The Audiobook narrator didn't know how to pronounce Kamehameha. It took me a few moments to understand what just happened but then...

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This series just keeps getting better!! This series was recommended to me by another author that I love. (Tricia O'Malley) ( )

Originally posted on Tales to Tide You Over
Once again, we have a full and complete story with interesting reveals, but unlike the previous ones in The Twenty-Sided Sorceress, the toying is coming to an end. This book (book 4) is not a sideways effort by Samir, or at least not as sideways as the previous ones. The teaser in the back of Pack of Lies comes to its full nature in Hunting Season, offering new moral questions for Jade to face along with those raised by living in her community openly, a fact not all are happy about.

Her life becomes more complicated, and my suspicions about her nature are more grounded. What I don’t know is whether she is unique (or extremely rare) or if such is true for all sorcerers with her just being very strong. I’m leaning toward her rarity, but will withhold judgment. I’m starting to understand the root of Samir’s obsession in light of this, however, and it fascinates me.

Jade comes to understand her abilities a little differently in this book. Though it doesn’t much change how she approaches her magic, she’s more confident in the path that comes naturally to her. She also learns the world is bigger even than Alek knows, setting her understanding of real against encounters she would have thought only a part of fiction. It’s a lovely demonstration of the human trait of acceptance won by familiarity while not letting that acceptance open up possibilities along the same thread. Shifters are real. She has no difficulty with that because she grew up alongside them, but even the shifters believe all other fantastic creatures to be myth alone.

The world building is both consistent and yet expanding nicely. I know the series is much longer than one more book, but I have a feeling this Samir arc is closing in at last. Jade is still trying to balance including her friends and protecting them from the consequences of befriending her. Those choices may just be taken out of her hands all too soon, but the support of those around her offers as much strength as risk, and I’m curious to see it play out.

While there didn’t seem to be as many humorous moments, some of that is still there. My favorite is right at the end so I can’t say anything beyond that the payoff is worth it and how Jade undertakes to make her point is a lovely demonstration of her determination to be good while not being a pushover.

You might notice the lack of a longer gap between reading books in this series. I mentioned at the end of the previous one that I didn’t think I could hold out, and the right time dropped into my lap, though I have three other books ready to be reviewed, so this wasn’t a case of needing a quick read. I’m enjoying the series immensely. I do apologize for the vague nature of my comments, but I tried to give you a sense of what I experienced while allowing you to see it unfold as the author intended. I’m still bought into this world and eager to see how it unfolds. ( )

I liked this story and am enjoying the entire series. The combination of the different, shall we say specie types, as well as mythology, the characters and the situations make for a very fast-paced, interesting read. Wish the story had been longer. ( )

Completed 12/28/16 ( )