House of Cards (The Negotiator, Book 2)
by C.E. MurphySign in to Goodreads to see your friends' reviews of this book.
discuss this book
There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Be the first to start one »
friend reviews (0)
To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.
lists with this book
other reviews (showing 1-20 of 170)
Read in March, 2008
This series is redeeming Murphy in my eyes. The main character--Margrit--is strong without being unrealistic, there aren't any over-dramatized villains, and the complications between the supernatural races are deep, serious, and multi-layered.
In this book, she's paying off favors to both the dragon/crime lord and the vampire/business mogul, who find their personal war turning from cold to hot. Two selkies throw the balance of power into disarray just by arriving and her gargoyle protector/fr...more
In this book, she's paying off favors to both the dragon/crime lord and the vampire/business mogul, who find their personal war turning from cold to hot. Two selkies throw the balance of power into disarray just by arriving and her gargoyle protector/fr...more
Like this review?
yes
(1 person liked it)
add a comment
Read in March, 2008
I'm a lawyer, remember?
Remember how the doctor on Star Trek used to say, I’m a doctor, Jim, not a --, and he said it so often that it’s become a cultural joke long outlasting the performance? I think C.E. Murphy’s reminders that Margrit Knight, the main character of House of Cards is a lawyer will stay with me long after I have forgotten everything else about this book. Even when the character didn't say it herself, the narrator or another character reminde...more
Remember how the doctor on Star Trek used to say, I’m a doctor, Jim, not a --, and he said it so often that it’s become a cultural joke long outlasting the performance? I think C.E. Murphy’s reminders that Margrit Knight, the main character of House of Cards is a lawyer will stay with me long after I have forgotten everything else about this book. Even when the character didn't say it herself, the narrator or another character reminde...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in March, 2008
House of Cards, Book 2 of C.E. Murphy's Negotiator series, took me a bit to read. It has less overt action than Book 1 of this series, and a lot more emphasis on the politics between the various Old Races as well as the shifting relationships around the heroine, Margrit. It's not an easy book to read when you're not at the top of your game, since there's a lot to keep track of in here--and with me having the Martian Death Flu going on, I spent quite a bit of time going "wait, what?&q...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in March, 2008
I felt this book was better than the first one, Heart of Stone, but it still wasn't a 5-star book. The first third of the book is very slow which is the same problem I had with the first book. This might have a lot to do with the author setting up the story and not all the players being involved, but it bordered on boring.
Once all the players get involved, however, the story picks up quite nicely. The dialogue is snappy and humourous at turns. Magrit, the main character, is more invol...more
Once all the players get involved, however, the story picks up quite nicely. The dialogue is snappy and humourous at turns. Magrit, the main character, is more invol...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in March, 2008
Wow -- with this book, Murphy's books go from fun to good. More than just a fun excursion into Margrit's world, Murphy is gaining a good sense of timing and descriptive ability, and is handling increasingly complex plots.
In this book, Margrit finds herself in the middle of a dispute between Janx (the crimelord) and Daisani (the businessman) that seems to be hinging on some action by the selkies. Rather than play things from the sidelines again, she jumps in with both feet and and lands (as...more
In this book, Margrit finds herself in the middle of a dispute between Janx (the crimelord) and Daisani (the businessman) that seems to be hinging on some action by the selkies. Rather than play things from the sidelines again, she jumps in with both feet and and lands (as...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in July, 2008
recommended to Jean by:
the author's previous books
Like many books while you don't need to read the first book to understand or follow what's going on in this one, this one doesn't stand alone as well as it stands as a 'book two'.
The pacing is slow, even dragging at some points, and for awhile I thought the book would never come to an end. But then every time I got to a point I was going to put the book down something truly interesting would happen and I'd keep going. At about the halfway point things really begin to pick up.
One thing ...more
The pacing is slow, even dragging at some points, and for awhile I thought the book would never come to an end. But then every time I got to a point I was going to put the book down something truly interesting would happen and I'd keep going. At about the halfway point things really begin to pick up.
One thing ...more
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in September, 2008
Better than the first book in the series which read more like a simple romance, Murphy fleshes out the world and gives us a lot of information about the Old Races in this book. Margrit is explored much more deeply, and she grows as a character because of it. There is a lot of payoff in this book from things that were set up or hinted at in the first book. I'm eager to read the third in the series now!
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in March, 2008
A solid addition to the Negotiator series. Margrit gets pulled deeper and deeper into the world of the "Other Races," which include gargoyles, vampires, dragons, selkies and djins. Now that she knows about them, and is a strong woman (and a great lawyer) she winds up being the one to help work out differences between the races, and hopefully not get herself or anyone she loves killed.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in March, 2008
This is the second in what is supposed to be a trilogy (I think) and for a middle book it is very well done. Often the middle book will sag a little because it is neither the set-up nor the denouement (think The Two Towers). But enough changed in this one or progressed to make it well worthwhile.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Little disappointed with this book. It was pretty good until the end. Honestly, I gave up on this book and didn't bother to finish it. I found myself confused by what was happening in the end scene. The author needs to explain things a little better.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in June, 2008
Another excellent book by C.E. Murphy. She has captured the essence of old races living amongst humans and has a stellar heroine in Margrit.
I cannot wait for the next installment of this series.
I cannot wait for the next installment of this series.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in June, 2008
Why is this series so much better than the Urban Shaman series?
Very sexy. Though, I'm a little irritated about how every single man on the planet is attracted to the main character.
Very sexy. Though, I'm a little irritated about how every single man on the planet is attracted to the main character.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Loving this series and I can't wait for the 3rd part!
http://www.amberkatze-amberkat...
http://www.amberkatze-amberkat...
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in May, 2008
Somehow this one took a little while longer to get rolling for me. Enjoyed it nonetheless. :)
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in March, 2008
Excellent continuation of the gargoyle series...very good
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
