Synopsis: Three is tormented by the branding scars on her back, broken memories of her fallen creator, and the looming consequences of her secret friendship with Sychar – a male of her kind – a high crime in her world of serpentine guardians. Then along comes Jack – the human train engineer she saves in an explosion. His touch weakens both her knees and her sense of duty. Now Three must choose between her immortal duties, her forbidden friendship, and her human lover.
Review: As a follow-up to Gilded Destiny, which I enjoyed quite a bit, I must say that Jaded Touch was also well done. I feel like the Vesper species is a pretty unique addition to the world of urban fantasy. My favorite part of this novel would be the origins and development of their race. Though it’s a short read, a borderline novella, it offers very solid world-building and it pulls me in as effectively as any full length novel, leaving me wanting to know what comes next. The politics and dynamics between male and female Vespers adds just the right amount of tension while still keeping things unpredictable. I still have questions, but I feel as if more layers will be peeled back in the next installment.
The relationship of Jack and Three has me on the fence. Though the dynamic didn’t always work for me, they have a lot of chemistry. As their own characters I liked them quite a bit though. Scarred and tormented, Three has to march by the beat of her own drum due to her origins, so she’s constantly getting into trouble. But deep down she is a genuine person and she’s easy to root for.
Considering how the first book ended I actually was expecting this novel to be a continuation of that one. And considering how this one ended, there are even more possibilities for the next novel. I won’t be giving away spoilers here but I certainly wouldn’t mind a revisit to what could happen between either of those potential storylines.