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erinys's review
5.0
Just finished this one, so I thought I'd make a quick post.
This novel was the last of book of a trilogy about Aud Torvingen, the Norwegian ex-cop. It's another great story about a great character, and I really couldn't have asked for a better conclusion to an arc about healing, feeling, and real personal growth.
As an #ownvoices work, I should note that this novel also introduces another aspect of Griffith's life experience, in that there is a well-written character with MS.
I think that ultimately what I love about these novels is the fact that while Aud is never "fixed"--her PTSD is as real and vibrant at the end of the series as it was at the beginning--that by the end of her arc, she has learned to cope, and to embrace real life and real change. This is a luxury that is almost never afforded to the male protagonists in noir fiction, who seldom get happy endings and are usually defined by their vices and failed relationships rather than by their ability to grow, or the desire to have a real positive impact on the world around them.
I don't particularly want to spoil this book or any other of the trilogy, but I will say that it takes incredible skill to write three novels that are incredibly, realistically violent, and very noir, and still give the heroine an ending that embodies healing and maturity in a believable, humane way.
This is me, applauding. And even though these books contain no vampires or spaceships, and thus are usually outside my wheelhouse--I definitely think these are wonderful lesbian characters and great stories. I'm very glad I stepped outside my comfort zone to read them.
This novel was the last of book of a trilogy about Aud Torvingen, the Norwegian ex-cop. It's another great story about a great character, and I really couldn't have asked for a better conclusion to an arc about healing, feeling, and real personal growth.
As an #ownvoices work, I should note that this novel also introduces another aspect of Griffith's life experience, in that there is a well-written character with MS.
I think that ultimately what I love about these novels is the fact that while Aud is never "fixed"--her PTSD is as real and vibrant at the end of the series as it was at the beginning--that by the end of her arc, she has learned to cope, and to embrace real life and real change. This is a luxury that is almost never afforded to the male protagonists in noir fiction, who seldom get happy endings and are usually defined by their vices and failed relationships rather than by their ability to grow, or the desire to have a real positive impact on the world around them.
I don't particularly want to spoil this book or any other of the trilogy, but I will say that it takes incredible skill to write three novels that are incredibly, realistically violent, and very noir, and still give the heroine an ending that embodies healing and maturity in a believable, humane way.
This is me, applauding. And even though these books contain no vampires or spaceships, and thus are usually outside my wheelhouse--I definitely think these are wonderful lesbian characters and great stories. I'm very glad I stepped outside my comfort zone to read them.
tyrostone's review
3.0
I didn't like this as much as Slow River, but it was still enjoyable enough. The book seemed to strangely personal, I got the impression it was semi-autobiographical, and that made it too self-indulgent for my tastes.
I liked it more than most suspense novels I've read, but at times it felt like a screenplay (which was also kind of hilarious because a main plot point had to do with filming a movie). Also, it was too long, Lastly, I did not enjoy most of the information in the self-defense class sections of the book (especially at the beginning) which felt too self-conscious and a little bit like radical, militant feminism, which I try to avoid at all costs.
Goodreads, you are being glitchy when I try to write reviews. I cannot go back and edit the text I just wrote. I am annoyed with this. Doesn't impact my rating of the book, though.
I liked it more than most suspense novels I've read, but at times it felt like a screenplay (which was also kind of hilarious because a main plot point had to do with filming a movie). Also, it was too long, Lastly, I did not enjoy most of the information in the self-defense class sections of the book (especially at the beginning) which felt too self-conscious and a little bit like radical, militant feminism, which I try to avoid at all costs.
Goodreads, you are being glitchy when I try to write reviews. I cannot go back and edit the text I just wrote. I am annoyed with this. Doesn't impact my rating of the book, though.
survivalisinsufficient's review
3.0
I thought I was getting the first in the series (since I accidentally read the second one without knowing there was a first), but instead I got the third. Oh well. Still pretty decent. A little too self-defense soapboxy, but Aud (the protagonist, a private investigator and general bad-ass) is interesting.
mfred's review
Loved the first, put down the second and didn't finish, could not get half way through this one. Skimmed the end and was dissatisfied.
Each chapter skips between Atlanta and Seattle, and with each Atlanta chapter I feel more and more like I am attending a seminar on violence against women. I know from the fore-shadowing in the Seattle chapters that something violent and disturbing happens in the self-defense class and by the third or fourth meeting of that group, I'm fairly certain who it is and what she does.
Aside from seeing her mother, I never quite buy what the hell Aud is doing in Seattle, and then she's conveniently poisoned. Kick is a shadow of a character and the physical attraction Aud feels isn't enough to sell me on the relationship.
About half way through, I skim the end, confirm the who did what in Atlanta, and put the book down for good.
Each chapter skips between Atlanta and Seattle, and with each Atlanta chapter I feel more and more like I am attending a seminar on violence against women. I know from the fore-shadowing in the Seattle chapters that something violent and disturbing happens in the self-defense class and by the third or fourth meeting of that group, I'm fairly certain who it is and what she does.
Aside from seeing her mother, I never quite buy what the hell Aud is doing in Seattle, and then she's conveniently poisoned. Kick is a shadow of a character and the physical attraction Aud feels isn't enough to sell me on the relationship.
About half way through, I skim the end, confirm the who did what in Atlanta, and put the book down for good.
ksparks's review
2.0
I like this author but this book is not my favorite. It seems too much as if it is about the author, for one thing. Not that there's anything wrong with that...but unlike in previous books where Aud (the main character) was definitely a fictional creation, in this book I keep noticing the parallels between her and Nicola Griffith. I do really like all of the information about self-defense in this novel (the character teaches a class.) As a mystery and a love story I find it lacking.
satyridae's review
4.0
11/2012. This time, I paid more attention to the self-defense chapters. Maybe some of it will stick. I enjoyed the Seattle setting a lot, since I've now been to Seattle enough that I recognized many of the places. Mostly, though, I just love Aud.
6/2009. I'm more than half in love with Aud Torvingen. In this, Griffith's third book about her, she's a bit more human. Almost fallible. Clueless when it comes to one particular woman. The plotting is taut, the dual storyline engaging, and the characters very strong. A gripping, well-written and ultimately hopeful book.
6/2009. I'm more than half in love with Aud Torvingen. In this, Griffith's third book about her, she's a bit more human. Almost fallible. Clueless when it comes to one particular woman. The plotting is taut, the dual storyline engaging, and the characters very strong. A gripping, well-written and ultimately hopeful book.
bethecowgirl's review
5.0
I love this book. When I first read it, I was unaware that it was book 3 of a trilogy. I didn't get any of the references to Julia, but I loved it anyway. (Later, I read the series through in the right order. It made more sense.)
Interspersed with the plot are chapters about Aud teaching a self-defense class. These are my favorite chapters. The women in the class are interesting, and the culmination of their plotline is—to me—even more interesting than the climax of the main plotline. Additionally, I feel like all the stuff Aud teaches is sound advice, which I will most likely heed when I am in any sort of scary situation.
I am about to read this book for the third time. I think it's the best out of the trilogy, but that could be because I read it first. Lastly, the cover is really nice.
Interspersed with the plot are chapters about Aud teaching a self-defense class. These are my favorite chapters. The women in the class are interesting, and the culmination of their plotline is—to me—even more interesting than the climax of the main plotline. Additionally, I feel like all the stuff Aud teaches is sound advice, which I will most likely heed when I am in any sort of scary situation.
I am about to read this book for the third time. I think it's the best out of the trilogy, but that could be because I read it first. Lastly, the cover is really nice.
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