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kuglar's review
2.0
I got halfway through the second book and had to stop reading. The characters did nothing but laugh between killings. So weird and so so so annoying. I'd love to see data on how many times words related to laughter came up in these books.
Also annoying, the constant directions to various towns. Just say that you're headed to SmallFakeTown, MO. There's no need to tell the reader that you're headed down I-35 and then cutting across State Road 58 and then going down and crossing over I-98. No ones cares and it distracts from the plot, such as it is.
Nixie is more of a manic pixie dream girl than a real character. Actually, none of the characters are very fleshed out. Plot goes from killing to laughter to killing to laughter, over and over again. There was also lots of planning to kill people and eating junk food.
Two stars because there's a germ of a good plot in there, especially with the fairies. Also because the [young white male] narrator calls his [female and former slave] teacher "master". I did love that.
Reading another review made me remember another thing. These were the first books in a series but it felt like you'd walked in mid series. There was a lot going on that was not explained to the reader. Like being around a close group of friends and not knowing their inside jokes.
Off to read some Neil Gaiman and cleanse my reading palate.
Also annoying, the constant directions to various towns. Just say that you're headed to SmallFakeTown, MO. There's no need to tell the reader that you're headed down I-35 and then cutting across State Road 58 and then going down and crossing over I-98. No ones cares and it distracts from the plot, such as it is.
Nixie is more of a manic pixie dream girl than a real character. Actually, none of the characters are very fleshed out. Plot goes from killing to laughter to killing to laughter, over and over again. There was also lots of planning to kill people and eating junk food.
Two stars because there's a germ of a good plot in there, especially with the fairies. Also because the [young white male] narrator calls his [female and former slave] teacher "master". I did love that.
Reading another review made me remember another thing. These were the first books in a series but it felt like you'd walked in mid series. There was a lot going on that was not explained to the reader. Like being around a close group of friends and not knowing their inside jokes.
Off to read some Neil Gaiman and cleanse my reading palate.
peturner's review
4.0
I don't even know how I ended up getting this box set since I'm not that big into fantasy, but it was a pretty good read. The characters were interesting, have distinct personalities and for the most part, I was entertained.
leons1701's review
2.0
Truthfully, I only finished the first book. I might go back and hit the next book at some point, but well...
Here we have a series about a 6'6" magician living in the Midwest with his mysterious mentor. He has faerie friends who he buys pizza for, drives a very distinctive car, carries an old fashioned gun and a staff, has a vampire sibling and is notable for his snarky wit. No, his name is NOT Harry Dresden, but Asher clearly wishes it were. If he were a bit less busy finding ways to make Vesik parallel Dresden, he might discover that he has the core of a decent and distinctive work of urban fantasy. He might also notice and avoid the cliched mirror description scenes and similar problems.
The saving grace of the first book was probably that it has it's own sense of humor. Hopefully that continues.
Here we have a series about a 6'6" magician living in the Midwest with his mysterious mentor. He has faerie friends who he buys pizza for, drives a very distinctive car, carries an old fashioned gun and a staff, has a vampire sibling and is notable for his snarky wit. No, his name is NOT Harry Dresden, but Asher clearly wishes it were. If he were a bit less busy finding ways to make Vesik parallel Dresden, he might discover that he has the core of a decent and distinctive work of urban fantasy. He might also notice and avoid the cliched mirror description scenes and similar problems.
The saving grace of the first book was probably that it has it's own sense of humor. Hopefully that continues.