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So I read another four Kate Daniels books (Magic Bleeds, Magic Mourns, Magic Slays, Magic Rises) by Ilona Andrews and This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone over the past couple of weeks.
The latter is amazing. When I first glanced at it, I figured it would take me a day to finish- it's novella length; only 274 pages. But reading it was like drinking potent wine- I had to savour each letter and subsequent encounter, and every few pages just left me swirling inside with awe at the sheer poetry and inventiveness of every exchange. Imagine infinite worlds and timelines where Nature has won out in many and Technology entrenched in others and so their agents keep going back in time to try to sabotage the other side and tip the balance further their way. Red is the ultimate agent for Tech, Blue the top dog for Nature. And that bitter rivalry over the fate of threads of time turns into a dare, which twists into creative correspondence, which grows into love that seems doomed despite the deep seated longing and admiration. At one point Red carries three of Blue's letters behind her eyeball, aching to read them and yet terrified to do so and blow the whole thing for both women, and that double edged pain just hurt me so good. Lol
I want a real copy even though the Kindle copy is a fraction of the price. So I am going to wait until March for the paperback version to become available, since prices should fall. Anyway, here is a post canon oneshot that El-Mohtar actually recommended on goodreads! I didn't know authors could do that legally!
I'm still really enjoying the Kate Daniels series- the non-stop fantasy action and mystery of each book is well-written and always thrilling! But I wanted to write about Kate's romance with Curran because while I think it's emotionally compelling, and I understand why they love each other despite all the buts, the latest twist for the Relationship Drama really left a bad taste in my mouth and makes it harder to ignore all the Red Flag signs the authors have been trying to explain away, often in retrospect. Like, he's just super controlling because of His Tragic Backstory/Role as Pack Alpha. He constantly uses threats and physical violence against romantic rivals because he's a Shapeshifter and it's Just Their Culture. He also broke into her place several times to watch her sleep and steal her food because it's Their Culture. I'm guessing there have been reader complaints about him displaying Classic Domestic Abuser signs, hence ( Spoilers for Magic Slays and Magic Rises ) Dislike. Dishonour on your cow. Can this stop being a trope in romance already?
Anyway, I thought I was making good progress into my pile of library books but it just keeps growing faster than I can get through them. I've put some holds on pause now- I was so used to having to wait forever between holds coming in but now I have the opposite problem!
Next up: The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin and Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson. Also Gunmetal Magic by Ilona Andrews, because I think it was the story in between Magic Slays and Magic Rises due to the continuity gap.
The latter is amazing. When I first glanced at it, I figured it would take me a day to finish- it's novella length; only 274 pages. But reading it was like drinking potent wine- I had to savour each letter and subsequent encounter, and every few pages just left me swirling inside with awe at the sheer poetry and inventiveness of every exchange. Imagine infinite worlds and timelines where Nature has won out in many and Technology entrenched in others and so their agents keep going back in time to try to sabotage the other side and tip the balance further their way. Red is the ultimate agent for Tech, Blue the top dog for Nature. And that bitter rivalry over the fate of threads of time turns into a dare, which twists into creative correspondence, which grows into love that seems doomed despite the deep seated longing and admiration. At one point Red carries three of Blue's letters behind her eyeball, aching to read them and yet terrified to do so and blow the whole thing for both women, and that double edged pain just hurt me so good. Lol
I want a real copy even though the Kindle copy is a fraction of the price. So I am going to wait until March for the paperback version to become available, since prices should fall. Anyway, here is a post canon oneshot that El-Mohtar actually recommended on goodreads! I didn't know authors could do that legally!
I'm still really enjoying the Kate Daniels series- the non-stop fantasy action and mystery of each book is well-written and always thrilling! But I wanted to write about Kate's romance with Curran because while I think it's emotionally compelling, and I understand why they love each other despite all the buts, the latest twist for the Relationship Drama really left a bad taste in my mouth and makes it harder to ignore all the Red Flag signs the authors have been trying to explain away, often in retrospect. Like, he's just super controlling because of His Tragic Backstory/Role as Pack Alpha. He constantly uses threats and physical violence against romantic rivals because he's a Shapeshifter and it's Just Their Culture. He also broke into her place several times to watch her sleep and steal her food because it's Their Culture. I'm guessing there have been reader complaints about him displaying Classic Domestic Abuser signs, hence ( Spoilers for Magic Slays and Magic Rises ) Dislike. Dishonour on your cow. Can this stop being a trope in romance already?
Anyway, I thought I was making good progress into my pile of library books but it just keeps growing faster than I can get through them. I've put some holds on pause now- I was so used to having to wait forever between holds coming in but now I have the opposite problem!
Next up: The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin and Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson. Also Gunmetal Magic by Ilona Andrews, because I think it was the story in between Magic Slays and Magic Rises due to the continuity gap.
