Eponine821

The characters were true to the source material.

Revisado: 01-20-25

This story should have been the sequel movie trilogy. Forget that stuff the “Mouse” puts out. This is where it’s at!

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Disappointing

Revisado: 07-27-24

First, I love the narration. It’s consistently awesome.

I was really looking forward to this book because I’ve liked Remi from the moment he showed up. However, the story didn’t grab me the way I expected it to. I didn’t really love books 6 or 7 either. And yet I thought every book from Obsidian to Last Guard (except Ocean’s Light) was incredible! With Ocean’s Light, I found the MFC annoying, so I know exactly why I don’t love that book. With the last three books, the feeling of dissatisfaction is more amorphous.

It might have something to do with the growing sense of pointlessness related to the Psy-net. In Last Guard, the anchors found THREE ways to help stabilize the net, all of which were supposed to buy time. But then a new threat emerged and that time was eaten up. This keeps happening. I think I’d like a break from the eminent collapse of the Psynet in favor of a more ordinary story. For example, Tamar the hacker could help Axel the arrow track a serial killer who has nothing to do with scarab syndrome. Or Finn could meet a nice Leopard girl and take a mate, just as soon as he convinces her to move to a remote location like Rainfire. Or maybe we could get another story with a human lead, since I think that’s only happened twice in the whole series (Max and Bowen; Note: I don’t count Tally because psy enough to need psychic feedback makes her Forgotten in my book.)
Nalini held on to the arch villain of this series so hard that she came back from the “dead”. That’s a sign that we’re due for a shift in direction, I think.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 2 personas

Generic Story

Revisado: 05-16-24

This is a pretty generic story about a woman who is afraid to risk, so she’s stopped living her life. I knew who she loved by halfway through chapter 2. There was no mystery here. Her inability to see it makes her look dense as a rock.
The book repeatedly mentions romantic tropes in an apparent attempt to be self-aware, but it just makes the story seem formulaic.
I was listening to this while driving, but if I went a week without driving…I didn’t miss the book.

What stands out for me the most are the things that characters did which irritated me. I could maybe forgive Peyton for leaving the house without writing a note the morning after getting out of the hospital, but apologized properly when you scare the hell out of your best friend. Hmmm? And Robby! Have you even listened to Nickelback’s music, or are you just jumping on the bash-Nickelback-bandwagon? Come to think of it, maybe Nickelback haters don’t deserve notes. :p

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Plot could have been better

Revisado: 03-26-24

Narration was just as good in this book as the previous one. Good accents. Good female voices.

There were two elements to the story: 1) the relationship development between Wes and Sebastian, and 2) the nefarious plot that needed to be thwarted. The nefarious plot was boring and frustrating. The previous book was based around a murder mystery, which was interesting, but this was a missing persons case, which was less so. Also, why must the characters always get captured before they win? Is this a James Bond movie?
Pro-tip: If a drink tastes off, then DON’T drink it! Especially if you think the situation may be a setup. *face palm*
If not for the fascinating development of the main characters via the deepening of their relationship, I would have been totally bored by halfway through.
The characters are witty and interesting with lots of good dialogue, but I was looking forward to more interactions with Ace, Rory, Jade, and Zhang than this book delivered. Hopefully, we get more of them (with a return of Gwen and Ellis) in the next book.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Fun, fast read

Revisado: 03-25-24

The narration was good. Accents were appropriate and consistent. Female voices were believable.

I was a little disappointed that there wasn’t more period-appropriate language. And “OK” was actually used once, which I don’t think was accurate. But setting that aside, the story was interesting and well-executed. I think Lord Fine may be my favorite character in this series so far. I’m looking forward to more adventures.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

What was that?

Revisado: 10-20-23

This book feels like it was ghost written. Suddenly there are political references and as many different kinds of relationships, orientations, and ways to identify as could be squeezed in. At least one established character was written like he was a different person with the barest nod towards an explanation for the change. And could Jacques’ situation at the end of the book get any more ambiguous?

I’ve been eating these stories up since I read the first book. The fifth book was a little lackluster by comparison to 1, 2, and 4 but was at least on par with 3. Then here comes book 6, which was a plot disaster! So much potential completely wasted in a misguided attempt to be woke. *face palm*

I do not read fiction for treatises on modern politics and I sure as heck don’t turn to FANTASY for the author’s opinions on the trans debate in America.

I took off 1 star for the general “letdown” of the story and docked 1 star for the betrayal. Six books into a series and the author suddenly changes from heterosexual couples to several different types of partnerships? I’m not opposed to non-typical relationships in books, but it’s bad form to spring that on your audience six books in. Particularly since mpeg is a common warning and this book is full of it! Not just historical references, but on-the-page mpeg. There are more males getting pregnant here than females. Are we trying to prove some sort of point?

Again, keep your politics out of my fantasy novels.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Requires a second read

Revisado: 10-17-23

Throughout the book, there were times when I would have looked something up from previously in this book, but that’s harder to do with an audio. I think a lot of my trouble came from trying to keep track of the names. I feel like I need to listen to it again, but with a notebook this time.

To be clear, I plan to give this book a second run through because I feel that I may have missed some subtleties, but I got the broad strokes just fine. I was very pleased to get an update on Tenma. He’s a favorite character of mine and I hope to see more of him. Mikoto’s love story is one of those things I want to review on a second reading, but I’m pleased with the outcome. Positive developments all around for the people of Stately House. This plot has my approval.

Book 4 jumps the timeline by 6 years from where Book 3 left off, which puts it roughly 12 years from the beginning of Book 1. The Five, which was the The Seven, is now The Fifteen. I understand the impulse towards inclusivity, but I hope there’s at least one comment in an upcoming book about the difficulties of ruling by committee. Especially if the number keeps growing.

Narration continues to impress. Cinder has a bit of an accent that I don’t recall from previous books, but that’s surprising considering the sheer number of characters needing to be voiced.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Still good

Revisado: 10-16-23

It’s not expressly stated how much time has passed since the previous book, but I reckon it’s been 2 years. There are oblique references to some of the characters that were introduced in book 2, but since I really wanted to get more info on Tenma, I found this frustrating. This frustration is the reason for my reduced Story rating. Along with my concern that the pattern will continue and I won’t get more information on …a secondary storyline from this book.

I checked the other series set in this world, but there were no indications of follow ups on my favorite characters. Not that I don’t like Argent, cause I totally do.

Setting that aside, this book advances the overarching story and enriches the world. It introduces the term Kith kin and further explores the experience of Crossers. We also get more on tree kin.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

So, so good

Revisado: 10-15-23

This second installment upheld the promise of the first book, while introducing new characters to intrigue and delight. I’m starting the third book right now!

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

So good!

Revisado: 10-14-23

This book was recommended to me by a friend. I finished it in a day. I could have been satisfied with this ending, but I’m excited for the remaining books in the series.

I liked the way the author explored the burdens of slavery, not only for the enslaved, but for the unwilling master. I also appreciated the subtle elements of forgiveness and redemption. The story is incredibly well balanced, not only in the various perspectives that are presented, but in the pacing of the plot.

I’ve seen a lot of talk lately about what makes a good story and the emphasis on “show, don’t tell”. This author definitely has a mastery of subtlety that allows the point to be made without bashing the reader over the head. It felt different from what I normally read, which is simultaneously a credit to Forthright and a shame (that this style isn’t more widespread).

The narration was equally fine. Voices were distinct, consistent, and appropriate (e.g. emotion was properly portrayed). Likewise, the technical elements, such as sound and pacing, were unexceptionable.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña