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The Grey Gates #2
Called
In a city full of rising tension, with people going missing or turning up dead, can Max resist the call to help?
When Max tries to intervene to prevent an assault and it goes horribly wrong, she wants nothing more than to keep her head down and get on with her job. She does not want to answer calls for help, not even from Bryce, the Order warrior who seems willing to give her a second chance.
Despite telling herself she just wants to live her quiet life, Max finds herself delving into parts of the city where no one apart from the desperate want to go, facing terrifying supernatural creatures and ghosts from her past.
Max never wanted to be a hero, but no one else is going to do the job.
Called is the second book in a new series by Vanessa Nelson and continues the story begun in Outcast. If you like your fantasy mixed with a dose of mystery, a bit of magic, and a heroine who can hold her own, you will love this series. Get your copy of Called now to continue Max's story.
When Max tries to intervene to prevent an assault and it goes horribly wrong, she wants nothing more than to keep her head down and get on with her job. She does not want to answer calls for help, not even from Bryce, the Order warrior who seems willing to give her a second chance.
Despite telling herself she just wants to live her quiet life, Max finds herself delving into parts of the city where no one apart from the desperate want to go, facing terrifying supernatural creatures and ghosts from her past.
Max never wanted to be a hero, but no one else is going to do the job.
Called is the second book in a new series by Vanessa Nelson and continues the story begun in Outcast. If you like your fantasy mixed with a dose of mystery, a bit of magic, and a heroine who can hold her own, you will love this series. Get your copy of Called now to continue Max's story.
265 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2023
531 people are currently reading
858 people want to read
About the author
Vanessa Nelson
32 books424 followersI am a fantasy author living in Scotland, United Kingdom and spending my days juggling the demands of an elderly, spoiled cat, two giant dogs and a host of fictional characters.
As far as the cat is concerned, she’s in charge and should always come first. The older dog’s favourite method of getting my attention is a gentle nudge with his head. At least, he would say it’s gentle. And the younger dog's attention-getting method generally involves playing with the loudest squeaky toy he can find.
You can find out more information at the following places:
Website: www.vanessanelsonwrites.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Taellaneth
As far as the cat is concerned, she’s in charge and should always come first. The older dog’s favourite method of getting my attention is a gentle nudge with his head. At least, he would say it’s gentle. And the younger dog's attention-getting method generally involves playing with the loudest squeaky toy he can find.
You can find out more information at the following places:
Website: www.vanessanelsonwrites.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Taellaneth
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 164 reviews
May 6, 2023
I really enjoy Vanessa Nelson’s books. Her writing is reminiscent of TA White (who is one of my faves). Each series of hers is unique and very enjoyable. This one might be my favorite yet!
May 23, 2023
I really liked this addition to the Grey Gates series. I do get a bit tired of the ‘hard done by character who has no friends because they push everyone away’. That seems to be a common theme in this author’s books but she is already developing Max out of that mind set so it didn’t bother me too much. I’m definitely looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
September 8, 2023
A really good continuation.
Great plot.
Good writing.
A well-developed world.
And rounded characters.
This time we got to go into the Wild and meet more characters, some I thoroughly disliked and some I am still rooting for. I do have a wish that the author would sensationalize some scenes more, but they are a personal requirement as I want to attain dark satisfaction from seeing them fall. Or realise the truth about Max the author keep hinting at.
Us too Max. Us too.
Great plot.
Good writing.
A well-developed world.
And rounded characters.
This time we got to go into the Wild and meet more characters, some I thoroughly disliked and some I am still rooting for. I do have a wish that the author would sensationalize some scenes more, but they are a personal requirement as I want to attain dark satisfaction from seeing them fall. Or realise the truth about Max the author keep hinting at.
When she had left the Order, she had mostly wanted to hide and keep out of sight, building a quiet, careful life. Now that life was growing, expanding and the possibilities filled her with hope. She was looking forward to seeing what happens next.
Us too Max. Us too.
August 2, 2023
Oh dear, I didn't enjoy this at all. It seemed like high school drama with the h powerless and being bullied by the baddies. Thought it was heavy on Telling and overly complicated.
May 15, 2023
3.5 ⭐️
Look who’s coming in to her powers 🥹👀
A solid instalment 🥰 our girl is making friends, exploring her past, her magic is coming in and expanding. This book was slow to start and lagged in a few places but overall I enjoyed it.
Look who’s coming in to her powers 🥹👀
A solid instalment 🥰 our girl is making friends, exploring her past, her magic is coming in and expanding. This book was slow to start and lagged in a few places but overall I enjoyed it.
April 30, 2024
Love Max, enjoy the world and the storylines. Hate the way people treat her and her not standing up to all the crap. On to the next book!
January 17, 2024
I really enjoyed this one, and found it nearly impossible to put the book down.
An interesting bit of worldbuilding may have come up too ... which is: what IS this place? The first book didn't establish much about the wider world - we know there's the city in which they live, and it is surrounded by the Wild, which keeps creeping forward, eating up larger swaths of their city. There doesn't seem to be anything else in the world other than this city. Which is fine - there was plenty of other labor for the worldbuilding to handle in book 1, and we didn't need to bog it down with more detail. So I came out of book 1 unsure whether this was, like, a foreign world with somewhat modern stuff (cell phones, cars, TVs, etc) or our world after some huge devastating event (something like in the Kate Daniels world, where magic surged up and kind of shattered the modern world).
In this book, Max briefly thinks about the world beyond the city - specifically at the docks, where it was once a clearly thriving port, but now there are no boats ... just mist, and she says sometimes someone decides to venture into the mist to see what's out there, and they never come back. And while she's thinking about this (in her narrative) it is like her thoughts keep resetting. Twice, she's thinking about it, and then her thoughts derail to "There's nothing else. The fog is the edge of the world." It felt like a needle scratching on a record, being yanked back to its proper place. It was fascinating. Like, are all the people in this city brainwashed? Forced to repeat that there's nothing else out there, anytime their thoughts wander towards what lies beyond the edges of the city?
Maybe it's nothing, but it sure felt like something.
In other developments, I'm happy to say I feel even better about the Marshals organization. Faddei is a great leader and the Marshals all seem to be a team that cares about and supports each other. That's great, because I cannot stand yet another world where literally every organization sucks and society is a corrupt hellscape. Something is wrong with the people in charge of this city, but not ALL people. That's a relief.
My only real complaint is I'm tired of Max just sucking up people being shitty to her. The Guardian that stowed away on the mission was a ridiculous bag of shit, and she - or freaking SOMEONE - should have laughed in his face when he was doing his self-important schtick, and told him what a pathetic waste of air he is. I am not going to be able to stand books and books of her letting utter jackasses who contribute LITERALLY NOTHING to the mission or to society walk all over her. That got a whole star knocked off this review, because it is unacceptable.
Otherwise, I loved it, and have already started book 3.
An interesting bit of worldbuilding may have come up too ... which is: what IS this place? The first book didn't establish much about the wider world - we know there's the city in which they live, and it is surrounded by the Wild, which keeps creeping forward, eating up larger swaths of their city. There doesn't seem to be anything else in the world other than this city. Which is fine - there was plenty of other labor for the worldbuilding to handle in book 1, and we didn't need to bog it down with more detail. So I came out of book 1 unsure whether this was, like, a foreign world with somewhat modern stuff (cell phones, cars, TVs, etc) or our world after some huge devastating event (something like in the Kate Daniels world, where magic surged up and kind of shattered the modern world).
In this book, Max briefly thinks about the world beyond the city - specifically at the docks, where it was once a clearly thriving port, but now there are no boats ... just mist, and she says sometimes someone decides to venture into the mist to see what's out there, and they never come back. And while she's thinking about this (in her narrative) it is like her thoughts keep resetting. Twice, she's thinking about it, and then her thoughts derail to "There's nothing else. The fog is the edge of the world." It felt like a needle scratching on a record, being yanked back to its proper place. It was fascinating. Like, are all the people in this city brainwashed? Forced to repeat that there's nothing else out there, anytime their thoughts wander towards what lies beyond the edges of the city?
Maybe it's nothing, but it sure felt like something.
In other developments, I'm happy to say I feel even better about the Marshals organization. Faddei is a great leader and the Marshals all seem to be a team that cares about and supports each other. That's great, because I cannot stand yet another world where literally every organization sucks and society is a corrupt hellscape. Something is wrong with the people in charge of this city, but not ALL people. That's a relief.
My only real complaint is I'm tired of Max just sucking up people being shitty to her. The Guardian that stowed away on the mission was a ridiculous bag of shit, and she - or freaking SOMEONE - should have laughed in his face when he was doing his self-important schtick, and told him what a pathetic waste of air he is. I am not going to be able to stand books and books of her letting utter jackasses who contribute LITERALLY NOTHING to the mission or to society walk all over her. That got a whole star knocked off this review, because it is unacceptable.
Otherwise, I loved it, and have already started book 3.
September 20, 2023
3.5 stars
Maybe because I read this one right after Outcast, I felt more "grounded" with the universe. Duly noted, I still found the background information about this universe (why only Five Families? What are they? Why the need for council vs. marshall vs. guardian vs. order vs. police - the juridiction feels very blurry) lacking, but at the same time, I just went with the flow and focused on Max's adventure.
This time, Max's being roped into "problem" had better reasons in my mind. Unlike in the first book where I thought she was just called to crime scene because she was the only one available, this time Max got involved into missing people case because the daughter of the family who helped her also went missing. Of course Max wanted to investigate!
Not long after that, she also stumbled into ANOTHER plan to bring back the Dark Lord of the Underground back to the surface ()
Yes, Max's magic was intriguing - I look forward to know more about her bloodline and where she is coming from
Maybe because I read this one right after Outcast, I felt more "grounded" with the universe. Duly noted, I still found the background information about this universe (why only Five Families? What are they? Why the need for council vs. marshall vs. guardian vs. order vs. police - the juridiction feels very blurry) lacking, but at the same time, I just went with the flow and focused on Max's adventure.
This time, Max's being roped into "problem" had better reasons in my mind. Unlike in the first book where I thought she was just called to crime scene because she was the only one available, this time Max got involved into missing people case because the daughter of the family who helped her also went missing. Of course Max wanted to investigate!
Not long after that, she also stumbled into ANOTHER plan to bring back the Dark Lord of the Underground back to the surface ()
Yes, Max's magic was intriguing - I look forward to know more about her bloodline and where she is coming from
May 3, 2024
ehhhhh I kinda have more questions at the end of this book than the other and it is bizarre to me how she doesn't try to get rid of the demon who has tried killing her multiple times. So, at the end of the book
It is... so confusing.
Like, the story is interesting and as confusing as the setting is, I still mostly enjoy it, but wow I really have to turn my brain off and stop thinking.
OH and let's talk about Bryce, real quick. He's the love interest, right? But... he taught a fighting class when she was training with the Order 8 years ago, but for some reason he is now always in the field... whatever, what I want to know is how old is he? Because I didn't assume he was the LI at first. He taught a class -- cool, dude was probs in his 30s so now 40s? and she is... maybe MAYBE 30??? If there is gonna be an age gap, fine, but I'd like it noted. It's just weird how they read as the same age...
It is... so confusing.
Like, the story is interesting and as confusing as the setting is, I still mostly enjoy it, but wow I really have to turn my brain off and stop thinking.
OH and let's talk about Bryce, real quick. He's the love interest, right? But... he taught a fighting class when she was training with the Order 8 years ago, but for some reason he is now always in the field... whatever, what I want to know is how old is he? Because I didn't assume he was the LI at first. He taught a class -- cool, dude was probs in his 30s so now 40s? and she is... maybe MAYBE 30??? If there is gonna be an age gap, fine, but I'd like it noted. It's just weird how they read as the same age...
April 15, 2024
This series is good. Quick, easy reads and action packed. Mysteries that aren't obvious and don't drag on and on. This book was actually better than the first, we get a better look at Max's history and trauma, but she is doing her best to work through it in what feels like a realistic way. She is not always very confident, but she IS competent and has a lot of common sense and I love that.
The side characters are so good. Audhilde, Faddei, Kolbyr etc are all *chefs kiss*. I love the growing relationship with Bryce.
The side characters are so good. Audhilde, Faddei, Kolbyr etc are all *chefs kiss*. I love the growing relationship with Bryce.
March 9, 2024
Very slow
I liked the first book enough to read this one and I had thought that this would pick up the pace. It didn't.
Apparently, the world building from the first book is all you get. So you better have a good imagination to help you through this one.
I also thought that Max was going to grow, come into herself, and gain some confidence. Maybe even get some vindication. Nope, not even when she had the chance with the leader of the Order and her old Master. She just takes everything lying down.
I'm a little confused now as to what the Marshall's purpose is. No one respects them. They're not trained in combat. Most of the time, their weapons are ineffective. Max in particular is useless. She's always injured, yet is always leading the missions with exception of the trek to the oil field, yet still she's told to step off the path in the wild alone.
It has been made clear that the demon has a purpose for Max, but then he's randomly trying to kill her. He acted very strange in this book, but there's nothing really to care about since he comes in such limited pieces.
But you know, it's okay if he plans to kill a bunch of people, Max will just leave him to go free, because what is a Marshal even for? Demons are supernatural beings, hence fall under her jurisdiction, and if not, then certainly Bryces as a member of the Order.
If Bryce is the love interest, this is done terribly. She met him once. Put him in the same bucket as the rest of the Order, and has barely interacted with him since. They don't talk. She just blushes a lot. And pretty much is useless.
Actually, there's not a lot of talking at all. The writing is stiff, and most of the story happens in Max's thoughts.
I don't know....I might read the next one, but if it continues this trend, I'll lose interest. This was hard to finish as it was.
I liked the first book enough to read this one and I had thought that this would pick up the pace. It didn't.
Apparently, the world building from the first book is all you get. So you better have a good imagination to help you through this one.
I also thought that Max was going to grow, come into herself, and gain some confidence. Maybe even get some vindication. Nope, not even when she had the chance with the leader of the Order and her old Master. She just takes everything lying down.
I'm a little confused now as to what the Marshall's purpose is. No one respects them. They're not trained in combat. Most of the time, their weapons are ineffective. Max in particular is useless. She's always injured, yet is always leading the missions with exception of the trek to the oil field, yet still she's told to step off the path in the wild alone.
It has been made clear that the demon has a purpose for Max, but then he's randomly trying to kill her. He acted very strange in this book, but there's nothing really to care about since he comes in such limited pieces.
But you know, it's okay if he plans to kill a bunch of people, Max will just leave him to go free, because what is a Marshal even for? Demons are supernatural beings, hence fall under her jurisdiction, and if not, then certainly Bryces as a member of the Order.
If Bryce is the love interest, this is done terribly. She met him once. Put him in the same bucket as the rest of the Order, and has barely interacted with him since. They don't talk. She just blushes a lot. And pretty much is useless.
Actually, there's not a lot of talking at all. The writing is stiff, and most of the story happens in Max's thoughts.
I don't know....I might read the next one, but if it continues this trend, I'll lose interest. This was hard to finish as it was.
September 19, 2023
I enjoyed this second book, but it had some serious pacing and plot issues for me - a portion of the book feels like filler content, and I had several moments where I skipped through paragraphs and hoped the book will end soon. Which is sad, as I like the characters (and the dogs!) and quirky exchanges between them. I found the villains in this comically bad - these are scary millennia-old creatures but have a sheen of teenage incompetency about them. Not inherently bad I suppose (perhaps this was a conscious choice?), but I didn't like it.
I won't continue with this series for now, but I might return to it again one day.
I won't continue with this series for now, but I might return to it again one day.
February 17, 2024
OK but WHY is Max so bloody weepy all the time and letting everyone walk all over her??! Girl stop being a doormat, you're a Marshal act like it! The whole time snarky comments were being thrown at her you'd think she was still in high school and she does...NOTHING, while getting all teary eyed when OTHER PEOPLE spoke up in her stead! Enough with the victim complex, where is your anger at the injustice? I enjoyed the worldbuilding and the mystery crime solving element, but Max's doormat personality knocked off 2 stars for me.
May 26, 2023
Ok
It was ok. I liked the storyline, but I was distracted by the MC. She cried often and has a massive amount of insecurities that she shows to the world. In addition, it really irritated me how she did not press charges on the guy who hit her. Even though he seemed like the violent sort. She just let him go to be violent to the next person, without a reason. Not so stickler for justice.
I don’t know if I want to continue.
It was ok. I liked the storyline, but I was distracted by the MC. She cried often and has a massive amount of insecurities that she shows to the world. In addition, it really irritated me how she did not press charges on the guy who hit her. Even though he seemed like the violent sort. She just let him go to be violent to the next person, without a reason. Not so stickler for justice.
I don’t know if I want to continue.
November 6, 2024
I found myself riveted about 30% or so? When they take the convoy into the Wild. I could do without all the insecurity that Max feels as she beats herself up,
some repetition in the set up (I think we were told one Warrior couple was married 2x) and there is a disconnect sometimes in the action sequences but man, the story just sucked me in!
Not much to highlight, lots of fast action, and yes I did feel like it was a bit too coincidental that Nat was found in the middle of the Wilds. And wtf is the demon up to??
Bryce keeps it close to his chest and Max goes all melty around him but it just makes me hope for good things for them soon!
Highlight, as Max try’s for better boundaries:
And she couldn’t help, she told herself. She couldn’t. She’d made too many mistakes in the past few days. There were other people who were perfectly capable of dealing with the issues. It didn’t need to be her.
some repetition in the set up (I think we were told one Warrior couple was married 2x) and there is a disconnect sometimes in the action sequences but man, the story just sucked me in!
Not much to highlight, lots of fast action, and yes I did feel like it was a bit too coincidental that Nat was found in the middle of the Wilds. And wtf is the demon up to??
Bryce keeps it close to his chest and Max goes all melty around him but it just makes me hope for good things for them soon!
Highlight, as Max try’s for better boundaries:
And she couldn’t help, she told herself. She couldn’t. She’d made too many mistakes in the past few days. There were other people who were perfectly capable of dealing with the issues. It didn’t need to be her.
February 2, 2024
2.5, but I'll give it the 3 because the storyline in this installment was a LOT more interesting than the first's boilerplate serial murder plot.
I'm liking how Bryce and Max are developing, and the writing did improve somewhat. Dialogue is often simplistic, though, particularly when conflict occurs.
I'm liking how Bryce and Max are developing, and the writing did improve somewhat. Dialogue is often simplistic, though, particularly when conflict occurs.
February 8, 2024
I really enjoy Vanessa Nelson’s books. They all have interesting characters and settings along with a good story. They are also easy reads with little or no confusing area. Well worth reading
May 15, 2023
This book and the author have disappeared from Amazon. Does anyone know what happened, and if she will be reinstated?
March 20, 2024
I Thoroughly Enjoyed This Book!
This series is getting better and better! I am quite pleased with how the storyline and characters are developing! Looking forward to the next installment!
This series is getting better and better! I am quite pleased with how the storyline and characters are developing! Looking forward to the next installment!
July 6, 2024
This isn't as good as the first one but I have a feeling the series in general isn't going to go the way I want it to.
This series has just turned into a maybe.
This series has just turned into a maybe.
April 11, 2025
2.5*
The story dragged.
Max, who was so straightforward in book one, moped around, feeling sorry for herself, knowing things but not actually remembering where they were from, making the story lose interest as the reader figures things out.
She was always getting hurt, so she is always in pain or recovering.
She talks and thinks about being alone even as she pushes people away, and is extremely happy when someone gives her some kind of affection or attention.
Also, there is still no romance.
Honestly, I struggled to finish because I got bored.
The story dragged.
Max, who was so straightforward in book one, moped around, feeling sorry for herself, knowing things but not actually remembering where they were from, making the story lose interest as the reader figures things out.
She was always getting hurt, so she is always in pain or recovering.
She talks and thinks about being alone even as she pushes people away, and is extremely happy when someone gives her some kind of affection or attention.
Also, there is still no romance.
Honestly, I struggled to finish because I got bored.
October 9, 2023
I found myself wanting to skim some of the information, a lot of the details provided tended to be repeats of earlier details or information for someone who may have not read the previous book recently. Overall I enjoyed the story & like that when reading you have no idea what will happen next. It is impossible to predict the ending which makes it even more fun to read! Glad we got to learn more about the Wild in this book.
July 10, 2023
Still really slow paced…has refresh rehash parts of book from first book. Still wondering why Max does not stand up for herself…also if she is a Marshal and she is so powerless wouldn’t she be a hinderance versus a benefit…and obviously in the last 8 years she has not learned and self defense or fighting skills, she just gets her ass handed to her on a regular basis. And super clean….
June 7, 2024
3.5 stars
Eh this one bored me a bit idk why. I was super into the first half, but after we had those big boi monster fights, things reallyyyy slowed down. Even the ending was a bit... disappointing... though I am starting to think I may have been wrong about the demon thing.
Sooo yeah those plot issues aside, our girl still reallyyy doesn't have a personality :( She's wracked with survivor's guilt, is insecure (but working on it!!), and lives for her job. And also acts like chocolate bars are nutritous??? Like how is she eating nothing all day but then being satisfied by a chocolate bar as her lone sustenance to keep fighting while in immense pain... and also how tf does a chocolate bar get STALE?? from sitting in your car??? Huh??? That might've actually happened in book 1 I don't remember but either way I'm confused. Also our homegirl was quite literally injured for this entire book lmao like I respect the consequences of her actions and not just insta-healing her but man it really prevented her from doing much. I'm still happy ab it though I hate the insta-heal trope. It's just funny that she was lowkey damsel-in-distressing while also refusing to let anyone help her.
On the bright side, we diiiiid get to see more of our manz!!! Who also... doesn't... have a personality.... BUT he's an OP fighter and a good leader aaaand casually carried her over a huge hole in the ground lmao aaaand so I'll take it. Add another victory tally to the slow burn cause that's what's excitedly leading me into book 3.
Eh this one bored me a bit idk why. I was super into the first half, but after we had those big boi monster fights, things reallyyyy slowed down. Even the ending was a bit... disappointing... though I am starting to think I may have been wrong about the demon thing.
Sooo yeah those plot issues aside, our girl still reallyyy doesn't have a personality :( She's wracked with survivor's guilt, is insecure (but working on it!!), and lives for her job. And also acts like chocolate bars are nutritous??? Like how is she eating nothing all day but then being satisfied by a chocolate bar as her lone sustenance to keep fighting while in immense pain... and also how tf does a chocolate bar get STALE?? from sitting in your car??? Huh??? That might've actually happened in book 1 I don't remember but either way I'm confused. Also our homegirl was quite literally injured for this entire book lmao like I respect the consequences of her actions and not just insta-healing her but man it really prevented her from doing much. I'm still happy ab it though I hate the insta-heal trope. It's just funny that she was lowkey damsel-in-distressing while also refusing to let anyone help her.
On the bright side, we diiiiid get to see more of our manz!!! Who also... doesn't... have a personality.... BUT he's an OP fighter and a good leader aaaand casually carried her over a huge hole in the ground lmao aaaand so I'll take it. Add another victory tally to the slow burn cause that's what's excitedly leading me into book 3.
April 6, 2024
The book covers irritate me, but the stories are good
Pluses: good, solid storytelling. A believable main character who is not a superwoman but puts all her heart into doing the right thing, no matter how hard the work or how badly she is treated due to lies smearing her reputation. Small-minded characters who you can only laugh at as they show their mean-spirited ignorance and slavish devotion to twisted men with even smaller minds you can love to despise.
Minuses: the cover art that insists on sticking a male character in where he doesn't belong. In know who he is supposed to represent, but he is a very minor character in the first book, with only a couple of very minor scenes where he adds nothing to the overall storyline, and some effect on the second, but not enough, again, to add him to the cover, especially as he gets the most prominent spot in front of the true main character. It demeans Max, and the fact that Cas and Pol, the true secondary characters, are not shown is even more upsetting. It gives more of a romantic fantasy vibe instead of the urban fantasy/strong female lead/strong loyal dogs that should be celebrated. I nearly didn't pick the first book up based solely on the cover, though in the end, I really am enjoying the series.
Readers make their decisions in the first 8 seconds when they see a book (yes, you can look it up). Romance readers will expect a different book based on the cover, and people like me would normally pass it up based on the covers. These two aren't a team, and shouldn't be shown in that manner. If they become a team later, fine, go for it at that time. As it is, I dropped a full star based on the cover issues. If you love strong women with strong canine characters, this should be right up your alley. If you are looking for lusty romps, you can be comfortable looking elsewhere.
Pluses: good, solid storytelling. A believable main character who is not a superwoman but puts all her heart into doing the right thing, no matter how hard the work or how badly she is treated due to lies smearing her reputation. Small-minded characters who you can only laugh at as they show their mean-spirited ignorance and slavish devotion to twisted men with even smaller minds you can love to despise.
Minuses: the cover art that insists on sticking a male character in where he doesn't belong. In know who he is supposed to represent, but he is a very minor character in the first book, with only a couple of very minor scenes where he adds nothing to the overall storyline, and some effect on the second, but not enough, again, to add him to the cover, especially as he gets the most prominent spot in front of the true main character. It demeans Max, and the fact that Cas and Pol, the true secondary characters, are not shown is even more upsetting. It gives more of a romantic fantasy vibe instead of the urban fantasy/strong female lead/strong loyal dogs that should be celebrated. I nearly didn't pick the first book up based solely on the cover, though in the end, I really am enjoying the series.
Readers make their decisions in the first 8 seconds when they see a book (yes, you can look it up). Romance readers will expect a different book based on the cover, and people like me would normally pass it up based on the covers. These two aren't a team, and shouldn't be shown in that manner. If they become a team later, fine, go for it at that time. As it is, I dropped a full star based on the cover issues. If you love strong women with strong canine characters, this should be right up your alley. If you are looking for lusty romps, you can be comfortable looking elsewhere.
April 7, 2024
Pluses: good, solid storytelling. A believable main character who is not a superwoman but puts all her heart into doing the right thing, no matter how hard the work or how badly she is treated due to lies smearing her reputation. Small-minded characters who you can only laugh at as they show their mean-spirited ignorance and slavish devotion to twisted men with even smaller minds you can love to despise.
Minuses: the cover art that insists on sticking a male character in where he doesn't belong. In know who he is supposed to represent, but he is a very minor character in the first book, with only a couple of very minor scenes where he adds nothing to the overall storyline, and some effect on the second, but not enough, again, to add him to the cover, especially as he gets the most prominent spot in front of the true main character. It demeans Max, and the fact that Cas and Pol, the true secondary characters, are not shown is even more upsetting. It gives more of a romantic fantasy vibe instead of the urban fantasy/strong female lead/strong loyal dogs that should be celebrated. I nearly didn't pick the first book up based solely on the cover, though in the end, I really am enjoying the series.
Readers make their decisions in the first 8 seconds when they see a book (yes, you can look it up). Romance readers will expect a different book based on the cover, and people like me would normally pass it up based on the covers. These two aren't a team, and shouldn't be shown in that manner. If they become a team later, fine, go for it at that time. As it is, I dropped a full star based on the cover issues. If you love strong women with strong canine characters, this should be right up your alley. If you are looking for lusty romps, you can be comfortable looking elsewhere.
Minuses: the cover art that insists on sticking a male character in where he doesn't belong. In know who he is supposed to represent, but he is a very minor character in the first book, with only a couple of very minor scenes where he adds nothing to the overall storyline, and some effect on the second, but not enough, again, to add him to the cover, especially as he gets the most prominent spot in front of the true main character. It demeans Max, and the fact that Cas and Pol, the true secondary characters, are not shown is even more upsetting. It gives more of a romantic fantasy vibe instead of the urban fantasy/strong female lead/strong loyal dogs that should be celebrated. I nearly didn't pick the first book up based solely on the cover, though in the end, I really am enjoying the series.
Readers make their decisions in the first 8 seconds when they see a book (yes, you can look it up). Romance readers will expect a different book based on the cover, and people like me would normally pass it up based on the covers. These two aren't a team, and shouldn't be shown in that manner. If they become a team later, fine, go for it at that time. As it is, I dropped a full star based on the cover issues. If you love strong women with strong canine characters, this should be right up your alley. If you are looking for lusty romps, you can be comfortable looking elsewhere.
August 2, 2023
Max's city get some development. I liked that there are humans, non-humans and hybrids co-existing but there aren't dragons on every corner. Magic exists but is anywhere from prosaic to elemental. There are power structures but the story largely skirts their direct involvement.
Max is developing as a character but she sure gets beaten up a lot! And, of course, she has a complicated and puzzling back story.
The author slips in some social commentary e.g. "Take Back The Wild didn't have any firm plans as to how that could be achieved, but insisted that something should be done. Presumably by someone else, Max thought sourly." I'd hazard a guess that she's spent some time in public service!
I was intrigued by more suggestions that the city has been displaced as the only civilisation that exists is between the Wild and the fog that rolls in off the sea. There's no suggestion of a wider world and Max seems to be under a subtle compulsion not to think about it.
On the downside, this reads more like an episode in a longer story and could have done with pruning some of the repetition e.g. "... his powerful build hid a sharp, keen mind and an almost endless curiosity." which we learn about Max's boss three times if memory serves.
The author is also starting to rub up against the inbuilt contradictions inherent in her pocket universe. Ten fuel tankers to run an entire city?
Max is developing as a character but she sure gets beaten up a lot! And, of course, she has a complicated and puzzling back story.
The author slips in some social commentary e.g. "Take Back The Wild didn't have any firm plans as to how that could be achieved, but insisted that something should be done. Presumably by someone else, Max thought sourly." I'd hazard a guess that she's spent some time in public service!
I was intrigued by more suggestions that the city has been displaced as the only civilisation that exists is between the Wild and the fog that rolls in off the sea. There's no suggestion of a wider world and Max seems to be under a subtle compulsion not to think about it.
On the downside, this reads more like an episode in a longer story and could have done with pruning some of the repetition e.g. "... his powerful build hid a sharp, keen mind and an almost endless curiosity." which we learn about Max's boss three times if memory serves.
The author is also starting to rub up against the inbuilt contradictions inherent in her pocket universe. Ten fuel tankers to run an entire city?
August 29, 2023
This entry was a little slower than the first, which is why i am giving it a 4 instead of 5. plus the trip to the wild felt out of place (it made sense in the end, but felt out of place at the time).
Overall, i still enjoy the world building and enjoy the "ask questions first, shoot only if you have to" of the Main character. It's refreshing given some of the other Urban Fantasies I've read.
Mild spoilers below:
The love interest is shaping up to be Bryce, which i suspected from the first (and the cover), which is...okay. i don't hate it, but i don't feel much toward it either. I like the plot and world and other characters enough to not worry much, but the relationship between Bryce and Max is kind of boring. Maybe it's because i read too many romance novels when i'm not reading fantasy, but i have high expectations of chemistry between characters. Aside from him being a good fighter and a good leader, he's more or less just a steady ally, we don't know much about it. Which is fine for now, but i want a little more internal conflict, a little more spark, a little more chemistry between characters. What's there is... a little boring. There's no glancing at each other's lips, admiring each other's physique or even worrying about each other's safety. I'm hoping the next book in the series expands on their relationship more and we get more from them.
Overall, i still enjoy the world building and enjoy the "ask questions first, shoot only if you have to" of the Main character. It's refreshing given some of the other Urban Fantasies I've read.
Mild spoilers below:
The love interest is shaping up to be Bryce, which i suspected from the first (and the cover), which is...okay. i don't hate it, but i don't feel much toward it either. I like the plot and world and other characters enough to not worry much, but the relationship between Bryce and Max is kind of boring. Maybe it's because i read too many romance novels when i'm not reading fantasy, but i have high expectations of chemistry between characters. Aside from him being a good fighter and a good leader, he's more or less just a steady ally, we don't know much about it. Which is fine for now, but i want a little more internal conflict, a little more spark, a little more chemistry between characters. What's there is... a little boring. There's no glancing at each other's lips, admiring each other's physique or even worrying about each other's safety. I'm hoping the next book in the series expands on their relationship more and we get more from them.
May 21, 2023
Called picks up a few weeks after the previous books. Just about enough time for Max to heal up, but not so long that the mysteries and revelations of the previous book have faded for Max. In this book we really see Max struggling to figure out who she is and who she wants to be, especially with connections to people. She also continues to struggle with feeling responsible for the deaths of the warriors who'd been assigned to her, and not wanted to add any others to that list.
The plot, as in what immediate problems Max is dealing with is a little thin, and mostly there to get Max into the right places to continue dealing with Max's growth and the series plot, but I found myself not caring that it felt a bit contrived, when everything else was so interesting.
I think my biggest complaint with this series is that it is filled with Jerks(TM). Just a whole lot of people from Max's past or around her now that are awful people apparently just for the joy of it. I'm hopeful that future stories can flesh them out to something better that a bully from an 80s movie.
But I love Max, I love the marshalls, I love her dogs, I love (most) of the warriors from the order. The world is interesting and I'm very interested in reading more books in this series.
The plot, as in what immediate problems Max is dealing with is a little thin, and mostly there to get Max into the right places to continue dealing with Max's growth and the series plot, but I found myself not caring that it felt a bit contrived, when everything else was so interesting.
I think my biggest complaint with this series is that it is filled with Jerks(TM). Just a whole lot of people from Max's past or around her now that are awful people apparently just for the joy of it. I'm hopeful that future stories can flesh them out to something better that a bully from an 80s movie.
But I love Max, I love the marshalls, I love her dogs, I love (most) of the warriors from the order. The world is interesting and I'm very interested in reading more books in this series.
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