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tansy's review against another edition
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 against another edition
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 against another edition
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 against another edition
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 against another edition
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 against another edition
3.0
Definitely the weakest of the series. Interesting conceptually but not enough to keep the pace from feeling sluggish af.
wart's review against another edition
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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