Status Updates From Circle of Enemies (Twenty P...

Damn good. Major problem is that the villains aren't really developed, so I can't give this one a five, but it did everything else right and then some. What a ride.

Clipping through this as it casts its spell. Getting sad that this series got cancelled originally.

The book spends a lot of time contrasting its ultraviolence with the regret and turmoil of the main character. He's put into a series of impossible choices.

While the book is back to dealing with the weak starting characters, something has changed, because the reader is so intensely aligned with the protagonist.

Almost like on command, the book is immediately and sincerely rectifying the grievances I had in the first half. There might be more to this book than meets the eye, but the first half is just buried in stock characters. As per usual, a twenty palaces book really begins when Annalise shows up.

I'm still worried about the antagonist(s) but the book is finally starting to deconstruct itself and ask serious questions.

Here I am. At the halfway point. Book is in full swing.

This is more personal than last book. People who knew the protag before he got caught up in magic. Still though, the absence of the titular Twenty Palace Society is becoming more noticeable. Additionally, the villain's motivations are stock, weak, and kinda meh, a common thing in UF. I gave the author props on the first book, but characterization remains weak.

So far so good. I'm liking this one a heckuva lot better than the second one. Diving deep into Ray's past is a smart decision.

I suppose I'm back on this horse. Author is apparently kickstarting a continuation after his publisher canceled it. Good first book, but the second one wasn't much different and didn't do anything to expand the story too much.

Gosh I really liked the first book. This one seems to have a different construction, so let's see how it goes.

Seems Ray got out of jail due to lack of evidence and is working temp jobs (guess the store fired him?). He should get hazard pay from the society. A old friend shows up out of nowhere, she says he's killer her and all the old crew. Then she vanishes. Magic! He goes to LA to check it out instead of calling in the society. Everyone is rather cool towards him (ex too), goes to talk to Arne who has a job for him.