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samrushingbooks's review
5.0
I was ecstatic when I got this in the mail yesterday, after waiting for ten months from the day I ordered it for it to arrive. But being in November and therefore the middle of NaNoWriMo meant that I could use this book as a motivation tool. I couldn't start reading until I hit 35,000 words, and once I reached that goal I really didn't want to put this book down.
Unfortunately I had to because in the middle of "Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight" I started falling asleep. As soon as I woke up this morning I dove right back into this book and now it's finished and the stories were all amazing. I loved reading more about Janx and Daisani and it was fun to see more of their shared past and some of the aspects of their rather complicated relationship.
It has been so long since I have read the Negotiator trilogy that now I think I'm going to have to go back and read them, just to make sure I didn't somehow miss something in these stories.
Baba Yaga's Daughter will join my other C.E. Murphy books as some of my all-time favorite reads, and this book is made even more special by the fact that it is an autographed copy from a limited edition run, #72 of 1000. Anyone who has the opportunity to read these books or any by C.E. Murphy should, because she is absolutely brilliant. I can't wait for her next book. It doesn't matter if it is published through the traditional route, through self-published e-books, or through Kickstarter, I am a HUGE fan of her and will gladly purchase any and all of her books.
Unfortunately I had to because in the middle of "Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight" I started falling asleep. As soon as I woke up this morning I dove right back into this book and now it's finished and the stories were all amazing. I loved reading more about Janx and Daisani and it was fun to see more of their shared past and some of the aspects of their rather complicated relationship.
It has been so long since I have read the Negotiator trilogy that now I think I'm going to have to go back and read them, just to make sure I didn't somehow miss something in these stories.
Baba Yaga's Daughter will join my other C.E. Murphy books as some of my all-time favorite reads, and this book is made even more special by the fact that it is an autographed copy from a limited edition run, #72 of 1000. Anyone who has the opportunity to read these books or any by C.E. Murphy should, because she is absolutely brilliant. I can't wait for her next book. It doesn't matter if it is published through the traditional route, through self-published e-books, or through Kickstarter, I am a HUGE fan of her and will gladly purchase any and all of her books.
sumayyah_t's review
Giving up on this one. It's just not holding my interest the way that I'd hoped. A collection of short stories, based on legends and Celtic mythologies.
laci's review
5.0
I've just started the audiobook, but I immediately fell in love with the actress. :|
Update:
Anna Parker-Naples' voice acting is brilliant. The characters are easily identifiable by their voices, and baba Yaga's daughter sounds especially lovely. But there's *so* much more to it - this book does many things, and does them well.
The plot is split into chapters, each a story of its own, woven into the same colorful tapestry. There are multiple POV characters, and I liked each one.
Do you want tales based on traditional myths? Or a vampiric romance? Interactions filled with subtexts and silent threats? Fantastic races you've heard of (so they feel familiar), but with reasonable and interesting twists (so they're not boring?)
Both dialogues and narration are not only cleverly written - they also count on the reader not being totally dumb and oblivious, too. Many books do the exact opposite; The Hunger Games comes to mind from recent memory. I don't like when the narrator "insinuates" something, and then PROCEEDS TO EXPLAIN IT, in case I can't figure out that by "her head was cut off" also means that "AND THEN SHE WAS DEAD, you know."
Not here. Baba Yaga's Daughter is rife with hints and insinuations which not only aren't stupidly explained, but sometimes they're convoluted enough to actually require some thinking. (Okay, that might be because I'm slower. I wouldn't know.)
Maybe you won't like it as much as I did, but I'd still recommend it.
Update:
Anna Parker-Naples' voice acting is brilliant. The characters are easily identifiable by their voices, and baba Yaga's daughter sounds especially lovely. But there's *so* much more to it - this book does many things, and does them well.
The plot is split into chapters, each a story of its own, woven into the same colorful tapestry. There are multiple POV characters, and I liked each one.
Do you want tales based on traditional myths? Or a vampiric romance? Interactions filled with subtexts and silent threats? Fantastic races you've heard of (so they feel familiar), but with reasonable and interesting twists (so they're not boring?)
Both dialogues and narration are not only cleverly written - they also count on the reader not being totally dumb and oblivious, too. Many books do the exact opposite; The Hunger Games comes to mind from recent memory. I don't like when the narrator "insinuates" something, and then PROCEEDS TO EXPLAIN IT, in case I can't figure out that by "her head was cut off" also means that "AND THEN SHE WAS DEAD, you know."
Not here. Baba Yaga's Daughter is rife with hints and insinuations which not only aren't stupidly explained, but sometimes they're convoluted enough to actually require some thinking. (Okay, that might be because I'm slower. I wouldn't know.)
Maybe you won't like it as much as I did, but I'd still recommend it.
book_realm_revisions's review
5.0
I loved Baba Yaga's daughter and seeing the series with a new perspective! All the stories were awesome but reading Chimera was a favorite since I got to revisit Margrit. Rebecca's story came in second because her mother is just such an amazing character!
laurla's review against another edition
from russia, with love
five card draw
hot time in the old town tonight
when in rome
baba yaga's daughter
chicago bang bang
the age of aquarius
the knight's tale
last hand
chimera
five card draw
hot time in the old town tonight
when in rome
baba yaga's daughter
chicago bang bang
the age of aquarius
the knight's tale
last hand
chimera
devrose's review against another edition
2.0
I really don't like Eliseo Daisani and Janx, so I wasn't thrilled with the fact that the stories resolved around them. I liked hearing the backstory behind Vanessa Grey, though, and the tiny peak at Margrit's future. The end left me wanting to find the next book, if there is one.
serena_dawn's review against another edition
5.0
I got the Kindle edition - but that apparently doesn't show up on Goodreads. So much has happened in the past of the Old Races but this book has not one but two daughters of Baba Yaga! I enjoyed a lot of the glimpses into both the past - the present - and future of the Old Races. I dearly hope there is yet more to come - perhaps not about the Negotiator, but in the Chimera generation. There is so much more to the Old Races yet so few books that we get hints and desserts but no meals you can yet sink your teeth in again. I hope Murphy gets back to this series...
teri_b's review against another edition
5.0
This collection of short stories that reach back into the 19th century to eventually arrive in the 21th took me by surprise. I found the audiobook available from my local library and jumped to the occasion as I had read the whole Walker Paper series by this author a few years back and had loved it with its bringing together of urban fantasy and a shamanistic world view. I also still am a book shy in her The Negotiator series.
And then I started to listen to this audiobook. It was a treat. Do not get me wrong, the narrator does not fit all the roles, that at least is my take, but the stories that are being told are so far reaching and amazing, and C.E. Murphy has such an interesting view on the old races, the dragons and vampires and Baba Yaga's daughter.
It was a delight to listen to this audiobook and see the bigger story unfold.
Now, I finally feel ready to face the last book in the Negotiator series and hopefully, there are more tales to come about the old races.
And just in case you are unsure, C.E. Murphy's female characters rock, they play their role and they do it with a twinkle in the eye. Strong, unfazed and empowering.
And then I started to listen to this audiobook. It was a treat. Do not get me wrong, the narrator does not fit all the roles, that at least is my take, but the stories that are being told are so far reaching and amazing, and C.E. Murphy has such an interesting view on the old races, the dragons and vampires and Baba Yaga's daughter.
It was a delight to listen to this audiobook and see the bigger story unfold.
Now, I finally feel ready to face the last book in the Negotiator series and hopefully, there are more tales to come about the old races.
And just in case you are unsure, C.E. Murphy's female characters rock, they play their role and they do it with a twinkle in the eye. Strong, unfazed and empowering.
andreablythe's review against another edition
4.0
Janxx and Eliseo Daisani are two of the most interesting Old Race characters in Murphy's Negotiator series. One a dragon and one a vampire, they are not good guys, being cagey tricksters and criminals caught in a centuries long rivalry. But this rivalry has evolved into friendship, an intimacy that binds them together, so that even as they compete against one another, they can't really live without each other. Each of them is as likely to do they right thing for wicked reasons as they are to do evil deeds for good reasons. Ultimately, they are just a lot of fun.
This collection of stories brings Janxx and Eliseo to the forefront by weaving together a series of stories in chronological order, and filling in some of the bast stories from the trilogy. Many of them are told from the point of view of other characters, mostly women who either serve as the focus of their rivalry, most especially Baba Yaga's Daughter, who is also a key part of these stories. Though the women tend to be the "prize" that both Eliseo and Janxx hope to win, it should not be thought that these women are merely objects to be obtained. They have their own stories and their own strengths and don't fall for Janxx and Eliseo's games.
The writing is consistently good, though as with most short story collections, there were some I liked more than others. Most of them I thoroughly enjoyed. "The Knight's Tale," about how Rebecca Knight met Eliseo Daisani and was presented with an offer that could change her life, was by far my favorite. There was a bitter sweet tone to it that I adored, and the ending was lovely.
As to whether you need to read the Negotiator trilogy before reading these stories, I'd say it was kind of a toss up. I think reading the trilogy first might add to one's enjoyment, but the collection progresses to reveal a nearly complete story, almost a novel in its own right. So, I think you could read this collection and still enjoy it.
This collection of stories brings Janxx and Eliseo to the forefront by weaving together a series of stories in chronological order, and filling in some of the bast stories from the trilogy. Many of them are told from the point of view of other characters, mostly women who either serve as the focus of their rivalry, most especially Baba Yaga's Daughter, who is also a key part of these stories. Though the women tend to be the "prize" that both Eliseo and Janxx hope to win, it should not be thought that these women are merely objects to be obtained. They have their own stories and their own strengths and don't fall for Janxx and Eliseo's games.
The writing is consistently good, though as with most short story collections, there were some I liked more than others. Most of them I thoroughly enjoyed. "The Knight's Tale," about how Rebecca Knight met Eliseo Daisani and was presented with an offer that could change her life, was by far my favorite. There was a bitter sweet tone to it that I adored, and the ending was lovely.
As to whether you need to read the Negotiator trilogy before reading these stories, I'd say it was kind of a toss up. I think reading the trilogy first might add to one's enjoyment, but the collection progresses to reveal a nearly complete story, almost a novel in its own right. So, I think you could read this collection and still enjoy it.