jemima_reads15's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
arwen4's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing and Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Cursing, Violence, and Child abuse
Minor: Vomit
kandicez's review against another edition
3.0
I am torn between three and four stars. If this was a book by any other author I might give it four, but because I have come to love Carriger's writing so much, I think I must settle on three. This was more about the sex than the plot. My hope is that the rest of the series will focus on story now that she will have gotten all that "steam" behind her.
myzanm's review against another edition
4.0
A good book with a great world building.
It was just a bit too confusing and I really didn’t feel I quite grasped it even in the end.
It took me a while to get into, but once there it really was good. The paranormal community was intriguing and felt fresh.
I understand that there’s a prequel that I probably should have read first, but this book worked well as a starting point.
It wasn’t quite a 4 star, but I was feeling generous and rounded up.
It was just a bit too confusing and I really didn’t feel I quite grasped it even in the end.
It took me a while to get into, but once there it really was good. The paranormal community was intriguing and felt fresh.
I understand that there’s a prequel that I probably should have read first, but this book worked well as a starting point.
It wasn’t quite a 4 star, but I was feeling generous and rounded up.
chilipenguin's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Started with the prequel and kept going because who doesn't want more sexy mages and werewolves throwing themselves at each other!
I thought it was going to be all sex and light on story based on the first half, but it switches and slows down to savor the relationships developing through the main plot in the second half. It may seem like it's all smutt and little substance but the "best selling author" really comes through when things get serious. I really really enjoyed the deep conversations in the back half and marked them for the future when I need a character to tell me it's going to be okay. I certainly couldn't think to respond to people with those words, so I was impressed.
It's really nice to have queer characters you love in such a lengthy series. Each book is having me eager to see how the pack is doing and who's going to get bedded next! Woof!
I thought it was going to be all sex and light on story based on the first half, but it switches and slows down to savor the relationships developing through the main plot in the second half. It may seem like it's all smutt and little substance but the "best selling author" really comes through when things get serious. I really really enjoyed the deep conversations in the back half and marked them for the future when I need a character to tell me it's going to be okay. I certainly couldn't think to respond to people with those words, so I was impressed.
It's really nice to have queer characters you love in such a lengthy series. Each book is having me eager to see how the pack is doing and who's going to get bedded next! Woof!
venusofthesnakes's review against another edition
5.0
So cute, I love them! Could use a little more world building, but such a sweet story~
mehsi's review against another edition
5.0
A mage with an attitude, a biker werewolf, sparks fly, what could possibly go wrong? :P
So first up, this is one of my first true M/M adult books. I have read the prequel story for this one (about Bigg and Bryan). I also read a ton of Yaoi/shounen-ai. Though nothing could have prepared me for this one. :P I am still a bit, well, unsure about reading sex scenes, especially graphic ones. Not because I am prude (well, OK, a bit), but mostly because I feel uncomfortable, like I am reading something private, something you shouldn't just read. But I still wanted to read this one. I know Gail Carriger and she writes things really well, and again I also read the prequel for this one, so I just had to try it out, and I am so happy I did. I loved this one.
Yes, I do confess again, I did skip a few scenes when it became a bit too much for me (or I just blushed so hard that it felt like I was burning up). But mostly I read them! It was *cough* very interesting, very steamy, very sexy, very WOW.
I was delighted to see that Alec and Marvin were still around, still happy and good together, and that Alec moved the pack to Sausalito.
Biff is tasked with going and get the permits and make sure that the pack can find a suitable house (because while they do have a place, it is a bit too tiny for so many werewolves). Officially the Alpha should do this, but well, it is just better if Biff does it. And thus the meeting between Biff and Max happens.
I am not one for instant love *shivers*, but for some reason I just couldn't deny that this was one instant love I didn't hate. Instead I was shipping these two immediately. I just saw them in the future, all happy and good, just like Biff's brother. Yes, shipping (and fangirling) mode was activated and didn't click off until way after I read this book. :P
These two were just too perfect for each other. The snark between them, the way neither of them backs down, the chemistry, everything. Ahhhhhhhh *swoons*
Of course this book isn't all about flowers, spice (or sparkly) jizz, buttplugs, sexy times, though yes, that is a big part of the book. It is also about Max his dark past (poor guy, he really had the worst childhood, and I can imagine him acting the way he does throughout the book, though, yes I had a few times that I just wanted to shake him for thinking those silly thoughts), about the house in his garden (enchanted, oh my), about what Max truly is (awesome, duh. :P), what happens when Max and Biff get together (it goes much deeper than one may think and that brings problems). It was a rollercoaster ride. The relationship between these two is amazing, but also filled with bumps in the road. Biff is still a bit unsure, and also worried that he may just hurt Max (human, but also because of another reason) during sexy times, Max is worried that Biff may not like him if he knew the real Max + of course the whole childhood thing and what that entails, and later there is even more trouble. But I just knew, I knew, that these two would be together, I mean come on. These two are just wonderful together, they really complement each other. Helping each other, and teaching each other (sex, though it seems Biff is a master at it).
And then there is the pack. I love how protective they are of each other. But also how well they go together, and how they will tease, make jokes, and more. They are truly a family, and that is so sweet. Plus I just had a laugh how Alec and Marvin were like the Dad and Mom and the rest of the pack were their unruly children. :P Especially Marvin behaved himself as a mom at times, soothing Alec, making sure the pack behaved, trying to help out, and much more.
There are also other characters I quite loved, like 2 amazing Kitsune characters. I hope to see both of them in the next books as they were just brilliant. I had such a laugh at Gladdy and how open she was about sex (even though no one wanted to hear it). :P Plus it was great to see how she went from grumpy + urgh, to Max's best friend and one of my favourite characters.
The ending was fabulous, I love how everything was resolved. It wasn't done in a hurry, there was enough talking over, some pushing to do the right thing. I am really happy with it, and I can't wait to see what will happen in the next book. Will it be about this couple? Or will we have a new couple?
Also plus points to the cover! At first I didn't totally get it and just thought it was a sexy cover, but now that I read the whole story? I just adore that cover, it fits with the story perfectly (and it is still a sexy cover, just now a sexy cover with a meaning).
I would highly recommend this one to everyone. Be sure to read this one. And again, very very steamy and sexy! But also hilarious, funny, and swoooooon!
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
So first up, this is one of my first true M/M adult books. I have read the prequel story for this one (about Bigg and Bryan). I also read a ton of Yaoi/shounen-ai. Though nothing could have prepared me for this one. :P I am still a bit, well, unsure about reading sex scenes, especially graphic ones. Not because I am prude (well, OK, a bit), but mostly because I feel uncomfortable, like I am reading something private, something you shouldn't just read. But I still wanted to read this one. I know Gail Carriger and she writes things really well, and again I also read the prequel for this one, so I just had to try it out, and I am so happy I did. I loved this one.
Yes, I do confess again, I did skip a few scenes when it became a bit too much for me (or I just blushed so hard that it felt like I was burning up). But mostly I read them! It was *cough* very interesting, very steamy, very sexy, very WOW.
I was delighted to see that Alec and Marvin were still around, still happy and good together, and that Alec moved the pack to Sausalito.
Biff is tasked with going and get the permits and make sure that the pack can find a suitable house (because while they do have a place, it is a bit too tiny for so many werewolves). Officially the Alpha should do this, but well, it is just better if Biff does it. And thus the meeting between Biff and Max happens.
I am not one for instant love *shivers*, but for some reason I just couldn't deny that this was one instant love I didn't hate. Instead I was shipping these two immediately. I just saw them in the future, all happy and good, just like Biff's brother. Yes, shipping (and fangirling) mode was activated and didn't click off until way after I read this book. :P
These two were just too perfect for each other. The snark between them, the way neither of them backs down, the chemistry, everything. Ahhhhhhhh *swoons*
Of course this book isn't all about flowers, spice (or sparkly) jizz, buttplugs, sexy times, though yes, that is a big part of the book. It is also about Max his dark past (poor guy, he really had the worst childhood, and I can imagine him acting the way he does throughout the book, though, yes I had a few times that I just wanted to shake him for thinking those silly thoughts), about the house in his garden (enchanted, oh my), about what Max truly is (awesome, duh. :P), what happens when Max and Biff get together (it goes much deeper than one may think and that brings problems). It was a rollercoaster ride. The relationship between these two is amazing, but also filled with bumps in the road. Biff is still a bit unsure, and also worried that he may just hurt Max (human, but also because of another reason) during sexy times, Max is worried that Biff may not like him if he knew the real Max + of course the whole childhood thing and what that entails, and later there is even more trouble. But I just knew, I knew, that these two would be together, I mean come on. These two are just wonderful together, they really complement each other. Helping each other, and teaching each other (sex, though it seems Biff is a master at it).
And then there is the pack. I love how protective they are of each other. But also how well they go together, and how they will tease, make jokes, and more. They are truly a family, and that is so sweet. Plus I just had a laugh how Alec and Marvin were like the Dad and Mom and the rest of the pack were their unruly children. :P Especially Marvin behaved himself as a mom at times, soothing Alec, making sure the pack behaved, trying to help out, and much more.
There are also other characters I quite loved, like 2 amazing Kitsune characters. I hope to see both of them in the next books as they were just brilliant. I had such a laugh at Gladdy and how open she was about sex (even though no one wanted to hear it). :P Plus it was great to see how she went from grumpy + urgh, to Max's best friend and one of my favourite characters.
The ending was fabulous, I love how everything was resolved. It wasn't done in a hurry, there was enough talking over, some pushing to do the right thing. I am really happy with it, and I can't wait to see what will happen in the next book. Will it be about this couple? Or will we have a new couple?
Also plus points to the cover! At first I didn't totally get it and just thought it was a sexy cover, but now that I read the whole story? I just adore that cover, it fits with the story perfectly (and it is still a sexy cover, just now a sexy cover with a meaning).
I would highly recommend this one to everyone. Be sure to read this one. And again, very very steamy and sexy! But also hilarious, funny, and swoooooon!
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
scrow1022's review against another edition
5.0
I had read Marine biology, the prequel, and thought it was fun, but The Sumage Solution was /lovely/. I enjoyed them together, the formation of the pack (and looking forward to more stories from the pack). The unraveling of Max's mystery and Bryan's role with it was heartrending and intricate and fantastically interesting. Such a pleasure to have found these.
I also enjoyed how she brought the world of the Parasol Protectorate into it. Those aren't my favorite books (a little ornate for my taste), but I do enjoy them - these are a contemporary, somewhat stripped down style and much more to my taste.
I also enjoyed how she brought the world of the Parasol Protectorate into it. Those aren't my favorite books (a little ornate for my taste), but I do enjoy them - these are a contemporary, somewhat stripped down style and much more to my taste.
cardiomyoapathy's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25