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A review by momwithareadingproblem
Mosaic by Sarah Fine
2.0
I received an eARC of this book from Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
I am so sad writing this review. Sarah Fine is one of my favorite authors. I fell in love with her Guards of the Shadowland series and have been hooked on her writing ever since. But Mosaic was not at all what I was expecting. It didn’t really follow the first two books of the Reliquary series. In fact, I loved [b:Reliquary|28171973|Reliquary (Reliquary, #1)|Sarah Fine|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1455625702s/28171973.jpg|48189759] and [b:Splinter|29231863|Splinter (Reliquary, #2)|Sarah Fine|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1465663249s/29231863.jpg|49243233] so I was really excited for the series conclusion. However I was so disappointed upon reading that I really don’t even know how to begin this review.
Mosaic picks up an undisclosed amount of time after the end of [b:Splinter|29231863|Splinter (Reliquary, #2)|Sarah Fine|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1465663249s/29231863.jpg|49243233]. It’s clear on reading that Mattie has been traveling the world and working with Asa. What’s unclear is their relationship. They seem to tiptoe around each other. Mattie still guarding her heart and Asa wanting more but waiting. At least that is the gist of it. Mattie has reverted back to the character she was at the beginning of Reliquary. She’s afraid of commitment, afraid to love, and running from her past headlong into Asa and his underground magic trading.
I could have handled the character regression after what happened to Mattie in the second book. What I couldn’t handle though was the scattered plot. I really had a hard time following what was going on, especially in the beginning of the book. There is no real clear time line on how long Asa and Mattie have been working together and how much time has passed since the second book. I could have handled that, but the odd, violent plot I couldn’t take. Asa and Mattie get in over their heads and Asa is taken by one of the larger magic-mob bosses, the same one that supposedly held his mother. It’s basically his nightmare and honestly I was excited (at first) to see how Mattie would handle saving Asa for a change, but I was so disappointed in its execution. The characters that pop up in this book from previous books don’t align with what we the readers know of them. Characters that have proven to be enemies are now allies, allies can’t be trusted…it’s all really confusing. And the ending….don’t even get me started!
Overall, I want a do-over. At 48% I stopped reading and just skimmed. I couldn’t handle the violence, I couldn’t handle the characters’ odd behaviors (acting unlike they have in previous books), I just couldn’t. And the sweet relationship/friendship that had blossomed between Mattie and Asa…that’s gone! Seriously I was questioning if I was reading the right book because it takes such a drastic turn from the previous two. Mosaic reads more like a second, bridge novel in a series than the concluding novel. Disappointing!
I am so sad writing this review. Sarah Fine is one of my favorite authors. I fell in love with her Guards of the Shadowland series and have been hooked on her writing ever since. But Mosaic was not at all what I was expecting. It didn’t really follow the first two books of the Reliquary series. In fact, I loved [b:Reliquary|28171973|Reliquary (Reliquary, #1)|Sarah Fine|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1455625702s/28171973.jpg|48189759] and [b:Splinter|29231863|Splinter (Reliquary, #2)|Sarah Fine|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1465663249s/29231863.jpg|49243233] so I was really excited for the series conclusion. However I was so disappointed upon reading that I really don’t even know how to begin this review.
Mosaic picks up an undisclosed amount of time after the end of [b:Splinter|29231863|Splinter (Reliquary, #2)|Sarah Fine|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1465663249s/29231863.jpg|49243233]. It’s clear on reading that Mattie has been traveling the world and working with Asa. What’s unclear is their relationship. They seem to tiptoe around each other. Mattie still guarding her heart and Asa wanting more but waiting. At least that is the gist of it. Mattie has reverted back to the character she was at the beginning of Reliquary. She’s afraid of commitment, afraid to love, and running from her past headlong into Asa and his underground magic trading.
I could have handled the character regression after what happened to Mattie in the second book. What I couldn’t handle though was the scattered plot. I really had a hard time following what was going on, especially in the beginning of the book. There is no real clear time line on how long Asa and Mattie have been working together and how much time has passed since the second book. I could have handled that, but the odd, violent plot I couldn’t take. Asa and Mattie get in over their heads and Asa is taken by one of the larger magic-mob bosses, the same one that supposedly held his mother. It’s basically his nightmare and honestly I was excited (at first) to see how Mattie would handle saving Asa for a change, but I was so disappointed in its execution. The characters that pop up in this book from previous books don’t align with what we the readers know of them. Characters that have proven to be enemies are now allies, allies can’t be trusted…it’s all really confusing. And the ending….don’t even get me started!
Overall, I want a do-over. At 48% I stopped reading and just skimmed. I couldn’t handle the violence, I couldn’t handle the characters’ odd behaviors (acting unlike they have in previous books), I just couldn’t. And the sweet relationship/friendship that had blossomed between Mattie and Asa…that’s gone! Seriously I was questioning if I was reading the right book because it takes such a drastic turn from the previous two. Mosaic reads more like a second, bridge novel in a series than the concluding novel. Disappointing!