Dreadful Company, Vivian Shaw
I was so excited to get this, and then I didn’t want to be over, and took longer than I should’ve to actually finish it. But while I was reading it, I was mainlining it: chunks and chunks of it all at once. I find Vivian Shaw’s writing just really easy to read, and it helps that I adore the characters. I was sad that there wasn’t more of Fass in this book, and I didn’t love some of the newer characters as much (Grisaille, but that’s obvious; Emily needs more development; more St. Germain wouldn’t go amiss; etc, etc), but I loved some of the little details — like the croissant-baking demon.
I think I prefer the first book, because it has more teamwork, more togetherness. This book is less comfortable, somewhat, even though I find myself sure Greta can get herself out of anything with her knowledge and her level head. On the other hand, Varney and Greta are just sweet — this is a romance that kinda works for me, though I feel like some development was missed out on in the time between books. (A bit unavoidable without making it a romance straight up front, though, and it isn’t: the romance is just part of it. Friendship is a far bigger part, to my mind, particularly that of Ruthven and Greta.)
All in all, I had a lot of fun and I think it lived up to how much I loved the first book. I’m looking forward to more with great eagerness! Also, I kind of want a whistler of my own. And a wellmonster.
I’m so looking forward to getting into this series! I’m reading a horror book at the moment but I certainly want to read Strange Practice maybe next week. I also love these book covers!
Yes! I think they’re cleverly done to be different and yet attractive.
Any book that has a croissant-baking demon in it is a book I want to read. That cover is beautiful! I really need to give this series a try, I’ve heard great things so far.
Jess @ Jessticulates recently posted…Review | Riddle of the Runes by Janina Ramirez
It’s a fun one, for sure!
You rated this one slightly higher than I did, but I still enjoyed it a lot. I figured it was just a mild case of second book syndrome, but you bring up an excellent point about there being less “togetherness” compared to book one. I didn’t even realize how much I missed the teamwork until you mentioned it. We got some of that, but only at the end.
Yes, I think it’s the lack of togetherness that makes this slightly less fun. I want to see Ruthven mothering everyone forever!