shaekin's review
4.0
Quick heads up, this is NOT a sequel. It's set in the same world. Similar to how a book about England is set in the same world as a book about France. The monarchs are about the only characters mentioned from the previous book. If you go into this book thinking it's a sequel, it will take you a long time to get into it. BUT, that being said, this book was awesome once I finally got over the fact that I had to become acquainted with a whole new set of characters. The author did a fantastic job with the writing. The characters were complex and the interactions were smooth, easy to follow, and believable. Character development was also fantastic.
wetdryvac's review
4.0
One of the most excessively messed up things I've read in years, and well executed.
whitzilla's review
adventurous
dark
reflective
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Abandonment, Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Incest, and Murder
wordnerdy's review against another edition
2.0
https://wordnerdy.blogspot.com/2022/05/2022-book-78.html
The second book in this series focuses on a new cast of characters somewhere entirely different, which was a problem because I found both of the protagonists here to be very unpleasant to read about. One is a young assassin woman who would be great if she didn’t want to bang her brother, the other is a guy who keeps body swapping with people to extend his life, and has stolen her brother's body (she ends up sharing her body with her brother till they can steal it back). And then it becomes clear there's going to be a romance between these two characters, which I was doubly not into (I also didn’t think the writing on that was great). A bard and a prince do eventually come into the mix, as does a senile and terrifying necromancer, but I should not be rooting for most of the main characters to die in a book like this. The plot is also really slow, as everyone is just traveling around after each other for the entire book, boring and exhausting. If you’re wondering why I forced myself to finish, it’s because I want to read the next two books. Though the next one also focuses on these characters and I don’t know if I can do another book with them. C.
The second book in this series focuses on a new cast of characters somewhere entirely different, which was a problem because I found both of the protagonists here to be very unpleasant to read about. One is a young assassin woman who would be great if she didn’t want to bang her brother, the other is a guy who keeps body swapping with people to extend his life, and has stolen her brother's body (she ends up sharing her body with her brother till they can steal it back). And then it becomes clear there's going to be a romance between these two characters, which I was doubly not into (I also didn’t think the writing on that was great). A bard and a prince do eventually come into the mix, as does a senile and terrifying necromancer, but I should not be rooting for most of the main characters to die in a book like this. The plot is also really slow, as everyone is just traveling around after each other for the entire book, boring and exhausting. If you’re wondering why I forced myself to finish, it’s because I want to read the next two books. Though the next one also focuses on these characters and I don’t know if I can do another book with them. C.
whisper88's review
adventurous
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Incest
katiekatinahat's review
4.0
Definitely some fun, slightly cheesy fantasy - loved the general concept (although I was probably more into the elemental powers of the first book), the only weakness for me was a strange sibling relationship, but overall a fun read
haldoor's review
4.0
I love the way Vree and Bannon's inner struggle is portrayed, and the way Gyhard and Vree dance around each other. The quest is a marvellous tale!
dotsonapage's review
3.0
The second in the Quarters series by Tanya Huff. This book introduces a new land and some new characters, brother and sister assasins Bannon and Vree. Bardic magic isn't the only thing afoot here, there's also body-snatching and a very creepy necromancer, as well as fighting and adventuring and even a little romance. Fun stuff!
naturalistnatalie's review against another edition
4.0
Ultimately a good story, evidenced by the fact my mind kept turning back to the story when I wasn't reading it. However, I was very disappointed with the start of the book. It was expecting a direct sequel to Sing the Four Quarters, and this is not that kind of book. In fact, it's not until the fourth chapter, when the Bard is introduced, that I even could tell the books were set in the same universe. There are a few oblique references to events of the first book, but this is really a standalone book.
Like the first book in the series, Vree, our main character is bisexual. In this case, it's mainly because she doesn't want to get pregnant, but also because she's mostly attracted to her brother. While the sexual tension was believable, it was a little squicky since Bannon is her brother. Once Gyhard inhabited Bannon's body, it got even more complicated. There was still the physical attraction to the body, but is it OK since it is a different soul inhabiting the body? Even the mannerisms and how he held himself were different. I'm not surprised it was the sister who made space in her head and body for her beloved brother. If their roles were switched, there's no way Bannon would have done the same for Vree.
On a technical note, I'm always interested in how the author manages to describe the characters in a story. Huff had a great excuse to describe Bannon. When Gyhard jumped to his new body, it was a sudden thing and he didn't quite know what he was getting into. Therefore, after the fact, he had to examine himself so he could take stock of his new body and it was easy to describe himself to the reader as well.
Like the first book in the series, Vree, our main character is bisexual. In this case, it's mainly because she doesn't want to get pregnant, but also because she's mostly attracted to her brother. While the sexual tension was believable, it was a little squicky since Bannon is her brother. Once Gyhard inhabited Bannon's body, it got even more complicated. There was still the physical attraction to the body, but is it OK since it is a different soul inhabiting the body? Even the mannerisms and how he held himself were different. I'm not surprised it was the sister who made space in her head and body for her beloved brother. If their roles were switched, there's no way Bannon would have done the same for Vree.
On a technical note, I'm always interested in how the author manages to describe the characters in a story. Huff had a great excuse to describe Bannon. When Gyhard jumped to his new body, it was a sudden thing and he didn't quite know what he was getting into. Therefore, after the fact, he had to examine himself so he could take stock of his new body and it was easy to describe himself to the reader as well.
aisforawkward's review
Body swapping/Snatching. Incest. Narcissistic assholes.. Oh AND ZOMBIES. I don't even.
After the first book, this one was so out there I don't even know what to think. It takes place off in another kingdom with different characters so there is no real overlap, just shared background character and details..
The incest overtones were spelled out right from the very beginning, and were so so creepy, even though they were also so very fascinating later in the book. The heroine/primary protagonist is obsessed with her younger (completely narcissistic) brother in seriously unhealthy ways (not that there is a healthy way.. but..) He also is obsessed with himself, so they at least have this in common.
The two are assassins who work together as a team, and are unbeatable yada yada. On a mission she comes across their target dying. Only it is her brother, trapped inside the target who body swapped and ran off in her brother's body. So her brother jumps in to her, and for the rest of the book her head is really crowded and twice as messed up (and I quickly wished she would just evict him and move on with her life. Seriously. She is better off with the body snatcher and that is saying something). Then there is the body snatcher who eventually falls in love (really twisted) with her, and she sort of with him, making for a bizarre sort of love triangle. Though there is also the sex interest she has with the other woman a bard near the end, so love square? Anyway.
The zombies in turn are created by a really old (110+ years I think) madman who is a former lover of the body snatcher, who creates said zombies to keep himself company. Because what better way to stave off loneliness than reanimated yet still decomposing corpses?
Anyway this was like her other books I have read so far this week, very enthralling, and very nuanced. In this case it was also so very completely messed up I have no idea what to do with it or how to rate it.
After the first book, this one was so out there I don't even know what to think. It takes place off in another kingdom with different characters so there is no real overlap, just shared background character and details..
The incest overtones were spelled out right from the very beginning, and were so so creepy, even though they were also so very fascinating later in the book. The heroine/primary protagonist is obsessed with her younger (completely narcissistic) brother in seriously unhealthy ways (not that there is a healthy way.. but..) He also is obsessed with himself, so they at least have this in common.
The two are assassins who work together as a team, and are unbeatable yada yada. On a mission she comes across their target dying. Only it is her brother, trapped inside the target who body swapped and ran off in her brother's body. So her brother jumps in to her, and for the rest of the book her head is really crowded and twice as messed up (and I quickly wished she would just evict him and move on with her life. Seriously. She is better off with the body snatcher and that is saying something). Then there is the body snatcher who eventually falls in love (really twisted) with her, and she sort of with him, making for a bizarre sort of love triangle. Though there is also the sex interest she has with the other woman a bard near the end, so love square? Anyway.
The zombies in turn are created by a really old (110+ years I think) madman who is a former lover of the body snatcher, who creates said zombies to keep himself company. Because what better way to stave off loneliness than reanimated yet still decomposing corpses?
Anyway this was like her other books I have read so far this week, very enthralling, and very nuanced. In this case it was also so very completely messed up I have no idea what to do with it or how to rate it.