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3.91 AVERAGE
3.91 AVERAGE
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
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:
Yes
Ugh, it was so great to be back with Merlin, Vivian, Susan and the Booksellers.
This instalment focuses more around Bath, which made me very excited as I had recently visited Bath, and it was great to see it brought to life in this book. I loved the new mythical/magical beings we were introduced to in this book and how everything built upon what was established in the first book.
Susan's own powers and heritage were explored further, and it was great to see the growth. Not just of her, but with her relationship with Merlin (and Vivian and the others). I still adore Merlin as a character, however I think he has definitely matured a little for this venture. He still brings a pinch of fun and un-seriousness too, that helps carry the story along.
As always, Nix's writing style is perfection and this was such a fun book. I definitely devoured it a lot faster than I intended! I hope we'll get a third outing with this group.
This instalment focuses more around Bath, which made me very excited as I had recently visited Bath, and it was great to see it brought to life in this book. I loved the new mythical/magical beings we were introduced to in this book and how everything built upon what was established in the first book.
Susan's own powers and heritage were explored further, and it was great to see the growth. Not just of her, but with her relationship with Merlin (and Vivian and the others). I still adore Merlin as a character, however I think he has definitely matured a little for this venture. He still brings a pinch of fun and un-seriousness too, that helps carry the story along.
As always, Nix's writing style is perfection and this was such a fun book. I definitely devoured it a lot faster than I intended! I hope we'll get a third outing with this group.
adventurous
fast-paced
A gender non conforming magical librarian solves a strange mystery and deals with ancient deities, together with an art student with her own mysterious heritage. (They are in love of course!) Set in the eighties, in Bath, but without the expected period-typical bigotries. A delightful jaunt with some murder-mystery tension, dangerous statues, and quirky relatives.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I really enjoyed the first book and I thought I would love this book too. But for some reason I just couldn't get into it. Maybe it was where I was at.
But maybe it was because Susan's character was holding herself back, trying to not be a part of things.
And I really think I didn't care for the Ending at all. There.
Is all of this power and hints at these ideas? And they're never fully fulfilled. They're kind of skirted around. Oh, go talk to this person, they might know. And things are hinted at, but no answers are really given. And then it's just like oh. Well, never mind, just kidding. I'm gonna pretend like I'm normal now. It was really disappointing but at the same time I guess it was trying to not be a savior trop while being that exact thing.....I don't know.
But maybe it was because Susan's character was holding herself back, trying to not be a part of things.
And I really think I didn't care for the Ending at all. There.
Is all of this power and hints at these ideas? And they're never fully fulfilled. They're kind of skirted around. Oh, go talk to this person, they might know. And things are hinted at, but no answers are really given. And then it's just like oh. Well, never mind, just kidding. I'm gonna pretend like I'm normal now. It was really disappointing but at the same time I guess it was trying to not be a savior trop while being that exact thing.....I don't know.
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
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
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This was the second time I picked this book up from the library (first time not reading it at all). I cannot remember the first book and thought I found it mediocre (but I actually gave it 4 stars as I see now). So I started this more out of a whim, not expecting to like it very much but having nothing better to read. And then I was sucked into the story. I had a fantastic time, loved the story, enjoyed the characters (Susan coming to terms with the fact that she will never be normal). I do not often visualise in detail what is described on the page, so the clothes went over my head most of the time (except for general concepts) but I did not find it annyoing or distracting.
I liked that the focus was not on the romance between Susan and Merlin. Not remembering the first book was actually no problem, I did not feel lost or that I missed anything at any time.
Even more so than with the first book, I would not classify this as pure YA. Some themes can be classified as YA but the writing, words used, descriptions (especially architecture styles), and characters (also taking into account their age and stage of life in the book) make it more of an adult novel.
I liked that the focus was not on the romance between Susan and Merlin. Not remembering the first book was actually no problem, I did not feel lost or that I missed anything at any time.
Even more so than with the first book, I would not classify this as pure YA. Some themes can be classified as YA but the writing, words used, descriptions (especially architecture styles), and characters (also taking into account their age and stage of life in the book) make it more of an adult novel.