Jon
This is an excellent short story filling in the blanks for the characters rolls at the Battersea Barricades. Unlike Hollywood people are scared and convey this realistically. No chiselled jawed American saving the day with no sign of fear here, here Heroism comes to those who least expect it and they're scared silly whilst being the hero. Excelent.
For some reason I didn't enjoy this as much as the others. I can't put my finger on why as it's another fun adventure with great characters. Perhaps the idea of fae and dragons and their personalities was new and original in the previous books but now I know what to expect its not so enthralling. Its still a good book and I will buy the next installment too. Alternatively it could be being stuck abroad due to multiple flight cancellations and not being able to get home for 5 weeks. So it may just be my frame of mind! Who knows!!
I so wanted to like this and it has its moments but I felt it was wooden with often a formula used to set up the jokes that repeats throughout the book, and many of the jokes weren't even funny though the constant use of cracker style jokes was at times amusing. But even they felt forced in. The plot was an interesting idea but didn't seem believable and I don't mean the monsters, the way things were handled, the govt reaction, the army's behaviour even the police force seemed implausible. The dumbness of Bonetti was simply so far beyond belief that it made you question everything else. And still having an ugly out of shape alcoholic smoker attracting the gorgeous young heroine was so out of date as to be ridiculous and I'd imagine to many offensive. No book two for me.
Slow to develop and never a break neck paced book but a gripping and enjoyable read nonetheless. The characters are fun and have depth and the plot was interesting with a few twists, but most of all I felt the Completely unbelievable plot was made plausible and believable by a story well told and well written.
Half way through I was getting a bit fed up with Alex being hated by so many super powerful people and them always failing to kill him with him always escaping in the nick of time. I'd resolved to give up on a series I'd loved if it all ended in the usual way of baddy failing but living to fight another book. But, the end was clever and action packed and very enjoyable conclusion to this book, though the baddies continue to survive but Alex now looks better equipped to do some serious payback.
By far my favourite so far. The writing has really hot its straps and is clever funny and just really enjoyable to read. Max is still an undisciplined idiot from time to time, but getting slightly less stupid in her old age. The Time Police have a soft spot, but SPOILERS the baddy always escaping is just silly and irritating. Kill him and get a new baddy, it's like an inversive Scrooby Doo where the meddling kids always catch the baddy. Apart from that great fun, great characters and I just love the historical trips.
Easily the best of the series so far for me, though Max is still a walking disaster zone, but I suppose that's half the fun. I really enjoyed the style and humour of writing, very British. Good plot but I couldn't understand the point of the final twist at the end. Seemed a bit pointless, almost as if the character had a contract to appear in every book and was shoe horned in to the plot, it didn't distract from the overall enjoyment and apart from that I loved it
An interesting plot with some fun characters but I felt the book spluttered along between patches of well written and disappointing text. I like the characters and the styles, but it never really got into its stride in the story telling though it hinted time and again that it would do. Potentially could be a good series and may be worth reading book two, but maybe not!
Two of my favourite authors combining should make a sensational series, but for me this was more the Long Bore. I found it dull, uninteresting and far too long. I didn't really care what happened to anyone and found that my mind was wandering as I read. I love TP's books and have read them all, many more than once, but this series isn't for me I'm afraid. It's an interesting idea and some obviously enjoy it judging by the reviews, which is fine by me, but just not my cup of tea.
