Lauren OK
4.25⭐️
I feel like I lived many lifetimes reading this book.
True to form, Karin Slaughter writes much more than a murder mystery. There's a lot of character study, interpersonal drama, and complications. Many, many complications.
This was so good, and had me guessing the entire time. I will say there was a point around the 60-70% mark where I began to feel impatient—like, I get it but can we keep this moving please? Maybe you could have shaved 30-50 pages off and I wouldn't have missed them. But that's a small issue compared to how much I enjoyed this overall!
“Someone, after all, must do the undignified labor to keep the grand works of our era from tumbling down.”
Well I read this book two years too late! This murder mystery is set in a fantasy world where sea walls are built to keep out leviathans, people are augmented or altered with certain physical and/or mental prowess, and contagions are more dangerous than ever.
In the height of wet season (where leviathans are ready to breach the wall), mysterious murders abound. Din, our narrator, must aid Ana in figuring out how all these engineers died from a plant-based contagion. Din is this bumbling rule-follower augmented for perfect memory recall, and Ana is…overstimulated. She wears a blindfold at virtually all times, and relies on Din to be her eyes and ears.
But Ana is fantastic. My favorite part of this book by far. Through Din’s POV we’re given a front row seat to her antics and witticisms. She’s sarcastic, pointed, and philosophical at times, and poor Din is trying to keep up all the while harboring a secret.
I had so much fun with this, and I’m curious to see if we get any more insight into the leviathans in future books 👀
Okay, good stuff first, then we'll get to the issues I had with it:
- Xiala. No surprise there. If it hadn't been for Serapio I wouldn't have been opposed to her putting a saddle on that Kraken, ya know? - Balam. I love a good villain, and I really feel like we got some great context as to why he is the way he is. His character was chiiiiiiilling. - Naranpa. While I have issues here...I've loved seeing how she's changed through this series. - BETRAYAL. - I love a good prophecy (although some might argue this would've been better drawn out over multiple books)
This trilogy has been amazing, but the ending did not land for me. There was so much build up and anticipation and it all felt like it fizzled out a little bit? There was a lot of great setup and character development with very poor follow-through, in my opinion.
I'm genuinely disappointed in Naranpa's storyline. She was such an important character, and I did not get any closure on what happened to her. I also felt like Okoa's POV was ultimately frustrating and unnecessary. You made him go through all that, and for what? 😭
I actually docked my rating .25 stars because I got frustrated all over again writing this. The reason being is because I have LOVED this series and its characters, and the author pulled so many punches by the end.
With that being said, a lot of people loved the ending. I'd still recommend it and will still be thinking about it, which goes to show the amount of talent Rebecca Roanhorse has!
This book centers on its quest, not its destination. Not an inherently bad thing, but if you're going to focus on traveling from one place to another, while mercilessly referencing lore and lands I am hearing about for the FIRST time, at least let me get close to your characters!
Kinch has a fun inner monologue. He's a thief and naturally irreverent and cheeky in the way he comments on the world around him. But he spent most of his time explaining things to me. At one point his family gets threatened, but we never learn about his family, or his previous emotional ties or investment in this world. It felt all very surface level.
I loved how well-realized Manreach was, but at times it felt like the author was trying to prove how good of a worldbuilder he was...like, yeah, I get that there are two different card decks for the nobility and the working class, but did you have to bring it up so many times?
Where Between Two Fires focused on two very different people learning to trust and provide aid for each other, this just felt like going through the motions of plot. We meet Galva in the very first chapter, and yet by the end of the book we don't know much more about her other than facts.
Overall I enjoyed it, but it could've been so much more than hitting points on a map.
What a delight this was!
I had semi-low expectations because of other reviews from people I follow, but I was pleasantly surprised. Maybe I was just in the right mood.
Black Sun is a steep learning curve, but by the time I got to Fevered Star I was well-versed in the world, its lands, and its clans. The plot sort of settles a bit and is more focused on character depth and revelations, all of which I enjoyed thoroughly. Naranpa has become my favorite. Her character took a lot more agency in this arc, and it was so satisfying to read.
There was also quite a bit of political maneuvering, and by the end all the tension that has been building is clearly set to come to a head in Book 3. ONWARD.
This historical romance delighted and surprised me at nearly every turn.
First off, a widow in regency era romance in refreshing in that we avoid the virginity trope, which made the Bridgerton books such a drag for me. Martha Russell's husband has just died, but she's not immediately kicked off his estate because she might be pregnant, and therefore may have an heir on the way. So to avoid getting her monthlies, she propositions a newcomer in town—enter Theo Mirkwood ;) Mrs. Russell needs a kid QUICK, and Mr. Mirkwood might be just the ticket.
This is a depiction of what happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object (the force being Theo's seductive prowess and the object Martha's unflinching rigidity). It is hilarious.
I also highly recommend the audiobook. Susan Ericksen delivers each line with precise humor, and captures the mood perfectly.
Absolutely devoured this and read the second immediately!!
If I may quote an apt review I saw on Threads: “A beautiful and surprisingly funny book about trauma, friends, and male assholes of varying species.”
I went into this book completely blind (one of my favorite activities—especially when it's with an author I already love), and in this particular instance I was taken on quite an interesting ride.
This book starts innocuously enough, with our protagonist traveling to a small town in New Mexico in search of her aunt. Pretty early on we're given a strong sense of place, with descriptions like, “She had expected deserts to be full of sand, but the earth here looked more like talcum powder mixed with rocks. The shrubs along the road had gray bark and grew sideways, split, grew sideways again.”
I would classify it as “cozy,” up until the point where she begins to feel the eyes of a particularly creepy roadrunner statue watching her. I will say no more.
She moves into her late aunt's house, and hijinks ensue. And when I say “hijinx” you'll just have to take my word on that.
If Agatha Christie and Douglas Adams had a literary child, I suppose it would be Connie Willis.
I heard about this author as inspiration for another author's work, so naturally I moseyed on over to the Goodreads profile where review after review mentioned this book being a reread.
A reread, you say? Well, now that I have made this journey (there and back again), I can see why. After reading this one time I can safely assume to have missed 50-75% of the references layered within the dialogue and narration of this book. It felt like watching an episode of Veep, where there are almost TOO many jokes from one sentence to another that you simply cannot catch them all at first pass.
I guess you'd consider this a soft sci-fi book—yes, there is time travel, but that is more of a vehicle for the plot, not the focal point. Our charming protagonist, Ned, has found himself in the Victorian era in order to rest and recover from his time-lag (with symptoms including maudlin sentimentality, difficulty in distinguishing sounds, fatigue, tendency to become distracted by irrelevancies, slowness in answering, blurred vision, etc.). Shenanigans ensue.
This is a comedy of errors that made me laugh out loud all throughout. There is a wonderful bulldog named Cyril who steals the show, a beautiful naiad Ned is absolutely smitten by, a shrill American who Doesn't Understand Time Travel, and the bishop's bird stump!
If that sounds fun to you, obviously read it. You will have a BLAST.
3.75⭐️ rounded up!
I was unsure about this at first—it starts out pretty slowly and sort of meanders for the first 40% or so. It's very reminiscent of Legends & Lattes, but in reverse. It's the start of a new party coming together.
Honestly I may not have kept on reading if it wasn't for Book Club Guilt, but luckily it eventually picks up. It's like the beginning of a very low stakes D&D game, where a fighter, a rogue, a sorcerer, and a baker (lol) join forces to find a missing kid. There are animals too because, well, of course there are.
There were moments that made me blink a little faster, where characters help each other carry the other's burdens, and take a small step toward healing. It could easily have been too saccharine and sentimental, but it actually felt tender and heartwarming.
Overall, very pleasantly surprised by this!
4.25 ⭐️
WOW. Jumping into a new fantasy setting often feels tedious or overwhelming, but this debut novel jumps right into the action. We're only told what we absolutely need to know in order to keep reading, so I never felt like this was info-dumpy. The key, I think, is that we are given ample opportunity to grow invested in our two main characters. And since we meet them so young, I have a feeling that investment will only get stronger as we watch them grow up.
I was in a weird reading slump when I started this, but if I was in a normal rhythm I could have easily read this in 2-3 days. The pacing is great, and it's easy to follow even with multiple POVs. This is a great setup for an intricate story of revenge, politics, and found family. I can't wait for Book 2!!
I'm sorry but the name “Nolan” just makes me think of Felicity. Anyone? Anyone??
Magical realism in an otherwise contemporary romance puts such a fun twist on what tends to be an otherwise lukewarm genre. That is not a dig on romance, it's just not for me most of the time. Anyway.
What worked for me here was, first off, the irishman. And the concept of there being many Ghosts of Christmas Past/Present/Future that help redeem terrible people around the holidays. I also love a lot of tension and buildup to romance. Like...you gotta work for that first kiss. I know I joke about it but the longer it takes the better the payoff. What's that called? Oh, yeah. YEARNING. Hmmm.
The ending felt a little rushed. I have questions. And I probably should have cared more about the mother/sister situation more than I did. But all in all, very solid romance and I thoroughly enjoyed it!
Did I read this while fully awake? Because this felt like some sort of subliminal, dreamlike masterpiece and now that I'm trying to use words everything feels too rudimentary and crass.
I don't know how you juxtapose the modern day(ish) and medieval without coming across as trite but this was somehow completely storybook and whimsical while still feeling grounded and real. Both the scholar and the knight had me captivated for different reasons. The villain was also TERRIFYING. Truly. Without being cartoonish.
I want to keep this book to myself. I want to share it with everybody. I want to read it forever. I never want to read it again. I hate it because it's so beautifully written. I love it because of how much it hurt me. If you are emotionally repressed and need to feel something, you've found your golden ticket.
I've read a lot of great reviews about the themes of this book, and you should go read them. I will not belabor the point. I loved this story from front to back, and will be thinking about it for a long time!!
Even if you're already familiar with Greek mythology, I have a hard time believing you won't still be entertained by the way Stephen Fry weaves these centuries-old tales.
Me? I didn't know a ton aside from what was covered by Disney's Hercules (His name was Heracles, and not Hera's son, by the way! The name was meant to troll Hera because she HATED him! But that is actually covered in the next book, Heroes) and Lore Olympus. But boy did I learn! And I had fun while I did! Get ready to be SICK of me and all of my “fun facts.”
Anyway, highly recommend if you're headed into a Greek mythology phase any time soon. And the audiobook is fantastic.
Gaaahhhh okay. I have FEELINGS about this ending.
First off, I am completely enamored with this history Shauna Lawless has richly painted for us. She's woven together actual events with mythology so beautifully it's hard to see where one ends and another begins. When it comes to Brian Boru and his family, I was a complete amateur and had no idea where this final installment was heading. WHY DID NO ONE WARN ME?? (jk I'm glad no one did)
I really love Fódla, even though she frustrated me at times. She reminded me a lot of Elinor from Sense and Sensibility—constantly suppressing her own desires and emotions for the sake of others. So it was nice to see her take some agency for herself.
Gormflaith lost a little bit of steam for me in this one. I wanted to see her rise up a bit more, as I felt like her arc was coming to some sort of climax, and I don't feel like she got her moment. She needed her moment...which I guess will come in a future installment.
Which leads into my main sticking point: I take umbrage with the fact that this is a “trilogy.” This is not a trilogy. This series is INCOMPLETE. And it HURTS.
4.75⭐️ rounded UP babaaaaay
I had the time of my LIFE with this book.
I can't imagine how hard it is to balance world building, fun dialogue, and sexy characters. But imo Ruby Dixon nailed it. Was it perfect? Technically speaking, no. But for all intents and purposes I think it's a supreme example of balancing plot, lovable characters, and spice.
I was so emotionally invested that I inhaled this in two days (I hiiiiiighly recommend the audiobook). So I admittedly may have missed a plot hole or two, but I was here for a good time not a long time! Maybe the Conquest Moon was out and I didn't realize...
4.5⭐️ rounded up! Holy molyyyyy this was even better than the first!
What a beautiful world. While the stakes are being ratcheted up with this installment, the pacing still feels ... gentle? Is that the right word? The storytelling feels melodic and ethereal, and I think that is telling of the mythical elements the author is pulling from.
I so enjoyed the added POV, as well as the continued parallels between our main FMCs. There's nothing quite like being in a villain's head!! Muahaha.
I'm ready to jump into the third book AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. I must see what is in store for Fódla!!!
4.25⭐️
What a strong start to this series! I loved our two main characters and their parallels—two women fighting to protect their loved ones in the midst of the scheming of mortal men.
The pacing was great too. Even though there was a lot of politicking and traveling it never dragged down the story. I'm really excited to learn more about these characters and follow their journey in the next books :) I have a feeling I'll only get more and more emotionally invested.
Also HE DIDN'T GRIMACE WHEN HE SAW HER SCARS. Of COURSE I'm going to keep going!!!
It hit me as I was reading this installment that if you enjoy Doctor Who, you'll probably enjoy this series. That's the closest comparison I can think of as new planetary conflicts and species are introduced.
I loved meeting Dina's sister and niece in this installment, as well as the uptick in romance. I'm having a lot of fun with where this series is going!!
Yet another fairytale reworking by T. Kingfisher that I loved. This little story was so creative and also managed to pack in TK's signature dark and macabre themes while not feeling too weighed down. I got just enough of Toadling's backstory to feel invested in her as a character, and thoroughly enjoyed her journey.