scrow1022's review against another edition
4.0
Similar type of relationship as the others, but the conspiracy continued to deepen. I liked that Nick returned to his work, I liked the indictment of the war and police culture, I liked the new perspective on this world that Nick gave. A bit bothered that this was Jamie's first time having sex after his injury (I think?) and negotiating the physical challenges of that and everything went smoothly - there were a couple of scenes where I couldn't quite buy it. It's not going to make me stop reading the series, though.
hpstrangelove's review against another edition
5.0
Audiobook review. Narrator: Tristan James
Oh boy, sure did love this story. I love the world that the author has created and how each story moves the world forward, not always in a positive way. The stories are stand-alone but have characters from each of the other stories making appearances in order to tie them together.
Oh boy, sure did love this story. I love the world that the author has created and how each story moves the world forward, not always in a positive way. The stories are stand-alone but have characters from each of the other stories making appearances in order to tie them together.
becka6131's review against another edition
5.0
YES YES YES YES!!!!!!!!!! Big tough grumpy Nick is weak to small pretty cheerful Jamie. I was going to elaborate but if that description doesn't hook you, I don't know what will.
daniellesalwaysreading's review against another edition
5.0
I read this out of order and it was perfectly fine. There was lots of great world building and I loved the characters. The plot was definitely not second to the romance; the romance didn't take a back seat to the plot. I am very excited to read many more books by this author.
shanaqui's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-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
4.0
I wasn't sure how to feel about a book where Nick was one of the romantic leads, since he's stubborn as a (yes, yes) horse, and it felt like it was going to be a pretty big barrier to a romance. I feel like it was shockingly easy, actually, and while it made sense... I don't know, I could've used a little more time for it to develop, or something.
Which is not to say I didn't have fun with this book, and with the development of Jamie's character as he begins to understand he's been privileged and blinkered -- and with Nick's slow acceptance that some people can be depended on.
I didn't love the scene where Nick decided to let Jamie ride him in his horse form, despite his initial refusal to ever countenance it, I must admit. It felt like Nick saw that as servitude, as degrading, and then decided... what? He'd be okay with that because the case was more important? Jamie was more important? His motives weren't entirely clear to me there, and I didn't feel comfortable with it being fairly glossed over, and then repeatedly happening again. There's a whole intersection there with Jamie's disability and Nick being accommodating of that, but still, not wholly comfortable.
Overall, not a favourite of the series, but I'm definitely curious what it's all building up to -- does the fourth book finish things up?
Which is not to say I didn't have fun with this book, and with the development of Jamie's character as he begins to understand he's been privileged and blinkered -- and with Nick's slow acceptance that some people can be depended on.
I didn't love the scene where Nick decided to let Jamie ride him in his horse form, despite his initial refusal to ever countenance it, I must admit. It felt like Nick saw that as servitude, as degrading, and then decided... what? He'd be okay with that because the case was more important? Jamie was more important? His motives weren't entirely clear to me there, and I didn't feel comfortable with it being fairly glossed over, and then repeatedly happening again. There's a whole intersection there with Jamie's disability and Nick being accommodating of that, but still, not wholly comfortable.
Overall, not a favourite of the series, but I'm definitely curious what it's all building up to -- does the fourth book finish things up?
bookcraft's review against another edition
2.0
I have a lot of complex thoughts about this particular book in the series, but the main one is that I was really uncomfortable with the POC being a horse shifter and the White character riding him, particularly in a book where the status of Familiars is so clearly presented as analogous to slavery.
On a less serious note, the focus on how Familiars self-identify as an entity that is a melding of their human self and their animal self, rather than a human with the ability to appear as an animal or vice versa brings up all kinds of questions about taboos and sex in the magical community. They can obviously interbreed with mundane humans; can they also interbreed with mundane animals? What about recreational sex?
On a less serious note, the focus on how Familiars self-identify as an entity that is a melding of their human self and their animal self, rather than a human with the ability to appear as an animal or vice versa brings up all kinds of questions about taboos and sex in the magical community. They can obviously interbreed with mundane humans; can they also interbreed with mundane animals? What about recreational sex?
duncandahusky's review against another edition
5.0
Rating: 4.75 out of 5
I loves me some Hexworld books, as you might guess from my previous reviews! The narrative threads laid out in the earlier books start to come together here. Hawk is creating something big and complicated, conspiracies within conspiracies, but it all holds together quite well.
The author has done a great job of creating a cast of characters with very different personalities and relationships. All of the characters from past books show up here, and it's great to see how everyone interacts. As for the main characters in this book, though: Jamie is a complex guy. He's been willing to do what he was told all of his life, and he's slowly learning that maybe that wasn't always the best course to take. Grieving and unsure, he's trying to figure out where he should go from here. I loved Nick's personality, horse-like in his stubbornness and brusqueness, but with a compassionate streak that he doesn't often show. (His mannerisms got to be a little over the top, thus the small deduction in rating, but that's a minor quibble.) Jamie and Nick are a hell of a couple, and watching them come together even against Nick's refusal to do so was fun to watch.
The overall story is a heck of a ride (so to speak). I've only been to Central Park a few times and I like how Hawk has captured the feel of the place, with its obscure buildings and features. I like that as a reader I was guessing culprits along the way and getting proved wrong again and again. That's a hallmark of a great suspense story for me. This book does not end with a cliffhanger, but we are left knowing what will be coming up in the next book and who will be involved. All of that makes me happy. I will be pre-ordering Book #4 as soon as it's available!
Finally:
I loves me some Hexworld books, as you might guess from my previous reviews! The narrative threads laid out in the earlier books start to come together here. Hawk is creating something big and complicated, conspiracies within conspiracies, but it all holds together quite well.
The author has done a great job of creating a cast of characters with very different personalities and relationships. All of the characters from past books show up here, and it's great to see how everyone interacts. As for the main characters in this book, though: Jamie is a complex guy. He's been willing to do what he was told all of his life, and he's slowly learning that maybe that wasn't always the best course to take. Grieving and unsure, he's trying to figure out where he should go from here. I loved Nick's personality, horse-like in his stubbornness and brusqueness, but with a compassionate streak that he doesn't often show. (His mannerisms got to be a little over the top, thus the small deduction in rating, but that's a minor quibble.) Jamie and Nick are a hell of a couple, and watching them come together even against Nick's refusal to do so was fun to watch.
The overall story is a heck of a ride (so to speak). I've only been to Central Park a few times and I like how Hawk has captured the feel of the place, with its obscure buildings and features. I like that as a reader I was guessing culprits along the way and getting proved wrong again and again. That's a hallmark of a great suspense story for me. This book does not end with a cliffhanger, but we are left knowing what will be coming up in the next book and who will be involved. All of that makes me happy. I will be pre-ordering Book #4 as soon as it's available!
Finally:
Spoiler
I can NOT be the only one who saw the parallels between Lund and Dolores Umbridge :-)lilybear's review against another edition
5.0
My favorite of the series by far. I always loved Nick as a side character. His surly exterior matched with an endless amount of patience and love for his fellow familiars. Reminds me a bit of Silas from KJC's A Seditious Affair if Silas fought against witches instead of torys. And this book lived up to my expectations. Not only did it feel like Nick and Jamie were made for each other- each complimenting the other so seamlessly- but the mystery of the killer rafe was by far the most thrilling adventure of the series. I loved how Jamie started out as naive, but sure of himself but grew by Nick's side. He didn't use his magic until the near end when their emotional bond was established. He didn't even ask Nick to bend to his way of things but was the one to bend for Nick. Our Nick deserved nothing less. And that final battle! Not only was it exciting, but so emotional! I near cried!