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Review #5343 - Dated: 30th of January, 2012
Author: Tucker |
Having absolutely adored the story series, this was a very welcome addition to the library. When you find a series set in a universe you can really 'get into' a compendium or handbook that gives you all the back-story can really help you set the scene in your head. If only more authors would do them BEFORE the series - tough and near-impossible, I know... but we can wish, can't we?
In this case, it was brilliant, though a little tedious in some places - official paperwork always leaves me cold, even when I am not the poor sod filling it out. However, this book redeemed itself in aces with some wonderful recipes (though I would have loved it if they put in a suitable replacement for the fictional 'drug' Brimstone, asd the cookie recipe sounds divine!) and some wonderfully colourful extras, such as pages from the Christmas Edition of the Hollows Gazette featuring submissions from Tinks, and anonymous rewrite of "The Night Before Christmas" by Racehl, and some hilarious 'news' articles that fit well with the books set during that period.
Overall, wonderful! Since there isn't exactly a storyline - though the thread of Devin does imply time passing and a high level of continuity - I won't say it's a great story... but I will say it's a brilliant addition to the overall story that is the Rachel Morgan serties. But the real winner and icing-on-the-cake for me was discovering that the dust-jacket artwork is printed including glow-in-the-dark ink that 'lights up' the night scene printed on it. Brilliant... and since it isn't explicitly mentioned on the book itself, I wuld almost call it a 'physical easter-egg'. Kudos to the designers!
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