Isabella Chen > Recent Status Updates

Once again, wonderful, rich depiction of Alexander's life as a boy. Every moment with him (particularly the scenes with Hephaistion) demands to be savoured. All the relationships are richly observed and seem true enough to history (which I learn on Wikipedia).

"As his arm received me, he gave a little sigh; just as when he came back from a fight and a long ride, dusty and bruised, and found his bath just right for him. A hundred verses of tenderest love, sung to the lute, could not have given me half the joy."

Excellent interpretation of Alexander's attempts to introduce the prostration to the Macedonians. Delicate balance achieved between his pride, his love for Hephaistion and his love of Asian customs (manifested in his relationship with Bagoas). This is the best love triangle, ever.

The middle east in antiquity, gay love, Alexander the Great. Also the writing really brings it up to another level. Everything happens slowly and subtly...

Very good up till now. She spends too much time fighting bureaucracy, which I find boring. Also we get to the tragic part (i.e. the beginnings of the Skykes-Picot agreement taking effect -I know we can't blame everything in the Middle East on that agreement, but it's about the time when things really start to go from bad to worse).

“Two hours have gone by and I’m still not done; two days have gone by and I’m still not done.” In a moment of weakness, the purpose of the activity at hand is often no longer even clear. The succession of events, instead, seems to be the less anxiety-ridden aspect of time.

So far, amazing insight into renaissance Italy. Galileo's humor and personality is very well depicted, really gives a sense of who this giant in the history of mankind was...

So far, amazing insight into renaissance Italy. Galileo's humor and personality is very well depicted, really gives a sense of who is giant in the history of mankind was...

Okay, first patron encounter I am slightly *meh* about. The Twins are almost cartoonish- there are good moments (when Eamon finally gives in and practically begs Phedre to stay) but it's almost like they are from another book. The Dalraida on the whole rather undeveloped - possibly cut out during edits? This act should be about Hyacinthe.......

Like Sanderson's rule of magic, there's Carey's rule of sex - Phedre using her "talent" always comes at great cost to her & friends. And it's effects do not last (e.g. terms of contract expire/ wrath of a lover betrayed).

Our heroes have now left the valley of death and things have to look somewhat up for them before all turns to hell. So can forgive small coincidences.

Love how she crafted scene where villain passes the Tsingani camp without seeing Phedre. Fortunate coincidences usually a no-no, but Carey managed to temper it with a cost for one of our other heroes. Somehow it worked. Expertly crafted.

Surprised at the parallel symbolism between Phedre and Joscelin and Elua and his apostles (the sex in cave moment)Story has very little mystical elements, which make such glimpses really delicious. IMHO just expertly crafted. Great inclusion of intense moral dilemma a midst tense political scene. I'm just overwhelmed by Carey's ability. SO AMAZING.

Delaunay uses trained courtesans to get what he wants - I find it odd that other reviews view it as morally reprehensible compared to if he had trained and used killers to achieve his ends.

Basically BDSM, espionage and the boarding school fantasy. It even has super-heros in it (the Casseline brotherhood). Carey has put everything awesome into this world and made it work. Genius.

"As sophisticated as his knowledge and tastes might be, there was a threshold his own desires did not cross... Yet so thorough was his study of the desires of others that one forgot it was a comprehension of the mind only."

This book is blowing me away. Wonderful, wonderful prose; I'm a slow reader, but I feel even then I'm going too fast to truly savour all the words.

This feels a lot like Dune for some reason. I guess it's the ceremony, the emphasis on the experience and control of pain, the complicated political intrigue. The slightly florid prose. I love it.

Sucked in at page 1. Set in a world where sex is revered and prostitution is sacred. Main character a born sado-masochist trained to be a spy. Crazy ass premise, one of the craziest I've ever encountered but so incredibly well executed. Can't believe it took me this long to pick it up.

"Well, I have no milk-and-water mistress but a clinging woman would soon cloy." Hmm, so our anti-hero is cursed with women that wish to possess him?

I still don't understand how the maid died. Did she fling herself off the balcony to escape being tortured?

Love how well the anti-hero is being realised. Because it's told through Juana's eyes, Denys has employed some really interesting methods to show the reader Tristan's thoughts (despite a naturally botoxed face that declines to show virtually any emotion). The methods are so tightly woven into the setting and the characters and obviously very well thought out and planned. Genius.

So far, so good. Great writing, a bit unpolished, and one too many ironic stares and sarcastic remarks, but easily forgiven. Lushly visualized world, and strong villian.

Filipe Tristan like sexy Sandor Clegane. I guess.

Really depressing but engrossing at the same time. Fisk has lost some credibility in recent years, so haven't been motivated to really plough through.

So fast paced it's knocking the wind out of me. 2 nights and I'm already half way through -and I'm a damn slow reader...