Blind Tiger

I didn't love this one, but I did enjoy it a lot.

So this book has a few major elements. Sam has very low self-esteem, due to parental abuse. I see a lot of myself in this character and can relate to his experience and outlook easily. It was satisfying to see him finding a place for himself in the world and slowly overcoming some of his problems. I look forward to seeing him grow over the course of the series.

I also really like the new setting, speakeasies in Prohibition-era Chicago, and I'm glad Hawk will be bringing us back to this world. As always with his books, there is a lot of flavor, and I really felt immersed.

The romance is pretty good. I like Alistair a lot too, and the plot of his not wanting to take another chance is believable and heartfelt. There is a lot of cuddling in the first half and I always enjoy that. There was something missing for me, though, and I can't really articulate it. They have a small argument right after they finally get together, and while their positions in the argument make sense for their characters, the emotional tone feels out of place. A pacing issue, maybe.

The main plot about the murder and gangs didn't really capture my attention. I also didn't really get a feel for most of the side characters, except Wanda and Holly. I am not sure why there are so many people in the Gatti family, from a reading standpoint, and I had trouble keeping track of who was who. I don't remember right now what specific cats the siblings turn into, or all of the characters who were in the war. But I'm sure we'll learn more about these interesting characters down the road.

This world felt almost queernormative this time, more like our world, in which there are still phobic people, but being queer is not remarkable in some places. I don't know if that is the nature of Hexworld in the 1920s or the real situation in this neighborhood of Chicago at that time, or only 1920s Hexworld Chicago. But homophobia does not play much of a role in Sam and Alistair's lives, from internal or external sources. Sam's religious upbringing seems like it was joyless overall and more anti-magic than anything else.