catbooking's review against another edition
5.0
I hate starting new series and new authors. Because what if I fall in love with them and read all the books and then have nothing left? What am I supposed to do with these feelings of wanting more things to read and not have those things??? I do not like this feeling and I want to do everything possible to avoid it. Unfortunately the only way to avoid this feeling is to either only read books I hate, and thus never feel like I want more of it, or just not read books. Neither of those options are any better than my current state of 'mourning'...
With the 'first world problems' section of my review complete, some things about the book.
I loved it! I giggled. I cried. I paused to read sections out-loud, leaving the the people in my vicinity confused. When it was over I felt like the story was just beginning, because I have just met these wonderful characters that I didn't want to say goodbye to. And those characters that I have known throughout the series felt like they were just now finding their stride, just now becoming the people they were meant to be. And yet it is over!
I want more! I want more snark. I want more off-color jokes. I want more women in trousers (scandalous!). I want more complaints about fashion choices and destroyed borrowed jackets.
PS: I took a star off from the previous book due to the problematic trope, and I will have to say that the trope got resolved if not entirely subverted.
With the 'first world problems' section of my review complete, some things about the book.
I loved it! I giggled. I cried. I paused to read sections out-loud, leaving the the people in my vicinity confused. When it was over I felt like the story was just beginning, because I have just met these wonderful characters that I didn't want to say goodbye to. And those characters that I have known throughout the series felt like they were just now finding their stride, just now becoming the people they were meant to be. And yet it is over!
I want more! I want more snark. I want more off-color jokes. I want more women in trousers (scandalous!). I want more complaints about fashion choices and destroyed borrowed jackets.
PS: I took a star off from the previous book due to the problematic trope, and I will have to say that the trope got resolved if not entirely subverted.
livwoods's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
pinkbasil's review against another edition
5.0
Excellent ending to the 5-book (and multiple short stories) arc -- but I hope the author keeps going with these characters, since not all ends are tied up!
earlronove's review against another edition
5.0
I'm sad the series is over (for now)!
When I first put it on my to be read list, I wasn't really SUPER interested from the description and figured I'd simply enjoy it but not care too much. I was wrong. I cared the entire way through. If you're like me and just have a passing interest in the series (and somehow found this review on the last book instead of just looking at the first book), you should definitely give it a try.
Howard's writing was such a delight to read and I can easily say this is perhaps one of the very few books that actually had me laughing out loud. All the characters were amazing and he certainly did a very good job bringing all the important ones back in the final book to have a nice resolution by the end. I love so much how Johannes Cabal of all people has grown through the entire novels (and that he actually has friends now! Johannes is all grown up--it brings a tear to my eye).
If there is ever another Johannes Cabal book I would definitely be just too eager to read it.
When I first put it on my to be read list, I wasn't really SUPER interested from the description and figured I'd simply enjoy it but not care too much. I was wrong. I cared the entire way through. If you're like me and just have a passing interest in the series (and somehow found this review on the last book instead of just looking at the first book), you should definitely give it a try.
Howard's writing was such a delight to read and I can easily say this is perhaps one of the very few books that actually had me laughing out loud. All the characters were amazing and he certainly did a very good job bringing all the important ones back in the final book to have a nice resolution by the end. I love so much how Johannes Cabal of all people has grown through the entire novels (and that he actually has friends now! Johannes is all grown up--it brings a tear to my eye).
If there is ever another Johannes Cabal book I would definitely be just too eager to read it.
mimosaeyes's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars - almost 4, but quite a number of parts felt like padding out the narrative, diluting the bits that really do justice to the premise and the feeling of culmination. I'm afraid the humour felt a bit empty this time round too; it took me surprisingly long to get through this fifth book. That said, its ending is pretty satisfying, and I suspect reading the short stories too would have made me enjoy the book more.
ergative's review
4.0
As entertainingly written as the rest of the Cabal books. Makes heavy reference to all the books and short stories, but weaves them all together quite skillfully, so references feel coherent, rather than jammed in. The snarky narrator, in between haranguing the reader for being so foolish as to start this book without having bought and read the previous ones (plus everything else the author's written, relevant or not), reassured me that I didn't need the stories, but that they would be helpful, and he was correct: I do rather wish I had read the stories before this one. I really, really want to know more about Zarenyia, dibs, and fish.
The title is definitely a troll on the reader. I find the repeated use of 'this isn't real' for the various scenarios presented by the Five Ways a slightly frustrating way of avoiding stakes higher than the purely personal, but then many of Cabal's adventures take place on the outskirts of reality (Dreamlands, the traveling carnival), so it wasn't unexpected. And he is an arrogant, self-centered little shit, so why shouldn't books about him center on his own personal concerns? I loved Zarenyia; Horst, as always, was charming, and overall a satisfying ride.
The title is definitely a troll on the reader. I find the repeated use of 'this isn't real' for the various scenarios presented by the Five Ways a slightly frustrating way of avoiding stakes higher than the purely personal, but then many of Cabal's adventures take place on the outskirts of reality (Dreamlands, the traveling carnival), so it wasn't unexpected. And he is an arrogant, self-centered little shit, so why shouldn't books about him center on his own personal concerns? I loved Zarenyia; Horst, as always, was charming, and overall a satisfying ride.
sylvane_spectre's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-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
5.0
nichola's review
adventurous
dark
funny
fast-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
3.5
I... yes. Okay. I am mad about this one. I wanted so much more resolution for this narrative. But! Having said that I loved the build up but not the conclusion. So two stars knocked off for the ending but a solid three for the beginning. I loved the linking of the characters to the narrative and the culmination.
Though I would have loved to know there was going to be sequel to this. Though Howard is clearly not a fan of giving a finite ending.
Though I would have loved to know there was going to be sequel to this. Though Howard is clearly not a fan of giving a finite ending.
thelostvoid's review against another edition
4.25
What a journey this series has been. I am very glad I decided to read it, although I have had moments of near boredom I (thankfully) was inspired to stick with it to the end.
I will admit this was not my favourite of the bunch, but I did enjoy getting to see all the characters interact with each other and bully Johannes and everything tied together and wrapped up rather neatly and satisfyingly. Good times.
I will admit this was not my favourite of the bunch, but I did enjoy getting to see all the characters interact with each other and bully Johannes and everything tied together and wrapped up rather neatly and satisfyingly. Good times.
sm_almon's review
5.0
Excellent, as are the rest of the Cabal novels! Hopefully this isn't the last one...