Patch Job is the first episode in the second season of ReMade and rather than starting of where the first season ended (without answers on a cliffhanger), this starts something new. A character that was thought to be gone for good is in a sense ReMade all over and dropped into the world again. Also, there is a special connection with the caretakers.

I'm curious to see where this is going.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

The End of the Beginning doesn't really provide either an end or a beginning. Instead we are served a cliffhanger and no answers. I hate it when a book or in this case a season cannot stand on its own but instead the reader is forced into continuing just in order to get some of the answers.

Inez's point of view is a bit tiring at this point, as I can't seem to like her. There is also some last minute death that didn't make a lot of sense either. Rather disappointing conclusion from a series that by times was really nice and for the most has been a fun, quick read. I've dedicated to reading the second season, so I hope the story will pick up again.

For me there was some time between reading these episodes and the rest of the first season, but it didn't really form a problem. There is some tension rising as you feel they are nearing the end. Holden is one of the more interesting characters in the series, and he plays a major role in this one. However, at this point, I'm ready for this season to end.

I initially read this story in its original form, when it existed as fanfiction. 

 

Will and Claire are completely different characters compared to the source material. As such, it is not difficult for me to read this as a work of original fiction.

 

On the strength of this story, I have always liked the fake marriage trope. Lady Isadora gets some humourous lines;  displayed some kickass gun shooting skills, and totally deserves a novel of her own.

 

The story flow is good, it is easy light reading, and the cover picture is very pretty. In essence, it's about two (slightly) broken dented characters helping each other heal, letting go of their respective sad pasts to find happiness together. And that is always the sort of story worth reading.

 

In short, I think this series has potential, and I definitely have The Meddling Madame on my waiting list for when it comes out next year.

 

- - - - - - -

 

Now, I am going to nitpick on the historical inaccuracies that bother me. Please feel free to stop reading at this point because whenever I do this to my friends, their eyes glaze over.

 

Disclaimer: I never criticise fanfiction because most fanfic writers devote their free time writing out of love for a fandom, and they tend to find it demotivating to receive (unsolicited) criticisms. That said, published novels are an entirely different game, and I definitely criticise novels when I review them. 

 

Firstly, baron is a rank, not an appellation. In the novel, Will and Claire addressed each other as Mr. & Mrs Knightley. Given that they hold the ranks of baron & baroness, they should be Lord & Lady Knightley. In society, he would have been presented as Lord William Knightley, Baron of _____ . Not Baron William Knightley. 

 

There were hardly any mentions of servants. The lady's maid performs the duties of a butler in addition to her own, Claire doesn't wear mourning colours, she gallivants around London unaccompanied by a maid or footman, there are no footmen in Claire's house, (footmen were supposed to be everywhere!), Baron Knightly has no valet, and they are completely unchaperoned (Lady Isadora, being unmarried herself, cannot be considered a chaperone, even if she is middle-aged, which she is not). They even live in the same house as an unmarried couple. This is the stuff of scandal in those days.

 

 

Third, no patroness launched Claire into society, no presentation to the royal court at the beginning of the season. Underaged, but no appointed guardian (a legal requirement). No mention of fortune hunters. And yes, I know I am getting ridiculous at this point, but we're talking about a time era so ritualistic in nature that non-adherence to the rigid customs caused scandals and led to ostracisation from society, so it stretches my suspension of disbelief just a little too much.

 

And about the 'restoration' of the barony ... I don't think that's how it works, but I don't even want to get into that topic lol. This post is already long enough as it is.

 

- - - - -

 

All these, however, do not detract from my enjoyment of the novel (much) and I look forward to future books by this author. :)

Book 11: We're Dead in This Ghost Town
Star rating - ★★★★☆
POV – Loki
Would I read it again – Yes

** COPY RECEIVED THROUGH NETGALLEY **

This is the best story we've had in this series for quite a while. At least, it feels that way. If Inez hadn't existed at all or gotten any page time, this would have easily been a five star review. But she was there. She was her usual bitchy, miss-know-it-all, better-than-everyone-else, negative self and I hated her the entire time she was on page, as usual.

I've always loved Loki as a character and, like Holden, he never gets enough page time for my liking. The fact that this was Loki and Holden for 99.5% of the story (with Inez butting in with the others for that last .5%) made it a joy to read. This story returned the series back to its roots for a moment, back to where it all started and why – exploring the lives and deaths of each character, letting us get to know them better.

Reading about Loki's final day before he died was gut-wrenching as I'd always known it would be, because my theory about his death was right. But that didn't help me when it came to reading through how he felt and what he did that day, to deal with the bullies. What I'd have loved was to see the aftermath; to see his bullies punished beyond his little threat before his death, to see them face the consequences of what they'd done. Maybe then I'd feel that somehow he got the justice he deserved, even if it happened all too late.

The plot is a little reminiscent of another sci-fi story I've read, the Haven Prime series, so imagining and navigating the post-apocalyptic world with Loki and Holden was familiar somehow and a nice progression of their journey.

I'm still angry at the way that Inez – and now Gabe!? – have tried to pain Loki as some kind of reckless, dangerous villain who is going to do something so stupid that it will get them killed. The incident on the train aside (which actually wasn't wholly his fault) all he's ever done is defend, protect and look out for the entire group. I'm so glad Holden is on his side and offers the understanding and support he needs, because, quite honestly, I 100% agree with Loki that Inez is a bully.

She's pushy, arrogant and thinks that she knows best, despite having only been with them for half the time or less than that than they've all been a group. She just waltzed in and took over a spot that was never hers, without asking anyone how they felt. And the way people like Seyah and Teddy fawn over her is sickening. It's so easy to see what Loki meant when he talked about her being a bully and probably being popular, because it's a truth I've seen since the start. Inez is just a female version of Brody! She steps on people to show her fan-base that she's the most powerful and popular.

~

Favourite Quote

“Yes, Inez had helped save them from a gruesome death on the train – admittedly cleaning up the mess Loki had inadvertently made – but she was also a bully.” ← couldn't agree more with you, Loki.