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acdha's review against another edition
3.0
An enjoyable read but very much continuing a series rather than charting new ground
majorbeardo's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
sechurae's review against another edition
3.0
Call it a detour, or second-book syndrome, but the main takeaway from this book was that it felt very directionless. The plot starts off strong, but very quickly meanders off the path, and doesn't really quite give the reader any indication what it's going for.
Iron Druid fans will enjoy this more, as it has a whole lot of Atticus in it, and serves almost enough to be an installment of that series. The main issues that MacBharrais deals with aren't really developed at all in this book, and he really serves more of a narrator function in this one.
The ending was action-packed, but that's really it. The prose, I'm realizing, is really not for me, veering between awkwardly stilted and awkwardly exuberant with almost no in between.
Will still check out the last book, because I am interested in how Al's story ends.
Iron Druid fans will enjoy this more, as it has a whole lot of Atticus in it, and serves almost enough to be an installment of that series. The main issues that MacBharrais deals with aren't really developed at all in this book, and he really serves more of a narrator function in this one.
The ending was action-packed, but that's really it. The prose, I'm realizing, is really not for me, veering between awkwardly stilted and awkwardly exuberant with almost no in between.
Will still check out the last book, because I am interested in how Al's story ends.
dillieo's review against another edition
5.0
Paper and Blood just might be even better than the first one since we get to see some old friends that don't get in the way of our main crew. Some amazing story telling and a setup for a wonderful third party.
sophiarose1816's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
After meeting Al and his Ink and Sigil work that’s part of the Iron Druid world, I was geeked to dive back into a new Al MacBharrais adventure this time in the land Down Under. Kevin Hearne writes entertaining and exciting characters and plots in a well-crafted urban fantasy world.
Paper & Blood is the second in a connected Urban Fantasy trilogy that is a spinoff to the Iron Druid Chronicles. It really does work best when read in order including the entire Iron Druid books.
Al gets an alarming call from a fellow Sigil agent’s apprentice. Her mistress is missing and so is the nearby sigil agent who went searching for her already. Al has to go to Australia to start where the incident happened, but he’s not going alone. Al drags Buck the hobgoblin along and plans to solicit the help of the Iron Druid who is in the area tracking down another outburst of supernatural phenomena disrupting Gaia. But, it’s Al after all so he ends up with a few other surprising helpers along the way.
Meanwhile, Al knows he has to give due thought to who put the curses on him because Buck’s life is in acute danger while the curses are in play. He gets some hints about the curses and learns something interesting about his mysterious receptionist Gladys who is not simply an efficient Canadian.
I enjoyed the reunion with Atticus now calling himself Connor and his two dog pals Oberon and Starbuck. Connor isn’t the main character, that is still Al, but he gets some significant page time including a couple of his old tales around the campfire and there is a raucous one from Buck.
I settled into this book much easier than the first one. I knew the score and the introductions are over, but the characters grew on me in the last book and that happened even more so here. Al has a different way of going about things and it is his different thinking from the big bad immortals and magic users around him that wins me over so strongly.
This was a rollicking urban fantasy adventure and I can’t wait to get to the last leg of the trilogy and hopefully get some answers to Al’s mysterious curse while having a good time with the whole gang of characters especially Al.
rahulricky's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
nina_chan01's review against another edition
5.0
Kevin Hearne has done it again. He's written an incredibly addicting, action-packed adventure that somehow still manages to be full of well-rounded characters for the reader to connect with. And we even get a collab adventure with Iron Druid and his hounds!
Scottish sigil agent Al MacBharrais is still trying to figure out who cursed him when he finds out that two other sigil agents have disappeared in Australia. This is how an adventure full of magic, monsters, and revelations begins. Buk Foi, Nadia, and Gladys Who Has Seen Some Shite are back, along with some great new characters, the always fan favorite Iron Druid and his hounds, and a very unexpected return.
I'm honestly afraid to get into the story for fear of ruining some of the great surprises it holds, so I'm just going to say that it's an epic adventure with lots of action, even more surprises, and incredibly creative writing.
You don't need to have read the Iron Druid or the first book in the series to enjoy it, but I do think being at least familiar with the Iron Druid chronicles will add to the enjoyment.
Many extremely happy thanks to NetGalley and Del Rey Books for the early read!
Scottish sigil agent Al MacBharrais is still trying to figure out who cursed him when he finds out that two other sigil agents have disappeared in Australia. This is how an adventure full of magic, monsters, and revelations begins. Buk Foi, Nadia, and Gladys Who Has Seen Some Shite are back, along with some great new characters, the always fan favorite Iron Druid and his hounds, and a very unexpected return.
I'm honestly afraid to get into the story for fear of ruining some of the great surprises it holds, so I'm just going to say that it's an epic adventure with lots of action, even more surprises, and incredibly creative writing.
You don't need to have read the Iron Druid or the first book in the series to enjoy it, but I do think being at least familiar with the Iron Druid chronicles will add to the enjoyment.
Many extremely happy thanks to NetGalley and Del Rey Books for the early read!
destrier's review against another edition
3.0
More of the (good) same from book 1. Less fresh from being the second book, and a bit more convoluted. It is even more transparently a role-playing game here, and I liked that. The author has given himself license to have plot twists and character choices that are shameless fan service and that works for this series.
He also shows how to be sensitive without it being obsequious or "politically correct". For example, the hobgoblin's comic relief drunken cavorting is put in contrast with a brief vignette about an alcoholic and his friends consider an intervention.
I definitely wanted to own a wizard van after reading this.
He also shows how to be sensitive without it being obsequious or "politically correct". For example, the hobgoblin's comic relief drunken cavorting is put in contrast with a brief vignette about an alcoholic and his friends consider an intervention.
I definitely wanted to own a wizard van after reading this.
christinedodgen's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This is the 2nd book in the Ink & Sigil series. The main story was good and it progressed the series story line. There were a lot of side stories in this book. I felt it detracted from the overall read of the book.
I listened to the audio version. The narrator, Luke Daniels, was great as always. He has the best accents!
I listened to the audio version. The narrator, Luke Daniels, was great as always. He has the best accents!