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see_sadie_read's review against another edition
4.0
It’s been almost five years since I read the first two books in this series. So, I went into Fire & Water a little warily. I wasn’t sure I’d remember enough to follow the plot or if my memory of enjoying the earlier books was accurate. But Alexis Hall is one of my favorite authors, so I had faith. Hall catches the reader up on past events, in the beginning, carries Kate’s sardonic humor throughout and wraps everything up (while leaving an opening for more) in the end. All in all, it was another win for me.
However, I did think things just sort of happened. From the start to the finish, the book is a series of Kate did this, did that, then a small section fo Elsie did this and that, then more Kate did this before a lot of people did that. There isn’t really any pause in the series of events for any character development or even getting to know anyone if you don’t already.
Despite my one complaint, I look forward to more Kare Kane in the future. I just hope I don’t have to wait five years for this one.
However, I did think things just sort of happened. From the start to the finish, the book is a series of Kate did this, did that, then a small section fo Elsie did this and that, then more Kate did this before a lot of people did that. There isn’t really any pause in the series of events for any character development or even getting to know anyone if you don’t already.
Despite my one complaint, I look forward to more Kare Kane in the future. I just hope I don’t have to wait five years for this one.
t_f's review against another edition
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
unorgaynized's review against another edition
4.0
there's going to be another, right?
we can't just be left like that? with all the uncertainty?
we can't just be left like that? with all the uncertainty?
paddlefoot55's review
4.0
ARC received via Netgalley for an honest review
I jumped for joy - I hadfinally been approved for an Alexis Hall ARC.
Now, I am new to the Kate Kane series, jumped into book 3 without reading the first two, so it did take me a little while to get into the rhythm of the book.
Once I was there, I really had a fun old time reading and I just adored Kate and her friends. I love the banter, the fight scenes were wonderfully executed.
Now, because I haven't read the previous books, I was a bit confuzzled with whom was who and what was what, but that didn't at all take away from my involvement in the story.
I loved the way all the different "beings" saw relationships, and how they all intermingled and got on.
Now I find myself needing more, and having to go back and read the first 2 books.
I jumped for joy - I had
Now, I am new to the Kate Kane series, jumped into book 3 without reading the first two, so it did take me a little while to get into the rhythm of the book.
Once I was there, I really had a fun old time reading and I just adored Kate and her friends. I love the banter, the fight scenes were wonderfully executed.
Now, because I haven't read the previous books, I was a bit confuzzled with whom was who and what was what, but that didn't at all take away from my involvement in the story.
I loved the way all the different "beings" saw relationships, and how they all intermingled and got on.
Now I find myself needing more, and having to go back and read the first 2 books.
jakinabook's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
bananatricky's review
4.0
The third instalment of the Kate Kane series.
A recap, Kate is a London-based paranormal investigator, she's dating a sex-obsessed vampire Prince called Julian (who is a woman), she also has the lingerie model werewolf Alpha itching to get in her pants. She is the daughter of the Queen of the Wild Hunt and is currently employing a walking, talking statue called Elena as an office assistant as a favour to a rat-gestalt. One of her ex-girlfriends is a tech-gazillionaire with Bruce Wayne delusions, another is a high-end art thief, a third is the Witch Queen of London, oh and her one-and-only ex-boyfriend is a former undercover vampire agent with an Edward Cullen creepy vibe over teenage girlfriends (both of whom so far have turned out to have special powers).
Kate is hired by the Merchant of Dreams, who owns a magic pawn shop (amongst other things) to retrieve a stolen artefact which concealed the Tears of Hypnos. Along the way she meets a God, Elena's creator and several of her sisters, gets reacquainted with an old enemy and gets beaten up numerous times (no change there then!).
I am definitely enjoying this series but I am getting a vague whiff of rinse-and-repeat. Kate's self-penned epitaphs as she makes silly mistakes, the way in which each of the characters has a stock phrase that they trot out etc, etc. Also we seem to be in a push-me, pull-me holding pattern with the romance with Julian which is almost canon for this sort of series.
On to the next one, once I have cleared some of my TBR backlog.
A recap, Kate is a London-based paranormal investigator, she's dating a sex-obsessed vampire Prince called Julian (who is a woman), she also has the lingerie model werewolf Alpha itching to get in her pants. She is the daughter of the Queen of the Wild Hunt and is currently employing a walking, talking statue called Elena as an office assistant as a favour to a rat-gestalt. One of her ex-girlfriends is a tech-gazillionaire with Bruce Wayne delusions, another is a high-end art thief, a third is the Witch Queen of London, oh and her one-and-only ex-boyfriend is a former undercover vampire agent with an Edward Cullen creepy vibe over teenage girlfriends (both of whom so far have turned out to have special powers).
Kate is hired by the Merchant of Dreams, who owns a magic pawn shop (amongst other things) to retrieve a stolen artefact which concealed the Tears of Hypnos. Along the way she meets a God, Elena's creator and several of her sisters, gets reacquainted with an old enemy and gets beaten up numerous times (no change there then!).
I am definitely enjoying this series but I am getting a vague whiff of rinse-and-repeat. Kate's self-penned epitaphs as she makes silly mistakes, the way in which each of the characters has a stock phrase that they trot out etc, etc. Also we seem to be in a push-me, pull-me holding pattern with the romance with Julian which is almost canon for this sort of series.
On to the next one, once I have cleared some of my TBR backlog.
judeinthestars's review
5.0
4.5*
For reasons entirely unrelated to the book itself, it took me a week to read Fire & Water, the third episode of Kate “not Batwoman” Kane’s adventures by Alexis Hall. A novel that length, I usually read in one sitting, two days at the most. It’s a testament to the author’s sense of pacing and overall talent that I never had any trouble going back straight and deep into the story whenever I managed to sit down and read.
Fire & Water picks up six months after Shadows & Dreams. Kate is once again looking for the Tears of Hypnos. If you remember, these were what brought all the mayhem in the previous episode. Every wizard and his brother is looking for them because they’re the stuff dreams are made of. Literally. Whoever owns them can have power over the whole world. Or the whole world that matters to them. I got a bit discombobulated about the details when Julian (the sexy Vampire Prince Kate has been shagging since Iron & Velvet) mentioned she didn’t feel concerned. But hey, everyone else in Kate’s environment is, so Kate’s on a mission to find the Tears and hand them over to the least dangerous supernatural being.
One of the things I enjoyed about the previous books was their lightness even though they were about death and war. The humour made me smile and snort and snicker. This third one is darker. The characters are still great and I uber-love Kate Kane, but it doesn’t read as easily. It’s more intense. I’m not saying it’s a bad thing. And it’s as sarcastic and as snicker-worthy as ever. I mean, even in the direst circumstances, Kate is so deliciously snarky.
It didn’t strike me before but Kate Kane (still not Batwoman) reminds me a lot of Jessica Jones if Jessica Jones was into paranormal. You know, more than superpowers and terrifying villains. Also, as I’ve said above, I love Kate, but for the first time, I also found Elise, the magically animated statue, incredibly interesting. Watching her become, in a way, is captivating. Like the first time your child reads a whole sentence by themselves.
One word of warning, however: despite Carina Press’s promise of HEA/HFN, Fire & Water definitely doesn’t end well. Nor is it a romance, really. But please don’t let that stop you from reading it. It is so very good, like a more mature sequel to the previous instalments.
I received a copy from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
For reasons entirely unrelated to the book itself, it took me a week to read Fire & Water, the third episode of Kate “not Batwoman” Kane’s adventures by Alexis Hall. A novel that length, I usually read in one sitting, two days at the most. It’s a testament to the author’s sense of pacing and overall talent that I never had any trouble going back straight and deep into the story whenever I managed to sit down and read.
Fire & Water picks up six months after Shadows & Dreams. Kate is once again looking for the Tears of Hypnos. If you remember, these were what brought all the mayhem in the previous episode. Every wizard and his brother is looking for them because they’re the stuff dreams are made of. Literally. Whoever owns them can have power over the whole world. Or the whole world that matters to them. I got a bit discombobulated about the details when Julian (the sexy Vampire Prince Kate has been shagging since Iron & Velvet) mentioned she didn’t feel concerned. But hey, everyone else in Kate’s environment is, so Kate’s on a mission to find the Tears and hand them over to the least dangerous supernatural being.
One of the things I enjoyed about the previous books was their lightness even though they were about death and war. The humour made me smile and snort and snicker. This third one is darker. The characters are still great and I uber-love Kate Kane, but it doesn’t read as easily. It’s more intense. I’m not saying it’s a bad thing. And it’s as sarcastic and as snicker-worthy as ever. I mean, even in the direst circumstances, Kate is so deliciously snarky.
It didn’t strike me before but Kate Kane (still not Batwoman) reminds me a lot of Jessica Jones if Jessica Jones was into paranormal. You know, more than superpowers and terrifying villains. Also, as I’ve said above, I love Kate, but for the first time, I also found Elise, the magically animated statue, incredibly interesting. Watching her become, in a way, is captivating. Like the first time your child reads a whole sentence by themselves.
One word of warning, however: despite Carina Press’s promise of HEA/HFN, Fire & Water definitely doesn’t end well. Nor is it a romance, really. But please don’t let that stop you from reading it. It is so very good, like a more mature sequel to the previous instalments.
I received a copy from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
idaols's review
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5