Half-Resurrection Blues ( Daniel José Older)
2.5 stars
I immediately bought this book (Kobo had 50% discount code I could use) without reading any early reviews because I am a sucker for urban fantasy with male protagonist. I always try to find a new series I can follow. So I was intrigued -- and the a couple of friends gave this 4-stars rating.
Unfortunately, this book didn't work for me...
Maybe I am a lazy reader; I don't like the sensation that I've been dropped in the middle of an urban fantasy world without so much of an introduction. And that was what I felt when I was reading this. Like the story started off page, way before I opened the first page. I got confused a lot. I ended up skimming (as my eyes glazed over the words or I distracted myself with whatever I could do with my computer).
I immediately bought this book (Kobo had 50% discount code I could use) without reading any early reviews because I am a sucker for urban fantasy with male protagonist. I always try to find a new series I can follow. So I was intrigued -- and the a couple of friends gave this 4-stars rating.
Unfortunately, this book didn't work for me...
Maybe I am a lazy reader; I don't like the sensation that I've been dropped in the middle of an urban fantasy world without so much of an introduction. And that was what I felt when I was reading this. Like the story started off page, way before I opened the first page. I got confused a lot. I ended up skimming (as my eyes glazed over the words or I distracted myself with whatever I could do with my computer).
Older also introduced characters after characters that interacted with Carlos without explanation. I kept thinking, wait, who was this guy again? Or who was this woman? Wait, how did Carlos know these people? Not a reading experience I enjoy when choosing an urban fantasy book :(
There were times some scenes captured my attention, that I spent time to read them carefully (one that I could remember was when Carlos was visited by a message delivery-ghost. That was cute). But in overall, the whole world-built of inbetweeners, ghosts, ngks (yes, WEIRD term isn't it? at first I thought it was a typo *lol*), the Underworld, and other paranormal characters just didn't reel me in.
I didn't have anything to complain about the writing though ... mainly the way the story told made me lack connection to the story, to the world, and alas, to the characters. I guess I must chalk this up as a series that most people else like but me *sigh*. Not planning to check up any sequels (if any) either.
There were times some scenes captured my attention, that I spent time to read them carefully (one that I could remember was when Carlos was visited by a message delivery-ghost. That was cute). But in overall, the whole world-built of inbetweeners, ghosts, ngks (yes, WEIRD term isn't it? at first I thought it was a typo *lol*), the Underworld, and other paranormal characters just didn't reel me in.
I didn't have anything to complain about the writing though ... mainly the way the story told made me lack connection to the story, to the world, and alas, to the characters. I guess I must chalk this up as a series that most people else like but me *sigh*. Not planning to check up any sequels (if any) either.
4
2