Gemma
Updated a reading goal:
Read 50 books in 2024
Progress so far: 0 / 50 0%
So, The Power isn't the book I was expecting if I'm honest. I was expecting to follow a girl and her story as she discovered her new abilities. I thought it'd have more emphasis on the story telling aspect? The book feels like its more politically charged than that.
I have to admit that the book is of a good quality. The writing style definitely had more of a reserved style that I associate with academics. I felt the writing was right for the book, as it is supposed to be a documentation of a historical event. The writing tried to balance a traditional fictional style with this more reserved style, as we get insights into characters thoughts. I really felt these styles did not mesh well.
I wasn't emotionally attached to any of the characters. I think this was partially due to the writing style, the perspective almost felt removed from the plot with no emotional connection to the person being observed.
In the end, this just wasn't the book for me. I think this could easily be a good read if you go into it knowing what you'll be reading.
So, The Power isn't the book I was expecting if I'm honest. I was expecting to follow a girl and her story as she discovered her new abilities. I thought it'd have more emphasis on the story telling aspect? The book feels like its more politically charged than that.
I have to admit that the book is of a good quality. The writing style definitely had more of a reserved style that I associate with academics. I felt the writing was right for the book, as it is supposed to be a documentation of a historical event. The writing tried to balance a traditional fictional style with this more reserved style, as we get insights into characters thoughts. I really felt these styles did not mesh well.
I wasn't emotionally attached to any of the characters. I think this was partially due to the writing style, the perspective almost felt removed from the plot with no emotional connection to the person being observed.
In the end, this just wasn't the book for me. I think this could easily be a good read if you go into it knowing what you'll be reading.
DNF @ 15%
This year began I trend of taking risks on young adult fantasy and having a string of four and five star sucesses. I should have realised that there were bound to be misses. It just didn't occur to me that widely acclaimed Nevernight was going to be my miss.
On page, Nevernight has so many things I love. Assassins, revenge, what sounded like would be a fast paced and twisty plot and everyone on booktube raves about the main character, so I had unknowingly built quite the hype around this book. I ended up DNF'ing this book on page 64 (around chapter 6) simply due to the writing style. I liked that the flowery descriptions, but I found them to be nonsensical at times. No matter though, because I think that about The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater and it garnered a four star rating for me.
On the first nine pages of the UK paperback, the phrase “O, [blank]” appears on every page at least once. That got fucking tiring, really quickly. The narrator talked to the reader, and referenced the reader like an audience calling them “gentlefriends”. The footnotes felt unnecessary to the story, and gave the writing a smary feel to it. I have enjoyed books with footnotes before when I read the Bartimaeus Trilogy as a kid/teen, but I ended up skipping these ones. I just generally couldn't truck with the style of writing, and I'm really disappointed because this would have probably been a four star read for me otherwise.
DNF @ 15%
This year began I trend of taking risks on young adult fantasy and having a string of four and five star sucesses. I should have realised that there were bound to be misses. It just didn't occur to me that widely acclaimed Nevernight was going to be my miss.
On page, Nevernight has so many things I love. Assassins, revenge, what sounded like would be a fast paced and twisty plot and everyone on booktube raves about the main character, so I had unknowingly built quite the hype around this book. I ended up DNF'ing this book on page 64 (around chapter 6) simply due to the writing style. I liked that the flowery descriptions, but I found them to be nonsensical at times. No matter though, because I think that about The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater and it garnered a four star rating for me.
On the first nine pages of the UK paperback, the phrase “O, [blank]” appears on every page at least once. That got fucking tiring, really quickly. The narrator talked to the reader, and referenced the reader like an audience calling them “gentlefriends”. The footnotes felt unnecessary to the story, and gave the writing a smary feel to it. I have enjoyed books with footnotes before when I read the Bartimaeus Trilogy as a kid/teen, but I ended up skipping these ones. I just generally couldn't truck with the style of writing, and I'm really disappointed because this would have probably been a four star read for me otherwise.
DNF @ 15%
This year began I trend of taking risks on young adult fantasy and having a string of four and five star sucesses. I should have realised that there were bound to be misses. It just didn't occur to me that widely acclaimed Nevernight was going to be my miss.
On page, Nevernight has so many things I love. Assassins, revenge, what sounded like would be a fast paced and twisty plot and everyone on booktube raves about the main character, so I had unknowingly built quite the hype around this book. I ended up DNF'ing this book on page 64 (around chapter 6) simply due to the writing style. I liked that the flowery descriptions, but I found them to be nonsensical at times. No matter though, because I think that about The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater and it garnered a four star rating for me.
On the first nine pages of the UK paperback, the phrase “O, [blank]” appears on every page at least once. That got fucking tiring, really quickly. The narrator talked to the reader, and referenced the reader like an audience calling them “gentlefriends”. The footnotes felt unnecessary to the story, and gave the writing a smary feel to it. I have enjoyed books with footnotes before when I read the Bartimaeus Trilogy as a kid/teen, but I ended up skipping these ones. I just generally couldn't truck with the style of writing, and I'm really disappointed because this would have probably been a four star read for me otherwise.
DNF @ 15%
This year began I trend of taking risks on young adult fantasy and having a string of four and five star sucesses. I should have realised that there were bound to be misses. It just didn't occur to me that widely acclaimed Nevernight was going to be my miss.
On page, Nevernight has so many things I love. Assassins, revenge, what sounded like would be a fast paced and twisty plot and everyone on booktube raves about the main character, so I had unknowingly built quite the hype around this book. I ended up DNF'ing this book on page 64 (around chapter 6) simply due to the writing style. I liked that the flowery descriptions, but I found them to be nonsensical at times. No matter though, because I think that about The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater and it garnered a four star rating for me.
On the first nine pages of the UK paperback, the phrase “O, [blank]” appears on every page at least once. That got fucking tiring, really quickly. The narrator talked to the reader, and referenced the reader like an audience calling them “gentlefriends”. The footnotes felt unnecessary to the story, and gave the writing a smary feel to it. I have enjoyed books with footnotes before when I read the Bartimaeus Trilogy as a kid/teen, but I ended up skipping these ones. I just generally couldn't truck with the style of writing, and I'm really disappointed because this would have probably been a four star read for me otherwise.
I've had my eye on this book for a while, and actually almost picked it up in the bookshops near me a couple times. I'm so glad now I waited for my library hold to come through as it turns out I did not enjoy this book.
Firstly, I DNF'd at 30% and therefore I didn't finish the book. But I couldn't get into it at all and even skim reading it felt like a chore. The plot follows Fletcher an orphan in a small remote village. He is generally downtrodden and looked down on by others in the village. He has been raised by the blacksmith, and it's clearly expected that we sense or interpret a father-son bond between these two characters. However, they barely speak and don't exchange any meaningful conversations that explore the depth of their relationship so it felt very flat and uninteresting.
And that is really the main gripe I have with this book, all of it falls flat and feels really boring. The concept of the demons is interesting in itself but it ended up being ridiculously boring. At one point the character must leave his village on the run, and the entire run and escape was covered in a short period (I think over 2 or 3 chapters). Everything is told instead of shown and just in general did not engage me with the story. I think this is the reason I didn't care about the main character or anyone he meets, he reads like Harry Potter to me as a character and I didn't like him at all.
All in all, I do not recommend this book and can't understand that high ratings and gushes this book gets. Later in this book or the series it may get more interesting and better written, who knows.
I've had my eye on this book for a while, and actually almost picked it up in the bookshops near me a couple times. I'm so glad now I waited for my library hold to come through as it turns out I did not enjoy this book.
Firstly, I DNF'd at 30% and therefore I didn't finish the book. But I couldn't get into it at all and even skim reading it felt like a chore. The plot follows Fletcher an orphan in a small remote village. He is generally downtrodden and looked down on by others in the village. He has been raised by the blacksmith, and it's clearly expected that we sense or interpret a father-son bond between these two characters. However, they barely speak and don't exchange any meaningful conversations that explore the depth of their relationship so it felt very flat and uninteresting.
And that is really the main gripe I have with this book, all of it falls flat and feels really boring. The concept of the demons is interesting in itself but it ended up being ridiculously boring. At one point the character must leave his village on the run, and the entire run and escape was covered in a short period (I think over 2 or 3 chapters). Everything is told instead of shown and just in general did not engage me with the story. I think this is the reason I didn't care about the main character or anyone he meets, he reads like Harry Potter to me as a character and I didn't like him at all.
All in all, I do not recommend this book and can't understand that high ratings and gushes this book gets. Later in this book or the series it may get more interesting and better written, who knows.
DNF @ 45%.
I just can't do this to myself. I hear so many reviewers talk about this series so positively and I can't see where they're coming from at all. If someone mentioned they were thinking of reading the Lightbringer series in front of me I would have to strongly reccomend they pick up any other series instead.
DNF @ 45%.
I just can't do this to myself. I hear so many reviewers talk about this series so positively and I can't see where they're coming from at all. If someone mentioned they were thinking of reading the Lightbringer series in front of me I would have to strongly reccomend they pick up any other series instead.
Unfortunately, this book ended up as a DNF for me. I've delayed writing this review because I was hoping I could get back into it as I have another Selby on my shelves and was intrigued by all the 5 star reviews.
The main barrier to enjoyment was the writing style. This world uses a lot of unique language and unique wording, which I have enjoyed from other authors in the past (notably The Bone Ships by RJ Barker) but I never reached a point where I found myself understanding the language used. This is a pretty important aspect of the writing for me as I don't want to have to stop and re-read to gain more context to puzzle the writing out. It stops me from getting integrated into the book.
I really liked the concept for the book and the idea of reading about a fantasy postal service was really working for me. I also enjoyed the intrigue provided by the secondary POV, a magic user hunting for a rare group of people. I think this could be a great read and one I might revisit in the future to see if the writing works for me.
If the writing style works for you, there's quite a few interconnected books to explore.
Unfortunately, this book ended up as a DNF for me. I've delayed writing this review because I was hoping I could get back into it as I have another Selby on my shelves and was intrigued by all the 5 star reviews.
The main barrier to enjoyment was the writing style. This world uses a lot of unique language and unique wording, which I have enjoyed from other authors in the past (notably The Bone Ships by RJ Barker) but I never reached a point where I found myself understanding the language used. This is a pretty important aspect of the writing for me as I don't want to have to stop and re-read to gain more context to puzzle the writing out. It stops me from getting integrated into the book.
I really liked the concept for the book and the idea of reading about a fantasy postal service was really working for me. I also enjoyed the intrigue provided by the secondary POV, a magic user hunting for a rare group of people. I think this could be a great read and one I might revisit in the future to see if the writing works for me.
If the writing style works for you, there's quite a few interconnected books to explore.
Unfortunately, this book ended up as a DNF for me. I've delayed writing this review because I was hoping I could get back into it as I have another Selby on my shelves and was intrigued by all the 5 star reviews.
The main barrier to enjoyment was the writing style. This world uses a lot of unique language and unique wording, which I have enjoyed from other authors in the past (notably The Bone Ships by RJ Barker) but I never reached a point where I found myself understanding the language used. This is a pretty important aspect of the writing for me as I don't want to have to stop and re-read to gain more context to puzzle the writing out. It stops me from getting integrated into the book.
I really liked the concept for the book and the idea of reading about a fantasy postal service was really working for me. I also enjoyed the intrigue provided by the secondary POV, a magic user hunting for a rare group of people. I think this could be a great read and one I might revisit in the future to see if the writing works for me.
If the writing style works for you, there's quite a few interconnected books to explore.
Unfortunately, this book ended up as a DNF for me. I've delayed writing this review because I was hoping I could get back into it as I have another Selby on my shelves and was intrigued by all the 5 star reviews.
The main barrier to enjoyment was the writing style. This world uses a lot of unique language and unique wording, which I have enjoyed from other authors in the past (notably The Bone Ships by RJ Barker) but I never reached a point where I found myself understanding the language used. This is a pretty important aspect of the writing for me as I don't want to have to stop and re-read to gain more context to puzzle the writing out. It stops me from getting integrated into the book.
I really liked the concept for the book and the idea of reading about a fantasy postal service was really working for me. I also enjoyed the intrigue provided by the secondary POV, a magic user hunting for a rare group of people. I think this could be a great read and one I might revisit in the future to see if the writing works for me.
If the writing style works for you, there's quite a few interconnected books to explore.
Prose was right up my alley, loved the world and even enjoyed a character who I normally would find dramatic and unrealistic, but the number of characters we meet to immediately move on from has bugged me. Hoping some come back for the next book and we keep a main cast throughout
Prose was right up my alley, loved the world and even enjoyed a character who I normally would find dramatic and unrealistic, but the number of characters we meet to immediately move on from has bugged me. Hoping some come back for the next book and we keep a main cast throughout
