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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
3 stars
Good enough that I want to know what happens next
Good enough that I want to know what happens next
The world-building was interesting (a USA that fell apart, with areas going to various other countries), and the magic system was fun (it has Rasputin, too.) The protagonist, Gunnie Rose, is a strong character, but I had a bit of a tough time connecting to her. She stumbles around, repeating very similar actions, full of anger. I'm curious enough to try the second book, to see where the character is going.
My introduction to Charlaine Harris (although I have watched some episodes of True Blood way back when) and I really enjoyed Gunnie Rose. She's a cool character who is not perfect by any means but has a code of honor like many gunslingers. I look forward to reading more about her.
An easy, fun read with complex characters and decent plot dimension. This tale of an alternate America feels both like an old western and a near-future dystopia, which is kind of a fun juxtaposition.
The most unusual thing for me was the way the narrative reflected the character of Lizbeth, our 19-year-old, friend-mourning, magician-distrusting, gun-slinging protagonist. Young, slightly broken, often rash, and highly skilled, Lizbeth lives on the edge of the law and of her own safety (and sometimes sanity). This isn't unexpected for a novel in this style, but what baffled me (while occasionally being both annoying and very impressive) was the way the narrative hurtled forward at such a pace that I often found myself screeching to a halt, thinking - "wait, what??" - and then rereading the last few pages to make sure I hadn't missed something. Lizbeth has a five minute conversation with a character that seems to be going well, and then - in ONE sentence - she kills them dead. No words are dedicated to explaining the thought process that leads her to decide to do this. It just happens. Sometimes you learn afterward why she did it, sometimes not. Her reaction to the naming of Eli's position was the most abrupt and inexplicable of all her actions. I reeeeally couldn't sort that one out. Still can't, actually, but in retrospect I rather like this unusual style. It feels right for the character and does the story decent literary service, I think.
I'll keep on with this series. I think it'll be a good one for moments when life is a little tough and the thought of shooting one's way through all one's problems has significant appeal.
The most unusual thing for me was the way the narrative reflected the character of Lizbeth, our 19-year-old, friend-mourning, magician-distrusting, gun-slinging protagonist. Young, slightly broken, often rash, and highly skilled, Lizbeth lives on the edge of the law and of her own safety (and sometimes sanity). This isn't unexpected for a novel in this style, but what baffled me (while occasionally being both annoying and very impressive) was the way the narrative hurtled forward at such a pace that I often found myself screeching to a halt, thinking - "wait, what??" - and then rereading the last few pages to make sure I hadn't missed something. Lizbeth has a five minute conversation with a character that seems to be going well, and then - in ONE sentence - she kills them dead. No words are dedicated to explaining the thought process that leads her to decide to do this. It just happens. Sometimes you learn afterward why she did it, sometimes not. Her reaction to the naming of Eli's position was the most abrupt and inexplicable of all her actions. I reeeeally couldn't sort that one out. Still can't, actually, but in retrospect I rather like this unusual style. It feels right for the character and does the story decent literary service, I think.
I'll keep on with this series. I think it'll be a good one for moments when life is a little tough and the thought of shooting one's way through all one's problems has significant appeal.
Charlaine Harris' best new world building in years. Fascinating characters, magic, alternate history...this is an absorbing, deeply enjoyable new work.
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
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:
No
didn't like the world or characters the first time. still don't
I've been a Charlaine Harris fan for a long time, since I first read the mysteries featuring Lily Bard, and I thoroughly enjoyed the adventures of Gunnie Rose. This is a brisk story and is fairly easy reading. Some people criticized that you don't immediately get all of the backstory and exposition of this alternative world -- that it's doled out in dribs and drabs -- but I actually liked that a little bit better. Sometimes when authors are trying to describe the world they're building, it ends up sounding more like a history book than an enjoyable fiction book.
Harris is great at world-building, but she doesn't necessarily write joyful, easy books (caveat: while I've liked a lot of Harris's books, my patience with Sookie Stackhouse was more limited so maybe some of those were more "fun"). They aren't bleak, but they can be a little dark, and An Easy Death is no exception. There's a lot of killing in this book, and the life lead in this alternative-history world is not An Easy Life. But I find them enjoyable reading nonetheless. I like that she writes strong complex female characters, that the writing is even but moves quickly. So if you enjoyed Lily Bard and Harper Connelly, you'll probably like Gunnie Rose, too.
Harris is great at world-building, but she doesn't necessarily write joyful, easy books (caveat: while I've liked a lot of Harris's books, my patience with Sookie Stackhouse was more limited so maybe some of those were more "fun"). They aren't bleak, but they can be a little dark, and An Easy Death is no exception. There's a lot of killing in this book, and the life lead in this alternative-history world is not An Easy Life. But I find them enjoyable reading nonetheless. I like that she writes strong complex female characters, that the writing is even but moves quickly. So if you enjoyed Lily Bard and Harper Connelly, you'll probably like Gunnie Rose, too.
Better than the last couple Aurora Teagarden books for sure. It was suspenseful and set in an interesting world.
“Feisty” female lead; dystopian future; imagined society and cultures. Not fully successful, as convincing or as well written as eg Weir’s Artemis.