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tani's review
3.0
I listened to this on audio, and although I was enjoying it and the narration was really good, I had a terrible time finishing it. Actually, I have been having a terrible time finishing anything lately, so I suspect my own distraction impacted my enjoyment of this book. Without this distraction, this may have been a 4 star read? To be honest, I can't find much to complain about with this story, other than my own inability to concentrate.
I will say that, although this is written several years earlier, it is quite similar to the only other book I'v read by Sykes, Seven Blades in Black. Shy and Sal are quite similar in a lot of ways, so this felt kind of like a blueprint of the later book, except I didn't enjoy it as much. So perhaps it was a case of reading things that were similar too close together? I did like the plotting of this, as the action plows forward at a decent clip, and I enjoyed Shy and her relationships. There was just something missing for me.
I will say that, although this is written several years earlier, it is quite similar to the only other book I'v read by Sykes, Seven Blades in Black. Shy and Sal are quite similar in a lot of ways, so this felt kind of like a blueprint of the later book, except I didn't enjoy it as much. So perhaps it was a case of reading things that were similar too close together? I did like the plotting of this, as the action plows forward at a decent clip, and I enjoyed Shy and her relationships. There was just something missing for me.
peter_xxx's review
2.0
A pathfinder tale about a rogue, scheming nobles in Taldor and centaurs. There were some very nice sentences and scenes in here. But the story was quite a dime a dozen and I did not really connect with the main characters.
brittanybwrites's review
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Shy Knives had the political intrigue, the action, the hint of gayness and also centaurs. I'm not kidding. Centaurs. There's a murder mystery to solve, and also you realize that the villainess in the story is a bit of a terrible person, when she has a incubus locked up in her basement and uses him, along with being paranoid (like a certain hybrid from a certain show), but I really enjoyed this one. It was different, the action was fast-paced, and there were a small, just a small, yearing in the book, but sadly it never happened.
Since I don't remember what happened in the rest of the book, just know that I really enjoyed it.
Since I don't remember what happened in the rest of the book, just know that I really enjoyed it.
capellan's review
2.0
Sykes is good at stringing words together in a readable way, but the plot's full of conveniences and the protagonist has internalised the world's negative perception of her in some deeply unhealthy ways. I prefer to read about people who aren't convinced that they are fundamentally dysfunctional and self-sabotage their opportunities to reinforce that world view.
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