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4.19 AVERAGE
4.19 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Very good entry in the series! As usual a twisty little plot, some grim stuff, a lot of ass kicking, the good guys getting the shit beat out of them, but mostly coming through somewhat in tatters at the end. Glad he wrapped up one or two of the loose ends of the series. Seems like this COULD be the end of the series, but I hope it's not because I really would keep buying these as long as they stay this good.
I'm torn between "OK" and "I liked it." Felix gets off ridiculously lucky, and doesn't really change as a person. But I did really really like Asmodeus' plan once it was revealed.
I'm glad this finally tied up the Rafi plotline, which though intense, was starting to drag a little for me. What happens to Juliet in this book is sad - and it really made me pause about her relationship with Susan and how to feel about what happens, even if she wasn't in her right mind at the time. I also thought the bit about the pool was so f'ing creepy and so atmospherically brought to life in writing - I almost lost my breath that first time Felix and Trudie encounter it.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
It's a heck of a ride and was hard to put down. There is a lot going on and it all builds up to an intense conclusion. It pays off the series. Felix is a great character. I think this book puts the finishing touches on establishing these books as one of the better urban fantasy series out there. It's worth checking out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Grief
Moderate: Body horror, Confinement, Torture, Violence, Medical content, Medical trauma, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death, Blood
The Castor books do not lack in excitement or movement, and this book is no exception. It picks up very nicely where book 4 left off; with Castor struggling with the ramifications of his decision to break Rafi out of the cell in which he was being held; and everything that happened after - culminating in the deaths and destruction of innocent people. By the time he picks himself out of the gutter of booze and vomit he has dumped himself in, it is because the demon possessing Rafi has it made it clear his spree has barely begun.
And for Fix, his chaos is just beginning. Juliet is loosing control - and Fix knows that he has no one to tame her once she does. Pen is furious with Fix for loosing control of both Rafi and his own life. And in order to get control of Rafi, Fix is willing to strike a deal with his own nemesis.
Mikey Carey does a fantastic job bringing this particular storyline to a irrevocable conclusion using some unexpected tactics. I hope he continues on with the series - Fix and Juliet remain interesting characters, and he still has the question to answer why ghosts have became so active. But if he does not, he just offered readers a great ending to a great series.
And for Fix, his chaos is just beginning. Juliet is loosing control - and Fix knows that he has no one to tame her once she does. Pen is furious with Fix for loosing control of both Rafi and his own life. And in order to get control of Rafi, Fix is willing to strike a deal with his own nemesis.
Mikey Carey does a fantastic job bringing this particular storyline to a irrevocable conclusion using some unexpected tactics. I hope he continues on with the series - Fix and Juliet remain interesting characters, and he still has the question to answer why ghosts have became so active. But if he does not, he just offered readers a great ending to a great series.
I am torn about this one. I would have been EXTREMELY disappointed if I had thought this was the last installment for Felix but I see on Goodreads that there is a #6 -- yay!! I really love the idea of these stories -- London, UK, and all Hell has broken loose. As in, ghosts, zombies, demons, werewolves, etc. are here among the living. I just thought this installment was too rushed. I was not satisfied AT ALL!! I needed more about my favourite characters, I needed more story, I needed more comeuppance for the not-so-nice guys. Looking forward to #6 and (hopefully) more to come after that. As stated, I really love Felix's whole world.
I don't quite understand why Mike Carey's Felix Castor novels aren't more popular with readers of urban fantasy. While certainly a darker and harder "feel" than Jim Butcher, I would fully expect fans of the Dresden Files to also enjoy the Castor books.
It's a shame, really, because Mike Carey is cranking out some fun stuff indeed. Perhaps it's too "English" for the readers, as London factors heavily into the books, and there are many English cultural references that American readers might not catch. I sometimes miss the political and pop references, but that certainly hasn't curtailed my enjoyment of the series.
In the latest installment, Carey brings about serious changes to three characters that I always want to read more about: Rafi, his friend possessed by Asmodeus, Juliet, the succubus that almost killed Castor and has since been (somewhat) "humanized", and Nicky, the zombie whose sole goal in his un-life is to preserve that decaying body at all costs.
Rafi's storyline is front and center, as Asmodeus has openly started a campaign to free himself from the shackles of Rafi's bodily prison, a mistaken prison courtesy of our hero Felix himself. I've always felt that the Rafi/Asmodeus storyline was "on hold" and this book sees Carey giving it his full attention and resolving it once and for all.
In addition, Nicky is losing his grip on halting the decay of his body, and Juliet is losing her grip on maintaining her hard-fought "humanity". Juliet's storyline is given more page time than Nicky's, but I felt both could have been fleshed out some more.
There's a lot going on in this book, and I felt it redeems some of the slow gloominess that pervaded the last book on the series. Carey is on firm ground and gives the reader a lot to chew on, with some great action and nice character development. Felix himself also goes through some changes as well, taking quite a beating in the process.
By the end I was a happy camper, having decided that book 4 was an anomoly and Felix Castor is back. I look forward to more by Mr. Carey and it cannot come too soon.
It's a shame, really, because Mike Carey is cranking out some fun stuff indeed. Perhaps it's too "English" for the readers, as London factors heavily into the books, and there are many English cultural references that American readers might not catch. I sometimes miss the political and pop references, but that certainly hasn't curtailed my enjoyment of the series.
In the latest installment, Carey brings about serious changes to three characters that I always want to read more about: Rafi, his friend possessed by Asmodeus, Juliet, the succubus that almost killed Castor and has since been (somewhat) "humanized", and Nicky, the zombie whose sole goal in his un-life is to preserve that decaying body at all costs.
Rafi's storyline is front and center, as Asmodeus has openly started a campaign to free himself from the shackles of Rafi's bodily prison, a mistaken prison courtesy of our hero Felix himself. I've always felt that the Rafi/Asmodeus storyline was "on hold" and this book sees Carey giving it his full attention and resolving it once and for all.
In addition, Nicky is losing his grip on halting the decay of his body, and Juliet is losing her grip on maintaining her hard-fought "humanity". Juliet's storyline is given more page time than Nicky's, but I felt both could have been fleshed out some more.
There's a lot going on in this book, and I felt it redeems some of the slow gloominess that pervaded the last book on the series. Carey is on firm ground and gives the reader a lot to chew on, with some great action and nice character development. Felix himself also goes through some changes as well, taking quite a beating in the process.
By the end I was a happy camper, having decided that book 4 was an anomoly and Felix Castor is back. I look forward to more by Mr. Carey and it cannot come too soon.