La-Shauna F. (SHADY) reviewed Canyons of Night (Looking Glass, Bk 3) (Arcane Society, Bk 12) on + 1266 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
This book was an enjoyable read. However, when it is viewed as the conclusion of a three part trilogy, it was weak. The glass weapons were glossed over. The engine to create the glass weapons could have been really exciting, but it was just there without anyone really understanding its importance. Rather than taking the time to conclude the current trilogy with all the suspense and detail it deserved, much of this book was used to introduce a new plot line. The Preserve is obviously in a new series, since it did not function in the plot of this one. Several characters played no real role in this book but are probably important in the next one. An allusion was made to something that must be found, but it wasn't. I don't mind a prequel to a new series. I am looking forward to a new series. However, I thought I was buying the conclusion to the current series. I feel cheated because I bought and read the first two books in this series expecting a rousing conclusion in the third. I didn't get the conclusion I was expecting.
Melanie (MELNELYNN) reviewed Canyons of Night (Looking Glass, Bk 3) (Arcane Society, Bk 12) on + 669 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
This is the conclusion of the Looking Glass Trilogy which began in the book In Too Deep by Jayne Ann Krentz and continued in Quicksilver by Amanda Quick. This story moves to the planet of Harmony and takes place on the island of Rainshadow. It is a small isolated island. Charlotte spent part of her childhood there with her aunt and now has returned to take over her aunt's antique store. Charlotte has a little-regarded psychic gift of being a rainbow reader. She can see people's auras and can tune some antiques to be just the right thing for a person. She has also recently inherited some things from a grateful client. She is busy organizing her aunt's shop and getting settled in on Rainshadow.
Slade Attridge has returned to Rainshadow to be the new chief of police. He has been forced to leave his higher profile career in law enforcement after an accident that the doctors and para-psychologists have said damaged his psychic gift beyond repair. Slade is determined to only stay on Rainshadow for a brief time while he makes other plans for his life.
Charlotte and Slade had met briefly fifteen years before and had been interested in each other but their lives led them in different directions. Now, the romance is rekindled. Slade is reluctant to make any sort of commitment to Charlotte, though, because of his very uncertain future.
But, when Charlotte finds a dead body in her store, Slade's plans to lie low until he has has new life plans in place is derailed. Charlotte may be in danger and Slade's protective instincts come to the fore. They are both busy trying to find out who killed Charlotte's intruder and also what is going on in the Preserve. This privately owned area is changing and becoming more frightening and dangerous.
Adding a lot of humor to the suspense and romance is Slade's dust bunny partner Rex. Dust bunnies are native to Harmony and occasionally adopt some of the humans. Rex looks cute and fluffy most of the time but he is a dangerous predator is there is a threat. Rex also loves zucchini bread which is a constant thread in this book since zucchini season has hit and one of the locals is constantly giving everyone loaves of it. He also has taken a fancy to an antique beaded evening bag from Charlotte's store and won't be parted from it.
This one has all the elements of the most successful of Jayne Castle's books. It has romance. It has danger. It has cute dust bunnies. And it has crisp, snappy dialog. All in all, it was a very satisfying read, a great conclusion to the Looking Glass trilogy, and a great introduction to stories about the Preserve and Rainshadow.
My only quibble with the story concerns the cover. I have no idea who the cover is supposed to illustrate. Charlotte is not the kind to go around in tight leather. That aside, this one is well worth reading.
Slade Attridge has returned to Rainshadow to be the new chief of police. He has been forced to leave his higher profile career in law enforcement after an accident that the doctors and para-psychologists have said damaged his psychic gift beyond repair. Slade is determined to only stay on Rainshadow for a brief time while he makes other plans for his life.
Charlotte and Slade had met briefly fifteen years before and had been interested in each other but their lives led them in different directions. Now, the romance is rekindled. Slade is reluctant to make any sort of commitment to Charlotte, though, because of his very uncertain future.
But, when Charlotte finds a dead body in her store, Slade's plans to lie low until he has has new life plans in place is derailed. Charlotte may be in danger and Slade's protective instincts come to the fore. They are both busy trying to find out who killed Charlotte's intruder and also what is going on in the Preserve. This privately owned area is changing and becoming more frightening and dangerous.
Adding a lot of humor to the suspense and romance is Slade's dust bunny partner Rex. Dust bunnies are native to Harmony and occasionally adopt some of the humans. Rex looks cute and fluffy most of the time but he is a dangerous predator is there is a threat. Rex also loves zucchini bread which is a constant thread in this book since zucchini season has hit and one of the locals is constantly giving everyone loaves of it. He also has taken a fancy to an antique beaded evening bag from Charlotte's store and won't be parted from it.
This one has all the elements of the most successful of Jayne Castle's books. It has romance. It has danger. It has cute dust bunnies. And it has crisp, snappy dialog. All in all, it was a very satisfying read, a great conclusion to the Looking Glass trilogy, and a great introduction to stories about the Preserve and Rainshadow.
My only quibble with the story concerns the cover. I have no idea who the cover is supposed to illustrate. Charlotte is not the kind to go around in tight leather. That aside, this one is well worth reading.
Billie K. (booklady2) reviewed Canyons of Night (Looking Glass, Bk 3) (Arcane Society, Bk 12) on + 58 more book reviews
Good book. Really enjoy the whole series by this author. In the beginning it doesn't really seem like the couple will connect but they do and they really have a deep connection. Thrilling as well with some mystery. Enjoy!
Laura P. (hemmputnam) reviewed Canyons of Night (Looking Glass, Bk 3) (Arcane Society, Bk 12) on + 1160 more book reviews
Murder, great banter between the leads, and a glimpse of characters from previous books made this a quick, fun page turner. You'll understand a lot more of the details if you begin the Arcane series at the beginning (this is book 12!) but you can enjoy the happy ending no matter what!
Deborah H. (littlepine) -
Great book! I always enjoy the Arcane novels.The world of Harmony has been expanded with new locations, a new island, and a new mystery and Dust Bunnies rule! I always look forward to the dust bunnies featured in the Jayne Castle books; they always add an amusing touch.
Sarilyn C. (sarilyn) reviewed Canyons of Night (Looking Glass, Bk 3) (Arcane Society, Bk 12) on + 166 more book reviews
Good book. I liked the characters, and the story. The ending was a surprise. Didn't expect the killer to be this person!
I enjoyed it. I enjoy all the Jayne Castle books. This is the last one I had to read about Rainshadow Island. I will probably read through the whole series again in proper order as it makes things easier to understand although the book it self is "stand alone."
