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rpych2's review against another edition
4.0
I think my own expectations for this one soured it for me, because it’s only about 3.5 stars rounded up. Middlegame was my favorite book of two years ago when I read it, so I was expecting something similar in quality. And it was so good, especially the characters. Seanan McGuire makes you care about her characters so much and it was the strongest part of this book. But I felt like it gave slightly too much away and there was no real mysterious element like there was in Middlegame. Not necessarily a bad thing, but for me personally it wasn’t as enjoyable because of that.
nisaak's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I didn't like this one as much as I liked Middlegame. It was so hard to get into that I put the audiobook down and came back to it two years later. But, Seanan McGuire is one of my favorite authors, and I really like Amber Benson as an actress so I gave it another try. I'm not sure I'll read the third book in the series.
quossie's review against another edition
3.0
I listened to this in audio, and I have a sneaking suspicion it made me enjoy it far less than I would have otherwise. One of the things I love about Seanan McGuire's work is that it's often so lyrical, with such a lovely turn of phrase - almost dreamlike at times. Unfortunately the way the audiobook was read was at breakneck speed, with characters tripping over each other to get their words out, and very little variation in intonation or tone.
The story is, at its heart, a fairytale; it should have had that lilting cadence, those pauses, that 'once upon a time' feel at the appropriate moments. Instead it feels like I watched a movie in black and white; I get the story, but the vibrancy of the details and the beauty of the art was much diminished.
I think I need to go back and re-read it for myself, or find a version with a different narrator.
The story is, at its heart, a fairytale; it should have had that lilting cadence, those pauses, that 'once upon a time' feel at the appropriate moments. Instead it feels like I watched a movie in black and white; I get the story, but the vibrancy of the details and the beauty of the art was much diminished.
I think I need to go back and re-read it for myself, or find a version with a different narrator.
bluebirdsongs's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
adeperi's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
olioxenfree's review against another edition
2.0
middlegame ran so that this book could get lost in a labyrinth and never find its way out again
stressicalessica's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
lisawreading's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars
Engaging, sometimes horrifying, often very confusing... this fantasy tells the story of two teens whose intertwined destinies make them the likely next candidates for the human embodiment of Summer and Winter. It's a dense, complicated read, mostly worth the effort, although the end felt strangely anti-climactic.
Review copy courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley. Full review at Bookshelf Fantasies.
Engaging, sometimes horrifying, often very confusing... this fantasy tells the story of two teens whose intertwined destinies make them the likely next candidates for the human embodiment of Summer and Winter. It's a dense, complicated read, mostly worth the effort, although the end felt strangely anti-climactic.
Review copy courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley. Full review at Bookshelf Fantasies.
catsandra's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
This is one of the rare occasions when a book by Seanan McGuire fails to wow me. I had to start it twice, and I dragged it on for more than a year. I don’t really know what’s the problem, but I couldn’t manage to be invested in the plot or the characters. I think the flow of the story is interrupted too many times by exposition dumps, and the characters (except for Jack) feel somewhat flat. They all seem promising at the start, but they become more and more dull as the story progresses. And the climax -where is the climax?! After all the build-up, the whole thing sputters out in a couple of pages.
On the good side, McGuire still manages to create something quite unique in terms of the magic system and the world-building, and the humorous touches are always welcome. For all that potential, I think I’ll give this series another opportunity when the next installment comes.
leila_reads_too_much's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0