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Ross (3284 KP) rated Shorefall in Books

Nov 16, 2020  
Shorefall
Shorefall
Robert Jackson Bennett | 2020 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Mediocre sequel
I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Shorefall picks up around three years after the events of Foundryside, when a small crew stand up against the mighty, powerful families of the city, stop their evil plotting and strike out on their own. They have set up their own, independent scriving house, making magical machinery, and helping others to do the same. A bit like BrewDog, but without the financially dubious shareholder arrangements.
In this world, magic comes in the form of scriving - bending reality to make objects behave in a certain way (persuading a door it cannot open without a specific person being present, convincing an arrow it is falling, so must accelerate accordingly, albeit in a straight line, etc). Most of the book's plot and action centre around this, and it becomes quite draining, and a stretch at times. I forgave the first book quite a lot in this regard, because it was world-building, but this much world-building in a second book seems wrong. And the mechanics of it are so much like coding that that is all you can think of. At times it is like watching an episode of 24, but instead of following Jack Bauer's thrilling escapades, you are watching Chloe coding a macro to speed up her timesheets while being vaguely aware that something exciting is happening.
The book starts very strongly, we are in the company of Sancia and Orso as they appear to be down on their luck and having to sell their work to make ends meet. Cue: exciting espionage scenes as Sancia sneaks off to steal.
Sadly, this opening chapter in which we had no idea what was happening was the best one. So many times throughout the book the crew were on some mission or other for some reason, but I couldn't for the life of me remember what or why, and nor did I particularly care. The plot just seemed to be in a backseat with the world-building driving with no sat-nav. And so was character development, as all the main characters just completely plateaud and didn't change in the slightest.
In short, I found the book very dull and drawn out and the second half was a real chore.
  
3 Is The Magic Number (The Flamingo Bar #3)
3 Is The Magic Number (The Flamingo Bar #3)
JP Sayle | 2021 | Contemporary, Erotica, LGBTQ+, Romance
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
The level of communication is top notch,
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

This is book 3 in the Flamingo Bar series, BUT you don't NEED to have read the other books first. What you DO NEED to read, however, is The App book 3, Puppy Play. That is the beginning of Jake, Sam and Bailey's journey, and this book is the conclusion (kinda!)

Bailey ran after seeing Jake and Sam in Jake's playroom, and he knows he needs to talk to them both. Having hidden his submission for so long, and his love for Sam, he struggles. Jake, however, is very sure who he wants in his life, and it's both Sam AND Bailey. Sam just has to make Bailey see that he loves him too.

I loved Puppy Play and I was looking forward to reading about Jake, Sam and Bailey getting their Happy Ever After. And I did enjoy it, I really did, it just doesn't hit THAT spot that Puppy Play did!

All three guys get a say, in the first person. So we get them all, pouring their hearts out to themselves, and to each other. The level of communication is top notch, mostly because Jake wants them ALL to be open and honest. Jake does slip up though, and it just goes to show you, he's only human and Sam and Bailey need to take him off the pedestal.

Sam and Bailey carry a huge amount of baggage from their pasts, Jake not so much. So Sam and Bailey do most of the soul searching here. I loved that they both found someone outside of their relationship to talk to, and that they both got the clarity they needed from the guys in the club.

The heat level is high, as you would expect with a 3 way and I loved that Jake was able to get Bailey into that place he never did before: sub-space. Sam needs his puppy gear, and a ball to play with, but I loved that the 3 of them made this work.

I read this in one sitting. So I was fully engaged and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It just doesn't hit the heights Puppy Play, for me! *sorry!*

4.5 stars, rounded down for the blog.

**same worded review will appear elsewhere**