I really enjoyed this one, as you're over the hump of "do i actually like this morally gray character or not?" and firmly in the "yes i do" category. I really enjoyed this one, as you're over the hump of "do i actually like this morally gray character or not?" and firmly in the "yes i do" category. there's some found family vibes, enough adventure and hints at romance, and the unique setting of a world beyond the world we know. exploring what being a wheelwalker means will continue, as it's still a bit shrouded in mystery and i can see some reading it as mary sue, but i think there's enough rough edges here to get away from girl as deus ex machina. plus who doesnt like a plot about loyalty and saving a person? motivations for turner, mercy and trip are weak at best, but i let it go in pursuit of the story....more
3.25. I REALLY struggled with the first third of this book (almost to the point of DNF), something about the curt writing style not gelling with me, b3.25. I REALLY struggled with the first third of this book (almost to the point of DNF), something about the curt writing style not gelling with me, but once this finally got going I easily blazed through the rest and was left confusedly wanting more not only in terms of plot but in some indefinable thing.
The world that Moreno-Garcia has built here is fantastic and something that should span at least a duology - the work put in to cut off at a surprising end reminds me of RObin McKinley's Sunshine, where you feel like yelling "noooo you just got started?!?" The different vampire clans are fascinating in this alternate reality Mexico set parallel to modern times. This is a post vampire-reveal world and in many cities vampires are banned (including Mexico City, where the action takes place). The beats of culture and the melding of Aztec and Mexican street culture provided a rich backdrop, and the unearthing of this world bit by bit was paced well. The story unfolds from the pov of an Aztec vampire and that of a garbage-collecting street kid, then extends into the pov of a tired cop and a "renfield" (basically, human bonded in some unclear way to a vampire) of a Necro, a vampire species that plays on the compulsion themes of vampirism with its ability to control humans post shark-like bite.
Character-wise, you sympathize with both Domingo and Atl, feel the pressures on Ana, hate TF OUT OF NICK GOD WHAT A POS. So, all the character beats are here, all the world is here, but there's just something missing for me, something in how emotional choices are handled, with this sort of...odd detachment. It's not that Moreno-Garcia doesn't back the emotion up, but that it....doesn't feel right? ANd I could almost be on board with the alienness of vampirism as an explanation if Atl's very clearly human choices don't frame the ending of this book.
I'm not sure, I'm just left wanting more....More characterization, more real moments between characters, more bits of dialogue that flesh relationships out. Maybe that's just me, because this is an action packed book past the first slow build, so for fans of driven plot (if you can make it to page 100ish) I'd rec this as the action scenes are well-drawn, if not cinematic in their depiction.
This book seems to be very polarizing, but I'm in the camp of really digging it. I admit, it was hard at the beginning - Alex is not a very likeable cThis book seems to be very polarizing, but I'm in the camp of really digging it. I admit, it was hard at the beginning - Alex is not a very likeable character, and you struggle to root for her, but over time though she remains true to her core self, you begin to understand her motivations and behavior and with understanding comes empathy and the inevitable rooting for the protagonist. I just think this was very well crafted - I've always loved Bardugo's prose and here is no different. She always takes a moment to describe little details amidst the dialogue that make characters come to life. There are some assault and sexual assault triggers here to be sure, and i think that was another reason people struggled with this book, but it didnt feel...like assault for sake of shock value or thinly plucked from the air motivation. It worked within the confines of the scene. Anyway, was a great listen and i'm out of librofm credits until next month and i am dying waiting to listen to hellbent, if that tells you anything....more
How...how do you expect me to wait until the next book is released when I NEED TO KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON One of the best otps ive ever seen. ever. GOD How...how do you expect me to wait until the next book is released when I NEED TO KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON One of the best otps ive ever seen. ever. GOD I LOVE THEM SO MUCH. side characters you will love. a love triangle not presented as a love triangle where you just want everyone to be happy. some lovely turns of phrase and bits of history and mythology thrown in. all in all WHERE IS NEXT PLEASE THANK YOU
Like really, is _____ blackmailing cassie? when will rico and reah hook up? i need them to. MORE MARCO BABYSITTING SHENANIGANS. oh and most importantly?????? "I remember everything" and the EVIL SMILE and that's all we get??? SORRY MY FRIENDS, Camelot shenanigans were not nearly enough nope nope need present time because he's ALL THERE AND HE REMEMBERS EVERYTHING AND I CANNOT STOP THE CAPSLOCK.
Oh god. this was a ride. I read these WAY too fast, i barely remember plot points, some of her pacing is pure shit, sometimes it's just TOO much action and not balanced with enough introspection yet still, somehow, i'm here, done with book 8, thinking about writing fanfic. Lost in a haze of this wonderful relationship progression that quite literally spans time. Gah. ...more
Unfortunately, this one had some ROUGH pacing, though there were good moments. Lets be real though, i'm reading this for a ship that's woefully missinUnfortunately, this one had some ROUGH pacing, though there were good moments. Lets be real though, i'm reading this for a ship that's woefully missing from most of this book and it's frustrating because she's trying to GET TO HIM AND IT WONT HAPPEN ...more
More feelings! and ridiculous action scenes! and traversing to hell (literally) and back! and casanova being irritating AF and caleb being pretty damnMore feelings! and ridiculous action scenes! and traversing to hell (literally) and back! and casanova being irritating AF and caleb being pretty damned awesome. cassie starting to realize her feelings but still hiding them so damned deep. gahh! ...more
Ohbgoddddddd the feeeeeeeeeliiiiings. The balcony scene!!!!! The CAR!! The aftermath! HEELLLLP MEEEEE SHES BEEN BUILDING THIS FOR FIVE BOOKS HEEELLPPPOhbgoddddddd the feeeeeeeeeliiiiings. The balcony scene!!!!! The CAR!! The aftermath! HEELLLLP MEEEEE SHES BEEN BUILDING THIS FOR FIVE BOOKS HEEELLPPPP
If you're not a fast reader able to skim when you need to (chance really really needs an editor) then this series is not for you. But there is such GOOD stuff, funny and brave and adorable and some pretty badass action scenes that I'm enjoying the hell out of this. And with that CLIFFHANGER YOU JERKFACE MCJERKSTER IM ON TO BOOK SIX...more
chance is finally starting to let her characters speak for the scene instead of her own voice and it shows. I dont remember much about the plot lol, bchance is finally starting to let her characters speak for the scene instead of her own voice and it shows. I dont remember much about the plot lol, but it's the character interactions rhat have you speeding through the book. even Marco the camp bodyguard is like an old beloved friend at this point...more
3.25 except for that fae assault scene DEAR GOD NO WHY You will start yelling at the characters, in a good way. Lots of creatures (sometimes too many).3.25 except for that fae assault scene DEAR GOD NO WHY You will start yelling at the characters, in a good way. Lots of creatures (sometimes too many). Crazy action scenes, things all over the place and space and time. Chance has a lot of creativity and basically wanted everything in this series and clearly had a hard time letting ideas go. (it's ok babe i understand editing is touuuugh) The whole Pythia thing is still a bit nebulous, but the ability to time travel and its repercussions are fun. I have a feeling that i'll breeze through the series and only remember the good parts. Pritkin needs to chill. Don't ogle him, geis or not, Cassie.
I read different books in different ways. paranormal romance and ya i blow through in like 20 seconds. because i know what to expect, its comforting ,I read different books in different ways. paranormal romance and ya i blow through in like 20 seconds. because i know what to expect, its comforting , and I can most definitely skim read and still enjoy. I had to employ a loooooooot of skim reading for this one, because Chance has way too many worldbuilding ideas and she wants to make sure you read every single one. lol. this book could have used some serious editing. that being said, you can tell theres promise here. cassie is likable, she is surrounded by hot supernatural peeps, and there is action and intrigue and yes ok she is 'the chosen one" but tropes exist for a reason and I happily started in on book 2 as soon as I finished. tw: the way vampires play with their food could be construed as sexual assault, and the overt description with not an eye bat from the protagonist was a little skeevy. again it seems like I am giving more negative thoughts than positive bc I kinda am. I am reading for the promise of what's to come and engaging characters and bc I 1000% want to know what happens next....more
read this many moons ago, was a nice change of pace during this time of paranormal romance heavy reading. distinctly Male point of view (do not mean tread this many moons ago, was a nice change of pace during this time of paranormal romance heavy reading. distinctly Male point of view (do not mean this negatively) and a good, fast paced adventure read...more
i'd never read seanan mcguire and i wanted something light and frothy so picked this up. the concepts are fun but this may have been a book from earlyi'd never read seanan mcguire and i wanted something light and frothy so picked this up. the concepts are fun but this may have been a book from early in her writing career because there's still this sort of taint of great ideas spread too obviously in this book. You would think a urban fantasy romp filled with dragons and all sorts of pseudo-mythological creatures would be super fun, and it was in some parts, but it was a bit of a slog to get through. I'll definitely read more in this series but i'll have lower expectations. ...more
I didn't expect to like this trash series so much. It's pretty damn readable, though it of course relies on tropes, i just dig it. I didn't expect to like this trash series so much. It's pretty damn readable, though it of course relies on tropes, i just dig it. ...more
