tangleroot_eli's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
This book is so danged fun. Took several turns I didn't expect, too. If you like your urban fantasy full of ordinary people dealing with extraordinary situations, give this one a read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Grief, Alcohol, and Sexism
Moderate: Classism, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Body horror, Mental illness, Suicide attempt, Death, War, and Alcoholism
Minor: Ableism
jonmhansen's review against another edition
5.0
"We have resources," said Cyril Lanfair.
Lutrineas groaned. "My sister has assassins, or did you forget that already? She has librarians. Police officers. Meter maids. Army captains. Agents provocateurs." Something flashed outside the window, followed a moment later by a sound like something igniting. "Like that one, probably."
Lutrineas groaned. "My sister has assassins, or did you forget that already? She has librarians. Police officers. Meter maids. Army captains. Agents provocateurs." Something flashed outside the window, followed a moment later by a sound like something igniting. "Like that one, probably."
mewsie's review against another edition
3.0
The story had a lot of potential and was very enjoyable until the last installment. The ending is what dropped it down to three stars for me. After I read it, I was like "that's it? That can't be the ending?" I was positive there has to be at least one more installment but there won't be. It was rather unfulfilling and it felt as though the author took possibly one of the lamest ways to end the tale.
2357aya's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
nathanaeljs's review against another edition
3.0
Imagine a world in which instead of nuclear bombs, we just dumped a bunch of demons on Japan and Germany and called it a day. This is the world Gooseberry Bluff is set in. It's part alternate history, part mystery, part urban fantasy, with a smidgen of cosmic horror stirred in. It starts with an undercover mission in academia trying to track down a group of demon smugglers involved in magical terrorist attacks and opens up into a multiverse-spanning battle against incredibly powerful opponents.
There were a lot of things to like about this book. The worldbuilding is fairly well-done and while the magical system is a bit too vague for my taste, I did enjoy the pieces of the wider world we got to see as the protagonist worked her way through the story. I also enjoyed the fact that the cast was diverse without being cliched or verging too strongly into Very Special Episode territory. Many of them get their own viewpoint chapters, which serves well to make them more rounded characters. The story itself is creative and fast-paced. It's the ideal rainy afternoon book; something you can read in one sitting.
Ultimately, I had to give the book one less star than I wanted to for the simple fact that the ending is not particularly satisfying, verging on anti-climactic. This book is clearly the first in a series, but I still feel like some things should have been addressed in more detail. The book is very episodic due to the nature of its serialized publication and as a result, it almost feels like there's an episode missing. I think that due to this, it wouldn't be a bad idea to keep this one on the to-read stack until the next book in the series is out.
There were a lot of things to like about this book. The worldbuilding is fairly well-done and while the magical system is a bit too vague for my taste, I did enjoy the pieces of the wider world we got to see as the protagonist worked her way through the story. I also enjoyed the fact that the cast was diverse without being cliched or verging too strongly into Very Special Episode territory. Many of them get their own viewpoint chapters, which serves well to make them more rounded characters. The story itself is creative and fast-paced. It's the ideal rainy afternoon book; something you can read in one sitting.
Ultimately, I had to give the book one less star than I wanted to for the simple fact that the ending is not particularly satisfying, verging on anti-climactic. This book is clearly the first in a series, but I still feel like some things should have been addressed in more detail. The book is very episodic due to the nature of its serialized publication and as a result, it almost feels like there's an episode missing. I think that due to this, it wouldn't be a bad idea to keep this one on the to-read stack until the next book in the series is out.
sagejenn47's review against another edition
3.0
I loved the diverse, interestingly-flawed characters in this novel and the wacky premise of an agent sent to investigate demon trafficking at a community college. While the events should have been incredibly suspenseful and interesting, instead they were...bogged down? There was so much jumping between characters that it was hard to get invested in any one story, and the pacing raced through exciting parts while lingering on expository sections. If the events and characters had been presented differently, I might have loved instead of merely liked it.
malvord27's review
4.0
I liked this book. The story line was well thought out, there was a good amount of character development, and there were elements of surprise as well. I personally have a hard time keeping track of many minor characters, so part of my reading was spent saying, "Wait, who is this person again and what's their motivation?" So if you also have that trouble it's something to keep in mind. Mind you, I still think the book's worth reading, but you might need a refresher when characters change.
For a sci-fi/magic book I thought the author did a good job of not being too involved in the sci-fi/magic bit. He was somehow able to explain what happens in this new future world without going into too much detail. IE - he didn't spend an entire chapter explaining auras, invisibility, dueling, etc. He was able to succinctly and clearly describe what was happening. For me that really makes a difference in a good book vs bad book, but especially in the sci-fi/magic genre. It's not my go-to genre and I think that's one of the reasons.
Overall I say, well done. Definitely worth reading.
For a sci-fi/magic book I thought the author did a good job of not being too involved in the sci-fi/magic bit. He was somehow able to explain what happens in this new future world without going into too much detail. IE - he didn't spend an entire chapter explaining auras, invisibility, dueling, etc. He was able to succinctly and clearly describe what was happening. For me that really makes a difference in a good book vs bad book, but especially in the sci-fi/magic genre. It's not my go-to genre and I think that's one of the reasons.
Overall I say, well done. Definitely worth reading.
mollykwhelan's review
adventurous
challenging
funny
informative
mysterious
medium-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
Disclaimer: I am friends with the author. BUT this book had me hooked, despite being FAR outside what I normally read. It's so well-written, the cast of characters is refreshingly actually diverse, it's funny, it's unpretentious, it's exciting. Begging her to write another in the series!
jennysaisquois's review
3.0
Not excellent, but enjoyable. Above all, did what fiction should and gave a window into a fictional world; there was always the sense that the characters' lives, the rules of magic, the history of this world, extend far beyond the borders of what we see in this book. Curious to know more about all of the above so would definitely read a sequel.
nicoletort's review
2.0
It was just a bit too out there and all over the place for me. It never swept me up or had me really interested in the characters or the plot. It was originally published as a Kindle Serial, so maybe in smaller doses over a longer period of time I would've enjoyed it more.