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schomj's review
3.0
I didn't really get into this until about the two-thirds mark, and only pushed myself to keep going that far because of how much I loved the first two books in the series, but the last third was awesome -- wisecracking Brand, steadfast Claybriar, and Millie finally learning to understand herself a little better.
The way Caryl betrayed Elliot broke my heart, though, not gonna lie.
The way Caryl betrayed Elliot broke my heart, though, not gonna lie.
biblioholicbeth's review
5.0
Easily the best of the three books. I spent most of today reading, and was thrilled by the growth of Millie, even while in the midst of a crisis. The ending (no spoilers) I felt was fitting, and I can honestly say that this book will be vying for a top five spot on my reading list this year!
candiebella's review
3.0
Really liked the first two. This seemed forced and disjointed. Read to the end only because I liked Millie.
unabridgedchick's review against another edition
5.0
Looooooooooooooooved it. Fabulous end, although very very bittersweet. A tight trilogy that offers conclusion, but not a neat ending (which our narrator notes). While I'm personally bitter , it's actually pretty narrative-ly satisfying. Longer review to come.
Spoiler
that Millie and Caryl aren't together (and, frankly, that their feelings for each other are kind of so messed up I'm not sure I should be rooting for them)colossal's review
4.0
A return to the multiverse of the Arcadia Project with both the Seelie and Unseelie Courts divided, the Project at war with itself, and Millie and her friends right in the middle of it.
With battle lines drawn between the rebel Arcadia Project in the West Coast of the US and the headquarters in London, Dame Belinda fires the first volley in the war. During a meeting with Fae royalty, Tjuan finds out that he's now wanted for murder, because apparently someone who looked exactly like him killed somebody in an armed holdup. Given Millie was eating pizza with him at the time it happened, she knows it can't be true so she commits her extensive resourcefulness and connections to both freeing Tjuan and resolving the fight with the UK branch.
The first book in this series was tight, inventive and fascinating in its treatment of mental illness and how treatment strategies can actually be strategies for all sorts of things. These next two have a core of the first book and build a wider selection of characters with both diagnosed mental health concerns and quite a few fantastic characters who are often analogues of the same. Unfortunately where they fall down is that they're no longer anywhere near as tight, and end up being rambling and a bit hard to follow, often with dangling plot points.
It's good stuff, but I no longer really hold this series above most other urban fantasy.
One other note for those concerned with dauntingly never-ending series in this genre: this book feels like an end to the series, or at least a good point to get off should it continue.
With battle lines drawn between the rebel Arcadia Project in the West Coast of the US and the headquarters in London, Dame Belinda fires the first volley in the war. During a meeting with Fae royalty, Tjuan finds out that he's now wanted for murder, because apparently someone who looked exactly like him killed somebody in an armed holdup. Given Millie was eating pizza with him at the time it happened, she knows it can't be true so she commits her extensive resourcefulness and connections to both freeing Tjuan and resolving the fight with the UK branch.
The first book in this series was tight, inventive and fascinating in its treatment of mental illness and how treatment strategies can actually be strategies for all sorts of things. These next two have a core of the first book and build a wider selection of characters with both diagnosed mental health concerns and quite a few fantastic characters who are often analogues of the same. Unfortunately where they fall down is that they're no longer anywhere near as tight, and end up being rambling and a bit hard to follow, often with dangling plot points.
It's good stuff, but I no longer really hold this series above most other urban fantasy.
One other note for those concerned with dauntingly never-ending series in this genre: this book feels like an end to the series, or at least a good point to get off should it continue.
coolcurrybooks's review
4.0
The Arcadia Project trilogy has been one of my all time favorite urban fantasy series. I’m sad to see it come to a close, but I found Impostor Syndrome a more than satisfying conclusion.
Before diving into the review, I want to note that this is a sequel. Impostor Syndrome picks up directly where the cliffhanger ending of the second book left off, so be sure to read the series in order. If you’re new to the books, the first is Borderline, which I highly recommend.
After learning that spells are sentient (and enslaved) spirits and that the head of the Project handed a child over to be tortured, the LA branch of the Arcadia Project is in revolt. Someone, London HQ finds a way to frame Millie’s partner Tjuan for murder. They can’t think of any way to stave off the power of the London HQ but then Millie comes up with the idea of a heist that will take them from London to the palace of the Seelie Queen.
For me, the big draw of the Arcadia Project series is Millie herself. She’s got a unique voice and a strong personality. I think she’s also been growing a lot through the series. In Impostor Syndrome, she feels like she’s been having a backslide in her mental health, which is pretty true to life. Mental health improvement is rarely straightforward. Despite this, she’s got to be there for Tjuan and the everyone else effected by Dame Belinda’s tyrannical rule.
Since I first read Borderline, I’ve classified Millie as an antiheroine. There’s actually a pretty great part in Impostor Syndrome where she refers to herself as such, but this third book asks whether or not this assessment is accurate. Is Millie really an anti-heroine… or is she a true heroine? An antiheroine who decides to try and act like a heroine? With so many anti-heroic characters, they tend to stumble further down the moral event horizon. Millie’s going in the opposite direction, trying to do the right thing no matter how hard it may be.
My criticisms of Impostor Syndrome come down to quibbles. The pacing and plot structure probably could have been smoother. There was also a segment written in the style of a screenplay. While it made a certain amount of sense for the circumstances, I thought it went on a tad too long. Otherwise, I don’t have much to complain about.
I don’t know if this will be the ending that everyone wants. The plot arc is finished, but there’s plenty of tangles left to be unraveled. Such as it is with life. While some things didn’t end as I might have wished, I think the ending makes sense for the story Baker’s telling. On the whole, Impostor Syndrome is a satisfying conclusion.
I received an ARC in exchange for a free and honest review.
Review originally posted on The Illustrated Page.
Before diving into the review, I want to note that this is a sequel. Impostor Syndrome picks up directly where the cliffhanger ending of the second book left off, so be sure to read the series in order. If you’re new to the books, the first is Borderline, which I highly recommend.
After learning that spells are sentient (and enslaved) spirits and that the head of the Project handed a child over to be tortured, the LA branch of the Arcadia Project is in revolt. Someone, London HQ finds a way to frame Millie’s partner Tjuan for murder. They can’t think of any way to stave off the power of the London HQ but then Millie comes up with the idea of a heist that will take them from London to the palace of the Seelie Queen.
For me, the big draw of the Arcadia Project series is Millie herself. She’s got a unique voice and a strong personality. I think she’s also been growing a lot through the series. In Impostor Syndrome, she feels like she’s been having a backslide in her mental health, which is pretty true to life. Mental health improvement is rarely straightforward. Despite this, she’s got to be there for Tjuan and the everyone else effected by Dame Belinda’s tyrannical rule.
Since I first read Borderline, I’ve classified Millie as an antiheroine. There’s actually a pretty great part in Impostor Syndrome where she refers to herself as such, but this third book asks whether or not this assessment is accurate. Is Millie really an anti-heroine… or is she a true heroine? An antiheroine who decides to try and act like a heroine? With so many anti-heroic characters, they tend to stumble further down the moral event horizon. Millie’s going in the opposite direction, trying to do the right thing no matter how hard it may be.
My criticisms of Impostor Syndrome come down to quibbles. The pacing and plot structure probably could have been smoother. There was also a segment written in the style of a screenplay. While it made a certain amount of sense for the circumstances, I thought it went on a tad too long. Otherwise, I don’t have much to complain about.
I don’t know if this will be the ending that everyone wants. The plot arc is finished, but there’s plenty of tangles left to be unraveled. Such as it is with life. While some things didn’t end as I might have wished, I think the ending makes sense for the story Baker’s telling. On the whole, Impostor Syndrome is a satisfying conclusion.
I received an ARC in exchange for a free and honest review.
Review originally posted on The Illustrated Page.
hjerteknuser's review
5.0
I don't think I'll ever have an entirely objective and unbiased opinion on this trilogy because it's just s o close to my heart but you can still trust me (or dont, i dont own you) when i say its just SO GOOD.
If you like snarky characters, complex backstories, original and surprising plots and concepts, ~diversity~ (like i wouldn't just go "READ THIS IT FILLS A SOLID AMOUNT OF DIVERSITY CHECKBOXES" it's actually really genuine and well done and unobtrusive diversity – there's so many different unique kinds of people and they never feel like they're in there to fill some kind of quota or make the author look open-minded, they feel like such real well-written people), a healthy helping of sex and romance and flirting, and if you're at all into (urban) fantasy please read these books they're so much fun and so enjoyable to read and they'll make you feel all available emotions while also educating you on borderline personality disorder, dbt, amputee life and general Mental Illness stuff without you even realising.
If you like snarky characters, complex backstories, original and surprising plots and concepts, ~diversity~ (like i wouldn't just go "READ THIS IT FILLS A SOLID AMOUNT OF DIVERSITY CHECKBOXES" it's actually really genuine and well done and unobtrusive diversity – there's so many different unique kinds of people and they never feel like they're in there to fill some kind of quota or make the author look open-minded, they feel like such real well-written people), a healthy helping of sex and romance and flirting, and if you're at all into (urban) fantasy please read these books they're so much fun and so enjoyable to read and they'll make you feel all available emotions while also educating you on borderline personality disorder, dbt, amputee life and general Mental Illness stuff without you even realising.
haileydixon's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0