Customer Reviews

Burning Bridges (Retrievers, Book 4)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

In the opening, an angel dies. They're not that easy to kill--but somehow the Nulls (humans without magic) have managed to do this. Throughout the book, more and more fatae (demons, angels, etc) are killed. It's different than the past times, though. Fatae have aligned themselves with the Talented humans and together they are willing to fight.

Politics come into play when we realize that the Silence, a balance-keeping force when Wren's lover and partner Sergei used to work for them, has now in some part gone rogue. The Cosa, short for Cosa Nostradamus who represent the mages, is in for a fight with them.

The problem arises that the fight is so near the end of the book, you could almost miss it you're so tired of the constant planning, the relationship strife between protagonist Wren Valare and Sergei, and the sheer pages waiting for something to happen.

In the end, we don't have much of a resolution, which I suppose is Ms. Gilman's and the publisher's attempt to drag readers into buying the next book in the series.

If you are starting this series, do not start here. You will have no idea of who the players and history are.

The problem as I see it with "Bridges" is the setup is far too long and the convoluted relationships are not well enough explained unless you have a solid grounding in the previous works and pay a lot of attention. I preferred these series when they moved faster and we saw more of Wren's work. I realize that politics in the inner circle of mages seems to be a popular trend--but Jim Butcher can pull this type of storyline off without a hitch and Laura Ann Gilman cannot.

I am not sure I will be reading the next Retrievers' novel. I will definitely have to sit down with the book at a store and read enough of it to make sure that it will hold my interest.

I've been a fan of this series since book one. Normally you'd think it would be the sophmore slump that would be the let down in a series, but unfortunately it was this book. The almost teenage angst between Wren and Sergei was more than a little annoying. But I think my biggest complaint was that nothing seemed to flow properly, it was almost as if some of the chapters were disjointed.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the next in the series will make up for this one.

This 4th book in the Retrievers series isn't terrible but it isn't very interesting, either. Mostly, it seems to serve as a bridge (no pun intended) between the previous book and the next.

As other reviewers have commented, the main reason for the serviceable read is due to the concentration of the story arc on the politics among the "major" players in the series, namely the Fatae, Lonejacks, Cosa, and Silence, and the increasing tension due to the escalation of attacks by Nulls against anyone who has, or who appears to have, magic. To be fair, this political situation does have a key role to play in the plot as it also drives what's happening; the problem is that rather than making the information succinct, the various unproductive political meetings take up too much of the story. The various factions don't get very far in their dealings, and neither do we, as the reader.

The situation between Wren and Sergei, played up on in the book's synopsis, doesn't really have much twists and turns as was hinted, until the end of the book, just like the intriguing prologue. A hint of a connection to the prologue appears but it's so subtle that it might as well not be there. In any case, by that point, one has either forgotten about the prologue or one has torn one's hair out wondering what role it plays in the story.

In essence, there's a lot of exposition but not much action.

I liked the first couple Retrievers books, they were light and easy adventures with a fun and quirky protagonist. They were nothing spectacular, but pretty good and entertaining. Since then, Gilman has tried to change the books into something like a paranormal political-thriller. It doesn't work, though. There's nothing thrilling here.

The author seems to be trying to create a darker, more foreboding world--and to make the books more suspenseful. The attempt at dark and foreboding falls flat, though. Instead of being filled with suspense and anticipation, you're just left wondering when things will be done with already.

I still do like the main characters, and the writing itself is done well. But, those points aren't enough to really salvage the bland story. There were several "hooks" left in this book, designed to make you wonder what'll happen in the next book and want to read it. The story left me so unengrossed and disinterested that I don't know if I'll bother to continue reading.

In all, I give it a rather weak "3." If you've read the rest and absolutely loved them, you might feel the need to read this one no matter what. Otherwise, if you're just a casual fan or a new reader, I suggest you stay away.

This new Retrievers novel picks up about 6 months later after the third novel. It is winter and the war between the fatae, Talent, and Council has begun. The fatae and Talent reluctantly agree to form an alliance and work together to defeat the Council and their even greater enemy the Silence. Lonejacks are disappearing and no one knows why, and fatae are still being killed by the "pest control". But with all hell breaking loose Wren's life still manages to sink further into oblivion. Her lovelife has become even more complicated, having sex with your coworker is never a good idea, one Wren almost regrets, but not really. Until she discovers that Sergei has been keeping secrets from her, dangerous secrets. The novel builds up to the climatic ending where the fatae and Talent battle with the humans that are trying to kill them. There are survivors and there are deaths. But this is not the only sign of death in Burning Bridges.

Overall a so-so book. There is too much planning and prepping for the ipcoming battle and when it finally happens there is still a lot that is left unsolved.

I too love this series. Her other books have been a superb read. This book was so erratic it was almost as if she'd merged several pieces she wrote separately. This is a tough read, the timeline is bizarre, and huge events are left hanging. I hope the next one returns to the quality of the others.

After reading this book, I had to go back and re-read the other books in the series. Yes, it wasn't as good as the other three, but I would still buy her next book. My favorite character in the book is PB. Hopefully, Gilman will tell us his secrets. I can't wait.

The Cosa Nostradamus is the magical community consisting of three major groups; the council of mages, the lone jacks who are independent operators, and the fatae, the non-human species. Wren is a Retriever, a thief who uses her talent magic to steal things that her clients want. Her lover Sergei is a null (no magical talent) who left the organization of the Silence, a group who protect humans from larger darker forces to become an entrepreneur.

Both are loners but in the present climate, Wren can no longer stay on the sidelines. For years the fae were attacked and the lone jacks did nothing and now a vigilante group founded by an unknown organization is killing lone jacks. The fatae and the lone jacks for the first time in history along with the council organize a truce to find out who the enemy is and neutralize them. When a target is killed, by nulls and those who have talent, the truce is broken and the council withdraws. However the fatrae and the lone jacks are united in their determination to strike out at the enemy while Wren and Sergei are lovers fearing every step they take will make matters worse. A confrontation is coming and when it happens it will change alliances.

Laura Anne Gilman writes some of the best supernatural fantasy on the market today. BURNING BRIDGES is a fantastic urban fantasy thriller with loads of action, protagonists that are likeable and understandable and a conspiracy that hides in the shadows using disposable minions to further its aims. Wren is a strong willed person while Sergei is a tortured soul who is tugged between two opposing groups who have claims on his loyalties. Readers will await the next installment in this series to see how the coming war bears out.

Harriet Klausner