Reviews

Pale Guardian by Barbara Hambly

fizzy_lizard's review

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

jeansbooks's review

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

dirtgoddess's review

adventurous mysterious fast-paced

3.0

lsneal's review

4.0

I know many readers have found Lydia's obsession with not being seen in her glasses in previous books to be somewhat tiresome, but I think the payoff comes in the emotional weight of seeing an exhausted and determined Lydia openly wearing them while working at a medical station near the front in WWI. It's great character development, and it's a small personal detail that helps bring home the gravity and horror of the war.

I also enjoy the parallels to Dracula, which start out with a male character as the focus, but gradually shifts to his wife as the main heroine. James is still an interesting and crucial voice, but Lydia has become the star of the show.