the story comes when it both moves too quickly, but also drags along way too slowly. Donovan and Eve fall in love and into bed way too quickly, but at the same time, the story slowly winds its way through unbelievable and underdeveloped plot points. Maybe Maya Banks' publishers are pushing her to do too many books at once, but whatever the reason, this story wasn't up to her usual standards. I've been anxiously waiting for Donovan's story and wanted to like this book, but I just couldn't. ( )

Don't be fooled with the first chapter featuring Rusty and Sean, this isn't their story. A woman and children running and the Kelly's are there to save them. Eve can learn to trust.
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After the Storm
1 Star

Beware! Rant ahead!

OMG! What in the name of all that is holy was that?!

It is virtually impossible to associate this book with the rest of the KGI series. The writing is simply appalling with repetitive scenes and word choices, the characterization is completely incomprehensible and the plot is one of the more ridiculous out there.

Donovan, the sexy, geeky Kelly brother, who had such amazing potential in the previous books, is barely recognizable in the borderline psychotic and obsessive hero of After the Storm. He takes one look at Eve and decides that she's "the one" and proceeds to take over her life whether she's interested or not. Granted Eve is in an awful predicament and in desperate need of help for herself and her traumatized siblings, but Van's controlling attitude is simply creepy.

Speaking of Eve, while emotionally scared and/or physically abused heroines are the norm for KGI, Banks has gone overboard with this one. Ostensibly a strong willed fighter, Eve is actually passive, compliant and detached. Even though she has ample opportunity to stand up for herself, her solution to every obstacle it to run. This is particularly apparent in the contrived conflict toward the end where instead of confronting Van, Eve chooses to leave her siblings alone with a man who apparently betrayed her and go on the run alone - TSTL much!.

As to the suspense plot, it is virtually non-existent with a villain who barely puts in an appearance and a motive that doesn't make much sense If Walt were a pedophile he would have molested Eve as well.

As for the Kelly clan, why has the family turned into a simpering pile of goo? Yes, the men are besotted with their wives but is it really necessary to go on and on about it ad nauseam. The only bright spark in this otherwise travesty of a book were Rusty Sean. Of course, we are going to have to wait for their book because Swanny and Hancock come first although I might just skip them.


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