Scan barcode
elaineg's review
1.0
The characters and the snarky voice of Kate Kane remain lovely and the action scenes are a lot of fun. +1 star for that.
Structurally though, this book is broken. It suffers from the same problem the previous one did, that there are a lot of things going on that are not tied together well enough. Making the Deus ex Machina an actual god doesn't make it any better of an ending, and taking the story away from the main character and having her rescued undermines the whole series.
Structurally though, this book is broken. It suffers from the same problem the previous one did, that there are a lot of things going on that are not tied together well enough. Making the Deus ex Machina an actual god doesn't make it any better of an ending, and taking the story away from the main character and having her rescued undermines the whole series.
cdownes's review
4.0
The third book in the paranormal Kate Kane series and it keeps getting crazier - which is definitely a good thing.
This is the kind of book I feel like you need to strap yourself in for. It's a crazy, bumpy, frazzling ride but vividly interesting throughout with hardly time to take a breath.
Kate Kane has a knack of getting in trouble as she tries to unravel paranormal underworld and otherworldly problems, and while some of this seems the same as book two (take out the bad guy/girl), book three adds and multiplies the elements to make it look like the ultimate UFC fight.
Jump in and read it.
I received an ARC for an honest review
This is the kind of book I feel like you need to strap yourself in for. It's a crazy, bumpy, frazzling ride but vividly interesting throughout with hardly time to take a breath.
Kate Kane has a knack of getting in trouble as she tries to unravel paranormal underworld and otherworldly problems, and while some of this seems the same as book two (take out the bad guy/girl), book three adds and multiplies the elements to make it look like the ultimate UFC fight.
Jump in and read it.
I received an ARC for an honest review
elizabethchant's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
eicart_reads's review
adventurous
dark
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This book was more of the crazy adventures of the previous two Kate Kane stories. What took it to the next level for me was more Elise, especially the few chapters from her POV. So good!!!!
librarycatnip's review
5.0
Ah! Kate is amazing, so much Lady. Trouble.
This book really hits its stride once it gets done with some quick and dirty exposition for folks not familiar with the world. I continue to love that we get glimpses of the larger world, but that there's a lot of stuff going on that really isn't her stuff. I loved Elise, she really shone in this installment and getting to see her perspective as a narrator for a bit was lovely. The way she sees the world, as an animate statue, is necessarily different than how water-based bodies do. And it follows that she would have a different relationship with other (comparatively) static materials and the creations they make up.
I did have some trouble keeping up with all the folks and who had betrayed who because of "xxx." But this is totally worth multiple reads and that will become clearer - Hall does his homework on intricate plotting.
SHIPPING ELISRIEL FOREVER!!!
This book really hits its stride once it gets done with some quick and dirty exposition for folks not familiar with the world. I continue to love that we get glimpses of the larger world, but that there's a lot of stuff going on that really isn't her stuff. I loved Elise, she really shone in this installment and getting to see her perspective as a narrator for a bit was lovely. The way she sees the world, as an animate statue, is necessarily different than how water-based bodies do. And it follows that she would have a different relationship with other (comparatively) static materials and the creations they make up.
I did have some trouble keeping up with all the folks and who had betrayed who because of "xxx." But this is totally worth multiple reads and that will become clearer - Hall does his homework on intricate plotting.
SHIPPING ELISRIEL FOREVER!!!
coffeeandcats's review
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
annarella's review
5.0
Each book in this series is better than the previous and this one is no exception.
It's a lot of fun to read and I love the fast paced plot, the world building and the fleshed cast of characters.
Can't wait for the next instalment.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
It's a lot of fun to read and I love the fast paced plot, the world building and the fleshed cast of characters.
Can't wait for the next instalment.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
wc4's review
5.0
I love this series! When I received the ARC for this book, I went and re-read books 1 and 2 just to re-acquaint with the world. I highly recommend reading them before starting this one. That way, one gets to know Kate Kane and the cast of characters surrounding her. Kate in one of my favourite characters in all the books I've read. She's cynical and jaded, but also loyal and truly bad-ass. This time, Kate finds herself in the middle of a mage war. She's supernaturally obligated to help Nimue. At the same time, the Merchant of Dreams have asked her to look for the thieves who stole the Tears of Hypnos from his shop. Of course, things are never straightforward when they involve supernatural forces. Kate Kane, paranormal investigator, has to navigate these choppy waters while trying not to get killed. I am sincerely hoping that there will be more books in this series.
**Huge Thank You to Harlequin Carina Press for providing me with an ARC of this book!**
**Huge Thank You to Harlequin Carina Press for providing me with an ARC of this book!**
josethi's review
adventurous
dark
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
charkinzie's review
4.0
I find myself in the enviable position of not being able to come up with enough words of praise for this series. The first series I read by Alexis Hall was on the opposite end of the literary spectrum to this one. I read the Spires series. It's firmly rooted in the contemporary world we are familiar with and its primary characters are men. What I loved immediately was the way that Hall writes characters.
The Kate Kane Paranormal Investigator books have some of the best characters I've read in the genre. I love Kate! She's a bit of a train wreck I'll grant you. She drinks too much, she can't be assed to dress up for anything. She certainly seems to have bad taste in terms of her relationships because she has a string of exes who provide nothing but complications and flat-out trouble.
But. Kate cares about her friends and even those troublesome exes. What's clear throughout this series is that every time she makes a connection with someone... good or bad ... she sticks with it. Oddly enough, she seems to just want peace and quiet. It's odd because when she's got it, she doesn't seem to know what to do with it!
So, in this book which I think maybe the final installment, Kate is hired to chase down one of the magical bits she has run into before. The problem is that this item has sparked an all-out battle between two factions of the supernatural world. Nim is on one side, and if you've read the rest of the series then you know that Kate has a magical oath binding her fealty to Nim. Of course, this causes Kate lots of problems!
There's no end of well-written fight scenes in this book. I do enjoy myself a strong female lead! But it's Kate's snark and wit that always get me. Let me explain to you about Alexis Hall's writing. When my husband asks me what I'm reading and I happen to be reading one of Hall's books then I simply respond with, "riding a pissed-off unicorn backward." Just that one phrase and he knows whose books I'm reading.
Hall has a talent. Yes, Hall is a good writer. This series has a great plot, it's well-paced and the characters are solid. What has always stood out for me the most is Hall's wit and humor. These books are hilarious! I have read very few books in my life that have made me laugh out loud, TJ Klune does it... and Alexis Hall does it. In fact, I'm actually aloud to read parts of Hall's books to Joel without him shooing me away.
I'm not giving any of this away as you're probably like me and have been reading the series. No need for spoilers. I can say what I want about this book without revealing anything about the plot really. Suffice to say that this is typical of Hall's writing. It's witty, smart, full of action, has lots of nasty things lurking around trying to kill Kate (probably half of which she had a relationship with in the past), and it's entertaining!
You'll enjoy this series if you love paranormal fun with a bit of mystery and a fantastic female lead.
The Kate Kane Paranormal Investigator books have some of the best characters I've read in the genre. I love Kate! She's a bit of a train wreck I'll grant you. She drinks too much, she can't be assed to dress up for anything. She certainly seems to have bad taste in terms of her relationships because she has a string of exes who provide nothing but complications and flat-out trouble.
But. Kate cares about her friends and even those troublesome exes. What's clear throughout this series is that every time she makes a connection with someone... good or bad ... she sticks with it. Oddly enough, she seems to just want peace and quiet. It's odd because when she's got it, she doesn't seem to know what to do with it!
So, in this book which I think maybe the final installment, Kate is hired to chase down one of the magical bits she has run into before. The problem is that this item has sparked an all-out battle between two factions of the supernatural world. Nim is on one side, and if you've read the rest of the series then you know that Kate has a magical oath binding her fealty to Nim. Of course, this causes Kate lots of problems!
There's no end of well-written fight scenes in this book. I do enjoy myself a strong female lead! But it's Kate's snark and wit that always get me. Let me explain to you about Alexis Hall's writing. When my husband asks me what I'm reading and I happen to be reading one of Hall's books then I simply respond with, "riding a pissed-off unicorn backward." Just that one phrase and he knows whose books I'm reading.
Hall has a talent. Yes, Hall is a good writer. This series has a great plot, it's well-paced and the characters are solid. What has always stood out for me the most is Hall's wit and humor. These books are hilarious! I have read very few books in my life that have made me laugh out loud, TJ Klune does it... and Alexis Hall does it. In fact, I'm actually aloud to read parts of Hall's books to Joel without him shooing me away.
I'm not giving any of this away as you're probably like me and have been reading the series. No need for spoilers. I can say what I want about this book without revealing anything about the plot really. Suffice to say that this is typical of Hall's writing. It's witty, smart, full of action, has lots of nasty things lurking around trying to kill Kate (probably half of which she had a relationship with in the past), and it's entertaining!
You'll enjoy this series if you love paranormal fun with a bit of mystery and a fantastic female lead.