write_of_passages's review against another edition
3.0
This book went further into some higher stakes themes than the rest, but I’m surprised that in the end the author didn’t capitalize on the full potential of the themes and events that occur in this book. I’m not sure if this is the last book in the series, but if it is, then there are a lot of questions from the through-line still left hanging. I enjoyed this one, but left a little more disappointed because of those missed opportunities to follow through.
Would I go back in time and still read this book, knowing what I know now?
Yes. I still enjoyed reading it, and it would be much better being able to manage my expectations.
See below for the four criteria I use to decide whether and when to read a book
CHARACTERS: Hiro and Maddox both experience moments that are deeply emotional for both of them in this one, but the full potential of those moments just isn’t there. They don’t react in a way that makes sense, and the mechanics of simple cause and effect are pushed to the side in order to let Maddox at least continue being Maddox, which sadly means that the opportunity for some major growth in his character is nixed. That truly disappointed me. We still get the fun moments and brilliant dialogue, the levity is there, don’t get me wrong. It’s the emotional depth where the author seems to dip us into it and then chicken out and wipe it quickly away as though it never happened. Several questions concerning the ‘whys’ of Hiro and the main antagonist’s abilities are also left unanswered as well.
PLOT: The plot to this one is closer to what you’d expect from a criminal minds mystery or The Naturals series by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. Highly psychological with higher stakes and mind-bending. It continues at a fairly even pace, though as mentioned, any moments of high intensity are shied away from, with the result being that the events included are stripped of their emotional intensity and the stakes are sheared away. The final climactic moment and how the protagonists succeed is also so quick and unexpectedly easy that it was over before I’d finished blinking in confusion.
EMOTIONAL INTENSITY: There is no good/bad here. Sometimes I just want a low-investment entertainment read whereas other times a high-stakes 'I need a therapist to recover' is what I need.
2 out of 5. It had such potential to continue building up the way a third (and possibly final?) book in a series can, but it fell short of those.
CATHARTIC FULFILLMENT: Is the emotional journey worth it? Do I finish this book feeling that I've crested the wave of the climactic moment and everything has been settled, leaving me settled and fulfilled?
75%. While I wasn’t super frustrated, all the building up was over in an instant and left me reeling. Questions were left unanswered and nothing truly changed with the characters in terms of their growth after what had happened. Honestly, I should be more frustrated than I am. But this one definitely didn’t fulfill as much as the other two books did.
Would I go back in time and still read this book, knowing what I know now?
Yes. I still enjoyed reading it, and it would be much better being able to manage my expectations.
See below for the four criteria I use to decide whether and when to read a book
CHARACTERS: Hiro and Maddox both experience moments that are deeply emotional for both of them in this one, but the full potential of those moments just isn’t there. They don’t react in a way that makes sense, and the mechanics of simple cause and effect are pushed to the side in order to let Maddox at least continue being Maddox, which sadly means that the opportunity for some major growth in his character is nixed. That truly disappointed me. We still get the fun moments and brilliant dialogue, the levity is there, don’t get me wrong. It’s the emotional depth where the author seems to dip us into it and then chicken out and wipe it quickly away as though it never happened. Several questions concerning the ‘whys’ of Hiro and the main antagonist’s abilities are also left unanswered as well.
PLOT: The plot to this one is closer to what you’d expect from a criminal minds mystery or The Naturals series by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. Highly psychological with higher stakes and mind-bending. It continues at a fairly even pace, though as mentioned, any moments of high intensity are shied away from, with the result being that the events included are stripped of their emotional intensity and the stakes are sheared away. The final climactic moment and how the protagonists succeed is also so quick and unexpectedly easy that it was over before I’d finished blinking in confusion.
EMOTIONAL INTENSITY: There is no good/bad here. Sometimes I just want a low-investment entertainment read whereas other times a high-stakes 'I need a therapist to recover' is what I need.
2 out of 5. It had such potential to continue building up the way a third (and possibly final?) book in a series can, but it fell short of those.
CATHARTIC FULFILLMENT: Is the emotional journey worth it? Do I finish this book feeling that I've crested the wave of the climactic moment and everything has been settled, leaving me settled and fulfilled?
75%. While I wasn’t super frustrated, all the building up was over in an instant and left me reeling. Questions were left unanswered and nothing truly changed with the characters in terms of their growth after what had happened. Honestly, I should be more frustrated than I am. But this one definitely didn’t fulfill as much as the other two books did.
vicki_williams's review against another edition
5.0
Once again Hiro and Maddox find themselves thrown into another investigation involving lots of ghostly mayhem. Although this time there’s another who has the same connection to ghosts that Hiro has. Unfortunately, unlike Hiro, he abuses his abilities to cause pain and suffering to others.
The mysterious game/investigation is intriguing and kept me wanting to find out more. Like previous books in the series it’s well balanced with plenty of hilarity and banter between Hiro, Maddox and their ghostly side kicks. Not to say that it was all sunshine and roses for them as this investigation also had some dangerous moments. One particular event tugged on my emotions but later I was laughing out loud when two new ghosts randomly appeared and interrupted whilst Hiro and Maddox were having a private moment in the bookstore.
This was a thoroughly enjoyable read with a great cast of main and secondary characters with an interesting and complex storyline. I just loved it.
The mysterious game/investigation is intriguing and kept me wanting to find out more. Like previous books in the series it’s well balanced with plenty of hilarity and banter between Hiro, Maddox and their ghostly side kicks. Not to say that it was all sunshine and roses for them as this investigation also had some dangerous moments. One particular event tugged on my emotions but later I was laughing out loud when two new ghosts randomly appeared and interrupted whilst Hiro and Maddox were having a private moment in the bookstore.
This was a thoroughly enjoyable read with a great cast of main and secondary characters with an interesting and complex storyline. I just loved it.
robinsease's review
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
mischlama's review
4.0
Okay, ich nach dem dritten Teil muss ich mir endlich merken, dass es keine Serie zum Einschlafen ist. Am besten in einem durch lesen, dann kann man nicht so dumme Träume haben. Ich weiß ja, warum ich eigentlich keine Thriller oder Mysteries lese.
33ewdw's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
edensgrief's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
casadilla12's review
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
coraldraes's review
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
acadian_wanderlust's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0