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3.67 AVERAGE
3.67 AVERAGE
New comfort series. I know it isn't perfectly written. I don't care
I wasn't sure what to make of this book. Hands down, it's got probably the best intro twist in the first 10 pages that I have read out of any urban fantasy. But after this, I was wondering if it was just going to be a Dresden rip off. You know, fairies instead of wizards, San Francisco instead of Chicago, female instead of male, still drives a punch buggy.
But I was pleasantly surprised as the book comes into it's own. The lore and the magic system is fun and detailed, and hints back to real world myths and legends. I love it when a book does that. Toby is sassy and competent, which is always annoying that I find this a surprise in a female character.
Toby was a private detective of the fairy variety, and is a changeling herself. Until something happens that makes her want to stay the hell away from the fairy realm and society. Of course, until something happens that can't keep her away and also requires her special private detective skills. Throw in an ex-lover or two, and we have a great vaginal fantasy read.
And it was for about 250 pages. First 200 are good, the last 50 are good. But the middle 100 needed an editor or a tidy up or something. But I am hoping that is something that will come with experience as a writer for her. As this is the first book in the series, and I believe published by her, and there are many more of both I will pick up and try. I do like me a fairy.
For more reviews visit http://rusalkii.blogspot.com.au/
But I was pleasantly surprised as the book comes into it's own. The lore and the magic system is fun and detailed, and hints back to real world myths and legends. I love it when a book does that. Toby is sassy and competent, which is always annoying that I find this a surprise in a female character.
Toby was a private detective of the fairy variety, and is a changeling herself. Until something happens that makes her want to stay the hell away from the fairy realm and society. Of course, until something happens that can't keep her away and also requires her special private detective skills. Throw in an ex-lover or two, and we have a great vaginal fantasy read.
And it was for about 250 pages. First 200 are good, the last 50 are good. But the middle 100 needed an editor or a tidy up or something. But I am hoping that is something that will come with experience as a writer for her. As this is the first book in the series, and I believe published by her, and there are many more of both I will pick up and try. I do like me a fairy.
For more reviews visit http://rusalkii.blogspot.com.au/
This is pretty disoriented because I'm tired. Read at your own risk. No spoilers.
I enjoyed this story, but not really because of the story. I'm intrigued by October's backstory. I'm fascinated by the characterisation of the fae. I like the thread of idealism in the tapestry of despair and cynicism. The barest hint of a slow burn romance down the line, the aching pain of her current relationship with her family. There's a lot to recommend this book to my interests. It's unfortunate the story isn't one of them.
The story wasn't bad enough to make me stop reading. I knew the bad guy as soon as the full stakes were clear. October made some stupid, stupid decisions. It does make sense given her circumstances, but I'm being told she's smarter than this, and not seeing that intelligence or experience. When we're introduced to a pivotal character near the beginning after the inciting incident, I almost dnf'ed the book right there, the cognitive dissonance was so bad.
I'll probably read the second book to decide if I'll continue through the series, this one was too inconclusive. If it makes some of the same mistakes, I'll turn away from the series with a clear conscious, but I do want to like this world and characters. There's a blanket of whimsy covering the deadly threat of the fae, and I do really love that. I could even love October, if the story stops stealing her intelligence for the sake of the plot.
I enjoyed this story, but not really because of the story. I'm intrigued by October's backstory. I'm fascinated by the characterisation of the fae. I like the thread of idealism in the tapestry of despair and cynicism. The barest hint of a slow burn romance down the line, the aching pain of her current relationship with her family. There's a lot to recommend this book to my interests. It's unfortunate the story isn't one of them.
The story wasn't bad enough to make me stop reading. I knew the bad guy as soon as the full stakes were clear. October made some stupid, stupid decisions. It does make sense given her circumstances, but I'm being told she's smarter than this, and not seeing that intelligence or experience. When we're introduced to a pivotal character near the beginning after the inciting incident, I almost dnf'ed the book right there, the cognitive dissonance was so bad.
I'll probably read the second book to decide if I'll continue through the series, this one was too inconclusive. If it makes some of the same mistakes, I'll turn away from the series with a clear conscious, but I do want to like this world and characters. There's a blanket of whimsy covering the deadly threat of the fae, and I do really love that. I could even love October, if the story stops stealing her intelligence for the sake of the plot.
Ok, so here’s the thing - this is urban fantasy. So a good version would be a nice hardboiled noir feeling, a detective with lots of personal flaws but also chutzpah and world-building of middling depth and scope that meshes the current world with whatever fantasy flavor the author settles on. Usually wizards or werewolves or some such. And a nice linear crime puzzle that can be neatly solved by the end of the book, ideally while putting the hero through the wringer, touring us through the world and opening up the space for sequels.
On all these fronts the book delivers. The world is even better than most I’ve read and more interesting as well for mixing fae into urban fantasy. The hero is suitably flawed and boy does she ever get out through the wringer. The crime is also well-done: it’s deeply personal, reshuffles a lot of the hero’s life while ultimately not leaving too deep a mark. So this is pretty good, especially considering it’s only a first book.
So why subtract one star? Because the hero is dumb as rocks. Like, really really dumb. The villain of the piece was clearly and outrightly stated somewhere in the last third and you probably could have picked up on it once the McGuffin is found but it took her another 200 pages to get there. Not to mention all the bad decisions she took. Her life is basically one bad decision. BUT, this is definitely on purpose. It’s mentioned several times throughout the book by the character herself and others and it’s an authorial decision which showcases not only the wringer part but also those personal flaws mentioned above. And it’s an interesting angle to take because she’s a particular kind of consistent stupid - she fucks up all her personal relationships and can’t get her shit in order. Which, when you take into account her background story, makes a terrible amount of sense and is intended as a showcase and condemnation of abandonment and emotional abuse in my view. So kudos for that and on to the next ones.
On all these fronts the book delivers. The world is even better than most I’ve read and more interesting as well for mixing fae into urban fantasy. The hero is suitably flawed and boy does she ever get out through the wringer. The crime is also well-done: it’s deeply personal, reshuffles a lot of the hero’s life while ultimately not leaving too deep a mark. So this is pretty good, especially considering it’s only a first book.
So why subtract one star? Because the hero is dumb as rocks. Like, really really dumb. The villain of the piece was clearly and outrightly stated somewhere in the last third and you probably could have picked up on it once the McGuffin is found but it took her another 200 pages to get there. Not to mention all the bad decisions she took. Her life is basically one bad decision. BUT, this is definitely on purpose. It’s mentioned several times throughout the book by the character herself and others and it’s an authorial decision which showcases not only the wringer part but also those personal flaws mentioned above. And it’s an interesting angle to take because she’s a particular kind of consistent stupid - she fucks up all her personal relationships and can’t get her shit in order. Which, when you take into account her background story, makes a terrible amount of sense and is intended as a showcase and condemnation of abandonment and emotional abuse in my view. So kudos for that and on to the next ones.
It's funny, because I enjoyed this book and plan to read at least the next 2 in the series (they're on my e-reader already) but what I liked about it was the chance to read some early urban fantasy. It reminded me a lot of the first Dresden Files book - first person narrative from the POV of a magic user semi-shunned by the rest of the local magic community who gets roped into a situation way out of her league, saves the day but nearly gets made into mincemeat on the way. And don't get me wrong, it's a really fun formula, and I like a window into a time when writing about magic interacting with the modern world was a novel idea. But I guess it felt a little over the top, compared with more modern urban fantasy like the Curseworkers, China Mieville, The Rook, etc. I'm giving it 3.5 stars, rounded down to 3 bc I just don't see myself rereading it. But after a long drought of new reading material (ie: a slump where I was "reading" like 5 books at once but not ever finishing any of them) I needed something whimsical and easy to get me back into it. This, like Dresden #1 and the Sookie Stackhouse books, was light and fun and a little silly - not world-changing, but sometimes just what the Undine ordered.
I think I just managed to find a new favourite. She's got as much bad luck as the rest of my absolute favourites so that makes it entertaining. :) There's all kinds of nice and lovely emotions in this and it's amazing. Devin feels like an absolute jerk but at least the ending is satisfactory.
Really enjoyed the book. The setting of San Francisco balanced the faerie creatures and locations. Descriptions of the people and places were rich enough I could imagine them truly existing, but only if you have the eye to see them. While the sad moments in the book didn't quite bring me to tears, I did laugh out loud a number of times at Toby's humor or wry comments. (no doubt garnering a raised eyebrow from the people on the buses I travel)
This book is the start of a series containing 5 books, so far, which I will definitely add to my list.
This book is the start of a series containing 5 books, so far, which I will definitely add to my list.
The first few chapters of Rosemary and Rue I fell in love with the character October Daye, maybe I've just read too many novels with blank slates for heroines but it was just so refreshing to read a kick ass heroine with actual history again.
Set in a world just sideways of ours, faeries, changelings and all sorts roam this world. Toby is ripped away from her world after a curse turns her into a fish and the story doesn't resume for another 14 years.
Deaths aren't glossed over, not everyone gets a happy ending and we're still wondering what the heck is going on. Just how I like it.
Set in a world just sideways of ours, faeries, changelings and all sorts roam this world. Toby is ripped away from her world after a curse turns her into a fish and the story doesn't resume for another 14 years.
Deaths aren't glossed over, not everyone gets a happy ending and we're still wondering what the heck is going on. Just how I like it.
