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tangleroot_eli's review
4.0
Returning to the world of Barbara Ashford's Crossroads Theater is like slipping into a warm bubble bath at the end of a long day. The plot of Spellcrossed has enough froth to buoy it along, while the characters have enough depth to keep me engrossed. I especially enjoyed the deepening of the non-Rowan characters and their relationships before his return.
But I missed menace. In the first Crossroads book, [b:Spellcast|9664976|Spellcast|Barbara Ashford|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348591266s/9664976.jpg|14552688], Rowan was as dangerous as he was alluring. This ominous undertone, mixed with the theater's strange goings-on, the staff's worrisome reticence to discuss it, and the volatile romantic and sexual tension between Maggie and Rowan, provided deliciously spine-tingling moments and a mild darkness that kept me racing ahead.
With Crossroads' secrets revealed, Rowan & co. are no longer sinister. That's fine by me: while I liked moody, broody, secretive Rowan, I also like the Rowan who's trying to cook dinner, do laundry, and navigate an adult human relationship. And I prefer the staff being able to be honest about who they are and what they can do.
Unfortunately, Ashford gives us little to replace that tension. Maggie and Rowan's fights resolve easily and maturely. A few calm words and a well-placed burst of Fae magic soothe an irksome board president. Jack's fears turn out to be all in his head. At no point did I honestly fear for any character's physical or emotional well-being.
Ashford gave herself several opportunities for danger and disaster: If Rowan's return had complicated a budding new romance between Maggie and...someone. If Long had been more intractable. If Jack's Borderlands tormenters had shown the slightest interest in pursuing him into the human world. But it feels like she loved her characters too much to turn the screw and hurt them. As a result, though readers never have to worry about them, neither are we particularly invested in their triumph or defeat. That's a nice way to feel about people we care about (and we do care about these characters) but not the best strategy for successful fiction.
But I missed menace. In the first Crossroads book, [b:Spellcast|9664976|Spellcast|Barbara Ashford|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348591266s/9664976.jpg|14552688], Rowan was as dangerous as he was alluring. This ominous undertone, mixed with the theater's strange goings-on, the staff's worrisome reticence to discuss it, and the volatile romantic and sexual tension between Maggie and Rowan, provided deliciously spine-tingling moments and a mild darkness that kept me racing ahead.
With Crossroads' secrets revealed, Rowan & co. are no longer sinister. That's fine by me: while I liked moody, broody, secretive Rowan, I also like the Rowan who's trying to cook dinner, do laundry, and navigate an adult human relationship. And I prefer the staff being able to be honest about who they are and what they can do.
Unfortunately, Ashford gives us little to replace that tension. Maggie and Rowan's fights resolve easily and maturely. A few calm words and a well-placed burst of Fae magic soothe an irksome board president. Jack's fears turn out to be all in his head. At no point did I honestly fear for any character's physical or emotional well-being.
Ashford gave herself several opportunities for danger and disaster: If Rowan's return had complicated a budding new romance between Maggie and...someone. If Long had been more intractable. If Jack's Borderlands tormenters had shown the slightest interest in pursuing him into the human world. But it feels like she loved her characters too much to turn the screw and hurt them. As a result, though readers never have to worry about them, neither are we particularly invested in their triumph or defeat. That's a nice way to feel about people we care about (and we do care about these characters) but not the best strategy for successful fiction.
book_grinch's review
4.0
In all the books that i've read, there will always be characters, and stories that will remain as my all time favorites. The first book of this series is one of those. I loved the characters, and the ambience of these two stories, even if they, at times, leave me a little confused about certain characters and situations played in the many plays that are referred in these two stories, since i'm not a theater connaisseur. (not by far..) But the sense of wonder and of magic of which that book is infused, was so amazing, that i couldn't help wanting more. And the reason why, lies mainly at one character's feet. Barbara Ashford created a most amazing character, and after all the stories that i've read, i'm fortunate to say, as a reader, that Rowan Mckenzie is one of a kind. The magic that he brought to [b:Spellcast|9664976|Spellcast|Barbara Ashford|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1348591266s/9664976.jpg|14552688] was completely enthralling and unforgettable.
Reason why, i had a little trouble with this book. After the way the first book ended, i didn't know very well what to expect of this one. But i sure, didn't expect what happens in this one. I will only say, in an attempt to avoid spoilers, that i wasn't expecting that the introduction of a new character would, steal the spotlight of a relationship that i was really interested in reading about. Also Maggie's atittudes at times really got on my nerves, leaving me to wonder, if she was really being portrayed as a thirty four year old woman, or instead as a insecure teenager. As well had happened with the first one, i loved reading about all the staff members. In this one, i especially loved Mei-Yin OUTBURSTS! I loved reading about the way Maggie and Janet relationship developed itself, as well as all the others. So what is the lesson to be taken from this story?
That the past never leaves us? That there isn't only one type of family? That there's a moment when caution is thrown to the wind, and all one can do, is to follow one's heart?
Probably all of them.
Trying to live the best we can, while we secretly keep hoping for a sign of magic in our lifes.
The magic of friendship, the magic of family, the magic of love.
Reason why, i had a little trouble with this book. After the way the first book ended, i didn't know very well what to expect of this one. But i sure, didn't expect what happens in this one. I will only say, in an attempt to avoid spoilers, that i wasn't expecting that the introduction of a new character would, steal the spotlight of a relationship that i was really interested in reading about. Also Maggie's atittudes at times really got on my nerves, leaving me to wonder, if she was really being portrayed as a thirty four year old woman, or instead as a insecure teenager. As well had happened with the first one, i loved reading about all the staff members. In this one, i especially loved Mei-Yin OUTBURSTS! I loved reading about the way Maggie and Janet relationship developed itself, as well as all the others. So what is the lesson to be taken from this story?
That the past never leaves us? That there isn't only one type of family? That there's a moment when caution is thrown to the wind, and all one can do, is to follow one's heart?
Probably all of them.
Trying to live the best we can, while we secretly keep hoping for a sign of magic in our lifes.
The magic of friendship, the magic of family, the magic of love.
fmoreno's review
3.0
The sequel of Spellcast didn't have the same impact as the first one did. In fact the first half of the book was a little boring for me and I almost interrupted the reading. But then I started thinking that the first book was and still is one of my all-time favourite books and so I decided this one deserved another chance. Well, it did get better... but not so much. I'm actually very disappointed with this book and I don't think that it did justice to the first one which was perfect in all the possible ways.
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