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4.13 AVERAGE
4.13 AVERAGE
another km shea slam dunk. pervasive grammar/syntax issues are weird & annoying.
adventurous
funny
mysterious
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
What can I say I love this world. Hazel has been my favorite and I loved seeing her and Killian pop up again. I especially enjoyed that this is the task force as I could see that being a whole series in its own. The social anxiety is something I haven’t seen a whole lot in the FMCs of fantasy and I appreciated that.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The Good:
K.M. Shea demonstrates her usual knack for witty dialogue and intriguing character dynamics. The interactions between the main characters were engaging at times, especially if you enjoy playful banter and subtle tension. The idea of weaving elements from her previous works into a new story is an appealing concept, offering fans a sense of familiarity and nostalgia.
The Meh:
Unfortunately, this familiarity ends up working against the book. Many aspects feel recycled, such as the protagonist’s combat skills (a throwback to Pip from Pack of Dawn and Destiny) and the love interest being a vampire (a trope Shea already handled much better with Killian in Hall of Blood and Mercy). The protagonist’s ability to smell blood might have been unique, but it didn’t add much to the story, leaving it feeling more like an afterthought than a meaningful trait.
The Frustrating:
The plot lacks structure and often feels cobbled together. While the interactions between the leads were occasionally intriguing, their motivations sometimes came across as shallow or unconvincing. The male lead, in particular, felt underdeveloped, with motivations that lacked depth and failed to make him a compelling character. Overall, the story didn’t have the same polish or emotional weight as Shea’s other series.
Final Thoughts:
The Games of Enemies and Allies isn’t a bad book—it’s a decent read that fans of K.M. Shea might enjoy. However, when compared to her previous series, it feels lackluster. The story struggles to find its footing, and the characters and plot don’t quite live up to the standards Shea has set with her earlier works.
K.M. Shea demonstrates her usual knack for witty dialogue and intriguing character dynamics. The interactions between the main characters were engaging at times, especially if you enjoy playful banter and subtle tension. The idea of weaving elements from her previous works into a new story is an appealing concept, offering fans a sense of familiarity and nostalgia.
The Meh:
Unfortunately, this familiarity ends up working against the book. Many aspects feel recycled, such as the protagonist’s combat skills (a throwback to Pip from Pack of Dawn and Destiny) and the love interest being a vampire (a trope Shea already handled much better with Killian in Hall of Blood and Mercy). The protagonist’s ability to smell blood might have been unique, but it didn’t add much to the story, leaving it feeling more like an afterthought than a meaningful trait.
The Frustrating:
The plot lacks structure and often feels cobbled together. While the interactions between the leads were occasionally intriguing, their motivations sometimes came across as shallow or unconvincing. The male lead, in particular, felt underdeveloped, with motivations that lacked depth and failed to make him a compelling character. Overall, the story didn’t have the same polish or emotional weight as Shea’s other series.
Final Thoughts:
The Games of Enemies and Allies isn’t a bad book—it’s a decent read that fans of K.M. Shea might enjoy. However, when compared to her previous series, it feels lackluster. The story struggles to find its footing, and the characters and plot don’t quite live up to the standards Shea has set with her earlier works.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence, Mental illness, Violence
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
“Oh. Yeah, that would be fun.” Jade smiled at me, her green eyes warm with all the happiness and friendship she’d lacked when pointing a gun at me mere hours ago.
Perhaps this isn’t much of a vacation after all, but one thing is for certain. This is vastly more entertaining than anything I’ve done in centuries.
I chuckled deep in my throat. “It will be,” I said.
I enjoy the world of Magiford, and this is a fun one. Not too deep or serious, but interesting.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
SWOON!! My favorite book of all time?!? I’ve been waiting impatiently for months for this trilogy to finish so I could binge the whole thing, and it was so worth the wait. I absolutely love the whole Magiford series and this may be the most exquisite one yet. It’s very cool to see the task force up and running after seeing it conceived in previous books. It’s really nice to have an MC who is a highly skilled warrior AND has debilitating social anxiety.
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No