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michalice's review against another edition
5.0
The 'Mancer series is a series I fell into half way through, picking it up with book 2 (The Flux) rather than book 1 (Flex). But I loved it that much I went back to the beginning and listened to Flex, even though I knew what happened. When The Fix arrived on NetGalley I HAD to find out how this series ended, and after a few painful long weeks I was finally approved.
Reading The Fix was new to me, although I know this world and characters, I have only ever listened to the books, so reading it was a whole new adventure. For me the characters already had a voice, and i knew it was a world I already loved, so i was very excited to be able to read this myself, rather than listening to narration.
The Fix is the third book in the series, and after the previous two books I really have no idea how this was going to play out. Would mancers be accepted into the world, or would they be squashed by SMASH? The Fix brings back our favourite characters, with more crazy ideas, and lots of F-Bombs to go with it all. We see more mancy, more escapes, and a lot more violence, and I loved every single word of it.
Aliyah gets the chance to be normal, and make new friends. The plan is to join a soccer team, playing games and mingling with others the same age as her, disguised with a videotape skin Aliyah makes the effort, but it quickly goes array when her desire to score makes her 'mancy spark to life, and the ripple effect leaves a new dimensional hole in the sky. It isn't long until SMASH are on the scene, and in running and hiding for their lives, Aliyah is soon kidnapped by Unimancers. Paul, Imani, and valentine must use all resources available to them in order to find her, and bring her back home.
The Fix was a book I had high expectations for, obsessively stalking NetGalley for it's publication, and I am beyond happy to say that this book surpassed my expectations. So much happens within the pages that i did not expect at all, the constant twists and turn keeping me not only wondering, but also trying to guess what on earth would happen next. I loved getting to see new forms of 'mancy and the people that went along with it, how it all manifests and the things you are able to do with it.
The Unimancers are a group of people that really made me second guess myself, especially on how I am quick to judge who is 'good' and 'bad' and their reasons. Spending time with them really lets you see the other side of the coin, why they do what they do and their reasoning, which allowed them to do some pretty spectacular things.
The Fix is the end of an era, but it doesn't go down quietly. There is bloodshed, violence, shock revelations, and some pretty amazing sacrifices. I will admit that I sobbed like a baby over certain events, and then how it was all explained gave me a little bit of hope. The ending wasn't what I expected, but for everything that has happened it fits it perfectly.
Final verdict
The Fix is a book that has to be read by fans of the series....in fact everyone needs to read this series. I loved everything about this book and I really did not want it to end. This series is one I have devoured, and I am sad to see it all end, but I will not hesitate to pick up more books by Ferrett Steinmet in the future.
Reading The Fix was new to me, although I know this world and characters, I have only ever listened to the books, so reading it was a whole new adventure. For me the characters already had a voice, and i knew it was a world I already loved, so i was very excited to be able to read this myself, rather than listening to narration.
The Fix is the third book in the series, and after the previous two books I really have no idea how this was going to play out. Would mancers be accepted into the world, or would they be squashed by SMASH? The Fix brings back our favourite characters, with more crazy ideas, and lots of F-Bombs to go with it all. We see more mancy, more escapes, and a lot more violence, and I loved every single word of it.
"Come on, Paul." She bounced from foot to foot, anxious to mix it up. "Less planning, more punching."
He finished profiling. "Ready for download."
They touched fingertips. Their 'mancies intertwined; Paul shivered as his bureaucratic dossiers were converted into a game mod. As a videogamemancer, Valentine could gamify just about anything.
Aliyah gets the chance to be normal, and make new friends. The plan is to join a soccer team, playing games and mingling with others the same age as her, disguised with a videotape skin Aliyah makes the effort, but it quickly goes array when her desire to score makes her 'mancy spark to life, and the ripple effect leaves a new dimensional hole in the sky. It isn't long until SMASH are on the scene, and in running and hiding for their lives, Aliyah is soon kidnapped by Unimancers. Paul, Imani, and valentine must use all resources available to them in order to find her, and bring her back home.
The Fix was a book I had high expectations for, obsessively stalking NetGalley for it's publication, and I am beyond happy to say that this book surpassed my expectations. So much happens within the pages that i did not expect at all, the constant twists and turn keeping me not only wondering, but also trying to guess what on earth would happen next. I loved getting to see new forms of 'mancy and the people that went along with it, how it all manifests and the things you are able to do with it.
The Unimancers are a group of people that really made me second guess myself, especially on how I am quick to judge who is 'good' and 'bad' and their reasons. Spending time with them really lets you see the other side of the coin, why they do what they do and their reasoning, which allowed them to do some pretty spectacular things.
The Fix is the end of an era, but it doesn't go down quietly. There is bloodshed, violence, shock revelations, and some pretty amazing sacrifices. I will admit that I sobbed like a baby over certain events, and then how it was all explained gave me a little bit of hope. The ending wasn't what I expected, but for everything that has happened it fits it perfectly.
Final verdict
The Fix is a book that has to be read by fans of the series....in fact everyone needs to read this series. I loved everything about this book and I really did not want it to end. This series is one I have devoured, and I am sad to see it all end, but I will not hesitate to pick up more books by Ferrett Steinmet in the future.
titusfortner's review against another edition
3.0
Almost DNF at 75%, but Sunk Cost Fallacy ftw!
Like, it was an interesting fresh take on the boogeymen they've been fighting, but I'm not sure I buy the protagonist's drastic changes, and it was all a little much for me.
Like, it was an interesting fresh take on the boogeymen they've been fighting, but I'm not sure I buy the protagonist's drastic changes, and it was all a little much for me.
theartolater's review
5.0
Having now gone through all three of the Mancer books, it's interesting not only to see the growth of the stories, but also how well this ties all the tales together. This is a book about more than just saving the world or saving your daughter, but also has a lot to do with sacrifice, and it's handled in such a great, adept way that it's hard not to consider this one of the better reads of late in this genre.
The book jumps forward in time a bit, and we have our protagonists from the previous books resettled and trying to live a little more normally in spite of the Mancer situation worldwide (given the destruction of Europe and all) (yes, really). Of course, magical powers don't always cooperate as they should, and we quickly run into a plot overrun with kidnapping, a Borg-like collective of magic users, and an amazing run up to what's a really great ending.
I can't really give a ton away, because so much is established by the early books and so much is detailed by the existing plots. The book does work to a point if you're coming in blind, but it's enriched by the knowledge of the previous stories. It makes plotlines with doughnuts funnier and more impactful, it makes some of the major plot points toward the end weightier, and it just makes the whole thing a lot more substantive. The book moves at a solid pace from start to finish, and I just loved the flow of it completely.
No complaints except that this will likely be the last tale for the major players in this story. Flex was great, as was its sequel, but this really brings the series into a solid cohesive unit that's worth a slot on anyone's shelf.
The book jumps forward in time a bit, and we have our protagonists from the previous books resettled and trying to live a little more normally in spite of the Mancer situation worldwide (given the destruction of Europe and all) (yes, really). Of course, magical powers don't always cooperate as they should, and we quickly run into a plot overrun with kidnapping, a Borg-like collective of magic users, and an amazing run up to what's a really great ending.
I can't really give a ton away, because so much is established by the early books and so much is detailed by the existing plots. The book does work to a point if you're coming in blind, but it's enriched by the knowledge of the previous stories. It makes plotlines with doughnuts funnier and more impactful, it makes some of the major plot points toward the end weightier, and it just makes the whole thing a lot more substantive. The book moves at a solid pace from start to finish, and I just loved the flow of it completely.
No complaints except that this will likely be the last tale for the major players in this story. Flex was great, as was its sequel, but this really brings the series into a solid cohesive unit that's worth a slot on anyone's shelf.
katbond's review
3.0
I like the concept so, so much, but the characterizations are so unbelievable that I keep hitting the 4th wall in a bad way.
gtbenathan's review
adventurous
emotional
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
4.25
A pitch perfect ending to a series that I really enjoyed. I think as much as I loved the stories, the fact that there were "mid credit scenes" made me weirdly happy. The amount of love you could feel for all the characters was palpable and brought me joy.
kirabug's review against another edition
5.0
Flex was an explosion into a new kind of magic and a new world. Flux was - as befits the title - the backlash of that new magic and its effects on real people.
Fix is... fix is what happens when we learn, sometimes learning well and sometimes learning poorly. Fix is what happens when we don't look back, and when we do.
Fix is a damn good romp and a heartbreaking heart-healing magical adventure.
I'm exhausted and elated from reading it. I think Valentine would approve.
Fix is... fix is what happens when we learn, sometimes learning well and sometimes learning poorly. Fix is what happens when we don't look back, and when we do.
Fix is a damn good romp and a heartbreaking heart-healing magical adventure.
I'm exhausted and elated from reading it. I think Valentine would approve.
speculativebecky's review against another edition
5.0
A perfect book to close a favorite trilogy. I couldn't recommend this series more highly.
silelda's review against another edition
4.0
*Free book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This world is completely fascinating to me. I love the idea that our greatest hobbies, the things we can lose ourselves in for hours, can become our form of magic (bibliomancers unite!). Seemingly useless skills like a knack with forms, kite flying and even rock balancing, can have magical traits that allow you to do some really interesting things. Unfortunately, magic comes at a cost, called flux, and it presents itself as serious bad luck. The more magic you use, the stronger the flux is, the more damage it can do. Your worst fears (like the death of a loved one) will come true. This was most evident in this world's history where, during World War II, reckless 'mancers attempted to win the war for Germany by unleashing all their magic, only to create a continental rift in reality that has never been closed.
Of course, for me, a great world alone does not make for a great book. Fortunately Steinmetz complements this world with strong, interesting characters. Aliyah, the worlds youngest 'mancer, has always been strong willed, but in this book she really comes into her own. She finally finds what she needs to help her control her magic and, therefore, her flux. I truly appreciate how much character growth was put into this book, especially for Valentine, my favorite character.
This book is a wonderful discourse on how both sides of an argument can both completely right and completely wrong at the same time. I kinda wish we had this sort of magic in the real world so both sides of arguments could see their own faults before passing judgement on those they feel have wronged them. Also, having a real-life donut test like Paul got put through would be a real time saver. Turns out the Vanilla Kreme is a sign of reckless rebellion.
If you're interested in stories about magic in the real world, a father who'd give the world to save his daughter, video game magic, and restoring the world, this is a great series to pick up.
This world is completely fascinating to me. I love the idea that our greatest hobbies, the things we can lose ourselves in for hours, can become our form of magic (bibliomancers unite!). Seemingly useless skills like a knack with forms, kite flying and even rock balancing, can have magical traits that allow you to do some really interesting things. Unfortunately, magic comes at a cost, called flux, and it presents itself as serious bad luck. The more magic you use, the stronger the flux is, the more damage it can do. Your worst fears (like the death of a loved one) will come true. This was most evident in this world's history where, during World War II, reckless 'mancers attempted to win the war for Germany by unleashing all their magic, only to create a continental rift in reality that has never been closed.
Of course, for me, a great world alone does not make for a great book. Fortunately Steinmetz complements this world with strong, interesting characters. Aliyah, the worlds youngest 'mancer, has always been strong willed, but in this book she really comes into her own. She finally finds what she needs to help her control her magic and, therefore, her flux. I truly appreciate how much character growth was put into this book, especially for Valentine, my favorite character.
This book is a wonderful discourse on how both sides of an argument can both completely right and completely wrong at the same time. I kinda wish we had this sort of magic in the real world so both sides of arguments could see their own faults before passing judgement on those they feel have wronged them. Also, having a real-life donut test like Paul got put through would be a real time saver. Turns out the Vanilla Kreme is a sign of reckless rebellion.
If you're interested in stories about magic in the real world, a father who'd give the world to save his daughter, video game magic, and restoring the world, this is a great series to pick up.
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