Crave: A Novel of the Fallen Angels

Although I rated this book 4 stars, I would have preferred a 4.5 rating if it was possible.
First, for the positive. If you are a J.R. Ward and/or Black Dagger Brotherhood fan, Crave (and Covet) will not disappoint. For all of the fans who disliked reading about the Lessers in BDB, these books have much less detailed background about the demons so they will be pleased. What we do learn about Devina helps us understand her quirks and makes her into better evil being.
Ward has created a great leading man in Jim and he just keeps getting better. His character is coming along nicely. Jim's 2 sidekicks are becoming more likable and we are learning a little more about them.
I thought the narrator, Eric Dove, did an excellent job. I know that many fans were unhappy that Jim Frangione of the BDB series did not do the narration with this series, but I did not find a single problem with Dove. In fact, I think he did a fine job with Isaac's Mississippi accent.
As for the negatives of the book, there was one torture scene that was a little too graphic for me. I would have preferred to hear about that scenario in a little less detail. I'm not usually squeamish, but this is not for the faint of heart.
Grier and Isaac started out smoldering, but by the 2nd half of the book they had dropped by several degrees into a lukewarm relationship. It was a little disappointing.
There wasn't nearly as much "branding" in this book as in the BDB books. but most of it was well placed in the plot. A few spots missed completely. I'm all for slang and branding if the character calls for it, but a 50-something year old, suit-wearing, rich lawyer calling mushrooms "shrooms" is pushing it. Not likely to happen.
Overall, I think this book is a solid 4.5. I tend to get bored unless a book is very good and this kept my attention all the way through. I am waiting for the next book in the series. I think the series will continue to improve and I predict the next book will be a solid 5 stars.

Wow what a compelling author, I love the "Brotherhood" and this series is spell binding. I really like how this series is set in Cauldwell like it is happening at the same time as the other series. When will the next one be out, OMG to think I have to wait a year : ( I have read Covet and then again on audio, this one will definitely be a more than one time. Like watching a movie and picking up so much more the second or third time. Worth the credit or the money!!! I enjoy Herron's 2 buddies as much, and Devina the devil,.....WOW Just WOW Please KEEP the same narrator thru the series as he is just super. We avid audio-ers I suspect don't like our narrators changed in a series. This man is super reading this series. Yep Im blabbering, but this book is so intense I don't want to give anything away. If you liked the first installment, you will not be disappointed. So intense, great story line, small to medium amt of sex, so if you have those sensibilities your safe (sort of) with this book until Jim is taken to Devina's place.....creepy, very dark fantasy, and just disturbing, but Hell is not to be pretty!

I have had no experience with J.R.Ward prior to this series. The first book "Covet" I really enjoyed, and you could see the start of characters building in a series. This second book took the character building even further. I can't wait for the next book to come out Jim Heron, is a wonderful dark hero, suffering for the souls he tries to protect. The demons are evil, and there are some descriptive torture segments that may turn some readers off. However when dealing with ultimate "Evil" there are things that need to be shown to express the depths of this fight between the good and evil. Just think of the concentration camps in WWII and the experiments by doctor Mangler.

BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front) - The Fallen Angel series is shaping up to a be a slightly more "manly" version of the Black Dagger Brotherhood (BDB) series. Definitely worth 13 hours of your life, but you might want to get a refresher of what happened in Covet becuase this one jumps right in where Covet left off and there aren't a lot of reminders of what happened in the first book.

PLOT: This listen is a little shorter than the first book and significantly shorter than the last couple of BDB books. This series is written in a similar fashion to the BDB series (i.e. One Good Guy vs. One Bad Guy as the central theme) but might be more tailored to the male audience. While I very much enjoyed all of the BDB books I find myself wanting the war between the Brothers and Lessoning Society to play a larger role and not focus so much on the love story. The first book (Covet) did not have a love theme while this book tries to float one in there. Definitely not of the BDB quality but the romance scenes are there along with some fighting and torture.

NARRATOR: I'm definately a fan of Mr. Dove. I think he does a very good job in varying his pitches and tones for all of his characters and have no issues with his reading style. Personally I am glad they did not choose Jim Frangione (sp? the BDB narrator) as it's nice to associate one voice with one set of characters.

Enjoying the new series. 4.5 stars. I agree with the other four reviewers, and if you are J.R. Ward fan, you will enjoy.

I very much enjoyed Crave. It had lots of humorous moments, sad, and climatic moments more so than its predecessor Covent which I enjoyed, but not nearly as much as Crave. If this means that the book series will be getting better as the stories progress then this will be another very successful series for J.R. Ward. I absolutely love each and every one of the books in the BDB (Black Dagger Brother series) If you have not read or listen to the BDB series then your missing out! (worse maybe even depriving yourself!)

Not what I expected but I could not stop listening and have to have others of this series.

It is about the same quality as Covet. It is not bad - but certainly is not the Black Dagger Brotherhood stories, not even close (and if you haven't read them, go get them now, all of them.)

There is some sex, but it's kind of short and has little tension/build-up and is more ho-hum than thrilling.

The story is wrapped up independently, but the characters are the same and there is little recapping so you probably should read them in order. The narrator seems to distinguish the male characters better in this book than he did in Covet.

I'm not sure if I'll read the next in the series or not - it's so close to bordering on average that the price of the audiobook when it comes out will probably be the deciding factor, more so than the story itself.

Looking for similar stories? Jeaniene Frost's Night Huntress books are similar. Moning's Fever series is good too, but involves dark fairies instead of vampires.

Although this is not the typical novel that I nomally read, I decided to check out "Covet", the first novel during a sale. I tend to read more romance and suspense novels, but I'm a fan of the TV show SuperNatural, so the subject of the Fallen Angel, Jim, trying to save seven souls for good over evil interested me. I did not anticipate the graphic nature of the novels since it's not my normal read, but I was so caught up in the exitement of the characters and Jim's battle with trying to lead his "soul" on the right path while keeping them safe from demons, that the graphic nature did not bother me. Don't think that because the book is about Angels that it will be G rated and about God. If that is what you are expecting, you will get the shock of your life. Crave is the second chapter for Jim, trying to save the 2nd of his 7th soul. Both Covet and Crave are R rated, with graphic language, sexual content and violence. Which is why I loved the characters to much, because they are so real. Jim, the Fallen Angel, and his two buddies Add and Eddie, are Warriors sent from haven to fight for the souls of seven people that will decide the fate of the world. Free will let's them decide to choose good or evil, but only Jim has been given the power to persuade them on which path to take. He has the past to satify Hell, but the heart to satisfy Heaven. Both novels make you fall in love with this wicked Angel, that keeps showing bit by bit why he is the Chosen One. Eric Dove as the narrator is PERFECT and his voice gives just the right tone to each character so you feel every emotion. I can not wait for the next chapter of Jim's adventure. If you are daring... neither can you.

J.R. has delivered another good one. Can't wait to read the rest of the series