Scan barcode
favilo's review
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
kylieoberlies's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
reader44ever's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 stars - great!
I am so happy that, after the disappointment I felt upon finishing book three in this series, this book four was once again a wonderful read! It was not quite as wonderful as book two was, though (something is holding it back), so it's 4.5-stars-great. :-)
I don't know what that "something" is that's keeping this from being a full five-star read, but I do know that even though I'm once again feeling the love for Katie, et.al., it feels conditional and probationary. So...I need to read book five!!! :-)
I did feel "all the feels" while reading this story. I laughed and cried; worried and rejoiced. :-)
I may have chuckled aloud in several places, but the most memorable LOL "incident" happened on page 74 (Chapter Six), after Owen has arrived at the Chandlers' store, met various Chandler family members, and been talked into staying with the Chandlers by Katie's mother and "Mom" talked Katie into riding home in Owen's rental car (another family member will deal with her truck). "Owen didn't need any encouraging to get out of the store. As we settled into his rental car, he said, 'I see you moved to New York for the peace and quiet.' " I just had to laugh - with Katie! - at this, as I can so imagine him saying it in a rather dry tone of voice. ;-)
The tears hit me in the end, on page 289 (in the final, 22nd, chapter), when Katie arrives at the store andtalks with her father about Owen, his departure to New York, and how Katie should probably go back to New York to be with the "good man [she's] got." "Dad" gives her back pay for her work at the store and tells her to "buy yourself a plane ticket and go back tomorrow, if you want." Katie "gulped and blinked away tears," and I had to blink away tears with her. This was such a sweet moment! I really loved it. :-)
I worried during the final battle(Merlin was keeping a close eye on Owen's behavior toward/around Katie; it was a tense chain of events) and also during nearly every moment when Katie and Owen were alone together. It was hard for Katie to tell how Owen felt, and it was hard for me to know, too. Did he forgive her for running away to Texas? Did he understand? Did he still have feelings for her? I (and Katie) really hoped so, but even during that first passionate kiss to call the nature spirits, I had doubts. Was that kiss just work?! or was there more to it?
I rejoiced when it turned out there was more to it. :-) The ending was ever-so-satisfying for me to read. It could even have been a series-ending ending, but to my everlasting joy and happiness, it's not. ;-)
In the end, Katieflies to LaGuardia, where she is met by Rocky and Rollo (my favorite zany gargoyles! yay!). After collecting her luggage, they head to the car, where Owen is waiting. (!!!) He is holding the other of the pair of Katie's red shoes (which she lost during the excitement at the end of book two or three) and says, "Maybe you could help me with something. I'm looking for the lady who fits this shoe." :-)
Katie plays it cool at first, but then they're in each other's arms, kissing like it had been months, instead of only a day, since they'd last been together. "In a way, I suppose we had been apart for months, our recent adventures aside."
And then they get in the car and, with Rocky and Rollo doing the driving, Katie "held on for the wild ride [she] knew was ahead of [her] in the crazy life [she'd] chosen." [fin] *sigh*
I was so, so, sooo happy with this ending. And I've decided that I do need to buy this series. My plan to buy had been cast in serious doubt after I finished the disappointing-for-me third book. I might have to reevaluate that third book after I own the series and reread it. ;-)
I am so happy that, after the disappointment I felt upon finishing book three in this series, this book four was once again a wonderful read! It was not quite as wonderful as book two was, though (something is holding it back), so it's 4.5-stars-great. :-)
I don't know what that "something" is that's keeping this from being a full five-star read, but I do know that even though I'm once again feeling the love for Katie, et.al., it feels conditional and probationary. So...I need to read book five!!! :-)
I did feel "all the feels" while reading this story. I laughed and cried; worried and rejoiced. :-)
I may have chuckled aloud in several places, but the most memorable LOL "incident" happened on page 74 (Chapter Six), after Owen has arrived at the Chandlers' store, met various Chandler family members, and been talked into staying with the Chandlers by Katie's mother and "Mom" talked Katie into riding home in Owen's rental car (another family member will deal with her truck). "Owen didn't need any encouraging to get out of the store. As we settled into his rental car, he said, 'I see you moved to New York for the peace and quiet.' " I just had to laugh - with Katie! - at this, as I can so imagine him saying it in a rather dry tone of voice. ;-)
The tears hit me in the end, on page 289 (in the final, 22nd, chapter), when Katie arrives at the store and
I worried during the final battle
I rejoiced when it turned out there was more to it. :-) The ending was ever-so-satisfying for me to read. It could even have been a series-ending ending, but to my everlasting joy and happiness, it's not. ;-)
In the end, Katie
Katie plays it cool at first, but then they're in each other's arms, kissing like it had been months, instead of only a day, since they'd last been together. "In a way, I suppose we had been apart for months, our recent adventures aside."
And then they get in the car and, with Rocky and Rollo doing the driving, Katie "held on for the wild ride [she] knew was ahead of [her] in the crazy life [she'd] chosen."
I was so, so, sooo happy with this ending. And I've decided that I do need to buy this series. My plan to buy had been cast in serious doubt after I finished the disappointing-for-me third book. I might have to reevaluate that third book after I own the series and reread it. ;-)
readingisadoingword's review
2.0
I may give up now. The stories themselves are entertaining but the showdowns are stupidly anticlimactic.
reader_fictions's review
4.0
3.5 stars
Rereading books I was obsessed with 10 years ago has been interesting. Some things I remember so strongly, but there are large things I just blocked out, like the fact that the publisher dropped the series at a very unacceptable point. Don’t Hex with Texas is very much not an ending to the story, and it speaks to how obsessed with it I was that I wasn’t left with feelings of massive loathing, though I do remember being really frustrated when book 5 didn’t come out a year later.
I need some more synonyms for fun and charming to describe this series, but it’s honestly just so fucking cozy and cute. I know that a lot of people aren’t into that, but it’s so rare to find a fantasy with intricate and clever world building that isn’t made of doom and gloom. There are so few books like the Enchanted, Inc. series, and, though it’s not perfect, it just makes me really fucking happy.
However, these books are torturously slow in the romance department. My ship is just so frustrating in the worst/best way. It’s so damn true to who Katie and Owen are, which is really shy and awkward and bad at romance and feelings in general. They’re also just so nice they keep trying to spare the other. I want to shake them and then lock them in a room together and not let them out until they sex each other up a bunch. That’s normal, right?
TBH I didn’t remember the plot of this particular book at all, and I was not excited about the return to Texas because Katie left Owen (hdu), and also just why. But Katie’s family is delightful, particularly her kooky badass of a grandma. Also, it’s really nice that Owen and Katie’s reunion isn’t melodrama-tastic. It’s very them basically. I cannot leave this ship because part of what makes it frustrating is what makes it so good. Curse it.
I’m excited to get into the books that I didn’t read before, mostly because I was already book blogging by the time Swendson published them and I didn’t have the time. NOW I MAKE THE TIME.
Rereading books I was obsessed with 10 years ago has been interesting. Some things I remember so strongly, but there are large things I just blocked out, like the fact that the publisher dropped the series at a very unacceptable point. Don’t Hex with Texas is very much not an ending to the story, and it speaks to how obsessed with it I was that I wasn’t left with feelings of massive loathing, though I do remember being really frustrated when book 5 didn’t come out a year later.
I need some more synonyms for fun and charming to describe this series, but it’s honestly just so fucking cozy and cute. I know that a lot of people aren’t into that, but it’s so rare to find a fantasy with intricate and clever world building that isn’t made of doom and gloom. There are so few books like the Enchanted, Inc. series, and, though it’s not perfect, it just makes me really fucking happy.
However, these books are torturously slow in the romance department. My ship is just so frustrating in the worst/best way. It’s so damn true to who Katie and Owen are, which is really shy and awkward and bad at romance and feelings in general. They’re also just so nice they keep trying to spare the other. I want to shake them and then lock them in a room together and not let them out until they sex each other up a bunch. That’s normal, right?
TBH I didn’t remember the plot of this particular book at all, and I was not excited about the return to Texas because Katie left Owen (hdu), and also just why. But Katie’s family is delightful, particularly her kooky badass of a grandma. Also, it’s really nice that Owen and Katie’s reunion isn’t melodrama-tastic. It’s very them basically. I cannot leave this ship because part of what makes it frustrating is what makes it so good. Curse it.
I’m excited to get into the books that I didn’t read before, mostly because I was already book blogging by the time Swendson published them and I didn’t have the time. NOW I MAKE THE TIME.
rhodered's review
3.0
I love the title, and enjoyed the book. A nice break from NYC and a good reminder of what we all love about it. Plus, I liked some of the family moments. However, the whole lack of physical passion beyond quick rare kisses is beginning to make me wonder, is she dating a man or a boy?
celli's review
3.0
My favorite in the series since the first book, [book: Enchanted, Inc.] Swendson is an inventive writer, but her main character is very much a Mary Sue and you sort of have to walk past her plot holes with eyes averted to make the story work. This book was set up a lot better than the past two, though, and by changing the setting to Texas, we were introduced to a new cast of oftentimes quirky characters. I particularly liked Katie's best friend, Nina. And the big climactic battle was a very silly and fun.