RavensDagger‘s Ivil Antagonist novel, a romantic comedy with some Warhammer 40k trappings, doesn’t really hit its stride until about halfway through. There’s nothing bad about the first half mind you, it’s just that the early humor is so dry/deadpan its arguably nonexistent. In that second half though the only thing I can really complain about is that the third love interest feels kind of extraneous… she doesn’t really fit with the other two.
The Lilith’s Shadow novels were apparently one of the author‘s earliest works which were rewritten and published after the success of one of their later series. Going in I expected something like a proto-Eve of Destruction, but it turned out quite different with only a few similarities between the protagonists and a through-line with some of the antagonist behavior.
Ultimately, while I can’t say I actively dislike the series, two things ended up distracting enough that I don’t think I’ll be completing it. The first is that I feel the central relationship develops far too quickly even after taking into account the extraordinary circumstances (e.g. the rescue, the attraction field), while the other is more one of personal taste; the protagonist simply isn’t confidant enough in her own abilities. Yes the lack of confidence is perfectly believable considering she’s technically barely a year old, it’s just not a trait I like to see in overpowered protagonists.