Luke Harkness
One of the best thrillers I’ve read for a long time. Hooked from quite early on right until the very last page.
Originally posted at www.lukeharkness.com.
Just something about this book didn't blow me away
I'd been hearing a lot of positive things about this series for a while and after some high fantasy reads, I thought I'd bring myself down to something a little more realistic (based in a real place at least). I thoroughly enjoyed the way in which Ben Aaronovitch wrote, if a little sexist and perverted, it was poetic and well thought out throughout. However, there was a lot of descriptions and background writing that drew me away from the story a little. Almost like he's trying to teach us about the history of London, which I understand he likely was and is possibly the book's semi-intention, but it just didn't flow with me.
The main character was probably a 3/5, he wasn't funny, he wasn't witty, he just seemed to go through the motions and end up doing the right thing. Play, as previously mentioned, nearly all the women were described by the size of their breasts and it just took away from any real picture of what any female characters looked like.
It may sound like I didn't like this book, I did! I thoroughly enjoyed the unique magic system, the clever references to London and how grounded the fantasy elements were. It would make a fantastic dark version of Harry Potter. I would still recommend this book to anyone who enjoys London or city-based books with a slight fantastical twist.
When I first started Shuggie Bain, I didn't get it. But around 200 pages in, I became obsessed. This is one of those tales that I often struggle to get into as I'm not sure where it's going or what the point of it is. Then one event happens or it suddenly clicks inside me that I'm not supposed to be waiting for a rising plot, I'm supposed to be encompassing all of the mini-plots unraveling within the story and squishing them together into one amazing tale. This is Shuggie Bain. Shuggie Bain is also pain, sorrow, sadness and brutal honesty. It's a must-read but features a fair few trigger warnings.
A fun enough action story
As is with all of the John Milton novels, there's nothing particularly complex or deep about them. Mark Dawson does a great job of putting just enough depth into his novels to make them compelling enough as an “easy read” but yeah, there's not much more here than you'll find in any of his other books.
I received this free for signing up to Robin Waite's newsletter and have to say I'm very impressed. I thought it would just be filled with cliché sayings and quotes. But it tells the very simple story of a Pro Golfer who wanted to make his hard work actually pay. He meets a man called David whose a Business Coach who changes his life forever. It's short and it's simple, but it also felt rather informative and motivational.
Have definitely come away from it with some interesting ideas and motivation to continue plowing on with my own side-hustles.
It was OK
I base my reviews based on how much I think about the book after I've finished it and whether I want to jump back into that world. There have been only a couple series where I've NEEDED to read the sequel straight after and a fair few where I knew I'd definitely be jumping back in at some point. However unfortunately this series hasn't brought me in quite as much. There weren't a huge number of characters and especially none that were that likeable. None really had that much personality and the story was really rather generic and doesn't leave me with any questions or queries I'm particularly bothered about having answered in the sequel. I will likely read the sequel as I'd like to for the upcoming Netflix series(‘) but that's it. A positive was that it wasn't too long as there was a cool magic system and unique “villains”.
Another long story
That might sound like a pretty odd and simple title. This whole series is filled with long books. This latest isn't the longest and yet it took a week and a half of reading and audiobook every day. It's an epic for sure.
This particular entry in the series is a very strong one filled with some great action, huge plot moments and some real story progression. Have to say, this is the my favourite since the second. Though - my ongoing two major complaints remain: all women in this book are portrayed as short tempered and angry and not a single person in this book has a sense of humour or seems like they have fun - maybe Mat!
I went into this book wanting some action set in an underground where the surface of the planet was the most dangerous place to be. In all fairness, we did get quite a bit of that but not quite in a way that made me truly terrified.
Due to the nature in the way that the book is written, I kept expecting all the monsters and such to be or have metaphorical meanings but they didn't. This book more discusses how different cultures, religions and mini civilisations might spurt up in a world where there's no guidance from the outside world. The main character had absolutely no personality despite the many long pieces of internal monologues. However, I have come out of this book feeling quite satisfied and intrigued by a lot of the hypothetical religions and mini-cultures that Dmitry Glukhovsky explored in this book
A solid thrilling action book
I don't think I've ever read a book about the president being captured and there being hostages before (despite the presumed cliché of this). And it was great to read and felt very very plausible. Considering this is the “first” in the series, I have to give it props for doing something bold. And having read the two prequel books first, it felt very much like Mitch had grown up and was at peak lethality.
You can't help but love this series
Another tale filled with real people and real struggles. C.J. Sansom really knows how to write real-feeling characters in his book whilst also making you genuinely care about the plot and the politics behind it all. I've found out more about this time period in the first three books of this series than I did during my whole history GCSE. I thoroughly enjoy reading this series and will most certainly continue.
A great prequel and sequel
So I'm coming at this series after American Assassin was already considered “the first” Mitch Rapp book to read so I'm reading from a point of view where this is the second book in the series. From that point of view it's a great sequel. It builds in Rapp's reputation as incredibly dangerous and builds on the characters found in the first book. I very much look forward to reading the true “First book” in the series as this was Vince Flynn's first Mitch Rapp story. Will be interesting to see the transition.
Orphan X appealed to me because I enjoyed the personal touch. Evan Smoak is seen to be heartless and driven to a point where he seems to only care for the objective. However, Orphan X introduced two people into Evan's life that changed his thinking. It also touched on his troubled past and his close relationship with someone else. This book defers away from that a little but definitely gives you a feeling of Evan as a character. I think Jack Reacher has left a bad impression on what I should expect from action heroes. He's a man of no personality. The likes of Evan Smoak and Scot Harvath have really opened up my eyes to action heroes with personality.
I'll continue this series and likely enjoy all of those 4/5 too
A brilliant first in a new series I'm excited for
This book had two very important differences to the many other series like it: it had heart and it was written almost poetically. This is the first book I've read in this action hero genre where we found out so much about the main characters history, had him bonding with characters and had him actually suffering. This made me keep reading as it added a whole new layer to the action, fights and gadgets that I usually read these stories for. Also the series has a really cool premise that I'm excited to read more of. As aforementioned, its also written in a way that, at times, I found almost poetic with metaphors and similes galore.
Another fun ride
Two things stood out to me in this book: Firstly, it felt a lot less like we were constantly being thrown into action for the sake of action and there was better story-telling with deeper characters building. Secondly, I bloody loved the female character in this. I always concentrate on female characters in books to see if the author actually gives them a purpose or if they're just the love interest. But this one was a really strong character who helped Scot Harvath with no real sexual or romantic intentions.
Fascinating but comes with a warning
I'll get the warning right of of the way: this book heavily revolves around theoretical science. This means there are many terms, many explanations and a whole load of times you may be confused. However I don't want this to dissuade people as it is a fascinating insight into how earth could really communicate with extraterrestrial life. This is not an easy read with a smooth flowing story, but as stated: it is a fascinating one!!
Slow build up and a lot of learning but a rewarding tale
I know nothing about the 1500s and only remember Henry VIII and Oliver Cromwell as passing names from my high school history lessons. Therefore the religions and politics during this time had to be learnt almost from fresh so the first 200 pages were quite the slog for me.
The remainder of the book was a treat though and the pace really picked up which brought my score up from probably 3/5 to 4/5.
I loved the flawed main character(s) and look forward to reading the sequels to find out more about them.
So fully invested in this world I've actually started thinking of “Storms!” as an acceptable curse-word in my every day life. I much prefer reading these books in halves as it allows me to not feel so guilty for stopping a book halfway through as they come to a resounding and semi-conclusive resolution in my head.
The problem is, however, that I buy both books at the same time so with the endings being so encapsulating, it makes me desperately want to start the second half. But I don't want to burn out so I'm taking a little break.
More of a journey book
I've used the word “journey” rather than filler because there is good world building and a lot of character building in this book. But this does not feel like a book where Jordan intended to tell a complete tale. It feels more like he wanted to introduce us to more cultures, lands, towns, peoples and then in the last 200/150 pages he wanted to wrap it up so started making it really interesting. I'm not keen on the whole “ooh I've killed Ba'alzamon” “ooooh no you haven't” thing that's happened three times now. These happen with little reason either.
However, I like Jordan's writing style and its very immersive.
Devastatingly powerful
Without a doubt a book that grabs your heart and imagination and pulls on it for over 350 pages. Delia Owens has created a life here that I was fully invested in and had me feeling every emotion possible. Never have I felt so invested in a book to the point where one minute I was nervous and the next I felt I could cry. Her writing style and descriptive writing needs no praise, it's phenomenal. You can visualise the world and almost feel the surrounding through her words. Absolutely outstanding. The second book of the year I'd give six stars if I could.
I. Am. So. Invested.
This has to be the coolest world I have ever read. Never have I been so truly interested in learning more and more of the different cultures, histories, world's and people of this world that Robert Jordan created. This second book had more action, a new drive and some very interesting routes from which the journey can now take!
Obsessed already
This is my new favourite fantasy series without a doubt. This first book brings you into such a fully-realised that you could almost believe it's based in some truth. The character could do with a little more personality but you definitely learn to love and dislike them. But as I said, the world, cultures and civilisations is where this book excels. Making you feel like everything is tied and has its own space in this vast land that Robert Jordan has created. If I could give this six stars, I genuinely think I would...
Definitely some overarching progress now
My problem with the first two books was there was little happening that made you want to explore the second book other than “what's Dresden got himself into this time?”. This book finally lays some foundations for relationships and a storyline that can follow up into more books. The fourth is supposed to be where these start getting really good anyway so I look forward to it!