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sashas_books's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
It’s nice to read something that knows it’s pulp, doesn’t pretend otherwise, revels in it, plays with it.
WWI is over, and Will Darling is trying to find his place in Britain again. Inheriting his uncle’s bookshop is a stroke of luck! (Tons of books are looming over him, but he’s been through worse.)
Then aggressive people come calling, demanding “information” from Will. What information?
“Who the hell came armed to rob a bookshop?”
The War Office is very interested in Will, too, in unpleasant ways. He is not handing anything over to anyone, even if he doesn’t have it, thank you very much. Enter a certain Kim Secretan, providing timely assistance (very timely), a Guinness, and a sympathetic ear. Those dark eyes are very fine too. Will, you are too stubborn and too trusting, yes you are.
The chemistry between Will and Kim is nice. The romance is steamy-steamy-steamy. (I think I like more mystery and less romance in my books, but you can’t always have everything.) But what do you say, now that you’re more than friends?
“Thank God they were British. He took a deep breath. “Cup of tea?”
Oh, what a surprise, there are more layers of intrigue and more layers of betrayal. And the “information” shouldn’t be in anyone’s hands.
The latter part of the book moves fast, with kidnappings, rescues, more double-dealing, quick thinking under pressure and conversations a reader can quote.
“I haven’t lied to you in, oh, a good twelve hours.”
“Amazing. Did it hurt much?”
“Your ability to inflict damage with words as well as knives is noted. Can we agree I behaved appallingly and get to the part where I apologise and remove myself from your presence?”
“I don’t know anyone with whom I’d rather execute an ambush in a muddy field.” Awww, that’s romantic.
The ending is promising :)
P.S. I liked the part where Will was admiring an actor named Harrison Ford. You know, the silent movie actor, born in 1884. The author must have had so much fun with this.
WWI is over, and Will Darling is trying to find his place in Britain again. Inheriting his uncle’s bookshop is a stroke of luck! (Tons of books are looming over him, but he’s been through worse.)
Then aggressive people come calling, demanding “information” from Will. What information?
“Who the hell came armed to rob a bookshop?”
The War Office is very interested in Will, too, in unpleasant ways. He is not handing anything over to anyone, even if he doesn’t have it, thank you very much. Enter a certain Kim Secretan, providing timely assistance (very timely), a Guinness, and a sympathetic ear. Those dark eyes are very fine too. Will, you are too stubborn and too trusting, yes you are.
The chemistry between Will and Kim is nice. The romance is steamy-steamy-steamy. (I think I like more mystery and less romance in my books, but you can’t always have everything.) But what do you say, now that you’re more than friends?
“Thank God they were British. He took a deep breath. “Cup of tea?”
Oh, what a surprise, there are more layers of intrigue and more layers of betrayal. And the “information” shouldn’t be in anyone’s hands.
The latter part of the book moves fast, with kidnappings, rescues, more double-dealing, quick thinking under pressure and conversations a reader can quote.
“I haven’t lied to you in, oh, a good twelve hours.”
“Amazing. Did it hurt much?”
“Your ability to inflict damage with words as well as knives is noted. Can we agree I behaved appallingly and get to the part where I apologise and remove myself from your presence?”
“I don’t know anyone with whom I’d rather execute an ambush in a muddy field.” Awww, that’s romantic.
The ending is promising :)
P.S. I liked the part where Will was admiring an actor named Harrison Ford. You know, the silent movie actor, born in 1884. The author must have had so much fun with this.
mauricee_'s review against another edition
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
agravereader's review against another edition
4.25
I can always rely on KJ Charles for a fun story to get lost in ♡
ryank74's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.0
trin's review against another edition
3.0
Enjoyable, but the character types/tropes involved didn't quite delight me as much as those in some of K.J. Charles' other works. I will happily pick up the second one, though.
justinkhchen's review against another edition
4.0
4 stars
Highly enjoyable if not entirely fulfilling, Slippery Creatures features the same K.J. Charles' signature charm and wit, but powered only at 80%.
Everything is still expertly assembled, the characters are engaging (particularly Will Darling as the rough-around-the-edges war veteran turned bookshop owner), and features a mystery with actual depth and intrigue (rare for books primarily marketed as historical romance). Yet, the absence of narrative dynamism (the pacing, while not slow, is steady and monotonous almost to a fault) and a somewhat open-ended closure to the romantic relationship leaves Slippery Creatures feeling like an extended prologue rather than a self-contained story.
Slippery Creatures is the first book in a trilogy, and with one K.J. Charles formatted it after a true serial, where certain narrative arcs are completed only if you finished the series. So even though the experiences as a standalone feels a little less substantial than the author's typical output, I'm still intrigued (and entertained) by the foundation that was built here—will definitely continue in the future.
Highly enjoyable if not entirely fulfilling, Slippery Creatures features the same K.J. Charles' signature charm and wit, but powered only at 80%.
Everything is still expertly assembled, the characters are engaging (particularly Will Darling as the rough-around-the-edges war veteran turned bookshop owner), and features a mystery with actual depth and intrigue (rare for books primarily marketed as historical romance). Yet, the absence of narrative dynamism (the pacing, while not slow, is steady and monotonous almost to a fault) and a somewhat open-ended closure to the romantic relationship leaves Slippery Creatures feeling like an extended prologue rather than a self-contained story.
Slippery Creatures is the first book in a trilogy, and with one K.J. Charles formatted it after a true serial, where certain narrative arcs are completed only if you finished the series. So even though the experiences as a standalone feels a little less substantial than the author's typical output, I'm still intrigued (and entertained) by the foundation that was built here—will definitely continue in the future.
tatbenatar's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
rosemaryfay's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Excellent narration, felt like the same emotional conflict repeated maybe once too many times.
notthatlibrarian's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture
Moderate: War
martapaviaa's review against another edition
4.0
Intrigante, emotiva, genial la verdad una gran introduccion al mundo de Will y Kim