1. They are TOO plot-driven. I wish Tammy would focus a bit more on the characters, including Beka. We don’t see much character growth in the first 2 books in Beka, and we don’t see any growth in anyone else at all. Beka’s not exploring new powers or feelings, like Daine, or struggling to manage 2 identities, like Alanna. And who would you even say is the second-most important character? The cat?

2. Beka is not very nice to her friends. They would travel to the ends of the earth to help her, and risk their lives all the time to stand by her…and I’m not really sure why. She never seems to add anything to the conversations except maybe insults to Rosto (which, fine, he deserves, but they aren’t terribly clever) and talk about her latest investigation. They’re like her loyal followers, and she never really seems to reciprocate (the notable exception being Tansy, who doesn’t even appear in book 2).

I think these problems are really clear in Bloodhound; I didn’t have these complaints so much in the first book, although I do remember wondering why Rosto and his 2 gal pals are so obsessed with Beka when she barely offers them a civil word. I guess I just feel like Pierce takes a lot for granted in this story–that Beka is already developed, that her friends already love her–without really showing us how or why.

Lee: They are pretty important supporting characters in the second book – one of the higher-ups among the Dogs and his lover. And they are both really smart and competent, which is awesome. Glad you like the site!