A Touch of Crimson

Renegade Angels Trilogy, Book 1

By: Sylvia Day

Narrated by: Luke Daniels

Length: 9 hrs and 45 mins

Publisher's Summary

An angel with immense power and insatiable desire, Adrian Mitchell leads an elite Special Ops unit of the seraphim. His task is to punish the Fallen - angels who have become vampires - and command a restless pack of indentured lycans.

But Adrian has suffered his own punishment for becoming involved with mortals - losing the woman he loves again and again. Now, after nearly 200 years, he has found her: Shadoe, her soul once more inhabiting a new body that doesn’t remember him. This time he won’t let her go.

With no memory of her past as Shadoe, Lindsay Gibson knows only that she can’t help being fiercely attracted to the smoldering, seductive male who crosses her path. Swept into a dangerous world of tumultuous passion and preternatural conflict, Lindsay is soon caught between her angel lover, her vampire father, and a full-blown lycan revolt. There’s more at stake than her love and her life - she could lose her very soul....

©2013 Sylvia Day (P)2013 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Critic Reviews

"Explodes with passion and heat. A hot, sexy angel to die for and a gutsy heroine make for one exciting read." ( New York Times best-selling author Cheyenne McCray)

"Sylvia Day spins a gorgeous adventure that combines gritty, exciting storytelling with soaring lyricism. Adrian is my favorite kind of hero - an alpha-male angel determined to win the heart of his heroine, Lindsay, while protecting her from his lethal enemy.... This is definitely a book for your keeper shelf." ( New York Times best-selling author Angela Knight)

Good book if you don't think so hard.

I believe in honesty as the best policy so as much as I hate to say it this book left me feeling a bit confused. From the moment is started I got hit with definitions for all these things that turned my brain around and made me want to listen to them again, so I approached the story thinking things would be complicated. It was not.

If you don't want to think too hard about the problems with the book and love it as it is, don't read on. Plus, it might get spoilery.

Let's start with how the book bashes you over the head with a beginning. No slow beginning this one - the lovely couple bump into each other at the airport and she goes home with him (and not for a one night stand)... ?

Meet Adrian. Angel, badass, faithful lover to Shadoe, a woman who is reborn every now and then (the last time was 200 years ago) and who has his undying loyalty. Epic love.

Meet Lindsey. Buffy with curls, minus the chosen stuff, plus an extra soul. But there's where the story gets confusing. This whole time the book talks about how Lindsey IS Shadoe, Adrian sees her wants her, she wants him for an unknown reason, but resists for his sake which makes him want her more... then we discover she's not Shadoe, she's herself, and Shadoe is like an infection (extra soul/leech) Adrian wants to rid Lindsey of. huuuhhhh?

We're taught to follow this epic love story then it's smashed to pieces for a bizarre twist. And that's only the beginning. None of the characters are really developed except for the lovebirds and a lycan. Humans seem to be ignorant of EVERYTHING despite stuff happening out in the open all the time. The angels seem to be making their own problems grow (consistantly creating vampires who can create more vampires) while mindlessly sticking to a plan that began "in the beginning" and the bad guys don't seem all that bad - in fact one of them gets cleared of a murder and that's never explained before the book is over (can we foresee a sequel? Oh yeah, there it is for sale).

In the end I couldn't figure out where Adrian's love of Lindsey came from - let alone Shadoe who is this shallow harlot who apparently fondled herself in front of him at every turn until he caved. Seriously? And Adrian didn't know how vampires are made... even though he makes them? AND to top it all off, Adrian is doing the exact thing he kills other angels for and no one bats an eye?! Not to mention the whole slavery issue and how everyone was like... meh. By the end of the book I sat there wondering what the heck was going on with the story - things didn't make since and it seemed super shallow.

And in the end, Lindsey's choice, the big one, you know what I'm talking about and if you don't I'm not spoiling it... made absolutely no sense whatsoever. It was so against character, the result of it was a deus ex machina, and the resolution with the baddies just fizzled and BOOM everything was just peachy keen for everyone. No big fight, no conflict, just a weak little climax not worthy of such a sexy book. So now there's a slew of new questions but, look, the book's over.

Okay so maybe this is more of a rant, but when people rate a book 5 stars when it clearly doesn't deserve it I feel like I need to make them see the problems. And for readers/listeners like me who reads reviews, I enjoy when a person confronts a book's issues before I spend a credit. Is it worth it? Maybe... if you don't think too hard.

A HEAVENLY PARANORMAL LISTEN

Vampires, Lycans, Watchers, Minions, Nephalims, Sentinels, Seraphine Angels and humans all inhabit this paranormal world that S.D. has soooo brilliantly created for us to share in and enjoy.

This listen captures you from the first few chapters where a paranormal Special Ops team of Angels fight the Fallen (Vampires) with the help of the Lycans but when Aiden (the Angelic Leader) stumbles upon Lindsay (his reincarnated soul mate) then everything is put on hold and action, tension, attraction, seduction and lots and lots of passion ensue as Ms Day skilfully mixes all these ingredients together to create a non-stop listen.

She also then adds a bucket full of interesting characters (including lots of yummy sexy Alpha types) who will have you drawn into this intense and sexy listen that's got plots and sub plots where we hope true love can eventually conquer all if it's only given the chance. However, psychological and biological warfare is also going on as Heavenly rules and regulations are slowly being broken and all the characters are secretly and cleverly being manipulated by someone...... but who?

Worth a credit? Yes it definitely would be - but for $7.34 why use one. However, beware this does contain sex scenes and some strong language so if you don't like these ingredients in your listens then opt for a different book - as for me, we'll I'm off to listen to book 2.

A Decent Story!

Would you be willing to try another book from Sylvia Day? Why or why not?

Yes, I love PNR's and this story tick off all the components I look for in a good PNR. It had a good plot, great characters, hot sex scenes and action.

Which scene was your favorite?

I liked the scene where Adrian realizes he no longer loves Shadoe the way he loves Lindsay and will do what it takes to free Shadoe's soul from Lindsay's body. It was both happy and sad.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, the plot and characters kept me listening; however, there were times the story felt disjointed and became a little confusing. However, I liked the story enough and will continue the series.

Amazing!

Day is right, this is for her Marked series readers.

Lindsay is confident, buffy-the-vampire-slayer type who falls in love with a badass angel, makes friends with a lycan, and generally is cool chick. Adrian is hot, intelligent, and doesn't have boring flaws. There's no stupid lack of communication, no break ups over nothing. The characters don't spend so much time apart that you're listening on 2x speed until they're together then (**ahem** Possession **cough**). The story is well thought out and the characters well developed. The love scenes are graphic but not over the top. Really, it's just everything I was looking for in an audiobook.

All I want now is a cameo from Eve. Maybe in book 3?

Meh

This is the second story I have listened to by this author. I didn't like the first book and thought it was because of the similarities to Fifty Shades of Gray. But after listen to this book I have now decided that it is the author's writing style I don't like. The plot had potential but the story was so wrapped up in personal angst, that the plot was forgotten and only touched apon briefly. It was a chore to get through this book. I couldn't wait for the book to end.

Too distracted by the romance story line

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

Less concern with physical descriptions and the story implied eroticism

Would you ever listen to anything by Sylvia Day again?

No way

What does Luke Daniels bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I love the voices. He keeps me interested and he is not dull an monotonous.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

disappointment and boredome

Any additional comments?

I would not recommend this book to anyone who is interested in adventure fantasy. However, if you are interested in romance this may be a perfect novel for you.

A lot to keep up with!

First, I want to mention that the narration is awesome, Luke Danials is very talented.
As far as the plot, there are many types of characters with many different characteristics. At first I was lost but the story finally sorted my confusion, as it progressed. It is definitely an unique paranormal story and I’m excited to see it through to it’s completion.
Be aware, this is a trilogy, so there is only a partial resolution you the end of book one. You will have to complete the trilogy to know the complete resolution of all the conflicts.
This book has tweeted enough of my interest to move to book two and likely book three, when it is released.
-V from Kansas

Um...I liked it...kinda

Ok first off. I really enjoyed Luke Daniels narration. While he sounds somewhat awful trying to do female voices, I guess it would be more weird to have him sound better than me at it so eh.

While it did have some pretty good steam, it didn't have enough substance.

The story was decent and it had a good concept to it but it seemed to creep by, and build up without a big bang....Hey! I was waiting on that bang!!! Yeah never happened. If I did smoke, this book definitely wouldn't have earned that necessary cigarette after.

I would have liked it better if I had gotten it on a sale, but even at $7.34 I guess it was worth it. I guess you get what you pay for. And please don't take it that I'm saying don't buy it. If you can't find anything else to read and need something this pass the time this works. It just won't get you where you need to be.

A winner!

If you could sum up A Touch of Crimson in three words, what would they be?

Another great series.

Who was your favorite character and why?

No favorite.

Have you listened to any of Luke Daniels’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

First listen and he did fine.

Any additional comments?

It is at such a good price I didn't use a credit. If you like this genre of book then I think you'll be well pleased with this one. It is the first book in the series and I'm already looking foward to getting the next one.

Narration was so bad!

The voice of the main characters was so bad, that towards the end I would start laughing. Luke Daniels needs some practice, otherwise he has a pleasant voice.
Story was nothing exceptional, but helped pass the time.