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A review by wordsareworlds
A Peculiar Combination by Ashley Weaver
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I thoroughly enjoyed the Amory Ames series, so have been looking forward to reading the start of a new series by Weaver. It did not disappoint, although it does contain one of my least favorite tropes, a love triangle.
The plot is well-paced and Ellie is a delight. I love a capable heroine, and Weaver delivered very well here, while also giving Ellie believable flaws. The mystery takes a backseat to a spy adventure vibe, but the twist at the end was satisfying - not completely telegraphed but not so much of a surprise that it felt like it came out of nowhere. The events are rather fantastic, but that's a positive for me. I definitely did not come to this book for a realistic portrayal of clandestine WW2 activities, and I liked the lighter tone coupled with high-ish stakes.
There were a couple of things that grated a bit, and hope to see change in the next book. Ellie has one brief interrogation of someone she calls a casual friend, but beyond that she seems to have no women friends at all. In fact, as far as this book is concerned she doesn't know anyone outside of her family except that one woman and Felix. And that leads to my next quibble - there is a love triangle here between Ellie, the Major and Felix and unless things take a drastic turn its obvious she's going to end up with the Major. Not only do I dislike love triangles as a rule, but the Major spends a great portion of the book being a bit of an ass, and honestly I am tired of these setups where it's presented as more desirable to be with someone who has to be convinced to treat the heroine well than the person who respects her from the start.
Overall, this was a fun, quick read and I'll definitely pick up the next, and I recommend them to readers looking for a WW2 spy story with strong cozy vibes.
The plot is well-paced and Ellie is a delight. I love a capable heroine, and Weaver delivered very well here, while also giving Ellie believable flaws. The mystery takes a backseat to a spy adventure vibe, but the twist at the end was satisfying - not completely telegraphed but not so much of a surprise that it felt like it came out of nowhere. The events are rather fantastic, but that's a positive for me. I definitely did not come to this book for a realistic portrayal of clandestine WW2 activities, and I liked the lighter tone coupled with high-ish stakes.
There were a couple of things that grated a bit, and hope to see change in the next book. Ellie has one brief interrogation of someone she calls a casual friend, but beyond that she seems to have no women friends at all. In fact, as far as this book is concerned she doesn't know anyone outside of her family except that one woman and Felix. And that leads to my next quibble - there is a love triangle here between Ellie, the Major and Felix and unless things take a drastic turn its obvious she's going to end up with the Major. Not only do I dislike love triangles as a rule, but the Major spends a great portion of the book being a bit of an ass, and honestly I am tired of these setups where it's presented as more desirable to be with someone who has to be convinced to treat the heroine well than the person who respects her from the start.
Overall, this was a fun, quick read and I'll definitely pick up the next, and I recommend them to readers looking for a WW2 spy story with strong cozy vibes.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Sexism