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chuckroFly Into Fire
This is the sequel to Broken and the second in a trilogy. It’s fine, it’s a fun read, but it’s not up to the quality that Broken was, and there’s no question it’s a sequel. If you haven’t read the first book, you’ll be lost as to who a lot of the characters are and what events they’re talking about. The real sense of danger and excitement from the first book, along with the real pathos of Broken’s situation there, overshadows anything that happens here, despite a couple of solid attempts at showing how horrifying the Reformists are.
Overall: I’m going to read the third book for hopes that it’ll tie together some dangle plot threads from these two (which seems like—I think the author is setting something up as a revelation, but we’ll find out), and the quality of that may redeem this, but on its own, it’s only okay.
A Series of Ordinary Adventures
A series of slice-of-life sort stories, full of vivid details and small pieces of life that intersect with the supernatural in more or less adventurous ways. (And despite there being an element of danger in a couple of them, “horror” is never a word I’d use in the descriptions.)
If you read this, be sure to stick it through to the third story, “The Woman Who Hatched a Fairy’s Egg.” The first, “Hawks and Dragon,” has an interesting bit of world building that isn’t expanded upon and interesting characterization that isn’t developed—it looks like it was intended as a much longer story but was hastily cut down. The second, “Breaking the Silence” falls a bit flat in the “I see what you were trying for but you didn’t quite get there” sort of way. The third story is really well-done slice-of-life story with a bit of fantastica in it that just gives it a little charm.
“Mr. Singh Versus the Minotaur” was trying too hard at its twist and it ended up a bit abrupt. This needed another pass to work in more proper foreshadowing and a smoother transition. The characterization was still fine, though. Charmed by Prince Charming was a bit of an odd story out, in that in didn’t really have any supernatural elements and was just a random bit of queer/poly fiction. “Seven for the Devil” could have worked as an episode of the Twilight Zone (and is one of the only stories with blatant sex scenes). “The Footballer’s Mistress” could have been smoother, though the two semi-distinct sections (a ghost is fascinated by modern life; a ghost is fascinated by a footballer’s mistress) each work on their own.
There are several things that are clear about the author, having read this: 1. The author is British. These stories are all set in England and are absolutely full of Britishisms. (Remember that a “fag” is a cigarette. It’ll make your life easier.) 2. The author is queer (his/her/their author bio very carefully uses no pronouns). The stories are all pleasantly matter-of-fact about the number of LGBTQ characters in them and one features a bi/poly character who can effortlessly present as either gender.
Overall: There’s one story that’s really worth it, and six that aren’t bad, but could be better. Not a book for homophobes or anyone who hates the British.
Usual disclaimer: I know the publisher of both books.
This is the sequel to Broken and the second in a trilogy. It’s fine, it’s a fun read, but it’s not up to the quality that Broken was, and there’s no question it’s a sequel. If you haven’t read the first book, you’ll be lost as to who a lot of the characters are and what events they’re talking about. The real sense of danger and excitement from the first book, along with the real pathos of Broken’s situation there, overshadows anything that happens here, despite a couple of solid attempts at showing how horrifying the Reformists are.
Overall: I’m going to read the third book for hopes that it’ll tie together some dangle plot threads from these two (which seems like—I think the author is setting something up as a revelation, but we’ll find out), and the quality of that may redeem this, but on its own, it’s only okay.
A Series of Ordinary Adventures
A series of slice-of-life sort stories, full of vivid details and small pieces of life that intersect with the supernatural in more or less adventurous ways. (And despite there being an element of danger in a couple of them, “horror” is never a word I’d use in the descriptions.)
If you read this, be sure to stick it through to the third story, “The Woman Who Hatched a Fairy’s Egg.” The first, “Hawks and Dragon,” has an interesting bit of world building that isn’t expanded upon and interesting characterization that isn’t developed—it looks like it was intended as a much longer story but was hastily cut down. The second, “Breaking the Silence” falls a bit flat in the “I see what you were trying for but you didn’t quite get there” sort of way. The third story is really well-done slice-of-life story with a bit of fantastica in it that just gives it a little charm.
“Mr. Singh Versus the Minotaur” was trying too hard at its twist and it ended up a bit abrupt. This needed another pass to work in more proper foreshadowing and a smoother transition. The characterization was still fine, though. Charmed by Prince Charming was a bit of an odd story out, in that in didn’t really have any supernatural elements and was just a random bit of queer/poly fiction. “Seven for the Devil” could have worked as an episode of the Twilight Zone (and is one of the only stories with blatant sex scenes). “The Footballer’s Mistress” could have been smoother, though the two semi-distinct sections (a ghost is fascinated by modern life; a ghost is fascinated by a footballer’s mistress) each work on their own.
There are several things that are clear about the author, having read this: 1. The author is British. These stories are all set in England and are absolutely full of Britishisms. (Remember that a “fag” is a cigarette. It’ll make your life easier.) 2. The author is queer (his/her/their author bio very carefully uses no pronouns). The stories are all pleasantly matter-of-fact about the number of LGBTQ characters in them and one features a bi/poly character who can effortlessly present as either gender.
Overall: There’s one story that’s really worth it, and six that aren’t bad, but could be better. Not a book for homophobes or anyone who hates the British.
Usual disclaimer: I know the publisher of both books.
