Rose

Great for when you want to turn your brain off.

Reviewed: 03-24-22

I read the physical copy of this book for the first time when I was in middle school and it's stuck in the back of my mind ever since. I've consistently come back to it every couple of years like clockwork. Not, I think, because the storyline itself is particularly impressive, but because of how gory, fantastical, and wonky it is; it brings me back to when I was younger and it was easier to suspend my disbelief. Anything is possible in Portero. Whether it be raising the dead, stepping into different realities, or rolling up an old man like a tube of toothpaste; anything goes.

The Cordell sisters are a car wreck in motion; terrible and impossible to look away from. Magical, and bloody, and murderous. It's kind of hard to say whether I really like them as characters, but they're too different to be boring.

It's my first time listening to the audio book version and I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised. I know that a few people had complaints about the narrator and the accent she gave the girls, but it didn't bother me, and it wasn't the narrator's fault. The physical copy of the book includes their accents and I personally didn't find it distracting after the first 10 or so minutes.

Anyway, I don't typically leave reviews, so sorry for the sporadic formatting and stuff, but I really like this book. it's a nostalgic fever dream that left me not wanting to wake up, and I wish that there were another story centered around the Cordell sisters. If you do give it a try; go into it knowing that it's going to be ridiculous and be prepared to say "It's in the script." a lot.

Also, I do want to say that there is a LOT of weird flirting in this book between the girls and two boys around their age. The overtly sexual nature of the flirting and infantilization of Fancy in particular gives off weird vibes at times; especially considering that the girls are only 15 and 16.
The story does also touch on grooming and childhood sexual abuse. I wouldn't say that it's particularly graphic when describing the abuse, but it is disturbing, so I wanted ti give fair warning.

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Give the narrator a chance

Reviewed: 06-19-19

The switch to a new narrator is really jarring, and it puts a lot of people off; including me. In the beginning at least. I was honestly so upset the first time that I tried to listen to this installment that I dropped it for several months before deciding to come back and tough it out for the sake of the story, and by the end, I came to prefer this narrator to the first two.

The voices are different and take a lot of getting used to, but I honestly can't imagine a better voice for Lucy Carlyle. Or the skull for that matter. You simply get used to Lockwood and George. it's hard to imagjne them with any other voice now, but Lucy and Skull are the main selling points. The narrator just captures Lucy's temper, toughness, fear, and general charm very well. The Skull's sardonic, playfully unhelpful nature is also much in evidence, and very well performed.

I think that my favorite bit of narration in all of the series happens in this installment between Holly and Lucy during a particularly hairy bit in the department store. If you've listened already; you probably know what I'm talking about. The narrator really sells both of the girls' anger, frustration, panic, and fear. I personally find it to be my favorite scene in the series simply for how creepy it is because of the convincing voice acting (and Stroud's excellent writing skills.) I find myself randomly thinking about it every so often even 4 years after listening to it for the first time, and even after many, many re-listens, I always look forward to reaching that part in the series; sometimes re-downloading the book just to listen to that part alone.

The story itself is great, but if you're this far into the series, and any kind of fan of Stroud's, you probably expected that. If you have any attachment to these characters, I implore you to give the new narrator a chance. Take an adjustment period if you need to, but come back. I think it's very well worth it if you can get past the initial shock.

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