Harry Connolly (1)

I love this series and I'm only two books in. We meet up with Ray Lilly several months after Child of Fire. He's working at a grocery store and trying to forget about the events in Hammer Bay when an investigator with the Twenty Palaces Society shows up. A group is auctioning off a predator, and they're being sent in to gather information.

On the one hand I'm disappointed by the fact that we see less of Annalise in this book, as I find the interaction between she and Ray a lot of fun. On the other hand, we get to see Ray flounder about on his own without any magical backup, making his own mistakes and coming into his own. I'm also pretty intrigued by the insinuations that Ray is something more than your average Wooden Man. It's a bit obvious, or he wouldn't be our main character, but hints are definitely being dropped that Ray might be something special, or have more of a future in the Twenty Palaces Society than as low tier cannon fodder. It's a great hook and I'll definitely be coming back for more.… (altro)

The former Peradaini Empire is a burned ruin of empty cities, abandoned farmlands, bodies and monsters running rampant, attacking any survivors they can find. Refugees huddle in the uncertain safety of walled cities. Crops remain unharvested. Provisions are scarce. Things look dire. But there’s still hope -- if Cazia and Tejohn can get a stolen magic to work, they might be able to fight back. This series really ought to be better known than it is. After a successful Kickstarter campaign got it onto the map, Connolly released the three books in quick succession. “Epic fantasy without the boring bits” was how he described it, and really? Very true. There’s no downtime in this, it’s disaster and then the epic attempt to save the world. Very cool.
… (altro)

I have mixed feelings about Marley herself, but I did like the book well enough.
I'm reluctant to recommend this.

While I don't believe that everything can be solved without violence, I am just as equally sure that violence tends to escalate things rather quickly.

Marley's pacifism(?) is only available to those who can afford it. And GODS, DOES SHE PISS ME OFF WITH HER LECTURES. With a werewolf going for your throat you hardly want to be chastised, of all things. I felt like giving her a good shake several times.

I liked Albert a whole lot. Poor guy. You know the saying 'with friends like these, who needs enemies?' Well, this applies handily to his family situation. I'm actually wondering what shall become of him. (no sequels for me though)

FINAL VERDICT : SEEK OTHER OPINIONS.
I'm not too keen on pushing anyone to read this. It left me too ambivalent to care one way or another. Also - not much of a lasting impression for me.… (altro)