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katyanaish's review
5.0
I loved it, as usual. I mean, I completely blitzed through it, and finished it in a single afternoon... I just couldn't take my attention off it.
I honestly love Lisa Shearin's books. She has definitely become an auto-buy author for me.
If I were to offer the tiniest quibble in this review, it was that I don't understand how Mac was without her partner for 99% of it. I'm okay with not shipping Mac/Ian, but I love their partnership, and that relationship has been the bedrock for the series. Ian was barely in this book at all, and Mac was constantly in dangerous situations (doing her job, not being TSTL) without him, and it just didn't sit right to me. They are still partners. And protecting the seer is still critical for SPI. So I don't understand why he was constantly off doing his own thing (offscreen) and leaving her to do her thing.
But it's a quibble. I liked the book very much. And I enjoyed the crossover from the Raine Benares series (yay Mago!), which is unquestionably my favorite Shearin series.
More, please!
I honestly love Lisa Shearin's books. She has definitely become an auto-buy author for me.
If I were to offer the tiniest quibble in this review, it was that I don't understand how Mac was without her partner for 99% of it. I'm okay with not shipping Mac/Ian, but I love their partnership, and that relationship has been the bedrock for the series. Ian was barely in this book at all, and Mac was constantly in dangerous situations (doing her job, not being TSTL) without him, and it just didn't sit right to me. They are still partners. And protecting the seer is still critical for SPI. So I don't understand why he was constantly off doing his own thing (offscreen) and leaving her to do her thing.
But it's a quibble. I liked the book very much. And I enjoyed the crossover from the Raine Benares series (yay Mago!), which is unquestionably my favorite Shearin series.
More, please!
kasaya_mt33's review
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
rusticreadingal's review
5.0
I was super excited to start The Myth Manifestation. The SPI Files are such fun books! The characters are great and there's so much humor. Love that! There's so many interesting and unique supernatural creatures, lots I've never even heard of, which makes this series fresh and exciting.
There's nice bits of recaps throughout that I appreciated. It's been a little while, and many other books, since I read the previous book, so it was good to have a little refresher course. Plus, it's written in a way that if this were the first in the series you picked up, you'd not be lost. It'd still suggest starting with book one, though. It's a fantastic series and I wouldn't want you to miss out on any of the fun.
If you're a fan of urban fantasy, I highly recommend this series. I can't wait to see what's in store for the next installment.
There's nice bits of recaps throughout that I appreciated. It's been a little while, and many other books, since I read the previous book, so it was good to have a little refresher course. Plus, it's written in a way that if this were the first in the series you picked up, you'd not be lost. It'd still suggest starting with book one, though. It's a fantastic series and I wouldn't want you to miss out on any of the fun.
If you're a fan of urban fantasy, I highly recommend this series. I can't wait to see what's in store for the next installment.
tessisreading2's review
3.0
Another fun entry in the series, although as other readers have mentioned it was kind of disappointing that Mac and Ian spent so little time together - their relationship is one of the really nice things about the series. Additionally, there were a ton of characters, to the point where it got a little confusing, sometimes maybe even for the author - at the start of the book we're told and later without explanation . I love those characters so would have liked the development to make a little more sense.
Spoiler
Yasha has a crush on Kitty and Mac happens to know it's reciprocatedSpoiler
Kitty is referred to as Yasha's girlfriend and they're part of an established couplenelljustice's review
5.0
This book has no sex, no graphic blood and gore, no swearing since Mac edits it out of her ongoing dialog. This has got a tiny little bit of romance that includes one very rich and charming goblin courting our protagonist. SPI is made of a team of agents that will do their share of kicking asses and taking names while protecting the mundanes from learning about the supernatural. There is a tiny cliffhanger, but it's the overarching relationship stuff - not the story itself. It's easy to handle. Don't worry.
I love Mac and the gang. I also love Mac and Rake's relationship. He's under Mac's skin and Mac has got Rake swooning. Okay, maybe the other way around. Anyway, there is a supernatural summit taking place and anywhere there are a bunch of supernaturals trapped together you know there will be trouble.
Goblins and Elves do NOT have a harmonious vibe going on. All other attendees also have problems intermingling, so security for this event is beyond difficult. It's not enough that it's all races and creeds of creatures attending this summit, it's their political leaders that take the spotlight and create a ton of drama. SPI is on high alert but all the special drills they could go through would never cover this problem.
This is a good old "Clue" episode. Who did it in the ballroom or the bedroom or the beer keg with a big ol' knife? Yeah, I said beer keg. You caught that, huh? That's what's fun about the supernatural culture differences in this book. There are so many variations between cultures that anything goes but one wrong step or a simple action or comment could be construed as offensive and then watch out! With the caliber of individuals attending this convention, we have political fallout first and foremost to worry about. After that, then we could have not only an international incident but an interdimensional incident that could very well incite a war. Tread carefully and walk on eggshells. But we still gotta figure out who's killing whom and why.
You want details on the story? Well, ok... I can give you this. Rake's impossibly above high class, ten-star hotel has been hijacked. Yes, that's right. Hijacked. At first, it looks like a security issue, but then it evolves. Boy, does it evolve. It involves mythological creatures materializing out of nowhere. And Rake has no answers. Can you imagine? He's got no "clue" as to what's going on.
I can also give you a small detail on the romance between Mac and Rake. It's moving very, very slow. I like that Lisa Shearin is making their relationship a gradual thing. It builds anticipation. I love that a nice southern seer girl can capture the attention of a suave, sexy, interdimensional uber rich playboy. Makenna is all sassy common sense if not skill. She is not Rake's type, per se. You'd expect him to be with fussy, glossy, supermodel bombshells in tight dresses with 4-inch heels and coifed hair. Except... he's choosing Mac. She has her own style, no-nonsense woman that knows her limits and tries very hard to be an asset to the SPI crew. She loves her job and I love her unique personality.
Johanna Parker is the narrator for this book as well as all the other SPI novels. She gives the story that much more depth and complexity. Another 5 star hit if you ask me.
I love Mac and the gang. I also love Mac and Rake's relationship. He's under Mac's skin and Mac has got Rake swooning. Okay, maybe the other way around. Anyway, there is a supernatural summit taking place and anywhere there are a bunch of supernaturals trapped together you know there will be trouble.
Goblins and Elves do NOT have a harmonious vibe going on. All other attendees also have problems intermingling, so security for this event is beyond difficult. It's not enough that it's all races and creeds of creatures attending this summit, it's their political leaders that take the spotlight and create a ton of drama. SPI is on high alert but all the special drills they could go through would never cover this problem.
This is a good old "Clue" episode. Who did it in the ballroom or the bedroom or the beer keg with a big ol' knife? Yeah, I said beer keg. You caught that, huh? That's what's fun about the supernatural culture differences in this book. There are so many variations between cultures that anything goes but one wrong step or a simple action or comment could be construed as offensive and then watch out! With the caliber of individuals attending this convention, we have political fallout first and foremost to worry about. After that, then we could have not only an international incident but an interdimensional incident that could very well incite a war. Tread carefully and walk on eggshells. But we still gotta figure out who's killing whom and why.
You want details on the story? Well, ok... I can give you this. Rake's impossibly above high class, ten-star hotel has been hijacked. Yes, that's right. Hijacked. At first, it looks like a security issue, but then it evolves. Boy, does it evolve. It involves mythological creatures materializing out of nowhere. And Rake has no answers. Can you imagine? He's got no "clue" as to what's going on.
I can also give you a small detail on the romance between Mac and Rake. It's moving very, very slow. I like that Lisa Shearin is making their relationship a gradual thing. It builds anticipation. I love that a nice southern seer girl can capture the attention of a suave, sexy, interdimensional uber rich playboy. Makenna is all sassy common sense if not skill. She is not Rake's type, per se. You'd expect him to be with fussy, glossy, supermodel bombshells in tight dresses with 4-inch heels and coifed hair. Except... he's choosing Mac. She has her own style, no-nonsense woman that knows her limits and tries very hard to be an asset to the SPI crew. She loves her job and I love her unique personality.
Johanna Parker is the narrator for this book as well as all the other SPI novels. She gives the story that much more depth and complexity. Another 5 star hit if you ask me.
kvsreads's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
rgrigsby80's review against another edition
4.0
I'm such a big fan of this series. Mac is my favorite type of UF heroine. She's clever, funny, and is well aware of her role in SPI (meaning she knows she's good at her job, but also knows when she needs to step back and let others take the lead). I never get the feeling she's trying to overcompensate. I've always been a big fan of her and Ian's big bro-little sis relationship (hooray for a good example of a strong male/female platonic friendship!). Rake and Mac's relationship doesn't necessarily move forward too much in this book, but I still enjoy their interactions. He's a great love interest too (meaning he's strong and powerful without veering into the Me, Man, You Woman type of Alpha Male nonsense that you find in a lot of other series). I look forward to reading the next book.
kjlee3370's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-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
4.5
chllybrd's review against another edition
4.0
THE MYTH MANIFESTATION was another great addition to the SPI Files series.
Get ready for action, mystery, and drama with a little side of romance in THE MYTH MANIFESTATION. We get visits from old friends—even some crossover from the Raine Benares series— and learn a lot more about what lives in the world that makes up the series. Mak seemed to be on her own quite a bit in book five, which I found a little odd. I really like her partnership with Ian and wasn't understanding why they were separated so much, but I still enjoyed watching her work through clues.
One thing I would really like to happen is more insight on Mak and Rake's relationship. I would love for the author to reveal more about them together. I feel like a lot happens off page and then I'm a little lost as to what is happening. I think if we got more in-depth with them, I would love them more as a couple instead of just liking them.
The SPI Files has been a fun series so far. I enjoy the characters, the settings are always interesting and the plots never disappoint. I look forward to seeing where Lisa Shearin takes Mak and her friends next.
* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
local_hat's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Blood and Alcohol
Minor: Ableism and Fatphobia