This was a fantastic read. A atmospheric, somewhat eerie novel set in a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by some kind of ecological disaster (what a surThis was a fantastic read. A atmospheric, somewhat eerie novel set in a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by some kind of ecological disaster (what a surprise!). There is a sinister, suffocating feel about the setting—as if two elderly sisters sequestered for decades in the kitchen of a mansion that has been boarded up is not suffocating enough. Even though they have their garden and the vast grounds to tend to, the sisters' lives are tiny. As the story progresses, we get a better sense of the tragedy that has befallen their times, even though there are no details. I have great admiration for authors who can build apocalyptic fantasty with such a narrow focus.
What a fantastic set-up. I loved the idea of the Syndicate, built on a bedrock of dubious morality, with its time-travelling Runners and their pilferiWhat a fantastic set-up. I loved the idea of the Syndicate, built on a bedrock of dubious morality, with its time-travelling Runners and their pilfering of artefacts from the past. Sophie Davis (I believe this is a pseudonym for two people) does a fantastic job of world-building and weaving in an advanced, futuristic society with historical settings.
One is immediately able to identify with Stassi as a main character and it is refreshing to see female-led fantasy where the protagonist is in full control of herself. Though it isn't clear how old Stassi and her contemporaries are -- late teens or early twenties would be my guess. Another plus in the book's favour is that even though Stassi's search for her antecedents seems to be a story arc running through the series, The Syndicate is a complete story. No cliffhangers, don't worry.
The only jarring bit was Stassi's relationship with her annoying Runner partner Gaige. Their interactions are -- for want of better terminology -- over-described. It is clear that there isn't any romantic sparks between the two of them; the fact that he is like a brother to Stassi would have been clear even if it hadn't been mentioned many times.
There is some decent suspense in this book. I had decided that the Night Gentleman's identity was a foregone conclusion, but it wasn't and it took me by surprise.
There are some books you read and wish you'd written them. This was one of them. Many thanks to Sophie Davis Books for letting me have a review copy....more
Wow, an incredible dystopian fantasy novel that makes you confront so much of your preconceived notions. I don't want to say much for fear of spoilersWow, an incredible dystopian fantasy novel that makes you confront so much of your preconceived notions. I don't want to say much for fear of spoilers. I actually finished this over a month ago, but have been sitting on writing the review because there was so much to process. The only thing I wasn't a fan of was the writing—I found it way too dense at times, and even after reading two or three times, I was left none the wiser about what had just been said.
Nevertheless, one of my top fantasy reads of the year.
Wow. What a fantastic book. Easily the best fantasy novel I've read in the past few years. Saara El-Arifi builds a breathtaking world with roots in AfWow. What a fantastic book. Easily the best fantasy novel I've read in the past few years. Saara El-Arifi builds a breathtaking world with roots in Africa, complete with a vibrant landscape and history, and a host of diverse characters. All of this with zero pandering to white readers. Go Saara!
I particularly enjoyed the casual way that diversity is baked in. There were a few places where I was unconvinced by the logic, or didn't understand why someone did something, but that takes away nothing from this stunning debut. The only major complaint I have is that the book finished abruptly—or I had a few pages missing from my file.
Well, this was a book about a dead lesbian that I actually volunteered to read, so that's something. However, it was somewhat disappointing, and felt Well, this was a book about a dead lesbian that I actually volunteered to read, so that's something. However, it was somewhat disappointing, and felt like there were too many gaps in the story. First, I'm not a fan of instalove, and after a while Ash and Poppy's romance was cloying. Second, after her death, it didn't seem like Ash actually cared about anyone she loved—not her family, not her best friend, not her girlfriend—even though we are told later that she did miss them. The story went from Ash's life being so rich with all the people she loved to them being wiped out of existence. Third, the ending was far from satisfying.
SPOILER... SKIP TO NEXT PARA: ## ## There was no real resolution about what happened to Ash, to Poppy. We already knew that nobody knows where Charon takes dead souls, so the ending felt a little pointless. ## ## SPOILER OVER
What a lovely MG novel, with a fantasy (gothic) element and a real historical fact as background. Tig is a lovely protagonist, and while the book dragWhat a lovely MG novel, with a fantasy (gothic) element and a real historical fact as background. Tig is a lovely protagonist, and while the book drags a bit at the start, it picks up later on. The detail of working in a theatre much before modern amenities like electricity was available is fascinating.
Will definitely be recommending this to young and old readers who like a bit of magic and spooks in their lives.
3.5 stars. This was a really good book, but I'm taking away one whole star for the instalove trope, and the absolutely ridiculous romance that the plo3.5 stars. This was a really good book, but I'm taking away one whole star for the instalove trope, and the absolutely ridiculous romance that the plot hinged on. Then again, Tracy Deonn gets all those other stars and a half because of the absolutely cracking twist at the end. Plus, the LGBTQ representation in this book was great, without making a song and dance about who was gay, who was enby, who was straight, etc.
To be honest, I wasn't very impressed with the first third or so. There were glimpses of brilliance, but seeing spoilt-brat teens risking life, limb, and the love those they held dear because...ugh...hormones almost made me give up. The complex terminology with the Arthurian part of the book was also tiresome. Then came rootcraft, and I was hooked. I only wish it had a more central role in the plot.
Having a Black character as the main protagonist, of course, added some deep nuances with regard to race, something that has for too been missing from fiction from the West. The only thing that grated on me was Bree and her lusty longings for Nick. The other thing I did not enjoy was the oversimplified representation of rootcraft as pure and good, whereas the Arthurian folk were far more layered and rounded. I hope rootcraft gets more screentime (pagetime?) in the next book (which I will definitely be reading).
An interesting premise, but one that the author doesn't quite pull off in terms of writing. The book read more like an outline than a proper narrativeAn interesting premise, but one that the author doesn't quite pull off in terms of writing. The book read more like an outline than a proper narrative, with needless detail. The protagonist, despite being powerful, appeared to be a damsel in distress, with men around her making all the decisions for her, including choosing how much information to give her. I read about 50 per cent and then could read no more.
Wow, this book was a spectacularly crafted, non-stop ride, though I'm taking away a star for casual sexism. I have no patience any more for token femaWow, this book was a spectacularly crafted, non-stop ride, though I'm taking away a star for casual sexism. I have no patience any more for token female representation in YA. Thankfully, the only girl was gay, though the main protagonist did have a crush on her at a time in the past, which would have ticked off another stereotype. She was also absent for much of the final denouement. The plot, the concept of the God Game, the pacing, etc., were brilliant, even though some of the philosophy was lost on me. As a writer on tech, particularly cyber security, the premise of an all-seeing, all-knowing "intelligence" was quite fascinating to me. (Review copy from NetGalley)...more
Loved this book. Even though there was really no central plot and no conflict appeared for much of the book, I found the setting, writing and story enLoved this book. Even though there was really no central plot and no conflict appeared for much of the book, I found the setting, writing and story enthralling. In fact, I'm off right now to seek out the next book in the series....more
This was a fun book to start with. I liked the suspense of the postcards and Tick trying to figure out what was going on, but the book petered out towThis was a fun book to start with. I liked the suspense of the postcards and Tick trying to figure out what was going on, but the book petered out towards the end. Apart from Tick, Rutger and Mothball, the characters weren't particularly interesting either (and must stay that the token girl character put me off quite a bit). Overall, I'd think that an average middle-grade reader would quite enjoy this book. As an adult, though, I couldn't get my head around Tick's father, who I thought was ridiculously irresponsible.
This book has a deliciously diverse cast of characters, but I'm halfway through and there doesn't seem to be a central plot tying everything together.This book has a deliciously diverse cast of characters, but I'm halfway through and there doesn't seem to be a central plot tying everything together. Abandonment beckons.
It starts off very promisingly and I was much looking forward to the story of Lisette, the ten-year-old transgender princess, who experiences a drastic change in fortunes after a coup results in the death of her mother and one of her fathers. Rather than swear allegiance to her surviving father, she prefers to live as a bondservant, exiled to live "downstairs" and serve others.
However, the story meanders as a number of other characters are introduced, including Emeline the royal mistress, the huntsman, the champion of deathfights and the royal executioner. Some sections also read rather flat, and you struggle to make sense of what's happening. My review copy says it's an uncorrected proof, but it's more an unedited manuscript. This book could well be a diamond in the rough, but doesn't live up to its promise in its present form.
O stars. Taste is subjective, and one woman’s tripe is another’s artistic wizardy. But really, the writing is deplorable, the story wholly predictable,O stars. Taste is subjective, and one woman’s tripe is another’s artistic wizardy. But really, the writing is deplorable, the story wholly predictable, and characters stereotyped. More here....more
(Yeeargh! Goodreads just ate up the entire review I wrote for Dreadnoughts! Let's see if I can get my thoughts together again.)
Dreadnoughts is the fir(Yeeargh! Goodreads just ate up the entire review I wrote for Dreadnoughts! Let's see if I can get my thoughts together again.)
Dreadnoughts is the first of what appears to be a very promising series, featuring a transgender girl who's been thrust the mantle of a superhero. Saving the world is all very well, but sometimes you need to save yourself too -- as Danny realizes when she comes face to face with the wrath of her abusive father, who cannot and will not reconcile himself to the fact that Danny is transgender.
In the course of the weeks that follow, Danny also befriends a fellow superhero from her school, Calamity, and the two of them make a daring plan to hunt down the supervillain Utopia (who killed the earlier Dreadnought). What in the world could Utopia be up to, and what makes her so powerful? Could Danny and Calamity be putting themselves at risk trying to go after her?
As much fun as the action and superhero-adventuring part was, issues relating to Danny's family and her friend were just as engaging. Especially her family situation -- a mother who wants to be supportive but isn't able to stand up to her husband, and a father who's just flat out transphobic, homophobic, and a bully. The portrayal of Danny's best friend was also spot on -- David is the type of boy who feels that he is entitled to the attentions of any and every girl that he fancies, and cannot understand why they are not interested. When he sees Danny as a girl, he deigns to "allow" her to date him, and doesn't take it too well when called out on his messed-up ideas. Unfortunately, neither Danny's family situation nor the one with her friend have been taken to a conclusion. But perhaps later books in the series will deal with them.
This was an odd book. It came highly recommended from a number of thirteen-year-olds and it was quite captivating at the beginning. However, as the stThis was an odd book. It came highly recommended from a number of thirteen-year-olds and it was quite captivating at the beginning. However, as the story progressed, it got somewhat tedious. Rather than a point A to point B type of structure, this book seems to be a collection of interconnected events. Nothing particularly wrong with that generally, just that City of Bones lacks a certain cohesiveness you'd expect from a 500-page novel. Also the fact that you saw the main twists coming from a mile away took away a lot of the impact of the story.
The plot isn't anything original, but then we haven't had one for a long time. The characters were mostly (annoying) teenage stereotypes, especially Jace -- I'll be quite happy not to have to read yet another know-it-all, good-looking teenage boy the main (girl) protagonist swoons over because he treats her with disdain, orders her around, and infantilizes her. (Perhaps that was why I was terribly amused when I was right about (view spoiler)[Jace being Clary's brother (hide spoiler)].) ...more
2.5 stars. Weregirl promised a great deal, but disappointed on the whole. It was easy to keep turning the pages, but it's not the sort of story that s2.5 stars. Weregirl promised a great deal, but disappointed on the whole. It was easy to keep turning the pages, but it's not the sort of story that stays with you. I wasn't really sure what happened at the end. Were we indirectly told the identity of the grey wolf?
There are many good things about the book. For starters, it isn't your common or garden werewolf tale, and the author(s) have done well to flesh out an interesting plot with a sort of setting you don't usually see. The two main subplots, Nessa's transformation into a werewolf and the sinister intentions of the pharma group who were funding more or less the entire town after a chemical spill, were always going to merge, but there was enough suspense to keep one's interest going. Nessa's family was also interesting and I liked the way it was dealt with, without going into unnecessary details. Among the characters, Nessa's siblings and her friend Bree were particularly well done. Oh, and also, that cover: fantastic! One of the best I've seen in recent times.
However, the ending, rather, the last third of the book, didn't quite deliver. The ending didn't feel satisfying, and there were many things that were left hanging. Among the things I wasn't convinced about was Nessa's sudden transformation into a runner. She'd just started running a month or so before she was bitten (I think), so why does she think of running as something natural for her? Also, I wasn't sure why her eyesight improved after being bitten -- dogs and wolves are not known for their fantastic eyesight. The Cynthia angle also promised a lot but was left unexplored (perhaps it will be in a subsequent book), and one does yearn to know what exactly happened the night Nessa was bitten. Also not sure what Cassian was doing in the story -- at one point, I suspected he was a wolf too. Chayton conveniently disappeared at points where he could have provided Nessa information, (which was a bit of a cheat to build suspense), but I'm not complaining because he wasn't particularly likeable.
I'm also sort of curious about the author(s). The "About the author" section says that C.D. Bell is the pen name of a YA author, but this book was put together by a team of writers. I wonder if the hotchpotch of its latter half is because of too many cooks.
I read an uncorrected proof via NetGalley, so one expects the typos will be cleaned up in the final release....more
3.5 stars. I loved this book, but taking away half a star for the bad grammar and punctuation. More on that later.
Aveline is an assassin in training, 3.5 stars. I loved this book, but taking away half a star for the bad grammar and punctuation. More on that later.
Aveline is an assassin in training, expected to follow in the footsteps of her father and take over as head of the Assassins' Guild some day. But after he dies following an illness, she is in danger of being carted away to the brothel to repay his debts. She is rescued by a mysterious stranger who offers her a way out -- it's not ideal, but at least she will escape the brothel if she says yes.
Her new assignment takes her to the prosperous Inner City, where the wealthy reside inside a giant pyramid-town in opulent luxury, where her assignment is to protect the 'deformed' daughter of one of the most powerful families of the land. But why exactly Tiana, her ward, is in danger, and what the stakes are is anybody's guess, as is figuring out who the enemy is. Going undercover as a slave, Aveline's biggest headache is not just keeping the girl alive, but also maintaining her cover and keeping the side of her that's touched by the Devil in control.
This is a fantastic story, with a great main character. Lizzy Ford has also created a--pardon the repetition--fantastic world, one in which the chasm between the haves and have-nots is so vast that each is barely aware of how the other half lives. The setting, the city of Lost Vegas, hints at an alternate-reality post-apocalyptic US, and the interspersing of natives and the concept of 'half-breeds' makes it a deliciously complex society.
But life is ruthless. It is where the rich know they are entitled to own and abuse the less fortunate, where cutthroat competition for power prevails, where a ruthless Shield enforces discipline among the people with violence, where children are sold to brothels for the use of men and women who can pay for it, where unwanted children are butchered for meat. And where highly-trained assassins are in demand.
Aveline is a strong main character, but she's not perfect. She is about seventeen and her final test stands between her and a full assassin status. However, the death of her father puts a sudden halt to her training and a question mark on her future. What was particularly interesting was her--as well as other assassins'--complete lack of remorse for what they are trained to do, that is, kill. A contract to kill is a binding one for the assassin, and the guild, in fact, commands considerable respect and standing in society. That isn't to say that the assassins don't have a code of honour, one that Aveline is called upon to question as the motives of people around her are revealed.
This is a well-written story, but what caused it to be sometimes awkward was the frequent trip-up in tenses, especially in the first third of the book. The author often mixes up past tense and past perfect tense. The other niggle was the incorrect use of apostrophes: 'the Hanover's' was repeatedly used where 'Hanovers' was the right way to say it. Since this happened throughout the book, it was clearly not a typo. If these things are cleared up, this will be a 4-star novel. It ends on a sort of cliffhanger, which keeps it from being a complete story and you have a sense of it being cut off in the middle.
A word about the cover: it is quite unispired and completely underserves the book.
One yearns for good female-led fantasy and world building that doesn't mirror the gender roles of our society, and to some extent Henrietta provides tOne yearns for good female-led fantasy and world building that doesn't mirror the gender roles of our society, and to some extent Henrietta provides this. But a lot of the good work is undone by taking a character like Henrietta, a renowned warrior and dragon killer whose fame has spread to far-off lands, and subtracting the one thing that makes her legendary -- her ability to be that fearsome warrior. While a battle-hardened soldier who is tired of killing is refreshing, taking away a female warrior's stomach to wield her sword (at the end she chooses to run down a hill whooping with joy rather than her daily practice) did not make me happy.
The storytelling is fine, though I found it a little hard to believe that Henrietta, seasoned soldier and dragon-slayer, is only 17. There were hints of a dark and disturbed past, and why she resigned her commission in the king's army, but it wasn't made clear. Knowing that might have made it easier to sympathize with her. I enjoyed the fights, but was disquieted by her propensity to freeze. To reiterate the same point -- a female warrior who is suddenly repulsed by violence seems to play into a particular stereotype.
There were a lot of typos in the book. Also, why does a book with a story about a dragon-slayer have an unclothed woman on the cover?!...more
4.5 stars. Loved this book, loved the characters, especially Caelena and Nehemia (I'd have given a full 5 stars if they'd got together!). It's rare to4.5 stars. Loved this book, loved the characters, especially Caelena and Nehemia (I'd have given a full 5 stars if they'd got together!). It's rare to see female-led fantasy and even rarer to see it done well. The author's note at the end of the volume says it was ten years in the making and one can see that there really was a lot of hard work.
The only place I found it a bit wanting was that Caelena seems to be a woman in a male-dominated field (or perhaps we should call it a profession), but it's not really clear why that should be. Apart from surprise, the world seems to be largely accepting of women as warriors, so why is Caelena the only female assassin? It would have been great to see some more women competing for the role of King's Assassin....more