I unfortunately forgot to download the e-book on my kindle before it was archived and/or lost interest in the book because it’s been on my tbr for way too long, so I wasn’t able to read and review it (on time). Since I Must give a star rating, I’ve given it 3 stars to stay neutral/in the middle. Sorry to the publisher for not having gotten around to actually read it.

Thank you Netgalley for the book in exchange for an honest review.

It took me almost a year to finish this book, sadly. I had a hard time reading this and just focus on it. There were lots of repetitive words and the whole world just didn't interest me. It felt blank. I did not care about the characters AT ALL. I no longer know their names. Sorry. If someone would ask me about some details. I wouldn't know. It was that forgettable to me.

I didn't know what to expect from this book or the author. But, after reading this book, I realized I enjoyed the plot, even with the many grammatical mistakes and lack of focus on the going on. But, this book has a lot of potential and the author has talent. Just needs focus a bit more.

Please don't hate me for this....it hurts my soul to give such a poor review, but I couldn't stand it!

DNF'ed page 13.

Thoughts and...editing suggestions for chapter 1

I hate to be the person who drags a new book down, but I just can’t find the will power to slug my way through this one. Pretty sure it’s the writing style. It’s very…different from what I’m used to...and there's the fact that it needs a REALLY good edit. So the following is mostly an editing fiesta.

There is a lot of repetitiveness to this book and I only got a chapter in.
These two lines that were within 4 pages of each other:

"Heavenly wings ripper out of her back" x2 word for word

"Chained down to this earth" or "chain pulling her down to earth" need some new descriptors

There is also a thing about cologne. His musky cologne with no sweetness to it. She could smell his cologne. Cologne cologne cologne. We got it. He wears an old german musky cologne and somehow you can smell in in the air though he’s not close to you yet (was not explained in chapter 1).

Some things are really specific. There are two motorcycles in the first chapter. No real descriptions for us non-bike loving people. Just model and colour. So one is a 1940’s something and the other is a Suzuki GSX S1000F ABS (I wrote that one down). If that’s anything like snowmobiles, what I personally took away from that is that it’s got some power. But a 1940 something bike can keep ahead of it in a high speed chase through the city… Other specific things are ringtone songs. Eric Clapton’s Before You Accuse Me, for example. Or guns, a .45 with a standard 8 bullet magazine (one in the chamber?).

Most other things are more general, or glossed over altogether. What is she wearing...shirt and a jacket...okay. They speed in front of an oncoming train. He revs the engine for the upth-teen time, she screams and the result “They had made it.” Okay…good suspense?

And the blood thing. Gwen ditches her jacket and shirt because the demons would be able to track her blood from anywhere cause the smell is that strong. BUT does she keep her bra? Is she even wearing a bra? All is says is she trashes her shirt and jacket (what colour were they anyway?). Did she magically heal??? Did the bullets pop out? Did she wipe the blood off her skin if it’s so easy to smell? Nope! Just throws on the guy’s undershirt and off they go!

Got one page into chapter two and decided it probably wasn’t going to get much better so I stopped. Which is unfortunate because the plot line actually looks interesting enough, but as I said, I don’t think this writing style and I are compatible..

More things in need of editing:

"making Erik almost flipping the bike over" Uh, what? (had to read it twice) oh, you meant “flip.” Gotcha!

"Gwen glanced behind her…I could tell they were all Jurgen’s minions" There was no “I" until this moment.

"this time she felt it was more about surviving another day." You just said Jurgen wouldn’t kill her…she’s extremely hard to kill anyway, I’ve gathered…what is with this thought she’s having?

Conclusion

Interesting plot line from what I read, poor execution mostly due to the need for another round of editing.

So sorry...don't hate me!

Thankyou to NetGalley, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-Op and the author, Dani Hoots, for giving me the opportunity to read an advanced readers copy of The Chained in exchange for an honest and unbiased opinion..
I thought this book offered a good read. The storyline was well written and kept me intrigued to the end.
3.5 stars.
Well worth a read.

This is a first for me by this author... I look forward to more in the future.

Gwen used to be the most feared of the Twelve Generals of Lucifer—demons who have roamed the Earth since being sent down from heaven at the dawn of time, bringing chaos and destruction to everything around them. Their goal: open the gates of hell and destroy Earth once and for all.

However, Gwen is starting to have a conscience.

Unlike the other demons, she’s begun to feel compassion for humans and disdain for the slaughter her kind has brought to the world. She runs off in search for the Gargoyles, beings that were sent down from Heaven to stop the Twelve. Now she has to face the fact she has done things that she can never repent for, and stay one step ahead of a very angry ex who will stop at nothing to hunt her down.

Who says evil can't have a conscience??

Although a little confusing at times it was an enjoyable book and I look forward to future publications from this author.

Thank-You Netgalley for my ARC.

I'm not entirely sure I know where this series is going, and the POV's are a bit all over the place, The plot has the makings of a very good story, but it isn't quite there yet.