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4.13 AVERAGE
4.13 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
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:
No
adventurous
lighthearted
slow-paced
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Let me preface by saying this is not a bad story.
My main gripe with it is that it is a purposely unfinished book. Now I get publishing is like, insanely hard. Carving your own little space, your fanbase and such is a miracle onto itself. However. It has limits. But lets talk about the book.
Its a modern fantasy story kinda similar to the Dresden Files, albeit much more lighthearted and comedic. The characters are fun to follow, though none of them have much substance. Its kinda fun to see the main character fumble around social situations, it feels relatable. The story does seem well crafted and the mystery interesting enough.
Its a shame i only have half of it.
Now this is not hating on trilogy, or sequels, or any serialized stories. Those are fine. Because usually, the first book is more or less self-contained. To take a very basic example, the first Harry Potter book ends at the end of year one, and you expect a sequel, but it does tell a complete and full arc. This book doesn't. It leaves you hanging at the end, after a cliffhanger, when it barely feels like the story has started, and tells you to buy the next book. And that feels... low. Like a bad marketing ploy to make sure I keep reading and download the next e-book. And I get the need to make sure you earn a living, but this doesn't feel like a story in two parts, it feels like a story butchered to make two parts and that feels... Wrong. Wrong enough that I will probably not be reading the next book.
My main gripe with it is that it is a purposely unfinished book. Now I get publishing is like, insanely hard. Carving your own little space, your fanbase and such is a miracle onto itself. However. It has limits. But lets talk about the book.
Its a modern fantasy story kinda similar to the Dresden Files, albeit much more lighthearted and comedic. The characters are fun to follow, though none of them have much substance. Its kinda fun to see the main character fumble around social situations, it feels relatable. The story does seem well crafted and the mystery interesting enough.
Its a shame i only have half of it.
Now this is not hating on trilogy, or sequels, or any serialized stories. Those are fine. Because usually, the first book is more or less self-contained. To take a very basic example, the first Harry Potter book ends at the end of year one, and you expect a sequel, but it does tell a complete and full arc. This book doesn't. It leaves you hanging at the end, after a cliffhanger, when it barely feels like the story has started, and tells you to buy the next book. And that feels... low. Like a bad marketing ploy to make sure I keep reading and download the next e-book. And I get the need to make sure you earn a living, but this doesn't feel like a story in two parts, it feels like a story butchered to make two parts and that feels... Wrong. Wrong enough that I will probably not be reading the next book.
2024 audiobook re-read:
I love this audiobook! The narrators did such a good job with the characters. I love every book of the Magiford interconnected series and this one is no different. I keep coming back to these characters and this world and love it every-time. Comfort reads for the win!
I love this audiobook! The narrators did such a good job with the characters. I love every book of the Magiford interconnected series and this one is no different. I keep coming back to these characters and this world and love it every-time. Comfort reads for the win!
adventurous
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
fast-paced
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
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:
Yes
This is very reminiscent of previous works by Shea in both quality and plot/characters. A serious weak point in her writing is that all her series have the same feel in both character and plot. There's some intriguing interactions between our two main characters, especially with each of their identities being hidden. I really enjoyed this aspect and will continue the trilogy for more of it.
The character development is lacking though. They have some interesting traits but they come out generic and underdeveloped with side characters coming across very 2D. The plot itself is very odd. It doesn't feel properly structured so the flow is off and boring at times. It really just reads like a mechanism to give our characters reasons to interact. The ending comes across sudden due to this despite it technically being wrapped up.
I want to like this as I love the romantic intrigue of hidden identities but I can't recommend the overall series. It is lacking in polish and needs some more work though the bones are there.
The character development is lacking though. They have some interesting traits but they come out generic and underdeveloped with side characters coming across very 2D. The plot itself is very odd. It doesn't feel properly structured so the flow is off and boring at times. It really just reads like a mechanism to give our characters reasons to interact. The ending comes across sudden due to this despite it technically being wrapped up.
I want to like this as I love the romantic intrigue of hidden identities but I can't recommend the overall series. It is lacking in polish and needs some more work though the bones are there.
adventurous
fast-paced