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3.63 AVERAGE
3.63 AVERAGE
This is a favorite series for me and I've only read now three of the books. I've have Sword-Edged Blonde on my TBR and wishlist for a very long time. I will admit mostly because of the title, but it helped that I had book #3, Wake of the Bloody Angel, as an ARC several years back and saw the title for this first in series and knew I'd have to read it one day.
It's perfect as an audiobook. l finished this morning and immediately began book #2 even though I've read it in the past. I think I will listen to all of them in order.
Mr. Bledsoe likes music as part of the story which is also what caught my eye in book #3. I read a passage and it sounded so familiar. I finally realized it was the story from the song Brandy by Looking Glass. That made me grin. In this book it's Rhiannon by Fleetwood Mac. It might be my imagination, but I don't think so.
This is fantasy in essence since there is magic done lightly, goddess mention, and various and sundry other things.
Eddie LaCrosse is a 'sword-jockey', aka a sword for hire. Here he is out to help an old friend solve a mystery and it helps the reader get some backstory on Eddie's life. It helps him do some self-realization too, working through his past which helps his present life.
Highly excellent and I can absolutely recommend this book, series and author.
It's perfect as an audiobook. l finished this morning and immediately began book #2 even though I've read it in the past. I think I will listen to all of them in order.
Mr. Bledsoe likes music as part of the story which is also what caught my eye in book #3. I read a passage and it sounded so familiar. I finally realized it was the story from the song Brandy by Looking Glass. That made me grin. In this book it's Rhiannon by Fleetwood Mac. It might be my imagination, but I don't think so.
This is fantasy in essence since there is magic done lightly, goddess mention, and various and sundry other things.
Eddie LaCrosse is a 'sword-jockey', aka a sword for hire. Here he is out to help an old friend solve a mystery and it helps the reader get some backstory on Eddie's life. It helps him do some self-realization too, working through his past which helps his present life.
Highly excellent and I can absolutely recommend this book, series and author.
Great prose. Great premise. Great storytelling.
What more do you want?
What more do you want?
This was a great, and fun read. Surprisingly good mixture of sword swinging swashbucklery, ancient vendettas, guilty secrets, resurrected friendships, and mythological gods.
Very easy to read and even a real page turner at some points.
Will be trying to find the others in the series.
Very easy to read and even a real page turner at some points.
Will be trying to find the others in the series.
This is a book that got better and better, until the end. While I enjoyed most of the book, there were certain moments that I hated. I loved the overarching story, the twists, and the turns, and I even loved the ending to the story itself. There's this little piece in the end of the book, in what could almost be considered a prologue. I just didn't like it. It have me a bad taste. But I'll probably still read the rest of the books anyhow.
I don't know if it's because it's different from anything else I've read the past few months and therefore a breath of fresh air, but I really enjoyed this noir/fantasy genre mash up. The writing was competent and the plot was smart and fun. Great way to ramp up for vacation reading! I definitely plan to continue on with the series.
Noir/fantasy mashup, a VERY fast read. (One evening, basically.) For a goofy little book, a well-realized world, and excellent use of flashbacks. Definitely a cinematic feel to it.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I enjoyed the book...and I will possibly continue with reading the next book, but something is wrong with the Fantasy genre in this story. The voice and worldbuilding seem like contemporary (or at least Western), but the things that actually happen are set in a Medieval setting, but the characters seem misplaced or cast.
Eddie LaCrosse seems like a western character. Also, there were times within the story...that mentioned technology...and it seemed SO odd to hear...for I was trying to wish my way into believing that this story was taking place in a Fantasy setting...and it wasn't working.
Oh, I had tried to read this...but the problems mentioned above...forced me to DNF the book...while this time I pushed through.
I like Eddie LaCrosse as a character, but feel like he is in ONE story...while most the rest of the cast are in ANOTHER story.
I had fun, but there was always this question of WHY am I feeling this way?
The solving of the mystery was fun. The magical-realism of some of the sequences was interesting...and the fairy type quality of other sequences make me feel like this is an OFF world story...with a mixing of genres. I don't mind that...but it is still a little unsettling if I'm being totally honest.
I won't read the sequel straight-away, for I want this story to marinate for a while, but I will pick up the sequel, soon-ish. Promise.
Eddie LaCrosse seems like a western character. Also, there were times within the story...that mentioned technology...and it seemed SO odd to hear...for I was trying to wish my way into believing that this story was taking place in a Fantasy setting...and it wasn't working.
Oh, I had tried to read this...but the problems mentioned above...forced me to DNF the book...while this time I pushed through.
I like Eddie LaCrosse as a character, but feel like he is in ONE story...while most the rest of the cast are in ANOTHER story.
I had fun, but there was always this question of WHY am I feeling this way?
The solving of the mystery was fun. The magical-realism of some of the sequences was interesting...and the fairy type quality of other sequences make me feel like this is an OFF world story...with a mixing of genres. I don't mind that...but it is still a little unsettling if I'm being totally honest.
I won't read the sequel straight-away, for I want this story to marinate for a while, but I will pick up the sequel, soon-ish. Promise.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Death
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Murder
Eddie LaCrosse is a mercenary turned private detective.
The most modern PI-like fantasy story I've read. Also, there are a bunch of Wisconsin town names used as fantasy town names here (also as the name of our main character). Threw me a bit, since I'm used to hearing them, but seems like they could work for people not familiar.
Brings to mind a con panel I saw Bledsoe on. They were talking about what Wisconsin lit might look like. Now I know why he was a panelist.
The narrator was fun. I'll probably go on to more of these.
The most modern PI-like fantasy story I've read. Also, there are a bunch of Wisconsin town names used as fantasy town names here (also as the name of our main character). Threw me a bit, since I'm used to hearing them, but seems like they could work for people not familiar.
Brings to mind a con panel I saw Bledsoe on. They were talking about what Wisconsin lit might look like. Now I know why he was a panelist.
The narrator was fun. I'll probably go on to more of these.