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pjonsson's review against another edition
3.0
I decided to have a go at this series since it is stated that it is co-authored by Michael Anderle who’s The Kurtherian Gambit series I like quite a lot. I suspect that most of the writing has been done by Martha R. Carr though and Michael Anderle may have worked more as a consultant. As far as I am concerned the book is not as good as the ones that I have read which are written by Michael Anderle himself. It is still an enjoyable read though.
The story is yet another variation of the protagonist discovers that there are things that go bump in the night theme and this time it is homicide detective Leira Berens that are about to discover that there are more to the world than she thought she knew. Of course she is also about to, eventually, discover that she is actually a part of the things that go bump in the knight. Right know it seems like I cannot get enough of these kind of stories.
One thing that I like with this book is that Leira right from the start is not a wimp. She is a Homicide detective after all and, although she has some natural hesitations about believing there is actually such a thing as magic and all the strange creatures that traditionally comes with magic, she is not a whining push-over.
I have cautiously rated the book at a mere three out of five stars since the story, the writing and the characters felt a wee bit, shall we say, simple. This is another one of these books that, in my eyes, borders on young adult. I would also have liked to have a bit more of ending with some good climax and a bit of conclusion. I felt the story kind of just fizzled out at the end.
Having said that I did enjoy reading it and I will more than likely give the second installment in the series a go as well before passing judgement.
The story is yet another variation of the protagonist discovers that there are things that go bump in the night theme and this time it is homicide detective Leira Berens that are about to discover that there are more to the world than she thought she knew. Of course she is also about to, eventually, discover that she is actually a part of the things that go bump in the knight. Right know it seems like I cannot get enough of these kind of stories.
One thing that I like with this book is that Leira right from the start is not a wimp. She is a Homicide detective after all and, although she has some natural hesitations about believing there is actually such a thing as magic and all the strange creatures that traditionally comes with magic, she is not a whining push-over.
I have cautiously rated the book at a mere three out of five stars since the story, the writing and the characters felt a wee bit, shall we say, simple. This is another one of these books that, in my eyes, borders on young adult. I would also have liked to have a bit more of ending with some good climax and a bit of conclusion. I felt the story kind of just fizzled out at the end.
Having said that I did enjoy reading it and I will more than likely give the second installment in the series a go as well before passing judgement.
crystal_bookworm's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
ari_reading_'s review against another edition
4.0
Note: A character is an asylum and there are some details about needles in the scene.
I loved this oneeee so much,
This takes place before the School of Necessary Magic Alison Brownstone series and it's set in Austin, Texas. This fantasy isn't too long and it's got comedy, swearing and magic. It's such an easy read, Leira is such a good heroine, she's not some girly girl, she's a cop and she kicks butt while swearing all day long. I also love Hagan, her fellow cop and friend, he was hilarious.
But who stole the show was.... *drum rolls*
The Troll- whose name is YumF****, his name conbines Yum and the F word. The intials YTT stand for YumF**** obviously and Tiberius Troll.
I love YTT so much and wish he was a plushie to be honest.
I loved this oneeee so much,
This takes place before the School of Necessary Magic Alison Brownstone series and it's set in Austin, Texas. This fantasy isn't too long and it's got comedy, swearing and magic. It's such an easy read, Leira is such a good heroine, she's not some girly girl, she's a cop and she kicks butt while swearing all day long. I also love Hagan, her fellow cop and friend, he was hilarious.
But who stole the show was.... *drum rolls*
The Troll- whose name is YumF****, his name conbines Yum and the F word. The intials YTT stand for YumF**** obviously and Tiberius Troll.
I love YTT so much and wish he was a plushie to be honest.
reading_ninja's review against another edition
4.0
An enjoyable beginning
I quite enjoyed the first book in this urban fantasy series a kickass heroine and a wonderful cast of characters looking forward to reading book # 2
I quite enjoyed the first book in this urban fantasy series a kickass heroine and a wonderful cast of characters looking forward to reading book # 2
see_sadie_read's review against another edition
2.0
I was bitterly disappointed by this. Let me start with a little bit of a rant. This is labeled as the first book in a series, book 1. But I picked it up and was completely confused, lost. The story had obviously started somewhere else. How can that be if this is book one, I asked.
Well, apparently there is a book .5. Now, I have no problem with .5 books (or however you want to labeled something that comes before book one). This is the place for a prequel. But if the story is part of book one, if it's necessary to read and understand the story, then I firmly believe this is not a prequel, it's not book .5. IT IS BOOK ONE. So, I take some serious issue in how this author has chosen to number the books. I couldn't pick up book one and find the start of a story. I couldn't easily catch up or follow it. This is a serious problem for me. Especially since it doesn't really end either. So, I didn't get a complete beginning or ending.
Outside of that (for me) one big issue, I also thought the book rushed and unfocused. Tell me, if you have a few short days to find someone and a magical object would you take the time to go bowling? As an author, would you dedicate pages to someone's trip to CVS?
There was very little in the line of plot progression, character development or world building. (Maybe it's all in that previous book, which only further supports my assertion that it should be book one.) I'll grant that the characters were likable and the troll cute. But you never get to know them.
The writing is mechanically fine and I don't remember too many editing errors. But I have no desire to continue the series.
Edit: Another reviewer, who did read the 'prequel' stated that it is the "the first 3 or so chapters of the book, despite being published separately." I'll add that it's not even a freebie. So apparently you have to pay for the first 3 chapters of this book separately. That's a big FAT "no" from me.
Well, apparently there is a book .5. Now, I have no problem with .5 books (or however you want to labeled something that comes before book one). This is the place for a prequel. But if the story is part of book one, if it's necessary to read and understand the story, then I firmly believe this is not a prequel, it's not book .5. IT IS BOOK ONE. So, I take some serious issue in how this author has chosen to number the books. I couldn't pick up book one and find the start of a story. I couldn't easily catch up or follow it. This is a serious problem for me. Especially since it doesn't really end either. So, I didn't get a complete beginning or ending.
Outside of that (for me) one big issue, I also thought the book rushed and unfocused. Tell me, if you have a few short days to find someone and a magical object would you take the time to go bowling? As an author, would you dedicate pages to someone's trip to CVS?
There was very little in the line of plot progression, character development or world building. (Maybe it's all in that previous book, which only further supports my assertion that it should be book one.) I'll grant that the characters were likable and the troll cute. But you never get to know them.
The writing is mechanically fine and I don't remember too many editing errors. But I have no desire to continue the series.
Edit: Another reviewer, who did read the 'prequel' stated that it is the "the first 3 or so chapters of the book, despite being published separately." I'll add that it's not even a freebie. So apparently you have to pay for the first 3 chapters of this book separately. That's a big FAT "no" from me.
see_sadie_read's review
2.0
I was bitterly disappointed by this. Let me start with a little bit of a rant. This is labeled as the first book in a series, book 1. But I picked it up and was completely confused, lost. The story had obviously started somewhere else. How can that be if this is book one, I asked.
Well, apparently there is a book .5. Now, I have no problem with .5 books (or however you want to labeled something that comes before book one). This is the place for a prequel. But if the story is part of book one, if it's necessary to read and understand the story, then I firmly believe this is not a prequel, it's not book .5. IT IS BOOK ONE. So, I take some serious issue in how this author has chosen to number the books. I couldn't pick up book one and find the start of a story. I couldn't easily catch up or follow it. This is a serious problem for me. Especially since it doesn't really end either. So, I didn't get a complete beginning or ending.
Outside of that (for me) one big issue, I also thought the book rushed and unfocused. Tell me, if you have a few short days to find someone and a magical object would you take the time to go bowling? As an author, would you dedicate pages to someone's trip to CVS?
There was very little in the line of plot progression, character development or world building. (Maybe it's all in that previous book, which only further supports my assertion that it should be book one.) I'll grant that the characters were likable and the troll cute. But you never get to know them.
The writing is mechanically fine and I don't remember too many editing errors. But I have no desire to continue the series.
Edit: Another reviewer, who did read the 'prequel' stated that it is the "the first 3 or so chapters of the book, despite being published separately." I'll add that it's not even a freebie. So apparently you have to pay for the first 3 chapters of this book separately. That's a big FAT "no" from me.
Well, apparently there is a book .5. Now, I have no problem with .5 books (or however you want to labeled something that comes before book one). This is the place for a prequel. But if the story is part of book one, if it's necessary to read and understand the story, then I firmly believe this is not a prequel, it's not book .5. IT IS BOOK ONE. So, I take some serious issue in how this author has chosen to number the books. I couldn't pick up book one and find the start of a story. I couldn't easily catch up or follow it. This is a serious problem for me. Especially since it doesn't really end either. So, I didn't get a complete beginning or ending.
Outside of that (for me) one big issue, I also thought the book rushed and unfocused. Tell me, if you have a few short days to find someone and a magical object would you take the time to go bowling? As an author, would you dedicate pages to someone's trip to CVS?
There was very little in the line of plot progression, character development or world building. (Maybe it's all in that previous book, which only further supports my assertion that it should be book one.) I'll grant that the characters were likable and the troll cute. But you never get to know them.
The writing is mechanically fine and I don't remember too many editing errors. But I have no desire to continue the series.
Edit: Another reviewer, who did read the 'prequel' stated that it is the "the first 3 or so chapters of the book, despite being published separately." I'll add that it's not even a freebie. So apparently you have to pay for the first 3 chapters of this book separately. That's a big FAT "no" from me.
koops333's review
DNF 5%
The writing is all over the place weaving from one persons perspective to another w/o really delineating who is talking or separating the perspectives.
At one point we're reading about the police partner liking that the h pretty much shoots first and asks questions later....yeeaaah....yikes.
Then two pages later the h was suddenly talking and asking another officers to bounce the suspects head off the back seat of the patrol car after she kicked him in the gut for saying a rude comment. (Yeah he shot your partner, but he was already in cuffs detective.)
Then oop the elves are talking now?...I...okay.
Wasn't liking the h enough already to continue with the writing style. Not for moi.
The writing is all over the place weaving from one persons perspective to another w/o really delineating who is talking or separating the perspectives.
At one point we're reading about the police partner liking that the h pretty much shoots first and asks questions later....yeeaaah....yikes.
Then two pages later the h was suddenly talking and asking another officers to bounce the suspects head off the back seat of the patrol car after she kicked him in the gut for saying a rude comment. (Yeah he shot your partner, but he was already in cuffs detective.)
Then oop the elves are talking now?...I...okay.
Wasn't liking the h enough already to continue with the writing style. Not for moi.
therealestreya's review against another edition
5.0
Loved it! Great character with lots of relatable issues to untangle.
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