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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
2.5 Stars
• I wanted to bitch slap the fuck out of Joanne Walker from start to finish
• Which was extremely painful since I really really liked her in Book #1
• Hubba Hubba Morrison ♥
• Daymn son Gary ♥
• We need wayyy more Morrison & Gary
• We also need the original Joanne back. The not TSTL Level 9000 one
The book:
*Book #3, please, please be better*
• I wanted to bitch slap the fuck out of Joanne Walker from start to finish
• Which was extremely painful since I really really liked her in Book #1
• Hubba Hubba Morrison ♥
• Daymn son Gary ♥
• We need wayyy more Morrison & Gary
• We also need the original Joanne back. The not TSTL Level 9000 one
The book:
The truth was I wanted my cake and to eat it, too. I didn’t want to admit any of this shamanic nonsense was real, but I also wanted to be able to snap my fingers and make it so. @18%
*Book #3, please, please be better*
This book is my least favorite in Walker series. It seems to drag on and on about spirits and the badness in the world. Joanne really needs to listen to her instict to not screw up like she did in this book. this book, by far in the series, the worst.
Second in the Walker Papers urban fantasy series and revolving around Joanne Walker, a.k.a., Siobhán Walkingstick. Based in Seattle, it's been six months since Urban Shaman, 1.
My Take
Even though Murphy uses the oh, no, I don't really want this power and the if I ignore it, it won't be true tropes, Murphy brings in enough twist to it that I'm enjoying this. We do finally learn that, yes, Jo is a cop. We finally get the low-down on which role Jo actually plays: she was a mechanic for the cops and events caused her to become a beat cop. Yep, strange but true...
A bit too much on the tell. Per my trope complaints, Murphy spends more time telling us that Jo isn't studying rather than showing us.
I do like Jo's take on man modifying the world, that our building a dam is as natural as a beaver building one. That change and invention is in our nature, so it's not unnatural. Although, some of the lengths to which man will go can be too much!
Wow, it's a tough test on choice, of acceptance. It's also a symphony of stupid. How stupid do you have to be to accept a rattlesnake-turned-into-a-woman as your instructor?? Jo doesn't think to investigate? Doesn't do any research on this guy she's helping? What kind of cop is she that she so blithely accepts what people tell her? She gives the bad guy her name?? That bit on the Enemy was a tough read, it took awhile before I could figure out whose POV I was reading. And I'm still not sure who the Enemy is. For a few pages I thought the thunderbird was the Enemy, then Jo says "can't be banished unless the Enemy knows to call your name too", which leaves me totally discombobulated.
Still it's an interesting premise Murphy incorporates, bringing that bit of believable history into play, the twist she pulls in with bringing the metaphysical alive into our world, and the horrifying betrayals.
I don't get it. This ritual the coven wants to do is supposed to be so-all-fired serious, but Murphy writes it like they're all getting together to play with the Ouija board. They don't tell Joanne what's involved with anything, instead they simply spring it on her and expect her to fall in line. WTF?
The romance that seems to be building between Jo and Morrison is on a very slow-build. Must be because no one thinks she has a chance of getting laid… I did like how she maneuvered Morrison into letting her do some investigating on the case. She plays him well.
It's an interesting twist—I liked the bit about the rain and Gary's short speech at the end, in spite of the stupid bits. I find myself wondering what Murphy will come up with in Coyote Dreams.
The Story
It's a symposium on global warming that finds Joanne up too early in the morning. Early enough that she can take the time to "measure" the health of her city. It ain't good, and it only gets worse when she finds the body in the shower.
Sure, it's an opportunity to explore the Dead Zone. Maybe find the victim and get her take, fix the disastrous weather and the emotional malaise sweeping Seattle, but Joanne gets a lot more than she bargained for. Including three tasks set by spirit guides. Tasks we could all live by.
The Characters
Officer Joanne Walker, a.k.a., Siobhán Grania MacNamarra Walkingstick, is half-Cherokee and has power, including a power to heal—as long as she imagines the person's injury or ailment as something wrong with a car, LOL. A brilliant mechanic, she fences, she's a beat cop, and she's passionate about Petite, her 1969 restored Mustang. Aidan is the surviving twin whom Jo gave up for adoption. Gary Muldoon, the taxi driver from Urban Shaman, who helped Jo so much, sees her as his daughter. Annie is his deceased wife whom he still misses very much.
Captain Michael Morrison is her boss in the North precinct and willing to suspend belief. He's seen too much of what Jo can do. Detective Billy Holliday is a cross-dressing friend, colleague, and a true believer. His wife, Melinda (she's pregnant again), is a witch herself and makes Salma Hayek look like the redheaded stepchild. Robert and Clara are the oldest kids with a terrifying, bulging problem; Jacquie and Eric are the younger ones. Nick had been Jo's supervisor at the garage. Jo's replacement (Jo calls him "Thor, the Thunder God") is hesitant. Jen Gonzales works Missing Persons. Ray is a fellow officer.
Cassandra Tucker is a mom, a Mother, and a witch. Shevaun is her daughter; Ruby Tucker is Cassie's mom. Judy Morningstar becomes Jo's teacher. Cassie's best friend, Faye Kirland, works at East Asian Imports and is part of a coven which includes Garth Johannsen (he has a brother, Colin, dying of leukemia), Marcia, the Elder, Roxie, Sam, the Father (a.k.a., Duane), and Thomas. Virrisong will be the thirteenth member of the coven. Nakaytah was his significant other all those centuries ago. Amhuluk is the ancient serpent; Wakinyan is the thunderbird.
Detective Renfroe is in charge of the murder investigation.
Phoebe is her fencing instructor. Coyote, the Native American trickster god, offered Jo a choice back in Urban Shaman and is now her spirit guide. Sara Buchanan was a significant part of her past. Dr. Wood is in charge of Gary's case. David Crowder is a geologist. Ashley Hampton is the little girl Jo saved; Allison is her mother.
The Cover
I guess the cover makes sense in all its golden glory. It's Joanne in blue jeans with an Indian buckled-and-beaded belt, a white cropped tank top and filmy shirt, a thunderbird pendant dangling from her neck, and a pair of beaded cuff-like bracelets, standing on a wooden bridge, which sports its own thunderbird graffiti.
The title is both geographic and metaphor as Jo discovers her spirit animal even as Seattle gains Thunderbird Falls.
My Take
Even though Murphy uses the oh, no, I don't really want this power and the if I ignore it, it won't be true tropes, Murphy brings in enough twist to it that I'm enjoying this. We do finally learn that, yes, Jo is a cop. We finally get the low-down on which role Jo actually plays: she was a mechanic for the cops and events caused her to become a beat cop. Yep, strange but true...
A bit too much on the tell. Per my trope complaints, Murphy spends more time telling us that Jo isn't studying rather than showing us.
I do like Jo's take on man modifying the world, that our building a dam is as natural as a beaver building one. That change and invention is in our nature, so it's not unnatural. Although, some of the lengths to which man will go can be too much!
"To be without question is to be dead."
Wow, it's a tough test on choice, of acceptance. It's also a symphony of stupid. How stupid do you have to be to accept a rattlesnake-turned-into-a-woman as your instructor?? Jo doesn't think to investigate? Doesn't do any research on this guy she's helping? What kind of cop is she that she so blithely accepts what people tell her? She gives the bad guy her name?? That bit on the Enemy was a tough read, it took awhile before I could figure out whose POV I was reading. And I'm still not sure who the Enemy is. For a few pages I thought the thunderbird was the Enemy, then Jo says "can't be banished unless the Enemy knows to call your name too", which leaves me totally discombobulated.
Still it's an interesting premise Murphy incorporates, bringing that bit of believable history into play, the twist she pulls in with bringing the metaphysical alive into our world, and the horrifying betrayals.
"Instead, Petite drove herself over to Gary's house without bothering to notify me about the change of plans."
I don't get it. This ritual the coven wants to do is supposed to be so-all-fired serious, but Murphy writes it like they're all getting together to play with the Ouija board. They don't tell Joanne what's involved with anything, instead they simply spring it on her and expect her to fall in line. WTF?
The romance that seems to be building between Jo and Morrison is on a very slow-build. Must be because no one thinks she has a chance of getting laid… I did like how she maneuvered Morrison into letting her do some investigating on the case. She plays him well.
It's an interesting twist—I liked the bit about the rain and Gary's short speech at the end, in spite of the stupid bits. I find myself wondering what Murphy will come up with in Coyote Dreams.
The Story
It's a symposium on global warming that finds Joanne up too early in the morning. Early enough that she can take the time to "measure" the health of her city. It ain't good, and it only gets worse when she finds the body in the shower.
Sure, it's an opportunity to explore the Dead Zone. Maybe find the victim and get her take, fix the disastrous weather and the emotional malaise sweeping Seattle, but Joanne gets a lot more than she bargained for. Including three tasks set by spirit guides. Tasks we could all live by.
The Characters
Officer Joanne Walker, a.k.a., Siobhán Grania MacNamarra Walkingstick, is half-Cherokee and has power, including a power to heal—as long as she imagines the person's injury or ailment as something wrong with a car, LOL. A brilliant mechanic, she fences, she's a beat cop, and she's passionate about Petite, her 1969 restored Mustang. Aidan is the surviving twin whom Jo gave up for adoption. Gary Muldoon, the taxi driver from Urban Shaman, who helped Jo so much, sees her as his daughter. Annie is his deceased wife whom he still misses very much.
Captain Michael Morrison is her boss in the North precinct and willing to suspend belief. He's seen too much of what Jo can do. Detective Billy Holliday is a cross-dressing friend, colleague, and a true believer. His wife, Melinda (she's pregnant again), is a witch herself and makes Salma Hayek look like the redheaded stepchild. Robert and Clara are the oldest kids with a terrifying, bulging problem; Jacquie and Eric are the younger ones. Nick had been Jo's supervisor at the garage. Jo's replacement (Jo calls him "Thor, the Thunder God") is hesitant. Jen Gonzales works Missing Persons. Ray is a fellow officer.
Cassandra Tucker is a mom, a Mother, and a witch. Shevaun is her daughter; Ruby Tucker is Cassie's mom. Judy Morningstar becomes Jo's teacher. Cassie's best friend, Faye Kirland, works at East Asian Imports and is part of a coven which includes Garth Johannsen (he has a brother, Colin, dying of leukemia), Marcia, the Elder, Roxie, Sam, the Father (a.k.a., Duane), and Thomas. Virrisong will be the thirteenth member of the coven. Nakaytah was his significant other all those centuries ago. Amhuluk is the ancient serpent; Wakinyan is the thunderbird.
Detective Renfroe is in charge of the murder investigation.
Phoebe is her fencing instructor. Coyote, the Native American trickster god, offered Jo a choice back in Urban Shaman and is now her spirit guide. Sara Buchanan was a significant part of her past. Dr. Wood is in charge of Gary's case. David Crowder is a geologist. Ashley Hampton is the little girl Jo saved; Allison is her mother.
The Cover
I guess the cover makes sense in all its golden glory. It's Joanne in blue jeans with an Indian buckled-and-beaded belt, a white cropped tank top and filmy shirt, a thunderbird pendant dangling from her neck, and a pair of beaded cuff-like bracelets, standing on a wooden bridge, which sports its own thunderbird graffiti.
The title is both geographic and metaphor as Jo discovers her spirit animal even as Seattle gains Thunderbird Falls.
fast-paced
Liked this one a lot less than the first. Joanne seemed dense (really, this situation wasn't that hard to figure out), easy to manipulate, and the constant whining about not wanting her powers was really tedious.
She better stop behaving like an inept child, or I won't make it much further in this series.
She better stop behaving like an inept child, or I won't make it much further in this series.
I loved this book! After feeling kind of meh about Urban Shaman, I knew I wanted to give this series one more try, knowing first-in-a-series urban fantasy books are often rough. Murphy has found Joanne's voice and unlike many urban fantasy heroines I genuinely like her and all the people in her life. The mythology gets a little confusing at times, but that's another thing that strengthens over time in series like this. I'm following a lot of UF series, but this book moved the Walker Papers up to the top of my "what to read next" list.
story line a little bit obvious. joanne gets in with a coven and things she's saving the world when she is really releasing a demon. just thing wicca.
This series just keeps getting better. Can't wait for the next installment.
This is the second book in the Walker Papers series and it finds our heroine, Joanne, a few months out from the events of the first book. With the adrenaline of those events having worn off, Joanne has become more reluctant to use her shamanic abilities and to take on the responsibilities that go with it. As a result, she goes about tripping through a series of mistakes and errors in judgement in this installment. It turns out that the amount of power Joanne used in book one was not without consequences and while her intentions are good as she sets about trying to set things right, the way to do that may not be as clear cut as she would like.
Joanne remains a likeable character, a recent, firm non-believer who has had her entire worldview turned on its ear in a matter of days, and who continues to struggle with what that now means for life going forward. I find myself quite liking the secondary characters in this series. Captain Morrison, Joanne's boss, was more of a presence in this book and I found myself looking forward to the next Morrison/Joanne scene in the book as I was reading. Romance still isn't a big deal in this book but it's becoming clear that Joanne may be harboring a serious crush on her boss - though she would never admit that to herself. Her thoughts often turn to him as she wonders what he would say or think about this or that.
I also enjoyed reading Joanne's interactions with Gary. No love triangle forming here (thank goodness) as Gary is the 73 year old cab driver that Joanne met in book one. I loved Gary in the first book so I'm pleased that it seems he will be sticking around as Joanne's mentor/father-figure/sidekick/friend.
I still wish that the author would cut back on the amount of spirit/astral trips since it seems that Joanne spends as much time in the spirit world as she does in the real world but, given that she's a shaman, it makes sense. Overall I still enjoyed the book. I like Joanne enough to be willing to follow her on her misadventures as she discovers what it truly means to be a shaman...to be a healer, especially since it seems that the one who may need the most healing is herself. Plus, I'm intrigued enough by her interactions with Morrison to want to see if her crush is ever realized.
Joanne remains a likeable character, a recent, firm non-believer who has had her entire worldview turned on its ear in a matter of days, and who continues to struggle with what that now means for life going forward. I find myself quite liking the secondary characters in this series. Captain Morrison, Joanne's boss, was more of a presence in this book and I found myself looking forward to the next Morrison/Joanne scene in the book as I was reading. Romance still isn't a big deal in this book but it's becoming clear that Joanne may be harboring a serious crush on her boss - though she would never admit that to herself. Her thoughts often turn to him as she wonders what he would say or think about this or that.
I also enjoyed reading Joanne's interactions with Gary. No love triangle forming here (thank goodness) as Gary is the 73 year old cab driver that Joanne met in book one. I loved Gary in the first book so I'm pleased that it seems he will be sticking around as Joanne's mentor/father-figure/sidekick/friend.
I still wish that the author would cut back on the amount of spirit/astral trips since it seems that Joanne spends as much time in the spirit world as she does in the real world but, given that she's a shaman, it makes sense. Overall I still enjoyed the book. I like Joanne enough to be willing to follow her on her misadventures as she discovers what it truly means to be a shaman...to be a healer, especially since it seems that the one who may need the most healing is herself. Plus, I'm intrigued enough by her interactions with Morrison to want to see if her crush is ever realized.
I have exactly zero idea about what happened in this book but I effing love the characters so much I don’t care.