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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
Stayed up way too late to finish this. Excellent urban fantasy!
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
I’ve heard the first book was the weakest of the series, which means I should at least read the sequel before ruling out this series. However, this book didn’t leave me with the desire to continue.
I still found the book to be pretty well written with lots of good things going for it:
The worldbuilding was really interesting, giving me shadowhunter vibes, but with more thought put into it. In particular, I liked the waves of technology and magic crashing against each other and cancelling each other it; I enjoyed the three governing factions of power and the dynamics that came with it. I also found the banter in regard to the romance pretty fun at times. Finally, I appreciated the hotheaded lead swallowing her pride when it mattered instead of letting her stubbornness and sassiness get in the way of the investigation.
Things I didn’t care for: the sleuthing was boring, typically proceeding in a linear fashion.
At the end, the mc was supposedly full of exhaustion and dismay, and yet I didn’t feel that sense of dread from the writing. I didn’t feel any stakes for the main villain. I also didn’t feel anything that the mc should be feeling when she learns her mentor died and sought vengeance. There was no desperation, no grief.
**Minor spoilers**
Finally, the reason I wanted to read this book was due to the romance. I was promised slow burn and enemies to lovers, both proving unfortunately false. I was expecting begrudging allies, mockery, tension. Instead, the leads were pretty willing to work together from nearly the get go, already risking their lives for each other, and a KISS?!? Tf? Slow burn where?
I still found the book to be pretty well written with lots of good things going for it:
The worldbuilding was really interesting, giving me shadowhunter vibes, but with more thought put into it. In particular, I liked the waves of technology and magic crashing against each other and cancelling each other it; I enjoyed the three governing factions of power and the dynamics that came with it. I also found the banter in regard to the romance pretty fun at times. Finally, I appreciated the hotheaded lead swallowing her pride when it mattered instead of letting her stubbornness and sassiness get in the way of the investigation.
Things I didn’t care for: the sleuthing was boring, typically proceeding in a linear fashion.
At the end, the mc was supposedly full of exhaustion and dismay, and yet I didn’t feel that sense of dread from the writing. I didn’t feel any stakes for the main villain. I also didn’t feel anything that the mc should be feeling when she learns her mentor died and sought vengeance. There was no desperation, no grief.
**Minor spoilers**
Finally, the reason I wanted to read this book was due to the romance. I was promised slow burn and enemies to lovers, both proving unfortunately false. I was expecting begrudging allies, mockery, tension. Instead, the leads were pretty willing to work together from nearly the get go, already risking their lives for each other, and a KISS?!? Tf? Slow burn where?
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The adventure never stops in this fast paced book about a human (??) mercenary living in a magical world. The world building is interesting and felt somewhat post apocalyptic. But this apocalypse isn’t because of technology, it’s actually due to magic being reborn on Earth. There are a lot of seemingly familiar things but upon closer inspection they’re not familiar at all. I loved how it blended technology and magic. Overall, I really enjoyed this and will pick up the next book as well. I can’t wait to continue unraveling mysteries with our MFC and also unravel the mystery of her origins.
adventurous
dark
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
3.5, but rating on the high side so I remember to keep reading the series. Some of the most entertaining urban fantasy I've read in while. Really good balance of worldbuilding vs. character development; focused more on showing me the protagonist's reactions and actions rather than telling me a bunch of backstory. Bits of her background dribble into actual conversation with other characters, without dwelling on them or on whiny angsty emotional stuff. Instead, she's really all business. And I really liked the concept of a world where magic & technology phase in and out of supremacy, and the ways people coped (or didn't) with it. Also, a few laugh-out-loud quips, which can really make a book for me.
adventurous
dark
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was a fun popcorn story to read through. A little disjointed and hard to follow at times due to authors not providing much backstory or worldbuilding to flesh out characters introduced or magic system, but at the end of the day enjoyable enough for me to continue on with the series. I have heard book 2 does a better job with worldbuilding so this will be a fun pallete cleanser.
This book was brilliant! A fast paced, action packed urban fantasy done well. I thoroughly enjoyed the snarky wit and general badassery of Kate Daniels and admire Ilona Andrews' ability to pack so much into such a small book! I haven't read such a satisfying story in a while and can't wait to continue with the series!
Not what I was promised via recommendation plus I dislike not knowing how the world works and there wasn't nearly enough world building for me. Just vibes and comments as if I was supposed to already be familiar with how everything works and the reason there's only one skyscraper left in Atlanta because other crumbled due to tech waves???