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Among the Mythos #1
Half-Shell Prophecies
Librarian's note: This is an Alternate Cover Edition for ASIN: B01N7U126K.
FRIGHTENED MONSTERS. STOLEN TIME. AND ONE SERIOUSLY UNDERESTIMATED DAMSEL.
Katie ran from the magical world years ago. She never planned on being dragged back in by a prophesying clamshell.
The seers believe she alone can prevent an apocalypse of ruined time and broken worlds. Bran the Crow King believes she can save him from his cannibalistic grandfather.
Katie believes they’re all nuts.
One thing is for certain: she’s not waiting around for help. Operation Katie Saves her Own Damn Self is officially on.
FRIGHTENED MONSTERS. STOLEN TIME. AND ONE SERIOUSLY UNDERESTIMATED DAMSEL.
Katie ran from the magical world years ago. She never planned on being dragged back in by a prophesying clamshell.
The seers believe she alone can prevent an apocalypse of ruined time and broken worlds. Bran the Crow King believes she can save him from his cannibalistic grandfather.
Katie believes they’re all nuts.
One thing is for certain: she’s not waiting around for help. Operation Katie Saves her Own Damn Self is officially on.
- GenresFantasyUrban Fantasy
245 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 19, 2017
About the author
Ruthanne Reid
14 books247 followersA two-time bestselling author, Ruthanne Reid has led a convention panel on world-building, taught courses on plot and character development, and been the keynote speaker for the Write Practice Retreat.
Author of two series with five books and fifty short stories, Ruthanne has lived in her head since childhood, when she wrote her first story about a pony princess and a genocidal snake-kingdom and used up her mom’s red typewriter ribbon in the process.
When she isn’t reading, writing, or reading about writing, Ruthanne enjoys old cartoons with her husband and two cats, and dreams of living on an island beach far, far away.
P.S. Red is still her favorite color.
Author of two series with five books and fifty short stories, Ruthanne has lived in her head since childhood, when she wrote her first story about a pony princess and a genocidal snake-kingdom and used up her mom’s red typewriter ribbon in the process.
When she isn’t reading, writing, or reading about writing, Ruthanne enjoys old cartoons with her husband and two cats, and dreams of living on an island beach far, far away.
P.S. Red is still her favorite color.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
December 11, 2019
4.5 stars - I couldn’t get my nose out of the book. I finished it within two days. It’s full of action, snarky characters, could-be romance between enemies to lovers, no less (pulled off really well! You might know that I normally hate this trope) and all sorts of other wacky things. It was great!
I actually have this whole post about these books, this series is AMAZING!!! My reasons why:
How I read this: free review copy from author in exchange for an honest review, did not affect my opinion
Book Blog | Bookstagram | Bookish Twitter
I actually have this whole post about these books, this series is AMAZING!!! My reasons why:
How I read this: free review copy from author in exchange for an honest review, did not affect my opinion
Book Blog | Bookstagram | Bookish Twitter
March 9, 2017
The first thing that drew me to Ruthanne Reed's writing was actually a piece of art posted on Facebook. A stunning piece of fantasy art for the book "Notte" (which is due out later this year, I think). Then I read an excerpt that caught my imagination. I signed up for her newsletter. She sent out another excerpt that was so compelling that I stayed on her newsletter and marked her in my mind as an author whose style matches my tastes as a reader.
So let's talk about the Half-Shell Prophecies. I actually thought I was buying a collection of short stories set in her "Among the Mythos" story world, and ended up sucked into an entire novel. A fun, romping, rollicking ride of a novel that was a marvelous introduction to her universe, despite the fact that I wasn't reading the novels in order. This novel totally stands on its own two feet.
I wouldn't say I'm picky about heroines, but if I'm honest I have very few female leads that I really like. Katie Lin did not annoy me. That's huge. She made me smile. That's even better. I could relate to her. Extremely rare. Things I like about her:
- she's pragmatic
- she's bold in the face of fear
- she sees beyond the surface appearance of someone
- she has the ability to love the unlovable and to put up with irritations
- she doesn't give up
Argh. The list above doesn't sum her up at all, though. She's a unique and fascinating character. She's a person who can do magic who rejects magic. Her genetic heritage makes her hotly pursued for her uterus (that part makes me laugh every time!), and makes it difficult to trust that men really like her for herself. Baby dragons love her. Elven kings are impressed by her. Her uncle is the wizard Merlin. But she's nothing special, in her own mind. She'd rather just lead a quiet life.
Yeah, that's a heroine I don't mind following around. And don't get me started on the other characters. And the riches of the "pocket dimensions" that exist in parallel to our human Earth, full of magical beings like the Fae, Shadow's Breath, Guardians and the Kin.
As a kid, my favorite thing was to find a fantasy series that had huge scope and a large, interesting world to explore. As an adult, I have a hard time finding time to read. Ruthanne's story world fits perfectly between those two things. 15,000 years of story, vivid and original writing style, compelling and engaging characters, all in manageable chunks. Did you know she's got a bunch of shorter stories? I was actually at her website checking her wiki in order to verify a couple things in this review and found a whole list of her stories and what order they go in the timeline.
As a side note (for parents who wonder if it's a book for teens), I'd say this book had enough adult themes and profanity that I'd rate it just a bit beyond PG-13, but probably not explicit enough to be R.
In an endless sea of ebooks out there, I've found an author whose style I find delightful, whose words I gobble up, and who promises to provide entertainment for some time to come. Top notch in every way I measure a book. Thank you, Ruthanne. Write on!
So let's talk about the Half-Shell Prophecies. I actually thought I was buying a collection of short stories set in her "Among the Mythos" story world, and ended up sucked into an entire novel. A fun, romping, rollicking ride of a novel that was a marvelous introduction to her universe, despite the fact that I wasn't reading the novels in order. This novel totally stands on its own two feet.
I wouldn't say I'm picky about heroines, but if I'm honest I have very few female leads that I really like. Katie Lin did not annoy me. That's huge. She made me smile. That's even better. I could relate to her. Extremely rare. Things I like about her:
- she's pragmatic
- she's bold in the face of fear
- she sees beyond the surface appearance of someone
- she has the ability to love the unlovable and to put up with irritations
- she doesn't give up
Argh. The list above doesn't sum her up at all, though. She's a unique and fascinating character. She's a person who can do magic who rejects magic. Her genetic heritage makes her hotly pursued for her uterus (that part makes me laugh every time!), and makes it difficult to trust that men really like her for herself. Baby dragons love her. Elven kings are impressed by her. Her uncle is the wizard Merlin. But she's nothing special, in her own mind. She'd rather just lead a quiet life.
Yeah, that's a heroine I don't mind following around. And don't get me started on the other characters. And the riches of the "pocket dimensions" that exist in parallel to our human Earth, full of magical beings like the Fae, Shadow's Breath, Guardians and the Kin.
As a kid, my favorite thing was to find a fantasy series that had huge scope and a large, interesting world to explore. As an adult, I have a hard time finding time to read. Ruthanne's story world fits perfectly between those two things. 15,000 years of story, vivid and original writing style, compelling and engaging characters, all in manageable chunks. Did you know she's got a bunch of shorter stories? I was actually at her website checking her wiki in order to verify a couple things in this review and found a whole list of her stories and what order they go in the timeline.
As a side note (for parents who wonder if it's a book for teens), I'd say this book had enough adult themes and profanity that I'd rate it just a bit beyond PG-13, but probably not explicit enough to be R.
In an endless sea of ebooks out there, I've found an author whose style I find delightful, whose words I gobble up, and who promises to provide entertainment for some time to come. Top notch in every way I measure a book. Thank you, Ruthanne. Write on!
March 15, 2018
I started off really enjoying this. It's got some great world-building, Katie is [for the most part] a fun and snarky protagonist, and it seemed very genre-savvy and would often make jokes and asides about common [often annoying] tropes. But then ...there's Bran.
Katie makes sure to say about 500 times how she is totally NOT into him and that he's weird and creepy and sometimes rapey [ALL TRUE] and at one point even says "He was seven, eight hundred years old. I’m twenty-three. This was not a young adult novel, and ‘we’ would not work" ...BUT after all of these comments she always has to add something about how like, totally hot he is! And at the end they're getting coffee I think and she's like 'well it's not a date, but it's not NOT a date' or something and I'm like ???? what happened to him being a super creeper that you are definitely not into because you're too genre-savvy for that??? I guess because his grandfather is a worse person than he is he just totally gets a pass on everything. #Fantastic [/sarcasm]
Anyway besides ...all of that ...I often felt like there was too much going on and that the plot could have benefited from slowing down and taking a breath and explaining a few things. It was still an okay story but I definitely enjoyed the two novellas before this more than this full length novel. Also please tell me Bran's not in the next book as much. I really can't stand him.
Katie makes sure to say about 500 times how she is totally NOT into him and that he's weird and creepy and sometimes rapey [ALL TRUE] and at one point even says "He was seven, eight hundred years old. I’m twenty-three. This was not a young adult novel, and ‘we’ would not work" ...BUT after all of these comments she always has to add something about how like, totally hot he is! And at the end they're getting coffee I think and she's like 'well it's not a date, but it's not NOT a date' or something and I'm like ???? what happened to him being a super creeper that you are definitely not into because you're too genre-savvy for that??? I guess because his grandfather is a worse person than he is he just totally gets a pass on everything. #Fantastic [/sarcasm]
Anyway besides ...all of that ...I often felt like there was too much going on and that the plot could have benefited from slowing down and taking a breath and explaining a few things. It was still an okay story but I definitely enjoyed the two novellas before this more than this full length novel. Also please tell me Bran's not in the next book as much. I really can't stand him.
March 30, 2017
I have to admit I'm not part of the prime demographic for this novel. But while I'm not a fan of Sookie and Anita and the other urban fantasy heroines, I still can appreciate a well-written story. The story synopsis had a "Neil Gaimian" quality to it that intrigued me, so I took a chance. This one definitely fits the bill. The main character, Katie, is engaging and intelligent, gaining enough of my sympathy to want to see her succeed against overwhelming odds. Reid's world-building is top-notch, following fairly closely to the things that have gone before her in the genre, while still throwing in her own personal touches to spin it out of the hands of the stereotype and the expected. Her supporting characters are delightful and exotic, each with the weight of a fully-formed history that helps them avoid the pitfalls to becoming two-dimensional. The pace is fast and smooth, like a classic limousine.
I am a big supporter of the self-publishing community; however, I am regularly disappointed by the "fetal" quality of many self-published novels. They would benefit from some tough-love editorial support in revising until the prose is buffed to the highest sheen possible. In contrast, Reid's writing definitely is every bit as professional as anything I read in the established publishing world. If I ever get to the point of publishing my writing, I hope it is as polished and professional as her writing is.
I am a big supporter of the self-publishing community; however, I am regularly disappointed by the "fetal" quality of many self-published novels. They would benefit from some tough-love editorial support in revising until the prose is buffed to the highest sheen possible. In contrast, Reid's writing definitely is every bit as professional as anything I read in the established publishing world. If I ever get to the point of publishing my writing, I hope it is as polished and professional as her writing is.
August 11, 2019
This, apparently, is only one book out of many set in the same universe. I may not have started from the beginning, but I did enjoy reading this story. The flashbacks and explanations of previous events were thorough enough for me to drop right into the story and follow along.
I'm sure you can all find blurbs and synopses elsewhere, so I'm just going to tell you my thoughts on the book:
What stands out to me when reading this story is the sarcasm and self-deprecation of the main character. She is not amused. From the very start, she just wants a normal life. And unlike other main characters of other stories, Katie knows what she's talking about, because she's already seen what the alternative is.
The second thing that stands out is the rich world-building. You can tell this isn't the author's first book set in this world, because she paints a whole universe around us that we can feel is there and very real, despite only being shown bits and pieces of it.
The third thing is the author's laid-back language. This isn't an exercise in flowery phrasing and obscure words, but a straight-forward, conversational piece of contemporary fiction that sometimes breaks the fourth wall.
All in all: funny, lovable, and enthralling. Worth every minute!
I'm sure you can all find blurbs and synopses elsewhere, so I'm just going to tell you my thoughts on the book:
What stands out to me when reading this story is the sarcasm and self-deprecation of the main character. She is not amused. From the very start, she just wants a normal life. And unlike other main characters of other stories, Katie knows what she's talking about, because she's already seen what the alternative is.
The second thing that stands out is the rich world-building. You can tell this isn't the author's first book set in this world, because she paints a whole universe around us that we can feel is there and very real, despite only being shown bits and pieces of it.
The third thing is the author's laid-back language. This isn't an exercise in flowery phrasing and obscure words, but a straight-forward, conversational piece of contemporary fiction that sometimes breaks the fourth wall.
All in all: funny, lovable, and enthralling. Worth every minute!
April 3, 2017
Funny, tension-filled, fast-paced fantasy that draws heavily from a whole bunch of mythologies but gives them its own twist and has a strong female character who's independent and capable but still needs help sometimes (as all us badasses do). Once I was hooked (5th paragraph) I was along for the delightful & thrilling ride all the way to the end. And despite the fast pace, I can tell that Reid put a lot of herself into this book. Loved it.
April 20, 2017
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. Operation Ruthanne Writes A Fun and Fascinating Romp. The sassy, strong-willed voice of the protagonist is awesome. She's fun to accompany through the beautifully imagined worlds. The author's descriptions are evocative and immersive, the settings well-developed and unique. Scraps of myths and fairy tales from all over the world woven together into a fascinating journey.
The romance is subtle and slow-burning. This is a woman who doesn't have time for this sh*t, but isn't made of stone, either. The supporting characters are interesting glimpses into varied people and personalities. No stock characters here. I loved how often the characters showed real emotion, like real people. People cried when the worst things happened, or when stress hits the overload point, men and women alike. It seems like a small thing until you run across it in a well written book and realize how little you ever see the truest expressions of vulnerability, pain, and shock outside the caricatures of the weeping damsel or whatever.
Part of me felt like things went a little quickly through some of the reveals, but once past them, as after checking back to make sure I was solid on the details, the choice made sense and I can't see how I would have wanted it to play out differently. This wasn't a book for long detours from the action or convoluted plots twining through the already (nicely) convoluted plots of the antagonists. I also enjoyed how often the exposition referred back to a pre-story that was nearly a subplot itself, without ever dragging down the pace.
I can't wait for the next one.
--In the interest of full disclosure, I received my copy free from the author as a friend of a friend. I was not asked for a review in return.
The romance is subtle and slow-burning. This is a woman who doesn't have time for this sh*t, but isn't made of stone, either. The supporting characters are interesting glimpses into varied people and personalities. No stock characters here. I loved how often the characters showed real emotion, like real people. People cried when the worst things happened, or when stress hits the overload point, men and women alike. It seems like a small thing until you run across it in a well written book and realize how little you ever see the truest expressions of vulnerability, pain, and shock outside the caricatures of the weeping damsel or whatever.
Part of me felt like things went a little quickly through some of the reveals, but once past them, as after checking back to make sure I was solid on the details, the choice made sense and I can't see how I would have wanted it to play out differently. This wasn't a book for long detours from the action or convoluted plots twining through the already (nicely) convoluted plots of the antagonists. I also enjoyed how often the exposition referred back to a pre-story that was nearly a subplot itself, without ever dragging down the pace.
I can't wait for the next one.
--In the interest of full disclosure, I received my copy free from the author as a friend of a friend. I was not asked for a review in return.
August 18, 2019
I talk in my sleep and occasionally my wife - if she's awake - will carry on mini conversations with me. One such conversation occurred one night after I'd fallen asleep shortly after reading this book:
Me: *mumbling* It's a good chapter...
Her: What's a good chapter?
Me: The book.
Her: Who's book?
Me: Ruthanne's.
Her: What's it about?
Me: I don't know. I haven't finished it yet.
Having now finished Half-Shell Prophecies, I can tell you a bit about what the book is about. It is about magic, time, choice, talking clam-shells, and a journey across a swathe of worlds and characters. I won't go much more into the story than that - suffice to say it's a big story with big characters and a protagonist who makes it all seem approachable.
And while I enjoyed many aspects of the story - the world(s), the pacing, the treatment of magic - it's the protagonist that truly makes the novel work. The book owes a lot to Katie Lin's voice, and both book and character are charming, funny, and outright poetic at times. Reading this is a breeze and for a universe with as complicated a history as is built into the story, the narrator constantly makes it simple enough for readers to dive in and understand. It's truly a joy to walk through this world for a while.
If you're looking for a shorter introduction to this world and its cast of characters, I'd also highly recommend the Christmas Dragon - which actually probably works even better as an introductory work, as it's brevity doesn't allow it the chance to cover quite so much ground. In either case though, you're sure to enjoy!
Me: *mumbling* It's a good chapter...
Her: What's a good chapter?
Me: The book.
Her: Who's book?
Me: Ruthanne's.
Her: What's it about?
Me: I don't know. I haven't finished it yet.
Having now finished Half-Shell Prophecies, I can tell you a bit about what the book is about. It is about magic, time, choice, talking clam-shells, and a journey across a swathe of worlds and characters. I won't go much more into the story than that - suffice to say it's a big story with big characters and a protagonist who makes it all seem approachable.
And while I enjoyed many aspects of the story - the world(s), the pacing, the treatment of magic - it's the protagonist that truly makes the novel work. The book owes a lot to Katie Lin's voice, and both book and character are charming, funny, and outright poetic at times. Reading this is a breeze and for a universe with as complicated a history as is built into the story, the narrator constantly makes it simple enough for readers to dive in and understand. It's truly a joy to walk through this world for a while.
If you're looking for a shorter introduction to this world and its cast of characters, I'd also highly recommend the Christmas Dragon - which actually probably works even better as an introductory work, as it's brevity doesn't allow it the chance to cover quite so much ground. In either case though, you're sure to enjoy!
June 17, 2017
First off, I LOVED it! I would say Ruthanne Reid knocked this one out of the park on all fronts. I adore the main character Katie and just the wild adventure that she goes through is astounding. The worlds that the author builds feel real and gritty and something that I believe in as this tale unfolds. The magic system feels very well thought out and that there is a reason for everything. I may not know all those reasons yet, but everything feels rich and alive.
I would recommend reading The Christmas Dragon first. One because it's an amazing story in itself, and two just so you can get an idea of some of the characters that show up in here. Is it necessary to read that book first? No, I don't think so. I think someone new to the Mythos would be able to jump into this book, but I appreciated knowing some of the backstory before hand. It was like seeing old friends again!
If you are looking for a fresh read in the fantasy genera, I 100% recommend this!
I would recommend reading The Christmas Dragon first. One because it's an amazing story in itself, and two just so you can get an idea of some of the characters that show up in here. Is it necessary to read that book first? No, I don't think so. I think someone new to the Mythos would be able to jump into this book, but I appreciated knowing some of the backstory before hand. It was like seeing old friends again!
If you are looking for a fresh read in the fantasy genera, I 100% recommend this!
March 28, 2017
Ruthanne is a master storyteller and one of the top authors I look to learn more about world building. Being a reader and writer, I read this book from both those perspectives. It totally held my interest. Kathy Lin, the heroine, is captivating throughout the book. She is witty, smart and snarky.
Katie is a 'seriously underestimated damsel', as the tagline states. If you like dragons, wizards, and multiple races and worlds, this book is for you. Once I started reading it, I had a hard time putting it down.
If you haven't been much of a sci-fi/fantasy reader, I highly recommend you read this book. You will become one!
I don't like to give away plot reveals, so I suggest you just buy it and read it.
I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book for an honest review.
Katie is a 'seriously underestimated damsel', as the tagline states. If you like dragons, wizards, and multiple races and worlds, this book is for you. Once I started reading it, I had a hard time putting it down.
If you haven't been much of a sci-fi/fantasy reader, I highly recommend you read this book. You will become one!
I don't like to give away plot reveals, so I suggest you just buy it and read it.
I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book for an honest review.
April 1, 2017
Just. Wow. This book is beautifully written, fast paced, and filled with engaging characters. I loved the world building, the creativity of the plot, and the interplay between good and evil.
Katie is an MC with grit and bravery. The way she thinks and talks makes her likable and someone who I would love to have as a friend.
I can't wait to read more about Katie and the rest of the characters in this book!
Katie is an MC with grit and bravery. The way she thinks and talks makes her likable and someone who I would love to have as a friend.
I can't wait to read more about Katie and the rest of the characters in this book!
August 9, 2017
42 WORD REVIEW:
An urban quest fantasy with attitude. In the Mythos Ruthanne Reid concocts a world — or parallel worlds — well worth exploring, and in Katie Lin an irreverent, outspoken protagonist to guide us through them. Half-Shell Prophecies stands apart in the best possible way.
An urban quest fantasy with attitude. In the Mythos Ruthanne Reid concocts a world — or parallel worlds — well worth exploring, and in Katie Lin an irreverent, outspoken protagonist to guide us through them. Half-Shell Prophecies stands apart in the best possible way.
November 23, 2018
Ruthanne Reid's voice is modern and absolutely refreshing. I adore her self-aware heroines and worlds, the way she writes women who are not only strong but kind, and men who are tender, complicated, and work hard to break out of the stereotypes of masculinity that are thrust onto them by their own cultures.
Reid's imagination is enchanting as well - her world is unabashedly and unashamedly complicated, and if you're looking fora a fantasy author who spoon feeds you, look elsewhere. Reid believes her readers are clever enough to figure it out for themselves, and hands us the puzzle pieces instead of laying it all out condescendingly.
A marvelous addition to the series, and a breezy joy to consume.
More, please!
(Also... Braaaaaan. I have a new book boyfriend and he is a birdie.)
Reid's imagination is enchanting as well - her world is unabashedly and unashamedly complicated, and if you're looking fora a fantasy author who spoon feeds you, look elsewhere. Reid believes her readers are clever enough to figure it out for themselves, and hands us the puzzle pieces instead of laying it all out condescendingly.
A marvelous addition to the series, and a breezy joy to consume.
More, please!
(Also... Braaaaaan. I have a new book boyfriend and he is a birdie.)
April 23, 2018
A truly enjoyable adventure with a rich mythos. The plotting is crisp, the characters are well-developed and believable, and the story is engrossing. It was a fun and satisfying read. It left me wanting to learn more about the mythos and the characters.
It would be all-too easy to compare this to Jim Butcher's 'Dresden' series, but Ms. Reid's mythos is substantially different, if equally complex. The protagonist in each series is well-developed, but quite different in their world-views and how they solve problems.
It would be all-too easy to compare this to Jim Butcher's 'Dresden' series, but Ms. Reid's mythos is substantially different, if equally complex. The protagonist in each series is well-developed, but quite different in their world-views and how they solve problems.
December 8, 2017
Fantastic! demon's, dragons, Merlin and more, loved it!
March 8, 2017
The 'Chosen One' with a contemporary twist.
Love fantasy but think you've seen it all? Think again. The 'Half-Shell Prophecies' takes your expectations and shakes them up - in a good way. The protagonist (Katie Lin) is a jaded woman who has always known about the magical world (the Mythos)...and she's turned her back on it. She knows enough to want no part of the trials and tribulations that are part of the Mythos. Of course, she gets forced into a world-altering conflict anyways, and handles herself with ... er... mostly the opposites of grace and aplomb. Katie does what she needs to do to save herself and those she cares about, and some of what happens isn't pretty. And some beings she encounters are very pretty indeed. Modern no-nonsense woman + fantastical beings and worlds = sharp contemporary adventure novel.
Love fantasy but think you've seen it all? Think again. The 'Half-Shell Prophecies' takes your expectations and shakes them up - in a good way. The protagonist (Katie Lin) is a jaded woman who has always known about the magical world (the Mythos)...and she's turned her back on it. She knows enough to want no part of the trials and tribulations that are part of the Mythos. Of course, she gets forced into a world-altering conflict anyways, and handles herself with ... er... mostly the opposites of grace and aplomb. Katie does what she needs to do to save herself and those she cares about, and some of what happens isn't pretty. And some beings she encounters are very pretty indeed. Modern no-nonsense woman + fantastical beings and worlds = sharp contemporary adventure novel.
February 16, 2017
This was a very interesting read. And I have to be honest, it's one of those times "interesting" is very ambiguous.
We follow Katie Lin, an outcast-by-choice from her own magical kind (the Kin) who is dragged into a big time power struggle between some of the oldest and most powerful beings in all the worlds. All because a half-clamshell of a prophetess claimed she's the keystone to it all. Technically, she was right in the end, but not for reasons you might think in the beginning. Or the middle. Generally, you don't know what's going on until the very end, which is great!
Good points: There was a lot going on, and Ruthanne Reid is not afraid to mix it up and throw a bunch of fantastical creatures together and just watch what will happen next, for which I have to strongly commend her. A great perk for me of were the sarcastic remarks Katie constantly makes. It almost felt like she should not keep getting away with it, but then you're glad she does and the story can go on.
Because the story is really crazy. There were several serious twists and you never know who is really on top at the moment. It's life and death, and it's the end of the world hanging in the balance, but it's also cute little baby dragon and a pantie-wetting bad boy who's just there in that sweet spot between good and evil. Oh, he's also the Prince of Darkness, just so that he's completely irresistible to us mortals.
Not so good points: There was a lot going on. And I mean *a lot*! There's parallel worlds and all sorts of creatures that have their inside things between each other and... and I probably should not have started at Book 4 of this cycle, but I was under the impression they were stand alone. Probably my bad :)
Regardless, there's plenty of world-building still and I dare say my imagination is good enough to fill in some blanks. However, there were a few places I felt it was rushed through an important scene where just a few pages before there was so much time devoted to listing random examples of little to no importance. I felt the storytelling could be a lot cleaner and tidier if only focus was put on the right spots.
As far as Katie goes - I loved the quips, but I did not enjoy the random breaking of the fourth wall (and the excessive use of parentheses). Within the same chapter, there were two places that included "I did not do whatever (Are you proud of me?)" --> No! Why would I? I'm just along for the ride, and you taking a moment to drag me into your thought process and need of validation is jarring. It made it read like a "dear diary" at times, which threw me off. There were also quite a few moments full of tedious repetitions I could've gone without...
I believe this needs a few tweaks here and there, but all in all, it was a pleasant read.
We follow Katie Lin, an outcast-by-choice from her own magical kind (the Kin) who is dragged into a big time power struggle between some of the oldest and most powerful beings in all the worlds. All because a half-clamshell of a prophetess claimed she's the keystone to it all. Technically, she was right in the end, but not for reasons you might think in the beginning. Or the middle. Generally, you don't know what's going on until the very end, which is great!
Good points: There was a lot going on, and Ruthanne Reid is not afraid to mix it up and throw a bunch of fantastical creatures together and just watch what will happen next, for which I have to strongly commend her. A great perk for me of were the sarcastic remarks Katie constantly makes. It almost felt like she should not keep getting away with it, but then you're glad she does and the story can go on.
Because the story is really crazy. There were several serious twists and you never know who is really on top at the moment. It's life and death, and it's the end of the world hanging in the balance, but it's also cute little baby dragon and a pantie-wetting bad boy who's just there in that sweet spot between good and evil. Oh, he's also the Prince of Darkness, just so that he's completely irresistible to us mortals.
Not so good points: There was a lot going on. And I mean *a lot*! There's parallel worlds and all sorts of creatures that have their inside things between each other and... and I probably should not have started at Book 4 of this cycle, but I was under the impression they were stand alone. Probably my bad :)
Regardless, there's plenty of world-building still and I dare say my imagination is good enough to fill in some blanks. However, there were a few places I felt it was rushed through an important scene where just a few pages before there was so much time devoted to listing random examples of little to no importance. I felt the storytelling could be a lot cleaner and tidier if only focus was put on the right spots.
As far as Katie goes - I loved the quips, but I did not enjoy the random breaking of the fourth wall (and the excessive use of parentheses). Within the same chapter, there were two places that included "I did not do whatever (Are you proud of me?)" --> No! Why would I? I'm just along for the ride, and you taking a moment to drag me into your thought process and need of validation is jarring. It made it read like a "dear diary" at times, which threw me off. There were also quite a few moments full of tedious repetitions I could've gone without...
I believe this needs a few tweaks here and there, but all in all, it was a pleasant read.
February 16, 2017
The author lets her characters speak for themselves and it makes all the difference; the writing comes alive and feels natural. When an author has an agenda it shows it stilted and unnatural characters and unlikely speech-none of that here! I wont detail plot- but i will list the things i like especially :)
*no sex scenes- i love this because i prefer YA books and am not into adult themes. Its usually painful to read gratuitous sex so i love how Ruthanne doesnt rely on cheap sex to sell her book- its story and imagination all the way! I love an author who lets me think my own thoughts!
*amazing scene setting- she draws you in without overillustrating. Thus technique makes for believability
*diverse characters who just get on with it- they dont belabour that theyre special snowflakes: their characters are multisided
*fun-Ruthanne Reid writes wittily but again, she doesnt overdo it
I've never been much into fantasy but this is a genre-defying read: it takes fantasy from bullsh*t to what if?! And as a girl who is bored by long winded hyperbole, thats a true gift. I had to try not to binge read this book, Katie and co drew me in immediately. Its prompted me to catch the hell up on this author's work, as I have only read one other of her books- The Sundered. Equally, a great scifi read.
Apologies for typos and grammer, ALaskan bush internet and an ipod arent much fun for the literati ;)
*
*no sex scenes- i love this because i prefer YA books and am not into adult themes. Its usually painful to read gratuitous sex so i love how Ruthanne doesnt rely on cheap sex to sell her book- its story and imagination all the way! I love an author who lets me think my own thoughts!
*amazing scene setting- she draws you in without overillustrating. Thus technique makes for believability
*diverse characters who just get on with it- they dont belabour that theyre special snowflakes: their characters are multisided
*fun-Ruthanne Reid writes wittily but again, she doesnt overdo it
I've never been much into fantasy but this is a genre-defying read: it takes fantasy from bullsh*t to what if?! And as a girl who is bored by long winded hyperbole, thats a true gift. I had to try not to binge read this book, Katie and co drew me in immediately. Its prompted me to catch the hell up on this author's work, as I have only read one other of her books- The Sundered. Equally, a great scifi read.
Apologies for typos and grammer, ALaskan bush internet and an ipod arent much fun for the literati ;)
*
February 15, 2017
I loved Katie Lin! She is a resourceful not-exactly human. The adventures and the world were well crafted. Reading Reid's work is a joy. Well done!
March 31, 2017
So much fun!
Each trip into the Mythos leads to unexpected people, places, and events. Katie, our heroine, tells her story as events evolve around her, creating a comfortable way to learn about this unfamiliar world. Some characters we already know make an appearance (they are re-introduced for new readers), and they are joined by many new ones with complicated backgrounds and deep secrets. Also, I love how Katie saves herself ... she is a stubborn, resourceful character who stands up for herself and takes charge of her own destiny.
Reid's Among the Mythos books are engaging - and they keep getting better. Half-Shell Prophecies was a fun read with some deeply interesting characters; I can't wait to see what happens next.
Each trip into the Mythos leads to unexpected people, places, and events. Katie, our heroine, tells her story as events evolve around her, creating a comfortable way to learn about this unfamiliar world. Some characters we already know make an appearance (they are re-introduced for new readers), and they are joined by many new ones with complicated backgrounds and deep secrets. Also, I love how Katie saves herself ... she is a stubborn, resourceful character who stands up for herself and takes charge of her own destiny.
Reid's Among the Mythos books are engaging - and they keep getting better. Half-Shell Prophecies was a fun read with some deeply interesting characters; I can't wait to see what happens next.
June 30, 2020
My favourite after The Christmas Dragon. I love Katie Lin. She's one of the best characters ever created
February 11, 2017
There's a lot to like about this book.
The story starts with Katie Lin who, while appearing human, is a bit more. Unlike the "Ever-Dying" ("humans" or as J.K. Rowling called them, "muggles"), Katie is magical. In her world, the "Ever-Dying" read about magic but don't think it's real, like many people believe about angels and demons in our world.
The book immediately kicks off with Katie on the run with someone from one of the other magical races without a clue as to why she's running or why she's being pursued. The rest of the book cleverly reveals what's happening in the background.
There was quite a bit of world building including multiple races and worlds in an urban fantasy setting and pocket universes if you still need more. The relationship between the races and their worlds and between the races, while derived from classic myth (with some mutation), was consistent and relatively balanced.
In fact, the book had to flip back and forth from the story to explanation about the races and worlds to provide the context for what was happening. This would be a great introductory book to the series where later books could focus just on the story.
The plot, characters, and settings were all plausible and well developed. Each character had its own voice. Many of the races drawn from classic mythology (e.g., the Seelie Fey) reminded me a lot of Kevin Hearne's books. Some of the faces (e.g., the Fey) might be contrasted with elves but in this world are quite different; "Fey are not woodsy. They're deep into tech; they love it, and they're really good at it." These differences added to the story rather than detracting.
Merlin ("Myrddhin") turns out to be Katie's uncle. There are dragons, centaurs, a naga (and other creatures) in the book; there are even "merlions". At one point, Katie kept her belongings in a duffle-bag of holding. "The Hush" sounded like something out of a recent season of Doctor Who.
I enjoyed the writing in the book. "...the unexpected only works once." "Response is indicative of essence." "...exsanguinates the grandeur." +1 for using the word "kajigger".
One of the phrases used in reference to the book, referring to Katie Lin, is "...and one seriously underestimated damsel". This needs to be on the cover.
The story starts with Katie Lin who, while appearing human, is a bit more. Unlike the "Ever-Dying" ("humans" or as J.K. Rowling called them, "muggles"), Katie is magical. In her world, the "Ever-Dying" read about magic but don't think it's real, like many people believe about angels and demons in our world.
The book immediately kicks off with Katie on the run with someone from one of the other magical races without a clue as to why she's running or why she's being pursued. The rest of the book cleverly reveals what's happening in the background.
There was quite a bit of world building including multiple races and worlds in an urban fantasy setting and pocket universes if you still need more. The relationship between the races and their worlds and between the races, while derived from classic myth (with some mutation), was consistent and relatively balanced.
In fact, the book had to flip back and forth from the story to explanation about the races and worlds to provide the context for what was happening. This would be a great introductory book to the series where later books could focus just on the story.
The plot, characters, and settings were all plausible and well developed. Each character had its own voice. Many of the races drawn from classic mythology (e.g., the Seelie Fey) reminded me a lot of Kevin Hearne's books. Some of the faces (e.g., the Fey) might be contrasted with elves but in this world are quite different; "Fey are not woodsy. They're deep into tech; they love it, and they're really good at it." These differences added to the story rather than detracting.
Merlin ("Myrddhin") turns out to be Katie's uncle. There are dragons, centaurs, a naga (and other creatures) in the book; there are even "merlions". At one point, Katie kept her belongings in a duffle-bag of holding. "The Hush" sounded like something out of a recent season of Doctor Who.
I enjoyed the writing in the book. "...the unexpected only works once." "Response is indicative of essence." "...exsanguinates the grandeur." +1 for using the word "kajigger".
One of the phrases used in reference to the book, referring to Katie Lin, is "...and one seriously underestimated damsel". This needs to be on the cover.
January 21, 2020
Quite a bumpy ride and I must confess I got lost a lot. What genre am I in here?
February 10, 2017
Scary monstrous Lords of parallel universes conduct a cat and mouse chase after the lost Lin. That's the story of Half-Shell-Prophecies.
Half a clamshell that holds the spirit of Cassandra, the real seer, squeaks out cryptic warnings at Bran and Katie at irregular intervals. Yeah, she is a funny thing.
Bran, the Crow King, is handsome (as Katie repeatedly informs us) and aristocratic (I assumed this one), and the potential love interest (forced) of the protagonist.
There are other important but less significant characters like Notte the Master Vampire, his minions or children, Suvi, a baby dragon destined to be the crowned King of Dragons, Jonathan (a vampire and ally), and Joshua. I had assumed a fate for the last one and decided otherwise by the time I reached the half. However, the last chapter proved my initial instinct to be correct.
Antagonists (the ones revealed from the beginning) are Kanon, and Ravena, a maniac blood-sucker. Kanon as an antagonist is majestic. He is outright scary and a very believable villain. Ravena is as petulant as a child not getting what she wants and keeps throwing tantrums.
I found the appearance of the Norns towards the end of the book, abrupt. It's like tieing a bow around a sellotaped gift box. It doesn't tighten the plot but adds some drama to it. Not complaining, just wish they were a more integral part of the story.
The protagonist has a good reputation as a translator and an archivist initially, but she becomes a delivery person for a law firm towards the end of the book, something that left me a tad disappointed. Shouldn't a translator with good recommendation find a relevant job? At least in fantasy?
One of the reasons I have enjoyed Half-Shell Prophecies so much is the description. Characters, locations, scenes of action or dreams, are so visual and detailed that I could go pages without having to look back.
The analogy of Kali (the Goddess, not the entity related to Kali Yuga) and Nephthys with time and death was fascinating. That part where all the Gods meet for the coronation of the baby dragon Suvi reminded me of American Gods by Neil Gaiman. Oh, Nephthys with teeth in the wrong part of her anatomy is Gaimanesque. I know, both books refer to the myths and folklores, but the resemblance of the mentioned aspect and its treatment are worth mentioning.
In a word, the plot is excellent. There are humor, drama, and multiple facets of emotions depicted with arresting details. The author's natural writing style is lucid and dramatic, and she has chosen the perfect genre for herself.
Half-Shell Prophecies is a fast-paced and action-packed, often breathtaking visual treat of magic and mayhem.
The amount of research done on the mythical and speculative background of time and the concept of magically created parallel universes is evident from the narrative.
Half Shell Prophecies is a part of a series, Among the Mythos, but you can enjoy this as a standalone novel. I haven't read the previous books though I fully intend to do so.
I offer this book four Bohostars. Find this review and others on my blog href="http://bohomind.com/half-shell-prophecies-among-the-mythos-volume-4/"A bohemian mind at work.
Half a clamshell that holds the spirit of Cassandra, the real seer, squeaks out cryptic warnings at Bran and Katie at irregular intervals. Yeah, she is a funny thing.
Bran, the Crow King, is handsome (as Katie repeatedly informs us) and aristocratic (I assumed this one), and the potential love interest (forced) of the protagonist.
There are other important but less significant characters like Notte the Master Vampire, his minions or children, Suvi, a baby dragon destined to be the crowned King of Dragons, Jonathan (a vampire and ally), and Joshua. I had assumed a fate for the last one and decided otherwise by the time I reached the half. However, the last chapter proved my initial instinct to be correct.
Antagonists (the ones revealed from the beginning) are Kanon, and Ravena, a maniac blood-sucker. Kanon as an antagonist is majestic. He is outright scary and a very believable villain. Ravena is as petulant as a child not getting what she wants and keeps throwing tantrums.
I found the appearance of the Norns towards the end of the book, abrupt. It's like tieing a bow around a sellotaped gift box. It doesn't tighten the plot but adds some drama to it. Not complaining, just wish they were a more integral part of the story.
The protagonist has a good reputation as a translator and an archivist initially, but she becomes a delivery person for a law firm towards the end of the book, something that left me a tad disappointed. Shouldn't a translator with good recommendation find a relevant job? At least in fantasy?
One of the reasons I have enjoyed Half-Shell Prophecies so much is the description. Characters, locations, scenes of action or dreams, are so visual and detailed that I could go pages without having to look back.
The analogy of Kali (the Goddess, not the entity related to Kali Yuga) and Nephthys with time and death was fascinating. That part where all the Gods meet for the coronation of the baby dragon Suvi reminded me of American Gods by Neil Gaiman. Oh, Nephthys with teeth in the wrong part of her anatomy is Gaimanesque. I know, both books refer to the myths and folklores, but the resemblance of the mentioned aspect and its treatment are worth mentioning.
In a word, the plot is excellent. There are humor, drama, and multiple facets of emotions depicted with arresting details. The author's natural writing style is lucid and dramatic, and she has chosen the perfect genre for herself.
Half-Shell Prophecies is a fast-paced and action-packed, often breathtaking visual treat of magic and mayhem.
The amount of research done on the mythical and speculative background of time and the concept of magically created parallel universes is evident from the narrative.
Half Shell Prophecies is a part of a series, Among the Mythos, but you can enjoy this as a standalone novel. I haven't read the previous books though I fully intend to do so.
I offer this book four Bohostars. Find this review and others on my blog href="http://bohomind.com/half-shell-prophecies-among-the-mythos-volume-4/"A bohemian mind at work.
February 17, 2017
ARC for honest review.
This is my first foray into the world of Katie Lin and the Mythos. I'll give a small overview of the world for those that are newbies. Parallel universes, pocket universes, time warping/controlling/stealing, gods, hot 'demons', hot fey, hot vampires, talking shells, seers, prophecies, dragons (both cute and intimidating)...I could go on. It's a LOT to keep track of, but, luckily, readers are in good hands here. Reid manages to keep things straight in her head and ours without overwhelming info dumps. (Sometimes there's repetitive passages, but they're not super annoying.) Seriously, the sheer amount of world-building here is astounding, and she deserves mad props for not making my head spin with the sheer vastness of it all.
Katie Lin, I think everyone can agree, is a singular character. She's snarky, funny, and stubborn as hell. She also doesn't need a damn man to get herself out of trouble. Love a character that can stand her own ground! The tone and style Reid writes her with is just plain fun.
You might notice I knocked a star off. This is only because I think it could have been longer. There are a few instances of mini climaxes, and of course one big one, that seemed to rush by too fast. I would've liked to have stayed in those moments longer. As it is, I was kind of like 'Wait, what? It's over?'. They weren't unsatisfying, just not as satisfying as the COULD be.
Overall, this a fun, quick read. This can be read as a standalone, but it would probably be worth it to go back and read the previous books, just to help immerse yourself.
This is my first foray into the world of Katie Lin and the Mythos. I'll give a small overview of the world for those that are newbies. Parallel universes, pocket universes, time warping/controlling/stealing, gods, hot 'demons', hot fey, hot vampires, talking shells, seers, prophecies, dragons (both cute and intimidating)...I could go on. It's a LOT to keep track of, but, luckily, readers are in good hands here. Reid manages to keep things straight in her head and ours without overwhelming info dumps. (Sometimes there's repetitive passages, but they're not super annoying.) Seriously, the sheer amount of world-building here is astounding, and she deserves mad props for not making my head spin with the sheer vastness of it all.
Katie Lin, I think everyone can agree, is a singular character. She's snarky, funny, and stubborn as hell. She also doesn't need a damn man to get herself out of trouble. Love a character that can stand her own ground! The tone and style Reid writes her with is just plain fun.
You might notice I knocked a star off. This is only because I think it could have been longer. There are a few instances of mini climaxes, and of course one big one, that seemed to rush by too fast. I would've liked to have stayed in those moments longer. As it is, I was kind of like 'Wait, what? It's over?'. They weren't unsatisfying, just not as satisfying as the COULD be.
Overall, this a fun, quick read. This can be read as a standalone, but it would probably be worth it to go back and read the previous books, just to help immerse yourself.
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