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| 1456107607
| 9781456107604
| 4.15
| 521,689
| Sep 30, 2008
| Mar 28, 2011
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really liked it
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First of all, I cannot recommend the audiobook narrated by the full cast nearly enough. It’s like one of those classic radio dramas and I am here for
First of all, I cannot recommend the audiobook narrated by the full cast nearly enough. It’s like one of those classic radio dramas and I am here for it! And now, for the book itself. “The Graveyard Book” is, I think, a book meant for children. But it starts with the murder of the main characters entire family when he’s just an infant, but he’s too excited by an open door and an awaiting adventure to notice. He ends up in the local graveyard where the resident ghosts and vampire (though I think it’s wonderful that Gaiman never uses that word, but we all know what he is) decide to protect and raise the child as their own. Each chapter is a little window into a year of Nobody Owens life as he grows and is taught by the different ghosts and the lessons he learns along the way. Because of this format, the adventure eventually ends before everything is wrapped up. Which is by design as we get the story mainly from a child, after all, but it could be a little frustrating at times. Some of the most interesting aspects of the book, the characters and their roles, heck even more about the man Jack and his organization are only ever touched upon in very vague terms. It’s not their story, but Nobody Owens, so of course we don’t get a full picture there, but the fact that they are teased and then just kind of left behind as Bod’s adventure continues was always a bit off putting to me, even though I vastly enjoyed the macabre setting of this book. I loved the different ghosts that Bod befriended and the different “quests” he went on either on behalf of the ghosts, or in spite of them sometimes. I loved the bittersweet ending of the story, more so for listening to Gaiman’s short account of how “The Graveyard Book” came to be, and now as a new parent myself. The story is dark and spooky at times, which is why I hesitate calling it a children’s book, but I definitely can see the appeal in parents reading this to their kids, too, as each chapter has a “moral of the story” feel to it. I just wish that, come the end, I felt that more than just Bod’s adventure ended, but that the story had more closure to it, too (hence the 4 stars). This story reminded me a lot of “Neverwhere” at times with the dark whimsy and the not-so-subtle lessons Gaiman has to impart, but I do think, between the two, “Neverwhere” still reigns supreme as my favorite Gaiman novel, but “The Graveyard Book” is close behind! ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jul 2023
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Jul 19, 2023
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Jul 01, 2023
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Audiobook
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| B07MF459MH
| 4.16
| 6,283
| Nov 09, 2018
| Jan 08, 2019
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it was amazing
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I am a big fan of blending science fiction and fantasy together in the same book. Even more so when you have a cyberpunk-esque science fiction setting
I am a big fan of blending science fiction and fantasy together in the same book. Even more so when you have a cyberpunk-esque science fiction setting and magic plus some magical creatures for added measure. And boy does this book deliver on all those fronts! The book itself is like Storage Wars but with, you know, magic in a city literally alive with power and gods for pretty much every little thing you can think of. We follow Opal, who is desperate to pay off her debt and does so by basically buying apartments of people who fail to pay their rent. She may be a mage, but she prefers work as a Cleaner; on the hunt for treasure in these foreclosed locations. I really enjoyed the premise of that; Opal may be a magic user, but she is not the most powerful, well, anything and her magic isn’t necessarily unique. It made the world of the DFZ both magical and grounded, with the author taking the reader on an action filled ride from the lowest levels of this magical version of Detroit, to its glittering dragon consulates, because of course there are dragons now. I haven’t read or listened to the other books in this authors universe, but the synopsis didn’t lie when it says that’s not necessary in order to enjoy this book. I didn’t have a hard time understanding how the world we know suddenly has magic, which made the presence of spirit-like gods in Detroit make sense as well. Opal is a likeable character, pragmatic and sweet with a soft spot for the lives she rummages through and consequently sells off and the male MC makes a great grumpy foil to Opal's sunshine. The cyber technology was also a fun contrast with (and against) those who are able to use magic. The ending resolution got a bit… odd but over all I enjoyed the ride, hence the 4.5 stars, plus the audiobook narrator was fantastic and made this book even more fun. I’ll definitely be following more of Opal’s stories in the future! ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Apr 04, 2023
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Apr 18, 2023
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Apr 04, 2023
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Audible Audio
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| 1250826799
| 9781250826794
| 1250826799
| 3.76
| 8,706
| May 30, 2023
| May 30, 2023
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liked it
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I’m a big fan of Wells’s “Murderbot” series so I wanted to give her new fantasy book a try! But I went in knowing that “Witch King” is nothing like th
I’m a big fan of Wells’s “Murderbot” series so I wanted to give her new fantasy book a try! But I went in knowing that “Witch King” is nothing like the Murderbot novellas, and I didn’t expect it to be, either. These are all new characters in a world very different then what I was used to, so of course I didn’t go in expecting the same humor and voice that I get with Murderbot. I think a lot of people kind of forget or don’t realize that when starting this book… Which is a dual timeline of our main character, a demon named Kai, and his witch bestie, Ziede as they try to uncover who abducted them, why, and the greater conspiracy around that—all while going back 60 years to see a young Kai as he becomes the demon and Witch King we see in the present chapters. This is a very ambitious fantasy world full of complicated political intrigue and warring factions and races all with their own kind of magical abilities and belief systems. The magic system felt vague from start to finish, however, and I think only one timeline truly delivered on the experience I was hoping for from Wells. The reader is dropped into the story AFTER everything has happened. After this massive war (with flavors of Christian colonialism which I liked and thought was handled well), and after Kai has, somehow, been captured. I’m all for starting a book when the action starts, but this was a confusing start as the world building gets strung along throughout the entire book, leaving everything—the magic system, the different factions in conflict, how the conflict began or ended—as this sort of vague experience that all the characters talk about without fully explaining. You get the impression of it, which is just enough to keep you (me?) from becoming completely lost, but not enough for me (you?) to say I GET this world and what happened. The book alternates between the present and past, usually with a chapter in the past interspersed between everything that happens in the present with the idea being that you get to see the parallels between the situations Kai and Ziede find themselves in. But I thought the chapters in the past were way more interesting, memorable, and just overall better than those in the present. I found the present chapters to be, unfortunately, forgettable which meant that I often was lost when we jumped back to present time after the chapters in the past. Plus the sheer number of characters in this book—some only in the past and some only in the present—made the conspiracy and political intrigue hard to follow. The dual timeline is what actually makes it so hard to pin down my personal enjoyment of this book. Half the book was a bit lackluster and hard to follow, the other half was really engaging but you never really got enough of it (in my opinion). A lot of time this book felt like it was the sequel to something that I didn’t know about, where this really interesting world and its magic and fantastic creatures were all already established so the little snippets of world building you get this time were meant mainly to just be a reminder for something already well established. However, I really loved Kai as a character. Wells has a knack for writing soft, sad, murderous characters and Kai is no different. The way he learns to use pain as a fuel source for his magic was especially heartbreaking. There are hints of wonderful, complex relationships—especially between Ziede, Tahren, and Dahin—that I desperately wish we had more of. Which, again, is what makes this book so hard to rate; I didn’t get enough of the things I loved, and a good quarter of the book is easily forgettable, making the pacing… odd to say the least. It’s those chapters in the past that have me giving this book 3 stars, because without that, this book would have been very disappointing to be sure. Wells is still a wonderful writer, so this didn’t change that for me, the “Witch King” just makes me eager to go back to Murderbot! ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Sep 02, 2023
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Sep 17, 2023
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Feb 03, 2023
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Hardcover
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| 1250194040
| 9781250194046
| 1250194040
| 3.71
| 11,093
| Nov 01, 2022
| Nov 01, 2022
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liked it
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“The Luminaries” has such cool vibes. A mysterious secret society tasked with keeping the Nightmares dreamed up by a sleeping spirit from leaving the
“The Luminaries” has such cool vibes. A mysterious secret society tasked with keeping the Nightmares dreamed up by a sleeping spirit from leaving the forest and being discovered? Uh, yes please! Plus I happened to get this book from my Illumicrate subscription so it’s seriously beautiful. We follow Winnie, an outcast in the Luminaries who is desperate to become a Hunter and reclaim her family's good name. Winnie knows everything there is to know about the Nightmares dwelling in the forest, but that doesn’t mean she’s prepared for some of the monsters she finds, or the scrutiny of Hemlock Falls back on her and her family as a result of taking the trials. Everything about this book sounds moody and delightful, but there were too many little things that added up and, ultimately, spoiled my enjoyment of this book. I like darker YA reads, I also tend to like slower burn books, ones that take their time getting you wrapped up in a story as those tend to give me a more emotional experience. While “The Luminaries” is both of those things, it’s also redundant around certain things that just make me cringe. The book tells you at least 100 times about Winnie’s leather jacket. It’s not a magical jacket, but you’ll hear about it a ton like it has some deeper purpose. The book also tells you over and over again about Winnie’s really unnatural nervous tick: clicking her teeth. Have you ever tried clicking your teeth when you weren’t shivering or chewing something? It’s such an unnatural thing to do that I didn’t buy it for a second that this was a thing Winnie naturally does. For why, I ask? Then the author uses far too much purple prose when describing one monster in particular that it rendered it completely meaningless to me and stripped this monster of any creep factor it may have had. The POV is a bit odd for this book as well, a present tense third person, which isn’t my favorite but something I could have gotten over if it was the only issue I had, clearly it was not. But all of the above may not have deterred me from continuing on in the series. The vibes are right up my alley, after all. But Winnie and Jay were both hard to care about for me, and the author just left too much unanswered for me to trust that they can address everything in the next book. I won’t elaborate because it could be considered a spoiler, but tons of questions and mysteries are introduced in this book with not a single one being resolved and I really, really needed some of them to be addressed in order to capture my interest enough to continue with this series. But there was absolutely no resolution to anything come the end of the book, which made for a very lackluster ending to be honest. It’s really too bad, this book had so much promise, and it was fairly easy to read and, therefore, to get through even with the redundancies and off putting character ticks, which is why it’s getting 2.5 stars from me. I’ll still give this author another chance, but it is looking more and more like they simply not be for me. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Apr 24, 2023
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May 03, 2023
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Dec 16, 2022
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Hardcover
| ||||||||||||||
| 0989474755
| 9780989474757
| 0989474755
| 4.04
| 379
| Sep 29, 2015
| Sep 29, 2015
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liked it
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“The Urban Boys” follows five friends in high school who, after one night in a preserve their families have forbidden them from going into, are gifted
“The Urban Boys” follows five friends in high school who, after one night in a preserve their families have forbidden them from going into, are gifted with heightened senses in order to protect a luminous supernatural race, and by proxy, all of mankind. But for such high stakes, the boys thankfully can save mankind by simply protecting their idyllic town from the evil-doers that have taken over a neighboring town. Stuck in a conflict that has been simmering for twenty years, it’s up to these five friends to keep strong, and save their town when no one else is capable of doing so. This is a story that attempts to cover a lot, especially with such a large cast of characters, and it’s a book I think is far better suited for middle-grade book lovers. If you go into it with that mindset, I think you’ll enjoy the “Urban Boys” a great deal. The core of this story is all about the perseverance of these five friends as they come together and battle to protect the things they love the most. The writing is both simple and full of prose that I think younger readers will really gravitate toward as the author does a great job of telling the reader what they need to know as the boys’ experience new things. There are themes of “coming of age” as the boys figure out how to carve their own path in life, both through high school, and beyond, all set to a mildly supernatural setting. The telling of what is happening and the, sometimes, simple and repetitive writing style works well for younger audiences, but if you read this as a YA book (which is natural given the age of the main characters) I don’t think those elements work as well. The sheer size of the cast of characters in this book is a bit too much for the length of the story. Not only do you have the five main characters, but we also get the POV of siblings, parents, and significant others with new characters being introduced late in the book as well. It made it hard for me to really connect to any of the characters, and sometimes could not keep them apart as they tend to blend together, which isn’t helped when the POV character changes paragraph to paragraph in some instances. Each boy is supposed to have a heightened sense but we rarely see that as it takes a backseat to the more traditional fighting the boys do to clean up the streets of these towns. The stakes aren’t well defined outside of the boy’s being told they have to protect this light being in order to save mankind, but the story is laser focused on just these towns and the big bad’s desire to punish his family for not loving him more. And for all the details we get about the town, we get very little in regards to the supernatural elements. So, between that and just a large cast that blurred together, I’m giving this book 3 stars. Again, I think it’s best suited for fans of middle-grade superhero fiction, but ultimately, I think I was expecting something a little different, because I thought the premise really did sound fascinating. And thanks to Literary Bound Tours and the author for providing me with a copy for an honest review! ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Oct 27, 2022
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Nov 30, 2022
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Oct 27, 2022
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Paperback
| ||||||||||||||
| 168463153X
| 9781684631537
| 168463153X
| 3.95
| 39
| unknown
| Aug 30, 2022
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really liked it
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“Evangeline’s Heaven” is a unique reimagining of the fall of Lucifer, and what that fall looked like from the eyes of his daughter. Raised almost comp
“Evangeline’s Heaven” is a unique reimagining of the fall of Lucifer, and what that fall looked like from the eyes of his daughter. Raised almost completely by her Lucifer, Evangeline is completely devoted to her father and is his loyal little soldier. When a decree comes that states that all Commoner angels—like Lucifer and Evangeline—are being banished to Earth to tend to God’s new fledgling creation, the humans, Lucifer and the other Commoner’s push back against the regal class of angels, the Dominion. The Dominion have always treated Evangeline’s people with extreme prejudice, especially Evangeline, who is half of both thanks to her mother. But while Evangeline’s cause may be good, her father’s true intentions are clouded in secrecy—a shroud that Evangeline does not want lifted until she has no choice but to see Lucifer for who he truly is, and then she will have to deal with the consequences. This reimagining is definitely on the younger side of YA, despite the character’s ages. The writing style is a close present tense 3rd POV which, admittedly, is not my favorite, but I think suits the subject matter of this novel. And, speaking of the subject matter: if you are not a fan or just simply not interested in stories centered on Christian creation myths, this may not be to your liking or understanding, but that being said, I thought the creativity the author approached the source material with was very well thought out. The hierarchy of angels, the different classes within those angels, and how the various Heavens—or realms really—are laid out was all very well done and, even though there are a lot of names, I never once felt lost or confused about who was who or what was going on. Even if I did wonder how the Dominion angels could tell the difference between themselves, the Archangels, and the Commoners, because no real physical difference or anything like that is ever brought up by the MC. I think that was my only real issue with this story. You don’t get a ton of description about the characters or the differences between Commoners and the more “elite” angels, you only see the abuse through what happens to Evangeline at their hands during her school days, and never anything more wide spread that would help solidify Lucifer’s justification for the initial rebellion. The first half of the book can be a bit slow at times as well, full of a lot of flashbacks in between character dialogue instead of actual movement or dialogue from the characters themselves, which definitely would have helped with pacing, and maybe given the light romance elements more legs to stand on. Most the flashbacks center on the bullying Evangeline faces, but it would have been nice to see it unfold in real time rather than breaking up the flow of present dialogue and situations. I do understand this is a very short read, but I think a little more of those touches could have really helped the characters. The second half of the book is where the story really finds its stride, with Evangeline firmly on the path to self-discovery and actively moving toward a goal of her own choosing, rather than one plotted out for her by her manipulative father. Her adventure with her crush in order to keep the various heavens from all being destroyed is full of great action scenes, and I love it when an author isn’t afraid to put her main characters in physical and emotional peril. And while I think the story ended a little abruptly, I did really enjoy the twist toward the end. I just wish the first half was as exciting, which is why this gets a very solid 3.5 stars from me. All in all, this was a very creative debut novel, and bonus points for it being a standalone, too! And thanks to the author and Literary Bound Tours for a copy of the book for an honest review. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Sep 2022
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Sep 06, 2022
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Aug 08, 2022
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Paperback
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| B0B5QNP86P
| 3.67
| 30
| Jul 11, 2022
| Aug 01, 2022
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really liked it
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I have never read a YA fantasy novelette quite like “Spellraiser” and I mean that in the best way possible. It’s a familiar storyline: a rich prep sch
I have never read a YA fantasy novelette quite like “Spellraiser” and I mean that in the best way possible. It’s a familiar storyline: a rich prep school where those of lesser means are constantly bullied and looked down upon, except that there is a magical mystery underfoot. In the world of “Spellraiser” magic is an accepted thing, so there’s no real need for the characters to explain what’s happening to one another, which helps given the novelette’s unique styling—100 chapters of only one hundred words. In this world, spells are basically spirits that give the wielder—or the person being possessed—a wish-like attribute, be it beauty, strength, invincibility, or even the ability to read minds. The catch is, you have to release the spell every day or risk being completely consumed, and you can’t have more than 5 in you at a time or you will literally burn up. That’s not our main characters problem though. Her problem is that students keep dying mysteriously and she, as an outcast, keeps getting blamed for their deaths. It's no surprise that this was a super interesting and quick read; the chapter structure at times gave this book a lyrical style that I really enjoyed. The illustrations are stunning and fit the tone of the story perfectly, I just wish there were more of them throughout the book! I think my only qualm is that, while I think the structure and format is really interesting and pays off very well at times, it did mean that certain aspects of the story and its characters could not be explored to their fullest, which is seen most toward the end, but maybe the author will write a sequel? The story is complete on its own, don’t get me wrong, but there is plenty left that the author could explore without being redundant to this book either, just saying. But that’s why I’m giving it 4 stars, I think I’ll remember this book more for its clever, experimental formatting than for its characters. Still, if you like quick and dark YA fantasy, I highly recommend “Spellraiser!” And thanks to the author for providing me with a copy for an honest review. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Aug 04, 2022
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Sep 21, 2022
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Aug 04, 2022
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Kindle Edition
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| B01K9LS2GI
| 3.98
| 1,916
| Aug 11, 2016
| Mar 18, 2019
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it was amazing
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I devoured this book on the beach. Which may seem a bit odd considering that the story takes place in the gloomy, often wet, underbelly of Victorian L
I devoured this book on the beach. Which may seem a bit odd considering that the story takes place in the gloomy, often wet, underbelly of Victorian London, but go with me on this one. I loved Ingrid and Byrnes as a leading couple. You get the cool, collected blue-blood (not a vampire), who is desperate to get “revenge” on the hot-blooded, strong willed, and flirtatious verwulfen (think werewolf but without the actual shift) because she’s the only one to truly best him. Then throw in a really well-crafted paranormal murder mystery plot on top of that. I thought the romance itself was steamy when needed, and sweet and tender as the couple grew, making it both a slow burn romance, and just the right level of animalistic passion at the same time. Personally, I like my romance books with a heavy dose of plot that isn’t centered on the couple hooking up, and “Mission: Improper” delivered on all fronts! I haven’t read any of the other books in McMaster’s London Steampunk series, so I had no attachment to any of the side characters in this book that, supposedly, have more of a focus in other stories. Which is probably why the few chapters that were in Ava or Gemma’s point of view were the least interesting to me, though they do serve as good introductions to the central couple characters in the next books in the Blue Blood Conspiracy series. I really enjoyed the world building in this series though, the steampunk elements were well done, and I absolutely loved the twist the author takes toward the traditional vampire/werewolf romances, and just those paranormal creatures in general. But my favorite thing about this book in particular was just how evenly matched Byrnes and Ingrid are. There is no odd power dynamic which is typical when you have romances with paranormal people. In many ways, Ingrid is more than just Byrne’s match when it comes to strength and fighting abilities, she has just as much experience as him, and there’s no questionable age gap between an immortal being and a young person. Both are cunning and smart, and believably damaged to where the answer to “fixing” them doesn’t necessarily lie just in sex, which made them incredibly well-rounded characters. But, given each of the books' in this series focuses on new characters and different types of mysteries each time, I was left wanting a bit more closure to the actual case Ingrid and Byrnes were working together before it switches to the new couple in the next book, which is why I’m giving it 4.5 stars. But, either way, it was highly enjoyable and I’ll definitely be adding more books from this series to my TBR! ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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May 10, 2022
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May 18, 2022
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May 04, 2022
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Kindle Edition
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| 0999762125
| 9780999762127
| 0999762125
| 4.30
| 260
| May 31, 2019
| May 31, 2019
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liked it
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I was able to read “A Bad Breed” in just two days’ time; it’s a super easy read that’s brimming with a delightful gothic atmosphere. This book takes a
I was able to read “A Bad Breed” in just two days’ time; it’s a super easy read that’s brimming with a delightful gothic atmosphere. This book takes an interesting twist to the Beauty and the Beast stories, and while the author says this can be read as a standalone, I’d almost recommend against that. I’ve read one of Ross’ books so I had a brief idea of what Anne was and how her powers functioned, but without that… I think you’d be pretty lost, or feel like the book was lacking in some way. But, ultimately, the book is more than just a Beauty and Beast story, but also part mystery over what happened to Anne, and who is behind the attacks in a remote village. In fact, you don’t even really meet Anne until almost 40% of the book, which I have mixed feelings about… I really wanted more of Anne. I wanted to see more of her and the “beast” and get a better understanding of him and the society he’s a part of. His reasons for taking Anne were so flimsy that I really felt like there needed to be more of his tortured backstory, or what have you, in order to really sell him as someone Anne would fall for, because by the end, I can’t say I cared much for his character. I really liked Anne and Vivienne though, and I greatly enjoyed Alec, too! For such a short book, there were a lot of characters that I wanted more of, whose plot lines in the story could have used a little more page time, as well. So, while I generally like Ross’ writing style, this is one of those instances where the story itself needed to be a bit longer in order for the plot and characters to get the weight and justice I felt they all deserved. Ultimately, “A Bad Breed” reads more like a prequel to what’s to come in the fourth book in this series. The steam and sex scenes were done well in this book, even if they were very brief, but because of how the characters behaved and what they did at the end, I can’t really say I have much of an interest in continuing if they are the central couple again, however, I am really motivated to go back and finish Ross’ “Fourth Element Series”! Which is why this gets a solid 3 stars from me, it was fine, but there needed to be a bit more in order to give this story the substance I felt it needed, and I didn't like the "beast" at the end at all, either. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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May 17, 2022
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May 22, 2022
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May 04, 2022
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Paperback
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| B09VK3V7H9
| unknown
| 4.80
| 15
| unknown
| May 17, 2022
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it was amazing
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“Terminal Static” is the second book in the Echo Trail series, so if you haven’t read “Resurrection Road” yet, do that before reading this review. I’l
“Terminal Static” is the second book in the Echo Trail series, so if you haven’t read “Resurrection Road” yet, do that before reading this review. I’ll do my best to avoid all spoilers, but you never know what may slip through the veil. In this second book, Laz, Zeke, and Eden are looking to relax after surviving their encounter with the blood mage, each has changed to varying degrees, but none more so than Zeke. This second book focuses more on his emotional journey and I loved seeing him struggle with wanting to remain who he was in the face of all the new changes he’s undergoing, and what that may mean for his family—considering his father got out of the hunting life a long time ago. But of course, the consequences of their showdown with the blood mage continue to follow them in surprising, and really creepy ways! I had the honor of beta reading an early copy of “Terminal Static” but I didn’t want to rate or review this story until after the final book hit the wider world. A lot can change between those early versions, but the bones of this Supernatural inspired series are all strong, so of course the final iteration of this book turned out even better than I could have imagined! While I generally knew where this story was going, rereading it still felt like a new experience as there was a new layer of subtly over the story that kept me fully invested in these characters and their adventures all over again. The second book has a creepy factor to it that is much more intense than its predecessor. It’s a slow burn build of unsettling events mingled with the feeling of constantly being watched… This book would be perfect to read on chilly nights if you’re looking to up that spooky factor! It’s not so much that I’d call it horror, but just like the show Supernatural, you get moments of really fantastic body shivers. I won’t say more than that because I don’t want to spoil the big reveal, but let’s just say that when things escalate in this book, they escalate FAST. It was a treat to watch each of the characters deal with their fears as well, as it really allows Marae to showcase just how well-crafted and different each character is. Everyone felt so distinct and unique from one another! While Eden and Laz are adorable together, I have to say that Zeke and his sunshine demeanor and Mab’s pure bad babe sass make them my favorites hands down. True to Supernatural form, each of the Echo Trail books focus on one “case”, as it were, with an overarching mystery/monster that the characters are heading toward. In “Terminal Static” who and what they are heading toward becomes a little clearer, and has me so excited for the third book, which is why I am giving this book 5 stars. The slow burn romance is really starting to heat up, and the ghosts and monsters are getting more intense, which has me both excited and worried for the characters! I can’t wait to see how our main group grows and evolves next! ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jun 09, 2022
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Jun 17, 2022
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Jan 03, 2022
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Kindle Edition
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| B09GTYPB71
| 4.59
| 29
| Jan 13, 2022
| Jan 13, 2022
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really liked it
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“Fallen” is unlike any Urban Fantasy I have read before. You have a world populated by classic high fantasy creatures—elves and orcs just to name a fe
“Fallen” is unlike any Urban Fantasy I have read before. You have a world populated by classic high fantasy creatures—elves and orcs just to name a few—plus humans in a modern-day Boston. To top it off, the Christian mythos with angels and heaven are real in this world, even if church goers don’t believe a literal angel when they meet one. I thought that contrast was the most interesting of all, but I’m getting ahead of myself. We follow Cassiel, a fallen angel, as she learns to navigate a world she’s never been to before, as she has been tasked with guarding the gates of heaven for her whole existence. No one believes her when she tells them who she is, which allows for the reader to learn about this version of our world through her eyes. It’s not until a murder in the church she is taking refuge in kicks off a series of events with demons and drug dealers that people truly start to believe Cassiel when she says she is the only weapon capable of facing off against this threat—even wounded as she is. It takes a bit to get situated in this version of Boston, I will say. For the most part there being multiple types of fantasy races populating the world doesn’t really matter outside of being used as a way to talk about racial issues that aren’t dissimilar to what we face in the “real world”. Having them in this Urban Fantasy does, however, build the foundation for the world for the rest of the series to come, where the different groups and factions may come more in to play. The start of the book is also a bit slow, which is a bit odd for such a short book, where the main plot points in the synopsis don’t even begin to be hinted at until closer to the 30% mark. That being said, I did enjoy the diversity in the cast of characters with a disabled character and gay characters all playing prominent roles in the story. But once you’re in the story, you’re IN it and things move quickly from there. Once the excitement of the main plot kicks in, and Cassiel is firmly set up as a character, this book was quite the fun ride! For an angel, Cassiel never read as overpowered or even preachy, which I enjoyed. It’s all too easy for books that deal with angels or the Christian mythos to get overly biblical with their story, and “Fallen” doesn’t do that, which then allows the actual story of people trying to make up for past mistakes to really shine through. The (mostly platonic) relationships between the characters in this story are fierce, and sometimes messy, and I loved how real that made them all feel despite their fantastic origins. I just wish I had been more immersed in the world and story faster, which is why this gets 4 stars from me, but it’s otherwise such a refreshing Urban Fantasy that I cannot recommend it enough! And thanks to the author for providing me a copy for an honest review. ...more |
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2
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Apr 23, 2023
Oct 12, 2021
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Apr 24, 2023
Apr 23, 2023
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Oct 12, 2021
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Kindle Edition
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| 0525647023
| 9780525647027
| 0525647023
| 3.76
| 21,953
| Jul 07, 2020
| Jul 07, 2020
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liked it
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I LOVED Spin the Dawn, it was one of my favorite books when I first read it, which set up exceedingly high expectations for the sequel, I will admit.
I LOVED Spin the Dawn, it was one of my favorite books when I first read it, which set up exceedingly high expectations for the sequel, I will admit. Unravel the Dusk starts off almost immediately from where its predecessor leaves off, with Maia trying to save her kingdom by ensuring the emperor marries Lady Sarnai, but of course Sarnai has other plans. When she runs off, Maia has to step into her shoes and hope no one notices, which isn’t even a good plan on paper given how widely different in temperament both these women are. When the emperor’s foes wage war in force again, it’s left to Maia to find a way to save her country, which becomes harder and harder as she loses her internal battle against the demon inside of her. Gone is the fun plot line from the first book where Maia learns to wield her magic scissors to weave garments worthy of the gods, and instead is replaced by demon magic that, I felt, got overly repetitive. So much of what I loved in Spin the Dawn just doesn’t make much of an appearance in this book, which includes Edan who doesn’t show up for quite awhile and whose role has been pushed to even more of a side character. Maia’s power to create beauty that brings peace is gone, the banter that I loved in the first book doesn’t make an appearance at all, and instead of fighting for her family or to prove that being a woman doesn’t make her any lesser than anyone else in her profession, she’s constantly cleaning up Lady Sarnai’s mess, convinced that she, and she alone, is capable of solving everything. While Lady Sarnai was always abrasive, in this book it felt… overly much so. Mainly because she does things that feel so out of character to her—like running away. So instead of Maia proving herself, she has to give into dark powers in order to keep her country from falling, a darkness she fights against the whole time which made a fair amount of the narration rather repetitive in my opinion. It also made this book rather bleak for a YA story. It seems like every character (save Edan) tells Maia that she’s doomed, saving A’landi is hopeless, don’t fight, you’ll die, surrender, give up. So few characters ever stop to try and help Maia figure anything out that I got incredibly frustrated with nearly every single one of the side characters (save Ammi), whereas in Spin the Dawn, that was never the case. Unravel the Dusk read like a completely different series with how little any of the magic or strength of the characters showed up in this book. Plus, reading it, I just felt so hopeless half the time, which does mirror what Maia was going through, but there was just so much of those themes with no break with anything light hearted. I think, maybe, if Maia was actually using more of her weaver skills and powers and that had more of a focal point besides just her demon side and pushing back against it, that the balancing between the first book and what comes next would have been better. That being said, I still love Lim’s writing style, and I deeply appreciate the reoccurring theme of women taking charge and choosing to follow their dreams. The Asian inspired mythology that Lim uses is wonderful and I love the world that her stories take place in. But I was expecting more from this book, and whether that’s fair or not, I don’t know, but at the end of the day, I just didn’t enjoy it as much as Spin the Dawn which makes me more sad than anything else. That’s why I’m giving this book 3 stars, but definitely do still recommend this duology as whole (plus, the covers just look amazing next to each other). Hopefully, with this in mind, you won’t be as disappointed as I was and so can enjoy the book more! ...more |
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1
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Jul 25, 2022
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Aug 2022
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Jul 25, 2021
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Hardcover
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| 1982136456
| 9781982136451
| 1982136456
| 3.71
| 68,991
| Jul 14, 2020
| Jul 14, 2020
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liked it
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I am not an “experienced” horror reader. I read a lot of true crime and violent thrillers, but when it comes to books that are traditionally classifie
I am not an “experienced” horror reader. I read a lot of true crime and violent thrillers, but when it comes to books that are traditionally classified as “horror”, well, then I believe “The Only Good Indians” is my first foray into that. And the jury is still out on if I like this genre, but I don’t think that’s the book’s fault? “The Only Good Indians” follows four young men after an upsetting event of their childhood comes back to haunt them (literally) on the ten-year anniversary of the event. Mixed in with the horror of being hunted by a force you don’t see coming, the author weaves in a seamless social commentary on what it’s like for American Indians both on and off the reservation. I really enjoyed those aspects, even though I can’t speak to the cultural representation. I thought they added a unique level to an already disturbing story. But I did have a hard time getting through this book, and not because I was too upset to read it, either. I knew there was violence towards animals in this book. But I thought it was violence related to hunting, which plays a big part in this story. But no, there was a lot of graphic violence against dogs with a level of callousness that really bothered me—made worse by how unfeeling the characters view and treat their dogs, too. What happens to these animals isn’t necessarily scary, but it is gruesome and detailed and went on longer than necessary in my opinion. So if you are sensitive to that, just be forewarned. This is where my unfamiliarity with the horror genre comes in, because while I found those scenes upsetting, I wasn’t scared by them. Does horror simply rely on shock and gore more these days? Does the violence make it horrific rather than scary? I honestly don’t know. But, that aside, I also found the start of the book rather slow, and the writing style to be on the ramble-y side as the characters reminisce over their past encounters. Plus there was a lot more basketball and descriptions of playing basketball than I was prepared for, which, if you are a basketball fan, you’d probably like those scenes more than I did. That being said, I did enjoy the themes this book had. Where, when these four men violate the trust of their tribe, which has them living on the outside of their people, even more so when the consequences of their actions begin to infiltrate their lives. I liked the creature that hunted the men and its relentless determination to make them pay, to get back what was so ruthlessly taken from it. I liked seeing how the monster wormed its way into their lives, especially Lewis and wish more time had been spent on the elements in his section then what we got in the later half of the book where everything was a bit too overt. But, at the end of the day, I think I liked the idea of this book more than its actual execution which is why I’m giving it 3 stars and am still undecided on if I like the horror genre as a whole. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Oct 10, 2022
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Oct 18, 2022
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Jun 11, 2021
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Hardcover
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| B096K1T21B
| 4.31
| 54
| unknown
| Jul 26, 2021
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it was amazing
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*sings* “Carry on my wayward son, there’ll be peace when you are done…” Good, now that I have summoned Supernatural fans worldwide, come, sit right he
*sings* “Carry on my wayward son, there’ll be peace when you are done…” Good, now that I have summoned Supernatural fans worldwide, come, sit right here and let me tell you about this fabulous debut novel, “Resurrection Road.” We follow a mage with no memories from beyond 5 years ago, and two cousin hunters doing their thing, when one broken down car brings this trio, and their literal best dog in the world, together to find a missing friend. And, because we’ve got two hunters leading the search and rescue party, there’s many a detour along the way to put down ghosts, releasing them back into the Good Night where they can complete their journey. But not all the spirits and monsters this group encounter are what they seem, while others are exactly what they seem to be. All the while, through the hunting and searching, these three characters grow in incredible ways, from not being trusting of mages—and people in general—to trying to prove their worth not just as a hunter, but person, to deciding not to run from some mysterious past, but toward a grounded future. Honestly, there is a reason why I summoned you SPN fans here, and that’s because this book is for you! Marae really captures the essence of what made Supernatural one of my favorite shows, she understands that while ghost and monster hunting is important, and it does make up the core of who Lazarus and Zeke are, it’s not the heart of the story. Marae’s ghost and monster hunting scenes are insanely entertaining, don’t get me wrong (plus, I enjoyed the breadth of ghosts and monsters she had, where some were exciting because they were what I expected and wanted, and others completely blew me away with their creativity). The pacing with these little side missions is spaced out perfectly along the path of helping Eden find her friend, and while the characters make these detours, the plot never does. You never lose sight of what the ultimate goal is, of where these characters need to go, and what they have to accomplish, you never once feel lost or confused, or forget what’s happening. But it is the characters that make the book so unique and special. Each character is so distinct from one another, and each has their own path of self-discovery and growth… They are all so well rounded and deep with their own goals and dreams, which don’t always line up with the other characters goals, making for some wonderful tension. Plus, some have tragic backstories which you can’t help but eat up. The relationships in this book were wonderful too, and who doesn’t like a found family trope? But, you know me, I am a sucker for the slow burn romances, and this book has that in spades! Marae does a fabulous job weaving her mysteries, too. So, rest assured, while this book is its own complete story, there are so many things teased, hints sprinkled throughout, that are so intriguing! This first book sets such a strong foundation for later books in the series without ending before I felt like things properly started, which has to be applauded in Urban Fantasy series since most seem to love ending on these crazy huge cliffhangers. Which is honestly why I am giving this book 5 stars: the pacing was spot on, the tension delicious, the banter laugh out loud worthy at times, and the story is a complete arc from start to finish. It really has it all for such a quick read! I do need to mention, on a personal note, that I was an early beta reader for Resurrection Road, however that does not impact this review whatsoever. How/why? Because I base my reviews on the finished novel, not what I’ve read in early iterations. I have since bought my own copy of this book because I truly love the content so much. The genuine progress this story has made since I first looked at it is commendable; this author is going to have such an amazing career. So, get in on this before she blows up so you can be a hipster with me and say “I liked it first.” ...more |
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1
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Jul 16, 2021
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Jul 23, 2021
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May 30, 2021
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Kindle Edition
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| B09236GRWD
| 3.20
| 5
| unknown
| Jun 01, 2021
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it was ok
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I know I say this a lot, but I LOVED the idea of this book. Put the Olympian gods smack dab in New York during the height of prohibition and make them
I know I say this a lot, but I LOVED the idea of this book. Put the Olympian gods smack dab in New York during the height of prohibition and make them the biggest criminal organization selling booze and running brothels? Uh, yes please! I have recently been on a mafia and organized crime kick so I figured this was the perfect time to finally settle in and read this book, especially since I do love me some Greek mythology. But the story I got wasn’t the one I was expecting, and not in a good way either? Kind of, even now I’m still a bit conflicted. The Greek gods, especially Zeus, are not good characters neither in myth nor in this story. So, on that score, the author did a good job! But at the same time, none of the Olympians are likeable, and that includes the ones who, traditionally in literature, are good or benign at best. And the ones that are pretty neutral are barely in the book at all, so what you’re left with is a bunch of gods who spend way too much time focusing on everyone’s bodies in a constantly gratuitous manner—once maybe would have been fine, but it comes up all the time just how hot these characters are compared to mortals and the lascivious way they are described. Part of the descriptions were fine and made total sense with setting the scene of the 1920’s, but it was getting redundant with how often the gods look at themselves and think how gorgeous they themselves are. But back to my original point, it got harder and harder for me to care about the turf war Zeus and his family were embroiled in because I didn’t care if they won or lost. Only the “bad” characters stick around for any length of time, and while their "personality" is true to form and therefore good characterization, it does make it very hard to be invested in the plot. But what really did it in for me is just how questionable a lot of the gods actions were, how utterly blind they were about the culprit (which meant they did purposely little investigating), and how over the top perfect—in regards to the turf war—their adversary was. There were places in this book that had such potential for a great twist around the ultimate big bad—like the reason the gods weren’t allowed to use their powers—but it came down to overly simplistic motivations that, again, would have been fine if their adversary had been likeable at all. No one is likeable and so that should have made the ending feel good, but it still didn’t because, ultimately, I felt like the main plot was not nearly as interesting as the subplot around the banished gods. Therefore the “big conflict” didn’t really rise to the occasion especially since it seemed so easy for the big bad to go about causing strife for the gods. I did like that the gods criticized the narrow view of sexuality, especially at that time, so while that was at least nice to read, I can’t say I really enjoyed this book the way I had thought—and hoped—I would which is why I’m giving it 2 stars. It’s definitely a difficult premise to write from; you have protagonists that are more morally bad than grey and an antagonist that is shallowly evil/psychotic, so I do give the author props for trying something so ambitious, but ultimately it just wasn’t for me. But thanks to the author for sending me an ecopy! ...more |
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1
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Apr 19, 2021
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Jul 29, 2023
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Apr 19, 2021
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Kindle Edition
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| 1250313228
| 9781250313225
| 1250313228
| 4.30
| 55,839
| Oct 14, 2020
| Aug 04, 2020
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it was amazing
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I had to take my time with this review so it wouldn’t devolve into a jumble of screeching and excited gurgles. But trust me when I say that this book
I had to take my time with this review so it wouldn’t devolve into a jumble of screeching and excited gurgles. But trust me when I say that this book is like riding a roller coaster while tripping. But, you know, in the most masterful way possible. Muir is easily, and quickly, becoming one of my favorite authors; not only can she craft such a gothic and macabre, gory and intensely beautiful world, but she successfully uses ALL THREE types of POV’s in this book in order to build the most amazing mystery and the best pay out for said mystery that I’ve read in a long, long time. Which makes writing a review for this book so, so hard… I don’t want to say anything for fear it mat spoil something, which would ruin everything. But let’s give it a try, shall we? Harrow the Ninth follows Harrowhark almost immediately following the events of Gideon the Ninth. There is no real recap for you, so it can be a little difficult at first to center yourself in what’s going on with Harrow and where she finds herself, and what she’s supposed to be doing. But from that first page, which starts with “The night before the emperor’s murder” you're tense with anticipation. You’re immediately plunged into a mystery where you know some event is going to happen, but you don’t know why, you kind of know when, but you’re not even really sure who the emperor is at this point beyond the person who called Harrowhark to become a Lyctor in the first place. The book jumps in timeline so one chapter could be a day before this supposed murder, the next set of chapters is six months before, then we’re back to three weeks… It can get a little jumbled, which when coupled with the fact that so much of the book is written in 2nd person, can make things really disorienting, which is by design and so expertly done. There are so many mysteries going on in this story between who is after the emperor, who is after Harrow (and why), and even who the narrator of this story is, that it really does demand your full attention. And you should absolutely give it that, plus some. I know speed reading is the "in" thing, and having a massive reading goal for the month, or even the week, to sprint through but this book is written to be savored. It is written in a way where you have to pay attention and you have to take your time, and trust me, you’ll want to. Not just for the mystery aspects or the fact that the writing can be dense at times (Muir loves using obscure vocabulary, lemme tell you), but Muir’s sentences are just beautiful. Hilarious at times, and packed with a gothic, visceral beauty that you miss if you try to go too fast, to speed to the end to find out wtf is going on. I felt that way about this book early on; the start was slow and I wasn’t used to the 2nd person narrative, the writing and imagery can be hard to understand at times, but then something happens and you’re just IN the story and come the final section of the book… I could not put it down! The payoff on all the mysteries made my heart so, so happy that it hurt. So never fear, even though there will now be 4 books in this series, Harrow’s book delivers on all the promises it makes and answers pretty much every question it presents. I say almost because obviously some are still a bit mysterious, but that’s what the next book is for and I cannot wait! I really need more people to read this book, nay, this series! But I know a lot of people will want to put Harrow aside because 2nd person POV’s feel so unnatural sometimes. I get that, I felt the same. But the reward this book gives you for paying attention, for sticking around, for being swept up in the chaos in Harrow’s mind… Let’s just say this book now lives rent free in my head for the rest of my days. So, yeah, it gets all the stars from me! I already can’t wait to do my reread (via audiobook this time) just so I can see all the hints and breadcrumb trails better, because the small stuff I glossed over turned out to be a big plot point later on. Who knows, maybe I’ll be better prepared to not like a certain character that I feel very conflicted about still kinda enjoying come the end of the book… ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Sep 11, 2021
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Sep 23, 2021
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Feb 24, 2021
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Hardcover
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| 9781838215729
| 1838215727
| 5.00
| 1
| unknown
| Oct 28, 2020
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it was amazing
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“A Dark Infection” is the sequel to “A Dark Inheritance” in which ten years have passed since Tina was taken by the vampire, Kalmar. Slowly, she is be
“A Dark Infection” is the sequel to “A Dark Inheritance” in which ten years have passed since Tina was taken by the vampire, Kalmar. Slowly, she is being turned into a vampire herself, as the properties in her blood allow for her to accept the virus that is being introduced to her bloodstream through Kalmar. And, just like its predecessor, this book does not shy away from the fact that much of Tina’s current situation was, and is, not one of her choosing. So few with her blood type remain that she is coveted by vampires in order to ensure the survival of their species, but, and more importantly, she is vital to Kalmar. While Tina still struggles with the idea that perhaps her feelings for her vampire abductor, even ten years later, are not real and just a form of Stockholm Syndrome (which is valid), Kalmar has bonded to her, and wishes to remain that way. Despite stronger forces wishing to claim him as their own, and giving Tina away to another vampire in the process, Kalmar wants no other. While the vampire world of danger and intrigue continue to sweep Tina up in its wake, the world Tina was forced to leave behind also comes back to haunt her, weaving into a new mystery that threatens to destroy both of the worlds Tina inhabits. Except Tina, once again, doesn’t seem to be given a choice about which world she gets to save. Lander has a way of sucking me in to every single one of their modern-day vampire novels, and “A Dark Infection” was no different. I flew through this book, even if, at times, some of the characters really bothered me. Like Jo. I never liked Jo as a character. I found her annoying and abrasive, which was odd given who she is and what happens to her. I just never felt much of a connection to her and therefore didn’t find myself as drawn to her plight or her part of the story as I was with Tina and Sasha. Tina also got a little more frustrating in this book. The cause of her problems, the source of the mystery that’s causing her and Kalmar such anguish was very obvious—at least to me—so whenever Tina got around to “investigating” it felt very unnecessary as the answer always seemed to be right in front of her. Plus, her and Kalmar tend to fall back on the miscommunication trope—as in them just not talking to each other—a few more times than I personally liked, but, even with all that, I was still binge reading this book late into the night. Everything about this duology has been dark—both in atmosphere and topics and I always loved that. You have these vampire characters that are so ancient, that their humanity is just a shell of what it once was; they are so tainted by being alive for centuries that human lives and lifespans mean very little to them. And yet all the vampires feel intensely and are very close to their animalistic predator side. It’s what made the bonding (almost like “fated mates”) in this story so compelling, especially when it comes to which pair in the bond is made the dominate one and what that does to their partner. Despite my issues, I did genuinely enjoy watching Tina and Kalmar struggle with that aspect of their relationship. I also really liked getting a more intimate view of the vampire world and the politics within it. Plus, you add all the complications as the human world—through Tina’s family—starts butting up against the vampire world, and the devastating consequences of those encounters, and you have a really engaging paranormal novel. While this duology is perfect for spooky season with it’s dark, and vicious vampires, its romance elements also make it a great read any time of season as well. Lander has a knack for character and world building, and “A Dark Infection” is no different; it was a lot of fun to watch Tina discover how to stand on her own, and become the person she wanted despite the forces pushing against her. Even though this book is on the longer side, I devoured it! And that’s in spite of Jo not being my favorite, and my wish that Tina was a bit more astute when it came to the source of her problems. The pacing in this second book I found to be better than its predecessor as well, which is why this gets 4.5 stars from me! So if you are a fan of tonally dark vampire romances, I highly recommend this series! And thanks to the author for sending me a copy for an honest review. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Dec 17, 2020
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Oct 11, 2022
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Dec 17, 2020
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Kindle Edition
| |||||||||||||||
| 1477829709
| 9781477829707
| 1477829709
| 4.07
| 68,732
| May 12, 2015
| May 12, 2015
|
really liked it
|
Well, that’s it, I finally finished this trilogy. I’ve loved this trilogy from the start. I loved the idea of the angels fabricating an apocalypse jus
Well, that’s it, I finally finished this trilogy. I’ve loved this trilogy from the start. I loved the idea of the angels fabricating an apocalypse just because one of them wants to be the Messenger and was tired of waiting around. I loved the constant struggle Raffe has with wanting to be with Penryn, but also yearning to be back with his brothers, his kind. I love that Penryn is so aware of his struggle, that she doesn’t hold these desires against Raffe and takes the time to stop and think, if our positions were switched, wouldn’t I do the same? This final book had a lot of loose ends to tie up, between Raffe still needing his wings back, Paige starving because she refuses to eat her new food source due to the barbaric experiments done on her, and you know, saving mankind along the way. But for all the new, creepy and action filled areas and new locations Ee takes us to in this book, it took a while to get going, and then ended all too quickly. This last book starts right where the second left off, so the characters are fleeing from a bad situation and need to lay low and rest for a while. It makes sense for the timeline, but it made for a slow start to the book. It’s not until around the 40% mark where things really start escalating again and it feels like we are finally moving toward the conclusion of the story. That’s when the character complexities really shine, too. Ee was always amazing at making grey villains, drawing out sympathy for a character who has done terrible things to the characters we love, and never is that more true with Beilel. We learn more of how he became the demon we’ve seen in the past two books and it makes for some deliciously complicated emotions, let me tell you! Same goes for Paige once again. This little girl monster who may be the key to saving humanity. All of the characters are grey (well, except Uriel really) and I loved that there was this constant bitter sweetness around the good guys, the bad guys… just everyone. But it is mainly guys because for some reason, there are 0 female angels. Well, there is ONE but she’s only ever mentioned off screen so you don’t actually see her this time around. I guess that’s still an issue for me, wondering where the female angels are at and wondering why the issue was only ever around Daughters of Man. Do lady angels not exist and therefore don’t care about Sons of Man? It always felt odd to me. Plus, in this book, there’s some interesting… travel going on that includes time and odd gates. I liked where these gates led, it was incredible and dark and definitely more on the NA side then YA, but the process of getting through these gates made little sense to me. And, for as slow as the start was, the ending felt so rushed. Some of the best parts of this entire series (and this book, too) is the banter between Raffe and Penryn, of seeing them together, fighting together, and that yearning tension between them. But, once again, Raffe is off screen for long stretches of the book and while those parts were ok, they were just ok. I needed more Raffe is really what I’m getting at here! I loved how this book ended though, I really did. I just wish there was a little more tacked on to the end. Sometimes it felt like this trilogy was actually meant to be longer, maybe 4 or 5 books instead of the 3 because there was just so much that got crammed into that last 30% that I felt wasn’t explored nearly enough, because it was all interesting things! Perhaps this is just selfish of me though, in just wanting more of these characters I so love. And even though I am never a fan of the ancient being falling for the teenage girl trope, it’s actually done well in this series. It’s never an abusive or creepy relationship and how Raffe and Penryn grow and get feelings for one another is based in a mutual respect for the other and acceptance of who they are, while allowing each other the freedom to do what needs to be done. It’s never controlling which is so important in a relationship where the power dynamic can otherwise be really problematic. And while I loved this book, I did want a bit more, which is why it’s getting 4 stars, but the series as a whole? That gets 5 stars. All the stars. Just, read this trilogy, will you? ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Aug 24, 2020
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Aug 30, 2020
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Aug 24, 2020
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Paperback
| ||||||||||||||
| 0451457811
| 9780451457813
| 0451457811
| 3.98
| 342,785
| Apr 01, 2000
| Apr 01, 2000
|
liked it
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I am a big fan of fantasy, a big fan of crime and mystery novels, and a big fan of sarcastically dry characters. “Storm Front”, on the surface, absolu
I am a big fan of fantasy, a big fan of crime and mystery novels, and a big fan of sarcastically dry characters. “Storm Front”, on the surface, absolutely ticks all those boxes. We’ve got a sarcastically dry wizard who consults with the Chicago police department when murders don’t make sense in the traditional manner. I absolutely love, love that premise! And I did go in knowing that Harry, as an MC, is written to be chauvinistic, and have been assured that he, as a character, gets better in that regard, so I tried to not let that bother me as I was reading. So why did a book that ticks so many of my boxes end up being kind of… meh for me? Here’s the thing: I really do like watching and reading a variety of crime related media, both fiction and nonfiction. What this does is, it makes me good at spotting twists. I don’t TRY to do this, it just happens. So, it’s really hard for thrillers or mysteries to really surprise me, but I always hope that they do. For as fun as some of the scenarios and situations Harry found himself in, I called the ending and the “mystery” at 46% into this book. I’m sure others who actually look and want to guess the mystery will get it much faster, because the ending wasn’t surprising to me in the least. I was buddy reading this with a friend and so I made a note of when I came up with my prediction to compare it with them later, that’s how I know just when and how accurate my prediction was come the end of the book. So, if you want a real twisty, edge of your seat mystery: this is not it. But was the inclusion of magic fun? Heck yes! Plus, the author seems to really know his stuff when it comes to actual magic and summoning, and I really appreciate when authors do that, especially in urban fantasies. Unfortunately, this book also leans heavily on some tropes that are, personally, not my favorites. For instance, I am not a fan of when, in crime mysteries, characters immediately suspect the MC of the crime for no other reason other than drama. Because of this element, certain characters in the book become painfully dense and obtuse; they don’t stop to think about the crimes, they just decide Harry has done them and are determined to get him for it. In a book that involves detectives and consultants, I’m sorry but there has to be evidence or a reason for these beliefs beyond “tension” or else it just annoys me. Same goes for including characters and situations that are used simply for comic relief and have absolutely no bearing on the plot, not even as a type of red herring. Were these characters fun? Yes, at times (looking at you, Bob), but I kept waiting for them to have a purpose to the book and they never did. Maybe they have bigger roles in the next book in the series, but if they hadn’t been included at all in “Storm Front” I wouldn’t have minded, either. And I know it's been said a million times, but I'm still going to mention it: this book is written completely for the male gaze. All the women in this book are hot and need rescuing from our "good guy" wizard. Even hardcore vampire queens have their "delicate feelings" walked all over by Harry, and boy doesn't he just feel like such the biggest jerk! It's icky... But, like I said, I've been told this factor gets better/goes away in later books, so... yay? Writing this review, it looks like I didn’t enjoy this book at all. But I did! Kind of. Honestly though, it was just ok. Nothing was that surprising, Harry was too unlikable at times to outweigh the dry sarcasm that I generally enjoy in MC’s. The setting was cool and I liked the magic and how the world Harry lives in and “our world” intersect, but the meat of the plot was a bit too predictable by the end. I didn’t dislike the book to where I wouldn’t continue with the series, I absolutely may come back to the Dresden Files one day. But the ending was wrapped up well enough to where if I didn’t visit Harry again for a long time, I wouldn’t mind either, hence the shrug-worthy 3 star rating for this book. Oh well, if there’s a series like this that does all of this, better, please let me know! ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Dec 07, 2021
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Dec 14, 2021
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Jul 11, 2020
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Mass Market Paperback
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| B0899K9XHY
| 3.92
| 905
| Jul 09, 2020
| Jul 09, 2020
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really liked it
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I don’t think I’ve read a true reverse harem book before, so “Hidden Magic” was a first for me. Set in a small town, Willow has always considered hers
I don’t think I’ve read a true reverse harem book before, so “Hidden Magic” was a first for me. Set in a small town, Willow has always considered herself to be a freak, having to grow up too fast because of a mother who talks to herself and swears she’s a witch and their family is cursed. Willow is desperate to have some kind of normal life as she starts college at the local school, but Willow finds out very quickly that nothing will ever be “normal” for her. “Hidden Magic” is an incredibly fast read (maybe too fast?) and just as one question gets answered, a new and devastating mystery takes its place. Outside of a few curse (ha) words, the romance is rather sweet in this first book so I’d say this was still appropriate for YA readers. I did really enjoy that the relationship Willow has with the guys (very, very hot guys too) felt wonderfully polyamorous in that outside of some of the guys not liking what one of the guys is, they don’t really fight over Willow. There’s no toxic masculinity with these young men trying to out macho each other for Willow’s attention. They each fulfill a role, offer her an emotional fulfillment that’s unique to each one, and seem to accept that, and support Willow regardless. It’s very sweet and refreshingly healthy in terms of romantic relationships! Because of the quick nature of this book (it’s under 300 pages), we don’t get a lot of the magic until the second half of the story, and that includes the secret that dwells within the halls of Harper Academy. Also, because there are four guys that Willow falls for, and who fall for her in return, you don’t get a lot of the men in Willow’s life. We get brief introductions into each of the guys and their personalities, a few one-on-one interactions with Willow, but don’t necessarily get those prolonged “falling” moments that are more common in the slow burn romances. Everything is a bit instant, but given this is the first book, now that all players have been introduced, I’m confident that the next book will have more of those deeper romantic moments. I am a sucker for the slow burn romance personally, so I’d have loved to see more of Willow falling for the guys and them her, instead of it being more fated romances, and given how intensely these men feel for Willow, a little more of the why and seeing their interactions would have been greatly appreciated by yours truly! I did like 2 of the 4 guys way more, and just wanted more of them period, but I won’t give any names to avoid potential spoilers. Pierce creates a unique setting in the Harper Academy and how it bridges the gap between the human and supernatural realms. The magic is colorful and the supernatural elements touch on everything from witches, werewolves, vampires, to even some creepy paranormal baddies! The college campus is small and that makes it quaint, and the picture that Pierce paints of the campus grounds is utterly dreamy. I will say I was a bit confused as to if the guys Willow meets are freshmen like she is, since they all seem to know what’s happening and how things work more akin to sophomores or juniors, but were in the same GE classes as Willow… And while this book is quick and fast—which is great!—it felt a little too fast to where I couldn’t really believe the romance as much as I wanted to at times, which is why I am giving it 4 stars. But again, I think the romance and the reverse harem aspects get more fully explored in later books. If you’re a fan of sweet romances, magic and supernatural elements (really, this book has something for everyone), and are craving a quick summer read, then check out “Hidden Magic”! ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jul 24, 2020
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Jul 30, 2020
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Jun 01, 2020
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Kindle Edition
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| B07NF21SD8
| 4.00
| 13
| unknown
| Feb 19, 2019
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liked it
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“Where Acorns Landed” is literary fantasy with an absurdist fiction flare. Meshing Celtic Mythology with Arthurian Legend, and sprinkled with supernat
“Where Acorns Landed” is literary fantasy with an absurdist fiction flare. Meshing Celtic Mythology with Arthurian Legend, and sprinkled with supernatural elements, the reader follows Lowell and Brighid as they navigate loss, and new beginnings, all while clinging almost too tightly to a sense of normalcy. Under the guise of making a documentary, Lowell and Brighid are thrust together just in time to see their corner of the world succumb to a plethora of supernatural sightings. Neither Lowell nor Brighid know who is orchestrating their mystery project, one that seems impossibly linked to their lives, which gives this novel a dark, and sinister vibe to it that I rather enjoyed. Readers will be kept guessing and in the dark about what is happening and why all the way to the end—just like the main characters. The author does a lovely job crafting the fantasy world with a truly avant garde flare. The world is vivid and visceral, where often I felt like I could taste, feel, and see all the things our characters were experiencing. The writing is smart, and uses prose in a truly masterful way. The whole reading experience is very imaginative and poetic, with a dark mystery that made me so intrigued and desperate to know what was happening and why were Lowell and Brighid chosen, and what, exactly, was up with Lowell’s mysterious radio and all these intense dreams both characters had. Unfortunately, the book never did give me that moment of clarity, where all these different strings came together cohesively. This very well may just be a "me" problem, but despite the lovely writing and the basic understanding that these characters were going through devastating losses, I can’t tell you much about what this story was about, or even what really happened. There was a lot going on with the fantastic, supernatural elements in the larger world with hints of various mythologies coming to life. It distorts reality for the reader, which was great, but I never felt like it came back around and truly solidified what the mystery was, or why it was happening in the first place, or what was even real. That’s why I say that this book had that absurdist flare mixed in with its literary fantasy. I think I just needed more answers from the story to help me understand what I just read better, which is why I’m giving it 3 stars. But if you are a fan of literary fantasy with flavors of sinister, absurdist fiction, definitely give this a try! And thanks to the author for sending me a copy for an honest review. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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May 31, 2020
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Jun 09, 2022
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May 31, 2020
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Kindle Edition
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| 3.81
| 187,829
| Apr 07, 2020
| Apr 07, 2020
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really liked it
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“The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampire’s” is a bit of a misnomer. You don’t really get a “guide” and there is just the one “vampire”, and
“The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampire’s” is a bit of a misnomer. You don’t really get a “guide” and there is just the one “vampire”, and the lore around that particular vampire is unlike any I’m familiar with. But that was part of the fun of this book. Or, not fun, as this was an intense commentary on gaslighting, sexism, and racism in Charleston in the early 90’s. Or as intense of a commentary as a white man can make, but I think the point was infuriatingly well made. And while there is no mystery around the vampire, even if it takes these housewives awhile to see it for themselves, the writing was easy and creepy and managed to make me absolutely rage at all the right places. This book really was a look into just how vital the invisible support system of running a household is, the overlooked emotional labor, and just how overtly that gets taken advantage of, in no small part thanks to the burden of hospitality ingrained in each of these women. This was my first book by this author so I was a bit hesitant at first as horror is hit or miss for me, but I thoroughly enjoyed this satirical horror story. I am a new mom and a big true crime fan so already the ladies in this book resonated with me. These moms, despite being very different from one another, are all easy to like and root for. And it’s also very easy to wish every single one of their husbands would burn in a fire. And that’s before the “villain” shows up. But really, James isn’t just a vampire. He’s a symbol of the socio-economic divide between communities. The fact that no one cared about what he did in the poorer, predominately Black neighborhoods until it started to affect the upper-class white neighborhoods, for example. It would have been nice if Mrs. Greene was more of a main character for that very reason, but as Patricia was the only main character in the entire book club, I’ll try not to get hung up on it too much. This book is satire, and while some people may claim it feels more like the 1950’s instead of the 1990s, I KNOW a lot of places in the South still operate the way Hendrix portrays this community (I lived in a suburb of New Orleans for a few years and can attest to that). Hendrix may be the only male writer I’ve read that really captured the utter rage and frustration of how these women are constantly talked over and how condescending their husbands are to them. I honestly went to bed mad so many times because of it, but that was also the point, so kudos to the author there. However the book is a bit slow in the middle. Which is why I am giving it 4 stars; the pacing was my only real issue. It felt like it took such a long time for the housewives to go up against James in, as Hendrix says, “Dracula vs. my mom” once Patricia knows what she’s up against. When the showdown did happen, it was perfectly gory and unsettling and Patricia and Kitty were so clutch that I was mentally clapping for them the entire time. Even Slick and Grace, who I liked the least, had my sympathy at the end and I wanted nothing more than for them to win. Well, maybe not Grace so much, but I liked how Ms. Greene called her out, too. The ending was a little bittersweet, but it also felt right for the characters and their families, as well. All this to say, not only did I really enjoy this book, but I’m excited to read more by this author in the future! ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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May 09, 2023
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May 18, 2023
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May 26, 2020
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Kindle Edition
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| B07TGSJ313
| 3.00
| 1
| Jun 15, 2019
| Jun 15, 2019
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liked it
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Edi Nari just wants to be left to her own devices and continue her studies at the mage’s academy. But when her friends are brutally slain in front of
Edi Nari just wants to be left to her own devices and continue her studies at the mage’s academy. But when her friends are brutally slain in front of her, she’s thrust into a mission to save her nation from the mad lich’s intent on unleashing the undead and destroying everyone, all at the behest of something far more powerful than the lich she works for, and those she has to face. “The Lich’s Thrall” is a dark fantasy adventure story that focuses on Edi’s journey from ostracized student, to a strong-willed sorceress that is capable of standing up for herself against all odds, and finally is given the answers to secrets her family has held on to for decades. Watching Edi go up against countless gruesome undead was exciting, namely for the uniqueness of the creatures she faced. I also appreciated that, come the end of the book, I didn’t feel like there were any questions left unanswered, even if I would have liked more of a character arc for Edi and some of the people she goes on her quest with. For as dark as this book is—I mean her roommates are viciously slain right in front of her in the first paragraph of this book—Edi doesn’t seem all that traumatized by what’s happened. She’ll have moments where things upset her, but given who she travels with and their role in her friends’ murder, she seems relatively fine, so I never felt like Edi had a lot of personal growth. I do like that there is a sapphic romance in this story, but again because of that lack of character depth at times, I didn’t get as much from an otherwise powerful relationship as I wanted. For as interesting and dark as the world was with fighting the undead and the sheer destructive power of some of these lich’s, the final confrontation wrapped up a bit quickly. That being said, I did like how the book ended, and the answer’s Edi finally got about her family and why she, and her people, were always treated so poorly. I just wish I had connected more to Edi and her story, but thanks to the author for sending me a copy for an honest review! ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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May 12, 2020
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May 10, 2022
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May 12, 2020
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Kindle Edition
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| B087LT98VZ
| 4.13
| 45
| unknown
| Apr 24, 2020
|
really liked it
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What happens to the world when only three of the four horsemen ride? “Misericorde” looks at that in great detail. Set in the future when all horsemen
What happens to the world when only three of the four horsemen ride? “Misericorde” looks at that in great detail. Set in the future when all horsemen of the apocalypse—except Death—ride, the author presents a world that has fallen back into the Middle Ages. All technology is gone, there is no electricity, and people go back to living in castles in the few places where basic resources can still be found. There is a ruling class that lives in luxury, while all their servants are barely surviving. You never really meet this ruling class though, instead the reader is introduced to a servant, Lourdes, the brutal soldiers she’s tasked with serving, and an Archangel that is determined to find any human still capable of mercy in such a brutal world. This book has “Angelfall” vibes but written with literary prose full of feeling, with well crafted characters, but maybe just a tad too much description. First off, some trigger warnings for you. A lot of this book revolves around the violent torture of one character, and the brutal rape of another. I applaud the author for not shying away from those topics, and depicting them with the horror such actions deserve. However, it can be a lot and considering those actions are a major driving force behind the plot, there’s really no escape from those themes. So if those topics are upsetting for you, you may not want to dive into this story just yet. I will say that I never thought the violence was just for shock value though, it served a purpose and was handled with respect, so take that for what you will. The plot of “Misericorde” is rather simple, as the synopsis says, the Archangel just needs to find that one person who shows him mercy. It’s not entirely clear what he’ll do should he find this person; will that forever keep Death from riding? Undo the apocalypse in general? Or just delay the inevitable? The book is part of a series so those answers may come later. But this book in particular reminded me a lot of Sodom and Gomorrah; I enjoyed the authors take on biblical lore in general but I found that parallel most interesting. But while the plot may be simple, the writing certainly is not! I truly found it lovely and so emotive, but that did cause the story to drag in places with long descriptions; I felt we were going over the same ground or emotions over and over again. Still, the novel is so well written that I didn’t mind it too much, but it is the reason I’m giving this 4 stars. It’s a truly lovely start to this post-apocalyptic series! And thanks to the author for providing me with a copy for an honest review. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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May 12, 2020
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Apr 15, 2022
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May 12, 2020
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Kindle Edition
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| B084JKW6JX
| unknown
| 4.67
| 60
| 2020
| Apr 29, 2020
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really liked it
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This is the third and final book in the Roxanne Fosch Files series, so just a heads up that this review may contain mild spoilers for those previous b
This is the third and final book in the Roxanne Fosch Files series, so just a heads up that this review may contain mild spoilers for those previous books. But really, this is an excellent urban fantasy, new adult supernatural and paranormal series so you should definitely check out the first two books. “Heir of Fury” picks up about three years where the last book left off, though only about three weeks have passed back in the “real world”. In that time, Roxanne has become Remo’s most valuable asset, and as his familiar, Roxanne is powerless to go against his orders, bringing him person after person to become a vessel for his evil schemes toward world domination and destruction of the Seelie lands. Roxanne has to figure out what Remo’s plans to achieve his goals are, and how to thwart them, without telling anyone because the second Remo even suspects that she is going against him, he’ll force her to turn against her friends and the few people she holds dear. Roxanne has always been a tragic hero, and this final book really punishes poor Roxanne, a unique shifter even amongst her people, all the way to the bitter sweet end. This is one of those series that doesn’t do a ton in the recap department when it comes to characters, and this series has a LOT of characters that come and go, some in the first book only to show up again in the third, and while the start of the book does list out who the characters are, it didn’t really help me associate who was who and why they were important. The few main players don’t have that problem, though. All this to say, this series is probably best enjoyed if you read them close together while everything is freshest, which is honestly fine because this whole series is action packed and easily bingeable! Especially if you love shifters, supernatural beings, and some classic fae creatures popping up. This final book does start a bit slow, but honestly as soon as Roxanne and Zantry head to the Seelie lands, I had a hard time putting the book down. I loved seeing the evolution of Zantry and Roxanne’s relationship, I enjoyed having Diggy and Vicky back, and seeing how Roxanne and Mwara grew from where they left things in the second book. But, as always, Roxanne’s status as being an outsider is her biggest hindrance in solving the problems before her. The different clans of preternaturals still refuse to flat out tell Roxanne how the clan politics work, same with the Seelie court, and then they all still get pissed when her ignorance has Roxanne choosing the wrong thing to do. While I always appreciate a hero that makes mistakes and learns from them, these aren’t Roxanne’s mistakes, and it still bugged me that even those who like Roxanne don’t share with her vital information for some really silly reasons at times. But this is a very personal preference of mine, as I am generally not a fan of the miscommunication tropes being a driving factor of tension. But that aside, I did love how this final book keeps the tension high of if Roxanne will survive the final summons of Remo, and if she can, how will she pull it off? How was she going to save everyone, but most of all the dreamy Zantry? There were some great twists, and some really gut punch deaths that I am still not ok with, but at the same time, created a bitter sweet layer that felt just absolutely right for the end of this series. But if you’re worried about this death, I will say that the epilogue was a treat to read, so hopefully that gives you some comfort while not spoiling anything! All in all, this is a dark—in the best way—conclusion to an action packed, New Adult, urban fantasy series with plenty of twists, a great presentation of fated love, and all while watching someone battle their way toward the happiness they so deserve. Even with certain sections feeling a bit slow with info dumps, or getting confused because I couldn’t remember the characters (which is why it’s getting 4 stars), I really enjoyed this book, this series, and the incredible creativity and world building prowess the author show cases throughout this series. I definitely recommend it, and thank you to the author for sending me a copy for an honest review! ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Apr 08, 2020
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Sep 23, 2020
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Apr 08, 2020
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Kindle Edition
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| 1614755957
| B0751F3B3S
| 3.66
| 514
| Jan 01, 2015
| Oct 13, 2017
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liked it
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What do you get when your cross the concept of Jurassic Park with a B horror movie? You get the fast-paced “Monsterland”, that’s what. “Monsterland” i
What do you get when your cross the concept of Jurassic Park with a B horror movie? You get the fast-paced “Monsterland”, that’s what. “Monsterland” is pretty much exactly what it sounds like: a theme park full of real-life monsters, namely zombies, vampires, and werewolves. The premise being that vampires and werewolves have always lived amongst us, just hidden, until a plague that created zombies sweeps the planet and now a billionaire mogul, Vincent Konrad, decides to make a theme park housing all these monsters for “study”, and profit obviously because why make a theme park out of it if you didn’t want to make cash? Wyatt, one of our many MC’s (but the main, main one) idolizes Vincent and wants nothing more than to go to the park opening night. He gets his wish, but of course everything changes and this supposedly “safe” park is anything but. Things escalate FAST once Wyatt and his friends are in the park, perhaps too fast to really get a feel for, well, anything. Hence the B movie vibe… I had a hard time liking any of the main characters. They were all fairly shallow and the start of the book, full with a kind of info-dump about Wyatt’s family, didn’t really ingratiate me to any of them and just made for a rather slow start to a book that ended up going from 0 to crashing head first into disaster in less than 30 seconds. The kids are all stereotypes of one kind or another, further setting up that teen horror movie feel: the hot nerd boy, the meat head annoying jock bro, the shy nerd boy, the aggressive smart hot girl, the weird outcast boy, and the damsel in distress, that was pretty much the extent of their personalities, too. So if you want character arcs or what not, keep moving, this story is mainly about escaping the theme park when it all goes wrong and not much else. Which is ok, you see how these “monsters” aren’t necessarily the evilest thing in the park and you get the sense that they are victims too. I mean, they still kill people but that’s just their nature... But the foreshadowing for who the big bad is, isn’t really foreshadowing? The reader gets pummeled with it from pretty much the get go. Come the end when the diabolical plan is revealed as to how and why all the Monsterland’s across the globe all have issues at the same time, it wasn’t the “gasp!’ that you want from a horror-thriller story. The book honestly wasn’t terrible, just like any B-movie isn’t terrible, it’s fast and probably an easy way to ease into other horror or monster reads during the Spooky Season. It’s just one of those books that doesn’t really evoke much in me one way or another. I started October with this book specifically because I wanted some classic monsters in a scenario where our heroes are running for their lives. Did I get that? On paper, yes. But the monsters weren’t that great outside of the werewolves. So if you adore vampires, you aren’t going to love their portrayal in this book, methinks. Personally, I didn’t find the monsters all that scary outside of one instance in the park before everything goes wrong that was pretty creepy. Mostly these monsters are just violent, and the gore is liberal in the story. Which can be upsetting, but only if you are attached to the characters, which I, personally, was not. I seem to be in the minority with my feelings of “meh” about this book, so take that for what you will, but overall, everything just felt mediocre. I don’t think this book is trying to be like Jurassic Park, but that story still gives a far better portrayal of a theme park with escaped “monsters” that the park attendees have to flee from much, much better. I mean, at one point, the villain in “Monsterland” literally throws their head back and laughs while revealing their ultimate diabolical plan. I feel like, if the story had leaned more into the satire or the over-the-topness of the scenario, it’d have at least been funny and I’d have enjoyed it more. As it is, I’m giving it 2.5 stars because while I don’t feel much about this book one way or another, when I do start thinking too much about the characters, I tend to get annoyed. It is fast though, and if you aren’t sure how you’ll feel about spooky thrillers, you can give this a try, like dipping your toe in the water to see how you like it, and hopefully you’ll enjoy it more than me. And thanks to the publisher for sending me a copy for an honest review! ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jan 27, 2020
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Oct 05, 2021
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Jan 27, 2020
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Kindle Edition
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| B07C25Z679
| 4.17
| 185,395
| Jan 29, 2019
| Jan 29, 2019
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liked it
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So here’s the thing about “King of Scars”, in order to really “get” it, and appreciate the book, and just know what the heck is happening or who is wh
So here’s the thing about “King of Scars”, in order to really “get” it, and appreciate the book, and just know what the heck is happening or who is who, you HAVE to read all other books in the Grishaverse first. If you don’t, you won’t understand Nina and her new powers or her pain, you won’t know who Zoya is or why Zoya is, well, Zoya, or how Adrik lost an arm, or even why lovely Genya loves the booknerd David. You won’t know why Nikolai is plagued by a monster, or truly love him as much as you should because his real wit shines in Alina’s books. So, honestly, if you haven’t read all those other books, you shouldn’t really read this review, or even look at “King of Scars” synopsis. Don’t spoil yourself for this baby, you’ll be sad if you do. That being said, however, the Six of Crows duology remains my favorite of this universe even though I, like Zoya, will fight everyone and everything for my boy Nikolai. I’ll be honest here: I HATED Zoya in the original trilogy. She bugged me to no end, so it took A LOT for me to like her. But that’s the beauty of Bardugo’s writing. Zoya’s arc was handled so well and I loved being able to get her POV and understand her more. She was the true revelation of this book, even if I thought her training “montage” was far too simplistic for what Zoya ultimately is able to do and the power she steps into. However, that appreciation came really late in the book for me, as did most things, let’s be honest. This story took a long time to really settle into the meat of things and get going. Nina’s chapters were so far removed from what Nikolai and Zoya were doing that it felt like it almost belonged in a completely different book. I still liked her chapters, I thought it was fun to see how she brought her skills from the Crows into this new adventure, and loved seeing more of her new powers in action. But I didn’t care much for Adrik or Leoni, and I really did not care much for Hanne and the role she seems to be stepping into with Nina, especially following the events of Crooked Kingdom. Come the end, what Nina was doing did become tangentially connected to what was occurring back in Ravka, so at least that puts her storyline in a better place come the sequel. But for a book that is supposed to be mainly about Nikolai (why else would it be called King of Scars, hmm?) you don’t get nearly enough of him. While I appreciated getting to know Zoya more, what made me super excited about this series from the onset was Nikolai. He was the best part of the original trilogy (I will fight you on this point) and yet he felt like a side character once again in his own books. That mainly could be because so much of the beginning of KoS is Zoya pressuring Nikolai to do kingly things and he doesn’t want to because of the demon in him, which is, you know, fair. But it never really felt like the same Nikolai that you first meet, which is, even with his demon, what I wanted more of. You do see flashes of it, Nikolai is charming as all hell and I LOVE his banter, I just never felt like I got enough of it. This is a very moody book for Nikolai, which is understandable, but since it’s a moody book for all the main characters, I needed him to be a bit more… Nikolai, I guess, to make this book more fun to read. Don’t misunderstand me, I DID like this book a lot, this story may just be a victim of my own hype train more than anything else. But, for as long as it felt for things to start moving to an exciting and tense place, when things did start to go crazy, they went crazy FAST. But then it got wrapped up pretty fast too, and the reveals came hard and quick and then the book kind of ended on this cliffhanger which does make me really excited for the sequel, absolutely, but the overall pacing just felt off. The methodical building of who and where the danger to Nikolai and Ravka was coming from felt so plodding (like, honestly not much really happens for the first 200 pages, just lots of background and flashbacks) in comparison to the ultimate fight, and then wrap up, which was then over too quickly. While I enjoyed getting so much backstory of Grisha and the Saints, it almost felt like too much for too little pay off, if that makes sense. Which makes this book hard to rate for me. I always enjoy Bardugo’s books, but I was expecting more excitement from this story and don’t feel like I got that… Which is why I am giving it 3 stars, but am still SO PUMPED to get Rule of Wolves! ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Mar 07, 2021
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Mar 18, 2021
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Sep 16, 2019
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Kindle Edition
| ||||||||||||||||
| 0312674376
| 9780312674373
| 0312674376
| 3.90
| 17,468
| Oct 12, 2010
| May 08, 2012
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really liked it
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I love books that don’t take themselves too seriously, and from the title alone, I knew “Hold Me Closer, Necromancer” was one of those books. Add in c
I love books that don’t take themselves too seriously, and from the title alone, I knew “Hold Me Closer, Necromancer” was one of those books. Add in chapter titles all based on classic rock lyrics? I’m in! Plus, after Gideon the Ninth, I was kind of itching for more necromancer-like fantasy reads. This particular NA fantasy follows Sam, plus a lot of other POV characters but mostly Sam, who is nothing special. He’s a college dropout working at a fast-food restaurant with his best friend, just kind of meandering through life without purpose or direction—we’ve all been there. Sam is an incredibly relatable character and the sarcastic 1st person narrative the author gives him really sells Sam as a character and makes you feel for him. Then, one day (as it always happens), Sam’s life is changed when he accidentally puts himself in the path of the most powerful necromancer in Seattle. Then, surprise! Sam learns the family secret that was kept from him pretty much since birth: Sam is also a necromancer. What follows is the traditional race to unlock his power and save his friends, and himself, before Douglas decides Sam is no longer worth the effort. Everything about this book sounds fun and has a cool twist on urban fantasy, and yet I never fell as hard for this story as I wanted. The author does something with her writing that I found to be really interesting and refreshing in UF: she switches POV tenses for different characters. Basically, all of the chapters featuring Sam are in 1st person, because this is ultimately his story and journey, but when the author shows us another character’s perspective, those are all in a 3rd person POV. It sounds like it would get confusing or bring you out of the story, but it’s done so well and the transitions so seamless that I had no problem with the switch. It also helped make this book both disturbing and light hearted all at once. That should really come as no surprise, you’re dealing with necromancers so dead things are going to make an appearance, but this never read as anything overly dark or bogged down with pain, even though some really tragic things occur. Emotionally, this did not wreck me, which was good! But still, I think I wanted a few more gut punches because I am a masochist like that. That being said, there is one trope that I personally have issues with that was present in this book, and that’s family secrets. Specifically, “we didn’t tell you about this thing because we wanted to protect you” and then que everything going wrong because of that, supposedly, well intentioned act. I think the author handled the secret well, in that Sam doesn’t just shrug off the reveal. It becomes a complication that he does have to work through. Which was nice, but some of the other characters reactions to said reveal did irk me so I never quite was able to switch my feelings from annoyance to connecting with any of the characters emotionally over the scene. All in all, this was a really fun and refreshing take on a lot of the creatures you find in urban fantasies. I do wish there was more time spent on this paranormal community that Sam suddenly finds himself to be a member of, but I’m sure that will be in the next book, which I definitely bought after reading this! I loved Brid and her brothers as characters and can’t wait to see more of them and their pack, as well. I thought the end between Sam, his friends, and Brooke was really touching too. Plus, while this is part of a duology, this book is a complete story. So no pesky cliffhanger at the end, which I really appreciated this time around. But just because there was no cliffhanger, doesn’t mean I was left with no desire to continue on. There was enough left open that makes me really intrigued to return to the series! But because I just didn’t love-love this book as much as I wanted to, partially because of the tropes and not as much world building as I typically like, I am giving this book 4 solid stars, because I’m sure this is mainly a case of it being a problem with me, and not the story. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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May 24, 2021
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May 31, 2021
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Sep 16, 2019
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Paperback
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| 1619630621
| 9781619630628
| 4.35
| 749,793
| Aug 15, 2013
| Aug 27, 2013
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liked it
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This is one of those series that is borderline a guilty pleasure for me at the moment. I can tell that this is one of those series that was 1. Maybe h
This is one of those series that is borderline a guilty pleasure for me at the moment. I can tell that this is one of those series that was 1. Maybe hurt by the hype train and my inability to read books in a timely fashion so things end up getting kind of spoiled, and 2. That it’s also one of those series that only really gets good come the third or fourth book. In “Crown of Midnight” Celaena is firmly the King’s Champion, though she’s fairly good at not having to assassinate anyone for an assassin. The King gives her a list of people she needs to eliminate, and she goes off and pretends like she does, but things get complicated when the King wants her to kill a blast from her past because he suspects that he’s leading a rebellion. This person is a courtesan of sorts, and Celaena doesn’t believe her old friend would have the guts to do something like the King claims given the life of luxury he leads. So, on her quest to figure out who is really involved in this rebellion, Celaena uncovers more secrets in the impossibly large underground passages of the Glass Castle—like seriously, there’s at least 3 castles within this one castle that are just completely abandoned. Ultimately, this is very much a book about moving pieces and characters into the right places so the main plot of the series can finally begin. This book IS the inciting incident that will frame the groundwork for all the books to follow. A few characters have their secrets revealed, learning new things about themselves in a very dangerous kingdom. Others have their relationships irrevocably changed, opening the door for other relationships—which I know about mainly because this is an older series and it’s impossible not to be spoiled in some way with the synopsis of the next books. Some characters exit the series completely, their murder setting the groundwork for this massive change in all the remaining characters, serving as motivation to DO SOMETHING. I have mixed feelings about this, clearly. This second book was mainly a lot of mixed feelings in general for me, honestly. I liked Celaena more this time around, and I always find Dorian charming. But Chaol, poor Chaol, was all kinds of up and down for me. I loved him, wanted to shake him, felt like the author did my boy terribly wrong, became lukewarm toward him, and then just all around sad for the man. Really, if the main characters could all just learn to talk to each other and not keep secrets from one other most of the trouble they get in to could be averted. It’s a personal peeve of mine where the lack of communication is really what causes all the drama instead of say, the bad guy. “Crown of Midnight” felt a lot slower at times then the first book in the series as well. There’d be moments of action, of intrigue, and then long stretches of not a lot happening, or a lot of sadness around one character’s ultimate departure. And, since I kind of knew/guessed the ending early on, I found myself just wanting to get to the point where the secrets are no longer secret all the faster. This is not the authors fault, but mine for waiting so ridiculously long to start an insanely popular series. But the last third of the book was full of action and nail biting scenes, the climax becoming this huge swell of an event that I did really like! I just wish it hadn’t taken so long to get there? Or it felt like it took a long time to get there given I guessed how most of the twists were going to end real early on. I might have given up on the series at this book if it weren’t for how things did actually end. What Chaol learns about Celaena, what Nehemia “gifts” Dorian and what that means for the crown prince... It sets up for the big conflict that the rest of the series will solve for! So the first two books in the series were mainly just set up for Celaena and putting her where she needed to be for this larger plot. Again, I personally have mixed feelings on using a series in this way, but that’s just a preference I have. Ultimately, even though I liked the main character more in this book, and am finally starting to feel good about this series, I am so confused about Chaol and my personal feelings toward him. I loved him so much, or did, and I hate his loyalty to Adarlan, which becomes all the more painful in this book. I don’t like that he’s become the outcast between Celaena and Dorian in a weird way. And I wasn’t a fan on how these friends STILL hid things from each other adding unnecessary complication. I get it’s meant to be realistic, but I was getting annoyed after a while. So while there were parts I liked more than the first book, there were parts I liked equally less, which means this is another 3 star for me. But I have much higher hopes for the third book! ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Sep 06, 2019
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Sep 25, 2019
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Sep 03, 2019
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Hardcover
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| 3.99
| 52,937
| Jul 09, 2019
| Jul 09, 2019
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it was amazing
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When people kept saying that this book was like Mulan meets Project Runway, I took it with a grain of salt. Usually those comparisons are loose, or th
When people kept saying that this book was like Mulan meets Project Runway, I took it with a grain of salt. Usually those comparisons are loose, or the elements are there, but not in a significant way. That’s not the case with “Spin the Dawn”. Oh no! The Project Runway and Mulan elements were STRONG in this book, especially for the first half of the novel (and again toward the end but mainly early on). Was I mad about this? Absolutely not! I can’t remember the last YA fantasy I devoured the way I did this magical story of Maia, who dreams of being the Imperial Tailor but can’t because of her gender. Then, when a decree is called for a new Imperial Tailor, and all the great Masters of the land must participate in the competition, or send their son in their stead, Maia steps in for her ailing father, and war broken brother. Pretending to be a boy and fooling all the men she’s competing with turns out to be the easiest of the trials and dangers Maia had to face, which tells you already how exciting this book ended up being. Maia is selfless to a fault, the one thing she wants, to be the best tailor in the land, is only partially for herself. By being the best, she’d be able to support her family and keep them from starving. So, already, the stakes for her are much higher than the other Masters who merely want glory. I really loved her selfless attitude, and how ingrained it was into her character. It wasn’t just a plot device, and she wasn’t selectively selfless, either. The story also has such a perfect flow to it; this was honestly so easy to read! How Lim moves her story from world building to action to character building was a joy to get lost in. Plus, the banter between Maia and Edan was so fun! I loved watching those two interact and learning about enchanters and demon’s through Edan’s stories. One of the bright spots of this novel though was the amazing items Maia crafts as part of the competition. The way Lim describes the garments is spectacular, and just as magical as anything the Lord Enchanter could do. They are vivid and detailed in such a way that’s believable, as we are getting the story just from Maia’s eyes, so, as a tailor, it makes sense that those items would get a little purple prose-ish, but I really loved the descriptions so I did not mind one bit! The one thing that had me roll my eyes was how stereotypical to YA some of the choices Maia makes was. It wasn’t ever enough to detract from the story, and as I’m adult I’m not going to knock the book for that. Just know that some very familiar YA fantasy tropes are involved in this story at times. I was really blown away by how much I enjoyed this story. Don’t get me wrong, I love Mulan but I’m not that big on fashion (surprising, I know). So while I figured this would be good (I wouldn’t have read it otherwise), I didn’t think I’d end up loving “Spin the Dawn” as much as I did, which is why I am giving this book an easy 5 stars. I can’t wait to see what happens to Maia next, and what becomes of Edan and the Emperor! ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jul 23, 2021
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Jul 30, 2021
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Aug 22, 2019
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Hardcover
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my rating |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| 4.15
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really liked it
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Jul 19, 2023
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Jul 01, 2023
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| 4.16
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it was amazing
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Apr 18, 2023
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Apr 04, 2023
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| 3.76
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liked it
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Sep 17, 2023
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Feb 03, 2023
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| 3.71
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liked it
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May 03, 2023
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Dec 16, 2022
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| 4.04
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liked it
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Nov 30, 2022
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Oct 27, 2022
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|||||
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| 3.95
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really liked it
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Sep 06, 2022
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Aug 08, 2022
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|||||
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| 3.67
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really liked it
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Sep 21, 2022
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Aug 04, 2022
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| 3.98
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it was amazing
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May 18, 2022
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May 04, 2022
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| 4.30
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liked it
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May 22, 2022
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May 04, 2022
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| 4.80
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it was amazing
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Jun 17, 2022
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Jan 03, 2022
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| 4.59
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really liked it
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Apr 24, 2023
Apr 23, 2023
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Oct 12, 2021
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| 3.76
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liked it
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Aug 2022
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Jul 25, 2021
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| 3.71
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liked it
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Oct 18, 2022
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Jun 11, 2021
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| 4.31
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it was amazing
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Jul 23, 2021
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May 30, 2021
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|||||
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| 3.20
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it was ok
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Jul 29, 2023
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Apr 19, 2021
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|||||
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| 4.30
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it was amazing
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Sep 23, 2021
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Feb 24, 2021
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|||||
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| 5.00
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it was amazing
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Oct 11, 2022
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Dec 17, 2020
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|||||
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| 4.07
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really liked it
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Aug 30, 2020
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Aug 24, 2020
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|||||
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| 3.98
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liked it
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Dec 14, 2021
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Jul 11, 2020
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|||||
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| 3.92
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really liked it
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Jul 30, 2020
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Jun 01, 2020
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| 4.00
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liked it
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Jun 09, 2022
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May 31, 2020
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|||||
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| 3.81
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really liked it
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May 18, 2023
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May 26, 2020
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|||||
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| 3.00
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liked it
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May 10, 2022
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May 12, 2020
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|||||
|
| 4.13
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really liked it
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Apr 15, 2022
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May 12, 2020
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|||||
|
| 4.67
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really liked it
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Sep 23, 2020
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Apr 08, 2020
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|||||
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| 3.66
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liked it
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Oct 05, 2021
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Jan 27, 2020
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|||||
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| 4.17
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liked it
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Mar 18, 2021
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Sep 16, 2019
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|||||
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| 3.90
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really liked it
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May 31, 2021
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Sep 16, 2019
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|||||
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| 4.35
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liked it
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Sep 25, 2019
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Sep 03, 2019
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|||||
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| 3.99
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it was amazing
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Jul 30, 2021
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Aug 22, 2019
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