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Flora Trilogy #3
Flora's Fury: How a Girl of Spirit and a Red Dog Confound Their Friends, Astound Their Enemies, and Learn the Importance of Packing Light
Despite her troublesome attraction to magick, Flora has more or less spent her life doing what’s been expected of her. Now, at sixteen, she knows that this path has been strewn with secrets. Sure that her true mother, Tiny Doom—long believed to be dead—is alive, Flora becomes determined to find her and leave behind the lies she’s been told about who she is. Flora’s quest takes her on a journey from lawless islands to the deadly desert, and into an unexpected romance with a brooding stranger who reveals himself to be a kindred spirit. And it all becomes far more dangerous when Flora realizes how desperately their enemies want Tiny Doom—and Flora herself—dead.
528 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
19 people are currently reading
887 people want to read
About the author
Ysabeau S. Wilce
22 books255 followersYsabeau S. Wilce was born in the City of Califa at the age of one. While her parents were on a diplomatic mission to the Huitzil Empire, she was cared for by an uncle what brought her up by hand. She attended Sanctuary School as a scholarship girl and then spent three years at the University of Califa where she took a double degree in Apotropaic Philosophy and Confabulation.
She then became laundress to Company C, Enthusiastic Regiment of the Army of Califa, and accompanied her unit to Fort Gehenna, Arivaipa Territory. While in Arivaipa she was bitten by a wer-flamingo; only the timely intervention by the local curandero saved her from an awful skin-shifting pink fate.
After returning to Califa to recuperate, Ysabeau was employed by the Califa Society for Historiography and Graphic Maps as an archivist. It was then she first developed an interest in the history of the Republic and began researching the City’s past.
After losing her position during the Great Bureaucratic Budgetary Freeze of ’07 she took a position as pot-girl at the Mono Real coffee bar, and during her free time began on the first volume of Califa in Sunshine and Shade: A Glorious History of A Glorious Republic. "Volume I: Metal More Attractive" appeared in Fantasy and Science Fiction Magazine January of that same year, and was followed by "Volume II. The Lineaments of Gratified Desire" the next year. Other monographs on incidents in Califa history followed, until the publication of the first full length volume Flora Segunda Being the Magical Mishaps of a Girl of Spirit, Her Glass-Gazing Sidekick, Two Ominous Butlers (One Blue), A House with Eleven Thousand Rooms and a Red Dog, which is available from your local bookmonger now.
In her spare time, Ysabeau enjoys chewing, sleeping, gossiping, and folding paper-towels into napkins. She currently resides in the City of Porkopolis with her husband, a cheese-swilling financier, and a dog that is not red. She does not have a butler.
Comments, compliments, critiques, and bon mots may be addressed to denizen@yswilce.com where they will be duly noted, but not necessarily heeded.
To receive random updates on Ysabeau's projects and projections, please join her exclusive private mailing list. Special reports will be intermittent but very informative and entertaining.
She then became laundress to Company C, Enthusiastic Regiment of the Army of Califa, and accompanied her unit to Fort Gehenna, Arivaipa Territory. While in Arivaipa she was bitten by a wer-flamingo; only the timely intervention by the local curandero saved her from an awful skin-shifting pink fate.
After returning to Califa to recuperate, Ysabeau was employed by the Califa Society for Historiography and Graphic Maps as an archivist. It was then she first developed an interest in the history of the Republic and began researching the City’s past.
After losing her position during the Great Bureaucratic Budgetary Freeze of ’07 she took a position as pot-girl at the Mono Real coffee bar, and during her free time began on the first volume of Califa in Sunshine and Shade: A Glorious History of A Glorious Republic. "Volume I: Metal More Attractive" appeared in Fantasy and Science Fiction Magazine January of that same year, and was followed by "Volume II. The Lineaments of Gratified Desire" the next year. Other monographs on incidents in Califa history followed, until the publication of the first full length volume Flora Segunda Being the Magical Mishaps of a Girl of Spirit, Her Glass-Gazing Sidekick, Two Ominous Butlers (One Blue), A House with Eleven Thousand Rooms and a Red Dog, which is available from your local bookmonger now.
In her spare time, Ysabeau enjoys chewing, sleeping, gossiping, and folding paper-towels into napkins. She currently resides in the City of Porkopolis with her husband, a cheese-swilling financier, and a dog that is not red. She does not have a butler.
Comments, compliments, critiques, and bon mots may be addressed to denizen@yswilce.com where they will be duly noted, but not necessarily heeded.
To receive random updates on Ysabeau's projects and projections, please join her exclusive private mailing list. Special reports will be intermittent but very informative and entertaining.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 159 reviews
April 2, 2022
It is an underrated pleasure to get a book you have been waiting for years to be written. And this one I have been waiting since Flora's Dare was out (give or take a couple months. I managed to order again Flora Segunda thinking it was the second book. My brain's fundamental wiring is in Portuguese where segunda means second, or eventually, Monday. So Flora Segunda clearly had to be the second book, right?). An eagerly waited for book not disappointing is something I no longer take for granted. And shelving a book like that on its reserved shelf place is a really really underrated pleasure! So lots of fun with this book.
And it was good! Like the best stories, Flora is growing and changing. We find out more about the universe, we got resolution here, brave sacrifices and interesting setups. I loved the ending, open ended enough. And no way this is a trilogy. NO WAY. Not that there are cliffhangers, but the setup for a sequel (from any point of view, not necessarily from the PoV of this Flora) is a better setup for action than any of these 3 books have had. More books please.
Though book 2 is still, IMO, the best of this (ah!) trilogy.
Quibbles:
- Fiking tired of the word fike. Pigface! I get why these, and other replacements for profanity, are used, but it can be so offputting, when you can identify the word and what it is. It took me a couple of chapters to realize pigface WAS not a nickname (another quibble. oh so many many nicknames). And even when it is as easy to identify as fike, just too much sometimes.
- A lot of gore. . A smidgeon too much for my personal taste but then I am a wimpy-ish grownup. No idea how a real teen would read this series.
And it was good! Like the best stories, Flora is growing and changing. We find out more about the universe, we got resolution here, brave sacrifices and interesting setups. I loved the ending, open ended enough. And no way this is a trilogy. NO WAY. Not that there are cliffhangers, but the setup for a sequel (from any point of view, not necessarily from the PoV of this Flora) is a better setup for action than any of these 3 books have had. More books please.
Though book 2 is still, IMO, the best of this (ah!) trilogy.
Quibbles:
- Fiking tired of the word fike. Pigface! I get why these, and other replacements for profanity, are used, but it can be so offputting, when you can identify the word and what it is. It took me a couple of chapters to realize pigface WAS not a nickname (another quibble. oh so many many nicknames). And even when it is as easy to identify as fike, just too much sometimes.
- A lot of gore. . A smidgeon too much for my personal taste but then I am a wimpy-ish grownup. No idea how a real teen would read this series.
August 23, 2012
this book is called flora's fury, but it should really be called flora's petulant temper tantrums.
it's been a while since i've read the first two books (which i enthusiastically loved); perhaps that's one reason why i struggled so much to get into the rhythm of this one. has ysabeau wilce's writing always been this uneven? and has flora always been this annoying? in the previous books, i always thought that flora's grumpiness and sometimes knee-jerk reaction to certain people and events made sense, felt rooted - the tangible outcome of a deep and intangible history. even if that history was never explicitly detailed you could still sense its palpable weight in the bones of the narrative itself, and therefore trust that whatever flora did, it would make sense to her.
but with this one...i dunno. the plot only barely hangs together, for one thing, tending to shamble from one scene to the next via the ever-handy deus ex machina. or, even if not technically a deus ex machina, still a very happy coincidence of random luck and timing - every time. examples include all the instances flora stumbles across key information by accident (overhearing conversations, running into someone who spontaneously offers the answer to a question she hadn't even known to ask, finding items that just happen to have important letters conceiled in them, etc.), and all the instances she finds herself in a Dire Situation due to her own peevish temper tantrums (hence my title suggestion) but is saved in the nick of time by a hunky hot dude with a muscularly grand chest (<--this description taken straight out of the book) or by a magic flying octopus (again, not kidding!) or so on. (actually, the magic flying octopus was what i liked best about the book.)
i suppose i was irritated by flora's irrational actions and prejudices because they became a lazy way to propel the plot more than anything else. none of the villain-chasing and ocean-swimming and pirate-swash-buckling felt anchored in physical space, nor did any of it feel truly necessary. if anything, flora's fury felt like the saggy middle book in a poorly plotted trilogy, when in fact it's the third (though maybe there will be more?????). i did enjoy it enough to finish it, though, and i am giving it 3 stars because i think you could do a lot, lot worse. my disappointment stems from the fact that i think wilce could have - and has - done a lot better. oh well. i am starting to hate fantasy trilogies [though a 4th book would of course turn this series into a tetralogy] in principle, but i do still hope she'll write more.
it's been a while since i've read the first two books (which i enthusiastically loved); perhaps that's one reason why i struggled so much to get into the rhythm of this one. has ysabeau wilce's writing always been this uneven? and has flora always been this annoying? in the previous books, i always thought that flora's grumpiness and sometimes knee-jerk reaction to certain people and events made sense, felt rooted - the tangible outcome of a deep and intangible history. even if that history was never explicitly detailed you could still sense its palpable weight in the bones of the narrative itself, and therefore trust that whatever flora did, it would make sense to her.
but with this one...i dunno. the plot only barely hangs together, for one thing, tending to shamble from one scene to the next via the ever-handy deus ex machina. or, even if not technically a deus ex machina, still a very happy coincidence of random luck and timing - every time. examples include all the instances flora stumbles across key information by accident (overhearing conversations, running into someone who spontaneously offers the answer to a question she hadn't even known to ask, finding items that just happen to have important letters conceiled in them, etc.), and all the instances she finds herself in a Dire Situation due to her own peevish temper tantrums (hence my title suggestion) but is saved in the nick of time by a hunky hot dude with a muscularly grand chest (<--this description taken straight out of the book) or by a magic flying octopus (again, not kidding!) or so on. (actually, the magic flying octopus was what i liked best about the book.)
i suppose i was irritated by flora's irrational actions and prejudices because they became a lazy way to propel the plot more than anything else. none of the villain-chasing and ocean-swimming and pirate-swash-buckling felt anchored in physical space, nor did any of it feel truly necessary. if anything, flora's fury felt like the saggy middle book in a poorly plotted trilogy, when in fact it's the third (though maybe there will be more?????). i did enjoy it enough to finish it, though, and i am giving it 3 stars because i think you could do a lot, lot worse. my disappointment stems from the fact that i think wilce could have - and has - done a lot better. oh well. i am starting to hate fantasy trilogies [though a 4th book would of course turn this series into a tetralogy] in principle, but i do still hope she'll write more.
May 13, 2012
I WAS IN A HOUSE WHERE THERE WAS AN ARC OF FLORA'S FURY.
It's probably a good thing that I didn't know this in time tosteal it bribe my way into possession of it beg incessantly until I made such a nuisance of myself I was thrown out.
It's preordered. Again. May 08. Sigh.
13/5 - just finished it, and wow. Will update with more later, but I sure hope we get confirmation of book 4 soon. "Flora Trilogy" my hinder.
It's probably a good thing that I didn't know this in time to
It's preordered. Again. May 08. Sigh.
13/5 - just finished it, and wow. Will update with more later, but I sure hope we get confirmation of book 4 soon. "Flora Trilogy" my hinder.
May 10, 2012
I so looked forward to reading this, and it was a great book, but there was one major problem that kept me from loving it. But first--the great stuff. Flora's finally grown up (in Califa, you're an adult at age 14, and Flora's now 15) but her dream of becoming a Ranger hasn't come true. She's her mother the General's aide, which means more paperwork than anyone should have to do ever, as well as caring for her baby brother Pow. An unlikely chain of events leads to her being requested by one of the Birdie overlords to accompany his wife the Duchesa on her journey from the Birdie homeland to Califa. Then pirates happen. And a daring escape. And an overland journey with a surly wer-creature. And it's all because Flora wants to find her birth mother, believed to be dead but revealed at the end of Flora's Dare to still be alive.
We get to see a lot more of the Republic of Califa than in previous books, which was great. This alternate-Earth has an alternate-Arizona that's even harsher than the reality, complete with Indian (Bronco) Territory and deadly scorpions. Big ones. There's also other countries with whom Califa trades and negotiates, potential allies against the Birdies, and more magical creatures than the denizens and egregores in the first two books. On the whole, Flora's Fury takes place in a much, much broader world than before, and I liked that a lot. Flora's quest to find her mother has just the right amount of challenge, setbacks, and surprise revelations--I love Evil Murdoch the mule. The ending has Flora make a choice, finally, about who she's going to be, and it's a difficult and therefore meaningful choice.
The part I wasn't happy about involved Flora's romantic relationships.
Flora makes a few bad decisions along the way, most of them because she's angry that everyone has been lying to her. In retrospect, I think her reactions were right. Her mother and Udo, among others, kept her out of the loop for no good reason, and I think anyone would be ticked off that they weren't trustworthy enough to be in on those vital secrets. Especially someone who's expected to play a part in them eventually. Especially when it means making someone believe their best friend is dead. That was an excellent motivating factor for getting Flora where she wanted to be.
And the ending is pretty great. Even believing all along that it could happen, I still didn't expect it. Overall, I liked it a lot, and I hope a second reading later, knowing all the spoilery stuff, will make it even better.
We get to see a lot more of the Republic of Califa than in previous books, which was great. This alternate-Earth has an alternate-Arizona that's even harsher than the reality, complete with Indian (Bronco) Territory and deadly scorpions. Big ones. There's also other countries with whom Califa trades and negotiates, potential allies against the Birdies, and more magical creatures than the denizens and egregores in the first two books. On the whole, Flora's Fury takes place in a much, much broader world than before, and I liked that a lot. Flora's quest to find her mother has just the right amount of challenge, setbacks, and surprise revelations--I love Evil Murdoch the mule. The ending has Flora make a choice, finally, about who she's going to be, and it's a difficult and therefore meaningful choice.
The part I wasn't happy about involved Flora's romantic relationships.
Flora makes a few bad decisions along the way, most of them because she's angry that everyone has been lying to her. In retrospect, I think her reactions were right. Her mother and Udo, among others, kept her out of the loop for no good reason, and I think anyone would be ticked off that they weren't trustworthy enough to be in on those vital secrets. Especially someone who's expected to play a part in them eventually. Especially when it means making someone believe their best friend is dead. That was an excellent motivating factor for getting Flora where she wanted to be.
And the ending is pretty great. Even believing all along that it could happen, I still didn't expect it. Overall, I liked it a lot, and I hope a second reading later, knowing all the spoilery stuff, will make it even better.
May 10, 2012
Good resolution to YA love triangle or BEST resolution to YA love triangle? BEST.
Well, it's not really a resolution. Flora obviously still has work to do at the end of the book, but her dilemma between PrettyBoy and FurryBoy is handled as both in-character and a brilliant sendup of the problem in other books. But listen to how she describes it.
"Udo and Sieur Wraathmyr glared at each other. Neither one looked at me. In all the cheap romance novels, the heroine is always thrilled when her rivals fight. In real life, it was just horribly embarrassing. I was not the last piece of bacon."
Flora/Nyana is trying to track down her mother, and along the way, she meets dangerous denizens, attractive delivery men, and gorgeous pirates. She's baked in the sun, assaulted by were-panthers, and has heartfelt hissyfits about how no one tells her ANYTHING. At no point does she overcome her motion-sickness.
The thing I like best about Flora is that even when she makes a bad decision, it's because she thinks about her options. The pirates have been sent by her mother to kidnap her? That's what THEY say, she's going to go off on her own, thanks.
I really appreciate the Nini Mo ... koans? scattered through the book. "That day, that sorrow", she says "Dare, win, or disappear." "Everyone has a talent."
Also, I cackled out loud when I found a little bit of Kipling buried in a scene in a remote and dusty outpost fort. "A cup for the dead already, and hurrah for the next to die." I think Kipling would have enjoyed this world, and reading Nini Mo stories. STOP THE PRESSES! I went to look it up and realized that all these years I have thought Kipling wrote "The Revel", but it turns out to have been written by one Bartholomew Dowling. In my defense, it's about soldiers dying of plague in India. You can understand my confusion.
Cut off from the land that bore us,
Betray’d by the land we find,
When the brightest have gone before us,
And the dullest are most behind—
Stand, stand to your glasses, steady!
’T is all we have left to prize:
One cup to the dead already—
Hurrah for the next that dies!
I stand by my assertion that Kipling would like both Nini Mo and Tiny Doom.
Read if: You have liked the other books. You want a sassy, competent, but not superheroic girl who does her best, hates wet socks, and wants to be in on all the secrets.
Skip if: You are annoyed by constructed dialect. Um, no, I actually think it's awesome all over and everyone should read these books.
Well, it's not really a resolution. Flora obviously still has work to do at the end of the book, but her dilemma between PrettyBoy and FurryBoy is handled as both in-character and a brilliant sendup of the problem in other books. But listen to how she describes it.
"Udo and Sieur Wraathmyr glared at each other. Neither one looked at me. In all the cheap romance novels, the heroine is always thrilled when her rivals fight. In real life, it was just horribly embarrassing. I was not the last piece of bacon."
Flora/Nyana is trying to track down her mother, and along the way, she meets dangerous denizens, attractive delivery men, and gorgeous pirates. She's baked in the sun, assaulted by were-panthers, and has heartfelt hissyfits about how no one tells her ANYTHING. At no point does she overcome her motion-sickness.
The thing I like best about Flora is that even when she makes a bad decision, it's because she thinks about her options. The pirates have been sent by her mother to kidnap her? That's what THEY say, she's going to go off on her own, thanks.
I really appreciate the Nini Mo ... koans? scattered through the book. "That day, that sorrow", she says "Dare, win, or disappear." "Everyone has a talent."
Also, I cackled out loud when I found a little bit of Kipling buried in a scene in a remote and dusty outpost fort. "A cup for the dead already, and hurrah for the next to die." I think Kipling would have enjoyed this world, and reading Nini Mo stories. STOP THE PRESSES! I went to look it up and realized that all these years I have thought Kipling wrote "The Revel", but it turns out to have been written by one Bartholomew Dowling. In my defense, it's about soldiers dying of plague in India. You can understand my confusion.
Cut off from the land that bore us,
Betray’d by the land we find,
When the brightest have gone before us,
And the dullest are most behind—
Stand, stand to your glasses, steady!
’T is all we have left to prize:
One cup to the dead already—
Hurrah for the next that dies!
I stand by my assertion that Kipling would like both Nini Mo and Tiny Doom.
Read if: You have liked the other books. You want a sassy, competent, but not superheroic girl who does her best, hates wet socks, and wants to be in on all the secrets.
Skip if: You are annoyed by constructed dialect. Um, no, I actually think it's awesome all over and everyone should read these books.
September 18, 2012
Now that Flora Segunda knows her true identity (she is Nyana Hadraada, daughter of Tiny Doom – celebrated heroine of Califa) she is angry with everyone for keeping secrets/lying to her all of these years. In order to get some answers, she works a spell to track down her real mother’s whereabouts. Before she can make use of this knowledge, however, a wer-bear mysteriously appears and runs off with her map. The nerve! Through a series of mishaps Flora and the bear (a ruggedly handsome man known in his human form as Tharyn Wraathmyr) end up as traveling companions and their adventures (and the map) eventually take them to Fort Sandy in the hot and desolate waste known as the Arivaipa Territory. Unfortunately, they attract the attention of a Birdie priest, who means to do Tiny Doom serious harm, and the answers to Flora’s questions must wait, as she races against time (and the skinwalker) to warn her mother.
Flora bumbles through another exciting set of madcap adventures – it’s great fun to see how she plays so well into the carefully laid plans her adoptive mother, “Buck” Fyrdraaca has for her (despite all of her attempts to escape). This could have been at least 100 pages shorter if Flora didn’t spend so much time feeling sorry for herself, making accusations, and agonizing over her relationships. Mostly, these diversions add to her character’s charm. If you feel a little browbeat with the “pigfaces” and “fikes” you can always skim ahead. Fast-paced and funny with plenty of suspense. And, since Flora has only just discovered the many threads of Buck’s sticky web, there are bound to be more chapters in her story. Hooray!
Flora bumbles through another exciting set of madcap adventures – it’s great fun to see how she plays so well into the carefully laid plans her adoptive mother, “Buck” Fyrdraaca has for her (despite all of her attempts to escape). This could have been at least 100 pages shorter if Flora didn’t spend so much time feeling sorry for herself, making accusations, and agonizing over her relationships. Mostly, these diversions add to her character’s charm. If you feel a little browbeat with the “pigfaces” and “fikes” you can always skim ahead. Fast-paced and funny with plenty of suspense. And, since Flora has only just discovered the many threads of Buck’s sticky web, there are bound to be more chapters in her story. Hooray!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 20, 2019
Oh my goodness! I am so torn over this book! I kept going up and down and all around with this plot; it was so VEXING and ENGAGING and terrifying over what would happen! I didn't want it to end so I forced myself to read s-l-o-w-l-y. I wanted to gobble it up because I love these characters so much; I want the best for these characters so much (down with the Birdies!).
And that is why throughout the whole book, whenever Flora went off all vexed (you know, it is called Flora's Fury for a good reason!) I was frustrated forfor her and with her. There are so many IF ONLY'S that happen here.... So much of "why didn't so-and-so just trust her?!"
Ahhh, but then most of the conflict and plot points wouldn't be wrinkled in, I guess. Holy vexation, Batman!
Looking back at everything now--plus reading all the short stories--is enough to make a reader tear their hair and go "Oh my goodness! So THAT'S why!" *deep sigh*
I still want to visit Califa, and the rest of this world now that I have seen more of its horizons. Thank you, Wilce, for this world and for expanding my vocabulary! I was constantly Googling. Thank you.
For the gentle reader: beware piracy; violence; alcohol consumption of various sorts; magyk; swearing; death; violence; bullying; broken vows; sexuality; smoking; and meanies.
Look forward to: strong friendships; love; family bonds that know no ends; hilarity; amazing vocabulary; crazy adventures; dictatorships being reviled; bullies getting their comeuppance; extreme fashion; traveling; a cute baby; and making tough choices for the good of all.
And that is why throughout the whole book, whenever Flora went off all vexed (you know, it is called Flora's Fury for a good reason!) I was frustrated forfor her and with her. There are so many IF ONLY'S that happen here.... So much of "why didn't so-and-so just trust her?!"
Ahhh, but then most of the conflict and plot points wouldn't be wrinkled in, I guess. Holy vexation, Batman!
Looking back at everything now--plus reading all the short stories--is enough to make a reader tear their hair and go "Oh my goodness! So THAT'S why!" *deep sigh*
I still want to visit Califa, and the rest of this world now that I have seen more of its horizons. Thank you, Wilce, for this world and for expanding my vocabulary! I was constantly Googling. Thank you.
For the gentle reader: beware piracy; violence; alcohol consumption of various sorts; magyk; swearing; death; violence; bullying; broken vows; sexuality; smoking; and meanies.
Look forward to: strong friendships; love; family bonds that know no ends; hilarity; amazing vocabulary; crazy adventures; dictatorships being reviled; bullies getting their comeuppance; extreme fashion; traveling; a cute baby; and making tough choices for the good of all.
March 13, 2021
Flora enters her teen years in a especially contrarian way. Her emotions are fleeting and reactions unpredictable while she hurls from one dangerous situation to another, getting herself tangled up more and more by repeating the same mistakes over and over again.
It was a struggle to finish this book because the pacing, while quite fast, didn't really let me become interested in the new set of circumstances before running away into some new crazy idea. We left Califa with its really great sense of place and hurled through the interesting countryside without really having a chance to enjoy the scenery. Sure, it added to the sense of confusion Flora was certainly feeling, but it was exhausting.
The love triangle was not really that, but added to the sense of feeling lost and widening one's boundaries. Udo is seen little, which is a pity.
This was written more than 8 years ago so it's more than likely never getting a sequel that will resolve all the topics and tangles this book opens up. I'm not sure if it even makes sense in a way that it feels like a second book, starting a lot of things moving and not much else. Without some conclusion, it feels a bit pointless to me.
It was a struggle to finish this book because the pacing, while quite fast, didn't really let me become interested in the new set of circumstances before running away into some new crazy idea. We left Califa with its really great sense of place and hurled through the interesting countryside without really having a chance to enjoy the scenery. Sure, it added to the sense of confusion Flora was certainly feeling, but it was exhausting.
The love triangle was not really that, but added to the sense of feeling lost and widening one's boundaries. Udo is seen little, which is a pity.
This was written more than 8 years ago so it's more than likely never getting a sequel that will resolve all the topics and tangles this book opens up. I'm not sure if it even makes sense in a way that it feels like a second book, starting a lot of things moving and not much else. Without some conclusion, it feels a bit pointless to me.
May 4, 2018
Great series. This had a few predictable occurrences, but I didn't mind - the rest of everything was so unique and odd! My only complaint is that once Flora learned the alternative swear 'fike'.......it was on pretty much every page! I wish the series wasn't over.
August 20, 2012
I waited somewhat impatiently for this book — I lurked around the author's blog etc. and periodically updated this review with things like "Just read on YSW's twitter that this went to typesetting August 10." And now I've read it, and, hmm. Mixed feelings. Could this book possibly have lived up to my waiting-raised expectation levels? I don't know. I loved the ending but for the first half or so of the book I really wasn't feeling it.
Update, 28 May 2012: I re-read this. The ending's great and I really, really want to see where things go next. The transition between the end of Flora's Dare to the beginning of this one — where Flora has obediently gone to the Benica Barracks and then been detached to be junior aide de camp to her mother, the general of the army — is somewhat confusing. (Update, after August 2012 re-read: yeah, the course change isn't as bad here as in, say, John Barnes's Giraut series, but there was a small one, and it does create a feeling of mild confusion. We didn't resume where we left off, and I feel like there's at least a short story or a deleted scene or something between here and there.)
I really want to know why both say they should have killed Axacaya when they had the chance. I want to know why I loved the octopus, and the appearances of the older generation generally. (If you are able to track down the various short stories Wilce has written, which mostly involve them, I recommend it. They cast an interesting light on the Flora trilogy. I asked YSW on her LJ if there was any chance that these stories would be collected and she made maybe noises at me, IIRC. If they ever were I'd totally buy that. Replace two books, one magazine, and an electronic file with one book? Yes please.)
I loved the various twists involving Udo, though I didn't care for the way that Tharyn was being all sulky by the end. My thoughts on
Adults are not useless here, though Flora thinks they are. And not without justification, as they have spent most of her life not telling her important things that it would be useful to know.
Agree with everyone who has noted that everything was by no means wrapped up. Reading between the lines, I suspect that YSW is hoping/planning/trying to sell her/a publisher on more volumes. But I may well be wrong there. Not based on inside info ... just a guess. (30 May 2012: YSW just wrote this on FB: "Nini Mo's comment on the end of the Saga of the Second Flora: 'Everything has an end, except for sausages, which have two.'")
Oh, and if you have a hardcover, take a look at the front cover under the dust jacket. Easter egg! In general the book design people were nice to this book, I think. The covers under the jacket have some interesting patterning on them, in addition to the Easter egg. I think it may be meant to suggest the waves of the sea ... though maybe I'm just imagining things. I like the cover art of Flora in her uniform, but I kind of wish Flynn were more red. Ah well, that's a minor detail. :)
Update, 28 May 2012: I re-read this. The ending's great and I really, really want to see where things go next. The transition between the end of Flora's Dare to the beginning of this one — where Flora has obediently gone to the Benica Barracks and then been detached to be junior aide de camp to her mother, the general of the army — is somewhat confusing. (Update, after August 2012 re-read: yeah, the course change isn't as bad here as in, say, John Barnes's Giraut series, but there was a small one, and it does create a feeling of mild confusion. We didn't resume where we left off, and I feel like there's at least a short story or a deleted scene or something between here and there.)
I really want to know why both say they should have killed Axacaya when they had the chance. I want to know why I loved the octopus, and the appearances of the older generation generally. (If you are able to track down the various short stories Wilce has written, which mostly involve them, I recommend it. They cast an interesting light on the Flora trilogy. I asked YSW on her LJ if there was any chance that these stories would be collected and she made maybe noises at me, IIRC. If they ever were I'd totally buy that. Replace two books, one magazine, and an electronic file with one book? Yes please.)
I loved the various twists involving Udo, though I didn't care for the way that Tharyn was being all sulky by the end. My thoughts on
Adults are not useless here, though Flora thinks they are. And not without justification, as they have spent most of her life not telling her important things that it would be useful to know.
Agree with everyone who has noted that everything was by no means wrapped up. Reading between the lines, I suspect that YSW is hoping/planning/trying to sell her/a publisher on more volumes. But I may well be wrong there. Not based on inside info ... just a guess. (30 May 2012: YSW just wrote this on FB: "Nini Mo's comment on the end of the Saga of the Second Flora: 'Everything has an end, except for sausages, which have two.'")
Oh, and if you have a hardcover, take a look at the front cover under the dust jacket. Easter egg! In general the book design people were nice to this book, I think. The covers under the jacket have some interesting patterning on them, in addition to the Easter egg. I think it may be meant to suggest the waves of the sea ... though maybe I'm just imagining things. I like the cover art of Flora in her uniform, but I kind of wish Flynn were more red. Ah well, that's a minor detail. :)
July 18, 2013
Fiking hell.
(Ya know, I find it amusing when an author can substitute a cuss word with a madeup word and then cuss with impunity. And there's *a lot* a fake cussing in this book. Not that I mind, personally. Reall cuss words don't bother me, so fake ones certainly wouldn't, either. I just find it funny, is all.
Anyway - )
So...
I'm not really sure what to say about this book. As a book in a series it was enjoyable. I like Flora and Flora's world, and I was caught up in the adventure going on. I found Flora a bit annoying at times. At some points she sort of wallows in self-pity because she messes so much up - and she really does - and it would be nice if she actually seemed to think things through sometimes.
Conversely, I understand how she would feel, mostly, and I get why she does the things she does. Mostly.
She is a bit of a snapperhead, though. But, then, so is everyone else, in their way.
(As a side point, I'm a bit uncertain at Flora's age, and the target age of the books. It's sort of in that nebulous area between MG and YA. Or, at least, on the young end of YA. But there are some more mature sorts of situations and things. Nothing explicit - but enough that makes me think it's not a kids book. But it's written in a way to not really feel like a YA book, either.
And with Flora, at times she seemed like the young girl at the start of the series, and other times you could see how she had grown - though she still has quite a bit of that to do. I'd forgotten how old she's meant to be, but I'm thinking around 17-19 or so... but she often came across much younger.)
Anyway -
I liked the addition of Tharyn into the story. I didn't at first, but he grew on me, much as he grew on Flora. I was a little irritated that whenever someone was around to sort of take charge they often did, whether Flora wanted them to or not. Everyone else often seemed more pro-active in the book, where Flora was sort of left reactive... so, even though I liked Tharyn, I also liked when Flora was forced to stand on her own.
I did not like how that storyline was left dangling and unresolved, though.
I also didn't like the inklings of love triangle-itis, and how the thread with Udo was also left dangling and unresolved.
Overall, for a final book in a trilogy, I'm left unsatisfied.
And there's the rub.
If this is the final book, as it's meant to be, then I'm vexed. There's so much left unresolved. For most of the book I was planning on giving this a 3.5 bumped to 4, because I did enjoy the story and wanted to see how things were going to work out.
And while the particulars of this story were worked out, there's still so much left open in the larger world. As a series ender it just feels so... well, unfinished. So I couldn't really give it more than a 3 because, well, frankly, I'm kinda pissed. This can't really be the end - can it?
What the fike?
(Ya know, I find it amusing when an author can substitute a cuss word with a madeup word and then cuss with impunity. And there's *a lot* a fake cussing in this book. Not that I mind, personally. Reall cuss words don't bother me, so fake ones certainly wouldn't, either. I just find it funny, is all.
Anyway - )
So...
I'm not really sure what to say about this book. As a book in a series it was enjoyable. I like Flora and Flora's world, and I was caught up in the adventure going on. I found Flora a bit annoying at times. At some points she sort of wallows in self-pity because she messes so much up - and she really does - and it would be nice if she actually seemed to think things through sometimes.
Conversely, I understand how she would feel, mostly, and I get why she does the things she does. Mostly.
She is a bit of a snapperhead, though. But, then, so is everyone else, in their way.
(As a side point, I'm a bit uncertain at Flora's age, and the target age of the books. It's sort of in that nebulous area between MG and YA. Or, at least, on the young end of YA. But there are some more mature sorts of situations and things. Nothing explicit - but enough that makes me think it's not a kids book. But it's written in a way to not really feel like a YA book, either.
And with Flora, at times she seemed like the young girl at the start of the series, and other times you could see how she had grown - though she still has quite a bit of that to do. I'd forgotten how old she's meant to be, but I'm thinking around 17-19 or so... but she often came across much younger.)
Anyway -
I liked the addition of Tharyn into the story. I didn't at first, but he grew on me, much as he grew on Flora. I was a little irritated that whenever someone was around to sort of take charge they often did, whether Flora wanted them to or not. Everyone else often seemed more pro-active in the book, where Flora was sort of left reactive... so, even though I liked Tharyn, I also liked when Flora was forced to stand on her own.
I did not like how that storyline was left dangling and unresolved, though.
I also didn't like the inklings of love triangle-itis, and how the thread with Udo was also left dangling and unresolved.
Overall, for a final book in a trilogy, I'm left unsatisfied.
And there's the rub.
If this is the final book, as it's meant to be, then I'm vexed. There's so much left unresolved. For most of the book I was planning on giving this a 3.5 bumped to 4, because I did enjoy the story and wanted to see how things were going to work out.
And while the particulars of this story were worked out, there's still so much left open in the larger world. As a series ender it just feels so... well, unfinished. So I couldn't really give it more than a 3 because, well, frankly, I'm kinda pissed. This can't really be the end - can it?
What the fike?
September 1, 2015
Hmmm. I quite liked this series as a whole. For once, a fantasy that isn't Euro-centric, some very interesting gender play, and a smart, willful central character who is independent and capable (but still somewhat annoying in her youth).
While I did enjoy all of these books, I sort of liked this one the least, and it's a little hard for me to peg why. I *think* that it's because something was a little different with Flora. Or maybe, it's that something was exactly the same. She was whiny (which she's always been) and impetuous (which she's always been) but somehow, I don't want to accept that in book three. Where is her growth? She's had some crazy adventures in previous years, seen some crazy things, dealt with a number of harsh realities, and learned some truly sad tales about the people in her life. And yet, she's still so dang pouty! And refuses to believe that anyone else might have things going on. Throughout this whole book, she keeps being upset that the adults in her life don't trust her with information - but judging from the way she makes decisions, I can totally understand why they wouldn't.
All that being said, I still like her chutzpah. And I LOVE hearing all the continued snippets from Nini Mo's writing throughout (some of the phrases have actually helped me in my real life!). And I really have to say that the author has a definite sense of humor. Plus, for a book that's marketed to middle-grade readers - there's plenty for adults in here! Wilce is quite masterful at innuendo, cursing, and subtle adult humor that manages to stay in line with those of "delicate sensibilities." (She's also got a thing for making her heroine vomit, apparently, but it's never grotesque).
I'm not exactly satisfied with how things ended with
Overall, I enjoyed the process of reading these books, but I feel like there's more here that hasn't been covered. Here's hoping!
While I did enjoy all of these books, I sort of liked this one the least, and it's a little hard for me to peg why. I *think* that it's because something was a little different with Flora. Or maybe, it's that something was exactly the same. She was whiny (which she's always been) and impetuous (which she's always been) but somehow, I don't want to accept that in book three. Where is her growth? She's had some crazy adventures in previous years, seen some crazy things, dealt with a number of harsh realities, and learned some truly sad tales about the people in her life. And yet, she's still so dang pouty! And refuses to believe that anyone else might have things going on. Throughout this whole book, she keeps being upset that the adults in her life don't trust her with information - but judging from the way she makes decisions, I can totally understand why they wouldn't.
All that being said, I still like her chutzpah. And I LOVE hearing all the continued snippets from Nini Mo's writing throughout (some of the phrases have actually helped me in my real life!). And I really have to say that the author has a definite sense of humor. Plus, for a book that's marketed to middle-grade readers - there's plenty for adults in here! Wilce is quite masterful at innuendo, cursing, and subtle adult humor that manages to stay in line with those of "delicate sensibilities." (She's also got a thing for making her heroine vomit, apparently, but it's never grotesque).
I'm not exactly satisfied with how things ended with
Overall, I enjoyed the process of reading these books, but I feel like there's more here that hasn't been covered. Here's hoping!
June 4, 2012
I know I shouldn't judge a book on what I was expecting, especially when some of my expectations were absolutely unfounded. One expectation -- and I don't know where I got it, except, you know, trilogies being so common -- was that this was the final book of the series. It isn't, but it took me a good way into the book to let go of the idea that certain plotpoints were going to be definitively addressed. I realized about two-thirds in (I'm slow) that this installment in the series is more akin to one of Nini Mo's yellowbacks -- a ripping adventure tale, anchored a bit on either side to plot from the previous books and the book to come, but for the most part, its own picaresque. My problem is, I'm not sure that all the wandering was necessary at this point in the larger overarching plot. I missed Califa like crazy (most of the action takes place in the wilderness, shall we say), and I missed Flora -- she's less vibrant, more pouty. Her previously-established sincerity and smarts seem to have gone somewhat astray over the course of this book. She seems to have forgotten things she learned previously. Still, I do acknowledge that Wilce has set herself a difficult task: not only juggling a fresh, complex, and highly political world, but writing at the same time about the transition from childhood to adulthood from the first-person point-of-view. And if I find Flora somewhat off-putting at this point, maybe it's just because adolescence can be so off-putting, so painful and dreary at the same time. Which is not to say I didn't enjoy the book. I did. (The scene in which Flora rides a wer-bear across a stormy ocean, for example, is pretty much worth the entire price of admission.) I just didn't enjoy it as much as the previous two books. Am I still in for book 4? Yes, please.
March 24, 2016
If you took everything that had ever happened in the place that would become San Francisco to the present time, and mixed it up into a fantasy world, you might wind up with Ysabeau Wilce's Califa. With colors borrowed from Betsy Johnson's palette, and clubs rife with throbbing bass guitars, you've got obsidian knife-wielding flayed priests eating hearts, highborn Spanish nobility, spaghetti western gunslingers, lace-dripping pirates, and magical entities that are mashups of the Muppets and Carlos Castenada. Nothing is ever boring. She takes just the right amount of some historical premise and then twists it into a delightful otherworld. (How I wish China de Mieville and Wilce would collaborate on a video game, the world building would be amazing AND you would never know if you'd end up temporarily dead or very dead.) In this instalment, the titular character has learned her real name and that her real mother is alive and sets out to find her. Fun ensues. There are octopuses, bears, boots that possess a man, demons with scissors that cut out memories (if that's not a Mieville thing, I'll eat my fluffy dayglo green tricorn). The only criticism is that the story doesn't properly end. Many loose ends. Which is why I'm scarpering off to read the grown-up tales of Califa in the author's _Prophecies, Libel and Dreams_, which might tell me more. Also, I hear there one can read about the Armistead Maupin side of Califa, the gay lovers and incest and other shockingly, adult things only barely hinted at in the YA series.
February 26, 2023
UPDATE 2023: I enjoyed this book more as an adult, and I wasn't as concerned with the "cheater swearing." After this read, I'm craving a book four more than ever. Maybe one day...
ORIGINAL REVIEW:
Although this was the conclusion, I still feel like there were a lot of loose ends not tied. (Especially the Udo plot... tell me please that that is going to be resolved somehow!!) It had more "cheating swearing" than its earlier books, and sometimes it felt like a bit much. It kept me engaged, for the most part, but often because of some cringe-worthy moments, including cannibalism! And it got a bit confusing when characters were referred to by multiple nicknames. I was also constantly worried about Flynn! And then the big surprise at the end... I just neededa bit a lot more here!
The first book was definitely my favourite of the series, but I wouldn't be opposed to reading a book four one day. I also need a bit more explanation about the magic system as well, since the rules seemed really fluid!
ORIGINAL REVIEW:
Although this was the conclusion, I still feel like there were a lot of loose ends not tied. (Especially the Udo plot... tell me please that that is going to be resolved somehow!!) It had more "cheating swearing" than its earlier books, and sometimes it felt like a bit much. It kept me engaged, for the most part, but often because of some cringe-worthy moments, including cannibalism! And it got a bit confusing when characters were referred to by multiple nicknames. I was also constantly worried about Flynn! And then the big surprise at the end... I just needed
The first book was definitely my favourite of the series, but I wouldn't be opposed to reading a book four one day. I also need a bit more explanation about the magic system as well, since the rules seemed really fluid!
May 10, 2012
I hate giving a 4 to a Flora book - the Flora Trilogy is honestly one of the best (if not the best! - it may be tied with Megan Whalen Turner's Queen's Thief series for that spot) YA has to offer, but the plot pacing in this one seemed so uneven!
Wilce always ties things up nicely, and we can always tell she really thought everything through, but there were parts that really dragged in there. I'm probably being extremely unfair, any other book like this would have gotten a 5 from me, but if I compare this one to the previous ones, it's a 4.
Still, it was great, I can't recommend this series enough! And I do hope there'll be more to come.
Wilce always ties things up nicely, and we can always tell she really thought everything through, but there were parts that really dragged in there. I'm probably being extremely unfair, any other book like this would have gotten a 5 from me, but if I compare this one to the previous ones, it's a 4.
Still, it was great, I can't recommend this series enough! And I do hope there'll be more to come.
July 3, 2012
This third book in the Flora Segunda series is just as exciting and well-written as the others. The language is clever and frequently hilarious, especially when expletives come into play (pigface, snapper, puggie). I loved the description of Arivaipa/Arizona: "There were poisonous spiders, poisonous cacti, poisonous scorpions, poisonous snakes, poisonous lizards. There were mountain lions, wild bulls, wild horses, and javelina. There were outlaws, cattle rustlers, renegade broncos, miners gone crazy from the sun, and lone-wolf bandits, any of whom would kill you over a slice of bacon, a canteen of water -- or a misguided remark about a shirt".
March 22, 2013
I enjoyed this, but dear god, did no one proof the ebook version? It's missing half its periods and there are a lot of typos and stuff - it's the worst ebook I've run across for these issues.
I enjoyed the actual story, though it pains me how obvious things were to me that Flora continually missed (especially at the end with La Bruja), though I admit I didn't see that final reveal coming. I am very interested in seeing the consequences of her payment to Cutaway, as well as what's going to happen when she gets the Duquesa back to Califa.
I enjoyed the actual story, though it pains me how obvious things were to me that Flora continually missed (especially at the end with La Bruja), though I admit I didn't see that final reveal coming. I am very interested in seeing the consequences of her payment to Cutaway, as well as what's going to happen when she gets the Duquesa back to Califa.
February 2, 2014
Trilogy?! That bloody hell better not be the end of this series, as it was coming to an end I was uncomfortably thinking that Flora was about to take the easy way out when, boom. Cliffhanger from hell.
I fluctuated between a 3 and 4 for this book, Flora is so ridiculously annoying, it's hard to believe there's only 2 years between this novel and the start of the series, so much has changed and yet Flora remains as obstinate as ever.
Fingers crossed for the continuation of this series, there are just too many plot points hanging for it not to!
I fluctuated between a 3 and 4 for this book, Flora is so ridiculously annoying, it's hard to believe there's only 2 years between this novel and the start of the series, so much has changed and yet Flora remains as obstinate as ever.
Fingers crossed for the continuation of this series, there are just too many plot points hanging for it not to!
August 27, 2022
Still can't believe the series is over.
Still waiting for the next one.
Still curious about Flora and Udo.
Still want to know what happen to Flora Primera and Hotspur and Buck and Idden.
On Crackpot hall and Bilskinir House.
On the Califa.
And their whole world.
Still left hanging.
I've waited a while before writing this. Because I really felt like screaming when I finished the third book, knowing there is no number 4.
Yet.
Hopefully.
Still hoping.
Still waiting for the next one.
Still curious about Flora and Udo.
Still want to know what happen to Flora Primera and Hotspur and Buck and Idden.
On Crackpot hall and Bilskinir House.
On the Califa.
And their whole world.
Still left hanging.
I've waited a while before writing this. Because I really felt like screaming when I finished the third book, knowing there is no number 4.
Yet.
Hopefully.
Still hoping.
September 15, 2012
Fike yeah! Another fine entry in this imaginative series with a complex lead character striving in a world that is an amazing amalgamation of reality, myths, folklore, alternative/punk culture and more. Only a snapperhead wouldn't enjoy these books and if you haven't read them yet, well, Pigface! Get going!
April 10, 2015
An awesome book, I love all the characters except for Udo,he's all over the place.
March 26, 2021
äkki kõige ebaühtlasem selle triloogia raamatutest, st mõned asjad meeldisid mulle väga ja mõned käisid jälle eriti närvidele ja keskmine tuleb enamvähem sama, mis ta tulnud on - pigem ikkagi päris hea, sest vähemalt maailm ja taust ja tegelased on sellised, mida ühestki teisest raamatust naljalt ei leia.
Flora, kes esimese osa lõpuks keeldus perekonnale kohasesse sõjaväeteenistusse minemast, sest ei tahtnud, ja teise osas lõpuks ikkagi läks, sest... põhjused, on nüüd kolmandas osas (16-aastasena?) esialgsed õppused läbinud ja vist kaadriväelaseks saanud (aukraad: kapten). see on oluline ja huvitav, sest minu meelest kogu seekordne lugu selle ümber keerlebki, et tegelikult kulub igasugune omandatud füüsiline ja... organisatoorne treenitus edasistes seiklustes vägagi ära. ma pole ise üldse mingi militaarfanaatik ega isegi kohustusliku ajateenistuse eriline pooldaja, aga selge on, et selles loos ja maailmas ei jõuaks Flora ei sõna sõna otseses ega kaudses mõttes kuhugi, kui ei suudaks pikka aega täisvarustuses marssida või vajadusel garnisoni juhtimist üle võtta või kasvõi... õigel hetkel käsklust kuulata. mõnikordki.
kuigi nii titt, kui eelmistes lugudes, ta enam ei ole, pole kindel, kas midagi paremaks läks, sest nüüd on muude seikluste taustal vaja tegelda ka oma tunnetes veel selgusele jõudmata teismelise... armuprobleemidega. mida minu maitse jaoks sai pigem küll ülearu, aga noh, äkki ongi realistlik. samas käis hullult närvidele, et raamatu lõpuks jäid need poisteprobleemid kõik justkui puha lahendamata.
oli lahedaid kõrvaltegelasi, olulise sidekickina lisandus näiteks surnud esivanema vaim, kelle Flora kogemata maagia abil kaheksajalaks moondas ja siis sellisena kaasa tassima oli sunnitud. see on selle sarja juures tore, et sellist väikest taustahuumorit saab kogu aeg.
ja no tegelikult polekski rohkem midagi osanud tahta kui et oleks olnud kas selge sarja lõpp või oleks selge, et tuleb uus osa, aga ei saanud nagu kumbagi. selline natuke viimase-hetke-paanika tundus autorit tabavat, et "aga KUI ma tahan äkki veel kirjutada? ma pean siin mingid otsad lahti jätma!" ja okei, üks lahtine liin võib selliseks täitsa jääda, kui ta juba nii hilja sisse toodi; las jääb selliseks uduseks "mõtle-ise-edasi" vihjeks. aga teine (tulles veidi tagasi selle poisteprobleemi juurde) oli terve loo mõttes nii sügavalt sisse põimitud ja algusest peale kohal, et see oleks ikkagi võinud ära ka lõppeda.
Flora, kes esimese osa lõpuks keeldus perekonnale kohasesse sõjaväeteenistusse minemast, sest ei tahtnud, ja teise osas lõpuks ikkagi läks, sest... põhjused, on nüüd kolmandas osas (16-aastasena?) esialgsed õppused läbinud ja vist kaadriväelaseks saanud (aukraad: kapten). see on oluline ja huvitav, sest minu meelest kogu seekordne lugu selle ümber keerlebki, et tegelikult kulub igasugune omandatud füüsiline ja... organisatoorne treenitus edasistes seiklustes vägagi ära. ma pole ise üldse mingi militaarfanaatik ega isegi kohustusliku ajateenistuse eriline pooldaja, aga selge on, et selles loos ja maailmas ei jõuaks Flora ei sõna sõna otseses ega kaudses mõttes kuhugi, kui ei suudaks pikka aega täisvarustuses marssida või vajadusel garnisoni juhtimist üle võtta või kasvõi... õigel hetkel käsklust kuulata. mõnikordki.
kuigi nii titt, kui eelmistes lugudes, ta enam ei ole, pole kindel, kas midagi paremaks läks, sest nüüd on muude seikluste taustal vaja tegelda ka oma tunnetes veel selgusele jõudmata teismelise... armuprobleemidega. mida minu maitse jaoks sai pigem küll ülearu, aga noh, äkki ongi realistlik. samas käis hullult närvidele, et raamatu lõpuks jäid need poisteprobleemid kõik justkui puha lahendamata.
oli lahedaid kõrvaltegelasi, olulise sidekickina lisandus näiteks surnud esivanema vaim, kelle Flora kogemata maagia abil kaheksajalaks moondas ja siis sellisena kaasa tassima oli sunnitud. see on selle sarja juures tore, et sellist väikest taustahuumorit saab kogu aeg.
ja no tegelikult polekski rohkem midagi osanud tahta kui et oleks olnud kas selge sarja lõpp või oleks selge, et tuleb uus osa, aga ei saanud nagu kumbagi. selline natuke viimase-hetke-paanika tundus autorit tabavat, et "aga KUI ma tahan äkki veel kirjutada? ma pean siin mingid otsad lahti jätma!" ja okei, üks lahtine liin võib selliseks täitsa jääda, kui ta juba nii hilja sisse toodi; las jääb selliseks uduseks "mõtle-ise-edasi" vihjeks. aga teine (tulles veidi tagasi selle poisteprobleemi juurde) oli terve loo mõttes nii sügavalt sisse põimitud ja algusest peale kohal, et see oleks ikkagi võinud ära ka lõppeda.
October 23, 2020
I'm honestly very upset that this is the last book in the series. Normally it's the opposite - I'm left wishing the series hadn't dragged on and on. It's not that there are a ton of loose ends or anything (although...there are), it's more that there's just MORE that could be done. One more book to really tie it all together. Heck, just more books based in this world. I love it so much and it's exceptionally bittersweet to finally complete the trilogy.
This one felt a little more predictable than the first two in the series, but I wasn't disappointed. All of the things I guessed were things I really WANTED to be true or to happen, I just wish it had been a liiiiiittle more surprising when it did.
My biggest concern is the whole romance. Udo. I've always had a love/hate relationship with him, usually leaning towards love. This time he definitely fell more into the nuisance category, especially when compared with the endlessly interesting Tharyn (who I feel could've gotten more attention). It seems like too many shortcuts were made - first when Flora and Tharyn were enchanted and spilling their guts out to each other in one sitting. They didn't really get a chance to know each other, it just went from mild attraction to full throttle romance thanks to magic. From then on out they just knew everything about each other and never seemed to deepen their relationship.
Then Udo. It seemed all too convenient that Cutaway asked for Flora's love for him and then just took everything else as well. It got Udo out of the way for Flora to spend time with Tharyn and go do other shit. I felt kind of weird about it, but honestly liked it too. I was sick of Udo and glad he was gone. But theeeeen they ended up back in Barbacoa and I just KNEW he would reappear. And we'll never know if Flora ends up with dumb old Udo again or if she makes up with Tharyn because it's the LAST BOOK.
Just like we'll never know what happens with the Duquesa and Buck and Octohands. I ADORE this series and how much detail is put into every little thing and I LOVE that even when it's over it doesn't really feel over. It feels like a real world that will keep going on - but I just can't help wishing I could be there for it.
This one felt a little more predictable than the first two in the series, but I wasn't disappointed. All of the things I guessed were things I really WANTED to be true or to happen, I just wish it had been a liiiiiittle more surprising when it did.
My biggest concern is the whole romance. Udo. I've always had a love/hate relationship with him, usually leaning towards love. This time he definitely fell more into the nuisance category, especially when compared with the endlessly interesting Tharyn (who I feel could've gotten more attention). It seems like too many shortcuts were made - first when Flora and Tharyn were enchanted and spilling their guts out to each other in one sitting. They didn't really get a chance to know each other, it just went from mild attraction to full throttle romance thanks to magic. From then on out they just knew everything about each other and never seemed to deepen their relationship.
Then Udo. It seemed all too convenient that Cutaway asked for Flora's love for him and then just took everything else as well. It got Udo out of the way for Flora to spend time with Tharyn and go do other shit. I felt kind of weird about it, but honestly liked it too. I was sick of Udo and glad he was gone. But theeeeen they ended up back in Barbacoa and I just KNEW he would reappear. And we'll never know if Flora ends up with dumb old Udo again or if she makes up with Tharyn because it's the LAST BOOK.
Just like we'll never know what happens with the Duquesa and Buck and Octohands. I ADORE this series and how much detail is put into every little thing and I LOVE that even when it's over it doesn't really feel over. It feels like a real world that will keep going on - but I just can't help wishing I could be there for it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 15, 2019
The story is good although not up to the standard of the previous two. Also, the loose ends, I mean hot damn almost nothing is resolved. Can we expect another trilogy?
Ysabeau Wilce writes a good story and better action sequences but she is terrible at characterization and even worse at relationships and interaction between two people. Forget the romance, you are just not good at it. While we are on the subject of romance, just about every book with a love triangle in it is ruined by said triangle - in fact I cannot think of one book that a love triangle enhances. That said this a a pretty good resolution of a love triangle.
If there are any further books in this series I will not read them unless and until I see a whole bunch of really good reviews.
Good points - lots of strong female characters and an interesting magic system (this should have been more developed).
Ysabeau Wilce - next time a protagonist of yours meets someone just have her kill them, you write it better.
2½ stars rounded to three
Ysabeau Wilce writes a good story and better action sequences but she is terrible at characterization and even worse at relationships and interaction between two people. Forget the romance, you are just not good at it. While we are on the subject of romance, just about every book with a love triangle in it is ruined by said triangle - in fact I cannot think of one book that a love triangle enhances. That said this a a pretty good resolution of a love triangle.
If there are any further books in this series I will not read them unless and until I see a whole bunch of really good reviews.
Good points - lots of strong female characters and an interesting magic system (this should have been more developed).
Ysabeau Wilce - next time a protagonist of yours meets someone just have her kill them, you write it better.
2½ stars rounded to three
May 2, 2018
I liked this better than the second book, largely because I gave myself permission to simply gloss over all of the praterhumans/daemons/otherworldly creatures (read = some kind of nonhuman monster) and the spells (read = some kind of magic) and the family names (read = relative or not, native or overlord). I don't find a great ROI (return on investment) in the Flora books: you can spend lots of energy trying to keep track of everyone's name and monster status and specific spell, but those things become throwaway details in the end.
The books can be fun romps, although I'd wish for less Flora puke and some more growth in her decision-making process. And there were a lot of undercurrents of threats of sexual violence, which Flora belittled. Ah, well, I've finished the trilogy and had enough entertainment not to regret it, but don't think I'll be back for the new stories the author left dangling.
The books can be fun romps, although I'd wish for less Flora puke and some more growth in her decision-making process. And there were a lot of undercurrents of threats of sexual violence, which Flora belittled. Ah, well, I've finished the trilogy and had enough entertainment not to regret it, but don't think I'll be back for the new stories the author left dangling.
July 28, 2017
So I'm at the end, and I feel like it left me with as many questions as I had when I started the trilogy. I guess the author wants it that way.
I really love Flora. I love how spirited she is. That same spiritedness gets her in a lot of trouble but she certainly isn't a doormat.
My favorite character from the past two books was Hotspur, and he barely gets any scenes in this one. I wish I could be there after the end to see his reaction. Ugh. So much is left in the air.
I hsppen to absolutely love Tharyn. I have to guess I was supposed to be pulling for Udo, but I wasn't. As Flora would say, he always seemed like a bit of a snapperhead.
As I was coming to the end of this, I was trying to decide what this series had even been about. I guess the author wanted it to be a coming if age story, finding out who you are. In the end, Flora realized just that.
I really love Flora. I love how spirited she is. That same spiritedness gets her in a lot of trouble but she certainly isn't a doormat.
My favorite character from the past two books was Hotspur, and he barely gets any scenes in this one. I wish I could be there after the end to see his reaction. Ugh. So much is left in the air.
I hsppen to absolutely love Tharyn. I have to guess I was supposed to be pulling for Udo, but I wasn't. As Flora would say, he always seemed like a bit of a snapperhead.
As I was coming to the end of this, I was trying to decide what this series had even been about. I guess the author wanted it to be a coming if age story, finding out who you are. In the end, Flora realized just that.
July 11, 2019
Fast paced twisty romp. If it's really the end of a trilogy it didn't stick the landing, but it seems clear that other books should be on the way. This romp didn't completely sell me on the twists being driven by character. :-\ The fury was just there when it was convenient, and gone when a clear head and heart was called for to move the plot forward. And there is one point in particular where a non furious decision would have lead to a very logical character driven choice that would have fit to a T but would have derailed the plot. And her objections were out of character. One thing this series struggles with is consistency when dealing with minor character deaths. Sometimes minor parts drop like flies with nary a twinge, and sometimes they're treated as major character changing moments. :-\
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 26, 2018
I didn't enjoy this as much as the first two books in the trilogy. The characterisation felt a little loose and less believable. Instead of Flora's Fury, it felt more like it should be called Flora's Teenage Angst. Flora's character and her likes, loves and hates becomes quite fluid and I didn't find a few of her choices and therefore the scenes and the direction of the plot convincing. On the upside, the series continued to have a fascinating setting with interesting events. I'd like to know more about what happened next...
February 6, 2021
I loved the first two thirds of the book, but the last third was disappointing. It felt disjointed in comparison to the rest of the book, the worldbuilding lost the special magic this trilogy is so good at, I didn't understand what Flora was trying to achieve, and what she did achieve just didn't seem important. I really like the world and characters Ysabeau Wilce has built, but the end of this book was just frustrating. (Also, why do we have to have a weird love triangle? Is that really necessary?)
If she writes more about Flora, though, I'll definitely be reading it.
If she writes more about Flora, though, I'll definitely be reading it.
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