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waclements7's review
4.0
I received this book through the Early Reviewers program and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
Wow! This is an incredibly unique book. I kept trying to figure out what was going to happen and was consistently wrong until the very end. I haven't read anything quite like it. I don't want to give any spoilers, but if you're into police procedurals and the paranormal, and the unexpected, this is definitely for you. The blurb is accurate with this one (sometimes they don't describe the book very well). My only qualm with it is one spot with the language, with is definitely, at least in my opinion, discriminatory against people with disabilities (I keep an eye out for that): "that FV [first violin] looks like a spastic on parade." That was disappointing, and there was no real reason to use that language, because something else would have worked. That's the only thing I thought was objectionable. There's a scene later on that might bother some people, but in the context it makes perfect sense, and that's pointed out by one of the characters. It's really very different than what I was expecting (I wasn't sure what to expect) and I would read something else by the author, as well as recommending this.
Wow! This is an incredibly unique book. I kept trying to figure out what was going to happen and was consistently wrong until the very end. I haven't read anything quite like it. I don't want to give any spoilers, but if you're into police procedurals and the paranormal, and the unexpected, this is definitely for you. The blurb is accurate with this one (sometimes they don't describe the book very well). My only qualm with it is one spot with the language, with is definitely, at least in my opinion, discriminatory against people with disabilities (I keep an eye out for that): "that FV [first violin] looks like a spastic on parade." That was disappointing, and there was no real reason to use that language, because something else would have worked. That's the only thing I thought was objectionable. There's a scene later on that might bother some people, but in the context it makes perfect sense, and that's pointed out by one of the characters. It's really very different than what I was expecting (I wasn't sure what to expect) and I would read something else by the author, as well as recommending this.
larrachersan's review
4.0
(I received this ebook as an Early Reviewer version from LibraryThing)
I had a hard time writing a review. Not because the book is bad, but I couldn't come up with something. This book stuck in my head days after I finished it.
"Welcome to Witchlandia" is about Katelin, a witch, who flies for Boston Police Department. But also about David, a great pianist, who is her lover.
The book is written form different points of view, both Katelin's and David's. That gives it a really nice touch, cause you can see through the eyes of both main characters. I loved that idea, it worked really well.
The story starts with the first meeting of Katelin and David and how their relationship starts. But after that, it makes a jump of 5 years, when the lovers have already broken up. That's also the part of the book, where we get mainly Katelin's point of view.
Katelin is "forced" to do normal detective work, working on a murder case, which seems connected to herself. The tension builds up over some chapters, making the book really gripping. I myself couldn't put it down.
Later, David also shows up again, bringing a nice touch into the story (I like this character), and bringing the book to a surprising ending.
I will not go into details of the story, to avoid spoilers. But here are some things I liked and didn't like:
Like:
- Katelin. I know she isn't the nicest person, but I still cared for her. I took for her and wished she would feel better one day, finally cheering up. I also think it's a great idea to have a rather unlikeable main character, it's not often used in books.
- David. Well, David is just likeable, no matter what.
- The idea of witches flyers. That witches work with the police isn't a new idea, but I liked the setting here, that they mainly do the flying part, keeping track of people and so on.
- The story. The crime story is really well done, there are twists and turns, which surprise you and make you rethink a lot.
Don't like:
- The end. Sorry, but the end didn't work for me. Maybe it's just me, but in the very last chapter Katelin seems to fall out of character. Okay, she is finally better (which I wished for), but somehow it felt wrong. At least the way it was written.
- World Building. Although I totally loved the whole World this story took place in, I wish we would have got a bit more info on it. What is it about the Conclave? How exactly does Katelin's stick look like? I mean, if I hear "stick" I think of a thin branch, but how can she have compartments on it, to put things into? The whole world would have worked even better if things like that would have been described more.
Still, all in all, a really great book, which I can recommend to everyone, who likes fantasy and a good crime story. Here, you get both.
I only give 4 stars, because, as I said, the ending wasn't for me.
I had a hard time writing a review. Not because the book is bad, but I couldn't come up with something. This book stuck in my head days after I finished it.
"Welcome to Witchlandia" is about Katelin, a witch, who flies for Boston Police Department. But also about David, a great pianist, who is her lover.
The book is written form different points of view, both Katelin's and David's. That gives it a really nice touch, cause you can see through the eyes of both main characters. I loved that idea, it worked really well.
The story starts with the first meeting of Katelin and David and how their relationship starts. But after that, it makes a jump of 5 years, when the lovers have already broken up. That's also the part of the book, where we get mainly Katelin's point of view.
Katelin is "forced" to do normal detective work, working on a murder case, which seems connected to herself. The tension builds up over some chapters, making the book really gripping. I myself couldn't put it down.
Later, David also shows up again, bringing a nice touch into the story (I like this character), and bringing the book to a surprising ending.
I will not go into details of the story, to avoid spoilers. But here are some things I liked and didn't like:
Like:
- Katelin. I know she isn't the nicest person, but I still cared for her. I took for her and wished she would feel better one day, finally cheering up. I also think it's a great idea to have a rather unlikeable main character, it's not often used in books.
- David. Well, David is just likeable, no matter what.
- The idea of witches flyers. That witches work with the police isn't a new idea, but I liked the setting here, that they mainly do the flying part, keeping track of people and so on.
- The story. The crime story is really well done, there are twists and turns, which surprise you and make you rethink a lot.
Don't like:
- The end. Sorry, but the end didn't work for me. Maybe it's just me, but in the very last chapter Katelin seems to fall out of character. Okay, she is finally better (which I wished for), but somehow it felt wrong. At least the way it was written.
- World Building. Although I totally loved the whole World this story took place in, I wish we would have got a bit more info on it. What is it about the Conclave? How exactly does Katelin's stick look like? I mean, if I hear "stick" I think of a thin branch, but how can she have compartments on it, to put things into? The whole world would have worked even better if things like that would have been described more.
Still, all in all, a really great book, which I can recommend to everyone, who likes fantasy and a good crime story. Here, you get both.
I only give 4 stars, because, as I said, the ending wasn't for me.
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