This anthology was a very mixed bag. I have owned a paper copy for close to a year. I started it and could not even get through the first story. Thank...moreThis anthology was a very mixed bag. I have owned a paper copy for close to a year. I started it and could not even get through the first story. Thanks to a challenge, though, I took the opportunity to make myself read it.
Magic Dreams by Ilona Andrews - 5 stars This was the story I started and couldn't get into. I have no idea why or how because this time around I breezed through it. Jim has a death spell of some kind hovering over his head and Dali must help him figure it out and break it or else Jim, who she secretly loves, is going to die. I loved it. I loved the mythology, and I liked Dali and her family (her mom's hilarious). I really like how the voices are different. Dali's voice is different from Kate's is different from Andrea. It makes the whole series seem more authentic to me. Two things I noticed: JIM IS A BLACK MAN?!!!! However did I miss that? Did everyone else know it? The second thing is that Dali thinks Kate is gorgeous. I smiled because Kate thinks she is not beautiful. Without a doubt this was the best story in the anthology. By far.
Ice Shards by Yasmine Galenorn - 2 stars I forget if I also tried to read this one or if it was another Yasmine Galenorn, but my experience was the same: flat and uninterested. To compound it, there were so many characters, each with their own backstory. So for someone like me who hasn't read anything by Ms. Galenorn or the series from which this novella comes, it was hella confusing. I didn't enjoy this one.
Double Hexed by Allyson James - 1.5 stars This story is set in the Stormwalker world, starring Janet Begay and her entourage. I knew I wasn't going to like this one. The two Stormwalker books I read were bad reading experiences for me, and it was no different this time. Every single character in that world is an idiot. Every.single.one. And yes, it's not very complimentary, so I sorta feel bad saying that about an author's work, but really, those characters make me want to shoot them. I was rooting for the demon to do us a big favor and kill them all, but alas, no one cares what I think, so that wish was ignored.
Blood Debt by Jeanne C.Stein - 3 stars A completely new-to-me-author. I don't even have any idea what series this novella comes from. But I think the author did a good job. I was annoyed sometimes because the heroine seemed a bit too Mary-Sueish, but that could just have been me being peckish. It was a good story and I think I am interested enough to check out the series. (less)
The entire time I was reading it, I couldn't stop thinking about limericks. That's what this book is - a limerick: something absurd and fanc...more4.5 stars
The entire time I was reading it, I couldn't stop thinking about limericks. That's what this book is - a limerick: something absurd and fanciful, which is created masterfully and results in a work that is utterly delightful. Right from the get-go, I thoroughly enjoyed wading through the story.
The book is essentially about Alexia, a soulless person in a London filled with soul-full beings. Normal humans have the requisite amount of soul, while supernaturals (vampires, werewolves, etc) have an overabundance of soul. Of course, since this is a romantic fantasy, it is also about Alexia finding love with the local werewolf Alpha, Lord Maccon.
Lord Maccon, Professor Lyall and Alexia were a joy to read about, and consistently kept me laughing. Some of the side characters are also interesting, namely the flamboyant Lord Akeldama and Alexia's friend Ivy.
By far the best thing about this book is the writing. Absurd fun! It is definitely well worth a read. (less)
After Reading: It would seem my prayers went unanswered after all. The book is like Bayou Moon, aka the one that everyone loved to pieces but which I...moreAfter Reading: It would seem my prayers went unanswered after all. The book is like Bayou Moon, aka the one that everyone loved to pieces but which I found to be exceedingly boring.
The short version: The only really positive thing I have to say is about the quality of the writing. It is top-notch. This is something that can't be overstated enough - just how good the work Ilona Andrews does. No matter my many complaints, I can't deny this is good writing, some of the very best I have ever read. That and Roman. He is awesome. It. was. BORING. I still don't like Raphael, nor the boudas, and I definitely don't enjoy Andrea's story telling; she's gone down in my estimation as well. So yeah, 5 stars for the writing; -1 star for the chracters, -1 star for the plot.
The long version, which is only slightly longer than the short version and made up entirely of my grumbly disgruntled thoughts:
It took a while, but I finally got excited to read Andrea's book. The release of the first chapter snippet had me especially excited. I mean, what a backstory Andrea had! So gut-wrenching, and coupled with all that she had been through over the course of the five Kate Daniels books I was really keen to see the world through Andrea's eyes and watch her come to terms with herself. And then I read Magic Mourns; and then the release date drew closer.
Perhaps it was a given that I would not enjoy the book. As I have stated below, I don't like the boudas. Without exception (well, mebbe Martina. Mebbe). I also don't like Raphael. With Magic Mourns and (cemented with this book) I realized I do not enjoy Andrea's narrative voice. Recipe for not-enjoyment.
Anyway. The plot for me was boring. I could see it all happening and couldn't bring myself to care. The mythology fell flat, and the characters fell flat. Additionally, the drama with Raphael only served to make me think less of Andrea. I found it all tedious, and immature and stupid and I expected much better from her. The drama also served to make me completely unsympathetic to their plight, and in turn to their story.
Roman was the saving grace of the book for me. I love that volhv.
Even so, I can't deny it's a well-written story. So again, Bayou Moon
In summation, for me Gunmetal Magic felt like a mannequin in the show window of a high-end store: very beautiful, flawlessly presented....and utterly lifeless.
----------------------------------------------- Before reading:
I am a bit worried because
A. Unlike Kate or even Dali, I am not sure I like/enjoy Andrea's narrative voice.
B. I don't like Raphael.
C. I don't like the boudas.
But on the other hand......
A. Roman makes me laugh a lot.
We'll see how this goes ------------------------------------ It has a cover!
Eh. I don't know if this is how I picture Andrea. The attitude/aura I get is on point but not the face.
More than 3.5 but not quite 4 stars. I jumped into the third book in the series without bothering to finish the second because its plot sounded m...more3.5+
More than 3.5 but not quite 4 stars. I jumped into the third book in the series without bothering to finish the second because its plot sounded more interesting. Now I am back to #2. CHANGELESS is the second book in the parasol protectorate series, and it follows a new adventure of werewolf Lord Conall Maccon and his wife, the soulless Alexia Maccon.
I like the story. None of it felt fillerish. I love the humor and the writing and the unique feel it has - a werewolf-vampire-soulless world set in 1800's United Kingdom: very unique and very well-executed. I am loving the relationship and the banter between Lord and Lady Maccon. Their love does not overshadow the story, but it doesn't take a backseat either; it strikes the perfect balance.
What I am NOT loving,however, is some of the supporting characters: Ivy Hisselpenny is so stupid and annoying and doesn't serve any useful purpose, not even comic relief. Neither does Alexia's family. I am just grumpy because I had to spend more time than I liked with those people in this book.
But yeah! I am really enjoying this series. (less)
Information reaches the now-heavily pregnant Alexia that someone plans to kill the Queen. So of course, since Alexia will never shirk her d...more3.5 stars
Information reaches the now-heavily pregnant Alexia that someone plans to kill the Queen. So of course, since Alexia will never shirk her duties as muhjah, she takes it upon herself to find the culprit and put a stop to their shenanigans.
Gail Carriger's writing so witty and fun, and it has this old-world feel to it that suits the historical aspects of the book perfectly, making it a pleasure to read. Conall Maccon is such a gruff sweetie, I can't help but love. He and Alexia are a riot when put together.
I felt so sad for Professor Lyall, as the revelations about his past came to light. And we got to meet Prudence herself, finally! :D
I think this is not one of the better stories in this series, and it dragged quite a bit more than some of the previous three books. There were three main reasons for that. Number 1: I HATE Felicity and Ivy Tunstell. They were in the book a bit too much for me, especially Felicity, distracting me whenever they were on. At least Ivy is much smarter than she appears. Felicity just has no excuse for existing. Number 2: I am not much of a steampunk person, the story dragged a bit in the sizable portions where steam machines and such play a role. Number 3: I was tired of Lord Akeldama and Biffy's whining.
Not the best story in the series but still worth a read. (less)
My thoughts 1. Patricia Briggs' storytelling alone deserves 5 stars. It is done with consummate skill. And discretion too. I...more5 stars, with misgivings.
My thoughts 1. Patricia Briggs' storytelling alone deserves 5 stars. It is done with consummate skill. And discretion too. I had to go back and read the (view spoiler)[rape scene (hide spoiler)] after the book ended because I completely glossed over it the first time, she'd written it so subtly. I loved the story, and couldn't give it any less than five stars, but there were a few issues, hence the 'with misgivings.'
2. Ms. Briggs has slowly been redeeming Ben across the books, and she did splendidly in this one. I love the idea of seeing a villain be redeemed slowly over time :D
3. Mercy isn't usually this stupid, going about blurting stuff all over the place. I didn't see the need for her telling that lawyer everything. Especially since the lawyer didn't do jack. If I was one of the Gray Lords, I'd have killed her for that alone. Just putting that out there.
4. Again, Mercy has far more sense than just going to Tim's place alone, without letting Samuel or Adam or someone know where she was going to be. I mean, none of us knew just how unfortunate that decision would turn out to be, but still. I had thought her care and consideration for Adam would have at least afforded him the courtesy of her letting someone know where she'd be. Even she knew it was not a good thing to do going to his place and not letting anyone know. Before anyone shoots me, I am not blaming Mercy for anything. I just remember thinking the entire time that she was going to his house that it was a stupid and inconsiderate thing to do, even as she was thinking the same - with no knowledge of what was going to happen once she got there.
4. I am glad Ms. Briggs resolved the whole love triangle (quadrangle?) and I love the way she went about doing it. It was awesome.
5. I wanna know all these fae stories!!
6. I love Adam and think Mercy belongs with him, but for me, Samuel is the star of this show. He commands every scene he enters, and everyone else falls away from him. I love, love, love Samuel Cornick, and Mercy's description of him as a healer cemented it for me. Love Samuel! Can't wait for his HEA - he HAS to get one!
7. Can't wait to delve into the next book in this awesome series. (less)
Patricia Briggs writes like Sharon Shinn: with a very quiet, understated elegance that engulfs you and immerses you in the story without you realising...morePatricia Briggs writes like Sharon Shinn: with a very quiet, understated elegance that engulfs you and immerses you in the story without you realising it. Very subtly she manages to make you care about all her characters (well, all of the ones that matter, anyway) and make you invested in both the story and their HEA.
I will admit to being underwhelmed by MOON CALLED, but boy am I glad I continued. This was such a good book! The suspense and intrigue built up soooooo slowly, and ended in a roaring crescendo.
And her characters are some of the best in urban fantasy. Mercy is fantabulous; and so is Adam; and Samuel; and Bran; and Stefan: and Zee; and even Ben, yes even that annoying werewolf.
Besides, who doesn't love a good werewolf story? Exactly.
So if you are looking for well-fleshed out, interesting, and awesome characters, a great plot, and four especially hot werewolves (Bran, Charles, Samuel, and Adam) then this is your book. And of course, a fantabulous female lead. (less)
I am going to go with a 3.5 star rating, rounded down.
I definitely enjoyed the story, and I enjoyed being back in the Night Huntress world.
Cat, whos...moreI am going to go with a 3.5 star rating, rounded down.
I definitely enjoyed the story, and I enjoyed being back in the Night Huntress world.
Cat, whose full name, btw, is Catherine Kathleen Crawfield (Catherine Kathleen, really?), has noticed that since her profile went up in the vampire world, doing her job as the Red Reaper has become markedly more difficult. She doesn't want to stop, but it is looking like she'd have to. In an operation to try out a new substitute for her, everything goes badly awry and we discover that someone else desperately wants Cat and Bones killed. The book is about the journey to discover and obliterate whichever vampire that is. Along the way, several things happen, and we are introduced to a bunch of new characters along the way, my favorite of whom was Vlad Tepesh. Vlad is apparently the real Count Dracula. He was funny, and I'll definitely be reading his book.
An interesting and enjoyable ride aside, there were a couple of things that got my goat really badly.
The biggest of those things was Tate. Cat, Tate and Bones would be discussing his unrequited love in fron of everyone. I felt like that was highly inappropriate and something that should be discussed away from everyone who wasn't Cat, Bones, or Tate. If that was all, it wouldn't be too bad. But then Tate wouldn't shut up about this 'love' he has for Cat. It was stupid. a grown man, a real man, who claims he loves someone, wouldn't go about trumpeting his love for her when she was clearly in love with someone else. whatever happened to if you truly love someone you'd let them be happy? So
1. It was stupid and childish. 2. It has been going on too long. It should never have been allowed to get to here. Once they realized Tate wasn't going to let this go, he shouldn't have been a part of the team. I don't understand how he is still her 'friend', still a part of the team. AND THEN THEY PUT THEM ON A JOB TOGETHER! A job that involved kissing and being intimate WTH? Of all the stupid things to do? 3. At this point I am so disgusted by this nonsense I am not sure I will ever believe in a HEA for Tate, should he find someone. He just should be killed off somewhere and put all of us out of our misery. 4. I am not sure I will continue with the next books if this tomfoolery is still going on.
And then the other thing was the dialogue. In some places it was soooooo cheesy, it read like some bad melodrama.
Finally, all this power that Bones is amassing..... oh well.
It's still a good fun ride, and worth a read. (less)
In this installment, the Vampire queen has discovered what Mercy did to Andre and is out for blood. Mercy has...moreMore than 3.5, but not quite four stars.
In this installment, the Vampire queen has discovered what Mercy did to Andre and is out for blood. Mercy has to figure out how to stay alive and keep her friends and loved ones out of the line of fire. A little trip to get away from everything for a few days also turns into way bigger deal than expected.
By now, I am used to the awesomeness of Patricia Briggs' writing, but it gets me every single time. the story is told very simply, so that you can see plot twists from miles away. I knew who Jim Blackwood was when I met him, even before his name was spoken, and I knew Mercy was going to meet him. What gets me is how it's done - predictable mystery, flawlessly executed. It makes it fun to read on, even though you know who the whodunits are already.
What kept me from fully enjoying this story completely was...well, the story. Marsilia needs to die. Simple. It grates on me that she is still alive and hurting so many people. I agree with Samuel about Stefan (but then again, I'd agree with Samuel about anything, LOL!) If he cared so much about Mercy he'd do the entire world a favor and put Marsilia out of her misery. She is evil. She needs to die. Stefan is an idiot.
I liked seeing Adam again, and how gentle he is with Mercy. Mercy's mom made me laugh most of the time. Samuel made me smile always - and why not, he is my favorite, after all.
Good book, good reading. Will reread. in fact, will by paper copies of this whole series and put in a place of honor on my bookshelf. This one is just not my favorite installment. (less)
It feels really blasphemous to be rating a Patty Briggs book so low :(, and to be fair, I liked it a lot more than many books I've rated three stars....moreIt feels really blasphemous to be rating a Patty Briggs book so low :(, and to be fair, I liked it a lot more than many books I've rated three stars. However I rated Bone Crossed four stars and I liked that one much better than this one. So I am rating in comparison to the other books in this series as opposed to the book on its own merit, if you get what I mean. That's said......
I liked the story. It was a good one. But for me it lacked the draw that other books in the series have had. I didn't care much for the first book in the series, but every one after that has held me spellbound until I finished it. This one I found hard to get into from the beginning and had to put it down for awhile. When I came back into it, it hit its stride and I rolled with the story until the end, but it was still lacking in Patty's usual subtle oomph for me.
I think a part of that could be attributed to the new setting. The story takes place away from the pack, and the usual supporting cast, and has a slew of new characters. They were interesting to read about, and I really liked to see Mercy 'explore' her Native American heritage; it was also moving in parts - especially the scene where she saw her father's ghost dancing and the scene where Coyote explains that dance to her. But it still lacked the magic of previous books, the cohesiveness the Columbia Basin support cast brings.
And this one is my fault. You know how people read to see their favorite characters - like how most people will read to see Mercy and Adam again? Well, my favorite character is Samuel, and I sorely missed the glimpses of him I usually get. I mean, it's not Patty's fault that I had the bad taste (well, it's good taste IMO, LOL!!!!) to fall hardest for a side character, but it is what it is.
And these next two paragraphs are a little ranty. You can skip it entirely, as I'm pretty sure I'm going to be the only one who feels this way :)
For the first time, Mercy and Adam really got on my nerves. Adam with his posturing and yellow eyes, and general rudeness.....yes sah! We get it. She's your wife, your mate, she belongs to you, no one can hurt her, blah blah blah. Enough already. Adam used to be both possessive and sensible; in this book he was not sensible, and I wanted to smack him on the nose and tell him to get a damn grip. I felt more than a fair share of malicious glee when Wolf got his own back on Adam. In that scene especially I felt Adam's behavior was uncalled for, so I was glad he was 'put in his place', so to speak.
And Mercy going on and on and on and on ad nauseum about not being a fragile flower, and not needing to be protected and how Adam was her mate.....we get. We really do! We know you aren't a fragile flower. We've been rooting for you guys all along. Now we don't need to be reminded every two pages. The Lady and the Gentleman doth protest waaaaaaaaay too much. Okay, rant over.
It was a good book, a solid book, an enjoyable book and I have no doubt many, many people will love it. It just didn't pack the punch for me Patty's books usually does, and so I was disappointed. The whole was less than the sum of its parts, for me. (less)
Who else can take a horror story and write it so that it children can read it, and still retain everything...moreWhat Neil Gaiman does, he does fabulously.
Who else can take a horror story and write it so that it children can read it, and still retain everything that makes it creepy? Who else can write a book that is so whimsical and yet has moments of stark reality?
I loved the time I spent with Nobody Owens and the people of the graveyard.
And who else can write awesome fantasy and still manage to incorporate so many life lessons seamlessly into the fabric of the story?
ETA: I am leaving the rating where it is, but let me just say that the more I think about him, the more Terrible is one of the BESTEST male characters...moreETA: I am leaving the rating where it is, but let me just say that the more I think about him, the more Terrible is one of the BESTEST male characters I've ever had the pleasure to read. He's drawn with consummate finesse. If for nothing, I'd read this book just for Terrible.
I was confused almost the whole time I was reading this novel. The whole time. The world Stacia Kane has created is soooooo blurry to me. It seems that some time back, ghosts exploded on the scene, and were out with a vengeance to kill the living. One organization who called themselves 'the Church' (nothing to do with religion, since all religion is outlawed) banished the ghosts - to some city? I wasn't too clear on that - and now runs the world - or is it the immediate area? - with an iron fist. Part of their mandate is to protect the living from ghosts. So if you find your house haunted, it means they failed, so they'll compensate you after carrying out an investigation and an exorcism (if your claim is true). Woe betide you if your claim is false.
Chess is a DeBunker (person who banishes ghosts and checks claims) for the church. She is also a drug addict on the side (if the church found out, she'd be toast), and her unscrupulous drug dealer has forced her to do something for him. In the course of her routine investigations, she discovers a dangerous plot, which is also somehow intertwined with what her drug dealer wants her to do. To make it even more complicated a rival drug dealer doesn't want her to go through with the job for the regular drug dealer.....and oh yes, she has the hots for the rival drug dealer's henchman, as well as the hots for the regular drug dealer's enforcer, called Terrible.
Like I said, I spent a goodly amount of time confused. It seems ghosts are incorporeal when they want and corporeal when they want too. It was very confusing. At some point in time I was wondering whether or not I was reading about zombies instead of ghosts. Woulda made much more sense that way, I think. And the plotting as well confused me. We'd be somewhere, and I'd be following okay, and then all of sudden I had no idea what was going on, who we were talking to,where we were. I can't get a sense of the world Chess lives in.
But I ended up liking Chess and terrible quite a bit. (I still don't know why Chess is a drug addict, though, or when she began her habit). But my favorite was Terrible, all huge, and ugly, and a drug dealer's head thug but underneath surprisingly sweet and kind and considerate. I am surprised to say I was rooting for a thug, haha. I wish Chess had gotten with him instead of Lex (the other drug dealer's henchman). Btw Terrible is such a bad name for a thug :D but I still love him.
so um yes, recommended. You might have better luck understanding the worldbuilding dynamics than I did, and Chess and Terrible are worth it :D(less)
I don't know if my rating is fair or not, because I rated the last Rachel Caine I read 3 stars, and I enjoyed Glass Houses way more than that...more3.5 stars
I don't know if my rating is fair or not, because I rated the last Rachel Caine I read 3 stars, and I enjoyed Glass Houses way more than that one. The book had some seriously good moments. But it also had seriously iffy moments, hence the 3-star rating, I guess.
Claire Danvers is a 16-year old genius who had the chance to attend any college she wanted - but her parents made her go to some backwater college in Morganville, not too far away from home. That stuck out like a sore thumb to me. Any Ghanaian parent who's child was smart enough to be accepted to some of the best universities in the world would ship them off. First. Chance. They. Got - because a good education makes all the difference. (Again, this is a story about a sheltered American kid. Not Ghanaian. I get that. But still. I was like, are you kidding me, really?)
But never mind. Rachel goes off to college and finds herself in the sights of a clique of really, really mean girls. Because of their meanness, she flees college and finds accomodation and friends at the Glass House. This one bugged me a lot. If Claire was 12 years old and going to 9th grade at Morganville High School, it would have been perfect. Not College. I mean, 18 or 19-year old girls behaving like this? No. Oh they can still be mean, but it's more innocuous and sinister than this.
Claire also behaved more like she was 10 or 12 years old than like a sensible person who's 16 years old, much less someone who's a genius.
That notwithstanding, it was a good story. I liked the inhabitants of the Glass House - Michael, Eve, and Shane. And while I did think something was weird about Oliver, I did not see that twist coming. It made for a very awesome climax.
The resolution is the final issue I had with the book. I don't like cliffhangers, especially ones that come out of nowhere. Grr. But yeah, I'll be reading the next book in series when I can get my hands on it.(less)
Much of the reason I am rating this four stars is Terrible.
Okay. Here are my thoughts:
1. I am fascinated by the world Ms. Kane has created. Oh I am s...more Much of the reason I am rating this four stars is Terrible.
Okay. Here are my thoughts:
1. I am fascinated by the world Ms. Kane has created. Oh I am still confused by a lot of it, but it's still rather unique in terms of UF worlds. It's dystopian (which is commonplace in UF), but the part of the world we see/spend time is not common: the underworld. It's dark, raw, gritty, and an unpleasant place to be. The books are about a high functioning druggie who lives smack in the inner city, who deals with drug lords who run prostitution rings, sell drugs, have their henchmen brutalize people, where street fights kill people, and where most people are victims of circumstances. It isn't a pretty world. The characters are not people you should be rooting for: a drug addict who realizes that her drugs are ruining her life but who still makes no move to try and stop, and an enforcer who, as Mimi puts it, "is a professional bully" for a drug baron. But that is the genius of Stacia Kane. Like Regina says, "[Ms Kane] is able to surprise us with our feelings about Terrible."
2. Terrible is awesome. And Ms. Kane did one of the best jobs in any UF anywhere when she came up with this guy. He's not someone we should root for. He's not your normal hero; or anti-hero. He brutalizes people for a living (never mind that he was a victim of circumstances, the truth is still the truth), he also oversees his drug lord's prostitution business. Seeing him in action as th thug was...harrowing. I hated it. But he still manages to be kid, sweet, considerate..... in some ways he is more than the usual heroes we have in UF: not many people can live the life he has, in the circumstances he has and still be an honorable person through and through. Yet Terrible manages to be believably so. A very big part of what keeps me coming back to this series is Terrible.
3. Chess: again, to quote Mimi, she is not so TSTL as she is TUTL (too unstable to live). She is supposedly a high-functioning drug addict. She is always high and can still solve mysteries while high. If she can do that, I don't see why she can't exercise some of that good sense and NOT hurt Terrible; and NOT make bad decision after bad decision; and NOT decide she needs to get her life together and wean herself off drugs. You see glimmers of growth here and there, but for the most part....oh Chess - get it together, girl!!
4. I still don't get a lot of the ghost mythology and stuff. For example, how the heck big is this so-called City of Ghosts? The spirit of every person who ever lived is kept there? Don't they run out of space? These ghosts are supposed to b incorporeal, but thy act like zombies half the time. Pyschopomps? Huh?!!
5. I am not amused with the way things ended.(less)
Um. I don't know what to think. I will definitely be rereading this book - more than once - before Chasing Magic releases in June.
Chess and Terrible,...moreUm. I don't know what to think. I will definitely be rereading this book - more than once - before Chasing Magic releases in June.
Chess and Terrible, now that they have admitted their love for each other, are in a relationship. Chess knows that Terrible loves her, but given the events of the previous books, she's walking around feeling like this relationship is hanging over her head like the Sword of Damocles, waiting to crash upon her should she make the tiniest mistake. Amid all of that, she has a new case from the church, which is tied to the ritual murders going on in both Slobag and Bump's sides of town.
Wow. My thoughts are kinda jumbled right now. I truly enjoyed the story. I liked seeing Chess work. One of my favorite scenes was where she looked down her nose at the officious people by the school. She doesn't play and can give as good as she gets :).
Most of the book was like watching a learning curve for Chess; you can see her character growing, becoming empowered. She learns very slowly to accept a friendship offered (Beulah), and to choose her friends (Lex) - for herself, and not because it suits Terrible or no. Seeing her like that felt so good her drug use didn't overshadow everything for me like it does in the previous books. She's still a junkie, but it's now no longer the center of her life - she has Terrible, other things and people are beginning to creep in.
There is not much to say for Terrible except that he is BEYOND AWESOME and that I am not entirely sure Chess deserves him. I truly like Chess but I want to beat her up sometimes because she hurts Terrible and that is in no way acceptable, for any reason :)
The final scenes in the book, from the climax to the resolution, are so heartfelt and beautiful.
In the end, I loved the story, but I am very, very, very ready for Chess to begin to actually take charge of her life. I like Chess and I am glad she is beginning to envision a new life for herself, a better life. However I feel a lot of the epiphanies she came to are long overdue, especially given her life's trajectory. I'm trying to say - it's not as if her life has only been bad, compared with say Terrible's life - she's had tremendous good too: she's educated, she has a steady job, has been around more than just Downside and crime, more than just screwed up people around her; she's found love and a new reason to live. She's had time to let it all sink in. It shoulda sunk in long before then. The curve for her has been too slow, is what I'm tryina say. But now that realization has come, I am very ready for her to stop regressing, build some self-esteem, stop waiting for the other shoe to drop for every little thing, stop hurting Terrible because she is afraid of getting hurt first, get off the damn drugs! I am ready for it all to happen. Much as I love the series and Terrible, I am not sure I will continue reading if she doesn't at least begin doing that.
So I guess Chasing Magic might be a game-changer for me.(less)
Eh. Same old, same old. Same old dramas, same old territory that has already been covered. Absolutely nothing new, except the token mystery to solve....moreEh. Same old, same old. Same old dramas, same old territory that has already been covered. Absolutely nothing new, except the token mystery to solve. If you have read the previous books, you have read this one. I would venture to say it's not worth the read. (less)
Usually the anthologies i read have four stories in them. This one had considerably more, and I think it is a good bargain. The good stories...more3.5 stars
Usually the anthologies i read have four stories in them. This one had considerably more, and I think it is a good bargain. The good stories far outweigh the bad.
Patricia Briggs - Gray 5 stars: A hauntingly beautiful tale of a vampire and a ghost and their past history.
Victor Gischler - Wizard Home Security 4 stars: A rather funny story about a burgled wizard and the home security he buys
James Grady - The Mansion of Imperatives 2 stars: A hot mess of a story
Heather Graham - Blood on the Wall 4 stars: This entry reads like a throwback to the days when vampires and weres were fixtures of horror instead of romance. Really Good.
Simon R. Green - It's all in the Rendering 3 stars: A good tale
Charlaine Harris - If I Had a Hammer 3 stars: A Sookie Stackhouse novella about a home renovation and a murder weapon. My first Sookie :d
Stacia Kane - Rick the Brave 5 stars: Chess and Terrible's relationship, as observed through Rick the electrician's eyes. A sweet, entertaining story.
E.E Knight - Woolsey's kitchen Nightmare DNF: Terrible. I could not make head or tail of this story.
Rochelle Krich - Squatter's Rights 4 stars: Eerie.
Melissa Marr - The Strength Inside 3.5 stars: Really weird, rather creepy story about a completely different species who move into a neighborhood.
Seanan McGuire - Through this House 3 stars: A novella of the October Daye series (which is a new-to-me series). This one was rather confusing for me, a newbie to this world, but I can imagine how others familiar with it would enjoy it.
Suzanne Mcleod - Full Scale Demolition 3 stars: A good story.
S.J. Rozan - The Path 2 stars: Japanese/Buddhist mysticism. Boring!
Toni Kelner - In Brightest Day 3 stars: A novella about vodun mysticism (less)
Story: ★★★½ stars *½★ extra for standing out in the land of UF *★ extra for including jollof rice and groundnut soup!!!! GRAND TOTAL: ★★★★★ fat, very we...moreStory: ★★★½ stars *½★ extra for standing out in the land of UF *★ extra for including jollof rice and groundnut soup!!!! GRAND TOTAL: ★★★★★ fat, very well-deserved stars!
So after a while of reading UF, one begins to get sorta jaded; it all begins to blend and look similar. Mr. Aaronovitch's debut stands out from the bunch.
How does it stand out, you ask? Let me count a couple of ways:
1. It is being narrated by a guy. Which by itself puts it in the minority of UF books. 1a. To make it even more unique, said guy is not 'special.' He is not a billion years old, and has no extra powers that make him unique (well, he has magic ability, but it does not make him separate or special. For all intents and purposes, he is just like everyone else. And oh yes, he is not the secret object of every woman he meet's fantasies. 1b. He is not "undeniably handsome" or "unquestionably gorgeous" (Yes, Merit, I am looking at you!)
2. The supernatural elements does not overwhelm the main drama. We are pursuing paranormal creatures and a paranormal outcome, but we do this by normal means. This book is a police procedural first and foremost. 2a. There are no epiphanies or Deus ex Machina revelations that lead to the apprehension of the bad guy. It is simple, painstaking, plodding police work, going over and over the details until they can fit the pieces into the correct jigsaw.
3. Our setting is London.
4. Our protagonist is Biracial. 4a. Our protagonist is of West African descent.
That last one for me is huge! I am West African, so you can't imagine how excited I was to see behaviors and opinions I recognized. And food! The moment jollof rice and groundnut soup were mentioned in an urban fantasy, I knew it deserved all the stars there are to give!
More than the story itself, I think Mr. Aaronovitch did a wonderful job with the characters. He is so good the setting, London, felt like another character: the way it is described, the observations about its inhabitants, its history, its present, its nature....it was all very engaging for me. I loved Peter Grant, our main character, who is in so many ways different from our usual UF protagonists. As someone said somewhere, he is not "alpha", and indeed, the focus of the plot was bringing his brains to bear, not his "alphaness," the mystery at hand, not the villain to kill. And rarely has a man written female characters so well! I never once felt any of the females we encounter in this book were caricatures, which is often a problem for me with male authors, so mad props to Mr. Aaronovitch.
Even more props goes to him for the diversity of his cast, and his ability to accurately portray them. I could not stop laughing at the sayings of Peter's Sierra Leonean mother (because they were true!), Peter's observations about African expats' behavior (like shipping things off to relatives back home), or the things the Nigerian water spirits said and did. Issues of race, and bigotry came up, but while they were not pushed into a corner, they did not overwhelm the story either.
Oh and did I mention the writing is simply a delight? It is clear and infused with tons and tons of snark that is wry instead of snide, and made for many, many, many moments of me chuckling to myself or laughing out loud.
I enjoyed this book very much! It had its shortfalls, but made up for them with so much goodness that I can't help but give it five stars. Well that and the mentions of jollof rice and groundnut soup!
Favorite quote (well, one of many): "This I know for a fact: the reason African women have children is so that there's someone else to do the housework." [so true!!!](less)
Frankly, this was sub-par and not at all worthy of Rick Riordan and the characters he's created (By that I mean Percy and Annabeth, not...moreAfter Reading:
Frankly, this was sub-par and not at all worthy of Rick Riordan and the characters he's created (By that I mean Percy and Annabeth, not the new people. The others' creation was sub-par to begin with).
What we have here is some very shoddy work. Too many cooks spoil the broth and the many narrators made for a choppy and boring story. The characters were very flat. Mr. Riordan has managed to create a singularly annoying character in Coach Hedge. Piper and Leo are not far behind. Jason the cardboard cutout is just hanging there. Even Percy and Annabeth have become unidimensional characters filled with lots of angst and unnecessary emo.
Flat, uninspired, slipshod, bad. I could go on and on with more synonyms but you catch my drift. So unworthy of Mr. Riordan's legacy. It's hardly believable that he wrote this.
I am very sad to say this book is not worth the time, money, or effort it takes to acquire and read it. Here's a fervent hope that book 4 would be better, because the bar for this series has just been set at a new low.
-------------------------------- Our dudes are supposed to be a team, but from the absolutely stunning cover, it seems Percy and Jason are fighting. Bites fingernails. But oh well, in that case.... Crush him to bits, Percy!!! (less)
I don't remember any other character who became so beloved so quickly as Peter Grant has. This time around, the mystery/casualty was of no interest/im...moreI don't remember any other character who became so beloved so quickly as Peter Grant has. This time around, the mystery/casualty was of no interest/importance to me, but I read and enjoyed it because it was important to Peter, and so became relevant to me. (less)
Most definitely not one of the better anthologies out there. I loved the Kate Daniels novella, which I'd already read, and Shannon K. Butcher's entry...moreMost definitely not one of the better anthologies out there. I loved the Kate Daniels novella, which I'd already read, and Shannon K. Butcher's entry made me very interested in the series, but that is just about it. Every other short story I found flat and dull an boring. Rachel Caine's left me unmoved, and I DNFed Deidre Knight's story: just couldn't be bothered with it. I skimmed chunks of Jim Butcher's entry and did not even bother with Carrie Vaughn's because Kitty Norville isn't my cup of tea.
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