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3.96 AVERAGE
3.96 AVERAGE
Like its predecessor, this was great fun! In [b:Magpie Murders|32075854|Magpie Murders (Susan Ryeland, #1)|Anthony Horowitz|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1504599398l/32075854._SY75_.jpg|3829748], the book-within-a-book comes at the very beginning, which I preferred; here it's in the middle, which I found jarring. There are twice as many characters to keep track of because many of the characters in the main narrative have counterparts in the BWAB. But what's so surprising and great is that both stories are genuinely enjoyable on their own merits.
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
slow-paced
Whether or not you enjoy the “book within a book” will, I suspect, determine your rating. I thought the book started rather slowly, and I admit it took me a bit to get my bearings. (Having read Horowitz’s twisty Murder is the Word and The Sentence is Death between the two Susan Ryeland novels threw me off, I suppose.) Personally, I loved the book within a book, but I can imagine readers turned off by it if they’re not into the story. For me it was a delight overall, despite all the red herring Leos!
Having read and loved Magpie, I was very excited to start Moonflower. I do enjoy the book-inside-a-book premise, and I appreciated how Moonflower introduces the people of the modern case before jumping into the text of Alan Conway’s book (the opposite of Magpie).
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
No