I missed the Tyrion and Daenarys chapters as much as anybody but George RR Martin made up for it with the "Alayne Stone" plotline because I LOVE PETYR...moreI missed the Tyrion and Daenarys chapters as much as anybody but George RR Martin made up for it with the "Alayne Stone" plotline because I LOVE PETYR BAELISH.(less)
It's got the trappings of all of the morbid, gloomy, funerary, curios-and-specimens-in-formaldehyde momento mori sort of stuff that I am a sucker for,...moreIt's got the trappings of all of the morbid, gloomy, funerary, curios-and-specimens-in-formaldehyde momento mori sort of stuff that I am a sucker for, but I couldn't get emotionally connected in it. I really didn't care. Nothing within the book ever came alive for me (har har) - not the story, nor the characters. I nearly quit reading the book several times and had to force myself to continue. The format of the novel, interspersed with poetry and excerpts from an antique "ledger" that came into the protagonist Silas's possession did make for something more unusual than what you would find in a typical YA novel, but the result of that weakened the novel overall because all these stylistic devices just came across as self-indulgent. I give it two stars because some parts were ok, though I can't remember what they were. Ha ha ha. (less)
I'm impressed by the scope of this novel but to be honest, it felt like a chore to read up until approximately page 500, when I finally started enjoyi...moreI'm impressed by the scope of this novel but to be honest, it felt like a chore to read up until approximately page 500, when I finally started enjoying myself. (less)
I finished this book wanting more than what I was given. Even with post-apocalyptic world with cage fighting death matches between teenage slave girls...moreI finished this book wanting more than what I was given. Even with post-apocalyptic world with cage fighting death matches between teenage slave girls, a crazy bloodthirsty monarch trussed up like Louis XIV, and giant mutant bipedal tremor worms it was not as bloody or gruesome as you would expect. All the grit and pathos felt pretty superficial. It was fine overall but quite obviously written for a YA (adolescent aged) audience in mind. (less)
Werewolves, blah. The first 120 pages or so was mostly boring back-history and the narrator Elena analyzing herself. Zzzz. It does get more exciting a...moreWerewolves, blah. The first 120 pages or so was mostly boring back-history and the narrator Elena analyzing herself. Zzzz. It does get more exciting and action-packed later on, but studded with more dull internal dialogue written in Armstrong's distinct laconic style. But I'm sure I will read the sequel eventually.(less)
This book kept me company in my idle time while traveling last month in Norway. The Outlander series is a favorite of my co-workers, so I had some cau...moreThis book kept me company in my idle time while traveling last month in Norway. The Outlander series is a favorite of my co-workers, so I had some cautious but high expectations of a sweeping and engrossing historical epic with a lot of sexytime. I liked it. It was a good, hefty, satisfying historical romance. The time travel premise is silly and there's a lot of goofy situations but whatever. But I think I would have been a lot more impressed if I had read Outlander as a teenager. Maybe then Jamie Fraser would have been a literary pin-up boy as Ralph de Bricassart was to me when I was fourteen. I generally feel rather ambivalent towards Claire Randall and Jamie. Of course my favorite character is the evil sadistic Scotsmen-raping English pervert Jonathan Randall. I love him, hahaha. (less)
The cover of Imaginary Girls fooled me into thinking that there would be something other than the absolute dross I found inside. It was YA with a lot...moreThe cover of Imaginary Girls fooled me into thinking that there would be something other than the absolute dross I found inside. It was YA with a lot of annoying purple writing. But oh, is the cover ever glorious. One star for the novel itself. One more star for the cover. Overall, I felt like I wasted my time. (less)
I spent the first sixty pages or so confused - it had been over a year and a half since I had read Dead and Gone, and in the time that had passed, I h...moreI spent the first sixty pages or so confused - it had been over a year and a half since I had read Dead and Gone, and in the time that had passed, I had completely forgotten what had happened. But Dead in the Family was a brisk, easy read, enjoyable in some parts, and less enjoyable in others. I liked the minor storyline with Bill. I am completely bored with Sookie's relationship with Eric. I never liked the Fairy stuff. The storyline with Alexei Romanov was bizarre but I didn't hate it either. All in all, not bad. (less)
I should have been suspicious when I saw the ridiculous Rozz Williams-esque guy they have on the book cover. I thought Nevermore was at least alright...moreI should have been suspicious when I saw the ridiculous Rozz Williams-esque guy they have on the book cover. I thought Nevermore was at least alright until the supernatural stuff came in. After that, my interest quickly waned. I did not care for the walking goth stereotype love interest AT ALL. His name is Varen Nethers, for chrissakes. It just made me feel like an old curmudgeon. (less)
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