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3.59 AVERAGE
3.59 AVERAGE
Not exactly rocket science but I really enjoyed it. I found the bad guys and the evil plot obvious from the beginning, but I have a habit of doing that in almost all fiction, so take that with a grain of salt. Regardless, I enjoyed the world building and the characters immensely. Will definitely read more in this series, especially when I'm in the mood for something light and amusing.
This was quite good. I wished there was more romance but it was closer to the Others series by Anne Bishop. Hinting but no actual progress.
I liked Dunleavy and Karish. I thought they were a good pair. I do hope that they eventually end up together.
I was amazed at the stupidity of Creol. I can't believe that just because he was bored her was willing to kill a whole town!
I was mad a Aiden and the others for believe in Creol. Especially Aiden who went out of his way to manipulate Dunleavy.
I'm looking forward to the next book. :)
I liked Dunleavy and Karish. I thought they were a good pair. I do hope that they eventually end up together.
I was amazed at the stupidity of Creol. I can't believe that just because he was bored her was willing to kill a whole town!
I was mad a Aiden and the others for believe in Creol. Especially Aiden who went out of his way to manipulate Dunleavy.
I'm looking forward to the next book. :)
More like 3.5
Really very good but suffers for being a first book. We get a little bit of an info dump and only the beginning of our leads establishing their relationship. All in all, a good start to a great series.
Also this cover did Karish so dirty. He would NEVER. Not once does he ever disrespect or belittle Lee.
Really very good but suffers for being a first book. We get a little bit of an info dump and only the beginning of our leads establishing their relationship. All in all, a good start to a great series.
Also this cover did Karish so dirty. He would NEVER. Not once does he ever disrespect or belittle Lee.
Fun, a little silly. The character development rarely takes any surprising turns, but that's okay.
I wasn't expecting this to be a sci fi but basically everything else was exactly what I was hoping/expecting it to be
I forget why I shelved this way back in the before-times of 2017 but I am glad I did. This was a fantasy novel with a surprisingly light tone and humour which I generally liked. It felt like an urban fantasy in its focus on a female lead and the wry humour that pervades the writing, but it’s set in a completely secondary world with a pretty interesting magic system. The Source and Shield system almost feel like physic powers so this was an unexpected sci-fi / fantasy blend which I am interested to see be flushed out in the later book.
The book serves as an introduction to the lead characters and the world so the lore is not too deep here. We join the leads when they are basically graduating - so it skips the magic school setting which would have made the series a little too much like high school for my tastes, given the humour. However, it is still early in the couple’s journey that I can see us following along as they mature individually (and maybe even start a romance).
The romantic elements in the story were actually quite well handled. But yes, there will be a romance focus in the series so for people who don't like to see grown adults enter into a romance - they should probably avoid this.
I was expecting the book to be on like [b:Soulless|6381205|Soulless (Parasol Protectorate, #1)|Gail Carriger|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1314020848l/6381205._SY75_.jpg|6569140] - part of the other series I am in the middle of - but while being light, this has a different sensibility. The author made an inspired choice to tell the entire story through Dunleavy, our heroine’s, perspective (and I am saying this even though I am generally allergic to first person POVs. The author keeps the plot narrowly focused and to the reader Lee comes across as a bit naïve and clueless. And man she is stiff!
This made me like Lee quite a bit and generally smile at her shenanigans. Yes, the plot is a bit slight and I wonder how long this naivety in the character can continue (will Lee ever get a clue - especially with respect to the H). But I am excited to find out.
The only quibble I will have is that the book isn’t as funny as I would have liked. The tone settles into a bit of pleasant humour but there wasn’t much I actually laughed at. That could be intentional but it is not exactly to my taste - I prefer a little more quip and bite to the humour.
As I mentioned, the plot itself was quite simple and largely obvious. I would like to see this expand a little. A solid 4 star - though I am still dithering if this should be 4.5 as I had a pretty great time reading.
I may come back and up this if book 2 continues to be solid. It’ll make me feel better than the sum of the parts work in the series.
The book serves as an introduction to the lead characters and the world so the lore is not too deep here. We join the leads when they are basically graduating - so it skips the magic school setting which would have made the series a little too much like high school for my tastes, given the humour. However, it is still early in the couple’s journey that I can see us following along as they mature individually (and maybe even start a romance).
The romantic elements in the story were actually quite well handled.
Spoiler
There is a definite hint of attraction between the leads but they don't fall into bed or end up together in the space of week. IMAGINE THAT. Seems more slow burn and more like a crush which I found cute.I was expecting the book to be on like [b:Soulless|6381205|Soulless (Parasol Protectorate, #1)|Gail Carriger|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1314020848l/6381205._SY75_.jpg|6569140] - part of the other series I am in the middle of - but while being light, this has a different sensibility. The author made an inspired choice to tell the entire story through Dunleavy, our heroine’s, perspective (and I am saying this even though I am generally allergic to first person POVs. The author keeps the plot narrowly focused and to the reader Lee comes across as a bit naïve and clueless. And man she is stiff!
This made me like Lee quite a bit and generally smile at her shenanigans. Yes, the plot is a bit slight and I wonder how long this naivety in the character can continue (will Lee ever get a clue - especially with respect to the H). But I am excited to find out.
The only quibble I will have is that the book isn’t as funny as I would have liked. The tone settles into a bit of pleasant humour but there wasn’t much I actually laughed at. That could be intentional but it is not exactly to my taste - I prefer a little more quip and bite to the humour.
As I mentioned, the plot itself was quite simple and largely obvious. I would like to see this expand a little. A solid 4 star - though I am still dithering if this should be 4.5 as I had a pretty great time reading.
I may come back and up this if book 2 continues to be solid. It’ll make me feel better than the sum of the parts work in the series.
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I adore this book. I adore this whole series. Lee's journey to admitting she can tolerate Taro and night even like him is equal parts sincerely sweet and deeply hilarious. Literally my only note is that the cover is a disgrace and I recently got into bookbinding so I can fix that.
I was chained to a legend. An infamous legend. Stories of drunkenness, whoring, and general recklessness filled my head. Oh. My. God. I must have been evil in a former life.
In a realm beset by natural disasters, only the magical abilities of the bonded Pairs—Source and Shield—make the land habitable and keep the citizenry safe. The ties that bind them are far beyond the relationships between lovers or kin—and last their entire lives…whether they like it or not.
Dunleavy Mallorough has been nurturing her talents as a Shield for years, preparing for her day of bonding. Unfortunately, fate decrees Lee’s partner to be the legendary, handsome, and unbearably self-assured Lord Shintaro Karish. However, Karish’s popularity and notoriety—in bed and out—make him the last Source Lee ever wanted to be stuck with.
The duo is assigned to High Scape, a city so besieged by disaster that seven bonded pairs are needed to combat it. But when an inexplicable force strikes down every other Source and Shield, Lee and Karish must put aside their differences in order to defeat something even more unnatural than their reluctant affections for each other…
He’d asked me why I hadn’t told him I was brilliant. I’d said I’d assumed it was obvious.
I'll admit I judged this based on the cover...I was expecting a completely over-the-top dramatic comedy (not that there is anything wrong with that...I just have to be in the mood). I was delightfully surprised that, while it does have good humor, the novel takes itself seriously with the well-crafted plot.
Dunleavy is the epitome of hard-study, academia. She takes her role seriously, puts forth 110%, and doesn't allow anything to distract her from what she feels is her duty. She's proud to be a Shield and considers herself a damn fine one (which she is). While she could do to loosen up a bit, she's definitely paired well with Karish.
I would die with this man. He’d catch some sexual disease, or some enraged spouse would kill him, and the bond would drag me down with him. He was that sort, the sort that shone too bright and burned out fast.
Karish is more than the pretty boy player we first think him to be. He uses his station and his reputation to hide the intelligence underneath but he's just as hardworking and deserving of praise as Dunleavy.
Their dynamic starts out with Dunleavy making it readily apparent that she doesn't trust Karish to pull his weight. Alternatively, Karish doesn't know how to bridge Dunleavy's icy disdain and grows evermore frustrated that he's accused of being a sleuth despite evidence to the contrary. As they work together, trust forms slowly but...complications...get in the way.
I was quite prepared to seek out this enemy of Karish’s and dismember him, slowly, to thank him for the way he had disrupted my life.
The chunk where the pair was separated dragged a bit, mostly because I think their relationship and their interactions were really the major reason I loved this novel. Any minute their relationship wasn't developing I grew impatient to see them together again.
I can't wait to see where this Pair takes us...especially when they're now considered a possible threat to the very organization that trained them.
Recommended for fantasy lovers that like character development with a pinch of intrigue added on.
Fantasy romance that tries to do the “we hate each other! By which we mean we secretly LOVE each other!” thing—but without much spark. I like how queer-friendly Moore's world is, but other than that there's not much that's terribly original about it. I wasn't interested in the plot, the setting, or the characters. However well-intentioned a work may be—and I think this one is full of good intentions—if you can't make me care, well. I'm going to read something else.
There is a fluid sexuality to these books I adore. The characters sleep with either sex, but not once is it pointed out. It's just a fact. There's no reference to someone liking men or welcoming both genders to their bed. No labels are applied. It's exactly how sexual identity should be handled in this sort of book.
I don't understand why the cover is so awful though.
I don't understand why the cover is so awful though.