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Showing posts with label G-U Review. Show all posts
Showing posts with label G-U Review. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
Review: A Cursed Embrace by Cecy Robson
A Cursed Embrace
Author: Cecy Robson
Release Date: July 2, 2013
Publisher: Signet
The Weird Girls #2
ISBN: #978-0451416742
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Format(s): Paperback (368 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Publisher
About the book:
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Celia Wird and her three sisters are just like other twenty-something girls—with one tiny exception: They are the products of a curse that backfired and gave each of them unique powers that made them, well, a little weird…
After Celia Wird and her sisters help master vampire Misha save his family, their powers are exposed to the supernatural community of the Lake Tahoe region. But fame comes at a price, and being “weird” isn’t always welcome.
To make matters worse, Celia desires the love of Alpha werewolf Aric, but his pack is bent on destroying their relationship to preserve his pureblood status. And once weres start turning up dead—with evidence pointing to the vampires—she must face the prospect of losing Aric forever. But the chaos only masks a new threat. An evil known as the Tribe has risen—and their sights are set on Celia and her sisters.
What G & U are talking about:
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Gikany and Una continue to enjoy the Weird Girls series. With the latest installment, A Cursed Embrace, we were stunned by the ending and feeling a little lost.
This urban fantasy series is from Celia’s point of view. In the last two books (well, the first novel, Sealed with a Curse and a prequel novella, The Weird Girls) we had a lot of interaction between Celia and her sisters; Taran, Shayna and Emme. One aspect that we love about this series is the connection and bond between these four very different sisters. Each one is not only unique in appearance, but in her particular curse (power) and personality. The way the sisters are able to live with one another is powerful – they even take each other’s moods and abrasiveness in stride. A Cursed Embrace, felt as if it didn’t have that. In some ways it parallels the feelings of Celia as she feels not just divided from Aric, but since she is no longer with the powerful Alpha, that she is apart from her happy wolf-dating sisters. The aloneness that comes across the pages is almost overpowering. We understand it and it is a powerful tool that Ms. Robson wields – but we didn’t like it. But isn’t that is the point?
There are two distinct moments in A Cursed Embrace where we hope (beg, plead, whine…) that Ms. Robson will give us novellas. The first is the relationship between Gem and Taran. Most notably where they finally connect – Taran and Gem are conflicted yet drawn together. The tension and release they experience in this novel (which is behind the scenes) would be a fun novella. The other is of course the events at the end of the novel. To avoid spoiling anything, there is a significant occurrence at the end that Celia is not privy to. It is that and the subsequent time after we would like to experience.
The world of A Cursed Embrace continues to keep us glued. The politics between the different groups of supernaturals – not to mention the inner politics, is fascinating. We appreciated that part of the overall conflict in this storyline was self-made. Because of internal politics and prejudice within the supernatural communities, they created the perfect environment for this new evil to rise. Yet in some ways it felt like they didn’t learn their lesson. This aspect along with the heartache Celia suffered at the close (along with the nature of her departure) creates a burning need in our desire for the next novel.
A Cursed Embrace also encompasses the love triangle that Celia has found herself in. We love the connection she has with Aric and that her inner tigress can relax. As much we love the passion and chemistry between them, we do not feel that Aric sees her as an equal. This grates on the ingrained personality that is Celia as the oldest sibling and most importantly her inner golden tigress (who has an overriding need to protect). Yet, there is no question that Celia is in love with Aric. Then we have the relationship between Celia and Misha. We love Misha and how he seems to respect her independent spirit. He allows her freedom of expression and her tigress the freedom to protect and hunt. However, he, too, has a need to protect her and wants more than friendship. The dichotomy between Misha and Aric is not lost on us. We know Aric cares deeply for Celia and we believe Misha does as well. For the first time in her life, Celia has options and it is heartbreaking to watch her choose. We would like to think that as the novel came to a close, Celia’s choice may not be binding…that maybe the future holds a glimmer of hope.
We apologize for the vagueness, but we certainly do not want to spoil this novel. Although we have a few reservations about certain aspects of A Cursed Embrace, we still liked the story. We really enjoy this urban fantasy. It is a great balance between light-hearted romance and gritty urban fantasy adventure and action. If you haven’t tried The Weird Sisters yet, please pick it up. You might be just as caught up as we are.
Their Rating:
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Liked it - recommend (B+)
Purchase Info:
Reviews in the Series:
Monday, July 15, 2013
Review: The Outcast Prince by Shona Husk
The Outcast Prince
Author: Shona Husk
Release Date: July 2, 2013
Publisher: Sourcebooks
The Court of Annwyn #1
ISBN: #978-1402280160
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Format(s): Paperback (320 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Publisher
About the book:
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Caspian Mort can feel the history in anything he touches, a gift he inherited from his father, the Crown Prince of Annwyn. Devastated over his ex-wife's infidelity, Caspian has withdrawn from human contact except when working as an antiques dealer.
While assessing the contents of the historic Callaway House he encounters the beautiful Lydia Callaway and senses that her home is haunted by a banished fairy. But what does the dangerous exile want? Unbeknownst to Lydia, she's the owner of the last remaining portal to Annwyn—a mirror hidden somewhere in the house. To keep Lydia safe, Caspian will have to divulge the secrets of his heritage, and risk losing his heart again.
What G & U are talking about:
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This new Court of Annwyn series from Shona Husk is fascinating. Gikany and Una enjoyed the first series we read of hers, Shadowlands Trilogy, but this one is much more engaging. The Outcast Prince is a thrilling start on what will be a darkly political fae series.
Annwyn is the fairy realm. However, this paranormal romance is different from what we have read of “fae” novels in the past. Annwyn and our world are separate but tied. Unrest in Annwyn has rippling affects into ours. If the King and Queen are warring and there is unrest – plagues erupt in our world. It is thoroughly interesting how these two distinct worlds overlap and collide. For those in the real world, Annwyn is both heaven and hell. Although the fae can enter world, there are consequences if they stay too long – consequences that lead to death.
Lydia Callaway has inherited the Callaway house. The Callaways are a little notorious in their part of the world. Her grandmother, in order to save her home after her husband was killed in the war, turned the old plantation into a meeting place (for men and their mistresses). While the Callaways had been a name of respect and genteelness, it became associated with whispers of scandals and wild parties. Lydia, a public relations person, owns her own mortgage and doesn’t feel able to keep her grandmother’s plantation. She turns to Caspian Mort to handle the evaluation of her grandmother’s estate so she can decide whether she can afford to keep it or not.
Caspian is more than what he seems. He is the son of the Prince of Annwyn, born in the mortal world. Caspian is bound by the laws of Annwyn due to his lineage, but is also mortal trying to live in the world he has always known. Because of his ties to Annwyn, he is psychometric; he has the ability to touch objects and learn the history of them. This skill is what allows him to be successful at his antiquities job.
When Lydia and Caspian meet, there is an undeniable connection. Both have been hurt and stigmatized by their past experiences. Watching them as they stumble along from a working relationship to a romantic one is passionate and endearing. We enjoyed how their journey was woven into the adventure of finding the Window, a mirror that grants access into Annwyn – something a banished fairy would kill for. Caspian, with his ability to see the fae, knows something is after the mirror. He hopes to find the mirror before the Grey (the banished fairy) finds it.
The world is awesome. Gikany and Una loved the world that The Outcast Prince takes place in. The descriptions of Annwyn were both surreal and yet imaginable. Although this is the first book in this new series, we were confused at times at some “little” things. For example – a banished fairy can become a grey, Bogart, imp or brownie. It is by holding on to one or two particular things that causes them to change, they are: power, magic, appearance, stature. We tried to figure it out while writing the review, and we get them mixed up. Not that it is vital to the plot, but in easing us better into the world and its rules, a glossary might help.
One aspect that bothered us about The Outcast Prince was that although Caspian and Lydia were three-dimensional characters, Caspian was more thoroughly sketched out. Lydia, for being in public relations and having this somewhat demanding job, was home quite a bit. It felt a bit flat along with the relationship with her mother (who abandoned her). We found it odd that her mother was able to disappear, when she bore the Callaway name (or we assumed she did). The way her mother popped in and out during the will issues (well, not her but her lawyer) was a bit flat for us as well. However, they were not large of enough issues to distract us from the main overall story arc (nor the steaminess between Lydia and Caspian).
We look forward to learning more of the background of Shea and the Queen as well as the story between the King and Queen. Much seemed to center around their relationships in the big picture and yet we had so little back-story of them. Even if it is in novella format, we’d love to see and experience some of that back-story. It might even aid in cementing the world-building.
Although there are a few issues, overall we enjoyed The Outcast Prince, and eagerly look forward to the next novel in the Court of Annwyn series, Lord of the Hunt. If you are looking for something new in paranormal that centers on the fae, pick this series up, you might get lost in it!
Their Rating:
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Enjoyed - strongly recommend (A-)
Purchase Info:
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
Review: Spartan Frost by Jennifer Estep
Spartan Frost
Author: Jennifer Estep
Release Date: June 25, 2013
Publisher: Kensington
Mythos Academy #4.5
ISBN: #978-0758294777
Genre: Young Adult (Urban Fantasy), novella
Format(s): E-book
Book Source: Purchased with own funds
About the book:
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I'm Logan Quinn, the deadliest Spartan warrior at Mythos Academy. At least I was--until the day I almost killed Gwen Frost.
Professor Metis and Nickamedes say that I'm fine, that Loki and the Reapers don't have a hold on me anymore, but I can't risk it. I can't risk hurting Gwen again. So I'm leaving Mythos and going somewhere far, far away.
I know Gwen wonders what's happening to me, whether I'm safe. I can't tell her, but this is my story. . .
What G & U are talking about:
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Gikany and Una have fallen in love with the Mythos Academy series. We love Gwen and the world she inhabits. We tend to get completely caught up in the stories and lose all sense of time. Ms. Estep gives us a treat in this series with Spartan Frost – a short novella that gives us a glimpse into Login-freaking-Quinn’s mind. If you are a fan of this series, this novella is a must read!
Through this very short novella, we see how torn and broken Logan is over his betrayal of Gwen. He is still reeling from being tricked by his stepmother and bound and controlled by Loki through a necklace, which causes him to almost kill Gwen – his beloved Gypsy Girl. Spartan Frost is a bit of an emotional jaunt as we see Logan home with his father – with whom he has a broken relationship. However, we are given a glimmer of hope at the end. That is until you read the short snippet from Midnight Frost and become agitated at the peril Gwen finds herself in. Our only complaint is that it was a novella… and we just wanted more!
If you haven’t started the Mythos Academy series, you are seriously missing out. This is a series parents can read with their kids (seventh grade and up) or as an adult to enjoy. They are really just great reads.
Their Rating:
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Loved it - enthusiastically recommend (A)
Purchase Info:
Reviews in the Series:
Sunday, June 30, 2013
Review: Viral Nation by Shaunta Grimes
Viral Nation
Author: Shaunta Grimes
Release Date: July 2, 2013
Publisher: Berkley Trade
ISBN: #978-0425265130
Genre: Young Adult (Urban Fantasy)
Format(s): Paperback (320 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Publisher
About the book:
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After a virus claimed nearly the entire global population, the world changed. The United States splintered into fifty walled cities where the surviving citizens clustered to start over. The Company, which ended the plague by bringing a life-saving vaccine back from the future, controls everything. They ration the scant food and supplies through a lottery system, mandate daily doses of virus suppressant, and even monitor future timelines to stop crimes before they can be committed.
Brilliant but autistic, sixteen-year-old Clover Donovan has always dreamed of studying at the Waverly-Stead Academy. Her brother and caretaker, West, has done everything in his power to make her dream a reality. But Clover’s refusal to part with her beloved service dog denies her entry into the school. Instead, she is drafted into the Time Mariners, a team of Company operatives who travel through time to gather news about the future.
When one of Clover’s missions reveals that West’s life is in danger, the Donovans are shattered. To change West’s fate, they’ll have to take on the mysterious Company. But as its secrets are revealed, they realize that the Company’s rule may not be as benevolent as it seems. In saving her brother, Clover will face a more powerful force than she ever imagined and will team up with a band of fellow misfits and outsiders to incite a revolution that will change their destinies forever.
What G & U are talking about:
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Viral Nation is a new young adult novel in a post-apocalyptic world. Due to a nasty viral outbreak, populations were decimated; leaving survivors encamped in walled cities. The cure to the virus that saved the world turns out to be a future drug. The suppressant was brought back from the future, manufactured by the Company who then started to take over… everything.
It is an ominous world that Clover and West live in, although they don’t know it. This new world is what they grew up in. Children only attend primary school. After primary school they either work growing food for the government or they go work for the Company. If a child is particularly bright, they attend the Academy where, upon graduation, they are able to obtain high-level positions in either the Company or the government. Life within the walled cities is safe and crime is nonexistent. With the Company keeping tabs on future events, they are able to detain and execute criminals prior to committing the crimes.
Clover is an extremely intelligent young woman who just so happens to have Autism. West, her older brother, has cared for her since their father moved up the ranks within the Company and was required to live in the barracks. They have come to depend on each other.
West is looking forward to Clover going to the Academy. With her intellect it is a no brainer that she will certainly get in. This means West can follow his dream of working for the Company as soon as Clover leaves to live in the dorms. However nothing ever seems to go as planned. When Clover attends her interview for the Academy, she is sent to the Company to work instead. Strangely not only does she get sent directly from her interview to the Company, but straight on to her first training mission. From there, Clover’s future is changed, along with West’s and that of the few friends they meet on the way.
This is not the only strange issue Gikany and Una find while reading Viral Nation. We do not know anyone personally that is autistic. However, we felt that Clover’s autism was not severe. She seems far more social than what we would believe. Although Clover tenses and prefers to not be touched when under duress, she seemed more accepting of it when calmer. It felt like she would have an autistic moment and then continue on as a stubborn, seriously smart girl. Maybe it is due to her being only mildly Autistic, but we are given the impression that she is supposed to be more than mildly Autistic.
Another issue we found a bit off-putting was when Clover is on her mission (we are keeping this spoiler free). There is a portion when traveling that noise and vibration are an issue. Mango, a bulldog and her assistance dog, is subjected to the loud noise and vibration. Clover is up in a cushioned seat with her feet elevated on a board which minimizes the impact along with wearing hearing protection. From what we are allowed to believe, Clover lets Mango sit on the floor (getting full force vibration) and must endure the loud noises. With a dog’s sensitive ears, it must have been cruel. This really bothered us.
Although we felt Viral Nation had a few issues, we did find it to be an interesting world. Considering how we are left at the end of the novel, we would like to see what happens in the next installment. We do recommend Viral Nation to any age starting at seventh grade and above. It is a good mix of urban fantasy and light science fiction.
Their Rating:
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Liked it, but I had some issues - recommend (B)
Purchase Info:
Labels:
3 stars,
Berkley Trade,
G-U Review,
paranormal YA,
Shaunta Grimes,
YA Literature
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1 comments
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
Review: The Forgotten Ones by Laura Howard
The Forgotten Ones
Author: Laura Howard
Release Date: April 30, 2013
Publisher: self-published
Danaan Trilogy #1
Genre: YA Paranormal
Format(s): e-book
Book Source: Author
About the book:
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Allison O'Malley's plan is to go to grad school so she can get a good job and take care of her schizophrenic mother. She has carefully closed herself off from everything else, including a relationship with Ethan, who she's been in love with for as long as she can remember.
What is definitely not part of the plan is the return of her long-lost father, who claims he can bring Allison's mother back from the dark place her mind has gone. Allison doesn't trust her father, so why would she believe his stories about a long forgotten Irish people, the Tuatha de Danaan? But truths have a way of revealing themselves. Secrets will eventually surface. And Allison must learn to set aside her plan and work with her father if there is even a small chance it could restore her mother's sanity.
What G & U are talking about:
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The Forgotten Ones is the debut novel of Laura Howard. This is the first book in Danaan Trilogy. We found this novel to have a few of the characteristics we seem to associate as new author issues; however, we did find the premise interesting and promising.
The novel begins with our main character, Allison trying to ease her mother during one of her schizophrenic episodes. This sets the tone of Allison's character. She is completely devoted to her mother, to the point that she neglects not only herself but living. Even though she has a long-standing crush on Ethan, her cousin Nicole's boyfriend's brother, she refuses to acknowledge or pursue her feelings even when they seem to be reciprocated. Her sole goal is to be educated so she can care for her mother, nothing else matters. Her plans are derailed when her long lost father, Liam, returns, to see her mother and meets his unknown daughter instead.
The interesting mythology is centered on the Fae. Liam has returned in hopes of curing Beth's insanity, but Allison refuses to believe him and his crazy stories of the fair folk. Unfortunately she is dragged into this world when her mother goes missing. Allison will sacrifice anything to save her, even herself.
One of the issues we had with the writing was that as a first person narrative, the reader is being told what happens one instead of experiencing it through the main character's eyes. This did detract a bit from our enjoyment. We also feel that the story read more like a novella rather than a full novel. This may be due to the terse, compact nature of the story. Gikany and Una would have preferred to been given more meat in this novel. It was interesting and were intrigued, but we were left wanting for more. In some ways we felt that the novel ended where it started, thus giving it a more prequel feeling than being a first book in a trilogy.
All in all, our interest is piqued. We look forward to reading the next book in the Danaan Trilogy. If your are looking for a new and quick read, give The Forgotten Ones a try.
Their Rating:
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Liked it, but I had some issues - recommend (B)
Purchase Info:
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Review: Generation V by M.L. Brennan
Generation V
Author: M.L. Brennan
Release Date: May 7, 2013
Publisher: Roc
Fortitude Scott series #1
ASIN: 978-0451418401
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Format(s): Paperback (320 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Publisher
About the book:
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Fortitude Scott’s life is a mess. A degree in film theory has left him with zero marketable skills, his job revolves around pouring coffee, his roommate hasn’t paid rent in four months, and he’s also a vampire. Well, sort of. He’s still mostly human.
But when a new vampire comes into his family’s territory and young girls start going missing, Fort can’t ignore his heritage anymore. His mother and his older, stronger siblings think he’s crazy for wanting to get involved. So it’s up to Fort to take action, with the assistance of Suzume Hollis, a dangerous and sexy shape-shifter. Fort is determined to find a way to outsmart the deadly vamp, even if he isn’t quite sure how.
But without having matured into full vampirehood and with Suzume ready to split if things get too risky, Fort’s rescue mission might just kill him.…
What G & U are talking about:
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Generation V is a new and exciting urban fantasy debut novel from M.L. Brennan. This engrossing new vampire mythos is a thrilling and engaging suspense that is tempered with humor.
Our hero, Fortitude, is an average guy. That is... until he begins his transition into a vampire. In this world, vampires are born not made. As they mature, vampires are just like humans, except they must feed from their parent once a month until the transition begins. Fortitude is doing everything he can to postpone that transition for as long as he as he possibly can. Some of his methods are a bit akin to being a difficult child, but after being introduced to his older siblings, Prudence and Chivalry, we don't blame him. As he is trying to make his own way in the world (staying human) he rejects living with his mother and tries to make it out on his own. This is why he is living the life of a starved college student. His college degree in film theory seems to only get him so far, as he works for a dive coffee bar.
Something finally changes for Fort when a strange vampire enters his mother’s territory. Fort sees this as his opportunity to see if his family is better or worse than others out there. Sadly, he finds out that his family may actually be the more modern and new aged group than those out there. This chance meeting however, starts a chain reaction. As Fort tries to save a "pet" from this seemingly evil vampire's possession he discovers that this vampire may be collecting other young girls.
This quest that Fort finds himself on in Generation V also finds him with a reluctant but comical sidekick, Suzume, the kitsune bodyguard. Suzume has been assigned by Fort's mother to keep her son alive while the foreign vampire is in town. However, Suzume almost steals the spotlight between her more than capable skills and wonderful sarcastic wit. She and Fort make a very unlikely but wonderful team. The camaraderie and occasional tension between them brings laughter when needed and a sense of grounding as well.
The world building in Generation V is seamlessly intertwined with the plot. Part of this ease is that Fort had been reluctant to learn anything of the supernatural community. Simply put, he was trying to be as human as possible. However, being paired with Suzume, who is a fount of information - condescendingly offered, Fort learns about the other supernaturals. We look forward to learning more about this world that we have only been given a glimpse of.
If you are looking for a new and fascinating urban fantasy with Vampires in the center of it all, please pick up Generation V and follow our unlikely but strong and courageously hearted hero, Fort.
Their Rating:
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Loved it - enthusiastically recommend (A)
Purchase Info:
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Review: Cry Wolf Vol. 2 Graphic Novel by Patricia Briggs, et. al
Alpha and Omega: Cry Wolf Volume 2
Author: Patricia Briggs/ David Lawrence/ Todd Herman
Release Date: May 7, 2013
Publisher: InkLit
Alpha & Omega Graphic Novels
ISBN: #978-0425266281
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Graphic Novel
Format(s): Hardcover (112 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Publisher
About the book:
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A world of shapeshifting wolves comes vividly to life in this collection of four comics based on Cry Wolf, the first book in Patricia Briggs’s #1 New York Times bestselling Alpha and Omega series.
Charles and Anna are on the hunt for a rogue werewolf in the Montana mountains. The creature has morphed into something so dark that it kills everything in its path: deer, elk, grizzlies…humans.
But the wolf is the creature of something far more powerful. One of Charles and Anna’s own pack harbors a centuries-old secret that has come back to haunt him—and wreak vengeance on those around him.
Charles and Anna—unaware of the truth—are two innocents who stand in the way. But even as members of their pack rally around them, Anna’s rare power comes into its own—and is unleashed…
What G & U are talking about:
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WARNING: Please note that the series this graphic novel is based on is an ADULT urban fantasy series. Sometime we can easily mistake a graphic novel for being an acceptable young adult genre, a comic book if you will. That is not the case. There are very serious adult themes that take place in this story that are not appropriate for young children.
Gikany and Una need to make sure you understand before reading our review: we are die-hard Briggs fans. We have read her books numerous times over. To us, seeing the graphic novel is a way to experience beloved stories in a new way.
We read the last novel, Alpha & Omega: Cry Wolf Vol 1 and we are not surprised that the graphics remain as they were in Alpha & Omega: Cry Wolf Vol 2. It would be odd to have a character look differently or have the world appear changed in the next installment. That being said, we are still disappointed that Bran looks so much older than we feel he is characterized. However, the other characters all feel true to character in their depictions. We enjoy the way the artist captures the moments from the storyline.
Although there are a few tweaks in the storyline in Alpha & Omega: Cry Wolf Vol 2 it remains true to the essence of the story. We are not surprised by the subtle differences simply because a different media cannot always convey the story the same way.
Gikany and Una thoroughly enjoyed this second installment in the graphic series of Alpha and Omega and we eagerly look forward to the next. If you are a Briggs fan – pick this up – it is a great way to enjoy an author in a new way.
Their Rating:
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Enjoyed - strongly recommend (A-)
Purchase Info:
Reviews in the Series:
Thursday, May 9, 2013
Review: Time Thief by Katie MacAlister
Time Thief
Author: Katie MacAlister
Release Date: May 7, 2013
Publisher: Signet
Traveller #1
Time Thief #1
ISBN: #978-0451417428
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Format(s): Paperback (352 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Publisher
About the book:
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Outcast due to their ability to manipulate time, shunned by the mortal and immortal worlds alike, a Traveller’s life is anything but easy.
Peter Faa is a member of the Watch tracking down a murderer, and unfortunately, all clues seem to point toward his own estranged family of Travellers. Any of his cousins could be guilty, but which one? They’re all experts in the art of stealing time...
After surviving a lightning strike, Kiya Mortenson is determined to get just one thing in her life right. And if that means taking a job as nanny to five pugs on a campsite in the Oregon wilderness, then so be it. It doesn’t hurt that the job comes with some spectacular male eye candy, including her new boss’s gorgeous grandson. If only she didn’t keep having this strange sense of deja vu...
When Peter discovers his own family is stealing time from Kiya, all bets are off. While she may drive him crazy at times, it’s clear that it’s not just lightning that’s creating some serious sparks between them. And he’s not going to let secrets, lies, or a devious murderer keep Kiya from where she belongs: at his side.
What G & U are talking about:
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Time Thief is the debut novel in the new Traveller series. Overall, Gikany and Una enjoyed this campy paranormal romance with some detective drama on the side.
Maybe it is the similarities that Una has to the heroine, Kiya, but the light-hearted and rambling dialogue did not frustrate us during our read. It is actually quite comical to see our heroes, Peter and Kiya, go completely off topic bantering while in pressing danger. It reminds us of those silly slap-stick comedies we loved as we were growing up. The characters are in many ways stereotypical and occasionally lacking depth… but oddly it adds to the story rather than detracts. We feel it is because there are the one dimensional “bad” or “evil” characters, the one dimensional “good” characters and then there is a group of one dimensional characters that could be good or could be bad – we just aren’t sure. With this variety, it allows the reader to suspend reality and just enjoy the story.
The world that Time Thief takes place in is an interesting one. We found the idea of the Traveller intriguing along with the usual cast of “otherworldlies”. The mythology is not terribly complex but it is fascinating in regards to Travellers – we are quite ignorant on the subject. The existence of the Watch and their role in this alternate world is not surprising. However, how they work is a little strange. Also, Gikany and Una have to question the training program their agents endure since there were moments we had to question Peter’s powers of observation and his ability to connect the dots. Yet again, these little “elements” add to the relaxed and light-hearted feel of the novel. We would say it is akin to situational comedies like Friends, Three’s Company, Frasier, etc.
Although the mystery in Time Thief was very easy to figure out, we doubt anyone would have imagined the convoluted way our heroes finally figure it all out and save the day. Suffice to say, it is pretty funny as they all bumble around with the clues being fairly obvious. But the mystery is not the focal point. The crazy romance between Peter and Kiya is the main driving force. Gikany and Una had a difficult time in classifying this new series. We are unsure of what the next book holds, but we were torn between Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance. Due to our statement above, we feel this is a paranormal romance series and should be delightful to anyone looking for an irreverent, paranormal detective romp.
Time Thief is a quick and fun read for anyone looking for light literature – something to while away an afternoon or evening. We would also recommend it as a break between the more gritty urban fantasies. Gikany and Una found this series to be a bit refreshing and look forward to the next novel in the Traveller series.
Their Rating:
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Liked it, but I had some issues - recommend (B)
Purchase Info:
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