laurenjodi's review against another edition
3.0
A Farewell to Charms
3 Stars
Mystic Bayou's newest mechanic, Eva Boudreaux, has worked hard to keep her true nature and troubling past a secret, but a chance encounter with the League's managing director in town, Alex Lancaster, arouses more than his curiosity. As their mild flirtation develops into something deeper, Eva's past threatens to destroy both their romance and their lives.
This final installment contains all of the elements that have made the series such a delight - quirky characters, hilarious dialogue, a sweet romance, and an intriguing suspense plot.
Of these, the romance is the weakest aspect. While Eva and Alex are cute together, their opposites attract relationship is underdeveloped, and all conflicts are resolved very quickly, with everything forgiven and forgotten far too easily.
The stalker plot has tremendous potential to ratchet up the tension, yet it, too, fizzles quite rapidly once the villain and motive are revealed. The climax has its intense moments, but all is once again resolved quickly with a minimum of fuss. Even the revelation of Eva's identity is rather meh - she's a - gasp -. And so?
It is also disappointing that there is no closure to a couple of threads, namely Alex's and Eva's
Overall, this is not the best installment, but the series itself is well worth reading for the highly amusing characters, especially Bael and Zed. The audiobook narration is an added bonus. Amanda Ronconi and Jonathan Davis are fantastic.
3 Stars
Mystic Bayou's newest mechanic, Eva Boudreaux, has worked hard to keep her true nature and troubling past a secret, but a chance encounter with the League's managing director in town, Alex Lancaster, arouses more than his curiosity. As their mild flirtation develops into something deeper, Eva's past threatens to destroy both their romance and their lives.
This final installment contains all of the elements that have made the series such a delight - quirky characters, hilarious dialogue, a sweet romance, and an intriguing suspense plot.
Of these, the romance is the weakest aspect. While Eva and Alex are cute together, their opposites attract relationship is underdeveloped, and all conflicts are resolved very quickly, with everything forgiven and forgotten far too easily.
The stalker plot has tremendous potential to ratchet up the tension, yet it, too, fizzles quite rapidly once the villain and motive are revealed. The climax has its intense moments, but all is once again resolved quickly with a minimum of fuss. Even the revelation of Eva's identity is rather meh - she's a - gasp -
Spoiler
gnome!It is also disappointing that there is no closure to a couple of threads, namely Alex's
Spoiler
conflict with his fatherSpoiler
issues with her parentsOverall, this is not the best installment, but the series itself is well worth reading for the highly amusing characters, especially Bael and Zed. The audiobook narration is an added bonus. Amanda Ronconi and Jonathan Davis are fantastic.
rmbussa's review
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
ramakn22's review
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Violence
Moderate: Stalking
enchantedtomeetcute's review
funny
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
kreannyreads's review
4.0
Mystic Bayou is my imaginary comfort place. So I love every installment in this world.
forever_fantasy's review
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
dana_dew's review
4.0
It's hard to differentiate my feelings for this book from the series as a whole as this book was the series finale, if you will. I don't want to be too spoilery but honestly--- if you are thinking of reading/listening to this one and have Not read/listened to all the others, I would dissuade you from doing so.
Sure it is a stand alone story and you may very well enjoy it, but knowing all the characters in play from the previous books- and how Alex (one of the protagonists) has been friend-zoned over & over throughout the series--- well, I just think that a deeper appreciation is to be had if you save this book for last.
I do recommend this series and Molly Harper (author)....oh and Amanda Ronconi (narrator) in general.
I give both this book and series 4☆'s.
Sure it is a stand alone story and you may very well enjoy it, but knowing all the characters in play from the previous books- and how Alex (one of the protagonists) has been friend-zoned over & over throughout the series--- well, I just think that a deeper appreciation is to be had if you save this book for last.
I do recommend this series and Molly Harper (author)....oh and Amanda Ronconi (narrator) in general.
I give both this book and series 4☆'s.
kaylink's review
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5