I know I'm getting a little bit nit-picky which is why I'm still giving this 5 stars instead of 4, but I was just a *bit* disappointactual rating: 4.5
I know I'm getting a little bit nit-picky which is why I'm still giving this 5 stars instead of 4, but I was just a *bit* disappointed that this story wasn't about any of the kids we already know or tied to the school in any way. It was still a really great read though and I actually finished it all in one sitting! As always, Seanan just effortlessly creates incredibly real and 3-dimensional characters that the reader immediately connects to, and she does an amazing job of cramming a fully fleshed out story with a satisfying structure into a novella as well [something that I, as a devoted novella reader, notice a lot of authors struggle with]. This was definitely a fun little 'detour' of sorts in this series but I hope we get back to the school with the next book!...more
I really enjoyed this although I think that in some places they probably would have been better off doing a less literal beat by beat adaptation. It'sI really enjoyed this although I think that in some places they probably would have been better off doing a less literal beat by beat adaptation. It's a lot to keep track of with the full cast but I after I got used to it I found it pretty easy to follow. I have read all the graphic novels, even though it was several years ago, so I can't speak as to whether this would be a good listen for people who are new to the series but I feel like you would do better if you have at least a tenuous grasp on the main players. Also call out for James McAvoy for making Morpheus sound so fucking hot. Absolutely unacceptable. Dream is the biggest fuckboy ever and I loathe him.
Uh what else, trigger warnings for a lot of stuff - lots of murder, rape, violence against children, animal death I think... Basically just be prepared for shit to get heavy going in. I do hope they at least update the Wanda storyline a bit when that comes up because while that was commendable in the 80s they can definitely do better now. ...more
It was a little bit harder for me to get into this one than the first book but I think that is just a recurring theme with everythinactual rating: 3.5
It was a little bit harder for me to get into this one than the first book but I think that is just a recurring theme with everything going on this year and it was still an enjoyable read overall. The audio narrator was good and I liked all the voices she used except maybe the one for Probity [some valley girl voice is fine but I felt like she really went over the top at weird moments and it kind of ruined the mood sometimes}. I really loved the Hero and Ramiel stuff though, that was probably my favorite part and kind of reminds me of another pairing that I love [Robin and Ishiah in the Cal Leandros series]. Definitely some interesting stuff in this one with the ink and nature of books, looking forward to seeing that happens after that reveal at the end!...more
I received an ARC copy of this book from Edelweiss
It took me a little while to get into this book but once it took off it was a really enjoyable read.I received an ARC copy of this book from Edelweiss
It took me a little while to get into this book but once it took off it was a really enjoyable read. I think it did a good job balancing the light and dark elements of the story and the characters were fun and engaging. It was also interesting to be able to read about some mythology that I was not very familiar with. Definitely a good book if you are looking for something that is both fun and spooky and also a nice standalone story. ...more
Another really cute volume in this weird side-series. This one focuses on Jo and April's friendship as well as Barney which was really cool. I like thAnother really cute volume in this weird side-series. This one focuses on Jo and April's friendship as well as Barney which was really cool. I like that this series seems to be focusing more on individual friendships and relationships like that. Also I cannot believe I forgot that Jo was trans so thank you for reminding me!...more
Didn't even realize there was a prequel volume for Lumberjanes but I got this one in a recent humble bundle and read it pretty much immediately. Very Didn't even realize there was a prequel volume for Lumberjanes but I got this one in a recent humble bundle and read it pretty much immediately. Very cute story overall with the main part taking up about 100 pages and then another short standalone and some behind the scenes art filling the remaining page space. I liked the focus on Molly and Mal's relationship as well as getting some more information on the early days of the 'Janes. Not sure why this is entirely separate from the main series because it kind of makes it easy to miss but it's still a good read. ...more
I know I say this every time but - another cute volume of Lumberjanes! They're just nice fun light stories to read if you want to feel good and don't I know I say this every time but - another cute volume of Lumberjanes! They're just nice fun light stories to read if you want to feel good and don't want to have to concentrate super hard on something. This one brings back the Land of Lost Things and also Ripley's dinosaur friend so that was very fun and Mal and Molly are adorable as usual. ...more
I literally just listened to this and I doubt I could tell you a single thing about it that wasn't in the summary. I don't know why but the entire thiI literally just listened to this and I doubt I could tell you a single thing about it that wasn't in the summary. I don't know why but the entire thing just went right in one ear and out the other. I should have liked this better than the first one since my main complaint was that Holly and Artemis were hardly even in it and they are in this one a lot ...but I'm just so meh about the whole thing. There's so many character and so much going on and I cannot bring myself to care about any of it. Really wanted to like this series but I think I'm gonna drop it and go back to Skulduggery Pleasant. ...more
Another adorable volume of Lumberjanes. This one mainly centers around April trying to plan a surprise birthday for Jo and some other Lumberjanes but Another adorable volume of Lumberjanes. This one mainly centers around April trying to plan a surprise birthday for Jo and some other Lumberjanes but the rest of the gang manages to have a pretty cool adventure with Seafarin' Karen and the selkies as well. Anytime I need a fun light read I check to see if there are new volumes of Lumberjanes out. ...more
I really only listened to this because my free Audible trial has rolled around again and it seemed like one of the better choices from the originals fI really only listened to this because my free Audible trial has rolled around again and it seemed like one of the better choices from the originals for this month, but I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. I guess I thought it was going be something that read very young but I think the voice actors did a really great job of bringing a wider range of emotion to what is at this point really a fairly standard middle grade trope of 'bad guy realizes the power of friendship'. Definitely would recommend for kids and also surprisingly fun for adults as well!...more
This was so cute! This series is so much fun overall but I really liked how this installment included mythology from other cultures as well with a focThis was so cute! This series is so much fun overall but I really liked how this installment included mythology from other cultures as well with a focus on celebrating our differences without letting them divide us. Not sure if this was supposed to be the last book or if there are going to be more but I would definitely read more of them....more
So I read this 6 days ago and remember more or less enjoying it, but right now if you put a gun to my head I could not tell you what it was about. 3 sSo I read this 6 days ago and remember more or less enjoying it, but right now if you put a gun to my head I could not tell you what it was about. 3 star rating in a nutshell I guess. ...more
I received an ARC copy of this book from NetGalley
This was definitely an interesting concept but I think ultimately a lot of the characters felt very I received an ARC copy of this book from NetGalley
This was definitely an interesting concept but I think ultimately a lot of the characters felt very two dimensional which is what stopped me from giving it a higher rating. Also it was kind of all over the place in the mythology aspect and while I always like the idea of gods from different pantheons interacting, I do need a bit more explanation and world-building as to why. The art was great though and I think the story could come together well in future volumes. This one just seemed a bit rushed and like they were kind of running through it introducing so many human and god characters that I definitely didn't get a real sense for any of them. ...more
This was an okay read but it really seemed to be all over the place and lacking in a consistent narrative for something so short. I don't really thinkThis was an okay read but it really seemed to be all over the place and lacking in a consistent narrative for something so short. I don't really think the first book needed a sequel in the first place and I'm not sure what the author was trying to accomplish with this. There were some cute scenes and good imagery but ultimately I was more confused than anything. ...more
I am very torn on whether to round this down or up but since I do currently plan on reading the next volume I guess I will go with aactual rating: 2.5
I am very torn on whether to round this down or up but since I do currently plan on reading the next volume I guess I will go with a technical 3 star rating. Also I don't think there is really anything 'wrong' with it but that it might be a little bit too ...technical and high-fantasy heavy for me? Like I do find the mechanics of the game vs. the world interesting up to a point but also I feel like it really makes the story drag in a lot of places. But I'm glad that I stuck this volume out to the end because the last issue was Ash's issue and she is basically the only reason I am sticking around. I know that we probably need all the characters to make a full and compelling plot in the long run - at least I hope, WicDiv floundered a lot in the middle but really delivered at the end - but also if the whole thing was just about Ash and Chuck died horribly I would not complain ......more
I didn't like this one quite as much as the first one but I think that is mostly because I'm not really in a place where I can concentrate very well rI didn't like this one quite as much as the first one but I think that is mostly because I'm not really in a place where I can concentrate very well right now. Took me quite awhile to read this and I love Valkyrie and Skulduggery but I am starting to have definite problems with telling a lot of the other cast members apart. I listened to the first one on audio and read this one as text so I might try going back to audio for the next one because I really liked the narrator's voice. Definitely a cool series but I'm not sure how important all these people are going to be and whether I'm just setting myself up to be super lost by not being able to tell most of them apart. ...more
I really liked the first volume in this series but ended up skimming most of this one. I think the reason I liked the first one is because while it diI really liked the first volume in this series but ended up skimming most of this one. I think the reason I liked the first one is because while it did a good job with the ensemble cast it was still mostly about Dora, who is definitely the most interesting character here. This one focused on the new Dream and his ~romance with a human woman~ for the first couple issues and by that time I had already lost interesting. Honestly the least interesting part of the Sandman universe has always been its main character, but I just don't think I'm in a place where I can bring myself to muddle through all the other stuff going on when I really just care about Dora. Sandman has always been very hit or miss for me and while I did feel obligated to make myself finish the original series I just don't feel the same with this. ...more
Definitely an intriguing read and the author has a very ethereal writing style, but ultimately just a bit too short to really sink yactual rating: 3.5
Definitely an intriguing read and the author has a very ethereal writing style, but ultimately just a bit too short to really sink your teeth into. I would love to read a longer piece based on this or maybe something else in the same universe though. ...more
I really loved this. Has a great balance of story, mythology, character development, and romance and was just what I needed to start slowly pulling myI really loved this. Has a great balance of story, mythology, character development, and romance and was just what I needed to start slowly pulling myself out of a months-long reading slump. TOR has a lot of really great novellas that manage to actually tell and complete and satisfying story in such a small space. I'll definitely be looking for more from this author in the future and also probably taking a closer look at TOR's back-catalog next year. Would recommend this to people who like faerie-adjacent mythology and M/M romance stories. ...more
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