Robert J. Crane was born and raised on Florida's Space Coast before moving to the upper midwest in search of cooler climates and more palatable beer. He graduated from the University of Central Florida with a degree in English Creative Writing. He worked for a year as a substitute teacher and worked in the financial services field for seven years while writing in his spare time.
Gosh darnit. I cried over characters that have been dead for years. This book series has been a part of my life so long, I really feel like I have lost something. And ohmigosh I don’t care how many books it has been-the mention of Brendan (possibly my favourite literary character of all time) is gonna make me cry. It felt full circle to meet his girlfriend…felt full circle in a lot of ways. And every time people show up and fight for Sienna I get as emotional as she does. Because they care!
What happened in this last trilogy was needed to keep this series interesting, but I still feel so GD empty…
Better than the last two, but still below par. Glad this sub-trilogy is over. Hopefully the next one will be better otherwise I am tempted to give up on this series - not something I would have said before the last three books were released.
I've raced through this series loving almost all of it. I can't help myself, I love watching Sienna on top and though she has a somewhat dark moral compass at times, she's found her center and been trying to do the right things. (well, aside killing off a few really bad guys who deserved it.) I love the friendships she's cultivated and the family she now has. I love her vulnerability and hilarious sassy comebacks. I am not a fan of her plummet into booze and hopefully she'll either pull it together or friends will kick her butt until she finds her center. Of course, I don't want her to lose her plucky spirit and fully expected her descent into depression after all she's been through, but I still have hope that the author will find a way for her to get all she's lost back and find a way for her to come up smelling like a rose. Robert Crane, despite your hating on Iowa, you have a fan.
This book (my only 5 stars in the addictive series due to plot holes and deux ex machina, largely) has my favorite battle (or string of battles) of all the series in it, to end the war with Rose, the Scottish Succubus. The 2nd half of the book is nonstop action. The one to kill Sovereign was underwhelming and anti-climactic, incredibly unsatisfying...especially since we had no rationale to buy into to explain why it was going to work. Here, we understood why it was going to work. The climax was also satisfying because the villain was so heinous and the whole cast of good guys came together to help Sienna and make sure she knew she was loved. Now...if only she could become powerful again and find new romantic love, satisfying and healthy.
Look at that synopsis. Look at the cover. Do you think you know where this story is going to lead you? Well, I think that there is a good chance that you won't see these plot twists coming.
This was relentless. But. What I really enjoyed was the way the tone of the story shifted subtly as the plot unravelled. As it went from hopeless to … well, not.
The ending? Epic and sad and emotional and warming all at the same time. But ultimately, back at the start. In a box. Changed. And although it is gratifying to see that she now knows how much she is loved, the question remains about whether she can accept that.
Just amazing. Really some of the best I’ve read from Mr Crane.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.
This was my least favorite so far in the series. It has been a great ride. Although I'm still bitter about some of the events, that won't deter me from saying I still liked this book. It's just hard to love. I was hoping a few would make it out and if you read it then you will understand. Siemens will definitely be needing it based on the epilogue. I kind of figured she'd have learned to lean on to herself and search out her metal capabilities more by this point. I guess I shall find out soon. Thank you for writing this series. It has sure fed my need to read!
What a book! For most of it I hated it, I hated Sienna being beaten down, I hated every odd against her and I'm not liking her losing her souls either. But I loved everyone coming to her rescue and I loved the souls goodbyes. And of course Sienna realising and remembering who she is. I'm waiting to see where the Author goes with soulless Sienna. And how this episode with Rose will shape her personality and life in the future. But mostly I'm glad she's back to being Sienna. Highly recommend all the In The Box and Out of the Box books.
The gripping, painful story that the author set out to provide in this end of his trilogy. I am lost for words...the feeling I get when there are crazy events the impact characters that I love. Wonders never cease to amaze me how people I sincerely disliked at the beginning of this story ended up finding their way into my heart when it was all said and done.
I am amazed and pleased that with each book, we find out more about how each character and their background stories play into the larger narrative.
This book had me in the edge of my seat , it made me laugh it made me cry but most of all it made me Read. This book was so hard to put dw n.. Seanna has gone thru so much in all of these books but losing her souls was so far the saddest to read about but seeing all her friends and Reed coming to help her Great! I'm glad that Wolfy realized he loved Seanna and she felt it too . This book had it all for me Great Reading really Loving every book just a little bit more . Getting ready to start book#28,what will I do when I finish this series!?!
I don’t want to give away too many spoilers for this book but honestly I’m devastated. I just can’t believe all Siena lost in this book. It makes me very sad to know that her life will never be the same. I have grown to enjoy all the souls she had with her. This was an epic book probably one of the best. I was on the edge of my seat and literally reading until the wee hours of the night to get in that next chapter I was hooked on this book. Great job! You’re an amazing author.
earth shattering is definitely one way to say it. looking at the cover I was dreading the end of this book, but I never excepted that ending. I'm kind of gutted. this book has all I ever need.. fighting, friends, family and of course the snarkiness we've come to love and except for these characters. nice and subtle hockey reference earned you major points Robert. can't wait to see what comes next.. or if there will be a next for Sienna
Sienna has never been lower. At the mercy of Rose for months, she's almost lost what makes her everyone's favorite badass.
As Mr. Crane takes us on another adventure, we get to see more of the Sienna she was in the beginning, scared, alone, and lost. And we get to see her make her way to the strength she's always had...
Awesome fight scenes punctuated by heartbreak and laughs. Just the way I like it.
I actually started to believe that this was Sienna's last adventure, especially after studying the book cover. I should have known that even Rose wasn't enough to bring her down. Seen her realize just how much her friends mean to her, and everything they went through to help her take down Rose was nothing short of astounding. I loved every page, and it only got better and better after each page flip. As always, I'm looking forward to the next book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I’m usually a huge fan of this series but this book didn’t, unfortunately, engage me like the others. Given there’s a next book available it was obvious Sienna wasn’t going to die at Rose’s hands and therefore everything that happened was kinda pointless! There were a couple of inaccuracies which is unusual for RJC...namely the piece of wood that Sienna used to stab Rose shouldn’t have been possible as Wolfe had healed her after the rubbish bin incident and therefore would have reinforced her!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Robert has sent me on a rollercoaster of emotions again.
I've laughed and boy have I cried. Every step of the way I've shared Siennas loneliness, desperation and that oh so sad realisation.
I can't see a way to come back from the goodbyes but I hope a twist of fate turns them in to see you laters. They were really difficult to say as a reader.
Just finished the Scottish Trilogy (Hunter, Badder, Nemesis) and it was possibly the best addition to the series since the original decalogy. It is important in a superhero series, to occasionally re-create the hero and remove some of the accumulated powers-creep. This was Sienna's green kryptonite. This was Magneto removing Logan's adamantium.
Everyone knows that our hero will eventually win the day, but what is not so certain is the personal costs. Not going to spoil the story here but just to say this cranks it up to 11! Mentions to characters from previous outings, with plenty of twists and turns to keep interest. Bring on the next one
It is inevitable that the series built towards stripping Sienna down to her emotional bones even when others come to help her. This was a satisfying end to this part of the series despite over-indulgence in near misses, high speed chases, lots and lots of people talking inside other people’s heads and Sienna left brutalized.
After so many books I'd have thought something would start falling over, but no, the quality of writing, dialogue, character development and plot just goes on. It even makes an emotional punch this one...!
Really good wrap up to the Scotland trilogy. Kinda sad that Sienna lost her souls. Can't wait to see how she will get some new souls to share space with. I would recommend this story to any lover of action with some fantasy thrown in.
This book is the best yet of the series. It takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions. My favorite saying comes to mind, "she remembered who she was and the game changed".
I am completely struck by the entire series. I have not stopped to breath in the last week. I absolutely love all of these books. It never gets dull, slow, dry, or weak. I have read everything up to this one so far and I have to say, I am hooked by Robert J Crane books. Awesome author!
Well now she has no souls in her head.....what's next? The Scotland trilogy was alright however I had hoped that Dianna would get her guys back. So did not love this trilogy but on to the next
Sienna's friends show up to help take down Rose. Very emotional read. I hated the ending and don't see how future books can be as interesting. But Robert Crane has kept my interest for 27 books, I'm sure he will find a way.
I’m reading the series of 46. I thought I might get bored — No way! Read this series but be sure to have lots of reading time available! Crane never disappoints!