K.N. Salustro's Blog, page 5

Review – The Likeness

[image error]4 stars on Goodreads, 3.5 in my mind.

I really enjoyed In the Woods, the first book of this series. This was a solid followup, but man was it slow.

Everything is so deliberately paced here, Im not sure where it wouldve made sense to cut anything down. Its important for the character development and emotional positions as things head towards the climax, but it takes its sweet, sweet time getting there. Tana Frenchs writing is really strong, so I was happy to keep reading, but I couldve used a...

Review – Dark Currents

[image error]This series is proving to be so much fun, and so enjoyable as an adventure series with fantasy mysteries woven in. Issues that I had with the first book were either absent or made way more sense here, and I loved getting to know the characters more.

Books especially. I loved getting point of view chapters for him, and seeing him get his own arc. Im really looking forward to seeing chapters from other characters in later books. Hopefully that continues!

Amaranthe continues to be a great leader...

Review – The Nightingale

[image error]This is one of those rare books that lives up to its hype. Wonderfully written, excellently paced, and full of vibrant characters along with a bit of action and suspense, its a really good book.

Following sisters Vianne and Isabelle as World War II ravages their lives, they both learn how far they really would go to do what is right and what can break them. Their relationship starts out strained after a difficult childhood and the neglect of their father, and the war rips them apart as they...

Review – Of Things Unknown

Okay. First off, I did not expect to like April as a narrator as much as I did. Shes far from my favorite character in the Toby Daye series, even if her concept is one of the most interesting. Digital Dryad? That is a whole level of imaginative awesome.

As a character, though, I never really connected much with her, so I wasnt expecting much here.

I continue to be a fool for doubting Seanan McGuires skills as an author.

April is a fantastic narrator, blurring the things she understands with...

Novel Sample: “Cause of Death: ???” – Chapters 1 & 2

This agreement, made between the parties of Life and Death in exchange for creation of and dominion over their joint project of mortality and the mortal world, binds these parties and all other Forces who would seek to profit from said project to the following rules

excerpt from the Contract of Mortality

 

1

 

The morning my entire world broke, I was slumped over my desk in my windowless bedroom. My legs were thrown haphazardly over the side of my chair, my face was buried in my arms...

Review – The Brightest Fell

[image error]This is probably the most brutal of the Toby Daye books Ive read to date. Which, of course, makes the idea of reading the next one just a little terrifying, but on the other hand

Screw Amandine. Take names and kick ass Toby, and show her just what you can do.

Preferably without the lives and/or sanity of your loved ones hanging in the balance, but thats probably a foregone hope at this point.

I hope there is at least one full chapter dedicated to Toby and Tybalts wedding on the horizon, and...

Review – Bright We Burn

[image error]Soooo I knew this trilogy was going to have a brutal end. I just didnt expect it to hit me as hard as it actually did.

Now, there are some plot things that happen a little too easily, and there was one moment where I did want to scream at Radu for his stupidity. (Seriously you didnt think once that not meeting with Lada yourself would somehow not end in bloodshed?) That said, theres so much emotional turmoil and resolution in this book that it is really devastating and lovely to read. I think...

Review – Dreams and Slumbers

This novella came bundled with my digital copy of Once Broken Faith, and picks up right where that book leaves off. This time, we’re seeing the world through Queen Arden Windermere’s eyes.

I really liked getting a different perspective of Faerie, and learning exactly how Arden feels about Toby, and the way Toby returned her to the throne. It’s messy and complicated, exactly as it should be. Especially since Arden is a pureblood, and it’s clear how much impact that has had on her, along with...

Review – Once Broken Faith

[image error]I will be honest. When I started this book, I had the sudden, dreadful feeling that I was not going to like it. It starts extremely slow, as far as Toby Daye books are concerned, and while the importance of the conclave gathered to decide the ultimate fate of the Fae weapon elf-shot is extremely important in the universe, it didn’t make for the most riveting reading. At least not at first.

And then a bunch of shit goes down all at once, and my reactions to the events of this book spanned from...

Review – A Big Ship at the Edge of the Universe

[image error]If Redline, Firefly, and Treasure Planet had a baby, it would be this book.

So, naturally, I loved it.

There are some moments of awkward writing that took me out of the narrative, and made it a little difficult to fully get a visual of the world building, but overall, this was a really fun, engaging read with two iron-willed female leads who learn so much about each other and themselves as they’re shanghaied into a treasure hunt for a legendary starship. They find so much more than they...