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paradoxically 's review for:
Ash and Quill
by Rachel Caine
Oof.
Here I was, innocently enjoying the book (more so than I enjoyed book 2 even), until I crept closer to the end and abruptly found myself wondering if I could even finish it. Not because it was bad, but because various choices were made that devastated me. It was hard to read. It was well done, but making me read it was like pulling teeth, and I hate what happened, even if I can kind of see why it had to happen in the way it did.
I thought the plot was tighter in this book, the immediate goals worked at better while the long term goals were still... rather vague, haha. Jess and the rest are stuck as prisoners in Philadelphia--and is it just me who is getting really tired of various people getting imprisoned all the time? No? Just me? Okay then.
At least this time they have the goal of escaping, which they are actively working towards. I felt like this was done better in the book, I could really feel them working towards their goal rather than information coming to them in bits and pieces out of somewhere. Which isn't to say I didn't have my gripes--there was one scene where Sometimes the coincidences are a little too coincidental.
Morgan and Jess's relationship has grown on me a little, but I still don't love it. At least, not in the way I love Wolfe and Santi's relationship (what crumbs I get, haha), but I guess they would be hard to live up to. I do enjoy the group's interactions with each other as a whole, but they're not quite the flavor of found family trope I like. A little too prickly, though I suppose that makes more sense overall.
Morgan's magical powers are also making me a little tired. She gets new abilities out of nowhere, and you never get any sort of handle of what kind of magic system this is. She gets tired and her power can be corrupted and... what does that mean at the end of the day other than her losing control? Or is that just it? Not enchanted with this portion of the novel.
That ending though. Just emotionally rough. I wanted to shake Jess (and the other people who knew at the end). A big thing about this series is the discussion of people's agency, the choices that they should be allowed to make for themselves. It's crazy to me that It's dumb. It makes me scream. I had SUCH a hard time with this part.
That and some of the holier-than-thou attitudes that the protagonists have sometimes.
Overall, a good book, even if it was personally hard to read at the end. I actually wavered back and forth about whether or not I'll continue on with the series, but was finally persuaded by a friend to just keep trucking along. Other than my own personal issues, it was solidly done all around. 3 stars.
Here I was, innocently enjoying the book (more so than I enjoyed book 2 even), until I crept closer to the end and abruptly found myself wondering if I could even finish it. Not because it was bad, but because various choices were made that devastated me. It was hard to read. It was well done, but making me read it was like pulling teeth, and I hate what happened, even if I can kind of see why it had to happen in the way it did.
I thought the plot was tighter in this book, the immediate goals worked at better while the long term goals were still... rather vague, haha. Jess and the rest are stuck as prisoners in Philadelphia--and is it just me who is getting really tired of various people getting imprisoned all the time? No? Just me? Okay then.
At least this time they have the goal of escaping, which they are actively working towards. I felt like this was done better in the book, I could really feel them working towards their goal rather than information coming to them in bits and pieces out of somewhere. Which isn't to say I didn't have my gripes--there was one scene where
Spoiler
a few of them get captured and are about to be killed by the mob and somehow, just as someone was going to die, there comes the last minute save distraction from the outside to save them.Morgan and Jess's relationship has grown on me a little, but I still don't love it. At least, not in the way I love Wolfe and Santi's relationship (what crumbs I get, haha), but I guess they would be hard to live up to. I do enjoy the group's interactions with each other as a whole, but they're not quite the flavor of found family trope I like. A little too prickly, though I suppose that makes more sense overall.
Morgan's magical powers are also making me a little tired. She gets new abilities out of nowhere, and you never get any sort of handle of what kind of magic system this is. She gets tired and her power can be corrupted and... what does that mean at the end of the day other than her losing control? Or is that just it? Not enchanted with this portion of the novel.
That ending though. Just emotionally rough. I wanted to shake Jess (and the other people who knew at the end). A big thing about this series is the discussion of people's agency, the choices that they should be allowed to make for themselves. It's crazy to me that
Spoiler
Morgan was furious with Jess for not telling her about the people capturing her to go to the tower, that she could make her own decisions, etc. etc. Then turns around and keeps the secret from the rest of the group that they're all going to be captured and shipped off to various places.That and some of the holier-than-thou attitudes that the protagonists have sometimes.
Spoiler
Like, the High Garda saved your lives, guys, what with the bombing and all. It was devastating, yes, and horrific, yes, but they still did it to save you. I don't expect you guys to be thankful, but also don't be shitty, thanks.Overall, a good book, even if it was personally hard to read at the end. I actually wavered back and forth about whether or not I'll continue on with the series, but was finally persuaded by a friend to just keep trucking along. Other than my own personal issues, it was solidly done all around. 3 stars.