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Celaeno #5
Dynasty of Rogues
When you’re short on friends and long on enemies, things can’t get much worse. Until they do…
Ranger Riki Sadiq is known as a troublemaker, and in the close knit heretic community, a ero name is hard to lose. Standing sentry duty on a winter’s day, all she can see lying ahead is an afternoon of being cold, miserable, and bored. Her mood isn’t helped by deliberate goading from people who are supposed to be working with her. Even so, retaliating in kind isn’t one of Riki’s better ideas. When Riki is dispatched to Westernfort for one last chance in the Rangers, the hostile reception means her list of enemies has become still longer, and prime candidate to head the list is her new patrol corporal, Tanya Coppelli. It is hate at first sight. The way Riki sees it, Tanya may have good looks, talent and sharp wits, but is that any reason to like her? However, if Riki but knew it, trouble of a deadly kind is heading her way. With their lives at stake, Riki and Tanya will have to overcome the mutual antagonism and learn to work together.
Ranger Riki Sadiq is known as a troublemaker, and in the close knit heretic community, a ero name is hard to lose. Standing sentry duty on a winter’s day, all she can see lying ahead is an afternoon of being cold, miserable, and bored. Her mood isn’t helped by deliberate goading from people who are supposed to be working with her. Even so, retaliating in kind isn’t one of Riki’s better ideas. When Riki is dispatched to Westernfort for one last chance in the Rangers, the hostile reception means her list of enemies has become still longer, and prime candidate to head the list is her new patrol corporal, Tanya Coppelli. It is hate at first sight. The way Riki sees it, Tanya may have good looks, talent and sharp wits, but is that any reason to like her? However, if Riki but knew it, trouble of a deadly kind is heading her way. With their lives at stake, Riki and Tanya will have to overcome the mutual antagonism and learn to work together.
300 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2007
10 people are currently reading
373 people want to read
About the author
Jane Fletcher
21 books200 followersJane Fletcher is a GCLS award-winning writer and has also been short-listed for the Gaylactic Spectrum and Lambda Literary awards. She is author of two ongoing sets of fantasy/romance novels: the Celaeno series—The Walls of Westernfort, Rangers at Roadsend, The Temple at Landfall, Dynasty of Rogues, and Shadow of the Knife; and the Lyremouth Chronicles—The Exile and The Sorcerer, The Traitor and The Chalice, The Empress and The Acolyte, and The High Priest and the Idol.
Her love of fantasy began at the age of seven when she encountered Greek Mythology. This was compounded by a childhood spent clambering over every example of ancient masonry she could find (medieval castles, megalithic monuments, Roman villas). Her resolute ambition was to become an archaeologist when she grew up, so it was something of a surprise when she became a software engineer instead.
Born in Greenwich, London, in 1956, she now lives in southwest England where she keeps herself busy writing both computer software and fiction, although generally not at the same time.
Her love of fantasy began at the age of seven when she encountered Greek Mythology. This was compounded by a childhood spent clambering over every example of ancient masonry she could find (medieval castles, megalithic monuments, Roman villas). Her resolute ambition was to become an archaeologist when she grew up, so it was something of a surprise when she became a software engineer instead.
Born in Greenwich, London, in 1956, she now lives in southwest England where she keeps herself busy writing both computer software and fiction, although generally not at the same time.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
March 29, 2016
This is the last book in the series for me, since I read them in chronological order. And I am so sad this adventure is over. By far one of the most enjoyable fantasy series I've read in a long time. My only complaint about this book is I wish the ending was a bit longer. I wanted more of a wrap up and to read the scenes between the character not just a summary.
I know it's been a while since Jane Fletcher wrote any of this series, and she probably won't, but boy I would love another book or two.
I would easily recommend this book to anyone who loves fantasy and adventure. And would tell people to read, this series, in chronological book order not written. The stories flow so much better in chrono order. Don't pass these books up, this series is too good to miss!
I know it's been a while since Jane Fletcher wrote any of this series, and she probably won't, but boy I would love another book or two.
I would easily recommend this book to anyone who loves fantasy and adventure. And would tell people to read, this series, in chronological book order not written. The stories flow so much better in chrono order. Don't pass these books up, this series is too good to miss!
May 21, 2019
I really liked the Old lady. Talk about minor character (barely mentioned before) becoming one-hell of a bad-ass queen. I would have loved a story centered around her.
About the main characters, there is once again miscommunication and unfair distrust from both sides.
The story picks up as soon as they are in Landfall though (around a third of the book)
The plot then becomes really funny, a mix between an Ocean's Eleven sprinkled with Prison Break.
The Sisterhood so get played ! hilarious.
About the main characters, there is once again miscommunication and unfair distrust from both sides.
The story picks up as soon as they are in Landfall though (around a third of the book)
The plot then becomes really funny, a mix between an Ocean's Eleven sprinkled with Prison Break.
The Sisterhood so get played ! hilarious.
December 27, 2016
End of the line for me – as in I’ve read all of the other books in this series having read them in the chronological instead of publication order. (I found it a good way to read the series, though I’m sure others might feel differently).
This story here focuses on a new character and a side character seen previously. Rikki was something like 12 when her mother fled the ‘Homelands’ with her. Rikki herself would have preferred to stay with her . . . crap I forget now, gene mother? I think gene mother. But wasn’t given the choice. She’s spent her life showing her mother (the one who took her away from her home) how much she hates what happened – by always getting in trouble and being quite . . . horrible really. At least she’s mostly done that. But she’s an adult now. A Ranger (should I word that as a ‘heretic Ranger’? No, that complicates things – a ranger for the heretics, though she herself puts on a show of ‘still being a believer’).
Right, got distracted there. As I was attempting to say – Rikki is an adult now, and it’s been ‘years’ since she has been ‘bad’. Except . . . small community, everyone knows everyone. Really bad reputation – and unlike the Rangers who operate in the Homelands, the ones the Heretics created operate more like Militia (at least in terms of being stationed where they joined the Rangers – they still do border patrol and the like – no actual mention was made of who ‘maintains’ order in the two heretic villages). Meaning that the same town that Rikki grew up in (well 12 to whatever age she joined the Rangers) ‘knows’ Rikki and knows she’s a massive trouble maker and a really bad seed. Even if she doesn’t really want to be that any longer. That’s still the role she has been slotted into. By her own actions.
The other main character, and the one who has been seen before in these books, is Tanya. Daughter of the Rangers Captain (that one with the C name I can never remember how to spell, Caperllini is probably massively wrong). Tanya is a newly promoted corporal in the Ranger unit Rikki has been transferred into (and yes, a big mention was made about an earlier Ranger transfer in a prior book, and how ‘nothing good’ comes from that type of situation, well, it’s not a ‘good’ transfer here either).
Once Rikki learns Tanya’s relationship to the overall Ranger captain, as in daughter of said individual, Rikki immediately assumes Tanya is there because of that relationship. And makes a snide remark to one of her new squad mates. Who immediately and I mean immediately, trots forward and whisper the words into Tanya’s ear. New opportunity . . . blown immediately.
One thing leads to another, Tanya ends up in the Homelands, Rikki is in prison, escapes to the homelands, meets people, learns some things, stuff occurs.
The book was quite interesting, plot and story wise. Neither of the main characters are exactly my favorite characters, though. I kind of really disliked Rikki, and Tanya was a little too quick to jump to conclusions and be very . . . well, she had some obvious bad characteristics as well. Still, they were ‘livable’. Until they weren’t.
They weren’t? Let me insert here status update I did while reading the book:
That little thingie, the inability to express themselves, etc., was very annoying and way way too extended.
Well, as I said, the line ends here. Book and series completed (barring another book suddenly appearing, though the author has kind of gotten into the habit late in the game of writing these things out of order, so if there is another book, it’d probably be set either 100 years before the start of the series, or 100 years after this book here).
Rating: 3.50
December 27 2016
This story here focuses on a new character and a side character seen previously. Rikki was something like 12 when her mother fled the ‘Homelands’ with her. Rikki herself would have preferred to stay with her . . . crap I forget now, gene mother? I think gene mother. But wasn’t given the choice. She’s spent her life showing her mother (the one who took her away from her home) how much she hates what happened – by always getting in trouble and being quite . . . horrible really. At least she’s mostly done that. But she’s an adult now. A Ranger (should I word that as a ‘heretic Ranger’? No, that complicates things – a ranger for the heretics, though she herself puts on a show of ‘still being a believer’).
Right, got distracted there. As I was attempting to say – Rikki is an adult now, and it’s been ‘years’ since she has been ‘bad’. Except . . . small community, everyone knows everyone. Really bad reputation – and unlike the Rangers who operate in the Homelands, the ones the Heretics created operate more like Militia (at least in terms of being stationed where they joined the Rangers – they still do border patrol and the like – no actual mention was made of who ‘maintains’ order in the two heretic villages). Meaning that the same town that Rikki grew up in (well 12 to whatever age she joined the Rangers) ‘knows’ Rikki and knows she’s a massive trouble maker and a really bad seed. Even if she doesn’t really want to be that any longer. That’s still the role she has been slotted into. By her own actions.
The other main character, and the one who has been seen before in these books, is Tanya. Daughter of the Rangers Captain (that one with the C name I can never remember how to spell, Caperllini is probably massively wrong). Tanya is a newly promoted corporal in the Ranger unit Rikki has been transferred into (and yes, a big mention was made about an earlier Ranger transfer in a prior book, and how ‘nothing good’ comes from that type of situation, well, it’s not a ‘good’ transfer here either).
Once Rikki learns Tanya’s relationship to the overall Ranger captain, as in daughter of said individual, Rikki immediately assumes Tanya is there because of that relationship. And makes a snide remark to one of her new squad mates. Who immediately and I mean immediately, trots forward and whisper the words into Tanya’s ear. New opportunity . . . blown immediately.
One thing leads to another, Tanya ends up in the Homelands, Rikki is in prison, escapes to the homelands, meets people, learns some things, stuff occurs.
The book was quite interesting, plot and story wise. Neither of the main characters are exactly my favorite characters, though. I kind of really disliked Rikki, and Tanya was a little too quick to jump to conclusions and be very . . . well, she had some obvious bad characteristics as well. Still, they were ‘livable’. Until they weren’t.
They weren’t? Let me insert here status update I did while reading the book:
“I was in the part of the story I thought I really wanted to read but. Something like 15% of the book, since 15% ago I mean, has been a really really long fucking 'Tanya thinking while acting very pissed off towards Riki: I like her but she can't like me; Riki thinking while acting like she'd rather hump a goat than Tanya: I like her but she can't like me.' For 15 fucking percent of the book. Over and over and . fuck"
That little thingie, the inability to express themselves, etc., was very annoying and way way too extended.
Well, as I said, the line ends here. Book and series completed (barring another book suddenly appearing, though the author has kind of gotten into the habit late in the game of writing these things out of order, so if there is another book, it’d probably be set either 100 years before the start of the series, or 100 years after this book here).
Rating: 3.50
December 27 2016
March 29, 2015
It's no secret that I'm utterly intrigued by the world Ms. Fletcher created in the Celaeno series. The first two books are the best I have ever read and I can't help myself thinking about how this world will evolve. Can you imagine that, say 2000 years after this book ends, they have managed space flight and discover this rather large object with the name of their goddess painted on it?
Sadly, for me, Dynasty of Rogues does not reach the same status I have attributed to Temple of Landfall and Walls of Westernfort. The first part is a bit of a rehash of Rangers at Roadsend. Reluctant Ranger gets accused of treachery and we spend the rest of the book with said Ranger trying to prove her innocence.
Thing is, and was a concern of me in Walls of Westernfort, the Guards are just as stupid as ever. You'd think that after 25 years since the foundation of Westernfort, they'd put more time in learning how to survive in the wild. Yet they still blunder about in their shiny red uniforms and getting lost all the time.
The part in Landfall suffers from the same. I can't believe that a faction that has achieved a solid base of power for over 500 years falls for every trick in the book. They step into traps that are so big that they can be seen from the orbit of the original Celaeno with open eyes. But maybe that's because they blindly believe in the book and can see no further than their nose is long. Anyways, much intrigue follows and in the end, we still don't have answers. I'm fucking dying to know what happens next with the Chief Consultant and the Intelligence Corps.
But no go. The last part of the book is spent with our two ladies pining away for another for chapters on end. And for some reason, the author starts throwing around names of the flora. For some reason that irritated the hell out of me. Anyways, just like every other book in the series, all works out and abruptly ends... again. I didn't make an issue of that for the previous books, but now it annoyed me to no end. So many things left unanswered. I honestly think Ms. Fletcher got tired of the series, seeing as the next book is again a prequel.
Which I'm not going to read.
I'll stick with book 1 and 2 and will fantasize about the wonderful world of Celeano, imagining how it will evolve and wondering if they will ever discover their real origins.
Sadly, for me, Dynasty of Rogues does not reach the same status I have attributed to Temple of Landfall and Walls of Westernfort. The first part is a bit of a rehash of Rangers at Roadsend. Reluctant Ranger gets accused of treachery and we spend the rest of the book with said Ranger trying to prove her innocence.
Thing is, and was a concern of me in Walls of Westernfort, the Guards are just as stupid as ever. You'd think that after 25 years since the foundation of Westernfort, they'd put more time in learning how to survive in the wild. Yet they still blunder about in their shiny red uniforms and getting lost all the time.
The part in Landfall suffers from the same. I can't believe that a faction that has achieved a solid base of power for over 500 years falls for every trick in the book. They step into traps that are so big that they can be seen from the orbit of the original Celaeno with open eyes. But maybe that's because they blindly believe in the book and can see no further than their nose is long. Anyways, much intrigue follows and in the end, we still don't have answers. I'm fucking dying to know what happens next with the Chief Consultant and the Intelligence Corps.
But no go. The last part of the book is spent with our two ladies pining away for another for chapters on end. And for some reason, the author starts throwing around names of the flora. For some reason that irritated the hell out of me. Anyways, just like every other book in the series, all works out and abruptly ends... again. I didn't make an issue of that for the previous books, but now it annoyed me to no end. So many things left unanswered. I honestly think Ms. Fletcher got tired of the series, seeing as the next book is again a prequel.
Which I'm not going to read.
I'll stick with book 1 and 2 and will fantasize about the wonderful world of Celeano, imagining how it will evolve and wondering if they will ever discover their real origins.
January 7, 2018
All's well that ends lesbians!
I really love how all these books have a different genre wrapped up in all the science fiction/fantasy. Book 1 was adventure, Book 2 was spies and infiltration, Book 3 was murder mystery, and this was some really cool political machination type stuff.
Not that it was perfect. The beginning was really depressing for me, so I was glad when it moved beyond that, but... it moved too fast? I felt like there could have been a little more time for the animosity between Riki and Tanya to grow, making it even more impactful when they began to fall for each other. I just think the book was full of jangly transitions that could have been smoother. Yeah it was three parts but those three parts just felt chopped so evenly, you know?
Still, great book. I loved Grandma Coppelli's whole scheme, and watching it fold out while not knowing what exactly she had planned was great (I kept expecting her to double cross Riki and Tanya but I'm glad she was genuine). The romance was sooooooo good. Enemies to lovers is always good, but Riki made it especially cute by being clueless. First time love is aces.
Really solid book, I loved it.
I really love how all these books have a different genre wrapped up in all the science fiction/fantasy. Book 1 was adventure, Book 2 was spies and infiltration, Book 3 was murder mystery, and this was some really cool political machination type stuff.
Not that it was perfect. The beginning was really depressing for me, so I was glad when it moved beyond that, but... it moved too fast? I felt like there could have been a little more time for the animosity between Riki and Tanya to grow, making it even more impactful when they began to fall for each other. I just think the book was full of jangly transitions that could have been smoother. Yeah it was three parts but those three parts just felt chopped so evenly, you know?
Still, great book. I loved Grandma Coppelli's whole scheme, and watching it fold out while not knowing what exactly she had planned was great (I kept expecting her to double cross Riki and Tanya but I'm glad she was genuine). The romance was sooooooo good. Enemies to lovers is always good, but Riki made it especially cute by being clueless. First time love is aces.
Really solid book, I loved it.
May 20, 2019
Giving this 4.7 star rating
Another awesome delivery by this author. I am gradually turning out to be a cult fan. Love everything about this book; intrigues, slight suspense, characters etc.
The only downside was the use of dollars... I would have sworn that the currency wasn't what was used in the previous books but well I guess such blunder can be forgiven. Also I felt this book and the previous (The Walls of Westerhof) where written similarly but differently from all others before them.
In all, an entertaining read.
Another awesome delivery by this author. I am gradually turning out to be a cult fan. Love everything about this book; intrigues, slight suspense, characters etc.
The only downside was the use of dollars... I would have sworn that the currency wasn't what was used in the previous books but well I guess such blunder can be forgiven. Also I felt this book and the previous (The Walls of Westerhof) where written similarly but differently from all others before them.
In all, an entertaining read.
November 4, 2012
A fabulous book. The plot dynamics are excellent, extremely well-woven without getting in the way of the characters, who have equally good arcs as well. I enjoyed this book a lot, almost as much as Walls of Westernfort. Still that one holds the top spot for the series.
July 4, 2018
Having finished the entire series in a week, I suppose this review is for the whole series and not just Dynasty of the Rogues.
I love the world building, I love the characters, I love their conflicts and struggles, and I love the adventures.
It's hard to put into the words all the things that crack me up about this world that Ms. Fletcher has built. I love how the archaic mythological / holy text language used in the "Book of the Elder-Ones" are really just bad interpretations describing how a group of lost space travelers founded a new colony on a new planet. Celaeno's rear-loading bay had me laughing in fits. And, really, it does tickle the mind and makes one start to wonder about our own human origins... (insert Girogio Tsoukalos Aliens meme)
Picturing the fervent religious zealots, the Sisters, wearing lab coats and face masks cracks me up.
The fact that this all-female world was created by a straight female homophobe is just... such delicious irony. And she thought that by removing gender differences, all the girls are just going to hold hands and be best friends forever! *chortles
I guess the only thing that I would want changed is longer endings in all the books. (And possibly a reappearance of Hal...)
I love the world building, I love the characters, I love their conflicts and struggles, and I love the adventures.
It's hard to put into the words all the things that crack me up about this world that Ms. Fletcher has built. I love how the archaic mythological / holy text language used in the "Book of the Elder-Ones" are really just bad interpretations describing how a group of lost space travelers founded a new colony on a new planet. Celaeno's rear-loading bay had me laughing in fits. And, really, it does tickle the mind and makes one start to wonder about our own human origins... (insert Girogio Tsoukalos Aliens meme)
Picturing the fervent religious zealots, the Sisters, wearing lab coats and face masks cracks me up.
The fact that this all-female world was created by a straight female homophobe is just... such delicious irony. And she thought that by removing gender differences, all the girls are just going to hold hands and be best friends forever! *chortles
I guess the only thing that I would want changed is longer endings in all the books. (And possibly a reappearance of Hal...)
April 7, 2024
Jane Fletcher really hits her stride in this one.
As always, the sense of injustice is prevalent, and her foes are formidable. The pacing is even, and the characters, while not immediately likable, make themselves known and grow during the journey. The mix between the exiled settlement, the wilderness, and the pious society as locations also works well and it doesn't feel static or stagnant. The politics and deceptions were well conceived.
I find the society fascinating, with the mix of fantasy world based on a sci-fi concept.
Now that I know what to expect from this series the reread might be more comfortable.
As always, the sense of injustice is prevalent, and her foes are formidable. The pacing is even, and the characters, while not immediately likable, make themselves known and grow during the journey. The mix between the exiled settlement, the wilderness, and the pious society as locations also works well and it doesn't feel static or stagnant. The politics and deceptions were well conceived.
I find the society fascinating, with the mix of fantasy world based on a sci-fi concept.
Now that I know what to expect from this series the reread might be more comfortable.
March 3, 2018
I am a big fan of the Celaeno Series by Jane Fletcher. This fantasy series is unparalleled within its genre. Simply love it. I don't know how many times I have read the series but "Dynasty of Rogues" is definitely my favourite.
June 4, 2022
Loved this one plenty of little plot twists that kept it interesting. A lot of the schemes were pretty convenient like they worked out a bit too well but overall still really enjoyable definitely one of my favourites in the series.
August 31, 2021
no epilogue!!!! >:(
my roommate is incredulous because i read more than 450k words today
my roommate is incredulous because i read more than 450k words today
August 14, 2018
I love the whole series (aside from the last one/ the first one chronologically). I’d recommend reading them all. A great story, and very well written.
January 15, 2021
This one in the series has a weird plot. It makes a bit of sense that not every story can be about a Ranger, a Militiawoman, or a Sister or Temple Guard or Imprinter or Cloner. They were going to have to find some less heroic main characters to write about eventually.
I found this one interesting because it has a bit of the "opposites attract" or "we argue because we really like each other" romance trope, but it didn't fall into either entirely. Also, the main character was far from perfect and I thought her decision at the end was realistic and in line with her character, which impressed me.
The romance in this one had less insta-love than the previous two novels in the series I read and better sex scenes (although, still only one or two of those). I appreciate that these books seem to want to have it all - an engrossing plot, feelings and character based romance, a bit of steamy sex, and sci-fi world-building that's totally awesome, even if treated as very after-the-fact information. If you're writing lesbian romance, you could certainly get away with trying a lot less hard, but Jane Fletcher continues to surprise and delight.
I read this one-third in the series; after Rangers at Roadsend and Temple at Landfall. It's also really interesting to see how the characters in these books tangentially tie together. I appreciate that they are connected, but it's not just like "Oh, we'll take the single wing-woman character from the last book and make the next book about her." There's a lot more to it than that, and with every book, as I recognize the connections between the books, I feel like I learn more about the world these characters inhabit, and its history.
I found this one interesting because it has a bit of the "opposites attract" or "we argue because we really like each other" romance trope, but it didn't fall into either entirely. Also, the main character was far from perfect and I thought her decision at the end was realistic and in line with her character, which impressed me.
The romance in this one had less insta-love than the previous two novels in the series I read and better sex scenes (although, still only one or two of those). I appreciate that these books seem to want to have it all - an engrossing plot, feelings and character based romance, a bit of steamy sex, and sci-fi world-building that's totally awesome, even if treated as very after-the-fact information. If you're writing lesbian romance, you could certainly get away with trying a lot less hard, but Jane Fletcher continues to surprise and delight.
I read this one-third in the series; after Rangers at Roadsend and Temple at Landfall. It's also really interesting to see how the characters in these books tangentially tie together. I appreciate that they are connected, but it's not just like "Oh, we'll take the single wing-woman character from the last book and make the next book about her." There's a lot more to it than that, and with every book, as I recognize the connections between the books, I feel like I learn more about the world these characters inhabit, and its history.
March 9, 2009
Last in Fletcher's Celaeno series I still had to read, if I'm not too confused it's chronologically the last one, too.
It was a very intense read, as the blurb stated, it wasn't really easy to know who to trust and the perspective changed so that I wasn't always sure what was what, but in a good way.
The romance part was enjoyable, if a little rushed in the beginning in that it wasn't really clear what all of a sudden attracted them to each other. The end was also very rushed, I'll never understand why you built a story in 200+ pages only to wrap it up in three. But really, that's a small aspect of the whole package. I enjoyed getting to know two (mostly) new characters and catch up with those I already knew. And I liked that the story was mainly told by an outsider of the new settlements, someone who never quite fit in, it made for darn good story-telling. It gave new perspective to both life in Westernfort/Ginasberg and in the Homelands.
Lots of little things were mentioned that really make me look forward to more from this world. More interaction with the homelands for example promises exciting plots for future novels, I could see a revolution somewhere down the road, and opening up of the library and all the ruckus that would cause. Good times.
I really hope there will be more.
It was a very intense read, as the blurb stated, it wasn't really easy to know who to trust and the perspective changed so that I wasn't always sure what was what, but in a good way.
The romance part was enjoyable, if a little rushed in the beginning in that it wasn't really clear what all of a sudden attracted them to each other. The end was also very rushed, I'll never understand why you built a story in 200+ pages only to wrap it up in three. But really, that's a small aspect of the whole package. I enjoyed getting to know two (mostly) new characters and catch up with those I already knew. And I liked that the story was mainly told by an outsider of the new settlements, someone who never quite fit in, it made for darn good story-telling. It gave new perspective to both life in Westernfort/Ginasberg and in the Homelands.
Lots of little things were mentioned that really make me look forward to more from this world. More interaction with the homelands for example promises exciting plots for future novels, I could see a revolution somewhere down the road, and opening up of the library and all the ruckus that would cause. Good times.
I really hope there will be more.
October 13, 2009
Serviceable fantasy novel with some fun worldbuilding elements - I liked the way the author incorporated the worship of the original colonists into an all female world. Where I had a harder time with this was in the areas of character and plot. The former seemed pretty shallow and the latter to be a series of hurt/comfort scenarios pulled together to bring out the oft-telegraphed happy ending. Not the worst book of its type certainly but my sense from the good parts was that the author could do better.
January 7, 2012
+ New characters.
+ Interesting story with betrayal, adventure, strategy and conspiracy.
+ Good "mature" scene.
+ Good number of pages.
- Old characters don't talk much
- Some characters lack description
Overall: It was a good book and I enjoyed the story to the end, with an interesting ending. Some characters were not described, but they were not that important. The old characters don't appear much, but it's still always good to read them in the story.
+ Interesting story with betrayal, adventure, strategy and conspiracy.
+ Good "mature" scene.
+ Good number of pages.
- Old characters don't talk much
- Some characters lack description
Overall: It was a good book and I enjoyed the story to the end, with an interesting ending. Some characters were not described, but they were not that important. The old characters don't appear much, but it's still always good to read them in the story.
September 23, 2014
This is my favourite book of this series. I love how Riki and Tanya interact, at the beginning they are hilarious with their attempts to show each other up and then by the end they are so sweet with each other. Also Grandma Izzy is amazing! I would read an entire series just about her and her life. Truly excellent!
February 2, 2011
While there's much less character development present than in the other books in this series, the intricate plot to pull the wool over the eyes of the antagonists made up for it nicely. however, I find myself stalling out on this series at this point.
October 23, 2012
While the second and third book in the series were enjoyable, this one is more on par with the first book. It's okay, but not brilliant and it drags in places. I guess I found the characters a less engaging in this one.
May 23, 2014
a good read along with the series
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews