laurla's review
from russia, with love
five card draw
hot time in the old town tonight
when in rome
baba yaga's daughter
chicago bang bang
the age of aquarius
the knight's tale
last hand
chimera
five card draw
hot time in the old town tonight
when in rome
baba yaga's daughter
chicago bang bang
the age of aquarius
the knight's tale
last hand
chimera
devrose's review
2.0
I really don't like Eliseo Daisani and Janx, so I wasn't thrilled with the fact that the stories resolved around them. I liked hearing the backstory behind Vanessa Grey, though, and the tiny peak at Margrit's future. The end left me wanting to find the next book, if there is one.
serena_dawn's review
5.0
I got the Kindle edition - but that apparently doesn't show up on Goodreads. So much has happened in the past of the Old Races but this book has not one but two daughters of Baba Yaga! I enjoyed a lot of the glimpses into both the past - the present - and future of the Old Races. I dearly hope there is yet more to come - perhaps not about the Negotiator, but in the Chimera generation. There is so much more to the Old Races yet so few books that we get hints and desserts but no meals you can yet sink your teeth in again. I hope Murphy gets back to this series...
teri_b's review
5.0
This collection of short stories that reach back into the 19th century to eventually arrive in the 21th took me by surprise. I found the audiobook available from my local library and jumped to the occasion as I had read the whole Walker Paper series by this author a few years back and had loved it with its bringing together of urban fantasy and a shamanistic world view. I also still am a book shy in her The Negotiator series.
And then I started to listen to this audiobook. It was a treat. Do not get me wrong, the narrator does not fit all the roles, that at least is my take, but the stories that are being told are so far reaching and amazing, and C.E. Murphy has such an interesting view on the old races, the dragons and vampires and Baba Yaga's daughter.
It was a delight to listen to this audiobook and see the bigger story unfold.
Now, I finally feel ready to face the last book in the Negotiator series and hopefully, there are more tales to come about the old races.
And just in case you are unsure, C.E. Murphy's female characters rock, they play their role and they do it with a twinkle in the eye. Strong, unfazed and empowering.
And then I started to listen to this audiobook. It was a treat. Do not get me wrong, the narrator does not fit all the roles, that at least is my take, but the stories that are being told are so far reaching and amazing, and C.E. Murphy has such an interesting view on the old races, the dragons and vampires and Baba Yaga's daughter.
It was a delight to listen to this audiobook and see the bigger story unfold.
Now, I finally feel ready to face the last book in the Negotiator series and hopefully, there are more tales to come about the old races.
And just in case you are unsure, C.E. Murphy's female characters rock, they play their role and they do it with a twinkle in the eye. Strong, unfazed and empowering.
andreablythe's review
4.0
Janxx and Eliseo Daisani are two of the most interesting Old Race characters in Murphy's Negotiator series. One a dragon and one a vampire, they are not good guys, being cagey tricksters and criminals caught in a centuries long rivalry. But this rivalry has evolved into friendship, an intimacy that binds them together, so that even as they compete against one another, they can't really live without each other. Each of them is as likely to do they right thing for wicked reasons as they are to do evil deeds for good reasons. Ultimately, they are just a lot of fun.
This collection of stories brings Janxx and Eliseo to the forefront by weaving together a series of stories in chronological order, and filling in some of the bast stories from the trilogy. Many of them are told from the point of view of other characters, mostly women who either serve as the focus of their rivalry, most especially Baba Yaga's Daughter, who is also a key part of these stories. Though the women tend to be the "prize" that both Eliseo and Janxx hope to win, it should not be thought that these women are merely objects to be obtained. They have their own stories and their own strengths and don't fall for Janxx and Eliseo's games.
The writing is consistently good, though as with most short story collections, there were some I liked more than others. Most of them I thoroughly enjoyed. "The Knight's Tale," about how Rebecca Knight met Eliseo Daisani and was presented with an offer that could change her life, was by far my favorite. There was a bitter sweet tone to it that I adored, and the ending was lovely.
As to whether you need to read the Negotiator trilogy before reading these stories, I'd say it was kind of a toss up. I think reading the trilogy first might add to one's enjoyment, but the collection progresses to reveal a nearly complete story, almost a novel in its own right. So, I think you could read this collection and still enjoy it.
This collection of stories brings Janxx and Eliseo to the forefront by weaving together a series of stories in chronological order, and filling in some of the bast stories from the trilogy. Many of them are told from the point of view of other characters, mostly women who either serve as the focus of their rivalry, most especially Baba Yaga's Daughter, who is also a key part of these stories. Though the women tend to be the "prize" that both Eliseo and Janxx hope to win, it should not be thought that these women are merely objects to be obtained. They have their own stories and their own strengths and don't fall for Janxx and Eliseo's games.
The writing is consistently good, though as with most short story collections, there were some I liked more than others. Most of them I thoroughly enjoyed. "The Knight's Tale," about how Rebecca Knight met Eliseo Daisani and was presented with an offer that could change her life, was by far my favorite. There was a bitter sweet tone to it that I adored, and the ending was lovely.
As to whether you need to read the Negotiator trilogy before reading these stories, I'd say it was kind of a toss up. I think reading the trilogy first might add to one's enjoyment, but the collection progresses to reveal a nearly complete story, almost a novel in its own right. So, I think you could read this collection and still enjoy it.
larisa2021's review
5.0
Can't wait to reread this, and love the cover art. ...best entry in an outstanding series.
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