Ella
Did a little re-read of this one. Hera gets very delulu about her relationship the farther along the book progresses - maybe a bit too much. Don’t even get me started on Arthur🙄. Nonetheless, still a worthwhile read and I found the corporate and working in your 20s anecdotes relatable and hilarious.
4.5⭐️
idk if this book is underrated but I feel like it’s not talked about enough. IT’S!SO!GOOD! For starters, Vasher/Zahel/other aliases and Nightblood are present. They’re already such interesting characters and we receive more insight into their (kind of insane) stories before world hopping to Roshar. Then we’ve got the sisters Vivenna and Siri who both had one persona at the beginning of the book and completely changed by the end - but all in all they’re badass women holding their own which is so awesome (duh). In Warbreaker, we also get a much more involved love story that I’ve seen in past Brando books that becomes a major plot point. Susebron and Siri’s love story is one of my favorites in the cosmere and I don’t think it’s one I’ll ever forget. Lastly, the WORLD IS SO COOL. THE MAGIC SYSTEM?! BREATHS?! THE COLORS! THE CITY OF T’TELIR?! Immaculate, spectacular, incredible. Chef’s kiss.
5⭐️
I wish I could rate this book higher but unfortunately I cannot. I think chapter nineteen just was not for me - tbh I got the ick from Jack and I liked him less as the story went on from a romantic standpoint (appreciated his development academically though).
However, even though the romance part of this book was not my favorite, I did really enjoy the conversation on academic politics, especially regarding mentor/student relationships, adjunct classes, and women in STEM. I thought Ali did a really wonderful job of shedding light on these issues in accessible and impactful ways!
2⭐️
Contains spoilers
Well, I think I’m in it for the long haul now. I *impulsively* decided to start reading the stormlight archive so I could *hopefully* read the first four books in time for the release of Wind and Truth.
*I’m breaking this section up into multiple parts to make it not as stream of consciousness*
After only reading two standalones of Brandon’s coupled with nothing but positive reviews from people, I knew that I could expect a pretty amazing fantasy series. Also, given my first impressions of the previous Brando books I’ve read, I knew that this guy really knows how to write some seriously incredible worlds, characters, and plots. Yet, one thing I could have not anticipated was just how well he would seemingly do this in the stormlight archive.
For starters, I’m a big fan of the origin story flashbacks. I like how they’re their own chapters, and that you’re getting more and more tidbits of someone’s life as the book goes along. I’ve been told this only continues in the books to follow and I think it’s a vital piece of the full story.
Notably, the world building is spectacular. Not only does he create a very intricate world, but he does it so methodically. He’s not dumping the entire encyclopedia on how the world works on you in the beginning, but gives you little sprinkles as you go along. He’s giving you some facts but also allowing YOU to figure out how his world works simultaneously as the CHARACTERS are figuring things out themselves. I think it’s a clever way of giving the reader just enough information to understand in the moment, and question and build upon what they’ve already learned as the story goes along.
In addition, the Brandoavalanches bury you in snow - like I don’t know how you can make it out of one without reading the whole thing until the end. This avalanche *allegedly* starts at chapter 65 when Sadeas leaves Dalinar hanging out on the battlefield. The events that followed…. my jaw was on the floor for at least 5/6 of it.
Overall, the writing style blew me away. Trying to keep someone engaged for 1000 pages straight seems like a daunting task, but Brando has absolutely no trouble at all.
He also somehow builds the best characters?! First of all, Shallan is awesome. She’s an intelligent woman who isn’t afraid to speak her mind / question someone / be a badass and has some INSANE drawing abilities (if you can’t tell she’s my favorite). But Kaladin! What a life that guy has had dear god. His whole flashbacks about becoming a surgeon and his brother Tien were so interesting but also heartbreaking. He’s also a pretty damn good leader but even more a great friend and brother to many. Rock though was probably my favorite of the Bridgemen (would love to try a soup of his). Don’t even get me started on my sus feelings for Kabsal and Sadeas since THE BEGINNING. I KNEW they were both snakes from early on and Sadeas was a very well crafted villain for sure. The whole Adolin courtship plot line is pretty hilarious and I’m glad that’s the first thing we learn about the guy. Dalinar is an interesting man - and all his visions are quite the whirlwind. Jasnah too is interesting and im curious to see how her character will develop in the stories to come. Oh and SZETH. The opening chapter of him was pretty sick and an intense way to start a book. Don’t forget my spren Syl either - she’s a g. Anywho , clearly there’s a lot of characters I could mention but all in all Brando did an immaculate job casting the characters that he did.
So, yeah, I get the hype with this book. I was afraid that *maybe* in some parallel universe that I wouldn’t but now that I’ve read it, there’s no alternate reality where I don’t like this book.
Well done Brando.
5⭐️
PLEASE LOOK AT TRIGGER WARNINGS BEFORE READING THIS BOOK.
Devastating read in a very elegant way. A story that has reserved itself a rating category of its own. Jude is someone who will remain on your mind for the rest of your life.
This isn’t a book I would recommend to everyone given its depth, but if one is able to read it - they will be nothing but emotionally changed.
♾️⭐️
I had no idea what to expect from this book. My friend and I from our math REU decided to read this as apart of our book club and OMG!!?
Mia is a post doc born in New York & went to Princeton/UCLA who ended up in the small town of Crowder, Texas. She wasn’t thrilled about the move until she meets farmer Josh (her landlord’s nephew). You can see where I’m going here — yes this story becomes a romance between the two.
Honestly their story was fairly cute. Was giggling probably way too often. *knot* to mention Mia is a knot theorist and just the amount of silly math things like the AMS, Annals, LITERALLY FLIRTING INVOLVING TALKING ABOUT DIAGONAL MATRICES has me sending.
It was a little TOO silly in some places and the romance kind of just happened as compared to a genuine build up.
Overall, enjoyed all the math jokes.
3⭐️
Holy moly what a book.
Really enjoyed Annabelle and Sebastian’s story in the first book of the series but …. THIS ONE!! Lucie and Tristan’s relationship has it all. Sometimes an enemies to lovers trope is too far fetched but this was so so well done. C’mon Lucie is literally running a women’s suffrage movement like!!!!!! We love a very strong and independent female lead!! Tristian was literally the most ideal person to be with Lucie.
4.5⭐️
For my first Ali Hazelwood book, this did not disappoint. Was thinking about this book nonstop when it was not in my hands.
The characters were very methodically thought out and consistently were apart of it all. Even tied up loose ends from the beginning which was nice to see. Loved Nolan and Mallory’s relationship at every point in the book, would root for them any day.
Mallory’s sisters were lowkey the best part - they were absolute menaces.
4⭐️
I’ve been waiting for a Rooney book for two years now. In short, I would literally die for Ivan. Can we talk about Peter’s stream of consciousness (such an interesting writing form but I kind of liked it / felt like I was genuinely in his head)?! I was intrigued to see how she would write a brothers dual POV story, but holy Sally could never stop surprising me.
One thing that Sally NEVER fails at is understanding people and writing the most REAL feelings. This story is about two brothers who are grieving their dad who’s just passed after a long, grueling battle of cancer. She captures grief in two different perspectives with Ivan and Peter — and again like I can’t express how does the woman just understand every emotion that’s humanly possible and spit it out on paper in the most relatable and engrossing way. AND THE RELATIONSHIPS DONT EVEN GET ME STARTED. My heart to all of the women in this novel - Sylvia, Naomi, and Margaret. And the IMAGERY. She accomplishes so much in just a stream of four word sentences.
Of course I’m biased to Rooney, but I don’t even think I need to explain myself on that regard. She’s a literary genius.
5⭐️
I don’t often feel inclined to write reviews, but for this book it is hard to resist. I am surprised to have not heard ANYONE, ANYWHERE talking about this book. I am lucky to have found it on my own.
With that, I leave a few words that I hope can convince other readers:
I read Normal People by Sally Rooney four years ago. That book left me thinking about it not only for weeks but for YEARS. So much so, I reread it this year. I anticipate Talking at Night to do the same.
My quick skepticism for this book was met utter poignance. Will and Rosie’s story is one that seems so familiar, but also so new. It’s a story so complicated, yet so raw and poetic. I do not wish to spoil this book, so, for that reason all I can say is that I was moved more than I ever thought I could be and only want for other readers to relish in Will and Rosie’s story as well.
5⭐️
Contains spoilers
Artemisia Gentileschi’s story gets brought to life with a fictional twist. Not only is Artemisia trying to make herself known in a male-dominant world - she has to do so while also handling magic and a griffon?!
Artemisia’s story on its own is quite incredible and in my opinion did not need magic to accompany it. The magic system unfortunately did not feel too well structured - I felt as if there were a lot of loose ends. The magic was there just for the sake of being there, and what could have brought up the rating of this story for me was if this was truly just a fictional retelling.
Even though the magic system was frustrating, I wouldn’t recommend skipping this book. Again, Artemisia’s story is remarkable and I genuinely found myself invested for every second of this book.
*PLEASE check out her art as well!!*
Also this definitely felt like a Francesco and Artemisia fan fic. Had me giggling :p
3⭐️
Third time’s the charm with this one. I’ve made it abundantly clear in past reviews that I’m not shy to say that Sally Rooney will forever be my favorite author. No other writer can provoke the amount of genuine emotion, interest, and reflection like she can. To her vivid descriptions, complex relationships, and raw commentary on human nature, her works have everything I could ever ask for. Every time I reread her books I come away ruminating on something new. Conversations with Friends has solidified itself as a story that I will constantly return to reach for on the shelf.
5⭐️
