Well, I’m only two thirds of a Pet these days, but you might as well call me Pet anyway. Everyone does: everyone but the vampire, that is.
Life is more unbalanced these days—cases are cutting closer to home than usual. I thought I was the only one, but there are others like me: kids whose parents were murdered just like mine. Stuff that never fit into place before is beginning fall into place.
And my psychos are getting really weird. I mean, they’ve always been weird, but now they’re getting weirder.
Why would a fae lord decide to collaborate with humans?
Why has the fae steward started sneaking out at night?
W.R. Gingell is a Tasmanian author of urban fantasy, fairy-tale retellings, and madcap science fiction who doesn’t seem to be able to write a book without a body suddenly turning up. She solemnly swears that all such bodies are strictly fictional in nature.
W.R. spends her time reading, drinking a truly ridiculous amount of tea, and slouching in front of the fire to write. Like Peter Pan, she never really grew up, and is still occasionally to be found climbing trees.
GOODREADS FRIEND POLICY: I don't tend to friend anyone unless they're a personal friend or someone from my close author circle. I have a limited social battery which needs constant care. If you want to keep up with my reading/writing, you can absolutely follow me here or on pretty much any social media site.
"Good grief. First Zero wandering around in nothing but a towel, and now JinYeong playing a Korean Lothario. What was next, Athelas wearing beach shorts?"
I'm just having too much fun with the dialogue going on! So, things are seriously going down in this book-- we finally get some answers to some major questions, however, at the same time this leads to new problems and even more speculations.
But I have to say I'm still really loving the characters 7 books in, and I'm excited to see where this story is going!
Also, want to say off the bat that I am loving that Pet is building a family of misfits from some random and unlikely groups, and while its expanding the scope of the story-with the plot, magic, and lore-- it also gives me a happy little feeling for her to be making all of these connections!
But can I just say
So looking forward to see were the story goes, and I feel like there is so much potential to be had in this series! Will keep an eagle eye out for the next book!["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>
Post-finale reread: I beta read and plot-doctored this book the first two times I read it, so it was almost impossible for me to evaluate it correctly at the time. Re-reading a bit over a year later, I'm finally able to step back, take off my development-editor hat, and enjoy the story as a reader.
One of the best things about this series is the character arcs, and in this book Pet is having second thoughts about her hard-won independence. It's not so easy to insist on being told things when the answers are more terrifying than the questions. Does she really want to know the truth and fight the battles, or would she prefer the safety of being Zero's pet, letting him take care of her, closing her eyes to her own calling, and giving over the custody of her conscience to someone she knows for certain doesn't fully understand her concerns, much as she loves him?
At the same time, Zero is giving Pet more answers than ever before, memories are resurfacing, and JinYeong is battling against a truly heroic level of romantic obliviousness on the part of Pet, to say nothing of Zero's sudden overprotectiveness. As for Athelas, he's behaving more suspiciously than ever.
With all the rich characterisation and compelling relationships you expect from this series, BETWEEN CASES may be something of a bridge to the thrilling, twisty final three books...but it's also a solid entry in its own right, with a satisfying plot and plenty of revelations and setup for what's to come.
"That's my emotional support vampire!" I said crankily. "Put him down!"
Behind stuff, Sword stuff, Athelas stuff, Zero stuff, 'Zul stuff, JinYeong stuff, human stuff, PET STUFF.
WR Gingell, thanks for nearly dying over this one. I am frustrated and giddy and disappointed that I finished this in less than 3 hours and now I have to wait another several months for something else, but I truly loved this one.
(just gonna say that a certain character has come so far since book one and it makes me happy)
(also there are a lot of moments in this book that made me grin like a fool and I just think everyone should be prepared)
(this is entirely preference but there's something so incredibly appealing about the dynamic of a pair who bicker, but fight alongside each other and defend each other to the end when it really matters.)
Maybe I'll write more about it when I'm not supposed to be studying for finals, but for now, this is it.
In which Pet is oblivious (and doesn’t stick her tongue out once!), Zero is a protective dad, JinYeong is WARM, and Athelas scrutinizes bubble tea
Also, Athelas is a simply brilliant character, oh my goodness.
Content: violence and gore, kissing, mentions of the covers of lurid romance books. Two characters of the opposite gender fall asleep next to each other.
"That's my emotional support vampire," I said crankily. "Put him down!"
Considering how I felt about the first couple of books in this series, I did not anticipate being fully obsessed with them now, tbh. It's the found family, I'm pretty sure. Those are my weakness.
my Thoughts: • this one caught my attention from the very beginning and held it all the way through, so kudos for that • ship development!! which had me internally squealing!! • I love that every action taken in this series has legit consequences that the characters have to deal with, it's nice • the slow but steady build to what I'm assuming is going to be an epic conclusion is excellent, the pacing of the series as a whole has been great so far • I really liked everything with the ~spooky~ house, I found it very fun and genuinely kinda creepy at moments • The audiobooks for all of these so far have been incredible • I am, as always with these books, very intrigued to see where it goes next
5 stars from me! ((content warning for gruesome murder scenes, a couple of ~spooky~ scenes, and some kissing))
I've got such a buzz from this book, I think I accidentally ingested vampire spit!
I don't know how these books keep getting better, but somehow they do. And I LOVE it!
So many questions. Some answers, but mostly questions. Usually I hate that, but this series just has a way of pulling me in and making me not care how annoyed I'm getting at all the questions.
And there is a certain development in this book that I have suspected for a while and am very, very happy I am right about.
I feel simultaneously high from my sheer love of this book, and crushed that it's over. My own fault for gobbling it down, but I can't help myself. I always do this.
To summarize: Loved it. Would absolutely give it 1,000 stars if I could.
I stand by what I said in my review for the previous book, this series just keeps getting better and better. A lot was revealed in this one, which is making me excited for the finale. I did miss Morganna and Daniel, but that's really only a minor thing, and I might see them more later? Anyway. I thoroughly enjoy this, and I ship Pet and Jin-Yeong a lot harder than I would have thought possible.
I have read a certain part of this book at least ten times by now and I’m not sorry. I love this whole series, but this one took the top off my head and my brain has been hovering over my body like an umbrella ever since. Send help.
"'That's my emotional support vampire,' I said crankily. 'Put him down!'"
amazing quotes and revelations about Pet's past and things happen and this is my favorite installment so far but guYS THERE IS ACTUAL HONEST-TO-GOODNESS ROMANCE AND I AM SO HAPPY 😍
2020 the Year of the Brief review and...and "the most unused item in a household of the 2020 Quarantine is?? ..the Bra"
For WR Gingell's: Piece de Resistance, we have before us her latest book in a wonderfully charming series, what I like to call the "Great Reveal" or also known as "Between Abs"(insiders joke):
So, without giving to much away....OOOH it was so sweet. Pet and ....sitting in a tree, K.I.S.S.I.N.G
I’m not quite sure how to begin with this one without getting into spoiler-heavy territory. Let me just say that—if I thought I’d send a lot of “screaming opossum” gifs in the last book, I think I sent 10x as many this time. I can’t—I just can’t with this series anymore. IT’S TOO DARN CUTE FOR ITS OWN GOOD. MY HEART WILL NOT SURVIVE.
I will say, the mystery really picks up toward the second-half of the book. I feel like we’re finally close to getting some answers, though some still feel worlds away. And NOT TO MENTION THAT ENDING. IM DYING. DEAD. DECEASED. And I love it when characters rationalize like actual people, and twice in this book I said “YES! THAT’S WHAT I’VE BEEN SAYING THIS ENTIRE TIME!” So props on characters for not missing the obvious.
Anyway, I will now let this book digest before I delve into Book 8, which I hear will destroy me. *whispers* And I’m ready for it.
Some author’s lose the depth and storyline as they try to eek out more books in a series. For some they surely shook have just ended it a few books ago. Not this series. Book 7 brings about so many new and unexpected surprises that one can’t help but binge read Pet’s latest adventures and then eagerly sit back and wait for more. All the regulars are here both good and baddies and the adventure seems to just flow from page to page as it seems interests are changing and being made known around Pet the human who is just a bit more than other humans.
Well, first of all i must say that W.R. Gingell once again made an amazing job! Thank u so much for this book. It was interesting, it was shocking, it was tense, it was a lot of things! So u better prepare yourself for a wonderful trip! Second, i'm team JinYeong from book 2, and my shipper heart in this book was like on roller coaster: i was happy, then no, than happy again... And the ending: OMG, i need next book like right now:))) I really rooting for a vampire for Pet, so little merman, please, go away!:) (fan's of Zul! I'm sorry, but JinYeong forever:)) Don't want to tell anything else because of spoilers. Patiently waiting for a next book:)
“This is my petteu,” said JinYeong, silky voiced, “and I do not permit you to touch it. I will kill it myself when I am no longer enjoying it.”
If Athelas had said it, I might have had a momentary worry that he actually meant it; with Zero, I would have felt a chill as he said it, even if I didn’t believe he meant it. This time, despite the very real danger in front of me, I had to work not to roll my eyes.
JinYeong pinched my hand warningly, and I realised belatedly that perhaps I hadn’t done as good a job as I’d thought at not rolling my eyes.
This series is killing me slowly and it's a testament to W.R. Gingell's writing that I'm enjoying the process of dying. She builds up anticipation and then doles out answers slowly with a relish that brings to mind a mischievous elf leaving little gifts scattered everywhere for the reader to find and then running off cackling. You're killing me, madam, and I must thank you for it.
Quick note: I also have this posted on Amazon under my pen name so no I'm not plagiarizing ;)
From the snark to the romantic possibilities, this series is positively addictive. Gingell treats us with revelations, complications and, as always, leaves us with unanswered questions and a thirst for the next book.
Because of the overall series ARC, relationships and antics, it is best if you listen to this series in the order of its release and read any pop-up novellas. They are all well done and trust me, you won’t regret it.
It’s been hinted that Zero is interested in Pet romantically and his actions could be indicators of just that. JinYeong our resident vampire is reading romance books. Kill me now. I am leaning towards JinYeong as I love their back-and-forth banter, but the romance is a side thread to the cases and overall series ARC. The romantic triangle provides plenty of entertainment from naked chests to shenanigans, but Pet has made a family out of these misfits and I am fine with them all remaining in the friend zone. And the Merman..don’t get me started.
The murders in question are Pet’s parents, and the author delivers some tidbits. Every answer drew more questions, and some reaffirmed my own suspicions. Eep… all of it made me want more. This is quite an accomplishment for the seventh in a series. It is still addictive, suspenseful, surprising and fresh.
If you want to laugh, feel your heart race from the suspense and fall hard for characters, you’ll want to grab the City Between series and devour them. The next audiobook, Between Decisions, is available and cued up on my phone. I missed the All the Different Shades of Blue and will be devouring that first.
So many great—and so many hard—moments in this book. I loved Vesper, and the fight scenes, and Ralph and the spooky house!
One of my initial ships sank to the bottom of the ocean in this one, though I have high hopes for the growth and eventual happiness of that certain character in the future.
I have finally come around on JinYeong—it’s hard not to appreciate an earnest character. He’s got lots of great lines in this book.
Well....I'm finally caught up. Meaning real review of series so far is in order.
Honestly, I already mentioned this before but I WAS NOT supposed to get invested in this (bad Lemon). And the first book helped. The second book made me want to keep reading without me admitting it...and by book 4, I was hooked. The writing style was hard, as I've mentioned, but it's very...pulling , not to mention unique. Plot and character wise, Gingell sure knows how to not only make them FUN and funny but well-developed. She uses the slow burn format of her series amazingly, making all the growth seem natural and healthy and unrushed.
Also, there's the friendships, the large cast of characters that are all SO memorable (I missed the sides in this book, which was very plot heavy and focused more on the relationship between Pet and her psychos), and allllllll the plot threads. How does she manage them so well?!?! AND THE FOUND FAMILY VIBES....Ahhhhhhh, so amazing. And so strong in this installment.
What started off as something suspicous for me (I think the odd and maybe slightly unhealthy start to te relationships made me too wary. I'm glad my trust on this author wasn't misplaced) just turned out to be something I am invested in. Yay....
No idea how I'm going to wait for the last three books....hehe...
Content: violence. Also, romancey stuff but all very clean.
Eeep! This book was so good! I meant to savor it and read a little bit each night, but I should have known better. I gobbled it up during an evening, staying up as late as I dared, then finishing the last bit off the next morning.
If you've been reading through this series, hoping for answers, this books gives a few answers. Sweet and terrible and suspenseful and well worth all the wait and twisty turny stuff that came before.
Of course, this book doesn't give all the answers. There are still far more questions out there, and some of the answers just add up to more questions. But the pieces are falling into place for a smashing final three books of the series! It's been an amazing ride to this point, and I'm sure Pet and her psychos won't disappoint!
reread 2023: i am once again a gooey melted fingerless puddle, this time with a stupid smile on my face. i am trying to limit how many books of this series I take to get autographed in a couple weeks but this may need to be one
original review 2021: "stuff's getting good and the last chapter is my favorite in the series" is what i would type if i could type but alas i am a gooey melted puddle and have no fingers
Oh My Stars!!!!!! Amazing. So very happy! *cackles* What a perfect ending to a roller coaster of a book.🤩- Why must I wait so long for the next one!!!???😫 So very cruel, but also so very brilliant!!! *applause* -Ugh, I'm gonna need to read the series all over again before the next one! 😜
Every question leaves us craving answers. Relationships are blooming and the un-alive are popping up everywhere. This book moves us forward, and I loved it.