The Checquy Files - Book 2
Sad to say that I didn't enjoy Book 2 as much as I enjoyed Book 1, The Rook. I can put it down to too much infodumping and backstory and not enough story set in current times with the current action. As well as there not being enough of Myfanwy Thomas, the lead character from Book 1.
The main focus of this book is really twofold, two main characters. First we have Pawn Felicity Clements, the Checquy soldier/bodyguard who is set to 'babysit' the Grafter girl, Odette Leliefeld. One of the best things about the story is the relationship between the two young women. I wanted more of that. Originally they dislike (hate?) each other, filled with distrust and suspicion but gradually, over time and adventures, that changes and they become friends, even close friends. I actually liked both of them quite a bit but felt that I would much rather be in 'their' story than reading back over their pasts - mostly Odette's.
Myfanwy is around, she's the boss and she's the one trying to broker the deal between The Checquy and the Grafters to join forces and fight the big, horror bad guys. She sees things very pragmatically and clearly and knows what has to be done. I liked how both young women seemed to look to her as a type of role model even though she's really only about 5 or so years older than they are.
The plot was windy and twisty and involved a splinter group of the Grafters and even some monsters popping up from God knows where. I would have preferred more thought be given to this part of the book than the set up and world-building (really infodump backstory filler author masturbation, if you ask me) and that would have made it hang together better and kept me turning the pages far past the time I should have been asleep.
So... good book, good read, but not as good as I was hoping or expecting.
Oh, I have to say, the artist who did the cover art, one Lindsey Andrews did a STELLAR job! In my ereader this cover looks as if there's a big crack in my screen! I kept doing double takes when I'd catch a glimpse of it out of the corner of my eye. Big kudos!!
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