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djwudi's review
3.0
As entertaining as the first, expanding the modern-magic world into the realm of film and the cult of personality surrounding stars. Three stars instead of four primarily because the concepts weren't new this time, so it didn't have quite the same fun as learning everything in the first book, but still a very enjoyable romp. I'll be keeping an eye out for the next in the series.
nniskanen's review
5.0
Welcome to the world of Ree Reyes, Geekomancer, bartender, and budding screenwriter. It is a life of gorgeous women, dapper men, and monsters. So many monsters. Channeling magic through the collective, obsessive love of Star Wars, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Marvel comics (and the MCU) and Magic the Gathering. Also Leverage. Must not forget Leverage. Ree is essentially like so many of my friends that slipping into her world is always a comfort and like getting to spend some time with one of them from the comfort of my home. You can almost hear the John Williams music in the background.
What can I say? I loved this book. I squeed my way through it, hardly daring to put it down for fear of not getting through it fast enough. It's a really fun read that sometimes manages to catch you off guard with the sheer awesome of the concept of geekomancy. Highly recommended.
I "read" the audio version, read by Mary Robinette Kowal, and while I always love listening to Mary, I think she is especially on point in these books. I highly recommend the audio version.
Disclaimer: I know the author and the reader so my view may not be entirely unbiased.
What can I say? I loved this book. I squeed my way through it, hardly daring to put it down for fear of not getting through it fast enough. It's a really fun read that sometimes manages to catch you off guard with the sheer awesome of the concept of geekomancy. Highly recommended.
I "read" the audio version, read by Mary Robinette Kowal, and while I always love listening to Mary, I think she is especially on point in these books. I highly recommend the audio version.
Disclaimer: I know the author and the reader so my view may not be entirely unbiased.
nancyotoole's review
3.0
Celebromancy is the second book to star Ree Reyes. Last book, Ree discovered that she was a Geekomancer, meaning that she derives magic from fandoms. In Celebromancy it looks like Ree's screenwriting career is finally ready to launch, but her quest for professional success leads her to a new, and dangerous type of magic.
I wouldn't call the Ree Reyes books by favorite paranormal series, but if you're looking for geeky fun, it's pretty much the perfect place to go. Ree remains as likable as ever, and the plethora of pop culture references, while a little overwhelming at times, can feel like a fun scavenger hunt. How many TV/movie/comic/video game/book/tabletop rpg/???? references can you pick up on? Celebromancy distances the reader from some of the characters and situation in the first book, including Eastwood and the hunt for Ree's missing mother, and instead focuses on Ree's budding screenwriting career and the magic system Celebromancy. I enjoyed learning about this new type of magic, even if it felt a little silly to me at times. The novel also features a new romantic interest for Ree: a fading starlet named Jane (who feels like a cross between Lindsey Lohan and Angelina Jolie) trying to reclaim her status.
Celebromancy is a worthwhile follow up to Geekomancy. If you enjoyed Ree's first outing, the second will probably appeal to you as well. I chose to listen to the book on audio and found that the narrator, Mary Robinette Kowal, did a great job.
I wouldn't call the Ree Reyes books by favorite paranormal series, but if you're looking for geeky fun, it's pretty much the perfect place to go. Ree remains as likable as ever, and the plethora of pop culture references, while a little overwhelming at times, can feel like a fun scavenger hunt. How many TV/movie/comic/video game/book/tabletop rpg/???? references can you pick up on? Celebromancy distances the reader from some of the characters and situation in the first book, including Eastwood and the hunt for Ree's missing mother, and instead focuses on Ree's budding screenwriting career and the magic system Celebromancy. I enjoyed learning about this new type of magic, even if it felt a little silly to me at times. The novel also features a new romantic interest for Ree: a fading starlet named Jane (who feels like a cross between Lindsey Lohan and Angelina Jolie) trying to reclaim her status.
Celebromancy is a worthwhile follow up to Geekomancy. If you enjoyed Ree's first outing, the second will probably appeal to you as well. I chose to listen to the book on audio and found that the narrator, Mary Robinette Kowal, did a great job.
scarlettletters's review
4.0
This was basically just a load of fun. I did actually look up at one point to see if it was self-published, because the editing is not great (repetitive information, awkward turns of phrase, a few typos), but that's usually not what I'm rating. I loved the story, the world, and the main character. I guess I just like the idea that your geeky obsessions could power your magic. I don't read a lot of urban fantasy, but I think if it's your jam and you also love reading about geek culture, give this a try. I will be seeking out the other books in the series.
firesoulbird's review
3.0
3.5
Much better than the first book. In fact, partially better due to the fact that the character I couldn't stand in the first one wasn't around here. Sadly, he'll be back in the next, I'm sure. (Also, Ree is bi! I just forgot to mention that last time.)
Much better than the first book. In fact, partially better due to the fact that the character I couldn't stand in the first one wasn't around here. Sadly, he'll be back in the next, I'm sure. (Also, Ree is bi! I just forgot to mention that last time.)
ruzgofdi's review
2.0
As good an amount and variety of pop culture references as was present in the first of the series, but with a lesser quality story.
The pace, for me, is all over the place with this one. It starts really slowly. Out of a twenty-three (well, twenty-two with an epilogue) chapter book, I don't really recall the fantasy element of this urban fantasy popping up until near the end of chapter 5. And the main plot doesn't actually get started until chapter 6. That's a lot of build up for a very short (under 300 page) book. Through the middle, we get a few chapters that seem to be day in the life type stuff that doesn't really advance this story much, but I can definitely see as set up for possible future books. And then we get to the other end of the book, where what I would call major developments to the universe and setting are glossed over because we're in the climax and we don't have time to explain.
The author was kind of hit or miss with fixing problems with the previous book. One of my complaints with the first book in the series was that the magic system was a little hard to follow. This time out, there's a decent enough explanation of the specifics that my inner rules lawyer was appeased. I was able to grasp why some things worked one way and other things didn't. And then we get a new type of magic that seems to work along the rules of being a famous deva: "I want it to work this way, so it's going to work this way". I commented that if you were paying attention with the previous book, a style choice would give away an important plot twist way in advance. This time out, the author doesn't so much try to fix this problem as embrace it. Instead of trying to hide the Big Bad from us, he takes one of the setting flavor pieces that start every chapter to have our main villain write an e-mail to his superiors to update them on the situation. And I think the character that I liked best from the last book ends up being little more than the ghost of Obi-wan this time around.
I still really like the first book. And I think there's some potential here for what could be a really entertaining series. I just kind of hope that Ree's brush with celebrity is over and we go back to her regularly scheduled geeky world.
The pace, for me, is all over the place with this one. It starts really slowly. Out of a twenty-three (well, twenty-two with an epilogue) chapter book, I don't really recall the fantasy element of this urban fantasy popping up until near the end of chapter 5. And the main plot doesn't actually get started until chapter 6. That's a lot of build up for a very short (under 300 page) book. Through the middle, we get a few chapters that seem to be day in the life type stuff that doesn't really advance this story much, but I can definitely see as set up for possible future books. And then we get to the other end of the book, where what I would call major developments to the universe and setting are glossed over because we're in the climax and we don't have time to explain.
The author was kind of hit or miss with fixing problems with the previous book. One of my complaints with the first book in the series was that the magic system was a little hard to follow. This time out, there's a decent enough explanation of the specifics that my inner rules lawyer was appeased. I was able to grasp why some things worked one way and other things didn't. And then we get a new type of magic that seems to work along the rules of being a famous deva: "I want it to work this way, so it's going to work this way". I commented that if you were paying attention with the previous book, a style choice would give away an important plot twist way in advance. This time out, the author doesn't so much try to fix this problem as embrace it. Instead of trying to hide the Big Bad from us, he takes one of the setting flavor pieces that start every chapter to have our main villain write an e-mail to his superiors to update them on the situation. And I think the character that I liked best from the last book ends up being little more than the ghost of Obi-wan this time around.
I still really like the first book. And I think there's some potential here for what could be a really entertaining series. I just kind of hope that Ree's brush with celebrity is over and we go back to her regularly scheduled geeky world.
jen1110's review
5.0
Oh man. I love this series. I need more of them.
Snarky heroine? Check.
Out-of-timestream adventurer? Check.
Fast paced plot? Check.
Non-gender normative relationships and considerations? Check.
Surly bartender? Check.
Magic system that I so, so wish was real? CHECK.
Surrounding cast of awesome? Check, check, and CHECK.
So, yeah. I love this series and want more adventures of Ree.
EDIT - Aug 21, 2013 - I just finished the Audible version, narrated by Mary Robinette Kowal. This is me being BLOWN AWAY. The narration bumped the story up to 5 stars. I'll be listening to this one again. Yes, sirreebob.
Snarky heroine? Check.
Out-of-timestream adventurer? Check.
Fast paced plot? Check.
Non-gender normative relationships and considerations? Check.
Surly bartender? Check.
Magic system that I so, so wish was real? CHECK.
Surrounding cast of awesome? Check, check, and CHECK.
So, yeah. I love this series and want more adventures of Ree.
EDIT - Aug 21, 2013 - I just finished the Audible version, narrated by Mary Robinette Kowal. This is me being BLOWN AWAY. The narration bumped the story up to 5 stars. I'll be listening to this one again. Yes, sirreebob.
olbrownwarder's review
4.0
As usual, I'm delighted by the imagination that drives these books, and how weirdly accessible the worldbuilding is. While the geeky similes often feel like a mouthful, and rarely feel like the sorts of things even the geekiest of my friends might say, those 'flaws' are easily subsumed by the overwhelming FUN of the series.
scotto's review
4.0
this is the 2nd book in an urban fantasy series based around the idea of a pop culture-based magic system. in the 1st book, Geekomancy, we learn about an underground culture of magic users who tune in to games, movies, tv shows, comic books, etc., to acquire magic power; the more popular the item and the more personal the connection you have to the item, the greater the juice you can pull from it. the debut was erratically paced and a little maddening, but i got through it via the charisma of the main character, barista-turned-geekomancer Ree Reyes - watching her sort it all out was interesting enough that i became curious if the next book could be better. turns out - yes, yes in fact, Celebromancy is where the author figures out pacing & plotting and leads us through a nice little romp through the world of making movies, where celebrities can access deep magic that is fueled by the love and attention of their fans. Ree's steampunk sidekick Drake is a hoot, and they work nicely as a team of badasses fending off B-movie monster attacks with wit and style (and an impossible ornithopter, and a working lightsaber). these books have a bit of a shelf life issue: the pop culture references are so thick that there is a danger they might age quickly, which is probably why Celebromancy felt much sharper on that front than Geekomancy.
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