whimsydearest

I'll start off this review by saying that I really adored the first two book in the series. Lostetter crafted fascinating villains and a really unique emotional-based magic system. However, my enjoyment for the third book, The Teeth of Dawn , was muddled by some bizarre narrative choices. I'm kind of baffled here. First off, the beginning of the book introduces us to a futuristic version of the world and a new set of characters that feel more like they belong more in a separate spin off series than the final book. In fact, I feel like the overall cohesion and pacing of the story would’ve worked better if these POVs had been removed entirely. Then when we actually do get back to our already established characters, apparently three years have passed since the happenings of the second book. The time skip felt jarring to me and really broke the continuity of the story. Overall, I feel like this book suffered from a lack of focus. It's the core characters of Krona, Thibault, and...

It's been two years since I first read  The Helm of Midnight  by Marina J. Lostetter, and, as I started reading its sequel,  The Cage of Dark Hours , I was reminded once more how much enjoyed this series’ world--where people can buy and sell their emotions, time is a currency, and death masks retain their former owner's skills. However, while the first book dealt with a serial killer, in this one, Krona is investigating the disappearances of babies as she grapples with the death of her sister. It’s truly an emotionally-driven fantasy that artfully explores grief and trauma alongside a compelling cast of characters. Plus, it has a cult, twisty, turvy conspiracies, and plenty of scheming to go around. Overall, I found it a fantastic follow up with well set-up revelations. Honestly, it felt so satisfying to watch the plot’s puzzle pieces all fall into place, and I can’t wait to read the final in the trilogy. Thank you, NetGalley and Tor Books, for providing me with an ARC in...

Unit 4 is a soft-shelled organic maintenance robot tasked with overseeing a mine on Jupiter. However, it has inexplicably missing data files, and when its handler orders it to defend against alien invaders, Unit 4 begins to question its programming. Activation Degradation  by Marina J. Lostetter is a compelling space thriller that questions what makes humans human and what sort of rights do non-human sentient beings deserve. I think what I enjoyed most about this book is seeing Unit 4’s inner conflict and natural progression from more cerebral robot to a robot with very human emotions. It’s a charming, sympathetic character who likes bees and cats, so I couldn’t help but root for the robot. I admit, my first experience with Lostetter was through  The Helm of Midnight , and while both books are introspective and emotionally-driven, I find this story has better focus and is more tightly written. At no point did it feel like a slog to get through. Overall, this is a high-octane A...

In a daring heist, thieves make off with a dangerous magical artifact: the death mask of Louis Charbon—imbued with the spirit and knowledge of the notorious serial killer. Now a copycat killer stalks the streets, replicating Charbon’s signature calling card by arranging his victims into “blossoms” … albeit with their own unique twist.   Regulator Krona Hirvath is in a race against time to try and find the perpetrator, and in the process, she uncovers terrible truths.   The Helm of Midnight by Marina Lostetter has a lot going on. It’s an ambitious, genre-defying novel that blends steampunk, crime procedural, and epic fantasy. The worldbuilding is innovative and intricate and it also has a darn cool emotion-based magic system to boot.   However, all this comes as a bit of a double-edged sword. This is the first in a trilogy and it did very much feel like an introduction and like it was setting up for a much grander story. It was very lore and exposition hea...