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meganreadsome's review against another edition
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? Yes
3.5
ellena91's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
3.0
iffer's review against another edition
4.0
I always enjoy the books in this series, even if the general structure is always the same (at least one person from "outside" moves to Mystic Bayou and then falls in love while fending off some hazardous magic-related event). For me, it's like settling down to watch reruns of a favorite sitcom while sagging onto a comfortable couch. I know what I'm in for, but I can still feel warm and fuzzy imagining a community of oddballs that creates the family that they need and eats lots of pie.
jester_arrow's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
tiffer0022's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
kay_slayerofbooks's review against another edition
5.0
Wait! Is that it? But I want more!
Great ending to a captivating series. I didn't want it to end. And obviously I liked the connection between Cordelia and Brendan. The friendships between all of couples. The sense of family and home. All the warm and fuzzy stuff.
4.5 stars
Great ending to a captivating series. I didn't want it to end. And obviously I liked the connection between Cordelia and Brendan. The friendships between all of couples. The sense of family and home. All the warm and fuzzy stuff.
4.5 stars
renpuspita's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
3.5
3,5 stars
Four book already (and 1 novella or novelette, whatev), and I can feel that the story aspect such as setting, background, etc can be formulaic. Although, I don't mind the formulaic part, since I considered Mystic Bayou series as comfort read. We have characters with family issues, small town community, friendship that may come as forced at first but not at all. I'm glad that the friendship part not just from the heroine part, but the hero as well. Add it with humor, especially from Zed. I swear, it's Zed that make this series interesting. Not that I think both h/H, Cordelia and Brendan (whom name apparently a combination from Brendan Fraser and Richard O'Connell. You know, THE MUMMY. My favorite movie, though) are boring, but seriously, Zed is the reason why I found this series charming in its own way.
So, Cordelia is a psychic with a terrible power because she will get memories and feeling from anything she touch. Must be very miserable and add it with control freak mother, not exactly a happy childhood. Again. In the other side, Brendan is a banshee. Now, when you ask "but, I think banshees are usually women?", mind you that Brenda is a rare case. Sadly, Brendan abilities as a banshee just come short to when he can predict people's dead but...yeah just that. Their love can be categorized into lust, er, love at the first sight, especially from Brendan side, and its seems that Cordelia can't feel what Brendan think when she touch him. Reason for that is spoilery, so you must read the book first. The problem is continuous from book 3, Sonja and Will's book, since the artifact on the rift is acting again. There's interruption from the League's office that apparently come from the high place, Cordelia's lost love that appear again and potentially create DRAMA, Jillian's pregnancy, then something sinister try to target the artifact. But don't fret, there's always pie that will soothe the h/H soul when there's trouble brewing. Because apparently, everyday is a pie day in Mystic Bayou. But, if you have a brownie, in this case Siobhan that can give you a pie that suitable for what you need (not what you want), who will said no?
The romance is kinda feel rushed, and maybe there's lack of development since the drama part come from misunderstanding and potential of love triangle (don't fret, there's none). But, the artifact plot is written nicely. The problem kinda wrapped up, although seems like there's new trouble brewing in the horizon. Part of why I like the Mystic Bayou is the familiarity that I feel when reading about old characters. In this case, Jillian, her dragon beau Bael (which real name is...let's say I prefer his dragon name), ofc Zed (my favorite Mayor that always make me cackling), his lady love Danica that obsessed with llama, and the almighty Sonja with her selkies boyfriend Will. Also another Mystic Bayou lovely citizens that I never get tired to read their daily life. I think that Always be My Banshee can't be read as stand alone and so you must start how it's all began in How To Date With Your Dragon.
I just wish this series don't come in audio book version first. Because I don't do audiobook (my English listening skill is rusty) and the ebook version come 6-7 months later after the audio book released. Too much time for waiting.
Four book already (and 1 novella or novelette, whatev), and I can feel that the story aspect such as setting, background, etc can be formulaic. Although, I don't mind the formulaic part, since I considered Mystic Bayou series as comfort read. We have characters with family issues, small town community, friendship that may come as forced at first but not at all. I'm glad that the friendship part not just from the heroine part, but the hero as well. Add it with humor, especially from Zed. I swear, it's Zed that make this series interesting. Not that I think both h/H, Cordelia and Brendan (whom name apparently a combination from Brendan Fraser and Richard O'Connell. You know, THE MUMMY. My favorite movie, though) are boring, but seriously, Zed is the reason why I found this series charming in its own way.
So, Cordelia is a psychic with a terrible power because she will get memories and feeling from anything she touch. Must be very miserable and add it with control freak mother, not exactly a happy childhood. Again. In the other side, Brendan is a banshee. Now, when you ask "but, I think banshees are usually women?", mind you that Brenda is a rare case. Sadly, Brendan abilities as a banshee just come short to when he can predict people's dead but...yeah just that. Their love can be categorized into lust, er, love at the first sight, especially from Brendan side, and its seems that Cordelia can't feel what Brendan think when she touch him. Reason for that is spoilery, so you must read the book first. The problem is continuous from book 3, Sonja and Will's book, since the artifact on the rift is acting again. There's interruption from the League's office that apparently come from the high place, Cordelia's lost love that appear again and potentially create DRAMA, Jillian's pregnancy, then something sinister try to target the artifact. But don't fret, there's always pie that will soothe the h/H soul when there's trouble brewing. Because apparently, everyday is a pie day in Mystic Bayou. But, if you have a brownie, in this case Siobhan that can give you a pie that suitable for what you need (not what you want), who will said no?
The romance is kinda feel rushed, and maybe there's lack of development since the drama part come from misunderstanding and potential of love triangle (don't fret, there's none). But, the artifact plot is written nicely. The problem kinda wrapped up, although seems like there's new trouble brewing in the horizon. Part of why I like the Mystic Bayou is the familiarity that I feel when reading about old characters. In this case, Jillian, her dragon beau Bael (which real name is...let's say I prefer his dragon name), ofc Zed (my favorite Mayor that always make me cackling), his lady love Danica that obsessed with llama, and the almighty Sonja with her selkies boyfriend Will. Also another Mystic Bayou lovely citizens that I never get tired to read their daily life. I think that Always be My Banshee can't be read as stand alone and so you must start how it's all began in How To Date With Your Dragon.
I just wish this series don't come in audio book version first. Because I don't do audiobook (my English listening skill is rusty) and the ebook version come 6-7 months later after the audio book released. Too much time for waiting.
lizacorn's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship
berls's review against another edition
4.0
I always enjoy Molly Harper and always in audio with Amanda Ronconi's narration. But I've fallen behind on her books of late because they tend to be Audible exclusives and I don't maintain an Audible subscription anymore. But I did a 30 day trial that got me some time with the Audible Plus, so I'm determined to use this time to catch up on the Mystic Bayou series.
Thankfully, despite the time away from the series, I was able to pick it up without missing a beat. As always with these books, the characters were great. Cordelia's ability has severely impacted her life and she's very alone in the world. Brendan has been similarly marked by his ability, despite the huge differences. And it makes them uniquely suited for each other. And they seem to have strong chemistry from the start, which makes watching them connect a fun ride.
Of course, they're in Mystic Bayou to do a job -- a dangerous one that their abilities make them uniquely suited for. The dangers are so strong, though, and they don't actually spend that much time working. Which worked well enough, because it gave Cordelia and Brendan more time to grow and connect. We did get some solid series progression in regards to the rift. In fact, if I had been reading this when it first came out, I could have believed this was the last book in the series. Since I know it's not though, I'm curious to see where things go from here.
As I mentioned, I always enjoy Amanda Ronconi's narration - I think she's really great at delivering Molly Harper's particular style of humor and she voices the characters personalities so well. I had forgotten that this series has dual narration with Jonathan Davis voicing Brendan's POV. He's an equally strong narrator, as is well demonstrated by the vocal variety he displays in this book -- particularly with Brendan, an Irish character. While they are both strong narrators, they are very different, which isn't usually my choice for dual narration. Somehow it works despite their voices for the same characters being very different.
Looking forward to reading more -- hopefully finishing the series during this 30 day trial I have!
Thankfully, despite the time away from the series, I was able to pick it up without missing a beat. As always with these books, the characters were great. Cordelia's ability has severely impacted her life and she's very alone in the world. Brendan has been similarly marked by his ability, despite the huge differences. And it makes them uniquely suited for each other. And they seem to have strong chemistry from the start, which makes watching them connect a fun ride.
Of course, they're in Mystic Bayou to do a job -- a dangerous one that their abilities make them uniquely suited for. The dangers are so strong, though, and they don't actually spend that much time working. Which worked well enough, because it gave Cordelia and Brendan more time to grow and connect. We did get some solid series progression in regards to the rift. In fact, if I had been reading this when it first came out, I could have believed this was the last book in the series. Since I know it's not though, I'm curious to see where things go from here.
As I mentioned, I always enjoy Amanda Ronconi's narration - I think she's really great at delivering Molly Harper's particular style of humor and she voices the characters personalities so well. I had forgotten that this series has dual narration with Jonathan Davis voicing Brendan's POV. He's an equally strong narrator, as is well demonstrated by the vocal variety he displays in this book -- particularly with Brendan, an Irish character. While they are both strong narrators, they are very different, which isn't usually my choice for dual narration. Somehow it works despite their voices for the same characters being very different.
Looking forward to reading more -- hopefully finishing the series during this 30 day trial I have!
forever_fantasy's review
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5