Forgot to review this, but I read all three of these books in a row a few months back and LOVED them. Def check it out if you're an urban fantasy fan....moreForgot to review this, but I read all three of these books in a row a few months back and LOVED them. Def check it out if you're an urban fantasy fan. No romance to speak of, but really fun writing!!(less)
An excellent addition to the urban fantasy landscape. Alex, the main character, is a mage in London who rejects the magical establishment, and can see...moreAn excellent addition to the urban fantasy landscape. Alex, the main character, is a mage in London who rejects the magical establishment, and can see the future. Very well handled, his abilities, and super fun world building. Def if you like Butcher's books, pick this up! (less)
Continue to love this series, I just LOVE IT. Urban Fantasy at its best, so great to see that by book three I'm still dying to know more about the mai...moreContinue to love this series, I just LOVE IT. Urban Fantasy at its best, so great to see that by book three I'm still dying to know more about the main character, the world, and everything. I guess the relationship between Alex and Anne is a BIT odd, like someone gave the author a note about what direction it should be, but other than that, love this series!(less)
I mean, I loved this book. Myfanwy Thomas wakes up with a note that says, "This body used to be mine". YEAH! I LOVE AMNESIA PLOTS! Except this is a bi...moreI mean, I loved this book. Myfanwy Thomas wakes up with a note that says, "This body used to be mine". YEAH! I LOVE AMNESIA PLOTS! Except this is a bit more than that. Secret societies are kind of my fave, and this book builds a GREAT one. The secret Chequey (I love all the chess terms) battle supernatural forces in the world, and this new amnesiac is now fully immersed in it. I definitely felt like this could be a TV show, the richness of the world is so good! The tone is a bit hard to grasp, but it's classic British "serious but also cheeky", so once you get on the tricycle you're golden. It's just FUN, like Dr. Who.
The pacing of this book was the only part I can quibble with, a bit erratic at times, but the world building was rich and the characters super fun, I loved it and would like to see more in the world! (less)
Forgot I didn't actually review this book! Please check my Vaginal Fantasy Hangout for a full review, but I definitely enjoyed this book. Lore buildin...moreForgot I didn't actually review this book! Please check my Vaginal Fantasy Hangout for a full review, but I definitely enjoyed this book. Lore building around Angels, cool chicks who live in Prague and have blue hair and mysterious pasts, yeah! It's very YA in tone, which isn't my fave, so it might be a while before a pick up the next one, but the originality and characters were compelling.(less)
Ok I read this a while ago, and this isn't the kind of book that's easily summarized far away from reading, but I know that I enjoyed it, so that's go...moreOk I read this a while ago, and this isn't the kind of book that's easily summarized far away from reading, but I know that I enjoyed it, so that's good enough for a review. It's a fantastical mystery, if you've read Tim Powers then this is RIGHT up your alley. A strange town, lots of points of views, folklore and big bad evil people. A bit of George RR Martin with all the different characters and brutal death scenes, but really engrossing. Definitely one to read slowly, but if you love complex, fantastical worlds, this is very intriguing!(less)
Well, I can't say I've been charmed by a book more in a while, and jealous I didn't write it. This is a totally hipster book that rings all my bells,...moreWell, I can't say I've been charmed by a book more in a while, and jealous I didn't write it. This is a totally hipster book that rings all my bells, I feel like it sort of summarizes the zeitgeist of our internet generation, the gap between old and new.
Basically the main character, Clay, is unemployed tech guy, gets a job in a run-down bookstore that has a mysterious agenda that he can't help but get roped into. I'm a sucker for secret societies, and there's a touch of Amelie whimsey that is right up my alley in this as well. I mean, Google comes into it, it's so almost a cliche for me this book!
If I were to quibble, it's that the ending isn't quite dramatic enough, but the journey was so fun I can forget that. Recommended!(less)
Well, I think this book was pretty good, it actually surprised me because I forgot why I downloaded it, haha. Probably because it was a superhero nove...moreWell, I think this book was pretty good, it actually surprised me because I forgot why I downloaded it, haha. Probably because it was a superhero novel, and I haven't read a lot of those.
This book's strongest thing is originality, it's set in the dystopian future (WHY IS EVERYTHING DYSTOPIAN NOW?!) but aliens exist and there are superheroes too. The worldbuilding doesn't hold up to a TON of scrutiny, but if you go along for the ride it's really fun, kind of like Looper in a way. The main character, a teen called Michael, has powers, and he just knows he has to save a baby he finds to save the world, and the way to do it is through a Broken superhero woman formerly known as SilverWyng.
There are some really interesting things here that were surprising, the character relationships were original, and the plotting was pretty good. I feel like this might be a first novel, so I would definitely be interested in what this author does in the future, it's so rare you see anything original in the superhero genre, so bravo to that!(less)
I am kind of a sucker for lore, and folklore, so i really liked this book for the believable world that was built. I think it could have used a bit mo...moreI am kind of a sucker for lore, and folklore, so i really liked this book for the believable world that was built. I think it could have used a bit more pacing, but overall, I really thought it was original, no vampires, yay!
This is set in a fantasy world with a nomadic people who sacrifice a child to be a "vessel" for the gods to come back to the earth (the gods take over their bodies), but Liyana, when they try to sacrifice her, doesn't disappear and become a goddess. This is a huge shame on her family, but part of a bigger story that's happening with the gods and the Clans around. Liyana is meant to die for her shame, but she survives due to help and unveils the greater plot against her people (which, of course she helps fight!)
I loved the storytelling here, it reminded me a lot of a YA Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by NK Jemisin. Amazingly detailed and very folklore-ish. If you think about the plot TOO HARD it...isn't good, haha, and the first 1/3 is definitely the strongest, but still, I really enjoyed it and recommend it for a change of pace from your average fantasy world. (less)
As you can see, i've been mixing up my reading lately, THIS ISN'T ROMANCE YAY!
Quiet is a fascinating book about the prejudice that our society faces a...moreAs you can see, i've been mixing up my reading lately, THIS ISN'T ROMANCE YAY!
Quiet is a fascinating book about the prejudice that our society faces against introverts, and why it's unfounded, and how, as an introvert, you can overcome that, as well as just KNOW yourself better. I never really classified myself as such before, but reading this, I understand why, if I'm exhausted, all I want to be is alone, and how I'm extroverted only when I can control my environment and how that's a THING! If you're shy or are unsure, this is a great read. I think you'll discover something about yourself, that's why I've recommended to a lot of people lately! (less)
Well, this is a wonderful book! I love loved it! It's about Alif, a hacker in the Middle East, who has an ill-fated romance with a woman, is stalked b...moreWell, this is a wonderful book! I love loved it! It's about Alif, a hacker in the Middle East, who has an ill-fated romance with a woman, is stalked by a mysterious government hacker called The Hand, and interacts with real Djinn who actually exist, invisible among us. It's totally fascinating! A really enjoyable read that combines politics and tech and magic in a wonderful way.
Recommended for people who like Neal Stephenson or Da Vinci Code, just a fantastic thriller with magical overtones and interesting politics. (less)
I had been looking for an intelligent survey of women characters in comic books, and this provided that in spades. A wonderful chronological history s...moreI had been looking for an intelligent survey of women characters in comic books, and this provided that in spades. A wonderful chronological history surveying how women have been portrayed through the last century, it provided me with a more nuanced point of view of how society's changes have been reflected in comics. A really enjoyable survey I would recommend to comic lovers!(less)
This is a fantasy YA retelling of Jane Austen's Persuasion, but since I hadn't read that book (I KNOW GUYS!) I read this without that frame of referen...moreThis is a fantasy YA retelling of Jane Austen's Persuasion, but since I hadn't read that book (I KNOW GUYS!) I read this without that frame of reference. And I STILL enjoyed it, so maybe I'll read Persuasion now and see if I like this book more.
Er, good thought? but nah.
Anyway this is set in an alt world where there's been an apocalypse because of tech and other scientific advancements that were abused, and the lead character, Elliot, is part of an old family that survived because they rejected the technology and hid during the apocalypse (the Luddites). Kai, a servant of the "Reduced", basically the "bad" guys who caused the apocalypse who are now slave-types, but who are evolving to be equals once again to the Luddites.
It's kind of hard to describe the world building in this book, but it's quite well done and is unveiled in a very interesting way as the book progresses. From genetic manipulation to airships, this is just a very unique world, and the secret that is unveiled about Kai as the book goes on is not predictable. I loved Elliot as a character, she wasn't the perfect character that always irritates me in YA novels, and I loved that she made choices that sometimes frustrated me in the romance, because they were very true to who she was as a person. Yes a few of the secondary characters were a bit "muhahaha" for me, but whatever. Overall it was quite enjoyable, so if you like dystopian YA stuff (and there is a LOT of that around) I would highly recommend this one!(less)
I got this ARC from the publisher (YEAH IM ON A LIST!!!)
This is a really cool, dystopian sort of fantasy/sci-fi world mashup, it's hard to describe, b...moreI got this ARC from the publisher (YEAH IM ON A LIST!!!)
This is a really cool, dystopian sort of fantasy/sci-fi world mashup, it's hard to describe, because there's magic and yet there's tech as well. It's supposed to be very China Mieville, but since I've never been able to get through one of those books, I'll just take people's word for it, lol.
I DID get through this one, and enjoyed it a LOT! The world building is crazy interesting, the characters are very noir, and the plot was enough to keep me on my toes (although a few things that happen towards the last third are VERY convenient, needed to be set up a wee bit earlier to be smooth, but that's a small criticism).
I'm very excited to read the second in the series for sure! I love this new wave of gritty fantasy/sci-fi world building, it's like Brazil is very en-vogue!! The movie, not the country.(less)
Ah NK Jemisin, you can do no wrong. For some reason it took me a long time to pick this up, mainly because I loved her OTHER world so much I got pouty...moreAh NK Jemisin, you can do no wrong. For some reason it took me a long time to pick this up, mainly because I loved her OTHER world so much I got pouty that she was moving onto another one. Well, she built the last one to be amazing, she does no less in this one, perhaps even BETTER.
The blend of cultures and lore she draws on to make this very unique world is just stunning, and the fact that she inhabits it with such 3-dimensional characters is even more impressive. The Gatherers are some of the most interesting "magic" users I've read lately. If you want to get away from the traditional fantasy world-building, but keep the compelling characters and deep lore, definitely pick this up!!(less)
I mean, Vampire Geishas are cool, right? That's why I picked up this book, even though I'm over vampires. There were some cool things in this book, ge...moreI mean, Vampire Geishas are cool, right? That's why I picked up this book, even though I'm over vampires. There were some cool things in this book, genetically engineering Geishas for one, but I dunno, the main character was a bit erratic for my tastes, she was sometimes a badass, sometimes a moron. I liked the love interest, and the world was interesting, but the farther I got in the book the less I understood what the bad guys' functions were.
I got the next in the book because it was a fun romp. If you like vampires this is worth a try for sure!(less)
This is a compilation of a blog someone I know writes, but I never read it until she gave me a copy of this book. Basically she watches bad movies (or...moreThis is a compilation of a blog someone I know writes, but I never read it until she gave me a copy of this book. Basically she watches bad movies (or good ones) and explains the plots to her friend who hasn't seen them. There's a lot of joy in this book, as well as humor. I laughed A LOT, especially the Bones recap. If you like pop culture you'll enjoy this.(less)
**spoiler alert** UGGGGGH I read this because someone on the VF forum said it was an interesting role reversal of men assaulting women in romance nove...more**spoiler alert** UGGGGGH I read this because someone on the VF forum said it was an interesting role reversal of men assaulting women in romance novels but this book has a woman RAPING A MAN AND THEN THEY END UP TOGETHER?!?!?!
I mean, from a very logical POV I have to admire the subject matter, the original take on the tropes. It's dealt with very interestingly, and from a deep character perspective, but I just can't get on board the plot. UGH, made me feel not ok.(less)
Not a HUGE Young Adult reader, but when I read about this book as a "gritty modern-day Harry Potter" I had to do it! I think this book is a bit uneven...moreNot a HUGE Young Adult reader, but when I read about this book as a "gritty modern-day Harry Potter" I had to do it! I think this book is a bit uneven but REALLY interesting. It is definitely a less rosy view on a teen with magic, I really loved the love interest and how she was an outcast, and the precocious lead character was really engaging, especially considering his somewhat challenging past. Towards the end of the book I wanted the characters to grow a bit more, but all in all a really fun read, especially if you like teen protagonists. The reality of the magic system was very grounded as well, which I enjoyed too.(less)
Finally finished this! It definitely picked up steam in the last half like the ladies said. It definitely isn't my cup of tea, but if you like teen ro...moreFinally finished this! It definitely picked up steam in the last half like the ladies said. It definitely isn't my cup of tea, but if you like teen romance and steampunk you will get into this. Still biggest criticism is there were WAY too many POVs, just sticking to a few would have been stronger because the world building was very interesting!(less)
I loved the last book in this series (we read it for Vaginal Fantasy) but this one didn't hook me quite as much. I think the heroine is a BIT childish...moreI loved the last book in this series (we read it for Vaginal Fantasy) but this one didn't hook me quite as much. I think the heroine is a BIT childish and innocent for my tastes (I mean, she's a unicorn shapeshifter so that makes sense). I also didn't dig that she had this weird gestation pregnancy where the fetus talked to her. I dunno, some ladies might be into that, but I kept thinking Aliens. Still a fan, just not my fave of the series!(less)
This was a SUPER inventive and dark world-building novel. Definitely epic fantasy leaning, meaty and engrossing about Heaven and Hell and demon battli...moreThis was a SUPER inventive and dark world-building novel. Definitely epic fantasy leaning, meaty and engrossing about Heaven and Hell and demon battling and love. I really enjoyed it, and the fact it was a first novel was even cooler, and it felt much meatier than the relatively short 300 pages, which is interesting.
There are some GREAT characters and relationships (and a LOT of drama) that keep you page-turning. Recommended to CS Friedman fans, or Sarah Monette fans.(less)
Again, I have a winner! Wow I've been on a streak lately. This is a really fun Sci-Fi romance that I was surprised by. Very cool setup and characters...moreAgain, I have a winner! Wow I've been on a streak lately. This is a really fun Sci-Fi romance that I was surprised by. Very cool setup and characters that I couldn't put down. I don't want to spoil the book, just start reading it without reading blurbs and the twist at the beginning will really hook you in!
You gotta not think TOO deep about the worldbuilding here, because then you'll wonder why EVERYONE didn't realize what's going on with this planet immediately, but whatever. The characters and setting pull you though, and I loved it! (less)
I really REALLY liked this book. It's kind of a perfect Vaginal Fantasy book. It mixes fantasy with romance in a really interesting way, and I loved h...moreI really REALLY liked this book. It's kind of a perfect Vaginal Fantasy book. It mixes fantasy with romance in a really interesting way, and I loved how Elves weren't all delicate and nice, they were kind of bastards.
The romance is good, the ending is the ONLY thing I thought was a bit weird, but considering she's setting up a series I'll cut her some slack. Overall a really fun read!(less)
**spoiler alert** OKAY listen, this book caught my eye hard, and I really thought the premise was interesting (Fey power + Jane Eyre). There were some...more**spoiler alert** OKAY listen, this book caught my eye hard, and I really thought the premise was interesting (Fey power + Jane Eyre). There were some cool things, and I 100% enjoyed the first half of the book. And then....
SPOILERS:
WE GET TO THE FACE PEELING. I COULDNT DEAL GUYS, GROSS! It turned into a bad reality show about plastic surgery gone wrong, OMG I was so grossed out by the ending. ANYWHOO...if you like horror you might dig this book, it's just VERY different from what I thought it was going in.
This is a weird book that some people may not like, but I REALLY liked it, so there. It's not romance-y, it's steampunk/religious/thriller/alt-verse/f...moreThis is a weird book that some people may not like, but I REALLY liked it, so there. It's not romance-y, it's steampunk/religious/thriller/alt-verse/fantasy. It's gritty and a bit complicated but I enjoyed it a LOT because it was DIFFERENT.
I love the idea of Living/Dead Gods (PC HODGELL'S GOD STALK is one of my faves) and this book really is intriguing in its dealing of the subject, and immense magical power harnessed by humans. I dunno, I just really liked it, the lead woman was ruthless and driven, which I was into, and not overly "sympathetic".
I think the only negative I could see is the sense of PLACE was vague for me, I didn't feel like I understood how the city looked and felt. Everything else was stellar. Definitely on board for another!(less)
I love me some Abercrombie, his style is so snarky and detailed and dirty. I love how with a few sentences he can fill out a minor character so well t...moreI love me some Abercrombie, his style is so snarky and detailed and dirty. I love how with a few sentences he can fill out a minor character so well that you actually feel sorry when they're killed in passing.
This is NOT really a fantasy book though guys, it's 100% Western. If you've read his other books you'll recognize several characters, but you don't REALLY need to read the others to get into this. If you don't like Westerns move along doggy, but this is worth reading for sure. (less)
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