jefffrane's review against another edition
5.0
More breakneck madness in Durango as newly-minted Ranger Rhett Hennessy (Shadow) fights monsters and wizards and explores his own multiple identies. The story is remarkably romantic, witty and gritty. It picks up immediately from the cliff-hanger ending of Wake of Vultures and don't even think about starting it without the first book. (And embrace the knowledge that there are two more adventures after this one.)
drannieg's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
jvilches's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
lauralauralaura's review against another edition
3.0
I summed up my response to this series in my review of the first book, Wake of Vultures.
ruthailuj's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this book for all the same reasons I enjoyed "Wake of Vulture"; primarily because Nettie/Rhett is a great character.
This book is full of people that are complex. And when you jumble them up with vampire, shape-shifters and other mythological creatures, throw them in a post-war "wild west", you get a hearty story. Another fabulous read.
This book is full of people that are complex. And when you jumble them up with vampire, shape-shifters and other mythological creatures, throw them in a post-war "wild west", you get a hearty story. Another fabulous read.
pygment's review against another edition
4.0
See my review of the first book. I'm a therapist, more than half of my clients are trans. Thank you for a clear insight into this process and the emotional turmoil, dysphoria, and joy of self actualization.
I'm still left with one question and I'll keep reading to see if it answers itself - Knowing what he knows about the way monsters heal, that the skin just heals over, why hasn't he removed the bits that don't belong so he can stop binding? Yeah, he might look weird with no nipples but what does a bird need with nipples?
I'm still left with one question and I'll keep reading to see if it answers itself - Knowing what he knows about the way monsters heal, that the skin just heals over, why hasn't he removed the bits that don't belong so he can stop binding? Yeah, he might look weird with no nipples but what does a bird need with nipples?
davidscrimshaw's review against another edition
5.0
Thoroughly enjoyable. Even better than [book:Wake of Vultures|24819482].
lian_tanner's review against another edition
4.0
Lives up beautifully to the first book in the series. Definitely an author I will continue to watch.
berls's review against another edition
2.0
Another DNF :(
After how much I loved the first book, I'm sad to say I had to DNF this one. I probably could have pushed myself to finish it - it wasn't horrible (hence 2 stars despite my DNF), I just lost interest. It was in many ways a repeat plot - same story, different bad guys - and that just lost my interest.
I continue to be interested, however, in the way that Lila Bowen is writing the complexities of a transgender individual. On one hand, there's this marvelous point in this book where a mental shift happens and our main character is no longer thinking of themselves in the feminine - suddenly she isn't a woman struggling with wanting to be a man; now he is a man, trapped firmly in a man's body. I loved this moment, though I have no idea how the trans community would feel about it.
On the other hand, I disliked that with this change in thinking about himself he also seemed to have a kind of personality transplant - at least sexually. The person who was once awkward about sex now seems comfortable with sex and not in a "I'm finally comfortable in my head" kind of way but in a "I'm a man and men rut around" kind of way.
Anyway, I lost interest, but I could see it being worthy of continued reading.
After how much I loved the first book, I'm sad to say I had to DNF this one. I probably could have pushed myself to finish it - it wasn't horrible (hence 2 stars despite my DNF), I just lost interest. It was in many ways a repeat plot - same story, different bad guys - and that just lost my interest.
I continue to be interested, however, in the way that Lila Bowen is writing the complexities of a transgender individual. On one hand, there's this marvelous point in this book where a mental shift happens and our main character is no longer thinking of themselves in the feminine - suddenly she isn't a woman struggling with wanting to be a man; now he is a man, trapped firmly in a man's body. I loved this moment, though I have no idea how the trans community would feel about it.
On the other hand, I disliked that with this change in thinking about himself he also seemed to have a kind of personality transplant - at least sexually. The person who was once awkward about sex now seems comfortable with sex and not in a "I'm finally comfortable in my head" kind of way but in a "I'm a man and men rut around" kind of way.
Anyway, I lost interest, but I could see it being worthy of continued reading.