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Bring It On
(Retrievers #3)
by
Wren Valere used to have a simple life. Her partner Sergei would negotiate the terms of the Retrieval--all right, the theft--and she would use her magical Talent to carry it out. Paycheck deposited, on to the next job.
Now? Her relationship with Sergei is even more complicated (sex will do that). Her fellow lonejacks are trying to organize against the Mage's Council. The no ...more
Now? Her relationship with Sergei is even more complicated (sex will do that). Her fellow lonejacks are trying to organize against the Mage's Council. The no ...more
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Published
April 13th 2009
by Harlequin Books S.A.
(first published June 20th 2006)
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Showing 1-30
Start your review of Bring It On (Retrievers, #3)
This one is a little different from the first two in the series. The actual retrieval mission is a very small part of the book, with is starting up midway in, picking up in another chapter or two, and ending before the 2/3 point.
The main plot here is the vigilante attacks on the fatae (magical creatures)--and, possibly, on Talents (magic using humans). This merges into Sergei's plot with The Silence (his old secret society of agents that clean up magical and non-magical messes) as well as the M ...more
The main plot here is the vigilante attacks on the fatae (magical creatures)--and, possibly, on Talents (magic using humans). This merges into Sergei's plot with The Silence (his old secret society of agents that clean up magical and non-magical messes) as well as the M ...more
I gave up on this book and the entire series on page 170-I set it down two months ago and haven't wanted to pick it up since. The series has taken a turn towards supernatural political intrigue that has turned me off to it. My verdict: boring. Too bad. If it had gone more in an action and/or romance direction instead, I probably would have liked it.
I can't really tell you what it's about - I disliked it enough to forget. Something about the Cosa Nostra plotting and Wren getting sucked in to rep ...more
I can't really tell you what it's about - I disliked it enough to forget. Something about the Cosa Nostra plotting and Wren getting sucked in to rep ...more
I first read this at least a decade ago, and was so put off by the purposeful poor communication between characters that I stopped reading this series until it pivoted to a different storyline, 4 books later. But at this point I’ve read everything else published in this series (7 books, umpteen novellas and short stories) except the next 3 books, so I decided to go back and re-read this series, as I really do like the character that stars in this portion of the series.
On rereading, though the po ...more
On rereading, though the po ...more
This is one of those times when I wish we could give half stars-more than 3 but not quite 4 stars. The series takes a bit of a turn with this book and the transition was a bumpy read for me. In BRING IT ON, there are a lot of subplots happening in parallel, including paranormal politics within the Silence and Council, the evolving relationship between Wren and Sergie, interspecies tensions, and the vigilante violence threat. Only a small part of the story line involves one of Wren's retrievals.
...more
Plot holds up
I enjoyed this but less than the first two in the series. I feel he attempted to blend in information and history from the prior 2 Novels way down the pace unnecessarily. Reviewing activities from prior books was tedious.
I enjoyed this but less than the first two in the series. I feel he attempted to blend in information and history from the prior 2 Novels way down the pace unnecessarily. Reviewing activities from prior books was tedious.
This continued to be a good series about Wren, whose magic leaves her unnoticed by most people, and her partner Sergei, who isn't magical at all. If you're looking for a series that shows relationship development and isn't filled with explicit sex scenes, this could be your lucky day. :)
...more
third adventure of wren.
An enjoyable story that eased my commute to and from work.
A fascinating mystery that left me wanting more.
Liked it, but not in a couldn’t put it down sort of way.
Jun 11, 2008
Katharine Kimbriel
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
book-view-cafe,
contemporary-fantasy
Our heroine is Wren Valere, a talented young woman in her late 20s who is a lonejack, a solo magic user raised up in a soloist tradition. She works as a “retriever” – essentially a thief with considerable magical talents. Someone stole something from you – something magical, dangerous, powerful? You pay Valere and her “manager” Sergei Didier, and she’ll steal it right back.
New York City is a vibrant place at any time, but in LAG’s world talents (those who feel and manipulate current) and nulls ( ...more
New York City is a vibrant place at any time, but in LAG’s world talents (those who feel and manipulate current) and nulls ( ...more
The overall plot arch is really beginning to thicken! Wren is in over her head with nowhere to go but with the current (pun-intentional) and do what it is she does best. I'm really curious to see where this series is going and what is going to put the kibosh on KimAnn. I'm not entirely sure what she's got up her sleeve, but it can't be anything good.
The retrieval in this book was almost too easy for Wren and she nearly failed, which is a first so far. I'm glad to see that she isn't perfect. Too ...more
The retrieval in this book was almost too easy for Wren and she nearly failed, which is a first so far. I'm glad to see that she isn't perfect. Too ...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Gilman has deftly created this rouge protagonist. Her characters are almost all unreliable narrators. Wren tells us she is a stand alone 'lone-jack', a person who uses current for herself. Sergei tells us he has left the Silence and will focus on Wren and his gallery. The Mage Council is totally smug. P.B. tells us ... not much. Perhaps demons in Gilbert's world are different.
Building on the shattering climax in Volume 2, Bring it on opens with Wren grief stricken. She is determined that the da ...more
Building on the shattering climax in Volume 2, Bring it on opens with Wren grief stricken. She is determined that the da ...more
Feb 21, 2008
Rachel
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
supernatural,
fiction
Wow, I'm really liking this series. In this one, the politics intensify, and I might need to go back and read it again to make sure I caught all of who was betraying whom. It wasn't quite as upbeat as the previous ones, but part of that was the death of an important character in the previous book, and part was the difficulty of being upbeat in the face of major civil unrest and deadly politics. At the same time, Wren and Sergei are continuing to try to define their relationship, and P.B. and Wre
...more
Just finished Bring It On (★★★★) by Laura Anne Gilman. Out of the nine books on my list, this might be the newest one. I discovered the series in spring of 2008, so it's only been on my TBR for about 20 months. The series so far is pretty solidly in the urban fantasy genre. The Retrievers series take place in a modern day version of NYC where magic & non-human beings called the fatae (fairy, mythological, demonic creatures) exist side-by-side with humans.
Our protagonist, Wren Valere, is a Retri ...more
Our protagonist, Wren Valere, is a Retri ...more
It feels like forever since I read Book 2 of this series, so I'd forgotten a vast amount of what had gone before. However, I felt like I managed to mostly piece it together as I read, and it didn't hold me back too much.
Once more, I love Wren as a character (and Sergei is one of the better rounded out boyfriends-of-female-leads I've come across in an urban fantasy series too) I love that she manages to be highly competent at what she does, but still be flawed enough to be human - and of course, ...more
Once more, I love Wren as a character (and Sergei is one of the better rounded out boyfriends-of-female-leads I've come across in an urban fantasy series too) I love that she manages to be highly competent at what she does, but still be flawed enough to be human - and of course, ...more
I would have given this four stars if the city in California didn't keep changing from San Diego to San Jose and back. The two cities are over 400 miles apart, which is greater than the distance from New York City to Richmond, VA. It's like the New York definition of "ocean": the body of water separating America and Europe, as in: "California is 3000 miles from the ocean." (When I worked for DEC, which was headquartered in Nashua, NH, I actually had to write an article on "West Coast Geography f
...more
Aug 30, 2008
CJ - It's only a Paper Moon
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
people who like sex with their sci-fi fantasy mystery
Shelves:
fantasy,
scifi-fantasy-mystery
I like this series, so I'm a little biased. I like Wren & Sergei and I even like PB :)
Good story, interesting plot and subplot (with the Null client and the necklace) and I enjoyed finding out about Sergei's little secret in regards to his relationship with Wren (it's not a bad one!).
I'm looking forward to more of a character maturation because the relationship is becoming sort of "stuck". There's no movement on either side. Mainly, Wren needs to grow up a bit more and both need to stop compartm ...more
Good story, interesting plot and subplot (with the Null client and the necklace) and I enjoyed finding out about Sergei's little secret in regards to his relationship with Wren (it's not a bad one!).
I'm looking forward to more of a character maturation because the relationship is becoming sort of "stuck". There's no movement on either side. Mainly, Wren needs to grow up a bit more and both need to stop compartm ...more
I like this series. I love how you never know whats going on and you can feel the society of the city at large behind all of the politics. I like Wren and how her relationship with Sergi isn't perfect. I also enjoy how the author ties things together really well bringing places and feelings from other books back into play and characters who appear small into larger roles. It is a master piece of art just like all her other books but the little stories in each separate novel are enough to keep yo
...more
c2006. First of all, I did not realise that this particular book was 3rd in a series. This obviously had a negative influence from the start as I don't think that this could be read as a stand alone. Next, one of the blurbs from SF Site said "I highly recommend this book to fans of urban fantasy, especially [to fans of] Jim Butcher, Charlaine Harris, Kim Harrison, or Laurell K Hamilton.". In my opinion, this is a pale imitation of those listed. Good for a light and quick read but not enjoyable e
...more
Feb 18, 2011
This Is Not The Michael You're Looking For
rated it
liked it
·
review of another edition
Where the first two books in the series had a primary story, with a secondary, larger background arc, this book is really about the larger arc with little-to-no primary story. This is a bit of a mixed bag, because while it moves the story as a whole into a larger framework, for quite a lot of the book very little seemed to happen and I felt that this book was much more about moving pieces about and setting up future events than actually accomplishing anything in it's own right.
...more
Downgraded slightly because a whole heck of a lot happened between the second book and this one that is alluded to but sounds like it deserves a book all on its own...and where is THAT book?!? Otherwise there's some very interesting relationship development in this one that most books gloss over. I'm impressed that this author discusses it more thoroughly. Relationships are complicated and the one between Wren and Sergei are getting really appropriate treatment.
...more
I have to start by saying that I didn't actually finish this book, so I feel a bit cruel giving it such a low rating.
It seems like it could be a fun, fluffy read, but I just had to give it up. I have way too many books I want to read and this one just couldn't catch my attention after 100 pages. Her writing style does nothing for me. It's too flat and stilted. ...more
It seems like it could be a fun, fluffy read, but I just had to give it up. I have way too many books I want to read and this one just couldn't catch my attention after 100 pages. Her writing style does nothing for me. It's too flat and stilted. ...more
In this book, a plot that has been simmering in the back during the previous two books comes now to the front and creates an intriguing story line. Also, the relationship between Gwen and Sergei continues to develop. My only problem with this book was that the ending was not as satisfactory as the previous two books.
Wren accepts the job without letting her business partner and lover Sergei Didier know as a way of asserting her independence. However, someone's trying to taker her out with psi-bombs. Many of the unaffiliated lonejacks are missing and the attacks on the fatae (nonhumans such as demons) are on the rise.
...more
Great book! Kept the action moving, adding just enough character development and introductions of new characters to keep the complexity involving without overwhelming the reader.
I love the Retriever series and can't wait to see what's waiting for Wren and the gang. ...more
I love the Retriever series and can't wait to see what's waiting for Wren and the gang. ...more
Not as fun as others in the series; felt it wandered a bit and the ending was both anticlimactic and opened up a lot of loose ends. Felt more like a middle of a multi-book saga or story arc rather than a stand-alone entry...
well done urban fantasy (had read before)
Third in the series, still not exciting me, I really struggled to finish this one.
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Readers also enjoyed
By the time she was fourteen, Laura Anne Gilman knew she would be an editor, a teacher, or a writer.
By thirty, she was all three. She's a little focused that way (when not being distracted by -oooh shiny!).
After fifteen years working in NY publishing, Laura Anne became a full-time writer, with more than twenty novels under her various bylines, including THE COLD EYE and SILVER ON THE ROAD, the Neb ...more
By thirty, she was all three. She's a little focused that way (when not being distracted by -oooh shiny!).
After fifteen years working in NY publishing, Laura Anne became a full-time writer, with more than twenty novels under her various bylines, including THE COLD EYE and SILVER ON THE ROAD, the Neb ...more
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