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sherwoodreads's review against another edition
Like many urban fantasies, this one gets pretty dark there in the middle. At one point I thought it was going to be too dark for me.
Helena Davies answers an ad for a bookstore job--and ends up solely responsible for the bookstore when the owner turns up dead on her first day.
Furthermore, this bookstore has some very weird aspects to it, and some even weirder regular customers. While Helena has to deal with them and their expectations, she becomes the primary suspect in the owner's murder, and has to try to figure out why she's being targeted. All while she tries to figure out if she ought to stay, or just quit.
Helping her is her best friend Viv, and a really good-looking demon fighter named Campbell. Or is he helping her?
I really liked the way McShane balanced Helena's total ignorance of magic, the bookstore, etc, against how she began to master what she needed to, while events around her kept accelerating, nearly past her. Some complex secondary characters added to the interest. (I especially liked the arc with Judy Rasmussen, who had thought she was going to have the job.)
The middle was a bump for me.
Then Helena and the others seem to forget all about him. At least, Helena remembers from time to time, but seems to have little reaction, and Viv has none whatsoever, though this was the best friend of her new boyfriend. Later, the boyfriend doesn't even seem to have much reaction, which added up made me think Viv was evil in disguise.
It turned out I was totally wrong in my assumption, and once I got past that hump, I thoroughly enjoyed the rest, which accelerated to a terrific climax and an equally terrific coda, leaving me with high anticipation for the next volume in the series.
The magic in this book is different from that in other urban fantasies I've read, and the bookstore with magic is a huge plus for me. Lively characters and hints of an interesting setting were also draws.
Altogether, I'm in for more of Helena's adventures!
Copy courtesy of author.
Helena Davies answers an ad for a bookstore job--and ends up solely responsible for the bookstore when the owner turns up dead on her first day.
Furthermore, this bookstore has some very weird aspects to it, and some even weirder regular customers. While Helena has to deal with them and their expectations, she becomes the primary suspect in the owner's murder, and has to try to figure out why she's being targeted. All while she tries to figure out if she ought to stay, or just quit.
Helping her is her best friend Viv, and a really good-looking demon fighter named Campbell. Or is he helping her?
I really liked the way McShane balanced Helena's total ignorance of magic, the bookstore, etc, against how she began to master what she needed to, while events around her kept accelerating, nearly past her. Some complex secondary characters added to the interest. (I especially liked the arc with Judy Rasmussen, who had thought she was going to have the job.)
The middle was a bump for me.
Spoiler
In fact, I put the book aside for several days, thinking it had become horror, and I always have to brace myself to read horror. The mention of Lovecraft I took as a warning flag, as I utterly loathe Lovecraft. But it was the death of an innocent, a super nice guy Helena was double dating with Vivian and her latest boyfriend, that tipped me over the edge. He thinks he hears a hurt dog, runs straight into a Lovecraftian horror, and is killed.Then Helena and the others seem to forget all about him. At least, Helena remembers from time to time, but seems to have little reaction, and Viv has none whatsoever, though this was the best friend of her new boyfriend. Later, the boyfriend doesn't even seem to have much reaction, which added up made me think Viv was evil in disguise.
It turned out I was totally wrong in my assumption, and once I got past that hump, I thoroughly enjoyed the rest, which accelerated to a terrific climax and an equally terrific coda, leaving me with high anticipation for the next volume in the series.
The magic in this book is different from that in other urban fantasies I've read, and the bookstore with magic is a huge plus for me. Lively characters and hints of an interesting setting were also draws.
Altogether, I'm in for more of Helena's adventures!
Copy courtesy of author.
maliactuallyreads's review against another edition
lighthearted
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.0
trudy1963's review against another edition
4.0
This was a fun book and quick read. Already listening to the second in the series!
theavidreaderandbibliophile's review against another edition
4.0
The Book of Secrets by Melissa McShane is the first novel in The Last Oracle series. Helena Davies is interviewing for a job at Abernathy’s, a local disorganized bookstore. She is shocked when Nathaniel Briggs hires her and asks for her to start immediately after signing a handwritten contract. Helena is typing (on a typewriter) labels to mail out catalogues when a customer enters the store looking for Mr. Briggs. Malcolm Campbell is astonished that Helena was hired to work in the store. Helena goes searching for Mr. Briggs and discovers him dead from a stab wound in the basement. Who would want to harm Mr. Briggs? Malcolm must explain to Helena that Abernathy’s is no mere bookstore. It is a living oracle that provides prophecies. Helena, as the new custodian (she signed the contract) is tasked with finding the right book to answer the question put to the oracle by Wardens. Abernathy’s is an important tool in helping them fight the invaders in the Long War (information overload for Helena). Magic is real, and creatures invade from outside their reality to obtain it. Unfortunately, Mr. Briggs died before training Helena and the instruction book to assist her is missing. Malcolm is not the only person surprised by Helena’s appointment. Judy Rasmussen has been training for twelve years and wants Helena to abdicate (and she is quite pushy about it). Helena needs to learn her new position while fulfilling her customer’s needs, deal with Judy’s hostile attitude, discover who murdered Mr. Brigg’s before the police arrest her for the crime, and evade the deadly creatures who seem intent on attacking her (that’s not good). Despite everything that is happening, Helena believes she might have finally found her place.
The Books of Secrets is well-written and engaging. It has fast pace that will keep readers on their toes. I liked the author’s unique take on magic. I would say more but I do not want to spoil it for you. I did appreciate that the author did not dump out all the details at once. It develops throughout the story, but readers are not given everything in this first installment (we are left wanting to know more). The creature’s descriptions are enough to give a person nightmares (it did not stop me from reading though). Abernathy’s is a fascinating place. The author’s concept for the store was creative and multi-layered. Melissa McShane did a remarkable job at creating a one-of-a-kind world for her characters (and for us). I did feel that the characters needed more development and backstory. I wanted to know more about Helena’s upbringing and Malcolm’s background. I was also not a fan of Viv, Helena’s best friend. I found her annoying, overbearing, and immature. As Helena’s best friend, she is the logical choice for a sidekick. I just wish the author had tweaked her personality a bit. I am glad that The Book of Secrets is just the first book in The Last Oracle series. For a delightful story containing magic, murder, mayhem and mystery grab a copy of The Book of Secrets.
The Books of Secrets is well-written and engaging. It has fast pace that will keep readers on their toes. I liked the author’s unique take on magic. I would say more but I do not want to spoil it for you. I did appreciate that the author did not dump out all the details at once. It develops throughout the story, but readers are not given everything in this first installment (we are left wanting to know more). The creature’s descriptions are enough to give a person nightmares (it did not stop me from reading though). Abernathy’s is a fascinating place. The author’s concept for the store was creative and multi-layered. Melissa McShane did a remarkable job at creating a one-of-a-kind world for her characters (and for us). I did feel that the characters needed more development and backstory. I wanted to know more about Helena’s upbringing and Malcolm’s background. I was also not a fan of Viv, Helena’s best friend. I found her annoying, overbearing, and immature. As Helena’s best friend, she is the logical choice for a sidekick. I just wish the author had tweaked her personality a bit. I am glad that The Book of Secrets is just the first book in The Last Oracle series. For a delightful story containing magic, murder, mayhem and mystery grab a copy of The Book of Secrets.
katieinca's review against another edition
2.0
I shelved this magical bookstore romp (with a murder mystery!) as TBR for the next time I was feeling brain dead, and last week it delivered. I read it in about a day and a half and quickly downloaded the next one. The writing's really not great, the dialog is often not how real humans talk, and I spent a lot of time trying to figure out if this was supposed to be for kids, teens, or adults. But the worldbuilding was cool, and it certainly moves right along. Spoiler-not-spoiler: I'm currently on book 5, and expect to finish the 9 book series in under 2 weeks.
being_b's review against another edition
4.0
Reminded me a lot of Ilona Andrews' Innkeeper Chronicles series: A woman is caretaker of a magical building that serves as a neutral party in a paranormal universe. The woman finds original solutions to problems. There's a dashing and attractive man. Basically, if you liked one, you'll like the other.
sarahlreadseverything's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 rounded down - I've always enjoyed Melissa Mcshane but this one didn't chime with me as much as others have
malreynolds111's review against another edition
4.0
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. As a library staff member I love to read books that are about bookstores and libraries. The thought of having your issues solved by reading a certain book was a fascinating concept. I could have done with out some of the extra mushy doe-eyed cute guy talk, especially since the girl was not some lovesick teenager, but that is a personal preference. Looking forward to the next book in the series.