Reviews

I like "you are there" books that are set where I live, so that's one of the reasons I picked this up from Half-price Books. Also, Amazons.

I liked this, I was worried it was going to be very one-sidedly feminist separatist stuff, but this is actually quite surprising, the protagonist being an outcast because she was seeking equality for both sexes. The characters are quite multidimensionally drawn and I really enjoyed this!

I liked it well enough that I ordered the sequel, and one of the reviews made me laugh -- someone had read the sequel first and she was annoyed because she didn't know the backstory to the other characters. This is what comes of reading #2 before #1.

ireadthebooks's review against another edition

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3.0

Amazon Ink was a pretty good urban fantasy. Mel's origin as a mythical Amazon warrior turned everyday business owner/mom was really unique. Despite her intention to remain separate from her former community, the Amazons still have enemies and Mel's latent powers keep her relevant to their fight. She's a fiercely protective mother, and the dynamics between Mel, her mother and her "Bubbe" were hilarious and touching. Bubbe was absolutely my favorite character: a several hundred year old Amazon priestess that 99% of people would mistake for a harmless, puttering old lady until she magics the living crap out of an enemy. Bubbe wins all the character awards. Just all of them.

There was some romance in Amazon Ink, including a rather pointless love triangle that wasn't really a love triangle because nothing romantic actually happens. I could have done without the inspector character completely.

Spoiler

Especially since the triangle isn't even resolved in the end, but the police inspector guy isn't even in the sequel.

Mel's tense friendship with Zery was enjoyable to read, given Zery's position as Queen and Mel's abandonment. I liked that Zery struggled with whether or not to trust Mel, and didn't automatically trust her because of old ties. They're a long-lived, super powerful race of warrior women. It was nice to see that they didn't let sentimentality totally rule their judgment, but that they were still capable of feeling it.

celiaedf12's review

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2.0

Let's see, what twist on urban fantasy can we come up with - how about Amazons are real, and still living in all-female tribes that practice magic and fighting, and give away or kill all male babies? All righty then!

Mel left her Amazon tribe after her baby son died (or was killed) after birth, and makes her living as a tattooist. Her teenage daughter doesn't know about her Amazon heritage or potential powers. Then dead Amazon girls start being dumped at Mel's door. Drama.

This is a completely over the top urban fantasy, with a convoluted and ridiculous ending. Plus, Mel falls in lust with two men at the same time which is one of the tropes I find most irritating in urban fantasy. One of them is creepily lying to her throughout most of the book, but inexplicably this doesn't seem to put her off. The magic of hormones. I don't think I'll be looking out for anymore of the Amazon series.

jazdewills's review

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2.0

Predictable, trite, unfocused. The general idea was interesting, though.

carol26388's review

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3.0

I enjoyed the new twist on the urban fantasy, however, it did feel like a first book. I'll be sure and catch the sequel to see if Devoti's writing and story improves. The protagonist has left her tribe to raise her daughter, and her mother and grandmother have followed along. I enjoyed the multi-generational aspect of the story, and confess that the grandma, Bubbe, was one of my favorite characters. Mel, the main character and narrator initially annoyed me, but I began to realize it was her character flaws that I was reacting to more than the writing. I think. Although it was also rather strange how Mel allows a new male tattoo artist to become part of her show, and finds herself attracted and reacting to him. The mystery felt a little lackluster, but it was interesting to see how a modern Amazon interacted with a urban police detective, and how the both needed to stay within certain constraints. The story opened the way for more opportunities to learn about Amazons and their culture.

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