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| # | cover | title | author | isbn | isbn13 | asin | num pages | avg rating | num ratings | date pub | date pub (ed.) | rating | my rating | review | notes | recommender | comments |
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read count | date started | date read | date added | date purchased | owned | purchase location | condition | format | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 034551128X
| 9780345511287
| 3.97
| 2,168
| Dec 27, 2011
| Jan 10, 2012
|
Apparently this Star Wars novel had been highly anticipated since its announcement years ago, and I had no idea until after I finished it and decided...more
Apparently this Star Wars novel had been highly anticipated since its announcement years ago, and I had no idea until after I finished it and decided to look it up. Now that I've read it, I guess I can see why. Darth Plagueis is probably worth reading simply if for no other reason other than how "canon" it is, if you're a big Star Wars fan. I heard that the author worked really closely with LucasFilms to get it just right. And yes, I did find that it explained a lot about the events of the prequel movies, and I now have a better understanding of the backstory behind them. But I don't want to make it sound like that's the only reason to pick up this book, because there's a lot more that makes it a worthwhile read. For one thing, I was surprised at the quality of the writing, especially for a Star Wars novel. I've read some of Luceno's other Star Wars titles in the past, and as you can see from those reviews in my book list, I wasn't very impressed. But I was quite happy with his efforts with Darth Plagueis, to the point I couldn't believe it was the same author. It's obvious he put his full heart and soul into writing this. Darth Plaguis is also quite different from many of the Star Wars book I've read in the past. It's less action oriented, and instead focuses more on political intrigue. There are some fight sequences and light saber action of course, but the bulk of the story is about the Sith lords acting and pulling strings behind the scenes. (less) | Notes are private!
| none
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1
| Jan 10, 2012
| Jan 13, 2012
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Dec 12, 2011
| Hardcover
| |||||||||||||||
| 1416589473
| 9781416589471
| 3.71
| 830
| Jul 27, 2010
| Jul 27, 2010
|
I had a very different take on the novel as someone who started off knowing very little about the lore of Guild Wars. I had to have a bestiary open on...more
I had a very different take on the novel as someone who started off knowing very little about the lore of Guild Wars. I had to have a bestiary open on my browser just to look up the races of some of the main characters. Needless to say, there had to be some details of important events or figures that were surely lost on me. Despite that, I was able to enjoy the book. At first, I thought getting through it would be a struggle because I had expected to lose interest the moment I realize I have no idea what’s going on. That and I had gotten used to the fact that game tie-ins are notoriously bad about giving background information, as if they expect anyone picking it up to be an uber fan of the game and already have all that knowledge. So I was a little surprised to find that I did not have this problem with Ghosts of Ascalon. While there were many details I wish the authors could have elaborated on, all the relevant information was there so I could follow the story with ease, and not once did I feel confounded by the timeline of the major happenings in the lore. The characters were also a pleasure to get to know, even though most of them were corny cliches that adhered to familiar and therefore standard and very specific archetypes, but that’s to be expected. The way I see it, at least each individual character has a personality, even if they are two-dimensional and never stray too far from their roles. I enjoyed the dialogue and the witty banter, and found myself drawn to the main character Dougal Keane and especially to Kranxx the Asura. The story itself was also straightforward, conventional and everything you would expect from game fiction, and I would have lost interest if not for the quality of the writing. While it may be cliched and excessively flowery at times, I have lots of respect for authors who can tell a story and express their characters’ intents without overtly giving that information away. My favorite writers always show, not tell. Through the descriptions of Dougal’s actions alone, his emotions and motivations became clear to me, and that should be the way it is. Authors who give a play-by-play on every single thought in their characters’ heads drive me nuts. A part of me even wishes the novel could have been longer, but it ended well and for the most part it was well-paced. It seemed like every other chapter saw our adventurers getting into yet another fight, but at least the story was moving forward. There’s no doubt this book has gotten me even more excited for Guild Wars 2, and has even renewed my interest in playing Guild Wars, if anything to discover what other tales the rich lore and land of Tyria can offer me.(less) | Notes are private!
| none
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1
| not set
| Aug 30, 2010
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Oct 05, 2010
| Mass Market Paperback
| |||||||||||||||
| 0575082453
| 9780575082458
| 4.10
| 9,902
| 2009
| Jun 2009
|
3.5 stars. I liked it! But I'm rounding down however to show that I didn't like it as much as The First Law trilogy. Somewhere in the back of my mind,...more
3.5 stars. I liked it! But I'm rounding down however to show that I didn't like it as much as The First Law trilogy. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I think I knew that right away. First of all, I dove in knowing it was going to be tale of revenge, given the title and all, but I realized not long after I started the book that the story itself wasn't going to go that much farther beyond that concept. That said, it did give the book a clear direction. I may have enjoyed the story more in The First Law for its intricacy, but I can still appreciate a straightforward tale of vengeance every once in a while. Probably won't come as a surprise to anyone that in many instances, Best Served Cold reminded me of the Kill Bill movies -- a woman is betrayed by the man she admires and loves, he murders the only family she knows, and she sets off to take revenge on him and all of his cronies. This novel started out very strong, but I have to admit I felt it lost its steam somewhat towards the end. Maybe by then I was starting to get tired of the violence and killing. I don't have any problems with reading about war, blood and gore, but too much of it can get a bit tedious. By the time the final epic climatic battle rolled around, I was sad to realize that I was already all worn out. Thus the ending became a little less special in my eyes. So it might not have the most elegant plotline, but after meeting all the main players, I just knew that it was going to be the relationships between the characters, and not the story, that will make this novel shine for me. Joe Abercrombie has a knack for writing the most bizarre characters. But as strange as they are, I somehow still manage to connect to them -- probably because I find them all so fascinating. That may be the only reason, since most of Abercrombie's characters are always so flawed, crooked and lacking in redeeming qualities! And speaking of characters, I was happy to see some familiar names I'd gotten to know from The First Law books. They were all supporting characters in that trilogy, and it's nice to see a couple of them like Shivers or Cosca take center stage in this novel. Knowing this, I'd probably recommend readers who are interested into checking out Joe Abercrombie's stuff to start at The Blade Itself and work through the other two books before diving into Best Served Cold. This book is a standalone novel on its own, but I feel the extra knowledge into the background and history of the world and people will make the reading experience more enjoyable. (less) | Notes are private!
| none
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1
| Feb 19, 2011
| Mar 2011
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Jan 28, 2011
| Hardcover
| |||||||||||||||
| B004QGYB3G
| unknown
| 3.53
| 19
| Mar 02, 2011
| Mar 06, 2011
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Interesting novel, an impulse buy which I knew very little about but turned out to be pretty good. Has a bit of a "Crash" feel to it, in the way the n...more
Interesting novel, an impulse buy which I knew very little about but turned out to be pretty good. Has a bit of a "Crash" feel to it, in the way the narratives of multiple characters actually end up fitting into a larger story as a whole. Given the title, it's not surprising that psychological disorders play a major role in this book, and questions and themes about what is normal and expected/accepted of us in society. There are some controversial topics and most of the characters are not your usual protagonists, which made this book a fun but sometimes difficult read.(less) | Notes are private!
| none
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1
| May 25, 2011
| May 28, 2011
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May 25, 2011
| Kindle Edition
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| 0451464974
| 9780451464972
| 4.15
| 518
| Apr 01, 2013
| Apr 02, 2013
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4.5 Stars. Review also posted at The BiblioSanctum Because I've read and enjoyed Guy Gavriel Kay's Under Heaven, I became intrigued and very excited wh...more 4.5 Stars. Review also posted at The BiblioSanctum Because I've read and enjoyed Guy Gavriel Kay's Under Heaven, I became intrigued and very excited when I first found out about River of Stars. Set in the same "universe" and timeline but approximately four centuries after the events of the first book, this isn't truly a sequel and can definitely be read as a standalone. Still, in my humble opinion it wouldn't hurt to read Under Heaven first; like I said, I thought it was a good book, but it also gives more insight into the setting and a deeper understanding of the people's sorrow in River of Stars for their once powerful empire with strong leaders that has gone soft and in decline. It's no secret that Kay is one of my favorite authors when it comes to historical-fantasy. One of the reasons is that his stories which are often analogues of real places set in real historical periods, and in many cases infused with very powerful messages and themes. Set in a world inspired by Song Dynasty China, Rivers of Stars is no exception. I find it difficult to just present a description of the novel, because that simply wouldn't do the book any justice. On the surface: Altai barbarians from the northern steppes invade Kitai, taking advantage of a weak emperor whose decadence and lavish spending has emptied the treasury and run the empire into the ground. A young boy grows up to become an Outlaw of the Marsh, then goes on to become one of the greatest commanders the Kitai army has ever known. An educated young woman ahead of her time changes the world with her songs and poetry. River of Stars is about all that but also so much more; because of the way Kay writes, the book is almost like a work of art. His strength has always been his way with words, and I swear his writing gets more beautiful every time I pick up another one of his books. Reading this was like reading a book of poetry. And while I don't deny that his kind of prose can get a little tedious after a while, that's okay too, because I just put it down when that happens and pick it up again later. I think novels like these are just meant to be savored, anyway; there's really no rushing through Guy Gavriel Kay books. His dialogue writing can be very subtle too, which is actually quite appropriate for this story in which so much unfolds within an imperial court of secrets and intrigue, at a time and in a place where saving face is everything and what you say (or don't say) can get you killed. While Kay can definitely tell a story, his stuff is probably not what you'd turn to if you want a rip-roaring book of fast-paced adventure or nonstop action. For example, though there is certainly no lack of battles in River of Stars, I find many of them are only described after the fact. Rather than the actual fighting, we often see only the results and the aftermath. And I think that is the point of the book, really. One of the themes in River of Stars is how a single person can shape your life and bring you to places you never thought possible, how the decisions or actions (or the destiny) of someone can ripple through history to affect legions or even change the face of an empire. The happenings behind major events are meticulously peeled back, examined from different angles, to show the significance of the repercussions that can be felt for generations. It's another reason why it was hard for me at times to tease out a real clear thread of a plot while reading this. The story is told in so many layers, and not always linearly, filled in with many narratives during the past, present or even future. Everything is woven together to form a whole in a very impressive way, cementing the idea in my mind of Guy Gavriel Kay as a true artist.(less) | Notes are private!
| none
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1
| Apr 05, 2013
| Apr 09, 2013
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Dec 14, 2012
| Hardcover
| |||||||||||||||
| 0345511328
| 9780345511324
| 3.64
| 1,940
| Jul 2010
| Jul 20, 2010
|
Unless a book really hooks me, I know I can take much too long to read. So maybe I didn’t devour Star Wars: The Old Republic: Fatal Allliance in no ti...more
Unless a book really hooks me, I know I can take much too long to read. So maybe I didn’t devour Star Wars: The Old Republic: Fatal Allliance in no time like I had expected, but at the same time I delighted in taking my sweet time to read it. I’ll cut to the chase here — if you can look beyond the faults that are so typical of novels based on video games, you will probably enjoy it. Keep reading for further thoughts, though I’m not going to go into the plot too much (if you want that information you can find it here as well as preview the first chapter) and I promise there will not be any spoilers. I’d like to mention that I am a big reader and fan of Star Wars expanded universe books, and I can honestly say that Fatal Alliance can stand next to any of them. I’d even go as far as to say it was better written than most of the Star Wars books I’ve read. Sean Williams’ writing style is easy to follow, without feeling like you’re being talked down to. Dialogue can get cheesy and positively cringe-worthy at times, but it’s made up for by the author’s excellent handling of the characters’ relationships with each other. The story, on the other hand, was a bit disappointing. I realize, however, that storylines that work for a game don’t necessarily translate as well into book form, and I’m sure much of characters and plots from Fatal Alliance were developed under such game-to-novel constraints. At times you may find the story predictable, and inevitably, you will come across parts in the book which will make you stop and think, “Wait, that doesn’t make much sense!” Fortunately, it’s fairly easy to look past these flaws if you can maintain appropriate expectations for an MMO tie-in of this nature. Fatal Alliance is also blessed/plagued with a large ensemble of characters, depending on the way you look at it. The novel follows the activities of no less than eight characters, no doubt for the sole purpose of showcasing all the classes of the SWTOR game. Consequently, you can expect to find the points-of-view constantly switching around between and even within chapters, sometimes rehashing certain events over and over again. This may annoy some readers, but I think most will end up appreciating the author’s attempt to give equal attention to both the Republic and the Sith. I also found the character development sufficient, but perhaps die-hards will still find it unsatisfying. In some ways, I believe the book was written with the expectation that the reader is already familiar the Star Wars universe, as well has decent background knowledge of the SWTOR MMO. Indeed, the class archetypes (Smuggler, Jedi Knight, Trooper, etc.) and their traits are well reflected in the novel, and readers will greatly benefit from having existing knowledge of them. Otherwise, you may find the story background and characters’ histories severely lacking and even confusing, and admittedly character development will not go that much further beyond what has already been established and/or understood about the archetypes. Nonetheless, I am impressed with the way Williams handled the characters and the classes they represent, especially considering how much of it is obviously required to correspond to the game. It’s a challenge to create characters that are based on such prominent archetypes and still make them unique and interesting, but he manages well. Particularly, if you are interested in the Smuggler or Imperial Agent and are disappointed by the limited information Bioware has revealed on them so far, Fatal Alliance will be a treat. While reading, I also picked up on many hints regarding class abilities and other game mechanics, so SWTOR addicts might also have that to look forward to. While some of my criticisms of Fatal Alliance might seem a little harsh, I do want to make it clear that I enjoyed the book. I think most people who are looking for a fun, casual read will enjoy it too; just don’t expect an epic tale. If you are a fan of Star Wars or the expanded universe, this book is worth checking out. And if you’re a fan of SWTOR, this is a must-read.(less) | Notes are private!
| none
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1
| not set
| Aug 03, 2010
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Oct 05, 2010
| Hardcover
| |||||||||||||||
| 0007491263
| 9780007491261
| 4.18
| 1,685
| 1955
| Mar 26, 2013
|
George R. R. Martin once wrote in a blog post that if you love his A Song of Ice and Fire series and are looking for "something like it", then you rea...more
George R. R. Martin once wrote in a blog post that if you love his A Song of Ice and Fire series and are looking for "something like it", then you really need to check out The Iron King by Maurice Druon. In the newest edition of the book's foreword, he calls it the "original game of thrones" and credits it for being one of the great historical novels that inspired his own epic series. Even if I hadn't known all this, the parallels are clear; this is only the first book of The Accursed Kings series and already it has it all, just without the fantasy elements -- conspiracies, assassinations, illicit affairs, royal scandals, rivaling families, public executions, lies, sex, betrayals and torture and poisonings and death curses, oh my. Originally written in French and published in the mid-1950s, the books in this series were long out of print and apparently quite difficult to get your hands on, until now. Fortunately, the English translation of the first book recently made it back into print (with the rest to follow, I hear), thus resulting in yours truly just about tripping over her own feet rushing to press the "buy" button for the Kindle version. Even without GRRM's glowing recommendation, I'm always up for good historical fiction, especially books involving European monarchies and the Middle Ages. The Iron King is a fascinating take on the events which preceded and led up to arguably one of the most significant conflicts of the medieval period, The Hundred Years' War. King Philip IV of France, called "The Iron King" because of his aloof nature and severe rule, sentences the last Grand Master of the Knights Templar Jacques de Molay to burn at the stake. Upon his death, the Templar maintains his innocence and publicly curses the three men whom he feels has unjustly put him there: Pope Clement, King Philip, and Guillaume de Nogaret, Keeper of the Seals. Meanwhile, all is not well in Philip's family. Two of his sons, Louis and Charles are being cuckolded by their wives, cousins Marguerite and Blanche of Burgundy. If that wasn't bad enough, his third son's wife, Jeanne of Burgundy, is also privy to these affairs, even if she doesn't cheat herself. When Philip's only daughter Isabella discovers what the Burgundy women are doing to her three brothers, she begins scheming to expose them, and Robert III of Artois, who harbors a deep hatred for the Burgundys, is only all too happy to help. The scandal is blown wide open, of course, as we know from the events of the Tour de Nesle Affair. The king and his family recall the the last words uttered by Grand Master Jacques de Molay: "Pope Clement, Chevalier Guillaume de Nogaret, King Philip, I summon you to the Tribunal of Heaven before the year is out, to receive your just punishment! Accursed! Accursed! You shall be accursed to the thirteenth generation of your lines!" Are the troubles involving the unfaithful wives part of the curse? Or is the worst yet to come? I have to say, I liked this book a lot. The story takes quite a bit of time to get get set up, but then so much of the history and the characters have to be detailed and introduced. As the reader, I felt I needed the ramp-up time to refresh myself on the historical facts and get all those "Philip"s, "Charles"s and "Louis"s sorted out anyway. As always, trying to keep names in order is a common occupational hazard when reading historical fiction about European kings and queens. However, all the people and events Druon decided to include and write about in his storytelling are there for a reason, building up and forming a cogent picture by the end of the book. Also, fair warning: the writing can be a little hard on the eyes. As with many books translated from their original language, it's not always pretty. I'm not sure this can be helped, and I certainly don't hold that against the author or the translator; sometimes, that's just the way things are. I admit I've had better times with other translated-to-English books, but then again, I've also had worse. The experience was definitely not as rough as I expected after seeing other reviews talking about the same topic, and to me the book was still very readable and easy to get into. See this review and others at The BiblioSanctum.(less) | Notes are private!
| none
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1
| Mar 30, 2013
| Apr 02, 2013
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Mar 10, 2013
| Paperback
| |||||||||||||||
| 0553588486
| 9780553588484
| 4.43
| 415,256
| Aug 06, 1996
| Aug 16, 2005
|
When it comes to fiction, I have a pretty eclectic taste. My interests come and go like the wind and every once in a while I’ll latch on to a new topi...more
When it comes to fiction, I have a pretty eclectic taste. My interests come and go like the wind and every once in a while I’ll latch on to a new topic or genre and devour anything I can get my hands on. Lately, I appear to have been bitten by the epic fantasy bug, because I can’t seem to get enough of it. And it was this new obsession that led me to A Song of Ice and Fire, a series of novels written by George R. R. Martin. Indeed, the first book A Game of Thrones appeared enough times on “Best Fantasy” lists to warrant my attention as I was doing my research and contemplating what to read. Recommendations from people who are more knowledgeable than me on the topic of epic fantasy also came in droves. SoIaF is definitely a great series, I gathered from all the opinions. The only thing I should be wary of, however, is that it is as of yet unfinished. That normally doesn’t faze me, so I went ahead and loaded the four existing novels into my reader. Now that a month has passed and I’ve finished reading them all, I’m finally starting to realize why people sought to warn me about holding back from reading the series until it is complete. When I first began A Game of Thrones, I think I expected each book to be a self-contained tale in a larger, overarching story, the way I’ve seen many other authors handle their long, multi-novel projects. I quickly learned that this was not the case here. Looking back, it would be difficult if not impossible to discern a clear beginning, middle, and end to each novel, as the events from one seem to flow seamlessly into the next. Because of this, I couldn’t stop reading. I’d originally planned to take my time with this series, spacing out the four installments between other books I had in my to-read list, but the story was so good I just had to know what happened next. So, slave to immediate gratification that I am, I ended up reading them all back-to-back. Now here I am, all caught up and hungering for more, sharing in the despair of a legion of SoIaF fans waiting impatiently for the next book to come out. But the series was worth the read though, and I was warned, so I really can’t complain that much. I also determined early on that talking about each novel by itself would not be easy, so I decided to wait until I had read all four before weighing in with my thoughts. No danger of any spoilers here. In any case, the plot is so convoluted and involves enough key players to fill a small town that I’m not even going to attempt a real summary. Suffice to say the story is as epic as epic gets. No fewer than three main storylines unfold across a gritty world heavily inspired by Medieval history and Feudalism, each rife with tales of royal scandal, political intrigue and grisly battle scenes as principal families across the land of Westeros wage bloody war over a throne. Make no mistake; these novels are written for adults and not for the faint of heart. Personally, that’s the way I like it. I don’t mind dark themes or a little conflict in my books, and I won’t shy away from excessive violence especially when it’s done for the sake of realism. Pick up any book about the customs and traditions of war in the Middle Ages and you will see that for all the talk of chivalry, Medieval warfare was brutal. I’ve also come across reviews from people who were turned off by the sex, but I actually thought it was pretty tame. Certainly nowhere near as explicit or gratuitous than anything I’ve ever pulled off the shelves from the romance section. I also remember recently watching an HBO featurette for the upcoming Game of Thrones TV series (based on these novels) and seeing George R. R. Martin say that too much magic can ruin fantasy, and I have to say I wholeheartedly agree. I’m not a fan of excessive magic, and for this reason I usually prefer fantasies that are heavier on the realistic elements and decline to read anything that deals too much with wizards, elves or magic spells, etc. Admittedly, I got a little worried at the first mention of dragons, but overall I found that magic is well handled in SoIaF — just a touch, and not too much. Possibly the best part about these books, however, is the character development. Martin tells the story through multiple viewpoints, with each chapter switching back and forth between various characters. I found this format kept me on my toes. A few characters endeared themselves to me immediately; I found I could hardly wait to proceed with the the story so I could catch up with them again. Others I wasn’t so very fond of. Still, one thing that still amazes me is how my opinions of the characters kept constantly changing — and I mean this in a good way. One moment I would be rooting against some vile, malicious brute, and the next I’d be cheering them on. Each character has their own strengths and flaws and over time they are shaped by the events happening around them, but when they evolve it’s done naturally and more importantly, very realistically. Which is why it’s such a shock whenever someone dies. Without a doubt, death is all over these books. Love them or hate them, it’s always a shame when it happens to a key character. Whether you perceive them as hero or villain, I felt that each character’s presence made the story that much richer. Martin can spend the better part of a novel painstakingly crafting each facet of a character’s personality in order to bring them to life in the reader’s mind, only to strike them down later on in the story, sometimes in the most horrific of ways. It’s no easier even when you see it coming. Honestly, I feel like no one is truly safe in this series, which is particularly surprising when I consider how much time and effort is invested into developing each character. Still, there are plenty other characters to keep track of and more seem to be added with each book, and the sheer size of the ensemble cast might be a turn off for some. I don’t mind books with a lot of characters, but at some point even I had to wonder if all the characters we had to keep up with was why I felt parts of A Storm of Swords and A Feast for Crows (the third and fourth book, respectively) started to drag. I only hope that when the next volume A Dance with Dragons finally releases, all the complexities of the plot and relationships between characters will still be somewhat fresh in my mind. I understand it’s been quite a few years.(less) | Notes are private!
| none
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1
| Oct 05, 2010
| Oct 12, 2010
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Oct 05, 2010
| Hardcover
| |||||||||||||||
| 0765326353
| 9780765326355
| 4.57
| 32,765
| Aug 01, 2010
| Aug 31, 2010
|
Let me just preface this by saying I don’t read a lot fantasy, and I certainly do not consider myself an enthusiast of the genre as I get through only...more
Let me just preface this by saying I don’t read a lot fantasy, and I certainly do not consider myself an enthusiast of the genre as I get through only about a handful of fantasy-themed books every year. I find my preferences gravitate towards historical fantasy, but I’ve pretty much given up on the magical, heroic, or epic sub-genres. Maybe I’ve just had bad luck choosing titles on my own, but most of what I’ve read have either made me sick or bored me to tears. Not so with The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson. In fact, I was overcome with a sense of contentment soon after I turned the last page. It’s the sort of feeling you get after finishing a satisfying read, complete with just the hint of sadness at the fact the book has finally come to an end. That’s saying something, seeing as the hardcover version of the book is a whopping 1008 pages. And this is just the first of what is planned to be a 10-novel series! Considering the author has other projects to work on, including finishing the Wheel of Time series, I’ll probably be in my early 40s by the time the last book comes out. Ah well, I’ve always known that committing myself to an epic fantasy series often means a whole lot of waiting. The Way of Kings takes place in Roshar, a land affected by powerful weather phenomenons called Highstorms, which are pretty much hurricanes on steroids. The flora and fauna have all adapted to these conditions, resulting in bizarre creatures like heavily-shelled animals or plants that can suck themselves back into the ground when disturbed. All around the world are also these spirit-like things called spren, which are either caused by or attracted to emotions or particular circumstances. It is a fantastical setting, but one that is still very believable at the same time. Sanderson spends the time to craft an in-depth environment with his writing, and it’s clear the ideas for this world weren’t just thrown together overnight. The book has four main characters who are all connected in some way — Kaladin, Shallan, Dalinar and Adolin, though there’s a rather large cast of other background characters to get acquainted with. Kaladin is the most prominent protagonist, and his story almost feels like a comic book hero’s journey. Indeed, he reminds me of Peter Parker/Spider-man in many ways — a young man in bad times who has had to deal with the deaths of people close to him, who’s constantly struggling to save everyone around him with his big heart that cares way too much for others when it should be caring for himself. That said, at times the characters in the book can feel a bit one-dimensional, but this is made up for by some interesting plot turns and the great lead-up to the novel’s climax. Towards the end I could scarcely put the book down, when all the story groundwork that has been laid down finally comes to fruition. I also appreciate the author for his efforts to constantly keep the reader in the characters’ heads. I felt that this aspect was a huge improvement over his Mistborn series that I couldn’t get into, even though I tried. In those novels, it got too tedious to read pages upon pages of description about the gravity-defying stunts, which would have been much more captivating if I was watching it happen on-screen in a movie or video game. But the nice thing about books — and their greatest strength — should be the way they allow you to peer inside a character’s head to see what they are feeling or experiencing. Without that emotional aspect for me, reading about the combat or action-filled scenes simply feels bland. However, I never once felt this way while reading through The Way of Kings‘ many battle scenes, and I realized it was because Sanderson has managed to keep me sufficiently in touch with the characters this time around. And while we’re on the subject of Sanderson’s writing, I have to say I enjoy his style. He’s a good storyteller, and his writing, while not too terribly elegant, is straightforward and undisguised without being too simplistic. I mean all that as a compliment; sometimes you just want to get to the meat of the story without poring over a page multiple times to contemplate all its artsy-ness or symbolic meanings. That stuff is for another time, another book. But when all I want to do is sit back and relax to enjoy an epic fantasy with a good story, The Way of Kings delivers.(less) | Notes are private!
| none
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1
| not set
| Oct 02, 2010
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Oct 05, 2010
| Hardcover
| |||||||||||||||
| 0375507256
| 9780375507250
| 4.07
| 68,848
| Aug 17, 2004
| Aug 17, 2004
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Like the legions of people who have picked up this book lately, I was first intrigued by the trailer for the upcoming film based on it. Now that I’ve...more
Like the legions of people who have picked up this book lately, I was first intrigued by the trailer for the upcoming film based on it. Now that I’ve read it, I’m more curious than ever. It’s not particularly an ideal book to make an adaptation. It’s like six separate stories all nested within each other like a Russian matryoshka doll, its characters only having a tenuous link to each other. Like six novellas, the first five split in half, interrupted right in the middle, only to be continued after the sixth story is told to completion. Does this even make sense? Every time I try to explain it, I’m given arched eyebrows and confused looks. You can see why I am curious how this will fly as a movie. The stories are set in different times, different places, each has its own themes and even its own written style. As such, I don’t even really know how to classify this book — it is science fiction, it is fantasy; it is also historical fiction, and it is mystery. It also has a dash of romance and a bit of thriller. David Mitchell has done something amazing, giving each of his six protagonists a distinct voice and personality. The book is thematically quite heavy, with lots to think about during and after reading, but ultimately also very enjoyable to read. My one gripe is I found that "first halves" of all the stories to be so much more interesting. By the time I reached the second halves, I found my interest waning a bit for each story. The build up is always better. (less) | Notes are private!
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1
| Aug 25, 2012
| Sep 02, 2012
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Jul 26, 2012
| Paperback
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| 9781301647637
| 3.78
| 140
| Nov 26, 2012
| Nov 28, 2012
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3.5 stars. A short story for meant for young adults, and I mean, really really short. I was reading the Kindle version and thought I had more to go bu...more
3.5 stars. A short story for meant for young adults, and I mean, really really short. I was reading the Kindle version and thought I had more to go but the rest of the book turned out to be an excerpt for the author's novel Lily of the Nile (which I have read, by the way, and it is the book that made me a huge fan of Stephanie Dray. Simply amazing.) The Princess of Egypt Must Die is pretty good for what it is and the audience it's meant for. It's not a very happy story though, but then I am fond of tragic romances and tales of forbidden love. The thing is, it ends very abruptly, so abruptly that I was shocked when I reached the end. A part of me wishes it had been longer, because I definitely wanted more. I think the story told here about Princess Asinoe and how she managed to get her revenge would have worked really well expanded as a full length novel.(less) | Notes are private!
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1
| Dec 12, 2012
| Dec 12, 2012
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Nov 29, 2012
| ebook
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| 0765330539
| 9780765330536
| 4.37
| 2,845
| Jan 2011
| May 08, 2012
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What I love about this book is that it's not just a story about a dog, but it's also a coming-of-age story about a girl coping with a troubled life. A...more What I love about this book is that it's not just a story about a dog, but it's also a coming-of-age story about a girl coping with a troubled life. A Dog's Journey is a direct sequel to the book A Dog's Purpose, in which we follow the different incarnations of a dog as he is reborn each time. Living his lives as Tobey, Bailey, Ellie and Buddy, he discovers his main mission: to love and look after his boy Ethan as he grows up. At the end of a Dog's Purpose, Ethan passes away as an old man after living a long and happy life, with Buddy by his side. Thus A Dog's Journey begins with Buddy believing that he has finally fulfilled his purpose...that is, until he meets Clarity, Ethan's rambunctious granddaughter who is always getting into dangerous trouble in part because of her irresponsible and negligent mother. When Buddy dies, he is reborn as Molly, a poodle-mix who decides that her new purpose must be to look after Clarity, now a teenager who goes by CJ. Thus begins a tale of a love between a girl and her dog. The first book was a total impulse buy when I picked it up, but I'm so glad I did. It's a heartwarming story, at times funny, at times sad, and you don't have to be a dog owner to enjoy it. As someone who owns and loves dogs, though, the book really touched me, and I admit I cried several times while reading it. I didn't cry with A Dog's Journey, however, but it's no less poignant and impressive. I've mentioned before that I'm usually not too keen on the anthropomorphizing of animals, but W. Bruce Cameron writes so well in the dog's point of view that you can't help but be drawn in by the narrative. It takes you so deeply into a dog's mindset that you start to wonder that, hey, maybe that's really how dogs do think. And that's also the way the greater story of CJ's life unfolds in this book -- through the eyes of our canine protagonist. It's a method and style of storytelling that is surprisingly effective...and addictive. I had the audiobook version of A Dog's Journey, and what I usually do is listen right before I go to bed, so it's like I can get sleepy and drift off to someone reading to me. The thing is, it backfired with this book because I always wanted to keep listening to get further into the story, and as a result it actually kept me awake. This book isn't intense or action-filled or anything like that, but it still got me very anxious to know what would happen next. It also didn't help that the narrator is really, really good. I recommend this book if you're a dog lover, but also even if you're not. If you are a dog owner as well, I guarantee you will want to hug your dog afterward. If you haven't read the first book A Dog's Purpose though, I would advise reading it first before tackling this one. (less) | Notes are private!
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1
| May 08, 2012
| May 12, 2012
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Apr 07, 2012
| Hardcover
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| 030788743X
| 9780307887436
| 4.28
| 59,447
| Aug 16, 2011
| Aug 16, 2011
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I was born in the mid-80s so I probably missed out on more than half of the movie/music/game etc. references in this book. Didn't matter, I still enjo...more
I was born in the mid-80s so I probably missed out on more than half of the movie/music/game etc. references in this book. Didn't matter, I still enjoyed the heck out of this. The story is rather simplistic, but once it got going i couldn't bring myself to stop reading. I also loved how Ernest Cline described the relationships between the characters in the book. A lot of us online gamers can probably relate to the experience of making long-lasting friendships over the internet, the excitement and nervousness of meeting your online friends for the first time in real life but ending up connecting like you've known each other for years even though you've never met face-to-face until that moment, etc. I think he nailed that part perfectly. A must-read for any MMO gamer, or anyone with a love for geek and pop culture of the 80s.(less) | Notes are private!
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1
| Dec 12, 2011
| Dec 19, 2011
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Nov 29, 2011
| Hardcover
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| 0316219037
| 9780316219037
| 4.25
| 353
| Apr 01, 2013
| Apr 16, 2013
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In the interest of full disclosure, I received a copy of Promise of Blood from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. So, here's the bare tru...more
In the interest of full disclosure, I received a copy of Promise of Blood from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. So, here's the bare truth of it: I think I only got about a chapter and a half in before I felt the need to go out and buy a copy of my very own. From the intro alone, I just knew I had to own this book and add it to my personal fantasy library, and even now that I'm done, I do not regret that decision one bit! While it is true that the novel is not without its flaws, it is nonetheless an amazingly solid debut. Mark my words, I have a feeling that Brian McClellan is going to be a new author to watch. About the book: You have to understand, I love stories that begin by thrusting you into the thick of things, which was why I was completely smitten with Promise of Blood right from the start. The book is aptly named, because it begins with blood, and lots of it. The kingdom of Adro has been badly run for years, and the king has decided to settle its debts by practically selling his people's freedom to the neighboring nation of Kez. Furious with the decision, Field Marshal Tamas leads a coup to take the throne, rounding up the king and all the influential nobles of the land for the guillotine. The mass executions that follow last for days. But no revolution happens without serious repercussions. During his takeover, Tamas also wipes out the king's entire royal cabal of Privileged, a group of sorcerers who are loyal to the monarchy. They are also bitter rivals of the Marked, also known as the powder mages, the order to which Tamas himself belongs. To a one, the words on the dying lips of every Privileged was the same: "You can't break Kresmir's Promise." Invoking Kresimir, the name of the one god of the Nine Nations, is an ill omen perhaps, but it could mean something more. Though not a superstitious or overly religious man, Tamas nonetheless hires the services of retired police inspector Adamat to investigate these mysterious last words. His troubles do not end here. An assassination attempt not long after the coup makes Tamas realize that one of his co-conspirators has betrayed him. Furthermore, relations with King Ipille of Kez are still shaky. Tamas' estranged son Taniel, also a powerful powder mage in his own right, is disturbed when he discovers Ipille's army at their door, preparing for war. The question is, is the Kez simply taking advantage of the political turmoil in Adro to invade? Or is this a sign of something bigger, more sinister, and much, much worse? My thoughts: As you can see, Promise of Blood encompasses an epic scope of events, including war, politics, and religion amongst other things. It is a complex, well-constructed and thought-out world, with every aspect of life considered, which really helped to immerse me into the story. The setting is reminiscent of late 18th-century France, thanks to the image of the uniform on the cover as well as the book's theme of revolution and the symbol of the guillotine. The industrial age is in full swing, with talk of steam-powered printing presses (when they're not exploding for our hapless characters) and other technologies associated with the era. This setting and its ambiance alone sets the book apart for me, makes it special and something else. At the same time, I felt really comfortable reading this. There are a lot of original ideas in the book, but also a familiarity to them that made me feel right at home. In a way, it was like reading an amalgamation of some of my favorite epic fantasies: a magic system that's as creative as anything by Brandon Sanderson, backstabbing and political scheming that reminds me of A Song of Ice and Fire, and a complex religion with a pantheon of gods that bring to mind Jacqueline Carey and her Kushiel books. All of these can potentially be built upon and filled out a little more, of course, which I'm sure will occur throughout the course of the Powder Mage trilogy, but I'm also intrigued and quite happy with what's been established for now. The magic system could definitely do with a little more praise from me, though. Here, Sanderson's influence is really apparent, which is not surprising given how Brian McClellan is a former student of his. The world of Promise of Blood is home to many types of magic users, not the least are the Marked, powder mages who ingest or snort black powder into their system to reach a state called "powder trance", giving them greater strength, sharper senses, and enabling them to do things like ignite nearby sources of powder or guide bullets to their targets. Then there are the Privileged, who are more your traditional type of mages, manipulating the elements to hurl fireballs and create shields, etc. Then there are the Knacked, who are only in possession of a single "talent", but are able to do that one thing really, REALLY well. Characters who are Marked, Privileged, and Knacked alike are central to the book's story, since so often their abilities are the main driving force. I find that powder mage sorcery is explained pretty well, but wish there were more details provided for the other classes of magic users too. What's up with those white gloves with the red and gold runes the Privileged wear, for example, and why exactly do they have to wear them in order to do magic? Knacked magic is also somewhat unclear, as despite their having only one talent, what I read makes it seem like anything might be possible with them. I feel a similar way about the character development. Some, like Tamas, are written really well. He's a completely fleshed-out and multilayered person, at various times making it difficult for me to make up my mind about him. Some of his decisions, like the coup, are motivated by his well-intentioned desires to do right by the Adran people, but I also have to question how much of him is driven by raw emotion and pure hatred for the Kez, especially at the beginning. In the aftermath of all the executions, I admit I did wonder for a brief moment if the author is setting Tamas up to become a misguided villain. Getting to know his character was one helluva ride. However, my favorite character had to be Adamat. His role in the book provided a bit of mystery to the story, and I always looked forward to returning to his sections. I thought his character and others were given varying degrees of attention when it comes to development, though. I felt more connected to many of them towards the beginning of the novel, only to find myself questioning more and more their perspectives as I progressed. For example, one blackmailed character went on with his work seemingly clearheaded enough, even when presented with the severed finger of his son, while I imagine a family man like him would probably be freaking out like any parent, or at least be feeling a bit more distracted. Also, the female presence in this book could have been more efficiently presented. A story not having enough of a female perspective isn't actually something I mind, quite honestly not something that would normally occur to me at all, and I probably wouldn't even have noticed here if not for Nila, the royalist laundress who gets caught up in the consequences of the coup. Nila's character is introduced early on in the beginning, but her sections come up sporadically, and once she disappeared for so long that it took me a while to remember who she was. I'm hoping I'll get to see more of her in the second book. Same goes for other female characters like Vlora and Ko-poel, both of whom I found very interesting but underutilized and deserving of more focus. I want to point that out that none of these weaker points were major enough to take away from my overall enjoyment, though. As with a lot of debut novels, there's a certain raw quality to the writing and storytelling, which becomes slightly more noticeable in the later stages of the book, but it didn't really bother me at all -- mainly because I was so enraptured by the magic and the plot. A lot of great fantasy books have been written over the years, and despite being new on the scene, Brian McClellan has definitely written a novel that can stand on the shelf next to any of them.(less) | Notes are private!
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1
| Apr 16, 2013
| Apr 22, 2013
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Apr 09, 2013
| Hardcover
| |||||||||||||||
| 0345503821
| 9780345503824
| 4.23
| 3,620
| Jan 01, 2013
| Feb 12, 2013
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Just a heads up: this review will contain some spoilers for the previous two books in the Demon Cycle series, but I would assume if you haven't read t...more
Just a heads up: this review will contain some spoilers for the previous two books in the Demon Cycle series, but I would assume if you haven't read them already you wouldn't have made it this far to the third installment. The nightly battle against the demons of the core continues in The Daylight War. With the appearance of the more intelligent mind demons and their mimics from the last book, humanity now prepares for the new moon when the powerful Princes will return again with their hordes rising in full force. It's been a long time since I read The Desert Spear, but it appears this book picks up right where the last one left off, or at least very close to it. Two separate storylines unfold in the north and in the south. Skin adorned with wards, Arlen Bales AKA the Painted/Warded Man and his fiancee Renna Tanner have become stronger and more adept at killing demons. The two make their way to Deliver's Hollow to aid in the coming fight, training villagers and fortifying the town. At the same time in Everam's Bounty, Ahmann Jardir has proclaimed himself the Deliverer, the hero who will unify the people of the world to defeat and drive back the demons once and for all. His first wife the crafty and cunning high priestess Inevera plots his rise from behind the scenes, consulting her demon bone dice to catch glimpses of the future. Meanwhile, the desert tribes of Krasia continue to invade and conquer the green lands, forcing their way of life upon the locals and drafting fighting men for their army. Once the two men fought side by side as brothers, until Jardir's betrayal and his attempt to kill Arlen. Now they must find a way to settle the score between them, or let the demons of the core consume the world and everything in it. I didn't realize until halfway through this book, when most of the memories began leaking back, that so much of The Daylight War was the retelling of the first third of The Desert Spear, except we are taken through the events from another point of view -- Inevera's. This is "her" book, just like the previous one was Jardir's. We see her rise from humble beginnings as a basket weaver's daughter to become the most powerful priestess in Krasia and the wife of the Shar'Dama Ka. A lot of Jardir's back story is intertwined with Inevera's, so while this made for a nice recap for those of us who have forgotten a lot of the finer details from the previous books, if that section from The Desert Spear is still fresh on your mind the first half of The Daylight War might feel like retreading of old ground. I think Peter V. Brett's focus on the these two characters is part of a plan to give the reader a deeper understanding of the "bad guys" in this series. I'm always appreciative when that happens as not too many authors do this. I'm not sure of its effectiveness in this case, though. Indeed, the Krasians have a convoluted culture with ulterior motives all around, so any and all descriptions are welcome. However, I personally still consider them the villains; despite certain attempts to make them more sympathetic in our eyes, I can't forgive Jardir for his betrayal. Even now I have trouble coming to terms with Jardir having "good intentions" as every character including Arlen in the book says. The fact everyone is a hot-tempered "frenemy" in their culture with nobody seeming to trust or truly respect each other is another reason I feel this way. Very often the Krasian characters, especially the minor ones, come off like caricatures and feeling flat, like they are following a script with all their actions and dialogue being very predictable. Still, even though I was not a fan of the focus on Jardir at all in the second book, I have to say I enjoyed Inevera's version a lot more. While she is not particularly likeable, I do find her character interesting and she seems far more complex than Jardir. The manipulations and rivalry between the priestesses-in-training also makes the dynamics between her and the female tribe members so much more fun to read than the tiresome testosterone-fueled posturing of the male warriors from Jardir's story. Things started picking up for me about two-thirds through the book. Here, there seemed to be an abrupt change in direction in the story, with the focus on personal relationships -- except done in the manner of daytime soap operas, concerning questions regarding things like petty jealousies and who-slept-with-whom. I have to say it was a strange little detour from all the demon fighting, but I am also a little embarrassed to admit that I ate up this part like candy. There is something to be said for throwing in a few scandalous bits to break up the monotony. Then there was the last 25% or so of the novel. Here, the plot really took off, culminating into the climax and the final showdown during the new moon. After this point, the action does not stop. We get not one but two accounts of the events, one in Deliverer's Hollow and the other in Everam's Bounty, since the both Jardir's and Arlen's stories are happening concurrently. After all, so much of The Daylight War dealt with the theme of "counterparts", the duality of friend vs. foe. This concept comes up time and time again; in many ways, it is what ties everything in this book together. So does an amazing conclusion make up for the rest of this book, which I thought hovered from merely mediocre to pretty decent? I suppose it does. For what it's worth, I remember feeling much the same way about The Desert Spear, but I ended up liking The Daylight War more by far. I've discovered that Brett has a knack for writing incredible endings, making you want to pick up the next book right away, especially given what happens here in the final few pages. In retrospect, I should have seen the cliffhanger coming, but it was still a shock when the book ended. So many emotions flooded me in that one moment, the most powerful of which was an indignant rage that things should end this way, but also at the same time, a deep respect for Peter V. Brett that he was able to close off this third installment with a bang. I will absolutely be picking up the next book, and I am looking forward to it.(less) | Notes are private!
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1
| Feb 12, 2013
| Feb 22, 2013
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Aug 21, 2012
| Hardcover
| |||||||||||||||
| 1401324444
| 9781401324445
| 3.96
| 3,384
| Jan 01, 2012
| Sep 11, 2012
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Hovered between giving this one 2 stars or 3 stars. I wanted to like it, but there were just too many things about this book that didn't sit right wit...more
Hovered between giving this one 2 stars or 3 stars. I wanted to like it, but there were just too many things about this book that didn't sit right with me. First of all, even though I'm not regular viewer of Castle, I'm aware this series is ghost written and attributed to the fictional protagonist of that show. Therefore I understand how in some ways these books have to read like a TV show to appeal to the fans of said show. Frozen Heat, however, takes that to a whole other level. It felt like every single crime show trope, cliche and tension-building gimmick was unleashed for this novel, everything from one-in-a-million coincidences to prime-informant-dies-just-before-he-can-offer-up-his-case-breaking-lead. I think part of the problem is that whoever wrote this was in way over their head. I mentioned in my review of the last book that the reason why I enjoyed it so much was because for the first time I felt that Nikki Heat was involved in something much bigger than herself. But as is often the case, moderation is key. Frozen Heat tried to be even better and bigger than book three, and while I give it A+ for effort, I felt the execution of those ideas could have used some work. Don't get me wrong, I don't expect these kinds of books to be realistic to a T (since I consider them fun, fluff reads after all) but I do find I enjoy them much better when they're more plausible. Using book three as an example, it's one thing to present a mystery around corruption in the police force; the details are manageable and the resulting story is at least halfway convincing. This book on the other hand, attempting a realistic and believable story about international espionage, the CIA and secret spy networks? Let's just say that whoever wrote this, it seemed like all he or she knew about those topics came from James Bond and spy movies. At times, I also found it hard to take the story seriously or believe that a case so huge would have remained at the hands of an NYPD detective. I also get that this book was perhaps trying to show a different side to Nikki Heat, but I'm not sure it's a side I like. The last three books paint her as a driven, confident, compassionate cop, and it's these qualities that endear her character to me. For the first half of this novel, however, I barely recognized her. She is impulsive, mean-spirited, dismissive, and careless. For example, we know that her tendency to check every lead no matter how small is what makes her such a great detective, so her refusal of Rook's suggestion to dig deeper in her past for clues seemed way out of character. I've also liked how she empathized and connected to the families of murder victims in the past books, and so her frigid and guarded behavior towards her own father was very bewildering. Also, knowing someone could be watching and listening to her every move, but still she doesn't take every step to secure key suspects and evidence, plus blithely walking into traps? Given the personal nature of the case she was working on, I guess all these inconsistencies to her character would make sense, but then she would also have been pulled off the case a long time ago. Sad to say, but Rook hardly fared better. If I were to hazard a guess, I'd say they don't stick with the same ghost writer for these books, because personally I felt the writing style differed slightly from the last book, which I loved. In contrast, the prose in this book felt more awkward, and the dialogue more campy and forced. The result was that Rook also felt more clownish and juvenile, like whoever wrote him overdid it. By now I've probably written more for this review than is warranted, but as usual I just wanted to get my thoughts out there, and explain why this latest installment disappointed me whereas I've greatly enjoyed all the previous books in the series so far.(less) | Notes are private!
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1
| Oct 05, 2012
| Oct 08, 2012
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Oct 03, 2012
| Hardcover
| |||||||||||||||
| 0385341652
| 9780385341653
| 4.46
| 37,773
| Aug 18, 2009
| Aug 18, 2009
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My least favorite book of the series so far, and I know exactly why. What the hell happened to Mac? Yes, I get that she's gone through something terri...more
My least favorite book of the series so far, and I know exactly why. What the hell happened to Mac? Yes, I get that she's gone through something terrible and this book shows her survival of that ordeal and her transformation into someone stronger. But, wow. She was a brat and she's still a brat, but at least there was a charm to it before. Now she's a much bigger one and just barely tolerable. And I thought she was self-absorbed before. Here, she's arrogant, selfish and just flat out full of herself. Does she seriously hold herself higher than a Seelie Queen? And the way she looks down her nose at all her sidhe-seer sisters -- guess what, without that spear of hers she'd flail just as helplessly as any of them. And of course, there's her borderline abuse of a sleepy 100-year-old woman. Well, at least she had the decency to feel ashamed of it afterward. I don't understand why V'lane or Barrons would even bother fighting over her. Speaking of which, I also finally concluded that her whole relationship with Jericho Barrons does not sit well with me. Frankly, I feel it's a bit sick. Personally, I would never categorize this series under romance. Romance for me tends to require mutual respect and lack of abuse, you know? After four books, it's clearly not improving. He keeps secrets from her, knocks her around whenever he wants to, not to mention dubious consent where the sex is involved. The dynamic between Mac and Barrons disturbs me and not just because of the way he treats her, but after so long their conversations never seem to go anywhere either. Don't get me wrong, I loved the way they sassed each other in the first couple of books, but that got stale quick. And frankly, at this point I'm also sick of the tired old "will they-won't they" dance. Mac, figure out how you feel about Barrons and just get on with it. As the saying goes, crap or get off the pot. And finally, the "revelation" about iron as the kryptonite for Fae. Really? Iron as a protective or repelling substance against faeries has a long history in folklore and is quite widely known, I'm surprised it's being brought up here like no one knew. Anyway, I won't deny this fourth book sort of put me off completing the series. I'm not even that tempted by the evil cliffhanger at the end of it. But oh well. I figure with one book left, screw it, I'll just finish it. I just hope I'll have a better time with it, because I was really enjoying this series until this book, and it'd be a shame for things to end on a sour note. (less) | Notes are private!
| none
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1
| Apr 05, 2012
| Apr 09, 2012
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Mar 28, 2012
| Hardcover
| |||||||||||||||
| 0670022411
| 9780670022410
| 3.98
| 97,770
| Dec 27, 2011
| 2011
|
Let's just say that the only thing saving this book from a 1 star review from me is my tendency to round up when I give half stars, because this would...more
Let's just say that the only thing saving this book from a 1 star review from me is my tendency to round up when I give half stars, because this would probably be a 1.5 from me. I don't recall the last time I felt so annoyed over reading a novel, but towards the end of this book I had lost all desire to continue and the only thing motivating me to finish was the idea of writing this review and venting my frustrations. The novel started off well enough. Diana Bishop, the main character and narrator, stumbles upon a mysterious manuscript at the Bodleian Library at Oxford. I was instantly intrigued and wanted to know more about where this ancient book came from and how it would play into the rest of the story. It got me fired up and ready for a paranormal mystery/thriller. Then in walks Matthew Clairmont, vampire and love interest, and the novel switches track. At this point, the book becomes a full-blown paranormal romance -- which is fine, I might add; I don't tend to read paranormal romances, but I have nothing against the genre and I'm flexible enough to enjoy reading just about anything as long as it's got a good story. All I ask is that the author choose a path and stick to it. My brain, however, was just thoroughly yanked in too many directions while reading this book. Like I said, after preparing myself for a good mystery, I had to quickly switch gears and get into the mood for a paranormal romance instead. But just as quickly, the book introduces other mystery elements, such as the unexplained circumstances of Diana's parents deaths when she was a child, as well as the brutal vampire-related murders in the news. After grabbing the reader, however, both these points were hardly developed. At times I wanted to yell at this book and tell it to make up its mind; it suffers from having way too many ideas and plot lines crammed within its pages. The paranormal mystery/thriller fan will likely be bored to tears by the lack of story progress as the novel trudges through the relationship between Diana and Matthew. Likewise, the paranormal romance fan will probably feel bogged down by the pages and pages of Dan Brown-esque history and science background information injected haphazardly into the story. And both camps are going to be frustrated by the long stretches in this novel where the characters do absolutely nothing of importance, except take long aimless walks, drink copious amounts of tea and wine, or do yoga. As for the characters, I admit I failed to connect with either Diana or Matthew, both of whom I found very bland. Diana, a young independent scholar, had the potential to be a very interesting heroine, but seemingly devolves before my eyes the moment Matthew comes into the picture. For all the talk she spouts about being brave and being able to take care of herself, she has the backbone of a plate of jello. It was also a very sad moment when I recognized her for the Mary Sue she is -- traits like being brilliant beyond belief and achieving tenure at Yale in her 30s, as well as potentially being the most powerful witch that ever lived by possessing every single magical ability. And don't even get me started about Matthew. Listen, I'm all for chivalry. I love a strong, confident man you can depend on to love you and care for you. However, I also recognize a problem when a character like Matthew is constantly doing things like a) ordering/snapping/growling at Diana and everyone around him to do exactly as he says, b) spying/stalking Diana and keeping secrets from her, c) not allowing Diana to go anywhere without his permission, resorting to steering her by the small of her back/grabbing her elbow/throwing her over his shoulder when she refuses to listen, and d) flying off the handle whenever he doesn't get his way. The list goes on and on. Look, there's a huge difference between when a man is being caring and when he is being controlling. Guess which category Matthew falls into. What a turn off. I have to say I grew out of that "I *heart* bad boys" phase even before I hit high school, and certainly nothing about Matthew sets my heart a-flutter. There's also a myriad little things that bug me about him -- the fact he's supposed to be this scary brooding vampire, but he does yoga (nothing wrong with a man who does yoga, but it doesn't help the image that the author's obviously trying for) and here and there he's also described as being "shy". Like Diana, Matthew's character is also way too idealized for my tastes. For one, he seems to have been acquainted with every single famous person in history that ever lived. Oh, and he can also tell by smell when Diana will have her next period. That's just creepy. And speaking of history, I guess some of what's talked about in the book is interesting. I can't say the same for the "science", though. Granted, my educational background in biology wasn't focused on DNA or genetics, but even a basic understanding of those topics had me giggling incredulously in my chair as I read the author's take on chromosomes and genome mapping to explain the differences between human and creatures, and witches' powers. So like, there would be a gene for controlling elements. A gene for flying. A gene for timewalking/time traveling. And so on. Like, what is this, the X-Men? Don't get me wrong, I love the X-Men, but the comics never marketed themselves as "intellectual" reading. Still, I think what disappoints me most is the fact that this could have been a very good book. I confess, it's probably a big part of why I was so frustrated, given how the novel's synopsis pulled me in right away as well as the hype surrounding this title. Like I said, there are some great ideas in here, which in my opinion just weren't handled properly. The novel would probably have benefited greatly from a more rigorous editing process; maybe the focus could have been tightened up, ideas spread out more over the series, and the length of the book cut down, etc. Despite all the that I've written here, I can't say for certain right now I won't pick up the next book in the trilogy when it comes out. I don't give up on series very easily, and like to give things another chance whenever I can. Also, there are admittedly many mysterious elements that this first installment introduced that I would love to see answered or continued, not to mention the infuriating cliffhanger the author left us with. Still, it'll probably be low priority on my to-read list.(less) | Notes are private!
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1
| Feb 14, 2012
| Feb 18, 2012
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Feb 07, 2012
| Hardcover
| |||||||||||||||
| 0425243044
| 9780425243046
| 3.95
| 546
| Oct 04, 2011
| Oct 04, 2011
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It's always such a joy when I come across books like Song of the Nile, books that bring together my two favorite genres which are fantasy and historic...more
It's always such a joy when I come across books like Song of the Nile, books that bring together my two favorite genres which are fantasy and historical fiction. I'd looked forward to this novel ever since I finished reading its predecessor Lily of the Nile, and it did not disappoint. Song of the Nile continues the story of Cleopatra Selene, daughter of Cleopatra VII and Mark Antony. When we last left her, she was growing up as a ward/hostage in the household of the Roman emperor Augustus. This book focuses on the next chapter of her life -- her marriage to King Juba II and her journey to become queen of Mauretania. All the while, however, Selene cannot leave behind the memories of the loved ones she has lost, and continues to fight for her beloved Egypt and to claim her birthright to her mother's throne. In this sequel I felt a shift in style from the first book. While Lily of the Nile was very subtle in its themes and symbols, Song of the Nile takes a more head-on approach at tackling the story. This might have something to do with the fact that the subject matters in this book are a lot darker. Selene has grown from a child to an adult so it makes sense that the themes in this novel would be more mature, but I was surprised to see that they were also more controversial. This and other factors made this book feel very different and Selene is no longer the Selene we knew from Lily of the Nile, but all this is good in a way. The character shows depth and growth, and the author makes the reader feel that we are with Selene every step of the way As Selene becomes a woman, her quest for her own identity continues. At times her narrative makes her seem like she is confused with who she is, or that she is everywhere at once. For example, one moment she would identify with her mother, and in another she would identify with Augustus, or she would think highly of her own abilities in one paragraph, then despair of her helplessness in the next. There was also her single-minded goal to become Queen of Egypt, and the disturbing lengths she would be willing to go to in order to achieve it. This made the book frustrating to read at times, but also hard not to sympathize when I knew this was simply Selene struggling to find herself and come out from under the emperor's thumb as well as her mother's shadow. She's not perfect, and that's okay. After reading both books, I think I still like Lily of the Nile more, which is why I rated this book the way I did, but by no means does this indicate I think that the second book fails to live up to the standards of the first. On the contrary, I thought this was an excellent follow up, but the first time you meet a character is just always so much more powerful. As before, I am impressed with the amount of work that must have gone into the researching for this novel. Ms. Dray covered much of what is known about Selene's life, but also added her own flair to the story to fill in the many gaps we don't know. What makes this series even more unique is that there is also a heavy dose of fantastical elements, such as Selene's and her siblings' abilities to work magic. I know some people don't like fantasy in their historical fiction, but I'm personally okay with it as long as it's done well and done tastefully, and I feel the author strikes a good balance in these novels. This is why I love reading historical fiction, for the creative elements that fuel our imaginations and make what we know more alive and interesting.(less) | Notes are private!
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1
| Oct 24, 2011
| Oct 29, 2011
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Oct 09, 2011
| Paperback
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| 1597802891
| 9781597802895
| 3.94
| 283
| Jun 21, 2011
| Jun 21, 2011
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4.5 stars. Review originally posted at The BiblioSanctum Books like Miserere are why I'm glad I make it a personal rule to finish reading all books I s...more 4.5 stars. Review originally posted at The BiblioSanctum Books like Miserere are why I'm glad I make it a personal rule to finish reading all books I start. It's always tempting to put a title away for something else when the story doesn't capture me right away, and certainly I had my doubts that this one would be right for me when I first began. But sometimes, a book can be full of surprises. I ended up loving Miserere. All I needed was some time to get into it, and part of the reason is its pacing. It's the kind of book that takes its time revealing itself to you, doling out details about its world in a trickle as you read. I was unable to make heads or tails of the story until I understood a bit of the context, that the universe of Miserere is made up of four planes: Heaven, Earth, Woerld, and Hell. Woerld is sort of like the first line of defense against Hell and its demons, as it were; all the religions there work to keep Fallen hordes from breaking through to Earth. It is in Woerld where the book mostly takes place. Exorcist and man of faith Lucian Negru has been in exile for sixteen years, banished for abandoning his lover Rachael in Hell in exchange for the life of his twin sister, Catarina. Catarina, however, didn't want to be saved, as she'd sold her soul to the Fallen for the chance to rule Woerld. Lucian was crippled and imprisoned when he refused to go along with her plans, until one day he escapes and endeavors to save Rachael, who has since made it back from Hell, albeit possessed by a demon that is slowly taking over and killing her. Along the way, Lucian also rescues Lindsay, a young Earth girl who had slipped through the Veil into Woerld, just as he had many years before. Like Lucian, Lindsay possesses special powers, and will one day become one of the Kathoros, able to activate magic through prayer. Lucian is determined to make it his duty to train and protect her, but that's easier said than done with Catarina's minions on his tail and traitors at the heart of the Kathoroi. Such a rich world, with so much history and background. I don't think I was able to absorb it all until a third of the way through the book, mostly because not everything's explained right away. You're meant to be thrown into Miserere without much guidance, letting the story do the job of explaining the details as it progresses. Call me impatient, but I don't usually enjoy books like that; I much prefer it when the setting and characters are set up early so I know what I'm in for. But still, Miserere ended up making it up to me in spades! Contrary to its description and the nature of its themes, this book isn't really about religion, though religious philosophies and the notion of faith are interwoven into the story. More significant are the ideas of redemption and mercy, of finding the strength and reason to go on again even after falling from grace. It's also about love, of whether or not it is possible to trust again after betrayal. Speaking of which, one of the first things that struck me about this book is how beautiful the writing is. I felt that the interplay of emotions between Lucian and Rachael unfolded very naturally and was presented almost perfectly, as were the descriptions of Lucien's mixed feelings for his traitorous sister. And yet, the writing was not at all flowery to the point of distracting, nor did it disrupt the flow of the story, which made this a very easy and smooth read. The execution in the details was also phenomenal; I am thinking of one scene in particular involving an exorcism that is quite possibly one of the most awesome and yet horrifying things I've ever read. I just breezed through the second half of this book, since by then it had me completely hooked. One night, I found myself still up at 3am because I'd lost track of the hours reading this. I'm so glad I kept my mind open and gave this book a little time, as the reward was very much worth it. (less) | Notes are private!
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1
| Mar 20, 2013
| Mar 24, 2013
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Mar 18, 2013
| Paperback
| |||||||||||||||
| 0575097620
| 9780575097629
| 4.09
| 4,535
| 2011
| Oct 13, 2011
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I don't know what it is about the Peter Grant series, but this is only the second installment and already I am completed addicted. I've not been a fan...more
I don't know what it is about the Peter Grant series, but this is only the second installment and already I am completed addicted. I've not been a fan of urban fantasy for very long, but over the years I have come to appreciate the particular brand of "fun and fluffiness" that's so characteristic of books like this. They're reliable entertainment -- I know even before I crack the cover that I'll have a good time, and I'm hardly ever disappointed. As it happens, Moon Over Soho was even better than I expected, because I found I could hardly put it down once I started. The story begins just several months after the events of the first book Rivers of London/Midnight Riot, but police constable and apprentice magician Peter Grant is already called upon to investigate a series of curious deaths around the Soho area in the West End of London. It appears a troubling number of jazz musicians have been keeling over dead after their gigs, apparently from "natural" causes such as aneurysms or heart failure, but the discovery of thaumaturgical residue on the bodies makes Peter suspect magical foul play. I was also surprised to see that a seemingly minor event from the last book, one I'd thought was originally thrown in at the end for some perverse comic relief, actually turned out to be the basis for another major plot thread in this novel. The details are a little disturbing and really much too outrageous to try to explain, so let's just leave it at that. I'd rather not spoil it, anyhow. That said, while the adventures of Peter and his dry sardonic British wit (especially in his zinging of everything from the bureaucracy of the London Metropolitan Police to post-modern architecture) continue to delight and make me laugh out loud, there is definitely a darker, more sinister tone to this book. Not only are a few of the crime scene scenarios somewhat disturbing, there were also a few parts where I actually found myself downright creeped out -- but in the good, spine-tingling-edge-of-your-seat kind of way. There are also a couple of traditions I'm glad to see this book continuing. The first is the ever phenomenal characterization of London as a charming, vibrant and multicultural city. The author likes to inject random and interesting facts about London's description, history, and people in the course of his storytelling, and all that attention to detail truly brings this magnificent city to life in these books. The second is the "science" behind the magic. The magical systems and how they work in this series are still not very clear, and here the reader is almost as lost as Peter when it comes to trying to figure it out. Peter, however, persists in experimenting with his powers using logic and scientific theory, and even though some of his results and "explanations" make things even more confusing and harder to understand, I do like his unique approach and am interested to see how the series' concept of magic will continue to develop in future books. Speaking of which, contrary to the first book which in my opinion wrapped up quite nicely, Moon Over Soho has the distinct feel of a "Part I". This series is definitely building into something bigger, and I can't wait to get my hands on the third book so I can find out what happens. See review at The BiblioSanctum(less) | Notes are private!
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1
| Apr 22, 2013
| Apr 25, 2013
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Mar 27, 2013
| Paperback
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| 0765316889
| 9780765316882
| 4.30
| 41,779
| Aug 21, 2007
| Aug 21, 2007
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When I joined Goodreads a couple years ago, any book that had been more than a few years since I'd read it, I hesitated to rate. I find it hard to jud...more
When I joined Goodreads a couple years ago, any book that had been more than a few years since I'd read it, I hesitated to rate. I find it hard to judge a book fairly in such cases, as unless it was either really amazing or really awful, unfortunately my memory gets fuzzy after a while. Anyway, I began reading the Mistborn series back when they were just published. Since then I've only re-read and rated The Final Empire, which is alraedy rare for me as I don't often go back to books I've finished. Still, I planned to do it with the rest of the trilogy, so when I found the audiobooks at my county's digital library, I jumped at the opportunity to borrow the second book as I was also curious what I would think of the audio version. After completing The Well of Ascension again, I realized I have indeed forgotten a lot of this series, so much so that it was like reading the book for the first time, with just a few inklings of familiarity with the events. It's not that I disliked the book when I first read it back in 2007; in fact, I remember only positive feelings associated with the experience. Still, having read a lot more Sanderson since then, I definitely sense a vast difference between his new stuff compared to his older stuff. I don't think he has ever written anything I truly disliked, but besides his wonderful magic systems, I find that the stories and the characters from some of his early works are pretty forgettable. Indeed, what I remembered the most about the Mistborn series was the allomancy, while the details of everything else had escaped my mind. For example, I remembered Vin was a Mistborn, an allomancer capable of burning all metals and using their associated abilities...and yet, I had forgotten her name! While I loved the unique magic system in these books, it became the most memorable factor for me while relegating characters and stories to the backseat. I suppose it also didn't help that this second book seemed to merely act as a link between the first and third books. Even though its events lent itself to a clear sequel, the first book was almost in a way a self-contained story, with a structured beginning, middle and end. In contrast, the second book, while featuring many story elements like multiple plot arcs and unexpected twists, seemed to lack a focus. There were several threads happening all at once, such as Elend's struggle to keep the throne while dealing with his morals being at odds with what it means to be a "good" king. There was Vin's uncertain feelings about her relationship with him and her flirting with danger with another Mistborn, and her task of flushing out a secret imposter. Then of course there was the war with the two armies outside their gates, as well as the political machinations in the palace. Not to mention the ongoing search for the Well of Ascension and uncovering the mystery of the mists and the Deepness. It's all setting up for one hell of a finale, but it's no wonder I only remembered bits and pieces of this book.(less) | Notes are private!
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1
| Feb 17, 2013
| Feb 21, 2013
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Oct 19, 2011
| Hardcover
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| 4.14
| 16,862
| Jan 01, 2009
| 2009
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3.5 stars. This review originally posted at The Bibliosanctum It's official. I've been thoroughly spoiled by The Way of Kings and the newer novellas th...more 3.5 stars. This review originally posted at The Bibliosanctum It's official. I've been thoroughly spoiled by The Way of Kings and the newer novellas that Sanderson has written in the last couple of years. Anyway, let's first start with what this book is about. As with most of his works, explanation of the world lore and magic system in Warbreaker will take at least a few paragraphs alone, so here we go. This is a story of two kingdoms on the verge of war. Idris and Hallandren have been at odds for centuries, due to irreconcilable differences in their culture, religion and beliefs. The magic in their world is BioChromatic, one based on drawing power from color while being fueled by an essence called "Breath". Breath is considered almost like a soul to the people of Idris; without a Breath you are called a "Drab". Indeed, the Idrians wear grey-scale colors and shun the practice by Hallandren Awakeners who use Breath to bring objects to life and even reanimate the dead for their Lifeless army. Sometimes, the dead also come back to life if they die in glory, and in Hallandren these people are known as the Returned and are worshiped as gods. One of the main characters in this novel, Lightsong the Bold is one such individual. However, he and the other gods require taking in at least one Breath a week to remain alive. Luckily in this world, Breath can be sold, bartered and collected like any other trade good. With his or her Breath, a Returned god can heal or do other amazing things, but the catch is, he or she cannot give their Breath away with dying. Events kick off when Siri, princess of Idris, is sent to Hallandren to marry their God King in accordance to a treaty to try to stave off the war, taking the place of her older sister Vivenna at the last minute. Vivenna, feeling snubbed and robbed of the duty she has been preparing for her whole life, secretly makes her way to Hallandren as well in an attempt to rescue her little sister. But despite their best efforts to avert the conflict, war might be inevitable anyway. I've said it before and I'll say it again; I don't think Sanderson is capable of writing a bad book in my eyes, but I just like some of them better than others. There are several things about Warbreaker that kept it from being one of my favorites, the main reason being the BioChromatic magic system. Out of all the worlds and systems that Sanderson has ever created, I don't think this was one of his strongest ones. Admittedly, it could be a personal preference and my own difficulty in imagining a magic system based around color. As an artist, colors in all their glorious hues and tones play a huge part in my life, and sometimes it's hard to picture in my head the characters' manipulations of it in fantasy. I remember having a tough time wrapping my head around the chromaturgy magic system in Brent Weeks' The Black Prism as well, that being another book with its magic based around color. Also, for the first time, a Sanderson character managed to annoy me. Lightsong wasn't an unlikeable character or badly written by any means, but he grated on my nerves. I understood that he was meant to come off as a clownish buffoon, but some of his jokes were so outrageously lame and tacky that I couldn't help but cringe in my seat. In contrast, I very much enjoyed the characterization and development of the two sisters though; both Siri and Vivenna grow in ways throughout the course of this novel that are believable and endear the reader to them.(less) | Notes are private!
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1
| Feb 24, 2013
| Mar 2013
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Dec 18, 2012
| ebook
| |||||||||||||||||
| 0843963549
| 9780843963540
| 3.51
| 161
| Jan 01, 2010
| Jul 27, 2010
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This review originally posted at The Bibliosanctum First off, I'd like to say that I am likely not this novel's intended audience. That will have a lot...more This review originally posted at The Bibliosanctum First off, I'd like to say that I am likely not this novel's intended audience. That will have a lot to do with my rating. In this book, the main character Evan walks the beach every night grieving for his son who drowned in an accident more than a year ago, until one night he is drawn to the voice of a beautiful naked woman singing on the rocks by the ocean. I'm well-versed enough in my mythology to know that Sirens are mysterious and seductive creatures who lured sailors and ships to their doom with their enchanting songs, but even I was unprepared for the amount of gratuitous and senseless sex in this novel. At times, it felt like Evan only had two modes: horny or depressed. For the first three-quarters of the book, it seemed like all he was doing was either a) having sex, thinking about sex, or talking about sex, or b) remembering and crying for his lost son. We seem to go around in circles with these two conditions. The story is also punctuated periodically by chapters flashing back to the 1800s, focusing on a crew aboard a smuggling ship and their encounters with the novel's eponymous creature. These scenes serve to add a little more background and history to the setting, but you also end up getting a healthy dose of gory violence, and of course, even more sex. Now I'm no prude, and I'll even admit I've been known to enjoy books that are even more extreme in their dealings with the subject both in their quantity and carnality. I would even have found all of the sex in this book to be entertaining and good for the kicks, but for the fact the main character is apparently an utter ninny. Not only was he repeatedly cheating on his bereaved wife, in the book Evan is also told flat-out by his friend Bill that he may have been spellbound by a Siren. And yet, Evan remains unconvinced. Granted, being lured into the ocean by a beautiful naked woman and her song could possibly be explained away by an over-amorous skinny dipper with a talented voice, but when dozens of seagulls suddenly start dive-bombing you and killing themselves against the windows of your house, shouldn't it make you think that maybe, just maybe, something strange or supernatural might be up? And considering how many of Evan's problems in the book were defined by his son's drowning, there was surprisingly very little detail about his death and that tragic day. Meanwhile, of course, there were pages upon pages devoted to descriptions of Ligeia the Siren's naughty bits. Indeed, the characters could have been better developed, and in my opinion a couple of them were either underutilized (like Evan's psychiatrist) or written strangely (like his friend Bill, who would say the most ridiculous things at inappropriate moments). Much of the time, they don't act like real people. Basically, reading this book reminded me a lot of watching a low-budget B-list creature feature on the SyFy channel (though, I suppose the SyFy channel would not abide so much nudity and sex). Don't get me wrong, though; those kinds of movies have a place in my life, especially snuggled on the couch on a Saturday night with a big bowl of popcorn. They're definitely good for some expedient thrills and entertainment, and bottom line, I would probably say much the same for this book. Purchased for $0.99 from the Kindle's promotional list, I certainly don't regret it.(less) | Notes are private!
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1
| Feb 27, 2013
| Mar 02, 2013
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Feb 06, 2013
| Mass Market Paperback
| |||||||||||||||
| 1616960922
| 9781616960926
| 4.33
| 4,548
| Nov 01, 2012
| Oct 11, 2012
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Oh, Brandon Sanderson, how I love thee. Here's the thing, when I read a book like The Way of Kings, I'm not surprised in the least that he can capture...more
Oh, Brandon Sanderson, how I love thee. Here's the thing, when I read a book like The Way of Kings, I'm not surprised in the least that he can capture me so completely with his characters, story and world building. After all, that tome is more than a thousand pages long. No, what really amazes me is that Sanderson can write a book like The Emperor's Soul that's no more than 175 pages, and still manage to do the same thing. This short story took me less than two hours to read, but encompassed everything I like about his works, including a new and unique magic system. I held off on reading this until I finished Elantris, since I'd heard that it takes place in the same world, but in the end it didn't matter at all. The Emperor's Soul features a whole new cast of characters, set in another place, perhaps in another time. In fact, only passing mentions of certain geographic locations in the story's world reminded me that it was the same universe. Anyway, I'll admit that maybe being an artist, especially one who is familiar with Chinese brush painting and the use and significance of artist seals, made me like this novella even more. So much of the narrative resonated with me. Brandon Sanderson may be a writer, though in a way he is an artist himself, his medium being his words. Certainly this book shows he thinks like an artist, or at least knows how one feels. This is a brilliant short novel, with a powerful message. (less) | Notes are private!
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1
| not set
| Dec 30, 2012
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Dec 30, 2012
| Paperback
| |||||||||||||||
| 0345520734
| 9780345520739
| 2.52
| 415
| Jan 31, 2012
| Jan 31, 2012
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Hard to believe, but I have actually read worse. Which is why this book isn't getting the one star treatment from me that many other reviewers have ch...more
Hard to believe, but I have actually read worse. Which is why this book isn't getting the one star treatment from me that many other reviewers have chosen to give. But I'm probably being generous. After all, I was aware of the many errors and lore screw-ups that exist in this book, but I mostly chose to ignore them as I was reading. Granted, I give you that there were a few glaring, unforgivable mistakes. But quite honestly? You probably won't even notice most of them unless you're a hardcore Mass Effect fan going over the book line-by-line with a fine toothed comb. And a lot of them are so trivial that it makes no difference to the story anyway. I had the added benefit of reading the previous ME books a while ago, long enough for me to not remember the finer details anyway. As such, I was willing to let a lot of the errors slide. Still. Errors aside, this book was just pretty bad. Mostly because it's poorly written, at least in my opinion. After all, how could a book with this much action in it yet be so boring? The writing is dry, unimaginative, unsophisticated, crude, clumsy. It's like Dietz barely even tried. To me, that's the biggest departure from the previous ME novels written by Drew Karpyshyn. At least you could tell DK cared about the IP; it's in the way he built up the world in the first three books, and in the manner he treated and developed his characters. In any case, I found myself constantly drifting off while I was trying to get through this book, and was relieved when it was finally over. The way it went, I couldn't have cared enough to spot many of the lore mistakes while I was reading anyway, as I was too busy trying to stay awake.(less) | Notes are private!
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1
| May 25, 2012
| May 31, 2012
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Jan 24, 2012
| Paperback
| |||||||||||||||
| 0451464400
| 9780451464408
| 4.50
| 16,252
| Nov 27, 2012
| Nov 27, 2012
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3.5 stars. There's a reason why I think most urban fantasy books are short, light reads, and that's how I usually like them too. I was super excited t...more
3.5 stars. There's a reason why I think most urban fantasy books are short, light reads, and that's how I usually like them too. I was super excited to read this newest installment of the The Dresden Files series, was still really pumped for the first half of the book, but then admittedly lost quite a bit of steam after that. Why? Let me first say that I don't think Cold Days is bad just because I didn't give it four or five stars even though I adore this series. I think part of it is due to being mentally fatigued. Honestly, I know Harry having way too much on his plate in each book is nothing new. He's always got a checklist of nigh impossible tasks to finish or goals to meet by the end of the book, and Cold Days does not disappoint there. Thing is, this is probably one of the longer Dresden books and I really felt it kinda dragged on. It wouldn't be so bad if there had been more substance; but it was really just full of action. That's not necessarily a negative, but they say moderation is key, and ironically, the more action there was, the harder it was for me to stay interested, especially since all of it pretty much follows the same pattern -- Harry and pals go off to follow a lead, Harry and pals get ambushed/attacked by bad faeries, Harry and pals defeat said bad faeries but they escape, and then the cycle repeats itself for another two or three times. It's exhausting for the mind. I also have to agree with one of my friends I talked to about this novel, about how since Cold Days is essentially Harry's "resurrection" book, he expected a lot more from the story and that it should have been more "emotional". It didn't occur to me until I was almost finished reading, that my friend was absolutely right. And maybe that was what I wanted when I said what I did about "substance". Harry bumps into his friends one after and other, and it's just like, "Oh hey, man, you're alive, cool beans." I kinda wanted more there, and I felt his reunion with Karrin Murphy was ESPECIALLY lacking, given the history between them and how things were left off, but it was just glossed over. Speaking of which, I think Harry also needs to get laid. Like, seriously. For some reason, Butcher seems to love torturing his main character in the love department. The last time he was intimate in a meaningful way was almost a decade ago! No wonder he's chafing at the Winter Knight mantle. Not to reveal any spoilers or anything, but I was getting all excited and happy for him in that heartfelt scene after the final showdown and then...shot down. I mean, poor guy! Give him a break already. In sum, not a bad book, but the squandered potential for some deeper and more meaningful moments for the sake of action in this book is what made it slightly disappointing. I LOVED the ending though, can't really say I saw it coming, but then again the Dresden Files has long been moving away from the "detective" and "mystery" aspect to more supernatural-anything-goes so it's hard to really predict any outcomes anymore. Part of me really misses Harry Dresden's humble detective roots, but because of what happened at the end of this book I'm also now looking forward to what the next installment will bring.(less) | Notes are private!
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1
| Nov 27, 2012
| Dec 12, 2012
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Apr 07, 2012
| Hardcover
| |||||||||||||||
| 1451621507
| 9781451621501
| 4.03
| 176
| May 07, 2013
| May 07, 2013
|
Much appreciation and thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC copy of Seduction, which is probably one of the most haunting...more
Much appreciation and thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC copy of Seduction, which is probably one of the most haunting and evocative books I've ever read. The expected publication date for this title is May 7, 2013. As a big fan of the fantasy and historical fiction genres, I have to say I love it whenever I come across authors who experiment with ways to incorporate elements from both in their stories. Seduction definitely fits the bill. The book is not your typical historical novel in that much of it actually takes place in the present. Its plot also contains a pretty hefty paranormal component. Events in the book unfold through a couple different storylines. In the present day, mythologist Jac L'Etoile arrives on the Isle of Jersey--where famed novelist Victor Hugo once lived for several years during his time as a political exile--in the hopes of studying the island's Celtic history with her old friend Theo Gaspard. Interspersed through her story are chapters from Hugo's secret diary in which he chronicles his grief at the death of his daughter in a drowning accident, as well as his subsequent obsession with contacting her spirit by participating in hundreds of séances. These separate narratives are interwoven to form an intricate tale of mystery and suspense, linking together these characters and perspectives separated by more than a century and a half. What I love best about this novel is its unique and unusual blend of aspects from so many genres. Seduction is the latest in a series of books called The Reincarnationist, which centers around topics related to paranormal phenomena as well as spiritual themes like past lives and the idea of an immortal soul. At its heart, the book can be considered a mystery novel, with the aforementioned historical fiction and fantasy elements. But it also has a bit of horror in it too. Quite a few scenes unsettled me and sent chills down my spine, especially the ones involving Victor Hugo's séances and his encounters with a malevolent spirit implied to be the devil himself, called the Shadow of the Sepulcher. There's a spooky vibe throughout the whole book for sure, which are enhanced by the rich details the author gives of the old architecture and the ethereal beauty of the sea and caves on Jersey. So much seems to be going on in this novel. Maybe too much. Granted, it all comes together in the end, but the book started slow while it attempted to establish all the characters and the setting. It also made for a rather scattered reading experience trying to keep track of what's going on in the present as well as in the past, and things only get even more muddied with Jac's visions and the addition of a third side storyline partway through the novel. Not to mention, Jac's character has a pretty complicated history to think about as well. The book touches upon her psychological disorders and troubles with hallucinations, which is what led her to befriend Theo when they were teenagers being treated at a Swiss clinic together, but there is also so much about her past that doesn't seem to be explored much. To be fair, my guess is that a lot of this was probably covered in The Book of Lost Fragrances, the book that came before this one, in which Jac is also the main character. However, I did have to wonder if we really needed so much about her pining for her past lover. All the references to him and what they shared, heartbreaking as they were, felt a bit superfluous, since none of that had to do with the story at all. In any case, despite all that, Seduction can definitely be read as a standalone. If you're like me, you might even be tempted to pick up the previous book, to find out more about Jac L'Etoile who makes her living as a TV mythologist, but actually comes from a long line of famous French perfumers. In fact, her character's experience with making perfumes and identifying scents is what probably gave me a whole other level of appreciation for this book. Like I said, M.J. Rose is fantastic with the details she puts into describing the setting, but truly it's her description of scents and odors as a main storytelling device that really struck me. I've never thought much about smells in the books I read, until this one came along. It's very effective when used here, too. Since olfactory triggers can often make the mind conjure up very clear imagery and activate vivid memories, this makes it perfect for Seduction which deals so much with remembering and reliving past lives. Overall, I felt this novel was very cleverly written and put together, and that's just one of many reasons.(less) | Notes are private!
| none
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1
| Apr 09, 2013
| Apr 12, 2013
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Jan 11, 2013
| Hardcover
| |||||||||||||||
| 0297859382
| 9780297859383
| 3.96
| 246,300
| May 24, 2012
| May 24, 2012
|
This was a departure from my usual genre (science fiction, fantasy, other types of speculative fiction, etc.) but I have to admit that my curiosity wa...more
This was a departure from my usual genre (science fiction, fantasy, other types of speculative fiction, etc.) but I have to admit that my curiosity was piqued by the hype surrounding this book. Its synopsis, vague as it was, also interested me so that was why when my next Audible credit became available, I used it on the audiobook version of Gone Girl. And now that I'm finished with it, I can finally understand why the all the plot summaries and reviews for this book have been so vague. It's going to be hard to describe what I liked and what I disliked without revealing any spoilers, so I doubt this review will make much sense to those who haven't read it. But I'll try my best. The book opens with an introduction to a what appears to be an average couple, Nick and Amy. They have fallen upon some hard times in the recession, and were forced to move back to Nick's hometown in Missouri after both of them were laid off from their their jobs back in New York City. Like most couples they have their ups and downs, until one day Amy simply disappears from their home and deeper investigation reveals disturbing secrets as the layers are peeled back revealing the truth of their seemingly normal marriage. The book begins by alternating between two points of view: Nick's narration which starts the day his wife goes missing, and Amy's part of the story which is told through diary entries starting from when the two of them first met. Here's where my review will probably get confusing, because while I will talk about my feelings for this book I won't be able to really explain why without spoiling the story. Anyway, you will probably find that most reviewers will talk about this book referring to its three parts. The first part of this book, which deals with the circumstances behind Amy's disappearance, was incredibly addictive. You start to get to know the characters a bit more, form your opinions about them, and the way this part was written I was just riveted the entire time. Maybe this has something to do with the fact I listened to the audiobook, because the two narrators were absolutely fantastic. The second part, however, while still good, was a bit disappointing. Here, the plot takes a turn, and basically I felt that the book lost a bit of its suspense. Some people adore this second part though, so really, it's a matter of taste and how you like your mystery stories. Regardless, this next part completely changed my perspective. You start to wonder just how reliable your narrators are, how deep the secrets really go, and just who is telling the truth. The third and final part of the book took me through a whole bunch of emotions. Mostly, I was angry. Angry at the characters, angry at the story, angry at the ending. But taking the reader on a roller coaster ride of feelings was no doubt intentional, with the author wanting the reader to feel a certain way after reading this book, and she definitely had me. So maybe it didn't wrap up as neatly as it could have, with the ending being a bit unrealistic and the characters feeling a bit forced, but ultimately this was one hell of a fun read.(less) | Notes are private!
| none
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1
| Aug 12, 2012
| Aug 15, 2012
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Jun 27, 2012
| Hardcover
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| 0345518705
| 9780345518705
| 4.24
| 20,654
| Sep 01, 2008
| Mar 23, 2010
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Right before I started this book, I had been reading this lengthy fantasy novel that left my mind confused, tired, and utterly dissatisfied with chara...more
Right before I started this book, I had been reading this lengthy fantasy novel that left my mind confused, tired, and utterly dissatisfied with character development. After that ordeal, I was just really in need of a good, baggage-less story that can take me away from all that. Turned out The Warded Man was exactly what I was looking for -- a character driven novel that grabbed me right away, and certainly the story was interesting, action-packed and straightforward enough to keep that momentum going. The first handful of chapters that introduced the three main characters were my favorite; right away, I was able to connect with Arlen, Leesha and Rojer, and understand how the events in their youth were going to shape the rest of the their lives. It was all very believable in the way it was written. I felt that this believability started crumbling a little in the last third of the book, however. At some point in the novel, the plot and character motivations began to feel somewhat forced, the story fell into a predictable rhythm which culminated in an archetypal Hollywood-ish ending that was just a tad too convenient. That's the only reason why I would hesitate giving it 5 stars, but otherwise, I enjoyed The Warded Man immensely. (less) | Notes are private!
| none
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1
| Jan 07, 2011
| Jan 11, 2011
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Jan 05, 2011
| Mass Market Paperback
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