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iariaThe Witch With No Name by Kim Harrison
It was okay. I think it’s probably a good thing this is the last book because I’ve been generally liking each new book less than the last and this way I won’t be tempted to keep reading a series I no longer like.
+ My biggest issue is that I found Rachel really irritating. Her constant angsting over her relationship with Trent and how she wasn’t good enough for him and only ruined his life and how it was inevitable that their relationship would end and he would move on to what he was meant to be was so aggravating. I just wanted to shake her and tell her to get a grip and maybe some self-esteem. It drove me crazy and it happened a lot. (Also sad, I really shipped them earlier in the series and how things actually played out with them was surprisingly meh.)
Then there was her impulsiveness – also aggravating. Rachel’s biggest flaw has always been her impulsiveness and how she often doesn’t think before acting but it really grated in this book. For example, during the protest when she starts shouting about how Landon was lying. It’s just like, wtf are you thinking? Why are you drawing attention to yourself like that, idiot? Especially since only moments before she was trying desperately to get her mom out. Then there’s just how often bad guys quickly get the best of her. It’s like she ping pongs between being a powerful, competent demon-witch and ineffectual, again pretty much always how it’s been, but much more annoying in this book.
+ As for the resolution to the two main plots - eh, okay. I didn't see the solution to the vampire soul issue coming but actually I rather liked it. It would have been too easy just to give the souls back and have everything right. I would have liked if it had been Rachel who held Ivy's soul but that was never happening. The ever after solution of Newt becoming the new goddess and creating a new Ever After - okay then. The book did manage to wrap both plot points satisfactory enough which I didn't think possible after the last book so there is that.
+ There was not near enough Ivy and Jenks. Especially Ivy. What we did get was nice for the most part. I liked that in the epilogue it was revealed that Jenks is still alive by using the growth spell when he nears the end of his natural lifespan. It's how I saw it going and I'm happy the book confirmed it.
+ Newt as the new Goddess was interesting. I didn't mind it and I loved that afterwards she kept a specific eye on Rachel.
+ I never really liked Nina or Nina/Ivy and this book didn’t really change that. So a lot of the stuff to do with Nina ended up not really working for me.
+ I did like the last paragraph, minus the epilogue: “Because for all the changes, some things were immutable truths: friendship transcends all barriers, understanding trumps fear, and great power can always be surmounted by determination. And with Trent, Al, Ivy, and Jenks beside me, we had all three. I always had.” It’s a nice end. Of course the order of names with Trent and Al taking precedence over Ivy and Jenks annoys me. It just highlights how much the focus of the series has changed.
+ I liked most of what happened with Rachel/Al. I like that their love for each other was very much present and noticeable and I found Al a lot easier to understand in this book.
+ I was expecting Al's cocoon to play some part in... anything happening but it never really did which was a disappointment.
+ I liked most of how Ellasbeth was handled. I’m glad that Quen survived because I was pretty sure he was a goner but was sad about how little presence he had in the book. Also sad that Glenn didn’t make a final appearance.
+ The constant back and forth with Cormel got boring quickly.
Night Broken by Patricia Briggs
I really enjoyed this one. I do love how much of an easy read these books are. I can remember liking some of the middle books less but these last two books have been good. There wasn’t anything I actually disliked about this book.
+ Getting to see more of Coyote and Mercy’s relationship with him = excellent and something I’ve been wanting to see more of. I like what the writer is doing with him. It’s clear that he has plans for Mercy, that she one of his favoured children, and it looks like the books are going to continue exploring that, so yay.
+ Introducing a half-brother walker for Mercy = good. I like Gary. I like his interactions with Mercy and Coyote.
+ Christy turning back up and worming her way into the Hauptman house = surprisingly good! I really liked how Mercy dealt with her and how her affect on everyone was portrayed. Everything with how Jesse reacted to her and Mercy was also well done. I love that she wasn’t ever treated as if she could be an actual threat to Mercy/Adam. Oh, and Mercy putting dye in Christy's shampoo at the end was amusing.
+ Mercy and Adam = they have such a good relationship. I really enjoy them and they were great this book. Also I can’t help but compare them to Rachel/Trent from The Hollows series and unexpectedly finding them coming out on top. The only real issue I had was how much Adam kept giving in to Christy and that he never intervened on Mercy’s behalf. Yes, hierarchy and all that but he could have done something more.
+ The Walking Stick = I love it’s affection for Mercy. I loved every time she talked to it. I like that Coyote taught it and changed it, I liked Mercy’s interactions with Beauclaire. I loved it returning to Mercy at the end just in time to save her from a fall. I’m hoping that all the hints of it choosing to be Mercy’s weapon (for good) prove to play out that way.
+ Mercy vs Guayota, part 1 = Great. I love how competent Mercy was and that it played out in a very believable way. I bought how dangerous he was and that Mercy was able to fight back so effectively. I really love that Mercy hasn’t been over-powered like some urban fantasy heroines but still manages to be capable.
+ Mercy and the pack = Mercy’s tentative friendship with Honey was wonderful. I loved the scene with the pack watching the tapes and being all impressed. I liked those few short acknowledgements with Ben which showed him and Mercy to be on the same page. I loved Darryl refusing to leave Mercy, and Aurielle refusing to be taken to safety.
+ Stefan = I liked everything with Stefan. The fact that their bond is still there but he’s been keeping it secret because it couldn’t be changed and he knew it would drive Mercy crazy and harm their relationship (both selfish and for her). That he finally went to talk to her at pretty much the perfect moment – when she was tired and afraid for Adam and the others and unable to be angry, and thus accepting that he didn’t do anything really wrong (and it tying back to her lies to Kyle for his own good and his acceptance). I liked Adam’s seemingly angry reaction revealing itself after to be acceptance. I liked the kiss before Stefan removed the humans from harm. I vaguely remember shipping them a little but this book had me going ‘hmm, Adam/Mercy/Stefan, hmm’ even though I can’t see the books ever going there. It does make me interested to see what Briggs is planning to do with the bond and Stefan’s feelings for Mercy.
+ Mercy vs Guayota, part 2 = I love that Mercy basically defeated Guatoya by herself – even with a broken neck, burned and half-unconscious. Well, did half the work and then set things in motion for Joel to finish him. I loved her bringing Joel into the pack. I liked that Guatoya was a powerful spirit but that he had clearly delineated vulnerabilities and that in the end while they defeated him it was only to banish him back to his island.
+ Miscellaneous = Tad being more powerful then he seemed was interesting. I liked the scene between the Hauptmans and the lawyers and the assistant's inappropriate enthusiasm. I liked the little Mercy/Tony talk and her helping the police at the crime scene. I'd love if this lead to Mercy consulting for the police. I liked Lucia and Joel. I really could have done without the dogs being killed. Especially the fact that they were killed by Joel. I find that too sad.
It was okay. I think it’s probably a good thing this is the last book because I’ve been generally liking each new book less than the last and this way I won’t be tempted to keep reading a series I no longer like.
+ My biggest issue is that I found Rachel really irritating. Her constant angsting over her relationship with Trent and how she wasn’t good enough for him and only ruined his life and how it was inevitable that their relationship would end and he would move on to what he was meant to be was so aggravating. I just wanted to shake her and tell her to get a grip and maybe some self-esteem. It drove me crazy and it happened a lot. (Also sad, I really shipped them earlier in the series and how things actually played out with them was surprisingly meh.)
Then there was her impulsiveness – also aggravating. Rachel’s biggest flaw has always been her impulsiveness and how she often doesn’t think before acting but it really grated in this book. For example, during the protest when she starts shouting about how Landon was lying. It’s just like, wtf are you thinking? Why are you drawing attention to yourself like that, idiot? Especially since only moments before she was trying desperately to get her mom out. Then there’s just how often bad guys quickly get the best of her. It’s like she ping pongs between being a powerful, competent demon-witch and ineffectual, again pretty much always how it’s been, but much more annoying in this book.
+ As for the resolution to the two main plots - eh, okay. I didn't see the solution to the vampire soul issue coming but actually I rather liked it. It would have been too easy just to give the souls back and have everything right. I would have liked if it had been Rachel who held Ivy's soul but that was never happening. The ever after solution of Newt becoming the new goddess and creating a new Ever After - okay then. The book did manage to wrap both plot points satisfactory enough which I didn't think possible after the last book so there is that.
+ There was not near enough Ivy and Jenks. Especially Ivy. What we did get was nice for the most part. I liked that in the epilogue it was revealed that Jenks is still alive by using the growth spell when he nears the end of his natural lifespan. It's how I saw it going and I'm happy the book confirmed it.
+ Newt as the new Goddess was interesting. I didn't mind it and I loved that afterwards she kept a specific eye on Rachel.
+ I never really liked Nina or Nina/Ivy and this book didn’t really change that. So a lot of the stuff to do with Nina ended up not really working for me.
+ I did like the last paragraph, minus the epilogue: “Because for all the changes, some things were immutable truths: friendship transcends all barriers, understanding trumps fear, and great power can always be surmounted by determination. And with Trent, Al, Ivy, and Jenks beside me, we had all three. I always had.” It’s a nice end. Of course the order of names with Trent and Al taking precedence over Ivy and Jenks annoys me. It just highlights how much the focus of the series has changed.
+ I liked most of what happened with Rachel/Al. I like that their love for each other was very much present and noticeable and I found Al a lot easier to understand in this book.
+ I was expecting Al's cocoon to play some part in... anything happening but it never really did which was a disappointment.
+ I liked most of how Ellasbeth was handled. I’m glad that Quen survived because I was pretty sure he was a goner but was sad about how little presence he had in the book. Also sad that Glenn didn’t make a final appearance.
+ The constant back and forth with Cormel got boring quickly.
Night Broken by Patricia Briggs
I really enjoyed this one. I do love how much of an easy read these books are. I can remember liking some of the middle books less but these last two books have been good. There wasn’t anything I actually disliked about this book.
+ Getting to see more of Coyote and Mercy’s relationship with him = excellent and something I’ve been wanting to see more of. I like what the writer is doing with him. It’s clear that he has plans for Mercy, that she one of his favoured children, and it looks like the books are going to continue exploring that, so yay.
+ Introducing a half-brother walker for Mercy = good. I like Gary. I like his interactions with Mercy and Coyote.
+ Christy turning back up and worming her way into the Hauptman house = surprisingly good! I really liked how Mercy dealt with her and how her affect on everyone was portrayed. Everything with how Jesse reacted to her and Mercy was also well done. I love that she wasn’t ever treated as if she could be an actual threat to Mercy/Adam. Oh, and Mercy putting dye in Christy's shampoo at the end was amusing.
+ Mercy and Adam = they have such a good relationship. I really enjoy them and they were great this book. Also I can’t help but compare them to Rachel/Trent from The Hollows series and unexpectedly finding them coming out on top. The only real issue I had was how much Adam kept giving in to Christy and that he never intervened on Mercy’s behalf. Yes, hierarchy and all that but he could have done something more.
+ The Walking Stick = I love it’s affection for Mercy. I loved every time she talked to it. I like that Coyote taught it and changed it, I liked Mercy’s interactions with Beauclaire. I loved it returning to Mercy at the end just in time to save her from a fall. I’m hoping that all the hints of it choosing to be Mercy’s weapon (for good) prove to play out that way.
+ Mercy vs Guayota, part 1 = Great. I love how competent Mercy was and that it played out in a very believable way. I bought how dangerous he was and that Mercy was able to fight back so effectively. I really love that Mercy hasn’t been over-powered like some urban fantasy heroines but still manages to be capable.
+ Mercy and the pack = Mercy’s tentative friendship with Honey was wonderful. I loved the scene with the pack watching the tapes and being all impressed. I liked those few short acknowledgements with Ben which showed him and Mercy to be on the same page. I loved Darryl refusing to leave Mercy, and Aurielle refusing to be taken to safety.
+ Stefan = I liked everything with Stefan. The fact that their bond is still there but he’s been keeping it secret because it couldn’t be changed and he knew it would drive Mercy crazy and harm their relationship (both selfish and for her). That he finally went to talk to her at pretty much the perfect moment – when she was tired and afraid for Adam and the others and unable to be angry, and thus accepting that he didn’t do anything really wrong (and it tying back to her lies to Kyle for his own good and his acceptance). I liked Adam’s seemingly angry reaction revealing itself after to be acceptance. I liked the kiss before Stefan removed the humans from harm. I vaguely remember shipping them a little but this book had me going ‘hmm, Adam/Mercy/Stefan, hmm’ even though I can’t see the books ever going there. It does make me interested to see what Briggs is planning to do with the bond and Stefan’s feelings for Mercy.
+ Mercy vs Guayota, part 2 = I love that Mercy basically defeated Guatoya by herself – even with a broken neck, burned and half-unconscious. Well, did half the work and then set things in motion for Joel to finish him. I loved her bringing Joel into the pack. I liked that Guatoya was a powerful spirit but that he had clearly delineated vulnerabilities and that in the end while they defeated him it was only to banish him back to his island.
+ Miscellaneous = Tad being more powerful then he seemed was interesting. I liked the scene between the Hauptmans and the lawyers and the assistant's inappropriate enthusiasm. I liked the little Mercy/Tony talk and her helping the police at the crime scene. I'd love if this lead to Mercy consulting for the police. I liked Lucia and Joel. I really could have done without the dogs being killed. Especially the fact that they were killed by Joel. I find that too sad.
