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Intriguing mystery within a fantasy

Revisado: 02-10-21

First, be aware that this book is a series and stops with a bit of a cliffhanger. The book wraps up one storyline, but leaves us with another piece of the ongoing, underlying mystery. I happen to enjoy series that deal with complex problems and take their time to deal with.

My only quibble with the book, and the reason I gave only 4 stars, is the male narrator. His purported Barbadian accent didn't feel natural for a person who grew up the son of a wealthy, white plantation owner. And his slow, halting, stilted manner of speech was very distracting at first. Especially in contrast to the lilting, upper crust speech patterns of the heroine. The excuse for her speech is an unknown background, intelligence and both an urge to better herself and an indulgent employer.

I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

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If you like ditzy heroines and slapstick

Revisado: 11-12-20

The book was not badly written, but the plot reminded me of a screwball comedy. The heroine isn't very bright and most of the humor comes in the form of pratfalls with her falling over her own feet or the eponymous dead body. Not my preferred form of entertainment. If you like ditzy heroines and slapstick, this book might be for you.

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Complex crime with complex characters

Revisado: 10-05-20 El oyente recibió este título gratis

The Inspector begins the murder investigation believing it will be an easy solve, as they know the culprit is on the ferry and can't get past the police. How wrong he was! This is one of the most complex crime dramas I've ever read.

Because of the multitude of suspects and side stories about family members and other extraneous issues, I found it a bit difficult to follow in an audio format. But the depth of issues, both professional and personal, facing the main character made the book well worthwhile.

The lack of a complete and satisfying ending to the case was typical for real life police work. The unfinished personal issues Inspector Drake is dealing with are not resolved, which leaves the reader wanting to see more of his story. I shall be looking for the next book in the series.

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In depth look at a victim, not a serial killer

Revisado: 07-28-20

This is not my usual sort of book. I normally don't read books that have characters I wouldn't want to spend time with in real life. The focus of the story is on a sad, drunken loser who is almost at the end of the line. As he keeps saying, he always makes really bad decisions, and we first meet him after he has made one of his worst, meeting a serial killer and deciding to write their story.
The book blurb talks about this being a disturbing look at a serial killer, but I don't feel as if I know much more about said killer by the end of the book. Who I do know much more about is Rick, the loser who plans to write the story of our serial killer as one final grasp at a return to a good life. This young man slowly grows on the reader as he starts to finally grow up and take a look at his life and own his mistakes instead of blaming the tragedy he lived through for all of his ills.
I found the book uncomfortable, but I am very glad I stuck with it. It was well worth reading.

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Character development over action

Revisado: 05-14-20 El oyente recibió este título gratis

I don't often read epic fantasy anymore. When I was reading it, the genre was called Sword and Sorcery. I tired of it because the character development was usually very rudimentary and the action, sometimes with no purpose, was paramount.

I am happy to say that the author puts believable characters before action. There is action, but it isn't added just for the sake of having action. It is there to move the story along. Perhaps there's a bit too much angst and uncertainty from both the young male leads, but they are young and grow into their roles towards the finale of the story.

The book is perhaps a little long, especially in the middle. But once you get past all the traveling the story moves along again. It's worth the effort.

This is a series, but the book nicely rounds out the first quest of the saga and doesn't leave the reader dissatisfied. But there are enough hints of future trials to leave a curiosity to know what happens next. I will be looking for the next in the series.

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Many loose ends to be tied up

Revisado: 04-30-20 El oyente recibió este título gratis

This book, while well written and holding my attention, was somewhat unsatisfying. I presume because it was a prequel to the series and left many loose ends and unanswered questions. As I haven't read any other books in the series yet, I felt like the book was unfinished. Perhaps the book is more satisfying for readers who already have a knowledge of the characters and their history.

Still, it did a good job getting me tempted to find out if any of those loose ends are ever tied up. I will probably continue tho the 1st book in the series to finally determine how I feel about the author.

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Hope the author will continue series

Revisado: 02-25-20

I really enjoy Craig Alanson books, and this was no exception. Each of his series has a distinctly different flavor. This series has some of the irreverent humor of his Expeditionary Force books combined with young, intrepid protagonists such in his Ascendant series.
The only reason this review is only 4 stars is because I know the author abandoned the series to write his best selling Expeditionary Force books. Not that I fault him for that - those are my favorite of his books. I just wish he could write more than one series at a time, since I want to know what happens next. I'm greedy that way.

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Fascinating perspective on a famous romance

Revisado: 02-07-20

Whether you know and love Shakespeare's tale of doomed romance "Romeo and Juliet", this work is a totally new perspective on the events told in the play, seen from the eyes of Romeo's cousin Benvolio. Ms. Caine has fleshed out all of the characters brilliantly, and given us a fresh new theory on the motivations that drove the well known events of the story. Without changing the main outcome of the original, she brings real satisfaction to those of us who were never truly pleased with the original ending. Enjoy!

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Surprisingly interesting and complex story

Revisado: 01-24-20

I have read other works by Molly Harper, but never pursued them. if I got them for free I would read them, but I didn't feel compelled to search out the rest of a series. In other words, I could take them or leave them. Which is why I was so startled by the quality of this book.

Harper is a good writer, most definitely, but her books have always seemed so formulaic and her world building just some additional wings on an already overly busy bit of architecture. Suddenly, she brings us an extremely well executed and elegantly built story that is both original and delightful. I will be purchasing the next book in the series. Congratulations, Ms. Harper!

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Faith takes on SciFi

Revisado: 01-13-20

Faith Hunter brings all of her abilities to create unique and fascinating characters to life in a new genre for her - SciFi. With an engrossing new concept and her usual strong world building, she has begun what I hope will be a long running series. I'm looking forward to the next book.

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