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colorfulleo92's review against another edition
4.0
Liked it a lot more then the first. Very twisty and fun.
fisk42's review against another edition
3.0
It's hard to pin down exacly why I didn't enjoy this book nearly as much as I did Borderline. One thing I enjoyed about Borderline was the exploration of Borderline Personality Disorder and it's effect on the main character's psyche and her interactions with everyone. In Phantom Pains it felt like her BDP was just a prop to advance personal drama between the characters.
I think a lot of this book probably suffers from the growing pains of a writer trying to write her second book. The plot felt murkier and overall the book was simply less interesting. However I am pretty likely to read the next in the series as Phantom Pains leaves the world in a potentially very interesting predicament.
I think a lot of this book probably suffers from the growing pains of a writer trying to write her second book. The plot felt murkier and overall the book was simply less interesting. However I am pretty likely to read the next in the series as Phantom Pains leaves the world in a potentially very interesting predicament.
_b_a_l_'s review against another edition
4.0
Grownup urban fairy fantasy. Lots of fun.
"But there was no magic this time. Just the nearness of an otherwise sane man who was genuinely, thoroughly weak-kneed with adoration."
"But there was no magic this time. Just the nearness of an otherwise sane man who was genuinely, thoroughly weak-kneed with adoration."
adru's review against another edition
Nähtavasti just õige ajaviitemeelelahutus, sest igav ei olnud, korda ei läinud ja praeguseks on e-v unustatud.
mierke's review against another edition
4.5
Improbably, I loved this one way more than the first one (that's not how it usually goes!). I got totally lost in it in the best of ways. The characters were amazing (I love Caryl so freaking much; this book totally broke my heart). The world-building is really great, and I love how the mental health stuff is interwoven with the fay stuff.
The only sour note is how Millie keeps insisting she can't get into a relationship because of her BPD; I get that she might not feel ready, yet, but that's not the way it's written, and the idea that borderliners by definition can't do relationships just pisses me off (as a borderline in a 20-year-long relationship).
The only sour note is how Millie keeps insisting she can't get into a relationship because of her BPD; I get that she might not feel ready, yet, but that's not the way it's written, and the idea that borderliners by definition can't do relationships just pisses me off (as a borderline in a 20-year-long relationship).
waclements7's review against another edition
5.0
Read Me
I am on tenterhooks here waiting for the third book. This is an amazing series. If you're looking for an urban fantasy series that is a few steps away from the normal UF, this may be the one for you. The characters are well drawn, the storyline is so incredibly intriguing, and I love the way mental illness is portrayed. The pace doesn't slow down for the second book, it just keeps going. Highly recommended.
I am on tenterhooks here waiting for the third book. This is an amazing series. If you're looking for an urban fantasy series that is a few steps away from the normal UF, this may be the one for you. The characters are well drawn, the storyline is so incredibly intriguing, and I love the way mental illness is portrayed. The pace doesn't slow down for the second book, it just keeps going. Highly recommended.
disabledbookdragon's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
ganymede's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
queer_bookwyrm's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-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
4.0
4 ⭐ CW: violence, suicide mentions, death, blood, gore, cursing, torture mention, sexual content mention
Phantom Pains by Mishell Baker is book two in the Arcadia Project trilogy. It's been awhile since I read book one, so it took a bit for me to get back into it. This reminded me why I liked the first one so much! Urban Fantasy, fey, ghosts, and a revolution! Plus, this series has some great disabled rep, with the MC having borderline personality disorder and being a double amputee using prosthetics. She's also bi.
We pick up with Millie after the events from the last book. She has quit the Arcadia Project, and now works in a studio as an assistant to a person who knows about fey and Arcadia. To Millie's dismay, she is pulled back into the Arcadia Project's orbit, because of what she did to Vivian in soundstage 13. Because of what happened there, ghosts start possessing people and causing havoc. The ghosts aren't what they seem, and suddenly, Millie can't tell who is actually the bad guy.
I just love the way Baker has written Millie's voice. She's so sarcastic, curses constantly, and generally fucks everything up. I really appreciate how Baker continues to incorporate Millie's borderline into how she responds to certain things. Because of the borderline, it makes having relationships a bit complicated. We get to see her struggle with having so much iron in her body as a super power and as a curse. It protects her from fey and physical spells, but also makes it impossible to touch or be affected by her Echo (basically her fey soul mate).
This had such a great twist! I love that Baker is doing more world-building and adding extra dimension while also setting us up for the next book. Excited to see how the series ends. I feel like this would make for a great tv show.
Phantom Pains by Mishell Baker is book two in the Arcadia Project trilogy. It's been awhile since I read book one, so it took a bit for me to get back into it. This reminded me why I liked the first one so much! Urban Fantasy, fey, ghosts, and a revolution! Plus, this series has some great disabled rep, with the MC having borderline personality disorder and being a double amputee using prosthetics. She's also bi.
We pick up with Millie after the events from the last book. She has quit the Arcadia Project, and now works in a studio as an assistant to a person who knows about fey and Arcadia. To Millie's dismay, she is pulled back into the Arcadia Project's orbit, because of what she did to Vivian in soundstage 13. Because of what happened there, ghosts start possessing people and causing havoc. The ghosts aren't what they seem, and suddenly, Millie can't tell who is actually the bad guy.
I just love the way Baker has written Millie's voice. She's so sarcastic, curses constantly, and generally fucks everything up. I really appreciate how Baker continues to incorporate Millie's borderline into how she responds to certain things. Because of the borderline, it makes having relationships a bit complicated. We get to see her struggle with having so much iron in her body as a super power and as a curse. It protects her from fey and physical spells, but also makes it impossible to touch or be affected by her Echo (basically her fey soul mate).
This had such a great twist! I love that Baker is doing more world-building and adding extra dimension while also setting us up for the next book. Excited to see how the series ends. I feel like this would make for a great tv show.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Violence, Cursing, Gore, and Death
Moderate: Suicide and Suicide attempt
Minor: Torture and Sexual content