A more intriguing middle-tale than one expected… here we track with our group of unique and magical characters separated by worlds and dimensions and silent pacts, and now, also by seas. We are introduced to new characters who have purpose, depth, and carry grudges and motives of their own into an already complex landscape in this fantasy world.

The major focus in this novel is ‘The Element Games’, which are meant for magical entities from neighbouring lands to compete in battles using their abilities to manipulate the elements. But there is more political intrigue going on behind the scenes as well. And the action is packed in, as well as romance, the hint of romance, combat and the hint of greater wars, a deeper look into characters presented to us in the first novel, and the revelation of a shared enemy that has the potential to consume them all if they do not join forces to defend their cities, their kings, and the peace they have worked so hard to maintain.

Seriously: a middle book unlike common middle books, this one strives forward with plot, action, character development, pressing towards the end of its middle part, which is still satisfying despite leaving us curious as to what comes next.

 

An insightful exposé with an unexpected twist. A quick read with overflowing repercussions written by a master author. 

Crafty banter. Cunning. Humorous. Witty. Twists and unexpected resolutions. A touch of romance with one real steamy scene… and a whole lot of silliness. 

Nothing overly literary or contrived but some delightfully ridiculous enjoyment.

Fast-paced start to a broad adventure. Full with fantasy and romance and magic, clueless kings and scheming princes and seas to explore between four Londons in parallel worlds. Characters are cheeky and feisty, and some are quite dark, but there is a lot left to yet discover...  as a stand alone, it would potentially collapse, but as a start, it holds promise. 

Note on the audiobook: I didn’t like the way the audiobook narrator made Delilah sound like a daft young unhinged teen, bit of a mental case actually, but it wasn’t the right tone or voice for her. Lila’s dialogue was smarter and more self-assured than that, so I’d recommend getting a paper or ebook copy so you can do your own voices in your head.

As expected, the grey-eyed goddess was our narrator for this blood-soaked, murder-mad finale to Penelope’s story. In true-to-nature dry and unemotional tones, Athena brings a passionate people to the page —and the people bring our war-hardened narrator to her knees. For all she tries to deny a teeming love that surges within, she is turned and compelled and broken by love on all fronts. 

And so are we.

But the voices of Athena’s precious poets get the last word—for love’s sake. 

‘Odysseus.’

‘Penelope.’

The only disappointment is that this is the final in the trilogy of Penelope’s tale. I’ve been waiting ages for someone to retell this tale, and Claire North’s writing in the unique voices of Hera, Aphrodite, and Athena have had me enthralled on the island of Ithaca since February... 

A fantastic story meets a mediocre author who gives us repetitive bits, without the sophistication Homer imbues in repetition, and retells this surely fascinating tale with all the intrigue one might find in a weak cup of tepid tea. Our should-be hero, while numbly passed from master to master, kind though some were, lacks the stirring character we see in the historical photos we have of him. Instead, he sets himself on autopilot in the midst of a potentially riveting warrior-lifestyle at the behest of the greatest warring powers of formational Japanese history, allowing us potentially moving glimpses at a scant selection of childhood memories. But the telling doesn’t live up to its potential.

While this is a story wanting to be told, the author delivers wooden descriptions (with brief moments of affecting dialogue) that act as markers for what are extraordinary events told in the simplistic style of: ‘this happens then that happens’. At least the broken timeline, intertwining his memories of previous horrors and wonders of his life with the present, added a slice of interest to this bland telling.

I wanted this telling to come to life as this story merits. I wanted to be moved, hooked and immersed in the details of this African Samurai’s life, and yet, all I felt was disappointment that I didn’t feel more.

I was hoping for so much more.

Different take in this one as Charlotte is the accused...

In using the Interview-then-Flashback setup, we were able to walk around the story from the end to the beginning and back again in a full circle, looping together all the questions and tying up the many mysteries broached at the opening. Very creative telling. 

I enjoyed the outworking of all the plot twists and in-depth explanations and unravelling red herrings, though I can see how some might find this tedious. Blushing glimpses into the ongoing relationship between Lord Ingram and Charlotte were sweet and sultry and satisfactory. And the cast of secondary and tertiary characters received more limelight in both England and France—with all the customary delectable descriptions of delicatessens and desserts to tease the tastebuds throughout.

Certainly not the novel to begin this series with, but as a #8 for avid fans of these characters, this was the slow-and-thoughtful edition to the growing collection. There was a bit of action (of the fights and night flights sort), but I’m hoping for more of that in the next installation. 

Finally read the first in this series, not that they need read in any particular order as each story is distinctly a thing of its own.

I appreciate this imaginative rewriting of history into something a less blood-thirsty humanity might have preferred. If only…

These are all gaffs and romance, full of dramatic irony and happy endings, minus all the bloody unpalatable truths of that violent path of kings and princesses of the Tudor and Stuart lineage we know from real history. Here we see that tragic and regrettable story (through the lens of a 21st Century perspective) as we might have written it, had we been given the chance. 

It is a thrilling adventure of multiple blossoming romances among the shape-shifting nobility, caricatured scheming dukes and interfering conniving mothers. But our young heroes avert wars and change the course of history in ways that leave you thinking long after the last page is turned just what might the world have been like had things happened this way instead…

This is the last novel of this series, and while there were many things about this story I believe were wrapped up quite nicely, and some things were left pleasantly to the imagination, other bits left me scowling in disappointment. Of course, I’m not going to specify or I’d spoil all the fun, but I will say that previous instalments of this stretching story gave us great hopes for members of the overall cast, and yet, here, in this, their finale, we find certain of these characters succumbing to mediocrity and presenting as fickle remnants of the powerful beings they once were.

Other characters, however, have flourished, grown—exploded, really—and have won me over since first appearing as unsavoury shrews in Shadow and Bone.

The characters and writing style in the Six of Crows duo remain superior in this collection of seven novels, though Zoya and Nikolai gather increased interest as the series builds and climaxes and peters to its not-quite-bow-tied finish. Others rise and fall in interest, while one bright shining star among the original ‘Group of Six’ falls flat (at least for me), and I am grateful for the power of my own imagination that can take that character and develop an alternate ending which is far more desirable. That said, the last chapter holds up a sparkling promise, bringing together our best-loved characters and planting a seed that hints this story, even though it’s well over, isn’t over quite yet and all our marvellous favourites will continue their world-saving, love-motivated adventures in the shadowed recesses of our ignited imaginations.

Good storytelling does that. And this final duo presents a vast improvement on the simplistic storytelling Bardugo displayed in the first trilogy. However, the world-building in this series is its forte, and I appreciate all the continued escapades in this fantasy setting.

Bardugo presents current social and political issues through story and characters in this work, if somewhat subtly, which is true to her form. She raises questions between the lines and gives the consistent answer that love is the answer; I find that moral and lesson a staple in her writing, an expected ideology that sets aside class and status where the shared motive of equity and love are principal.

I savoured this novel as told in the voice of Aphrodite. That should say about enough as to the tone, and it was delightfully crass and suggestive (yes, delightfully so, as compared with cheap-crass, this was a bared toe over the line in the way only Aphrodite could get away with in polite society). The goddess of love gives us her seductive retelling of what happens on Ithaca in the decade after Troy falls and Odysseus is still lost at sea leaving Penelope, his not yet widow waiting wife to host a slew of unwanted potential suitors.

Claire North embodies this character of Aphrodite with aplomb, brings her lascivious perspective to life as she details the winks and gestures and inner desires of every character she brushes past, evoking blushing giggles despite the solemnity of the twisted tale. 

But what a tale.

The myths of the Greeks continue to be a timeless favourite, and Claire North’s second in the trilogy of Penelope is all we hoped for. As Hera related the first part of the tale, I anticipate the final song will be sung by Athena… maybe Artemis(?), but whether it be the Virgin Hunter or the Virgin Warrior, I’m looking forward to The Last Song of Penelope.