Gemma
The Cruel Prince took booktube by storm even before the official release date. I remember the buzz surrounding this book as various members of the community read the arc and began gushing about Holly Black, “the queen of fae fiction”. I'd never read anything about fae, or anything by Holly Black so while the hype had me interested it never convinced me to read it immediately.
Later, after the buzz died down I read some reviews that dimmed the hype surrounding the Cruel Prince. And it was after the publication of the second book and only a few months before the third book I decided to pick it up.
At eight, Jude has two sisters and a set of parents who love her. But with the arrival of the biological father of her eldest sister, she loses her parents and her connections to the mortal world in one fell swoop. The book picks back up around the age eighteen where Jude and her twin sister are the only mortal members of the gentry class in Faerieland. They are in uniquely dangerous positions as the most vulnerable members of society but they can change that by becoming permanant members of faerie courts. And this book really is about how Jude wants to prove herself and become a member of the court so she can live a safe and ‘normal' life amoung the Folk.
I really liked this book, and I think that was down to the characters protrayed in the story. It focuses on Jude, but probably most importantly on her connection to her twin sister and Cardan, one of the farie princes. There were quite a few moments over the course of this book where I expected the plot to do something, and it would completely upturn those expectations. I also really enjoyed that the faeries were exactly as cruel and brutal as the title suggests, and doesn't really hold back on those aspects. I had expected that due to the YA label, and that I had heard so much buzz about a particular romanitc relationship developing, the book would pull short of really making me believe how cruel the fae were. In reality, the fae were terrible characters with redeeming qualities that did not wash away their true nature. It made the characters who filled this world a lot more interesting and fleshed out.
This one is a surprising four stars from me, and I would reccomend it!
The Cruel Prince took booktube by storm even before the official release date. I remember the buzz surrounding this book as various members of the community read the arc and began gushing about Holly Black, “the queen of fae fiction”. I'd never read anything about fae, or anything by Holly Black so while the hype had me interested it never convinced me to read it immediately.
Later, after the buzz died down I read some reviews that dimmed the hype surrounding the Cruel Prince. And it was after the publication of the second book and only a few months before the third book I decided to pick it up.
At eight, Jude has two sisters and a set of parents who love her. But with the arrival of the biological father of her eldest sister, she loses her parents and her connections to the mortal world in one fell swoop. The book picks back up around the age eighteen where Jude and her twin sister are the only mortal members of the gentry class in Faerieland. They are in uniquely dangerous positions as the most vulnerable members of society but they can change that by becoming permanant members of faerie courts. And this book really is about how Jude wants to prove herself and become a member of the court so she can live a safe and ‘normal' life amoung the Folk.
I really liked this book, and I think that was down to the characters protrayed in the story. It focuses on Jude, but probably most importantly on her connection to her twin sister and Cardan, one of the farie princes. There were quite a few moments over the course of this book where I expected the plot to do something, and it would completely upturn those expectations. I also really enjoyed that the faeries were exactly as cruel and brutal as the title suggests, and doesn't really hold back on those aspects. I had expected that due to the YA label, and that I had heard so much buzz about a particular romanitc relationship developing, the book would pull short of really making me believe how cruel the fae were. In reality, the fae were terrible characters with redeeming qualities that did not wash away their true nature. It made the characters who filled this world a lot more interesting and fleshed out.
This one is a surprising four stars from me, and I would reccomend it!
One of my top books of the year, definitely one of the best arcs I???ve ever had the pleasure of reviewing. I picked it up mainly due to the author???s name as I???ve only every heard great things said about her books but I???d never read one myself. And this was a phenomenal place to start.
I love the mixing of genres, so a science fiction thriller mystery was absolutely going to be on my highly anticipated list. I had forgotten the premise of the book by the time it came around to reading it (as I seem to always say in these reviews, but it has paid off well for me in the past), so I loved being thrown straight into the science fiction world where our main character works as a renowned scientist studying clones.
I thought I knew what I was getting into but although this book is only 250-ish pages, it feels like a 500 page epic. So much happens over the course of the book and there isn???t a single wasted scene. Everything is so tightly and masterfully engineered to craft this story with no fat to trim. There were multiple points where I reacted out loud to moments.
The initial idea was a great one, but the execution elevated the story so much further. The writing was excellent, there was tonnes of insight into our main characters and the plot progressed so steadily there was no dull moment. I hope this book gets adapted, I think it could be perfect on the big screen.
One of my top books of the year, definitely one of the best arcs I???ve ever had the pleasure of reviewing. I picked it up mainly due to the author???s name as I???ve only every heard great things said about her books but I???d never read one myself. And this was a phenomenal place to start.
I love the mixing of genres, so a science fiction thriller mystery was absolutely going to be on my highly anticipated list. I had forgotten the premise of the book by the time it came around to reading it (as I seem to always say in these reviews, but it has paid off well for me in the past), so I loved being thrown straight into the science fiction world where our main character works as a renowned scientist studying clones.
I thought I knew what I was getting into but although this book is only 250-ish pages, it feels like a 500 page epic. So much happens over the course of the book and there isn???t a single wasted scene. Everything is so tightly and masterfully engineered to craft this story with no fat to trim. There were multiple points where I reacted out loud to moments.
The initial idea was a great one, but the execution elevated the story so much further. The writing was excellent, there was tonnes of insight into our main characters and the plot progressed so steadily there was no dull moment. I hope this book gets adapted, I think it could be perfect on the big screen.
I picked up Leviathan Wakes because one of my book clubs suggested it, and I thought it would be an interesting foray into the world of science fiction. Previously I've read both Andy Weir books currently out and not much else that could be classified as science fiction so I was excited for this book.
I knew almost instantly I was going to love this book. This book steals aspects from various genres; science fiction, crime fiction, and horror mainly. I personally feel that it takes the best parts of each genre for this book and builds a complex story out of them. The world felt expansive and really well designed, and it really gradually pushed the boundaries of the world we were aware of over the course of the book so I never felt lost. The cast also gets fairly large, but I similarly felt that we were never introduced to too many people too fast.
I want to make a special mention of the characters in this book, because it was how developed and how real the characters were that made me really fall for the book. The book is told from alternating perspectives of two characters that felt to me like best friends separated by lifestyle and moral compasses. Like Doug Judy and Jake Peralta. I really enjoyed the two opposite sides to this story.
I found this book to be funny, engrossing and quite thrilling in a slow burn kind of way. I would highly recommend reading these, especially on audio book. The audio book experience could have easily earned an extra star on its own.
I picked up Leviathan Wakes because one of my book clubs suggested it, and I thought it would be an interesting foray into the world of science fiction. Previously I've read both Andy Weir books currently out and not much else that could be classified as science fiction so I was excited for this book.
I knew almost instantly I was going to love this book. This book steals aspects from various genres; science fiction, crime fiction, and horror mainly. I personally feel that it takes the best parts of each genre for this book and builds a complex story out of them. The world felt expansive and really well designed, and it really gradually pushed the boundaries of the world we were aware of over the course of the book so I never felt lost. The cast also gets fairly large, but I similarly felt that we were never introduced to too many people too fast.
I want to make a special mention of the characters in this book, because it was how developed and how real the characters were that made me really fall for the book. The book is told from alternating perspectives of two characters that felt to me like best friends separated by lifestyle and moral compasses. Like Doug Judy and Jake Peralta. I really enjoyed the two opposite sides to this story.
I found this book to be funny, engrossing and quite thrilling in a slow burn kind of way. I would highly recommend reading these, especially on audio book. The audio book experience could have easily earned an extra star on its own.
This book sat on my shelf for far too long waiting for me to appreciate it, so I need to write this review to let you readers know to pick it up immediately.
This is a close up study of the lineage of a family split down the bloodlines of two sisters. So in every second chapter we are going to the next generation and we read a chapter from a member of that generation from each of the sisters bloodlines. This choice made what could have been a very slow book feel lightning fast and gripping.
Gyasi is writing an intimate character study, but not of one person. In Homecoming, the family is the character. I adored this book so much for the characters. They were so real and the emotions in this book (especially towards the end) were really effective because of how closely you are tied to the characters. The story arc is for the family, and when we hit that final chapter and got some emotional resolution I was welling up. It has been a while since a book made me slow down, deliberately savour the story being told and experience every emotion with our characters.
I highly recommend this book. I am so incredibly excited for the new release coming from Gyasi. If you're like me and have had Homegoing sitting unread on your shelf for a few years, prioritise it. It's going to be worth it.
This book sat on my shelf for far too long waiting for me to appreciate it, so I need to write this review to let you readers know to pick it up immediately.
This is a close up study of the lineage of a family split down the bloodlines of two sisters. So in every second chapter we are going to the next generation and we read a chapter from a member of that generation from each of the sisters bloodlines. This choice made what could have been a very slow book feel lightning fast and gripping.
Gyasi is writing an intimate character study, but not of one person. In Homecoming, the family is the character. I adored this book so much for the characters. They were so real and the emotions in this book (especially towards the end) were really effective because of how closely you are tied to the characters. The story arc is for the family, and when we hit that final chapter and got some emotional resolution I was welling up. It has been a while since a book made me slow down, deliberately savour the story being told and experience every emotion with our characters.
I highly recommend this book. I am so incredibly excited for the new release coming from Gyasi. If you're like me and have had Homegoing sitting unread on your shelf for a few years, prioritise it. It's going to be worth it.
I think I will be quitting the cosmere. I like the idea of Sanderson books but his characters and humor are not to my taste and I find it makes me slumpy when I read these books. I still own Stormlight so I'll give that a last shot but likely won't continue past the ones I already own.
I think I will be quitting the cosmere. I like the idea of Sanderson books but his characters and humor are not to my taste and I find it makes me slumpy when I read these books. I still own Stormlight so I'll give that a last shot but likely won't continue past the ones I already own.
A Gentleman in Moscow is possibly the greatest book I've picked up on a whim. I'm incredibly interested in the period of time immediately after the Russian revolution, so the setting of this particular book jumped out at me when I discovered it on goodreads.
I adored Towles' writing style. It felt easygoing and I flew through the pages when I picked it up. It was the first book that prompted me to use the highlight function on my kindle. The style really felt as though the Count was telling this tale to me with all his eccentricities. He is the best character this year to date for me. I loved him from the first page and keep thinking of him when I'm not reading the book.
Pick this book up!
A Gentleman in Moscow is possibly the greatest book I've picked up on a whim. I'm incredibly interested in the period of time immediately after the Russian revolution, so the setting of this particular book jumped out at me when I discovered it on goodreads.
I adored Towles' writing style. It felt easygoing and I flew through the pages when I picked it up. It was the first book that prompted me to use the highlight function on my kindle. The style really felt as though the Count was telling this tale to me with all his eccentricities. He is the best character this year to date for me. I loved him from the first page and keep thinking of him when I'm not reading the book.
Pick this book up!
The Way of Shadows ???????????????Shadow's Edge ???????????????
Did that seriously only take me six days? It felt like an eternity.
Firstly, I finished The Way of Shadows and adored it. This whole series is a re-read for me: I originally read this series around 7-10 years ago. I tanned the whole trilogy quickly and I was far too young to properly understand and appreciate the plot. Upon re-reading, I gave the first book a five star rating and was really disappointed by this book. In fact, when speaking to my dad about the series (he had read it around the same time I originally I did), he remembered loving the first and being disappointed by the second. He told me he never bothered with the third.
The second book is so disappointing because of how much of a departure it is from the first. The first follows Kylar as he grows from young orphan boy to a master assassin. The plot is complex, the book is fast paced and the relationships are rich. I found the dynamic between Kylar and Durzo to be one of my favourite parts of the first book and I did miss it in the second. But more importantly, Kylar seems to regress from the first to the second book. In the first book he is focused and calculating, even outside of battle. For the first third of the second book he is completely adsorbed by his relationship with Elene. It makes him a completely unlikeable incel (involuntary celibate), and the majority of his thoughts about Elene complain about how they haven't had sex yet as she wants to wait for marriage.
It brings me on to another point that other reviewers have made, more eloquently than me. All of the women in this novel are piss poor caricatures of women. A whore who fell in unrequited love, a deadly assassin who uses her body for her work because she can feel no love, a prudish virgin, a woman forced to whoring and rejected by her family. It disappoints me because I enjoyed Momma K in the first book, and I was astounded at how boring and predictable Vi's plotline turned out to be in the second book.
For the first 90% of the book, the pacing is too slow and it felt like running through soup to get through the book. The last 10% flew by too fast, and held a large portion of the action. I have heard that Brent Weeks' second series shows a large improvement from this one, so my hope still remains strong. I am going to continue on and finish this trilogy to see how the bombs dropped at the end of this book detonate.
The Way of Shadows ???????????????Shadow's Edge ???????????????
Did that seriously only take me six days? It felt like an eternity.
Firstly, I finished The Way of Shadows and adored it. This whole series is a re-read for me: I originally read this series around 7-10 years ago. I tanned the whole trilogy quickly and I was far too young to properly understand and appreciate the plot. Upon re-reading, I gave the first book a five star rating and was really disappointed by this book. In fact, when speaking to my dad about the series (he had read it around the same time I originally I did), he remembered loving the first and being disappointed by the second. He told me he never bothered with the third.
The second book is so disappointing because of how much of a departure it is from the first. The first follows Kylar as he grows from young orphan boy to a master assassin. The plot is complex, the book is fast paced and the relationships are rich. I found the dynamic between Kylar and Durzo to be one of my favourite parts of the first book and I did miss it in the second. But more importantly, Kylar seems to regress from the first to the second book. In the first book he is focused and calculating, even outside of battle. For the first third of the second book he is completely adsorbed by his relationship with Elene. It makes him a completely unlikeable incel (involuntary celibate), and the majority of his thoughts about Elene complain about how they haven't had sex yet as she wants to wait for marriage.
It brings me on to another point that other reviewers have made, more eloquently than me. All of the women in this novel are piss poor caricatures of women. A whore who fell in unrequited love, a deadly assassin who uses her body for her work because she can feel no love, a prudish virgin, a woman forced to whoring and rejected by her family. It disappoints me because I enjoyed Momma K in the first book, and I was astounded at how boring and predictable Vi's plotline turned out to be in the second book.
For the first 90% of the book, the pacing is too slow and it felt like running through soup to get through the book. The last 10% flew by too fast, and held a large portion of the action. I have heard that Brent Weeks' second series shows a large improvement from this one, so my hope still remains strong. I am going to continue on and finish this trilogy to see how the bombs dropped at the end of this book detonate.
