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Great cozy mysteries w/authentic Maine characters

Revisado: 03-14-22

These stories well reflect the rural Maine I know and they are so funny. Gertude is quirky, but I've know people like her and I'll bet the author has, too. The small town eccentrics tend to be memorable. Merrill has created a engaging series and I recommend the whole set. I think they are great cozy mysteries!

My only complaint is that the audiobook narrator isn't a Mainer. I defintely like the audio version and I think the reader does a great job with voices. It is just a little frustrating to hear the occasional mispronounced place name.

Maine has many unusal town names, but even the ones that might look familiar are not always prounced as one would expect. Out here in the boondocks, our tiny nearby township isn't called Mah-DRID, like the city in Spain. It is called MAA-drid. One wouldn't guess that since the spelling is identical, but a local would be happy to set the record straight. This place hasn't been mentioned in the series, but there are others like it. That small problem didn't keep me from listening to the whole series.

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GREAT finish!

Revisado: 05-03-21

Well Done, my dear author, well done!

I have really enjoyed this series. There is a very unusual, neurodiverse heroine in this book. I found her quirky, no-nonsense, and very appealing. This book highlights even more the coexistence of magic and machinery in the world of Spellsmith and Carver, a web Burke weaves very well.

While I think it was very tastefully handled, there is a stronger, more obvious romance in this story, placing the trilogy solidly in the upper teen/new adult segment of young adult literature. Romance, engagement, and new marriage are stronger themes here than in the first two books of this series. While this is certainly not what drives the plot, yes, this is a kissing book.

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Excellent follow up

Revisado: 04-28-21

After thoroughly enjoying the first Spellsmith and Carver volume, Magician's Rivalry, I wondered if the book would be a tough act to follow. Not at all, my concern was completely unfounded. H. L. Burke has written a whole new story in her sequel to the first book, with some surprises added. These young adult fantasy books have a small amount of mild romance, but this supports the plot, rather than dominating it. Magic powering an industrial society is a unique twist, which Burke writes very well. Looking forward to the last volume in the trilogy!

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What a grat story!

Revisado: 04-25-21

I am finding I really like H. L. Burke's style. This book did not disappoint! Her worlds are familiar, yet seem to have a twist that make you know they are different from our own. Her characters are often quirky, sometimes exasperating, and always engaging. This story line kept me reading lost past when I should have stopped. If you like well grounded fantasy that has a touch of the familiar, this is for you. Geared toward young adults and adults, there is some mild romance in this story, but no teen angst. Overall a very enjoyable tale, I am happy I have volume two already!

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Delightful!

Revisado: 04-23-21

Very much enjoyed this story. Love that there are multiple references to familiar fairy tales. There are hints of stories past and characters whom I hope to see in future stories. This book would be particularly appealing, I think, to ages 11 and up.

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Great stories, recording inconsistencies

Revisado: 12-20-20

These classic stories are well worth the time to listen. However, this particular production is not as polished as they deserve. There are frequent repetitions of a previous phrase or sentence. There also seem to be occasion noises like the clearing of the throat. More careful editing would have produced a more pleasing performance.

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A fascinating twist on magic

Revisado: 06-04-20 El oyente recibió este título gratis

Beggar Magic is not what I expected. Part of it made me think Regency Romance, part of it put me in mind of Steam Punk. Maybe neither is the correct analogy, but this story is an interesting mix that is surprisingly successful. Our two heroines make unlikely best friends, and the final plot twist for the heroes of the story was a great touch. I didn't see it coming! Although there is a reference to a long-past parental affair, this is a clean young adult story, suitable for ages 12 and up.

The audio narration was a little less than stellar. I found the reader had a tendency toward a using a flat ending. The performance would have five stars if she had used a little more variety in her inflections.

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Stunning!

Revisado: 06-04-20

This is a powerful book, I highly recommend. There is a nice juxtaposition of ordinary things and extraordinary things. I was captivated!

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