A little bit dated, a little bit problematic, but overall relateable. Definitely triggering for eating disorder/disordered eating behaviour. I canA little bit dated, a little bit problematic, but overall relateable. Definitely triggering for eating disorder/disordered eating behaviour. I can identify with Bridget, to a degree--with her neuroticism and disordered eating, at least--and I just wish the book were longer....more
4 stars. Some sexual content, tons of violence, and what felt like incredibly forced romantic interest. On the plus side: an incredibly gripping4 stars. Some sexual content, tons of violence, and what felt like incredibly forced romantic interest. On the plus side: an incredibly gripping world, and a protagonist (Zelie) I could absolutely root for. ...more
This was so interesting. It isn't gold standard psychology, hence why I've shelved it in "spiritual", but this is the kind of self-help andThis was so interesting. It isn't gold standard psychology, hence why I've shelved it in "spiritual", but this is the kind of self-help and personality-based book that really changes your perspective on yourself and your peers. This is also an incredible resource for character creation and I need to get a copy of my own soon!...more
I was tempted to put down the book and call it an unfortunate match that wasn't meant to be. But I kept reading, and I was not disappointed.
The firstI was tempted to put down the book and call it an unfortunate match that wasn't meant to be. But I kept reading, and I was not disappointed.
The first 25% of the book, which is hands-down the most crucial part of a book for me (if I don't continue reading past the 1/4-mark, the book will be set aside for years), fell a little flat for me. There was a disconnect between myself and the story, with Alex and the setting, that I feared would follow through the rest of the book.
Not to mention, my edition has a bunch of proofreading errors that managed to take me out of the story. I know they're small things, but coming across, "My voice is a horse scream" is just... so jarring.
However!!
Once we got into Los Lagos, I truly felt the story happening. Also, I finally connected with Alex and was nodding along with her, her struggles, her fears. Once Alex and I accepted the magic, the story improved significantly.
If the book drags for you in the beginning, just keep reading. I promise it'll pay off. I'm not a fast reader and I managed this book in two days, so that's a testament to how quickly I got sucked in....more
Lush, intoxicating, and the right amount of "soul mates" for my taste. I only wish it had been longer, to really dive into the relationships betweenLush, intoxicating, and the right amount of "soul mates" for my taste. I only wish it had been longer, to really dive into the relationships between Amar, Maya, and Nritti. The characters and their relationships are deep, nuanced, and complex--I could feel for each of them. The plot had enough mystery and desire to make me read half the book in one day so I could sooner figure out what happened. This book had me guessing for the climax and resolution (which doesn't happen often for me!) so I was delighted to get to the end....more
A great sequel and ending to the duology. For some reason, the story hasn't exactly stuck with me from start to finish (as in, I went into CrookedA great sequel and ending to the duology. For some reason, the story hasn't exactly stuck with me from start to finish (as in, I went into Crooked Kingdom having totally forgotten what happened in Six Of Crows), but I know I thoroughly enjoy and admire Bardugo's writing, worldbuilding, and plotting. This duology has a pirate-y feel without actually being about pirates, so it was unlike the majority of stories I've read. I wouldn't pin it exactly as a fantasy story in terms of magic, but it definitely speaks to the dark stakes and far-fletched fantasies of those who have been through unspeakable hardship.
Why 4 stars? I liked it, but I didn't totally love it (and that's okay)....more
3.5 Good. Incredibly different from A COURT OF THORNS AND ROSES--which could have been a standalone novel.
I'm personally incredibly irked by3.5 Good. Incredibly different from A COURT OF THORNS AND ROSES--which could have been a standalone novel.
I'm personally incredibly irked by sequels/series where one book is basically a lead up to another book; the key plot conflict in this one fell super flat for me. Also, the ending was not... received well. I don't like endings like this, where convenient coincidence gives characters access to what they want. Some of the writing (style-wise) was too poetic for my tastes, but very very good. It took me a while to really get into the story, and I think part of the reason for that was because this is so different from ACOTAR and there was a huge period of transition needed to go from that to this. Rectified by a lot of information that I... frankly, forget now. I also don't believe in soul mates so I'm not on board with that entire concept in the series.
Anyway, good points: the sex scenes were A+, the characters were good, the tension was good (that Rhysand/Feyre tension particularly), and this book is just /good/ at being a fantasy with high stakes and a tangled plot--and in 1st person POV to boot. That's a difficult combination to achieve and Maas went and did it.
I heart Rhysand, ever since Under the Mountain. I know how it feels to be trapped by someone you love and be wary of someone breaking you out....more
I'm reminded of so many other fantasy stories while reading this, so Chima manages to, once again, use tropes in her genre without reducing them toI'm reminded of so many other fantasy stories while reading this, so Chima manages to, once again, use tropes in her genre without reducing them to cliches. I have three concerns/critiques for FLAMECASTER:
1) As is often the case with fantasy series, the first book feels like a set-up for the larger story. For me, personally, this is very hit-or-miss, as I believe that books should stand on their own, even within a series. This book had very little plotline to stand alone on, and made up for it in the development of the characters of Ash and Jenna.
2) The insta-love was... not my thing. I really hope it is, in line with one of the character's beliefs, a taste to savour in the moment. I appreciate how it was constructed, but I really, really hope by the end of the series, they aren't all soul-matey. This one is entirely my own preferences.
3) The scope of this novel was very large. Multiple years passed, and there was a lot of wide brush strokes to show that passage of time. I'm not sure how I feel about this--it was good for some reasons, but not so great for other reasons. I didn't get the fast-paced excitement I've gotten in other works by Chima--within and without the Seven Realms--but the pacing was very apt for introducing a new cast of characters. In a way, readers were given backstory in the narrative, rather than the normal flashback, so we read in chronological order from origins and motives to the final outcomes.
TL;DR: A character-driven introduction to the new spin-off series, with a blossoming insta-love that I hope blooms and wilts. The story wasn't fast-paced enough, but it maintained linear storytelling instead of cliche flashbacks.
I'm excited to read the next book. There was so much to FLAMECASTER that was left open-ended and I need to know the fates of characters, the reveals to subplots, what the rest of the royal family was up to, and most of all... more about the Flamecaster. Take me to Carthis and Empress Celestine!...more
Great characters. Decent setting (the map illustration really helped). Plot was okay--a little too many coincidental events for my believability. MyGreat characters. Decent setting (the map illustration really helped). Plot was okay--a little too many coincidental events for my believability. My one major issue? First chapter should have been labelled as a prologue; I almost marked it as DNF because of it....more
This would have been a 4-star, except for 1) the ending; 2) Fayre being able to learn things by observation--not just physical skills, but paintingThis would have been a 4-star, except for 1) the ending; 2) Fayre being able to learn things by observation--not just physical skills, but painting too--but not be able to read more than she ended up being able to. Come on. If you can learn to hunt, swim, and paint by observation and trial and error, reading shouldn't be as far off as it was.
This would have made an excellent smut manga, by the way, so if anyone could get on that... Thanks. Got enough cliché supernatural/fantasy and sex-focused elements to be smut for sure.
Also, I was really annoyed by some of the turns-of-phrase that were repeated. Bowels turning watery being the big one. There are other ways to describe dread. The writing itself was good... but a tad repetitive like that. Drifted into over-the-top poetics a few too many times for my liking.
Anyway, this was a fun read. Once I looked at it from my vice's POV (aka smut), it was a lot more enjoyable. Not that it was excessively sexual--not even close--but the themes are very in-line with the multitude of erotic manga I've read....more
Very plot-driven. Characters were alright. Enjoyed the writing style, as well as the creativity of the narrative being influenced (and including)Very plot-driven. Characters were alright. Enjoyed the writing style, as well as the creativity of the narrative being influenced (and including) photographs. I might read the sequel, but I might not....more
Poetic and beautiful, and that is the only good quality in the book. I don't seek to read books that have intriguing plots, well-built characters, ANDPoetic and beautiful, and that is the only good quality in the book. I don't seek to read books that have intriguing plots, well-built characters, AND a magical quality in their language. In The Skin Of A Lion serves only to create beautiful phrases, in my opinion, and that's fine....more
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