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A review by merieshenanigans
The Luckless by A.M. Sohma
5.0
So technically this is my third time reading this book, but I've never written a review of it! How dare I! If I didn't write raving reviews of my favorite series by K.M. Shea (aka A.M. Sohma), then how would I ever convince any other of my Goodreads friends to give it a try as well? *stares at my Goodreads friends*
Yes, I know this is a video-game genre thing, in which people get stuck in a video-game and have to play their way out, which has never been/and/probably/never/will/be my thing at ALL. It's hilarious how long I took to pick up this series because 1) video-games and books had never fit together in my mind, and 2) I was highly unimpressed by the covers. After, like, a year of just acknowledging the existence of this series, I caved. I read it. I don't entirely remember my first reaction to it, but I'm pretty sure I was mindblown.
Just because I actually really enjoyed it.
Now, here's the thing, Goodreads friends: you may or may not have noticed this, based on the varying degrees of unintelligibility of reviews of some of my favorite books, that I seem to be abnormally appreciative of strategic plots/authors/characters/etc. in books. I'm pretty sure this is because no one else is as keen on embarrassing themselves by fangirling about the author's strategic genius, but look, I'm leading an example. Anyway, if you appreciate practical tactical brilliance at all, Kitten Lovemuch in the Second Age of Retha will make you a very happy camper (although half of that is indeed some pretty great foreshadowing on the author's part, as you'll discover later in the series).
"Wait," you may be thinking. "Kitten Lovemuch?? Is that some sort of joke?"
Yes, people, it absolutely is. And I'm gonna leave you hanging just like that, because this review would get too long if I decided to repeat the blurb of the book and then spoil everything in it.
Characters, as you know, often make or break a book. For me, the characters here are definitely winners. I admit that the first time I was feeling quite amiable about all of them, and then the second time around I for some reason didn't like Kit or Solus Miles, and now I love Kit and have begun tolerating Solus Miles. A great improvement, I assure you. The banter is awesome, of course.
As for the video-game aspect, there actually are real-life stakes involved. The video-game itself is like a really complicated but very detailed fantasy world while simultaneously being able to tease traditional fantasy stereotypes. And let's not forget, our main character Kit has to cope with the ridiculousness of her character and all the horrific luck that seems to come along with it. Because in the Chronicles of Retha, it is possible to obtain the skill "Cowardly Leader."
Of course, I had my problems with the book. I feel like it could be edited better, which would in turn clean up any other problems I had. Also, I think the way Solus Miles is described really helped make it difficult for me to care about him. I had to resort to using my own imagination to give him facial expressions, vocal fluctuations, and stuff like that. Other than those, and also the sort of annoying cover which I can forgive because it's accurate, I loved this book! And I definitely recommend it! If that isn't super obvious already!
I'll probably never read another book in this genre outside of Retha, but *nods* this series is totally worth it. In humble opinion. ;) ;)
Yes, I know this is a video-game genre thing, in which people get stuck in a video-game and have to play their way out, which has never been/and/probably/never/will/be my thing at ALL. It's hilarious how long I took to pick up this series because 1) video-games and books had never fit together in my mind, and 2) I was highly unimpressed by the covers. After, like, a year of just acknowledging the existence of this series, I caved. I read it. I don't entirely remember my first reaction to it, but I'm pretty sure I was mindblown.
Just because I actually really enjoyed it.
Now, here's the thing, Goodreads friends: you may or may not have noticed this, based on the varying degrees of unintelligibility of reviews of some of my favorite books, that I seem to be abnormally appreciative of strategic plots/authors/characters/etc. in books. I'm pretty sure this is because no one else is as keen on embarrassing themselves by fangirling about the author's strategic genius, but look, I'm leading an example. Anyway, if you appreciate practical tactical brilliance at all, Kitten Lovemuch in the Second Age of Retha will make you a very happy camper (although half of that is indeed some pretty great foreshadowing on the author's part, as you'll discover later in the series).
"Wait," you may be thinking. "Kitten Lovemuch?? Is that some sort of joke?"
Yes, people, it absolutely is. And I'm gonna leave you hanging just like that, because this review would get too long if I decided to repeat the blurb of the book and then spoil everything in it.
Characters, as you know, often make or break a book. For me, the characters here are definitely winners. I admit that the first time I was feeling quite amiable about all of them, and then the second time around I for some reason didn't like Kit or Solus Miles, and now I love Kit and have begun tolerating Solus Miles. A great improvement, I assure you. The banter is awesome, of course.
As for the video-game aspect, there actually are real-life stakes involved. The video-game itself is like a really complicated but very detailed fantasy world while simultaneously being able to tease traditional fantasy stereotypes. And let's not forget, our main character Kit has to cope with the ridiculousness of her character and all the horrific luck that seems to come along with it. Because in the Chronicles of Retha, it is possible to obtain the skill "Cowardly Leader."
Of course, I had my problems with the book. I feel like it could be edited better, which would in turn clean up any other problems I had. Also, I think the way Solus Miles is described really helped make it difficult for me to care about him. I had to resort to using my own imagination to give him facial expressions, vocal fluctuations, and stuff like that. Other than those, and also the sort of annoying cover which I can forgive because it's accurate, I loved this book! And I definitely recommend it! If that isn't super obvious already!
I'll probably never read another book in this genre outside of Retha, but *nods* this series is totally worth it. In humble opinion. ;) ;)