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blueshadow's review
4.0
Pretty good. Not terribly original plot, you can basically figure it out from the book blurb. Only so many ways to mix magic, bookstores, and saving the world from monsters. Even so, it was done well and a fun story.
3.5 stars, rounded up. It probably deserved my 3 star "average" rating except that I enjoyed it way more than most books that I give 3 stars. So I rounded up. I don't know, I am just working with what I have got here. Assigning stars is hard and arbitrary.
3.5 stars, rounded up. It probably deserved my 3 star "average" rating except that I enjoyed it way more than most books that I give 3 stars. So I rounded up. I don't know, I am just working with what I have got here. Assigning stars is hard and arbitrary.
annieb123's review
4.0
Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
The Book of Secrets is the first book in a new series by Melissa McShane. Though the author's more widely known as a historical fantasy writer, this new series is a departure, since it's more of a light urban fantasy with cozy mystery. The protagonist is a hapless 21 year old who lands a job at an antiquarian bookshop and is thrust into an unknown world when her boss gets murdered whilst she's on the premises and she begins to find out that the bookstore is emphatically not your average bookstore.
I especially enjoyed the characters in the book as well as Helena, the main protagonist's, relationship with her best friend Viv. She also has a great relationship with her family! How refreshing to meet a protagonist in a NA book who isn't broken and emotionally destroyed. The entire book is full of quirky characters and the author does a good job of making them real in all their weird and funky glory. There's a foreshadowed slow burn romance interest, but the author doesn't just fling them together on page 12 (kudos for that!). There's the obligatory female love-to-hate character. I don't think I've read a NA novel in ages that had a female protagonist that didn't use the sarky female-female antagonist device. It's de rigueur. That small quibble aside, the book is fun and well paced and plotted. The oogie space monsters from another dimension are satisfyingly oogie and scary (though happily not wet-your-pants-and-throw-the-book-across-the-room horrifying!).
The mystery part has a satisfying and well paced denouement in the last chapter. All around a fun read. Looking forward to the next book(s) in the series.
Four stars, entertaining and well written.
Info:
The Book of Secrets, book #1 in the Last Oracle series by Melissa McShane.
192 pages, published by Curiosity Quills press.
Released: 20 Feb, 2018 in ebook and paperback formats
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
The Book of Secrets is the first book in a new series by Melissa McShane. Though the author's more widely known as a historical fantasy writer, this new series is a departure, since it's more of a light urban fantasy with cozy mystery. The protagonist is a hapless 21 year old who lands a job at an antiquarian bookshop and is thrust into an unknown world when her boss gets murdered whilst she's on the premises and she begins to find out that the bookstore is emphatically not your average bookstore.
I especially enjoyed the characters in the book as well as Helena, the main protagonist's, relationship with her best friend Viv. She also has a great relationship with her family! How refreshing to meet a protagonist in a NA book who isn't broken and emotionally destroyed. The entire book is full of quirky characters and the author does a good job of making them real in all their weird and funky glory. There's a foreshadowed slow burn romance interest, but the author doesn't just fling them together on page 12 (kudos for that!). There's the obligatory female love-to-hate character. I don't think I've read a NA novel in ages that had a female protagonist that didn't use the sarky female-female antagonist device. It's de rigueur. That small quibble aside, the book is fun and well paced and plotted. The oogie space monsters from another dimension are satisfyingly oogie and scary (though happily not wet-your-pants-and-throw-the-book-across-the-room horrifying!).
The mystery part has a satisfying and well paced denouement in the last chapter. All around a fun read. Looking forward to the next book(s) in the series.
Four stars, entertaining and well written.
Info:
The Book of Secrets, book #1 in the Last Oracle series by Melissa McShane.
192 pages, published by Curiosity Quills press.
Released: 20 Feb, 2018 in ebook and paperback formats
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
jbmarie's review
5.0
This was so good! Highly recommend. Interesting premise, creative world-building and a heroine with a backbone. There were a few moments I thought were rushed regarding Helena's reaction to events, but in a weird way I preferred it. It kept the plot and action moving. Can't wait to start book 2!
zozoisgolden's review
2.0
one dimensional characters, interesting premise, half-hearted execution.
The most interesting part was the one scene at the end. Nothing else.
The most interesting part was the one scene at the end. Nothing else.
andimontgomery's review
4.0
3.5 stars. I enjoyed this more than I expected! Books, oracles, and mystery - this one had a little of everything. I'll definitely continue with this series.
punandprose's review
3.0
3.5 stars. I might have to reread this one. I listened to the audiobook while at work and I may have missed some details. Overall seemed like a fairly intriguing tale with unique characters, and I look forward to continuing the series.
bookdinafantasywrld's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
weirdlittlebooks's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
rebeccalovesreading's review
5.0
So glad that I started this series!
This book introduces the main character and several of the supporting characters. The world building infrastructure is established and what a world she built!!
The “whodunit” was unexpected and well executed. I can’t wait to jump into the next installment.
This book introduces the main character and several of the supporting characters. The world building infrastructure is established and what a world she built!!
The “whodunit” was unexpected and well executed. I can’t wait to jump into the next installment.
squishies's review
4.0
Interesting premise and magic system shows promise from what little we saw (there was overall summarisation of about the different types of magi and what they do, but there wasn't a lot of scenes where you saw it in action). The magic system vaguely reminds me of the one in [b:The Paper Magician|20727654|The Paper Magician|Charlie N. Holmberg|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1405618531l/20727654._SY75_.jpg|40051132], albeit so far a pared down version of it.
I'm very curious about the Invaders - - be very interested to see how close I get with my theory.
Am not really relating to any characters or finding any particularly interesting besides Viv, who's a bit of a fun, loose cannon ball.
I'm very curious about the Invaders -
Spoiler
I get the impression that maybe they didn't want to be there in the first place, somehow getting transported into our world, but killing people in order to survive?Am not really relating to any characters or finding any particularly interesting besides Viv, who's a bit of a fun, loose cannon ball.