#but the library of Alexandria is in England now. because why not. and it hasn't been moved because it had to be protected during wwii????

[six-of-ravens]

I have finished part 3 (about 110 pages in), so an update on thoughts and predictions:

Callum and Nico are more interesting than originally thought. Callum is still a rich asshole, but at least he's a rich asshole in a fun and evil way and not just a boring way. It's an informed trait that Nico is rich, but he doesn't act like the stereotype at least.

I read ahead to see who dies (disappears?), and after the last few chapters it doesn't come as a surprise. I won't spoil it, but while [redacted] is certainly strong in a magical sense, they're extremely insecure, emotionally vulnerable, and easily manipulated, and I feel like that'll be their downfall. Also, gotta break up the power couple to make sure you have a cliffhanger so people read the sequel *shrug emoji*

Reina is quite fun. Did not expect everyone to underestimate her, but she clearly gives no fucks and I like that.

Parisa is still a one-note mean girl seductress, and Tristan is still a one-note social climber with bad decision-making skills and daddy issues, which is deeply annoying. Everyone else got new Hidden Depths over the past few chapters, but not them.

Also, getting tired of Parisa being an unrepentant asshole to absolutely everyone (or everyone she wouldn't fuck) constantly. Does she come with an off switch? Like, I don't mind an asshole character but when all they do is snark at people constantly and (again!) have no personality traits except Hot and Mean, it gets old real fast.

Again, this is the problem with 6 perspectives, some are just not necessary because the characters don't have character arcs. We could've done with just Libby and Nico tbh, maybe Reina, but even her perspective doesn't seem totally necessary, much as I like her. Libby and Nico are the most developed, and the most plot happens around them (like, in the battle scene they split up, and we check in with Nico and see what Libby is doing through Tristan's perspective. We never bother with Parisa and Callum though!)

Also I worried about scenes being repeated too much, but now I'm annoyed at what's being left out, especially since this author seems to like to hold what you don't know over your head instead of finding a way to give you info throughout the rest of the story. Why didn't we get to see Parisa and Callum during the fight scene? Why is she mad now? I bet we'll never know. We still don't know what this recruitment speech was about and yet it's referenced quite often...

Speaking of, what a wild fucking fight. Like, all these people are suddenly powerful and aware and highly trained enough to fend off multiple attacks, both magic and gun-based?? From like 4 different specialized agencies?? Because apparently the day these new recruits enter the building is Open Season for whoever wants to rob the library?? I get the point the author was trying to make, but. Highly unrealistic.

For the sake of not sounding like I'm only hating on this book: the writing style is fairly good. And there's more to the magic system than I thought there would be, even though it's still pretty basic AAAHHHHHH I'm sorry but. come on. "magic uses energy just like sports" is what we've got. there has to be more than that!!

So yeah, characters I like so far: Libby (...somewhat), Nico, Reina, and potentially Callum. I have basically begun skimming Tristan's segments because my god, I do not care about your father and how much he doesn't love you and how you gave up your dream of an easy life for this for apparently no reason. And Parisa is the same as always. We haven't gotten a chapter in her perspective in a while, and it's probably because she spent the whole fight scene either trying to fuck Callum or trying to decide whether to fuck Tristan again. Or scheming about how to fuck Dalton.....you get the picture. If there's more to her, we have not seen it, and since we've been in her brain, I can only assume that's because it doesn't exist.

#steph reads tas #oh also we finally found out what they're doing at the library #basically just independent study and also security detail? #but the library of Alexandria is in England now. because why not. and it hasn't been moved because it had to be protected during wwii???? #the author does not seem to know england was devastated during the war but OKAY #SURE AUTHOR IT'S SAFER OUTSIDE OF LONDON THAN IN NEW YORK BECAUSE PEARL HARBOR #anyway time to make dinner #edit: re: the tags: apparently the US wanted the library moved to NY but was turned down bc Pearl Harbor #as if it was any safer just outside of london... #come on there were surely SOME countries that were fairly safe during the war! #iceland....new zealand...probably like...madagascar.... #idk much about wwii but i do know london was a bad place to be!!