Loved the setting (Egypt during the reign of Cleopatra VII) but oh boy was the first half of the book slow. It felt like Stabenow took a while to get Loved the setting (Egypt during the reign of Cleopatra VII) but oh boy was the first half of the book slow. It felt like Stabenow took a while to get her footing, but once (view spoiler)[Tetisheri and Apollodorus found the chests (hide spoiler)] the plot really took off, and we finally got a glimpse of Cleopatra's cunning. Tetisheri is a good investigator, kind and insightful, and I like the setting a lot, so I might pick up the next two books....more
I think that Judgment at Proteus could have been two books in the end, because there's a lot going on here. Frank being accused of murders (from all tI think that Judgment at Proteus could have been two books in the end, because there's a lot going on here. Frank being accused of murders (from all the way back in Odd Girl Out) while he tries to figures out what's going on is only the first half of the story.
Everything is wrapped up in a logical manner, but it gets a bit hectic by the end. I also felt a little...off when it came to Terese's plotline. (view spoiler)[In book 4, we learn that sixteen-year-old Terese was assaulted, impregnated, and then lured to Proteus by the offer of treatment for her pre-existing genetic conditions. Her baby is the result of genetic manipulation from Shonkla’raa, and they're literally using him to spy on Frank & co. Her genetic stuff can't be addressed while she's pregnant, and she really does not want this baby--see her attempt at alcohol poisoning. But it seems like a given that she'll keep him? Zahn what??? (hide spoiler)]...more
The Domino Pattern is a closed circle like Murder on the Orient Express, as Frank & Bayta and all our suspects are stuck on an express train for six wThe Domino Pattern is a closed circle like Murder on the Orient Express, as Frank & Bayta and all our suspects are stuck on an express train for six weeks. You really can't figure out all of the murder mystery until it's revealed to you, and there's also a fair bit of ramifications/setup for book 5 towards the end.
I wish that Bayta had more to do than, because she ends up being the damsel in distress way too many times. Let Frank be the damsel for once!...more
I thought that The Third Lynx was slow, but Odd Girl Out was even more of a slog for me. An awful lot of time is spent waiting in Quadrail stations orI thought that The Third Lynx was slow, but Odd Girl Out was even more of a slog for me. An awful lot of time is spent waiting in Quadrail stations or riding (uneventfully) on the trains, and the pace didn't pick up for me until close to the end.
I like Frank, but he really does alternate between horrible missteps and concealing everything from the reader--there is no in-between. Bayta continues to receive the absolute minimum amount of character development. Taking a break for a bit, before I tackle books 4 and 5....more
Zahn's sci-fi noir Quadrail adventures continue with book #2, The Third Lynx. Frank and Bayta get drawn into a bucketload of intrigue involving some NZahn's sci-fi noir Quadrail adventures continue with book #2, The Third Lynx. Frank and Bayta get drawn into a bucketload of intrigue involving some Nemuti statuettes--think The Maltese Falcon, but (view spoiler)[they're actually components of an energy weapon (hide spoiler)].
I found most of this book surprisingly slow-going. As in Night Train to Rigel, Frank is often one step (or more) behind the bad guys, but he also periodically conceals twists and schemes from the reader.
After book #1's setup, I wish we had gotten a little more development of Frank beyond "loner protagonist," and that Bayta and Fayr the Bellidos had been given a few more opportunities to step out of their sidekick shadows....more
Zahn takes a hardboiled noir mystery--most of it taking place on a train--but sets it in space. (Look, the Quadrail makes absolutely no sense to me, bZahn takes a hardboiled noir mystery--most of it taking place on a train--but sets it in space. (Look, the Quadrail makes absolutely no sense to me, but you have to accept it.) The plot unfolds like a Cold War-esque film noir, takes a turn to the unexpected (view spoiler)[coral-controlled pod people! (hide spoiler)], and ends with perhaps too much info-dumping for future installments.
It bugs me, though, that Bayta is pretty much the only woman in this entire story, and she spends most of the plot either being robotically unemotional or a frightened damsel in distress. (Two very different extremes.) Zahn is capable of writing complex female characters, but his default for minor or background characters is always always male. I know he can do better! (Just look at the newer Thrawn books!)...more
I enjoyed Harmon's first fantasy novel, The Bird and the Sword, although I never read its sequel. With The First Girl Child, I ended up more interesteI enjoyed Harmon's first fantasy novel, The Bird and the Sword, although I never read its sequel. With The First Girl Child, I ended up more interested in secondary characters like Ghost and Dagmar than the main duo of Bayr and Alba.
I wish the magic system here had been better developed beyond just "the keepers use blood runes," and since the book covers 20+ years the pace was alternately too slow and too fast. I also wish that the subplot with the Northmen had been introduced before the last 50 pages......more
Lovely, understandable characters: Gabriel is an arrogant jerk at times, but he makes up for by being exceptionally kind to those without power. VeritLovely, understandable characters: Gabriel is an arrogant jerk at times, but he makes up for by being exceptionally kind to those without power. Verity loves her dismal relations, even though they are the absolute worst. Shades of "why can no one properly communicate??" yet I didn't mind....more
I wanted to track this book down after reading a review on the Dear Author site, because I've had a hankering for some old Signet Regency romances.
In I wanted to track this book down after reading a review on the Dear Author site, because I've had a hankering for some old Signet Regency romances.
In short: a curricle accident injures a young woman, and the hero proposes marriage. The heroine is lovely inside and out, and her facial scar is a complete non-issue with the hero. The hero was surprisingly kind to those around him (like little cousin Dorie), yet was a complete misogynist--especially when it came to his wife! (His biases were somewhat understandable considering his childhood, but he was rather cruel for most of the book.) A lot of the secondary characters were ridiculously villainous?? Yet I still liked it in the end, and I'd read more of Dolan's books. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯...more
Unsure how to rate this one, so going with 2 stars. I was swept up in the mystery, but found the book to get very very dark the further it progressed-Unsure how to rate this one, so going with 2 stars. I was swept up in the mystery, but found the book to get very very dark the further it progressed--by the end, perhaps too dark for me. Adelia definitely felt anachronistic, and I wasn't keen on the romance subplot....more
I usually like Mimi Matthews's heroes and heroines, and A Holiday by Gaslight was no different. Ned and Sophie were lovely to read about.
UnfortunatelI usually like Mimi Matthews's heroes and heroines, and A Holiday by Gaslight was no different. Ned and Sophie were lovely to read about.
Unfortunately their families were dreadful, which sapped some of my enjoyment from the story. (Sophie's dad is just a nasty selfish person, and her younger sister stole some of the focus from Sophie's love story.)...more
First half: meh. Second half: a slightly more engrossing read.
I had a similar problem with the previous book, A Duke in Shining Armor, where I just wFirst half: meh. Second half: a slightly more engrossing read.
I had a similar problem with the previous book, A Duke in Shining Armor, where I just wasn't feeling it for the first 50% of the book. The Dis-Graces are meant to be this misbehaving pranking trio, but thus far they just seem hopelessly juvenile and overindulged. In the beginning of Ten Things I Hate About the Duke, Ashmont was a drunk disgrace and Cassandra seemed unnecessarily cruel at times. Once we hit the fake engagement plan, we get a lot of scenes of Ashmont trying to behave well/reform himself and Cassandra addressing her conflicted feelings, but it's a uphill battle to get to that point....more
A fifteen-chapter novella. I liked how it dealt with Victorian perceptions of mental health issues; Beryl was a very likable heroine, but Mark seemed A fifteen-chapter novella. I liked how it dealt with Victorian perceptions of mental health issues; Beryl was a very likable heroine, but Mark seemed too perfect? Beryl had wonderful, interesting flaws, but Mark was a bit too static.
(Also some sequel setup with Winifred and the doctor, and then Sir Henry, so I'd read more in this world.)...more
Dear Author had favorably reviewed later books in this series, so I picked up the first one to try the series out.
John Pickett is a likeable protagonDear Author had favorably reviewed later books in this series, so I picked up the first one to try the series out.
John Pickett is a likeable protagonist, even if I wanted to cringe when he pursued such an obvious red herring. Still, I thought that the mystery had a logical, easy to follow ending, and Cobb South has a nice Heyer-esque style....more
I was interested in reading this epistolary novel by Elizabeth Cadell after this recommended review on Dear Author, but ebooks of Cadell's works are I was interested in reading this epistolary novel by Elizabeth Cadell after this recommended review on Dear Author, but ebooks of Cadell's works are pricey, so I waited until I had some digital credits saved up.
Published in 1962 (so more than a decade before the Carnation Revolution), Mixed Marriage is the pre- and post-wedding diary of an unnamed Englishwoman married to a Portuguese man. She's a bit of snob, yet I found both the scenes themselves and many of her asides hysterically funny. ...more
I love a good identical twin story, but this one came with some uncomfortable baggage--a lot of Orientalism as well as an unrealistic take on mental iI love a good identical twin story, but this one came with some uncomfortable baggage--a lot of Orientalism as well as an unrealistic take on mental illness. (The heroine seems to have selective mutism, but she starts talking again because of sex...) Strangely enough, I thought the relationship between Dominic and his brother was far more interesting than the romance.
But the older brother is named Kyle. KYLE??? The "famous people named Kyle" page on Wikipedia doesn't have anyone born before 1912, and they're mostly Americans....more
A Victorian-set Beauty and the Beast story! Unfortunately there are an awful lot of Big Misunderstandings and Impeded Communication flying around (espA Victorian-set Beauty and the Beast story! Unfortunately there are an awful lot of Big Misunderstandings and Impeded Communication flying around (especially on the part of Sebastian), and those are maybe my least favorite tropes....more
I usually love a good “identical twins swap places” romp, but there just wasn’t enough swapping and secondhand embarrassment for me. The twins are onlI usually love a good “identical twins swap places” romp, but there just wasn’t enough swapping and secondhand embarrassment for me. The twins are only 18, and their voices felt very young. One suitor was very Heyer-esque; the other wasn’t as developed....more
This was super sweet. I felt like Valentine was prim and proper in a very accurately Victorian way, and Tristan was definitely the embodiment of one oThis was super sweet. I felt like Valentine was prim and proper in a very accurately Victorian way, and Tristan was definitely the embodiment of one of my favorite tropes (she made him want to be a better man!) I just wish there was a little more conflict or angst (this may be nostalgia for past Victorians by Laura Kinsale or Patricia Gaffney), but I enjoyed it enough to look out for more books by Matthews....more
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