2025 Reading Challenge discussion
2025 Personal Challenge: 1-25
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Silencia's Continued Backlist Adventures
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1.
Look. Look. Okay. I get where the vibes were coming from but this was just not a good time. I was hoping that the story would have some payoff for all the Big Sads and Scary Monsters and whatever, but it really didn't. The horror/monster scenes are like...fine, I guess, but some of Mattie's logic doesn't make a whole lot of sense. (view spoiler)
The ending has no emotional payoff whatsoever. I wasn't really invested in the characters since they all seemed to (view spoiler), but if I had been, I'd be very annoyed that I only got to see that as my reward for sticking with them through all this.
Three stars because I guess it was fine.
Geez, that was fast! I am sorry it was an underwhelming start to the reading year, but congratulations on already finishing your first book 😊 . I always enjoy following along your reading journey, so I'm looking forward to seeing what you'll be reading next. Hopefully they only get better from here on out.
Wishing you all the best. Have a fantastic 2025!
Lisa wrote: "Geez, that was fast! I am sorry it was an underwhelming start to the reading year, but congratulations on already finishing your first book 😊 . I always enjoy following along your reading journey..."
thank you! It has not gotten better so far lol but perhaps one day...
2.
I dunno what I really expected. It was fine for what it was, but it felt more like an encyclopedia entry than anything. At least it had some compassion for victims and gave their actual names instead of describing them as "the beautiful young (hair colour)," which is more than you get from some of these books.
Three stars at best. Really more like 2.5.
3.
Reread in preparation to go through the whole series (and also because my other recent reads have kinda sucked oops), and god it's still so good. Still 5 stars.
4.
Look at me go!
Still a good story. Still feel very sorry for Jack and Alexis. Still five stars.
5.
This one is a lil bit nonsensical but I still love it so much. Still five stars. From here on out we get to the ones I haven't read before so I'm a little nervous but hopeful!
6.
I do love Jack and Jill so much; they were always my favourites. Too bad it sounds like this is the last stop with them, but I can always revisit this one, and what a way to end it off.
(Those familiar with the series may notice I skipped In An Absent Dream. That is because I hate that one and will not be rereading it.)
Five stars.
7.
Too real. Too real.
Those poor girls.
Five stars.
8.
Honestly, I don't think I'll ever not love Cimorene. A nice little book to revisit.
Five stars.
9.
It's cute, they're cute, it's not as good as the first one but it's still plenty good.
Five stars.
10.
The ending to this one always hits me really hard, even though I've probably read it half a dozen times by now.
Five stars.
11.
This one is a bit weird compared to the others. I've heard that that was because it was actually written first, which would actually not surprise me. The switch to first person is always a bit of a jump after the other three, but I get why it had to be that way.
Still love it, still 5.
12.
It was fine, pretty standard stuff. It sort of felt like two or three different short books were all tangled into one, and it showed, but still entertaining and an easy read. Three stars.
13.
Look. The mysteries are good. I enjoy the mysteries, I like Poirot as a character. Some of these have some really nasty racist asides which I understand was period typical but I still don't wanna read it, would it kill the publishers to change Five Words?
So like. Four stars for the mysteries but don't feel comfortable rating it on my actual list, to be honest.
Hi Silencia! The year's not even half over and looks like you're smashing your goal! Bravo! I hope you are enjoying lots of fantastic books along the way. I see that there are some re-reads but there's nothing wrong with that. I love re-visiting old favorites. I've recently discovered the Wayward Children series and really liking it. I'm a little worried, though, because I'm up to In an Absent Dream...Happy reading!
JennH wrote: "Hi Silencia! The year's not even half over and looks like you're smashing your goal! Bravo! I hope you are enjoying lots of fantastic books along the way. I see that there are some re-reads but the..."Oh no, I hope I didn't scare you off of In an Absent Dream! Honestly it's a perfectly fine book, I just hate it because I am a soft sad baby and I know what's going to happen to Lundy. I hope you managed to get through it okay and are continuing the series!
14.
Honestly, props to NR for finding a way to write an entire novel where the bad guy literally never interacts with the protagonist in the real world and she is never in any danger whatsoever. The inciting incident is pretty much the only thing we ever really see him do.
It's cute and I like it; the stakes are simply not there, and I appreciate that in a book, but it might not be for everyone. The standard Last 20% Misunderstanding Delaying Things is still there, as is the quirky BFF, though she's a bit less fleshed out than they usually are (which is saying something).
The story works if you don't want to think too hard, which today I do not.
Four stars for me but I could see where it might not be for everyone.
Silencia wrote: "JennH wrote: "Hi Silencia! The year's not even half over and looks like you're smashing your goal! Bravo! I hope you are enjoying lots of fantastic books along the way. I see that there are some re..."Haha, no you didn't! I've really enjoyed this series so far and I like the writing, so of course I'm going to continue! If it had worked for the readathon, I would be reading it next week as the length also lends itself to be a perfect readathon book. Sadly it does not, so it's going to have to wait.
JennH wrote: "Silencia wrote: "JennH wrote: "Hi Silencia! The year's not even half over and looks like you're smashing your goal! Bravo! I hope you are enjoying lots of fantastic books along the way. I see that ..."When you get through it, let me know what you thought!
15.
I haven't read the Goblin Emperor but might have to change that now. I am deeply charmed by Thara and the world he lives in, so now I need to follow up.
Four stars.
16.
Wow. This one was so fun and I love that it's so smooth and short and easy to get through. There's a lot of creepiness packed into a tiny little book, and a lot of fun bits too.
Five stars.
17.
It's fine, it's fun. And of course it all turns out as it should in the end. Props for there being some drama and tension throughout, which was a good time. Warning for scenes of animal death, though--that was rough.
Three stars.
18.
This one feels like it took a bit too long to get where it was going, but it's still wonderfully creepy and ties up nicely at the end. Not quite as good as the first but still worth reading.
Four stars.
19.
Sometimes it's fun to read a short action movie. Murderbot remains beloved, and the new characters are sweet additions. I hope we see them again under better circumstances.
Four stars.
Silencia wrote: "JennH wrote: "Silencia wrote: "JennH wrote: "Hi Silencia! The year's not even half over and looks like you're smashing your goal! Bravo! I hope you are enjoying lots of fantastic books along the wa..."I will!
20.
Ouch. Okay, wasn't prepared for that one. Still good though, and with the ending I am now very hyped indeed for the next one. (view spoiler)
Four stars.
21.
WE ARE SO BACK. MENSAH BABY GOOD TO SEE YOU.
I love this one. No further notes. Five stars.
22.
There really is very little more fun than when a bunch of people not very good at mysteries have to deal with a mystery. Wells is also very good at sneaking in everyone's trauma from previous novellas. Fun and easy and quick, but does leave you with a lot of questions about how the perpetrator managed to do what they did for so long, or at least it left me with them.
Five stars.
Silencia wrote: "15. I haven't read the Goblin Emperor but might have to change that now. I am deeply charmed by Thara and the world he lives in, so now I need to foll..."
I read Goblin Emperor (this year I think.....) and I liked it so much! I don't know about The Witness for the Dead as I haven't read it, but if it's as good as The Goblin Emperor I am definitely picking it up sometime.
In other words, I recommend you giving it a try :)
Keri wrote: "Silencia wrote: "15. I haven't read the Goblin Emperor but might have to change that now. I am deeply charmed by Thara and the world he lives in, so n..."
I have finally located it at a bookstore on my travels, so I definitely will!
23.
Okay, so it's four stars because I did love it, but this one has some little things for me.
The good: The series regulars are just as good as ever, and the new characters are charming. Even the dead one. The book doesn't try to pretend you don't know who the killer is from very early on; it's one of those "catch them by knowing them" sort of deals, rather than a whodunit, and that's fine for me. Honestly, complaints below aside, I really did enjoy the book--it's fast paced and fun, packs in some action sequences, it's a good time.
The bad: I still do not understand the motivation of the antagonist. Eve says at one point that he could have done and been whatever, and this is my thought as well; dunno why he ever bothered to get started, honestly. (view spoiler) This could be a me issue but it was somewhat annoying.
The small but grating: why are all his old friends calling him Summerset in dialogue
Listen. LISTEN. All the others call each other by first names. They call their former leader by first name. Why are they all calling Summerset by his last name? Especially a last name he didn't have at the time they knew him? I know I've seen Ivanna call him Lawrence in previous books and even that would be better, though if I recall correctly that wouldn't have been the first name they knew him by--they keep up, they know he changed it, sure, whatever. But not last name, not if he's the only one. Kinda feels like it's because that's how the author is used to people referring to him and just didn't consider that it should probably be different with these characters. It's a very small thing but I couldn't stop noticing it and it bugged me.
Also, typos are making it into the finished product now: "site" vs "sight" is one I definitely still recall offhand. I can forgive some minor continuity errors because it's like 60 books now but typos can be fixed pretty easily.
Still worth it, still fun, and I'm glad I finally got my hands on it, but there are these little things. So four stars.
2025 Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
Bonded in Death (other topics)Bonded in Death (other topics)
The Witness for the Dead (other topics)
The Witness for the Dead (other topics)
Fugitive Telemetry (other topics)
More...
1. Near the Bone, Christina Henry
2. Serial Killers: Shocking, Gripping True Crime Stories of the Most Evil Murderers, Brian Innes
3. Every Heart a Doorway, Seanan McGuire
4. Down Among the Sticks and Bones, Seanan McGuire
5. Beneath the Sugar Sky, Seanan McGuire
6. Come Tumbling Down, Seanan McGuire
7. Passions in Death, J D Robb
8. Dealing with Dragons, Patricia C Wrede
9. Searching for Dragons, Patricia C Wrede
10. Calling on Dragons, Patricia C Wrede
11. Talking to Dragons, Patricia C Wrede
12. Under Currents, Nora Roberts
13. Poirot's Early Cases, Agatha Christie
14. Mind Games, Nora Roberts
15. The Witness for the Dead, Katherine Addison
16. What Moves the Dead, T. Kingfisher
17. True Betrayals, Nora Roberts
18. What Feasts at Night, T. Kingfisher
19. Artificial Condition, Martha Wells
20. Rogue Protocol, Martha Wells
21. Exit Strategy, Martha Wells
22. Fugitive Telemetry, Martha Wells
23. Bonded in Death, J D Robb