Beth Morrison
And with that, my YEARS of Sanderson have come to an end.
My only reading goal for 2025 was to finish the Cosmere, and The Sunlit Man was the perfect finale. I’m actually thrilled I saved this for last rather than ending with Wind and Truth. Knowing Nomad’s identity beforehand made the emotional beats hit so much harder.
This book was all gas, no brakes from start to finish! The world-building was fantastic and easily felt like the most "Stormlight-esque" of the Secret Projects. The planet was incredible—essentially Sci-Fantasy Mad Max. Cosmere connections are literally littered across every page, giving us a thrilling glimpse into the future of the universe. The character work is on point, as per usual for Brandon; I wanted to rip my heart out for every single one of them, but the heart of the book is Nomad’s struggle with redemption and the weight of his past. It asks deep questions about whether we can ever truly outrun our mistakes or if they eventually become part of our armor. This one had me tearing up multiple times, and the emotional payoff lasted until the very last page.
My Secret Projects Ranking: • Tress of the Emerald Sea • The Sunlit Man • Yumi and the Nightmare Painter • The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook for Surviving Medieval England
Rating Breakdown: • Characters: 5⭐️ • Setting: 5⭐️ • Plot: 5 ⭐️ • Themes: 4⭐️ • Emotional Impact: 4⭐️ • Personal Enjoyment: 5⭐️ Rounded Overall: 4.5⭐️
"And so, in the face of the most awful darkness he’d ever felt, Kaladin Stormblessed took a deep breath.Then stood up."
I'm happy with the destination, but I struggled with the journey.
For the most part, I enjoyed this, but I understand the criticisms people have and can see where it missed is mark for some (me). Ultimately, I am happy with the ending to this epic first arc and I’m excited to see the repercussions of these events, not just for Roshar, but for the expanding Cosmere.
RATING BREAKDOWN Characters: 4⭐️ Plot: 3⭐️ Setting: 4⭐️ Themes: 3⭐️ Personal enjoyment: 3⭐️ Emotional impact: 3⭐️ Rounded overall: 3⭐️
Rating Breakdown -
Plot: 4 stars
Characters: 4 stars
Setting: 5 stars
Themes: 3 stars
Emotional Impact: 3 stars
Personal enjoyment: 4 stars
Overall: 4 stars
This is widely regarded as one of the best Sherlock Holmes stories, and having read it, I can see why. The pacing was fast and the narrative was easily accessible, making it a compelling read right away.
The story starts off with the famous Baskerville curse, and the first half had a surprisingly comical undertone that immediately hooked my interest. But the second half is where the story truly grips you. It was thrilling and genuinely unpredictable for a long time, though I suspect many modern readers might piece together the mystery just before the final reveal.
The setting on Dartmoor is arguably the most powerful element of the novel. It’s not just a backdrop—it’s a character. Conan Doyle masterfully creates an atmosphere that is both desolate and deeply terrifying. The descriptions of the fog-shrouded, treacherous land, especially the Grimpen Mire, induce a palpable sense of dread. Every time a character ventured out, I felt that chill of isolation and
The plot is meticulously crafted, cleverly using the gothic legend of a family curse as the perfect smokescreen for a calculated crime. The characters are excellent; Sherlock Holmes is his usual brilliant self, but what distinguishes this story is the indispensable role played by Dr. Watson, whose detailed and earnest observations anchor the investigation. While the central theme of rationalism triumphing over superstition is executed well, I felt the exploration of other themes was slightly overshadowed by the sheer intensity of the mystery itself.
Favorite Lines
The prose is studded with sharp, memorable observations:
• "The world is full of obvious things which nobody by any chance ever observes."
• "Evil indeed is the man who has not one woman to mourn him."
• "Some people without possessing genius have a remarkable power of stimulating it."
And my favorite:
• "It is not my intention to be fulsome, but I confess that I covet your skull."
Rating Breakdown
Plot: 3 stars
Characters: 5 stars
Setting: 5 stars
Personal enjoyment: 4 stars
Emotional impact: 3 stars
Themes: 2 stars
Overall: 3.5 stars
The best thing about this book is the time period. The setting is a solid five out of five for me. We're right on that glorious line between stuffy Victorian life and the start of the swinging Edwardian age. Think women starting to realize they can do more than just manage a house, but still having to navigate the whole "find a respectable husband" circus. I eat stiff in this time period up! Plus, the neighborhood has that fantastic quirkiness—we're talking vanishing objects and the occasional rumored sighting of The Roman ghost!
While the plot is just getting started, (it feels like Volume 1 is setting the table) the characters are five-stars,
I honestly loved every single one of them. The dialogue is what makes it sing. It’s all really subtle, sneaky wit and sharp banter. You really have to pay attention because the best, cheekiest lines are easy to miss if you're reading too fast! This character chemistry is what kept me glued to the pages. Emma M. Lion herself is amazing—smart, sarcastic, and dealing with life's garbage like a champ.
Overall, I had a good time! It was a quick read that managed to make me chuckle with Emma's snark one minute, and then feel genuinely bad for her the next when she's dealing with her sad stuff. The themes—like how we handle loss, grief, and leaning on your friends—are classic, but they definitely hit you right in the feels.
I am dedicating all my emotional energy to the hope that Cousin Archibald loses every single one of his pompous robes in a humiliating accident in the next book. Fuck that guy.
"And the drop of corruption that lies within every society shall always persist."
A fantastic sequel that is deeper, darker, and more intense. This novel perfectly fuses dark fantasy with classical detection, starting with an intricate locked-room mystery that quickly expands into a sharp critique of the entire Empire and its corruption.
Rating Breakdown:
Setting: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Characters: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Plot: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Themes: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Emotional Impact: ⭐⭐
Personal Enjoyment: ⭐⭐⭐
Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
World & Setting
Bennett expands the world beautifully, moving from the political center to the gritty, chaotic port of Yarrowdale. This shift highlights the stark political tensions within the Empire. We also get a disturbing look into the source of the Empire's power: the industrial exploitation of the captured leviathans that fuel all the organic augmentations. It’s inventive, immersive biopunk fantasy.
Characters: Ana & Din
The partnership between Din Kol and Ana Dolabra remains the heart of the story. Din faces significant internal struggle, dealing with personal debt and the ethics of his job. Ana, the genius detective, is truly tested by a seemingly impossible crime and a challenging adversary. Their dynamic is compelling because it's so realistic, shifting between genuine understanding and frustrated clashes during the intense investigation.
Plot & Pacing
The narrative is impeccably structured and relentless. Bennett crafts a masterful locked-room mystery where the plot is constantly evolving. Every answer immediately opens the door to deeper complications, ensuring the tension never drops. The pacing is superb, making the complex investigation a thrilling page-turner.
Themes
At its core, the book powerfully explores systemic corruption and moral decay within the Empire. The mystery serves as a mirror reflecting the exploitation and high cost required to sustain such a regime. Bennett's prose is sharp and evocative, balancing technical detail with a clear, engaging narrative.
Final Verdict: A Drop of Corruption is a superior sequel - bigger, darker, and an utterly satisfying mystery. Highly recommended for fans of smart, character-driven fantasy
A Christmas Carol... That I Couldn't Finish (DNF @ 75%) This book was my December book club pick, an unfortunate necessity for an attempt to read outside my comfort zone.
While I usually refuse to rate a book I haven't completed, this story proved so utterly terrible and predictable that I felt justified in abandoning it at 75%—and felt compelled to share exactly why.
❌The Fatal Flaws❌ •The Insulting Narration: The most grating element was the narrator's constant intrusion, which literally spoke to the reader as if we were too dense to follow the story. If the narrator wasn't addressing us, they were addressing the main character, Max/Atlas (whichever you prefer, apparently?), treating the audience like a collection of children who need their hands held through a simple story. •The Man-Child Protagonist: Max/Atlas is clearly intended to be a man in his 30s with the charming, innocent dramatic flair of Kevin from Home Alone. It worked for Kevin because he was a child. For a grown man, this behavior was simply annoying. •Cringe-Worthy Interactions: The writing failed spectacularly in its attempt to create "awkwardly funny" love interest conversations. Instead of humor, the dialogue produced genuine discomfort and constant cringing. This, combined with terrible explicit scenes and the overall teenage-level behavior of the characters, repeatedly grated on my nerves.
🎄 A Few Fleeting Positives I will give credit where it is due: The Setting: I genuinely enjoyed the perpetual Christmas village of Kringle. It was adorable and successfully created a perfect Christmasy feel. The References: The Home Alone references (apart from the protagonist's personality) consistently made me smile when they appeared. Garth/Gary: The character—Garth, or was it Gary?—who appeared in only one scene, was probably the only character who never irritated me.
Okay, let me just say: If you were obsessed with The Will of the Many, prepare yourself. James Islington didn't just write a sequel; he wrote a book that completely rips the doors off the entire series and throws you into the deep end. This isn't just a political thriller anymore—it's a massive, multi-world epic that left me absolutely breathless.
If you're looking for an epic fantasy that treats you like an intelligent reader, with worldbuilding that actually makes your brain hurt (in the best way), this is it. It's ambitious, relentless, and a total rush. Just make sure you have a clear schedule when you start this, because you won't be able to put it down
3.5 rounded up.
This was my first King book as an adult reader. It's probably a weird one to pick, but I figured I'd try something on the lighter side, and I'd heard a few positive reviews. I enjoyed the audio and found myself wanting to keep going, but I didnt think it was anything super special. I enjoyed it, so I rated it above average because that's what I felt like it was. I'm going to continue reading some of his work, and definitely want to give 11/22/63 a try before diving into his extensive backlog, but if you want to drop your favorites by S.K. I'd appreciate it for the future.
“For not all tears are evil.” Good because I'm WEEPING right now!!
Tolkien tied up every single loose end in this, down to Bill the pony. I have never been so satisfied at the end of a trilogy as I am at this moment. I finally understand the love for these books, and this is now the standard for which I will rate every book that I ever read.
“War must be, while we defend our lives against a destroyer who would devour all; but I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend.”
This book is an absolute BANGER!!! I am obsessed with the ents and Faramir. Also, so much lore dropped in this one that I cannot wait to finish and get to the Silmarillion.
“You are the kind of bloom that thrives in any soil.”
I've been a fan of V.E. Scwab for 10 years, and her writing just gets better and better with every book! Bury Our Bones has some of her best writing yet. I ate up every single page. It really felt like Schwab gave us so many pieces of herself. It was beautiful and heart-wrenching all at the same time. stunning.
“Journey before destination, you bastard.”
I'm still trying to decide if this is my new favorite Stormlight book. I think I need a couple of days to settle down before I decide. Either way, it's up there with WoR for me.
update: after sitting on this for two days, I have decided that this is my favorite SA book. WoR is barely behind it, though. BARELY.
