Ecstasy

Fans of Jacquelyn Frank can rest easy. She's followed up her 'Nightwalker' series with the 'Shadowdwellers', and the first novel "Ecstasy" is a winner for me. The first series introduced her creation of an Earth inhabited by paranormal creatures and focused on the battle of what humans call Demons. This series shifts the focus to another race. A race that exists both in and between Realscape and Shadowscape. Two different, yet co-existing realities that can and do affect each other and the creatures living in either.

When Ashla suddenly finds herself in a world that's totally empty of any living creatures, she's pretty freaked. After all, once she's gorged herself on the never-ending feasts, shopped for free in all the best stores show more Manhattan has to offer, fulfilled her curiosity by seeing anything, anywhere she wants, all the while spoiling herself in the lap of luxury that is the Plaza hotel...what's left? So when she's surprised by the sudden appearance of two men fighting, with swords no less, she's pretty sure she really is insane. But after the deadly battle when one lies dying, she can't help but heal him...and that act will change her life forever.

Trace is truly shocked when he realizes the creature who healed him is not a Ghost or a Fade, but a real human. For one who has lived as long as he, her existence would have been enough of a puzzle, but when she heals him from a mortal wound, he finds himself drawn to her...even though he knows any bond between human and Shadowdweller should be impossible, and is certainly forbidden.

Very different. I don't confuse Frank's stories with any other writers and considering how much I read, that's a real compliment. Her universe is complex and filled with diverse races, each with a rich culture and history that unfold as her series progresses. Having said that, I now must resign myself to wait for the next installment, "Rapture", scheduled for publication in July 09...SIX whole months! show less

I think I am in the minority here when I say that I didn't really enjoy Frank's first book in her second series, the Shadowdwellers. Part of it may have been that Frank was prone to go off on long tangents of explanation of this new world that she had created, and it kind of dragged the story down.

Also, the world that she has created seems to have drawn on East Indian, Arabic, and Japanese cultures in a weird mix where she created a very stratified culture, almost a caste society, as well as very prescribed roles for men and women within those boundaries. A culture that has "handmaidens" serving a priestly male caste immediately made my feminist hackles rise.

Some of the themes she used in the book of dominance/submission, torture, and show more the very literal sex education of minors also made me uncomfortable. Especially the initiation of children into sexuality by adult "models" in a school setting made me extremely uncomfortable. That was where she lost me.

I haven't decided yet whether or not I will give this series a second chance and continue with it. I think there are other series out there that maybe aren't so flawed. show less

Definitely on the romance side of PNR, I think even more so than the Nightwalkers. There is a sub-plot but it is not completely solved before the end and leaves you to read the next book. Still it was the romance that drove the plot and it was pretty good and kept my interest throughout.

Although this is set in the same world as the Nightwalkers, in fact they are considered a faction of Nightwalkers, it deals with a very separate people than the demons, vampires and shifters of the nightwalkers series. These are the unknown Shadowdwellers. They are introduced throughout the nightwalkers but you never really get to know them. Here you get to know them and their world is more fleshed out. It is an interesting concept but not as a show more compelling world as the other 3 species. There is a quick appearance of Gideon from the other books but other than that, it is totally separate.

I enjoyed the relationship and how they meet in a different reality. One where the Shadowdellers can go to escape the sunlight. Still, I never quite could relate to the shadows. I didn't see how Ashla could adjust to it so well. I would have been trying to get back to see the light and sun.

Well, I enjoyed it and it was a quick read. I decided to continue on in the spin off series since Frank just started writing a second spin off series. I really liked the Nightwalkers, so thought to catch up with the spin offs. show less

Very interesting premise of people who dwell in the shadows; a complete world set in an alternate realm of darkness. Alas, the couple was dull and didn't hold my attention. I was more invested in the other characters and wanted to read their books instead.

ok story... too many complications.. yes it is part of a continuing series, but it shouldn't have so much set up for later stories.... let the stories flow in themselves.

This is my first novel i've read from JF, and I have to say I am impressed. Her world is unlike other. Her characters are exciting, mysterious, and well developed. Ecstacy is first in the Shadowdweller series and focuses on the story of Trace, a Shadowdweller, and Ashla, a human. Due to Ashla's nature, Trace is not allowed to mate with her, yet he lusts over her and eventually loves her and refuses to let her go. The drama only partially resolves at the end and continues thrpugh the next book.

I was torn between two and three stars for this. I get it was the first book in this series, but still... it felt lacking to me. The Fade sounded neat and I guess since they are Shadowdwellers I expected them to be in the fade more. The fade is like a parallel universe to the one we live in. That only the shadowdwellers can get to by choice, it's also where ghosts/wandering souls go after death. But there is no contact between the two, b/c ghosts can't see anything but the fade and themselves. I didn't have a problem with the characters. I do wish that it wasn't such an instant drawn to each other. Especially with Trace's past of being tortured by a women. To me I think he would have came across better if there was a little more angst show more or something between them. But since that's not the case, it was ok. I didn't not like him as a character... he was just not memorable to me. Ashla... I enjoyed her character, she reminds me of Bella from [b:Jacob|111306|Jacob (Nightwalkers, #1)|Jacquelyn Frank|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1171649984s/111306.jpg|107202] , that whole tiny packages with explosive qualities... like Ashla is so scared half the time, but when it comes to saving someones life... no hesitation she jumps in and helps. Even at the risk of her own life a couple of times. I think she's the reason i wanted to give it a three. Just because i liked her character that it made up for his. (almost) show less