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eiridium's review
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
confessions_of_a_bookaholic's review
5.0
HQ is pretty annoyed with Cassie. With her attempt to defeat the Mauvais having gone drastically wrong, and resulting in 2 people being missing, they're not rushing to refuse to hand Cassie over when the Mauvais demands her. As those at HQ debate Cassie's fate, she is hard at work coming up with another plan to go after him herself. She knows that in doing so she risks giving him everything he wants, but the simple way to avoid that is to not let him catch her. How hard can it be?
This is the finale of the original Cassie Black trilogy. I say original trilogy because there is a second trilogy on its way, with the first book due out in a couple of months (thankfully!)
I read this immediately after finishing the second book because that one ended on such a cliff hanger. There's no quick answers in this book though, Painter keeps you waiting until the end to see whether any of the people you're worried about will be safe. I don't want to say too much else because I don't want to give away spoilers.
One thing I will say is that it seemed obvious to me from quite early in this book who the traitor within HQ was. I was surprised it took so long for Cassie and the others to catch on.
Other than that, this has been a fantastic series and anyone who enjoys magic realism, and authors like Ben Aaronovitch or C.K. McDonnel will definitely enjoy these books.
This is the finale of the original Cassie Black trilogy. I say original trilogy because there is a second trilogy on its way, with the first book due out in a couple of months (thankfully!)
I read this immediately after finishing the second book because that one ended on such a cliff hanger. There's no quick answers in this book though, Painter keeps you waiting until the end to see whether any of the people you're worried about will be safe. I don't want to say too much else because I don't want to give away spoilers.
One thing I will say is that it seemed obvious to me from quite early in this book who the traitor within HQ was. I was surprised it took so long for Cassie and the others to catch on.
Other than that, this has been a fantastic series and anyone who enjoys magic realism, and authors like Ben Aaronovitch or C.K. McDonnel will definitely enjoy these books.
themanfromdelmonte's review
3.0
This starts very promisingly by referencing the excellent Ben Aaronovitch. Sadly the author doesn't take the same care to properly pace the plot.
It's very stop start. First it's all plans and action, then it's off to bed for a good night's sleep followed by a slap up full English with black pudding.
Plus points for knowing what black pudding is, but what's with the relentless fixation on food? I get that it's magical fuel but it's cream cakes, chocolate and ale every two minutes. If it weren't for glucose fuelling magic, all mages would be diabetic. As it is I can't see how half of the magical community aren't in a diabetic coma. Yes, yes, I know it's a fantasy but even fantasies have to follow some rules.
So, other niggles. Cassie is remarkably sanguine for someone under constant threat of death, if not from the Mauvais then her own side. It also keeps being postponed which must be hellacious.
Also, where are Tobey Tenpenny's parents?
I dunno. It was all a bit scrappy
It's very stop start. First it's all plans and action, then it's off to bed for a good night's sleep followed by a slap up full English with black pudding.
Plus points for knowing what black pudding is, but what's with the relentless fixation on food? I get that it's magical fuel but it's cream cakes, chocolate and ale every two minutes. If it weren't for glucose fuelling magic, all mages would be diabetic. As it is I can't see how half of the magical community aren't in a diabetic coma. Yes, yes, I know it's a fantasy but even fantasies have to follow some rules.
So, other niggles. Cassie is remarkably sanguine for someone under constant threat of death, if not from the Mauvais then her own side. It also keeps being postponed which must be hellacious.
Also, where are Tobey Tenpenny's parents?
I dunno. It was all a bit scrappy
tandemjon's review
2.0
This must be just me as most reviews are so good for this trilogy, but I really didn't like it much. It was just too much of a 'And they all loved happily ever after' book. You didn't really feel any of the bad things that might have happened to Cassie ever would and the repairing the cities and reviving her parents was, I felt (and I accept this may just be me) silly.
I thought the spells were a bit 'Oh we've got a spell for that' all the time and the HQ were pretty useless at their job. I liked the Winston and Nigel though!
I thought the spells were a bit 'Oh we've got a spell for that' all the time and the HQ were pretty useless at their job. I liked the Winston and Nigel though!
kvltprincess's review
5.0
I loved this series. So glad I took a chance on it when I saw it on sale one day! I'm ordering the physical books for my library so other people can love it too. ☺️
isamulti's review
4.0
Une belle fin "happy ending" pour cette trilogie amusante. J'ai mieux aimé ce tome que le 2e qui m'avait un peu laissé sur ma faim.
angelbabe_cj's review
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
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