This is an engaging, engrossing read. I listened to the audiobook, and I loved the narrator. I love paranormal/supernatural stories, and it is so awesThis is an engaging, engrossing read. I listened to the audiobook, and I loved the narrator. I love paranormal/supernatural stories, and it is so awesome to read books about African American culture and stories. Set in 1919, Penelope sets the scene very well with real black history as the background. She doesn't shy away from discussing the travails of black people in that time period. The dangers faced by black people due to racism, racial violence, white supremacy and Jim Crow segregation. Neither does she downplay issues in the community such as colorism and elitism, and the extremes of the haves versus the have nots (often justified by Social Darwinism). Stuff that I know about due to my heritage is a part of this story. But I also learned something new. The lead character is based on a real life woman who was put on trial for shooting and killing a rioting white policeman who broke into her house and shot her and her father. In this case, Penelope gives it a paranormal element. However, it's a hair-raising story that is familiar even to this day as parallels to black people killed by the police in their own homes, such as Breonna Taylor and Atatiana Jackson, among others, and how justice is often elusive in those cases. Fortunately, Clara (and her true life counterpart)'s charges were dropped. With this history, it's not surprising that Clara is hardened to the world and others, and you find out as the story unfolds why she comes off as so misanthropic. It's more from a shell of self-protection as opposed to genuine antipathy towards others. She also has the burden of seeing ghosts her whole life, and is often petitioned by others in the community in need to contact the spirits, called Enigmas. Clara knows they will come to regret any bargains they make with the Enigmas.
The characterization in this story was flawless. I appreciate how each pivotal character gets a POV and a bio of their life. Why they have unique abilities and the trauma they have faced in their lives. I like how they come together in a way that compliments each other as they face a terrible threat to everyone. Each character found their way into my heart and I wanted them to have a happy ending. I feel like Zelda is such a mysterious character, and I want to know more about her.
As much as I enjoyed this book, I feel like some of the plotting got a little muddled towards the end. There was a lot going on in the climactic scene and I had to rewind the audiobook at some points because I was confused about what was happening. That being said, the storyline has a distinct feel, and some moments were genuinely spooky. I wasn't mad about the fact that I ended up finishing this book in October, even though I can't count it towards my October Scare Fest challenge. Lots of haunting imagery, and something about Southern folklore of haints, root magic, and bargains made at crossroads (figuratively and literally) always appeals to me. As I wrote earlier, the mix of authentic history and allusions to legends and folk wisdom the author used added so much to the texture of this story. Penelope even includes well known figures from Black history such as Carter G. Woodson and Langston Hughes (his cameo is quite amusing). Even WEB Dubois indirectly. Despite the nods to history and folklore, the story that Penelope added feels very unique, successfully building the author's own particular world in which people are gifted but those gifts are often due to powers given by spirits who demand much in return. There are some romantic subplots that I loved. It reminded me that I am still a romance lover (even though I haven't read much romance lately because I've been burned out and I'm not in the best mental space for it right now).
I definitely recommend this book to readers who love historical fantasy/paranormal rooted in American folklore and legends, especially those looking for stories featuring the Black experience in the early 20th century. I hope to read more books by this author, and I honestly would love it if this was an ongoing series. ...more
As a Joscelin stan, I was thrilled when I found out that the author had written a book from his viewpoint. I was not disappointed. He was so enigmaticAs a Joscelin stan, I was thrilled when I found out that the author had written a book from his viewpoint. I was not disappointed. He was so enigmatic and swoon-worthy in Kushiel's Dart, and this book only adds to his appeal. I loved it! It took me ten years to read the book, but that doesn't mean I didn't enjoy reading it.
Readers who enjoy large scale stories about political intrigue will appreciate the depth of that narrative in what initially seems will be a more intimate story. Despite the far-reaching, epic scale, Carey keeps Joscelin and Phèdre central to the happenings. These two beloved characters have the reader on the edge as they find themselves in harrowing circumstances, relying on their unique skills and learning to trust and support each other. The magic is intrinsic for the world-building of this novel, but it’s subtle and never used as a crutch. However, there are moments where the reader is reminded in such awe-inspiring ways of the otherworldly and the spiritual underpinnings in this series. There is so much to love about this book. Readers who were enthralled by the Kushiel Legacy series will feel like they have come home again with Cassiel’s Servant.
Kai wakes up in a watery tomb when an upstart poseur magician tries to take his magic. He has no idea how he got there, but he plans to find out. And Kai wakes up in a watery tomb when an upstart poseur magician tries to take his magic. He has no idea how he got there, but he plans to find out. And he's pretty mad when he wakes up. That’s just the beginning as his quest to find answers leads him to forming unlikely alliances to fight a tyrannous kingdom who has taken control over everything that Kai once knew.
Witch King feels epic, yet very personal as it’s through the eyes of an unique viewpoint, a demon who has the power to inhabit the bodies of humans. Demons are not like the Christian concept in this novel. Instead, they are beings who live in the Underearth but are able to inhabit the bodies of mortal, although their eyes are fully black, and they possess unique abilities based on their nature. So I think they are a very distinct sort of demon. Keep in mind, I am sure that more well read people in this genre may have read more stories with this kind of demon than me. Kai has magic abilities, and gains more when he takes over the body of an enemy.
I really did enjoy this book. But I won’t be dishonest. It was a bit confusing for me. The types of names and the places were hard to keep straight. It didn’t help that I would pick this up and put it down multiple times, as life has not allowed me to have much reading time (and I have so much going on, that it’s harder to focus on a book). It would take me a few minutes to get reoriented when I picked it up again, but I finally decided I didn’t need to pass an exam on what I was reading. Instead I just decided to embrace the experience. Once I did that, it became a lot lower stakes to read it as I could. I was just along for the ride.
I loved that the cultures are modeled after non-European civilizations and there is plenty of diversity (lots of shades of brown and evidence of different ethnicities), along with non-binary and LGBTQ representation.
I really liked Kai. He’s got a very wry sense of humor that I enjoyed. He’s also a complete badass. But he’s not the type whose a bragger about it. He’s just going to do the thing, and hopefully you are not in his way or the person who’s his opponent. I liked the secondary characters. I did get a little bit confused at first on who was whom, but eventually, I got into a rhythm where I was able to read their names and connect the characters to what part they played in the story. I liked how there are different kinds of magical abilities that seem to complement each other. Kai’s ability is very cool and kind of scary, and it gets magnified through different experiences through the book.
I feel like the story starts one way and ends up in an entirely different place, but there is some closure about the initial plot point. The open ending makes me wonder if this would be a series. If it is, I’ll be reading it.
This is not an easy read, in my opinion. It’s going to take some thinking through and focus to read, but it think it’s worth it. I really appreciate Martha Wells’ writing, and I definitely want to continue reading her backlist. I love her sense of humor but also the complexity of her characters.
Advanced Review Copy provided by Netgalley courtesy of Tordotcom for review....more
I started this one on audiobook a long time ago and it had to go back to the library before I was very far into it. But I was intrigued enough to buy I started this one on audiobook a long time ago and it had to go back to the library before I was very far into it. But I was intrigued enough to buy a copy on Audible. I have been listening to this at night, which is not something that I'd advise. I would fall asleep and have to rewind it multiple times. I think I fell asleep on the same scene at least twice and had to rewind it. However, sometimes I do this when it takes a while for my brain to unwind. This alone is is why it took so long to finish. I was very torn about the rating and I'll discuss why.
Do you ever read a book where you instantly fall for one of the characters, but are rather 'meh' about the other? That was me with this book, I loved Yvenne. I love me a tormented heroine. I love when the heroine is vulnerable and unsure, but has a core of strength and has to gain confidence in herself. I was fully onboard for Yvenne and watching her evolution. I honestly didn't think that Maddek deserved her. By the end of the book I was a little more okay with him, and I loved how he proved himself at the end. But he put Yvenne through a lot of crap along the way.
While some aspects of the worldbuilding were not super clear, I did appreciate the uniqueness of the setting and the overall backstory. Honestly, I would have loved more of the dark fantasy aspects, but I get this was a romance book, so that had to take a back seat to the romance story. At times, that was what kept me reading. I was not always feeling the romance, so the fantasy aspect captured me. I loved how Yvenne was goddess touched and the goddess saw through her eyes. Her eyes were a very unique moonstone/silver blue color. Loved that. It seems like reptiles fill a lot of the ecological niches and that was weird in a good way. Would I want to eat some of the meat they ate? Nope! I liked the concept of the way Marrek's society/tribe worked. They felt kind of a like a semi-nomadic kind of group. I did get some Khal Drogo Dothraki vibes, and I'm okay with that. I liked their warrior culture. What I didn't like was how crappy he treated Yvenne. I realize that he was grieving and was angry and was looking for someone to blame, but I think it was pretty clear early on that Yvenne was a good person wasn't responsible for his parents' betrayal. But he just wanted revenge and that's all he saw.
I like a sexy bargain, I won't lie. I liked how Yvenne used what she had available to make a deal with Marrek. She knew he hated her, but he hated their mutual enemy more. I can see why he fell for her, but I don't see why she fell in love with him. Sorry, but I just didn't buy it. He was too mean and the safety he offered was negligible, only slightly better than what she faced with her father and brothers. However, she was in between a rock and a hard place. Having said that, it had kind of a Harlequin Presents (mean hero, sweet heroine) vibe in a fantasy setting that I was intrigued by.
I know it's a me thing but it was too focused on the eroticism for me. I know a lot of it is because I haven't been in such a romance novel kind of mood lately. I found myself getting pulled out of the story when the love scenes happened. Maybe because it seemed more like hate sex on Marrek's part. I liked how Yvenne told Marrek exactly what he needed to hear. He needed that "come to Jesus moment," although he still needed to pull his head out of somewhere. I loved the other members of his Dragon (which is his band of warriors). I grew to appreciate each and every one of them. I loved that they saw Yvenne more clearly than dumbo Marrek did.
The audiobook narrator was very good. They got me very engrossed into the storyline and I feel like they nailed the voices. She captured the fantastical moments and the action really well.
This is one of those books where the conclusion saves the book. I was thinking this would be a three star, but the ending bumped up the rating for me. I can do without a lot of the sex scenes, which were high on the erotica scale but it felt kind of excessive to me (ymmv), but I was intrigued by the story and I want to read future books in the series. ...more
Oh, wow. I loved this book. I feel kind of dumb that it took me so long to read it. I absolutely love what I would call the Alice in Wonderland theme.Oh, wow. I loved this book. I feel kind of dumb that it took me so long to read it. I absolutely love what I would call the Alice in Wonderland theme. I have had a goal of reading as many retellings as I can. This one was on my list for years. I finally started listening to the audiobook, and wow, it starts in such a dramatic way. I think this was such a clever way of reimaging the story of Alice. I cannot say too much because it would spoil the experience for someone. I am just going to say that you absolutely should read it. I think it has some powerful statements about how girls and women are exploited and about how those in that situation are able to find agency. It has a freaking ton of triggers, so keep that in mind. It's quite violent, but not over the top. Having said that, there are some absolutely awful people in this book. On the other hand, if you like heroes who are slightly crazy, dangerous and absolutely fantastic and lovable, you will love Hatcher. Hatcher reminded me of an Anne Stuart hero, and that's very high praise. The setting is an extremely unique re-visioning of Wonderland that threw me at first, but I quickly realized that I was 100% on board with the choices that were made.
As for Alice, she is a fantastic character. I absolutely love her! Alice has the kind heart and the indomitable will, and the ability to overcome horrible circumstances. I was cheering for her the whole time.
The audiobook is great. Jenny Serling holds a special place in my heart because she is the narrator of the Howl’s Moving Castle, one of my all time favorite books. I should have known this was going to be great the minute I heard her voice and it was. She was so awesome. She has a stately voice that is equally good for masculine and feminine characters. I am 100% convinced it's a huge part of why I love the book, although it's just a great story, in my opinion.
If you don't like retellings, then this is not the book for you. However, if you'd like to read a different spin on Alice in Wonderland, you should check this out. I will emphasize that it is very dark. I had so much tension in my gut as I was listening. I had a half hour left and my Libby wouldn't load on my phone. I was so annoyed. I ended up restarting my phone, and I was able to finish it on the way home from work last night. It was worth the wait. This goes on my favorite list. I'm looking forward to the other books, but I'm also afraid that they won't live up. I will take a break before I start those, but I'm excited for when I get to them....more
Each culture has a heritage of stories, legends and lore that is passed down to cement their understanding of their past, present and to guide their fEach culture has a heritage of stories, legends and lore that is passed down to cement their understanding of their past, present and to guide their future in a hopeful direction. Our Shadows Have Claws: 15 Latin American Monster Stories features young adult stories that integrate the darker legends of peoples of the Latin American diaspora. Each story features a young protagonist who must confront the fact that legends can often be (or is an entrenched part of their) reality, along with the often dark aspects of humanity as well.
The fifteen stories in this volume varied greatly in subject matter and tone. Both an educational journey and a rollercoaster of emotions as the young people in the stories face their fears and heartbreaks of growing up through the lens of their Latin heritage. As a folklore lover, this volume allowed this reader an opportunity to delve into legends that were unknown, and also learn the cultural context of others, such as the vampire and Chupacabra. While the occasional story failed to meet expectations, either too short, or the writing veering too far into camp, this was overall a very strong collection. Many of the stories were very scary. The character work is a highlight of almost every story, as the legends and lore mean nothing if there is no intersection and confrontation with a person navigating through both daily trials (often quite distressing) and the angst of growing up. The accompanying illustrations by Ricardo López Ortiz at the beginning and end of each story absolutely add to the tone and the appeal of this collection. This volume is very much recommended to readers of dark fantasy, especially those who enjoy folklore and learning/exploring diverse cultures.
This book was provided as an ARC for review from Algonquin Young Readers through Netgalley....more
I really enjoy this rather peculiar series. It's actually quite dark, despite the humor and the concept of a walking, talking, skeletal tough as nailsI really enjoy this rather peculiar series. It's actually quite dark, despite the humor and the concept of a walking, talking, skeletal tough as nails detective. The further along this series gets, the less I feel it is a friendly domain for younger readers. If you're the precocious sort who started reading adult novels at the age of 11, then sure, this is still harmless. But it's quite violent and has some very dark themes.
I started this as a loan from the library, and I was gutted that I ran out of time and it had to go back, in the middle of a crucial scene. I absolutely had to buy the audiobook off Audible, and I have no regrets. I already downloaded the sequel.
Four books in, we see Valkyrie's (aka Stephanie)'s character maturing and becoming more of an independent and completely capable fighter for good in her own right. She's developing both her elemental magic and necromancy skills. I love that she actually saves Skulduggery and won't give up on him when he's given up on himself. They learn more about each other, the dark secrets that he broods over, and her dark future destiny. A cabal of their enemies form a formidable plan for revenge that could have world-breaking consequences, and the two have to work with their small group of allies to save the world. I like the dimension to the characters, as you learn that the good guys aren't always as good as you'd like to think, and vice versa. The motives of the characters go deep and give you something to think about. Although some of the side characters are not always heavily fleshed out, I didn't feel like there were any unsatisfyingly cardboard characters.
I'm loving how each book makes the world bigger, and no plot threads are left dangling. There's plenty of action and harrowing moments. There's some of the standard supernatural creatures, but also some unique kinds of being, along with distinctive twists on the old themes. I mean, Spring-Heeled Jack is a character!
If I were to quibble, I would say the author's writing style is more telling than showing, but somehow, it doesn't come off as passive or less interesting. Where things leave off, there's evidence that things are going to continue along the dark pat this book begins.
The narrator is great, giving each character just the right inflection. He is a hug part of why the jokes land so well. He also gives the baddies, and often Skulduggery and his allies, all the menace that is a part of their characterization.
I've never read anything like these books, that's for sure. I never thought I'd get so involved with this series that I picked up from the library on a lark. I think ten-year-old me would have ate this up, just as much as me who is a whole lot older than that!
If you like dark vampire modern fiction with an urban setting, this is for you. After four books, it's become really apparent that Silvia Moreno-GarciIf you like dark vampire modern fiction with an urban setting, this is for you. After four books, it's become really apparent that Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a master at writing stories that immerse the readers deeply into specific times and places. In the case of this novel, it's 1990s Mexico City with a futuristic/dystopian feel. I loved how Domingo was listening to Duran Duran (my favorite band of all time). Everything in the story feels kind of mucky and dirty, and in some ways makes me think of Blade Runner for that reason, and also how it's always damp and raining. The darkness also extends to the characters. This story is chock full of antiheroes and villains. I would not classify Domingo as either. While he has grown up on the streets, he has a very good heart that has somehow not managed to be tainted by the ugliness around him and the misfortune he's faced. He's managed to keep hope in his heart despite everything.
When Atl comes into his life, everything is going to change. So Atl is a vampire but also initially gives the appearance of a damsel in distress. The thing is, Atl is a lot more dangerous than Domingo credits her with. And her enemies are in some ways even worse. Domingo is drawn to Atl, and he would do just about anything for her. Domingo's devotion is a thing of beauty. If I'm honest, I would admit I don't think Atl has really earned it. However, isn't that often the case that people often love others more than they are loved back. This was an issue for me for most of the book. However, I had to remind myself that Atl is not human. She is a vampire, and in the words of Bernadino, an ancient vampire who was friends with Atl's mom, "All they are is hunger and death," which really puts everything into perspective. Domingo has read lots of vampire stories and has absolutely romanticized them. He's in for a reckoning in his understanding.
This one's for people who love movies like, Near Dark and The Lost Boys. Stories that navigate how vampires are predators in the sea of humanity, and how humanity typically means nothing to them except food. Until there is a human who manages to establish a connection that brings all that into question. Moreno-Garcia has created her own mythology of different vampires, and has enriched this novel with so much cultural depictions of vampire subspecies and their distinctive natures. As with her other books, she has rooted her storytelling in the culture of Mexico, including Meso-American mythology. I loved that aspect and also how much time she put into world-building. This is one of those kinds of books where you don't miss that the only monsters are vampires (I often like to see different kinds of creatures in my fantasy/horror), but each vampire species is so different, they often feel like other kinds of beings all together.
Bloody, thrilling, and thoughtful in its depictions of human frailty and morality through the lens of vampires warring against others, catching humans in the crossfire, I think this would make a very good television show. While I didn't love this as much as the three others I read by Silvia, it was very good. I absolutely loved Domingo's character. While I was often conflicted about Atl, her selfishness, immaturity, peevish behavior, and poor choices, I also cared about her, and rooted for her to mature into the powerful person she was supposed to be. Bernardino's character stole the show, I do have to say. The vampires she is at war with are even worse.
Definitely check this out if you like the nasty kind of vampires (they don't have any respect for human life), but rendered in a high drama and crime fiction kind of way. It's a solid four star read. I will continue to glom this fantastic author....more
I was not expecting to love this book so much. Hear me out. I didn't like Saxon because of some of the events of the first book, The Evil Queen. As a I was not expecting to love this book so much. Hear me out. I didn't like Saxon because of some of the events of the first book, The Evil Queen. As a result, I wasn't too enthused about him as a romantic lead. However, I am so happy to say that I was wrong. Saxton definitely won me over. The audiobook is excellent. Ashley and Saxton have different narrators for their parts, Caitlin Kelley and James Fouhey, which worked very well. I enjoyed both. Can I say, I was so seduced by the narrator who voiced Saxton's parts? His voice was so deep and silky. I have loved other books narrated by Kelley and I definitely plan to look for more books read by Fouhey.
This book is for fans of fairy tale retellings that don't just follow the script line by line, and also those who love the metafictional analysis of fairy tales, where you look at the subjects and story elements from the inside in and people in the story also are self-aware of the fairy tale stories they are living through.
Ashley is The Glass Princess of Flora. She has been mistreated by her father and her people because of her heart infirmity. Ashley still has dreams that she strives for, her goal to be a maker of her weapons that she designs. She desires a simple life, and to live. However, Ashley has a problem. Her body is inhabited by an evil persona who sometimes makes her do bad things. Additionally, that persona is the sworn enemy of Saxton, the boy for whom she has unrequited feelings. Apparently, that persona has destroyed his previous incarnations and caused trouble for his people, the Avian. Saxton is holding a grudge and has a plan to make sure that persona can never both him or his people ever again.
It did take me a little while to get invested, but it wasn't for dislike of Ashley. I loved her from the beginning. I didn't like the way Saxton was treating her initially. It kind of reminds me of how the hero would treat the heroine in Harlequin Presents books (admittedly I love them). I wasn't sure what way this story would go, but I'm glad that I kept listening. Ashley is so sweet and just a wonderful person. She's suffered so much, but never gives up. She is very resourceful and thoughtful. Her view of the world just lit up my heart. I think that her character is very good disability representation from the standpoint of a character whose body doesn't work optimally, how she's treated by others, and how she works around and through those issues. People with chronic illness and fatigue issues will probably appreciate her character. I wanted her to have the world. I just wasn't sure I wanted her with Saxton. But oh, when Saxton turns around, he turns around so good. I love that there is no stupid misunderstanding or big lie or anything like that. Instead, they join forces to fight for their love and life together.
Saxton did have a lot of qualities that were extremely appealing. He turns into such a devoted hero. He's intelligent, a formidable warrior, and really cares about his people and those who are important to him. I'm so glad his point of view was very well developed, because it made falling for him possible. If I was only seeing the story from Ashley's perspective, I don't know if that would have happened. But seeing the way his feelings change for Ashley and how it feels so natural and so right, and how it's so clear he would burn down the world for her (I'm a sucker for that), made me just adore him.
Although this is a young adult book, it doesn't quite feel like that. For one, it's very violent. Much of the plot revolves around a type of gladiator game that Saxton and others participate. The fight scenes are really quite gruesome. I won't spoil too much, but there are some scenes where Ashley is harmed that were so hard to listen to (not sexual and not by Saxton). In contrast, while there are love scenes, they are more sensual and about the emotions than with physical descriptions. I also feel that it's written with a type of maturity that I appreciated as I don't think young adult books should be babyish. The concepts of family legacy, the desire to help one's people, and having hopes for one's life in the face of serious obstacles are very impactful. Also there are some interesting themes of fighting against oneself and the warring inside a person's own psyche (admittedly through the lens of possession and reincarnation).
Readers who enjoyed the previous book will appreciate seeing characters from that book and catching up with them. I am a huge Everly stan, so I was glad she was in this book so much. In fact, I loved the contrast between her and Ashley, and I love Ashley just as much.
As I said when I reviewed The Evil Queen, I've been a fan of Gena Showalter's writing for a long time. I think she is topping her previous works with these books. I can see influences there from other media, but she's made this story her own and infused it with so much depth. I literally couldn't stop listening to this book. I listened to it in the car when I ran errands and I had to put it on when I was cleaning up and cooking dinner last night because I had to know what was going to happen next. This is absolutely a five star read for me. I hope there are more books in the series. ...more
This felt a lot like a blockbuster sci-fi action movie, and I'm not mad about it. I really liked the scientific foundations for everything and how theThis felt a lot like a blockbuster sci-fi action movie, and I'm not mad about it. I really liked the scientific foundations for everything and how there is credible science behind the plotting. I know that some of the changes induced by genetic modification are probably a bit far-fetched, but it doesn't feel like it when I was reading the book. It felt very plausible. My career background is science, so I like a story that has some good science foundations, if it's supposed to be a science fiction book. I get the impression that Crouch did his homework.
I liked that Logan was a bit of an unlikely hero who has to step up to the plate when the occasion and his unique identity puts him in that situation. If I had a few qualms, I feel like the secondary characters, even pivotal ones, feel a tad under-developed. I definitely think Crouch put more thought process into the science and the plotting than the characterizations. In my mind, a very crucial character had so many opportunities to be so much more than what they were, especially considering the situation they were in and the deeper motivations the characters struggled through. To me, the best villains are the ones who and layered and complex, giving me more opportunities to ponder their POV, at least a little. Honestly, I ended up putting this down for a week or three because I got less involved after a fairly good start. I'm glad I picked it up. It was great listening to this as I tromped around my neighborhood through the foot of snow that fell a few days earlier. I wasn't previously that enamored with the narrator, but he grew on me as I got move involved with the story.
I think this story says some pretty profound things in an unassuming package. This would make a really good popcorn movie, but also give the viewers a lot to think about at the same time. I gave this four stars for that reason, but I would have liked deeper characterizations to go along with the very interesting science and overall involving storytelling.
I have heard from others that this isn't his best book, which makes me enthused to check out his other sci-fi books, if they are better liked....more
This is an ugly story. No, the art isn't ugly. The art is beautiful (I mean I guess for the blood and guts parts, but even with that, the colors are sThis is an ugly story. No, the art isn't ugly. The art is beautiful (I mean I guess for the blood and guts parts, but even with that, the colors are so striking). No, Dylan's character arc is very ugly. He had a bad day and a bad moment and made a bad choice, and now he's beholden to a power that is forcing him to kill people. This novel puts you in his skin and you have to cringe your way through each moment that seems to get worse.
I was a little shocked at how far things went in this book. They show a lot. Now I have read adult graphic novels before, so don't @ me, but I don't know. Maybe it's been a while, but I had to blow up scenes on my Kindle to make sure I was seeing what I thought I was seeing. Suffice it to say, this one is not for the faint of heart. Graphic violence and plenty of very descriptive nudity. But also, the worst of human nature as well.
I like Dylan. I mean I feel bad for him. I can't stand Kira. She comes off as manipulative and wants to have her cake and eat it. I just feel like she's playing Dylan. Not to say she doesn't care about him, but on her own terms. She's hurting him more than helping him.
Will I read the next one? Well, I have to. I need to know what happens next.
Ed Brubaker can write. The artistic team of Sean Phillips and Elizabeth Breitweiser delivers. Read it if you want an interesting take on the masked vigilante.
This was a bit of a slow starter, but I ending up loving it overall. One of Briggs' few books (that I've read) from a male perspective. At first, I stThis was a bit of a slow starter, but I ending up loving it overall. One of Briggs' few books (that I've read) from a male perspective. At first, I struggled to find what I normally gravitate about her writing in this book, but it's an earlier book. However, It became clear as I stuck with it. Briggs has a way of writing pathos that is so distinctive and shall I say, impactful. Also, Ward fits in with her characters who are perceived as "flawed" by society. In this case, Ward has played the idiot to survive his cruel father. It's hard work pretending to be someone you are not, yet Ward has gotten exceptionally good at it. So much that when it's time to drop the act, it's much harder to allow his true personality to shine through.
I loved Ward as the main character. It's so refreshing to have a main character who would typically be considered the "muscle" or "brawn" foil to the "brains" character. And yet, he's a bit of both. I'm not saying he's brilliant, but he's very observant and is what you call a student of human nature. He is quite intelligent and excellent at strategy (playing the long game). Like children of abuse, he has learned very well to watch and learn and he employs those tool very well. He's a protector and manages to manipulate others who believe that have an advantage of him because they are unable to see his depths.
Briggs's books are always on the shorter side, but she packs a lot of story in that short page count. In this book, we get the intrigue (devious plotting, plans and machinations) that you'd see in a thicker epic fantasy like Game of Thrones. For sure, there's some of that kind of treachery and playing games with people's lives in this book. There's some really good action scenes (although not drawn out in gruesomeness). I was not expecting twists and turns in the story. And I will say that you have to be patient if you want the Dragon angle to pay off, but I loved what she did with it. I loved Auric's character as well. Auric has a tortured mien and an inner well of power that is a delightful juxtaposition. The slow development of their friendship and reliance on each other is intrinsic to this novel.
Joe Manganiello was the narrator for this audiobook. I will say that this was so quiet, I couldn't listen to it on a long drive out of state, but I enjoyed his soothing voice on short jaunts to and from work everyday. I appreciate that he used different accents and intonations for the different characters, so even though some of the names confused me at first, I was able to recognize and tell the characters apart based on their voices.
I am so in love with the Mercy Thompson and Alpha and Omega books, and I don't feel that same intensity towards this book. But by the end, I was very involved with the story and I loved the characterization (which is a strength of Patricia Briggs). That's why I gave it four stars despite the shortcomings. I feel like the short length of this book did leave me wanting more. The magic is more on the subtler side, although intriguing. Also, I wanted to explore Ward's relationships with his siblings to a greater degree. I'd definitely like more dragon focused scenes. I think this is a duology, so I'll be picking up the next book soon, and I imagine more of those elements will be in the second book. Having said all that I have, I would recommend this to fantasy readers who want a shorter book that focuses on characters, although with some good, albeit subtle fantasy elements....more
Danielle The Book Huntress
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2023-dhasg-general-challenge
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