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The Adventures of Owl #2
Owl and the City of Angels
The wild second adventure for unforgettable antiquities thief Owl—a modern-day “Indiana Jane” who reluctantly navigates the hidden supernatural world—from the pen of rising urban fantasy star Kristi Charish (The Kincaid Strange series). For fans of Kim Harrison, Jim Butcher, Jennifer Estep, Jenn Bennett, and the like.
Alix Hiboux, better known as Owl, international antiquities thief for hire, is settling into her new contract job for Vegas mogul Mr. Kurosawa, a red dragon with a penchant for ancient, supernatural artifacts. And now he has his sights set on some treasures of the mysterious Syrian City of the Dead that are sitting in a recluse’s private collection.
There’s just one wrinkle. To stop the resurrection of an undead army that could wreak havoc on Los Angeles, Owl must break into a heavily guarded archaeological sight in one of the most volatile regions in the world. A detour through Libya and a run-in with Somali pirates sends the clock ticking hastily toward total paranormal disaster.
Meanwhile, Alexander and the Paris vampires have stopped stalking Owl’s apartment, but they have by no means forgotten their death grudge against her. To top everything off, Owl finds out the hard way that there is nothing heavenly about the City of Angels...
Alix Hiboux, better known as Owl, international antiquities thief for hire, is settling into her new contract job for Vegas mogul Mr. Kurosawa, a red dragon with a penchant for ancient, supernatural artifacts. And now he has his sights set on some treasures of the mysterious Syrian City of the Dead that are sitting in a recluse’s private collection.
There’s just one wrinkle. To stop the resurrection of an undead army that could wreak havoc on Los Angeles, Owl must break into a heavily guarded archaeological sight in one of the most volatile regions in the world. A detour through Libya and a run-in with Somali pirates sends the clock ticking hastily toward total paranormal disaster.
Meanwhile, Alexander and the Paris vampires have stopped stalking Owl’s apartment, but they have by no means forgotten their death grudge against her. To top everything off, Owl finds out the hard way that there is nothing heavenly about the City of Angels...
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 5, 2015
35 people are currently reading
586 people want to read
About the author
Kristi Charish
14 books309 followersKristi is the author of OWL AND THE JAPANESE CIRCUS (Simon and Schuster Canada/Pocket Books), an urban fantasy about a modern-day “Indiana Jane” who reluctantly navigates the hidden supernatural world, and THE VOODOO KILLINGS (Random House Canada), an urban fantasy/mystery about a voodoo practitioner living in Seattle with the ghost of a deceased grunge rocker.
She writes what she loves; adventure heavy stories featuring strong, savvy female protagonists, pop culture, and the occasional RPG fantasy game thrown in the mix. She’s also a co-host for the Adventures in Sci-Fi Publishing Podcast.
Before becoming an author Kristi was a research scientist. She holds a BSc and MSc from Simon Fraser University in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry and a PhD in Zoology from the University of British Columbia. Her specialties are genetics, cell biology, and molecular biology, all of which she draws upon in her writing. She is represented by Carolyn Forde at Westwood Creative Artists.
FB: http://www.facebook.com/KristiCharish...
AISFP Podcast: http://www.adventuresinscifipublishin...
She writes what she loves; adventure heavy stories featuring strong, savvy female protagonists, pop culture, and the occasional RPG fantasy game thrown in the mix. She’s also a co-host for the Adventures in Sci-Fi Publishing Podcast.
Before becoming an author Kristi was a research scientist. She holds a BSc and MSc from Simon Fraser University in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry and a PhD in Zoology from the University of British Columbia. Her specialties are genetics, cell biology, and molecular biology, all of which she draws upon in her writing. She is represented by Carolyn Forde at Westwood Creative Artists.
FB: http://www.facebook.com/KristiCharish...
AISFP Podcast: http://www.adventuresinscifipublishin...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 132 reviews
September 9, 2015
Owl is in trouble. Again. She's incognito at an archaeological dig in Egypt and can't escape a leering post-doc student long enough to steal a Medusa head from the tomb. To make matters worse, there's an extra sarcophagus and a chamber half-full of water. This is only in the first few pages of Owl and the City of Angels, which continues at a breakneck pace. Her adventures will take her to Mr. Kurosawa's casino, to visit the glitterati in Los Angeles and non-spoilery variety of other locations as Owl attempts to complete the Dragon's assignments and save her skin.
Here's my problem: I have a hard time separating my dislike for Owl from my feelings about the book. Owl, unfortunately, has not significantly developed from the previous book, Owl and the Japanese Circus. She's a thief, and as far as I can tell, a mediocre one without redeeming personal qualities except sarcasm. She is full of contradictions: she's always saying how she hates supernaturals, but works for a dragon because he can protect her from the vampires she's angered. Despite her lucrative employment, she still continues to steal items for herself on his jobs. Yet, she refuses to take a side job for a friend who claims it is 'life and death.' We do see another side of her, during her 'down time' playing WorldQuest, a massive multiplayer on-line game. Yet, she's a thief there and though she has a close partner, Carpe, she professes they have an understanding that each will abandon the other, or even steal from them. Oh, and she's dating an incubus named Rynn (again, with her baseline suspicion of supernaturals), who shares a running joke where they call each other "whore" and "train wreck" (ha, ha). It's clear she's emotionally disengaged from almost everyone she should be close to, and displays suspicion and general quarrelsomeness when they frequently appear ready to help her out of friendship.
I'm not the only one who doesn't like Owl. The IAA, who regulates archaeological digs and polices the supernatural world, is convinced she is behind a string of artifact thefts. The creators of her favorite game WorldQuest are considering booting her, tired of her using game information to achieve thefts in real life. Lady Siyu, her boss' seneschal, hates her sass as well, although Lady's naga identity might have something to do with it. For a thief, she's also a terrible planner--in the initial scene, she mentions that she's had so much trouble getting away from the postdoc that she's 'missed the jump in scrutiny' by the guards, then when she's running through the Egyptian streets dodging the IAA, she is amazed how good they have gotten since she left. Before stealing the Medusa she notes that she's tripled the workload of her employer's initial assignment, but not because it's greedy--because its good time management and planning (so how did her planning miss the updated security?) I'm continually surprised how she seems barely competent, argumentative and impulsive and manages to pull any caper off at all.
The writing redeems the story. Focused on a fast moving, obstacle-filled plot, it competently describes event after event. Narrative is in first person; it feels colloquial with a tone appropriate to Owl's voice. There's the occasional slip-up when dealing with Owl, but it could be I'm primed for annoyance by her. For instance, in a chase scene she thinks, 'no time for niceties,' and then says 'sorry,' in Arabic. If that's not common courtesy, I'm not sure what is.
World-building is fun, and the supernaturals are often a type not often seen. I like the idea of archaeological digs as a setting, although the concept of the IAA being a black-suited gun-toting force seems far-fetched. An event or two borders on the outrageous, but is fitting if you view this as a book as about the fast-moving challenges with continually elevating stakes. Although reviews frequently compare her to Indiana Jones, Jones has far more charm, and his rakish confidence grants him more leeway than I'm willing to give Owl. The character cast is generally fun, with all sorts of supernatural creatures and dastardly devices.
I have no doubt that the audience for Owl is out there. If she'd develop some redeeming qualities--loyalty, selflessness, charm, cleverness, ethics--really, any one of the above would work--I'd be counted among them.
Here's my problem: I have a hard time separating my dislike for Owl from my feelings about the book. Owl, unfortunately, has not significantly developed from the previous book, Owl and the Japanese Circus. She's a thief, and as far as I can tell, a mediocre one without redeeming personal qualities except sarcasm. She is full of contradictions: she's always saying how she hates supernaturals, but works for a dragon because he can protect her from the vampires she's angered. Despite her lucrative employment, she still continues to steal items for herself on his jobs. Yet, she refuses to take a side job for a friend who claims it is 'life and death.' We do see another side of her, during her 'down time' playing WorldQuest, a massive multiplayer on-line game. Yet, she's a thief there and though she has a close partner, Carpe, she professes they have an understanding that each will abandon the other, or even steal from them. Oh, and she's dating an incubus named Rynn (again, with her baseline suspicion of supernaturals), who shares a running joke where they call each other "whore" and "train wreck" (ha, ha). It's clear she's emotionally disengaged from almost everyone she should be close to, and displays suspicion and general quarrelsomeness when they frequently appear ready to help her out of friendship.
I'm not the only one who doesn't like Owl. The IAA, who regulates archaeological digs and polices the supernatural world, is convinced she is behind a string of artifact thefts. The creators of her favorite game WorldQuest are considering booting her, tired of her using game information to achieve thefts in real life. Lady Siyu, her boss' seneschal, hates her sass as well, although Lady's naga identity might have something to do with it. For a thief, she's also a terrible planner--in the initial scene, she mentions that she's had so much trouble getting away from the postdoc that she's 'missed the jump in scrutiny' by the guards, then when she's running through the Egyptian streets dodging the IAA, she is amazed how good they have gotten since she left. Before stealing the Medusa she notes that she's tripled the workload of her employer's initial assignment, but not because it's greedy--because its good time management and planning (so how did her planning miss the updated security?) I'm continually surprised how she seems barely competent, argumentative and impulsive and manages to pull any caper off at all.
The writing redeems the story. Focused on a fast moving, obstacle-filled plot, it competently describes event after event. Narrative is in first person; it feels colloquial with a tone appropriate to Owl's voice. There's the occasional slip-up when dealing with Owl, but it could be I'm primed for annoyance by her. For instance, in a chase scene she thinks, 'no time for niceties,' and then says 'sorry,' in Arabic. If that's not common courtesy, I'm not sure what is.
World-building is fun, and the supernaturals are often a type not often seen. I like the idea of archaeological digs as a setting, although the concept of the IAA being a black-suited gun-toting force seems far-fetched. An event or two borders on the outrageous, but is fitting if you view this as a book as about the fast-moving challenges with continually elevating stakes. Although reviews frequently compare her to Indiana Jones, Jones has far more charm, and his rakish confidence grants him more leeway than I'm willing to give Owl. The character cast is generally fun, with all sorts of supernatural creatures and dastardly devices.
I have no doubt that the audience for Owl is out there. If she'd develop some redeeming qualities--loyalty, selflessness, charm, cleverness, ethics--really, any one of the above would work--I'd be counted among them.
May 6, 2018
Owl is back!
I have wanted to read the next book in this series since I read the first book; Owl and the Japanese Circus. And, I'm quite pleased to say that the story is even better in this book. That doesn't mean I didn't enjoy the first book. But since the introduction to the supernatural world and its beings had been dealt with in the first book could this book focus more on the continuation of Owls adventures and less getting to know the characters and all the supernatural stuff.
Someone is impersonating Owl and stealing objects and now it seems that the person has stolen cursed objects that kill whoever touches them. Owl must now steal them back and clear her name. Thankfully she has help from her best friend Nadja, Owls boyfriend Rynn and, of course, her cat Captain. Also, in this book, we finally get to meet Carpe face-to-face in the real world instead just as a gaming partner to Owl. And, I have to admit, I think he really is my favorite character. Well, he and Captain of course. It's just something special with the hacker elf. I mean I haven't anything against Rynn. But I wouldn't mind some Owl and Carpe action in the future. Also, the messenger Hermes had a small part in this book. I liked him very much too and hope to see more of him in the future. Someone I'm not as sure I like is Rynn's cousin Artemis. I mean I started with liking him, he was so different from Rynn, but in the end. Well, let's say he kind of messed up a bit and that was too bad since I found him to be quite an interesting new addition to the story.
This book was really good, action from the beginning to the end. Plenty of hilarious moments especially since Owl doesn't know when to shut up and keep getting in trouble all the time. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series!
One thing; the cover. I prefer the cover of Owl and the Japanese Circus. I just don't fancy this cover that much. The cover to the first book is just so beautiful, this one not so much.
Thanks to Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
I have wanted to read the next book in this series since I read the first book; Owl and the Japanese Circus. And, I'm quite pleased to say that the story is even better in this book. That doesn't mean I didn't enjoy the first book. But since the introduction to the supernatural world and its beings had been dealt with in the first book could this book focus more on the continuation of Owls adventures and less getting to know the characters and all the supernatural stuff.
Someone is impersonating Owl and stealing objects and now it seems that the person has stolen cursed objects that kill whoever touches them. Owl must now steal them back and clear her name. Thankfully she has help from her best friend Nadja, Owls boyfriend Rynn and, of course, her cat Captain. Also, in this book, we finally get to meet Carpe face-to-face in the real world instead just as a gaming partner to Owl. And, I have to admit, I think he really is my favorite character. Well, he and Captain of course. It's just something special with the hacker elf. I mean I haven't anything against Rynn. But I wouldn't mind some Owl and Carpe action in the future. Also, the messenger Hermes had a small part in this book. I liked him very much too and hope to see more of him in the future. Someone I'm not as sure I like is Rynn's cousin Artemis. I mean I started with liking him, he was so different from Rynn, but in the end. Well, let's say he kind of messed up a bit and that was too bad since I found him to be quite an interesting new addition to the story.
This book was really good, action from the beginning to the end. Plenty of hilarious moments especially since Owl doesn't know when to shut up and keep getting in trouble all the time. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series!
One thing; the cover. I prefer the cover of Owl and the Japanese Circus. I just don't fancy this cover that much. The cover to the first book is just so beautiful, this one not so much.
Thanks to Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
March 26, 2016
*** 3.75 ***
A buddy read with the MacHalo Freaks!!!
This was fun. Owl=Alex, just a simple human, archeology items thief extraordinair, a gamer, and an all together one lucky pain in the ass, returns to what she does best in this second entry in the series. She is working in return for protection, for the Dragon and his Naga lady. Alex is partially suicidal (she throws herself into danger and stops to think only after disaster strikes, which is about always), partially lucky, and should thank the stars for her friends and Captain!!! They have her back, despite her poor choices and antisocial personality...
Alex has been on a stealing spree and as usual, her luck does not hold for long... She gets so deeply inmashed with the paranormal community, the archeology police, and a particularly cranky mummy, that she finds herself fighting for her life -literally! This time even her best friends and frenemies might not be able to save her...
If you want to know what happens, READ IT!!! You guys should know by now I don't do spoilers:-)
This time around the author had the story under better control and it read much easier and logically than before. Alex is starting to understand her own flaws of character better and is trying to do something about them... She is still in no way perfect, but she is trying and that is good enough in an ongoing series. The Incubus is a bit too good to be true yet, so I am waiting for him to screw things up... Nadia, the Russian fashionista and the Vampire hunting cat Captain are still my favorite characters, but they are getting a run for their money from the gaming addicted hacker Elf!!! Je made me laugh on several occasions!!!
I enjoyed this book and am optimistic for the series as a whole!!! Recommend it to UF lovers of the lighter side of the spectrum... Good for younger readers as well!
I wish all of you Happy Reading and many more books to come!!!
A buddy read with the MacHalo Freaks!!!
This was fun. Owl=Alex, just a simple human, archeology items thief extraordinair, a gamer, and an all together one lucky pain in the ass, returns to what she does best in this second entry in the series. She is working in return for protection, for the Dragon and his Naga lady. Alex is partially suicidal (she throws herself into danger and stops to think only after disaster strikes, which is about always), partially lucky, and should thank the stars for her friends and Captain!!! They have her back, despite her poor choices and antisocial personality...
Alex has been on a stealing spree and as usual, her luck does not hold for long... She gets so deeply inmashed with the paranormal community, the archeology police, and a particularly cranky mummy, that she finds herself fighting for her life -literally! This time even her best friends and frenemies might not be able to save her...
If you want to know what happens, READ IT!!! You guys should know by now I don't do spoilers:-)
This time around the author had the story under better control and it read much easier and logically than before. Alex is starting to understand her own flaws of character better and is trying to do something about them... She is still in no way perfect, but she is trying and that is good enough in an ongoing series. The Incubus is a bit too good to be true yet, so I am waiting for him to screw things up... Nadia, the Russian fashionista and the Vampire hunting cat Captain are still my favorite characters, but they are getting a run for their money from the gaming addicted hacker Elf!!! Je made me laugh on several occasions!!!
I enjoyed this book and am optimistic for the series as a whole!!! Recommend it to UF lovers of the lighter side of the spectrum... Good for younger readers as well!
I wish all of you Happy Reading and many more books to come!!!
April 13, 2016
I'm really getting a feel for these characters now. I still swear Owl would be me if I'd been an archaeology student and if she drank sangria instead of Corona (oh wait that's Kate Daniels). But this installment feels much better than the first book, more even and consistent. Might have gotten five stars if not for that ending. Seriously, do not mess with Captain.
Owl remains hesitant to allow anyone closer than arm's length, and I have to say I admire her for it. I did count a total of five "train wreck/whore" exchanges, which -cringe- but it's far from a perfect world. This feels like a good series for people just dipping their toes into the urban fantasy genre.
Owl remains hesitant to allow anyone closer than arm's length, and I have to say I admire her for it. I did count a total of five "train wreck/whore" exchanges, which -cringe- but it's far from a perfect world. This feels like a good series for people just dipping their toes into the urban fantasy genre.
January 18, 2016
3.5 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum http://bibliosanctum.com/2016/01/17/b...
Owl is back, and things are more fun and explosive than ever in this sequel to Owl and the Japanese Circus, Kristi Charish’s debut featuring the eponymous former archaeology student turned international antiquities thief. I’m sure those of us who have read the first book are familiar with the character’s smart-alecky, rabble-rousing ways, and true to form, Owl gets into a heap of trouble again—except this time, it’s actually not her fault! Well, not all of it, anyway…
Alix “Owl” Hiboux has always prided herself on being the best at what she does, but having a reputation isn’t always what it’s cracked up to be. Right now, someone out there is using it against her, plundering off-limit dig sites while trying to make it all look like her work. This has landed her in hot water with the IAA, the governing body that regulates archaeological sites worldwide, but our heroine has even bigger problems to worry about—the supernatural kind.
Now Owl has got everything from vampires to sirens howling after her blood, and even her boss, the red dragon Mr. Kurosawa is not entirely convinced of her innocence. To prove that she had nothing to do with the thefts, Owl will have to go and recover the stolen artifacts herself and catch the real tomb raiders responsible, taking her on an adventure through some of the most dangerous and unstable places in the world, from the pirate-infested coast of Somalia to the mysterious City of the Dead in war-torn Syria.
Fans of Owl and the Japanese Circus should find plenty to love again in Owl and the City of Angels, which brings back all the high-speed action and entertainment that made the first book so great. I was pleased to see that my favorite things about Japanese Circus—the archaeology, paranormal elements, supernatural baddies, and of course Owl’s favorite online game World Quest—are all reiterated in this sequel. Furthermore, Charish sets an even faster pace, and there’s no question about it, City of Angels is also bigger and more ambitious in pretty much every aspect.
Perhaps the biggest improvement I noted was Owl’s character herself. Being a cheeky, foul-mouthed thief who makes impulsive, spur of the moment decisions, her personality was a sore point in a lot of reviews I saw for the first book. In my own review of Owl and the Japanese Circus, I also noted Owl’s complete lack of self-preservation skills and her tendency to spout insults at friends and enemies alike when she feels like she is up against a wall—which made it tougher for her to grow on me. However, I had a lot less trouble connecting to her this time around. Owl is still prickly and impetuous, but she has toned down her volatile attitude, becoming a lot more aware of her actions and even experiences an introspective moment or two. Love her or hate her, the fact that she is an ever-evolving and dynamic character scores huge points in my book.
Granted, the story still has lots of over-the-top, far-fetched moments where you’ll have to suspend your disbelief, but if you didn’t find this to be an issue in the first installment, I doubt it will affect your enjoyment here either. Personally, the only reason why I rated this book a half star lower than its predecessor is because I felt the supernatural conflict dragged on a little too long for my tastes, and I was a little worn down by the time we hit the three-quarters mark. Still, while the plot could have used some tightening up, other than that, I could find few other faults with this wild sequel.
In the end, it’s all about the fun. When it comes to delivering pure and unadulterated entertainment, Kristi Charish has scored another hit with Owl and the City of Angels, and you can be sure I’m looking forward to the next adventure starring its plucky “Indiana Jane” heroine and her group of fearless friends.
Owl is back, and things are more fun and explosive than ever in this sequel to Owl and the Japanese Circus, Kristi Charish’s debut featuring the eponymous former archaeology student turned international antiquities thief. I’m sure those of us who have read the first book are familiar with the character’s smart-alecky, rabble-rousing ways, and true to form, Owl gets into a heap of trouble again—except this time, it’s actually not her fault! Well, not all of it, anyway…
Alix “Owl” Hiboux has always prided herself on being the best at what she does, but having a reputation isn’t always what it’s cracked up to be. Right now, someone out there is using it against her, plundering off-limit dig sites while trying to make it all look like her work. This has landed her in hot water with the IAA, the governing body that regulates archaeological sites worldwide, but our heroine has even bigger problems to worry about—the supernatural kind.
Now Owl has got everything from vampires to sirens howling after her blood, and even her boss, the red dragon Mr. Kurosawa is not entirely convinced of her innocence. To prove that she had nothing to do with the thefts, Owl will have to go and recover the stolen artifacts herself and catch the real tomb raiders responsible, taking her on an adventure through some of the most dangerous and unstable places in the world, from the pirate-infested coast of Somalia to the mysterious City of the Dead in war-torn Syria.
Fans of Owl and the Japanese Circus should find plenty to love again in Owl and the City of Angels, which brings back all the high-speed action and entertainment that made the first book so great. I was pleased to see that my favorite things about Japanese Circus—the archaeology, paranormal elements, supernatural baddies, and of course Owl’s favorite online game World Quest—are all reiterated in this sequel. Furthermore, Charish sets an even faster pace, and there’s no question about it, City of Angels is also bigger and more ambitious in pretty much every aspect.
Perhaps the biggest improvement I noted was Owl’s character herself. Being a cheeky, foul-mouthed thief who makes impulsive, spur of the moment decisions, her personality was a sore point in a lot of reviews I saw for the first book. In my own review of Owl and the Japanese Circus, I also noted Owl’s complete lack of self-preservation skills and her tendency to spout insults at friends and enemies alike when she feels like she is up against a wall—which made it tougher for her to grow on me. However, I had a lot less trouble connecting to her this time around. Owl is still prickly and impetuous, but she has toned down her volatile attitude, becoming a lot more aware of her actions and even experiences an introspective moment or two. Love her or hate her, the fact that she is an ever-evolving and dynamic character scores huge points in my book.
Granted, the story still has lots of over-the-top, far-fetched moments where you’ll have to suspend your disbelief, but if you didn’t find this to be an issue in the first installment, I doubt it will affect your enjoyment here either. Personally, the only reason why I rated this book a half star lower than its predecessor is because I felt the supernatural conflict dragged on a little too long for my tastes, and I was a little worn down by the time we hit the three-quarters mark. Still, while the plot could have used some tightening up, other than that, I could find few other faults with this wild sequel.
In the end, it’s all about the fun. When it comes to delivering pure and unadulterated entertainment, Kristi Charish has scored another hit with Owl and the City of Angels, and you can be sure I’m looking forward to the next adventure starring its plucky “Indiana Jane” heroine and her group of fearless friends.
October 11, 2015
[4 Stars] This book wasn't quite good as the first in the series, but it was still really fun! I'm planning on doing a full video review for it, but I'm happy to say a few things here as well.
Things I liked about this book: the seriously action-packed plot that always kept me on my toes, seeing more about World Quest and Carpe because I think it was always going to obvious that I would love Carpe, getting to know various other supernatural creatures, and Owl developing a little bit more. Seriously though if there is one thing I can really praise this book for it is the plot. It was even crazier than the first book. It was so crazy that sometimes things were a little too much if you know what I mean, particularly at the end, but I still loved all the craziness. World Quest and Carpe continue to intrigue me. I need to know MORE about both of them, and I think we definitely will see more World Quest in the next book.
Things I didn't like about this book: even though Owl has progressed somewhat in this book she is still rash and completely contradicts herself half of the time which is frustrating, I don't really get the romance and find Rynn to be so bland, and finally the latter half of this book was just a little too busy and could have been tightened up some. I flew through the first half of this book, and if the second half had been as good as the first this might have been a 4.5 or 5 star book. There were just a few toooo many crazy things going on, and if they had been dialed back just a little bit it would have made for a better story. May be not even that, may be if they were a little bit more deliberate a less rushed it would have been better? Not quite sure but something was just off. I also want to say that I don't really get Rynn and Owl's relationship. I want to FEEL it, but I don't. He's also boring. I'm far more interested in Carpe and desperately need to know more about his backstory. Also, I need to know more about the supernatural world in general. It's still the second book though so I'm not too frustrated about that yet. Hopefully the next book will open things up more. ALSO, hopefully Owl will grow more in the next book. She isn't a super likeable character, and in the first book I honestly just found her to be real and relatable. In this book, I was getting a tad frustrated. She is showing some growth though, and I think in each book we'll see more and more of that.
Overall, I really liked Owl and the City of Angels. It almost went to 3.5 stars from me, but that ending seriously has me excited about the next book. That ultimately bumped it back up to a 4 star rating. This installment isn't perfect by any means. I still liked the first book better, but it was still pretty fun and something a bit different in the UF genre.
[I was sent an ARC of this by the Publisher for an honest review. My video review will be posted here when I put it up on my YouTube Channel InkBonesBooks: NOT UP YET.]
Things I liked about this book: the seriously action-packed plot that always kept me on my toes, seeing more about World Quest and Carpe because I think it was always going to obvious that I would love Carpe, getting to know various other supernatural creatures, and Owl developing a little bit more. Seriously though if there is one thing I can really praise this book for it is the plot. It was even crazier than the first book. It was so crazy that sometimes things were a little too much if you know what I mean, particularly at the end, but I still loved all the craziness. World Quest and Carpe continue to intrigue me. I need to know MORE about both of them, and I think we definitely will see more World Quest in the next book.
Things I didn't like about this book: even though Owl has progressed somewhat in this book she is still rash and completely contradicts herself half of the time which is frustrating, I don't really get the romance and find Rynn to be so bland, and finally the latter half of this book was just a little too busy and could have been tightened up some. I flew through the first half of this book, and if the second half had been as good as the first this might have been a 4.5 or 5 star book. There were just a few toooo many crazy things going on, and if they had been dialed back just a little bit it would have made for a better story. May be not even that, may be if they were a little bit more deliberate a less rushed it would have been better? Not quite sure but something was just off. I also want to say that I don't really get Rynn and Owl's relationship. I want to FEEL it, but I don't. He's also boring. I'm far more interested in Carpe and desperately need to know more about his backstory. Also, I need to know more about the supernatural world in general. It's still the second book though so I'm not too frustrated about that yet. Hopefully the next book will open things up more. ALSO, hopefully Owl will grow more in the next book. She isn't a super likeable character, and in the first book I honestly just found her to be real and relatable. In this book, I was getting a tad frustrated. She is showing some growth though, and I think in each book we'll see more and more of that.
Overall, I really liked Owl and the City of Angels. It almost went to 3.5 stars from me, but that ending seriously has me excited about the next book. That ultimately bumped it back up to a 4 star rating. This installment isn't perfect by any means. I still liked the first book better, but it was still pretty fun and something a bit different in the UF genre.
[I was sent an ARC of this by the Publisher for an honest review. My video review will be posted here when I put it up on my YouTube Channel InkBonesBooks: NOT UP YET.]
February 7, 2022
This review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/
This was great! I have had this book for years and I am now realizing that I did myself a disservice by ignoring it for so long. I love the Indiana Jones vibe with a supernatural twist of this series. The characters are great and there is even a thread of humor throughout the novel. I definitely think that is a series not to be missed and I am glad that I finally gave it a shot.
Owl is in trouble once again and I couldn’t wait to see how she would be able to get herself out of this newest jam. Someone has stolen some important but cursed artifacts and everyone thinks that it was Owl but this is not a theft that she would even consider. Now to prove her innocence she needs to retrieve those items and find the real thief. Owl is definitely in for a challenge and everything proves to be more complicated than she could have ever imagined. There was more than enough action and excitement to go around in this installment and I often found the book difficult to put down.
I really like the characters in this series. It was fun to watch Owl, her cat Champion, Rynn, Nadya, and Carpe try to get to the bottom of things. I liked how this group of characters was able to work together to achieve the mission and keep everyone safe. It is obvious how much each of these characters cares about each other. The fact that there is a whole group of supernatural characters in the mix adds another layer to keep things interesting. Even the cat had something important to add to this entertaining story.
I would highly recommend this book to fans of urban fantasy. I would recommend reading this series in order since this book is built on the events in the previous installment. I am looking forward to reading about Owl’s next adventure!
I received a digital review copy of this book from Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books via NetGalley.
Initial Thoughts
This was great! Owl is in trouble once again and I couldn't wait to see how she would be able to get herself out of this newest jam. I love the Indiana Jones vibe with a supernatural twist that this series has. It was fun to watch Owl, her cat Champion, Rynn, Nadya, and Carpe try to get to the bottom of things. This book was often funny and I grew to really like the characters. I think that I am going to have to get my hands on the next book in the series very soon.
This was great! I have had this book for years and I am now realizing that I did myself a disservice by ignoring it for so long. I love the Indiana Jones vibe with a supernatural twist of this series. The characters are great and there is even a thread of humor throughout the novel. I definitely think that is a series not to be missed and I am glad that I finally gave it a shot.
Owl is in trouble once again and I couldn’t wait to see how she would be able to get herself out of this newest jam. Someone has stolen some important but cursed artifacts and everyone thinks that it was Owl but this is not a theft that she would even consider. Now to prove her innocence she needs to retrieve those items and find the real thief. Owl is definitely in for a challenge and everything proves to be more complicated than she could have ever imagined. There was more than enough action and excitement to go around in this installment and I often found the book difficult to put down.
I really like the characters in this series. It was fun to watch Owl, her cat Champion, Rynn, Nadya, and Carpe try to get to the bottom of things. I liked how this group of characters was able to work together to achieve the mission and keep everyone safe. It is obvious how much each of these characters cares about each other. The fact that there is a whole group of supernatural characters in the mix adds another layer to keep things interesting. Even the cat had something important to add to this entertaining story.
I would highly recommend this book to fans of urban fantasy. I would recommend reading this series in order since this book is built on the events in the previous installment. I am looking forward to reading about Owl’s next adventure!
I received a digital review copy of this book from Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books via NetGalley.
Initial Thoughts
This was great! Owl is in trouble once again and I couldn't wait to see how she would be able to get herself out of this newest jam. I love the Indiana Jones vibe with a supernatural twist that this series has. It was fun to watch Owl, her cat Champion, Rynn, Nadya, and Carpe try to get to the bottom of things. This book was often funny and I grew to really like the characters. I think that I am going to have to get my hands on the next book in the series very soon.
August 9, 2019
This was a lot of fun and the author really excels at writing believable (read: complicated) relationships of all kinds. But there was never a moment to catch one's breath between action scenes. A few of them were completely expendable and could have either been cut out or replaced with downtime to help the pace feel less frantic. A heart racing novel is only worth its title if the racing heart isn't caused by anxiety of too much "up" time and too few pauses for rumination.
May 27, 2016
3.5 stars
Working for red dragon Mr Kurosawa is keeping Owl rather busy as he sends her around the globe to find rare treasures for his collection. She's not averse to helping herself to a few extra items from the sites he sends her too so when she is accused of the theft of a collection of cursed items it's no surprise that even her friends have trouble believing her innocence. The IAA and her boss certainly think she's been up to no good and unless she manages to steal the items back along with some kind of evidence she wasn't the original thief then she's going to be in a whole heap of extra trouble.
If you enjoyed the first book in the Adventures of Owl series I'm sure you're going to enjoy Owl and the City of Angels even more. I love the tomb raiding Indiana Jones type feel to the story and it was great to see Owl exploring more ancient sites and finding all kinds of trouble to get herself into. Owl is an interesting character, she actually irritated me a bit in the first book but we definitely see some growth in this one and although she still isn't perfect she has started to learn from her mistakes. I do want to see her start taking more responsibility for her actions but she's definitely moving in the right direction on that front so I hope she continues making progress.
It's the side characters that make this series for me though, you have sexy and mysterious badass Rynn who has the unenviable job of trying to protect Owl from herself (and if Owl doesn't change the nickname she uses for him soon then so help me god I will strangle her myself!), then there's her fashion loving, sarcastic best friend Nadya who really helps to ground Owl and show her when she's being an idiot, and now we finally get to meet her online friend Carpe face to face. I'm not sure whether I trust him or not yet but he did add some humour to the story. My favourite character in the series has to be her Egyptian Mau, Captain though, trust me if you're ever in trouble with the vampires you need a cat like Captain on your side!
This is a fun series that doesn't take itself too seriously and is very easy to read. The way this story ended left me desperate to get my hands on the next one as one character has been left in a great deal of trouble so I'm glad I don't have to wait too much longer to find out what will happen there.
Working for red dragon Mr Kurosawa is keeping Owl rather busy as he sends her around the globe to find rare treasures for his collection. She's not averse to helping herself to a few extra items from the sites he sends her too so when she is accused of the theft of a collection of cursed items it's no surprise that even her friends have trouble believing her innocence. The IAA and her boss certainly think she's been up to no good and unless she manages to steal the items back along with some kind of evidence she wasn't the original thief then she's going to be in a whole heap of extra trouble.
If you enjoyed the first book in the Adventures of Owl series I'm sure you're going to enjoy Owl and the City of Angels even more. I love the tomb raiding Indiana Jones type feel to the story and it was great to see Owl exploring more ancient sites and finding all kinds of trouble to get herself into. Owl is an interesting character, she actually irritated me a bit in the first book but we definitely see some growth in this one and although she still isn't perfect she has started to learn from her mistakes. I do want to see her start taking more responsibility for her actions but she's definitely moving in the right direction on that front so I hope she continues making progress.
It's the side characters that make this series for me though, you have sexy and mysterious badass Rynn who has the unenviable job of trying to protect Owl from herself (and if Owl doesn't change the nickname she uses for him soon then so help me god I will strangle her myself!), then there's her fashion loving, sarcastic best friend Nadya who really helps to ground Owl and show her when she's being an idiot, and now we finally get to meet her online friend Carpe face to face. I'm not sure whether I trust him or not yet but he did add some humour to the story. My favourite character in the series has to be her Egyptian Mau, Captain though, trust me if you're ever in trouble with the vampires you need a cat like Captain on your side!
This is a fun series that doesn't take itself too seriously and is very easy to read. The way this story ended left me desperate to get my hands on the next one as one character has been left in a great deal of trouble so I'm glad I don't have to wait too much longer to find out what will happen there.
October 29, 2015
Mon avis en Français
My ENglish review
I had a good time with the first volume and I admit that I was curious about the new adventures of our beloved heroine. It must be said that the end of the previous book had put her in a rather difficult position, forcing her to work for supernatural entities she used to run away from.
Our heroine is found early in the novel trying to recover some artifacts for her boss, not far after the end of the first volume and she finds herself in some quite incredible situations. But if in addition she only had to manage that, but she also needs to avoid the vampires who seem to have some grudge against her, and the archaeological secret police who has decided that she was the investigator of a thief she has not committed. Owl will therefore have to embark on a story that surpasses her fully to try to understand who tries to break her down and to prove to everyone that she is not the person responsible for the events. However, none of this will be easy to achieve!
I enjoyed to follow Alix and her adventures here. I had a little trouble sometimes compared to her behavior in the first volume and her thoughtless actions, but I didn’t get that feeling this time. This is a character who evolves, and she must take into account the people who move around her and tries to open gradually to the supernatural world, something that is not easy. Of course, we will find all the characters that we had the chance to discover in the previous volume and they’ll evolve throughout the story with our heroine. I also appreciated the fact that we learn a little more about Owl’s boyfriend, that is to say Rynn, which we did not know much about. I’m not saying that we will know all about his past and secrets because that is not the case, but we will learn more about his family, about what he sees in her and his feelings.
In short, as you can see, a lot of things here and the action is present throughout the book to our delight. I do not know how Owl manages to hold face regarding all this but I love her crazy ideas. Then, of course, we find Captain, our favorite cat who still do not like vampires and who always helps our heroine in her escapades. So another very good second volume!
My ENglish review
I had a good time with the first volume and I admit that I was curious about the new adventures of our beloved heroine. It must be said that the end of the previous book had put her in a rather difficult position, forcing her to work for supernatural entities she used to run away from.
Our heroine is found early in the novel trying to recover some artifacts for her boss, not far after the end of the first volume and she finds herself in some quite incredible situations. But if in addition she only had to manage that, but she also needs to avoid the vampires who seem to have some grudge against her, and the archaeological secret police who has decided that she was the investigator of a thief she has not committed. Owl will therefore have to embark on a story that surpasses her fully to try to understand who tries to break her down and to prove to everyone that she is not the person responsible for the events. However, none of this will be easy to achieve!
I enjoyed to follow Alix and her adventures here. I had a little trouble sometimes compared to her behavior in the first volume and her thoughtless actions, but I didn’t get that feeling this time. This is a character who evolves, and she must take into account the people who move around her and tries to open gradually to the supernatural world, something that is not easy. Of course, we will find all the characters that we had the chance to discover in the previous volume and they’ll evolve throughout the story with our heroine. I also appreciated the fact that we learn a little more about Owl’s boyfriend, that is to say Rynn, which we did not know much about. I’m not saying that we will know all about his past and secrets because that is not the case, but we will learn more about his family, about what he sees in her and his feelings.
In short, as you can see, a lot of things here and the action is present throughout the book to our delight. I do not know how Owl manages to hold face regarding all this but I love her crazy ideas. Then, of course, we find Captain, our favorite cat who still do not like vampires and who always helps our heroine in her escapades. So another very good second volume!
October 14, 2015
**I received this book for free from (Publisher) via (NetGalley) in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.**
*Genre* Urban Fantasy
*Rating* 4.0
*My Thoughts*
Owl and the City of Angels is the second installment in the Adventures of Owl series by author Kristi Charish. The series follows the escapades of Alix Hiboux, an internationally known antiquities thief known as the OWL, as well as a former archaeologist student who was screwed over by her supposed peers. Alix has been compared to this generations Indiana Jones because of her adventures around the world and her ability to get into and out of places before anyone knows she was there. You can absolutely compare her character to Lara Croft of the Tomb Raider game empire. She's got the same kind of skill set, and she's brilliant at finding traps and getting out alive.
*Full Review Posted @ Gizmos Reviews 10/14/2015*
http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...
Published by Pocket Star; Canadian Origin edition (October 5, 2015)
*Genre* Urban Fantasy
*Rating* 4.0
*My Thoughts*
Owl and the City of Angels is the second installment in the Adventures of Owl series by author Kristi Charish. The series follows the escapades of Alix Hiboux, an internationally known antiquities thief known as the OWL, as well as a former archaeologist student who was screwed over by her supposed peers. Alix has been compared to this generations Indiana Jones because of her adventures around the world and her ability to get into and out of places before anyone knows she was there. You can absolutely compare her character to Lara Croft of the Tomb Raider game empire. She's got the same kind of skill set, and she's brilliant at finding traps and getting out alive.
*Full Review Posted @ Gizmos Reviews 10/14/2015*
http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...
Published by Pocket Star; Canadian Origin edition (October 5, 2015)
November 3, 2022
Listening to the Owl books is starting to become a bit of a guilty pleasure for me. I feel like these really aren't the best fantasy books I've ever read, but the narrator is fun and does great voices and accents. The stories are fast paced and the main character has a lovely amount of sarcasm and banter to keep me entertained. So I will definitely keep listening to these books!
The archeology and gaming are still parts for me that stand out and that I'm enjoying. I feel like the combination of the two is pretty unique in a book.
This review wast first posted @ BiteIntoBooks
I am still somewhat annoyed by Owl, who is highly impulsive and has to be rescued by chance or friends multiple times. But I will take that for granted, because the story keeps me entertained!
The archeology and gaming are still parts for me that stand out and that I'm enjoying. I feel like the combination of the two is pretty unique in a book.
This review wast first posted @ BiteIntoBooks
I am still somewhat annoyed by Owl, who is highly impulsive and has to be rescued by chance or friends multiple times. But I will take that for granted, because the story keeps me entertained!
October 5, 2015
Five reasons to grab Owl and the City of Angels
Alix Hiboux, known to all as Owl is a unique, outspoken, stubborn, risk-taking antiquities thief. Owl is a complex character who is brilliant when it comes to artifacts, solving puzzles and escaping danger but equally stubborn and immature. I adore this spunky, snarky girl. Sure, she is unreasonable at times, but she does not gripe and somehow manages to get the job done. She is a gamer and plays the multiplayer game WorldQuest with an elf. Until a few years ago, Owl knew nothing of the supernatural creatures dwelling in her world; that was until she messed up a heist and pissed off a vampire. Now she finds herself living in Vegas and working for Mr. Kursosawa, a dragon who has a fondness for ancient and supernatural artifacts. While I did not see as much growth, and her wavering opinion of the supernatural annoyed me, Owl lives up to the hype of being a modern-day Indian Jones. While I wanted to see more growth in Owl, I do think we saw some progress. She is always going to be outspoken, hotheaded and a little rough around the edges, but she does seems to have a strong moral compass. We see hint that are attitude regarding supernatural creatures is softening a little.
The world Charish has created is a fascinating. Never have I met so many unique supernatural creatures as we travel the world in search of ancient artifacts. We meet zombies, vampires’ sirens, succubus, snake people, Jinn, and elves. While the creatures may appear in other stories, Charish has given them unique attributes and destroyed myths about garlic, life forces and more - giving me a unique story full of surprises.
While the overall story arc involves Owl, each book takes us on a madden quest that has our heroine in peril. In Owl and the City of Angels the IAA (the international archeology responsible for keeping supernatural artifacts and creatures secret) are after Owl, whom they believe has stolen artifacts from the City of the Dead. These objects are cursed and her boss wants them retrieved and the identity of the person impersonating Owl caught. Poor Owl, the girl has people and things chasing her from every angle. Even, the creators of WorldQuest are gunning for her because they believe she is using the game to plot robberies. All of this led to an action-packed game of chase that took us all over the globe and deep into ancient burial sites. While at times the story read like an Indian Jones movie with improbable action scenes, I had a blast as we raced through streets and fought off the dead. Owl and the City of Angels was fully developed providing readers one heck of a ride. I loved the little tidbits weaved into the tale about the burial sites, and artifacts.
Owl and the City of Angels has a nice blend of humor, similar to those one would find in the Hollows by Kim Harrison, or the snark in the Kate Daniel’s series by Ilona Andrews. The author has done a fantastic job of fleshing out the characters; expect maybe Ryan, Owl’s love interest, but we keep learning more. Lady Siyu is the dragon’s assistant and oh man, I love this dreadful, snarky seneschal. Even, Captain, Owl’s vampire hunting cat adds humor. Friendship and a slow-developing romance round out Owl’s crazy life, along with her relationship with Carpe, her elfin gaming partner.
Fans of quests, action-packed danger and unique characters will enjoy Owl and her merry group of friends and enemies. Charish has offered us a unique world and the storylines are unlimited when it comes to Owl and her quests. Each book develops the overall arc while still giving the reader a satisfying conclusion to the current predicament. I highly recommend this fun, engaging series.
.
This review was originally posted on Caffeinated Book Reviewer
Alix Hiboux, known to all as Owl is a unique, outspoken, stubborn, risk-taking antiquities thief. Owl is a complex character who is brilliant when it comes to artifacts, solving puzzles and escaping danger but equally stubborn and immature. I adore this spunky, snarky girl. Sure, she is unreasonable at times, but she does not gripe and somehow manages to get the job done. She is a gamer and plays the multiplayer game WorldQuest with an elf. Until a few years ago, Owl knew nothing of the supernatural creatures dwelling in her world; that was until she messed up a heist and pissed off a vampire. Now she finds herself living in Vegas and working for Mr. Kursosawa, a dragon who has a fondness for ancient and supernatural artifacts. While I did not see as much growth, and her wavering opinion of the supernatural annoyed me, Owl lives up to the hype of being a modern-day Indian Jones. While I wanted to see more growth in Owl, I do think we saw some progress. She is always going to be outspoken, hotheaded and a little rough around the edges, but she does seems to have a strong moral compass. We see hint that are attitude regarding supernatural creatures is softening a little.
The world Charish has created is a fascinating. Never have I met so many unique supernatural creatures as we travel the world in search of ancient artifacts. We meet zombies, vampires’ sirens, succubus, snake people, Jinn, and elves. While the creatures may appear in other stories, Charish has given them unique attributes and destroyed myths about garlic, life forces and more - giving me a unique story full of surprises.
While the overall story arc involves Owl, each book takes us on a madden quest that has our heroine in peril. In Owl and the City of Angels the IAA (the international archeology responsible for keeping supernatural artifacts and creatures secret) are after Owl, whom they believe has stolen artifacts from the City of the Dead. These objects are cursed and her boss wants them retrieved and the identity of the person impersonating Owl caught. Poor Owl, the girl has people and things chasing her from every angle. Even, the creators of WorldQuest are gunning for her because they believe she is using the game to plot robberies. All of this led to an action-packed game of chase that took us all over the globe and deep into ancient burial sites. While at times the story read like an Indian Jones movie with improbable action scenes, I had a blast as we raced through streets and fought off the dead. Owl and the City of Angels was fully developed providing readers one heck of a ride. I loved the little tidbits weaved into the tale about the burial sites, and artifacts.
Owl and the City of Angels has a nice blend of humor, similar to those one would find in the Hollows by Kim Harrison, or the snark in the Kate Daniel’s series by Ilona Andrews. The author has done a fantastic job of fleshing out the characters; expect maybe Ryan, Owl’s love interest, but we keep learning more. Lady Siyu is the dragon’s assistant and oh man, I love this dreadful, snarky seneschal. Even, Captain, Owl’s vampire hunting cat adds humor. Friendship and a slow-developing romance round out Owl’s crazy life, along with her relationship with Carpe, her elfin gaming partner.
Fans of quests, action-packed danger and unique characters will enjoy Owl and her merry group of friends and enemies. Charish has offered us a unique world and the storylines are unlimited when it comes to Owl and her quests. Each book develops the overall arc while still giving the reader a satisfying conclusion to the current predicament. I highly recommend this fun, engaging series.
.
This review was originally posted on Caffeinated Book Reviewer
November 3, 2015
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Owl, the heroine of Kristi Charish’s urban fantasy series, is an antiquity thief and a former archeology student. She works for a Las Vegas casino owner who happens to be a dragon. She owns a pet, an Egyptian cat bred to attack vampires. In the course of her work, she battles mommies, dodges vampires, and steals from an assortment of supernatural beings. Of course, she doesn’t do it for fun, at least not too often. Although her morals are questionable, most of the time, she plies her criminal skills because her employer demands it. Dragons love their treasures; everyone knows that. Sometimes she also steals to save the world (those usually backfire on her) or to help out a friend.
Misfortunes dog her steps without giving her even a half-day of respite, and every enemy gets the better of her every few pages, but she never gives up and she always comes out the winner. The sheer number of problems she faces in one novel could have sustained a dozen other novels, but the author’s imagination obviously works overtime.
The trick to this book is not to take it seriously. It’s a mad, mindless romp and it doesn’t really require its readers to care for the protagonist or for any character in the story. They are all cartoonish, all interchangeable, and the plot rolls ahead without the reader’s sympathy. Like a Disney animated feature, it presents a storyline with pretty pictures and lots of loud noise but without any emotional involvement from the reader.
As Owl races the clock to prevent the bad guys from ... being bad, the reader experiences uncomplicated fun. Bam, slam, kaboom, let’s smile and have some coke. Even when Owl contracts an ancient curse and starts dying from a plague, we don’t care. Her pain doesn’t feel real, and we know she would be OK by the end of the book.
Overall, not bad, although it didn’t touch my heart.
Owl, the heroine of Kristi Charish’s urban fantasy series, is an antiquity thief and a former archeology student. She works for a Las Vegas casino owner who happens to be a dragon. She owns a pet, an Egyptian cat bred to attack vampires. In the course of her work, she battles mommies, dodges vampires, and steals from an assortment of supernatural beings. Of course, she doesn’t do it for fun, at least not too often. Although her morals are questionable, most of the time, she plies her criminal skills because her employer demands it. Dragons love their treasures; everyone knows that. Sometimes she also steals to save the world (those usually backfire on her) or to help out a friend.
Misfortunes dog her steps without giving her even a half-day of respite, and every enemy gets the better of her every few pages, but she never gives up and she always comes out the winner. The sheer number of problems she faces in one novel could have sustained a dozen other novels, but the author’s imagination obviously works overtime.
The trick to this book is not to take it seriously. It’s a mad, mindless romp and it doesn’t really require its readers to care for the protagonist or for any character in the story. They are all cartoonish, all interchangeable, and the plot rolls ahead without the reader’s sympathy. Like a Disney animated feature, it presents a storyline with pretty pictures and lots of loud noise but without any emotional involvement from the reader.
As Owl races the clock to prevent the bad guys from ... being bad, the reader experiences uncomplicated fun. Bam, slam, kaboom, let’s smile and have some coke. Even when Owl contracts an ancient curse and starts dying from a plague, we don’t care. Her pain doesn’t feel real, and we know she would be OK by the end of the book.
Overall, not bad, although it didn’t touch my heart.
April 18, 2017
I'm in the minority in this, though I have absolutely no idea how. This is one of those times where the complete and utter lack of likability in the main character drags the whole novel down. Owl (why is her name Owl?) is an impulsive, rude and confrontational hypocrite. I don't really understand how being a grad student makes her a good candidate for a thief, especially when she seems to get caught by every single being ever. I don't really understand why she is dating a supernatural being when she supposedly hates all of them and has an inability to trust any of them.
Seriously. Does a Jewish person date a Nazi? No. According to Owl, all supernatural beings want to maim and kill and take advantage of all humans. So..... why is literally EVERY SINGLE BEING she interacts with a supernatural? That makes no sense. Her hatred of them is based on a grand idea that we don't actually see put in place. In fact, we see all these supernaturals getting her ass out of trouble again and again and again. And again.
But wait, she's really good at her job you guys. Seriously. Everyone knows her face and her reputation. She gets caught repeatedly. She mouths off to her captors. What bothered me too was that there were never any repercussions for her shit talking. Why is it the bad guys--who are known for torturing--never touch her? No cutting off fingers, no slicing red trails in the skin, no punching or kicking or gouging of the eyeballs. It's stupid, and I wanted someone to at least knock her out to shut her the fuck up.
You'll notice my constant of bad language. That is because in addition to all of Owl's other redeeming qualities, she's also got a potty mouth. She said "son of a bitch" seven goddamn times in the first chapter. She. is. annoying. I hate. her.
And because of that, the action made no difference. Book is bad because Owl is fucking stupid.
Seriously. Does a Jewish person date a Nazi? No. According to Owl, all supernatural beings want to maim and kill and take advantage of all humans. So..... why is literally EVERY SINGLE BEING she interacts with a supernatural? That makes no sense. Her hatred of them is based on a grand idea that we don't actually see put in place. In fact, we see all these supernaturals getting her ass out of trouble again and again and again. And again.
But wait, she's really good at her job you guys. Seriously. Everyone knows her face and her reputation. She gets caught repeatedly. She mouths off to her captors. What bothered me too was that there were never any repercussions for her shit talking. Why is it the bad guys--who are known for torturing--never touch her? No cutting off fingers, no slicing red trails in the skin, no punching or kicking or gouging of the eyeballs. It's stupid, and I wanted someone to at least knock her out to shut her the fuck up.
You'll notice my constant of bad language. That is because in addition to all of Owl's other redeeming qualities, she's also got a potty mouth. She said "son of a bitch" seven goddamn times in the first chapter. She. is. annoying. I hate. her.
And because of that, the action made no difference. Book is bad because Owl is fucking stupid.
May 19, 2016
I was so happy to see this one on a site, since book 1 could not be found. It was also really weird to read it after having listened to book 1. I found myself missing the narrator, also, so weird to see the names in writing! ;)
But let us begin.
Alix is hunting treasures for her dragon boss.
She is getting closer with Rynn, but still he is an incubi, can they really be happy?
Captain is the best cat side kick a girl can have!
Nadia is just there...poor Nadia, she needs to do more.
Carpe, well every girl needs an elf buddy to play online games with.
The hunt is on. She needs to find something. And the IAA is after her. It sucks to be her.
This series is fun, great characters, action and humour.
But let us begin.
Alix is hunting treasures for her dragon boss.
She is getting closer with Rynn, but still he is an incubi, can they really be happy?
Captain is the best cat side kick a girl can have!
Nadia is just there...poor Nadia, she needs to do more.
Carpe, well every girl needs an elf buddy to play online games with.
The hunt is on. She needs to find something. And the IAA is after her. It sucks to be her.
This series is fun, great characters, action and humour.
October 6, 2015
Originally posted at SmexyBooks-http://smexybooks.com/2015/10/review-...
Favorite Quote: “Why can’t you-for once-admit you might be partially responsible?”
Alix Hilboux aka Owl, a disgraced archaeology student turned thief, is back and once again running headlong into places where angels fear to tread. Only this time, she is doing it at the bidding of her boss, Mr. Kurosawa, a very dangerous red dragon who desires rare supernatural artifacts. When she is sent to Egypt to recover (steal) a rare artifact, she finds herself out running a mummy who wants to eat her and the IAA who believe she is behind a series of thefts that for once she didn’t commit. Add in a cursed city, a never ending bounty on her head, and a boyfriend who wants her to stop being so reckless, and you have an average day in the life of the Owl.
“Son of a bitch…mummies weren’t suppose to swim.”
Owl is definitely on a short leash these days due to the contract she signed with her new boss-a very dangerous red dragon. She works for him for three years and he keeps a group of vampires who want her dead off her back. Of course, Alix always has a back up plan. Why not use her new job to grab herself a few trinkets for herself? This leads to the usual trouble when she spends more time than normal in Egypt and finds all her exits blocked by the IAA. The IAA (International Antiquities Association) believes she has entered the City of the Dead, stole a few antiquities, then sold them to private collectors. These antiquities are cursed to kill anyone who touches them Her boss believes she too is at fault and gives her an ultimatum. Steal the antiquities back and find proof of her innocence or her life will be forfeit. Thankfully she has her best friend Nadya, her supernatural feline sidekick Captain, and her boyfriend Rynn to watch her back. Because she’s going to need it.
Book two in Kristi Charish’s adventurous urban fantasy series contains all the action, mystery, suspense, and humor that book one had and more. Think Indiana Jones meets Lara Tomb Raider and you have Owl; a human whose ability to attract trouble and make questionable choices is paramount. Biting humor, outrageous situations, and dynamic characters enhance Charish’s second installment. The continuous roller coaster ride of intrigue and suspense only serves to further strengthen the world building; creating even more interesting subplots and storylines for future evaluation. The dynamic and diverse cast of secondary characters (both familiar and new additions) are further developed; offering a compelling contrast to Owl’s personality.
Extremely fast paced and convoluted, I wouldn’t recommend starting the series here as there is very little recap in terms of the previous storyline. Obstacles are aplenty as Owl is forced to save herself and the city-a situation she placed herself in. There is a lot going on but Charish does a wonderful job of keeping the individual plotlines easy to follow and running smooth-intersecting them at pivotal moments to tie them together. Snappy dialogue entertains while Owl zips, zags, and insults her way to a climactic finale.
Owl continues to be a hard character to like with though there is something about her that appeals to the crazy in all of us. Charish uses her brash impulsiveness to invigorate the story; keeping readers on their toes as Owl continues to take the most dangerous path to achieve her goals. She is an emotionally distant, paranoid, large chip carrying human whose only powers is her ability to steal without getting caught and her unique way of viewing the world. She does have some growing moments in here though she still has a long way to go. Similar to book one, she gets her arse handed to her quite a few times but her moments of reflection are more frequent. She is beginning to see that she may be the cause of a lot of her problems. Her fight or flight mentality is still firmly set to flight but she learns the hard way that sometimes the enemy you know is better than the enemy you don’t. She is still not comfortable working within the supernatural world but is beginning to see she has no real choice anymore. She can’t avoid or hide from them. There are larger forces at work and she is smack dab in the middle of it all.
“There is only so much you can lie to yourself before reality crashes in.”
The romance is still a light subplot, interjecting at key moments to show us and Owl that she has people at her back if only she would accept their help. The chemistry between Rynn and Owl (her incubus boyfriend) is felt more in here but still not a major force, keeping this firmly an Urban Fantasy. Owl still fights her feelings for Rynn; suspicious of their connection and his supernatural origins. She even mentions that love may not be an emotion she is capable of feeling. We learn much more about Rynn’s past and hints that he has not been completely honest with Owl. I admit their pet names for one another still annoys me though Rynn’s pet name for Alix is spot on.
“The point is, as soon as you start trusting people, no matter how you fight it, at some point along the way you start caring what the hell they think about you.”
The ending comes at you hard and fast as Charish does some pretty fancy footwork to tie all the seemingly random plots together. While the first half of the book was high and tight, the second half was a bit looser and not as easy to follow. Everything seems to go up in the air and it takes some serious concentration to follow along. Charish continues to expand on her interesting world whose potential seems limitless both physically and character wise; along with a heroine whose irksome qualities are actually her best features. This series definitely requires you think outside the box. Some UF fans will love and others may part ways here. I myself am curious to see what happens in book three. The story ends on a pensive note for Owl and actually seems to reaffirm her belief that depending on other people can leave you screwed and heartbroken.
“I hoped to hell I’d put my trust in the right person this time-because if I hadn’t, I didn’t know if I’d be able to live with the price.”
RATING: C+
Favorite Quote: “Why can’t you-for once-admit you might be partially responsible?”
Alix Hilboux aka Owl, a disgraced archaeology student turned thief, is back and once again running headlong into places where angels fear to tread. Only this time, she is doing it at the bidding of her boss, Mr. Kurosawa, a very dangerous red dragon who desires rare supernatural artifacts. When she is sent to Egypt to recover (steal) a rare artifact, she finds herself out running a mummy who wants to eat her and the IAA who believe she is behind a series of thefts that for once she didn’t commit. Add in a cursed city, a never ending bounty on her head, and a boyfriend who wants her to stop being so reckless, and you have an average day in the life of the Owl.
“Son of a bitch…mummies weren’t suppose to swim.”
Owl is definitely on a short leash these days due to the contract she signed with her new boss-a very dangerous red dragon. She works for him for three years and he keeps a group of vampires who want her dead off her back. Of course, Alix always has a back up plan. Why not use her new job to grab herself a few trinkets for herself? This leads to the usual trouble when she spends more time than normal in Egypt and finds all her exits blocked by the IAA. The IAA (International Antiquities Association) believes she has entered the City of the Dead, stole a few antiquities, then sold them to private collectors. These antiquities are cursed to kill anyone who touches them Her boss believes she too is at fault and gives her an ultimatum. Steal the antiquities back and find proof of her innocence or her life will be forfeit. Thankfully she has her best friend Nadya, her supernatural feline sidekick Captain, and her boyfriend Rynn to watch her back. Because she’s going to need it.
Book two in Kristi Charish’s adventurous urban fantasy series contains all the action, mystery, suspense, and humor that book one had and more. Think Indiana Jones meets Lara Tomb Raider and you have Owl; a human whose ability to attract trouble and make questionable choices is paramount. Biting humor, outrageous situations, and dynamic characters enhance Charish’s second installment. The continuous roller coaster ride of intrigue and suspense only serves to further strengthen the world building; creating even more interesting subplots and storylines for future evaluation. The dynamic and diverse cast of secondary characters (both familiar and new additions) are further developed; offering a compelling contrast to Owl’s personality.
Extremely fast paced and convoluted, I wouldn’t recommend starting the series here as there is very little recap in terms of the previous storyline. Obstacles are aplenty as Owl is forced to save herself and the city-a situation she placed herself in. There is a lot going on but Charish does a wonderful job of keeping the individual plotlines easy to follow and running smooth-intersecting them at pivotal moments to tie them together. Snappy dialogue entertains while Owl zips, zags, and insults her way to a climactic finale.
Owl continues to be a hard character to like with though there is something about her that appeals to the crazy in all of us. Charish uses her brash impulsiveness to invigorate the story; keeping readers on their toes as Owl continues to take the most dangerous path to achieve her goals. She is an emotionally distant, paranoid, large chip carrying human whose only powers is her ability to steal without getting caught and her unique way of viewing the world. She does have some growing moments in here though she still has a long way to go. Similar to book one, she gets her arse handed to her quite a few times but her moments of reflection are more frequent. She is beginning to see that she may be the cause of a lot of her problems. Her fight or flight mentality is still firmly set to flight but she learns the hard way that sometimes the enemy you know is better than the enemy you don’t. She is still not comfortable working within the supernatural world but is beginning to see she has no real choice anymore. She can’t avoid or hide from them. There are larger forces at work and she is smack dab in the middle of it all.
“There is only so much you can lie to yourself before reality crashes in.”
The romance is still a light subplot, interjecting at key moments to show us and Owl that she has people at her back if only she would accept their help. The chemistry between Rynn and Owl (her incubus boyfriend) is felt more in here but still not a major force, keeping this firmly an Urban Fantasy. Owl still fights her feelings for Rynn; suspicious of their connection and his supernatural origins. She even mentions that love may not be an emotion she is capable of feeling. We learn much more about Rynn’s past and hints that he has not been completely honest with Owl. I admit their pet names for one another still annoys me though Rynn’s pet name for Alix is spot on.
“The point is, as soon as you start trusting people, no matter how you fight it, at some point along the way you start caring what the hell they think about you.”
The ending comes at you hard and fast as Charish does some pretty fancy footwork to tie all the seemingly random plots together. While the first half of the book was high and tight, the second half was a bit looser and not as easy to follow. Everything seems to go up in the air and it takes some serious concentration to follow along. Charish continues to expand on her interesting world whose potential seems limitless both physically and character wise; along with a heroine whose irksome qualities are actually her best features. This series definitely requires you think outside the box. Some UF fans will love and others may part ways here. I myself am curious to see what happens in book three. The story ends on a pensive note for Owl and actually seems to reaffirm her belief that depending on other people can leave you screwed and heartbroken.
“I hoped to hell I’d put my trust in the right person this time-because if I hadn’t, I didn’t know if I’d be able to live with the price.”
RATING: C+
March 25, 2016
4 solid stars
Buddy read with my fellow MacHalo Nutjobs.
I was more than pleasantly surprised with this book. I gave the first book 3.5 stars, but much of that was for some things I really liked, the potential I felt was there, and crossing my fingers because I could really use another solid UF series, and those are a dying breed.
UF is my favorite subgenre. It's the one I empathize with the most. Naturally, keep that in mind if you choose to go for this series. (Why did I just put a disclaimer on what should be a duh?!) it's too early for me to be awake on a holiday weekend, but I have an English Mastiff and cats to take care of since my roomie (mom; hey, shut up! I pay rent.) took a short vacation for the weekend.
Did I mention ADHD? I think that's the mental d/o Owl has. Because she does a lot of this. I liked Owl's inner voice pretty well in the first book. She's snarky, and her inner monologue is entertaining. In this book, it's also mostly not annoying as it frequently was in the first book.
She had her ass handed to her along with a squished world in the first book, and it was largely other people who saved her bacon (mmm bacon) in that one too. And she knows it. And she's taken it to heart and head. She's still doing stupid shit, but she's trying to do better. And we see her acknowledge that she's still doing it, see her thought processes, and see how she's changed and changing. I'm so proud of Owl!
I'm proud of this author too. Owl and the Japanese Circus felt like her debut novel, and I didn't see any other major works under her name. She took just about everything that frustrated or annoyed me in the first book, addressed them in a coherent, consistent way within the workings of the narrative, and all around tightened it up. The difference from book 1 to 2 in that context is a solid 5 stars for me. I didn't spend time trying to figure out who or what the "more" was because I was engaged in the story that much. I did correctly guess the big baddie (not the overall puppet master; he/she is the arch villain of the current series arch), but not too early. I had my suspicions but again, it was secondary. I had enough clues this time that noticing it & figuring out were the fun it should be.
My smart and nerd were both engaged again. The archeology part is fun and informative. It's engaging. The gaming aspect ties in nicely and believably. I haven't gamed as a general part of my life, but I did play WoW for a few years. A lot. It became my refuge and my family. I think the amount of gaming in the book was just enough. Not too much to alienate people who haven't or don't but enough for people who have or do. And Carpe was a perfect OMGREALLY gamer archetype in this one. I hope he doesn't stay as a stock character, but I don't think he will and we already had and got some personality with it. I was quietly yelling at him and clenching my fists. It probably looked pretty funny (audiobook, part of the time at work; hey, I'm allowed). That frustration was a nice break-up point in the action going on around it. The male posturing was pretty great too.
The secondary characters I thought were well done again. There's not as much of them but, for me, that worked. This was a fast-paced book with a lot of focus on the MC. A lot goes on, both with her and the story itself. The relationships are seen more in context. They're multi-dimensional as well.
(This part is for those who listen to the audiobook like me.) The narrator for the audiobook. (grumble) She does Owl's inner & verbal voice perfectly. She mispronunces some words really frustratingly, especially in the first part of the book. Honestly, it seemed more like she wasn't paying as much attention in the first part because it mostly goes away as the book progresses. One consistent thing from both the 1st & 2nd books is her range and accents. Owl's voice, again, she's perfect with. However, if she doesn't do an accent for another character, she doesn't really change her voice to distinguish them. She doesn't go higher or lower (outside the accents; she modulates some in her range for that), and it's hard to keep track then. It's also hard to tell when Owl is saying something out loud or in her head. Luckily, if it goes to her head, it usually comes out her mouth if she has an audience, so it's not a huge issue. The accents aren't always consistent with the descriptions of the characters' voices either. It's not a deal-breaker, but it's a thing.
My attention span is shot. I know I changed tenses & all. Meh, eat it. I'm officially invested in Owl and this series. Where's my next book?
Brava.
Buddy read with my fellow MacHalo Nutjobs.
I was more than pleasantly surprised with this book. I gave the first book 3.5 stars, but much of that was for some things I really liked, the potential I felt was there, and crossing my fingers because I could really use another solid UF series, and those are a dying breed.
UF is my favorite subgenre. It's the one I empathize with the most. Naturally, keep that in mind if you choose to go for this series. (Why did I just put a disclaimer on what should be a duh?!) it's too early for me to be awake on a holiday weekend, but I have an English Mastiff and cats to take care of since my roomie (mom; hey, shut up! I pay rent.) took a short vacation for the weekend.
Did I mention ADHD? I think that's the mental d/o Owl has. Because she does a lot of this. I liked Owl's inner voice pretty well in the first book. She's snarky, and her inner monologue is entertaining. In this book, it's also mostly not annoying as it frequently was in the first book.
She had her ass handed to her along with a squished world in the first book, and it was largely other people who saved her bacon (mmm bacon) in that one too. And she knows it. And she's taken it to heart and head. She's still doing stupid shit, but she's trying to do better. And we see her acknowledge that she's still doing it, see her thought processes, and see how she's changed and changing. I'm so proud of Owl!
I'm proud of this author too. Owl and the Japanese Circus felt like her debut novel, and I didn't see any other major works under her name. She took just about everything that frustrated or annoyed me in the first book, addressed them in a coherent, consistent way within the workings of the narrative, and all around tightened it up. The difference from book 1 to 2 in that context is a solid 5 stars for me. I didn't spend time trying to figure out who or what the "more" was because I was engaged in the story that much. I did correctly guess the big baddie (not the overall puppet master; he/she is the arch villain of the current series arch), but not too early. I had my suspicions but again, it was secondary. I had enough clues this time that noticing it & figuring out were the fun it should be.
My smart and nerd were both engaged again. The archeology part is fun and informative. It's engaging. The gaming aspect ties in nicely and believably. I haven't gamed as a general part of my life, but I did play WoW for a few years. A lot. It became my refuge and my family. I think the amount of gaming in the book was just enough. Not too much to alienate people who haven't or don't but enough for people who have or do. And Carpe was a perfect OMGREALLY gamer archetype in this one. I hope he doesn't stay as a stock character, but I don't think he will and we already had and got some personality with it. I was quietly yelling at him and clenching my fists. It probably looked pretty funny (audiobook, part of the time at work; hey, I'm allowed). That frustration was a nice break-up point in the action going on around it. The male posturing was pretty great too.
The secondary characters I thought were well done again. There's not as much of them but, for me, that worked. This was a fast-paced book with a lot of focus on the MC. A lot goes on, both with her and the story itself. The relationships are seen more in context. They're multi-dimensional as well.
(This part is for those who listen to the audiobook like me.) The narrator for the audiobook. (grumble) She does Owl's inner & verbal voice perfectly. She mispronunces some words really frustratingly, especially in the first part of the book. Honestly, it seemed more like she wasn't paying as much attention in the first part because it mostly goes away as the book progresses. One consistent thing from both the 1st & 2nd books is her range and accents. Owl's voice, again, she's perfect with. However, if she doesn't do an accent for another character, she doesn't really change her voice to distinguish them. She doesn't go higher or lower (outside the accents; she modulates some in her range for that), and it's hard to keep track then. It's also hard to tell when Owl is saying something out loud or in her head. Luckily, if it goes to her head, it usually comes out her mouth if she has an audience, so it's not a huge issue. The accents aren't always consistent with the descriptions of the characters' voices either. It's not a deal-breaker, but it's a thing.
My attention span is shot. I know I changed tenses & all. Meh, eat it. I'm officially invested in Owl and this series. Where's my next book?
Brava.
September 9, 2015
“Many people out there don't have a choice in choosing their friends and the people they're being manipulated by. Thank God, I have that choice. I can use my judgment and choose.” -- Javier Bardem
“When it comes to controlling human beings, there is no better instrument than lies. Because you see, humans live by beliefs. And beliefs can be manipulated. The power to manipulate beliefs is the only thing that counts.” -- Michael Ende
Owl just can’t catch a break. She should have learned, from her run-ins with all that is supernatural in Owl and the Japanese Circus that, the more she learns about the supernatural, the more there is to learn. And the more she would regret breaking her one rule. It was so simple, really. Don’t mess with the supernatural. Well, that’s all blown to hell and back. And hell is exactly where she might end up this time. She had to go and open up that sarcophagus, hence pissing off the vampires. Bloody cockroaches. Then she had to get on the wrong side of a Naga and a dragon. Oh, and if that isn’t enough? Now it is curses and mummies. You just had to touch it, didn’t you? Just had to unwrap it and touch it. Sigh.
I said about Owl in my last review, “Owl is a damaged character. Her default reaction to, well, everything is to break and run for the hills. Sure, it can save your backside to run away. But sometimes, you are just running further into the fire. And sometimes, the people you believe you know are not the people you thought they were at all. For good, or for bad. And Owl needs to learn the difference, quickly, if she wants to live, and to grow into something more than a child in a grownup world. Owl definitely needs to grow as a person, and as a character.” And I have to say, she definitely does show personal and professional growth in “Owl and the City of Angels.” Oh, that isn’t to say she doesn’t still make dumb choices – she does. Hence the whole “mummies and curses” thing. But she is growing.
“Come to think of it, I’m amazed how much I’ve grown over the past few months. I’m becoming an interesting person. Not well adjusted, but someone who occasionally sees through the messes they create.”
Of course, Owl being Owl, she winds up in shitstorms of monstrous proportions, but that is to be expected. And vacillates between funny – and just plain causing me to plant a face-palm.
“You are correct in your assessment of the City of the Dead. Keep in mind that even we supernaturals sometimes lose places for a reason.”
The story itself is as good as Japanese Circus. There is as much going on in this book, if not more, and as the cast of characters expands Owl begins to learn more about the supernatural, and more about herself as well. Old characters come back, both good and bad, and Owl becomes a pawn once more in the political power struggles of both the supernatural and of the IAA. Layers are peeled back, only to reveal more layers of rot and lies underneath. As always, this is an adventure heavy, Indiana Jane sort of tale, and Owl impresses me more and more with both her capability, her savvy, and her ability to piss everyone around her off in new and inventive ways. And the authors interest in, and knowledge of, archaeology really adds depth and dimension to the story. I am, of course, a geek at heart, and I found all sorts of things to highlight and look up later.
I can’t recommend this series highly enough for readers who like strong women characters who are still learning about themselves and about how to manage their pain and grow. Some wrongs are righted in this volume, though some even more horrible wrongs occur – one particular one which ripped my insides out. Captain, Owl’s Egyptian Mau partner is still a strong part of the story – who can’t love a cat who was bred specifically to attack and poison vampires with his teeth and claws? Awesome! The only bad part? I have to WAIT for the next volume! And from the epilogue? Oh, yeah. The waiting is gonna be very, very hard. Everyone wants to use Owl for their own plots and plans . . . and here is hoping that at least a couple of those people get exactly what is coming to them!!
I received Owl and the City of Angels from the publisher in exchange for a realistic review. All thoughts are my own. Kristi Charish has assured her place on my Auto-Read list. Very highly recommended!
“When it comes to controlling human beings, there is no better instrument than lies. Because you see, humans live by beliefs. And beliefs can be manipulated. The power to manipulate beliefs is the only thing that counts.” -- Michael Ende
Owl just can’t catch a break. She should have learned, from her run-ins with all that is supernatural in Owl and the Japanese Circus that, the more she learns about the supernatural, the more there is to learn. And the more she would regret breaking her one rule. It was so simple, really. Don’t mess with the supernatural. Well, that’s all blown to hell and back. And hell is exactly where she might end up this time. She had to go and open up that sarcophagus, hence pissing off the vampires. Bloody cockroaches. Then she had to get on the wrong side of a Naga and a dragon. Oh, and if that isn’t enough? Now it is curses and mummies. You just had to touch it, didn’t you? Just had to unwrap it and touch it. Sigh.
I said about Owl in my last review, “Owl is a damaged character. Her default reaction to, well, everything is to break and run for the hills. Sure, it can save your backside to run away. But sometimes, you are just running further into the fire. And sometimes, the people you believe you know are not the people you thought they were at all. For good, or for bad. And Owl needs to learn the difference, quickly, if she wants to live, and to grow into something more than a child in a grownup world. Owl definitely needs to grow as a person, and as a character.” And I have to say, she definitely does show personal and professional growth in “Owl and the City of Angels.” Oh, that isn’t to say she doesn’t still make dumb choices – she does. Hence the whole “mummies and curses” thing. But she is growing.
“Come to think of it, I’m amazed how much I’ve grown over the past few months. I’m becoming an interesting person. Not well adjusted, but someone who occasionally sees through the messes they create.”
Of course, Owl being Owl, she winds up in shitstorms of monstrous proportions, but that is to be expected. And vacillates between funny – and just plain causing me to plant a face-palm.
“You are correct in your assessment of the City of the Dead. Keep in mind that even we supernaturals sometimes lose places for a reason.”
The story itself is as good as Japanese Circus. There is as much going on in this book, if not more, and as the cast of characters expands Owl begins to learn more about the supernatural, and more about herself as well. Old characters come back, both good and bad, and Owl becomes a pawn once more in the political power struggles of both the supernatural and of the IAA. Layers are peeled back, only to reveal more layers of rot and lies underneath. As always, this is an adventure heavy, Indiana Jane sort of tale, and Owl impresses me more and more with both her capability, her savvy, and her ability to piss everyone around her off in new and inventive ways. And the authors interest in, and knowledge of, archaeology really adds depth and dimension to the story. I am, of course, a geek at heart, and I found all sorts of things to highlight and look up later.
I can’t recommend this series highly enough for readers who like strong women characters who are still learning about themselves and about how to manage their pain and grow. Some wrongs are righted in this volume, though some even more horrible wrongs occur – one particular one which ripped my insides out. Captain, Owl’s Egyptian Mau partner is still a strong part of the story – who can’t love a cat who was bred specifically to attack and poison vampires with his teeth and claws? Awesome! The only bad part? I have to WAIT for the next volume! And from the epilogue? Oh, yeah. The waiting is gonna be very, very hard. Everyone wants to use Owl for their own plots and plans . . . and here is hoping that at least a couple of those people get exactly what is coming to them!!
I received Owl and the City of Angels from the publisher in exchange for a realistic review. All thoughts are my own. Kristi Charish has assured her place on my Auto-Read list. Very highly recommended!
October 23, 2015
I first came across The Adventures of Owl in a Simon & Schuster CA Tumblr post of the cover [Owl 1]. I stopped scrolling for a moment and went, “interesting cover”. Later on, I came across it again on social media and decided I better check it out from the library. Months later when I finally got to read it (it took awhile to come in at my library), I felt like Owl and the Japanese Circus was written for me! I’m a huge The Mummy fan so it had everything I liked in an adventure novel – strong heroine, action-packed scenes and supernatural creatures. Side note: the naga is a new favourite of mine thanks to Charish.
I was extremely excited to receive an advance copy of Owl and the City of Angels and am happy to say it was just as entertaining as Owl 1. There’s something about the writing, maybe it’s the dialogue, that has me feeling like I could read it again and again, and never get bored. Most of the places Owl visits I’m unlikely to go, at least in the same context so I love that I can picture everything perfectly in my mind. The reader experiences an epic adventure through Owl.
In Owl 1 Charish showed the reader strong, compelling characters and it’s no different here. Most of the characters are consistent with how they were portrayed in Owl 1, but there’s still character development going on. Alix (Owl) and Rynn are together before the novel begins, but they’re still working out issues in their relationship. They used to date in the past, before Owl 1, but these same issues were some of the reasons they broke up. Alix doesn’t necessarily lie about what assignments she’s on for Mr. Kurosawa, but she doesn’t exactly tell the truth either – especially if she doesn’t follow the original plan. This is extremely frustrating for Rynn, and I think these trust issues stem from Alix’s days as an archaeology grad student. Then there’s Nadya, Alix’s best friend, who’s kind of like that voice of reason. I love this balance of a love interest and a best girlfriend – both characters are equally important to Alix. I can’t stand when there’s a female protagonist without one good female friend she can call on for advice etcetera.
The world-building is phenomenal! When it comes to the supernatural world, you can always expect Charish to create some sort of original twist. I think my favourite examples are the vampires. They use pheromones to attract their victims (and get them addicted) and smell like rotting lily of the valley. Alix has known a vampire named Alexander (and his Paris vamps) since she entered the supernatural world and not on pleasant terms. Alexander is always an amusing character and I love when Alix’s cat/sidekick Captain – a vampire-hunting cat breed – comes into the equation. Along with the action, there’s plenty of humour in Owl 2.
We see old characters from Owl and the Japanese Circus as well as meet new characters, which makes for a fascinating group. The moment I started reading Owl 2, I was waiting for an appearance from Alexander because like I said, he is hilarious! Captain plus Alexander equals a priceless moment! A new character Owl readers will love is Artemis Bast, introduced by Rynn to Alix to help with her new assignment – finding a treasure of the Syrian City of the Dead. He’s a very carefree, laid back character – in a way the opposite of Rynn. I love when Alix interacts with him because of the contrast of personalities.
I absolutely loved that Alix’s past, particularly her days as an archaeology grad student, were brought up and weaved into the plot. I always got the sense that although Alix had moved on from the past, she’d never had closure. She was always running from her past. Owl 2 gives Alix the opportunity to confront her past and move on without regret. Charish did a similar thing in Owl 1 re: Rynn, but here I felt like it happened on a bigger scale. Another intriguing thing about the plot, Charish doesn’t give her protagonist an easy way out. When the going gets tough, Alix fights back, no matter how human she is. The great thing about the plot, the reader see’s just how human Alix is and how easy it is to forget about important details.
There were a couple of things I disliked. I went into Owl 2 with really high expectations (loved Owl 1!) so when I didn’t immediately get into it, that was upsetting for me. When I did get into it, it was smooth sailing but I kept thinking about how easy it was to get into Owl 1. Furthermore, I loved the plot and thought it was original and engaging, but ultimately enjoyed the plot of Owl 1 slightly more.
All in all, Owl and the City of Angels is a compelling sequel and I can’t wait to read the next couple of books in the series! I recommend anyone with a craving for adventure to pick up this series, you won’t regret it. When you’re traveling to places like Egypt, Syria, and the City of Angels through Owl and thinking how can it get better? BAM! Charish surprises you with a plot twist or a very charming, vampire-hunting cat. P.S. Captain is my favourite character.
I received an eARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I was extremely excited to receive an advance copy of Owl and the City of Angels and am happy to say it was just as entertaining as Owl 1. There’s something about the writing, maybe it’s the dialogue, that has me feeling like I could read it again and again, and never get bored. Most of the places Owl visits I’m unlikely to go, at least in the same context so I love that I can picture everything perfectly in my mind. The reader experiences an epic adventure through Owl.
In Owl 1 Charish showed the reader strong, compelling characters and it’s no different here. Most of the characters are consistent with how they were portrayed in Owl 1, but there’s still character development going on. Alix (Owl) and Rynn are together before the novel begins, but they’re still working out issues in their relationship. They used to date in the past, before Owl 1, but these same issues were some of the reasons they broke up. Alix doesn’t necessarily lie about what assignments she’s on for Mr. Kurosawa, but she doesn’t exactly tell the truth either – especially if she doesn’t follow the original plan. This is extremely frustrating for Rynn, and I think these trust issues stem from Alix’s days as an archaeology grad student. Then there’s Nadya, Alix’s best friend, who’s kind of like that voice of reason. I love this balance of a love interest and a best girlfriend – both characters are equally important to Alix. I can’t stand when there’s a female protagonist without one good female friend she can call on for advice etcetera.
The world-building is phenomenal! When it comes to the supernatural world, you can always expect Charish to create some sort of original twist. I think my favourite examples are the vampires. They use pheromones to attract their victims (and get them addicted) and smell like rotting lily of the valley. Alix has known a vampire named Alexander (and his Paris vamps) since she entered the supernatural world and not on pleasant terms. Alexander is always an amusing character and I love when Alix’s cat/sidekick Captain – a vampire-hunting cat breed – comes into the equation. Along with the action, there’s plenty of humour in Owl 2.
We see old characters from Owl and the Japanese Circus as well as meet new characters, which makes for a fascinating group. The moment I started reading Owl 2, I was waiting for an appearance from Alexander because like I said, he is hilarious! Captain plus Alexander equals a priceless moment! A new character Owl readers will love is Artemis Bast, introduced by Rynn to Alix to help with her new assignment – finding a treasure of the Syrian City of the Dead. He’s a very carefree, laid back character – in a way the opposite of Rynn. I love when Alix interacts with him because of the contrast of personalities.
I absolutely loved that Alix’s past, particularly her days as an archaeology grad student, were brought up and weaved into the plot. I always got the sense that although Alix had moved on from the past, she’d never had closure. She was always running from her past. Owl 2 gives Alix the opportunity to confront her past and move on without regret. Charish did a similar thing in Owl 1 re: Rynn, but here I felt like it happened on a bigger scale. Another intriguing thing about the plot, Charish doesn’t give her protagonist an easy way out. When the going gets tough, Alix fights back, no matter how human she is. The great thing about the plot, the reader see’s just how human Alix is and how easy it is to forget about important details.
There were a couple of things I disliked. I went into Owl 2 with really high expectations (loved Owl 1!) so when I didn’t immediately get into it, that was upsetting for me. When I did get into it, it was smooth sailing but I kept thinking about how easy it was to get into Owl 1. Furthermore, I loved the plot and thought it was original and engaging, but ultimately enjoyed the plot of Owl 1 slightly more.
All in all, Owl and the City of Angels is a compelling sequel and I can’t wait to read the next couple of books in the series! I recommend anyone with a craving for adventure to pick up this series, you won’t regret it. When you’re traveling to places like Egypt, Syria, and the City of Angels through Owl and thinking how can it get better? BAM! Charish surprises you with a plot twist or a very charming, vampire-hunting cat. P.S. Captain is my favourite character.
I received an eARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
December 1, 2015
Three and a half stars: Another exciting and entertaining read, but it left too many story lines open.
Owl is once again knee deep in trouble, or in this case water deep. She is currently in a long buried tomb, standing in filthy water, looking for a prized Medusa head. Enter in a mummy and mayhem. This is just the beginning of her troubles. As Owl flees the tomb, she discovers that the IAA is after her because they believe that she is responsible for a number of thefts. Someone is stealing artifacts from the City of the Dead and selling them to the public, not realizing that these artifacts carry a deadly curse. Can Owl clear her name and get to the bottom of who is really stealing from the City of the Dead without dying?
What I Liked:
*Once again I was swept into the crazy, exciting world of Owl. What makes this UF series shine is that it features archeology. I love that Owl is always landing in ruins looking for artifacts, while dodging paranormal creatures like mummies, golems and vampires. This series has an Indiana Jones feel to it, but it notches it up with all the paranormal. If you want an exciting adventure, give this one a try.
*This book has a lot going on, and I loved the crazy mayhem. Owl is constantly dodging trouble and trying to save her skin, but as she does so she manages to dig her hole a bit deeper and deeper. Never a dull moment in this one.
*I was enjoying the inclusion of a new character, and then I was blindsided by a big twist regarding this character. I certainly didn't see that one coming.
*The world building continues to shine. I like all the archaeological ruins, the traps, the curses and the antiquities, not to mention confrontations with all sorts of paranormals from mummies, incubi, dragons and vampires to mention a few.
*I like all the humor and snark peppered in. It really livens things up.
*Surprisingly, one of my favorite aspects of the series continues to be the online game that Owl plays, World Quest. This time, the game plays an interesting part in the book, and I was left wanting to know more about who is behind the game.
And The Not So Much:
*Many readers complain that they have a hard time with Owl due to her impetuous behavior. I admit, I am one of those readers. This time around, she has matured a bit, but she is still rash and jumping into trouble way over her head, and she continues to shoot her mouth off, which gets her into more hot water. She is improved over the first book, but she still needs to mature, I am hoping she will continue to grow. She remains a bit rough around the edges.
*Even though I liked that this was a busy book, sometimes it got to be a bit much. I especially felt like some of the chase sequences went on and on.
*I was a bit disappointed with the whole City of the Dead. It was built up to be this mysterious, deadly place with a curse, and then when they got there, it kind of fizzled. I wanted a bit more with the City of the Dead.
*The book ends on a cliffhanger note, and it left me with a whole bunch of unanswered questions. It wasn't clear who the evil master mind was and why. Not to mention, the whole thing with World Quest, what is going on there? Then there is the thing with Captain. I felt like too many plot lines were left undone with this one.
Owl and The City of Angels was an entertaining and exciting read in a unique UF series. The world building is excellent, and I love all the archeological references. This is series that will appeal to fans of Indiana Jones. My only hesitation is that Owl needs to mature, and that the book ended on a cliffhanger with lots of undone story threads. Still, I am enjoying this series, and I will continue with the next book.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.
Owl is once again knee deep in trouble, or in this case water deep. She is currently in a long buried tomb, standing in filthy water, looking for a prized Medusa head. Enter in a mummy and mayhem. This is just the beginning of her troubles. As Owl flees the tomb, she discovers that the IAA is after her because they believe that she is responsible for a number of thefts. Someone is stealing artifacts from the City of the Dead and selling them to the public, not realizing that these artifacts carry a deadly curse. Can Owl clear her name and get to the bottom of who is really stealing from the City of the Dead without dying?
What I Liked:
*Once again I was swept into the crazy, exciting world of Owl. What makes this UF series shine is that it features archeology. I love that Owl is always landing in ruins looking for artifacts, while dodging paranormal creatures like mummies, golems and vampires. This series has an Indiana Jones feel to it, but it notches it up with all the paranormal. If you want an exciting adventure, give this one a try.
*This book has a lot going on, and I loved the crazy mayhem. Owl is constantly dodging trouble and trying to save her skin, but as she does so she manages to dig her hole a bit deeper and deeper. Never a dull moment in this one.
*I was enjoying the inclusion of a new character, and then I was blindsided by a big twist regarding this character. I certainly didn't see that one coming.
*The world building continues to shine. I like all the archaeological ruins, the traps, the curses and the antiquities, not to mention confrontations with all sorts of paranormals from mummies, incubi, dragons and vampires to mention a few.
*I like all the humor and snark peppered in. It really livens things up.
*Surprisingly, one of my favorite aspects of the series continues to be the online game that Owl plays, World Quest. This time, the game plays an interesting part in the book, and I was left wanting to know more about who is behind the game.
And The Not So Much:
*Many readers complain that they have a hard time with Owl due to her impetuous behavior. I admit, I am one of those readers. This time around, she has matured a bit, but she is still rash and jumping into trouble way over her head, and she continues to shoot her mouth off, which gets her into more hot water. She is improved over the first book, but she still needs to mature, I am hoping she will continue to grow. She remains a bit rough around the edges.
*Even though I liked that this was a busy book, sometimes it got to be a bit much. I especially felt like some of the chase sequences went on and on.
*I was a bit disappointed with the whole City of the Dead. It was built up to be this mysterious, deadly place with a curse, and then when they got there, it kind of fizzled. I wanted a bit more with the City of the Dead.
*The book ends on a cliffhanger note, and it left me with a whole bunch of unanswered questions. It wasn't clear who the evil master mind was and why. Not to mention, the whole thing with World Quest, what is going on there? Then there is the thing with Captain. I felt like too many plot lines were left undone with this one.
Owl and The City of Angels was an entertaining and exciting read in a unique UF series. The world building is excellent, and I love all the archeological references. This is series that will appeal to fans of Indiana Jones. My only hesitation is that Owl needs to mature, and that the book ended on a cliffhanger with lots of undone story threads. Still, I am enjoying this series, and I will continue with the next book.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.
November 28, 2015
OWL AND THE CITY OF ANGELS brings us up to speed with what Alix, aka Owl the antiquities thief, has been up to since the events of the first book.
I really appreciated that Kristi Charish doesn’t let important events from the previous books go unremarked upon. Owl’s confrontation with the vampire Alexander and his Parisian cronies, her feud with Lady Siyu, and her final throw down with the big bad in the series opener all have consequences in OWL AND THE CITY OF ANGELS. No dangling plot threads here!
The International Archaeology Association (IAA) is still trying to hunt Alix down to prevent her from stealing artifacts – and spilling the beans about the supernatural, of course. She’s gone up against them many times before, but this go ‘round they’ve brought out the big guns. Literally.
Someone – maybe the IAA, maybe a supernatural – has framed Alix for a series of archaeological thefts that can’t go unpunished. Because the artifacts stolen? They’re cursed. Kill all the humans and possibly all the supernaturals cursed. If Alix can’t figure out who’s pulling off the heists in her name, then either an angry dragon or a well-armed academic organization is going to be gunning for her. Naturally, neither option is particularly appealing for Alix.
To figure this one out Alix has to get closer to quite a few new supernatural types…and avoid getting on their bad side, which isn’t exactly one of her strengths. I was really happy that OWL AND THE CITY OF ANGELS delves more into supernatural culture and politics, since one of my complaints after reading the first book in the series was the lack of information on the supernatural world. Despite her best efforts and her personal motto to avoid supes at all costs, Alix is fully embroiled in the supernatural world and she needs some intel if she’s going to keep her head above the water.
Thankfully she’s got the help of her BFF, archaeological wiz, and fashionista extraordinaire Nadia to help her navigate the murky waters of supernatural etiquette. Nadia is such a great secondary character, full of personality and verve without being too over the top. That and the fact that she calls Alix out on her issues makes her a standout in my mind. If only Alix’s incubus boyfriend Rynn could be more like Nadia.
Rynn is an incredibly frustrating character for me. He constantly harps on Alix for her recklessness and secretive behaviour, but if she tries to do the same to him he throws a total hissy fit. I get that he’s super attractive, but come on – hypocrisy is not cute. Rynn rarely has a nice word to say about Alix, so much so that I started to question if he even likes her at all!
Alix’s gaming buddy Carpe, on the other hand…he has potential. A surprisingly stubborn pacifist, the elf has some great moments in OWL AND THE CITY OF ANGELS. Alix finally gets to meet Carpe face to face in this one, and the wait is totally worth it. Carpe’s involvement in the action scenes brought out a wonderful hilarity that really helped break up the tension. I’m definitely intrigued to see how he develops as the series progresses.
Urban fantasy is all about the characters and the world building for me, and OWL AND THE CITY OF ANGELS fell a bit short in both departments. I didn’t think it wasn’t quite as charming as the first book, but I did like the character growth we see in Alix and of course her vampire-hunting cat Captain remains a gem. Quibbles aside, after that jaw-dropping ending you can rest assured that I’m already clamouring for book three.
I really appreciated that Kristi Charish doesn’t let important events from the previous books go unremarked upon. Owl’s confrontation with the vampire Alexander and his Parisian cronies, her feud with Lady Siyu, and her final throw down with the big bad in the series opener all have consequences in OWL AND THE CITY OF ANGELS. No dangling plot threads here!
The International Archaeology Association (IAA) is still trying to hunt Alix down to prevent her from stealing artifacts – and spilling the beans about the supernatural, of course. She’s gone up against them many times before, but this go ‘round they’ve brought out the big guns. Literally.
Someone – maybe the IAA, maybe a supernatural – has framed Alix for a series of archaeological thefts that can’t go unpunished. Because the artifacts stolen? They’re cursed. Kill all the humans and possibly all the supernaturals cursed. If Alix can’t figure out who’s pulling off the heists in her name, then either an angry dragon or a well-armed academic organization is going to be gunning for her. Naturally, neither option is particularly appealing for Alix.
To figure this one out Alix has to get closer to quite a few new supernatural types…and avoid getting on their bad side, which isn’t exactly one of her strengths. I was really happy that OWL AND THE CITY OF ANGELS delves more into supernatural culture and politics, since one of my complaints after reading the first book in the series was the lack of information on the supernatural world. Despite her best efforts and her personal motto to avoid supes at all costs, Alix is fully embroiled in the supernatural world and she needs some intel if she’s going to keep her head above the water.
Thankfully she’s got the help of her BFF, archaeological wiz, and fashionista extraordinaire Nadia to help her navigate the murky waters of supernatural etiquette. Nadia is such a great secondary character, full of personality and verve without being too over the top. That and the fact that she calls Alix out on her issues makes her a standout in my mind. If only Alix’s incubus boyfriend Rynn could be more like Nadia.
Rynn is an incredibly frustrating character for me. He constantly harps on Alix for her recklessness and secretive behaviour, but if she tries to do the same to him he throws a total hissy fit. I get that he’s super attractive, but come on – hypocrisy is not cute. Rynn rarely has a nice word to say about Alix, so much so that I started to question if he even likes her at all!
Alix’s gaming buddy Carpe, on the other hand…he has potential. A surprisingly stubborn pacifist, the elf has some great moments in OWL AND THE CITY OF ANGELS. Alix finally gets to meet Carpe face to face in this one, and the wait is totally worth it. Carpe’s involvement in the action scenes brought out a wonderful hilarity that really helped break up the tension. I’m definitely intrigued to see how he develops as the series progresses.
Urban fantasy is all about the characters and the world building for me, and OWL AND THE CITY OF ANGELS fell a bit short in both departments. I didn’t think it wasn’t quite as charming as the first book, but I did like the character growth we see in Alix and of course her vampire-hunting cat Captain remains a gem. Quibbles aside, after that jaw-dropping ending you can rest assured that I’m already clamouring for book three.
December 11, 2015
Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy.
OWL AND THE CITY OF ANGELS lives up to the promise that OWL AND THE JAPANESE CIRCUS gave us. Full of action, archeology and smart-ass comments, The Adventures of Owl series continues to entertain. While not perfect, the characters and relationships tend to make up for some of the aspects that I could have done without, such as the excessive plights that Owl finds herself in.
Owl, as a character who annoyed me a bit in the previous book, has begun to mature slightly. She still tends to make some "look before you leap" decisions (and thus got on my nerves a few times), but she also starts to take into account (on occasion) her boyfriend and best friend's advice. She's as sarcastic and dry as ever, and the only character trait that overshadows that is her smarts. That is one aspect of The Adventures of Owl that I really appreciate, and that is how smart Owl is, and how she actually gets to use her brain in the course of her adventures.
OWL AND THE CITY OF ANGELS is definitely more of an urban fantasy, with less focus on the romance between Owl and her incubus boyfriend, Rynn, but there still is a little heat and definitely some amusing conversations between the two of them. The relationship between Owl and her best friend, Nadya, is also another great aspect to the story. Nadya is just as smart (if not smarter) than Owl, definitely more level-headed, and her voice of reason is often necessary when Owl gets a half-cocked idea in her head that she wants to act on without planning.
While the action aspects of the book almost get a little over-the-top, it's believable when you take into account Owl's penchant for getting into trouble. Though there were a few plot twists I could have done without, THE ADVENTURES OF OWL definitely has the advertised "Indiana Jones" feel to it, and is sure to amuse readers who like their urban fantasy with a bit of real world history thrown in, and smart, sarcastic main female leads.
Sexual content: Kissing
OWL AND THE CITY OF ANGELS lives up to the promise that OWL AND THE JAPANESE CIRCUS gave us. Full of action, archeology and smart-ass comments, The Adventures of Owl series continues to entertain. While not perfect, the characters and relationships tend to make up for some of the aspects that I could have done without, such as the excessive plights that Owl finds herself in.
Owl, as a character who annoyed me a bit in the previous book, has begun to mature slightly. She still tends to make some "look before you leap" decisions (and thus got on my nerves a few times), but she also starts to take into account (on occasion) her boyfriend and best friend's advice. She's as sarcastic and dry as ever, and the only character trait that overshadows that is her smarts. That is one aspect of The Adventures of Owl that I really appreciate, and that is how smart Owl is, and how she actually gets to use her brain in the course of her adventures.
OWL AND THE CITY OF ANGELS is definitely more of an urban fantasy, with less focus on the romance between Owl and her incubus boyfriend, Rynn, but there still is a little heat and definitely some amusing conversations between the two of them. The relationship between Owl and her best friend, Nadya, is also another great aspect to the story. Nadya is just as smart (if not smarter) than Owl, definitely more level-headed, and her voice of reason is often necessary when Owl gets a half-cocked idea in her head that she wants to act on without planning.
While the action aspects of the book almost get a little over-the-top, it's believable when you take into account Owl's penchant for getting into trouble. Though there were a few plot twists I could have done without, THE ADVENTURES OF OWL definitely has the advertised "Indiana Jones" feel to it, and is sure to amuse readers who like their urban fantasy with a bit of real world history thrown in, and smart, sarcastic main female leads.
Sexual content: Kissing
October 13, 2015
Review coming.
**eARC received via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.
**eARC received via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.
June 7, 2017
66 pages of non-stop archeologist searching for an artifact & on the run from killers, in the best Indiana Jones style. Only, Owl is a thief, and the killers are the archeology cops. Why are they set on kill instead of capture, like they've been since the first theft? Something's off.
Also, swapping the real deal with fakes! Curses! Mummys! Dragons! Vampires! Shapeshifting snake!
Someone buy me a few extra exclamation points!!!!
The Treasure Quest - massively multiplayer online game where players search digital archeological sites for treasure - might be the coolest concept in this entire book. (is it a real thing?) In a book with dragons, this is a tough achievement!
Owl claims not to like supernaturals, but she's dating a succubus, working for a dragon, co-working with a naga who hates her, and gaming with an elf. So yeah, Owl, not so much with the self delusion, maybe? We can go right on hating vampires & sirens, though.
This is book 2 of 4, so far. I'm not interested in reading anything else in this series. Unless there are more dragons somewhere?
Also, swapping the real deal with fakes! Curses! Mummys! Dragons! Vampires! Shapeshifting snake!
Someone buy me a few extra exclamation points!!!!
The Treasure Quest - massively multiplayer online game where players search digital archeological sites for treasure - might be the coolest concept in this entire book. (is it a real thing?) In a book with dragons, this is a tough achievement!
Owl claims not to like supernaturals, but she's dating a succubus, working for a dragon, co-working with a naga who hates her, and gaming with an elf. So yeah, Owl, not so much with the self delusion, maybe? We can go right on hating vampires & sirens, though.
This is book 2 of 4, so far. I'm not interested in reading anything else in this series. Unless there are more dragons somewhere?
September 1, 2017
I can't believe that Lady Siyu took Captain away! D: She better take really good care of him or she is going to die a slow painful death either by Captain himself or by Owl or her friends.
I was amazed at the mix of stupidity and intelligence in this book. The bad guys were smart enough to not get caught till the end but the pirate doctor guy refused to believe in the supernatural even when a mummy was trying to kill him.
The main bad guy. Alix's old professor guy tried to raise an army of the dead in LA. Stupid!!
The vampire and the siren (I'm having a really hard time with names right now and I'm too lazy to look them up. -.-) couldn't or wouldn't see that they were helping the madman raise an army of the dead a taboo since the humans would then know about the surpernatural. I hope they both die.
I'm really mad at Alix's boyfriend's cousin. I can't believe he was able to make wraiths!!!!
I'm also mad at the elf for tricking Alix when she was dying. Not cool bro.
I was amazed at the mix of stupidity and intelligence in this book. The bad guys were smart enough to not get caught till the end but the pirate doctor guy refused to believe in the supernatural even when a mummy was trying to kill him.
The main bad guy. Alix's old professor guy tried to raise an army of the dead in LA. Stupid!!
The vampire and the siren (I'm having a really hard time with names right now and I'm too lazy to look them up. -.-) couldn't or wouldn't see that they were helping the madman raise an army of the dead a taboo since the humans would then know about the surpernatural. I hope they both die.
I'm really mad at Alix's boyfriend's cousin. I can't believe he was able to make wraiths!!!!
I'm also mad at the elf for tricking Alix when she was dying. Not cool bro.
May 15, 2018
First of all I love this world, I love Owl, BUT it’s exhausting. There is no lull in the action. Even when you believe there is a moment of quiet there isn’t. So definitely fast paced. Laura Croft meets The Guild meets Indiana Jones meets Supernatural is about the best way to describe this world. It’s a little bit of everything and entertaining too.
May 26, 2017
Full review to come!
October 11, 2015
http://lynns-books.com/2015/10/06/owl...
Last year I read Owl and the Japanese Circus, the start of a new fantasy series combining archaeology and the supernatural. The series main protagonist is Alix Hiboux, otherwise known as Owl – an international antiquities thief. Owl wasn’t always a thief, she was a grade A student until her work and reputation were left in tatters by her professor and she turned to a different route to stay afloat.
The world here is full of supernatural creatures all hiding in plain sight and although Alix has no love for the supes her natural lack of ability to detect their presence means she now has a boyfriend who is an icubus, a boss and his sidekick who are a dragon and naga respectively, a gaming buddie who is an elf and a bunch of vampires out for her blood (pun intended!) after she accidentally killed their main ‘poobah’.
The focus of the plot here boils down to the fact that a number of ancient items have been stolen from the City of the Dead and due to her previous reckless behaviour the Owl is the chief suspect. In order to mollify her new boss, and prevent him from toasting her alive, Owl undertakes to try and retrieve the aforementioned items and also to try and uncover the real thief who seems hellbent on framing her. Now, these items are cursed, which is bad enough as anybody who touches them usually drops dead within the week, add to that the fact that they are owned by a siren and have also drawn the attention of the vampires and you can see that things are about to get intense!
i do like this series. So far it’s a bunch of fast paced adventures among temples and ruins with mummies and other critters coming out of the woodwork. The author has a great imagination and a crazy sense of fun. She’s not afraid to chuck anything into the mix and the constant sense of anticipation, fast flowing plot and comedy-esque type capers make an excellent combination.
I really enjoy the concept and the Indiana Jane feel of the books. I love that we have a series that takes us to all sorts of exotic places and brings to the pages mummies and curses and other weird and wonderful things. There’s also such a lot of scope yet for the series to develop and whilst I wouldn’t say Owl develops massively this time around I do think the cast of supporting characters are coming together very nicely indeed and I also enjoy the way that the author is slowly revealing little pieces of Alix’s past whilst at the same time revealing more about the supernatural world that she is now surrounded by.
in terms of criticism. Well, oddly, Alix is the main one. I have a hard time seeing her as an international thief. Everybody recognises her, she rushes blindly into any number of situations and, frankly, she’s about as subtle as a hippo on skis. Don’t get me wrong, I like the comedy aspect that her bungling brings to the novel, I quite like that she’s a bit of a beer guzzling potty mouth who isn’t about to kiss ass even if her life is under threat but her ‘whoops I’ve triggered a death trap so better run at great speed’ mantra does puzzle me sometimes’. That being said, this is very much a tongue in cheek type read, it isn’t intended to be deep and meaningful but more a whole bunch of crazy running about and causing turmoil. If you go into the series with that in mind then you’re in for some fun.
I enjoyed the plot and the whole inclusion of pirates and other elements that I won’t go into. I had a bit of a wobble at one point where everything did seem to become a bit convoluted but on the whole I thought this was a great second in series with a surprising ending, that I really didn’t see coming, that provides a great set up for the next book. Treat yourself to some fun.
I received a copy of this book through Netgalley, courtesy of the publishers, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
Last year I read Owl and the Japanese Circus, the start of a new fantasy series combining archaeology and the supernatural. The series main protagonist is Alix Hiboux, otherwise known as Owl – an international antiquities thief. Owl wasn’t always a thief, she was a grade A student until her work and reputation were left in tatters by her professor and she turned to a different route to stay afloat.
The world here is full of supernatural creatures all hiding in plain sight and although Alix has no love for the supes her natural lack of ability to detect their presence means she now has a boyfriend who is an icubus, a boss and his sidekick who are a dragon and naga respectively, a gaming buddie who is an elf and a bunch of vampires out for her blood (pun intended!) after she accidentally killed their main ‘poobah’.
The focus of the plot here boils down to the fact that a number of ancient items have been stolen from the City of the Dead and due to her previous reckless behaviour the Owl is the chief suspect. In order to mollify her new boss, and prevent him from toasting her alive, Owl undertakes to try and retrieve the aforementioned items and also to try and uncover the real thief who seems hellbent on framing her. Now, these items are cursed, which is bad enough as anybody who touches them usually drops dead within the week, add to that the fact that they are owned by a siren and have also drawn the attention of the vampires and you can see that things are about to get intense!
i do like this series. So far it’s a bunch of fast paced adventures among temples and ruins with mummies and other critters coming out of the woodwork. The author has a great imagination and a crazy sense of fun. She’s not afraid to chuck anything into the mix and the constant sense of anticipation, fast flowing plot and comedy-esque type capers make an excellent combination.
I really enjoy the concept and the Indiana Jane feel of the books. I love that we have a series that takes us to all sorts of exotic places and brings to the pages mummies and curses and other weird and wonderful things. There’s also such a lot of scope yet for the series to develop and whilst I wouldn’t say Owl develops massively this time around I do think the cast of supporting characters are coming together very nicely indeed and I also enjoy the way that the author is slowly revealing little pieces of Alix’s past whilst at the same time revealing more about the supernatural world that she is now surrounded by.
in terms of criticism. Well, oddly, Alix is the main one. I have a hard time seeing her as an international thief. Everybody recognises her, she rushes blindly into any number of situations and, frankly, she’s about as subtle as a hippo on skis. Don’t get me wrong, I like the comedy aspect that her bungling brings to the novel, I quite like that she’s a bit of a beer guzzling potty mouth who isn’t about to kiss ass even if her life is under threat but her ‘whoops I’ve triggered a death trap so better run at great speed’ mantra does puzzle me sometimes’. That being said, this is very much a tongue in cheek type read, it isn’t intended to be deep and meaningful but more a whole bunch of crazy running about and causing turmoil. If you go into the series with that in mind then you’re in for some fun.
I enjoyed the plot and the whole inclusion of pirates and other elements that I won’t go into. I had a bit of a wobble at one point where everything did seem to become a bit convoluted but on the whole I thought this was a great second in series with a surprising ending, that I really didn’t see coming, that provides a great set up for the next book. Treat yourself to some fun.
I received a copy of this book through Netgalley, courtesy of the publishers, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
November 6, 2015
Alix/Owl is a archaeologist and a thief who works for a dragon, stealing antiquities for him, in exchange for pay and protection from a group of vampires she once double crossed. She also plays a very real version of an online game that has actual, accurate maps of archaeological sites that she then uses to find the artifacts she is planning to steal. However there is also a government group called the IAA, who regulate these sites, and monitor theft so they are trying to stop her at any cost. Not to mention the group of vampires out for her head. This means she's constantly on the run while she tries to do her job for Mr. Kurosawa, the dragon.
So, as she runs from site to site, with the help of her best friend, her incubus boyfriend, and a clever elf she met in the online gaming world, she sets out to find the one thing that might destroy the world and could unleash an army of undead on the unsuspecting population and stop it.
As much as I enjoy the stories in Owl's world, Owl's antics became annoying to me. She was always pushing the envelope, getting herself caught, making stupid mistakes. And even though (in a lot of cases) she recognized she was making stupid mistakes - she didn't seem to learn from them. A brief apology and she's off doing the same things. She's whiny, selfish, and argumentative, even when she knows she's wrong.
I do love her relationship with Captain, her cat. Captain's breed of cat has been bred to attack and kill vampires. He doesn't talk, and for the most part really is a cat, yet he seems to understand everything Owl says or asks of him. Owl takes him everywhere she goes, and the one-sided conversations she has are quite funny as he seems to respond as only a cat could, with boredom, disinterest and eye rolling. (oh, come on - you've seen your cat roll it's eyes at you).
I am still a fan of the series, but I'm hoping that Alix grows up a bit in the next one. That she recognizes her limitations and listens to her friends (and even her boss) who has way more experience navigating the supernatural world than she does. I'm all for a feisty and strong main character, but not an annoying one.
I DO recommend the series, but start with book one, Owl and the Japanese Circus.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
So, as she runs from site to site, with the help of her best friend, her incubus boyfriend, and a clever elf she met in the online gaming world, she sets out to find the one thing that might destroy the world and could unleash an army of undead on the unsuspecting population and stop it.
As much as I enjoy the stories in Owl's world, Owl's antics became annoying to me. She was always pushing the envelope, getting herself caught, making stupid mistakes. And even though (in a lot of cases) she recognized she was making stupid mistakes - she didn't seem to learn from them. A brief apology and she's off doing the same things. She's whiny, selfish, and argumentative, even when she knows she's wrong.
I do love her relationship with Captain, her cat. Captain's breed of cat has been bred to attack and kill vampires. He doesn't talk, and for the most part really is a cat, yet he seems to understand everything Owl says or asks of him. Owl takes him everywhere she goes, and the one-sided conversations she has are quite funny as he seems to respond as only a cat could, with boredom, disinterest and eye rolling. (oh, come on - you've seen your cat roll it's eyes at you).
I am still a fan of the series, but I'm hoping that Alix grows up a bit in the next one. That she recognizes her limitations and listens to her friends (and even her boss) who has way more experience navigating the supernatural world than she does. I'm all for a feisty and strong main character, but not an annoying one.
I DO recommend the series, but start with book one, Owl and the Japanese Circus.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
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