SOS: Serious Overload of Series discussion
Archive: Past Team Challenges
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R23: Team #13 ~ Not on my Watch
Shelf 3: Cozy MysteryJackie: Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun by Elle Cosimano (17/05/2023 - ๐๐๐๐) Review
Marisa: Four Charming Spells by Lynn Cahoon (25/05/2023 - ๐๐๐๐) Review
Victoria: A Spell of Trouble by Leighann Dobbs (18/05/2023 - ๐๐๐) Review
Summary Post
Completion Post ~ week 2 ~ May DayBook: Frostbound Throne: Song of Night by May Sage
Pages: 266
Read: 11/05/2023
Rating: โ โ โ โ
Review:
Worldbuilding:
Ahhh, the wonderful fae courts... how I have missed you! We start (and stay most of the book) in the Court of Night, the Unseelie court. We meet up with Queen Shae again and get the lay of the land as it is at the moment.
While a lot of information is funneled to the reader, it never feels too much. Rather, we learn as the characters learn or explain. The scenes and environments were clear and well-described.
Character development:
Right off the bat, I really liked our two main characters, Devi and Vale. I mean, one is the queen's ward with dark secrets, and the other is the queen's son and has a (very) dark side. Secrets, mistrust, and attraction are the keywords in this first installment. Devi and Vale get to know each other better throughout the book, learning not to judge a book by its cover (or base it on the rumors).
And then, of course, we have the side characters such as Shae and Killian, who I hope we will see much more of in the next installment! All characters feel real and alive. They have their own hopes, dreams, motives, and reasons for doing what they do. Great writing!!
Pacing and flow:
It took me a chapter or two to get into the book, but once I was... I was stuck :D I just kept going back to it, sometimes even reading just a few pages cause I'm busy moving. Very nice balance between the action and all the conversation going on.
The book:
The book was well written with no (noticeable) errors. There is some sex described (if that is important to you).
The book has 266 pages, spread over 22 chapters, and is told from multiple points of view.
Final thoughts:
After reading the prequel 'Thorns and Crowns', it took me waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too long to get started on this book. Needless to say, the next installment will be read a lot sooner :D This series is off to such a great start, and I can't wait to read more!
Selection PostShelf #3 ~ 11 May: Cozy Mystery
Book: Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun
Author: Elle Cosimano
Pages: 304
How it fits: Cozy Mystery list
Hello, I go away for the weekend today and I'll be back on Monday night (long weekend in Madrid), so although I'll be able to read, I won't be able to update anything. See you at my back.
Oh that sounds lovely! Enjoy Marisa โ๏ธ�
Thank you, it has been very nice, really, and I've enjoyed it. Now, back to the normal, and I've already requested our stamp ;)
Shelf 4: FaeJackie: Skin Game by Jim Butcher (30/05/2023 - ๐๐๐๐) Review
Marisa: Of Shadow and Ash by Dana Marie Bell (28/05/2023 - ๐๐๐๐) Review
Victoria: Of Mist and Shadow by Jenna Wolfhart (29/05/2023 - ๐๐๐) Review
Summary Post
Completion Post ~ week 3 ~ Cozy MysteryBook: A Spell of Trouble by Leighann Dobbs
Pages: 357
Read: 18/05/2023
Rating: โ โ โ�
Review:
A quick review: I'm still on very patchy 4G at the moment (my internet won't be up until Monday... dear god!).
I knew we would get this as soon as I saw it on the list; I dreaded the call... and there it was... my least favorite shelf. I think I had 2 books from that list to choose from, and I'm delighted to say I got through it.
Anyhow... I liked the characters, but they felt so superficial. I wanted to know more about them, how they all got there together, and so on.
The hard part to believe was how 4 witches could investigate without the local police force or the FBI knowing... I mean, it just wasn't believable. But, if they had been asked to, for example, be an outside consultant for them, that would have been believable.
And I know cozy mysteries aren't about romance... but one kiss... in a whole book? Even Dresden has more luck than that :D
While I wouldn't say I liked the book (if you couldn't tell by now), it was still well written with no errors, the pacing and flow were good, and the scenes were well described and clear.
CONGRATULATIONS, Not on My Watch!You now have an updated BINGO card with a stamp on 'May Day'.ย
[Your updated BINGO card can be viewed on page 1]
Good Job!! :D
Congratulations on the stamp Watchers!
Completion PostShelf #3 ~ 11 May: Cozy Mystery
Book: Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun
Author: Elle Cosimano
Pages: 304
How it fits: Cozy Mystery list
Date read: 5/17/23
Rating: 4 stars
Review: I love this series! The two main characters are so likeable and it's a lot of fun just seeing what they get themselves into in each book. The MC, Finlay, is newly divorced (cheating husband) and has two kids. She is also an author of romantic suspense. Vero is the live-in nanny (almost finished with her accounting degree) and is Finlay's partner in crime. Literally. In the first book Finlay is overheard discussing the points of her latest book and is approached by a woman who wants her to kill her husband, believing that Finlay is a killer for hire. And it goes from there. This is the third and latest in the series and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Can't wait for the next book due out next year.
Shelf #5 ~ 25 May: Beware of BearsDIRECT LINK(s): character who is a bear shifter; โBewareโ� or "Bear" in title; author's first or last name beginning with B
Shelf 5: Beware of BearsJackie: Cursor's Fury by Jim Butcher (30/05/2023 - ๐๐๐๐) Review
Marisa: Bear Naked by Dana Marie Bell (01/06/2023 - ๐๐๐๐) Review
Victoria: The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden (06/06/2023 - ๐๐๐ยฝ) Review
Summary Post
Completion PostShelf 3: Cozy Mystery
Book: Four Charming Spells by Lynn Cahoon
Pages: 288
How it fits: Shelved 19 times as cozy-mystery
Read: 25/05/2023
Rating: โ โ โ โ
Review
Cozy Mystery is probably one of the genres I read more now, so I could choose the book :D I like this one as much as the other series, perhaps a bit slow at the beginning but it gets better as you advance. I like the characters and the paranormal setting for the books, and the mystery is well done and it takes time to guess it (the seconday "mystery" was much easier :D )
Well, I've finished the book and requested our cozy-mystery stamp. Now, to read more books, that two stamps are pending ;) (there is no shortage of bears in my shelves :D )
Sorry to be so slow in selecting. I have a team challenge that's taken over my life. But it's almost over so I'll catch up quickly.
Jackie wrote: "Sorry to be so slow in selecting. I have a team challenge that's taken over my life. But it's almost over so I'll catch up quickly."No issue, I understand about challenges taking over life (it has happened to me :( ), and I hardly select in advance....
CONGRATULATIONS, Not On My Watch!You now have an updated BINGO card with a stamp on 'cozy mystery'.ย
[Your updated BINGO card can be viewed on page 1]
Good Job!! :D
Congratulations on the stamp Watchers!
Selection PostShelf #4 ~ 18 May: Fae
Book: Skin Game
Author: Jim Butcher
Pages: 610
How it fits: on Fae list
Selection PostShelf 4: Fae
Book: Of Shadows and Ash by Dana Marie Bell
Pages: 222
How it fits: Shelved 2 times as Fae
Completion PostShelf 4: Fae
Book: Of Shadows and Ash by Dana Marie Bell
Pages: 222
How it fits: Shelved 2 times as fae
Read: 28/05/2023
Rating: โ โ โ โ
Review
This book has been in my pile for years (yes...), but this challenge has dusted it and I've remembered why I liked the series. I like the story, that there is no much angst even if the situation is not really pretty, how the different paranormals mingle and how the story advances till the other books. It can be read as a stand-alone, but I think you'll like it more if you see how the whole plot (5 books) evolve. I've already recovered the other two books from calibre.
Completion PostShelf #4 ~ 18 May: Fae
Book: Skin Game
Author: Jim Butcher
Pages: 610
How it fits: on Fae list
Date read: 5/30/23
Rating: 4 stars
Review: In this book, Mab forces Harry to work with villain Nicodemus Archleone to break into a vault belonging to the Greek god of the Underworld, Hades. Harry knows to expect trickery and betrayal from Nicodemus and the gang he has organized to pull off this theft. Once again Harry teams up with ex-cop Karrin Murphy to watch his back. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and the characters.
Selection PostShelf #5 ~ 25 May: Beware of Bears
Book: Cursor's Fury
Author: Jim Butcher
Pages: 704
How it fits: Author last name starts with B
Completion Post ~ week 4 ~ FaeBook: Of Mist and Shadow by Jenna Wolfhart
Pages: 456
Read: 29/05/2023
Rating: โ โ โ�
Review:
Worldbuilding
We start the book in the kingdom of the light fae. Where King Oberon rules with an iron fist (no pun intended :p), humans are at the bottom of the totem pole there, and while they're well-fed and such, you better stay in line, or you're killed, and so might your family.
There is one way out across the Bridge of Death, but that leads to the Mists, where unimaginable beasts and terrors live and feast on human flesh. And let's not forget about the Mist King, the reason everyone is trapped with King Oberon.
As we meet Tessa, we get to know how she sees the world and, as the story progresses, how that view is slowly changing as truths and more lies get added to the pile. The scenes and environments were clear and well-described.
Character development
I'm sorry to say, but I didn't really like Tessa. Her opinions and directions changed with the wind, and I just thought it was more annoying than anything else.
King Oberon is a prick, an obsessed ruler who thinks he can do whatever the hell he wants. King Kalen is mysterious and without spoiling much more... I wonder what is real and what is not.
Honestly, I can't say that the character development was good, as it seemed there was no progress. They didn't grow. I could even say that Tessa went from ignorant to being just plain stupid.
I don't know... just no.
Pacing and flow
Hmm, this is a difficult one, as the book didn't manage to keep my attention for pretty much the whole middle part. The start was good, getting the lay of the land, and the end was good (action woohoo), but I had a hard time going through it :(
Overall, there was a good balance between action and conversation.
The book
The book was well written with no (noticeable) errors. There are some spicy scenes, but no actual sex (if that is important to you).
The book has 456 pages, spread over 44 chapters, and is told from Tessa's point of view. This installment ends with a cliffhanger, and believe me... it's a doozy.
Final thoughts
I liked the twists and turns towards the end... and while I might also like the Mist King, I can't really point out anything else that I'm a great fan of. I have the second book (cause both were a great deal at the time), but I don't think I'll be reading it any time soon.
I see you've loved the characters, Victoria ๐
Well, stamp requested and I think I've updated all the info. Now, we can begin to chant for April Shower ๐
Marisa wrote: "I see you've loved the characters, Victoria ๐"Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah ๐
Marisa wrote: "Well, stamp requested and I think I've updated all the info. Now, we can begin to chant for April Shower ๐"Oh wow, I actually didn't realize we only need one more!
Is there an overview of the other groups? Normally there is a spreadsheet but can't find the link to it.
*fingers crossed for April Showers* and then some serious reading lol
Ooh, I've forgotten to post the link to the Spreadsheet, I'll add it to the discussion thread.
Sandra wrote: "Ooh, I've forgotten to post the link to the Spreadsheet, I'll add it to the discussion thread."You're the best, Sandra!!!
Sandra wrote: "Ooh, I've forgotten to post the link to the Spreadsheet, I'll add it to the discussion thread."Thank you, Sandra!
I finished my Bears book and will post review later today. Still need to find my Free Space book.
Thank you, Jackie. I'm still with my bear book....
Shelf 6: Magical RealismJackie: The Last of the Moon Girls by Barbara Davis
Marisa:
Victoria: Circe by Madeline Miller
Summary Post
CONGRATULATIONS, Not on My Watch!You now have an updated BINGO card with a stamp on 'fae'.ย
[Your updated BINGO card can be viewed on page 1]
Good Job!! :D
Selection PostFree Space
Book: Born in Death
Author: J.D. Robb
Pages: 364
How it fits: Sci-Fi Fantasy series list
Congratulations on the stamp Watchers!
SOS: Serious Overload of Series
Books mentioned in this topic
L'orso e l'usignolo (other topics)The Bear and the Nightingale (other topics)
Bear Naked (other topics)
Bear Naked (other topics)
Cursor's Fury (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Katherine Arden (other topics)Katherine Arden (other topics)
Dana Marie Bell (other topics)
Barbara Davis (other topics)
Madeline Miller (other topics)
More...
Shelf #2 ~ 4 May: May Day
Book: Private
Author: James Patterson
Pages: 385
How it fits: First published May 27, 2010
Date read: 5/6/23
Rating: 3 stars
Review: This is the first book in the Private series, one of James Patterson's gazillion series. The MC is Jack Morgan, retired from the CIA and now running a private investigation business started by his father. And this is not your run-of-the-mill investigation firm; this one caters to high-profile clients and Jack seems to know all their secrets. This book focuses on three cases, illegal gambling that threatens to bring down the NFL, the murders of eighteen teenage schoolgirls, and the murder of his best friend's wife. Jack is a likeable and competent protagonist, and I enjoyed the book. Not a fantastic book but enjoyable.