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kathydavie's review against another edition
4.0
Seventh in the Greywalker urban fantasy series revolving around Harper Blaine in Seattle.
My Take
Poor Solis. He's had his suspicions about Harper and they're all about to be confirmed. And then some. It turns out he has an ulterior motive to learn more about what he's suspected.
There's a strange sort of magic surrounding Harper in this one. Not the usual vampires and witches. Still, I suppose if Richardson is going to up the legal end of things with Solis as Harper's partner for this case, it's only fair. We also go home with Solis and meet the family---Harper finds out how he talks about her at home. We also learn something of his own childhood worries.
Appropriately, Richardson tosses a lot of red herrings around in this. Critters, unexplainable murders, Fielding's stories which change with the tide,
Then there's the actions to repel boarders...it certainly appeals to Zantree!
The Story
Harper is hired by the insurance company to find out where the Seawitch has been for the past 27 years when it suddenly shows up back at its original berth. Moldy, mildewed, and falling apart.
Oh, there's a mystery here, all right. But nothing like Harper would expect.
The Characters
Harper Blaine has died three times so far in her life. Each death brings a change has made it more and more possible for her to walk the Grey and protect it. She's a Greywalker, the Hands of the Guardian, Paladin of the Dead. Chaos is her clever, little ferret and Quinton is her boyfriend, recently recruited back into the agency. Not much choice really.
James Purlis, Quinton's dad, is circling around again and he's started up a Ghost Division, looking for paranormals. Seems he's figured out the same things Quinton did. And he's insisting on Quinton's participation. A man whom Quinton describes as "a step away from Satan".
Detective Sergeant Rey Solis is with the Seattle PD and increasingly suspicious of Harper. Ximena is his wife and the one he's worried about. Especially with an example like his mother-in-law, Mama Gomez, in the house! Mario, Oscar, Martha, and Luis are his kids.
Her friends, Mara and Ben Danziger, are out of the country doing research for a book and he's been offered a teaching position in England.
Linda Starrett is the widow of the assumed-deceased Castor, the owner of the Seawitch. I wouldn't call her a happy widow, but she's certainly pleased to be one, for her husband was a wastrel. His death was her release from his cruelty. Odile Carson had her own issues with her spouse, Les Carson. She and Linda were lovers---above the line. Other passengers besides Les and Castor on that fateful trip included Ruth Ireland; Shelly "One-Night" Knight who seems to have a doppelganger came aboard as cook; Janice Prince was a boater, a woman who simply wanted to be around boats whom her mother thought was confused; and, Gary Fielding, another skirtchaser, standing in as captain for Reeve.
John Reeve was the regular captain of the Seawitch. Just not that trip. He unexpectedly provides clues he never knew he had. Jacque Knight, a woman with a strong sense of magic abouther, is caretaking aboard the Pleiades and loves to sing. Paul Zantree owns the Mambo Moon and well remembers Shelly Knight.
I like Ruth Ireland's family. Her father, Walter, is disabled, but his remaining son and daughter, Jon and Jen, are happy to keep an eye on him and tease him.
The Guardian Beast is, technically, her boss. Only he's not much on communication.
Father Otter is the clan chief of the dobhar-chú, the water hounds.
The Cover
The cover is surprisingly brown. My first thought would have been blues for all the marine influence, but then again, considering the rot and decay, perhaps the browns that find the Seawitch listing in the background, with a decrepit pier behind Harper in her tan trenchcoat is the more appropriate choice.
It's all about the Seawitch. Where she's been, what happened to her, and why she's back.
My Take
Poor Solis. He's had his suspicions about Harper and they're all about to be confirmed. And then some. It turns out he has an ulterior motive to learn more about what he's suspected.
There's a strange sort of magic surrounding Harper in this one. Not the usual vampires and witches. Still, I suppose if Richardson is going to up the legal end of things with Solis as Harper's partner for this case, it's only fair. We also go home with Solis and meet the family---Harper finds out how he talks about her at home. We also learn something of his own childhood worries.
Appropriately, Richardson tosses a lot of red herrings around in this. Critters, unexplainable murders, Fielding's stories which change with the tide,
Then there's the actions to repel boarders...it certainly appeals to Zantree!
The Story
Harper is hired by the insurance company to find out where the Seawitch has been for the past 27 years when it suddenly shows up back at its original berth. Moldy, mildewed, and falling apart.
Oh, there's a mystery here, all right. But nothing like Harper would expect.
The Characters
Harper Blaine has died three times so far in her life. Each death brings a change has made it more and more possible for her to walk the Grey and protect it. She's a Greywalker, the Hands of the Guardian, Paladin of the Dead. Chaos is her clever, little ferret and Quinton is her boyfriend, recently recruited back into the agency. Not much choice really.
James Purlis, Quinton's dad, is circling around again and he's started up a Ghost Division, looking for paranormals. Seems he's figured out the same things Quinton did. And he's insisting on Quinton's participation. A man whom Quinton describes as "a step away from Satan".
Detective Sergeant Rey Solis is with the Seattle PD and increasingly suspicious of Harper. Ximena is his wife and the one he's worried about. Especially with an example like his mother-in-law, Mama Gomez, in the house! Mario, Oscar, Martha, and Luis are his kids.
Her friends, Mara and Ben Danziger, are out of the country doing research for a book and he's been offered a teaching position in England.
Linda Starrett is the widow of the assumed-deceased Castor, the owner of the Seawitch. I wouldn't call her a happy widow, but she's certainly pleased to be one, for her husband was a wastrel. His death was her release from his cruelty. Odile Carson had her own issues with her spouse, Les Carson. She and Linda were lovers---above the line. Other passengers besides Les and Castor on that fateful trip included Ruth Ireland; Shelly "One-Night" Knight who seems to have a doppelganger came aboard as cook; Janice Prince was a boater, a woman who simply wanted to be around boats whom her mother thought was confused; and, Gary Fielding, another skirtchaser, standing in as captain for Reeve.
John Reeve was the regular captain of the Seawitch. Just not that trip. He unexpectedly provides clues he never knew he had. Jacque Knight, a woman with a strong sense of magic abouther, is caretaking aboard the Pleiades and loves to sing. Paul Zantree owns the Mambo Moon and well remembers Shelly Knight.
I like Ruth Ireland's family. Her father, Walter, is disabled, but his remaining son and daughter, Jon and Jen, are happy to keep an eye on him and tease him.
The Guardian Beast is, technically, her boss. Only he's not much on communication.
Father Otter is the clan chief of the dobhar-chú, the water hounds.
The Cover
The cover is surprisingly brown. My first thought would have been blues for all the marine influence, but then again, considering the rot and decay, perhaps the browns that find the Seawitch listing in the background, with a decrepit pier behind Harper in her tan trenchcoat is the more appropriate choice.
It's all about the Seawitch. Where she's been, what happened to her, and why she's back.
ekimrey's review against another edition
3.0
Not the strongest outing in the series but still entertaining. I checked out when it came to the "boat and sailing stuff" but managed to pay enough attention so as to not get lost. I still find myself annoyed at the back tracking in Harper's abilities, one does not generally weaken your main character after such hard fought/suffered for gains in ability and knowledge, but alas this seems to be the case. I am glad the Danzigiers were not a part of this book, it was good to see Harper branch out and open up her world to other people.
candacemss's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
3.75
mjfmjfmjf's review against another edition
3.0
Another Endeavour read, book 7 in a series. Just really not my thing. A paranormal mystery with sea creatures - a bit confused and just didn't feel realistic to me. Yes I know - fantasy - but good urban fantasy should feel true and real.
wetdryvac's review against another edition
5.0
The two things this book nailed were sense of place and sense of character. It's got that in common with the first, second, and third books, but here I can actually watch character growth. T'was very nice indeed.
cors36's review against another edition
3.0
I first read about Kat Richardson's Harper Blaine in a short story in one urban fantasy anthology or another, and that convinced me to read her novels. Seawitch is the seventh I've read, and while I still prefer the short stories, I'll be continuing to follow Harper's adventures.
Seawitch is plot-heavy and short on character development, but that seems appropriate for Harper's character. She's a slightly aloof self-described loner, so getting to know her fictionally feels similar to what it would mean to get to know her in real life. In this volume she's working on becoming a better friend by reducing the number of times she relies on those she loves to find answers she could search for herself; this stands in opposition to her tendency to rush headlong into things and NOT allow people to help her. If Richardson chooses to pursue this line of character development, I'd like to see it become a more integral part of the plot line.
The plot of Seawitch walked a nice balance between being creepy but not giving me nightmares, although I did feel many of the revelations were obvious to me much earlier than to the characters. It was good seeing Harper work with a police partner, especially as his character is beginning to be flushed out nicely. All in all, I enjoyed going back into Harper Blaine's world - it always feels like visiting with old (if slightly aloof) friends.
Seawitch is plot-heavy and short on character development, but that seems appropriate for Harper's character. She's a slightly aloof self-described loner, so getting to know her fictionally feels similar to what it would mean to get to know her in real life. In this volume she's working on becoming a better friend by reducing the number of times she relies on those she loves to find answers she could search for herself; this stands in opposition to her tendency to rush headlong into things and NOT allow people to help her. If Richardson chooses to pursue this line of character development, I'd like to see it become a more integral part of the plot line.
The plot of Seawitch walked a nice balance between being creepy but not giving me nightmares, although I did feel many of the revelations were obvious to me much earlier than to the characters. It was good seeing Harper work with a police partner, especially as his character is beginning to be flushed out nicely. All in all, I enjoyed going back into Harper Blaine's world - it always feels like visiting with old (if slightly aloof) friends.
master_jedi_reader's review against another edition
3.0
2.8, rounded to 3. A weak 3. A step up from the last book but didn't wow me. Biggest positive of this one was getting more background and insight into the character Detective Solis. Before he'd only really been a footnote, sort of a chatic good character that, while on the side of justice was often at odds with Harper due to the nature of her being a Greywalker and all the weird that comes with it. Their growing bond of friendship throughout the novel was, for me, the saving grace keeping it from being another 2 rating.
shells's review against another edition
5.0
It had been a while, a long while, since I'd last ventured into the Grey with Harper Blaine.
I felt this sudden need to delve into it again, last week. So I broke down and ordered the book previous to this, Downpour, on my Kindle.
And I inhaled every word of that book in no time.
I just HAD to read another and so I ordered this one right as soon as I finished Downpour.
Without giving too much away in Seawitch, an old, long missing ship rolls into dock. There is no one on board. There are obvious signs of something sinister. And there are signs below the surface that only Harper can see as she ventures in with her Grey tuned eyes. But she's not alone this time, as Solis is also charged with investigating the ship with the hopes of finding out what happened to her crew so many years before. Together, they uncover the mysteries and layers, while learning more about each other in the process.
I was surprised by the revelations in regards to Solis. And pleased. I'm hoping to learn more with the next books. Harper has changed, grown, and been altered by her experiences. Not just in regards to interaction with the Grey, and the occasional deaths she's suffered, but also with the living people in her life. And, her growing relationship with Quinton is wonderful to experience. Not just for Harper's part in it, but to see how much Quinton has changed as well.
I can't wait to read Possession! Well, when I have a little more money in the book fund, that is.
I felt this sudden need to delve into it again, last week. So I broke down and ordered the book previous to this, Downpour, on my Kindle.
And I inhaled every word of that book in no time.
I just HAD to read another and so I ordered this one right as soon as I finished Downpour.
Without giving too much away in Seawitch, an old, long missing ship rolls into dock. There is no one on board. There are obvious signs of something sinister. And there are signs below the surface that only Harper can see as she ventures in with her Grey tuned eyes. But she's not alone this time, as Solis is also charged with investigating the ship with the hopes of finding out what happened to her crew so many years before. Together, they uncover the mysteries and layers, while learning more about each other in the process.
I was surprised by the revelations in regards to Solis. And pleased. I'm hoping to learn more with the next books. Harper has changed, grown, and been altered by her experiences. Not just in regards to interaction with the Grey, and the occasional deaths she's suffered, but also with the living people in her life. And, her growing relationship with Quinton is wonderful to experience. Not just for Harper's part in it, but to see how much Quinton has changed as well.
I can't wait to read Possession! Well, when I have a little more money in the book fund, that is.
jumbleread's review against another edition
4.0
Fun, witty story about the paranormal otters, mermaids and the sea witch