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writings_of_a_reader's review against another edition
4.0
It's safe to say that Rachel Aaron is one of my favorite authors. I've enjoyed everything I've read by her, The Legend of Eli Monpress, The Paradox trilogy (written under the name Rachel Bach), and of course Heartstrikers. This author's books are just so relatable, and so very readable. After reading the Heartstrikers series and loving it, I was really excited to read about the DFZ, and it didn't disappoint. Most of us ended up reading the whole trilogy in the two months we had between book club meetings. This review will be for all three books in the trilogy.
When I read Heartstrikers I loved it, but I also felt like it went on for too many books, so I was happy that this sequel series, set in the same world, was only three books. Lengthwise, it felt just right to me. I loved the way the DFZ was depicted as a moving city and how the other gods were portrayed. And it was nice getting the cameo appearances from Julian, Bob, and others from Heartstrikers.
I enjoyed all the characters in this series, even though Opal made some questionable decisions at times. I did think that her decisions were understandable to a point because of the nature of her relationship with her father. I enjoyed the way this series showed Opal and her father and how they each saw things differently and the reasons behind the way they both felt. I liked the third book a little bit less than the first two, I think mainly because Nik was in it less, but I appreciated the time spent with Opal's father in that book and the way things ended up.
I listened to the audio and I have to say that I was disappointed it wasn't the same narrator as the one from Heartstrikers. Vikas Adam is such an amazing narrator, and I missed listening to his voice, especially during the Bob cameos. That being said, this narrator was good, just not the same.
I highly recommend this series if you like urban fantasy, and dragons, but I would start with Heartstrikers and then read DFZ. I also feel like this is a series that both adults and teens alike can read and enjoy.
In honor of the books we had pancakes and Asian noodles at book club. See photos here.
When I read Heartstrikers I loved it, but I also felt like it went on for too many books, so I was happy that this sequel series, set in the same world, was only three books. Lengthwise, it felt just right to me. I loved the way the DFZ was depicted as a moving city and how the other gods were portrayed. And it was nice getting the cameo appearances from Julian, Bob, and others from Heartstrikers.
I enjoyed all the characters in this series, even though Opal made some questionable decisions at times. I did think that her decisions were understandable to a point because of the nature of her relationship with her father. I enjoyed the way this series showed Opal and her father and how they each saw things differently and the reasons behind the way they both felt. I liked the third book a little bit less than the first two, I think mainly because Nik was in it less, but I appreciated the time spent with Opal's father in that book and the way things ended up.
I listened to the audio and I have to say that I was disappointed it wasn't the same narrator as the one from Heartstrikers. Vikas Adam is such an amazing narrator, and I missed listening to his voice, especially during the Bob cameos. That being said, this narrator was good, just not the same.
I highly recommend this series if you like urban fantasy, and dragons, but I would start with Heartstrikers and then read DFZ. I also feel like this is a series that both adults and teens alike can read and enjoy.
In honor of the books we had pancakes and Asian noodles at book club. See photos here.
cko90's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
chigangrel's review against another edition
5.0
I think I've found a favorite new series! The plot isn't the most unique, and the characters definitely lean trope-y but wow is this world fun and interesting. I love the cyberpunky, magicpunky, world of the future that Rachel Aaron has created here.
There is just something sparkly and wonderous about the living city of magic that is Detroit in Minimum Wage Magic. I can't wait to go back! I just hope there is more of Opal and Nik in the next two books. While I am more than fine with a novel that doesn't include romance, I really came to enjoy their relationship, and was disappointed we didn't see it go beyond business partners/friends (yet?).
I've also learned that Rachel Aaron also writes as [a:Rachel Bach|6572837|Rachel Bach|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1402348104p2/6572837.jpg] and is responsible for an equally trope-y but fun sci-fi novel I also really enjoyed, [b:Fortune's Pawn|18984020|Fortune's Pawn (Paradox, #1)|Rachel Bach|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/book/50x75-a91bf249278a81aabab721ef782c4a74.png|21512449]. If you like this, and enjoy the writing, you'll very likely like Fortune's Pawn as well!
There is just something sparkly and wonderous about the living city of magic that is Detroit in Minimum Wage Magic. I can't wait to go back! I just hope there is more of Opal and Nik in the next two books. While I am more than fine with a novel that doesn't include romance, I really came to enjoy their relationship, and was disappointed we didn't see it go beyond business partners/friends (yet?).
I've also learned that Rachel Aaron also writes as [a:Rachel Bach|6572837|Rachel Bach|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1402348104p2/6572837.jpg] and is responsible for an equally trope-y but fun sci-fi novel I also really enjoyed, [b:Fortune's Pawn|18984020|Fortune's Pawn (Paradox, #1)|Rachel Bach|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/book/50x75-a91bf249278a81aabab721ef782c4a74.png|21512449]. If you like this, and enjoy the writing, you'll very likely like Fortune's Pawn as well!
meesheltx's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.75
sannevisser's review against another edition
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
3.5
chelseazhao's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
3.5
I went in expecting more urban fantasy and less dystopian/sci-fi. While I love sci-fi, this book was a mixture of both in a way that I did find myself wishing for more worldbuilding for both elements.
I did like Opal as a main character, but sometimes she felt more like a YA heroine than a mid-late 20-year-old. The voice and prose sometimes felt young. That said, I did like the mix of action and mystery. I liked that the author was trying to add a lot to the story and world. I just sometimes wished for it to be explained more. Like there were at least 2 times that it felt like we were going to get a conclusion, but it is left open-ended for more books in the series. I think I was also disappointed that the ebook ended at 84% for a sneak peek of book two. I thought there was going to be more wrap up, and there wasn't.
I did like Opal as a main character, but sometimes she felt more like a YA heroine than a mid-late 20-year-old. The voice and prose sometimes felt young. That said, I did like the mix of action and mystery. I liked that the author was trying to add a lot to the story and world. I just sometimes wished for it to be explained more. Like there were at least 2 times that it felt like we were going to get a conclusion, but it is left open-ended for more books in the series. I think I was also disappointed that the ebook ended at 84% for a sneak peek of book two. I thought there was going to be more wrap up, and there wasn't.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, and Gun violence
rebeccazh's review against another edition
i really like rachel aaron's dfz world. they're so fun. this one is set in the same universe as the heartstrikers series but a few years after the end of the last book (i think). the main character is opal, who is risk-taking, kind and resourceful. she flies through life by the seat of her pants.
i liked following her narrative. she starts out in a very tight and desperate spot because she's been from suffering months of bad luck that has left her almost penniless with a debt on her back. so she makes a risky deal and joins with a tough, hardhearted and opportunistic guy, nik, to chase a trail that promises a lot of money. her ultimate goal is to use that money to buy her own freedom, but not at the expanse of others.
along the way, she's put into a bunch of different situations that pit her values against her need for money, with her need for money winning out at first, even though she feels increasingly conflicted. but slowly, her conscience emerges and it was satisfying to see her choose to do the right thing by the end of the novel.
i liked her contrast to nik. he's always only been in things for the money, and it's clear that after years of opportunism at the expense of others, his conscience is making itself known. her 'softness' balanced him out even as he brought factuality and concreteness to her decisions. he was more humanized as the novel went on. i really liked their exchange near the end of the book that revealed as much. i'm very curious about his past, which i'm guessing the second novel will be focused on.
i liked following her narrative. she starts out in a very tight and desperate spot because she's been from suffering months of bad luck that has left her almost penniless with a debt on her back. so she makes a risky deal and joins with a tough, hardhearted and opportunistic guy, nik, to chase a trail that promises a lot of money. her ultimate goal is to use that money to buy her own freedom, but not at the expanse of others.
along the way, she's put into a bunch of different situations that pit her values against her need for money, with her need for money winning out at first, even though she feels increasingly conflicted. but slowly, her conscience emerges and it was satisfying to see her choose to do the right thing by the end of the novel.
i liked her contrast to nik. he's always only been in things for the money, and it's clear that after years of opportunism at the expense of others, his conscience is making itself known. her 'softness' balanced him out even as he brought factuality and concreteness to her decisions. he was more humanized as the novel went on. i really liked their exchange near the end of the book that revealed as much. i'm very curious about his past, which i'm guessing the second novel will be focused on.
t_shaffner's review against another edition
4.0
This was simply a very fun book to read. Interesting world, fun story, cool character dynamics. I enjoyed it, and will continue in the series if there are more.
user613's review against another edition
4.0
This was a great story with fun characters and a well developed world. The blend of sci-fi and magic was great, too.
Opal lives in a city that’s really a god. She’s trying to pay off her debt to her father so she can gain her freedom from him. He’s a dragon. And in between trying to make enough money, she gets involved over her head in a secret that risks her life. It’s worth millions. If she stays alive and free long enough to solves it.
Similar:
[b:Dragon Chained|125490449|Dragon Chained (The Dragon of 23rd Street #1)|Kenley Davidson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1681456688l/125490449._SX50_.jpg|146941088]
[b:Clean Sweep|19090384|Clean Sweep (Innkeeper Chronicles, #1)|Ilona Andrews|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1385939257l/19090384._SY75_.jpg|21910727]
[b:The Daragh Deception|58406479|The Daragh Deception (Conclave Worlds #1)|Kenley Davidson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1624422507l/58406479._SY75_.jpg|57064017]
Content:
Religion:
We hear how gods and goddesses magically reappeared one day, and battle for control of various cities, and new gods were created. There are numerous gods for everything, including death, each with their own priests and with their own limits and areas of control. The city itself is a goddess, a special kind, a blend of physical and ideal gods, therefore she exists on the physical and the abstract realm. In one scene Opal encounters the Sea of Magic, "the realm of spirits, source of all magic, and the place our souls go when we die", and thinking how she's glad there are gods to guide them through this.
Violence:
Gangs, gun chases, and dead bodies. There’s also a scene where Opal steals from an artificial hand off a dead body, and sees giant smokestacks
Romance:
Opal offers random tiabout her love life in the narrative, such as the fact that she's not a virgin, though there are no explicit details given. Her dragon “dad” mated her mom with someone else to get her, and, as she explains to Nick, it was all done through the mail. A romance starts to develop between them, and she stays in his apartment for a few scenes, though it doesn’t go anywhere in this novel. There are also many people with cyber body parts in the novel. One is a creepy woman whose entire body is artificial who tells Opal "I don't like men, and I don't take lovers who don't have at least as much cyber as I do." Opal and Nick also enter a brothel in one scene, though Nick makes it known he doesn't believe in paying for such things.
Language: some cursing
Opal lives in a city that’s really a god. She’s trying to pay off her debt to her father so she can gain her freedom from him. He’s a dragon. And in between trying to make enough money, she gets involved over her head in a secret that risks her life. It’s worth millions. If she stays alive and free long enough to solves it.
Similar:
[b:Dragon Chained|125490449|Dragon Chained (The Dragon of 23rd Street #1)|Kenley Davidson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1681456688l/125490449._SX50_.jpg|146941088]
[b:Clean Sweep|19090384|Clean Sweep (Innkeeper Chronicles, #1)|Ilona Andrews|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1385939257l/19090384._SY75_.jpg|21910727]
[b:The Daragh Deception|58406479|The Daragh Deception (Conclave Worlds #1)|Kenley Davidson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1624422507l/58406479._SY75_.jpg|57064017]
Content:
Religion:
We hear how gods and goddesses magically reappeared one day, and battle for control of various cities, and new gods were created. There are numerous gods for everything, including death, each with their own priests and with their own limits and areas of control. The city itself is a goddess, a special kind, a blend of physical and ideal gods, therefore she exists on the physical and the abstract realm. In one scene Opal encounters the Sea of Magic, "the realm of spirits, source of all magic, and the place our souls go when we die", and thinking how she's glad there are gods to guide them through this.
Violence:
Gangs, gun chases, and dead bodies. There’s also a scene where Opal steals from an artificial hand off a dead body, and sees giant smokestacks
Romance:
Opal offers random tiabout her love life in the narrative, such as the fact that she's not a virgin, though there are no explicit details given. Her dragon “dad” mated her mom with someone else to get her, and, as she explains to Nick, it was all done through the mail. A romance starts to develop between them, and she stays in his apartment for a few scenes, though it doesn’t go anywhere in this novel. There are also many people with cyber body parts in the novel. One is a creepy woman whose entire body is artificial who tells Opal "I don't like men, and I don't take lovers who don't have at least as much cyber as I do." Opal and Nick also enter a brothel in one scene, though Nick makes it known he doesn't believe in paying for such things.
Language: some cursing