After a lengthy set up of how unfair Ruri's life has been the novel settles into some very interesting world building. Outside the human realm is a beAfter a lengthy set up of how unfair Ruri's life has been the novel settles into some very interesting world building. Outside the human realm is a beast realm ruled by the Dragon King. Ruri finds herself exiled to here and finally she gets to be apart from Asahi.
Ruri's perpetual bad luck and her apparent good luck in the Dragon Kingdom are tied to a charisma based magic system. Her overpowered status is based solely on her ability to get those controlling the magic of the world to do favors for her. The how and why she spends the back half of the book in the form of a white cat is also ultimately tied to her magical charisma.
After a lengthy set up of how unfair Ruri's life has been the novel settles into some very interesting world building. Outside the human realm is a beast realm ruled by the Dragon King. Ruri finds herself exiled to here and finally she gets to be apart from Asahi.
Ruri's perpetual bad luck and her apparent good luck in the Dragon Kingdom are tied to a charisma based magic system. Her overpowered status is based solely on her ability to get those controlling the magic of the world to do favors for her. The how and why she spends the back half of the book in the form of a white cat is also ultimately tied to her magical charisma.
While each chapter, each drink, starts of interesting, the chapters tend to drag. In the early bits there's the history it outlined clearly. The tone While each chapter, each drink, starts of interesting, the chapters tend to drag. In the early bits there's the history it outlined clearly. The tone is conversational with some thematic puns woven in.
But there's there's also repetition. When the second location or country or era is brought in, many of the same observations are reiterated. If I were to re-read this book I wouldn't do it at the pace we had to read it (or listen to it, as we were listening to the audiobook version). Read at a more sedate pace the repeated details would be interesting on their own.
**spoiler alert** After the first volume's breakneck pace, I understand the need to a breather volume but damn, this one is glacial. If we stall them **spoiler alert** After the first volume's breakneck pace, I understand the need to a breather volume but damn, this one is glacial. If we stall them in space while the bigger threats are gathering, maybe we can up the sexual tension between characters?
No. I don't care enough about any of the Sundog's crew or the None they picked up. With the scavenger plot feeling like Firefly fanfic, the sexual tension here reads like Shepherd Book suddenly getting the hots for Mal Reynolds.
Typically books about anthropomorphized characters who are somehow different end up being about teasing. While yes, Little Ghost looks different with Typically books about anthropomorphized characters who are somehow different end up being about teasing. While yes, Little Ghost looks different with his bright blue and white squares, he isn't teased. He's not ostracized by friends or family.
Instead, this is a book about being disabled. Being a heavy quilt makes flight difficult. It makes hiding difficult. Little Ghost is slower than the other ghosts.
The climax of this mystery has the emotional and visceral punch of Condominium by John D. MacDonald (1977). This climatic turn of events is broadcast The climax of this mystery has the emotional and visceral punch of Condominium by John D. MacDonald (1977). This climatic turn of events is broadcast early and frequently throughout the novel. That said, it still hits hard when it does. Had the climax turned out differently, I would have dropped my rating....more
**spoiler alert** The basics of this mystery from how it unfolds and the various suspects reminds me of Double or Muffin by Victoria Hamilton (2021). **spoiler alert** The basics of this mystery from how it unfolds and the various suspects reminds me of Double or Muffin by Victoria Hamilton (2021). Where Merry has Pish to keep her on her toes, Kathleen has Owen and Hercules, her magical cats.
In the previous books Kathleen has been working through a temporary contract and has to decide whether or not she will agree to a full time, long term contract at the library. Here she finally agrees that Mayville Heights is her home. She also wasn't in the mood for entertaining a love triangle, thank goodness.
**spoiler alert** Most of this book is reactionary. Mel and Angie and the men in their lives are reacting to the murder. There's very little in the wa**spoiler alert** Most of this book is reactionary. Mel and Angie and the men in their lives are reacting to the murder. There's very little in the way of investigating in this volume. Instead there is baking and handwringing.
Then when Mel and Angie do finally decide to investigate, they instantly end up in danger. It's honestly a mystery based around victim shaming. The murderer's reasoning ends up being both obvious (to the observant reader) and ridiculous. There are so many other ways they could have achieved the same goal and done it more successfully that didn't involve the Cupcake Bakery.
**spoiler alert** Finally, though, it's the growing comfortable with the yokai apartment life that allows Yushi to invite a friend. The scenes with hi**spoiler alert** Finally, though, it's the growing comfortable with the yokai apartment life that allows Yushi to invite a friend. The scenes with his best friend are charming and wholesome. I hope to see more of him in future volumes.
The series is currently up to volume 24 with a release in Japan next year. I have volume 4 on hand and will read it soon.
The murder mystery itself, including who did it and why, was a pretty easy puzzle for me to sort out. That said, I liked how it was tied to the time aThe murder mystery itself, including who did it and why, was a pretty easy puzzle for me to sort out. That said, I liked how it was tied to the time and place — Halloween and the Dupois estate and cemetery.
**spoiler alert** A lot of this book's narrative drive is based on the Victoria Square shop owners' bad vibes. They don't want a tattoo parlor in thei**spoiler alert** A lot of this book's narrative drive is based on the Victoria Square shop owners' bad vibes. They don't want a tattoo parlor in their precious square and their obvious prejudice leads to trouble. Unfortunately, they're also rewarded for their exclusionary practices by having him revealed to be in fact shady.
**spoiler alert** A nice update (more or less) to Gaslight.
As with the previous mysteries, the modern day mystery — how did the woman die — is tied wi**spoiler alert** A nice update (more or less) to Gaslight.
As with the previous mysteries, the modern day mystery — how did the woman die — is tied with one of Jack's cold cases. How the two tied together was a little harder to sort out. The modern day mystery, though, was fairly straightforward, though still entertaining.
**spoiler alert** I have mixed feelings too about the time spent on Lucas. I wish Maddie had just spoken to him at the start of the book to save all t**spoiler alert** I have mixed feelings too about the time spent on Lucas. I wish Maddie had just spoken to him at the start of the book to save all this ridiculous melodrama. Even though Luca's reasons for missing Thanksgiving were completely understandable, I wish Maddie's family and friends had accepted her autonomy and let her work things out with him (or not) on her own time table.
The odd bit of the novel is its lengthy denouement. After the inevitable event and Lucy's near death experience, there's a long section involving her The odd bit of the novel is its lengthy denouement. After the inevitable event and Lucy's near death experience, there's a long section involving her recovery and some weird gaslighting by the hospital.
There's also a completely unnecessary secondary confrontation between Lucy and arsonist. The murderer would have gotten away with everything had they just left Lucy alone after she survived the fire. The ending reads like one of the more unhinged episodes of Criminal Minds.
Each book, this one included, expands the world of Brown Country. Maddie Day is careful to create a diverse cast of characters to inhabit her town andEach book, this one included, expands the world of Brown Country. Maddie Day is careful to create a diverse cast of characters to inhabit her town and surrounding countryside. In this book she includes a family with an Indian father, American mother and their adult son. These characters aren't there to teach Robbie (or anyone else) a lesson. They just happen to live in the same place as she does and happen to be caught up in the same unfortunate murder.
The mystery is a mixture of business shenanigans and mistaken identity. I had the wrong idea as to who was impersonating whom, going for the solution The mystery is a mixture of business shenanigans and mistaken identity. I had the wrong idea as to who was impersonating whom, going for the solution from "The Truth in the Wine" (Father Brown, series 3, episode 9). Instead, the solution is a variation on that theme but on a different tangent.
**spoiler alert** I really wish all the humor was aimed at signs in English speaking countries. There are too many that are racist. They rely on eithe**spoiler alert** I really wish all the humor was aimed at signs in English speaking countries. There are too many that are racist. They rely on either errors in English from non-native speakers, or 'funny' sounding names or words used along side otherwise perfectly rendered English. The funny is usually something that is a word or name from a character based language that's been transliterated into something that looks vaguely like a swear word or something else rude. Basically these last two categories are racist at best and xenophobic at their worst.
The mystery itself is pretty straightforward. The clues are well spread out and easy to spot for an observant reader (or attentive listener). The bareThe mystery itself is pretty straightforward. The clues are well spread out and easy to spot for an observant reader (or attentive listener). The barebones of the book — the mystery and the character development of Lupe — I thoroughly enjoyed.
But the book is bogged down with even more relationship melodrama between Mel and Joe. When she finally comes to her senses, of course there has to be a cliffhanger involving unsavory people in Joe's life who want to harm him by harming her. It's a trite plot twist and makes for a disappointing ending.
**spoiler alert** The set up and execution of this murder and then the subsequent sleuthing reminded me of a mashup of two Midsomer Murders plots: "Th**spoiler alert** The set up and execution of this murder and then the subsequent sleuthing reminded me of a mashup of two Midsomer Murders plots: "The Creeper" (Series 12, Episode 6) and "The Axeman Cometh" (Series 10, Episode 4). I don't mind the similarities but it did make seeing the big picture easier for me.
Yule Be Dead has a bit of a Trouble with Harry Vibe, except that the dead woman isn't deserving of the scorn. She was grieving for her dead father andYule Be Dead has a bit of a Trouble with Harry Vibe, except that the dead woman isn't deserving of the scorn. She was grieving for her dead father and otherwise didn't have a great family life. Her desire to find a man who love her regardless of the other consequences unfortunately resulted in a number of men who want to keep her secrets secret now that she's dead.
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