This might be my favorite of the series so far, but I'm not sure that I'd feel the same way if I were to a reread of the series. Again, it's very muchThis might be my favorite of the series so far, but I'm not sure that I'd feel the same way if I were to a reread of the series. Again, it's very much its own beast and Vo manages to avoid falling back on patterns set in the previous novellas. It's a wonderful bit of twisted tacked onto a delightful bit of charm. Almost Brilliant isn't in it for the most part, which had me kind of sad at first, but it makes perfect sense to have it that way. I might have to do a reread of the full series to date over the holidays or something because it's nice to be engrossed in these stories that value stories so much....more
This was the first book where most of the story was set in the present, but it still fit the series really well. It was a good meditation on grief andThis was the first book where most of the story was set in the present, but it still fit the series really well. It was a good meditation on grief and mourning, dealing with the aftermath of the death of a cleric. It was somewhat moving, but more just sweet and warm.
Merged review:
This was the first book where most of the story was set in the present, but it still fit the series really well. It was a good meditation on grief and mourning, dealing with the aftermath of the death of a cleric. It was somewhat moving, but more just sweet and warm....more
There was something very crude about this, by which I'm not referring to Dex's language or the sex jokes. It felt crudely constructed of crude ideas wThere was something very crude about this, by which I'm not referring to Dex's language or the sex jokes. It felt crudely constructed of crude ideas with a poorly fashioned intent. I liked it a little better than the first book, in that I thought that both the main and secondary characters were more enjoyable, but the musings and plot never grabbed me. I do like that it puts a strong emphasis on the value of friendship and it has a wonderful ending. It was worth the read but I was right to wait until it was available at the library and I was in the right mood for it. It isn't something that would pick me up when I needed it, but fit well with a desire for a warm and amusing read.
Merged review:
There was something very crude about this, by which I'm not referring to Dex's language or the sex jokes. It felt crudely constructed of crude ideas with a poorly fashioned intent. I liked it a little better than the first book, in that I thought that both the main and secondary characters were more enjoyable, but the musings and plot never grabbed me. I do like that it puts a strong emphasis on the value of friendship and it has a wonderful ending. It was worth the read but I was right to wait until it was available at the library and I was in the right mood for it. It isn't something that would pick me up when I needed it, but fit well with a desire for a warm and amusing read....more
I'm rounding up from 3.5 stars. I really like the themes that were explored in this story, but it felt a lot more forced than the first novella. The wI'm rounding up from 3.5 stars. I really like the themes that were explored in this story, but it felt a lot more forced than the first novella. The whole idea is inherently meta, given that it's a folklorist exploring folklore and knowing how the stories are supposed to turn out, but this takes it a step further that didn't work well for me. I'm not sure that I believed the character arc of the evil queen, either, which is the biggest problem. I think it would take a full novel to really make that work: she's too smart and determined to turn that quickly without having more experiences showing her what alternatives she could have. The same could be said for the problems happening in the real-world. Flesh it out a little more and this would be excellent, but instead it's merely pretty good....more
I love this novella and will probably get all weepy every time I see the title listed somewhere. Polk's writing is amazing and she crafted such a wondI love this novella and will probably get all weepy every time I see the title listed somewhere. Polk's writing is amazing and she crafted such a wonderful protagonist to tell the story. Infused with a delicious romance, it starts out charming, becomes exciting, and finishes with a flair so moving that I was totally overwhelmed. Part of me wants more but part of me wants to lock this story away in amber so that Helen and Edith can remain the perfect couple forever....more
That was a good one. In some ways it was more intense than the others in that Chih was actually in the thick of things (moreso than waiting out tigersThat was a good one. In some ways it was more intense than the others in that Chih was actually in the thick of things (moreso than waiting out tigers), but it still had the joy of stories and the excellent storytelling of the the others. Three books in and I don't feel like the author is falling back on a formula but is sincerely making each novella it's own, fully conceived thing....more
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