elusivity's review against another edition
4.0
3.75
A good sequel, carrying much of what was good from the first novel, but also the not-so-good. Plot is needlessly convoluted. Millie has issues. Millie sexually attracted to men and women alike. Millie runs around, triggering one plot device after another. Still, much more of the good than bad. Recommended.
The grand-dame of the Arcadia Project is discovered to have worked with the dark fae to feed a human child—Caryl, da da dum!—to the Dark King. In order to keep him from reverting to dumb and forgetful, as fae becomes when their human Echo has died centuries ago. Result, the American branch of the Arcadia Project responded in moral outrage, and broke off from London. Dark times loom.
A good sequel, carrying much of what was good from the first novel, but also the not-so-good. Plot is needlessly convoluted. Millie has issues. Millie sexually attracted to men and women alike. Millie runs around, triggering one plot device after another. Still, much more of the good than bad. Recommended.
Spoiler
It appears non-sidhe, or beasts, also have Echos. I LOVE the manticore. He is the best character as a drunken, talking dog who adores his Echo. I was genuinely sad at his abrupt demise. But, perhaps he is not yet gone.The grand-dame of the Arcadia Project is discovered to have worked with the dark fae to feed a human child—Caryl, da da dum!—to the Dark King. In order to keep him from reverting to dumb and forgetful, as fae becomes when their human Echo has died centuries ago. Result, the American branch of the Arcadia Project responded in moral outrage, and broke off from London. Dark times loom.
alsoapples's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0
middlekmissie's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
becandbooks's review against another edition
5.0
Actual rating: 4.5 stars
This series should be a must-read for any writers wanting to understand how diversity in books SHOULD be done. Love these books and I'll be writing a series-so-far review soon!
This series should be a must-read for any writers wanting to understand how diversity in books SHOULD be done. Love these books and I'll be writing a series-so-far review soon!
ginnikin's review against another edition
3.0
Super readable, and the voice remains great.
I had a rough patch partway through with Millie's methods. My tolerance for rule-breaking mavericks is utterly shot. I'm just not in the head space for "gotta ignore the rules because reasons."
I had a rough patch partway through with Millie's methods. My tolerance for rule-breaking mavericks is utterly shot. I'm just not in the head space for "gotta ignore the rules because reasons."
mjfmjfmjf's review against another edition
4.0
Uneven and confusing. And not quite as good as the first. In fact the first half of the book ramps up kind of slowly. The characters are all treated so badly that you are left with no one to root for. But than the back half of the book is much stronger. And as the story stitches together who the somewhat good guys and kind of bad guys become just a little clearer. Still fantasy near Hollywood with characters with non-typical flaws. And I have a copy of the sequel in hand.
essinink's review against another edition
2.0
There's a piece of writing advice I heard once: "Write from the perspective of the character with the most to lose." Mishell Baker has gleefully tossed that rule of thumb out the window, with predictably lackluster results.
The worst part is that the story really isn't bad. Told from the perspective of almost anyone but Millie, it's positively gripping. But our favorite Borderline character just doesn't have much to lose here. I mean, there's some large-scale risk, but nearly all of the build-up drama places her in the role of facilitator; she's not personally invested.
Where she is invested, it's the result of the most contrived love-tangle I've had the displeasure of reading in fiction.
...yeah. it's complicated. (And yet oddly drama-free? Millie has calmed down a lot since the first book, which somehow doesn't help matters.)
The plot itself is fine, but I kept yawning until I hit the last 100 pages or so. Pretty sure this is my farewell to the Arcadia project.
The worst part is that the story really isn't bad. Told from the perspective of almost anyone but Millie, it's positively gripping. But our favorite Borderline character just doesn't have much to lose here. I mean, there's some large-scale risk, but nearly all of the build-up drama places her in the role of facilitator; she's not personally invested.
Where she is invested, it's the result of the most contrived love-tangle I've had the displeasure of reading in fiction.
1. Her neighbor-with-benefits, whose name I can't recall because he doesn't have any role in the story. Seriously, he's there to be the guy she's sleeping with on occasion and has maybe two lines.
2. Claybriar, her Echo, who's in a love tangle with a major side character.
3. Caryl, her 19-year-old changeling boss, who also has a love tangle with a different major side character... kind of.
...yeah. it's complicated. (And yet oddly drama-free? Millie has calmed down a lot since the first book, which somehow doesn't help matters.)
The plot itself is fine, but I kept yawning until I hit the last 100 pages or so. Pretty sure this is my farewell to the Arcadia project.
northandsouth's review against another edition
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
1.5