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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
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.
2'5 stars
In truth, i wanted to have really liked this book. The author createad a set of characters that completely grabbed my interest since book one, and i was really looking forward in reading this.
But, honestly, most of the times while reading this story, i got lost.
I couldn't visualize most of Joanne's shamanic "experiences" and i found the descriptions confusing and quite long.
In this book Joanne will have to accept her responsabilities as a shaman. And understanding, once and for all, what that entitles. Its a self-discovery journey, that she will have to make all on her own. Coyote, another of my favourite characters is nowhere to be seen....
I continue to like Joanne as a character. She's funny,(although she could giggle less...) clumsy, and her interactions with Morrison and Gary, are still my favorite moments. But yeah, this storyline wasn't a favourite. Hopefully, the third one will pick up again.
In truth, i wanted to have really liked this book. The author createad a set of characters that completely grabbed my interest since book one, and i was really looking forward in reading this.
But, honestly, most of the times while reading this story, i got lost.
I couldn't visualize most of Joanne's shamanic "experiences" and i found the descriptions confusing and quite long.
In this book Joanne will have to accept her responsabilities as a shaman. And understanding, once and for all, what that entitles. Its a self-discovery journey, that she will have to make all on her own. Coyote, another of my favourite characters is nowhere to be seen....
I continue to like Joanne as a character. She's funny,(although she could giggle less...) clumsy, and her interactions with Morrison and Gary, are still my favorite moments. But yeah, this storyline wasn't a favourite. Hopefully, the third one will pick up again.
It's a good story overall but this particular part of the story seems to be focused a lot, in terms of character development, on the MC struggling with her own denial and how that denial is causing problems for her. It's fairly well done as tropes go, but it's a fairly tired trope in general.
Also, there is an obvious tendency to a particular individual as a slow-burn romantic partner but the problem I'm having with it is that the guy isn't very likable and I don't understand why she is attracted to him (even if she's in denial about it).
Otherwise, the world is good, the secondary characters are interesting and engaging, particularly Gary the cab driver, and the stories and magic systems are entertaining.
Also, there is an obvious tendency to a particular individual as a slow-burn romantic partner but the problem I'm having with it is that the guy isn't very likable and I don't understand why she is attracted to him (even if she's in denial about it).
Otherwise, the world is good, the secondary characters are interesting and engaging, particularly Gary the cab driver, and the stories and magic systems are entertaining.
I had high hopes for this second book in the series, since I enjoyed the first one so much. But sadly I felt that there was too much time spent on the protagonist fighting her disbelief and reluctance to accept the abilities she gained in the first book. It didn't feel believable, and it quickly became tiresome. Her IQ seemed to drop about 30 points as well, and she kept doing one stupid thing after another. She was strong and motivated in the first book, but seemed dimwitted and confused in this one. I love the premise, and I continue to enjoy the other characters, but this one fell short of the mark for me.
I'm continuing to struggle with reading this book. The main character is so flawed, I find it hard to be sympathetic to her, although it could be because her character is inconsistent. At one moment, she is wanting to use her power to heal, at another supposedly afraid to acknowledge it exists. If she is scared of it/ refuses to acknowledge it, why does she keep doing things like looking in the spirit realm for someone who recently died? It's also surprising that instead of believing her teachers, she researches on the internet. Perhaps I am like the potential love interest and supervisor Morrison, who is irritated with her because she "fell into" something we feel passionately about, and she doesn't seem to care about the responsibility. In fact, many of her general comments in the beginning are high-school level snark--I'm just not buying into her character as a professional adult woman.
As a child of police officers, I do have trouble believing some of the dynamics in the department. A cross-dressing male cop who is out to his collegues and wears nail polish at work? Highly unlikely, even in Seattle. Then there's the way she "falls into" the coven. I have trouble believing any police officer wouldn't have a few more basic questions... like coven for what? How long? Etc. Instead, she's involved in a ceremony within minutes of meeting them--and this is the same Joanne that refuses to learn from her spirit guide. From both professional and spiritual standpoints, her actions don't make sense.
The premise is an unusual one; this is the first book I've read that involves shamanism and Native Americans in the urban fantasy. Her supporting cast is well done as well, and some of the dialogue snappy, so I will probably check out the next in series. This is definitely a library-borrow book, and not one that will ever make it to my extensive bookshelves.
As a child of police officers, I do have trouble believing some of the dynamics in the department. A cross-dressing male cop who is out to his collegues and wears nail polish at work? Highly unlikely, even in Seattle. Then there's the way she "falls into" the coven. I have trouble believing any police officer wouldn't have a few more basic questions... like coven for what? How long? Etc. Instead, she's involved in a ceremony within minutes of meeting them--and this is the same Joanne that refuses to learn from her spirit guide. From both professional and spiritual standpoints, her actions don't make sense.
The premise is an unusual one; this is the first book I've read that involves shamanism and Native Americans in the urban fantasy. Her supporting cast is well done as well, and some of the dialogue snappy, so I will probably check out the next in series. This is definitely a library-borrow book, and not one that will ever make it to my extensive bookshelves.
In Thunder Falls, Joanne continues to struggle with the idea that she is a shaman. In this story, she has to deal with illness close to home, a witch coven and some interesting bad guys. It is fun to follow Joanne on her journey to understanding her new world. Recommend this series to all UF fans.
Joanne is still trying to find her feet. Still searching for a purpose and a place in the world she lives in, both the "ordinary" arena and using her talents. She's finding life as a beat cop interesting and fulfilling, a short trip back to the garrage allows her to realise that really her superior was right to promote her.
She's still questing for some sort of direction or training. Answers is what she's looking for, but the problem is that she's not asking all the questions, she should be asking in order to make sense of the answers and sometimes the question is more important than the answer. Sometimes asking the question at the proper time will lead you on the right road. But maybe, she needs to learn to question!
I like Joanne, and like how her character develops and will be hunting down more books by C E Murphy!
She's still questing for some sort of direction or training. Answers is what she's looking for, but the problem is that she's not asking all the questions, she should be asking in order to make sense of the answers and sometimes the question is more important than the answer. Sometimes asking the question at the proper time will lead you on the right road. But maybe, she needs to learn to question!
I like Joanne, and like how her character develops and will be hunting down more books by C E Murphy!
I can't tell you what makes this great without spoilers. So, I will tell you it is the quintessential urban fantasy. Read the Walker Papers and be glad.