Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
I just really enjoy the Jackaby books because they’re these sweet little books that really don’t ask very much of you. It’s exactly what it says on the tin: Sherlock meets Doctor Who meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer. So they’re basically perfect for getting out of a reading slump, which I’ve been in pretty bad the past two weeks.
I think I liked this one slightly less than the first mostly because it focused largely on Abigail and her interests (which mostly in this book amounts to... scenes about digging...) which I think is narratively a good place to drive the series, but personally I just don’t like her very much. She’s got a bad case of the “not like other girls” and I find it super irritating.
Still, I have the other two books in the series and even if this one was a slight miss for me, I’m excited to continue on.
I think I liked this one slightly less than the first mostly because it focused largely on Abigail and her interests (which mostly in this book amounts to... scenes about digging...) which I think is narratively a good place to drive the series, but personally I just don’t like her very much. She’s got a bad case of the “not like other girls” and I find it super irritating.
Still, I have the other two books in the series and even if this one was a slight miss for me, I’m excited to continue on.
This is the second book in the Jackaby series. Like most second books, it wasn't as good as the first. I'm afraid the story just didn't grab me. I was bored much of the book and pushed myself to finish it. I really like the characters and the setting of the books, so I'll probably give the next book a try.
I read this immediately after completing "Jackaby" and was not disappointed. As marvellously entertaining as the first story, the characters embark on a madcap and topsy turvy adventure that is thoroughly original and very, very satisfying.
The relationships between the characters are very well-written, with no hint of impropriety which is most refreshing for a modern tale, and especially suitable for younger readers. I particularly enjoyed the incident with the exploded frying pan: "too much paprika?"
Needless to say, I read this in one sitting too!
The relationships between the characters are very well-written, with no hint of impropriety which is most refreshing for a modern tale, and especially suitable for younger readers. I particularly enjoyed the incident with the exploded frying pan: "too much paprika?"
Needless to say, I read this in one sitting too!
Dinosaurs! Well, okay, dinosaurs' bones really, but you can imagine how happy Abigail is :P
There are new characters here, but we (and Abigail :P) also get to spend some time with Charlie, and there is some awkward, sweet flirting happening here, but not real romance. I'm okay with that, I really dislike insta-love.
The mystery is wonderful, and I liked the twist after the twist :P
Still loving Nicola Barber's narration :D
Onto the third!
There are new characters here, but we (and Abigail :P) also get to spend some time with Charlie, and there is some awkward, sweet flirting happening here, but not real romance. I'm okay with that, I really dislike insta-love.
The mystery is wonderful, and I liked the twist after the twist :P
Still loving Nicola Barber's narration :D
Onto the third!
In the second entry in the Jackaby series, Beastly Bones, we find our heroes Abigail and Jackaby called to investigate the miraculous discovery of a dinosaur skeleton and a potential murder at its dig site. The pair get to meet up with Charlie, who has been stationed here since the events of book one, and a new cast of characters made up of the denizens of and visitors to Gad's Valley.
Unfortunately, where the first book was an extremely fun, entertaining jaunt, this one was more like a tiresome amble. The vibe has completely shifted from the first, and definitely not in a direction that I enjoyed. While the first had all the traits of a good Victorian mystery - ghosts! period dress! police commissioners that are forced to work with the detective! - this one was like a weird supernatural Western. The big shift was a little jarring and didn't work like the shift in The Map did (which was incredibly disappointing since I found The Map so fun.)
I did thoroughly enjoy most of the new characters in the book, with Nellie as a major favorite. Her sass was absolutely unmatched. Hudson was a good time, too, with his gentle giant demeanor and confusing relationship with animals. (Hunt them? Cuddle them? Pick one.) Horner the paleontologist is a jolly little dude who I hope we get to interact with again in the next books. Special shout-out to Lewis f*cking Lamb for being an even less likable character than Jackaby. The man literally tests Abigail on her bone knowledge in a way reserved for memes about gatekeeping. Yuck.
The main characters are much the same this go-round, with Jackaby still a completely unempathetic waste of space. Honestly, the way the audiobook author portrays him makes me hate him that much more - good on her for distilling the fact that his arrogance makes my skin crawl into a sound. Abigail could do way better.
This book felt much more on the Y side of YA (minus all the gore, which speaks to the point I'm about to make about the whiplash-inducing change of pace and tone in this one). As I read, the words I kept coming up with were "zany" and "madcap". While I am definitely not opposed to juvenile books (some of the most popular series in modern literature come out of the juvenile section in the library!) I felt that the madly shifting pace and somewhat random actions happening in this one were a little...silly. I mean, Charlie changes form for like two minutes to sniff some hairs and it's pretty much the defining point of the chapter. We listen to multiple chapters worth of talk about the actual, physical task of digging up the dinosaur bones, and then get a sudden jump to a scene where an animal has been eviscerated and someone has died.
I will still continue with this series, especially after the special ending that foreshadows the events of the next book (and the absolutely horiffic details we get in the "supplemental material" section). I'm hoping maybe this one was just a fluke.
Unfortunately, where the first book was an extremely fun, entertaining jaunt, this one was more like a tiresome amble. The vibe has completely shifted from the first, and definitely not in a direction that I enjoyed. While the first had all the traits of a good Victorian mystery - ghosts! period dress! police commissioners that are forced to work with the detective! - this one was like a weird supernatural Western. The big shift was a little jarring and didn't work like the shift in The Map did (which was incredibly disappointing since I found The Map so fun.)
I did thoroughly enjoy most of the new characters in the book, with Nellie as a major favorite. Her sass was absolutely unmatched. Hudson was a good time, too, with his gentle giant demeanor and confusing relationship with animals. (Hunt them? Cuddle them? Pick one.) Horner the paleontologist is a jolly little dude who I hope we get to interact with again in the next books. Special shout-out to Lewis f*cking Lamb for being an even less likable character than Jackaby. The man literally tests Abigail on her bone knowledge in a way reserved for memes about gatekeeping. Yuck.
The main characters are much the same this go-round, with Jackaby still a completely unempathetic waste of space. Honestly, the way the audiobook author portrays him makes me hate him that much more - good on her for distilling the fact that his arrogance makes my skin crawl into a sound. Abigail could do way better.
This book felt much more on the Y side of YA (minus all the gore, which speaks to the point I'm about to make about the whiplash-inducing change of pace and tone in this one). As I read, the words I kept coming up with were "zany" and "madcap". While I am definitely not opposed to juvenile books (some of the most popular series in modern literature come out of the juvenile section in the library!) I felt that the madly shifting pace and somewhat random actions happening in this one were a little...silly. I mean, Charlie changes form for like two minutes to sniff some hairs and it's pretty much the defining point of the chapter. We listen to multiple chapters worth of talk about the actual, physical task of digging up the dinosaur bones, and then get a sudden jump to a scene where an animal has been eviscerated and someone has died.
I will still continue with this series, especially after the special ending that foreshadows the events of the next book (and the absolutely horiffic details we get in the "supplemental material" section). I'm hoping maybe this one was just a fluke.
Any re-telling of Sherlock Holmes and I’m hooked. I was even more hooked when I found out the magical aspect appreciated by the main character. Overall entertaining but it took me quite a while to get through though. Over all super entertaining.
The description of Buffy meets Sherlock remains accurate. I thought this mystery was even better than in the first book since I didn't have a clear idea of whodunit or how to neutralize the threat before the end. I can't wait for the next addition!
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced