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greatnate008's review against another edition
2.0
I only read this because I feel obligated to complete the series. I'm not looking forward to reading the fourth one. If you are reading the first book in the series, stop now. It becomes all about political activism and a feminist agenda.
cozy_books_reviews's review against another edition
4.0
Another 4 stars because for some reason I can't give 5. I still don't know what exactly is missing, but there is something that bothers me.
I still think this is a good series that more people should read.
I really like the female MC which is rare. She is likeable and it's easy to care about her.
Very curious to see where things will go in the best two books!
I still think this is a good series that more people should read.
I really like the female MC which is rare. She is likeable and it's easy to care about her.
Very curious to see where things will go in the best two books!
aligeorge's review against another edition
4.0
Having finished this, I feel quite bereft as the next book in the series isn't out until August...
urs's review against another edition
5.0
Looooooove this books and series, wondering what delight book 4 has in store.
amandacole's review against another edition
4.0
Originally posted at Desert Island Book Reviews
All Is Fair is the third book in the Split Worlds series, and if you haven’t read the first two, stop reading now! I recommend reading this series in order and not looking at reviews of books past where you are.
This book started off slower than the others for me, despite all the potential it had. With Will as Duke of Londinium and Cathy as his duchess (side note: just realized in this book that the characters are Will and Catherine, just like the British royal family — I wonder if they influenced the author?), there were so many ways the plot could go. But then, Will became kind of unlikable and there was a lot of time spent on the sorcerer plot line, which wasn’t ideal for me (it’s my least favorite subplot).
Still, it did pick up steam and we got into a lot of really interesting things. I think Will even managed to redeem himself in the end for me, despite his obnoxious mistakes and controlling tendencies. And the real star of this book was, of course, Cathy, who seems to have found a way to exist in the Nether and make a difference, even if it is an uphill battle.
I don’t buy the romance that’s developing between Will and Cathy — he’s too controlling behind her back, and I’m surprised she forgives him as much as she does. I think she’s more interesting on her own, but I guess Will does play his part in the overall story.
Sam’s story is becoming more interesting, which is surprising because it hasn’t been all that exciting in the past two books. Now, though, he’s in a position to actually do something and to be a hero in one way or another, and I love that! True, he didn’t gain the position and power through any sort of merit (at least, not obviously), but he seems like he might have it in him to right some wrongs. I’m rooting for him and looking forward to seeing what he’s up to in book four.
Max and the gargoyle still don’t interest me really at all. They did take some control this time and make a decision that could change the course of events for arbiters and sorcerers, so we’ll see if there’s anything coming up that might make their whole part more exciting. Still not sure we need a walking talking gargoyle though!
Overall, I still like where this series is going. Even when I get frustrated with parts and wonder why they’re necessary, I can see how things tie together. I’m wondering how all of the different plot lines will be resolved in the end (whenever that is). I’m giving this book four stars, but only because the end bits started to get really exciting. The earlier parts were a little slow for me this time, and while still inventive, the pacing was just off. After three books, I do still recommend this series.
All Is Fair is the third book in the Split Worlds series, and if you haven’t read the first two, stop reading now! I recommend reading this series in order and not looking at reviews of books past where you are.
This book started off slower than the others for me, despite all the potential it had. With Will as Duke of Londinium and Cathy as his duchess (side note: just realized in this book that the characters are Will and Catherine, just like the British royal family — I wonder if they influenced the author?), there were so many ways the plot could go. But then, Will became kind of unlikable and there was a lot of time spent on the sorcerer plot line, which wasn’t ideal for me (it’s my least favorite subplot).
Still, it did pick up steam and we got into a lot of really interesting things. I think Will even managed to redeem himself in the end for me, despite his obnoxious mistakes and controlling tendencies. And the real star of this book was, of course, Cathy, who seems to have found a way to exist in the Nether and make a difference, even if it is an uphill battle.
I don’t buy the romance that’s developing between Will and Cathy — he’s too controlling behind her back, and I’m surprised she forgives him as much as she does. I think she’s more interesting on her own, but I guess Will does play his part in the overall story.
Sam’s story is becoming more interesting, which is surprising because it hasn’t been all that exciting in the past two books. Now, though, he’s in a position to actually do something and to be a hero in one way or another, and I love that! True, he didn’t gain the position and power through any sort of merit (at least, not obviously), but he seems like he might have it in him to right some wrongs. I’m rooting for him and looking forward to seeing what he’s up to in book four.
Max and the gargoyle still don’t interest me really at all. They did take some control this time and make a decision that could change the course of events for arbiters and sorcerers, so we’ll see if there’s anything coming up that might make their whole part more exciting. Still not sure we need a walking talking gargoyle though!
Overall, I still like where this series is going. Even when I get frustrated with parts and wonder why they’re necessary, I can see how things tie together. I’m wondering how all of the different plot lines will be resolved in the end (whenever that is). I’m giving this book four stars, but only because the end bits started to get really exciting. The earlier parts were a little slow for me this time, and while still inventive, the pacing was just off. After three books, I do still recommend this series.
leticiatoraci's review against another edition
5.0
This was very well written and gave the different story arcs very good resolutions, I could not put this book down. The audiobook narration was awesome too.
avanders's review against another edition
4.0
Review based on ARC.
I received this review from NetGalley dot com; thanks to Angry Robot Ltd for the opportunity to read and review this book!
I requested this book because the cover is engaging and reminded me of another book I wanted to read, though I couldn't quite place what it was. It soon became apparent -- I have the first book in this series on my bookshelf. Nevertheless, with early reviewers, time is limited, so I read the third without having read the first (or the second).
Fortunately, it is an interesting enough book, with a background that is not overly complicated, so I was able to read this third without ever really feeling lost in the plot. True, I did not know who Max or his Gargoyle already were; true, I did not know who Cathy was or how William got to his place of power by trickery; true, I did not know who had already died or how, but the information was presented to me, a new reader of the series, without an overly simplistic "here's what's already happened" backdrop or an overly complicated or presumptuous inside-references.
Instead, it was as though I were dropped into the middle of a mystery, and through conversation and memory, was able to piece the rest together. Each of the stories were interesting and, rather than leave me with the sense that I'd already gleaned all from the series that I needed to by reading the third book, it made me want to go back and read the first two, to get that more in depth experience of the events that I now undertand have already occurred. In other words, well done! I liked this third enough to want to read more Newman -- whether something already published, or something yet to be published.
A quick synopsis:
This story takes place in the Nether (a faerie-run world otherwise like ours) and in Mundanus (it's like muggles... the non-magic people or people not in the nether live in the "mundane" world -- i.e., mundanus). William has taken the throne of Londinium (the Nether-London), which makes Cathy the Duchess. What we gleaned from the prior books is that William seems to be a pretty good guy, but controlled by a pretty evil faerie, and that Cathy is a headstrong girl who wants to change the corruption and evil in the Nether. Cathy was attacked in book 2 (presumably), and William is told it is one household who has done so. William therefore wins the seat of Duke in a duel that he wins by murdering someone who had previously believed to be his friend. Cathy attempts to feel nothing romantic toward William, her husband, at the beginning of the book, but begins to realize as the book progresses that she needs his support to accomplish what she wants to accomplish.
Max the arbiter and his gargoyle (where his soul is housed) continue to investigate who or what is behind the murder of a series of wizards and the corruption in London. Max and the gargoyle work with Cathy, who is an insider now given her new position as Duchess to attempt to discover the truth.
Cathy's friend Sam, from Mundanus, has lost his wife and finds himself in the care of Lord Iron, which unsurprisingly puts Sam in the position of accepting an offer from Lord Iron which ends up being more than Sam himself anticipated.
With a quick plot, interesting characters, and an element of mystery, Newman brings the reader fully into her tale, and eager to find out, "what next!"
Recommended for readers looking for a quick urban fantasy read with dark intentions, a touch of insanity, and a subtle love story.
This and other reviews can be found at AllBookReviewer.blogspot.com.
I received this review from NetGalley dot com; thanks to Angry Robot Ltd for the opportunity to read and review this book!
I requested this book because the cover is engaging and reminded me of another book I wanted to read, though I couldn't quite place what it was. It soon became apparent -- I have the first book in this series on my bookshelf. Nevertheless, with early reviewers, time is limited, so I read the third without having read the first (or the second).
Fortunately, it is an interesting enough book, with a background that is not overly complicated, so I was able to read this third without ever really feeling lost in the plot. True, I did not know who Max or his Gargoyle already were; true, I did not know who Cathy was or how William got to his place of power by trickery; true, I did not know who had already died or how, but the information was presented to me, a new reader of the series, without an overly simplistic "here's what's already happened" backdrop or an overly complicated or presumptuous inside-references.
Instead, it was as though I were dropped into the middle of a mystery, and through conversation and memory, was able to piece the rest together. Each of the stories were interesting and, rather than leave me with the sense that I'd already gleaned all from the series that I needed to by reading the third book, it made me want to go back and read the first two, to get that more in depth experience of the events that I now undertand have already occurred. In other words, well done! I liked this third enough to want to read more Newman -- whether something already published, or something yet to be published.
A quick synopsis:
This story takes place in the Nether (a faerie-run world otherwise like ours) and in Mundanus (it's like muggles... the non-magic people or people not in the nether live in the "mundane" world -- i.e., mundanus). William has taken the throne of Londinium (the Nether-London), which makes Cathy the Duchess. What we gleaned from the prior books is that William seems to be a pretty good guy, but controlled by a pretty evil faerie, and that Cathy is a headstrong girl who wants to change the corruption and evil in the Nether. Cathy was attacked in book 2 (presumably), and William is told it is one household who has done so. William therefore wins the seat of Duke in a duel that he wins by murdering someone who had previously believed to be his friend. Cathy attempts to feel nothing romantic toward William, her husband, at the beginning of the book, but begins to realize as the book progresses that she needs his support to accomplish what she wants to accomplish.
Max the arbiter and his gargoyle (where his soul is housed) continue to investigate who or what is behind the murder of a series of wizards and the corruption in London. Max and the gargoyle work with Cathy, who is an insider now given her new position as Duchess to attempt to discover the truth.
Cathy's friend Sam, from Mundanus, has lost his wife and finds himself in the care of Lord Iron, which unsurprisingly puts Sam in the position of accepting an offer from Lord Iron which ends up being more than Sam himself anticipated.
With a quick plot, interesting characters, and an element of mystery, Newman brings the reader fully into her tale, and eager to find out, "what next!"
Recommended for readers looking for a quick urban fantasy read with dark intentions, a touch of insanity, and a subtle love story.
This and other reviews can be found at AllBookReviewer.blogspot.com.
beckylej's review against another edition
4.0
All is not running smoothly in Londinium. Many are not pleased with Will Iris's taking of the throne, including Cathy. But, having resolved herself to staying in the Nether, she's decided to make the best of it.
Meanwhile, Max feels he's getting closer to the truth about the elimination of his order but has lost the support of the Sorcerer. Going it alone means once again reaching out for Cathy's help, but they'll have to tread carefully now that Will has begun paying more careful attention to her actions.
Ooh, things are heating up again in the Split worlds! One of the things I really love about this series is the way each installment is peppered with plot threads and information that play into and eventually pays off in later books. It makes it easy to move from story to story without losing momentum or interest.
Of course the fact that we're following the same core group of characters through a timeline that's fairly compact also keeps the moment and interest high. Sam is back again with a story that is definitely starting to make more sense as we progress. Additionally, we're finally given insight into another of the Sorcerers and his world as well as Margritte, who we met briefly in book two. Oh, and Ms. Rainer's story is beginning to finally come into play more too.
So see, lots of gloriously fabulous threads, which lead to answers to some questions, and more new questions to consider!
Meanwhile, Max feels he's getting closer to the truth about the elimination of his order but has lost the support of the Sorcerer. Going it alone means once again reaching out for Cathy's help, but they'll have to tread carefully now that Will has begun paying more careful attention to her actions.
Ooh, things are heating up again in the Split worlds! One of the things I really love about this series is the way each installment is peppered with plot threads and information that play into and eventually pays off in later books. It makes it easy to move from story to story without losing momentum or interest.
Of course the fact that we're following the same core group of characters through a timeline that's fairly compact also keeps the moment and interest high. Sam is back again with a story that is definitely starting to make more sense as we progress. Additionally, we're finally given insight into another of the Sorcerers and his world as well as Margritte, who we met briefly in book two. Oh, and Ms. Rainer's story is beginning to finally come into play more too.
So see, lots of gloriously fabulous threads, which lead to answers to some questions, and more new questions to consider!
redheadreading's review against another edition
5.0
Review here: http://bodypositivityandglitter.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/any-other-name-all-is-fair-emma-newman.html