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see_sadie_read's review against another edition
4.0
I find myself in a quandary. I love the Prosperity universe. I love the characters of this series. I greatly enjoyed learning a bit of their history. I found myself surprisingly aghast ant the subtle perversions of The Sound of Music, something I quite liked.
But I'm not a huge fan of short stories as a medium and I'm even less fond of such stories told in a series of correspondences and/or interviews/depositions/testimonies/etc. Which is how most of the stories in this book are told.
So, here I am, completely thrilled to have spent a little more time (not enough, mind you) with Milord and Rueben, Miss Grey, Dil and Byron. I even liked the new character, George. I still love the narrative style and voices. I still love the writing. I'm still enamoured with the amazingly effective use of pauses. I still think there's an enviable intelligence to the story, as a whole. I still think the covers are to die for. I still think the editing is superb and this is a stellar example of a book. But the fact that I don't particularly care for the type of book it happens to be kept me from being completely blown away. That I liked it as much as I did, despite not liking shorts says a lot though.
So, I'm not sure where that leaves me...'torn' I guess, between fangirl squeeing and lacklustre praise of the work as a whole. I'd still read anything Alexis Hall writes, so it can't be too off-putting.
But I'm not a huge fan of short stories as a medium and I'm even less fond of such stories told in a series of correspondences and/or interviews/depositions/testimonies/etc. Which is how most of the stories in this book are told.
So, here I am, completely thrilled to have spent a little more time (not enough, mind you) with Milord and Rueben, Miss Grey, Dil and Byron. I even liked the new character, George. I still love the narrative style and voices. I still love the writing. I'm still enamoured with the amazingly effective use of pauses. I still think there's an enviable intelligence to the story, as a whole. I still think the covers are to die for. I still think the editing is superb and this is a stellar example of a book. But the fact that I don't particularly care for the type of book it happens to be kept me from being completely blown away. That I liked it as much as I did, despite not liking shorts says a lot though.
So, I'm not sure where that leaves me...'torn' I guess, between fangirl squeeing and lacklustre praise of the work as a whole. I'd still read anything Alexis Hall writes, so it can't be too off-putting.
tansy's review
adventurous
funny
3.5
The second book in Hall's Prosperityverse series collects four stories featuring the characters from the first book. I suspect this will work better if you've read the first book in the series. Also as the stories are all being told by different people for different ends they're all stylistically different, which meant that I found this book a bit hit and miss.
Shackles - a prequel to the first book exploring the first meeting between Ruben Crowe and Milord. It's fine, but Crowe is an idiot.
Squamous with a Chance of Rain - a prequel to the first book exploring the events that shaped Miss Grey. My absolute favourite of the bunch. A funny pastiche of Lovecraft, and of gothic fiction more generally, that also sends up "The Sound of Music".
Cloudy Climes & Starless Skies - set after the events of the first book, but recounting events that took place earlier. This is Byron Kae telling Piccadilly his life story. My least favourite and the story I got stuck on for some time. I find Kae nice, but uninteresting I'm afraid.
Liberty - set after the events of the first book. This is an epistolary story - it's a collection of letters, reports and witness testimonies being presented at a trial. It's an adventure narrative with a bittersweet, ambivalent ending.
Shackles - a prequel to the first book exploring the first meeting between Ruben Crowe and Milord. It's fine, but Crowe is an idiot.
Squamous with a Chance of Rain - a prequel to the first book exploring the events that shaped Miss Grey. My absolute favourite of the bunch. A funny pastiche of Lovecraft, and of gothic fiction more generally, that also sends up "The Sound of Music".
Cloudy Climes & Starless Skies - set after the events of the first book, but recounting events that took place earlier. This is Byron Kae telling Piccadilly his life story. My least favourite and the story I got stuck on for some time. I find Kae nice, but uninteresting I'm afraid.
Liberty - set after the events of the first book. This is an epistolary story - it's a collection of letters, reports and witness testimonies being presented at a trial. It's an adventure narrative with a bittersweet, ambivalent ending.
lizshayne's review against another edition
4.0
A book of short stories about characters I wasn't ready to say goodbye to yet? Excellent, thanks!
ladyhighwayman's review
4.0
I loved these stories that took place in the world of [b:Prosperity|22544017|Prosperity (Prosperity, #1)|Alexis Hall|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1403127950s/22544017.jpg|41999500], especially the first two stories.
The first story, which told of the first meetings of Ruben and Milord, was by far the best. It was short, so I don't want to give anything away, but WOW what an ending!
The second story told of a particularly disturbing governess job of one Miss Jane Grey. No idea if this contributed to the loss of some of her wits in the future, but I would't blame her if it did.
And I was fascinated by the third story, which basically was Byron Kae telling of his past and what led him into being a skycaptain.
The fourth story was interesting enough, but I did skim some. It's strong point was the introduction of a few new eccentric characters.
I loved the character of Miranda Lovelace and I'm holding out hope to hear more about her. What a character. And I really hope this is not the last time we hear from any of these characters.
The first story, which told of the first meetings of Ruben and Milord, was by far the best. It was short, so I don't want to give anything away, but WOW what an ending!
The second story told of a particularly disturbing governess job of one Miss Jane Grey. No idea if this contributed to the loss of some of her wits in the future, but I would't blame her if it did.
And I was fascinated by the third story, which basically was Byron Kae telling of his past and what led him into being a skycaptain.
The fourth story was interesting enough, but I did skim some. It's strong point was the introduction of a few new eccentric characters.
I loved the character of Miranda Lovelace and I'm holding out hope to hear more about her. What a character. And I really hope this is not the last time we hear from any of these characters.
golem's review
4.5
This is like...fanfic for Prosperity written by the author of Prosperity. So delicious. I did not totally get what was happening with all the aetheretc, and I actually good have done without George England, Miranda Lovelace, etc., but Jane Grey's backstory, which is just a stone-cold mash-up of Jane Eyre, The Sound of Music, Rebecca, and I assume Lovecraft, plus dykes, opium, and sacrifice, in EPISTOLARY form, is just...perfect.
notagreatreader's review
5.0
So this was a pretty great book, lots of different styles of narrative - letters, court documents, conversations. I enjoyed it.
embblyy's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
olive2read's review
3.0
Definitely the weakest of the series. Interesting conceptually but not enough to keep the pace from feeling sluggish af.
wart's review
5.0
I received a free ARC via NetGalley
Have you read Prosperity? Were you left with some lingering questions? (besides translating Picadilly speak...)
Would you like to know more about Milord and Reuban and how they...came to be? Shackle is for you.
Did you find yourself wondering wtf was up with Jane and how she...got where she got? Squamos with a Chance of Rain is right up your alley! Especially if you love hilarious Sound of Music References.
Do you wonder about Byron Kae? Read their story in Cloudy Climes and Starless Skies.
And learn the story of the fall of the pirate haven Liberty in Liberty with declassified court documents!
This collection is wonderful. I loved every one of these stories. My only issue was with Lord Silver's story in Shackle because it felt way too coherent. BUT I still loved the story over all.
Have you read Prosperity? Were you left with some lingering questions? (besides translating Picadilly speak...)
Would you like to know more about Milord and Reuban and how they...came to be? Shackle is for you.
Did you find yourself wondering wtf was up with Jane and how she...got where she got? Squamos with a Chance of Rain is right up your alley! Especially if you love hilarious Sound of Music References.
Do you wonder about Byron Kae? Read their story in Cloudy Climes and Starless Skies.
And learn the story of the fall of the pirate haven Liberty in Liberty with declassified court documents!
This collection is wonderful. I loved every one of these stories. My only issue was with Lord Silver's story in Shackle because it felt way too coherent. BUT I still loved the story over all.
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