Gemini Rising

I got a review back

from Kirkus on the Wolf's Torment. I was a bit bummed, yet okay with it. The opening line is:

An adequate, yet insubstantial tale about witches, werewolves, and vampires in 1860's Romania.

Well, I'm happy the writing is adequate. Still that's vague. What's adequate? The technical (mechanics) aspects of the writing? The character development? The plot? I think, put together as a whole, the story is adequate - yet insubstantial.

What's insubstantial? I guess it means it doesn't stick out. There's nothing here that makes the story shine. Is it lacking something? Plot? Character development? I guess I'm leaning toward character development. Here's another line from the review:

In developing the characters, Cardin relies too heavily upon
emotional shorthand, a tactic that frequently makes their actions seem rash or unplanned.

Emotional shorthand. I must do more research into this. Sigh...

Here's another qip:

The author strives for substantive—if supernatural—historical fiction, but too frequently indulges in lurid melodrama...the story's elements fail to come together.

Sigh... Yeah, I guess that's what I was striving for.
If anything, I find the review encouraging in that it recongizes what I was striving for - I'm just disapointed I came up a little short.

Not trying to bitch here, but looking for constructive feedback so as to improve.