too sweet, or not sweet enough

[snugglekitty]

This week, I read Wintertide by Linnea Sinclair and Miss Melville Regrets by Evelyn Smith.

Linnea Sinclair is the author of Accidental Goddess, which is as close as anyone has come to the Liaden books (at least, that I've encountered so far). So, I figured I'd try out this fantasy offering of hers. Wintertide was... well... it felt like a first novel, whether it was one or not. The heroine seemed only too happy to tell everyone exactly what she was up to, except for the people who could actually help her. Willfully stupid? Just really pigheadedly stubborn? I don't know. But I don't feel like her character's motivations were well-established, and I felt the plot had a lot of problems. Okay as a fantasy romance, but there are a lot out there that are a lot better. Her faithful cat and horse and her magic sword I could have easily lived without, which is why I'm labelling this one as "too sweet." Two and a half stars.

I rejected as too bitter One for the Money by Janet Evanovich. I had tried it on the recommendation of Novelist, which thought it was like Lawrence Block. The main character seemed to have my life, though, and it seemed a bit bleak. I stopped after two chapters.

Another Block-alike, Miss Melville Regrets, came through for me splendidly. Imagine Miss Marple's evil twin, a retired art teacher of genteel upbringing who supplements her pension by killing scoundrels for money. I could swear that chienne_folle recommended this book to me, but if so, I can't find the comment. This book was hysterical. Miss Melville is extremely believable, as are the circumstances that lead her into her life of crime. It's cute without being cloying, sweet without being precious. Love love love. Five stars for book #123.

Comments

[chienne-folle.livejournal.com]

I didn't recommend Miss Melville, because I've never heard of her, but I'm certainly happy to know about her now.

I once recommended Mrs. Polifax as something light and fluffy for somebody who was recovering from surgery; maybe that's what you're thinking of.

I read a few in the Evanovich series, but the main character is always so helpless, pathetic, and scatterbrained (not at ALL like you, in my opinion) that I just wanted to shake her. Lots of people seem to like this series, but I'm not one of them.

[lady-anemone.livejournal.com]

I didn't recommend Miss Melville, because I've never heard of her, but I'm certainly happy to know about her now.

Well, in that case, consider this a recommendation geared especially towards you. I think you'd love the book.
I did remember you recommending Mrs. Pollifax, but thought you'd recommended this as well.

I read a few in the Evanovich series, but the main character is always so helpless, pathetic, and scatterbrained (not at ALL like you, in my opinion) that I just wanted to shake her.

SHE didn't remind me of me, oh no, and thank Goddess for that. It was her mom, actually, that reminded me of mine.

[bryghtrose.livejournal.com]

I'll definitely have to check out Accidental Goddess.

[lady-anemone.livejournal.com]

Yes, I really liked that one. :) It seems that most of her other books are along those lines as well (romance on the spaceways) rather than fantastical.