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The Arcadia Project #3
Impostor Syndrome
In the third book of the Nebula Award–nominated Arcadia Project series, which New York Times bestselling author Seanan McGuire called “exciting, inventive, and brilliantly plotted,” Millie Roper has to pull off two impossible heists—with the fate of the worlds in the balance.
Three months ago, a rift between agents in London and Los Angeles tore the Arcadia Project apart. With both fey Courts split down the middle—half supporting London, half LA—London is putting the pieces in place to quash the resistance. But due to an alarming backslide in her mental health, new LA agent Mille Roper is in no condition to fight.
When London’s opening shot is to frame Millie’s partner, Tjuan, for attempted homicide, Millie has no choice but to hide him and try to clear his name. Her investigation will take her across the pond to the heart of Arcadia at the mysterious and impenetrable White Rose palace. The key to Tjuan’s freedom—and to the success of the revolution—is locked in a vault under the fey Queen’s watchful eye. It’s up to Millie to plan and lead a heist that will shape the future of two worlds—all while pretending that she knows exactly what she’s doing…
Three months ago, a rift between agents in London and Los Angeles tore the Arcadia Project apart. With both fey Courts split down the middle—half supporting London, half LA—London is putting the pieces in place to quash the resistance. But due to an alarming backslide in her mental health, new LA agent Mille Roper is in no condition to fight.
When London’s opening shot is to frame Millie’s partner, Tjuan, for attempted homicide, Millie has no choice but to hide him and try to clear his name. Her investigation will take her across the pond to the heart of Arcadia at the mysterious and impenetrable White Rose palace. The key to Tjuan’s freedom—and to the success of the revolution—is locked in a vault under the fey Queen’s watchful eye. It’s up to Millie to plan and lead a heist that will shape the future of two worlds—all while pretending that she knows exactly what she’s doing…
14 pages, Audiobook
First published March 13, 2018
60 people are currently reading
781 people want to read
About the author
Mishell Baker
10 books229 followersAuthor of Nebula finalist/Tiptree Honor Book BORDERLINE. Repped by Russell Galen. Mother, language nerd, MH advocate, Guardian of Liberty.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 145 reviews
April 14, 2018
4ish stars.
A great series even if it’s kind of a mess. Is it too much to hope that this isn't the end?
I love Millie Roper. To be clear, though, it’s kind of the same way I love Quentin Clearwater, so fair warning. She's wacky, outspoken, selfish, brilliant?, manipulative, passionate, frustrating, and has a heart of gold. Sometimes. I don’t meet many characters like her. In this book, more than either of the previous ones, Baker really lets her come into her own and let loose. As a result, not only is this book funnier than the previous ones, we also get a deeper look into Millie's soul and emotionally connect with her. Baker gets creative and even throws in a couple (awesome) chapters in screenplay format so that we can see the action through the eyes of Millie the movie director.
“Creative” in this case also means that the plotting goes all to hell. It's so convoluted, I couldn't make heads or tails of what was happening 80% of the time. I couldn't keep track of which heist was for what, who was doing favors for whom, which side the Seelie/Unseelie were on at any given moment and why it all mattered in the first place. Not to mention the myriad fey whose names all sound the same. Dawnrowan, Shiverlash, Winterglass, Pumpkinbreath, Wigglesnap, Rainbowcrotch, Smellycat. Almost like one of those quizzes where you get your stripper name by inserting your high school mascot and your favorite flavor of ice cream or whatever. I gave up after a little while and decided it wasn't critical.
For those wondering about this series, know that the first book is tight and coherent, and it kind of goes downhill from there, but it’s still worth it to keep reading because it’s so fun. And because Millie.
Posted in Mr. Philip's Library
A great series even if it’s kind of a mess. Is it too much to hope that this isn't the end?
I love Millie Roper. To be clear, though, it’s kind of the same way I love Quentin Clearwater, so fair warning. She's wacky, outspoken, selfish, brilliant?, manipulative, passionate, frustrating, and has a heart of gold. Sometimes. I don’t meet many characters like her. In this book, more than either of the previous ones, Baker really lets her come into her own and let loose. As a result, not only is this book funnier than the previous ones, we also get a deeper look into Millie's soul and emotionally connect with her. Baker gets creative and even throws in a couple (awesome) chapters in screenplay format so that we can see the action through the eyes of Millie the movie director.
“Creative” in this case also means that the plotting goes all to hell. It's so convoluted, I couldn't make heads or tails of what was happening 80% of the time. I couldn't keep track of which heist was for what, who was doing favors for whom, which side the Seelie/Unseelie were on at any given moment and why it all mattered in the first place. Not to mention the myriad fey whose names all sound the same. Dawnrowan, Shiverlash, Winterglass, Pumpkinbreath, Wigglesnap, Rainbowcrotch, Smellycat. Almost like one of those quizzes where you get your stripper name by inserting your high school mascot and your favorite flavor of ice cream or whatever. I gave up after a little while and decided it wasn't critical.
For those wondering about this series, know that the first book is tight and coherent, and it kind of goes downhill from there, but it’s still worth it to keep reading because it’s so fun. And because Millie.
Posted in Mr. Philip's Library
March 16, 2018
There's a lot to love about this UF that refuses to bow down to the usual expectations.
But then, this series does follow a *certain* set of expectations. For one, it completely relies on all types of mental illness to drive character arcs. It's not just the MC who is bipolar, who had attempted suicide, lost her legs, and yet still manages to use her head and save the day as a productive (if often very destructive) employee in a Fae (be it Seele or Unseele court) world. Ahem. Excuse me. Worlds. This takes place in both the Fae lands and LA (with some travel around the world).
This has got to be the most wildly diverse novel I've ever read. Not only mental spectrums are accounted for, but sexual, social, and ideological. Everyone has a place and usually they all want to murder each other or are willing to do it in a more socially acceptable (if also very destructive) way. :)
In this novel, we have a great Heist fiction with a wildly diverse cast and I'm frankly amazed that any of these characters function well enough to cause the amount of damage they do. And that's not even accounting for the damage they *intended* to do.
I'm caught in admiration for this novel and the series while also being a bit flabbergasted at the same time. It has good writing and it's always pretty entertaining, but I don't want it to always be about the mental damage. Even that which makes this unique can be overdone.
Still, it straddles the line and succeeds for the majority for me. :)
But then, this series does follow a *certain* set of expectations. For one, it completely relies on all types of mental illness to drive character arcs. It's not just the MC who is bipolar, who had attempted suicide, lost her legs, and yet still manages to use her head and save the day as a productive (if often very destructive) employee in a Fae (be it Seele or Unseele court) world. Ahem. Excuse me. Worlds. This takes place in both the Fae lands and LA (with some travel around the world).
This has got to be the most wildly diverse novel I've ever read. Not only mental spectrums are accounted for, but sexual, social, and ideological. Everyone has a place and usually they all want to murder each other or are willing to do it in a more socially acceptable (if also very destructive) way. :)
In this novel, we have a great Heist fiction with a wildly diverse cast and I'm frankly amazed that any of these characters function well enough to cause the amount of damage they do. And that's not even accounting for the damage they *intended* to do.
I'm caught in admiration for this novel and the series while also being a bit flabbergasted at the same time. It has good writing and it's always pretty entertaining, but I don't want it to always be about the mental damage. Even that which makes this unique can be overdone.
Still, it straddles the line and succeeds for the majority for me. :)
January 1, 2020
That's a very cool idea of the Seelie Court&Trial, in this one.
Q:
The white-hot need I felt to punish myself, to physically demonstrate how very deeply I knew I was horrible—it was like the voice of the siren queen. (c)
Q:
Just before dawn on Sunday I woke to find a gorgeous Greek woman in my bed. (c)
Q:
I’m all for it, absolutely. I love shattered ruins. (c)
Q:
Should we start, or should I maybe grope Tjuan a little first? Not sure of protocol. (c)
Q:
I soaked until I caught myself falling asleep and realized that drowning in a luxury hotel, while high on my list of ways to go, was not part of the current plan. (c)
Q:
Dissociation can actually be fairly useful, under the right circumstances, which may be why Borderlines experience it to begin with. For a weird ten minutes or so I was the only calm person in the room. (c)
Q:
“Do you think everything that leaves a room you are in ceases to exist? Have you no sense of object permanence?” (c)
Q:
But how’d you manage to make her think you were on board? I mean, you can’t lie, and she’s awfully sharp.”
...“I said stuff like, ‘What you’re saying makes sense,’ and ‘I’ve been a complete idiot,’ and that was all true. People who think they’re infallible are pretty easy to fool, to be honest.” (c)
Q:
... “you are the leader of a revolution. You really need to get better at explaining shit.” (c)
Q:
“A spirit came to me!”
“Cool!” I said, surprised into sincerity.
“Apparently, it enjoys severing things! It wants to know how many pieces.”
“You make the loveliest friends, Caryl,” (c)
Q:
“You don’t look so good... You need something to drink? Someone to eat?” (c)
Q:
What would I do if I were a person with a heart and soul who actually cared about the feelings of the guy she’d been regularly fucking since October? (с)
Q:
Sometimes when dysphoria reaches a certain point there’s really nothing to do but shock yourself out of it. It’s why self-harm is such a common thing with Borderlines; the intensity of physical pain wipes out everything else. But there are ways to get that kind of sensation without damaging yourself. For example, filling a big bowl of ice cubes and water and sticking your face in it for thirty seconds.
All mammals have something called a “dive reflex,” a thing that activates your parasympathetic nervous system when icy water touches the skin under your eyes. It works especially well if you’re bent over. Your heart rate slows, and the shock of it pretty much reboots your brain. It’s best used as a last resort, though, because it sucks out loud. It’s better than dysphoria, but not better than a whole lot else. (c)
Q:
Judging by where his eyes went at the word “accommodations,” he was planning to accommodate himself comfortably on Claybriar’s lap. (c)
Q:
Some of them might have lived through war, but they would have no real way of remembering it. Threatening them with its potential devastation would be as useful as threatening a dog with heavy taxes. (c)
Q:
If you want people to seem appalled, sometimes you have to actually appall them. (с)
Q:
Having a giant, unpredictable monster in the room had really not figured into my plan. (c)
Q:
“What have I said about petting me?”
“You’re Seelie now. You need to get used to cuddles.”
“I will fucking throw you off and eat you.” (c)
Q:
“We both wish freedom for every being in Arcadia.”
“Yeah, yeah, and we’re both great at destroying shit, but that doesn’t make us alike. I’m just a clumsy idiot; you do it on purpose. I refuse to set one Arcadian race free by destroying another, and that’s what you want. Don’t lie to me—oh that’s right, you can’t.” (c)
Q:
“How close do you think they’d dare get to that abyss?” I said.
“Seelie are cowards. They’ll scream and run like gazelles at the sight of it.”
“And you? Are you afraid?”
“Terrified. Difference is, I’m still Unseelie enough at heart to enjoy it.” (с)
Q:
“I can’t just ‘confer’ with Tjuan,” I said. “He’s in jail, on Earth. And I’m awaiting a trial date there myself—yes, a completely separate trial in another world; I’m a well-traveled criminal.” (с)
Q:
“Glad to hear I’m a better boss than a vampiric supervillain.” (c)
Q:
Wait. That sounded suspiciously like . . . opposite-to-emotion action. Did King Winterglass of the Unseelie Court just paraphrase my therapist to me? (с)
Q:
Every human loves in their own weird way... (c)
Q:
She made the desolate cavern a palace just by walking into it. (c)
Q:
The white-hot need I felt to punish myself, to physically demonstrate how very deeply I knew I was horrible—it was like the voice of the siren queen. (c)
Q:
Just before dawn on Sunday I woke to find a gorgeous Greek woman in my bed. (c)
Q:
I’m all for it, absolutely. I love shattered ruins. (c)
Q:
Should we start, or should I maybe grope Tjuan a little first? Not sure of protocol. (c)
Q:
I soaked until I caught myself falling asleep and realized that drowning in a luxury hotel, while high on my list of ways to go, was not part of the current plan. (c)
Q:
Dissociation can actually be fairly useful, under the right circumstances, which may be why Borderlines experience it to begin with. For a weird ten minutes or so I was the only calm person in the room. (c)
Q:
“Do you think everything that leaves a room you are in ceases to exist? Have you no sense of object permanence?” (c)
Q:
But how’d you manage to make her think you were on board? I mean, you can’t lie, and she’s awfully sharp.”
...“I said stuff like, ‘What you’re saying makes sense,’ and ‘I’ve been a complete idiot,’ and that was all true. People who think they’re infallible are pretty easy to fool, to be honest.” (c)
Q:
... “you are the leader of a revolution. You really need to get better at explaining shit.” (c)
Q:
“A spirit came to me!”
“Cool!” I said, surprised into sincerity.
“Apparently, it enjoys severing things! It wants to know how many pieces.”
“You make the loveliest friends, Caryl,” (c)
Q:
“You don’t look so good... You need something to drink? Someone to eat?” (c)
Q:
What would I do if I were a person with a heart and soul who actually cared about the feelings of the guy she’d been regularly fucking since October? (с)
Q:
Sometimes when dysphoria reaches a certain point there’s really nothing to do but shock yourself out of it. It’s why self-harm is such a common thing with Borderlines; the intensity of physical pain wipes out everything else. But there are ways to get that kind of sensation without damaging yourself. For example, filling a big bowl of ice cubes and water and sticking your face in it for thirty seconds.
All mammals have something called a “dive reflex,” a thing that activates your parasympathetic nervous system when icy water touches the skin under your eyes. It works especially well if you’re bent over. Your heart rate slows, and the shock of it pretty much reboots your brain. It’s best used as a last resort, though, because it sucks out loud. It’s better than dysphoria, but not better than a whole lot else. (c)
Q:
Judging by where his eyes went at the word “accommodations,” he was planning to accommodate himself comfortably on Claybriar’s lap. (c)
Q:
Some of them might have lived through war, but they would have no real way of remembering it. Threatening them with its potential devastation would be as useful as threatening a dog with heavy taxes. (c)
Q:
If you want people to seem appalled, sometimes you have to actually appall them. (с)
Q:
Having a giant, unpredictable monster in the room had really not figured into my plan. (c)
Q:
“What have I said about petting me?”
“You’re Seelie now. You need to get used to cuddles.”
“I will fucking throw you off and eat you.” (c)
Q:
“We both wish freedom for every being in Arcadia.”
“Yeah, yeah, and we’re both great at destroying shit, but that doesn’t make us alike. I’m just a clumsy idiot; you do it on purpose. I refuse to set one Arcadian race free by destroying another, and that’s what you want. Don’t lie to me—oh that’s right, you can’t.” (c)
Q:
“How close do you think they’d dare get to that abyss?” I said.
“Seelie are cowards. They’ll scream and run like gazelles at the sight of it.”
“And you? Are you afraid?”
“Terrified. Difference is, I’m still Unseelie enough at heart to enjoy it.” (с)
Q:
“I can’t just ‘confer’ with Tjuan,” I said. “He’s in jail, on Earth. And I’m awaiting a trial date there myself—yes, a completely separate trial in another world; I’m a well-traveled criminal.” (с)
Q:
“Glad to hear I’m a better boss than a vampiric supervillain.” (c)
Q:
Wait. That sounded suspiciously like . . . opposite-to-emotion action. Did King Winterglass of the Unseelie Court just paraphrase my therapist to me? (с)
Q:
Every human loves in their own weird way... (c)
Q:
She made the desolate cavern a palace just by walking into it. (c)
April 16, 2018
3.5 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2018/04/15/...
While I will always continue to recommend and cheer on The Arcadia Project series, this third and I think final installment was probably my least favorite. Having said that, it was well written, as the two previous books had been. Plus, we get to see the return of many of our favorite characters, both good and bad. Whether you love them or hate them, the unique and fascinating personalities that you find in these books are the key to making this series so vibrant and enjoyable to read.
Impostor Syndrome once again stars Millie Roper, a young woman with borderline personality disorder who is still trying to get a handle on all her mental health issues. She’s also a suicide survivor, who had to have her lower legs amputated following her disastrous attempt to take her own life. After joining the secret organization known as the Arcadia Project, keeping tabs on the Seelie and Unseelie denizens of fey realm was able to keep Millie on a new track, but recent events have not helped her already fragile state of mind. A rift has formed in the Arcadia Project, and as a result the fey are at war, with half the Court backing the Los Angeles branch while the other half has thrown in their lot with London. This leaves Millie and her boss Caryl scrambling to find allies for LA, hoping to head off the conflict before things can get too far out of hand.
But then, London decides to play dirty. In an underhanded attempt to sabotage LA, they arrange to have Millie’s partner Tjuan framed for a crime he didn’t commit. As a result, one of LA’s most senior agents is forced into hiding, and it’s up to Millie to find the real culprit and clear Tjuan’s name. Following the clues across the Atlantic and beyond, our protagonist finds herself entangled in web of secrets and lies that go much deeper than anything she could have imagined. With the fates of the mundane realm and Arcadia hanging in the balance, Millie must pull off the greatest heist that both worlds have ever seen by cracking the fae Queen’s impenetrable vault to get at the answers that lie within.
Impostor Syndrome may be the series’ most ambitious book yet. Unfortunately, it also felt like it contained the least amount of development. In preparation for this review, I went back to see what I had written for the first two books, Borderline and Phantom Pains, to see if I could spot what might have been lacking from this third installment. In the end, I determined that the missing ingredient is none other than that sense of wonder and awe which comes with being surprised by something unexpected. With Borderline, I was impressed because what started as a rather conventional urban fantasy quickly morphed into a kind of story I’d never seen before. Mishell Baker portrayed the fey and their realm in refreshingly new and interesting ways, introducing concepts like the Arcadia Project, Echoes, and a whole bevy of other neat ideas. Against all odds, Millie also won me over despite being the kind of protagonist many would find difficult to like. The sequel Phantom Pains developed these elements, patiently planting the seeds in a carefully constructed plot which ultimately led to shocking revelations.
In contrast, Impostor Syndrome felt less well put together, at least when compared to its predecessors. The first quarter of the book was also sluggish and boring (two words I never thought I’d have to use to describe this series) as we followed Millie and the gang around for several chapters while they played at faerie politics, which is quite possibly the most overused trope in stories about the Fey. This unfortunately set the tone for most of what came after, as the characters were shuttled from one disjointed scene to the next, and it took way too long for the main conflict to reveal itself and for the real story to start.
Then, there was Millie. I loved her character unequivocally in the first two books, but something about her just rubbed me the wrong way in this one. I’ve never minded her personality, even though it can be extremely unpleasant and exasperating at times, because up to this point, Millie has been portrayed as a dynamic individual who is constantly growing and adapting. However, in Impostor Syndrome, her character felt stagnant. For the most the book, the narrative merely rehashed the same old patterns of Millie’s self-conflict as well as her conflict with others that we’ve seen before. By the time her epiphany came around at the end, it was a little too late and she was already on my last nerve.
Needless to say, this wasn’t the feeling I’d hoped for when it comes to the conclusion of one of the best urban fantasy series I’ve come across in years. And yet, I’ll always love these books, because nothing can change the fact that Mishell Baker has created something very special in The Arcadia Project. While Impostor Syndrome may have been a bit lackluster when compared to the previous novel, I would still highly recommend this trilogy to anyone looking for a refreshingly imaginative and unique urban fantasy series.
While I will always continue to recommend and cheer on The Arcadia Project series, this third and I think final installment was probably my least favorite. Having said that, it was well written, as the two previous books had been. Plus, we get to see the return of many of our favorite characters, both good and bad. Whether you love them or hate them, the unique and fascinating personalities that you find in these books are the key to making this series so vibrant and enjoyable to read.
Impostor Syndrome once again stars Millie Roper, a young woman with borderline personality disorder who is still trying to get a handle on all her mental health issues. She’s also a suicide survivor, who had to have her lower legs amputated following her disastrous attempt to take her own life. After joining the secret organization known as the Arcadia Project, keeping tabs on the Seelie and Unseelie denizens of fey realm was able to keep Millie on a new track, but recent events have not helped her already fragile state of mind. A rift has formed in the Arcadia Project, and as a result the fey are at war, with half the Court backing the Los Angeles branch while the other half has thrown in their lot with London. This leaves Millie and her boss Caryl scrambling to find allies for LA, hoping to head off the conflict before things can get too far out of hand.
But then, London decides to play dirty. In an underhanded attempt to sabotage LA, they arrange to have Millie’s partner Tjuan framed for a crime he didn’t commit. As a result, one of LA’s most senior agents is forced into hiding, and it’s up to Millie to find the real culprit and clear Tjuan’s name. Following the clues across the Atlantic and beyond, our protagonist finds herself entangled in web of secrets and lies that go much deeper than anything she could have imagined. With the fates of the mundane realm and Arcadia hanging in the balance, Millie must pull off the greatest heist that both worlds have ever seen by cracking the fae Queen’s impenetrable vault to get at the answers that lie within.
Impostor Syndrome may be the series’ most ambitious book yet. Unfortunately, it also felt like it contained the least amount of development. In preparation for this review, I went back to see what I had written for the first two books, Borderline and Phantom Pains, to see if I could spot what might have been lacking from this third installment. In the end, I determined that the missing ingredient is none other than that sense of wonder and awe which comes with being surprised by something unexpected. With Borderline, I was impressed because what started as a rather conventional urban fantasy quickly morphed into a kind of story I’d never seen before. Mishell Baker portrayed the fey and their realm in refreshingly new and interesting ways, introducing concepts like the Arcadia Project, Echoes, and a whole bevy of other neat ideas. Against all odds, Millie also won me over despite being the kind of protagonist many would find difficult to like. The sequel Phantom Pains developed these elements, patiently planting the seeds in a carefully constructed plot which ultimately led to shocking revelations.
In contrast, Impostor Syndrome felt less well put together, at least when compared to its predecessors. The first quarter of the book was also sluggish and boring (two words I never thought I’d have to use to describe this series) as we followed Millie and the gang around for several chapters while they played at faerie politics, which is quite possibly the most overused trope in stories about the Fey. This unfortunately set the tone for most of what came after, as the characters were shuttled from one disjointed scene to the next, and it took way too long for the main conflict to reveal itself and for the real story to start.
Then, there was Millie. I loved her character unequivocally in the first two books, but something about her just rubbed me the wrong way in this one. I’ve never minded her personality, even though it can be extremely unpleasant and exasperating at times, because up to this point, Millie has been portrayed as a dynamic individual who is constantly growing and adapting. However, in Impostor Syndrome, her character felt stagnant. For the most the book, the narrative merely rehashed the same old patterns of Millie’s self-conflict as well as her conflict with others that we’ve seen before. By the time her epiphany came around at the end, it was a little too late and she was already on my last nerve.
Needless to say, this wasn’t the feeling I’d hoped for when it comes to the conclusion of one of the best urban fantasy series I’ve come across in years. And yet, I’ll always love these books, because nothing can change the fact that Mishell Baker has created something very special in The Arcadia Project. While Impostor Syndrome may have been a bit lackluster when compared to the previous novel, I would still highly recommend this trilogy to anyone looking for a refreshingly imaginative and unique urban fantasy series.
March 26, 2018
A return to the multiverse of the Arcadia Project with both the Seelie and Unseelie Courts divided, the Project at war with itself, and Millie and her friends right in the middle of it.
With battle lines drawn between the rebel Arcadia Project in the West Coast of the US and the headquarters in London, Dame Belinda fires the first volley in the war. During a meeting with Fae royalty, Tjuan finds out that he's now wanted for murder, because apparently someone who looked exactly like him killed somebody in an armed holdup. Given Millie was eating pizza with him at the time it happened, she knows it can't be true so she commits her extensive resourcefulness and connections to both freeing Tjuan and resolving the fight with the UK branch.
The first book in this series was tight, inventive and fascinating in its treatment of mental illness and how treatment strategies can actually be strategies for all sorts of things. These next two have a core of the first book and build a wider selection of characters with both diagnosed mental health concerns and quite a few fantastic characters who are often analogues of the same. Unfortunately where they fall down is that they're no longer anywhere near as tight, and end up being rambling and a bit hard to follow, often with dangling plot points.
It's good stuff, but I no longer really hold this series above most other urban fantasy.
One other note for those concerned with dauntingly never-ending series in this genre: this book feels like an end to the series, or at least a good point to get off should it continue.
With battle lines drawn between the rebel Arcadia Project in the West Coast of the US and the headquarters in London, Dame Belinda fires the first volley in the war. During a meeting with Fae royalty, Tjuan finds out that he's now wanted for murder, because apparently someone who looked exactly like him killed somebody in an armed holdup. Given Millie was eating pizza with him at the time it happened, she knows it can't be true so she commits her extensive resourcefulness and connections to both freeing Tjuan and resolving the fight with the UK branch.
The first book in this series was tight, inventive and fascinating in its treatment of mental illness and how treatment strategies can actually be strategies for all sorts of things. These next two have a core of the first book and build a wider selection of characters with both diagnosed mental health concerns and quite a few fantastic characters who are often analogues of the same. Unfortunately where they fall down is that they're no longer anywhere near as tight, and end up being rambling and a bit hard to follow, often with dangling plot points.
It's good stuff, but I no longer really hold this series above most other urban fantasy.
One other note for those concerned with dauntingly never-ending series in this genre: this book feels like an end to the series, or at least a good point to get off should it continue.
March 24, 2018
It is hard to read a book in which the main character spendm a good portion of it thinking about how it'd just be easier if they were dead (well, something like that). But this is the third book in the series, and, well, Millie is still Millie . . sooo...
In this third book - the 'civil war' between branches of the Arcadia Project continues. Apparently, a little recap, all of human advancement has come from matching up humans with their fae counterparts - matching up 'Echoes' - the fae gets to think rationally through this exchange, while the human gets vast amounts of inspiration. Apparently everyone - at least those at the top percentage of their profession - that deals with things like science, engineering, inventions in general, and . . . television shows has a fae echo. Without them humans would either be dead or still living in caves. Without humans, fae would bascially also be beasts. The Arcadia Project has been in operation for a really long time, and the current head is a woman who was active during the second world war - and has treated the project as if she were an Empress (or something like that) - and has done things 'for the greater good' which are unethical, disgusting, and . . . lead to parts of the project attempting to break free. Specifically the part where Millie operates (the LA branch) - prior book brought in Alvin and the New Orleans office (which is also the national office), though NY has stayed with London (the International Office).
sooo . . . . Millie's partner, Tjuan (sp?) is framed by the head of the international office. The police want Tjuan. Millie is super deep into trying to help Tjuan. While, at the same time, having mean bitchy thoughts about the 'new girl' (who has actually been in the project longer) and mean and bitchy thoughts about herself. Oh - Millie, you see, is in a downward spiral and her mental condition is bad - so bad she's literally beating herself up - as in slamming her fists into her head.
As I said, not always easy to read a book where the main character keeps thinking longingly for death. If death walked through the door, Millie would hop up (as much as she can with her two fake legs), and hop over hoping death was there for her. She'd give death a big old kiss on the mouth - deep, passionate, with darting tongues.
Also - there's a bunch of people Millie's fucking in this book. And or, being really really close to. Like that boyfriend guy . . . whats-his-name, her neighbor, who she basically started fucking because he is her neighbor, and who she constantly ignores when he calls or texts. Course when she does text, his likely response is 'ok' so... (actually, more accurately, the fucker is always whining at Millie).
Then there's her echo, Clairbear (not actual name, just what I kept reading), who is a faun. And who she can't actually fuck because it is literally painful to Clairbear to come into physical contact with Millie - because of the steal/iron in her bones (see: she tried to commit suicide before start of book one, they rebuilt her like the six dollar man, which includes two fake legs and .. . . trouble peeing in the woods; oh, right, sorry, iron in her blood, which is painful to fae and to spellcraft). Even though that is the case, the two still long for each other, constantly, and risk pain for kisses and stuff.
Then there's Millie's female boss, the 20 year old . . . [insert name her; crap I'm bad with names, Carly? noo, that's wrong somehow, but something like that]. The boss has indicated that she loves Millie. Many times has she indicated this love. Millie's all like 'dude, you are my boss, and it's icky and stuff' (not really, but indicated she can't love back or .. something like that). Until they go to Fae land and . .. well, spoiler-land.
There's a reason why this book is also on the LGBT shelf. That's right - that's because . . . . as a faun/beast, Clairbear sees sex like others see handshakes, or, maybe, how some human cultures are more inclined to kiss hello - well, Clairbear seems to fuck hello - doesn't matter sex/gender/race/whatever. Hell, he fucks his most bitter rival because . . . that's the kind of faun he is (should I mention that Millie makes a good human for him? from the times in the story when someone tells Millie she needs to pay attention and to take her hand out from between her legs? Yes, no?). Okay, it's on the LGBT shelf more for the . . . stuff that happens between Millie and her female boss.
This was an incredibly weird tale.
Rating: fuck. Well, I clicked on 4 stars when I marked this read so . . . something like that?
March 24 2018
In this third book - the 'civil war' between branches of the Arcadia Project continues. Apparently, a little recap, all of human advancement has come from matching up humans with their fae counterparts - matching up 'Echoes' - the fae gets to think rationally through this exchange, while the human gets vast amounts of inspiration. Apparently everyone - at least those at the top percentage of their profession - that deals with things like science, engineering, inventions in general, and . . . television shows has a fae echo. Without them humans would either be dead or still living in caves. Without humans, fae would bascially also be beasts. The Arcadia Project has been in operation for a really long time, and the current head is a woman who was active during the second world war - and has treated the project as if she were an Empress (or something like that) - and has done things 'for the greater good' which are unethical, disgusting, and . . . lead to parts of the project attempting to break free. Specifically the part where Millie operates (the LA branch) - prior book brought in Alvin and the New Orleans office (which is also the national office), though NY has stayed with London (the International Office).
sooo . . . . Millie's partner, Tjuan (sp?) is framed by the head of the international office. The police want Tjuan. Millie is super deep into trying to help Tjuan. While, at the same time, having mean bitchy thoughts about the 'new girl' (who has actually been in the project longer) and mean and bitchy thoughts about herself. Oh - Millie, you see, is in a downward spiral and her mental condition is bad - so bad she's literally beating herself up - as in slamming her fists into her head.
As I said, not always easy to read a book where the main character keeps thinking longingly for death. If death walked through the door, Millie would hop up (as much as she can with her two fake legs), and hop over hoping death was there for her. She'd give death a big old kiss on the mouth - deep, passionate, with darting tongues.
Also - there's a bunch of people Millie's fucking in this book. And or, being really really close to. Like that boyfriend guy . . . whats-his-name, her neighbor, who she basically started fucking because he is her neighbor, and who she constantly ignores when he calls or texts. Course when she does text, his likely response is 'ok' so... (actually, more accurately, the fucker is always whining at Millie).
Then there's her echo, Clairbear (not actual name, just what I kept reading), who is a faun. And who she can't actually fuck because it is literally painful to Clairbear to come into physical contact with Millie - because of the steal/iron in her bones (see: she tried to commit suicide before start of book one, they rebuilt her like the six dollar man, which includes two fake legs and .. . . trouble peeing in the woods; oh, right, sorry, iron in her blood, which is painful to fae and to spellcraft). Even though that is the case, the two still long for each other, constantly, and risk pain for kisses and stuff.
Then there's Millie's female boss, the 20 year old . . . [insert name her; crap I'm bad with names, Carly? noo, that's wrong somehow, but something like that]. The boss has indicated that she loves Millie. Many times has she indicated this love. Millie's all like 'dude, you are my boss, and it's icky and stuff' (not really, but indicated she can't love back or .. something like that). Until they go to Fae land and . .. well, spoiler-land.
There's a reason why this book is also on the LGBT shelf. That's right - that's because . . . . as a faun/beast, Clairbear sees sex like others see handshakes, or, maybe, how some human cultures are more inclined to kiss hello - well, Clairbear seems to fuck hello - doesn't matter sex/gender/race/whatever. Hell, he fucks his most bitter rival because . . . that's the kind of faun he is (should I mention that Millie makes a good human for him? from the times in the story when someone tells Millie she needs to pay attention and to take her hand out from between her legs? Yes, no?). Okay, it's on the LGBT shelf more for the . . . stuff that happens between Millie and her female boss.
This was an incredibly weird tale.
Rating: fuck. Well, I clicked on 4 stars when I marked this read so . . . something like that?
March 24 2018
March 18, 2018
A satisfying adventure with all of our friends!
March 24, 2018
9.5/10 - Reviews at Pages Below the Vaulted Sky
So this review started out as a normal review and then it morphed into a weird self-reflection/series appreciation/review monstrosity. Because my god, Imposter Syndrome made me feel a lot of things. It's a pitch-perfect conclusion (maybe?) to a series that has wormed itself into a special place in my heart, and it left me crying for most of its latter part.
So buckle up. This might be a long one.
Following the shattering revelations at the end of book 2, Imposter Syndrome starts out three months later, smack in the middle of a Cold War between LA-New Orleans Arcadia, led by Alvin, and UK Arcadia, led by Dame Belinda Barker. To make matters worse, there's tension building among the fey. King Claybriar and Queen Dawnrowan are on opposite sides of the Seelie, the latter supporting Belinda, and Queen Shiverlash and King Winterglass of the UnSeelie would gladly see each other's throats torn out. So when Tjuan (senior agent of LA4 Arcadia) gets framed by Belinda for a crime he did not commit, our protagonist Millie Roper decides that the best defense is an offense and plans a heist that would strip Belinda of crucial resources that grant her complete control of this conflict.
I found Imposter Syndrome much better in terms of plot and pacing than Phantom Pains. My problem with book 2 was that the plot felt very scattered--one minute Millie would be investigating the possibility of a ghost, the next she's dealing with a murder investigation, and so forth. Everything is more focused this time around, on the heist and thwarting Belinda Barker. The characters know what they need to do, they know what's at stake, and they just go for it. It's simple yet perfectly executed.
The heist itself is brilliant. This is no Ocean's Eleven with the best of the best doing their thing with confidence and cool. This is Millie and her wayward companions fumbling their way through one of the most ridiculously-plotted heists in the history of heists. It is a ton of fun with plenty of laugh-out-loud moments. And there's this one sequence in the middle of it that's so cleverly-structured, it made me punch the air in excitement.
But as it has been for the past two books, the characters are the focal point of the story. The series remains one of the most diverse in fantasy: there are major POC characters, a bisexual protagonist, a lesbian love interest, a trans male character, and bi(pan?)sexual fey. And Millie continues to prove why she's one of my favourite protagonists ever, with Mishell Baker finding the perfect balance between self-deprecation and snappy humour.
Millie has a lot on her plate--she has to deal with her BPD on top of all the Belinda and the fey stuff. And she fucks up. A lot. She gets paranoid and jumps to conclusions and sets back her own plan by miles. But what she doesn't get are excuses from the people around her. They don't coddle her; they don't blame her BPD. They say: "This is your mistake. So take responsibility and fix it." And she does try to fix them. I can't properly express how much I appreciate this. To see a mental disorder depicted not as a throwaway quirk or stepping stones to a hurt/comfort plotline, but as something that's a part of the character and which she needs to learn to manage. And the latter is an ongoing process with a lot of stumbles and failures, but also successes. I have yet to find such candid portrayal of mental health in any other fantasy.
Meanwhile, Caryl is dealing with the fact that all her emotions are now hers to feel and hers alone (most of the time, at least), with her familiar Elliot no longer permanently acting as her "trauma container." So things are hard for her as well, especially when it comes to Millie. While they have cute and sweet moments together, their relationship overall is a kind of a trainwreck. There's no doubt that, professionally, they're both talented and competent people; it's just when the personal issues rear their heads that things start to go sideways.
And I love that. I love how messy it all is.
Because while I don't have BPD like Millie or a history of childhood abuse like Caryl, I see a lot of myself in both--Millie's impulsiveness and selfishness, Caryl's hyper-emotional, sponge-like state, and both of their low self-esteem. And some of their struggles hit a little too close to home, like Millie's unwillingness to acknowledge her relationship with Zach, her maybe-boyfriend. And her struggles with relationships in general:
(Get out of my head, Mishell!)
And all the times Millie and Caryl burst into tears, seemingly out of nowhere, struck me to the core. Because in the words of Moonlight, "sometimes I cry so much I feel like I'm gonna just turn into drops." Because a lot of the times I find myself wishing for an Elliot of my own. Something to stop me from reacting to everything around me with so much anxiety and sadness and heartbreak.
And that's really what this book, and this entire series, is. Not about Seelie and Unseelie and Hollywood, but about people, both human and fey, who have extraordinary abilities and walk through extraordinary worlds, and yet still grapple with the same pains that I do.
Now, is it realistic that people carrying around so much emotional trauma and mental health struggles can come together in such a short time to pull off a high-stakes heist? I don't know--maybe not.
Is it inspiring and validating?
Fuck yeah.
None of these characters are, in the traditional sense, heroes--Millie even says at one point, "I'm more of a shit-stirrer than a hero." They mess up; they act selfishly; they hurt one another on purpose and by accident; and they're constantly at war with their own minds.
But nor are they broken people. These guys spend most of the story running around scared out of their minds and full of doubt and they still somehow manage to pull things off. They're always, always trying to move forward, with however many falls and stumbles they undergo along the way.
And that, to me, is realism. That is what being a human is all about.
I applaud and thank Mishell Baker for writing characters whose honesty doesn't leave me feeling trapped or vulnerable, but included. Known. And if this is truly the end of the series, then it's a fitting one. Not a happily ever after, but one that feels right and brims with hope.
Read this book. Read this series. You'll not find another like it.
So this review started out as a normal review and then it morphed into a weird self-reflection/series appreciation/review monstrosity. Because my god, Imposter Syndrome made me feel a lot of things. It's a pitch-perfect conclusion (maybe?) to a series that has wormed itself into a special place in my heart, and it left me crying for most of its latter part.
So buckle up. This might be a long one.
Following the shattering revelations at the end of book 2, Imposter Syndrome starts out three months later, smack in the middle of a Cold War between LA-New Orleans Arcadia, led by Alvin, and UK Arcadia, led by Dame Belinda Barker. To make matters worse, there's tension building among the fey. King Claybriar and Queen Dawnrowan are on opposite sides of the Seelie, the latter supporting Belinda, and Queen Shiverlash and King Winterglass of the UnSeelie would gladly see each other's throats torn out. So when Tjuan (senior agent of LA4 Arcadia) gets framed by Belinda for a crime he did not commit, our protagonist Millie Roper decides that the best defense is an offense and plans a heist that would strip Belinda of crucial resources that grant her complete control of this conflict.
I found Imposter Syndrome much better in terms of plot and pacing than Phantom Pains. My problem with book 2 was that the plot felt very scattered--one minute Millie would be investigating the possibility of a ghost, the next she's dealing with a murder investigation, and so forth. Everything is more focused this time around, on the heist and thwarting Belinda Barker. The characters know what they need to do, they know what's at stake, and they just go for it. It's simple yet perfectly executed.
The heist itself is brilliant. This is no Ocean's Eleven with the best of the best doing their thing with confidence and cool. This is Millie and her wayward companions fumbling their way through one of the most ridiculously-plotted heists in the history of heists. It is a ton of fun with plenty of laugh-out-loud moments. And there's this one sequence in the middle of it that's so cleverly-structured, it made me punch the air in excitement.
But as it has been for the past two books, the characters are the focal point of the story. The series remains one of the most diverse in fantasy: there are major POC characters, a bisexual protagonist, a lesbian love interest, a trans male character, and bi(pan?)sexual fey. And Millie continues to prove why she's one of my favourite protagonists ever, with Mishell Baker finding the perfect balance between self-deprecation and snappy humour.
"Everytime I try to put it down I freak out. Last night I slept with it tucked into my pillowcase."
"That is called anxiety, Millie."
"Gotcha. Sometimes I can't tell the difference between sorcery and insanity."
Millie has a lot on her plate--she has to deal with her BPD on top of all the Belinda and the fey stuff. And she fucks up. A lot. She gets paranoid and jumps to conclusions and sets back her own plan by miles. But what she doesn't get are excuses from the people around her. They don't coddle her; they don't blame her BPD. They say: "This is your mistake. So take responsibility and fix it." And she does try to fix them. I can't properly express how much I appreciate this. To see a mental disorder depicted not as a throwaway quirk or stepping stones to a hurt/comfort plotline, but as something that's a part of the character and which she needs to learn to manage. And the latter is an ongoing process with a lot of stumbles and failures, but also successes. I have yet to find such candid portrayal of mental health in any other fantasy.
Meanwhile, Caryl is dealing with the fact that all her emotions are now hers to feel and hers alone (most of the time, at least), with her familiar Elliot no longer permanently acting as her "trauma container." So things are hard for her as well, especially when it comes to Millie. While they have cute and sweet moments together, their relationship overall is a kind of a trainwreck. There's no doubt that, professionally, they're both talented and competent people; it's just when the personal issues rear their heads that things start to go sideways.
And I love that. I love how messy it all is.
Because while I don't have BPD like Millie or a history of childhood abuse like Caryl, I see a lot of myself in both--Millie's impulsiveness and selfishness, Caryl's hyper-emotional, sponge-like state, and both of their low self-esteem. And some of their struggles hit a little too close to home, like Millie's unwillingness to acknowledge her relationship with Zach, her maybe-boyfriend. And her struggles with relationships in general:
Claybriar: "You're always the first thing in my mind. I'd fuck you if I could, believe me. But with her, it's that--you know, that breathless thing where you don't even feel quite safe. Like you're falling."
Millie: "It's always like that for me at first," I said. "And then it mellows. Or goes away altogether."
(Get out of my head, Mishell!)
And all the times Millie and Caryl burst into tears, seemingly out of nowhere, struck me to the core. Because in the words of Moonlight, "sometimes I cry so much I feel like I'm gonna just turn into drops." Because a lot of the times I find myself wishing for an Elliot of my own. Something to stop me from reacting to everything around me with so much anxiety and sadness and heartbreak.
And that's really what this book, and this entire series, is. Not about Seelie and Unseelie and Hollywood, but about people, both human and fey, who have extraordinary abilities and walk through extraordinary worlds, and yet still grapple with the same pains that I do.
Now, is it realistic that people carrying around so much emotional trauma and mental health struggles can come together in such a short time to pull off a high-stakes heist? I don't know--maybe not.
Is it inspiring and validating?
Fuck yeah.
None of these characters are, in the traditional sense, heroes--Millie even says at one point, "I'm more of a shit-stirrer than a hero." They mess up; they act selfishly; they hurt one another on purpose and by accident; and they're constantly at war with their own minds.
But nor are they broken people. These guys spend most of the story running around scared out of their minds and full of doubt and they still somehow manage to pull things off. They're always, always trying to move forward, with however many falls and stumbles they undergo along the way.
And that, to me, is realism. That is what being a human is all about.
I applaud and thank Mishell Baker for writing characters whose honesty doesn't leave me feeling trapped or vulnerable, but included. Known. And if this is truly the end of the series, then it's a fitting one. Not a happily ever after, but one that feels right and brims with hope.
Read this book. Read this series. You'll not find another like it.
December 2, 2022
War has broken out between the two main branches of the Arcadia Project with the Fae firmly on the side of the London office. The United States needs to get the seelie and unseelie fae to join them to prevent a catastrophe.
I struggled a little with Imposter Syndrome. I love the ambiguity of this series, how right and wrong are never black and white, but this book felt just a little too busy and lacked a clear direction. Good, but not as good as the previous two books.
I struggled a little with Imposter Syndrome. I love the ambiguity of this series, how right and wrong are never black and white, but this book felt just a little too busy and lacked a clear direction. Good, but not as good as the previous two books.
March 12, 2018
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Arcadia Project was torn apart three months ago with half of the fey courts supporting L.A. and the other half staying loyal to London - and London is doing all it can to take out the resistance. Unfortunately, due to a backslide in her mental health, Millie is in no shape to fight. London's first move is to frame Millie's partner, Tijuan, for murder and Millie has no choice but to do all she can for him to clear his name. The key to saving Tijuan and winning the revolution is locked in the White Rose in the heart of Arcadia under the fey Queen's nose. It's all up to Millie to pull off a heist that could potentially shape the future of the human and the fey worlds. She'll just have to convince everyone, including herself, that she knows what she's doing.
The Arcadia Project by Mishell Baker is one of my favorite urban fantasy series and I think Impostor Syndrome, the final book, is my favorite of the three. There's just so much to love about the novel. Millie herself is a key element of my love of this story. She's physically disabled and she has Borderline Personality Disorder. She is such a complex, unique, and compelling character - one of most fascinating that I've had the pleasure to read. I particularly love her unvarnished honesty, especially when it comes to Caryl. One of my other favorite aspects of this story is Baker's take on the fey - the Unseelie and Seelie Courts. She takes many traditional elements and completely manages goes her own way with that realm's inhabitants. Finally, I also like unspooling the mystery alongside our main cast of characters.. I'm sad it's over, but I don't think I could have asked for a better finale. Baker still leaves some things open, and I have to admit that I like that she doesn't just wrap up everything neatly in a bow.
Overall, Impostor Syndrome by Mishell Baker is a brilliant conclusion to The Arcadia Project series. The author does a wonderful job of continuing to develop the world of the Project, her characters, and the fey. This novel will easily be one of my favorite reads of 2018! If you like diverse urban fantasy, Seanan McGuire, and Daniel José Older, then you may also want to try this series. I'm looking forward to Mishell Baker's future works.
Thanks again, NetGalley!
The Arcadia Project was torn apart three months ago with half of the fey courts supporting L.A. and the other half staying loyal to London - and London is doing all it can to take out the resistance. Unfortunately, due to a backslide in her mental health, Millie is in no shape to fight. London's first move is to frame Millie's partner, Tijuan, for murder and Millie has no choice but to do all she can for him to clear his name. The key to saving Tijuan and winning the revolution is locked in the White Rose in the heart of Arcadia under the fey Queen's nose. It's all up to Millie to pull off a heist that could potentially shape the future of the human and the fey worlds. She'll just have to convince everyone, including herself, that she knows what she's doing.
The Arcadia Project by Mishell Baker is one of my favorite urban fantasy series and I think Impostor Syndrome, the final book, is my favorite of the three. There's just so much to love about the novel. Millie herself is a key element of my love of this story. She's physically disabled and she has Borderline Personality Disorder. She is such a complex, unique, and compelling character - one of most fascinating that I've had the pleasure to read. I particularly love her unvarnished honesty, especially when it comes to Caryl. One of my other favorite aspects of this story is Baker's take on the fey - the Unseelie and Seelie Courts. She takes many traditional elements and completely manages goes her own way with that realm's inhabitants. Finally, I also like unspooling the mystery alongside our main cast of characters.. I'm sad it's over, but I don't think I could have asked for a better finale. Baker still leaves some things open, and I have to admit that I like that she doesn't just wrap up everything neatly in a bow.
Overall, Impostor Syndrome by Mishell Baker is a brilliant conclusion to The Arcadia Project series. The author does a wonderful job of continuing to develop the world of the Project, her characters, and the fey. This novel will easily be one of my favorite reads of 2018! If you like diverse urban fantasy, Seanan McGuire, and Daniel José Older, then you may also want to try this series. I'm looking forward to Mishell Baker's future works.
Thanks again, NetGalley!
March 15, 2018
Every once in a while, you finish a book (or a series) and you sit there with a thousand yard stare. Because your world just changed, and you have to get used to living in the new one.
No, I didn't discover unseelie fey coming through my broom closet. No, I am not a sidhe prince.
Yes, there is an intersection in my Venn diagram between people I love and people with mental illness. And the Arcadia series is as close as I've seen to a how-to manual of survival: both for people with mental health issues, and for those who do not feel they have the option of dumping people they love who have mental health issues.
Also, hardboiled noir-ish mystery, adventure, capers, drama, tragedy, camp, comedy, satire, sarcasm, fey, and sidhe princes. And... not quite romance. Relationships that transcend romance. Yeah.
And Elliot. Tell Elliot I said hello.
No, I didn't discover unseelie fey coming through my broom closet. No, I am not a sidhe prince.
Yes, there is an intersection in my Venn diagram between people I love and people with mental illness. And the Arcadia series is as close as I've seen to a how-to manual of survival: both for people with mental health issues, and for those who do not feel they have the option of dumping people they love who have mental health issues.
Also, hardboiled noir-ish mystery, adventure, capers, drama, tragedy, camp, comedy, satire, sarcasm, fey, and sidhe princes. And... not quite romance. Relationships that transcend romance. Yeah.
And Elliot. Tell Elliot I said hello.
April 5, 2018
All the stars! ❤
Just some of the things that make this book awesome:
* very diverse complicated characters that feel very real
* believable realistic relationships
* awesome writing style
* humour :D
* magic!
The characters are so awesome and feel so human.
They are loveable and yet they screw up, sometimes in truly horrifying ways. They mess up and do awful things which you wish they didn't but you understand what drove them to it. It's never random or contrived just to fit the plotline (or create a plot twist). You understand where every character is coming from and why they do the things they do. So the bad thing is still a bad thing (as in, it's not excused away, or brushed off or ignored) but you understand and you forgive them and they're still loveable. Like seriosuly, both Millie and Caryl had me going "D: no, what're you doing" at multiple occasions but then a page later, I'm like...well ok, I get it, you shouldn't have done that but I get it, so now what? <3" The side characters are also interesting and entertaining and have their own agenda which is awesome.
The relationships are also complex and believable.
Millie and Tjuan, Millie and Alondra, Alvin and Millie, Caryl and Winterglass, even Clay and Downrowan - they're all interesting and nuanced and not just black and white.
And of course, I absolutely love the way the romance is developed over three books . I am so tired of the instant love trope. But here, you can actually track the change through the way Millie sees Caryl. Back in Borderline, Millie repeatedly describes Caryl as very unremarkable and plain, even saying she would make a perfect background actor. And then gradually and subtly that changes over the series until she is now beautiful. And obviously it's not because Caryl has changed her appearance but simply because Millie's own feelings grew and that changes how you see a person. And I love how subtle and realistic that is.
And lastly, to combine the other three points, this book is just super entertaining!
I love the spirits, Elliott and Caveat in particular but also just the whole concept of spirits being the ones responsible for magic! Is it creepy that when Caryl calls a spirit to her and says that the spirit likes to chop up things and wants to know in how many pieces they want the crow, I though "aw, how cute"? hahaha
Alvin and Millie's interactions are almost always hilarious too.
The movie references are funny and not overdone and actually make sense within the context of the scene, and even more so considering the characters are involved in the movie industry in one way or another. One of my top favourite being Alvin, regarding Millie's new plan "Are you even-? You can't just...fucking walk into Mordor!"
And I just love this golden mix of imaginative and yet practical.
"As I stood there with the back gaping open , I asked myself a question that would indirectly end up buying us two weeks of planning time:
What if I need to pee?"
So to summarise, everyone should read this series because it is AWESOME.
"It was midmorning on a Monday when magic walked into my life wearing a beige Ann Taylor suit and sensible flats." ❤
Just some of the things that make this book awesome:
* very diverse complicated characters that feel very real
* believable realistic relationships
* awesome writing style
* humour :D
* magic!
The characters are so awesome and feel so human.
They are loveable and yet they screw up, sometimes in truly horrifying ways. They mess up and do awful things which you wish they didn't but you understand what drove them to it. It's never random or contrived just to fit the plotline (or create a plot twist). You understand where every character is coming from and why they do the things they do. So the bad thing is still a bad thing (as in, it's not excused away, or brushed off or ignored) but you understand and you forgive them and they're still loveable. Like seriosuly, both Millie and Caryl had me going "D: no, what're you doing" at multiple occasions but then a page later, I'm like...well ok, I get it, you shouldn't have done that but I get it, so now what? <3" The side characters are also interesting and entertaining and have their own agenda which is awesome.
The relationships are also complex and believable.
Millie and Tjuan, Millie and Alondra, Alvin and Millie, Caryl and Winterglass, even Clay and Downrowan - they're all interesting and nuanced and not just black and white.
And of course, I absolutely love the way the romance is developed over three books . I am so tired of the instant love trope. But here, you can actually track the change through the way Millie sees Caryl. Back in Borderline, Millie repeatedly describes Caryl as very unremarkable and plain, even saying she would make a perfect background actor. And then gradually and subtly that changes over the series until she is now beautiful. And obviously it's not because Caryl has changed her appearance but simply because Millie's own feelings grew and that changes how you see a person. And I love how subtle and realistic that is.
And lastly, to combine the other three points, this book is just super entertaining!
I love the spirits, Elliott and Caveat in particular but also just the whole concept of spirits being the ones responsible for magic! Is it creepy that when Caryl calls a spirit to her and says that the spirit likes to chop up things and wants to know in how many pieces they want the crow, I though "aw, how cute"? hahaha
Alvin and Millie's interactions are almost always hilarious too.
The movie references are funny and not overdone and actually make sense within the context of the scene, and even more so considering the characters are involved in the movie industry in one way or another. One of my top favourite being Alvin, regarding Millie's new plan "Are you even-? You can't just...fucking walk into Mordor!"
And I just love this golden mix of imaginative and yet practical.
"As I stood there with the back gaping open , I asked myself a question that would indirectly end up buying us two weeks of planning time:
What if I need to pee?"
So to summarise, everyone should read this series because it is AWESOME.
"It was midmorning on a Monday when magic walked into my life wearing a beige Ann Taylor suit and sensible flats." ❤
April 10, 2018
Although my life got in the way a lot with this book I still enjoyed it very much. I like this series and am very hopeful there will be more. it's a terribly original approach to urban fantasy and the fae.
I would love to spend more time with these inordinately real and broken characters.
I would love to spend more time with these inordinately real and broken characters.
March 29, 2022
oh my fucking god i read three (3) books for [redacted] and millie to not get together at the end? my fucking thirteenth reason
anyways, i'm so obsessed with them i made a playlist
anyways, i'm so obsessed with them i made a playlist
March 23, 2020
3.5
Enjoyable and a fast read. At a few points I thought all of the different characters vying for power was a little much. I wish I would have read it right after the second one too because I forgot a ton.
Enjoyable and a fast read. At a few points I thought all of the different characters vying for power was a little much. I wish I would have read it right after the second one too because I forgot a ton.
March 19, 2018
I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.The nitty-gritty: A satisfying conclusion to one of the most inventive urban fantasies out there.
The Arcadia Project has been one of my favorite urban fantasy series in the last few years, and so it was with excitement and a bit of trepidation that I started the last book. And I’m happy to say it was a fitting ending for the series overall, but I did not love this book the way I loved Borderline and Phantom Pains . Baker's books absolutely must be read in order, as she is one of those authors who literally picks up in the spot where the previous book left off. Don’t expect any helpful recaps, either. One of my big issues with Impostor Syndrome was that I felt completely lost for the first 25% of the story. I’ve read the previous two books, and yet for some reason I had forgotten the events at the end of the last book. It wasn’t until the gang had a clear plan to execute that I finally settled in and enjoyed myself.
And fair warning, there will be mild spoilers for Phantom Pains in this review, just in case you’re a purist!
After the events at the end of Phantom Pains , the British and American factions of the Arcadia Project are splintered, as Millie and her friends refuse to back someone who would allow spirits to be enslaved in order to do magic. When Millie’s partner Tjuan is framed for murder and thrown in prison, Millie concocts an elaborate plot to not only prove his innocence and rescue him, but to gain the trust and backing of several influential Seelie and sidhe characters who could help knock Dame Belinda off her seat of power. But Millie’s plans tend to go spectacularly wrong, and so the stage is set for a caper of the most chaotic kind, as Millie, Caryl and the others attempt to steal a magical artifact, infiltrate the un-infiltratable White Rose Palace in Arcadia, and bring justice to millions of enslaved spirits.
That’s the plot in a nutshell, but of course it’s much more complex than that. This is a character-driven story, and the action scenes, while exciting, aren’t really the main focus. Driving the plot is the incomparable Millie Roper, double amputee, suicide survivor, and a member of the Arcadia Project, an Earth-based organization that monitors the activities and whereabouts of the Seelie and Unseelie fey. Millie is unique in the fact that her body is riddled with iron—gifts from her suicidal jump off a building—which renders spells inactive. Millie has become a powerful weapon of sorts, and despite her impulsive behavior, the Arcadia Project cannot seem to function without her.
Millie has complicated relationships with just about everyone in this story, including Zach, her human “boyfriend,” Tjuan, her partner in the Arcadia Project, Caryl, another extremely damaged young woman who Millie falls in love with, and of course, Millie’s Echo Claybriar, the faun. (For more on Echos, check out my review of Borderline below.) Because Millie is telling the story from her perspective, everything is infused with her feelings and observations. This makes reading Impostor Syndrome a frantic experience, as you’re constantly in the head of someone who is unable to contain her opinions and ideas. I loved many of the other characters, especially a talented young fey prince named Shock who makes “facades” to hide the fey’s true appearances, and Elliot, a spirit who helps Caryl reign in her emotions. The truth is, this is a crowded story, and there are so many characters to keep track of. But no matter how much I loved or hated them, in the end this story belongs to Millie.
One of Baker’s strengths is her dialog, and it’s just as snappy and funny this time around. The fact that Millie doesn’t have a filter comes in handy as her outbursts are some of the funniest things I’ve ever read. She may be damaged in more ways than one, but when it comes to her mind, she’s smart as a whip. And that intelligence isn’t limited to funny dialog. Millie’s experiences have given her an interesting perspective on relationships that I found refreshing. Baker’s story is full of characters lusting after each other, but Millie is able to take an honest look at things like cheating and falling in love and give us wise observations on the ugly truth of romantic and sexual relationships.
However, Millie has become a double-edged sword for me, in the respect that I’ve adored her character throughout the series, even though she has a sometimes annoying and grating personality. I loved her just for those reasons, because she is unique and has such a different outlook on life than most of the characters I encounter. However, for some reason she started to get on my nerves in this book, which didn’t bode well for me. Her quirks, which I found lovable in the previous books, started to annoy me. One of those annoyances was a repetitive habit that Millie has of rating Caryl’s stress levels on a scale of one to ten (Caryl also has some mental health issues). She is constantly saying things like “I watched Caryl shoot straight to a level 7” or “Oh boy, we were at a 9 or a 10 here.” These observations went on in this vein for the entire story, and after the first five or six times I was over it.
On the flip side, I ended up feeling really sorry for Millie this time around. She’s got such a good heart, despite all her mental issues, but the bottom line is that many of the people in her life don’t really like her at all. They put up with her, appreciate her abilities, and want to sleep with her, but at the end of the day these friends and lovers are ready to put some distance between themselves and Millie for sanity’s sake. One thing’s for sure, Millie will always be one of the most interesting and unique characters I’ve ever come across, and I appreciate that Mishell Baker has given a voice to a physically and mentally disabled woman who manages to overcome most of her hurdles, and if not, to make peace with them.
The ending was so well done and wraps up many of the loose threads of the story, bringing some satisfying emotional resolutions to most of the characters. And even though this wasn't my favorite book of the series, it had just the right blend of heart, wistfulness and emotion, which is all any reader can ask for. Baker doesn’t close the book on Millie’s adventures, however, as she leaves the door slightly ajar for possible future tales. This trilogy has been quite the ride, and I’m so thankful I had the chance to experience it.
Big thanks to the publisher for supplying a review copy.
My review of Borderline.
My review of Phantom Pains.This review originally appeared on Books, Bones & Buffy
Going through international airport security with two prosthetic legs and a steel plate in your head isn’t exactly a piece of cake, but it’s easier than going through with a turban.
- Millie Roper
The Arcadia Project has been one of my favorite urban fantasy series in the last few years, and so it was with excitement and a bit of trepidation that I started the last book. And I’m happy to say it was a fitting ending for the series overall, but I did not love this book the way I loved Borderline and Phantom Pains . Baker's books absolutely must be read in order, as she is one of those authors who literally picks up in the spot where the previous book left off. Don’t expect any helpful recaps, either. One of my big issues with Impostor Syndrome was that I felt completely lost for the first 25% of the story. I’ve read the previous two books, and yet for some reason I had forgotten the events at the end of the last book. It wasn’t until the gang had a clear plan to execute that I finally settled in and enjoyed myself.
And fair warning, there will be mild spoilers for Phantom Pains in this review, just in case you’re a purist!
After the events at the end of Phantom Pains , the British and American factions of the Arcadia Project are splintered, as Millie and her friends refuse to back someone who would allow spirits to be enslaved in order to do magic. When Millie’s partner Tjuan is framed for murder and thrown in prison, Millie concocts an elaborate plot to not only prove his innocence and rescue him, but to gain the trust and backing of several influential Seelie and sidhe characters who could help knock Dame Belinda off her seat of power. But Millie’s plans tend to go spectacularly wrong, and so the stage is set for a caper of the most chaotic kind, as Millie, Caryl and the others attempt to steal a magical artifact, infiltrate the un-infiltratable White Rose Palace in Arcadia, and bring justice to millions of enslaved spirits.
That’s the plot in a nutshell, but of course it’s much more complex than that. This is a character-driven story, and the action scenes, while exciting, aren’t really the main focus. Driving the plot is the incomparable Millie Roper, double amputee, suicide survivor, and a member of the Arcadia Project, an Earth-based organization that monitors the activities and whereabouts of the Seelie and Unseelie fey. Millie is unique in the fact that her body is riddled with iron—gifts from her suicidal jump off a building—which renders spells inactive. Millie has become a powerful weapon of sorts, and despite her impulsive behavior, the Arcadia Project cannot seem to function without her.
Millie has complicated relationships with just about everyone in this story, including Zach, her human “boyfriend,” Tjuan, her partner in the Arcadia Project, Caryl, another extremely damaged young woman who Millie falls in love with, and of course, Millie’s Echo Claybriar, the faun. (For more on Echos, check out my review of Borderline below.) Because Millie is telling the story from her perspective, everything is infused with her feelings and observations. This makes reading Impostor Syndrome a frantic experience, as you’re constantly in the head of someone who is unable to contain her opinions and ideas. I loved many of the other characters, especially a talented young fey prince named Shock who makes “facades” to hide the fey’s true appearances, and Elliot, a spirit who helps Caryl reign in her emotions. The truth is, this is a crowded story, and there are so many characters to keep track of. But no matter how much I loved or hated them, in the end this story belongs to Millie.
One of Baker’s strengths is her dialog, and it’s just as snappy and funny this time around. The fact that Millie doesn’t have a filter comes in handy as her outbursts are some of the funniest things I’ve ever read. She may be damaged in more ways than one, but when it comes to her mind, she’s smart as a whip. And that intelligence isn’t limited to funny dialog. Millie’s experiences have given her an interesting perspective on relationships that I found refreshing. Baker’s story is full of characters lusting after each other, but Millie is able to take an honest look at things like cheating and falling in love and give us wise observations on the ugly truth of romantic and sexual relationships.
However, Millie has become a double-edged sword for me, in the respect that I’ve adored her character throughout the series, even though she has a sometimes annoying and grating personality. I loved her just for those reasons, because she is unique and has such a different outlook on life than most of the characters I encounter. However, for some reason she started to get on my nerves in this book, which didn’t bode well for me. Her quirks, which I found lovable in the previous books, started to annoy me. One of those annoyances was a repetitive habit that Millie has of rating Caryl’s stress levels on a scale of one to ten (Caryl also has some mental health issues). She is constantly saying things like “I watched Caryl shoot straight to a level 7” or “Oh boy, we were at a 9 or a 10 here.” These observations went on in this vein for the entire story, and after the first five or six times I was over it.
On the flip side, I ended up feeling really sorry for Millie this time around. She’s got such a good heart, despite all her mental issues, but the bottom line is that many of the people in her life don’t really like her at all. They put up with her, appreciate her abilities, and want to sleep with her, but at the end of the day these friends and lovers are ready to put some distance between themselves and Millie for sanity’s sake. One thing’s for sure, Millie will always be one of the most interesting and unique characters I’ve ever come across, and I appreciate that Mishell Baker has given a voice to a physically and mentally disabled woman who manages to overcome most of her hurdles, and if not, to make peace with them.
The ending was so well done and wraps up many of the loose threads of the story, bringing some satisfying emotional resolutions to most of the characters. And even though this wasn't my favorite book of the series, it had just the right blend of heart, wistfulness and emotion, which is all any reader can ask for. Baker doesn’t close the book on Millie’s adventures, however, as she leaves the door slightly ajar for possible future tales. This trilogy has been quite the ride, and I’m so thankful I had the chance to experience it.
Big thanks to the publisher for supplying a review copy.
My review of Borderline.
My review of Phantom Pains.This review originally appeared on Books, Bones & Buffy
April 10, 2018
Another fantastic book in this wonderful series with oh so many unique characters. This series just feels so fresh and original. And Millie is more “Millie” in this one again (after being not quite so in the last one). There’s a lot going on in this book. Fans of the series should love it. This is not a book that stands on its own, so read the previous two books before starting this one. I don’t know if there will be more in the series, but if there are, you can count me in.
The audiobook is once again wonderfully narrated by Arden Hammersmith who does a fantastic job with all of the voices and who has, herself, become the voice of Millie for me. Very well worth the Audible credit.
The audiobook is once again wonderfully narrated by Arden Hammersmith who does a fantastic job with all of the voices and who has, herself, become the voice of Millie for me. Very well worth the Audible credit.
April 3, 2018
Between the fact that it'd been a while since I'd read the previous book and all the running around (so much running around) working on complicated plans I felt overwhelmed by details I couldn't clearly recall and underwhelmed by the overall momentum of the series. Fortunately, some returning characters took a turn for the delightful (Brand, Shock, and the spirit peeps [see, I can't even remember enough detail to know what they're really called]) so I was able to slog through it.
I like endings a lot and in particular I liked this ending; lots of potential future awesomeness... I'm willing to contemplate in my wee imagination. So if the series does continue, I think I'm happy to call it over for me with this one.
I like endings a lot and in particular I liked this ending; lots of potential future awesomeness... I'm willing to contemplate in my wee imagination. So if the series does continue, I think I'm happy to call it over for me with this one.
June 8, 2019
I sure hope this isn't the end of The Arcadia Project. Baker pulled out all Millie's stops in this 3rd book. She's a bigger mess than ever, and more powerful thereby. Baker does a great job of letting the early leads move to the back of the stage, even as she lets our hero flop into the footlights. I think I'll start at the beginning again. Amazing.
March 23, 2018
I really love this as guilt-free escapist urban fantasy.
There's something about adding larger themes of mental illness and suicide to the mix that makes me feel like I'm still being a productive human while reading it.
Also, there's fairies.
There's something about adding larger themes of mental illness and suicide to the mix that makes me feel like I'm still being a productive human while reading it.
Also, there's fairies.
January 16, 2018
Easily the best of the three books. I spent most of today reading, and was thrilled by the growth of Millie, even while in the midst of a crisis. The ending (no spoilers) I felt was fitting, and I can honestly say that this book will be vying for a top five spot on my reading list this year!
April 19, 2018
If this is the ending to the Arcadia series, then it's a poignant send-off. All our favorite characters from the first two books have to band together on an interdimensional journey that's half heroic quest, half psychedelic heist-spree. They dig up revelations about the nature of power both in our world and the next, as well as confronting the traumatic pasts that made them who they are. If you love Millie and Carol, you need to see this next step in their lives.
My favorite part was the amount of support between the characters. At one point Millie has a spill and possibly suffers a concussion, which she tries to walk off like any good Urban Fantasy protagonist. Her allies won't let her dismiss it. They insist on taking care of her, partially because she's necessary for their plans, and partially because after all they've been through, they love her. All of the book's con games and ploys work on characters being deeply invested in each other. Millie isn't isolated as often as she was in the previous two books, even when she sometimes thinks she is. Many of my favorite chapters feel like an excuse for the characters to advance their relationships with this world-changing scheme as an excuse to do so.
There are parts of the ending I never expected. Millie gets her most powerful character development yet, and though I'll be vague about how since this is the end of a trilogy and all, there are conversations more powerful than most world-shattering battles.
Disclosure: I consider Mishell Baker a friend. I loved Borderline before we became friends, and bought this book on my own because her work is damned good.
My favorite part was the amount of support between the characters. At one point Millie has a spill and possibly suffers a concussion, which she tries to walk off like any good Urban Fantasy protagonist. Her allies won't let her dismiss it. They insist on taking care of her, partially because she's necessary for their plans, and partially because after all they've been through, they love her. All of the book's con games and ploys work on characters being deeply invested in each other. Millie isn't isolated as often as she was in the previous two books, even when she sometimes thinks she is. Many of my favorite chapters feel like an excuse for the characters to advance their relationships with this world-changing scheme as an excuse to do so.
There are parts of the ending I never expected. Millie gets her most powerful character development yet, and though I'll be vague about how since this is the end of a trilogy and all, there are conversations more powerful than most world-shattering battles.
Disclosure: I consider Mishell Baker a friend. I loved Borderline before we became friends, and bought this book on my own because her work is damned good.
May 15, 2018
The Arcadia Project series has continuously pushed the boundaries of urban fantasy, and this finale certainly gives the series a weighty, trope-busting conclusion. It's a bit of a madcap ride through a variety of odd twists and turns, but you will never be bored! Instead, you will feel fear and sorrow for favourite characters as they face some truly horrific challenges, and don't expect a HEA. This is not that kind of book. I applaud Baker for having the guts to publish a book dealing with mental and physical disability in such a raw and open manner.
July 29, 2018
Don't think this book is going to age well. It's just too obviously set in the current time. But it's done so well and so enjoyably. Even the subtle Groundhog Day reference was there. Confusing and somewhat a downer at times, but always pulling it out in a somewhat reasonable way. It's use of various sorts of mental illness as an attribute worked especially well in this one. A more enjoyable book than it should have been, so your mileage will probably vary. But definitely don't start with this one, it is a definite book 3. Also my copy was an advance readers copy, so there might have been some changes made in the published version.
September 11, 2025
3.5 stars. The plot of this final book of the trilogy felt a bit too chaotic. I think all in all I have most enjoyed the parts of this urban fantasy series that were set solidly in our world, and have gotten a bit lost in the Fae/Seelie/Unseelie bits. And this last book lost me a few too many times. But I was in this series mostly for Millie and in between the chaotic plot she still delivered. We got to know her even more and she really is one of a kind.
So even though I liked book 1 and 2 more than this last one, I’m glad I read the whole series.
So even though I liked book 1 and 2 more than this last one, I’m glad I read the whole series.
April 24, 2018
After three disappointing reads based on reviews in library catalogues for new books, I finally thoroughly enjoyed a book. It is the third installment in the series but still great. I love the protagonist withholding all her flaws and troubles that don't stop her from being her best under the most difficult circumstances and Arcadia Project world so much. All characters are deep, truthfully developing throughout the book and I can't wait for the next book!
April 19, 2020
Notes:
Narration was fine. The characteristics & plot points for the Fae world were great but 65% of the series is about how Millie "feels". It was ambitious attempt to have a main character with a particular series of disabilities, but I never felt like it was well established. It also doesn't help that the key points are told at the reader vs written to be experienced.
Narration was fine. The characteristics & plot points for the Fae world were great but 65% of the series is about how Millie "feels". It was ambitious attempt to have a main character with a particular series of disabilities, but I never felt like it was well established. It also doesn't help that the key points are told at the reader vs written to be experienced.
September 24, 2018
While I really want more in this series, of course!!, I loved how well this brought it all around. I felt deeply satisfied with both the journey and the resolution of this one. It's my favorite in the trilogy. If you liked BORDERLINE and PHANTOM PAINS, this isn't going to disappoint.
Brand and Shock are my fave side characters in this series. And also, like... can we please just get Claybriar a full-body latex suit of his own? I think Millie will deeply appreciate that. :3
Brand and Shock are my fave side characters in this series. And also, like... can we please just get Claybriar a full-body latex suit of his own? I think Millie will deeply appreciate that. :3
July 3, 2019
3.5/5 stars
This was a really good conclusion to this series. I overall enjoyed Millie's character development and the plot of this. Sometimes I felt like things were dragging, and this probably could have been a little shorter, but it was enjoyable and concluded the story well.
This was a really good conclusion to this series. I overall enjoyed Millie's character development and the plot of this. Sometimes I felt like things were dragging, and this probably could have been a little shorter, but it was enjoyable and concluded the story well.
October 16, 2019
What a disappointing conclusion to a great trilogy. The writing and characterization both took steep dives and more and more plot was added. I feel like this could have been much better if split into two books (or just drop all the trips to fairyland) and characters given room to grow and the author taking more time to write/edit.
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