Joint Review – Night Whispers by Alisha Rai

Publisher: Samhain
Publish Date: Out Now
How I got this book: Review copy from author

 

Analyst James Bennett has spent the years since humankind fell victim to the Illness living underground. Part of an elite group of survivors determined to save their race, his only interaction with the blood-drinking Shadows roaming the Earth is through surveillance technology carried by his team of search-and-rescue agents. Scarred by vicious events, he has no desire to leave the safety of his bunker for the dangerous world outside—until he recruits a tough, haunted young woman clear across the country.

Former gang member Jules Guerrero learned two things early on: the value of loyalty and never backing down from a fight. Both of those teachings come in handy now that her job description includes protecting humans and kicking Shadow ass. But it’s hard to keep her mind strictly on her mission when all she can think about is the man whose voice keeps her sane through the depths of each dark night.

When Jules is captured and threatened by a rogue organization even more bloodthirsty than the Shadows, James must draw on all of his courage to fuel a furious cross-country chase through the lawless land…before the Jules he loves is destroyed forever.

Product Warnings
Contains a hero who would fight monsters for his love, a heroine out to save the world, a treacherous wasteland, poetry as foreplay and flesh-eating enemies.
*Blurb from Goodreads*

 

MinnChica: One of my favorite genres that I have a hard time finding books in is post-apocalyptic romance, so when I put out a call for suggestions and recommendations earlier in the year, I was sooo glad to hear Rai was in the process of writing this, and couldn’t wait to read it. I love Rai’s writing, she does such an amazing job of building unique worlds and keeping up with the sexy times. I loved everything about the ShadowLands world, and am so excited to see where else this series takes us!

E: I have to say from when Rai first mentioned this during MinnChica’s call for suggestions until last week when I was able to read it I have been looking forward to Night Whispers. The wait was worth it and now I am waiting for the next installment. Her world, the details included in it, the Shadows and not to mention mad scientists made for a very captivating read. There is so much left for us to discover and I am looking forward to the journey, from my nice, safe, sturdy, secure well-lit house.

MinnChica: I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the romance plot, especially since our hero and heroine spent the first half of the book (or so) separated from each other. Hell, they hadn’t even MET each other. It’s hard to really get invested in a romance when the two main characters are so divided and apart, and yet Jules and James were able to make it work, they were able to still form a stable bond, and pull me into their romance from their first conversation on the page. It wasn’t something I was expecting, but was so glad it worked out that way!

E: That was really amazing. But if you think about it with on-line dating today and the internet people do develop relationships before they physically meet each other. I have always had a hard time buying that in books or movies I think because it didn’t seem plausible given the rest of today’s technology but how Rai set it up was just wonderful. And then the lengths they would go through to make a day special for the other *melt*. Not to mention a hero who loves books 😀 There aren’t enough of those in the romance world!

MinnChica: Although James and Jules were the perfect hero and heroine for this story, I have to take a minute and point out all the fabulous secondary characters Rai brought into this world. I am so excited to see what happens with Erik, and how or if he will come to Raven and be a part of the fight. I loved Gabriel and his reluctance to be the figurehead of the new country. I hope everything with Carrie works out… God, just the secondary characters alone were enough to keep me flipping pages as fast as I could read.

E: Oh wow those secondary characters were amazing. They never stole the spotlight but I can’t wait to find out what happens with them. They were so complete which is refreshing to see in the supporting cast. Each of them has had their lives turned upside and shaken in ways that most people would never recover from yet they are still living and fighting. I am not going to try to figure out who I want to pair up with whom I just hope they all have HEAs because a life that hard certainly needs one. Rai has opened up such a can of worms in my head over everything I want to know in her Shadowlands world.

MinnChica: Back to Jules and James…. There was so much I enjoyed about each of them. James was this shy and quiet hero who was so scared of the big-bad-world and yet he sucked up his fears and anxieties and went out in search of Jules when she needed him most. He was a beta hero to the core, and although I’m usually not a huge fan of the beta hero, he wormed his way into my heart and had me falling in love. And Jules, poot Jules. With her screwed up childhood and desire to right every wrong she ever did, the poor girl was tortured. I loved that everyone teased her for having a hero complex, because she absolutely did, and it worked for her. I loved these two together, their personalities were night and day, and yet they complemented each other perfectly. I hope we see more of them as the series progresses.

E: James was the best beta hero I have seen in quite a while. He cared about those he worked with and around but never wanted to take charge. But when Jules needed him he came through with flying colors. Courage isn’t the absence of fear it is being scared and doing it anyways and James had it. He was the perfect counterbalance for Jules and her hero syndrome. She needed someone to take care of her and he needed someone who needed him for who and what he was with all of his scars exposed. Like MinnChica I hope we get to see glimpses into their relationship as the series continues because they were so wonderful together.

MinnChica: All in all I am happy to add the ShadowLands series and Alisha Rai to my recommended reads in post-apocalyptic romance! Jules and James were so wonderful to read, the cast of secondary characters proves this series has so much more to live up to, and the world is engaging and exciting with all the twists and turns. I’m so anxious to see where Rai leads us next, and hope she works on writing faster!
I give Night Whispers a B+

E: This has certainly landed on my re-read status. I do have a few questions about how Jules and James initially started in their roles but that certainly didn’t interfere with my enjoyment of the story. Rai has set up a world and characters that I can see providing me with hours of entertainment as I explore it through her writing. Night Whispers hit all of my post-apocalyptic romance buttons without seeming like something I have already read. Again like MinnChica I think Rai needs to write faster!
I give Night Whispers a B+

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