I picked this one up immediately after the previous one. (OK, technically I picked this one up first, because my library had a physical copy and I didI picked this one up immediately after the previous one. (OK, technically I picked this one up first, because my library had a physical copy and I didn't realize it was book 2.) And while i like the gang together doing adventured, I didn't like this one quite as much. I did finish it, and even download the third one, but I complained a lot more while reading it than I did the first one. ...more
This is one of those books I had to be in the right mood for. Not just because it was a fantasy novel with magic. Sometimes I can take just the most cThis is one of those books I had to be in the right mood for. Not just because it was a fantasy novel with magic. Sometimes I can take just the most cliche tropes and go with them, and this one got the balance of eye-rollingly predictable and charming right. Also it helped that she assembles a motley group of friends to help her - I am a sucker for that particular trope, and couples who yearn but can't be together. It was the perfect book for traveling across the country, and I immediately downloaded the next book....more
I am very conflicted on this book. First off, Livira and Evar both had interesting arcs. Then it got to the world of The Magician's Nephew, a book I aI am very conflicted on this book. First off, Livira and Evar both had interesting arcs. Then it got to the world of The Magician's Nephew, a book I am sure I read dozens of times as a chile, and I was absolutely sucked in. (And bought that series for my cousin's 5 year old for Xmas. Even though nowadays they number the books chronologically, which I think is incorrect.) Then the big twist reveal (which I absolutely did not see coming).
However, I wasn't sure about a few of the choices (view spoiler)[I didn't mind the soldier, but the assistant? (hide spoiler)], and I didn't like anything about the cliffhanger ending. I finally landed on a 4 instead of a 3 (partially because of the author's , which made me happy. I am going to hope that all the things that irritated me are explained in future books. ...more
I remembered liking the first book, so I picked this one up. It's one with the modern trend of expecting you to remember everything from the first oneI remembered liking the first book, so I picked this one up. It's one with the modern trend of expecting you to remember everything from the first one, which I read 5 years ago. Turns out I remember very little. So I didn't have a lot of incentive to care about the characters, most of whom seemed to be jerks. At the point where someone I didn't care about started torturing someone horribly, I said, you know what, that's enough of this. And stopped reading....more
I was extremely skeptical when I realized this was a prequel, but it turned out to be a lovely, cozy sort of thing. (Cozy is a trend I am loving, moreI was extremely skeptical when I realized this was a prequel, but it turned out to be a lovely, cozy sort of thing. (Cozy is a trend I am loving, more of this, please, universe.) Plenty of well-written female characters, a talking skeleton, a bookshop... generally a lovely way to spend a few evenings in....more
This is one of those books that carries you on atmosphere. It's not quite trying too hard (although there are spots where it approaches it!) There is This is one of those books that carries you on atmosphere. It's not quite trying too hard (although there are spots where it approaches it!) There is definitely a little bit of the The Clan of the Cave Bear & The Valley of Horses thing, where they suddenly 67 things, but if you can get past that, it's kind of fun (if you don't think too hard about it).
I liked, this series, I did - this is the sort of romance I can handle in my fantasy. That said, this book was stressful. I - an adult in my 40s - wasI liked, this series, I did - this is the sort of romance I can handle in my fantasy. That said, this book was stressful. I - an adult in my 40s - was so worried about the fictional town and what was going to happen I had to put the book down a few times. And I hated parts of it. (view spoiler)[Rusty, no! I thought you were more competition with Jared than Ash, personally. Yes I cried when he died. (hide spoiler)]
Anyway, it ended, mostly satisfactorily, and I have recommended this series to people who I think will like that sort of thing....more
I'm on the record as loathing "romantasy", and while this was fantasy with a relationship in it, I really enjoyed it. (I think I just don't like romanI'm on the record as loathing "romantasy", and while this was fantasy with a relationship in it, I really enjoyed it. (I think I just don't like romance novels and if it tips too closely to that, I get annoyed. Kelley Armstrong's Women of the Otherworld - great! Kim Harrison's The Hollows - ok. Please go back to that being popular.)
Anyway. It was a lovely treat of a book - a very fast read that kept me hooked. Pretty much nothing like Hench, which I also really liked....more
When I started this book, I stayed up way too late reading it several days in a row. Which is rare for me and straight fantasy. Which this is. It's noWhen I started this book, I stayed up way too late reading it several days in a row. Which is rare for me and straight fantasy. Which this is. It's nothing like the Dragonriders of Pern, except for the Dragonriding and the more-than-expected sex. It got a little too romance-y for me - I see that this is classed as "Romantasy", which seems apt. I just didn't know that going in.
I managed to finish it, but I definitely slowed down towards the end....more
Apparently Arab-flavored historical urban fantasy novels are my thing. (I also loved Jon Courtenay Grimwood's Arabesk series, which I apparently read Apparently Arab-flavored historical urban fantasy novels are my thing. (I also loved Jon Courtenay Grimwood's Arabesk series, which I apparently read so long ago it was before I started logging.) Seems strange but here we are.
I did have to look up several things (I remember one was an architectural thing) since my exposure to Arabic culture is limited-to-non-existent. But I was so sucked into this that it didn't matter. The protagonist is super cool, and saddling her with a sidekick was also interesting. I also liked the reveal on the baddie.
I do hope the next big bad (view spoiler)[doesn't open a rift between worlds, that's getting tired. However when was the last time you read a SFF book where all the main players were women? (hide spoiler)] More of this, please! Hopefully more novels come out soon!...more
I was trying to figure out what the first book in a series that looked good was, and I think I got a prequel and a novella? Whatever it was, I devoureI was trying to figure out what the first book in a series that looked good was, and I think I got a prequel and a novella? Whatever it was, I devoured it - a smart, stylish heroine ( who I liked better than Phryne Fisher), and a fascinating alternate history Cairo with Djinn and Angels - I read half of it, then had middle-of-the-night insomnia and finished it.
I am having a timing problem with my holds, so I was desperate for something to read. I said to myself, what about the Alex Verus series? I liked thatI am having a timing problem with my holds, so I was desperate for something to read. I said to myself, what about the Alex Verus series? I liked that...
So I picked this one up, and immediately remembered why I stopped reading them. It's because his girlfriend Ann sucks. She still sucks. Also his friend Arachne is too powerful - she (view spoiler)[gets taken out, but then the other too-powerful ally shows back up. (hide spoiler)] Also this book is *violent*. I am normally not too bothered, but there was a gruesome fight scene and I distinctly thought, was that necessary? (view spoiler)[Plus the whole part where he is just terrible to Ann....I don't like her but that part was so cruel I didn't want to finish the book. (hide spoiler)]
Anyway. I really don't like the choices Alex has been making, I don't like the characters he interacts with most (OK, I still like Luna and Variam), and I don't know why I'm still reading. I guess I'm hoping for a satisfying conclusion, but I'm beginning to believe I'm not going to get one.
I just went back and read my reviews of the last two books, (3 and 5 years ago), and I complained about Ann, that his allies were too powerful, and that the series wasn't going anywhere. I need to remember this next time I'm desperate for something to read and Just Say No....more
I still like the Checquy concept, but this one took me quite a while to get into. There's two storylines, one in WW2 and one in modern day and I strugI still like the Checquy concept, but this one took me quite a while to get into. There's two storylines, one in WW2 and one in modern day and I struggled. Once I got there, it went quick. I wasn't very into the two storylines, TBH....either would've been good but the connection was weak enough that it was a big meh for me.
But (view spoiler)[there's another, secret group with powers? That the all-powerful Checquy has never heard of in all its omnipotent power? My eyes rolled hard. (hide spoiler)]
OK so this book is still good, but didn't grip me as much as the first couple.
There's a lot of Ed, obviously Sefia and Archer, and Captain Reed, so tOK so this book is still good, but didn't grip me as much as the first couple.
There's a lot of Ed, obviously Sefia and Archer, and Captain Reed, so that's nice.
At some point there's some fourth-wall breaking (view spoiler)[where the author says she can't change the story? I admit I was on a plane after having to get up super early in another time zone towards the end but I was pissed about this. I mean, also the end left me in tears (again, on a plane....at least my seat neighbors were sleeping).
So fate isn't changed, for Archer. Which I hated, even though I intellectually understand why it had to happen. (hide spoiler)]
A reasonable conclusion to the series I guess....more
This world continues to be engrossing. Pirates and magic are a great combination. The relationship between Sefia and Archer continues to grow and deepThis world continues to be engrossing. Pirates and magic are a great combination. The relationship between Sefia and Archer continues to grow and deepen, the pirates have an arc that's sensible, more of each of their backgrounds comes to light... it's just a good book. I already have book 3 on hold (why is it not available in electronically at my library after the first two were?? TORTURE). Fingers crossed this will be a series where the last book sticks the landing!...more
I often struggle with books classified as young adult but this one sucked me in and kept me hooked. (It probably helped that it was far enough from ouI often struggle with books classified as young adult but this one sucked me in and kept me hooked. (It probably helped that it was far enough from our world that I wasn't bothered about high school things. Yes I'm still mad about The Scapegracers)
I still don't understand basically anything about the world, but it's interesting enough I want to know more. The rules, the magic, the story of Sefia and Archer.... omg, more please! (Yes I know there's more, I know a good beginning doesn't guarantee a good series but I am cautiously optimistic.) ...more
Oh, man. I think this is the one where I give up on this series. It was another slog to get through. I still think Adam and Vic are super adorable, buOh, man. I think this is the one where I give up on this series. It was another slog to get through. I still think Adam and Vic are super adorable, but there was just too much annoyance and ridiculousness. And a late stage act that felt like walking back to the Shire. Just ... I wish you (fictional) guys well, but I don't care any more. ...more
I tried really hard on this one, but, man. It was such a slog. I finally gave up at 54%. The first part had assassination (and racism), and a little eI tried really hard on this one, but, man. It was such a slog. I finally gave up at 54%. The first part had assassination (and racism), and a little extremely gory magic, but the magic was minimal. I got to the part that was basically a domestic story with extreme racism and Very Little Magic, and I just couldn't make it any farther.
So many interesting characters, but I couldn't get through it. ...more
On the one hand, I liked a lot of things about this book. Good, interesting female characters! Some interesting magic. And it was overall a fun book.
BOn the one hand, I liked a lot of things about this book. Good, interesting female characters! Some interesting magic. And it was overall a fun book.
But, dang, several things really, really bugged me. 1. The popular girl clique was secretly... nice? What? That's not a thing. That's the entire premise of Mean Girls, FFS. Plus anyone who has ever attended high school.
2. Where were their parents??? Main character (Sideways) slept over for several days at a friend's house, as did two other girls, on school nights... no one's parents had an issue with this?
2b also, the parties. Who in high school outside of a teen movie has wild parties, and furthermore two three weeks apart? What the heck??
2b2 and the abandoned house venue really bothered me. Who would even think about that? And do it? And it's also in a remote location, but they conveniently know about it??
3. Also Sideways never, not once, followed up with Madeleine about what happened at the party that was the inciting incident? Why on earth not? They're teenaged girls... it seems like in all the texting it should have come up.
(I'm not even mad about the costume thing, I can "sure whatever" on that front.) I feel like a *lot* of those problems could've been solved by moving the entire thing to college instead of high school, but I am old and grumpy. I might read the next one, but I'm not sure....more
I realize that these books are ridiculous, but I still love them. That the normal women are venerated heroes is just .... pleasant. The accepting men I realize that these books are ridiculous, but I still love them. That the normal women are venerated heroes is just .... pleasant. The accepting men without forcing a romance plot is nice. Do they count as cozy? I would say yes. ...more
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