Scan barcode
katyanaish's review against another edition
3.0
This was a really hard one for me to rate.
Let's start with the stuff I loved.
1. The Reed sisters
Their family dynamic is amazing. And I hope we get to dig even deeper into Myra and Jean, because I love them as much as I love Delaney. The story of their family - just drawn in broad strokes, for this first book in the series - seems complex and interesting, and I want more. But it was also great to see these three sisters and their very real relationship with each other.
2. The world-building
I love the whole idea of Ordinary. I love that gods and monsters vacation there, that they pretend to be normal. I love imagining this sleepy little coastal paradise being the, like, place where the gods kick off their shoes and pretend to be mortal.
3. The secondary cast
Even beyond the Reed sisters, the secondary cast is really engaging. I would happily read spin off books about most of them, these gods and monsters trying to fit into a human world.
Okay, so what didn't I like...
1. Our main character - a trained and, we're led to believe, very competent police chief - seems pretty slow on the uptake.
This specifically relates to the men in her life. There were obvious signs that something was up, and she just didn't even blink. In general, it's a pet peeve for me when the main character takes ages to see things that are presented obviously to the reader - I just feel like it gives the impression that our lead is a moron. But I think it is particularly undercutting for a character that we're supposed to buy as a skilled police chief.
2. Cooper, the ex-boyfriend
He was foul from the moment we met him (who just strips down and tucks themselves into the ex-girlfriend's bed, as if they own the place?), and it just got worse from there. He had some frankly concerning abusive tendencies - he lashed out at Delaney in a vicious way on multiple occasions, and just generally treated her as a doormat. How did she ever have a relationship with this guy? It is hard to believe. But then
3. Ryder, the supposed love interest
There's so much wrong with his character to me. Firstly, again, he's so OBVIOUSLY not what he claims to be, and the fact that Delaney can't see it is really stupid. I don't know what is going on with him, but something clearly is. And even worse... I don't know what is going on with him, but I don't care. I'm so incredibly tired of books with strong female heroines that are inexplicably attracted to men who treat them like crap. And let's be clear here: Ryder may have done a couple good things in this book, but overall, he didn't treat Delaney any better than Cooper did, and you could make a strong argument that he treated her even worse. What he's doing is a giant mind-fuck, and there is something so incredibly wrong with this as a theme in UF. It's okay ladies, just stick it out. He's horrible to you, but he loves you. Just keep giving him chances and he'll eventually change! For reals! What Ryder did was devastating, and I don't care what his reasons are. If he couldn't be with her, then he shouldn't have worked so hard to be with her. But if they end up together - if he's the actual love interest - then we have yet another story that is telling women that we should accept - and even embrace - men who treat us poorly, men who are incapable of viewing us as partners and equals. That this is really just what it is to be a woman in our world, because hey look, it happens even to our strong, ass-kicking heroines. This is normal. This is the best we can expect.
It's just disappointing. And I suppose that reads like a feminist tirade, but ... I guess I just don't get it. What is wrong with us - women in general - that "heroes" appeal to us when they treat us like crap? And the normalization of that kind of relationship is at the root of so many of our problems. And I'm not saying that means people can't fight - come on, conflict is normal. But this isn't fighting, or personalities rubbing each other the wrong way at first, and then resolving into some kind of attraction. This is one person taking all the power in a relationship, by playing with the other emotionally. It is damaging and wrong.
So I like this world. I like the characters (with the exception of the douchebag love interests). And I'm going to press onward, in the hopes that Ryder isn't really the love interest. But I suspect he is ... *sigh*
***3.5***
Let's start with the stuff I loved.
1. The Reed sisters
Their family dynamic is amazing. And I hope we get to dig even deeper into Myra and Jean, because I love them as much as I love Delaney. The story of their family - just drawn in broad strokes, for this first book in the series - seems complex and interesting, and I want more. But it was also great to see these three sisters and their very real relationship with each other.
2. The world-building
I love the whole idea of Ordinary. I love that gods and monsters vacation there, that they pretend to be normal. I love imagining this sleepy little coastal paradise being the, like, place where the gods kick off their shoes and pretend to be mortal.
3. The secondary cast
Even beyond the Reed sisters, the secondary cast is really engaging. I would happily read spin off books about most of them, these gods and monsters trying to fit into a human world.
Okay, so what didn't I like...
1. Our main character - a trained and, we're led to believe, very competent police chief - seems pretty slow on the uptake.
This specifically relates to the men in her life. There were obvious signs that something was up, and she just didn't even blink. In general, it's a pet peeve for me when the main character takes ages to see things that are presented obviously to the reader - I just feel like it gives the impression that our lead is a moron. But I think it is particularly undercutting for a character that we're supposed to buy as a skilled police chief.
2. Cooper, the ex-boyfriend
He was foul from the moment we met him (who just strips down and tucks themselves into the ex-girlfriend's bed, as if they own the place?), and it just got worse from there. He had some frankly concerning abusive tendencies - he lashed out at Delaney in a vicious way on multiple occasions, and just generally treated her as a doormat. How did she ever have a relationship with this guy? It is hard to believe. But then
Spoiler
when he ends up being rewarded for his utter douchebaggery by becoming a god... I was pretty pissed. Not that I didn't see it coming - please refer to my comments about Delaney being really slow on the uptake... because this was obvious to me, as the reader - but that didn't make it acceptable. He's a piece of shit, and she made him a god? Just no.3. Ryder, the supposed love interest
There's so much wrong with his character to me. Firstly, again, he's so OBVIOUSLY not what he claims to be, and the fact that Delaney can't see it is really stupid. I don't know what is going on with him, but something clearly is. And even worse... I don't know what is going on with him, but I don't care. I'm so incredibly tired of books with strong female heroines that are inexplicably attracted to men who treat them like crap. And let's be clear here: Ryder may have done a couple good things in this book, but overall, he didn't treat Delaney any better than Cooper did, and you could make a strong argument that he treated her even worse. What he's doing is a giant mind-fuck, and there is something so incredibly wrong with this as a theme in UF. It's okay ladies, just stick it out. He's horrible to you, but he loves you. Just keep giving him chances and he'll eventually change! For reals! What Ryder did was devastating, and I don't care what his reasons are. If he couldn't be with her, then he shouldn't have worked so hard to be with her. But if they end up together - if he's the actual love interest - then we have yet another story that is telling women that we should accept - and even embrace - men who treat us poorly, men who are incapable of viewing us as partners and equals. That this is really just what it is to be a woman in our world, because hey look, it happens even to our strong, ass-kicking heroines. This is normal. This is the best we can expect.
It's just disappointing. And I suppose that reads like a feminist tirade, but ... I guess I just don't get it. What is wrong with us - women in general - that "heroes" appeal to us when they treat us like crap? And the normalization of that kind of relationship is at the root of so many of our problems. And I'm not saying that means people can't fight - come on, conflict is normal. But this isn't fighting, or personalities rubbing each other the wrong way at first, and then resolving into some kind of attraction. This is one person taking all the power in a relationship, by playing with the other emotionally. It is damaging and wrong.
So I like this world. I like the characters (with the exception of the douchebag love interests). And I'm going to press onward, in the hopes that Ryder isn't really the love interest. But I suspect he is ... *sigh*
***3.5***
madrona's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
sshpurple1's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
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? It's complicated
3.75
amym84's review against another edition
4.0
Originally posted at Vampire Book Club
Ordinary, Oregon is a complete misnomer, and no one knows that better than the Reed family. For generations the Reeds have been the resident peacekeepers in a small town that’s home to the likes of many varieties of creatures (werewolves, vampires, Valkyries, and gill-men to name a few), but what really keeps the family busy are the vacationing gods.
Yep, you read that right, Ordinary, Oregon is a hotspot for gods who want to shed their personas for a little while and live a (relatively) normal life. There are, of course, contracts involved; they have to willingly give up their power during their stay, and they must contribute to the community in some way.
Police Chief Delaney Reed has been in the position of “bridge” since her father passed away a year ago. Luckily, her sisters Myra and Jean—also on the force—know the town secret and can lend a hand. With the annual Rhubarb Festival coming up, the station is already stretched pretty thin, but when a resident god is found dead, Laney is tasked with transferring their god-power to a willing mortal, and she only has a week to do it. This is the first time she’s had to carry the power in the year that she’s been in charge. Couple that with Death—literally—on her doorstep, her ex-boyfriend back in town, and possibly, finally, receiving some requited feelings from Ryder Bailey—the man she’s loved since childhood—and there are going to be some long coffee-infused nights ahead.
Right off the bat I loved the small-town setting in Death and Relaxation. Small towns always remind me of beloved Stars Hollow (Gilmore Girls), and make me want to move there. With Death and Relaxation we get that same feeling, just with the supernatural thrown into the mix, and for lovers of urban fantasy and paranormal romance, it’s a win-win all around.
The vacationing gods only add to the quirkiness of the setting. I mean, hey, they all deserve a break once in a while too, right? The kind of culture shock they each go through is hilarious, and readers get to see that up close and personal when Thanatos, the God of Death, comes in for a vacation and proceeds to wear kitschy T-Shirts with plays on “Ordinary,” and decides to open up a kite shop. And don’t even get me started on the beef between Zeus and Odin.
For me, the relationship between the sisters is the heart of the story. Delaney is our narrator, as she’s the oldest and inherited the liaison job from her father, but I’m hoping at some point we’ll get stories from Myra and Jean’s points of view. They all understand the burdens each has to bear, and it’s very clear that they are a unit. I don’t think the story would have worked as well without that connection between the three.
One of the only things I was a bit iffy on was the romance. I’ll make allowances for Delaney since it’s clear she has a lot going on in the story, but there were some things I started to notice that I felt, as a cop, she should have been more in tuned to. I liked the way she handled things, though, and I’m interested to see how things play out. Also, the who-done-it, while interesting, wasn’t too big of a shocker in the end probably because it gets clouded over with everything else on the menu.
Overall, I enjoyed this lighter fare from Devon Monk. I’ll definitely be picking up the next one, Gods and Details, which should be out sometime in July.
Ordinary, Oregon is a complete misnomer, and no one knows that better than the Reed family. For generations the Reeds have been the resident peacekeepers in a small town that’s home to the likes of many varieties of creatures (werewolves, vampires, Valkyries, and gill-men to name a few), but what really keeps the family busy are the vacationing gods.
Yep, you read that right, Ordinary, Oregon is a hotspot for gods who want to shed their personas for a little while and live a (relatively) normal life. There are, of course, contracts involved; they have to willingly give up their power during their stay, and they must contribute to the community in some way.
Police Chief Delaney Reed has been in the position of “bridge” since her father passed away a year ago. Luckily, her sisters Myra and Jean—also on the force—know the town secret and can lend a hand. With the annual Rhubarb Festival coming up, the station is already stretched pretty thin, but when a resident god is found dead, Laney is tasked with transferring their god-power to a willing mortal, and she only has a week to do it. This is the first time she’s had to carry the power in the year that she’s been in charge. Couple that with Death—literally—on her doorstep, her ex-boyfriend back in town, and possibly, finally, receiving some requited feelings from Ryder Bailey—the man she’s loved since childhood—and there are going to be some long coffee-infused nights ahead.
Right off the bat I loved the small-town setting in Death and Relaxation. Small towns always remind me of beloved Stars Hollow (Gilmore Girls), and make me want to move there. With Death and Relaxation we get that same feeling, just with the supernatural thrown into the mix, and for lovers of urban fantasy and paranormal romance, it’s a win-win all around.
The vacationing gods only add to the quirkiness of the setting. I mean, hey, they all deserve a break once in a while too, right? The kind of culture shock they each go through is hilarious, and readers get to see that up close and personal when Thanatos, the God of Death, comes in for a vacation and proceeds to wear kitschy T-Shirts with plays on “Ordinary,” and decides to open up a kite shop. And don’t even get me started on the beef between Zeus and Odin.
For me, the relationship between the sisters is the heart of the story. Delaney is our narrator, as she’s the oldest and inherited the liaison job from her father, but I’m hoping at some point we’ll get stories from Myra and Jean’s points of view. They all understand the burdens each has to bear, and it’s very clear that they are a unit. I don’t think the story would have worked as well without that connection between the three.
One of the only things I was a bit iffy on was the romance. I’ll make allowances for Delaney since it’s clear she has a lot going on in the story, but there were some things I started to notice that I felt, as a cop, she should have been more in tuned to. I liked the way she handled things, though, and I’m interested to see how things play out. Also, the who-done-it, while interesting, wasn’t too big of a shocker in the end probably because it gets clouded over with everything else on the menu.
Overall, I enjoyed this lighter fare from Devon Monk. I’ll definitely be picking up the next one, Gods and Details, which should be out sometime in July.
ilia_'s review against another edition
3.0
This was an entertaining first book in a series (Audible-plus catalogue). The world building does not come down heavy; there are a lot of creatures living in Ordinary unbeknownst to most of the human residents and the police chief has to keep everyone in order including the gods that choose the town for their holiday. The graphic audio required a little time to get used to but I liked the writing and the banter/witty responses of the main and peripheral characters.