Sadly this will probably be the last Steph Macca book I'll read, and won't be bothering with the 4th instalment of this series. I'll try be constructive but this book has left a sour taste, which has been growing through the last 2 series. For lack of better explanation this book particularly feels lazy, and is very lack lustre. More and more it appears Maccas books get shorter and shorter, and get left of predictable "cliff hangers" with very little plot in the book. This 3rd book for example is nothing but a few spicey scenes (that's actually the only thing in this 3rd book at all), and one blindingly obviously 'cliff hanger' at the end. Lately, all Maccas books feel like the author just chopped 1 book into 3. They are VERY short, erring almost on short story side if they get any shorter. And are becoming more repetitive. It feels like a cash grab, sorry. Considering my average read/listen list the books are anywhere from 80,000-130,000 (some 145 000) and from 8-16 hours audio, it's a let down getting 50,000 and 4 hours and paying full price. i listened to in fast forward due to slow pace and lack lustre plot and it took just on 3 hours. I love the male voice actors, they are the ONLY reason I finished it, I purposefully look for their books irrespective of author. Unfortunately I think this book will make me permanently shelf Macca, which is sad as I like to support local authors, but my money and time is better invested elsewhere. I can get 1 book of almost any other author and enjoy it for days/hours reading or listening, with this author it's lucky to be a few hours and 4x times the price having to fork out for 4 books that easily could be 1.
PROS
-the male voice actors are great (female I had to listen in 1.3x speed due to terribly slow pacing)
- good if you need something to fall asleep to
CONS
-Repetitive, far too much repetition on Rylee trying to make it seem deep but was the same thing over and over (and this character I've had many same life experiences so I tried to relate but got bored)
- way too short, first 3 books could be 1 book EASILY
- terminology and spice scenes also repetitive
- "cliff hangers" are predictable and honestly seem like lazy chopping to get 2 books instead of 1
- MMC book 1 seems to fade away with limited role in this book until end
- I hate saying this but it was boring (so sorry), I fell asleep so so many times, then just skipped parts as it droned on
- the only thing in this book is spice scenes (1 star), and a thin weak "twist" at end.
Having gone from Dance with my Demons series to this, I wish I'd just not read this series at all. Total waste :(