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Chimera #3
A Summoning of Demons
Cate Glass's A Summoning of Demons marks the thrilling conclusion for the Chimera team, a ragtag crew who use their forbidden magic for the good of the kingdom.
Catagna has been shaken to its core.
The philosophists insist that a disastrous earthquake has been caused by an ancient monster imprisoned below the earth, who can only be freed with magic. In every street and market, the people of Catagna are railing against magic-users with a greater ferocity than ever before, and magic hunters are everywhere.
Meanwhile, Romy has been dreaming.
Every night, her dreams are increasingly vivid and disturbing. Every day, she struggles to understand the purpose of the Chimera's most recent assignment from the Shadow Lord.
As Romy and the others attempt to carry out their mission, they find themselves plunged into a mystery of corruption and murder, myth and magic, and a terrifying truth: the philosophists may have been right all along.
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
Catagna has been shaken to its core.
The philosophists insist that a disastrous earthquake has been caused by an ancient monster imprisoned below the earth, who can only be freed with magic. In every street and market, the people of Catagna are railing against magic-users with a greater ferocity than ever before, and magic hunters are everywhere.
Meanwhile, Romy has been dreaming.
Every night, her dreams are increasingly vivid and disturbing. Every day, she struggles to understand the purpose of the Chimera's most recent assignment from the Shadow Lord.
As Romy and the others attempt to carry out their mission, they find themselves plunged into a mystery of corruption and murder, myth and magic, and a terrifying truth: the philosophists may have been right all along.
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
344 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 2, 2021
32 people are currently reading
490 people want to read
About the author
Cate Glass
4 books136 followersCate Glass is a writer of the fantasy adventure series Chimera. Cate Glass is also a pen name of Carol Berg, award-winning and bestselling author of fifteen epic fantasy novels and half a dozen novellas and short stories.
Though Cate's home has a great view of the Colorado Rockies, she has lived a large portion of her life in realms of mystery and adventure - Middle Earth, Camelot, Amber, Wonderland, Harry Dresden's Chicago, Jim Chee's New Mexico, Cheltenham race track or the colleges of Oxford, Victorian London, Cold War Berlin, the Welsh borderlands, River Heights, Marvel's version of Hell's Kitchen...you get the drift.
While studying mathematics and software engineering at Rice University and the University of Colorado respectively, Cate carved out a special place for studies in English and History of Art and reading, reading, reading.
A few years into a career as a software development engineer, Cate took up a hobby of writing her own fiction. Many manuscripts later (see Carol Berg's bibliography) Cate is deep into the stories of the Chimera.
Cate enjoys binging on movies and (well-written!) TV, as well as camping, hiking, and biking with her mechanical engineer spouse, and three sons who juggle music and teaching, software and carpentry, rocket science and ice hockey.
Though Cate's home has a great view of the Colorado Rockies, she has lived a large portion of her life in realms of mystery and adventure - Middle Earth, Camelot, Amber, Wonderland, Harry Dresden's Chicago, Jim Chee's New Mexico, Cheltenham race track or the colleges of Oxford, Victorian London, Cold War Berlin, the Welsh borderlands, River Heights, Marvel's version of Hell's Kitchen...you get the drift.
While studying mathematics and software engineering at Rice University and the University of Colorado respectively, Cate carved out a special place for studies in English and History of Art and reading, reading, reading.
A few years into a career as a software development engineer, Cate took up a hobby of writing her own fiction. Many manuscripts later (see Carol Berg's bibliography) Cate is deep into the stories of the Chimera.
Cate enjoys binging on movies and (well-written!) TV, as well as camping, hiking, and biking with her mechanical engineer spouse, and three sons who juggle music and teaching, software and carpentry, rocket science and ice hockey.
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February 8, 2021
The Summoning of Demons wasn't as awesome as i expected. The novel does not not meet the standard set by the first two books in the novel
February 2, 2021
Another fast-paced and fun plot as the Chimera is asked once more by Il Padrone to work their wiles and accomplish the seemingly impossible, at speed.
This time, they must extricate a young, bright woman, Livia, from a contracted marriage with the eldest son, Donato, of the head of the Confraternity. Livia has been travelling and researching scientific phenomena for years, and Il Padrone sees her studies negatively affected by her marriage, as her ideas and findings are inimical to the Confraternity’s aims. Livia is something like a goddaughter to Il Padrone, so his concern for the young woman immediately underlines the urgency of his request to Romy.
The Confraternity is the organization that hunts down and kills sorcerers, and makes Sniffers, while also claiming to protect the Costa Drago from Dragomeris, an evil being who commands demons and wants to destroy everything. As the book opens with an earthquake, it appears to Romy that someone is messing with the effort to contain Dragomeris.
What starts as one problem for the Chinera rapidly transforms into something much more complicated, with great import for people with magical abilities. The Chimera’s detailed plans are quickly compromised and things look pretty bad for the group, and the affianced pair…..
I really enjoy these stories. There is much going on, but I never feel lost or confused as the Chimera keep uncovering more political and magical secrets the longer they work on this problem.
And though the author resolves a few of the mysteries she created in books one and two, I feel like there are still several story threads ripe for elaboration, and greatly hope we get to spend more time with ever resourceful and intelligent Romy, Neri, Placidio, Dumond and the sublime Vashti.
Thank you to Netgalley and Tor Books for an ARC in exchange for a review.
This time, they must extricate a young, bright woman, Livia, from a contracted marriage with the eldest son, Donato, of the head of the Confraternity. Livia has been travelling and researching scientific phenomena for years, and Il Padrone sees her studies negatively affected by her marriage, as her ideas and findings are inimical to the Confraternity’s aims. Livia is something like a goddaughter to Il Padrone, so his concern for the young woman immediately underlines the urgency of his request to Romy.
The Confraternity is the organization that hunts down and kills sorcerers, and makes Sniffers, while also claiming to protect the Costa Drago from Dragomeris, an evil being who commands demons and wants to destroy everything. As the book opens with an earthquake, it appears to Romy that someone is messing with the effort to contain Dragomeris.
What starts as one problem for the Chinera rapidly transforms into something much more complicated, with great import for people with magical abilities. The Chimera’s detailed plans are quickly compromised and things look pretty bad for the group, and the affianced pair…..
I really enjoy these stories. There is much going on, but I never feel lost or confused as the Chimera keep uncovering more political and magical secrets the longer they work on this problem.
And though the author resolves a few of the mysteries she created in books one and two, I feel like there are still several story threads ripe for elaboration, and greatly hope we get to spend more time with ever resourceful and intelligent Romy, Neri, Placidio, Dumond and the sublime Vashti.
Thank you to Netgalley and Tor Books for an ARC in exchange for a review.
January 12, 2022
"Demons. That was a word I and everyone in the Costa Drago tossed about as we did the names of gods and heroes we no longer believed in"
QUESTO MATRIMONIO NON S’HA DA FARE
In base alle informazioni disponibili online e a quanto dice la sinossi in quarta di copertina, sapevo che questo sarebbe stato l'ultimo romanzo della serie; sono quindi rimasta molto stupita di ritrovarmi con un libro tanto breve, nel quale dovevano essere condensate una nuova missione del gruppo Chimera, la risoluzione della sottotrama di Teo introdotta nel secondo volume ed una conclusione soddisfacente per le storie personali del protagonisti. A lettura ultimata, mi auguro onestamente che l'autrice stia lavorando ad altri romanzi ambientati in questo mondo, perché molti quesiti rimangono senza risposta e la narrazione stessa ci spinge a pensare che questo non sarà l'epilogo per Romy e la sua banda di maghi.
A onor del vero, bisogna dire che Glass cerca di collegare il più possibile le diverse storyline, ed in parte ci riesce: ad esempio, l'incarico ricevuto dallo Shadow Lord si scopre connesso alla storia di Teo e ad una minaccia più grande per gli abitanti della Costa Drago. La vicenda comincia un paio di mesi dopo la conclusione de "A Conjuring of Assassins" con i nostri protagonisti che devono studiare un piano dalle tempistiche davvero stringenti: l'obiettivo è impedire l'imminente matrimonio tra il figlio del direttore della Philosophic Academie e la figlioccia (mi rifiuto di chiamarla vicino-figlia!) del Padroné, combinato dalle famiglie degli sposi. Come i volumi precedenti, l'atmosfera della storia risulta cozy e non spinge mai il lettore a temere per le sorti dei personaggi, però ci sono più scene d'azione ed i pericoli vengono affrontati con minore tranquillità.
Nonostante le molte linee narrative rimaste aperte, sia da questo libro che dai precedenti, devo dire di aver trovato come sempre ben studiate le azioni del team, nel piano generale ma anche nelle singole trovate che escogitano per raggiungere il loro obiettivo; altro motivo per cui mi spiace che questa sia la loro ultima avventura. Qui vediamo anche il gruppo diventare veramente una famiglia, non solo degli emarginati che il rischio di essere accusati di stregoneria ha spinto ad avvicinarsi.
Romy si conferma un'ottima protagonista e un POV soddisfacente da seguire per le sue idee brillanti e la capacità di analizzare le situazioni per trovare la miglior soluzione, tenendo presente le tante variabili. In questo libro troviamo anche un importante focus sulla crescita di Neri -forse il personaggio che più si evolve all'interno della serie- ed il suo rapporto con la sorella: Romy capisce finalmente di poter riporre fiducia in lui ed arriva a trattarlo come un adulto, senza doversi sempre preoccupare per la sua avventatezza. Penso che questo sviluppo sia il miglior indicatore di una conclusione della serie, visto con quale evento era iniziato il primo libro.
Per quanto riguarda i misteri sul passato dei diversi personaggi, riceviamo alcuni risposte che ho trovato assolutamente convincenti, ma anche qui mancano tanti tasselli per completare il puzzle. Questo mi porta ad ipotizzare che lasciare dei misteri irrisolti fosse proprio l'intento dell'autrice; però personalmente preferisco ottenere delle risposte almeno alle storyline principali quando termino la lettura di una serie.
Tutto questo non rende comunque la trilogia meno degna di attenzione, soprattutto considerato quanto sia under hypata! Per i lettori nostrani c'è l'ulteriore incentivo di potersi sganasciare con i termini in fanta-italiano, che sono pronta a scommettere siano opera di quella meraviglia tecnologica nota ai più come Google Translate.
QUESTO MATRIMONIO NON S’HA DA FARE
In base alle informazioni disponibili online e a quanto dice la sinossi in quarta di copertina, sapevo che questo sarebbe stato l'ultimo romanzo della serie; sono quindi rimasta molto stupita di ritrovarmi con un libro tanto breve, nel quale dovevano essere condensate una nuova missione del gruppo Chimera, la risoluzione della sottotrama di Teo introdotta nel secondo volume ed una conclusione soddisfacente per le storie personali del protagonisti. A lettura ultimata, mi auguro onestamente che l'autrice stia lavorando ad altri romanzi ambientati in questo mondo, perché molti quesiti rimangono senza risposta e la narrazione stessa ci spinge a pensare che questo non sarà l'epilogo per Romy e la sua banda di maghi.
A onor del vero, bisogna dire che Glass cerca di collegare il più possibile le diverse storyline, ed in parte ci riesce: ad esempio, l'incarico ricevuto dallo Shadow Lord si scopre connesso alla storia di Teo e ad una minaccia più grande per gli abitanti della Costa Drago. La vicenda comincia un paio di mesi dopo la conclusione de "A Conjuring of Assassins" con i nostri protagonisti che devono studiare un piano dalle tempistiche davvero stringenti: l'obiettivo è impedire l'imminente matrimonio tra il figlio del direttore della Philosophic Academie e la figlioccia (mi rifiuto di chiamarla vicino-figlia!) del Padroné, combinato dalle famiglie degli sposi. Come i volumi precedenti, l'atmosfera della storia risulta cozy e non spinge mai il lettore a temere per le sorti dei personaggi, però ci sono più scene d'azione ed i pericoli vengono affrontati con minore tranquillità.
Nonostante le molte linee narrative rimaste aperte, sia da questo libro che dai precedenti, devo dire di aver trovato come sempre ben studiate le azioni del team, nel piano generale ma anche nelle singole trovate che escogitano per raggiungere il loro obiettivo; altro motivo per cui mi spiace che questa sia la loro ultima avventura. Qui vediamo anche il gruppo diventare veramente una famiglia, non solo degli emarginati che il rischio di essere accusati di stregoneria ha spinto ad avvicinarsi.
Romy si conferma un'ottima protagonista e un POV soddisfacente da seguire per le sue idee brillanti e la capacità di analizzare le situazioni per trovare la miglior soluzione, tenendo presente le tante variabili. In questo libro troviamo anche un importante focus sulla crescita di Neri -forse il personaggio che più si evolve all'interno della serie- ed il suo rapporto con la sorella: Romy capisce finalmente di poter riporre fiducia in lui ed arriva a trattarlo come un adulto, senza doversi sempre preoccupare per la sua avventatezza. Penso che questo sviluppo sia il miglior indicatore di una conclusione della serie, visto con quale evento era iniziato il primo libro.
Per quanto riguarda i misteri sul passato dei diversi personaggi, riceviamo alcuni risposte che ho trovato assolutamente convincenti, ma anche qui mancano tanti tasselli per completare il puzzle. Questo mi porta ad ipotizzare che lasciare dei misteri irrisolti fosse proprio l'intento dell'autrice; però personalmente preferisco ottenere delle risposte almeno alle storyline principali quando termino la lettura di una serie.
Tutto questo non rende comunque la trilogia meno degna di attenzione, soprattutto considerato quanto sia under hypata! Per i lettori nostrani c'è l'ulteriore incentivo di potersi sganasciare con i termini in fanta-italiano, che sono pronta a scommettere siano opera di quella meraviglia tecnologica nota ai più come Google Translate.
February 25, 2022
As always, a lot more political machinations than I’m used to in my heist books.
May 31, 2021
The Chimera series as a whole was great, this book as the "thrilling conclusion" was underwhelming. For one thing, it was neither particularly thrilling nor really a conclusion.
The characters of this series are still wonderful, but there weren't nearly enough instances of them just interacting with each other in this book, and few of them really got the chance to shine that they deserved.
Where the previous books were fast-paced, fun, heist-type stories, this one was less of a heist and more of your average fantasy story, and like so many average fantasies, the world-building began to feel a little thin at times.
I have a suspicion that this was never meant to be a trilogy, but a longer series but the author's contract wasn't extended. If that were the case, I still applaud her for giving us some form of a conclusion in this book, even if it felt a bit tenuous. There are still plenty of questions about the world left unanswered. It still felt more like the end of one adventure than the end of a story. But you get a sense of what may be in store for the characters in the future, and in the end, I would choose that over getting answers to plot questions any day.
I would still read this series if I went back in time (though perhaps I would not spend my time on this one). The first two books are really great fun reads with a great godfather-like Italy-inspired setting and fantastic characters (and great positive sex-worker representation). You don't come across that every day.
The characters of this series are still wonderful, but there weren't nearly enough instances of them just interacting with each other in this book, and few of them really got the chance to shine that they deserved.
Where the previous books were fast-paced, fun, heist-type stories, this one was less of a heist and more of your average fantasy story, and like so many average fantasies, the world-building began to feel a little thin at times.
I have a suspicion that this was never meant to be a trilogy, but a longer series but the author's contract wasn't extended. If that were the case, I still applaud her for giving us some form of a conclusion in this book, even if it felt a bit tenuous. There are still plenty of questions about the world left unanswered. It still felt more like the end of one adventure than the end of a story. But you get a sense of what may be in store for the characters in the future, and in the end, I would choose that over getting answers to plot questions any day.
I would still read this series if I went back in time (though perhaps I would not spend my time on this one). The first two books are really great fun reads with a great godfather-like Italy-inspired setting and fantastic characters (and great positive sex-worker representation). You don't come across that every day.
December 1, 2021
A satisfying end to the trilogy. Sad that Tor didn't produce an audiobook for this one, given that they did for the first two in the trilogy. Glass is not the only only author they've stiffed this way. Given that about a quarter of my blog readership was reading solely on audio, I'm sure that Tor/Macmillan's decision impacted sales figures for the author.
November 9, 2020
A good sequel and a good ending for the series.
The reader will find the same qualities as in the first two books, and if I found the end a tiny bit frustrating, it was, all things considered, the best and healthiest way for the heroine. The world problems and injustices are not solved, but hope is on its way!
(I thank Netgalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge for sending me the ARC in exchange for my honest review)
The reader will find the same qualities as in the first two books, and if I found the end a tiny bit frustrating, it was, all things considered, the best and healthiest way for the heroine. The world problems and injustices are not solved, but hope is on its way!
(I thank Netgalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge for sending me the ARC in exchange for my honest review)
March 16, 2021
A good series, fine individual books. I wish they had been less episodic and more of a single story. But it works and I enjoyed it. The end leaves me somewhat unsatisfied when it comes to resolutions.
All-in-all 3.5 stars.
All-in-all 3.5 stars.
June 26, 2022
The first book in the series started off strong. It's a shame it ended with such a whimper.
January 28, 2021
I was hooked pretty much immediately with this book -- in previous books in this series it took some time to get into them (especially with the archaic language) but I was either familiar enough with the world or it just started at a faster pace, I'm not sure which. But I was swept into Romy and her friends' lives within the first few pages and read the entire book in 2 days.
As usual with these adventures, a seemingly small job turns into a much bigger problem over the course of the book, and there are definitely some big reveals here about the magic of the Costa Drago. One of my favorite things about these novels is the way Romy, Neri, Placidio, and Dummond's magic work together - and the way Vashta's non-magical help is necessary too.
I was a little surprised to see the blurb mention "the conclusion to the trilogy" when it doesn't really feel like one? I mean, the immediate events get wrapped up, and a lot of the bigger mystery hinted at in the first two books is revealed, but it leaves off with almost an expectation of another adventure, and there's certainly more to learn about the supernatural events. I think I would be disappointed if there aren't more books about Romy and her friends in the future. At the same time, if we don't ever get any more adventures, this one left me satisfied enough not to feel cheated.
*Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge for providing an e-arc for review.
As usual with these adventures, a seemingly small job turns into a much bigger problem over the course of the book, and there are definitely some big reveals here about the magic of the Costa Drago. One of my favorite things about these novels is the way Romy, Neri, Placidio, and Dummond's magic work together - and the way Vashta's non-magical help is necessary too.
I was a little surprised to see the blurb mention "the conclusion to the trilogy" when it doesn't really feel like one? I mean, the immediate events get wrapped up, and a lot of the bigger mystery hinted at in the first two books is revealed, but it leaves off with almost an expectation of another adventure, and there's certainly more to learn about the supernatural events. I think I would be disappointed if there aren't more books about Romy and her friends in the future. At the same time, if we don't ever get any more adventures, this one left me satisfied enough not to feel cheated.
*Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge for providing an e-arc for review.
March 17, 2021
For most of the book, I felt like this was going to be a 4-star. But the ending was perfect, given the constraints of the plot. It ended just the way I hoped it would, so I gave it a bonus star.
I think the strongest part of this series is the characters and their dynamic. That's really what made the first book so compelling for me. I felt like the second book, and this third one, lost a lot of the relationship-building aspect of the first one. I still really love all the members of the Chimera, and I am still in absolute awe of Romy, but I felt like the 2nd and 3rd books focused too much on the world-building, rather than exploring their friendships. There was this wonderful backstory in the second book about how Dumond and Vashti met, and I think it would have been really nice to learn that folded into one of their heists, instead of the readers just being told about it flat out.
I liked Teo as a character, but I wasn't that fond of his role in the story. It felt just a tad bit contrived. He was conveniently dropping hints of danger, but also conveniently unable to explain much to keep up a sense of mystery. He was conveniently appearing and disappearing to respectively save Romy and leave her to her own devices. In a way, I can say the same thing about Placidio, who somehow conveniently knows things that get them out of trouble, but can never explain to Romy because of his sense of honour and privacy. This was a little frustrating.
And what was the connection to the Antigonean Bronze and the Duc of Riccia-by-the-sea? That also wasn't resolved.
I ended up liking Dono a lot, and he seemed a much more fleshed-out character than Teo.
Also, the end of chapter 28 was such a treat for this little shipper's heart. I love whatever it is Romy and Placidio have going on. They're just friends, really comfortable friends, but if you squint and tilt your head to the side, there may be the slightest hint of burgeoning romance. Maybe. And I love that ambiguity, because I do think that friendship and family is what Romy needs to heal, and that she needs time to recover from the unhealthy ideas and experiences of romance and intimacy she got as a courtesan.
Overall, this was such an entertaining and heart-warming series. Perfect for people who love found-family tropes. I wish there was more, but at the same time, I'm not really sure what could follow-up this third book. Unless we get a book exploring other cities (come on, we need to know what's up with Riccia-by-the-sea!).
I think the strongest part of this series is the characters and their dynamic. That's really what made the first book so compelling for me. I felt like the second book, and this third one, lost a lot of the relationship-building aspect of the first one. I still really love all the members of the Chimera, and I am still in absolute awe of Romy, but I felt like the 2nd and 3rd books focused too much on the world-building, rather than exploring their friendships. There was this wonderful backstory in the second book about how Dumond and Vashti met, and I think it would have been really nice to learn that folded into one of their heists, instead of the readers just being told about it flat out.
I liked Teo as a character, but I wasn't that fond of his role in the story. It felt just a tad bit contrived. He was conveniently dropping hints of danger, but also conveniently unable to explain much to keep up a sense of mystery. He was conveniently appearing and disappearing to respectively save Romy and leave her to her own devices. In a way, I can say the same thing about Placidio, who somehow conveniently knows things that get them out of trouble, but can never explain to Romy because of his sense of honour and privacy. This was a little frustrating.
And what was the connection to the Antigonean Bronze and the Duc of Riccia-by-the-sea? That also wasn't resolved.
I ended up liking Dono a lot, and he seemed a much more fleshed-out character than Teo.
Also, the end of chapter 28 was such a treat for this little shipper's heart. I love whatever it is Romy and Placidio have going on. They're just friends, really comfortable friends, but if you squint and tilt your head to the side, there may be the slightest hint of burgeoning romance. Maybe. And I love that ambiguity, because I do think that friendship and family is what Romy needs to heal, and that she needs time to recover from the unhealthy ideas and experiences of romance and intimacy she got as a courtesan.
Overall, this was such an entertaining and heart-warming series. Perfect for people who love found-family tropes. I wish there was more, but at the same time, I'm not really sure what could follow-up this third book. Unless we get a book exploring other cities (come on, we need to know what's up with Riccia-by-the-sea!).
July 22, 2023
Great conclusion. This is one of the few series were I felt it got better the longer I read instead of worse. There is a plot setup in book one involving sexual slavery (not on page) that I felt unnecessary that never really comes up again after book 1. The "heists" are also better after book 1.
Read this if you're looking for fantasy entirely without romance.
Read this if you're looking for fantasy entirely without romance.
March 3, 2021
My problem with this, and why its only getting 3 stars, is because according to the back of the book this is the final book in the series. I seriously hope this is not true. Its like she didn't even try to have a conclusion at all.
July 3, 2022
I appreciate all the world building and interesting characters, but the plots were repetitive and characters stagnant. Book one was great and it just fizzled out.
January 1, 2022
#1 An Illusion of Thieves: my review 5⭐
#2 A Conjuring of Assassins my review 5⭐
This is a difficult book to rate. If it was just another installment of the series, it would have been a 5⭐ for me. But billed on the back blurb - in large letters no less - as "The thrilling finale for the Chimera Team" - as a trilogy ending, it is very disappointing.
And yet, this is still a Carol Berg (writing under her alias as Cate Glass) book, and she is one of my all-time favourite authors - and as such, it's still high quality writing. There is just a lot of wasted potential and loose ends - but those might possibly (hopefully!) be tied up in a second linked trilogy, as she sometimes does. I have been unable to find anything online about future plans.
You can see my dilemma.
But I trust Carol Berg, so a trilogy ending that was more of a 3⭐ for me for the unresolved central mysteries I've upgraded to a 4⭐, based on the anticipation that this is part of a plan and exactly how Berg designed the series.\ to unfold. I was beginning to think this trilogy might be linked to her other works (particularly The Sanctuary Duet and the Lighthouse Duet - also known as The Cartamandua Legacy) somehow, but then it makes no sense to publish them under an alias.
At any rate, I still highly recommend this trilogy, especially for readers new to Carol Berg: it's a bit lighter than some of her other books and is a quick, captivating read.
This final (maybe?!) installment is more action-oriented than the previous two, and that means the enjoyable camaraderie and friendship between the very different personalities that make up the Chimera - the heart of this story - is not as much in evidence, as there is no time. The task is perilous, and the plot is very complex and twisty-turny, so the less said the better.
If you've enjoyed the first two books, you will like this one too, just prepare yourself for an unresolved ending. Perhaps the problem for me as a reader is simply that I love this world and these characters too much to let them go! I really hope Berg writes more Chimera adventures.
As always, I look forward to reading whatever she writes - under any name! - next 😊
#2 A Conjuring of Assassins my review 5⭐
This is a difficult book to rate. If it was just another installment of the series, it would have been a 5⭐ for me. But billed on the back blurb - in large letters no less - as "The thrilling finale for the Chimera Team" - as a trilogy ending, it is very disappointing.
And yet, this is still a Carol Berg (writing under her alias as Cate Glass) book, and she is one of my all-time favourite authors - and as such, it's still high quality writing. There is just a lot of wasted potential and loose ends - but those might possibly (hopefully!) be tied up in a second linked trilogy, as she sometimes does. I have been unable to find anything online about future plans.
You can see my dilemma.
But I trust Carol Berg, so a trilogy ending that was more of a 3⭐ for me for the unresolved central mysteries I've upgraded to a 4⭐, based on the anticipation that this is part of a plan and exactly how Berg designed the series.\ to unfold. I was beginning to think this trilogy might be linked to her other works (particularly The Sanctuary Duet and the Lighthouse Duet - also known as The Cartamandua Legacy) somehow, but then it makes no sense to publish them under an alias.
At any rate, I still highly recommend this trilogy, especially for readers new to Carol Berg: it's a bit lighter than some of her other books and is a quick, captivating read.
This final (maybe?!) installment is more action-oriented than the previous two, and that means the enjoyable camaraderie and friendship between the very different personalities that make up the Chimera - the heart of this story - is not as much in evidence, as there is no time. The task is perilous, and the plot is very complex and twisty-turny, so the less said the better.
If you've enjoyed the first two books, you will like this one too, just prepare yourself for an unresolved ending. Perhaps the problem for me as a reader is simply that I love this world and these characters too much to let them go! I really hope Berg writes more Chimera adventures.
As always, I look forward to reading whatever she writes - under any name! - next 😊
February 2, 2021
3 stars
This review is based on an ARC ebook received for free from NetGalley. I am not being paid to review this book and what I write here is my own opinion. My rating scale is below.
review
In this the third book in Cate Glass’s Chimera series, we are granted a brief introduction to the world, and then tossed right into the action. It’s a good-enough introduction, but if you’ve not read the first two books I really do recommend reading them - they’re great, plus this book does not work as a standalone.
Romy has almost grown bored in the absence of magical upset these past months, but her boredom vanishes when an earthquake shakes Catagna and seems to be magical in origin. She is given little time to recover, though: a task from the Shadow Lord, her former lover, arrives and brings Romy and her crew much closer to danger than the others have, in that they are forced to infiltrate the Confraternity itself in order to prevent the impending nuptials of the Shadow Lord’s (basically) goddaughter to the son of a Confraternity Directory. The Confraternity is where sniffers (mages who gave up most of their humanity to keep their lives and spend their days sniffing out other mages to be destroyed) are housed and trained. It is no safe place for Romy and her magically-gifted associates.
Naturally, even though the first part of the caper goes off more or less as planned, there are complications. These complications lead to further discoveries regarding the origins and use of magical abilities. There was less meaningful interaction among the members of Chimera this time, and that was disappointing. The heists are clever and interesting, but I still want to see some interpersonal relationships, too. Related to that, A Summoning of Demons feels like it has a slower build than its predecessors, and is honestly much more difficult to remain engrossed in, even during events that should be high-interest. It is still a well-written book, it just doesn’t quite live up to the rest of the series.
rating scale
1 star - I was barely able to finish it. I didn't like it.
2 stars - It was okay. I didn't dislike it.
3 stars - It was interesting. I liked it.
4 stars - It was excellent. I really liked it.
5 stars - It was extraordinary. I really hope the author wrote more things.
This review is based on an ARC ebook received for free from NetGalley. I am not being paid to review this book and what I write here is my own opinion. My rating scale is below.
review
In this the third book in Cate Glass’s Chimera series, we are granted a brief introduction to the world, and then tossed right into the action. It’s a good-enough introduction, but if you’ve not read the first two books I really do recommend reading them - they’re great, plus this book does not work as a standalone.
Romy has almost grown bored in the absence of magical upset these past months, but her boredom vanishes when an earthquake shakes Catagna and seems to be magical in origin. She is given little time to recover, though: a task from the Shadow Lord, her former lover, arrives and brings Romy and her crew much closer to danger than the others have, in that they are forced to infiltrate the Confraternity itself in order to prevent the impending nuptials of the Shadow Lord’s (basically) goddaughter to the son of a Confraternity Directory. The Confraternity is where sniffers (mages who gave up most of their humanity to keep their lives and spend their days sniffing out other mages to be destroyed) are housed and trained. It is no safe place for Romy and her magically-gifted associates.
Naturally, even though the first part of the caper goes off more or less as planned, there are complications. These complications lead to further discoveries regarding the origins and use of magical abilities. There was less meaningful interaction among the members of Chimera this time, and that was disappointing. The heists are clever and interesting, but I still want to see some interpersonal relationships, too. Related to that, A Summoning of Demons feels like it has a slower build than its predecessors, and is honestly much more difficult to remain engrossed in, even during events that should be high-interest. It is still a well-written book, it just doesn’t quite live up to the rest of the series.
rating scale
1 star - I was barely able to finish it. I didn't like it.
2 stars - It was okay. I didn't dislike it.
3 stars - It was interesting. I liked it.
4 stars - It was excellent. I really liked it.
5 stars - It was extraordinary. I really hope the author wrote more things.
October 5, 2022
In some senses I liked this one a lot, but in other ways it fell short of the first two.
This one answered questions which was very good. I was a little frustrated with the way the other two just kept piling on unsolved mysteries with no end in sight. I wish there were more books coming so all the mysteries didn't get crammed into the last book, but I was still very pleased with the answers.
I also enjoyed the "heist". It was very different from the first two books because the "heist" was basically simple and the plot was more about the mysteries. So there wasn't actually an elaborate con or heist in this one in the same manner as the other two. But I still liked it, especially the fast pace.
What disappointed me was the plot hole left from the "twist". Livia is presented as this brilliant independent woman who has written a heretical treatise about how mountains and other geographical features are actually the result of nature rather than the demons and monsters of the creation myth. And evidence is presented. So that's intriguing - a heretical book that people are literally killed over, how is the Chimera going to leak its knowledge to the world and overthrow the horrible cult that has been spreading lies about supernatural beings?
..... Except none of that happens. The twist is that the book is false and the demons and monsters are real. And this horrible cult is right(?). Which of course begs the question - what about the evidence? It apparently fills an entire book, and it's never discussed or dealt with. And the secret treatise is largely ignored after getting the bookbinder killed. So what was the point?
Oh, and why did Livia go from "strong intelligent woman" to "idiot that can't accept reality"? That was very jarring.
Also, this was apparently the end, but we still have the stupid cult running around, sorcery is still misunderstood and outlawed, and we didn't learn anything about the special statue from book 1. So there's a lot of hanging threads.
Hopefully the author releases another book in the series to fix all this.
This one answered questions which was very good. I was a little frustrated with the way the other two just kept piling on unsolved mysteries with no end in sight. I wish there were more books coming so all the mysteries didn't get crammed into the last book, but I was still very pleased with the answers.
I also enjoyed the "heist". It was very different from the first two books because the "heist" was basically simple and the plot was more about the mysteries. So there wasn't actually an elaborate con or heist in this one in the same manner as the other two. But I still liked it, especially the fast pace.
What disappointed me was the plot hole left from the "twist". Livia is presented as this brilliant independent woman who has written a heretical treatise about how mountains and other geographical features are actually the result of nature rather than the demons and monsters of the creation myth. And evidence is presented. So that's intriguing - a heretical book that people are literally killed over, how is the Chimera going to leak its knowledge to the world and overthrow the horrible cult that has been spreading lies about supernatural beings?
..... Except none of that happens. The twist is that the book is false and the demons and monsters are real. And this horrible cult is right(?). Which of course begs the question - what about the evidence? It apparently fills an entire book, and it's never discussed or dealt with. And the secret treatise is largely ignored after getting the bookbinder killed. So what was the point?
Oh, and why did Livia go from "strong intelligent woman" to "idiot that can't accept reality"? That was very jarring.
Also, this was apparently the end, but we still have the stupid cult running around, sorcery is still misunderstood and outlawed, and we didn't learn anything about the special statue from book 1. So there's a lot of hanging threads.
Hopefully the author releases another book in the series to fix all this.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 2, 2024
[There are no explicit plot spoilers in this review.]
A Summoning of Demons is the final book in the Chimera trilogy by Carol Berg, writing under the pen name, Cate Glass. I enjoyed every aspect of this book (the pacing, the plot, the author's slyly humorous writing style, and character relationships) except for the fact that it seems to bring the series to a premature conclusion.
The plot kicks off immediately into overdrive, with the Chimera team hired to investigate an unusual marriage contract. The author adds a layer of complexity to the "heist" feeling with the introduction of Donato and Livia, two wonderfully-written supporting characters that constantly force the Chimera team to reassess their biases and plans. The level of danger feels much higher than in previous books as the team's tactics don't always succeed this time around.
The world-building continues to impress, with the Italian Renaissance vibe of Cantagna so well-realized that it's almost an extra character in the story. There are also plenty of answers to lingering lore questions from previous books. This is why I was so greatly disappointed when I reached the final page -- the book's plot is self-contained and wrapped up neatly but I'm left with a huge investment in a world whose greater themes (the evil of sorcery, sorcery versus nature, and the truth behind religion and mythology) are left without enough closure to satisfy me. While there's a lot to be said for leaving the audience wanting more instead of running an idea into the ground, I was nowhere near ready for the story to conclude.
Still, I shouldn't review what isn't there -- Perhaps there are reasons outside of the author's control for stopping after three books or maybe her intent was always to conclude by emphasizing the intimate, close-knit bonds of the Chimera team over a grand good versus evil extravaganza. I loved reading this entire trilogy (and many other works by the author) and recommend it completely, even if I'm disappointed that Book Three is the End!
A Summoning of Demons is the final book in the Chimera trilogy by Carol Berg, writing under the pen name, Cate Glass. I enjoyed every aspect of this book (the pacing, the plot, the author's slyly humorous writing style, and character relationships) except for the fact that it seems to bring the series to a premature conclusion.
The plot kicks off immediately into overdrive, with the Chimera team hired to investigate an unusual marriage contract. The author adds a layer of complexity to the "heist" feeling with the introduction of Donato and Livia, two wonderfully-written supporting characters that constantly force the Chimera team to reassess their biases and plans. The level of danger feels much higher than in previous books as the team's tactics don't always succeed this time around.
The world-building continues to impress, with the Italian Renaissance vibe of Cantagna so well-realized that it's almost an extra character in the story. There are also plenty of answers to lingering lore questions from previous books. This is why I was so greatly disappointed when I reached the final page -- the book's plot is self-contained and wrapped up neatly but I'm left with a huge investment in a world whose greater themes (the evil of sorcery, sorcery versus nature, and the truth behind religion and mythology) are left without enough closure to satisfy me. While there's a lot to be said for leaving the audience wanting more instead of running an idea into the ground, I was nowhere near ready for the story to conclude.
Still, I shouldn't review what isn't there -- Perhaps there are reasons outside of the author's control for stopping after three books or maybe her intent was always to conclude by emphasizing the intimate, close-knit bonds of the Chimera team over a grand good versus evil extravaganza. I loved reading this entire trilogy (and many other works by the author) and recommend it completely, even if I'm disappointed that Book Three is the End!
June 16, 2023
There's so much I enjoy about this series. The Italian-city-state-esque setting is so very well realised, and the central character is a delightfully complex lady with many facets, and a magical power that's endlessly fascinating. Developing more in this one are the underpinnings of the magical worldbuilding, which interpose interestingly with what is commonly known in the world. And, of course there's always a complicated heist that's got solid political underpinnings (in keeping with the strong Machiavellian overtones).
The strength of all those aspects can be judged by the fact I've read three of these now - and really enjoyed them - even though there are also some aspects of the storytelling style that really don't work for me! The first-person narration is quite slow and thorough, in keeping with the character, who considers everything and weighs it all up. There's a lot of description, more than I prefer in general, and the style of chatter is more in keeping with the setting than it's not, which I sometimes find a little slow and grinding. It spends a lot of time in the detail of happenings, and somehow even though the emotional repercussions are thoroughly considered, they're less felt. (I'm not quite sure why, but the only time this book landed for me emotionally was in the last chapter, but possibly that's because of my personal biases.)
But anyway, none of that overbalances my enjoyment of the overall piece, and the books as a whole. Though this one is, as they've all been, quite episodic and open-ended, I gather from the book packaging that this will be the last one, presumably because they haven't sold as well as the publisher would like.
The strength of all those aspects can be judged by the fact I've read three of these now - and really enjoyed them - even though there are also some aspects of the storytelling style that really don't work for me! The first-person narration is quite slow and thorough, in keeping with the character, who considers everything and weighs it all up. There's a lot of description, more than I prefer in general, and the style of chatter is more in keeping with the setting than it's not, which I sometimes find a little slow and grinding. It spends a lot of time in the detail of happenings, and somehow even though the emotional repercussions are thoroughly considered, they're less felt. (I'm not quite sure why, but the only time this book landed for me emotionally was in the last chapter, but possibly that's because of my personal biases.)
But anyway, none of that overbalances my enjoyment of the overall piece, and the books as a whole. Though this one is, as they've all been, quite episodic and open-ended, I gather from the book packaging that this will be the last one, presumably because they haven't sold as well as the publisher would like.
March 25, 2022
3 stars since I did read it all the way through, but this has been a series of diminishing satisfaction. The ridiculously conveniences continue to annoy - far too often things work because they need to work (Rony slips into a conversation with a party walking around a lake and no one remarks that she’s a rando; her frankly flimsy cover stories always work; and so on). And there was a weird and troubling strand in this one: we finally get a gay character (maybe bi, by the end?) and her partner, 50% of the lgbtq rep in this series, is a betrayer. The big bad gendershifts constantly, for no clear reason, and when the only rep is absolutely, no shades of gray, evil, well, that has more than a whiff of transphobia, even if it wasn’t the intent. And then on the micro level - Romy is annoying and bossy in a way that makes it even more obvious that Dumond, Neri, and Placidio only exist to prop her story up, with no actual personalities of their own.
So yeah, despite the world building, which is interesting and made a great jump forward with this one, I won’t be tuning in if the series continues (it seems like it should but this is also be billed as a trilogy closer), and probably won’t pick up anything else by the author.
So yeah, despite the world building, which is interesting and made a great jump forward with this one, I won’t be tuning in if the series continues (it seems like it should but this is also be billed as a trilogy closer), and probably won’t pick up anything else by the author.
January 4, 2021
A Summoning of Demons, the third book in Cate Glass's Chimera series sees our band of sorcerers embroiled in another twisted mystery and deadly heist. Each book has pushed each supporting character further into the open, but all remain wrapped in enough mystery to keep this series going forever!
Luckily, each book in the series has also expanded the mythology that rules the land, and given readers a better understanding of magic, and the political system in Catagana that tries to keep a stranglehold on any form of sorcery.
A Summoning of Demons is quick to jump readers straight into peril and action, Romy, Neri, Placidio, and Drummond have almost no time to prepare for a heist that- unbeknownst to them- could change everything for sorcerers in Catagana.
Like An Illusion of Thieves, and A Conjuring of Assassins, A Summoning of Demons will leave you bursting for more. As soon as that last chapter is done, and knowing I have another long year ahead until the next book hits shelves. 2022 is much too far away!
P.S. I desperately want Romy and Placidio to hook up. Is that bad? No. It isn't.
Luckily, each book in the series has also expanded the mythology that rules the land, and given readers a better understanding of magic, and the political system in Catagana that tries to keep a stranglehold on any form of sorcery.
A Summoning of Demons is quick to jump readers straight into peril and action, Romy, Neri, Placidio, and Drummond have almost no time to prepare for a heist that- unbeknownst to them- could change everything for sorcerers in Catagana.
Like An Illusion of Thieves, and A Conjuring of Assassins, A Summoning of Demons will leave you bursting for more. As soon as that last chapter is done, and knowing I have another long year ahead until the next book hits shelves. 2022 is much too far away!
P.S. I desperately want Romy and Placidio to hook up. Is that bad? No. It isn't.
Read
July 4, 2023Cate Glass - AKA Carol Berg - third installment in her Chimera series did not disappoint. Thrusting us into the heat of summer in a crisis of earthquake in Cantagna, this story not only builds on the characters and intrigues of the previous two books, but spins the plot neck deep into the workings of the magic with unforeseen reveals and some truly chilling exploits that lay bare far uglier doings behind already ugly aspects of the factions determined to suppress magic.
True to form for this author, one cannot predict the plotting, and equally true to form, the build from the mundane detail to the finish drives home her spectacular endings with superb panache.
If you like caper stories with high stakes, deeply complex and believable characters, and a nuanced setting that borrows from a fantastical Italian styled backdrop - I highly recommend this read, and this series, it will not disappoint.
True to form for this author, one cannot predict the plotting, and equally true to form, the build from the mundane detail to the finish drives home her spectacular endings with superb panache.
If you like caper stories with high stakes, deeply complex and believable characters, and a nuanced setting that borrows from a fantastical Italian styled backdrop - I highly recommend this read, and this series, it will not disappoint.
March 18, 2024
Carol Berg, here writing under the pseudonym Cate Glass, is a great storyteller, and this series confirms this. Like Robin Hobb she can create interesting characters and mesmerising plots, and this trilogy is no exception. And Carol Berg/Cate Glass is probably my favourite writer of magic, she manages to convey an elusive, just-beyond-reach kind of magic, which is great to follow: a magic more like forces of nature, rather than mere spellcasting. This is the third, final and best installment of the Chimera-trilogy, though I did get stressed that the dramatic ending was so rushed toward the end! And I'm still irritated over the mysterious Sandro, who gives the group their assignments - but maybe we'll learn more about him later? Because there is no doubt that Berg/Glass hints at a continuation of the group's adventures at the end of the book. Well let's hope so - while this may not be Berg/Glass's strongest works, she is still head and shoulders above the average fantasy-writer!
July 22, 2024
Erk. I cannot tell if I like the ending or not. The writing is pleasant and different although sometimes I do feel like a thesaurus is being applied a bit too freely. The ending doesn’t fully explain the worldbuilding… although I really wanted it to, as that was the peak of this series for me!!! Main character does some good stuff. I love that the sexy former master holds some allure still, but the growth she had during her experiences has meant she can see beyond that. Like I also remember the feeling of thinking someone is so wonderful, but it is a past life and life experiences have carried me past feeling that as fully now. And we go through all the life experiences with her that make her feel that way. But ugh the ending certainly leaves a lot of loose threads… but maybe that’s how life works too? A slightly grittier take on happy ending
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 3, 2025
The jobs given to the Chimera by The Shadow Lord are important problems to resolve but they usually end up having even bigger implications than they at first appear. In this last novel of the trilogy, the four magic users are taxed to stop the contract wedding of Il Patroné’s near-daughter, which has repercussions that would empower the Philosophic Confraternity’s influence on the government and increase their power to hunt down and kill anyone suspected of being a demon—which includes the magic using of the Chimera. The plan our intrepid adventurers come up with is to kidnap the bride and groom and convince them to repudiate the contract. What they discover is that the stakes are much more involved than they realize affecting the ancient gods and the balance of good and evil in the world.
December 2, 2020
I was so excited to receive this book from NetGalley, many thanks to the publishers.
I really the first two books in Cate Glass' cracking fantasy series so was eager to tear into the third. The story of Romy and her band of magical Ocean's 11 style compatriots, known at the Chimera, continues with another challenging task set by Romy's former lover, aka the Shadow Lord. I appreciate this is a pretty terrible description of a complex and intriguing tale.
My only "complaint" (it's not really a proper complaint) is that this did not feel like the final book in a series. I feel there are so many places to go, particularly with respect to the magic, that I need more books.
Go read this series!
I really the first two books in Cate Glass' cracking fantasy series so was eager to tear into the third. The story of Romy and her band of magical Ocean's 11 style compatriots, known at the Chimera, continues with another challenging task set by Romy's former lover, aka the Shadow Lord. I appreciate this is a pretty terrible description of a complex and intriguing tale.
My only "complaint" (it's not really a proper complaint) is that this did not feel like the final book in a series. I feel there are so many places to go, particularly with respect to the magic, that I need more books.
Go read this series!
June 3, 2021
I will keep reading these, but I think this was a weaker entry in the series. The narrative wandered a bit. Though the protagonists seemed to think they were making progress toward their goal, I wasn't so sure. There was a good heist sequence or two in the beginning, then... there was a sequence of events, with some kind of unwieldy steps (the extra kidnappers?) that needed to happen to bring the story to a close. A sequence that was somewhat confusing to me and that seemed to lose some of the narrative drive around Teo in favor of the (more boring, to me) plot that had started the book. I didn't even pick it up for a day or three. I think it could be summed up as pacing problems, but as I said I'll keep reading.
October 31, 2021
Considering how many plot threads were left dangling from book #2, and considering what a convoluted heist was involved in book #3, I had my doubts that Glass would be able to bring this trilogy to a satisfying conclusion. But she did! And she left just a few bits open-ended in case she writes any more adventures for the Chimera team (which I hope she does, because they are fabulous).
Romy and Neri showed the most growth over the course of the series, and Teo is still a big mystery. My only disappointment with book #3 was that Placidio and Dumond and Vashti were hardly seen -- a down side of the first-person narration from Romy's POV, since she was apart from them for much of the book's action.
Romy and Neri showed the most growth over the course of the series, and Teo is still a big mystery. My only disappointment with book #3 was that Placidio and Dumond and Vashti were hardly seen -- a down side of the first-person narration from Romy's POV, since she was apart from them for much of the book's action.
February 15, 2023
My rating of 3 stars probably reflects the fact that I did not read the first two books in this series. In A summoning of Demons, I thought there was interesting world building, and I liked the characters. However, I couldn't ever understand what the belief system was or who believed what in the "good guys" versus the "bad guys." Unfortunately, this book didn't grab me enough to make me want to go back and read the first two books. I was intrigued by a character named Teo so, if a fourth installment is written that explains his character, I might be willing to go back to the world of Catagna. I am not a huge fantasy fan, but I think this series would appeal to those who are.
March 11, 2023
By the end of this series I was in love with the chimera and invested in them. The diction of the characters was difficult to get used to at first but eventually I had no troubles. The one thing that KILLS me is that there is no more to read. There were so many loose ends, does Placidio ever open up? Will Teo go on an adventure to find the antigonean bronze? I would love to explore more of where Teo lives, the hall of artifacts with one missing and it’s recovery, and I love love if they started a secret society of magic users to rebel against the ones that want to extinguish magic for good.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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