I can't say this book was good, but it was more of a 2.5 star read than a 2, because it was slightly better than book 2. The climax was the best part of it, and that's not saying all that much. Most of the book, not all that much happens, and it's a slog of retreads through flashbacks we've seen before, lots of unenjoyable and repetitive bad sex jokes and quips (which is saying something because ordinarily I like bad sex jokes and quips), and what I can only describe is Sam having two halves of a personality that he flip-flops to depending on what will annoy whoever he is currently talking to the most, even if it contradicts his own stance, and even if it contradicts what he just said a sentence prior.

Last book the most annoying character was Kevin. This book it was Sam, which is an issue when he's the protagonist. And Sam only won out because Kevin was in substantially less of book 3 than he was in book 2. Kevin is just as unenjoyable this book as he was last book every time he shows up on the page. It doesn't help that Gary is in a good chunk of this book, and I don't know what it is, but I guess I've reached my limit of liking his idiocy, because I couldn't stand just about any of Gary's portions this book, either.

One sentence that stands out for why I dislike Sam is this (CW kink-shaming, references to BDSM equipment): “There was a line that we wouldn’t cross, but I didn’t judge those who did. Too much, anyway.” This follows Sam talking about, honestly, some of the tamer kinks brought up in this book. They're not vanilla, given the references to, among other things, urethral play, but given all the stuff he's brought up about using magic for, he judges people for using spreader bars? I get there's a point where we all go "not for me", and you don't have to like or understand all the kinks other people are into, and yeah, there's probably an element of judgment in there, but this is literal the most humanly normal non-magical list of kinky stuff in the book and Sam's acting like people are weird for doing it. I don't know if this is a joke about how the story is magic and fantasy and Sam finds real-world stuff Odd while he's planning to use magic to get himself and/or Ryan pregnant, or some commentary about bigotry even within the queer community (which also happens, and in this particular way), but it's... bizarre. Especially because we're supposed to understand that Sam is a very accepting person. He's not perfect, but I didn't think kink-shaming on this scale was a thing of his? Heck, one of his closest friends, Mama, runs a brothel. That he's stayed in. And judging by the contents of the room he stayed in with Ryan, I find it hard to believe he wouldn't have seen any of the things on that list happening there.

At any rate, I ended up skimming about 60% of this just to finish it. You don't miss out on anything plot-relevant, and even lesbian dragons don't save the story from being a truly boring, annoying, repetitive slog. Most of the book is: Sam is hiding something, characters are mad at him for hiding things, he learns new things to hide, flashback, he reveals some things but not others, characters are mad at him for hiding things, he tells them some of the things, characters are mad at him for hiding things, the climax. That's it.

I was not planning to read book 4 as I pushed through this, and was just going to skip to book 5 when it comes out. After the climax I think I'll give book 4 a shot, but I'm incredibly cautious. Book 3 is not good or enjoyable. It's disappointing because I loved book 1, and I've been looking forward to book 5 for years. I hope 5 at least is good because if 4 and 5 are as bad as 2 and 3, that's just... very disappointing. ( )

The plot keeps getting stronger, while the ridiculousness remains, even though there are some moments that are really serious and touching. This story is getting better and better. ( )

Astonishing

I knew this one would hurt, but Klune is devious with the humor so it hits extra hard. So glad I already have the next book! ( )

Amazonaute asked me this on a thread in MM Romance and Gay Fiction:
"Lori, did consumption of magic seem to be a proper book to you? Fit to be published?"
My answer was "No" and followed by what's below.

Klune can write when he sets his mind to the task. There is a good book buried under the layers of irritating sexual innuendo and stupid, distracting, dialogue. Yet, just when he gets a decent bit of serious plot going, Klune allows his characters to go flying off the rails again. It's almost like he's afraid of allowing them to actually mature into adults.

_Klune desperately needs an editor who will sit on his tendency to go off into nonsense and keep him on track. While I like his writing and his humor, I would love to see him actually grow in his ability to write and right now that is not happening. It shows in how he approaches and avoids pushing his characters into the next level. There may be some hope there, as Sam has finally been forced to deal with one of life's awful realities, but we won't know until next year with the last book if he actually does grow from this lesson. Maybe a year away from his friends will help with this._

Currently, all of the characters, with the possible exception of Justin?, are stuck in adolescence. ALL OF THEM*. Sam is the worst of the bunch and several characters tell him straight to his face just how spoiled he is, but Sam, being Sam, only hears what he wants to hear. _He needs a bit of grounding - a down to earth type of grounding. Randall tried, but he just did not have the umph it would take to get through to Sam's hard headed naivete._

*I can't believe it took me three books to figure out that Kevin is still essentially a teenager himself, with his preoccupation with sex and all that. Grrrrr.

- And another annoying thing - the whole "bad touch" business drives me nuts. Yes, there are touchy things about touch and some people, myself included, who really don't appreciate being touched without permission, regardless of the type of touch. Yet, Sam & Co. take this to new heights and Sam, especially, doesn't seem to see that he's just as bad as the people he complains about when it comes to unwanted touching. I'm sorry, but if you just walk up to me and start hugging me for no good reason, even if you think it's a good reason, I will do everything in my power to get out of the hug and away from you. I really wish Justin had just popped off and punched Sam more than once through this story. Grrrrrrr.

Thanks to Amazonaute for the question! ( )

I don't know what to say.
*sputters*
*sputters some more*

So much feelz and lolz I love how this series is paced. The first book, understandably, was a big bang to me and it's about Sam&Ryan's romance. The second book is more action-packed. And this one is more about teaching and learning about magic, about secrets; it is literally the calm before the storm and I can't wait to read the undoubtedly epic conclusion. ( )