Carmen DeSousa

There is so much to love about Carmen DeSousa's writing in general and this book in particular. Let's start with the characters, which, for me, are the most important aspect of any story. I instantly felt a connect with Mark and Ashlyn, the two main characters. Mark is the perfect hero; protective, brave, and just flawed enough to make him feel real. Ashlyn is battling her own personal demons with an inner strength that shines through. There are no weak-kneed females in need of rescuing show more here.

The plot is intricate, while also being easy to follow. There are a few great twists as we follow along with Mark to solve both a new and an old murder.

The paranormal aspect is well done. While not the central focus, the ghosts offer just enough to give Mark - and readers - something to think about.

* The Library is the follow-up to the novella The Depot. If you haven't read The Depot, it's included here as an added bonus. * show less

I'm a huge fan of Carmen DeSousa's Creatus series, and so I was thrilled to get an early read of this one. Creatus Talis is both an extension and a spin-off of the first four books. While some of the original characters continue on, we focus on new characters with a new direction. You don't have to read the early books to jump right into this new one. (Though you should, because they are too good to miss!)

I love Vev's character! She's a total badass, but in a way that feels believable. show more While we see she's conflicted and sometimes doubts herself, we also see her strength and determination.

The story has a lot of depth. Throughout the book, the content moves seamlessly from intense to emotional to thought-provoking.

One of my favorite things about this book and the series in general is that it's written in a way that feels entirely plausible. The explanations and the science all make sense. We could very well have a race of people called Creatus blending in with us average humans. The realism makes this book all the more captivating.

I think this book reads fine as a stand-alone. At the end, we're left with an issue to consider, something that we know will be incorporated in the next book. I am absolutely not a fan of cliffhangers, but I didn't get that irritated feel at all here. The ending left me satisfied with how the story played out, while also looking forward to what will happen next.

*I was provided with an advance copy of this book, with no expectations of a glowing review in return.* show less

Oh, the bittersweet feel of reading a great book when it's the final installment of a series. I loved the book, though I hate saying goodbye to the characters.

Carmen DeSousa captivates with action, depth, and emotion from start to finish. Her writing style is easy to get lost in. I find myself empathizing with the characters, even when I don't particularly want to. Carmen's gift to us is that we truly experience what it feels like to be someone completely different from ourselves.

While this show more series would be classified as 'supernatural' or 'fantasy', DeSousa lays the story out for us in a way that makes total sense. She gives us a credible scenario, both in writing and in research, and I find myself saying, "What if?"

This book - and the series - beautifully incorporates suspense, mystery, romance, hope, fear, betrayal, and so much more. Now, perhaps more than ever, we need to understand what it feels like to be "The Other". And though this story technically has nothing to do with our current political and social climate, it does shine a light on our very human tendency to negatively judge people who are unlike ourselves.

*This book could be read as a stand-alone, though, for the best reading experience, I suggest reading them in order.* show less

There is so much to love about this book! First, and most important, Carmen DeSousa is a gifted storyteller. She gets out of the way and lets the characters lead. Nothing feels contrived or forced, which allows us as readers to get completely lost in the story.

No offense to those who love it, but I'd grown tired of and disillusioned with 'paranormal romances'. The genre is now saturated with what I call vampire erotica, which has become generic and is more about the sex than the story. But show more Carmen caught my attention the moment I read the tag line for this book:

In every myth there is a modicum of truth…
Creatus
The reason we believe in Fairy Tales—and Monsters.

I couldn't wait to read it and I'm so glad I did! This story is completely unique, and is definitely not generic sex and vampires. In fact, I think Creatus will redefine the paranormal genre. Creatus has intrigue, suspense, romance, and tremendous depth.

Carmen DeSousa has reminded me what I used to love about this genre. The only negative thing I can say is that the book ended. But, happily, she has the second book in the series on the way soon! show less