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Rosie O'Grady's Paranormal Bar and Grill #5
Knights Magica
If the Knights Magica want a war, I'm willing to give them one.
I damned my soul long ago. What I do from this point forward is about redemption. If I burn in Hell because of fighting for others, for shouldering their sins, so be it.
The Knights are powerful, and they have taken control of the Universal Church. All across the world, the Knights find themselves in conflict with other paranormals and supernaturals. Human governments scramble to cope with the new reality of magic. Cities become battlegrounds.
And in Westport, Rosie O'Grady's Bar and Grill becomes a center for organizing the Resistance.
Then the Fae decide it’s time to act.
I damned my soul long ago. What I do from this point forward is about redemption. If I burn in Hell because of fighting for others, for shouldering their sins, so be it.
The Knights are powerful, and they have taken control of the Universal Church. All across the world, the Knights find themselves in conflict with other paranormals and supernaturals. Human governments scramble to cope with the new reality of magic. Cities become battlegrounds.
And in Westport, Rosie O'Grady's Bar and Grill becomes a center for organizing the Resistance.
Then the Fae decide it’s time to act.
290 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 7, 2020
1063 people are currently reading
449 people want to read
About the author
B.R. Kingsolver
40 books950 followersI made silver and turquoise jewelry for almost a decade, ended up in nursing school, then took a master’s in business. Along the way I worked in construction, as a newspaper editor, a teacher, and somehow found a career working with computers.
As to my other interests, I love the outdoors, especially the Rocky Mountains. I’ve skied since high school, with one broken leg and one torn ACL to show for it. I’ve hiked and camped all my life. I love to travel, though I haven’t done enough of it. I’ve seen a lot of Russia and Mexico, not enough of England. Amsterdam is amazing, and the Romanian Alps are breathtaking. Lake Tahoe is a favorite, and someday I’d like to see Banff.
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As to my other interests, I love the outdoors, especially the Rocky Mountains. I’ve skied since high school, with one broken leg and one torn ACL to show for it. I’ve hiked and camped all my life. I love to travel, though I haven’t done enough of it. I’ve seen a lot of Russia and Mexico, not enough of England. Amsterdam is amazing, and the Romanian Alps are breathtaking. Lake Tahoe is a favorite, and someday I’d like to see Banff.
For special deals and news about new books, sign up for my newsletter.
http://brkingsolver.us1.list-manage.c...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 335 reviews
December 28, 2021
A good finish to a good series but as with all of its predecessors, this book was once again rushed to the finish line.
I don't understand how a book - or even a full series - can build up a world, rush through portions of it and race to the finish without any preamble - and still capture the reader!
That first love triangle had me guessing and suddenly it was gone! This happened in so many areas of this entire series it did have me spinning... but the series was still good, the characters were all kind of on a level and rarely piqued above each other but still enjoyable for the most part.
What I didn't like with this final book was that ending. I honestly thought my emotions would begin to overspill and then it happened... that ending... not disappointing but very disappointing in the way it was rushed!
I don't understand how a book - or even a full series - can build up a world, rush through portions of it and race to the finish without any preamble - and still capture the reader!
That first love triangle had me guessing and suddenly it was gone! This happened in so many areas of this entire series it did have me spinning... but the series was still good, the characters were all kind of on a level and rarely piqued above each other but still enjoyable for the most part.
What I didn't like with this final book was that ending. I honestly thought my emotions would begin to overspill and then it happened... that ending... not disappointing but very disappointing in the way it was rushed!
October 7, 2020
A disappointing ending...
Ok, so I was pretty sure that this part with the Knights will be a bit rushed, but not this rushed...
There was no fighting (no actual fighting, that is), every time something happened, it was something like 'oh, they were attacked again, but they're ok now'.
The Fae are still not really involved, and the Grand Plan of stealing the stone is as simple as can be.
Let's recap: no fighting, no Fae (and other people) involved, the friends kinda disappear in this book, the MC has lost her spark... Yup, definitely a disappointing read.
What I did like though was the ending. Literally, the ending, like the last 15 pages or so.
Still, all in all, the series is worth reading, if you can't find anything better on your Kindle at that moment.
Ok, so I was pretty sure that this part with the Knights will be a bit rushed, but not this rushed...
There was no fighting (no actual fighting, that is), every time something happened, it was something like 'oh, they were attacked again, but they're ok now'.
The Fae are still not really involved, and the Grand Plan of stealing the stone is as simple as can be.
Let's recap: no fighting, no Fae (and other people) involved, the friends kinda disappear in this book, the MC has lost her spark... Yup, definitely a disappointing read.
What I did like though was the ending. Literally, the ending, like the last 15 pages or so.
Still, all in all, the series is worth reading, if you can't find anything better on your Kindle at that moment.
May 20, 2020
I was disappointed with the last book Well of Magic, the author seemed to be falling into the trap of making everything 'bigger and badder'.
This book started where the previous one finished and the first chapter made perfect sense, then it got a bit confusing.
If you just accept the book as a series of incidents involving Erin then it isn't a bad book, my problem was as the story developed the wider picture didn't make sense most of the time. Armageddon is happening, people are being killed everywhere, armies are blowing up ordinary people, aircraft are firing air-to-ground missiles in the middle of big cities and world is suddenly inhabited by more 'paranormals' than 'normals'. I couldn’t help feeling the bigger plot had got away from the author.
The second half of the book is built around a plan to get the 'Heart' away from the Knights, I found most of this a bit boring, especially the 'sex doll'. Eventually they get around to implementing their plan and the book comes to a decent conclusion.
If possible I would have given 2.5 stars.
This book started where the previous one finished and the first chapter made perfect sense, then it got a bit confusing.
If you just accept the book as a series of incidents involving Erin then it isn't a bad book, my problem was as the story developed the wider picture didn't make sense most of the time. Armageddon is happening, people are being killed everywhere, armies are blowing up ordinary people, aircraft are firing air-to-ground missiles in the middle of big cities and world is suddenly inhabited by more 'paranormals' than 'normals'. I couldn’t help feeling the bigger plot had got away from the author.
The second half of the book is built around a plan to get the 'Heart' away from the Knights, I found most of this a bit boring, especially the 'sex doll'. Eventually they get around to implementing their plan and the book comes to a decent conclusion.
If possible I would have given 2.5 stars.
May 13, 2020
3.5 stars.
Rosie O'Grady is one of my favourite series but there was something about this one that didn't do it for me. There was a lack of connection or feeling throughout with Erin becoming something of an automaton. All the elements were there, pace and story etc but something was off. I felt myself pushing to read through at parts and it wasn't the usual nuanced serving I'd come to expect.
Not a terrible book but for me the weakest in the series.
Rosie O'Grady is one of my favourite series but there was something about this one that didn't do it for me. There was a lack of connection or feeling throughout with Erin becoming something of an automaton. All the elements were there, pace and story etc but something was off. I felt myself pushing to read through at parts and it wasn't the usual nuanced serving I'd come to expect.
Not a terrible book but for me the weakest in the series.
May 31, 2020
A generous 2 stars, as I had to add a DNF option on my shelves for this book.
What happened? Was the author contracted to do this and just lost the mojo? While I certainly can sympathize with that, this was not a novel. It was a telling of actions with a lot of weird detail thrown in that didn't fit.
Some things we don't need sort of get explained, others are just left hanging there. There is absolutely no rhyme or reason to it. One I just read went something like this: 'I awoke to pounding on my door. The pounding wouldn't stop. It was way too early for visitors since I had worked at the bar the previous night. It was my boyfriend. I opened the door and he came in with a few people. They told me some stuff. Then we spent a month planning what we were going to do about it.' WHAT?!? Why in the heck were they pounding on the door? What was the urgency? It is never explained, and Erin's character doesn't even bother asking. Why not just say they came to visit? What was the point of some weird detail like that which made no sense?
I spent a week trying to slog through this and now I'm just realizing it's not going to get better. There will be no feeling to the characters or their relationships, I won't get invested in them, the story will be to complicated with zero promise of payoff or a lightbulb moment when it all comes together, and I won't be looking for reasons to pick up my reader and immerse myself in the book. How are people giving this 5 stars???? I liked the series, too, but a 4 or 5 star rating is seriously misrepresenting the quality of this installment. Shame on you all. This one reads as if it were written by an AI.
I will try others from this author, but I'm done with this series.
What happened? Was the author contracted to do this and just lost the mojo? While I certainly can sympathize with that, this was not a novel. It was a telling of actions with a lot of weird detail thrown in that didn't fit.
Some things we don't need sort of get explained, others are just left hanging there. There is absolutely no rhyme or reason to it. One I just read went something like this: 'I awoke to pounding on my door. The pounding wouldn't stop. It was way too early for visitors since I had worked at the bar the previous night. It was my boyfriend. I opened the door and he came in with a few people. They told me some stuff. Then we spent a month planning what we were going to do about it.' WHAT?!? Why in the heck were they pounding on the door? What was the urgency? It is never explained, and Erin's character doesn't even bother asking. Why not just say they came to visit? What was the point of some weird detail like that which made no sense?
I spent a week trying to slog through this and now I'm just realizing it's not going to get better. There will be no feeling to the characters or their relationships, I won't get invested in them, the story will be to complicated with zero promise of payoff or a lightbulb moment when it all comes together, and I won't be looking for reasons to pick up my reader and immerse myself in the book. How are people giving this 5 stars???? I liked the series, too, but a 4 or 5 star rating is seriously misrepresenting the quality of this installment. Shame on you all. This one reads as if it were written by an AI.
I will try others from this author, but I'm done with this series.
May 31, 2020
Seemed to drag a little more than the earlier books in the series. I enjoyed the going undercover in the Knights at first but again that seemed to drag a bit. Also the stakes never seemed particularly high. Everything seemed to run a little too smoothly so there was never any doubt the good guys would prevail and everything just fell magically into place.
June 10, 2025
Maybe I was skimming too fast --but this book seemed rushed & a tad disjointed between the chapters at times. Felt like there was a few time jumps (days? weeks?) in the early chapters (3 onwards).
But we get the close of the plot arc and a satisfying ending.
But we get the close of the plot arc and a satisfying ending.
December 1, 2022
2.5 rounded up
Everything I’ve said in reviews of previous books in this series still stands in this last book… Except the action (the one thing that kept the books moving) wasn’t as good. I was actually bored through the middle as Erin spent all her time roaming around and seducing people. Then, the end was SUPER abrupt and the epilogue completely lacking. It took reading five books for nothing more than that?!? Not impressed and honestly a bit disgruntled.
Everything I’ve said in reviews of previous books in this series still stands in this last book… Except the action (the one thing that kept the books moving) wasn’t as good. I was actually bored through the middle as Erin spent all her time roaming around and seducing people. Then, the end was SUPER abrupt and the epilogue completely lacking. It took reading five books for nothing more than that?!? Not impressed and honestly a bit disgruntled.
May 11, 2020
A fitting ending
While this books takes a turn in theme from the previous books In the series, it still keeps the overall feeling of the series. I think that it was the perfect ending to Erin’s story. This is the first time in a long time that in reading the end of a series I am satisfied knowing that there are not going to be any more books about the characters. While I still have a few open ended questions, the majority of loose ends in the overarching story were cleared up and I can’t think of a more fitting conclusion to the series. I commend BR Kingsolver in creating an end that leaves you satisfied and fulfilled. One of the best series endings I’ve read in years.
While this books takes a turn in theme from the previous books In the series, it still keeps the overall feeling of the series. I think that it was the perfect ending to Erin’s story. This is the first time in a long time that in reading the end of a series I am satisfied knowing that there are not going to be any more books about the characters. While I still have a few open ended questions, the majority of loose ends in the overarching story were cleared up and I can’t think of a more fitting conclusion to the series. I commend BR Kingsolver in creating an end that leaves you satisfied and fulfilled. One of the best series endings I’ve read in years.
May 20, 2020
This series ran out of steam. The first three novels were outstanding and Erin was a great main character. The fourth and fifth books came out a bit fast and the author was attempting to extend the run of the first 3. After the evil that Erin was fighting against in the first 3 novels was vanquished, the author had to come with a new foe, but it just didn't work as well, the novels were not as well written and I think if she spent a bit more time on Books 4 and 5 they would've been better.
Many of the great minor characters of the first 3 novels disappeared somewhat in 4 and 5 and the plot became too global and less personal for Erin.
Many of the great minor characters of the first 3 novels disappeared somewhat in 4 and 5 and the plot became too global and less personal for Erin.
May 22, 2020
3 1/2 stars. Action-fest. What else could you want on Memorial Day Weekend, particularly since we are stuck at home because of Covid 19. No action movies in theaters this weekend but this is a good substitute.
I missed a little more interaction with Erin's friends but overall a good addition to the series.
I missed a little more interaction with Erin's friends but overall a good addition to the series.
May 10, 2020
Fast paced and highly satisfying
I’ve been waiting for this one, and it didn’t disappoint me. Lots of action, some insanely imaginative settings and plenty of satisfaction to be had.
I’ve been waiting for this one, and it didn’t disappoint me. Lots of action, some insanely imaginative settings and plenty of satisfaction to be had.
May 14, 2020
Lovely
It's an end to an arc, but it doesn't quite feel like an end to the series. Maybe it's wishful thinking, but I want to see my favorite bartender continue to grow and heal.
I had to go re-read the Clans series to see which one I liked better, and in the end, I'm still unsure. So I'll go re-read both again, and maybe, by the time I finish, there'll be a Rosie O'Grady's book 6. I wanna see what being hugged by the goddess did to her powers, for one. For another, I want to see a rocky but healing relationship between our protag and the girl she orphaned. Both felt foreshadowed, here, and made me hopeful and happy.
It's an end to an arc, but it doesn't quite feel like an end to the series. Maybe it's wishful thinking, but I want to see my favorite bartender continue to grow and heal.
I had to go re-read the Clans series to see which one I liked better, and in the end, I'm still unsure. So I'll go re-read both again, and maybe, by the time I finish, there'll be a Rosie O'Grady's book 6. I wanna see what being hugged by the goddess did to her powers, for one. For another, I want to see a rocky but healing relationship between our protag and the girl she orphaned. Both felt foreshadowed, here, and made me hopeful and happy.
May 11, 2020
Very entertaining.
I would recommend this series for anyone who enjoys a good urban fantasy. Vampires, werewolves, fey and more, as well as an assassin finding her way to redemption.
I would recommend this series for anyone who enjoys a good urban fantasy. Vampires, werewolves, fey and more, as well as an assassin finding her way to redemption.
May 11, 2020
Awesome series
A great ending to Erin's story! Wish there were more books coming in this series, loved the characters. Hopefully they'll be another series that will add these characters to it.
A great ending to Erin's story! Wish there were more books coming in this series, loved the characters. Hopefully they'll be another series that will add these characters to it.
May 11, 2020
Knights Magica
I really enjoyed this book. I think I have read all of the author’s books and this is my favorite series. This book was a very good addition to the series. Lots of action. Good characters, developed nicely. Highly recommended.
I really enjoyed this book. I think I have read all of the author’s books and this is my favorite series. This book was a very good addition to the series. Lots of action. Good characters, developed nicely. Highly recommended.
December 7, 2020
Ending to the series. I feel like this was a pretty good series with some cool moments, but it went off the rails with book 4. Every book needed a bigger, harder bad guy that the previous one, until there was hardly anywhere to go. Plus the way Erin just casually kills people and it never affects her. IDK, I think I'm done with this author.
June 3, 2025
Well the author ruined this series for me. One troupe I can’t stand, along with love triangle and why choose/reverse harem is cheating anddddd there you have it. I read to escape.. there’s enough of this in real life, why ruin an otherwise okay series with that .. ughhh
May 11, 2020
What an Adventure
This series has been the most fun! I enjoyed everything about the series and this book. A lot like being on a rollercoaster ride.
This series has been the most fun! I enjoyed everything about the series and this book. A lot like being on a rollercoaster ride.
June 8, 2021
I was very disappointed in this book and really struggled to even get through it.
May 10, 2020
I love these books. If you love a kickass heroine you will love these books.
March 15, 2021
Love this series but felt like this book was abit rushed
September 2, 2020
Wonderful, exciting series!
Im just so sad its over! But all good things do end...and I'm so behind in other tasks after reading these 5 books straight thru! But oh so worth it!
Im just so sad its over! But all good things do end...and I'm so behind in other tasks after reading these 5 books straight thru! But oh so worth it!
February 17, 2024
Unsatisfactory ending
When I read this, I felt that this was an interesting turn in the series. I didn't think it would end here because of all the loose threads. Sure, the most important problem is dealt with. But, what about all the other big problems!
Starting in book 1, Erin hid the truth about herself. But the truth has come out over five books, not to the whole world, but to her friends. She even learns something new about herself; it may not amount to anything, but we'll see. Now everyone accepts her, even those who know the whole truth. The events at the book's end may have changed her significantly and changed everyone's perception of her.
There was a reminder of a dangling story thread from the beginning of the first book. The last mage Erin killed for the Illuminati had a daughter. I've always wondered about that daughter, whether said daughter would seek revenge one day. This book reminded readers of that little problem. To me, that hinted that Erin will be back for more books.
Although I was fairly happy with this book, there was a big chunk of the book that was a real drag. I mean both that the story dragged a bit and that it was a downer. I can see that it was necessary to accomplish what needed to be accomplished, but I was anxious to get past it. I feel that I'd deduct half a star from my rating for that part of the book.
There was also a little thing that I'm not sure how I feel about. In book 1, and maybe later books, Erin makes it clear that she's "slept with" (had sex with) many men and women, including her superiors in the Illuminati and people she wanted to either assassinate or blackmail. The issue comes up in this book. I won't say what she does or doesn't do, but it's now an issue because Erin has found love, so she feels different about sex with an enemy soldier. I can't help feeling that it's not Erin's new feelings, but the feelings of the readers that are the problem. The issue was bound to come up sometime, but I didn't quite like the way it was handled. Oh well, it led to the solution to another matter.
When I read this, I felt that this was an interesting turn in the series. I didn't think it would end here because of all the loose threads. Sure, the most important problem is dealt with. But, what about all the other big problems!
Starting in book 1, Erin hid the truth about herself. But the truth has come out over five books, not to the whole world, but to her friends. She even learns something new about herself; it may not amount to anything, but we'll see. Now everyone accepts her, even those who know the whole truth. The events at the book's end may have changed her significantly and changed everyone's perception of her.
There was a reminder of a dangling story thread from the beginning of the first book. The last mage Erin killed for the Illuminati had a daughter. I've always wondered about that daughter, whether said daughter would seek revenge one day. This book reminded readers of that little problem. To me, that hinted that Erin will be back for more books.
Although I was fairly happy with this book, there was a big chunk of the book that was a real drag. I mean both that the story dragged a bit and that it was a downer. I can see that it was necessary to accomplish what needed to be accomplished, but I was anxious to get past it. I feel that I'd deduct half a star from my rating for that part of the book.
There was also a little thing that I'm not sure how I feel about. In book 1, and maybe later books, Erin makes it clear that she's "slept with" (had sex with) many men and women, including her superiors in the Illuminati and people she wanted to either assassinate or blackmail. The issue comes up in this book. I won't say what she does or doesn't do, but it's now an issue because Erin has found love, so she feels different about sex with an enemy soldier. I can't help feeling that it's not Erin's new feelings, but the feelings of the readers that are the problem. The issue was bound to come up sometime, but I didn't quite like the way it was handled. Oh well, it led to the solution to another matter.
March 16, 2021
So disappointed
This book was good, but didn't fit the series or characters from first four books. The formula that made this series work, was missing. We didn't get the camaraderie with the bar patrons, the Westport police or even each other. Each operative had their own tasks and were alone 69% of this book and rarely spoke. There were several attacks, so plenty of action. Erin spent four books showing us she was no longer controlled by others and could speak up for herself to being a good little soldier and sacrificing for someone else's cause and wants. She sacrificed the integrity she tried so hard to build. So this was series end. This could have been better if it happened in a few chapters at the end of book four. I missed the witty banter, each character's antics, etc. Not the dystopian war zone the world became in this book. The ending didn't even detail how the world looked moving forward. I loved this series, but so disappointed in this book/series conclusion.
SPOILERS
The relationship between Erin and Oriele devolved. They were sweet and protective. In this book apparently it was ok to cheat. His excuse was he was fae and didn't subscribe to monogamy. Roisin and Lizzys dad made it work just fine. Erin deserved more after her upbringing. She deserved someone who would cherish her.
Lizzy was virtually nonexistent. Same with Sam, whom I love.
This book was good, but didn't fit the series or characters from first four books. The formula that made this series work, was missing. We didn't get the camaraderie with the bar patrons, the Westport police or even each other. Each operative had their own tasks and were alone 69% of this book and rarely spoke. There were several attacks, so plenty of action. Erin spent four books showing us she was no longer controlled by others and could speak up for herself to being a good little soldier and sacrificing for someone else's cause and wants. She sacrificed the integrity she tried so hard to build. So this was series end. This could have been better if it happened in a few chapters at the end of book four. I missed the witty banter, each character's antics, etc. Not the dystopian war zone the world became in this book. The ending didn't even detail how the world looked moving forward. I loved this series, but so disappointed in this book/series conclusion.
SPOILERS
The relationship between Erin and Oriele devolved. They were sweet and protective. In this book apparently it was ok to cheat. His excuse was he was fae and didn't subscribe to monogamy. Roisin and Lizzys dad made it work just fine. Erin deserved more after her upbringing. She deserved someone who would cherish her.
Lizzy was virtually nonexistent. Same with Sam, whom I love.
Read
June 6, 2020If this was the last book in the series then its shithouse.
The book was pretty here there everywhere and mediocre at best which is worse because i know this authors capable of more and i know this series certainly had been but started going to shit the last book and contonie that shit creek vibe the entirety of this book and somehow made the obly possibly exciting or interesting thing aka the ending and actually going through the mounds boring af and super short very much a childs writing style of we did this then this happened oh thwn this happened i the queen of rambles didnt even enjoy the multiple tangents and all the other stuff that just existed and didnt need to while totally ignoring the main plots and like ugh idk i feel like i was reading forever and this book is basically the second part to the previous one so this whole knights magica storyline is such bs and felt like such a weird out of place one compared to the previous ones and idk like it literally and figarutively lost the plot the characters motivations and characteristics basically went out the window even people i liked or enjoyed reading in the early books were all shells or ghosts whenever they appeared like theres a reason i put off reading this one for so long since the last book basically made me despise the author and series and even the main protag a bit and then this book when i finally started it was like a trainwreck i couldnt look away from i wanted it to be over wanted it to somehow miraculously fix itself or end well but god its like an editor went through it picked out all the stuffed they shouldve gotten rid of and made that into the last two books and anything that wouldve given them some consistency joy relatability structure etc was thrown in the bin instead.
Im so mad that such a really azing potential of a series that i had loved intially became something that makes my head hurt and regret reading. Like ???!!! How. Why do authors do this to themselves and their readers they start off amazing and then book 3 it starts going down hill usually they either icarus themselves or give up and think we wont notice the lack of passion or life in the story or just write for the sake of finishing it like a shitty essay thats due in 3 hrs with lots of filler and nonsense to meet a wprd quote about a subject they dont understand and think yeah thats fine and put it out as if im going to be greatful. Like i would literally rather all those authors take a freaking year sabbatical start another series and pause that one or having longer times between releases or better yet write the entire series then release the first book and so on so you can make minor changes or review feedback like maybe change genres or dont write for the sake of it if your not feeling it dont do it. That ending was so bad and so wtf?! Like it feels like i watched a part one episode of a finale or worse someone ripped out the last few chapters and epilogue and im missing things like ugh. Sooooo disappointed. Like good GODS save yourselves the trouble and dont read the series at all and maybe give the author a miss unless shes writing cw shows or tween drama in which case itd probably be the right level. Excuse me while i go find smut to read or something thats not pretending to be amazing or better than it is. I blame myself for partially judging quality of book on the cover and people who give everything 5 stars and are probably 12yos idk how any sane adult or older teen could read this and think it was even close to 3 stars or higher. Maybe people who read wattpad level fanfic bs and think writing is suppose to read like a delusional diary entry that reads like the roughest draft of dor points and possible brainstorm ideas mashed into something resembling a story? Fuck knows. RIP my brain. Chracter and idea potential was there and the first book or so the execution of said stuff was pretty well done idk what happened frankly im worried the authora now a lizard person or a pod person or something. Maybe in future ill check out her books when the series are finished ive read the reviews by sane people and theyve been polished within an inch of their lives. Until that day arrives shes on my bullshit blacklist with annette marie who still like a toxic relationship i keep coming back for. She has the same problems. Starts of strong great ideas shitty execution stupid drama weird loose ends and nonsense ends in tears for me when i realise ive been catfished. Beware tween books and authors masquerading as adults. Stay in your twilight zone lane please. If i wanted this level of bs id read fkn 16yo highschool nonsense. Not a god damn adult assassin you know what im gonna have to read debra dunbars imp series and jennifer esteps spider assassin which thank god are phenomonal and remain that way and are amazingly actually fucking adult what a shocker to cleanse to unholy bleh of this and other imposter series from my soul. Rip erin you deserved better see you in my dreams when my subconcious will try recover you from the clusterfuck dumpsterfire that was your demise.
Would appreciate if people could warn me about said series before im emotionally etc invested in them. I may try avoid reviews for books i just dont even see as books their so disppointing but the amount of love i had for this in the earlier books make me feel oblidged to defend their honor in how they were just left to rot and wither. Ugh. This is why i have trust issues. WE COULD HAVE HAD IT ALLLLLLLLLL ROLLING IN THE DEEEEPPP YOU HAD MY HEART AND SOUL... my heart is now a cold tiny raisin rock rip me rip erin rip rosie o gradys bar and grill you were taken from us to soon i shouldve stopped reading before we all suffered and died together. Im slowly getting better at DNF ing books maybe next time ill have it in my heart to give up on you before we become BAD BLOOD. yes im so beyond my wits from this book im quoting old arse songs and wondering WHEN WILL MY LIFE BEGIN. So long and thanks for all the fish so sad that it has come to this...
Maybe one day ill be able forgive and forget this tragedy and reunite when weve both recovered. Until then. Dont go breaking my heart. 💀💀💀
The book was pretty here there everywhere and mediocre at best which is worse because i know this authors capable of more and i know this series certainly had been but started going to shit the last book and contonie that shit creek vibe the entirety of this book and somehow made the obly possibly exciting or interesting thing aka the ending and actually going through the mounds boring af and super short very much a childs writing style of we did this then this happened oh thwn this happened i the queen of rambles didnt even enjoy the multiple tangents and all the other stuff that just existed and didnt need to while totally ignoring the main plots and like ugh idk i feel like i was reading forever and this book is basically the second part to the previous one so this whole knights magica storyline is such bs and felt like such a weird out of place one compared to the previous ones and idk like it literally and figarutively lost the plot the characters motivations and characteristics basically went out the window even people i liked or enjoyed reading in the early books were all shells or ghosts whenever they appeared like theres a reason i put off reading this one for so long since the last book basically made me despise the author and series and even the main protag a bit and then this book when i finally started it was like a trainwreck i couldnt look away from i wanted it to be over wanted it to somehow miraculously fix itself or end well but god its like an editor went through it picked out all the stuffed they shouldve gotten rid of and made that into the last two books and anything that wouldve given them some consistency joy relatability structure etc was thrown in the bin instead.
Im so mad that such a really azing potential of a series that i had loved intially became something that makes my head hurt and regret reading. Like ???!!! How. Why do authors do this to themselves and their readers they start off amazing and then book 3 it starts going down hill usually they either icarus themselves or give up and think we wont notice the lack of passion or life in the story or just write for the sake of finishing it like a shitty essay thats due in 3 hrs with lots of filler and nonsense to meet a wprd quote about a subject they dont understand and think yeah thats fine and put it out as if im going to be greatful. Like i would literally rather all those authors take a freaking year sabbatical start another series and pause that one or having longer times between releases or better yet write the entire series then release the first book and so on so you can make minor changes or review feedback like maybe change genres or dont write for the sake of it if your not feeling it dont do it. That ending was so bad and so wtf?! Like it feels like i watched a part one episode of a finale or worse someone ripped out the last few chapters and epilogue and im missing things like ugh. Sooooo disappointed. Like good GODS save yourselves the trouble and dont read the series at all and maybe give the author a miss unless shes writing cw shows or tween drama in which case itd probably be the right level. Excuse me while i go find smut to read or something thats not pretending to be amazing or better than it is. I blame myself for partially judging quality of book on the cover and people who give everything 5 stars and are probably 12yos idk how any sane adult or older teen could read this and think it was even close to 3 stars or higher. Maybe people who read wattpad level fanfic bs and think writing is suppose to read like a delusional diary entry that reads like the roughest draft of dor points and possible brainstorm ideas mashed into something resembling a story? Fuck knows. RIP my brain. Chracter and idea potential was there and the first book or so the execution of said stuff was pretty well done idk what happened frankly im worried the authora now a lizard person or a pod person or something. Maybe in future ill check out her books when the series are finished ive read the reviews by sane people and theyve been polished within an inch of their lives. Until that day arrives shes on my bullshit blacklist with annette marie who still like a toxic relationship i keep coming back for. She has the same problems. Starts of strong great ideas shitty execution stupid drama weird loose ends and nonsense ends in tears for me when i realise ive been catfished. Beware tween books and authors masquerading as adults. Stay in your twilight zone lane please. If i wanted this level of bs id read fkn 16yo highschool nonsense. Not a god damn adult assassin you know what im gonna have to read debra dunbars imp series and jennifer esteps spider assassin which thank god are phenomonal and remain that way and are amazingly actually fucking adult what a shocker to cleanse to unholy bleh of this and other imposter series from my soul. Rip erin you deserved better see you in my dreams when my subconcious will try recover you from the clusterfuck dumpsterfire that was your demise.
Would appreciate if people could warn me about said series before im emotionally etc invested in them. I may try avoid reviews for books i just dont even see as books their so disppointing but the amount of love i had for this in the earlier books make me feel oblidged to defend their honor in how they were just left to rot and wither. Ugh. This is why i have trust issues. WE COULD HAVE HAD IT ALLLLLLLLLL ROLLING IN THE DEEEEPPP YOU HAD MY HEART AND SOUL... my heart is now a cold tiny raisin rock rip me rip erin rip rosie o gradys bar and grill you were taken from us to soon i shouldve stopped reading before we all suffered and died together. Im slowly getting better at DNF ing books maybe next time ill have it in my heart to give up on you before we become BAD BLOOD. yes im so beyond my wits from this book im quoting old arse songs and wondering WHEN WILL MY LIFE BEGIN. So long and thanks for all the fish so sad that it has come to this...
Maybe one day ill be able forgive and forget this tragedy and reunite when weve both recovered. Until then. Dont go breaking my heart. 💀💀💀
April 21, 2022
I'm giving up on this series. I liked the first few, but it's gotten to political/militaristic rather than plot and relationship-driven.
January 24, 2021
I’ve only recently discovered BR Kingsolver and found a new favorite. I’ve addictively read through all of her urban fantasies sci-fi series, as well as the only sci-fi story story of hers I could find (Border Patrol, in the Bellator collection). Here’s my review of all of them in one clump - the bottom line being that they are all easily 5 star books.
Rosie O'Grady's Paranormal Bar and Grill Series
This was the first series by this author that I read, trying it in a whim as it was free on KU and looked like fun. Oh Dear Lord was it ever. Perfect world-building with Fae, elves, vampires, mages, et. al. Perfect backstory with the world’s best assassin (our lead) funding out that she’s been lied to most of her life by the Order of the Illuminati who are actually evil and not the force for good she thought, followed by her lopping off the top tier of the Order and ending up in hiding at the eponymous Rosie O'Grady's Bar and Grill. That’s the short version. The long one is much more complex and the series itself is filled with great plot lines and a perfect story arc (though each book stands alone sequentially, ie, the work fine and end well so long as you read them in order. Addictive fun and a perfect series ender.
The Telepathic Clans Saga
This was my second Kingsolver series. It evolves around telepathic clans (no shocker there) filled with people with different sets of telepathic “Gifts” (like mind shielding) made up of a series of “Talents” (different ways to do it). There are initially 25 known Gifts. At the top are the Succubi, all female, who have a series of Gifts including the Succubus Gift (drain energy from sex, etc). Known as Druids in the Irish clans, these ladies are bad-a**. The lead here is a Druid named Brenna, but she’s so much more. While the average telepath has only a few gifts, abs the extraordinary ones have 12-15 (Druids all have a base set of 8), Brenna has all of the gifts, unheard of. Anyway, she gets into a series of adventures with action, infra and inter-clan politics, and do much more. Incredible stuff really, all set in a world very different (but equally imaginative) as the prior series I’d read, and filled with a growing cast of perfectly crafted supporting characters. Once again you can read each book sequentially stand-alone, and they end with a perfect series ender.
Chameleon Assassin
I had initially avoided this series because I tend not to like a post-apocalypse setting. In this case the apocalypse in question (atomic wars leading to massive population loss and mutations) was so far in the past that society has more or less recovered and has now passed the pre-war tech levels. Our hero here, Libby, is the coolest kick-a** dame in fiction. An assassin and thief, among other things, who has two primary mutations: she’s a chameleon (she can look like anyone or pretty much blend into the background) plus a sort of electrokenisis, and a pretty fantastic set of physical skills (don’t mess with her in a fight) and computer hacking talents. Add in another perfect supporting cast and, well, just wow. I adored this series.
Dark Streets
This is the last of the series that I read, currently on book 2 (and ending with a perfectly good “Happily Enough For Now” though I’m drooling for the next book). It’s set in a world that’s very similar to that of The Telepathic Clans (though there are some differences - Washington DC is nuked in this one) but society is different as the Magi, who beat back (to a draw) the demons who invaded once rifts between worlds opened, now pretty much rule everything. Our lead here is another kick-a** dame, a police detective who is a magitek (a rare form of magic that enables one to do magic with machinery - including computers), potential heir to one of the Ten (the ten most powerful Magi clans who basically rule the world) but also the granddaughter of the man who accidentally opened the rifts and let all the monsters, demons and fantasy beings in. The perspective is very different, part gritty detective tale, part politics and warfare on the global scale, pure urban fantasy. Fantastic stuff, really.
Border Patrol (in the Bellator collection)
This was the only pure sci-fi story I’ve read by BR Kingsolver and was frustratingly perfect. Military sci-fi, the heroine here is the commander of an assault troop unit, it was an absolute total blast (and I’ve been reading this stuff since Robert A. Heinlein’s Starship Troopers was first published, so I should know). Perfect characters and storyline. The frustration is that while it ends in a very satisfying manner, I’m massively frustrated that this was only a short story. I’m truly hoping the author turns it into the first book in a new series.
Frankly, I’m hoping that BR Kingsolver expands every series she’s written, even though most have ended with great HEAs. That’s the sign, I know, of works that are fantastic and easy to highly recommend.
Rosie O'Grady's Paranormal Bar and Grill Series
This was the first series by this author that I read, trying it in a whim as it was free on KU and looked like fun. Oh Dear Lord was it ever. Perfect world-building with Fae, elves, vampires, mages, et. al. Perfect backstory with the world’s best assassin (our lead) funding out that she’s been lied to most of her life by the Order of the Illuminati who are actually evil and not the force for good she thought, followed by her lopping off the top tier of the Order and ending up in hiding at the eponymous Rosie O'Grady's Bar and Grill. That’s the short version. The long one is much more complex and the series itself is filled with great plot lines and a perfect story arc (though each book stands alone sequentially, ie, the work fine and end well so long as you read them in order. Addictive fun and a perfect series ender.
The Telepathic Clans Saga
This was my second Kingsolver series. It evolves around telepathic clans (no shocker there) filled with people with different sets of telepathic “Gifts” (like mind shielding) made up of a series of “Talents” (different ways to do it). There are initially 25 known Gifts. At the top are the Succubi, all female, who have a series of Gifts including the Succubus Gift (drain energy from sex, etc). Known as Druids in the Irish clans, these ladies are bad-a**. The lead here is a Druid named Brenna, but she’s so much more. While the average telepath has only a few gifts, abs the extraordinary ones have 12-15 (Druids all have a base set of 8), Brenna has all of the gifts, unheard of. Anyway, she gets into a series of adventures with action, infra and inter-clan politics, and do much more. Incredible stuff really, all set in a world very different (but equally imaginative) as the prior series I’d read, and filled with a growing cast of perfectly crafted supporting characters. Once again you can read each book sequentially stand-alone, and they end with a perfect series ender.
Chameleon Assassin
I had initially avoided this series because I tend not to like a post-apocalypse setting. In this case the apocalypse in question (atomic wars leading to massive population loss and mutations) was so far in the past that society has more or less recovered and has now passed the pre-war tech levels. Our hero here, Libby, is the coolest kick-a** dame in fiction. An assassin and thief, among other things, who has two primary mutations: she’s a chameleon (she can look like anyone or pretty much blend into the background) plus a sort of electrokenisis, and a pretty fantastic set of physical skills (don’t mess with her in a fight) and computer hacking talents. Add in another perfect supporting cast and, well, just wow. I adored this series.
Dark Streets
This is the last of the series that I read, currently on book 2 (and ending with a perfectly good “Happily Enough For Now” though I’m drooling for the next book). It’s set in a world that’s very similar to that of The Telepathic Clans (though there are some differences - Washington DC is nuked in this one) but society is different as the Magi, who beat back (to a draw) the demons who invaded once rifts between worlds opened, now pretty much rule everything. Our lead here is another kick-a** dame, a police detective who is a magitek (a rare form of magic that enables one to do magic with machinery - including computers), potential heir to one of the Ten (the ten most powerful Magi clans who basically rule the world) but also the granddaughter of the man who accidentally opened the rifts and let all the monsters, demons and fantasy beings in. The perspective is very different, part gritty detective tale, part politics and warfare on the global scale, pure urban fantasy. Fantastic stuff, really.
Border Patrol (in the Bellator collection)
This was the only pure sci-fi story I’ve read by BR Kingsolver and was frustratingly perfect. Military sci-fi, the heroine here is the commander of an assault troop unit, it was an absolute total blast (and I’ve been reading this stuff since Robert A. Heinlein’s Starship Troopers was first published, so I should know). Perfect characters and storyline. The frustration is that while it ends in a very satisfying manner, I’m massively frustrated that this was only a short story. I’m truly hoping the author turns it into the first book in a new series.
Frankly, I’m hoping that BR Kingsolver expands every series she’s written, even though most have ended with great HEAs. That’s the sign, I know, of works that are fantastic and easy to highly recommend.
August 14, 2020
Hold on Until the End
*****Spoilers*****
The ending was fantastic! The whole time Erin and crew were wandering around with the Knights and making plans, I was tense just waiting for something to go wrong and drastically interfere with their plans. I'm so glad for Oriel again in this book because his fae heritage proved incredibly useful. The cloaking spell Erin's doppelganger were key to the success of the mission to return the Heart to its well.
Ian was a great addition and ally. I was surprised at how easily he admitted he sought out the Scorpion following the implosion of the Illuminati and after hearing rumors of where she resided. His help and authority were certainly needed in finishing the mission successfully.
I couldn't help but be a little mystified as to why Erin was able to accomplish so much within the Knights. Especially since she didn't disguise herself which I thought would be the first hiccup, when someone recognized her for who she was. But then when we learn the witches are really taking over behind the scenes, it makes more sense. Instead of a militaristic mindset with top strategists and generals, witches have the behind the scenes authority and thought that by churning the lines they put their enemies out of commission and were relatively safe from the heavy hitter magic users. One question I had though was why the Knight witches didn't peg Erin as a mage since I thought they could sense one another and what classification of supernatural each was. I also had to wonder at how Erin was brought into the confidence of the witches so easily and given access to the spell to activate and purify the Heart. I kept waiting on the deception but there was none with the ritual or cleansing spell. Being dutiful and saying the right things got Erin where she needed to get quickly. Again, maybe it's because the Knights weren't as battle minded with the witches at the helm and less inclined towards paranoia and suspicion.
There was a bit of an ick factor when we find out Oriel had a one night stand with Jolene. Maybe it's just me but gross to being intimate with the guy who also did my friend. That Erin didn't know until after she was already with Oriel makes it better but still ewww when thinking about it. Oriel makes a statement that seems to indicate fae women are free to have many partners which isn't as true for the men. It was an interesting concept that didn't get enough attention in my opinion. Not that Erin seems to want to have multiple partners, just a different way to think about monogamy and sex.
Erin accepted her role well and I knew from the last book that she would be the one entrusted with seeing the Heart returned. That she was okay with being a sacrifice and accepted the responsibility for the world, as well that her last thought was remorse in making William's daughter an orphan was both sad and admirable. Living on borrowed time as Erin believes she is coupled with her Illuminati training, it's no wonder she's no real concern for her value in life to people around her. It makes me doubly glad she found something that seems as if it will last with Oriel.
*****Spoilers*****
The ending was fantastic! The whole time Erin and crew were wandering around with the Knights and making plans, I was tense just waiting for something to go wrong and drastically interfere with their plans. I'm so glad for Oriel again in this book because his fae heritage proved incredibly useful. The cloaking spell Erin's doppelganger were key to the success of the mission to return the Heart to its well.
Ian was a great addition and ally. I was surprised at how easily he admitted he sought out the Scorpion following the implosion of the Illuminati and after hearing rumors of where she resided. His help and authority were certainly needed in finishing the mission successfully.
I couldn't help but be a little mystified as to why Erin was able to accomplish so much within the Knights. Especially since she didn't disguise herself which I thought would be the first hiccup, when someone recognized her for who she was. But then when we learn the witches are really taking over behind the scenes, it makes more sense. Instead of a militaristic mindset with top strategists and generals, witches have the behind the scenes authority and thought that by churning the lines they put their enemies out of commission and were relatively safe from the heavy hitter magic users. One question I had though was why the Knight witches didn't peg Erin as a mage since I thought they could sense one another and what classification of supernatural each was. I also had to wonder at how Erin was brought into the confidence of the witches so easily and given access to the spell to activate and purify the Heart. I kept waiting on the deception but there was none with the ritual or cleansing spell. Being dutiful and saying the right things got Erin where she needed to get quickly. Again, maybe it's because the Knights weren't as battle minded with the witches at the helm and less inclined towards paranoia and suspicion.
There was a bit of an ick factor when we find out Oriel had a one night stand with Jolene. Maybe it's just me but gross to being intimate with the guy who also did my friend. That Erin didn't know until after she was already with Oriel makes it better but still ewww when thinking about it. Oriel makes a statement that seems to indicate fae women are free to have many partners which isn't as true for the men. It was an interesting concept that didn't get enough attention in my opinion. Not that Erin seems to want to have multiple partners, just a different way to think about monogamy and sex.
Erin accepted her role well and I knew from the last book that she would be the one entrusted with seeing the Heart returned. That she was okay with being a sacrifice and accepted the responsibility for the world, as well that her last thought was remorse in making William's daughter an orphan was both sad and admirable. Living on borrowed time as Erin believes she is coupled with her Illuminati training, it's no wonder she's no real concern for her value in life to people around her. It makes me doubly glad she found something that seems as if it will last with Oriel.
February 15, 2022
I wanted to much to like this book, buttttt I honestly hated it and DNF. I disliked it so much that even though it's been months, I still can't stop thinking about how disappointed and aggravated I am. I'd been hoping I'd get over it and could finish the book, but it looks like that's not going to happen, so here's my unfortunately negative review.
The plot is oversimplified, rushed, exaggerated, and the voice of the author is very present and noticeable throughout (ala Dune sequels). I don't buy that anything would unfold like that, especially not that quickly, and even if it did, the subject matter wasn't handled with much finesse-- bad is EVIL AND DUMB, with scheming and cackling. (Okay, not really, but that's how it felt to me). Though I think the plot wasn't very believable, I also think the overall premise/concept might be a bit too real, and sensitive, and the political statements made we're obvious and ham-fisted imo. It also felt like the author knew what they wanted to say and what they wanted to happen, then jumbled together only enough to get from point A to point B.
Beyond that, I very very very much hated the romance story line. I mean, loathed. It's abusive and skeevy, and the entire time I expected it turn into a bad-bf betrayal. But then.... true love? Insta-obsession? Rescue? HUH? Erin is smart and jaded and experienced, and while I believe she could have bad taste in men, I don't buy that she'd fall that hard or that fast or excuse all that crap. This is kind of spill over from the previous book, but I kept giving it a change to right itself in this book. And nope.
I found myself anxious and uncomfortable the entire book, and not in a edge-of-my-seat or thought provoking way.
I'm sad about it, but I honestly wish I hadn't started this book.
The plot is oversimplified, rushed, exaggerated, and the voice of the author is very present and noticeable throughout (ala Dune sequels). I don't buy that anything would unfold like that, especially not that quickly, and even if it did, the subject matter wasn't handled with much finesse-- bad is EVIL AND DUMB, with scheming and cackling. (Okay, not really, but that's how it felt to me). Though I think the plot wasn't very believable, I also think the overall premise/concept might be a bit too real, and sensitive, and the political statements made we're obvious and ham-fisted imo. It also felt like the author knew what they wanted to say and what they wanted to happen, then jumbled together only enough to get from point A to point B.
Beyond that, I very very very much hated the romance story line. I mean, loathed. It's abusive and skeevy, and the entire time I expected it turn into a bad-bf betrayal. But then.... true love? Insta-obsession? Rescue? HUH? Erin is smart and jaded and experienced, and while I believe she could have bad taste in men, I don't buy that she'd fall that hard or that fast or excuse all that crap. This is kind of spill over from the previous book, but I kept giving it a change to right itself in this book. And nope.
I found myself anxious and uncomfortable the entire book, and not in a edge-of-my-seat or thought provoking way.
I'm sad about it, but I honestly wish I hadn't started this book.
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