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msteasam's review
2.75
This book was much worse than the first one. Some of the minor issues that I could overlook in the first book of a series are back full force.
The main character is constantly sexually harassed. This happened occasionally in the first book, but I don't think there's a single male character here that doesn't do it, except a 15 year old boy who is instead trying to sexually assault another kid. It got grating very quickly.
The romance doesn't work for me because the love interest is literally an "alpha male" who tries to control the main character and again, sexually harrasses her constantly.
Things just kind of happen with no build up. There are several occasions where monsters just appear and attack, but it's not handled well at all.
Really hoping that the 3rd book irons out some of these issues and pulls everything together, because this one did nothing for me.
The main character is constantly sexually harassed. This happened occasionally in the first book, but I don't think there's a single male character here that doesn't do it, except a 15 year old boy who is instead trying to sexually assault another kid. It got grating very quickly.
The romance doesn't work for me because the love interest is literally an "alpha male" who tries to control the main character and again, sexually harrasses her constantly.
Things just kind of happen with no build up. There are several occasions where monsters just appear and attack, but it's not handled well at all.
Really hoping that the 3rd book irons out some of these issues and pulls everything together, because this one did nothing for me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism and Sexual harassment
bree_h_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I think I would die of shock if I didn’t enjoy a book in this series. From the moment the book started I was reminded of why Magic Bites appealed to me so much.
To start, Graphic Audio always does a great job. It adds so much to the story and really elevates my enjoyment. Especially as an audiodrama fan. These productions really help me get invested and keep focus.
The consistency of the characters and world building was also wonderful. I loved seeing characters from Magic Bites and hearing all the tidbits dropped again as reminders of past events. This consistency also helped my OTP, Currin and Kate. I was FERAL for them. I need them together now. Yesterday, even.
I also loved Kate’s character and growth in this book. Her dynamic with Julie especially was adorable. I was so delighted every time she called Kate her kid. I’m dying to see how that relationship develops. This book also had a wonderful insight into the greater mystery of her past and magic.
Also the way this book wove mythology and folklore into the plot was so good. Every reference I got made me so excited. Despite the variety of cultures and stories, everything fit so well together.
However, despite everything I loved, there were some issues that just barely knocked the book from 5 stars.
The prose were generally very repetitive and it took me out of the story a little. I don’t remember if it was a problem I had with the last book, but it’s possible. This issue in part carried over to the fight scenes as well. It felt clunky and didn’t move as quickly as I would have liked. There was also Bran’s ending. It was cliche and that disappointed me a little, but it wasn’t an awful ending. Those things aside, the only other issue was my main problems with Currin, as mentioned in my book one review. He’s just too “Alpha Male” at times and it throws me a little.
Overall an absolutely amazing book, I’m dying to continue the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body horror, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Alcohol
relin's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
I love this series and the world, I've reread this so many times over the years. Always a joy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Death, Gore, Racism, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Murder, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cursing, Death of parent, and Outing
Minor: Ableism, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, and Torture
Racism is fantasy racism where a new group of people are being discriminated against, just in case that helps. Animal deaths - one off screen but discussed, one on screen but magical animal.rbash2391's review
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Liking this series more as I go. I am interested in the overarcing character development that I'm sure we will see as the series progresses. I'm heavily invested in the multi-book, slow burn romance, despite my usual aversion to this trope. I also hardly enjoy procedurals, but this being a shapeshifter, vampire, magical beings, urban fantasy makes the cop/mercenary stuff fine for me. Some of the plot stuff can be confusing, especially the Celtic lore in this book in particular. I try not to dwell on those details too much and am just along for the ride with the extremely sarcastic, badass FMC slicing dudes apart with her magic sword.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Abandonment and Alcohol
Minor: Gun violence, Rape, and Cannibalism
booksthatburn's review
adventurous
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Kate starts watching over Julie, a young girl whose mom has vanished while worshipping in a coven who can't keep their crows straight (a dangerous thing in a world alternatingly drenched in magic and tech). Julie is one of my favorite characters in the series and her first appearance here sets the tone of their relationship for the next few books. This also is the first book to feature Andrea, an excellent markswoman who loves the Order and guns. The dynamic between Kate and Curran is emotionally charged in a way that currently is tilting towards mutually consensual violence but Curran seems to be making subtle (and not-so-subtle) moves in a more sexual direction that Kate hasn't yet reciprocated.
This picks up on the last known status of a bunch of plot threads but isn't trying to wrap them up, really (except for Crest). It continues Kate's entanglements with the Pack and the People, and shows her involvement with the Mercenary Guild and the Order but isn't focusing on them as much this time around. There's a new storyline featuring some new characters (a few who won't continue past here and some who will be series regulars), but even that has a connection to a minor character who appeared in MAGIC BITES. That storyline has a major thing that is both introduced and resolved in this book. There are several things explicitly left for later which involve changes to the status quo. The main character is still Kate, her voice is consistent with the previous book. It might make sense to start here because this is laying so much groundwork of its own, but the dynamic between Kate and the Pack (specifically but not only Curran) definitely benefits from being read after the first book, since otherwise Curran's strong personality can be a bit off-putting when it lacks the context of Kate's opening salvo to their interactions in MAGIC BITES.
This book begins with a map theft and stays pretty focused on the characters important to that initial incident, while building out the world in specific ways. This introduces the witch covens as an important power in the city, shows some factions within the Pack, and deals with a different set of gods that are upsettingly more relevant during the Flare. Bran, Andrea, and Julie provide three completely different sets of problems and opportunities, keeping this from feeling like just a stepping stone to later books.
This picks up on the last known status of a bunch of plot threads but isn't trying to wrap them up, really (except for Crest). It continues Kate's entanglements with the Pack and the People, and shows her involvement with the Mercenary Guild and the Order but isn't focusing on them as much this time around. There's a new storyline featuring some new characters (a few who won't continue past here and some who will be series regulars), but even that has a connection to a minor character who appeared in MAGIC BITES. That storyline has a major thing that is both introduced and resolved in this book. There are several things explicitly left for later which involve changes to the status quo. The main character is still Kate, her voice is consistent with the previous book. It might make sense to start here because this is laying so much groundwork of its own, but the dynamic between Kate and the Pack (specifically but not only Curran) definitely benefits from being read after the first book, since otherwise Curran's strong personality can be a bit off-putting when it lacks the context of Kate's opening salvo to their interactions in MAGIC BITES.
This book begins with a map theft and stays pretty focused on the characters important to that initial incident, while building out the world in specific ways. This introduces the witch covens as an important power in the city, shows some factions within the Pack, and deals with a different set of gods that are upsettingly more relevant during the Flare. Bran, Andrea, and Julie provide three completely different sets of problems and opportunities, keeping this from feeling like just a stepping stone to later books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, and Grief
Moderate: Ableism, Cursing, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Excrement, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Rape, Self harm, Sexual content, Cannibalism, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Alcohol
livinginlibros's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Kate is so funny and a loyal friend. Curran is dropping hints and giving signals and my girl is just going to pretend not to notice. I am cackling. I miss sidekick Derek, but Julie is such a sweet baby angel!
I love that Kate refused to become a mother figure to Julie but settled at the end for the "cool Aunt" role despite always calling Julie her kid.
The world in these books is interesting and gritty. I feel like every book I learn more and more.
I love that Kate refused to become a mother figure to Julie but settled at the end for the "cool Aunt" role despite always calling Julie her kid.
The world in these books is interesting and gritty. I feel like every book I learn more and more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Sexism, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment