It'll probably take a while for my thoughts to settle - this was one long, complex, multilayered book.
Overall, I really enjoyed it, although the reso...moreIt'll probably take a while for my thoughts to settle - this was one long, complex, multilayered book.
Overall, I really enjoyed it, although the resolution (and the last ~10% in general) ultimately left me a little unsatisfied. It worked, yes, but it was a bit ... worked out a bit too well, and with somewhat heavy-handed messages while at it.
I enjoyed the characters (and I didn't mind the large number of POV characters); the mystery part of the plot was intriguing and kept me guessing for a long time; the rather slow pacing actually worked for me; the flashbacks (many of them, hopping back and forth) didn't annoy me.
I have a feeling that another time, I might rate this one a little lower, but right now, it did hit most of my positive buttons - plus, well, a combination of police procedural + jungle/arctic adventure + space opera proved to be an awesome combination.(less)
Good things about this book: interesting world-building (a world where World War II ended really differently), with clearly a good amount of thought p...moreGood things about this book: interesting world-building (a world where World War II ended really differently), with clearly a good amount of thought put into things. LOTS of action. Exciting. As a big-screen, big-budget spy action thriller, this would be perfect.
Bad things about this book: Alix. God I hated her. Loathed. I don't think I've felt this much antipathy for the protagonist of a book in ages, and it being in first person really didn't help. I just wanted to punch her in the face (or rather have someone stronger than me do it). Towards the end, I seriously started to hope she'd be killed.
She's just such an obnoxious, insane idiot that .. eurgh. I think I ended up hating absolutely everything about her.
This might have been a four star book with a heroine that was at least somewhat likeable. As it is, I'm only giving it two because it was exciting and had a semi-decent plot.(less)
Ash Mistry and the Savage Fortress is one of those fun action-oriented kick-ass fantasy adventures, in a somewhat similar vein as e.g. the Percy Jacks...moreAsh Mistry and the Savage Fortress is one of those fun action-oriented kick-ass fantasy adventures, in a somewhat similar vein as e.g. the Percy Jackson series or the Kane Chronicles, although in the amounts of bloodshed and gore it's more in Skulduggery Pleasant's range (even if not quite as funny or multi-layered in other ways).
I enjoyed it, quite a bit, albeit in a slightly shallow way. Ash, the 13-year-old chubby Indian boy from England, visiting relatives in India, was a good enough main character; very much the "ordinary kid", right down to being supremely stupid at times. (I just had to shake my head several times at his thoughtless actions in early parts of the book, but then, he was a 13-year-old boy, so I'm inclined to think this was realistic as well as needed for the plot to happen.)
The next two books in the series have already been announced, and after what happened towards the end of the book, I'm really quite curious as to how things will go on for Ash now.(less)
I don't count myself as a huge fan of Eoin Colfer's writing - I'm still only three books into his Artemis Fowl series, which is okay enough but hasn't...moreI don't count myself as a huge fan of Eoin Colfer's writing - I'm still only three books into his Artemis Fowl series, which is okay enough but hasn't got me overly excited.
However, a vivid imagination is one thing no one can say Colfer lacks, and The Reluctant Assassin, the first in his new YA series, is no exception. It's imaginative, there's plenty of action and adventure, the plot twists are varied and numerous (and not all of them predictable), and overall, it's exciting and enjoyable. The ending in particular got me curious enough that I will probably also want to read the next book in this series.
The characters... well, now this is where the book fell flat for me. I didn't really connect with either Riley or Chevie, in spite of the author's attempts to give them both their own tragic back stories and some plucky courage and special skills. I just... didn't care much.
On the other hand (and this is the sole reason I gave the book four stars, not three), Garrick was wonderful. I'm not entirely sure I was supposed to root for and identify with and be intrigued by the villain, and semi-hope he'd either get rid of the irritating kid protagonists, but I did, and he was really the best thing about the book.
* ARC of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley. Thanks!(less)
Not a bad final book for this series, but in spite of - or perhaps because of - the relentless bloodshed and slaughter and the loving, detailed descri...moreNot a bad final book for this series, but in spite of - or perhaps because of - the relentless bloodshed and slaughter and the loving, detailed descriptions of a lot of very gory deaths, I admit I felt a little underwhelmed by it all.
Still, I'm glad I read it, and I'm glad I read the series, and I'm sort of glad it's all over now.(less)
I admit: I expected this book to be fluffy fun, but considering that it's essentially a side story in the Skulduggery Pleasant universe, focusing enti...moreI admit: I expected this book to be fluffy fun, but considering that it's essentially a side story in the Skulduggery Pleasant universe, focusing entirely on secondary characters and not even featuring either Skulduggery or Valkyrie, my expectations were, well, somewhat limited.
Oh boy. Was I wrong.
Right now - admittedly, I'm still on that high from finishing it - I'd rank it as one of the very best of the entire SP series. It's shorter than the main series novels, yes, but being still novel-length, it fit in more than enough - plot, some excellent character stuff, back stories for several characters, lots of action and even a fair bit of romance (hey, it even has a love triangle of sorts - and anyone who knows me even a bit knows what I think about love triangles in general, but this being Derek, it was awesome, as usual).
The feels. Ye gads, the feels this book gave me. I officially managed to fall in love with Springheeled Jack. I loved the banter, both among the good guys and the bad guys. I enjoyed the action. I ... there are twists, towards the end, that I did not see coming. I came pretty damn close to tears at one of them.
I think this is as close as I can get to a "review" without getting into spoiler territory, and I just don't want to do that right now. But... yeah. Awesome.
I'm terrified of Last Stand of Dead Men, now. Not that I wasn't before, but... yeah.(less)
Overall, I enjoyed Working for the Devil quite a bit. The world-building was interesting, detailed enough and without massive infodumps. The plot was...moreOverall, I enjoyed Working for the Devil quite a bit. The world-building was interesting, detailed enough and without massive infodumps. The plot was decent and multi-layered. The magic was at least trying its best to be reasonably original. Japhrimel was hot and alluring, at least to start with.
On the other hand, the writing felt rough around the edges, with too much repetition of specific phrases or descriptions. Japhrimel, intriguing and alluring at first, turned into someone whose possessiveness and insistence gave me pause more than once towards the end. And Dante herself... well, she was my biggest problem, really.
I like female protagonists who are tough and independent, I really do, but there's a difference between tough and independent and having a chip the size of Antarctica on their shoulder, volatile, aggressive and rude at every possible and impossible opportunity, stubborn and reckless to a fault and basically overall just apparently having a death wish.
That said, I can see myself reading some more of this series. The events of this book should have at least some sort of effect on Dante, I'd expect, so perhaps I would like her better in the next volumes.(less)
For a long while I fully expected to give this book one star. Two at the most.
It's an atrociously written book. Truly.
The style is horrible!
You get...moreFor a long while I fully expected to give this book one star. Two at the most.
It's an atrociously written book. Truly.
The style is horrible!
You get to a paragraph...
...and then it goes on like this!
And when you've thought you've seen the worst there is to see—
—wait for it—
—then the excitement goes up! Even more!
On the plus side, I guess you always know when something exciting is happening! Because the author lets you know! With italics! And exclamation marks!
And let us not forget that we shouldn't actually have more than one sentence per paragraph!
Oh...
...but I forgot to use enough ellipses...
Anyway. The plot was about equal to the writing style in the amount of holes, gaps and generally things that wouldn't make any sense whatsoever.
But.
I read the entire book. And while the style irritated me to no end until the very end, and the plot made me want to bang my head at the nearest desk so very many times, I did kind of get caught up in it, enough to want to know how it ended. And the stupid plot I could, to an extent, forgive for this kind of action/adventure story.
I do think this would be much better as a film. With lots of explosions where every exclamation mark was. And blood. Lots of blood. And people being killed in any number of particularly dreadful ways.(less)
Not quite as awesome as the Bartimaeus trilogy proper, especially the last two books of that one, but great fun (with some gripping action) neverthele...moreNot quite as awesome as the Bartimaeus trilogy proper, especially the last two books of that one, but great fun (with some gripping action) nevertheless. The beginning was a little slow, perhaps, but the rest of the books more than made up for it - besides, I rather enjoyed the beginning, too, slow as it was.(less)
Still hovering between four and five stars here... it's almost five, but for a couple of niggling little things that make me think I should perhaps sp...moreStill hovering between four and five stars here... it's almost five, but for a couple of niggling little things that make me think I should perhaps spare five stars for the next book.
So, yes - the infodumps in the beginning. That was the bad bit. I could see why infodumps came in handy with this particular universe, but I'm just moderately allergic to them when they come in large quantities and all at once in the beginning.
Other than that, it was awesome - great fun, wildly imaginative, the romance happened a bit too fast but at least it was insta-hormones, not insta-love, and I can deal with insta-hormones, the male love interest actually (a) had something to do with the plot and (b) had character growth, and then, well, there was William. *loved William*
Very much looking forward to the next book in this series!(less)
Lies, to me, is a far stronger book than Hunger - even though Hunger was needed to get to this point.
I didn't love this book, especially because so mu...moreLies, to me, is a far stronger book than Hunger - even though Hunger was needed to get to this point.
I didn't love this book, especially because so much of it was just so, well, weird, but it left me buzzing with questions - mostly of the "just what of this is real?" kind. Was Orsay right? Or not? And WTF is going on with Little Pete? And just plain WTF is going on anyway?
Anyway. Things got even more desperate in this book, but there was also a whole lot of interesting character development. I liked that Astrid and Diana got some actual development in this one, instead of being just the girlfriends in the background, which they were both largely relegated to in Hunger.
I have absolutely no idea what's going to happen in this series. Excellent.(less)
Roil is a hard book to rate - and even to comment on.
On the one hand, the world-building was great. Unique. Fascinating. Clearly a lot of thought has...moreRoil is a hard book to rate - and even to comment on.
On the one hand, the world-building was great. Unique. Fascinating. Clearly a lot of thought has gone into it, a mixture of alternative universe / high fantasy / steampunk (with possible scifi elements).
On the other hand, there's the writing. I suspect this may be a matter of taste - some people will love Jamieson's style, with its run-on sentences (seriously, someone should have exterminated 2/3 of the commas used in this book) and abrupt shifts in point of view and disjointed action scenes, some won't.
I'm unfortunately in the latter camp, and I found the book took me far too much effort to read - and not just because he clearly doesn't believe in setting up the scenes or explaining anything and instead lets the readers do all the hard work by piecing bits of information together in the hopes that it will at some point start to make sense. It did, eventually, but for me, it was more effort than it was worth, ultimately, as I spent half the book plain not caring about this world or its inhabitants because, really, why should I have cared when I had no clue who they were or what that world was about?
The ending was also far too abrupt, not the least because in the ebook version, the actual book ended at 93% in. I'm sure it was meant to get us all excited about the second book in the duology, but... I'm really not sure I'll be bothered to read it.(less)
Once again I'm wishing Goodreads had half-stars in their ratings, because this was definitely a 4.5 for me. A 9/10, if GR had a ten star rating. Basic...moreOnce again I'm wishing Goodreads had half-stars in their ratings, because this was definitely a 4.5 for me. A 9/10, if GR had a ten star rating. Basically, almost good enough for five, but I'm stingy with fives and there were a few very little issues I had that don't quite let me push it up to five.
Anyway. Excellent post-apocalyptic / dystopian / science fiction story (or the first five parts of a story, anyway). I have to admit the very beginning of the first, shortest, novella was a bit slow for me and I struggled to get into it; if I'd picked up only the first novella, then - while I ended up getting mostly into it - I likely wouldn't have read on.
So I'm really glad I got the omnibus, and as I already had it there, I read on anyway. (And found the first novella much better in hindsight.) By the second novella, I was hooked; three to five were some of the best in this genre I've read for ages. Juliette made a great lead character, but the side characters were excellent, too - by the end, I even started to feel some sympathy towards Bernard, who, in his twisted way, really believed he was doing the right thing for his people and their future.
Wool vol. 6 is already on my wishlist. I'm looking forward to seeing more of this universe and these people.(less)
Not quite as captivating as Lockdown, this second instalment in the series felt a lot like a "middle" part of a longer story. Still, it was fast-paced...moreNot quite as captivating as Lockdown, this second instalment in the series felt a lot like a "middle" part of a longer story. Still, it was fast-paced, furthered the overall plot line, introduced us to some new parts of the mysteries of the Furnace and was exciting, so well worth the read.(less)
I enjoyed The Amulet of Samarkand, the first book in the series, a great deal, so I was expecting the same from The Golem's Eye.
Instead, I got a lot...moreI enjoyed The Amulet of Samarkand, the first book in the series, a great deal, so I was expecting the same from The Golem's Eye.
Instead, I got a lot more - where The Amulet of Samarkand was a more straightforward magical adventure, this second book in the trilogy was much more multi-layered. World-building, new characters with interesting stories of their own, many threads (most started in the first book) brought together, plotting and politics... everything I could wish for in a book, really.
It wasn't as funny as the first book (largely because there was less Bartimaeus), but the humour was still there, and I really loved getting Kitty added to the cast of characters - her chapters were much more interesting than Nathaniel's, although Nathaniel (or John Mandrake, as he's now known) continues developing in an interesting, if not entirely positive way.
I'm very much looking forward to the final book in this trilogy; as it is, it's well on its way to becoming one of my favourite book series.(less)
I have no idea why I've put off reading this delightful book for so long - I really loved it. I mean, I really loved it.
Well, I mostly loved Bartimae...moreI have no idea why I've put off reading this delightful book for so long - I really loved it. I mean, I really loved it.
Well, I mostly loved Bartimaeus, the many-thousand-years-old djinn. He's exactly the sort of character I adore; arrogant, full of himself, sarcastic, witty, intelligent, cunning, not particularly subservient (all this only works for a character if he actually is that awesome, and not fifteen or so but preferably a few hundred/thousand years old).
Bartimaeus made the book for me - the plot, straightforward enough as it was, was enjoyable and fast-paced, but I doubt I'd have enjoyed it half as much with another main character. Next to Bartimaeus, Nathaniel - the second protagonist, a boy of twelve - paled in comparison and his chapters were a bit of a struggle to get through at first, especially as he's far from being the most likeable of young heroes, being arrogant (not quite as admirable in a boy of twelve), ambitious, sullen and sly. However, I suspect that while Bartimaeus is the instant draw of these books, it's going to be Nathaniel's character development that will actually provide more interest later on in the series.(less)
Still exciting enough to make me keep reading, but honestly, I'm getting a little tired by the mutations (will there be anything human left by the end...moreStill exciting enough to make me keep reading, but honestly, I'm getting a little tired by the mutations (will there be anything human left by the end of the series?).
Still, there are more questions that weren't answered in this one yet, and the writing, if not spectacular, is solid. (less)
Kept my interest more than the first book (which took me something like three months to get through), and felt more coherent overall, but still... meh...moreKept my interest more than the first book (which took me something like three months to get through), and felt more coherent overall, but still... meh.
It's not that there's anything wrong with this series; it's a fairly decent upbeat adventure/mythology for the young readers, much like the Percy Jackson books, but unlike the Percy Jackson books, I just don't care about either of the brother-sister protagonist team. They weren't quite as irritating as I remember them being in The Red Pyramid, but I really don't care whether they live or die, succeed or fail, so... yeah. That's the biggest problem with this series for me, and I don't know if I'll bother with the third book.(less)
Not nearly as bad as I'd feared, but not exactly sublime writing either. The first half was a bit slow, I didn't care for a lot of the plot points and...moreNot nearly as bad as I'd feared, but not exactly sublime writing either. The first half was a bit slow, I didn't care for a lot of the plot points and I could have done with a slightly shorter battle in the end, but all in all, it engaged me enough that I might read some more of this series some day.(less)
A decent ending to an enjoyable trilogy. I loved the alternate history and the world in this series was deliciously original and imaginative, with the...moreA decent ending to an enjoyable trilogy. I loved the alternate history and the world in this series was deliciously original and imaginative, with the fabricated beasts and technological wonders.
I never warmed to Alek and I really could have done without the whole romance bit - it felt weak, I can't stand insta-love, and the resolution to it was both clichéd and cheesy and neither original nor powerful - but as an adventure story, this was a great read.(less)
Alek's finally coming off as not completely flat, although I still don't really care for his character; Dery...moreAs good as Leviathan, if not even better.
Alek's finally coming off as not completely flat, although I still don't really care for his character; Deryn's parts of the adventures were as thrilling and exciting as I could have wished for. And I'm rather enjoying the way it ties in with the "real" history, using actual the events and ships and people from around 1914.
My only issue is still with the budding romance. (view spoiler)[I almost never care for stories where two people have known each other for three days or so, and it's already desperate love forever, or whatever. Okay, teenagers, sure, hormones and what not; I'm not saying that Deryn believing herself to be in love is unrealistic, because it's not, but... if there must be romance in a book, why can't it at least be gradual, something happening over time? Grr.
Still. At least these two have some real problems ahead of them, not fabricated (<- see what I did there?) angst. (hide spoiler)](less)
I got this book ... must have been last year; I can't even really remember, but a while ago. And I kept flipping right past it every time I was lookin...moreI got this book ... must have been last year; I can't even really remember, but a while ago. And I kept flipping right past it every time I was looking for something new to read, because I had this idea that I wasn't actually going to like it.
Well, I was wrong. I have no idea why it engaged me so, but engage me it did, so much so that I could hardly put it down before I was finished (and have already bought book two). It's not quite a five star book - I didn't adore it, and I did feel some of the background of this very-near-future semi-dystopian setting was a bit far-fetched (although I've read books that have stretched my suspension of disbelief further), but, yeah, it hooked me like a... hooking thing. And then I was hooked.
The author got the pacing just right (for me anyway), as well as the tone. Characters, too - it's not often that I can empathise and care for and like a self-confessed bully and small-time burglar and thief right away, but Smith managed this with Alex, the protagonist/narrator. The rest of the cast were well drawn, too; not particularly original, any of them, but they all felt like real people.
I'm genuinely curious about what is going to happen next, and not just because the book ended with a cliffhanger - I want to know more about the plot, too.(less)
I very nearly gave up on this book at about 5% into it. The writing (not so much the spelling, but the stream-of-consciousness, the noise of it and in...moreI very nearly gave up on this book at about 5% into it. The writing (not so much the spelling, but the stream-of-consciousness, the noise of it and in it, in spite of realising almost immediately that this part was deliberate and actually served a purpose) was almost enough to drive me up the walls, and Todd, the main character, came off as rather unlikeable on top of that.
I'm glad I persisted. Once I got used to the noisiness of the writing, and got more into the story, it gradually developed into a rather interesting and reasonably original YA dystopia. There was plenty of predictability, in many ways, but also some twists I hadn't expected, and quite a bit of character development for Todd - even some for Viola, although she felt a lot more like just a prop for Todd's development. I hope she gets to be her own person in the sequels.(less)
I liked the premise (not that "use children as spies" is particularly unique) and from what I saw here and there, I was expecting the CHERUB series to...moreI liked the premise (not that "use children as spies" is particularly unique) and from what I saw here and there, I was expecting the CHERUB series to top Alex Rider.
Unfortunately while the story itself wasn't bad, the writing was... well. I'll try to be kind and assume that it was written either for 8-year-olds (although all the drinking, smoking and snogging puts the target group firmly above that age) or for struggling readers. All tell, no show; flat characterisation; extremely simplistic style; short (and boringly written) sentences.
Not a series I'll be buying or reading more of. A pity.(less)
A more coherent review will have to wait for the re-read, I think. Because right now I have extreme problems putting my thoughts...moreJust finished, and...
A more coherent review will have to wait for the re-read, I think. Because right now I have extreme problems putting my thoughts into words.
It was, well... more than I expected. Also, more serious, more plotty, more grown-up. There was still plenty of humour, and lots and lots of wonderfully gory violence, but overall, I'm now anticipating the next book with an equal share of fear and lust. (Can one lust for a book? One can, right?)
So many gutpunches in this one, for the reader.
God, I love Skulduggery.
I think I'm going to cry once this series is over in just two more books. Whichever way it ends, I'm going to cry.(less)
To be honest, some of the things that happened in the end of this book were all a bit... much.
I expected them to happen (well, some of them), and - i...moreTo be honest, some of the things that happened in the end of this book were all a bit... much.
I expected them to happen (well, some of them), and - in a rare instance of "go me!" - I actually realised the murderer's identity before it was revealed, but in spite of the issues I did enjoy most of the book a great deal. Maybe because there was even more of beating people up here?
Meh. Love triangles. Not my favourite part of the book, but all things considered, it could have been worse.(less)
Is it just me or is this getting a bit... Buffyesque? Not that that's an entirely bad thing, mind you...
Anyway, not a lot to say about this one, excep...moreIs it just me or is this getting a bit... Buffyesque? Not that that's an entirely bad thing, mind you...
Anyway, not a lot to say about this one, except that I found it again stronger than the first two books. And Rose is certainly showing some personal development as a character, which is good to see. And I'm fairly intrigued about what's going to happen next.(less)
Three and a half stars, really, but rounded down because of my irrational but nevertheless extremely strong dislike for terms of affection.
Really. If...moreThree and a half stars, really, but rounded down because of my irrational but nevertheless extremely strong dislike for terms of affection.
Really. If Valek had ended one more sentence to Yelena with "love", I'd have reached out into the book and strangled him. Or tried to, anyway. I'm glad he wasn't in this book a lot, or I might not have been able to finish it.
Now that I've got that off my chest, I did enjoy the book - a little less than Poison Study (largely due to the aforementioned irritant), but it was exciting, it kept me reading and I've been properly drawn into Yelena's story. Onwards to Fire Study!(less)
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