roguesmith's review
3.0
I'm being a little generous with 4 stars, it's maybe 3.75 stars, I think. This is a new-to-me author and perhaps I shouldn't have jumped in with the 3rd in a series, but I read the synopsis of the other two and it seemed to me this could be a standalone novel, but I also got the feeling the other protagonists were at least mentioned in this.
In brief: Monty and his friend Bishop go to investigate what they think is a seal sighting in Manchester Lake near where Bishop lives, only to find out it's a selkie who proceeds to transform into a man. They head to London where Bishop knows someone who might be able to shed some light on where the selkie came from, and get caught up in Bishop and Monty's past over the course of a night.
Monty and the selkie seem to have a connection, as Monty has been drawing a mystery man who he's seen periodically and sketches almost unconsciously.
I liked the setting, I like that the author has clearly done his research because I did not know electric cars were a thing in the early 1900's (I googled it and it's spot on). I could have done with a bit more description of the characters, maybe it's just me and maybe I missed something because I didn't realise Monty was half-indian until near the end. That's pretty minor though. It's a good enough story, I haven't read many paranormal stories with a selkie, it's a relatively obscure magical creature, I think so that was interesting. I felt it was all so fast though, I could have done with a bit more time to develop Monty and the selkie's relationship, I know it's paranormal and things happen fast in a paranormal romance, fated mates and mystical connections and all that - but just over the space of one night, it's fast. Also felt the focus should have been Monty and the selkie, and Bishop could have stood his own story rather than taking away from what should have been the main focus.
All told, I liked it, it was a little short maybe, and possibly I'd have got more out of it had I read the others first. That's on me. But still, I think 3.75 stars.
In brief: Monty and his friend Bishop go to investigate what they think is a seal sighting in Manchester Lake near where Bishop lives, only to find out it's a selkie who proceeds to transform into a man. They head to London where Bishop knows someone who might be able to shed some light on where the selkie came from, and get caught up in Bishop and Monty's past over the course of a night.
Monty and the selkie seem to have a connection, as Monty has been drawing a mystery man who he's seen periodically and sketches almost unconsciously.
I liked the setting, I like that the author has clearly done his research because I did not know electric cars were a thing in the early 1900's (I googled it and it's spot on). I could have done with a bit more description of the characters, maybe it's just me and maybe I missed something because I didn't realise Monty was half-indian until near the end. That's pretty minor though. It's a good enough story, I haven't read many paranormal stories with a selkie, it's a relatively obscure magical creature, I think so that was interesting. I felt it was all so fast though, I could have done with a bit more time to develop Monty and the selkie's relationship, I know it's paranormal and things happen fast in a paranormal romance, fated mates and mystical connections and all that - but just over the space of one night, it's fast. Also felt the focus should have been Monty and the selkie, and Bishop could have stood his own story rather than taking away from what should have been the main focus.
All told, I liked it, it was a little short maybe, and possibly I'd have got more out of it had I read the others first. That's on me. But still, I think 3.75 stars.
readinggrrl's review
4.0
Loved that characters from previous books made their way into this one. This book also had more story to it than the first two, however you don’t need to read the others to enjoy this one.
suze_1624's review
4.0
3.5/4*
A slow start, which gave a real feel for the carefree years pre WW1 before everything changed.
We get a feel for the bohemian european scene in Paris, and Monty’s story does have flash backs to a few years earlier where events started.
Bishop is definitely involved in something.
And then Rodin and Freddy appear, with the whiff of something other. Monty and Bishop do seem to accept the other worldliness very easily!
The story does ramp up as you go through, culminating in a cavern underneath London, with all sorts of horrors and magic!
Another entertaining read
A slow start, which gave a real feel for the carefree years pre WW1 before everything changed.
We get a feel for the bohemian european scene in Paris, and Monty’s story does have flash backs to a few years earlier where events started.
Bishop is definitely involved in something.
And then Rodin and Freddy appear, with the whiff of something other. Monty and Bishop do seem to accept the other worldliness very easily!
The story does ramp up as you go through, culminating in a cavern underneath London, with all sorts of horrors and magic!
Another entertaining read
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