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| 0062690450
| 9780062690456
| 0062690450
| 4.04
| 60,627
| Sep 19, 2017
| Sep 19, 2017
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it was ok
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This book gave me a headache everytime I cracked it open. I had wanted to finish it in two days, one if possible, but it took me nearly five days to r
This book gave me a headache everytime I cracked it open. I had wanted to finish it in two days, one if possible, but it took me nearly five days to read it. In short I give it 2.5stars. And it's a shame because overall I AM really fascinated by the concept, I love stories about siblings fighting for a crown, love stories about divided loyalties, love deadly games etc. But there was so much to this one that I couldn't stand, when in Three Dark Crowns, I gave the benefit of the doubt. Because, there IS a lot of good stuff to this series. The tension between families, the absolutely craziness of this Ascension year and the three queens, and the small romances. But, this time, I really just couldn't get past the 'mystery' and but that, I mean the way the mystery is portrayed. Katherine's story was my favourite, or as close to favourite I can get in these books, and her ending in Three Dark Crowns was totally weird! Weird as in creepy and confusing, and yet she survived. But, the mystery of what happened to her isn't built up well in One Dark Throne. I wish it had been done better. I kept wondering all this time what happened, but Katherine doesn't flashback to what happened, instead it's revealed to us in the most unspectacular way that I almost missed it. Or, I didn't take it seriously enough. And, I really wanted to. Except each time it was mentioned, it would seem so sudden, that I would be like...so how and why did that happen? What was missing, was probably Katherine's own nightmarish flashbacks, even something a bit ambiguous that gives us an impression of the suffering she went through would have given her story ten times more feels! I think I actually liked Mirabella a bit more in this book! She still feels the same, but I guess I liked the dynamics between her and Arsinoe a lot more than I liked Mirabella in general in Three Dark Crowns! But still, she fell weak at unexpected times, and at others, she wasn't so bad. Her relationship with Joseph was still lingering, but well, I don't know if how I feel about Joseph in this. Which brings me to Joseph and Jules. There was a really big emphasis on their relationship this time, and well, they are good together, but that big emphasis kind of sucks when others aka Katherine who went through so much, didn't get much flashbacks or story or anything to really give her tragic figure even more pain and tragedy. the emphasis for Joseph and Jules though, is clear because it builds up to the ending, which was really kind of sad for Jules. Perhaps one of the stronger moments in this book was Jules last scene, though, the choice for this to happen was also really sudden (yet also fit the pacing? if that even makes sense, with this book it was so hard sometimes to judge how I really felt with a moment when it happened so quickly yet described very briefly!) And Arsinoe. I liked her in this one, though she too confused me. Her use of Low Magic vs. her use of it in Three Dark Crowns. It kind of conflicted to me. Her relationship with Billy is still strong! A highlight for me! But other than that, her own development is minor. We don't see her develop her poisoner abilities (hell, I'm not even sure how she got to being referred to as the 'stronger poisoner' at the end there, when at most, she only survived two poisons - again my question is towards the worldbuilding, how does it all work?) nor do we see her working on other things, but we do see her playing with Low Magic (well not playing, but) and how that would help her keep her image. Not that it really helped. In saying that, things really start happening about the time when the three queens come together which was awesome, somewhat. Lots of things happen, more dark things too. And the map in front of the book helped me placed the exact lay of the land. But still, the narration was uncomfortable. It's lackluster, present and dry. I'm told a lot of events as is, but never how it is or why it is. I don't feel the emotions of the characters, and it dulls any attempt at worldbuilding. I had a lot of trouble working out the lay of the land in Three Dark Crowns, without the map this time, I'd have even more trouble. Plus, there are many new terms introduced in this book suddenly out of nowhere, therefore I'm still confused about it. I also can't figure out the limits of various gifts. I assume Elemental is related to any of the elements, and poison to poison, as is nature to naturalists (though limited to animals). But War gift? And the other, Oracle? I have no idea what the War gift is. And what I saw was not what I imagined. Since there were no details to fill in my knowledge, I was very confused! Finally, I am unsure if I will read Two Dark Reigns - I had not expected a third book, and I'm pretty sure I joked somewhere that if there was a third book, it should be called Zero Dark Queens or something. (I can't remember.) But, am intrigued by the concept, I just don't know if I can't handle the way it's written two more times! ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Apr 30, 2018
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May 04, 2018
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Apr 30, 2018
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Paperback
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| 0765392488
| 9780765392480
| B071L5WRN3
| 3.55
| 3,667
| Mar 27, 2018
| Mar 27, 2018
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really liked it
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Many thanks netgalley for the arc, this is a review that reflects my honest and fair opinions and by no means is influenced by this. What do I say? To Many thanks netgalley for the arc, this is a review that reflects my honest and fair opinions and by no means is influenced by this. What do I say? To be fair, I haven't read King Lear and perhaps I should. I've never been a big Shakespeare fan, but right now, I'm interested in reading King Lear just to see the source of inspiration for this. The Queens of Innis Lear is an amazing High Fantasy epic that depicts the tragedy between three sisters and the throne of Innis Lear. I was initially interested in this because it reminded me of Three Dark Thrones which I had a love and hate with - loved the idea, hated the execution, and yet I plan to finish that series. The Queens of Innis Lear however, is a standalone novel, and the only similarity to TDT is the three sisters. Other than that, QIL has a lot more in common with its source of inspiration, King Lear. And I have to say, I quite loved this one. Though my rating is only 4 stars, that's only because it's such a long read and the writing is as beautiful as it is dense. ALRIGHT. Here are my thoughts: [1] The three sisters shine in this. Each is swallowed by their own flaws, that drives them right to the brink. Gaela is strength, Regan is the witch, and Elia is the star priestess. By far, Gaela had the strongest personality, pride in her strength and desiring nothing but to rule as King not just a queen. Regan the second, is her sister's contrast, loving more than ice, and she has strong ties with her older sister, so much so that she promised to bear the heirs of Innis Lear while her sister ruled. And then there's Elia, who is the youngest and whom is loved the least by her sisters. She had never cared to be ruler of Innis Lear, but she had loved her father the best. What I love most about the sisters is how strong their ties are to each other - it's not just blood, but it's the experiences, the love and the hate, and all the in-between that said they were sisters. It wasn't just because they shared the same mother or father, but how they felt about each other. Tessa Gratton does a beautiful job depicting this between the sisters. The flashbacks give them depth, and the present gives them promises to keep and experiences to share. [2] Relationship with their father, was also spectacularly done. Even though that man seemed so crazy and self-centred to begin with, as the story unfolded and as we see him through the eyes of all the characters, King Lear unfolds a more complex character. One who isn't just simply crazy, lost to the stars, but someone who never healed after losing his wife, and not just because hs prophecy came true, but how the truth of that prophecy came out. I won't say I admire King Lear nor do I admire his actions or how everyone felt towards him, especially Elia, but his character was developed well. [3] Characteristion was just something...that I really enjoyed. Nearly all the characters were well developed. From Gaela and how she came to be the Gaela that she is, Regan and the depth of her love for her husband, to Ban the Fox and his mad race for revenge. Gaela is ruthless, and its clear she would turn the island into ash and bones if she became Queen, but she wants it more than anyone, and she fought and trained to be the leader of the people. She was a warrior Queen. And she had chosen her husband for the sake of the throne and not because she loved him. Regan on the other hand, chose her husband out of love, and yet she felt too much. And Ban, he wanted to be noticed and chosen for himself, and not be remembered and seen as the bastard of Errigal, second to Rory Errigal, and never Duke in his own right. Ban broke my heart. He was what Elia and her handmaiden called a traitor and most hateful person ever, but he was also the most complex, wanting more than anyone. I will say though, that Elia unfortunately becomes a tad irritating to me, for being so unyielding about her father, for never giving Ban what she could infinitely give him. She's no Mary Sue, but she does come close, being the youngest and most naive, who never thought to wear the crown, yet eventually is given the responsibility. Mars also annoyed me. He was characterised well, but I dislike how he ended. Those who shone for me were Gaela, Regan and Ban! [4] Relationships and romances...especially romances since I've discussed (sort of) the main relationship in point one. I love the relationships sketched out by Gatton for Gaela and her husband, Regan and hers, Elia and Ban, Ban and Rory (as in brothers not romance), Ban and Mars (friends not romance). Each of these were so powerfully drawn, I felt my heart ache for them all. I wanted to cheer from Gaela's husband, sorry that his end was so cruel. Regan and Connley, right from the beginning, it's clear that Regan is having a hard time staying pregnant and yet her husband is right there with her always, supporting her, fighting for her. And she is by no means weak, a witch in her own right, and powerful too. When the end of the story came, my heart broke for Regan, for their love was the kind in which they could only see each other and cease to exist of the other disappears. Elia and Ban's was complicated because of who they were and whom the loved. Ban loved Elia, but Elia loved her father more, and thus, the clash and complexity of their relationship began as small children. When they're older and they meet again, their love is still there, but Ban has changed far more than Elia. When Elia's world changes, she learns as he learns, how much they both have changed. And knowing this, Ban can only go forward, while Elia can only see how to fix it all. I loved the complexity of their relationship, even though I didn't love Elia. I feel as though all those who remained standing at the end, those with a name, were not as colourful and complex as those who died. As for the other relationships, the friendships and the broships, Rory and Ban stood out. One is the true full blooded heir of Errigal, while Ban the elder, is the Duke's bastard son. Yet these two brothers don't hate each other, they envy what the other has, not realising that they envied each other. And because Ban thinks he has the least, his path is determined before he can even begin to think for himself. Watching them two suffer and hurt and betray was so sad! And lastly, Ban and Mars. Their relationship is less explored, but we still see how their relationship has so much value. It's also complex in that Mars is the King of Aremoria, and he had seen Ban as a kid with value, not as a bastard child of a Duke. [5] Worldbuilding - when it comes to high fantasy worlds. This is high fantasy worldbuilding. It's not just naming a power or whatnot. Gatton crafts a world in which the two philosophies it cherishes, as the very lifeblood of the island. They affect the way people live, are used by them to create other things, and whatnot. The earth - the rootwaters and wormwork, and the stars and prophecy magic. This world is so complex, that without the worldbuilding, this story could not be written. [6] Writing and flashbacks, were really beautiful. No, not that's not. There are two things I want to talk about here. First, the writing was indeed wonderful, but WARNING, it is dense, like thick and sludgy. But it's beautiful sludge. It's sludge in which the weight of the fantasy world resides in, built and held together. This book might be long, but not a word is wasted (well I think Aefa the fool's daughter was a bit of a wasted pov now that I reflect back since I can barely remember much about her). Right from the beginning, we are given Gratton's beautiful worlds It begins when... - a world is unfolded in these words, as metaphors of earth and sky colour the Queens of Innis Lear. We get a deep feel for the island that should thrive by is barely surviving under the rule of King Lear, and of the daughters that the story is named for. Second! The flashbacks. I know some have commented that the flashbacks seem worthless, but to me, they were very important. They built up the story, laying foundations in ways that this story couldn't have lived without. And we are also treated to the last moments of several characters, unveiling to us as readers truths that the main characters could never show us as they never knew. And reading those parts would always break my heart, one more piece at a time. Without them, these characters would not have been as fleshed out as they were. [7] This is a book that bonds females and those less privileged in expected and unexpected ways. It doesn't make light of them, and it is heartbreaking. I can't even explain what I mean except that it is exactly as it's titled. Just as King Lear was a story about a King and his story, this is a book about Queens who almost, who do fall short of a prize far too valuable to be lost. And it's not bitching ladies, these queens have deeply rooted, good reasons to fight for what they believe in. OVERALL - for books similar to Three Dark Thrones, and for those who can handle HIGH FANTASY at its greatest, then this is definitely worth reading. But warning, it is a tragedy and this review barely even touches on the extent to which it is tragic. This is like a hidden gem, it's not the kind of book to immediately catch the attention of others or to hold onto audiences via its romances (aka A Court of Thornes and Roses, which, btw is not not that high fantasy), but it's the kind of fantasy for those looking for something deeper, complex, and meaningful. If that makes any sense at all, as if I haven't written all of the above in an attempt to make sense of my own thoughts about this!! ...more |
Notes are private!
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2
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Mar 22, 2018
not set
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Mar 31, 2018
not set
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Mar 22, 2018
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ebook
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| B0117K9N3Q
| 4.59
| 678,820
| Sep 27, 2016
| Sep 27, 2016
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it was amazing
| I think Crooked Kingdom won me. Where it begins and how it ends, every second counts. In addition, some povs did not bore me this time. This time I fe I think Crooked Kingdom won me. Where it begins and how it ends, every second counts. In addition, some povs did not bore me this time. This time I felt something for each and every character. Much like the first every character is as true as they are described, but even so, we’re shown another side to each character as well. Kaz is still ruthless and smart, but we see him more vulnerable than we saw him in Six of Crows. And we see him fight that, and get his final revenge. With Inej, her story might have seen as talk in the previous book, but her memories show us how dark they got and let me say, it’s very rare to see a YA novel not leave a character untainted, or beautify a character’s past. Each character’s past is raw and untainted and cruel. Truthfully, I don’t know where to even begin with this. I was definitely more engaged with Crooked Kingdom than I was with Six of Crows – this might be because I had finally gotten accustomed to the many povs and I’ve discovered who and which one of the characters’ stories I was more invested in following, and yet, in the end I became invested in all their stories. Plot Hot off the ends of Six of Crows, this book is ultimately the counterattack and the finale to the heist initially set up. I didn’t think much of Leigh Bardugo when I read Shadow and Bone (found the world interesting, but got confused by the magic system, and then didn’t really care for Alina (almost special snowflake) nor for her love interest, though the Darkling was awesome) and I cared a little bit more when I read Wonder Woman: Warbringer, but still, it was within the hmmmm I have more interesting authors to read category. But, well she surprised me with this duology, and in truth, I wasn’t in the mood for a heist novel, nor was I in the mood for dark histories and cruel characters (it was not the right moment in time), but she changed it for me, and I just couldn’t walk away. After their smash and grab (in the lightest and totally useless way of describing) in Six of Crows, which ended with Inej being taken and Kaz out of pocket of what he’s owed, Crooked Kingdom picks up right where it ended, the plan to get Inej back and their money and what to do with the Shu boy. So with all these issues, they’re gonna need a much better plan, which of course is Kaz’s job. For someone considered cold and ruthless, he cares a lot about his crew. Particularly Inej. Anyway so as the plot goes (please excuse all my tangents), it’s really cleverly thought out, definitely worthy of the Ocean’s Eleven club. But I think what’s even more worthy, are the characters who carry out the plot. Long to short, the ending works, and I really couldn’t bring myself to read the ending, because you just know when things happen. I mean it’s not the same feel as Ocean’s Eleven or the Prestige (both of which I felt there), but it’s something in between with a touch of Gran Torino? Characters I’d like to inidividually discuss each character in detail, but I won’t. It would take up too much space. But know this, each character is not wasted. They are valuable and useful to the story and they are also capable of holding their own in the areas of which they specialise. Wraith is the Wraith for good reason. Throughout the book/s she proves this too. She’s not afraid of a fight and knows how to fight. She loses, but then she gets her revenge. Dirtyhands is Dirtyhands. It was all so evident in book 1 and it’s the same this one. There are many gory scenes, but Kaz tones it down a bit in Crooked Kingdom, especially at the height of the revenge, but it is no less cruel. Jesper is sharpshooter, and he proves it. Wylan too for his part. Nina and Matthias as well. Each character comes across as well rounded. Special mention for Jesper, Wylan, Nina & Matthias. Jesper : Bored me in book 1, but he definitely redeemed himself in this one. I felt more sorry for him and actually began to cheer him on towards the end. He had good but well misplaced intentions and yet he’s not disloyal. You see he protects what means a lot to him. Wylan: Seemed like an awful gloomy kid, too naïve and kind of pointless, but he too grows on you in Crooked Kingdom. His role is also much bigger. And I love his story quite a lot by the end of the book. Nina & Matthias: These two were kind of my favourites throughout SoC and Crooked Kingdom. I mean their stories are simpler but no less dark. And I wish there was more for them. Villains: Well crafted. Though, Jan Van Eck actually lacks a little in backstory. His actions are villainous and he stays away from your typical malicious laughing villain that’s evil for the sake of being evil, but he’s also missing something. I didn’t feel like I got a good picture of his backstory. And Pekka Rollins, I had a similar feel for Van Eck. But a little bit more deeper since we see what he has to lose, and how Kaz exploits it. Worldbuilding My comments remain the same as Six of Crows. Though with a bit of side research I actually get the world behind the Grisha a bit more now! What I like about this duology is that it’s a genre inside another genre. We have a heist story and a criminal story within a fantasy story, this is not so different from Maria V. Snyder’s Study series where she has action and adventure inside a fantasy world. So this is strides away from your usual war story. A nice and unexpected change (I won’t lie, I did not read the blurb). What I like about the world of this duology is that it also stays closer to non-magic people, and their lives. So you get a very strong taste of the bitter and cruel and grim reality of Ketterdam without feeling like half of it is an excuse to just be bad. What I also like is the feel of culture clashes. It’s not just everyone is similar looking except they differ because one has pointy ears and the other does not, but it goes deeper than that. You have beliefs and worldviews, discrimination and whatnot. Writing There’s something quite affective in Bardugo’s writing. It’s not like twisty and windy and beautiful, nor does it have rhythmth and lyrical soul like Laini Taylor somehow manages to do. But it’s affective in its own way. The words bring life to the characters, to the world, to the story. And there isn’t a wasted word. Overall My first thought when I started reading this was: oh I feel like I’m back in some gritty reality like V.E. Schwab’s Vicious, only different plot, different cast, and different world. I wasn’t at all convinced by a young cast taking on such roles that define them as ‘best of’, but they are convincing kids of the Barrel and while they can’t best all adults, they do what they can with what they’re limited to. Heist story, dark story, definitely not for the morally right, but also not full of extra blood and gore (sore of), and while Kaz grew on me a lot in this book, I still wouldn’t want him as a book boyfriend because he’s absolutely frightening!!! Anyway, I enjoyed these two books very much and wll definitely revisit them in the future. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jan 27, 2018
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Feb 02, 2018
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Jan 27, 2018
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Kindle Edition
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| 1492656623
| 9781492656623
| 1492656623
| 3.79
| 51,408
| Apr 15, 2018
| May 22, 2018
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really liked it
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3.8 stars. To be fair, I did really enjoy the grittiness of this book. I also really loved the dual story being told, the rise and fall of characters,
3.8 stars. To be fair, I did really enjoy the grittiness of this book. I also really loved the dual story being told, the rise and fall of characters, and I liked the dark side of the story. I also liked the inventiveness of the world. Though, we're really only thrown into the world and it takes a while to adjust from the usual stories on angels to this world. Nonetheless, I did enjoy it the more that it picked up, and seeing how the two worlds collide. I would have love to know how Eliana ended up where she was, and what happened with Simon all those years, but I also know this book is the intro and lead up, and hence I have expectations for the next book. I will point out, that some of my expectations were dulled a bit, since this is a 500 page book, and although it is somewhat gritty, there are moments that felt minutely disjointed with the rest. Eliana, for one, is mostly admirable, except that she could come across to me as someone who isn't afraid of many things and the Dread of Orline, she isn't exactly cunning. Rielle was interesting but her story felt incomplete in this book, despite me knowing that there's a sequel, I still need to know how she went from one thing to another. But again, hence my interest in the next book! (Gosh, I'm not writing this review well at all!) ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Apr 04, 2019
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Apr 11, 2019
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Jan 18, 2018
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Hardcover
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| 0062653652
| 9780062653659
| 0062653652
| 3.79
| 43,368
| Jan 02, 2018
| Jan 02, 2018
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really liked it
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Thank you Netgalley for approving my request for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions below are mine alone and not at all influenced
Thank you Netgalley for approving my request for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions below are mine alone and not at all influenced by anything First Impressions (upon finishing) I had no expetctations at all for this at the start. I requested it at random on Netgalley as well, since I just wanted some books to fill my kindle. The cover caught my eye, though that was the other cover, not the Somehow I kind of consumed this all at once. I did put it down for a break every once in a while, but then I was completely drawn back to it with the need to finish it. Everless has many marks of a debut novel and author. But it also, has the potentials of a good book. And not just any good book, but a decent, YA, fantasy book. If I flip through my memories and look for the best YA fantasy I read in the last year, then I would say VE Schwab’s Shades of Magic trilogy (though this book is a special kind of fantasy than what I’d class Everless), or Susan Dennard’s Witchlands. I’m probably closer to throwing this in with Susan Dennard’s lot since it’s the worldbuilding that gave me the same kind of feel. And if you’re a fan of worldbuilding, or at least some attempt at focussing on the world and the social ties of that world and not romance like Sarah J Maas’ works kind of do, then Everless falls in that kind of category. These days, I don’t find many outstanding fantasy under YA. I mean yes there’s plenty, and yes they’re all YA worthy, and to some extent throw the reader into some kind of world. But it’s just not deep or intense or whatnot—high fantasy. For YA, Everless comes across as high fantasy. It has the mythology potential of Laini Taylor’s Strange the Dreamer (but without Taylor’s way with words), and a hint of well maybe not Kestrel from the Winner’s trilogy, but the kind of main protagonist that actually fits into her world, and we’re given someone who’s against norms without breaking the social norms set by that world (unlike what I read recently, with the Vanishing Spark of Dusk, which in itself was not a bad book, but it definitely did this in the wrong way). This novel also has the same kind of feel at times to a fairy tale retelling, or even a fairy tale, but it’s also not precisely that either. So yes, I definitely think this is a decent YA fantasy novel from a new author. Plot The plot is predictable, but also unpredictable at times. There are things you see coming, and then many more twists you don’t. And not all of them are particularly surprising, yet at the same time, they are twisted out of shape—these common tropes we all know and we always see—and given a new shadow. It was really interesting! I didn’t exactly go into this with my predictions in mind, nor even with the desire to foreshadow anything since well, I didn’t have expectations at all, nor did I read the synopsis in depth. I was pretty okay with letting the story unfold, and for myself to be surprised. And while I was surprised, some surprises were smaller than others, and not at all well revealing. Like it was discovered, and that’s it. But there were other surprises that were hinted at but not for the reason that’s revealed at the end. Like I totally knew that person was shifty, and yet…the shiftiness was even shiftier than I had expected! Final note on plot: If you want a really surprising, ingenious story, this doesn’t have it. If you’re okay with a character motivated story rather than a plot story, then this one is good. What carries the plot here I think, is the strength of the main character. Characters To be fair, all the characters are nice, and all of them are not pointless. For once the main character doesn’t make best friends with the first maid girl, or some sympathy-needing girl or something similar. She does make friends with a young boy who also works in Everless, and the other girls working there. But, many of these characters also don’t shine. They have presence, but their depth is somewhat missing. OKAY. So Jules is the name of our main character. She’s no one special, she’s poor and she is in desperate need of making money to help her father. What I like most of ou r main character is that she doesn’t have a pity story that forces the reader to sympathise with her. Nor does she outrageously force her opinions and actions onto others in order to make her character unique, special, or sympathised by the reader. In my opinion, compared to the main character of the last book I read, Jules is by far ten times better than her. Because Jules acts like the servant that she is, and she’s humble and modest where someone of her status should be. But she’s also not weak. Yes, she doesn’t exactly jump out to risk her neck, but she’s careful to pick her target. (Well in saying this, there are actually one or two moments when she does act a bit sillily, but in saying that, her solution and getting out of it, is relevant and not at all fake…if that makes sense? Plus she’s also punished.) I actually liked Jules in Everless. (But in saying this, I’m definitely comparing her to the mc of the last book I read.) Other characters: Roan and Liam. I would like to know more about these two. The former didn’t get much development so what happens to him kind of falls a bit flat. But the latter had more time to show his character, still I wish there was more. Relationships between Jules and others I love that Jules does not simply have a cast of characters around her. The characters support her. And if any die, they don’t just die randomly (looking at you Empress of a Thousand Skies). There’s meaning to their deaths. In saying that, the length of the novel also means that some of the relationships are still a bit underdeveloped. As for any romance. There is a hint of romance in this, but overall, romance is not the main focus. There’s an infatuation, which truthfully, I think could have been exploited further for the end of the book. And there’s another potential love interest, of which not a lot happened between Jules and said person, however, there’s potential for development between them. Writing The writing is not bad! It’s still very debut, but it’s very decent debut writing. The author uses a lot of metaphors and figurative language so you aren’t always struggling to understand the feeling or the description of the world. There’s only one problem – physical descriptions are lacking. I still don’t have a very clear idea of what Jules looks like. Holland also does info dump at various points, but this eases up as the story goes on. And various things are further elaborated or improved on. World Building This is the most important part for me!!! In fact, this is the most interesting part of Everless. It’s the idea this whole story is built on: a world in which time is actual currency (so you know all those metaphors and idioms we love to use? Time is money. Wasting time. I need more time. Yeah, now imagine that in real, physical reality.) It is extracted in the form of blood, and turned into coins. It can be exchanged, used to pay the bills, earned and gained. The concept of this book has been compared to the movie In Time, and yes, that’s half the image I got in my head too. However, the concept is taken further, and not in a sci fi fantasy way, but in put in a fantasy world with magic and witches. Now, I want to say that the world building here is flawless, it is not. There were 100 things that could have been further elaborated on or described, i.e. hedgewitch? Witches? Bloodiron? Etc. And yet, compared to other novels, i.e. (and I’m always sorry to compare this, but it’s the only annoying case of lack of worldbuilding that always comes to mind right now) anything written by Sarah J Maas (who has her strengths in other departments) who rarely wastes a breath for describing the world or elaborating on various things, Holland actually does pretty well. By pretty well, I mean, she has jargon for her world that is not simply described as ‘like humans but with pointy ears’. It’s like Dennard’s Witchlands, though probably not as smoothly executed, where you are pretty much thrown into a bunch of foreign words, as if you’ve entered another country without doing your research beforehand. And it’s a bit tough, but it also gives you the feel that you’ve entered a completely different world. What makes Holland’s world feel like I’ve entered another realm, is the fact that she takes the time to describe what Jules sees, and how her worldview affects her actions. What some might consider as a waste of description, becomes a foundation of her world. The world of Everless is dark, it’s grim, and it’s bloody, and while it’s not as dark as novels like Three Dark Crowns aims for, Everless is definitely not like say a Court of Thorns and Roses, or Truthwitch, or Finnikin of the Rock, where the world isn’t spectacularly dark, or there’s some bright spot that makes it not so bad. So for the worldbuilding, I do definitely recommend this (even with some things that still need developing). On a side note, there is one thing I am infinitely curious about, and that's where Holland got her idea about the children who were born with a stone in their mouths! I've read this before, in fact in a classic Chinese literature (A dream of red chambers), and it was a very significant story. So I'm curious where Holland got her inspiration! If I hadn't read the beginning of that classic, I would never have spotted this particularly unique addition to Everless. I wonder if it will be referred to again later on! Overall I would recommend, for all the above reasons. And I am definitely going to buy this. And definitely want the next book! ...more |
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1
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Jan 21, 2018
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Jan 22, 2018
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Jan 18, 2018
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Hardcover
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| 0062385437
| 9780062385437
| 0062385437
| 3.80
| 112,940
| Sep 20, 2016
| Sep 20, 2016
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liked it
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THis book. I rate you 3 Stars, because I really, really, really, really wanted to love you to pieces. And yet my satisfaction isn't satisfied! But as
THis book. I rate you 3 Stars, because I really, really, really, really wanted to love you to pieces. And yet my satisfaction isn't satisfied! But as much as I want to hate this book, I also really want One Dark Throne just so I can read the ending. Let's start with the bad stuff first: 1) It's told in present tense. THis isn't usually a bad thing. Quite frankly, if it's written well, I would love this mode of telling. BUT. In TDC, it doesn't add the tension to the story that it should. Rather than making me all tense with what was happening, I felt the urge to yell at this book and tell it to hurry up and get to the point. And the thing is, it isn't even slow either! 2) Worldbuilding. It seems as I get older and more jaded as I read more and more (god old age sucks), I find, this is a really important aspect for me if the other aspects of the story is weak. As such, I looked for worldbuilding in this book, and there is near to nada. I get thrown place names and approximations of places in relations to others and I'm also still a little confused about the families that raised the three girls, I take it they're the three main strongest parties on the island or something. So this was a shame that could have been more elaborate on. 3) The relationships. Although I had one or two I was gunning for, not at like crazy fangirl level, but they were better than the other one, there's a lot of emphasis on the romance in this book. I've seen some reviews complaining about it. And while I get the original motives, Katherine's baffled me in the end, I think I must have missed something that made that very last moment make more sense. 4) The histories between the triplets. I would have loved to have seen more of this. I mean Mirabella is the lucky one that gets to have memories of her past! But the other two don't. And I don't get why she's the only one, and whatnot. But still, this wasn't enough to make me hate this book. 5) For this size of a book, I think we had too many perspectives. Three would have been perfect, but every once in a while we get a peek at a minor character perspective which doesn't really add much to the story. Except maybe a few of Pietyr's scenes and whatnot. Still. I wish unless they had a point, or at least a more strongly entwined purpose with the plot, it would have been far more interesting to read. 6) I dislike hearing so many times how beautiful Mirabella is and how powerful she is. I also dislike hearing how pathetic and weak both Arsinoe and Katherine are. But I did like seeing Katherine's development though I wish that had been less passively shown to the reader. Arsinoe perhaps annoyed me the most but she was also strong in her own way too, like Katherine. Mira was the most annoying I think, in the sense I didn't think she had all that much to go with her character. She wasn't weak, but she was perhaps the least developed to me. Like Arsinoe had her who escape background. And Katherine had her poisonings. But Mira was more like a doll figure head. Which makes sense too, but still! 7) Mira's romance sucks the most. And I don't know what I think about Jules' roll in all this. Joseph's the worst love interest. I get that the low magic crap that Arsinoe was testing was probably behind what was happening between Joseph and Jules, but still, a little more worldbuilding could have tidied this up a bit better. In a way the low magic subplot reminds me of stories like the Witches of Eastwick and Practical Magic. But only a little! 8) I can't remember Kendare Blake's writing, but I'd liked her Anna Dressed in Blood previously. In this one, it was lacking somewhat. 9) More description on the point of the Mainlanders. Like I get the queens can't leave the island, but those banished can go and come back though what is all that about!? THE GOOD STUFF: So there are some good things that make me want to read the next book. For example: 1) Despite the weirdness at the end of TDC, I think I'd like to see Katherine and Pietyr together. I'd also like to see Arsinoe and Billy who had the sweetest romance so far. I love what Billy does at the demonstrations. 2) There is promise in this world in which I hesitantly hope for more development in the next book. 3) Maybe someone will cut off Joseph's b&&&s in the next book 4) Arsinoe and Katherine have really interesting back stories which I'd love to see more of. I like that they're not one dimensional like Mirabella. Though I get Mira should be compassionate, and kind, her character seems far less developed than Katherine's and Arsinoe's. 5) Will they kill each other? I'm hoping the end reveal of TDC will definitely result in some nasty things in ODT. Oh wow, that was a much shorter list than expected. Other than that, I really need to think of more reasons to keep reading this. Because I have this urge to want to read ODT, but the odds are so far against a far more interesting story. OVERALL. The above says it all. ...more |
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1
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Jan 31, 2017
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Feb 06, 2017
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Jan 31, 2017
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Hardcover
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| 1524738298
| 9781524738297
| 1524738298
| 3.70
| 10,091
| Oct 10, 2017
| Oct 10, 2017
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really liked it
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Actual rating 3.8 stars. As one of few fantasies in YA set in an East Asian-inspired world, this book stands out remarkably. But part of me wonders ho Actual rating 3.8 stars. As one of few fantasies in YA set in an East Asian-inspired world, this book stands out remarkably. But part of me wonders how really great it is. First off, I do want to point out that I did really enjoy this book. I’ve always been interested in such Asian inspired words, but rarely see actual East Asian/Asian background authors snapping it up. Not that I’m saying non-asian writers can’t do it, but sometimes, the little tiny difference is the feeling left behind or woven into the words. It’s like, one needs to have experienced something Asian in order to understand the value of adopting such a world as a setting. Forest of Thousand Lanterns captures much of the world that inspired it. And it also captures much of the, I guess I could say “Americanism” of popular YA literature. This is essentially an origin story for the evil queen from Snow White, so in a way, it’s a retelling of Snow White from the Evil Queen’s perspective set in an East Asian inspired world – I’m going to so far as say it feels like a Tang Dynasty inspired era, however, the era could have been anything (more info on why later)—and you can’t even say it’s not, because the keys points are all there: beauty, heart eating, fairest, and whatnot. Now where to start? P R O S There are a handful of pros that make this book worth reading, but I have a feeling there aren’t that many…. 1) Setting. Different to usual fantasy settings, this sets it as ‘unique’ for now. 2) Antihero, with lots of show of women in power. When I see this, I’m always reminded of Fan Bingbing’s The Empress of China. Which I loved btw, though, this and that are incomparable. The Empress of China was an amazing tv series. 3) This does in fact really capture that East-Asian inspired world. Typical values and beliefs (I’m going to say Chinese for now and be done with it) are highlighted, like those between her and Guma, the Emperor and his servants as well as his concubines, and whatnot. 4) Supporting characters are great. 5) The re-envisioning of the Evil Queen is actually really fascinating. I did like that. I find it quite creative too how Dao weaves in those typical notions we associate with the Evil Queen that fairytale into her world and bring it to life. 6) Names. To me, names of East-Asian characters or inspired worlds are very important. Often, authors will play it safe and give us boring old names like “Mei” or “Lin” or whatnot. And trust me, that’s boring, horrendous and terrible ancient. Sure, there are names like that still, but let’s be creative, shall we? I love that Dao goes beyond that (I mean how can she not? She’s setting it in an East-Asian inspired world and if she called everyone Mei, then that would be really repetitive, wouldn’t it?) and she does it well too. East-Asian names are usually double syllables, which Dao definitely does: XiFeng and Lihua. Yup. Perfect. While I’m only semi expert (heritage and research to count for it), I definitely liked this in the Forest of a Thousand Lanterns. And even though I know the author is listed as Vietnamese-American, I think she really did some solid research. Tbh, I don’t care if the author isn’t East-Asian to begin with, but if you do use an East-Asian character, at least read up on naming practices that make sense, and not be lazy. Lazy is boring. 7) I’m pretty sure Dao did it this way to save time, but so y’all out there are aware, but ‘Guma’ isn’t just a name, it’s a title that literally refers to aunt (it also specifies which, usually paternal, but this varies with mandarin across varieties, and it can refer to what you would call/address a woman older than you who is not necessarily blood related yet who is married and whom you respect), so don’t just mistake it for a name! But as it is, I think Dao did it for the sake of simplifying the complicated, furthermore, this is fantasy and who knows, maybe in Dao’s world ‘Guma’ is a name! 8) Xifeng. I have noted that others don’t really like Xifeng, and I agree. I don’t think she’s a character that’s meant to be loved, and she feels disconnected to people, which probably, imo, reflects that cold heart in her chest, so in a way I feel this makes a very interesting story to have this disconnected feeling. It works better here than Meyer’s Catherine in Heartless. Xifeng has many traits that make her an ideal villain, vain, selfish, possessive. And I don’t fault her on any of this. It’s a bit refreshing to have a character like this, and that her beginning in this book, I think was done well (specially when she’s jealous of Wei talking to another girl). You have a reason for Xifeng’s desire towards her ultimate ambition, to be from no one to someone. And sometimes this carries though all the way into her court days… 9) My favourite scene with Xifeng is actually the scene where she meets with Empress Lihua and Lihua tells her about the Emperor’s interest in her. I like it because I really felt genuine emotions from Xifeng, and that there is a much deeper connection between her and Lihua that I haven’t really seen all book. 10) When the action begins happening at the end, it gets pretty interesting! C O N S Now, the cons, for those who were super excited about this, will probably hate this part, but actually, the Forest of a Thousand Lanterns has many cons that irked me as I read it. And perhaps these stood out even more because I just finished reading Crooked Kingdom (Leigh Bardugo) before this, and despite me not liking the original Grisha trilogy, I found she did much better with Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom (in terms of worldbuilding). 1) The setting, while I liked it, isn’t built up well. I don’t have a very clear idea of what the world looks like, and for me to imagine life at court, I think of any and all Chinese period dramas I might have happened to watch before. Yes, Dao describes well with pretty metaphors and similes, but sometimes it isn’t enough. I get impressions of sleeves and that everyone is dressed and certain colours, but I think I need just a bit more. 2) Xifeng. While I do have my interpretation listed in cons, at the same time, I don’t really like her at all. And this time, not because I’m made to, but because of how she’s written. Ignoring her lack of connection with most characters, Xifeng herself is actually really annoying to me. I mean, I dislike it when she jumps out and pushes Wei into joining the Crown Prince’s army, she becomes so outspoken then, I was like….um, are we talking about the same girl from the beginning of this book? I don’t like the way seems to do something deceptive then wastes a page wondering how can she avoid walking down this devious path. i.e. Xifeng bent her head, shocked by her own callous thoughts. “Thank you, Your Majesty.” This time, the tears that slipped from her eyes were real. Gosh woman! Just don’t walk down it! I would have been more interested to see her walk away from this road only to be drawn back. I wanted to see her fight just a bit against what she is supposed to become by attempting many times to take a different road to obtain her final goal, because right now, it seems like there is only one path, and for a book that begins with tarot cards and foretelling, there aren’t many attempts to fight or tempt the conflict inside of her. 3) I want to compare Xifeng to other antiheroines, but barely any come to mind. I guess I think of Lada from And I Darken. She’s vicious and cruel and only wants one thing, yet as a character she’s not hateable because her cause is so genuine and her flaws are as apparent as day, yet she doesn’t seek to be liked, nor does she care who she kills (well not really….). Xifeng is different on the other hand, she was born with beauty, lived a life in which she was poor and had a parental figure who was cruel and mean and who wanted nothing from Xifeng except what her beauty could get, and Xifeng herself has been brainwashed by this one person who knew her only value. So in the court, tbh, I was kind of expecting more vicious harem games from the women (as per some of the Chinese period dramas I’ve seen), but also some friendships – but those aren’t really clear – but it was just a bit too tame. And Lady Sun was just plain annoying. Hardly a rival. 4) Relationships. This is easily the non-highlight of this book. Sure, Xifeng and Wei seem to love each other. But truthfully, I didn’t feel even an inch of love. Indeed, Xifeng’s pov doesn’t allow for it, like I said before and with my interpretation, I think her cold character wants to think it can love but doesn’t possess it (plus she was told by Guma and others that such feelings are weaknesses) and therefore, we as readers feel her disconnect. But because of this, this makes her relationship with Wei shallow and baseless.. Plus it felt like a physical touching thing only, one in which Xifeng had been beaten for before (speaking of which, since she had already been beaten once, as mentioned and shown at the beginning of the book, it just seemed really pointless for the person responsible to go and smack the helper for the same reason, geezz just hit Xifeng, she’s already used to it *rolls eyes* - I know that’s cruel to say, but if you’re writing a character like that with an abusive childhood then why stop, it’ll just give her more reasons to be better and get more). In truth I don’t think this is all too bad, to have her feel extreme love before turning to greed and vanity might just make her a crazy evil queen rather than someone who didn’t know how to love, or didn’t have that ability. As such I would have liked to see more of Xifeng’s background, to really see the basis for her actions. Not just because guma put her on this path. Her other relationship with Emperor Jun was just boring. Since Xifeng doesn’t love him, just desires what he can give her, and so as a reader, I just didn’t feel anything for it at all. 5) Relationships between the women: They’re there, but I wish there was more. Especially more development of Lihua and Xifeng, of Xifeng and Guma (come on the woman is her aunt, but the aunt really only shows up as the instigator, and Xifeng never really seems to hate the woman, but why?) and I would like to see more of Xifeng and Akira (why bother sending someone to watch over the pregnant woman? Even the brief introduction between them earlier on in the novel was not enough for me to be convinced by the friendship), and of course, more of Xifeng and Lady Sun (it was mainly hate here, but even hate has many facets and colours, and I wish that was developed more too). 6) The ending. I get that there was a necessity for the giant timeskip (2 years), but really…was it that necessary? I didn’t feel enough for every page leading up to it, that when it hit, I felt like, well….why didn’t I timeskip the 300+ pages before that? 7) Cover. I don’t find it ugly, but I wish it was just a bit more appealing. O V E R A L L I did not hate this book. I just think it was unfortunate that I read it after other great fantasy books. What I do love about FoaTL is the uniqueness it brings to YA literature. There are East-Asian inspired books out there, but not quite something like this just yet in this kind of creativive capacity. And while this book won’t be sitting on my favourites shelf just yet, I am willing to hope that the next book will satisfy my thirst. LOL P.s. I just read Julie C. Dao’s comment/review on the book and noticed she pointed out Wu Zetian. The same real historical being that the Chinese Drama The Empress of China was based on (I haven’t finished watching that btw). I wish Xifeng lives up to her creator’s imaging in the next one. ...more |
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1
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Feb 02, 2018
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Feb 11, 2018
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Jan 23, 2017
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Hardcover
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| 0765376474
| 9780765376473
| 0765376474
| 4.21
| 208,286
| Feb 23, 2016
| Feb 23, 2016
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really liked it
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omg. that ending! more review later! |
Notes are private!
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1
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Dec 19, 2016
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Dec 19, 2016
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Dec 18, 2016
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Hardcover
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| 0312642989
| 9780312642983
| 0312642989
| 4.42
| 289,633
| Nov 10, 2015
| Nov 10, 2015
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it was amazing
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---------re-read 23 Jan 2017-29 Jan 2017-------- A really great ending! My original thoughts still stand, though I find on reread everything more endea ---------re-read 23 Jan 2017-29 Jan 2017-------- A really great ending! My original thoughts still stand, though I find on reread everything more endearing. I really can see this time too that we don't get much Jacin and Winter character development. I would have love to see more of Jacin too, rather than have the reason why Jacin's parents as important to him falling into the implied category of 'well, duh, because they're his parents'. And would have love to see more of Winter too. But for a final book that had a lot of ending going on, it was fantastic! --------------Original Review/read, 12 Jan 2016 - 15 Jan 2016----------- 4.8 stars even though it definitely deserves 5! This is the final book of the series and although I haven’t read Fairest yet, I am so utterly torn that this series is over. Such a great series. Marissa Meyer is also, such a brilliant writer! Her witty, sarcastic dialogues take the cake though, and I would read them over and over again just for laughs. But man, this book had so much angsty moments, tense moments, moments when I wondered if they would make it or if they wouldn’t. I did unfortunately snort when Cinder made her first announcement to gather rebels though, I wasn’t entirely convinced, and with a whole population of people having been suppressed for so long, I didn’t really think such a speech like that was believable. Specially when Cinder didn’t have much credit with the public….so I was a tad bit unconvinced there, and that’s probably the part where the .2 stars are missing from. And it was a speech Kai wrote as well! Which, while supposed to sound diplomatic and rile up some hackles to go against the Queen just had be going :/ - > -.- . BUT it didn’t diminish my want to read the rest of the book! Fast paced, well paced with never a moment lagging, I just read on. And THEN I became convinced, especially when Winter joined the cause. This might sound really weird, but I kind feel like Winter was more Queen than the Lost Princess. She just came across as more Queenly! Winter. Oh my, Winter. First, I loveeee that she has dark skin and is beautiful despite being scarred. I love that she’s a little nuts from Lunar sickness. She is, in her own somewhat twisted way, adorable. Her sickness from the lack of bioelectric manipulation, is the kind that gives her hallucinations and sends her mind faraway. She mutters a lot and says a lot of random things that of course make her look crazy. But at the centre of her heart, Winter is a sweet girl who is also quite intelligent and more than happy to help her long lost cousin and others. Jacin is a bit of jerk in Cress but he grew on me in Winter. Seeing him interact with Winter, it was really endearing. He really cares about her, and would do anything to protect her, and also, members of his family. He is the huntsman by the way, that you often see in the Snow White story, and Levana is her stepmother. But he doesn’t really top my list, and I wish I got more of an insight into his character. Between the action and the romance and the revolution, there wasn’t much time for developing Jacin. Together, joining Cinder’s crew, they join in on the brewing the rebellion to put the Lost Princess back on the throne! Overall, a GREAT ending. I do love it. And I held off reading the last 100 pages all at once because I DIDN’T want it to end. And yet, I still read it, finished it, and now, I am probably going to have a hang over for days and not want to pick up any other book AT ALL. More detailed review on the series here: https://wordsthatflowlikewater.wordpr... ...more |
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2
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Jan 23, 2017
Jan 12, 2016
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Jan 29, 2017
Jan 15, 2016
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Jan 12, 2016
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Hardcover
| ||||||||||||||
| 0997215143
| 9780997215144
| B01G4U2JCG
| 4.35
| 10,532
| Aug 15, 2016
| Aug 15, 2016
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really liked it
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I really like the Arcana Chronicles, simply because the world itself is something I haven't come across before. The previous book, Dead of Winter, was
I really like the Arcana Chronicles, simply because the world itself is something I haven't come across before. The previous book, Dead of Winter, was my favourite. It had all the highs and lows I wanted. And the ending almost killed me. The thing that irked me most about this series though is the fact that I didn't overly love Jack as a love interest - even though he did have his moments. And while Aric, aka Death, was better in many ways he was also not my favourite pairing either. So while I don't hate the romance, I just want to shake Evie so many times over!!! For choosing correctly, and making the same mistakes. And for overall being Evie! So this book surprised me. I wasn't sure what I was expecting, but it wasn't quite this. I think I was expecting more, but this book, was more focussed on the development of Evie's relationships in the aftermath of book 3. It's definitely more romance geared, and it's the buildup for the last and final book (apparently!) I was expecting a devastation of the Emperor, but that didn't happen. Though Evie is definitely hot-blooded for some revenge. A more complete review later! Arcana Rising also gives us a peek at what happens to Matthew and Jack! (view spoiler)[ (I totally knew he wasn't dead, but for a while I was almost convinced he was!) (hide spoiler)] ...more |
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1
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Nov 20, 2016
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Nov 23, 2016
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Nov 24, 2015
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Kindle Edition
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| B00W22J07S
| 4.27
| 194,377
| May 21, 1992
| May 19, 2015
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really liked it
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The second sequel was easy to get into after the first book. The style is slightly different. Rather than a series of short stories with present-day p
The second sequel was easy to get into after the first book. The style is slightly different. Rather than a series of short stories with present-day pieces in between, SoW is a more straightforward story--short stories that are in a way consequentially related to each other, so it feels like an ordinary novel. Yennefer is once again an interesting presence. So large yet her parts so far are so small. Little Eye was a surprise event. The ending has me going 'omg' since I think it's an unusual turn of events. (It also felt so wondrously messy!) Hmmm, more review later probably! ...more |
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1
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Jul 15, 2015
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Aug 08, 2015
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Jul 12, 2015
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Kindle Edition
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| 0575077832
| 9780575077836
| 0575077832
| 4.13
| 369,240
| Jan 31, 1993
| Jun 07, 2007
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liked it
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**spoiler alert** 3.8 Stars--Not quite 4 (I was sooooo disappointed in the last short story, I thought they were going to kill each other, but they di
**spoiler alert** 3.8 Stars--Not quite 4 (I was sooooo disappointed in the last short story, I thought they were going to kill each other, but they didn't!!!!), but it was still a really good read over all. This book series was recommended to me by a friend. I didn't think I would start reading it so soon, but then I did. Though because it's a series of short stories interwoven into a bigger story, I put it down and picked it up every so often. Not to mention I was reading the ebook version, and lord knows I generally find reading on a screen a pain in the butt. However, I finished it. And I did like it. I would definitely read the second, and the third, and more just to see where it goes. The character, 'the Witcher' fascinates me, though in this book there is a lack of depth to his character. At the same time, you couldn't say there was no depth either. It feels like in this book, Geralt is a figure, slightly blurred, somewhat a mystery. We have insights to his past through the short stories, but that isn't the focus of the short stories. Not really. Yet also, really, since with each story, you learn a little more about the Witcher, about his choices and regrets. Particularly in the short story The Lesser Evil, where the Witcher had to choose, and ultimately hadn't made the right choice, and in the story, A Question of Price in which more is revealed about Geralt's character. Geralt the Witcher is the main focus of the whole book. The last short story in the book, highlights the title of the book, and bloodyyyyy hell that was some story! (More in a minute on it!) Geralt's job is to essentially exterminate monsters--demons, malicious supernatural beings, etc. And hence, with each short story, you see him performing a task. He is a Witcher by destiny, and not really by choice--something I want to know more about. As a fan of backstories, in depth character building, and plot twists that tie the character in with the story so deeply, I just drooolll, I really want to see the moment when I find out everything about Geralt's past. Specially after hearing this about him from a secondary character in A Question of Price: He knows the law better than anyone else, because it applied to him once.... He was taken from his home because he was what his father hadn't expected to find on his return. Because he was destined for other things. And by the power of destiny, he became what he is. (At 49%) Little things like that know how to snatch at my heart and catch my interest. And like always I kind of really hate it. In the beginning, I had very little, close to no expectations of this book. I generally don't, specially if they're recommendations. Not to mention in beginning this book, it was kind of slow, and the switching between short story, and present telling, was kind of confusing. However, once I got into the flow of the story, and when my mind decided to wake and click to the fact that the short stories are related to the little in between pieces that are being told in the present, I became more invested in this book. Sometimes I have no idea what catches my attention, let alone, what the hell I'm reading even though I'm reading it. This was one of those times. But when things started clicking, and I read the Lesser Evil, I started to really like this book. It had my attention that's for sure (though admittedly the use of short stories had me putting this down every so often since, after all, why should I read all these short stories at once? I felt like hoarding them for a bit!) and I was definitely engaged to read all the way through to the end! However, and this is the problem with adopting this method of narration--a major plot, with short story intervals--is that the short stories end. And sometimes they end kind of awkwardly or whatnot. Not that Sapkowski's did. I won't lie, I AM STILL BUMMED BY THE WAY THE LAST WISH SHORT STORY ENDED, WHY DIDN'T THEY KILL EACH OTHER???? Am I cruel? There was just so many mentions of Yennefer prior to that short story, and I thought it was a bad thing.....then again, in that short story, it ended well. I just really got the impression that something else happened.... Either way, it was still a good short story, and the ending of the whole book was still good, with promise of more adventure and witcher duties in the next one. My biggest desire for this series, is to see what happens to Geralt and how he grows. Therefore, I will read the next book primarily for that reason. While it's not the best fantasy I've ever read, it's not the worse either. THIS main character does not want pity or forced sympathy from me unlike Kvoth from The Name of the Wind--I really didn't like him, or that book much, even though it's not a bad book. The Witcher, is just what he is, the Witcher. He's not overdone, his weaknesses are real and believeable, he is confident, yet he is also not confident. He doesn't brag or boast, but is modest about his skills. He actually uses his brain too, and falls prey to his own desires and missteps. He has a crutch that prevents him from doing some things, and you know what, he kind of reminds me of Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell portrayal) from the TV Show Arrow--well that interpretation! ...more |
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Jul 07, 2015
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Jul 15, 2015
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Jul 05, 2015
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| 4.20
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it was amazing
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Your Choice Read for the Quarterly Book Club's Third Quarter Read! Omgomgomgomgomgomgomg how I drool. Someone please get me a towel. I am so glad that Your Choice Read for the Quarterly Book Club's Third Quarter Read! Omgomgomgomgomgomgomg how I drool. Someone please get me a towel. I am so glad that this book is due tomorrow, because that totally pushed me to take a break from nonstop academic research, and to let myself be taken in by this story. Where to begin? There is so many good things to say about this book, I don't know where to start. I guess, I should probably point out that my excitement over this book is coupled with a number of things--the fact that it's an adult novel, the fact that it's dark, the fact that compared to the only other series I've read by Schwab this one is so much more... Okay, so that doesn't make much much sense. Let me start again. First: Rivalry. Ambition. Jealousy. Bromance. Antihero. God complexes. The Plot A masterful tale of ambition, jealousy, desire, and superpowers. Victor and Eli started out as college roommates? brilliant, arrogant, lonely boys who recognized the same sharpness and ambition in each other. In their senior year, a shared research interest in adrenaline, near-death experiences, and seemingly supernatural events reveals an intriguing possibility: that under the right conditions, someone could develop extraordinary abilities. But when their thesis moves from the academic to the experimental, things go horribly wrong. Ten years later, Victor breaks out of prison, determined to catch up to his old friend (now foe), aided by a young girl whose reserved nature obscures a stunning ability. Meanwhile, Eli is on a mission to eradicate every other super-powered person that he can find? aside from his sidekick, an enigmatic woman with an unbreakable will. Armed with terrible power on both sides, driven by the memory of betrayal and loss, the archnemeses have set a course for revenge?but who will be left alive at the end? In Vicious, V. E. Schwab brings to life a gritty comic-book-style world in vivid prose: a world where gaining superpowers doesn't automatically lead to heroism, and a time when allegiances are called into question. So. Like many books for the Quarterly Book Club Quarterly Read, I usually haven't actually read the blurb or the premise. I just go to the library and put everything on hold and see how many come in within the three months. Because of this method, I've become pretty overly ambitious--i.e. putting too many on hold and barely able to handle the reading load!--but also, because of this method, I get exposed to a whole different variety of fiction that I might not consider picking up normally. Vicious is one of those. It's not because it's not interesting (as my rating can attest, this is a very interesting book). It's because while I have read The Archived, and intend to read the sequel, The Unbound because I did really enjoy the Archived, there was something missing. It was a good book, there were enthralling moments, and a plot line that really picks up at the end. So while I enjoyed all of that about the Archived, it wasn't really enough to get me to pick up another book by Schwab anytime soon. Not because I'm not interested, but because I'm a little lazy, and I have a tbr list longer than my height (I'm short btw, but still). So, it's a good thing that when I picked up Vicious, I had little to no expectations. And rarely does a plot grab my within the first 50 pages. Do you know how much I love a story that just captures me right from the beginning? I love it so much. Vicious captured me right from the start, and trust me that's no easy feat, not with the way Schwab told her story. Vicious is told from a number of perspectives. Firstly, it's told from various character perspectives--in particular, the main characters, Victor, Eli, Sydney, Mitch, Serena. (Though, really, Sydney, Mitch, and Serena all play a slightly smaller role compared to Victor and Eli obviously.) Secondly, the timeline is alternating. It begins with "Last Night" but then it jumps back to "Ten Years Ago", then to "Two Nights Ago" and later on in the book, "This Afternoon" and "Five Hours to Midnight" (This last one is only one example) so on, depending on the character, giving the overall story, I suppose a comic book effect--though, I don't read many comic books, and haven't read one for so long, that this style is both new and just, plain, 'different' to me. I've seen this style before, and most of the time, it gets confusing, and unnecessarily messy, but with Vicious it was nothing like that. With Vicious, there's not one single moment when you think 'I'm lost' or 'bloody hell that's confusing'. In fact, Schwab does this so well, you will love the way she reveals the history through a series of complex flashbacks. The way she reveals the whole plot--a complete web of interlacing ties and connections of both the physical and mental kind--via specifically choosing which parts of character's history to reveal at various stages of the story act as layers. She layers them on top of each other, one at a time, until by the climax, you have a very clear picture of the characters, their motives, and the complex relationships tying each one together. And it's this developing plot structure that had me in shivery, excited knots--because Schwab knows how to build the tension, how to pit one character against the other without making it seem like just children in the playground. These are children with big ambitions, big knives, and who aren't children at all, but adults playing a dangerous game against each other. (Actually about this, I'll talk more about it in the Characters section.) At the same time, the overall plotline is very simple. It's very straightforward--a basic story of two incredibly intelligent, incredibly ambitious young adults who were friends turned enemies because of their own ambitions. In many ways, the beginning of this plot is similar to the Social Network. But in this story, it begins with college kids and a college thesis idea about supernatural people called 'ExtraOrdinary', aka 'EO'. How an EO exists is actually the thesis of one of the main characters, and because they're friends, they help each other out until things go wrong, and the climax of this story takes that paranormal turn. It skyrockets. The most significant part of this whole book is the relationship between Victor and Eli, it's seeing that contrast between characters, and realising that in this story, there isn't one single 'good person', just as there aren't any 'bad people'. Victor, is the featuring protagonist, but he is anything but 'good' and his is the ultimate antihero. Regardless of the simple plot, this book shines because of its characters, because of the writing, and most importantly, the raw emotions and character development that goes on between the characters.. The Characters The two main, most prominent characters in this book are Victor Vale and Eli Cardale, later known as Eli Ever. They were once roommates and friends, who eventually turned enemies. At first, Victor is seen a rather selfish, bored, uncaring, somewhat jealous person who can lie very well; while in contrast, Eli is the golden boy, with the great smile who can talk his way into anything, and who Victor was drawn to, because of the brightness that seemed to follow Eli around. So at first, you think Victor is going to be the 'villain' and Eli, 'the Hero', but as the story progresses, and more and more Eli and Victor's personalities and histories are revealed, the more it becomes clear that the line between Hero and Villain is blurred by the concept of 'in the name of the greater good'. I'm not going to tell you what powers/what happens to make them estranged because that would ruin it, but during their college days, the both of them get carried away with Eli's thesis, and attempt experiments beyond the control of young adults. The consequences are severe, brought on by anger, jealousy, and the ambitions of foolish young adults, and it lands Victor in jail for ten years. They are like children, yet they are adults. More accurately, they're young adults with great ambitions that make them so dangerous in the playground that no one else wants to join in their fight. Victor. Oh Victor. At the beginning you were a person with a somewhat horrid personality, but I didn't hate you. I liked your complexity. I liked the darkness in your heart, and I liked how between you and Eli, there is almost no distinction between who is 'good' and who is 'bad'. I think Eli was worse than you though. Since you didn't do things in the name of the greater good. You just followed your ambition, your goal: to kill Eli. Whereas Eli, Eli hid behind that self righteous shield and tried to play god. Indeed, Victor himself was no 'pure'. He killed. He hurt. He tortured all in the name of getting his revenge. But he didn't kill someone without a good reason. Well, as good enough a reason he would ascribe to someone. Usefulness was usually the key in this story--since after all, for both Victor and Eli, neither wanted to keep someone useless around. But between the pair, Victor is less cold about who he keeps and who he throws away. Sydney actually doesn't read like a thirteen year old. At the same time, it makes sense that she doesn't because of what has happened to her recently (as of two nights ago in the story). She grew up in a short time, yet there is still a childish innocence to her. I liked her character. But at a lot of times, I wanted to scream at her, 'don't trust him!!!!!! Regardless of my own opinion of him'. And then there is Serena--with both Sydney and Serena, I won't tell you their significance or who they're aligned with--is a pretty solid character. But of all supporting characters, she's probably the shallowest, and has the least amount of depth. Yet at the same time, there is so much to her character that wants for something she can never have. She is an interesting character that's for sure. Lastly, Mitch, I bring him in because he is a supporting character on Victor's side, and I thought he was really cool. I like his character, and when it came to revealing his history, I really liked him. The Setting This is set in a variety of places (depending on the chronological time period), but mostly, it's focussed on the City of Merit for the last three days of the story (since the story is told currently over a period of about a day and a bit, with the rest of the story told in flashbacks accumulated over ten years). EOs are also considered dangerous in this story, they are something of a myth, of which most of the world don't know about, and the police/federal bureaus will cover up any EO related incidence. The Writing I was very surprised by the density of the writing. By dense, I mean, there are a lot of words on the page, and there are bigger paragraphs than I expected. The Archived was not like this. It was simpler, more YA. But as expected of a book that's been shelved as Adult, the writing in Vicious is much more denser. More intense. More complex. And it actually required me to read every single word on the page. I usually read really fast, because paragraphs and words melt together. But in Vicious, it was like I didn't want to miss out a single word out of fear I would miss out something important. I actually really revelled in this writing. I love the way Schwab uses her words to capture each character's idiosyncratic speech and actions. There is so much depth to the writing. I drooled. (And this might also have been because compared to academic texts that are usually a little drier, Schwab's writing was excellent.) Overall Should you read this? Well that depends. This book isn't a romance. It's not a superhero story either. It's a dark, gorey, epic mental, physical, and moral battle between antihero and so-called hero. This isn't a story about who is 'good', rather it's a story about 'who is the lesser evil?' Is this a suggestive read? Yes, definitely. [N.B] If I sound repetitive or nonsensical, my apologies! I'm just so tired right now from finishing the second half asap and writing the above which I hope sounds somewhat rational and cohesive lol. Reread - this was just as fantastic upon rereading! ...more |
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Aug 16, 2015
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Aug 30, 2018
Aug 18, 2015
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Jun 23, 2015
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| 0007174985
| 9780007174980
| B0029N7DW4
| 3.91
| 13,338
| 1997
| Aug 06, 2007
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really liked it
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From what I remember, this was a really dark book to read. Being as young as I was, I do remember picking up once and unable to read it. The second ti
From what I remember, this was a really dark book to read. Being as young as I was, I do remember picking up once and unable to read it. The second time was better because I was so sucked in, I couldn't put it down. Unfortunately, because I was so young and naive, I didn't understand half of what I was reading until the third reading. Quite intensely dark for a children's book--for a child!
...more
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not set
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May 12, 2015
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| 1423157524
| 9781423157526
| 1423157524
| 4.24
| 66,258
| Oct 28, 2014
| Oct 28, 2014
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it was amazing
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The most wonderful thing about finishing the series and it ends with a bang. I had my doubts for 3/4 of this book, I was afraid and with all the unsai
The most wonderful thing about finishing the series and it ends with a bang. I had my doubts for 3/4 of this book, I was afraid and with all the unsaid words between the characters that this book would fall into one of traps that would have led it to his downfall. I had a lot of expectations for this, so much, I was nervous about how it would turn out. I even got emotional and wanted to scream at Ruby to stop what she was doing and to do the other thing even though I knew what she was doing was right and it made dense, but still!! But I should have known, Alexandra Bracken knows how to weave a story, and I shouldn't haven't been worried. Because the end was so much more brilliant than I was hoping. I actually really loved how the parents and children got back together. I loved that return to the beginning. This may have been an incoherent and messy review, but when you're on your phone and just feeling the after effects of a great book as well as fishing…I tell you I have gained an extra 5 bruises! It's a bit difficult to write a better review! ...more |
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Jan 22, 2015
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Jan 24, 2015
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Dec 27, 2013
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Hardcover
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| 4048545612
| 9784048545617
| 4048545612
| 3.93
| 98
| Nov 26, 2010
| Nov 26, 2010
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really liked it
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None
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Dec 07, 2017
Dec 13, 2013
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Dec 07, 2017
Dec 13, 2013
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Dec 14, 2013
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| 0670785474
| 9780670785476
| 0670785474
| 3.79
| 19,553
| Dec 14, 2015
| Jan 26, 2016
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really liked it
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I finished this before going on my mini camping trip. I would rate this 4 stars. Mostly because it has so much potential, it's by Alison Goodman, and
I finished this before going on my mini camping trip. I would rate this 4 stars. Mostly because it has so much potential, it's by Alison Goodman, and it's set in one of my favourite time periods. What I loved - The idea. The idea is great. I love the whole Dark Days Club idea, of fighting these demon-like creatures and having abilities to fight them etc. - I like that Helen is constrained by social needs, it fits the time period perfectly, and definitely wins my smile in this. I like the conflict in her, and struggle she had with what she was, society expectations, and others, was lovely. I liked it. - I'm curious about Lord Carlston and his story!! And what did Helen's brother mean at the end there about Lord Carlston!? - Relatively fast-paced... What I didn't love - Sometimes the idea didn't really feel like it blended into the world as well as it should. Sometimes the terms used jarred against the flow of Regency Era language. So I was a little bit jolted by this effect. - I think there was too much information and not enough time to digest. I did get a little bit confused about one thing or another, but in saying that, I was also willing to skip over unfamiliar terms to let Goodman's words and plot pull me along. - Lord Carlston was maddening. I swear sometimes he should have just backed off a bit! And should have given Helen a bit more time to think. - Duke of Selburn was annoying...what was with him? He was nice, too nice and probably too infatuated, and not with Helen, I swear he's still infatuated with his old flame. But though he meant well, I think he was too heavy handed about one thing or another. Overall Yes, I would definitely read the sequel. For my part, it's because I love the author. I love her Eon and Eona books, and I guess I'm just a sucker for the storyline in this book. Not quite convinced by this first book, but the writing is good and the plot is strong, and I'm sure the sequel will blow me out of the water. I think. And I'm hoping, and thus I wait for the sequel, which will be coming out soon! READ FOR THE QUARTERLY BOOK CLUB: 4th Quarter Read, Historical Fiction ------------------------------- OMG OMG OMG please please please let me get a copy via GR giveaways!!!! (Even though I know it's probably not going to happen, since I have like never won ever) After reading Eon and Eona and falling so deeply in love with that duology and appreciating Goodman's creation of a world like that in that way....I HAVE BECOME AN INSTANT FAN and have been waiting impatiently for any new books, specially this one, because it sounds absolutely fantastic!!! HAVE I MENTIONED HOW MUCH I LOVE REGENCIES?! Goodman is hitting all my favourite genres (admittedly I haven't read any of her works prior to Eon. So I should more accurately admit that I am a fan of her Eon & Eona story. BUT STILL. ) DAMN IT I WILL GET MY HANDS ON THIS BOOK HOWEVER I CAN. (Can't believe it's coming out soon. Oh gosh....do I sound deranged???? I can't help it, got the email notification that there's a giveaway for Aus members for this book, and I'm like YESYESYESYES SIGN ME UP!!! I can't believe she's a fellow at Melb U, though that makes sense....okay...fangirled to death, someone revive me when I actually get my hands on this book, but then I might need help again....having a major book nerd fan attack right now... **Pre-Book Publishing Fangirling Ended Due To Inability To Type Anymore On The Part Of The Fan Who Has Just Worked Up Too Much Excitement** ...more |
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Nov 23, 2016
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Dec 2016
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Jul 23, 2013
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Hardcover
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| 1423157516
| 9781423157519
| 1423157516
| 4.20
| 100,420
| Oct 15, 2013
| Oct 15, 2013
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it was amazing
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Omg Omg. Where is book three???? Review to come. ***Update*** How can I do this book justice? It has been two days since I've finished it, and I can't ev Omg Omg. Where is book three???? Review to come. ***Update*** How can I do this book justice? It has been two days since I've finished it, and I can't even think straight for either the thesis proposal I was supposed to be working on and the words I'd use to describe Never Fade. It's mind-blowing how perfect (this is not even an exaggeration) the sequel of The Darkest Minds is as a sequel. It's just..sjhahuhfbdl. There are plenty of sequels that are slow, unsatisfactory, doing a bunch of nonsense, and really are kind of a pointless waste of a book, but usually are a lead up to the explosive book three. Never Fade, unfortunately does not fall in that category. See, I make it sound disappointing, but it's anything but. I say 'unfortunately' because really, this book is as explosive and well-written as its predecessor, and you just know the third book will smash it's predecessors out of the water without disappointing. Because really, in experience, when the sequel is equal to or better than the first book, then the third is bound to be even better. And I’ve yet to find a trilogy that excites in books one and two, and then horribly disappoints in book three. So, yes, I want book three right now. And Alexandra Bracken, you’ve once again made your way to the top of my favourite authors list (again). So, to the story. Well, after the shocking ending of The Darkest Minds where Ruby wipes Liam’s memory of her and joins the Children’s League to save him, Never Fade begins with Ruby’s time at the Children’s League. I seriously love the way Bracken recounts how Ruby arrives at the Children’s League (like when she arrived at Thurmond), it’s paced well, and the details are there, so you never feel like you missed out on the moments. And yet, it’s all recounted in a chapter or two, easy peasy. Love it. Then Ruby meets Cole, Liam’s brother, and Cole essentially sends Ruby on a secret mission to retrieve something he lost. The only reason he sends her is because Liam is involved. From there, Ruby goes all out to track Liam down. The plot and subplot that unfold, unfold piece by piece and just when you think you got it, you’re falling over yourself just to catch up with the story. I will say I’m totally drooling over the story because well, it’s so engaging, I couldn’t pull my eyes away because I wanted to know what was going to happen next to Ruby. I wanted to know what problems and pains she’d have to deal with and overall, what was the big secret Alban (the head of the Children’s League) was hiding. Of course, then there were the moments between Ruby and Liam. I was totally anticipating their reunion, particularly after what happened at the end of The Darkest Minds. And when it happened. It was explosive. Okay, so not quite. It more felt like Ruby’s heart was going to be torn into pieces after she saw him. I’m not going to spoil it, I think, because it’s such an intense moment, it totally sucks if I fail to describe how explosive it is. Actually nearly every action between them is like a spark of static because (okay so I’ll spoil it a little) Liam remembers feelings, but not the reasons why. It was awesome. I loved how Bracken handled Ruby, Liam and Liam’s confusion. I also loved how she explores Ruby’s powers a little more, expanding them in a sense of pros and cons lol. Supporting Characters: Yay! Chubs is back. And Zu is not. As for the new characters, Vida and Jude. Well Vida has a potty mouth, and she never knows when to shut up, but yet, it’s cool because she’s the tough chick. Jude on the other hand is a whimpy like little kid, who’s not actually that little and who’s not actually that whimpy. Rather, I should probably say geeky? Tall and gangly, he’s like a child, always clinging to Ruby like she’s a mother. But he grows in the story, and becomes a little stronger. And becomes everyone’s kid including Liam and Chubs. I guess that’s another thing I love about Bracken’s work. She builds relationships, adds in the building block, piece by piece rather than like some authors, just chucking in a best friend, or people and friendship without any context in between. Of course, there are few authors who don’t build the relationships, but of those that do build ‘em, Bracken is one of the best. The interaction between the characters is great, see: “What?” Chubs scoffed, his voice just that tiny bit too light. “For once you’re speechless?” See? Love it. Liam and Chubs interaction, Vida and Chubs (their interaction is quite amusing throughout). Love it. So lastly, after what feels like I have said nothing significant except ramble (potentially incoherently) about how great Never Fade is, I want to briefly say, I love Bracken’s writing. It’s plain, yet embellished. It’s not poetic, but there is a poeticness about it when she describes Ruby’s feelings. And yet, it’s also witty, in the way of Jim Butcher, yet not as witty? In conclusion. It’s Bracken and her writing (of her own right and not in comparison to others) that makes this series come alive. Her characters too are well formed, different and totally relatable, or at the very least, amusing to read about (or in some cases, heartwrenching). And the plot. So far, I find it a flawless plot with questions raised and answered and raised again. I absolutely cannot freaking wait for Book 3. Meanwhile, I think I’ll read the short story: In Time ...more |
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1
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Mar 07, 2014
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Mar 11, 2014
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May 27, 2013
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Hardcover
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| 1421508478
| 9781421508474
| 1421508478
| 4.24
| 605
| 2003
| Feb 13, 2007
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liked it
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The epic final to Sensual Phrase was definitely epic. Compared to Love Celeb I feel this series is more mature (not just in mature content - that's st The epic final to Sensual Phrase was definitely epic. Compared to Love Celeb I feel this series is more mature (not just in mature content - that's still the same, but in light of the story between Aine and Sakuya) ...more |
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not set
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not set
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Nov 19, 2012
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| 0547628382
| 9780547628387
| 0547628382
| 4.14
| 43,282
| Apr 02, 2013
| Apr 02, 2013
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really liked it
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Read for the 4th Quarter (Historical Fiction) Read for the Quarterly Book Club! Finished this last night actually, really wanted to know how it ended! Read for the 4th Quarter (Historical Fiction) Read for the Quarterly Book Club! Finished this last night actually, really wanted to know how it ended! I did like this one a lot, maybe because Sybella's story is a lot darker than Ismae's. Or maybe I just haven't read a really interesting novel lately or maybe I just needed this kind novel at this moment to intrigue me. More review later! Update P L O T The plot of this story is less like Grave Mercy than I expected. Granted, it has been so long since I read Grave Mercy, I can't even remember the specifics except that Ismae used her body to save Duval (I actually forgot his name too before I started reading Dark Triumph), and then things worked out well in the end. The good thing is, I didn't have many expectations for this sequel/companion novel. Apparently I liked Grave Mercy! But my review of it was sparse and detailess, so anything I really liked, loved or hated is lost in the swarm of a thousand books in my head. The downside of being a readaholic without an eidetic memory (not that I would want an eidetic memory at all--I'd like to be able to forget when I can). However, I rated it pretty good, and what I did write, did not make me any less or any more hesitant to read Dark Triumph. I think, even back then I really wanted to read Sybella's story, mainly because she seemed so unreachable, not like Ismae who seemed so full of hope and belief and faith. So where Grave Mercy had a more substantial plot about the world and its historical elements, Dark Triumph tends to read as a more solo, individual journey of self for Sybella. Yeah there is a plot, but not as much as the first in my opinion (or from the vague feelings I remember). In this book, the main plot is very simple. Defeat d'Albret. Help the Duchess. That kind of thing. Two sides clearly defined, and a war for Brittany. The historical elements are well tended to (I'm not a historian and have never studied history, but I do like my historical fiction novels every once in a while, and a variety at that--though usually stories older than the 20th century.) The plot also while it is very simple, it actually doesn't fall flat. I felt the urge to keep reading (and yeah, stayed up to like 2:30am in the morning (continued reading from like 160pages at around 11pm) to finish it all in one go (gawd I am so tired right now, I wonder why I haven't had several micronaps by now!). Mostly, I think I was interested in when Sybella would do two things: a) Get the man; and b) kill d'Albret. I was also wondering exactly what would happen to her family, and what had happened to the family to make it so bloody twisted! But as for the actual other non-Sybella, and non-romance parts, there weren't actually many elements to the political plot. Like I said, it was very simple. It makes me wonder how the ending will look like in the last book. C H A R A C T E R S Sybella! I loved her! But only because she had such a deep character and was twisted in her own way, supported by all the dark events of the past. I hate her family though. But they did shape her. And I felt sorry for her a lot of the time, but she never wallows in self pity, and she does her best to keep trying. I liked seeing how she thinks when it comes to her family. Even though it's all a little sickening, I liked seeing how she stays strong even when she knows she should be afraid. Loved when she had to help the Beast escape. That was funny, specially when she woke up! And while some might go and hate and be stupid, I like how Sybella does her best to put her fears aside and go with the flow. She's a strong character, totally kickass, and not afraid to kill, even though she doesn't always want to. And when Ismae comes back into the picture, Sybella really contrasts to her, in terms of personality. They're similar and different at the same time. Beast. Oh the Beast. Described as ugly, but really, overall has a really nice personality. And I liked him! And I love that Sybella notices how even after they sleep together, he doesn't look any prettier (I love how normal that sounds, rather than the usual flowery, he looked beautiful even though he was ugly crap). Beast is Beast. He is scarred and considered ugly, but he is beautiful deep down. Which his actions show, and there's no need to dress up his ugliness in pretty descriptions. If that makes sense? I just liked how LaFevers depicts Beast. And also depicts and develops his relationship with Sybella. THE D'ALBRETS. Gawd. That is one twisted family. Only the sisters are harmless. Being young and isolated, protected from the merciless elder brothers and their father. Sybella is a d'Albret, but she hates that she is. And she hates remembering it. Yet, she is, and because she is, she must use it to her advantage for the convent. Her older brothers are asshats. And Julian, her older brother too I think, but like with her other siblings, is a half brother, was both someone she loved and hated. The relationship between them is....well....a bit incestuous, and at the same time....and I hate saying it, but the ending at the end, resolves it and makes me feel abit better. Then again, how LaFevers treats the whole family dynamic, she treats its carefully and thoughtfully. She puts all the necessary emotions in there so that one should feel how Sybella feels about everyone and everything related to her family. There is so much hate there, and there is also, so much she wished she hadn't done. Sybella's father though, is the worst out of all of them though. He's cruel and callous, and he doesn't care who he uses, hurts, in order to get what he wants: and that is the Duchess's hand in marriage. I think d'Albret is based on a real historical figure. I'm not too sure, but well. LaFevers did well with being creative with this whole period of history. Supporting characters and return of the old. Loved seeing Ismae and Duval again! That was awesome! They're so cute together. The Abbess has me frowning as always. And we hear about Annith again! S E T T I N G Morlaix and Nantes in Brittany. Year: 1489 W R I T I N G I can't remember what I thought of LaFevers' writing previously, but I enjoyed reading it last night! Maybe it was Sybella, or maybe I just needed this kind of writing at that moment. Either way, I did really like her writing. Written in first person, LaFevers mixes both historical language and contemporary language well. The style of writing has a taste of formality to it, yet isn't dense and a pain to read. Which was beautiful. I almost cried (after all I did lament a bit about this when I was reading the Witch Hunter). It was great. I loved it. O V E R A L L I really enjoyed this one! Though now after writing all of the above, the ending while it was nice, I was already happy a few pages before the end of the book lol. Anyway, yes, a suggestive read. And looking forward to Mortal Heart. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Oct 15, 2015
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Oct 19, 2015
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Nov 11, 2012
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Hardcover
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Nina {ᴡᴏʀᴅs ᴀɴᴅ ᴡᴀᴛᴇʀ}
>
Books:
dark
(29)
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my rating |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| 4.04
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it was ok
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May 04, 2018
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Apr 30, 2018
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| 3.55
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really liked it
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Mar 31, 2018
not set
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Mar 22, 2018
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| 4.59
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it was amazing
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Feb 02, 2018
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Jan 27, 2018
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|||||
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| 3.79
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really liked it
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Apr 11, 2019
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Jan 18, 2018
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|||||
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| 3.79
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really liked it
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Jan 22, 2018
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Jan 18, 2018
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|||||
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| 3.80
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liked it
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Feb 06, 2017
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Jan 31, 2017
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| 3.70
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really liked it
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Feb 11, 2018
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Jan 23, 2017
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|||||
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| 4.21
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really liked it
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Dec 19, 2016
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Dec 18, 2016
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|||||
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| 4.42
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it was amazing
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Jan 29, 2017
Jan 15, 2016
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Jan 12, 2016
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| 4.35
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really liked it
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Nov 23, 2016
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Nov 24, 2015
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| 4.27
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really liked it
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Aug 08, 2015
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Jul 12, 2015
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| 4.13
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liked it
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Jul 15, 2015
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Jul 05, 2015
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| 4.20
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it was amazing
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Aug 30, 2018
Aug 18, 2015
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Jun 23, 2015
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| 3.91
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really liked it
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not set
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May 12, 2015
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| 4.24
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it was amazing
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Jan 24, 2015
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Dec 27, 2013
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| 3.93
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really liked it
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Dec 07, 2017
Dec 13, 2013
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Dec 14, 2013
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| 3.79
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really liked it
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Dec 2016
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Jul 23, 2013
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| 4.20
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it was amazing
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Mar 11, 2014
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May 27, 2013
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| 4.24
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liked it
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not set
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Nov 19, 2012
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|||||
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| 4.14
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really liked it
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Oct 19, 2015
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Nov 11, 2012
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