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katieinca's review
2.0
The internal politics of this series's world involves two factions of wizards, and in this one there seems to a serial killer targeting one faction, and everybody gets cranky and angry and paranoid. And then our romantic interest has to go on the run/into hiding! There was better setup/writing this time from the perspective of following the rules of the mystery genre.
being_b's review
3.0
Now that was a lot of fun. Some interesting elaboration on the role of custodians within the magical world, a bit more depth about the oracle, and some compelling tension.
Naturally I have some complaints:
Helena's character development remains uneven. I was initially very excited to get some insight through her conflict with her sister Cynthia, but that quickly sputtered and died as it turns out... Cynthia really does just want to be friends. So Helena agrees to be friends, the end.
Cynthia, and in fact all of Helena's relationships with the women around her, basically vanish at the 50% mark and then it's all action! romance! angst!
The pacing is still all over the place, too. I have trouble reconciling the rocky progress of these books with the assuredness of the Tremontane novels.
Naturally I have some complaints:
Spoiler
Helena's character development remains uneven. I was initially very excited to get some insight through her conflict with her sister Cynthia, but that quickly sputtered and died as it turns out... Cynthia really does just want to be friends. So Helena agrees to be friends, the end.
Cynthia, and in fact all of Helena's relationships with the women around her, basically vanish at the 50% mark and then it's all action! romance! angst!
The pacing is still all over the place, too. I have trouble reconciling the rocky progress of these books with the assuredness of the Tremontane novels.
witless's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
blueshadow's review against another edition
3.0
I know books need conflict to fuel the plot, but the first third of this book doesn't have anything else. Helena is grumpy at everyone - her sister, her friends, her boyfriend, Malcolm, her parents, plus her friends fight with each other, the magical factions are fighting with each other, and there just is no relief. Add to that most of the major events fueling the primary plot happen offstage, and we are simply informed about them. The second half of the book was a little better, but not a lot.
Maybe I simply have read too many of these in a row. Maybe not. I noticed the author's review explains she began to shift her writing style in this novel, away from outlines and toward a more relaxed write-and-see-what-happens approach. Her writing was still good in this novel, but the plot suffered. I hope it was just this book, and not a result of the new writing style. Only one way to find out - read more books!
Maybe I simply have read too many of these in a row. Maybe not. I noticed the author's review explains she began to shift her writing style in this novel, away from outlines and toward a more relaxed write-and-see-what-happens approach. Her writing was still good in this novel, but the plot suffered. I hope it was just this book, and not a result of the new writing style. Only one way to find out - read more books!
weirdlittlebooks's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
bookdinafantasywrld's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
squishies's review against another edition
3.0
I am loving the world this is set in, but unfortunately I'm still not keen on Helena; kind of wish we get to read more about Judy, whom I've fast become attached to.
Pacing and story was great, just wasn't too keen on the romance side of things (this, coming from an avid trashy romance reader).
Not super happy Helena's gone with her libido before checking the Accords first. I don't know why she didn't do that from the start when Judy pointed out the potential risk to Abernathy's impartiality in the previous instalment. When they actually declared their love for each other, it just felt flat to me. Perhaps my disapproval overrode my sense of "romance".
Pacing and story was great, just wasn't too keen on the romance side of things (this, coming from an avid trashy romance reader).
Spoiler
I felt really bad for Jason playing second fiddle to Helena's affections, but glad she finally realised what she was doing was completely unfair to him (even though he took it very ungraciously).Not super happy Helena's gone with her libido before checking the Accords first. I don't know why she didn't do that from the start when Judy pointed out the potential risk to Abernathy's impartiality in the previous instalment. When they actually declared their love for each other, it just felt flat to me. Perhaps my disapproval overrode my sense of "romance".
ebgracie77's review against another edition
I couldn’t keep going. Did not finish at 23%. I understand that characters are human and make mistakes. But I just can’t get behind a character admitting to someone that they care about them romantically and then purposely going out with someone else and starting a serious relationship (including sleeping with) that other character. Plus, the insane family tension in the beginning of this book!? Ugh.
There didn’t need to be a doomed romance. It doesn’t add to the book at all. I loved the first two of this series. Why can’t you just be friends with someone you love and who loves you? And get on with the good bits of the story and world building?
So disappointing. I don’t think I’ll be reading any more of this series. I can deal with human foibles, but I want to like my main characters. This genre of fantasy/romance is one where I expect my heros/ines to be somewhat like able. Especially if I liked them in the first two books.
There didn’t need to be a doomed romance. It doesn’t add to the book at all. I loved the first two of this series. Why can’t you just be friends with someone you love and who loves you? And get on with the good bits of the story and world building?
So disappointing. I don’t think I’ll be reading any more of this series. I can deal with human foibles, but I want to like my main characters. This genre of fantasy/romance is one where I expect my heros/ines to be somewhat like able. Especially if I liked them in the first two books.
davidreyno's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
The series continues to be quite entertaining, with the hero in the thick of it all.