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theunrealerin's review
4.0
I found parts of this hard to read - but honestly an excellent almost final conclusion to Spotless.
mothercrow's review
4.0
I really loved this book. Machismo, amnesia, space travel, arms dealers in Ecuador........ yesssss count me in. A lot of fun, and a little bit sexy. I think the first half of the book was for me... more exciting than the second half... but. to be clear.. I still enjoyed the whole thing immensely.
scherkes's review against another edition
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
rellimreads's review
5.0
I guess you might be able to listen to these books on their own, but I don't think so - and I'm also thinking you'd be missing a lot of references that make the writing particularly good. So, if you're just finding this, go back to Spotless.
I’m upping to 5 stars. I think that after I read Butterfly in Amber two years ago I had it as 4 stars because this had such a different “tone” to it than the other books. I was probably pissed at Camilla Monk that it wasn’t as funny. The fact is - even 90% super serious and a lot darker than the others, it’s still a fantastic and engaging read/listen. There is a lot of mystery/action/suspense as well as PLOT TWIST! that I really didn't see coming.
And I will listen again. And again. And that’s what makes books 5 stars for me.
Also, I *will* to find a way to work the phrase “follicular nirvana” into everyday conversation. You’ve been warned.
Amy McFadden - holy shit was she creepy for the first 30% of this. That’s a compliment, I swear. I seriously felt like I was confused and coming out of a coma. Again, I promise these are actually accolades of her talent... because sheesh was the first part of this book dark and scary and I was truly panicked with Island. McFadden's voices continue to be consistent and unique even as the cast exponentially expands - this is absolutely binge-worthy.
I'm off to listen to Apache Strike Force as I (not really patiently) wait for Island Chaptal and The Ancient Aliens' Treasure. It's live now in book/ebook - but like I said on Twitter, I feel like I'm "cheating" on Amy McFadden by reading instead of listening. She says we have an open relationship - but I'm gonna stay faithful. In this instance.
I’m upping to 5 stars. I think that after I read Butterfly in Amber two years ago I had it as 4 stars because this had such a different “tone” to it than the other books. I was probably pissed at Camilla Monk that it wasn’t as funny. The fact is - even 90% super serious and a lot darker than the others, it’s still a fantastic and engaging read/listen. There is a lot of mystery/action/suspense as well as PLOT TWIST! that I really didn't see coming.
And I will listen again. And again. And that’s what makes books 5 stars for me.
Also, I *will* to find a way to work the phrase “follicular nirvana” into everyday conversation. You’ve been warned.
Amy McFadden - holy shit was she creepy for the first 30% of this. That’s a compliment, I swear. I seriously felt like I was confused and coming out of a coma. Again, I promise these are actually accolades of her talent... because sheesh was the first part of this book dark and scary and I was truly panicked with Island. McFadden's voices continue to be consistent and unique even as the cast exponentially expands - this is absolutely binge-worthy.
I'm off to listen to Apache Strike Force as I (not really patiently) wait for Island Chaptal and The Ancient Aliens' Treasure. It's live now in book/ebook - but like I said on Twitter, I feel like I'm "cheating" on Amy McFadden by reading instead of listening. She says we have an open relationship - but I'm gonna stay faithful. In this instance.
caitybell's review
4.0
It's taken me a little while to come to terms with the emotional rollercoaster that is Butterfly In Amber, but I think I now have my thoughts in order.
Three stars, Caitlyn? After you have done nothing but rave about this series? After giving all the other books five stars?
The short answer, yes. I stand by my three-star rating for purely personal reasons. Reasons I will get to in a minute.
Butterfly In Amber was twisty, explosive, and heart-wrenching. As much action--if not more--than its predecessors, it had so much going for it.
We begin a few months after the crazy ending of book three. Island is in the clutches of the man who is the cause of so much death, pain, and strife in the world and most certainly in Island's life. It's difficult to explain how utterly emotional and heartbreaking the first part of this book is without spoilers, so I will suffice it to say that I was near tears most of the time reading. In the best of ways. This book shoves its claws into your chest and rips out your heart in ways that kind of violence can be good--but, the issue I had with this marvelous "series finale" is it never gives me back my heart, it never sews me up and makes me feel whole again.
The best way for me to tell you what I mean without spoilers is to warn you that people die in this book. Yes, it's a series about assassins, and people die in every book, but PEOPLE DIE. And it's horrible and it isn't a good death, and there is absolutely no resolution to how the reader or even the other characters should feel about the death. One of my favorite things about Monk's writing is her ability to wind humor throughout to lessen the blows, lighten the dark themes that are woven into this series. Spotless is about redemption and love and adventure, I never wanted it to hurt me and then kick me again and again while I was still down. That's what it felt like reading the final 20% of this book. The humor felt wrong, a lacking attempt to try and make fun of death and sadness, but it fell flat and only made the surviving characters come off as uncaring and tacky. Something their previous development would never have allowed. The ending felt rushed and incomplete. The aching slow-burn romance of this series finally peaks in this book, but the timing is wrong and it upset me that Monk would throw spice at us right on the tails of violence and heartbreaking loss. I guess it all came down to the pacing, and it was off to me.
My investment in these characters and this series as a whole was ultimately my downfall in this book. It was missing those key elements that I'd come to love from Monk's writing due to a darker story that never really balanced the Spotless elements well. This was supposed to be the final book in the series, and yet, I am glad she decided to write one more book because there is so much left open-ended, so many fraying emotional strings still needing to be tied off. I think I'll get that in Island Chaptal and the Ancient Aliens' Treasure, book five. At least, I hope I do.
All in all, while the writing is as spotless as the series title, Butterfly in Amber started off strong for me but ended up hurting in the end, with no balm to help the wounds left over. It does technically have a "happily-ever-after" ending, but I expected more resolutions and redemptions than what Monk gave me. Yes, this series is still an all-time favorite. Yes, I will eventually reread this book and probably end up changing my star rating, but after my first read, this is how I feel. And my heart is still sore.
Three stars, Caitlyn? After you have done nothing but rave about this series? After giving all the other books five stars?
The short answer, yes. I stand by my three-star rating for purely personal reasons. Reasons I will get to in a minute.
Butterfly In Amber was twisty, explosive, and heart-wrenching. As much action--if not more--than its predecessors, it had so much going for it.
We begin a few months after the crazy ending of book three. Island is in the clutches of the man who is the cause of so much death, pain, and strife in the world and most certainly in Island's life. It's difficult to explain how utterly emotional and heartbreaking the first part of this book is without spoilers, so I will suffice it to say that I was near tears most of the time reading. In the best of ways. This book shoves its claws into your chest and rips out your heart in ways that kind of violence can be good--but, the issue I had with this marvelous "series finale" is it never gives me back my heart, it never sews me up and makes me feel whole again.
The best way for me to tell you what I mean without spoilers is to warn you that people die in this book. Yes, it's a series about assassins, and people die in every book, but PEOPLE DIE. And it's horrible and it isn't a good death, and there is absolutely no resolution to how the reader or even the other characters should feel about the death. One of my favorite things about Monk's writing is her ability to wind humor throughout to lessen the blows, lighten the dark themes that are woven into this series. Spotless is about redemption and love and adventure, I never wanted it to hurt me and then kick me again and again while I was still down. That's what it felt like reading the final 20% of this book. The humor felt wrong, a lacking attempt to try and make fun of death and sadness, but it fell flat and only made the surviving characters come off as uncaring and tacky. Something their previous development would never have allowed. The ending felt rushed and incomplete. The aching slow-burn romance of this series finally peaks in this book, but the timing is wrong and it upset me that Monk would throw spice at us right on the tails of violence and heartbreaking loss. I guess it all came down to the pacing, and it was off to me.
My investment in these characters and this series as a whole was ultimately my downfall in this book. It was missing those key elements that I'd come to love from Monk's writing due to a darker story that never really balanced the Spotless elements well. This was supposed to be the final book in the series, and yet, I am glad she decided to write one more book because there is so much left open-ended, so many fraying emotional strings still needing to be tied off. I think I'll get that in Island Chaptal and the Ancient Aliens' Treasure, book five. At least, I hope I do.
All in all, while the writing is as spotless as the series title, Butterfly in Amber started off strong for me but ended up hurting in the end, with no balm to help the wounds left over. It does technically have a "happily-ever-after" ending, but I expected more resolutions and redemptions than what Monk gave me. Yes, this series is still an all-time favorite. Yes, I will eventually reread this book and probably end up changing my star rating, but after my first read, this is how I feel. And my heart is still sore.
labraden's review against another edition
4.0
During the months that Island has been recuperating in Ingolvinlinna, Finland after the events that occurred with the destruction of the Poseidon Dome, her father rarely visits. She is left in the care of Stiles who watches over her until her father comes to take her to Ecuador, but Island has stopped taking her meds, and she is starting to remember things. When she questions her father, she is restrained and hears him threaten a lobotomy, but as she is to leave, she is rescued by strangers named March and Dries who seem to know her, so she reluctantly puts her trust in them.
The last part of Butterfly in Amber reminds me so much of the James Bond movie, Moonraker. As over the top as that movie is, I think this book has it beat. Since this is the 4th book in the series, there is very little in the way of character development, but it is all about action, adventure and bringing character arcs to a close. The plot is part thriller, part romance, part adventure, and part scifi, but even with all of the elements of different genres, the story drags a bit in the middle and some part are a bit confusing. Overall, however, Butterfly in Amber is an exciting story that ends with a very satisfying conclusion.
The last part of Butterfly in Amber reminds me so much of the James Bond movie, Moonraker. As over the top as that movie is, I think this book has it beat. Since this is the 4th book in the series, there is very little in the way of character development, but it is all about action, adventure and bringing character arcs to a close. The plot is part thriller, part romance, part adventure, and part scifi, but even with all of the elements of different genres, the story drags a bit in the middle and some part are a bit confusing. Overall, however, Butterfly in Amber is an exciting story that ends with a very satisfying conclusion.
jcdreads's review against another edition
5.0
I can’t even express how much I love this series brb reading the novella 😍
s3c0ndbreakfast's review against another edition
2.0
I was really looking forward to this.
Disappointment compared to her previous books.
I don't care if you like the president or not, not so subtle jabs about him, I could do without. If I want politics I will watch the news.
The story was far fetched and so many less laughs than the previous in the series, drama and amnesia and outer space and yet barely kept my attention.
Go back to what you did before.
Disappointment compared to her previous books.
I don't care if you like the president or not, not so subtle jabs about him, I could do without. If I want politics I will watch the news.
The story was far fetched and so many less laughs than the previous in the series, drama and amnesia and outer space and yet barely kept my attention.
Go back to what you did before.