availle's review against another edition
3.0
I really liked the story. I also like the way the fae are presented.
What's really annoying about this book is the fake 20s Chicago slang. If I could grab a word editor and just find-replace 'kisser' by 'mouth' etc, this book would get a full five stars from me. Like this? Really annoying to read, despite the amazing story.
What's really annoying about this book is the fake 20s Chicago slang. If I could grab a word editor and just find-replace 'kisser' by 'mouth' etc, this book would get a full five stars from me. Like this? Really annoying to read, despite the amazing story.
katleap's review against another edition
3.0
This was okay. I hated all the slang but the world building was interesting. The end was a little abrupt for me though.
booksundercover2022's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
scifimagpie's review against another edition
5.0
A little bit gimmicky, but with some truly beautiful descriptions and real nuances, this is a very good series that shouldn't be missed by urban fantasy fans. If you crave stories that hew to folklore but still capture that hard-boiled aesthetic, and embrace the weirdness of fae stories, this is the book for you.
There's a few bits where the style feels a bit over the top, and a little forced, but it doesn't really mess up the narrative.
Basically, if you ever wanted magic and Raymond Chandler in one book, check this series out for sure.
There's a few bits where the style feels a bit over the top, and a little forced, but it doesn't really mess up the narrative.
Basically, if you ever wanted magic and Raymond Chandler in one book, check this series out for sure.
stephilica's review against another edition
4.0
This is a genuinely fun novel. The plot twists are clever, and paced expertly—rarely does the book seem to rush or drag, but tantalizingly beckon the reader forward. The world was an entertaining and seamless integration of mobster Chicago and the mystical Elphame, with descriptions and features that made me marvel at Marmell’s imagination.
As a narrator, Mick was entertaining and colorful. He’s a complex character who’s rough at the edges, and while doesn’t necessarily have that ‘heart of gold,’ follows his own code of morality in an endearing manner. He’s easy to sympathize with. His constant gangster slang took some time to get used to, but it doesn’t detract from the reading experience, and adds a unique flavor to the novel’s atmosphere.
Other characters, such as Bianca Ottati, Donna Orsola, and gang leader Fino, all add different perspectives to the conflict—where is the missing Ottati daughter, and what to do with the changeling who’s been left in her place? Both Ottati girls, Adalina and the girl she meant to replace, act as foils to one another, strengthening the discussion of the novel’s overarching theme: what does it mean to be human?
It’s a thought-provoking discussion, and Oberon’s own past and current actions shape its flow. While it skims the surface for the most part, it is an interesting aspect of the novel.
The best thing about this novel, though, is the expansiveness of it. With each character interaction, we see hints that there’s more to them than meets the eye, and with each new development in the world, we’re left to wonder what else we haven’t seen. It’s the iceberg principle in action, and it makes the novel seem much more than three hundred pages.
(Lastly, I feel I should add a note here about how this novel compares to Marmell’s debut series, Widdershins. Certainly, some of the same style shines through—the sass, the narrator who’s closer to antihero than hero, even if not quite there—but it’s a marvelous improvement. The snark is more appropriate and natural, and the pacing is centuries ahead. Fans of Widdershins will most definitely enjoy this as well.)
As a narrator, Mick was entertaining and colorful. He’s a complex character who’s rough at the edges, and while doesn’t necessarily have that ‘heart of gold,’ follows his own code of morality in an endearing manner. He’s easy to sympathize with. His constant gangster slang took some time to get used to, but it doesn’t detract from the reading experience, and adds a unique flavor to the novel’s atmosphere.
Other characters, such as Bianca Ottati, Donna Orsola, and gang leader Fino, all add different perspectives to the conflict—where is the missing Ottati daughter, and what to do with the changeling who’s been left in her place? Both Ottati girls, Adalina and the girl she meant to replace, act as foils to one another, strengthening the discussion of the novel’s overarching theme: what does it mean to be human?
It’s a thought-provoking discussion, and Oberon’s own past and current actions shape its flow. While it skims the surface for the most part, it is an interesting aspect of the novel.
The best thing about this novel, though, is the expansiveness of it. With each character interaction, we see hints that there’s more to them than meets the eye, and with each new development in the world, we’re left to wonder what else we haven’t seen. It’s the iceberg principle in action, and it makes the novel seem much more than three hundred pages.
(Lastly, I feel I should add a note here about how this novel compares to Marmell’s debut series, Widdershins. Certainly, some of the same style shines through—the sass, the narrator who’s closer to antihero than hero, even if not quite there—but it’s a marvelous improvement. The snark is more appropriate and natural, and the pacing is centuries ahead. Fans of Widdershins will most definitely enjoy this as well.)
iffer's review against another edition
2.0
Fun fluff, but it didn't really draw me in. If it seems like the setting and characters become more developed throughout the series, I might think about kicking the other volumes back when I'm in the mood for a fun supernatural investigator series.
stacialithub's review against another edition
3.0
1930s detective noir, the Chicago Mob, & Fae, along with plenty of other supernatural creatures. Fast-paced thriller that marks a great new entry into the urban fantasy category. If you are looking for a Sam Spade/Philip Marlowe/Mike Hammer hard-boiled PI with the mystical powers of belonging to the Fae, this is a book not to miss.
mrsdarcylynn's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
3.0
This book was a slow, moody noir filled with magic. I loved the authors commitment to 30s slang and Chicago gangster tropes. I felt like the magical world was a little bit of a let down, but found the use of luck in magic to be interesting. I enjoyed reading the book, but didn’t come back for more/love the book/think about it when I wasn’t reading it. I probably won’t continue with the series- once was enough of a taste to enjoy what the author was going for :)