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Hero #4
Heroes at Risk
Shield Lee Mallorough and her Source Shintaro Karish have returned to High Scape. It's bad enough the townspeople are robbing tombs for ashes to use in ritualistic magic. It gets worse when they start to murder the living for their remains.
328 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 25, 2009
7 people are currently reading
487 people want to read
About the author
Moira J. Moore
11 books232 followersI started writing my first book when I was fourteen. I was sitting in class, bored out of my mind, and I started writing a story about a girl sitting in class, bored out of her mind. Except her class was in a school of wizardry. That story turned into a book. An awful book that I tried and failed to get published. I'm grateful the internet wasn't a thing back then, because I surely would have put it online and it would be out there forever.
Since then I've continued to write books and continued to put life experiences in them. My frustration with alpha male characters, the extreme weather I experienced while living in Japan, and contract law have all shown up in my fantasy novels.
The first six books in my Heroes series were published by ACE. ACE didn't want to finish the series, so I did, by self-publishing Heroes Reward. I fell so in love with the self-publishing experience that I have no inclination to seek a traditional publisher again.
My most recent book, The CEO Can Drop Dead, is a contemporary novel that portrays common romance tropes as the abusive behaviour that they are. I mean no disrespect to the romance genre as a whole, I don't believe it's any less worthy than any other genre, but the prevalence of abusive behaviour disturbs me, so I wrote a book about it. 25% of my royalties is donated to the Ontario Coalition of Rape Crisis Centres.
Since then I've continued to write books and continued to put life experiences in them. My frustration with alpha male characters, the extreme weather I experienced while living in Japan, and contract law have all shown up in my fantasy novels.
The first six books in my Heroes series were published by ACE. ACE didn't want to finish the series, so I did, by self-publishing Heroes Reward. I fell so in love with the self-publishing experience that I have no inclination to seek a traditional publisher again.
My most recent book, The CEO Can Drop Dead, is a contemporary novel that portrays common romance tropes as the abusive behaviour that they are. I mean no disrespect to the romance genre as a whole, I don't believe it's any less worthy than any other genre, but the prevalence of abusive behaviour disturbs me, so I wrote a book about it. 25% of my royalties is donated to the Ontario Coalition of Rape Crisis Centres.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
September 16, 2011
I wish I felt more positive about this book, because the world the author has created is really interesting and I quite liked it. But the lack of growth from the narrator (Lee) over four books becomes wearing, and her selfishness and self-absorption is so unrelenting, it makes it impossible to enjoy being in her head, which makes it further difficult to feel invested in how her journey and relationship with Taro unfolds.
I feel like the author has taken on the incredibly difficult task of taking an unlikeable character, putting us in her head, and trying to take us on her journey of growth and helping us like her in spite of her unlikeableness. Unfortunately, after four books (especially read back to back) the heroine's pervasive inability to see outside herself was wearing, resulting in this book being my least favorite of the series. And even though I know there are only 2 books left, I find myself in need of a break. I believe I'll come back to the last 2 at some point, though!
I feel like the author has taken on the incredibly difficult task of taking an unlikeable character, putting us in her head, and trying to take us on her journey of growth and helping us like her in spite of her unlikeableness. Unfortunately, after four books (especially read back to back) the heroine's pervasive inability to see outside herself was wearing, resulting in this book being my least favorite of the series. And even though I know there are only 2 books left, I find myself in need of a break. I believe I'll come back to the last 2 at some point, though!
September 3, 2009
I was positively quivering with excitement to get my hands on HEROES AT RISK, the fourth book in Moira J. Moore's excellent and incredibly fun heroes series. With each installment I've grown fonder of Taro and Lee. Bonded together as Source and Shield, respectively, they've been forced to deal with each other for awhile now and it's always a treat to watch them circle each other once more, to attempt to navigate the treacherous waters that lay between their opposing natures and meet somewhere in the middle. For the most part this has meant Taro putting up with Lee's obstinately pragmatic way of leading her life. For a brief period, in book three, things changed and a few important things came to the forefront in their relationship. I, for one, was very anxious to see what happened when they returned to their habitual home and roles.
Back from "that damned island," as Taro would say, our Pair barely have time to settle back into the Triple S Residence at High Scape before danger and intrigue come knocking on their door. The city seems to have changed in their absence. The inhabitants of High Scape are uneasy. After the events of the first two books, they have lost faith, so to speak, in the powers that be. Namely, the Triple S. There are rumors of magic, of people casting spells using the ashes of the dead. And not just any dead, but those considered most lucky in life. It is hoped that the luck of the dead will rub off on the living and change the course of their lives for the better. Never mind that no one really believes in magic and that such activities are highly illegal. Meanwhile a mysterious illness is cutting down scores of people in the city and no one seems to be able to put their finger on the source of the plague. Faced with these challenges, Lee has very little available energy left to address the state of her personal life, which has become a bit more complicated than she'd like.
Taro and Lee are their old selves (particularly Lee) and I had a smile on my face for the majority of this book because I know them. I know all about them. And here we are adventuring together once more. I had high expectations for developments in this fourth installment in the series. There were so many wonderful scenes and I delighted in the familiar tug and pull of their interactions. It did take me a minute to remember that Lee, as ever, has to move at her own pace. That back in her normal environment, she would revert to form to a certain degree. And I find myself, like Taro, stabbing my hands in my hair in frustration. At the same time, I love how fiercely loyal she is to Taro. When he is threatened she is there. She refuses to let anyone run over her volatile, at times vulnerable, partner and that made me smile. Several times. Because in other respects Lee struggles in this book. She's made decisions that make the running of her life, at least the way she'd like it to be run, difficult. She keeps running into walls trying to reconcile her choices with her expectations and it was hard to watch her sometimes as she takes two steps backward for every one step forward. Fortunately, she has Taro to remind her of what's important. Or at least he tries to. Lee's inability to see beyond her carefully constructed world view does not make things easy. And whenever he tries to get through to her, his emotions are so raw they lend an edge to every scene he's in, a couple of which are exquisitely sweet.
I have to highlight one particular scene that I'm still thinking about days later. It came at a point in the story where I wasn't expecting to be touched. But it was incredibly effective in demonstrating why I love Lee, even when she's at her most thickheaded:
That last line. Sigh. I was reading in bed with DH asleep beside me and thus no one to turn to and say, "I just read something breathtaking." Because it's Lee, at her most vulnerable. And Lee is never vulnerable. But even when she is unable to see herself or anything else for what it is, she sees Taro. She knows what he's worth. And that's why I love Lee. So even though I rolled my eyes at her a few times and wanted to shake her several more times than that, I enjoyed this story very much and am looking forward to the next. I have a hunch we're going to learn a lot more about how Sources and Shields came to be and how they're inherently different from the "regulars," as Lee calls them. Lastly, HEROES AT RISK has a killer last line. It's irreverent and funny and guaranteed to make you close the book with a smile on your face.
Back from "that damned island," as Taro would say, our Pair barely have time to settle back into the Triple S Residence at High Scape before danger and intrigue come knocking on their door. The city seems to have changed in their absence. The inhabitants of High Scape are uneasy. After the events of the first two books, they have lost faith, so to speak, in the powers that be. Namely, the Triple S. There are rumors of magic, of people casting spells using the ashes of the dead. And not just any dead, but those considered most lucky in life. It is hoped that the luck of the dead will rub off on the living and change the course of their lives for the better. Never mind that no one really believes in magic and that such activities are highly illegal. Meanwhile a mysterious illness is cutting down scores of people in the city and no one seems to be able to put their finger on the source of the plague. Faced with these challenges, Lee has very little available energy left to address the state of her personal life, which has become a bit more complicated than she'd like.
Taro and Lee are their old selves (particularly Lee) and I had a smile on my face for the majority of this book because I know them. I know all about them. And here we are adventuring together once more. I had high expectations for developments in this fourth installment in the series. There were so many wonderful scenes and I delighted in the familiar tug and pull of their interactions. It did take me a minute to remember that Lee, as ever, has to move at her own pace. That back in her normal environment, she would revert to form to a certain degree. And I find myself, like Taro, stabbing my hands in my hair in frustration. At the same time, I love how fiercely loyal she is to Taro. When he is threatened she is there. She refuses to let anyone run over her volatile, at times vulnerable, partner and that made me smile. Several times. Because in other respects Lee struggles in this book. She's made decisions that make the running of her life, at least the way she'd like it to be run, difficult. She keeps running into walls trying to reconcile her choices with her expectations and it was hard to watch her sometimes as she takes two steps backward for every one step forward. Fortunately, she has Taro to remind her of what's important. Or at least he tries to. Lee's inability to see beyond her carefully constructed world view does not make things easy. And whenever he tries to get through to her, his emotions are so raw they lend an edge to every scene he's in, a couple of which are exquisitely sweet.
I have to highlight one particular scene that I'm still thinking about days later. It came at a point in the story where I wasn't expecting to be touched. But it was incredibly effective in demonstrating why I love Lee, even when she's at her most thickheaded:
Taro came into the room, strands of hair flying free of the tie at the back of his skull, sweat plastering his cream-colored shirt against his chest and back. I wished I had an artist's skill, that I could make renderings of him in all his states of beauty. He would never want to look at them, or even know about them. I would just like them for myself. Maybe he would want to see them when he was much older, and beautiful in a different way.
That last line. Sigh. I was reading in bed with DH asleep beside me and thus no one to turn to and say, "I just read something breathtaking." Because it's Lee, at her most vulnerable. And Lee is never vulnerable. But even when she is unable to see herself or anything else for what it is, she sees Taro. She knows what he's worth. And that's why I love Lee. So even though I rolled my eyes at her a few times and wanted to shake her several more times than that, I enjoyed this story very much and am looking forward to the next. I have a hunch we're going to learn a lot more about how Sources and Shields came to be and how they're inherently different from the "regulars," as Lee calls them. Lastly, HEROES AT RISK has a killer last line. It's irreverent and funny and guaranteed to make you close the book with a smile on your face.
August 27, 2014
While I enjoyed the progression of Lee and Taro's relationship, much of the rest of the book was something of a wasteland (for me). This disappoints me because you so rarely get a developing, steadily progressing relationship in fiction and this is a good one. You can see that Lee and Taro love each other (even if Lee is more than a little damaged about it) and that their love has deep and abiding meaning to each in their own way. This is rarely done so well.
Unfortunately, the rest of the story is kind of a mess. The pacing is erratic, the story is meandering (with Lee being unbearably obtuse at times), and the world building additions are weak. And don't get me started about that ending. It's abrupt and a bit manipulative (though not a cliffhanger so much as a premature slice of the next book tacked onto this one) and with elements that are pretty out of the blue.
As much as I enjoyed the central romance (particularly that Moore didn't take any of the easy shortcuts), the surrounding story was distracting (and not in a good way). That significantly cut my enjoyment . . . enough so that I'm unsure if I'm interested in continuing with the next or not.
Unfortunately, the rest of the story is kind of a mess. The pacing is erratic, the story is meandering (with Lee being unbearably obtuse at times), and the world building additions are weak. And don't get me started about that ending. It's abrupt and a bit manipulative (though not a cliffhanger so much as a premature slice of the next book tacked onto this one) and with elements that are pretty out of the blue.
As much as I enjoyed the central romance (particularly that Moore didn't take any of the easy shortcuts), the surrounding story was distracting (and not in a good way). That significantly cut my enjoyment . . . enough so that I'm unsure if I'm interested in continuing with the next or not.
January 16, 2014
This is a rant. And it contains spoilers.
January 1, 2014
Well, I liked the last one and thought this would be good too and...it was not what I expected.
Picks off where the last ended, Lee and Taro are back in High Scape, where things are circling the drain. There's a new element of magic introduced, although that they don't believe sources and shields are a bit magic is puzzling to me. The main focus of the first half or more like first two thirds of the book is the lack of communication between Lee and Taro about their newly developed relationship. Basically they love each other but neither really believes it and it's all very contrived honestly. Then there's the mystery of the book about the magic, misuse of human ashes and some murder. Most of it had me screaming in frustration at Lee's utter inability to see things that don't make sense to her and an insistence to rearrange anything she does see to situations that make sense to her based on her own view of the world. Like Taro eventually dumping her because she's not pretty and he's too flighty or that everyone who believes in something like magic is illogical just because it doesn't make sense to her or not thinking someone wants to kill her even after he basically admitted it! Perhaps it's mostly personal irritation, but most of the book felt superfluous and plodding. The action picks up near the end and a lot of new things are being thrown at you that just feels like more set up.
I think one of the redeeming parts were the hints at a Landing, the origin of the people in this land, suggests colonization of a planet and space travel. Might just be interesting to see if that's ever expanded on. And whether or not Lee and Taro ever get their acts together. Might be nice to get a Shintaro perspective once in a while too.
Picks off where the last ended, Lee and Taro are back in High Scape, where things are circling the drain. There's a new element of magic introduced, although that they don't believe sources and shields are a bit magic is puzzling to me. The main focus of the first half or more like first two thirds of the book is the lack of communication between Lee and Taro about their newly developed relationship. Basically they love each other but neither really believes it and it's all very contrived honestly. Then there's the mystery of the book about the magic, misuse of human ashes and some murder. Most of it had me screaming in frustration at Lee's utter inability to see things that don't make sense to her and an insistence to rearrange anything she does see to situations that make sense to her based on her own view of the world. Like Taro eventually dumping her because she's not pretty and he's too flighty or that everyone who believes in something like magic is illogical just because it doesn't make sense to her or not thinking someone wants to kill her even after he basically admitted it! Perhaps it's mostly personal irritation, but most of the book felt superfluous and plodding. The action picks up near the end and a lot of new things are being thrown at you that just feels like more set up.
I think one of the redeeming parts were the hints at a Landing, the origin of the people in this land, suggests colonization of a planet and space travel. Might just be interesting to see if that's ever expanded on. And whether or not Lee and Taro ever get their acts together. Might be nice to get a Shintaro perspective once in a while too.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 8, 2018
While I can concur with other reviewers about how little Lee has changed and how she can still be incredibly self-centered and oblivious (and how it's getting a little old), if she was any other way, events would unfold differently. It might be that the way things went in this book is the only/best/preferred way by the author to get through the arc she has planned, and while not ideal, it does work, and it has not hindered me enjoying this book/series. While some character growth in Lee would be nice, I'm not stopping reading because it hasn't happened. (Though I do keep wondering when she'll finally start actively thinking about all those questions she tends to put away for later.)
I was more thrown by the seemingly sudden character shifts and turn-arounds in secondary characters - few of which showed any signs whatsoever before. Then again, Lee and Karish had been gone a full year, and a lot can happen in that time. But still.
I can also see how Lee doesn't think of what her and Karish do as magic, because it is innate and they have received training for something seen as relatively "normal". They've never considered it as something magical because they and their talents are treated as completely normal, accepted occurrences. A bit of the Triple S's brainwashing hasn't hurt either.
I did like Karish being blunt with Lee about his feelings for her, though I can't necessarily agree with the strong shift in Doran's character to bring it about. It would be nice if Lee would speak up more about her feelings too, instead of continually giving curt answers to Karish and keeping all her real thoughts for only the reader to hear - you would think that by now they've been through enough together where she would have a little more confidence in Karish.
I was more thrown by the seemingly sudden character shifts and turn-arounds in secondary characters - few of which showed any signs whatsoever before. Then again, Lee and Karish had been gone a full year, and a lot can happen in that time. But still.
I can also see how Lee doesn't think of what her and Karish do as magic, because it is innate and they have received training for something seen as relatively "normal". They've never considered it as something magical because they and their talents are treated as completely normal, accepted occurrences. A bit of the Triple S's brainwashing hasn't hurt either.
I did like Karish being blunt with Lee about his feelings for her, though I can't necessarily agree with the strong shift in Doran's character to bring it about. It would be nice if Lee would speak up more about her feelings too, instead of continually giving curt answers to Karish and keeping all her real thoughts for only the reader to hear - you would think that by now they've been through enough together where she would have a little more confidence in Karish.
January 3, 2013
Sorry, I'm stopping here. The series is going nowhere - I don't see anything building up, so if the main characters are not fascinating, there's no point in going on. I like Taro well enough, and might have loved him if this book is more about romance. The problem is utterly self-centered Lee, in whose view everyone not conforming to her narrow, restricted, contorted logic is a prat. I thought book 3 was supposed to give her some depth. It didn't. The only change it had brought is that she's more vocal in her abuse. While that makes her more human, it doesn't make her any likable. At the beginning of the series I had difficulty believing Taro's supposed to be at late twenties, and now I'm starting to think maybe it's not only Taro who hasn't matured up to one's age.
It's a shame, really. the author has built a solid, spectacular world and she has been managing it very nicely. Maybe she's not entirely unpredictable, but she doesn't distort natural flow of events to pull off ridiculous miracles. I don't know why such a sensible author would persist in developing an insensible character.
It's a shame, really. the author has built a solid, spectacular world and she has been managing it very nicely. Maybe she's not entirely unpredictable, but she doesn't distort natural flow of events to pull off ridiculous miracles. I don't know why such a sensible author would persist in developing an insensible character.
August 16, 2010
I can't decide which is my favorite of these books, two or four. This installment in the "Heroes" series brings Lee and Taro back to their home, but there is much to encounter that is changed and a great mystery is revealed. Wow that was vague, but whatever.
I have to admire all the planning and seed laying that went on in previous books, there is surely a path laid here that will surely affect books in the future. Just very enjoyable and sweetly progressive storytelling, I just love this series! A real page turner!
I have to admire all the planning and seed laying that went on in previous books, there is surely a path laid here that will surely affect books in the future. Just very enjoyable and sweetly progressive storytelling, I just love this series! A real page turner!
November 23, 2009
http://janicu.livejournal.com/90449.html
The Hero series so far:
Book 1: Resenting the Hero
Book 2: The Hero Strikes Back
Book 3: Heroes Adrift
****** mild spoilers for the rest of the series, go read my earlier reviews if you aren't up to this book yet *****
The Premise: This is the fourth book in the Heroes series. Shield Dunleavy (Lee) Mallorough and Source Shintaro (Taro) Karesh are back on the mainland (they henceforth only refer to Flatwell as "that damned island") and have to face their old life and friends again, which leads to some awkward situations because their relationship is not really clear. Meanwhile High Scape has gone from being a hotbed of disaster to a cold spot, but the people of High Scape have taken to a new trend - dabbling in magic. Some particularly misguided citizens are murdering "lucky" people so they can use their ashes for these spells. Of course, Lee's first thought is that her handsome partner is prime pickings for another kidnapping.
My Thoughts: This was a good one. I don't know what it is, but I love to analyze these characters, especially Lee, and we get a lot of fodder for discussion when Lee as usual gets everything all wrong by assuming things in her own blind way. Oh god do I want to shake this woman! Of course, if she was the type of person who was better at reading people (or even as half as good as she thinks she is), I don't think this series would be as fun. As people have commented on my earlier review, she's the ultimate unreliable narrator. I was amused that in this book Lee's faults such as this one, are pointed out to her face, much to her irritation. I agreed with Lee that it was rude, but I think she should listen to some of these criticisms sometimes.
The primary relationship I love to observe is of course Lee and Taro's. I'm going to point at Angie's review where she said it perfectly with "it's always a treat to watch them circle each other once more, to attempt to navigate the treacherous waters that lay between their opposing natures and meet somewhere in the middle". After the events of the last book where the Pair reach a new plateau in their relationship, some may think that everything is settled, but this is Lee we're talking about. She as usual makes her assumptions about Taro and when they're back in High Scape, she bases her actions on these assumptions. It's a little telling how Lee shields herself from grief by doing things like this, but she's emotionally inexperienced. Taro's reaction to this is so Taro as well - he gets emotional, but his reaction seems to bounce harmlessly off Lee's Impervious Wall of Logical Assumption. Watching things come to a head was one of the reasons why I love this series.
While I'm obsessed with gleaning meaning from every interaction between Taro and Lee, the story is really not primarily focused on their relationship. Lee spends a lot of time in the city trying to learn about the new trend in dabbling with magic. She questions why it's considered illegal if it is supposed to be all fake anyway, and her discoveries raise some interesting questions about whether magic is real and what it means for Sources and Shields. This intersects with some of the other odd discoveries that she and Taro have made over the past few books regarding their powers and their world. I'm not sure where the author is going to take this, but I sense she has a plan, and I'm really curious to see how it all comes together. Moore introduces a new group of people in High Scape who seem to know a lot about magic and hold a lot of power, and meanwhile there has been a shift in rulers which suggests that their world is on the cusp of change. I think I'd be most happy to see some sort of change in the expectations that are put on Sources and Shields. Throughout the series, there have been questions about how Things Are Done regarding for example, the role of the Triple S in politics, if Sources and Shields are allowed to have a relationship, and whether it's fair that Sources and Shields never have to pay for anything or never get paid.
A not on the cover: I love the colors and I like how Lee looks, but this is not what Taro looks like in my head. He doesn't look good to me here.
Overall: Possibly my favorite book in this light fantasy series so far. I'm loving Lee and Taro's relationship, and the way the series is unfolding has me very interested in where it's all going.
The Hero series so far:
Book 1: Resenting the Hero
Book 2: The Hero Strikes Back
Book 3: Heroes Adrift
****** mild spoilers for the rest of the series, go read my earlier reviews if you aren't up to this book yet *****
The Premise: This is the fourth book in the Heroes series. Shield Dunleavy (Lee) Mallorough and Source Shintaro (Taro) Karesh are back on the mainland (they henceforth only refer to Flatwell as "that damned island") and have to face their old life and friends again, which leads to some awkward situations because their relationship is not really clear. Meanwhile High Scape has gone from being a hotbed of disaster to a cold spot, but the people of High Scape have taken to a new trend - dabbling in magic. Some particularly misguided citizens are murdering "lucky" people so they can use their ashes for these spells. Of course, Lee's first thought is that her handsome partner is prime pickings for another kidnapping.
My Thoughts: This was a good one. I don't know what it is, but I love to analyze these characters, especially Lee, and we get a lot of fodder for discussion when Lee as usual gets everything all wrong by assuming things in her own blind way. Oh god do I want to shake this woman! Of course, if she was the type of person who was better at reading people (or even as half as good as she thinks she is), I don't think this series would be as fun. As people have commented on my earlier review, she's the ultimate unreliable narrator. I was amused that in this book Lee's faults such as this one, are pointed out to her face, much to her irritation. I agreed with Lee that it was rude, but I think she should listen to some of these criticisms sometimes.
The primary relationship I love to observe is of course Lee and Taro's. I'm going to point at Angie's review where she said it perfectly with "it's always a treat to watch them circle each other once more, to attempt to navigate the treacherous waters that lay between their opposing natures and meet somewhere in the middle". After the events of the last book where the Pair reach a new plateau in their relationship, some may think that everything is settled, but this is Lee we're talking about. She as usual makes her assumptions about Taro and when they're back in High Scape, she bases her actions on these assumptions. It's a little telling how Lee shields herself from grief by doing things like this, but she's emotionally inexperienced. Taro's reaction to this is so Taro as well - he gets emotional, but his reaction seems to bounce harmlessly off Lee's Impervious Wall of Logical Assumption. Watching things come to a head was one of the reasons why I love this series.
While I'm obsessed with gleaning meaning from every interaction between Taro and Lee, the story is really not primarily focused on their relationship. Lee spends a lot of time in the city trying to learn about the new trend in dabbling with magic. She questions why it's considered illegal if it is supposed to be all fake anyway, and her discoveries raise some interesting questions about whether magic is real and what it means for Sources and Shields. This intersects with some of the other odd discoveries that she and Taro have made over the past few books regarding their powers and their world. I'm not sure where the author is going to take this, but I sense she has a plan, and I'm really curious to see how it all comes together. Moore introduces a new group of people in High Scape who seem to know a lot about magic and hold a lot of power, and meanwhile there has been a shift in rulers which suggests that their world is on the cusp of change. I think I'd be most happy to see some sort of change in the expectations that are put on Sources and Shields. Throughout the series, there have been questions about how Things Are Done regarding for example, the role of the Triple S in politics, if Sources and Shields are allowed to have a relationship, and whether it's fair that Sources and Shields never have to pay for anything or never get paid.
A not on the cover: I love the colors and I like how Lee looks, but this is not what Taro looks like in my head. He doesn't look good to me here.
Overall: Possibly my favorite book in this light fantasy series so far. I'm loving Lee and Taro's relationship, and the way the series is unfolding has me very interested in where it's all going.
July 20, 2011
I went into this book pretty hopeful. I’d really liked the first two books in the series, been a little frustrated with the third, but looked forward to how certain story arcs begun in Heroes Adrift would work themselves out in the sequel.
First, let me say that nothing that bothered me about Adrift got any better in Risk. Lee’s still the annoying, whiny, insecure Shield who doesn’t understand that Taro really likes her. And Taro’s still the annoying, whiny, insecure Source who doesn’t seem to realize that Lee doesn’t know that he likes her. Their relationship, which could have fed some great tension, felt about as slapdash as everything else in this novel. When Taro finally told Lee he loved her, I just shrugged and waited for them to get it over with.
The plot — if there was one — was really just a series of events strung together in which Lee and Taro had small-scale agency but no large-scale ability to affect events. It’s been the case in the past with these books that things obvious to the audience take their time being realized by the characters, but this book was far worse than the others on that count. And the amount of tie-up needed at the end to figure out what was going on was just ridiculous. I’m especially not a fan of the “by the way, Sources find it difficult to channel events at their home location” fact coming up two pages before Taro and Lee are reassigned to Taro’s homeland estate. If that fact were true, I would have wanted to know it earlier so it felt like a little less of a set-up.
Those heroes are at risk, all right — risk of my never picking up another one of their books again.
First, let me say that nothing that bothered me about Adrift got any better in Risk. Lee’s still the annoying, whiny, insecure Shield who doesn’t understand that Taro really likes her. And Taro’s still the annoying, whiny, insecure Source who doesn’t seem to realize that Lee doesn’t know that he likes her. Their relationship, which could have fed some great tension, felt about as slapdash as everything else in this novel. When Taro finally told Lee he loved her, I just shrugged and waited for them to get it over with.
The plot — if there was one — was really just a series of events strung together in which Lee and Taro had small-scale agency but no large-scale ability to affect events. It’s been the case in the past with these books that things obvious to the audience take their time being realized by the characters, but this book was far worse than the others on that count. And the amount of tie-up needed at the end to figure out what was going on was just ridiculous. I’m especially not a fan of the “by the way, Sources find it difficult to channel events at their home location” fact coming up two pages before Taro and Lee are reassigned to Taro’s homeland estate. If that fact were true, I would have wanted to know it earlier so it felt like a little less of a set-up.
Those heroes are at risk, all right — risk of my never picking up another one of their books again.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 1, 2009
Considering how excited I was for this book to come out, I was really disappointed by it. I became very frustrated by Lee constantly misunderstanding or making assumptions about people, and her not being able to grasp the importance of certain events. All of her bickering with Taro felt like it was plot manipulation by the author rather than actually being character driven. The mysteries of the book were obvious, and that Lee couldn't figure them out angered me. Every twenty pages or so I would be pulled out of the book thinking 'if I could sit them down for a half hour and make them talk about what is going on, none of these problems would exist.' This is a great series, but this one felt like filler, and hopefully the next one will return to the high quality that I expect.
That said, I still have a mad crush on Taro.
That said, I still have a mad crush on Taro.
July 16, 2017
FIRST FEMALE DOCTOR ANNOUNCED FOR DOCTOR WHO AND A GOOD BOOK?! 'Tis a good day indeed
September 27, 2020
3. 5 stars
July 30, 2017
Lee and Taro are finally back in High Scape after entirely too much time spent running around on the now deceased Empress's errands, ready to get back to their actual job and the comforts of home. Things aren't all that rosy, however, as the change in their relationship is causing problems between them as well as with those who surround them, and strange things are once again going on in the city. A craze for spellcasting has swept into High Scape in their absence, tombs are being robbed so the ashes can be used in magic rituals, and a strange sickness is spreading at the riverfront... and somehow Lee and Taro end up getting dragged into all of it.
As much as I adore this series, I really didn't enjoy this installment as much as the previous books. Somehow all the characters annoyed me immensely in this one - Lee came across as even more narrowminded and stand-offish, while Taro seemed even more recklessly childish and kept throwing jealous temper tantrums because these two idiots simply can't manage to communicate like reasonable adults for one goddamn second and it's all exceedingly frustrating to follow. I'd have liked to spend more time with the rest of the plot instead of these two bitching at each other and being total morons when it comes to all the pesky relationship stuff.
As much as I adore this series, I really didn't enjoy this installment as much as the previous books. Somehow all the characters annoyed me immensely in this one - Lee came across as even more narrowminded and stand-offish, while Taro seemed even more recklessly childish and kept throwing jealous temper tantrums because these two idiots simply can't manage to communicate like reasonable adults for one goddamn second and it's all exceedingly frustrating to follow. I'd have liked to spend more time with the rest of the plot instead of these two bitching at each other and being total morons when it comes to all the pesky relationship stuff.
October 18, 2009
Thanks to Angie, I've stumbled onto many, many new series that have totally sparked my interest and have left me clamoring for more. Out of all the authors she's recommended, Moira J. Moore's Heroes Series has to be one of my new favorites. Its got danger, bucket loads of humor, intricate world building, romance, and of course, characters that you can't help but adore. Not only that, but it's one of the most original story lines I've come across in quite a while. Heroes at Risk is the fourth novel in a progressively entertaining series about Source Taro and Shield Lee, a set of Pairs who through a unique bond are able to control natural disasters like earthquakes and hurricanes. Lee and Taro have been circling each other for quite some time and in the last book, things sort of came to a head between them and changed everything - in my opinion - for the best. But that could all change as they return to High Scrape to resume their normal duties as a Pair.
Back in High Scrape at last, Lee is more than happy to be back to her normal life, ready to do some shielding, ready to avoid any kind of danger or intrigue. So of course, Taro finds his way into trouble while attempting to chase down grave robbers during their first week back. Naturally, Lee is less than pleased. But trouble seem to follow the Pair wherever they go, leading to the discovery that the citizens of High Scrape have turned to magic - namely casting spells using the ashes of people supposed to be lucky - in hopes of avoiding a repeat of the calamities (famine, extreme weather) High Scrape has recently been plagued with. The regulars aren't exactly pleased with how Triple S (basically the employers of Source and Shields) have been handling things and are looking for anything to fix it. Lee and Taro are more than disbelieving in the power of magic, not to mention the fact that it is highly illegal, but when people throughout the city begin to fall prey to a mysterious illness, the Pairs find themselves at risk and are more than determined to find out what is going on.
I was so excited to get back to the sometimes exasperating, yet always entertaining, world of Lee and Taro. Taro has this whole devil-may-care-handsome-aristocrat thing going on, yet in this book he really shows how insecure he is at times, especially where Lee is concerned. Although sometimes I wanted to shake Lee for her obliviousness - making Taro spell out exactly what he means all the time - she is so dang lovable. Her inner dialogue is too funny, full of self-depreciating humor and little quips on the intelligence (or lack thereof) of the people around her. I love her thoughts, but I still think a book, or even a short story, from Taro's perspective (hint, hint!) would be seriously welcomed. Srsly. Through Lee's eyes, we get such a limited view of Taro's thoughts and it would be perfect to know what he's thinking much of the time - even if it is just that Lee is a complete idiot. Fantastic book Ms. Moore, please keep them coming.
Oh, and as far as last lines go, this one is a killer.
Back in High Scrape at last, Lee is more than happy to be back to her normal life, ready to do some shielding, ready to avoid any kind of danger or intrigue. So of course, Taro finds his way into trouble while attempting to chase down grave robbers during their first week back. Naturally, Lee is less than pleased. But trouble seem to follow the Pair wherever they go, leading to the discovery that the citizens of High Scrape have turned to magic - namely casting spells using the ashes of people supposed to be lucky - in hopes of avoiding a repeat of the calamities (famine, extreme weather) High Scrape has recently been plagued with. The regulars aren't exactly pleased with how Triple S (basically the employers of Source and Shields) have been handling things and are looking for anything to fix it. Lee and Taro are more than disbelieving in the power of magic, not to mention the fact that it is highly illegal, but when people throughout the city begin to fall prey to a mysterious illness, the Pairs find themselves at risk and are more than determined to find out what is going on.
I was so excited to get back to the sometimes exasperating, yet always entertaining, world of Lee and Taro. Taro has this whole devil-may-care-handsome-aristocrat thing going on, yet in this book he really shows how insecure he is at times, especially where Lee is concerned. Although sometimes I wanted to shake Lee for her obliviousness - making Taro spell out exactly what he means all the time - she is so dang lovable. Her inner dialogue is too funny, full of self-depreciating humor and little quips on the intelligence (or lack thereof) of the people around her. I love her thoughts, but I still think a book, or even a short story, from Taro's perspective (hint, hint!) would be seriously welcomed. Srsly. Through Lee's eyes, we get such a limited view of Taro's thoughts and it would be perfect to know what he's thinking much of the time - even if it is just that Lee is a complete idiot. Fantastic book Ms. Moore, please keep them coming.
Oh, and as far as last lines go, this one is a killer.
May 6, 2015
Upon finishing this book I found myself increasingly angry. You might think that that would be an indication that the book was somehow powerful, to move someone to anger. That's not it, though. That's really not it.
At first I was merely disappointed with my reading experience but the more I thought about it, the angrier I got. When I read something where I find both just about all the characters and the events that unfold uninspired and unpleasant I expect to be rewarded at some point. At some point, the characters will turn around, even a little, and become likable or at least interesting... heck, even tolerable would do in this case. I expect that the slapdash plot will come together, that something is resolved, that something at least indicates that some forward-movement has been made. There's none of that here, I found. All punishment, no reward. I feel cheated.
When I first started reading this series a few days ago, I held the opinion that the interesting stage would get me through while the characters might take some time to grow, and to grow on me. I didn't really enjoy the first two books that much but I thought the third, which I actually kinda liked, would be a turning point. Finally! Something that was bound to lead to character growth. Only in the next book (this one) it was like nothing ever happened. If anything, the characters were even more unlikable and obtuse. At some point, while reading about self-absorbed main character Dunleavy being confused and surprised by anything and everything and everyone around her, I started hearing a singsong voice (must have been mine) in my head going: "It's because you're an idiot. You're an idiot. You're a huge idiot. And you're selfish! God. Why am I reading this? I dislike you. I dislike you so much. You're an idiot." And that's not healthy.
Maybe I'm being too harsh. There is definitely a lot of merit in Moore's world building. It's just that I dislike everyone in these books and even the plots are nothing to write home about. But it might just be me. Looking at the reviews, clearly there are plenty of people that enjoyed this book. So maybe it's just me who finds no pleasure in reading about perpetually stupid, uninsightful, self-absorbed, dull and unambitious people who never talk, nor ever make any effort to learn to do anything new (or anything, really) or grow as people. Not my cup of tea. I've looked into the final three books in this series and based on what I've learned, I've decided it's best to stop here. There just is no reward. The end.
At first I was merely disappointed with my reading experience but the more I thought about it, the angrier I got. When I read something where I find both just about all the characters and the events that unfold uninspired and unpleasant I expect to be rewarded at some point. At some point, the characters will turn around, even a little, and become likable or at least interesting... heck, even tolerable would do in this case. I expect that the slapdash plot will come together, that something is resolved, that something at least indicates that some forward-movement has been made. There's none of that here, I found. All punishment, no reward. I feel cheated.
When I first started reading this series a few days ago, I held the opinion that the interesting stage would get me through while the characters might take some time to grow, and to grow on me. I didn't really enjoy the first two books that much but I thought the third, which I actually kinda liked, would be a turning point. Finally! Something that was bound to lead to character growth. Only in the next book (this one) it was like nothing ever happened. If anything, the characters were even more unlikable and obtuse. At some point, while reading about self-absorbed main character Dunleavy being confused and surprised by anything and everything and everyone around her, I started hearing a singsong voice (must have been mine) in my head going: "It's because you're an idiot. You're an idiot. You're a huge idiot. And you're selfish! God. Why am I reading this? I dislike you. I dislike you so much. You're an idiot." And that's not healthy.
Maybe I'm being too harsh. There is definitely a lot of merit in Moore's world building. It's just that I dislike everyone in these books and even the plots are nothing to write home about. But it might just be me. Looking at the reviews, clearly there are plenty of people that enjoyed this book. So maybe it's just me who finds no pleasure in reading about perpetually stupid, uninsightful, self-absorbed, dull and unambitious people who never talk, nor ever make any effort to learn to do anything new (or anything, really) or grow as people. Not my cup of tea. I've looked into the final three books in this series and based on what I've learned, I've decided it's best to stop here. There just is no reward. The end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 12, 2015
I didn't enjoy this installment as much as the previous ones. The plot had the potential to be really interesting but I don't think enough was done with it. I liked the progression of the relationship between Lee and Taro but I felt it lacked in descriptive interactions. It's clear that they love each other but I didn't get to read enough about it.
I had trouble believing that neither one of them believe in magic and spell-casting, especially given the nature of what it is they do regularly controlling weather events and natural disasters. I found that I missed the crazy weather descriptions of the previous books and found the spell-casting plot to be kind of boring. I thought that the wrap up left too many loose ends.
I was happy with the progression of Taro's character from fancy pants pretty boy man slut to committed, serious significant other. But I didn't like how Lee was just calmly waiting for him to end things with her or the fact that she was seemingly just as disaffected by its impending end as with any of her other past relationships. I missed the emotion she displayed in the last book. She kind of went back to her flat emotionless persona in this one, but with the same dryly humorous internal monologues. I wanted more of that out loud.
I like that in this series there is a fabulous lack of gender specific stereotyping. Taro is often the one who needs rescuing and I loved the fact that the author made it clear he could get his butt kicked and that women are just as capable as men.
I had trouble believing that neither one of them believe in magic and spell-casting, especially given the nature of what it is they do regularly controlling weather events and natural disasters. I found that I missed the crazy weather descriptions of the previous books and found the spell-casting plot to be kind of boring. I thought that the wrap up left too many loose ends.
I was happy with the progression of Taro's character from fancy pants pretty boy man slut to committed, serious significant other. But I didn't like how Lee was just calmly waiting for him to end things with her or the fact that she was seemingly just as disaffected by its impending end as with any of her other past relationships. I missed the emotion she displayed in the last book. She kind of went back to her flat emotionless persona in this one, but with the same dryly humorous internal monologues. I wanted more of that out loud.
I like that in this series there is a fabulous lack of gender specific stereotyping. Taro is often the one who needs rescuing and I loved the fact that the author made it clear he could get his butt kicked and that women are just as capable as men.
August 31, 2009
An awful lot of juggling balls went up into the air in this book, and only a few of them were caught again. This book seemed to spend a lot of time on the Lee/Taro romantic comedy and not much on secondary characters or plot -- there were many characters back from the first and second books, but only some of them had anything much to do, and the new characters introduced were only roughly sketched out. If they're going to be as important as was implied, I'd really like to know more about them, and since Lee didn't care, we didn't learn. (Which, on a technical note, I do have to admire! In fact, I'd really have preferred getting less information on Ben to match what Lee didn't notice. I don't think that this is too hypocritical -- what I'd truly like would be to reach into the book and shake Lee until she pays more attention to people and plot, so, y'know, plenty of points for suspension of disbelief.)
All that said, I enjoyed this book quite a bit as a section of the ongoing series! Clearly we're building toward something interesting here, and I hope it won't be too long before we get book five.
All that said, I enjoyed this book quite a bit as a section of the ongoing series! Clearly we're building toward something interesting here, and I hope it won't be too long before we get book five.
September 13, 2009
The latest installment in a fun, creative series, this brings magic into the mix of what makes this world different from our own.
Most interesting was the growth and development of Lee, the heroine of the series. She's returned from Flatwell with circumstances having changed, but also having taken to heart a lot of the things she learned there. She's introspective, and, while she rails against the observations others make, she takes some things to heart, and is developing into a better person for it.
So many fantasy series feature a certain stagnation, so that we'll still recognize things from one book to the next. Moore avoids this trap, allowing the characters to change and grow, and for circumstances to alter as they must. It makes for a pleasing read.
Most interesting was the growth and development of Lee, the heroine of the series. She's returned from Flatwell with circumstances having changed, but also having taken to heart a lot of the things she learned there. She's introspective, and, while she rails against the observations others make, she takes some things to heart, and is developing into a better person for it.
So many fantasy series feature a certain stagnation, so that we'll still recognize things from one book to the next. Moore avoids this trap, allowing the characters to change and grow, and for circumstances to alter as they must. It makes for a pleasing read.
October 19, 2014
Maybe 2.5 stars, but I rounded up because I liked it better than the last one.
Well, the relationship was done relatively well in this book; I liked that.
But pretty much everything else is grating on my last nerve. First of all, ALL THE THINGS HAPPENED. The plot was all over the place on top of the relationship drama. There were about three other external sources of drama. One too many. And the overarching politics is getting tedious.
Taking a break from this series, I think.
Well, the relationship was done relatively well in this book; I liked that.
But pretty much everything else is grating on my last nerve. First of all, ALL THE THINGS HAPPENED. The plot was all over the place on top of the relationship drama. There were about three other external sources of drama. One too many. And the overarching politics is getting tedious.
Taking a break from this series, I think.
December 27, 2009
Lee and Karish are back in High Scape, the city notorious for more natural disasters than anywhere else in their world. Though for some reason, there don’t seem to be any. Just a sickness stalking everyone who lives by the riverfront. An infatuation with casting spells that is leading people to dig up ashes of the dead and set fires inside their own houses. Oh, and the disaster that is Lee & Karish’s relationship.
Another fast-paced volume in Moira Moore’s Hero Series.
Another fast-paced volume in Moira Moore’s Hero Series.
October 21, 2011
Dunleavy has proved to me in this book that she is smart in many ways...but beyond DENSE when it comes to the everyday functions of life. Boy did I want to hit her a couple times this book. But I enjoyed this book, and the further adventures of her and Shintaro. This was not as enjoyable as the last book..I admit, but still satisfying,
October 25, 2016
It says a lot for any book that takes me this long to read (due to LIFE) that I at no point got bored or lost interest. It also says a lot for this series that I dig it so much even though I'm not a huge fan of Lee (the main protagonist). It's simply unlike anything else I've read, and oh so enjoyable.
April 15, 2015
what a disappointment. All the bad stuff kept happening with no good things to offset it. then it ended on an enraging cliff hanger.
January 30, 2023
2.5 stars
This novel picks up soon after Book 3 and we continue our adventure with couple Taro and Lee. I was interested in seeing how our couple develop and grow after 4 books into the series.
Unfortunately, the book overall let me down which was a shame. I will be continuing the series but I am trepidatious now with the rest of the book. I think my biggest problem with this book was the lack of growth in Lee's character. As our POV character, the book hinges on how Lee's voice and character lands and, in this book, she did not land well at all.
The author continues to use the "Lee is oblivious" schtick but here it comes across juvenile and actively stupid. The miscommunication / lack of any talking between Lee and Taro got super annoying. It was so forced and it felt like the author was padding the length of the book. After all the time that Lee and Taro spent and their so-called deep connection / friendship, it was juvenile that they did not try to explain their respective positions to each other. It came across as a lack of trust between the two and not "cute" or funny - which was the tone I think the author was trying to go for.
Lee is meant to be judgmental and it is clear that she is narrow-minded but that continued for too long for me to be invested in her. We needed her growth to be a little more on page and tied into the plot more directly.
As always, the plot was confusing and not the main focus of the book and not coherent to me. Most of the plot was incidental to the book and came into to focus right at the end. This was unfortunate because the shakey characterization left most of the book feeling kind of meh.
I do hope that there is more growth in the next books because after the high of Book 1 and Book 2 I feel that the series has kind of lost of its way. This book was fine - I could see what the author was trying to do but it really didn't land well for me. I think this book had been edited down a little because not enough happened in the 328 pages. It felt all a bit samey by the end - it was all the same internal dialogue.
I added 1/2 star for the momentum of the ending which gives me a little more hope for Book 5. Fingers crossed!
This novel picks up soon after Book 3 and we continue our adventure with couple Taro and Lee. I was interested in seeing how our couple develop and grow after 4 books into the series.
Unfortunately, the book overall let me down which was a shame. I will be continuing the series but I am trepidatious now with the rest of the book. I think my biggest problem with this book was the lack of growth in Lee's character. As our POV character, the book hinges on how Lee's voice and character lands and, in this book, she did not land well at all.
The author continues to use the "Lee is oblivious" schtick but here it comes across juvenile and actively stupid. The miscommunication / lack of any talking between Lee and Taro got super annoying. It was so forced and it felt like the author was padding the length of the book. After all the time that Lee and Taro spent and their so-called deep connection / friendship, it was juvenile that they did not try to explain their respective positions to each other. It came across as a lack of trust between the two and not "cute" or funny - which was the tone I think the author was trying to go for.
Lee is meant to be judgmental and it is clear that she is narrow-minded but that continued for too long for me to be invested in her. We needed her growth to be a little more on page and tied into the plot more directly.
As always, the plot was confusing and not the main focus of the book and not coherent to me. Most of the plot was incidental to the book and came into to focus right at the end. This was unfortunate because the shakey characterization left most of the book feeling kind of meh.
I do hope that there is more growth in the next books because after the high of Book 1 and Book 2 I feel that the series has kind of lost of its way. This book was fine - I could see what the author was trying to do but it really didn't land well for me. I think this book had been edited down a little because not enough happened in the 328 pages. It felt all a bit samey by the end - it was all the same internal dialogue.
I added 1/2 star for the momentum of the ending which gives me a little more hope for Book 5. Fingers crossed!
December 8, 2024
Maturity?
I am happy to say I didn’t see any glaring typos or grammatical errors in this volume.
This story wasn’t as engaging as her previous books. I did like the way the author introduced the deeper hidden element of her fictional society, however, much of the story telling seemed disjointed.
We were introduced to new characters with prominent roles, as though they were part of the story from the first book. I understand that a developing story is going to bring new ideas and plot twists. In the process you may think of new characters who you would have liked to have included from the beginning. When it becomes too late to have done that, it would better to find a different way to work those characters into prominence than simply pretending like they were there all along.
This volume dealt with several mature themes in immature ways. The main characters are in their mid to late twenties, but react to their relationships as though they only have the mental and emotional maturity of teenagers. It saddens me to think the author might be so jaded about love and commitments that she believes some of what she wrote. I thought she did a good job of capturing the problems that arise when people just make assumptions about each other rather than openly communicating their thoughts, feelings, or concerns. My hope is that she is leading her characters to overcome their jaded ideas about lifelong, enduring and committed relationships.
Every relationship has its ups and downs. When you are truly committed to each, you work through your challenges together. It won’t be easy, but the beautiful thing that comes from years of fighting to stay committed to each other, totally makes the effort worth. In the end, it’s not about falling in or out of love. It’s about recognizing that love is a verb and love is a choice. You can’t control your partner’s level of commitment, but you can control your own.
I am happy to say I didn’t see any glaring typos or grammatical errors in this volume.
This story wasn’t as engaging as her previous books. I did like the way the author introduced the deeper hidden element of her fictional society, however, much of the story telling seemed disjointed.
We were introduced to new characters with prominent roles, as though they were part of the story from the first book. I understand that a developing story is going to bring new ideas and plot twists. In the process you may think of new characters who you would have liked to have included from the beginning. When it becomes too late to have done that, it would better to find a different way to work those characters into prominence than simply pretending like they were there all along.
This volume dealt with several mature themes in immature ways. The main characters are in their mid to late twenties, but react to their relationships as though they only have the mental and emotional maturity of teenagers. It saddens me to think the author might be so jaded about love and commitments that she believes some of what she wrote. I thought she did a good job of capturing the problems that arise when people just make assumptions about each other rather than openly communicating their thoughts, feelings, or concerns. My hope is that she is leading her characters to overcome their jaded ideas about lifelong, enduring and committed relationships.
Every relationship has its ups and downs. When you are truly committed to each, you work through your challenges together. It won’t be easy, but the beautiful thing that comes from years of fighting to stay committed to each other, totally makes the effort worth. In the end, it’s not about falling in or out of love. It’s about recognizing that love is a verb and love is a choice. You can’t control your partner’s level of commitment, but you can control your own.
March 1, 2022
I have to admit, I didn't expect to despise this book mote than the last one. But the last one at least had Aryne. This book had nothing I actually liked, beyond the progression of Lee and Taro's relationship, but even that is so insignificantly small in comparison ot everything else. It seems everyone in this universe except for a few are pricks, including our dear protagonist. I understand that she was raised a certain way and I think her brain is fascinating. But it's not in any shape likeable. The woman speaks like she's a sociopath, going through extremes in emotions constantly and not seeing anything wrong about herself. It's disheartening to see little to no growth in the only point of view we see. The woman is ignorant, stubborn, and quick to judgement. Yet she acts as if she's never been any of that. It's infuriating. I actually really like her in earlier books. She seemed level-headed and reasonable and though I understand she's gone through a lot, it's just simply not progressing. It's not getting better. And I'm frustrated and sad because of it. This book is draining.
Misunderstandings and just totally avoidable circumstances happen in this book that make it all worse.
And I'm sad this story just seemed to move past every connection made in the last book. It's like that island was completely forgotten except for being referred to as an abominable place or being only good for silly costumes.
Misunderstandings and just totally avoidable circumstances happen in this book that make it all worse.
And I'm sad this story just seemed to move past every connection made in the last book. It's like that island was completely forgotten except for being referred to as an abominable place or being only good for silly costumes.
July 2, 2017
In the beginning this book felt like it was going to be a filler book, but it picks up towards the middle and that ending leaves you wanting more. I have so many different emotions about this book. First Dunleavy (Lee) did sort of get on my nerves. I tried to understand where she was coming from, but the fact the she constantly was not able to see what's right in front of her was so annoying. Also the way that she felt the need to protect or find someway to justify the actions of those who were in the wrong was just frustrating. I did love the progression of Lee and Taro's relationship. I'm glad that Taro spoke up and had the relationship conversation with Lee. Like I mentioned before the adventure part was more of a set up for the next book, but it was so well done. I can't wait to see what happens in the next book and what the future holds for our favorite pair.
February 25, 2025
It was finally Dunleavy’s turn to be in mortal peril! This book felt a little bit more repetitive than the last ones. We were introduced with a new reason the world was about to end which was interesting. We also got even more character development. The ending is the worst kind of cliff hanger. I can’t wait to read the next one!
P.S. I guess in an abstract way the cover has to do with the entire book??? But in a literal way, it’s not at all related to what happened in the book.
P.S. I guess in an abstract way the cover has to do with the entire book??? But in a literal way, it’s not at all related to what happened in the book.
October 7, 2019
Great! Except for the prolonged misunderstanding and non-communication between Karish and Lee. I saw the plot before I read it, but that only lessened my enjoyment a tiny bit. The dynamic characters and the slow unveiling of more of this world will keep me reading this series. It’s also good fun.
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