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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
There were many things I loved about the first book that were absent from this sequel. Jackaby, in particular, felt more one dimensional and boring (although I laughed quite a bit over the Dewey Decimal opinion). Leaving the interesting setting of the city for the countryside was a letdown. Most of all, the mystery was so transparent from the beginning that I didn't really care much about it. There was little suspense, and the villain lacked the terrifying, make-your-hair-stand-on-end qualities that a serial killer topped by a blood-soaked hat possessed in the first novel. I was much more interested in the story set up for the next book and somewhat wish the author would have skipped throwing out this distracting bone and get to something more substantial. This all sounds harsh, since it wasn't really a bad book, it simply didn't live up to the first.
I will definitely read the next novel, I only wish I knew the cure for the middle-of-a-trilogy doldrums.
I will definitely read the next novel, I only wish I knew the cure for the middle-of-a-trilogy doldrums.
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Pretty good, although not as good as the first one.
This is a trimmed down version of my review, to view the full review visit The Book Ramble.
I received a copy of this book from Algonquin on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Beastly Bones picks up exactly where Jackaby left off as Abigail and Jackaby begin to investigate a cat that has turned into a fish. This investigation leads them in a strange direction as they also begin looking into the disappearance of some dinosaur bones and the murder of 2 women involved in each of the cases. Are these cases connected by the murders or is it just coincidence?
To be perfectly honest I didn't really enjoy Beastly Bones all that much. I don't think it had the same charm or perfect pacing that Jackaby had. The story was still interesting but for a lot of it I felt a lack of the supernatural and that really slowed the whole experience down for me. It was all just a little disappointing after reading Jackaby.
The story in this sequel feels much less supernatural and much more scientific. I don't think there's a huge problem with this as both characters are in a way scientists. However, it felt like there wasn't much of interest about the case of the dinosaur until much too late in the book and then it all rushed up at once to suddenly be a mysterious case. I think this pairing of less than intriguing case and poor pacing really made me lose interest in the overall story. It took me ages to read this, or at least it felt that way, because I didn't really feel inclined to read it at all.
The charm that the first book had really came from Jackaby and Abigail's interactions and there was a significant lack of this in Beastly Bones. We don't often see the characters together and when we do there's about 10 other people getting in the way of their relationship, which was frustrating and also made the whole book feel a lot duller for me.
I think this was an adequate sequel but it didn't hold up against original novel.
I received a copy of this book from Algonquin on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Beastly Bones picks up exactly where Jackaby left off as Abigail and Jackaby begin to investigate a cat that has turned into a fish. This investigation leads them in a strange direction as they also begin looking into the disappearance of some dinosaur bones and the murder of 2 women involved in each of the cases. Are these cases connected by the murders or is it just coincidence?
To be perfectly honest I didn't really enjoy Beastly Bones all that much. I don't think it had the same charm or perfect pacing that Jackaby had. The story was still interesting but for a lot of it I felt a lack of the supernatural and that really slowed the whole experience down for me. It was all just a little disappointing after reading Jackaby.
The story in this sequel feels much less supernatural and much more scientific. I don't think there's a huge problem with this as both characters are in a way scientists. However, it felt like there wasn't much of interest about the case of the dinosaur until much too late in the book and then it all rushed up at once to suddenly be a mysterious case. I think this pairing of less than intriguing case and poor pacing really made me lose interest in the overall story. It took me ages to read this, or at least it felt that way, because I didn't really feel inclined to read it at all.
The charm that the first book had really came from Jackaby and Abigail's interactions and there was a significant lack of this in Beastly Bones. We don't often see the characters together and when we do there's about 10 other people getting in the way of their relationship, which was frustrating and also made the whole book feel a lot duller for me.
I think this was an adequate sequel but it didn't hold up against original novel.
Abigail and Jackaby are off on another one of their madcap investigations. This time they're dealing with shape-shifting cats, ancient dragons, and more murders!
Beastly Bones was such a cute tale. I've enjoyed each Jackaby book so far. Beastly Bones was a slow build, but it all paid off in the end. Loved the ending!
Beastly Bones was such a cute tale. I've enjoyed each Jackaby book so far. Beastly Bones was a slow build, but it all paid off in the end. Loved the ending!
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I didn’t enjoy this one as well as the first in the series, but I like the characters and will continue reading.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
This was another fun installment in the Jackaby series, and I'm really looking forward to seeing where the series goes from here. I enjoyed the new characters (as well as the returning ones) in this book, as well as the direction the plot went in the second half of the book. Jenny is one of my favorite characters in the series though, so I'm glad that the third book seems like it will have even more of her story than the previous two have.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood
Minor: Murder
I am enchanted by this series. It just works SO WELL!
Jackaby might be one of my favourite characters of all time. He is so quirky, gentle, observant, curious, fascinating, brave and precious!
And Rook just compliments him so well with how grounded and real she is!
We even get go know Charlie a bit better - which I actually ended up liking. He is not so much a stranger now and his character is more clear to me. He is, though, still a side-character - which I also like, because I love the focus being on the duo of Jackaby and Rook.
I like how the book go about investigating. How nothing is what it seems. And how many things are hidden in the dark for the reader (As well as Rook) as the puzzle is being solved - And how it is all about the little details!
The further into the book, and the further towards the reveal we get, the adventure unfolds so very well! And the "Final Battle" was exciting and thrilling!
fantastic read!
Jackaby might be one of my favourite characters of all time. He is so quirky, gentle, observant, curious, fascinating, brave and precious!
And Rook just compliments him so well with how grounded and real she is!
We even get go know Charlie a bit better - which I actually ended up liking. He is not so much a stranger now and his character is more clear to me. He is, though, still a side-character - which I also like, because I love the focus being on the duo of Jackaby and Rook.
Spoiler
At first, I must admit, I didn't care much for the slight romance hinted between Abigail and Charlie - but because he IS a side character and the way it is written, I actually found it quite sweet - how it so discreetly is happening in the very far background (And Jackabys thought about it, as well as his reactions to it). So by the end I found myself quite okay with that part of the story as well.I like how the book go about investigating. How nothing is what it seems. And how many things are hidden in the dark for the reader (As well as Rook) as the puzzle is being solved - And how it is all about the little details!
The further into the book, and the further towards the reveal we get, the adventure unfolds so very well! And the "Final Battle" was exciting and thrilling!
fantastic read!
