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garbage_mcsmutly's review against another edition
5.0
So. Freaking. Good. I'm burning through this series!
This series is EVERYTHING. Solid urban fantasy. Rich world, plot, and characters. Great voice. This is the third series I've read by Ms Fine. The other two were Shadowlands and Servants of Fate. I really liked both, but I think the Reliquary series is my favorite so far!
Oh and there are only a couple scenes with heavy sexual tension/some sexytimes, but those scenes are HOT. I was... let's say very pleasantly surprised... by the light kink (dom/sub) element in book one, and I liked how it was continued here.
I also love that Ms. Fine weaves in little bits of feminism in the right places, particularly when dealing with consent. It wasn't overt, but TBH it's refreshing to read about complicated situations SFF and/or Romance where I can straight up agree with the author/narrator's view, with no impulse to cringe, and without having to put on my "all faves are problematic" glasses to get through it. This applies to the consent-is-complicated-by-supernatural-forces stuff that comes up, as well as the DS element. And, LBR, DS stuff can very easily come across suuuuuper problematic. Brava to Ms. Fine on this!
I made it through the first two books in <2 days and now I'm about to start #3!
This series is EVERYTHING. Solid urban fantasy. Rich world, plot, and characters. Great voice. This is the third series I've read by Ms Fine. The other two were Shadowlands and Servants of Fate. I really liked both, but I think the Reliquary series is my favorite so far!
Oh and there are only a couple scenes with heavy sexual tension/some sexytimes, but those scenes are HOT. I was... let's say very pleasantly surprised... by the light kink (dom/sub) element in book one, and I liked how it was continued here.
I also love that Ms. Fine weaves in little bits of feminism in the right places, particularly when dealing with consent. It wasn't overt, but TBH it's refreshing to read about complicated situations SFF and/or Romance where I can straight up agree with the author/narrator's view, with no impulse to cringe, and without having to put on my "all faves are problematic" glasses to get through it. This applies to the consent-is-complicated-by-supernatural-forces stuff that comes up, as well as the DS element. And, LBR, DS stuff can very easily come across suuuuuper problematic. Brava to Ms. Fine on this!
I made it through the first two books in <2 days and now I'm about to start #3!
hopeykat's review against another edition
4.0
Cute
*Spoilers*
I feel like she went too long dragging Ben on when she obviously loves Asa. Nice payoff at the end though.
*Spoilers*
I feel like she went too long dragging Ben on when she obviously loves Asa. Nice payoff at the end though.
ethelkleppinger's review against another edition
2.0
Main character seems like two different people: One who's simultaneously brave and a sad, abused doormat.
SPOILERSSSSSSSS
....
....
....
...
Things Ben Has Done To Mattie But She Still Loves Him So Much If Only They Could Talk It Out Hearts Hearts Hearts, in order of awful to the worst
Lied about what happened between him and his brother to make Ben seem like the good guy in that f-d up situation
Didn't realize she was legitimately dying from what she was forced to do in the first book (for his dumb ass)
Generally made the worst choices even when he "meant well"
STOLE A VAN AND HIT HIS BROTHER'S DOG AND DIDN'T EVEN STOP TO SEE WHAT HE HIT
Lied to her for 3 years about being basically addicted to a version of heroin
Used magic on her to make her more pliable and/or into sex
Mind-raped her FOR MONEY
KILLED HER GRANDFATHER FOR MONEY
I read the first book and kinda bought into this Midwestern naivety, but after the first few chapters where Ben kills Mattie's grandfather and she's like "Oh ok lol we'll talk about it later lol" ... I lost my mind. I did finish the book, but viewed it more as a take on an abusive relationship with a few magic capers and heists thrown in.
Ridiculous. I am giving this two stars only because Asa's character is intriguing (confusing, but intriguing) and the world-building is also interesting. I only read this because it was free, and will only read the next one if it's free and wraps up the series.
SPOILERSSSSSSSS
....
....
....
...
Things Ben Has Done To Mattie But She Still Loves Him So Much If Only They Could Talk It Out Hearts Hearts Hearts, in order of awful to the worst
Lied about what happened between him and his brother to make Ben seem like the good guy in that f-d up situation
Didn't realize she was legitimately dying from what she was forced to do in the first book (for his dumb ass)
Generally made the worst choices even when he "meant well"
STOLE A VAN AND HIT HIS BROTHER'S DOG AND DIDN'T EVEN STOP TO SEE WHAT HE HIT
Lied to her for 3 years about being basically addicted to a version of heroin
Used magic on her to make her more pliable and/or into sex
Mind-raped her FOR MONEY
KILLED HER GRANDFATHER FOR MONEY
I read the first book and kinda bought into this Midwestern naivety, but after the first few chapters where Ben kills Mattie's grandfather and she's like "Oh ok lol we'll talk about it later lol" ... I lost my mind. I did finish the book, but viewed it more as a take on an abusive relationship with a few magic capers and heists thrown in.
Ridiculous. I am giving this two stars only because Asa's character is intriguing (confusing, but intriguing) and the world-building is also interesting. I only read this because it was free, and will only read the next one if it's free and wraps up the series.
alexandra_92's review against another edition
5.0
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!
I liked Splinter more than Reliquary. While the first book was an adventure which finished quite bad for me, I liked that in Splinter Mattie and Ben and Asa solved many of their problems.
Months after the events of the first book Mattie still is going to marry Ben the Idiot. When the Idiot does something quite dangerous and IDIOTIC, Mattie will have to dive back into the world of magic and meet Asa again.
I liked Asa much more in this book too and needless to say that despite his power he knows how to kick some serious ass!
After this ending I really want to see what surprises the next book will have!
I liked Splinter more than Reliquary. While the first book was an adventure which finished quite bad for me, I liked that in Splinter Mattie and Ben and Asa solved many of their problems.
Months after the events of the first book Mattie still is going to marry Ben the Idiot. When the Idiot does something quite dangerous and IDIOTIC, Mattie will have to dive back into the world of magic and meet Asa again.
I liked Asa much more in this book too and needless to say that despite his power he knows how to kick some serious ass!
After this ending I really want to see what surprises the next book will have!
ethelkleppinger's review against another edition
2.0
Main character seems like two different people: One who's simultaneously brave and a sad, abused doormat.
SPOILERSSSSSSSS
....
....
....
...
Things Ben Has Done To Mattie But She Still Loves Him So Much If Only They Could Talk It Out Hearts Hearts Hearts, in order of awful to the worst
Lied about what happened between him and his brother to make Ben seem like the good guy in that f-d up situation
Didn't realize she was legitimately dying from what she was forced to do in the first book (for his dumb ass)
Generally made the worst choices even when he "meant well"
STOLE A VAN AND HIT HIS BROTHER'S DOG AND DIDN'T EVEN STOP TO SEE WHAT HE HIT
Lied to her for 3 years about being basically addicted to a version of heroin
Used magic on her to make her more pliable and/or into sex
Mind-raped her FOR MONEY
KILLED HER GRANDFATHER FOR MONEY
I read the first book and kinda bought into this Midwestern naivety, but after the first few chapters where Ben kills Mattie's grandfather and she's like "Oh ok lol we'll talk about it later lol" ... I lost my mind. I did finish the book, but viewed it more as a take on an abusive relationship with a few magic capers and heists thrown in.
Ridiculous. I am giving this two stars only because Asa's character is intriguing (confusing, but intriguing) and the world-building is also interesting. I only read this because it was free, and will only read the next one if it's free and wraps up the series.
SPOILERSSSSSSSS
....
....
....
...
Things Ben Has Done To Mattie But She Still Loves Him So Much If Only They Could Talk It Out Hearts Hearts Hearts, in order of awful to the worst
Lied about what happened between him and his brother to make Ben seem like the good guy in that f-d up situation
Didn't realize she was legitimately dying from what she was forced to do in the first book (for his dumb ass)
Generally made the worst choices even when he "meant well"
STOLE A VAN AND HIT HIS BROTHER'S DOG AND DIDN'T EVEN STOP TO SEE WHAT HE HIT
Lied to her for 3 years about being basically addicted to a version of heroin
Used magic on her to make her more pliable and/or into sex
Mind-raped her FOR MONEY
KILLED HER GRANDFATHER FOR MONEY
I read the first book and kinda bought into this Midwestern naivety, but after the first few chapters where Ben kills Mattie's grandfather and she's like "Oh ok lol we'll talk about it later lol" ... I lost my mind. I did finish the book, but viewed it more as a take on an abusive relationship with a few magic capers and heists thrown in.
Ridiculous. I am giving this two stars only because Asa's character is intriguing (confusing, but intriguing) and the world-building is also interesting. I only read this because it was free, and will only read the next one if it's free and wraps up the series.
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