Review: Labyrinth's Heart

Labyrinth's Heart by M.A. Carrick
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the third book of the Rook & Rose Trilogy that began with the Mask of Mirrors ...

Previous Review of The Mask of Mirrors

Previous Review of The Liar's Knot

The book opens with a review of “The Story So Far” which is fantastic since it has actually been awhile since I read the last book and the world is so complex that it is easy to forget some of the details. And so we pick up the story with Ren, Grey and Vargo trying to figure out how to safely disposed of the medallions that have the power to restore the tyrant’s rule when united and corrupt the holder (and potentially curse the clan/family of that holder) … and the one person who could unravel Ren’s entire deception returns to House Traementis. Of course, no plan survives … well you know. In this case, the return to the city of Ren’s “mother” complicates everything as she threatens to reveal Ren’s secret to her ruination. While that simmers, Ren and friends hatch a plan to ship her and Grey despite their disparate stations. 

Despite all those spinning plates, the book gets off to a slow start as everything settles into a somewhat predictable story. Unfortunately most of the world building is done by now and the story has a little trouble holding my interest with just the characters (with the promise of a conclusion the primary motivation that pulls me through the first half) … and that makes it fairly easy to put down between chapters (so not a quick read). About halfway the pace picks up and the book is once again hard to put down as the story makes good progress to a very satisfying conclusion (with enough surprises and twists to keep the plot fun and the world interesting).

I was given this free advance reader copy (ARC) ebook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

#LabyrinthsHeart #Rook&Rose #NetGalley

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Review: Deconstruct Faith, Discover Jesus: How Questioning Your Religion Can Lead You to a Healthy and Holy God

Deconstruct Faith, Discover Jesus: How Questioning Your Religion Can Lead You to a Healthy and Holy God by Preston Ulmer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Some time ago … my cousin asked me if there was anything in my faith that if he were able to prove wrong would break my faith. I took the question seriously and from that point I had a strong understanding of my own core faith. That doesn’t mean that I did not accept traditions outside of that core (of which most christian traditions reside), but that I was open to another way. That was the start of my journey to deconstruct my faith … after which I found myself in the Catholic Church after I reconstructed it. That is a long winded way to say that I can identify with what the author is saying here to some extent … I don’t agree with everything he says and would frequently say it differently (not surprising since he confesses a pentecostal viewpoint); however, he does make an excellent point.

The book is a quick read and mostly on point with minimal repetition. Part one deals with what deconstruction is and why it is good for the faith. This is important because the term deconstruction is not a common term in my faith tradition (restoration or catholic); although it is apparently more common in evangelical traditions where diversity within the pews is not well tolerated. That is not to say that people in other traditions doesn’t experience a crisis in faith … studies show that all the mainline churches are declining the in the US, but that we are using different vocabulary to talk about the same thing. Part One makes sure we are all on the same page. Part two introducing a way to use deconstruction constructively :-) this is also important. When you “blow up” your faith, something needs to fill the gap; here is a healthy approach to do that where the end result is a spirituality that is stronger and better that what you had before. Too many times I have seen people just give up entirely and walk away completely.

Introduction: Saving Deconstruction
Part One: Why Deconstruct
1. Deconstruction Is Part of Our Spiritual Heritage
2. More Questions Than Answers
3. Deconstruction vs Deconversion
4. Deconstruction Is About Authority
5. WWJD? (What Would Jesus Deconstruction?)

Part Two: How to Deconstruct - The FUSE Method
6. F - Find the Specifics
7. U - Understand Where It Came From
8. S - Share the Impact
9. E - Engage with the Remains

Conclusion: A Christianity for Our Kids

I was given this free advance reader copy (ARC) ebook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

#DeconstructFaithDiscoverJesus #NetGalley

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Review: Death at the Diogenes Club

Death at the Diogenes Club by Anna Elliott
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Performance: ****

Story: **

Trigger Warnings:  Mass Shooting, Torture

I continue to be impressed with the narration and it remains the best part of this series.  Unfortunately missteps in the story itself get in the way here, so I can’t recommend this specific episode unless you are (like me) a completionist.  The primary issue for me was the strange moral lapse of the main characters in the middle of the story that was completely out of place to the general wholesome tone of the story.  Once that irritation settled, it only increased with each little apparent inconsistency … such as the relatively weak portrayal of Sherlock Holmes himself (yes, I understand the need for others to participate in the plot, but that is not how Sherlock works, so it would have been better for him to remain mostly in the shadows and allow this to be more Lucy’s story).  

For somebody who was so famous for his perception, Sherlock was frequently second on the scene so to speak.  Unlike the previous stories, there was much less international intrigue here as the plot unfolded with a more domestic feel.  The mystery itself was well done if also fairly simple and Lucy’s relationship with her father and Constable Kelly (James) advances satisfactorily.

I was given this free advance review/listener copy (ARC) audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

#DeathAtTheDiogenesClub #LucyJamesMysteries #FreeAudiobookCodes #KindleUnlimited

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Review: The Liar's Knot

The Liar's Knot by M.A. Carrick
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the second book of the Rook & Rose Trilogy that began with the Mask of Mirrors ...

Previous Review of The Mask of Mirrors

The book starts with a recap of the story so far … and a quick gloss of names and terms to jump start the story (which was greatly appreciated). Then the action picks up immediately following the events of the previous book when the nefarious House Investor fell from grace into obscurity. But that was not the only threat to the fragile balance between the ruling elites and the conquered commons of the city. While there is a little less world-building in this installment, there is still enough to keep the feel of a wonderfully deep and sometimes hidden background that enables the plot to focus more of character and building action toward another awesome conclusion.

We already know the main players: Ren struggles to maintain her con as Alta Renata, despite developing a close emotional attachment to the members of the family that was her mark … making it hard for her to cut her loses when it starts to go south. With her connection to the “Pattern” through her deck of cards, she builds up another persona as a revered “gypsy” fortune teller Arenza among the original conquered people of the city with whom she shares their heritage as the daughter of an outcast … with all of that, the Dream has granted her yet another persona as the “Black Rose” who joins the “Rook” as a vigilante on a mission … which is actually not completely revealed until the end. Then there is Grey … the Vigil officer by day and crusader at night struggling to be true to both. Finally we get Vargo … the crime boss given a noble charter who has surprising secrets of his own … in some respects, this book is Vargo’s story and my initial dislike for him in the first story was completely reversed here as we begin to dig deep into the motivations and intentions of all three (3) of these flawed heroes.

And then we have the cast of wonderful supporting characters to pull on Ren’s loyalties and the readers heart that just made each of the main characters more complex and interesting while providing the ability to tap into both sides of society to give real consequences to nearly every decision. And amongst all of that, the source of the dark corruption within the city is slowly reveals as the intrigue and secrets are stripped away. All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed how this story developed and where it ended up; looking forward to the sequel.

#TheLiarsKnot #RookAndRose

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