The characters and story suck you in
937951
A quick, Simple romance.  The characters and story suck you in, and it becomes hard to put down!
252368
Much like we are, the main character, Orio, finds herself thrust into a new environment with very little explanation or back story. Before she can truly take it all in, she's given a shotgun orientation, shuffled off to pick out her clothes, and then tasked with selecting an "Odd" (like a familiar, or magical companion) before she gets settled in with a job. And her Odd, Bauble...is special. Rather than her choosing him, he chooses her and it ends up being a perfect match.

The story, which moves quickly, focuses on getting Orio situated in Cobble (i.e. her job placement), however, none of the jobs on her list work out--courtesy of Bauble and his antics--and the one she wants, the one she'd be good at, didn't even make the list. To make things worse, there's something terrorizing the city. And more than that, there's another underlying story which is wrapped in mystery and that's the one I'm eager to see more of. I'm desperate to learn about Orio, how she wound up in Cobble and why that pocket watch is so important to her; Bauble, why he is the way he is (because he *definitely* has a back story); and especially about Cobble/Clockwork City itself.

It's difficult to give much more away without spoiling the entire book, but suffice to say, it was a gripping read. In a sense, the tone of the book and story is quiet and subtle. The panels were laid out well and were easy to follow. The writing was top-notch--sharp, witty, and sometimes hilarious. The characters were surprisingly well developed. (I say surprisingly because this is a short work and it's not always easy to create well-rounded characters in such a short amount of time.) The artwork was sublime and the muted colour scheme worked for the overall story. If there was a problem with this work, it would be that sometimes the story drops--literally, there is no dialogue and it's a bit difficult to regain one's bearings. But for me, it was forgivable because it added to the fantasy mystery element.

This is great if you enjoy quirky fantasy with a touch of wry (and maybe a little dark) humour. When I finished reading, I wanted to cry because there was no more left. I truly didn't want the story to end and I haven't felt that way about a book (much less a manga/graphic novel) in a long while.

Disclaimer: Since I'm reviewing an ebook version courtesy of Netgalley, I can't comment on the print or binding quality of the book, but I've already placed my order for the print copy and can't wait for it to arrive.
4086005
A great story that sucks you in, tugs at all the soft emotional spots and then flings you into a dark corner. Superb!
1056370
From the very first paragraph this story grabbed me and did not let go until I finished the last sentence.  The concept itself is not altogether unheard of -  along the lines of the Harry Dresden novels for a good rough "what type of story is it" outline, but that's all it is, a rough outline, to compare the two.
Mr. Little delves into the concept in a completely different manner, and it works.  It works extremely well.

From the beginning there's a genius behind this story, and it begins to pulse as the story grows.  The characters are incredibly well fleshed out without dragging the story along, and you begin to empathize even with the "bad guys".

The story moves along very well, not overdoing it in either the slower spots where the reader gets to catch their breath (and catch up with the story again) or in the action sequences, which are very well done.

It's a compelling read, a fresh outlook on the age old question of the nature of life, afterlife, and lack of both.

The next book in this series is a sequel I will be waiting anxiously for.
3565223
Thus is a story that will suck you in and keep you up all night turning the pages, regardless of your age or familiarity with Chicago or Mexican/Latin American history. It is easy to connect with the main character, Ariana, as she begins to uncover the reasons behind her father's sudden appearance, and the other mysterious and frightening characters and events that begin to disrupt her life with greater and greater frequency. I can't say much more without spoiling the fun, so read it, and you'll see what I mean!
776096
Hard to add anything to the editorial reviews and the positive customer reviews, but one thing that this novel (and series) does so well is create believable and nuanced characters.

Yes, the books are beautifully put together.  Yes, they are full of surprises and mysteries.  Yes, it takes a little while for the narrative to take off (not a bad thing, really).

The characters, though, are rendered in sharp detail from so many different angles, that before you even realize it you come to know them intimately and care deeply about what happens to them.  Each of the 9 main characters' chapters is narrated from a third person limited point of view, so you get inside their heads.  The characters interact with each other, sometimes frequently, sometimes glancingly but to critical effect. So, not only do we get the characters' own view of themselves, but also we get the inner dialogue from related characters of the others.  Even the really evil seeming characters have fully developed inner lives we are privy to.

If you hate books with poorly developed characters, then these books are for you.
2468041
Gripping story really sucks you into the book. A very well done piece of art.
847712
I really can't express what I'm feeling right now for this book.
I loved the story and the characters. There is so much you can learn from them, so much you can be grateful for in life in general...
And although I may not agree with some things, it makes you think and be empathic and not judge people in general
204840
Perhaps some of the most realistic and relatable characters in fantasy! Do yourself a favor and give it a read
4412472
This story will suck you in until the very last word, and spit you back out breathless, and begging for more.
In the story, there are 4 different characters, all of which have different goals.  The book forces you to side with one of the characters.
This is not a book to miss, and should be on every fiction lovers, to-read list.
420723
The characters bring you in, you're hooked, and then you can't get enough of them.  Be prepared to buy them all!
244615
Great read. Story and characters are unlike any others.
214343
Unhooked feels like the little story that could.  I had absolutely no expectations going into this story, especially with a synopsis so vaguely perfect.  I almost hate to admit this but I was just about to put this book aside for another book but fellow blogger Nick quickly steered me away from that course.  Phew!  Turns out, this story completely captivated me once I got into it.

We meet Gwendolyn (Gwen) and her mom as they move, yet again, to a new city and new home.  This time Gwen has her best friend, Olivia, with her to help Gwen settle into her new home for the first two weeks.  But moving isn't something new for Gwen.  Shes had to do this her entire life, moving every few years whenever her eccentric and paranoid mother got a new job painting for a new sponsor.  Gwen is getting older and is pretty much over all the moving.  But she also doesnt want to abandon her mother, who is always talking about monsters lurking in the dark and other nonsense.

Its not too far in to the book that the story takes a wicked turn and everything changes.  It was at that point in the story that you could not separate me from my Kindle.  I had to read, read, and read some more to get quickly to the end.  I was just so interested!  The story is an intricately woven study of good versus evil.  Its looking into your gut and knowing when to trust your instincts or to believe the outward appearance of the actions of others.

Yeah, its a pretty badass tale.

Even more badass is the character of The Captain.  Hes dark, furious, and oh so mysterious.  He is easily my favorite character of the story.  I will not spoil anything by explaining further why.

And thats the thing,  I cant go into too many details about the characters because if I do, itll ruin the story, sorry!  Just take my word that they are all developed and utilized beautifully in the story.

Im kind of bummed this is a stand alone for only one reason and that is because of the imaginative and wonderful visual imagery that Ms. Maxwell wrote into her world building.  When she wrote about the faceless dark creatures, I could easily picture them as I read.  I thought the prose that she began each chapter with complimented the story and it put the final star on my five star review.

This was just one of those stories that went everywhere and then at the end came all together perfectly.

Damn, that final reveal

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
1484015
Kira has a way of bringing real world problems to light in her books. I was bullied as a child so I could definitely relate. Her story just sucks you in and I found it very hard to put down.
I see a few negative and harsh reviews of this book by people who didn't want a sad read. If you read the description of the book, you'd see that obviously it's going to have some sadness in it. It specifically says someone is being bullied. But to read as this character not only finds herself but works through her struggles is what sucks you in. You root for her the whole time.
Another great by Kira. Give it a chance.
1749030
This novel immediately throws you into a mysterious kingdom where dark creatures/forces exist, the rule is just as lawless as the roads it reigns over, and the people and its lands struggle to survive.  The story centers around a tavern and the barkeep ('Kote') that owns it, who you come to understand is locally unrecognized yet the "hero" he once was is a highly celebrated legend.  His anonymity maintains until a traveling scribe comes upon him and determines to write the legend's story.  So, that is where the series really begins as the barkeep recalls his beginnings and the journey that turned him into the fabled figure he came to be known as but also debunking some of the myths along with it.  The story lives in his past but occasionally flashes back to the present, to reflect and to highlight his struggle to reconcile against who he has now become.

Patrick Rothfuss does well to captivate you with the main character, who I often found myself likening to a Harry Potter-esque protagonist, in that he capitalizes on his strengths and "games" his way through his deficiencies to overcome obstacles as well as rebel against unjust institutions. The emphasis of this telling is more about the evolution of the character than just magic and spells, which exist but often remain an aside as the author creates this universe.

My main knock, as others have pointed as well, is that the author often draws out certain plot points and aspects of the main character's development well beyond the point of relevance.  The story is intended to be a gradual build into the present, but even as the pacing picks up the author will just as quickly bog you down with repetition of the same events to hammer in a point already thoroughly made.

The book remains an intriguing tale and absolutely worth the read, but one that requires patience as you grow with the main character.
274476
This story hits the ground running and keeps you sucked in for hours at a time. The narrative style was very fluid, personal, and made feel I was there!
2292131
I didn't want this book to end, in part because it was lovely and in part because I felt I was just starting to get to know the characters. While there were a couple of things that bothered me, I still gave this a 5-star (4.5 if that were an option) rating because I thoroughly enjoyed it and felt the characters were surprisingly well-rendered (more on that below).

*No Spoilers*

One of the common complaints about this book is that there are just "too many characters!" which I admit makes me chuckle a little bit. Yes, there are effectively ten main characters of this story: four parents and six children (though they are adults for much of the book). Because the families become blended, it can get confusing to remember which child belongs to which biological parents and siblings. However, it really isn't THAT difficult to set it straight in your mind, especially if you know this going into it. Write it on a post-it and stick it to the inside the cover if you need to; it's really that simple. My point is, please don't let such a triviality keep you from experiencing this story.

The other chief complaint is that the story jumps around too much, across time and between different points of view. When I first started this book I was disappointed by this and almost didn't continue reading it--that first 2-3 chapters have a very jarring structure and you aren't sure where exactly you are in the story. I'm not sure if this is intentional on behalf of the author or just oversight, but thankfully as the story continues it becomes much, much easier to follow along. I actually came to love the format in the second half of the book, as I figured out more of the storyline and grew more attached to the characters. However, if you are a reader that simply does not like stories that jump around through time and perspective, this probably isn't the story for you.

The other thing I heard from readers was that the characters weren't developed enough or that they didn't connect to the characters or couldn't "root for them." I disagree. One of the beautiful things about Patchett's writing is she can tell you everything you need to know about a character in very few words and she doesn't waste your attention by fleshing out every detail. She lets you in on what the characters are feeling only when it is necessary. I found each of the characters in this story unique in all the ways they needed to be. You find out more about some characters than others. I found myself most attached to the point of view of Franny, who is the character with whom we spend the most time. I would have gladly read a novel solely from Franny's perspective, though that would have resulted in an entirely different book. The characters of this story are very human. They aren't overly flawed or overly virtuous; they're just people. I didn't need any other reason to "root for them" than that. They each have to deal with the chaos of their lives, and they do so imperfectly.

Though Patchett doesn't spell everything out for you (which I love her for), there is a subtle theme of forgiveness/redemption in this story that I found beautiful and a little heartbreaking. The members of these two families don't live in perfect harmony, but they also don't harbor any dramatic grudges, which I found refreshing. I would have gladly read another 300 pages of this story.