hgranger's review against another edition
2.0
I want Joanne to be incredible and interesting because there are so few Native American urban fantasy heroes. I want her to kick butt and take control of her world and destiny. Instead she is self-absorbed, repetitive, insecure, and somehow despite being a woman manages to be incredibly misogynistic. Stop it Murphy! This character has potential to be so much more! Enough with the dreamy blah blah dead zone sequences of boredom and self-hatred. More action, less "I got pregnant, I have to hate myself." More use of and exploration of her powers, less ogling any and all men (including but not limited to: her boss, her co-worker, her 75 year old friend, both present and past, and several gods and demons....)
I may read one more in hopes of a series improvement and if that doesn't happen, I'm giving up. Get it together Siobhan!
I may read one more in hopes of a series improvement and if that doesn't happen, I'm giving up. Get it together Siobhan!
lynseyisreading's review against another edition
4.0
From the opening scene of this book, when Joanne wakes to discover she has the world's worst hangover...and a strange guy in her bed, I just knew I was going to enjoy this more than the first book. It made me realise what was lacking last time, actually, and that was that everything just plodded along too nicely, there was nothing that happened that really ruffled Jo's feathers, but I enjoyed the fact that from the very first paragraph in this book, she was already thoroughly discombobulated.
Now, ideally it would be Captain Morrison she found in her bed, because, let's face it, those two are so gonna get it on eventually. But sadly, no, it was a perfect stranger. One who plays an interesting part in the book and I enjoyed a lot of the scenes with him.
The mystery part of this story was also a lot stronger and easier to follow than the last book. Whether that is affected by my growing understanding of Joanne's magic or whether it was just better is up for your own interpretation...Maybe a bit of both.
As you can see from the blurb, people are falling asleep and not waking up. Joanne, using her ability to touch people's minds when they are asleep or unconscious, determines that it is not a natural sleep. There is some kind of magic, like a dark blanket, holding them to sleep. When someone Joanne cares about is affected, she is determined to get to the bottom of it.
All of this was handled brilliantly, and I really enjoyed this aspect of the story. What I also enjoyed was learning more about Joanne and what happened to her up until she was around 15 and how those events may have helped shape the Joanne we are growing to know and love today.
There was also some progress in the relationship (can I even get away with calling it that?) between Jo and Michael Morrison, her boss. But don't get too excited. Progress is this instance could easily just mean not driving each other insane for five whole minutes, so don't expect anything too spectacular, but there is at least a thawing starting to happen...I think.
Looking forward to the next one!
Now, ideally it would be Captain Morrison she found in her bed, because, let's face it, those two are so gonna get it on eventually. But sadly, no, it was a perfect stranger. One who plays an interesting part in the book and I enjoyed a lot of the scenes with him.
The mystery part of this story was also a lot stronger and easier to follow than the last book. Whether that is affected by my growing understanding of Joanne's magic or whether it was just better is up for your own interpretation...Maybe a bit of both.
As you can see from the blurb, people are falling asleep and not waking up. Joanne, using her ability to touch people's minds when they are asleep or unconscious, determines that it is not a natural sleep. There is some kind of magic, like a dark blanket, holding them to sleep. When someone Joanne cares about is affected, she is determined to get to the bottom of it.
All of this was handled brilliantly, and I really enjoyed this aspect of the story. What I also enjoyed was learning more about Joanne and what happened to her up until she was around 15 and how those events may have helped shape the Joanne we are growing to know and love today.
There was also some progress in the relationship (can I even get away with calling it that?) between Jo and Michael Morrison, her boss. But don't get too excited. Progress is this instance could easily just mean not driving each other insane for five whole minutes, so don't expect anything too spectacular, but there is at least a thawing starting to happen...I think.
Looking forward to the next one!
zeezeemama11's review against another edition
4.0
im hooked on this shaman series, and am impatiently waiting for the next. if you have yet to experience this series do not start with this one start at the beginning. coyote dreams was an explanation book and was not nearly as action pacted or satisfying as her previous novels.
amyiw's review against another edition
3.0
Another 3 1/2,
I've been in the good but not very good category for a while. This could have been very good but I was disappointed in the TSTL moments, not getting the baddie, and how one of the relationships ended. , After finishing and thinking, I still feel like I cannot bump it up though it was pretty good, just not very good.
30%- This started really well. We are constantly wondering who Mark is, who is his sister really. I'm not sure if the dreams are making it so she doesn't question it enough.
55%- Still really good but a little too much dream scaping that leads to not understanding the problem but more of Joane's life.
82%- TSTL argh and she is an awful fighter, yet a police officer? This might be a little too psychedelic for me.
I've been in the good but not very good category for a while. This could have been very good but I was disappointed in the TSTL moments, not getting the baddie, and how one of the relationships ended. ,
Spoiler
She has been pushing the Morrison love angle and when it finally comes front and center, kills it. Well we know it is for the time being but it was really disappointing.30%- This started really well. We are constantly wondering who Mark is, who is his sister really. I'm not sure if the dreams are making it so she doesn't question it enough.
55%- Still really good but a little too much dream scaping that leads to not understanding the problem but more of Joane's life.
82%- TSTL argh and she is an awful fighter, yet a police officer? This might be a little too psychedelic for me.
sewcialist_librarian's review against another edition
4.0
Still a strong series. A very human main character with very human failings and strengths set in a well crafted paranormal world.
rachelking's review against another edition
3.0
I never am sure how to evaluate the books in this series, because I understand so little of what is occurring. Joanne is the type of character who lives moment to moment, and still comes out smelling like roses. In the first book, this didn't feel like it would work for me, but now I'm quite used to it. The irony is that what used to surprise me so unexpectedly had quite ceased to have that sort of effect.
The plus side to all of this is that Joanne no longer seems to be fighting her shamanic role as much and is excepting who she is and what she can do. Even her boss seems to be adapting to the idea, which can be quite hilarious at times. The chemistry between them is as visible as lightning, but for some reason neither one wants to act on it, which is frustrating to no end for me.
I was really hopeful through most of the book that the new male element was as good as he seemed, because he was perfect for Joanne in so many ways. The way her life changed on a dime did not seem to phase him, and neither did her shamanic duties. It was like he had this secret knowledge that he knew exactly what she needed, and it was the hottie standing in his shoes. Alas, these things are always too good to be true.
I enjoyed the focus on sleep and dreaming that this book had, it was a more unpredictable element for Joanne to work with and it made her expand her limits and comfort zone. This also allowed her to venture into her boss's mental garden, which was both surprising and exciting and added a new layer to their evolving relationship.
I was not really satisfied with the ending, but the great thing about series is that this still has the potential to change. I look forward to the next book in the series, Walking Dead (The Walker Papers, Book 4).
The plus side to all of this is that Joanne no longer seems to be fighting her shamanic role as much and is excepting who she is and what she can do. Even her boss seems to be adapting to the idea, which can be quite hilarious at times. The chemistry between them is as visible as lightning, but for some reason neither one wants to act on it, which is frustrating to no end for me.
I was really hopeful through most of the book that the new male element was as good as he seemed, because he was perfect for Joanne in so many ways. The way her life changed on a dime did not seem to phase him, and neither did her shamanic duties. It was like he had this secret knowledge that he knew exactly what she needed, and it was the hottie standing in his shoes. Alas, these things are always too good to be true.
I enjoyed the focus on sleep and dreaming that this book had, it was a more unpredictable element for Joanne to work with and it made her expand her limits and comfort zone. This also allowed her to venture into her boss's mental garden, which was both surprising and exciting and added a new layer to their evolving relationship.
I was not really satisfied with the ending, but the great thing about series is that this still has the potential to change. I look forward to the next book in the series, Walking Dead (The Walker Papers, Book 4).
nwhyte's review against another edition
http://nhw.livejournal.com/907656.html[return][return]The close of the first three Joanne Walker novels by C.E. Murphy, featuring a Seattle policewoman who is also a somewhat unwilling shaman. I think that if you like Buffy, you will like these books; there are obvious parallels in the heroine's resentment of the way her mystical powers have turned her life upside down, and there is a common thread of wit and not taking the supernatural too earnestly while at the same time doing it seriously enough that we believe the situation. I read the first three stories in the series (Urban Shaman, Thunderbird Falls and a separately published novella) in the wrong order, but still enjoyed them; I wouldn't recommend starting with Coyote Dreams, though, as it is heavily dependent on what has gone before.
dancinghooves27's review against another edition
2.0
I tried giving this series a good hard try, but after this third installment, I gave my copies to a local used bookstore and never looked back. The main character just never connected with me and though I finished the first three books, it was with a lot of foot dragging and putting the book down to take a calming breath before diving back in. When I first came across this series, I thought it would be great with the combo of Celtic and Native American mythology, but it just trickled into meh land as it continued and it's really a shame. I think I mostly stayed for Coyote and then even he couldn't really keep me interested enough to keep going.