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Wild Times #1
Quarter Square
English carpenter Joe Walker thinks his life is over when he discovers his wife and best friend having an affair. Restoring an abandoned theatre offers little hope for a fresh start...until he follows a group of strangers through a hidden door into a world he never could have imagined.
In the haven known as Quarter Square, Joe encounters a community of supernatural street performers who straddle the mortal world and the magic realm known as the Wild. Here, Joe finds a sense of belonging he's never known before—and a chance to uncover the truth behind the frightening visions that have haunted him since childhood. He also meets Min, an enchanting singer who quickly captures his heart.
But as Joe settles into Quarter Square, he learns their haven is under attack, while an ancient enemy threatens to tear him and Min apart. Now, Joe must learn to wield his own powers in order to save the life he's come to love...
47,000 words
In the haven known as Quarter Square, Joe encounters a community of supernatural street performers who straddle the mortal world and the magic realm known as the Wild. Here, Joe finds a sense of belonging he's never known before—and a chance to uncover the truth behind the frightening visions that have haunted him since childhood. He also meets Min, an enchanting singer who quickly captures his heart.
But as Joe settles into Quarter Square, he learns their haven is under attack, while an ancient enemy threatens to tear him and Min apart. Now, Joe must learn to wield his own powers in order to save the life he's come to love...
47,000 words
212 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 27, 2011
57 people want to read
About the author
David Bridger
16 books27 followersDavid Bridger and his family settled with their two monstrous hounds in England's West Country after twenty years of ocean-based mischief, during which he worked as a lifeguard, a sailor, an intelligence gatherer and an investigator. He writes science fiction and fantasy novels.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
June 27, 2011
Among the novels I usually read male authors are a rarity. So the single fact that Quarter Square was written by a man was reason enough to pique my curiosity and make me want to read this novel.
In the first part of the novel Joe (our protagonist) discovers a magic parallel universe which is accessible through the magic door in the century old theatre he’s renovating and sleeping in. Through that hole in the wall one enters a Renaissance-fair-like magic version of Plymouth where dwarves dance and juggle, people sit around a bonfire and tell tales, others are singing, dancing having fun. A very colourful and enchanted alternate universe.
However, this haven is threatened by an evil who is after Joe, and the second part of the novel tells the story of Joe and Min (the heroine) being on the run and hiding from the evil werewolf with a neolite tribe, who live in huts in the desert, walk around barechested and loin-clothed.
What is interesting with Quarter Square, is that with this novel I felt the different parts of the novel (plot, writing, etc.) to be quite independent from each other: I found the writing of great quality, it was lyrical and exquisite.
“I rolled onto my back, gave my scalp and beard a good scratch and tried to concentrate on the noises and the smell of dry centuries. I preferred them to the sound of my thoughts and the stink of betrayal.”
It set the mood and described the scenes while entertaining all senses of the reader and definitely making use of the reader’s imagination:
“The air - heavy with summer smells of beer and cigarette smoke, diesel oil from the harbour, food from every direction and a hundred different perfumes and aftershaves - tasted like life and made me feel like even more of an outsider.”
What made me pick up Quarter Square - the fact that its author was a man - didn’t let me down. The difference in logic, perception and handling of events was refreshing and authentic. It was wonderful climbing inside the mind of a man and seeing and understanding why he does what he does. It was interesting to see Joe’s reasoning behind his hurt of discovering his wife having an affair with his best friend and that it was mostly the sense of betrayal which infuriated him: that he doesn’t begrudge his best friend for falling in love with his wife but for lying to him and making him lose his best friend. Reading a story through a man’s perspective is fun and liberating: a man narrator is blunter, doesn’t overanalyze things (even though he spends a fair time on exploring his emotions it definitely does not come off as mushy), and remains more realistic.
Though I was constantly enchanted by David Bridger’s writing style, I didn’t connect that well with the plot. I enjoyed the first part of the novel and reading about the “gipsy” circus of the insiders, but from the moment Joe and Min got on the run I felt the story lost most of its colours. (Though I still remember with amazement the description of Joe blending in a tree and David Bridger’s description of what it feels like to live and breathe as a tree does.)
Joe is a great character, an ordinary guy next door, and his story is fantastic exactly because of him being so normal. Unfortunately I remained lukewarm and at times even antagonistic towards the heroine, Min. I didn’t find her fleshed out enough, and then when she got together with Joe - though I can understand with their background why - it still irritated me that she didn’t consider Joe her equal but treated her most of the time almost as a child. When finally Joe couldn’t take that anymore and erupted in quite a monologue I read it with great satisfaction. It was good to see him finally step up and assume the role of the responsible man in charge of his own destiny.
Verdict: Quarter Square is very different from the usual urban fantasy novels. I would say it is more on the fantasy side than urban. David Bridger is a very talented and promising new author whose next works I will definitely check out!
ps. I have to spend at least one sentence on the amazing cover. Not only does it look beautiful, it is very atmospheric and portrays the novel and characters wonderfully. A fantastic job, bravo!
And a short quote which gives you a taste of the book:
"Here's the thing. There's magic everywhere in the world. Always has been. But in most of the world it's unknown. People stopped using it, believing in it. (...) It seems that each culture and each generation rejects magic a bit more than the one before. Some cultures more than others, but the general trend is to ignore magic and eventually to forget it."
Well Quarter Square is a magic-preserving community then!
In the first part of the novel Joe (our protagonist) discovers a magic parallel universe which is accessible through the magic door in the century old theatre he’s renovating and sleeping in. Through that hole in the wall one enters a Renaissance-fair-like magic version of Plymouth where dwarves dance and juggle, people sit around a bonfire and tell tales, others are singing, dancing having fun. A very colourful and enchanted alternate universe.
However, this haven is threatened by an evil who is after Joe, and the second part of the novel tells the story of Joe and Min (the heroine) being on the run and hiding from the evil werewolf with a neolite tribe, who live in huts in the desert, walk around barechested and loin-clothed.
What is interesting with Quarter Square, is that with this novel I felt the different parts of the novel (plot, writing, etc.) to be quite independent from each other: I found the writing of great quality, it was lyrical and exquisite.
“I rolled onto my back, gave my scalp and beard a good scratch and tried to concentrate on the noises and the smell of dry centuries. I preferred them to the sound of my thoughts and the stink of betrayal.”
It set the mood and described the scenes while entertaining all senses of the reader and definitely making use of the reader’s imagination:
“The air - heavy with summer smells of beer and cigarette smoke, diesel oil from the harbour, food from every direction and a hundred different perfumes and aftershaves - tasted like life and made me feel like even more of an outsider.”
What made me pick up Quarter Square - the fact that its author was a man - didn’t let me down. The difference in logic, perception and handling of events was refreshing and authentic. It was wonderful climbing inside the mind of a man and seeing and understanding why he does what he does. It was interesting to see Joe’s reasoning behind his hurt of discovering his wife having an affair with his best friend and that it was mostly the sense of betrayal which infuriated him: that he doesn’t begrudge his best friend for falling in love with his wife but for lying to him and making him lose his best friend. Reading a story through a man’s perspective is fun and liberating: a man narrator is blunter, doesn’t overanalyze things (even though he spends a fair time on exploring his emotions it definitely does not come off as mushy), and remains more realistic.
Though I was constantly enchanted by David Bridger’s writing style, I didn’t connect that well with the plot. I enjoyed the first part of the novel and reading about the “gipsy” circus of the insiders, but from the moment Joe and Min got on the run I felt the story lost most of its colours. (Though I still remember with amazement the description of Joe blending in a tree and David Bridger’s description of what it feels like to live and breathe as a tree does.)
Joe is a great character, an ordinary guy next door, and his story is fantastic exactly because of him being so normal. Unfortunately I remained lukewarm and at times even antagonistic towards the heroine, Min. I didn’t find her fleshed out enough, and then when she got together with Joe - though I can understand with their background why - it still irritated me that she didn’t consider Joe her equal but treated her most of the time almost as a child. When finally Joe couldn’t take that anymore and erupted in quite a monologue I read it with great satisfaction. It was good to see him finally step up and assume the role of the responsible man in charge of his own destiny.
Verdict: Quarter Square is very different from the usual urban fantasy novels. I would say it is more on the fantasy side than urban. David Bridger is a very talented and promising new author whose next works I will definitely check out!
ps. I have to spend at least one sentence on the amazing cover. Not only does it look beautiful, it is very atmospheric and portrays the novel and characters wonderfully. A fantastic job, bravo!
And a short quote which gives you a taste of the book:
"Here's the thing. There's magic everywhere in the world. Always has been. But in most of the world it's unknown. People stopped using it, believing in it. (...) It seems that each culture and each generation rejects magic a bit more than the one before. Some cultures more than others, but the general trend is to ignore magic and eventually to forget it."
Well Quarter Square is a magic-preserving community then!
December 19, 2011
http://www.readingreality.net/?p=817
I picked up Quarter Square by David Bridger, because it looked like one of those books where the hero steps through a hidden door into a secret world that borders the world we know. I like those kind of books. It's a neat idea, to think that there is more to this world, or more beside this world, than we know. There are days when we could all use a little magic.
But Quarter Square only started out that way. Joe Walker does discover that the theater he is restoring in Plymouth is the bridge to a different, wilder world. And that the street performers who work in the area surrounding his theater are all part of the magic.
Joe's process of discovery would have made for a good story. He finally feels like he's an insider in "The Wild," not the outsider he's been all his life. He falls in love with a woman named Min, who has real magic. Of course, he has a rival for Min's affections who does not want to give her up. His reconstruction of the old theater he owns is going to be difficult in a lot of practical ways, as well as magical ones. That was the story I was expecting, and it made up about a quarter of the one I got.
Then Joe's ex-wife and ex-partner got murdered, and Joe was hauled off as the logical suspect. They had become his "exes" after he found them in bed together, and it hadn't been all that long ago. The story problem: well, they had been murdered by a werewolf. And some of the cops knew it. The story started heading for X-Files territory at that point.
But it didn't stick with the X-Files, either. Joe was released from custody since what little evidence they had proved he wasn't the murderer, and the police left him with a whole bunch of dire warnings. Then his new girlfriend tells him that she's an 11,000 year old nature goddess and he's her long-lost consort. She's been waiting about a century for him to reincarnate again. After this segue into mythology I just hung on for the ride, waiting to see what would happen next.
I thought my "willing suspension of disbelief" had been completely shot but there was one more blow coming. It turned out that the werewolf who murdered Joe's exes was a powerful wizard who had been pursuing her Goddess-self for all of those 11,000 years. In other words, the werewolf was immortal too. And, they needed to run, straight into the heart of the Wild, where there was a neolithic lost tribe that would hide them for a little while. They turned out to be werewolves, too.
At the end, everyone came back to the "real" world, into the middle of a biker gang war!
Any one of the threads in this book would have made a good story. The other world on the border of this one. The cops knowing about magic. The goddess bound to her one true love, waiting for him to reincarnate so they can be together. The lost tribes hanging on in the heart of the secret world. I just wish the author had picked one and stuck with it.
I picked up Quarter Square by David Bridger, because it looked like one of those books where the hero steps through a hidden door into a secret world that borders the world we know. I like those kind of books. It's a neat idea, to think that there is more to this world, or more beside this world, than we know. There are days when we could all use a little magic.
But Quarter Square only started out that way. Joe Walker does discover that the theater he is restoring in Plymouth is the bridge to a different, wilder world. And that the street performers who work in the area surrounding his theater are all part of the magic.
Joe's process of discovery would have made for a good story. He finally feels like he's an insider in "The Wild," not the outsider he's been all his life. He falls in love with a woman named Min, who has real magic. Of course, he has a rival for Min's affections who does not want to give her up. His reconstruction of the old theater he owns is going to be difficult in a lot of practical ways, as well as magical ones. That was the story I was expecting, and it made up about a quarter of the one I got.
Then Joe's ex-wife and ex-partner got murdered, and Joe was hauled off as the logical suspect. They had become his "exes" after he found them in bed together, and it hadn't been all that long ago. The story problem: well, they had been murdered by a werewolf. And some of the cops knew it. The story started heading for X-Files territory at that point.
But it didn't stick with the X-Files, either. Joe was released from custody since what little evidence they had proved he wasn't the murderer, and the police left him with a whole bunch of dire warnings. Then his new girlfriend tells him that she's an 11,000 year old nature goddess and he's her long-lost consort. She's been waiting about a century for him to reincarnate again. After this segue into mythology I just hung on for the ride, waiting to see what would happen next.
I thought my "willing suspension of disbelief" had been completely shot but there was one more blow coming. It turned out that the werewolf who murdered Joe's exes was a powerful wizard who had been pursuing her Goddess-self for all of those 11,000 years. In other words, the werewolf was immortal too. And, they needed to run, straight into the heart of the Wild, where there was a neolithic lost tribe that would hide them for a little while. They turned out to be werewolves, too.
At the end, everyone came back to the "real" world, into the middle of a biker gang war!
Any one of the threads in this book would have made a good story. The other world on the border of this one. The cops knowing about magic. The goddess bound to her one true love, waiting for him to reincarnate so they can be together. The lost tribes hanging on in the heart of the secret world. I just wish the author had picked one and stuck with it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 25, 2011
After Joe finds his wife having an affair with his best friend, he runs away and starts restoring an old theatre to help cope. He is quickly pulled into the Quarter Square, a haven for supernatural street performers located between this world and The Wild, a place where magic rules. Joe finds himself strangely at home there, and when Quarter Square is threatened by an ancient enemy, Joe makes a stand to help save his new friends.
This story has a bit of everything paranormal thrown into a strangely coherent structure. There are supernatural talents, shape shifters, reincarnated everlasting love, and more. There is lots of action packed into a surprisingly short book.
Hearing a paranormal story through a male hero is quite unique, and makes for a very different read than usual. It was refreshing. Joe is an ordinary guy who finds himself in an extraordinary position. I found him very likable and easy to cheer for.
I did like Min, his love interest, very much. I am not a fan of insta-love, or its cousin, repeating reincarnated love. I found Min to be condescending, snooty and overall unlikable. She doesn't treat Joe very well, and I'd have much rather him found a nice girl who would appreciate his nice guy appeal.
This is definitely the first book in a series. The ending is left wide open, and the main plotline is not wrapped up or concluded in any way. That said, the story felt satisfying, without the stereotypical maddening cliff hanger ending that is becoming so prevalent. The story real set the stage for the next book, and I look forward to it, whenever it arrives.
This story has a bit of everything paranormal thrown into a strangely coherent structure. There are supernatural talents, shape shifters, reincarnated everlasting love, and more. There is lots of action packed into a surprisingly short book.
Hearing a paranormal story through a male hero is quite unique, and makes for a very different read than usual. It was refreshing. Joe is an ordinary guy who finds himself in an extraordinary position. I found him very likable and easy to cheer for.
I did like Min, his love interest, very much. I am not a fan of insta-love, or its cousin, repeating reincarnated love. I found Min to be condescending, snooty and overall unlikable. She doesn't treat Joe very well, and I'd have much rather him found a nice girl who would appreciate his nice guy appeal.
This is definitely the first book in a series. The ending is left wide open, and the main plotline is not wrapped up or concluded in any way. That said, the story felt satisfying, without the stereotypical maddening cliff hanger ending that is becoming so prevalent. The story real set the stage for the next book, and I look forward to it, whenever it arrives.
July 6, 2011
**Giveaway**
TBR Reviewer: Nat
The plot is good, but it wasn't an engaging read.
The book starts when Joe, the protagonist, finds out that his wife is cheating on him with his best friend. He throws everything away and decides to restore an old, abandoned theater. There, he encounters a community of magical dance performers and feels like he finally found a place he belongs.
The story itself wasn't strong enough to keep me reading. I wasn't "immersed" into their world. The narrative is too passive and he accepted this strange magical world so quickly. I didn't have any questions that needed an answer. I didn't feel a connection to the characters to like them. A lot of things were just random as well. It was so disjointed.
Mr. Bridger has lots of potential. I saw it in there but it's not quite up to par yet. I hope to read his second novel in this series and find that his writing as well as his characters have grown.
Enter the contest here: http://thetbrpile.weebly.com/1/post/2...
TBR Reviewer: Nat
The plot is good, but it wasn't an engaging read.
The book starts when Joe, the protagonist, finds out that his wife is cheating on him with his best friend. He throws everything away and decides to restore an old, abandoned theater. There, he encounters a community of magical dance performers and feels like he finally found a place he belongs.
The story itself wasn't strong enough to keep me reading. I wasn't "immersed" into their world. The narrative is too passive and he accepted this strange magical world so quickly. I didn't have any questions that needed an answer. I didn't feel a connection to the characters to like them. A lot of things were just random as well. It was so disjointed.
Mr. Bridger has lots of potential. I saw it in there but it's not quite up to par yet. I hope to read his second novel in this series and find that his writing as well as his characters have grown.
Enter the contest here: http://thetbrpile.weebly.com/1/post/2...
July 16, 2011
For full review please visit: http://www.thelonelybookclub.com/revi...
In the opening of this novel it’s easy to sympathize with Joe, the protagonist. He walks in on his wife and his best friend in bed together in full action. Then he leaves the hotel they all three are staying at to stay in the newly bought building he’s bought with that friend. After this point I find it hard to connect with the protagonist.
Joe discovers a secret door into a haven, kind of like in Narnia. Another thing that’s discovered is that Joe has terrible nightmares consisting of a werewolf.
After the haven it is a regular: magic exists-don’t-exists battle until Joe accepts it all. Then he has to run away with Min, because of an immortal enemy.
In the opening of this novel it’s easy to sympathize with Joe, the protagonist. He walks in on his wife and his best friend in bed together in full action. Then he leaves the hotel they all three are staying at to stay in the newly bought building he’s bought with that friend. After this point I find it hard to connect with the protagonist.
Joe discovers a secret door into a haven, kind of like in Narnia. Another thing that’s discovered is that Joe has terrible nightmares consisting of a werewolf.
After the haven it is a regular: magic exists-don’t-exists battle until Joe accepts it all. Then he has to run away with Min, because of an immortal enemy.
June 29, 2013
This was a fun book, made me think of Charles De Lint a little bit, though not as poetic. Oh, and more sex.
:p
:p
July 10, 2011
Imaginative Debut
Recently cuckolded by his wife and his best friend, Joe Walker isn't having the best time of his life. A carpenter by both trade and desire, Joe takes on a rundown theatre with little more than determination and a need to build, but with the startling arrival of a small group of street performers and the opening of a magical door, the direction of Joe's life is set to take a sharp turn to the wild side.
Stepping through the door introduces him to a quaint group of people who call their realm Quarter Square, a place where magic and mundane combine and offer up a safe haven for those who live life on the fringes. It is there he meets Min, an enchanting young woman with an ethereal voice. Her smile warms him; her presence gives him a sense of rightness and homecoming he'd never previously known. As he sinks deeper into the world of the insiders and embraces their magical existence, Joe starts to realize that he finally feels right, feels as if he's doing what he's meant to do, is living where he's meant to live. And with Min at his side, he's starting to believe he could never want for anything else.
Joe's idyllic, magical interlude is shattered when a horrible crime opens the door to a grim truth about a past that spans lifetimes and a love that's shadowed by a monstrous hunter intent on rending and bloody destruction. Joe's bloody destruction.
Jam-packed with plot and character, this shorter-length novel is an exciting debut by a fresh voice in urban fantasy. I don't read many male authors in the genre, so it's nice to get a different perspective now and then, and I enjoyed much of the content of what I read by Bridger. He sets a restless, frantic pace in the narrative, with plot points racing by at breakneck speed as he sets up the world and the mythos and defines his characters. Too restless and frantic for my personal tastes, actually, as there was little time to meander and admire the descriptive and sometimes lyrical turn of phrase here and there, or have a mood set or broken by a twist and turn in the plot. Instead Bridger lays out what happens in an economical, highly streamlined fashion that borders on sparse, with no filler, fluff, or expansive detail.
There is something appealing, almost comforting, in reading a male protagonist as written by a male author. I don't know why, exactly, and maybe it's entirely imagined, but I find when done well, it's almost like reading about another animal entirely...one with far greater similarity to real men than those as portrayed by female authors across many genres. Oh, it's not that I like them more...this isn't about prejudice in that regard, it's more a deeper sense of realism and if anything, a more poignant sense of potential catastrophe, as if men, being men, believe their male characters far more fallible than women do (or would write them). It's a refreshing, if slightly more humbling, viewpoint.
I enjoyed Joe as a character, as an Everyman turned sort of...other he was very successful at being likable and sympathetic. I was less fond of Min. In fact, I actively disliked her, and instead of seeming this wonderful soul mate for Joe, she seemed an arrogant, faithless, entitled, condescending harpy with little spine. I quickly tired of her telling Joe what he must do and who he has always been. I wouldn't have been at all depressed had she been eaten. There were several secondary and ancillary characters I would have much preferred had received a more expansive role in the story, and several scenes including Min that I could very well have done without.
That actually leads me to the two major points of contention for me in the book. The ambitious nature of this debut and the slick, economical writing style conspired to make the book seem far too heavy with content for me. Too much happened, too many creatures and people and things and agendas went on or were introduced or were mentioned. It made this short novel feel cluttered, rushed, and occasionally heavy. There's truly enough going on in this book to comfortably fill two of equal length, with a higher degree of definition and exposition.
I was also seriously disappointed in the abrupt ending that didn't come near resolving one of the major conflicts that were set up in the story. I would understand that if it's going to be the series plot arc. Can't really tie that off at the end of the first book. If that's the case, though, it was given entirely too much development and attention in this crammed piece, and could have easily taken more of a back seat role as the rest of the many, many plot points were developed. I was left feeling a little perplexed and unsure of the series arc and the author's intentions for it. That's not necessarily a bad thing, really, but as it left the end feeling just a brush removed from a cliffhanger, it also isn't one that appeals to me personally.
There were parts of Quarter Square that I enjoyed very much, and parts that didn't work for me at all. Things that appealed and things (or characters) that didn't. When all was said and done, I think the series has promise and Joe is worth watching. I'm interested to see where it all goes from here.
Disclosure: An ARC of this book was received by Carina Press via NetGalley. This rating, review, and all included thoughts and comments are my own.
~*~*~*~
Reviewed for One Good Book Deserves Another.
Recently cuckolded by his wife and his best friend, Joe Walker isn't having the best time of his life. A carpenter by both trade and desire, Joe takes on a rundown theatre with little more than determination and a need to build, but with the startling arrival of a small group of street performers and the opening of a magical door, the direction of Joe's life is set to take a sharp turn to the wild side.
Stepping through the door introduces him to a quaint group of people who call their realm Quarter Square, a place where magic and mundane combine and offer up a safe haven for those who live life on the fringes. It is there he meets Min, an enchanting young woman with an ethereal voice. Her smile warms him; her presence gives him a sense of rightness and homecoming he'd never previously known. As he sinks deeper into the world of the insiders and embraces their magical existence, Joe starts to realize that he finally feels right, feels as if he's doing what he's meant to do, is living where he's meant to live. And with Min at his side, he's starting to believe he could never want for anything else.
Joe's idyllic, magical interlude is shattered when a horrible crime opens the door to a grim truth about a past that spans lifetimes and a love that's shadowed by a monstrous hunter intent on rending and bloody destruction. Joe's bloody destruction.
Jam-packed with plot and character, this shorter-length novel is an exciting debut by a fresh voice in urban fantasy. I don't read many male authors in the genre, so it's nice to get a different perspective now and then, and I enjoyed much of the content of what I read by Bridger. He sets a restless, frantic pace in the narrative, with plot points racing by at breakneck speed as he sets up the world and the mythos and defines his characters. Too restless and frantic for my personal tastes, actually, as there was little time to meander and admire the descriptive and sometimes lyrical turn of phrase here and there, or have a mood set or broken by a twist and turn in the plot. Instead Bridger lays out what happens in an economical, highly streamlined fashion that borders on sparse, with no filler, fluff, or expansive detail.
There is something appealing, almost comforting, in reading a male protagonist as written by a male author. I don't know why, exactly, and maybe it's entirely imagined, but I find when done well, it's almost like reading about another animal entirely...one with far greater similarity to real men than those as portrayed by female authors across many genres. Oh, it's not that I like them more...this isn't about prejudice in that regard, it's more a deeper sense of realism and if anything, a more poignant sense of potential catastrophe, as if men, being men, believe their male characters far more fallible than women do (or would write them). It's a refreshing, if slightly more humbling, viewpoint.
I enjoyed Joe as a character, as an Everyman turned sort of...other he was very successful at being likable and sympathetic. I was less fond of Min. In fact, I actively disliked her, and instead of seeming this wonderful soul mate for Joe, she seemed an arrogant, faithless, entitled, condescending harpy with little spine. I quickly tired of her telling Joe what he must do and who he has always been. I wouldn't have been at all depressed had she been eaten. There were several secondary and ancillary characters I would have much preferred had received a more expansive role in the story, and several scenes including Min that I could very well have done without.
That actually leads me to the two major points of contention for me in the book. The ambitious nature of this debut and the slick, economical writing style conspired to make the book seem far too heavy with content for me. Too much happened, too many creatures and people and things and agendas went on or were introduced or were mentioned. It made this short novel feel cluttered, rushed, and occasionally heavy. There's truly enough going on in this book to comfortably fill two of equal length, with a higher degree of definition and exposition.
I was also seriously disappointed in the abrupt ending that didn't come near resolving one of the major conflicts that were set up in the story. I would understand that if it's going to be the series plot arc. Can't really tie that off at the end of the first book. If that's the case, though, it was given entirely too much development and attention in this crammed piece, and could have easily taken more of a back seat role as the rest of the many, many plot points were developed. I was left feeling a little perplexed and unsure of the series arc and the author's intentions for it. That's not necessarily a bad thing, really, but as it left the end feeling just a brush removed from a cliffhanger, it also isn't one that appeals to me personally.
There were parts of Quarter Square that I enjoyed very much, and parts that didn't work for me at all. Things that appealed and things (or characters) that didn't. When all was said and done, I think the series has promise and Joe is worth watching. I'm interested to see where it all goes from here.
Disclosure: An ARC of this book was received by Carina Press via NetGalley. This rating, review, and all included thoughts and comments are my own.
~*~*~*~
Reviewed for One Good Book Deserves Another.
July 16, 2011
When Joe Walker discovers that his wife and best friend are sleeping together – by walking in on them – he runs off to lick his wounds by spending the night in the rundown theater his friend has recently acquired. There, he sees three young men go through a magical door. He follows, convinced he’s dreaming, and meets a group of street performers who live in an idyllic world cut off from the rest of Plymouth called Quarter Square. After confronting his wife and friend the next day, he agrees to let them go off and be together without a fuss if the friend gives Joe the theater. A deal is made, and Joe returns, hoping to find Quarter Square again. He soon realizes that it’s actually a real place, kind of a halfway house between the mortal world and the wild magical one. It’s populated by a vast variety of people, most of them street performers. One in particular, a singer named Min, enchants him, and when he discovers that their hideaway is in danger of disappearing forever because it’s losing its anchors to the real world, he decides to rebuild the theater and make it more permanent in order to save the square.
This is only the beginning of what turns out to be a very convoluted, almost schizophrenic fantasy tale. I call it schizophrenic because I could never figure out what exactly it was trying to be. Every time I thought I had it, something would twist the story off into a new direction, and I was left floundering all over again. At turns, it’s magical realism, pure fantasy, shapeshifter horror, and romance, and while I admire writers who try to blend genres, it’s just not done very well here. Each time the story shifted gears, the voice itself changes, with the pace and style changing with it, so that there was no sense of flow or build. The most interesting section occurs just about the middle of the story, but then it veers off again into a whole new direction that left it scattered in its dust.
As a result of trying to put too much into the story, characterizations falter. The story is told in 1st POV from Joe’s perspective, and because he has no idea what’s going on – and because other characters are actively keeping him in the dark a good part of the time – neither does the reader. Min is presented as this feminine ideal almost from the start, but she lacks any kind of personality for the first half, instead becoming this icon for Joe to admire. He tells us he’s falling in love with her, but I never understood why or what the real appeal was. Then, when she does start getting a personality, it’s not even a likable one. She’s manipulative and bossy, withholding information that would make their situation better and treating Joe like a child. Since so much hinges on her, both the action and caring about what’s going on, I was distanced from what was going on for almost the entire story. I mostly just finished it because I was curious about what else could get stirred into the pot, and I can honestly say I have no desire to keep on reading with the series, especially with how unresolved everything was at the end. There’s some sense of inner closure for Joe as he reaches a better and more true understanding of his self and purpose (and makes choices based on that), but in light of the emphasis placed on the action, the fact that it remains unresolved is frustrating enough to deter me from investing more time in the series.
This is only the beginning of what turns out to be a very convoluted, almost schizophrenic fantasy tale. I call it schizophrenic because I could never figure out what exactly it was trying to be. Every time I thought I had it, something would twist the story off into a new direction, and I was left floundering all over again. At turns, it’s magical realism, pure fantasy, shapeshifter horror, and romance, and while I admire writers who try to blend genres, it’s just not done very well here. Each time the story shifted gears, the voice itself changes, with the pace and style changing with it, so that there was no sense of flow or build. The most interesting section occurs just about the middle of the story, but then it veers off again into a whole new direction that left it scattered in its dust.
As a result of trying to put too much into the story, characterizations falter. The story is told in 1st POV from Joe’s perspective, and because he has no idea what’s going on – and because other characters are actively keeping him in the dark a good part of the time – neither does the reader. Min is presented as this feminine ideal almost from the start, but she lacks any kind of personality for the first half, instead becoming this icon for Joe to admire. He tells us he’s falling in love with her, but I never understood why or what the real appeal was. Then, when she does start getting a personality, it’s not even a likable one. She’s manipulative and bossy, withholding information that would make their situation better and treating Joe like a child. Since so much hinges on her, both the action and caring about what’s going on, I was distanced from what was going on for almost the entire story. I mostly just finished it because I was curious about what else could get stirred into the pot, and I can honestly say I have no desire to keep on reading with the series, especially with how unresolved everything was at the end. There’s some sense of inner closure for Joe as he reaches a better and more true understanding of his self and purpose (and makes choices based on that), but in light of the emphasis placed on the action, the fact that it remains unresolved is frustrating enough to deter me from investing more time in the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 13, 2011
This review was originally published on Vampire Book Club.
David Bridger has crafted something refreshingly different with Quarter Square with great doses of escapism, fear of being hunted and a heaping of ‘otherness.’
Our protagonist Joe has just suffered the ultimate shock — his wife in bed with his best friend — and in his pain ends up ditching them, his house, his former life to refinish an old theater. Sounds classic off-the-deep end, right? But Joe isn’t really all that broken up over it. Something had never been quite right between him and the wife, and, well, he’s feeling oddly at home in this run-down building. He hears people in the building late at night, following them through a door that so wasn’t there before. On the other side is a whole other world. A small community with lively music and interesting people. He’s (mostly) welcomed to Quarter Square, where people who are ‘other’ can live. The big distinction here is the people who live in Quarter Square can do magic, but are never really defined as fae. Their skills are varied and it’s a very communal, gypsy-esque lifestyle. (And, admittedly, one I wouldn’t mind escaping to from time to time.)
Along with the interesting, endearing and, occasionally, aggressive folk of Quarter Square, Joe meets Min. He’s immediately taken with her, but realizes he’s in a weird situation. He’s now promised the people of Quarter Square to restore the theater — one of the few remaining portals into the other world — provided the artistic folk are willing to perform in it. He’s just trying to do right by them, but can’t stop dreaming of Min.
I won’t go into more details, as to avoid giving away the plot. But know there is more to the ‘other’ side than just Quarter Square, including The Wild, werewolves, war and enough immortality to go around. Min and Joe are fated to meet, but he’ll have to decide if he should go with his gut or let others make hard choices for him. Additionally, he begins to learn of his own magic, and must determine how to use it.
I don’t know the last time I related better to the male lead in a novel than his female counterpart, but that’s certainly the case with Quarter Square. He’s a honest guy trying to deal with crazy situations and trying to own up to his own role in things. You want him happy, and love experiencing the freedom of Quarter Square with him.
You may be thinking: If I loved the world-building and the protagonist and the conflict so damn much why is it only 4 stars? It’s a fair question. And the reason is this: Once I got to really know Min — when she let her guards down — I didn’t like her as much, and the quick change in her personality was a bit grating. Joe was still all about her, but she just gave me the itch where I wondered if she was really good enough for him. Or even good for him. I expect to make a firm decision on my feelings for Min in the second book. Until then, I’ll be keeping an eye on her.
Bottom line: Great characters throughout and fantastic world-building make Quarter Square an excellent paranormal read.
Sexual content: Sex scenes
David Bridger has crafted something refreshingly different with Quarter Square with great doses of escapism, fear of being hunted and a heaping of ‘otherness.’
Our protagonist Joe has just suffered the ultimate shock — his wife in bed with his best friend — and in his pain ends up ditching them, his house, his former life to refinish an old theater. Sounds classic off-the-deep end, right? But Joe isn’t really all that broken up over it. Something had never been quite right between him and the wife, and, well, he’s feeling oddly at home in this run-down building. He hears people in the building late at night, following them through a door that so wasn’t there before. On the other side is a whole other world. A small community with lively music and interesting people. He’s (mostly) welcomed to Quarter Square, where people who are ‘other’ can live. The big distinction here is the people who live in Quarter Square can do magic, but are never really defined as fae. Their skills are varied and it’s a very communal, gypsy-esque lifestyle. (And, admittedly, one I wouldn’t mind escaping to from time to time.)
Along with the interesting, endearing and, occasionally, aggressive folk of Quarter Square, Joe meets Min. He’s immediately taken with her, but realizes he’s in a weird situation. He’s now promised the people of Quarter Square to restore the theater — one of the few remaining portals into the other world — provided the artistic folk are willing to perform in it. He’s just trying to do right by them, but can’t stop dreaming of Min.
I won’t go into more details, as to avoid giving away the plot. But know there is more to the ‘other’ side than just Quarter Square, including The Wild, werewolves, war and enough immortality to go around. Min and Joe are fated to meet, but he’ll have to decide if he should go with his gut or let others make hard choices for him. Additionally, he begins to learn of his own magic, and must determine how to use it.
I don’t know the last time I related better to the male lead in a novel than his female counterpart, but that’s certainly the case with Quarter Square. He’s a honest guy trying to deal with crazy situations and trying to own up to his own role in things. You want him happy, and love experiencing the freedom of Quarter Square with him.
You may be thinking: If I loved the world-building and the protagonist and the conflict so damn much why is it only 4 stars? It’s a fair question. And the reason is this: Once I got to really know Min — when she let her guards down — I didn’t like her as much, and the quick change in her personality was a bit grating. Joe was still all about her, but she just gave me the itch where I wondered if she was really good enough for him. Or even good for him. I expect to make a firm decision on my feelings for Min in the second book. Until then, I’ll be keeping an eye on her.
Bottom line: Great characters throughout and fantastic world-building make Quarter Square an excellent paranormal read.
Sexual content: Sex scenes
June 14, 2011
I received a copy of this from Netgalley.com for early review.
I have to be honest; I picked this book for the sole purpose that it was written by a man. I have found lately that the way men write just gets into my skin and by the end I’m just smiling. They are blunt, they don’t beat around the bush, and the romance is not ‘fluffy’ it is a lot more real than most Urban Fantasy/Paranormal books you read. The happy, isn’t a happily, it is satisfying enough to make you go “Hm, well now, that was brilliant!”
This book was no different for me.
However, if I am being totally honest here, I have to say that a good 60% of the book I was very confused. I mean the idea of the ‘world’ he was creating was there, I know it was hanging there just waiting to be explained a bit better. When it was, I did an eye roll. I didn’t want to do the eye roll but I realized I did it when I didn’t totally believe the explanation of the world and how he unfolded it. I was confused, and I found myself dashing back a bit in the story to make sure I was reading it right.
With that being said, that was the only thing I found disconcerting about this book. Once it hit, it went off, and it ran and I was breathlessly following along. I am taking in consideration that this is a book one in a series. Most book ones are the unveiling of the ‘fantasy’ and sometimes it’s not totally clear and understandable till the second or even third book. Of course by then I’m emotionally attached to the characters and there is no going back for me. If I am going to give this book a positive mark I have to say that I really liked the writing style. It wasn’t to overwritten, even if the general idea of the fantasy confused me, I got the emotional aspects of the characters, and I was able to connect with the male lead.
I hate to say that I wasn’t totally keen on the female lead. Min didn’t click with me, I found her almost selfish and I can honestly understand why her character was so self severing. It was just a bit off putting. She wasn’t as strong of a female that I’m used to reading, a strong female lead is someone that I wish that I could be; Min wasn’t that for me. Joe, however, by the end of the book I found myself raising a brow and going “Hello, Joe!” I wanted more at the end and that is the most important thing about reading a book to me. If at the end I’m hunting down the author website and fishing around to see possible release dates for other books. Which I did in this case!
If I can offer anything, I would say that the ‘villain’ needs to have more highlight. I wasn’t afraid of the villain, I didn’t care if he lived or died or if he was successful, I want my villains to be epic, eccentric, and egotistical on a whole new level and it wasn’t quite there. The book didn’t ‘wow’ me, but I was highly recommend it to fans of Urban Fantasy.
I have to be honest; I picked this book for the sole purpose that it was written by a man. I have found lately that the way men write just gets into my skin and by the end I’m just smiling. They are blunt, they don’t beat around the bush, and the romance is not ‘fluffy’ it is a lot more real than most Urban Fantasy/Paranormal books you read. The happy, isn’t a happily, it is satisfying enough to make you go “Hm, well now, that was brilliant!”
This book was no different for me.
However, if I am being totally honest here, I have to say that a good 60% of the book I was very confused. I mean the idea of the ‘world’ he was creating was there, I know it was hanging there just waiting to be explained a bit better. When it was, I did an eye roll. I didn’t want to do the eye roll but I realized I did it when I didn’t totally believe the explanation of the world and how he unfolded it. I was confused, and I found myself dashing back a bit in the story to make sure I was reading it right.
With that being said, that was the only thing I found disconcerting about this book. Once it hit, it went off, and it ran and I was breathlessly following along. I am taking in consideration that this is a book one in a series. Most book ones are the unveiling of the ‘fantasy’ and sometimes it’s not totally clear and understandable till the second or even third book. Of course by then I’m emotionally attached to the characters and there is no going back for me. If I am going to give this book a positive mark I have to say that I really liked the writing style. It wasn’t to overwritten, even if the general idea of the fantasy confused me, I got the emotional aspects of the characters, and I was able to connect with the male lead.
I hate to say that I wasn’t totally keen on the female lead. Min didn’t click with me, I found her almost selfish and I can honestly understand why her character was so self severing. It was just a bit off putting. She wasn’t as strong of a female that I’m used to reading, a strong female lead is someone that I wish that I could be; Min wasn’t that for me. Joe, however, by the end of the book I found myself raising a brow and going “Hello, Joe!” I wanted more at the end and that is the most important thing about reading a book to me. If at the end I’m hunting down the author website and fishing around to see possible release dates for other books. Which I did in this case!
If I can offer anything, I would say that the ‘villain’ needs to have more highlight. I wasn’t afraid of the villain, I didn’t care if he lived or died or if he was successful, I want my villains to be epic, eccentric, and egotistical on a whole new level and it wasn’t quite there. The book didn’t ‘wow’ me, but I was highly recommend it to fans of Urban Fantasy.
February 4, 2012
To see this review and more like it please check out my website www.ufreviews.com
One of the things I like about urban fantasy is how an author decides to make the world: do they decide to hide magic/paranormal or do they put it right out there? If they hide the magical world, do paranormals/supernaturals live in everyday world, or is there a "Harry Potter" like setting, where you can step into a world from the normal world into one of magic and wonder. This is a hiding version is something I find to be really interesting, it allows all of the magical/supernatural elements to exist truly in a world where anything is possible that the author wants to be. It's because of that reason I was looking forward to reading this book.
I do enjoy a story being told where the male is the lead character, it provides a different perspective and it's one I enjoy. I also always find it interesting when the lead is a male because most people look at it being such a huge and fundamental difference, but ultimately I feel like no matter what gender the main character is they still face the same obstacles and emotions, they just have different points of view or reactions. It's in those differences that I find the story most interesting.
The realm of the magic society is quite interesting, they seem to be a good of artistic types, with all of the personality types you would expect to find in a place such as this. And while the characters are well described and well written, it does not mean that I liked all of them. In fact my most hated character is that of Min, she just isn't a nice person. When you read a book that has to do with reincarnated love, or love at first sight, you want the people to be in love and romantic and really kind and sweet to each other. Min just seemed like the kind of girl I would hate and often have the desire to punch in the face more than anything else. Their relationship does not scream one of romance.
There is a lot about this world that would be better read within the book than read summary through a review. The unveiling of the world that Bridger has created is both interesting, well crafted, and well written. It is world reading the book on your own to go through that level of discovery. Overall, I think this is a good book and probably a good book for those of us who are looking for Urban Fantasy but a different take on it.
One of the things I like about urban fantasy is how an author decides to make the world: do they decide to hide magic/paranormal or do they put it right out there? If they hide the magical world, do paranormals/supernaturals live in everyday world, or is there a "Harry Potter" like setting, where you can step into a world from the normal world into one of magic and wonder. This is a hiding version is something I find to be really interesting, it allows all of the magical/supernatural elements to exist truly in a world where anything is possible that the author wants to be. It's because of that reason I was looking forward to reading this book.
I do enjoy a story being told where the male is the lead character, it provides a different perspective and it's one I enjoy. I also always find it interesting when the lead is a male because most people look at it being such a huge and fundamental difference, but ultimately I feel like no matter what gender the main character is they still face the same obstacles and emotions, they just have different points of view or reactions. It's in those differences that I find the story most interesting.
The realm of the magic society is quite interesting, they seem to be a good of artistic types, with all of the personality types you would expect to find in a place such as this. And while the characters are well described and well written, it does not mean that I liked all of them. In fact my most hated character is that of Min, she just isn't a nice person. When you read a book that has to do with reincarnated love, or love at first sight, you want the people to be in love and romantic and really kind and sweet to each other. Min just seemed like the kind of girl I would hate and often have the desire to punch in the face more than anything else. Their relationship does not scream one of romance.
There is a lot about this world that would be better read within the book than read summary through a review. The unveiling of the world that Bridger has created is both interesting, well crafted, and well written. It is world reading the book on your own to go through that level of discovery. Overall, I think this is a good book and probably a good book for those of us who are looking for Urban Fantasy but a different take on it.
July 2, 2011
Quarter Square, a hauntingly beautiful story by David Bridger, released on 6/27/11 from Carina Press.
I was able to read the first 3 chapters some time ago, and the story hasn’t left me alone since. I’ve been waiting patiently for it to be published, and now it has been, and I’m so happy for David. He’s a friend of mine from Forward Motion, an online writing community, and I think he’s a wonderful writer. Quarter Square does not disappoint.
We meet our protagonist, Joe, as he learns that his wife has been sleeping with his best friend. Joe moves into the abandoned theatre that his best friend purchased and decides to renovate it. He notices people coming and going through a mysterious doorway, and one day he decides to follow them. Here he discovers Quarter Square, a magical community of people who spend time together. They, too, are magical and can do many cool things. There are dancers, singers, healers…and their community is in trouble. It is literally falling apart without the necessary magic to repair it.
Joe spends time with these people and over time, becomes one of them. He is especially interested in Min, a singer, and they have a connection. A very strong, very tragic one. It’s awesome how he starts from being an outsider to becoming one of them.
And Joe’s life is in danger. A werewolf is hunting him. And he will die if he doesn’t run….
Trying not to give spoilers. I found Quarter Square to be a beautiful love story. The love that Joe and Min have for each other is timeless and stronger than life itself. It’s everything true love should be. It’s touching and heartbreaking at the same time.
Our antagonist, a werewolf, is scary as hell. He’s hunting Joe and Min, and they have to take drastic measures to keep themselves hidden. I won’t say why, but it will make sense.
I love the magic system in this book. It’s simple and easy to understand. It makes me wonder if these could be people in our world — it’s that real. It’s really beautiful and dangit, I wish I could go to Quarter Square.
So, I loved it. It ended on a sort of cliffhanger, so be warned. There is a sequel coming, thank God. I can’t wait to read it.
I was able to read the first 3 chapters some time ago, and the story hasn’t left me alone since. I’ve been waiting patiently for it to be published, and now it has been, and I’m so happy for David. He’s a friend of mine from Forward Motion, an online writing community, and I think he’s a wonderful writer. Quarter Square does not disappoint.
We meet our protagonist, Joe, as he learns that his wife has been sleeping with his best friend. Joe moves into the abandoned theatre that his best friend purchased and decides to renovate it. He notices people coming and going through a mysterious doorway, and one day he decides to follow them. Here he discovers Quarter Square, a magical community of people who spend time together. They, too, are magical and can do many cool things. There are dancers, singers, healers…and their community is in trouble. It is literally falling apart without the necessary magic to repair it.
Joe spends time with these people and over time, becomes one of them. He is especially interested in Min, a singer, and they have a connection. A very strong, very tragic one. It’s awesome how he starts from being an outsider to becoming one of them.
And Joe’s life is in danger. A werewolf is hunting him. And he will die if he doesn’t run….
Trying not to give spoilers. I found Quarter Square to be a beautiful love story. The love that Joe and Min have for each other is timeless and stronger than life itself. It’s everything true love should be. It’s touching and heartbreaking at the same time.
Our antagonist, a werewolf, is scary as hell. He’s hunting Joe and Min, and they have to take drastic measures to keep themselves hidden. I won’t say why, but it will make sense.
I love the magic system in this book. It’s simple and easy to understand. It makes me wonder if these could be people in our world — it’s that real. It’s really beautiful and dangit, I wish I could go to Quarter Square.
So, I loved it. It ended on a sort of cliffhanger, so be warned. There is a sequel coming, thank God. I can’t wait to read it.
July 18, 2011
Let me start off by saying that, overall, I liked Quarter Square. It took a bit for me to get into this one, but once the protagonist, Joe, moved on from his discovery of his wife's infidelity, the story picked up. The worldbuilding, from that point on definitely piqued my interest-- though the Wild was far more appealing to me than the Square (outside of the theatre).
I liked experiencing the story from Joe's POV. However, the story's "heroine," Min, did not work for me. Her treatment of Joe, as if he were a child, seemed almost childish to me-- if that makes any sense. I also didn't get a real sense of what Min is to the other members of the otherworld community, and I couldn't imagine why Joe feels as strongly for Min, as he does, so soon in the novel. While Joe may have fallen for Min, "I" could not, and would have been quite happy for Joe's rival to have whisked her off and out of Joe's life. I guess Min was necessary for Joe to discover what he was and what he wanted to do with his life, but argh! I could have done with out that meddlesome woman.
As far as other characters go, the only "insider" I found compelling was Will-- the rest of the gypsy-like troupe seemed like caricatures. The portions with the Axe people were far more interesting, but I'm not sure I could buy their motivation for continuing to help Min, considering how things have turned out in the past.
I certainly don't mind quick pacing in an urban fantasy novel, and this one was definitely galloping along, towards the end (note: end NOT ending...).I did enjoy the final battle scene, but there were still a lot of unanswered questions. It isn't that I wanted a tidy ending, but now there just seem to be so many loose ends. I would definitely be on board for a sequel-- especially sans Min, but somehow, I think we (and Joe) will have to endure her awhile longer.
This is beginning to sound more critical than I intended. I liked Quarter Square. The writing was lyrical and mostly imaginative. I loved Joe's character-- even if I question his taste in women! If there's a sequel, I will definitely give it a go. I recommend this to fans of urban fantasy/paranormal novels-- though if you're looking for a typical "werewolf" story, you'll be disappointed.
I liked experiencing the story from Joe's POV. However, the story's "heroine," Min, did not work for me. Her treatment of Joe, as if he were a child, seemed almost childish to me-- if that makes any sense. I also didn't get a real sense of what Min is to the other members of the otherworld community, and I couldn't imagine why Joe feels as strongly for Min, as he does, so soon in the novel. While Joe may have fallen for Min, "I" could not, and would have been quite happy for Joe's rival to have whisked her off and out of Joe's life. I guess Min was necessary for Joe to discover what he was and what he wanted to do with his life, but argh! I could have done with out that meddlesome woman.
As far as other characters go, the only "insider" I found compelling was Will-- the rest of the gypsy-like troupe seemed like caricatures. The portions with the Axe people were far more interesting, but I'm not sure I could buy their motivation for continuing to help Min, considering how things have turned out in the past.
I certainly don't mind quick pacing in an urban fantasy novel, and this one was definitely galloping along, towards the end (note: end NOT ending...).I did enjoy the final battle scene, but there were still a lot of unanswered questions. It isn't that I wanted a tidy ending, but now there just seem to be so many loose ends. I would definitely be on board for a sequel-- especially sans Min, but somehow, I think we (and Joe) will have to endure her awhile longer.
This is beginning to sound more critical than I intended. I liked Quarter Square. The writing was lyrical and mostly imaginative. I loved Joe's character-- even if I question his taste in women! If there's a sequel, I will definitely give it a go. I recommend this to fans of urban fantasy/paranormal novels-- though if you're looking for a typical "werewolf" story, you'll be disappointed.
September 11, 2011
This book is hard to review. I expected it to be considerably different than it was. For some sections of the book, it was a solid 5 star read. Other sections, only 2 stars. I think this book is one of those "hit or miss" types for many people. For me, it ended up as just an OK book overall.
I found the storyline at the beginning very intriguing and it pulled me in right away with Joe's discovery and pain over his wife's betrayal. Then suddenly, the entire story shifts into something so completely different than it started, the 2 parts having seemingly no connection overall, other than to be a basis to write the book. It honestly did not make any sense to me. Why start a book with the discovery of infidelity and then literally only a few days later have Joe thrown into a world of magic, fairy tales, an immortal goddess and monster and an entire world hidden in the "in-between"? There was no true way to tie the death of his cheating wife to Joe's utter acceptance and his new life in the magical world, it was a tenuous connection at best.
On the other hand, the Axe people were amazing. Once Tyac was introduced to the story and Min and Joe fled to the Axe, the book was amazing. I was turning the pages so fast when I got to that point and was really disappointed that it ended so soon, I wished it was longer.
I think perhaps with a better start and lead-in to the "real" story of Min and Joe, this book could've been a home run knocked right out of the park. If it wasn't so short, and had more pages to develop characters and plot, it would've been much better. It felt more like a novella than a first book in a series. I am undecided if I will want to read book 2. Thanks to netGalley and Carina Press for allowing me to read and review this book for free!
I found the storyline at the beginning very intriguing and it pulled me in right away with Joe's discovery and pain over his wife's betrayal. Then suddenly, the entire story shifts into something so completely different than it started, the 2 parts having seemingly no connection overall, other than to be a basis to write the book. It honestly did not make any sense to me. Why start a book with the discovery of infidelity and then literally only a few days later have Joe thrown into a world of magic, fairy tales, an immortal goddess and monster and an entire world hidden in the "in-between"? There was no true way to tie the death of his cheating wife to Joe's utter acceptance and his new life in the magical world, it was a tenuous connection at best.
On the other hand, the Axe people were amazing. Once Tyac was introduced to the story and Min and Joe fled to the Axe, the book was amazing. I was turning the pages so fast when I got to that point and was really disappointed that it ended so soon, I wished it was longer.
I think perhaps with a better start and lead-in to the "real" story of Min and Joe, this book could've been a home run knocked right out of the park. If it wasn't so short, and had more pages to develop characters and plot, it would've been much better. It felt more like a novella than a first book in a series. I am undecided if I will want to read book 2. Thanks to netGalley and Carina Press for allowing me to read and review this book for free!
June 4, 2016
A book that is rather hard to classify . . .
First, it is not particularly long - less that 3000 Kindle locations, which translates as just short of 50000 words - it is a length that was, until recently, a little difficult to sell outside the juvenile/YA categories.
Fortunately, e-publishing has changed all that!
But while we are considering YA . . .
This book has a fair collection of the usual YA Fantasy tropes - a magic door inside an old theatre, that gives access into a parallel world, with werewolves and other magic. But it also has a couple of explicit sex scenes - brief, not over-descriptive, not laboured, rather good fun in fact - but rather too adult to put this book in the YA category.
So what else have we got? Too start with, a leading protagonist that is easy to identify with, and to sympathise with. Supporting characters that are well enough developed, and occasionally throw surprising twists into the plot (Spoiler alert . . . "I am immortal and you are reincarnated repeatedly"). And some well-written desriptive passages, and a story that develops nicely, holds the reader's interest - and has more than one thread. At the end of this book, some components of the tale are neatly tied off, but there is still a main theme running that will require at least one further book - which I have already bought, and will read as soon as I can find some space in my reading timetable!
A comfortable four stars - my personal tastes do not normally include werewolves, which is the main reason it didn't get five.
First, it is not particularly long - less that 3000 Kindle locations, which translates as just short of 50000 words - it is a length that was, until recently, a little difficult to sell outside the juvenile/YA categories.
Fortunately, e-publishing has changed all that!
But while we are considering YA . . .
This book has a fair collection of the usual YA Fantasy tropes - a magic door inside an old theatre, that gives access into a parallel world, with werewolves and other magic. But it also has a couple of explicit sex scenes - brief, not over-descriptive, not laboured, rather good fun in fact - but rather too adult to put this book in the YA category.
So what else have we got? Too start with, a leading protagonist that is easy to identify with, and to sympathise with. Supporting characters that are well enough developed, and occasionally throw surprising twists into the plot (Spoiler alert . . . "I am immortal and you are reincarnated repeatedly"). And some well-written desriptive passages, and a story that develops nicely, holds the reader's interest - and has more than one thread. At the end of this book, some components of the tale are neatly tied off, but there is still a main theme running that will require at least one further book - which I have already bought, and will read as soon as I can find some space in my reading timetable!
A comfortable four stars - my personal tastes do not normally include werewolves, which is the main reason it didn't get five.
September 3, 2011
3.25/5
I'm really on the fence about this book.
On one side the setting and the premise are unusual enough, and Joe who went from being a chartered surveyor to a carpenter following his dream had all my sympathy all along. I love people with that sort of courage.
Joe is a regular guy who when given a chance to be introduced to the world of the supernatural, behaves like a child with wonder in his eyes. He wants to know and learn everything, he embraces and enjoys his new lifestyle and he cares about his new friends.
On the other hand here is Min, his love and an enchantress who does her magic by singing. Min is an Immortal, but I can't say that thousands years of living did her any good. She is indecisive, selfish and doesn't stick up for the right things.
The enemy is somewhat confusing. First he is supposed to be one evil person but then he is not, and you left with what the hell? moment. There are plenty of human casualties which were totally unnecessary, and I was pleased that Joe recognised it, took charge and rebelled against Min in the end.
I'm not making much sense, am I? That's because the book confused the hell out of me. To sum everything up: Joe is a good guy, Min is a wild card which obviously has her own agenda which I suspect I wouldn't like one bit, and the evil guy is somewhat pathetic. What with all those years of living Min couldn't come with better plan than to run from him every time? PLEAASE!
I'm really on the fence about this book.
On one side the setting and the premise are unusual enough, and Joe who went from being a chartered surveyor to a carpenter following his dream had all my sympathy all along. I love people with that sort of courage.
Joe is a regular guy who when given a chance to be introduced to the world of the supernatural, behaves like a child with wonder in his eyes. He wants to know and learn everything, he embraces and enjoys his new lifestyle and he cares about his new friends.
On the other hand here is Min, his love and an enchantress who does her magic by singing. Min is an Immortal, but I can't say that thousands years of living did her any good. She is indecisive, selfish and doesn't stick up for the right things.
The enemy is somewhat confusing. First he is supposed to be one evil person but then he is not, and you left with what the hell? moment. There are plenty of human casualties which were totally unnecessary, and I was pleased that Joe recognised it, took charge and rebelled against Min in the end.
I'm not making much sense, am I? That's because the book confused the hell out of me. To sum everything up: Joe is a good guy, Min is a wild card which obviously has her own agenda which I suspect I wouldn't like one bit, and the evil guy is somewhat pathetic. What with all those years of living Min couldn't come with better plan than to run from him every time? PLEAASE!
September 4, 2011
Quarter Square is going to be a difficult book to review. Not because I’m ambivalent or want to temper my response, but because of the beautiful way this book is crafted. Anything I comment on specifically will only spoil the tale for the reader. It is seriously one of those books, the first twist comes in the first chapter and I really don’t want to give anything away. It’s a slippery slope to stand on in terms of reviewing.
I actually can’t believe how short the book was in relation to how much ground it covered. Amazing pace and tension all the way through and it feels more like an old school fantasy than an urban fantasy book.
Suffice to say, I wholeheartedly recommend this, in many ways it reminds me of the magical English children’s books I grew up but with a gorgeous urban fantasy twist. Worlds piled upon worlds and history so thick you can see it. Joe, our hero, is as clueless as the reader and it makes for a page-turner of a book. A great male lead (right after I was bemoaning the lack of male protagonists in the urban fantasy genre as well!) from Mr Bridger and I’m looking forward to the next in the Wild Times series just to watch him find even more of himself and the world he’s in.
I will stop being so vague at this point and just let you go get a copy. It’s worth it.And yes, I did get my review copy for free but I honestly wasn’t influenced by that at all. No qualifications in this review.
I actually can’t believe how short the book was in relation to how much ground it covered. Amazing pace and tension all the way through and it feels more like an old school fantasy than an urban fantasy book.
Suffice to say, I wholeheartedly recommend this, in many ways it reminds me of the magical English children’s books I grew up but with a gorgeous urban fantasy twist. Worlds piled upon worlds and history so thick you can see it. Joe, our hero, is as clueless as the reader and it makes for a page-turner of a book. A great male lead (right after I was bemoaning the lack of male protagonists in the urban fantasy genre as well!) from Mr Bridger and I’m looking forward to the next in the Wild Times series just to watch him find even more of himself and the world he’s in.
I will stop being so vague at this point and just let you go get a copy. It’s worth it.And yes, I did get my review copy for free but I honestly wasn’t influenced by that at all. No qualifications in this review.
June 11, 2011
Reviewed at: Over A Cuppa Tea
Reviewed date: 12 June 2011
Review link: http://cleffairy.com/?p=5501
‘Quarter Square’ by David Bridger is a very intense and thrilling read. It starts off very emotional, making me sympathize with the main character for the injustice that he’s suffering, but as the story moves along, it gets much more interesting and instead of pity, I enjoyed how the characters and the environment developed.
If you’re not into paranormal stories, then you might find this story a tad strange and hard to imagine.
I enjoyed it despite of the queer environment in the story. It has it’s own allure, and I’ve always fancies heroes who starts off weak and emerge strong and highly dominant in the end.
Overall, this is not a bad read. I rate this book 3 out of 5 stars. I received an ARC of this book from Carina Press via Netgalley.
Reviewed date: 12 June 2011
Review link: http://cleffairy.com/?p=5501
‘Quarter Square’ by David Bridger is a very intense and thrilling read. It starts off very emotional, making me sympathize with the main character for the injustice that he’s suffering, but as the story moves along, it gets much more interesting and instead of pity, I enjoyed how the characters and the environment developed.
If you’re not into paranormal stories, then you might find this story a tad strange and hard to imagine.
I enjoyed it despite of the queer environment in the story. It has it’s own allure, and I’ve always fancies heroes who starts off weak and emerge strong and highly dominant in the end.
Overall, this is not a bad read. I rate this book 3 out of 5 stars. I received an ARC of this book from Carina Press via Netgalley.
April 11, 2016
The plot is good, but it wasn't an engaging read.
The book starts when Joe, the protagonist, finds out that his wife is cheating on him with his best friend. He throws everything away and decides to restore an old, abandoned theater. There, he encounters a community of magical dance performers and feels like he finally found a place he belongs.
The story itself wasn't strong enough to keep me reading. I wasn't "immersed" into their world. The narrative is too passive and he accepted this strange magical world so quickly. I didn't have any questions that needed an answer. I didn't feel a connection to the characters to like them. A lot of things were just random as well. It was so disjointed.
Mr. Bridger has lots of potential. I saw it in there but it's not quite up to par yet. I hope to read his second novel in this series and find that his writing as well as his characters have grown.
Originally published at thetbrpile.weebly.com
June 22, 2011
This book feels incomplete to me. It starts off so amazingly strong and the author has a wonderful turn of phrase built into his writing style that helps make the characters come alive. It’s a bit quirky, a bit humorous but always evoking some type of emotional response. That said, I had difficulty with the urban fantasy portion of the novel. It seemed much too rushed and the main character was too easily accepting of the events. I would have liked to have seen the confusion, a stronger introduction to the world itself before we were just sat down in the middle of this strange place. Because of this lack of intro, I felt disconnected from the text and, unfortunately, never got immersed in the novel.
(ARC Galley Proof)
(ARC Galley Proof)
July 10, 2011
This is a strange little story. It is fast paced and almost too busy. Everything happens at breakneck speed. The descriptive quality is low on the grown but it is oddly compelling and works. The novella feel like a full length book condensed into a short one. Joe is the most accepting man in the universe but if the book was longer there could have been more charter development rather then the jumps in paradigm shift that happens in this. I have to say though at the end Joe grew a back bone and this alone makes me want to read further books that come in this series.
Would I recommend this book......... yes purely as a curiosity to see if others are as compelled by it as I have been.
Would I recommend this book......... yes purely as a curiosity to see if others are as compelled by it as I have been.
July 14, 2011
I just couldn't get into this one and didn't actually manage to finish it. I liked alot of the concepts behind the story. Magic parallel worlds made up of little neighborhoods accessed through anceint theaters? Cool. Street performers and music and magic? Neat. And a bit of romance. Also good. However, the writing style? Not so good. It felt choppy and disjointed and actually made me a bit bored. This surprises me, because all the other Carina Press books that I've read have had pretty good if not great writing. Perhaps others would not find the writing style as obstructive as I did.
Thanks to netGalley for giving me access to this title.
Thanks to netGalley for giving me access to this title.
September 21, 2012
David Bridger has a solid reputation, so it was with eager anticipation that I started Quarter Square. The beginning sucked me in with a clever unique idea. With so many books merely rehashing old ideas, the unique hooks me every time.
Like just about every reader, I can't help predicting how things will turn out, but I had give in and go with the flow, Bridger pulled the rug from under my feet every time.
Visually rich and exotic, I wandered through his new world and basked in the atmosphere and vivid characters.
Word on the street says a sequel is on it's way. Good news: anyone who reads this will be ready for more.
Like just about every reader, I can't help predicting how things will turn out, but I had give in and go with the flow, Bridger pulled the rug from under my feet every time.
Visually rich and exotic, I wandered through his new world and basked in the atmosphere and vivid characters.
Word on the street says a sequel is on it's way. Good news: anyone who reads this will be ready for more.
July 14, 2011
I would've liked it to have been longer and the development a little slower. That being said, I can't wait for the second one. I love the way David makes you visualize what's happening. He has a way of constantly surprising you. Every time I thought I had the next bit figured out, I turned out to be wrong. And I love the main character Joe. He's just like the oak he works with, strong and steady in the midst of the chaos that has consumed his life. He's a man who keeps his promises. It'll be interesting to see how his relationship with Min develops in the next book.
July 28, 2011
If you enjoy a non-traditional hero, an action-heavy plot, an eclectic array of magical creatures, and a story where you’re NOT spoonfed the entire universe (and must utilize your own imagination) then I’d recommend you read Quarter Square. Sure, there were times it left me wanting, but for the first time in a long time, I was wanting MORE instead of wanting to take a pair of scissors to the text. It was refreshing, and it was fun.
Full review on Dark Side of the Covers blog
Full review on Dark Side of the Covers blog
July 10, 2011
This is the third book I have read by David Bridger and each one has been different, well written and thoroughly enjoyable. To say 'Quarter Square' is a tale about werewolves is to tell only part of the story. This is an adventure that takes some surprising twists and turns and the ending is crying out for a sequel. Highly recommended and I look forward to the next book by this author.
May 12, 2012
Strong opening scene really hooked me in and made me care about Joe. An interesting setting, featuring Plymouth (UK), Quarter Square itself a kind of gateway and The Wild. I liked Joe's 'wood' magic and am hoping we find out a bit more about Min's music magic in future books. The plot was quite original, but defintiely meant to be the first in the series.
Want to Read
August 18, 2011$3.19 on Nook
Read
June 12, 2011DNF
March 5, 2012
3.5 Stars
This took me a while to get into, but I’m glad I stuck with it. There’s a lot going on in the story and a very clever parallel world.
This took me a while to get into, but I’m glad I stuck with it. There’s a lot going on in the story and a very clever parallel world.
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