DNF&Y [43]

DNF&Y is used to explain why I gave up on certain books, and what about them just didn't work for me. What I disliked about a book might be something you love, so it helps to share your thoughts even when they're negative!

The Immortal Highlander (Highlander, #6) by Karen Marie Moning

Synopsis (via Goodreads): BEWARE: LETHALLY SEDUCTIVE ALPHA MALE OF IMMENSE STRENGTH AND DARK EROTICISM. DO NOT LOOK AT HIM. DO NOT TOUCH HIM. DO NOT BE TEMPTED. DO NOT BE SEDUCED....

With his long, black hair and dark, mesmerising eyes, Adam Black is Trouble with a capital T. Immortal, arrogant, and intensly sensual, he is free to roam across time and continents in pursuit of his insatiable desires. That is, until a curse strips him of his immortality and makes him invisible, a cruel fate for so irresistible a man. Now Adam's only hope for survival is in the hands of the one woman who can actually see him.

Enter law student Gabrielle O'Callaghan. For Gabrielle, cursed with the ability to see both worlds, Mortal and Faery, it is the beginning of a long, dangerous seduction. But as Adam's quest to regain his immortality plunges them into a world of timeless magic, the price of surrender could be their very lives. Unless they can thwart the conspiracy that threatens both Mortal and Faery realms...and give them a shot at a destiny few mortals ever know: glorious, wondrous, endless love...

I started reading The Immortal Highlander because I wanted steamy sex and swoonworthy characters. Sadly, this book was unremarkable and more than a little frustrating. 

I haven't read any of the other books in this series, but it was my understanding that they could be read as standalones (they can). The book mentions other characters that I know have been in previous books (yay reviews), but not knowing who they were made no difference to this story (what I read of it). Unfortunately, I could barely get through The Immortal Highlander, despite several attempts to do so. 

I am so over the virgin trope. She refers to boyfriends she's had previously, but none of them ever "got that far" due to her being able to see the Tuatha De Danaan. Were they in her house? Sitting next to her in bed while getting frisky with a regular Joe? I'm fine with virgins (still not a fan of the trope), but the reason for her virginity wasn't believable. It was also REALLY WEIRD that Gabby kept conversing with her inner 14-year-old self. 

Gabby's halfhearted attempts to "resist" Adam were annoying and made my head hurt. Her reasons were laughable and barely made sense. She was going to cave eventually, and I think the author could have handled their initial romance a little better. It all felt forced and unnecessary. Let's not forget that Adam assaulted her in the beginning and essentially forced her to do what he wanted. If someone - human or not - was attacking me, I wouldn't be thinking about how hard he was against me. He also broke into her home and then later stole some of her underwear (creepy). 

The author also had Gabby completely isolated from everyone. She wasn't close to her remaining family (her mom left her with her grandmother once it became clear she could see the Tuatha De), she wasn't in a relationship, she had no friends... she was just existing. I wish she'd had someone in her life that she cared about. Maybe then she would have cared more about herself. 

It also bothered me that Adam never really seemed to care about Gabby. It was always about what he needed from her and his desire to claim her. I never saw him put her needs first (with a few small exceptions that also benefitted him), and I can't get behind a character that would do that. She's supposed to be his love interest, but I never saw an actual connection between the two.

Occasionally, I can get behind a book with a mediocre plot if the characters are likable, but both Gabby and Adam were exhausting to read about. She was annoying and he was over-the-top. I kept reading to see if the sex was going to be good, but they kept getting interrupted (which is something else I hate). 

I don't think I'll be reading any of the other books in this series. (★★☆☆☆)