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tessisreading2's review against another edition
3.0
Suddenly, Book 3 in the series, we’re being informed that religious zealots (led, of course, by some guy from Tennessee) have moral objections to magic. There’s not info-dumping too much information in early books and then there’s inventing totally new world-building three books into the series. Personally I would characterize this as the latter. We’re also informed that the FBI in fact tortures its detainees. It’s not that I’m interested in defending the FBI, but it feels like using an existing organization in an alternate reality is shorthand for “basically the same organization” (just like Francis’s references to Justin Bieber) and making the choice to adjust that to “wildly anti-magic to the point that they will torture detainees to get them to admit to magic use (?) while keeping that quiet” just feels sloppy, like Francis couldn’t be bothered to build up the concept of her evil anti-magic organization until she decided she needed one. Similarly, it falls to an FBI agent to explain how the criminal underworld works to Riley - despite the fact that Riley has thrown her loyalties in with a criminal leader whom she has now decided to consider family. It comes across as revisionism, since the only other explanation is that Riley is insanely stupid and ill-informed.
There are the usual infodumps (multiple pages about the history of Riley’s apartment building and interior design descriptions). Riley forms split-second assessments of people’s character and whether or not they’re evil based on looking at them and we’re supposed to assume she’s correct. It’s very unsubtle, and it makes it difficult to trust her judgment, particularly since she so often trusts people she shouldn’t (and then afterwards is like “wow, I shouldn’t have trusted them!”).
Complaints aside, the plot is moving at a good clip and Francis clearly has some sort of end goal in mind, so I'm continuing to read.
There are the usual infodumps (multiple pages about the history of Riley’s apartment building and interior design descriptions). Riley forms split-second assessments of people’s character and whether or not they’re evil based on looking at them and we’re supposed to assume she’s correct. It’s very unsubtle, and it makes it difficult to trust her judgment, particularly since she so often trusts people she shouldn’t (and then afterwards is like “wow, I shouldn’t have trusted them!”).
Complaints aside, the plot is moving at a good clip and Francis clearly has some sort of end goal in mind, so I'm continuing to read.
chllybrd's review against another edition
4.0
I don't know how, but I completely forgot about the ending of EDGE OF DREAMS. It all quickly came back to me as I started reading the first chapter of WHISPER OF SHADOWS and I enjoyed every minute of it. I absolutely love how close Riley is with her step mother and her siblings. They have each others backs at every turn and are willing to follow each other no matter where it might take them. WHISPER OF SHADOWS brings some pretty heartbreaking moments that will be felt in every situation from here on out. I know the characters strong bonds will help them get through future trials, but I can already tell how hard it will be for all of them.
One person that really surprised me in WHISPER OF SHADOWS was Riley's sister. She really stuck up for herself and put her siblings in their place. She was sick of being treated like she was made of glass and she showed them how helpful and capable she can be when they let her. I loved it. Riley and Clay continue to grow closer. I honestly wasn't sure where their relationship would go in book one, but now I can't imagine them without each other and they can't either. Clay's brother has definitely grown on me. He is a great ally for Riley and her crew and he is really starting to show a different side of himself.
There was a ton of action in WHISPER OF SHADOWS. I think it is my favorite book of the series so far. I can't imagine Riley and her gang not being in danger, but I look forward to seeing them get out of their next jam.
* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
One person that really surprised me in WHISPER OF SHADOWS was Riley's sister. She really stuck up for herself and put her siblings in their place. She was sick of being treated like she was made of glass and she showed them how helpful and capable she can be when they let her. I loved it. Riley and Clay continue to grow closer. I honestly wasn't sure where their relationship would go in book one, but now I can't imagine them without each other and they can't either. Clay's brother has definitely grown on me. He is a great ally for Riley and her crew and he is really starting to show a different side of himself.
There was a ton of action in WHISPER OF SHADOWS. I think it is my favorite book of the series so far. I can't imagine Riley and her gang not being in danger, but I look forward to seeing them get out of their next jam.
* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
mdlaclair's review against another edition
4.0
this whole but felt weird to me. From the way the characters acted to the weird Dad to the end of the book. It just felt a little off from the rest of the series. And while I love the characters the weirdness kept me from truly enjoying the book.
bananatricky's review against another edition
4.0
Three and a half stars.
Argh, caught up already! This felt like a mid-series arc-progressing book, ie lots happened but not much gets resolved.
My previous niggles increased: Riley's super special snowflake status increased (again), although TBH some of my irritation may be because I'm not good at visualisation and I really didn't know what she was doing in and out of the trace.
The arch-villain from the last book, Percy, has fallen off the face of the earth (or so it seems) and now there are even more super-villains to contend with - any thoughts I had that magic was centred in Diamond City have been eliminated. It is everywhere and there are super-Tyets which make the local Tyets look like a church group!!
Oh, and Riley's father is back - but why? We don't even find out before Riley's step-mother's house is attacked by the FBI and Price is arrested under the Rice Act.
Whereas in the last book I was astonished at how much happened in only half the novel, in this book the opposite is true. In quick succession Price is arrested and then Touray is abducted but only one of those issues is resolved by the end of the book.
Oh, and guess what? Seems like being a special snowflake is catching!
I think the next book will inform me of whether there is a real arc to this series or whether each book has a new, even bigger badder enemy that never actually gets vanquished.
I still loved it and I'm waiting eagerly for book four.
Argh, caught up already! This felt like a mid-series arc-progressing book, ie lots happened but not much gets resolved.
My previous niggles increased: Riley's super special snowflake status increased (again), although TBH some of my irritation may be because I'm not good at visualisation and I really didn't know what she was doing in and out of the trace.
The arch-villain from the last book, Percy, has fallen off the face of the earth (or so it seems) and now there are even more super-villains to contend with - any thoughts I had that magic was centred in Diamond City have been eliminated. It is everywhere and there are super-Tyets which make the local Tyets look like a church group!!
Oh, and Riley's father is back - but why? We don't even find out before Riley's step-mother's house is attacked by the FBI and Price is arrested under the Rice Act.
Whereas in the last book I was astonished at how much happened in only half the novel, in this book the opposite is true. In quick succession Price is arrested and then Touray is abducted but only one of those issues is resolved by the end of the book.
Oh, and guess what? Seems like being a special snowflake is catching!
I think the next book will inform me of whether there is a real arc to this series or whether each book has a new, even bigger badder enemy that never actually gets vanquished.
I still loved it and I'm waiting eagerly for book four.
hazel_reads's review
4.0
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. Riley and Price have decided to move in together. Thinking it best to break the news to her family, they go to Mel's for a nice family dinner. Nothing goes as planned! An unexpected visitor from Riley's past is there when they show up. The night goes downhill from there. Apparently, the FBI wants Price for magical crimes. Price doesn't even have a magical talent. Or does he? Loyalties will be questioned, unspeakable acts committed, and people are just not who we thought they were. As always with this series, I was very happy with the way it turned out. I am ready for the next one!
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