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jessdone's review
2.0
I spent a few days sitting on this series trying to figure out how I felt. The good: Sara Fine is a phenomenal writer. The way she told this story and I mean her writing style, her detail, her pacing her word choice, all that nitty gritty compelled me to read all the way through the series even though I do not like the plot or characters.
Other good points: I did read the whole series. It was touch and go because there are problematic elements, but it's still a testament to the Sara Fine's skill.
Last good point: each book in the series is a complete ending. The LEAST complete story is in the third book (which is the close of the series) and while the third book is the most rage inducing of the three, it still stands as a complete tale.
Now the bad: Honestly, the books offend me on several levels--to many to dig into on a review. The book premise relies on a lot of cliches, the innocent woman who is somehow special and powerful but also completely powerless when it suits the plot, the wise secretive grandfather, the rough but loving know it all man who seems hopeless but he keeps a dog and eats healthy so that means something. Each introduction to a new character is full of cringe.
Separate from the characters is the story narrative. It wants to be a story about drug dealers and mob bosses, but it seems like no one wanted to do the research to make that believable so they said "hey let's make everything magic". This is the least magical series about magic that I've read in a long time. It's a crime/romance story that's too lazy to do the research to make the crime element believable.
Lastly, I found so much of how the characters act and what's happening deeply sexist and offensive. I was angry a lot while reading these books. Angry at the characters, the world, the scenarios, and the writer for choosing these sexist decisions. An example: Mattie's fiancee has been drugging her for years, affecting her mind so she doesn't argue with him and so she's apparently super horny for his junk and the protagonist still wants to be with him. It's clear that her fiancee essentially kept her as a pretty sex slave, anytime she started to go down a path he didn't like, he'd corral her with a mind altering substance. While we see him do this to her in the beginning, making it clear it happens all the time and seems to be the foundation of their relationship, we never actually explore the complications that arise from that. All is supposed to be forgiven. It's the lack of depth when bringing up complex difficult topics that makes me mad. You wrote this in, you can't just ignore it because dealing with the fall out would prevent the last sex scene you want to write in (which ps was soooo gross and hollow because of this unresolved dynamic).
The fact that Mattie just shrugs and is all like "I still wanna marry you" breaks every suspension of disbelief in me. She might still want to marry the guy but something has to happen to actually earn her acting on the impulse. She doesn't go back to living in the same house with the guy and hoping he doesn't do this again. There's something deeply sexist about believing a woman who faces the kind of danger and trials Mattie does, who has a strong support system through her friends and family and who would continue to have the same quality life without the man will go back to a man who saw her as a thing to be wound up and used as he saw fit. I don't believe it and I'm angry this stereo type or theme is perpetuated in 2018.
Can I recommend this book? That's a loaded question. The writing is really good and from that perspective if you're looking for something with great pacing and good prose, this is a great study. If you want a good story or even a fluff story meant for a casual summer read, I'd look elsewhere.
Other good points: I did read the whole series. It was touch and go because there are problematic elements, but it's still a testament to the Sara Fine's skill.
Last good point: each book in the series is a complete ending. The LEAST complete story is in the third book (which is the close of the series) and while the third book is the most rage inducing of the three, it still stands as a complete tale.
Now the bad: Honestly, the books offend me on several levels--to many to dig into on a review. The book premise relies on a lot of cliches, the innocent woman who is somehow special and powerful but also completely powerless when it suits the plot, the wise secretive grandfather, the rough but loving know it all man who seems hopeless but he keeps a dog and eats healthy so that means something. Each introduction to a new character is full of cringe.
Separate from the characters is the story narrative. It wants to be a story about drug dealers and mob bosses, but it seems like no one wanted to do the research to make that believable so they said "hey let's make everything magic". This is the least magical series about magic that I've read in a long time. It's a crime/romance story that's too lazy to do the research to make the crime element believable.
Lastly, I found so much of how the characters act and what's happening deeply sexist and offensive. I was angry a lot while reading these books. Angry at the characters, the world, the scenarios, and the writer for choosing these sexist decisions. An example: Mattie's fiancee has been drugging her for years, affecting her mind so she doesn't argue with him and so she's apparently super horny for his junk and the protagonist still wants to be with him. It's clear that her fiancee essentially kept her as a pretty sex slave, anytime she started to go down a path he didn't like, he'd corral her with a mind altering substance. While we see him do this to her in the beginning, making it clear it happens all the time and seems to be the foundation of their relationship, we never actually explore the complications that arise from that. All is supposed to be forgiven. It's the lack of depth when bringing up complex difficult topics that makes me mad. You wrote this in, you can't just ignore it because dealing with the fall out would prevent the last sex scene you want to write in (which ps was soooo gross and hollow because of this unresolved dynamic).
The fact that Mattie just shrugs and is all like "I still wanna marry you" breaks every suspension of disbelief in me. She might still want to marry the guy but something has to happen to actually earn her acting on the impulse. She doesn't go back to living in the same house with the guy and hoping he doesn't do this again. There's something deeply sexist about believing a woman who faces the kind of danger and trials Mattie does, who has a strong support system through her friends and family and who would continue to have the same quality life without the man will go back to a man who saw her as a thing to be wound up and used as he saw fit. I don't believe it and I'm angry this stereo type or theme is perpetuated in 2018.
Can I recommend this book? That's a loaded question. The writing is really good and from that perspective if you're looking for something with great pacing and good prose, this is a great study. If you want a good story or even a fluff story meant for a casual summer read, I'd look elsewhere.
_lexis_library_'s review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Ben is a Bitch and didn’t deserve Mattie!
✨Team Asa✨
The ending was so abrupt and the epilogue just made it worse. The FMC was insufferable and didn’t get better throughout the book. Honestly Mattie didn’t deserve Asa either!
✨Team Asa✨
The ending was so abrupt and the epilogue just made it worse. The FMC was insufferable and didn’t get better throughout the book. Honestly Mattie didn’t deserve Asa either!
samrushingbooks's review
5.0
I absolutely loved this book! I think it's my favorite Sarah Fine book so far (though I still need to read her Servants of Fate series. The magic was done in a fun and interesting way, and I really enjoyed following Mattie through this action-packed adventure to find and save her fiance Ben, all while accompanied by Ben's estranged brother Asa. By the way, I am totally calling Asa my new book boyfriend. I'm definitely going to have to get a paperback copy of this series because I want them on my shelves. And I can say that I am so happy that the next book will be out in a couple months.
nicolemhewitt's review
5.0
This review and many more can be found on my blog: Feed Your Fiction Addiction
I wasn’t sure what to expect from Sarah Fine’s adult fare, but I loved The Impostor Queen, so I decided to give it a try. This was different but really enjoyable – I’m glad I made the jump!
The synopsis describes the book well, so I’m just going to skip straight to my review.
What Fed My Addiction:
A gritty magical underworld.
When Mattie discovers the world of magic, she first thinks she’s stumbled upon some sort of drug den – and with good reason. The magical underworld is more than a little bit seedy. It’s run by something along the lines of the mob with bosses of different areas competing for relics and power.
High stakes.
Once Mattie discovers the existence of magic – and her ability to hold it – things get dangerous pretty quickly. She has no idea what she’s getting herself into when she agrees to work with Asa, her missing fiance’s estranged brother – she only knows she’s desperate to save Ben and she’ll risk anything to get him back. But every moment she spends with Asa is life-threatening – she spends a lot of time dodging his unsavory associates, and then she has to worry about people who might want to use her abilities for their own purposes. There is never a dull moment in this book.
Asa.
The mysterious (and often cantankerous) Asa won me over in the end. He acted rough and gruff, but in reality he put Mattie first every time – and his brother too, even though he had good reason to be upset with him.
What Left Me Wanting More:
Ben.
It was hard to understand why Mattie was SO incredibly loyal to Ben. I understood that she was in love with him and that she wanted to give him grace because of that, but once she found out that he was manipulating her, it seemed like she should have been a bit more upset. The relationship was obviously very dysfunctional – I didn’t have any pity at all for Ben.
BDSM.
I have to confess that I just don’t get the whole submissive thing and why Mattie would fall for Asa because she feels like he’s in control (in a very dominant/submissive sort of way). I also don’t relate to the mixing of pleasure of pain, so BDSM storylines aren’t my favorite. But I will say that this book seemed like it’s probably very BDSM light, I’m guessing, in comparison to more erotic books. This book has some sex, but it’s not especially explicit (I’ve read plenty of NA books with more explicit sex).
I liked that this was something a little different – a little darker and grittier than my typical read. I’ll definitely be reading the next book. ! I give this one 3.5/5 stars.
***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
I wasn’t sure what to expect from Sarah Fine’s adult fare, but I loved The Impostor Queen, so I decided to give it a try. This was different but really enjoyable – I’m glad I made the jump!
The synopsis describes the book well, so I’m just going to skip straight to my review.
What Fed My Addiction:
A gritty magical underworld.
When Mattie discovers the world of magic, she first thinks she’s stumbled upon some sort of drug den – and with good reason. The magical underworld is more than a little bit seedy. It’s run by something along the lines of the mob with bosses of different areas competing for relics and power.
High stakes.
Once Mattie discovers the existence of magic – and her ability to hold it – things get dangerous pretty quickly. She has no idea what she’s getting herself into when she agrees to work with Asa, her missing fiance’s estranged brother – she only knows she’s desperate to save Ben and she’ll risk anything to get him back. But every moment she spends with Asa is life-threatening – she spends a lot of time dodging his unsavory associates, and then she has to worry about people who might want to use her abilities for their own purposes. There is never a dull moment in this book.
Asa.
The mysterious (and often cantankerous) Asa won me over in the end. He acted rough and gruff, but in reality he put Mattie first every time – and his brother too, even though he had good reason to be upset with him.
What Left Me Wanting More:
Ben.
It was hard to understand why Mattie was SO incredibly loyal to Ben. I understood that she was in love with him and that she wanted to give him grace because of that, but once she found out that he was manipulating her, it seemed like she should have been a bit more upset. The relationship was obviously very dysfunctional – I didn’t have any pity at all for Ben.
BDSM.
I have to confess that I just don’t get the whole submissive thing and why Mattie would fall for Asa because she feels like he’s in control (in a very dominant/submissive sort of way). I also don’t relate to the mixing of pleasure of pain, so BDSM storylines aren’t my favorite. But I will say that this book seemed like it’s probably very BDSM light, I’m guessing, in comparison to more erotic books. This book has some sex, but it’s not especially explicit (I’ve read plenty of NA books with more explicit sex).
I liked that this was something a little different – a little darker and grittier than my typical read. I’ll definitely be reading the next book. ! I give this one 3.5/5 stars.
***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
xfirefly9x's review
3.0
I received a free copy of this book in return for an honest review.
In Reliquary, when Mattie’s fiance is abducted, she sets out to search for him. She soon discovers that magic is real and Ben may have been caught up in it - in the capacity of an addict. Ben’s brother, Esa, who is wrapped up in that world too, offers to help find Ben in return for her help. What can she help with? Well, Mattie has natural magic ability. She is a reliquary, a container of sorts for magic, and a strong one at that. Esa specialises in transporting magic to his clients, and Mattie can help by being the ‘container’ in which the magic is transported. Mattie reluctantly agrees, and the two set out to find Ben.
In terms of characters, Mattie is vibrant and her own person, though somewhat naive. Her desire to save Ben when he’s taken from their home drives her to do things well out of her comfort zone. This is obvious in how she reacts to certain things, and it’s interesting to see how her naivety and her determination to save Ben balance each other out.
Esa reminds me too much of my brother. They have too many qualities in common, like snorting, smugness, even several lines of dialogue. This rather turned me off Esa’s character. That said, Esa is a very well constructed character… the kind who doesn’t make a good first impression, or second, or third, but when they finally let you in, you realise there’s more to them and maybe they’re actually okay beneath the rough exterior. (You’re going to need a pretty good reason to stay around long enough to find out the good bits though.) He’s certainly layered, and with a past that reflects who he has become when we meet him. Also, his dog is awesome.
Overall, the story is well paced and engaging. I enjoyed the unique magic system: natural and artificial magic, and so on. The “magic as a drug” angle was particularly interesting; I’d have loved to read more about that side of things.
A decent read. I’m not rushing out for book 2, but I wouldn’t say no to giving it a read at some point, and I’m definitely open to reading more by the author.
In Reliquary, when Mattie’s fiance is abducted, she sets out to search for him. She soon discovers that magic is real and Ben may have been caught up in it - in the capacity of an addict. Ben’s brother, Esa, who is wrapped up in that world too, offers to help find Ben in return for her help. What can she help with? Well, Mattie has natural magic ability. She is a reliquary, a container of sorts for magic, and a strong one at that. Esa specialises in transporting magic to his clients, and Mattie can help by being the ‘container’ in which the magic is transported. Mattie reluctantly agrees, and the two set out to find Ben.
In terms of characters, Mattie is vibrant and her own person, though somewhat naive. Her desire to save Ben when he’s taken from their home drives her to do things well out of her comfort zone. This is obvious in how she reacts to certain things, and it’s interesting to see how her naivety and her determination to save Ben balance each other out.
Esa reminds me too much of my brother. They have too many qualities in common, like snorting, smugness, even several lines of dialogue. This rather turned me off Esa’s character. That said, Esa is a very well constructed character… the kind who doesn’t make a good first impression, or second, or third, but when they finally let you in, you realise there’s more to them and maybe they’re actually okay beneath the rough exterior. (You’re going to need a pretty good reason to stay around long enough to find out the good bits though.) He’s certainly layered, and with a past that reflects who he has become when we meet him. Also, his dog is awesome.
Overall, the story is well paced and engaging. I enjoyed the unique magic system: natural and artificial magic, and so on. The “magic as a drug” angle was particularly interesting; I’d have loved to read more about that side of things.
A decent read. I’m not rushing out for book 2, but I wouldn’t say no to giving it a read at some point, and I’m definitely open to reading more by the author.
ameserole's review
4.0
I'm so mad with the ending of this damn book. BEN REALLY?!? WHY HIM?!?
Reliquary was a really interesting book until I read the epilogue. I'm not a fan of who she decided to stay with.. I would've picked Asa over Ben any given day. Ben is a douche bag who doesn't deserve love or being saved. Asa was the way better brother in my opinion. Plus the chemistry between Asa and Mattie was amazing!
Speaking of Mattie, she is the MC who makes terrible decisions: like BEN. Yes, I'm still salty about that and probably will be for like ever. I liked her character in the beginning, and in the middle of the book, but not at the ending. She deserves those panic attacks for pissing me off. She always was annoying at times. I just wanted her to acknowledge her feelings for Asa and then do something about it. Just forget about Ben - I sure did!
Overall, it could've been better. However, I still enjoyed the heck out of this book. I can't wait to dive into the second one!
Reliquary was a really interesting book until I read the epilogue. I'm not a fan of who she decided to stay with.. I would've picked Asa over Ben any given day. Ben is a douche bag who doesn't deserve love or being saved. Asa was the way better brother in my opinion. Plus the chemistry between Asa and Mattie was amazing!
Speaking of Mattie, she is the MC who makes terrible decisions: like BEN. Yes, I'm still salty about that and probably will be for like ever. I liked her character in the beginning, and in the middle of the book, but not at the ending. She deserves those panic attacks for pissing me off. She always was annoying at times. I just wanted her to acknowledge her feelings for Asa and then do something about it. Just forget about Ben - I sure did!
Overall, it could've been better. However, I still enjoyed the heck out of this book. I can't wait to dive into the second one!
beastreader's review
2.0
The concept for this book and the beautiful cover is what drew me to want to check this book out. This book did start out good. I especially liked the darkness of the story. It really did feel like Mattie and Asa were chasing after Ben in the underbelly of the magical world. Although, I have to say that I was neutral when it came to Mattie and Ben. I wanted a little more backstory about their relationship before Ben disappeared. For me it was Asa that I liked better in regards to the two brothers. Yet, part of this did have to do with the fact that Asa was a stronger presence in this book. The abilities that Mattie had with taking magic and controlling it was cool. However even with the darkness of the story, Asa, and Mattie I did find myself struggling to stay connected in the moment while reading the book. Despite this factor I would try this author again.
laura_devouring_books_crumpets's review
1.0
really enjoyed this Sarah Fine has such unique stories, i loved the chemistry between the two characters end was disappointing but its a trilogy so things could look up!
Asa and Mattie team up to save brother and fiance Ben, going abroad to smuggle relics into Mattie's undetected storage space both characters move forward on a journey that will change them both.
Both Asa and Mattie were multi dimensional characters, and the emotions between them that built the changes in character were brilliant, slow start but if book two keeps pace will be an easy 5 star!
EDIT
(i have marked this book down to 1 star as the final book ruins the whole trilogy)
Asa and Mattie team up to save brother and fiance Ben, going abroad to smuggle relics into Mattie's undetected storage space both characters move forward on a journey that will change them both.
Both Asa and Mattie were multi dimensional characters, and the emotions between them that built the changes in character were brilliant, slow start but if book two keeps pace will be an easy 5 star!
EDIT
(i have marked this book down to 1 star as the final book ruins the whole trilogy)
kaydombrowski's review
3.0
I loved the world building in the book, breath of fresh air. I thought the overall arch of the story was good as well as the writing. Mattie is what keeps me from giving this book a higher rating. I thought her character was written very inconsistent and I did not enjoy her choices in fighting for someone who is so terrible to her. However, I would recommend this book alone for the fresh take on magic and how it?s used in the world.