Alix Rickloff

There's a new used book store two blocks from my work!! (I am so doomed.)

Anyway, I bought this for $1, and it's like a cross between [b:Mairelon the Magician|245727|Mairelon the Magician (Mairelon, #1)|Patricia C. Wrede|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1388849827s/245727.jpg|1047576] and the October Daye series ([b:Rosemary and Rue|6294549|Rosemary and Rue (October Daye #1)|Seanan McGuire|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1406866868s/6294549.jpg|6478937]), except much heavier on romance tropes and sentence fragments.

I was just going to skim it for the story/world and try to skip the (gross) romance bits, but I couldn't find much plot, just a lot of stupefyingly hetero mutual lusting. Then I picked up [b:His Majesty's Dragon|28876|His Majesty's Dragon (Temeraire, #1)|Naomi Novik|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1376392909s/28876.jpg|726205], which I also bought for $1, and I remembered that light fantasy paperbacks can be a delight you don't want to put down instead of a chore. Bye, Earl of Darkness.… (més)

Generally I'm not a fan of paranormal romances that have the Fey running around being jerks. I'm actually not terribly fond of the Fey as a rule, unless we're in a fantasy setting. Urban fantasy/Paranormal does not count. Not even Historical Paranormal Romance set in 1816 (possibly my favorite of all years for Regency romances for no reason I can ascertain). But I give Egan credit--I was invested enough in the Hero's plight that at the first mention of the Fey I didn't jump ship to a new book.

Admittedly part of what kept me going was that Bianca (our Heroine) spent a fair amount of time wanting to throttle Mac for various idiocies. Note to Heroes everywhere - its probably best just to come clean about your worries, cause you don't earn smexy times by withholding that information. Bianca was a sort of heroine I like--she has gumption. She has to deal with a lot of crap in this book and Mac really adds a boatload more that she didn't need. She keeps her head high and speaks her mind, determined to not falter.

Mac for his part, was more interesting when he wasn't mooning over Bianca. Its not that I begrudged them a romance, but there are times when Egan sets this up more like an urban (historical) fantasy, then a paranormal (historical) romance. The sudden shift from the mystery of how to help Mac and his friends to how tormented Mac feels and how he needs Bianca to the ongoing problems of the Imnada didn't feel genuine. They felt a bit more forced.

I liked that Egan played around a bit with the 'shifter' curse Mac and co find themselves stuck under. There's a deeper purpose at play for the Imnada and honestly I can't wait to see how the next book plays out.… (més)

This novel marks the first time I have read anything by Alix Rickloff. I wish to thank GoodReads and William Morrow and Company for the contest which provided me with this book. The opinion stated here is my own.
I enjoyed this book because it was original. There are not too many novels about WWI. Alix was able to transport me back over 100 years and make me believe I was there with the people and at the places about which she wrote. The characters were believable. You wanted to help them with their daily struggles. Be a part of their lives as they worked, played, and stood up for each other.
I look forward to the next book by Ms. Rickloff!… (més)