My First NR Walker Disappointment

I have been reading this author for the last few years, and she’s one of the few I often recommend off the top of my head. I go through several books per week and have memory issues so remembering, caring about, and wanting to revisit worlds and characters is a sign that I’ve been touched. I’m not sure how many times I’ve re-read The Kite, at least 2, maybe 3. I didn’t even realize it was read by Glen Lloyd from bangers like Bossy and Dearest Milton James at first, because the performance just blended so well with the story for me. I loved almost everything about The Kite, minus the weird way they find their house at the end. I loved the adventure, the character and relationship development, and the comparative grittiness. But I definitely do not recall that the story had anything to do with Tallowwood.

I was SO excited when I realized that The Bait was a continuation of Asher and Harry’s story which I thought was neatly wrapped up. I was weirded out by the Tallowwood thing but still stoked to spend an Audible credit to immediately dive in. I was fresh from Enemies With Benefits, my new all-time favourite book, and was eager for more Glen Lloyd and NR Walker. I was especially excited to see The Bait was newly published, believing this would be both creators at their best after years of experience.

I am so sad to have been so wrong.

As mentioned, Tallowwood isn’t a story I remember at all, so when the opening was from the perspective of one of those MCs (the white cop), I figured it would just be a prologue. But then it keeps going into the next chapter. Then we get some Asher and Harry, then back to more Tallowwood (don’t quite remember their names). As the first chapter went on, I struggled to remember a SINGLE thing about Tallowwood, and only vaguely recollected what was directly mentioned. I was willing to sit through it because I was vibrating to dive into Asher and Harry’s story and get on the adventure to save Yunho (okay that dumb, drawn out name pun was another thing I could have done without in The Kite).

But within the first few minutes there was a typo, which I guess narrators aren’t allowed to edit. And then as things went on I noticed more writing weaknesses, like redundancies big and small. I started wondering where the editor was all this time. A pattern emerged where a character will think through something, then repeat it out loud nearly word for word. A lot of tell, don’t show, a lot of summarizing what JUST happened a few minutes ago.

Just so much repetition, redundancy, and summary. They don’t work together as seamlessly as they used to from the very first scene in The Kite when they were mortal enemies. Bumbling mishaps and constant lamenting, and unbelievable lazy mistakes. There were some glimpses of epic, badass coolness that had me cheering, but then the next line would bring it down. Also they just don’t have good chemistry together anymore, they used to be so in sync even when they were at odds. There’s been 2 developed sex scenes that I remember but the character progression I’m used to from the sex isn’t really there anymore. Interesting but surface Lebel and disconnected.

Lamp shading. So much lamp shading. “What’s up with you trying to stab me, Asher?” *shrugs* “Idk, it’s time to go to the next scene!”.

I think this is a draft. There’s so much good weighed down and obscured by over bloated and amateur writing that any editor should have easily fixed. Character issues should have been spotted in development.

Have I mentioned I still have 2 more hours to get through ? I’m just barely interested enough to finish, but I won’t be reading this again.

This book could easily be half the length. Keep the Tallowwood stuff to the prologue or honestly just get rid of it as I think it drags down the world of the Kite. I am assuming the Tallowwood team comes in handy to save the day at the end but I honestly wouldn’t care. Small town cops just don’t measure up to international shadow assassins and it’s not really fair to put them beside each other like this. Also, it’s been a long time since I’ve heard from the Tallowwood couple so bringing them back in now would still be jarring.

In general, the perspective shifting has been blotchy and uneven. As mentioned, I at first though the Tallowwood thing was a one-off for the prologue, but then it kept going, then we finally got to Harry’s perspective, then back to White Tallowwood cop, then back to Harry for several chapters to the point where I thought there might not be an Asher perspective. And nothing at all from Native Tallowwood Cop, so it doesn’t work as a two-couple story at all.

I want to believe that Glen Lloyd was just as depressed, frustrated and reluctant as I felt. There’s still sparks of the bright, lively, dynamic and transformative voice actor, but there’s so many distracting spots where he seems to be phoning it in, becoming just as dull and repetitive as the story. It’s the first time I’ve been disappointed in him too, but I mostly blame the writing team and potentially the producers. There’s also audio editing problems like with Chapter 19. I still love you Glen. still love you too, Walker. You’re usually a fearless and aspirational writer, but we can only be as good as our editing teams and the time afforded us to our craft. I really wish you hadn’t pulled Asher and Harry out of the perfect and satisfying conclusion of the Kite to do this to them. The Bait is a brand-breaking, trust-tainting zombie book, when I wish I could have read the polished and high-quality version that maybe could have been released next year. Keep going though! I am still hoping to give another one of your next projects a try. After I finish this one, I guess.

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