kblincoln's review
4.0
I am happy and I am sad at this last book in Gingell's Between series. Pet has to deal with a direct confrontation with the fae King, and while her first plan including salt/filings doesn't quite work out as planned, and there are losses (I do like that there are losses, there should be a cost when going up against a major bad).
I love that Five gets to help, that the lycanthropes, Daniel, Tuatu, and North Wind all play a part, but in the end, its Pet and her Between skills not only being the main fight, but also her strategizing and machinations that are important.
I kind of missed Zero a bit, he seemed a bit of an afterthought.
This final book is all about Pet coming into her own, and the revelation of what and who she is and what she's willing to do about the death of her parents and how far she's willing to go and sacrifice to beat the current king.
That revelation about her I didn't see coming-- should have! Hints were all there from the very first book!
Gingell ties it up nice and sweet while leaving adventures open to Athelas. A fitting end to this series, that was a long, not too plot-heavy journey as Pet and her three psychos navigated the changeover in fae power. I am glad it is ended as anymore would have definitely been hard to draw out without sacrificing some of Pet's delicious emotional maturity, but as this was the first independent series I've read like this start to finish, I'm sad to bid their world, one which was comforting to read, goodbye.
I love that Five gets to help, that the lycanthropes, Daniel, Tuatu, and North Wind all play a part, but in the end, its Pet and her Between skills not only being the main fight, but also her strategizing and machinations that are important.
I kind of missed Zero a bit, he seemed a bit of an afterthought.
This final book is all about Pet coming into her own, and the revelation of what and who she is and what she's willing to do about the death of her parents and how far she's willing to go and sacrifice to beat the current king.
That revelation about her I didn't see coming-- should have! Hints were all there from the very first book!
Gingell ties it up nice and sweet while leaving adventures open to Athelas. A fitting end to this series, that was a long, not too plot-heavy journey as Pet and her three psychos navigated the changeover in fae power. I am glad it is ended as anymore would have definitely been hard to draw out without sacrificing some of Pet's delicious emotional maturity, but as this was the first independent series I've read like this start to finish, I'm sad to bid their world, one which was comforting to read, goodbye.
akmorgan's review
3.0
A violent, but satisfactory end to Gingell's urban fantasy City Between series. I read the series more for the characters than the plot, which still doesn't entirely make sense. Perhaps it's because I'm not a big reader of urban fantasy. But in any case, Gingell provided me with many hours of escape and enjoyment. I'm hoping she will write more fairy tale retellings (my favorite genre fiction) in the future!
carina_shephard's review
4.0
4.25 stars // read January 2022
“I warned you, Pet. I am not your chess piece.”
“I know,” I said. “I’m yours. But I’m the flamin’ queen, and you better not forget it.”
A bittersweet but fitting conclusion to the City Between series.
original review:
honestly I am more excited about this book than New Years
“I warned you, Pet. I am not your chess piece.”
“I know,” I said. “I’m yours. But I’m the flamin’ queen, and you better not forget it.”
A bittersweet but fitting conclusion to the City Between series.
original review:
honestly I am more excited about this book than New Years
lthornsl's review
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
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
3.75
bunnerz's review
4.0
Ratings - completed series:
#1 Between Jobs: ★★★★☆
#2 Between Shifts: ★★★★☆
#3 Between Floors: ★★★★☆
#4 Between Frames: ★★★★☆
#5 Between Homes: ★★★★☆
#5.5 Cloudy With a Chance of Dropbears: ★★★★☆
#6 Between Walls: ★★★★☆
#6.5 All the Different Shades of Blue: ★★★★★
#7 Between Cases: ★★★★★
#8 Between Decisions: ★★★★★
#9 Between Family: ★★★★★
#10 Between Kings (this book): ★★★★☆
#1 Between Jobs: ★★★★☆
#2 Between Shifts: ★★★★☆
#3 Between Floors: ★★★★☆
#4 Between Frames: ★★★★☆
#5 Between Homes: ★★★★☆
#5.5 Cloudy With a Chance of Dropbears: ★★★★☆
#6 Between Walls: ★★★★☆
#6.5 All the Different Shades of Blue: ★★★★★
#7 Between Cases: ★★★★★
#8 Between Decisions: ★★★★★
#9 Between Family: ★★★★★
#10 Between Kings (this book): ★★★★☆
rainonthewater07's review
5.0
Just right
I've been both excited for and dreading this book for some time now. I couldn't wait to find out what would happen, but i wasn't ready for it to end, either. I'm content with this goodbye. Like much of the series, this book had me feeling some big feelings, laughing, and happily turning page after page.
I've been both excited for and dreading this book for some time now. I couldn't wait to find out what would happen, but i wasn't ready for it to end, either. I'm content with this goodbye. Like much of the series, this book had me feeling some big feelings, laughing, and happily turning page after page.
ebgracie77's review
5.0
My heart just exploded! What a beautiful book and series. I can’t tell you how good it was enough! There is so much I would say but I won’t spoil it. But… i just want to talk to people about this book/series! So good and so many thoughts.
Mercy, love, family, redemption, forgiveness, strength, laughter… oh so much bundled in this!
Mercy, love, family, redemption, forgiveness, strength, laughter… oh so much bundled in this!
see_sadie_read's review
5.0
I binged this series, one book after another; without a breath between. Which means I didn’t pause to review each one individually. So, this review will be for all 10 books collectively.
I quite enjoyed this. I’ve not come across a lot of urban fantasy set in Tasmania and I really appreciated the little splashes of normal culture that are only notable because I’m listening to it as an outsider—like referring to someone looking like they come from the mainland or going to Woolies for groceries, or the regional slang (“You’ve got kangaroos in the top paddock” was a notable favorite). I loved it and the narrator—Zehra Jane Naqvi— did an amazing job bringing this to life (especially when you factor a Korean-speaking character in too).
Pet has such an endearing personality and voice and her three psychos kept me interested. I love the found family aspect of the series. Pet found herself a whole new family…or created it rather. She’s the glue that holds them together.
I will admit that quite a lot is left unexplained in the world in the beginning. So, I just had to force myself to be comfortable with a certain amount of not knowing that I’d have preferred not to. But it was still a lot of fun, with a slow-building reveal over 10 books. (And I felt a lot firmer in my understandings by the end.)
The characters remained consistent throughout, the over-arching plot ties nicely together, and the whole thing ends well. I did regret that some of the bigger characters seemed to have a lot less time on page, even if their importance wasn’t diminished, as the series progressed. (I missed them and the group’s banter.) And while certain aspects of the ending were sad, there was a wonderful sense of forgiveness and acceptance of human foibles.
All in all, for a bit of absurdist, urban fantasy fun, this worked a treat and I’ll be looking for more from this author.
I quite enjoyed this. I’ve not come across a lot of urban fantasy set in Tasmania and I really appreciated the little splashes of normal culture that are only notable because I’m listening to it as an outsider—like referring to someone looking like they come from the mainland or going to Woolies for groceries, or the regional slang (“You’ve got kangaroos in the top paddock” was a notable favorite). I loved it and the narrator—Zehra Jane Naqvi— did an amazing job bringing this to life (especially when you factor a Korean-speaking character in too).
Pet has such an endearing personality and voice and her three psychos kept me interested. I love the found family aspect of the series. Pet found herself a whole new family…or created it rather. She’s the glue that holds them together.
I will admit that quite a lot is left unexplained in the world in the beginning. So, I just had to force myself to be comfortable with a certain amount of not knowing that I’d have preferred not to. But it was still a lot of fun, with a slow-building reveal over 10 books. (And I felt a lot firmer in my understandings by the end.)
The characters remained consistent throughout, the over-arching plot ties nicely together, and the whole thing ends well. I did regret that some of the bigger characters seemed to have a lot less time on page, even if their importance wasn’t diminished, as the series progressed. (I missed them and the group’s banter.) And while certain aspects of the ending were sad, there was a wonderful sense of forgiveness and acceptance of human foibles.
All in all, for a bit of absurdist, urban fantasy fun, this worked a treat and I’ll be looking for more from this author.
olivia_godfrey's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
thepurplegiraffe's review against another edition
5.0
wow what an epic ending 😩👏
my Thoughts:
• I had no idea how this was all going to shake out but gosh it was epic
• like the TWISTS were so GOOD literally had me gasping out loud several times
• I'd love to see the giant cork board that Gingell had to have had just to make all this work (if she kept it all in her head I am very impressed)
• my only complaint is there's a serious lack of Zero in this book but it made sense so I'm not mad
• JinYeong 🤝 Fleur Delacour
"I am beautiful enough
for both of us."
• speaking of JinYeong he was so soft in this book and I loved it
• the fight scenes were fantastic
• Pet is a chaotic good queen and we stan
• I'm already anticipating a reread of this whole series
5 stars from me
my Thoughts:
• I had no idea how this was all going to shake out but gosh it was epic
• like the TWISTS were so GOOD literally had me gasping out loud several times
• I'd love to see the giant cork board that Gingell had to have had just to make all this work (if she kept it all in her head I am very impressed)
• my only complaint is there's a serious lack of Zero in this book but it made sense so I'm not mad
• JinYeong 🤝 Fleur Delacour
"I am beautiful enough
for both of us."
• speaking of JinYeong he was so soft in this book and I loved it
• the fight scenes were fantastic
• Pet is a chaotic good queen and we stan
• I'm already anticipating a reread of this whole series
5 stars from me