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The Shadow Age #2
Secondhand Luck
Against an ancient shadow with a deadly agenda, Petra Grady’s luck may be about to run out, in the next book in the enthralling contemporary fantasy series from the author of the #1 New York Times bestselling Hollows novels.
It’s been months since Petra Grady bonded with the shadow Pluck. With the help of researcher Benedict Strom, she has made a place for herself at St. Unoc University as the first weaver to use shadow magic in a thousand years. But some are not happy to acknowledge the new shadow/weaver pair, and Petra and Pluck aren’t surprised when they’re blamed for every recent trouble.
When a new weaver is drawn to St. Unoc, Pluck quickly realizes the novice magic user has not come alone. Trailing her is Thoth, a devious shadow responsible for betraying his own kind and setting mage against weaver thousands of years ago. His goal hasn’t changed, and when Thoth turns both the mage courts and the university against Petra, she and Pluck must risk everything to uncover a truth that even Pluck has forgotten.
Shadows, though, have earned their terrifying reputation, and if Petra can’t prove her and Pluck’s innocence and capture Thoth, any hope of balance will be gone—taking Pluck and her with it.
It’s been months since Petra Grady bonded with the shadow Pluck. With the help of researcher Benedict Strom, she has made a place for herself at St. Unoc University as the first weaver to use shadow magic in a thousand years. But some are not happy to acknowledge the new shadow/weaver pair, and Petra and Pluck aren’t surprised when they’re blamed for every recent trouble.
When a new weaver is drawn to St. Unoc, Pluck quickly realizes the novice magic user has not come alone. Trailing her is Thoth, a devious shadow responsible for betraying his own kind and setting mage against weaver thousands of years ago. His goal hasn’t changed, and when Thoth turns both the mage courts and the university against Petra, she and Pluck must risk everything to uncover a truth that even Pluck has forgotten.
Shadows, though, have earned their terrifying reputation, and if Petra can’t prove her and Pluck’s innocence and capture Thoth, any hope of balance will be gone—taking Pluck and her with it.
480 pages, Hardcover
First published February 10, 2026
223 people are currently reading
8305 people want to read
About the author
Kim Harrison
83 books18.8k followersKim Harrison is best known as the author of the New York Times #1 best selling Hollows series, but she has written more than urban fantasy and has published over two-dozen books spanning the gamut from young adult, thriller, several anthologies, and has scripted two original graphic novels. She has also published traditional fantasy under the name Dawn Cook. Kim is currently working on a new Hollows book between other, non related, urban fantasy projects.
Kim reaches out to her audience at Facebook https://www.facebook.com/KimHarrisons...
Instagram
https://instagram.com/kim_harrison_au...
and her blog http://kimharrison.wordpress.com/
other pseudonyms: Dawn Cook
Kim reaches out to her audience at Facebook https://www.facebook.com/KimHarrisons...
https://instagram.com/kim_harrison_au...
and her blog http://kimharrison.wordpress.com/
other pseudonyms: Dawn Cook
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
November 17, 2025
Secondhand Luck
by Kim Harrison
This is book #2 in this exciting fantasy series. (Read book one first to fully enjoy the series.)
I loved #1 and was thrilled to have the chance to read this book from the publisher and NetGalley.
This is a world of magic, ghosts, spirit-like creatures, and more. The magic users have jobs and a hierarchy. This world-building is amazing. The characters are interesting with some terrifying and others terrific! My favorite is Pluck, a shadow that bonded with the main character. He takes the shape of her deceased dog, but sometimes a man. This bonding has the magical community fearful.
This is such a wonderful book! A book that satisfied my fantasy itch! I love this series and hope the author has many more books to add.
by Kim Harrison
This is book #2 in this exciting fantasy series. (Read book one first to fully enjoy the series.)
I loved #1 and was thrilled to have the chance to read this book from the publisher and NetGalley.
This is a world of magic, ghosts, spirit-like creatures, and more. The magic users have jobs and a hierarchy. This world-building is amazing. The characters are interesting with some terrifying and others terrific! My favorite is Pluck, a shadow that bonded with the main character. He takes the shape of her deceased dog, but sometimes a man. This bonding has the magical community fearful.
This is such a wonderful book! A book that satisfied my fantasy itch! I love this series and hope the author has many more books to add.
February 1, 2026
ARC Read - Releases Feb 2026
This picks up a couple months after the first book - Petra is now working with the militia, using her skills as a weaver alongside her shadow Pluck. Her new goal is to try and find more weavers in the world for all the lost and unbonded shadows. On top of that, they need to find a solution for all the dross let loose in the world after the vault/loom was broken. Petra, Benny, Lev and a rag tag team of others are all back to help face a new threat - a rogue angry shadow determined to keep the magical balance out of whack.
I will be honest to say that I had to slog through the first book a bit, and even with the content making more sense to me, good writing and ideas - the content wasn’t gripping me. And I think this is purely a me issue - but the pacing and length of the book aren’t keeping me engaged. So at the 40% mark, I started skimming and jumping a bit to get through. And it definitely picked up towards the end. I think the magic system - integrating science and luck, is a really cool aspect. And her relationship was sweet with Benny, very YA. I’m still not 100% sold on Benny, but he grew on me.
This picks up a couple months after the first book - Petra is now working with the militia, using her skills as a weaver alongside her shadow Pluck. Her new goal is to try and find more weavers in the world for all the lost and unbonded shadows. On top of that, they need to find a solution for all the dross let loose in the world after the vault/loom was broken. Petra, Benny, Lev and a rag tag team of others are all back to help face a new threat - a rogue angry shadow determined to keep the magical balance out of whack.
I will be honest to say that I had to slog through the first book a bit, and even with the content making more sense to me, good writing and ideas - the content wasn’t gripping me. And I think this is purely a me issue - but the pacing and length of the book aren’t keeping me engaged. So at the 40% mark, I started skimming and jumping a bit to get through. And it definitely picked up towards the end. I think the magic system - integrating science and luck, is a really cool aspect. And her relationship was sweet with Benny, very YA. I’m still not 100% sold on Benny, but he grew on me.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Full RTC
February 11, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley, Berkley/Ace, and Ms. Harrison for the opportunity to read an ARC of this title. An honest review was requested but not required.
Secondhand Luck is the sequel to Three Kinds of Lucky, and definitely benefits from the hard slog of worldbuilding already being taken care of in book #1. We start with a bang here, as Petra and Pluck participate in a sting operation and nearly die in the process. Pluck was my favorite character from page one, unapologetically solely devoted to Petra and wary of anyone and everyone else. I can't decide which kind of Pluck I liked best, the devoted shadow dog, the cute little shadow snake, or the snarky voice in Petra's head. I REALLY liked how they've learned to work together better since book #1, with Petra able to flex the new benefits of her symbiotic partnership with the shadow. It definitely makes the story flow smoother and more cohesive.
As in book #1, the magic system is (behind Pluck specifically) the best part. It's definitely unique. Shadows and dross, spinning and spelling, there are so many cool facets to it and since it's book #2 things get a little more complex than before. Petra gradually learns new things about Pluck and, since Pluck isn't omniscient, the shadow learns some new things about his limits too. (((I do wish Petra wouldn't keep saying "Oh spit" as it's so juvenile and really takes me out of the story, but, small quibbles.)))
I wasn't sold on Benny but I can see potential. This isn't really a romance - even the romance elements are super muted - so I don't particularly mind if Petra keeps him around or strikes out on her own (as long as "her own" involves Pluck, ha ha). I'm interested in where this story is going to go and I'm really looking forward to book #3. This is a strong book #2. 4 stars.
Secondhand Luck is the sequel to Three Kinds of Lucky, and definitely benefits from the hard slog of worldbuilding already being taken care of in book #1. We start with a bang here, as Petra and Pluck participate in a sting operation and nearly die in the process. Pluck was my favorite character from page one, unapologetically solely devoted to Petra and wary of anyone and everyone else. I can't decide which kind of Pluck I liked best, the devoted shadow dog, the cute little shadow snake, or the snarky voice in Petra's head. I REALLY liked how they've learned to work together better since book #1, with Petra able to flex the new benefits of her symbiotic partnership with the shadow. It definitely makes the story flow smoother and more cohesive.
As in book #1, the magic system is (behind Pluck specifically) the best part. It's definitely unique. Shadows and dross, spinning and spelling, there are so many cool facets to it and since it's book #2 things get a little more complex than before. Petra gradually learns new things about Pluck and, since Pluck isn't omniscient, the shadow learns some new things about his limits too. (((I do wish Petra wouldn't keep saying "Oh spit" as it's so juvenile and really takes me out of the story, but, small quibbles.)))
I wasn't sold on Benny but I can see potential. This isn't really a romance - even the romance elements are super muted - so I don't particularly mind if Petra keeps him around or strikes out on her own (as long as "her own" involves Pluck, ha ha). I'm interested in where this story is going to go and I'm really looking forward to book #3. This is a strong book #2. 4 stars.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Secondhand Luck is one of those sequels that quietly proves why you stick with a series. Where Three Kinds of Lucky laid all the groundwork, this book gets to stretch its legs. Less setup, more character growth, more consequences, and a clearer sense of where this story is ultimately headed.
Petra Grady is in a very different place now. Bonded to Pluck and navigating life as the first shadow weaver in a thousand years, she’s no longer just reacting to the world around her. She’s questioning it. Pushing back. Claiming space in a system that never planned to make room for her. Watching her confidence grow, even when everything is stacked against her, was deeply satisfying.
The magic system continues to be one of my favorite parts of this series. It’s fun, strange, and still a little mysterious. There’s more texture here, more history revealed, and more implications for how shadow magic reshaped the world. I loved how this book leans into the long game, hinting at truths that even Pluck himself has forgotten. That slow unraveling works.
That said, this one didn’t feel quite as smooth for me as book one. The pacing wobbles a bit, and it very much carries middle-book energy. Threads are being pulled, tensions are building, and not everything is meant to resolve yet. It works, but you can feel the setup happening. Still, I had a genuinely good time reading it, and the character dynamics kept me invested even when the plot slowed.
Overall, Secondhand Luck deepens the world, strengthens the characters, and makes it clear this story has bigger things planned. If book one hooked you with its originality, this one rewards you by letting that world breathe and evolve. I’m absolutely in for whatever comes next.
Petra Grady is in a very different place now. Bonded to Pluck and navigating life as the first shadow weaver in a thousand years, she’s no longer just reacting to the world around her. She’s questioning it. Pushing back. Claiming space in a system that never planned to make room for her. Watching her confidence grow, even when everything is stacked against her, was deeply satisfying.
The magic system continues to be one of my favorite parts of this series. It’s fun, strange, and still a little mysterious. There’s more texture here, more history revealed, and more implications for how shadow magic reshaped the world. I loved how this book leans into the long game, hinting at truths that even Pluck himself has forgotten. That slow unraveling works.
That said, this one didn’t feel quite as smooth for me as book one. The pacing wobbles a bit, and it very much carries middle-book energy. Threads are being pulled, tensions are building, and not everything is meant to resolve yet. It works, but you can feel the setup happening. Still, I had a genuinely good time reading it, and the character dynamics kept me invested even when the plot slowed.
Overall, Secondhand Luck deepens the world, strengthens the characters, and makes it clear this story has bigger things planned. If book one hooked you with its originality, this one rewards you by letting that world breathe and evolve. I’m absolutely in for whatever comes next.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is an extremely strong second book. We build on the world of Weavers and Shadows established in the first book, with a lot of focus on the Shadows as sentient beings with their own histories, pain, and motivations. The big bad in this one is a feral Shadow who wants things to change just as little as the prejudiced mages do. Grady gets blamed for all the damage he sows, even as she's trying to shut him down and prevent it all (rather ineffectually, I'm afraid.) There's a lot of action as she chases around trying to stay ahead of him and placating the mages. In the midst of all that, she has to convince a very skittish new weaver that joining the cause is a good plan rather than a path of chaos and danger (should be a snap, since she's still trying to figure it all out herself.)
I will admit there were behaviors from some secondary characters that I found frustrating and annoying. They felt artificial, though an explanation was offered. I just wasn't sure if that explanation was meant to cover all the annoying parts or just some of them. Grady experiences a mutation of her powers that feels somewhat premature if this is intended to be more than a trilogy, but I don't really know what the end game is, so I guess I'll reserve judgment on that for now.
I received this ARC from NetGalley.
I will admit there were behaviors from some secondary characters that I found frustrating and annoying. They felt artificial, though an explanation was offered. I just wasn't sure if that explanation was meant to cover all the annoying parts or just some of them. Grady experiences a mutation of her powers that feels somewhat premature if this is intended to be more than a trilogy, but I don't really know what the end game is, so I guess I'll reserve judgment on that for now.
I received this ARC from NetGalley.
February 13, 2026
ARC read
3 ⭐️ 1 🌶️
Read this if you like: The Hollows series (also by Harrison) or Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs
Fav tropes: Found Family, Unique Magic System, slow burn, academic setting
Fav character: Pluck: Let’s be real Pluck steals every scene. I love when he mischievous or snarky!!
Fav part/scene: The high-tension sequence involving the scavenge outside the safety of the wall. Harrison excels at writing claustrophobic and racing against time action.
Unique factor: The Luck system because it’s a tangible, dangerous and the idea of Dross which is magical pollution.
Unforgettable moment: The realization of what Secondhand Luck actually implies!
Didn’t like: The pacing in the middle drags a bit, it feels slow. Also sometimes the FMC annoys me I have a hard time relating to or liking her actions.
Recommend it? Absolutely. If you enjoyed the world-building in the first book, Three Kinds of Lucky then you'll love this because it expands on it beautifully. Kim Harrison has really unique magic systems, worlds, and complicated characters.
Part of a series: Yes The Shadow Age Book 2
On Kindle Unlimited: No.
3 ⭐️ 1 🌶️
Read this if you like: The Hollows series (also by Harrison) or Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs
Fav tropes: Found Family, Unique Magic System, slow burn, academic setting
Fav character: Pluck: Let’s be real Pluck steals every scene. I love when he mischievous or snarky!!
Fav part/scene: The high-tension sequence involving the scavenge outside the safety of the wall. Harrison excels at writing claustrophobic and racing against time action.
Unique factor: The Luck system because it’s a tangible, dangerous and the idea of Dross which is magical pollution.
Unforgettable moment: The realization of what Secondhand Luck actually implies!
Didn’t like: The pacing in the middle drags a bit, it feels slow. Also sometimes the FMC annoys me I have a hard time relating to or liking her actions.
Recommend it? Absolutely. If you enjoyed the world-building in the first book, Three Kinds of Lucky then you'll love this because it expands on it beautifully. Kim Harrison has really unique magic systems, worlds, and complicated characters.
Part of a series: Yes The Shadow Age Book 2
On Kindle Unlimited: No.
August 19, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. Here is my unbiased review.
The premise for this book is interesting, but the world building feels awkward. There was a brief moment where it almost felt like we were back in Junior's and I had hope that things would begin to click but unfortunately it was not to be.
I questioned whether I was struggling to immerse myself in the story because I am so comfortable in the Hollows world, but discarded that notion, given the fact that I read urban fantasy by a dozen other authors without any difficulty.
I found the pacing to be a bit rough, which made it difficult to lose myself in the story. The characters are still in development; I can't say I fell in love with any of them. Pluck least of all. If we are being set up for a love triangle, it's going to be a strange one, indeed. What romance there was to be found felt stilted and unsure of itself.
I'm an enormous fan of Kim Harrison and plan to continue to read this series. There is room for improvement, but I trust her to get it there.
The premise for this book is interesting, but the world building feels awkward. There was a brief moment where it almost felt like we were back in Junior's and I had hope that things would begin to click but unfortunately it was not to be.
I questioned whether I was struggling to immerse myself in the story because I am so comfortable in the Hollows world, but discarded that notion, given the fact that I read urban fantasy by a dozen other authors without any difficulty.
I found the pacing to be a bit rough, which made it difficult to lose myself in the story. The characters are still in development; I can't say I fell in love with any of them. Pluck least of all. If we are being set up for a love triangle, it's going to be a strange one, indeed. What romance there was to be found felt stilted and unsure of itself.
I'm an enormous fan of Kim Harrison and plan to continue to read this series. There is room for improvement, but I trust her to get it there.
February 16, 2026
Secondhand Luck is the second book in The Shadow Age series. Both books seem very timely since they focus heavily on stereotypes, prejudice, and oppression. I don't know if this is intentional, but the language makes me think this is true. I love the relationship between Petra and Pluck and how they learn to trust each other. It's urban fantasy, and Petra is in a relationship, but this is not a romance. This isn't surprising, given Kim Harrison's past books. The romantic relationships in her books take a back seat to the plot. The story seems over, and everything is neatly tied up, but I don't see any terms in the description like "duology" or "duet," so maybe there is more? Either way, I have enjoyed both books, and it's a nice change from the romantasy I usually read; however, the plots of both books are very similar, so I wouldn't read the two books too close together. 4 stars!
February 11, 2026
I definitely liked this one better than the first, but it was still a bit ho hum. Petra is in a better place, trying to figure out where she belongs now that her world had changed. It's still changing and others seem to want to blame her for changes that are happening, which ends up being at the center of this one. Petra seems to run from one crisis to another, often times with her life in danger. She once again changes the rules to save herself and at the end of the book, she's in a good place, rewriting her present and future, along with those of the same skills. It will be interesting to see if she succeeds.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Return to Petra and St. Unoc as Petra begins to understand her abilities. Some are unhappy with her use of shadows. Benjamin will work with her to face new foes and deal with the pushback from the university.
This one was not for me. I love Petra and Benjamin. However, this story felt more forced and confusing. I think i would give it another shot, but at this time it wasn't what I wanted to read. I did greatly enjoy the characters but didn't like all the dislike that Petra received from peers. Thank you Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book.
This one was not for me. I love Petra and Benjamin. However, this story felt more forced and confusing. I think i would give it another shot, but at this time it wasn't what I wanted to read. I did greatly enjoy the characters but didn't like all the dislike that Petra received from peers. Thank you Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I really enjoyed watching Pluck grow in this installment. I feel like some of the relationships grew and it was nice to see. Petra is trying to recruit more weavers and this brings the evil Thoth into town to try to destroy them. He is a truly evil character and I wasn't sure if they would be able to defeat him. It is quite the ride getting to the end of the book. I will say I thought this book had some slow spots in it, but I am glad I read this installment. I am looking forward to the next book in this series.
February 4, 2026
Thank you PRH Audio for the ALC. If you love the Hollows series from Harrison, you’ll have a special appreciation for Secondhand Luck. The first book was heavily focused on world-building, and book two allows the characters to grow and build the long-term plot while giving you a story Rachel Morgan would be proud of. Petra wants to live in a better world, free from fear, but many things stand in her way. Harrison always knows how to keep my attention.
February 18, 2026
If you loved The Hallows Series by this author, you need to read The Shadow Age series.
Kim creates a new alternate world with magic, drama, and high stakes for her characters.
World building is incredible in her books and this series delivers. The characters are well developed and in layers, each book you learn new about the characters and builds in on previous books in the series.
I highly recommend this series!
Kim creates a new alternate world with magic, drama, and high stakes for her characters.
World building is incredible in her books and this series delivers. The characters are well developed and in layers, each book you learn new about the characters and builds in on previous books in the series.
I highly recommend this series!
November 20, 2025
I was excited to received a paper copy to review and decided to read book 1 first. I really enjoy delving into this new series and this one didn't disappoint. The author loves to world build and I feel she did a great job with this one. The characters are well rounded. The story is well worth the read!
January 5, 2026
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.
I really enjoyed this second in the series. Fans of the Hollows will start to see similarities in world building, characterization and the structure of the narrative. Petra is forming a found family and some surprising magical abilities much like Rachel does in Harrison's other series
I really enjoyed this second in the series. Fans of the Hollows will start to see similarities in world building, characterization and the structure of the narrative. Petra is forming a found family and some surprising magical abilities much like Rachel does in Harrison's other series
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Secondhand Luck is an unexpectedly charming blend of whimsy and magical misfortune. Kim Harrison builds a world where luck isn’t just a concept but a currency, and watching Petra navigate that system is instantly engaging. She’s the kind of heroine who feels real in her imperfections. She is resourceful, stubborn, and quietly vulnerable in ways that make her easy to root for.
The worldbuilding is one of the novel’s standout strengths. Harrison’s slightly off‑kilter magical reality feels lived‑in rather than flashy, full of small, clever details that give the setting texture. The “luck economy” is a particularly fun twist, and it adds a layer of unpredictability that keeps the story lively without ever overwhelming it.
The plot moves at a brisk pace, balancing danger, humor, and mystery with a confident hand. Even the quieter moments feel purposeful, and the stakes rise in a way that keeps the pages turning. Petra’s relationships, both the supportive ones and the more complicated ones, add emotional depth that grounds the story.
If anything holds the book back from a full five stars, it’s the pacing. Some early sections feel a bit dense with setup, and a few emotional beats could have used more room to breathe. These are small quibbles, though, and they don’t detract from the overall enjoyment.
In the end, Secondhand Luck is imaginative, heartfelt, and thoroughly entertaining. Readers who enjoy urban fantasy with quirky rules, scrappy heroines, and a touch of chaos will find a lot to love here. It’s a delightful ride with just enough rough edges to keep things interesting.
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group | Ace and Netgalley for this ARC copy in exchange for my honest review.
The worldbuilding is one of the novel’s standout strengths. Harrison’s slightly off‑kilter magical reality feels lived‑in rather than flashy, full of small, clever details that give the setting texture. The “luck economy” is a particularly fun twist, and it adds a layer of unpredictability that keeps the story lively without ever overwhelming it.
The plot moves at a brisk pace, balancing danger, humor, and mystery with a confident hand. Even the quieter moments feel purposeful, and the stakes rise in a way that keeps the pages turning. Petra’s relationships, both the supportive ones and the more complicated ones, add emotional depth that grounds the story.
If anything holds the book back from a full five stars, it’s the pacing. Some early sections feel a bit dense with setup, and a few emotional beats could have used more room to breathe. These are small quibbles, though, and they don’t detract from the overall enjoyment.
In the end, Secondhand Luck is imaginative, heartfelt, and thoroughly entertaining. Readers who enjoy urban fantasy with quirky rules, scrappy heroines, and a touch of chaos will find a lot to love here. It’s a delightful ride with just enough rough edges to keep things interesting.
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group | Ace and Netgalley for this ARC copy in exchange for my honest review.
February 17, 2026
Harrison does not disappoint. I've been reading science fiction since I was a kid fantasy as well.
She does a reasonably good job of getting you hooked. After that it's just a wild ride. In the tradition of Dresden and others who write in the fantasy genre she gives you a world that's believable but not quite the same one you live in
She does a reasonably good job of getting you hooked. After that it's just a wild ride. In the tradition of Dresden and others who write in the fantasy genre she gives you a world that's believable but not quite the same one you live in
Read
February 18, 2026Took me a day or so before getting really hooked. I barely remembered the characters coming but I ended up devouring the book. Very interesting characters and especially world that's just a bit different from most urban fantasy. I agree w/a lot of the other reviewers that Pluck is simply delightful.
to-be-release-2026
August 17, 2025Expected publication February 10, 2026
February 16, 2026
This series isn’t exactly doing it for me.
February 16, 2026
Kim Harrison never disappoints. I waited on tenterhooks for this book and sped through it and now wait for the next!
February 16, 2026
Great Read
This author is fabulous. She goes outside the box of urban paranormal and I love it!!! Thank you for a new series.
This author is fabulous. She goes outside the box of urban paranormal and I love it!!! Thank you for a new series.
January 6, 2026
I think that fans of Kim Harrison will really enjoy this new series. It's got a fun magic system, where the use of magical abilities creates a waste product called "dross" that likes to stick to things and people. In small amounts, it can cause bad luck, minor accidents, etc. In large accumulations, it's disastrous.
Now, mages COULD clean up their own dross, but really, do big, fancypants important mages have time for such things? Of course not! That's beneath them! Enter people like our protagonist Petra and her fellow sweepers, who spend their time and talents neutralizing dross. Except we find out in the first book that Petra is no mere sweeper. She's something far more interesting and rare, and it's made her a target.
I had a good time with this book, but it didn't feel quite as smooth as the first. There was more world building and some new characters, but there were pieces that felt a bit clunky and forced, including the romance between our leads. The strongest point is the continual evolution and growth of Petra's powers. She still doesn't fully understand what her capabilities are, and her exploration of that is a definite high to the story.
I think we've gotten a tiny bit of sequel-itis here, but I'm not worried. I'm interested and engaged, and ready for book 3. Urban fantasy is one of my favorite subgenres and sometimes it feels really hard to find UF books that hit the sweet spot between overly grim and incredibly schmaltzy, unrealistic insta-love. Sometimes I want a nice middle road, you know? I want a bit of a romance but not something that feels YA. And I want stakes, but not depressing, end-of-the-world darkness. So far I feel like this series is walking that line for me, and that'll keep me coming back.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the digital ARC for my review!
Now, mages COULD clean up their own dross, but really, do big, fancypants important mages have time for such things? Of course not! That's beneath them! Enter people like our protagonist Petra and her fellow sweepers, who spend their time and talents neutralizing dross. Except we find out in the first book that Petra is no mere sweeper. She's something far more interesting and rare, and it's made her a target.
I had a good time with this book, but it didn't feel quite as smooth as the first. There was more world building and some new characters, but there were pieces that felt a bit clunky and forced, including the romance between our leads. The strongest point is the continual evolution and growth of Petra's powers. She still doesn't fully understand what her capabilities are, and her exploration of that is a definite high to the story.
I think we've gotten a tiny bit of sequel-itis here, but I'm not worried. I'm interested and engaged, and ready for book 3. Urban fantasy is one of my favorite subgenres and sometimes it feels really hard to find UF books that hit the sweet spot between overly grim and incredibly schmaltzy, unrealistic insta-love. Sometimes I want a nice middle road, you know? I want a bit of a romance but not something that feels YA. And I want stakes, but not depressing, end-of-the-world darkness. So far I feel like this series is walking that line for me, and that'll keep me coming back.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the digital ARC for my review!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley for the pre-release copy of Secondhand Luck by Kim Harrison. Below is my honest review.
Kim Harrison built a really cool world in Three Kinds of Lucky. In Secondhand Luck, she tore it to pieces and built it back even cooler.
Most of the time I feel like book two in a series is weaker than book one, as they're still finding their footing and trying to make sure the characters all have storylines, etc. But in this one, I felt like it was stronger than book one, or at the very least, just as strong.
It really changed the game up. I loved the development of new bonds - specifically the ones Pluck has with himself and those around him. I loved the fun powers. The villain was actually pretty scary and always a step ahead.
Five stars, highly recommended for urban fantasy fans. But do yourself the favor of reading book one first.
Kim Harrison built a really cool world in Three Kinds of Lucky. In Secondhand Luck, she tore it to pieces and built it back even cooler.
Most of the time I feel like book two in a series is weaker than book one, as they're still finding their footing and trying to make sure the characters all have storylines, etc. But in this one, I felt like it was stronger than book one, or at the very least, just as strong.
It really changed the game up. I loved the development of new bonds - specifically the ones Pluck has with himself and those around him. I loved the fun powers. The villain was actually pretty scary and always a step ahead.
Five stars, highly recommended for urban fantasy fans. But do yourself the favor of reading book one first.
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